Friday April 30 Ag News

 Nebraska corn farmers to invest nearly $2.2 billion to plant 9.9 million acres

Corn planting season has begun in Nebraska, and farmers are expected to invest nearly $2.2 billion into this year’s crop.

Nebraska corn farmers will plant 9.9 million acres of corn in 2021 according to the latest Prospective Plantings report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). If these planting estimates hold up, Nebraska corn farmers will invest nearly $2.2 billion dollars into the state’s economy over a two-month period. This amount is a result of inputs, such as seed, fuel and fertilizer, but does not include land costs, labor or equipment. Despite the seemingly high investments now, the full economic impact will be realized over time.

“Agriculture is an industry filled with risk and heavily reliant on Mother Nature,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board (NCB). “Despite the uncertainty, Nebraska’s farmers are passionate about producing an abundant supply of food, fuel and fiber, which shows through their yearly investments during the planting season. The economic impact of agriculture to Nebraska is substantial. It’s truly our No. 1 industry.”

Farmers in Nebraska historically begin to plant their corn in mid-April and try to finish by mid-May. However, weather often dictates when farmers can plant. The latest Crop Progress report issued by the USDA (released April 26, 2021), showed Nebraska farmers are 6% completed with corn planting, which is behind where the state was at this time last year (17%), and behind the five-year average (15%).

“The planting season got off to a fairly slow start, but recent favorable weather will help accelerate overall progress,” said David Bruntz, chairman of NCB and farmer from Friend. “This is a busy time for farmers, so please be cautious if you’re driving on rural roads over the next several weeks. There will be lots of machinery moving from field to field, and it’s important to take a second for safety.”

Nationally, farmers are estimated to plant nearly 91.1 million acres of corn in 2021, which is up less than 1% from last year. For more crop progress information throughout the year, follow the Nebraska Corn Board on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.



Webinar to cover USDA ag assistance programs CFAP 2, ARP

A webinar on agricultural assistance available to producers through USDA programs will be presented at noon on Thursday by Nebraska Extension and the USDA Farm Service Agency Nebraska State Office.

Farmers and ranchers may have heard of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative (PAP), the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) and the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). All have been in the news, but what do they mean for Nebraska’s producers?

The webinar will provide an overview of each program and give direction for farmers and ranchers regarding the current open application period for CFAP 2 at FSA offices across the state. It will be presented by Brad Lubben, extension policy specialist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Cathy Anderson, production and compliance section chief with the Nebraska FSA State Office.

The webinar is part of a weekly series produced by the Farm and Ranch Management team in the university’s Department of Agricultural Economics. Registration is free at https://farm.unl.edu/webinars.

Pandemic Assistance for Producers
The Farm Service Agency reopened signup for CFAP 2 on April 5, for a period of at least 60 days, to producers of commodities marketed in 2020 who faced disruptions due to COVID-19.

The American Rescue Plan includes provisions for USDA to pay up to 120% of loan balances, as of Jan. 1, 2021, for FSA Direct and Guaranteed Farm Loans and Farm Storage Facility Loans debt relief to any socially disadvantaged producers with a qualifying loan from FSA.

More information about USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers is available at https://farmers.gov/pandemic-assistance.



Fencing and Grazing Clinic Offers Technology, Tours and Tools

The Fencing and Grazing Clinic, organized and hosted by the Iowa Beef Center, the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University, and the Beef Teaching Farm at Iowa State University, is set for June 17 at the Beef Teaching Farm in Ames.

A variety of topics, speakers and learning opportunities make this clinic a “must-attend” for anyone who works with cattle, grazing and fencing in their operations.

“Attendees of this one-day event will learn about considerations for a grazing plan, tour the Iowa State University Beef Teaching Farm and participate in a fencing demonstration led by Gallagher on permanent and temporary fencing,” said Erika Lundy, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “Fencing laws, Iowa State research updates and interaction with an experienced grazier producer panel also are on the agenda.”  

Beef teaching farm manager David Bruene said participants will be able to see and ask about methods being tried on the farm for extending the grazing season and controlling cow costs.

