Friday February 27 Ag News - Hoegemeyer Hybrids Scholarship - ISA Policy Priorities Move Ahead in Iowa State House - Milk Production, Demand Remain Strong - USDA's One Farmer, One File Concept - and more!

Health and reproduction
Alfredo DiCostanzo, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Educator

As 500-lb feeder steer prices reach past $5/lb., the influence of two key elements of husbandry, herd health and reproduction, becomes more obvious. Take a herd of 100 cows exposed to bulls in the summer of 2025. If all the cows exposed would deliver a live calf at weaning in the fall of 2026 weighing 500 lb and selling at $5/lb, the gross income for that hypothetical herd would be $250,000: a worthy financial objective.

The moment any of us reads this, reality drives our reaction: there is no way we could ever gross $250,000 from these 100 cows. Pregnancy or weaning rates of 100% are difficult to achieve in the best of circumstances. Many factors including those external to management contribute to pregnancy or weaning rates under 100% (examples: accidents or predators).

Author’s note: calculations and scenarios are oversimplified to permit reflection on the importance of the concepts. Example, we know we must keep heifers for replacements from this calf crop.

A calf weaned from this herd could gross $2,500. Any cow failing to become pregnant or any live calf at birth failing to reach weaning age will detract from this value.

So, can we make up the gross income at weaning each open cow fails to bring? One way to make this income loss is to wean heavier calves. In a herd of 100 cows, the remaining calves must weigh at least 5 lb more to make up for loss in productivity from one open cow. (5.05 lb heavier to be exact but for the sake of this discussion, it will be rounded down).

If breeding failure is low, it is easy to make up production lost to open cows. As more cows are open, it becomes increasingly difficult to make up for them.

Five cows open at pregnancy check represent 2,500 lb to be divided by 95 calves reaching weaning (26 lb extra per calf). Ten open cows would represent 5,000 lb to be made up by 90 calves requiring these calves to weigh 56 extra lb at weaning. If the lactation period is 200 days, a 100-cow herd with 5 or 10 open cows would demand 0.13 and 0.28 lb greater daily gain from the remaining calves.

By now, the reader should be wondering how this extra gain will be achieved, how price slides for heavier calves or how “fleshy” calves will affect price.

Now, assume that this hypothetical herd had 100% calving rate from 100 cows exposed: there were 100 calves born alive. In the subsequent 200 days of lactation, 5 calves succumb to preventable diseases. Again, to achieve equal productivity, the remaining 95 calves must make up 2,500 lb, or, if 10 calves are lost prior to weaning, the remaining 90 calves would have to make up 5,000 lb.

Cows open at pregnancy check are the result of poor reproductive health (reproductive disease, poor body condition, poor nutrition) or poor reproductive management (insufficient cow:bull ratio, poor body condition, etc.). Calf losses between birth and weaning are likely the result of poor herd health, poor nutrition, or management.

If we take the difference in gross income between the hypothetical herd weaning 100 calves weighing 500 lb selling at $5/lb from 100 cows and the same 100-cow herd weaning only 95, 90 or 85 calves weighing the same weight and selling at the same price, then, under these circumstances, the differentials in gross income would be $12,500, $25,000, or $37,500, respectively.

A producer with average weaning rates of 85% successfully investing up to $125 per cow in better herd health and reproductive management to improve weaning percentage to 90% would break even with their current gross income prospects.



2026 Hoegemeyer Cares Scholarship: Now Open

Hoegemeyer Hybrids is proud to announce that the application period for the annual Hoegemeyer Cares Scholarship is now open. This scholarship program is designed to support and invest in the next generation of agricultural leaders by providing financial assistance to students pursuing higher education in agriculture-related fields.
Hoegemeyer scholarship logo

“At Hoegemeyer, we believe in the importance of supporting young individuals who are passionate about the future of agriculture,” said Darby O'Connor, Marketing Communications Specialist at Hoegemeyer Hybrids. “The Hoegemeyer Cares Scholarship is one way we can give back to the communities we serve and help students achieve their academic and career goals.”

The scholarship is open to high school seniors and college students who plan to or are currently enrolled in an agriculture-related degree program at an accredited institution. Applicants will be evaluated based on academic achievement, community involvement, leadership, and their commitment to agriculture.

Students interested in applying can visit www.TheRightSeed.com/scholarship for full details, including eligibility requirements and the application process. The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2026.



ISA policy priorities move through first funnel

Several Iowa Soybean Association (ISA)-supported priorities passed through the first funnel deadline of Iowa’s 2026 legislative session last week.

To remain eligible for consideration, most bills must be approved by their assigned committees by this date. Bills dealing with taxes or state spending, which move through the Ways and Means or Appropriations committees, are exempt from this requirement.

Soy-based firefighting foam
An amended bill requiring Iowa (state) agencies to prioritize purchasing soy-based firefighting foam advanced out of the Senate Local Government Committee.

The bill, sponsored and submitted by Senator Scott Webster, supports a shift away from products containing PFAS and other fluorinated chemicals. The legislation directs the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to develop specifications and procurement procedures for these certified biobased products, with allowances when products are unavailable, fail to meet performance standards, or exceed cost limits. Under the bill, DAS must create purchasing procedures for certified soybean-based, PFAS-free foams.

