Tuesday July 23 Crop Progress + Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending July 21, 2024, there were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 3% very short, 23% short, 62% adequate, and 12% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 3% very short, 19% short, 67% adequate, and 11% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 3% very poor, 6% poor, 16% fair, 49% good, and 26% excellent. Corn silking was 76%, ahead of 70% last year and 61% for the five-year average. Dough was 19%, ahead of 7% both last year and average.

Soybean condition rated 2% very poor, 4% poor, 19% fair, 55% good, and 20% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 84%, ahead of 71% last year and 67% average. Setting pods was 39%, ahead of 29% last year and 28% average.

Winter wheat harvested was 86%, well ahead of 37% last year and 60% average.

Sorghum condition rated 1% very poor, 2% poor, 13% fair, 65% good, and 19% excellent. Sorghum headed was 14%, near 11% last year and 17% average.

Oats condition rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 21% fair, 53% good, and 22% excellent. Oats harvested was 60%, well ahead of 33% last year, and ahead of 41% average.

Dry edible bean condition rated 8% very poor, 4% poor, 20% fair, 52% good, and 16% excellent. Dry edible beans blooming was 25%, behind 36% last year and 35% average. Setting pods was 6%.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 5% very poor, 9% poor, 24% fair, 44% good, and 18% excellent.



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Most of the State received little rainfall and experienced below average temperatures. These conditions allowed Iowa farmers 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 21, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting oats for grain, cutting and baling hay, and applying fungicides.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1 percent very short, 10 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus.

Corn silking reached 68 percent, 1 day behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Corn crop at the dough stage reached 18 percent, 2 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the five-year average. Corn condition was rated at 75 percent good to excellent.

Soybean crop blooming reached 69 percent, 5 days behind last year but equal to the five-year average. Soybeans setting pods reached 25 percent, 2 days behind last year and 1 day behind the five-year average. Soybean condition was 74 percent good to excellent.

Oats turning color reached 89 percent, 2 days behind last year but 3 days ahead of the five-year average. The oat harvest for grain reached 44 percent complete, 5 days ahead of last year and the five-year average. Oat condition was 76 percent good to excellent.

The state’s second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 75 percent complete, 5 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. The third cutting of alfalfa hay began at 6 percent, 4 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of the five-year average. Hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition rated 71 percent good to excellent.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

The condition of the nation's corn crop fell slightly last week, while soybean conditions held steady, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday.

NASS also reported that the winter wheat harvest continued ahead of its average pace last week. Spring wheat development, meanwhile, maintained a near-average pace, and the condition of the crop held steady.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn silking was pegged at 61%, 1 percentage point behind last year's 62% but 5 points ahead of the five-year average of 56%. Corn in the dough stage was estimated at 17%, 4 points ahead of last year's 13% and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 11%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 67% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 percentage point from 68% the previous week but still well ahead of last year's 57%. Ten percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, up 1 point from 9% from the previous week but still below 13% last year.

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: Soybeans blooming were pegged at 65%, 1 point behind last year's pace of 66% but 5 points ahead of the five-year average of 60%. Soybeans setting pods were estimated at 29%, 2 points behind last year's 31% but 5 points ahead of the five-year average of 24%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 68% of soybeans were in good-to-excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week for the second week in a row and still above last year's rating of 54% good to excellent.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Harvest progress: Harvest moved ahead 5 percentage points to reach 76% complete nationwide as of Sunday. That was 11 points ahead of last year's 65% and 4 points ahead of the five-year average pace of 72%.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Crop development: 89% of spring wheat was headed, 3 percentage points behind last year's 92% and 1 point behind the five-year average of 90%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 77% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, unchanged from the previous week. That remains well ahead of last year's rating of 49% good to excellent.



Pillen issues ‘statement of principles’ ahead of Special Legislative Session

Ahead of this week’s special session aimed at addressing Nebraska’s escalating property tax crisis, Governor Jim Pillen is issuing a ‘statement of principles’ as to how he will approach the debate on reforming Nebraska’s imbalanced sales tax exemptions.

“This legislative process depends on everyone bringing their good faith ideas for the purpose of producing property tax reform for all Nebraskans,” said Gov. Pillen. “It is important that we start from a common place of understanding, especially in the debate over sales tax exemptions.”  

