Wednesday June 9 Ag News

 Helping cattle cope with summer heat

Ready or not, summer heat has arrived. Cattle have had little opportunity to become acclimated to summer conditions this year, so helping cattle cope is critical. The combination of hot temperatures, high humidity, and lack of air movement can cause severe cases of heat stress for cattle. This can result in reduced intakes and gains, and in extreme cases, death.  

Cattle do not handle heat stress as well as humans. The range of temperature in which cattle do not use additional energy to maintain core body temperature is referred to as the thermoneutral zone. This zone generally ranges from 32°F to 75°F for cattle but can vary depending on metabolic size. When temperatures exceed the upper critical temperature, cattle expend energy in attempt to dissipate heat. Panting and elevated respiration and heart rate are signs that this is occurring. When temperatures remain above 70°F during the night, cattle are unable to recover before the next episode of heat exposure.    

Some heat stress mitigation strategies to consider include:
    First and foremost, providing plenty of water and space around water tanks for each animal. When the temperature is above 80°F, cattle require nearly twice as much water (up to 30 gallons per head per day).
    Sprinklers with a large droplet size can be effective in cooling cattle and pen surfaces in dry conditions; however, limit use when humidity and moisture are high.  
    Removal of excess manure is critical. When manure builds up, it holds moisture and increases humidity.
    Bedding pens is also an option to help lower the temperature of the pen surface.
    Providing shade can help reduce the heat load on cattle up to 20 degrees. Again, providing adequate space per animal is important when using shade structures. Overcrowding will have very little production benefit.  
    Avoid working or transporting cattle during extreme temperatures. If necessary, handle cattle early in the mornings and not any time after 10 a.m.  
    Consider reducing the amount of feed delivered in the morning to help lower the heat load on cattle, starting the morning before a heat event occurs.
    Improve air flow by incorporating tall mounds and placing cattle in pens with fewer windbreaks in the summer.

Monitor weather frequently for potential heat events. Keep an eye out for predicted temperatures in the high 80s and 90s, especially following a rain and in situations where the wind speed is going to be less than 5 mph for several days. The Temperature Humidity Index chart, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Cattle Heat Stress Forecast, and Nebraska Mesonet Cattle Comfort Index can be helpful in determining when cattle are at risk for heat stress.  

Being proactive rather than reactive is important for avoiding any train wrecks when it comes to heat stress. For more information, see the Heat Stress Mitigation in Feedlot Cattle webinar or the Feedlot Heat Stress Information and Management Guide.  



Ricketts Comments on Biden Administration’s Plans to Revise Federal Waters of the U.S. Regulation

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts issued a statement following news that President Joseph R. Biden’s Administration announced plans to revise the Waters of the U.S. rule.

“Nebraska successfully fought back when President Obama overreached and tried to expand federal control of our water,” said Governor Ricketts.  “The Biden-Harris Administration must respect the rights of states, who are the rightful stewards of intrastate waterways and other bodies of water.  Nebraska will be watching the federal government closely, and will do all that is needed to protect our land and water from Washington, D.C. overreach.”



Sasse Statement on Biden Administration’s Attempt to Revive Obama Administration's WOTUS

U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement on the Biden Administration’s attempt to bring back the Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rules.

“The Obama Administration's WOTUS rules were a bureaucratic nightmare for Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers, and the Biden EPA is trying to bring them back. Washington bureaucrats who want to regulate puddles and ditches don’t understand conservation because they don’t understand Nebraska agriculture. Our farmers and ranchers take care of our natural resources better than any unelected bureaucracy. I’m going to fight any effort to bring back WOTUS.”



Water Rule Reversal a Blow to Agriculture

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of its intention to reverse the Navigable Waters Protection Rule.

“The American Farm Bureau Federation is extremely disappointed in the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of its intention to reverse the environmentally conscious Navigable Waters Protection Rule, which finally brought clarity and certainty to clean water efforts. Farmers and ranchers care about clean water and preserving the land, and they support the Navigable Waters Protection Rule.

“Administrator Regan recently recognized the flaws in the 2015 Waters of the U.S. Rule and pledged not to return to those overreaching regulations. We are deeply concerned that the EPA plans to reverse the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, which puts the future of responsible protections at risk. We expected extensive outreach, but today’s announcement fails to recognize the concerns of farmers and ranchers.

“This is an important moment for Administrator Regan and will be pivotal to his ability to earn the trust of farmers on this and other administration priorities. He must keep his word to recognize the efforts of agriculture and not return to flawed, overly complicated and excessive regulations.

“We call on EPA to respect the statute, recognize the burden that overreaching regulation places on farmers and ranchers, and not write the term ‘navigable’ out of the Clean Water Act. On this issue, and particularly prior converted croplands and ephemerals, we also urge Secretary Vilsack to ensure that we don’t return to the regulatory land grab that was the 2015 WOTUS Rule.

