Pillen Highlights Major ONE RED Infrastructure Investment in Norfolk
On Friday, Governor Jim Pillen highlighted Nebraska’s ONE RED initiative in Norfolk and how it is poised to help the city fund a critical wastewater infrastructure project. He was joined by Senator Robert Dover, Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Director Jesse Bradley, and Norfolk Mayor Shane Clausen.
Norfolk and DWEE are partnering on a $38 million grant through the ONE RED Wastewater Treatment Facility Anaerobic Digestion Program. This program aims to help communities build or expand digesters, gas collection systems, and energy infrastructure at wastewater facilities.
“Today, we’re celebrating an opportunity for $38 million in funding that would help Norfolk invest in its future and the health and safety of its residents,” said Gov. Pillen. “Nebraska has always been a state that finds practical ways to make the most of what we have. We have the agricultural resources. We have communities with wastewater infrastructure, and we have the technology to put those resources together.”
The ONE RED initiative, overseen by DWEE, received a $307 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Those funds are being used to implement multiple programs aimed at strengthening Nebraska’s economy by:
Improving energy efficiency
Reducing energy costs
Providing incentives for agriculture practices that improve soil health, water conservation, and nutrient management
Improving agricultural waste management
Increasing the beneficial use of biogas
“DWEE is excited to start rolling out these funds so Nebraskans can start to see the positive environmental and economic impacts of these programs,” said Director Bradley. “This project is about turning organic waste into opportunity, producing valuable biogas, supporting Nebraska agriculture, improving environmental outcomes, and investing in infrastructure that will benefit the community for years to come.”
Norfolk’s digester project is intended to accept agricultural wastewater and capture the biogas created by the digester process to convert it into renewable natural gas. Not only will this generate energy, but it will also help Norfolk’s wastewater facility handle high-strength waste.
“Today’s announcement reflects a significant investment in Norfolk and the future of our community,” said Mayor Clausen. “This funding will ensure we have the infrastructure needed to support Norfolk’s continued growth. We appreciate everyone who has worked with the city to find a path forward.”
There is additional funding for Nebraska communities available through the Wastewater Treatment Facility Anaerobic Digestion Program.
This ONE RED grant opportunity represents an important investment in Nebraska’s wastewater infrastructure and helps the city expand its role from treating wastewater into viewing it as a valuable resource.
“State investment can help communities move projects from an idea to construction and ultimately to operation,” said Gov. Pillen. “Through ONE RED, Nebraska is showing its commitment to its residents by finding new avenues that help communities find innovative ways to grow while protecting resources.”
ARC/PLC Enrollment Opens with New Base Acres
Agricultural producers can soon begin enrolling in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently updated to include more than 30 million new base acres. This expansion, the first in 20 years, was made possible by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and is part of USDA’s efforts to put Farmers First.
Now that the base allocation process is complete, producers can make elections and enroll for the 2026 crop year from Sept. 16 through Dec. 11, 2026, and for the 2027 crop year from Nov. 2, 2026, through March 15, 2027. Because eligible acres exceeded the nationwide 30-million-acre cap, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is applying an across-the-board, prorated reduction of 3.69% to all newly allocated base acres.
Base Allocation Notifications
The opportunity for landowners to review their base allocation summaries and take necessary action ended Aug. 31, 2026. This included correcting inaccurate information, designating subsequent acres or opting out of adding base acres. Landowners did not lose base acres through the base allocation process.
If landowners did not notify FSA of changes, the base allocation summary is considered accurate and complete; however, an across-the-board factor will apply. FSA determined the base allocation percentage reduction using all acreage reported as eligible, and new base acres will automatically be allocated to farms after applying the 3.69% reduction.
Base allocation notifications will be available beginning Sept. 16, 2026. Landowners can access notifications online using a Login.gov account. Landowners who do not currently have a Login.gov account can contact their FSA county office to obtain their base allocation notification beginning Sept. 16, 2026.
