Wednesday September 24 Ag News - USMCA Roundtable today in York - Int'l Pig Livability Conf in Omaha - IPPA NIL with Moore, Bacon - NCGA Input Cost Task Force - and more!

 FALL GRAZING BALANCE 
- Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator

After several dry falls in a row, this year may be shaping up a little differently. With recent rains and cooler weather, cool-season pastures like brome, bluegrass, and fescue could put on some extra growth. That’s good news — but it also raises the question: do we graze it now or save it for later?

Grazing now can ease feed pressure and provide high-quality forage before crop residues open up. Stockpiling, on the other hand, sets up feed for late fall or winter and cuts down on hay use.

But remember — fall is when grasses rebuild root reserves and set buds for next spring. After repeated drought stress, some pastures could use extra rest. If you’ve been battling pasture weeds, that’s a red flag that recovery time is needed.

If you do graze, rotate quickly and leave at least four inches of stubble on cool-season grasses. Overgrazing now can slow green-up next spring. While stockpiling uses forage later when plants are already dormant some quality is sacrificed.

Fertility also plays an important role. While the window for nitrogen application is nearly closed, a small application now with moisture can still provide a small boost of growth. Phosphorus and potassium don’t add fall yield, but they support root health, stand persistence, and winter survival.

This fall may offer a rare opportunity for extra grazing. Managing it wisely can fill feed gaps today without sacrificing productivity next year.



Under Secretary Lindberg to Join USMCA Listening Session and Media Availability in Nebraska Wednesday

Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke J. Lindberg will travel to Nebraska September 24th to participate in a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) roundtable hosted by Congressman Adrian Smith. The event is part of a series of listening sessions with constituents across Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District.

Under Secretary Lindberg will discuss the importance of USMCA review and highlight ongoing efforts to expand agricultural trade opportunities for American producers.  The roundtable is going to be held at the Central Valley Ag cooperative home office in York over the noon hour.  



International Pig Livability Conference Early Registration Ends Soon

The second International Conference on Pig Livability is just weeks away and the early registration rates are available through Sept. 30. Scheduled for Nov. 5–6 at the Hilton Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, the conference offers producers, veterinarians and allied industry partners the chance to secure a spot at this impactful swine health event.

The conference is jointly organized by Iowa State University and Kansas State University and brings together top researchers, veterinarians and producers to address pig survivability, one of the industry’s most urgent challenges. This year’s program will highlight innovative solutions, foster peer learning and provide opportunities for collaboration across all sectors of swine production. Highlights include global perspectives, producer success stories, interactive breakout sessions and various networking opportunities. Learn more on the conference website https://piglivability.org/2025-conference.

To register, visit the registration web page https://piglivability.org/registration. 

The international Conference on Pig Livability is part of the Improving Pig Survivability project. This continuing interdisciplinary, multi-university project is funded by the National Pork Board and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, aimed at reducing mortality in the U.S. swine industry. The project is being organized as a collaborative effort by Iowa State University and Kansas State Unversity.



Trainings set for Oct. 1 for New Livestock Module Helps Producers Analyze Costs and Profitability

Understanding the true cost of production is essential to making informed decisions in today’s cattle business. Whether you're raising replacement heifers, backgrounding calves, or evaluating whether to retain or sell at weaning, the Agricultural Budget Calculator (ABC) now has you covered.

Recently launched by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability, the new livestock module in the ABC program gives producers the tools they need to build detailed cattle enterprise budgets. The tool allows users to assess economic performance based on either cash or total economic cost approaches—providing flexibility for different operations and decision-making styles.

“Producers can now create various budgets for cow-calf operations, backgrounding and finishing programs, and retained breeding stock,” says Glennis McClure, Extension Educator and Farm and Ranch Management Analyst. “It’s a practical tool that supports profitability planning and makes cost-of-production data more accessible.”

Customizable and Easy to Use
ABC is a free, web-based program designed with the end-user in mind. Producers can enter their production numbers, feeding programs, labor costs, and other relevant details to develop enterprise budgets tailored to their specific operations. The program calculates breakeven prices and returns and allows for side-by-side scenario comparisons—such as marketing weaned calves versus backgrounding them to heavier weights.

Crop enterprise budgeting has been a staple feature of ABC since its launch. Now, with livestock modules live, cattle producers can engage with the platform to support management decisions, planning conversations, and lender communications.

Learn More or Try It Yourself
    The ABC tool is available at agbudget.unl.edu. Users can set up a free account and begin building budgets right away. For training resources and to register for upcoming workshops, visit  cap.unl.edu/abc.  The next webinars will be held on Wednesday, October 1 at 10:00 a.m. CT.



