Friday February 28 Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP VALUES

The value of Nebraska’s 2024 field and miscellaneous crops is forecast at $12.4 billion, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This is down 4% from 2023.

The value of corn production is expected to total $8.02 billion, down 1% from the previous marketing year. Nebraska’s corn price is projected to average $4.45 per bushel, down $0.23 from the last marketing year.

The value of soybean production is expected to total $2.98 billion, down 8% from the previous marketing year. Nebraska’s soybean price is projected to average $9.90 per bushel, down $2.30 from the last marketing year.

The value of winter wheat production is expected to total $246 million up 3% from the previous marketing year. Nebraska's winter wheat price is projected to average $5.15 per bushel, down $1.32 from the last marketing year.

The value of alfalfa production is expected to total $453 million, down 19% from the previous marketing year. Nebraska's alfalfa price is projected to average $130.00 per ton, down $63.00 from the last marketing year. The value of other hay production is expected to total $286 million, down 14% from the previous marketing year. Nebraska's alfalfa price is projected to average $108.00 per ton, down $28.00 from the last marketing year.

Additional commodities and information can be found in the National publication at: https://usda.library.cornell.edu/concern/publications/k35694332.



Bill Reintroduce to Initiate Trade Agreement Negotiations with the UK

Thursday Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) introduced the Undertaking Negotiations on Investment and Trade for Economic Dynamism (UNITED) Act, a bill to authorize the administration, in consultation with Congress, to negotiate and enter into a comprehensive trade agreement with the United Kingdom.

Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

"There’s no better way to strengthen ties with a historic partner like the United Kingdom than coming together to develop a comprehensive trade agreement," said Rep. Smith. "In 2022, I had the opportunity to lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to the UK where I saw firsthand the value such an agreement holds for both our countries. In his first term, President Trump initiated trade talks with the UK and more broadly demonstrated his ability to negotiate deals of mutual benefit. Congress should do everything possible to keep pace and empower his vigorous engagement. The UNITED Act is a bipartisan effort to move into the future of rules-based trade relations by promoting expanded access to international markets eager for our products and safeguarding American innovation. I thank Rep. Himes and Sens. Moran and Coons for their cooperation on this legislation."



U.S. Grains Council Members Recognized For Years Of Service

The U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) members are essential to the Council’s mission of developing markets, enabling trade and improving lives by contributing their expertise to the Council’s programming. To honor members who have reached landmarks of service to the Council and the U.S. agricultural industry, the Council presented commemorative plaques to those who have dedicated 10 and 15 years of service during the 22nd International Marketing Conference and 65th Annual Membership Meeting in Austin, Texas, held Feb. 12-14.

The Council presented commemorative plaques for years of service to:
• Kent Moore, Kansas Corn Commission, 15 years
• Greg Alber, Iowa Corn Growers Association, 10 years
• Doug Albin, Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council, 10 years
• Hayden Eicher, Virginia Corn Board, 10 years
• Jim Reed, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, 10 years
• Bruce Wetzel, Texas Corn Producers Association, 10 years
• Mark Wilson, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, 10 years

“The Council’s membership is the backbone of all we do, working in lockstep with staff to ensure U.S. agricultural products remain the preferred choice in markets around the world,” said Ellen S. Zimmerman, USGC director of industry relations. “Reaching 10 years of service to the Council is a testament to their hard work and dedication to the Council and to U.S. producers everywhere.”



Evaluate Rotations of Cover Crops, Summer Annual Forages at Virtual Field Day

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, is hosting a free virtual field day on Thursday, March 13, at 1 p.m. Central time. The live discussion will feature Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialists Chris Clark, Erika Lundy-Woolfolk and Patrick Wall.

Since 2012, Iowa has lost 125,000 acres of permanent pasture, and beef cattle producers are maintaining or increasing production on fewer and fewer acres of permanent pasture. Cover crops and summer annuals can help provide an additional forage source to Iowa beef producers, while protecting water quality and preserving valuable topsoil and nutrients. This demonstration project conducted at three of the ISU Research Farms explored common cover crop and summer annual forage crops to evaluate their forage quality and yield potential to help support producers looking to improve the utilization and rest opportunities for their pastures.

