Wednesday December 10 Ag News - Pillen on AltEn Site Clean Up - NeFB Leadership Academy Participants - Saving Hay - CHS Board Elections - and more!

 Pillen Celebrates Cleanup at AltEn Site; Highlights Progress and Next Steps
 
Tuesday, Governor Jim Pillen celebrated the tremendous progress made during his administration to clean up the solid and liquid waste left in the aftermath of the shutdown of the AltEn facility site in Mead. Gov. Pillen was joined by Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) Director Jesse Bradley, Saunders County Board Supervisor Bill Reece and Don Gunster, an environmental contractor for ERM Newfields.
 
“Cleanup of this site was among my top priorities when I took office, and I’m proud of the fact that when we got involved, a lot of people rolled up their sleeves and collaborated to fix this problem,” said Gov. Pillen. “This cleanup has cost hundreds of millions of dollars, but it won’t cost Nebraska taxpayers a dime.”
 
Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly, who has attended community meetings about the clean-up efforts, acknowledged the concerns he and the Governor shared in 2022 when they discussed the situation in Mead and wondered -- what if the same thing happened in their own hometowns?
 
“The Governor had his eye on this problem from the get-go,” added Lt. Gov. Kelly.
 
In addition to serving on the Saunders County Board, Reece has been a member of the Mead Community Group, which has closely monitored developments at the site.
 
“The Mead community and nearby residents have been resilient throughout these cleanup efforts. They know their town is worth standing up for and we’re glad to see the progress that has been made at AltEn,” said Supervisor Reece. “I want to thank the State and the AltEn Facility Response Group (AFRG) for being responsive, responsible, professional and timely and for keeping the community informed during every step of the remediation.”
 
The now-closed AltEn facility made ethanol using treated seed corn, which generated pesticide-impacted byproducts that were improperly stored on site. AltEn shut down in February 2021. In June 2021, six seed companies came together and formed the AFRG to remediate the site through the state’s Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP). Those seed companies are AgReliant Genetics, Bayer, Beck’s Superior Hybrids, Corteva Agriscience, Syngenta Seeds, and WinField Solutions.
 
Because the AFRG is working through the VCP, the remedial actions have been completed at no cost to Nebraska taxpayers.
 
Through the VCP, the AFRG has carried out remedial action plans (RAPs) for the site’s wetcake byproducts and the wastewater stored in the site’s industrial lagoons. The RAP cleanup efforts completed to date include:

Combining 84,000 tons of wetcake with solidifying material for transport and disposal at a permitted landfill
Nearly 7,300 trucks moving over 165,000 tons of mixed material to Pheasant Point Landfill
Treating millions of gallons of wastewater from the industrial lagoons for beneficial application to nearby agricultural fields
 The AFRG has also improved stormwater controls on site.
 
“There has been a lot of great work done at the AltEn facility,” said Director Bradley. “But there is more to be done, and our team at DWEE is committed to continue this work with the AFRG and the community to ensure that the site is cleaned up and the Mead community continues to thrive.”
 
“We have made significant progress and value the community’s partnership and support from DWEE,” added Don Gunster with ERM Newfields. “The AltEn site has been stabilized, and we are planning the remaining activities to complete the job.”
 
Moving forward, the AFRG will submit and complete RAPs for lagoon solids, groundwater and on-site soils, per a memorandum of agreement between the group and DWEE. Those plans will ensure that continued and sustained progress occurs at the site.  The AFRG and DWEE have also agreed to complete future off-site environmental investigations to determine if an off-site RAP is necessary.



NEBRASKA FARM BUREAU ANNOUNCES 2026 LEADERSHIP ACADEMY MEMBERS

Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) has announced the ten farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness professionals selected for the 2026 Leadership Academy. The group begins its year-long program in January.

The 2026 class will approach the year with a focus on building practical leadership skills. “This program gives members real experience in leadership and advocacy, preparing them to step into roles that strengthen Farm Bureau and their communities. Throughout the year, they gain a clearer understanding of the issues facing agriculture and learn how to speak up in ways that make a meaningful difference,” said Audrey Schipporeit, NEFB’s director of leadership development.

Throughout the year, participants will take part in sessions on leadership development, Farm Bureau’s county, state, and national structure, key policy issues in agriculture, and the importance of agricultural literacy. The class will also travel to Lincoln and Washington, D.C. to meet with elected officials and agency staff.

“This class represents a group of passionate, committed individuals who are ready to make a real difference in their communities and across Nebraska. We’re proud to recognize their achievement and can’t wait to see all they accomplish. Congratulations to the 2026 Leadership Academy class,” Schipporeit said.

These ten members have been selected for the 2026 Nebraska Farm Bureau Leadership Academy:
Isaac Brunkow is a member of Clay County Farm Bureau. He grew up in Northeastern Kansas and was involved in Farm Bureau before moving to Nebraska. He is now the sheep operations manager at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center and takes great pride in his role as a partner for industry partners.

