Flood Celebrates $37 Million Investment in National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture at UNL’s Innovation Campus
Wednesday, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood released a statement celebrating the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement of $37 million to fund construction of the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Innovation Campus.
"The USDA's announcement of $37 million to fully fund the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture is a major win for ag research, Nebraska producers, and Lincoln's economy," said Congressman Flood. "This investment reflects the administration's commitment to keeping Nebraska at the forefront of ag innovation. Thank you to Secretary Rollins and Undersecretary Hutchins for backing our farmers and ranchers by investing right here in Nebraska."
Funding for the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture has long been a priority for Congressman Flood. In the Unicameral, Flood worked to move the Nebraska State Fair to pave the way for construction of the ARS center in Lincoln on the former fairgrounds site. In the House of Representatives, Congressman Flood has helped secure more than $41 million in federal funding for the project, including $25 million in FY24, and $16 million in FY26. He testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies in support of funding for the center in 2025 and 2026.
Fischer Applauds USDA Announcement of $37M for Agricultural Research Service Facility at UNL
Wednesday, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement that the agency will direct $37 million to the construction of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) facility at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln’s (UNL) Innovation Campus:
“This is great news for UNL and the future of the ARS facility. Over the years, I have worked hard to secure over $70 million dollars in federal investments for this project. I thank Secretary Brooke Rollins and Under Secretary Scott Hutchins for recognizing the importance of funding this facility. I look forward to continuing to work to get this project fully finished.”
Beef Quality Assurance Program Aug 25 in West Point
Beef Quality Assurance is a nationally coordinated, state implemented program that provides systematic information to U.S. beef producers and beef consumers of how common sense husbandry techniques can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions.
The BQA mission is to guide producers towards continuous improvement using science-based production practices that assure cattle well-being, beef quality, and beef safety with an overall end goal to maximize consumer confidence in beef and beef products.
West Point: Aug. 25, 6:30 p.m.
West Point Livestock Market
839 South Colfax St.
$20/person or $100 flat fee for operations with 5+ members.
Visit www.bqa.unl.edu for upcoming certification dates and links to register.
Questions: call 308-632-1230
New Leadership Elected for the Nebraska Corn Board for 2026-2027
The Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) elected three farmers to serve leadership roles at its recent board meeting on August 12. The leadership roles are effective immediately and have a one-year duration.
Andy Groskopf, District 8 director, was elected chair of NCB. Groskopf farms near Scottsbluff, where he farms irrigated corn and dry edible beans. He has been farming for over 20 years and is the fourth generation managing the family farm. He attended Western Nebraska Community College for automotive technologies. Groskopf has been on NCB since 2018.
Ted Schrock, District 6 director, was elected vice chair of the board. Schrock farms near Elm Creek where he farms with his father, brother, uncles, cousins and son where they grow corn, soybeans, alfalfa, wheat and run a cow-calf operation. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Schrock has served on NCB since 2018.
John Krohn, District 7 director, was elected secretary/treasurer of the board. Krohn farms near Albion with his father, growing corn and soybeans on land that has been in his family for more than 120 years. He is the fifth generation to operate the family farm. Krohn earned his degree in agronomy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and worked as a production supervisor for Cargill before returning to the farm full-time. He practices sustainable production methods, including no-till farming and cover crops. Krohn has served on NCB since 2021.
“Andy, Ted and John are all stepping into new leadership roles this year, and each is ready to serve Nebraska's corn farmers in this new capacity,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of NCB. “Their willingness to lead will serve us well as we continue to promote Nebraska's corn industry and drive initiatives that benefit our state's corn producers.”
The full board comprises nine corn farmers from across the state. Eight members represent specific Nebraska districts and are appointed by the Governor of Nebraska. The Board elects a ninth at-large member. Board members serve three-year terms with the possibility to be reappointed.
NEBFARMPAC Endorses Chris Backemeyer for First Congressional District
Nebraska Farmers Union’s Political Action Committee, NEBFARMPAC announced its endorsement of Democratic candidate Chris Backemeyer for the First Congressional District in the general election.
