Monday April 12 Crop Progress & Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending April 11, 2021, there were 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 5% very short, 15% short, 74% adequate, and 6% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 9% very short, 24% short, 65% adequate, and 2% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Winter wheat condition rated 6% very poor, 13% poor, 38% fair, 41% good, and 2% excellent.

Oats planted was 40%, ahead of 30% last year and 33% for the five-year average. Emerged was 8%, near 4% last year and 5% average.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION

Measurable rainfall fell across the State which allowed Iowa farmers only 3.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 11, 2021, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork activities included applying anhydrous and fertilizer, spreading manure, spring tillage and planting oats. There were also scattered reports of corn being planted.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 4% very short, 17% short, 69% adequate and 10% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 12% very short, 28% short, 56% adequate and 4% surplus.

Thirty-seven percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, 4 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the 5-year average. Statewide, 3% of the oat crop has emerged.

Pasture condition rated 3% very poor, 11% poor, 42% fair, 40% good and 4% excellent. Pastures are greening up and starting to grow. Muddy feedlots were reported in the southern part of the state.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report - Corn 4% Planted

U.S. farmers had planted 4% of intended corn acreage as of Sunday, April 11, according to USDA NASS' weekly Crop Progress report released Monday.  That puts the current planting pace 1 percentage point ahead of 3% for both last year and the five-year average.

Winter wheat heading was 5%, down slightly from the five-year average of 7%. Winter wheat condition held steady at 53% good to excellent but was down from 62% a year ago.  Meanwhile, spring wheat planting was running ahead of normal, with 11% of the crop planted as of Sunday, ahead of 5% last year and ahead of the five-year average of 6%.

Sorghum was 14% planted, unchanged from last week and falling behind the five-year average of 17%. Cotton planting was 8% complete, compared to the average of 7%. Rice was 23% planted, compared to 20% last year and the average of 28%.  Oats were 39% planted as of April 11, compared to 31% last year and the average of 33%. Emergence was at 24%, compared to 24% last year and the average of 26%.



THE RIGHT STOCKING RATE
Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator

Stocking pastures with the right number of animals is one of the cornerstones of proper grazing management.  It’s tempting to take the easy route and keep using the same rate year after year.  After all, if it’s not broke, why fix it?  But over time, could this approach do more harm than good?

While we might be aware of the importance of proper stocking, we may fail to properly adjust rates to match the current reality of our operation.  Proper stocking depends on two factors, animal intake and pasture productivity.  Changes to either of these factors, even if they take place so slowly we don’t notice, can throw the balance off.

Production can change for the worse or better.  Improving management practices like resting pastures, fertilization, or improving distribution may have actually improved production and led to understocking over time.

On the flip side, prolonged overgrazing or encroachment of invasive species like leafy spurge or cedar trees can eat away production. It is estimated that a single cedar tree with an 8-foot diameter could reduce forage production by 3 pounds.  If you had a density of 200 trees per acre, that would translate into nearly a 1/3 loss in forage production because of the effects of area coverage, moisture use, and shading.

When we look at the demand side, animal size has a direct correlation with consumption.  A 1400 lb. cow will naturally need to consume more than a 1200 lb. animal.  While this difference may seem small (5.2 lb. of air dried forage per day), this quickly adds up across the herd and over the grazing season.  Add on top of that increased demand from high milk and production genetics we’ve selected for over time and it’s safe to say the average cow today consumes more forage than its counterpart 20 years ago.



Collegiate Farm Bureau Leaders Receive Ron Hanson Scholarship

The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation awarded the Ron Hanson Collegiate Leader Scholarship to two members of Collegiate Farm Bureau at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) who are pursuing degrees from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR).

Emily Reitz and Miranda Hornung, both juniors at CASNR, received $1,500 scholarships.

Dr. Ron Hanson, professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, established the scholarship to reward students who prioritize leadership building activities while on campus.

“The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is proud to steward Dr. Hanson’s legacy of serving others and advancing Nebraska agriculture,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation. “A longtime Farm Bureau member, Dr. Hanson recognizes the power of grassroot volunteers, and this scholarship encourages the next generation of leaders to step up, make their voices heard, and serve their communities.”

