Friday October 04 Ag News

 University Beef: NU program takes farm-to-table to a new level

From pasture to plate, a new University of Nebraska program gives students a true taste of the state’s No. 1 industry.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture and University of Nebraska-Lincoln are partnering to launch University Beef, an innovative initiative that combines hands-on learning with high-quality dining.

“Farm-to-table is a big movement across the country right now. People want to know where their food comes from, so there’s a lot of interest in eating locally raised meat,” said Larry Gossen, dean of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA). “We’re taking that trend to a whole new level by engaging students in the entire process.”

The University Beef program starts in southwest Nebraska, where NCTA students raise and manage about 60 head of cattle at the Curtis campus and a 2,100-acre ranch located west of town. Those animals are cared for at an NCTA livestock working facility and finished at a small feedlot on campus.

“We want students to see the beef industry from the beginning to the end,” Gossen explained. “They’re involved every step of the way, from breeding and calving to grazing and feeding the cattle.”

The final product was the only missing piece. Previously, NCTA sold its cattle to a large company such as Tyson when it was time for them to be processed.

That’s no longer the case.

Now, the University Beef partnership brings those cattle to Lincoln, where UNL students harvest and process the meat at the Department of Animal Science’s Loeffel Meat Lab, a U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected facility.

From there, the packaged beef is transported to Kearney and transformed into delicious dishes prepared by Sodexo, the dining services provider at UNK.

Michael Christen, director of business services at UNK, called the collaboration a win-win.

“For us, it’s really important to showcase the state’s agricultural roots and connect that to our dining operations,” said Christen, whose family owns and operates a cattle ranch in central Nebraska. “There’s a whole brand behind Nebraska beef, and we’re going one step further by highlighting the student experience. It’s student-raised beef. It’s student-processed. And it’s served to students.”

It’s also really good.

“We’re getting a higher-quality beef from Curtis that increases the value for students and improves their dining experience,” Christen noted. “Our chefs can tell when they’re using that beef. It has more flavor. It cooks better. And it tastes better. So, the more we can utilize that program, the better.”

University Beef will be formally introduced this week, starting with a steak dinner served to the Board of Regents on Thursday evening. A campus cookout for UNK students is planned for next week as part of the homecoming festivities.

Moving forward, the Nebraska-raised beef will be incorporated into the regular dining menu at UNK, as well as Sodexo’s catering services. Branding elements developed by two different UNK marketing classes and fine-tuned by UNK Communications and Marketing will ensure people know where this meat came from.

“It’s great to see the student involvement and know we could enhance their educational experience through this program,” Christen said.

Gossen agrees.

“It’s all about the students,” he said. “This gives us a chance to expand their education so they can see beef production all the way from conception to harvest to consumption. It’s also a great way to demonstrate how three campuses can work together to create a product that I think will save the university some money.”

Along with the university partners, the program is supported by Kearney-based Cash-Wa Distributing, which transports the finished product from UNL to UNK.

Because of production and storage limitations, UNK Dining Services will continue to purchase beef from outside the program to fulfill campus needs. However, both Christen and Gossen see opportunities for future growth, whether that’s increasing the number of cattle dedicated to the program or introducing pork to the mix.

“We’ll do everything we can to continue adding value and quality to the student meal plan and our catering services,” Christen said.

“We’d like to get as many cattle as possible into the university system,” Gossen noted. “We’ve even talked about finding some freezer space on our own campus so we can serve University Beef here.”



Conservation Mentorship Network offers opportunity for peer-to-peer education

The Center for Rural Affairs is seeking participants for its Conservation Mentorship Network, a program designed to foster peer-to-peer learning among farmers and ranchers and increase the number of conservation practices adopted across Nebraska.

The network will create opportunities for participants to learn in individual and large-group settings. In addition to attending field days, webinars, and small group discussions, participants may request one-on-one guidance from a mentor whose location, operation, and values reflect their own.

“When it comes to new farming methods, producers often turn to their peers for help or information they can trust,” said Andrew Tonnies, policy associate for the Center. “Implementing conservation practices is no exception.”

