Wednesday August 05 Ag News - Farmer Sentiment Rebounds - NE Grazing Exchange - Bosshammer Celebrates 30 Years at NBC - 2 NE Teams Make Ag Innovation Semi-Finals - Ethanol Demand Increases at Home and Abroad - plus more!

After 3 months of decline, farmer sentiment rebounds in July

After three consecutive months of decline, farmer sentiment rebounded as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reported an increase of 13 points in July to 126. The Current Conditions Index increased 20 points to 122, while the Future Expectations Index rose 11 points to 129. High input costs remained producers’ top concern, with 46% identifying them as the biggest challenge facing their operation. When asked about the biggest challenge to success over the next five to 10 years, 30% of respondents cited crop or livestock prices. The survey was conducted among 405 farmers across the nation from July 13-17.

The Farm Capital Investment Index also ended a three-month decline, with July’s survey reading at 50. While most producers said their current financial position has not improved over the past year, they expressed greater optimism about the months ahead. Thirteen percent of respondents reported being better off financially than a year ago, and nearly one-quarter expect their operation’s financial position to improve over the next 12 months.

Beyond crop and livestock prices, producers identified farm transition (17%) and cost control (16%) as the second- and third-highest concerns over the next five to 10 years. Other major issues included financial considerations and weather at 13%, trade at 7%, and government policy at 3%. These priorities also shaped producers’ educational interests, with marketing emerging as the top risk management education need for 44% of respondents, far outpacing financial and strategic risk management.

“Stronger crop prices during the survey period likely contributed to the improvement we observed in both farmer sentiment and the Farm Capital Investment Index,” said Michael Langemeier, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture. “At the same time, producers continue to wrestle with high input costs and uncertainty about future crop and livestock prices. The strong interest in marketing education reflects the need for strategies to help producers navigate an increasingly uncertain pricing environment.”

As preparations for cash rent negotiations begin, most corn, soybean, wheat and cotton growers in this month’s survey expect rental rates to remain stable in 2027. Nineteen percent of respondents anticipate cash rents will increase, compared with 7% who expect a decline. Among those expecting higher rents, increases of 5% to 10% were most anticipated.

The July survey also explored producers’ expectations for agricultural exports and foreign markets. Producers remain cautiously optimistic about U.S. agricultural exports. Forty-two percent of respondents expect agricultural exports to increase over the next five years, compared with 13% who expect exports to decline. A majority of producers (56%) believe new foreign export markets for U.S. agricultural goods are likely to open during that period, though this optimism has moderated from last July, when 64% expected new market opportunities.

Producers were somewhat less optimistic about farmland values in July. The Short-Term Farmland Value Expectations Index fell 6 points to 118, while the long-term index declined 14 points to 152. Respondents identified alternative investments, net farm income and interest rates as the factors they expect to have the greatest influence on farmland values.

Since July 2025, producers have been asked whether they think the U.S. is headed in the “right direction” or on the “wrong track.” Fifty-four percent of respondents said they believe the U.S. is headed in the right direction, up slightly from 53% in June and 52% in May, but below the 71% average recorded during the last six months of 2025.



President Donald J. Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Nebraska
 
FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Nebraska to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding from May 15-18, 2026.

Public Assistance federal funding is available to the state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding in Buffalo, Fillmore, Gage, Howard, Jefferson, Nemaha, Thayer and Thurston counties.

Andrew P. Meyer has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas. Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further assessments.



Hefty Seed Company 2026 Summer & 2027 Preview Meeting
Nielsen Center West Point, NE 68788
Lunch Starting at 12:30 PM

Featured speakers include Darren Hefty, Matt Thompson & Glenn Herz.  

Topics include:
WEED CONTROL. Is it just me or is waterhemp everywhere now and it seems like almost nothing post-emerge will control it? We’ve seen failures in thousands of fields this summer, but we’ll talk about what IS working and how you can get ahead of the toughest weed issues on your farm in corn, soybeans, and wheat yet still keep your costs down as much as possible. Will new Convintro help?

