Friday September 27 Ag News

Nebraska Farm Bureau Endorses Candidates in Regents, Board of Education, and NPPD Races

 Nebraska Farm Bureau, the state’s largest general agriculture organization, is pleased to announce the endorsement of five candidates seeking to serve the state in various elected positions. Endorsements made by the Nebraska Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (NEFB-PAC) are based on the candidate’s positions on agricultural and rural issues and recommendations from district evaluation committees made up of farmer and rancher members.

“The candidates have shown a remarkable understanding of the significance of agriculture to Nebraska,” said Katie Olson, who serves as the first vice president of Nebraska Farm Bureau and chair of NEFB-PAC. “They all display a comprehensive awareness of the challenges facing farmers and ranchers across the state, along with a commitment to enhancing agriculture to bolster the state's economy.”

NEFB-PAC endorsed candidates seeking election:

University Board of Regents
Elizabeth O'Connor -- District 4
Rob Schafer –District 5

State Board of Education
Linda Vermooten – District 2
Lisa Schonhoff -- District 3

Nebraska Public Power District
Robin Hinrichs – Subdistrict 6

“We look forward to providing support for all the candidates as they seek to represent the interests of Farm Bureau members throughout state,” said Olson.



Nebraska Cattlemen Supports Pete Ricketts for U.S. Senate

The Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) Board of Directors are proud to announce their support of Pete Ricketts for the United States Senate.

“Pete Ricketts champions policies to strengthen Nebraska’s beef cattle industry and fights against the big government overreach harming producers’ families and operations. Nebraska Cattlemen proudly supports Pete Ricketts as he is a longtime partner of the cattle community and will continue working to keep the beef industry thriving,” Executive Vice President Laura Field stated.

“Extreme climate activists are trying to destroy the cattle industry. We won’t stand for that in the Beef State,” Ricketts said. “I’m honored to earn the backing of the Nebraska Cattlemen. I look forward to continuing to work with beef producers to protect property rights, stop big government overreach, and strengthen Nebraska agriculture.”



With Guidelines Clarified, Fuel Retailers Surge Toward Compliance with Iowa's E15 Access Standard

Friday, Iowa’s cost-share Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) awarded over $4 million in grants for Iowa fuel retail locations to add E15 (15% ethanol, 85% petroleum) to 86 retail sites throughout the state. Under Iowa’s E15 Access Standard adopted in 2022, retailers have until January 1, 2026 to offer E15 for sale to Iowa motorists. Earlier this year, the Iowa Legislature streamlined E15 requirements and increased the RFIP grant size.

“The move to E15 as the ‘new normal’ continues to accelerate,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “This is great news for consumers who can save 15-25 cents per gallon with E15 and for Iowa farmers who need expended ethanol markets to bolster prices. We’re also seeing more locations simply swap out E10 for E15. That’s a trend that we believe will continue. Today’s grants were the first under the new rules and we saw a very robust response.”

New legislation, signed into law in May 2024, allows retailers to install fuel dispensers compatible with the fuel being offered, in this case E15, instead of the more strict and expensive E85 standard during the transition period through December 31, 2025. Starting January 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030, new dispensers must be compatible with E40 blends. Beginning July 1, 2030, the dispenser requirement reverts back to E85 compatibility.

“There is no reason for retailers to miss the 2026 deadline for offering E15,” stated Shaw. “Rules have been streamlined. Grant sizes and funding have increased. Year-round E15 has been approved in Iowa. Every Iowa motorist deserves the cost-saving option of E15.”

In addition to E15 grants, RFIP also have awarded $1.75 million to 49 retail fuel sites to add biodiesel blends. Retailers receiving these grants agree to sell at least a B11 blend (11% biodiesel) during the summer and at least a B5 blend during the winter months. Approximately three-quarters of the biodiesel produced in Iowa is made from soybean oil. Distillers corn oil from ethanol plants, animal fats, canola oil and used cooking oil makes up the other biodiesel feedstocks.

Before today’s awards, the RFIP program has distributed more than $53.5 million to help fund ethanol and biodiesel infrastructure across Iowa, allowing retailers to add necessary equipment to their stations to offer higher blends of biofuels. The program has led to millions of dollars of private economic investment and hundreds of new stations offering higher blends of biofuels at the pump.



U.S. Pork Producers, Veterinarians Protected from Misguided Antimicrobial Reduction Mandate
 
In a victory for America’s pork producers and swine veterinarians, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) today celebrated the United Nations’ (UN) decision to reject proposed on-farm target reductions of antimicrobials. Instead, the UN declaration on antimicrobial resistance invests in stewardship programs and strengthens veterinarians’ roles on the farm, which NPPC strongly supports.
 
Without NPPC’s leadership and science-based voice in these discussions, by 2030, the UN could have implemented a 30% global on-farm reduction in antimicrobials, as well as limits on the use of certain antibiotics in animal agriculture.
 
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, domestic sales of all medically important antimicrobials intended for use in food-producing animals decreased by 33% between 2016 and 2017.
 
