Monday October 28 Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending October 27, 2019, there were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 14 short, 83 adequate, and 2 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent very short, 10 short, 86 adequate, and 4 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 2 percent very poor, 6 poor, 20 fair, 56 good, and 16 excellent. Corn mature was 97 percent, near 100 last year and 99 for the five-year average. Harvested was 44 percent, near 45 last year, and behind 50 average.

Soybeans harvested was 85 percent, ahead of 71 last year, and near 84 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 3 percent very poor, 8 poor, 28 fair, 48 good, and 13 excellent. Winter wheat emerged was 92 percent, near 88 last year and 91 average.

Sorghum condition rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 20 fair, 62 good, and 11 excellent. Sorghum harvested was 41 percent, behind 57 both last year and average.

Dry edible beans harvested was 93 percent.

Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 19 fair, 63 good, and 14 excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Harvest progressed across Iowa as farmers had 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 27, 2019, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork activities included harvesting soybeans and corn for grain, spreading manure, applying anhydrous and baling corn stalks.

Topsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus.

Ninety-five percent of the corn crop has reached maturity, nearly 2 weeks behind average. Twenty-six percent of the crop has been harvested for grain, 8 days behind last year and 11 days behind average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was at 21 percent. Corn condition rated 67 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-seven percent of the soybean crop has begun dropping leaves or beyond, 10 days behind average. Sixty-six percent of the crop has been harvested, equal to last year but 6 days behind average.

Most of the State’s pasture regrowth has gone dormant with cooler temperatures this past week. Pasture condition rated 48 percent good to excellent. Mud continues to be an issue in feedlots and some livestock have struggled with temperature fluctuations.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

The U.S. row-crop harvest remains the slowest it's been in a decade, according to USDA NASS' latest Crop Progress report released Monday.

Nationwide, corn harvest progressed 11 percentage points last week to reach 41% as of Sunday, 20 percentage points behind the five-year average of 61% and falling further behind the average pace than the previous week when harvest was 17 percentage points behind the five-year average. The pace of this year's corn harvest remains the slowest since 2009 when only 20% of corn was harvested as of Oct. 25.

The condition of corn still in fields was rated 58% good to excellent, up 2 percentage points from 56% the previous week. The poor-to-very-poor category declined to just 12% from 14% the previous week.

Soybean harvest moved ahead 16 percentage points last week to reach 62% as of Sunday. That was 16 percentage points behind the five-year average of 78%, a slight improvement from last Monday's report, when harvest was running 18 percentage points behind average. As with corn, the pace of this year's soybean harvest remains the slowest since 2009 when 44% of the crop was harvested as of Oct. 25.

While row-crop harvest remained behind the average pace, winter wheat progress stayed near, to slightly ahead of, the average pace last week. As of Sunday, 85% of winter wheat was planted, slightly ahead of the five-year average of 82%. Winter wheat emerged was estimated at 63%, near the five-year average of 64%.

In its first condition rating for the 2020 winter wheat crop, NASS estimated 56% of winter wheat was in good-to-excellent condition, 3 percentage points better than last year's rating of 53% good to excellent at the same time of year.

Sorghum mature was estimated at 96%, ahead of the average of 94%. Sorghum harvested reached 65%, also ahead of the five-year average of 62%.

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Extension, FSA to Host Farm Bill Education Meetings Across Nebraska in November, December

Nebraska Extension and USDA Farm Service Agency in Nebraska will host a series of Farm Bill education meetings over the next two months to assist producers as they begin to make farm-bill related program decisions. The 2018 Farm Bill, signed into law last December, reauthorized the existing Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) safety net programs that were in the 2014 Farm Bill, however producers will need to make new program enrollment decisions over the coming months.

While the ARC and PLC programs under the new farm bill remain very similar to the previous farm bill, a few program changes coupled with changes in market conditions and outlook could significantly impact producer decisions.

“These meetings will help producers understand the programs and recent changes, as well as the decisions to be made at sign-up now and in the coming years,” said Nancy Johner, State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency in Nebraska. “There are some changes, such as an optional PLC program yield update, and other tweaks to the ARC and PLC programs that producers should consider as they make their selections.”

“Producers face a familiar choice between ARC and PLC, but under very different circumstances now as compared to 2014,” said Brad Lubben, Policy Specialist with Nebraska Extension. “Understanding the program mechanics, analysis and available decision tools will help producers make sound enrollment decisions with FSA.”

The joint Nebraska Extension and Nebraska Farm Service Agency producer education meetings are scheduled at 28 locations across the state from late November to mid-December in advance of the coming ARC/PLC enrollment deadlines in early 2020.

The meetings are all free and open to the public. Advance registration is encouraged for planning purposes for materials and facilities. Attendees can register for any of the meetings conveniently on the web at farmbill.unl.edu or by calling or visiting their county FSA or Extension office. The educational programs are each set to run three hours in length, featuring information and insight from FSA specialists and Extension experts, as well as other relevant information from local agencies.

The meetings are available statewide with several locations in each region of the state. The tentative schedule is as follows:

Northeast
Bloomfield - Community Center - December 2, 1:30-4:30 PM
Columbus - Ag Park - December 4, 9 AM-12 NOON
O'Neill - Community Center - December 3, 9 AM-12 NOON
Norfolk - Northeast Community College Lifelong Learning Center - December 18, 1-4 PM
Wayne - Wayne Fire Hall - December 16, (2 meetings) 1-4 PM or 6-9 PM
West Point - Nielsen Center - December 9, 9 AM-12 NOON

East Central
Grand Island - College Park Fonner Park Room - December 5, 1-4 PM
Mead – UNL Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center - December 3, 9 AM-12 NOON
Scribner - Dodge County Fairgrounds Mohr Auditorium - December 11, 9 AM-12 NOON
York - York County Fairgrounds Cornerstone Building - December 6, 9 AM-12 NOON
 
Southeast
Beatrice - Gage County Fairgrounds 4-H Building – December 17, 9 AM-12 NOON
Bruning - Bruning Opera House - December 5, 1:30-4:30 PM
Humboldt - Ag Building – December 12, 9 AM-12 NOON
*Lincoln - Lancaster County Extension Center - December 16, 9 AM-12 NOON
Red Cloud - Community Center - November 25, 1-4 PM
Weeping Water - Cass County Fairgrounds - December 3, 9 AM-12 NOON

Southwest/Central
Broken Bow - Custer County Fairgrounds - December 16, 1-4 PM
Imperial - Chase County Fairgrounds 4-H Building - November 26, 1:30-4:30 PM
Kearney - Buffalo County Fairgrounds Antelope Meeting Room - December 17, 1-4 PM
Lexington - Dawson County Fairgrounds Extension Meeting Room - December 2, 1-4 PM
McCook - Red Willow County Fairgrounds Community Building - December 3, 1:30-4:30 PM
North Platte - UNL West Central Research and Extension Center - December 18, 1:30-4:30 PM
Ord - Valley County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall - December 4, 1-4 PM

Panhandle/North Central
Ainsworth – Ainsworth Lutheran Church - December 16, 2-5 PM
Bridgeport - Prairie Winds Community Center - November 22, 2-5 PM
Chadron - Chadron State College – December 17, 1:30-4:30 PM
Ogallala - Keith County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall - December 12, 1-4 PM
Valentine - Mid Plains Community College - December 16, 9 AM-12 NOON

Please check the website for updates on locations, dates and times. All times are local with registration beginning 30 minutes ahead of start. Several additional meetings also are being planned locally across the state in various locations. Keep alert to additional opportunities and details as they are developed by checking the website for information or by contacting your county Extension or FSA office. *Please note the date for the Lincoln meeting is Dec. 16, which is a correction from a previously published date for that meeting.

There also are resources available online that can educate producers in their ARC/PLC decision-making process. Links to these resources are available from FSA at www.fsa.usda.gov/ne under the Spotlights section or from Extension at farmbill.unl.edu.



THE FOOD PROCESSING CENTER CAN HELP FOOD MANUFACTURING ENTREPRENEURS

The Food Processing Center at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln offers a program that can help aspiring food manufacturing entrepreneurs realize their dream. The program is ideal for individuals interested in starting a food business, someone wanting to bring a family recipe to the marketplace, a producer considering adding value to an agricultural product, or a restaurateur or chef exploring the marketing of a house specialty.

The National Food Entrepreneur Program was designed specifically to assist food manufacturing entrepreneurs throughout the country. After coming up with their idea potential entrepreneurs start by attending the Recipe to Reality one-day seminar. Topics include market research, product development, packaging, labeling, pricing, product introduction, promotional materials, food safety, and business structure issues.

“In one day entrepreneurs will gain valuable insight on the basics of starting a food business that could take them months or even years to research on their own. Following the seminar, participants may choose to enter the Product to Profit phase of the program which provides a more individualized and comprehensive level of assistance,” explained program manager, Jill Gifford.

The first seminar in 2020 will be presented on January 25. Early registration for seminars is encouraged due to limited space. To receive a National Food Entrepreneur Program information packet and registration form please contact: Jill Gifford, Food Processing Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 228 Food Innovation Center, Lincoln, NE 68588-6206. Those interested may also call (402) 472-2819, e-mail jgifford1@unl.edu, or visit https://fpc.unl.edu/.



'Table of Experts' open to aspiring food business owners

Aspiring food business owners are invited to a free panel discussion on Monday, Nov. 4, in Columbus. This event will be presented in both Spanish and English, and is sponsored by the Center for Rural Affairs.

“Table of Experts: Food Business Panel Discussion” will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at Centro Hispano Comunitario de Nebraska, 3020 18th St., Suite #7, in Columbus, Nebraska.

“Explore turning your food business dream into your own catering business, restaurant, food truck, or bakery,” said Vicky Espinoza, Center for Rural Affairs project assistant. “During this discussion, you will hear from a food business owner, and about local resources to support those who would like to open their own business."

Topics on the agenda include start-up planning, regulations, licensing and inspection, and funding and taxes.

To register, contact Espinoza at 402.687.2100 ext. 1038 or vickye@cfra.org.

Visit cfra.org/events for more information. This project is funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant.



Farm Bill Meetings Planned across Iowa

In order to help Iowans understand their options under the 2018 Farm Bill, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is planning meetings across the state.