ISA supports this legislation and spoke in favor during the subcommittee, as it promotes a PFAS-free firefighting foam solution that utilizes Iowa-produced soy meal.

The soy foam bill advanced out of the Senate Local Government Committee with an amendment requiring local governments that oversee fire departments to adopt an ordinance by Jan. 1, 2027, determining whether they will purchase soybean-based firefighting foam.

Right to repair
ISA is registered in support of two right-to-repair bills. One focuses specifically on diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) systems, and the other addresses all types of agricultural equipment. ISA’s policy supports producers’ right to repair equipment and machinery.

Both right-to-repair bills have passed out of House committees and are now eligible for floor debate.

Mineral rights
A bill related to oil, gas, and hydrogen, industries would require notice and surface agreement offers was passed by subcommittee and committee this week. Most relevant to farmers, this bill requires these operators to compensate farm tenants for crop damage or reduced crop yields. Policy adopted by ISA farmer members supports compensation for crop damage or affected crop yields.

The next major funnel deadline is March 20, when bills must pass through their originating chamber to remain eligible for debate.



Milk production, domestic protein demand remain strong

Milk production is still strong, up 4.2% overall, with milkfat production up 5.6% year-over-year. 
Several signs of particularly strong domestic protein demand shone through in recently released November data: commercial disappearance of all products on a skim solids basis (which includes protein) rose 4.8% September–November 2025 over a year prior; cheese saw an increase in domestic use of 2% after several months of declines; and stocks of whey protein concentrate fell 16% as demand outpaces supply. Exports also rose, with butter exports nearly tripling (+199%), and American-type cheeses doubling (+119%). However, DMC margins fell to $9.42/cwt, just under the $9.50/cwt maximum coverage level. 

The Consumer Price Index eased month-over-month to 2.4% annually in January 2026, from 2.7% in December 2025, signaling cooling inflation. Dairy products continue to give consumers a break from inflation at the grocery store, with prices for almost all products falling since early 2025, exception for cheddar cheese.
 
View Full Report - https://www.nmpf.org/milk-production-domestic-protein-demand-remain-strong/



USDA Launches ‘One Farmer, One File’ Initiative to Better Support Farmers

Thursday at the Commodity Classic Convention in San Antonio, Texas, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the “One Farmer, One File” modernization, another action putting Farmers First with sweeping technological improvements at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Through “One Farmer, One File,” USDA’s mission is to create a single, streamlined record that follows the farmer — no matter where they go in the USDA system.

“Every single day at USDA, our focus is on making life easier, more profitable and more rewarding for the American farmer,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “Our government for the people by the people should be modern, efficient, and respect taxpayer dollars. This modernization of old, duplicative, wasteful systems has one goal in mind, improve our customer service so the people we serve are able to farm and feed America and the world. ‘One Farmer, One File’ prevents our farmers from duplicating tasks while increases their productivity and time in the field.”

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) work with agricultural producers on a wide range of programs and services, from establishing a farm number to reporting acres planted, and from getting capital to recovering from disasters.

The goal of “One Farmer, One File” is to reduce the administrative burden for farmers. Additionally, this effort will make program delivery more efficient, save time for USDA staff, and decrease spending on disparate information technology systems.

The “One Farmer, One File” initiative is part of a broad modernization effort to unify all FSA, NRCS and RMA systems. This uniformed system will retire legacy systems and remove agency silos. USDA began work on this system in 2025 and plans to greatly advance the effort in 2026. USDA anticipates completing the project in 2028.

The “One Farmer, One File” initiative and broader modernization effort are just one example of how the Trump Administration is committed to simplifying and streamlining programs for producers. For example, USDA is using Login.gov to expedite Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) payments to producers. The Administration is also streamlining its conservation programs to make it easier for producers to bundle and apply for the practices needed on their farms.

While in San Antonio, Secretary Rollins also visited Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boenig’s farm to launch the Deregulatory Agenda for American Agriculture and Consumers which is a package of deregulatory actions taken by the Trump Administration to cut red tape, unleash innovation, and increase affordability for farmers, ranchers, and consumers. In just one year, President Trump cut 129 regulations for every new one resulting in $211.8 billion in net cost savings.



Groups Welcome Sign of Progress on Final 2026-27 RFS Volumes
 
The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), the American Soybean Association (ASA), and Clean Fuels Alliance America today commended the Environmental Protection Agency for transmitting its final 2026-2027 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for interagency review.

The three organizations applauded the Administration for its commitment to America's farmers, rural communities, and the biofuels industry, calling the proposal released last June the strongest, most pro-American RFS rule in the program's history. The work that has gone into crafting this rule reflects a genuine dedication to American energy independence and agricultural opportunity, and the groups expressed gratitude for the Administration's efforts to this point.

However, the organizations also stressed that urgency in completing the OMB review is essential. Program participants – from the farmers who grow the crops to the processors and producers who turn them into American-made fuel – cannot make confident planting, investment, and operational decisions without clear, timely volume requirements. Every day without a final rule represents unnecessary uncertainty for the farmers and rural communities this Administration has worked hard to support.

