Monday September 21 Ag News - National Farm Safety and Health Week this week - Test for Soybean Cyst Nematodes - CAP Webinar on Beef Cow Replacement Costs - CA E15 Bill Signed - Do Ag Markets Need Sleep? - and more!

National Farm Safety and Health Week Offers Free Agricultural Safety Webinars

National Farm Safety and Health Week will be observed Monday, Sept. 21, through Friday, Sept. 25, with free daily webinars covering agricultural equipment, rural roadways, health and wellness, confined spaces, cancer prevention and other farm safety concerns.

This year’s theme, “Safety Today, Success Tomorrow,” emphasizes the role that everyday safety decisions play in protecting agricultural workers, families and farming operations over the long term.
National Farm Safety logo with a tractor, sun, and text promoting safety week in September 2026.
National Education Center for Agricultural Safety graphic

Fall harvest is among the busiest and most hazardous times of year in agriculture. Long working hours, fatigue, large equipment, roadway traffic, grain handling and other seasonal demands can increase the risk of injuries and fatalities. National Farm Safety and Health Week encourages producers and agricultural workers to pause before harvest intensifies and review the practices that help everyone return home safely.

The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety will highlight a different safety topic each day:
    Monday, Sept. 21 — Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety: Safer travel routes, stronger rural communities and the use of personal stories in roadway safety education.
    Tuesday, Sept. 22 — Health and Wellness: Suicide prevention conversations, agricultural noise exposure and practical ways to reduce fatigue and protect workers.
    Wednesday, Sept. 23 — Generations of Farming: Using personal experiences to strengthen farm safety and well-being across generations.
    Thursday, Sept. 24 — Confined Spaces: Agricultural confined-space safety, hazard awareness and rural disaster resilience.
    Friday, Sept. 25 — Cancer Prevention: Women’s health on the farm, agricultural exposures and cancer prevention behaviors in farming communities.

Webinars will begin at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. CDT, depending on the session. Participation is free, but advance registration is required. Producers, agricultural workers, educators and others interested in rural safety can view the complete schedule and register for the webinars https://www.necasag.org/nationalfarmsafetyandhealthweek/.

The NECAS website also provides grain bin safety videos explaining how entrapments occur, steps that can prevent them and precautions for situations in which bin entry is necessary. Grain bin rescues should always be conducted by trained professionals.

National Farm Safety and Health Week has been observed during the third week of September since 1944. The annual campaign is led by NECAS, the agricultural partner of the National Safety Council.




Chambers of Commerce Highlight Agriculture as Foundation for Economic Development

Nebraska Farm Bureau partnered with the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Lincoln Chamber of Commerce’s Partnership for Economic Development on Sept. 11 to host an “AgWorks for Economic Development” seminar and tour.

The purpose of the event was to provide Nebraska state senators with an opportunity to learn more about the important role agriculture plays in the state’s economy and the opportunity to capitalize on that strength to boost agriculture-related economic development.

Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue provided an overview of the economic impact of Nebraska’s farm-to-fork complex, including production agriculture, food manufacturing, food wholesaling, and food retailing. The combined complex produces an economic output of $167 billion for the state and accounts for nearly 550,000 Nebraska jobs.

In addition to touting agriculture’s strength, officials from the Chambers provided an overview of their new joint “AgWorks Corridor” Initiative.The Corridor spans the greater Lincoln-Omaha region, encompassing 11 counties across Nebraska and Iowa and is focused on recruiting agriculture-based companies from start-up to full-scale commercialization. The initiative touts the region’s strong production agriculture and value-added agriculture ecosystem of ag processing, input production, equipment manufacturing, and innovation as a strong destination for agriculture-related businesses to locate and grow.

Following the presentations, attendees had the opportunity tour both Lincoln Industries and Kawasaki’s production facilities. 



Participate in Free Soybean Cyst Nematode Soil Testing This Fall
Dylan Mangel - Extension Plant Pathologist

If you noticed uneven maturity or problem patches in your soybean fields this fall, you might be considering the cause. Soybean cyst nematode may be contributing to diminished root systems and yield loss, but testing is the only way to know for sure. While those problem areas are still top of mind, plan to sample them and use the results to guide management decisions for your next soybean rotation.

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the leading yield-limiting biological threat to soybean in North America and is estimated to cost U.S. producers $1.5 billion annually. SCN can cause yield losses of up to 30% without producing significant aboveground symptoms. As a result, many producers do not realize SCN is present and are not actively managing it in their fields.

As of 2026, SCN has been identified in 64 Nebraska counties. 

