Wednesday July 09 Ag News - Pilen in WasDC on Farm Security - Bacon on Ag Security and Beginning Farmers - ISU Farmland Leasing Wksps - and more!

 Pillen Speaks at National Rollout of USDA Farm Security Action Plan

Tuesday, Governor Jim Pillen joined national and state leaders in Washington, D.C. for the national rollout of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Security Action Plan – a new initiative focused on protecting America’s rural farms, food suppliers and ag interests.

Addressing the crowd outside the USDA Whitten Building, Gov. Pillen highlighted his unique perspective as the first governor from Nebraska in 100 years to make his living from agriculture. Since entering office, Gov. Pillen has issued two executive orders and introduced several bills aimed at protecting the state’s property, infrastructure and other assets from the threat of foreign adversaries. He signed LB644 into law just last month – a comprehensive piece of legislation that among other things, bars companies associated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from receiving Nebraska tax credits.

At today’s event, speakers touched on the variety of emerging threats from China and other nations including land ownership near military installations, intellectual property theft, and bioterrorism. The seven-point plan unveiled today by the USDA was developed in response to the purchase of significant amounts of American farmland by people and companies connected to the CCP.  

“Farm security equals food security, which equals national security,” said Gov. Pillen. “Thanks to these actions taken by President Trump and his team, we can further protect the backbone of Nebraska’s economy from foreign adversaries like China.”

Additional speakers at today’s event, hosted by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, included Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House Counselor Peter Navarro, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama), U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (Kansas) and House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson.

Gov. Pillen joined governors Lee, Huckabee Sanders and other speakers in complimenting the collective and coordinated effort by those in President Trump’s cabinet to provide solutions for better protecting rural farms – now and for future generations. 

“It’s important that we continue to have the courage and the wisdom to never back down and to stand up and protect our land and protect our families. In agriculture, we risk everything we have every single day to put food on grocery store shelves,” said Gov. Pillen.
 
The multi-agency plan contains seven action items, some of which are touched on in a letter to Sec. Rollins, signed by Gov. Pillen and other members of the America First Governors’ Council. In it, the group affirms its support of the Farm Security Action Plan saying:
 
“Across the country, Chinese investors now control hundreds of thousands of acres of U.S. agricultural land, posing risks not just to local economies but to our food supply, water access, and national security. This is a coordinated, strategic effort by the CCP to weaken America from within and use our land as a Trojan horse. Washington’s past failures allowed this threat to metastasize. The previous administration was too compromised and entangled with CCP interests to act decisively. As a result, the American people paid the price. That era is over.”
 
Signatories on the letter, in addition to Gov. Pillen, include Gov. Mike Braun, Indiana; Gov. Bill Lee, Tennessee; Gov. Brad Little, Idaho; Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa; Gov. Larry Rhoden, South Dakota; Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas; Gov. Kevin Stitt, Oklahoma; and former governors Phil Bryant, Mississippi; Bobby Jindal, Louisiana; and Rick Perry, Texas.



USDA to Elevate American Agriculture in National Security

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins Tuesday alongside U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the next pillar of her Make Agriculture Great Again initiative: USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan. This historic plan elevates American agriculture as a key element of our nation’s national security, addressing urgent threats from foreign adversaries and strengthening the resilience of our nation’s food and agricultural systems.

"We feed the world. We lead the world. And we’ll never let foreign adversaries control our land, our labs, or our livelihoods," said Secretary Rollins. "This Action Plan puts America’s farmers, families, and future first—exactly where they belong. Under President Trump’s leadership, American agriculture will be strong, secure, and resilient. He will never stop fighting for our farmers and our ranchers.”

A Real Threat, a Real Response
Recent events highlight the critical need for this action. Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice charged foreign nationals, including a Chinese Communist Party member, with smuggling a noxious fungus into the United States—a potential agroterrorism weapon responsible for billions in global crop losses. The scheme involved a U.S. research lab and highlighted a disturbing trend: America’s enemies are playing the long game—infiltrating our research, buying up our farmland, stealing our technology, and launching cyberattacks on our food systems. These actions expose strategic vulnerabilities in America’s food and agriculture supply chain.

Enough is enough.

Protecting the homeland begins with protecting our farmland and the National Farm Security Action Plan puts American farmers and ranchers first by safeguarding our food supply, strengthening critical infrastructure, and defending U.S. agricultural innovation from foreign adversaries.