Fundamentals of Feeding the Cow webinar series returns in November

Nebraska Extension will again offer its popular Fundamentals of Feeding the Cow webinar series this November, providing cattle producers with practical tools to understand and meet the nutrient requirements of their herds.

The five-session program will run on Monday and Thursday evenings, Nov. 3, 6, 10, 13 and 17, from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. CT. The cost is $65 per participant and includes a notebook of Extension resources. Attendance is limited to 40, and registration is due by Oct. 20 to ensure delivery of materials. Registration is available at https://go.unl.edu/feedingthecow .

“This series gives cattle producers straightforward, real-world strategies for feeding management throughout the year,” said Erin Laborie, Nebraska Extension educator. 

“Participants value the flexibility of a Zoom-based course and the opportunity to apply what they learn directly to their own operations.”

More than 145 producers have previously completed the course, consistently rating it among the best educational opportunities available. One participant noted, “I really liked that it is Zoom based. It’s hard to get away to attend conferences. I appreciated the ‘real life’ examples discussed. It made the material easier to apply to our own scenarios.”

Sessions will cover:
    How nutrient requirements shift throughout the cow’s production cycle.
    Reading and interpreting feed test analyses and feed tags.
    Comparing feed options and determining the best buy.
    Developing cost-effective, year-round feeding plans.

For more information, contact Laborie at 308-268-3105 or erin.laborie@unl.edu.



Iowa Pork Renews NIL Partnership with Cyclones Moore, Bacon
    
The Iowa Pork Producers Association is proud to announce a renewed name, image and likeness (NIL) partnership with Iowa State University football standouts Tyler Moore and Caleb Bacon.

Building on the momentum of the national award-winning Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon campaign which went viral on social media, and gained national media attention two years ago, the new #MooreBacon initiative once again connects Iowa pig farmers, football fans, and pork lovers across the country.  

A brand-new video featuring Moore and Bacon in intense game-day preparation, fueled by sizzling bacon as source of inspiration. Blending actual game footage from this season with audio clips from the Voice of the Cyclones John Walters, the ad captures the fun, flavor, and tradition of Iowa pork.

The ad debuted Tuesday, September 23 on Iowa Pork’s social media platforms and is a component of the pork industry’s national Taste What Pork Can Do™ campaign. The video and accompanying images will air throughout October in celebration of National Pork Month, aka Porktober. 

“Iowa Pork is proud to team up with these outstanding young men who are great ambassadors for the whole state,” said Aaron Juergens, a pig farmer from Carroll who serves as president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. “This collaboration has been a fantastic use of pork checkoff dollars, promoting our industry in a unique and entertaining way and boosting pork sales in grocery stores. We’re thrilled to work with Tyler and Caleb again this season, and hope everyone will be inspired by #MooreBacon.”

Tyler Moore is a senior tight end from Des Moines. Caleb Bacon is a senior linebacker from Lake Mills, Iowa. Both players dealt with serious injuries last season and have overcome significant hurdles to return to the football field and help the Cyclones to a 4-0 start and top 15 ranking this year.

In conjunction with this NIL partnership and in cohesion with the pork industry’s We Care principles, the Iowa Pork Producers Association will donate $2,500 worth of pork to each players’ food pantry of choice. Moore chose the Food Bank of Iowa and Bacon selected the Lake Mills Food Shelf. Last year, the Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon NIL partnership resulted in 50,000 servings of pork being donated food banks to help feed the hungry in the hometowns of 19 Cyclones student-athletes.

“I just appreciate everything farmers do for Iowa. They’re the backbone of this state, and to see pig farmers' support for our program, support for local communities, and organizing this ad campaign has been awesome and I really appreciate it,” said Caleb Bacon.

Giving back to their community is a priority Moore, Bacon, and Iowa pig farmers share.

“It’s important because there are a lot of people struggling with hunger and need a little extra assistance with food, or with something to help them keep going,” said Tyler Moore. “You never know what someone else is going through, so I think it’s important to give back to the community around you that helped you become what you are today.”

Prior to the start of this season, Moore and Bacon were honored with the 2025 Nick Bassett Perseverance Award, named after a longtime Cyclone fan. The award recognizes two Iowa State football players annually who exemplify the characteristics that Nick Bassett is remembered for: positive spirit, perseverance and selflessness.

Caleb Bacon was injured just five snaps into the season in 2024 and missed the rest of the year. Moore missed the final five games due to an injury. Despite the injuries, Moore and Bacon helped the Cyclones to a record-setting season by providing leadership from the sidelines. Bacon was named one of the Cyclones team captains for the 2025 season.

“That guy means so much to this team,” said Tyler Moore. “He’s been through so much, starting as a walk-on, and he worked all the way up to being a starter and one of our top tacklers. He missed almost all last year but turned that into a mentorship and coaching role and really helped those guys have an amazing season.”

