Wednesday May 19 Ag News

 USDA CONDUCTS JUNE HOGS AND PIGS SURVEY

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is contacting producers for the June Hogs and Pigs Survey. The agency will survey pork producers for detailed information on market hog and breeding stock inventories as well as pig crop and farrowing intentions in every state.

“With the data gathered in the quarterly Hogs and Pigs surveys, NASS measures and reports trends in the U.S. pork industry over the course of the year,” said Nicholas Streff, Director of the NASS Northern Plains Regional Office.

The information is used by all sectors of the industry to help make sound and timely business decisions.
NASS will mail the questionnaires to all producers selected for the survey in late May. To ensure all survey participants have an opportunity to respond, NASS interviewers will contact producers who do not respond by mail or online to conduct telephone interviews.

NASS will publish the survey results in the quarterly Hogs and Pigs report on June 24. All NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/. For more information, call the NASS Northern Plains Regional Office at (800) 582-6443.



MANAGING ALFALFA WEEVIL
– Todd Whitney, NE Extension Educator

Be careful not to overlook wilting and browning leaves in your alfalfa fields, since this could be a sign of an alfalfa weevil infestation. Scouting alfalfa fields now; and monitoring larval and adult weevil counts prior to the first cutting is important to determine if management strategies like early harvest or insecticide application are needed.  Although drought and cold injury can cause leaf wilting, alfalfa weevil can also wilt & brown alfalfa plants.  Since weevil larvae spend nearly all of their time feeding on plants, they can rapidly deteriorate potential hay quality.

Scouting can be completed either using a sweep net or collecting random samples. For hand sampling, it is recommended to gather 10 alfalfa stems cut at ground level from at least five sample locations within each alfalfa field. Next, shake the larvae off the collected stems into a deep-sided bucket.  Count the larvae in the bucket and calculate average larvae per stem.  Weevil larva are small (1/16 to 3/8 inch long) pale yellow to dark green insects that curl into a C-shape when disturbed.

Next calculate your economic thresholds for determining if an insecticide application or early alfalfa cutting harvest might be beneficial.  Economic threshold charts are available at https://cropwatch.unl.edu.

Final treatment decisions are based on average weevil larvae per stem counts; plant growth stage; treatment costs and projected forage value.  For example, insecticide treatment and/or early cutting may be recommended if you count more than 2 weevil per stem at the early bud stage of developing alfalfa valued at $100 per ton.



Naig Applauds Beginning Farmer Program Expansion

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig applauded the Legislature’s passage of Senate File 619, which includes an expansion of eligibility for the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program.

“We should be doing all we can to reduce financial barriers and help young Iowans start a career in agriculture; the Beginning Farmer program is a great way to do just that. This expansion will significantly improve an already successful program that has helped numerous Iowa farmers, both experienced and new,” said Secretary Naig. “I want to thank Gov. Reynolds for her proposal to expand the program, as well as legislators for coming together to pass this much-needed legislation to strengthen Iowa’s agriculture community.”

The Beginning Farmer program reduces some of the financial burdens of getting into farming by providing tax incentives to landowners who transfer or lease agricultural assets to beginning Iowa farmers. The newly-passed legislation would expand the program by doing the following:
    Specifying that an agricultural asset subject to a qualified agreement may include an agricultural improvement (building)
    Removes a requirement that a qualified lease must include agricultural land
    Increases the current 10-year maximum that a taxpayer may participate in the program to 15 years
    Allows a taxpayer to participate in the program through multiple agreements and with more than one qualified beginning farmer
    Allows agreements to be renewed more than once
    Changes the current $50,000 per year limit on the annual amount of tax credits a single taxpayer may earn to $50,000 per year, per agreement limit

More information on the Beginning Farmer program can be found here https://www.iowafinance.com/beginning-farming-programs/.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 5/14/2021

