Thursday April 29 Ag News

 UNL Dept of Ag Economics Farm & Ranch Management Webinar Series Continues....

Economic Recovery in U.S. Agriculture
Thursday, May 13, 11:30 a.m. CDT
Nathan Kauffman, Omaha Branch Executive, Vice President and Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
On the verge of disaster one year ago, many segments of the U.S. agricultural economy have rebounded to new heights. Supported by robust global demand, reopening economies, and tight supplies, the prices of major U.S. crops have touched their highest level in nearly a decade. Although significant risks remain, the outlook for U.S. agriculture in the months ahead is strong.

Benchmarking and Profitability for Beef Operations
Thursday, May 20, noon
Randy Saner, Extension Educator, Nebraska Extension
Matt Stockton, Associate Professor, UNL Agricultural Economics
Benchmarking a cow-calf operation by comparing it to other similar operations, can give producers a tool to look at ways they can improve their business. This webinar will look at 31 commercial beef cow-calf operations with 100 or more cows. The information comes from the 2019 FINBIN database maintained by the University of Minnesota for the states of Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. We will discuss what key factors makes a beef operation profitable according to this benchmarking data.

Register for either webinar at farm.unl.edu/webinars.



State Revenue Projections Continuing to Grow
Statement by Mark McHargue, President, NE Farm Bureau

In response to the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board’s revised revenue projections for the current year and the next biennium, Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue said “We are encouraged by continued growth in state revenues, indicating that Nebraska’s economy is strong. Nebraska’s strong tax revenues continue to give the state the opportunity to deliver more property tax relief and provide better access to high speed broadband in rural Nebraska.”



GRAZING REED CANARYGRASS
– Brad Schick, NE Extension Educator
 
If you have wetlands, creek bottoms, or just wet areas in pastures, you probably have some reed canarygrass. It is often the first perennial grass to green up in the spring.  
 
Reed canarygrass is a high-producing cool-season grass that thrives in wetter conditions in addition to well-drained soils. As the plant matures, palatability decreases rapidly so grazing it can be a challenge.
 
Reed canarygrass contains alkaloids which are unpalatable chemical compounds. Reed canarygrass also has a very thick stem which contributes to livestock preferring other plants to eat.
 
However, if cattle are turned out on it very early it is good forage that they will eat. Reed canarygrass should be grazed before it is 10 inches tall and grazed down quickly to about three to four inches before moving to the next area to graze reed canarygrass. Once growth reaches almost 10 inches again, livestock can be put back on and will graze it. The nutritional quality of the forage is also high at this young growth stage.  
 
This method does require some time and labor, but it is early forage and can be palatable if grazed in rapid rotation. Haying is also an option when it is still short, but spring dry-down can be challenging.
 
Reed canarygrass can be a good grass to graze, but it will likely take some practice and time to get it right.



Future Leaders in Agriculture Scholarship Winners Announced

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Future Leaders in Agriculture Scholarship Program (FLAGship Program). After reviewing the applications and much deliberation, the NeCGA Grower Services Committee chose five applicants to each receive a $2,000 scholarship. The awardees are listed below, along with their intended secondary school and degree program:
Blaine Bonifas, Aurora (UNL, Agronomy)
Jason Kettelhake, Tecumseh (Concordia University, Agribusiness)
Ellen Wanek, Aurora (UNL, Pre-Vet)
Gage Groeteke, Primrose (UNL, Political Science)
Cassandra Pieper, Howells (Wayne State College, Pre-Medicine)

To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be a member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association or the son/daughter of an NeCGA member. They must be a senior in high school or college freshman who is continuing their education in Nebraska. Three of the five scholarships are set aside for students who are pursuing a degree in an agriculture related field. Two scholarships are open to students pursuing a degree outside of agriculture.

“I want to congratulate each student who was chosen to receive a scholarship. The applications this year were impressive and choosing only five was difficult. We hope that this scholarship is a bright spot in what was a challenging year for students across the state. We are excited to see how these young people advocate for agriculture in the future,” said Michael Dibbern, chairman of the Grower Services Committee.



