Wednesday April 21 Ag News

 Switzer Ranch Receives Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award

Switzer Ranch of Loup County has been selected as the recipient of the 2021 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award®.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat resources in their care.

In Nebraska, the award is presented annually by Sand County Foundation, American Farmland Trust, Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN), Cargill and the Nebraska Environmental Trust.   

Bruce and Sue Ann Switzer along with their children, Sarah Sortum and Adam Switzer, own and operate Switzer Ranch. They were announced as the recipients by Governor Pete Ricketts in advance of Earth Day. The Switzers will be presented with the $10,000 award during a ceremony honoring them later this year.

“As Nebraska agriculture continues its excellent work in balancing the need for clean air, water, and managing wildlife habitat with the demand for economically sustainable food production, it is inspiring to know the Switzer family has been doing it for generations,” said Steve Martin, Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN) Executive Director. “They manage their ranch in a way which benefits the cattle, bird habitat, and agri-tourism all at the same time.”

“Cargill understands sustainable beef starts on the ranch. The Switzer family dovetails productive ranch practices to benefit the prairie bird population and their business, making them sustainable into the future” said Sammy Renteria, general manager of Cargill in Schuyler. “We salute their devotion to productive ranching while providing quality habitat for wildlife in Loup County and Taylor.”

“The Switzer Ranch has demonstrated how an active ranch can diversify and be successful at raising cattle, involve multi-generations, protect wildlife, improve grazing and habitat, and operate a thriving tourism business,” said Mark Brohman, Nebraska Environmental Trust Executive Director. “Sarah and her family have grown Calamus Outfitters into a premier nature-based operation that showcases central Nebraska to the world and is very deserving of the Leopold Conservation Award.”

“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the Nebraska recipient,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that conservation in agriculture requires a focus on the land, the practices and the people and this award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

“Recipients of this award are real life examples of conservation-minded agriculture,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer. “These hard-working families are essential to our environment, food system and rural economy.”

Last year, Nebraska landowners were encouraged to apply (or be nominated) for the award. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders.

The 2020 recipient was Ed and Leta Olson of Craig, Nebraska.   

The Leopold Conservation Award in Nebraska is made possible thanks to the generous contributions from American Farmland Trust, Cargill, Nebraska Environmental Trust, Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska, Sand County Foundation, Farm Credit Services of America, Audubon Nebraska, Lyle Sittler Memorial Fund, McDonald’s, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Game and Parks, Nebraska Land Trust, Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, Sandhills Task Force, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, World Wildlife Fund - Northern Great Plains, and Green Cover Seed.

In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”

Sand County Foundation presents the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 22 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.

ABOUT THE Switzer Ranch
Sarah Sortum and Adam Switzer are siblings and fourth-generation ranchers committed to the stewardship of Switzer Ranch.

They express a land ethic passed down from their parents, Bruce and Sue Ann Switzer, by implementing agricultural conservation practices and connecting others with nature.

In addition to custom grazing beef cattle on 12,000 acres of native prairie, the Switzer family also operates a nature-based tourism business. Calamus Outfitters offers lodging, event space, river float trips, and eco-tours of the Sandhills.

“Our focus really started to shift from being solely a cow-calf operation to being an operation (with) biodiversity goals about 12 years ago,” Sarah said.

To accomplish these goals the Switzers used the ecological processes that helped shape the Great Plains: fire and grazing. A huge motivator for the family was the rapidly disappearing habitat of native prairie grouse.

“At the time, we didn’t realize the plight that grassland birds were in,” she recalls. “If this is their last stronghold, we have got to step up and make sure we provide what they need to survive.”

With assistance from Audubon Nebraska and the World Wildlife Fund, the Switzers learned about bird counting, bird behavior, and other details about the greater prairie-chicken and sharp-tailed grouse. They realized small changes to their ranch management plans could make a big difference for these resident birds that don’t migrate elsewhere.

The Switzers located (and documented with GPS technology) the birds’ breeding grounds on the ranch. This helped prioritize which areas to target for removal of invasive species that threaten bird habitat. With a lifespan of about five years for the prairie chicken, the Switzers wanted to be sure they quickly focused on the right pockets of the ranch.

“A lot can happen in five years, as far as damaging a whole generation of birds,” Sarah said.

The Switzers received cost-share from the Sandhills Task Force and Nebraska Game and Parks for invasive tree removal and prescribed burns. With support from local Natural Resources Conservation Service staff, they installed wildlife-friendly fencing, added wildlife escape ramps in their watering tanks, and implemented bird and wildlife-friendly haying practices. Land along the Calamus River was placed in a conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy.  

The Switzers have met the biodiversity goals they set out to achieve 12 years ago with the use of fire and rotational grazing. They showed that ranchers can create bird and wildlife habitat, while improving water quality, soil health and root systems in the environmentally-sensitive Sandhills.

Not only did their efforts lead to an uptick in bird watchers visiting the ranch, but when Audubon Nebraska designated the ranch as an Important Bird Area, it was among the first private properties in Nebraska with that designation.

Always looking to connect others to the importance of grassland bird habitat, the Switzers even played host to a fun and educational Prairie Chicken Festival.

Resiliency is defined on some ranches as the conservation of natural resources. For others it’s ensuring future economic viability. At Switzer Ranch these attributes go hand in hand.



Ricketts & Fellow Governors Stand Up to President Biden’s Radical 30 x 30 Plan

This week, Governor Pete Ricketts and 14 other Governors submitted a joint letter to President Biden regarding his executive order on the climate issued January 27, 2021.  The President’s executive order set a goal of restricting “at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030” (30 x 30).  Currently, about 97% of land in Nebraska is privately owned.

