Tuesday November 03 Ag News - Weekly Crop Progress Report - NeFB Files WOTUS Comments - NRD Spring Tree Orders Open - PFI Annual Conference Jan in Des Moines - Corn, Soy Crush for Sept - and more!

Nebraska Crop Progress - Nov 2

Nebraska producers made further harvest progress during the week.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 8% very short, 16% short, 69% adequate and 7% surplus, while subsoil moisture rated 12% very short, 20% short, 64% adequate and 4% surplus.

Field Crops Report

Corn
    Harvested: 66% — behind the five-year average of 75%.

Soybean
    Harvested: 84% — behind 88% for the five-year average.

Winter Wheat
    Planted: 98% — ahead of 94% for the five-year average.
    Emerged: 89% — ahead of the 85% five-year average.

Sorghum
    Mature: 94% — behind 99% for the five-year average.
    Harvested: 42% — behind 71% for the five-year average.

Data for this news release were provided at the county level by USDA Farm Service Agency, Nebraska Extension and other reporters across the state.



Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

There were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Nov. 1, 2026. Topsoil moisture condition rated 4 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 16 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 6 percent short, 82 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus. 

Sixty-six percent of corn has been harvested, which is 13 percentage points behind the five-year average. 

Ninety percent of soybeans have been harvested, which is on par with the five-year average.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

Farmers made continued progress in the fields last week, pushing soybean harvest ahead of its five-year average, while corn harvest remained slightly behind, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released on Monday.

CORN
-- Harvest progress: NASS estimated that 74% of corn had been harvested nationally as of Nov. 1, 3 percentage points behind the five-year average of 77%. 

SOYBEANS
-- Harvest progress: NASS estimated that 88% of soybeans had been harvested as of Sunday, 4 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 84%. 

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: Winter wheat planting was estimated at 83% complete nationally, 1 percentage point behind the five-year average of 84%.
-- Crop development: Winter wheat emerged was estimated at 65%, steady with the five-year average.
-- Crop condition: In its first condition rating of the 2027 winter wheat crop, USDA NASS estimated that 44% of the crop that had emerged was in good-to-excellent condition. 



Nebraska Farm Bureau Files WOTUS Comments, Urges EPA and Army Corps to Finish a Clear Rule That Lasts

Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) filed formal comments Oct. 9 with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers supporting their latest proposal to clarify which waters are subject to federal regulation under the Clean Water Act.

The definition of “Waters of the United States,” or WOTUS, has changed repeatedly since 2015, creating uncertainty for farmers and ranchers over whether features such as farm ditches, seasonal streams, and low areas that temporarily hold water are subject to federal regulation. 

NEFB is urging the agencies to finalize a clear, workable definition that can withstand legal challenges and provide certainty for landowners for years to come.

“For more than a decade, whether a draw in a pasture or a ditch along a field is federally regulated has depended on who was in the White House,” said NEFB President Mark McHargue. “Nebraska farmers and ranchers deserve a rule they can apply by walking their own ground and one that will still be standing ten years from now.”

The issue is particularly important to agriculture because federal jurisdiction can trigger permitting requirements for regular activities that occur on or near regulated waters. The U.S. Supreme Court significantly narrowed federal jurisdiction in its 2023 Sackett v. EPA decision, determining that federal protection generally applies to relatively permanent waters and wetlands with a continuous surface connection to those waters.

In November 2025, EPA and the Corps proposed regulations intended to put the Sackett decision into practice. NEFB supported that proposal but raised concerns about its use of a “wet season” standard, particularly in Nebraska, where heavy summer storms can temporarily create water features that do not represent permanent waterways.

Following roughly 220,000 public comments, the agencies issued a supplemental proposal Sept. 9, 2026. The new proposal would generally limit federal jurisdiction to perennial streams, lakes, and ponds — waters that ordinarily contain standing or flowing water throughout the year. Wetlands would generally need a perennial surface-water connection to a federally-regulated water.

NEFB supports the perennial standard and believes it provides a more practical and understandable way to determine federal jurisdiction.

“Farmers and ranchers understand their land and know which channels carry water year after year and which ones only carry water after a storm,” McHargue said. “A rule based on permanent, perennial waters is much easier to understand and apply than a system that relies on models or temporary conditions.”

In its comments, NEFB asked the agencies to clearly define “ordinary conditions,” establish a consistent approach for accounting for drought, and maintain exclusions for farm and irrigation ditches, prior converted cropland and groundwater, including agricultural tile drainage.

