Friday December 13 Ag News

 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Nebraska Poultry

In the past week, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has detected two cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry flocks in Nebraska. These cases represent the second and third cases of HPAI in Nebraska poultry in 2024.

The first case in the past week was detected in a commercial turkey flock in Nemaha County, and the second case was detected in a small backyard chicken flock in Dodge County.

“HPAI is a highly contagious virus that is still circulating in wild birds, and in backyard and commercial flocks around the U.S.,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Roger Dudley. “While we have not had a case of HPAI in Nebraska since February, many other states have already experienced or are experiencing the devastating effects of this disease to their flocks. Poultry producers need to continue to monitor for and protect their birds against HPAI. Knowing the signs and symptoms of HPAI and continuing to practice good biosecurity measures helps prevent the spread of this disease in their flocks.”

About HPAI
HPAI is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions, as well as infected food, water, and manure. The virus can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds during migratory season, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers. Wild birds can carry the virus without becoming sick, while domesticated birds can become very sick and die.

Clinical Signs of HPAI in Birds
Symptoms of HPAI in poultry include: a decrease in water consumption; lack of energy and appetite; decreased egg production or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs; nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing; incoordination; and diarrhea. HPAI can also cause sudden death in birds even if they aren’t showing any other symptoms. HPAI can survive for weeks in contaminated environments.

Resources are available for poultry producers at nda.nebraska.gov/animal/avian/, and from the USDA at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza. Poultry experiencing signs of HPAI or unusual death should be reported to NDA at 402-471-2351 or the USDA at 866-536-7593.

 

Smith Statement on Reported USTR Efforts to Renegotiate Trade Agreements

Thursday, Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after it was reported the Office of the United States Trade Representative is attempting to renegotiate provisions of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement without consulting Congress or American industry stakeholders.

"I am extremely troubled by reports the lame duck Biden-Harris administration is attempting to bypass Congress to alter USMCA and the U.S.-Colombia agreement. President Biden and Ambassador Tai have wasted the past four years by slow-walking or forgoing any opportunity to fight for American producers and consumers, and there is no reason to trust any last-ditch trade actions will demonstrate any regard for congressional intent. I strongly urge USTR to gather and consider stakeholder input and consult Congress on any negotiations related to these agreements and respond to the letter I sent with nine of my colleagues three months ago in a fashion which holds Mexico accountable to its USMCA obligations."



Center for Rural Affairs announces two online events

The Center for Rural Affairs will soon hold the following events:
    Online - CRP- Transition Incentive Program Informational Webinar, Friday, Jan. 10 and Tuesday, Jan. 14, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. This informative webinar for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) landowners with expiring contracts explores the opportunities and incentives available through the CRP-Transition Incentives Program. For more information, contact Cynthia Farmer at cynthiaf@cfra.org or 402.687.2100 ext. 1034.

    Online - Workshop Series: Taxes for Business Owners (Spanish), Tuesday, Jan. 14 and Thursday, Jan. 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. These workshops assist business owners in learning to manage their finances effectively by making informed decisions, avoiding errors, and getting the answers they need when filing their taxes. For more information, contact Brissa Borjas Esparza at brissabe@cfra.org or 402.870.2749.

Registration at cfra.org/events is required in advance, unless otherwise noted.



Nebraska Beef Innovators: Miller’s research aims to aid in feedlot management decisions

University of Nebraska-Lincoln doctoral student Jessica Miller is researching how using ethanol byproducts and housing systems affects livestock performance and manure nutrients.

Miller’s research is being conducted in four different housing systems in the new Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead. Two are open lots with one being dirt floor and the other roller-compacted concrete. The other two systems are slatted-floor barns, one with a mono-sloped roof and the other with a gable-sloped roof. Each housing system will have a group of cattle fed a diet including ethanol byproducts and another group, the control, not fed byproducts.

“We will feed them for about 180 days and look at performance at the end of the finishing period,” Miller said. “We will also look at manure nutrient composition throughout the feeding period, especially regarding nitrogen and phosphorus.”

Manure will be removed from the dirt floor and slatted floor housing after each feeding period, and periodically from the roller-compacted concrete housing. It will be tested and the results will be used to measure total manure output and manure nutrient content composition. These metrics indicate manure quality.

