Tuesday February 13 Ag News

 Dicamba: removing a tool from the toolbox
Chabella Guzman, PREEC communications

The soybean growers in Nebraska and across the U.S. have just been thrown a curveball, as a federal court in Arizona vacated registration of dicamba formulations specific for use on dicamba tolerant soybeans (including Xtendimax, Engenia, and Tavium), finding that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to meet regulatory requirements. Dicamba is still an effective weed control option, particularly when it comes to Palmer amaranth.

The ruling will put growers of the second largest crop in Nebraska, soybeans, at a management, if not a financial challenge. “It is taking a ‘tool out of the toolbox,’ as we (agronomists) like to say,” said Dr. Randy Lloyd, Nebraska Extension research facility coordinator at West Central Research, Education and Extension Center. “This will put growers in a bind, as most have purchased their soybean seed, which they can still use, but won’t be able to get the full benefits of the technology.”

Many growers favor genetically modified soybeans engineered to withstand glyphosate and/or glufosinate, and dicamba. This allows over the top dicamba use in soybeans and helps control Palmer amaranth since the weed can grow anytime throughout the summer and disperse thousands of seeds. “You can walk through a field in a fall, where a young two or three-inch Palmer is growing, and it will have a seed head with hundreds of seeds,” Lloyd said.

“It’s a tough time to make a decision this late in the game,” he said. “Growers can try to find other soybean seeds, but quantities will be limited.” A grower's ability to control weeds constantly challenges the farm economy. Weeds can easily cause a soybean yield to be reduced by 20 to 30 bushels or more, which is a huge yield and financial loss. They also drop hundreds of thousands of seed which could take many years for that field to regain what it lost.”

What implications does this hold for soybean producers in Nebraska? The answer remains uncertain for now. “We must await the response from the EPA and adjust our course accordingly,” Lloyd said, and he’s hopeful the EPA will appeal the ruling. If that doesn’t happen, it will put pressure on already limited alternative postemergence herbicide applications.

As growers move forward with purchasing seed, they should also prepare for alternative weed management strategies if the dicamba label remains vacated. “One viable option is implementing a preemergence program with extended residual activity. Such a program would effectively decrease weed pressure, facilitating suitable terrain for follow-up applications,” said Dr. Milos Zaric, Nebraska Extension assistant professor at West Central Research, Education and Extension Center. “When considering follow-up applications, it is crucial to ensure timely and precise execution, targeting small weeds (2-3 inches) and populations for postemergence treatment and utilizing increased spray volume.”

Reliance, he said, may shift towards contact-type products available formulations based on glufosinate (essential to ensure the presence of the glufosinate-trait listed on the seed bag) or one of the PPO-inhibiting herbicides (acifluorfen, fomesafen, lactofen, or others classified under WSSA Group 14) for broadleaf weed control.

If a grower is unsure of a program selection, they can refer to the 2024 Guide for Weed, Disease, and Insect Management in Nebraska (EC-130) at https://marketplace.unl.edu/extension/ec130.html. Growers are also encouraged to contact their local University of Nebraska research and extension specialist for options and help in building alternative weed management plans.



USDA NASS ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF 2022 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE

Data from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) 2022 Census of Agriculture show the number of farms in Nebraska during 2022 was 44,479, down 4% from the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Land in farms, at 44.0 million acres was down 2% from that reported five years prior. Land in farms accounted for 89.4% of the total land area in the state compared to 38.9% for the U.S. The average size of farm in Nebraska was 989 acres, up 2% or 18 acres from 2017.

The total value of agricultural products sold in 2022 was 29.4 billion dollars, up 34% from 2017. Of the total value of production, 52% originated from livestock with 48% from crops. Average net income per farm was $172,677 dollars, up 97% from 2017.

During 2022, the average age of producers was 56.9 years compared to 56.4 years in 2017. The number of young producers, defined as age 34 or less, was 9,031, or 11% of all producers. The number of female producers was 26,364, or 33% of all producers. For 2022, data were collected from a maximum of four producers per farm.

The Census of Agriculture contains numerous statistics not readily available from other sources. For example, 83% of Nebraska farms had Internet access compared to 79% for all U.S. farms. Additional information on demographics, decision making, and minor commodity statistics are also available.