In their letter, the Governors reminded the Biden-Harris Administration that it lacks the authority to pursue the President’s 30 x 30 goal.  “[We] are not aware of any constitutional or statutory authority for the President, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or any other federal agency to set aside and permanently conserve 30 percent of all land and water in the United States,” they wrote.  “Nowhere in the laws of our nation is the authority delegated by Congress to the President or executive agencies to unilaterally change the policies governing land use in America.”

The Governors warned that pursuing the President’s 30 x 30 plan would violate property rights and hurt the economy.  “Obtaining the 30 percent goal from state or private lands would require your Administration to condemn or otherwise severely limit the current productive uses of such lands, infringing on the private property rights of our citizens and significantly harming our economies.”

The Governors also called on President Biden to be transparent about how he intends to achieve his goal.  “Two months have passed since the announcement of the new program and neither the states nor the American people have been provided with any information regarding the meaning, objectives, or implementation of the 30 x 30 program including the fundamental question of what lands will be vulnerable for increased restrictions or condemnation.”  In their letter, the Governors submitted specific questions for the President to answer to provide greater clarity about the 30 x 30 program.

Collectively, the Governors asserted the duty and prerogative of states to manage their own lands and waters for the well-being of their citizens—free from federal interference.  “It is...our responsibility to ensure that certain federal lands, and all state lands, are being productively used by our citizens to provide the food, fiber, energy and minerals our nation needs for a robust economy and our national defense.  It is precisely because we depend on our lands to be available for future generations to enjoy and use [that], without greater input into this initiative, we must resist implementation of the 30 x 30 program.”



Managing an Ever-complex Farming Operation: 7 Types of Waste
Austin Duerfeldt, Extension Educator and Agricultural Systems Economist

One common comment I get when talking to different producers is their desire to know how other operations succeed. Some operations can handle a vast quantity of acres, but no matter the size, we all face the same constraint of hours in a day. My comment to those wishing to increase profitability is that there are ways to do just that without adding more cattle or acres. Working to reduce waste within an operation is essential for efficiency. Once you are efficient at your current level, you will be more profitable and can handle future growth.

In Lean Six Sigma, a process improvement strategy, there are seven identified types of waste. Waste is recognized as anything that does not add value to the operation. In commercial industries, this is viewed as things that customers are not willing to pay for. For agricultural purposes, I view this as a task that does not increase our opportunity to make more profit. Here are the seven types of wastes to watch for in your operation.
    Transportation – Transportation is any unnecessary movement of commodities or livestock. To give an example of this, consider a corn production operation. Harvesting corn could require numerous transportation points: the combine, the grain cart, tractor-trailer, auger into the storage bin, auger out of storage bin and then a final tractor-trailer to the elevator for sale. The waste is looking at this process and trying to find ways to reduce it. Grain will be damaged during each transportation instance, so reducing this will help avoid docs at the elevator and reduce the time/man-hours spent on each bushel of grain.
    Inventory – Inventory for agriculture is a bit tricky. In general, having liquid capital wrapped up in raw materials waiting for use is a waste. Numerous items could be earning you a return. The problematic part is that agriculture tends to have some nuances that must be accounted for. Prepaid expenses are helpful for both discount purposes and tax purposes. The key is to take advantage of favorable prices while maintaining a level for use that is reasonable. You also need to account for the shelf life of the products being purchased.
    Motion – Motion is similar to transportation, but we are looking at machinery and operators' movement. Moving machinery from farm to farm is expensive, not just in the respects of monetary costs, but also in time. Wear and tear on equipment as well as operator fatigue are issues with moving equipment constantly. Looking for opportunities to perform like-kind exchanges for ground closer to your main operation is one solution. Another factor to consider is being more efficient in travel. How much equipment is genuinely needed at a given location to accomplish the job? Also, are you leaving a job half-finished? Recording each time you move equipment to a farm and back on a year-long summary sheet will help you visualize the situation and what might be done to make the process more efficient.
    Waiting – Waiting is created when one process in a series of processes is slow. Sticking with the grain examples, think of filling a tractor-trailer from a grain bin site. One of the bins has a 6-inch unloading auger while the other bin has a 10-inch one. If the elevator does not change, how many loads per day can you get out of the 6-inch versus the 10-inch? You could also look at this from the perspective of harvest. When harvesting soybeans, how many truck drivers do you need per combine? Are there ways to reduce a truck driver's wait time?
    Over-production – This is a challenging concept. In the commercial industry, it is looking at customer demand for guidance. For agriculture, we look at the futures price. The issue is the future price is ever-changing, and the goals and targets set at planting might be overvalued or undervalued come harvest. Regardless, the bottom line is the goal is to maximize profitability.
    Over-processing – For agriculture, this can be looked at in many forms. On a more commercial scale, the size of a chicken matters to consumers. Larger chickens tend not to be desirable. In this situation, adding additional pounds onto the bird would be a waste. This can be the same with some field processes. For some areas, no-till and tilled ground produce the same and have similar weed control situations. Elevators do not differentiate corn grown in no-till vs. tilled ground, so does the additional cost of tilling make sense?
    Defects – Defects are issues with quality that are found to be unacceptable in the marketplace. Similar to inventory, this can be tricky to describe. Looking at corn, the easy thing to point to would be the areas a commercial elevator will doc your commodity. Moisture, in this case, would be an example of a defect. Looking at the storage and harvesting practices and reworking where necessary will minimize exposure here.

