Thursday September 2 Ag News

 Ricketts Submits Comments Opposing President Biden’s Waters of the U.S. Overreach

This week, Governor Pete Ricketts submitted official comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to its request for feedback as it proposes to redefine “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) within the Clean Water Act.  Expansion of the WOTUS definition would broaden the scope of federal regulation under the Act and subject Nebraskans to burdensome regulations.

“The definition of WOTUS has a direct and meaningful impact on Nebraska farmers, ranchers, industries, developers, homebuilders, and others whose proposed projects or developments may be required to obtain permits and approval from federal agencies,” wrote Gov. Ricketts in his letter.

In 2015, the Obama Administration rewrote the definition of WOTUS in an effort to increase the EPA’s regulatory jurisdiction.  The State of Nebraska successfully mounted a legal challenge in opposition to the federal overreach.  Now, the Biden-Harris Administration is again trying to assert control over states’ water management.

In his letter to the EPA, the Governor reaffirmed the State of Nebraska’s authority to manage its own water resources.  He called for “a definition of WOTUS that provides for limited federal jurisdiction.”

“Nebraska and its regulatory agencies have clear authority and are well equipped to protect waters of the state,” wrote Gov. Ricketts.  “States are best positioned to manage the water within their borders because of their on-the-ground knowledge of the unique aspects of their hydrology, geology, and legal frameworks.  As such, waters of the state, such as agricultural waters, including farm ponds, stock ponds, and irrigation ditches, and man-made dugouts, pits, and ponds used for irrigation, should be subject to the exclusive regulatory authority of the State.”

The Governor’s letter on WOTUS was co-signed by the directors of the State of Nebraska’s Department of Environment and Energy, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Natural Resources.



Safety and compliance the focus of 3-Day Biochemical Manufacturing Workshop

Nebraska ranks second in the nation as a producer of ethanol, employing over 1,400 individuals across the state.  Maximizing efficiency, safety and regulatory compliance drive the need for effective operations and management training.  The Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), the UNL College of Engineering, and the Nebraska Ethanol Board continue to work together to provide annual opportunities to educate and reinforce best practices for the biochemical industry.  The latest offering is “Process Hazard Analysis”, a three-day workshop designed to properly plan, execute and utilize process hazard plans and tools. The hands-on class is being held October 26-28 at Novozymes in Blair, NE.

Hunter Flodman, associate professor of practice for UNL’s College of Engineering has made the rounds to many of the state’s ethanol plants, large and small.  “Safety has always been a top priority of the ethanol industry,” says Flodman.  “Every plant maintains a Process Safety Management program with the purpose of identifying hazards and managing risk.  Our goal was to create a series of trainings that would allow ethanol plants to share best practices related to process safety while also learning from renowned experts like Philip Myers.”       

Since 2017, the Nebraska MEP and its partners have provided workshops specific to the biochemical industry, including “Process Safety Management” and “Process Control Essentials”, most recently offered in August. “For the past 3 years we have offered a very good Process Safety Management course,” says Matthew Jorgensen, project specialist for the Nebraska MEP.  “That was a 3-day overview of the must have elements of any capable PSM system for chemical production facilities, especially as it relates to OSHA’s regulatory requirements. For this year, we decided it was time to take one of these critical elements and go much more in-depth.”

Through the support of the College of Engineering, the Nebraska Ethanol Board, and Novozymes, the MEP enlisted Philip M. Myers, president of Advantage Risk Solutions to lead the PHA workshop. ”Process Hazard Analysis is arguably the single most important part of a process safety management and risk management program,” says Myers. “The focus of PHA is identification of hazardous scenarios.  If you don’t identify them, you can’t manage them.”

The “hands-on” aspect of the workshop also presents a deeper learning experience for the participant.  “This course will provide in-depth training in Process Hazard Analysis,” Myers added. “From regulatory requirements and recent actions, to hazard identification methodologies, how to ensure effective studies are conducted, identify, and provide information and resources needed, and how to best manage outputs of team studies for decision making and implementation in the plant.  It’s the “A-Z” PHA course for those who manage and oversee PHAs as part of process safety and risk management or EHS programs, and for technical personnel that participate in them.”

Course participants receive certificates of completion and participants are awarded 20 professional development hours (2.0 CEUs). Partial tuition reimbursement is offered to the first 20 qualifying registrants by the Nebraska Ethanol Board.  For detailed information and advance registration, go to https://go.unl.edu/processsafety.



Nebraska Agri-Business Association Holds 44th Summer Convention with Record Attendance Announces New Board Members and Officers, Industry Awards

The 44th Nebraska Agri-Business Association Summer Convention was held August 24-25, 2021 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Kearney, Nebraska with record attendance. This two-day event consisted of educational training on drone application, the carbon offset market and government policy issues concerning agriculture. The association welcomed Congressman Adrian Smith from Nebraska’s Third District, Sam Pendleton with Rantizo, Dr. Nick Ward with Ward Laboratories and Richard Gupton from Agricultural Retailers Association as guest speakers.

Attendees enjoyed an opportunity to learn, network, socialize and honor the contributions of ag industry professionals during the two-day meeting and awards reception.

Dan Stork was elected Chairman of the Association. He is currently a sales representative with Syngenta Crop Protection in York, Nebraska. Stork thanked outgoing Chairman, Brad Dillan, for his service and leadership during a year with multiple challenges. “Brad’s steady leadership kept our organization on track and focused on providing service to our membership,” said Stork.

Other newly elected officers and directors included; Vice Chairman, Brock Emery with Landmark Implement from Minden, Finance Chairman, Bryan Hoffman, Agronomy Manager for Farmers Pride in Battle Creek, Director, Pete Cullan, Country Partners Cooperative in Gothenburg and Michael Killinger, Trotter Fertilizer in Arcadia.

Awarded the Robert L. Anderson Industry Person of the year was Rex Riedy, Sales Specialist with Landmark Implement in Grand Island, Nebraska. This award honors a member of the Nebraska Agri-Business Association for their exemplary service to the industry. Rex has trained and worked with countless applicators and retailers throughout Nebraska with over 40 years working in agriculture.

The Industry Partner Award was presented to Dr. Charles Wortmann, University of Nebraska Agronomy and Horticulture Department. The award highlights individuals who have contributed to agriculture in a significant way through their profession. A Professor Emeritus following his retirement this year, Dr. Wortmann’s research, presentations and recommendations have led to improved farming practices and protected our state’s most valuable natural resources, soil and water.

Congratulations to our new Board Officers, Directors and award winners.

The Nebraska Agri-Business Association is a trade association representing agricultural retailers, applicators, distributors and manufacturers of agriculture input products, supplying and servicing Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers. Our members produce, sell and provide custom application of fertilizer and crop protection chemicals.



IDALS Announces In-Person and Online Pesticide Applicator Testing Options

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Pesticide Bureau will offer in-person and online pesticide applicator testing options for commercial and private applicators this fall. The Department encourages commercial and private pesticide applicators to test and apply for certification this fall to avoid delays in the spring.
In-Person Testing

The Department is partnering with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to host in-person applicator testing sessions starting in September. In-person testing sites are located in Black Hawk, Cerro Gordo, Dallas, Dubuque, Humboldt, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Scott and Woodbury counties. In-person commercial and private applicator testing is free. Pre-registration is required. Applicators can visit iowaagriculture.gov/pesticide-bureau/guidance-person-pesticide-exam-sites to reserve a spot.
Online Private Pesticide Applicator Testing

Private pesticide applicators who want to obtain or renew their certifications can register to take the private certification exam online. To register for the online exam, visit iowaagriculture.force.com/pesticideapplicator/s/login/.

Online Commercial Pesticide Applicator Testing
Commercial pesticide applicators can create an account to take the online exam at data.iowaagriculture.gov/pest_signup/#online. The online exams are monitored, recorded and reviewed by a third-party proctoring service. A web camera, high-speed internet connection and government-issued photo ID card are required for online testing. There is a $25 fee for each commercial pesticide applicator test completed online, payable directly to the third-party online testing service.

Commercial pesticide applicators will receive a preliminary pass/fail test result as soon as they complete the online exam; these preliminary results cannot be used to apply for pesticide applicator certification. The third-party proctoring service will certify the test results and send the final scores to the email address used to register for the exam. Feedback on test results is only available at in-person testing sites and will not be provided for online exams.

For information about the commercial pesticide applicator online exam, visit data.iowaagriculture.gov/pest_signup/#online.

Apply for Pesticide Applicator Licenses Online
Once applicators pass the online or in-person exam, they should use their certification number to log-in to the Department’s pesticide self-service portal to submit their application, test results and payment. Once the application, payment, training and testing information are received and processed by the Pesticide Bureau, the licenses and certifications will be sent directly to the applicants.

For more information, contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Pesticide Bureau at (515) 281-8591 or pesticides@iowaagriculture.gov.




Farmers Encouraged to Place Propane Orders, Take Deliveries Now

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig urges farmers and agribusinesses to evaluate how much propane they’ll need to meet grain drying and home and livestock heating demands this fall and winter. Propane users should anticipate and suppliers should make plans to accommodate increased propane demands this fall.

“The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship works closely with the Governor’s Office, the Iowa Department of Transportation, the Iowa Propane and Gas Association, and other industry stakeholders to monitor growing season conditions and potential impacts to the harvest season,” said Secretary Naig. “It’s important for farmers and rural residents to start evaluating their propane needs early and get contracts in place with their suppliers now. I also encourage farmers to take advantage of early booking discounts and top off their propane tanks before harvest begins.”

Planning Resources for Farmers
High-moisture corn must be dried before the grain can be stored in the bin to prevent grain quality issues. The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Grain Drying Economics Module helps farmers work through corn drying and marketing decisions.

The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) has created a grain dryer propane use calculator to help crop farmers determine how much propane they may need this fall. Farmers can access the calculator at propane.com/propane-products/grain-dryers/. Enter the number of crop acres, the average anticipated yield per acre, and how much moisture may need to be removed from the crop to estimate how many gallons of propane may be needed.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Grain Quality Initiative also has resources to help agricultural decision-makers work through grain drying, storage and quality considerations.

Planning Resources for Suppliers
The National Propane Gas Association has developed an “ABCs of Supply Preparation” checklist. This tool guides propane suppliers through demand, supply, logistics, storage, and customer considerations to help decision-makers plan their fall inventories.

Suppliers can track Iowa propane demands, inventory levels and prices on the Iowa Propane Trends and Statistics website. This is a public resource that was launched in January 2020 by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa Department of Transportation to increase the visibility of key metrics that impact the propane supply chain in Iowa.

Data released Aug. 25 for the week ending Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, shows U.S. propane stocks were at 68.75 million barrels or 63.7 days of supply. This shows an increased inventory of 1.988 million barrels from the previous week. The U.S. propane inventory is expected to build over the next few weeks and peak around 78 million barrels. Midwest propane supplies stand at 21.595 million barrels, down from 25.26 million barrels at this time last year.

Iowa Propane Stakeholders Group
In the fall of 2019, Iowa experienced some propane supply challenges because grain drying demands caused by the late planting season coincided with an early cold snap that increased livestock and home heating needs.

