Thursday July 20 Ag News

 Congressman Flood Introduces Bill to Support Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Research

Recently, U.S. Congressmen Mike Flood (R-NE) and Joe Neguse (D-CO) introduced the bipartisan Sustainable Agriculture Research Act, to provide federal support for sustainable agriculture and soil research through the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA) program. The bill amends the legislation authorizing AgARDA to add goals that explicitly address precision agriculture technology, the impacts of drought, and voluntary carbon sequestration efforts.

“Nebraska is the number one ag economy in the nation when it comes to receipts per capita. Our farmers and ranchers have achieved this by relying on cutting edge technology to grow the food we need to feed the world. The Sustainable Agriculture Research Act takes the next step we need to ensure America continues to lead the world in ag research and innovation, so we properly steward our land and resources to pass this great tradition on to the next generation of ag producers,” Congressman Flood said.

Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA) was authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and is an effort designed to generate and deploy advanced agricultural technologies, research tools, and qualified projects and products. AgARDA ensures continued growth in new sustainable agriculture.



 UNL publishes new livestock-related custom rates

A new report from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability features current rates for custom services related to livestock production in Nebraska. It reflects the results of a statewide survey that was circulated in early 2023 to those who either provide or pay for custom work related to livestock.  

The survey report is divided into sections based on the types of work, which include common custom livestock services, custom feed preparation and delivery charges, custom land/pasture maintenance services, fencing and trenching, livestock hauling, haying and baling, equipment rental and manure hauling and application.  

The report lists the number of reported responses for each service, the average reported rate and a range that reflects the minimum and maximum rates reported. Rates include charges for the use of necessary equipment, fuel, labor and supplies provided by the custom operator.  

This year marks the first publication of the report, which is a companion to the biennial Nebraska Farm Custom Rates Survey Report that features more detailed information about custom service rates related to cropping operations and is typically published in even-numbered years.   

Glennis McClure, a Nebraska Extension educator and farm and ranch management analyst, leads the survey and publication efforts for both reports.  

“While the long-running biennial custom rates report contains some information related to livestock services, we’ve known for some time that there has been demand from livestock operators and service providers for more detailed custom rate information,” she said.

McClure noted that information reported in both publications is intended as a guide when calculating what to charge or pay for custom operations and that actual rates may vary from those listed in the survey due to differences in the operators responding and those providing services across the state.  

The livestock-related survey report provides rates for 53 custom services, based on 91 surveys completed by custom operators and clients across the state. Responses were received from all eight of the state’s USDA-designated Agricultural Statistics Districts and only services that received at least three responses are published in the report.

“We know that the biennial custom rates report is a very widely used publication in the state, so our hope is to continue growing participation in the survey for livestock-related services, to be able to offer the latest and most accurate information possible,” McClure said.

Nebraska custom rates reports are available on the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website, https://cap.unl.edu/customrates. A webinar covering the new livestock-related report will be held at noon Central time on Aug. 3. Registration is available on the same website.   



Rural Mainstreet Economy Expands in July
Non-farm Investors Purchased 17.1% of Farmland Sales in Region

After declining below growth neutral in March, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index for July expanded above the threshold for a fourth straight month, according to the July monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.

Overall: The region’s overall reading in July slipped to 55.6 from June’s 56.9. The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral.

“After negative growth during the first quarter of this year, the Rural Mainstreet economy experienced positive but slow economic growth for the second quarter and has now started the third quarter on a healthy note,” said Ernie Goss, PhD, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business.

Farming and ranching land prices: The region’s farmland price index rose to 64.6 from 59.3 in June and 56.3 in May. This was the 34th straight month that the index has advanced above 50.0.

Bankers reported that, on average, non-farm investors secured approximately 17.1% of farmland sales in their area over the past six months. This is almost double the 9.1% reported by bankers in April 2022 when the same question was asked.

Farm equipment sales: The farm equipment-sales index for July stood at a tepid 50.0, which was up from 48.3 in June. “Higher borrowing costs have begun to negatively impact purchases of farm equipment,” said Goss.

Below are the state reports:
Nebraska: The Nebraska RMI slipped to a healthy 60.5 from 62.9 in June. The state’s farmland-price index for July expanded to 64.9 from June’s 59.6. Nebraska’s July new-hiring index dipped to 60.1 from 69.5 in June. Nebraska’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 3.0% over the past 12 months (fourth in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages improved by 0.7% during this same time period.

