Tuesday June 8 Ag News

 Nebraska Farmers Union Lists Wins and Losses In 2021 Legislative Session

Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) testified on 50 bills in the 2021 legislative session, supporting 37 and opposing 13 bills.  13 bills NeFU supported became law, and 2 bills NeFU opposed became law.  NeFU President John Hansen noted that was a good batting percentage. He also noted the COVID-19 safety restrictions created some new ways to voice our opinions digitally as well as some obstacles to testifying in person. Hopefully, things will return to normal next session.

In the Agriculture Committee, NeFU was pleased with the passage of Sen. Gragert’s LR5 that adopted the findings of the Heathy Soils Task Force, and Sen. Brandt’s LB324 that created a herd share system that will increase the marketing opportunities for meat producers and the use of smaller federally inspected meat lockers. NeFU was disappointed that Sen. Brewer’s LB235 that created a state meat inspection system is stuck in Committee. It would give the state the opportunity to open up new additional meat marketing and inspection opportunities. LB572 that changed provisions of the Livestock Brand Act was a mix of provisions NeFU supported and opposed.

NeFU was extremely disappointed the Legislature failed to pass Sen. Vargas’s LB241 that would have required Nebraska meat packing plants to implement common sense provisions to protect the health and safety of meat packing workers. The provisions in the bill were consistent with recommendations made by the University of Nebraska Medical Center to make Nebraska meat packing workplaces more safe.

In the Education Committee, Senator Brandt’s LB396 created the Nebraska Farm-to-School Program was heard, supported, and is now law. Hansen said “NeFU has championed this issue for many years to get more locally produced foods in Nebraska schools. Sen. Brandt, his staff, and the organizations involved in last year’s task force that laid the groundwork are to be congratulated.”  NeFU is cautiously optimistic that Sen. DeBoer’s LB132 that was turned into LR 141 and is now made up of 11Senators will do a thorough study of our state aid to education funding formula and make sound recommendations.

NeFU was extremely pleased with the passage and override of Governor Rickett’s veto of Sen. Brandt’s LB306 that utilized federal monies to assist low income residents with their utility bills.

Bills in Natural Resources NeFU supported that became law included Sen. Flood’s LB650 that allows for the geologic storage of Carbon Dioxide and Sen. Bostelman’s LB507 that prohibits the use of treated seed corn as fuels stock for ethanol production.  NeFU was disappointed that two common sense bills that updated Nebraska’s net metering law were not moved forward, Sen. Bostar’s LB573 and Sen. John Cavanaugh’s LB506. Also stuck in Committee Sen. John Cavanaugh’s LB483 that would have the University of Nebraska provide for a climate change study and action plan.  Hansen said “The Legislature has repeatedly failed to develop a statewide climate plan. We should utilize the nationally recognized expertise of the University of Nebraska to do a study and develop an action plan. The failure to plan is to by default, plan for failure. On the issue of climate change, we cannot afford to fail.”

Four bills heard in the Revenue Committee NeFU supported became law. Sen. Briese’s LB 2 that reduced ag land valuations from 75% to 50% for bond issues, Sen. Williams LB254 that extended the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Act program, Sen. Albrecht’s LB595 that removed sales taxes on ethanol production inputs, and Sen. Murman’s LB672 that removed the sales tax exemptions for certain ag machinery all because law. Hansen said “All of these bills were about fairness, good public policy, and about correcting longstanding inconsistencies and errors in the Nebraska Revenue Department’s interpretation of laws already passed.” NeFU supported Sen. Friesen’s LB454 that made it out of Committee but failed on the floor. It was an attempt to provide some financial support to the two thirds of all schools that currently do not receive any funding from the state aid to education formula.

Also in Revenue Committee, NeFU did not support lowering the state corporate income tax rate contained in Sen. Linehan’s LB680 that also passed. Four bills or Constitutional amendments NeFU opposed failed to get out of Committee or failed on the floor. They included Sen. Erdman’s LB133 and LR11CA that dealt with eliminating income, sales, property, and estate taxes and establish a consumption tax, and Sen. Briese’s LB408 and Sen. Linehan’s LR22CA that both imposed additional lids on local governmental subdivisions. LB 408 died on the floor and LR22CA did not make it out of Committee. NeFU has long been critical of the risky and regressive nature of consumption taxes and additional lids that hamstring local decision making.