“Clean water and clarity are paramount, and that is why farmers shouldn’t need a team of lawyers and consultants to farm.”



Nebraska Extension field day for management of Palmer amaranth in corn

Growers, crop consultants and extension educators interested in management of atrazine/glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth are encouraged to attend Nebraska Extension's field day, supported by the Nebraska Corn Board, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 30 near Carleton.

Palmer amaranth is a member of the pigweed family and is one of the most troublesome weeds in corn and soybean production fields in Nebraska because of its resistance to atrazine/glyphosate and ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Greenhouse dose-response studies have confirmed resistance when glyphosate was applied even at higher rates.  

At the field day, experiments will demonstrate how to control atrazine/glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth in Roundup Ready/LibertyLink corn, Enlist corn, and non-GMO white corn in Nebraska.  

Three certified crop adviser credits will be available.

There is no cost to attend the field day. However, pre-registration is required before 3 p.m. on June 28. To register, visit http://agronomy.unl.edu/palmer.

Directions to the field day: From Geneva, go south on Hwy 81 for 14.6 miles, turn west onto Hwy 4 for 5.3 miles. Site is located on the south side of Hwy 4 between C St. and Renwick St. in Carleton. GPS coordinates: 40°18’24.7”N 97°40’29.0”W.

For more information, contact Amit Jhala at 402-472-1534 or Amit.Jhala@unl.edu.  



STOCKPILE EXTRA SUMMER GROWTH FOR WINTER PASTURE
- Jerry Volesky, NE Extension

While the amount of spring rain has varied significantly across the state, those areas that have had abundant rain will likely have abundant grass.  If this describes your situation, your pastures may produce more growth than needed for your current summer stocking rates.  Options to use the extra growth are needed.

Most often, we cut and bale extra growth as hay.  This is a good plan if you need the hay, or you anticipate high hay prices this fall and an opportunity to sell that hay.  Other times we simply let cattle graze what they want and leave the excess in the field, rebuilding surface litter.

How about another option?  Try stockpiling or saving some extra pasture growth for grazing during the winter.

There are lots of advantages to winter grazing.  For starters, less hay needs to be fed next winter.  Thus, you won’t need to make as much hay this summer.  And stockpiling in summer and fall followed by winter grazing is one of the best methods to improve the health of your grasslands, especially native range.  A full growing season without grazing will benefit vigor and reproductive ability of the grasses.

Poor condition and low producing pastures are often the best candidates for winter grazing.

Cattle will do a pretty good job of picking high quality plant parts to eat while winter grazing.

However, as winter grazing progresses, supplementation will likely be needed as the dormant grasses are relatively low in crude protein content.

Extra growth is an opportunity to both reduce winter feed costs and improve pasture condition.  Get it by stockpiling extra summer growth for winter grazing.   



ACE Praises Member Chief Ethanol for New CCS Venture

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) congratulates one of its ethanol producer members Chief Ethanol Fuels, Inc. for the announcement of onsite carbon capture and sequestration projects with Catahoula Resources, LLC at its ethanol plants in Hastings and Lexington, Nebraska, which should reduce the carbon intensity (CI) of each facility significantly. ACE CEO Brian Jennings praised Chief Ethanol for this endeavor to improve its carbon footprint in the following statement:

“ACE applauds Chief Ethanol for making this important and forward-thinking investment at its plants to further improve the process by which it produces clean, low carbon ethanol. These CCS projects will improve the CI score of each Chief facility while increasing the value of their ethanol, supporting area Nebraska communities, and helping the nation reach ambitious carbon emissions goals by midcentury. Chief is one of many ACE members involved with CCS projects, reinforcing the fact that our members intend to play a significant and proactive role in tackling climate change.”

Past ACE Board President Duane Kristensen, General Manager and Vice President of Operations for Chief Ethanol stated: “Chief Ethanol Fuels, Inc. is eager to explore the tremendous potential that this partnership in carbon sequestration can create to enhance the environmental and sustainability benefits of our current renewable fuels production.”

Last month, Catahoula Resources announced a joint development agreement with Battelle to build low-cost CCS projects at or near Nebraska ethanol plants.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts recently signed legislation to establish the legal and regulatory process for ethanol plants in the state to move forward with carbon capture and storage projects.



MCCORNICK REAPPOINTED TO LEAD DAUGHERTY WATER FOR FOOD GLOBAL INSTITUTE

Peter McCornick, who has led the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska since 2016, has been reappointed for a second five-year term.

Under McCornick’s leadership, the institute has made huge strides in fulfilling its mission to improve agricultural water management to ensure sustainable food and water security in the face of population and income increases, a changing climate and the growing demand for scarce water resources, said University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter.