These seven areas of waste can be looked at and result in additional profit or time if corrected. While not every farm can purchase ground or rent additional acres, we all can be more efficient in what we do have. One suggestion on approaching this is to have a non-farm member observe some of the processes and ask questions about why things are done in specific ways. You will find that they will become puzzled with some of your responses as they ask questions during particular processes. Those instances are areas to consider looking into to see if there are other solutions.



HERBICIDE PLANS FOR LATER ANNUAL FORAGES
– Todd Whitney, NE Extension Educator
 
Have you selected herbicides for your corn, soybeans, and other crops? For livestock producers, this is a reminder to double check herbicide labels before finalizing your plans to grow / hay or graze annual forages and cover crops following corn or soybeans.
 
Forage annual cover crops such as millets and sorghums may be nice complements to your corn and soybean cropping rotations; however, their intended use as a forage can bring frustrations due to herbicide limitations.
 
Many forages, especially legumes, are impacted by herbicide carryover such as atrazine. Often, perennial grasses and alfalfa also are sensitive to herbicide carryover.
 
Most herbicides list crop rotation intervals or waiting time from the chemical was applied until when the next crops can be safely planted. Note that haying and grazing interval times are different than crop rotation intervals; and usually require longer waiting periods.
 
So, if the next forage or cover crop being grown following the corn and soybeans may be used for hay or forage, read the cover crops and grazing restrictions herbicide label sections before making your final herbicides selection.
 
Our Nebraska Extension “Guide for Weeds, Diseases and Insect” publication, EC130, provides comparison table references for many specific forages and cover crops regarding waiting times. These required label monthly intervals from herbicide application to forage usage can range from zero to over 10. So, it is important to read and follow all label provisions.
 
If the forage cover crop species that you intend to plant is not listed on the label; you must follow the rotation restrictions listed for “other crops.”



Center for Rural Affairs applauds reintroduction of Growing Climate Solutions Act

The Center for Rural Affairs applauds the reintroduction of the Growing Climate Solutions Act. The legislation was reintroduced by its original sponsors for the 117th Congress.

“Carbon payment programs offer a financial opportunity for farmers implementing important conservation on their farms,” said Kayla Bergman, senior policy associate for the Center of Rural Affairs. “While there has been growing excitement for these programs, standardization and verification is necessary.”

Bergman commends the bipartisan leadership on this bill, including Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for joining their colleagues, Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Mike Braun (R-IN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sheldon Whitehouse, (D-RI) in cosponsorship of this legislation.

“The large group of bipartisan legislators sponsoring this bill, including senators from our heartland states, demonstrates the support for America’s farmers scaling up their conservation efforts to address climate change,” Bergman said.

The Growing Climate Solutions Act will establish a certification program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture for private parties who work with producers to receive payments for carbon sequestration.

In addition to bringing legitimacy to carbon trading, Bergman said the legislation would make the enrollment process less cumbersome. The program has already generated interest among farmers and companies, she said.

“This legislation solidifies the important role agriculture plays in addressing climate change by providing a good path forward for carbon markets,” Bergman said.



Communicating With Farmers Under Stress
Free webinar Wednesday, May 5, 10:00 - 11:30 am CDT
Register Here: https://unl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcrcOysqT0rGNZo2mL25t74eo83AWe49aFq

Nebraska Extension, in partnership with Michigan State University Extension, offers a free online webinar, “Communicating With Farmers Under Stress.". This workshop is beneficial for individuals who work with farmers and ranchers on a regular basis, such as bank lenders, ag suppliers, educators and consultants, healthcare professionals, and anyone involved with the lives of farmers and ranchers. In addition to being helpful for working with farmers and ranchers, the workshop educates participants about managing stress in their own lives and teaches how stressors can affect physical health and relationships with family or coworkers. For more information, contact Nebraska Extension Educators Brandy VanDeWalle, brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu or Susan Harris, susan.harris@unl.edu.



Growth Energy Thanks Senators Klobuchar and Fischer for Fighting for the Renewable Fuel Standard

Today, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) led 10 Senators in sending a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking Administrator Michael Regan to restore integrity to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and reject pandemic-driven requests to waive or reduce renewable volume obligations (RVOs). Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor released the following statement thanking the senators:

“We’re grateful for Senators Klobuchar’s and Fischer’s leadership in underscoring to EPA that restoring integrity to the RFS will assist in the economic recovery of rural America and help the Administration reach its climate goals. EPA should not give in to oil refiners’ claims that renewable volume obligations should be reduced because of COVID-driven demand reductions when EPA itself just recently told the Supreme Court that ‘...creating incentives for market participants to replace petroleum fuels with renewable fuels is a core purpose of the RFS.’

“We are continuing to work with Administrator Regan, the Biden Administration, and our biofuels champions in Congress to ensure the RFS is followed as Congress intended.”



Join NFU for an Earth Day Conversation

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges we've ever faced, both as an industry and as a species. If left unchecked, it could threaten farmers' livelihoods, rural economies, and global food security.

It sounds dire – and it is. But there are reasons to be optimistic about the future.

Every link in the food supply chain, from farm to fork, can play a role in climate mitigation and adaptation by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, producing renewable energy, and sequestering carbon.

During a free webinar on Earth Day, ranchers, restauranteurs, and processors will discuss how they're working together to protect ourselves and our planet from climate change.

This event will be held tomorrow, April 22, at 3:30 pm ET.