The Transportation and Telecommunications Committee produced three bills NeFU strongly supported that dealt with different facets of high speed internet broadband deployment and became law. Sen. Friesen’s LB388 introduced on behalf of the Governor provided for $20 million a year for two years to finance broadband construction and raised the up and download speeds to a much more appropriate 100 Mbps. Sen. Bostelman’s LB338 and LB398 that dealt with broadband speeds and services, and redirected some portions of Public Service Commission funding were also passed. “These three bills represent real progress towards the march towards state wide affordable, accessible high speed broadband connections. We still have a lot of work to do and a long ways to go, but the efforts of the 2021 session put us in much better position than we were in before. We give a lot of credit to Chairman Friesen and his Committee,” President Hansen concluded.

NeFU has been actively involved in the final issue the 2021 Legislature will have to deal with in Special Session probably in September, redistricting. The Census data is not yet available to complete that task. NeFU has been working with a wide range of organizations to keep partisan criteria out of the redistricting process, and provide for as much transparency and citizen involvement as possible.

In summary, NeFU was pleased with their overall successes in the 2021 session. They urged farmers, ranchers, and rural citizens to continue to get informed, constructively engaged, and work with others to make sure the views and concerns of the Second House, the citizens are heard in the legislative process.



WATER DEMAND ON PASTURE
– Brad Schick, NE Extension Educator

As the year begins to heat up and cattle are on pasture, it’s important to make sure there is adequate water for livestock. How much do cattle need and where should it come from?

The water requirements for cattle depends on their size, class, and environmental conditions. High humidity and greater temperatures also increases water demand. An University of Georgia study lists water requirements for days when the daily high temperature is 90°F. With these conditions, growing or lactating animals need two gallons of water per 100 pounds of body weight. This means a 1400 pound, lactating cow will need close to 28 gallons of water daily with 90°F daily highs. If the calves are 250 pounds, they will need about 5 gallons. Again, some of the water will come from grazed forage.

Having fresh, clean water should always be a priority. The ability to have water close by should also be a goal, although sometimes it’s simply not possible. More water locations can help meet the water demand but could also help grazing distribution too.  Cattle will receive some of their daily water requirements when they are consuming high moisture feedstuffs such as fresh forages when grazing pastures, silages, or green chopped feeds. Feeds that are high-energy increase the water requirement.

Regarding the calf, some water will come from the milk.

Keep an eye on water this summer and make sure livestock have enough.



Secretary Naig Applauds Passage of Department Bill

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig applauded the Legislature’s passage of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s department bill, Senate File 578. Included in the legislation is an expansion of the Department’s Farm-to-School program that will help increase the servings of locally-produced foods in school meals and snacks.

“I want to thank Gov. Reynolds and the Iowa Legislature for continuing to invest in the local foods program. It is a win for our school nutrition programs and our local farmers. There’s no better way to get more nutritious, Iowa-grown produce and protein into the hands of our students,” said Secretary Naig. “The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship saw tremendous demand for locally-grown foods during the pandemic. This update helps us continue to build upon those successful programs to strengthen the local food chain.”

Senate File 578 establishes a new fund within the Department’s existing Farm-to-School program that will be used to incentivize schools to purchase locally grown and raised foods produced by Iowa farmers. Participating schools would be eligible to be reimbursed $1 for every $3 spent on local foods including fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy, up to $1,000 annually. 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.

In 2020, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship partnered with the Feeding Iowans Task Force and utilized federal CARES funds to launch the Local Produce and Protein Program, which saw incredible success and participation statewide. In total, $220,000 in grants were awarded to 108 K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and early care centers to buy produce, meat, eggs and dairy products directly from local producers, food hubs, or food auctions for their foodservice programs.



Union Vote Authorizes Strike at South Dakota Pork Plant

(AP) -- The union at a Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in South Dakota said it will head to contract negotiations Tuesday armed with the authorization to call a strike.

A strike authorization at the Sioux Falls chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union was overwhelmingly approved late Monday with 98% of the vote total, the union said. However, union leaders said they hope to avoid a work stoppage as they prepared to meet with company representatives.