INPUT COSTS FOR THE 2027 GROWING SEASON. We are expecting lower herbicide and fungicide costs for the 2027 growing season! What will happen with seed and fertilizer costs?What can be done to minimize input use and costs yet still maximize yields?
    
SEED TRAITS. When will Vyconic soybeans comeout? Should I stick with XtendFlex or Enlist or should I switch things up? Are conventional corn and soybeans realistic options with all the weed and insect issues outthere?

INDUSTRY NEWS. Will Roundup and Gramoxoneremain on the market? Why is there so much negative press about agriculture when the U.S. has more food than ever, while still at the lowest cost in the world, and at the same time farmers have reduced erosion, fertilizer applied per bushel, and most any other environmental concern?

FERTILITY. Now that soil test costs have been reduced, should more testing be done? How should I fertilize in fields I don’t soil test? What’s the best way to vary rates and put fertilizer only where it needs to be? Are micronutrients very important or should I just focus on N, P, & K? What have we learned over the last year from soil test results from hundreds of farmers in this region?
RSVP

RSVP by calling the West Point office at 402-372-9900.



Nebraska Grazing Exchange Strengthens Producer Connections and Supports Livestock Resilience

The Nebraska Grazing Exchange, an online platform connecting livestock producers with landowners offering forage, plays an increasingly important role in improving grazing access, supporting livestock health, and strengthening community collaboration across Nebraska.

A Central Hub for Grazing Coordination
Using an interactive map, the website, nebraskagrazingexchange.com, displays available grazing sites statewide, allowing producers to search by location, forage type, or grazing season. Landowners and livestock producers can post listings and communicate directly through the platform.

Because signing up and creating listings is completely free, producers of any size, from small family operations to large herds, can quickly access forage opportunities without cost barriers. This accessibility helps ensure that the tool remains widely adopted across the state.

The system supports cattle, sheep, goats, and mixed herds, and helps match those animals with forage sources such as crop residue, cover crops, perennial pastures, and native rangeland. This strengthens livestock diets and offers more flexibility throughout changing seasonal conditions.

Benefits for Livestock and Land
Integrating livestock with cropland and grassland systems boosts both animal health and soil function. Grazing cover crops and crop residue improves soil structure, enhances nutrient cycling, and reduces weed pressure. Seasonal strategies, such as fall residue grazing or summer cover crop grazing, help producers maintain herd nutrition while simultaneously improving land management and extending forage availability.

Producers also benefit from practices like bale grazing, which improves manure distribution, reduces confinement stress, and provides consistent winter feed without depending heavily on stored forages.

Importance of the Grazing Exchange During and After Fire Events
When wildfires or other natural disasters damage grazing lands, producers often face sudden forage shortages, livestock displacement, and infrastructure loss. The Nebraska Grazing Exchange offers a critical safety net in these situations by providing a fast and organized way to identify alternative grazing sites.

The platform helps producers identify landowners with intact fencing, water systems, and pasture infrastructure, making herd relocation safer and more efficient. This reduces the risks associated with makeshift setups and ensures animals receive the proper nutrition and care during recovery.

Equally important, the Grazing Exchange becomes a focal point for community support. Landowners from across the region can quickly offer grazing opportunities, and producers needing assistance can locate those options in one centralized place. This statewide network strengthens resilience, reduces long-term economic impacts, and helps livestock operations continue functioning even as damaged pastures recover.

How to Sign Up and Create Listings
    Visit the registration page by clicking the “Register” link on the Nebraska Grazing Exchange website, nebraskagrazingexchange.com.
    Complete a simple form with your name, email, and a chosen password.
    Agree to the Terms & Conditions to activate your account.  
    After registering, log in to post a listing, either for available forage (as a landowner) or for livestock availability (as a producer). You can include details like forage type, grazing season, herd size, and location.
    Use the map interface to view existing listings, send messages to connect, and set up grazing agreements.

