Tuesday May 07 Crop Progress + Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending May 5, 2024, there were 2.5 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 5% very short, 15% short, 68% adequate, and 12% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 7% very short, 28% short, 56% adequate, and 9% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn planted was 31%, behind 49% last year and 48% for the five-year average. Emerged was 7%, near 8% last year, and equal to average.

Soybeans planted was 18%, behind 30% last year and 28% average. Emerged was 1%, equal to both last year and average.

Winter wheat condition rated 1% very poor, 4% poor, 28% fair, 54% good, and 13% excellent. Winter wheat headed was 1%, equal to both last year and average.

Sorghum planted was 2%, near 5% last year and 4% average.

Oats condition rated 1% very poor, 1% poor, 30% fair, 63% good, and 5% excellent. Oats planted was 90%, near 88% last year and 87% average. Emerged was 69%, ahead of 59% last year and 57% average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 2% very poor, 6% poor, 22% fair, 60% good, and 10% excellent.



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Fieldwork activities were limited as rain across the State held Iowa farmers to just 1.4 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 5, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rains the past two weeks have resulted in reports of some counties moving out of the extreme to severe drought stages.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent very short, 12 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 7 percent very short, 20 percent short, 64 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus.

Just 8 percent of Iowa’s expected corn crop was planted during the week ending May 5, 2024, for a total of 47 percent planted. This meant progress went from ahead of average to lagging 2 days behind both last year and the 5-year average. Seven percent of the corn crop has emerged, 3 days ahead of last year and 1 day ahead of the average.

Soybean planting progress fell behind the previous year with 5 percent of Iowa’s expected soybean crop planted during the week ending May 5, 2024, for a total of 30 percent of the expected soybean crop planted, 2 days behind last year. Four percent of the soybean crop has emerged.

Ninety-six percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, 2 days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of normal. Oat emergence reached 68 percent, 5 days ahead of last year and 1 week ahead of the 5-year average. The first oat condition rating of the season was 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 59 percent good and 9 percent excellent.

The first hay condition rating of the season was 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 64 percent good and 11 percent excellent.

Pasture condition rated 57 percent good to excellent. There were many reports of cattle being turned out to pasture.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

Corn planting progress fell behind the five-year average pace last week for the first time this season, while soybean planting continued ahead of the average pace, USDA NASS said in its latest weekly Crop Progress report released on Monday.

CORN
-- Planting progress: Corn planting moved ahead 9 percentage points last week to reach 36% complete nationwide as of Sunday, May 5. That is 6 percentage points behind last year's 42% and 3 points behind the five-year average of 39%.
-- Crop development: 12% of corn was emerged as of Sunday, 2 points ahead of last year and 3 points ahead of the five-year average of 9%.

SOYBEANS
-- Planting progress: 25% of soybeans were planted nationwide as of Sunday. That is 5 percentage points behind last year's pace of 30% but is 4 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 21%.
-- Crop development: 9% of soybeans had emerged as of Sunday, 2 points ahead of last year and 5 points ahead of the five-year average of 4%.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Crop development: 43% of winter wheat was headed as of Sunday. That is 9 points ahead of 34% at this time last year and 11 points ahead of the five-year average of 32%.
-- Crop condition: 50% of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition, back up 1 point from 49% the previous week and up significantly from 29% a year ago. Sixteen percent of the winter wheat crop was rated very poor to poor.

----

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON GROUNDBREAKING PRECISION AG RESEARCH CENTER

Construction of the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture at Nebraska Innovation Campus launched with a ceremonial turning of dirt on May 6.

The state-of-the-art research center is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Nebraska Innovation Campus. The center will focus on the challenges and opportunities in agricultural innovation for the 21st century.

“There is a long history of scientific innovation and collaboration between ARS and UNL, typical of the USDA-land-grant university partnerships across the country,” said Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA chief scientist and under secretary for research, education and economics. “Updated facilities ensure our best and brightest scientists work in the environment and with the tools they need to successfully meet the challenges agriculture faces.”

During this digital era, agricultural production and agricultural landscapes are transforming. Farmers and producers need the latest information technology, tools and data to make informed and innovative decisions for their unique operations. The center will focus on key research areas to address these challenges and promote sustainable, resilient and highly efficient agriculture practices.

“This project is a testament to the long history of innovation, ingenuity and adaptability of agricultural producers across the United States and right here in Nebraska. It celebrates an incredibly productive 120-year partnership between USDA-ARS and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and it exemplifies the passion and dedication of agricultural, state and federal leaders,” said Mike Boehm, vice chancellor for UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “Nebraska is a special place with incredible people, and the ripples of what we do here often extend around the globe. I believe the work that will take place in this facility will usher in a new era of American agriculture, and I’m thrilled that what happens next in agriculture will happen first in Nebraska.”

