Tuesday March 16 Ag News

 Food in the Field

Planting season is right around the corner! Eating healthy during this season is a challenge for many reasons, including the lack of time to sit down for a meal, the issue of dining in a field and stress leading to less healthy eating patterns. Food in the Field is a FREE online nutrition education program created to help farmers and their families make healthy eating choices during planting and harvest. To register and get started, go to https://food.unl.edu/foodinthefield or contact Hannah Guenther in the Cuming County Extension office at hannah.guenther@unl.edu or call 402-372-6006.



Ricketts, Food and Agriculture Interests Promote March 20 “Meat on the Menu Day”

Numerous food and agriculture interests have rallied together to offer support and promote Gov. Pete Ricketts’ proclamation of March 20 as “Meat on the Menu Day” in Nebraska. The declaration encourages Nebraskans to purchase and eat beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and other meats, while highlighting the role of meat in a healthy diet. The proclamation supports Nebraska agriculture and consumer choice in response to “MeatOUT” Day, a promotion sponsored by activists working to end animal agriculture and meat consumption. Gov. Ricketts signed the proclamation Monday, March 15 during an event held at Frank Stoysich Meats shop in Omaha.

“Agriculture is Nebraska’s number one industry and beef is our largest segment of production,” said Gov. Ricketts. “While meat is one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat, there are radical anti-agriculture activists that are working to end meat production and our way of life here in Nebraska. I have designated March 20 as ‘Meat on the Menu Day’ to highlight the importance of meat in a good diet as well as to provide an opportunity to support our farmers and ranchers.

Support for Gov. Ricketts “Meat on the Menu Day” Proclamation

Steve Wellman, Nebraska Director of Agriculture
“Agriculture continues to be Nebraska’s largest economic driver supporting one out of every four Nebraska jobs. Agriculture delivers $21 billion in gross receipts to the state each year, while cash receipts to Nebraska from meat products alone account for $12 billion a year. The production of livestock for nutritious meats plays a large role in our food chain and our state’s economy. I want to thank Nebraska’s farmers, ranchers and the many businesses that support them, and encourage them to continue their great work of raising and preparing safe, healthy meats for us and consumers across the world.”

Amber Pankonin – Registered Dietitian & Personal Chef, Stirlist.com
“Lean animal protein is a high-quality protein, providing all nine essential amino acids. It also provides vitamins and minerals that are important for growth and development, especially in children. Those nutrients are also important to support immune health and overall health and wellness, as well as weight management when consumed in moderation. I would encourage everyone to personalize their plate with a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean animal protein.”

Mark McHargue – Nebraska Farm Bureau President
“Our farmers and ranchers have a tremendous story to tell about how we help provide food, fuel, and other necessities for the people of our state, country, and world. But it’s also a story about how we care for our natural resources and the environment. Since 1990 we’ve doubled U.S. beef production, while at the same time reducing our per-unit methane emissions by eight percent. Even greater reductions hold true across our pork and dairy sectors. The trend in agriculture has been and continues to be that we’re using science and technology so we can more efficiently meet the demands of our growing world, with less resources and less impact, in both livestock and crop-based agriculture. Our members are proud to be part of the larger team that helps put meat on the menu for all of us to enjoy.”

Ansley Fellers – Nebraska Grocery Industry Association Executive Director
“Today’s shoppers demand abundance and variety on store shelves. Consumers are looking to local retailers for affordable, healthy meals, and even seek guidance when it comes to nutrition and value. Our stores continue to meet those demands. It’s clear consumers continue to want protein and nutrient rich foods, and in many cases want efficiencies. Animal protein offers both. The last thing we want to do is limit consumer choice and ultimately drive up costs. We are thankful to live and work in a state where leaders celebrate the agriculture industry, family businesses, science, and consumer choice.”

