Monday March 29 Ag News - This week is Grain Bin Safety Week

 Grain Bins are the Focus of Annual Safety Week

Nebraska farmers continue to be good stewards of the land, producing more bushels with less resources. Because of this increased efficiency, on-farm grain storage is on the rise. With additional grain bins on farms and on commercial sites, there is a greater risk of fatal accidents. The checkoff organizations of Nebraska’s corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum industries (and their respective associations), remind farmers and agricultural workers to be safe in and around grain bins during the fifth annual “Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week.”

“Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week” takes place March 29 through April 2 and is organized through an alliance between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Grain and Feed Association, the Grain Elevator and Processing Society and the Grain Handling Safety Council.

“Farming is one of the most hazardous industries we have in the United States,” said David Bruntz, chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board and farmer from Friend. “We often hear of unimaginable accidents in agriculture because there are a lot of moving parts and large pieces of machinery to work with. Nebraska Corn regularly reminds farmers to take a second for safety, because many accidents and fatalities can be prevented with just a little added caution.”

There are several hazards associated with grain bins, including engulfments and entanglements. An engulfment happens when grain flows downward and forms a funnel, pulling a person down to the point of full immersion. An entanglement could occur when farmers or agricultural employees work in close proximity to grain augers. The danger in operating an auger is getting caught in a moving part.
 
“As we look at engulfments and entanglements, there’s a common theme, which is they both happen quickly,” said Eugene Goering, chairman of the Nebraska Soybean Board and farmer from Columbus. “The risk is high for both young and old, those new to the occupation and those who are seasoned farmers. It’s essential everyone working in and around grain bins educates themselves about proper safety protocol.”

With the proper safety procedures, grain bin accidents are preventable. It is important to follow all the safety rules when it comes to working with grain stored in bins. Here are a few grain bin safety tips to keep in mind when you are working with stored grain:
-    Use inspection holes or grain level markers to understand what is happening inside the bin. Use a pole from outside the bin to break up grain bridges.
-    You should enter a grain bin only if absolutely necessary. If you must get into the bin, use a body harness secured to the outside of the bin. Have at least two people watching over you as you enter and work inside the bin.
-    Use hand signals to communicate—and make sure everyone you are working with knows what those signals are.

“We know farmers are anxious to get back in the fields this spring, so many are now busy working with their previous crops stored on-farm,” said Bob Delsing, chairman of the Nebraska Wheat Board and farmer from Hemingford. “By dedicating a week to the importance of grain bin safety, we can hopefully serve as that friendly reminder to always be prepared, knowledgeable and responsible when working in and around grain bins.”

Throughout the week, Nebraska’s corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum checkoffs and their respective associations will be sharing grain bin safety tips from their social media channels. More information can also be found at standup4grainsafety.org.

“We know farming is a risky business but through proper safety procedures, we can greatly reduce the chance for injury or even death,” said Mike Baker, chairman of the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board and farmer from Trenton. “A few extra moments of caution far outweigh possible accidents.”



‘Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week’ offers daily virtual events to raise awareness about grain handling and storage hazards

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) and the Grain Handling Safety Council (GHSC) today launched its fifth annual, weeklong safety outreach effort – “Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week” – to help raise awareness about grain handling and storage hazards and provide safety education and training.

Throughout the Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week, which is March 29-April 2, 2021, companies may participate by providing a focused activity and/or toolbox talk for employees on any hazard-prevention measure. Featured topics that NGFA and its safety partners will highlight throughout the week include: near-miss reporting, grain quality, bin safety and emergency action plans.  

“The past year has been notable – to say the least – when it comes to health and safety in all aspects of our lives,” said NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert in a Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week kickoff video that aired March 29. “We’ve learned that small changes can make a big impact. Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week features virtual events and resources focusing on small changes that can reduce unnecessary hazards and potentially save lives of family members, friends and colleagues who handle and store our grain. We encourage all companies to participate in this effort and show their continued commitment to the health and safety of their employees.”

Participating companies are encouraged to register for daily virtual events throughout the week and fill out information about their safety activities on standup4grainsafety.org, which provides training materials and a certificate of participation. Participants can share safety success stories on social media with #StandUp4GrainSafety.

The campaign is hosted under the auspices of the “Alliance” between NGFA, OSHA, GEAPS and GHSC.