Gov. Pillen’s statement of principles follows:
• No sales tax on food
• No sales tax on medicines used for human treatment
• No taxing services or goods provided through nonprofits
• No sales tax on ag inputs or manufacturing materials (defined as physical economic resources used to create goods to be sold to an end user)
• No sales tax on services or items that are exempt in all other states
• No sales tax on services or items that are exempt in all surrounding states   
• No double taxation

“I think these principles will help provide clarity and structure to what we need to consider when it comes to that long list of exemptions that are in play,” said Gov. Pillen.



Nebraska Corn Congratulates Lewis and Nerud on their Election to the NCGA Corn Board

Last week, farmers from across the country attended the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Congress held in Washington, D.C. During this event, Nebraska corn farmers Jason Lewis and Dan Nerud were elected to NCGA’s Corn Board. Lewis is from Henderson and Nerud is from Dorchester.

“This is an honor and responsibility I don’t take lightly,” said Lewis. “NCGA has a reputation of excellence, and the leadership on the board is what helps the organization reach its goals. With my background in research and education, I look forward to representing farmers across the nation in reaching and achieving success for the corn industry.”

Lewis grows corn and soybeans with his father-in-law in Henderson, Nebraska. With his PhD in horticulture, Lewis spent time at California Polytechnic State University in San Louis Obispo, California prior to returning to his home state in Nebraska to farm full-time. He has extensive leadership experience on the local, state and national levels. He currently serves as a board member of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association and chair of the Sustainable Agriculture Research action team with NCGA.

Dan Nerud will also be joining the NCGA board.

“I am proud to be elected to the NCGA board, and not for my future but for my sons and grandson,” said Nerud. “As I look to the industry’s future, there is opportunity for growth in all realms, and NCGA is at the forefront of ensuring farmers’ best interest is in good hands. I look forward to what is to come with NCGA.”

On his farm, Nerud farms with his two sons as they look to the next generation of the operation. They have a dryland and irrigated farm consisting of corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa and grass hay. They also run a cow-calf operation. Nerud has previously served as the president of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, currently serves as District 1 director for the Nebraska Corn Board and serves as chair of the Member and Consumer Engagement action team for NCGA.

“Nebraska has a reputation of excellent leaders, and this year is no exception,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director for NCB and NeCGA. “We congratulate Jason and Dan on their election to the National Corn Board. We are proud of Nebraska farmers who take time off their farm to serve this prestigious organization, dedicating time and passion to further the industry.”

Both terms for Lewis and Nerud will begin on Oct. 1, 2024, and will serve for 3 years. The election took place on Thursday, July 18 during NCGA’s 2024 Corn Congress. The event is focused on shaping policy, setting priorities and meeting with policy makers for the U.S. corn industry. Corn farmer delegates from across the country participated in the discussions and election.

The two farmers will join Dan Wesely, also a Nebraska farmer from Morse Bluff, serving the 15-person Corn Board.



Cover Crop Fact Sheets Explain Options Available to Iowa Farmers

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service are collaborating on a series of cover crop fact sheets for Iowa farmers interested in adopting the practice or trying new cover crops to achieve specific goals on their operation.

Thousands of Iowa farmers plant cover crops annually to help reduce soil erosion, increase soil organic matter, suppress weeds, minimize soil compaction, scavenge excess nutrients or provide supplemental livestock grazing. A large percentage of Iowa farmers use cereal rye, oats, wheat, radishes and turnips. However, there are many other cover crop options available.

The collection of fact sheets includes legumes like hairy vetch and cowpeas, broadleaves like flax and buckwheat, grasses such as millets and triticale, and brassicas like camelina and rapeseed.

“We feel these fact sheets are a good introduction to cover crops for producers who haven’t tried them yet,” said Mark Licht, associate professor and cropping systems specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “There are also species that a more seasoned cover crop user might be interested in learning more about.”

More than 25 fact sheets are currently available on the Iowa NRCS website https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/tech-tools/iowa-cover-crop-fact-sheets, with 33 fact sheets expected by the end of August and the potential to add additional species as interest develops. Each fact sheet includes sections on identifying features, cultural traits, planting information and performance ratings, and pictures that highlight various features and growth patterns.

