Monday February 14 Ag News

Report: NU System's Economic Impact Grows to $5.8 Billion

The teaching, research and outreach activities of the University of Nebraska grow the state's economy by $5.8 billion every year -- $2.9 billion of which comes from the University of Nebraska--Lincoln -- according to an independent new analysis.

Presented at last week's Board of Regents meeting, the analysis into the NU system's impact on Nebraska's prosperity and quality of life was conducted by Tripp Umbach, a national consultant with expertise in economic impact studies. Tripp Umbach's findings, which detail the university's impact by campus, region and legislative district, show that the NU System generates $9 for every $1 the state invests -- a significant increase from the 7-to-1 ROI the university created in 2019.

That all four campuses grew their impact even while managing the challenges of COVID-19 is evidence of the vital role the university plays in maintaining the economic competitiveness and well-being of the state, NU System President Ted Carter said.

And as Nebraska recovers from the pandemic -- and faces an urgent workforce challenge of 50,000-plus open jobs, including critical openings in health care and STEM fields -- an affordable, accessible, competitive public university will continue to be a key part of the solution, Carter said.

"This new analysis is the latest confirmation that the University of Nebraska is one of the largest drivers of economic and individual growth in our state," he said.

"The numbers alone are powerful, demonstrating the remarkable return we provide on Nebraskans' investment. When we factor in the cutting-edge research we conduct to improve lives around the world, the outreach we perform in every corner of the state, and the transformational education we provide to 52,000 students every year, it's clear that the state of Nebraska cannot prosper without its public university."

Along with its $2.9 billion economic impact, the University of Nebraska--Lincoln added 23,448 jobs (15,894 direct jobs) statewide in 2021. The flagship university's operations created 7,553 indirect and induced jobs in 2021.

"A 9-to-1 return on investment is an impressive result for Nebraska taxpayers. From my chair, the University of Nebraska has been a responsible and forward-thinking steward of its resources," said Sen. John Stinner of Gering, chairman of the Nebraska Legislature's Appropriations Committee. "These findings demonstrate that the University of Nebraska has been able to turn Nebraskans' investment into impact that extends to every corner of the state -- rural and urban alike, from my district in Western Nebraska all the way east."

Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, chairwoman of the Legislature's Education Committee said the takeaway from the report could not be more clear.

"Investment in higher education pays off big-time for the State of Nebraska," Walz said. "Not only does the University of Nebraska turn every dollar it receives into growth for the state, but it transforms the lives of our next generation of leaders in so many ways that we can't fully quantify."

Among Tripp Umbach's key findings:

- The university's $5.8 billion annual impact -- an increase from the $4.5 billion impact calculated in 2019 -- means that the activities of NU campuses, faculty, staff and students, along with the resulting ripple effects in communities across the state, add almost $16 million to Nebraska's economy every day.

- The University of Nebraska builds economically and socially vibrant communities in all 93 counties. Tripp Umbach broke down the university's economic impact by both region and legislative district and found significant returns across the state. For example, the university grows the economy in the western part of Nebraska by $280 million annually.

- The University of Nebraska sustains a highly skilled workforce for the state, supporting 1 of every 27 jobs in Nebraska. The 47,000-plus jobs supported by the university include not just NU employees, but Nebraskans who have jobs as a result of university activities.

- University graduates generate significant economic activity for the state. About 1 of every 7 working-age Nebraskans holds an NU degree, and 11,000 new NU graduates enter the workforce every year. The earnings and spending activities of university alumni add $2.9 billion to the state's economy annually, above and beyond the NU system's baseline $5.8 billion impact.

- University research is a powerful driver of economic growth and quality of life. Faculty innovations in areas like agriculture, medicine and engineering place the NU System among the world's top-ranked institutions in earning patents, and the companies spun off from their research are projected to create hundreds of jobs in the years ahead.

- The university contributes to the well-being of the state. NU employees and students annually contribute $100 million in charitable donations and volunteer services, like student-led service activities, free health screenings, scholarly lectures and more. NU's campuses also offer activities that enhance Nebraskans' cultural understanding and build connections among citizens, including concerts, art exhibits and athletic events.



DORMANT ALFALFA WEED CONTROL
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator

Minimal snow cover may have added additional stress to alfalfa stands that may have already been under pressure from a late fall cutting.  A slow green-up and possible winterkill opens the door to an early spring invasion of winter annual weeds.