 Comprehensive Action Plan for Agriculture Security
The National Farm Security Action Plan takes aggressive action across seven critical areas.
    Secure and Protect American Farmland – Address U.S. foreign farmland ownership from adversaries head on. Total transparency. Tougher penalties.
    Enhance Agricultural Supply Chain Resilience – Refocus domestic investment into key manufacturing sectors and identify non-adversarial partners to work with when domestic production is not available. Plan for contingencies.
    Protect U.S. Nutrition Safety Net from Fraud and Foreign Exploitation – Billions have been stolen by foreign crime rings. That ends now.
    Defend Agricultural Research and Innovation – No more sweetheart deals or secret pacts with hostile nations. American ideas stay in America.
    Put America First in Every USDA Program – From farm loans to food safety, every program will reflect the America First agenda.
    Safeguard Plant and Animal Health – Crack down on bio-threats before they ever reach our soil.
    Protect Critical Infrastructure – Farms, food, and supply chains are national security assets—and will be treated as such.



Cattle Farmers and Ranchers Agree Farm Security is National Security

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) praised Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ Farm Security is National Security action plan. As part of the announcement, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is releasing a number of farm security and national security policies strongly supported by NCBA and America’s cattle farmers and ranchers.
 
“America is blessed to have hundreds of thousands of family farms and ranches producing beef right here at home,” said NCBA President and Nebraska cattleman Buck Wehrbein. “NCBA strongly agrees with Secretary Rollins that farm security is national security. We are pleased that USDA is protecting our family farms and ranches, scrutinizing foreign acquisitions to ensure they don’t threaten American agriculture, protecting U.S. agricultural research from foreign adversaries, and bolstering animal health programs to prevent a foreign animal disease outbreak. Secretary Rollins and President Trump are true friends of American agriculture.”
 
Secretary Rollins was joined by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and several other leaders from the Trump administration and Congress for the rollout of these farm security and national security policies.
 
“The cattle industry faces no shortage of challenges, but threats like foreign animal disease and agriterrorism are what keeps us up at night,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “NCBA has previously worked with the FBI, Homeland Security, and other federal law enforcement to safeguard American agriculture. This announcement from Secretary Rollins, alongside Secretary Hegseth, Attorney General Bondi, and Secretary Noem, is welcomed news for America’s cattle producers. We look forward to working with USDA, the Department of Defense, and federal law enforcement partners to continue protecting America’s cattle industry.”
 
As part of the action plan, USDA will increase their oversight of foreign land acquisitions, strengthen inspections to root out dangerous products coming through U.S. ports of entry, invest in preventing the spread of devastating diseases, and counter cybersecurity threats.
 
NCBA has long supported adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). CFIUS is an interagency panel chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury with additional involvement from the Secretaries of State, Defense, Commerce, Homeland Security, Energy, the Attorney General, and senior White House officials that reviews foreign purchases to ensure they do not threaten U.S. national security. As part of this announcement, Secretary Rollins will be joining CFIUS—a significant win for protecting America agriculture from foreign threats. This move will ensure the Secretary of Agriculture is fully aware of foreign transactions moving forward and can ensure they do not harm American farmers and ranchers.  
 
Additionally, the plan calls for investing in cybersecurity and strengthening screenings at ports of entry. NCBA worked with members of Congress earlier this year to introduce the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act. This legislation would help identify and mitigate cybersecurity threats to the food and agriculture sectors. Additionally, NCBA has also supported strengthened inspection at U.S. ports of entry and use of the Beagle Brigade to sniff out potentially dangerous products coming into the country. Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection quarantined over 1.3 million agricultural items coming into the United States that could have brought disease, invasive species, or other threats to U.S. agriculture.
 
NCBA has also continued to focus on countering foreign animal diseases. NCBA secured $153 million per year for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank in the One Big Beautiful Bill, with a total investment in cattle health programs of $233 million per year. The vaccine bank currently houses the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine and test kits, which makes sure we are prepared to combat any outbreak.