More than 50 informational meetings will be held, beginning Nov. 12 in Grinnell, with a focus on explaining the different farm bill titles and programs that pertain to each part of the state. The meeting series stretches through the winter for landowners and producers to attend now, or following harvest, at a location that is convenient for them.

The agenda is similar at all meetings, and will include ISU Extension and Outreach farm management specialists and family life specialists, and local Farm Service Agency representatives.

“Producers should attend to gain a better understanding of the changes to these programs and determine the path that best fits their farm operation under the 2018 Farm Bill,” said Ann Johanns, program specialist in economics with ISU Extension and Outreach. “This is a chance to hear the program specifics and get answers to any questions they may have from regional experts.”

The 2018 Farm Bill allows producers to choose from the same crop price protection programs as found in the 2014 Farm Bill. However, unlike the previous bill, which limited their program selection for all five years, the new farm bill allows producers to make a two-year decision by March 15, 2020, and also to change this selection beginning in 2021.

The basic choices are Price Loss Coverage and Agriculture Risk Coverage (at the individual and county levels). A producer’s choice will depend on their annual national cash price expectation, and the farm or county yields where the farm is located.

“Our goal is to give an overview of the things that are included in the 2018 Farm Bill and which of the three roads a producer might wish to go down,” said Kelvin Leibold, farm management specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

According to Leibold and Johanns, farmers in general are entering this farm bill with more financial stress and less operating capital than in 2014, when commodity prices were still high.

The financial stress has the potential to impact the future of the farm, and the health of the operator.

The extension family life specialist at each meeting will present “Stress on the Farm: Strategies to Help Each Other,” a 40-minute scenario-based suicide prevention training that reviews the risk factors and warning signs of suicide.

While the farm bill is only one layer of risk protection, its programs are especially important this year.

“I think it’s more important now than ever that one tries to manage risk by understanding what these farm programs might do for them,” Leibold said.

Meetings include:

Thursday, December 5, 2019
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM,   Logan Community Center, Logan/Harrison County

Thursday, December 19, 2019
    5:00 PM - 8:00 PM  ISU Extension and Outreach Plymouth County, Le Mars/Plymouth County
         call Janelle Johnson, 712-546-7835 or email janelle@iastate.edu. 

A complete listing of farm bill meetings is available on the Ag Decision Maker Farm Bill website as well as the ISU Extension and Outreach statewide calendar.



Ag Chemical Dealer Meetings to Provide Timely Updates

This year’s Ag Chemical Dealer meetings will provide the latest information on crop production products and recommendations, at two meetings sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Meetings Dec. 17 in Coralville and Dec. 18 in Ames are opportunities for ag input providers to meet with extension specialists to review current research, discuss new products and learn of new recommendations.

Topics for 2019 include insect, crop disease and weed management updates, and managing consequences of unavoidable soil compaction.

Meetings are approved for Certified Crop Adviser credits. In addition, the meetings offer Iowa Commercial Pesticide Applicator recertification in categories 1A, 1B, 1C and 10 for calendar year 2019. Recertification is included in the meeting registration. Attendance at the entire meeting is required for recertification.

Coralville – Dec. 17
Rebecca Vittetoe, rka8@iastate.edu, 319-653-4811
Virgil Schmitt, vschmitt@iastate.edu, 563-263-5701
Joshua Michel, jjmichel@iastate.edu, 319-523-2371

Ames – Dec. 18
Meaghan Anderson, mjanders@iastate.edu, 319-331-0058
Angie Rieck-Hinz, amrieck@iastate.edu, 515-532-3453
Mike Witt, witt@iastate.edu, 641-747-2276

Early registration is $70 if received by midnight, Dec. 10 (Coralville) or Dec 11. (Ames). Late or on-site registration is $85. Visit www.aep.iastate.edu/acu for program details or to register online. For additional information contact an ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomist hosting the meeting.



Cattlemen Applaud Introduction of Real MEAT Act of 2019

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today applauded the bipartisan introduction of the Real MEAT (Marketing Edible Artificials Truthfully) Act of 2019 by U.S. Reps. Roger Marshall (R - 1st Dist., Kansas) and Anthony Brindisi (D - 21st Dist., N.Y.)

“A growing number of fake meat products are clearly trying to mislead consumers about what they’re trying to get them to buy,” said NCBA President and Tennessee cattlewoman Jennifer Houston. “Consumers need to be protected from deceptive marketing practices, and cattle producers need to be able to compete on a fair, level playing field. We want to thank Congressmen Brindisi and Marshall for leading the way on this very important issue.”

Specifically, The Real Meat Act will:

1) Codify the Definition of Beef for Labeling Purposes
    Establish a federal definition of beef that applies to food labels;
    Preserve the Congressional Intent of the Beef Promotion and Research Act;

2) Reinforce Existing Misbranding Provisions to Eliminate Consumer Confusion
    FDA has   misbranding provisions for false or misleading labels;
    Prevent further consumer confusion with alternative protein products;
    Clarify the imitation nature of these alternative protein products;

3) Enhance the Federal Government’s Ability to Enforce the Law
    FDA will have to notify USDA if an imitation meat product is determined to be misbranded;
    If FDA fails to undertake enforcement within 30 days of notifying USDA, the Secretary of Agriculture is granted authority to seek enforcement action.

“Consumers should be able to rely on the information on food labels they see on the shelves to be truthful and not deceptive,” Rep. Marshall said. “For years now, alternative protein products have confused many consumers with misleading packaging and creative names for products. With this bill, consumers can be sure that the meat products they are buying are indeed real meat.”

“American families have a right to know what’s in their food,” Rep. Brindisi said. “Accurate labeling helps consumers make informed decisions and helps ensure families have access to a safe, abundant, affordable food supply. This bill is about safety and transparency, and will make sure that meat-lovers and vegans alike have the transparency and honest labels that can allow customers to make their own decisions.”



Voting Begins for 2019 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots on November 4 to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections.

“Our county committee members play a key role in our efforts to provide assistance to producers,” said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “We value the local input of the over 7,000 members nationwide who provide their valuable knowledge and judgment as decisions are made about the services we provide, including disaster and emergency programs.”
To be counted, ballots must be returned to the local FSA county office or postmarked by December 2.

Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office. One-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. Newly elected committee members will take office January 1, 2020. County committee members help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, and emergency programs and eligibility.

Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. Producers who supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, but are not of legal voting age, also may be eligible to vote.

Producers can find out if their local administrative area is up for election and if they are eligible to vote by contacting their local FSA county office. Eligible voters who did not receive a ballot in the mail can pick one up at their local FSA county office. Visit fsa.usda.gov/elections for more information.



123rd U.S. Animal Health Association Meeting Kicks Off

The United States Animal Health Association (USAHA), the nation's animal health forum for over a century, is holding its 123rd annual meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, from Oct. 24-30. It is held in conjunction with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD).

More than 1,200 people are registered for the joint meeting, and several keynote speakers are featured, including Dr. Juan Lubroth, chief veterinary officer or the United Nations Food and Agriculture organization, who will speak on African swine fever on Monday, Oct. 28. Dr. Scott Dee with Pipestone Veterinary Service, will discuss the risk of ASF in imported feed supplements on Tuesday, Oct 29. Other topics of interest include the delay on animal disease traceability, the number of vacancies in government positions, and the need to bring people into the veterinary profession.

The USAHA has worked diligently to encourage students to attend its annual meeting. It offers travel scholarships and a poster session so students have ample opportunity to visit with professionals. Encouraging young people to enter the veterinarian profession is a high priority for USAHA.

The program hosts at least 30 different committee and subcommittee meetings with hundreds of experts speaking throughout the seven-day annual event. USAHA's mission is implemented through these multiple science-based committees and the adoption of resolutions and recommendations aimed at solving animal health problems.

The organization’s prime objective is to prevent, control and eliminate livestock diseases that cost ranchers, farmers and consumers approximately $1 billion per year.

USAHA is a science-based, non-profit, voluntary organization. Its 1,100 members are state and federal animal health officials, national allied organizations, regional representatives, and individual members. USAHA works with state and federal governments, universities, veterinarians, livestock producers, national livestock and poultry organizations, research scientists, the extension service and several foreign countries to control livestock diseases in the United States. USAHA represents all 50 states, 4 foreign countries and 34 allied groups serving health, technical and consumer markets.

USAHA is administered and its policy determined by the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.  Formed in 1897 as the Interstate Association of Livestock Sanitary Boards, the organization had fewer than 100 members and was concerned with one disease affecting cattle--Texas cattle fever. State, federal and industry collaborators formed USAHA in 1897 to assure the interstate shipment of healthy animals and to develop plans to prevent and eradicate animal disease. Today the need remains the same with increased international animal health and world trade responsibilities.

USAHA members have met annually since the association’s founding, and produces a published proceedings of each meeting. The proceedings represent the most complete history of the nation's animal health endeavors over the past century.



Inventory Insights
Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Mgt Specialist, South Dakota State University

The October Cattle on Feed report was very close to trade expectations. Placements during September were 2.1 million head, slightly above expectations. Marketings during September were 1.7 million head, even with expectations. The 11.3 million head on feed is 99 percent of a year ago. The placements by weight categories reflected a slight decrease in the volume placed at the heaviest weight classes, which should be somewhat supportive of prices in the short run. There was also a slight decrease in placements in the lightest weight class, suggesting limited selling pressure from cow-calf producers.

As it was the beginning of the quarter, there was also a breakdown of inventory levels by steers and heifers. The heifer mix, at 39.1 percent of cattle on feed, is larger than last quarter and a year ago. The continued high proportion of heifers confirms fewer held as replacements. It also suggests that lower production is expected as heifers are harvested at lighter weights than steers. The higher heifer mix should be supportive of live cattle prices for the next quarter.

Using data from recent Livestock Slaughter reports, beef cattle slaughter volume for the third quarter was up from year ago. Calf slaughter and beef cow slaughter were up slightly. Steer and heifer slaughter was also higher. The quarterly totals can be used to estimate some related quantity indicators. Using the slaughter totals, the Economic Research Service estimates the October 1 level of feeder cattle outside of feedlots is up sharply compared to a year ago, and at its highest level since 2009. The larger supply of feedlot-ready cattle is weighing on calf prices in the short run. The smaller number of heifers held back is partly causing the increase. The slight increase in cow slaughter volume, coupled with fewer beef replacements, suggest that January 1, 2020 cow inventory levels will be even with or slightly lower than year earlier levels. The USDA baseline did not have a decline happening until 2022. A smaller 2020 calf crop would be supportive of prices next fall.