Plants like henbit, pennycress, shepherd’s purse, mustard, annual bluegrass, and cheatgrass seem to magically appear in our stands every spring.  These winter annuals germinate in the fall, lie dormant during winter, then pick up growth quickly in the spring as warm temperatures return.  Greening up before almost any other plants in our fields gives these species a competitive advantage, and they capitalize on it with fast growth.

This speedy life cycle means our window for control is limited, especially in alfalfa.  Because we don’t want to damage the growing alfalfa plant, the best window of opportunity is in the short time during spring where winter annuals have started to grow again, but alfalfa is still dormant.

To take advantage we need to be ready to act.  Scout alfalfa fields and determine where weed issues may arise, then keep an eye on these spots as we get closer to spring so we can pull the trigger when the weeds are green but the alfalfa is not.

It is also important to identify what species need to be addressed.  Herbicide efficacy varies by species, so picking the product that best controls your problem weed can prevent future applications and save money in the long run.  Need for broadleaf or grass weed control is especially important to identify as some broadleaf products have no action at all on grasses.

Winter annual weeds are a perennial problem in alfalfa, but may be especially tough this year due to the stress of late cuttings last fall and an open winter.  To be successful with control, scout early and have the right herbicide ready to apply after weeds green up but before the alfalfa breaks dormancy.



Nebraska Ethanol Board Feb. 28 board meeting to be held in Lincoln

The Nebraska Ethanol Board will meet in Lincoln at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 28. The meeting will be at Cornhusker Marriott (333 S. 13th St) in event room Yankee Hill 2.  Agenda highlights as follows:
    Budget Report
    Fuel Retailer Update
    Nebraska Corn Board Update
    Renewable Fuels Nebraska Update
    Technical & Research Updates
    Marketing Programs
    Funding Requests
    NEB-hosted Conferences & Events
    State and Federal Legislation
    Ethanol Plant Reports

This agenda contains all items to come before the Board except those items of an emergency nature.

Nebraska Ethanol Board meetings are open to the public and also published on the public calendar.



Center for Rural Affairs applauds recent crop insurance improvements

The Center for Rural Affairs applauds expansions to federal crop insurance recently announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA). Both changes signal encouraging opportunities for farmers practicing conservation on their operations.

On Feb. 10, RMA announced it will be offering the Pandemic Cover Crop Program (PCCP) for a second year. The program offers a $5 per acre discount on a producer’s crop insurance premium if they planted a qualifying cover crop ahead of their 2022 crop.

If a cover crop variety is reportable to the Farm Service Agency (FSA), it is eligible for PCCP. To receive the benefit, producers must have a Report of Acreage form (FSA-578) filed for their cover crops by March 15, also the crop insurance sales closing date for most spring crops.

“Producers should take note that the March 15 deadline differs from the acreage reporting date later in the season by which they will have to report their insured crop,” said Kate Hansen, policy associate with the Center for Rural Affairs.  

The discount is available for most crop insurance policies, with a notable addition of Whole Farm Revenue Protection. Exceptions include the newly-announced Post-Application Coverage Endorsement and the Enhanced Coverage Option. For producers in states such as Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, which have state-level cover crop discount programs, PCCP can provide an additional benefit.

In addition to PCCP, the agency announced that, starting with the 2022 season, soybeans that are relay cropped into an established small grain will be insurable via written agreement. A written agreement is an operation-specific coverage request developed and submitted by a producer and their crop insurance agent.

“Relay cropping is a crop management system utilizing multiple crops with overlapping growing seasons, but planted and harvested at different times,” said Ross Evelsizer, natural resources project director with Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development. “Relay cropping in Iowa is typically done with soybeans and a cereal grain.”

Evelsizer works with producers across the state to implement field trials of relay cropping systems to learn more about the practice.

“Relay systems benefit soil health by minimizing disturbance, maximizing soil cover, maximizing biodiversity, and extending the presence of living roots across the entire field, which improves soil health and water quality, and prevents erosion,” he said.

“Producers across the country are implementing new conservation practices to better steward their land,” Hansen said. “These recent developments from RMA to support these efforts are encouraging.”

For more information on these programs, or crop insurance sign ups in general, please call the Center for Rural Affairs, 515.215.1294.



Le Mars Couple Receives Pork All-American Award from IPPA
    
Matt and Angie Schnepf both grew up on farms in northwest Iowa. They have used the lessons learned – hard work, a sixth sense for working with pigs, and continuous improvement of their production practices – for their achievement as Pork All-Americans.
 
The couple received the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) 2021 Pork All-American Award during the Master Pork Producers award program at the Iowa Pork Congress during the last week of January.
 