“The University of Nebraska's Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute is helping to solve one of the most urgent and complex challenges facing our world today,” Carter said. “Thanks to the work of our faculty and our many partners, Nebraska is leading that conversation. We have much work ahead, and I believe Dr. Peter McCornick is the right person to lead the institute forward. I look forward to what we will achieve under Peter’s leadership in helping improve the human condition here and around the world."

The institute’s recent accomplishments include improving food security through farmer-led irrigation efforts. DWFI has also continued to develop and apply its suite of tools to provide usable, accurate and real-time information on water use across Nebraska and beyond for farmers, water managers, planners and other researchers.

The institute has also helped advance successful business models in irrigated agriculture. For example, the International Fund for Agricultural Development recently partnered with DWFI and provided a $1 million grant to identify and promote new irrigation opportunities in Rwanda and five other sub-Saharan African countries.

Last year, DWFI, the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources established the Water, Climate and Health partnership to address some of Nebraska’s most pressing public health issues associated with water and climate.

“Dr. McCornick is a highly effective leader and a wonderful partner who has significantly advanced the mission of DWFI, leading to many impactful outcomes for the people of Nebraska and beyond,” said Mike Boehm, NU vice president for agriculture and natural resources and Harlan Vice Chancellor for IANR. “Because of his leadership and vision, DWFI is well positioned to continue its upward and exciting trajectory.”

Prior to joining DWFI, McCornick was the deputy director general of research at the International Water Management Institute. With an international career focused on improving the sustainable management of water resources, he has led interdisciplinary research and development programs on water, agriculture and the environment in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Canada and the United States.

McCornick earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Newcastle and master’s and doctoral degrees from Colorado State University. He is a licensed professional civil engineer in Colorado and a member of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers. In 2018, McCornick was elected a board member of the World Water Council and a member of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s international steering committee of the Water Scarcity in Agriculture initiative. His second term leading DWFI takes effect July 1.

For more information on the institute, visit https://waterforfood.nebraska.edu.



Tours at Beef Improvement Federation Symposium Will Showcase Iowa's Industry

The two optional tours of the 2021 Beef Improvement Federation Research Symposium and Convention will provide attendees a firsthand look at unique aspects of Iowa's beef industry. Set for Friday, June 25, both the west and east tours will depart at 7:30 a.m. from the Iowa Events Center and return at 6 p.m.

If you choose to "Go West" you'll travel from Hy-Vee Inc. in Des Moines to Wilkerson Farms near Linden, Wiese & Sons Herefords at Manning and Lauritsen Cattle Company at Exira.

The tour will provide a wide-ranging perspective on beef cattle as an integral part of the state's economy, according to Beth Doran, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialist.

"The goal of the western Iowa tour is to showcase the Iowa's cattle industry from conception to consumption!" she said. "You'll be able to visit directly with producers on the cutting edge of genetic engineering, nationally recognized Hereford seedstock and the latest technology in custom cattle feeding. Also, you can question Hy-Vee meat managers and discover why Hy-Vee was ranked one of America's top five favorite grocery stores and their key to customer success."

The eastern Iowa tour starts in Grinnell to visit a TransOva Satellite operation, Olympic Genetics Center. The remainder of the day will be spent at the historic Amana Colonies, where one of the largest contiguous Iowa farms is located. The tour will feature an anaerobic digester, cow-calf and feedlot operation, and time to explore traditional, German-influenced shops and restaurants.  

Both tours have limited capacity. The fee is $45 and lunch is included. See more details on both tours on the symposium website www.beefimprovement.org.

The 2021 BIF Research Symposium and Convention will be held June 22-25 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. All schedule and registration information is available on the event website.




Naig: ‘New Meat Processing Program is a Good Investment in Local Businesses and Rural Communities’

 Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig issued the following statement after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed HF 857, the butchery innovation and revitalization fund and program, into law.

“Last fall, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship spearheaded an incredibly successful meat processing expansion program that provided $4 million in grants to 204 of Iowa’s small town lockers. These grants were awarded at a critical time for the industry and assisted processers in upgrading their equipment so they could process more livestock from farmers and serve more Iowans.

There is still a significant opportunity to expand meat processing capacity around the state. I want to applaud state lawmakers for building on our previous efforts to increase processing capacity at local meat lockers and help address their workforce needs. This legislation will ensure continued market access for livestock producers, create new jobs, and help grow and revitalize our rural communities.

We look forward to continuing to work with legislators and stakeholders to strengthen Iowa’s regional food systems and promote locally-grown and raised foods.”

The funds will be used to help small meat lockers upgrade their equipment or expand their facilities to increase their processing capacity. The program also directs the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to form a task force to explore the feasibility of creating an artisanal butchery program at community colleges or regent universities to help address worker shortages.

