Tuesday October 08 Crop Progress Report + Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending October 6, 2024, there were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 36% very short, 40% short, 23% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 30% very short, 43% short, 26% adequate, and 1% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 4% very poor, 8% poor, 21% fair, 46% good, and 21% excellent. Corn mature was 88%, near 92% last year and 87% for the five-year average. Harvested was 27%, near 29% last year and 24% average.

Soybean condition rated 3% very poor, 8% poor, 25% fair, 48% good, and 16% excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves was 96%, near 97% last year and 94% average. Harvested was 46%, near 45% last year and 42% average.

Winter wheat planted was 87%, near 88% last year and 84% average. Emerged was 37%, well behind 57% last year, and behind 46% average.

Sorghum condition rated 1% very poor, 3% poor, 19% fair, 49% good, and 28% excellent. Sorghum mature was 79%, near 78% last year, and equal to average. Harvested was 16%, near 17% both last year and average.

Dry edible beans dropping leaves was 92%, near 94% last year and 96% average. Harvested was 76%, ahead of 63% last year, and near 74% average.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 17% very poor, 29% poor, 33% fair, 18% good, and 3% excellent.



Iowa Weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report

Iowa experienced another week of dry and windy conditions which allowed farmers 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 6, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Corn and soybean harvest continued to be the primary field activities for the week. Combine and other equipment fires were reported as weather conditions increased the risk of such fires.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 22 percent very short, 42 percent short, 36 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 16 percent very short, 44 percent short, 39 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn mature reached 90 percent, 6 days behind last year but 5 days ahead of the five-year average. Corn harvested for grain reached 22 percent, 2 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of normal. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 18 percent. Corn condition rated 77 percent good to excellent.

Soybeans dropping leaves reached 93 percent, 1 day ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans harvested reached 58 percent this week, 4 days ahead of last year and 1 week ahead of the average. Iowa farmers were able to harvest 31 percent of the State’s soybean crop during the week ending October 6, 2024. Soybean condition rated 76 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition continued to fall and rated just 38 percent good to excellent this week, a decrease of 6 percentage points.  Livestock water resources continue to be a concern.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

Nearly half of U.S. soybeans were harvested by the end of last week, well ahead of both last year and the five-year average, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday. The nation's corn harvest also continued to run ahead of the average pace last week thanks to mostly dry conditions across the central U.S.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn mature was pegged at 87%, equal to last year and 6 points ahead of the five-year average of 81%.
-- Harvest progress: Corn harvest moved ahead 9 percentage points to reach 30% complete as of Sunday. That was 1 point behind last year's 31% but 3 points ahead of the five-year average of 27%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 64% of corn still in fields was in good-to-excellent condition, unchanged from the previous week but above last year's 53%. Thirteen percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, up 1 point from the previous week but below 18% last year.

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: Soybeans dropping leaves were pegged at 90%, 1 point behind last year's 91% but 5 points ahead of the five-year average of 85%.
-- Harvest progress: The soybean harvest sped up even more last week, jumping ahead 21 percentage points to reach 47% completion as of Sunday. That was 10 points ahead of last year's 37% and 13 points ahead of the five-year average of 34%.
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 63% of soybeans still in fields were in good-to-excellent condition, down 1 point from 64% the previous week but still above last year's rating of 51% good to excellent.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: Winter wheat planting moved ahead another 12 points last week to reach 51% complete nationwide as of Sunday, 1 point behind both last year and the five-year average of 52%.
-- Crop development: An estimated 25% of winter wheat had emerged as of Sunday, equal to both last year and the five-year average.



Scholarship Opportunity Available for Aspiring Entrepreneurs at The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program

The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln is seeking students with a passion for entrepreneurship and a drive to turn their purpose into action.

Scholarship applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are now being accepted, welcoming both incoming and current students of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources who have prior experience in FFA or 4-H. Applications are due by midnight on January 15, 2025. Applications can be found on the Engler website at https://englerjourney.com.

Since 2012 over $2 million has been invested in empowering future entrepreneurs and innovators through this program. The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program is designed to empower enterprise builders. Participation in the program is not restricted to scholarship recipients.

