Wednesday March 26 Ag News

 Heuermann Lecture to focus on irrigation’s role in nutrition

An April 29 Heuermann Lecture will focus on the theme of “Nourishing a Healthy Future: The Role of Irrigation in a Changing World.”

The free lecture, part of the 2025 Water for Food Global Conference and sponsored by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will be held 4:30-6 p.m. at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, 2021 Transformation Drive, in Lincoln, Neb., and livestreamed online.

Sustainable, healthy diets are essential for improving human health. Irrigation plays an increasingly important role in supporting greater access to varied and nutritious diets, particularly by enabling the production and supply of fruits, vegetables and animal-source foods—key contributors in the affordability of healthy diets.

This presentation explores the key linkages between irrigation and healthy diets and highlights opportunities and challenges to improving irrigation’s role in nourishing a healthier future amid growing competition over water resources and other constraints.

Claudia Ringler, Ph.D., director of natural resources and resilience at the International Food Policy Research Institute, will deliver the keynote speech. A moderated panel will follow and include Abbie Raikes, Ph.D., director of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Center for Global Health and Development; and Brandon Hunnicutt, a fifth-generation Nebraska farmer and chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board. Jesse Bell, Ph.D., director of water, climate and health at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, will moderate the panel discussion.

The lecture is held in conjunction with the 2025 Water for Food Global Conference April 28-May 2, 2025, which will convene leading international experts and organizations in conversations focused on the theme “A Resilient Future: Water and Food for All.” The conference will explore innovative solutions for feeding a growing planet while conserving natural resources. The conference is organized by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska and features three days of conference sessions, as well as off-site visits to working farms and research centers. Registration and more information are available at waterforfood.nebraska.edu.

Heuermann Lectures are funded by a gift from B. Keith and Norma Heuermann of Phillips, Nebraska. The Heuermanns are longtime university supporters with a strong commitment to the state’s production agriculture, natural resources, rural areas and people.

Lectures are streamed live on the Heuermann Lecture Series website and air live on campus channel 4. Lectures are archived after the event and are later broadcast on NET2.



Statement by Mark McHargue, President, Opposing Proposal to Exempt Feedlots from Brand Requirements

“Nebraska Farm Bureau opposes LB646 and AM638, which would create a new classification of “Exempt Feedlots” under the Livestock Brand Act. While we support efforts to modernize the fee structure, we cannot support exempting feedlots from participating in the Nebraska Brand Inspection Act.

For over 80 years, the Nebraska Brand Committee has played a vital role in overseeing livestock brand registration, enforcement, and proof of ownership. Creating an exemption for feedlots would disrupt the balance of participation in the brand inspection program and potentially undermine the purpose of the brand inspection laws to ensure satisfactory evidence of ownership of livestock when sold. This directly contradicts our members' policy position and threatens the integrity of the system. However, we continue to remain hopeful that a solution can be achieved that is satisfactory to all parties that keeps the Nebraska beef industry in a strong competitive position.

While we remain open to discussions on potential solutions, LB646, AM638, and FA52, as they are currently written, are not measures we can support in their current form, as of March 25, 2025.”



Reinke Manufacturing Debuts ReinCloud 3: Advancing Its Expansive Suite of Precision Water Management Solutions

Reinke Manufacturing, a global leader in irrigation systems and technology, today announced the general availability of its most advanced remote irrigation management solution to date, ReinCloud® 3, to drive operational savings and yield increases for growers tasked with managing water efficiency.

Growers have relied on ReinCloud, powered by Reinke’s innovative cloud computing software, to centralize farm data and better manage irrigation systems since its initial launch in 2016. The latest iteration was developed with growers’ most pressing ag data, water management, and operational challenges in mind. Built to meet the evolving needs of every grower around the globe, ReinCloud 3 offers:
    Enhanced Telemetry: Optimized data accuracy, uninterrupted sensor coverage, and reliable connectivity to automate the collection of real-time field conditions, as well as advanced irrigation system and crop health information.
    Intuitive User Experience: A more user-friendly interface redesigned to highlight the most critical insights and actions requiring immediate attention.
    Comprehensive Management: The ability to oversee all irrigation systems in a no-fuss app to ensure efficient water management and distribution across diverse field and growing conditions.
    Smart Irrigation Controller Dashboard: Quick views of irrigation system status and all variables, with optional notifications.
    Advanced View Layers: Includes weather, soil, yield, Chemigation, Fertigation, and seeding maps to support productivity efforts.
    Advanced Programming Capabilities: Forward and reverse field-sector programming, end gun, and auxiliary programming to enhance precision and control of irrigation processes.
    Customizable Control: Options for customizable machine groupings and command settings, allowing quick tailored management of irrigation systems.
    Sophisticated Dealer Portal: Enhances customer service and support through an integrated dealer portal, providing better assistance to growers.

