Friday June 4 Ag News

 Born for the Field Membership Drive is Underway

Last month, Major League Baseball (MLB) announced that the National Corn Growers Association is an official partner of MLB at Field of Dreams presented by GEICO. The game will be played at a newly constructed ballpark adjacent to the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Iowa on Thursday, August 12, broadcasted nationally on FOX.

Know a grower who would be interested in attending the game? Encourage them to join the corn growers by July 8, 2021, and they'll be entered into a random drawing to win two tickets to see MLB at Field of Dreams presented by GEICO between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox on August 12th, 2021 in Dyersville, Iowa!

Encourage your friends and neighbors to visit our website https://necga.org/ to join today!



UNL E30 demonstration shows E30 is safe for long-term use in non-FFVs
NE Ethanol Board newsletter

“There has been inconsistent messaging that using higher blends of ethanol reduces the fuel efficiency or wears down parts,” said Adil Alsiyabi, the primary UNL researcher of the E30 demonstration. “But what the results show is that none of that is true. By going through rigorous testing, we’ve proven that higher ethanol blends do not decrease efficiency or compromise engine performance. Our goal was to find out if the vehicles on the road today can use ethanol blends up to E30 with no loss in fuel mileage and no mechanical issues.”

The demonstration captured data using On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) devices on approximately 50 vehicles through both warm and cold seasons. When the engine was started, the device captured millions of data points, giving UNL researchers an opportunity to monitor fuel efficiency, vehicle performance, emissions control systems, and many more systems.  Additionally, drivers kept a log each time they filled up and provided their experience in regards to maintenance and efficiency.

“We were not surprised by the results,” said Roger Berry, administrator for the Nebraska Ethanol Board. “I am encouraged that we now have hard facts that show E30 can safely be used in vehicles other than flex fuels.  Our next step will be to demonstrate this to the EPA and auto manufacturers and to change their recommendations. I personally have been a long-time user of higher ethanol blends in my conventional vehicles and have had no issues. Ethanol is a widely studied fuel. More people will start to see ethanol’s benefits as we continue to provide the facts through projects like this.”

Making E30 more widely available will help the ethanol industry stay competitive among transportation innovations as the country works to reduce its carbon footprint. Traffic is one of the highest contributors to carbon pollution which has been linked to cancer, heart disease, and increased respiratory issues. By using fuels blended with ethanol, drivers reduce greenhouse gases by 46 percent. According to Growth Energy, a national ethanol organization, if the U.S. transitioned from E10 to E15, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) would be lowered by 17.62 million tons per year, which is the equivalent of removing approximately 3.85 million vehicles from the road. Increasing the amount of ethanol in the blend will continue to decrease harmful emissions.

“Using E30 is just as effective in eliminating carbon emissions as electric vehicles (EVs) when you compare ‘well to wheel’ emissions of the two types of vehicles,” said Jan tenBensel, chairman of the Nebraska Ethanol Board. “That puts ethanol in a good position to help achieve our climate goals as a nation.”

The Nebraska Ethanol Board plans to work with industry partners and the EPA to continue E30 demonstrations, which have gained interest from other state governors. The goal is to change policies regarding E30 use. The demonstration is currently being peer reviewed. A summary of the research is available by clicking here... https://ethanol.nebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/E30-Demonstration-FINAL.pdf.



This Week's Drought Summary
droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Precipitation this past week was most active in the southern Plains and the Mid-Atlantic into the Northeast, helping to ease and improve drought in those regions. Some precipitation also occurred in the South and portions of the Midwest, but the Southeast and Southwest remained dry through the week. For the time of year, temperatures were well below normal over most of the country, with departures of 9-12 degrees below normal in the Dakotas. Portions of the Southeast and Southwest did have pockets of above-normal temperatures, but even those areas were close to normal.