The Engler program began in 2010 with a $20 million gift from the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation. The mission of the program is to embolden people on the courageous pursuit of their purpose through the art and practice of entrepreneurship. The program offers an academic minor while serving as an intersection in which students from a diverse array of majors and business interests can come together in pursuit of the American Dream.

For more information, visit https://englerjourney.com or contact Tom Field.



The future is cooperative in Nebraska agriculture

October is recognized as Cooperative Month in Nebraska, with this year’s theme, “The Future is Cooperative,” emphasizing the significant role cooperatives play in shaping agriculture's future. Jeremy Wilhelm, CEO of Frontier Cooperative, shared insights on how the organization is preparing producers for what lies ahead.

Wilhelm believes that the agricultural landscape will continue to evolve while maintaining its core mission.

 “I think fundamentally ag is going to look similar in the future,” he stated. “Farmers are going to continue to feed the world, but they will do it more efficiently using new technology, using advancements in crop nutrients and crop protection. It will consolidate, like it has for the last 25 or 30 years, but the farmers are still going to be doing what they do today.”

At Frontier Cooperative's grain facility near Syracuse, the integration of drones is already enhancing productivity. Wilhelm highlighted the importance of embracing cutting-edge technology, saying, “We will continue to grow more with less. It’s important for the cooperative system to understand technology, bring it to our farmers, so they can adopt it at a quicker pace than they would have.”

The cooperative also prioritizes research on sustainable agricultural practices. “Frontier has two research plots that we continually do research on new fertilizer technologies and seed technologies,” Wilhelm noted. He emphasized that farmers have historically been environmental stewards, and advancements like precision agriculture are now available to enhance sustainability.

Looking forward, Wilhelm stressed the cooperative's ongoing commitment. “We are going to continue to serve the farmers like we have for the last 108 years, but it may be in new or different ways,” he explained. He emphasized the importance of cooperatives in providing essential products and services to farmers, which might not be accessible otherwise.

“It’s important for the cooperatives to be successful, so that we can continue to support the farmers, provide them services, purchase their grain, and provide everything they need on the farm,” Wilhelm concluded. He highlighted that the success of cooperatives is crucial for the vitality of the agricultural economy.



Logan Bacon Joins 'Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon' Roster
    
Iowa State freshman walk-on Logan Bacon earned a spot in the ‘Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon’ promotion with his impressive tryout for the viral campaign with the Iowa Pork Producers Association. Bacon, the younger brother of Cyclone junior linebacker and original ‘Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon’ roster member Caleb Bacon, was the final student-athlete to try out for the promotion.

The Lake Mills, Iowa native showed up with a wheelbarrow full of bacon, and wisely declared, “Because, you can never have too much bacon!” The judges quickly agreed.

Additionally, Tommy Hamann made a surprise return to give his stamp of approval. Due to the addition of Logan Bacon, the ‘Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon’ campaign will henceforth be known as ‘Purchase Moore Bacon Hamann Bacon'. The obvious goal is to encourage everyone to purchase bacon, ham and other delicious pork products.

Logan Bacon joins Myles Purchase, Tyler Moore, Tommy Hamann, Caleb Bacon, Alec Cook and Zach Lovett in the promotion that launched last September and quickly went viral across social media, earned national media attention, and was named the Best NIL Deal of 2023 by the Sports Business Journal.

Logan Bacon was one of 19 Iowa State student-athletes to appear in the tryout videos. Like his older brother Caleb, Bacon joined the Iowa State football roster as a preferred walk-on. Caleb emerged as one of the team’s best defensive players last year and earned a full scholarship from Iowa State University at the end of last season. Logan Bacon hopes to follow in his brother’s footsteps, in multiple ways.

“It’s definitely a blessing to be able to get this opportunity right away,” Logan Bacon said. “I haven’t really done much yet, I just have a cool last name, and it’s been a lot of fun so far. The people at Iowa State have been great. All the coaches, the staff, the players, everyone takes you in with open arms, so I’m really blessed to be part of it.”

The Iowa State football team started this season 5-0 and they are currently ranked 11th in the nation.

