NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION
For the week ending April 26, 2020, there were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 15 short, 81 adequate, and 3 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent very short, 12 short, 85 adequate, and 3 surplus.
Field Crops Report:
Corn planted was 20 percent, ahead of 12 last year, and near 16 for the five-year average.
Soybeans planted was 8 percent, ahead of 2 both last year and average.
Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor, 8 poor, 27 fair, 57 good, and 7 excellent.
Sorghum planted was 3 percent, near 1 both last year and average.
Oats planted was 77 percent, well ahead of 48 last year, and near 74 average. Emerged was 38 percent, well ahead of 13 last year, but near 42 average.
IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION
Although most of Iowa received spotty rains, there were 5.3 days suitable for field work during the week ending April 26, 2020, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. In contrast, it was mid-June before Iowa farmers had a week with 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork in 2019.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 85 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 87 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus.
Iowa farmers planted over one-third of the expected corn crop during the week ending April 26, for a total of 39 percent planted.
Soybean planting got underway with 9 percent of the expected crop planted, 10 days ahead of last year and 1 week ahead of the average.
Only 20 percent of Iowa’s expected oat crop remains to be planted, with just 22 percent of the oat crop emerged.
Pasture condition rated 1 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 54 percent good and 10 percent excellent. Cattle have been moved onto pastures in some areas. Warmer and drier conditions improved livestock conditions.
U.S. Corn Planting Leaps Ahead
U.S. corn planting progress leapt ahead last week, putting this year's pace ahead of the five-year average, USDA NASS said in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday.
NASS estimated that 27% of this year's intended corn crop was planted as of Sunday, April 26, a gain of 20 percentage points last week from 7% at the end of the previous week. That puts this year's progress well ahead of last year's 12% and also 7 points ahead of the five-year average of 20%. In its first corn emergence report of the season, NASS estimated that 3% of the crop had emerged as of Sunday, slightly ahead of 2% last year but slightly behind the average pace of 4%.
Soybean planting also moved ahead last week, but at a slower pace than corn planting. NASS estimated that, as of Sunday, 8% of the intended soybean crop was planted, up 6 percentage points from 2% at the end of the previous week. Like corn, this year's soybean planting progress is ahead of both last year's place of 2% and the five-year average of 4%.
Spring wheat planting, on the other hand, continued to run well behind the average pace. Fourteen percent of spring wheat was planted of Sunday, ahead of 11% last year but well behind the five-year average of 29%. Four percent of spring wheat was emerged, equal to last year's pace but behind the five-year average of 7%.
Meanwhile, winter wheat conditions took another hit last week. NASS estimated that 54% of the nation's winter wheat was rated in good-to-excellent condition, down 3 percentage points from 57% the previous week. That followed a 5-percentage-point drop in the previous week's report. The current rating is also below the average of 64% good to excellent. Winter wheat was 21% headed as of Sunday versus a five-year average of 25%.
Sorghum was 20% planted, slightly ahead of 19% last year but behind the five-year average of 23%. Oats were 54% planted, compared to 41% last year and a 56% average. Oats emergence was at 32%, compared to 30% last year and a 37% average. Barley was 24% planted, slightly behind 25% last year, and well behind the five-year average of 36%.
Cotton planting was 13% complete, compared to 10% last year and an 11% average. Rice was 39% planted, ahead of 36% last year but behind the average of 53%. Rice emerged was 23%, slightly behind the average of 34%.
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FFA students talk it up virtually, West Point members Place in Top 5
The Nebraska F-F-A, with the help of N-C-T-A and the Nebraska Department of Education, hosted the state speaking contests virtually over three days last week. Forty-eight F-F-A students signed up for virtual Zoom presentations, since the state F-F-A convention had to be cancelled because of COVID-19.
Payton Schiller of West Point placed first overall in Senior public speaking. Also, Levi Schiller of West Point placed third overall in Junior Public Speaking.
In Natural Resource Speaking, Emma Steward of Lakeview (Columbus) was second overall and Emma Bixler from Neligh-Oakdale was third overall.
While a format for state Leadership Development Events are not yet finalized, Nebraska F-F-A did announced Friday that Career Development Events will be conducted in a virtual format.
Gossen chosen as dean of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture
Dr. Larry Gossen, a trusted and effective leader and educator in the field of agricultural education, has been selected as the next dean of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, Neb.
Gossen will succeed Ron Rosati, who retired in August of 2019 after six years at the college. Kelly Bruns, director of the West Central Research and Extension Center in North Platte, has served as interim dean.
Gossen brings both classroom and administrative experience to the position. After graduating from Kansas State University, Gossen taught for 24 years at Elk Valley and Neodesha high schools in Southeast Kansas. In 2001, he accepted a position with the Kansas Department of Education as the state supervisor for agricultural education and State FFA Advisor. In 2005, Gossen joined the National FFA Organization in Indianapolis, where he served in a number of roles until 2018. Since August 2019, he has served as the Nebraska State FFA advisor. Throughout his career, he developed a robust, nationwide network of ag educators and FFA alumni and stakeholders.
Gossen is a lifetime member of the National FFA Alumni, has received his Honorary American FFA Degree, the National FFA VIP Award, and was a national finalist for the National FFA Agriscience Teacher of the Year. He received his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction in 2011 from Kansas State University.
“I am absolutely thrilled that Larry Gossen has agreed to lead the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture into the future,” said Mike Boehm, vice president for agriculture and natural resources for the University of Nebraska and vice chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “Larry’s experience and network uniquely position NCTA and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at UNL to partner with post-secondary and K-12 institutions in Nebraska and beyond. I am excited to see how NCTA under Larry’s leadership will serve the diverse educational and workforce development needs of learners in Nebraska and the region.”
Part of the University of Nebraska system, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is a two-year institution with a statewide mission of preparing students for successful careers in agriculture, veterinary technology and related industries. NCTA is known for its affordable tuition, high job-placement rate for its graduates, and for the success of student teams in numerous competitive activities including crops judging, ranch horse events, livestock judging, shotgun sports, stock dog trials, and intercollegiate rodeo. The college is consistently ranked as one of the best two-year schools in the nation.
“I am excited to strengthen existing partnerships with community colleges, public schools, UNL’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, industry partners, and alumni to ensure the agricultural and vet tech workforce and talent needs of Nebraska and the surrounding region are met,” Gossen said. “We are in the midst of challenging times, but challenges also bring opportunities for innovation. I hope to build on the work previous deans and Interim Dean Bruns, and together with faculty, staff and students take NCTA to the next level."
Gossen’s appointment as dean comes on the heels of the announcement of the Nebraska Promise, which offers free tuition to University of Nebraska students whose families make $60,000 a year or less. The Nebraska Promise applies to students at all NU campuses, including NCTA.
Gossen will begin his new position on June 15. More information about NCTA can be found at ncta.unl.edu.
Nebraska Extension educators earn national recognition for outstanding agricultural risk management education
Two University of Nebraska Extension educators were recently recognized nationally for their outstanding agricultural risk management education efforts. Jim Jansen, an Extension Economist stationed in Concord, and Allan Vyhnalek, a Farm and Ranch Succession Educator in Lincoln, were named the winners of the 2020 Outstanding Project Award for the North Central Region of the United States by the Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) Program.
The ERME program, supported by the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), provides competitive grants that fund education projects focused on helping farmers and ranchers successfully manage the unique risks associated with production agriculture. The goal is to strengthen the economic viability of agribusinesses.
Jim and Allan were honored for their outstanding work and accomplishments on a project entitled “So You’ve Inherited a Farm, Now What?” The project provided education on the financial, human, and legal risks associated with farm transition and helped impact participants ranging from off-farm heirs to multi-generation farm family operations to ag professionals working closely with producers on farm transition issues.
They were to have received their awards and presented information on their project during an educational session at the 2020 ERME National Conference in early April, which unfortunately was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other regional winners included Elizabeth Higgins, Cornell University for the Northeast Region; Laurence Crane, National Crop Insurance Services for the Southern Region; and Natalia Pinzon Jimenez, Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture (MESA), Inc. for the Western Region. The awards were based on the accomplishments of projects delivered during the 2017-2018 grant cycle and documented in online reports available at http://extensionrme.org/.
As part of the award, an impact story on the project is available at https://ncerme.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/North-Central-2020-Outstanding-Project-Jansen-and-Vyhnalek.pdf or https://go.unl.edu/bhuh. A separate story on the project is available at https://ncerme.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Success-Story-Nebraska-2017-2019.pdf or https://go.unl.edu/60az.
Agricultural risk management involves selecting tools and approaches that reduce the adverse effects of the uncertainties of weather, yields, prices, credit, government policies, global markets and other factors, including human resource and legal issues, that can cause wide swings in farm income or threaten the economic viability of a farm or ranch.
The national ERME Competitive Grants Program is conducted annually by the four regional ERME Centers. Eligible entities include any public or private organization with a demonstrated capacity to develop and deliver results/outcome-based risk management education to agricultural producers and their families. The 2021 request for applications will be issued in mid-September, with applications due mid-November. For more information, please visit www.extensionrme.org.
The mission of the Extension Risk Management Education Program is “educating America’s farmers and ranchers to manage the unique risks of producing food for the world’s table.”
2020 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo Moved to Omaha in Late August
BBI International has announced this week that the 2020 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, the ethanol industry's largest conference, has been moved due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Originally scheduled for mid-June in Minneapolis, the FEW is now rescheduled to take place August 24th through August 26th, 2020 in Omaha, Nebraska.
“Based on the most current information available, and with the best interests of our members, exhibitors, attendees and the global community in mind, BBI International’s leadership team has made the difficult but necessary decision to reschedule the 2020 FEW,” said Tom Bryan, president at BBI International. “Recognizing the importance of this event to your organizations, our industry, and all companies connected with producing the FEW, we are now shifting the dates to a more suitable timeframe based on the availability of locations provided to us. The 2020 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo will now be taking place August 24th through August 26th, 2020 in Omaha, Nebraska.”
BBI International also announced that all biofuels producers will be allowed to attend free of charge. “Previously, free registration was limited to two ethanol producers per facility,” said Joe Bryan, CEO of BBI International. “However, due to the state of events that have taken place this year, we are allowing free registration to all producers who work at ethanol facilities. No longer will we be limiting it to only two per facility.”
As announced earlier in the year, the FEW will be offering four tracks of comprehensive content designed for ethanol production. New this year, the program team is including a co-located event titled, “Biodiesel Production and Technology Summit.” Produced by Biodiesel Magazine, the co-located event is a new forum intended for biodiesel and renewable diesel producers to learn about cutting-edge process technologies, new techniques and equipment to optimize existing production, and efficiencies to save money while increasing throughput and fuel quality.
Visit www.FuelEthanolWorkshop.com to learn more.