Bill Rhea – Nebraska Cattlemen President
“The beef community takes great pride and has a long-standing commitment to caring for animals and providing families with the safest, highest quality beef possible. The Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program is a program that trains farmers and ranchers on best practices for cattle management techniques to ensure animals and the environment are cared for within a set of guidelines and regulations across the U.S. beef industry. BQA allows us to raise better beef so consumers have more confidence buying it. More than 85 percent of USDA beef comes from BQA certified farms. We thank the Governor for his ongoing support of Nebraska agriculture.”

Al Juhnke – Nebraska Pork Producers Association Executive Director
“Our product is 100 percent real pork, grown by 100 percent real farmers from Nebraska. Our family pork producers are part of the fabric that makes up rural Nebraska. These men and women send their kids to our schools, attend our churches, they’re part of our boards and civic organizations across the state, they provide jobs, they’re our neighbors, friends, and relatives. I ask Nebraskans to join in showing your support for our farm families across Nebraska by putting meat on the menu and celebrating on March 20.”

John Wade – Nebraska Restaurant Association President
“Beef has a very long tradition in Omaha, going back to the stockyards days. One of the most inquired menu items that we have in our restaurants, particularly the ones in the Old Market in Omaha where we have a lot of tourism, is an Omaha steak. When people come to Omaha, they want to try some Nebraska beef. On behalf of Nebraska’s restaurant industry, I invite everyone to come out March 20 for Meat on the Menu Day and enjoy the many different meat options at our Nebraska restaurants.”



Rob-See-Co Acquires NorthStar Genetics

Rob-See-Co, an independent seed company located in Elkhorn, Neb. acquired NorthStar Genetics, a Minnesota-based seed company. The acquisition enables Rob-See-Co to expand in the soybean market and provide its expertise in the corn market to NorthStar Genetics Dealers and growers.

"We are excited to welcome the NorthStar Genetics team to join our Rob-See-Co family," said Rob Robinson, Rob-See-Co CEO. "Rob-See-Co and NorthStar Genetics share the culture of a regional, family-owned company. Both companies offer a simple, transparent business model and value the customer relationship. Given the synergies between the two companies, we see a mutually beneficial relationship."

Rob-See-Co expects to work with 100% of NorthStar Genetics' Dealers and will continue to sell NorthStar Genetics brands through the 2021 growing season. In 2022, the company plans to sell solely Innotech brand soybeans but continue to sell NorthStar Genetics corn products along with Rob-See-Co corn products. The company will operate out of Rob-See-Co's headquarters in Elkhorn, NE.

Both company's customers will benefit from an expanded product selection. NorthStar Genetics customers will gain the efficiencies of Rob-See-Co's operations, including broad germplasm and trait access, and improved testing and characterization. Rob-See-Co customers will benefit from NorthStar Genetics' soybean production expertise. All customers will continue working with their respective NorthStar Genetics and Rob-See-Co representatives, as there is virtually no overlap in territories.



Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Publishes Results and Videos of 2020 Farmer-Conducted Research Online

Farmers are tasked with finding the best agronomic practices that work for their operations. In spite of the challenges that weather, markets and the current pandemic present, on-farm research can play an important role from an economical and environmental standpoint, even in the most challenging years. As tractors will be hitting the fields soon, now is the time to make plans that will impact operations throughout the growing season. On-farm research provides producers with the opportunity to address critical production, profitability and natural resources questions.

Farmers participating in the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network conducted nearly 90 on-farm research studies in 2020, covering a wide range of topics. Practices such as cover crops, row spacing, planting population, starter fertilizer and more were evaluated, as well as technologies such as drones, sensors, and models for nitrogen management and variable-rate seeding technology.

You can access these research results and benefit from the research conducted by farmers across the state by downloading a PDF copy of the 2020 on-farm research results. New this year, the online results book features enhanced content such as links to short videos about selected studies.