“Pork producers care about the health of their pigs, as healthy pigs ensure safe pork,” said Dr. Ashley Johnson, NPPC director of food policy. “Efforts to dictate on-farm production practices – especially those not rooted in science – are harmful in nature and undermine veterinarians’ ability to best care and treat animals.”
 
NPPC advocates for pork producers and veterinarians’ freedom to judiciously establish and maintain herd health through a valid Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR), including three times this year on a global stage (here, here, and here).
 
Through a VCPR, pork producers and veterinarians work together to customize a plan to protect both animal and human health, which may include using antimicrobials. A mandated reduction in antimicrobial use would compromise veterinarians’ ability to provide the best possible care for pigs.
 
In addition to utilizing a VCPR, the pork industry participates in the multi-agency One Health collaborative to optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems on a local, regional, national, and global level.
 
NPPC also supports increased antimicrobial stewardship programs that promote animal and human health, decrease antimicrobial resistance, and protect the food supply.



Dairy Market Report: U.S. Dairy Markets See Strong Exports and Consumption Growth

The U.S. average all-milk price stayed constant from June to July, even as futures markets and USDA estimates indicate rising prices in upcoming months.

Still, the cost of dairy feed, as calculated by the Dairy Margin Coverage feed cost formula, dropped by $0.66/cwt during the month, boosting the July margin to $12.33/cwt. That’s the fourth highest monthly margin since margin protection became the basic dairy safety net program in January 2015.

Total U.S. fluid milk consumption was higher than a year earlier during over half of the past 10 months, through July. Yogurt, butter and total cheese, especially other than American types, saw positive growth in use during May-July. July U.S. dairy exports were up substantially over their average levels during the first half of this year, at 17.4% of total U.S. milk solids production compared to an average of 16.4% during the first half. July marked the 13th consecutive month with lower milk production than a year earlier, during which period milk production averaged -0.8% below a year ago, while milk solids production averaged -0.2% below a year ago.

View Full Report https://www.nmpf.org/u-s-dairy-markets-see-strong-exports-and-consumption-growth/



Cattle shortage - a catalyst for industry growth

The U.S. cattle industry is in a holding pattern as producers and analysts closely monitor conditions for signs of herd expansion. After hitting historically low inventory levels, the beef cattle industry is waiting for the right moment to rebuild.

Current numbers have dropped to lows not seen in over 60 years, raising questions about when expansion will begin.

According to Rob Ziegler, a University of Wyoming Extension specialist, several factors are influencing the delayed expansion of the U.S. beef cow herd.

“The U.S. beef cow herd inventory has received significant attention recently due to historically low levels driven by market prices and drought conditions that have incentivized producers to sell,” Ziegler explained.

Droughts have severely impacted the cattle industry during key periods, including 2011-2014 and 2021-2023, coinciding with contraction phases in the cow cycle.

Ziegler highlighted that examining cow slaughter numbers during these periods could provide insight into current producer intentions and the future market trajectory.

During the last cycle, beef cow slaughter peaked midway through the contraction phase, with expansion following a few years later. In 2011, beef cow slaughter reached 3.9 million head before dropping to 2.2 million in 2015 when expansion started.

In the current cycle, 2022 marked the slaughter peak with nearly 4 million head. Since then, cow slaughter declined by 12% in 2023, and projections suggest 2024 will see even lower numbers.

“If history repeats itself, as it did in 2011, we may have another one to two years of contraction before moving into the expansion phase,” Ziegler noted.

However, despite strong feeder prices, elevated interest rates and higher input costs in recent years have negatively impacted income per cow.

This raises concerns about whether current margins will be sufficient to encourage herd expansion within that timeframe.

While market conditions are showing signs of improvement, producers remain cautious, awaiting clearer signals that an expansion phase is on the horizon. The cattle industry continues to adapt, navigating economic challenges as it prepares for the next cycle of growth.



Council Meets With Stakeholders To Support Higher Ethanol Blend Rates In Canada

This week, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Regional Ethanol Manager for the European Union, United Kingdom and Canada Stephanie Larson traveled to Ottawa, Ontario and Quebec City, Quebec to meet with government officials and discuss how the U.S. industry can further support Canada’s ongoing transition to higher ethanol blending rates.

“Canada is the top export market for U.S. ethanol, purchasing 590 million gallons during the 2022/2023 marketing year (MY) and already surpassing that figure during the first 11 months of MY 2023/2024 (598 million gallons) as U.S. producers benefit from a near 100 percent market share of ethanol imports in Canada. And there is still room to grow as the country continues its commitment to reduce carbon emissions,” Larson said.

While there is a nationwide mandate to blend gasoline with five percent ethanol (E5) in Canada, many provinces voluntarily set higher blend rates within their jurisdictions. Ontario and Quebec will both require E11 and E12 blends, respectively, by next year and the Canadian government recently announced plans to develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facilities, creating significant additional demand for U.S. producers to meet.