This program is modeled after the Meat Processing Expansion and Development grants that were administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in 2020 and funded by federal CARES Act dollars allocated by Gov. Reynolds.



World Pork Expo Showcases Top Pork Priorities
 
The urgent administration appeal of a recent federal district court ruling striking down faster harvest facility line speeds, legal action on California’s Proposition 12 and expanded export market access are among top U.S. pork producer priorities at this week’s World Pork Expo. Hosted by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), World Pork Expo is the world’s largest pork-specific trade show.

“After a two-year absence, we’re thrilled for the return of Work Pork Expo, showcasing the latest developments in the U.S. pork industry,” said NPPC President Jen Sorenson, communications director of Iowa Select Farms in West Des Moines, Iowa. “U.S. pork producers have a number of near-term challenges and priorities, including a federal court ruling that, if implemented later this month, will cause tremendous harm to hog farmers across the country. We need the Biden administration to quickly intervene and prevent this disastrous scenario from becoming reality.”

The federal court’s decision—which takes effect on June 29—struck down a provision of USDA’s New Swine Inspection System (NSIS) allowing for faster harvest facility line speeds. NSIS, initiated during the Clinton administration and evaluated at five pilot plants over 20 years, was approved for industry-wide adoption in 2019. NSIS modernized an inspection system that had remained unchanged for more than 50 years. At a time when the United States is seeking to increase much-needed pork harvest capacity, the court order will reduce plant capacity at six plants running at NSIS line speeds by as much as 25 percent. Smaller hog farmers will disproportionately bear the brunt of the court’s impact, undermining pork industry competition.

Last week, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Reps. Jim Hagedorn (R-Minn.) and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) initiated letters—currently circulating for additional congressional signatories—to the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Justice, urgently requesting the administration appeal the ruling to prevent the tremendous financial harm to American hog farmers.

Additionally, NPPC is challenging California’s Proposition 12. Set to go into effect next year, it will impose arbitrary animal housing standards that reach far outside the state’s borders to farms across the country, while driving up costs for both pork producers and consumers. NPPC and the American Farm Bureau Federation have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, asking the court to strike down Proposition 12 as unconstitutional under the dormant commerce clause. Oral arguments were held in mid-April and a court ruling is anticipated by mid-summer.

Compliance with Proposition 12 will cost individual farmers millions. The ones least able to bear that cost will be small family farms. Loss of this market will put many hog farmers out of business, ultimately leading to further industry consolidation. Despite requiring final implementation rules by Sept. 1, 2019, just two weeks ago the state issued its proposed rules. NPPC plans to file comments by the July 12 deadline.

Other near-term priorities for U.S. pork producers include:
    Expanding export markets, crucial to the success of the U.S. pork industry. NPPC is focused on more immediate export opportunities in the Philippines and Vietnam, major pork-consuming nations dealing with African swine fever outbreaks in their domestic herds;
    Addressing agriculture labor reform. Current agriculture visa programs are designed for seasonal agriculture and do not meet the needs of pork production and other livestock agriculture. NPPC is urging Congress to address labor reform that both opens the H-2A visa program to year-round labor, without a cap, and provides legal status for agricultural workers already in the country; and
    Continuing to advocate for measures to ensure foreign agriculture diseases remain outside the country. NPPC is requesting congressional appropriations to strengthen biosecurity defense at our borders.



Strong Momentum Continues for U.S. Beef and Pork Exports

Following a record-breaking March performance, exports of U.S. beef and pork continued to build momentum in April, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

"Looking back at April 2020, it was a difficult month for red meat exports as we began to see COVID-related supply chain interruptions and foodservice demand took a major hit in many key markets," said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. "While it is no surprise that exports performed much better in April 2021, we are pleased to see that global demand continued to build on the broad-based growth achieved in March."

April exports of U.S. beef set another new value record at $808.3 million, up 35% from a year ago, with export volume reaching 121,050 metric tons (mt) – up 23% year-over-year and the fifth largest on record. For beef muscle cuts, exports were the third largest ever at 94,656 mt (up 21%), valued at a record $726.7 million (up 36%). April beef exports to South Korea increased 21% from a year ago to 23,482 mt, and just missed setting a new value record at $182.7 million. Beef exports to China continued to soar in April, reaching a record 17,233 mt (up from just 1,367 mt a year ago). Export value to China was $130.6 million – up from $11.5 million. Beef export value per head of fed slaughter reached a new monthly high in April at $367.45.

For January through April, beef exports moved 5% ahead of last year's pace at 454,398 mt, with value up 10% to $2.93 billion. Beef muscle cut exports were up 8% to 357,570 mt, valued at $2.63 billion (up 12%).