“Throughout the growing season, we recorded and produced short videos about ongoing studies so people could see how studies were progressing in the field,” said Laura Thompson, Nebraska Extension educator. “This year, as people flip through the result book, they will be able to watch these videos and then read the report to see the results of the project.”

In addition to the PDF book, the Results Finder online tool — produced by the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network — allows users to easily access and search for results of over 800 on-farm research studies dating back to 1990. The book and Results Finder are available on the On-Farm Research Network site https://cropwatch.unl.edu/farmresearch/resultshome.

“Our goal is to provide reliable research that farmers and agronomists can use to make informed management decisions,” Thompson said. “On-farm research is a great way to generate local and relevant agronomic information. We are excited to continue partnering with producers to conduct on-farm research in 2021.”

The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network is open to farmers across the state and welcomes new participants. Conducting on-farm research is a great way to address questions related to the productivity, profitability and sustainability of your operation. Nebraska Extension educators can provide technical expertise to set up robust research studies and analyze and evaluate research results. There are new research projects, or custom protocols can be developed to address questions that are relevant to your operation.



Ethanol: Emerging Issues Virtual Forum to Feature Experts on Biofuels, FFVs, Carbon Sequestration, and Biocampuses

Biofuels’ stakeholders and experts from across the nation will join virtually for the annual Ethanol: Emerging Issues Forum March 25-26. Governor Pete Ricketts has been invited to open the event and welcome attendees.
 
The Nebraska Ethanol Board and Renewable Fuels Nebraska organize the forum, which is in its 16th year. It brings together ethanol producers and others integrally involved in production, technology, policymaking and marketing of biofuels and its co-products. The event runs from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Friday.
 
Topics include an overview and discussion of the most pressing federal policies, regulatory actions, and markets affecting ethanol demand. The federal policy panel includes industry leaders from the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, and the American Coalition for Ethanol.
 
Speakers will also address the future of FFVs, carbon capture and sequestration in Nebraska, biocampuses, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln engineering researchers will share detailed results of their E30 Demonstration, which showed that the higher blend was as safe to use as E15 in non-flex fuel vehicles.
 
More than 150 ethanol industry stakeholders will attend the forum. Online registration and a detailed agenda are available on the Nebraska Ethanol Board website https://ethanol.nebraska.gov/. College and university students are also welcome to attend.
 
The Ethanol: Emerging Issues Virtual Forum 2021 is presented by the Nebraska Ethanol Board and Renewable Fuels Nebraska with a range of local and national sponsors. Signature sponsors include Bio Nebraska, CoBank, Farm Credit Services of America, Fluid Quip, Husch Blackwell, and Nebraska Corn Board. Supporting sponsors include American Coalition for Ethanol, Pacha Soap Co., Phibro Ethanol Performance Group, and USDA Rural Development.



UNL Student Takes Top Honors at AFBF-YF&R Virtual Collegiate Discussion Meet

The winner of the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Virtual Collegiate Discussion Meet is Abigail Durheim of the University of Nebraska. She was awarded the top prize following a discussion on solutions that would enhance the vibrancy and economic sustainability of agriculture and rural communities.

Durheim is a senior studying agricultural and environmental sciences communication at the University of Nebraska and will receive her bachelor’s degree later this year.  She grew up in Fredericksburg, Virginia; just 50 miles from Washington DC.  She is a 3rd generation 4-H member, and is still very active in the organization.  

The Virtual Collegiate Discussion Meet, conducted using web conferencing again this year, is designed to replicate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each collegiate participant. Participants are judged on their ability to exchange ideas and information on an agricultural topic and find answers or solutions related to it.

Durheim qualified for the national competition upon winning the Nebraska Farm Bureau Collegiate Discussion Meet. As the national winner, she received a $3,000 scholarship from competitive event sponsor CHS Foundation.

In addition to Durheim, three finalists participated in three rounds of discussion before making it to the Final Four round. Finalists were Rebekah Alstede, Pennsylvania; Kaylee Fariam, Arizona; and Allie Lock, Missouri. They each received $1,500 courtesy of CHS Foundation.