Bacon Reintroduces Landmark Legislation to Strengthen America’s Agricultural Security and Support Beginning Farmers

Recently, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02) reintroduced two groundbreaking bills aimed at modernizing and securing America's agricultural sector. H.R. 4155, the American Agricultural Security Act will bolster cyber defenses for our nation's food supply chain, while H.R. 4156 the Support for Ownership and Investment in Land (SOIL) Act will remove barriers for the next generation of farmers seeking to establish their operations.

With the U.S. agri-food sector reporting forty cyberattack incidents in the first quarter of 2024 alone, the American Agricultural Security Act addresses an urgent national security concern. The legislation will establish Centers of Excellence at higher education institutions and create a competitive USDA grant program to strengthen our agricultural cybersecurity infrastructure.

“Our national security and our agricultural industry are inextricably linked,” said Rep. Bacon. “There are only nine meals between civilization and total anarchy. For this reason, I introduced the American Agricultural Security Act of 2024 to ensure we stay ahead of emerging threats to our food supply chain.”

While new technologies have enabled food production to become one of the most automated industries in the world, adversaries have increasingly looked to undermine our nation’s most vital industry through increased cyberattacks. The American Agricultural Security Act addresses these challenges by:
    Enabling the Secretary of Agriculture to establish Centers of Excellence at institutions of higher education to research and engage in extension on topics related to cybersecurity, biosecurity, and agricultural production.
    Establishing a competitive grant program within USDA to support research, extension, and education activities that improve the capability of the United States to protect the food and agricultural system from attack or other global catastrophic threats.

The full text of H.R. 4155 the American Agricultural Security Act can be found here.

The SOIL Act modernizes the farm loan process for America's next generation of agricultural leaders. The legislation allows the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to create a farm loan pre-approval process to allow farmers to make better decisions and not miss opportunities to expand their business operations, which will be especially useful for beginning farmers who often miss opportunities to expand their operations.

“The SOIL Act will finally open the door for beginning farmers and ranchers to obtain financing by allowing producers to be preapproved for FSA Loans,” said Rep. Bacon. “Far too often, beginning farmers and ranchers are unable to be competitive when purchasing land. Purchasing farmland is seasonal and there is no reason young producers should be forced to wait months on end before receiving permission to purchase land.” 

Last Congress, both bills were successfully included in the Farm Bill passed by the House Agriculture Committee. Rep. Bacon looks forward to working with the Committee this Congress to advance these critical initiatives.



2025 Farmland Leasing Arrangements Workshops: Better Leases for Better Relationships

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is hosting a series of farmland leasing arrangements meetings across the state throughout July and August, as well as a statewide virtual webinar on Aug. 26. These annual meetings are offered to address questions that landowners, tenants or other interested individuals have about leasing farmland.

The negotiated rate is one aspect of farmland leasing arrangements. The 2025 annual survey of cash rental rates for Iowa farmland shows that rates decreased, on average, by 2.9% in 2025 to $271 per acre. This is the first decline in cash rents since 2019, after a peak of $279 per acre the previous two years of the survey. The goal of the farmland leasing program is to go beyond rates and discuss all aspects of strong leasing relationships.

Workshop topics will cover land values, market outlook and cash rent trends, costs of production, methods for determining a fair rental rate, legal updates regarding leases and strategies for effective communication with tenants or landowners. ISU Extension and Outreach farm management field specialists will also address common questions regarding leases affected by a farm estate or succession plan.Farm management specialist Tim Christensen speaks with a meeting particiant

“More than half of Iowa’s farmland is rented, and strong landowner/tenant relationships are important for the long-term viability of Iowa’s valuable farmland,” said Ann Johanns, program specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach and editor of Ag Decision Maker. “While the trend in rental rates is fairly steady, individual agreements vary, and attending a workshop is a great way to learn more or ask questions on specific aspects of farm lease arrangements.”

Each two-and-a-half-hour workshop is designed to assist landowners, farm tenants and other agri-business professionals with current issues related to farmland ownership, management and leasing arrangements. Attendees will gain a better understanding of current cash rental rate surveys and factors impacting next year’s rental arrangements, such as market trends and input costs.

Each registrant will have access to a 100-page workbook with resources regarding land leasing agreements, such as surveys, sample written lease agreements and termination forms, along with other publications.

Attend a local meeting
Registration for local county farmland leading meetings is $25 per individual, which includes workshop materials. Pre-registration is encouraged, as an additional fee may be added if registering less than two calendar days before the meeting date. 