In addition to State and County data publications, additional online resources are available such as Quick Stats 2.0 and Ag Census Highlights. Additional resources including Ag Census Web Maps are scheduled to be released in September 2024, while Zip Code Tabulations are  cheduled to be released in November 2024. Ranking and Profile tabulations will be available throughout 2024. All Census data products can be found at www.nass.usda.gov/agcensus/.



USDA releases 2022 Census of Agriculture data down to the county level
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) today announced the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, spanning more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them down to the county level. The information collected directly from producers shows that the total number of Iowa farms are up slightly from 2017 but have remained relatively stable over the past three censuses. The data also show a rise in the number of new and beginning (operating 10 or fewer years on any farm) as well as young (under the age of 35) producers in Iowa. The full Census of Agriculture report can be found at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. Ag census data can also be found in NASS’s serchable online database, Quick Stats.

“We are pleased to provide updated Census of Agriculture data to all those who serve U.S. agriculture, especially the producers who gave their time to complete the questionnaire. The aggregate information from individual farmer responses provides a powerful tool to help show the importance of agriculture in Iowa, promote the industry, and track trends. This comprehensive snapshot every five years helps data users see trends and shifts in the industry over time and helps producers do business,” said NASS Upper Midwest Regional Director, Greg Thessen.

Ag census data provide valuable insights into demographics, economics, land use and activities on Iowa farms and ranches such as:
• There were 86,911 farms and ranches in Iowa (up 1% from 2017) with an average size of 345 acres (down 3%) on 30.0 million acres of farmland (down 2%). That is 3% of all U.S. land.
• Iowa farms included 25.9 million acres of cropland in 2022 with no-till and reduced (conservation) tillage practices used on 78% of those acres.
• Family-owned and operated farms accounted for 93% of all Iowa farms and operated 90% of land in farms.
• Iowa farms and ranches produced $43.9 billion in agricultural products, up from $29.0 billion in 2017. With farm production expenses of $31.5 billion, Iowa farms had net cash income of $14.7 billion. Average farm income rose to $169,251 from $86,878 in 2017. A total of 71% of Iowa farms had positive net cash farm income in 2022.
• Iowa ranked 2nd nationally for total value of agricultural products sold as well as total value of crop sales and total value of livestock sales in 2022.
• Farmers in Sioux, Lyon, Plymouth, Washington, and Kossuth counties had the largest value of sales in Iowa for 2022.
• Iowa farms with internet access continued to rise from 80% in 2017 to 82% in 2022.
• A total of 8,471 Iowa farms and ranches used renewable energy producing systems compared to 7,057 farms in 2017, a 20% increase. The majority of Iowa farms (45%) with renewable energy systems reported using geothermal/geoexchange systems.
• In 2022, the 2,427 Iowa farms that sold agricultural products directly to consumers had sales of $30.1 million, up 51% from 2017.
• The 9,906 farms with sales of $1 million or more accounted for 11% of Iowa farms and 46% of farmland; they sold just over 73% of all agricultural products in Iowa. The 41,716 Iowa farms with sales of less than $50,000 accounted for 48% of farms, 11% of farmland, and 0.8% of sales in Iowa.
• The average age of all Iowa producers was 57.6, up 0.2 years from 2017. This is a smaller increase than average age increases between prior censuses.
• There were just over 41,264 Iowa farmers with 10 or fewer years of experience, an increase in the number of beginning farmers from 2017 of 32%.
• The number of Iowa producers under age 35 was 15,835, comprising 10% of all Iowa producers. The 11,648 Iowa farms with young producers making decisions tend to be smaller in acreage on average than all farms but have a larger total value of agricultural products sold per farm.
• In 2022, there were 50,263 female producers accounting for 33% of all Iowa producers. Fifty-
three percent of all Iowa farms had at least one female decision maker.

First conducted in 1840 in conjunction with the decennial Census and conducted since 1997 by USDA NASS – the federal statistical agency responsible for producing official data about U.S. agriculture – the Census of Agriculture remains the most comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation



USDA releases 2022 Census of Agriculture data

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) today announced the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, spanning more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them down to the county level. The information collected directly from producers shows a continued decline in the total number of U.S. farms. However, the data also show a rise in the number of new and beginning (operating 10 or fewer years on any farm) as well as young (under the age of 35) producers.