This year’s recipients rose to the top of a strong candidate pool. Applicants were judged based on their involvement with UNL Collegiate Farm Bureau, volunteer and leadership activities, and their goals for the future.

Reitz is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Education with a minor in Animal Science. She is involved in volunteer organizations including UNL Collegiate Farm Bureau where she serves as president, Nebraska FFA Foundation, the Nebraska Human Resources Institute (NHRI), and Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee.  Reitz serves as a leadership mentor through NHRI for an eighth-grade student in the Lincoln Public School system. Upon graduation, Reitz plans to attend graduate school or law school in hopes of beginning a career as an agricultural educator or a lawyer specializing in agricultural issues.

Hornung is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Education with plans to return to a rural community in Nebraska and teach secondary education. Hornung is an active member of the UNL Collegiate Farm Bureau and currently serves as the vice president. Hornung also serves as the president of the UNL FFA Alumni Club, Ag Ed Club, and the Alpha Zeta Agricultural Honor Society. Hornung’s interests lies in connecting elementary education with agriculture where she will use the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation’s Agriculture in the Classroom Program to further her students’ knowledge of the importance of agriculture in their lives.



Nebraska FFA selects seven women for 2021-2022 State Officer Team

Seven young women from across the state were selected for the 2021-2022 Nebraska FFA State Officer Team.  The announcement was made Friday during the virtual Nebraska FFA State Convention.

State President: Ellie Wanek, Aurora FFA
State Secretary: Emma Kuss, Seward FFA
State Vice President: Jaya Nelson, Rock County FFA
State Vice President: Gracie Schneider, Cozad FFA
State Vice President: Victoria Ference, Ord FFA
State Vice President: Bailey Robinson, York FFA
State Vice President: Emily Martindale, Sandhills FFA



Senator Fischer Meets with President Biden to Discuss Infrastructure

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and the top Republican on the Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports Subcommittee, released the following statement after joining a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers in meeting with President Biden to discuss the spending package proposed by the White House:

“Infrastructure has always been a priority for me and it’s a critical responsibility of the federal government. For years, infrastructure bills have received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate. However, the Biden Administration has stretched the definition of infrastructure so far, it has become unrecognizable. The package they put forth is a policy wish-list full of non-infrastructure spending with a price tag of nearly $3 trillion. I support addressing actual infrastructure segment by segment with bipartisan agreement as Congress has successfully done many times in the past.”



Cultivate ACCESS continues to impact students and educators

Since its inception in 2017, Cultivate ACCESS has become a leading force in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the agricultural-STEM sector.  

The Cultivate ACCESS program works to increase participation of underrepresented groups from Nebraska in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related agricultural careers. Through a holistic mentoring and development program, high school students are engaged with current industry professionals and university students.  

"Cultivate ACCESS is innovative pathway program designed to support Nebraska students from diverse backgrounds to discover agricultural career pathway possibilities and connect with mentors to support their discovery," said CASNR Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss. "This strengthens Nebraska' capacity to be more inclusive and lead in preparing the next generation of emerging leaders in agriculture and diversity."

Comprised of faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students in CASNR, the Cultivate ACCESS leadership team’s passion for DEI in Ag-STEM was expanded during the global pandemic. While circumstances have impacted much of the operations of the Cultivate ACCESS program, the team took this opportunity to be creative, pivot, improve and further the program’s initiatives.

In the 2020-2021 cohort were two high school students who still hoped to be involved in the mentoring program. Although challenges brought on by the pandemic, they were paired with CASNR student ambassadors and career professionals. Recognizing the importance for intentional relationship-building, the leadership team emphasized training for the college ambassadors to build an effective and strong connection in an online space.  

“We have gotten to know each other better over email,” said Julia Perez, a student at Omaha South High School, who was paired with a mentor named Audrey. “Audrey and I have met up twice this semester, and it was very exciting for me because we have many things in common!”  

UNL students are typically drawn to the Cultivate ACCESS ambassador program with the opportunity to make an impact on high school students. Audrey Vcga, a senior biological systems engineering major, has similarly enjoyed getting to know her scholar, Perez, and is excited to see how she grows both academically and personally as their relationship continues.