Meet Our Speakers
Rob Larew, President, National Farmers Union
Rob was elected National Farmers Union’s 15th president during the organization’s 118th anniversary convention in 2020. Rob, who was raised on a West Virginia dairy farm, previously served as NFU’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Communications. Prior to his employment with NFU, he served over 22 years in Congress and USDA, most recently as the staff director of the House Agriculture Committee.

Hannah Bernhardt, Rancher, Medicine Creek Farm, Minnesota
After growing up on a corn and soybean farm in Southern Minnesota and training with a number of farms and sustainable agriculture organizations, Hannah and her family started Medicine Creek Farm in Finlayson, Minnesota, where they raise pigs, cattle, and lambs. They use management-intensive rotational grazing practices to fulfill their mission to "raise healthy animals on healthy soils to feed healthy communities."

Ryan Goodman, Rancher, Croissant Red Angus, Colorado
Ryan has been involved in the cattle industry his entire life, growing up on a progressive cow/calf and stocker cattle operation in Arkansas. Since then, he expanded his focus to operations across the country, gaining knowledge about other sectors of cattle production from the cow/calf to the feeder phase. Ryan now ranches in Colorado and works with farmers to help them share their stories about agriculture and how food is raised.

Andy Shaw, CEO, Cypress Valley Meat Company & Natural State Processing
Andy started Cypress Valley Meat in Vilonia, Arkansas in 2010. Then, in 2016, he collaborated with Grass Roots Farmer Cooperative to form Natural State Processing, which is one of only 14 independent, inspected Poultry Processing Facilities in the U.S.. Andy has been aggressive in growing Cypress Valley Meat Company and has landed accounts with major retailers and farmers.

Anthony Myint, Director of Partnerships, Zero Foodprint
Anthony Myint works to mobilize the restaurant industry to support healthy soil as a solution to the climate crisis. He is also a chef and has co-founded many restaurants and restaurant-adjacent projects, including Mission Street Food, Mission Chinese Food, Mission Cantina, Mission Burger, Lt. Waffle, Commonwealth, and The Perennial. Anthony was nominated for a James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateur in 2019 and won the Basque Culinary World Prize for 2019-20.



Agriculturists are Leaders in Making The Earth A Better Place

Farmers and Ranchers are true conservationists that protect our land, water and air. Agriculture inspires people from the awe of new life, the picturesque sunsets, the clamor of a family meal in the field during harvest, to seeing something through from start to finish. In communities, rural and urban, large or small, agriculture has a way of giving back. Private individuals and agriculture organization, including American Agri-Women (AAW), donate food, scholarships, grants, and resources to make an impact. Why? Because agriculture highly regards the Earth and all the resources it provides.

Renewable fuels like ethanol (corn-based) and biodiesel (soy-based) are grown on farms here in the U.S., therefore decreasing our Nation’s need for foreign oil dependence and reducing pollution in our bigger cities.

American Agri-Women have many members that are also board members for their state commodity organizations.

Technology in agriculture has advanced leaps and bounds over a short period of time. It has allowed for decreased seed costs, less chemical and fertilizer usage, lower fuel consumption, improvements in animal genetics, and overall animal welfare.

Farmers and ranchers are continually improving soil, water, and air resources with sustainable practices and have long been leading the way in caring for our environment. Voluntarily using conservation plans to address resource concerns on their land demonstrates their commitment to protecting the environment for future generations, not just on Earth Day, but every day.

It’s an important fact to point out that farms and ranches are multi-generational and equally proud. With that, comes the responsibility to ensure the land is left better than it was received for children and grandchildren. Running a farm or ranch is more than a way of life, it is also a family’s business and income. Success and profitability of any business comes with good management and taking care of your tools, resources, and employees; this is no different when it comes to farms and ranches.

Agriculture provides jobs for roughly 1 in 12 people in the U.S. That’s a considerable amount of people making a direct impact on changing the world. Together, we are doing it better and more efficiently than ever before. It doesn’t matter the role we have in agriculture; what matters is that we continue to do the best we can to improve our communities, which makes our Earth a better place. #STANDUPSPEAKOUT4AG



Weekly Ethanol Production for 4/16/2021

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending April 16, ethanol production remained level with the prior week at 941,000 b/d, equivalent to 39.52 million gallons daily. Production was 67.1% above the same week last year when the effects of the pandemic were reflected but was 10.2% below the same week in 2019. The four-week average ethanol production rate increased 0.5% to 956,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.66 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks thinned by 0.3% to a 22-week low of 20.4 million barrels, which was 26.2% below a year-ago and 10.1% below this time in 2019. Inventories drew down across all regions except the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) and Rocky Mountains (PADD 4).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, increased 1.8% to 9.10 million b/d (139.56 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was 71.4% above a year ago but was 3.2% below the same week in 2019.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol were consistent with the prior week at 890,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.64 bg annualized. This was 70.2% above a year ago but was 4.1% below 2019.

There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the eighteenth consecutive week. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of February 2021.)



Anhydrous Price Hits $700 Per Ton for First Time Since 2015

The upward momentum in fertilizer prices appeared to level off this week. The average retail price of all eight major fertilizers increased; however, none were up a significant amount, which DTN considers a price move of 5% or more.  This is the first week since the beginning of February that no fertilizer's price was up by double-digit percentage points.