NEFB also urged the agencies to recognize landowner records and observations as evidence when determining whether a water feature meets the federal definition. The organization incorporated legal and technical analysis from the American Farm Bureau Federation and endorsed comments submitted by the Waters Advocacy Coalition.

The proposed rule would narrow the scope of federal jurisdiction, but it would not eliminate protections for Nebraska’s water resources. Waters outside federal jurisdiction remain subject to state water-quality standards and the work of Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts. Existing Clean Water Act exemptions for normal farming and ranching activities would also remain unchanged.

“The question has never been whether Nebraska’s water should be protected,” McHargue said. “The question is who is best positioned to protect it. In Nebraska, we have a strong record of local and state organizations managing our water resources based on the conditions we actually see on the ground.”

The agencies will review public comments before issuing a final rule. No timeline has been announced and additional legal challenges are expected.

“Our goal is not the narrowest rule possible,” McHargue said. “It is a rule that is legally defensible, that lasts beyond one administration, and that reflects what is actually happening on the ground in Nebraska. Getting that right on paper now is how we avoid fighting this same fight again every four years.”



Scholarship Applications are Now Open

Applications are now open for the Future Leaders in Ag Scholarship Program (FLAGship Program), along with additional scholarship opportunities through the National Corn Growers Association and local Nebraska corn grower associations.

NeCGA will award up to five $2,000 FLAGship scholarships to Nebraska high school seniors and college freshmen continuing their education in Nebraska. Students pursuing degrees in agriculture-related or non-agriculture-related fields are eligible, provided they are NeCGA members or the children of NeCGA members.

One application allows students to apply for the FLAGship Program, applicable NCGA scholarships and scholarships offered by participating local associations.

Applications are due Feb. 2, 2027. Recipients will be notified in spring 2027, with scholarships distributed in December 2027.

Learn more and apply HERE https://necga.org/scholarships/.



‘The Next Conversation’ selected for Women in Agriculture Book Club

The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program and Annie’s Project have announced “The Next Conversation,” as the choice for their fourth quarter book club, which will conclude with a virtual discussion at 1 p.m. Central Time on Dec. 15.

No matter who you are talking to, “The Next Conversation” gives you immediately actionable strategies and phrases that will forever change how you communicate. From communication expert Jefferson Fisher, the definitive book on making your next conversation the one that changes everything. Jefferson Fisher, trial lawyer and one of the leading voices on real-world communication, offers a tried-and-true framework that will show you how to transform your life and your relationships by improving your next conversation. Fisher has gained millions of followers through short, simple, practical videos teaching people how to argue less and talk more. Whether it is handling a heated conversation, dealing with a difficult personality, or standing your ground with confidence, his down-to-earth teachings have helped countless people navigate life’s toughest situations.

Registration is free and can be found on the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website wia.unl.edu, or by clicking here https://unlcorexmuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d5SItxWYYohzkuq. Due to funding restrictions, NE WIA is no longer able to provide complimentary copies of books to attendees. We encourage interested readers to visit Libbyapp.com, where local libraries offer ebooks and audiobooks for free, or by purchasing “The Next Conversation” through your favorite book retailer. 



NRDs Now Taking Orders for Spring Tree Seedlings

Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) are accepting orders for conservation tree seedlings for spring planting. Ordering early helps landowners secure their preferred species and prepare for spring planting.

A recent University of Nebraska-Lincoln survey found that 63% of rural Nebraskans surveyed had noticed fewer trees in their communities or surrounding areas over the past five years. The 2026 Nebraska Rural Poll also found that 37% of respondents were more interested in tree or forest management than they were five years ago.

The NRD Conservation Tree Program offers landowners an affordable way to establish new trees and replace aging windbreaks. Since 1972, Nebraska’s NRDs have partnered with landowners to plant more than 102 million trees statewide.

At approximately $1.25 per seedling, with cost-share programs available through many NRDs, conservation trees provide benefits for farms, homes and wildlife. Trees and shrubs help reduce soil erosion, protect crops and livestock from wind, provide wildlife habitat, improve water quality and add beauty to the landscape.

“The NRD Conservation Tree Program gives landowners practical options for protecting their soil, water and other natural resources,” said Ryan Reuter, Nebraska Association of Resources Districts president. “Whether you’re establishing a new windbreak or replacing trees that have reached the end of their life, planting trees is an investment in your property and Nebraska’s natural resources.”

NRD staff and foresters work with landowners to select appropriate tree species and develop planting plans. Depending on the district, services may include planting assistance, weed barrier installation, and drip irrigation.

