Friday October 02 Ag News - Managing Mud in the Feedyard - Engler Scholarships - Iowa's Top 5 Breaded Pork Tenderloins Announced - Corn, Soybean Crush Slightly Lower in August - USDA Recognizes October Cooperative Month - and more!

Managing Mud in the Feedyard: Focusing on What Matters Most
Connor Biehler, Nebraska Extension Educator

When feedyard profitability is discussed, attention is often focused on feed costs, cattle prices, and animal health. While these are all important, some of the most valuable investments a feedyard can make are not found in the ration or processing barn. Facility improvements that enhance pen conditions, cattle comfort, and labor efficiency can have lasting impacts on performance and cost of gain. 

Poor pen conditions can quietly erode feed efficiency, increase maintenance requirements, and drive up cost of gain throughout the feeding period. While the weather cannot be controlled, feedyard design and maintenance decisions can help to minimize the impact of mud and protect profitability. After all, the greatest returns often come from investments that improve conditions for the cattle. 
Start with Drainage 

If the water cannot leave the pen, other improvements can be made less effective. Poor drainage leads to mud accumulation which can reduce cattle comfort, increase energy for maintenance requirements, and increase labor demands. 

Producers should periodically evaluate the following questions: 
    Does water leave the pen quickly following a rainfall event? 
    Are there low spots where water consistently pools? 
    Are the drainage channels remaining open and functional? 
    Is runoff from roads, fields, or neighboring pens entering cattle pens? 

Practical steps to improve drainage include: 
    Leveling pens to eliminate low areas that collect water. 
    Maintaining proper pen slope towards drainage channels. 
    Cleaning ditches and drainage ways regularly. 
    Diverting runoff from adjacent areas away from cattle pens. 
    Regularly removing manure accumulations that restrict water movement. 
    Repairing high-traffic areas where heavy cattle activity has altered drainage patterns. 

Maintain Effective Pen Mounds 
Even in well-drained pens, cattle benefit from having access to a dry resting area. Pen mounds provide cattle with an elevated location that remains drier than the surrounding pen surface during muddy times.  

To maximize effectiveness, producers should consider: 
    Maintaining adequate mound height, generally 5 feet tall. 
    Providing at least 25 square feet per head of mound space. 
    Repair erosion and loss of shape over time. 
    Positioning mounds so water drains away from the resting area. 

Signs that mounds may need maintenance include: 
    Flattened mound profiles. 
    Standing water near the base of the mound. 
    Excessive manure accumulation. 
    Cattle crowding onto a small portion of the mound. 

Take-Home Message 
Effective mud management starts long before wet conditions develop. The best strategy for managing mud is mitigating it before it becomes a problem. Feedyards that prioritize drainage and maintain functional pen mounds are often better equipped to minimize mud, improve cattle comfort, and protect performance during wet conditions. For more information on managing mud in the feedyard, please contact Connor at 402-624-8007 or cbiehler2@unl.edu. 



Scholarship Opportunity Available for Aspiring Entrepreneurs at The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program

The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln is seeking students with a passion for entrepreneurship and a drive to turn their purpose into action. Scholarship applications for the 2027-2028 academic year are now being accepted, welcoming both incoming and current students of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources who have prior experience in FFA or 4-H. Applications are due by midnight on December 15, 2026. Applications can be found on the Engler website at https://englerjourney.com.

Since 2012 over $2 million has been invested in empowering future entrepreneurs and innovators through this program. The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program is designed to empower enterprise builders. Participation in the program is not restricted to scholarship recipients.  

The Engler program began in 2010 with a $20 million gift from the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation. The mission of the program is to embolden people on the courageous pursuit of their purpose through the art and practice of entrepreneurship. The program offers an academic minor while serving as an intersection in which students from a diverse array of majors and business interests can come together in pursuit of the American Dream.

For more information, visit https://englerjourney.com or contact: Halle Ramsey at hramsey2@unl.edu, or Tom Field at field2@unl.edu. 


Nebraska Cattlemen Applauds Nomination of Ibach for Under Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs

Nebraska Cattlemen released the following statement in response to President Donald J. Trump’s nomination of Nebraska native Greg Ibach to serve as Under Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Nebraska Cattlemen applauds the nomination of Greg Ibach to serve as Under Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Greg is a longtime friend and champion of Nebraska’s cattle industry. His decades of experience and dedication to agriculture make him well suited for this important role. We look forward to continuing our strong working relationship with Greg and urge the U.S. Senate to move swiftly in confirming his nomination.”