Meetings currenly on the schedule include:
8/13/2025, 1:30 PM Region 6: Monona, Plymouth, and Woodbury County Extension 
Call to Register: (712) 276-2157 
Location: 4728 Southern Hills Drive, Sioux City - Cost $25

8/20/2025, 1:00 PM Carroll County Extension
Call to Register: (712) 792-2364 
Location: 1205 West US Hwy 30, Suite G, Carroll - Cost $25

To register, call your ISU Extension and Outreach county office.

Attend the statewide webinar
The statewide virtual webinar will take place on Aug. 26 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Online registration is required https://go.iastate.edu/FLA4WEB, and the cost to register is $25 per individual.

Farmland leasing meetings are facilitated by farm management specialists Joseph Lensing, Patrick Hatting, Paul Martin, Ryan Drollette, Tim Christensen and Eric Weuve with ISU Extension and Outreach. For a list of all meeting locations, visit the Ag Decision Maker events page https://go.iastate.edu/FLA4WEB.

The Ag Decision Maker website provides useful materials for negotiating leases, information on various types of leases, lease forms and newly updated decision tools.

For more information, contact your farm management specialist or county Extension office.



IRFA: EPA’s RFS Proposal a Great First Step

During a public hearing Tuesday, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) praised the Trump Administration and the EPA for proposing robust Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending levels for 2026-2027 and urged the agency to modernize E15 regulations to unleash greater access to E15.

“This RFS proposal is the most exciting since the RFS was expanded in 2007,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “I cannot overstate the optimism it has caused in rural America at a time when farm income has plummeted and talk of tariffs triggers uncertainty. Finalizing the proposed renewable fuels blending levels will provide the right boost at the right time for our farmers. It will enhance American energy dominance, lower prices for consumers, and improve the environment. IRFA urges the EPA to maintain the robust RFS levels in the final rule.”

In the proposed rule, EPA indicates that it will account for prospective 2026-2027 refinery exemptions (SREs) in the final rule. The proposal does not address pending SRE requests from several years through 2025.

“At the end of the day, 15 billion gallons needs to mean 15 billion gallons for conventional renewable fuels like ethanol,” said Shaw. “And 24 billion gallons must mean 24 billion gallons for total RFS volumes. SREs should be few and far between. But when granted, SREs must be fully reallocated to ensure the robust RFS proposal is not undermined. The optimism around the RFS is real today and it would be a mistake to pull the rug out from under one of the only bright spots in the current ag economy.”

IRFA also urged EPA to unleash great access to E15 by eliminating outdated regulations.

“EPA needs to reboot the effort begun during President Trump’s first term to remove outdated regulations limiting E15 sales,” said Shaw. “E15 should be allowed in all fueling infrastructure from the storage tank through the nozzle. Requiring retailers to spend thousands of dollars to replace perfectly compatible equipment serves only to slow down the growth of consumer access to E15. President Trump’s initiative was shelved during the last administration. It is time to get this commonsense modernization finalized. I look forward to EPA’s action in this regard and, as a result, working with EPA on future RFS rules to increase the conventional blending levels above 15 billion gallons.”



Clean Fuels Testifies on EPA’s 2026-27 RFS Rule Proposal
 
Tuesday, Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen delivered oral testimony at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Public Hearing on Proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and 2027. Multiple Clean Fuels staff and member companies also testified, thanking EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and EPA staff for proposing a much-needed step-change in the RFS Biomass-Based Diesel obligations. Clean Fuels also encouraged the agency to maintain the proposed volumes as it addresses outstanding small refinery exemption petitions.

“Our industry has made substantial investments over the past several years in both biofuel production, feedstock supply, and distribution infrastructure. Domestic production of biodiesel and renewable diesel has doubled since 2020 and continues to grow. We supplied more than 5 billion gallons of biodiesel, renewable diesel and SAF to the U.S. market in 2024, and we are poised to deliver more in 2026,” Rehagen testified. “EPA’s acknowledgement of the industry’s investments in new capacity and intent to provide consistent RFS growth are greatly appreciated.”

Rehagen concluded, “We are pleased that since the proposed rule came out the markets have reacted in a positive fashion. However, uncertainty around small refinery exemptions still hangs over the industry. We ask that you sustain the volumes as proposed to ensure that our capacity is fully utilized.” 