Alternative Cattle Feeding Strategies in the COVID-19 Era
Warren Rusche – SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Associate
The last few weeks have witnessed market volatility and disruptions that few, if any cattle producers have ever seen. That uncertainty is leading cattle producers to question the best strategy to market any cattle they have on inventory.
Unfortunately, there are no easy answers. We are dealing with nearly unprecedented market conditions and attempting to predict the future is a fool’s game at best. One thing we can do is to separate cattle by classes and look at the production and marketing options available. The correct option depends a great deal on cash flow needs, feedstuff availability, and an operation’s capacity for risk.
Near Ready Finishing Cattle
There are very few good options for cattle that will be market ready in the next 90 days. Increasing roughage content could slow growth rate and extend the feeding period, but by this point those changes will have little impact on cattle marketing time point. Cattle being fed a beta-agonist have an even more restrictive market window as the labeled duration of feeding ranges from 28 to 42 days. The biggest risk today is if the feeding industry is unable to stay current resulting in greater numbers of heavy cattle getting fatter that need to find an outlet. That usually means even lower prices as the supply chain works through increased beef tonnage. Add in uncertainty surrounding plant closures and the corresponding risk of delivery difficulties, the best option for these cattle is to ship on time rather than waiting for anticipated market improvement later in the year.
Heavy Backgrounded/Lightweight Finishing Cattle
These cattle could be fed a less energy dense diet to slow gains and extend the feeding period. The tradeoff is poorer efficiency and increased yardage costs. However, this option could be worthwhile if the overall market improves. Feedlots with ample inventories of corn silage or other roughage sources already on hand are the best candidates for this strategy. The University of Nebraska recently published a study comparing diets with either 14, 47, or 80 percent corn silage on a dry matter basis. Days on feed to reach the same fat thickness increased from 168 for the 14% corn silage diet to 195 or 238 days for diets containing 47 or 80 percent corn silage. Hot carcass weight increased with greater amounts of corn silage in the diet with no change in marbling score.
What about implants under these scenarios? On the surface not implanting as a way to lengthen the feeding period might seem logical because implants increase ADG. However, implants result in cattle that are leaner and heavier at the same number of days, so the net result of not implanting is cattle reaching their fat target earlier and at a lighter weight. Implant potency does need to be matched to dietary energy concentration. High potency implants (i.e. Revalor-200, Synovex Plus, and Component TE-200) are best suited for diets greater than 60 Mcal Neg. Extended release implants could be a viable option for longer feeding periods.
Lightweight Cattle
Producers with light-weight cattle and forage resources have additional options. These cattle could be kept in the drylot on a high forage diet, sent to pasture for summer grazing, or grazed on annual forages. The last strategy is not necessarily common but could be an attractive option especially considering the uncertain economics of crop production this year. An added benefit to these systems is that these cattle should be ready for slaughter in the 4thquarter of the year when prices are often seasonally higher.
What About Effects on Carcass Quality?
Carcass merit probably is not top of mind right now for most people, after all a grid premium on top of a terrible base price still does not result in enough final value. However, carcass merit is important and shouldn’t be ignored.
Hot carcass weight tends to increase as with extended feeding periods with lower energy diets when cattle are harvested at the same fat end point. Marbling can be reduced if energy intake is greatly limited or if cattle are implanted too aggressively. Marbling should not be limited by lower energy diets if cattle are gaining at least 2.5 pounds per day.
'Pass the Pork' Program Connects Pig Farmers, Food Banks
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced a new "Pass the Pork" program to connect Iowa pig farmers with food-insecure Iowans. The program is an initiative of Gov. Reynolds' Feeding Iowans Task Force led by Lt. Gov. Gregg.
Through "Pass the Pork," the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship are helping Iowa pig farmers donate pigs to Iowa food bank feeding programs. Local meat processors are extending their hours of operation to process and package the pork donations to help meet the growing demand for food bank and food pantry resources. Iowa food banks are getting the pork into the hands of those in need.
"From family farms to the family's dinner table, our entire food supply chain has been
impacted by COVID-19," Gov. Reynolds said. "'Pass the Pork' is an innovative
partnership to put Iowa pork on the tables of families in need of food security while
creating a new destination for pork which might otherwise go to waste. I'm grateful to
Iowa's pork producers, processors and others for stepping up to make this possible."
"At a time when Iowa pig farmers face market challenges and supply chain disruptions, they continue to look for opportunities to help those in need," Secretary Naig said. "We are proud to partner with Iowa pig farmers, food banks and meat processors to ensure all Iowans have access to a locally produced, high-quality protein source."
"Pass the Pork" will officially begin when the first donated pigs are delivered May 1.
Processing will continue in May and for as long as processing capacity and funds remain.
"The supply chain issues are challenging Iowa's pig farmers, but we also see our friends and neighbors struggling with jobs and wondering how they will put food on the table, too. This program will help bring pork to our local communities when they need it most," said Mike Paustian, the Walcott farmer who is IPPA president.
"Food banks across our state are working every day to help Iowans facing food
insecurity," said Lt. Gov. Gregg. "With the dramatic increases food pantries are seeing in demand during this pandemic, this initiative is going to play an important role in making sure Iowa families have the food they need in these challenging times."
How to Get Involved
The pigs for "Pass the Pork" are being donated by Iowa pig farmers. However, there are costs associated with the processing, storage and delivery of the pork to food banks and pantries. Iowans can contribute to the Iowa Food Bank Association to help cover these costs and future purchases of Iowa-produced pork for food bank programs.
To donate funds to help support this program, visit the Iowa Food Bank Association
website at donorbox.org/passthepork.
Iowa pig farmers and meat processors who are interested in participating in the
program should contact the Iowa Pork Producers Association at (515) 225-7675.
CDC Issues Guidelines to Keep Workers Safe and Processing Plants Operational
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Heath Administration (OSHA) issued guidelines aimed at helping protect workers from the spread of COVID-19 in packing plants in the United States. In response to the guidelines, NCBA CEO Colin Woodall issued the following statement today.
“We appreciate the additional guidance from CDC and OSHA to help keep workers safe in beef plants. This move will also provide state and local governments with the information they need to protect worker safety, while continuing to support the operation of beef processing plants. Cattle producers rely on the workers and the plants themselves to ensure a steady supply of beef to consumers and to be certain cattle continue to be able to move through the system.
“Processing plants are important to cattle producers and consumers, but they also provide an important tax base for rural America and are an important provider of jobs and income in small communities across the nation. The CDC guidelines will help ensure the employees and their communities are better protected from the further spread of COVID-19, while they continue to provide an essential service both to cattle producers and American consumers.”
The CDC guidelines can be viewed here... https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/meat-poultry-processing-workers-employers.html.
NCBA Helps Lead Ag Coalition Letter Urging Improvements to Paycheck Protection Program
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) today helped lead a coalition of more than 35 different agricultural groups in sending a letter to leaders on Capitol Hill urging specific improvements in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
A second round of PPP relief is being rolled out after winning final Congressional approval last week. Unfortunately, the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sectors received only 1.3 percent of the original $349 billion in the first round of approved funding, which was quickly depleted.
"Federal relief is only as good as the access that people in need have to it." said Marty Smith, President of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. “Unfortunately for agricultural producers, accessing the first round of Paycheck Protection Program funding proved to be nearly impossible, with less than 2% of these loans reaching our industry. Hopefully the second round of PPP will be more accessible to family ranchers and farmers, and more equitably distributed so we can continue working to feed America during this crisis."
The list of priorities for the next round of SBA loans includes:
Expedite Approval of Applications for Rural Lenders
Most of agriculture’s primary lenders have not administered SBA loans.
Allow Farm Credit institutions to access the newly established PPP set-aside for small financial lenders.
Guidance for Agricultural Applicants
Sole proprietors who file a Schedule F should be eligible to participate in the Payroll Protection Program.
Allow businesses to use additional income documentation to qualify for PPP.
Define “Primary Place of Residence” in SBA Statute
The Primary Place of Residence should be defined to clearly include H-2A guest workers, as many of these workers spend over half the year in the United States.
Rent and Utilities
Rental payments for all business-related items should be included in the SBA loan program.
Eligibility Cap for Agriculture
An increase in SBA’s eligibility cap for employees is essential for family farms and agricultural processors that employ more than 500 employees to continue operating and paying their employees.
Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling for Beef, Pork and Dairy Petition Gets 26K Signatures in First 30 Hours
Last Thursday, R-CALF USA along with some of its members launched a petition urging the President and Congress to immediately pass Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (MCOOL) for beef, pork and dairy products to strengthen national food security and help stimulate economic growth. The petition has gained an unprecedented number of signatures in a very short period of time and continues to gain new signatures rapidly. The petition can be viewed at www.DemandUSABeef.com.
R-CALF USA member Kerry Cramton, a Kansas cattle producer who started the Facebook group U.S. Grassroots Cattlemen & Cattlewomen, worked with R-CALF USA to initiate the petition. Cramton met with Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin who is currently riding on horseback from his ranch in New Mexico to Washington, D.C. Cramton and Griffin announced the petition yesterday morning and Griffin hopes to discuss MCOOL with President Trump.
South Dakota native and Fox Nation Host Tomi Lahren tweeted the petition yesterday and is expected to do her next Monday's upcoming Final Thoughts segment on it. Lahren is a longtime Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling advocate. Last fall she aired a special 'American Ranchers' on her Fox Nation show No Interruption. View the full episode here.
R-CALF USA led the victory for COOL in 2002, 2009 and again in 2013. Although beef suffered a setback in 2015, all fruit, vegetables, fish, chicken, goat, lamb and nuts are still required to be labeled as to where they are grown, produced, caught, or born, raised, and harvested.
"The difference between mandatory COOL and voluntary COOL is the inclusion of imports," said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard. "Mandatory COOL requires all beef and pork, imported and domestic, to be labeled as to where it was born, raised, and harvested; and where dairy products were originated, produced, sourced and processed.
"All U.S. cattle producers and consumers are encouraged to sign the petition at www.DemandUSABeef.com," said Bullard. "For those that want to stay informed about MCOOL action alerts, they can sign up for that too on the petition. All provided information will not be shared and will be kept confidential.
The MCOOL Petition follows R-CALF USA's recent launch of its new Website www.USABeef.org, a free platform for cattle ranchers and farmers who raise and sell cattle or beef that is exclusively USA born, raised, and harvested directly to consumers. The site is growing daily and currently includes 301 farms, ranches and businesses from 40 states. Consumers can call the beef providers on this list to obtain beef produced in their state.
ACE: Administration must initiate a plan to aid ethanol producers struggling to survive the catastrophic economic fallout of COVID-19
Today, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings requested President Trump demonstrate his leadership in support of America’s farmers and the renewable fuels industry by directing his Cabinet to provide a much-needed boost to ethanol producers and rural America in response to the mounting economic harm as a result of the sudden and severe drop in ethanol demand.
