Monday March 25 Ag News - NDA Ag Poster Contest winners - National Ag Day Resolutions - Grazing Leases, Stocking Rates, and Risk Mgt webinars - USDA's New Voluntary Product of USA Lablel - and more!

NDA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE 2026 AG POSTER CONTEST

Each year, for National Ag week, NDA hosts a poster contest for 1-6 grade students. This year’s theme “Nebraska Agriculture: Building the Future” was meant to represent the growing innovation in agriculture and shepherding in the next generation of producers. 

“The annual poster contest is always something to look forward to as we begin the new year. This year we received over 1,500 posters from across the state of Nebraska,” said Vinton. “The NDA teammates love to look through the different posters and see the creativity of today’s students. I’d like to thank all the parents and teachers that took the time to teach young people about agriculture and how important the ag industry is to Nebraska.”  

NDA’s poster contest is in its 23rd year. The posters are judged in three separate categories: first and second grade; third and fourth grade; and fifth and sixth grade. The winners will receive a certificate and letter from Gov. Jim Pillen and NDA Director Sherry Vinton.

This year’s winners are:

In the First and Second Grade Division:
    1st place: Hartley Werner- Humphrey St. Francis
    2nd place: Kassianni Barragan- West Point Elementary
    3rd place: Elle Popken- West Point Elementary
    Governor’s Choice: Grace Schmidt- Grand Island Central Catholic
    Director’s Choice: Thiago Mendoza- West Point Elementary

In the Third and Fourth Grade Division:
    1st place: Quinn McManis- DC West Elementary
    2nd place: Harper Watson- Wilber-Clatonia
    3rd place: Jerzey Pierce- West Point Elementary
    Governor’s Choice: Karleigh Hobza- Shell Creek Elementary
    Director’s Choice: Tim Miyazaki- Kooser Elementary School

In the Fifth and Sixth Grade Division:
    1st place: Charlee Spickelmier- Chase County Schools
    2nd place: Sophie Fortkamp- Chase County Schools
    3rd place: Hailey Tunink- Randolph Elementary
    Governor’s Choice: Brayden Hamilton- Chase County Schools
    Director’s Choice: Victoria Perez- West Point Elementary

The winning posters are on NDA’s website at nda.nebraska.gov/kids.



Smith, Colleagues Introduce National Ag Day Resolution  

Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) joined Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) and Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) Tuesday in introducing a bipartisan resolution to designate March 24, 2026, as National Agriculture Day and recognize the importance of agriculture as one of the most impactful industries in the United States. 
 
"On National Agriculture Day we celebrate and show our gratitude to America's ag producers for their continued efforts to feed, fuel, and clothe our nation and the world. The agriculture industry is the backbone of the economy in communities throughout rural America, including those in Nebraska’s Third District which leads the country in agricultural production. Today, I am proud to partner with Congressmen Alford and Costa to recognize the essential role farmers and ranchers continue to play in America’s success," said Smith. 
 
“Our farmers and ranchers around the clock all year to feed, clothe, and fuel the world. This industry has been recognized on National Agriculture Day for decades, and we’re proud to play our part to ensure our agriculture community continues to receive this honor. Agriculture is the cornerstone of communities across Missouri and all of America. I’m pleased to partner with Congressmen Costa and Smith to get our farmers and ranchers the recognition they deserve,” said Alford. 
 
“Agriculture is the backbone of our nation, and the hardworking farmers, ranchers, dairymen, and women of the San Joaquin Valley, and across the country deserve our recognition and support every day. National Agriculture Day reminds us that food security is a national security issue. Our farmers feed much of the world, strengthen our economy, and protect our country. As a third-generation farmer, I am proud to stand with my colleagues in celebrating their essential role in sustaining our communities and our nation,” said Costa. 
 
The resolution is also cosponsored by Reps. Rob Bresnahan, Juan Ciscomani, David Rouzer, Andrea Salinas, Pete Sessions, Gabe Evans, Julia Letlow, Rick Crawford, Daniel Webster, Randy Feenstra, Zach Nunn, Austin Scott, Andy Harris, Tracey Mann, Brad Finstad, Mary Miller, Angie Craig, Robert Aderholt, and John Rose. 