For the second week of April 2021, the average retail prices of anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32 increased by 4%. Anhydrous had an average price of $700/ton, UAN28 $345/ton and UAN32 $387/ton.  One interesting note was the anhydrous price at $700/ton. The last time it was this high was the fifth week of June 2015. The price that week was $705/ton.

Urea prices increased 3% to $509/ton, while 10-34-0 increased 2% to an average price of $609/ton.  DAP had an average price of $624/ton, MAP $702/ton and potash $432/ton. All represented a 1% increase.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.55/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.62/lb.N and UAN32 $0.60/lb.N.

With retail fertilizer prices moving higher over recent months, all fertilizers are now higher in price from a year ago.

Potash is now 17% more expensive, 10-34-0 is 30% higher, urea is 33% more expensive, UAN32 39% higher, anhydrous is 42% more expensive, UAN28 is 46% higher, DAP is 52% more expensive and MAP 62% is higher compared to last year.



USDA Expands and Renews Conservation Reserve Program in Effort to Boost Enrollment and Address Climate Change

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) with higher payment rates, new incentives, and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation. Additionally, USDA is announcing investments in partnerships to increase climate-smart agriculture, including $330 million in 85 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects and $25 million for On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials. Secretary Vilsack made the announcement today at the White House National Climate Task Force meeting to demonstrate USDA’s commitment to putting American agriculture and forestry at the center of climate-smart solutions to address climate change.

The Biden-Harris Administration is working to leverage USDA conservation programs for climate mitigation, including continuing to invest in innovation partnership programs like RCPP and On-Farm Trials as well as strengthening programs like CRP to enhance their impacts.

“Sometimes the best solutions are right in front of you. With CRP, the United States has one of the world’s most successful voluntary conservation programs. We need to invest in CRP and let it do what it does best—preserve topsoil, sequester carbon, and reduce the impacts of climate change,” said Vilsack. “We also recognize that we can’t do it alone. At the White House Climate Leaders Summit this week, we will engage leaders from all around the world to partner with us on addressing climate change. Here at home, we’re working in partnership with producers and local organizations through USDA programs to bring new voices and communities to the table to help combat climate change.”

Conservation Reserve Program
USDA’s goal is to enroll up to 4 million new acres in CRP by raising rental payment rates and expanding the number of incentivized environmental practices allowed under the program. CRP is one of the world’s largest voluntary conservation programs with a long track record of preserving topsoil, sequestering carbon, and reducing nitrogen runoff, as well providing healthy habitat for wildlife.

CRP is a powerful tool when it comes to climate mitigation, and acres currently enrolled in the program mitigate more than 12 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). If USDA reaches its goal of enrolling an additional 4 million acres into the program, it will mitigate an additional 3 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent and prevent 90 million pounds of nitrogen and 33 million tons of sediment from running into our waterways each year.

“We want to make sure CRP continues to be a valuable and effective conservation resource for our producers for decades to come,” said Vilsack. “USDA will continue to find new and creative ways of putting producers and landowners at the center of climate-smart practices that generate revenue and benefit our planet.”

CRP’s long-term goal is to establish valuable land cover to help improve water quality, improve soil health and carbon sequestration, prevent soil erosion, and reduce loss of wildlife habitat. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers a number of signups, including the general signup and continuous signup, which are both open now, as well as a CRP Grasslands and pilot programs focused on soil health and clean water.

New Climate-Smart Practice Incentive
To target the program on climate change mitigation, FSA is introducing a new Climate-Smart Practice Incentive for CRP general and continuous signups that aims to increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate-Smart CRP practices include establishment of trees and permanent grasses, development of wildlife habitat, and wetland restoration. The Climate-Smart Practice Incentive is annual, and the amount is based on the benefits of each practice type.

Higher Rental Rates and New Incentives
In 2021, CRP is capped at 25 million acres, and currently 20.8 million acres are enrolled. Furthermore, the cap will gradually increase to 27 million acres by 2023. To help increase producer interest and enrollment, FSA is:
    Adjusting soil rental rates. This enables additional flexibility for rate adjustments, including a possible increase in rates where appropriate.
    Increasing payments for Practice Incentives from 20% to 50%. This incentive for continuous CRP practices is based on the cost of establishment and is in addition to cost share payments.
    Increasing payments for water quality practices. Rates are increasing from 10% to 20% for certain water quality benefiting practices available through the CRP continuous signup, such as grassed waterways, riparian buffers, and filter strips.
    Establishing a CRP Grassland minimum rental rate. This benefits more than 1,300 counties with rates currently below the minimum.

Enhanced Natural Resource Benefits
To boost impacts for natural resources, FSA is:
    Moving State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) practices to the CRP continuous signup. Unlike the general signup, producers can sign up year-round for the continuous signup and be eligible for additional incentives.
    Establishing National Grassland Priority Zones. This aims to increase enrollment of grasslands in migratory corridors and environmentally sensitive areas.
    Making Highly Erodible Land Initiative (HELI) practices available in both the general and continuous signups.

Expanding Prairie Pothole Soil Health and Watershed Programs
CRP has two pilot programs ― the Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP) and the Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers 30-year contracts (CLEAR30).
    For SHIPP, which is a short-term option (3, 4, or 5-year contracts) for farmers to plant cover on less productive agricultural lands, FSA will hold a 2021 signup in the Prairie Pothole states.
    The CLEAR30 pilot, a long-term option through CRP, will be expanded from the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay pilot regions to nationwide.