Vern Jantzen, NEBFARMPAC President from Plymouth said, “As voters, we hire, retain, and if necessary, fire the public officials that work for us. When times are good and things are working as they should, we stay the course and retain our management. When times are tough and things are not working as they should, as managers of our own interests, voters must make changes and hope for badly needed long overdue improvements.”
John Hansen, NEBFARMPAC Secretary said, “Our Board is painfully aware of the fact that agriculture is facing another year of losing money thanks to record high ag input costs and below the cost of production ag commodity prices. Agriculture is facing the worst financial crisis since the 1980s. Business as usual these days is about farms and ranches losing money, equity, and their generations old farm and ranch operations. Too many of our farmers have lost too much money for too many years to continue.”
“Our PAC Board also knows our current Farm Bill is badly outdated and has failed production agriculture, and is no longer a meaningful income safety net given today’s farming risks. Farmers are not going out of business, not getting their farm operating loans renewed, and being forced to liquidate their farm equipment and land because the status quo is not working for them. Our Congress has failed agriculture during this economic crisis because even though they control both Houses of Congress, they have failed to pass an updated or improved Farm Bill for the past three years. Production agriculture, Nebraska’s largest single industry cannot count on this Congress to do their job, or have our backs as we continue to see too many of our neighbors be forced out of their generations old farming operations,” said Vern Jantzen.
NEBFARMPAC Secretary John Hansen said, “Chris Backemeyer has attended our District meetings and state convention. He has asked for and received briefings on the issues we face. He listens to our members. He takes their concerns about unaffordable health care insurance seriously. His family comes from agriculture. His experience in international relations and diplomacy is a real plus in our eyes. He knows how to work with others. He is a good listener. He understands just how important family farm and ranch agriculture is to our rural communities, state, and nation, and that when agriculture is doing well, everyone else in our society does better. We think he will be a breath of fresh air.”
ACE Elects Board of Directors During Annual Business Meeting
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) elected and re-elected members to its board of directors during the organization’s annual business meeting on August 19, ahead of ACE’s 39th annual conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Board members re-elected to three-year terms include:
Badger State Ethanol – David Kolsrud
Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company – Harmon Wilts
Mid-Missouri Energy – Chris Wilson
Nebraska Ethanol Board – Ben Rhodes
South Dakota Corn Growers Association – Dave Ellens
Additionally, Andrew Larson with ICM, inc., was elected to serve on the board, succeeding Adam Anderson.
ACE also welcomed two new members to its board: Kim Herzog, CCO of Encore Energy and Bill Pracht, President and CEO of East Kansas Agri-Energy.
“After several years as an ACE member, Encore is thrilled to deepen our involvement by joining the Board of Directors,” said Herzog. “ACE’s incredible team consistently delivers value-added events and initiatives, and the membership is full of industry experts with vast experience that we’re grateful to learn from. We look forward to contributing our own expertise to the board, giving back to an organization that has provided so much value to us.”
“I’m honored to represent East Kansas Agri-Energy on the ACE board,” said Pracht. “I look forward to bringing an open mind and years of experience to a great board and working together to build a better industry.”
Iowa Corn Farmers Meet with Top DOJ Official on Fertilizer Industry Consolidation
Iowa corn farmer members from across the state Tuesday met with Department of Justice (DOJ) Associate Attorney General of the United States, Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. about the pressures U.S. farmers are facing due to continued fertilizer price increases caused by major consolidation within the fertilizer industry.
Farmers shared first-hand accounts of sharp fertilizer price increases, citing examples of prices doubling from year to year and instances where they could not even obtain price quotes. Iowa corn farmers emphasized that the fertilizer industry is exploiting government payments intended to support farmers, ultimately diverting those funds to boost fertilizer companies’ profits. They stressed that family farms in Iowa and across the nation cannot withstand this ongoing exploitation, and they urged the DOJ to investigate potential anti-competitive practices and to demand greater transparency in fertilizer pricing.
When asked who from the DOJ would take the lead on this issue and produce real answers for Iowa corn farmers, the Associate Attorney General answered, "I will," and promised to return to Iowa with an answer for all farmers with the DOJ's findings.
The Iowa Corn Growers Association will continue to keep the fertilizer industry’s consolidation at the top of the DOJ's mind and continue fighting on behalf of Iowa's corn growers.