Larson was joined by Helena Jette, director of market development and biofuels for the Indiana Corn Growers Association, Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance, and Christopher Malone, vice president of market development for Indigo Ag.

The first day of the program included meetings with staff from Environment and Climate Change Canada and Natural Resources Canada, two of the governmental bodies responsible for overseeing the country’s goals and regulations toward fighting the climate change crisis. While in Ottawa, the team also met with representatives from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The group concluded its meeting itinerary in Quebec City with advisors from the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks and the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy.

“Canada has the potential to become the first billion-gallon market for U.S. ethanol as the country continues to develop progressive policies in the transportation sector, and maintaining connections with key Canadian policymakers and stakeholders through these meetings will be crucial to maintaining the privileged position enjoyed by U.S. ethanol in the Canadian market,” Larson said.



National Farmers Union Joins Global Call for Farmer-Centric and Innovative Food Systems

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew joined leaders from G7 countries' farmer organizations in Ortigia, Sicily, to emphasize the crucial role farmers play in shaping sustainable food systems.

Alongside the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (Canada), FNSEA (France), DBV (Germany), JA Zenchu (Japan), Coldiretti (Italy), CIA Agricoltori Italiani (Italy), and the National Farmers' Union (United Kingdom), with the support of the World Farmers Organization, this joint declaration highlights a critical time for the world to invest in sustainable, resilient, and competitive food systems.

"Family farms of the future cannot merely be environmentally sustainable – they must also be economically sustainable. It will take all of us to tackle the value chain, competition and resilience challenges farmers face across the globe,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “NFU looks forward to working with our international partners to ensure future investments in agriculture, whether from the public or private sector, are voluntary, farmer-led and make progress toward greater fairness for farmers.”

Key recommendations outlined in the declaration include greater public investment in sustainable and climate-friendly agricultural practices, the reinforcement of fair international trade based on reciprocity and transparency, and the advancement of farmer-centric innovation that bridges the gap between producers and the research community. The declaration advocates for a balanced approach to food systems, investing in both local, short value chains that support thriving communities and fair, international long value chains that bolster global food security and sustainability.

These measures are crucial not only for G7 countries but for the global effort to address the dual challenge of feeding a growing population while mitigating climate change. This unified call from global farm organizations underscores a powerful message: only through collaboration with farmers can governments ensure a peaceful, prosperous, and food-secure future for all.

NFU President Rob Larew was accompanied by North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne and Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish.



USDA Offers $58 Million in Available Assistance to Help Organic Dairy Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $58 million available for marketing assistance to eligible organic dairy producers through the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) 2024 to help expand the market for organic dairy and increase the consumption of organic dairy.  

“The Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program continues USDA’s commitment to keep the market for organic dairies sustainable as they weather challenges outside of their control,” said USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “In preparation for the launch of ODMAP 2024, we met often with organic milk industry leaders and their constituents to ensure that the assistance we provide addresses their expressed needs. Through this proactive engagement, we identified the need for and are pleased to offer increased payment rates and an increased production level eligible for marketing cost-share assistance.”    

ODMAP 2024 helps mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices that have created unique hardships in the organic dairy industry. Specifically, through ODMAP 2024, FSA is assisting organic dairy operations with projected marketing costs in 2024 calculated using their marketing costs in 2023. FSA will begin accepting ODMAP 2024 applications on Sept. 30. Eligible producers include certified organic dairy operations that produce milk from cows, goats, and sheep.  

ODMAP 2024 Program Improvements
Dairy producers who participate in ODMAP 2024 will benefit from improvements to provisions outlined in the program. Specifically, ODMAP 2024 provides for an increase in the payment rate to $1.68 per hundredweight compared to the previous $1.10 per cwt. Additionally, the production level eligible for marketing cost-share assistance has increased to nine million pounds compared to the previous five million pounds.  

How ODMAP 2024 Works  
ODMAP 2024 provides a one-time cost-share payment based on marketing costs on pounds of organic milk marketed in the 2023 calendar year or estimated 2024 marketing costs for organic dairy operations that have increased milk production or entered the organic dairy market. The assistance provided by ODMAP 2024 and the original ODMAP 2023 is provided through previously unused Commodity Credit Corporation funds remaining from earlier pandemic assistance programs.  

ODMAP 2024 provides financial assistance that immediately supports certified organic dairy marketing during 2024 keeping the organic dairy market sustainable until markets return to more normal conditions.   

How to Apply  
FSA is accepting applications from Sept. 30 to Nov. 29. To apply, producers should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center. To complete the ODMAP 2024 application, producers must certify to pounds of 2023 milk production, show documentation of their organic certification, and submit a completed application form.  

Organic dairy operations are required to provide their USDA certification of organic status confirming operation as an organic dairy in 2024 and 2023 along with the certification of 2023 milk production or estimated 2024 milk production in hundredweight.    

ODMAP 2024 complements other assistance available to dairy producers, including Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), with more than $36 million in benefits paid for the 2024 program year to date.