Effective management options are available, but the first step is determining whether SCN is present in a field. The end of the soybean growing season is the best time to test because SCN population levels are likely to be at their highest.

The Nebraska Soybean Board currently sponsors SCN sample analysis for samples collected from any Nebraska field. To participate, contact the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic for free soil sampling bags. Submit samples to the clinic using the following procedure.

Sampling Procedure
Collect SCN samples using a soil probe or spade. Gather at least 15–20 soil cores in a zigzag pattern across 10–20 acres. Collect soil from the root zone at a depth of 6–8 inches. Break up the cores and mix them thoroughly in a bucket, then place at least two cups of the composite sample in a bag for testing.

A sealable plastic bag will help prevent the sample from drying out. Marked SCN sample bags are also available from your local Nebraska Extension office or the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic.

Anything that moves soil can also move SCN. Because some parts of a field have a greater risk of SCN introduction or damage, consider sampling these areas first:
    Areas where soybean yielded less than expected.
    Areas of the field where soybean plants appeared stunted, yellow or defoliated earlier than the rest of the field.
    Low spots.
    Previously flooded areas.
    Field entryways.
    Field borders.
    Areas where sudden death syndrome (SDS) or brown stem rot (BSR) developed.

Submit samples to:
UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic
448 Plant Sciences Hall
P.O. Box 830722
Lincoln, NE 68583-0722

Information to include on sample bag:
    Your name
    Address where you would like the results mailed
    Your email address
    Your phone number
    The field name or ID, for your reference
    The field’s recent crop history 

Management
Once SCN has been identified in a field, producers should follow four broad management recommendations.

The first is to rotate soybean varieties with different sources of SCN resistance. The most common resistance sources are PI 88788 and Peking. When possible, rotate among available resistance sources because SCN populations are evolving to overcome all resistance sources. Rotation can help preserve the effectiveness of existing resistance sources while new ones are developed.

The second management recommendation is to rotate soybean with to a non-host crop. Fortunately, corn, wheat and alfalfa are non-hosts that fit well within common Nebraska crop rotations. Although crop rotation alone will not eliminate SCN, it can help reduce population levels in the soil.

The third management recommendation is to consider using a nematode-protectant seed treatment. Many new seed-treatment products entering the market, but they should only be used in combination with an SCN-resistant soybean variety. Seed treatments should not be considered replacements for resistant varieties when managing SCN or other pathogens.

The final recommendation is to continue testing fields to monitor SCN population levels. Sampling every two to three years can help determine whether management practices are working. Fields without confirmed SCN should also be tested periodically so infestations can be detected early.

Many producers are experiencing some yield loss to SCN. Actively managing SCN populations provides an opportunity to protect that yield. Because this pest often produces no visible symptoms, soil testing is the only way to accurately identify and monitor it. If you do not remember the last time you tested, it is time to test again.



CAP Webinar: 2026 Beef Cow Replacement Forecast
Sep 24, 2026 12:00 PM 
 
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Extension Beef Economics team annually publishes a report that forecasts the expected value of replacement heifers for Nebraska producers. This webinar will highlight the latest forecast, published in September 2026. These forecasts are intended to be used as a guide in what cow replacement costs might be, given market volatility, futures expectations, costs, etc. and reflect what might happen over the life of purchased animals.

Forecasts such as this one are intended to help individuals create a reference point for their operation and expectations of potential future events and to arrive at what a reasonable value might be for a heifer/cow purchased or retained for replacement given their situation.

Average annual production costs rose approximately $300 per cow compared to the previous year.  This report forecasts beef cow breakeven values (CBV) for the 2026-2027 production season under twelve different market, productivity, and financing scenarios. The objective is not to predict profit, but to estimate the maximum value a producer can pay for a replacement cow and reasonably expect to recover through future production and salvage value. 

Presenters
Shannon Sand, extension agricultural economist
Randy Saner, livestock systems extension educator
Brock Ortner, livestock systems extension educator. 

Register for the webinar at the Center for Agricultural Profitability's webinar page, https://cap.unl.edu/webinars. 



Do Agricultural Markets Need to Sleep?

For generations, agricultural markets have operated within set trading hours, giving farmers, merchandisers, processors, and investors defined windows to manage risk and price commodities. Today, advances in technology and growing global demand for real-time market access are pushing agriculture toward a more continuous trading environment.

Modern futures markets already provide near-continuous electronic access. Many agricultural contracts trade through overnight sessions, allowing market participants to respond quickly to weather events, geopolitical developments, export demand shifts, and economic news occurring outside traditional business hours.