Fully integrated with Reinke’s latest remote management hardware, RC3™, ReinCloud gives growers an easy way to remotely access, monitor, and control their in-field equipment across multiple fields and locations from any smart device, as well as the ability to quickly take action based on centralized farm data insights. Important updates to the embedded RC3 hardware include a significant reduction in size, seamless connection for electric pivots with any panel type to ReinCloud telemetry, a low-maintenance, sealed-enclosure design, and a comprehensive three-year warranty.

“Farming practices continue to change as new challenges arise, and more growers around the globe are embracing technological advancements to increase operational efficiencies and protect their yields than ever before,” said Chris Roth, president of Reinke. “Farmers cannot be on every field at every location at the same time, but water needs can change in an instant. Being able to access the information they need, make time-sensitive precision irrigation decisions, and control their equipment from anywhere and on any device makes real-time farming a reality. We are committed to giving growers the best possible water management insights powered by innovative technology solutions that evolve with their needs and provide season after season of reliable and efficient irrigation.”

Reinke continues its mission building the world’s finest irrigation systems by actively advancing its expansive suite of software, hardware, and precision water management solutions. Reinke is on schedule for shipments of the recently announced E3™, the first precision series of center pivot systems with uniform coupler spacing. Growers who place advanced orders for E3 or other Reinke pivot irrigation systems will also benefit from the latest technology updates as all new systems will come telemetry-enabled and fully equipped with the latest ReinCloud 3 and RC3 technology.

The ReinCloud® app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. To find a dealer or learn more about ReinCloud 3, RC3, E3, or Reinke’s complete irrigation product portfolio, visit www.Reinke.com.



Updated Nebraska Farm & Food Economy report is out

Nebraskans spend more than $5 billion per year buying food that is sourced from out of the state. A report released today indicates this loss of economic potential is driving a growing interest in locally-produced food.

This and other findings are highlighted in the “Nebraska Farm & Food Economy” report, released by the Center for Rural Affairs and Heartland Regional Food Business Center. The study is authored by Ken Meter, Crossroads Resource Center.

The report provides a snapshot of the agricultural economy in Nebraska, including statistics about farm sizes, commodity production and sales, and how residents spend their money on food.

“These facts can provide a starting point for conversations about strengthening our local food systems,” said Kjersten Hyberger, local foods associate, with the Center. “Despite being the fourth largest farm state in the country, only a small amount of what farmers raise feeds Nebraskans.”

Key findings include:
    Net cash income for farmers has a history of volatility, with annual farm income falling below zero 9 times since 1969, most recently in 2017.
    An average annual combined total of farm subsidies equaled $1.1 billion between 1989 to 2022.
    An average annual combined total of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program receipts equaled $201 million per year between 1989 to 2022.
    Subsidies received by farms mostly support production of crops that do not directly feed Nebraskans while food insecurity is rising in the state.
    The number of farms and farmed land in Nebraska has steadily declined. Between 2017 and 2022, Nebraska lost nearly 2,000 farms and 1 million acres of farmland.
    Net cash income for farmers has a history of volatility, with annual farm income falling below zero 9 times since 1969, most recently in 2017.
    U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that net farm incomes nationally have fallen 37% since 2020.
    While the average age of farmers is steadily rising, 26% are new and beginning farmers.
    Nebraska lost 1 million acres of farmland from 2017 to 2022.
    Farmers sold at least $16.6 million of food directly to households in 2022, an 84% rise from 2017 sales.

“Investment in developing and strengthening local food systems has multifaceted benefits, but has not received as much attention in the state compared to others,” Hyberger said. “If each Nebraska resident purchased $5 of food each week directly from farms within the state, this would generate $512 million of new farm income.”

To view the “Nebraska Farm & Food Economy” report, visit cfra.org/nebraska-farm-food-economy-report.

Meter will present these findings at a public event, “Feeding Nebraska: Exploring Our Farm & Food Economy,” at Bennett Martin Public Library, in Lincoln, at 11 a.m. on April 16. Find out more at cfra.org/events.

The report compiles data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, Bureau for Economic Analysis, and other publicly available data. It is an update of the Nebraska Farm and Food Economy report commissioned in 2010 by No More Empty Pots in Omaha.



Iowa's Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program Awards Record Number of Projects

Today Iowa’s cost-share Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) awarded almost $3 million in grants for Iowa fuel retail locations to add E15 to 111 retail sites throughout the state. This is the highest number of projects awarded to date, on track to meet the E15 Access Standard deadline of January 1, 2026. In addition to the grants today, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced they have already received 145 applications to be considered at the next RFIP board meeting.

“The record interest we’ve seen since new rules were established last year solidifies the importance behind making E15 a standard option at the pump,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “With grants awarded to date, that is over $10 million on an annualized basis. The program continues to help retailers offer higher blends of biofuels, ensuring that consumers have the opportunity to save some extra coin at the pump while maintaining a solid market for farmers. To keep up with this momentum, it is crucial that the legislature adds more funding through the next fiscal year to ensure every Iowa retailer can offer E15.”