The challenging weather conditions in South Dakota continue to delay harvesting of major crops. This in turn has delayed some calf sales. The average price for 5-600 pound steers was $158 per cwt in October across South Dakota, down sharply from $178 per cwt in 2018. The recent basis of $14 per cwt, relative to the October feeder cattle futures price, is also narrower than last year. Feed availability is quite variable, but there is usually some producers willing and able to background calves into the next year. The risk during the backgrounding phase, on average, is quite small. The average change in the March futures price between November and its eventual settlement in March was $0.08 per cwt when measured during the past decade. However, this masks the extreme price moves (up almost $15 per cwt heading into 2011 and down almost $19 per cwt heading into 2015) that are prevalent in feeder cattle futures.



Corteva Agriscience Increases Support of the National FFA Organization

Corteva Agriscience™ recently announced that they would be working hand in hand with the National FFA Organization when it comes to providing the next generation of leaders.

For the past 60 years, the company has supported the FFA mission, and this year, the support continues to grow. This summer Corteva Agriscience donated a recurring gift of $20,000 for five years to help students in need receive the official FFA blue jacket. Through the Give the Gift of Blue program, students who may not otherwise be able to afford the iconic blue jacket can be nominated to receive their own jacket.

“Supporting FFA as they develop the leaders of tomorrow allows us to invest in our communities,” said Tony Klemm, Corteva Agriscience Global Portfolio Leader – Corn, and National FFA Sponsors’ Board member. “Working with the organization allows us to enable FFA members to continue to give back to their own communities.”

In addition to helping fund the Give the Gift of Blue program, Corteva Agriscience has also increased funding of the FFA mission, making the company a platinum sponsor of the student leader organization. They have supported the organization in many different ways – from state-specific grants to support for the National FFA Convention & Expo to supporting the New Century Farmer conference and much more.

“We are so appreciative of the support that Corteva Agriscience continues to give us,” said Molly Ball, president of the National FFA Foundation. “Along with supporting our vision of providing a future generation of leaders, they are also supporting our advisors and agriculture educators.”



NSP Welcomes Forage Genetics International as Industry Partner

National Sorghum Producers is pleased to announce the addition of Forage Genetics International (FGI), a subsidiary of Land O’ Lakes, as a new Partner Level sponsor in the NSP Industry Partner program.

FGI is a company driven to better the forage industry through improved genetics that advance forages and benefit FGI customers. FGI has expanded its forage sorghum research activities in the last two years in response to greater interest in forage sorghums from the beef and dairy industries.

"NSP believes in the work being done by FGI to provide our producers with improved forages and silages through innovative technologies that are necessary to positively impact the forage and feeding industries," NSP CEO Tim Lust said. “We look forward to partnering with them and welcome them to our industry partner program."

“We are excited to partner with NSP to further our support of the sorghum industry,” said Matt Sowder, director of FGI Commercial Products. “Working closely with NSP provides multiple benefits in advancing technology for FGI.”

For more than 25 years, FGI has led the forage industry with innovative genetic discoveries, variety developments and cutting-edge product introductions. FGI’s relentless drive for improved forage production is behind their unprecedented advancements. As the industry’s leading provider of forage solutions, FGI breeds, develops and produces premier alfalfa seed. FGI’s capabilities in forage technology and product development, coupled with their customer focused business, provide forage sorghum customers with the same level of high-quality product experience expected from FGI alfalfa.

Support from industry partners like FGI helps NSP continue to advocate for, promote and defend the sorghum industry. More information about the program can be obtained by contacting NSP Industry Relations Director Jamaca Battin at jamaca@sorghumgrowers.com or by visiting SorghumGrowers.com.

Friday October 25 Cattle on Feed Report + Ag News

NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 7 PERCENT

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.27 million cattle on feed on October 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 7 percent from last year. Placements during September totaled 530,000 head, up 2 percent from 2018. Fed cattle marketings for the month of September totaled 410,000 head, unchanged from last year. Other disappearance during September totaled 10,000 head, unchanged from last year.



IOWA CATTLE ON FEED REPORT

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 640,000 head on October 1, 2019, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was up 2 percent from September 1, 2019, but down 7 percent from October 1, 2018. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 480,000 head on feed, unchanged from last month but down 8 percent from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,120,000 head, up 1 percent from last month but down 7 percent from last year.

Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during September totaled 82,000 head, up 15 percent from August but down 8 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 85,000 head, up 67 percent from August and up 63 percent from last year. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 167,000 head, up 37 percent from August and up 18 percent from last year.

Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during September totaled 70,000 head, up 1 percent from August but down 7 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 80,000 head, up 4 percent from August and up 60 percent from last year. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 150,000 head, up 3 percent from August and up 20 percent from last year. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 7,000 head.



United States Cattle on Feed Down 1 Percent
   
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.3 million head on October 1, 2019. The inventory was 1 percent below October 1, 2018 (the average trade estimate was a 1.3% decrease).  The inventory included 6.87 million steers and steer calves, down 3 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.41 million head, up 2 percent from 2018.

By State:            1,000 hd  -  % Oct 1 '18)
Colorado ......:         990          101              
Iowa .............:        640           93               
Kansas ..........:      2,380          100             
Nebraska ......:      2,270           93              
Texas ............:      2,780          105           

Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.09 million head, 2 percent above 2018 (the average trade estimate was a 0.8% increase). Net placements were 2.03 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 420,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 355,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 460,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 475,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 273,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 110,000 head.

By State        (1,000 hd   -   % Sept '18)
Colorado ......:      240           102           
Iowa .............:       82             92             
Kansas ..........:      435            98             
Nebraska ......:      530           102            
Texas ............:      455           115            

Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.74 million head, 1 percent above 2018 (the average trade estimate was a 1.2% increase).

By State         (1,000 hd   -   % Sept '18)
Colorado ......:      175           117          
Iowa .............:       70            93              
Kansas ..........:      385           103           
Nebraska ......:      410           100            
Texas ............:      390            96          



Nebraska Corn Board Hosts Trade Team from Taiwan

From Oct. 21-25, a delegation of seven Taiwanese customers was in the U.S. to better understand the American corn industry. As part of its visit, the team was in Nebraska from Oct. 23-24 and was able to see several different aspects of the state’s corn value chain.

“We know that 95% of the world’s population lives outside of the U.S.,” said David Bruntz, chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board and farmer from Friend. “We also know that we grow a lot more corn than we can use. We need to ensure we have reliable trading partners to ensure markets for our corn and corn-related products.”

The Taiwanese delegation represented a variety of customers and industry leaders, including livestock producers, feed millers, corn traders and government officials. The group began their visit in Illinois and toured a grain loading facility, corn farms and a local elevator. Once in Nebraska, the trade team visited Farmers Cooperative in Firth, Nerud Farms in Dorchester, Flint Hills Resources in Fairmont, and met with Gavilon in Lincoln. The team completed their week in Washington by visiting grain export terminals to see how corn and corn-related products are shipped outside of the U.S.

“We know we produce quality ag products in Nebraska,” said Dan Nerud, president of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association and farmer from Dorchester. “We can grow and produce all of the quality products in the world, but if we don’t have anyone to buy our commodities, it doesn’t matter. Therefore, trade matters. We always need to be working on enhancing relationships with our friends around the globe.”

The Taiwanese visit was the third trade mission the Nebraska Corn Board has hosted since September. The state’s top two corn customers, Mexico and Japan, were in Nebraska earlier this fall. Each trade team was hosted through collaborations with the U.S. Grains Council.



TESTING FOR HAY QUALITY
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               How much did the spring and summer's weather affect the feed value of your hay?  You don’t know?  Then forage test.

               Nearly every bushel of corn has similar nutrient concentration, but with hay it varies considerably.  Why does this happen?  Well, there are many causes.  For example, leafiness of the hay, or maturity of the plant when your hay was cut, or even how you handled the hay during raking and baling all can affect its feed value.

               This year, weather conditions have made things more complicated.  This spring's floods and cool, wet weather caused many folks to delay first cutting or got rain-damaged hay.  Leaf diseases, mature plants, and other factors made much alfalfa lower in quality.  During summer we had periods of hot and very humid weather that often caused plants to burn off their easily digested nutrients at night, leaving us with hay that looks really good but is high in fiber and low in energy.

               Grass hay might be even more difficult to predict.  Some fields had fewer seedheads than normal.  This might give higher quality hay, but if harvest was delayed in hopes of increasing yield or if the heat affected grass quality like it affects alfalfa, grass hay quality might actually be lower.  And when growth is stimulated by extra rain, plants use many nutrients for increased tonnage instead of quality.

               And I haven’t even mentioned all the different forages used on prevented planting acres.  Different species harvested late in the year; who knows what the protein and TDN levels are like.

               So you see, this year, just like always, forage testing is important.  It is the only way that you can find out for sure ahead of time what the feed value is of your hay.

               So gather samples now for testing, before feeding your animals and before it's too late.



2019 Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit

Members of the cattle industry are invited to attend the annual Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit on Dec. 5 and 6 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa. The lineup will tackle diverse topics such as Fake Meat, foreign animal diseases, and how to protect our industry against legal attacks. In addition to a large tradeshow on Thursday, attendees will dive deep into issues affecting Iowa’s cattle industry.

Thursday, Dec. 5
Andy Curliss, CEO of North Carolina Pork Council will headline the event starting at 11:00.

With his presentation titled “Up close and personal: How unfair attacks hurt us all” Andy will take attendees through his experience dealing with nuisance lawsuits in North Carolina and give input on how to protect your livelihood.

More than two dozen nuisance lawsuits in North Carolina have been filed against Murphy Brown LLC, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods. Jurors have ruled against the pork company in all five cases that have made it through the court system. More than $550 million in penalties have been awarded to defendants.