Secretary Naig and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship convened a group of propane stakeholders, including the Iowa Governor’s office, members of the Iowa Legislature, Iowa Propane Gas Association, propane suppliers, and several agricultural groups to anticipate and take action to prevent future propane supply issues.

If farmers or agribusinesses experience propane shortages, they should notify Paul Ovrom at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at 515-242-6239 or paul.ovrom@iowaagriculture.gov, or Deb Grooms at the Iowa Propane Gas Association at 515-564-1260 or dgrooms@iapropane.org.



Farm Sector Profits Forecast to Increase in 2021
USDA Economic Research Service

Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is estimated to have increased by $15.5 billion (19.6 percent) in 2020 relative to 2019 and is forecast to increase by another $18.5 billion (19.5 percent) in 2021. Forecast at $113.0 billion in 2021, net farm income would be at its highest level since 2013 and 20 percent above its 2000–20 average of $93.9 billion when prior years are adjusted for inflation. In inflation-adjusted 2021 dollars, net farm income is forecast to increase by $15.0 billion (15.3 percent) in 2021 from the previous year.

Net cash farm income, which increased by $4.0 billion (3.7 percent) in 2020, is forecast to increase by $23.8 billion (21.5 percent) to $134.7 billion in 2021. When adjusted for inflation, net cash farm income is forecast to increase by $19.8 billion (17.2 percent) from 2020. Net cash farm income in 2021 would be at its highest level since 2014 and 19 percent above its 2000–20 average of $111.4 billion. Net cash farm income encompasses cash receipts from farming as well as farm-related income, including Government payments, minus cash expenses. It does not include noncash items—including changes in inventories, economic depreciation, and gross imputed rental income of operator dwellings—reflected in the net farm income measure above.

Cash receipts from the sale of agricultural commodities are forecast to increase by $64.3 billion (18.0 percent, in nominal terms) from 2020 to $421.5 billion in 2021, driving most of the increase in both net income measures. Total crop receipts are expected to increase by $37.9 billion (19.7 percent) from 2020 levels following higher receipts for corn and soybeans. Total animal/animal product receipts are expected to increase by $26.5 billion (16.0 percent) with increases in receipts for hogs, cattle/calves, and broilers.

Lower direct Government payments and higher production expenses in 2021 are expected to only partially offset higher cash receipts. After increasing by $23.2 billion (103.5 percent) in 2020 relative to 2019, direct Government farm payments are forecast to fall by $17.7 billion (38.6 percent) from $45.7 billion in 2020 to $28.0 billion in 2021. The expected decrease is largely because of lower supplemental and ad hoc disaster assistance for COVID-19 relief in 2021 compared to 2020. Total production expenses, including operator dwelling expenses, are forecast to increase by $26.1 billion (7.3 percent) to $383.5 billion (in nominal terms) in 2021. Spending on nearly all categories of expenses is expected to rise.

Average net cash farm income for farm businesses is forecast to increase by $10,000 (11.9 percent) to $93,700 per farm in 2021. However, the regional average net cash farm income outlook is mixed. For farm businesses in the Heartland, Northern Great Plains, Prairie Gateway, Eastern Uplands, and Mississippi Portal average net cash farm income is forecast to increase in 2021, but decline in the Northern Crescent, Southern Seaboard, Basin and Range, and Fruitful Rim. Farm businesses specializing in hogs and corn are expected to see the largest growth in average net farm income in 2021; farm businesses specializing in dairy, cotton, and specialty crops are expected to see a decline in average net farm income in 2021.

Farm sector equity is forecast up by $80.0 billion (2.9 percent) to $2.81 trillion (in nominal terms) in 2021. Farm assets are forecast to increase by $79.0 billion (2.5 percent) to $3.25 trillion in 2021, largely reflecting anticipated increases in the value of real estate. Farm debt is forecast to be relatively unchanged in 2021, decreasing by $1.0 billion (0.2 percent) to $443.9 billion (in nominal terms). While real estate debt is forecast to increase in 2021, non-real estate debt is forecast to decline. The farm sector debt-to-asset ratio is expected to fall from 14.02 percent in 2020 to 13.64 percent in 2021—the first decline since 2012. Working capital, which measures the amount of cash available to fund operating expenses after paying off debt due within 12 months, is forecast to increase by 13.8 percent from 2020. When adjusted for inflation, farm sector equity and assets in 2021 are forecast to decline by about 1 percent from 2020.

Median Income of Farm Operator Households Estimated to Fall in 2020, and Forecast to Fall Further in 2021
Median total farm household income is estimated to decrease to $80,314 in 2020 and then forecast to fall further in 2021 to $79,909. That is a nominal decrease of 3.4 percent (a 4.5 percent decline after inflation) between 2019 and 2020, and a 0.5 percent nominal decrease (a 4 percent decline after inflation) in 2021.

Farm households typically receive income from both farm and off-farm sources. Median farm income earned by farm households is estimated to decrease in 2020 to -$1,248 from $296 in 2019, and then forecast to decline further to -$1,387 in 2021. The positive median farm income in 2019 was unusual as median farm income earned by farm households was negative each year between 1996 and 2018. Many farm households rely on off-farm income: median off-farm income in 2020 is estimated at $66,779, a decrease of 2.9 percent. This decline is because of lower earned income—income from wages, salary, and nonfarm businesses—that is not fully offset by higher unearned income—income from interest, investments, pension and retirement accounts, unemployment compensation and other public transfers. In 2021, median off-farm income is forecast to rise by 2.5 percent to $68,461. Since farm and off-farm income are not distributed identically for every farm, median total income will generally not equal the sum of median off-farm and median farm income.



USDA to Host Educational Webinar on New Livestock Mandatory Reporting Information

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host an educational webinar about USDA’s Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) program and newly released cattle market information covering formula transactions and net price distribution on September 21, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time. The webinar is part of the ongoing cattle industry outreach conducted by the USDA Cattle and Carcass Training Centers (CCTCs). While anyone can attend the webinar, it is targeted to producers, feeders and other stakeholders who want a better understanding of LMR and how this information can inform real-world marketing decisions at the farm, feedlot and other points in the supply chain.

In this webinar, USDA Market News staff will provide an overview of the new Daily Direct Formula Base Cattle reports and the National Weekly Cattle Net Price Distribution report. As formula trades comprise a growing share of cattle purchases, this webinar will provide more clarity into price, volume and other characteristics of these transactions. USDA staff also will provide an overview of the new Grading Dashboard.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) directed USDA to establish the CCTCs in order to conduct activities that will limit subjectivity in the application of beef grading standards, provide producers with greater understanding of the value of their cattle, and provide investors more confidence in the cattle delivery system. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) signed agreements in 2019 to establish the CCTCs at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Tex.; Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo.; and at the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Neb.

Information about this webinar, including how to pre-register, is on the AMS website https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/beef/cattle-carcass-training-centers.



USDA to Offer New Insurance Option for Conservation-Minded Corn Farmers Who ‘Split-Apply’ Nitrogen

Corn farmers who “split apply” nitrogen will soon have another option for insurance coverage. Beginning in crop year 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) will offer the Post Application Coverage Endorsement (PACE) in certain states for non-irrigated corn, providing coverage for producers who use this practice that is considered better for natural resources and saves money for producers.

To “split-apply” nitrogen, growers make multiple fertilizer applications during the growing season rather than providing all of the crop’s nitrogen requirements with a single treatment before or during planting. The PACE will provide payments for the projected yield lost when producers are unable to apply the in-season nitrogen application.

“USDA is committed to building insurance options that encourage use of practices that are better for the environment and for producers’ bottom lines,” said RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy. “We are able to offer the PACE thanks to the cooperation of our partners, including the Illinois Corn Growers Association, National Corn Growers Association, Ag-Analytics Technology Company and Meridian Institute.”

“Split application” of nitrogen can lead to lower input costs as well as helps prevent runoff or leaching of nutrients into waterways and groundwater. This is because it is used in more targeted amounts over multiple applications, rather than one large application.

This new crop insurance option builds upon RMA’s efforts to encourage use of conservation practices, including cover crops. For example, RMA recently provided premium support for producers who planted cover crops to help offset impacts from the pandemic. Meanwhile, RMA recently updated policy to allow producers with crop insurance to hay, graze or chop cover crops at any time and still receive 100% of the prevented planting payment. This policy change supports use of cover crops, which can help producers build resilience to drought.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board approved the PACE recently, and RMA will share additional details later this year. The sales closing date for the endorsement will be the same as the producer’s underlying corn policy.



U.S. Ethanol Exports Receded in July, While Distillers Grains Exports Strengthened
Ann Lewis, Senior Analyst, Renewable Fuels Assoc.
    
U.S. ethanol exports slumped 37% in July to 51.6 million gallons (mg), the lowest level since October 2013, as former key destinations Brazil, China and India were nearly absent from the market. For the fourth straight month, Canada was the top destination, taking 29.2 mg, down 13% from June. Shipments to South Korea, a top-five customer since February, were 5.3 mg, down 67%. Other leading markets included the Netherlands (4.0 mg, up 6%), Singapore (2.4 mg, the largest volume since Feb. 2018), Mexico (2.2 mg, down 59%), and Colombia (1.5 mg, down 23%). Exports to Finland (2.0 mg), Saudi Arabia (1.7 mg), and the United Kingdom (1.1 mg) rebounded from nominal levels in June. Shipments over the first seven months of the year were 715.9 mg, down 9% from the same period in 2020.

U.S. imports of ethanol ticked up slightly to 12.7 mg, all of which was from Brazil.

U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS)—the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants—expanded 13% to 1.06 million metric tons (mt). Exports to Mexico were 247,511 mt (rising 6%), representing nearly a quarter of all U.S. DDGS shipments in July; it remained our top customer for the tenth consecutive month. DDGS sales to Turkey were 151,738 mt, nearly triple the volume exported in June and a three-year high. Exports also accelerated to Vietnam (151,449 mt, up 27% to the largest volume since Nov. 2018), South Korea (88,867 mt, up 22%), Canada (70,014 mt, up 26% to the largest volume in two years), Indonesia (66,903 mt, up 9%), and China (doubling to 35,054 mt). Total DDGS exports through July were 6.49 million mt, 8% ahead of last year.



Chairman David Scott and Democratic Committee Members Issue Letter Expressing Concern Regarding Biotech Trade Barriers

House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott and several Democratic Members of the Committee issued the following letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai regarding non-tariff trade barriers imposed on agricultural biotechnology products. In the letter, Chairman David Scott and Members express concern that these trade barriers undercut key elements of the Biden Administration’s Trade Policy Agenda and offered their support for stronger enforcement action.

The full text of the letter is as follows:

Dear Secretary Vilsack and Ambassador Tai:

As members of the House Agriculture Committee, we write to express our appreciation for your efforts to enforce our trade agreements and to resolve agricultural trade barriers. We noted that among its top priorities, the Biden Administration’s Trade Policy Agenda emphasized expanding export markets for farmers and ranchers, fighting climate change, and enforcing the rules. We support these priorities and are concerned that the continued non-tariff trade barriers that trading partners impose on agricultural biotechnology products undercut those parts of the agenda.

