Wednesday June 10 Ag News - Ricketts Introduces FENCE Act - Pasture Rent in 2026 - Ag Groups Ask Sunset on Fertilizer Duties - Screwworm Cases in US now Six - Ethanol Exports Remain Strong - and more!

Ricketts Introduces FENCE Act to Support Nebraska Farmers and Ranchers

Tuesday, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Fencing Eligibility for New Conservation Equipment (FENCE) Act.  The legislation would authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to include virtual fencing as another option for farmers and ranchers under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP).  Including virtual fencing in this program would provide American farmers and ranchers with greater flexibility to rebuild and recover. 

“Nebraska’s ranchers are the best in the world.  They’ve shown it this year in response to this spring’s devastating fires across our state,” said Senator Ricketts.  “Ranchers recently shared with me that one-size-fits-all policies are hindering their ability to rebuild.  The FENCE Act encourages USDA to continue finding new ways to support Nebraska’s recovery efforts.”

“When the Senate passed my Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act in March, I said that flexibility is my top priority in improving disaster assistance. The FENCE Act is no different. This legislation opens the door for producers to use new technology, like virtual fencing, to replace their damaged or lost fence lines after disasters strike. This would be a great opportunity for farmers and ranchers to seize if it makes sense for their operation,” said Senator Fischer.

The FENCE Act would:
    Authorize USDA to include virtual fencing as an option for farmers and ranchers to utilize under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP).
    Currently, the ECP covers up to 75% of the cost of the restoration or replacement of permanent agricultural fences.
    Allowing for “new or emerging technologies” under the program will provide another resource for farmers and ranchers to opt into.
    The use of electronic fencing technology may not result in an increase in cost of the repair or replacement of current permanent fencing structures. 

BACKGROUND
Virtual fencing technology allows for controlled cattle placement through GPS-enabled collars that deliver audio cues and electrical pulses.  After the devastating wildfires in Nebraska, farmers and ranchers highlighted the need for greater flexibility in recovering and rebuilding resources.  The FENCE Act would unlock virtual fencing as another tool for farmers and ranchers under the ECP.  Virtual fencing is useful for grazing and land management.  It could also extend to operations in the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge.  Senator Ricketts worked with this Administration to allow Nebraska farmers and ranchers to have access to those grasslands.



WHAT DOES IT COST TO RENT PASTURE IN 2026 
- Shannon Sand, NE Extension Educator

What does it cost to rent pasture this year? 2026 results are out for Nebraska cash rental rates.  According to the latest survey, average monthly rates for grazing pasture have increased between 2% and 8% compared to the previous grazing season.

The north reporting district primarily the Sandhills has the highest average cow-calf pair monthly rate at $82.10. The northeast and central districts are not far behind at $77.35 and $74.60 per month, respectively. The northwest district (the Panhandle) had the lowest rates at just over $56.45 per month. Elsewhere in Nebraska, rates generally fall in the $60 to $69 per month range.

Pasture rent can vary for many reasons. Landlord involvement in fencing, water, and management responsibilities has a significant impact, as does grassland quality, pasture location, and cattle size. Tradition, individual relationships, and local demand may also influence rates.

Whether you are looking to rent pasture or have pasture available, a written lease agreement is essential. These agreements can include a number of stipulations, but at minimum should specify the number of cattle, the length of the grazing period (or stocking rate), and how a drought or other unforeseen event will be handled.



Pillen Requests USDA Disaster Designation to Help Producers Affected by Wildfires

Governor Jim Pillen has requested a disaster designation from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to support areas impacted by wildfires in March and April. The designation, if approved, would open options to directly assist producers in affected counties.

“Agriculture is the backbone of our state, and we must continue fighting for our neighbors in need by securing every resource available,” said Gov. Jim Pillen. “I deeply appreciate Secretary Rollins for visiting Nebraska during these devastating wildfires. Her partnership and commitment to our rural communities have been tremendous.”

The request for a Secretarial Disaster Designation is the most recent action taken by Gov. Pillen to assist in recovery from the Morrill, Cottonwood, Ashby and Minor fires. Collectively, more than 850,000 acres were destroyed, a large portion of that land used for cow-calf operations and yearling cattle grazing. Due to the destruction of stored hay supplies, ranchers in western Nebraska have been forced to graze their cattle on low-nutrient winter pastures, creating a severe feed shortage that threatens the health and survival of their herds.

The disaster request covers Garden, Grant, Lincoln and Morrill counties. Garden County, which has an estimated grassland loss of 63.64 percent, well exceeds the threshold for a disaster designation. The other counties did not meet the 30 percent threshold, but if granted, a designation would make producers in those counties eligible for FSA emergency loans.

Last month, Gov. Pillen asked President Trump for a disaster declaration to help cover the cost of damage to public infrastructure in Arthur, Garden, Grant, Lincoln and Morrill counties. If approved, it will assist with funding repairs to roads, bridges and power infrastructure.