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending May 14, ethanol production increased 52,000 barrels per day (b/d), or 5.4%, to 1.032 million b/d, equivalent to 43.34 million gallons daily and the highest level since March 2020. Production was 55.7% above the same week last year, which was affected by the pandemic, but it was 3.6% below the same week in 2019. The four-week average ethanol production volume scaled up 2.4% to 977,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.98 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks ticked up to 19.4 million barrels, 0.2% above the prior week, when inventories hit their lowest point since 2016. Stocks were 17.7% below the year-ago level and 17.0% under the same week in 2019. Inventories rose in the Midwest (PADD 2) and the West Coast (PADD 5) but declined in other regions.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, rose 4.8% to 9.22 million b/d (141.40 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was 35.8% above a year ago but was 2.2% below the same week in 2019.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol increased 3.9% to 923,000 b/d, equivalent to 14.15 bg annualized and the highest level since December 2019. This was 35.7% above a year ago but 2.9% below the same week in 2019.

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

Note: Statistics related to fuel consumption and stocks might have been affected by the Colonial Pipeline closure.



UAN28, UAN32 Show Significant Price Increases From Fertilizer Retailers

Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN continue their march upward, as seven of eight major fertilizers showed month-over-month increases based on a survey of sellers in the second week of May.

For the second straight week prices for UAN28 and UAN32 were significantly higher than the previous month. DTN designates significantly higher as 5% or higher.  UAN32 jumped to $406 per ton and UAN28 came in at $361. Anhydrous saw a 2% increase to $713/ton as did 10-34-0 at $620/ton. Prices for DAP, potash and urea were all up by 1% from the previous month.  The price of DAP increased to $631/ton, potash at $437 and urea at $515/ton. The price for MAP remained steady at $702/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.56/pound, anhydrous $0.44/pound, UAN28 $0.64/pound and UAN32 $0.63/pound.

The general rise in fertilizer prices has been quite dramatic in the past year. According to DTN's database, prices for MAP, DAP and UAN28 are higher by 62%, 53% and 53%, respectively, compared to one year ago.  Anhydrous and UAN32 prices each are 45% higher than one year ago, while urea is 33% higher, 10-34-0, 32% higher and potash at 18% higher.



Court Vacates Prior Administration’s Midnight Refinery Exemptions

The Renewable Fuels Association today hailed an order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit vacating three small refinery exemptions granted by EPA to Sinclair the day before President Joe Biden was inaugurated. The court’s decision came promptly after EPA petitioned for the vacatur and remand of the exemptions on April 30 and Sinclair responded on May 18 that it did not oppose EPA’s request.

The court order states that any further administrative proceedings on these exemptions must be “consistent with this court’s decision in Renewable Fuels Association v. EPA,” where the Tenth Circuit ruled that EPA may only extend pre-existing refinery exemptions, that EPA’s exemption decisions must reconcile the agency’s consistent findings that all refineries recover the costs of compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard, and that EPA may only use hardship caused by the RFS to justify granting exemptions.

“We’re pleased that the court has vacated these improperly granted waivers and is sending them back to EPA for reconsideration,” RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said. “If these exemptions had been allowed to stand, they would have erased RFS blending requirements for 260 million gallons of low-carbon renewable fuels, destabilizing rural communities and taking a step backward in the fight against climate change. EPA did the right thing in April by requesting that these spurious exemptions be vacated, and we applaud the agency for honoring President Biden’s commitment to putting an end to the surge of illegitimate refinery waivers.”

BACKGROUND
With less than 24 hours remaining before the inauguration of President Joe Biden, EPA on January 19 announced that three small refinery exemptions had been issued to unidentified refineries, letting those facilities out of their RFS compliance obligations for 2018 and 2019.

As noted in EPA’s April 30 brief seeking a vacatur, RFA immediately filed a petition for review and an emergency motion to stay the effectiveness of the exemptions in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, even though the identity of the refineries was unknown at the time. On January 21, the D.C. Circuit granted the administrative stay requested by RFA. Sinclair later confirmed that its Wyoming refineries were the recipients of all three exemptions, and the proceedings then moved to the Tenth Circuit.

In its April 30 filing, EPA said the previous administration “…did not analyze determinative legal questions regarding whether Sinclair’s refineries qualified to receive extensions of the small refinery exemption under controlling case law established by this Court in Renewable Fuels Association v. EPA, and there is substantial uncertainty whether, if EPA performed such an analysis, it could grant the petitions submitted by Sinclair.”