RFA Supports EPA 2026-27 RVO Proposal, Urges SRE Caution

In testimony today before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper expressed strong support for the agency’s proposed renewable volume obligations for 2026 and 2027, calling the proposal “an important step toward achieving President Trump’s vision for lower gas prices, a stronger agriculture industry, and American energy dominance.”

“RFA fully supports the proposed implied conventional renewable fuel volumes of 15 billion gallons for both 2026 and 2027,” Cooper said. “This will provide the ethanol industry with room for growth as E15 continues to gain momentum in the marketplace.”

While RFA applauded EPA’s decision to prospectively reallocate any renewable fuel volumes lost to small refinery exemptions (SREs) in the final rule, Cooper cautioned that EPA must be “extremely judicious” in determining whether any refiners have truly suffered, or will suffer, “disproportionate economic hardship” related to compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard, adding that “it is critically important that EPA accurately estimate exempted volumes in the final rule to ensure that the volume requirements that are actually implemented in 2026 and 2027 match those that are published in the rule.”

Finally, while RFA strongly supports EPA’s proposed 50-percent reduction in RINs generated for import-based renewable fuels and fully agrees that there are “reduced economic, energy security, and environmental benefits” provided by imported renewable fuels, Cooper said that enhanced recordkeeping and reporting procedures—as contemplated by EPA—are not needed for corn-based ethanol, given that the U.S. does not import corn ethanol, and corn imports make up just one tenth of one percent of the U.S. corn supply.



Ag Groups Encourage Trump Administration to Fill Chief Agricultural Negotiator Role

A letter with signatures from 42 agricultural associations, led by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), was sent to President Trump today urging him to expeditiously nominate a chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

The group said the nomination is critical to prioritizing the needs of American agriculture amidst the ongoing reciprocal trade negotiations.

“The chief agricultural negotiator is an asset to farmers and ranchers across the United States as well as within the federal government,” the letter said. “Their voice ensures that agriculture issues are prioritized as negotiations are ongoing and become more complicated.”

The role is responsible for conducting and overseeing international negotiations related to trade of agricultural products. The role is political, and each incoming administration is responsible for nominating someone to serve in the position.

The signatories applauded the president for addressing international trade and promoting U.S. trade interests.

“We are also encouraged by your administration’s willingness to address unfair trade practices that are distorting markets and creating supply chain vulnerabilities in the U.S. food system,” the letter noted. “To ensure that meaningful progress is made, we seek the nomination and confirmation of a chief agricultural negotiator to prioritize agriculture issues at the negotiating table and to secure wins for rural America.”

The letter comes as farmers and ranchers are facing challenging economic conditions with low prices, high input costs, increased global competition and languishing markets. Farmers and ranchers heavily rely on exports to be successful, and the momentum generated by the ongoing reciprocal trade negotiations is promising.



Cattle Producers Recognized for Stewardship Efforts with 2025 Regional Awards

Cattle producers from across the country were recognized during the industry’s Summer Business Meeting in San Diego through the 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). Regional award recipients were honored for their commitment to conservation and stewardship. The national winner will be announced during CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, in February.

“It is an honor to recognize these cattle producers for their commitment to conservation,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein. “Not only are they protecting natural resources for future generations, but they also serve as stewardship role models for producers across the country.”

Regional ESAP winners undertake stewardship efforts unique to their environment, landscape and resources. The 2025 ESAP Regional winners are:

Region I: Whispering Hills Farm, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Mike Wilson took a neglected and overgrown farm in the heart of Kentucky and gave it life. He carefully crafted his operation around the limitations of the land and resources, and adapted when necessary to make it a thriving, profitable operation that can be passed down to the next generation of stewards. Wilson is an active participant in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) as well as the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to implement a variety of practices including pipeline, heavy use area protection, watering troughs, fencing, and forage and biomass plantings to help facilitate prescribed grazing. In addition to livestock related enhancements, he is an advocate for keeping the balance between agriculture and wildlife. He has partnered with state foresters to improve woodland, and he removes invasive species to enhance plant diversity. Wilson continues to serve as a role model to fellow cattle producers, influencing them to take positive steps towards stewardship and conservation efforts.