Miller will measure live performance traits such as live final body weight, dry-matter intake, average daily gain, and feed efficiency. The study will also track carcass characteristics such as hot carcass weight, liver abscess scores, yield grade, marbling score, fat thickness, and longissimus muscle area to assess overall performance.

“Feeding cattle under shelter can protect cattle from exposure to hot or cold weather, mud, and wind,” Miller said. “Previous research in the Midwest comparing cattle finished under shelter and cattle finished in open lot pens has shown that housing systems can impact dry-matter intake, average daily gain, and feed efficiency. Additionally, housing systems could impact manure nitrogen losses as well as manure quality and value, as nitrogen losses result in nitrogen to phosphorus imbalances when using manure as a fertilizer in cropping systems.”

This research will help producers and consultants make management decisions about which systems and diets best suit the goals of their feedlot operations.

Miller is also working on a project modeling different beef systems in Nebraska using the USDA ARS Integrated Farm Systems Model which is a computer program that simulates beef production and integrated cropping systems to predict economics, performance and environmental impact.

“I can model different management practices, and it gives outputs on differences in greenhouse gas emissions and nutrients used and lost by the system, so it also relates to my other project at the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center,” Miller said.

Miller is hoping to take data from her project at the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center to use with the Integrated Farm Systems Model.

Miller grew up on a farm in LaCrosse, Washington, and always had an interest in studying agriculture. During her undergraduate education at Washington State University, she became interested in animal science research which led her to UNL for graduate school in ruminant nutrition.

Miller is currently the research coordinator for the ruminant nutrition lab. After graduation, Miller plans to continue doing ruminant nutrition research.



2025 Crop Production Clinics Begin Jan. 8

Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 8, the 2025 Nebraska Crop Production Clinics will feature live presentations and present research updates and information tailored to regional crop issues and grower interests. Sponsored by Nebraska Extension, the programs will be held on eight days throughout January, with the final clinic offered on Tuesday, Jan. 28. The clinic on Jan. 28 will be in partnership with the Nebraska Agribusiness Association Expo and will include free admission to the Expo tradeshow.

2025 Clinic Dates and Locations:
    Jan. 8 — Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center, Scottsbluff
    Jan. 9 — West Central Research Extension and Education Center (WCREEC), North Platte
    Jan. 14 — Northeast Community College, Norfolk
    Jan. 15 — Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC), Ithaca
    Jan. 17 — Holiday Inn Express, Beatrice
    Jan. 22 — Lochland Country Club, Hastings
    Jan. 24 — Holthus Convention Center, York
    Jan. 28 — Younes Conference Center, Kearney at the Nebraska Agribusiness Association Expo

Individual clinics will be customized to address topics specific to that area of the state, allowing attendees to engage with research-based information on the issues that may be faced locally.

Visit the Crop Production Clinics 2025 website for the most up-to-date information https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc.

Registration is available online for each location. Pre-registration is required and costs $95.

Certified Crop Advisor credits will be available in crop production, nutrient management, integrated pest management, soil and water management.

Pesticide Applicator Recertification
The clinics will offer commercial and non-commercial pesticide applicators an opportunity to renew their licenses in the general standards, ag plant and demonstration/research categories.

The clinics are also a venue for private pesticide applicators to renew their licenses.

For more information, contact, Bob Wright clinics coordinator and Entomology Professor Emeritus, via email or at 402-472-2128. Registration questions can be directed to Connie Hansen, 402-472-8747.



Nebraska Women in Agriculture conference registration opens January 1

The 40th Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference will be held Feb. 20-21, 2025, in Kearney, at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, 110 Second Ave.

Attendees can look forward to hearing from keynote speakers Elaine Froese, Emily Reuschel, Leah Peterson, and Jena Oschner.

In addition to the keynote speakers, participants will select from over 20 workshop options that cover the five areas of agricultural risk management: production, market, financial, human and legal. Selected workshops will offer Continuing Education Credits for Certified Crop Advisors.

The photography exhibition, “Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture,” will be on display at the event to help celebrate 40 years of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Nebraska Women in Agriculture program.

“We are thrilled to present such a diverse and inspiring lineup of speakers at this year's conference,” said Jessica Groskopf, director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. “The experts, innovators, and leaders joining us are truly exceptional, and their insights will provide invaluable knowledge for everyone involved in agriculture. This is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.”

Registration opens on Jan. 1, 2025. The cost for a two-day registration is $150 for participants who register on or before Feb. 7. The two-day registration fee increases to $175 on Feb. 8. A one-day registration is available for $90.