USMEF Statement on Nomination of Greg Ibach for USDA Under Secretary for Trade

President Trump has nominated Greg Ibach to serve as USDA under secretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs. Ibach is a former director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and was USDA under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs during the first Trump administration.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued this statement:

USMEF has been honored to work closely with Greg Ibach for many years, when he was a true champion for agricultural trade at both the state and federal levels. He has seen firsthand the returns that exports deliver for the U.S. ag economy and understands the importance of expanding global demand for U.S. products. To the extent possible, USMEF encourages the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to expedite the scheduling of Ibach’s confirmation hearing and to advance his nomination to the full Senate. He is tremendously well-qualified for this appointment and we expect his nomination to receive strong bipartisan support.

Ibach was the 2018 recipient of USMEF’s most prestigious honor, the Michael J. Mansfield Award. 



Nebraska Farmers Union PAC Announces General Election Endorsements

NEBFARMPAC, the political action committee of Nebraska Farmers Union, Nebraska’s second largest general farm organization announced its general election endorsements today for Congress, the Legislature, Governor, Public Power Districts, Natural Resource Districts, and other statewide and district races.

Based on their position on family farm and ranch issues along with returned candidate surveys for Legislature candidates along with input from county and district officers, the NEBFARMPAC Board of Directors announced the following endorsements: (* = Incumbents)      

Federal
Congress First District: Chris Backemeyer
Congress Second District: Denise Powell
Congress Third District: Mark Cohen
U.S. Senate: Dan Osborn

State
Governor: Lynne Walz
Attorney General: Jocelyn Brasher
Secretary of State: Sarah Slattery
Auditor of Public Accounts: Mike Foley*

Legislature
LD2:    Caitlin Knutson
LD4:    Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek
LD6:    Patrick Leahy
LD8:    Erin Feichtinger
LD10: Cindy Johnson
LD12:  Christy Knorr
LB14:  SuAnn Witt
LD16:  Cindy Chatt
LD18: Jess Goldoni    
LD20: John Fredrickson*
LD24: Jana Hughes*
LD26:  George Dungan*
LD30:  Janet Bock
LD32: Mark Schoenrock & Shay Smith
LD34:  Ben Blodgett
LD36: Darin Tompkins
LD38: Janell Anderson Ehrke
LD41: Jeremy Heneger & Joe Johnson
LD46:  Danielle Conrad*
 
Public Service Commission: Wendy DeBoer

Public Power Districts
Subdivision 1: Mary Harding*
Subdivision 2: Bill Tielke
Subdivision 7: Wayne Williams*
Subdivision 9: Jerry Chlopek*

Omaha Public Power District
Subdivision 1: Sara Kohen
Subdivision 2: Mark Gudgel
Subdivision 3: Carol Blood

Board of Regents
District 1: Brent Comstock
District 2: Elizabeth Butler

State Board of Education
District 5: Michaela Conway
District 6: Grady Erickson
District 8: Sherrye Hutcherson 
 
Natural Resource Districts
Lower Elkhorn NRD: Graham Christensen
Lower Big Blue NRD: Anne DeVries*
Lower Platte North NRD:
Subdistrict 8: Jerry Johnson*
Subdistrict 9: Larissa Schultz*
At Large: Thomas McKnight*
Lower Platte South NRD
Subdistrict 3: Melissa Baker*
Subdistrict 8: Tom Green*
 
County Commissioner
Lancaster Subdistrict 1: Sean Flowerday*
Lancaster Subdistrict 3:  Bryan Seck
Lancaster Subdistrict 5: Rick Vest*
 
NEBFARMPAC is the political action committee of the Nebraska Farmers Union, which is a non-partisan, not-for-profit general farm organization founded in 1913 with a mission to protect and enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of family farmers and ranchers and their rural communities.  NeFU is the respected voice of family farm and ranch agriculture with nearly 4,000 family memberships.



Top 5 Contenders for Iowa's Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Revealed
    
Iowa’s iconic breaded pork tenderloin sandwich is back in the spotlight. After diners evaluated restaurants across the state, the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) has narrowed its 2026 contest to five contenders, in alphabetical order:
    Friends Hide-A-Way — Underwood
    Wasted Grain — Carroll 
    Landmark Grill & Grind — Williamsburg
    Sasquatch Jacks Hideaway Barroom & Grill — Waverly
    Tin Roost — North Liberty

For these restaurants, a place on the list brings more than bragging rights. Past finalists have reported substantial increases in customers and pork tenderloin sales as Iowans and enthusiasts across the Midwest travel to try the sandwiches for themselves.