2020 NE Poultry Production and Value

The value of egg production in Nebraska during 2020 was $153 million, up $22.9 million from $130 million in 2019, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Egg production in 2020 was estimated at 2.43 billion eggs, down 226.3 million from the previous year. Average number of layers for 2020 at 8.57 million was down 303,000 from 2019.

Value of U.S. Production and Sales Down 11 Percent
The combined value of production from broilers, eggs, turkeys, and the value of sales from chickens in 2020 was $35.5 billion, down 11 percent from $40.0 billion in 2019. Of the combined total, 61 percent was from broilers, 24 percent from eggs, 15 percent from turkeys, and less than 1 percent from chickens.

Value of all egg production in 2020 was $8.66 billion, up 18 percent from $7.33 billion in 2019. Egg production totaled 112 billion eggs, down 1 percent from 113 billion eggs produced in 2019.

The value of broilers produced during 2020 was $21.7 billion, down 23 percent from 2019. The total number of broilers produced in 2020 was 9.22 billion, up slightly from 2019. The total amount of live weight broilers produced in 2020 was 59.4 billion pounds, up 2 percent from 2019.

The value of sales from chickens (excluding broilers) in 2020 was $18.8 million, down 50 percent from $37.6 million a year ago. The number of chickens sold in 2020 totaled 185 million, down 1 from the total sold during the previous year.

The value of turkeys produced during 2020 was $5.19 billion, up 20 percent from the $4.32 billion the previous year. The total number of turkeys raised in 2020 was 224 million, down 2 percent from 2019. Turkey production in 2020 totaled 7.32 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the 7.47 billion pounds produced in 2019.



USDA:  Milk Production, Disposition, and Income 2020 Summary

Milk production increased 2.2 percent in 2020 to 223 billion pounds. The rate per cow, at 23,777 pounds, was 382 pounds above 2019. The annual average number of milk cows on farms was 9.39 million head, up 51,000 head from 2019.

Cash receipts from marketings of milk during 2020 totaled $40.5 billion, up slightly from 2019. Producer returns averaged $18.25 per hundredweight, 2.1 percent below 2019. Marketings totaled 222.1 billion pounds, 2.2 percent above 2019. Marketings include whole milk sold to plants and dealers and milk sold directly to consumers.

2020 Milk Marketed (million pounds)  -  Cash Receipts from marketings
Nebraska .....:                  1,453.0                 -                     $264,446,000
Iowa ............:                  5,356.0                 -                    $1,044,420,000    

An estimated 1.09 billion pounds of milk were used on farms where produced, 6.2 percent more than 2019. Calves were fed 92 percent of this milk, with the remainder consumed in producer households.



USDA Meat Animals Production, Disposition, and Income 2020 Summary

Total 2020 production of cattle and calves and hogs and pigs for the United States totaled 86.0 billion pounds, down 1 percent from 2019. Production increased 2 percent for cattle and calves but decreased 3 percent for hogs and pigs.

Cattle and Calves: Cash receipts from marketings of cattle and calves decreased 5 percent, from $66.3 billion in 2019 to $63.1 billion in 2020. All cattle and calf marketings totaled 59.0 billion pounds in 2020, up 1 percent from 2019.

Cattle & Calves - Cash Receipts by State
Nebraska ...:  $9,645,347,000
Iowa ..........:  $3,785,760,000

Hogs and Pigs: Cash receipts from hogs and pigs totaled $19.2 billion during 2020, down 12 percent from 2019. Marketings totaled 41.9 billion pounds in 2020, down 3 percent from 2019.

Hogs & Pigs - Cash Receipts by State
Nebraska ...:    $755,968,000 
Iowa ..........:   $9,645,347,000

Total 2020 cash receipts from marketings of meat animals decreased 7 percent to $82.3 billion. Cattle and calves accounted for 77 percent of this total and hogs and pigs accounted for 23 percent.

The 2020 gross income from cattle and calves and hogs and pigs for the United States totaled $82.7 billion, down 7 percent from 2019. Gross income decreased 5 percent for cattle and calves and decreased 12 percent for hogs and pigs from previous year's gross income.