The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program and the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition are offering scholarships for students and producers to attend this year’s conference. The deadline for these applications is Feb. 1.

To learn more, visit the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website at https://wia.unl.edu.

A special thank you to the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition for their partnership on this year’s conference. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available. To learn more about how your company or organization can be a part of this exceptional event, please visit the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website.

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2023-70027-40444.

About the speakers
Elaine Froese has coached over 1,000 families helping decrease their anxiety over the uncertainty of their future. She has authored five books and written a Grainews column for 30 years. Froese Family Farms, a certified seed farm near Boissevain in southwestern Manitoba is her home base, where she farms with her husband, son, and daughter-in-law. Elaine understands the culture of agriculture and is gifted at helping folks see great outcomes and workable paths for their family farms. Her mission is to help families find harmony through understanding.

Emily Reuschel is a champion for the leaders, thinkers, doers, and dreamers of rural communities and beyond. Her thoughtful leadership defies expectations, busts limiting beliefs, and asks better questions to understand this big, beautiful world and the people in it. Whether from the stage, behind the Gather in Growth podcast mic, or within her signature virtual communities, she fosters conversations to help women heal, grow, evolve, and build empathy bridges to transform them from the inside out.

Jena Ochsner is a dedicated fifth-generation farm wife and entrepreneur. She and her family raise cattle and grow commercial row crops with a commitment to faith, stewardship, and sustainability. Known for her relatable, educational content, Jena connects her audience to the realities of farm life through social media, where she shares insights into rural life, modern farming practices, and her love for the land. With deep roots in her community and an unwavering Christian faith, Jena encourages others to embrace the values of hard work, family, and legacy. She also speaks passionately about diversifying farm income, using technology on the farm, healthy living, and all things relatable to being a woman in agriculture. Jena also ships their premium dry aged beef nationwide and is cohost of Beyond the Crops Podcast.
Leah Peterson, started her social media account, Clear Creek Ranch Mom, in the midst of the 2019 Bomb Cyclone as it rolled across Nebraska. What began as a landing page where people could share help and resources for those affected, became a community of people engaged in supporting one another through the ups and downs of farm and ranch life. In the years since, Clear Creek Ranch Mom has become a page where people can come to learn about modern agriculture, with doses of reality, nostalgia, and humor.

The exhibition, “Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture,” aims to highlight the vital role of women in Nebraska’s agricultural landscape with a collection of over 70 portraits captured at the 2024 Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference by renowned photographer John Noltner. Each portrait is accompanied by the subject’s short answer to the question, “what has called you to this work?”

“Legacy of Leadership: Faces of Nebraska Women in Agriculture” is funded in part by a grant from Humanities Nebraska.

Humanities Nebraska is a private nonprofit with a mission to help people explore what connects us and makes us human. Humanities Nebraska is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, an appropriation from the Nebraska Legislature, private donations and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, a public-private partnership with state dollars matching private dollars to benefit the arts and humanities in Nebraska.



North Dakota Approval of Summit Carbon Solutions Sequestration Wells a Win for Farmers, Ethanol Demand

Today the North Dakota Industrial Commission voted to approve three CO2 sequestration wells in the state as part of the Summit Carbon Solutions carbon pipeline project. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) calls the approval another win for farmers and ethanol demand across the multi-state map. IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw made the following statement:

“The momentum is rolling, and the train will not stop until ultra-low carbon ethanol becomes achievable for producers who are desperately in need of big opportunities to drive corn demand. Project approval is now on track, full steam towards South Dakota. We need regulators there to get onboard, otherwise Midwest farmers will be left at the station as other states, such as Nebraska, roll toward new markets like sustainable aviation fuel.”



Dry Manure Applicator Certification Workshops Offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, will offer manure applicator certification workshops for dry/solid manure operators on five different dates and locations in February 2025. These workshops meet manure applicator certification requirements for confinement site and commercial manure applicators who primarily apply dry or solid manure.

“The information in this workshop will benefit not only those needing certification but anyone using dry or solid sources of manure as a nutrient resource,” said Dan Andersen, associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and extension agriculture engineering specialist at Iowa State University and coordinator of the manure applicator certification program.

The workshops are free to attend and open to all. Applicators will be required to submit certification forms and fees to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to meet manure applicator certification requirements.