Iowa: Iowa’s July RMI expanded to 54.1 from 51.7 in June. Iowa’s farmland-price index advanced to 63.1 from June’s 55.6. Iowa’s new-hiring index for July moved higher to 57.9 from 52.4 in June. Iowa’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 0.9% over the past 12 months (ninth in 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages slumped by 1.3% during this same time period.

The survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index is a unique index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. The index provides the most current real-time analysis of the rural economy. Goss and Bill McQuillan, former Chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, created the monthly economic survey and launched it in January 2006.



PRICING CRP HAY
– Shannon Sand, NE Extension Economist

There have been some questions recently about how to price Conservation Reserve Program or CRP hay.

CRP is a federally funded voluntary program that contracts with agricultural producers so that environmentally sensitive agricultural land is not farmed or ranched. Participants establish long-term, resource conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees known as “covers.

There are two ways to hay CRP land either via emergency authorization or a non-emergency haying and grazing option. In general, non-emergency haying may be done every two years, But may reduce annual CRP government payments.

After we clear the hurdle of harvesting CRP land for hay, the next question to arise is how to price the hay either for your own use or for sale. In this case knowing the quality of hay can help producers get a better idea of the forage market value. Hay quality can affect the bottom line and/or have negative consequences for herd health and fertility.

Once a producer has an idea of the quality of forage there are multiple sources to get an idea of going rates for your hay, such as hay auctions (broken down by region and type of hay), as well as the USDA weekly hay report for Nebraska. If you are feeding your hay to your cattle, the Nebraska farm custom rates report at cap.unl.edu calculates the costs of haying. The value of standing forage can be evaluated using the UNL Standing Forage Excel Tool at cap.unl.edu/forage. Finally, the UNL Feed cost Cow-q-lator (found most easily by Googling Feed Cost Cow-q-lator) can help calculate costs within a ration. Knowing the forage quality is helpful whether you are feeding your own livestock or planning to sell it.  



Freebairn Completes Summer Internship In Council Headquarters

Emma Freebairn, who has served as an intern in the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) ethanol and industry relations departments in Washington, D.C. since May, completed her Nebraska Corn Board-sponsored internship on Friday, July 21.

During her time with the Council, Freebairn assisted the ethanol and industry relations teams on projects relating to the upcoming Global Ethanol Summit.

Global Update editors sat down with Freebairn to discuss her experience with the Council this summer.

What were some of the projects you worked on during your time at the Council?
I primarily provided support to the industry relations and ethanol teams planning the Global Ethanol Summit the Council is hosting in October. Some of these projects included tracking speaker invitations, creating promotional items and assisting with conference signage. These projects gave me firsthand experience working with vendors in event planning. I also assisted the industry relations team with logistics and packing for the 63rd Annual Board of Delegates Meeting.

A few of my projects also crossed over into the communications department. This included creating ethanol infographics and membership materials. I also prepared meeting materials and rooms for groups visiting the office. My day-to-day always looked very different, and working with two teams meant I was included on many smaller projects as well.

Is there one moment or memory from your time with USGC that stands out in your mind?
My favorite memory was traveling to the Global Ethanol Summit location in Reston, VA. I was able to accompany USGC Meetings Manager Teresa Myers on a site visit to discuss sponsorship banners, room layout and other event details. With my interest in event planning, this day really allowed me to see firsthand how meetings and conferences come together and gave me a better understanding of all the behind-the-scenes work that must be done.

What was your favorite part about spending the summer with the Council?
Without a doubt it's the people I had the opportunity to work with. From the start of my first day, everyone on the staff went out of their way to make me feel welcome and included. Having the chance to collaborate with such driven people who are so passionate about the work they do made coming to the office every day so enjoyable. Working with the Council, I felt like a valued member of the team.

Another aspect I enjoyed was learning how the U.S. Grains Council works to promote international trade. As someone who grew up on a grain and beef farm, agriculture has always been a part of my life. However, my prior knowledge was very limited to domestic markets. This summer allowed me to gain a better understanding of exports, international markets and the importance of building long-lasting relationships to enable trade.

What are your plans moving forward?
This fall I am returning to Iowa State University as a senior studying agricultural communications. My internship gave me the experience in event planning I had been searching for, while simultaneously fueling my interest in international agriculture and trade. I am looking forward to using this experience to guide my career search upon graduation.

Any parting words as you move on from USGC?
I want to express my gratitude to the U.S. Grains Council for the opportunity to join your team this summer. My internship was full of learning opportunities, sharpening my skills and making valuable connections. I can’t wait to take the experiences and skills I gained this summer to whatever role I find myself in next. Thank you for a summer I won’t forget!