“It’s really cool having Logan join this effort, especially with him having essentially the same start that I had as a preferred walk-on coming into the Iowa State program,” Caleb Bacon said. “I look forward to seeing him progress and hopefully have a lot of success.”

The Iowa Pork Producers Association is donating $1,000 worth of pork to every video tryout participant’s food pantry of choice. The Bacon brothers both chose the Lake Mills Food Shelf in Lake Mills, Iowa. That $2,000 worth of pork equals approximately 2,700 servings of protein to fight food insecurity in their hometown.

“It’s huge, especially for a little town like we’re from,” Caleb Bacon said. “All that pork is important to them. That will help feed families in our town that need some help. It’s just really rewarding to be able to give back to the community that we started from and we’re really glad the Iowa Pork Producers can do that for them.”

The updated list of food banks and pantries that will each receive $1,000 worth of pork for the student-athletes’ participation in the ‘Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon’ videos includes:
    Food Bank of the Rockies in Denver, Colo., in the name of Myles Purchase
    Food Bank of Iowa in Des Moines, Iowa, in the name of Tyler Moore
    Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners in Plymouth, Minn., in the name of Tommy Hamann
    Lake Mills Food Shelf in Lake Mills, Iowa, in the name of Caleb Bacon
    Food Bank for the Heartland in Omaha, Neb., in the name of Alec Cook
    Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, in the name of Zach Lovett
    Food Bank of Iowa, in Des Moines, Iowa, in the name of Abu Sama III
    St. Theresa Catholic Church Food Bank, in Des Moines, Iowa, in the name of Isaiah Seymour
    Mahomet Helping Hands Food Pantry in Mahomet, Ill., in the name of Wyatt Bohm
    Loving Hearts Outreach Food Pantry in Washington, Mo., in the name of Trevor Buhr
    Second Harvest Heartland Food Bank in Brooklyn Park, Minn., in the name of Steve Klotz
    River Bend Food Bank in Davenport, Iowa, in the name of Xavier Hamilton
    Kossuth County Food Pantry in Algona, Iowa, in the name of Audi Crooks
    First Church United Food Pantry in West Liberty, Iowa, in the name of Kelsey Joens
    Derby Community Food Pantry in Derby, Kan., in the name of Addy Brown
    Denton Community Food Center in Denton, Texas, in the name of Alisa Williams
    Cubbie’s Cupboard in Nevada, Iowa, in the name of Carson Rhodes
    Food Equality Initiative in Lenexa, Kan., in the name of Dominique Orange
    Lake Mills Food Shelf in Lake Mills, Iowa, in the name of Logan Bacon

October is National Pork Month, aka ‘Porktober’. The ‘Purchase Moore Bacon Hamann Bacon’ initiative is a key component of Porktober in Iowa. Hy-Vee grocery stores are promoting the campaign to encourage consumers to buy more pork products. In-store displays featuring the Cyclone players went up in 200 Hy-Vee stores across the Midwest.

Hy-Vee will give away free bacon for a year to 20 recipients and Blackstone Griddles to 10 recipients in conjunction with the promotion. To qualify, consumers simply need to purchase pork at any of the 200 participating Hy-Vee stores between now and October 31 and scan their Hy-Vee PERKS card at checkout. Hy-Vee operates grocery stores in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

All the ‘Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon’ videos can be found on the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube channels. The full video series is available for your use at this link.



American Farm Bureau Convention Registration is Open

The American Farm Bureau Federation announced the opening of general registration today for the 2025 American Farm Bureau Convention. The convention will be held Jan. 24-29, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.

“Step Up, Drive Forward” is the theme of the 106th consecutive American Farm Bureau Convention, a “can’t miss” event that offers attendees unique insights on the policies and perspectives that will affect farms, ranches and agribusinesses in 2025 and beyond.

“Farmers and ranchers are always looking to the future, whether that’s finding ways we can be more innovative and efficient or building up our local communities,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “The 2025 American Farm Bureau Convention will showcase that spirit across agriculture and the Farm Bureau family as we step up and drive forward together. I look forward to seeing you in January in San Antonio as we gather together to kick off another year of feeding, clothing and fueling our great nation.”