NEBRASKA FFA CELEBRATES SERIES OF LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENTS

Spring has yet to arrive, but FFA is already blossoming in Nebraska in remarkable fashion.

Consider what’s happening in Gibbon, a town of 1,878 in Buffalo County. The high school started its first FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) chapter in fall 2023 as part of the dramatic increase Nebraska has seen in its number of FFA chapters.

From 2010 to 2025, the number of chapters has jumped from 133 to 218 — an increase of 64%.

That surge is responding to local demand for the kind of broad-based, ag-focused youth development FFA is known for, said agricultural educator Kealey Widdowson, adviser for the Gibbon chapter.

In Gibbon, creation of the chapter “filled a gap that had been there for a long time,” said Widdowson, an alumna of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication.

“In just a few years, I’ve watched students who were once quiet and unsure stand up and give speeches, lead meetings, run fundraisers and represent our school at the district and state level,” she said. “That kind of growth is powerful.”

FFA gives youths real opportunities not just to compete, but to find confidence, purpose and direction, Widdowson said. Learning goes beyond raising livestock or managing crops; students develop leadership and communication skills, as well.

Nebraska is having a special moment right now when it comes to key FFA connections. Over the past months, the state has amassed a number of achievements:

> Claire Woeppel, an ALEC sophomore from Chambers, was chosen as a national FFA officer during the 2025 national convention. She is the first Nebraskan to hold a national FFA office since Brennan Costello served as Central Region vice president in 2012-13. In beginning her service as a national FFA officer, Woeppel said “agricultural education and FFA provide students with opportunities that shape them into the person they desire to become.” Those opportunities “are pivotal to a student’s leadership journey.”

> At the 2025 national FFA convention, the Overton FFA chapter was named the national champion team in the Environmental and Natural Resources Career Development Event. This rigorous competition requires students to demonstrate exceptional agricultural and environmental knowledge. The title marks Nebraska’s first-ever national championship in the event and only the second national championship earned by a Nebraska FFA team in the last 98 years. Agricultural education teacher Juliana Loudon advises the team, which received key preparation by competing last year in the event at the Nebraska state conference. “Overton’s national title is an incredible achievement in highly competitive arenas,” said Andrew Little, associate professor with the School of Natural Resources, who developed the state event.

> The national FFA convention also presented Matt Kreifels, professor of practice and program coordinator for agricultural education in the ALEC department, with the national organization’s highest honor, the National FFA Alumni and Supporters Outstanding Achievement Award, saluting exceptional leadership and service to agricultural education and FFA.

Current Husker undergraduates point to multiple benefits their FFA experiences have had for them.

Melany Preister, a freshman from Albion aiming to become an agricultural educator, listed a series of skills she gained, including experience with parliamentary procedure and leading meetings, public speaking, giving sales calls and building connections with others through Career Development Event activities. She is a student coordinator helping plan and organize the events for the Nebraska State FFA Convention March 25-27.

Isela Horwart, a senior from Broken Bow now student teaching in Axtell, said FFA’s career development activities help students identify their strengths, interests and attitudes.

“This early exposure supports a strong pipeline of informed, skilled individuals who are prepared to contribute to Nebraska agriculture and related industries for years to come,” she said.

Keetyn Valentine, a junior from David City, said by exposing students to real-world agricultural issues, leadership development and career exploration, FFA strengthens the future workforce of the industry.

“FFA helps ensure Nebraska agriculture continues to grow with well-prepared individuals who understand both its traditions and its future needs,” she said.

The university’s ALEC department has taken strategic steps to support the state’s agricultural educators, given the ongoing demand. In 2025, Nebraska public school districts had 55 openings for agricultural educators. ALEC has three outstate regional faculty — Troy White in the Panhandle, Stacie Turnbull in central Nebraska and Monty Larsen in northeast Nebraska — who support the state’s ag educators on a direct, day-to-day basis.

Sydney Linse, a 2024 Husker grad now teaching ag education in Boyd County, praised the Ag-STEM Center that White created to strengthen practical training for ag teachers and undergraduates studying to become ag educators.