The National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture will be a $160 million USDA laboratory. It is expected to double the USDA’s science and support staff presence at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The first phase will feature 15,000 square feet of greenhouses and 10,000 square feet of headhouse space. It will connect to the Greenhouse Innovation Center at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

The new greenhouse space will allow ARS to perform research on wheat, barley, sorghum, forage and bioenergy grasses, and other crops. Research on how these plants respond to emerging pests and pathogens under a full range of environmental conditions will empower scientists to make cutting-edge discoveries with the goal of developing climate-resilient crops for the U.S. agriculture industry.

Once fully completed, the agriculture research complex will function as a central hub for multidisciplinary experts, scientists and engineers who will collaborate with industry and producers to improve water and food security, increase the resilience of agricultural landscapes and enhance agricultural profitability.

“The complex problems we face today in the ag industry require unprecedented levels of collaboration to overcome. This facility will help us achieve that goal, aligning resources and magnifying impressive impacts on agriculture nationwide,” Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett said. “This national center will become the model for excellence in ag-focused innovation.”

The establishment of the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture will further strengthen the long-lasting collaboration over the past century between ARS and UNL. These partnerships have advanced research on sustainable bioenergy crops and production systems in an age where agriculture is expected to supply 40 percent of U.S. liquid fuels within the next three decades, in addition to providing food and fiber to the nation’s growing population.

The Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Unit and the Agroecosystem Management Research Unit are currently located at UNL. The scientists working in these units are making significant contributions to crop and livestock production systems by improving productivity, stability of production, sustainability and profitability.

Leaders who provided remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony include: Chris Kabourek, interim president of the University of Nebraska system; Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett; Gov. Jim Pillen; U.S. Reps. Don Bacon and Mike Flood; U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts; and Simon Liu, USDA-ARS administrator.



Kate Wandsnider awarded 2024 Steve Nelson Yeutter Institute International Trade Internship

Kate Wandsnider of Lincoln, Nebraska is the 2024 recipient of the annual Steve Nelson Yeutter Institute International Trade Internship Award. The award honors Steve Nelson, a former Nebraska Farm Bureau president and longtime agriculture industry leader, and helps students gain valuable experience in the nation’s capital.

This award will provide Wandsnider with a $6,000 stipend to intern full-time with the Washington International Trade Association (WITA) this summer in Washington, D.C. WITA is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to providing a neutral forum for the open and robust discussion of international trade policy and related issues. She will gain valuable exposure to and experience with trade policy issues and trade leaders in business, agriculture, law, academia, non-governmental organizations, embassies and the U.S. government.

Wandsnider became interested in international trade upon learning how influential international trade is in international development during an international relations course. She is most interested in how policies impact regional development.

“I’m really just excited just to be in D.C. because that’s where all the policy is pushed out of, and through my internship, I’ll get the opportunity to network with a lot of trade and industry professionals,” said Wandsnider, a junior global studies major with minors in human rights and humanitarian affairs and Arabic studies.

During a study abroad trip to Jordan, Wandsnider learned about the impact of agriculture on the country’s economy. This got her interested in the agricultural trade sector, especially regarding how agricultural trade and policies impact a country’s ability to grow its economy.

Wandsnider will learn a variety of skills and gain insights from this internship. She hopes to dive deeper into topics such as agricultural trade and policies regarding global food security. Wandsnider wants to ensure that agriculture is a big part of international trade conversations.

After her internship, Wandsnider will host a Husker Trade Talk where she will bring in a speaker and discuss a trade topic with students. After graduation, Wandsnider plans on volunteering with the Peace Corps for two years before attending graduate school.

Gifts in honor of the Steve Nelson Yeutter Institute International Trade Internship Award may be directed to the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation. Donations can be made online at https://nefbfoundation.org/ or mailed to the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, P.O. Box 80299 Lincoln, Neb. 68501.



Surprise! More Beef
David P. Anderson, Extension Economist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

It’s likely a surprise to some but beef production has exceeded that of a year ago since the week of April 6th. Beef production has been on an upward trajectory since February.

Slaughter levels and dressed weights are combined to boost beef production. Both fed steer and heifer dressed weights are more than 20 pounds greater than last year at this time. The counter-seasonally higher dressed weights are being fueled by more days on feed, good weather, and lower feed costs.

Beyond more total domestic beef production larger beef imports and reduced exports are boosting domestic beef supplies. Beef imports in the first quarter of the year totaled 1.2 billion pounds, 25 percent more than last year. Exports were 6 percent, or 46 million pounds, lower than last year. Combining the increase in imports and decrease in exports means that about an additional 285 million pounds of beef were added to total beef supplies in the first quarter. That’s about 0.86 pounds of beef, per capita. April beef trade won’t be released for another month but imports will likely exceed exports again further boosting beef supplies.

More beef production is likely the cause of some of the cutout’s struggles. The weekly average Choice cutout has been below $300 per cwt with most primal cuts struggling.  Only the Choice chuck and round are above a year ago. The rib and loin are below a year ago and their weakness might suggest other problems beyond just larger supplies, especially getting close to Memorial Day.

On the positive side, this increase in beef production will be temporary. Reduced placements will begin to move the number of cattle on feed lower. If weights continue to be larger than a year ago the total number of cattle processed will decline further.