Meatpacking workers have become emboldened after a virus outbreak at the plant last year killed four workers and infected nearly 1,300. The union is demanding that Smithfield boost its wage offerings in a four-year contract to match those at a JBS pork plant in the region, as well as make several other concessions on break times and employee health insurance costs.

"We're not going to change our stand," said B.J. Motley, the president of the local union.

Smithfield Foods, which is based in Virginia, has said its initial offer, which was rejected by the union last week, is in "full alignment" with agreements that UFCW has already accepted at other plants.

A strike at the plant, which produces roughly 5% of the nation's pork supply every day, could create ripple effects from hog farmers to supermarket shelves. When the plant shuttered in April 2020 alongside others experiencing virus outbreaks, it highlighted the vulnerability of the meat supply chain. Major meatpacking companies convinced former President Donald Trump to declare them essential to national security.

Smithfield, like other large meatpacking companies, spent millions of dollars to incentivize workers and outfit plants with plexiglass safety barriers. It has pointed out that after the plant reopened, large outbreaks were avoided.

But workers at the plant have complained that they are working harder and longer amid a workforce shortage created by both the pandemic and its economic effects. They say workers have left the plant, either to work at other meatpacking plants offering better pay or for service industry jobs that have suddenly boosted wages.

Smithfield Foods did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Motley did not offer a deadline for when a strike could happen, but said the union would wait until Smithfield makes a final contract offer.



NCGA Releases U.S. Corn Sustainability Goals and Report

Today, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) solidified U.S. corn farmers’ commitment to environmental, economic and social sustainability with the release of U.S. Corn Sustainability Goals and the first U.S. Corn Sustainability Report. The report documents a long history of continuous improvement by U.S. corn farmers and the goals set targets for further progress over the next decade.

“Corn farmers have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability for decades through their adoption of practices to defend against soil erosion, improve water quality and water use, and management of resources through modern farming advancements,” says John Linder, a farmer from Edison, Ohio, and NCGA President. “NCGA is celebrating this commitment and sharing our story through our Sustainability Report. By setting future goals, we’re both demonstrating our dedication to continued improvement and setting targets to measure this progress.”

Farmer-leaders of NCGA are setting five environmental national efficiency goals to further enhance corn production sustainability in the United States by 2030:
    Increase land-use efficiency by 12%.
    Increase irrigation water use efficiency by 15%.
    Reduce soil erosion by 13%.
    Increase energy use efficiency by 13%.
    Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 13%.

The release of both the report and the sustainability goals is the culmination of an 18-month, farmer-led process. NCGA formed a Corn Sustainability Advisory Group in 2019 to proactively drive the U.S. corn sustainability story and ensure continued demand for the crop. Members of this group--primarily corn farmers from across the U.S.--were involved at every step of the process and made all decisions, including setting the sustainability goals. The goals were ultimately approved by the NCGA Corn Board earlier this year.

“Sustainability is and will continue to be an incredibly important part of what we do, and I’m proud that my fellow leaders at NCGA have led our industry in taking these important steps,” says Linder. “As our country and the world examine risks associated with climate change, our commitment to sustainability positions us to play an even bigger role in mitigating these risks in the future.”

NCGA is holding an open comment period for farmers, customers and others to provide feedback on the report and sustainability goals. To learn more about NCGA’s sustainability goals and report or submit a comment, go to ncga.com/sustainability.



USDA to Invest More Than $4 Billion to Strengthen Food System

Citing lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and recent supply chain disruptions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced plans to invest more than $4 billion to strengthen critical supply chains through the Build Back Better initiative. The new effort will strengthen the food system, create new market opportunities, tackle the climate crisis, help communities that have been left behind, and support good-paying jobs throughout the supply chain. Today’s announcement supports the Biden Administration’s broader work on strengthening the resilience of critical supply chains as directed by Executive Order 14017 America's Supply Chains. Funding is provided by the American Rescue Plan Act and earlier pandemic assistance such as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

Secretary Vilsack was also named co-chair of the Administration’s new Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. The Task Force will provide a whole of government response to address near-term supply chain challenges to the economic recovery. The Task Force will convene stakeholders to diagnose problems and surface solutions—large and small, public or private—that could help alleviate bottlenecks and supply constraints related to the economy’s reopening after the Administration’s historic vaccination and economic relief efforts.