The NGFA, through funding provided by the National Grain and Feed Foundation, has a suite of free safety resources available to use through the week on ngfa.org/safety.



NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending March 28, 2021, topsoil moisture supplies rated 5% percent very short, 14% short, 70% adequate, and 11% surplus, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 8% very short, 30% short, 58% adequate, and 4% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Winter wheat condition rated 5% very poor, 12% poor, 45% fair, 36% good, and 2% excellent.

Weekly reports will begin April 5th for the 2021 season.



Nebraska Dairy Industry Convened in Columbus for Annual Convention & Dairy Farms Awarded
 
Hundreds of representatives from across the dairy industry convened at the Ramada Inn by Wyndham Columbus Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Nebraska on March 18th, 2021 to participate in the 2021 Nebraska Dairy Convention.
 
The convention opened with a trade show where attendees learned from industry experts on various topics including a session on Transition Planning with Thiele Dairy. A panel discussion with members from Midwest Dairy over lunch outlined checkoff’s key strategies to drive sales and trust.

The afternoon included the Nebraska State Dairy Association (NSDA) annual meeting, a session on Improving Forage Quality for Cows with Dr. Paul Kononoff, and a Dairy Girl Network event. Convention attendees enjoyed an ice cream bar, wine and cheese reception, and an evening banquet and awards ceremony recognizing producers and key industry people in Nebraska. To conclude the day, attendees heard from Krysta Harden, CEO of the Dairy Girl Network Event.

The following producers and key industry people were recognized as 2021 Award Winners.
    Nebraska Dairy Princess was awarded Lindsey Marotz
    Philip H. Cole Dairy Industry Person of the Year was awarded to Bill Thiele of Clearwater, Nebraska
    Friend of the Industry Award was awarded to Governor Pete Ricketts
    Holstein Association Service to Industry Award was awarded to Roger Henrichs

Somatic Cell Count Quality Awards
    First Place -Double Dutch Dairy
    Second Place- Tuls Dairy South
    Third Place -Tuls Dairy North

Herd Production Award -Holstein Division
    First Place- Steffview Dairy
    Second Place- Roger Sprakel
    Third Place- Neal & Sharlee Hochstein

Herd Production Award- Cross Bred Division
    First Place- Crook Dairy
    Second Place- Classic Dairy Inc.
    Third Place-Temme Agri Business        

For more information on how to be an exhibitor at next year’s convention, please contact Kris Bousquet at 402.525.3199, krisbousquet@nebraskamilk.org, or visit NebraskaMilk.org and fill out a membership application.



GRAZING SMALL GRAINS
– Todd Whitney, NE Extension

Now that small grains and cover crops are greening up, this is the time for finalizing your forage grazing plans.  Small grains provide ample grazing opportunity. For every 1,000 pounds of forage dry matter production, there is potential beef gains of approximately 100 pounds.

Whether growing small grains or cover crops, grazing will be maximized if livestock producers wait until the plants are 4 to 8 inches tall before starting the grazing process. Then, stock the fields with enough animals to maintain plant heights between 6 and 12 inches. Flash grazing or dividing fields into smaller paddocks may prevent over grazing plants below the 6-inch target plant height.

For those wanting to graze wheat and rye and still harvest grain from the same fields; stop grazing the plants before they reach first hollow stem or jointing development. Grazing beyond the jointing stage may decrease grain yields 1% to 5% each day that grazing continues.  This is because the grazing animals may be consuming grain heads in the immature tillers.

Timing of growth stage varies each year and depends on factors such as fall planting date, variety and Spring soil conditions.  First hollow stem occurs about a week prior to jointing when the immature head rises in the tiller above the soil surface.  The jointing stage can be identified by feeling with your fingers a bump or joint on the tiller stems as you move your fingers up the stem from the soil surface.  Generally, you will want to focus our growth stage assessment using the larger primary tillers.

With careful management such as delayed grazing, the cool-season grazing can be extended through mid-June.



NARD Welcomes New Board Members

In 2021, The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) welcomes four new directors – Joel Hansen, Mason Hoffman, Gene Kelly and Luke Peterson.