Registration and use of the platform are completely free, ensuring easy access for producers and landowners of all scales.

Strengthening Nebraska’s Agricultural Community
By improving access to forage, supporting livestock nutrition, and serving as a central communication tool during emergencies, the Nebraska Grazing Exchange enhances resilience for both producers and landowners. It promotes sustainable grazing, healthier soils, and effective recovery strategies when unexpected disruptions occur.

Through its combination of digital tools, statewide participation, and practical resources, the Nebraska Grazing Exchange continues to support Nebraska’s livestock industry and the communities who depend on it.

This Nebraska Recovery Roundup Update is brought to you by Nebraska Extension and the Center for Agricultural Profitability to provide timely information for producers and communities recovering from wildfire. Each installment highlights available resources and practical steps to support recovery. Follow the series and find wildfire recovery resources on the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s website, https://cap.unl.edu/recovery. 



Ann Marie Bosshamer Marks 30 Years with the Nebraska Beef Council

The Nebraska Beef Council is proud to celebrate Executive Director Ann Marie Bosshamer as she marks 30 years of dedicated service to Nebraska's cattle producers and the beef industry.

Bosshamer joined the Nebraska Beef Council on August 7, 1996, beginning a career that has included nearly every facet of Beef Checkoff promotion. Starting in consumer information and channel marketing, she served in several leadership roles before being named Executive Director in 2006. Throughout her career, Bosshamer has been dedicated to building beef demand through promotion and education.

"Ann Marie has been an amazing advocate serving Nebraska's cattle producers with passion and integrity," said Rosemary Anderson, chairwoman of the Nebraska Beef Council.  “Her ability to connect with consumers, build partnerships, and represent Nebraska on the national stage has certainly made a positive impact. We are extremely grateful for her continued dedication to our industry."

Over the past three decades, Bosshamer has helped lead hundreds of consumer promotions, educational programs and marketing initiatives. In her early years, she was often found handing out beef samples in grocery stores, grilling hamburgers during Beef Month celebrations or providing youth education explaining how beef is raised.

"As I look back, some of my favorite memories are those grassroots promotions where we simply had the opportunity to talk with people about beef," Bosshamer said. "Whether we were serving samples in a grocery store or grilling burgers in a parking lot, those conversations reminded me that every interaction was a chance to build trust in our product and the families who raise it."

As part of the council’s outreach programs, Bosshamer helped educate registered dietitians and health professionals about beef's nutritional benefits, welcomed international trade teams to Nebraska, and became one of the state's most recognizable voices promoting beef through thousands of radio and television commercials.

"I've been incredibly fortunate to spend my career telling the story of beef," she said. "We have such a great product that is both nutritious and delicious. Combine that with the great people who raise our product and there really is nothing that compares to beef."

Bosshamer has also represented Nebraska well beyond state lines. She has served on numerous national Beef Checkoff committees and advisory groups, helping shape programs that benefit producers across the country while becoming a trusted mentor and resource for fellow industry leaders.

Her career has coincided with many defining moments in the beef industry including the 2003 BSE outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, she has witnessed significant advancements in beef quality, nutrition research and consumer demand that have strengthened the industry's future.

Raised on a farm near David City, Nebraska, Bosshamer credits her upbringing for instilling the values that have guided her career.

"My passion for this industry started long before my first day at the Beef Council," she said. "Growing up on the farm, I watched my dad pour his heart into caring for livestock and the land. That gave me a deep appreciation for the people behind our industry, and I've always viewed my role as helping tell their story."

While she is proud of the many successful campaigns and programs the Nebraska Beef Council has delivered over the past 30 years, Bosshamer says the relationships she has built are what she treasures most.

"The people are what have made these 30 years so meaningful," she said. "I've had the privilege of working alongside incredible producers, dedicated board members, talented staff and outstanding industry partners. Together, we've accomplished so much, and I'm grateful for every opportunity I've had to serve Nebraska's beef industry."

