Friday May 21 Cattle on Feed + Ag News

 NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED UP 7%

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.53 million cattle on feed on May 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 7% from last year. Placements during April totaled 425,000 head, up 37% from 2020. Fed cattle marketings for the month of April totaled 465,000 head, up 48% from last year. Other disappearance during April totaled 10,000 head, down 5,000 head from last year.

IOWA CATTLE ON FEED SUMMARY
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 630,000 head on May 1, 2021, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was unchanged from April, but up 2% from May 1, 2020. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 525,000 head on feed, down 3% from last month and down 10% from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,155,000 head, down 1% from last month and down 4% from last year.

Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during April totaled 101,000 head, down 10% from March but up 63% from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 56,000 head, down 18% from March but up 107% from last year. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 157,000 head, down 13% from March but up 76% from last year.

Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during April totaled 98,000 head, down 10% from March but up 44% from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 68,000 head, up 5% from March and up 70% from last year. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 166,000 head, down 5% from March but up 54% from last year. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 6,000 head.

United States Cattle on Feed Up 5 Percent
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on May 1, 2021. The inventory was 5 percent above May 1, 2020. This is the second highest May 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

On Feed, by State                                               
                               (1,000 hd   -  % May 1 '20)
Colorado .......:        1,040         109             
Iowa .............:           630          102           
Kansas ..........:        2,470          106          
Nebraska ......:        2,530          107           
Texas ............:        2,820          105         

Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.82 million head, 27 percent above 2020. Net placements were 1.77 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 380,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 250,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 420,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 481,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 220,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head.

Placements by State                                    
                           (1,000 hd  -  % April '20)
Colorado .......:       160           139               
Iowa .............:        101           163                
Kansas ..........:        435           123              
Nebraska ......:        425           137             
Texas ............:        410           124                

Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.94 million head, 33 percent above 2020. Other disappearance totaled 55,000 head during April, 21 percent below 2020. Other disappearance was the lowest for April since the series began in 1996.

Marketings by State                                     
                           (1,000 hd  -  % April '20)
Colorado ......:        175           146              
Iowa .............:         98           144                   
Kansas ..........:        435           140              
Nebraska ......:        465           148                
Texas ............:        450           115                    



Supplemental Summer Mineral for Grazing Cattle
Connor Biehler, Beef Systems Asst. Extension Educator

Springtime has come, pastures are returning to that wonderful, lush color, and cattle are being turned out to pasture for summer graze out.  Generally, beef producers supplement cattle on grass with free choice mineral to meet nutrient requirements when they are not supplementing with other feedstuffs. Different landscapes and varying soil types require specific variations of mineral levels. The old days of the consistent feeding of the classic 12-12-12 mineral are a thing of the past, and producers are putting priority into selecting the proper mineral supplementation to fit their landscape and cattle.

Typically, in confinement fed scenarios a nutritionist can build a diet to ensure adequate mineral supplementation is delivered at concise levels. When cattle are out on pasture the majority of their nutrient intake comes from forage, but some will come from water or a supplement that may be provided. Therefore, it is important to test forages to ensure an understanding what cattle might be lacking, so that a sufficient mineral program can be implemented.  

Not all mineral is created equally and how it interacts with the physiological system of an animal. There are diversified forms of each type of mineral which include organic, inorganic, or injectable. Each type responds differently in the animal and should be considered when developing a mineral program. Oxide minerals are the least absorbable in the body, while organic minerals are more absorbable than inorganic, but will likely cost more. Preventing a mineral imbalance through proper nutrition is generally less expensive than providing care to mineral deficient cattle, making it beneficial to stay ahead of such issues.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning a summer mineral program:
    Testing water allows for an understanding of total mineral intake. Available mineral in from water (usually elevated levels salt and sulfur) should be included in calculating total mineral intake.
    Un-fertilized pastures of certain forages such as fescue can cause the forage to lack calcium and phosphorus levels that are adequate to meet requirements. Fertilizing these pastures and adequate growing conditions will likely provide sufficient levels of calcium and phosphorus.
    Organic minerals should be considered in scenarios such as: breeding of AI cows and purebred cattle, high risk cattle, and pastures that have previously demonstrated decreased productivity of cattle.