The IPPA Pork All-American award was established in 1970 to honor producers 40 years of age or younger who have established themselves as community leaders and successful and dedicated business people. Winners also have previously been named Master Pork Producers. The Schnepfs were part of the 2013 class of Master Pork Producers.
 
The couple is active with the Plymouth County Pork Producers. Matt has served as chairman of membership for several years, and assists with grilling events. In 2017, he helped launch the Adopt-A-Pig program to revive a “dying” hog show at the Plymouth County Fair.

FFA and 4-H youth – particularly those who do not have facilities to house a swine project – are paired with a mentor, attend barn visits and educational workshops, and have the opportunity to show a barrow and a gilt during the fair. The effort is a partnership between the county pork producers and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and annually reaches 30 youth.
 
Angie is also a 4-H club co-leader and Matt helps with his 11-year-old son’s basketball team. The couple also cheers on their two older sons, a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old, in their school activities, too.

Angie said the boys are very involved on the farm as well. “They help sort, load, vaccinate, and power wash. They do so much. They are huge to our operation!”

The Schnepfs built their first finishing barn in 2002 to contract feed pigs. Since then, they have added additional barns and have transitioned to feeding their own pigs. During that time period, they have increased their barn biosecurity. While that doesn’t guarantee healthy pigs “we've done really well at keeping pigs healthy on issues that we can control,” Matt said.

Biosecurity is emphasized even more because they also do some commercial trucking of hogs and cattle. Matt washes and sanitizes the trucks before he switches barns he’s loading out. “When you want to focus on pigs growing, you really don’t want them getting infected with a virus,” he said.

In addition to the wean-to-finish pig operation, the Schnepfs also have cattle and farm row-crops with Matt’s Dad.

IPPA and Iowa State University Extension co-sponsor the Master Pork program awards, including the All-American award.  Nominations for the 2022 Master Pork Program awards will open in May.



NEW Connect – NEW Cooperative’s Mobile App Now Available

The NEW Connect Mobile App will put you in the driver’s seat. You will be able to view, download and submit through NEW Connect. You will be able to Sign Grain Contracts, Submit Offers, View Transactions, View Statements, View Patronage & Equity Info, Set-Up for Direct Deposit, and Make Automatic Online Payments.

To download the app, visit your app store and search “NEW Cooperative” You MUST have a Connection Central Account to use the app. Create your Connection Central Account here... http://www.newcoop.com/customer-login/.



Search begins for Iowa's Best Burger

Iowa’s beef producers are asking their fellow Iowans to help find Iowa’s Best Burger in 2022. In this year’s quest, the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) are encouraging you to nominate your favorite burger, whether it’s gourmet or down-home style.

“We are looking for the best burger served in an Iowa restaurant,” said Kent Pruismann, a Rock Valley cattleman and IBIC Chairman. “Although burgers are often standard fare, we know from experience that the winners of this contest are well-above standard, and serve outstanding burgers. Finding these great burgers depends on Iowans choosing their favorite, and nominating them.”

This is the thirteenth year the two groups are holding the annual Iowa’s Best Burger contest, which officially kicks off on February 14, 2022. During the first phase of the contest, Iowans are encouraged to nominate their favorite burger before March 14, 2022.

Pruismann noted that restaurants are a valuable partner to the beef industry. “They do a tremendous job preparing and serving our beef products in delicious and creative ways. This contest is not only a great way to celebrate the high-quality products that Iowa’s beef farmers produce, but draws business to participating restaurants and their communities.”

To qualify to be named Iowa’s Best Burger, the burger must be a 100% real beef patty and served on a bun or bread product. The more nominations a restaurant receives, the better the chances are for that burger to make it on the “Top Ten” list announced March 18 on WHO Radio’s “The Big Show”. Finalists will receive a certificate and be eligible for the secret taste-test of contest judges. The 2022 Best Burger in Iowa will be announced on May 2, 2022, with the kick-off of May Beef Month in Iowa.

Details about the contest, rules, and the voting form are available on the Iowa Beef Industry Council website, www.iabeef.org. Burger lovers can also find a link to the online nomination form at the Iowa Beef Council Facebook page; or by texting BEEF to (515) 337-8924. Photos of your favorite burger can be shared socially using #IABestBurger. The nomination period will close at 5 p.m. on March 14, 2022.

Restaurants can download a digital toolkit including promotional materials for the contest from IBIC’s website at www.iabeef.org to promote the contest to their customers. The promotional materials can be used in the restaurants, online, or on social media.