Please join the Council in congratulating Emma on a successful summer in the Council’s headquarters.



April-June Milk Production up 0.3 Percent

Milk production in the United States during the April - June quarter totaled 58.0 billion pounds, up 0.3 percent from the April - June quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.42 million head, 8,000 head less than the January - March quarter, but
8,000 head more than the same period last year.

NEBRASKA MILK PRODUCTION
Milk production in Nebraska during the April-June 2023 quarter totaled 344 million pounds, down 4% from the April-June quarter last year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of milk cows was 55,000 head, 3,000 head less than the same period last year.

June Milk Production up 0.2 Percent
Milk production in the 24 major States during June totaled 18.1 billion pounds, up 0.2 percent from June 2022. May revised production, at 19.0 billion pounds, was up 0.9 percent from May 2022. The May revision represented an increase of 16 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,028 pounds for June, 1 pound above June 2022. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.93 million head, 14,000 head more than June 2022, but 20,000 head less than May 2023.

IOWA:  Milk production in Iowa during June 2023 totaled 492 million pounds, up 3 percent from the previous June according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during June, at 240,000 head, was unchanged from last month but up 6,000 from June 2022. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,050 pounds, unchanged from last June.



Iowa Corn Farmers Take Priorities to Corn Congress

Iowa Corn Growers Association® (ICGA) farmer-leaders attended the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Corn Congress meetings this week to advocate for key agricultural issues and priorities.

During Corn Congress, Iowa farmer-leaders met with each member of the Iowa Congressional Delegation’s office including Senators Ernst and Grassley and Representatives Feenstra, Hinson, Miller-Meeks and Nunn. In addition to the Iowa offices, farmers met with 100 other congressional offices from across the country who do not have an established corn grower organization they can connect with to share how corn and ethanol impact their state and our country.

While at their visits Iowa corn farmers expressed the need for a solution to the biotech corn dispute with Mexico, promoted the need for a comprehensive Farm Bill this year and shared the value corn brings economically to our country through ethanol and the opportunity the Next Generation Fuels Act would provide.

“Advocating for sound policy is a key benefit to being a member of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. While a great deal of communication is done back in Iowa, it’s also beneficial to meet with legislators in their offices,” said ICGA President Denny Friest, a farmer from Radcliffe, Iowa. “During our time at Corn Congress in D.C. we not only meet with our Iowa legislators to discuss federal policy priorities like the Next Generations Fuels Act and Farm Bill, but also with staff and legislators from offices across the country that may not have the connection to farmers like Iowa does – allowing us to really make a large impact while in the nation’s capital.”

NCGA delegates also elected Iowa farmer Kelly Nieuwenhuis from O’Brien County to the NCGA Board for a three-year term. Nieuwenhuis will join the Corn Board alongside Director Bob Hemesath from Decorah, Iowa.

“It’s an honor to be elected to serve on the NCGA Corn Board as I am looking forward to working for Iowa’s corn growers and the nation’s corn growers to promote the use of ethanol as the most sustainable fuel we have here and now and to maintain and expand markets for corn in all forms,” said Nieuwenhuis.

Additionally, Jolene Riessen, a farmer from Ida County, was recognized as one of three recipients of the inaugural Corn Advocate of the Year award. This is a tremendous honor and shows her dedication to fighting for Iowa’s corn farmers.



With Bipartisan ACRE Act Introduced in Senate, ICBA Polling Shows Strong Support Among Voters

Following today’s Senate introduction of bipartisan legislation to support farmers, ranchers, and rural homeowners, the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) released new polling conducted by Morning Consult showing broad support for the legislation.  

The Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act — introduced in the Senate by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Angus King (I-Maine) following the House introduction earlier this year by Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) and Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) — would exempt from taxation interest income on farm real estate and rural mortgage loans, allowing community banks to lower loan rates and more efficiently serve these borrowers.

New ICBA polling conducted by Morning Consult shows strong bipartisan support for the legislation:
    70% of U.S. voters said providing tax relief to lending institutions in rural communities would help preserve family farms if these benefits are passed along to borrowers.
    59% of voters said providing tax relief to local lending institutions to promote lower interest rates on loans for borrowers in rural communities would have a positive impact on these communities.

“ICBA strongly supports the ACRE Act to help community banks offer lower rates to rural borrowers and homeowners — and our polling shows that bipartisan majorities of U.S. voters agree," ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said. “With community banks making 80% of banking industry agricultural loans, this important legislation will help revive and sustain rural economies struggling to overcome the impact of higher interest rates while providing community bank lenders with benefits they can pass on to customers, like other rural credit providers. ICBA and the nation’s community banks thank Sens. Moran and King for supporting a common-sense solution that benefits rural Americans, especially young, beginning, and small farmers and ranchers.”