The full Census of Agriculture report as well as publication dates for additional ag census data products can be found at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. Ag census data can also be found in NASS’s searchable online database, Quick Stats.

“We are pleased to provide updated Census of Agriculture data to all those who serve U.S. agriculture, especially the producers who gave their time to complete the questionnaire. Census of Agriculture data tell a story. This comprehensive snapshot every five years helps data users to see trends and shifts in the industry over time and helps producers do business,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “Overall, though there are always changes across U.S. agriculture, the data remain largely consistent with the previous ag census. Data users will also notice some new data on the topics of hemp, precision agriculture, and internet access.”

Ag census data provide valuable insights into demographics, economics, land use and activities on U.S. farms and ranches such as:
    There were 1.9 million farms and ranches (down 7% from 2017) with an average size of 463 acres (up 5%) on 880 million acres of farmland (down 2%). That is 39% of all U.S. land.
    Family-owned and operated farms accounted for 95% of all U.S. farms and operated 84% of land in farms.
    U.S. farms and ranches produced $543 billion in agricultural products, up from $389 billion in 2017. With farm production expenses of $424 billion, U.S. farms had net cash income of $152 billion. Average farm income rose to $79,790. A total of 43% of farms had positive net cash farm income in 2022.
    Farms with internet access continued to rise from 75% in 2017 to 79% in 2022.
    A total of 153,101 farms and ranches used renewable energy producing systems compared to 133,176 farms in 2017, a 15% increase. The majority of farms (76%) with renewable energy systems reported using solar panels.
    In 2022, 116,617 farms sold directly to consumers, with sales of $3.3 billion. Value of sales increased 16% from 2017.
    The 105,384 farms with sales of $1 million or more were 6% of U.S. farms and 31% of farmland; they sold more than three-fourths of all agricultural products. The 1.4 million farms with sales of $50,000 or less accounted for 74% of farms, 25% of farmland, and 2% of sales.
    Nearly three-fourths of farmland was used by farms specializing in two commodity categories: oilseed and grain production (32%) and beef cattle production (40%).
    The average age of all producers was 58.1, up 0.6 years from 2017. This is a smaller increase than average age increases between prior censuses.
    There were just over 1 million farmers with 10 or fewer years of experience, an increase in the number of beginning farmers from 2017 of 11%. Beginning farmers are younger than all farmers, with an average age of 47.1.
    The number of producers under age 35 was 296,480, comprising 9% of all producers. The 221,233 farms with young producers making decisions tend to be larger than average in both acres and sales.
    In 2022, 1.2 million female producers accounted for 36% of all producers. Fifty-eight percent of all farms had at least one female decision maker.

The response rate for the 2022 Census of Agriculture was 61%; more than 40% of responses were submitted online.



Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Statement on the Release of the 2022 Census of Agriculture

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack offered the following statement today, following the release of the 2022 Census of Agriculture.  

“Today’s Census of Agriculture Report underscores it’s imperative that we continue to deliver agriculture policies that create multiple streams of income and new, more competitive models for small- and mid-sized farms. A combination of trade wars, the pandemic and policies that furthered a ‘get big or get out’ mentality pushed more people out of farming in the five years since the last Census, than in any other Census period this century. America, and especially our rural communities, cannot afford this trajectory toward larger, but fewer, farms.  

“In response to those challenges, the Biden-Harris Administration has undertaken historic efforts to grow independent meat and poultry processing capacity in nearly every state, to bolster local and regional food systems so that farmers can sell directly to customers within their communities, and to create new revenue streams through renewable energy and ecosystem markets, the impacts of which are not yet captured in today’s report. All of these actions are enabling America’s farmers to be less reliant on a few large, consolidated monopolies, making farming more viable for the next generation, and making our food system more resilient for everyone who eats.  

