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%.

------

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.