Joel Hansen, Lower Elkhorn NRD (Wayne, Nebraska)
Hansen brings a unique perspective to the board as the Street & Planning Director for the City of Wayne for more than 25 years. Hansen has served on the Lower Elkhorn NRD board for 14 years and represents the board on the Wau-Col Rural Water System Advisory Committee. He also manages his family’s farm, which includes row crops, a restored prairie, and several tree plantings.

Mason Hoffman, Little Blue NRD (Roseland, Nebraska)
Hoffman has served on the Little Blue NRD Board since January 2016 and has been on the executive committee since 2019. During the last five years, he has been involved on the Water and Projects committees. He has an associate degree in ag business and farms in south-central Nebraska. Hoffman and his wife of 11 years, Michelle, have three children, Mara, Natalie and Theodore.

Gene Kelly, Upper Elkhorn NRD (O’Neill, Nebraska)
Kelly has served on the Upper Elkhorn NRD Board eight years and is currently on the Water Resources Committee. Prior to joining the NARD board, he served as the alternate delegate for several years. Mostly retired from the insurance and investment industries, Kelly volunteers his time on the Holt County 4-H Foundation Board, Holt County Planning and Zoning Board, Summerfest Rodeo Committee and is a member of the Lion’s Club. Kelly and his wife, Wendy, have three children, Justin, Quinn and Quana.

Luke Peterson, Lower Platte South NRD (Lincoln, Nebraska)
Peterson is currently on his first term with the Lower Platte South NRD Board after being elected in 2018. In his short time on the board, he has served on the Urban, Finance & Planning, and Recreation, Forestry & Wildlife subcommittees, and is currently on the Executive Committee. Peterson also serves on the board for the Nebraska Red Ribbon Coalition, a statewide advisory group for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for HIV/AIDS-related services that also combats HIV/AIDS societal stigma.

The NARD Board consists of representation from each of the Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRDs). The board meets five times throughout the year and helps guide the association and NRDs in decision making that protects lives, property and the future of Nebraska’s natural resources. The NARD Risk Pool Board governs the health insurance program for NRD employees. Since its inception in 2007, the program has held the average annual cost increases for health premium rates below 4.5 percent.

The NARD Board of Directors includes:
    Jim Bendfeldt, Central Platte NRD
    Scott Berndt, Upper Niobrara White NRD
    Paul Bethune, Upper Big Blue NRD
    *Jim Eschliman, Lower Loup NRD (President)
    *Oval Gigstad, Nemaha NRD (Vice President)
    *Martin Graff, Middle Niobrara NRD (Secretary-Treasurer)
    Joel Hansen, Lower Elkhorn NRD
    Robert Hilger, Lower Platte North NRD
    Mason Hoffman, Little Blue NRD
    *Jim Johnson, South Platte NRD (Information & Education Committee Chair)
    Steven Kelley, Lower Big Blue NRD
    Gene Kelly, Upper Elkhorn NRD
    Marcel Kramer, Lewis & Clark NRD
    Marvin Liewer, Lower Niobrara NRD
    Terry Martin, Upper Republican NRD
    *James Meismer, Twin Platte NRD (Legislative Committee Chair)
    Roger Nelson, Lower Republican NRD
    Luke Peterson, Lower Platte South NRD
    Ryan Reuter, North Platte NRD
    *Larry Reynolds, Tri-Basin NRD (Past President)
    Judy Ridenour, Upper Loup NRD
    Shane Rippen, Middle Republican NRD
    Richard Tesar, Papio-Missouri River NRD
*Executive Committee

The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD), the trade association for Nebraska's 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRD), works with individual districts to protect lives, property and the future of Nebraska’s natural resources. NRDs are unique to Nebraska, and act as local government entities with broad responsibilities to protect Nebraska’s natural resources. Major Nebraska river basins form the boundaries of the 23 NRDs, enabling districts to respond to local conservation and resource management needs. Learn more about Nebraska’s NRDs at www.nrdnet.org.



Innovative Ag Research
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

Every state is home to an industry that drives its economy forward. In Hawaii, that’s tourism. In Massachusetts, many exceptional hospitals attract first-rate doctors. And in Michigan, the automobile industry employs nearly 291,000 people across the state.

In Nebraska, that industry is agriculture. Our farmers and ranchers grow produce and raise livestock that is among the world’s best, and they feed millions of people around the country and the world while they’re at it. Our international ag exports have risen in recent years, too, providing nearly $7 billion for our economy in 2018 alone. All told, agriculture supports one in four Nebraska jobs and provides one-third of our economic output each year.

