Tuesday December 17 Ag News

 Nebraska Cattlemen Elects Dick Pierce as President

During their Annual Business Meeting, the Nebraska Cattlemen membership elected Dick Pierce of Sumner, Nebraska, to serve as president.

Dick was born and raised in central Nebraska and currently resides north of Miller, Nebraska where he farms and ranches with his family. He’s been married to Janna (Bentley) Pierce for 52 years. They have four children and 12 grandchildren. The Pierce family owns a corporation, P/4 Cattle Co., that has a row crop enterprise and a cow/calf enterprise and yearling operation.

Dick Pierce stated, “I am extremely humbled to be elected by my peers to lead such a prestigious organization. I'm keenly aware of the legacy left by current and previous staff members, board members and past presidents and I will strive to uphold the reputation and standards that have been established heretofore. It seems there is always more work to do to sustain and move our industry forward and I pledge to work hard and do my best to represent Nebraska Cattlemen well as we look to the future.” He continued, “When I was nominated to be the vice president of NC just two short years ago, in my acceptance I paraphrased a quote. ‘What we do today will determine who we will be tomorrow.’ With that in mind, I look forward to an even brighter future for Nebraska Cattlemen and our beloved industry!”

Prior to his current position as President of Nebraska Cattlemen, he has been active in the local community, serving on the Buffalo County Board of Supervisors, school board and various appointments to committees by Nebraska Governors. He serves as president of The Great Platte River Road Archway and is chairman of Living Faith Fellowship church. Dick is also a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving from 1971-1978 as a Russian linguist.

Dick Pierce began his one-year term as Nebraska Cattlemen President on Friday, December 13, 2024.



Flood: Trump Administration Should Scrap Radical Anti-Meat Recommendations

Monday, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood issued a statement following the release of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s Scientific Report. This report confirms previous reporting about new anti-meat dietary guidelines earlier this year.

“The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee tries to claim they are promoting flexibility and individual choice, while they push plant-based proteins at the expense of red meat. This attempt to re-write your grocery list and push meat off the menu has nothing to do with a healthy diet and everything to do with appeasing radical environmental activists. For example, it takes three cups of quinoa to deliver the same amount of protein as only three ounces of beef. As the Beef State, Nebraska knows firsthand what kind of threat this poses. Reducing the role of meat in our diets is not only bad for consumer health but also undermines our country’s food security and way of life. I urge the incoming Trump administration to scrap these anti-meat recommendations from unelected bureaucrats and to return the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to a commonsense approach that supports our great American farmers and ranchers who grow the food that helps feed the world.”



HPAI Detected in Sioux, Worth and Monona County Flocks

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected three cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) within Iowa. The cases include a commercial layer flock in Sioux County, a commercial turkey flock in Worth County, and a backyard mixed species flock in Monona County. Iowa has now had 11 detections of H5N1 HPAI within poultry in 2024.



Planter University Workshops Focus on Optimizing Planter Setup across All Brands

Specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are once again teaming up with Iowa State Ag and Biosystems Engineering specialists to bring planter equipment expertise to farms across the state. Planter University workshops are set for Feb. 3-7 and 11, 2025.

The workshops are an opportunity for farmers, agricultural service providers, equipment and precision ag dealers, and others to gain insight into how planters function; how to optimize settings for individual seed, field and equipment needs; and improve understanding of planter wear and calibration.

“Planter University goes far beyond a typical planter clinic and provides attendees direct access to specialists with expertise in planter technology and settings,” said Meaghan Anderson, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We are excited to host these workshops across the state again this February.”

Specialists from the Iowa State Digital Ag group will lead each workshop and focus on small-group, hands-on learning with row units representing a variety of technologies currently available for planters. The Digital Ag group is renowned for its key industry partnerships and unique expertise in equipment development and precision agriculture. Meetings will also offer continuing education credits for Certified Crop Advisers.

“Former participants overwhelmingly enjoyed the workshop approach and stated the workshop improved their ability to confidently make adjustments during planting season,” said Levi Powell, Iowa State ag and biosystems engineering program specialist.

“We are going to help attendees better understand the physics behind traditional and high-speed planters and how to evaluate planting performance, because every planter, operator and operation is different. This event will focus on how to dial in the right settings for you and your operation,” added Ben Covington, Iowa State ag and biosystems engineering program specialist.

The training will be offered at six locations. Attendance will be limited to maintain small group sizes and allow for hands-on activities. Registration for each location is $100 and closes seven days ahead of each meeting. There is no on-site registration available. Register online starting Jan. 2, 2025 at https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/planter/.