 Midwest
Cooler than normal temperatures dominated the region this week with most areas 2-6 degrees below normal. Dry conditions dominated Iowa, northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin into the upper peninsula of Michigan, and southern portions of Indiana and Ohio. In the northern portions of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, improvements to abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions were made in response to a series of rain events. Severe drought was expanded in northern Illinois and into southern Wisconsin. Abnormally dry conditions were expanded over portions of southern Indiana, southern Ohio, eastern Kentucky and southwest Kentucky for the week. Areas of abnormally dry conditions were improved over southern Illinois and northern Missouri while an expansion of these conditions was made in southeast Missouri.

High Plains
Temperatures were 4-6 degrees below normal, with even greater departures in the Dakotas where some areas were 8-10 degrees below normal for the week. Much of eastern Colorado, southern Nebraska, Kansas and northwest South Dakota into southwest North Dakota received well over 150% of normal precipitation for the week. In Nebraska, abnormally dry conditions were improved over the north central, southwest and extreme southeast portions of the state while moderate drought expanded over northeast Nebraska. Severe drought was introduced over southeast South Dakota, with an expansion of moderate drought and abnormally dry conditions too. Southern Kansas and eastern Colorado had improvements to abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions while Wyoming had a mix of improvements and degradations to moderate and severe drought in the state.

Looking Ahead
Over the next 5-7 days, it is anticipated that much of the West as well as the central Plains will remain dry. The southern Plains and portions of the Carolinas are expected to see the most rain. Warmer than normal conditions are supposed to dominate the West and into the northern Plains, with departures of 12-15 degrees above normal in portions of California and Nevada. Cooler than normal temperatures are expected over the southern Plains and South in response to the anticipated rain.

The 6-10 day outlooks show the majority of the country has above normal chances of recording temperatures above normal during the period with the northern Plains, upper Midwest, and into the Northeast having the greatest likelihood. Cooler than normal temperatures are expected over Alaska, the West Coast, and into the southern Plains. It is anticipated that dry conditions will continue to dominate the Plains and West with the highest likelihood over the Great Basin. The greatest odds of above normal precipitation will be along the Mississippi Valley and into the southern Plains.



NCTA Ag mechanics boot camp in July  

High school instructors of agricultural mechanics programs can sharpen their skills in small engines, hydraulics and electricity July 6-8 in Curtis.

Instructors will receive guided, hands-on training at the Ag Mechanics / Ag Instructor Boot Camp at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.

The three-day workshop includes curriculum ideas and peer discussions for Career Development Events which high school students develop in FFA and agricultural courses, said Larry Gossen, NCTA Dean.

“Instructors who want continuing education for their teaching portfolio plus new ideas for their classrooms will benefit,” said Gossen, who spent much of his career as an agriculture education instructor and advisor.

The NCTA college classroom and laboratory will provide an excellent setting. The registration fee of $299 includes dormitory housing and meals at Aggie Food Service.

Dan Stehlik, NCTA ag mechanics lecturer, will be the boot camp instructor.  For further information, contact NCTA at 1-800-3CURTIS.

Registration is available at https://nctaunl.wufoo.com/forms/boot-camp-registration/.



Port of Blencoe – Ribbon Cutting

The Port of Blencoe is officially open for business!

On Wednesday, June 2, 2021, NEW Cooperative held a Ribbon Cutting Event at the Port of Blencoe with guest speakers Governor Kim Reynolds and Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig.

Located half-way between Council Bluffs and Sioux City, Iowa on the Missouri River, The Port of Blencoe will serve as a gateway to world markets. This port is the farthest stop north on the Missouri River and will shift high-volume fright from the road to the waterway.

Barges began transporting grain and fertilizer to and form the port in early spring of 2021. With the addition of this grain outlet our growers in Western Iowa will get the first opportunity at the world market.

View pictures from the Ribbon Cutting Event with the link below...  
https://spark.adobe.com/video/vq7FWRgLkgVS9.   



