Monday August 24 Ag News - NE Women in Ag Launches Crop Ins. Course - NeFU Fall District Meeting Schedule - Trump Ground Beef Announcement, Reaction - Nigeria Opens to US Red Meat - Nematode Treats in Soybeans - and more!

New Online Course Helps Farmers Navigate Crop Insurance Options

The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program is proud to announce the launch of a new online course, "Crop Insurance for Farmers," designed to give agricultural producers the knowledge and tools they need to better understand their crop insurance options and make informed risk management decisions.

Crop insurance is an important part of managing production and financial risk, but selecting the right coverage can feel overwhelming. This course breaks down the fundamentals of crop insurance into practical, easy-to-understand lessons that producers can apply to their own operations.

Participants will learn:
    Understand the roles of the USDA Risk Management Agency, Approved Insurance Providers, insurance agents and adjustors.
    Explore key concepts such as Actual Production History (APH), coverage levels, projected and harvest prices, guarantees, liabilities, premiums and indemnities.
    Compare major policy types, including Yield Protection and Revenue Protection, and explore how different coverage options work.
    Explore real-world scenarios to see how choices such as unit type and coverage level, along with changes in yields and prices, can affect crop insurance protection.

The course is designed to help producers become more confident when discussing crop insurance with their insurance agent and better understand how different choices may fit their operation.

Take advantage of this free online course, launching Sept. 1. Participants receive 60 days of access beginning on their enrollment date. Sign up today: go.unl.edu/cropins.

“Crop insurance can be an important risk management tool, but producers need to understand what they are buying and how their coverage works,” said Jessica Groskopf, director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture Program. “This course is designed to give farmers the foundation they need to ask better questions and make more informed decisions.”

The material is supported by USDA/NIFA Award Number 2024-70027-42470. All attendees are welcome to participate regardless of race, gender or any other protected status.



CAP Webinar: From Conventional to Organic: Managing Leases and Records
Sep 10, 2026 12:00 PM 

Transitioning to organic production requires careful planning beyond the field. This webinar will explore how the transition can affect farmland leases, responsibilities between landowners and tenants, and record-keeping requirements. Participants will learn practical strategies for maintaining records, and addressing organic production expectations in lease agreements.

With Shannon Sand, Extension Agricultural Economist, and Glennis McClure, Extension Farm and Ranch Management Analyst, UNL Center for Agricultural Profitability.

Register at the webinar home page, https://cap.unl.edu/webinars. 



2026 NeFU Fall District Meetings    
    Meal on your own with meeting to follow.
    Open to the public. Bring a friend, neighbor, family member, or member prospect.
    Read Fall Meeting Checklist in advance. Prepare for election of officers & two  
        candidates to serve as delegates to NFU Convention. Get business done first.
    Recent NFU Fly-In report, election prospects, & state issues reports will be given.
    If possible, invite local candidates for a short talk and answer questions. 

NeFU District 6 Fall Meeting
Monday, September 21, 2026
6:00 Supper with Meeting to Follow
Pizza Hut, 1781 E 23rd Avenue S, Fremont, NE 68025
President: Paul Poppe (402) 380-4508
Director: Andrew Tonnies (402) 590-7096

NeFU District 7 Fall Meeting
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
6:00 pm Supper with Meeting to Follow
Perkins Restaurant, 1229 Omaha Avenue, Norfolk, NE 68701
President: Keith Dittrich: (402) 990-7570
Director: Art Tanderup: (402) 278-0942

NeFU District 5 Fall Meeting
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
5:30 Supper with Meeting to Follow
DaVinci's Restaurant, 745 South 11th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508
President: Amy Svoboda (402) 817-9647 Cell
Director: Ron Todd-Meyer (402) 879-5800 Cell



Trump says 300,000 metric tons of beef will enter U.S. tariff-free

President Donald Trump says the United States will temporarily allow a significant increase in beef imports in an effort to bring down high ground beef prices for American consumers.