Increasing Technical Assistance Capacity to Establish Robust Mechanisms for Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Soil Carbon
USDA technical assistance through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is critical to enable producers to plan and implement appropriate conservation practices for their needs. Under this initiative, NRCS will also initiate a soil sampling protocol to help establish a baseline for soil carbon on land enrolled in CRP. To ensure increased enrollment and support for producers, USDA is increasing NRCS technical assistance capacity for CRP by $140 million.

Additionally, in order to better target the program toward climate outcomes, USDA will invest $10 million in the CRP Monitoring, Assessment and Evaluation (MAE) program to measure and monitor the soil carbon and climate resilience impacts of conservation practices over the life of new CRP contracts. This will enable the agency to further refine the program and practices to provide producers tools for increased climate resilience.

Partnership Programs Contribute to Priorities
In addition to changes to CRP, Secretary Vilsack also announced significant investments for climate-smart policies. First, NRCS is investing $330 million in 85 locally driven, public-private partnerships under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program to address climate change and other natural resources challenges. NRCS will announce more details on the RCPP project selections on April 26.

Second, NRCS is investing $25 million in proposals for On-Farm Trials, which are part of the Conservation Innovation Grants program. NRCS is seeking proposals through June 21. Project priorities include climate-smart agricultural solutions and soil health practices.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is engaged in a whole-of-government effort to combat the climate crisis and conserve and protect our nation’s lands, biodiversity, and natural resources including our soil, air and water. Through conservation practices and partnerships, USDA aims to enhance economic growth and create new streams of income for farmers, ranchers, producers and private foresters. Successfully meeting these challenges will require USDA and our agencies to pursue a coordinated approach alongside USDA stakeholders, including state, local, and tribal governments.



NGFA prioritizes targeting environmentally sensitive land within the Conservation Reserve Program

NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert made the following statement regarding USDA’s announcement to expand Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage with an emphasis on climate-smart solutions.

"NGFA looks forward to working with Congress and the Biden administration on promoting working lands conservation programs as climate-smart solutions that keep U.S. agriculture competitive. The NGFA believes CRP should be targeted at the most environmentally sensitive portions of farms, and avoid enrollment of whole farms or large tracts of productive farmland. Programs that drastically increase acreage idling in the United States send market signals to competitors to plant more acres, resulting in negative climate and environmental impacts. We look forward to hearing additional details from USDA and working with the department to ensure this acreage is targeted for the most substantial environmental benefits while preserving U.S. agricultural productivity and competitiveness."



NEBRASKA MILK PRODUCTION

Milk production in Nebraska during the January-March 2021 quarter totaled 360 million pounds, down 2% from the January-March quarter last year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of milk cows was 59,000 head, unchanged from the same period last year.

January-March Milk Production up 1.0 Percent
Milk production in the United States during the January - March quarter totaled 56.7 billion pounds, up 1.0 percent from the January - March quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.46 million head, 29,000 head more than the October - December quarter, and 80,000 head more than the same period last year.

IOWA:  Milk production in Iowa during March 2021 totaled 474 million pounds, up 3% from the previous March according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during March, at 224,000 head, was the same as last month but 5,000 more than March 2020. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,115 pounds, up 5 pounds from last March.

March Milk Production up 2.0 Percent
Milk production in the 24 major States during March totaled 18.8 billion pounds, up 2.0 percent from March 2020. February revised production, at 16.9 billion pounds, was down 1.1 percent from February 2020. However, production was 2.5 percent above last year after adjusting for the leap year. The February revision represented an increase of 36 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.  Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,104 pounds for March, 19 pounds above March 2020. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.95 million head, 93,000 head more than March 2020, and 7,000 head more than February 2021.



Record High Red Meat Production for 2020

Total red meat production for the United States totaled 55.8 billion pounds in 2020, 1 percent higher than the previous year. Red meat includes beef, veal, pork, and lamb and mutton. Red meat production in commercial plants totaled 55.7 billion pounds. On-farm slaughter totaled 94.3 million pounds.

Beef production totaled 27.2 billion pounds, up slightly from the previous year. Veal production totaled 69.3 million pounds, down 13 percent from last year. Pork production, at 28.3 billion pounds, was 2 percent above the previous year. Lamb and mutton production totaled 143 million pounds, down 7 percent from 2019.

Commercial cattle slaughter during 2020 totaled 32.8 million head, down 2 percent from 2019, with federal inspection comprising 98.1 percent of the total. The average live weight was 1,373 pounds, up 29 pounds from a year ago. Steers comprised 49.3 percent of the total federally inspected cattle slaughter, heifers 29.4 percent, dairy cows 9.5 percent, other cows 10.2 percent, and bulls 1.6 percent.

Commercial calf slaughter totaled 456,400 head, 22 percent lower than a year ago with 97.9 percent under federal inspection. The average live weight was 245 pounds, up 24 pounds from a year earlier.

Commercial hog slaughter totaled 132 million head, 1 percent higher than 2019 with 99.4 percent of the hogs slaughtered under federal inspection. The average live weight was up 4 pounds from last year, at 289 pounds. Barrows and gilts comprised 97.2 percent of the total federally inspected hog slaughter.

Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter, at 2.23 million head, was down 4 percent from the previous year with federal inspection comprising 85.1 percent of the total. The average live weight was down 3 pounds from 2019 at 125 pounds. Lambs and yearlings comprised 94.0 percent of the total federally inspected sheep slaughter.