Region II: M&D Overstreet Ranch, Kathleen, Florida
M&D Overstreet Ranch sits at an urban-wildland interface in central Florida, surrounded by one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. The Overstreet’s story is one of endurance, responsibility and a deep-rooted belief in leaving the land better than they found it. Mark Overstreet, paralyzed from the waist down since 1970, has never let his disability keep him from stewarding the land. With modified equipment, sheer determination and an unbreakable spirit, he continues to oversee rotational grazing, soil restoration and water conservation projects that benefit not just the cattle, but all of Florida. M&D Overstreet Ranch uses controlled burns to restore native grasslands, lime rock lakes to recharge the aquifer, and wildlife corridors to protect species like deer, turkeys and wading birds. Overstreet remains a mentor and advocate, proving that true leadership isn’t about personal success, it’s about lifting others up. His work ensures that Florida’s ranching traditions, environmental stewardship and community values will endure for generations to come. 

Region III: Smith Family Farms, Bankston, Iowa
In the family since 1853, the 100% no-till Smith Family Farms is located in the rolling hills of northeast Iowa, today owned and operated by Jack Smith, his wife Maria, and their two sons. The Smith’s agriculture philosophy is based on soil health, which is accomplished through the three pillars of no-till, cover crops and cows. The Smiths have developed a cow herd that thrives in their environment by grazing throughout most of the year, limiting additional feed resources, and calving out in the field. Rotational grazing is another cornerstone for environmental stewardship, whether rotating on cover crops, corn residue permanent pastures, or converting Conservation Reserve Program fields to pastures. In addition to their conservation efforts, the family is dedicated to preserving the state’s history through the Iowa Barn Foundation, which has saved more than 300 barns. Above all, the Smiths share their story and mentor others on their environmental and operational practices. 

Region IV: McFaddin Ranch, Victoria, Texas
Founded in 1877, McFaddin Ranch is a living testament to the resilience and innovation of Texas ranching. Located near the Gulf Coast, McFaddin Ranch has worked for decades to hone grazing management practices to match the environment and optimize ecosystem services. From proper stocking densities, genetics, handling, forage quality and flood and drought management, co-owner and general manager Bob McCan continually seeks out new tools and approaches that enhance all aspects of the operation. These efforts have improved wildlife habitat, protected and enhanced water quality, and increased carbon sequestration. These stewardship efforts are helping the ranch meet its goals of integrating research-proven strategies to maintain thriving wildlife and livestock populations through complementary practices, using economic, environmental and social sustainability to guide decisions, and continuing the family’s ranching legacy. In addition, McCan shares what he’s learned through leadership roles at the state, national and international levels.

Region V: G&G Livestock and Cathey Cattle Company, Polson, Montana
Greg and Lynn Gardner started G&G Livestock; daughter Brittany Cathey and son-in-law Wacey Cathey later launched Cathey Cattle Company as their own direct-to-consumer beef business. Located on the Flathead Indian Reservation, the family works together to manage cattle and care for the land. Efficient range management is the family’s focus with efforts including weed control, grazing management and water development. By implementing a deferred rest rotation system, the family has seen their pastures develop deeper roots, rebound more quickly from grazing and increased grass production year to year. The family is active in the community and supports conservation causes that improve natural resources. They partnered with USDA-NRCS to install additional fencing and livestock watering systems, treat invasive weeds, improve pasture and range conditions through forage plantings, and develop grazing management plans leading to measurable improvements to rangeland health.

Region VII: Wine Glass Ranch, Imperial, Nebraska
Jeff and Connie Pribbeno and their son and daughter-in-law Logan and Brianna Pribbeno own and operate Wine Glass Ranch, located in western Nebraska near the Colorado border. The Pribbenos believe long-term care for their operation's ecology translates to profitability, which is why they have married together the values of ranching for profit and environmental stewardship to make a living. The cow-calf, stocker and grain operation thrives despite the arid climate and fragile sandy soil. The family installed more than 200 miles of cross fence, creating 90 paddocks for their rotational grazing system. At any given point, 95% of the ranch is resting, and this practice has increased plant diversity and the return of native grasses such as Sand Bluestem and Indian grass, a species difficult to grow in sandy soil. With a focus on soil health, the Pribbenos work closely with several state and federal agencies on conservation projects and those partnerships have helped them with their stewardship efforts.