"Bringing the World of Swine Nutrition to Iowa" Theme of Upcoming Conference

Industry and academic swine nutritionists will gather on the Iowa State University campus on August 11 and 12, 2021, for the International Conference on Swine Nutrition. This conference is organized in part to thank the pork industry for its strong support of the Applied Swine Nutrition program in the Department of Animal Science. Dr. John Patience, who recently retired on April 30 after leading this program for 12 years, notes that from the time he arrived at Iowa State in 2008, he received nothing but tremendous support from the university and the industry. He stated "This is my opportunity to say thank you in the strongest possible way – by sharing new, leading-edge information on swine nutrition."

Dr. Jason Ross, Director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center and co-organizer of the event, notes that most speakers will be delivering talks that provide attendees with information for immediate practical application. But in addition, some speakers have been charged with looking into the future of swine nutrition. So, attendees will learn the current state of the art as well as gain insight into the future of their craft. Speakers hail from across the United States, Canada, Asia, Australia and Europe. Dr. Ross comments "It is extremely rare to have such a uniformly high caliber of speakers from such diverse backgrounds all participating in a single event."

IPIC program specialist Stacie Matchan, who previously worked for Dr. Patience in the Applied Swine Nutrition program, is assisting with the conference planning. She says the agenda includes plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion. "We also have some exciting panel discussions on implementing feed mill decisions and raising pigs without antibiotics or other technologies," she notes. "We are kicking off the second day with a ‘Hog Wild’ discussion where the audience can pose questions to a diverse panel of experts representing different facets of the industry."

The target audience for the conference is swine nutritionists working in the pork production and feed industries along with people employed in closely associated agribusiness sectors. The program will also appeal to academics. Students in particular are invited to attend, not only to learn about the world of nutritional science, but also to expand crucial contacts in the industry.

The conference will be held in the Scheman Building on the ISU campus in Ames, and all required health precautions and measures as defined by ISU at the time of the conference will be followed. Plenty of free parking is available.

Early registration (until Aug. 1) is $150 per person and is free for students. After Aug. 1, registration increases to $200 per person and $50 per student. All information about the conference, including agenda, speaker bios, COVID precautions, registration links and lodging, can be found at .

Date: August 11-12, 2021
Location: Scheman Building, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Registration:  Early registration: $150/person until August 1
                            Late registration: $200/person after August 1
                            Student registration: free until August 1; $50 after August 1
Website: https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/swinenutrition/.



Pig Survivability Conference Planned for October

The International Conference on Pig Survivability is planned for Oct. 27-28, in Omaha, Nebraska, at the Hilton Omaha. The conference objective is to facilitate the discussion and dissemination of the most current information relative to sow, litter, weaned pig and grow-finish mortality.

“By featuring presentations and panel discussions from industry leaders and scientific experts, we want to bring the industry together to motivate change,” said Joel DeRouchey, K-State swine extension specialist. “We want attendees to walk away with a sense of urgency toward the issue of mortality and some practical ideas of what to do about it.”

Pig Survivability Conference.“The conference will feature speakers from an array of swine-related businesses and organizations that will discuss relevant, take-home messages to impact swine survivability," said Jason Ross, director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center and professor of animal science at Iowa State University.

Confirmed speakers and topics to be addressed include:
    Lee Schulz, associate professor in economics and livestock economist at Iowa State; economics of swine mortality.
    Ron Ketchem, Swine Management Services LLC, a MetaFarms Company; Trends of U.S. swine survivability.
    Bill Christianson, Genus PIC; Trends of international swine survivability.
    Cassie Edgar, McKee, Voorhees, and Sease, PLC; Advancing technology — regulatory, advocating, and future.
    Gustavo Pizarro, Pipestone Veterinary Services; Industry successes and failures in pre-weaning survivability.
    Chris Rademacher, clinical veterinary professor and extension swine veterinarian at Iowa State; Industry successes and failures in post-weaning survivability.
    Karine Talbot, HyLife; Wean to finish biosecurity – a need for change.
    Valerie Duttlinger, Summit Smart Farms; The right people for the right job.
    Sara Probst Miller, Ag Create Solutions; Effective training: what works and what does not.
    Noel Williams, Iowa Select Farms, and Mike Tokach, Kansas State University; Conference impressions: now, what should we do to capture value in academics and industry.
    Numerous industry panels for interactive discussions.