“May Beef Month” highlights Iowa’s beef cattle industry

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association thanks Gov. Kim Reynolds for proclaiming May as “Beef Month” in Iowa. Each year, roughly 20,000 beef cattle operations generate more than $6 billion of economic activity in the state.

During “Beef Month,” the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association invites producers and consumers across the state to join our efforts in sharing how beef contributes to a healthy diet. Iowa’s cattlemen work hard to feed a growing population, while stewarding our land and natural resources. The value of beef reaches far beyond your plate.   

WHEREAS, Iowa is a major beef producing state with more than 3.6 million head of cattle as of January 1, 2021; and

WHEREAS, the beef cattle industry generates approximately $6 billion of economic activity in the state; and  

WHEREAS, today’s beef is a naturally nutrient-rich food providing protein, iron, zinc, and B-vitamins with more than 30 beef cuts that meet the government’s definition for “lean”; and

WHEREAS, cattle producers are the original stewards of the land, working to improve productivity by conserving and making optimum use of natural resources; and  

WHEREAS, Iowa is a leader in the export of value-added agriculture products, shipping high-quality Iowa beef to other countries around the world; and  

WHEREAS, there is an ever-increasing need for better understanding of the benefits that the beef cattle industry provides to all Iowans:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kim Reynolds, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2021 as
  -  BEEF MONTH  -   
in Iowa, and urge all citizens to appreciate the contributions the beef cattle industry continues to provide our state.



Sharing Rural Roads with Farm Equipment Requires Patience and Caution

Favorable weather in the forecast has farm equipment and motorists back on Iowa’s roadways, and with that combination comes the need for patience and caution.

“Every year there are thousands of collisions between motor vehicles and farm machinery on our rural roads,” said Steven Freeman, professor in agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University.

The most common incidents occur when an approaching motorist hits a farm vehicle from behind or when a passing motorist hits a farm vehicle that is attempting to make a wide left turn, according to Freeman, who authored a handy guide called “Sharing Rural Roads.”

Additional information is also available in the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication “Safely Sharing the Road with Farm Vehicles.”

Freeman provides tips for both rural motorists and also for farmers. He said it takes a combined effort to keep Iowa’s roadways safe.

His advice for everyone is to remember that they share the roadway with others, to always drive defensively, and also make sure all vehicles and equipment are properly marked, and that operator intentions are clearly communicated.

“It requires everyone if we are going to make the roads safer,” he said. “Motorists need to slow down and be patient, and farmers need to make sure their equipment is marked and their intentions are recognized.”

Freeman said motorists need to remember that farm equipment is usually slow moving – especially when it is marked with a Slow Moving Vehicle sign. Farmers who veer to the right of a roadway may actually be preparing to make a left-hand turn. If possible, farmers and motorists should try to make eye contact when turning or preparing to pass, and both should be cautious about making any assumptions.

Tips for the rural driver
    Be prepared for farm vehicles. Farm vehicles travel significantly slower than automobiles. You may only have a few seconds to react and slow down before overtaking a farm vehicle. Be prepared to slow down and follow; you may not have room to pass.
    Slow down and keep your distance. Don’t assume that the farmer can pull over and let you pass. Shoulder conditions may make it unsafe for the farmer to pull heavy equipment to the side of the road.
    Be sure of the farmer’s intentions before passing. Don’t assume that a farm vehicle is turning right or pulling over to let you pass if it pulls to the right side of the road. A farmer may have to swing right in order to make a left turn. Wait until you know what the farmer is planning to do.
    Be patient and enjoy the scenery if you find yourself following a farm vehicle. Even if you have to follow a farm vehicle for a couple of miles, it will only take a few minutes of your time.
    Be especially alert in the evenings; farmers are returning from the fields and dusk makes farm vehicles more difficult to see.