Enrollment Period
Producers can now change their election and enroll in ARC-County (ARC-CO) or PLC, which both provide crop-by-crop protection, or ARC-Individual (ARC-IC), which protects the entire farm. Although election changes for 2026 are optional, producers must enroll through a signed contract each year. Existing multi-year contracts ended in 2025, but producers have the option to sign a new multi-year contract for 2026 through 2031. Producers who opt out of a multi-year contract can enroll for the 2027 crop year starting Nov. 2, 2026, through March 15, 2027.
If producers do not submit their 2026 election by Dec. 11, 2026, their election remains the same as their 2025 election for crops on the farm, and the farm is ineligible for payments for the 2026 program year. Landowners cannot enroll in either program unless they have a share interest in the farm.
Covered commodities include barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybean, sunflower seed and wheat.
Some land grant universities offer web-based decision tools to help producers make informed election decisions using crop data specific to their respective farming operations.
Producers can make program elections and enroll online using a Login.gov account or by making an appointment at their local FSA office.
Crop Insurance Considerations
Producers are reminded that ARC and PLC election and enrollment can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products.
Producers can now add SCO coverage or the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) regardless of their ARC or PLC election. Previously, producers who elected ARC-CO or ARC-IC were ineligible to purchase the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their Approved Insurance Provider for the same acres, but The Working Families Tax Cuts Act removed this restriction.
Leadership Academy Takes Nebraska Agriculture’s Priorities to Washington
Members of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Leadership Academy recently traveled to Washington, D.C., for a firsthand look at the federal policy process and to advocate on issues important to Nebraska agriculture. During visits with members and staff of Nebraska’s congressional delegation on Capitol Hill, they discussed the importance of completing a new Farm Bill and ensuring it provides meaningful support for farmers and ranchers.
The group also advocated for year-round E15, a fix to California’s Proposition 12, which protects a national marketplace for livestock producers, and policies that address high fuel and diesel costs facing farmers and ranchers.
Trade was another key topic of discussion, with participants emphasizing the importance of reliable markets around the world for Nebraska’s agricultural products and the need for trade policies that provide producers with opportunities to compete globally.
The Leadership Academy’s Washington D.C., experience extended beyond Capitol Hill. The group met with staff from the American Farm Bureau Federation to learn more about national agricultural policy and Farm Bureau’s advocacy efforts. Participants also visited the Irish Embassy, gaining insight into the United States-Ireland relationship, and the importance of international trade and agricultural markets. The trip provided Leadership Academy participants with an opportunity to see federal policymaking up close while giving Nebraska’s next generation of agricultural leaders a voice in the policy discussions shaping the future of the industry.
Midwest Producers, Students Invited to Share Views on AI in Agriculture
Jean Claude Niyomugabo - UNL Graduate Research Assistant
From identifying crop problems to turning years of field data into management guidance, artificial intelligence is moving closer to the decisions producers make every day. University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) researchers want to know how producers and future agricultural professionals view this changing role.
Midwest corn and soybean producers and agriculture students are invited to participate in a new survey examining their perceptions of, trust in and readiness to use AI-enabled agricultural tools. These may include yield prediction systems, variable-rate input applications, irrigation decision tools, pest and disease detection platforms, remote sensing tools and AI-based advisory systems.
Researchers hope to better understand the factors that may encourage or limit adoption of these technologies among current producers and the next generation of agricultural professionals.
The survey is open to people age 19 or older who are either:
Farmers or agricultural producers involved in Midwest corn and soybean production systems; or
University students enrolled in agriculture-related academic programs in the Midwest.
The anonymous survey takes approximately 10–12 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary, and participants may skip any question they do not wish to answer.
Complete the AI-enabled agricultural tools survey https://unlcorexmuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_77MO3ukHAMK21KK by Sunday, Dec. 20, 2026.
For questions about the study, email Jean Claude Niyomugabo, UNL Biological Systems Engineering graduate research assistant, or Heather Akin, UNL assistant professor of strategic communication.