“We’ve been experimenting with cover crops, annual forages, paddock renovation and swath grazing,” Bruene said. “The on-farm component allows us to showcase some of what we’re doing, and producers can learn from our successes and mistakes.”

Participants will be split into two groups to allow for easier hands-on demonstrations and small group discussions during both the classroom and in-field settings. The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a meal prepared by the Story County Cattlemen. The event flyer offers a quick look at topics, date, time and location, and sponsor listing.

There is no cost to attend; however, all registration must be done online on the event website at http://www.aep.iastate.edu/fencing/.

Organizers are prioritizing the health and safety of Iowans and are following the most current federal, state, local and university COVID-19 guidelines. Participants are required to wear a face covering when in the presence of others and unable to maintain a six-foot physical distance.

For more information about IBC, visit www.iowabeefcenter.org. To learn more about this event, Lundy can be reached at 641-745-5902 or ellundy@iastate.edu. Reynolds is available at bethr@iastate.edu.



Northeast NE Cattlemen Steak Fry
June 13 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm    

Tickets $40

Date:    June 13
Time:    6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Venue
    Wayne Co Fairgrounds, Wayne, NE United States  




NBB Asks USDA to Support Biodiesel in Pilot Programs, Climate Smart Agriculture

Yesterday, the National Biodiesel Board filed comments in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's requests for public input on the Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and a Rural Energy Pilot Program. NBB recommends that USDA leverage existing programs and create new pilot programs to support harvesting annual oil seed cover crops, update the lifecycle analysis of biodiesel, and expand biodiesel education.

"NBB appreciates the recognition that biofuels are part of the solution to address the climate crisis, and with the right incentives and market demand biodiesel is ready now to achieve the goals laid out in the Executive Order," writes Kurt Kovarik, NBB''s Vice President of Federal Affairs, in the comments.

"Biodiesel reduces carbon on average by 74%, and it cuts particulate matter and other criteria pollutants in both transportation and home heating," Kovarik added. "Biodiesel and renewable diesel are the most widely available advanced biofuels today; they've helped the nation reduce carbon for the past decade or more. And we appreciate USDA's continued recognition that they deserve a seat at the table as the nation addresses climate change over the coming decades."

NBB's recommendations on Tackling the Climate Crisis include:
    Under NCRS, allow harvesting of oilseed cover crops that produce low-carbon-intensity feedstocks.
    Conduct an up-to-date analysis of lifecycle emissions for soybean-oil-based biodiesel.
    Recognize biodiesel's ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and criteria pollutants such as particulate matter as the agency incorporates environmental justice considerations.
    Seek permanent funding for the Biodiesel Education Program, the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, and the Advanced Biofuels Payment Program.

NBB's recommendations on the Rural Energy Pilot Program include:
    Expand this pilot program beyond distributed power to include biodiesel, renewable diesel, and Bioheat® fuel.
    Provide grants to fully fund feasibility studies and business planning based on project merits and anticipated outcomes for both distributed power and biofuel related projects.
    Offer grants to fund education to create sustainable pilot outcomes.
    Modify or broaden the rural eligibility definition.

The U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel industry supports 65,000 U.S. jobs and more than $17 billion in economic activity each year. Every 100 million gallons of production supports 3,200 jobs and $780 million in economic opportunity. Biodiesel production supports approximately 13 percent of the value of each U.S. bushel of soybeans.



Land O’Lakes, Inc. delivers strong results for first quarter 2021

Land O’Lakes, Inc. today reported net sales of $3.9 billion and net earnings of $136 million for the first quarter ending March 31, 2021, compared to net sales of $3.8 billion and net earnings of $37 million in 2020. Each business unit delivered strong results and increased net earnings compared to the prior year.

“The operating environment and fundamentals are strong in each business segment,” said Beth Ford, president and CEO of Land O’Lakes, Inc. “The Ag sector is bolstered with our agronomic leadership in Winfield United, rising grain prices, and farmers investing in their crops in preparation for spring planting, and is well-positioned to take advantage of the most favorable market environment since 2014. As businesses continue to re-open in 2021, the marketplace for Dairy Foods Foodservice is rebounding rapidly. Animal Nutrition has also seen continued growth in the lifestyle segment as people continue to invest in their animals.”