For a full list of speakers and to learn more, visit the conference website. Registration for the conference is now open. To receive other updates from the Improving Pig Survivability project, visit and subscribe to project updates at www.piglivability.org.

The International Conference on Pig Survivability is part of the Improving Pig Survivability project. This five-year, interdisciplinary, multi-university project is funded by the National Pork Board and FARR, aimed at reducing mortality in the U.S. swine industry by 1% or more per year of the project. The project is being organized as a collaborative effort by Iowa State University, Kansas State University and Purdue University. 



Experts to Discuss Growth Opportunities at Annual Dairy Experience Forum

Registration is open for the fourth annual Dairy Experience Forum to be held virtually on July 13 from noon to 5 p.m. EDT. The forum is an innovative, disruptive event that will examine the key trends impacting consumers and opportunities to grow dairy sales. The forum brings together key stakeholders and dairy industry leaders at a time when consumer trends are changing, new technologies are emerging, and the demand for transparency is increasing.

This event is hosted by New England Dairy with partnership support from Midwest Dairy, other state and regional checkoff organizations, and the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center.

Topics will focus on how to drive sales growth by understanding consumers’ needs and becoming more relevant to them through innovation, partnerships and marketing. Discussions will address questions such as, “What global trends can I capitalize on as more dairy is shipped outside the U.S.?” and “What’s next for dairy?”

“Dairy is one of the most popular food categories in America, but growth in some dairy segments is stagnant,” said Jenny Karl, CEO, New England Dairy. “What are the real reasons why and what can we do about it? We invite dairy farmers and business leaders of all types to join us for a dairy-focused forum, featuring leading experts who can help uncover actionable insights to grow the category.”

The forum features its popular live consumer focus group, allowing attendees to hear from multi- cultural Gen Z consumers about their opinions on dairy and farming, as well as purchasing decisions and how their buying habits changed during COVID-19.

There also will be small group breakout sessions for discussions and to brainstorm how the supply chain can learn from and use the learnings to continue connecting with consumers and increasing demand.

Presentations include:
    “Opportunities to Grow U.S. Dairy with Consumers Internationally,” with Anoo Pothen, Director, Consumer Insights, U.S. Dairy Export Council. Ninety-five percent of the world’s consumers live outside the U.S. Pothen will explore consumer preferences with a focus on Southeast Asia, where demand for U.S. dairy has grown in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Recent learnings, consumer insights and opportunities to grow U.S. dairy will be shared.
    “Feeding Gen Z: Unleashing Dairy’s Superpowers with Multi-Cultural Youth in a Post-Pandemic World,” with Philip Kurien, Chief Strategy Officer, The Family Room. COVID-19 has left a profound mark and Kurien will share insights gained from The Family Room’s Passion Points Study to reveal shifts in youth culture. This will include Gen Z’s new emotional priorities and their connections to dairy. Discover how to create more relevant products, messages and events that meet Gen Z where they are.
    “Teaching Innovation,” with Mick Ebeling, Founder and CEO, Not Impossible Labs. Ebeling will shatter the myths about what it takes to make a great innovator and provides techniques and solutions for teaching the art of innovation to improve your career and life.

“The forum is a great place to connect with industry peers and to hear from some of the most knowledgeable people in our industry,” said Heidi Dolloff, Board Chair, New England Dairy. “I invite my fellow dairy farmers to join me and tap into a wealth of knowledge and expertise. The forum sparks conversations about how we can keep the dairy industry moving forward.”

Dairy farmers and industry members can register at www.dairyexperienceforum.com.



Neil Dierks Announces Plan to Retire from NPPC

After 31 years of distinguished service with the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), including the last 20 as CEO, Neil Dierks has announced his plan to retire from NPPC by the end of the year. The NPPC Board of Directors has initiated a search for a new CEO. Dierks will remain in his role as CEO until the search process is completed and will serve as a strategic counselor during a transition period.