For more information on Nebraska Beef Extension or mineral supplementation programs reach me at my office (402) 624-8007 or follow my twitter page @BigRedBeefTalk for more information on Nebraska Beef Extension.



NEBRASKA CHICKENS AND EGGS

All layers in Nebraska during April 2021 totaled 8.03 million, down from 8.46 million the previous year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Nebraska egg production during April totaled 195 million eggs, up from 186 million in 2020. April egg production per 100 layers was 2,432 eggs, compared to 2,200 eggs in 2020.

IOWA CHICKEN & EGGS
Iowa egg production during April 2021 was 1.23 billion eggs, down 1% from last month but up slightly from a year ago, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of all layers on hand during April 2021 was 48.6 million, up slightly from last month but down 7% from the same month last year. Eggs per 100 layers for April were 2,537, down 2% from last month but up 8% from last April.

April Egg Production Up 1 Percent
United States egg production totaled 9.19 billion during April 2021, up 1 percent from last year. Production included 7.93 billion table eggs, and 1.27 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.19 billion were broiler-type and 75.8 million were egg-type. The average number of layers during April 2021 totaled 389 million, down 1 percent from last year. April egg production per 100 layers was 2,360 eggs, up 2 percent from April 2020.
                                    
Total layers in the United States on May 1, 2021 totaled 386 million, down 1 percent from last year. The 386 million layers consisted of 319 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 64.4 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.02 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on May 1, 2021, averaged 78.5 eggs per 100 layers, up 3 percent from May 1, 2020.



Free Farm and Ag Law Clinics Set for June, Return to In-person Meetings

Free legal and financial clinics are being offered for farmers and ranchers across the state in June 2021. The clinics are one-on-one meetings with an agricultural law attorney and an agricultural financial counselor. These are not group sessions, and they are confidential.

The attorney and financial advisor specialize in legal and financial issues related to farming and ranching, including financial and business planning, transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, debt structure and cash flow, agricultural disaster programs, and other relevant matters. Here is an opportunity to obtain an independent, outside perspective on issues that may be affecting your farm or ranch.

Beginning in June, the clinics will resume as in-person meetings, with locations across the state of Nebraska.

Clinic Dates
    Wednesday, June 9 — Norfolk; Grand Island
    Wednesday, June 16 — Fairbury
    Wednesday, June 30 — Norfolk
    Thursday, July 1 — Valentine

To sign up for a free clinic or to get more information, call the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.  Funding for this work is provided by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska.



Scout Emerging Corn for Insects; Don’t Assume Protection
Justin McMechan - Crop Protection and Cropping Systems Specialist

As corn begins to emerge, be alert to the potential for damage from early season insects such as cutworms, wireworms, white grubs or other insects. A key distinction to be aware of is that soil insects such as white grubs and wireworms can only be controlled with planting time treatments; cutworms and other caterpillars potentially can be controlled postemergence.

Wireworms and white grubs are most often associated with fields that have been in pasture or CRP where the grasses were allowed to grow for more than one year. It is rare to see these problems in continuous corn, but exceptions happen. Since wireworms and white grubs feed underground and cutworms feed on or below the soil surface, scout for plant damage and then dig in soil around the plant to identify the insect causing the damage.

Cutworms
Cutworms and other insects may hinder emerging corn plants this spring, even if seed was treated with insecticide or Bt corn hybrids were used. High populations of insects can overwhelm the protection method, regardless of whether it was an insecticide applied at planting (liquid, granular, or seed treatment) or a Bt corn hybrid.

In some cases products are not labeled for the full spectrum of Nebraska insects. For example, Bt corn hybrids expressing the Cry 1F and VIP3A Bt proteins list control of black cutworm on the label, but only VIP3A lists control of another soil cutworm (dingy cutworm) species.