ALEC also hired Becky Haddad, with firsthand experience as a high school ag teacher and FFA adviser, as a tenure-track faculty member to focus on enhanced teacher preparation and other supportive strategies to meet the need.

For Preister, FFA’s importance extends to individual members and to the state’s economy.

“FFA has led me to where I am today, and I could not be more grateful,” she said. “The value that FFA has on Nebraska agriculture is genuinely positive and so strong. Each individual who chooses to be a part of FFA is saying yes to something bigger than they can even imagine.”



Webinar Series to Address Grazing Leases, Stocking Rates and Risk Management

Livestock producers are making key decisions this spring on pasture rental rates, stocking levels and managing risk in uncertain conditions. A three-part webinar series from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability, in collaboration with Nebraska Extension’s Livestock Systems team, will present practical guidance to help inform these decisions.

The webinars will be held at noon Central Time on April 9, 16 and 23, and are designed to provide practical guidance for landowners and livestock producers as they plan for the 2026 grazing season. All sessions are free to attend, with registration and details available at cap.unl.edu/webinars.

"Pasture decisions often come down to balancing productivity with long-term sustainability," said Jim Jansen, Extension agricultural economist. "These sessions are built to help producers and landowners work through those decisions with current data and practical tools."

The series begins April 9 with "Understanding Grazing Land Rental Rates and Lease Agreements in 2026," presented by Jansen and Anastasia Meyer, Extension agricultural economists. The session will highlight recent Nebraska Farm Real Estate Survey results on grazing land rental rates and lease arrangements, along with considerations to help landowners and tenants develop clear, workable agreements.

On April 16, "Stocking Rates 101: Matching Livestock to Your Grass" will be led by livestock systems Extension educators Ben Beckman and Ryan Benjamin. The webinar will walk through practical ways to estimate forage availability, set appropriate stocking rates and adjust as conditions change to protect pasture health and profitability.

The series concludes April 23 with "Managing Grazing Risk: Leases, Flexibility, and Drought Decisions," also presented by Beckman and Benjamin. The session will focus on building flexibility into lease agreements, along with strategies for drought planning, disaster recovery and managing grazing risk when conditions shift.

The sessions are intended to help producers make informed decisions heading into the grazing season, particularly as weather variability and input costs continue to shape management choices.

More information and registration for each webinar is available on the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website at cap.unl.edu/webinars. 



Applications extended to March 31 for Iowa Farm Bureau Rural Veterinarian Loan Repayment Incentive Program

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation has extended the application deadline to March 31 for its Rural Veterinarian Loan Repayment Incentive Program, created to help address ongoing shortages of veterinarians in rural Iowa.

The program will award up to four individuals with as much as $25,000 each in loan repayment support. Applicants must practice, or plan to practice, veterinary medicine in Iowa.

According to an American Veterinary Medical Association survey of 2024 graduates from 32 U.S. veterinary colleges, only about 3.3% entered food-animal–exclusive practice. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated a record number of rural veterinary shortage areas in 2025, including several in Iowa.

In response to these workforce needs, in 2020, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation creating a state veterinary loan repayment program, an effort supported by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

“Farmers take pride in giving their animals the best care possible, and veterinarians are a critical part of that,” said Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson. “Strengthening veterinary access helps uphold that standard of care while supporting the vitality of rural communities.”

Preference will be given to applicants who are in their final year of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program; plan to work in large animal practice or designated shortage areas; have ties to Iowa; and demonstrate leadership and community involvement.

To learn more or apply by March 31, visit https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/Member-Benefits/Iowa-Farm-Bureau-Rural-Veterinarian-Loan-Repayment-Incentive-Program. 



USDA Cold Storage February 2026 Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on February 28, 2026 were down 2 percent from the previous month and down 5 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were down 3 percent from the previous month and down 5 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down slightly from the previous month and down 5 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 5 percent from last month but down 8 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on February 28, 2026 were up 4 percent from the previous month but down 5 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down slightly from the previous month and down 2 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 19 percent from last month but down 13 percent from February 28, 2025.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on February 28, 2026 were up slightly from the previous month but down 1 percent from February 28, 2025. Butter stocks were up 12 percent from last month but down 17 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks on February 28, 2026 were down 6 percent from last month but up 1 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 6 percent from last month and down 8 percent from a year ago.



