Congressman Flood: USDA Must Keep Production Moving in Madison
Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood wrote the U.S. Department of Agriculture after news their inspection team failed to show up at a pork production plant in Madison, Nebraska.
“I am writing in response to troubling reports that United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspectors are not reporting to work at the Tyson Foods Pork Plant in Madison, Nebraska. Let me be clear, this is unacceptable and must be remedied immediately,” wrote Congressman Flood in his letter.
“If our communities can show up to work, the USDA can too. Our pork producers are ready and waiting; our plant wants to operate; the USDA must step up to the plate and fulfill its mission to serve rural America.”
Nebraska’s pork industry finishes over 5.43 million hogs per year, returning over $1.06 billion in cash receipts. As of 2021, Nebraska’s pork industry and related activity supported 17,866 jobs and more than $978 million in personal income.
Fischer Statement on Winter Weather in Nebraska
Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement regarding the ongoing extreme weather across Nebraska:
“My office has heard from Nebraskans across the state, including impacted producers and businesses — should Nebraska need federal assistance, our delegation will be ready to support those requests. But, while property and other losses can be replaced, we can’t make up for lost loved ones, so please follow the advice of local officials, and keep yourselves and neighbors safe as dangerous conditions continue for the next several days. I’m deeply grateful for the hard work of our emergency responders, snow plow operators, and law enforcement officers through this challenging time.”
Platte Valley Cattlemen January membership meeting has been postponed to Monday January 22 - Wunderlichs in Columbus - 6pm start time - update from NE Cattlemen.
Meeting Reminder - Wednesday, January 17 in West Point
Helping Employers and Employees Work Better Together
Wednesday - January 17, 2024
2:00 - 5:30 p.m. (meal to follow)
Nielsen Community Center, West Point NE
Open to all Nebraska Cattlemen members
At a time when many agricultural and main street businesses are experiencing challenges with workforce recruitment and retention, the Cuming County Feeders Association hopes to educate and motive participants to develop solutions to these issues in their operations.
Cuming County Feeders Association is proud to sponsor this educational event. This meeting is also sponsored by our Nebraska Cattlemen Partners. We want to thank them for their continued support. Please view Nebraska Cattlemen partners at https://www.nebraskacattlemen.org/partners.
Saunders County Livestock & Ag Association. Annual Meeting & Banquet.
Saturday January 27th, 2024
Starlite Event Center, 2045 Co Rd K, Wahoo, NE
Time: 5:30pm social 6:30pm Banquet
Tickets, $35 ADVANCE ONLY. NO TICKETS AT DOOR. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM ANY DIRECTOR. CALL DAN KELLNER PH. 402-480-8778
Email: dvrana@nntc.net
Save the date – Elkhorn Valley Cattlemen banquet is March 30 at the Madison Co fairgrounds.
Some Casey's gas stations will get ethanol blend pumps thanks to $5 million grant
A nearly $5 million grant will allow Casey's General Stores to install 456 ethanol blend fuel dispensers at 111 of its gas stations in five states, including several in Nebraska.
The grant is among several totaling $19 million that the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded on Thursday to businesses in 22 states to increase the availability of biofuels across the country.
The grant money comes from the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, which is part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Casey's will install the ethanol blend fuel dispensers at two stations in Lincoln and Columbus and one each at stations in Cambridge, Hastings, Juniata, McCook, Omaha, Osceola, Pierce, Plainview and South Sioux City.
The company estimated the addition of 111 ethanol blend dispensers will increase the amount of ethanol sold by 49,084,590 gallons per year.
Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores received a similar-sized grant that will allow it to retrofit 704 E15 dispensers at 88 fueling stations across the country, including one in Aurora. It estimated its grant will increase ethanol use by 86,085,412 gallons per year.
“President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act is giving people in rural areas the historic opportunity to expand clean energy and build an economy that benefits working families,” Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a news release. “By increasing the supply of biofuels made here in the U.S., we are strengthening our energy independence, lowering costs for American families, creating new streams of income for agricultural producers and bringing good-paying jobs to people in rural communities.”
Impacts of El Niño on Crop Production
The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), or simply El Niño, is a natural cycle involving interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere that affects atmospheric circulation and weather patterns globally. El Niño typically reaches its peak during the late fall or early winter months, and while it is not strongly predictive of U.S. corn and soybean yields, it can affect the weather.
This year, El Niño has afforded growers throughout the Midwest a milder December, providing more time for late fall fertilizer applications and cover crop planting. However, mild weather can allow winter annual weeds to get a foothold.
“Mild weather can bring with it the perfect conditions for some of these winter annuals to grow fast and reduce yield in cover cropping systems,” said Jonathan Rotz, Pioneer Field Agronomist.
Winter and early spring weather from El Niño can also affect summer growing conditions. For example, the soil water profile following drought conditions and the survival rate of overwintering insects are both factors that are affected by temperature and precipitation patterns during the winter.
However, temperature and precipitation during the summer months – which are the greatest drivers of yield – are not as directly and consistently affected.
A 2016 analysis by the University of Illinois (published during the last major El Niño event) examined the impacts of El Niño on U.S. corn and soybean yields the following season (Irwin and Good, 2016a; Irwin and Good, 2016b). The authors calculated the deviation of yearly corn and soybean yields from the long-term trendline and summarized numbers for crop years following strong El Niño events (>1.0° C Oceanic Niño Index) to see if yields were above or below trendline in those years.
Results of the study suggested a slightly elevated risk of below trendline yields following an El Niño event for both corn and soybeans on average. And while not part of the study, forages and cover crops may have an elevated risk of weed pressure.
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