Cutworms can cause serious damage to corn in the first of couple weeks after emergence so it is important to scout fields early for damage. Several species of cutworms attack corn. The severity and the area affected will vary greatly, depending on species involved, previous crop history, and weather conditions.

The black cutworm does not overwinter in Nebraska, and infestations depend on moths moving up in spring winds from the south. They are most commonly found in the eastern one-fourth of the state. Fields with winter annual weeds or abundant crop residue are more attractive to the egg-laying black cutworm moths in the spring. Black cutworm moths may also be attracted to dense cover crop vegetation to lay eggs. Black cutworm larvae are light gray to nearly black in color with an overall greasy appearance, and reach 1.5 inch long at maturity. When viewed through a hand lens the skin has a rough pebbly texture. The head has two black stripes and there is a pale band along the top of the body. A key characteristic is that on the top of each abdominal segment there are two sets of paired spots which are unequal in size.

After hatching, cutworm larvae may begin feeding on the cover crop and later move to a cash crop when the cover crop is terminated. In 2016, Dunbar et al. captured significantly higher numbers of black cutworm moths in rye cover crop plots from late April through early May in Iowa. A couple of weeks later corn plants were assessed for cutworm damage, but no significant cutworm damage was observed. Such observations reinforce the need to scout fields even when adults have been observed. True armyworm has a similar behavior to black cutworm in that it targets areas of dense vegetation for egg laying.

Several other cutworm species (dingy, claybacked, army, and Sandhills cutworms) overwinter as partly grown caterpillars and can be found more widely in Nebraska.

Dingy cutworms are pale gray to reddish brown with mottled pigmentation and light gray with a V-shaped marking on the back of each abdominal segment. In addition, dingy cutworms have two pairs of equal-sized tubercles on each segment, a key distinction from black cutworms where the pairs of tubercles are unequal in size. Because they overwinter as larvae, dingy cutworms are often the first to damage corn in the spring; however, they generally cause less damage than black cutworms because they feed primarily on leaves and do not typically cut stems. In most cases, treatment for dingy cutworms is not justified unless extensive feeding accompanies poor growing conditions.

Army cutworm larvae are generally greenish-grey to greenish-brown with a freckled appearance. The larvae usually have a narrow, pale stripe on top (Figure 3). Mature larvae are approximately 1 ½ to 2 inches in length. The adults migrate to the Rocky Mountains in the summer to avoid high temperatures before returning to the plains in the late summer to lay eggs. Eggs hatch in the fall and larvae begin development before overwintering. Army cutworm larvae become active again in the late winter to early spring. Like dingy cutworms, they are among the first cutworms to appear in the spring; however, army cutworms generally climb and feed on leaves, so they typically cause less injury than cutworms that feed below ground on the stem. In addition, because they are most abundant early in the season, they usually only injure wheat and other small grains.

Claybacked cutworms are generally light along the sides with a darker brownish to reddish broad stripe on the back. At maturity, larvae can reach up to approximately 1 ½ inches in length. However, unlike dingy and army cutworms, claybacked cutworms will cut plants just above soil surface and can be economically important occasionally.

Remember that early detection of a problem is essential because most cutting occurs within seven days of plant emergence.

Treatment. Generally, a postemergence "rescue" treatment should be considered if cutting is observed on 3-5% or more of plants and the worms are one inch or less in length. Rescue treatments are effective in controlling soil cutworms.

Insecticides containing pyrethroids or chlorpyrifos will give satisfactory control as postemergence sprays. If soil is dry or crusted, rotary hoeing immediately before or after a chlorpyrifos application may enhance control. Products containing pyrethroids should not be incorporated.

Wireworms
Wireworms are the larvae of click beetles. The adult beetles prefer to lay eggs in grass and the larvae can remain in that stage for up to six years, depending on the species. Wireworms are our earliest corn pests each season, as they can feed on the seed before germination, causing reduced plant emergence. Later feeding may kill or stunt small emerged plants.

