Tuesday September 30 Ag News - Weekly Harvest Progress report - Cuming Co Extension Board Nominations - 50 years of Soy Checkoff in NE - NPPC on China's Pork Import Restrictions - and more!

 Nebraska Crop Progress & Condition Report

Topsoil Moisture 10% surplus, 63% adequate, 23% short, 4% very short 
Subsoil Moisture 8% surplus, 63% adequate, 24% short, 5% very short 

Corn Dent 92% - 88% LW - 98% 5YA 
Corn Mature 64% - 46% LW - 78% 5YA
Corn Harvested 11% - 05% LW - 17% 5YA
Corn Condition 22% excellent, 55% good, 19% fair, 3% poor, 1% very poor 

Soybeans Dropping Leaves - 85% - 60% LW - 89% 5YA
Soybeans Harvested 11% - 02% LW - 24% 5YA
Soybean Condition 22% excellent, 55% good, 20% fair, 2% poor, 1% very poor 

Winter Wheat Planted - 57% - 35% LW - 64% 5YA
Winter Wheat Emerged - 32% - 05% LW - 21% 5YA

Pasture Condition 14% excellent, 29% good, 36% fair, 17% poor, 4% very poor 



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

Dry conditions allowed 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 28, 2025, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. The warm temperatures also quickly advanced crop maturity. Fieldwork included harvesting corn and soybeans.  

Topsoil moisture condition rated 5 percent very short, 22 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition was 3 percent very short, 20 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 7 percent surplus.  

Nearly all the corn was dented or beyond. Eighty percent of corn has matured, 4 days ahead of last year and 1 day ahead of the five-year average. The corn for grain harvest was 15 percent complete, 4 days ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 20 percent. Corn condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 53 percent good and 18 percent excellent. 

Soybeans coloring was nearly complete at 95 percent. Eighty-three percent of soybeans were dropping leaves, 3 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of average. Soybean harvest was 17 percent complete, 3 days behind last year and the average.  Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 55 percent good and 18 percent excellent.  

Pasture condition rated 53 percent good to excellent.   



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

Despite scattered rain across parts of the country last week, corn and soybean harvests continued to advance. This week's warm, dry conditions are expected to keep fieldwork moving, including progress on winter wheat planting, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released on Monday.

Both corn and soybean harvests remain slightly behind their five-year averages.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn dented was estimated at 95%, equal to last year's pace, but 1 point behind the five-year average of 96%. Corn mature was pegged at 71%, 2 points behind last year's 73% and 3 points behind the five-year average of 74%.
-- Harvest progress: The pace of corn harvest picked up slightly last week, moving ahead 7 percentage points to reach 18% complete as of Sunday. That is 2 points behind last year's 20% and 1 point behind the five-year average of 19%. 
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 66% of the crop was in good-to-excellent condition nationwide, unchanged from the previous week. Ten percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, also unchanged from the previous week but 2 points below 12% from last year. 

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: Soybeans dropping leaves were pegged at 79%, equal to last year but 2 points ahead of the five-year average of 77%.
-- Harvest progress: Soybean harvest gained momentum last week, moving ahead 10 percentage points last week to reach 19% complete as of Sunday, 5 points behind last year's 24% and 1 point behind the five-year average of 20%. 
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 62% of soybeans still in fields were in good-to-excellent condition, up 1 point from 61% the previous week and below last year's rating of 64%. 

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: Winter wheat planting jumped ahead 14 points last week to reach 34% nationwide as of Sunday, 3 points behind last year's 37% and 2 points behind the five-year average of 36%. 
-- Crop development: An estimated 13% of winter wheat had emerged as of Sunday, equal to last year but 1 point ahead of the five-year average of 12%.

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Cuming County Board of Supervisors Seeking Extension Board Nominations
Alfredo DiCostanzo, NE Extension Beef Educator 

The Cuming County Board of Supervisors is seeking nominations for individuals interested in serving a three-year term on the Cuming County Extension Board. The Board of Supervisors appoints Extension Board members. Extension Board district lines are defined according to the Cuming County Board of Supervisor districts.

Two positions on the Cuming County Extension Board are open for appointments. Nominees are needed for District II (Supervisor District served by Maynard Munderloh) and District IV (Supervisor District served by Mark Schweers). Marty Smith has served as District II representative to the Extension Board for two, 3-year terms and is ineligible to run again. The same is true for Kristie Borgelt, District IV.

A nominating committee is seeking nominations from interested individuals. A nomination committee will prepare a slate of potential candidates to be submitted to the Cuming County Board of Supervisors for consideration. If you are interested in being a candidate, please feel free to contact Cuming County Extension at 402/372-6006 on or before October 27.

According to Extension Educator Alfredo DiCostanzo, the operation of the Cuming County Extension Board should be given thoughtful consideration by all county residents. Extension programs focus on priority needs and issues facing people of Cuming County.

Potential candidates are encouraged to contact the Extension Office or the Cuming County Clerk, Addisen Johnson, if you have questions on which supervisor district you reside in.



Celebrating 50 Years of Soybean Checkoff Work in Nebraska

This year marks 50 years since Nebraska’s soybean checkoff was established and 30 years since the Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) began leading those efforts on behalf of farmers across the state.

In that time, soybeans have grown from a smaller part of Nebraska agriculture into one of its most significant crops. Throughout the decades, NSB has stayed focused on one thing: serving the farmers who grow them.

"The Nebraska Soybean Board was created for farmers, and it’s still led by farmers today," said Andy Chvatal, executive director of the Nebraska Soybean Board. "That farmer leadership has guided every decision we’ve made, and it keeps us grounded in what really matters."

The Nebraska soybean checkoff officially began in 1975, when the Nebraska Legislature passed LB 74. It created a half- cent per bushel assessment on all soybeans sold in the state, managed by the Nebraska Soybean Development, Utilization and Marketing Board under the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. This allowed Nebraska farmers to invest in their crop and its future.

In 1995, just four years after the national soybean checkoff was established in 1991, NSB adopted its Articles of Incorporation and became certified as a Qualified State Soybean Board. With the launch of the national checkoff, farmers began investing 0.5% of the market price per bushel sold. That investment is split evenly: half stays in Nebraska to be directed by NSB, while the other half goes to the United Soybean Board to support national and international efforts.

Early on, NSB focused on strengthening the crop through university research, growing demand for biodiesel and expanding market opportunities around the world. In 1999, Soybean Management Field Days launched to bring research- based insights directly to growers. Free soil testing for soybean cyst nematode began in the early 2000s, helping farmers detect a serious threat to yields and profitability.

Over time, NSB has continued to listen to farmers and respond to new challenges and opportunities.

"We’ve tried to stay flexible and forward- thinking," Chvatal said. "As the industry has changed, we’ve adapted, but we’ve always stayed true to the goal of making sure every checkoff dollar goes to work for Nebraska farmers."

Partnerships have been a key part of that progress. In 2013, NSB helped fund the Nebraska Soybean Producers Presidential Chair in Soybean Breeding at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Around the same time, the board started a cost-share program to install biodiesel blender pumps across the state, helping fuel retailers offer higher blends of clean-burning biodiesel.

While NSB’s work has a global reach, its roots are planted firmly in Nebraska. Programs like the Ag Sack Lunch have helped thousands of fourth graders understand where their food comes from. The See For Yourself program has given farmers the chance to witness firsthand how their checkoff investment makes a difference at home and abroad.

Today, Nebraska soybeans are a part of a global supply chain. More than half of U.S. soybeans are exported, and Nebraska farmers planted a record 5.75 million acres in 2022.

In 2025, NSB opened its new office at 4625 Innovation Drive in Lincoln. The new space reflects how far the organization has come and its continued commitment to working alongside the farmers it serves.

"We’re proud of where we've been, but we’re even more excited about where we’re headed," Chvatal said. "With farmers representing eight districts and one at-large seat, our board brings together voices from across the state. The challenges on the farm keep changing, and it’s important to have people at the table who live it every day and want to make a difference."

After five decades, the Nebraska soybean checkoff is still focused on building markets, supporting innovation and funding research that keeps the state’s soybean farmers moving forward.

"We want to be a partner in the success of every soybean farmer in Nebraska," said Chvatal. "That’s what this board was created to do, and that’s what we’ll continue doing together."

Through successes big and small, from cutting-edge research to hands-on education, the checkoff has had a lasting impact across Nebraska and far beyond. Regional, national and international partnerships have allowed NSB to stay connected with organizations and talented individuals who work for the benefit of Nebraska soybean farmers. At every step, NSB has remained focused on its mission: "Growing value for Nebraska farmers by maximizing their checkoff investments."



USDA to Host Data Users’ Meeting to Gather Public Input on Statistical Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will hold its biannual Data Users’ Meeting in West Des Moines, Iowa, on October 21, starting at 1 p.m. CT. The free and open-to-the-public event will also have a virtual attendance option. For both methods, registration is required.

The Data Users’ Meeting is held to share recent and pending statistical program changes with the public and to solicit input on these and other programs important to agriculture. This year, the meeting will be held at the Iowa Farm Bureau Facility located at 5400 University Ave, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. The event is organized by NASS in cooperation with the World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Economic Research Service (ERS), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and U.S. Census Bureau. Representatives from the Risk Management Agency (RMA) and the U.S. Energy Information Administration will also be on hand to assist with topics as needed.

“The Data Users’ Meeting is a unique opportunity for data users to be informed and involved in guiding the agricultural information USDA produces now and into the future,” said Agricultural Statistics Board Chair Lance Honig. “This venue allows for opinion, discussion, and coordination of agricultural data products that both expands knowledge and creates a cooperative environment to the benefit of all who attend. Working together, we ensure that NASS and other USDA data-producing organizations provide timely, accurate and useful statistics in service to U.S. Agriculture.”

