Friday June 05 Ag News - Local Reaction to Screwworm - Farm & Ranch Estate Planning - USDA Launches Remote Beef Grading App - FARM Program Updates Drug Residue Prevention - AFBF FARM 205 Initiative - and more!

NEBRASKA CATTLEMEN STATEMENT ON NEW WORLD SCREWWORM CASE IN THE U.S.

In response the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) confirmation of a New World Screwworm (NWS) case in Texas, Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) released the following statement: 

“Nebraska Cattlemen, the NC Animal Disease Threats Working Group, and the NC Animal Health and Nutrition Committee have been preparing for New World Screwworm almost two years. Although the only confirmed case in the U.S. at this time is in Texas, Nebraska producers should remain vigilant and report any cases immediately, as early detection and treatment will be highly effective in eradicating NWS. We have eradicated this parasite before and we will again.”



Statement by Mark McHargue, President, Regarding New World Screwworm Case in U.S.

"Now that the New World Screwworm (NWS) has been found on U.S. soil for the first time in 60 years, it is time for diligence, not fear. Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) is confident in USDA's tireless work to mitigate the impact of this pest and appreciates all of the work that has been done to try to stop its spread. To producers, we advise everyone to familiarize yourselves with the signs of NWS and follow state and national animal health protocols. To consumers, know that the NWS is not a threat to food safety, and the U.S. continues to have the safest food supply in the world. NEFB remains very optimistic that NWS will be eradicated once again."  



Farm and Ranch Estate Planning Workshop to Help Families Navigate the Future of Their Operation

Families planning farm or ranch transitions and preparing for the future of their operation can get practical guidance on succession and estate planning during an upcoming Nebraska Extension workshop in Lincoln.

The program, Returning to the Farm or Ranch, is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 26 at the office of Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County, 444 Cherrycreek Road. A pre-workshop focusing on family communication will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. June 25. The workshops will be presented by the Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Anastasia Meyer, an agricultural economist with Nebraska Extension, said participants will hear from agricultural law, tax and financial professionals, while also engaging in activities focused on communication, goal setting and long-term planning.

"Transition planning in agriculture often involves more than legal documents and financial decisions," Meyer said. "It also requires families to communicate openly about goals, expectations and the future of the operation. This workshop will provide practical guidance for those beginning the process, as well as those looking to strengthen an existing plan."

Topics will include:
    Estate and transition planning 
    Family communication strategies 
    Goal setting for the operation and family 
    Building a professional transition team 
    Financial and legal considerations 
    Identifying next steps for succession planning

Returning to the Farm or Ranch is intended for farm and ranch families at all stages of the transition process, including operations without a formal succession plan already in place.

The event is part of ongoing efforts by the Center for Agricultural Profitability and the Nebraska Land Link program to support agricultural producers, landowners and beginning farmers across Nebraska.

Families are encouraged to bring all relevant stakeholders to the workshop. The registration fee is $85 per person if pre-registered, or $100 at the door. Lunch will be provided. Registration is open through June 26 on the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website, https://cap.unl.edu/rtf26.



USDA’s Remote Beef Grading Program Launches App – Offers Marketing Benefits to Processors and Cattle Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) launched a new mobile app to make access to the Remote Grading Program for Beef (RGP) even easier. 

“While more than 90% of fed beef is officially graded by USDA – predominantly at larger plants – the Remote Grading Program for Beef (RGP) extends those market benefits, especially to small processors, by providing low-cost grading services that afford them access to new markets using USDA grades like Prime, Choice, and Select,” said Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins. “This new app is another enhancement supporting producers and processors participating in the program with improved responsiveness, streamlined workflows, and assurance grading services remain accurate and reliable. Programs like RGP and its continued improvements reflect USDA’s commitment to expand opportunities for producers to market their high-quality American beef.”

The RGP provides processors with access to USDA beef grades (Prime, Choice, and Select) at a lower cost than traditional onsite graders. The RGP utilizes mobile app imaging, supported by robust data management and oversight, to assess carcass characteristics remotely and assign official grades that buyers and consumers rely on to signal quality. With the new app, customers will experience more secure image submissions, fewer upload mistakes, clearer status visibility, and reliable tracking of assigned carcass grades.

Since its launch, the RGP has registered 88 facilities – many are considered small or very small – in 32 states. Most plants received grades within 24 hours of submission. Farmers and ranchers also benefit from having official USDA quality grades, which allow them to use this information in direct-to-consumer markets, or simply to use carcass data to continue improving genetics, growth, and quality.



FARM Program Publishes 2026 Drug Residue Prevention Manual

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program today released its 2026-2027 Milk & Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Reference Manual, equipping farmers with an educational tool that promotes best management practices for responsible and judicious use of antimicrobials in dairy cattle.

The updated manual has timely information about the FDA’s conditionally approved and emergency use authorizations of drugs to combat New World screwworm. It also includes the Food and Drug Administration’s Guidance for Industry No. 273: “Defining Durations of Use for Approved Medically Important Antimicrobial Drugs Fed to Food-Producing Animals” (GFI No. 273), finalized and announced in February.