As we press forward collectively to confront the existential, global threats of climate change and food and nutritional insecurity, it is essential that farmers have as many tools as possible. Biotechnology is one important tool that can facilitate sustainable solutions in agriculture and help combat climate change. Biotechnology crops enable agricultural practices—such as no-till farming—which can help sequester carbon, reducing greenhouse gases.

When trading partners erect non-tariff barriers to these technologies, their actions have a chilling effect on global adoption and commercialization of new technologies. As a result, farmers at home and abroad are forced to choose between innovative technologies or access to foreign markets. China and Mexico are two nations that are failing to comply with their commitments to science-based, and timely regulatory approval processes.

China has long subjected agricultural biotechnology products to import approval process delays. Under the U.S.-China Phase One agreement, China committed to predictable and consistent average timelines for regulating biotechnology products for import and agreed not to request information unnecessary for assessing the safety of a product for its intended use. However, nearly a year and a half into the two-year agreement, timelines for product approvals for import still average more than seven years. We encourage you to hold China accountable to this Phase-One commitment so that American farmers maintain access to these innovative production tools.

Despite committing to enhanced biotechnology measures and sanitary and phytosanitary standards in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Mexico has demonstrated a troubling reversal in its treatment of U.S. biotechnology products. Mexico’s regulatory authority has not issued a biotechnology approval in over three years. In addition, the Government of Mexico published a decree on December 31, 2020, intending to ban the use of biotechnology corn by 2024. As a result, US farmers are at risk of losing access to a critical market should they choose to use biotechnology tools. We appreciate your willingness to raise Mexico’s delays in agricultural biotechnology product import approvals during your bilateral engagements and ask that you raise concerns related to the decree as well. If dialogue does not resolve these issues, we encourage you to leverage a range of enforcement tools at your disposal to enforce the USMCA.

We stand with you as you confront these trade barriers and impress upon our partners the value of biotechnology as a tool that can benefit climate smart agricultural production, food security, and society. Please let us know how Congress can support you in your efforts to achieve a fairer playing field and to ensure that an important climate tool is not unnecessarily restricted.

Sincerely,
Chairman David Scott
Rep. Jim Costa
Rep. Stacey Plaskett
Rep. Angie Craig
Rep. Jimmy Panetta
Rep. Cindy Axne
Rep. Cheri Bustos
Rep. Abigail D. Spanberger



Thompson: Biden Tax Plan Full of False Promises

In response to the White House continually spreading misinformation and false promises regarding the impact of President Biden’s tax plan on America’s family farms and businesses, Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee, Glenn “GT” Thompson, issued the following statement:

“President Biden continues to make major, complex tax policy promises without explaining how they will work. Farmers, ranchers, and small businesses’ livelihoods are at stake. Family businesses are far more important than feel-good, 'tax-the-rich' messaging from this Administration and Twitter activists. There are real families and real farms the President is putting in jeopardy,” Thompson said.

In June, Republican Leader Thompson and Senator Boozman, Republican Leader of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, announced a report from the experts at Texas A&M University’s Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC) detailing the devastating impact President Biden’s tax code changes could have on family farms. The report found 92 of AFPC’s 94 farms in the study would be impacted with an average additional tax liability of more than $720,000 per farm.

“While the White House may want to disregard the work of AFPC, the reality is hard-working men and women that feed, clothe, and power our nation and the world will be irreparably harmed from these policies,” Thompson continued. “If President Biden is so confident his plan will adequately exempt full-time family farmers from these punitive taxes, then I urge him to release the details of this alleged exemption immediately.”

The AFPC study could not model an agriculture exemption because the President and his allies have repeatedly refused to explain how such an exemption will function in practice. To date, we have heard only platitudes and hollow promises to protect farmers. With no proposed agriculture exemption to consider, fundamental questions remain, including:

    What family members would be eligible?
    What activities must be undertaken to qualify?
    What will happen if some heirs farm and some heirs do not?
    How will this new tax burden interact with current tax law, including depreciation, the gift exclusion, and inheritance taxes?
    How will tangible personal property be defined and treated?

“I thank my Democratic colleagues on Committee, including Chairman Scott, who have been vocal in opposition to the President’s tax agenda as it relates to farm families. Unfortunately, marking up the Agriculture Committee’s provisions of the reconciliation package without assurances from the White House that these proposals are off the table is a de facto endorsement of them,” Thompson concluded.  



USGC Latin America Office Hosts In-Person Program, Attends FAS Cooperators Meeting

Through the cooperators meeting of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Central American Northern Triangle offices, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) was able to connect with end-users of feed grains in Guatemala, while also meeting with key stakeholders in the poultry and livestock industries. In addition, speakers and attendees discussed the comfort levels of those in the region given the ongoing pandemic.

While in Guatemala, the Council’s Latin America office conducted an in-person feed grains program, the first in-person event since March 2020. Ana Ballesteros, USGC’s Latin American marketing director for feed grains, visited Guatemala in mid-August to facilitate the trade servicing program, while also participating in the FAS cooperators meeting.

"Although we have been able to keep in touch with those end-users virtually, being able to talk with them in person allowed for a better understanding of their situations,” Ballesteros said.

Following the appropriate safety measures in the area, the Council met with six organizations while in Guatemala, some of which allowed for on-site visits. USGC visited Alimentos S.A., that processes corn for human consumption, and Comayma, a feed-producing cooperative. Ballesteros also met with the Guatemalan Pork Producers Association (APOGUA), the Guatemalan Poultry Producers Association (ANAVI), the Dairy Producers Chamber and the Central Agricola Group on behalf of the Council.

By learning more about each organization and the challenges they have faced since the beginning of the pandemic, USGC is better able to plan its programs for the future.

“Having the in-person meetings helped the Council identify additional activities to conduct even under current restrictions,” Ballesteros said. “It also helped to understand the impact that the first year of the pandemic had on industries and their expectations moving forward.”

Guatemala imported 1.2 million metric tons (MT) (47.2 million bushels) of U.S. corn and 74 thousand MT of U.S. DDGS in the 2020-21 marketing year.



USDA Seeks Comments on the Labeling of Meat and Poultry Products Derived from Animal Cells

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published today an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit comments and information regarding the labeling of meat and poultry products made using cultured cells derived from animals under FSIS jurisdiction. FSIS will use these comments to inform future regulatory requirements for the labeling of such food products.

“This ANPR is an important step forward in ensuring the appropriate labeling of meat and poultry products made using animal cell culture technology,” said USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Sandra Eskin. “We want to hear from stakeholders and will consider their comments as we work on a proposed regulation for labeling these products.”

On March 7, 2019, USDA and FDA announced a formal agreement to jointly oversee the production of human food products made using animal cell culture technology and derived from the cells of livestock and poultry to ensure that such products brought to market are safe, unadulterated and truthfully labeled. Under the agreement, FDA will oversee cell collection, growth, and differentiation of cells. FDA will transfer oversight at the cell harvest stage to FSIS. FSIS will then oversee the cell harvest, processing, packaging, and labeling of products. FDA and FSIS also agreed to develop joint principles for the labeling of products made using cell culture technology under their respective labeling jurisdictions. Seafood, other than Siluriformes fish, falls under FDA’s jurisdiction, whereas meat, including Siluriformes fish, and poultry are under FSIS’ jurisdiction.

Other than new labeling regulations concerning this product, FSIS does not intend to issue any other new food safety regulations for the cell-cultured food products under its jurisdiction. Current FSIS regulations requiring sanitation and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems are immediately applicable and sufficient to ensure the safety of products cultured from the cells of livestock and poultry.

FSIS already has received thousands of comments on the topic, in response to a 2018 joint public meeting with FDA and regarding two petitions for rulemaking (from the United States Cattlemen’s Association and Harvard Law School Animal Law and Policy Clinic). The agency, however, needs specific types of comments and information that will inform the process of developing labeling regulations for meat and poultry products made using animal cell culture technology.

The ANPR is requesting comment on specific topics to be considered during rulemaking related to statutory and regulatory requirements for the labeling of these meat and poultry products: consumer expectations about the labeling of these products, especially in light of the nutritional composition and organoleptic qualities (taste, color, odor, or texture) of the products; names for these products that would be neither false nor misleading; economic data; and any consumer research related to labeling nomenclature for products made using animal cell culture technology.

The ANPR also discusses how FSIS will generally evaluate labels for these products if they are submitted before the agency completes rulemaking.

There is a 60-day period for comment on the ANPR. To view the ANPR and information on how to comment or submit information, visit the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/federal-register-rulemaking/federal-register-rules.



NMPF Pursuing Needed Fixes on Disaster Assistance and Class I Mover
Jim Mulhern, National Milk Prod. Federation President & CEO    
    
Dairy farmers welcomed assistance from USDA in August via the new Dairy Donation Program, which NMPF championed through the legislative process; adjustments to the Dairy Margin Coverage program; and the new Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program, which will partially reimburse farmers for losses that arose from how the department approached dairy purchases for food-insecure families in 2020. These initiatives will help farmers during difficult times, and they happened because NMPF worked closely with USDA and Congress to help dairy farmers better manage their risks and serve their communities.

That doesn’t mean our work is over – especially on the pandemic market program. The $350 million in reimbursements is a partial balm that begins to redress policies that created unintended harm. But it isn’t a fair deal for all dairy farmers. NMPF is committed to lead efforts for fairness on behalf of our members.

Some background: USDA’s new program attempts to rectify two policy actions that left many in dairy on the wrong end of unplanned consequences. The immediate trigger was government food-box program purchases that were heavily weighted toward cheese. That over-emphasis sent Class III cheese prices to all-time highs and caused unusual and uneven impacts on milk checks, most commonly noticed via the record negative Producer Price Differentials (PPDs) seen during the pandemic.

The other culprit was an attempted good-faith policy change that inadvertently became a ticking time bomb, exploded by those same milk-price gyrations. A change to the Class I mover formula, which sets the price of Class I fluid milk, in the 2018 farm bill was originally proposed as a revenue-neutral adjustment designed to encourage increased fluid milk sales without hurting farmers. It turned out to be anything but that. Last year’s unprecedented discrepancies between Class III and Class IV prices, which are used to calculate the mover, pushed Class I skim milk prices dramatically lower than they would have been under the previous formula, leaving dairy farmers with roughly $750 million in losses.

At NMPF, we repeatedly urged the government to make more balanced purchases last year because we feared that unbalanced dairy-buying would wreak havoc on markets, as it did. Subsequently, when the effects of the new Class I mover formula became clear, we voiced support for an emergency Federal Milk Marketing Order hearing focused specifically on addressing the problem. We have held back on a formal hearing request, choosing instead to work with USDA toward creative solutions to more quickly assist producers, such as the new pandemic program. With USDA’s announcement – a milestone in the government’s response to the pandemic’s toll on dairy – it’s time to look at where we are, and where we need to go.