USDA will invest more than $4 billion to strengthen the food system, support food production, improved processing, investments in distribution and aggregation, and market opportunities. Through the Build Back Better initiative, USDA will help to ensure the food system of the future is fair, competitive, distributed, and resilient; supports health with access to healthy, affordable food; ensures growers and workers receive a greater share of the food dollar; and advances equity as well as climate resilience and mitigation. While the Build Back Better initiative addresses near- and long-term issues, recent events have exposed the immediate need for action. With attention to competition and investments in additional small- and medium-sized meat processing capacity, the Build Back Better initiative will spur economic opportunity while increasing resilience and certainty for producers and consumers alike.

“The COVID-19 pandemic led to massive disruption for growers and food workers. It exposed a food system that was rigid, consolidated, and fragile. Meanwhile, those growing, processing and preparing our food are earning less each year in a system that rewards size over all else,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The Build Back Better initiative will make meaningful investments to build a food system that is more resilient against shocks, delivers greater value to growers and workers, and offers consumers an affordable selection of healthy food produced and sourced locally and regionally by farmers and processors from diverse backgrounds. I am confident USDA’s investments will spur billions more in leveraged funding from the private sector and others as this initiative gains traction across the country. I look forward to getting to work as co-chair of the new Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force and help to mobilize a whole-of-government effort to address the short-term supply challenges our country faces as it recovers.”

The Build Back Better Initiative will strengthen and transform critical parts of the U.S. food system. As it makes investments through this initiative, USDA will also seek to increase transparency and competition with attention to how certain types of conduct in the livestock markets and the meat processing sector have resulted in thinly-traded markets and unfair treatment of some farmers, ranchers and small processors. Among other investments in the food system and food supply chain, Build Back Better will specifically address the shortage of small meat processing facilities across the country as well as the necessary local and regional food system infrastructure needed to support them.

Funding announcements under the Build Back Better initiative will include a mix of grants, loans, and innovative financing mechanisms for the following priorities, each of which includes mechanisms to tackle the climate crisis and help communities that have been left behind, including:

    Food Production: Food production relies on growers, including farmers and ranchers, workers, and critical inputs. But a diminishing share of the food dollar goes to these essential workers. USDA will invest in the current and future generation of food producers and workers throughout the food system with direct assistance, grants, training and technical assistance, and more.

    Food Processing: The pandemic highlighted challenges with consolidated processing capacity. It created supply bottlenecks, which led to a drop in effective plant and slaughter capacity. Small and midsize farmers often struggled to compete for processing access. USDA will make investments to support new and expanded regional processing capacity.

    Food Distribution & Aggregation: Food aggregation and distribution relies on people working together throughout the food system and having the right infrastructure to gather, move and hold the food where and when it is needed. This system was stressed during the pandemic due to long shipping distances and lack of investment in local and regional capacity. USDA will make investments in food system infrastructure that can remain resilient, flexible and responsive.

    Markets & Consumers: The U.S. spends more on health care and less on food than any other high-income nation; yet the U.S. has higher rates of diet-related illness and a lower life expectancy than those nations. At the same time, many socially disadvantaged and small and mid-sized producers do not have equitable access to markets. USDA will support new and expanded access to markets for a diversity of growers while helping eaters access healthy foods.

USDA will continue to make announcements through the Build Back Better initiative in the months to come. Today’s announcement is in addition to the $1 billion announced last week to purchase healthy food for food insecure Americans and build food bank capacity, putting the total announced thus far at more than $5 billion.



Additional Cattle Markets Legislation Introduced in U.S. House

Today, Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO-4) introduced the Optimizing the Cattle Market Act of 2021 in the U.S. House. The legislation builds on a growing consensus among cattle producers, industry leaders, and Members of Congress that the current market dynamics — which stunt producer profitability and put undue market leverage on the side of meatpackers — are not sustainable for the beef supply chain.

If enacted, the bill would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create a cattle formula contracts library, and increase the reporting window for "cattle committed" from seven to 14 days. These measures would increase transparency in the industry and improve the opportunity for robust price discovery.

Rep. Hartzler's legislation also reiterates the need for expedited reauthorization of USDA's Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) program, a step NCBA has long pushed for and reached agreement on with other industry groups.