“There are some early signs that this approach is working: over the first three years of the Biden-Harris Administration, the United States experienced the highest net farm income on record, and we’ve also seen growth in the rural population for the first time in a decade. There is more work to do to ensure we maintain strong momentum in terms of farm income, and to make sure that income is equitably distributed among farms of all sizes so more can stay in business and contribute to their local economies. Today’s report is a wake-up call to everyone who plays a role in agriculture policy or who shares an interest in preserving a thriving rural America – we are at a pivotal moment, in which we have the opportunity to hold tight to the status quo and shrink our nation’s agriculture sector further, or we can choose a more expansive, newer model that creates more opportunity, for more farmers.”



USDA TO SURVEY FARMERS’ PLANTING INTENTIONS FOR 2024

As the 2024 crop production season begins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide to determine their plans for the upcoming growing season. “Each year, the agriculture industry eagerly awaits USDA’s Prospective Plantings report, which provides the first survey-based estimates of U.S. farmers’ planting intentions for the year,” said NASS’

Northern Plains Regional Director, Nicholas Streff. “The March Agricultural Survey provides the factual data that underpins these projections, making it one of the most important surveys we conduct each year.”

NASS will mail the survey questionnaire in late February, asking producers to provide information about the types of crops they intend to plant in 2024, how many acres they intend to plant, and the amounts of grain and oilseed stored on their farms. NASS encourages producers to respond online or by mail. Those producers who do not respond by the deadline may be contacted for a telephone interview.

NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents and publishes only aggregate data, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified.

Survey results will be published in the Prospective Plantings and quarterly Grain Stocks reports to be released on March 28, 2024. These and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications. For more information call the NASS Nebraska Field Office at (800) 582-6443.



PVC boasts successful banquet, plans next meeting
Heath Clausen, Platte Valley Cattlemen President

First of all, thanks to everyone who attended our January membership meeting in Columbus. We had a great turnout and had some new members join. We would also like to thank everyone for coming to our Annual Banquet that we held in Humphrey on February 1oth. Also, thanks to Brayden Wilke for serving as president this past year and Brian Steffensmeier and Eric Frese for the term and service the last 4 years!!! If you see these gentlemen, be sure to thank them.

Our next meeting will be Monday, February 19th, 2024 at Wunderlich’s in Columbus.  This is our ladies’ night, so bring your bride along for supper. Our social hour will start at 6:00 PM. We want to thank First National Bank for sponsoring the social hour. The meal will be at 7:00 PM. We want to thank Columbus Sales Pavilion for sponsoring the meal.

We will have a Prairie Creek Vineyard returning this year with win and samples of what they have to offer within their collection.  

Please join us. We look forward to seeing you on Monday, Feb. 19th, 2024 at Wunderlich’s.



Petsource by Scoular’s $75 million expansion completed; expansion triples capacity

Petsource by Scoular has completed a $75 million expansion that delivers extra capacity to help current customers grow and space to accommodate new customers seeking production at the state-of-the-art facility.

The tripling of capacity also enables customers to more efficiently introduce new products to the market, with the expansion providing an additional 70,000 square feet of freeze-dried pet food ingredient manufacturing space. Freeze-dried products are among the fastest-growing pet food categories.

The expansion of Petsource’s Seward facility created 75 new jobs, with more hiring planned. Petsource now employees over 150 people, making it one of the top 10 largest employers in Seward County, a business hub in southeast Nebraska. Petsource is an indirect, wholly owned and independently operated subsidiary of Scoular.

Petsource has been a leader in streamlining the manufacturing of freeze-dried pet food products. Petsource was among the first nationwide to bring the manufacturing steps together under one roof when it opened in 2020 – providing everything from recipe development to raw meat processing, freeze-drying, and packaging – creating an end-to-end solution for brand owners to help support their growth initiatives.  

“We are excited we can deliver additional capacity for our customers, both current and future, and support their growth plans,” said Petsource President Amy Patterson. “Strong demand, growth in our customers’ businesses, and our desire to continue to provide them high quality, innovative solutions drove the project.”

New customers have been seeking both Petsource’s integrated production process, and its food safety and quality standards, another factor setting it above many competitors.

“Scoular thrives both on helping our valued customers grow and helping our communities prosper,” CEO Paul Maass said. “We are proud to continue to invest in the state we have called home for over 130 years.”

