NEBRASKA HOG INVENTORY DOWN 3%
Nebraska inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2021, was 3.65 million head, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. This was down 3% from March 1, 2020, but unchanged from December 1, 2020. Breeding hog inventory, at 440,000 head, was unchanged from March 1, 2020, but up 2% from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 3.21 million head, was down 3% from last year, and down slightly from last quarter.
The December 2020 - February 2021 Nebraska pig crop, at 2.18 million head, was down 1% from 2020. Sows farrowed during the period totaled 185,000 head, down 3% from last year. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.80 for the December - February period, compared to 11.60 last year.
Nebraska hog producers intend to farrow 190,000 sows during the March - May 2021 quarter, down 5% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago. Intended farrowings for June - August 2021 are 190,000 sows, up 6% from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago.
IOWA HOGS & PIGS INVENTORY DOWN 2%
On March 1, 2021, there were 23.8 million hogs and pigs on Iowa farms, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Hogs and Pigs report. The March 1 inventory is down 2% from a year ago.
The December-February 2021 quarterly pig crop was 5.99 million head, down 5% from the previous quarter but up 6% from last year. A total of 530,000 sows farrowed during this quarter. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.30, unchanged from the previous quarter.
As of March 1, Iowa producers planned to farrow 510,000 sows and gilts in the March-May 2021 quarter and 510,000 head during the June-August 2021 quarter.
United States Hog Inventory Down 2 Percent
United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2021 was 74.8 million head. This was down 2 percent from March 1, 2020, and down 3 percent from December 1, 2020. Breeding inventory, at 6.21 million head, was down 3 percent from last year, and down 1 percent from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 68.6 million head, was down 2 percent from last year, and down 3 percent from last quarter.
The December 2020-February 2021 pig crop, at 33.3 million head, was down 1 percent from last year. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 3.04 million head, down 1 percent from previous year. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 48 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 10.94 for the December 2020-February 2021 period, compared to 11.00 last year.
United States hog producers intend to have 3.07 million sows farrow during the March-May 2021 quarter, down 3 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period one year earlier, and down 2 percent from the same period two years earlier. Intended farrowings for June-August 2021, at 3.12 million sows, are down 4 percent from the same period one year earlier, and down 5 percent from the same period two years earlier.
The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 50 percent of the total United States hog inventory, up 1 percent from the previous year.
Soybean Gall Midge Updates and Tools for 2021
Justin McMechan - Crop Protection and Cropping Systems Specialist
For some east-central Nebraska soybean farmers, the 2020 season was a brutal realization of the potential for soybean gall midge to cause injury and yield loss in soybean fields. As a new species, the road to find successful management strategies is going to be long and difficult. The strong support from the Nebraska Soybean Board along with the North Central Soybean Research Program has provided the framework to push hard to develop new management strategies and better understand the threat in front of us.
As part of these efforts, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, along with Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota, developed a three-part webinar series on the identification, biology and current management strategies for soybean gall midge. The webinars are freely available on the Soybean Gall Midge Alert Website https://soybeangallmidge.org/. If you are new to soybean gall midge and want real-time alerts on the emergence of adults this spring, scouting tips, management information, or updates on its distribution, then sign up for alerts from the Soybean Gall Midge website. These alerts can be sent as an automated phone call, text message and email, and you are welcome to opt out at any time.
In general, no management intervention is needed for soybean gall midge unless notable yield losses occurred in an adjacent soybean field the previous year. Cultural tactics like mowing field borders or tillage have shown some potential, but further studies are needed to determine the role of these tactics in soybean gall midge management. Foliar applications were hindered during the 2020 season because of the long duration of adult emergence from last year’s soybean, limiting their potential to protect yields. Additional strategies for management have been tested and some new strategies are planned for the 2021 season. For more information on current strategies, see the webinar on management on the soybeangallmidge.org website https://soybeangallmidge.org/soybean-gall-midge-series-videos.