Pork exports were the sixth largest on record in April at 269,918 mt, up 2% from a year ago. Export value was $749.2 million, up 10% and the fourth highest on record. Pork muscle cuts followed a similar trajectory, increasing 3% in volume (224,179 mt) and 10% in value ($641.7 million). April pork exports to Mexico were the largest of 2021 at 67,365 mt, up 58% from a year ago, with value more than doubling to $143.4 million (up 126%). Led by strong demand across a range of markets, Central America continued to be a growth leader for U.S. pork in April, with exports up 56% from a year ago to 10,911 mt, valued at $29.7 million (up 74%). Pork exports to the Philippines soared again in April to 14,296 mt (up from 2,326 mt a year ago), bolstered in part by temporary tariff rate reductions that took effect April 17. April export value to the Philippines was $37.1 million, up from $6.2 million in April 2020.

For January through April, pork exports were 5% below last year at 1.05 million mt, valued at $2.82 billion (down 3%). Pork muscle cut exports were down 5% to 883,599 mt, valued at $2.43 billion (down 4%).

April exports of U.S. lamb totaled 1,088 mt, up 38% from a year ago, with value up 57% to $1.35 million. Through April, lamb exports were 57% above last year's pace at 4,356 mt, valued at $5.6 million (up 6%).

Halstrom cautioned that the COVID-19 pandemic is still a major concern for the U.S. meat industry, adding uncertainty to the business climate in many export destinations. Logistical challenges, including container shortages and ongoing vessel congestion at many U.S. ports, also present significant obstacles for red meat exports.

"While conditions are improving in many key markets, the COVID impact is the most intense it has ever been in Taiwan and heightened countermeasures are also in place in Japan and other Asian countries," he explained. "But foodservice activity is climbing back in our Latin American markets and retail demand – both in traditional settings and in e-commerce – has been outstanding and USMEF continues to find innovative ways for the U.S. industry to capitalize on these opportunities. We are also working with ag industry partners and regulatory agencies to find ways to improve the flow of outbound cargo, which is essential to maintaining export growth."




FUN NEW VIDEO SERIES TEACHES ABOUT THE BEEF CHECKOFF

The Cattlemen’s Beef Board and Oklahoma Beef Council have collaborated on a series of entertaining videos that explains how the Beef Checkoff works. Each of the five videos is designed to be a resource that will help cattle producers and other members of the beef community better understand the program and how their Checkoff dollars are used to drive demand for beef through promotion, education, and research efforts.

“We want cattlemen to have a sound understanding of their Beef Checkoff program, and we’ve created these videos to help reach that goal,” said Heather Buckmaster, Oklahoma Beef Council executive director. “We hope all cattlemen will take a moment to watch these videos and then share them with others in the beef community.”

The short, animated videos explain the somewhat complex Checkoff system in a simple way. They present facts about how the Beef Checkoff works, what the program does, who decides what projects the Checkoff funds, and answer key questions producers often ask about their Beef Checkoff dollars.

“These videos are proof that Checkoff education can be fun and entertaining,” said Libby Stauder, Checkoff communications and education manager at the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. “Plus, we’re so excited to have broadcast legend Ron Hays as the voice of the project. It really was a great collaborative effort, and we look forward to rolling these out across the country so that producers and importers everywhere can better understand their Beef Checkoff program.”

You can view the videos on the Oklahoma Beef Council’s YouTube channel by clicking on the Beef Checkoff Explained playlist or at DrivingDemandforBeef.com.



NFU, Ag Groups Urge Farm Labor Reform

In a letter sent to Senate leadership, the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) urged immediate legislative action to reform the American farm labor system.

The coalition, which represents nearly 300 agricultural groups, described the shortage of legal, qualified workers as one of farmers’ “greatest challenges,” adding that without immediate solutions, the problem “will force many farmers to consider whether they can continue in labor-intensive agriculture.” Farm workers are similarly underserved by the current system, which fails to offer job security or a clear path to long-term legal residency.

As a member of AWC and a longtime advocate of a “flexible, efficient, and compassionate agricultural worker visa program,” National Farmers Union (NFU) was among the letters’ signatories. The organization also endorsed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill that would streamline the hiring process for employers and enable workers to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment. In a release today, NFU President Rob Larew restated the need for meaningful change:
 
“Neither employers nor workers are benefitting from our farm labor system. For many farms and ranches, experienced farm workers are fundamental to day-to-day operations, but the process of hiring them is convoluted, laborious, and full of excessive red tape. Despite their indispensable role in our food system, farm workers live in a state of uncertainty, with few protections, little job security, and no straightforward option to gain citizenship.