“More than half of U.S. ethanol production capacity is already offline, high-skill jobs are being shed, livestock and food processing customers are facing supply disruptions, and our members’ working capital is vanishing. Ethanol use could fall by more than 3 billion gallons in 2020, eliminating the market for at least a billion bushels of U.S. corn,” Jennings wrote in the letter. “As you did on April 21, when you directed the Secretaries of Energy and Treasury to formulate a plan to provide funds to the oil and gas industry, we urge similar action for our sector.”
Over the last month, ACE has written the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging them to use authorities within their discretion to quickly aid the ethanol industry.
“In our April 3 letter to Administrator Wheeler, we requested he use his existing statutory authority to ensure the 20.09 billion gallons of renewable fuel required by the Renewable Fuel Standard — and promised by EPA this year — will be consumed,” Jennings wrote. “COVID-19 exposed a shortcoming in the Agency’s rulemaking, and failure to increase the RFS this year will result in a waiver of promised gallons. In an April 16 Reuters article, a spokesperson said EPA ‘will make the appropriate determination at the appropriate time,’ but the Agency has not responded to our request. Every day EPA delays action is another day of economic catastrophe for renewable fuel producers.”
The letter continued, “Our April 13 letter to Secretary Perdue requested he utilize funding in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency assistance to ethanol producers. ACE supported congressional efforts to increase USDA funding for this effort, and many in Congress encouraged USDA to provide ethanol producers the aid. Unfortunately, USDA declined this much-needed assistance on April 17 citing a lack of funding.”
The letter concluded by affirming a more urgent response is needed and the Administration has tools at hand that can be deployed with sufficient political will.
Zoetis Introduces INHERIT Select, A New Genomic Tool For Commercial Cow-Calf Producers
Zoetis released a suite of new genetic testing and decision-making tools designed specifically for commercial cow-calf operations. INHERIT Select™ is the latest genomic test to offer Genomic Expected Progeny Differences (GEPDs) providing commercial cow-calf producers with genetic insights to make critical replacement female selection and breeding decisions.
INHERIT Select is an innovative, multi-breed genomic test that provides predictions for commercial crossbred females spanning eight major breeds including Angus, Red Angus, Simmental, South Devon, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Charolais and Limousin. The test delivers GEPDs and percentile rankings for 16 traits as well as sire parentage and breed composition.
“We’re excited to bring another genomic tool to the industry to support commercial producers,” says Jason Osterstock, Vice President of Global Genetics with Zoetis. “We know that genetic improvement strategies and genomic data are increasingly important as we strive to efficiently produce quality beef, and with INHERIT Select commercial cow-calf producers are empowered to pursue that goal.”
To make decisions for genetic improvement easier for commercial cow-calf producers, Zoetis offers three new indexes with INHERIT Select. The Zoetis Total Return (ZTR) index simplifies multi-trait selection and breeding to help maximize returns for commercial beef replacement heifers. The ZTR index incorporates economic and production assumptions, and the full range of GEPDs into one, easy-to-use number. The Zoetis Cow|Calf (ZCC) index and Zoetis Feedlot|Carcass (ZFC) index inform decisions for these production segments.
“Until now, commercial cow-calf producers generally have not had access to the same scope of genetic information as compared to seedstock producers,” says Kent Andersen, director of genetics technical services, Global Genetics with Zoetis. “With INHERIT Select, cow-calf producers now have easy access to the power of GEPDs and economic selection indexes to make informed replacement female selection and breeding decisions.”
Using INHERIT Select, cow-calf producers can now make replacement heifer selection based on predictions for net return, as well as component traits, breed composition and sire parentage. Heifers can be tested at weaning or at any time when a tissue sample may be collected.
“Commercial cow-calf producers are accustomed to using EPDs and economic indexes when making bull buying decisions,” says Andersen. “INHERIT Select provides these producers the power of GEPDs to make more accurate replacement decisions, and the new indexes simplify selection and breeding decisions for multiplying animals with genetics for the highest potential net returns.”
To get started with INHERIT Select, producers should contact Zoetis customer service (877 233-3362) or talk to their Zoetis Genetics representative to order test kits. Once kits are received, obtaining a sample is as easy as tagging calves using a tissue sampling unit. Results are typically received within a few weeks of testing.
Welcome to the KTIC Agriculture Information blog!!! Check back here for the latest in ag news and information, from local events to international happenings and government reports that affect your operation. Please email with suggestions! -Chad Moyer, Farm Director, KTIC Radio
Monday, April 27, 2020
Friday, April 24, 2020
Friday April 24 Cattle on Feed + Ag News
NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 7 PERCENT
Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.39 million cattle on feed on April 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 7 percent from last year. Placements during March totaled 380,000 head, down 11 percent from 2019. Fed cattle marketings for the month of March totaled 475,000 head, up 12 percent from last year. Other disappearance during March totaled 15,000 head, down 5,000 head from last year.
IOWA CATTLE ON FEED
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 630,000 head on April 1, 2020, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was down 6 percent from March and down 11 percent from April 1, 2019. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 600,000 head on feed, down 4 percent from last month and down 6 percent from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,230,000 head, down 5 percent from last month and down 9 percent from last year.
Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during March totaled 69,000 head, down 36 percent from February and down 34 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 57,000 head, down 17 percent from February but up 4 percent from last year. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 126,000 head, down 29 percent from February and down 21 percent from last year.
Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during March totaled 105,000 head, down 1 percent from February but up 5 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 80,000 head, up 1 percent from February and up 29 percent from last year. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 185,000 head, unchanged from February but up 14 percent from last year. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 6,000 head.
United States Cattle on Feed Down 5 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 April 1, 2020. The inventory was 5 percent below April 1, 2019. The inventory included 7.08 million steers and steer calves, down 5 percent from the previousyear. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.22 million head, down 7 percent from 2019.
On Feed: By State
(1000 hd -- % April 1 '19)
Colorado .......: 960 91
Iowa .............: 630 89
Kansas ..........: 2,290 96
Nebraska ......: 2,390 93
Texas ............: 2,760 97
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.56 million head, 23 percent below 2019. Placements were the lowest for March since the series began in 1996. Net placements were 1.50 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 310,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 220,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 410,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 402,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 155,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 60,000 head.
Placements: By State
(1000 hd -- % March '19)
Colorado .......: 135 68
Iowa .............: 69 66
Kansas ..........: 345 73
Nebraska ......: 380 89
Texas ............: 350 73
Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 2.01 million head, 13 percent above 2019. Marketings were the second highest for March since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 61,000 head during March, 12 percent below 2019.
Marketings: By State
(1000 hd -- % March '19)
Colorado .......: 220 119
Iowa .............: 105 105
Kansas ..........: 425 113
Nebraska ......: 475 112
Texas ............: 460 118
Nebraska Extension offers tips for replacing distillers grain in cattle diets
A national slowdown in the production of ethanol as a result of COVID-19 has led to a shortage in distillers grain.
A co-product of ethanol production, distillers grain is used in both wet and dry form by many cattle producers as nutrient- and protein-rich feed.
Nebraska Extension’s beef systems educators have some tips for cattle producers looking replace or supplement distillers grain in their animals’ diet while it is in short supply:
- Producers who used wet or modified distillers should add water if replacing distillers grain with dry ingredients.
- Corn silage is likely the best substitution for distillers grain, as it adds moisture and is the most economical roughage source, but it must be stored correctly. Alfalfa is an excellent roughage source, but very expensive and dry. If a producer only has low-quality forage (like cornstalks, straw or poor hay), then mixing and adding moisture is even more critical.
- When possible, it is recommended that producers cut back on the distillers grain in their animals’ diet instead of replacing completely.
- If distillers are completely eliminated from an animal’s diet, producers should consider adding urea as a protein supplement. Urea can be provided through liquid or dry supplements, and is now required in feedlots if distillers grain is not available. In feedlot diets, between 1 and 1.5% of an animal’s diet should be made up of urea (less is required in forage diets). Urea can be toxic if fed above 2%, and requires diligence when mixing so that sorting doesn’t occur. Incorporating wet feed into an animal’s diet can help lower the risk of sorting.
- Urea is riskier to use in forage diets and in some cases, may be unnecessary. Forages are naturally higher in rumen degraded protein, and sorting is a greater concern in forage diets. In general, urea supplementation can be very useful in some forage diets, but needs to be fine-tuned.
- Once a producer realizes they are short on distillers grain, they should begin gradually replacing distillers in their animals’ diet with the alternatives mentioned above in order to decrease the risk of bloat from acidosis.
- Local alternatives may still be available, including dry distillers or dry gluten feeds, wet gluten feed, or liquid byproducts from. Other feeds that may fit are soybean meal, whole soybeans and field peas, as well as less common feeds like protein seed meals.
More information for cattle producers can be found online at beef.unl.edu. Producers with specific questions on cattle nutrition can find a beef systems extension educator in their area at beef.unl.edu/contact-us. Additionally, Nebraska Extension offers a variety of resources to help producers, communities and who have been affected by COVID-19. Those resources are available at disaster.unl.edu.
Extension provides first specific direction for small business meat processors in Nebraska
With the continuing spread of COVID-19, Nebraska Extension has released best practices for controlling COVID-19 in small meat processors in Nebraska.
The best practices, available online at disaster.unl.edu/agriculture, provide information on standard cleaning and sanitation, handling customer sales and purchases, and for employees who eat in the facility, among other recommendations.
“There has been no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted through food consumption, including meat,” said Dennis Burson, an extension educator and food safety specialist who has relationships with many small meat processors in Nebraska.
That said, it is still important for processors to follow best practices in order to protect the health of employee, he said.
The spread of COVID-19 among employees at larger meat processing plants has led several large processing facilities to temporarily close. Smaller meat processors have stepped up and in many cases increased production in order to process livestock that farmers and ranchers have sold directly to consumers. The continued operation of smaller processors is crucial to livestock producers and consumers.
Gentert Packing Company is a small family business, located at Holstein, Neb., population 214.
Owner Belinda Gentert has recently seen an increase in foot traffic at their retail location due to a shortage of meat in grocery stores.
“We are really small. Typically, we are booked out three to four weeks and more busy times up to six weeks. We are now booking into December,” Gentert said.
Other COVID-19 resources available at disaster.unl.edu/agriculture include best practices for agricultural producers and resources from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Additional resources for individuals and communities are available at disaster.unl.edu.
LENRD board approves Hazard Mitigation Plan
Proactive hazard mitigation planning allows a community to take actions to reduce or eliminate threats from natural disasters. To help guide future hazard mitigation projects, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has updated their Hazard Mitigation Plan and approved it at their April board meeting.