The ACRE Act would also provide relief for loans secured by agricultural and aquaculture real estate or by rural single-family homes that are the borrower's principal residence and below the value of $750,000 in towns with populations under 2,500. ICBA looks forward to advocating for the ACRE Act’s passage on behalf of rural community bankers and the customers and communities they serve.  



United Soybean Board Farmer-Leaders Set FY24 Budget

The 77 farmer-leaders serving on the United Soybean Board approved $191.5M for the 2024 fiscal year budget. The budget supports research, promotion and education investment portfolios selected through USB’s Portfolio Development Process. These investments drive demand for U.S. Soy and return value to all U.S. soybean farmers. The total budget figure also includes execution, oversight and program support.

“I hope U.S. soybean farmers are proud of their checkoff as we pool together our resources to improve our reliability and sustainability in delivering our crop to the global marketplace,” said Meagan Kaiser, USB Chair and farmer from Missouri. “But to make these significant gains and drive return on investment back to our farmers, we need to measure our success and learnings through resilience, differentiation and reputation of U.S. Soy. As we look ahead to 2024, we know that soy delivers solutions, and in many cases, it serves as a drop-in replacement to improve our carbon footprint across thousands of products. The future is bright for U.S. Soy.”

The board’s approval during the organization’s summer meeting July 17-21, hosted by the New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association in Niagara Falls, New York, puts in motion a strategic portfolio that focuses on growing preference and increasing the resiliency of U.S. Soy. Priority areas include Infrastructure & Connectivity, Health & Nutrition, and Innovation & Technology across supply and demand. In addition, the Communication & Education Committee aims to enhance the U.S. Soy and checkoff reputation across key audiences, and USB’s export promotion investments focus on differentiating U.S. soybeans around the globe.

FY24 investments spanning each of the three priority areas, in addition to communication and education and export promotion, include:

Infrastructure & Connectivity
    Supply: Engage in direct road, rail and river markets outreach to more organizations to continue the momentum for funding research for U.S. infrastructure improvements.
    Demand: Identify and address infrastructure and logistical constraints limiting market entry and expansion of existing and new soy-based technologies. Efforts will explore innovative soy-based materials recycling and new processing technologies for soybean oil and meal.  

Health & Nutrition
    Supply: Collaborate with leading agronomists and extension and research scientists to deliver real-time updates from fields across soy-growing regions to better inform farmers about emerging pests and diseases, providing recommendations for management and control.
    Demand: Conduct research illustrating soy’s support across the lifespan: healthy growth, living and aging. In animal diets, continue research in anti-nutritional factors and increase soybean meal inclusion rates across the poultry, pig, dairy and aquaculture sectors.  

Innovation & Technology
    Supply: Develop new biochemicals and biologicals for pest management, including research on natural products as potential herbicides, fungicides and nematicides. Field trials using genomics will also accelerate the development of new soybean varieties.
    Demand: Initiate innovative new uses across multiple sectors as a drop-in replacement to petroleum and petrochemicals. One example includes biobased firefighting foam made from soybean meal/flour.

Communication & Education Committee
    Bring the U.S. Soy brand to life by integrating stories of soy-based products into events and programming, fostering an emotional connection with consumers. This effort aligns with our Reputation Acceleration Strategy, which focuses on building positive influence, reputation and demand for soy. We are also committed to informing farmer stakeholders about our checkoff investments, ensuring a favorable future for U.S. Soy.

Export Promotion
    Growing exports in more than 80 countries through the U.S. Soybean Export Council’s strategy to differentiate U.S. Soy in the global marketplace. Partnerships with the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council promote exports of soy-fed meat. Investment in the American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health creates long-term demand for U.S. soybeans in developing and emerging markets and improves food security.

“For every dollar we invest in the checkoff, we’re getting $12.34 back in returns,” said Steve Reinhard, USB Vice Chair, Chair of the Value Alignment Committee and farmer from Ohio. “Whether it’s our analysis and design investments to dredge the Mississippi River, cover crop cost-share program through Farmers for Soil Health or increasing soybean meal inclusion in poultry and pig diets, these have been some huge wins for the American farmer. In the year ahead, demand growth for soybean oil in biofuels, adhesives and nonfood uses will continue to grow, opening up doors for checkoff investments.”