Additionally, Gov. Pillen was in Oshkosh today to hear from invited county leaders about their experiences during and after the wildfires. He was joined at the event by Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton, Major General Craig Strong, adjutant general for the Nebraska National Guard, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Assistant Director Erv Portis and Senator Paul Strommen.

“There is much work still to be done, but I’m extraordinarily grateful for all the support that we have received and to see Nebraska coming together,” said Gov. Pillen. “We truly live in the greatest state, with the greatest people, never afraid to lend a hand and help a neighbor. We will continue our recovery together.”



Iowa Pork Producers Association Welcomes Summer Interns
    
The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) has welcomed an Iowa State University student and a Kansas State University student as summer interns. Kaitlynn DeBlock of Aledo, Illinois, will gain hands-on experience in promotions and communications, while Erin Driscoll of Williamsburg, Iowa, will gain hands-on experience in outreach and legislative engagement as part of IPPA’s efforts to support future leaders in the pork industry.

DeBlock, a junior majoring in Agricultural Communications, is serving as the promotions and outreach intern. Throughout the summer, she will assist with county pork promotions, help coordinate the Bacon Buddies® program, and contribute to IPPA’s presence at summer grilling events across the state. She is also playing a key role in preparing the Farrowing Display in the Animal Learning Center at the Iowa State Fair.

DeBlock has a strong interest in indulging into the production side of the industry, while advancing her knowledge in promotion. “I am looking forward to the opportunity of hands-on experience in the industry, while being able to learn from industry professionals,” said DeBlock. “I am extremely excited to contribute to meaningful work that aligns with my future career goals.”

Driscoll, a senior in Agricultural and Natural Resources Communications, is serving as IPPA’s legislative intern. Her internship begins with a five-week stay in Washington, D.C., where she is working closely with lawmakers and policy advisors. There, she will gain insight into the legislative process, especially as it relates to agricultural policy and its impact on producers back home in Iowa. While in the capitol, she is attending hearings, meeting with members of Congress and their staff, and learning how decisions made at the federal level shape the future of the pork industry.

When she returns to Iowa later this summer, Driscoll will help lead preparations for the Iowa Pork Tent at the Iowa State Fair. “I’m excited to spend the summer in Washington, D.C. and Des Moines representing Iowa pork producers, gaining valuable industry experience, and learning more about the intersection of agriculture, communications, and policy.” said Driscoll.

Both interns plan to continue careers in agriculture after graduation. DeBlock hopes to have a future in the swine industry, while using the promotional and communication skills learned from this summer. Driscoll hopes to pursue a future in Agricultural Policy, continuing to learn more about all aspects of the industry. 



Agricultural Groups Call for End to Countervailing Duties on Phosphate Fertilizers

Sixty-five state and national groups, including the National Corn Growers Association, sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick calling on him to end countervailing duties placed on phosphate fertilizers imported from Morocco to ease the pain felt by farmers as fertilizers prices reach new highs.
 
The announcement comes less than a week after Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson announced a major, industry-wide investigation into the fertilizer industry’s pricing practices and concentration. 

“These costs land on an already fragile farm economy,” the letter said. “Net farm income has fallen roughly 31 percent from its 2022 peak, fertilizer prices are up more than 150 percent since 2020, and Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies have surged to their highest levels in several years.” 

The letter also noted that farmers are in their fourth straight year of losses, and that countervailing duties only exacerbate their financial outlook and could mean the difference between sustaining family farms for generations to come or seeing legacies come to an end. 

The countervailing duties, requested by the U.S.-based Mosaic Company and Simplot, have been in effect since March 2021. The letter noted that the duties not only hurt farmers, but they also do not accomplish their intended goals. 

“[The duties] do not protect a vulnerable domestic industry from unfair competition,” the letter said. “Rather, they further prop up two companies who already dominate the domestic market and will continue to dominate that market absent CVD protection.” 

An independent analysis by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University has estimated that the countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate raised input costs for farmers of corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, sorghum and cotton by roughly $6.9 billion over the 2021 through 2025 growing seasons. At its full initial rate of 19.97 percent, the duty drove up the U.S. price of diammonium phosphate by an estimated 28.6 percent. 

The letter also targeted Mosaic’s practices.  
 
“Far from safeguarding domestic supply, Mosaic continues to curtail its own production, even as supply tightened at home,” the letter noted. “These duties fail to do more than drive up costs for farmers and risk our national food security by limiting the large majority of our annual phosphate needs to a single supplier that continues to curtail production – enhancing our risks to supply chain disruptions.” 

NCGA has established an input task force that is looking at the causes of price hikes for supplies and how they can be addressed.  



USDA Continues to Lead Coordinated Response to New World Screwworm

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), alongside State partners in Texas and New Mexico, continues to lead an aggressive response to New World screwworm (NWS) in the United States. 

USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed a new case of NWS in a calf in La Salle County, Texas, bringing the total cases of NWS in the United States to six. USDA is working closely with the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to respond and further investigate the case. The joint federal–state field teams have already expanded surveillance and response measures in the area. 

New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that causes severe, potentially fatal infestations by feeding on the living tissue of warmblooded animals. Quick detection, treatment, and reporting are vital to safeguarding livestock, wildlife, and pets. 

USDA and TAHC are conducting a coordinated response that includes: 
    Joint epidemiological investigations and case tracing 
    Additional surveillance, testing, and trapping in the affected areas 
    Releasing sterile insects and adjusting these operations as needed for the most effective coverage 
    Conducting outreach to animal owners  
    Ongoing coordination with local officials, veterinarians, ranchers, and community partners 



U.S. Ethanol and DDGS Exports Remain Strong

U.S. ethanol exports totaled 171.6 million gallons (mg) in April, registerng below 200 mg for the first time in 6 months amid broadly weaker shipments across several key markets. Canada reversed its March surge, declining 14% to 64.8 mg, while maintaining its position as the leading destination for denatured fuel ethanol. Exports to the European Union fell 42% to a 9-month low of 34.1 mg, though strong demand from the Netherlands continued to underpin the market for undenatured ethanol. Shipments to South Korea jumped 57% to a 4-year high of 16.4 mg, while imports by the Philippines retreated 27% to 11.1 mg. Collectively, these four markets accounted for roughly three-quarters of all U.S. ethanol exports in April. Other significant destinations included the United Kingdom (10.4 mg), Peru (8.6 mg), Mexico (8.0 mg), Nigeria (6.6 mg), and Colombia (6.3 mg). Notably, exports to Brazil dropped to essentially zero as the country emerged from its interharvest period, and India was also absent from the market for U.S. ethanol. Year-to-date U.S. ethanol exports reached 811.3 mg, running 13% ahead of the same period last year.

U.S. imports remained negligible in April. Total fuel ethanol imports during the first four months of 2026 totaled 205,319 gallons.

U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed coproduct generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, edged down 1% in April to 1.02 million metric tons (mt). Shipments to Mexico decreased 3% to 206,786 mt, while exports to Indonesia declined 15% to 139,653 mt. Exports to South Korea rebounded 6% to 121,565 mt, shipments to Vietnam increased 13% to 114,782 mt, and exports to Turkey surged 32% to 94,663 mt. Together, these five markets accounted for roughly two-thirds of all DDGS exports in April, with fewer than 20 additional destinations comprising the balance. For the first four months of 2026, DDGS exports totaled 3.98 million mt, up 12% from the same period in 2025.



AGI Realigns Manufacturing to Deliver Storage Solutions Closer to U.S. Farmers 

Ag Growth International Inc. (“AGI”) Tuesday announced a multi-million dollar investment in its Clay Center, Kansas facility to add U.S. production of 4-inch corrugated farm grain bins and strengthen its North American manufacturing network. 

The project is part of AGI’s long-term strategy to align production with customer demand across key grain-growing regions—enhancing responsiveness, increasing production speed, and delivering high-quality storage solutions closer to the U.S. farm customers 

AGI’s Clay Center facility currently produces a wide range of grain handling equipment, including augers, bin unloads, bucket elevators, towers, catwalks, portable and stationary chains and paddles, as well as incline drag and En Masse conveyors. 

“This project reflects AGI’s commitment to strengthening and balancing our North American manufacturing footprint around where our customers operate,” says Paul Brisebois, President and CEO of AGI. “Adding bin capacity in the heart of the U.S. grain belt aligns production closer to the customer—improving responsiveness, strengthening supply chain resilience, and enhancing how we serve farmers and dealers.” 

The Clay Center expansion brings farm storage production back to the United States—strengthening AGI’s ability to serve customers with greater speed, efficiency and consistency. Together with AGI’s St. Boniface, Manitoba facility, it will increase overall bin capacity and create a more flexible, integrated North American manufacturing network. 

Beyond its operational impact, the bin expansion reinforces AGI’s long-term commitment to economic development in Clay Center, Clay County and the State of Kansas. 

Mike Baker, Plant Manager, AGI Clay Center, says the expansion will support regional workforce growth as new capabilities come online. 

“This is an exciting step forward for our team and our community,” says Baker. “We expect to begin bin production in the Spring of 2027, creating new jobs and building on the strong foundation here at Clay Center to support continued growth.” 

The Clay Center facility has a long history of manufacturing excellence. Established in 1958 as Hutchinson Manufacturing, Inc., the site became part of AGI in 2017. In April 2026, the facility earned AGI’s highest safety recognition—the Safety Standout Award—for achieving three consecutive years with no lost-time injuries. 

The investment supports long-term growth while reinforcing AGI’s role as a reliable domestic manufacturer and trusted partner to farmers across North America. For more information about AGI and its global safety initiatives, www.aggrowth.com