Tips for the farmer
    Only allow licensed, or appropriately trained, operators to take farm machinery onto the road. Youth who are able to operate machinery in the field may not be able to deal safely with traffic and other road hazards.
    Make sure farm machinery is equipped with the lighting and marking safety devices recommended by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers and required by state and local laws. Be sure to remind all  operators to use the appropriate hazard lights and turn signals when traveling on roads.
    Minimize total vehicle width and secure equipment in the transport position before entering roadways.
    Watch for approaching traffic and vehicles trying to pass. If possible, pull over and let traffic pass safely, but be alert for roadside hazards.
    Obey all traffic laws and signs.
    Signal intentions to motorists and avoid sudden or unexpected maneuvers.
    Exercise additional care when entering roadways, approaching unsigned or “blind” intersections, crossing narrow bridges, going around sharp corners or going over hills.



Ranch Group Warns of Too Many Black Swan Events

Leaders of R-CALF USA are warning that the three Black Swan events their cattle markets suffered in less than two years are accelerating their industry’s trajectory towards vertical integration, not unlike the current state of both the packer-controlled hog and poultry industries.

A Black Swan event is defined as an unpredictable or unforeseen event, typically one with extreme consequences.

R-CALF USA Region III Director Brett Kenzy, who backgrounds and feeds cattle in south central South Dakota, said Black Swan events in the cattle industry occur when the cattle market goes in the opposite direction that market fundamentals would dictate.

“In less than two years, the fed cattle market took nose dives in response to major wholesale beef rallies. The first followed the August 2019 Tyson plant fire, the second followed the March 2020 outset of the pandemic, and the third is happening right now with boxed beef surging to $280 per cwt while fed cattle prices are falling,” Kenzy said.

R-CALF USA Region VII Director Eric Nelson, a cattle feeder in western Iowa, agrees. “Cattle prices plummeted in the face of each of those boxed beef rallies and those three events were distinctly marked by lower volumes in the negotiated fed cattle market, higher volumes of captive supplies held by packers, skyrocketing packer margins, and an industry undecided as to what, if anything, to do about it.”

R-CALF USA charted the course of those three Black Swan events in a slide presentation titled “Three Black Swans,” showing the relationships between wholesale beef prices and cattle prices, and the relationship between packer margins and negotiated cash volumes. In addition, the slides show captive supply volumes in relation to cattle prices, and the relationship between surges in monthly beef imports and cattle price declines.

Kenzy said while other groups appear uncertain as to how to respond to these irrational market moves, his group has a definite plan.       

“This is urgent. There’s no reason cattle producers shouldn’t be enjoying the benefits of higher wholesale prices, strong exports, and incredible beef demand. The only reason we’re not benefiting is because our cash market is too thin to establish competitive cattle prices and we can’t showcase our superior beef with a country-of-origin label,” he said adding, “and to top it off, we’ve paid to have this dysfunctional marketplace through the government mandated beef checkoff program.”

Nelson said producers must do three things right away:  1) go to www.checkoffvote.com and sign the petition for a beef checkoff referendum, 2) call their congressional members to tell them to pass the Grassley/Tester bill (S.949) to revive the industry’s price discovery market, and 3) tell their congressional members that they must immediately restore mandatory country of origin labeling for beef.

Both Kenzy and Nelson agree that rising corn prices added to their already dysfunctional cattle market will likely lead to lower feeder cattle prices for cow/calf producers and more red ink for cattle feeders.

“Cattle produces have contributed about all they can to bolster beef packer profits and now Congress must act quickly to restore competition to our industry – before it’s too late,” Nelson concluded.



USGC, FGIS Collaboration Helps Instill Global Buyers’ Confidence In U.S. Grains

A transparent and reliable understanding of the grain inspection process is essential to global markets and a critical reason the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) works so closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Federal Grain Inspection Service (USDA's FGIS) to demonstrate to overseas buyers that the quality of U.S. grains delivered is the quality promised.

For 2020/2021, U.S. grain exports of corn, barley and sorghum are projected to break the all-time grain export record. Marketing year 2019/2020 exports totaled roughly 101.2 million metric tons, equivalent to 4.1 billion bushels, the sixth-best export marketing year of all time.

"One of our main goals is for end-users and importers of feed grains and co-products to understand how the U.S. export system works so they can feel confident about procuring them from the U.S.," said Ana Ballesteros, USGC marketing director in Latin America. "A well-informed customer will set clear expectations and improve its procurement-related processes when they understand how things are done at origin."