Nebraska Soybean Foliar Fungicide Use Survey
Asha Mane - Graduate Student
Tamra Jackson-Ziems - Extension Plant Pathologist
In the last five years, foliar diseases of soybean account for an average of $9.4 million economic losses to soybean grown in Nebraska. Use of foliar fungicides is a common disease management strategy and has increased in the last few years due to increasing disease pressure. Continuous planting of soybean and minimum tillage can increase disease pressure caused by certain pathogens. In addition, use of single-site mode of action fungicides could be a driving factor for development of fungicide resistance leading to disease control failures.
In 2019, QoI fungicide resistance was detected in 109 of 111 Cercospora sojina samples from 10 counties in Nebraska. In an effort to understand the prevalence of fungicide resistance, this survey was expanded in 2020 and 375 samples were collected from 48 counties throughout the soybean producing region in Nebraska. These samples are currently being tested for their QoI fungicide sensitivity. Detection of fungicide resistance is key for making recommendations, and the next goal is to understand how to best communicate these results.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are conducting a survey about foliar fungicide use in Nebraska soybean fields. The goal of the survey is to determine which diseases soybean producers and agribusiness professionals believe to be most important and identify factors or sources of information used to make fungicide use decisions. The survey results can be used to help researchers better understand the factors affecting decisions to apply foliar fungicides in Nebraska. Data collected through this survey will be used to better customize future Extension programming for clientele needs.
This survey has 10 questions that takes about 10 minutes to complete and includes multiple-choice and short answer questions. It is offered as both a paper- and web-based version.
If you are a soybean producer, farm manager, Extension personnel, crop consultant, agronomist or other agribusiness representative helping producers manage soybean acres, you are invited to complete the survey. Participation is voluntary. You need to respond to the survey only once. If you have recently completed this survey, we thank you for your time and input, and there’s no need to complete it again.
How to Take the Survey
To participate in the survey, navigate to go.unl.edu/soy21 through a personal computer or smartphone. The link will initially take you to a consent form. If you agree with the information provided, please click “I agree” to start the survey. Please complete the survey on or before Monday, May 31, 2021.
Registration Opens for World Pork Expo
Registration is now open for the 2021 World Pork Expo presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). Pork producers and other industry professionals will gather for three days of networking, education and innovation on June 9-11 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
Attendees, media and exhibitors can register by visiting the World Pork Expo website www.worldpork.org.
“World Pork Expo plays an important role in an essential industry dedicated to the production of world’s most popular meat protein,” said NPPC President Jen Sorenson, communications director for Iowa Select Farms in West Des Moines, Iowa. “NPPC looks forward to hosting World Pork Expo and the invaluable opportunity to gather with those representing every aspect of the pork supply chain.”
The Iowa State Fairground’s large exhibition space, allowing for hundreds of exhibitors to participate in the 2021 World Pork Expo.
Start Planning Your Expo Experience
The 2021 Expo is filled with three full days of learning, networking and activities. More than 15 educational seminars are included in your admission cost. These seminars include information on current issues and topics related to the pork industry, showcasing the latest product enhancements and more.
Other activities you won’t want to miss include:
- Trade Show — Check out the many vendors showcasing new products and services.
- NPPC Hospitality Tent — Visit one-on-one with NPPC board members and staff to learn about current legislation, regulation and public policy issues that impact pork production.
- Big Grill — Stop by and enjoy a free pork lunch during all three days of the Expo. More than 10,000 lunches are served! Lunches are available between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Additional Registration Information
Registration is now available online until June 3. World Pork Expo badges include entry to the show for all three days. Discounted rates are available during pre-registration, including $10 per adult (ages 12 and up) and $1 for children (6 to 11 years old). Registration on-site will be $20 per adult. There is an on-site Friday-only option for $10. This year, World Pork Expo has extended its typical badge mailing deadline. We strongly encourage attendees to have badges mailed in advance of the show to minimize the number of people going through on-site registration.
Health and Safety Measures
World Pork Expo will monitor local, state and federal government COVID-19 guidelines, including those established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Vendors and attendees can expect increased measures, such as additional hand washing and sanitizing stations and regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces. Those with COVID-19 symptoms should stay home.