Trump announced Friday on Truth Social that the U.S. will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of product to enter the country over the next 90 days without an out-of-quota tariff.

Trump said the beef importers have committed to selling the product at 25% below current market prices.

He says the move will lower prices for working families while giving the domestic cattle herd time to rebuild.



Ricketts Issues Statement in Support of Nebraska Farmers and Ranchers

Friday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) issued the following statement in support of Nebraska farmers and ranchers:

“I appreciate the Administration’s work to lower grocery prices. Short term policy shifts do not equal long term solutions.  Flooding the market with lower quality beef compromises Nebraska farmers and ranchers.  They should be enabled to grow herd sizes and meet consumer demand.”



NEBRASKA CATTLEMEN DISAPPOINTED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BEEF IMPORT STATEMENT

Friday, in response to President Trump's Truth Social post regarding beef imports, Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) President Craig Uden issued the following statement:

“The President’s statement on Truth Social today could not have come at a worse time for producers who are making critical decisions regarding heifer retention and herd expansion. Long-term market stability is imperative for herd expansion, and this type of short-term messaging hinders beef cattle producers by creating uncertainty instead of letting a cyclical market do its job.”



Statement by Mark McHargue, NE Farm Bureau President, Regarding Announcement of Tariff-Free Beef Imports

"Friday's announcement from President Trump unveiling the tariff-free importation of 300,000 metric tons of beef could not have come at a worse time for Nebraska's cow/calf producers. Right now, thousands of Nebraska ranchers are in the process of selling newly weaned calves and Nebraska remains ‘The Beef State’ with over 6.15 million head of cattle located in the state, second only to Texas. Unfortunately, the market's reactions to today's announcement are as troubling as they are predictable. At the producer level, this means lower prices at the time of year when millions of cattle producers are making marketing and herd retention decisions. At the consumer level, given that the United States imports around 2.5 million tons of beef product, most of it being lean trim for hamburger, it is doubtful this influx makes much of a difference on retail prices."

"At the same time, the strength of cattle markets is one of the few bright spots within agriculture, and even with strong prices, Nebraska cattlemen are making tough decisions given severe drought, wildfires, and higher input costs including hay and fuel. Temporary injections of tariff-free beef to ‘maybe’ address higher beef prices only creates short-term pain on feeder calf prices without long-term solutions for cattle producers. Supply and demand aren’t a far-reaching academic concept, it is the real-world scenario our cattle industry finds itself in, and short-sighted government policy only serves to provide long-term damage to an unbelievably complex beef supply chain."  



ICA RESPONDS TO ANNOUNCEMENT ON FOREIGN BEEF IMPORTS

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association President Craig Moss issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s post regarding beef imports:

"President Trump's announcement today about importing foreign beef is extremely disappointing to the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and its members. The President's comments and decisions have created unnecessary market volatility today. The drop in the markets will directly impact their profitability and bottom line, and in turn impacts decisions our producers are making about expanding their cattle herds. We believe the government should avoid intervention and let the market work,” said Craig Moss, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association president. “Members of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association have been reaching out to express their concerns. Just a week ago, many cattle feeders in the state lost one of their marketing options with the closing of Tyson’s Joslin plant; today they are taking another hit with this announcement. What we know is that consumer demand for the high-quality beef raised by U.S. producers has remained strong. Consumers have been willing to pay for beef. Simply put, it is supply and demand economics. Iowa’s cattle industry is uniquely positioned to play a significant role in expanding the nation’s cattle herd. There is no better place to grow than right here in Iowa. We have productive pastureland, forage and feed resources, strong crop and livestock integration, and the infrastructure needed to support that growth.”

As this story continues to unfold, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association will remain diligent in advocating on behalf of our members and making their voices heard.