There have been many arguments in favor of 24/7 trading.  Some argue that producers would gain greater flexibility to hedge production risks when market-moving news breaks, regardless of time zone. Grain elevators, exporters, and end users could react immediately to changes in global supply and demand. Sites like Kalshi have dipped their toe into trying to trade commodities all day, every day. Currently, Kalshi offers a binary or yes/no structure on price betting. Users can bet on whether soybean, coffee, corn, wheat, and six more commodity futures will go above or below a certain price by a certain time. While the initial idea was to allow these trades 24/7, concerns were raised by many agricultural groups and Kalshi moved these commodity trading hours in alignment with the respective futures market.

However, round-the-clock trading is not without challenges. Lower overnight trading volumes can create wider bid-ask spreads and increased volatility. Issues that may be resolved or settle over a weekend would now have an immediate impact, which only compounds pressure on markets that may already be extremely volatile.  Producers may also face pressure to monitor markets more frequently, potentially adding stress and increasing complexity of decisions. Risk management tools and market education would become even more important in an always-open environment. Additionally, as stated in a UNL Cornhusker economics article, this may create gaps of liquidity. In other words, trading less at night or over the weekend would allow smaller trades to carry more weight.

As agriculture becomes increasingly global and interconnected, the trend toward longer trading hours is likely to continue. While true 24/7 agricultural trading may still be evolving, the industry is likely to face the question of whether the markets need to sleep or not. American Farm Bureau opposes any efforts by Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)to expand livestock commodity futures and options trading to the 24/7allowances. 



Growth Energy Applauds Enactment of California E15 Bill

Growth Energy, the nation's largest biofuel trade association, welcomed California Governor Gavin Newsom's signature today on Senate Bill 795. The legislation orders the state fire marshal's office to implement regulations that ultimately will give Californians access to E15, a more affordable fuel option made with 15% ethanol that sells for $0.30 less per gallon on average and can be used in 96% of all light-duty vehicles on the road today.

"E15 saves consumers money and California is home to some of the nation’s highest gas prices. This step is a big win for drivers in the Golden State," said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. "With SB 795 now signed into law, Californians are a huge step closer to more affordable fuel options. We thank Governor Newsom for his leadership and support, which were vital to this effort to clear the final regulatory hurdles that were restricting Californians' access to this lower-cost, lower-carbon fuel choice.

“Our industry is eager to help drivers access E15 and its benefits. We look forward to working with state regulators and retailers around the state to make this happen as quickly as possible,” she added.

SB 795 passed the California legislature earlier this year. Specifically, the bill instructs the state fire marshal’s office to finalize the rules necessary to fully implement Assembly Bill 30 (AB 30). AB 30 unanimously passed the state legislature last year and legalized the sale of E15 in California until the California Air Resources Board (CARB) completes a permanent regulation for E15 approval. CARB was directed to complete this permanent regulation in the 2025-2026 state budget. CARB is expected to vote on this regulation during their September 24 board meeting. 



RFA Celebrates Gov. Newsom’s Signing of California E15 Bill

The Renewable Fuels Association today applauded California Gov. Gavin Newsom for signing Senate Bill 795, the “E15 Clean-up Act,” into law following the legislature’s unanimous passage of the bill on August 31. The bill removes the final regulatory impediment that was preventing California retailers from offering lower-cost, lower-carbon E15 to eager customers, who are facing the highest gas prices in the nation.

“Governor Newsom promised to remove the red tape that was blocking lower-cost E15 from reaching California consumers, and that’s exactly what this bill does,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Thanks to the governor’s leadership and decisive action, California is closer than ever to lower gas prices and a cleaner future for families across the state. Dozens of other states have already seen the benefits of E15—healthier air, better engine performance, and cost savings at the pump. Now, California drivers are about to experience those same advantages for themselves, and we thank Gov. Newsom for voicing his support for E15 throughout the legislative process.” 

The bill, prepared in the wake of last year’s unanimously supported legislation permitting E15 sales, allows retailers to use existing vapor recovery equipment to dispense E15 if the manufacturer of that equipment submits a statement of compatibility to the relevant state agencies.

Cooper also thanked the bill’s principal authors, Sens. Bob Archuletta and Suzette Martinez Valladares, and Assemblymember David Alvarez, as well as the entire bipartisan California Problem Solvers Caucus for their leadership and commitment to reducing gas prices for California families.

Recent studies show E15 could save California drivers at least $2.7 billion annually, or $200 per household, and significantly cut the emissions of tailpipe pollutants that create smog and contribute to illness and disease.