Seth Hanna is a member of Cherry County Farm Bureau and resides near Valentine, Neb. He is a sixth-generation rancher and currently manages the family cow/calf/yearling operation. Hanna attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and spent two years living and working in Phoenix, Ariz. before returning home to his family’s ranch.

Bryce Roberts is a member of Harlan/Furnas County Farm Bureau. He grew up in Central Kansas and has been involved in production agriculture his entire life, showing sheep and cattle across multiple states and competing in livestock judging at the collegiate level. After receiving a degree in feed science from Kansas State University, Roberts relocated to South-Central Nebraska, where he works as a grain merchandiser for Ag Valley Co-op. He is passionate about supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders, coaches a local FFA livestock judging team, and judges livestock at county fairs throughout Kansas and Nebraska.

Matthew Bloss is a member of Pawnee County Farm Bureau and farms near Pawnee City, Neb. He and his family have farmed for 25 years and have owned and operated a small business for 15 years. 

Ellen Schmidt is a member of Thayer County Farm Bureau and resides near Deshler, Neb. She and her husband, Andy, raise corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, and a 75-head commercial Simmental-Angus herd with a small feedlot. They are the fifth generation to live on the family farm and are raising their four children there.  Schmidt is active in her community and church, serving in leadership roles on various boards and organizations.

McKinley Wilson is a member of Saunders County Farm Bureau and was raised on her family's row crop farm north of Yutan, Neb. Growing up, she was active in 4-H, showing horses, cattle, and pigs. She earned her law degree from Creighton University and now practices as a business attorney in Omaha, while remaining involved in her family’s farming operation and agricultural lime business. McKinley is also active in her community, serving on the boards of the Saunders County Agricultural Society and the Saunders County Fair Foundation.

Ariel Gartner is a member of Johnson County Farm Bureau and works as a sales associate for Farm Bureau Financial Services in Tecumseh, Neb. She received an agribusiness degree with a focus in animal science from Southeast Community College. Gartner lives on a farm with her husband and two kids, and enjoys spending time with her horses, dogs, and chickens.

Travis Runge is a member of Colfax County Farm Bureau and lives near Schuyler, Neb. Travis works full-time as a fertilizer, chemical, and seed dealer and raises 475 acres of corn and soybeans.

Carter Smith is a member of Polk County Farm Bureau. He grew up on a row crop farm south of Shelby, Neb., raising corn and soybeans, and more recently, seed corn. He attended Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he also played football. Smith briefly interned at Farm Bureau before taking an internship with Senator Deb Fischer’s office in Washington, D.C. He returned to Nebraska to work on the family farm and to work for Congressman Mike Flood, focusing on agriculture policy and constituent casework.

Micah Erickson is a member of Johnson County Farm Bureau and lives with his wife, Averi, in Lincoln. He is originally from Sterling, Neb. Erickson grew up working on his family farm, where he is still involved today. The operation includes roughly 1,000 acres of row crops along with several custom farming services. Having previously raised hogs, they have since transitioned out of that enterprise and now raise chickens for Smart Chicken in Tecumseh.



REDUCING HAY FEEDING LOSSES – Ben Beckman

Hay is expensive and many long hours go into harvesting, storing, and feeding it.  Don’t waste up to a third of it by using poor feeding practices.

Believe it or not, cattle can trample, over consume, manure on, and use for bedding up to 25 to 45 percent of your hay when it is fed with no restrictions.  Extra control in feeding can pay off big time with that expensive hay.

For starters, don’t provide more than one day’s supply at a time.  Research has shown that when cows are fed a four-day supply, they will overeat and waste 20 to 30 percent more hay than when they are fed one day at a time.  This adds up to $50 to $75 more per cow over a four-month feeding period.  Best of all is to feed only what the livestock will clean up in one meal, so nothing is left over to be wasted.  Be sure to provide sufficient space, though, for all animals to eat at once so boss cows don’t stop timid cows from getting their fair share.

Another thing you can do is restrict access to hay.  Use bale racks or rings to keep animals off the hay.  Especially useful are racks with barriers around the bottom that prevent livestock from pulling hay loose with their feet and dragging it out to be stepped on. If you unroll bales or grind and feed on the ground, position an electric fence alongside or above the hay to keep cows from trampling or bedding down on the hay.

As always, feed a balanced ration that provides sufficient energy and protein, but not too much.  Animals that eat more protein than they need will simply excrete it as extra nitrogen in their urine.  This is just as wasteful as directly trampling it into the ground. 



Flood Joins Bipartisan Bill to Support Growing SAF Industry 

Tuesday, U.S. Representative Mike Flood (R-NE-01) – alongside Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03), Troy Carter (D-LA-02), and Tracey Mann (R-KS-01) – introduced the Securing America’s Fuels (SAF) Act. The bipartisan legislation is designed to strengthen the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry, create economic opportunities for our farmers, and reduce emissions in the transportation sector.
 