Although the individual farmers are not the ones being sued, they are being affected all the same. Curliss will share the story of Joey Carter, a hog farmer who not only met the requirements of the law in North Carolina, he exceeded them. But members of a nearby housing development, which was built after the hog barns, took part in a class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by the same lawyers who are well-known for filling class-action lawsuits regarding asbestos, eventually led to the depopulation of Carter’s barns.

Breakout Sessions:
The afternoon session starting at 1:30 p.m. brings in the education component. This year we are offering two simultaneous sessions.

Fake Meat: The Industry Responds - Danielle Beck, NCBA, will share the strategies used by the Check off and Policy teams at NCBA as they advocate for beef as the number one protein on consumers’ minds and plates.

Danielle Beck joined the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in June of 2016. As Senior Director of Government Affairs, she is the lead lobbyist on all issues pertaining to tax, credit, appropriations, nutrition, food safety, labeling, and research.

Halt! Impact an FMD Could Have on Your Cattle Business - With African Swine Fever (ASF) threatening the world’s hog operations, now is a good time to consider what would happen if a similar disease were to affect Iowa’s cattle industry.

The session will be led by Dr. Andrew Hennefent, the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Management Coordinator, and Dr. Danelle Bickett-Weddle from the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University. Together, they will lead attendees through a mock “stand-still order.” In the case of a foreign animal disease outbreak in the state, movement (transportation) of all susceptible livestock would be halted for a minimum of 72 hours. When movement resumes, it would be on a permit-only basis for those in areas where the disease is present. Attendees will be asked to think through a variety of scenarios on their farm and learn what will be required in order to receive a movement permit.

Policy Committee Meetings:
Following the speakers, ICA’s policy committee meetings will be held. These meetings are open to all members. Attendees will review expiring policies, hear updates on hot topics in the industry, and debate new policies.

Throughout the year, ICA staff and leaders compile input on a variety of topics affecting the cattle industry. From transportation to taxes and everything in between, the issues cattlemen are dealing with need constant attention. ICA’s Policy Committee meetings are the culmination of the policy development process, where our position on issues is solidified, guiding ICA staff and leaders’ advocacy work throughout the next year. Policies developed in these meetings are ratified during the ICA Annual Meeting the following day.

In preparation for the policy committee meetings, ICA’s Feedlot Council, Cow-Calf Council, and various task forces will meet to gather information. Topics expected to be discussed this year include Iowa’s Green and Gold Tag Preconditioned programs, traceability, and cattle marketing. Attendees will hear a summary of ICA’s October Cattle Marketing Listening Sessions, and work on related policy to carry forward to the NCBA Convention in early 2020.

Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation Banquet and Fundraiser Auction:
Thursday’s events will cap off with the traditional Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation Banquet. A fundraiser auction will accompany presentations honoring Iowa’s outstanding cattlemen and women, both young and old. Cattle industry supporters are encouraged to support the Foundation through the auction, in person or online. Again this year, auction items will be posted online at iowacattlemensfoundation.org.

Friday, Dec. 6
Friday morning will begin with a breakfast specifically for ICA board members and county board members. Following breakfast, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association will hold its annual meeting, followed by the Iowa Beef Industry Council.

Registration Information:  Early Registration Ends Nov. 20
Three registrations are being offered this year:
Member Full Registration- $75
Non-Member Full Registration- $90
Foundation Banquet- $50 (banquet meal only) https://www.iacattlemen.org/leadershipsummitattendeeregistration.aspx

Hotel rooms can be reserved at www.prairiemeadows.com using group code 12042019IOW or by calling 515-957-3000. Rooms must be booked by November 20 to receive the discounted rate.



Iowa continues to lead in agriculture,but still faces market challenges

Iowa continues to remain a powerhouse in United States agriculture according to the 2019 Iowa Agricultural Statistics, a 112-page comprehensive analysis by the Iowa office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and released by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF). Last year, Iowa farmers averaged 196 bushels per acre of corn compared to the U.S. average of 176 and raised 57 bushels of soybeans, compared to the U.S. average of 51.6.

Iowa’s farmers continue to be the leaders of pork production, raising 31 percent of the nation’s hogs, and is also ranked fourth in cattle on feed (cattle expected to become select, choice or prime beef). Because of its strong livestock sector, Iowa continues to increase its processing of red meat products including beef, pork and mutton. Processing plants in Iowa produced 7.70 billion pounds of red meat in 2018, an increase of 471 million pounds from the previous year.

“The 2019 Iowa Ag stats speak to how important agriculture is to the state,” says Director of the NASS Upper Midwest Regional Office Greg Thessen. “It’s one of our major industries, and it’s not just corn, soybeans, hogs and cattle. There are other niche farms and small farms that sell at farmers markets.”

These stats can also give people an overall view of the “health” of the state’s farm economy, Thessen says. “It gives people an idea of the amount of money it takes to be a farmer. Farmers have a lot of money invested into their operations which in turn affects their local community.” Beyond that, agribusinesses and other expanding businesses in Iowa use county agricultural data to decide where their business can thrive based on the local farm economy, he says.

However, Iowa grain farmers continue to work within narrow—and sometimes negative—margins as corn and soybeans cost more to produce than the price a farmer receives for them. Soybean “ending stocks”— or, soybeans that are leftover after being fed to livestock, used for seed, crushed for soybean oil and exported to other countries— continue to compound from year to year. The carryover of soybeans from the 2016-17 crop marketing year brought 2018 soybean ending stocks to 438 million bushels. This glut further depresses soybean prices and shows an urgent need for negotiations with China—the top recipient of U.S. soybeans.

"Iowa farmers are building from the conditions shaped by last year and some further market challenges they’ve faced this year,” says Dr. Sam Funk, IFBF director of agriculture analytics and research. “It is important to consider where we have been and market conditions. How relatively current markets handle the productive capacity of Iowa agriculture provides indicators of supply and demand conditions moving forward.”



Pork Checkoff Video Series Provides High-Tech View of Today’s Pig Farming

A new cutting-edge video series from the National Pork Board  creates opportunities for farmers and others involved in pork production to share with consumers a firsthand view inside today’s modern farms. The virtual reality (VR) videos enable viewers to virtually tour gestation, farrowing, nursery and finishing barns. The video series show how pig farmers and their teams use the latest technology and tools to provide a safe, secure and healthy environment for pigs following the We Care ethical principles. 

NPB YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUr79ny3EOHJzmvseKTbpbA

“The new videos let viewers step into a barn, take a guided tour and look around through a virtual reality platform in much the same way as if they were actually inside a barn,” said David Newman, president of the National Pork Board and a pig farmer representing Arkansas. “We think this platform will go a long way toward sharing our We Care story with consumers and the lengths farmers go to in order to provide a safe, sustainable and nutritious product.”

Pork Checkoff leaders will showcase the videos and highlight the nutritional benefits of pork at the 2019 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) held Oct. 26-29 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“The videos will help us share the story of today’s pig farming and demonstrate that what we do – day in and day out – is based on the utmost concern for human health, nutrition and sustainability,” said Adria Huseth, RDN, LD, CPT, and manager of nutrition communication and research for the Pork Checkoff. “The videos will showcase our industry to key audiences, including health and nutrition professionals from around the world.”

The Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo is the world’s largest gathering of food and nutrition experts, with more than 10,000 registered dietitians, nutrition science researchers, policy makers, health care providers and industry leaders in attendance. At FNCE, they will discuss and act on issues of high importance to the health and well-being of American food consumers. 

“It’s the right platform for showcasing the efforts of everyone involved in pork production to ensure product quality, safety and sustainability,” Huseth said. 

The videos use VR technology to offer a firsthand view inside different types of pig barns. The videos can be viewed on YouTube, Facebook or through a VR headset. “The high-tech platform is a fitting way to illustrate the cutting-edge tools and processes pig farmers use to provide a safe, secure environment for the well-being of every animal on farms across the United States,” said Newman.  

The videos were filmed in partnership with the Minnesota Pork Board and Christensen Farms located in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.



HOURS OF SERVICE PROPOSAL 'PART OF A SERIES OF WELCOME STEPS,' NPPC SUBMITS IN COMMENTS

The National Pork Producers Association has come out in support of the Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) proposal to increase flexibility for truckers, including livestock haulers, it wrote in comments submitted this week. The Hours of Service (HOS) of Drivers proposal, issued in August, revised rules around the amount of time truckers can drive their loads and when they are required to rest between drives.

"While not perfect, FMCSA's proposed rule is part of a series of welcome steps the agency has taken to adjust policies necessary to help address the challenges faced by livestock haulers," NPPC explained in its comments.

FMCSA's proposal addresses the challenge of adverse weather by expanding not just the driving time, but also the overall on-duty time for drivers to finish their delivery. The proposed rule also allows truckers to split up their 10-hour mandatory rest period into two periods (one being at least 7 hours long) and creates an option for drivers to take an extended break between 30 minutes and 3 hours, which pauses their on-duty clock. This will allow drivers the option of resting when tired, while providing greater flexibility for completing deliveries and maintaining high animal welfare standards.

In its comments, NPPC urged FMCSA to allow other time splits for livestock haulers and eliminate the distinction between on-duty and driving time, among other suggestions.



Deputy Secretary Censky Leads Trade Mission to West Africa

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky will lead a trade mission to West Africa, October 28-31, to help United States exporters unlock new opportunities in a region where strong economic growth is driving demand for imported food and farm products.

“At USDA we are working to sell the bounty of American agriculture. West Africa is a bright spot with a growing middle class that are hungry for our delicious and wholesome agriculture products,” said Deputy Secretary Censky. “Through this trade mission and other efforts, USDA is proud to support President Trump’s Prosper Africa initiative, which is seeking to boost two-way trade and investment between the United States and Africa. Prosper Africa brings together the full range of U.S. government resources to connect U.S. and African businesses with new buyers, suppliers, and investment opportunities – a win for the United States and for countries across the African continent.”