In addition to the 111 E15 grants, RFIP awarded two biodiesel grants, one retail grant to offer B20 and one for a fuel distribution terminal to offer biodiesel blends to retail customers. To date, the program has distributed over $57.7 million, which has leveraged an even greater amount of private funds, to help fund ethanol and biodiesel infrastructure across Iowa. The program has led to millions of dollars of private economic investment and hundreds of new stations offering higher blends of biofuels at the pump.



USDA Cold Storage February 2025 Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on February 28, 2025 were down 1 percent from the previous month and down 5 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were down 6 percent from the previous month and down 2 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were up 4 percent from the previous month but down 8 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 17 percent from last month but down 24 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on February 28, 2025 were up 2 percent from the previous month but down 3 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down 1 percent from the previous month but up 1 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 13 percent from last month but down 11 percent from February 29, 2024.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on February 28, 2025 were up 2 percent from the previous month but down 5 percent from February 29, 2024. Butter stocks were up 17 percent from last month and up 3 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks on February 28, 2025 were down 7 percent from last month but up 8 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 7 percent from last month and down 3 percent from a year ago.



NCBA Outlines Trade Priorities in Ways and Means Hearing

Tuesday, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) member and chairman of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA) Robby Kirkland testified before the House Ways and Means Committee. In the hearing titled, American Trade Negotiation Priorities, Kirkland highlighted the benefits of past trade agreements for U.S. cattle producers and the need for greater access to foreign markets. This is also the time for the U.S. government to hold our trading partners accountable for unfair practices and non-equivalent food safety standards.

“U.S. cattle producers produce the highest quality beef in the world and benefit greatly from market-based, science-based, and rules-based trade policies. Unfortunately, in recent years our government stepped back from market access negotiations while our competitors negotiated robust trade agreements and gained a critical advantage in key markets where U.S. agricultural products face higher tariffs and a brick wall of non-tariff barriers,” said TCFA Chairman and Texas cattle producer Robby Kirkland. “It is long past time for the U.S. to re-engage in trade talks to secure preferential access with our allies like the United Kingdom and in key markets in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.”

The U.S. cattle and beef industry has greatly benefitted from robust trade agreements that leveled the playing field for U.S. farmers and ranchers and improved many rural economies across our country. However, not all trade partners have lived up to their commitments and must be held accountable.

“We must ensure that any country that is granted access to the U.S. does not put U.S. consumers or the U.S. cattle herd at risk. This is a major concern with Brazil, Paraguay, and other countries who have a history of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and highly questionable records on food safety and animal health. We need Congress and President Trump to hold these trade partners accountable and ensure the safety of American consumers and our cattle herd. At the same time, we need to begin enforcing our trade agreement with Australia that was granted access to the U.S. market through our free trade agreement. For 20 years, Australia has exported nearly $29 billion of beef to the U.S. market, but we have been prohibited from selling $1 worth of U.S. beef in Australia. The 20-year delay in the approval of U.S. beef is completely unjustified because we are internationally recognized as having the highest food safety and animal health standards in the world. For years, we have been told by the Australian government that we are in the final stages of approval, yet we continue to see delays. U.S. cattle and beef do not pose a threat to Australian consumers and Australian livestock, and this is not how allies and trade partners should behave. All we are seeking is fair trade.” added Kirkland.



USDA Delivers on Rural Energy Commitments, Provides Path for Applicants to Support U.S. Energy Independence

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will release previously obligated funding under the Rural Energy For America Program (REAP), Empowering Rural America (New ERA) and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) programs. This announcement underscores the Trump Administration’s commitment to rural communities — including the farmers, ranchers, and small businesses at their core — and their essential role in building a stronger, more energy secure America.

Recipients will have 30 days to review and voluntarily revise their project plans to align with President Trump’s Unleashing American Energy Executive Order issued on January 20, 2025. This process gives rural electric providers and small businesses the opportunity to refocus their projects on expanding American energy production while eliminating Biden-era DEIA and climate mandates embedded in previous proposals. USDA Rural Development is informing awardees individually about this opportunity. Respondents will be asked to answer several questions and provide a short narrative description of any proposed changes.

“President Trump made tackling America’s energy emergency a top priority from day one, and this review allows rural energy providers and small businesses to realign their projects with that mission,” said Secretary Rollins. “We’re ensuring these investments support U.S. energy production while putting America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses first.”

This updated guidance reflects a broader shift away from the Green New Deal and the so-called Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and toward practical energy investments that prioritize the needs of rural communities.

“The IRA was marketed as a cure-all but delivered more bureaucracy than benefits for rural families,” said Secretary Rollins. “This course correction puts those investments back to work to support President Trump’s vision for energy independence and sets rural America on a path to lasting prosperity.”