The six ambassadors were committed to a “project-based” role, where they engage remotely in projects that will further the mission of Cultivate ACCESS. Based on their interests, they were placed into several project teams that contributed to content development for diversity and inclusion in agriculture and natural resources, expansion and connection to Rwanda, social media and marketing, and scholar support.  

“What I enjoy most about Cultivate ACCESS is the inclusive leadership practice that allows Ambassadors like myself to take part in decision-making,” said Aline Mwiza Uwashimimana, a junior integrated sciences major and Cultive ACCESS ambassador.

“I have a say in what needs to be done in my role which improves my decision-making and problem-solving skills, among others.”

Even though the program began with a desire to work with Nebraskan high school students, the leadership team has spent the past year exploring and expanding initiatives to a broader audience. The team received a new funding through the CHS Foundation, where a group of five Nebraskan high school agriculture and science educators were selected as CHS Diversity and Inclusion Fellows.  

In this online community of practice that began in March 2021, CHS Fellows will engage in a series of learning, activities and discussions that will encourage their self-development related to DEI, explore localized context of DEI at their institutions and increase awareness of Ag-STEM careers. Recognizing parallels between the work of Cultivate ACCESS and the goals of the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) to increase participation of youth in Ag-STEM fields, an international collaboration began between the two groups to explore the creation of a similar Cultivate ACCESS program at an international location. A first group of five RICA students were just recently hired as Ambassadors to contribute to team’s efforts in Rwanda in the new project-based roles piloted by our UNL Ambassadors, and will begin engagement with UNL interns in the upcoming summer to explore both local and global extension in two locations.

“The Cultivate ACCESS Team has truly enjoyed our journey together to better understand DEI in the context of food, agriculture, and natural resources,” said Jenny Keshwani, principal investigator of Cultivate ACCESS and associate professor in biological systems engineering.

“We are thankful for the opportunities our team has received to share our knowledge and journey by leading DEI conversations with the larger IANR community.”  

The CHS Foundation, funded by charitable gifts from CHS Inc., is focused on developing a new generation of agriculture leaders for life-long success. Together, with our partners, we are igniting innovation and driving excellence in agriculture education, cultivating high impact programs for rural youth and accelerating potential for careers in agriculture. Learn more at chsfoundation.org.



U.S. Corn Exports Set New Record in 2020

U.S. corn exports in February hit 6.3 million tonnes (248 million bushels) according to official census data published last week. That tops 2008's record for the month by 17% and is the largest monthly volume since July 2018.

According to Reuters, January corn exports had missed the month's all-time high by a handful of cargoes, and the December volume was the biggest in 13 years. That marked a much-needed reversal from the average export pace observed in the first quarter of 2020-21 that began on Sept. 1.

Weekly export data suggests that March shipments reached an all-time monthly record by a long shot, likely topping 9 million tonnes. The largest-ever volume is 7.75 million tonnes set in May 2018, and the March high is 6.7 million from 2017.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture sees 2020-21 corn exports at a record 66 million tonnes (2.6 billion bushels), though the agency will have a chance to update that in its monthly report on Friday, and many analysts believe the number must go up.

That expected increase, along with the record annual prediction, is largely driven by unusually strong sales to China. Through March 25, China had booked 23.2 million tonnes of U.S. corn for the 2020-21 year. The prior high for U.S. corn exports to China was 5.15 million in 2011-12.

In the first half of 2020-21, U.S. corn shipments to China reached 7.1 million tonnes, leaving a lot of work for exporters in the second half. However, export inspection data implies that the March volume to China likely topped December 2020's all-time high of 1.53 million tonnes.

U.S. corn exports last month were not huge just because of China, which is important since nearly two-thirds of all sales on the books are destined for other countries.

China accounted for roughly 19% of all corn inspected for export in March, implying more than 7 million tonnes may have been shipped to other destinations. There are only four other months on record where corn exports to countries other than China topped that mark. Non-China exports were also anomalously high in February.



CLAAS Announces Sweepstakes to Win $10,000 in Farm Diesel Fuel

At CLAAS, fuel efficiency means more than just a single feature. It’s a combination of customized solutions working together in perfect harmony. The result is a machine that helps the business-minded ag professional squeeze the most profit out of every drop of fuel. As a testament to their commitment to fuel-efficient equipment, CLAAS is giving farmers a chance to fuel their fleet for free by entering to win $10,000 in farm diesel fuel.