USDA Dairy Products March 2024 Production Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.23 billion pounds, 0.1 percent above March 2023 and 7.6 percent above February 2024. Italian type cheese production totaled 518 million pounds, 4.4 percent above March 2023 and 8.6 percent above February 2024. American type cheese production totaled 491 million pounds, 2.9 percent below March 2023 but 10.0 percent above February 2024. Butter production was 209 million pounds, 1.4 percent above March 2023 and 5.5 percent above February 2024.

Dry milk products (comparisons in percentage with March 2023)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 184 million pounds, down 7.9 percent.
Skim milk powder - 28.3 million pounds, down 41.7 percent.

Whey products (comparisons in percentage with March 2023)
Dry whey, total - 79.9 million pounds, up 3.4 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 98.7 million pounds, up slightly.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 44.3 million pounds, up 2.6 percent.

Frozen products (comparisons in percentage with March 2023)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 66.1 million gallons, up 1.4 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 37.7 million gallons, down 12.8 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 1.88 million gallons, up 1.3 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 3.71 million gallons, up 0.1 percent.



Small Changes in Costs, Prices Move March DMC Margin Above $9.50 Trigger
NMPF

The DMC margin rose by $0.21/cwt from February to March to $9.65/cwt, putting it just above the maximum $9.50/cwt maximum Tier 1 coverage level. The March All-Milk price rose by $0.10/cwt to $20.70/cwt, and the March DMC feed cost calculation dropped by $0.11/cwt, almost entirely on a $7.00/ton lower premium alfalfa hay price.

The DMC Decision Tool on the USDA/FSA website forecasts that the DMC margin will remain above $9.50/cwt for the rest of 2024. The enrollment period for the 2024 Dairy Margin Program ended on Tuesday. For those who are signed up for 2024 coverage, payments will be made for January’s and February’s triggered payments, depending on coverage level.



NMPF ‘Disturbed’ at USDA Final WIC Rule That Decreases Dairy Access

USDA released on April 9 its final rule updating the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), maintaining cuts to dairy in WIC food packages first announced in its preliminary rule.

“NMPF is disturbed by the decision to reduce access to the essential nutrients dairy adds to the diet,” said Gregg Doud, National Milk Producers Federation president and CEO in a statement after the announcement.

“Nutrition science demonstrates that dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese are especially important for women, infants, and children; meanwhile, nearly 90% of Americans don’t meet the number of dairy servings recommended by the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” Doud said. “This rule works against the WIC Program’s goal of ensuring all Americans have consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable foods.”

WIC is a vital program ensuring that pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children have access to key nutrients that may be lacking in their diets. Decreasing the amount of dairy offered decreases the nutrients they are accessing through it.

NMPF supported provisions in the final rule that require states to offer lactose-free milk and expand the selection of product package sizes and opportunities to substitute yogurt and cheese for the milk allotment. However, the rule also authorizes plant-based milk alternatives that meet the nutrient specifications for WIC-eligible soy beverages and have less than 10 grams of added sugars per 8 ounces to be redeemed in the WIC program. This rule also allows plant-based “yogurt” and “cheese” to be redeemed in place of dairy.

This move raises many questions for NMPF, specifically why plant-based milk alternatives would have an added sugar allotment when this rule removes flavored milk as an option.

Following the rule’s release, Sen. Jerry Moran, R-KS, voiced concern with the department’s decision to reduce the WIC maximum monthly milk allowance at a hearing with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Apr. 16. NMPF is grateful for Moran’s advocacy for providing WIC program participants access they need to dairy’s unique nutrition profile.



Evaluating Corn Emergence During Early Scouting

As growers are in fields this spring, evaluating corn stands early is crucial for making replant decisions.

When assessing corn stands, several representative areas should be evaluated in each field. Documenting areas with emergence problems via GPS and photos tagged with geographical coordinates can be useful for future decisions.

“When scouting, you’ll first want to look at overall uniformity of emergence,” said Jonathan Rotz, Pioneer Field Agronomist. “Taking note of spacing is equally important.”

Research has shown that evenly spaced plants are in the best position to capture available sunlight. In fields with uneven plant spacing — misplaced or missing plants — yield potential may be reduced.

Whether the field has experienced cold temperatures, rain or perfect growing conditions, checking the soil can also help paint a better picture of emergence.

“Growers should dig into the soil and really look at the seedlings,” Rotz said. “You can check seeding depth, root development and look for any issues under the surface.”

Early-season stress can increase the risk of seedling disease. Injury to emerging seedlings, such as imbibitional damage or insect feeding, will also leave seedlings open to disease.

Growers also need to pay close attention to the growing environment. In environments with heavy inoculum pressure, disease progression is often in a race with seedling growth. Conditions that promote rapid soil warming generally favor seedling growth and reduce disease incidence. On the other hand, extended cool, wet conditions generally favor disease progression.

By scouting fields early, growers have a better idea of what the growing season might have in store.