Scoular has partnered with pet food manufacturers for decades and will continue to invest to support the marketplace’s growth. The Petsource expansion is a critical component to larger strategic growth plans supporting the pet food industry.

“I am thankful for Scoular’s 130 years of business impact in Nebraska and I congratulate them on Petsource’s growth over the last four years in Seward County,” said Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen.

Petsource – bolstered by the expansion – has helped spur job growth, residential construction and other economic development in Seward County, said Jonathan Jank, President & CEO of the Seward County Chamber & Development Partnership. He also credits Petsource with helping draw other businesses to the Seward/Lincoln Regional Rail Campus where it has served as an anchor since first starting operations there over three years ago.

“Petsource has been a tremendous employer not just in our county but in the region,” Jank said. “They have been a best-in-class employer and we are excited for them to continue growing in our community.”



New Extension Swine Specialist Is Ready to Help in Northwest Iowa

There's no question too big or too small for Ashley Englin, new swine specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in northwest Iowa. On the job since Jan. 29, she's already working to develop contacts, meet colleagues and clients, and prepare to offer great service to producers and others in that area.

"My primary responsibility is to provide resources to people to improve the local and state swine industry," she said. "I want everyone to know I'm a resource to call on when needed."

Englin said her background provides her with a great deal of first-hand experience and an understanding of what takes place within the day-to-day operations of a farm, a big plus in this position.

"I was introduced to agriculture at an early age while growing up in Le Mars and participating in 4-H," she said. "I decided to pursue my passion by attending Iowa State University, where I received a bachelor's degree in animal science."

After graduation, she began work as a nursery production training coordinator for Schwartz Farms Inc. in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. In March 2022, she and her family returned to Le Mars and she started work as a wean-to-finish production specialist for Smithfield. And when her current position with Iowa State opened, it immediately drew her attention.

"I was interested in this position because I enjoy working alongside other agriculture enthusiasts to provide solutions to the problems that the swine industry presents," Englin said. "I want people in the swine industry to realize what a great resource they have in their extension programs, and I hope I can display those resources to people and positively impact those programs even more."

What should people expect from this new swine specialist?

"I bring an attitude of hard work, enthusiasm and dedication that I hope to convey in every interaction I have with people," she said. "I want people to always walk away from an interaction with me feeling like I gave them something valuable to use in future endeavors, and I want to help people be as successful as possible."

Englin is based in the ISU Extension and Outreach Sioux County office in Orange City, and can be reached at aenglin@iastate.edu or 712-737-4230.



Small Meat Processor Workshop to Be Held April 25

Recognizing the interest in local meat processing, the Enterprise Development team with Farm, Food and Enterprise Development with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is holding a Small Meat Processor Workshop for aspiring entrepreneurs as well as those relatively new to the industry.

The workshop will be held April 25 at Iowa State’s Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center in Ames.

Demand for local meat processing continues to be strong, following the COVID 19 pandemic, which exposed issues with the supply chain and created a backlog of customer orders.

“The pandemic demonstrated the very limited capacity of local meat processors,” said Dan Nieland, small business education specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “Although this has been somewhat remediated, there are still longer lead times and areas of Iowa and surrounding states that have no ready-access to small meat processors.”

Nieland said there will be resources available to help entrepreneurs who are just getting started, or who are looking to expand their business. Resources are available for business planning, risk management and enterprise budgets.

Speakers will include specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach, state meat regulators and others. The goal is to empower those with an interest in local meat processing with the knowledge and resources to succeed.

“There are many things to consider before entering the meat market, or expanding,” said Nieland. “Our goal is to create a robust supply chain that allows local producers ready-access to these smaller meat processors.”

Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m., with the workshop scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The workshop is free to attend, but registration is required, as seats are limited. Register by April 10 at: https://GO.IASTATE.EDU/DC9LFB

For more information, contact Ethan Bowers at embowers@iastate.edu. This material is based upon work supported by USDA-NIFA under Award Number 2022-70419-38561.



The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reached a consent decision with Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation (Cargill) of Wichita, Kan., on Feb. 5, 2024, for violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.