All wireworm feeding is done underground. Wireworms are white, yellow, orange, or brown with hard shells. They tend to be more numerous in fields that have been in grass or pasture or fields that have had grassy weed problems. Wireworms prefer cooler soil temperatures under 70°F, so fields that were planted early or have heavy surface residue may be at higher risk than tilled fields.

Treatment. There is no rescue treatment for wireworms, so the main decision at this time is whether there is sufficient stand reduction to warrant replanting. Fields with high populations of wireworms should be prioritized for control measures next year if they are to be replanted to corn. The use of seed treatments like Cruiser and Poncho has greatly reduced the incidence of wireworm damage. These products are excellent early season stand protectors.

White Grubs
White grubs are the larvae of May (or June) or Japanese beetles. They prefer to feed on grasses and most commonly damage corn in eastern Nebraska. There are two basic types of grubs.

Annual grubs complete their development in one year. Both masked chafers and Japanese beetles have similar life cycles. They do most of their feeding in the late summer and fall and are not considered serious pests of spring-planted field crops.

Three-year grubs, however, can damage corn severely in the last two years of their larval stage. The larvae overwinter deep in the soil. As the soil warms they begin feeding on plant roots. Damage to corn may not occur until the corn is in the 2- to 6-leaf stage. This is difficult because up to the time of feeding, the stand may look fine. Often three-year grub damage is near shelter belts where the adults may congregate to feed and mate.

To identify white grubs examine the pattern of spines on the underside of the last abdominal segment. Three-year grubs have two rows of parallel spines in a line; annual white grubs have spines scattered randomly.

Treatment. Like wireworms, there is no rescue treatment for white grubs. Again, high risk areas (e.g., presence of three-year grubs the previous year) need to be treated at planting. Products for white grub control are similar to wireworm control.

Replanting
If wireworm or white grub damage is serious enough to warrant replanting, consider use of planting time insecticide treatments, although the odds of damage diminish with the warming of the soil.

For More Information...
On insecticide products and rates, see the Insect Management section of the 2021 Guide for Weed, Disease and Insect Management in Nebraska (EC 130).

On managing cutworms, see the UNL Extension NebGuide Corn Cutworms (G1153)



Saunders County Corn Growers Annual Meeting
June 8 @ 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM    
Date:  June 8
Time:  6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Venue
    East side of Lake Wanahoo
    1655 County Road 16
    Wahoo, NE 68066



Naig Highlights Legislative Session Accomplishments Benefiting the Iowa Agriculture Community

Following the adjournment of the 2021 legislative session, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig issued the following statement congratulating state legislators on a successful session that saw major accomplishments for Iowa farmers and the agricultural community:

“I want to thank all 150 state lawmakers for their public service and continued support of Iowa’s agriculture community. Agriculture is the backbone of our state and all Iowans benefit from a strong ag economy. I’m grateful that the Iowa Legislature continues to make smart, strategic investments to strengthen local food chains, create new markets for our producers and provide dedicated, long-term funding for soil health and water quality practices,” said Secretary Naig. “Working together, we secured additional funding for agriculture initiatives this legislative session and will continue to see historic investments in water quality. These funds will support a value-added agriculture program, help small meat lockers expand to add more processing capacity and create new jobs, protect our livestock and our state’s economy from a foreign animal disease outbreak, and continue scaling up soil health and water quality projects around the state.”

Secretary Naig also expressed optimism that Gov. Reynolds’ proposal to increase the use of renewable fuels will return next session for further discussion:

“I also want to thank Gov. Reynolds for her bold proposal to expand access to homegrown biofuels. Our country is at a critical juncture when it comes to low carbon, renewable energy. Iowa’s ethanol and biodiesel industries can be part of the solution and Iowa must continue leading those conversations. While I am disappointed that we weren’t able to see this bill cross the finish line, I am hopeful that we can continue these conversations in the interim and find a meaningful path forward next session.”