Net sales across the company were up 4% compared to the prior year with volume growth in each of the core business segments. Dairy Foods earnings were higher due to continued volume strength in Retail and improved margins in the Global Dairy Ingredients business. Crop Inputs earnings improved due to higher volumes and favorable product mix in Crop Protection Products, in advance of spring planting. Animal Nutrition earnings were also higher for the quarter due to volume growth in both Lifestyle and Livestock Feed. Improved performance more than offset the impact of higher supply chain costs across the portfolio. 2021 first quarter performance was the strongest of the past decade for the farmer-owned cooperative.



U.S. Trade Representative Calls Out EU GI Abuses and Impacts on U.S. Exporters  

The Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) today commended Ambassador Katherine Tai and U.S. Trade Representative Office staff, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other administration partners, for reaffirming in its Special 301 Report the U.S. government’s commitment to tackling continued European Union (EU) misuse of legitimate geographical indications (GI) protections.

USTR’s Special 301 Report, an annual publication tallying global challenges pertaining to intellectual property issues, called out the EU’s policy of blocking fair competition through the pursuit of geographical indications restricting the use of common food and beverage terms, which erect barriers to trade in products relying on common food names. “As part of its trade agreement negotiations, the EU pressures trading partners to prevent all producers, other than in certain EU regions, from using certain product names, such as fontina, gorgonzola, parmesan, asiago, or feta. This is despite the fact that these terms are the common names for products produced in countries around the world.”

“USTR has accurately diagnosed the problem. Now the task before the U.S. is to take the necessary steps to effectively curb this scourge to U.S. food and agricultural producers,” said CCFN Executive Director Jaime Castaneda. “The EU’s GI policy is intentionally barring competition from a host of other suppliers that all simply seek a level playing field including small and medium-sized family-owned companies, farmer-owned cooperatives, producers in developing countries and other actors throughout the supply chain that bear the brunt of these harmful restrictions. The U.S. must build on past advances to pursue a more proactive and effective path to combating the misuse of GIs by establishing concrete market access protections for the use of widely used terms.”

“Last year over 170 members of Congress urged an expansion of the trade toolkit the U.S. deploys to deal with geographical indications that block the use of common food names,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “It’s time to put that into practice and secure affirmative protections for the key common terms on which U.S. cheesemakers and other food producers rely. We look forward to working closely with USTR to achieve those gains to keep doors around the world open to made-in-America products.”

“U.S. dairy farmers and processors are counting on the U.S. government to have their back and defend their rights to cultivate opportunities around the world,” said Krysta Harden, President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. “Our industry produces great products here at home and then works hard to market them overseas. To be as successful as possible, however, they count on strong U.S. government support to head off and combat unfair trade barriers such as geographical indications that ban the use of generic cheese terms. We want to partner with USTR to help bring the right policy tools to bear to make headway on this thorny issue.”  

CCFN filed extensive comments with USTR outlining GI-related developments, foreign governments’ roles in driving those policies and the impacts on U.S. farmers and food producers. NMPF and USDEC also submitted comments supporting CCFN’s global overview and the need for a more robust U.S. trade policy approach to tackling GI abuses.



USDA Seeks Nominees for the American Egg Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominees to fill nine member and nine alternate member vacancies on the American Egg Board. Appointed members will serve a two-year term beginning March 2022 and ending March 2024. The deadline for nominations is July 1, 2021.

Any egg producers owning 75,000 or more laying hens may be nominated by a certified eligible operation. USDA will select appointees from the nominated producers.

Nomination forms, a list of the three areas and the certified eligible operations within each area are available on the AMS American Egg Board webpage. Due to reapportionment of the American Egg Board, the geographic areas were decreased from six regions to three regions. The number of members and alternates have stayed the same.

The American Egg Board is composed of 18 members and 18 alternates and administers the egg research and promotion program authorized by the Egg Research and Consumer Information Act of 1974. For more information, contact Craig Shackelford at (470) 315-4246 or Craig.Shackelford@usda.gov.

AMS policy is that the diversity of the board should reflect the diversity of their industries in experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. When submitting nominations, the industry must consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.