When developing the plan, the LENRD’s 15-counties were guided by a Planning Team consisting of representatives from the LENRD, counties, cities, several schools, and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for every $1 spent on hazard mitigation, $4 in post storm cleanup and rebuilding is saved.
LENRD Projects Manager, Curt Becker, said, “Once a community, county, or district is part of an approved plan they become eligible for up to a 75% cost share for a wide variety of projects listed in the plan. Hazard Mitigation Plans are required to be updated on a five-year cycle.”
JEO Consulting Group, Inc. (JEO) was hired to update the plan. JEO assisted in completing the LENRD’s original and previous plans in 2009 and 2014. This hazard mitigation plan update is funded by a FEMA planning grant. The cost is shared 75% through federal funding and 25% through a local match. For this plan update, the LENRD provided the 25% local match.
In other business, the board approved a payment request from the City of Randolph for $834,723 for their flood risk management project. The board signed an inter-local agreement with the city in 2017. This payment request will assist with Phase 1 of the project and will keep the project moving forward. The entire project includes the widening of the channel and the replacement of several bridges through the city.
The board also approved the Urban Recreation Area Development and Urban Conservation Program applications for a total of $89,551.58. The 4 approved grants will assist the communities of Madison, Norfolk, and Randolph with their outdoor recreation projects. Becker said, “The applications for these grants are sent to the communities within the LENRD each year with an early March deadline.”
The board also voted to authorize staff to proceed with the handicapped sidewalk project at Maskenthine Lake. This will complete the sidewalks near the jetties and the boat dock. The bid was accepted from Gates Construction, LLC for $12,669.
In other action, the board approved the producer contracts for the Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA) demonstration site for groundwater nitrate reduction. This project will consist of 3 demonstration sites on farms within the BGMA through a Nebraska Environmental Trust grant.
The board also approved to continue the operation, maintenance, and coordination of the Nebraska GeoCloud platform. LENRD Assistant Manager, Brian Bruckner, said, “The GeoCloud platform hosts the statewide Airborne Electromagnetic Survey (AEM) data and the supporting datasets that allows for the sharing of this data with the public through the Eastern Nebraska Water Resources Assessment (ENWRA) website.”
A presentation was given by Charles Ikenberry, an engineer with FYRA Engineering, on potential ways to reduce the toxic algae in the Willow Creek State Recreation Area, southwest of Pierce. He proposed a multi-phase approach to the study of the phosphorus build up in the lake to determine what could potentially be done to combat the issue. LENRD General Manager, Mike Sousek, said, “This is an introduction to a project that could potentially help us to further understand the complexity of this issue and assist us in developing a plan to protect the water quality in the lake and the surrounding area.”
The LENRD board & staff meet each month to develop and implement management plans to protect our natural resources for the future. The next LENRD board meeting will be Thursday, May 28th at 7:30 p.m. Watch for further updates and stay connected with the LENRD by subscribing to their monthly emails at www.lenrd.org.
Nebraska Cattlemen Midyear Webinar Schedule
Please find below the schedule for the NC Midyear Policy Committee Meeting Webinars. Agendas and details on participation are being developed and promotion of the webinars to the membership will begin in early May, stay tuned until then.
2020 Nebraska Cattlemen
Midyear Committee Meeting Webinars
June 9-11 - (All times CDT)
Tuesday, June 9
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Brand & Property Rights Committee Webinar
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Taxation Committee Webinar
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm Marketing & Commerce Committee Webinar
Wednesday, June 10
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Education & Research Committee Webinar
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Animal Health & Nutrition Committee Webinar
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm Natural Resources & Environment Committee Webinar
More details at www.nebraskacattlemen.org.
COVID-19 Response & Resources
A reliable supply chain has always been critical, and during this time, it is more important than ever. As we wrap up April, Nebraska farmers are starting out, in the middle of or nearing completion of planting, as they do every year. Farming families across the country are working to ensure a safe and dependable supply of food for communities around the world.
As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread globally, the Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) is working with our farmers and stakeholders to help ensure a stable and safe soybean supply chain, from producer to processor through exporter and consumer.
While we realize our farmers who grow, tend and harvest soybeans are the first essential partners in this process, they are one link in a robust supply chain. We also look to truckers, processors, crushers, merchandisers, retailers and exporters to fulfill our duty. These people are working hard to ensure that our food and feed supply chains continue to operate smoothly, and to them we are grateful.
More specifically, our farmers and supply chain partners are able to move forward with the bounty of past seasons, even as they also prepare for a new growing season. Supply remains strong, both domestically and globally — due in part to the foresight and advancements made in today’s production. We continue our work to support domestic and international programs to create opportunities for Nebraska soybean farmers.
Here at home, NSB is continuing to engage with farmers, contractors, stakeholders and the media to keep everyone informed. Our staff continues to connect with organizations to build new relationships and programs to ensure soy is a critical driver in world nutrition during, and after, this crisis.
In this time of difficulty, NSB farmer-leaders and staff are doing all we can to keep pulling things in the right direction as we carry out the work of the soy checkoff. As our farmer-leaders work to ensure the implementation of programs to drive demand, we are embracing virtual organizational communications technology.
Finally, we are working hard to keep all members of the soy value chain safe, including customers, partners, team members and our farmer volunteers. We are continuously monitoring the situation and following guidance from the proper authorities.
The global priority is to contain this outbreak, and our thoughts are with everyone who has been personally affected by COVID-19. Our industry has been tested time and time again, and this is yet another test that we are confident we will overcome by coming together, helping where we can and doing what we do best — providing a high-quality product for our customers and communities.
Statement by Steve Nelson, President, Regarding Passage, Signing of COVID-19 Relief Measure
“We greatly appreciate the U.S. House and U.S. Senate moving quickly to pass legislation and President Trump’s swift action to allocate additional federal aid dollars for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), in addition to ensuring that farmers and ranchers can now qualify for the administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.”
“Nebraska Farm Bureau had encouraged congressional leaders to take these steps to help self-employed individuals, including farmers and ranchers, who did not have the opportunity to participate in the PPP, as available funding expired almost immediately after rules for their participation were released.”
“We also want to thank Sen. Fischer, Sen. Sasse, Congressman Fortenberry, Congressman Bacon, and Congressman Smith for their support on this measure and continued efforts to help Nebraska farm and ranch families in the face of the pandemic.”
Nebraska Beef Producers Represent Industry on National Level
Ann Marie Bosshamer, Executive Director of Nebraska Beef Council
Nebraska is known for raising high-quality beef and is considered a leader in the beef industry. You can say the same thing for the cattlemen of our state who serve in leadership roles on the state and national level. It’s important to note that the Nebraska Beef Council (NBC) board of directors all serve on committees at the national level to help guide the programming executed by the beef checkoff.
There are five committees that are comprised of both Federation of State Beef Council and Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) members. Nebraska has nine beef council directors and six Beef Board directors so there are multiple producers from our state serving on the following committees: Consumer Trust, Nutrition and Health, Export Growth, Innovation and Safety. The committee members review proposed programs from all checkoff contractors and provide feedback before the proposals are submitted to the Beef Promotion Operating Committee for funding.
In addition, the Investor Relations Working Group and the Market Research Working group both have NBC board members serving as volunteers. These groups provide insight to contractors for projects on a very specific level. The Evaluation Committee reviews all checkoff contractor programs and provides feedback to each of them in order to help benefit the overall program.
The Beef Promotion and Operating Committee is comprised of 20 members, ten from the CBB and ten from the Federation of State Beef Councils. The purpose of this group is to set the funding for all beef checkoff dollars and allocate them to the various contractors. Nebraska is well represented with three of the 20 from our state.
Lastly, NBC Chairman, Buck Wehrbein of Waterloo, is also serving as the Chairman of the Federation of State Beef Councils. This Operating Committee leadership role is established through an interview process with other producers to determine who will serve. The process is completely producer-driven and a great way to establish leadership.
Special thanks to all cattlemen who serve on the NBC and CBB for your leadership and commitment to our industry!
Nebraska Beef Council representatives: Buck Wehrbein – Waterloo, NE; Ivan Rush – Scottsbluff, NE; Rosemary Vinton Anderson – Whitman, NE; Doug Temme - Wayne, NE; Jim Ramm – Atkinson, NE; George Cooksley – Anselmo, NE; Michele Cutler – Elsie, NE; Gregg Wiedel – Hebron, NE; Jeff Rudoph – Gothenburg, NE
Nebraska Cattlemen’s Beef Board representatives: Herbert Rhodes – Omaha, NE; Torri Lienemann – Princeton, NE; Dave Hamilton – Thedford, NE; Jim Eschliman – Erickson, NE; Bree DeNaeyer – Seneca, NE; Bill Baldwin – Mitchell, NE
Iowa Cattlemen advocate for producers amid COVID-19 Crisis
The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) has heard many concerns from its members over the past few weeks as COVID-19 has severely affected the industry in a variety of ways.
“We began receiving phone calls in mid-March as live cattle prices dropped, and the challenges have multiplied since that time,” says Matt Deppe, ICA’s CEO.
ICA’s staff and board members have been actively seeking input from members and carrying their concerns and needs forward to the appropriate government agencies and elected officials throughout this time.
Financial Assistance for Producers
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. The cattle industry has historically shied away from direct payments for producers, but the impact from COVID-19 has been so severe that many producers are struggling with cash-flow and longer-term viability of their operations.
Based on requests from members and approval from the board of directors, ICA requested that cattle producers be included in programs designed for small business owners, in addition to a direct payment program for cattle producers, who face losses up to $477.05 per head in the coming months, according to Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.
Agriculture was included in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses as part of the CARES Act. However, the funding allocated to that program was distributed before many farmers, who are sole proprietors, were able to secure the low-interest, partially forgivable loans. ICA then advocated for additional funding for the PPP, which was then included in the April 24th coronavirus bill. That bill also expanded the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to include ag producers, which was another request from ICA.
In addition to these loan programs, the USDA announced a payment program for farmers as part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Preliminary information states that producers will receive a payment for 85% of price losses that occurred between January 1 and April 15, and 30% of anticipated price losses in Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 of 2020. There is a payment limit of $125,000 per commodity with a cap of $250,000 per entity or individual.
ICA members have expressed several concerns regarding this program. Based on the continued losses expected, the organization has advocated for increased payment limits and a higher reimbursement rate for losses after April 15.
Market Irregularities
One of the chief concerns during this time has been the precipitous decrease in fed cattle prices while boxed beef prices have continued to rise. The spread between these two numbers has burdened feedlot operators while the processing sector seems to be benefitting from the higher beef values. ICA member Brad Kooima also had the opportunity to question Secretary Sonny Perdue directly about this issue on a recent teleconference.