This fall, the Data Users’ Meeting agenda consists of agency updates and a question-and-comment open forum for attendees. A detailed agenda with descriptions and registration information are located at nass.usda.gov/go/data_users. Links to the meeting will be emailed to participants after registration. For more information, contact Sammy Neal at sammy.neal@usda.gov or 202-690-1404.



NPPC Comments on China’s Restrictions on U.S. Pork Exports
 
The National Pork Producers Council submitted to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative comments on China’s trade-limiting measures, which are contrary to international rules and standards. USTR requested the information for a required report to Congress on China’s compliance with its World Trade Organization commitments.
 
NPPC pointed out that, despite better market access to the Asian nation included as part of the 2020 U.S.-China Phase One trade agreement, U.S. pork exports remain restricted because of China’s tariffs, domestic subsidies, and various sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions, which violate WTO rules. Additionally, China recently refused to renew export registrations for about 400 U.S. beef facilities and nine pork plants, meaning they can’t export meat to China.
 
Among other restrictions, NPPC noted China’s requirement that all U.S. pork exports test negative for residues of ractopamine hydrochloride, a feed additive used for growth promotion and feed efficiency in U.S. hog production. Ractopamine has a maximum residue limit set by the U.N.’s Codex Alimentarius Commission that is widely accepted globally.
 
The country also has subjected pork shipments from some U.S. facilities to increased inspections because of alleged detections of animal diseases, such as porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome (PRRS). The United States utilizes vaccines to control the spread of PRRS, which is endemic in China, and certain common testing techniques are known to show false positives when the animals being tested have received vaccinations.
 
China was the No. 3 value market for U.S. pork in 2024, with the pork industry shipping more than $1.1 billion of product, or about 13% of its total exports, to the Asian country. China accounted for 59% of U.S. pork variety meat exports, including feet, heads, stomachs, and hearts. They add value to every pig produced in the United States. There is no alternative market to take the volume and value of U.S. pork variety meat in demand by China.



Additional Cattle Contract Months and Weekly Options
Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, South Dakota State University

On June 9, 2025, the CME Group began listing additional futures and options contract months for live cattle and feeder cattle. Adding a contract month to live cattle means that it would be more feasible to hedge out an additional two months than before the change. For feeder cattle, adding another contract month would make it more feasible to hedge out an additional one to three months than before the change. Trading volume and open interest tend to be highest in nearby contract months, with both indicators trailing off further into the future one looks. At this time, April 2027 live cattle futures and September 2026 feeder cattle futures have volume and open interest levels like those of the most deferred contracts listed a year ago.

For hedgers, having more contracts listed makes it easier to consider bids and potentially lock in profitable prices without having to use a closer month and then roll positions ahead. Conceptually, the same benefit exists with options. There are positive open interest levels in the most-deferred option months for live cattle and feeder cattle. However, with longer durations, the time value of option premiums increases and often hurts the cost-effectiveness compared to using futures. Options would now be listed much further out than Livestock Risk Protection (LRP), which is currently limited to 52 weeks of coverage. A hedger could start with deferred futures or options and offset trades before switching to, distinct from rolling to, LRP.

An additional serial or odd-month option month is now also listed for live cattle. Thus, the nearby October futures contract has an option that expires this Friday, the first Friday of the contract month. The November and January options are also listed. The November option is tied to the December futures contract. The January option is tied to the February futures contract. For hedgers who prefer to use options, having more months may make it easier to line up expiration dates closer to when the cattle will be marketed. Until now, buying options for longer durations than needed would cost more initially and use funds until the options were sold with less time value remaining.

On September 22, 2025, the CME Group began listing weekly options on live cattle futures. Weekly options have been popular on corn, soybeans, and many financial futures contracts. For live cattle, the weekly option is designed to trade for a few weeks before expiring on Monday mornings to the nearby futures contract that still has a normal option trading against it. The Monday settlement is designed to align with the release of Cattle on Feed reports, which occurs on the third or fourth Friday of the month after the futures market has stopped trading for the day. Some weekly options have traded a little already. However, the fourth October weekly option, the first with an expiration after a Cattle on Feed report, will not be listed for trading until Tuesday, October 7. Note that it will settle against the December futures contract.

Monday September 29 Ag News - Fire Safety during Harvest - October is Cooperative Month - USDA makes 2nd ECAP payment - NE Farmers help expand Port of Houston - and more!

Fire Safety During Harvest Season: Essential Tips for Farmers
Amy Timmerman - NE Extension Educator

As we enter fall harvest, warm and drier-than-normal conditions are expected to persist through the first half of October, which could intensify drought across the state. With weather conditions ripe for quick-moving fires, the risk is heightened by modern farming equipment, which has become larger and more complex over the years. Today's combines — often made with synthetic materials — can easily catch fire, especially when hydraulic leaks or fuel spills come into contact with smoldering crop residue.

Recent studies have shown that most combine fires begin in the engine area, with 76.7% of incidents stemming from contact between crop residue and hot components like exhaust manifolds or turbochargers. When a fire ignites, it can spread rapidly, especially if fuel lines or hydraulic hoses rupture.

Fortunately, advancements in equipment design have improved fire safety features. For instance, newer combines have more powerful radiator fans and strategically placed air intakes to minimize the risk of flammable materials entering critical areas.

Preventing Combine Fires: Key Strategies
    Keep Equipment Clean: Regularly clean your combine, especially around the engine and exhaust areas. Use battery-powered leaf blowers or air compressors to clear debris. Power washing can also remove grease and oil that may accelerate a fire.
    Park Smart: Allow combines to cool down before parking them in sheds. If parking in the field, choose fire-resistant surfaces and consider creating firebreaks by disking areas around parked equipment.
    Monitor Engine Load: Excessive stress on engines can increase fire risk. Be aware that newer engines generate higher temperatures due to emissions standards.
    Check Bearings: Overheating bearings can cause fires. Use an infrared thermometer to monitor bearing temperatures and shut down the machine if temperatures exceed safe levels.
    Harvest Responsibly: Avoid harvesting during extreme fire weather. Be particularly cautious between 2 and 4 p.m., when conditions are often the most dangerous.

Preparation is Key
    Start harvesting from the downwind side of fields to minimize fire spread risk.
    Keep a cell phone handy for emergencies.
    Carry a 10 lb ABC fire extinguisher in the combine cab, and remember the PASS technique: Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle, Squeeze the trigger, and Sweep across the base of the fire.
    Ensure all extinguishers are regularly checked and maintained.

What to Do if a Fire Occurs
    Move the Machine: If safe, pull the combine into areas that have already been harvested.
    Turn Off the Engine: This prevents the air intake from feeding the fire.
    Call for Help: Dial 911 as soon as possible, providing clear directions for emergency services.
    Contain the Fire: If the fire is beyond control, focus on preventing it from spreading to nearby vegetation.

Final Thoughts
While proper maintenance and awareness can significantly reduce fire risks, it’s crucial to remember that fires can still occur. Stay vigilant this harvest season:
    Clean combines regularly.
    Monitor engine temperatures and bearing conditions.
    Ensure effective communication among crew members.
    Prioritize safety over equipment — no piece of machinery is worth risking a life.

By taking these precautions, we can help protect our farms, our communities, and ourselves during this critical time. Stay safe out there!



Governor Signs Proclamation for Cooperative Month

A proclamation recognizing October 2025 as Cooperative Month was signed by Governor Jim Pillen. This coincides with the annual recognition of October as National Cooperative Month by the United States Department of Agriculture. This year's national theme is "Cooperatives Build a Better World."

The proclamation signed by the Governor recognizes Nebraska's farmer-owned cooperatives and rural electric and telephone cooperatives for the important role that they play in Nebraska's economy and the necessity of cooperatives in building a better Nebraska.

Rural agricultural cooperatives serve the needs of 54,665 producer-owners. With an annual payroll of nearly $400 million, cooperatives directly employ over 5,000 Nebraskans in 372 communities across the state. They also create 12,218 jobs annually through their operations, member payments, and investments.

Last year, Nebraska's agricultural cooperatives made cash patronage and equity redemption payments totaling nearly $100 million to their members and reinvested nearly $300 million in property, plant, and equipment to serve members' needs.

Nebraska's rural electric cooperatives serve over 7,000 rural farmers and ranchers with a combined service territory of over 12,000 square miles. Rural telephone cooperatives in Nebraska serve over 9,000 telephone, television and broadband users in Nebraska.

The economic impact of cooperatives benefit all Nebraskans. Nebraska communities were supported by over $21.9 million of property tax paid by agricultural cooperatives. Nebraska's farmer-owned cooperatives, governed by their farmer owners, contributed $2.8 million to local fire departments, local school and youth organizations, local and statewide FFA and 4-H chapters, and provided numerous scholarships to help Nebraska students continue their education.

Rocky Weber, President and General Counsel to the Nebraska Cooperative Council, stated: “‘Cooperatives Build a Better World’ is an appropriate theme for Cooperative Month in 2025. Nebraska’s agricultural cooperatives build generational assets across the state to serve their farmer-owners. These investments, employment payrolls, charitable contributions and taxes all support the rural communities that Nebraska’s agricultural cooperatives serve. The $3.1 billion in economic impact cooperatives have on Nebraska is vital to building a strong, prosperous economy. Governor Pillen’s proclamation of October 2025 as Cooperative Month is a welcome acknowledgment of how vital cooperatives are in building a better Nebraska.”



Smith Hosts Ag Trade Under Secretary, Visits with Producers about USMCA

Last Wednesday Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) hosted U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg during a visit to Nebraska. The officials toured the Preferred Popcorn headquarters in Chapman, NE, the Mars Petcare production facility in Aurora, and held a listening session on the 2026 Joint Review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement with local agriculture producers and manufacturers at Central Valley Ag in York.

"Mexico and Canada are Nebraska’s most significant agriculture export markets, and USMCA plays a vital role, ensuring our farmers and ranchers have a level playing field," said Rep. Smith. "As the Trump administration gathers stakeholder feedback, input from our producers is critical to ensure a successful review process. I thank Under Secretary Lindberg, who has been a fierce advocate for American agriculture both at home and abroad, for taking the time to hear from Nebraskans."