“Over the last 40 years, Neil has made countless, lasting contributions to the U.S. pork industry and established NPPC as a leading national advocacy organization and the global voice of the U.S. pork industry,” said Jen Sorenson, NPPC president and communications director with Iowa Select Farms in West Des Moines, Iowa. “He announces his plan to retire from NPPC at a time when the organization is in a stronger position than ever before to fulfill its advocacy mission.”  

“I have truly enjoyed my service as CEO of NPPC,” said Dierks. “The chance to interface with producers and others in the pork industry and beyond and to work with producer leaders and the talented NPPC staff has been the highlight of my career.”

The NPPC Board of Directors has assembled a search committee made up of producer leaders and retained Korn Ferry to lead the search for a new CEO.  The NPPC board expects to complete the search by the end of the year.

Dierks started his career in the pork industry when he joined the Iowa Pork Producers Association in 1981 to manage the Iowa Pork Congress. He went on to lead legislative state outreach for the organization. After leading field service and state legislative outreach for the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Dierks joined NPPC in 1990 to manage World Pork Expo. He also served as director of operations for NPPC’s CEO, vice president of research and education, and senior vice president of programs. Six months after NPPC and the industry’s checkoff were split into independent organizations, Dierks was recruited from the checkoff to lead NPPC as CEO in 2001, when it had five employees and World Pork Expo was its single source of revenue. He led NPPC’s steady growth over the next 20 years, expanding sources of revenue and establishing it as a highly effective, influential national advocacy organization critical to the profitable growth of U.S. pork producers.



NPB brings celebrity to conversation about Real Pork 

Consumers love pork, but they also have questions about HOW it is produced and WHO is producing it — questions that can become barriers to choosing pork if not addressed. 

National Pork Board is partnering with award-winning actor Eric Stonestreet to dispel common misconceptions about pork production through a series of social media videos. 
 
This campaign is just one example of how the Pork Checkoff is using the new Real Pork trust and image brand to tell a more complete farm-to-fork story and protect producers’ freedom to operate.

Why Eric Stonestreet?  
Stonestreet is an “A-List” celebrity with a broad consumer fan base, due in part to his previous roles in the popular TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Modern Family.

His fame will help ensure the Real Pork message reaches as many consumers as possible, while his agricultural background and farm values allow him to authentically address myths.  

Why is National Pork Board doing a mythbusting series?  
In a recent Checkoff-funded study, 1/3 of consumers said they have reduced or plan to reduce their pork consumption due to concerns about nutrition, safety and ethics of raising pork.1

This series will help overcome the myths leading to these concerns among consumers who are more likely to live in urban areas, have kids at home and prioritize criteria like health and sustainability in their food decisions.

How does the series deliver on producer priorities? 
55% of producers ranked pork promotion and telling the industry’s story as extremely important to the future success of the pork industry.2

In March 2018, the NPB Board of Directors approved additional funding for “social license communication” to capitalize on this opportunity identified through the industry’s annual planning process.

What are the myths being debunked?  
National Pork Board is using Pork Checkoff-funded insights from social media monitoring and consumer polling data to identify and prioritize the most common misconceptions and those most concerning to consumers.

The Real Pork Barriers task force of producer leaders and state pork association representatives is currently prioritizing which myths to address first.  

How can pork producers participate?
The online video series launches late summer. Here is how you can celebrate your impact on communities and families across America.
-    Tune into the producer webinar on July 20 which will provide more details on Real Pork and the video series. NPB will announce registration for the webinar in the weekly email and on porkcheckoff.org in early July.  
-    Share your Real Pork story on social media using #CelebrateRealPork.  
-    Participate in the industry’s speaking bureau, Operation Mainstreet. This program highlights the process of how real food is grown and raised.