The groundbreaking Purchase Moore Hamann Bacon initiative that launched in September 2023 was the first major NIL deal tied to agriculture. It was named the Grand Champion at the National Agri-Marketing Association’s awards ceremony in 2025, the Best of Show at the Public Relations Society of America’s Iowa chapter awards ceremony in 2025, and Best NIL Deal of 2023 by the Sports Business Journal.

Game footage and audio for the new ad were provided by Cyclone Sports Properties.

“The partnership between Iowa Pork and Iowa State has continued to be a shining example of using NIL for good,” said Brent Blum, director of NIL development for Cyclone Sports Properties. “It’s the true definition of a win/win for all involved and showcased the best of our state in so many ways.”

Iowa is the number one state in the U.S. for pork production, providing approximately 1/3 of the nation's pork supply. More than 120,000 Iowa jobs are connected to the pork industry. 



Naig Welcomes Grant Applications for Urban Water Quality Projects

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced Tuesday that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is accepting pre-applications for cost-share grants to support urban conservation and water quality projects as part of the state’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

“Whether you live on a farm, in a small town, or in the middle of a city, we all share a responsibility to protect Iowa’s soil and water,” said Secretary Naig. “Urban conservation grants give communities of every size the opportunity to pursue projects that improve water quality while advancing the goals of Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Over the last decade, we’ve supported nearly 140 locally led urban projects in partnership with community leaders, and together we’re building momentum. These grants are a great tool for cities and towns that want to launch new initiatives or expand on the conservation and water quality progress they’ve already made.”

These urban conservation projects include water quality practices like bioretention cells, bioswales, native plantings, permeable pavers, rain gardens, tree trenches, native landscaping, sediment forebays, oxbows, and wetlands among many other proven practices. These practices capture and treat stormwater and residential lawn fertilizer runoff to help reduce sediment and nitrates entering local waterways.

The proposed urban water quality improvement projects should be spearheaded and implemented by local leaders, organizations, and volunteers. Successful pre-applications should leverage existing partnerships with local stakeholders who can help contribute financial and technical resources to ensure their success. Cities, counties, county conservation boards, Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), other units of government, not-for-profit non-governmental organizations (NGOs), public water supply utilities or watershed management organizations are eligible to submit pre-applications. Projects should include a strong education and outreach component that helps raise awareness among homeowners, municipalities, businesses, and other communities to encourage the adoption of urban water quality practices.

Since Fiscal Year 2015, the Department has awarded over $17 million in cost-share funding to support 138 urban water quality projects. The state’s funding has spurred an additional $27 million in project contributions from private partners and landowners. Examples of previously funded conservation projects, including those funded in 2023, 2024, 2025 are available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website.

Pre-applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, 2025. Pre-application guidance can be found on the Department's website or by contacting the Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality at 515-401-4908. Stakeholders will be notified by Dec. 19, 2025, if they are invited to submit a full application. Full applications are due on Feb. 13, 2026, and selected projects will be announced in the spring of 2026. 

To learn more about urban conservation in Iowa, visit CleanWaterIowa.org. 



NCGA Launches Input Cost Task Force

Citing near-record production costs in a low-price environment, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently launched a task force to identify solutions to bring costs more in line with today’s commodity prices. Corn growers nationwide are in the third consecutive year of net negative returns, with 2026 projected to be the fourth year of negative returns.  

“Corn growers have been sounding the alarm for a while that on-farm economics are not working,” said Kenneth Hartman Jr., Illinois farmer and NCGA president. “This is a time to look at all pieces of the farm profitability picture. Low prices of course contribute to one side of the equation, but we must also look at the extremely high prices growers are paying for essential inputs on the other side.”  

Recent analysis from NCGA economists show that input prices remain at near-record highs despite the precipitous drop in per bushel corn prices in the last three years. Average production costs have dropped just three percent from their peak in 2022 to 2025 while corn prices have declined by over 50 percent over the same period.  Even with higher yields, farmers are unlikely to be able to offset these high costs.  

The input task force is led by Matt Frostic, a corn farmer from Michigan and incoming first vice president for NCGA, and comprised of corn farmers, NCGA and state corn organization staff.  

The creation of the task force is the latest in a series of actions taken by NCGA over the last several years to address input costs. Last month, NCGA, along with state corn grower associations, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture officials to draw attention to the ongoing financial challenges facing growers, in part due to high input costs. In recent years, the organization has also pushed back on tariffs on imported fertilizer that contributed to record-high fertilizer costs.   



ADM, Alltech to bring together unparalleled expertise and experience in new North American animal feed joint venture

ADM (NYSE: ADM), a global leader in innovative solutions from nature, and Alltech, a global leader in agriculture, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to launch a North American animal feed joint venture, bringing together decades of experience and unparalleled capabilities to create new advantages for customers.