We are grateful that the department found a way to provide some relief, and that many members of Congress worked with us to advocate vocally for dairy farmers.

And while the program will help many producers, its lack of fairness is a major concern for NMPF and many of its members. The payment is calculated based on only 5 million pounds of milk per farm during the period of June-December 2020. That level is well below the production of thousands of dairy farms, meaning many family dairy farmers will only receive a portion of the losses they incurred. Losses were felt by producers of all sizes and in all regions: It was a disaster in the truest sense of the word. And like most other disaster programs, this one shouldn’t be subject to such arbitrary low limits on assistance. We are already working with allies in Congress to further supplement USDA’s already announced funding.

Meanwhile, we still need to address the risk imbalance in the current Class I mover formula that was exposed by the pandemic. The proposed adjustment to the mover NMPF developed last spring was designed to account for past losses and to restore needed balance for farmers going forward. The COVID-19 pandemic is (we hope) a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. But as we can now see, a large spread between Class III and IV milk prices is not, making a Class I mover fix essential. Along with more fully recouping last year’s losses, we look forward to advancing positive solutions to this and other federal-order issues.

NMPF applauds USDA’s and Congress’s many crucial efforts for dairy. But fair is fair. As the advocate for U.S. dairy farmers, we’re leading the fight for fairness. Our efforts, along with those from our member-allies across the dairy farmer community, have already yielded a lot. And they’re far from over.



High Hopes for Lowly Pond Scum

Pond scum generally isn't looked upon kindly. But the microalgae that make up these floating green mats of slime could get newfound respect as renewable sources of fuel, specialty chemicals, dietary supplements and other valued products.

The potential of pond scum has also spilled over into agriculture. In August, a team of University of Minnesota (UMN) and Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists published findings that inoculating crop soils with microalgae known as cyanobacteria can offer several benefits. These include naturally fertilizing the soil, replenishing its store of organic matter and binding soil particles together so that they're less prone to erosion.

Adriana Alvarez, with UMN's Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, led the study together with UMN professor Robert Gardner (deceased) and ARS soil scientists Sharon Weyers and Jane Johnson—both at the agency's Soil Management Research Unit in Morris, Minnesota. The collaboration is part of a shared interest: finding sustainable ways agriculture can meet the food, fiber, feed and fuel needs of a growing world population forecasted to exceed 9 billion by 2050.

For the study, the team chose to use a nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium known as Anabaena cylindrica UTEX strain 1611. The researchers applied it as a dark green slurry to pots containing Mollisol, a type of organically rich clay loam soil common to grassland areas of the U.S. Upper Midwest.

Previous research by other groups had focused on the use of cyanobacteria and other photosynthetic microalgae to fertilize rice crops and revitalize degraded soils in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. But less research had been done examining the effects of the microalgae's use on nutrient-rich arable soils with high organic content like Mollisol, the team noted in a paper published in August in the online issue of the Journal of Applied Phycology.

To learn more, the researchers divided their study into three separate laboratory experiments. The first examined the effects of using the cyanobacteria on soil structure and nutrient dynamics, the second on soil loss and nutrient levels in runoff and leaching water following simulated rainfall events, and the third on mineralization, in which "biomass" of the cyanobacteria release plant-nourishing forms of nitrogen and phosphorus as they die and decay in soil.

Among the results, the researchers observed:
    Soils inoculated with cyanobacteria had more soluble nitrogen and phosphorus than untreated control soils—a build-up that occurred gradually rather than suddenly. The latter raises the prospects of a biobased, slow-release fertilizer, the researchers noted.
    Those same soils also had more soluble organic carbon, a form known to stimulate the growth and activity of other beneficial soil microorganisms that promote plant health and productivity.
    Soils contain clumps of particles called aggregates. Cyanobacteria-inoculated soils had more large aggregates that held together better in water, a feature that can contribute to improved soil structure and reduced likelihood of erosion by wind or rain.

Although the results affirm the findings of prior studies, the researchers cautioned more work has yet to be done across different agricultural systems and geographic areas to fully understand the value, safety and limitations of using microalgae.

"More research is needed with different strains, different crops, different soils and climates," Alvarez said. The economic feasibility of scaling up microalgae production and harvest for products that farmers can use—and in what forms—also has to be investigated. However, new approaches like this will be critical to meeting the agricultural challenges of tomorrow, Alvarez added—namely, "protecting and preserving the soil resource and value of soil as a central piece in our food, water and energy production for the next decades."

Wednesday September 1 Ag News

 Extension record-keeping course for farmers and ranchers set for October

The next session of “Know Your Numbers, Know Your Options,” Nebraska Extension’s four-part financial record-keeping course, will be held virtually from 6 to 8 p.m. Central time, on Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27.

Participants are required to have an internet connection and attend each of the four workshop dates.

This course is designed to help farmers and ranchers understand their current financial position and how big decisions like large purchases, new leases or changes in production will affect their bottom line.

Participants will work through the financial statements of a case study farm, watch prerecorded videos, complete assignments and participate in video chats. Upon completion of this program, participants will have a better understanding of how financial records can be used to make decisions and be able to confidently discuss their financial position with their family, business partners, and lenders.

The course fee is $20 per person and class size is limited to 20 people. Register by Sept. 27 on the Women in Agriculture website, https://wia.unl.edu/know.

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2020-70028-32728.



Cattle Compaction in Cropland: Fact or Fiction?
Daren Redfearn - NE Extension Forage Crop Residue Specialist
Mary Drewnoski - NE Beef Systems Specialist
Jay Parsons - NE Farm and Ranch Management Specialist

Many crop producers are concerned that trampling from cattle grazing corn residue negatively affects crop yields. But when grazed at proper stocking rates, small, but positive effects on crop production after grazing have been observed. Research conducted at the University of Nebraska has shown that grazing corn residue at the recommended stocking rate does not reduce corn or soybean yields in irrigated fields the following growing season.

In fact, a long-term study in eastern Nebraska at the Eastern Research and Extension Center showed two to three bushel per acre improvements for soybean production following grazed corn residue in a corn-soybean rotation. This result was the same whether cattle grazed in the fall from November through January or spring from February through April. A five-year study in western Nebraska measured corn yields from continuous corn after cattle grazing in the fall and found no negative effects on corn yields the following year.

It must be noted that minor surface compaction can result from grazing during wet weather. However, this compaction often disappears through the natural wetting and drying and freezing and thawing processes. The compaction level for restricting root growth does not carry over into the following growing season.

Grazing corn residue benefits both cattle and crop producers. Corn residue should be viewed as an economical source of winter roughage for cattle that can provide an extra source of income from corn production that does not affect next year's crop production. If you are interested in listing crop residue fields available for winter grazing and connecting with livestock producers, sign up on the Crop Residue Exchange.

The Crop Residue Exchange is made possible with funding support from Nebraska Extension, the Northern Plains Climate Hub and the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Beef Systems Initiative.



THE LAST CUTTING
– Brad Schick, NE Extension Educator

Has the decision been made for when the last cutting of alfalfa will happen?

September is here and so are the dry conditions in much of Nebraska. When alfalfa is cut for the last time in the fall, it affects winter survival as well as the spring regrowth. As long as it is cut at the right time, the effects won’t be bad. Alfalfa needs 500 growing degree days or approximately six weeks of uninterrupted growth in the fall to fully prepare for winter by building up nutrients in the roots. This typically means that the beginning of the six weeks of growth will be about 3 weeks before the first frost.

The last cutting can either be before the winterization process or after. If cut during, it adds more stress to the alfalfa. During stressful years for alfalfa such as drought, insect and disease pressure, or more than 4 cuttings, the risk of poorer spring regrowth increases. Newer stands, winterhardy varieties, and more disease resistant varieties can typically handle more plant stress.

Another factor to consider is how badly alfalfa hay is needed. If drought has forced the hand to cut alfalfa in less-than-ideal times, the risk of cutting during the winterization process may outweigh the cost of buying expensive hay. Weather can always throw a wrench in our plans so waiting until after the winterization process to cut again would be less risky.

Any cutting of alfalfa is a stress event for the plant. Minimizing additional stress by avoiding the winterization window will help with winter survival and vigorous spring growth.



NDA RECEIVES $500,000 GRANT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) has received a one-year, $500,000 grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture for behavioral health assistance for people involved in the agriculture industry.

“The amount of stress experienced by many Nebraska farmers, ranchers and others involved in agriculture has increased significantly in recent years,” said NDA Director Steve Wellman. “When you factor in the flooding of 2019, followed by the pandemic, along with other financial challenges, this grant will help provide much needed support for those seeking professional counseling.”

NDA will work in partnership with Legal Aid of Nebraska to administer a behavioral assistance voucher program through the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline.

“The Rural Response Hotline has been in existence for more than 35 years and has the infrastructure in place to efficiently implement this program,” said NDA Program Administrator Karla Bahm. “In recent years, there has been a steady increase in requests from producers and others in the ag industry dealing with stressful issues.”

Funds from the grant will be expended beginning Sept. 1, 2021, through Aug. 31, 2022. Anyone wanting to make a request for a behavioral assistance voucher through this program can contact the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline at 800-464-0258.



USDA Settles a Packers and Stockyards Case against North Platte Stockyards Inc. and Kyle Layman

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered into a stipulation agreement with North Platte Stockyards Inc. and Kyle Layman (North Platte) of North Platte, Neb., on July 6, 2021, for violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. Under the terms of the stipulation agreement, North Platte waived its rights to a hearing and paid a $1,500 civil penalty.

An investigation by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) revealed that between July 2020 through February 2020, North Platte had Custodial Account shortages on July 7, 2020 and Aug. 31, 2020, which were $300,172.77 and $187,145.71, respectively. North Platte failed to reimburse the Custodial Account timely for uncollected receivables which is a violation of section 312 of the Packers & Stockyards Act and section 201.42(c) of the Regulations.

A custodial account is a trust account designated for shippers’ proceeds from the sale of livestock in trust for sellers. Operating with custodial account shortages is a violation of the P&S Act and places livestock sellers at risk of not being paid timely or at all.

The P&S Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to assess civil penalties up to $29,270 per violation against any person after notice and opportunity for hearing on the record. USDA may offer alleged violators the option of waiving their right to a hearing and enter into a stipulation agreement to quickly resolve alleged violations.

The P&S Act is a fair-trade practice and payment protection law that promotes fair and competitive marketing environments for the livestock, meat and poultry industries.



USDA Designates 25 Iowa Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for 8 or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional.

Impacted Area: Iowa
Triggering Disaster: Drought
Application Deadline: April 11, 2022

Primary Counties Eligible:
Black Hawk    Cerro Gordo    Greene    Humboldt    Tama
Boone    Chickasaw    Grundy    Marshall    Webster
Bremer    Fayette    Hamilton    Mitchell    Winneshiek
Butler    Floyd    Hancock    Sac    Worth
Calhoun    Franklin    Hardin    Story    Wright

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:
Iowa:
Allamakee    Crawford    Jasper
Benton    Dallas    Kossuth
Buchanan    Delaware    Palo Alto
Buena Vista     Guthrie    Pocahontas
Carroll    Howard    Polk
Cherokee    Ida    Poweshiek
Clayton    Iowa    Winnebago
Minnesota: Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston and Mower

More Resources
On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.



Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 502 million bushels in July 2021. Total corn consumption was up 2 percent from June 2021 and up 5 percent from July 2020. July 2021 usage included 91.4 percent for alcohol and 8.6 percent for other purposes. Corn consumed for beverage alcohol totaled 3.64 million bushels, down 2 percent from June 2021 but up 12 percent from July 2020. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 449 million bushels, was up 2 percent from June 2021 and up 6 percent from July 2020. Corn consumed in July 2021 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 91.3 percent and 8.7 percent, respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 1.97 million tons during July 2021, up 2 percent from June 2021 and up 6 percent from July 2020. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.12 million tons in July 2021, up 1 percent from June 2021 and up 22 percent from July 2020.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 304,527 tons during July 2021, up 6 percent from June 2021 but down less than 1 percent from July 2020. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 209,836 tons in July 2021, up 1 percent from June 2021 but down 10 percent from July 2020.



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

Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 4.99 million tons (166 million bushels) in July 2021, compared with 4.85 million tons (162 million bushels) in June 2021 and 5.54 million tons (185 million bushels) in July 2020. Crude oil produced was 1.97 billion pounds up 3 percent from June 2021 but down 7 percent from July 2020. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.58 billion pounds during July 2021 decreased 1 percent from June 2021 and decreased 5 percent from July 2020.

Canola seeds crushed for crude oil was 145,989 tons in July 2021, compared with 163,537 tons in June 2021 and 202,711 tons in July 2020. Canola crude oil produced was 125 million pounds, down 7 percent from June 2021 and down 27 percent from July 2020. Canola once refined oil production, at 147 million pounds during July 2021, was down 6 percent from June 2021 and down 8 percent from July 2020.

Cottonseed once refined oil production, at 32.9 million pounds during July 2021, was down 18 percent from June 2021 and down 12 percent from July 2020.

Edible tallow production was 85.0 million pounds during July 2021, down 16 percent from June 2021 but up 6 percent from July 2020. Inedible tallow production was 304 million pounds during July 2021, down 1 percent from June 2021 but up 3 percent from July 2020. Technical tallow production was 108 million pounds during July 2021, up 15 percent from June 2021 but down 7 percent from July 2020. Choice white grease production, at 83.6 million pounds during July 2021, decreased 6 percent from June 2021 and decreased 15 percent from July 2020.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 8/27/2021

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending August 27, ethanol production dropped by 28,000 barrels per day (b/d), or 3.0%, to 905,000 b/d, equivalent to 38.01 million gallons daily and the lowest level since late February. Production was 1.8% below the same week last year and 10.7% under the 2019 level. The four-week average ethanol production volume declined 2.8% to 949,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.55 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks tightened by 0.5% to an eleven-week low of 21.1 million barrels. Stocks were 1.1% above the year-ago level but 11.3% below the same week in 2019. Inventories tightened across all regions except the West Coast (PADD 5).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, ticked 0.1% higher to 9.58 million b/d (146.83 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was 9.0% above a year ago and 1.1% more than the same week in 2019.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol remained level with the prior week at 926,000 b/d, equivalent to 14.20 bg annualized. Net inputs were 7.5% above a year ago but 2.7% less than the same week in 2019.

Imports of ethanol arriving into the West Coast were 33,000 b/d, or 9.70 million gallons for the week. This marks the sixth time in eleven weeks that imports were logged. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of June 2021.)



Retail Fertilizer Trends - Fertilizer Price Gains Losing Steam

Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the fourth week of August 2021 show slightly higher prices once again. However, this is the second straight week that no fertilizer saw significantly higher prices, which DTN designates as 5% or greater.

All eight of the major fertilizers were slightly higher compared to last month. Potash, which cost $569/ton, had the largest change from last month, up 4% or $20/ton. The rest of the fertilizers saw 1% price increases or less. DAP had an average price of $697/ton, MAP $756/ton, urea $557/ton, 10-34-0 $632/ton, anhydrous $748/ton, UAN28 $370/ton and UAN32 $420/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.61/lb.N, anhydrous $0.46/lb.N, UAN28 $0.66/lb.N and UAN32 $0.66/lb.N.

Retail fertilizer prices compared to a year ago show all fertilizers have increased significantly. 10-34-0 is now 36% more expensive, urea is 57% higher, DAP and potash are 62% more expensive, UAN32 is 63% higher, both UAN28 and anhydrous are 69% more expensive and MAP is 74% higher compared to last year.



USDA Announces September 2021 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for September 2021, which are effective September 1. USDA’s 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 ownership and operating loans with favorable interest rates and terms to help eligible agricultural producers, whether multi-generational, long-time or new to the industry, obtain financing needed to start, expand or maintain a family agricultural operation. FSA also offers emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters or quarantine.  For many loan options, FSA sets aside funding for historically underserved producers, including veterans, beginning producers, women, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Hispanic farmers and ranchers.

Interest rates for Operating and Ownership loans for September 2021 are as follows:
    Farm Operating Loans (Direct): 1.875%
    Farm Ownership Loans (Direct): 3.000%
    Farm Ownership Loans (Direct, Joint Financing): 2.500%
    Farm Ownership Loans (Down Payment): 1.500%
    Emergency Loan (Amount of Actual Loss): 2.875%

FSA also offers guaranteed loans through commercial lenders at rates set by those lenders.
You can find out which of these loans may be right for you by using our Farm Loan Discovery Tool.

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 and loans that provide interim financing 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 (CCC) and are administered by FSA.
    Commodity Loans (less than one year disbursed): 1.125%
    Farm Storage Facility Loans:
        Three-year loan terms: 0.375%
        Five-year loan terms: 0.750%
        Seven-year loan terms: 1.000%
        Ten-year loan terms: 1.250%
        Twelve-year loan terms: 1.375%
    Sugar Storage Facility Loans (15 years): 1.625%



RMA Makes Improvements to Whole-Farm Revenue Protection

Organic and aquaculture producers can soon benefit from updates to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) plan. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is revising the plan of insurance to make it more flexible and accessible to producers beginning in crop year 2022.

“These improvements to the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection program will make it a better risk management tool for producers,” said RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy. “USDA is committed to equity in program delivery, and this includes specialty crop, organic, and aquaculture producers, who will benefit from these enhancements to WFRP.”

Changes to WFRP include:
    Increasing expansion limits for organic producers to the higher of $500,000 or 35 percent. Previously, small and medium size organic operations were held to the same 35 percent limit to expansion as conventional practice producers.
    Increasing the limit of insurance for aquaculture producers to $8.5 million. Previously aquaculture producers were held to a $2 million cap on expected revenue, this change allows more aquaculture producers to participate in the program.
    Allowing a producer to report acreage as certified organic, or as acreage in transition to organic, when the producer has requested an organic certification by the acreage reporting date. This allows organic producers more flexibility when reporting certified acreage.
    Providing flexibility to report a partial yield history for producers lacking records by inserting zero yields for missing years. Previously, missing a year of records would cause the commodity’s expected value to be zero, meaning past revenue from the commodity would contribute nothing to the insurance guarantee.

WFRP provides a risk management safety net for all commodities on the farm under one insurance policy and is available in all counties nationwide. Producers purchased more than 2,000 policies to protect $2.26 billion in liabilities in 2020.

This insurance plan is tailored for any farm with up to $8.5 million in insured revenue, including farms with specialty or organic commodities (both crops and livestock), or those marketing to local, regional, farm-identity preserved, specialty, or direct markets.



NMPF Joins Agricultural Leaders in Urging Farmers and Rural Communities to Get Vaccinated

NMPF and several of its member cooperatives are among the more than 30 state and national agricultural organizations representing farm, commodity and agribusiness communities that have joined together to promote vaccination among farmers and other rural Americans, sending an open letter to association members to add another voice to the call to get vaccinated.

“With a presence in all 50 states, dairy farmers know well the impacts vaccinations have on communities and how important it is for businesses and the economy to move beyond the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “We’re proud of dairy’s leadership in the agricultural community on this crucial issue and pledge to do what we can to help make our communities safe.”

NMPF Chairman Randy Mooney, along with Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, co-bylined an editorial published in the Des Moines Register last week to share a message about the important connection between agriculture, science, and health.

“The key to defeating coronavirus, like it was for polio, measles, and other diseases that left their mark across the countryside, is the vaccine,” the two wrote. “Success will only be achieved one decision — and one person — at a time.”

The effort is in response to the continued challenge of the COVID-19 Delta variant cases increasing precipitously among the unvaccinated populations across the country. Many rural communities have been hit hard by the Delta variant, which has stressed healthcare systems and threatens to greatly impact those we depend on for a safe food system. Agricultural leaders in the letter are asking farmers to protect their health and their communities by getting vaccinated saying, “Farmers make science-based decisions every day to protect their farms and their communities - they should make these same decisions to protect their health as well."



National Sorghum Foundation, BASF Open Joint Scholarship Application

The National Sorghum Foundation (NSF) and BASF are now accepting applications for a joint scholarship that will be awarded January 2022, providing $2,500 for tuition for the 2021-2022 academic year.

“The National Sorghum Foundation and BASF have worked together for years to support students who are passionate about the sorghum industry and excel in academics, leadership and service,” NSF Chairman Larry Lambright said. “We are always excited to provide deserving students with the financial support necessary to help them succeed.”

Scholarship applicants must be the child or grandchild of a National Sorghum Producers member and be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in an agriculturally-related curriculum. Applications must be postmarked by December 1, 2021. More information about scholarship criteria and application forms can be found online at SorghumGrowers.com/foundation-scholarships/.




Animal Agriculture Alliance advocacy scholarship competition kicks off September 13

The Animal Agriculture Alliance’s annual College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship competition kicks off in less than two weeks on September 13. Undergraduates, graduate students and collegiate clubs are competing for more than $20,000 in scholarships throughout the nine-week program.

Help us spread the word about College Aggies Online! If you refer a friend to sign up for the 2021 CAO scholarship competition and they list your name as the person who recommended them when they sign up for the competition, you’ll both be entered in a drawing to win a $100 gift card! Each referral will count as one entry and there is no limit on the number of entries for referrers. We will give away two $100 gift cards during the CAO kickoff event - one drawing for referrers and one drawing for those who were referred. All signups with a referral listed made through September 12 will be entered. Clubs and classes have the special opportunity to win one of ten $100 Domino’s gift cards by being one of the first to sign up. For more information or to sign up, visit https://collegeaggies.animalagalliance.org.

CAO connects college students who are interested in promoting agriculture and gives them the skills they need to effectively engage with key audiences online and on campus. Individual participants receive training from experts and engage with their peers on social media by posting information about current and emerging issues facing farmers and ranchers and telling personal stories. Club participants are challenged to host events virtually or on their campus to talk about modern agriculture with their peers. Events include “Scary Food Myths” where students hand out candy with myths and facts about food and agriculture; “Undeniably Dairy” where students host a booth on their concourse about dairy farming; and “Newbies on the Farm” where students invite their peers to tour a local farm. Last year, students reached 4.6 million people on social media and at club events.