An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) was initiated in March 2022 when Cargill self-reported that its beef grading cameras were installed incorrectly, resulting in inaccurate yield grades at its four fed cattle plants. The investigation revealed that Cargill applied inaccurate yield grades to 324,824 carcasses that it purchased on a carcass grade and weight basis from August 2021 to March 2022, resulting in an underpayment of $12,514,804 to cattle sellers. Cargill compensated all sellers for any underpayment in May 2022 using corrected yield grades.

Under the consent decision, Cargill must cease and desist from failing to meet applicable camera grading installation standards as established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology at its cattle processing plants and from compensating sellers based on inaccurate grading. In addition, Cargill was assessed a civil penalty of $155,000.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reached a consent decision with Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation (Cargill) of Wichita, Kan., on Feb. 5, 2024, for violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act.

An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) was initiated in March 2022 when Cargill self-reported that its beef grading cameras were installed incorrectly, resulting in inaccurate yield grades at its four fed cattle plants. The investigation revealed that Cargill applied inaccurate yield grades to 324,824 carcasses that it purchased on a carcass grade and weight basis from August 2021 to March 2022, resulting in an underpayment of $12,514,804 to cattle sellers. Cargill compensated all sellers for any underpayment in May 2022 using corrected yield grades.

Under the consent decision, Cargill must cease and desist from failing to meet applicable camera grading installation standards as established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology at its cattle processing plants and from compensating sellers based on inaccurate grading. In addition, Cargill was assessed a civil penalty of $155,000.



SHIC/FFAR Collaboration Seeks Japanese Encephalitis Virus Research Proposals

The Swine Health Information Center and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) have partnered to fund a $1 million research program to enhance US prevention, preparedness, and response capabilities for Japanese encephalitis virus, a transboundary disease risk for US introduction.

SHIC’s strategic mission to identify risks to swine health includes global and domestic disease monitoring to maintain an acute awareness of emerging swine diseases around the world. Japanese encephalitis is an emerging zoonotic disease identified through global monitoring as a priority for North American prevention and preparedness activities. JEV is transmitted through the bite of infected Culex mosquitoes and biosecurity practices focused on mosquito control are key to reducing risk. The US is currently negative for this mosquito-borne virus which has waterbirds as a natural reservoir but is capable of infecting pigs, humans, and horses.

In 2022, an outbreak of JEV genotype IV spread rapidly across new geographic regions of Australia affecting breeding swine herds and causing reproductive failure, delayed farrowing, stillbirths, mummified fetuses, abortions, and weak piglets. This recent incursion of a new JEV genotype into areas previously free from disease warrants the need for a close investigation of this virus and its potential for incursion and establishment in the US. Understanding the potential impacts of JEV on pork production in the US is critical to protecting the health of the US swine herd as well as mitigating the risk of this emerging disease.

In response to this emerging disease, SHIC and FFAR have partnered to invite proposal submissions from qualified researchers for funding consideration to address identified research priorities for JEV, including topic areas of 1) transmission and epidemiology, 2) mosquito control, 3) diagnostics, 4) communication, 5) surveillance, 6) compatible cases, 7) challenge models, 8) vaccines, 9) cross-protection, 10) competent vectors, 11) role of wildlife, 12) novel hosts, and 13) viral sequencing. Proposal information and a detailed list of research priorities can be found here.

Proposals should clearly state which of the identified SHIC/FFAR JEV research priorities will be addressed through the project. Collaborative projects that include the pork industry, international organizations, allied industry, academic institutions, and/or public/private partnerships are highly encouraged. Projects demonstrating the most urgent, timely completion, providing the greatest value to pork producers, and showing efficient use of funds will be prioritized for funding. Projects are requested to be completed within a 12-to-18-month period with sufficient justification required for extended project duration. The JEV research proposal template can be found here.

Total funding available for the SHIC/FFAR JEV Research Priorities is $1 million. Individual awards are capped at $250,000 but proposals may exceed the cap if sufficient justification is provided. Matching funds are encouraged but not required; the $250,000 cap applies to only those funds requested from SHIC/FFAR. All projects should strive to be unique, have a high impact, show value to pork producers, and have industry-wide benefit.