Nebraska Farmers Union PAC Endorses Lynne Walz for Governor
NEBFARMPAC, the political action committee of Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU), Nebraska’s second largest general farm organization with nearly 4,000 farm and ranch families, announced its enthusiastic and unanimous endorsement today of former state senator Lynne Walz for Governor and Ben Steffen for Lieutenant Governor in the general election.
“Lynne Walz and Ben Steffen both grew up on family farms that taught them the importance of hard work, and the values of family and community. Sen. Walz supported family farm and ranch agriculture as a state senator. Ben Steffen is a well-known and trusted Nebraska farm and rural leader. Their blueprint “Commitment to Nebraska” includes growing agriculture, sustainable property tax reform, new ag markets, growing the livestock sector and bioeconomy, and prioritizing rural development. The Walz-Steffen team knows that agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and that when farmers and ranchers do well, our state as a whole does well. We believe the Walz-Steffen team will work for and with the entire ag community to deal with the growing farm crisis gripping Nebraska farm and ranch families, and to prioritize doable and sustainable property tax reform,” said NEBFARMPAC President Vern Jantzen of Plymouth.
“Lynne Walz and Ben Steffen do their homework, bring people to the table, build consensus, and are committed to solving problems in an inclusive and nonpartisan manner. Lynne Walz has a proven track record in the legislative process of working with everyone to get things done. Ben Steffen has a proven track record as a farm and rural advocate and leader. He understands the challenges ag faces because he lives it every day. Together, the Walz-Steffen team has the right set of experience and leadership skills our state needs to tackle both the farm and state budget crisis. As Governor and Lt. Governor, they will hit the ground running,” said NEBFARMPAC Vice President Art Tanderup of Neligh.
“Our PAC board firmly believe the Walz-Steffen team has the right skills, experience, values and vision to help our state deal with the farm crisis we are now facing. When things go well, as voters, we stick with our leaders. When times go poorly, voters make needed changes. Lynne Walz could not have picked a better running mate Ben Steffen for Lieutenant Governor. We know Ben Steffen well. He is a family farmer, President of Ag Builders of Nebraska, Chairman of the Nebraska Association of County Extension Boards, President of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, and a member of Nebraska’s two largest general farm organizations. “We know and trust Lynne Walz and Ben Steffen to say what they mean, and mean what they say. They have earned our trust and support,” concluded NEBFARMPAC Secretary John Hansen of Lincoln.
"Right now, Nebraska farmers and ranchers are facing one of the worst financial situations we've seen in decades," said Democratic nominee for Governor Lynne Walz. "Input costs are up, property taxes are up, and trade fights have closed markets our farmers spent generations building. Jim Pillen hasn't done enough to address this crisis. I'm grateful to have the Nebraska Farmers Union with me. As Governor, I'll work as hard for our farmers as they work for us, to lower costs, open new markets, and make sure family farms like the one I grew up on have a future in Nebraska."
USDA Cold Storage August 2026 Highlights
Total red meat supplies in freezers on August 31, 2026 were up 1 percent from the previous month and up 8 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 2 percent from the previous month and up 5 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 1 percent from the previous month but up 12 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were down 35 percent from last month and down 1 percent from last year.
Total frozen poultry supplies on August 31, 2026 were down 1 percent from the previous month and down 4 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down slightly from the previous month and down 5 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were down 3 percent from last month and down 2 percent from August 31, 2025.
Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on August 31, 2026 were up slightly from the previous month and up 2 percent from August 31, 2025. Butter stocks were down 5 percent from last month but up 10 percent from a year ago.
Total frozen fruit stocks on August 31, 2026 were up slightly from last month but down 4 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were up 31 percent from last month and up 2 percent from a year ago.
