Thursday February 05 Ag News - AG Cautions on DEF System Failures - NE to Host Stockmanship & Stewardship - IA Corn, AFBF support 45Z Proposal - Ethanol Production Stumbles - Fertilizer Prices Mixed - and more!

Crop Progress - State Stories

NEBRASKA: For the week ending February 1, 2026, topsoil moisture supplies rated 21% very short, 48% short, 31% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 23% very short, 46% short, 31% adequate, and 0% surplus. Winter wheat condition rated 10% very poor, 27% poor, 39% fair, 20% good, and 4% excellent.

IOWA: Overall, reporters described January as having extended below normal temperatures, dry soil, high winds, and inconsistent snow cover. Below normal temperatures were especially noted in the last half of the month. Statewide temperature averaged 19.2 degrees Fahrenheit, 0.3 degrees below normal. Precipitation was also slightly below normal at 0.94 inches Statewide. Fertilizer and lime applications occurred when conditions allowed. Some cold weather stress among livestock was reported, but no abnormal losses were reported. Lambing and calving were underway. Grain movement varied depending on local conditions.



Nebraska Attorney General’s Office Issues Safety Alert Regarding Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) System Failures 

The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office is issuing an Alert to consumers following reported safety issues with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) systems and recent actions by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address them. DEF systems are present in diesel engines and equipment often used by farmers, truckers, and motorists. Consumers should note that their current DEF equipment may present safety risks, such as sudden speed loss and shutdowns.

In August, the EPA issued guidance urging manufacturers to revise DEF system software in existing vehicles and equipment to address slowdown and shutdown risks. Despite this warning to manufacturers, DEF system failures reportedly remain ongoing and continue to impact consumers. Yesterday, the EPA demanded information from major diesel engine manufacturers on critical data from DEF system failures to help evaluate the situation and safety risks.

The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office supports EPA’s efforts to keep farmers, truckers, and other diesel operators safe. Our office will help ensure these safety risks are addressed by manufacturers. Farmers, truckers, and everyday consumers deserve safe, reliable diesel equipment and vehicles.

What Can Consumers Do?
    Contact your diesel engine or equipment manufacturer to ensure your diesel trucks and equipment meet the new EPA guidelines. Software updates may be necessary to resolve these ongoing safety concerns.

    You have the right to repair your equipment to prevent safety issues. The EPA issued guidance on how consumers may self-repair and modify DEF systems to avoid issues.

    Ensure your equipment or vehicle DEF is not low or at risk of running low, especially when operating in conditions or distances that would be unsafe if a slowdown or shutdown were to occur.


Our office is dedicated to protecting Nebraska’s consumers from unsafe products. If you are having issues with DEF system failure, please report those issues to ProtectTheGoodLife.Nebraska.gov.



2026 Stockmanship & Stewardship Locations Announced

Locations for 2026 Stockmanship & Stewardship events were announced during CattleCon 2026 in Nashville. These unique educational experiences for cattle producers feature low-stress cattle handling demonstrations, Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) educational sessions, facility design sessions and industry updates.

2026 Stockmanship & Stewardship dates and locations:
    March 28 – State College, Pennsylvania
    May 21-22 – Indian Livestock Days, Farmington, New Mexico
    September 15-17 – Husker Harvest Days, Grand Island, Nebraska
    October 20-22 – Sunbelt Ag Expo, Moultrie, Georgia

These dynamic events are designed for cattle producers, students, and industry workers who are ready to take their livestock management skills to the next level. Attendees can become BQA certified, network with fellow cattlemen and women, participate in hands-on demonstrations led by animal handling experts including Curt Pate and Dr. Ron Gill, and learn innovative techniques.

Stockmanship & Stewardship is sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Neogen, and the Beef Checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance program.

“Neogen is dedicated to the advancement of human and animal well-being through science and technology,” said Elizabeth Wonsowski, livestock director of marketing at Neogen. “As a leader within the beef industry and proud partner of cattle ranchers and beef production, we recognize the important role that education and resources play in helping the cattle industry continue to grow in a healthy and sustainable way. We are proud to support NCBA and the Beef Checkoff through the Stockmanship & Stewardship program. Together, we can fuel a brighter future of global food security.”

