Wednesday May 15 Ag News

 Exploring the Future of Agriculture: Innovations in Agricultural Technology Symposium

The agricultural landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in technology and entrepreneurship. On May 29, 2024, join us for a groundbreaking symposium titled "Innovations in Agricultural Technology: Cultivating Tomorrow's Farms," where industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators will converge to explore the cutting-edge solutions shaping the future of farming.

Hosted at Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, the symposium will commence at 3:00 p.m., promising an afternoon of insightful discussions, captivating panel sessions, and invaluable networking opportunities. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with thought leaders from Grit Road Partners and Invest Nebraska/The Combine, gaining insights into the ecosystem supporting entrepreneurial ventures in the agricultural technology sector.

The highlight of the event will be a dynamic panel discussion featuring trailblazing startups poised to transform the agricultural landscape:
    Marble Technologies: Integrating the power of AI, next-gen software, computer vision, robotics, data analytics, and advanced process engineering to advance processing facilities of the future.
    Nave Analytics: Harnessing and deploying data driven solutions within digital agriculture to maximize efficient irrigation practices.
    ALA Engineering: Evolving cattle feeding operations through innovative software and hardware to deliver safer, more sustainable, and more efficient solutions to power the industry that feeds the world.
    Grain Weevil: Revolutionizing robotics in grain bin safety and management solutions.
    Corral Technologies: Transforming livestock management with smart technology solutions for improved efficiency and animal welfare.
    Sentinel Fertigation: Integrating fertilizer and irrigation systems for precise nutrient delivery, maximizing crop yields while minimizing environmental impact.

These innovative companies will unveil their groundbreaking solutions aimed at revolutionizing farming practices and enhancing agricultural sustainability.

The symposium will culminate in a moderated Q&A session, providing attendees with the opportunity to interact with panelists and delve deeper into the challenges and opportunities within the agricultural technology sector.

"We are thrilled to bring together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to explore the transformative potential of agricultural technology," said Mike Boehm, Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. "This symposium promises to be a valuable platform for exchanging ideas, fostering collaboration, and charting the course for the future of farming."

Heuermann Lectures are funded by a gift from B. Keith and Norma Heuermann of Phillips. The Heuermanns are longtime university supporters with a strong commitment to Nebraska's production agriculture, natural resources, rural areas and people.

Lectures are streamed live here https://heuermannlectures.unl.edu/ and air live on campus channel 4. They are archived after the event and later air on NET2 World.



Five college students to begin summer internships sponsored by the Nebraska Corn Board

As the weather warms up and the school year winds down, five undergraduate college students will begin internship programs supported by the Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) and the Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA). Each internship is unique in its offerings, designed to immerse students in real-world professional experiences that may provide a future career after graduation.

These interns will work in various locations across the U.S. with key cooperators of NCB. These cooperators include the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), U.S. Grains Council (USGC), U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) and NeCGA. Most of these internships will conclude at the end of the summer, with one student serving in a yearlong schoolyear internship experience.

“As we embark on our 34th year of the Nebraska Corn internship program, we reflect on the sheer number of interns we’ve had the opportunity to see grow and thrive because of the program,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of NCB and NeCGA. “Internships work and the proof is right in front of us as many interns go on in their full-time careers to work for these cooperators, including an intern from last year. The opportunity to play a small role in their careers is taken very seriously for Nebraska Corn and we wish these interns the best of luck.”

Two summer interns will be hosted by NCGA. Madeline Weber is majoring in agriculture leadership, education and communication at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). She will be interning with NCGA in St. Louis, focusing on communications and industry relations. Shelby Basham, a junior from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale who is majoring in agricultural communications and agribusiness economics, will be spending her summer in Washington, D.C. working on policy with NCGA.

“I applied for the National Corn Growers Association public policy and analysis internship because I was seeking an opportunity to gain experiences in advocating for policies that not only impact corn growers across the nation but also the broader agricultural community,” said Basham. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and share the story of the industry that truly is the backbone of America. I'm incredibly eager to immerse myself in the diverse landscape of agricultural policymaking and the opportunity to advocate for the industry I call home.”

Abby Loesing will also be in Washington, D.C. this summer as she completes her internship with USGC. Loesing is majoring in agricultural education: communications and leadership at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Marissa Davis, majoring in agribusiness at UNL is interning with USMEF in Denver, Colorado. Davis will focus on international relations and understanding the meat market, enhancing the product around the world.