Syngenta announces EPA registration of a new corn herbicide innovation: Storen

Syngenta announced today that its latest residual corn herbicide, Storen, has been registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will be available for use in 2024, subject to state approvals.

Storen combines four powerful residual active ingredients — bicyclopyrone, mesotrione, S-metolachlor and pyroxasulfone ― to deliver consistently clean rows up to three weeks longer than other leading corn herbicides.  

“Weeds continue to evolve and are outsmarting the most effective herbicide programs used today,” said Shawn Hock, corn herbicide product lead for Syngenta Crop Protection. “In fact, we surveyed preemergence corn herbicide users and 40% of those surveyed said Palmer amaranth and waterhemp were difficult to control with their program. That is why we invest in new innovations to help growers meet emerging weed challenges, and we are excited to announce Storen corn herbicide to help restore confidence in their weed control.”

One such grower, Matt Moreland, from Medford, Oklahoma, explained why growers like him need Storen now more than ever.

“We farm along the Kansas-Oklahoma border and deal with weeds like Palmer amaranth and grasses, which contact herbicides used to control before weeds became resistant,” said Moreland. “We’ve adapted our approach to rely on strong residual herbicides that prevent weeds from emerging and taking over our fields, and that’s why we’re looking for a longer-lasting herbicide that’s going to get me through canopy.”

“Trials showed Storen kept fields clean for up to three weeks longer than other leading corn herbicides,” said Brett Miller, regional head of field development for Syngenta Crop Protection. “When you put a full rate of the four most effective residual active ingredients together that control resistant weeds, it’s no wonder we’re seeing a higher level of control from Storen than any other product.”  

Storen is labeled for preemergence and post-emergence in field corn and seed corn and has partial control, or control, of more than 74 weed species, including control of Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, kochia, common lambsquarters, morningglory, Giant ragweed, common ragweed, and annual grasses.  

“We encourage growers and retailers to contact their local Syngenta rep to see Storen in field trials at Syngenta Grow More Experience sites across the country this season,” said Hock. “We’ll also have Storen demos at the Syngenta tent at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois, and Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island, Nebraska, so you can come out and see it for yourself.”



Record Low Veal and Lamb and Mutton Production in June

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.55 billion pounds in June, down 4 percent from the 4.73 billion pounds produced in June 2022.

Beef production, at 2.33 billion pounds, was 5 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.89 million head, down 5 percent from June 2022. The average live weight was down 1 pound from the previous year, at 1,338 pounds.

Veal production totaled 3.9 million pounds, 15 percent below June a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 23,400 head, down 20 percent from June 2022. The average live weight was up 12 pounds from last year, at 283 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.20 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.4 million head, down 1 percent from June 2022. The average live weight was down 4 pounds from the previous year, at 284 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 10.9 million pounds, was down 5 percent from June 2022. Sheep slaughter totaled 177,300 head, 2 percent above last year. The average live weight was 122 pounds, down 9 pounds from June a year ago.

By State          (million lbs.  -  % June '22)
Nebraska ........:         654.5             96       
Iowa ...............:         701.9             97       
Kansas ............:         502.6             95       

January to June 2023 commercial red meat production was 27.3 billion pounds, down 2 percent from 2022. Accumulated beef production was down 4 percent from last year, veal was down 12 percent, pork was up 1 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up slightly.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 7/14/2023

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending July 14, ethanol production increased 3.7% to 1.070 million b/d, equivalent to 44.94 million gallons daily, the highest level since early December. Output was 3.5% more than the same week last year and 5.3% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate edged up 0.4% to 1.053 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.14 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks expanded 2.2% to 23.2 million barrels, the most in nine weeks. Stocks were 1.6% less than a year ago but 4.2% above the five-year average. Inventories built across all regions except the Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, increased 1.1% to 8.86 million b/d (135.75 bg annualized). Demand was 3.9% more than a year ago but 3.5% below the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol rose 0.7% to 897,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.75 bg annualized. Net inputs were 1.1% more than the same week last year but 0.7% below the five-year average.

Ethanol exports were estimated at 86,000 b/d (3.6 million gallons per day), a 69% increase from the prior week. There were zero imports recorded for the 32nd consecutive week.



USDA Accepts Nearly 2.7 Million Acres in Grassland CRP Signup, Successfully Closing the Gap and bringing CRP Near to Acreage Cap

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting offers for nearly 2.7 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup, which received a record setting sign-up of 4.6 million acres in offers. This working lands program allows producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while protecting grasslands and further the CRP’s impacts. Grassland CRP is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s broader effort to address climate change and conserve natural resources.