Collaborative Checkoff Partnership Leads to Sustainable Soybean Oil Commitment from Goodyear
Soy checkoff research funding and partnership with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has led to a multi-decade commitment by the tire manufacturer to source sustainably produced U.S. soybean oil, phasing out petroleum-derived oils from its products by 2040.
The initial research led to the discovery that soybean oil could not only improve tire flexibility across temperatures but also provide enhanced grip on road surfaces, making it an ideal choice for Goodyear’s all-weather tire line. Goodyear commercialized this innovation in its Assurance® WeatherReady® consumer tire line in 2017, the Eagle® Enforcer All Weather™ in 2018 and the Eagle Exhilarate™ in 2019, and announced the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive™ in 2020. Building upon that success, Goodyear recently announced a new sustainable soybean oil procurement policy that reflects its strong commitment to the responsible sourcing of raw materials.
End users continue to increase demand for sustainably produced products. The nation’s 515,000 soybean farmers are unified in their effort to grow market opportunities by providing the best raw materials to support partners such as Goodyear. U.S. farmers are leaders when it comes to using new leading-edge technologies and best management practices to increase economic and environmental sustainability.
“We are pleased to partner with Goodyear for their award-winning innovation with U.S. soy in tires and are ready to meet their current and future needs for the sustainable procurement of soybeans,” said United Soybean Board farmer-leader Ed Lammers, who serves as the Oil Target Area coordinator. “U.S. soybean farmers offer a safe and reliable source of sustainably grown soybeans that provide versatility in the areas of food, feed and fuel, and also deliver high-performance products for industrial use partners, such as The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.”
Goodyear increased its use of soybean oil in 2020 by 73% over 2018, making progress toward its long-term goal of full petroleum replacement. The new procurement policy features a variety of components, including provisions across the supply chain for responsible land use, growing, harvesting and processing. With its goal to be a global leader in sustainability, the U.S. soy industry is well-positioned to meet this demand. U.S. soybean farmers employ sustainable farming practices such as crop rotation, reduced tillage and nutrient management to improve soil health, reduce inputs, boost crop productivity, conserve water and enrich the quality of soil.
“Goodyear’s use of soybean oil is growing, and we want our actions to make a difference in the lives of soybean farmers and others in the supply chain,” said Maureen Thune, vice president and chief procurement officer of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. “Our new policy will help guide us as we work with processors, farmers and others to strengthen the sustainability of the global supply chain.”
Goodyear’s new soybean oil procurement policy is effective immediately and applies to all soybean-based materials sourced by its operations worldwide.
Ranch Group Applauds Reintroduction of Sens. Grassley and Tester’s 50/14 Bill
Today, U.S. Senators Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), along with Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) reintroduced the bill requiring the largest of beef packers to purchase at least 50% of their cattle needs from the negotiated cash market and to slaughter those animals within 14 days.
The new bill is nearly identical to S.3693 that was first introduced by Grassley and Tester in May 2020, with the notable exception that the new bill requires at least 50% of the cattle purchases in the negotiated cash market to occur on a weekly rather than daily basis.
R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard issued the following statement in response to the bill’s introduction.
“Congress must act swiftly to pass this important bill into law to preserve the integrity of the cattle industry’s most important price discovery market – the negotiated cash market for fed cattle.
“Though alternative solutions to the ever-thinning cash market have been offered, none will be as effective as this new bill; nor can any of the alternatives be implemented in time to reverse the catastrophic disconnect between cattle prices and beef prices that has persisted for the past six years.
“Congress must not wait any longer to enact this important legislation as the chronically depressed fed cattle prices cannot sustain the critical mass of independent cattle feeders necessary to sustain a robustly competitive market for America’s cow/calf producers, backgrounders and stockers.
“Cattle producers now need to rally around this legislation as it certain to be violently opposed by those seeking to maintain the perpetual imbalance of market power between the highly concentrated beef packers and widely dispersed independent cattle producers.
“R-CALF USA is preparing an information page on its website that will be available soon.”
Red Meat Production Down 1 Percent from Last Year
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.39 billion pounds in February, down 1 percent from the 4.45 billion pounds produced in February 2020.
Beef production, at 2.11 billion pounds, was 1 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.52 million head, down 2 percent from February 2020. The average live weight was up 14 pounds from the previous year, at 1,390 pounds.