USDA Promotes New, Voluntary “Product of USA” Label

Tuesday, on National Agriculture Day, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the launch of a national public awareness campaign to inform meat, poultry, and egg producers of the “Product of USA” voluntary labeling standard which went into effect on January 1, 2026, and increases consumer understanding of what the label means.

“Our great patriot ranchers and producers grow, raise, and harvest the world’s safest, most affordable, and abundant food supply. American consumers want to support America by buying American and this label will strengthen our food supply chain through transparency, fairness, and trust,” said USDA Secretary Rollins. “This new standard policy ensures producers who invest in a fully American supply chain can compete fairly, and it gives consumers the confidence they deserve about the food they bring home.”

“When we choose to purchase from American producers, we get a superior product while supporting the hardworking family farms who put it all on the line every day to feed, clothe, and fuel our nation,” said SBA Administrator Loeffler. “Amid President Trump’s work to end years of unfair competition and eliminate the massive red tape that has crushed domestic agriculture, Made in America is finally making a comeback. Today, on National Agriculture Day, I urge all Americans to join me in support of the hardworking farmers and ranchers who anchor the U.S. food supply chain that is so vital to keeping our nation strong, safe, and healthy.”

“Our farmers and ranchers are essential to putting real food back at the center of the American plate and delivering on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” said HHS Secretary Kennedy. “‘Product of the USA’ labeling puts American producers first, gives families clear, honest information, and empowers them to choose food raised right here at home.”

“U.S. producers are the best in the world, and produce the highest-quality products,” said North Dakota Senator Hoeven. “A ‘Product of USA’ label benefits our ranchers and provides transparency and confidence for consumers. We appreciate Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration for their efforts to support our farmers, ranchers and rural communities.”

Under this standard, the “Product of USA” label is reserved exclusively for meat, poultry, and egg products from animals that were born, raised, harvested, and processed in the United States. The claim is voluntary, but companies using it must meet this transparent and verifiable requirement. This ends the prior practice which allowed imported products to carry the claim after minimal processing and strengthens consumer confidence by aligning with what Americans expect and demand.

Since 2017, the United States has lost over 17% of family farms, more than 100,000 operations over the last decade. The national herd is at a 75-year low while consumer demand for beef has grown 9% over the past decade. In October 2025, Secretary Rollins released the USDA Plan to Fortify the American Beef Industry that focuses on rebuilding domestic capacity, improving transparency across the supply chain, and ensuring U.S. ranchers can compete on a level playing field.

Today’s announcement on enforcement and promotion of the strengthened “Product of USA” label is a key deliverable under this initiative, advancing the Trump Administration’s priorities of fairness, competition, and consumer trust.

Learn more at productofusa.gov.



WinField United to Award $20,000 Across Four Scholarships to Those Pursuing a Career in Agriculture 

WinField United and Land O’Lakes, Inc. are offering scholarship support to students pursuing undergraduate degrees related to agriculture through the WinField United Careers in Agriculture Scholarship program. 

The program is designed to assist current college undergraduates studying in the United States who plan to continue their studies and enroll full time in an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational technical school for the upcoming academic year. Eligible applicants must be pursuing a degree in or related to agronomy, crop and weed science, soil science, crop genetics, agricultural technology, agricultural business, or agricultural communications, and must have work experience related to their field of study. 

A total of $20,000 in scholarship funding will be awarded for the 2026–2027 academic year across four $5,000 scholarships for students pursuing undergraduate degrees. The scholarships may be used for a wide range of education-related expenses. 

Scholarship recipients will be selected based on academic performance, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, a statement of educational and career goals, unusual personal or family circumstances, and an online recommendation. Financial need will not be considered. 

Applications for the WinField United Careers in Agriculture Scholarship are now open and must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. Central Time on April 16. Scholarship recipients will be notified in late May, with awards distributed in early August. 

To learn more about and apply for the WinField United Careers in Agriculture Scholarship, visit www.scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/winfield.