As Bosshamer celebrates this milestone, the Nebraska Beef Council recognizes not only her years of service but also her lasting contributions to Nebraska agriculture and the producers she has proudly represented for three decades.

"Thirty years have gone by quickly, but I'm also excited about what lies ahead," Bosshamer said. "Consumer expectations continue to evolve, creating new opportunities to share beef's story and ensure a bright future for our industry."



10 Teams Seeking Top Prize in Ag Innovation Challenge
Two teams from Nebraska make the finals

Ten innovative startups focused on solving agriculture’s greatest challenges are seeking the top prize of $100,000 in the 2027 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, is proud to promote rural entrepreneurship and agriculture innovation through the Challenge.

“Farmers and ranchers count on innovation to produce the safe and sustainable food, fuel and fiber our country relies on,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Farm Bureau takes great pride in offering outstanding entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase their technology and services that will help sow the seeds of a better, brighter future for all of agriculture.”

The Ag Innovation Challenge, now in its 13th year, is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase their solutions to the dynamic challenges facing American agriculture. Farm Bureau is offering a total of $145,000 in start-up funds throughout the course of the competition.

The 10 semi-finalist teams encompass the breadth of American agriculture, spanning across different sectors and states. The semi-finalist teams are:

Nave Analytics – Nebraska - MAKING AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION WATER USE MORE EFFICIENT - https://www.naveanalytics.com/ 
Our team has 25+ years of experience in R&D, field testing, deployment of data driven solutions within digital agriculture and previous startup experience. The Nave framework uses the latest data technology to fuse near real-time data with climate and crop modeling to produce the most accurate information possible. Data science techniques including uncertainty propagation and data assimilation to bring feeds from spaceborne, airborne, field based sensors and most importantly irrigation equipment together in a calibrated format allows us to utilize all the available information at once. Using these different data analysis techniques we are able to deliver accurate and cost effective solutions to our customers.

Seismi – Nebraska - Building the AI Data Platform for Animal Health - https://www.seismi.co/
Seismi's IoT devices are the first layer of a larger vision: collecting the world's most comprehensive proprietary dataset of animal health, from which we will train AI models that predict disease, forecast outcomes, and ultimately produce digital twins of individual animals tracked across their entire lives.

Other teams in the semi-finals include:
    Animal Deterrent Solutions – Texas
    Clean Label Solution – New York
    Clear Grain Co. – Kentucky
    Gilly – California
    Good Agriculture – Georgia
    Rootline Robotics – New York
    Swinergy – Minnesota
    URMRKT – Oklahoma

This fall, the competing semi-finalist teams will pitch their companies virtually as they look to advance to the final round held at the AFBF Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. The top four teams that advance from the virtual round will each receive $10,000. The final pitch competition will be held on Sunday, January 10th in front of a live audience of Farm Bureau members and industry representatives. The winning team will walk away with a $90,000 prize (total of $100,000), and runner-up will receive a prize of $15,000 (total of $25,000).

Farm Bureau recognizes and supports these cutting-edge businesses with generous funding provided by sponsors Farm Credit, Bayer, John Deere, Farm Bureau Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services, Google, T-Mobile, and ClearPath.

To learn more about the Challenge, visit fb.org/challenge.



Secretary Rollins Announces New Steps to Put Farmers First 

Tuesday, at Minnesota Farmfest, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced several steps that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking to support America’s farmers in response to ongoing challenges across the agricultural sector. These actions include a series of data modernization, payment flexibility, and enhanced crop insurance options to benefit farmers.

“When I travel across farm country, I hear the same message over and over: producers want a USDA that works for them. The Trump USDA is focused on making changes that improve the livelihood of our great farmers. I am pleased to announce three critical initiatives to support farmers and U.S. agriculture broadly,” said Secretary Rollins. “We’re modernizing how USDA serves farmers, providing commonsense flexibility when it’s needed most, and strengthening the risk management tools producers depend on. We will continue listening, acting, and putting Farmers First because that’s exactly what President Trump has directed us to do.”