Veal production totaled 4.7 million pounds, 8 percent below February a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 33,000 head, down 17 percent from February 2020. The average live weight was up 23 pounds from last year, at 247 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.27 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.4 million head, down 3 percent from February 2020. The average live weight was up 3 pounds from the previous year, at 291 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 10.8 million pounds, was up slightly from February 2020. Sheep slaughter totaled 163,600 head, slightly below last year. The average live weight was 132 pounds, up 2 pounds from February a year ago.
By State (million lbs. - % Feb '20)
Nebraska .......: 631.1 104
Iowa ..............: 702.4 96
Kansas ...........: 432.6 91
January to February 2021 commercial red meat production was 9.19 billion pounds, down 2 percent from 2020. Accumulated beef production was down 2 percent from last year, veal was down 19 percent, pork was down 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 6 percent.
Growth Energy: COVID Assistance is Welcome Relief for Biofuels Producers
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin issuing a new round of pandemic assistance to key agriculture programs, specifically including biofuels. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor welcomed this announcement in a statement:
“We are pleased that USDA plans to provide long-awaited assistance to biofuel producers, who were some of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “At its lowest, over half of the industry was offline.
“Secretary Vilsack’s announcement that aid is on the way is a light at the end of the tunnel. We look forward to working with USDA as they iron out the full details of this program for biofuel producers and revitalize the rural economy.”
Commencing in the spring, biofuels will be a recipient of a shared $6 billion investment using discretionary funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act and other coronavirus funding that went unspent by the previous administration.
ACE Thanks USDA for Including Biofuel Producers in Plan to Distribute Unspent Pandemic Assistance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced USDA is establishing new programs to bring financial assistance to those who have been impacted by COVID-19 market disruptions, including biofuels producers. Through the initiative, called USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers, USDA is dedicating at least $6 billion to develop new programs or modify existing proposals where there is unspent pandemic relief for a variety of producers, including renewable fuels. American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings thanked USDA following its announcement:
“ACE members are enormously grateful Secretary Vilsack is ensuring a portion of the unspent funding USDA received from previous stimulus bills and the CCC will go to biofuel producers who have been fighting to survive since the pandemic became widespread in the U.S.
“We understand no one will be made whole for the historic losses they experienced due to the coronavirus pandemic, but something is better than nothing and we now know biofuel producers will not be left behind. We commit to working to support USDA’s Farm Service Agency as they develop a program to ensure biofuel producers finally get some much-needed help.”
Growth Energy Applauds Senate Effort to Extend 45Q Tax Credit
Today, Growth Energy applauded Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Shelly Moore Capito’s (R-WV) introduction of the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Tax Credit Amendments Act, bipartisan legislation which would extend the commence construction window of the Section 45Q tax credit, a credit on a per-ton basis of carbon dioxide that is sequestered, to 2030.
“As our nation moves to decarbonize the transportation sector and achieve clean energy and climate goals, real-world data continue to prove the important role that biofuels play,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Not only do biofuels like ethanol significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, but more and more ethanol producers are looking towards capturing CO2 from the production process and storing it underground or using it for other commercial applications, including dry ice production for COVID-19 vaccination storage.
“Extending the 45Q tax credit will incentivize expanded and accelerated carbon capture projects, which is necessary to reach net-zero emissions goals set by the Biden Administration. We are grateful to Senators Smith and Capito for introducing this legislation.”
In A Virtual World, Grain Buyers From East, West Africa Join Purchasing Training For First Time
For the first time, four leading grain purchasers and end-users from East and West Africa joined 15 other participants from the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region attending a course at Kansas State University's IGP Institute on grain procurement and purchasing.
Ensuring this set of U.S. grain buyers has a comprehensive understanding and familiarity with the U.S. grain marketing system is a critical component of the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) work globally.
“Having exposure to the technical assistance and expert intel provided by IGP is important for those in the region already familiar with U.S. feed grains, but also for those that may have limited engagement with the U.S. system – who may in the future become 'new' purchasers of these commodities,” said Katy Wyatt, USGC manager of global strategies.