Pre-registration is required. No walk-ins are permitted. Register for any of the workshops below by calling the selected site. All workshops begin at 1 p.m.
    Feb. 10, Washington County: ISU Extension and Outreach office, Washington. Call 319-653-4811 to register.
    Feb. 11, Adair County: Greenfield City Hall, Greenfield. Call 641-743-8412 to register.
    Feb. 13, Buena Vista County: ISU Extension and Outreach office, 701 Seneca Street, Suite 1 Storm Lake. Call 712-732-5056 to register.
    Feb. 24, Sioux County: ISU Extension and Outreach office, Orange City. Call 712-737-4230 to register.
    Feb. 25, Wright County: ISU Extension and Outreach office, Clarion. Call 515-532-3453 to register.



Iowa's Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Project Expands into Eighth County

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is expanding its popular Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Project into Adams County, the eighth county to join the project. The southwest Iowa county will now join Taylor, Page, Woodbury, Cherokee, Ida, Guthrie, and Carroll Counties as part of the innovative and creative water quality program. Secretary Naig made the announcement today in Ames during his remarks to the Iowa Cattle Industry Convention.

This first-of-its-kind, locally-led project demonstrates the compatibility between cattle and conservation, and the creative opportunities to advance conservation-based cropping systems. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and other partners will work with farmers and landowners by using precision ag tools to identify, build and expand opportunities for forage-based crops, such as pasture and hay, where row crops are less profitable. Assistance is provided to livestock producers on an individual basis to evaluate their operations and goals on a sub-field level and to identify the best opportunities to target conservation practices. The project also encourages cover crop seeding in the fall, a practice that is proven to improve water quality and prevent soil erosion while also serving as a source of forage for livestock.

“The strong demand for the Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Project within our seven-county project area proves that it is both popular and effective, and with more partners and resources, we’d love to continue to expand it into even more counties beyond Adams County. Ultimately, this is the type of working lands concept that should become the basis for a future Farm Bill conservation program,” said Secretary Naig. “The project provides an opportunity to grow our livestock herds, which is good for Iowa’s economy, while also improving soil health and making progress toward our Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals. We continue to set records for conservation adoption in Iowa, and this project is helping to build that momentum.”

The Department supported an initial pilot in Taylor County, which began in 2017. Since the start of work in Taylor County, 170 different producers have participated. This has led to the conversion of over 6,500 acres to haying or grazing in the county. Nearly 500 different fields throughout the county have been impacted with participation touching every township. Over 50 ponds, an important water source, have also been constructed. Taylor County has gone from approximately 5,000 acres of cover crops in 2016 to now seeding upwards of 13,000 acres per year. The project expanded into Page County in 2022. Since then, 80 different producers have converted more than 1,000 acres to hay or pasture across 100 different fields. Twenty ponds have been constructed, and the county is now seeding approximately 16,000 cover crop acres per year.

In 2023, with the help of a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Project (RCPP) grant and other conservation and cattle-focused partners, Carroll, Guthrie, Cherokee, Ida and Woodbury Counties were added to the project. In 2024 alone, across all seven counties participating, 220 producers converted 5,580 acres to hay or grazing. This includes more than 600 different fields. While the cover crop acres for this fall as part of this project are still being tallied, the number already exceeds 44,000 acres.

The Department’s initial partners on this expansion into Adams County include the following: Adams County Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Beef Industry Council, Adams County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), NRCS and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

“We are pleased that the Adams County SWCD has been approved for the Working Lands Project funding. We have seen the benefits of this program in neighboring counties,” said Chad Jacobs, President of the Adams County Cattlemen. “The program provides some great incentives to convert crop acres to hay and pasture. We are excited to see the impact on Adams County in the coming years.”

The Department is supporting the administrative, technical, and cost-share assistance costs of the SWCD to lead the project. Between all partners, the estimated cost-share budget for practice implementation is anticipated to be at least $744,000.

“I am excited about this project because of the potential to return marginal soils, that have been converted to cropped acres, to the pasture and hay ground those soils are better suited for,” said Marnie Cline, a livestock farmer and an Adams County Soil and Water District Commissioner. “This funding partnership will give the cow/calf producer incentives to return cropped acres to pasture, hay, and utilize cover crops to protect and improve the soil and its health. These forage practices will benefit the producer, their livestock, and the water quality of Adams County.”  