ICA has also worked closely with the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association to write a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and USDA formally requesting an investigation into the current market disturbances as well as those following the Holcomb plant fire last fall. Twenty state cattlemen’s associations signed on to the letter, which stated, “The nature of previous and current concern in both situations is extreme market degradation to the producer segment quickly followed by sharp increases and unseasonal profitability to the packing segment through boxed beef prices. The repeat nature of these market reactions absolutely emphasizes how the production sector of the industry is exposed to the highest potential for risk with little-to-no leverage to change that risk position.”
An investigation by USDA’s Packers and Stockyards Administration was launched following the Holcomb fire last fall, but the results have not yet been released. The long timeline of that investigation, compounded by increased spreads between boxed beef and live cattle more recently, led ICA’s board of directors to ask for a more intense investigation, this time overseen by the Department of Justice.
Processing Challenges
Due to employee illness and health concerns, many plants have had to slow their production or close temporarily. This has caused extreme challenges for Iowa’s cattle feeders with market-ready cattle.
For several weeks, it has been nearly impossible for Iowa’s producers to get a bid on their fed cattle from a processor. Cattle that have been contracted in advance are filling all the available slaughter space, leaving Iowa’s producers who traditionally negotiate cash bids struggling.
In these unprecedented times, ICA is asking processors to prioritize slaughter for the heaviest cattle. At the same time, we are encouraging packers to waive penalties for overweight cattle.
ICA appreciates Governor Reynolds’s dedication to continuity of business and efforts to provide increased testing to packing plant employees in order to get them back to work. Returning slaughter and processing capacity to pre-COVID-19 levels is not only important to cattle producers, but impacts food security for the entire country.
Education and Grassroots Feedback
As the COVID-19 situation continues to affect the cattle industry, ICA has increased efforts to get feedback from members about challenges they are facing. Weekly teleconferences offer producers an opportunity to weigh in on the advocacy efforts ICA has been working on, and suggest new ideas.
ICA is also working closely with the Iowa Beef Center to provide education for producers managing fed cattle at this time. Webinars will be held Tuesday, April 28 at noon and Wednesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. Both will be recorded and posted for later viewing. Find more information at http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/news/FeedlotConsiderationsWebinars0420.html.
For more information about ICA’s work, sign up for emails and text messages at iacattlemen.org or check out ICA’s weekly podcast. It can be found on the website or various podcast directories by searching “Iowa Cattlemen’s Podcast.”
Five Affordable Beef Steaks and Roasts for Cheap Meals
Iowa Beef Industry Council
Are you looking for great-tasting beef steaks and roasts that are economical? These overlooked budget-friendly beef cuts are sure to delight your table and help provide a healthy and balanced meal. You can make any beef cut tender and taste great when using the right cooking method. A good general rule of thumb, less tender and less expensive cuts of beef, such as the chuck and the round, need a moist heat method, like braising, stewing, or slow cooking. Sometimes you just need a really good, budget-friendly meal that tastes better than something that comes from a box. The following five beef cuts are sure to do the trick:
Top Round Steak: Try this Beef and Pasta with Asian Peanut Sauce recipe that uses thin strips of Top Round Steak that are quickly cooked in teriyaki sauce before joining thin spaghetti noodles and cucumbers with a flavorful peanut butter sauce. Don't have pasta on hand? Use ramen or rice instead and your choice of veggies.
Sirloin Tip Roast: This boneless, lean cut is a superstar in the world of low-cost cooking. The Sirloin Tip Roast makes great stir-fry strips, kabobs, stew meat, or Cubed Steak. It is the perfect cut for this quick and Easy Beef Stroganoff recipe. This classic has been tested and perfected just for you. Don't have mushrooms and gravy? Use any can of creamed soup instead.
Arm Chuck Roast: An economical and flavorful cut that is best when slow-cooked will leave you craving a dish with shredded beef. Try one of these Four-Way Slow Cooker Shredded Beef recipes that are sure to please everyone at the dinner table.
Eye of Round Steak: This tremendous value cut is lean and boneless. The Eye of Round Steak is ideal for marinating, then grilling or skillet cooking. This Kung Pao Beef recipe is quick, easy, and uses prepared sauces and frozen veggies for a delicious, fork-tender meal. Use any pre-prepared Asian sauce and veggies on hand.
Bottom Round Steak: A good, everyday cut that is boneless and lean. Enjoy your favorite BBQ flavors with this BBQ Beef Skillet with Cornbred recipe.
NPPC Urges SBA to Remove Restriction on Lending Program
U.S. pork producers, in dire straits as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and facing a collective $5 billion loss for the remainder of the year, are now being denied access the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Payroll Protection Program (PPP) due to restrictive language preventing many pork producers from being eligible.
Specifically, PPP eligibility is determined by a positive farm profit in the calendar year 2019, or last 12 months. For many U.S. pork producers, 2019 was not profitable as they bore the brunt of trade retaliation in China and Mexico, among two of our largest export markets. Using SBA's restrictive language, an estimated one-quarter of the U.S. hog industry is automatically disqualified from applying to the program.
"Our hog farmers are underwater through no fault of their own," said National Pork Producers Council President Howard "A.V" Roth, a pork producer from Wauzeka, Wisconsin. "Hog farmers were at the tip of the trade retaliation spear in 2018 and 2019, losing $20 off the price of every hog. In 2020, they were forecast to make a $10 profit on every hog, until the COVID-19 crisis hit. The virus has decimated our industry and for SBA to unfairly punish pork producers and deny them access to this program is adding insult to injury."
"We urge SBA to expeditiously remove this arbitrary restriction and allow our hog farmers, deemed essential throughout this pandemic, to access this vital program," Roth added.
U.S. pork producers desperately need significant and immediate government aid or else many generational family farms will go bankrupt. NPPC will continue to work with the federal government to ensure U.S. pork producers have equitable access to this and other COVID-19 related funding.
WTO COUNTRIES PLEDGE TO NOT RESTRICT EXPORTS
NPPC newsletter
The United States, the European Union, China and other members of the World Trade Organization representing more than 60 percent of world agriculture exports pledged Wednesday to not impose export restrictions on food and agricultural products as a result of COVID-19. "As members take measures to address the pandemic, it is imperative that these measures do not adversely affect trade in agriculture and agri-food products, which would ultimately have negative impacts on the food security, nutrition and health of members and their populations," the countries explained in a joint statement.
The countries also agreed to exercise restraint in establishing domestic food stocks of agricultural products that are traditionally exported. U.S. pork producers have typically exported one-quarter of production to Canada, Mexico, Japan, China and other top markets. However, COVID-19 stay at home orders, closures of restaurants, outdoor markets and food vendors, combined with labor issues around the world, are slowing down exports.
Beef Improvement Federation Online Symposium Program Announced
It was announced on April 2 the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) board of directors, along with the Florida 2020 BIF Research Symposium and Convention committee, made the decision to transition this year’s conference to an online format due to COVID-19.
BIF leadership is in the process of planning an updated symposium online. “Our BIF program committee working with the Florida group has honed the original schedule to work in the new online format,” says Joe Mushrush, BIF vice president and program chairman. “Our goal is to provide learning opportunities that will help producers continue to improve their bottom line focused on beef improvement. As our President Tommy Clark said last week, ‘Our mission as an organization is intact during this challenging time and we will continue to provide educational programing focused on how the beef industry can enhance value through genetic improvement.’”
The virtual event will be hosted online the week of June 8 starting at noon CDT each day. The conference will be hosted on the Zoom webinar platform. By mid-May, participants will be able to register for the event, find a detailed schedule and Zoom tutorials on the BIF website — BeefImprovement.org.
2020 BIF award winners, including Seedstock and Commercial Producers of the Year, Pioneer and Continuing Service award winners will be recognized during the online symposium.
Below is a tentative schedule for the 52nd Annual Beef Improvement Federation Symposium – Online (all times are CDT):
Monday, June 8
Noon - Welcome
12:15 p.m. - YOUNG PRODUCERS SYMPOSIUM - What Will the Purebred Cattle Industry Look Like in 20 years – Bill Rishel, Rishel Angus + Financial Planning for a New Generation of Producers – Adam Trott, Financial Analyst Manager, Rabo AgriFinance
1:45 p.m. - BIF Board/Officer election results - Scholarship award presentations — Roy Wallace, Baker/Cundiff - BIF Ambassador Award presentation
Tuesday, June 9
Noon - Tuesday Welcome
12:15 p.m. - GENERAL SESSION 1 - Consumer Market Research — What They Say They Need, and They Want – Shawn Darcy, Director of Market Research, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Market Research
1:15 p.m. - BIF Awards Program - Commercial Producer of the Year - Pioneer Awards
1:45 p.m. - Perspectives from End-User — What We Need and What We Want – Henry Zerby, VP of Protein Procurement and Innovation, Wendy’s Quality Supply Chain Co-Op (QSCC) Inc.
Wednesday, June 10
Noon - Wednesday Welcome
12:15 p.m. - GENERAL SESSION 2 - Global Perspectives on Beef Sustainability – Don Close, Rabo AgriFinance
1:15 p.m. - BIF Awards Program - Seedstock Producer of the Year - BIF Continuing Service Awards
1:45 p.m. - Systems Approach to Beef Cattle Sustainability – Dr. Clay Mathis, King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management, Texas A & M University—Kingsville
Thursday, June 11
Noon - Technical Breakout – Advancement in End-product Improvement
2 p.m. - Technical Breakout – Advancement in Emerging Technology
4 p.m. - Technical Breakout – Advancement in Selection Decisions
Friday, June 12
Noon - Technical Breakout – Advancement in Efficiency and Adaptability
2 p.m. - Technical Breakout – Advancement in Producer Applications
4 p.m. - Technical Breakout – Genomic and Genetic Prediction
The BIF Board sends well wishes to our beef industry family during this global pandemic. While final details surrounding this transition are still taking shape, we are committed to providing an easily accessible, robust online conference experience that eliminates the health concerns that come with travel and face-to-face meetings at this time. We also wish to thank the Florida committee for their help planning this year’s event and look forward to having the symposium in Florida in future years.
For details regarding the online conference as they develop, visit http://www.beefimprovement.org. Prior to and during this year’s symposium, be sure to follow the event on social media channels using the hashtag #BIF2020.
Individuals who had already registered for the in-person event will be refunded their registration in the next couple of weeks. For those who booked flights, please contact your airline to check their refund policy for cancellations due to COVID-19.
World Dairy Expo to Decide Fate of 2020 Show by July 1
Coordinators of World Dairy Expo have given themselves a deadline of July 1 to determine if the 2020 show will go on as scheduled. General Manager Scott Bently said in a memo on Thursday that the event plays an important economic and social role for farmers and businesses and that the executive committee and staff remains committed to holding the show as planned from September 29 through October.