It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that Nebraska is a leader in agricultural research. The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln takes advantage of Nebraska’s diverse range of climates and growing conditions to conduct experiments on everything from food science to soil ecosystems to water quality, and their findings are crucial for Nebraska ag producers looking for new best practices.

That transition from lab to field is especially smooth for IANR because many of their scientists also teach at UNL. They spend some of their time on research and some of their time with Nebraska’s next generation of farmers and ranchers – the perfect combination for a state that boasts both a booming ag industry and a thriving university system.

IANR works with Nebraska Extension to offer this excellent education to people all across the state, not just those who live near a college campus. Extension does some of its best work on ag issues, too, which makes them invaluable to our producers and our economy.

Extension and IANR also partner with 4-H to bring these same skills to Nebraska’s youth. Over 140,000 Nebraskans between the ages of 5 and 18 can get hands-on ag experience through 4-H and Nebraska Extension, whether they live in a small town or in the middle of a city like Lincoln.

IANR’s work spans many other fields. One of them is food security, and through the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, they are quite literally changing the world. This program combines Nebraska’s prosperous ag industry with the world-class research coming out of UNL to develop new ways to help other countries make their food and water supplies more secure. One of the Daugherty Institute’s most impressive initiatives is the Nebraska Water Center, where UNL faculty come together with outside researchers to help make sure people everywhere have access to a safe and reliable source of water.

Nebraska Innovation Campus is also doing excellent work. Innovation Campus is right next door to city campus, and the office space they provide gives some of Nebraska’s most creative entrepreneurs the chance to work alongside the best researchers UNL has to offer.

The Food for Health Center is just one of Innovation Campus’ many remarkable programs. Here, UNL professors Andrew Benson and Robert Hutkins use their research on digestive health to develop hybrid crops and foods that can fight back against illnesses like cancer and heart disease. Their work has helped Nebraska become a world leader in this important field.

Nebraska’s agriculture industry is among the best in the country, and our state is home to remarkable cutting-edge research and dynamic growth. With both of these things happening side by side, the future is exciting for Nebraska.



Pay Attention to Calving Distribution
Olivia Amundson – SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist

Producers may be knee-deep in calving, or for others it is just around the corner. However, this is a good time to start thinking about the upcoming breeding season and subsequent calving season. The current calving season provides an opportunity to decide if the current calving situation is working well, or if management changes are needed to achieve the desired calving season.
Most producers keep track of calving records in some fashion. Whether recording in a Red Book, notebook paper, scrap paper, your hand or an app, most producers have an idea of their number of calves born and when. These records can then help determine a calving distribution, and calving distribution can help determine succeeding management strategies.

What Is Calving Distribution?
Calving distribution is a measure of number of calves born in 21-day intervals. The length of the estrous cycle of a cow is 21-days; therefore, she has the opportunity to become pregnant every 21 days. Typical benchmarks for an efficient calving distribution are:  63% of the mature cow herd should calve within the first 21 days, 87% by 42 days and 96% by 63 days of the calving season.  If less than 60% of the herd is calving in the first 21-days and greater than 25% calving in the second 21-days, then re-evaluation of the herd and management strategies need consideration. More information on calving benchmarks can be found in the article,  Calving Season Benchmarks.

Why is Calving Distribution Important?
Calving distribution is a measure of efficiency and management within a herd. Research has demonstrated that heifers born earlier in the calving season are more likely to be cycling at breeding, have greater pregnancy rates and more of those females will calve in the first 21-days of their initial calving season. Steer calves born in the first 21-day period had increased weaning weights, more ideal marbling scores and overall more-positive effects on feedlot and carcass performance. Refer to  Tightening up Calving Season  and  Bunch the Cow Herd  for additional information on the benefits of a defined calving season.

While benefits on progeny are beneficial, calving distribution also helps allocate resources, specifically feed and labor needed during the calving season. This provides more focus at time of calving, which can decrease mortality and disease in calves. Focus can then be placed on the cow to ensure that she is being fed appropriately to maintain or increase body condition score prior to the subsequent breeding season.