"Nebraska is an agricultural powerhouse, and their products are in high demand around the world," said Under Sec. Lindberg. "I’d like to thank Chairman Smith, Governor Pillen, and Director Vinton for hosting me today and showcasing some of the incredible agricultural products being made, grown, and raised in Nebraska and delivered around the globe."



Soybean Farmers Make Tangible Investment for Tangible Results at Houston Export Terminal

Soybean farmer leaders were in Houston on September 24th in order to present a ceremonial check in the amount of $275,000 to The Andersons, Inc. for their expansion project at the Port of Houston. Once completed in the first quarter of 2026, the expansion will enable the export of soybean meal from the facility.

By investing in this project, soybean farmer leaders are addressing several major priorities of the soybean industry:
• Increasing soybean meal export capacity: One of the significant developments in the U.S. soybean industry continues to be the investment in processing facilities in order to produce more soybean oil for renewable fuels. The additional production of soybean oil will result in an additional production of soybean meal. While much of this additional soybean meal will be consumed by the domestic livestock industry, it is increasingly essential to invest in additional export capacity to connect with international markets.
• Increasing resilience of the supply chain: Given the continued challenges the soybean industry has experienced with low water conditions on the Mississippi River, it is important to promote diversity of the supply chain by “spreading the eggs across more baskets”? The soybean meal that will be shipped to the facility at the Port of Houston will be transported via BNSF Railway or Union Pacific Railroad. It will not utilize the inland waterway system.
• Diversifying international markets: Given the significant challenges confronting soybean exports due to the curtailment of the Chinese market, it is imperative to pursue “base hit” marketing opportunities for soybean meal and soybeans. The identified markets for the Houston export terminal are: Middle East/North Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Asia.

In presenting the ceremonial check to officials with The Andersons, Mike Koehne, a farmer from Greensburg, Indiana, and chairman of the Soy Transportation Coalition, explained, “As stewards of the funding through the soybean checkoff program, my fellow soybean farmers and I are constantly exploring any opportunity to increase the profitability of our industry. The Andersons soybean meal and grain export facility at the Port of Houston is excellent example of an investment that will help accomplish many of our major priorities. Most soybean farmers in the U.S. are located hundreds of miles or more from our coastal regions. This geographic distance is a challenge we must overcome if we are to compete in the international marketplace. We would like to express our appreciation to The Andersons and the Port of Houston for investing in the supply chain that allows farmers like me to be successful.”

With storage capacity of 6.3 million bushels, the Houston facility supports the export of more than two million metric tons of grain annually and will include up to 22,000 metric tons for storing soybean meal for export. Additional upgrades will include a new conveyance system to seamlessly transport goods from storage to the ship loaders, as well as a new ship loading tower to increase the efficiency and speed of loading.

The Andersons projects that the primary states that will feed the soybean meal to their facility will be: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska. It is possible other states will feed into the facility as well given the expansion of soybean processing throughout the country.

Because the facility at the Port of Houston will result in greater resiliency of both international marketing and the supply chain, the following soybean farmer organizations contributed a total of $275,000 toward the project:
• United Soybean Board
• Soy Transportation Coalition
• Iowa Soybean Association
• Kansas Soybean Commission
• Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council
• Nebraska Soybean Board

The funding will be used for research, analysis, pre-engineering, and design expenses associated with the facility expansion at the Port of Houston. The Andersons, the owner of the facility, will assume the costs of the actual construction of the project.

The ceremonial $275,000 check was presented to The Andersons by a group of soybean farmer leaders at a luncheon at Port Houston’s headquarters. The group also received a tour of the export terminal and an update on the expansion project.

“We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to work with soybean farmers on this important investment,” said Matt Dvorak, Houston business manager at The Andersons. “As domestic soybean crush increases, we are identifying new opportunities for the export of soybean meal via our Houston facility. We look forward to working with the Soy Transportation Coalition and the broader soybean farmer community on this project, which will help connect U.S. soybean meal with international customers."



USDA Issues Second Economic Assistance Payment to Agricultural Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing a second Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) payment to eligible producers for the 2024 crop year. Of the authorized $10 billion in ECAP assistance, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already provided over $8 billion in payments to eligible producers to mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins made the announcement yesterday at the Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City.

“Initial ECAP payments were factored by 85% to ensure that total program payments did not exceed $10 billion in available funding. Since additional funds remain, FSA is issuing a second payment,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Brooke Appleton. “As producers continue to face market volatility, these payments along with the entire suite of supplemental disaster assistance programs, will help producers navigate market uncertainty, pay down debt for the 2024 crop year, and secure financing for the next crop year.”

Payments will automatically be made to eligible producers with approved ECAP applications who received an initial payment. Any application approved after Sept. 25, 2025, will receive one lump sum payment. Authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025, these economic relief payments are based on planted and prevented planted crop acres for eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year.

ECAP Payments
FSA is issuing a second payment ECAP equal to 14% of the gross ECAP payment to eligible producers, making the final payment factor 99%.

ECAP assistance is calculated using a flat payment rate for the eligible commodity multiplied by the eligible reported acres. Payments are based on acreage and not production. For acres reported as prevented planted, ECAP assistance is calculated at 50%.

Additional USDA Supplemental Disaster Assistance
In addition to the over $8 billion in ECAP payments, USDA has issued more than $1 billion in Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) assistance to livestock producers impacted by drought and federally managed lands wildfires in 2023 and 2024 with an additional $1 billion in expected payments for livestock producers impacted by floods and non-federally managed land wildfires in 2023 and 2024 (ELRP 2023/2023 FW). Livestock producers have until Oct. 31, 2025, to apply for (ELRP 2023/2023 FW) assistance. Producers have also received over $5.4 billion through Stage 1 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program for indemnified crop losses in 2023 and 2024. SDRP Stage 2 assistance for uncovered, quality, and shallow losses will be announced soon.

USDA’s disaster recovery programs complement recently announced state block grant agreements in Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia totaling $958 million in assistance to help agricultural producers with disaster recovery needs. USDA is working with 14 states on block grant agreements.

More Information
FSA helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.



USDA Cold Storage August 2025 Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on August 31, 2025 were down 2 percent from the previous month and down 7 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were down 1 percent from the previous month but up 2 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 3 percent from the previous month and down 13 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were down 25 percent from last month and down 8 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on August 31, 2025 were down slightly from the previous month and down slightly from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down 2 percent from the previous month but up 4 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 3 percent from last month but down 8 percent from August 31, 2024.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on August 31, 2025 were down 1 percent from the previous month but up 2 percent from August 31, 2024. Butter stocks were down 8 percent from last month and down 6 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks on August 31, 2025 were up 3 percent from last month but down 5 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were up 20 percent from last month but down 2 percent from a year ago.



NFU Statement on USDA and DOJ Action to Support Family Farmers in the Marketplace 

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) announcing a new initiative to scrutinize competitive conditions in the agricultural marketplace. 

“American agriculture is at a breaking point. Rising input costs are hitting family farmers and ranchers hard, and corporate consolidation is a major cause. When just a handful of companies control the markets for seed, fertilizer and other farm supplies, they can raise prices at will. This leaves farmers squeezed between skyrocketing costs and low prices for their products. That is unsustainable for farm families, rural communities and consumers.

“We commend the USDA and DOJ for hearing NFU’s call to action and stepping up to confront these challenges. We look forward to working together to ease the economic burden in farm country and ensure fairness for our farmers.” 




Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef Launches Position Paper on Beef’s Role in Sustainable, Nutritious Diets

The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) has released a new comprehensive position paper discussing the role of beef in sustainable, nutritious diets.

Developed through collaboration between GRSB members and independent experts in nutrition, sustainability, and development, the paper positions sustainable beef as a cornerstone of resilient and inclusive food systems by underscoring its role in human nutrition, livelihoods, environmental stewardship, and the economy.

“GRSB was formed to address the sustainability challenges that face the beef sector, whether they are social, environmental or economic. We brought together a diverse group of people to contribute to this paper, as we realised there was a need for a nuanced perspective on the role of beef in sustainable and nutritious diets,” said Ruaraidh Petre, executive director of GRSB.

The release of this position paper is an important milestone for advancing the global conversation on sustainable food systems.

“While there has been a move to consider environmental impact in dietary guidelines, a true systems perspective is too often missed. The interactions between the health of the land we use to produce food on, the people who eat it and the livelihoods of those who produce it are numerous and complex,” Petre said. “Different types of land support various types of food production as well as different habitat that can maintain biodiversity. Finding a balance between these things will enable us to feed a growing population and contribute to the sustainable development goals without unduly prescriptive dietary guidelines.”

The full position paper is available for download here https://indd.adobe.com/view/f99c0c52-f2ca-4fef-a88b-770c69beb592. 



GreenLight Biosciences Launches Norroa, the First RNA-Based Treatment for Varroa Mites, Offering New Hope Amid Record Bee Losses

GreenLight Biosciences ("the Company" or "GreenLight Bio") today announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) registration of NorroaTM , the first-ever nature-based treatment specifically designed to combat varroamites, the leading threat to honey bee colonies. This groundbreaking innovation provides beekeepers with a powerful new tool proven to protect these pollinators, which are critical to U.S. agriculture.

The registration comes at a challenging time for pollinators and the broader agricultural ecosystem. Recently analyzed data from the Honey Bee Health Coalition reveals staggering honey bee colony losses, with 1.7 million colonies lost and commercial beekeepers sustaining an average loss of 62% between June 2024 and March 2025. Underscored by USDA researchers, this alarming trend is related to the declining efficacy of existing miticides as varroa mites have developed resistance to chemical treatments once considered reliable. As mites are less controlled, they bring high virus loads into colonies, leading to loss. Experts warn of ripple effects that could disrupt food production, drive up farmer costs, and threaten the survival of commercial beekeeping operations. Entomologists at Washington State University project colony losses could rise to 70% in 2025 without substantive action.