“Every restaurant on this list has earned its place, but judging a great tenderloin comes down to more than size,” said Greg Carlson, a contest judge and retired pork producer. “We look for pork that’s tender and flavorful, with breading that complements it. As a former producer, it’s rewarding to see restaurants put so much care into a sandwich Iowans love.”

How the contest works
The public nominates restaurants that serve a hand-breaded or hand-battered pork tenderloin sandwich on their regular menu. Restaurants must keep year-round, regular hours; food trucks, concession stands, seasonal establishments and caterers are ineligible. Judges then evaluate qualifying restaurants, with a final panel selecting the winner and runner-up.

The winner receives $500, a plaque and an outdoor banner. The runner-up receives $250 and a plaque.

The results will be announced in mid-October during National Pork Month, aka Porktober.



Fats and Oils: Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks

Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 6.29 million tons (210 million bushels) in August 2026, compared with 6.66 million tons (222 million bushels) in July 2026 and 5.94 million tons (198 million bushels) in August 2025. Crude oil produced was 2.45 billion pounds, down 5 percent from July 2026 but up 4 percent from August 2025. Soybean once refined oil production at 2.00 billion pounds during August 2026 decreased 1 percent from July 2026 but increased 6 percent from August 2025.

Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production
Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 528 million bushels in August 2026. Total corn consumption was down less than 1 percent from July 2026 but up 4 percent from August 2025. August 2026 usage included 92.6 percent for alcohol and 7.4 percent for other purposes. Corn consumed for beverage alcohol totaled 3.31 million bushels, down 11 percent from July 2026 and down 3 percent from August 2025. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 478 million bushels, was up less than 1 percent from July 2026 and up 4 percent from August 2025. Corn consumed in August 2026 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 92.2 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 1.85 million tons during August 2026, down less than 1 percent from July 2026 and down 2 percent from August 2025. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.28 million tons in August 2026, down 1 percent from July 2026 but up 5 percent from August 2025.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 278,611 tons during August 2026, up 11 percent from July 2026 and up 11 percent from August 2025. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 180,096 tons in August 2026, down 14 percent from July 2026 but up 2 percent from August 2025.



Thompson, Boozman Highlight $13.8 Billion ARC/PLC Support Under Improved Farm Safety Net

House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) championed vital investments of $13.8 billion in the farm safety net improvements through the Working Families Tax Cuts that are now being administered by the Farm Service Agency. They issued the following statement as farm families are experiencing the benefits delivered with improvements to the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) including increased reference prices, modernized payment limitations, and the allocation of 30 million new base acres.
 
“Farming is an inherently risky business. America’s producers need adequate risk management tools that deliver certainty and predictability to continue growing our food and fiber. After years of operating under an outdated farm safety net, congressional Republicans delivered enhanced policies to protect and manage against market volatility and diminished yields. The ARC and PLC payments farmers are receiving this month are critical to supporting our hardworking farm families, strengthening the stability of the industry and planning for a future in farming.”
 
These updates are the first meaningful investments to the farm safety net since 2002. Republicans’ Working Families Tax Cuts will provide $13.8 billion in ARC/PLC support, more than double what farmers were expected to receive before these changes.
 
Implementation for improvements to ARC and PLC follows the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of other Working Families Tax Cuts provisions, including expanded access to and eligibility for standing disaster programs including the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) and Livestock Forage Program (LFP), in addition to making crop insurance more affordable.



Farmers Call on President Trump to Provide Diesel Price Relief

As farmers and ranchers face record-high diesel costs, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall today called on the president to take several steps to lower prices at the pump, including a temporary suspension of the federal highway diesel tax.

“Higher diesel expenses are hitting farmers at one of the most fuel-intensive times of the year – harvest,” wrote Mr. Duvall in a letter to President Trump. “Diesel is essential for the American economy and for farmers. Everything on the farm, from running tractors, combines and irrigation equipment to transporting crops, livestock and inputs requires diesel. Farmers and ranchers cannot postpone harvest or simply stop using diesel when prices rise.”

The national average on-highway diesel price has reached $6.38 per gallon, while farm diesel in the heart of the Corn Belt climbed to nearly $6 per gallon. The federal highway diesel tax is currently more than 24 cents per gallon. Farm Bureau also urged the administration to waive federal penalties for emergency use of dyed diesel on highways. At least 10 states have taken similar actions to combat fuel prices.