Below are some of the major legislative accomplishments from the 2021 session that benefit Iowa agriculture:

10-Year Extension of Water Quality Funding
2020 was a record year for conservation efforts in the state of Iowa. To continue building on this success, the Department needs a dedicated, long-term and sustainable funding source. This session, legislators passed a 10-year extension of long-term, dedicated funding to help support the state’s water quality efforts through 2039, which will result in additional funding of more than $320 million. The Department will continue working alongside farmers, landowners, municipal leaders and public and private partners to support the adoption and completion of conservation practices. These rural and urban projects improve soil health and water quality to advance the goals outlined in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, provide wildlife habitats, and support recreational opportunities, like hunting and fishing.

Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Response
State lawmakers provided a $250,000 increase in funding for the Department to prepare for and respond to a foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak, which has the potential to significantly harm the state’s $13 billion livestock industry. This will bring total annual funding for FAD prevention up to $750,000 and significantly improve the Department’s ability to safeguard our food supply chain and Iowa producers.

Value-Added Agriculture Grant Program
As a recommendation from Gov. Reynolds’ Economic Recovery Advisory Board, legislators created the Value-Added Agriculture Grant Program, to be administered by the Department. This provides an appropriation of $250,000 to support programs that add value to traditional commodity crops, expand fruit and vegetable production along with other alternative crops, increase processing capacity, and offer direct-to-customer marketing opportunities for protein and produce.

Farm-to-School Program
After seeing tremendous success with the Local Produce and Protein Program last fall, legislators worked closely with the Department this session to continue this initiative. As part of this year’s Department bill, a new fund within the Department’s existing Farm-to-School program has been established to incentivize schools to purchase locally-grown and raised foods produced by Iowa farmers. This strategy will provide new markets for farmers, create lasting connections between schools and local producers, and strengthen Iowa’s local and regional food systems.

Support for Local Meat Lockers
Over the last year, main street meat lockers across the state have seen a significant increase in demand for locally-sourced protein but oftentimes struggle to keep up due to a lack of processing capacity. Last fall, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship helped address this need through the Meat Processing Expansion and Development program that distributed $4 million in grants across the state. Modeled off of the Department’s successful program, legislators created a program this session that will be jointly administered by the Economic Development Authority and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to provide new or existing meat lockers with low-interest/forgivable loans and grants. This program will provide additional marketing opportunities for livestock producers, increase processing capacity and create jobs.

Protection for Agritourism
Agritourism destinations, including family farms, dairies, nurseries, orchards, and wineries, have exploded in popularity in recent years. To encourage continued growth of this industry, legislators voted to provide agritourism destinations with limited liability protections to guard against frivolous lawsuits. This will allow these types of small, local businesses to continue to expand, create new jobs, attract visitors and drive economic growth in Iowa.

Tax Relief for Farmers and Iowa Agriculture
Numerous measures passed this session will significantly reduce income and property taxes for all Iowans. Coupled with Iowa’s high affordability and quality of life, these critical tax reforms will make the state even more competitive to recruit new businesses and attract families. Additionally, several of these actions will positively impact Iowa’s agriculture community and make it easier for farmers to pass assets on to new generations without penalty. These efforts include:
    Expansion of the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program to increase participation in an already successful program.
    Phasing out the state inheritance tax which negatively impacts those who wish to pass their life’s work on to future generations.
    Exempting CARES Act grants from state income tax that were awarded by the Department to increase meat locker processing capacity, expand availability of renewable fuels, and incentivize the purchasing of local foods in early care centers, K-12 schools, and higher education institutions.



IFBF celebrates Iowa Legislature's action on historic tax reform and extended commitment to conservation

With the conclusion of the 2021 legislative session, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), Iowa’s largest grassroots farm organization, applauds passage of several important bills, including historic tax reform that will benefit Iowa’s farm families and all Iowans.

The Iowa legislature passed Farm Bureau-supported tax legislation removing the burden of funding mental health services from the backs of Iowa property taxpayers.  The legislation transitions mental health costs to an equitable funding source with the state assuming the full cost of the mental health system.  The reform will result in dollar-for-dollar property tax relief for Iowans who have seen property taxes more than double in the past 18 years and aligns Iowa’s funding source with nearly every other state.   