Data Modernization:
Last month, Secretary Rollins announced that USDA is working on a Data Modernization Plan across multiple agencies that will be released later this year. The Research, Education, and Economics Mission Area, under the leadership of Under Secretary Scott Hutchins, will coordinate the effort across USDA.

Today, as the next step in this process, Secretary Rollins announced a series of listening sessions that USDA leadership will host across the country to hear directly from producers as this plan continues to take shape. These listening sessions are an important step in putting Farmers First, restoring producer confidence in USDA data as the gold standard, and increasing survey response rates. These listening sessions build off the Request for Information (RFI) published earlier this year where USDA sought public comment on data collection, analysis, and reporting. Locations where listening sessions will be held include:
    Indiana State Fair
    Wisconsin State Fair
    Penn State Ag Progress Days
    Illinois State Fair
    Dakotafest
    Missouri State Fair
    Iowa State Fair
    Nebraska State Fair
    Farm Progress Show

For additional information and details about a specific listening session, please email DataModernization@usda.gov.

Payment Flexibilities
While at Minnesota Farmfest, Secretary Rollins also announced the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) is authorizing Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to provide producers with up to 60 additional days to pay crop insurance premiums, administrative fees, and amounts due under Written Payment Agreements with scheduled premium billing dates between July 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026.

During this extended period, AIPs may waive interest charges. Interest will begin accruing for unpaid premium and administrative fees only after the end of the additional 60-day period or upon reaching the policy’s termination date, whichever occurs first.

To further support these efforts, RMA will defer collection of unpaid producer premiums and administrative fees from AIPs and waive associated interest beginning with the August monthly accounting cycle.

Prevented Planting Coverage
Additionally, RMA is reinstating the option for insured producers to purchase an additional 5% prevented planting coverage beginning with crops associated with the August 31, 2026, filing date for the 2027 and succeeding crop years. This added coverage enhances producers’ ability to manage risk in situations where extreme weather or other conditions prevent normal planting.

These actions underscore RMA’s commitment to supporting farmers and ranchers by providing needed flexibility and strengthening coverage options during a challenging period for American agriculture. AIPs will notify affected policyholders directly regarding these relief measures.

Producers should contact their local crop insurance agent or visit the RMA website for guidance on how these updates may affect coverage options.

RMA supports American agriculture by providing world-class risk management tools through Federal crop insurance and education programs, offering coverage for more than 130 crops and continuously improving policies based on producer feedback.



Iowa Corn Growers Respond to Senate Farm Bill, Welcomes E15/ICGA Priorities

Over the weekend, the U.S. Senate released its updated Farm Bill text, which includes a key provision for year-round, nationwide access to E15. In response, Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) President and farmer from Waverly, Iowa, Mark Mueller released the following statement: 

“The Senate Farm Bill’s inclusion of year-round E15 is a welcomed sight for Iowa’s corn growers, who have championed nationwide access to higher blends of ethanol for years. This progress not only drives demand for American corn, but it also lowers prices at the pump for consumers and strengthens our national energy independence. Iowa's drivers have already capitalized on E15 savings, seeing an average savings of 15 cents per gallon for a combined savings of more than $60 million across the state in 2025, and it is time all Americans have access to that benefit.  

"Beyond E15, several other critical Iowa Corn priorities earned a spot in the Senate draft. This includes the Fertilizer Transparency Act, a key effort ICGA helped champion alongside Senator Chuck Grassley and Representative Ashley Hinson to bring fair pricing and oversight to farm inputs. Along with an increase in USDA's MAP and FMD funding for trade promotion specifically with our partners from the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council and U.S. Meat Export Federation. It also includes an extension of the Genomes to Phenome research program. 

“We extend our sincere gratitude to Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst for their relentless leadership and advocacy. Their hard work has been instrumental in keeping E15 and other Iowa Corn priorities front and center in this bill. ICGA remains fully committed to working alongside Congress and our industry partners to push this legislation across the finish line for America’s farmers and families.” 