"Expo continues to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact to our show," Bently said. "As we move forward with planning, please know that future health declarations and the well-being and safety of exhibitors, attendees and volunteers are of the utmost importance and will guide our future decision making."
He said a final decision to hold or cancel WDE 2020 will be made by the board on or before July 1. If they feel it necessary to cancel, all contracted exhibitors and sponsors will be issued refunds for any payments already made for this year's forum.
World Dairy Expo is traditionally held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison each fall. That facility has already been recognized by state health officials as a possible treatment facility in the event that COVID-19 cases surge beyond what local hospitals can handle.
Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.39 million cattle on feed on April 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 7 percent from last year. Placements during March totaled 380,000 head, down 11 percent from 2019. Fed cattle marketings for the month of March totaled 475,000 head, up 12 percent from last year. Other disappearance during March totaled 15,000 head, down 5,000 head from last year.
IOWA CATTLE ON FEED
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 630,000 head on April 1, 2020, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was down 6 percent from March and down 11 percent from April 1, 2019. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 600,000 head on feed, down 4 percent from last month and down 6 percent from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,230,000 head, down 5 percent from last month and down 9 percent from last year.
Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during March totaled 69,000 head, down 36 percent from February and down 34 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 57,000 head, down 17 percent from February but up 4 percent from last year. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 126,000 head, down 29 percent from February and down 21 percent from last year.
Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during March totaled 105,000 head, down 1 percent from February but up 5 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 80,000 head, up 1 percent from February and up 29 percent from last year. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 185,000 head, unchanged from February but up 14 percent from last year. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 6,000 head.
United States Cattle on Feed Down 5 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 April 1, 2020. The inventory was 5 percent below April 1, 2019. The inventory included 7.08 million steers and steer calves, down 5 percent from the previousyear. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.22 million head, down 7 percent from 2019.
On Feed: By State
(1000 hd -- % April 1 '19)
Colorado .......: 960 91
Iowa .............: 630 89
Kansas ..........: 2,290 96
Nebraska ......: 2,390 93
Texas ............: 2,760 97
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.56 million head, 23 percent below 2019. Placements were the lowest for March since the series began in 1996. Net placements were 1.50 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 310,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 220,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 410,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 402,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 155,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 60,000 head.
Placements: By State
(1000 hd -- % March '19)
Colorado .......: 135 68
Iowa .............: 69 66
Kansas ..........: 345 73
Nebraska ......: 380 89
Texas ............: 350 73
Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 2.01 million head, 13 percent above 2019. Marketings were the second highest for March since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 61,000 head during March, 12 percent below 2019.
Marketings: By State
(1000 hd -- % March '19)
Colorado .......: 220 119
Iowa .............: 105 105
Kansas ..........: 425 113
Nebraska ......: 475 112
Texas ............: 460 118
Nebraska Extension offers tips for replacing distillers grain in cattle diets
A national slowdown in the production of ethanol as a result of COVID-19 has led to a shortage in distillers grain.
A co-product of ethanol production, distillers grain is used in both wet and dry form by many cattle producers as nutrient- and protein-rich feed.
Nebraska Extension’s beef systems educators have some tips for cattle producers looking replace or supplement distillers grain in their animals’ diet while it is in short supply:
- Producers who used wet or modified distillers should add water if replacing distillers grain with dry ingredients.
- Corn silage is likely the best substitution for distillers grain, as it adds moisture and is the most economical roughage source, but it must be stored correctly. Alfalfa is an excellent roughage source, but very expensive and dry. If a producer only has low-quality forage (like cornstalks, straw or poor hay), then mixing and adding moisture is even more critical.
- When possible, it is recommended that producers cut back on the distillers grain in their animals’ diet instead of replacing completely.
- If distillers are completely eliminated from an animal’s diet, producers should consider adding urea as a protein supplement. Urea can be provided through liquid or dry supplements, and is now required in feedlots if distillers grain is not available. In feedlot diets, between 1 and 1.5% of an animal’s diet should be made up of urea (less is required in forage diets). Urea can be toxic if fed above 2%, and requires diligence when mixing so that sorting doesn’t occur. Incorporating wet feed into an animal’s diet can help lower the risk of sorting.
- Urea is riskier to use in forage diets and in some cases, may be unnecessary. Forages are naturally higher in rumen degraded protein, and sorting is a greater concern in forage diets. In general, urea supplementation can be very useful in some forage diets, but needs to be fine-tuned.
- Once a producer realizes they are short on distillers grain, they should begin gradually replacing distillers in their animals’ diet with the alternatives mentioned above in order to decrease the risk of bloat from acidosis.
- Local alternatives may still be available, including dry distillers or dry gluten feeds, wet gluten feed, or liquid byproducts from. Other feeds that may fit are soybean meal, whole soybeans and field peas, as well as less common feeds like protein seed meals.
More information for cattle producers can be found online at beef.unl.edu. Producers with specific questions on cattle nutrition can find a beef systems extension educator in their area at beef.unl.edu/contact-us. Additionally, Nebraska Extension offers a variety of resources to help producers, communities and who have been affected by COVID-19. Those resources are available at disaster.unl.edu.
Extension provides first specific direction for small business meat processors in Nebraska
With the continuing spread of COVID-19, Nebraska Extension has released best practices for controlling COVID-19 in small meat processors in Nebraska.
The best practices, available online at disaster.unl.edu/agriculture, provide information on standard cleaning and sanitation, handling customer sales and purchases, and for employees who eat in the facility, among other recommendations.
“There has been no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted through food consumption, including meat,” said Dennis Burson, an extension educator and food safety specialist who has relationships with many small meat processors in Nebraska.
That said, it is still important for processors to follow best practices in order to protect the health of employee, he said.
The spread of COVID-19 among employees at larger meat processing plants has led several large processing facilities to temporarily close. Smaller meat processors have stepped up and in many cases increased production in order to process livestock that farmers and ranchers have sold directly to consumers. The continued operation of smaller processors is crucial to livestock producers and consumers.
Gentert Packing Company is a small family business, located at Holstein, Neb., population 214.
Owner Belinda Gentert has recently seen an increase in foot traffic at their retail location due to a shortage of meat in grocery stores.
“We are really small. Typically, we are booked out three to four weeks and more busy times up to six weeks. We are now booking into December,” Gentert said.
Other COVID-19 resources available at disaster.unl.edu/agriculture include best practices for agricultural producers and resources from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Additional resources for individuals and communities are available at disaster.unl.edu.
LENRD board approves Hazard Mitigation Plan
Proactive hazard mitigation planning allows a community to take actions to reduce or eliminate threats from natural disasters. To help guide future hazard mitigation projects, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) has updated their Hazard Mitigation Plan and approved it at their April board meeting.
When developing the plan, the LENRD’s 15-counties were guided by a Planning Team consisting of representatives from the LENRD, counties, cities, several schools, and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for every $1 spent on hazard mitigation, $4 in post storm cleanup and rebuilding is saved.
LENRD Projects Manager, Curt Becker, said, “Once a community, county, or district is part of an approved plan they become eligible for up to a 75% cost share for a wide variety of projects listed in the plan. Hazard Mitigation Plans are required to be updated on a five-year cycle.”
JEO Consulting Group, Inc. (JEO) was hired to update the plan. JEO assisted in completing the LENRD’s original and previous plans in 2009 and 2014. This hazard mitigation plan update is funded by a FEMA planning grant. The cost is shared 75% through federal funding and 25% through a local match. For this plan update, the LENRD provided the 25% local match.
In other business, the board approved a payment request from the City of Randolph for $834,723 for their flood risk management project. The board signed an inter-local agreement with the city in 2017. This payment request will assist with Phase 1 of the project and will keep the project moving forward. The entire project includes the widening of the channel and the replacement of several bridges through the city.
The board also approved the Urban Recreation Area Development and Urban Conservation Program applications for a total of $89,551.58. The 4 approved grants will assist the communities of Madison, Norfolk, and Randolph with their outdoor recreation projects. Becker said, “The applications for these grants are sent to the communities within the LENRD each year with an early March deadline.”
The board also voted to authorize staff to proceed with the handicapped sidewalk project at Maskenthine Lake. This will complete the sidewalks near the jetties and the boat dock. The bid was accepted from Gates Construction, LLC for $12,669.
In other action, the board approved the producer contracts for the Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA) demonstration site for groundwater nitrate reduction. This project will consist of 3 demonstration sites on farms within the BGMA through a Nebraska Environmental Trust grant.
The board also approved to continue the operation, maintenance, and coordination of the Nebraska GeoCloud platform. LENRD Assistant Manager, Brian Bruckner, said, “The GeoCloud platform hosts the statewide Airborne Electromagnetic Survey (AEM) data and the supporting datasets that allows for the sharing of this data with the public through the Eastern Nebraska Water Resources Assessment (ENWRA) website.”
A presentation was given by Charles Ikenberry, an engineer with FYRA Engineering, on potential ways to reduce the toxic algae in the Willow Creek State Recreation Area, southwest of Pierce. He proposed a multi-phase approach to the study of the phosphorus build up in the lake to determine what could potentially be done to combat the issue. LENRD General Manager, Mike Sousek, said, “This is an introduction to a project that could potentially help us to further understand the complexity of this issue and assist us in developing a plan to protect the water quality in the lake and the surrounding area.”
The LENRD board & staff meet each month to develop and implement management plans to protect our natural resources for the future. The next LENRD board meeting will be Thursday, May 28th at 7:30 p.m. Watch for further updates and stay connected with the LENRD by subscribing to their monthly emails at www.lenrd.org.
Nebraska Cattlemen Midyear Webinar Schedule
Please find below the schedule for the NC Midyear Policy Committee Meeting Webinars. Agendas and details on participation are being developed and promotion of the webinars to the membership will begin in early May, stay tuned until then.
2020 Nebraska Cattlemen
Midyear Committee Meeting Webinars
June 9-11 - (All times CDT)
Tuesday, June 9
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Brand & Property Rights Committee Webinar
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Taxation Committee Webinar
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm Marketing & Commerce Committee Webinar
Wednesday, June 10
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Education & Research Committee Webinar
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Animal Health & Nutrition Committee Webinar
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm Natural Resources & Environment Committee Webinar
More details at www.nebraskacattlemen.org.
COVID-19 Response & Resources
A reliable supply chain has always been critical, and during this time, it is more important than ever. As we wrap up April, Nebraska farmers are starting out, in the middle of or nearing completion of planting, as they do every year. Farming families across the country are working to ensure a safe and dependable supply of food for communities around the world.
As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread globally, the Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) is working with our farmers and stakeholders to help ensure a stable and safe soybean supply chain, from producer to processor through exporter and consumer.