The deadline for proposal submission is 5:00 pm CDT on April 15, 2024. SHIC and FFAR are co-hosting an informational webinar on February 22, 2024, at 3:00 pm CST to provide additional details about the application criteria. Attendees must register to attend the webinar here. Additional information can be found at www.swinehealth.org. For questions, please contact Dr. Megan Niederwerder at mniederwerder@swinehealth.org or (785)452-8270 or Dr. Lisa Becton at lbecton@swinehealth.org or (515)724-9491.

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is a non-profit organization established in the 2014 Farm Bill to build public-private partnerships that fund bold research addressing food and agriculture challenges. SHIC and FFAR collaborated with the Pork Checkoff to fund the Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program research project now underway.  



NFU Leads Letter to Congress: Uphold Packers and Stockyards Act Progress  

Today, National Farmers Union (NFU) sent a letter to Appropriations Committee leadership opposing harmful restrictions that would undo important work to revitalize the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act) to better protect family farmers and ranchers.

The letter, signed by national, regional, and state organizations, points out that “opponents of competitive agricultural markets are seeking to roll back the work USDA has already completed, prevent USDA from making additional progress on these rules, and prevent any similar effort in the future.”

Damaging provisions were included in an earlier version of the FY24 Appropriations bill, and this same strategy was used by opponents of the P&S Act during previous administrations.

“Blocking USDA’s work would be a direct hit to fair markets,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “Congress should champion family farmers and consumers, not bow to meatpacking monopolies. We urge them to discard this harmful proposal once and for all. “

Just this week, USDA’s first updated P&S Act rule went into effect, with many more important rules to follow. As part of the Fairness for Farmers campaign, NFU is fighting for more transparency in agricultural markets, including critical updates and stronger enforcement of existing laws, such as the Packers and Stockyards Act.  



New Census Shows Alarming Loss of Family Farms

New agriculture census data released by USDA today is cause for concern as the number of farms operating in the United States and the number of farm acres have both fallen significantly. The 2022 Census of Agriculture reports 141,733 fewer farms in 2022 than in 2017. The number of farm acres fell to 880,100,848, a loss of more than 20 million acres from just five years earlier.

“The latest census numbers put in black and white the warnings our members have been expressing for years,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Increased regulations, rising supply costs, lack of available labor and weather disasters have all squeezed farmers to the point that many of them find it impossible to remain economically sustainable.

“Family farms not only help drive the economy, they allow the rest of the nation the freedom to pursue their dreams without worrying about whether there will be enough food in their pantries. We urge Congress to heed the warning signs of these latest numbers. Passing a new farm bill that addresses these challenges is the best way to help create an environment that attracts new farmers and enables families to pass their farms to the next generation.”

While it’s encouraging that the number of beginning farmers increased, the latest census numbers show the number of farmers over the age of 65 is outpacing younger farmers. Almost 1.3 million farmers are now at or beyond retirement age, while just 300,000 farmers are under the age of 35. AFBF has long-established policies supporting beginning farmers, including through farm bill programs focused on new and beginning farmers.



Cost Pressures
Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, South Dakota State University

In early February the Economic Research Service estimated lower returns for the farm sector in 2024. The cattle sector, aggregating everything from cow-calf operations through feedlots, is expected to see lower returns as lower traded volume offsets higher prices. At the same time, higher feeder animal expenditures are expected to continue. Another major cost item, interest expense, is expected to remain high, as steady to potentially lower interest rates are offset by higher loan volumes. At the local level, higher rates have been discussed as they have influenced returns to storage on crops, resulted in higher operating expenses overall, and factored into the value of replacement heifers.

The January Agricultural Prices report included data on other cost aspects. The annual prices for feeder livestock showed a steady increase in cattle and calves in recent years to $223 per cwt in 2023. The grazing fee rates in the same report were again up at the multi-state level for animal units and cow-calf pairs. There was a slight decrease in the rates on a per head basis. The rates continue to be the highest in Nebraska and South Dakota. Kansas had a sharp increase in rates last year. High prices for substitute feedstuffs (corn and hay) for much of 2023 likely placed upward pressure on grazing fees.