The groups called on OMB to prioritize and swiftly complete its review so the rule can be finalized without further delay.

Devin Mogler, NOPA President and CEO, said, "The U.S. oilseed processing industry has made substantial investments in rural America, expanding feedstock capacity while creating jobs and strengthening markets that support American farmers. The sooner this RVO rule – the strongest, most pro-U.S. farmer RVO rule in the 20-year history of the RFS – is finalized, the sooner the positive impacts can make their way back to the farmgate."

Scott Metzger, president of ASA and an Ohio soybean farmer, said, "For soybean farmers, this rule directly impacts what we plant, how we market our crop, and ultimately whether we can turn a profit. EPA put forward a strong proposal last summer, and we appreciate the progress made to this point. We look forward to seeing that same strength reflected in the final rule. Clear, dependable RFS volumes will help provide the stability farmers need to plan and invest with confidence."

Kurt Kovarik, Clean Fuels' Vice President of Federal Affairs, added, "U.S. biodiesel, renewable diesel and SAF producers have been forced to the sidelines, waiting for policy certainty. Final RFS volumes that deliver on the strong proposal – matching the industry’s capacity, making up for gallons lost to exemptions, providing a value-added domestic market for U.S. feedstocks – would be a game changer for rural America."



Repeat: PTx Trimble OutRun Wins Second Davidson Prize

PTx Trimble, a brand of PTx, today is proud to announce it received the Davidson Prize for Agriculture Innovation for a second time. Presented during the 2026 Commodity Classic held in San Antonio, Texas, the 2026 award recognizes PTx Trimble OutRun | Tillage, a retrofit autonomous tillage system.

“Timeliness of every field task matters, not just to get that task completed, but to hit the optimum agronomic window for each task,” said Darcy Cook, senior director, Autonomous Solutions, PTx. “OutRun | Tillage extends the OutRun system beyond the grain cart operation, which won the 2025 Davidson Prize, and adds autonomous tillage capability for farmers as they work toward full crop cycle autonomy.”

OutRun | Tillage, which can be added to tractors that farmers already own, turns current equipment into driverless tillage machines. After recording and drawing in-field boundaries, slow zones, and no-tillage zones, tractors, paired with tillage implement, will autonomously till the field, freeing up farmers or employees to work on other time-sensitive tasks.

The OutRun autonomy kit is currently compatible with John Deere 8000R and 8R tractors with IVT transmissions and will be compatible with Fendt 900 and 1000 tractors later in 2026. The currently supported tasks for 2026 are autonomous grain cart operation and autonomous tillage. 

The Davidson Prize, which is presented by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers in conjunction with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, recognizes extraordinary engineering innovation in agriculture.

“We are thrilled that the PTx team has been honored two years in a row in recognition of the breakthrough engineering work that has been done to bring OutRun to market,” Cook said. “We look forward to continuing our track record of not only innovation but bringing real-world solutions to farmers.” 



U.S. Horticulture Operations Report $18.3 Billion in Sales

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties report, the only source of detailed production and sales data for floriculture, nursery, and specialty crops for the entire United States. The data show that horticulture operations sold a total of $18.3 billion in floriculture, nursery and specialty crops in 2024. Horticultural sales in 2024 compared to 2019 all show an increase in sales and number of operations due to the addition of mushroom and hemp grown under protection in the latest Census of Horticultural Specialties. The number of horticulture operations in the United States totaled 23,060. 

“First conducted in 1889, the horticulture census provides data on sectors for which there are no other comprehensive data sources,” said NASS Administrator Joseph L. Parsons. “It is a valuable tool to highlight the contribution horticulture growers bring to our local, state, and national economies as well as changes in the industry over the past five years.”

NASS Horticulture production occurred primarily in 10 states, which accounted for 67% of all U.S. horticulture sales in 2024. California ($3.07 billion), Florida ($2.15 billion) and Oregon ($1.29 billion) led the nation in sales.

The top commodities in U.S. horticulture sales in 2024, and compared to 2019, were:
    Nursery stock, $5.34 billion, up 17%
    Annual bedding/garden plants, $2.67 billion, up 19%
    Sod, sprigs and plugs, $1.70 billion, up 34%
    Potted flowering plants, $1.29 billion, up 7%
    Potted herbaceous perennials, $1.36 billion, up 47%
    Propagative horticultural materials, bareroot, and unfinished plant materials, $780 million, up 8%
    Food crops under protection, $1.01 billion, up 44%

Other key findings from the 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties report include
    Family- or individually-owned operations made up the largest number of operations, accounting for 56%, but corporate-owned operations accounted for 63% of sales ($11.6 billion).
    Total industry expenses were up 33% since 2019, with labor being the largest cost, accounting for 36% of total expenses in 2024. 

The Census of Horticultural Specialties is part of the larger Census of Agriculture program. It provides information on the number and types of establishments engaged in horticultural production, value of sales, varieties of products, production expenses and more. All operations that reported producing and selling $10,000 or more of horticultural crops on the 2022 Census of Agriculture were included in this special study.