“A benefit of utilizing summer annuals is that here in Iowa, we tend to rely on perennial cool season pastures that often experience a summer slump where the pastures don't grow very well during the heat of the summer,” shared Clark. “I think there's an opportunity to fill in that gap of forage production with those summer annuals and make the calendar a little more manageable to hopefully get more forage and more cattle on the land.”

“One of the big things that I feel is exciting from this project is the response to nitrogen,” noted Lundy-Woolfolk. “A lot of our producers here look at the annual forages as an option to help capture and keep some of those nutrients in the soil. We also know that those plants need some nitrogen to have the best productivity possible, so in this study some plots received no nitrogen while others received 50 pounds of nitrogen to determine the economic feasibility of the systems.”

Participants are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.

Virtual field day access instructions
Participate in the live virtual field day at 1 p.m. Central time on March 13 through one of the following options:
    Click the Zoom link https://iastate.zoom.us/j/91411984892  or visit the Iowa Learning Farms events page https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/events-1.
    Join from a dial-in phone line by dialing 646-876-9923 or 646-931-3860 with meeting ID 914 1198 4892.
The field day will be recorded and archived on the ILF website https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/virtual-field-day-archive so that it can be watched at any time.

Participants may be eligible for a Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit, if approved. Information about how to apply to receive the CEU will be provided at the end of the event.



U.S. Agricultural Exports To Colombia Up 21 Percent, Setting New Record
USGC Newsletter

U.S. agricultural exports to Colombia rose 21 percent in 2024 to $4.5 billion, a new record for U.S. sales to the country. Strong growth in corn, distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol were significant drivers in overall growth.

Colombia imported $4.5 billion in agricultural goods from the U.S. in calendar year (CY) 2024, a new record for the country, driven in part by significant increases in corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol sales according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Exports to Colombia rose 21 percent compared to the previous year, the highest increase among the top 25 export markets for U.S. agriculture. Agricultural exports to Colombia have risen by an impressive 309 percent since 2012, when a trade deal was struck between the countries.

“Colombia is a key agricultural trading partner for U.S. farmers, ethanol producers and agribusinesses,” said Marri Tejada, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) regional director for Latin America (LTA). “After a challenging year in 2023, I’m encouraged to see the U.S. regaining its market position, with an 80% share of Colombia’s imported corn market.”

Colombia imports more than six million metric tons of corn annually, with the U.S. supplying approximately 78%, translating to a $1 billion market for U.S. corn exports. Looking ahead, the Council’s regional office in Panama projects Colombia’s corn market could expand to 9.5 million metric tons (MMT) by 2040, presenting a 7.5 MMT market opportunity for U.S. producers.



Update: East & Gulf Coast Ports Contract
ASA Newsletter

The International Longshoremen’s Association voted earlier this week to approve a new master contract for the East/Gulf Coast ports. The United States Maritime Alliance has already voted to approve, and a formal signing of the contract is set for March 11. The contract will run from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2030.

The contract includes a 62% pay raise over six years for ILA members, which averages to 10.33% per year. It’s anticipated to influence future negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association. The current contract covering dockworkers at 29 West Coast ports expires July 1, 2028.

At a time when soybean farmers are facing much uncertainty, ASA welcomes this positive news and step toward preventing future disruption of service along the East and Gulf coast ports.

Last year, 2.7 million metric tons of soy were exported via containers from these ports. While not a huge percentage, these ports are critical to coastal soybean producers and for specialty soy shipments.

Additionally, these ports are responsible for the export of refrigerated products, including soy-fed products like poultry, pork and eggs. Outside of exports, significant volumes of imports rely on ports operated by USMX, including agriculture equipment. A work stoppage or strike at these ports would have long-lasting ripple effects throughout the entire economy.



U.S. Ethanol and SAF Leaders React to Court Decision on EU SAF Regulations

Leaders of the U.S. ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry today expressed disappointment in Tuesday’s decision by the General Court of the European Union to dismiss a challenge against the ReFuelEU Aviation regulations brought by European biofuel producers. The court ruled that ePURE and Pannonia Bio lacked standing to bring the challenge, which asserted the EU’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) regulation illegally discriminates against crop-based biofuels.