Popular species can sell out quickly, so landowners are encouraged to order early for the best selection. To learn about available species, cost-share options or how to place an order, contact your local NRD or visit www.nrdnet.org and click on “NRDs – Find Your NRD.”

For more information about the NRD Conservation Tree Program, visit www.nrdnet.org/tree-program.



PFI’s 2027 Annual Conference

Farmers will gather Jan. 8-9, 2027, in Des Moines for Practical Farmers of Iowa's 2027 Annual Conference to share ideas and learn from one another.

The two-day, farmer-led gathering at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center at the Iowa Events Center will feature more than 70 sessions and give attendees practical takeaways to bring back to their own farms.

“Farmers have plenty to keep them busy, so taking time away from the farm needs to be worthwhile,” says Liz Kolbe, PFI’s senior farmer-led education director. “There’s something special about hearing a fellow farmer talk honestly about what’s worked, what hasn’t and what they’ve learned along the way.”

Since 1985, the annual conference has been a gathering place for thousands of farmers to exchange creative ideas, build connections and celebrate agriculture. The 2026 conference brought together more than 1,000 attendees, and 95% of surveyed attendees said they left with a new question or idea to explore.

Whether you're a longtime PFI member, new to PFI or simply curious about agriculture, there's a place for you at the conference.

“You might come to the conference with a certain topic in mind, then end up in a session you hadn't planned on attending or strike up a conversation with someone who farms a completely different way than you do,” says Liz. “We hear from attendees that those unexpected moments can be some of the best parts of the conference.”

Conference highlights include:
    A Saturday keynote by The Lobe Rangers: Iowa farmers Zack Smith, James Hepp and Matt Bormann will share how they came to challenge agricultural groups that claim to speak for them. They’ll also speak on what they've learned about why more than a decade of voluntary efforts to reduce fertilizer pollution has not led to meaningful improvements in Iowa’s water quality.
    More than 70 sessions on topics such as building a profitable business, getting started with cover crops, creating habitat on farms, raising livestock, finding farmland when you don't own land, earning extra income through agritourism and value-added products, marketing what you grow, improving water quality, trying new farm technology, managing farm stress and more, plus a seed and scion swap.
    An evening of storytelling featuring PFI farmers sharing true stories from their lives and farms.
    Presentation of PFI's 2027 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award.
    Four optional daylong sessions on Thursday, Jan. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Attendees can arrive a day early to take a deeper dive into one of these topics:
        “Nitrogen Management Strategies”
        “Woodland Stewardship: Forestry Practices for a Healthy and Resilient Landscape”
        “Perennial Horticulture”
        “Commercial Targeted Grazing 101”

Register by Dec. 4 to be entered into a drawing to win two free nights at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown hotel during the conference.

To register or learn more, visit practicalfarmers.org/conference. For questions, please call 515-232-5661.

Practical Farmers of Iowa's 2027 Annual Conference is supported by premium sponsors NextEra Energy Resources, Niman Ranch and Sunderman Farm Management, and major sponsors Albert Lea Seed House, Grain Millers Inc., Growthland and Krause Group.



US Pork Producers Express Gratitude for Long-awaited EPA Data Decision
 
For more than 20 years, hog and other livestock farmers have lived with uncertainty over what new federal permitting or reporting requirements could result from an emissions study conducted nearly two decades ago. 

In a regulatory win for pork producers and other farmers, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it will not finalize those emissions-estimating methodologies and will move to end obligations set under a 2005 agreement. After reviewing data collected from 2005-2007, EPA determined the data are too old and too limited to support reliable methods, noting that farm designs, production practices and technologies have changed significantly in the years since.

The National Pork Producers Council has long pushed for this decision, and America’s pork producers applaud the Trump administration and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for bringing certainty to the country’s farmers by concluding the data are insufficient to support reliable methods. Producers are also thankful for the efforts of Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler in listening to the concerns of America’s small business family farmers on this matter.
 
NPPC President Rob Brenneman, a farmer from Washington County, Iowa, said, “This move confirms what farmers have long known: Every farm is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all model to apply to them. Each farm should be judged on its own factors, including its location, its practices, its animals and its people. We're grateful to EPA for listening to the farmers who feed this nation.”

In 2005, EPA entered into an Air Compliance Agreement with livestock and poultry farms and launched the National Air Emissions Monitoring Study to collect data the agency planned to use to develop methods for estimating emissions from farms. Scientists under both Republican and Democratic administrations have criticized the study, with farmers concerned over how those methods ultimately could have affected their operations under federal air regulations if finalized.