"The EPA registration of Norroa marks a pivotal moment in protecting honey bee colonies that are essential to our food system," said Andrey Zarur, Chief Executive Officer, GreenLight Bio. "We commend Administrator Zeldin and his team for their diligent work in conducting a thorough review of this cutting-edge, American-made technology that brings important innovation to U.S. beekeepers. By harnessing the precision of our proprietary technologies, we're providing beekeepers with an environmentally conscious solution that specifically and effectively targets one of the most devastating threats to honey bee health. Norroa is safe for the bees and preserves the beneficial biodiversity and ecosystem balance of the surrounding area, aligning with sustainable agricultural practices."

Norroa's active ingredient, vadescana, leverages RNA interference (RNAi), a natural biological process that precisely targets varroa mites and ultimately stops their

reproduction. It is part of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee's (IRAC) Group 35, offering beekeepers a brand-new mode of action in the fight against these mites. The nucleic acids in the product are found in nature, and vadescana breaks down quickly in the environment.

"As a fifth-generation beekeeper, I've seen firsthand how varroa mites can devastate colonies and jeopardize livelihoods. It is the number one enemy for all beekeepers," said Jason Miller, President, Miller Honey Farms." Norroa offers a genuinely effective and environmentally responsible option to protect our bees, which is critical for the health of our operations and the future of our nation's food supply."

Rigorous, replicated field trials conducted across multiple U.S. regions demonstrated extended mite control of up to 18 weeks, resulting in improved overall colony health. Researchers confirmed Norroa's performance against varroa mites and its safety for honey bees, humans, other insects, and the environment. As the first truly targeted mite control product ever developed, when Norroa is applied with low mite levels, it maintains them longer than anything else on the market. This results in healthier, stronger bees, and if timed right, can lead to more colonies surviving over the winter, which field data supports.

"Beekeepers have been urgently seeking alternatives as existing miticides lose their potency," said Mark Singleton, Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager at

GreenLight Bio." Norroa represents a breakthrough in honey bee protection from varroa mites, offering beekeepers an effective and easy-to-use tool that keeps mite populations down for up to 18 weeks, which is substantially longer than the existing products on the market. Norroa can be applied at any temperature, provided it's safe to open the hive, and has no negative impacts on brood, workers, or queens. Beekeepers have very few products available to them to control these destructive mites. We are proud to be bringing another tool to the fight against varroa."

Varroa mites, which can double their population every 30 days, have evolved resistance to many chemical treatments, leaving beekeepers with few reliable options and intensifying the search for innovative approaches. Without significant intervention, experts warn of dire consequences for U.S. agriculture, which relies on honey bee pollination for more than 100 crops valued at an estimated $20 billion annually.

Friday September 26 Ag News - US Hog Inventory Down 1% - CVA Celebrates Coop Month - US Red Meat Production Down 10% - Ag Sec Rollins in KC - and more!

 United States Hog Inventory Down 1 Percent 

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2025 was 74.5 million head. This was down 1 percent fromSeptember 1, 2024, but up 1 percent from June 1, 2025.   

Breeding inventory, at 5.93 million head, was down 2 percent from last year, and down slightly from the previous quarter.

Market hog inventory, at 68.5 million head, was down 1 percent from last year, but up 1 percent from last quarter. 

Hogs and Pigs by State  (1,000 hd  -  % Sept 1 '24) 
Nebraska ..........:                  3,640         101  
Iowa .................:                 25,100       100  
Minnesota ........:                    8,750         96  
North Carolina ..:                     7,800         96  
Illinois ..............:                     5,550        101  

The June-August 2025 pig crop, at 34.1 million head, was down 3 percent from 2024. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.88 million head, down 3 percent from 2024. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 48 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.82 for the June-August period, compared to 11.72 last year. 

June - Aug 2025 
Nebraska ...:    180,000 sows farrowing - 12.10 pigs per litter -  2,178,000 pig crop (-2% LY)  
Iowa ..........:    450,000 sows farrowing - 11.90 pigs per litter - 5,355,000 pig crip (-3% LY)

United States hog producers intend to have 2.86 million sows farrow during the September-November 2025 quarter, down 2 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period one year earlier, and down 4 percent from the same period two years earlier. Intended farrowings for December 2025-February 2026, at 2.82 million sows, are down slightly from the same period one year earlier, and down 4 percent from the same period two years earlier. 

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 52 percent of the total United States hog inventory, down 1 percent from the previous year. 



CVA Celebrates National Co-op Month by Giving Back to Local Communities

October is National Co-op Month, a time to recognize the vital role cooperatives play in strengthening rural communities. Central Valley Ag (CVA) is proud to celebrate this month by honoring our mission to serve and support the communities where we live and work.

CVA is organizing a company-wide food drive throughout the month of October to support local food pantries across our service areas. Many food pantries are in need of restocking as they prepare for the busy colder winter months.

From October 1 through October 31, all CVA locations will be collecting non-perishable food items to donate to their local food pantries. This initiative is not only about giving back but also about coming together as a cooperative to make a difference to those around us.

Each participating location is teaming up with a local food pantry and will be working hard to collect as many donations as possible. CVA would like to continue doing their part to help their communities by making a $250 corporate donation to the location that donates the most to the pantry and their community.

Community members and partners are encouraged to join us in this effort. Whether you are dropping off a few canned goods or helping to spread the word, your support helps make this campaign stronger and more impactful.

“We know that many food pantries are in need, and we want to do our part to support the communities that support us," said Nic McCarthy, CEO of CVA. "Being part of a cooperative means stepping up when our neighbors need help, and this food drive is one small way we can make a big impact."

We believe that cooperatives are built on community. This October, let’s continue to show what that truly  means by working together to give back to those around us. 

To learn more about how you can get involved or where to donate, reach out to your local CVA location.

Together, we can make this Co-op Month a time of action, support, and community



NWB Announces Intern for the 2025-2026 School Year

The Nebraska Wheat Board (NWB) is excited to announce the 2025-2026 Nebraska Wheat Intern.  Abby Hirschman of St. Paul, NE is currently a sophomore at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) pursuing a degree in Agribusiness with minors in Animal Science, the Engler Entrepreneurship Program and the Krutsinger Beef Scholars Program.  Along with her classes, Abby is active in a variety of clubs and organizations at UNL.  She is a member of the UNL Range Management Club, serving as the chapter’s social media specialist.  She is also a member of the Collegiate Farm Bureau, St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center and Young Nebraska Cattlemen Association.  Growing up on a farm that raised livestock and crops, Abby developed a deep passion for the agriculture industry at an early age.  

Throughout her childhood, Abby was heavily involved in her local 4-H organization, taking on a variety of projects that helped cultivate her strong leadership skills. She continued to explore her passion for agriculture and build her skills by being an active member of the St. Paul FFA chapter.  Abby remains an active member of the National FFA Organization, where she plans to pursue her American degree.

With the desire to get more involved in Nebraska’s agriculture industry and expand her knowledge of crops, Abby applied for the Nebraska Wheat Board internship.

“My curiosity about Nebraska’s wheat industry led me to apply for this internship, as I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of this aspect of agriculture,” said Hirschman. “I am excited to get involved this year and work on behalf of Nebraska wheat farmers.”

During this experience, she is most excited for the opportunity to learn directly from producers and industry leaders, while also gaining skills in communication and outreach.

“The best way to grow is to put yourself in places you don’t know much about yet,” said Hirschman, adding that she hopes to walk away from this internship with both a deeper understanding of Nebraska’s wheat industry and valuable skills she can use in her future career.

The NWB Internship Program will run in accordance with the 2025–2026 school year, beginning in August and concluding in May. Throughout the year, the intern will gain hands-on experience in communications and outreach by assisting with social media management, content creation, graphic design, event coordination, and other projects that support the wheat industry. The internship is designed to provide professional development opportunities while allowing the student to tailor the experience to their individual interests and career goals.

The Nebraska Wheat Board administers the check-off of 0.5% of net value of wheat marketed in Nebraska at the point of first sale. The board invests the funds in programs of international and domestic market development and improvement, policy development, research, promotion, and education.



National Corn Growers Association Joins Ag Industry Efforts to Modernize Pesticide Drift Model Used by EPA, Incorporating Mitigation of Drift Reduction Technologies

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has joined the project to modernize the pesticide drift model software AGDISP (Agricultural DISpersion). AGDISP, developed by the U.S. Forest Service in the 1980s, is used by EPA to model the movement of spray in the environment after it has been released from a sprayer. The modernization effort is being carried out by the AGDISP Modernization Project (AMP) whose goal is to update and improve AGDISP.  AMP was established two years ago to rewrite the coding of the AGDISP model using a modern, well-supported computer language.

AMP, established by the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) two years ago, is investing $600,000 over five years to modernize AGDISP. The funding raised to date—$370,000—comes from a generous $35,000 donation from NCGA this week, after last month’s generous $35,000 donation from the Cotton Foundation. Funding also includes a five-year, $250,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control via the American Mosquito Control Association; and $50,000, to date, from the National Agricultural Aviation Research and Education Foundation.

These improvements to AGDISP are essential to improve accuracy and make the model accessible to other software developers so AGDISP can be further adapted to include modeling of other drift reduction technologies and application conditions to benefit all stakeholders across the pesticide industry, regardless of application type (aerial, ground, unmanned aerial, etc.).

A modernized AGDISP will more accurately estimate off-target spray movement for all types of pesticide applications when EPA conducts ecological, endangered species, and human health risk assessments. It will also allow the drift reduction benefits offered by new application technologies and techniques to be recognized by EPA, which in turn should result in less restrictive and more flexible application requirements on labels. A key feature of the modernized version of AGDISP is that it will continue to be available to the public and an open source. This means the EPA can use it for risk assessments and companies developing new application technologies can incorporate it into their research. 