United Soybean Board Elects Philip Good as New Chair

Farmer-leaders of the United Soybean Board (USB) elected Philip Good from Macon, Mississippi, as 2025 Chair during its December meeting in St. Charles, Missouri. He’s joined by 10 additional farmer-leaders to serve on the Executive Committee.

“I’m honored to serve as chair of the United Soybean Board, but it's about all of "US" working together to achieve one common goal of bringing value back to the soybean farmer,” said Philip Good, newly appointed USB Chair. “I’m proud to work alongside 76 passionate directors on this board who are strategic thinkers in finding out what is going to give us the greatest return. I realize that our U.S. soybean farmers are in a desperate situation regarding costs. When I think about what opportunities will create the most impact, several things come to mind. The potential is limitless for exports around the world, new technology, job creation and feeding the world, which all create a ripple effect.”

The newly elected USB Executive Committee includes:
    Philip Good, Chair – Mississippi
    Brent Gatton, Vice Chair – Kentucky
    Matt Gast, Treasurer – North Dakota
    Susan Watkins, Secretary – Virginia
    Ed Lammers – Nebraska
    Robb Ewoldt – Iowa
    Todd Hanten – South Dakota
    Tom Frisch – Minnesota
    Don Wyss – Indiana
    Carla Schultz – Michigan
    Steve Reinhard, Past Chair (Ex Officio) - Ohio

Good brings years of experience to the chair role, having served on the United Soybean Board for the past seven years. He currently holds key leadership positions as Secretary, Executive Committee member and chair of the Audit & Evaluation Committee. Additionally, Good is the president of the Noxubee County Farm Bureau and a member of the finance committee for the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation. Phillip is involved with several organizations, including the Mississippi Soybean Association, the American Soybean Association, the Mississippi Corn Growers Association, the National Corn Growers Association, and the Noxubee Cattlemen’s Association. Alongside his farming efforts, he is a real estate broker with Philip Good Realty.

As the new Chair, Good will explore ways to foster transparency and build trust through clear communication and education. He also aims to seek out and implement greater efficiencies to drive cost-saving measures, and encourage strategic thinking to ensure U.S. soybean farmers work together toward a common goal.

Good's experience serving on the board and his agricultural background will be valuable additions. He brings firsthand knowledge and expertise to the table, having grown corn, cotton, and soybeans and raised beef cattle and catfish on his farm.

“When I think about leadership and unity, newly elected chair Philip Good immediately comes to mind,” said Lucas Lentsch, United Soybean Board CEO. “Philip brings a wealth of knowledge and experience having served as Treasurer and various organizational chair roles. This year, we have reaffirmed the strength of U.S. agriculture amid tough economic conditions. With Philip at the helm, I am confident we will drive new demand opportunities and further resilience on the farm.”



ASA Elects 2025 Executive Committee, Welcomes 5 New Board Members

During its annual election meeting in St. Louis this week, the American Soybean Association Board of Directors voted in the executive committee members who will lead the organization through the coming year’s top advocacy priorities, including farm bill, regulatory issues, tax policy, markets, biofuels and other top policy issues for U.S. soybean farmers.

Caleb Ragland (KY), who previously served as ASA vice president, will serve as 2025 ASA president. Ragland began serving on ASA's board of directors in December 2017. He farms 4,000 acres of soybeans, corn and winter wheat on his Magnolia, Kentucky, farm.

Immediate past president Josh Gackle (ND) moves to the role of ASA chairman. Former chairman Daryl Cates (IL) rotates off the nine-member executive committee.

The ASA board elected Scott Metzger (OH) as ASA vice president, a role that puts him in line to serve as the association’s president in 2026.

In addition, the board elected Dave Walton (IA) as ASA secretary; Alan Meadows (TN) as treasurer; and Heather Feuerstein (MI); Tanner Johnson (WI); Jimmie Lee Shaw (SC); and Jordan Scott (SD) as at-large members of the executive committee.

ASA celebrated the advocacy of and said farewell to several directors retiring this week, including Charles Atkinson (KS); Ken Boswell (NE); Jeff Harrison (CAN); James Hereford (AL); Chris Hill (MN); Jered Hooker (IL); and Mike Petefish (MN).

ASA welcomed five new directors who begin their nine-year terms, including Teresa Brandenburg (KS); Julie Maw (CAN); Geoff Ruth (NE); Bob Worth (MN); and Bryan Severs (IL).
        