In May 2024, the U.S. Grains Council, Growth Energy, LanzaJet and the Renewable Fuels Association, petitioned the court to intervene in support of the European biofuel interests. But because the underlying challenge was dismissed, the objections to the EU regulation raised by the U.S. groups were not considered by the court.

“We are disappointed by the Court’s decision and strongly disagree with its finding that biofuel producers in the EU and Unites States—who manufacture the renewable fuels that become SAF—are somehow not harmed or affected by the EU’s unfair and unscientific SAF requirements,” the U.S. groups said. “We will continue exploring options with our partners in Europe to address the biased nature and punitive effects of the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation.”

By essentially banning crop-based SAF from qualifying, the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation harms ethanol and SAF producers around the world by denying them access to an emerging low-carbon fuel market. And, because commercial aviation is a global marketplace, the EU regulations also have extraterritorial effects on operations outside of Europe.

RFA also petitioned the Court to intervene in a separate challenge brought by EU producers against the FuelEU Maritime regulation, which similarly blocks crop-based biofuels from participating in the EU’s regulatory program to decarbonize maritime fuels.

The underlying challenge to the FuelEU Maritime regulation—and RFA’s petition to intervene—were also dismissed by the Court on Tuesday.



Midwestern field trials suggest overuse of rootworm-resistant corn reduces farmers’ profits

An analysis of data covering 12 years and 10 U.S. Corn Belt states reveals that farmers suffer economic loss from the overuse of genetically engineered corn designed to combat rootworm pests.

Christian Krupke, a Dean’s Fellow and professor of entomology at Purdue University, and 19 co-authors from 12 other universities in the U.S., China and Canada reported their results in the most recent issue of the journal Science. The retrospective study demonstrated that the pest landscape has fundamentally changed in many key corn-growing areas of the U.S. since 2004, the initial year of broad adoption of transgenic corn hybrids targeting corn rootworms. The study shows pest pressures in much of the region declined dramatically following introduction of these hybrids, reducing the need for broad deployment of the rootworm-specific traits.

The project, led by Krupke, documented greater rootworm pest pressure in the Corn Belt states of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In these states, farmers more commonly plant corn continuously. In the eastern Corn Belt states of Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, as well as in other states, farmers practice crop rotation that reduces the need for control through genetically engineered seed or applied insecticides.

However, the use of transgenic corn hybrids targeting rootworm pests has been remarkably similar across the entire region. This study explored the consequences of this disconnect.

“This study shows the value of long-term, applied research datasets from public sector field research,” Krupke said. The short duration and shifting priorities of research funding streams make it increasingly rare to have such scope and coverage in biological data. “These are among the most useful types of data for developing policy recommendations.”

In 2003, scientists introduced the first genetically engineered corn hybrid trait lethal to corn rootworms and derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Since then, farmers have extensively used Bt corn hybrids. Subsequently, multiple field studies have reported Bt resistance in rootworms since 2009, raising doubts about the long-term viability of the Bt traits.

The study emerged from observations made by a working group of corn entomologists who meet annually to discuss the impact of pests on the commodity. Several years ago, Krupke noticed a difference between corn rootworm reports in the eastern and western Corn Belt states.

“We were all in different regions of the country, yet doing much the same thing,” Krupke said. “We were still managing the pest using Bt hybrids as if rootworm was a prime driver of yield loss in states like Indiana. It wasn’t and it hadn’t been for some time.

From 2014 to 2016, yield losses attributed to rootworm damage amounted to 47.5 bushels per acre in western states and 8.5 bushels per acre in eastern states, the researchers estimated.

The study quantified the two costs of using the Bt hybrid. One cost was the substantial technology fee, a premium growers pay when buying the seed. The other cost was the erosion of pest susceptibility to the Bt toxin.

“If you think of a Bt hybrid as a finite resource, like a declining debit card, every time you use it, you erode a little bit of susceptibility,” Krupke said. “So, it’s a little less likely that it will work as well next time.”

For their part, growers select elite hybrid seed genetics that will produce the best yields. Those hybrids often bundle a variety of other desirable traits, including expression of multiple Bt toxins, whether they are needed or not.