Twenty-four competitors participated in this year’s Virtual Collegiate Discussion Meet. All competitors received a $150 scholarship courtesy of CHS Foundation, in recognition of their efforts and making it to the national level; students advancing to the “Sweet 16” round received an additional $250 scholarship. CHS provided a total of $15,000 in scholarship funds for the contest.

The YF&R program includes men and women between the ages of 18 and 35. The program’s goals are to help younger Farm Bureau members learn more about agriculture, network with other farmers and realize their full potential as leaders in agriculture and Farm Bureau. The Virtual Discussion Meet was held during AFBF’s 2021 FUSION Reimagined Conference, which wrapped up Saturday.



Economics of Soil Health Systems on Nebraska Farms

Healthy soils are good for farms and the environment. However, investing in soil health is also a business decision. The Soil Health Institute and Cargill conducted a project to provide farmers with the economic information they need when deciding whether to adopt soil health practices and systems. The Institute interviewed 100 farmers in 9 states who have adopted soil health systems and used partial budget analysis to evaluate their economics. This webinar Thursday March 25th at 1:00pm CDT will present results for the 12 farms assessed in Nebraska.

Registration is free but required. The webinar will be recorded so those who register will receive a link to the recording, along with a Fact Sheet describing the study’s results.  Participants can register here:   https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PdIECNp5SZyD4Zwwao7Mug.  

There is a separate webinar that will present results for the 10 farms assessed in Iowa.... that webinar is Thursday March 18th at 1:00pm CDT.... register here:  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ncr9yx7pTzShHS3bt7UdnA.  

Economics of Soil Health Systems on Nebraska Farms (and Iowa Farms) is supported through the generosity of Cargill.



New Publications Focus on Protecting Swine Building Investments

With around 50 million animals raised annually, Iowa is by far the nation’s leading pork producing state. Most of these animals are housed in confinement production facilities.

Many of these facilities are aging and have significant maintenance and repair needs. Some newer facilities are deteriorating more rapidly than expected. Roof and concrete corrosion are particularly common issues.

To help the swine industry take a critical look at their facilities and identify areas of improvement, a team of agricultural engineers with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has compiled a series of new publications.

Five new publications are available, covering topics like enhancing the longevity of swine building components, gable and attic air intakes, concrete inspection, and installation and maintenance of wood roof trusses.

“We’ve been hearing a lot of feedback that suggested these were topics of concern for the industry,” said Kapil Arora, field agricultural engineer with ISU Extension and Outreach and one of the leading authors. “This prompted us to look at these topics to find alternatives and new methods to understand and manage the maintenance needs of these facilities.”

Regular building inspection and maintenance can increase the life of buildings, reducing annual costs, preventing system failures, and reducing inefficiencies that can negatively impact animal health, production and economic returns. Swine producers can benefit from guidance on best practices and new techniques to protect their swine building investment.

Arora said a potential problem is the recirculation of undesirable gases during periods of minimum ventilation in winter. The ventilation fans pull the gases out, but these gases can often recirculate through the soffits, causing premature damage to the facility roof. One solution is to close the soffit air intakes and install new air intakes on the gable end of the facility.

The publications are available free through the ISU Extension and Outreach store. They include:
    Enhancing the Longevity of Swine Building Components (AE 3543)
    Swine Building Ventilation System Maintenance and Troubleshooting Tools (AE 3544)
    Gable End Attic Air Intakes for Swine Building Ventilation (AE 3545)
    Concrete Inspection in Swine Buildings (AE 3547)
    Installation and Maintenance of Wood Roof Trusses in Farm Buildings (AE 3548)

The publications have useful information for swine facility owners and for contractors involved in their construction or maintenance. Additional publications are planned in the future. For more information, Arora can be reached at 515-462-1001.