While we realize our farmers who grow, tend and harvest soybeans are the first essential partners in this process, they are one link in a robust supply chain. We also look to truckers, processors, crushers, merchandisers, retailers and exporters to fulfill our duty. These people are working hard to ensure that our food and feed supply chains continue to operate smoothly, and to them we are grateful.
More specifically, our farmers and supply chain partners are able to move forward with the bounty of past seasons, even as they also prepare for a new growing season. Supply remains strong, both domestically and globally — due in part to the foresight and advancements made in today’s production. We continue our work to support domestic and international programs to create opportunities for Nebraska soybean farmers.
Here at home, NSB is continuing to engage with farmers, contractors, stakeholders and the media to keep everyone informed. Our staff continues to connect with organizations to build new relationships and programs to ensure soy is a critical driver in world nutrition during, and after, this crisis.
In this time of difficulty, NSB farmer-leaders and staff are doing all we can to keep pulling things in the right direction as we carry out the work of the soy checkoff. As our farmer-leaders work to ensure the implementation of programs to drive demand, we are embracing virtual organizational communications technology.
Finally, we are working hard to keep all members of the soy value chain safe, including customers, partners, team members and our farmer volunteers. We are continuously monitoring the situation and following guidance from the proper authorities.
The global priority is to contain this outbreak, and our thoughts are with everyone who has been personally affected by COVID-19. Our industry has been tested time and time again, and this is yet another test that we are confident we will overcome by coming together, helping where we can and doing what we do best — providing a high-quality product for our customers and communities.
Statement by Steve Nelson, President, Regarding Passage, Signing of COVID-19 Relief Measure
“We greatly appreciate the U.S. House and U.S. Senate moving quickly to pass legislation and President Trump’s swift action to allocate additional federal aid dollars for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), in addition to ensuring that farmers and ranchers can now qualify for the administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.”
“Nebraska Farm Bureau had encouraged congressional leaders to take these steps to help self-employed individuals, including farmers and ranchers, who did not have the opportunity to participate in the PPP, as available funding expired almost immediately after rules for their participation were released.”
“We also want to thank Sen. Fischer, Sen. Sasse, Congressman Fortenberry, Congressman Bacon, and Congressman Smith for their support on this measure and continued efforts to help Nebraska farm and ranch families in the face of the pandemic.”
Nebraska Beef Producers Represent Industry on National Level
Ann Marie Bosshamer, Executive Director of Nebraska Beef Council
Nebraska is known for raising high-quality beef and is considered a leader in the beef industry. You can say the same thing for the cattlemen of our state who serve in leadership roles on the state and national level. It’s important to note that the Nebraska Beef Council (NBC) board of directors all serve on committees at the national level to help guide the programming executed by the beef checkoff.
There are five committees that are comprised of both Federation of State Beef Council and Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) members. Nebraska has nine beef council directors and six Beef Board directors so there are multiple producers from our state serving on the following committees: Consumer Trust, Nutrition and Health, Export Growth, Innovation and Safety. The committee members review proposed programs from all checkoff contractors and provide feedback before the proposals are submitted to the Beef Promotion Operating Committee for funding.
In addition, the Investor Relations Working Group and the Market Research Working group both have NBC board members serving as volunteers. These groups provide insight to contractors for projects on a very specific level. The Evaluation Committee reviews all checkoff contractor programs and provides feedback to each of them in order to help benefit the overall program.
The Beef Promotion and Operating Committee is comprised of 20 members, ten from the CBB and ten from the Federation of State Beef Councils. The purpose of this group is to set the funding for all beef checkoff dollars and allocate them to the various contractors. Nebraska is well represented with three of the 20 from our state.
Lastly, NBC Chairman, Buck Wehrbein of Waterloo, is also serving as the Chairman of the Federation of State Beef Councils. This Operating Committee leadership role is established through an interview process with other producers to determine who will serve. The process is completely producer-driven and a great way to establish leadership.
Special thanks to all cattlemen who serve on the NBC and CBB for your leadership and commitment to our industry!
Nebraska Beef Council representatives: Buck Wehrbein – Waterloo, NE; Ivan Rush – Scottsbluff, NE; Rosemary Vinton Anderson – Whitman, NE; Doug Temme - Wayne, NE; Jim Ramm – Atkinson, NE; George Cooksley – Anselmo, NE; Michele Cutler – Elsie, NE; Gregg Wiedel – Hebron, NE; Jeff Rudoph – Gothenburg, NE
Nebraska Cattlemen’s Beef Board representatives: Herbert Rhodes – Omaha, NE; Torri Lienemann – Princeton, NE; Dave Hamilton – Thedford, NE; Jim Eschliman – Erickson, NE; Bree DeNaeyer – Seneca, NE; Bill Baldwin – Mitchell, NE
Iowa Cattlemen advocate for producers amid COVID-19 Crisis
The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) has heard many concerns from its members over the past few weeks as COVID-19 has severely affected the industry in a variety of ways.
“We began receiving phone calls in mid-March as live cattle prices dropped, and the challenges have multiplied since that time,” says Matt Deppe, ICA’s CEO.
ICA’s staff and board members have been actively seeking input from members and carrying their concerns and needs forward to the appropriate government agencies and elected officials throughout this time.
Financial Assistance for Producers
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. The cattle industry has historically shied away from direct payments for producers, but the impact from COVID-19 has been so severe that many producers are struggling with cash-flow and longer-term viability of their operations.
Based on requests from members and approval from the board of directors, ICA requested that cattle producers be included in programs designed for small business owners, in addition to a direct payment program for cattle producers, who face losses up to $477.05 per head in the coming months, according to Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.
Agriculture was included in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses as part of the CARES Act. However, the funding allocated to that program was distributed before many farmers, who are sole proprietors, were able to secure the low-interest, partially forgivable loans. ICA then advocated for additional funding for the PPP, which was then included in the April 24th coronavirus bill. That bill also expanded the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to include ag producers, which was another request from ICA.
In addition to these loan programs, the USDA announced a payment program for farmers as part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Preliminary information states that producers will receive a payment for 85% of price losses that occurred between January 1 and April 15, and 30% of anticipated price losses in Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 of 2020. There is a payment limit of $125,000 per commodity with a cap of $250,000 per entity or individual.
ICA members have expressed several concerns regarding this program. Based on the continued losses expected, the organization has advocated for increased payment limits and a higher reimbursement rate for losses after April 15.
Market Irregularities
One of the chief concerns during this time has been the precipitous decrease in fed cattle prices while boxed beef prices have continued to rise. The spread between these two numbers has burdened feedlot operators while the processing sector seems to be benefitting from the higher beef values. ICA member Brad Kooima also had the opportunity to question Secretary Sonny Perdue directly about this issue on a recent teleconference.
ICA has also worked closely with the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association to write a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and USDA formally requesting an investigation into the current market disturbances as well as those following the Holcomb plant fire last fall. Twenty state cattlemen’s associations signed on to the letter, which stated, “The nature of previous and current concern in both situations is extreme market degradation to the producer segment quickly followed by sharp increases and unseasonal profitability to the packing segment through boxed beef prices. The repeat nature of these market reactions absolutely emphasizes how the production sector of the industry is exposed to the highest potential for risk with little-to-no leverage to change that risk position.”
An investigation by USDA’s Packers and Stockyards Administration was launched following the Holcomb fire last fall, but the results have not yet been released. The long timeline of that investigation, compounded by increased spreads between boxed beef and live cattle more recently, led ICA’s board of directors to ask for a more intense investigation, this time overseen by the Department of Justice.
Processing Challenges
Due to employee illness and health concerns, many plants have had to slow their production or close temporarily. This has caused extreme challenges for Iowa’s cattle feeders with market-ready cattle.
For several weeks, it has been nearly impossible for Iowa’s producers to get a bid on their fed cattle from a processor. Cattle that have been contracted in advance are filling all the available slaughter space, leaving Iowa’s producers who traditionally negotiate cash bids struggling.
In these unprecedented times, ICA is asking processors to prioritize slaughter for the heaviest cattle. At the same time, we are encouraging packers to waive penalties for overweight cattle.
ICA appreciates Governor Reynolds’s dedication to continuity of business and efforts to provide increased testing to packing plant employees in order to get them back to work. Returning slaughter and processing capacity to pre-COVID-19 levels is not only important to cattle producers, but impacts food security for the entire country.
Education and Grassroots Feedback
As the COVID-19 situation continues to affect the cattle industry, ICA has increased efforts to get feedback from members about challenges they are facing. Weekly teleconferences offer producers an opportunity to weigh in on the advocacy efforts ICA has been working on, and suggest new ideas.
ICA is also working closely with the Iowa Beef Center to provide education for producers managing fed cattle at this time. Webinars will be held Tuesday, April 28 at noon and Wednesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. Both will be recorded and posted for later viewing. Find more information at http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/news/FeedlotConsiderationsWebinars0420.html.
For more information about ICA’s work, sign up for emails and text messages at iacattlemen.org or check out ICA’s weekly podcast. It can be found on the website or various podcast directories by searching “Iowa Cattlemen’s Podcast.”
Five Affordable Beef Steaks and Roasts for Cheap Meals
Iowa Beef Industry Council
Are you looking for great-tasting beef steaks and roasts that are economical? These overlooked budget-friendly beef cuts are sure to delight your table and help provide a healthy and balanced meal. You can make any beef cut tender and taste great when using the right cooking method. A good general rule of thumb, less tender and less expensive cuts of beef, such as the chuck and the round, need a moist heat method, like braising, stewing, or slow cooking. Sometimes you just need a really good, budget-friendly meal that tastes better than something that comes from a box. The following five beef cuts are sure to do the trick:
Top Round Steak: Try this Beef and Pasta with Asian Peanut Sauce recipe that uses thin strips of Top Round Steak that are quickly cooked in teriyaki sauce before joining thin spaghetti noodles and cucumbers with a flavorful peanut butter sauce. Don't have pasta on hand? Use ramen or rice instead and your choice of veggies.
Sirloin Tip Roast: This boneless, lean cut is a superstar in the world of low-cost cooking. The Sirloin Tip Roast makes great stir-fry strips, kabobs, stew meat, or Cubed Steak. It is the perfect cut for this quick and Easy Beef Stroganoff recipe. This classic has been tested and perfected just for you. Don't have mushrooms and gravy? Use any can of creamed soup instead.
Arm Chuck Roast: An economical and flavorful cut that is best when slow-cooked will leave you craving a dish with shredded beef. Try one of these Four-Way Slow Cooker Shredded Beef recipes that are sure to please everyone at the dinner table.
Eye of Round Steak: This tremendous value cut is lean and boneless. The Eye of Round Steak is ideal for marinating, then grilling or skillet cooking. This Kung Pao Beef recipe is quick, easy, and uses prepared sauces and frozen veggies for a delicious, fork-tender meal. Use any pre-prepared Asian sauce and veggies on hand.