The Center has recruited mentors from across the state to assist with network discussions and activities.

“Our mentors are excited to share their experiences using conservation methods to increase the resiliency of their operations,” Tonnies said.

He said the group represents an array of farm and ranch operations; however, all of them believe that helping their peers be successful is essential to the continued progress of agriculture.

“Sometimes you get hung up and just need someone to talk to [who can] help you figure things out,” said Teresa Otte, a mentor based near David City. “If I can encourage anyone to participate and get back to a little more conservation, it's going to be good for everyone. It means cleaner water and more productive soil that benefits rural communities.”
 
Participants must be located in Nebraska and express an interest in the on-farm benefits of conservation practices despite the associated challenges and risks. Producers with any level of experience and operation size (rented or owned land) are welcome to join, as well as those who have conservation experience and an interest in expanding their portfolio.

“What’s important in the long run is that producers band together to implement good practices for soil health, water quality, and their bottom lines,” Tonnies said. “The Conservation Mentorship Network is one important step toward that goal.”

Interested farmers and ranchers are encouraged to visit cfra.org/conservationmentorshipnetwork or email andrewt@cfra.org before Dec. 1 to sign up.

Mentors enrolled in the program include:
Bassett - Homer Buell
Brownville - Daryl Obermeyer
Chadron - Ron Bolze
David City - Teresa Otte
Denton - Brian Brhel
Elsie - Vance McCoy
Filley - Riley Reinke
Fremont - Chad Christianson
Hardy - Will Corman
Heartwell - Rob Hultquist
Indianola - Tracy Zink
Martell - Alex McKiernan
Mead - Angela Knuth
Milligan - Jordan Uldrich
Monroe - Greg Keller
Palmyra - Mike McDonald
Pierce - Dan Stelling
Pilger - Zeke Brummels
Rockville - Chris Trumler
Schuyler - Matt Bailey
Scribner - Ruth Ready
Utica - Alex Daake
Winside - Scott Heinemann

The Conservation Mentorship Network is made possible through funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, General Mills, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.




Nebraska Cattlemen Political Action Committee Announces Support for Congressional Candidates

Thursday, the Nebraska Cattlemen Political Action Committee (PAC) announced their support for three candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Nebraska Cattlemen PAC aims to support candidates who champion the beef industry by making decisions about laws and regulations that enhance the business climate for profitable beef production in Nebraska and foster opportunities for expansion.

Below is a list of candidates the Nebraska Cattlemen PAC supports for U.S. House of Representatives:
Nebraska's First Congressional District - Michael J. Flood
Nebraska's Second Congressional District - Donald J. Bacon
Nebraska's Third Congressional District - Adrian M. Smith

The Nebraska Cattlemen PAC announced its support of Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts for United States Senate last month.



Twelve FFA State Officers Selected to Serve as Voices of Agriculture

A select group of 12 FFA State Officers from across the country have been chosen to serve as prominent voices in agriculture. The 2024-2025 class of National FFA’s SpeakAg Pioneers are expected to serve as advocates at the local, state, and national levels for the industry and those in it.

SpeakAg Pioneers lead the way among FFA’s more than one million members in promoting agricultural advocacy and literacy to FFA members and the general public by hosting workshops, creating content for social media, and attending events such as National Ag Day and the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis October 23-26, 2024.

“The SpeakAg Pioneer program provides a pathway for FFA members interested in careers in communications and advocacy to advance their skills," says Celya Glowacki, Manager of Advocacy, Literacy, and Ag-Based Experiences at National FFA. “These students from across the country have shown initiative to lead in their state FFA associations, and this is another opportunity for them to educate others, serve an industry they love, and prepare for a successful career in agriculture.”