Cows that calve late or had a traumatic calving will be at risk of being open the following year. By focusing on calving distribution, it allows management decisions to be made that will focus on maintaining herd numbers with the most fertile, healthy, efficient cows. Allowing late calvers and those that have difficulty calving to fall out of the herd can increase overall herd performance.

Keeping Records
Keeping records is the start to determining a calving distribution. Producers who don’t write down calvings can track distribution by frequently counting the number of calves on the ground. This can give a rough estimate of calves born in each interval.

Producers who keep records should consider using the  Calving Distribution Calculator  to graph calving distribution, as well as determine the economic impact of the current distribution.

Management Strategies for a Consolidated Calving Season
If consolidating the calving season is a management strategy that needs consideration, there are multiple factors to evaluate.

Consider how your herd is calving. Are a majority of the females calving in the second interval (22–42 days)? Is there an even spread between intervals, or do cows calve past the third interval (63+ days)? Depending on how the herd is calving, different strategies should be considered.

First, how do the cows look in terms of body condition? If cows are at a body condition score of less than five, there could be issues with breed up, as well as maintaining a pregnancy. Evaluate the ration and adjust appropriately. Did heifers calve with the cowherd or separately? If they calved at the same time as the cows, ensure those females are being fed adequately to meet nutrient requirements, since they are still growing themselves. Additional resources on body condition score can be found in the article,  Influence of Body Condition on Reproductive Performance of Beef Cows.

Secondly, are pre-breeding vaccinations and overall herd health being taken into consideration? Make certain that pre-breeding vaccinations are occurring at appropriate times. If using Modified Live Vaccines (MLV), make sure they are given according to the label if not earlier. If naïve heifers are receiving MLV too close to breeding, it can negatively impact conception rates. Bulls should complete a breeding soundness exam 60–90 days prior to the breeding season. This will allow for any disease, sperm abnormalities, or physical inabilities to be identified and addressed in a timely manner.

Consider reproductive technologies, such as estrous synchronization, to consolidate the breeding and subsequent calving season. Estrous synchronization is a great tool to “bunch” the cowherd and can be used with artificial insemination (AI) or natural service (See:  Using Estrous Synchronization in Natural-Service Breeding Situations). There are multiple options when considering a protocol, but before jumping in, it is important to consider different factors, such as resources, labor and time, not only when implementing the technology, but also at calving time. Do you have enough labor to calve out a large number of cows over a short period of time?

Multiple factors go into defining a calving season, but through simple record keeping, management decisions can be made to increase herd performance and profitability.



 ASA, Corteva Agriscience Announce 38th Young Leader Class

Another new class of emerging leaders are honing their skills to serve as the voices for U.S. agriculture through the American Soybean Association (ASA) and Corteva Agriscience™ Young Leaders program.

The 38th class of Young Leaders met virtually March 11, 2021 and will continue their training with two in-person sessions later in 2021.

ASA’s longest-running leadership program, Young Leaders was founded in 1984 and continues to set the bar for leadership training in agriculture, identifying and training new, innovative and engaged growers.

During the virtual meeting, Young Leaders had the opportunity to connect with one another, discuss the upcoming in-person training programs and hear from soybean industry leaders. Also joining the meeting were, ASA President Kevin Scott (SD); Mike Dillon, Global Portfolio Leader – Soybeans, Corteva Agriscience; Matt Rekeweg, U.S. Industry Relations, Corteva Agriscience, Peter Laudeman, Political Affairs Manager, Corteva Agriscience and Jordan Scott, South Dakota Soybean Association President and member of the Young Leader class of 2018.

“The Young Leader program provides participants with the tools and knowledge they need to be successful leaders while helping them build confidence and grow a strong support network,” ASA President Kevin Scott said. “I’ve seen firsthand the impact it can have. My son Jordan and daughter-in-law Samantha’s experience in the program encouraged them to get involved and I couldn’t be prouder to say that Jordan is now serving as president of the South Dakota Soybean Association.”

“For nearly 40 years, the Corteva Agriscience Young Leader program has worked to identify, develop and support leaders in the U.S. soybean industry. We are honored that our long-term collaboration with ASA means these growers will sharpen their talents and develop skills to help America’s soybean farmers and the agriculture industry,” said Mike Dillon, Global Soybean Portfolio Leader, Corteva Agriscience. “The 2021 Young Leader class is an outstanding group and I am optimistic they will contribute to the soybean industry’s bright future.”