Notably, EPA’s brief underscores that Sinclair has already retired the RINs necessary to demonstrate compliance with its 2018 and 2019 RFS obligations. Thus, vacating the three exemptions, as requested by EPA, would preserve stability in the marketplace “…by ensuring that the RINs that Sinclair already retired to demonstrate its small refineries’ compliance with their 2018 and 2019 compliance obligations remain retired.”



U.S. Court of Appeals Vacates Three Small Refinery Exemptions from the Previous Administration

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President John Linder made the following statement after three small refinery exemptions granted by the previous administration were overturned today by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

“We are pleased the court has vacated these waivers that were granted unnecessarily in the final hours of the previous administration. The waivers would have accounted for roughly 260 million ethanol equivalent gallons. We look forward to working with EPA Administrator Regan to uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and appreciate his early actions to change course when it comes to RFS waivers.”



Growth Energy Applauds 10th Circuit Ruling to Vacate Three Improperly Granted SREs

Today, Growth Energy welcomed news that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit granted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) request to vacate three last-minute small refinery exemptions (SRE) granted by the Trump Administration on January 19, 2021. EPA moved to vacate the SREs on Friday, May 3. In response, Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor made the following comment:

“We are glad to see the court move swiftly and agree with EPA's motion to vacate and remand Sinclair's improperly granted SREs. Going forward, SCOTUS should affirm the 10th Circuit’s opinion and affirm EPA’s authority to deny this and all other improper SREs outright, once and for all.”



94th National FFA Convention & Expo Will Be In Person for 2021

The National FFA Organization has announced that they would hold their annual in-person convention this fall in the city of Indianapolis. The event, which traditionally brings more than 65,000 attendees, will take place Oct. 27-30.

Expected in-person events during the convention include the American FFA Degree Ceremony; Career Success Tours; competitive events; delegate business sessions; entertainment; the National FFA Expo and shopping mall; general sessions; student and teacher workshops; and the National Days of Service.

In addition to the in-person event, the organization will also offer a virtual program, including student and teacher workshops, the virtual FFA Blue Room, National Days of Service and the streaming of general sessions.

“We are excited to come back to the great city of Indianapolis that has been such a gracious host to us in years past,” said Mandy Hazlett, associate director of convention and events at the National FFA Organization. “We know convention will look a bit different this year, but we are excited to offer this opportunity to our student members once again.”

In 2020, the organization canceled the in-person event due to the COVID-19 pandemic and instead offered a virtual experience.

“While convention looked a little different in 2020 than we were used to, our members showed their ability to adapt and create meaningful experiences while still celebrating FFA and agricultural education,” Dr. James Woodard, national FFA advisor, said. “We are excited to bring an in-person event back to our members and the city of Indianapolis.”

The in-person National FFA Convention & Expo returns to Indianapolis this year as part of the organization’s long-term hosting partnership with Indianapolis that will run through 2033.

“Our state is thrilled to safely host the FFA annual convention again right here in the heart of the heartland,” Gov. Eric J. Holcomb said. “This event brings together some of our country’s top future leaders, and I am excited to see what opportunities come from it.”

“Indy’s proven track record of hosting in-person events is grounded by the Indiana Convention Center’s $7million in new health and safety upgrades, allowing Indy to safely welcome 250,000 attendees in addition to hosting March Madness in its entirety,” said Visit Indy’s President and CEO Leonard Hoops.“ We are extremely grateful to the entire National FFA team for its continued confidence in Indy and commitment to keeping its convention on track.”

“Throughout the year, FFA members across the country have shown their resiliency and ability to adapt as we faced new challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic,” National FFA President Doster Harper said. “Our team has been inspired by these members as they have continued to find new and creative ways to live to serve. It is because of their perseverance that we are thrilled to offer an in-person event to our members as we celebrate this future generation of leaders. We have shown that with dedication and determination, we can be our authentic selves and make a difference in our communities.” For more information, visit convention.FFA.org.



U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces Key Leadership in Natural Resources and Conservation Areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today the appointment of Meryl Harrell as Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) and the appointment of Terry Cosby as Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). They will begin their positions on Monday, May 24.