Additional leading authors include Brian Dougherty, Kris Kohl, Shawn Shouse, and Kristina Tebockhorst.



Grower Survey to Assess Herbicide Drift Damage in the North Central U.S.

A special project group of the North Central Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center wants to learn about your concerns and experiences with herbicide drift. The group is surveying growers of fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops in the upper Midwest.

To truly understand the frequency, severity and economic impact of herbicide drift on specialty crops, we need to hear from growers: growers who have experienced drift damage, growers who can share their concerns around this issue, and even growers who have not dealt with drift but who grow sensitive crops in drift-prone regions. Survey responses are needed to establish herbicide drift as a serious economic and regulatory concern in Nebraska and across our region.

Please complete the survey... http://go.osu.edu/drift32.
 
Who Should Take This Survey?
The study is for commercial growers of fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota or Wisconsin. Even if you have never experienced herbicide damage, we would still like to hear from you if you grow specialty crops in one of these states.

Why Is This Survey Necessary?
Dicamba and 2,4-D drift damage has made headlines in recent years, but no study to-date has attempted to quantify the overall impact drift has on the specialty crop industry. While all states have a way for growers to file a drift complaint, the process and requirements are inconsistent and may involve time and information that a grower does not have. In most states, for instance, the source of the drift must be identified. Research has found that dicamba and 2,4-D both have the potential to travel for miles in specific weather conditions, making source identification difficult.
 
What Good Will This Survey Do?
This study is designed to assess the potential and actual frequency of drift damage, along with the severity and economic impact of such damage. The survey includes questions on grower awareness, experience, actions and decisions related to herbicide drift and drift-risk management. The responses will help establish needs for research on drift mechanisms, prevention and remediation; and/or the need to review current policy and reporting requirements.

How Long Will It Take?
The survey takes 5-20 minutes to complete, depending on your experience with drift damage.

How Will This Data Be Shared?
Summarized survey data will be shared broadly with regulatory agencies, university educators and researchers, agricultural policy makers, grower support organizations and the general public using news articles, report summaries and peer-reviewed journal articles. While this study is administered by Ohio State University, it was planned in partnership with industry experts across the region who will assist with sharing results. Participants may also request a copy of the study summary.

How Will My Data Be Used and Protected?
Your privacy is important. No individual survey data will be released or shared beyond the limited group of project staff. The survey questions and procedures have been reviewed by the institutional review board at Ohio State University and are designed to protect your data and identity. Additional details on privacy and confidentiality are provided at the beginning of the survey.

How Can I Learn More?
The North Central IPM Center’s special project group created a series of fact sheets on herbicide drift especially for specialty crop growers. The series includes: Overview of Dicamba and 2,4-D Drift Issues, Frequently Asked Questions, Preparing for Drift Damage and Responding to Drift Damage. Fact sheets and more information about our special project group and study are available on the North Central IPM Center website http://go.osu.edu/ipm-drift.  

This study is facilitated by Ohio State University and is funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture through agreement 2018-70006-28884. This study is being conducted in cooperation with regional universities and non-profit grower organizations, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.



OATS AND ITALIAN RYEGRASS FOR HIGH QUALITY PASTURE
– Jerry Volesky, NE Extension Range and Forage Specialist
 
Good quality pasture might be in short supply this spring.  If you need some spring pasture, plant oats or a mix of oats and Italian ryegrass.
 
Spring-planted oats grows during spring when we are likely to receive rain and when moisture is used efficiently to produce forage.  Oats can be grazed earlier than anything else you plant this spring.  Once it gets five or six inches tall, which is usually about the third week of May, it quickly can shoot up to a foot tall in almost no time.  Unfortunately, once oats get that tall it may not stool out, tiller, and regrow after grazing very well.  So it’s important to start grazing early when oats get six to eight inches tall to stimulate it to form new tillers.
 
After this first grazing, keep oat regrowth between six and sixteen inches tall. Begin with a light stocking rate, about one animal every two acres.  Then adjust animal numbers as oat growth changes.
 