NCBA Statement on President Trump’s Truth Social Post

Friday, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Chief Executive Officer Colin Woodall issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s post regarding beef imports: 
 
“NCBA is disappointed by the President’s statement. While America’s cattle producers share the goal of keeping groceries affordable for consumers, flooding the market with government-subsidized, below-market beef is not the way to rebuild the American cattle herd. Cattle markets have already turned sharply lower this morning, to the detriment of farmers and ranchers. This is a critical time of year for cattle producers, as we approach the season where they are making decisions regarding their herds. Cattle farmers and ranchers are responding to strong market signals and historically high demand, and we are already working to rebuild after years of ongoing drought, high input costs and other challenges that have reduced U.S. cattle numbers. Today's announcement and other market interventions throw cold water on the prospect of herd expansion and sacrifices long-term stability for short term messaging.” 



Increased Beef Imports Could Create Long-term Damage

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on President Trump’s plan to import an additional 300,000 metric tons of beef in addition to already record-high beef imports.

“Farmers and ranchers are extremely disappointed to learn that President Trump plans to flood the American market with hundreds of millions of pounds of foreign-raised beef. The U.S. is already importing beef at record levels. This decision would be an unprecedented move and would translate to nearly an additional 60% increase in imports over the next 90 days.

“For almost a year now, we’ve been advising the administration that America’s ranchers are working to rebuild beef herds that had to be sold off due to drought. Despite high beef prices in grocery stores, prices paid to farmers and ranchers for their cattle have fallen sharply over the past two months, and beef packing plants are shutting down across the U.S. Further undercutting a fragile recovery by swamping markets with foreign products and attempting to manipulate prices threatens to wipe out any progress that has been made.

“We appreciate the president’s goal of reducing grocery costs, but short-term measures could have long-term negative effects for consumers and for ranchers who are making decisions on whether to retain or expand their herd. Growing dependence on foreign-grown food could ultimately lead to even higher grocery costs and reliance on other nations for our food security. We urge the president to strongly reconsider his plan.”



NFU Statement on Increased Beef Imports

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew today released the following statement after the Trump administration announced its plan to allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to be imported into the United States with lower tariffs over the next 90 days.

"Consumers deserve to know where their beef comes from, and American farmers and ranchers deserve credit for raising it. Imported beef is just a handout for monopoly meatpackers, who can mix cheap imported beef with American beef and pocket the difference, with no guarantee consumers ever see lower prices or ranchers see fair ones. Mandatory country-of-origin labeling fixes that: it holds packers accountable and lets the market work honestly for everyone. The Senate Agriculture Committee has already taken steps to advance it. Congress should finish the job and pass this commonsense, bipartisan policy now."



Nigeria Now Open to a Wide Range of U.S. Red Meat Products

In a significant market access win for U.S. agriculture, Nigeria is now open to a wide range of U.S. beef and pork products. While Nigeria previously accepted only a limited number of processed meat items, the USDA Export Library now states that U.S. red meat products can be exported to Nigeria unless they are specifically excluded.

Nigeria still does not accept beef or pork offal or bone-in hams. Smoked, dried and cured beef and pork products are also excluded. But beef cuts and all pork cuts except bone-in hams are now eligible to be shipped to Nigeria, which has the sixth largest population in the world at more than 240 million. It is the third largest economy in Africa, behind South Africa and Egypt.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom said this is an important breakthrough in a market that holds excellent long-term potential for the U.S. red meat industry.

“There are certainly challenges that must be overcome, and it will take some time to gain a foothold in the Nigerian retail and foodservice sectors,” Halstrom said. “But the first step in developing a new market is to secure meaningful access, and USMEF thanks the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative for their persistent efforts to open Nigeria and other promising markets throughout the world.” 



New Management Guides Help Soybean Farmers Combat Rising Nematode Threats

As soybean harvest approaches, farmers have a narrow, high-value window to uncover a hidden yield thief. Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and other parasitic nematodes can cut yields sharply with no visible symptoms, and fall, right after harvest, is the best time to test soil and find out what's lurking. To help farmers act on that window, the Soy Checkoff is directing growers to the Soybean Nematode Management Guides, a set of science-based tools it helped fund to identify and manage four yield-robbing nematode species.