Due to travel and in-person limitations brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the short course is being taught virtually with seven sessions taught in a live lecture format. The course covers all aspects of grain purchasing, from an overview of ocean freight and logistics and risk management tools to a review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) grain grading and standards.
“This course provides a key opportunity for customers in the region to gain insights into the complexities of the U.S. grain marketing system,” Wyatt said. “It also provides the opportunity for customers to engage directly with experts in grain procurement and purchasing, allowing them to engage with others in the region, and IGP staff to address questions they have about the U.S. grain system.”
The Middle East and Africa region remains a growing destination for U.S. grain sales, importing more than 1.5 MMT (59.1 million bushels) of new crop corn already this marketing year. It is critical for MEA customers to be familiar with how to purchase from the United States, especially as the region faces growing competition from South American and Black Sea origins. Expanding customers’ understanding of and confidence in the U.S. grain marketing system enables them to make informed and effective purchasing decisions.
As the MEA region continues to grow, the Council has specifically focused on future market opportunities for U.S. feed grains in both East and West Africa – especially those buyers working within the poultry and feed industries.
“Understanding the U.S. futures market and basis trading is essential for customers globally to make informed purchasing decisions. A better understanding of the U.S. grain supply allows customers to be assured that they are purchasing quality, trusted feed grains when purchasing from the U.S.,” Wyatt said.
“The training is essential for these East and West African buyers because it will help pave the way for increased demand for U.S. feed grains across the MEA region.”
Arva Announces Carbon Ready Program to Support Trusted Advisors Market carbon the right way with Arva Carbon Ready
Arva Intelligence is excited to announce the Arva Carbon Ready Program to support trusted advisors and their growers to prepare for emerging carbon markets. Arva Carbon Ready starts with agronomic data farmers and advisors already collect and fills in gaps where data is missing. Stay ahead of the growing demand for nature-based offsets by matching that data to the highest value credit opportunities and quantify the impact of current practices.
“When it comes to carbon in agriculture, it is kind of a wild west out there” according to Mark Isbell, co-founder of Arva Intelligence and originator of some of the first carbon offsets in rice production. “What will differentiate the high quality carbon offsets from a flood of commodity credits will be the data, your data, that supports the results and documents your regenerative practices.”
Arva Director of Sales Matt Rohlik says “empowering trusted advisors to bring their growers to the carbon markets is a natural parallel to Arva’s products and portfolio. Instead of going to five different platforms to collect data, we bring it into one platform to calculate your farm’s potential. In the end, you can’t manage what you don’t measure.”
To learn more about Arva Intelligence’s Carbon Ready Program, visit the website at arvaintelligence.com.
IGC Expects 2021-22 Season to Reap Record Grain Harvests
Global grain production is projected to hit a record level in the 2021-22 season, the International Grains Council said Thursday. Total grain production is expected to hit 2.287 billion metric tons next season, almost 63 million tons more than the intergovernmental body forecasts for the current season.
Despite the record levels of production, the IGC expects carryover stocks to remain broadly level however, as demand rises to match supply. The IGC projects the world to consume 2.286 billion tons of grains next season, leaving stockpiles steady at 609 million tons. Supply and demand for the current 2020-21 season is also expected to be higher than earlier forecasts.
The IGC raised its production forecasts for the current season by 9 million metric tons to 2.224 billion tons and upped its consumption forecasts by 10 million tons to 2.232 billion tons. Those changes, coupled with smaller revisions to its forecasts for trade and exports, means the IGC expects stockpiles to fall by 8 million tons year-on-year in the 2020-21 season, to 609 million tons.