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

Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 5.96 million tons (199 million bushels) in September 2026, compared with 6.29 million tons (210 million bushels) in August 2026 and 6.15 million tons (205 million bushels) in September 2025. Crude oil produced was 2.31 billion pounds, down 6 percent from August 2026 and down 4 percent from September 2025. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.91 billion pounds during September 2026 decreased 5 percent from August 2026 and decreased 2 percent from September 2025.

Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production
Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 485 million bushels in September 2026. Total corn consumption was down 8 percent from August 2026 but up 1 percent from September 2025. September 2026 usage included 92.7 percent for alcohol and 7.3 percent for other purposes. Corn consumed for beverage alcohol totaled 3.11 million bushels, down 6 percent from August 2026 and down 15 percent from September 2025. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 438 million bushels, was down 9 percent from August 2026 but up 1 percent from September 2025. Corn consumed in September 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 1.70 million tons during September 2026, down 8 percent from August 2026 and down less than 1 percent from September 2025. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.30 million tons in September 2026, up 1 percent from August 2026 and up 7 percent from September 2025.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 261,235 tons during September 2026, down 6 percent from August 2026 and down 5 percent from September 2025. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 187,600 tons in September 2026, up 4 percent from August 2026 and up 14 percent from September 2025.

Flour Milling Products 
All wheat ground for flour during the third quarter 2026 was 227 million bushels, up 2 percent from the second quarter 2026 grind of 223 million bushels but down 2 percent from the third quarter 2025 grind of 231 million bushels. Third quarter 2026 total flour production was 105 million hundredweight, up 1 percent from the second quarter 2026 but down 1 percent from the third quarter 2025. Whole wheat flour production at 4.30 million hundredweight during the third quarter 2026 accounted for 4 percent of the total flour production. Millfeed production from wheat in the third quarter 2026 was 1.63 million tons. The daily 24-hour milling capacity of wheat flour during the third quarter 2026 was 1.63 million hundredweight.




Cattle Recordkeeping Booklets Now Available
 
The 2027 Redbook from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is now available. The pocket-sized booklet can help cattle producers effectively and efficiently record their daily production efforts by simplifying recordkeeping, which can enhance profitability and reduce stress levels.

In addition to Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) practices and proper injection technique information, the 2027 Redbook includes current information about the judicious use of antibiotics in cattle, fitness for transport, and how to build a biosecurity plan. Additional pages have been added to this updated version providing plenty of room to record calving activity, herd health, pasture use, cattle inventory, body condition, cattle treatment, AI breeding records and more. It also contains a calendar and notes section.

Redbooks can be purchased online at https://store.ncba.org/. Customization, including adding a company logo on the cover, is available in quantities of 100 books or more.



DMI Publishes 2025 Annual Report Highlighting Checkoff Results

Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), which manages the national dairy checkoff, has published its 2025 Annual Report, providing farmers and importers with a comprehensive look at strategies, results and financial investments.

The report, available at DairyCheckoff.com, highlights checkoff efforts to grow dairy demand, strengthen consumer trust, expand global opportunities and advance science and innovation on behalf of the dairy farmers and importers who fund the program.

“Dairy farmers and importers make an investment in the checkoff every day. They deserve to understand how those dollars are being used and the results they are helping make possible,” said Marilyn Hershey, a Pennsylvania dairy farmer and chair of DMI. “Transparency and accountability are fundamental to earning and maintaining that trust. Our annual report is one way we can clearly show where we are investing, what we are accomplishing and how the checkoff is working to create opportunities for dairy.”

The report shows continued progress across several areas of the checkoff’s work in 2025.

Partnerships with leading foodservice, retail and dairy companies resulted in more than 30 new dairy-focused product launches during the year and generated 516 million additional milk-equivalent pounds through key partnerships. Partners also continued investing more than $1 billion annually in dairy marketing.

Consumer-focused efforts also produced measurable results. The checkoff’s “We Are Family” e-commerce campaign generated nearly $70 million in additional dairy sales over two years, including a 3.41% sales lift during the 2025 campaign period. The Undeniably Dairy digital platform reached 6.1 million users, while the First 1,000 Days initiative reached 60,000 healthcare professionals with dairy nutrition messaging.

Globally, U.S. dairy exports reached $9.63 billion in 2025, a 15% increase from the previous year and just shy of the record set in 2022. Strategic international partnerships helped generate approximately 1.5 billion additional milk-equivalent pounds of export volume while expanding opportunities for U.S. dairy in established and emerging markets.