For more information about Stockmanship & Stewardship, visit www.StockmanshipAndStewardship.org. Cattle producers attending a Stockmanship & Stewardship event are eligible for reimbursement through the Rancher Resilience Grant. To apply for a grant to cover registration and hotel costs, visit www.ncba.org/producers/rancher-resilience-grant.



Iowa Corn Growers Pleased with Latest 45Z Proposal 

This week, the U.S. Department of Treasury released their proposed 45Z tax credit designed to help the biofuel industry sell into the aviation sector. Iowa corn growers are pleased with this development and released the following statement:  

“Treasury’s proposal is a definite step in the right direction and will allow corn growers to transition into and supply the aviation sector. The ability to fuel commercial planes with fuel derived from corn would be important to the long-term economic viability of farming. After today we are one step closer to that possibility.” 

Last year, Congress preserved and improved aspects of the tax credit in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The new guidance reaffirmed many of those improvements. Corn growers said they were particularly pleased to see the direct reference to agricultural practices in the proposal.   

“This is good news for farmers as we continue looking for avenues to secure and enhance markets for corn. This administration has shown that it understands the importance of biofuels to American farmer’s future, this proposal confirms that.”   
 
ICGA hopes the Treasury will keep up the momentum by working with other agencies as they update the crucial 45Z-CF GREET model to appropriately account for farmers’ hard work. ICGA will provide formal comments on the proposal, ensuring Iowa corn farmers have a voice regarding the proposed rule to make sure they are not excluded from the process.  



Treasury Dept. Releases Proposed 45Z Credit Rules

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on the Treasury Department proposed guidance on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production tax credit.

“We appreciate the Treasury Department moving the needle by publishing proposed guidelines for the 45Z tax credit. It’s an important step to finalize improvements protecting access for domestic feedstocks, which the guidelines specify, and promote American biofuels demand.

“However, this is just the first step. The Departments of Agriculture and Energy must now finalize guidance and resources for calculating carbon intensity scores so that the full range of Congressionally mandated improvements to the credit can be realized. This includes recognizing the many ways farmers across sectors promote stewardship by exploring additional conservation practices with potential to reduce carbon intensity scores that meet diverse agricultural needs. Encouraging the production of homegrown biofuels will not only help meet the demand for renewable energy but also fortify a farm economy that desperately needs a boost.

“America’s farmers and ranchers stand ready and willing to meet the needs of our growing energy portfolio and goal to be energy independent. We look forward to working with USDA and DOE to ensure farmers are recognized as partners in taking on the challenge.”



Weekly Ethanol Production for 1/30/2026

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending January 30, ethanol production plunged 14.2% to 956,000 b/d, equivalent to 40.15 million gallons daily and the lowest weekly volume since mid-April 2024, reflecting the effects of the winter storm. Output was 14.0% lower than the same week last year and 8.8% below the three-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate declined 3.2% to 1.10 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.85 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks decreased 1.0% to 25.1 million barrels. Stocks were 4.8% less than the same week last year and 0.3% below the three-year average. Inventories thinned across all regions except the Rocky Mountains (PADD 4) and West Coast (PADD 5)—the latter rising to a 2-year high.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, shrank 6.9% to 8.15 million b/d (125.33 bg annualized). Demand was 2.1% less than a year ago and 4.3% below the three-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol fell 10.4% to 791,000 b/d, equivalent to 12.16 bg annualized. Net inputs were 8.0% less than year-ago levels and 5.8% below the three-year average.

Ethanol exports expanded 37.6% to an estimated 216,000 b/d (9.1 million gallons/day). It has been more than a year since EIA indicated ethanol was imported.



Fertilizer Prices Mixed to End January

Retail fertilizer prices were mixed the fourth week of January 2026, according to sellers DTN surveyed. Five fertilizers were slightly lower in price compared to the previous month while the remaining three were slightly higher. None were up or down a considerable amount. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

The nutrients posting lower prices were MAP with an average of $866/ton, 10-34-0 $665/ton, anhydrous $856/ton, UAN28 $408/ton and UAN32 $464/ton. The three fertilizers which were slightly higher in price were DAP with an average of $851/ton, potash $485/ton and urea $583/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.63/lb.N, anhydrous $0.52/lb.N, UAN28 $0.73/lb.N and UAN32 $0.73/lb.N.