USDA Dairy Products April 2021 Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.14 billion pounds, 8.0 percent above April 2020 but 3.4 percent below March 2021.  Italian type cheese production totaled 481 million pounds, 7.4 percent above April 2020 but 4.3 percent below March 2021.  American type cheese production totaled 473 million pounds, 6.0 percent above April 2020 but 0.7 percent below March 2021.  Butter production was 185 million pounds, 18.5 percent below April 2020 and 6.9 percent below March 2021.

Dry milk products (comparisons in percentage with April 2020)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 195 million pounds, down 4.0 percent.
Skim milk powder - 41.6 million pounds, down 19.4 percent.

Whey products (comparisons in percentage with April 2020)
Dry whey, total - 74.4 million pounds, down 1.8 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 91.8 million pounds, up 3.6 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 39.7 million pounds, up 6.4 percent.

Frozen products (comparisons in percentage with April 2020)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 68.4 million gallons, up 7.8 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 40.5 million gallons, up 2.8 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 2.80 million gallons, up 15.5 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 2.46 million gallons, down 4.3 percent.



JBS Resumes Global Operations After Ransomware Attack

JBS, the world's largest meat supplier, announced on Thursday that all of its global facilities are fully operational after a cyberattack halted production on Sunday at more than a dozen meatpacking plants.

In a statement on Thursday, the company said that the cyberattack had been "resolved" and the loss was limited to less than one day's worth of food production. They said it plans to make up for the lost production by the end of next week.

"The criminals were never able to access our core systems, which greatly reduced potential impact. Today, we are fortunate that all of our facilities around the globe are operating at normal capacity, and we are focused on fulfilling our responsibility to produce safe, high-quality food," said Andre Nogueira, JBS USA CEO.

JBS first became aware of the hack over the Memorial Day weekend. The company said it immediately contacted federal officials and shut down all of its systems to isolate the intrusion. JBS said its encrypted backup servers were not compromised, allowing the company to resume operations in a matter of days.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation attributed the attack to REvil, a Russia-linked Ransomware-as-a-Service operation. REvil, also known as Sodinokibi, provides malware kits for criminal affiliates to launch cyberattacks in exchange for a cut of the profit, usually around 20-30%.

It's unclear how the criminal group gained access to servers supporting JBS's North American and Australian IT systems. The company's operations in Mexico and the UK were not impacted by the breach. The beef plant in Greeley was among the facilities that had to shut down operations earlier in the week due to the hack.

JBS has not said if REvil demanded a ransom and if the company will pay. JBS said it is not aware of any customer, supplier or employee data compromised in the breach. However, cybersecurity experts tell CBS4 the forensic investigation to determine what data was accessed in this kind of attack can take weeks to complete.



USDA to Invest $1 Billion to Purchase Healthy Food for Food Insecure Americans and Build Food Bank Capacity

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced an investment of up to $1 billion, including $500 million in American Rescue Plan funding, in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to support and expand the emergency food network so food banks and local organizations can reliably serve their communities. Building on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA will enter into cooperative agreements with state, Tribal and local entities to more efficiently purchase food from local producers and invest in infrastructure that enables partner organizations to more effectively reach underserved communities. USDA believes the food system of the future should be fair, competitive, distributed, and resilient; it must support health and ensure producers receive a fair share of the food dollar while advancing equity and contributing to national climate goals. This investment represents the first part of USDA’s new Build Back Better initiative to help achieve that vision and start building a better food system today.

“Hunger is on the decline thanks to aggressive action by the Biden-Harris Administration, but we must do more to improve partnerships and infrastructure that power emergency food distribution to ensure the food provided is nutritious and supports a better food system,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Now is the time to apply lessons learned from food assistance activities early in the pandemic to improve how USDA purchases food and supports on-the-ground organizations with TEFAP. We will put special emphasis on reaching rural, remote and underserved communities, local and regional food systems, and socially disadvantaged farmers.”

In the coming months, USDA will make a series of additional investments under the Build Back Better initiative focused on building a better food system. Build Back Better efforts will improve access to nutritious food, address racial injustice and inequity as well as a changing climate, provide ongoing support for producers and workers, and create a more resilient food system. Today’s announcement of up to $1 billion will help resolve lingering challenges directly associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and start addressing long-term challenges to our nation’s food system exposed by the pandemic.