USGC, CPC Taiwan Conduct Ethanol Tests With Yamaha

This week, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), in collaboration with Chinese Petroleum Corp Taiwan (CPC), the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and Yamaha, held a test drive of motorcycles fueled by 100 percent bioethanol (E100) and E10 gasoline to prove its viability as a sustainable energy source in the transportation sector.

“E10 fuel is already compatible with all modern vehicles and widely available in many countries, reducing carbon emissions and saving money for consumers at the pump, and through this test drive, we showed the world that running on higher blends is safe and effective,” said Michael Lu, USGC director in Taiwan.

"The test ride event marks the first major initiative following the signing of an MOU between USGC and CPC Taiwan this August aiming to raise awareness and acceptance of ethanol gasoline among Taiwan society," said Erich Kuss, AIT Agriculture Section Chief, in his opening remarks.

“U.S. producers look forward to advancing bilateral exchanges in biofuel technology and policy development as part of climate change mitigation efforts.”

Taiwanese government officials were also in attendance, including Legislator Jonathan Lin who added that Taiwan can no longer use past ideas, standards, regulations and technologies to solve the climate crisis. He emphasized that in the future, he will do his best to promote relevant regulations and accelerate Taiwan to become a net-zero country by 2050.

Officers from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Ministry of the Environment, Taoyuan city government and representatives from vehicle industry, academia and research, professional motorcycle riders and media reporters also attended the event to witness vehicles’ stability and compatibility by using E100 and E10 gasoline.

“The excitement from both public and private sector stakeholders was clear to see and their eagerness to invest time and resources into ethanol shows the Council and U.S. producers are certainly on the right track to increasing global biofuel use,” Lu said. “My sincere thanks to AIT, CPC and Yamaha for helping make this test drive possible and fueling Taiwan forward to a net-zero future.”



Prices, politics, and extreme weather take top billing at NGFA conference

The U.S. grain and feed industry will have several issues to navigate in 2025, including a difficult rural economy, shifting political realities, and possible extreme weather on the horizon. That’s according to three speakers who addressed more than 500 attendees yesterday at the 53rd Country Elevator Conference (CEC), hosted by the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA).

“Agriculture is a supply-side driven market right now, and prices are in the doldrums,” explained Stephen Nicholson, the Global Sector Strategist for grain and oilseeds at Rabo AgriFinance.  

These low commodity prices are negatively affecting working capital and squeezing profit margins across the agricultural supply chain, he said.

Nicholson’s presentation highlighted several uncertainties for U.S. agriculture in the near-term, shaped by weather, trade, and policy dynamics. Adding to the pressures: increasing U.S. stocks of corn, wheat, and soybeans, growing global export competition, and negative margins at the farm level that may result in fewer acres planted in 2025.

But there are pockets of opportunity. “Lower wheat export volumes from the EU and Russia have created opportunities for other major producers like Canada and the U.S.,” Nicholson explained. In addition, the biofuels market and emerging export opportunities in the EU, Mexico, India, and Vietnam are potential bright spots.

Changes in D.C. may also provide relief, according to Jim Wiesemeyer, a Washington policy analyst for Pro Farmer. “Trump 2.0 is bringing in agents of change,” he said, explaining that the president-elect has even stronger support in rural America this time around.

Deregulation, an extension of tax cuts, renewed interest in production agriculture, and increased domestic energy production are among the opportunities for rural America that Wiesemeyer noted. He also told the group he expects a Farm Bill extension and disaster assistance package to be passed before the end of the year.

Wiesemeyer said the disaster assistance package is needed because of recent devastating weather events across the country, and Dr. Reed Timmer, a meteorologist and extreme weather expert, told the crowd that he expects more of the same next year.

“In the last three years, we’ve been chasing more storms than ever,” Timmer said.

He is predicting powerful tornadoes in the Great Plains and southeastern United States in 2025 because of underling weather patterns across the Pacific Ocean. Drought conditions in the Midwest may also worsen over the next few years. Hurricane seasons are harder to predict, Timmer noted, but said the end of the 2024 season made it the second most damaging year ever.

NGFA sponsors the annual CEC convention, bringing hundreds of professionals from across the grain and feed sectors for networking, education sessions, and a supplier trade show. The event’s programming is designed to provide attendees with the knowledge, tools, and inspiration needed to succeed in the evolving industry.