Duvall will give his annual address to Farm Bureau members during the convention’s opening general session on Sunday morning, Jan. 26. Eric Boles, a global expert in talent development, change management and cultural transformation, will address attendees as closing general session keynote speaker on Monday, Jan. 27. Boles is founder and CEO of The Game Changers Inc., a leadership training and development company headquartered in Lakewood, Washington. He learned principles of peak performance, team dynamics and leadership from his experience as a wide receiver with the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers and New York Jets.

A full lineup of engaging workshops will be available at convention. Workshops will be offered in four tracks – public policy, rural development, member engagement and consumer engagement. Topics will include the farm bill, hot topics in public policy, the 2024 election, farmer mental health, farm transition planning and engaging the next generation of agriculturists.

A vibrant trade show with exhibitors showcasing cutting edge innovations in agricultural technology, tools and services is also sure to capture the attention of attendees.

In addition, numerous optional farm- and ag-related day tours are available for attendees who wish to explore the Lone Star State. These include working farms and ranches, a beef cattle feedyard, a greenhouse, a turfgrass operation, vineyards, a cotton gin and the historic town of Luckenbach. Attendees can also sign up to explore a buggy barn, the Chisholm Trail Museum, the National Museum of the Pacific War and more. Details about additional tours will be posted when available.

View the high-level American Farm Bureau Convention agenda here. Members may register for the convention and tours through their state Farm Bureau office. Registration is also available through AFBF. The official event hashtag is #AFBF25 and the event website is https://annualconvention.fb.org/.



Export Exchange Attendees Gathering In Texas

Nearly 250 international buyers and end-users of coarse grains and co-products from more than 50 countries are arriving in Fort Worth, Texas, this week for Export Exchange 2024, ready to meet with nearly 300 U.S. suppliers and service providers across the value chain.

Co-sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Export Exchange 2024 offers attendees an unparalleled opportunity to meet and build relationships with domestic suppliers of corn, distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), sorghum, barley and other commodities.

Export Exchange focuses on bringing together international buyers and end-users of coarse grains and co-products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), with U.S. suppliers and agribusiness representatives.

“Ninety-five percent of potential customers and three-fourths of the world’s purchasing power are outside the U.S. – another reason Export Exchange – this longstanding event - is so critical to our industry,” USGC Chairwoman Verity Ulibarri said.

“The U.S. Grains Council strives to develop new markets and encourage trade by offering trade teams for buyer groups and by providing technical education to help potential customers better understand how to buy and use U.S. grains to meet the needs of their country’s consumers,” Ulibarri said.

Before attending Export Exchange, the Council organized 21 trade teams to show international buyers and end users aspects of the U.S. value chain to strengthen relationships. Eight trade teams arrived in the U.S. before Export Exchange and visited corn-growing states during harvest, explored DDGS production at ethanol plants and viewed port facilities in Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. After the event, the remaining 13 trade teams will leave for post-conference tours.

The conference runs through Wednesday at the Omni Fort Worth. More information about ExEx 2024, including registration details, is available at www.exportexchange.org or on social media using the hashtag #ExEx24.



Beef and Cattle Markets
Stephen R. Koontz, Dept of Agricultural & Resource Economics, Colorado State University

Cattle and beef markets started the fourth quarter with some considerable price optimism. Live cattle futures and feeder cattle futures rallied to close to levels seen prior to the second price break in August. We are still some distance from the levels seen at the beginning of the year, but moves in September were strongly higher, and the discussions are markedly different from the second quarter. What are the underlying fundamentals?

The boxed beef cutout value is off $30/cwt from the peak of the summer but firm for the week at slightly better than $300. The 5-area weighted average fed animal prices are in their third week of strengthening, and this is the first time since the market turned lower in August. Live prices are just short of $190. With this combination it looks as if packer margins might have covered costs this summer, but the return was thin, and margins historically seasonally weaken into the first quarter. There is not any incentive for the packer to pay more until the cutout value shows sustained strength.

What is truly impressive is the move in slaughter and carcass weights through 2024. Carcass weights first increased and then held steady – both counter-seasonal moves – through the first two quarters of the year. And then the normal, seasonal increases were seen in the third quarter but starting at substantially elevated levels. Current steer carcass weights are record large averages at almost 950 pounds. Current heifer weights are short of the record but are almost 855 pounds. Any shortfall in animal numbers has been offset by weights, and there remain big placements from May and July to work through. Weekly kills are lighter than 2022 and 2021 – the peak – but appear to be on par with 2023.