“This year’s Grassland CRP signup demonstrates the continued popularity, success and value of investments in voluntary, producer-led, working lands conservation programs,” said Zach Ducheneaux, administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). “Grassland CRP clearly demonstrates that conservation priorities and agricultural productivity not only have the capacity to coexist but also complement and enhance one another. Through all our working land conservation programs, farmers and ranchers play a critical role in helping secure the future of both our food production and our natural resources.”    

USDA had to accept fewer acres and a lower percentage of offers than in 2022 because the program has reached its acreage cap, Ducheneaux added. “With a low number of acres expiring in 2024 and 2025, getting any closer to the statutory cap of 27 million acres would hinder USDA’s ability to conduct meaningful future signups or to implement existing and new Conservation Reserve Enhancement Partnership (CREP) agreements in 2024.”

Grassland CRP leverages working lands practices to improve biodiversity and conserve environmentally sensitive land. To target conservation in key geographies, USDA prioritizes land within two National Priority Zones: the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the Dust Bowl area. Building upon the nearly 2.4 million acres already in the Priority Zones, this year’s more than 900,000 acres continues to robustly demonstrate that producers in these areas recognize the keen conservation value of Grassland CRP. Land enrolled in these zones will contribute to broader USDA conservation efforts through Working Lands for Wildlife by conserving working grasslands and other lands that underpin iconic big game migrations.  

Grasslands enrolled in CRP help sequester carbon in vegetation and soil, while enhancing resilience to drought and wildfire. Meanwhile, producers can still conduct common grazing practices, such as haying, mowing or harvesting seed from the enrolled land, which supports agricultural production.     

Top states for this year’s Grassland CRP signup include:  
    Colorado, at 430,899 acres;   
    Nebraska, at 417,865 acres; and   
    South Dakota, at 325,443 acres.    

In addition to the Grassland signup, FSA also has accepted more than 1 million acres through the General signup, and more than 465,800 acres have been submitted through the Continuous CRP signup so far this year, on pace to be similar to last year’s nearly 900,000-acre enrollment.  

Broadening Reach of Program  As part of USDA’s Justice40 efforts, producers and landowners who are underserved, including beginning farmers, limited-resource producers and military veterans, received 20 additional ranking points to enhance their offers. USDA accepted 1.8 million acres from underserved producers, about 74% of the total acres submitted by the 6,400 underserved producers who submitted offers.    

Additionally, USDA is working to broaden the scope and reach of Grassland CRP by leveraging CREP to engage underserved communities. CREP is a partnership program that enables states, Tribal governments, and non-profit entities to partner with FSA to implement CRP practices and address high priority conservation and environmental objectives. Interested entities are encouraged to contact FSA.    



Animal Agriculture Alliance updates reports covering animal rights extremist connections and tactics

Today, the Animal Agriculture Alliance released two reports detailing the interconnectedness of the animal rights movement, as well as tactics targeting animal agriculture. The Animal Rights Extremist Web exemplifies how animal rights groups are strategically connected in many ways, including personnel and financial support. The Radical Vegan Activism in 2022 report highlights efforts to attack animal agriculture and the true intentions of these organizations with quotes from leadership.

“No matter the animal rights extremist group or the tactics used, they all share the same goal of eliminating animal agriculture and taking meat, dairy, poultry, eggs, and seafood off of our grocery store shelves and family tables,” said Abby Kornegay, manager, issues and engagement, Animal Agriculture Alliance. “These reports succinctly detail those true intentions, the strategic efforts of the animal rights movement to further their agenda, and key tactics for the animal agriculture community to be aware of.”

Nearly one-third of animal rights extremist attacks documented in 2022 targeted farmers and food workers, putting them and animals in danger. Documented direct actions to animal agriculture include:
    95 vandalism incidents
    70 stolen animals
    60 criminal trespasses
    10 arson cases
    9 harassment and intimidation incidents

“Extremists are getting ever bolder in their efforts against animal agriculture, and direct actions at the farm, processing facility, and retail store continue to rise,” said Kornegay. “Farmers, processors, and the entire food supply chain are encouraged to implement security measures that protect against potential threats.”

In addition to demanding change through direct actions, animal rights groups are also attempting to force change through fundraising efforts which help fund their various efforts and campaigns. The major animal rights extremist groups included on the Animal Rights Extremist Web are major fundraisers and bring in more than $800 million in income annually. Organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) saw a dramatic increase in revenue between their previous fiscal year and current. In PETA’s 2021 tax filing, total revenue equaled $68 million and according to its website, 2022 revenue equals $82 million, a nearly $14 million increase.