A modernized AGDRIFT model will also set the stage for real-time, site-specific risk assessments to be conducted in the future. It will result in a professional applicator equipped with modern drift reduction technology, ranging from meteorological evaluation equipment, digital labels, data on adjuvants in the tank, application equipment setup parameters, etc., to be programmed into the GPS calculating a real time risk assessment after it is processed through the updated AGDISP drift model thereby allowing for more label flexibility depending on all the drift reduction technologies used.  

AMP is essential for all growers and pesticide applicators. Without accurate spray drift risk assessments for aerial, ground, and airblast applications, there exists the possibility of losing access to pesticides critical for protecting crops.

Other AMP stakeholders include pesticide manufacturers, grower groups, university scientists, and representatives from multiple federal agencies.

AMP is incredibly grateful to the National Corn Growers Association for the funding. It is NAAA’s hope that other pesticide industry organizations and grower groups will join in supporting the project. A modernized AGDISP will ensure all pesticide application methods can continue to be used to protect crops grown in the U.S.



USDA Livestock Slaughter Aug '25

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.15 billion pounds in August, down 10 percent from the 4.59 billion pounds produced in August 2024.

Beef production, at 2.02 billion pounds, was 12 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.33 million head, down 14 percent from August 2024. The average live weight was up 25 pounds from the previous year, at 1,413 pounds.

Veal production totaled 1.9 million pounds, 38 percent below August a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 9,400 head, down 45 percent from August 2024. The average live weight was up 39 pounds from last year, at 353 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.12 billion pounds, down 8 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.1 million head, down 7 percent from August 2024. The average live weight was down 2 pounds from the previous year, at 280 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 10.0 million pounds, was down 5 percent from August 2024. Sheep slaughter totaled 174,900 head, 1 percent below last year. The average live weight was 112 pounds, down 5 pounds from August a year ago.

By State               (million lbs.  -  % Aug '24) 
Nebraska .........:        594.9             90       
Iowa ................:       680.7             92       
Kansas .............:        430.7             85       

January to August 2025 commercial red meat production was 35.2 billion pounds, down 3 percent from 2024. Accumulated beef production was down 4 percent from last year, veal was down 38 percent, pork was down 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 3 percent. 



In Kansas City, Secretary Rollins Speaks on State of Farm Economy, Announces Suite of Actions to Support American Farmers

Thursday, in Kansas City at the Agriculture Outlook Forum, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins spoke on the current state of the farm economy in the United States and addressed the ways President Trump is supporting American agriculture. U.S. farm production inputs are significantly more costly than four years ago, putting pressure on farmers’ bottom line. Between 2020 and now, seed expenses have increased 18%, fuel and oil expenses increased 32%, fertilizer expenses increased 37%, and interest expenses increased by a whopping 73%.

In order to understand why these critical inputs are persistently elevated, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Justice signed a Memorandum of Understanding that represents a joint commitment by both agencies to protect American farmers and ranchers from the burdens imposed by high and volatile input costs —such as feed, fertilizer, fuel, seed, equipment, and other essential goods—while ensuring competitive supply chains, lower consumer prices, and the resilience of U.S. agriculture and the food supply. The Antitrust Division of DOJ will work hand in hand with USDA — effective immediately — to take a hard look and scrutinize competitive conditions in the agricultural marketplace, including antitrust enforcement that promotes free market competition.

Additionally, labor costs increased 47% since 2020. This increase is driven largely by the high cost of utilizing the H-2A program to secure seasonal labor, specifically the artificially inflated Adverse Effect Wage Rates set by the Department of Labor using USDA data. The USDA Farm Labor Survey was never designed to be used for setting government-mandated wage rates and is duplicative of other DOL data sources. USDA has discontinued this survey. USDA is working daily with the Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security to build out regulatory changes that can make the H-2A program more affordable and more accessible for American agriculture.

“President Trump has made it clear: America’s farmers and ranchers will never be left behind. The success of our farmers is a national security priority, and at USDA we are looking at every option to ensure the future viability of American agriculture. The last Administration’s policies drove up inflation and ignored the needs of farmers and ranchers while not opening new markets abroad. The cost of doing business for farmers and ranchers increased drastically, and commodity prices slumped. The Trump Administration is holding these companies accountable and will investigate why input prices have not come back down,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “Relief is already reaching farms and ranches, but more help is still needed. ECAP payments, combined with our international food assistance purchases, help producers navigate market volatility, pay down debt for the 2024 crop year, and move American grown commodities to people in need in countries around the world. American farmers produce the most nutritious, safe, and high-value food in the world, and USDA is proud to stand with them at home and abroad.”

Expanding Markets
The One Big Beautiful Bill provided an additional $285 million each year in agricultural trade promotion and facilitation to help American agriculture expand markets overseas. While this funding does not kick in until next year, USDA repurposing Biden-era funding to kickstart this program one year early, with $285 million on October 2nd of this year launching the America First Trade Promotion Program to expand market opportunities for American agricultural products.

Emergency Assistance for Farmers
After expediting emergency aid payments of more than $8 billion to over 560,000 farmers since March, Secretary Rollins today released the $2 billion in remaining funding for the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) and announced the purchase of more than 417,000 metric tons of American grown commodities to support international food assistance programs. Together, these actions represent billions in support of American producers, helping them weather economic uncertainty at home while expanding markets for U.S. agriculture abroad.

International Food Assistance Purchases
At the same time, USDA is investing $480 million to purchase commodities from American farmers for international food assistance programs, including McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition and Food for Progress. These purchases will provide critical school meals and nutrition projects in countries such as Benin, Honduras, Mozambique, Pakistan, and Senegal, while also removing trade barriers and ensuring market access for U.S. agricultural exports in countries including Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Vietnam, Nigeria, and Nepal.

USDA is providing $240 million to purchase U.S. commodities for six McGovern-Dole projects, which will utilize 56,170 metric tons of U.S.-grown food — a 50 percent increase from 2024. Food for Progress implementing partners will receive $240 million to sell 361,000 metric tons of U.S. commodities abroad, a 12 percent increase from 2024, with proceeds reinvested to build markets for American agriculture.

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service will publish details of the fiscal year 2025 McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress funding allocations once all contracts are finalized.

ECAP Payments and Supplemental Disaster Assistance
Of the $10 billion authorized under ECAP, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already delivered over $8 billion to eligible producers to offset higher input costs and falling commodity prices. Today, USDA is releasing the remaining ECAP funding that will be delivered to approved producers within the week, bringing the final payment factor to 99 percent. ECAP payments are based on planted and prevented planted crop acres for eligible commodities in the 2024 crop year and are issued automatically to producers with approved applications.

In addition to ECAP, USDA has provided more than $2 billion through two rounds of Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) assistance to livestock producers impacted by drought and wildfires, and floods. Producers have also received over $5.5 billion through Stage 1 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, with Stage 2 assistance to be announced in October.



FFAR Develops Decontamination Strategy for HPAI-Infected Milk  

The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus is present in the milk of infected cows, and to limit on-farm spread, requires cost-prohibitive and resource-intensive on-farm pasteurization and heat decontamination treatments. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and Texas A&M AgriLife Research are investing $300,404 in a Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to develop effective, farmer-friendly decontamination strategies. 

Milk harvested from infected animals is currently recommended for on-farm heat treatment and pasteurization to minimize the spread of the virus to other cows and dairy workers. Yet, this approach is not feasible for individual farmers due to the high cost of the necessary equipment and facilities, and the large volume of milk produced by modern dairy herds.  

“Dairy farmers need tools and strategies to prevent the further spread of avian influenza in their herd once it is detected,” said Dr. Miriam Martin LeValley, FFAR scientific program manager. “Equipping farmers with a cost-effective, on-farm decontamination tool will minimize economic losses and reduce risks for farm workers. FFAR’s rapid funding will help deliver this solution for farmers.” 

Researchers led by Dr. Sushil Paudyal, assistant professor of dairy science at Texas A&M University, are evaluating the effectiveness of chemical controls in decontaminating milk. They are also assessing the health impacts of feeding decontaminated milk to calves. Identifying an effective chemical decontamination strategy will equip dairy farmers with a cost-efficient way to slow the spread of HPAI on their farms and repurpose milk from infected cows. 

 “Our goal is to develop a practical, science-based solution that dairy farmers can implement quickly and affordably,” said Dr. Paudyal. “We are collaborating with the University of Georgia to identify effective on-farm decontamination strategies that help reduce the spread of HPAI and protect both animal and human health.” 

FFAR’s ROAR program rapidly funds research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to the U.S. food supply or agricultural systems. 



Soaring demand for dairy foods fueled a US butterfat boom, but cheesemakers need milk protein levels to catch up 

Consumer demand for products like cheese, butter and yogurt that rely on protein and butterfat content continues to drive dairy sales growth in the U.S. and abroad. Over the past decade, milk delivered to U.S. dairy processing plants has become more nutrient-dense with higher levels of the two key components to meet rising demand. However, the pace of growth in butterfat content has far exceeded protein, which creates challenges for U.S. cheddar and American-style cheesemakers that rely on a more balanced ratio of the two.

According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, excessive butterfat levels can impact cheese quality. In the EU and New Zealand, the two largest dairy exporters, the protein-to-fat ratio has remained far steadier, averting the issues U.S. cheese makers are facing.

“U.S. dairy producers did an exceptional job increasing butterfat levels in milk to meet demand,” said Corey Geiger, lead dairy economist at CoBank. “For 10 years, the market couldn’t supply enough of it, and now there’s an oversupply – it’s almost too much of a good thing. Cheesemakers strive for a protein-to-fat ratio near 0.80. Anything significantly lower than that can reduce cheese quality and compromise production yields.”

In recent years, butterfat percentages in U.S. milk have been increasing at twice the pace of protein. From 2000 to 2017, the protein-to-fat ratio held rather constant at 0.82 to 0.84. In the ensuing years, the ratio gradually slipped to 0.77. That is increasingly a concern for cheesemakers as more than one-half of the U.S. milk supply is destined for cheese production.