Deputy Secretary Censky will be joined by Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Steve Wellman, North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, officials from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and representatives from the following companies and organizations:
    AFRO Plus Logistics, Bear, Delaware
    American Premier Meat, Connersville, Indiana
    American Soybean Association/World Initiative for Soy in Human Health, St. Louis, Missouri
    Anna Carter’s The Seed Lady, Los Angeles, California
    Archer Daniels Midland Company, Chicago, Illinois
    Berkeley Capital Group, Inc, New York, New York
    Crown Products, Inc, Metairie, Louisiana
    CTB, Inc., Milford, Indiana
    DAUUS Company, Bloomington, Minnesota
    East West International Group, Inc, Moreland, Ohio
    Fobrose Group, Houston, Texas
    Geotan Enterprises, LLC, Humble, Texas
    Ghantex Holdings Limited, Houston, Texas
    Global Export Marketing Co. Ltd., New York, New York
    Green Plains Inc., Omaha, Nebraska
    Growth Energy, Washington, D.C.
    Hills Harvest, College Park, Maryland
    International Feed Corporation, Excelsior, Minnesota
    I.P.P International, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    JBR International Trade Group, Inc., DuPont, Washington
    Livestock Exporters Association of the USA, Chicago, Illinois
    Marquis Energy, Hennepin, Illinois
    Mariani Packing Company, Vacaville, California
    National Swine Registry, West Lafayette, Indiana
    Neil Jones Food Company, Vancouver, Washington
    North Star Food Trading LLC, Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Now International, Bloomingdale, Illinois
    Oakmont & Associates, Addison, Texas
    Perdue Foods, Salisbury, Maryland
    Steel City Global Trading, LLC, Enterprise, Alabama
    St. Louis African Chamber of Commerce, St. Louis, Missouri
    Tam Global Consultants, Portland, Oregon
    Tomex Foods, Inc. Lombard, Illinois
    Triad Fisheries Ltd, Portland, Oregon
    U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc., Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
    U.S. Grains Council, Washington, D.C.
    U.S. Soybean Export Council, Chesterfield, Missouri
    U.S. Wheat Associates, Arlington, Virginia
    United Source One, Belcamp, Maryland
    Virginia Natural Beef Inc., Lexington, Virginia
    Wakava Food and Beverage, LLC, St. Louis, Missouri
    Wygold LLC, Woodland, California

The mission will be based in Accra, Ghana, and will also include buyer delegations from Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Senegal. 

Thursday October 24 Ag News

Leadership Transition within UNL Center for Grassland Studies

The Center for Grassland Studies celebrated its 25th Anniversary this year. The founding Director of the Center, Dr. Martin Massengale, served in that role for the Center’s first 23 years. Seldom does an organization enjoy the benefits and prosper fromsuch remarkable commitment and passionate leadership represented by over two decades of servant leadership. The stability in leadership and vision coupled with the inherent passion for grasslands and grassland science positioned the Center well for service to the students, faculty stakeholders, state and beyond. 

Dr. Steven Waller feels it has been an honor to have followed Dr. Massengale in the role of Interim Director of the Center for Grassland Studies. The opportunities for the Center that have occurred as a result of the foundation that Dr. Massengale and others created have been extremely rewarding, both personally and professionally for Waller. Steve said, “My experience in the Center has only reaffirmed how blessed we are to be grassland stewards in the state of Nebraska. My three years in the Centerhave felt like a rebirth of my lasting passion for our grasslands which has always been grounded in the people. I will retire at the end of this calendar year having thoroughly enjoyed a return to my range science roots.” Steve continued, “Whether it is the administrative team in the office or the faculty, students, stakeholders, farmers and ranchers; we all become one in service to our grassland heritage. It is the people that make a difference and it is time for a new leader of the Center for Grassland Studies to make their difference, and they will.”

Dr. Walt Schacht has accepted the position of Interim Director beginning January 1, 2020. Dr. Schacht is a Professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture specializing in Grassland Ecology. He is uniquely suited for the position as Interim Director. He has been a servant leader his entire career and his network of friends, colleagues, students, alumni, stakeholders, farmers and ranchers testify to the breadth and diversity of his knowledge in grasslands and the respect that he enjoys from all. Dr. Schacht has always been a difference-maker and now he will make a difference in the Center for Grassland Studies.   



Ricketts: New Forecast Means Full Steam Ahead on Property Tax Relief

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts issued a statement following a decision by the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board, which raised the revenue forecast by $161 million for the current fiscal year FY2019-20 and $105 million for fiscal year FY2020-21.

“This new forecast pegs revenues at $266 million higher over the next two years,” said Gov. Ricketts.  “This will allow property tax relief to move full steam ahead during the upcoming legislative session.”



Statement by Steve Nelson, President, Regarding Revenue Projections, Opportunity for Property Tax Relief

“Today’s state revenue projections adopted by the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Board only bolster the opportunity for the Legislature to provide property tax relief for Nebraskans. While some will want to use additional dollars for other purposes, it’s vital these dollars be dedicated to lowering property taxes for hard working Nebraskans.”



IA Pork Leadership Applications due Nov. 30, 2019

Travel the country. Meet farmers from other states. Develop your leadership skills. If those sound like goals you want to accomplish in 2020, then the Iowa Pork Leadership Academy (IPLA) may be for you.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association is now accepting applications for its 2020 IPLA class. Applications are due Nov. 30, 2019.

IPLA was created to support Iowa's pork producers who are committed to the pork industry. It provides them with the tools to succeed as leaders. These tools include:
-    a working knowledge of the Iowa Pork Producers Association and other key organizations that work with IPPA to broaden perspectives and build coalitions;
-    understanding and defining leadership styles and how they impact people working together in a group;
-    a deeper understanding of the pork industry and its economic contributions to Iowa, and how that impacts Iowa's place in the world; and
-    sharpening written and verbal communications and messaging about pig farming and pork.

The academy will meet four times in 2020, starting with an introductory session in February 2020, which culminates with the group's graduation at the January 2021 Iowa Pork Congress.

IPLA is for men and women who want to contribute to a better future for Iowa's pig farmers by connecting with their communities, and supporting the long-term profitability of the pork industry in Iowa.

Online applications and details about the program can be found at http://www.iowapork.org/iowa-pork-leadership-academy/.

The 2019 IPLA members will graduate at the 2020 IPPA Annual Meeting Awards Lunch on Jan. 21, 2020. Those members are: Kara Burch, Independence; Amanda Chipman, Ames; Jared Gent, Kalona; Mary Heiller, North Liberty; Ryan Holt, Des Moines; and Michael King, Urbandale.

Also, Brian Lundell, Kiron; Craig Mostaert, Castalia; Nathan Nieuwendorp, Inwood; Scott Opperman, Manning; Ty Rosburg, Charter Oak; and Linda Schroeder, Remsen.



Operation Main Street Shares Facts About Pig Farming With 10,000 Groups

After debuting nearly 15 years ago, the Pork Checkoff’s Operation Main Street (OMS) program has reached a major milestone – sharing facts about pigs and pork to 10,000 audiences. Wesley Lyons, a veterinarian from Sycamore, Illinois, made the historic presentation to nurses at the Northern Illinois Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Fall Forum in Rockford, Illinois.

“I was honored to present the 10,000th OMS speech, especially to a group of critical care nurses,” said Lyons, with Pipestone Veterinary Services. “Nurses often have more time to interact with patients than physicians, which makes them a critical group for us to share up-to-date information about how pigs are raised today.”

The OMS program was created to help pig farmers interact with and connect to their communities about animal care, food safety and public health and other facets of how today’s pigs are raised. Since then, it has transitioned into a program that also reaches key influencers, expanding to include veterinarians such as Lyons and other industry representatives to serve as speakers. To date, the nearly 1,500 trained OMS speakers have collectively volunteered 17,604 hours to share pork’s story.

“OMS provides the opportunity for audience members to ask questions about pigs and pork from the farmers and veterinarians who care for pigs daily,” said Ernie Barnes industry services director for the Pork Checkoff. “OMS speakers interact with chefs, nurses, veterinarian students, nutritionists, bloggers and other important groups who interact daily with audiences. OMS presentations help them confidently and accurately talk about the science and practice of raising pigs.”

A new program update is an ability for audience members to virtually tour a pig farm. Through a collaboration with South Dakota State University (SDSU), OMS speakers can include live-streaming video tours of SDSU’s Swine Education and Research Center, in Brookings, South Dakota.

“The live tours show how pig farmers follow the We CareSM ethical principles every day in their barns to raise healthy pigs,” said Lyons, who included a virtual tour in the 10,000th presentation. “Many people are surprised at the high level of care pigs receive in the climate-controlled barns and at how pig farmers safeguard natural resources.”

OMS speakers and those who attend presentations are encouraged to use the hashtag –  #OurPorkStory – to increase the online presence of pig farming. 



Record Red Meat and Pork Production in September

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.44 billion pounds in September, up 6 percent from the 4.19 billion pounds produced in September 2018.

By State   (million pounds - % Sept '18)
Nebraska ........:     698.6            106
Iowa ...............:     707.1            118      
Kansas ............:     385.1             79      

Beef production, at 2.19 billion pounds, was 1 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.68 million head, up 2 percent from September 2018. The average live weight was down 7 pounds from the previous year, at 1,352 pounds.

Veal production totaled 6.1 million pounds, 1 percent above September a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 49,000 head, up 1 percent from September 2018. The average live weight was up 1 pound from last year, at 216 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.24 billion pounds, up 11 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.6 million head, up 10 percent from September 2018. The average live weight was up 2 pounds from the previous year, at 282 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 10.9 million pounds, was down 4 percent from September 2018. Sheep slaughter totaled 179,400 head, 4 percent above last year. The average live weight was 122 pounds, down 10 pounds from September a year ago.

January to September 2019 commercial red meat production was 40.5 billion pounds, up 3 percent from 2018. Accumulated beef production was up 1 percent from last year, veal was down 1 percent, pork was up 5 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 2 percent.



USDA Agricultural Trade Mission To Vietnam Reinforces Importance Of Trade Relationships

Relationships are a primary driving force behind trade - a principle that was demonstrated during each meeting of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Trade Mission (USDA’s ATM) to Vietnam in mid-October, led by Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney.

Wayne Humphreys, corn farmer from Columbus Junction, Iowa, who represents the corn sector on the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Board of Directors, joined USGC staff for the mission, which included nearly 80 industry and government representatives. Humphreys’ participation as an engaged producer accentuated the importance of the interconnectedness between U.S. farmers and agribusiness, and other organizations like the Council in establishing, maintaining and expanding trade opportunities.