“The needs of these two groups are not at odds with one another. In fact, it’s more than possible to restructure the farm labor system so that it works for both employers and employees. Congress can accomplish that by streamlining the application process, allowing year-round use of the H-2A program, stabilizing wages, and offering rights and protections to workers. These reforms can’t wait any longer – we urge legislators to quickly act to build the functional, compassionate farm labor system that farmers and workers deserve.”



Weekly Ethanol Production for 6/4/2021

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending June 4, ethanol production scaled up by 33,000 barrels per day (b/d), or 3.2%, to 1.067 million b/d, equivalent to 44.81 million gallons daily and the highest level since February 2020. Production was 27.5% above the same week last year, which was affected by the pandemic, but it was 2.6% below the same week in 2019. The four-week average ethanol production volume lifted 2.2% to 1.036 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 15.88 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks grew to 20.0 million barrels, 1.9% above the prior week and a five-week high. Stocks were 8.4% below the year-ago level and the same week in 2019. Inventories rose in the East Coast (PADD 1) and Midwest (PADD 2) but declined across the other regions.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, tumbled 7.3% to a twelve-week low of 8.48 million b/d (130.00 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was 7.3% above a year ago but was 14.1% below the same week in 2019.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol slipped 1.2% to 905,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.87 bg annualized. This was 18.3% above a year ago but 5.0% below the same week in 2019.

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



Growth Energy Applauds Nevada’s Move to E15

Over the weekend, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed AB 411 into law, legislation that would require the Nevada Board of Agriculture to approve a fifteen percent ethanol blended fuel (E15) as part of any fuel regulation adopted by July 1, 2022. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor released the following statement applauding Nevada for moving to approve E15 as part of its state fuel regulations:

“By signing AB411 into law, Governor Sisolak is providing Nevadans with the opportunity save money at the pump and fill up with the plant-based biofuels like E15, a fuel blended with fifteen percent renewable ethanol,” said Skor. “Nevadans will soon have the choice to fuel up with plant-based biofuels through E15, a simple choice that not only saves them money at the pump but will also benefit the earth. We’re looking forward to working with retailers across the state to add E15 to their fuel offerings so Nevadans have greater access a liquid fuel that reduces their carbon emissions.”

Once the regulation is finalized, Nevada would be the 47th state to approve E15 for consumers. Currently, E15 - marketed to consumers as Unleaded 88 - is offered at over 2,440 retail sites in 30 states and 230 terminals. Consumers have driven over 21 billion miles on E15 to date. Find a station near you at GetBiofuel.com.  



2021 Cattle Industry Convention Speakers Will Educate, Motivate and Inspire

The 2021 Cattle Industry Convention will hit all the right notes when country music stars, inspirational speakers and hot topics converge in Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 10-12, 2021. New to this year’s convention is an additional general session, which provides even more value to registration.

“We are excited to bring people together once again to learn and be inspired,” says Kristin Torres, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association executive director of meetings and events. “We’ve crafted a program that will give attendees an exceptional experience as well as a great value.”

Buzz Brainard, host of Music Row Happy Hour with Buzz Brainard, will emcee convention events. Brainard is a familiar face in Nashville and his voice is well known on SiriusXM radio, Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel.

The Opening Session on Tuesday, Aug. 10, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, will kick things off with country music singer and songwriter, Kix Brooks. Brooks, who was recently recognized as the National On-Air Personality of the Year by the Academy of Country Music, will talk about his experiences in country music as well as his passion for creating award-winning wines.

CattleFax will present its U.S. and Global Protein & Grain Outlook Seminar on Wednesday, Aug. 11, exploring factors driving the market, and Dr. Art Douglas will discuss evolving weather patterns and provide a weather forecast for the United States and the world. This session is sponsored by Zoetis and Purina Feeds, LLC.

The final day of convention includes two general sessions, featuring a panel discussion on sustainability, sponsored by Roto-Mix, LLC. Sustainability continues to be a hot topic, with environmental stewardship often making the headlines, but economic viability and social responsibility play roles as well. Session speakers will discuss how the cattle industry offers solutions to the climate change conversation.

The Closing General Session on Thursday, Aug. 12, celebrates the industry’s Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program. In addition to honoring recipients of the BQA Awards, sponsored by Cargill, the session features speaker Jason Brown, a former professional football player who turned in his cleats for a tractor. Brown left the NFL to serve others through farming and he will talk about his life-changing journey from the football field to the vegetable field.

Additional educational opportunities can be found throughout the three days including the Learning Lounge, which offers “lightning sessions” on the trade show floor providing busy attendees valuable educational tips. The Stockmanship and Stewardship demonstration arena provides unique educational experiences featuring sessions on adding value to calves at sale time and horseback handling to improve the bottom line. And, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association “State of the Industry” session, which will be held in the general session room, will feature CEO Colin Woodall, and Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane, discussing the current climate in Washington.