“This monumental shift moving the funding of mental health services from property taxpayers to the state’s general fund has long been a priority issue for Farm Bureau members as part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to protect property taxpayers,” said Craig Hill, president of the Iowa Farm Bureau.  “We appreciate the hard work by the Iowa Legislature and the leadership of Gov. Reynolds to provide this needed relief to property taxpayers, which creates a more equitable funding system for mental health services in our rural communities.”

Iowa lawmakers also approved several other Farm Bureau-supported changes to state income tax policy that will benefit Iowans.  The changes remove earlier-imposed triggers from the 2018 income tax reform bill, making it effective Jan. 1, 2023.  The comprehensive tax revision will phase out the state’s inheritance tax over the next four years, with a complete phase out in 2025, and couples Iowa’s tax code to the federal tax code for bonus depreciation.

The tax policy revision also include improvements and expansions to the state’s Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program, an effort that has been championed by IFBF for several years.  The changes increase the number of years a landowner can rent to a beginning farmer participating in the program and allows a landowner to rent to multiple beginning farmers.

“We have worked to develop and grow opportunities for beginning farmers for many years to help alleviate the barriers to entry for Iowans looking to start their own farming operation,” said Hill.  “Our members worked tirelessly two years ago to double the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit, and these new reforms are a welcome addition to that effort and will provide expanded opportunities for young and beginning farmers.”

The 2021 Legislature extended the sunset of Senate File 512, which provides long-term dedicated funding to farmers’ water quality efforts through Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy, a statewide strategy based on proven methods to enhance water quality.  The measure extends the dedicated funding through 2039, laying the groundwork for Iowa farmers to expand proven practices improving water quality and soil health.  The additional funding of more than $320 million dollars creates additional opportunities for farmers, landowners, and public and private partners to continue to advance the implementation of conservation practices that improve soil heath and water quality.

“Farmers are taking on the challenge of improving Iowa’s water quality, which is a long-term effort. We’ve seen growing enthusiasm and conservation efforts on farms across the state, which will be amplified with this extended commitment from the state,” said Hill.  “We know the conservation efforts outlined in the Nutrient Reduction Strategy are yielding results, and this extended assurance of dedicated funding will allow us to continue making big strides.”

Legislators also approved a Farm Bureau-supported measure to allow driving privileges for youth working on a farm.  The farm driving provision will provide important efficiencies for Iowa farm families by allowing young people who are 14-and-a-half and older and have already obtained their school permit to drive a passenger vehicle for farm work.

“Farm Bureau’s success during the 2021 legislative session shows the value of actively engaged members working with their locally-elected representatives to implement our priority issues,” Hill said.  “It’s yet another example of the strength and effectiveness of our engaged grassroots process as we work to make a positive impact for Iowa agriculture, farm families, and our communities.”



Final Call for Sheep and Goat Producer Input
 
In January, the South Dakota State University Extension Small Ruminant Team – in collaboration with colleagues throughout the United States – kicked off a survey inviting sheep and goat producers to share their interests and needs to help direct future extension programming. To date, more than 460 responses from 46 states have been collected with many common threads emerging.
 
“This national survey is helping to collectively identify producer strengths and struggles to cooperatively strengthen extension program efforts in South Dakota and across the United States,” said Jaelyn Quintana, SDSU Extension sheep field specialist.
 
“By participating in the survey, producers can share preferences on production and management topics of importance, as well as program delivery methods,” said Kelly Froehlich, assistant professor and SDSU Extension specialist in small ruminant production. “It will also help extension professionals gain insight to current production challenges and farm and ranch demographics.”
 
Responses to the survey need to be recorded by July 31. The survey is voluntary, confidential and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The Sheep and Goat Producer Needs Assessment can be found online at https://sheepandgoatneeds.questionpro.com. Alternatively, surveys can be sent by mail or email upon request.
 
For more information or questions, please contact Froehlich at Kelly.Froehlich@sdstate.edu or 605-688-5765; Quintana at Jaelyn.Quintana@sdstate.edu or 605-394-1722; or Heidi Carroll, SDSU Extension livestock stewardship field specialist and beef quality assurance coordinator, at Heidi.Caroll@sdstate.edu or 605-688-6623.