The disproportionate growth of butterfat in relation to protein in U.S. milk when compared to the EU and New Zealand could put U.S. cheesemakers at a competitive disadvantage. The EU is the world’s largest dairy exporter, followed by New Zealand. The U.S. is the third largest exporter of dairy products and ingredients. Unlike America’s global competitors, domestic cheese processors face added costs for rebalancing their milk supplies, which reduces efficiency and could ultimately impact pricing at the farmgate.

Geiger said U.S. cheddar cheesemakers face a growing need to standardize milk either by adding a source of protein like milk protein concentrate or by pulling excess butterfat out. “If cheddar makers don’t standardize inbound milk, fat levels may climb too high and cheese quality could decline as higher fat generally yields a softer cheese,” said Geiger.

In the U.S., Multiple Component Pricing has incentivized butterfat and protein production. From 2000 to 2014, the protein price exceeded butterfat, resulting in rather equal growth between the two components. However, butterfat pay prices exceeded protein prices in eight of the past 10 years. That fueled the butterfat boom, which producers achieved through animal genetics and feeding strategies. Those practices could be shifted to achieve a greater balance between butterfat and protein if the proper price incentives are in place.

Cheese yield pricing could also give farmers incentives to produce milk with a higher protein-to-fat ratio. Geiger said looking to the future, farmgate milk needs to have a protein-to-fat ratio more in line with how milk is utilized to make the entire industry more efficient.

“Regardless of the current challenges associated with excess butterfat, most signals continue to point upward for milk component demand. That represents an opportunity for dairy farmers to produce more milk components so dairy processors can fulfill demand in both domestic and global markets. And advances in research and efficiency are among several reasons the U.S. dairy industry remains on a strong growth trajectory with $10 billion in dairy plant investment coming online through 2028.” 

Thursday September 25 Ag News - NeFBF supports Ag Ed Teachers - Fall Thistle Control - Fertilizer Prices move higher - AFBF Partners on Ag Cybersecurity - and more!

 Cow energy requirement drivers: mature cow weight and milk production
Alfredo DiCostanzo, Nebraska Beef Systems Extension Educator

In the last column, I referenced a study where beef cows in a nutritionally dense environment produced large amounts of milk even as weaning time approached. I also emphasized that genetic driver for milk production results in cows that have greater metabolic activity, which results in greater maintenance requirements. Lastly, I suggested that industry experts, including various cow-calf researchers, are barking up the wrong tree: focusing on moderating mature cow weight while missing energetic costs associated with milk production.

Before addressing how milk production drives energy costs, it is important to revisit calf performance response to milk production of the dam. One might expect that “sufficient” milk production is needed to ensure calf performance. The challenge is defining what is sufficient.

Based on research that summarized results of 14 studies, investigators reported that heavier calves were weaned from heavier milking cows. One would expect that; but the association was not extremely strong. In the same report, investigators repeated the analysis permitting only studies where cows milked fewer than 23 lb daily. The results? There was a weak and not statistically significant association between milk production and weaning weight.

In other words, in a world of heavy milking cows provided with nutrition to deliver more than 23 lb of milk daily, calves respond with heavier weaning weights, such as the study referenced in the last column. On the other hand, when the expectation is that cows will milk fewer than 23 lb of milk daily, as might be expected of many beef cows, weaning weight is not dependent on milk production.

In support of these results, observations from various studies suggest that milk production through the first 60 days of life of the calf, concurrent with the peak of milk production by the cow, is associated with growth of the calf. This association is rapidly reduced as the calf approaches weaning.

Given these observations, cow-calf producers must ask themselves whether they have bred too much milk into their herds. Because milk

production is difficult to measure or observe its results on weaning weight, the most effective strategy is to select bulls that are at breed average or less for milk production. Alternatively, one might consider selecting against cows that drop weight faster than other cows through the first 60 days in milk and have calves with average weaning weight.

From an energetic standpoint, additional mature weight on a cow (or human for that matter) does not correspond to linear increase in energy requirements. Conventionally, energy requirements to maintain body weight are expressed on a metabolic body unit or mass elevated to the three quarter (¾) power.

For cattle, the units are expressed as megacalories (Mcal) or 1,000 kilocalories (incidentally human daily caloric intake recommendations are about 2,000 kilocalories).

As an example, a 1,200-lb cow weighs 248 lb when her weight, first transformed to kilograms, is elevated to ¾ power. Correspondingly, a 1,400-lb cow weighs 279 lb when her weight, first transformed to kilograms, is elevated to ¾ power.

In metabolic body weight units, the difference in weight between these two cows is 31 lb not 200 lb. Using metabolic body weight to calculate their net energy requirements for maintenance (without milk production or costs of pregnancy), the 1,200- and 1,400-lb cow each require 8.7 or 9.7 Mcal daily, respectively.

Using hay containing 58% TDN (or 0.562 Mcal net energy of maintenance per pound) to determine feed required for maintenance results in daily needs of 15.4 or 17.3 lb hay for the 1,200- or 1,600-lb cow, respectively.

On the other hand, milk production is a costly process. Compounds resulting from digestion by ruminal bacteria or absorbed from the small intestine must travel to the liver or directly to the site where they will be used by the cow. Milkfat is produced directly from compounds derived from ruminal absorption while milk protein and lactose are synthesized in the mammary gland after the liver processes compounds absorbed from the ruminal and intestinal walls.

Long story short, it costs 0.326 Mcal of net energy to produce one pound of milk. This means that the difference in energy, expressed as Mcal, to maintain the 1,200- and 1,400-lb cow (1.0) can be offset by a difference in milk production of 3 lb.

Using these calculations, a 1,400-lb cow milking 20 lb daily has the exact same daily energy requirement as a 1,200-lb cow milking 23 lb. Alternatively, 100-lb difference in weight can be offset by 1.5 lb of milk production.

It seems that small changes in milk production potential have a greater effect on cow maintenance requirements (and feed costs) than large changes in cow weight.



Blezek Awards Aim to Keep Agricultural Education Teachers in Nebraska

The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation awarded 22 teachers with funds in support of agricultural education and FFA programs in Nebraska.

“The Dr. Allen G. and Kay L. Blezek Teacher Retention Award is an investment in the future of Nebraska agriculture,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation. “We are very proud to support these teachers as they get established in their classrooms and communities. Since agriculture is Nebraska’s leading industry, we know that investing in agricultural education and its teachers will continue to produce returns for years to come.” 

Recipients are all agricultural education teachers in their first five years of teaching. Teachers are eligible for increasing awards over time. As the teachers’ impact grows in the classroom, in their FFA chapters, and in their communities each year, the award recognizes their service and supports their efforts.  A longtime program of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, the award was renamed in recognition of an estate gift from Dr. Allen Blezek. Dr. Blezek was an agricultural education teacher, the first director of the Nebraska LEAD program, and a founding member of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation board of directors.

The 22 recipients of the scholarships are Kiley Codner, Hall County; Andra Smith, Cherry County; Kelsey Steinkraus, Chase County; Megan Skibinski, Valley County; Kaydie Brandl, Platte County; Colton Husa, Gage County; Maren DeJonge, Richardson County; Toriann Holly, Jefferson County; Nick Birdsley, Douglas County; Trevor Mann, Lincoln County; Hallett Moomey, Buffalo County; Tanner Nun, Gage County; Payden Woodruff, Hall County; Jocelyn Pohl, Morrill County; Kealey Widdowson, Buffalo County; Mikayla Martensen, Platte County; Kylie Kinley, Nuckolls County; Emily Kammerer, Lincoln County; Mai Lee Olsen, Banner County; Kayla Mues, Dundy County; Caleb tenBensel, Custer County; and Lexi Meister, Cuming County. 

The mission of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is to engage youth, educators, and the general public to promote an understanding of the vital importance of agriculture in the lives of all Nebraskans. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For more information about the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, visit www.nefbfoundation.org. 



FALL THISTLE CONTROL 
- Jerry Volesky, NE Extension Forage & Range Specialist

Did you spray thistles this past spring and summer?  If so, it would be a good idea to revisit those areas as there are likely some remaining or new growth that has occurred.  Late September through early November is a key time to control thistles in pastures and hayland.  

There are several biennial thistles, but musk, plumeless, Scotch, and bull thistles are our most problematic.  Biennials require portions of two growing seasons to flower/reproduce. They develop from seed the first season into a flat rosette. When trying to control biennial thistles, destruction of rosettes prior to flowering (bolting) is an effective means of preventing seed formation and subsequent spread.  

Another thistle to look out for is Canada thistle.  Canada thistle is a creeping perennial that can be controlled with fall spraying, in conjunction with other management options in the spring.

While in the rosette stage, thistles are more effectively controlled using herbicides.  It is important to note that fall spraying of thistles is not a silver bullet and effective control often needs repeated applications.  It will take several years of timely control before the soil seed bank is reduced.  There are many herbicides labeled for thistle control.  Take care when purchasing products and always read/follow label directions before use.    

GrazonNext® HL, Milestone®, Chaparral®, Graslan® L, Stinger®, Overdrive®, and Tordon 22K® are all products that are labelled for use on biennial thistles as well as Canada thistle. 2,4-D mixed with dicamba is also an effective option but should be sprayed when temperatures are warmer for the highest efficacy.  When using Tordon 22K® or Graslan® L, both products are restricted use and contain picloram.  Use extreme caution around other vegetation, especially trees, as both products will kill woody plants.  



New Iowa Farm Poll Report Finds Growing Awareness, Mixed Views on Nutrient Reduction Strategy

A new report from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach examines awareness and attitudes among Iowa farmers regarding the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, a statewide initiative launched in 2013 to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into Iowa’s waterways and contributions to Gulf hypoxia.