By State   (million lbs - 2020 total - 2019 total)
Nebraska ......:   7,922.8  -  8,289.2
Iowa .............:   8,960.4  -  8,624.0

There were 858 plants slaughtering under federal inspection on January 1, 2021 compared with 835 last year. Of these, 683 plants slaughtered at least one head of cattle during 2020 with the 13 largest plants slaughtering 54 percent of the total cattle killed. Hogs were slaughtered at 621 plants, with the 14 largest plants accounting for 58 percent of the total. For calves, 3 of the 172 plants accounted for 55 percent of the total and 1 of the 522 plants that slaughtered sheep or lambs in 2020 comprised 20 percent of the total head.    

Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas accounted for 49 percent of the United States commercial red meat production in 2020, unchanged from 2019.



Legislation Would Encourage More Veterinarians to Practice in Rural Areas

A newly introduced bill backed by the American Farm Bureau Federation would help bring more veterinarians to rural areas.

“Timely veterinary care is key to maintaining the health of our nation’s poultry flocks and dairy and livestock herds. However, a shortage of animal care professionals in many rural areas is putting farm animals at risk, jeopardizing the farms and ranches that care for them, and impacting the stability of our food supply,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said in a letter to the sponsors of the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act (H.R. 2447), Reps. Ron Kind (D-Wis,), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.).

Administered by USDA, the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program may repay part of student loan debt each year in exchange for up to three years of service in a designated veterinary shortage area. The new legislation would expand the number of awards to qualifying veterinarians by exempting the loan amount from the 37% federal withholding tax.



ASA/WISHH, Kansas State University, Cambodian Partners Create New Tools for Soy-based Fish Feeds

ASA’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program, Kansas State University (KSU) and other partners have collaborated to produce new fish feeding and growth charts. These vital new tools will assist Cambodian fish farmers in their transition from homemade feeds based on rice bran and wild fish to pelleted soy-based feeds manufactured in Cambodian feed mills.

Commercialization of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade (CAST) – Cambodia is ASA/WISHH’s USDA-funded Food for Progress project that benefits from KSU’s expertise and work with the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (CE SAIN) at the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA). KSU also is the lead for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification (SIIL).

The CE SAIN, funded through the SIIL at KSU, provides training for the CAST project. Due to both USDA and USAID investments, there is a collaboration between these organizations to promote aquaculture opportunities in Cambodia.

“These feed and growth charts for each species will enable Cambodian farmers to transition to soy-based feeds and be more certain of turning a profit,” said global aquaculture expert Karen Veverica, a consultant for CE SAIN on the CAST project. “Both charts will provide a practical tool that can be valuable, not only for fish famers across Cambodia, but for the feed companies as well.”

For decades, most Cambodian fish farmers have made their own fish feed from rice bran and wild-caught fish. The practice has led to overfishing, and a resulting rise in the price of the wild-caught fish. The homemade feed is also very low in protein so farmers are used to pouring large amounts of feed daily into ponds. As farmers transition to factory-made feeds, these feeds are more nutrient-dense, and therefore, less is needed to achieve the same growth. However, the price of factory-made feed is higher on a per kg basis. If farmers continue to feed the same amounts, they will lose money and go back to using the wild-caught fish. Therefore, CAST partners developed a feeding and growth chart for two species of fish in Cambodia, the climbing perch and the hybrid catfish.

These feed charts will assist the farmers in knowing what size and type of feed to use and how much to feed as the fish continue to grow. As a result, CAST is developing a market for soybean meal to be used in Cambodian fish diets.

KSU collaborates with Cambodian researchers, policymakers, donors and aquaculture industry representatives who participate in CE SAIN’s initiatives. With USAID funding, KSU has established the Agricultural Technology Park in Kampong Thom and Battambang provinces, which provides a demonstration site for current and future fish farmers of Cambodia. An additional demonstration pond is located at RUA in Phnom Penh.

In addition to the benefits these feed and growth charts will provide fish farmers, it is also a great opportunity for the young technicians to collect valuable data on water quality variables that can be used in future training programs. The technicians will gain understanding of how water quality such as dissolved oxygen, pH and ammonia change over the production cycle. The agricultural technology parks provide tremendous hands-on learning experiences.

Lyda Hok, the director of CE SAIN and faculty member at RUA said, “Not only is this a great tool for the Cambodian fish farmers to use to enhance their feeding techniques and fish diets, but the research with this CAST project is an excellent training opportunity for technicians, and it offers an invaluable learning experience.”

A USDA-funded project, CAST is designed to accelerate production of high-demand fish species for the Cambodian market and develop a lasting aquaculture industry. CAST strengthens local production of high-quality feed and fish. Through CAST, Cambodia’s private sector and universities work closely with U.S. soybean growers and businesses, as well as academic and non-governmental organizations.



USDA Invests $21.7M in Research Innovations to Improve Soil Health and Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will invest at least $21.7 million in several key programs to help agricultural producers manage the impacts of climate change on their lands and production. NIFA awarded $6.3 million for 14 Soil Health grants and $5.4 million for seven Signals in the Soil grants through its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). NIFA also is investing at least $10 million this year in a new AFRI program area priority called, “Extension, Education, and USDA Climate Hub Partnerships,” to train the next generation of agriculturalists and foresters to incorporate climate change research into their management practices.

This is the first in a series of announcements by USDA this week to underscore the Department’s renewed commitment to addressing climate change through adaptation and mitigation with climate-smart tools for farmers, ranchers, producers and foresters.

“USDA is committed to working alongside American producers, rural businesses and landowners to help them lead the way on addressing climate change, using the best USDA data and science to help improve their practices and spur new market opportunities,” said Vilsack.