Meryl Harrell most recently served as the Executive Director of the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards. She has also served as a consultant, advising non-profits, foundations, and government agencies working to conserve America's public and private working lands. During the Obama-Biden Administration, Harrell spent eight years in the Office of Natural Resources and Environment at USDA, including serving as Chief of Staff and then Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary. Harrell previously worked on public lands issues at The Wilderness Society in Washington, D.C.

Harrell received her J.D. from the Yale Law School, where she studied environmental law, and graduated magna cum laude with an A.B. in geosciences and environmental studies from Princeton University. Originally from New Jersey and more recently based in Atlanta, Georgia, Harrell can often be found out on the trails in our national forests with her husband and two children.

Terry Cosby began his career with USDA in 1979 as a student trainee in Iowa. Cosby was raised on a cotton farm with his eight siblings in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. The farm, now in his family for three generations, was purchased by his great-grandfather in the late 1800s. Over Cosby’s 42 years with the agency, he has served in numerous capacities, most recently, Acting Chief of NRCS and State Conservationist for Ohio. Prior to serving as Ohio State Conservationist, he served in leadership positions in Iowa as an Area Resource Conservationist, in Missouri as an Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations and Idaho as a Deputy State Conservationist.

Cosby holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Education from Alcorn State University, the first Black land grant college established in the United States, and resides in Ohio with his wife Brenda and their four children.

“The leadership and expertise of Meryl and Terry will play an integral role in USDA’s efforts to provide personnel, science, and technology that will lead to better-informed and more effective land management decisions; partnerships to address climate adaptation, conservation, and ecological resilience; and clean energy technology and infrastructure,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We are fortunate to have them on our team.”



43% of Growers Have Medium to High Corn Nematode Pressure in Their Fields, Poll Shows

With corn planting nearly complete and commodity prices historically strong, growers’ attention has shifted to closely monitoring emergence. Thin stands or uneven plant heights signal trouble, and according to the results from a recent grower poll by Pioneer, a potential cause could be corn nematode pressure.

In late April 2021, Pioneer surveyed U.S. corn growers, asking: “What is the corn nematode pressure level in your fields?” The responses from 448 growers across the country saw 32% answer “low pressure”, 31% answer “moderate pressure”, 12% answer “high pressure” and 25% answer “I don’t know.”

“More and more farmers are becoming aware of this problem and understand the need for knowing levels in their fields,” said Mary Gumz, Pioneer Agronomy Science Manager. “When I look at what they said about their nematode pressure, 43% have either medium or high nematode pressure -- the level of pressure that can really start affecting yields. It's definitely a problem that needs to be addressed.”

Corn nematodes are parasitic worms that cause significant yield loss by damaging roots, impairing water and nutrient uptake and creating entry points for pathogens. The dry soils many farmers are experiencing only worsens the impact. For those growers with nematode pressure, Gumz shared three tips to help mitigate:
    Control weeds. Many weeds can act as an alternate host for corn nematodes.
    Rotate crops. Pioneer has found that in rotated fields, farmers were less likely to have high corn nematode pressure.
    Use a premium seed treatment. Gumz recommends Lumialza™ nematicide seed treatment, which not only shield roots from nematodes, but also helps improve water and nutrient absorption.

Gumz says she is encouraged that 75% of growers who responded had checked their fields for nematodes before but was still concerned about those who answered that they didn’t know the pressure levels in their fields, especially in light of a recent field study she completed.

“My advice for them would be to take those soil samples for nematode pressure and get their soils tested,” said Gumz. “Last year in southern Illinois, we did a large corn nematode survey, and found that 93% of fields had corn nematodes. So, farmers might be surprised at how much nematode pressure they already have in their fields.”

Growers can contact their local Pioneer agronomist to help accurately measure nematode pressure levels in their fields using soil sampling. More information on premium seed treatments for corn, such as Lumialza™ nematicide seed treatment, can be found on Pioneer.com or by contacting their local Pioneer sales representative.