“I applied for the promotion and international relations internship because I want to gain an understanding of how U.S. meat is transported and used throughout the world. I also want to understand how different organizations, such as Nebraska Corn and USMEF, work with each other,” said Davis. “The agricultural industry is vast, and I think that understanding domestic policy and international policy is important. I am most looking forward to working in Denver and being able to create new connections in the industry.”

This year, NCB and NeCGA will share an intern whose main focuses include event management and communications. Specifically, this summer, the intern will plan and execute the NeCGA golf tournament. Madison Kreifels is an agricultural and environmental sciences communication major at UNL.

“I admire Nebraska Corn’s dedication and drive to fulfilling their mission,” said Kreifels, “ I know everyone will push me to my full potential, which is something that I look forward to throughout my internship experience.”

In addition to the students gaining real-world experiences throughout the summer and helping fulfill the duties and missions of their respective organizations, the interns are also able to gain valuable insight into possible future careers.

Interns will document their learning experiences through written updates and social media posts. To keep up with these students and their experiences, visit nebraskacorn.gov or follow the Nebraska Corn Board on social media channels.



Nebraska Wheat Board Announces June Budget Meeting

The Nebraska Wheat Board (NWB) will hold its next meeting Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at the Union Bank in Fairbury, NE. The meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST.

The meeting will include first and second readings of funding proposals and establishment of budget for fiscal year 2024-2025. It will also include a current fiscal year financial review, reports from NWB members, contractor reports, and a review of upcoming events and travel. The public is welcome to attend any open portion of the meeting. Interested individuals may contact the NWB office for a copy of the detailed agenda or for more information.

The Nebraska Wheat Board administers the excise tax of 0.5% of net value of wheat marketed in Nebraska at the point of first sale. The board invests the funds in programs of international and domestic market development and improvement, policy development, research, promotion, and education.



New survey results highlight nutritional quality of northern-grown soybeans  

A recent survey conducted by Northern Soy Marketing (NSM)  during its “Understanding U.S. Soy Quality Seminars" in Vietnam and Indonesia reveals that traders and nutritionists agree on key factors that determine the quality of soybeans. The survey results emphasize the importance of northern-grown soybeans and their nutritional value.

The survey results indicate that while crude protein levels remain an important factor, survey respondents also prioritized other quality measures such as essential amino acid and energy levels. Interestingly, the survey also revealed that nearly half of the respondents would be willing to pay $5-10 more per metric ton (MT) for the extra digestible amino acids and energy found in U.S. soybean meal compared to Brazilian and Argentine meal. This preference stems from the understanding that there is generally an inverse relationship between the level of crude protein and essential amino acids in soy. Soybeans and soybean meal with lower crude protein levels tend to have higher levels of essential amino acids, which is advantageous for livestock growth, as excess crude protein can lead to various issues.

“Excess crude protein results in higher water consumption, wet litter and downgrades in the carcasses from breast blisters and foot pad lesions,” said NSM poultry nutrition consultant Dr. Robert Swick, referring to poultry.

NSM issued the surveys to traders and livestock nutritionists during their trade missions in Vietnam and Indonesia this winter. The purpose of these missions was to build relationships and discuss the superior quality of U.S. soybeans and soybean meal with international feed mill executives, purchasers and nutritionists.

Northern Soy Marketing (NSM), a farmer-led board formed by the soybean checkoff boards of Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, aims to raise awareness about the consistent, high-quality value of northern-grown soybeans.



4th District U.S. Republican Congressional Candidates Invited to Rural and Renewable Fuels Issue Forum

Tuesday the Agribusiness Association of Iowa, Iowa Biodiesel Board and Iowa Renewable Fuels Association announced they will hold a Rural and Renewable Fuels Issue Forum for candidates seeking the Republican nomination in the Fourth Congressional District to discuss the issues most important to rural Iowans, farmers, and renewable fuels supporters.

The trio stated in a formal invitation to candidates Representative Randy Feenstra and Kevin Virgil: “The Fourth District is massive – not just in size, but in agriculture production, livestock, and renewable fuels. We believe the voters deserve a chance to know where the candidates stand on the issues unique to rural Iowa.”

Potential topics include farming, livestock production, renewable fuels, and rural life. The forum will take place in the afternoon on May 30 at the Western Iowa Tech Community College in Cherokee.