“Fuel efficiency is a vital part of our commitment to your farming operation,” says Daryl Theis, Head of Sales & Marketing, CLAAS. “The $10,000 farm fuel giveaway is a way for us to celebrate the CLAAS commitment to bringing the technology advancements in all of our machinery that make them the most fuel-efficient in agriculture.”

To register to win, eligible entrants can visit fuel.claas.com now through June 30, 2021, to submit their online entry form. One grand prize winner will be selected to win the $10,000 in farm diesel fuel. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.

“We encourage equipment owners to make a decision that will provide savings to their farming operation for many years into the future,” adds Theis. “CLAAS machines provide greater fuel savings in head-to-head comparisons, giving you top fuel efficiency and a better bottom line.”

CLAAS equipment stands strong, delivering engineered performance that saves fuel, time and labor, and provides you with quality outputs and brighter business solutions. To learn how you can add greater fuel efficiency to your farming operation, visit www.claas.com.



Spring is Here
David P. Anderson, Extension Economist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

After languishing for weeks at about $114 per cwt the fed cattle market has sprung to life. Fed cattle prices hit $123-124 in more Northern regions and closed the week at $121 in the Southern Plains. From 2015-2019 the seasonal price increase has been about $6 per cwt, or 4.3 percent. Prices dipped as low as $109 in late January making this seasonal run larger than normal, so far.

Surging demand, and expectations of demand continue to drive prices higher. The Choice beef cutout ended the week of April 9th at $272 per cwt, up $20 from the week before. Select beef is in on rally also, ending the week at $264 per cwt. The Choice-Select spread is about on par with the 5 year average.

It's worth remembering that prior to the pandemic, beef demand had been on several good years of strength. A growing economy, falling unemployment, and consumer preferences trending towards higher USDA quality grade beef were building demand. 2020 did not slow beef demand, even with the increase in unemployment. The retail all fresh beef demand index scored a 119 for 2020, the best in 20 years. Now, that index is calculated using per capita consumption (we still ate beef even though much more was grocery purchases rather than restaurants) and USDA, BLS retail prices which only reflect grocery store prices, but regardless it suggests that we exit the pandemic with a strong base of beef demand.

As of this writing, we are seven weeks out from Memorial Day. This big grilling holiday kicking off Summer combined with pent-up demand from pandemic closures promises to boost prices. One macroeconomic statistic that I find interesting is Personal Savings as a Percent of Disposable Personal Income. Prior to the pandemic, since 2011, savings had averaged about 7 percent. When widespread shutdowns hit in the second quarter 2020, GDP fell 9 percent. With no place to go to spend, savings skyrocketed to 26 percent. While they have since declined to 13 percent, that is a lot of money for folks to spend to fund some pent-up demand fun. Economic reopening combined with people spending and tighter beef supplies later in the year should suggest some optimism.

Not to forget the supply side of the market, beef production in March was slightly below March of 2020, which was right before Covid shutdowns hit packing plants. As expected, for the last 6 weeks we are producing more beef than last year, and for a better comparison even more than in 2019. Steer and heifer dressed weights have not recovered from winter storm Uri and being equal to a year ago have kept production in check.



Ranch Group: Voluntary Market Reform Did Not Work

In the 4th quarter of 2020 the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) proposed a voluntary plan, called the 75% Plan to increase the volume of cash cattle purchases by the nation’s beef packers in each of the five cattle procurement regions. The plan was to take effect on January 1, 2021. This voluntary plan was initiated to avoid congressional action to mandate that packers make minimum purchases in the negotiation cash market. In particular, the bipartisan legislation filed by Senators Charles Grassley and Jon Tester in 2020 to require packers to purchase at least 50% of their cattle procurement needs in the competitive cash market.

According to R-CALF USA, the 2021 1st quarter cash volumes of negotiated cattle purchases reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reveals the plan did not work to increase the volume of negotiated trade. Instead, R-CALF USA claims the volume of the combined negotiated cash and negotiated grid purchases in the 1st quarter of 2021 were 2.2% lower than the 2020 average purchases for combined negotiated cash and negotiated grid purchases.