“I particularly appreciated being a part of this mission and others because when you sit across the table from these people and say you are a family farmer or an American farmer, you get the distinct impression that is a good thing,” Humphreys said. “We are held in high regard for our productivity and for the amount of volume that we handle per person and per man-hour.”

Vietnam is the fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia, thanks to increasing population, urbanization and rapid economic growth. In less than a decade, Vietnam has grown from a top 10 to a top three corn importer in the world. The country is a significant importer of both U.S. corn and DDGS with additional future potential for U.S. sorghum. A rising middle class is also creating additional demand for ethanol, aided by a nationwide E5 policy that has ambitions to expand to E10. Vietnam imported 3.51 million gallons of U.S. ethanol in the 2018/2019 marketing year, more than tripling sales from the year prior.

During the trade mission, Humphreys and Council staff participated in two different roundtable meetings with Undersecretary McKinney - one focused on ethanol and bioplastics and another with grain traders. Each meeting emphasized the Council’s well-known reputation as a partner in the trade and with Vietnamese producers working to expand their operations and address challenges like Asian Swine Fever (ASF).

“They have great respect for the Council. They know we have been in business a long time and we have been working in that part of the world for a long time,” Humphreys said. “We are not just blowing in there because the market is a hot spot.”

The USGC team traveled to Myanmar following the official USDA trade mission to meet with key stakeholders in the frontier Southeast Asian market. Myanmar is home to 54 million people with tremendous potential for U.S. grain and co-product exports. However, restrictions on foreign investment related to political turbulence within Myanmar limited market development activities until 2018. Since then, the Council has been engaging with key stakeholders in the market, targeting aquaculture, animal feed and potable ethanol industries.

“Myanmar is a classic example of an emerging market,” Humphreys said. “The people are learning how to be part of the international community. We learned long ago to be patient with emerging markets and help them develop their policies.”

In both markets, Humphreys observed the importance of the Council’s on-the-ground presence and emphasized the overarching need to continue to establish connections, not just promote sales.

“The business of the Council and the business of the American farmer around the world should be focused on developing relationships,” Humphreys said. “That means consistency; that means trust; that means honesty; that means doing and delivering exactly what we said we will do.”



National Biodiesel Foundation Receives DERA Grant

This week, the National Biodiesel Foundation was awarded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funding for its 2020 National Clean Diesel Project. In partnership with Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), Optimus Technologies (Optimus), and  Renewable Energy Group (REG), the project supports the purchase of three new replacement snowplows that will operate on B100 and retire older more polluting vehicles.

These new B100-optimized vehicles provide communities of Des Moines and Ames, Iowa. with lower NOx and PM transportation. “We at Foundation are excited to partner with Iowa DOT for the first successful DERA grant to utilize the Optimus B100 technology," said Tom Verry, Executive Director. “It is projects like this that will showcase the benefits of higher biodiesel blends as the future of clean and sustainable diesel.”

“The Iowa Department of Transportation is pleased to receive this award to help our fleet improve air quality in Iowa and maintains our status as an early adopter of biofuels and related technologies,” said David May, Fleet Manager for Iowa DOT.

These new vehicles will facilitate goods-movement seasonally by providing snow removal service and have access to rail yards, terminals, and key distribution centers. All replacement vehicles will use Optimus Technologies’ Vector technology, allowing the vehicles to operate exclusively on 100% biodiesel—other than startup and shutdown—to optimize fuel savings and emissions performance.

“Optimus’ patented technology is deployed with fleets across the country leading the efforts to reduce emissions and transition to low carbon fuels. Our technology is ideal for demanding applications like snow removal operations and refuse collection that aren’t suitable or practical for electrification,” said Colin Huwyler, CEO of Optimus. “We applaud Iowa Department of Transportation’s leadership in being the first DOT in the nation to deploy B100 within their fleet and are excited to emphasize that the thousands of gallons of diesel fuel being offset will be replaced with biodiesel that is produced right in Iowa.”

REG will provide the B100 refueling infrastructure for the fleet. “As the demand for emissions reduction strategies continue to grow across fleets and municipalities, we are well-positioned to provide quality biodiesel (B100) and other biofuel blend options to our customers,” said Jon Scharingson, Executive Director, Sales & Marketing. “The Iowa Department of Transportation was an early adopter of biodiesel and continues to be an ambassador for cleaner fuels.”

The Foundation will work with IDOT, Iowa Renewable Fuels, Iowa Clean Cities and the National Biodiesel Board to offer technician training to help them better understand the equipment as well as provide community educational events. In addition, partners will conduct outreach efforts to showcase biodiesel and educate fleets and the general public on biodiesel’s air quality and low carbon benefits to the community.



RFA Receives Grants for Ethanol Safety Education

The Renewable Fuels Association has recently been awarded grants to support its safety education program through on-site seminars and Internet webinars. Both grants were received via the association’s work with TRANSCAER, a voluntary national outreach effort that focuses on assisting communities to prepare for and respond to a possible hazardous material transportation incident.

“One of the strengths that sets our association apart is our whole-industry focus that includes high-quality technical assistance such as our safety programs with TRANSCAER,” said RFA Technical Services Manager Missy Ruff. “As we seek to make ethanol more available to drivers nationwide, we want to ensure that ethanol producers, shippers, blenders, and emergency response personnel all have the opportunity to learn more about best practices for safe handling of ethanol and responding to incidents. We are very grateful for the continuing support from TRANSCAER and other partner organizations.”

A $25,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration will support 10 ethanol safety seminars and four “train the trainer” webinars for first responders, and a $40,000 Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training grant from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will fund another 10 ethanol safety seminars and an update of RFA’s Ethanol Safety Tour video.

All work on both grants must be completed by Aug. 31, 2020. Last year, RFA’s safety work with TRANSCAER involved hosting ethanol safety seminars in New York, Vermont, Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Maine and Virginia reaching a total audience of 506 first responders and safety professionals, and four online “Train the Trainer” webinars, reaching 259 participants in January, March, July and August.

For more information on RFA’s work in this area, visit the Ethanol Emergency Response website at www.EthanolResponse.com, where the training programs conducted in the seminars and webinars can be seen.



IGC Cuts 2019-20 Grain Production, Consumption Forecasts

The International Grains Council cut its forecast for grain production on Thursday, as a third year of drought in Australia drags on global wheat output.

The intergovernmental organization reduced its forecast for grain output in the 2019-20 season to 2.157 billion metric tons, down from 2.159 billion tons in its September report. Strong harvests in the European Union and Russia partly offset cuts to the outlook for wheat production in Australia and Argentina.

Wheat prices have risen in recent weeks, driven by strong demand in Egypt, the world's top importer of the grain, and dry weather in Australia.

However, the IGC forecasts are unlikely to lead to a further rally in prices since the organization also cut its forecast for global grain consumption by two million tons, to 2.184 billion tons.



EPA Proposes Rule to Update Pesticide Application Exclusion Zone Requirements

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing narrow updates to the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) pesticide regulation to improve the long-term success of the agency’s Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) requirements. The targeted updates would improve enforceability for state regulators and reduce regulatory burdens for farmers. It would also maintain public health protections for farm workers and other individuals near agricultural establishments that could be exposed to agricultural pesticide applications. The proposed updates are consistent with the newly enacted 2019 Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA).

“EPA’s proposal would enhance the agency’s Application Exclusion Zone provisions by making them more effective and easier to implement,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “In listening to input from stakeholders, our proposal will make targeted updates, maintaining safety requirements to protect the health of those in farm country, while providing greater flexibility for farmers.”

“President Trump made a commitment to our farmers to reduce burdensome regulations, and this is another example of him making good on that promise. This action will make it easier for our farmers and growers to comply with the Application Exclusion Zone provisions, providing them with the flexibility to do what they do best - feed, fuel, and clothe the world,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.

“I commend Administrator Wheeler for clarifying the Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) requirements," said Congressman Mike Conaway (TX-11). "This is a positive development for our nation’s farmers, farm workers, and their State regulatory partners. Unlike the last administration’s misguided regulations, AEZ is now an enforceable rule that maintains worker protections without additional burden to farmers. While there is still more to do to improve the Worker Protection Standards, I appreciate EPA’s efforts and look forward to continuing this important work.”

“NASDA appreciates the EPA’s continued steps to prioritize worker safety. Additional and improved guidelines for implementing pesticide safety standards are always welcomed, as NASDA members hold highly the responsibility of protecting our nation’s agricultural workforce,” said National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) CEO Dr. Barb Glenn. “We thank EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler for mapping out the new rules with NASDA, as each member implements the regulations and intricacies within them.”

“I applaud EPA’s action to provide growers relief from a very cumbersome requirement by proposing changes to the Worker Protection Standard consistent with our remarks submitted during a 2017 comment period,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black. “Our growers go to great lengths to comply with the WPS only to be frustrated with its complexity. Updating and simplifying the Application Exclusion Zone provision within this rule will strengthen enforceability for state regulators and better support outreach and education efforts by research partners, all while reducing regulatory burdens for our farmers.”

“The American Farm Bureau Federation welcomes EPA’s effort to refine and improve the application exclusion zone requirement. It’s part of the worker protection standards rule, which was recently revised in a way that has proved challenging for many farmers," said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. "Every effort to make the rule more sensible and practical for farmers while safeguarding workers is important. EPA’s step today to assure that only those areas under a farmer’s control are enforceable is a common-sense clarification, among others designed to reflect on-the-ground farming practices. AFBF commends Administrator Wheeler and the agency for this common-sense and welcome revision.”

EPA continues to support the AEZ requirement. The agency is holding a 90-day public comment period and is seeking input on select updates that were publicly suggested to EPA by both state pesticide agencies responsible for enforcing the provision and agricultural stakeholders since the AEZ requirement was adopted in 2015. The proposed updates are also consistent with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s comments during a May 2017 meeting of EPA’s Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee.