Farmers for Free Trade Announces New Board Members
Farmers for Free Trade, the bipartisan, non-profit dedicated to supporting policies that benefit trade and export opportunities for American farmers, food producers and ranchers, today announced five new Board members. Farmers for Free Trade is a coalition supported and comprised of America’s leading ag organizations and businesses. The new board members include key policy leaders from throughout the food and ag supply chain. The new members of the Board are:
Michael Anderson, Vice President, Trade and Industry Relations, Corn Refiners Association
Bob Hemesath, Iowa corn farmer and hog operation owner, Iowa Corn and National Corn Growers Association member
Angela Hofmann, Co-Founder of Farmers for Free Trade; Practice Head, Eurasia Group
Lauren Sturgeon, Director of Government Relations, CoBank
Maria Zieba, Director for International Affairs, National Pork Producers Council
“Farmers for Free Trade’s newest Board members have all built careers that reflect our central mission: to help deliver economic opportunity for American agriculture,” said Brian Kuehl, Executive Director for Farmers for Free Trade. “Whether that’s through opening new markets, modernizing ag infrastructure or limiting unnecessary barriers to trade, these are leaders who know the policies and people we are fighting for. They are going to help lead our efforts to promote the job-creating benefits of trade and infrastructure with a new Administration and Congress. They will also help us better tell the stories of farmers who want access to the 95 percent of customers who are outside America’s borders. American ag and food producers, who have helped us weather this pandemic with a steady reliable food supply, need our support to strengthen supply chains and open new markets. Our new Board members will help lead the way.”
Sara May, former President of the Farmers for Free Trade Board of Directors has retired from the Board. Angela Marshall Hofmann Co-founded Farmers for Free Trade and served as co-director for the past four years. With Sara’s retirement and the addition of these five members, Farmers for Free Trade is now governed by a seven-member Board of Directors. Steven Noah, who serves on the board of his family farm in Iowa and has led many international trade efforts, serves as the Board President and Karen Heyneman, a rancher from Montana serves as the Board Secretary.
“We’re pleased with the diversity of interests on the Board of Directors,” said Steve Noah, President of Farmers for Free Trade. “With members from leading ag organizations and businesses and with producers and policy experts, this organization is well positioned to understand the needs of America’s farmers and to continue making a difference for food and agriculture in 2021 and beyond.”
Farmers for Free Trade is a 501(c)(4) non-profit dedicated to informing the public about the benefits of free trade and mobilizing farmers and ranchers to take action to support beneficial trade agreements that expand export opportunities for American farms and ranches.
Black Farmer President Testifies Once Again Before Congress on State of Black Farmers in America
Today, John W. Boyd, Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA), testifies before Congress after providing over 3,300 pages of supporting documents.
"Today is an important day for the nation's Black farmers and for all of those who continue to work tirelessly to end racial discrimination and differential treatment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture," said John Boyd. "We are supportive of the steps taken by Congress and the White House to provide Emergency Debt Relief for Black and other Farmers of Color. I have been fighting for this kind of relief for Black Farmers for over thirty years. This is long overdue Relief for Black Farmers."
The NBFA and the team that has supported the organization's efforts on behalf of the nation's Black farmers are one major step closer to achieving economic relief for the thousands of Black and other farmers of color who have historically been underserved.
Abraham Lincoln, who is probably best remembered as the President who freed slaves, also founded the Department of Agriculture. In 1862, when President Lincoln founded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), he referred to it as the People's Department.
Black Farmers named it The Last Plantation and rightfully so based upon its proven discriminatory history. Timeline: Black Farmers and USDA, 1920 to Present
"The NBFA continues to call on Congress to assure accountability and transparency from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and USDA. While Black farmers had legislative successes during the Obama Administration, far too little was done during his tenure to address the long legacy of discrimination against Black farmers. Doors continue to be closed to many Black farmers and today our members face enormous challenges - including a system that disproportionately leaves them behind. To level the playing field and right these historic wrongs, Mr. Vilsack as Secretary must expand Black farmer access to land and credit and reform USDA's income support and insurance programs to end systemic discrimination. He must create outreach programs to help Black farmers participate in these programs and lift the veil of secrecy that hides the true extent of racial discrimination at USDA. I stand ready to work with Secretary Vilsack to meet these challenges - and to hold him accountable."
Now is the time to ensure Black, Native American and other socially disadvantaged farmers who have proven discrimination at the USDA as evidenced in the Glickman Report, Love vs Vilsack and Garcia vs Vilsack lawsuits receive debt relief, technical assistance and those farmers facing foreclosures are resolved.