“The College Aggies Online program is the ultimate resume-building ‘ag-vocacy’ program for collegiate students and clubs looking to grow their consumer engagement skills,” said Emily Solis, Alliance communications specialist. “As a former participant, I was able to grow my communication skills through the program and find new ways to advocate for agriculture while networking and engaging with students and mentors that I’m still connected with to this day.”

Mentors for the 2021 competition include:
    Don Schindler, Senior Vice President, Digital Innovations, Dairy Management Inc.
    Rebecca Hilby, Wisconsin Dairy Farmer
    Jenell Eck, Maryland Chicken, Grain and Beef Farmer, Thompson Ag Consulting
    Casey Kinler, Director, Membership and Marketing, Animal Agriculture Alliance
    Lexi Marek, Iowa Pig Farmer, Pig Improvement Company
    Liz Wilder, Idaho Sheep Farmer, Idaho Wool Growers Association
    Chandler Mulvaney, Director of Grassroots Advocacy and Spokesperson Development, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
    Natalie Kovarik, Nebraska Cattle Rancher
    Beth Breeding, Vice President of Communications and Marketing, National Turkey Federation
    Emily Shaw, Founder and Personal Trainer, Dairy Girl Fitness
    Alexander Strauch, DVM, Poultry Veterinarian
    Kylie Epperson, Missouri Pig and Grain Farmer
    Joe Proudman, Associate Director for Communications, CLEAR Center at University of California, Davis
    Brandi Buzzard Frobose, Kansas Cattle Rancher, Red Angus Association of America

CAO would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. 2021 sponsors include: Dairy Management Inc., CHS Foundation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, National Corn Growers Association, Institute for Feed Education and Research, Domino’s Pizza Inc., Ohio Poultry Association, and Culver’s Franchising System. To become a sponsor of this year’s program, contact Casey Kinler, Director, Membership and Marketing, at ckinler@animalagalliance.org.

Tuesday August 31 Ag News

 Late Season Soybean Gall Midge Update

Soybean gall midge (SGM) injury and pressure varied considerably across its geographic range with the largest concentration of injured soybean fields occurring in east-central Nebraska this season. To date, a total of 140 counties have been identified as infested with SGM through the presence of orange larvae on soybean and sweet clover. Of this total, 26 new counties were identified this year with the largest number of new county detections occurring in Minnesota.

Nebraska Update
Justin McMechan, Assistant Professor, Crop Protection and Cropping Systems Specialist
Thomas Hunt, Professor, Research and Extension Entomologist

Soybean gall midge caused significant injury at all east-central Nebraska research sites in 2021. Adult emergence was first detected on May 31st with adult emergence from overwintering sites (last year’s soybean fields) and continued until July 21st. The duration of adult emergence from overwintering sites is troubling for management with an average of 36 days across 14 sites in east-central Nebraska. This is longer than the 19 and 26-day average duration of overwintering emergence observed in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Adult emergence from this year’s soybean was first detected on June 29th with consistent adult activity occuring during the season with the exception of August 8th and 10th. Based on the insects' lifecycle, it is likely that soybean gall midge completed two full generations on this year’s soybean. Adult activity has decreased over the past few days and is likely to end in early September if it is similar to previous years.

A U.S. soybean germplasm field screen for SGM funded by the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) had significant pressure and presence of SGM this year. In east-central NE, both research sites showed significant pressure with greater than 99.9% of plots infested with SGM. The significant injury and high frequency of infested plants provides an opportunity to identify potential sources of resistance to SGM in soybean. A wide variation in plant response to injury was observed in the field and additional analyses will be conducted this fall and winter. A 2021 Nebraska Soybean Board funded planting date project evaluating larval number, plant injury, and yield had significantly greater number of larvae on soybean planted on April 22 to May 12th compared to those planted on May 22nd or June 1st. Several other field projects on timing of foliar insecticides, seed treatments, at-plant insecticides, and methods of foliar application are being conducted this year with the full results shared this fall and winter. Studies on the biology and ecology to evaluate the movement of adults, seasonal larval abundance are also being conducted. Of the field studies conducted, most notable was the identification of hilling (Figure 2) or covering the base of soybean plants early in the season as a potential strategy for soybean gall midge. This study was conducted at three sites in east-central Nebraska with easily observable differences in larval number and plant death. This strategy may be difficult for a number of growers to use but it highlights how essential the base of soybean plants are to insects' ability to cause significant injury.

Field surveys through funding from the NCSRP have identified 6 new counties in Nebraska with soybean gall midge on soybean. Two additional counties were identified with orange larvae found on sweet clover, a known host for soybean gall midge. No significant field injury from soybean gall midge was observed in these new counties. Several counties in east-central, as well as some fields in north-east Nebraska, showed considerable injury from soybean gall midge.

Iowa Update
Erin Hodgson, Professor, Extension Entomologist

This year, 19 counties in western Iowa have been sampled by the Hodgson Lab so far. All have soybean gall midge but at relatively low infestation levels. While sampling, they can find larvae but plants don’t always look infested. Agronomists and farmers have also reported finding larvae along field edges, but near fields that were previously infested. The lab will continue to sample and move more centrally this month.

Current Management Considerations:
-    Identify this year’s SGM infested fields so possible management action can be planned for adjacent fields planted to soybean in 2022

-    If significant infestation has occurred in this year’s soybean fields, schedule the heaviest fields early in your harvest cycle to prevent harvest loss resulting from plant lodging or breakage.

​Go to soybeangallmidge.org for more information and updates.



East Coast Football Team Looks to "The Good Life" for Great Nutrition.
 
The Nebraska Beef Council recently partnered with the Campbell University football program, the North Carolina Beef Council, and Crystal Zabka-Belsky, registered sports dietitian from Omaha, to bring a taste of the Beef State to the Tar Heel State. The collaboration focused on beef as a premier protein for fueling and performance, coupled with skill development and hands-on meal preparation to implement effective nutrition habits for athletes throughout the training season and beyond.

“Beef is truly a performance protein,” said Mitch Rippe, director of nutrition and education for the Nebraska Beef Council. “Our goal was to provide student athletes with practical and easy-to-use nutrition strategies that they can implement in their daily lives. These strategies, coupled with the high-quality protein beef provides allows these athletes to train hard and recover effectively.”

During the event, players were tasked with building balanced performance meals featuring beef. In a pre-session survey, one-third of the athletes indicated that their lack of knowledge when it came to preparing beef, along with their perception that beef is an expensive protein, led them to seek alternative meal options. The Beef Checkoff helped offer education sessions to over 100 student athletes on the Campbell football team focusing on the nutrient availability and cost-per-serving analysis of various beef dishes. As a result, over 95% of players stated they now consume beef at least two to three times per week with 93% of players indicating they are now very likely to incorporate more beef into their weekly meals.
 
While the program took place in North Carolina, Campbell’s head coach, Mike Minter, is a former Husker and two-time national champion (’94 & ’95) who played 10 years in the NFL and understands the benefit beef plays in fueling, performance, and recovery.  

“It was great to partner with the two states that were instrumental in my football career,” said Minter. “Our Campbell Football program takes pride in community collaboration and providing opportunities for not only enhancing performance but also building essential life skills. This experience did both. We look forward to continued collaborations aimed at bringing cutting-edge sports science opportunities to our players.”  
 
Based on the success of this program and benefit to student athletes, the Nebraska Beef Council is working on additional sports nutrition programming opportunities with colleges, universities, and high school athletic programs across the state to feature beef as a premier protein for athletic performance and fueling.   



Ricketts Announces Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced recent appointments he has made to fill Nebraska’s boards and commissions.  Among those announced on Tuesday.....

The following appointees are unpaid and are not subject to Legislative confirmation:

Nebraska Brand Committee
Duane Gangwish, Lexington

Nebraska Dairy Industry Development Board
Jodi Cast, Beaver Crossing
David Crook, Humboldt
Joyce Racicky, Mason City

Grain Sorghum Development, Utilization, and Marketing Board
Michael T. Baker, Trenton

Nebraska Grape and Winery Board
James Ballard, Raymond
David Hanna, Lexington
Max A. McFarland, Lexington
Terrence Ryan, Gibbon
Michael Schilling, Pawnee City

Nebraska Wheat Development, Utilization and Marketing Board
Kent J. Lorens, Stratton
Jared Sayer, Cambridge

The following appointees are unpaid and subject to Legislative confirmation:

Environmental Quality Council
Kurt Alan Bogner, Norfolk
Joseph Citta, Jr., Columbus
Tassia Falcon da Silva Steidley, Lincoln
Robert C. Hall, Wahoo
Lance A. Hedquist, South Sioux City
Jessica A. Kolterman, Seward
Kevin Peterson, Osceola
Marty Stange, P.E, Hastings
Amy Staples, Broken Bow
Alden Zuhlke, Brunswick

Thank you to the many Nebraskans that give generously of their time and talent to make a difference in our state.  These appointments will provide crucial insight and expertise to their respective boards, committees, and commissions.  To learn about openings and apply to serve on a board or commission, go to https://governor.nebraska.gov/board-comm-req.



Crop Residue Exchange Links Growers and Grazers

Most of the rangeland north and west of the state of Nebraska is currently in severe or extreme drought condition. Many livestock producers in these regions are appealing to states like Nebraska for access to available forage and winter feed resources. The Crop Residue Exchange at https://cropresidueexchange.unl.edu/ is designed to facilitate connections between livestock producers looking for forage and crop producers with available crop residues or other forage resources. This interactive, online exchange assists corn and other crop producers to market crop residue and other available forages to cattle producers for grazing.

After establishing a login account, farmers can list cropland available for grazing by drawing out the plot of land available using an interactive map and entering basic information about the type of residue or forage, fencing situation, water availability and dates available. The mapping tool enables listings for the entire state of Nebraska and much of neighboring states Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota.

Land available for grazing is described as "Residue Type" (corn, wheat, sorghum, pasture or other). Pricing can be listed as a "cost per acre" or a "cost per head per day". Farmers provide their preferred contact information. Livestock producers can search the Crop Residue Exchange database for grazing available within a radius for the location of interest, but must be logged in to view the contact information attached to each listing. Livestock producers can also save their search and receive notifications when new listings are posted that meet their search criteria.

With dry conditions in much of the western U.S., reports of livestock producers looking for fall and winter forage are accumulating. Crop producers who have previously listed crop residue available for grazing are encouraged to log in and update their listings on the Crop Residue Exchange for the 2021-22 fall and winter grazing season. Crop producers new to the Exchange are encouraged to consider utilizing the Exchange to connect with livestock producers to create a mutually beneficial relationship.

The Crop Residue Exchange is made possible with funding support from Nebraska Extension, the Northern Plains Climate Hub and the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Beef Systems Initiative.



FALL CONTROL OF WINTER ANNUAL BROMES
– Jerry Volesky, NE Extension Specialist

 Was cheatgrass, sometimes called downy brome, or wild oats abundant in your pastures this spring?  Although difficult, they can be controlled and your pasture revitalized.