The 2021 Young Leaders are: Wes & Vonda Kirkpatrick (AR); Joey Stasell (IL); Jake McCormick & Sarah Luecke (IN); Jeff & Kim Failor (IA); Kendall & Austin Heiniger (KS); Collin Cooper & Allison Dallas (KY); PJ Feldpausch (MI); Evan & Lucy Staley (MD); Kelli & Jeff Sorenson (MN); Reid Carter (MS); Kaitlin Flick & Klinton Holliday (MO); Cale Buhr (NE); Logan & Kristin Watson (NC); Andrew & Brittni Cossette (ND); Bennett & Liza Musselman (OH); Alex & Grace Tolson (SC); Taylor & John Elverson (SD); and Jason & Brandy Cherry (TN).



Former Ag Co-op Officer Sentenced to Prison for Fraud Scheme

A second former officer at a northwest Iowa agriculture cooperative has been sentenced to federal prison for a grain-blending fraud scheme.

The Associated Press reports that Kenneth Ehrp was sentenced last week to three months in prison after pleading guilty in November to one count of conspiracy to defraud the government.

Prosecutors accused Ehrp and another officer, Calvin Diehl, of ordering Farmers Cooperative Society workers to layer soybeans over lower-value oats in bins and trucks while claiming the entire load was soybeans. The officers then concealed the practice from customers and U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors, officials said.

The scheme to overvalue the co-op's grain inventory was conducted to influence a lender's action on a loan, prosecutors said.

Diehl was also sentenced to three months in February on the same charge.

The U.S. Grain Standards Act prohibits blending different grains unless the blend is designated as "mixed grain" or an exemption is granted by federal regulators.



Farmers Share Sustainability Story with Food Industry Leaders

More than 200 high-level innovators in the food and beverage industry explored the challenges and successes they face as they continually strive to become even more sustainable during The Future of Food USA through a panel featuring CommonGround volunteer Kellie Blair, who farms in Iowa, and National Corn Growers Association Corn Board Member Brandon Hunnicutt, who also serves as Chairman of Field to Market in addition to farming in Nebraska. The session, Farmer Perspectives: The Key Sustainability Challenges and Successes from the Ground, shared the farmers’ personal experiences adopting sustainability practices and sparked discussions on how business can support farmers to reach shared goals together.

“We focused on the farmer perspective during our discussion of sustainability on our farms, how business can help, and what successes we have seen.  On our own farm, and the farms of the other panelists, it seems we have some of the same challenges: weather, labor, defining sustainability and time,” said Blair. “Personally, I love the challenge of telling my farm story to those that may be skeptical about what we are doing.  But, as always, I felt that my voice was heard.”

This virtual event, held March 23 to 25, brought together leading brands and key stakeholders to identify the main areas of opportunity and innovation within the food and beverage industry. During the annual event, food and beverage industry experts assessed what supply chain transformation actually means on the ground to ensure a more sustainable and resilient food system.

“As farmers, we should always be challenging ourselves. Continual improvement doesn’t mean that we are doing a bad job; it just means that we will continue to grow with the best information we have,” Blair said. “Climate, water quality, and soil quality need to be thought of as a systems approach, and no one silver bullet will fix. Agriculture can be a big key to the solution if we all work together!”

In addition to Blair and Hunnicutt, the panel, moderated by Innovation Forum Publishing Editor Ian Welsch, included Travis Hopcott, a cranberry farmer who supplies Ocean Spray and U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action CEO Erin Fitzgerald.

Attendees included representation from companies such as Molson Coors Beverage Company, Walmart, PepsiCo, Kellogg Company, Danone, Yum! Brands, BNP Paribas and Oatly.



Rethink methane and change the narrative around animal agriculture and the environment at 2021 Virtual Summit

Greenhouse gas emissions from livestock and the sustainability of our current food system are generating quite the media buzz, especially with the United Nations gearing up for its Food Systems Summit later this year. University of California, Davis’ Frank Mitloehner, PhD, will provide insights into why we should be rethinking methane and animal agriculture’s role in reaching climate neutrality at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2021 Virtual Stakeholders Summit.