We appreciate and applaud House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott, Vice Chair Alma Adams and Ranking Member Glenn GT Thompson for chairing A Hearing to Review the State of Black Farmers in the U.S. with participation from the full Agriculture Committee membership, which includes 8 members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
The hearing, which is virtual, will begin Thursday, March 25th at 12:00pm ET and will be available on the House Agriculture Committee's YouTube channel.
Witnesses Include: Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
This hearing will discuss the detrimental impact of longstanding, systemic discrimination by private and government institutions on Black farmers over the past century, including discriminatory practices from the USDA, private lenders, and others.
Black farmers in the United States have seen reductions in number of farmers and total acres in the past century. Between 1900 and 1974, the number of farmers declined by approximately 60%, while the number of Black farmers declined by 94% during the same period (USDA, Census of Agriculture, 1974). Additionally, in 1920 Black farms operated 45 million acres, primarily in the South. By 2017, that shrunk to just 1.1 million acres.
AgriThority® Research Confirms N-Fixing Biological Strains Can Significantly Contribute to Nitrogen Required by Corn
The role of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in non-legume crops such as cereals as an alternate source to chemical fertilizers has been a longtime goal in science and industry. Efforts in research and development of BNF in cereals still have not resulted in high enough Nitrogen (N) generation to be a total replacement for chemical fertilizers. However, recent research indicates BNF can contribute up to 30 percent of N requirement of a corn crop.
BNF is a natural process by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into ammonia or related compounds by microorganisms known as diazotrophs. This natural mechanism has many potential benefits for the environment and economics. Examples of N-fixing bacteria include species of Rhizobium, Azospirillum, Bacillus, Klebsiella and Gluconacetobacter.
"Historical reports have shown relevant BNF from natural sources in certain non-legume crops such as sugarcane or rice," says Ignacio Colonna, AgriThority® Global Director, Science & Technology. "BNF supplies a large amount of natural nitrogen into cultivated agricultural systems, particularly in legume crops (alfalfa, clover, and soybean) through symbiotic N-fixing Rhizobia that are both naturally present in the soil and applied to seeds or soil as external inputs."
In recent years, new bacterial strains have been discovered and developed through a range of biotechnological approaches. Some of these strains show a significant capacity to enhance plant growth in cereals through N fixation. Applied both as in-furrow application or seed treatment, the bacteria strains have variable responses in non-legume crops such as corn, lettuce, tomato, and strawberry.
"In the last five years, AgriThority conducted more than 100 greenhouse and field studies in the U.S. and Argentina to evaluate selected wild-type and genetically edited strains of non-symbiotic diazotrophic and plant-associated bacteria," Colonna says. "The best performing strains in these corn trials have shown a replacement of chemical nitrogen sources from BNF in amounts equivalent to 20 to 30 percent of total crop fertilizer requirements in certain environments. We are evaluating early generations of a large pipeline of experimental strains, so we expect to see steep changes in these contributions in the next five years. We also are excited about evaluating these technologies in other grass species like wheat and barley."
Learnings from statistical analysis of these large trial data sets allowed the AgriThority research team to refine general guidelines in experimental design for BNF studies. For example, for products aiming at a N fertilizer replacement of approximately 15 percent, a minimum of 12 to 15 locations of small plot replicated trials are required for a statistically robust evaluation of treatment effects. A minimum of 8 to 10 trials are required to detect the true response of BNF bacteria with approximately 25 percent replacement amount at reasonable thresholds of statistical power and type I errors.
"While these guidelines need to be adjusted to each geography, they provide us with a good reference to maximize chances of obtaining valuable information from each research project," Colonna says. "Adapting your experimental design to the expected treatment responses is critical for an effective testing program."
Also, careful selection of experimental sites and management of crop chemical fertilizers proved critical in BNF studies, as crop response to BNF bacteria was clearer at moderate N soil contents compared to very low or high N soils.
"Testing at very low nutrient contents can be a challenge, as it usually compromises experimental error through higher within-trial heterogeneity," Colonna says. "A realistic assessment of these technologies requires a balanced weight of these environments in the overall experiment network. A clear breakout of results can properly quantify the effects across different environments to determine viability in each crop."
No comments:
Post a Comment