Reynolds, Naig request federal assistance from USDA for Iowa farmers impacted by severe storms

Governor Reynolds today sent a letter co-signed with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig to Secretary Tom Vilsack at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requesting federal assistance for farmers whose properties were damaged or destroyed by severe weather on April 26-27, 2024.

The governor issued the letter after being notified earlier in the day that a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration had been authorized by the White House, opening Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration programs to disaster-affected homeowners, renters, and businesses in eight counties.

An excerpt from the letter to the USDA is included below:

“Iowa farmers have been significantly impacted by these storms and require assistance to recover from these catastrophic damages and to rebuild and replace destroyed grain bins, farm equipment, and operational business losses.  Disaster assistance programs only offered through the Farm Service Agency following a Secretarial Designation, including the Farm Loans Program and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock Program, are needed to help Iowa farmers recover from these storms.

“As a result, we respectfully request your consideration and prompt issuance of U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretarial Designation and activation of any and all eligible assistance for the following eight Iowa counties:  Clarke, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, and Union.”



Deadline Approaching for Century and Heritage Farm Applications

The June 1 deadline for eligible Iowa farm owners to apply for Century or Heritage Farm recognition is quickly approaching, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is encouraging farm families to apply today.

The program, which was created in partnership by the Department and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, honors families who have owned their farms for 100 years and 150 years, respectively. This is the 48th year of the Century Farm Program, which started in 1976 as part of the Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration. To date, more than 21,000 farms from across the state have received this distinction. This is the 18th year of the Heritage Farm Program and more than 1,800 farms have been recognized since this program began in 2006.

The completed applications must be postmarked or received by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship by June 1, 2024, in order to be included in the August 15 ceremony held during the 2024 Iowa State Fair.

To apply, download and complete the application found on the Department’s website and return it to:
Century and Heritage Farm Program
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Wallace State Office Building
502 E. Ninth St.
Des Moines, IA 50319

You may also request an application from Kelley Reece, coordinator of the Century and Heritage Farm Program, at 515-281-3645 or kelley.reece@iowaagriculture.gov.



Iowa Food Pantries Receive $43,000 Worth of Food from Pork Producers
    
Pork producers across Iowa donated more than $43,000 worth of pork to local food pantries during the past few months. It was done in conjunction with the Pork in the Pantry program, organized by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA).

Now in its second year, Pork in the Pantry provides funding of up to $1,000 to each county pork producer organization that participates. Counties are responsible for purchasing the pork and donating it, and IPPA reimburses them. This year, 38 county producer organizations participated in Pork in the Pantry.

“Food insecurity remains a major issue in Iowa and these donations to local food pantries will help,” said Matt Gent, president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. “Pork producers care a lot about their communities, and this is one of the many ways we show it.”

Along with donating much-needed protein to local food pantries, many county producer organizations purchased the pork from local vendors. So not only is Pork in the Pantry helping those in need, the program is also supporting local businesses. Food pantries are frequently short of meat products, so this is a great way to get nutritious protein into the diets of food-insecure Iowans.

“Hunger is rising in Iowa,” said Linda Gorkow, executive director of the Iowa Food Bank Association. “This Pork in the Pantry program is an incredible opportunity to ensure greatly needed protein is provided to families, individuals and seniors who don’t have enough food to eat. Protein is one of the highest requested items at food banks and pantries across the state so every ounce of the pork donated to the pantries serving Iowans will make an incredible impact.”

The $43,000 worth of pork will provide an estimated 55,000 servings of protein for Iowans who are facing food insecurity.

“What a tremendous opportunity for pork producers to help support needs throughout the state of Iowa,” said Gregg Hora, president of the Webster County Pork Producers, who participated in Pork in the Pantry for the second time. They donated to five different organizations in the county, four in Ft. Dodge and one in Gowrie.

“The needs not only in Webster County, but in rural Iowa are there,” Hora said. “You look at the rising cost of food in a lot of different areas. Pork is still a high-quality product at a very reasonable price in the stores. The sense that we have families out here or kids out here that don’t get enough quality protein is real and by providing this pork loin product, that’s just one way to help from a nutritional aspect.”

The county pork producer organizations that participated in Pork in the Pantry in 2024 are:
Adair
Adams
Allamakee
Benton
Black Hawk
Boone
Bremer
Buchanan
Buena Vista
Calhoun
Cherokee
Chickasaw
Clay
Clayton
Delaware
Greene
Grundy
Hamilton
Hardin
Henry
Ida
Jefferson
Jones
Kossuth
Madison
Marshall
O'Brien
Page
Palo Alto
Plymouth
Pocahontas
Ringgold
Sac
Sioux
Story
Taylor
Washington
Webster

Last year’s Pork in the Pantry program resulted in more than $40,000 worth of pork being donated to local food pantries.