All in all, it is not too encouraging. The spark that I see is in the calculated long-fed inventories. From the September Cattle on Feed report two weeks ago, we see the following. Cattle on feed over 150 days remain large and notably are larger than 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020. However, cattle on feed over 120 days, while large, are starting to tighten. Inventory on feed over 120 days is smaller than 2023 and 2022. Again, big numbers and weights now but that have the prospect of changing come the first quarter of next year. The pipeline is full for the near-term with hints of being less so into next year.



Growth Energy Facilitated Over Half of HBIIP Grant Applications, Surpassed $1 Billion in Retailer Investment Since 2011

Monday, Growth Energy—the nation’s largest biofuel trade association—celebrated completion of the fifth and final round of applications for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) by releasing new figures that demonstrate how Growth Energy has helped retailers install equipment to offer higher biofuel blends like E15 and E85.

In total, Growth Energy facilitated 54% of grant applications for the last five rounds of HBIIP resulting in 1,173 total sites adding higher bioethanol-blended fuels. With these additions, our retail partners will generate 100 million gallons of additional bioethanol demand annually. Through grant writing, per-gallon incentives, and even direct financial support, Growth Energy has driven more than $1 billion in investments in new biofuels infrastructure since 2011, the year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Growth Energy’s waiver request that ultimately allowed the sale of E15 in cars made in 2001 or newer.

“Over the past few summers, E15 has been saving drivers 10 to 30 cents per gallon, and our leaders in Congress are rallying bipartisan support to make those savings a permanent, year-round feature of the marketplace,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “We are committed to increasing consumer access to this more affordable, lower-carbon fuel option. With every new pump that offers E15, we’re increasing American energy security, reducing emissions, and holding down prices for hardworking families.”

“We are thrilled with the outstanding results we’ve seen so far, from HBIIP and the programs that preceded it, and, as always, are grateful to our retail partners and USDA Secretary Vilsack for making it possible,” Skor added.  

“We invite drivers from all across Florida, Texas, and Georgia to visit one of our locations that offers E15 and try it out for themselves. This is a fuel option that's compatible with 96% of the cars on the road, better for the environment, and easier on their wallets," said Steve Walk, COO of Protec Fuel. "We're excited to see what the future holds for our stores and their customers as they offer this more affordable fuel option, and we thank the team at Growth Energy for their support throughout the grant process—without them, this wouldn't have been possible.”

The success of HBIIP illustrates the growing demand for more affordable, lower-carbon fuel options among retailers and their customers. Growth Energy will continue to build on this momentum so that consumers across the country have access to the cleaner burning, cost-lowering fuel option.



Apply Today for CME Group Beef Industry Scholarships

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is now accepting applications for the 2025 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship. Ten scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded to outstanding students pursuing careers in the beef industry. 

Introduced in 1989 and sponsored by CME Group, the scholarship identifies and encourages talented students who play a vital role in the future of food production. Students studying education, communication, production, research or other areas related to the beef industry are eligible to apply for the annual scholarship program.

“We are pleased to continue the CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship program with the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to support the next generation of agriculture producers,” said CME Group’s John Ricci, managing director and global head of agricultural products. “For 35 years, these scholarships have helped students develop critical risk management skills as they pursue their careers in agriculture, cultivating strong leaders for our global food system well into the future.”

Eligible applicants must be a graduating high school senior or full-time undergraduate student enrolled at a two- or four-year institution. The application process includes submitting a one-page letter expressing career goals related to the beef industry, a 750-word essay describing an issue in the beef industry and offering solutions to this problem, and two letters of recommendation. The applicant or a family member must be a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. 

The application deadline is Nov. 8, 2024, at midnight Central Time. For more information and to apply, visit www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org. Scholarship winners will be announced during CattleCon 2025, Feb. 4-6, in San Antonio, Texas. 

Organized in 1972, NCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing charitable, scientific and educational activities to benefit the cattle industry.