Ambassador Greer Issues a Statement on Announcement of Recommendations from the U.S.-China Board of Trade
Sunday, Ambassador Jamieson Greer issued a statement following the announcement of the recommendations from the U.S.-China Board of Trade. President Donald J. Trump and President Xi Jinping established the U.S.-China Board of Trade during President Trump’s May visit to Beijing to manage trade in non-sensitive products between the two largest economies in the world. Following President Xi’s visit to Washington, both sides have announced the next step under the U.S.-China Board of Trade, including recommendations for non-sensitive products that may qualify for better trade treatment.
“As a direct result of the strong relationship between President Trump and President Xi, the United States and China, under the auspices of the new Board of Trade, have recommended $30 billion of trade in non-sensitive goods on each side that could benefit from more favorable tariff treatment in the future,” said Ambassador Greer. “From agricultural products to medical devices, President Trump is unlocking improved market access for about 30 percent of U.S. exports to China, while benefiting consumers with imports from China of household goods, toys, and other products that the United States generally does not import from other countries. The Trump Administration will continue to pursue fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade with China by ensuring compliance with commitments on agricultural and energy purchases, pursuing balanced trade in non-sensitive goods, and securing market access for American farmers, manufacturers, businesses, and workers.”
Higher-component dairy herds capture bigger milk checks as consumer demand shifts toward manufactured dairy products
U.S. dairy herds producing higher levels of butterfat and protein are capturing significantly larger milk checks as consumer demand shifts toward cheese, yogurt, butter, cottage cheese and other manufactured dairy products. A new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange found that herds in the top decile for milk components earned $101 to $352 more per cow annually at average U.S. production levels, with that advantage rising to $136 to $474 per cow at higher production levels.
Milk components have become the leading driver of milk check revenue as more than 80% of farmgate milk now moves into manufactured dairy products rather than beverage milk. The CoBank report analyzed seven regional Federal Milk Marketing Orders that price milk using Multiple Component Pricing provisions and found wide variation in component production across regions and herds.
“Those numbers can add up fast,” said Corey Geiger, lead dairy economist with CoBank. “For instance, assuming annual average milk production of 24,390 pounds per cow, higher-component herds in the Upper Midwest FMMO had a $256.58 per cow advantage over lower-component herds. At 33,000 pounds of annual production, that advantage widens to $345.58 per cow. For a 100-cow dairy, that’s an extra $34,558 in annual income — and for a 1,000-cow dairy, it represents $345,582 of additional revenue.”
The shift is accelerating milk component production, with butterfat and protein levels in the nation’s milk supply growing faster than at any time in modern dairy history.
For generations, beverage milk dominated U.S. dairy consumption, keeping butterfat and protein levels relatively stable. As consumers increasingly turned to cheese and other dairy foods, milk pricing formulas evolved to the multiple component pricing concept. Today, more than 90% of the U.S. milk supply is priced based on butterfat, protein and other solids, largely because manufactured dairy products account for most farmgate milk use.
Wide variance across FMMOs and herds represents opportunity
While overall average levels of butterfat and protein content in the U.S. milk supply have grown substantially, FMMO data shows a wide variance of component levels across regions and among individual herds.
Abbi Groves, agricultural commodities economist with CoBank, said component optimization gives producers a clear path to improve milk check revenue while helping processors secure the solids their plants need most.
“In the Upper Midwest FMMO, average 2025 component levels were 4.37% butterfat, 3.33% protein and 5.79% other solids. But the gap between the top 560 herds and the bottom 560 herds was significant. That spread shows the scale of opportunity for lower-component herds to close the gap and increase revenue by producing more butterfat and protein.”
Dairy processors also have an opportunity to further incentivize production of the components their plants need most. Some processors are already including product prices for whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate in milk check formulas. These newer pricing concepts, above and beyond federal order minimums, further incentivize protein production.
“These are just some of the opportunities that abound to meet rising demand,” added Geiger. “Given shifting demand and the growing role components are playing in producer revenue, traditional milk production metrics like rolling herd average no longer tell the full revenue story. New benchmarks focused on pounds of components produced will provide a clearer view of what ultimately drives the milk check.”
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