The ranch group also reports that the same comparison between the 1st quarter of 2021 and the average for 2020 within the five cattle procurement regions (only four of which are reported as Colorado remains dark due to USDA’s confidentiality guidelines), include: Iowa down 6.6%, Nebraska down 2.1%, Kansas down 5.9%, and Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico up 1.2%.

“The acutely dysfunctional market experienced throughout the first quarter of 2021, marked by rapidly increasing wholesale beef prices and only minor increases in fed cattle prices is proof that incremental measures and minor tweaks are inadequate to restore robust competition to our U.S. fed cattle market,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.

“The cattle industry needs a real and immediate fix and the only meaningful solution offered to do that is Senators Grassley and Tester’s Senate Bill 949 (S.949), the spot market protection bill also known as the 50/14 bill. The cattle industry can’t wait any longer without risking a complete loss of its competitive marketing channels that are needed to sustain a competitive marketplace,” he said.

Bullard said cattle producers need to immediately contact their U.S. Senators and Representative to urge them to quickly pass S.949 to immediately restore the lost competitive forces in the U.S. cattle market.



Family Farm Action Alliance Applauds the Reintroduction of the Climate Stewardship Act

Family Farm Action Alliance applauds today’s reintroduction of the Climate Stewardship Act in both chambers of Congress by Senators Booker (D-NJ) and Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representative Spanberger (D-VA). The Act, originally introduced in September 2019 by Senator Booker and former Representative and current Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, is reminiscent of FDR’s New Deal. Stacked with sweeping provisions centering voluntary incentives for conservation, renewable energy, and local food system programs, Family Farm Action Alliance is optimistic that if enacted, this legislation would offer both immediate and long-term relief to farmers struggling to navigate a brittle, consolidated food system in a changing climate.

The Act’s introduction is part of a larger strategy: now that it has been introduced, its provisions can be included in Biden’s infrastructure package.

Family Farm Action Alliance President Joe Maxwell said: “The United States spends over 25 billion dollars a year in farm subsidies. The majority of these taxpayer dollars are going to prop up a failed industrial monoculture farm system that is simply not ecologically nor financially sustainable. It is time we invest in agriculture practices that benefit the farmer while contributing to climate change solutions. That is exactly what the Climate Stewardship Act does.”

The Farm Action team has worked closely with Senator Booker in formulating the original legislation which was filed in 2019. The reintroduced bill text contains important additions: namely the allocation of 5% of funds in most initiatives to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and new and beginning farmers. The policy provisions show commitment to the immediate action needed to protect our natural resources, mitigate climate change, and empower farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.

The Climate Stewardship Act will:
    Plant billions of trees on a combination of federal, state, local, tribal, and non-governmental lands.

    Plant over 100 million of these trees in urban neighborhoods across America, with the priority going to low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. In addition to sequestering carbon, trees also absorb harmful air pollutants and reduce temperatures in urban areas.

    Support voluntary climate stewardship practices on over 100 million acres of farmland, reducing or off setting agricultural emissions by one-third by 2025, by:

        Providing tens of billions of dollars of supplemental funding for USDA working lands conservation programs, with new funding dedicated to stewardship practices such as rotational grazing, improved fertilizer efficiency, and planting tens of millions of new acres of cover crops.

        Enrolling 40 million acres of environmentally sensitive land in the Conservation Reserve Program to remove that land from production and instead plant species that will improve environmental health and carbon sequestration.

        More than doubling funding for agricultural research programs, including more funding for soil health demonstration trials.

        Tripling USDA funding to provide farmers with expert technical assistance on climate stewardship practices.

        Providing grant funding to tens of thousands of farmers, ranchers and rural businesses for renewable energy production, such as solar panels and wind turbines, and energy efficiency improvements.

    Invest in local and regional food systems to increase resilience in rural and urban communities.

    Restore or protect over 2 million acres of coastal wetlands by 2030 to sequester carbon emissions and reduce coastal flooding. Coastal wetlands act as an important sponge during extreme weather events with heavy rainfall. For example, although New Jersey has lost more than 40 percent of its coastal wetlands, the wetlands remaining helped prevent $625 million of property damage during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

    Reestablish the Civilian Conservation Corps to provide youth with skills and work experience in forestry and wetlands restoration, prioritizing young people from low-income communities, indigenous communities, and communities of color.