“The collaboration between ISU Extension and Outreach and NRCS on the fact sheets is important,” said Iowa NRCS state soil health specialist Hillary Olson. “We are on the same page in the belief that all Iowa crop producers can find a way to make cover crops work on their farms. We feel these fact sheets will be a valuable learning tool for producers.”



300+ Agriculture Groups Call on EPA to Reform Endangered Species Act Processes

More than 300 agricultural groups, including the American Soybean Association and American Sugarbeet Growers Association, have called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to work with stakeholders to reform its Endangered Species Act processes for pesticides. In a letter signed by 318 organizations representing hundreds of thousands of farmers, the groups contend farmers and other pesticide users will face significant and costly restrictions without reforms. Further, EPA may not be meeting its own legal obligations in determining credible risks to those endangered species.

Josh Gackle, American Soybean Association president and North Dakota soybean farmer, explained the groups support EPA efforts to meet its legal requirements, but there is more to it than simply making a passing grade:

“The courts have been clear they will continue to strike down pesticide registrations if EPA does not comply. However, EPA cannot do perfunctory work on the Endangered Species Act and pass the test. Rather, it needs to aim for an “A” by doing so in a way that is consistent with the law. EPA often makes conservative assumptions instead of using ‘the best scientific and commercial data available’ as required by ESA. By doing so, the result is often unnecessary restrictions for farmers and legal vulnerabilities for pesticide registrations.”

Federal courts repeatedly found EPA had not fulfilled its legally required ESA work and would strike down pesticide registrations, causing farmers and other pesticide users to lose invaluable and safe pesticide tools. As a result, EPA has tried the last couple of years to bring its pesticide program into compliance, including through proposals such as the draft Herbicide Strategy.

In its efforts to become compliant, the agency’s regulatory pendulum has now swung too far, and EPA risks overregulating tools by predicting worst-case scenarios that overstate pesticide impacts to endangered species. These unduly conservative predictions impose increased and often unnecessary restrictions on farmers versus when quality data and more refined assumptions are used.

"It is imperative that EPA engage with growers to understand our actual agronomic practices. Instead, EPA seems to be focusing on imaginary risks to endangered species based on unrealistic assumptions and ignoring the way we actually use pesticides in the real world. EPA assumptions will ultimately impose unnecessary restrictions on growers, making it harder for American farmers to feed the world, all while doing nothing to protect species. EPA must commit to using the best available science," said Neil Rockstad, president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association.

The groups point to available data EPA does not typically use—data that would provide a more accurate picture of how pesticides affect species. This includes real-world pesticide usage, percent of crop area treated, existing conservation practices and other data sets. Further, if EPA were to use more refined models as it has done on occasion in the past, it could also yield more precise results, the letter suggests. These improvements would result in more accurate assessments requiring farmers to adopt restrictions only when genuinely needed to protect endangered species or critical habitat.

The letter calls on EPA to engage with stakeholders “as soon as possible—by no later than September 2024,” to ensure any agreed-upon refinements are timely and do not come long after EPA has implemented potentially unnecessary ESA restrictions. The signer organizations plan to follow up with EPA in the days ahead to pursue stakeholder engagement discussions to assist EPA with meeting its legal requirements in a way that protects species while not being unnecessarily prohibitive to farmers.



More Than 500 Organizations Unite to Call for New Farm Bill

Programs that benefit every family in America are too important to put off any longer. That’s the message from the American Farm Bureau Federation and more than 500 other groups representing agriculture, nutrition, conservation, the environment, rural development and several other sectors who united today to send a letter to congressional leaders calling for the passage of a new, modernized farm bill.

The letter was sent to leaders in both chambers, and leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees. The groups stated, “Millions of Americans rely daily on the provisions of the farm bill to produce food, fiber and fuel; to feed their families and others around the world; to voluntarily conserve fish and wildlife and their habitat; to provide sustainable solutions for clean air and water; to provide a producer safety net; to facilitate international trade; to create local jobs and robust economies; and to support rural development nationwide.”

The groups recognize that time is running out to craft and pass a farm bill this year. Passing a stopgap extension of this critical piece of legislation would put it at risk of further delay following the presidential election, the seating of a new Congress, and other legislative priorities.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall said, “When more than 500 groups – many of which typically have competing agendas – come together and speak with one voice, it clearly demonstrates the urgency and importance of passing a new farm bill. We’ve experienced a pandemic, record-high inflation, global unrest and supply chain issues since the current farm bill passed. It’s time lawmakers work in a bipartisan manner and agree on a new farm bill that addresses challenges and looks to the future to ensure America’s families continue to have access to the safest, most affordable food, fiber and fuel in the world.”