Winter annual bromes often invade thin or overgrazed pastures in fall and early spring.  Livestock dislike grazing them after they become mature and over time they can take over and make large patches in a pasture.

Recent research by the University of Nebraska evaluated herbicides for controlling cheatgrass.   Products containing rimsulfuron and imazapic (Plateau®) can provide good control of cheatgrass from a single application, but control can vary widely from year to year depending on when the application is made, maturity of cheatgrass plants, and the weather patterns.  A one-time management operation, utilizing grazing, mowing, or a non-residual herbicide, like rimsulfuron or imazapic, usually does not have a lasting impact on the cheatgrass in the seedbank. To reduce the seedbank, control needs to be close to 100%, and repeated over several years.

Rejuvra™ is a new rangeland herbicide product from Bayer that works differently from existing cheatgrass herbicides. Rejuvra™ has limited activity on emerged plants and only controls seedlings as they germinate, so it is best to apply Rejuvra™ in early fall before seeds germinate.  This herbicide can provide control up to two years post application.

In warm-season grass pastures and rangeland, there is another option.  You can use glyphosate herbicides after top growth of these grasses has died due to a hard freeze or two.  This can kill emerged annual brome seedlings without harming the desirable grasses.  However, do not use glyphosate in cool-season pastures because it will injure or kill the pasture grasses as well.  With any herbicide, always read and follow label directions.

With these herbicide options and proper grazing management, your pastures can develop thicker stands of the more desirable grasses.  It takes a long, dedicated process to recover pastures overtaken by winter annual bromes.  



NDA ANNOUNCES WINNERS IN ANNUAL POULTRY PHOTO CONTEST

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Poultry Photo contest. The annual contest, open to Nebraska 4-H and FFA members from around the state, highlights the diversity of the poultry industry in Nebraska.

“At NDA, we enjoy opportunities to work with youth in Nebraska to start conversations about agriculture,” said NDA Director Steve Wellman. “The 4-H and FFA members who entered our photo contest this year submitted colorful and creative photos to let all of us see some of the many different breeds and varieties of poultry being raised in Nebraska.”

NDA is displaying the winning photos online in a 2022 calendar that includes information on biosecurity measures that backyard poultry owners should take to keep their flocks healthy.

The students who submitted winning photos are: Clare Bauman of Lincoln; Jacob Bauman of Lincoln; Kelsey Bunn of North Bend; Addison Foutch of Friend; Noah Jelinek of Waverly; Isabella Klein of Cozad; Elisa Oberg of Farnam; Janae Oberg of Farnam; Jon Oberg of Farnam; Kayla Rupe of Ragan; Charlotte Sanio of Lincoln; and Jake Schroeder of Center.

NDA teammates judged the entries, looking at originality, composition and photography skills.

The 2022 calendar with the winning photographs can be viewed and downloaded from NDA’s website at nda.nebraska.gov/animal/avian.



NeFU Provides Guidance to USDA on Investments and Opportunities For Meat and Poultry Processing Infrastructure

Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) provided written guidance to USDA relative to how to utilize the additional funding that is being made available by the Biden Administration to expand the capacity of small meat processing facilities.

In their comments, NeFU offered their strong support of the “overarching and comprehensive comments offered by National Farmers Union.”  

NeFU said in their letter, “NeFU strongly supports President Biden’s Executive Order on competition, and the need to develop a more diverse and secure food supply chain and agricultural economy.”

In addition, NeFU also offered general support for the “letter offered by Michael J. Boehm, Ph.D., University of Nebraska Vice President, and IANR Harlan Vice Chancellor and their request for funding for workforce education and development as well as paperwork assistance for smaller meat packer compliance.”

NeFU ’s comments made it clear the additional funding should not go the large USDA inspected meat packers. NeFU supported proportioning financial funding to expand the capacity and diversity of our meat processing system to include the following kinds of meat processing:

·         Existing small USDA inspected meat processing plants that are already comfortable with the additional scheduling and paperwork required to operate a USDA inspected plant. Many of these plants need incentives to modernize and expand their current facilities.

·         Existing custom slaughter operations that want to modernize their operations and become USDA inspected facilities so they can sell directly to retail outlets including restaurants and grocery stores as well as sell across state lines.

·         Existing custom slaughter operations that want to modernize their operations but do not want to become USDA inspected facilities. Many of these facilities provide critical services to local communities but do not want to take on the additional scheduling, paperwork, reporting, and inspection requirements needed to become USDA inspected plants.

·         New federally inspected or USDA inspected custom slaughter plants with a preference for cooperatively or community owned facilities.

·         Mobile processing units that can help meet local needs for communities without local meat processing facilities. These kinds of facilities are particularly good at meeting free range poultry processing needs.

“NeFU State President John Hansen said, “The Biden Administration has provided us with an historic opportunity to expand both the capacity and diversity of our meat packing system. That is good for meat producers and meat consumers.  When small plants modernize, they become more efficient while expanding their capacity.”



Naig Submits Comments to Boost Livestock Processing Capacity and Small-Scale Meat Lockers

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today submitted comments to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in response to their request for information on strategies to increase competition and production capacity in the meat processing industry. In their request for information, the USDA announced $500 million to support these efforts and strategies.

In the letter, Secretary Naig focuses his comments on three areas where the USDA can provide support in a meaningful way:
-    Increasing the amount of mid-sized meat processors, providing producers with additional markets to have livestock processed.
-    Ensuring that facilities under state inspection are not excluded in future USDA programs.
-    Boosting small-scale meat lockers and facilities that are currently in existence with additional technical and financial resources to increase processing capacity and grow their businesses.

“One of my top priorities as Secretary of Agriculture is listening to folks in the agricultural community and being a strong voice for them. I have spoken with countless livestock producers and locker owners over the last year about the needs they have and the challenges they face. The strategies outlined in my letter are based on those conversations and will significantly improve issues related to price transparency, strong livestock markets and access to working capital,” said Naig. “Iowa is a national leader in livestock production and processing so it’s critical that our agricultural community’s voice is heard on this topic. I am hopeful that the USDA will review this stakeholder feedback closely and focus on issues that benefit those who are most impacted.”

Secretary Naig and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship have taken a leading role in addressing the challenges that Iowa’s meat lockers face. In 2020, the Department utilized $4 million of CARES Act funds, allocated by Gov. Kim Reynolds, to create a grant program that helped more than 200 small meat and poultry processors purchase equipment and upgrades to increase their processing capacity and improve efficiencies. Seeing the success of this program, Iowa state lawmakers replicated the grant program and created an annual appropriation to fund these projects into the future. Additionally, Secretary Naig is chairing the Artisanal Butchery Task Force that is charged with studying workforce issues in the meat processing industry



Carcass Challenge Recruitment is Underway

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association is looking for steers to enter in the 2022 Carcass Challenge. This program is Iowa’s only statewide fed steer contest and brings together all sector’s of Iowa’s beef industry—seedstock, cow-calf, backgrounder and feedyard—as each play a key role in determining final cattle performance and carcass quality.

The Carcass Challenge was created to showcase Iowa’s beef genetics, feedyard management and modern technology. This gives seedstock producers a chance to see how their genetics stack up against other cattle breeders across the state.  

The Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) class has begun recruiting steers for the 2022 program. Commitments need to be made by mid-October. In early November, the donated 650- to 750-pound steers will be delivered to Sieren Beef owned by Mitch Sieren, near Harper, Iowa, in Keokuk County. Steers will be fed in deep-bedded and slatted-floor barns for 180 to 200 days, to about 1,400 pounds.

Prizes are awarded to donors at the end of the feeding period, after carcass data is collected. Donors are rewarded for steers placing high in retail value per day on feed, average daily gain, ribeye area, marbling score and chef’s choice. The awards are presented at a banquet held the first part of June. The YCLP class gains leadership and learning through the recruitment process. Donors include individual ICA members, allied businesses, county associations, breed associations and other entities wanting to compete for the $5,000 top prize.  

Money raised through this program generates additional non-dues revenue to grow Iowa’s beef business through advocacy, leadership and education. For more information on the Carcass Challenge program, visit www.iacattlemen.org or contact Jennifer Carrico at jennifer@iacattlemen.org or 641-680-1480.



NCBA Secures Extension of Critical Exemption for Livestock Haulers

Today, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced an extension of the exemption from hours-of-service (HOS) requirements for livestock haulers. Livestock haulers continue to need this flexibility for the well-being of livestock during hauls, and to keep grocery stores stocked with beef during the continued disruption of COVID-19. This extension comes after consistent advocacy by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA).

Thanks in part to NCBA's continued push on this issue, livestock haulers have been operating under an HOS exemption since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining a strong safety record.

"We are grateful to FMCSA for the extension of this exemption, which will provide livestock haulers continued flexibilities under hours-of-service regulations. I believe FMCSA's continuation of this exemption indicates their confidence in our producers to keep doing their work safely and effectively, while keeping the grocery store shelves stocked with beef. NCBA will continue to work toward additional, more permanent flexibility under HOS, and we appreciate FMCSA's open dialogue on this issue," said NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Allison Rivera.

The most recent extension will continue through midnight on November 30, 2021.

Current HOS rules allow for 11 hours of drive time, 14 hours of on-duty time, and then require 10 consecutive hours of rest. When transporting livestock, there is a real need for further flexibility beyond the current hours-of-service. Unlike drivers moving consumer goods, livestock haulers cannot simply idle or unload their trucks when drive time hours run out without jeopardizing animal health and welfare.




NCGA to EPA: Don’t Saddle Farmers with Unnecessary Water Regulations

Federal regulations on remote bodies of water will hurt farmers without providing any significant improvement to water quality, an NCGA leader told the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today.

“They [EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers] must not assume that achieving desired water quality outcomes means that remote water features must be made waters of the U.S.,” said Andy Jobman, Nebraska farmer and chair of NCGA’s Stewardship Action Team. “The facts simply do not support this assumption as it applies to farms, conservation practices and farmland water management.”

Jobman’s remarks were made during a public meeting hosted by the EPA to hear from stakeholders on their perspectives on defining "waters of the United States" under the Clean Water Act, in light of the agency’s intention to revise the definition.

During the hearing, Jobman expressed support for the goals of the Clean Water Act to restore and protect the water quality integrity of jurisdictional waters.
 
“Corn farmers are committed to protecting this resource for the benefit of their crops, their communities and the planet,” he said. “We sincerely wish that we were not going through another WOTUS rulemaking where this artificially drawn ‘jurisdictional line’ in our watersheds will again be hotly debated and litigated. Instead, we want to focus on working together to support our water quality protection efforts on our farms.”

The definition of WOTUS is critically important to farmers, which is why NCGA has participated in numerous rulemakings and litigation on this issue over the years.

NCGA is also a long-time member of the Waters Advocacy Coalition (WAC), which represents a large cross-section of the nation’s construction, transportation, real estate, mining, manufacturing, forestry, agriculture, energy, wildlife conservation and public health and safety sectors. The Coalition’s members are committed to the protection and restoration of America’s wetlands and waters. They work collectively to advocate for clear regulation that draws bright lines between federal and state waters that will help further those goals.