“The U.S. dairy industry is committed to antibiotic stewardship and judicious use of all medications used for dairy cattle,” says Dr. Jamie Jonker, National Milk Producers Federation’s chief science officer. “The Drug Residue Prevention Manual continues to be a trusted resource for dairy farmers when making educated choices with their veterinarians to care for their animals.”

When dairy animals get sick or injured and treatment is necessary, producers and veterinarians use antibiotics and other drugs prudently. The manual serves as a resource for producers and veterinarians, and includes information on:
    Residue prevention best practices
    Record keeping and herd health
    Drug administration
    Culling of animals
    Residue testing
    Drug classes
    Approved drugs and screening tests

The Milk & Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual and the associated pocket guide are sponsored by Zoetis. Their sponsorship supports the development of on-farm resource development for U.S. dairy farmers.

The manual is available for download on the FARM Program website. The pocket guide will be available later this month. Through educational resources and training, the FARM Program advances its mission of fostering a culture of continuous improvement by demonstrating U.S. dairy farmers are committed to producing high-quality, safe milk with integrity.



USDA Dairy Products April 2026 Production Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.27 billion pounds, 1.7 percent above April 2025 and 0.3 percent above March 2026. Italian type cheese production totaled 556 million pounds, 4.2 percent above April 2025 and 2.5 percent above March 2026. American type cheese production totaled 490 million pounds, 1.2 percent below April 2025 and 0.4 percent below March 2026. Butter production was 224 million pounds, 4.5 percent above April 2025 but 1.8 percent below March 2026.

Dry milk products (comparisons in percentage with April 2025)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 181 million pounds, up 11.4 percent.
Skim milk powder - 35.5 million pounds, up 0.2 percent.

Whey products (comparisons in percentage with April 2025)
Dry whey, total - 76.9 million pounds, up 7.8 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 92.0 million pounds, down 3.2 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 38.8 million pounds, down 11.0 percent.

Frozen products (comparisons in percentage with April 2025)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 67.0 million gallons, up 5.5 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 37.8 million gallons, down 0.8 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 1.87 million gallons, up 12.7 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 2.81 million gallons, up 0.9 percent.



NGFA thanks House for adopting agriculture appropriations bill that supports U.S. grain and feed sector

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today thanked the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the fiscal year 2027 agriculture appropriations bill.

The bipartisan legislation includes several key NGFA provisions that strengthen the reliability, transparency, and global competitiveness of the U.S. grain and feed industry:
    Providing for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop and implement a contingency plan to ensure continuity of official grain inspection and weighing services in the event of future disruptions. NGFA strongly supports this directive, which emphasizes clear operational guidance and stakeholder engagement, including input from export elevators and Officially Designated and Delegated Agencies.

    Encouraging improved coordination between USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite approvals for grain reconditioning plans, enhancing efficiency at export facilities when grain lots require corrective action.

    Underscoring the importance of maintaining uninterrupted grain terminal operations as critical to U.S. grain exports.

    Reinforcing the importance of consistent, reliable data by directing USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to maintain key reports and surveys and to provide advance notice to Congress before making significant changes to its data collection programs.

    Recognizing the importance of the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at the FDA to the nation’s food supply, by ensuring its operations are properly resourced.

“The House’s passage of the agriculture appropriations bill marks an important step forward for America’s grain and feed industry,” said NGFA President and CEO Mike Seyfert. “By safeguarding export inspection services, improving federal coordination, and preserving critical market data, the bill supports the industry’s ability to sustain more than one million U.S. grain and feed-related jobs and drive economic growth in America.”

NGFA looks forward to continuing to work with the Senate as the appropriations process continues.



Farm Bureau Celebrates Farmers and Ranchers Who Helped America Reach 250 Years

The American Farm Bureau Federation today launched a photo contest to celebrate the contributions of America’s farmers in growing America into the nation it is today. The contest is part of Farm Bureau’s FARM 250 initiative, marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.

The winner of the contest will receive a trip to the 2027 American Farm Bureau Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, courtesy of AFBF, and an iPhone 17, provided by T-Mobile.

“The history of the United States is rooted in every crop, pasture and dairy barn from coast to coast,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “America’s ability to grow enough food, fuel and fiber helped shape our nation and continues to ensure its security. Add to that generations of innovation and the commitment of farmers, and the United States has become a leader in agriculture around the world.

“Our photo contest is a great opportunity for farmers to share the images of what means the most to them on their own farms and ranches, and will showcase the beauty of agriculture across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.”

The photo contest runs through Sept. 9, 2026. The winner must be a Farm Bureau member.

FARM 250 is a year-long initiative focusing on four pillars in agriculture.
    F is for Feeding Families
    A is for Advancing Innovation
    R is for Rural Resilience
    M is for Mindful Stewardship

Learn more about FARM 250 and the photo contest here https://www.fb.org/initiative/farm250.