The Alliance’s annual Summit brings together thought leaders in the agriculture and food industries to discuss hot-button issues and out-of-the-box ideas to connect everyone along the food chain, engage influencers and protect the future of animal agriculture. The 2021 event, themed “Obstacles to Opportunities,” is scheduled for May 5-6 with preconference webinars planned for the five business days prior, beginning Wednesday, April 28.

The Virtual Summit agenda featuring the exciting and high-caliber speakers you will see at the 2021 event has been posted on the Virtual Summit registration website. Sessions will highlight ways to position animal agriculture as a path forward to climate neutrality, how to elevate the voices of farmers in dialogues surrounding food and agriculture, and strategies for virtual stakeholder and influencer engagement.

Animal agriculture is often villainized as a climate change culprit, but what is viewed as its Achilles' heel may actually be one of our best climate solutions. That’s because we’ve been looking at methane from livestock all wrong, according to Dr. Mitloehner. By rethinking methane, Dr. Mitloehner will show that animal agriculture’s impact on global warming has not only been exaggerated but its ability to capture carbon from the atmosphere is underappreciated. Efficiencies and technology have put the animal agriculture sector on the path to climate neutrality – and likely toward climate change solutions.

“Dr. Mitloehner’s research on the relationship between animal agriculture and climate change is truly fascinating,” said Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO. “For years, livestock have been targeted and demonized for their methane emissions, and now we have the opportunity to change the narrative and position animal agriculture as a solution to reducing our environmental footprint and improving our planet for generations to come.”

Dr. Mitloehner is a professor and air quality specialist in cooperative extension in the Department of Animal Science at UC Davis. As such, he shares his knowledge and research, both domestically and abroad, with students, scientists, farmers and ranchers, policymakers, and the public at large. Dr. Mitloehner is also director of the CLEAR Center, which has two cores – research and communications. The CLEAR Center brings clarity to the intersection of animal agriculture and the environment, helping our global community understand the environmental and human health impacts of livestock, so we can make informed decisions about the foods we eat, while reducing environmental impacts. He is passionate about understanding and mitigating air emissions from livestock operations, as well as studying the implications of these emissions on the health of farm workers and neighboring communities. In addition, he is focusing on the food production challenge that will become a global issue as the world’s population grows to nearly 10 billion by 2050. Frank received a Master of Science degree in animal science and agricultural engineering from the University of Leipzig, Germany, and a doctoral degree in animal science from Texas Tech University.

Be sure to check the Virtual Summit website for the most up-to-date information and to register. You can also follow the hashtag #AAA21 for periodic updates about the event. For general questions about the Summit please contact summit@animalagalliance.org or call (703) 562-5160.



USDA Posts Webinar Outlining the Domestic Hemp Production Final Rule

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has posted a recorded informational webinar to outline key provisions of the Final Rule establishing the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program, which went into effect March 22, 2021.

The webinar is an opportunity for state and tribal authorities and individual growers to learn how to comply with licensing requirements, recordkeeping requirements for maintaining information about the land where hemp is produced, procedures for testing the THC concentration levels for hemp, procedures for disposing of non-compliant plants, compliance provisions and procedures for handling violations.

A link to view the webinar is available on the AMS Hemp Production webpage. Live questions will not be accepted. Please submit questions to farmbill.hemp@usda.gov.

AMS encourages participation of smaller businesses, new and beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged producers, veteran producers, underserved communities, and/or organizations representing these entities.

Background: On March 8, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it had completed its review of the Final Rule establishing the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program and that the rule as published in the Federal Register on Jan. 19, 2021, would move forward and be effective on March 22, 2021.

As part of the transition, USDA and many other agencies took the opportunity to review new and pending regulatory actions. This is a routine process done at the beginning of new administrations to ensure longstanding as well as new programs are structured and resourced appropriately and to ensure programs are implemented to best serve their intended stakeholders.

The final rule includes provisions for the USDA to approve hemp production plans developed by states and Indian tribes including requirements for maintaining information on the land where hemp is produced, testing the levels of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, disposing of plants not meeting necessary requirements and licensing requirements. It also establishes a federal plan for hemp producers in states or territories of Indian tribes that do not have their own USDA-approved hemp production plan.

The final rule incorporates modifications to regulations established under the interim final rule (IFR) published in October 2019. The modifications are based on public comments following the publication of the IFR and lessons learned during the 2020 growing season.

More information about the final rule is available on the AMS Hemp Production webpage https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/hemp.