Weekly Ethanol Production for 8/14/2026
According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending August 14, ethanol production scaled back 2.5% to a 5-week low of 1.09 million b/d, equivalent to 45.74 million gallons daily. Yet, output was 1.6% higher than the same week last year and 6.0% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate ticked down 0.2% to 1.11 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 17.08 billion gallons (bg).
Ethanol stocks climbed 1.3% to 25.1 million barrels, the largest weekly level since the start of May. Stocks were 10.7% more than the same week last year and 10.1% above the five-year average. Inventories built across all regions except the West Coast (PADD 5).
The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, slumped 3.1% to an 11-week low of 8.69 million b/d (133.57 bg annualized). Demand was 1.7% less than a year ago and 3.4% below the five-year average.
Conversely, refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol improved 1.2% to 926,000 b/d, equivalent to 14.23 bg annualized. Net inputs were 0.1% more than year-ago levels and 0.6% above the five-year average.
Ethanol exports expanded 18.3% to 129,000 b/d (5.4 million gallons/day). It has been more than two years since EIA indicated ethanol was imported.
5 Fertilizer Prices Slightly Lower Than Last Month; 3 Higher
Retail fertilizer prices continue to be somewhat mixed for the second full week of August 2026, according to retailers tracked by DTN. For the fourth week in a row, five fertilizers were lower in price compared to last month while the remaining three were slightly higher. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.
Unlike last week, only one nutrient had a sizeable price move. UAN28 was 7% less expensive compared to last month. The average price of nitrogen fertilizers was $446/ton. Four other fertilizer prices were just slightly lower. Urea had an average price of $678/ton, 10-34-0 $718/ton, anhydrous $964/ton and UAN32 $458/ton.
The remaining three nutrients were just slightly more expensive looking back a month. DAP had an average price of $917/ton, MAP $960/ton and potash $495/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.74/lb.N, anhydrous $0.59/lb.N, UAN28 $0.80/lb.N and UAN32 $0.72/lb.N.
Seven of the eight fertilizers are now higher in price compared to one year earlier. Potash is 2% higher, urea and UAN28 are both 6% more expensive, 10-34-0 and MAP is 7% higher, DAP is 11% more expensive and anhydrous is 27% higher looking back to last year. One fertilizer is lower than a year ago: UAN32, which is 6% lower than a year earlier.
U.S. dairy exports rise 9% in the first half of 2026
US Dairy Export Council
U.S. dairy exports rose 9% in milk solid equivalent (MSE) terms in the first half of 2026. Robust global demand, particularly for U.S. cheese and butterfat, helped put U.S. dairy trade on a record pace for the year.
Export value grew 12% to $5.31 billion, a growth rate that, if maintained, would vault annual exports above the $10 billion mark for the first time.
U.S. cheese export success in the first half of 2026 was geographically widespread. Year-over-year shipments to our No. 1 market, Mexico, grew 32% (+30,224 MT). Exports to our No. 2 market, South Korea, jumped 36% (+13,653 MT). Shipments to Central America rose 25% (+7,735 MT); Southeast Asia was up 55% (+6,628 MT); and volume to South America increased 31% (+4,708 MT). What’s more, growth extended across all HS subcategories, with double-digit gains in natural cheese (e.g., cheddar and colby), fresh cheese (e.g., mozzarella and cream cheese), grated and powdered, blue, and processed.
Amid increasing GLP-1 usage and broader cultural attention on health, domestic demand for high-protein whey has been insatiable. So insatiable, in fact, that less of it is available for export. WPC80+ exports have fallen 21% (-8,482 MT) so far this year as a result. Volumes declined to almost all major regions, including South Korea, China, Canada, South America, and Europe.
Butterfat exports have been one of the standout stories of 2026, building on momentum carried over from last year. Volume has more than doubled year-over-year in several months and come close to it in others. Even June's slower pace largely reflects tougher YOY comparables (as volumes are now lapping already-strong 2025 numbers) rather than any real loss of steam. This growth rests on a straightforward dynamic: U.S. supply is abundant, prices are competitive, and buyers around the world are responding.
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