Several updates were made to the Animal Rights Extremist Web including several new groups for the farm and food community to be aware of, including The Accountability Board and the Organization for Competitive Markets. The Accountability Board, which fronts itself as a non-radical group and invests in over 100 of the largest publicly traded companies to force environmental and animal welfare change, is led by former Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) employees Josh Balk and Matthew Prescott. The Organization for Competitive Markets, which seeks to “enforce” rules within the agriculture community, was added to the web due to Marty Irby’s involvement as a board member. Irby is also a former employee of HSUS with close ties to its former president and CEO Wayne Pacelle. Sentient Media, Animal Partisan, and Farm Action were also added to the web.

For more information about the Alliance’s work to monitor animal rights extremism, or to view the reports, visit animalagalliance.org/initiatives/monitoring-activism.

To learn more about proactive security measures to protect against potential threats, visit animalagalliance.org/initiatives/farm-security/.



Meat Institute to House Ag Labor Working Group: Labor for Processing Vital to Producers & Consumers
 
At one of the first meetings of the House Committee on Agriculture’s bipartisan Agricultural Labor Working Group, Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute), today briefed members on the labor challenges facing the meat and poultry processing sector.

    “Our member companies of all sizes tell me their biggest challenge is a stable workforce,” said Potts. “Labor problems in the processing sector will hurt both upstream producers and downstream consumers.  If I can leave you with one thought today, it is that the working group consider the labor needs of the processing sector as well as the production sector.”

The Agricultural Labor Working Group will create a final report providing potential solutions that can inform future federal legislation.

The Meat Institute has been an outspoken advocate for reforming the nation’s H-2A visa program to include processing and meeting the needs of year-round animal agriculture.

NAMI’s Board of Directors created a Workforce Task Force to explore labor shortage solutions, including an acute shortage of skilled labor like mechanics and refrigeration technicians.



The “Good Soil Discount” ­— A Game Changer for US Agriculture

For decades, the health risks of smoking were known, but widespread cultural acceptance of smoking continued. Unsurprisingly, around the same time that insurers began pricing in the risks of smoking, creating disincentives for smokers, public perception shifted substantially. Objective, market-based incentives, like insurance discounts, are powerful tools in shaping culture.

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) awarded a grant to Land Core to apply market-based incentive principles to determine the risk-mitigation benefits and related cost savings associated with specific soil health practices. The research explores developing discounts and incentives — similar to those for being a good driver and a non-smoker — for the adoption of agricultural practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage and increased crop rotations.

Harley Cross, Land Core co-founder and director of strategy, authored an Insight that explains the “good soil discount” and how it will go a long way towards ushering in a new understanding of the true value of soil health for all producers.

Read the Insight here.... https://foundationfar.org/impact/insights/the-good-soil-discount-a-game-changer-for-u-s-agriculture/.  



USDA Launches Historic Partnership with Bipartisan State Attorneys General to Help Reduce Anticompetitive Barriers Across Food, Agriculture Supply Chains

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today launched a partnership between USDA and bipartisan attorneys general in 31 states and the District of Columbia to enhance competition and protect consumers in food and agricultural markets, including in grocery, meat and poultry processing, and other markets.

Through a framework established in consultation with the state attorneys general, this new partnership will assist state attorneys general in tackling anticompetitive market structures in agriculture and related industries that are raising prices and limiting choices for consumers and producers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the partnership at the White House Competition Council meeting, which marked the second anniversary of President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to addressing corporate consolidation and its negative effects on the U.S. economy, such as unfair competition and increased prices,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “By placing necessary resources where they are needed most and helping states identify and address anticompetitive and anti-consumer behavior, in partnership with federal authorities, through these cooperative agreements we can ensure a more robust and competitive agricultural sector. I’m pleased to see that a bipartisan group of states have committed to joining USDA in better protecting the fair and competitive markets that are a critical cornerstone of the American economy.”

Building on the “whole of government” approach outlined in President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy USDA issued a challenge to the state attorneys general to partner with USDA on competition in food and agriculture. This came after more than a dozen state attorneys general wrote to Secretary Vilsack requesting additional support for agricultural competition matters.

Background on Agricultural Competition Partnership
Under this new Agricultural Competition Partnership, USDA is investing in opportunities to combine state and federal authorities, expertise, and market insights. The agency is also leveraging funds to support complex cases and to jointly support research and academic work for use in future cases.