The report also details checkoff investments in nutrition research, sustainability and farmer engagement. More than 10,000 farmers and advisers have accessed the Dairy Conservation Navigator, while Making Every Drop Count content generated 17.4 million views in 2025, a 39% increase from 2024.

Financial information provides farmers and importers with additional visibility into checkoff funding. The 2025 Dairy Checkoff Unified Plan audited financial report stated $264.3 million in program revenues and the same amount in expenditures across reputation, innovation, exports, sustainability, farmer and community relations, strategic intelligence and other areas.

“Our responsibility is not only to put farmer and importer dollars to work strategically, but also to clearly communicate what that investment is delivering,” Hershey said. “This report helps connect those investments to results and demonstrates how the checkoff is working every day to build a stronger future for dairy.” 



USDA Announces November 2026 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for November 2026, which are effective Nov. 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 November 2026 are as follows:        
    Farm Operating Loans (Direct): 5.625%  
    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): 5.500%
    Farm Storage Facility Loans:  
        Three-year loan terms: 4.875%
        Five-year loan terms: 5.000%
        Seven-year loan terms: 5.125%
        Ten-year loan terms: 5.125% 
        Twelve-year loan terms: 5.250%  
    Sugar Storage Facility Loans (15 years): 5.500%         

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



Beef Demand Growth & Fed Cattle Marketing Evolution: Nothing Happens in a Vacuum
Glynn T. Tonsor, Kansas State University
    
As 2026 nears conclusion, it is worth noting the beef-cattle sector did not get where it is today by coincidence. A myriad of inner-industry adjustments, and corresponding market signals developing over decades, are foundational to the industry’s situation. While understandably tempting, much is lost in simplified statements of the industry’s evolution.

Consumer beef demand is core to producer viability and drives the ultimate size of the U.S. industry. The retail All-Fresh beef demand index set a record in 2025, and work led by Dr. Brian Coffey attributes more of the 2024-25 retail beef price increase to consumer demand growth than supply changes.[1] Further, other research with colleagues finds a 1% increase in retail beef demand lifts fed cattle prices about 1.5% and feeder cattle prices about 2.5%.[2] Stated simply, the number of beef cows matters, but consumer demand for beef has underpinned stronger cattle prices.

This improvement in consumer demand did not happen by accident, freely, or easily. Over recent decades, the industry moved away from pricing cattle "on the average" and toward grid and other value-based marketing that differentially pays premiums for carcasses based on what consumers value. Allowing prices to serve as signals rewarded genetics, management, and feeding decisions that improved the product many enjoy today. Between 2010 and 2025, the share of fed cattle grading Choice or Prime rose from 65% to 84%, and Prime roughly tripled to 12%. Better and more consistent eating experiences encourage repeat consumer purchases and support higher willingness-to-pay. Market signals led to industry change, a better product, stronger demand, and better prices. Said adjustments continue today as I type – in fact, those industry adjustments are further refined and motivated by the elevated price environment.

Alas, this cattle quality – beef demand evolution presents other adjustments, as nothing happens in an isolated vacuum. As more fed cattle moved to formula and other alternative arrangements, negotiated cash volume declined as a percentage of overall marketings. This development has been magnified recently by lower calf crops, and subsequent declines in feedlot marketings, as overall animal volumes have reduced. Over time, thinning negotiated cash trade can run against USDA confidentiality guidelines intended to protect individual firms' data.[3] Most recently Kansas negotiated reports have been withheld by USDA every week since mid-August, Texas-Oklahoma-New Mexico since early July, and Colorado since late 2022.

This past week USDA-AMS began publishing a new regional report (not to be confused with the long-standing, 5-Area report that also includes NE and IA/MN) aggregating negotiated fed cattle trade across Kansas, Colorado, Texas-New Mexico-Oklahoma, using data packers already submit under Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR).[4] This produces a published price for a sizeable share of the country’s cattle feeding segment. To be clear, this does not alter negotiated cash trade volume, but rather how USDA provides market information within LMR. On a related note, Drs. Ted Schroeder, Lee Schulz, and I assessed regional aggregation in 2019 and found aggregation "might increase reportability, but at the cost of information content and value."[5] I continue to recommend periodic, data-driven reassessment as the market, and with it public market reporting efforts, will continue to evolve.[6]

The key point here is that nothing happens in isolation, as inner-industry workings are both complex and reflect price-signaled adjustments, when allowed. The historical improvement in consumer beef demand, value-based price signals from seedstock to plate, and fed cattle marketings are clearly linked. Hopefully these and other inner-industry linkages gain appreciation, along with renewed interest in data-driven assessment, as they are critical to industry economic viability.