Registration includes lunch, refreshments, reference materials, seed depth tool, closing wheel hold up bracket and CCA credits. Registration check-in opens at 8:30 a.m. and the program begins at 9 a.m. The program concludes at 3 p.m. at the following dates and locations:
    Feb. 3 – Cass County Community Center, Atlantic
    Feb. 4 – Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm, Sutherland
    Feb. 5 – Northern Research and Demonstration Farm, Kanawha
    Feb. 6 – Heartland Acres Agribition Center, Independence
    Feb. 7 – Crystal Creek Enterprises, 2457 Highway 30, DeWitt
    Feb. 11 – Alliant Energy Ag Innovation Lab, 3800 University Boulevard, Ames

For registration-related questions, please contact ISU Registration Services at 515-294-6222 or registrations@iastate.edu. For all other inquiries, email crops@iastate.edu.



Dairy Market Report - December 2024
NMPF

October’s Dairy Margin Coverage margin receded $0.40/cwt from its record level a month earlier to $15.17/cwt, the second highest level since margin protection became dairy’s basic federal safety net mechanism.

October fluid milk sales were 1.3% higher than a year earlier, which continued to keep past three-month and year-to-date sales growth positive. Yogurt and butter showed particularly strong U.S. consumption gains during August-October, despite both reaching their highest ever retail prices during the period.

Following 16 consecutive months when U.S. dairy cows were below year-earlier numbers, USDA reported the national milking cow herd grew by 10,000 cows year-over-year in October. Together with other factors, this likely indicates a return to expansion mode for U.S. milk production. Stocks of all cheese dropped almost to pre-pandemic levels at the end of October, likely driven by constrained production growth and robust exports. Cheese price weakness was responsible for dropping the Class III price by almost $3/cwt in November from a month earlier.

Read the full report here: https://www.nmpf.org/u-s-dairy-consumption-strengthens-amid-record-retail-prices-for-butter-and-yogurt/.



USDA Releases the 2023 Census of Aquaculture Results

Total sales of aquaculture products in 2023 were $1.9 billion, an increase of 26% from 2018, according to the 2023 Census of Aquaculture released today by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. In 2023, there were 3,453 aquaculture farms with sales in the United States, up 18% from 2018. Five states – Mississippi, Washington, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama – accounted for 55% of aquaculture sales and 49% of aquaculture farms in 2023. Food fish and mollusks were the largest product categories for sales, with catfish and oysters the top species.

“The 2023 Census of Aquaculture, conducted every 5 years, expands on the data collected during the 2022 Census of Agriculture providing up to date detailed information about the production and marketing practices in the aquaculture industry,” said NASS Administrator Joseph L. Parsons. “These valuable data tell the story of U.S. aquaculture. The information in this report helps trade associations, governments, agribusinesses, and others learn about aquaculture and make informed decisions that have a direct impact on the future of the industry.”

The 2023 Census of Aquaculture provides detailed information about production and methods, surface water acres and sources, sales, point of first sale outlets, and aquaculture distributed for restoration, conservation, enhancement, or recreational purposes. Data highlights include:
    The average sales per farm was $552,569.
    Sales of food fish was $819.6 million, an increase of 14% from 2018.
    The sales of mollusks was $575.5 million, an increase of 30% from 2018.
    Crustacean sales in 2023 was $175.7 million, up 75% from 2018.
    Catfish sales, valued at $480.0 million, accounted for 59% of all food fish sales in 2023.
    Oyster sales, valued at $327.0 million, accounted for 57% of mollusk sales in 2023.
    Mississippi led the nation in total aquaculture sales in 2023 with $277.0 million.

An aquaculture farm is defined as any place from which $1,000 or more of aquaculture products were produced and sold or distributed for restoration, conservation, enhancement, or recreation during the census year. Aquaculture is defined as the farming of aquatic organisms, including baitfish, crustaceans, food fish, mollusks, ornamental fish, sport or game fish, and other aquaculture products. Farming involves some form of intervention in the rearing process, such as seeding, stocking, feeding, protection from predators, etc. Fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other aquatic products caught or harvested by the public from non-controlled waters or beds are considered wild caught and are not included as aquaculture.



Codex Standard for High Oleic Soybean Oil Established

The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) is pleased to recognize the establishment of the Codex Standard for high oleic soybean oil (HOSO). During its 47th meeting on November 25-30, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) adopted a revision to the Standard for Named Vegetable Oils (Codex Stan 210-1999) to include the first standard for HOSO.  

The establishment of a Codex standard for HOSO is the culmination of years of work by USSEC, partner organizations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Codex member states. The standard aligns the global definition of HOSO and is expected to facilitate the global trade of this product.  