Farmland Sales Reach New Peaks in Iowa
Randy Dickhut, Senior Vice President, Farmers National Company

Increasing land prices coupled with more farms being sold created new peaks in real estate sales in Iowa during 2021 for Farmers National Company. The amount of land sold by the company in the state was up 152% over the previous year with auction sales up 129%. Iowa was the focus in the land market last year with the monumental jump in sales prices for good cropland and in the number of farms sold across the state.
 
Farmers National Company agents and auction teams were busy the whole last half of the year and especially so the last three months. The company auctioned five times more land in the last part of 2021 than in the last quarter of 2020.
 
Higher grain prices, past government payments, better yields than first thought, and stronger farm incomes prompted increased demand for good cropland in Iowa last year. The stronger financial condition of farmers prompted their renewed interest in buying land.
 
Increasing land prices and the once assumed potential for changes in tax laws affecting real estate sales brought more landowners to sell their farmland. Sellers remained the normal estates, trusts, and nonfarming families.  
 
The various ways Farmers National Company sells farms were uniquely suited to the competitive bidding experienced in Iowa last year. The company’s ability to do simulcast auctions broadcasting live and online bidding at the same time brought the best sales prices for sellers.
 
Brian Mohr and Tom Schutter, real estate sales managers for Iowa, believe the land market will be active in 2022. Land sales normally slow down somewhat during late winter leading up to spring planting. But Farmers National Company’s pipeline of listings and auctions in Iowa for the next few months is busy.



USGC Meeting Attendees Plan Global Trade Strategy For Coming Year

Members of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) are arriving in Greenville, S.C., for the organization’s winter meeting this week, where they will concentrate on drivers of global demand including trade policy, the status of China trade relations and global shipping before heading into business and strategy sessions focused on ways to keep markets open and grain flowing around the world.

“While we will hear from top notch speakers who will orient us to the state of our industry and offer us touchpoints around the world that will help inform our work this week, it’s important that we take that guidance as we enter more than nine hours of Advisory Team meetings to offer recommendations for the Council’s direction to help meet its objectives of developing markets, enabling trade and improving lives,” said USGC Chairman Chad Willis, a farmer from Minnesota.

The first general session will include a recorded message from U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. Other Monday speakers will include Jason Hafemeister, USDA’s acting deputy under secretary for trade and foreign affairs; Sharon Yuan, president of the Asia Group; Bill Rooney, vice president of strategic development for Kuehne & Nagel; and John Lummus, president and CEO of the Upstate SC Alliance.

These presenters will set the stage for later member discussions on Monday afternoon and Tuesday in topical committees known as Advisory Teams (A-Teams) and sector meetings.

The Council’s winter meeting is the annual chance for corn, sorghum and barley farmers and members of agribusiness, who make up the organization’s membership, to meet with their international staff, who work in dozens of locations globally on trade policy and market development issues. The perspectives they offer during this meeting, combined with input from A-Team members help chart the course for the Council in the near term.

“The direction offered by both our international directors, our colleagues in our national headquarters and our industry partners during this important meeting will help the Council grow global markets around the world for U.S. corn, sorghum barley and co-products.”

On Wednesday during the annual Board of Delegates meeting, Council members will hear from Dr. Gary Williams, professor of agricultural economics, retired, at Texas A&M University, about the economic impact of the Agricultural Trade Promotion program and other USDA market development programs, and Mark Slupek USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s deputy administrator of global programs, who will offer an overview of agricultural foreign market development funding.

Additionally, on Wednesday, A-Team leaders and sector directors will offer their recommendations and set Council priorities for the coming year, and longtime Council members and staff will be recognized for their years of service.



 USTR Tai Headlines USGC’s International Marketing Conference In Greenville

Members of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) gathered in-person in Greenville, S.C., and virtually for their first day of the Council’s 19th International Marketing Conference and 62nd Annual Membership Meeting, Feb. 14-16, 2022, and began to set their sights on post-pandemic market development strategies for 2022.

“My theme for this year, Together in Trade, reflects both the opportunities and challenges of the current trade environment,” said USGC Chairman Chad Willis, a corn farmer from Wilmar, MN. “At this meeting, we gather to discuss issues facing our industry and explore future demand for feed grains, distiller’s grains and ethanol around the world, including three drivers of global demand that impact every market in which we work – trade policy, China and global shipping.”