Established in 1991 by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to recognize outstanding land stewards in the cattle industry, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) is generously sponsored by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Corteva Agriscience, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. For more information, visit www.environmentalstewardship.org. 



Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill includes key priorities for Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative

The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on July 4, 2025, included a number of dairy-focused provisions aligned with key priorities for Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, including resetting of the Dairy Margin Coverage program (DMC), expanding trade promotion funding and increasing conservation funding for EQIP and CSP. In addition, the OBBBA updated key portions of the farm bill, as well as extending multiple other tax and spending changes.

The multi-trillion-dollar tax and spending bill includes a wide range of provisions aimed at tax, energy, healthcare, education, immigration/border, national security, and food and agriculture. The bill included parts of the long-awaited farm bill, giving direction and funding to various parts of the bill.
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“We are pleased to see that many of the dairy issues we have been working toward, including important provisions in the farm bill, were included in the OBBBA,” Heidi Fischer, president of Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, said. “We were glad our concerns over the past several months were heard. We have more work to do with the remainder of the farm bill but are hopeful the full bill will be done soon.”

Some key Edge priorities included in the OBBBA:
    Renewal of the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC):
        Extending the program through 2031 
        Increase of Tier 1 coverage from 5 to 6 million pounds per year
        Update to the DMC production history calculation to be based on the highest production year of 2021, 2022 or 2023
        Allowance for producers to receive a 25% premium discount for locking in their coverage for the duration of the bill
    Expansion of trade promotion funding for key existing programs
    Increase in mandatory funding for conservation programs such as EQIP and CSP
    Funding for mandatory dairy cost surveys every 2 years that may help provide more accurate data for Federal Milk Marketing Order discussions
    Increase in funding for animal health programs that help to prevent, control and eradicate animal diseases, such as the outbreak of H5N1 in dairy cattle

In addition to the agriculture components, extending business tax provisions will help dairy farmers navigate the road ahead in commodity environments. OBBBA also:
    Extended crop insurance benefits for beginning farmers and ranchers from five to ten years
    Extends estate tax and gift tax exemptions and increases the basic inclusion amount from $5 to $15 million ($30 million for couples), and makes it permanent
    Extends many of the tax credits in the original Tax Cut and Jobs Act that affect farmers and processors, including 199A, permanent extension of Section 199A QBI, 100% bonus depreciation and the New Markets Tax Credit

“While we are pleased with the inclusion of many of our key priorities, we still have work to do to finalize the farm bill,” Fischer said. “We will continue to work closely with members of Congress to see that legislation that impacts our farms and our businesses is sensible and provides the direction we need, including codifying timely and accurate payments into the farm bill.”



Forge Industries Marks One Year of MacPherson Family Ownership

In 2024, the MacPherson family of Gothenburg, Nebraska, purchased Farm Aid Manufacturing. In February 2025, the business was re-branded as Forge Industries and it remains a leading producer of feed mixer wagons. To mark one year under new ownership, an open house was held at the manufacturing plant in Corsica, South Dakota, welcoming dealers, customers, community guests, and family.

“It was great to see a fantastic turnout at our open house,” said Eric MacPherson, CEO of Forge Industries. “The past year has been one of growth and learning for us. We also confirmed we made the right decision to purchase this company, gaining an excellent crew who continue to build the best feed mixers on the market. I know because we use one on our cattle operation.”

With a focus on continuous improvement of processes and products, the team at Forge has implemented several updates to the trailer-mounted, truck-mounted, and stationary mixers in their product line. “The mixers we build are durable, efficient, and unique,” said Nathan MacPherson. “The mixing mechanism is ingenious, the poly liner ensures a long life, and the six capacities mean we have the right mixer for every livestock producer’s enterprise.”

Available capacities for trailer-mount units are 250, 340, 430, 550, 560, and 680 cubic feet. The 250, 560, and 680 models can be truck mounted with the 560 and 680 models able to be configured as stationary units.

The company’s commitment to incorporating new technologies make their products the best option available for livestock producers. A new product line, the Compact Series, will be introduced this year. Capitalizing on the ingenuity and experience of the Forge team, these smaller, pickup bed-mounted units will change the way cattle on rangeland, winter pasture, and cornstalks are supplemented. Be watching for more from Forge on the patent-pending Compact Series.