Growth Energy Leads Defense of RFS in U.S. Court of Appeals

Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, recently filed two intervenor briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a set of cases consolidated under Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) et al. (Case No. 23-1177). These briefs, filed in support of EPA’s recent RFS “Set” rule for 2023-2025 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), respond to challenges brought by oil industry and environmental petitioners.

“Growth Energy has always defended the RFS against false claims, and these latest challenges are no exception,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “It’s past time for anti-agriculture groups and their allies in the fossil fuel industry to accept that the RFS is working as Congress intended — delivering on the nation’s economic, energy, and climate goals.”

Growth Energy’s brief in CBD v. EPA buttresses arguments presented by both EPA and an independent group of scientists, exposing the outdated and debunked research behind false claims about land use and the potential to impact endangered species. Growth Energy further notes that EPA, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service developed a robust record of evidence, above and beyond the requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) showing that biofuel production is not a threat to protected species.

Growth Energy’s second brief in response to oil industry petitioners pushes back on the implausible argument that the RFS was not intended to advance the growth of renewable fuels in 2023 and beyond. As the D.C. Circuit itself has held, Congress’ express purpose in adopting the RFS was to “move the United States toward greater energy independence and security” and “to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”  Advancing the growth of renewable fuels, today and into the future, does just that, wrote Growth Energy.

“We’re optimistic that the courts will toss these challenges on the trash heap, alongside countless others over the last two decades,” said Skor.



Cattle on Feed
Rob Ziegler, Extension Specialist, University of Wyoming

Pre-report estimates for the USDA July Cattle on Feed report averaged an expected increase of 1.2 percent in total inventories as compared to last year. There was a wide range in estimates for June placements, ranging from 89.9 percent to 102 percent with an average of 97 percent. Marketing expectations were more consistent among analysts with an average of 91.8, or down 8.2 percent year over year. The Cattle on Feed report released Friday, July 19, pegged the cattle on-feed number at 11.304 million head, up 1 percent over July 2023. Keep in mind, the report estimates are rounded to the nearest whole number, so actual inventories are up about half of a percent year over year.

Steers represented 60 percent of the on-feed report and heifers 40 percent of the mix. Without a mid-year Cattle report, this may be the best indication of producer intentions to rebuild the cow herd, which does not appear to be happening at this time.

The biggest surprise between pre-report estimates and the Cattle on Feed report were placements: 97 percent expected versus 93 percent realized. Total placements for June were 1.56 million head, 7 percent below June 2023. Texas and Nebraska placements were down slightly year over year, at 99 and 98 percent respectively. Most notably, placements were down significantly for Iowa and Kansas. Both states placed 78 percent compared to a year ago. The distribution of placement weight categories was relatively consistent with the June 2023 report, and no clear changes in patterns of placement weights appeared. Seasonality and a tighter feeder cattle supply are likely contributing factors to the reduction in placements for June. The reduction in June placements should be bullish for prices in the back months. As drought increases, and pasture quality declines in some areas of the country, placement rates in the coming months may increase earlier than expected.

Marketings in June 2024 were 1.79 million head, 91 percent compared to levels a year ago. Notably, there were two less slaughter days this June as compared to last year. The reduction in marketings appeared to strengthen the cutout value, which rallied $15.28/cwt from May to June.

Inventories of cattle on-feed greater than 90 and 120 days is above historical averages. Lower ration prices, coupled with high fed cattle prices, are incentives for producers to put weight on cattle. The increase in popularity of beef on dairy cattle, as shown by a reduction in veal, also contributes to increased days on feed. Heavier fed cattle should increase carcass weights and support overall beef production, but forecasts indicate total beef production in quarter three of 2024 to be 5.6 percent below quarter three of 2023.

Overall, the July Cattle on Feed report indicates potentially further beef cow herd contraction with the heifer mix at 40 percent. Total on-feed inventories were slightly higher year over year and may put some downward pressure on short-term fed cattle prices. Placements in June were down, which should be bullish for fed cattle prices in the back months.