America’s Corn Farmers to Sponsor MLB at Field of Dreams presented by GEICO

Major League Baseball (MLB) announced today that the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has agreed to become an official partner of this summer’s MLB at Field of Dreams presented by GEICO event. The game will be played at a newly constructed ballpark adjacent to the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Iowa on Thursday, August 12th and will be broadcast nationally on FOX.

“NCGA brings an authentic voice of the American corn farmer to this unprecedented game,” said Bill Morningstar, MLB Executive Vice President, Sponsorship Sales. “This organization is a perfect fit to sponsor a game nestled in a cornfield, just like the film we will celebrate. We are delighted to welcome the NCGA on board as an official partner of an event that will be memorable for all sports fans.”

The game between two historic franchises – the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees – will be played, as in the film from Universal Pictures, amongst fields of Iowa corn, in all its mid-August glory, as a backdrop. “This is a first-in-a-lifetime event to see two professional sports teams from two of America’s biggest cities play a game in a field of corn,” said NCGA President John Linder, a corn farmer from Ohio. “This creates a unique opportunity to tell the story of the American corn farmer to the American public in a creative and highly entertaining way.”

NCGA’s partnership of this event is made possible through the generous support of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB).

“This is a terrific opportunity for us to provide a connection between local farmers and their communities,” said Dirk Rice, ICMB Chairman and Philo, Illinois farmer. “There may not be a better place to build that relationship than the ballpark. We are excited to share who we are and how we farm with baseball fans around the country.”

"There is nothing more American than baseball and farming, and we are excited to have them come together on a century-old family farm in a rural Iowa cornfield," said ICPB President and farmer from Independence, Iowa, Greg Alber. “Our goal is that baseball fans leave with a sense of pride, not only in the team they are rooting for, but pride in our American corn farmers and an appreciation for agriculture.”

The corn growers have a host of activities planned around the game. Visit ncga.com/bornforthefield to learn more about their plans for MLB at Field of Dreams.



FFAR and OFRF Renew Partnership to Improve Soil Health Research

The Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) are thrilled to announce the continuation of their partnership to fund on-farm research advancing the climate benefits of organic agriculture systems. Priorities will focus specifically on the potential of organic agriculture to sequester carbon, mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduce the environmental impacts of fertilizers and pesticides and build resilience to a changing climate. Following an initial collaboration in 2019, this partnership has been renewed with a $66,000 grant from FFAR to support OFRF’s 2021/2022 organic research grant cycle. OFRF is providing matching funds to ensure a total investment of at least $120,000 this grant cycle.

The partnership between OFRF and FFAR has been instrumental in providing research that enables organic producers, and others wishing to farm more sustainably, to implement practices that optimize nutrient, weed, pest and disease management while improving soil health. Five of the 13 research grants OFRF funded in the 2019/2020 grant cycle focused on soil health and were a direct result of the previous FFAR grant.

“Organic systems that emphasize soil health help farmers and ranchers increase resilience to the impacts of climate change,” said OFRF’s Executive Director Brise Tencer. “There is also extensive research demonstrating the potential of organic systems to reduce agriculture’s contribution to climate change. FFAR’s ongoing investment in farmer/researcher collaborations will support science-based solutions addressing the most pressing challenges facing organic farmers and ranchers today.”

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with OFRF to fund research that can improve soil health, mitigate the effects of climate change and support thriving farms,” said FFAR’s Executive Director Dr. Sally Rockey. “Soil is the foundation for a productive agricultural system. Investing in cutting-edge research and technologies today with partners such as OFRF will ensure the soil health is optimal for generating nutritious food for the future.”

OFRF’s grants program is open to all applicants in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Proposals must involve farmers or ranchers in project design, and implementation must take place on certified organic land. All research projects require strong education and outreach components and must lead to measurable outcomes. OFRF will request Letters of Intent (LOI) for its 2021 grant cycle this summer. Interested parties are encouraged to sign up for OFRF’s newsletter to be notified when the request for LOIs will be released.

To date, OFRF has invested over $3 million in 355 grants across North America. OFRF grant funding has advanced scientific knowledge and improved the ecological sustainability and economic prosperity of organic farming systems. OFRF’s research, education and outreach efforts have provided thousands of farmers with pertinent, free information and training.