Demand Supports Milk Prices, Feed Costs Rising

Following months of slowing milk production growth, a larger milking herd and a rebound in component growth drove a 3.1% increase in component-adjusted milk production in May. But even as supplies grow, healthy demand both at home and abroad is helping to balance the market.

Exports rose 14% on a milk solids basis in May, boosted by a 102% increase in butterfat exports and 18% growth in cheese exports. Domestically, demand for dairy proteins like whey protein concentrates and nonfat dry milk are so strong that export availability is limited. Circana data indicates that consumers’ appetite for high protein dairy products at retail is virtually insatiable — sales of cottage cheese have risen 11% so far this year, and sales of Greek yogurt have increased 6%. While quick service restaurant foot traffic fell in May, limiting cheese use growth, full-service restaurant foot traffic continues to grow, supporting butter use even as cheese remains under pressure.

The most likely factor to change market direction is summer heat waves denting milk production growth in the United States and Europe. Milk collections fell almost 11% in France and 8% in Germany as they experienced extreme heat stress, potentially limiting EU milk production growth in the coming months. At home, beyond localized effects on dairy yields, drought is raising doubts about crop yields compounding the effect of low storage levels and renewed grain exports to China strain supplies. With feed costs increasing and the All-Milk Price easing as NFDM prices retreating from their Spring rally, current futures suggest DMC margins are poised to fall below the $9.50/cwt maximum coverage level from July to October.



Ethanol Blend Rate Shatters Record, as Cost Advantage Soars During Iran War
Scott Richman, Renewable Fuels Association Chief Economist

The average ethanol content of gasoline sold in the U.S. surged to a record 11.29% in May, as petroleum prices hit their highest monthly averages of the Iran war, according to data released Friday by the Energy Information Administration. Moreover, for the 12 months through May, the ethanol blend rate in gasoline rose to 10.57%, the highest annual share ever.
    
The increase was spurred by compelling ethanol blending economics. Ethanol was priced at a discount to gasoline blendstock of nearly $1.50 per gallon on average in May, based on futures contracts. Additionally, the price of renewable identification numbers (RINs), credits which are used for compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard, strengthened this spring and surpassed the price of ethanol for the first time ever. That is, since each gallon of denatured ethanol is sold with a RIN attached, the net price of the physical ethanol has effectively been negative.

The vast majority of gasoline sold in the U.S. contains 10% ethanol, a blend known as E10. During May, the ethanol content in E10 provided a fuel cost savings of $0.14 per gallon of finished gasoline, along with $0.21 of RIN value to the blender. In gasoline containing 15% ethanol, known as E15, the fuel cost savings was $0.21 per gallon, and the RIN value was $0.31.

The presence of ethanol has mitigated the increase in gasoline prices for all drivers. Those who have access to E15 in their areas have saved even more, as pump prices of E15 have typically been $0.20 to $0.40 per gallon lower than regular unleaded gasoline. It is clear from the increase in the national average blend rate to 11.29% that blenders, retailers, and consumers have responded to these compelling economics.

If the blend rate achieved in May were sustained for a full year, ethanol consumption would be 15.4 billion gallons, assuming gasoline usage equal to the 2025 level. This is over a billion gallons more than actual ethanol consumption last year. It also exceeds the 15-billion-gallon implied conventional renewable fuel requirement that EPA has set for the RFS during the last few years, and it is close to the implied requirements the agency set for 2026 and 2027 that included reallocation of volumes lost to 2023-2025 small refinery exemptions. Robust RFS volume obligations are the primary reason RIN prices have risen in 2026, and a significant increase in ethanol consumption would be expected to result in a substantial easing of prices of so-called D6 RINs, the category of RINs associated with corn ethanol. Refiners who have complained about high RIN prices should welcome this prospect.

Unfortunately, an anachronistic legal provision limits the ability of retailers to offer E15 in the summertime in conventional gasoline areas, which account for roughly two-thirds of U.S. gasoline consumption. Over the last few years, retailers have had to rely on EPA to provide a series of waivers allowing continued sales. This has kept them from offering E15 more widely.