Monitoring Harvest Loss: A Game Changer for Farm Profitability

In today’s high-cost, low-margin environment, grain and row crop farmers can’t afford to leave yield and profit in the field. Whether it’s corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, canola, or any other crops harvested with a combine, harvest optimization expert Marcel Kringe is urging farmers to focus on one of the most overlooked, yet most impactful, management practices: measuring harvest loss to fine-tune combine calibration.

“Combine grain loss is one of the biggest invisible threats to profitability,” says Kringe, CEO of Bushel Plus. “Most farmers assume their machines are performing efficiently, but without measuring actual loss, they’re often losing more than they realize.” 

Why Harvest Loss Happens
Combines are powerful and complex machines, but they’re not set-it-and-forget-it systems. When key settings are not properly dialed in, grain can be damaged or lost. And, because that loss happens behind the machine, Kringe says it’s easy to miss.

“If the rotor is spinning too fast, it can damage kernels or push material through too aggressively. If fan speed is off, it will influence the separation and retention of the grain,” explains Kringe. “It’s all about balance, and even small calibration errors can lead to significant losses.”

The Financial Impact of Harvest Loss
The numbers tell a powerful story.

For corn, a 3% harvest loss on a 200 bushel-per-acre yield at $4.05 per bushel equates to 6 bushels left in the field. That’s a loss of $24.30. Multiply that across 1,000 acres, and that’s $24,300 in lost revenue. At a 5% loss, the figure jumps to $40,500.

In soybeans, a 3% loss on a 70 bushel-per-acre crop at $10.05 per bushel means $21.11 per acre - or $21,110 over 1,000 acres. A 5% loss brings that total to over $35,000.

“These aren’t theoretical numbers,” Kringe stresses. “They’re real dollars that could be in your pocket, but only if you measure what’s being left behind.”

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure
Many growers rely solely on factory combine presets or in-cab loss sensors, which Kringe says aren’t enough.

“Factory settings are a starting point, not a precision solution. And built-in sensors often can’t account for key variables like terrain, machine wear, or crop type,” he explains. “If you want accurate data, you need to get out behind the combine and measure actual loss in the field to calibrate those loss sensors properly. In other words, the loss sensor display needs a measured benchmark from what’s going out the back to provide useful information to the operator.”

That’s where drop pans come in - a simple but powerful tool for capturing a real-time snapshot of what the combine is losing.

“Drop pans collect real data, not estimates,” says Kringe. “Depending on your machine they tell you where loss is occurring - from the header, rotor, or cleaning shoe - and give you the confidence to make targeted adjustments that immediately protect yield and profit.”

The Best Tool for the Job
To make harvest loss measurement faster, safer, and more precise, Bushel Plus developed the SmartPan System™, the most advanced remote drop pan solution on the market.

Using a remote, magnetic release, the SmartPan mounts within seconds underneath any combine and collects a grain loss sample during normal field operation. That sample is then processed using the Bushel Plus Air Separator, which removes chaff and debris to isolate clean grain. The grain is weighed with a digital scale, and the results are logged instantly using the SmartDrop™ mobile app, providing clear, actionable insights on loss within a couple of minutes.

“This system gives growers everything they need to take quick, corrective action,” says Kringe. “In just a few minutes, you go from guessing - to knowing - and from losing money to saving it.”

Compatible with all major crops harvested by a combine like corn, soybeans, wheat, canola, barley, rice, and milo, the SmartPan System is endorsed and used by leading equipment manufacturers, including John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, CLAAS, and Fendt.

Kringe says growers using the SmartPan System have reduced losses from as high as 8% down to under 1%. “We hear it every season from customers: This tool paid for itself in the first field,” he says. “There’s no other piece of equipment on the farm that can deliver ROI like this.”

Don’t Let Profit Slip Away
Improving harvest profitability starts with knowing exactly how much grain you’re losing - and why. In today’s economic climate, every bushel counts. And in 2025, precision isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity.

“You’ve already invested in seed, fertilizer, crop protection, fuel, and labor,” says Kringe. “Don’t let all that effort and expense go to waste because of outdated combine settings. With the right tool and just a few quick checks, you can turn lost yield into recovered revenue, and real profit.”

To learn more about the SmartPan System and how to reduce harvest loss on your farm, visit www.bushelplus.ca.