For a longer grazing season, plant a mixture of oats and Italian ryegrass.  Oats comes on strong early, while Italian ryegrass tends to wait until June before it grows rapidly.  Then it just keeps growing high quality leaves the rest of the year if moisture is available.
 
For straight oats, drill at least two bushels per acre in late March to early April.  Oats will be 6 to 8 inches tall and ready to graze in about 7 weeks.  With good moisture and 40 to 60 pounds of nitrogen, oats can provide a couple months of grazing for 1 or 2 cows per acre.  For extended grazing, drill oats plus around 15 to 20 pounds of Italian ryegrass per acre.  Your stocking rate might need to be a little lighter at first, but with some timely moisture or irrigation you can continue to get great grass all summer and fall.



Pulled Pork Madness Voting Begins With 'Sweet 16' Matchups

As March Madness tips off, so does the fourth-annual Pulled Pork Madness. The bracket-style social media contest, presented by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA), pits Iowa restaurants against each other for the best pulled pork sandwich.
 
This year’s “Sweet 16” matchups were announced Monday and include several past contenders. Pork fans have until 10 a.m. Friday, March 19 to vote and help determine which advance to the next round.
 
Pulled Pork Madness, which mimics the NCAA’s college basketball tournament, follows a similar narrowing process that gets restaurants to the “Elite Eight” and “Final Four.” Earlier this month, IPPA received 544 nominations for 65 Iowa restaurants. The two restaurants with the most votes in each of IPPA’s eight districts make up the “Sweet 16” bracket.

Restaurants in the “Sweet 16” are:
    District 1: The Roadhouse, Orange City, vs. The Lunchbox, Spencer
    District 2: Double M Catering & Sandwich Shop, Emmetsburg, vs. Smokin' Grumps Barbecue, Rockwell City
    District 3: Whiskey Road Tavern & Grill vs. Starbeck's Smokehouse, both in Cedar Falls
    District 4: Backwoods Bar and Grill, McGregor, vs. 1st & Main, Dubuque
    District 5: Junction Cafe, Bedford, vs. Bordenaro's Meat Market, Carroll
    District 6: Timber Ridge Country Market & Cattle Company, Osceola, vs. UNRVLD Barbecue Bar, West Des Moines
    District 7: Smokin' J's Barbecue, Lynnville, vs. Legends American Grill, Marshalltown
    District 8: Smilee's Ice Cream & More, De Witt, vs. Smokin' Butt Barbecue, Davenport

Other voting deadlines are March 24 to determine the “Final Four” and March 29 to choose the final two. The championship round ends April 1, with the winner announced April 2.

Cast votes and see the results from each round at IPPA’s website, https://www.iowapork.org, and by following the organization’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/IowaPork/. Also, keep up with the contest on social media using the #PulledPorkMadness hashtag.

“A year ago this month, restaurants across the state faced mandatory COVID-19 shutdowns, followed by months of capacity restrictions and slow business,” noted Hannah Spurr, IPPA’s consumer outreach director. “This contest not only celebrates great pulled pork—but also rallies support for local establishments as they recover from this pandemic.”

Along with bragging rights, the top vote-getter will receive $250 and a “Pulled Pork Madness” plaque. Previous winners include Whatcha Smokin? BBQ + Brew in Luther (2020); Warehouse Barbecue Co. + Brewhouse in Ottumwa (2019); and Moo’s BBQ in Newton (2018).





National Guard Troops in D.C. Receive Meals from Founding Farmers

To feed National Guard troops on duty in our nation’s capital, Farmers Union Enterprises (FUE) donated $50,000 to provide roughly 5,000 meals from D.C.-based restaurants Farmers Fishers Bakers and Founding Farmers, both of which are part of Farmers Restaurant Group. FUE is made up of several Farmers Union-owned businesses in the Upper Midwest, the dividends of which help fund Farmers Union organizations in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, as well as National Farmers Union.