This can be solved by the passage of commonsense legislation permanently allowing year-round sales of E15. On May 13, the House of Representatives passed the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act (H.R. 1346), which would accomplish this. Separate legislation that would allow year-round E15 sales is currently being considered as part of the Senate version of the farm bill.

From a market perspective, there has never been a better time for E15 legislation. While the media have focused on disruptions in flows of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, the more acute tightness in world markets is for refined products. And it’s not just a problem for other countries; as of last week, U.S. gasoline stocks were 7.5% below year-ago levels. This is likely to cause high retail gasoline prices to persist. On the other hand, ethanol prices remain at a discount of more than $1 per gallon to gasoline blendstock, and RINs continue to bolster blending economics. For both American consumers and fuel suppliers, now is the time for Congress to pass legislation unleashing E15.



June a Robust Month for U.S. Ethanol and DDGS Exports

U.S. ethanol exports accelerated 9% to 206.1 million gallons (mg) in June, driven by substantial gains across several key markets. Canada remained the leading destination for denatured fuel ethanol, with total exports edging up 2% to 78.0 mg. Exports to the European Union—led by the Netherlands—surged 56% to 61.1 mg, continuing to reinforce strong demand for undenatured ethanol. Together, Canada and the EU accounted for more than two-thirds of total U.S. ethanol exports during the month. Other major destinations included Colombia at 18.9 mg (+74% from May), the United Kingdom at 14.9 mg (+51%), and Mexico at 7.5 mg (+112%). Meanwhile, exports to both Brazil and India remained essentially nonexistent. Through the first half of 2026, U.S. ethanol exports totaled 1.21 billion gallons, running 12% ahead of the same period last year.

The U.S. recorded zero imports of foreign ethanol in June. Year-to-date imports totaled just 462,120 gallons, down 87% from the same period in 2025.

June exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed coproduct generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, climbed 2% to an 8-month high of 1.10 million metric tons (mt), supported by stronger shipments to several leading markets. Exports to Mexico increased 10% to 231,951 mt, the highest volume since January 2025. Shipments to Indonesia surged 22% to a record 166,925 mt, while exports to Vietnam rose 19% to 134,284 mt, approaching a three-year high. Offsetting some of those gains, exports to South Korea declined 20% to 110,555 mt. Collectively, these four markets accounted for roughly six out of every ten metric tons of DDGS exported in June, with the remaining shipments distributed across 30 additional countries. For the first half of 2026, U.S. DDGS exports reached 6.16 million mt, up 15% from the same period last year.



National FFA Reaches Record 1.05 Million Student Members Across Nearly 9,600 Chapters

National FFA Organization continues its record-setting growth with yet another increase in membership over last year. The nationally recognized school-based student leadership development organization recorded 1,053,847 student members during the 2025-2026 school year in 9,591 active student chapters. These members live in all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“Seeing FFA continue to grow is a powerful reminder that students everywhere are looking for opportunities to lead, build meaningful skills and prepare for their futures,” said Scott Stump, chief executive officer of the National FFA Organization. “We are incredibly proud to support these members and to see our chapter network expand across the country. This growth would not be possible without the agricultural educators, advisors, alumni and partners who help ensure more students can experience the life-changing impact of FFA.”

FFA reaches middle and high school students in rural, suburban and urban communities across the country. Formerly known as “Future Farmers of America,” FFA was founded in 1928 and focuses on leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

Additional FFA Membership Stats, 2025-2026:
    Student Membership: 1,053,847 (+1.1% from last year)
    Student Chapters: 9,591
    Alumni Membership: 840,865
    Alumni Chapters: 2,147
    Top states with largest membership numbers:
        Texas 
        California
        Georgia 
        Florida
        North Carolina
    Top states for % membership increase compared to last year:
        New York
        Puerto Rico
        Maine

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,053,847 student members as part of 9,591 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.