NCGA is submitting recommendations individually and as a member of WAC in response to EPA’s notice soliciting pre-proposal feedback on defining WOTUS.



NCBA Condemns Court Decision Striking Down Navigable Waters Protection Rule

Yesterday, the U.S. District Court in Arizona struck down the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), a regulation that corrected the disastrous 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and provided key protections to farmers and ranchers.
 
“The Navigable Waters Protection Rule limited federal overreach and provided regulatory certainty to our nation’s cattle producers,” said NCBA Chief Environmental Counsel Scott Yager. “The NWPR was a solution to the far overreaching 2015 WOTUS rule but yesterday’s court decision adds further confusion to an issue that has been complicated by decades of activist-driven litigation. NCBA is disappointed in this decision and will continue advocating for regulations that protect the ability of cattle producers to invest in their land and care for their cattle.”
 
The Biden Administration had previously announced its intent to repeal and replace the NWPR. While NCBA discouraged the repeal of NWPR, the Biden Administration pursued a deliberative, transparent outreach strategy, allowing for American cattle producers to have a voice in the process.
 
Background
Earlier this year, the Biden Administration announced their intent to repeal and replace the NWPR. The Administration planned a three-phase process including listening sessions with the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers, a repeal rule for NWPR, and a new WOTUS rule. The first public comment phase began in August and NCBA, state affiliates, and numerous cattle producers submitted comments to the Agencies.
 
Last month, the U.S. District Court in South Carolina dismissed a similar case, which allowed the NWPR to remain in effect until a repeal rule was finalized by the Biden Administration. That decision ensured regulatory certainty for cattle producers while the Biden Administration moved through the rulemaking process. Yesterday’s court decision is the first time a federal court has vacated the NWPR.



Ruling Threatens Progress Made in Clean Water Efforts

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the District of Arizona court ruling to vacate the Navigable Waters Protection Rule.

“AFBF is extremely disappointed in the ruling to vacate the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. Farmers finally had environmentally responsible regulations that brought clarity to clean water efforts. This ruling casts uncertainty over farmers and ranchers across the country and threatens the progress they’ve made to responsibly manage water and natural resources.

“Three courts have previously refused to dismantle the NWPR, including last month when a federal court in South Carolina refused a similar request from plaintiff groups. Unfortunately, this Arizona court simply accepted the plaintiffs’ assertions as true and did something that no other court has done in vacating the NWPR.

“We are reviewing the ruling to determine our next course of action. Farmers and ranchers deserve consistency and a rule that is fair and doesn’t require a team of attorneys to interpret.”



August 2021 Dairy Market Report Now Available

https://www.nmpf.org/dairy-market-report-august-2021/

Low milk prices and high feed costs – a.k.a. depressed margins – are slowly bringing U.S. milk production back in line with demand. Daily average production was down almost 2 percent from the spring flush high in April, a larger-than-usual drop.

Futures markets have taken notice, ending the long slide in their collective estimate of calendar year 2021 average milk prices beginning in mid-May. Rising cheese prices have been a key driver of this recent recovery. Although milk production is being channeled disproportionately into American-type cheese, growth in commercial use of such cheese hit double-digit percentages during the second quarter, while use of other types of cheese grew by fully half this amount. Domestic use of milk in all products showed a 1 percent gain, while exports continued their march toward a new record as a percent of domestic milk solids production.

Still, the price recovery is fragile: The delta-variant-driven fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic is casting growing uncertainty over future demand. Product prices realigned themselves in July for the second month to produce federal order class prices that again generated positive producer price differentials in the component pricing orders.



Nomination Deadline for FARM Excellence Awards Extended

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program today announced that the deadline to nominate farms and FARM Evaluators for a FARM Excellence Award has been extended to Friday, Sept. 3.

Award categories include Animal Care & Antibiotic Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship, Workforce Development, and FARM Evaluators. Farms or evaluators can be nominated by fellow dairy farmers; members of their communities; extension, cooperative or processor staff; veterinarians; themselves or others.

Nominated farms must have a current FARM Program evaluation in the respective category area and must be in good standing with the program. Evaluators who are nominated must be FARM Program certified in any of the program areas as of Aug. 31.

Winners in each category will receive a hotel room and travel for two individuals to attend the Dairy Joint Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nov. 15-17. Visit the FARM Excellence Awards page for more details https://nationaldairyfarm.com/farm-excellence-awards/.




RMA Revises Dates for the Pasture, Rangeland and Forage and Apiculture Insurance Programs

Agricultural producers now will have until December 1 to make coverage decisions and complete reporting activities for the Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Pilot Insurance Program (PRF) and Apiculture Pilot Insurance Program (API). The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) is making this change and other updates to these two policies based on feedback from stakeholders.

“We want to offer flexibility to our nation’s producers, which is why we are always listening to our customers and looking at ways to improve the process and products we provide to them,” said RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy. “The date changes will provide additional time to help producers who are busy preparing their operations for the winter.”

PRF and API are both Rainfall Index crop insurance policies designed to aid agricultural producers in case of a lack of precipitation that affects available forage for livestock and honeybees. The plans consider a decline in rainfall by comparing it with the historical average precipitation for the same area during the same period of time. PRF is designed to help protect a producer’s livestock operation from the risks of forage loss.  In 2020, producers insured almost 160 million acres and nearly 32,000 policies to protect $2.9 billion in liabilities. API provides a safety net for beekeepers’ primary income sources of honey, pollen collection, wax, and breeding stock.  In 2020, producers covered about 1.8 million colonies under 3,300 policies to protect $250 million in liabilities.

RMA is revising the dates for the sales closing, acreage/colony reporting, cancellation, and termination of the PRF and API insurance programs from November 15 to December 1. For PRF, RMA is also increasing reporting flexibility by allowing the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) acreage report (form FSA-578) to be used in conjunction with other documents to verify insurable interest.

Other changes to the plans include:
    Revising the definition of “veteran farmer or rancher” to allow a legal entity, comprised only of the veteran and their spouse, to qualify as a veteran farmer or rancher when a qualifying veteran has a non-veteran spouse; and

     Allowing a producer to report acreage as certified organic, or as acreage in transition to organic, when the producer has requested an organic certification by the acreage reporting date.

Other Livestock Insurance Options
Livestock Risk Protection (LRP), which is available for Feeder Cattle, Fed Cattle, and Swine producers. It provides protection against declining market prices. Recent changes to LRP have resulted in substantial increases in program participation and livestock producers are encouraged to explore these risk management tools. More information on LRP and other livestock programs can be found on RMA’s livestock webpage.



USDA Announces $11 Million in Grants Awarded to Strengthen Markets for U.S. Agricultural Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $11 million awarded to 21 grant projects to strengthen and explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products. The funding is made possible through three funding programs administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS): Acer Access and Development Program (Acer), Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP), and Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP).

    Acer, authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill to increase market opportunities for the domestic maple syrup industry, awarded $5.4 million to eleven projects.

    FSMIP awarded $1 million to five projects to explore new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving marketing system efficiency and performance. FSMIP was authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946.

    The Micro-Grants Program awarded $4.6 million to agricultural agencies or departments in Alaska, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and Hawaii through a non-competitive application process, which was authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and is specifically designed to realize USDA’s commitment to support communities across the U.S. that have significant levels of food insecurity and import significant quantities of food.

“These awards support innovation and resilience in agricultural food systems. The newly-funded projects in these three grant programs support critical activities that will open up new market opportunities for producers and processors and increase local food consumption in food insecure communities. Through our partnerships with states and local groups, we are building better back the tools to help both producers and consumers,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jennifer Moffitt.

AMS supports U.S. food and agricultural products market opportunities, while increasing consumer access to fresh, healthy foods through applied research, technical services and Congressionally funded grants.

To learn more about AMS’s investments in enhancing and strengthening agricultural systems, visit www.ams.usda.gov/grants.



Massey Ferguson’s 5S Delivers Best in Class for Hay and Livestock Producers

AGCO Corporation, a global leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, supports livestock and hay producers with the newly redesigned Massey Ferguson 5S tractor.

The 5S Series, available in three models ranging from 115 to 145 HP, will debut at the 2021 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois, Aug. 31-Sept. 2, and will be available for order and delivery in 2022. The redesigned series delivers tremendous value and capabilities for hay and livestock producers.

“The superior maneuverability and versatility offered by the straightforward and dependable 5S makes this tractor the best choice for work on the farm, in the field or on the road,” Darren Parker, vice president of Massey Ferguson North America, said. “The 5S really blows the competition away with its high-performance driveline, high levels of comfort and wide choice of equipment and options. It can truly tackle any challenge or task on your farm.”

Built for ultimate comfort, the 5S is designed for straightforward operation, outstanding visibility and great power in any application. The series offers efficient drivelines to achieve higher productivity and promises to keep operating costs low, all while delivering more power and torque.

“With substantial power, maximum agility, well-engineered quality and a new distinct style, the 5S is a true utility player on the farm,” Parker said.

Here’s what sets the MF 5S Series apart:
    Ultimate comfort for a more productive workday
        The 5S Series features an easy-to-access cab with large windows and a narrow, steep-nosed hood to provide superior visibility.
        Perfect ergonomics and a new armrest design put controls easily at hand, and new front axle suspension ensures a comfortable ride.
        A wide range of specifications available through Classic and Deluxe trims mean operators can choose the best option for their comfort and performance.
        An optional LED light package provides outstanding visibility for working at night.
    Low operating cost
        The 5S Series features an AGCO Power™, 4-cylinder, 4.4-liter engine that complies with Tier 4 Final emission rules using the compact All-in-One aftertreatment system.
        All models deliver more power and torque with reduced fuel and DEF consumption.
        An electronic wastegate turbocharger further improves performance and reduces emissions.
    Efficient drivelines deliver high productivity
        The 5S Series features proven transmission technology with either the Dyna-4™ (16x16) or Dyna-6™ (24x24) for seamless shifting.
        Super-Eco operation attains 25 mph at low 1,530 RPM, helping to significantly cut fuel consumption and increase driving comfort.
    Equipped to work faster with more implements
        A wide choice of hydraulic systems offer open and closed center systems providing up to 15-29 gallons per minute of flow.
        Double up operations with the new front linkage design offering lift capacities up to 6,600 pounds while the stronger, rear linkage lifts up to 10,300 pounds.
    Perfect loader partner
        The 5S combines great maneuverability and a choice of three hydraulic systems to provide exceptional pressure, flow and response.
        The series also provides ultimate visibility with its slim dashboard and narrow steep-nose hood.
        Left-hand Power Control lever changes direction, shifts speeds and selects neutral, while a choice of joysticks operate the loader, as well as change direction and speeds.

Massey Ferguson, dedicated to offering innovative and intuitive technology that provides growers with the latest precision agriculture tools to increase profitability and efficiency will have a full display of its current lineup, including the 5S, at the Farm Progress Show, booth 333. For more information go to http://www.masseyferguson.us/.