This effort is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act ($500 million) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ($500 million) and includes:

$500 Million to Support Emergency Food Assistance
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will purchase $500 million in nutritious, domestically produced food for state food bank networks through TEFAP. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and AMS will work collaboratively with the state to distribute the food to TEFAP providers. USDA will purchase food from registered vendors for nationwide distribution. Small business, women-owned, minority-owned, and veteran-owned set-asides during the solicitation process will provide an enhanced opportunity for USDA-registered small businesses to submit competitive bids. This funding will continue to support demand from states for the new TEFAP Fresh Produce offering.

Up to $400 Million to Support Local, Regional, and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers
As part of this effort, AMS will establish cooperative agreements with state and Tribal governments or other local entities to purchase food for the food bank network from local and regional producers (within the state or within 400 miles) and from socially disadvantaged producers. AMS will use innovative approaches to ensure these agreements facilitate relationships between farmers, ranchers and producers and local and regional food systems.

Up to $100 Million In Infrastructure Grants to Build Capacity for Food Banks and Expand Reach into Underserved Areas
FNS will administer a new grant program aimed at helping food assistance organizations meet TEFAP requirements, strengthen infrastructure, and expand their reach into rural, remote, and low-income communities. This grant program incorporates lessons learned from the Farmers to Families Food Box program. It can help local organizations and former food box groups participate in the state’s emergency food network and help pantries build capacity for storage and refrigeration. These grants will help support organizations serving underserved communities and communities of color.

USDA will continue to make announcements through the Build Back Better initiative throughout 2021.



NFU Applauds USDA Investment in Food Security

As part of its ongoing efforts to address food insecurity, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will invest $1 billion in the nutrition safety net. Those funds will be split among several initiatives, including $500 million for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), $100 million to bolster food infrastructure, and $400 million to source food from local or socially disadvantaged producers.

National Farmers Union (NFU) has long held the position that access to safe and nutritious food is a basic human right. To secure that right, the organization advocates strong federal nutrition programs that place an emphasis on fresh and local foods. Because the administration’s approach closely aligns with those policies, NFU President Rob Larew applauded today’s announcement:

“No one should have to worry about where their next meal might come from. Unfortunately, that has been the reality for far too many American families, both during the pandemic and long before.

“But it doesn’t need to be this way. Family farmers and ranchers work hard to feed their communities, and there is more than enough food to go around. By strengthening the nutrition safety net, the Biden administration’s initiative would help mitigate our hunger crisis – while also offering farmers more options for distributing the food they grow. Both of these results will take us a few steps further on the path to pandemic recovery and to a food system that serves farmers and eaters alike.”



Farmers Are Key to Global Supply Chain Resilience

Cargill Chairman and CEO David MacLennan today addressed members of the National Feed and Grain Association at the organization's 125th annual convention, acknowledging farmers and ranchers as the heroes of the food system who played a critical role in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8898051-cargill-chairman-addresses-agriculture-and-food-industry-challenges/

"When the world shut down, farmers, ranchers and workers across the food system stepped up to meet the challenge to produce the food and feed that billions of people and animals around the world depend on," said MacLennan.

He acknowledged that while disruptions of COVID-19 are still very much at play, that's not the only urgent challenge that the food and ag industry faces right now.

"The greatest challenge we face is feeding a rapidly growing population, sustainably and responsibly – reducing our emissions, protecting our water resources, and improving the health of the soil our crops and harvests depend on," he said. "Agriculture is part of the solution the world needs right now. Agriculture is how we'll solve for climate change and sustainably feed a growing population."

MacLennan citied the need for broad and lasting efforts at every point in the supply chain to sustainably and responsibly feed a rapidly growing population estimated to reach close to 10 billion people by 2050.