The report, authored by J. Arbuckle, professor, extension sociologist and Henry A. Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, draws on data from the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, an annual survey of Iowa farmers. The 2024 Farm Poll, which surveyed close to 1,000 farmers, repeated questions that were first asked in the 2014 survey, allowing a decadal comparison of farmer awareness and attitudes related to the INRS.

Key findings
    Awareness: Nearly 90% of farmers reported some knowledge of the INRS in 2024, up from 80% in 2014. The farm press, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, government agencies and commodity groups were the most common sources of information.
    Water Quality Concerns: While 70% of farmers remained concerned about agriculture’s impact on IowAerial view of Iowa farmlanda’s water quality, this marked a slight decline from 76% in 2014. Just under 50% agreed that nutrients from Iowa farms contribute to Gulf hypoxia, with 44% uncertain about the connection.
    Support for Conservation: Support for the INRS and related conservation actions appears to have softened slightly over the past decade. Seventy-four percent of respondents agreed farmers should do more to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff, down from 84% in 2014. Sixty-three percent would like to improve conservation practices on their land, and 52% believe ag retailers should do more to help address nutrient losses.
    Barriers to Action: The most cited barriers to nutrient loss reduction were landlords’ reluctance to invest in conservation (53% agreement) and short-term pressures to make profit margins (53% agreement). Twenty percent agreed that further nutrient loss reduction would be too costly, and 58% indicated uncertainty.
    Uncertainty About Effectiveness: Forty-one percent of respondents agreed that the INRS has made major strides in reducing nutrient loss, but nearly half were uncertain about progress.

The report highlights a need for renewed efforts to raise awareness and concern about water quality, strengthen positive attitudes toward the INRS and increase adoption of conservation practices.

"Iowa continues to have major nutrient-related water quality issues, and there are increasing concerns about human health impacts of nitrates and other contaminants flowing from agriculture," said Arbuckle. "While the findings show that most farmers are aware of and support the strategy’s goals, they also suggest that all of us in the agricultural community need to up our game in terms of helping farmers maintain progress toward INRS goals."



IAWA Launches New Water Quality Website

Farmers, agri-businesses, and water quality professionals can access powerful resources on The Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance’s (IAWA) newly launched website at iaagwater.org. With pages organized by the user’s end goal, such as reducing erosion or improving on-farm drainage, this new website caters to all industry audiences interested in water quality and how they can help.

“IAWA is a connector in the conservation space, so it was really important that we created a connection point where farmers can find information on conservation practices and support,” remarked IAWA Communications Director Rebekah Jones, sharing that IAWA intends to meet farmers where they are. All she asks in return is that they take the first step in conservation.

Some highlights of the new site include:
    The Cost Share Hub – a place where farmers can learn about ways to get paid for conservation. This directly leads to costsharecompare.com, another resource built by IAWA.
    Conservation Library – where users can find conservation practices that fit their goals like reducing erosion or improving drainage.
    Find A Conservation Agronomist – the first conservation agronomist directory for Iowa which points farmers to one-on-one help from agronomists within IAWA’s partner network.
    Water Quality 101 – A judgement free zone to learn about water quality in Iowa, how it impacts the Gulf, and how we got to where we are today.

With the organization of the new site, that first step is made easier. Instead of wading through jargon and unfamiliar terms, farmers and conservationists can simply identify their end goal. Then, they will be presented with a library of practices and resources that contribute to that goal. The hope is for farmers to pick one practice and run with it.

Executive Director, Jeff Lucas, highlighted the power of partnerships in building this new resource.

"One of the strengths of IAWA is that we have a huge network of partners that we trust. You will see resources of our partners scattered in and around the site,” Lucas said. He especially highlighted resources from the Iowa Corn, Pork, and Soy commodities, IAWA’s founding members.

While the new website will be an immediate resource to Iowans, the IAWA team is already planning to expand the Cost Share hub to include more resources and add an interactive map for farmers to see conservation practices in their area. “My hope is that it makes it easier to connect, learn, and take action together as we work to increase the pace and scale of farmer-led conservation for water quality here in Iowa,” Lucas said. “This is just the beginning, and I look forward to seeing how this new tool helps us grow our impact.”



Naig Urges Iowans to Prioritize Safety, Mental Health this Harvest Season

With the busy harvest season commencing across the state, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is urging Iowans to keep safety top of mind in the field, around the farm and on the road. Farming can be physically exhausting and mentally demanding, and agriculture remains one of the most dangerous industries in America. In recognition of National Farm Safety and Health Week, Secretary Naig has provided some safety tips for both farmers and drivers as well as resources for Iowans needing mental health support.

“As the busy 2025 harvest season gets underway, I’m urging all Iowans to make safety their top priority. Equipment and machinery will be out in force in the fields and on roadways around the clock. Please slow down, exercise patience, and offer one another some grace to ensure everyone has a safe and productive harvest season,” said Secretary Naig. “It’s also important to acknowledge that the long, stressful workdays and economic challenges facing agriculture can take a toll. I encourage farmers and ag workers to be mindful of their mental health and well-being, and to watch out for their neighbors too. No one needs to feel alone. There are resources readily available for Iowans.”

By incorporating the following safety tips and resources, we can better ensure a safe and productive harvest season:

For Drivers and Road Safety
    Be Patient: Farm equipment often moves slowly. Be patient and wait for a safe opportunity to pass, considering that it may be difficult to see around large machinery.
    Keep a Safe Distance: Stay a safe distance behind farm equipment, especially when that equipment is turning or slowing down, to avoid collisions.
    Signal Awareness: Be aware that farm equipment may make wide turns and may not always be able to signal. Watch for hand signals or other indicators from operators.
    Avoid Distractions: Stay focused on the road and avoid distractions like texting or using your phone.

For Farmers
    Safe Operation: Avoid shortcuts and stay alert while operating machinery.
    Emergency Equipment: Ensure a first-aid kit is well stocked, a fire extinguisher is in working order and your cell phone is always charged and easily accessible.
    Equipment Maintenance: Regularly inspect and maintain all farm machinery. Ensure that guards are in place and signals, lights and safety features are functioning properly.
    Proper Training: Follow the guidelines for operating equipment. Ensure that everyone operating farm equipment has proper training.
    Protective Gear and Chemical Storage: Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles and hearing protection. Store chemicals in their original containers with proper labels and always use them according to their label.
    Safety Around Grain Bins: Never enter a grain bin unless necessary and only if you have proper training and safety equipment. Do not work alone.

Mental Health and Stress Management
    Stress Management: Engage in stress-relieving activities and take breaks when needed. Activities such as exercise and hobbies as well as plenty of sleep can help.
    Manage Fatigue: Ensure adequate rest to combat fatigue, which increases the risk of mistakes and injuries. Prioritize sleep and schedule short breaks during long hours to maintain alertness.
    Talk About It: If you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed, do not hesitate to reach out to family, friends or mental health professionals. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has farm stress resources available that were created in part through a grant from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
    Iowa Concern Hotline: The Iowa Concern Hotline can be reached at 1-800-447-1985 and offers confidential mental health support and resources for those in need.
    Your Life Iowa: For help with alcohol, drugs, gambling, mental health, or suicidal thoughts, contact Your Life Iowa at 855-581-8111, text 855-895-8398, or chat at yourlifeiowa.org.
    988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: For immediate crisis support, call or text 988 anytime.

For additional resources on farm safety and wellness, visit the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety, Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, or the North Central Farm and Ranch Assistance Center.



USMEF Statement on 'America First Trade Promotion Plan'

USDA announced Tuesday its plans for an “America First Trade Promotion Plan” that will utilize international market development funding recently approved in the budget reconciliation bill. In a press release, USDA added that it will launch a new model of trade missions – supplementing the current model – targeting reciprocal trade deal countries.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement:

This additional investment in trade promotion programs will allow U.S. farmers and ranchers to continue to build value for U.S. beef, pork and lamb and grow diversity in global demand. Current trade deals with key partners like Japan, Korea, Mexico, Canada, Central America, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and more are paying dividends with real growth in U.S. red meat purchases. The reciprocal agreements are expected to provide new opportunities in the ASEAN region, the United Kingdom and the European Union, and USDA's positioning to help industry capture this additional potential is much appreciated. 



ASA Responds to Argentina Soybean Actions

Washington, D.C. This week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the U.S. government was in negotiations to extend a $20 billion swap line to the Argentine government and potentially purchase the country’s foreign bonds. Almost immediately after, a reported 20 shiploads of Argentine soybeans were purchased by China after the Argentine government announced it would waive taxes on its soybean exports.

Upon this news, ASA President Caleb Ragland issued the following statement:

“U.S. soybean farmers have been clear for months: the administration needs to secure a trade deal with China. China is the world’s largest soybean customer and typically our top export market. The U.S. has made zero sales to China in this new crop marketing year due to 20% retaliatory tariffs imposed by China in response to U.S. tariffs. This has allowed other exporters, Brazil and now Argentina, to capture our market at the direct expense of U.S. farmers. The frustration is overwhelming. U.S. soybean prices are falling, harvest is underway, and farmers read headlines not about securing a trade agreement with China, but that the U.S. government is extending $20 billion in economic support to Argentina while that country drops its soybean export taxes to sell 20 shiploads of Argentine soybeans to China in just two days.

U.S. farmers cannot wait and hope any longer. ASA is calling on President Trump and his negotiating team to prioritize securing an immediate deal on soybeans with China. The farm economy is suffering while our competitors supplant the United States in the biggest soybean import market in the world.”



DAP Continues to Lead Fertilizer Prices Higher

Fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the third week of September 2025 continued to show mostly higher levels compared to last month.

Five fertilizers were higher in price compared to the prior month while the other three were slightly lower. For the third week in a row, just one fertilizer had a sizeable move. DAP was 7% more expensive compared with last month. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more. The phosphorous fertilizer has an average price of $904/ton. Four other fertilizers had slightly higher prices. MAP had an average price of $921/ton, potash $486/ton, anhydrous $777/ton and UAN28 $420/ton.