Specifically, EPA is proposing to:
-    Modify the AEZ so it is applicable and enforceable only on a farm owner’s property, where a farm owner can lawfully exercise control over employees and bystanders who could fall within the AEZ. As currently written, the off-farm aspect of this provision has proven very difficult for state regulators to enforce. These proposed changes would enhance both enforcement and implementation of the AEZ for state regulators and farm owners respectively. Off-farm bystanders would still be protected from pesticide applications thanks to the existing “do not contact” requirement that prohibits use in a manner that would contact unprotected individuals.
-    Exempt immediate family members of farm owners from all aspects of the AEZ requirement. This will allow farm owners and their immediate family members to decide whether to stay in their homes or other enclosed structures on their property during certain pesticide applications, rather than compelling them to leave even when they feel safe remaining.
-    Add clarifying language that pesticide applications that are suspended due to individuals entering an AEZ may be resumed after those individuals have left the AEZ.
-    Simplify the criteria for deciding whether pesticide applications are subject to the 25- or 100-foot AEZ.

EPA will be accepting public comments on the proposed updates for 90 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register.

Additional information: www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/agricultural-worker-protection-standard-wps.

Wednesday October 23 Ag News

Madison cattle feeder co-chairs Nexus capital campaign at Northeast Community College

A cattle feeder from Madison is helping lead the capital campaign to fund new agriculture facilities at Northeast Community College.

Jeanne Reigle, who co-owns Reigle Cattle Company with her husband, John, and son and daughter-in-law, is a co-chair of the campaign, along with Russ Vering of Central Plains Milling in Howells and Columbus.

“My husband, John, and I asked Northeast for help in meeting our workforce needs,” Reigle explained. “Their answer was this plan to create a premiere location to attract traditional and non-traditional students from all over the country, whether they are interested in livestock agriculture, precision farming or another aspect of production.”

Providing trained employees for area farms, ranches and agri-businesses is one of the main goals of the Nexus project at Northeast Community College.

According to Dr. Tracy Kruse, vice president of development and external affairs and executive director of the Northeast Foundation, “As we talk with area business people, one topic that comes up again and again is the critical shortage of trained workers. Since nine out of 10 Northeast students stay in Nebraska after graduation, we believe that increasing enrollments in our ag program would help farmers, ranchers and agri-businessmen meet that challenge.”

Kruse said that one of the factors limiting student growth in the Northeast ag department is the lack of modern facilities.

“Veterinary technology and animal science students learn in a 100-year-old repurposed dairy barn,” Kruse said. “The Nexus campaign will provide the funds needed to replace that building, as well as provide a farm site that more closely resembles a modern Nebraska farm.”

Reigle has past experience in fundraising, having chaired several local efforts as well as being a co-chair of the 2008 Nebraska Cattlemen’s Ball. She encourages everyone to make an investment in agriculture in northeast Nebraska by contributing to the Nexus campaign.

“I tell ag producers that each dollar contributed to new ag facilities at Northeast is an investment in their own ag business, not just in the college. This state of the art campus will give close proximity access to some of the best qualified ag workforce, technology advancements, and crop management and development.”

“There are several ways to be a part of the Nexus campaign,” Reigle continued. “Cash donations can be made over a five-year pledge period; gifts of grain and livestock are being accepted by the campaign; and some retirees are designating the required disbursements from their IRA’s to the project.”

“Northeast wants to make it possible for everyone to be a part of this project,” Kruse said. “If writing a large check is not something you can do, please contact the Foundation office for more information on alternative ways to support agriculture at Northeast in a significant and tax deductible way.”

Funding for the $23 million Agriculture & Water Center for Excellence project is currently being solicited to enhance and expand the agriculture facilities at Northeast Community College. In addition to the College’s commitment of $10 million, Northeast is seeking at least $13 million in private funds to begin the initial phase of construction, which includes a new farm site with a large animal handling facility and other farm structures for livestock operations, a new veterinary technology clinic and classrooms, and a farm office and storage. The new facilities will be located near the Chuck Pohlman Ag Complex on E. Benjamin Avenue in Norfolk.

In August, the Acklie Charitable Foundation (ACF) announced a $5 million lead gift to the Nexus project. ACF was founded by the late Duane Acklie and Phyllis Acklie, both Madison County natives and graduates of Norfolk Junior College, a predecessor institution of Northeast Community College.

For more information on the Nexus Campaign, contact Kruse, at tracyk@northeast.edu, or call (402) 844-7056. Online donations may be made through the website agwaternexus.com. Checks may be mailed to: Nexus Campaign, Northeast Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 469, Norfolk, NE 68702-0469.



Beef Nutrition Research Showcase Set for Dec. 4 in Ames

The 2019 Beef Nutrition Research Showcase Dec. 4, features a variety of topics presented by eight Iowa State University speakers, all with an eye on practical research and market information. The showcase is presented by Iowa Beef Center and the ruminant nutrition group in the animal science department at Iowa State University.

Allison VanDerWal, research coordinator with the ruminant nutrition group, is one of the organizers of the event. She said that while the focus is on nutrition, all presenters will offer insight and information relevant to beef cattle production.

"Our specific topics include growth promoting technologies and their effect on cattle mineral health, precision livestock farming tools for the feedlot, and transit stress in receiving calves," she said. "We'll also get a beef cattle market situation and outlook, and learn about finishing high quality beef."

The program flyer has all the details, including speaker names and affiliations, event times and location addresses.  http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/events/ResearchShowcaseFlyer2019.pdf

The showcase itself will be held at the Hansen Ag Student Learning Center, 2508 Mortensen Road in Ames, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Following the presentations, dinner will be provided at 5:30 p.m. There is an optional tour at the Iowa State Beef Nutrition Farm, and those wanting to attend should meet at the farm, at 3405 North Dakota Ave, at noon.

Thanks to sponsor Merck Animal Health, the tour, program and meal are free. However, RSVPs should be made by Wednesday, Nov. 27, by contacting VanDerWal either by email at avand@iastate.edu or by phone at 507-822-5921.

VanDerWal also encourages showcase attendees to consider registering for the Iowa Cattlemen's Association 2019 Iowa Cattle Leadership Summit, set for Dec. 5-6 at Prairie Meadows Event Center in Altoona. Registration for all meals and trade show access is $75 for members and $90 for nonmembers through November 20.



RFID Mandate Removed from USDA Website

In April 2019 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) publicly issued its guidance document titled, "Factsheet Advancing Animal Disease Traceability: A Plan to Achieve Electronic Identification in Cattle and Bison," which was prominently displayed on the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS's) website under the heading "Animal Disease Traceability."

That guidance document stated that USDA would require the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) eartags on adult cattle and bison moved in interstate commerce beginning Jan. 1, 2023.

Representing the ranching group R-CALF USA and several of its members, Harriet Hageman of the New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) filed a lawsuit on Oct. 4, 2019 in the federal district court in Casper, Wyo. alleging that the USDA's RFID mandate was unlawful and seeking to declare the mandate null and void.

When the ranching group's lawsuit was filed, the USDA's guidance document remained prominently displayed on APHIS' website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/SA_Traceability.

Today, just days after the lawsuit was filed, the guidance document is gone.

R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard conducted a search for the infamous guidance document and could not find it anywhere on USDA's website.  However, he did locate the document that had apparently been archived by the Government Printing Office. Although the guidance document cannot be accessed in its prior location on USDA's website, it can still be accessed here:
https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo120647/traceability.pdf.

After the ranching group filed their lawsuit, and before it was removed from the USDA's website, on Oct. 8, 2019, President Donald J. Trump issued two Executive Orders that, among other things, attempted to stop federal agencies like the USDA from attempting to impose legally binding obligations on U.S. citizens through unlawful means, such as the use of guidance documents that were not created through a lawful rulemaking procedure.

The President's Executive Orders gave federal agencies 120 days to compile a publicly available inventory of all the guidance documents that the respective agencies intended to keep and defend, regardless of whether those guidance documents were created pursuant to a lawful rulemaking procedure.

Hageman stated, "We hope that USDA's removal of the 'Factsheet' from its website demonstrates that the agency acknowledges the strength of our lawsuit challenging its illegal effort at mandating RFID for livestock producers who seek to sell their livestock across state lines. Such a move would be a victory for the rule of law, confirm that "guidance" cannot be used to nullify a properly adopted regulation, and provide much needed certainty for the industry."

Bullard stated, "When we filed our lawsuit we said we were drawing a line in the sand telling the USDA that our industry will no longer stand for the USDA's blatant overreach and we are pleased that the President of the United States recognizes this as a serious violation of the rights and privileges of U.S. citizens, particularly American cattle ranchers."



Fertilizer Prices Continue to Fall

The prices for most fertilizers tracked by DTN continued to drop in the third week of October, following nine weeks of price drops in all eight major fertilizers.

In this latest update, six of the eight fertilizers showed price declines, led by DAP with a $15-per-ton decrease compared to last month. DAP came in at $465 per ton, compared to $480 one month ago.

MAP was priced at $472/ton for this update, falling from $478 last month.

Three fertilizer prices fell by $2 in one month, including potash at $382, urea at $402 and anhydrous at $507.

UAN28 experienced a small price decline of $1 to $253/ton. The prices of 10-34-0 and UAN32 remained steady at $471 and $289, respectively.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.44/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.45/lb.N and UAN32 $0.45/lb.N.

With prices significantly lower in recent months, two fertilizers' prices are lower in price than a year ago. MAP is now 9% less expensive and DAP is 7% lower from last year at this time.

Of the remaining six major fertilizers, five continue to be slightly higher compared to last year. Urea is 1% less expensive than last year, while potash is 5% more expensive and UAN28 is up 4%. 10-34-0 and anhydrous are both 3% higher. UAN32 is priced at 2% higher than one year ago.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 10/18/2019

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending Oct. 18, ethanol production shifted higher to 996,000 barrels per day (b/d), equivalent to 41.83 million gallons daily, an increase of 25,000 b/d or 2.6% from the prior week. However, production was 2.7% below the same week a year ago and 4.1% below the level two years ago.The four-week average ethanol production rate increased for the first time since mid-August, rising 1.4% to 972,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.90 billion gallons.

Ethanol stocks dropped 3.2% to 21.4 million barrels for the second-smallest level in over a year. Inventories were 10.6% lower than the same week last year. Stocks fell across all regions except the Midwest (PADD 2).

Imports of ethanol arriving into the West Coast were 28,000 b/d, or 8.23 million gallons for the week. This is the first time in four weeks that imports were logged. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of August 2019.)

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market scaled up 2.5% to a 6-week high of 9.590 million b/d (402.8 million gallons per day, or 147.01 bg annualized). Conversely, refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol narrowed by 1.5% to 928,000 b/d, equivalent to 14.23 bg annualized.