Members of the 2024-2025 SpeakAg Pioneer Class are:
    Brynn Almgren, Stuart, Neb., Nebraska FFA Secretary
    Caleb Ames, Stillwater, Okla., Oklahoma FFA Southwest Area Vice President
    Jack Beyer, Lowville, N.Y., New York FFA President
    Chloe Bomgardner, Jonestown, Penn., Pennsylvania FFA President
    Porter Hand, Pelzer, S.C., South Carolina FFA Region One Vice President
    Romulus Hiner, Harlowton, Mont., Montana FFA 2nd Vice President
    Josh Nelson, Troy, ID, Idaho FFA Vice President
    Paige Pardue, Hendersonville, Tenn., Tennessee FFA Reporter
    Inga Peterson, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Alaska FFA President
    Mikaela Rojas, New Boston, Mo, Missouri FFA State 1st Vice President
    Nina Weiland, Glen Gardner, N.J., New Jersey FFA Reporter
    Chloe Zittergruen, Keswick, Iowa, Iowa FFA Secretary

Corporate support for the SpeakAg Pioneers comes from Growth Energy, Merck Animal Health, and Wrangler.

You can learn more about the National FFA Organization at www.ffa.org, and the SpeakAg Pioneer program at https://www.ffa.org/speakag-pioneers/.  



New Director Fills Subdistrict 10 Vacancy on Papio NRD Board

The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (Papio NRD) Board of Directors has selected a new Director to fill the board’s Subdistrict 10 vacancy.

The Board appointed Zachary Irvine, a Lead Systems Engineer at the MITRE Corporation. Irvine is also a retired lieutenant colonel with more than 22 years of military leadership.

Irvine will officially participate in his first board meeting on November 14th. He replaces Kevyn Sopinski, who resigned in August.



South Korean Journalists Tour U.S. Ethanol Value Chain

Recently, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) escorted a group of media members from the Korea Automobile Journalists Association on a tour of the U.S. ethanol value chain to build their understanding of ethanol’s production practices and applications. Pictured, the group visited an ethanol plant in Nebraska to see how ethanol and its co-products are created and transported to consumers.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) escorted a group of media members representing the Korea Automobile Journalists Association on a tour of the U.S. ethanol value chain and organized meetings with leading industry stakeholders. The goal: Exposing them to the many environmental, economic and human health benefits of ethanol blending.

“The Council has been working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA’s FAS) in Seoul and industry stakeholders for years to advance biofuel policies in the country, and this program is a continuation of that effort,” said Haksoo Kim, USGC director in South Korea.

“South Korea has high market potential for U.S. fuel ethanol, potentially up to 300 million gallons annually, so it is essential we continue exploring every avenue to help generate new demand for road ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).”

The program began in Chicago and the team met with Dr. Steffan Mueller, professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, to learn about expected carbon reduction effects in South Korea under an E10 policy. Later that day, the group spoke with Dr. Michael Wang’s team at the Argonne National Laboratory about the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction effect of ethanol’s lifecycle and the need for a renewable fuel standard policy in South Korea.

With the support of Nebraska Corn, the journalists had the opportunity to visit stakeholders across the value chain from corn farms to gas station chain in Nebraska, learned about the experience and economic and environmental impacts of the E10 policy in the United States, and interviewed key stakeholders. In particular, the group gained a deeper understanding of the need for on-road ethanol policies from Nebraska’s progressive E30 project and carbon sequestration and storage plans for additional carbon reductions.

The reporters then traveled to Washington, D.C., to interview U.S. Grains Council CEO Ryan LeGrand and Vice President Cary Sifferath; Growth Energy Vice President Jake Comer; and Renewable Fuels Association Vice President Ed Hubbard for their thoughts and suggestions on how to help introduce a road ethanol policy in South Korea.

For the final stop on the agenda, Growth Energy invited the group to the NASCAR Quaker State 400 in Atlanta, where participants witnessed E15 fuel used in the cars and, through interviews with race participants and officials, reaffirmed the economic and environmental benefits of fuel ethanol.

“Through this program, the Korea Automobile Journalists Association has become convinced that introducing a road ethanol policy is necessary in Korea to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and the reporters have published 45 news articles supporting the introduction of an ethanol policy in South Korea so far, which is expected to have a ripple effect on the Korean government and related industries such as oil refineries,” Kim said.