Alltech will contribute its U.S.-based Hubbard Feeds and Canada-based Masterfeeds businesses, including 18 feed mills in the U.S and 15 in Canada, and ADM will contribute its 11 U.S. feed mills. The joint venture will be majority-owned by Alltech and governed by a board with equal representation from each parent company. 

“As the animal nutrition industry continues to reshape itself to support a growing global population, Alltech and ADM are bringing together passionate teams, proven products and shared values to ensure enhanced advantages for our customers,” the companies said in a joint statement. “We’re evolving with purpose to offer an industry-leading range of products and solutions for livestock, equine, backyard and leisure animals.”

ADM and Alltech have a longstanding relationship, tracing back to ADM being Alltech’s first customer. The new venture will offer an opportunity to align their complementary North American feed strengths, including the expertise of their teams, extensive manufacturing capabilities, deep experience in nutrition science, and well-recognized and respected existing product portfolios. The venture will be supported and strengthened by the parent companies’ leading-edge technology and R&D, broad logistical capabilities, and connections across the broader ag and feed value chains.

“Our customers know they can depend on us to partner with them, offering personalized service and nutrition expertise to tailor products and solutions that will give them an edge, whether in the market or the show ring,” the statement continued. “Now our new joint venture is going to be able to offer even more: broader capabilities, more products, and new innovative solutions, all delivered with the relationships and service our customers have come to expect.”

Alltech will retain its Ridley Block Operations, Ridley Feed Ingredients and Alltech specialty ingredients, although these business units will be partners and suppliers to the joint venture. ADM’s Canadian locations will remain with ADM, as will its U.S. premix and additive businesses, though those capabilities and products will help supply the new company.  

The companies expect to complete the transaction and formally launch the joint venture in the first quarter of 2026. 



USDA Announces $72.9 Million in Grant Funding Awarded through Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $72.9 million in grant funding awarded to 56 states and territories for 586 projects through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The program funds innovative projects designed to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through marketing, education, and research. The program is administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

States subaward funding to projects that address the needs of U.S. producers of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops. Funded project types include improving the capacity of all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain related to food safety, specialty crop research, developing new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops, pest and disease control; increasing child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops; and improving efficiency and reducing costs of distribution systems.

Since 2006, SCBGP has awarded over $1 billion to 13,030 projects. Funding for SCBGP is authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill.



Unverferth Unveils New X-Series Front-Folding X-Treme Grain Carts

Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc. is excited to introduce a new lineup of its X-Treme front-folding, single-auger grain carts for 2026. The new models — X1500, X1300 and X1100 — boast hopper capacities of 1,500, 1,300 and 1,100 bushels and bring operator convenience to new levels with increased auger side reach, height and forward reach. The X-Series can be ordered with a traditional left-hand unload auger, or a right-hand unload option is available to meet operator preferences.

The X-Series grain carts feature a patented front-folding, single-auger design with a U-joint connection that angles the upper auger outward, forward and upward for maximum side reach, unparalleled operator visibility and increased clearance for taller trucks. The four-way downspout provides flexibility while unloading, and LED auger lights make nighttime operation easier. All Unverferth single-auger grain carts feature an innovative deep sump in the bottom of the hopper, which funnels grain down into the unloading auger for the most efficient and complete cleanout.

Key highlights of the new Unverferth X-Series grain carts include:
    Increased auger side reach, unloading height and forward reach for easier operation and greater visibility of the downspout during unloading
    Choice of left- or right-hand unloading auger, depending on operator preference
    A new rear access door with ergonomic ladder that allows the operator to easily access the inside of the hopper for quick and complete cleanout
    A metallic gray color option, in addition to red and green, for a long-lasting finish
    Additional X-Series grain cart improvements include a new hydraulic hose caddy, PTO holder, gust straps for the standard roll-tarp and a recessed area in the hopper for the optional remote scale display

“The all-new Unverferth X-Series grain carts represent the next evolution of front-folding, single-auger grain carts to maximize harvest efficiency,” said Andy Unverferth, director of marketing. “We’ve listened to operator feedback and developed a grain cart that makes it easier to unload grain and get back to the combine to keep harvest rolling.”

Undercarriage options — depending on the model — include single high-flotation wheels and tires, 36”-wide hydraulic tensioned tracks, or the patented Equalizer· track system, which offers the ultimate in flotation with a 42”-wide belt, hydraulic tensioning, side-to-side cambering and standard auto-greaser system.

All models can be equipped with a 275-gallon water delivery system with hydraulic pump and 100’ of hose with a firehose-style nozzle. Additional accessories include 410 or 520 scale packages, the UHarvest Pro ISOBUS scale and data management system, four-function joystick controller, electric roll-tarp operation, and color cameras, to name a few.