Focus areas of the Agricultural Competition Partnership include:
    Anticompetitive market structures and practices, as well as price gouging and other anti-consumer practices, in food, retail, meat and poultry processing, and other agriculture industries.
    Lack of choices for consumers and producers.
    Conflicts of interest, misuse of intellectual property, and anticompetitive barriers across the food and agriculture supply chains, such as in seed markets.

Specifically, this initiative will enhance the capacity of state attorneys general to conduct on-the-ground assessments of competition and consumer issues, enhance coordination between federal and state agriculture and competition authorities, create new and more independent research programs, and ultimately result in fairer and competitive markets and more resilient supply chains.

At the request of the states, USDA is partnering with the Center for State Enforcement of Antitrust and Consumer Protection Laws, a neutral, nonpartisan organization that provides similar support to the states. The State Center is establishing the necessary mechanisms for the attorneys general to cooperate with USDA. These mechanisms include an oversight committee to establish the project governance and transparency standards for the partnership, and a project selection advisory committee that will review project requests and recommend approval. Both committees will be composed of participating state attorney general offices. Additionally, USDA has engaged the American Antitrust Institute to be a resource for the states on this project.

All States are eligible to join by sending a letter of intent to participate to USDA. States can join or depart at any time. Only participating partners can qualify for funds or serve on the committees. A list of the states participating in the cooperative agreement is available on the AMS Fair and Competitive Markets webpage.

Additional USDA Efforts to Promote Competition and the Farmer Seed Liaison Initiative
At the White House Competition Council meeting, Secretary Vilsack also discussed USDA’s recent investments to increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, expand market opportunities for farmers, and support a growing workforce in rural areas. He further highlighted USDA’s plans to issue and finalize a suite of rulemakings under the Packers and Stockyards Act to protect farmers and ranchers from abuse. Promoting competition to lower costs is a central component of Bidenomics.

Today USDA also announced the formal establishment of the Farmer Seed Liaison initiative, which aims to enhance transparency and reduce confusion for growers and plant breeders operating in a complex seed system. The Farmer Seed Liaison initiative launched in March following publication of the report, More and Better Choices for Farmers: Promoting Fair Competition and Innovation in Seeds and Other Agricultural Inputs. USDA continues to implement the report’s recommendations to help make our nation’s seed system more competitive and resilient. The Farmer Seed Liaison has now been formalized in the form of a coordinated team of USDA staff and academic cooperators who will work together to develop strategies for connecting farmers, plant breeders, seed producers, and other impacted stakeholders with other federal agencies.

As part of the Farmer Seed Liaison efforts, USDA announced the launch of a new web resource to simplify access to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) pending docket of plant patents and plant breeding-related utility patents. Available on the Farmer Seed Liaison webpage this resource provides automated searches of the database for common crop types, which gives farmers needed transparency about how they are affected by the patent system. Together with the web resources, the Seed Liaison team will help to give farmers a voice in the patent process, similar to AMS’s work on transportation. In addition, the Farmer Seed Liaison team underscores AMS’s commitment to the enforcement of the Federal Seed Act and related seeds competition concerns. AMS maintains a Federal Seed Act website for farmers and producers to learn more about the Federal Seed Act and to report complaints related to the seed market, such as variety labeling violations. For assistance connecting with the Federal working group on unfair or anticompetitive practices in seeds or for general inquiries or concerns in those areas, farmers and producers may contact the Farmer Seed Liaison team.



Farm Credit Supports Fischbach, Davis, Finstad, Caraveo Legislation to Improve Credit for Critical Rural Facilities

Farm Credit Council President and CEO Todd Van Hoose made the following statement about the Investing in Rural America Act introduced by Reps. Michelle Fischbach, Don Davis, Brad Finstad and Yadira Caraveo.

"We thank Reps. Michelle Fischbach, Don Davis, Brad Finstad and Yadira Caraveo for their commitment to rural communities and for introducing the Investing in Rural America Act. This legislation will spur the development of critical facilities in rural communities, such as hospitals, childcare centers, schools, and more. The bill will facilitate partnerships between Farm Credit, community banks and other lenders to provide much-needed capital to build, renovate and modernize rural community facilities.  

“These facilities are critical to the viability of rural communities. They play key roles in improving the quality of life for rural families. Yet, many rural communities lack these essential facilities, and many of the existing facilities need modernization.

“We look forward to working with Reps. Fischbach, Davis, Finstad and Caraveo, and other members of the agriculture committee to include this commonsense legislation in the upcoming Farm Bill."