“We are delighted with the recent Codex decision which reflects the dedicated efforts of numerous U.S. stakeholders who contributed to making this development a success,” said Mike Koehne, American Soybean Association and USSEC board director. “As a farmer producing high oleic soybeans, I’m particularly excited about how the adoption of this new standard will allow for increased production and export potential, providing greater opportunities for farmers across the U.S. to grow value-added soybeans.”

High oleic soybean oil is processed from soybean varieties with a monounsaturated fat content of about 70% and low saturated fatty acids.1 This increases its oxidative stability, giving the oil a longer fry life, compared to other oils, and extends the shelf life of deep-fried food products. Additionally, there is less buildup on cooking surfaces, making cleaning equipment much easier.1 Furthermore, high oleic soybeans grown in the United States are verified sustainable through the Sustainable U.S. Soy Assurance Protocol. For more information on high oleic soybean oil, visit High Oleic Soybean Oil - U.S. Soy Delivers Solutions (ussoy.org) 

The Codex Alimentarius Commission is a global body made up of 189 member states and organizations and is recognized as the global standard setting body for the food trade with a mission to harmonize guidelines and definitions to facilitate international trade.



Coalition Asks Dockworkers, Port Operators to Work on New Labor Agreement
 
A coalition of 268 agricultural and business organizations, including the National Pork Producers Council, asked dockworkers and port operators on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico to return to the bargaining table to hammer out a new labor agreement to ensure the flow of goods into and out of the United States continues.
 
In the Dec. 6 letter to Harold Daggett, president of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), which represents dockworkers, and David Adam, chairman and CEO of the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents port terminal operators, the organizations asked the two sides to reach a new contract before the current one expires Jan. 15. The existing labor agreement extended the previous contract, which expired Sept. 30, and followed a three-day strike by dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas.

In its letter to the ILA and USMX, the coalition pointed out that the “only way to resolve … issues and come to an agreement is to actually stay at the negotiating table. The continuing start and stop of the negotiations leads to further uncertainty in the supply chain, which continues to cause challenges.”

The U.S. pork industry depends on exports, which annually account for about a quarter of all sales and contribute significantly to every producer’s bottom line. About 60% of U.S. pork exports are transported by ocean freight, with nearly 45% being shipped from East Coast and Gulf ports. Chilled pork, for example, is sent out of those ports to markets in the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Port disruptions, including dockworker strikes and port lockouts, can jeopardize the delivery of perishable commodities, costing agricultural producers millions of dollars and, potentially, lost foreign customers



Strong Calf Prices Finish the Year
Stephen R. Koontz, Ph.D.
Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics
Colorado State University

Cattle and beef markets are wrapping up the fourth quarter on a very strong note – especially for smaller animals. Calf prices for 5-6 weight animals in the southern plains have advanced better than $50/cwt in the last four weeks. And prices for 4-5 weight animals have moved further. The fall run is apparently over.

Live fed cattle prices remain strong with cash trades better than $190 but prices for the year look range-bound to me between $180 and just better than $190. The boxed beef cutout value is holding better than $300 with a mix of performance at the primal level. Rib prices have been seasonally outstanding, and tenderloins have also been strong. Loins are showing some seasonal weakness as is ground beef. End meats are showing solid price levels but not much in terms of improvements. Once the market retreats from the strong rib purchases, and the Choice-Select spread seasonally softens, much will be determined by Chucks and Rounds. Also, this will be the period the market moves into the time of year when packer margins are the weakest. My point? The strong finish to the year in calf prices has little to do with what is going on downstream.

It is also not reacting to grain market news. Information from recent Crop Production and WASDE reports suggest some firming of feed grain prices. After a series of reports through the summer where production steadily increased, the November reports communicate some softening of yields, overall production, and a modest tightening of stocks-to-use. However, forage prices remain much below prior years and availability is substantially better.

Carcass weights remain truly impressive and have backed up very little from the four weeks at 960-pound average steer weights – heifers are following suit. It will be interesting, and important, to see the magnitude of any seasonal decline in weights. How much of the 40-pound increase based on the same week of the year prior persists? With lower corn prices and longer feeding periods then heavy weights will persist. But how heavy and what are the possible further increases?

These weight increases in all likelihood hang over the market as well as do the front-loaded cattle on feed inventories. The calculated cattle on feed over 150 days has been larger than any of the proceeding years – other than 2020 – but this inventory has been moving lower through the summer and fall. The exception is November’s number. The inventory of these long-fed animals has been large relative to what is seen in the 120 days on feed inventory. Inventories on feed over 120 days are this month tighter than 2023. Whereas the 150-day number is even compared with last year. Again, big numbers and weights now – and back through the summer and fall – but the prospect is for change come the first quarter. The pipeline is full for the near term with less so into next year. But then there are first-quarter packer margins to navigate.