USDA Highlights National Cooperative Month

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins today issued a USDA proclamation (PDF, 575 KB) to recognize October 2026 as the Department’s 62nd anniversary of National Cooperative Month.

“Cooperatives are a powerful engine of economic growth for our nation and central to President Trump’s America First agenda to strengthen our economy and empower communities,” said Secretary Rollins. “Today we celebrate our partnerships with these cooperative organizations and reaffirm our commitment to advancing the vital work they do to create jobs, build local prosperity, support critical infrastructure, and expand opportunity for rural America.”

Since the start of the Trump Administration and under the leadership of Secretary Rollins, USDA has invested more than $18.1 billion in loans and grants to support 242 cooperatives to spur economic development, invest in critical electric and broadband infrastructure, and build prosperity through rural cooperatives supported by USDA Rural Development’s programs.

During Cooperative Month, USDA will highlight ways the Department is investing in cooperatives and creating stronger and more resilient communities. Supporting cooperatives strengthens farmer profitability, expands market access, encourages innovation, creates jobs in rural communities, and reinforces the America’s role of leadership in agriculture, food production, and farm security.

This year’s theme for the month-long celebration is “Built for this Moment,” as selected by the National Cooperative Business Association. This theme acknowledges the electric co-ops delivering essential infrastructure to rural America, the food co-ops that support local farmers and agricultural producers, the housing co-ops creating lasting affordability and the worker co-ops preserving local businesses.



USDA Announces October 2026 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for October 2026, which are effective Oct. 1, 2026. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.            
Operating, Ownership and Emergency Loans 

FSA offers farm operating, ownership and emergency loans with favorable interest rates and terms to help eligible agricultural producers obtain financing needed to start, expand or maintain a family agricultural operation.   

Interest rates for Operating and Ownership loans for October 2026 are as follows:        
    Farm Operating Loans (Direct): 5.375%  
    Farm Ownership Loans (Direct): 6.250%  
    Farm Ownership Loans (Direct, Joint Financing): 4.250%  
    Farm Ownership Loans (Down Payment): 2.250%
    Emergency Loan (Amount of Actual Loss): 3.750%    

FSA also offers guaranteed loans through commercial lenders at rates set by those lenders. To access an interactive online, step-by-step guide through the farm loan process, visit the Loan Assistance Tool on farmers.gov.        
Commodity and Storage Facility Loans

Additionally, FSA provides low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade on-farm storage facilities and purchase handling equipment. Loans that provide interim financing are also available to help producers meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are low.  Funds for these loans are provided through the Commodity Credit Corporation  and are administered by FSA.   
    Commodity Loans (less than one year disbursed): 5.250%       
    Farm Storage Facility Loans:  
    Three-year loan terms: 4.500%  
    Five-year loan terms: 4.625%  
    Seven-year loan terms: 4.750%  
    Ten-year loan terms: 4.875% 
    Twelve-year loan terms: 5.000%  
    Sugar Storage Facility Loans (15 years): 5.125%       

To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. 



Michigan Farmer Matt Frostic Begins Term as NCGA President

Matt Frostic, of Applegate, Mich., began his term today as president of the National Corn Growers Association, a farmer-led trade association with offices in St. Louis and Washington.
 
Frostic, who farms 1,000 acres of corn, soybeans, edible beans and sugar beets, spent his first day in the role outlining his priorities as president. These include securing passage of legislation that allows for the year-round sale of fuels with 15% ethanol blends, passing the farm bill and diversifying demand for corn.
 
“These goals may seem ambitious, but we are going to do everything possible to make them a reality,” Frostic said. “Farmers work day and night, at times through difficult conditions, to produce a crop that feeds and fuels America and the world. We deliver, and we expect our representatives in Washington to work hard and deliver as well.”
 
Frostic brings extensive advocacy experience to his new role. He has spent the last year chairing NCGA’s Input Cost Task Force. In that role, he has worked to identify solutions to bring costs more in line with today’s commodity prices. He has also spent the last year serving as NCGA’s vice president and as chair of the organization’s resolutions committee, and as a member of the finance committee. Frostic is a former president and chair of the Michigan Corn Growers Association.
 
The NCGA board chooses a member from the governing body to serve as president each year. The term begins on October 1, the start of NCGA’s fiscal year.