“We all owe a debt of gratitude to the National Guard, who have spent months of their valuable time protecting American democracy. But residents of Washington, D.C., have a unique appreciation for the work they have done to keep us and our beloved city safe,” said National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew, whose office is mere blocks from the United States Capitol. “As farmers, one of the best ways we know how to thank these brave individuals for their sacrifice is with food. We hope that these hearty, wholesome meals from farmer-owned restaurants will adequately convey our admiration and help give them the spirit to continue performing their invaluable service.”  

The first delivery of lunch and dinner meals was made this morning to the D.C. Armory, where they will be distributed to National Guard troops. Several more deliveries will be made over the next four weeks. “My team and I are honored to be able to provide delicious meals to those who serve and protect each and every day,” said Farmers Restaurant Group co-owner Dan Simons, “and have sincere gratitude to our farmer-owners for their generosity with funding this mission.”



USDA Announces Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety and Other Key Staff Appointments

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the names of individuals who will hold senior positions in Washington, D.C.

Sandra Eskin was named Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety. Sandra comes to USDA from The Pew Charitable Trusts where she served as the Project Director for Food Safety. Prior to joining Pew, she was a public policy consultant to consumer and public interest organizations, providing strategic and policy advice on a range of consumer protection issues, including food safety, dietary supplement safety, and food and drug labeling and advertising. Sandra held the roles of Federal Government Staff Attorney and Legislative Representative for the Consumer Federation of America and served as Deputy Director of the Produce Safety Project, a Pew initiative at Georgetown University. She has served on numerous federal advisory committees and received her bachelor’s degree from Brown University and her juris doctor from the University of California Hastings College of the Law.

“Sandra’s deep experience in food safety will strengthen USDA’s dedication to ensuring a safe, secure food supply for consumers and help to protect the safety of federal meat inspectors and workers throughout the food chain,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Eyang Garrison was named Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy Secretary. Prior to joining USDA, Eyang served as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio. She previously held various roles at USDA, including Program Analyst for the Food and Nutrition Service and Legislative Analyst in the Office of Congressional Relations. She also served as a Child Nutrition Policy Analyst for the Food Research and Action Center and as a Legislative Assistant for Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin. Eyang holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Jeremy Adamson was named Policy Advisor for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs in the Foreign Agricultural Service. Most recently Jeremy served as the Portfolio Manager for Certis USA. Previously, he held roles in account management and market development with Corteva Agrisciences and worked as a Crop Consultant and Plant Health and Nutrition Specialist with Nutrien. Jeremy is a native of Merrillville, Ind. and graduated from Purdue University with bachelor’s degree from the College of Agricultural Economics.

Edyael Casaperalta was named Senior Policy Advisor for the Rural Utilities Services agency. Casaperalta is an attorney who has supported indigenous and underrepresented communities in telecommunications matters. Most recently, she served as ACI Project Manager for AMERIND, the only 100-percent Tribally owned insurance provider in the United States, where she supported the company’s efforts to bring high-speed broadband to Tribal Nations, businesses, and communities. She was a fellow in the American Indian Law Program at the University of Colorado Law School. Casaperalta also served for more than seven years with the Center for Rural Strategies as a Research and Program Associate and author with the Daily Yonder, an online news service dedicated to rural issues. She received a bachelor’s degree from Occidental College, a master’s from Ohio University, and a juris doctor from the University of Colorado Law School. She is from Elsa, Texas.

“We are honored to have professionals of the caliber of Eyang, Jeremy and Edyael join our team,” said Vilsack. “Their talents will help us build back a stronger, more nimble and more equitable USDA that serves all Americans.”



FBN Direct Launches Broad Portfolio of High Quality Biological Solutions

Farmer’s Business Network, Inc. (FBN®), the independent farmer-to-farmer network, today announced its launch of 17 new biological products available to US-based members through FBN Direct®.