Smith Statement on Biden Administration's Announcement of New Section 301 Tariffs

Yesterday, U.S. House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chair Adrian Smith (R-NE), released the following statement after the Biden administration announced new Section 301 tariffs on China.

"The White House’s Section 301 tariff announcement is an admission we are losing ground to our greatest competitor and President Biden’s trade policies have been an outright failure. Instead of trying to talk out of both sides of his mouth, the president should be producing a coherent, winning strategy to achieve trade competitiveness and American energy abundance. That includes rolling back policies harmful to American consumers like electric vehicle mandates, engaging with willing partners around the world to reduce trade barriers through enforceable trade agreements, and confronting CCP opportunism across all industries. President Biden has done none of the above."



Smith Introduces Legislation Renewing Key Trade Program to Reduce Input Costs for American Industry

Tuesday, Ways and Means Committee Trade Subcommittee Chair Adrian Smith (R-NE) introduced the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Reform Act with support from 19 Republican colleagues including 17 fellow Ways and Means Committee members.

Chairman Smith released the following statement:
"Renewing the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill is essential to reducing barriers for American manufacturing and agriculture, supporting jobs, private sector growth, and our overall economic competitiveness, while upholding Congress’ constitutional authority over trade," said Chairman Smith. "While the Biden administration continues to place new hurdles in the path of American manufacturers, Congress must renew this historically bipartisan legislation which passed unanimously out the Ways and Means Committee in 2016. Fighting for American workers and industry demands we do everything we can to make U.S.-manufactured goods more competitive in both domestic and international markets. This legislation will deliver input cost relief to American producers, in turn benefiting consumers worldwide. I thank my colleagues for their support."

The cosponsors include: Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Ron Estes (R-KS), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Carol Miller (R-WV), David Kustoff (R-TN), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Blake Moore (R-UT), Michelle Steel (R-CA), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), and Mike Carey (R-OH), House Maj. Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), and Ralph Norman (R-SC).

The legislation is supported by numerous stakeholder groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) the American Chemistry Council (ACC), and CropLife America (CLA).

“For more than three years, manufacturers—particularly small and medium-sized manufacturers—have been paying millions of dollars in higher prices for critical inputs due to the expiration of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill. The MTB Reform Act is a significant step forward for manufacturers, which are losing more than $1.3 million every day on products not available in the U.S.—more than $1.5 billion overall.
 
“Restoring the MTB would strengthen manufacturing here at home, giving our sector the ability to source raw materials and components that can’t be produced domestically at scale or at competitive prices.
 
The MTB Reform Act would:
    Approve duty-free treatment of products recommended under the 2019 application process created by the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act through December 31, 2025, in order to support domestic manufacturers who participated in that process in a good faith manner.
    Provide retroactive duty relief on those items, back to January 1, 2021.
    Make technical changes to align exemptions with the most recent revision of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
    Align MTB exclusions with our trade policy toward China, excluding products subject to Section 301 tariffs while allowing American manufacturers to continue accessing parts which had Section 301 exclusions as of December 31, 2020.
    Reauthorize the ITC-based process for future Miscellaneous Tariff Bills, creating new opportunities for American manufacturers to apply for domestically unavailable inputs in 2025 and 2028.



CropLife Applauds Introduction of Miscellaneous Tariff Bill

CropLife America (CLA) applauds the introduction of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB) sponsored by House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chair, Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE-03). The bill supports manufacturers, farmers, consumers, and communities by reducing or eliminating tariffs, on a temporary basis, on products that are not available in the U.S. The previous MTB expired in December 2020, resulting in businesses and their customers paying more than $1.5 billion in anticompetitive tariffs, equal to $1.3 million per day, that should and can be invested in job creation and innovation.

“CLA is appreciative of Representative Smith’s leadership in this first step to re-establish an MTB process that is fully retroactive. This allows for investments to support research and development of the important innovations and technology farmers need to grow the world’s food, fiber, and fuel, and other pesticide professionals need to keep our communities safe from pests and disease,” said Alexandra Dunn, CLA president and CEO. “We continue to work with other stakeholders to support the passage of a fully retroactive MTB that will benefit our members, U.S. farmers, and consumers.”