Christina DiFonzo, a professor and field crops entomologist at Michigan State University, compared bundling seed traits to the packages formerly offered for cable TV. Consumers paid for hundreds of channels when they only wanted 10 or 15. Streaming services and on-demand programming have ended that. “Farmers would welcome a similar ‘pick list’ for the seed supply, and that would help insect resistance management.”

The key difference is that insect-resistant corn carries an ongoing collateral price to pay along with out-of-pocket costs. “Money can be replaced but loss of susceptibility to the technology only goes in one direction and is irreversible,” DiFonzo said.

These lessons should be applied to as-yet undefined transgenic trait technologies for in-plant protection, said the study’s lead author, Ziwei Ye, assistant professor at the School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development at Renmin University of China. She advised against going back to insecticides, such as organophosphates and pyrethroids, for rootworm control.

“The Bt technology is and was a net benefit that helps safeguard beneficial organisms and soil ecosystems and enhance drought tolerance,” Ye said. “These are increasingly appreciated as key resources in feeding the growing world population as our climate changes.”

Bt and antibiotics are both examples of the “biological commons.” Individuals may perceive that it makes sense to use them as insurance, even when risk of harm from the pest seems limited. If many growers do this over a long period, resistance will set in and the technology’s decline will affect them all.

“Overusing Bt may make sense for each individual, but all will eventually lose the technology sooner than might have been the case,” said study co-author David Hennessy, the Cargill Professor in Economic Systems at Iowa State University. “Essentially, each individual does not take account of the harm done to others due to the buildup of genetic resistance to the toxin.”

Farmers thus have tended to use too much of Bt seed targeting rootworms for their bottom-line profit, especially in the eastern Corn Belt.

“In many cases, they overuse the input not just for the common good but also for their own private benefit,” Hennessy said. Simply alerting farmers to focus on comparing the financial costs and benefits to themselves when using the rootworm Bt trait might help protect the trait’s future effectiveness.

The use of transgenic technologies such as Bt maize as a key pest-management tool is likely to continue, Krupke noted. The technology is both user-friendly for growers and reduces insecticide applications.

“To keep this and future, similar technologies around and functional for the long-term is in everyone’s best interest,” he said.



USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins Confirmed to Visit Denver Show

Commodity Classic attendees will have a seat at the table to hear directly from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who will attend the convention being held in Denver this year. Secretary Rollins is scheduled to visit the Commodity Classic Main Stage on Sunday, March 2, 5:00 p.m. (MST) at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver.

The 2025 show, entitled “Elevating Excellence in Agriculture,” runs March 2-4 and will also feature keynote speaker Jeff B. Evans in the esteemed General Session speaker lineup. Evans is a world-class mountaineer, guide and emergency medic whose global experiences have helped him master the skills of servant leadership, handling adversity, teamwork, communication and trust. The session will retain a longstanding crowd-pleaser and again include a panel discussion with leaders of the five associations that present Commodity Classic each year: Show owners American Soybean Association and National Corn Growers Association and hosts National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

Originally from Glen Rose, Texas, Secretary Rollins was confirmed February 2025 to serve as the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Rollins grew up working summers on her family’s farm in Minnesota, raising livestock for 4-H and Future Farmers of America. She proudly served as a Texas State FFA Officer and worked for the National FFA Organization.

Secretary Rollins most recently served as the founder, president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute. Prior to that, she was the director of the Domestic Policy Council and assistant to the president for strategic initiatives in the last White House under President Donald Trump. In these roles, she helped lead the domestic policy agenda of the Trump administration, enacting the president’s vision and working on achievements aimed to help the American people.

The list of issues affecting agriculture and that are important to U.S. farmers remains long and varied. Attendees can expect to hear from Secretary Rollins and other Commodity Classic speakers on a range of topics that may include farm bill, pesticide regulations, biofuels, trade and tariffs, bioeconomy and more.

Education is a hallmark of Commodity Classic. In addition to the General Session, Commodity Classic offers Learning Center, What’s New and Early Riser education sessions, along with other opportunities for education and events at the Commodity Classic Main Stage. Commodity Classic features an extensive three-day trade show with over 430 exhibitors spanning 12 acres of show space, and importantly, the opportunity to network with thousands of America’s farmers and agriculture industry professionals.