All eight fertilizers are now higher in price compared to one year earlier. 10-34-0 is 5% higher, MAP is 7% more expensive, potash is 11% higher, urea is 14% more expensive, DAP is 15% higher, anhydrous is 16% more expensive, UAN32 is 21% higher and UAN28 are 26% more expensive looking back to last year.



Signup Underway for Improved DMC as Margins Decline

With the Dairy Margin Coverage Program entering payment territory, NMPF is pleased that signup for the recently improved program is under way through Feb. 26.

The December margin under USDA’s Margin Coverage Program dropped by $0.62/cwt from November to $9.42/cwt, generating a payment, for the first and only time during 2025, of $0.08/cwt, for farmers insured at the highest $9.50/cwt coverage level. USDA is predicting margins below $9.50/cwt through July and averaging $9.53/cwt for the year. This would be $1.62/cwt lower than the $11.15/cwt the margin averaged in 2025.

“An improved DMC Program couldn’t come a moment too soon,” Gregg Doud, president & CEO of NMPF, said. “We appreciate USDA’s efforts to quickly update the DMC program, and we urge dairy farmers who will benefit from the program to sign up as part of their risk-management plans.”

The DMC changes were part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year that included multiple benefits for dairy, including making the Section 199A tax deduction permanent and making more funds available for dairy farmers and their cooperatives to use for conservation programs.

DMC revisions published in the Federal Register include:
    An opportunity to establish new production history based on the highest annual milk production level from any one of the 2021, 2022, or 2023 calendar years. Production history established between 2014-2025 will no longer be applicable for coverage.
    USDA clarification on how new operations (i.e., those that began marketing milk after Jan. 1, 2023) will be able to establish production history.
    Eligibility for operations to enroll their first 6 million pounds of production at the Tier 1 level, up from 5 million pounds, with all additional production covered under Tier 2. Premium rate fees under Tiers 1 and 2 are unchanged.
    An opportunity for operations to make a one-time election of coverage level and coverage percentage, “locking in” those elections for a six-year period from January 2026-December 2031. Those who elect this option must participate in DMC at the same coverage levels for the six-year period and will receive a 25% premium discount for doing so.

NMPF will keep its members apprised of key developments, with staff available to answer questions as necessary.



NFU Welcomes EPA Clarification, Calls for Federal Right to Repair Law 

National Farmers Union (NFU) welcomed new guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clarifying that the Clean Air Act (CAA) supports farmers’ right to repair their own equipment and cannot be used by equipment manufacturers to block their access to independent repair.

The EPA’s statement is a step forward for family farmers and ranchers who have long pushed back against repair restrictions that limit competition and drive up costs.

“The EPA’s statement is an encouraging message to farm country. We need the right to repair our own equipment. Manufacturers have used the Clean Air Act to justify deceptive practices, costing farmers time and money,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “The process of clarifying the CAA’s effects on right to repair now spans two administrations, and we thank Administrator Zeldin and Secretary Rollins for putting farmers first.”

In 2023, NFU wrote EPA Administrator Regan, raising concerns and seeking clarification about misleading claims that were circulating, invoking the CAA as justification for limiting farmers’ right to repair their farm equipment. The agency responded in 2023, reaffirming much of what was formally announced this week, now with clearer public guidance.

“EPA is proud to set the record straight and protect farmers. For far too long, manufacturers have wrongly used the Clean Air Act to monopolize the repair markets, hurting our farmers,” said Administrator Lee Zeldin in an EPA statement. “Common sense is following the law as it is written, and that is what the Trump EPA is committed to doing. By protecting every American’s right to repair, we’re not just fixing devices, we’re securing a stronger, more independent future for our country.”

“Our work here is not done,” added Larew. “This guidance does not guarantee a farmer’s right to repair. We need durable solutions that guarantee repair access on fair and reasonable terms so that independent repair is fully available, affordable, and accessible, and manufacturers who prevent independent repair are held accountable.”