“Korea is one of the largest markets for U.S. industrial ethanol, but we need to create new demand such as road ethanol and SAF, and we will continue to work to expand the Korean ethanol market through these ongoing programs.”



NGFA comments on tentative port labor agreement

The International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. announced Thursday night that they have reached a tentative agreement to end the strike that has crippled East and Gulf Coasts ports since Tuesday. The labor contract between to two sides has been extended to Jan. 15, 2025, which will enable all parties to return to the bargaining table to resolve their issues.

Mike Seyfert, the President and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), released the following statement about this development.

“It is a relief that a tentative agreement has been reached and the ports will be open for business once again. For U.S. farm products to flow smoothly to domestic and international markets, it is essential for all parts of the supply chain to be fully functioning. The shutdown of these vital shipping ports was already starting to create big problems for NGFA’s members and America’s farmers during harvest season. Left unresolved, this strike could have led to higher transportation costs for agricultural shippers and jeopardized valuable customer relationships. For the sake of rural America, we hope that the parties involved will work diligently between now and January 15 to find a long-term agreement that works for both sides and keeps our shipping channels open.”

Last week, NGFA spearheaded a letter that was signed by agricultural organizations and companies across the country, calling on President Biden to help find a solution to the ongoing labor challenges. The Farm Bureau estimated that $1.4 billion a week in agricultural trade was at risk during the strike.



USMEF Statement on East and Gulf Coast Port Announcement

Thursday evening the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) released a joint statement announcing an end – at least temporarily – to the work stoppage that shut down East and Gulf Coast ports earlier this week.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement:

On behalf of USMEF’s member companies and organizations, I want to thank all parties involved in the effort to get cargo moving again off the East and Gulf Coasts. This is a tremendous relief to everyone in the U.S. meat and livestock industries, as about $100 million worth of beef and pork products are exported every week through East and Gulf Coast ports. Exports are a critical revenue stream at all levels of the U.S. red meat supply chain, and our industry needs all U.S. ports operating to meet the needs of our international customers and to maintain the United States’ reputation as a reliable red meat supplier.



UPDATE: CARB LCFS

The California Air Resources Board this week released a second 15-day notice of public availability for comment on proposed changes to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The American Soybean Association and coalition partners have met with CARB staff and board members to highlight concerns with current proposed changes. While some meetings have been productive, ASA maintains that CARB continues to make policy decisions based on political pressure rather than science. The proposed changes in this new 15-day notice continue this trend and are outlined below. In response to this notice, ASA is developing comments, which are due Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Additional feedstock limitations
Of greatest concern to ASA, CARB’s latest proposed changes to the LCFS expand the limitation on crop-based feedstocks by adding sunflower oil in the 20% virgin vegetable oil cap. This means the 20% cap will now apply to three feedstocks (soy, canola and sunflower oil) in aggregate rather than two, which could further limit soybean oil participation in the California LCFS market. The new LCFS proposal provides a little more flexibility in the timeline for implementing the virgin vegetable oil cap, stating that all fuel producers with approved pathways will need to reach compliance by Jan.1, 2028, as opposed to just those currently over the cap. Importantly, soy-based biofuels will still be allowed for usage in California but would not generate credits beyond the cap.

More aggressive carbon intensity benchmarks
Another area of potential concern to ASA is that CARB has proposed adjusting the timeline used to determine when its Automatic Acceleration Mechanism can trigger. The AAM allows for additional decrease in carbon intensity (CI) score requirements for credit generation when certain CI benchmarks are achieved and maintained in a calendar year. Significant ramp-ups of the AAM could push soy BBD out as an LCFS credit generator sooner. The proposal allows CARB to trigger the AAM based on data for the previous four quarters of reporting, rather than the previous calendar year. Quarterly analysis could offer additional opportunities to ramp up CI reduction benchmarks.

Next steps
ASA is drafting comments in response to the second 15-day notice of public availability for comment on proposed changes to the LCFS. ASA will continue meeting with CARB staff and board members to share concerns related to all proposed updates that impact soybean growers. CARB is scheduled to meet on Nov. 8 for a final vote to approve amendments to the LCFS program.