Three fertilizers were slightly lower looking back to the prior month. Urea had an average price of $619/ton, 10-34-0 $667/ton and UAN32 $474/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.67/lb.N, anhydrous $0.47/lb.N, UAN28 $0.75/lb.N and UAN32 $0.74/lb.N.

All eight fertilizers are now higher in price compared to one year earlier. The last holdout, potash, is now 6% higher. 10-34-0 is 12% more expensive, MAP is 13% higher, anhydrous is 14% more expensive, DAP is 22% higher, urea is 28% more expensive, UAN28 is 31% higher and UAN32 is 35% more expensive looking back to last year.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 9/19/2025

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending September 19, ethanol production contracted 2.9% to a 19-week low of 1.02 million b/d, equivalent to 43.01 million gallons daily. Yet, output was 3.0% higher than the same week last year and 7.5% above the three-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate decreased 1.0% to 1.07 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.37 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks bounded 3.8% to 23.5 million barrels, the highest level since the start of August. Stocks were 0.2% less than the same week last year but 3.1% above the three-year average. Inventories built across all regions.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, rose 1.7% to 8.96 million b/d (137.72 bg annualized). Demand was 2.7% less than a year ago but 0.9% above the three-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol slid 2.4% to 900,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.83 bg annualized. Net inputs were even with year-ago levels and 0.1% below the three-year average.

Ethanol exports scaled up 8.7% to an estimated 112,000 b/d (4.7 million gallons/day). It has been more than a year since EIA indicated ethanol was imported.



American Farm Bureau Federation Partners with Food and Ag-ISAC on Cybersecurity

The Food and Agriculture - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Food and Ag-ISAC) proudly announces that the American Farm Bureau Federation has joined its Industry Association Partner Program, reinforcing a shared commitment to enhancing cybersecurity within the food and agriculture sector.

As part of the Food and Ag-ISAC’s Association Partner Program, association partners and their members have access to weekly threat reports, briefings on the threat landscape, timely alerts on specific incidents, and expert insights on cybersecurity best practices. These efforts help businesses and farms across the industry gain a clearer understanding of the cyber risks they face, equipping them with actionable strategies to reduce their vulnerability to attacks of all kinds.

AFBF joins other leading food and agriculture industry associations within the Food and Ag-ISAC’s partner program, such as FMI – The Food Industry Association, International Dairy Foods Association, Meat Institute, National Chicken Council, National Grain and Feed Association, and SNAC International.

“The Food and Ag-ISAC looks forward to collaborating with the American Farm Bureau Federation as we work together to provide farmers and ranchers the information they need to protect themselves from cyber attacks,” said Jonathan Braley, director of the Food and Ag-ISAC. “AFBF has direct access to farmers and ranchers across the nation, providing us the ability to reach this community at scale.”

As the nation’s largest general agricultural organization, AFBF brings a valuable perspective to the growing list of Food and Ag-ISAC industry partners. With nearly 6 million member families in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, Farm Bureau has an extensive network of farmers and ranchers who will benefit from this new partnership, which aims to deepen collaboration between the ISAC and America’s farmers and ranchers, helping to ensure the security and resilience of the food supply chain.

“From weather to market dynamics and much more, many aspects of farming and ranching carry risk. The American Farm Bureau Federation is pleased to be partnering with the Food and Ag-ISAC to help farmers and ranchers identify newer, less familiar, but potentially just as menacing threats – cyber risks – and learn how to mitigate them,” said Sam Kieffer, AFBF vice president of public policy. “Working together is essential to protect our farmers, ranchers and the whole of the industry from emerging cyber threats.”

Together, Food and Ag-ISAC, AFBF and the other industry partners will help strengthen the cyber posture of the entire food and agriculture industry — supporting organizations of all sizes as they navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected digital threat landscape.



USDA To Measure Milk Production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is set to begin data collection efforts for the quarterly Milk Production survey. The information collected in this survey allows NASS to accurately measure and report conditions and trends in the U.S. milk industry over the course of the year.

This survey conducted every January, April, July, and October, asks milk producers to provide the number of milk cows in the herd, number of cows milked and total milk production for the first day of the month. NASS also collects information about milk consumed on the farm and the amount fed to calves.

“The dairy industry relies on the Milk Production reports to make decisions about the marketing of milk,” said NASS Livestock Branch Chief, Travis Averill. “By participating in the survey, milk producers can ensure that NASS provides timely, accurate and useful data that all sectors of the U.S. milk industry use to make sound business decisions.”

To obtain an accurate measurement, NASS will survey roughly 4,500 operators across the country.

“At NASS, we have a strong commitment to respondent confidentiality,” Averill said. “We are required by law to protect the privacy of all responses and publish data only in aggregate form, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified,” he said.

NASS will publish the data on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, in the Milk Production report at nass.usda.gov/publications and in NASS’s searchable database, Quick Stats, at quickstats.nass.usda.gov.  For more information, please contact us at 888-424-7828.



Cattlemen’s College Included in CattleCon 2026 Registration

CattleCon 2026, the largest cattle industry event of the year, is heading to the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 3-5. New for 2026: all registration options include access to Cattlemen’s College education sessions and demonstrations.

For more than 30 years Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis, has provided cattle producers with valuable information to help improve their herds and businesses. This premier educational experience will be open to all CattleCon 2026 attendees. 

“We are bringing together industry leaders from across the country to share the latest advancements and provide vital information,” said Buck Wehrbein, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president. “We are excited to make this educational experience available to all attendees and look forward to hearing how producers use valuable knowledge and insights to strengthen their businesses.”

More than a dozen educational sessions and live animal handling demonstrations will take place during CattleCon. Industry experts including Shannon Ferrell, Oklahoma State University; Troy Rowan, University of Tennessee; Jeff Goodwin, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension; Kent Andersen, Zoetis; among others, will cover important topics such as business management, emerging trends, grazing, sustainability, nutrition, herd health, succession planning, genetics and reproduction. 

In addition, classroom sessions will be recorded and available for registered attendees to watch when they return home. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend an in-person Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training and become certified.

New York Times bestselling author Jon Acuff will headline the Cattlemen’s College general session on Wednesday, Feb. 4, and he is sure to inspire and spark innovation. Published in dozens of languages, his work is both critically acclaimed and adored by readers. When he's not writing, Acuff can be found on a stage, as one of INC's Top 100 Leadership Speakers. He's spoken to hundreds of thousands of people at conferences, colleges and companies around the world.

In addition to Cattlemen’s College, there are numerous educational opportunities available on the NCBA Trade Show floor. Cattle Chats will feature 20-minute beef industry educational sessions. Attendees can also stop in the Learning Lounge to enjoy informal, face-to-face talks in an intimate setting. The new Marquee Stage will include a variety of speakers tackling topics such as reproductive technologies, vaccination programs, ag lending and crop protection.

Following CattleCon, the educational opportunities continue with a Grazing Management Workshop & Tour and Agricultural Tour on Friday, Feb. 6 available for an additional fee. These on-farm tours will provide hands-on experiences for participants. 

Cattle producers attending Cattlemen’s College are eligible for the Rancher Resilience Grant, which provides reimbursement for registration and up to three nights of hotel. For more information and to apply, visit www.ncba.org/producers/rancher-resilience-grant. 

For more information about CattleCon 2026 and to register, visit convention.ncba.org. 



National Farmers Proposes $13 Dairy Margin Coverage Feed Price Index Floor

As family dairy farmers struggle with high operational costs and plunging milk futures prices, a national farm marketing group is proposing a change to the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.
 
DMC payments are based on the difference between the prices farmers receive for milk and an index of prices paid for feed. When that difference is higher, farmers are assumed to be more profitable, and payments are lower. When that difference is lower, however, farmers are assumed to be less profitable, and payments are higher.

But, most family dairy farmers grow their own feed, and as trade wars pressure feed prices
lower, DMC program payments are also lower. “On my family dairy in April 2023, a low milk price of $20.70 provided me and my family with a much-needed payment of $3.66 per cwt.,” said Tom Crosby, who, along with his family, owns and operates a dairy farm in Shell Lake, Wisconsin. “This past July, however, an equally low milk price—just 10 cents higher than April 2023—paid us absolutely nothing.”

Today’s rock-bottom feed prices cancel out payments that would otherwise help the Crosbys and other dairy farmers get through the struggles that too-low milk prices bring with them. That’s why National Farmers is proposing a $13 margin floor price.

Crosby, who also serves as a Regional Director and board member of National Farmers, believes a floor price of $13.00 is reasonable based on past DMC feed indices and USDA cost of production estimates for growing feed on smaller farms.

“As simple as this solution seems, we expect it will provide invaluable security for our nation’ family dairy farmers,” said Crosby.

USDA – Milk Production Cost per Hundredweight sold, by size group
                                            50-99 cows            2000+ cows
       Purchased Feed             $4.62                  $7.59
       Homegrown Feed         $7.93                  $2.33
       Feed Grazed                   $ .14                    -0- 
       Total Cost per CWT     $12.69                 $9.92

In the example above, $20 milk gives no payment at all when feed prices are $10. With a $13
floor, however, a producer with $9.50 coverage would see a $2.50 payment.

The Dairy Margin Coverage program is a mainstay among Federal farm programs that provide financial relief to smaller family dairy farmers. ”We must act now to fix DMC’s feed price loophole,” said Crosby. “We are already losing way too many family dairies—without a fully-effective DMC program, those losses will be much worse.”

National Farmers markets milk, livestock and crops for thousands of American agricultural producers. We offer six decades of experience representing farmers and ranchers. We help producers market together by grouping production from many ag operations increasing each farmer’s ability to compete in the marketplace. National Farmers’ experienced marketing professionals negotiate on conventional and certified organic farmers’ behalf in cash and contract sales, establishing commodity sales terms with the farmers’ interests in mind.