The bill would also require USDA, in consultation with the Chief Economist, to establish mandated minimums for regional negotiated cash and negotiated grid live cattle trade. Minimums would be set within two years of passage of the bill, and would invite stakeholder input through a public comment period and the consideration of key, peer-reviewed research from land grant universities.

NCBA's member-driven, grassroots policy does not support mandated minimums at this time, opting instead for a voluntary solution. NCBA's grassroots policy also provides for a change in direction should certain conditions be met, which would mean pursuing a legislative or regulatory solution determined by membership.  

"The growing momentum we're seeing in the House and Senate behind addressing these critical concerns in the cattle markets is reflective of the urgency producers are feeling across the country. Extreme market volatility, unpredictable input costs, a shifting regulatory landscape, and natural crises like drought leave cattle farmers and ranchers with a growing list of threats to their continued financial viability. Something needs to give," said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. "NCBA, alongside our affiliates and other industry associations, shares Rep. Hartzler's objectives and welcomes the discussion this bill will bring. While a government mandate on regional minimums for negotiated trade continues to be a hotly debated topic among producers, we are encouraged to see a proposal that builds on past efforts and moves us closer toward a realistic finish line."

BACKGROUND
Cattle producers have long witnessed the decline of negotiated fed cattle trade, and NCBA has been the leading industry voice discussing how to increase opportunities for producer profitability in this landscape. While the use of formulas and grids help cattle producers manage risk and capture more value for their product, these methods depend upon the price discovery that occurs in the direct, buyer-seller interactions of negotiated transactions. Current academic research has shown that more negotiated trade is needed to achieve “robust” price discovery within the industry.

NCBA's grassroots policy — formed through debate and discussion among members from every sector of the supply chain — states that, “NCBA supports a voluntary approach that 1) increases frequent and transparent negotiated trade to regionally sufficient levels… and 2) includes triggers to be determined by a working group of NCBA producer leaders.” The policy further states, “if the voluntary approach does not achieve robust price discovery…and triggers are activated, NCBA will pursue a legislative or regulatory solution determined by the membership.”



NCBA Echoes Growing Demands for DOJ Investigation Results

Today, Representative Mike Guest (R-MS-3) and Representative Darren Soto (D-FL-9) led a bipartisan group of 52 lawmakers in pushing the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to complete their investigation into the meatpacking sector, and whether or not anticompetitive practices have contributed to a persistent imbalance in the cattle markets.

This letter is the latest result of a recent groundswell of bipartisan, bicameral attention into the need to return market leverage to the side of cattle farmers and ranchers and address the startling price disparity between live cattle and boxed beef.

Last week, NCBA — with the support of 39 state cattle groups — called yet again for a swift conclusion to DOJ's investigation into the packing sector.
"Market volatility leaves our producers with extreme uncertainty, and this lack of stability and profitability is problematic for the entire beef supply chain," said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. "The growing motivation in Congress to hasten the conclusion of the DOJ investigation and take action on the issues plaguing our industry's marketplace is the result of grassroots consensus among cattle producers. Across the country, in sale barns and state affiliate meetings, we're hearing the same frustration from our members — no matter how the pendulum swings, the leverage always seems to be on the side of the packers. We thank Rep. Guest and Rep. Soto for adding their leadership to this critical effort at a time when cattle producers need stability."

Last month, NCBA worked with Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL) to deliver a similar, bicameral letter to DOJ.



U.S. Ethanol and DDGS Global Export Pace Slows from March Pop
Ann Lewis, Senior Analyst, Renewable Fuels Association
    
American exports of ethanol scaled back 15% in April to 112.7 million gallons (mg). A quarter of all gallons crossed the border into Canada (27.8 mg, a 19% decline from March). Shipments to India declined 2% to 16.4 mg, and China cut its imports by 76% to 11.8 mg. However, the bulk of remaining U.S. ethanol markets boosted imports including South Korea, which tripled its imports to a 27-month high of 23.2 mg. Other substantial markets included Finland (11.0 mg, an eight-year high), Peru (5.6 mg, up 23%), Mexico (3.4 mg, up 79% to a six-month high), and Saudi Arabia (2.6 mg, up 53%). Year-to-date U.S. ethanol exports totaled 512.0 mg, or 9% less than last year at this time.
 
For the fourth consecutive month, the U.S. did not log any meaningful imports of foreign ethanol. This marks the smallest year-to-date imports since 2017.
 