For those arriving early, Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis, will highlight cutting-edge topics and top industry leaders such as Tuesday’s keynote speaker, Dr. Jayson Lusk from Purdue University who will discuss industry impacts from COVID-19 and keeping beef at the center of the plate.

“Nashville is open for business, and we look forward to seeing everyone in person this August,” says Torres.

While the 2021 Cattle Industry Convention is being held in person, a virtual option is available for those who can’t attend. The CattleCon Remix ticket provides live streaming of all general sessions as well as on-demand options for other educational events. For more information and to register and reserve housing, visit https://convention.ncba.org/.



NCBA Joins Dialogue with Sec. Vilsack on Build Back Better Initiative

Today, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association joined an agriculture industry call with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Vilsack to discuss the path forward for the recently-announced $4 billion Build Back Better initiative.

During the coalition call, there was a productive, positive dialogue on how funds could best be utilized to strengthen the security of the beef supply chain and increase opportunities for profitability for all sectors of the cattle industry.

In yesterday's announcement, USDA outlined four areas of focus for the program — food production, food processing, aggregation and distribution, and consumers and markets. The prevailing theme on the call was processing capacity, and Sec. Vilsack specifically cited the urgent need to expand capacity in the cattle and beef industry.

"I'm extremely optimistic about the priorities Sec. Vilsack expressed today, and the targeted interest he and his team have shown in improving business conditions for cattle producers," said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. "The fact that the focus of his comments was on processing capacity signals that the Build Back Better initiative could be directly beneficial for NCBA members. We discussed new local and regional processing facilities, bringing federal inspection within reach for more state-inspected facilities, and maintaining open, transparent markets. A nimble, durable beef supply chain is good for cattle producers and consumers alike, and NCBA looks forward to working with Sec. Vilsack and his team as they build out these resources for producers."

Woodall also reiterated to Sec. Vilsack that demand for U.S. beef is high and cattle supply is high, but the chokepoint in the middle — caused by a lack of hook space — has stifled producer profitability and created unsustainable market dynamics.



Bradley Wins 2021 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship
 
Chuck Bradley, from Rockford, Ala., was named the 2021 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion at the 57th annual competition held at Dickson Regional Livestock Center, Dickson, Tenn., and presented by the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA).

“It was such a surreal moment,” Bradley said. “I was in awe. You go back and look at the other past champions, and it’s an elite group. To be classified into that group now, really means a lot to me.”

Bradley, a three-time qualifier of the WLAC event and 2019 WLAC Reserve Champion Auctioneer, earned his spot to this year’s competition by winning LMA’s 2020 Western Qualifying Event. Twenty-eight other contestants also qualified through three regional qualifying events and received a bye into the 2021 competition due to a cancellation of last year’s event.
 
Eric Drees of Caldwell, Idaho, earned Reserve Champion honors, and Will Epperly from Dunlap, Iowa, was named Runner-Up Champion.

Other top ten finalists were Justin Mebane, Bakersfield, Calif.; Chris Pinard, Swainsboro, Ga.; Sixto Paiz, Portales, N.M.; Neil Bouray, Webber, Kan.; Zack Zumstein, Marsing, Idaho; Dakota Davis, Waukomis, Okla.; Will Epperly, Dunlap, Iowa and Steve Goedert, Dillon, Mont.

Additional semi-finalists were Alex Anderson, Abingdon, Va.; Zach Ballard, Mt. Vernon, S.D.; Andy Baumeister, Goldthwaite, Texas; Colton Brantley, Modesto, Calif.; Leon Caselman, Long Lane, Mo.; Philip Gilstrap, Pendleton, S.C.; Brandon Hamel, Damar, Kan.; Lynn Langvardt, Chapman, Kan.; Wade Leist, Boyne City, Mich.; Jacob Massey, Petersburg, Tenn.; Jeremy Miller, Fairland, Okla.; Daniel Mitchell, Cumberland, Ohio; Ben Morgan, Organ Cave, W.V.; Trey Narramore, Portales, N.M.; Lander Nicodemus, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Dustin Smith, Jay, Okla.; Curtis Wetovick, Fullerton, Neb.; Tim Yoder, Montezuma, Ga. and Vern Yoder, Dundee, Ohio.
 
Kristen Parman, LMA VP of Membership Services, said, “LMA is proud to sponsor an event that brings together North America’s top livestock auctioneers in a competition that showcases professionalism and promotes the auction method of selling livestock.”

As a part of the champion’s role, Bradley will spend the next year traveling the country, sharing his auctioneering skills with other livestock auction markets and acting as a spokesperson on behalf of the livestock marketing industry and LMA.

“A lot of us who compete in this contest auctioneer for a living every day,” Bradley said. “This year I’m planning to continue to still go out in the field and interact with markets and their producers, while promoting LMA.