“Protecting soybean yield starts with knowing what's in your fields, and these guides put that knowledge directly in farmers' hands,” said Laurie Isley, United Soybean Board director and Michigan farmer. “As a farmer, I know how much an invisible pest like SCN can cost you before you ever see a symptom above ground. This is exactly the kind of practical, science-based tool your checkoff investment is meant to deliver.”

Nematode management isn't one-size-fits-all, as several species can infest soybean fields, each with distinct life cycles, symptoms and impacts on yield. Funded by the checkoff and developed by Extension plant pathologists and nematologists, the Soybean Nematode Management Guides provide soybean farmers with science-based tools to soil test and identify nematode infestations, develop tailored management strategies, and recover lost yield potential caused by:
    Soybean cyst nematode (SCN): Known as the No. 1 yield-grabbing pathogen of the soybean crop in North America, SCN causes up to 30% yield loss without demonstrating noticeable aboveground symptoms, leading to annual losses exceeding $1.5 billion.1
    Root-knot nematode (RKN): Another widespread threat, RKN species, including Southern RKN, can cause 25% yield loss in individual fields and is found in most soybean production regions in the U.S.
    Root lesion nematode (RLN): A collection of more than 100 species, RLN's impact on yield extends beyond soybeans. With a broad host range, RLN can also reduce yield in rotational crops, including corn, and lead to recurring economic losses.
    Reniform nematode: A significant pathogen in the southern U.S. for cotton and soybean farmers, reniform nematode can cause more than a 10% yield loss in individual fields.

Research conducted by The SCN Coalition of 271 farmers in southern soybean areas shows roughly 80% of farmers are aware of SCN and RKN, while other nematode species that impact soybean yield, like RLN and reniform, are less understood. When high numbers of these nematodes coincide with drought or other stressful environmental conditions, soybean yield reductions can become even more severe. Other research findings include:
        44% said they scout or conduct nematode soil sampling
        57% rely on aboveground symptoms to diagnose nematodes
        72% rely on crop rotation to manage nematodes
        65% support checkoff-funded research to develop new nematode management tools

“Thanks to efforts from The SCN Coalition, soybean farmers have been exposed to active SCN management messages, but nematode pressure doesn't stop there,” said Dylan Mangel, plant pathologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “Addressing these lesser-known and still damaging nematode species helps farmers close information gaps and take a more comprehensive approach to protect yield from nematodes. It's also an opportunity for the Coalition to expand its reach and impact.”

While it's impossible to eliminate nematode pressure from an infested field, the Soybean Nematode Management Guides arm soybean farmers with multiple active management strategies shown to effectively reduce plant-parasitic nematodes' impact on yield.

“An integrated approach using multiple active management strategies can keep nematode populations low and protect soybean yield,” said Horacio Lopez-Nicora, soybean pathologist and nematologist at The Ohio State University. “By adopting a proactive, informed management plan and using the practices found in these management guides, farmers can reduce plant-parasitic nematode pressure and help protect soybean yield and overall crop productivity.”

“These management guides are designed with the farmers' needs in mind,” Isley said. In addition to step-by-step soil testing instructions and symptoms identification, the guides include management options like planting resistant soybean varieties, crop rotation, use of nematode-protectant seed treatments and other cultural practices that promote root health. “Along with working with your local agronomic expert, farmers can equip themselves with practices to manage nematode pressure to meet their soybean yield goals.”

Available online and for digital download, the four Soybean Nematode Management Guides are ready for use, putting the power of proven strategies in the hands of soybean farmers and their crop advisors to help actively manage these pests and protect yield.

Visit https://www.thescncoalition.com/field-guides/ to access the Soybean Nematode Management Guides.