Monday speakers addressed 240 attendees, focused on the trade landscape and the current state of our trading partnerships around the world.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai offered a recorded welcome message to attendees, that covered relations with Mexico, China and the importance of new market diversification.

“I’ve raised several issues directly with officials in Mexico City, including authorization of new biotech products, energy policies that promote fair competition and agricultural sustainability,” Tai said. “The best way to resolve challenges like these…is to have honest and candid conversations to find areas of alignment and to break logjams.”

Tai also addressed China’s commitment shortfall regarding its purchases under the Phase 1 Agreement.

“We have been holding direct conversations with China over the last several months to hold China accountable for the agricultural commitments made in the Phase 1 Agreement…It is clear that China’s purchases have not fully met the level committed under the agreement and that’s why we have been actively engaged with our counterparts in Beijing about how they plan to address these shortfalls.”

To highlight the importance of not relying on just a few trading partners, Tai also mentioned her office has been working to expand market diversification by developing an Indo-Pacific economic framework while at the same time supporting agricultural sustainability to keep U.S. farmers on the cutting edge of global leadership in these practices.

“You can count on USTR to continue pressing our trading partners to follow a predictable science and risk-based approach in these areas,” she said.

Before Tai’s presentation, attendees were greeted to Greenville by Mayor Pro Tem Lillian Flemming and heard from Council President and CEO Ryan LeGrand as he welcomed conference-goers to the meeting and presented a state of the Council message.

“Exports of our products have seen a major resurgence this year. The gains can largely be attributed to the quality of the commodities you, the producer, supply, and the work of Council agribusiness members and our staff in our extensive network that stretches around the world and back again,” LeGrand said. “It’s so exciting to see our combined efforts have led to record sales and shipments in several markets across many of the products we promote overseas.”

The day continued with speakers who addressed U.S. export challenges, including an in-depth discussion about top trading partner, China, and the status of worldwide sea logistics.

Jason Hafemeister, USDA’s acting deputy undersecretary for trade and foreign affairs, offered an overview of export and trade policy challenges and opportunities for the U.S. agricultural sector; Sharon Yuan, president of the Asia Group, shared the trade outlook on China and what future relations between the U.S. and China could look like; Bill Rooney, vice president of strategic development for Kuehne & Nagel, gave an update on the current state of global shipping and transportation management and what it means for the United States; and the first general session ended with an address from John Lummus, of the Upstate SC Alliance, who spoke to the importance of international investment and trade in South Carolina.

The meeting continues tomorrow and Wednesday and includes more than nine hours of Council Advisory Team (A-Team) and sector meetings, topical committees comprised of Council members who help set the direction of the Council’s efforts over the next year, that also kicked off today.

On Wednesday, longtime Council producer members and staff will be recognized for their years of service during the Board of Delegates meeting where A-Team leaders and sector directors will offer their recommendations and set Council priorities for the coming year.



Vilsack to Lead Trade Mission, Hold Events on Climate Change in United Arab Emirates

From February 18, to February 22, United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to lead a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) trade mission and hold events focused on the United States’ commitment to working with international partners to combat climate change.

Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley will kick off the trade mission, with events beginning on February 16. The Secretary will join the trade mission delegation beginning on February 19. The Administrator and Secretary will be accompanied by representatives from nearly 40 U.S. agribusinesses, farm groups and state departments of agriculture seeking to tap new export opportunities. The UAE is a consistent billion dollar plus annual importer of U.S. agricultural goods, with U.S. agricultural exports to the market surpassing $1.1 billion in 2021, a 17.8 percent increase from the previous year.

On February 21, Secretary Vilsack will tour the Dubai Expo 2020 and co-chair the first Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) Ministerial Meeting. Secretary Vilsack will also participate in a fireside chat with UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam Almheiri as part of the Expo 2020 Food Agriculture & Livelihoods Business Forum. The U.S. and UAE officially launched AIM for Climate in November 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. The initiative has grown to include more than 140 government and non-government partners that include international organizations, research institutions, and corporations.



Small Feedlot Activity
Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, South Dakota State University

Last week, SDSU hosted LMIC’s Katelyn McCullock. Our students appreciated her insights! She visited with several classes and one of her topics was projecting cattle on feed levels. That discussion focused on projecting placements starting with auction totals for feeder cattle. One can only start there, as not all cattle are sold at AMS-reported auctions. The LMIC staff also incorporates seasonality and considers international trade volumes. Projecting marketings starts by monitoring estimated and actual slaughter volumes coming in throughout a given month. These are also augmented by LMIC staff with trade volumes. The discussion should help our students think critically about future projections.