Detailed information on all educational sessions and the full Commodity Classic schedule are available at commodityclassic.com. Attendees can register for all three days or choose one-day registration. Registration is also available on-site.



Deadline to Apply for ASA, Valent Ag Voices of the Future Program March 6

The American Soybean Association is accepting applications for the Valent and ASA Ag Voices of the Future program, which will be held July 14-17 in conjunction with the ASA summer board meeting and Soy Issues Forum in Washington, D.C.

The Ag Voices of the Future program is for students who are passionate about agriculture and interested in expanding their understanding of key agricultural policy issues, the critical role of advocacy, and the wide array of career opportunities in agricultural policy. Class size is limited, and students must be at least 18 years old on or by July 14 to apply.

Select students from the 2025 Ag Voices of the Future program will be awarded a scholarship to participate in the Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference, Nov. 6-9, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. The scholarship covers conference registration fees and travel expenses.

Students must submit their online application by March 6, 2025. To apply for the ASA and Valent Ag Voices of the Future program and be considered for a scholarship to the AFA Leaders Conference, click here https://www.agfuture.org/scholarships, then click the green “Apply Now” button. To be considered for the Ag Voices of the Future Program, students should check the box on the application form that reads, “I have an interest in agriculture policy and would like to be considered for the ASA and Valent Ag Voices of the Future Program (July 14-17, in Washington, D.C.) and an AFA Leaders Conference Scholarship.”

If a student has already applied for the AFA Leaders Conference, they can modify their application to check the box for the Ag Voices of the Future program.



NEW DURASTAK CORN TRAIT STACK APPROVED BY EPA

Durastak™, Syngenta’s latest innovative corn trait stack for corn rootworm protection, has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will be available in hybrids from both the Golden Harvest® and NK® brands, and through independent seed companies for the 2027 season.

“With corn rootworm costing farmers up to a billion dollars in crop losses every year, they need a trait lineup that is stacked in their favor,” says Drew Showalter, Head – Corn Portfolio Strategy for Syngenta. “The new Durastak trait stack lets farmers attack corn rootworm full force with durable, proven performance that will help them take control of their yield and profit potential for seasons to come.”

The new Durastak trait stack helps control damaging above- and below-ground pests with alternative modes of action for farmers to provide them a tool to delay insect resistance for long-term corn rootworm management. Durastak will also be delivered to the market in combination with Viptera® trait technology, the most effective above-ground insect control in the industry.

The triple Bt protein stack features three powerful modes of action against corn rootworm, providing enhanced control and improved standability for top yield potential. Syngenta research has shown Durastak provides:
    Next-Level Corn Rootworm Control: Hybrids with Durastak trait technology provide a 50% increase in CRW protection vs. hybrids with existing Duracade® trait technology under moderately heavy CRW pressure.
    Improved Standability: Features 2x more root node protection for increased standability under moderately heavy CRW pressure.
    Top Yield Potential: +9.7 Bu/A average advantage over hybrids with the Duracade trait stack under moderately heavy CRW pressure.

“Corn rootworm can result in farmers experiencing a 15% yield loss per node of injury on average,” says Showalter.  “The Durastak trait stack is a valuable addition to Syngenta’s top-tier corn trait portfolio, enabling farmers to take control of their yield potential with a more durable, long-term corn rootworm management strategy.”

Durastak hybrids are currently in late-stage testing within Syngenta's STEPP™ Trials and will be evaluated for advancement into pre-commercial testing this fall. DurastakViptera™ hybrids will also be available with all the benefits of Durastak plus additional protection against leaf-, stalk- and ear-feeding insects.

“This is just one of the many advances coming from Syngenta Seeds R&D, where we have an exciting pipeline of trait technologies, supported by our innovation ecosystem, which will continue to produce new products that help address the most pressing issues facing farmers,” says Charles Baxter, Head, Traits R&D.

The Durastak trait stack joins an expanding Syngenta corn trait portfolio that is the industry’s broadest collection of trait technology, featuring above- and below-ground insect control, water optimization technology and Enogen® feed efficiency to help every hybrid reach its fullest genetic potential.