"Inaction is not option," he stressed, "Too often, our industry gets blamed for climate change. I see a different story. Farmers and ranchers are the heroes of our food system. And they play a critical role in creating a more sustainable future for our industry, and the world.  The changes we make at the roots of our supply chain will deliver the greatest impact – by reducing emissions, improving water quality, sequestering carbon, and building up the resilience of our soils for the next generation. Companies can set as many climate goals as we want. But without the support and leadership of farmers, none of it will happen. They've got to lead the way and we're here to partner with them on this important, ongoing effort."

Cargill has made significant strides to advance sustainability commitments including its science-based climate commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its global supply chains by 30 percent per ton of product by 2030. The company is also working to support voluntary, farmer led adoption of regenerative agriculture across 10 million acres of North American farmland over the same time period.

Through financial contributions and partnerships across the supply chain, Cargill is supporting, training, and removing financial barriers for farmers who want to rebuild the health of their soils, plant cover crops, use more sustainable grazing practices, and make better use of their water.

For example, through the Iowa Soil & Water Outcomes Fund, farmers can receive $30 to $50 per acre for practices such as cover crops, reduced tillage, and optimized nutrient management.

Cargill is also advancing research to evaluate the economic benefits of regenerative agriculture. In a study of 100 farmers across nine states conducted by The Soil Health Institute, researchers found that soil health management systems increased incomes for 85 percent of farmers growing corn and 88 percent of farmers growing soybeans. Average incomes for corn growers increased by $52 per acre and $45 per acre for soybeans.  Additionally, farmers reported reduced average costs, increased yields, better crop resilience against extreme weather events, and improved water quality.

"Farmers are leading the way. They're on the front lines of climate change every day. And we need to lift up the good work they're doing already," says MacLennan.  "The benefits of regenerative agriculture are clear. But so are the barriers. To see change, we have to work together. Agriculture is how we'll get it done."



National Black Farmers Association Announces 2021-2022 Next Generation Black and Hispanic Farmers Scholarship Program Application Deadline June 15, 2021

It is a privilege for the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) to administer a scholarship program to ensure that the next generation of African-American/Black and Hispanic farmers receive the training and skills that will enable them to thrive in the agricultural industry. "Higher education provides essential tools, knowledge, and resources that will allow these scholars to continue their family farm legacy for future generations" says John Boyd, NBFA President.

The Nex Generation of Black and Hispanic Farmers Scholarship (NGBHF) Program application deadline for the 2021-2022 academic year is June 15, 2021. In its first year, the NGBHF Scholarship Program will award up to 25 scholarships to Black and Hispanic graduating high school seniors who plan to enroll or are enrolled in an agriculture program of study at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln with a commitment to engage in the family farm operation post college graduation.

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:  
    Be Black, African American or Hispanic high school student farmers with a verifiable family farm operation by the USDA Farm Service Agency, Future Farmers of America (FFA) or Cooperative Extension Service (4-H);
    Have a minimum high school grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent);
     Meet academic and admissions criteria for post-secondary education (refer to application for specific criteria);
    Commit to farming on the family farm upon college graduation.

Scholarship Award Includes:
    Tuition provided for up to 30 credit hours per academic year to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln;
    Campus-based housing (traditional hall, double occupancy);
    All-access meal plan;
    Mandatory fees per academic year;
    Up to $1,000 in textbook funds per academic year.

Scholarship Requirements:
    Be a full-time student by the 6th day of classes each semester at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln;
    Enrolled in an approved degree program in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (Degree programs include: Agronomy, Animal Science, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Applied Science, Grassland Systems, Horticulture, Mechanized Systems Management);
    Remain in good standing academically (a cumulative GPA no lower than 2.5) during the four-year course of study;
    Remain in good standing administratively, with no student code of conduct and/or legal sanctions during the program;
    Participate annually in the Emerging Leaders in Ag and Diversity program.

Next Generation of Black and Hispanic Farmers Scholarship Application Questions? Call: (804) 691-8528 or visit www.BlackFarmers.org.