U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS)—the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants—declined 2% in April to 862,736 metric tons (mt). Half of U.S. DDGS were destined for Mexico, Vietnam, South Korea, and Turkey, with the remaining volumes distributed among another 27 countries. Mexico marked its seventh consecutive month as our top customer with shipments of 158,380 mt (equivalent to 18% of total exports in April) despite a 9% decline from March. U.S. DDGS exports to Vietnam decreased by nearly a quarter to 100,284 mt, and shipments to South Korea declined 5% to 96,104 mt. Turkey boosted its imports by 5% to a five-month high of 88,934 mt. Other larger trade partners included Indonesia (71,977 mt, down 11%), Israel (37,568 mt, a 14-month high), Canada (37,487 mt, up 2%), and Ireland (36,309 mt, up more than fivefold). Total DDGS exports for the first four months of 2021 totaled 3.44 million mt, which tracks 1% behind last year.



In Response to NTSB Request, RFA Updates Manual of Best Practices for Ethanol Rail Transport
    
At the request of the National Transportation Safety Board, the Renewable Fuels Association today published an update to its Best Practices for Rail Transport of Ethanol manual. For years, the publication has served as an important and trusted educational tool promoting regulatory compliance and best practices for the continued safe transport of ethanol via rail.

“More than two-thirds of ethanol travels to the marketplace by rail, and rail transport plays a significant role in the everyday operations of most ethanol production facilities,” said Kelly Davis, RFA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. “Rail transport of ethanol has established an impeccable safety record over the years, thanks in large part to the best practices the industry has developed and put into place. We are pleased to continue offering our members—and the industry at large—the information and tools they need to stay safe.”

Davis noted that an ethanol plant situated on a rail line can easily expect to receive and ship an average of three dozen railcars per day. This includes the reception of raw materials and process inputs, as well as the shipment of output products—fuel ethanol and co-products like distillers grains—to customers. Rail transport often represents the third-highest expense for a typical ethanol facility, following only expenditures on feedstock and direct energy costs.

Among the important updated practices stressed by RFA and NTSB is to place the older DOT-111 tank cars toward the back in high-hazard flammable trains, to minimize the risk of derailment and tank car breach, and the newer DOT-117s in front of them. RFA and its members encourage the continuing rapid pace of the replacement of the DOT-111 fleet with DOT-117 cars to eliminate the need to sort and arrange cars.



New Holland Celebrates 50 Years of Skid Steer Loaders

The skid steer loader has become an essential tool and necessary investment for everyday chores for many farms, landscapers, and construction operations. It is also a key part of New Holland's brand DNA, and this year we recognize 50 years of innovation and leadership in skid steer loaders.

The birth of the New Holland skid steer took place in haytools design, when an engineer discovered that his mower design could be turned on its side to achieve an upward- and forward-reaching motion - the foundation of what would become New Holland's industry-exclusive, Super Boom vertical lift loader design.

In 1971, New Holland built first its production skid steer loader, the L35, which introduced many industry firsts to the market. Its vertical lift design allowed for greater reach and improved clearance for loading, and its longer wheelbase provided a smooth, steady ride for operators. New Holland also took the leader position in operator safety with the L35, being the first manufacturer to introduce roll-over and falling-object protection.

Over the past five decades, New Holland has improved the design and functionality of the original L35, increasing reach and load capacity, reducing cycle times, and extending the skid steer line up to include compact track loaders. The latest 300 Series is offered in 12 new models ranging from 60 to 114 gross HP and rated operating capacity from 1,600 - 6,200 pounds. The redesigned 300 Series provides superior visibility, greater height and reach, and a simpler operator interface compared.

The 300 Series was designed with the operator in mind. New features like maintenance tracking, engine protection and ignition time-out to ensure maximum uptime and productivity. The 8-inch LCD multifunction display with backup camera conveniently shows machine performance engine data. Along with the easy-to-navigate features, the display offers the versatility of electro-hydraulic control settings, allowing the operator to customize and adjust the machine's settings to individual preferences and needs.

To commemorate the 50th-anniversary milestone, New Holland is celebrating with its new and existing customer base. For customers who purchase a skid steer during the anniversary celebration, a "50 Years Edition" decal will be added to the rear left-hand side of all skid steers built between June 1 and December 31, 2021.