Congress created FGIS in 1976 to manage the national grain inspection system established in 1916. Today, FGIS facilitates quality standards, handling practices, weighing and inspection services. It ensures U.S. grains products and co-products are graded and accurately labeled for sale in international markets.

Among other things, FGIS provides recommendations for equipment and procedures necessary to effectively sample grain. Through specialized programming, importers can interact with FGIS staff with support from the Council. Recent FGIS workshops have included grain sampling methods in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

"Better processes contribute to overall efficiency, and if our customers are more efficient, we will be contributing to their performance and future growth. We want growing industries that can continue demanding more feed grains and co-products," Ballesteros said.

Customized programs allow the Council to reinforce its engagement with end-users and importers of corn and corn co-products and, at the same time, provide them with relevant information to strengthen their understanding of the U.S. export system.

“In Southeast Asia, we like to market the ‘total package’ when customers choose U.S. origin. A big component of this added value is the technical servicing we are able to provide through FGIS programs. No other origin is able to provide the support, training and information the U.S. provides through cooperators like USGC and government partners like FGIS,” said Caleb Wurth, USGC assistant regional director of Southeast Asia.

FGIS also works with USGC and consultants to conduct the annual USGC Export Cargo Corn Quality Report. FGIS provides USGC with samples taken directly from its sampling during the grading process on official inspection from export shipments. This allows the USGC Export Cargo Corn Quality Report to be extremely accurate.

"USGC has worked with FGIS - including some individuals personally - for decades to explain how central the grading and inspection process is to U.S. grain exports, which helps us establish trust in the product we are selling and the U.S. as a long-term, reliable supplier. This work is a central part of our long-term market development efforts for both established and new customers," said Cary Sifferath, USGC senior director of global programs.



Researchers find increased use of biodiesel saves lives, results in cost savings

A new study from Trinity Consultants demonstrates that switching to biodiesel results in a multitude of benefits at the neighborhood level, including significant health benefits such as decreased cancer risk, fewer premature deaths and reduced asthma attacks.

The study, sponsored by the National Biodiesel Board with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board, South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, California Advanced Biofuels Alliance, Iowa Soybean Board and the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, used well established EPA air dispersion modeling tools coupled with health risk assessments and benefit valuations to assess the public health benefits and resulting economic savings of converting from petroleum-based diesel to 100% biodiesel, known as B100, in 13 sites and communities in the U.S. exposed to high rates of petroleum diesel pollution. Biodiesel is a readily available, low-carbon, renewable fuel made from a diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil and animal fats.

"We have always known that biodiesel offers a better and cleaner alternative to petroleum diesel," National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell Rehagen said. "This study quantifies the health benefits and shows that by using renewable fuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel, we are bringing positive change to people's lives, the nation's health and the economy."

Researchers found that switching to 100% biodiesel for home heating oil and transportation would annually bring the 13 communities studied:
    340 fewer premature deaths.
    46,000 fewer lost workdays.
    $3 billion in avoided health care costs.

In the transportation sector, benefits included a potential 45% reduction in cancer risk when heavy-duty trucks such as semis use B100 and 203,000 fewer or lessened asthma attacks.

When Bioheat® fuel made from 100% biodiesel is used in place of petroleum heating oil, the study found an 86% reduced cancer risk and 17,000 fewer lung problems.

The study also considered the economic cost of premature deaths, asthma cases, reduced activity due to poor health, and work impacted due to sick days. For example, researchers found the communities surrounding the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach would avoid about $1.69 billion in health costs due to improved air quality in the form of reduced premature deaths and health care costs and increased productivity.

As these numbers represent findings from just 13 sites and communities, they are truly the tip of the iceberg. Rehagen noted that B100 can achieve these benefits by reducing pollution from markets that are hardest to decarbonize: heavy-duty transportation and residential heating.