U.S., MEXICO, CANADA TRADE COUNTERPARTS REITERATE SUPPORT FOR ‘ROBUST’ USMCA TRADE COMMITMENTS

The first meeting of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Free Trade Commission was held earlier this week and while no significant commitments were made, officials from the three countries reiterated support for the “robust” trade agreement.

“The parties recognize that trade policies should foster broad-based and equitable growth, spur innovation, protect our shared environment, and have a positive impact on people from all walks of life. To accomplish this, the United States, Mexico, and Canada recommit to fully implementing, enforcing, and fulfilling the agreement’s terms and high standards throughout the life of the USMCA,” according to a joint statement from U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Canadian Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion, and International Trade Mary Ng, and Mexico’s Secretary for Economy Tatiana Clouthier.

The three officials also held “robust, forward-looking discussions” on USMCA’s labor and environment obligations, the statement noted. The countries plan to hold a meeting with trade deputies before the end of this year to assess progress and identify ongoing opportunities for future engagement.  



NMPF and USDEC Welcome Bipartisan Congressional Support to Enforce USMCA Dairy Provisions
Krysta Harden, president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC)
Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF)

 “On behalf of America’s dairy farmers, processors, and exporters we thank Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI), Tom Reed (R-NY), and their colleagues in both parties for their leadership in calling for USTR to fully enforce USMCA provisions on Canada’s administration of its dairy tariff rate quotas,” said Krysta Harden, President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). “Canada has failed to take the necessary action to be in compliance with its obligations under USMCA by restricting access to the TRQs.”

“We appreciate the bipartisan work from Members of Congress to support America’s dairy industry on this important trade issue,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “Canada’s failure to take action over the past six months to fix the administration of its TRQs limits the ability of American dairy farmers and workers to benefit from the access that was negotiated in the agreement.”

USDEC and NMPF have closely monitored Canada’s actions regarding its USMCA commitments even prior to the Agreement entering into force. Canada has allocated its TRQs in a manner designed to discourage full use of the TRQs and limit imports of U.S. dairy products. Specifically, Canada is reserving the bulk of quota access to processors, who have little incentive to import U.S. dairy products, and are not providing fair or equitable procedures in administering the TRQs.

Leading this effort with Reps. Kind and Reed were Representatives Antonio Delgado (D-NY), Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Jim Costa (D-CA), and David Valadao (R-CA).

Both organizations fully support calls from Congress for USTR to move forward with further enforcement action to resolve this issue.



KCS Exits CP Deal; Says Yes to CN

(AP) -- Kansas City Southern has abandoned its agreement to be acquired by Canadian Pacific, choosing instead a competing bid from Canadian National Railway with a bigger price tag, but also greater regulatory risks.

The decision Friday comes one day after Canadian Pacific said that it wasn't budging from its initial $25 billion buyout agreement made in March, even after Kansas City Southern said that a richer $33.6 billion bid from Canadian National appeared to be superior.

Canadian Pacific has consistently argued that a tie-up between Kansas City and Canadian National would have trouble getting approved by antitrust regulators and as recently as Thursday, said that it would not boost its original offer. Canadian Pacific has asserted that their combination with Kansas City Southern is most likely to get a green light from regulators.

Both Kansas City Southern and Canadian National operate rails that run north and south through the center of the country, which Canadian Pacific believes would create antitrust issues in a merger.

And while Kansas City Southern is the smallest of the major railroads operating in the U.S., its routes that run from Chicago to Laredo, Texas, continue into Mexico, making it extremely desirable for any rival railroad that would seek to own it, as well as a potentially risky bet before regulators.

U.S. regulators haven't approved any major railroad mergers since the 1990s, and officials have said that any deal involving one of the handful of Class 1 railroads, a group that includes Kansas City Southern, must enhance competition and serve the public interest.