Some projects funded from the Soil Health AFRI priority area include: Northern Arizona University’s project, “Pelletized Fire Mosses to Enhance Soil Health After High Severity Forest Fire,” for a new and effective way to boost soil health and promote the recovery of burned ecosystems. South Dakota State University’s project, “Flower Fields and Soils: The Impacts of Native Perennial Monoculture Plots on Soil Health,” aimed at improving the sustainability of agricultural production and evaluating new agricultural practices to improve soil health.

Some projects funded from the AFRI Signals in the Soil interagency program with the National Science Foundation include: University of New Hampshire’s project, “Novel Soil Frost Sensing Systems for Tracking Freeze-Thaw Cycles,” to develop, test and deploy wireless sensors and a ground-penetrating radar system for continuous measurements of soil frost. This is important because seasonal soil freeze and thaw impacts half the southern region and can affect permafrost, agroecosystems, urban ecosystems, and the interface between humans and the environment. Georgia State University’s project, “A Novel Large-Scale Radon Measurement Wireless Testbed for Spatio-Temporal Study of Radon in Surficial Soil,” will develop a real-time radon measurement test with a wireless sensor network to be deployed around the north-eastern suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia –­­ a metro area of 6 million residents with known high-potential for radon exposure. This is important because exposure to radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer, according to the World Health Organization.

“By combining NIFA and National Science Foundation resources, the Signals in the Soil program fosters collaboration among a broad set of researchers to fund the most innovative and high-impact projects where multiple disciplines converge to produce novel soil sensing systems,” said NIFA director Dr. Carrie Castille.

More on USDA Climate Hubs
The projects funded in this priority area within the AFRI Foundational and Applied Science RFA will strengthen and broaden the impacts of USDA’s Climate Hubs through the Cooperative Extension Service. The partnerships between Cooperative Extension and the Climate Hubs Program that are built through this investment will help to ensure producers have information needed to plan for changing climate conditions and to consider climate-friendly farming practices.

USDA's Climate Hubs are a unique collaboration across the Department's agencies. They are led by Agricultural Research Service and Forest Service directors located at 10 regional locations, with contributions from other USDA agencies including the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Risk Management Agency. The Climate Hubs link USDA research and program agencies in their region with the delivery of timely and authoritative tools and information to agricultural producers and professionals.

“USDA seeks to improve our understanding of the physical connections, biogeochemical interactions, and processes between the soil, the environment and climate change,” Dr. Castille said. “These efforts will lead to new tools, practices, techniques and innovations for improving soil health and demonstrate USDA’s commitment to address climate change.”

To learn more about NIFA, visit our website www.nifa.usda.gov.



USDA Seeks Comments on Food System Supply Chains in Response to President Biden’s Executive Order to Support Resilient, Diverse, Secure Supply Chains

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking comments on a Department-wide effort to improve and reimagine the supply chains for the production, processing and distribution of agricultural commodities and food products. USDA is taking this action in response to Executive Order 14017, America’s Supply Chains, signed by President Biden on Feb. 24, 2021. The request for comments is published today in the Federal Register and the comment period will close on May 21, 2021.

The comments received will help USDA assess the critical factors, risks, and strategies needed to support resilient, diverse, and secure supply chains and ensure U.S. economic prosperity, national security, and nutrition security for all Americans. Such supply chains are needed to address conditions that can reduce critical processing and infrastructure capacity and the availability and integrity of critical goods, products, and services. Identifying food system supply chain-bottlenecks and vulnerabilities also may provide valuable insights into the competitive and fair markets landscape, effects on local and regional producers and processors, and equitable access to food and economic opportunity across diverse communities. USDA will use the comments to prepare a report required by Executive Order 14017.

“We have an opportunity to take the lessons we’ve learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and apply those to transforming our nation’s food system from the inside out, including our supply chains,” said Vilsack. “USDA plans to tackle this supply chain assessment holistically – looking across a full range of risks and opportunities. From elevating the importance of local and regional food systems, to addressing the needs of socially disadvantaged and small to mid-size producers, to supporting sustainable practices to advance resilience and competitiveness, this top to bottom assessment will position USDA to make long-term, transformative changes for economic, national, and nutritional security.”

In addition to asking about the agricultural supply chain, USDA is interested in comments about how to target pandemic-related stimulus relief programs and spending authorized by Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) toward long term, systemic change that results in food supply chain resiliency. In particular, the request for comment seeks input on—
    bolstering local and regional food systems,
    developing new market opportunities (including for value-added agriculture and products),
    creating fairer and more competitive markets,
    meeting the needs of the agricultural workforce,
    supporting and promoting consumers’ nutrition security, particularly for low-income populations,
    addressing the needs of socially disadvantaged and small to mid-sized producers, and
    advancing efforts in other ways to transform the food system.

USDA is undertaking this effort to strengthen U.S. competitiveness with attention to our farmers, ranchers, producers, food processors, and other important links in the food supply chain. Under Secretary Vilsack’s leadership, USDA is helping to accelerate a transformation of our food system. Goals of this transformation include a fairer, more competitive, and transparent system where a greater share of the food dollar goes to those growing, harvesting, and preparing our food and one that promotes and strengthens the overall health and well-being of people, our land and water, and our economy. Growing consolidation in food and agriculture, the general health of our population, a growing climate crisis, and the need to ensure racial justice and equity are important factors to take into consideration as USDA looks at strengthening food and agricultural supply chains.

The deadline for comments is May 21, 2021. More information about how to submit comments in is available in the Notice.