Expressed as a percentage of daily gasoline demand, daily ethanol production ticked up to 10.39%.



Coalition Challenges EPA on 2018 Refinery Waivers

A coalition of renewable fuel and agricultural trade organizations filed a petition Tuesday afternoon with the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, challenging the process by which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exempted certain unknown small refineries from their respective Renewable Fuel Standard obligations for 2018. The coalition includes the American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, National Biodiesel Board, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, and Renewable Fuels Association.

Unlike previous years, EPA’s entire decision document was only two pages long, the coalition noted in their petition. In these short two pages, EPA purported to resolve 36 pending petitions for disproportionate economic hardship exemptions—a decision that exempted small refineries from having to blend almost one and a half billion gallons of renewable fuel.

The brief document does not reveal any details and contains only the most bare-bones reasoning for EPA’s decision. Further, the decision did not transparently address whether any of the small refineries were eligible to receive extensions of their exemptions and did not include an analysis of ‘disproportionate economic hardship’, as the statute envisions.

“Even as the Trump Administration indicates it is taking steps to account for future small refinery exemptions, the coalition remains concerned that EPA’s abuse of the small refinery exemption program diverges from the spirit and letter of the Clean Air Act,” the coalition stated. “From a substantive and procedural perspective, this is not the way for a federal agency to make such a momentous decision.”



Joint Statement From Growth Energy, the U.S. Grains Council, and the Renewable Fuels Association on Brazil’s Ethanol Tariff Rate Quota

Growth Energy, the U.S. Grains Council, and the Renewable Fuels Association expressed their disappointment with the news that the Brazilian government amended the recent August 31st rule that raised the quota on U.S. ethanol imports under the tariff rate quote (TRQ) from 600 million liters per year to nearly 750 million liters per year. The TRQ regulates the threshold of ethanol that can be imported into Brazil without triggering a 20 percent tariff.

This is a step backwards in Brazilian government claims that it is an advocate of free markets. Growth Energy, the U.S. Grains Council, and the Renewable Fuels Association released the following statement:

“The decision by Brazil to place seasonal restrictions on its tariff rate quota for U.S. ethanol is disappointing and puts up additional roadblocks to free trade, hurting consumers and our respective ethanol industries.

“For more than 15 years, Brazilian ethanol industry leaders lobbied the U.S. government to drop the tax on imported ethanol, saying:
-    ‘[We] believe that free trade is a two-way street and Brazil…will lead by example and eliminate barriers to renewable, clean fuels.’
-    ‘[We’re] asking the Brazilian government to make the tariff elimination permanent if the U.S. Congress will do the same and drop the tax on imported ethanol.’
-    'It’s time for these two countries to show leadership and work together to develop a truly global free market for ethanol, without trade barriers, as is the case for oil.'
-    ‘Consumers win when industries compete. Brazilian ethanol producers are willing to compete for consumers. What about American producers?’

“The U.S. took the high road and eliminated its ethanol tariff.

“The action by Brazil this week to impose seasonal restrictions on the sale of ethanol does not create a case study in leading by example, but rather the opposite - it is up-ending real opportunities for free trade.”



Dairy Sectors of the United States and Mexico conduct Fourth Annual Meeting

The representatives of the organizations of milk producers and the dairy processors of Mexico:
• Asociación Nacional de Ganaderos Lecheros (ANGLAC)
• Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas (CNOG)
• Gremio de Productores Lecheros de la Republica Mexicana
• Cámara Nacional de Industriales de la Leche (CANILEC)

And the representatives of the organizations of milk producers of the Unites States:
• National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF)
• U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC)

The dairy industries of Mexico and the Unites States are proud to be among the world’s leading providers of wholesome and nutritious dairy products. We help feed communities around the globe while driving economic growth and bringing myriad positive benefits to each of our respective nations.

We salute the hard work of the dairy farmers and processors in both Mexico and the United States who produce superior dairy products in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Dairy consumption continues to grow, and our industries are continually modernizing in order to more efficiently meet the growing consumer demand for the high-quality products we produce. We also recognize the importance of ensuring that our industries continue to support small and medium size dairy operations as they work to sustain their livelihood and increase productivity.

Mexico and the United States produce a wide range of healthy, safe and delicious dairy products for the enjoyment of consumers. However, negative marketing activities and the proliferation of false, unscientific information regarding the properties of milk and milk products are impacting some consumer preferences.

We express concern over the new proposal mandating front-of-packaging nutrition labeling in Mexico, and urge the Mexican government to ensure that it NOT affect the positive image of milk and dairy products.

Also, the ratification of the USMCA – TMEC by the United States Congress is vital to strengthen the promising future of the milk and dairy sectors of Mexico and the United States, by bringing certainty to our trade relationships and creating new opportunities to increase dairy trade in the region.

Finally, the industries support a strong strategic collaboration to work on a number of issues of interest to both the Mexican dairy sector as well the U.S. dairy sector.

On this fourth annual meeting within the framework of the partnership to strengthen the productive sector for milk in North America, held in Torreón, Mexico, the dairy industries of Mexico and the Unites States hereby agree to:

    Preserve, facilitate and enhance trade between the two nations, as well as promote the elimination of trade barriers of any kind in the dairy sector.
    Have as a key objective the expansion of dairy consumption in both countries to the benefit of producers, manufacturers and primarily consumers in the United States and Mexico, by promoting joint activities that help increase the consumption of our dairy products within our region.
    Identify and promote actions that improve the productivity of dairy farms in Mexico and the United States, understanding the additional needs of small producers in Mexico in particular, while strengthening cooperation in the area of technological exchange and training, to drive improvements in milk production and nutrition.
    Defend the reputation and image of milk and dairy products in both countries by strongly rejecting the improper usage of milk and milk product names by products of nondairy origin, such as plant-based products.
    Creation of a Binational Commission to defend the image of dairy as well as to work on issues of sustainability, animal care and food safety, and find avenues to promote and increase consumption of dairy products.
    Urge the Mexican authorities to consider in the public consultation the arguments of the national and international dairy sector, so that milk and dairy products that contain milk as their main ingredient are not affected by the establishment of warning seals on their labels, in recognition of the enormous nutritional benefits of dairy products, the important role they play in a healthy and balanced diet and the consideration of vulnerable groups in society.
    Express the need for stabilization in our markets in recognition of the economic, social and political importance and certainty that this agreement offers to our industries.
    Continue activities in defense of common food names, in particular cheese names, allowing their free use in our North American market respecting the USMCA agreement on intellectual property.
    Urge the governments involved in the negotiation of USMCA – TMEC to expeditiously implement this modernized trade agreement in order to secure its framework for a strong and united dairy industry for the benefit of our geographical zone and its consumers.
    Understand the importance of sustainability as an integral part of the growth in dairy demand and pledge to continue working on common efforts to improve dairy farm productivity while continuing to protect our natural resources.
    Recognize that Animal Welfare has become a critical part of supply demand to consumers in both countries. The U.S. dairy industry will share developments related to the National Dairy FARM Program to the benefit of dairy farmers in Mexico with the objective of achieving continuous improvement in the health and welfare of their livestock.
    Ratify the cooperation between our industries in the participation of dairy sector events held in our countries, and specifically in those events aimed to enhance the health benefits that our products offer to consumers.



Cargill and FFA Partner to Inspire and Educate Future Leaders

Cargill and the National FFA Organization share the belief that agriculture can solve some of the world’s toughest sustainability challenges. Cargill is investing $2.1 million over three years to help the FFA organization develop future leaders who are prepared to continue advancing sustainable agriculture. The funds will enable the FFA Organization’s efforts to bridge the needs of the agriculture, food and natural resources industries.

 “We need the best and brightest young minds to help create solutions that balance feeding a growing population with protecting our planet," said Ruth Kimmelshue, business operations & supply chain lead and Chief Sustainability Officer for Cargill, and former member of the National FFA Organization Board of Directors. “Through agriculture, young people have the opportunity to develop and use new technology and implement solutions to regenerate soils, build the economic success of farming communities, innovate supply chains, address the global issues facing our industry—such as climate change, deforestation and water conservation—and so much more.”

 The National FFA Organization’s sustainability leader development program will receive $300,000 of the investment, supporting the organization’s efforts to re-evaluate programs and events to include educational resources, experiential learning and leadership development opportunities for future sustainability-driven influencers. The multi-year commitment also elevates support of:
-    The state officer leadership continuum—impacting FFA members by developing leadership skills and personal growth for 375 state officers
-    Living to serve platform—supporting 57,000 hours of service to make a difference in local communities across the country through chapter service projects
-    The agriscience fair—developing students interested in and excelling in science and research, with more than 415 projects approved for competition at the national level. 89% of students report having a better understanding of science’s role in agriculture after competing in the fair
-    Recruitment and retention of quality agriculture educators

For nearly 60 years, Cargill has partnered with the FFA Organization to create innovative ways to inspire youth in agriculture, investing more than $16 million to foster innovative career education and support career development events, leadership development conferences, agriscience fairs and areas of service. Cargill and FFA have brought together corporate leaders, academics, FFA state officers and students around a shared vision for the future of agriculture.

“Cargill is proud to support the work FFA is doing to cultivate a better future for all, by empowering young people to be leaders in agriculture, food and nutrition,” said John Niemann, president, protein ingredients & international channel, Cargill Protein - North America, and current Chair of the National FFA Sponsors Board. “Working together, we can ensure American agriculture continues to build vibrant communities, supports prosperous families and rewarding careers, and produces the food we need to feed a growing population.”

“National FFA values Cargill’s longtime support through their sponsorship and partnership based on shared values,” said Molly Ball, president of the National FFA Foundation. “The nearly 60-year relationship has helped cultivate the talent pipeline for agriculture, and continues to develop future leaders that positively impact the industry and the world.”



Final Rule Amends the National List for Organic Crops and Handling

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today published a final rule in the Federal Register to amend the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) based on public input and the April 2018 recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board.

This final rule:
-    Allows elemental sulfur to be used as a slug or snail bait to reduce crop losses.
-    Allows polyoxin D zinc salt for plant disease control.
-    Reclassifies magnesium chloride from a synthetic to a non-synthetic substance.

The final rule is effective November 22, 2019.