Biological products are designed to maximize soil and plant potential, optimize chemical and fertilizer inputs, and drive long-term, sustainable farming practices that help to maximize return on investment. Over the past year, FBN has vetted a host of biological technologies and, as a result, curated a portfolio of great value, high-quality biological products designed to help farmers maximize their profit potential from the ground up.

“The launch of the biological product portfolio through FBN Direct is one of many steps we are taking as a company to provide farmers with solutions that combine the benefits of sustainability and profit potential at the farm gate,” said Amol Deshpande, CEO and co-founder of Farmers Business Network. “We are committed to leadership and innovation in this space, now and in the future, through our expanding product offering, Biological On-Farm R&D Network and the Gradable™ platform.”

The portfolio of biological products from FBN includes a suite of solutions covering soil prebiotics, soil probiotics, photosynthetic enhancers, carbon sources and advanced micronutrients. In practice, these products utilize the power of biology to free up nutrients in the soil, add vital nutrition and help protect plant vigor and health from weather or chemical stress. They provide another tool in the toolbox for farmers to unlock the profit potential of their fields, and open doors to capture incremental value from premiums in the emerging carbon markets.

FBN Direct Biological Portfolio
Soil prebiotics can be thought of as primers for the soil. These products contain biomolecules that help to stimulate microbial activity, providing an energy source that puts the natural biology of the soil to work. This increased microbial activity helps to enhance the health and productivity of the soil and the efficient use of synthetic fertilizers.  The FBN lineup of soil prebiotics includes GCS Catalyst™.

Soil probiotics are live microorganisms with targeted functions that are intended to help improve soil function and enhance nutrient availability and delivery to the crop. The FBN lineup of soil probiotics includes Inject-N™ and Inject-PK™.

Photosynthetic enhancers are foliar-applied biostimulants that aid a crop’s ability to convert light energy into chemical or plant energy. This increased energy supports the health of the plant and it feeds the soil biology by delivering increased nutrition through root exudates. The FBN lineup of photosynthetic enhancers includes Atarrus™.

Carbon Sources are forms of stable carbon, such as organic, humic or fulvic acids, originally from plants, that provide various benefits to the soil, including nutrient storage, transport, and availability. The FBN lineup of carbon sources includes Inhabit: Boost™, Inhabit: Build™ and Inhabit Build™: Granular.

Advanced micronutrients are essential micronutrient fertilizers, enhanced by biology, that can be delivered in a very efficient and plant-available form to the crop and help to supplement the nutrients available in the soil. The FBN lineup of advanced micronutrients includes the Nourish™ suite of products.

Farmers looking for assistance in evaluating the potential of biological solutions on their farm have a new resource, also from FBN, called Gradable™ Plan.  This multi-year, per-acre service, which includes soil sampling and custom crop nutrition recommendations, is designed to help farmers build an optimized nutrition program and ensure they are maximizing the ROI of their operation.

FBN Commitment to Innovation
This announcement is the latest of several launches aimed at providing farmers with the maximum return on investment and optimizing the use of inputs.

Last fall, FBN announced that it will connect biological developers directly with farmers through the FBN Biological R&D Network, so that large-scale trials can optimize biological input programs to deliver the best return on investment for the farmer. With the aid of FBN’s data science, participating biological manufacturers will also be able to collect valuable insights on product efficacy and performance by environment.

In February 2021, Gradable Carbon launched to empower growers to increase and gain control over their carbon credits. Through this program, farmers can generate credits and sell them whenever they choose, now at the price floor, or at a future price when carbon credits are expected to increase in value.

"The biological portfolio of solutions is the latest example of FBN's commitment to provide members with as many real-world tested options to improve their operation's ROI," said Neil McCormick, Global Product Development Manager for Biologicals at FBN.

FBN Direct will be adding additional solutions to the platform in the coming months.