 “Saving lives by reducing the health impacts of transportation and home heating fuels is a priority, and biodiesel is widely available today to achieve that goal,” he said. “These immediate and substantial emissions and health benefits can and should be an important part in any state, regional or national climate program as our nation moves toward decarbonization through advanced alternative fuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel. The immediacy of these potential health benefits, especially for disadvantaged communities, is even more critical when one considers the years it will take for states to pursue deep electrification and other decarbonization strategies.”

The study was conducted by Trinity Consultants, which has over 40 years of experience conducting air dispersion modeling and related health risk assessments, among its many areas of expertise. Trinity operates 69 offices internationally and has performed air dispersion modeling for industrial facilities, utilities and government agencies.



RFA to USDA: Ethanol Fuels Climate-Smart Agriculture, Energizes Rural Communities

In separate comment letters submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Renewable Fuels Association explained how expanded ethanol production and use can support the administration’s “climate-smart” agriculture goals and encouraged USDA to use the Rural Energy Pilot Program to support research into the use of ethanol for low-carbon power generation.

“The renewable fuels industry has been a leader in the effort to transition away from fossil fuels, and fuels like ethanol have already prevented hundreds of millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere,” RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said. “These renewable fuels provide a solid foundation upon which to build a low-carbon future for our nation and world.”

In response to USDA’s request for information regarding the role for “climate-smart agriculture” and biofuels in combatting climate change, RFA offered the following recommendations, among others:
    As directed by Congress, USDA should actively coordinate and consult with EPA on implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard, especially with regard to the analyses and studies required as part of the process to establish RFS volumes in 2023 and beyond.
    USDA should continue to look for opportunities to assist fuel retailers and marketers who wish to install infrastructure suitable for distributing higher biofuel blends.
    The Department should redouble efforts to ensure its fleet of vehicles, which includes a large number of flex-fuel vehicles, is consistently fueled with low-carbon ethanol blends.
    USDA should support technology- and feedstock-neutral policy approaches to reducing GHG emissions from the transportation sector.
    In consultation with DOE and EPA, USDA should take a leadership role in ensuring the administration has current data, appropriate modeling tools, and an accurate understanding of the lifecycle carbon impacts of producing and using biofuels.

In separate comments to USDA responding to the Department’s request for comments on its Rural Energy Pilot Program, RFA highlighted that, with continued research and development, ethanol could also serve as an excellent low-carbon, low-cost feedstock for power generation. Natural gas turbine power plants have traditionally used diesel as a backup fuel, Cooper wrote, but ethanol can be used instead. Indeed, ethanol is already being used outside the United States as a power generation fuel. In addition to lowering GHG emissions, the use of ethanol for stationary power generation would improve air quality and reduce water consumption.

However, the use of ethanol for power generation needs further testing and development, Cooper said, making ethanol-to-electricity a strong candidate for this USDA program. “Despite the considerable potential for the use of ethanol in power generation, there is groundwork that needs to be done before adoption can take place in the U.S,” RFA’s comments concluded. “This makes ethanol-based power generation a good fit with the Rural Energy Pilot Program, as proper funding can kickstart this potentially large new market.”



ACE Recommends USDA Establish Framework to Reward Farmers, Biofuel Facilities for Carbon Cutting Contributions in its Climate Strategy

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) encouraged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help establish a protocol for biofuel producers and farmers to easily document the carbon intensity benefits of changes in agricultural practices in comments submitted today regarding USDA’s climate strategy for President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. As USDA contemplates the role it will play to advance climate-smart agriculture, ACE CEO Brian Jennings’ comments urge USDA develop a commonsense framework to verify practices that sequester carbon in the soil so farmers and ethanol producers can reap the rewards in future low carbon fuel standard markets.

ACE’s comments detail the opportunity farmers and biofuel producers hold today to help meet the ambitious climate goals set forth by the Biden administration and the critical role USDA could play to help validate farm-level carbon credits for biofuels. “The U.S. will not achieve the ambitious climate goals unless steps are taken to reward farmers and biofuel producers for their ability to be part of the climate solution,” the comments stated.

The written comments highlight that today’s corn ethanol meets the definition of an advanced biofuel with its ability to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50 percent compared to gasoline. “In other words, we do not need to wait for so-called next generation crops or biofuels, or electric vehicles (EVs) and an entirely new supply chain to support them, to immediately begin tackling climate change.”