Bradley, a graduate of North Georgia School of Auctioneering, works as an auctioneer for Montgomery Stock Yards, LLC in Montgomery, Ala. He lives in Equality, Ala., with his wife Jill and two children.



FFAR Accelerates Breeding Technology to Develop New Crops

Editing a plant’s genes can help the plant thrive during drought, extreme heat and other climate change-related crises. While this technology is key to future food security, it is expensive and relies on time-consuming tissue culturing – putting it out of reach of smaller labs. Due to the expense, gene editing is almost exclusively used on major crops such as corn. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is providing a $385,512 grant through its Crops of the Future Collaborative to the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) to develop accessible gene editing technology that also allows faster plant growth. Matching funders, including Limagrain Europe, are providing funds for a total $535,512 investment.

“There is a vast array of crops that, with breeding enhancements, have the potential to increase global food security in the face of climate change,” said Dr. Jeff Rosichan, Crops of the Future Collaborative director. “This research helps labs to move beyond major large-acre crops and diversify agricultural sources of nutrition.”

Common methods for editing crops involve using expensive technology to culture cells, essentially growing cells outside the plant in a suitable environment. Once whole plants are recovered from the cells, scientists then screen for the desired traits. Tissue culture technologies are not well developed for many small acreage crops. Further, it often takes years for enhanced crops to reach farmers using conventional methods. Yet, new techniques that bypass tissue culturing could reduce the financial risk and time involved in cultivating climate-resilient crops that are less widely studied due to lack of funding or difficulties with editing.

Researchers at UC Davis, led by Dr. Neelima Sinha, are employing a CRISPR DNA-editing technique that edits genes in a seedling’s cells to generate edited shoots while the plant is in soil, eliminating a tissue culture stage. The researchers inject bacteria directly into the seedling. The bacteria carry the gene editing components into the plant cells. After researchers decapitate the seedlings at the injection site, the seedlings generate new shoots to grow at the point of decapitation. Researchers then determine which of the new shoots contain the edited genetic material and continue cultivating them in soil.

“Of the thousands of edible crops species available, about 150 species have been cultivated for consumption. The uncultivated crops, also known as underutilized crops, are a potential treasure trove of nutritional opportunities that could weather climate change disruptions better than some crop varieties we currently grow,” said Dr. Rosichan.

Dr. Sinha and her team have had previous success using this technique in tomatoes. This project is focusing on refining and adapting the process for use in common bean. Common bean was chosen for this study because it is a promising crop with high protein content and good nutritional quality. However, tissue culture and recovery of fertile plants is difficult and limited to specific varieties. The methods developed in this research can provide insights on performing faster and more efficient gene editing in other important food crops that are underutilized because they are difficult to edit or overlooked by the agriculture industry.

“We are excited to embark on this project for improvement of common bean,” said Dr. Sinha. “The nutritional quality of beans is unparalleled and establishing suitable editing methods will open the door to enhancing both quality and the ability of this species to resist disease and grow on a wider range of environments with fewer inputs. This project would not be possible without the money from FFAR and the matching funders.”

This grant was awarded as part of the Crops of the Future Collaborative’s Accelerated Crop Breeding program. The program accelerates development of diverse crop species suited to sustainable agriculture and improved human nutrition.



Norbrook North America Expands Portfolio of Swine Products & Services

Norbrook North America announces it has expanded its portfolio of swine products available to help pork producers and veterinarians enhance the well-being of their animals and improve their operations. Recently, the company added Cefenil® RTU to its growing portfolio of generic products for use in swine.

Cefenil RTU joins a growing list of Norbrook products available to the swine industry, including 300 PRO LA® (oxytetracycline), Enroflox® 100, Flunixin Injection, Oxytetracycline 200, Noromycin® 300 LA, Norocillin® Injection and Noromectin® (Ivermectin). These products offer producers and veterinarians cost-effective alternatives to pioneer products.

In addition, Norbrook recently assigned Megan Schnur, DVM, to lead the company’s technical service efforts in swine. Dr. Schnur has worked with swine producers and veterinarians for the last six years and has extensive experience in swine health and production. “The swine market is critically important to Norbrook. Our swine products and services provide effective and economical solutions to many diseases that pork producers and veterinarians deal with on a regular basis, and that impact production and profitability,” Dr. Schnur explains. “We will continue to offer additional innovative, highly effective solutions to customers, along with our technical veterinary expertise, for years to come.”  

In 2020, Norbrook marked 50 years of bringing new, innovative and differentiated animal health products to the global marketplace. As a Top 20 global animal health company, it has a long history of investing in research and development, manufacturing, operations and distribution channels that help deliver cost-effective solutions to customers worldwide.