This week, a major Canadian National shareholder urged the railroad to abandon its bid for Kansas City because of regulatory issues, including a procedural setback this week.

On Monday, The Surface Transportation Board rejected Canadian National's plan to set up a voting trust that would acquire Kansas City Southern and own the railroad while regulators review the deal. The STB said it couldn't review Canadian National's plan because it didn't include a detailed merger agreement. Canadian National said Tuesday that it would resubmit the voting trust plan this week.

It was unclear Friday if the company had resubmitted its plan with the details sought by the STB.

London-based investment firm TCI Fund, which owns nearly 3% of Canadian National, cited uncertainty early this week about whether U.S. regulators would approve the acquisition under rigid rules for railroad mergers that haven't been tested since they were written 20 years ago.

"There is no way the CN board can have any confidence in how these new rules will be interpreted because they have never been used before," wrote Chris Hohn, TCI founder and portfolio manager, and Ben Walker, a partner at the firm. The firm also called the deal a "reckless" $2 billion (CN) bet that regulators would approve the merger -- the amount Canadian National would owe in breakup fees if the deal falls apart.

TCI is also the biggest shareholder of Canadian Pacific.

Kansas City Southern said Friday that it paid Canadian Pacific a $700 million breakup fee that was included in its acquisition agreement, which is to be reimbursed by Canadian National.

The Surface Transportation Board has said it would consider whether any deal would destabilize the industry and induce more mergers. The board adopted tough rules for major railroad mergers after service problems developed after rail tie-ups in the 1990s.

Kansas City Southern said for each share of its common stock, shareholders will get $200 in cash and 1.129 shares of Canadian National common stock. Kansas City Southern shares rose slightly to $294.90 per share.

In a letter to regulators Friday, Canadian Pacific said that it intended to proceed with its application for its approval to control Kansas City Southern based on its agreement from March.

Based on developments Friday, it appears the fight for control of Kansas City Southern is far from over.



USDA to Begin Loan Payments to Socially Disadvantaged Borrowers under American Rescue Plan Act Section 1005

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) today published the first notice of funding availability (NOFA) (PDF, 242 KB) announcing loan payments for eligible borrowers with qualifying direct farm loans under the American Rescue Plan Act Section 1005. The official NOFA will be published in the Federal Register early next week and USDA expects payments to begin in early June and continue on a rolling basis. A subsequent notice addressing guaranteed loan balances and direct loans that no longer have collateral and have been previously referred to the Department of Treasury for debt collection for offset, will be published within 120 days.

“The American Rescue Plan has made it possible for USDA to deliver historic debt relief to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers beginning in June,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “USDA is recommitting itself to gaining the trust and confidence of America’s farmers and ranchers using a new set of tools provided in the American Rescue Plan to increase opportunity, advance equity and address systemic discrimination in USDA programs.”

Section 1005 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides funding and authorization for USDA FSA to pay up to 120 percent of direct and guaranteed loan outstanding balances as of January 1, 2021, for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers as defined in Section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)). Section 2501(a) defines a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher as a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group, which is further defined as a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. Qualifying loans as part of today’s announcement are certain direct loans under the Farm Loan Programs (FLP) and Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFL).

For much of the history of the USDA, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers have faced discrimination—sometimes overt and sometimes through deeply embedded rules and policies—that have prevented them from achieving as much as their counterparts who do not face these documented acts of discrimination. Over the past 30 years, several major civil rights lawsuits have compensated farmers for specific acts of discrimination—including Pigford I and Pigford II, Keepseagle, and the Garcia cases. However, those settlements and other related actions did not address the systemic and cumulative impacts of discrimination over a number of decades that the American Rescue Plan now begins to address.

Sections 1005 and 1006 of ARPA provide USDA with new tools to address longstanding inequities for socially disadvantaged borrowers. Section 1006 of ARPA provides additional funding to begin long-term racial equity work within USDA, including to address heirs property claims and to stand up an Equity Commission to identify barriers to access USDA programming.

To learn more about the loan payments to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, visit www.farmers.gov/americanrescueplan.