Further, the gold standard tool for determining lifecycle GHG emissions of transportation fuels, the GREET model, will be updated soon to account for further adoption of climate-smart farming practices, which would credit corn ethanol for GHG emissions reductions between 60 and 70 percent compared to gasoline. In fact, ACE commented, ethanol is the only transportation fuel that can reach net-negative carbon intensity through carbon capture and sequestration and continued advancements within ethanol facilities and on-farm practices in how biofuel crops are grown.

“The sooner USDA helps validate the role farm-level practices can have in further reducing corn ethanol’s carbon footprint, the sooner the U.S. can begin making good on ambitions to reduce GHG emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.”

Soil carbon models and the GREET model could be used by regulators such as the California Air Resources Board (CARB) today to assign credits for climate-smart farming practices that help reduce the overall carbon intensity of corn ethanol. However, there is a double-standard because CARB chooses not to rely on trusted models to provide farm-level carbon credits for biofuels, but willingly uses models to assign carbon penalties, such as land use change, to biofuels. ACE’s comments offer recommendations for USDA to ensure farmer access to low carbon fuel markets.



Stingless Wasps Defend Ash Trees and Battle the Emerald Ash Borer

For years ash trees had been declining and dying in southeast Michigan for no apparent reason. Then in 2002, the Michigan Department of Agriculture discovered why—it was a small wood-boring beetle called emerald ash borer (EAB). Soon after it was detected, USDA’s Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program sent PPQ and Forest Service scientists to China to look for EAB’s natural enemies in its native range. They found three wasp species (parasitoids) attacking EAB eggs and larvae, and brought them back to study—hopeful that at least one species could be safely released as a biological control (biocontrol) against the pest.

Biocontrol is a practical pest management tool that uses pests’ natural enemies to suppress or reduce pest populations. It is cost-effective and environmentally sound, reduces the use of conventional pesticides, and is self-sustaining once biocontrol agents establish their populations.

Fast forward to 2021. PPQ’s EAB biological control staff rear four stingless wasp species that are EAB natural enemies. Three attack EAB’s larvae, and one attacks its eggs. The staff produce the wasps year-round and keep them in cold storage until spring. In mid-May, the staff will begin to ship wasps to our program cooperators—State departments of agriculture, Native American tribes, universities, and environmental groups—for release.

“This release season we will send multiple shipments of one or more species to 150 release sites in EAB-infested states,” said Supervisory Entomologist Ben Slager, who manages PPQ’s EAB biocontrol rearing facility. “All four wasp species are amazing EAB hunters; however, researchers know the most about how effectively Tetrastichus attacks and kills EAB larvae, spreads, and protects ash sapling and young trees."

Tetrastichus are comparable in size to an average mosquito. They hunt by feeling vibrations from EAB larvae feeding under the bark. They use their ovipositor to pierce through the bark and lay multiple eggs inside the larvae. Their eggs hatch, feed, and eventually kill the EAB larvae as the wasps complete their lifecycle and bore out of the tree ready to attack EAB larvae.

Since the start of the biocontrol program, PPQ has released about 8 million wasps in 30 EAB-infested States. We have successfully recovered wasp offspring in 22 States, demonstrating that the wasps are reproducing, becoming established in the areas where they were released, and—more importantly—attacking and killing EAB.

EAB parasitoids are showing promise in several States, especially in terms of protecting young ash saplings from EAB. In 2019, USDA scientists teamed up with researchers from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, to study the effects of EAB biocontrol in Michigan and several northeastern states. They found that the wasps were killing 20 percent to 80 percent of EAB in ash trees up to 8 inches in diameter. Their study documented that more EAB were being attacked by wasps, fewer EABs were attacking ash trees, and the ash trees were regenerating.

“In January 2021, PPQ removed the Federal domestic EAB quarantine regulations so we could devote our resources to biocontrol,” Slager said. “I’m happy to say the biocontrol results from the field have been encouraging, but we certainly have a lot more work ahead of us.”