Higher prices for cattle are necessary to justify or sustain higher grazing fees going forward. Any turnaround in cattle prices would pressure fees. Less corn and hay price pressure would be positive news for cattle returns. Ending stocks for both feedstuffs are expected to be larger in 2024 compared to 2023, resulting in lower input prices. The volatility in both live cattle and feeder cattle has come down since a small peak about two months ago. The CME Group Volatility Index is useful to monitor trends for both contracts and their related charts provide a perspective that can match a trading window.

A final cost pressure depends on your perspective: feeder cattle continue to trade at high levels. The CME Feeder Cattle Index is a weighted average price of 700–899-pound steers traded at AMS-reported sales across 12 states. The index is a common benchmark that reached an all-time high of $254.10 on September 20, 2023. The recent index values have been around $243.00, or record levels for this time of year. For calendar year 2023 the index reflected 1.37 million head, or a good share of cattle placed by feedlots. Volumes were highest from Oklahoma and Texas, both with over 200,000 head. The direct trade in Texas was frequently high, including a week with over 10,000 head. Volumes were also high in South Dakota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas with each state accounting for between 100,000 and 200,000 head. Kansas also had a direct trade observation that exceeded 10,000 head one week. Iowa, North Dakota, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Wyoming each had less than 100,000 head.



USGC Members, Staff Arrive In Guatemala For 21st International Marketing Conference And 64th Annual Membership Meeting

U.S. Grains Council (USGC) members are touching down for the 21st International Marketing Conference and 64th Annual Membership in Guatemala City for the first time since the meeting was held there in 2009.

The event will provide members with an overview of the Council’s strategy for the coming year and include several Advisory Team (A-Team) sessions, where experts in various agricultural commodities and markets will come together to conduct market and commodity-specific deep-dives and share experiences relevant to their industry for this year.

USGC Chairman Brent Boydston will begin Wednesday’s proceedings and welcome both Chief Agricultural Negotiator from the Office of the United States Trade Representative Doug McKalip and Deputy Chief of Mission for the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala Patrick Ventrell. Panel discussions on the state of feed grain and ethanol markets in Guatemala, as well as the Council’s overall work in Latin America, will follow Ventrell’s address.

Wednesday’s agenda will also include a discussion on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), which is designed to reimburse nonprofit agricultural trade organizations for their work in international markets. USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand, USGC Vice President Cary Sifferath and USGC Senior Director of Global Strategies Kurt Shultz will explain what RAPP will mean for the Council and the scope of its work in the future.

On Thursday, members will split into their respective A-Teams for detailed discussions about the commodities and markets relevant to U.S. farmers.

The meeting will conclude on Friday with the Council’s Board of Delegates meeting, where A-Team and sector commodity reports will be presented and delegates will vote on a new set of bylaws for the Council.



Soybean Seeding Rate Considerations

As growers prepare for the upcoming season, seeding rate is one of the key decisions to maximize soybean yield potential.

In general, the goal is to plant enough seeds to maximize light capture and yield potential while not planting more than necessary. Growers incur additional seed costs when plant populations are too high, and it could lower yields due to increased competition among plants for vital resources.

“We’re seeing that you can’t simply increase plant population and expect yield to increase with it,” said Ben Jacob, Pioneer Field Agronomist.

Seeding rates are often targeted toward an agronomic optimum — minimum seeding rate necessary to maximize yield potential — or economic optimum — seeding rate at which economic return is maximized. The economic optimum is usually slightly less than the agronomic optimum and varies depending on seed cost and grain price.

Soybeans are generally less affected by seeding rate than some other crops due to the inherent adaptability of the plant. The ability of soybean plants to increase their lateral branching in low density environments help compensate for poor stand establishment.

An important consideration in soybean seeding rate decisions is the fact that the plant density will often be considerably less than the number of seeds that went into the ground. Soybeans naturally undergo some amount of plant attrition during the growing season.

However, soybean seeding rates should be high enough to provide some degree of protection against less-than-ideal conditions at emergence. Pushing seeding rates too low can increase the risk of needing to replant if everything does not go exactly right.

“The bottom line is that seeding rates are a dynamic decision,” Jacob said. “Several factors need to be considered on a field-by-field basis, including soil type, planting date and seedbed condition.”