“America is on the cusp of the next great biofuels revolution,” said Representative Mike Flood (R-NE-01). “The Securing America’s Fuels Act is yet another way Congress can grow our bio economy and encourage innovation that creates great jobs across rural America. Sustainable aviation fuel will help lower emissions while expanding domestic markets for our nation’s farmers, ensuring that our ag economy thrives for generations to come. I want to thank Congresswoman Davids for introducing this much-needed bill and look forward to working together to advance this commonsense, bipartisan bill through Congress.”

The sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry currently relies on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit to make production economically viable. While recent legislation extended the credit for all clean fuels, it eliminated the SAF-specific bonus. To address this challenge, the SAF Act would:
Reinstate the SAF bonus credit, allowing qualifying SAF producers to receive up to $0.35 or $1.75 per gallon.
Extend the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit for all clean fuels through 2033, providing long-term stability for the growing clean fuels industry.
 
SAF is a game-changer for local communities, agriculture, and the transportation industry. Scaling SAF to meet U.S. goals could generate 33,000 construction jobs over five years, sustain 4,500 permanent operations jobs, and support 60,000 jobs in agriculture and logistics by 2030. SAF can also reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent, delivering major environmental benefits while using existing aviation infrastructure.
    
The bipartisan legislation is endorsed by major industry and agricultural groups, including National Corn Growers Association, SAF Coalition, Airlines for America, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Soybean Association, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Kansas Farm Bureau, Renew Kansas, Kansas Corn, Kansas Soybean Association, Greater New Orleans Inc., Twelve, Darling Ingredients, Louisiana Farm Bureau Foundation, Advanced Biofuels Association, Global Business Travel Association, and American Sugarcane League.



CHS owners elect five directors to CHS Board
 
Owners of CHS, a global agribusiness and the nation’s leading cooperative, elected five board members to three-year terms during the 2025 CHS Annual Meeting held Dec. 4-5 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
 
The following leaders were reelected to the CHS Board of Directors:
 
Alan Holm, who raises corn, soybeans, sweet corn, peas and alfalfa with his family near Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, and represents Region 1 (Minnesota).
Kevin Throener, who raises crops and operates a cow-calf operation with his family near Cogswell, North Dakota. He represents Region 3 (North Dakota).
Hal Clemensen, who raises corn and soybeans near Aberdeen, South Dakota. He represents Region 4 (South Dakota).
Mark Farrell, who operates a family corn and soybean farm near Cross Plains, Wisconsin, and represents Region 5 (Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin).
Jerrad Stroh who produces corn and soybeans on his family farm near Juniata, Nebraska, and represents Region 8 (Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas).
 
Board officer succession
The following CHS Board members were elected to one-year officer terms:
 
C.J. Blew, Castleton, Kansas, elected chair
Jon Erickson, Minot, North Dakota, elected first vice chair
Scott Cordes, Wanamingo, Minnesota, reelected second vice chair
Russ Kehl, Quincy, Washington, reelected secretary-treasurer
Alan Holm, Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, reelected assistant secretary-treasurer
 
New CHS Board Chair C.J. Blew steps into the role held by Dan Schurr, LeClaire, Iowa, since 2017. Schurr announced in September 2025 that he would not seek reelection to his Board seat at the conclusion of his term in December 2026 and would not seek reelection for the chair role following the 2025 CHS Annual Meeting. Schurr’s final term in 2026 will mark 20 years of service to CHS and the cooperative system.
 
“I am dedicated to the cooperative system and CHS,” said Schurr. “I also believe strongly in the fresh thinking and new perspectives made possible through effective succession. While I have thoroughly enjoyed my service to CHS and its owners, it’s time for a new Board member to step in to help propel CHS into the future.”
 
“We thank Dan for his two decades of commitment to CHS and will continue to benefit from his experience and insights,” said Blew. “I am energized and excited to build on his legacy as we continue creating connections to empower agriculture through the strength of CHS and the cooperative system.”
 
Nominating committee elected
Also at the annual meeting, 16 members of the newly formed CHS Nominating Committee were elected. This group will work to secure the best candidates to lead CHS into the future as members of the CHS Board of Directors and will recommend CHS Board candidates for the 2026 election.
 
Elected to one-year terms on the CHS Nominating Committee were:
Region 1: Ryan Mackenthun, Minnesota
Region 2: Wagner Harmon, Montana
Region 3: Darren Sletten, North Dakota
Region 4: Miles Mendel, South Dakota
Region 5: Jeremy Mills, Indiana
Region 6: Adam Clark, Idaho
Region 7: Glenn Christ, Iowa
Region 8: Jeff Loschen, Nebraska
 
Elected to two-year terms on the CHS Nominating Committee were:
Region 1: Chad Okeson, Minnesota
Region 2: Dan Schuler, Montana
Region 3: Adam Leiphon, North Dakota
Region 4: Tyler Fischer, South Dakota
Region 5: Tom Walker, Wisconsin
Region 6: John Schumacher, Idaho
Region 7: Tracy Studer, Iowa
Region 8: Rick Brune, Nebraska