Building on those ideas, one can look at the current cattle on feed situation. Among feedlots with 1,000+ head capacity, the total on feed from the January Cattle on Feed report was 12.0 million head, up slightly from a year earlier. The feeder cattle auction totals have receipts in January below year-ago levels (see LMIC Table 2.520). Direct deliveries of slaughter cattle may serve as a proxy for marketings, being down slightly in January compared to a year earlier. Those could be combined to infer changes in the on-feed totals for the upcoming Cattle on Feed report.

In the recent Cattle report, there was a snapshot of the U.S. total cattle on feed inventory as of January 1, 2022. The total was 14.7 million head across all feedlots. The number was unchanged from a year ago when rounded, but up slightly when you look at it closely. Small feedlots in Iowa had the largest inventory at 570,000 head. They were followed by those in Minnesota with 280,000 head, Nebraska with 220,000 head, South Dakota with 215,000 head and Kansas with 120,000 head. The common thread among these states is their location in the western corn belt. Missouri is likely next on the list, but its feedlots are not broken out by size. Backing out the differences by size group leaves the small feedlots with an inventory level down by 45,000 head. There was not a clear pattern in the changes in inventory among states with small feedlots.

Small feedlots could be another source of uncertainty when trying to understand or project the on-feed situation. With slightly lower inventory levels, they represent additional capacity that could be used to place or market cattle and surprise the trade, albeit at muted levels. The number marketed by small feedlots is reported annually in the February Cattle on Feed reports. Over the past five years, the ratio of marketings to beginning inventory, turns, has ranged from 1.2 to 1.3 for small feedlots. Small feedlots are often farmer-feeders that may only retain their own calf crop, may grow and finish cattle or not consistently re-fill pens because of limited feed supplies or profitability. By comparison, in 2021 large feedlots had 1.9 turns.



Indo-Pacific Strategy a Positive First Step in Improving Trade Relations in the Region

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the Biden administration’s strategy for U.S. involvement in the Indo-Pacific region.

“The Indo-Pacific region is a critical part of the world for U.S. agriculture. AFBF appreciates the Biden administration’s approach to engage with the region and we’re encouraged by the economic framework laid out in the Indo-Pacific Strategy. It will remove barriers for American agricultural exports and strengthen relationships with our neighbors from the Pacific coast to the Indian Ocean for everyone’s benefit.

“That said, a framework isn’t enough. More trade advances are needed in the region, and soon. The U.S. is long overdue for a binding multilateral trade agreement with the Indo-Pacific that outlines consistent standards and improves market access through the reduction of tariffs. America’s farmers and ranchers need to be able to compete fairly in the world market.”



Bayer Receives EPA Approval for Prosaro PRO 400 SC Fungicide

Bayer is excited to announce the launch of the new Prosaro PRO 400 SC Fungicide, an evolution of Prosaro® fungicide – a market-leading solution for the control of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB)/head scab known for its trusted chemistry and reliability. This new fungicide built for cereal growers across the U.S. is an innovative crop protection product that delivers premium protection against head scab and reduces deoxynivalenol (DON) levels, leading to superior grain quality. *

Prosaro PRO is equipped with three active ingredients (AIs): Prothioconazole, Tebuconazole and Fluopyram. With the addition of Fluopyram and increased rate of Prothioconazole*, Prosaro PRO offers better disease control and greater DON reduction relative to Prosaro, leading to healthier plants and higher yield potential.

“Prosaro PRO fungicide is another innovative solution for cereal growers to protect their fields against foliar and head diseases,” shares Lindsey Aagesen, U.S. marketing segment manager – Cereals. “As a foliar fungicide that provides excellent disease protection against head scab and foliar diseases in wheat and barley, this new crop protection product raises the standard of what is expected from cereal fungicide performance.”

Growers can see the effects of Prosaro PRO on their crop's health through green and clean heads, leaves and stems without the negative impact on harvest. The long residual activity, disease control and DON reduction from Prosaro PRO will give cereal growers the confidence that they are not only protecting their yield potential and grain quality, but protecting their investments as well.

“Prosaro PRO provides an innovative combination of active ingredients designed to protect wheat crops from devastating diseases,” adds Aagesen. “We at Bayer are thrilled to bring another premium product to the market to help cereal growers boost their overall plant health backed by smarter science.”

Prosaro PRO fungicide is included in the Bayer PLUS Rewards program – a broad portfolio of crop protection products designed to provide growers with flexibility and rewards on eligible purchases all season long.