Bottom Round Steak: A good, everyday cut that is boneless and lean. Enjoy your favorite BBQ flavors with this BBQ Beef Skillet with Cornbred recipe.
NPPC Urges SBA to Remove Restriction on Lending Program
U.S. pork producers, in dire straits as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and facing a collective $5 billion loss for the remainder of the year, are now being denied access the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Payroll Protection Program (PPP) due to restrictive language preventing many pork producers from being eligible.
Specifically, PPP eligibility is determined by a positive farm profit in the calendar year 2019, or last 12 months. For many U.S. pork producers, 2019 was not profitable as they bore the brunt of trade retaliation in China and Mexico, among two of our largest export markets. Using SBA's restrictive language, an estimated one-quarter of the U.S. hog industry is automatically disqualified from applying to the program.
"Our hog farmers are underwater through no fault of their own," said National Pork Producers Council President Howard "A.V" Roth, a pork producer from Wauzeka, Wisconsin. "Hog farmers were at the tip of the trade retaliation spear in 2018 and 2019, losing $20 off the price of every hog. In 2020, they were forecast to make a $10 profit on every hog, until the COVID-19 crisis hit. The virus has decimated our industry and for SBA to unfairly punish pork producers and deny them access to this program is adding insult to injury."
"We urge SBA to expeditiously remove this arbitrary restriction and allow our hog farmers, deemed essential throughout this pandemic, to access this vital program," Roth added.
U.S. pork producers desperately need significant and immediate government aid or else many generational family farms will go bankrupt. NPPC will continue to work with the federal government to ensure U.S. pork producers have equitable access to this and other COVID-19 related funding.
WTO COUNTRIES PLEDGE TO NOT RESTRICT EXPORTS
NPPC newsletter
The United States, the European Union, China and other members of the World Trade Organization representing more than 60 percent of world agriculture exports pledged Wednesday to not impose export restrictions on food and agricultural products as a result of COVID-19. "As members take measures to address the pandemic, it is imperative that these measures do not adversely affect trade in agriculture and agri-food products, which would ultimately have negative impacts on the food security, nutrition and health of members and their populations," the countries explained in a joint statement.
The countries also agreed to exercise restraint in establishing domestic food stocks of agricultural products that are traditionally exported. U.S. pork producers have typically exported one-quarter of production to Canada, Mexico, Japan, China and other top markets. However, COVID-19 stay at home orders, closures of restaurants, outdoor markets and food vendors, combined with labor issues around the world, are slowing down exports.
Beef Improvement Federation Online Symposium Program Announced
It was announced on April 2 the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) board of directors, along with the Florida 2020 BIF Research Symposium and Convention committee, made the decision to transition this year’s conference to an online format due to COVID-19.
BIF leadership is in the process of planning an updated symposium online. “Our BIF program committee working with the Florida group has honed the original schedule to work in the new online format,” says Joe Mushrush, BIF vice president and program chairman. “Our goal is to provide learning opportunities that will help producers continue to improve their bottom line focused on beef improvement. As our President Tommy Clark said last week, ‘Our mission as an organization is intact during this challenging time and we will continue to provide educational programing focused on how the beef industry can enhance value through genetic improvement.’”
The virtual event will be hosted online the week of June 8 starting at noon CDT each day. The conference will be hosted on the Zoom webinar platform. By mid-May, participants will be able to register for the event, find a detailed schedule and Zoom tutorials on the BIF website — BeefImprovement.org.
2020 BIF award winners, including Seedstock and Commercial Producers of the Year, Pioneer and Continuing Service award winners will be recognized during the online symposium.
Below is a tentative schedule for the 52nd Annual Beef Improvement Federation Symposium – Online (all times are CDT):
Monday, June 8
Noon - Welcome
12:15 p.m. - YOUNG PRODUCERS SYMPOSIUM - What Will the Purebred Cattle Industry Look Like in 20 years – Bill Rishel, Rishel Angus + Financial Planning for a New Generation of Producers – Adam Trott, Financial Analyst Manager, Rabo AgriFinance
1:45 p.m. - BIF Board/Officer election results - Scholarship award presentations — Roy Wallace, Baker/Cundiff - BIF Ambassador Award presentation
Tuesday, June 9
Noon - Tuesday Welcome
12:15 p.m. - GENERAL SESSION 1 - Consumer Market Research — What They Say They Need, and They Want – Shawn Darcy, Director of Market Research, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Market Research
1:15 p.m. - BIF Awards Program - Commercial Producer of the Year - Pioneer Awards
1:45 p.m. - Perspectives from End-User — What We Need and What We Want – Henry Zerby, VP of Protein Procurement and Innovation, Wendy’s Quality Supply Chain Co-Op (QSCC) Inc.
Wednesday, June 10
Noon - Wednesday Welcome
12:15 p.m. - GENERAL SESSION 2 - Global Perspectives on Beef Sustainability – Don Close, Rabo AgriFinance
1:15 p.m. - BIF Awards Program - Seedstock Producer of the Year - BIF Continuing Service Awards
1:45 p.m. - Systems Approach to Beef Cattle Sustainability – Dr. Clay Mathis, King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management, Texas A & M University—Kingsville
Thursday, June 11
Noon - Technical Breakout – Advancement in End-product Improvement
2 p.m. - Technical Breakout – Advancement in Emerging Technology
4 p.m. - Technical Breakout – Advancement in Selection Decisions
Friday, June 12
Noon - Technical Breakout – Advancement in Efficiency and Adaptability
2 p.m. - Technical Breakout – Advancement in Producer Applications
4 p.m. - Technical Breakout – Genomic and Genetic Prediction
The BIF Board sends well wishes to our beef industry family during this global pandemic. While final details surrounding this transition are still taking shape, we are committed to providing an easily accessible, robust online conference experience that eliminates the health concerns that come with travel and face-to-face meetings at this time. We also wish to thank the Florida committee for their help planning this year’s event and look forward to having the symposium in Florida in future years.
For details regarding the online conference as they develop, visit http://www.beefimprovement.org. Prior to and during this year’s symposium, be sure to follow the event on social media channels using the hashtag #BIF2020.
Individuals who had already registered for the in-person event will be refunded their registration in the next couple of weeks. For those who booked flights, please contact your airline to check their refund policy for cancellations due to COVID-19.
World Dairy Expo to Decide Fate of 2020 Show by July 1
Coordinators of World Dairy Expo have given themselves a deadline of July 1 to determine if the 2020 show will go on as scheduled. General Manager Scott Bently said in a memo on Thursday that the event plays an important economic and social role for farmers and businesses and that the executive committee and staff remains committed to holding the show as planned from September 29 through October.
"Expo continues to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact to our show," Bently said. "As we move forward with planning, please know that future health declarations and the well-being and safety of exhibitors, attendees and volunteers are of the utmost importance and will guide our future decision making."
He said a final decision to hold or cancel WDE 2020 will be made by the board on or before July 1. If they feel it necessary to cancel, all contracted exhibitors and sponsors will be issued refunds for any payments already made for this year's forum.
World Dairy Expo is traditionally held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison each fall. That facility has already been recognized by state health officials as a possible treatment facility in the event that COVID-19 cases surge beyond what local hospitals can handle.
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Thursday April 23 Ag News
Nebraska corn farmers to invest nearly $2.7 billion to plant 10.5 million acres
Nebraska corn farmers will plant 10.5 million acres of corn in 2020 according to the latest Prospective Plantings report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This is nearly a 4% increase from last year’s total planted corn acres. If these planting estimates hold up, Nebraska corn farmers will invest nearly $2.7 billion dollars into the state’s economy over a two-month period. This amount is a result of inputs, such as seed, fuel and fertilizer, but does not include land costs, labor or equipment. Despite the seemingly high investments now, the full economic impact will be realized over time.
“The total investment Nebraska corn farmers make during the planting season is substantial,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board. “This investment really sets the stage for the entire growing season. However, farmers are concerned this year. They’re experiencing difficult financial times, which is leading to much uncertainty. We’re hopeful the current economic conditions improve and the full economic impact of this year’s planted corn crop is realized.”
Farmers in Nebraska historically begin to plant their corn in mid-April and try to finish by mid-May. However, weather often dictates when farmers can plant. The latest Crop Progress report issued by the USDA (released April 20, 2020), showed Nebraska farmers are 2% completed with corn planting, which is ahead of this time last year (1%), but behind of the five-year average (5%).
Even though the corn industry is an economic booster for Nebraska, farmers face challenges in the months ahead. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently released a report highlighting revenue declines for corn farmers due to COVID-19. Based on this report and further analysis from the Nebraska Corn Board (NCB), corn prices have declined by 20% in Nebraska as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Projections show an average loss of $52 per acre in Nebraska, or nearly $512 million.
“Farming is an unpredictable business, and there’s a lot of risk involved,” said David Bruntz, chairman of NCB and farmer from Friend. “It’s necessary to invest a great deal to produce high-quality, high-yielding crops. However, there are so many unknowns, from weather fluctuations, input prices and global pandemics. Thankfully, farmers are resilient and we keep going no matter what.”
Nationally, farmers are estimated to plant nearly 97 million acres of corn in 2020, which is up 8% from last year. For more crop progress information throughout the year, follow the Nebraska Corn Board on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Ricketts Establishes Detasseling Safety Task Force
This afternoon, at his daily coronavirus briefing, Governor Pete Ricketts discussed guidelines for farmers’ markets, nurseries, and garden centers as they operate during the ongoing public health emergency. Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Steve Wellman joined the Governor at today’s briefing. He talked about safely setting up and shopping at farmers’ markets and garden centers. He also announced the formation of a Detasseling Task Force to ensure the safety of Nebraskans working in fields this summer.
Director Wellman: Farmers’ Markets and Garden Centers
• It’s springtime, which is time for farmers to plant crops and for gardeners to be out in their yards.
• Tomorrow is Arbor Day. I invite Nebraskans to take part in the great tradition—started by J. Sterling Morton—by planting a tree.
• NDA has issued guidelines for nurseries and garden centers during COVID-19: nda.nebraska.gov/COVID-19/GuidanceNurseriesGardenCenters.pdf
o The general physical distancing rules apply to these retailers.
o Nurseries and garden centers should heed state and local directed health measures.
o They should also provide extra space for customers and help to direct foot traffic.
• NDA also has guidance available for farmers’ markets: nda.nebraska.gov/COVID-19/FarmersMarketGuidance.pdf
o Vendors should not hand out samples of food.
o They should also have plentiful sanitizers available for customers.
o Customers should appropriately distance themselves from one another.
o They are also encouraged to wear masks while shopping.
o Customers should touch only what they intend to purchase.
• NDA offers coupons to WIC participants that can be used for purchases at farmers’ markets.
o Call NDA for information on accessing the coupons at 402-471-2341.
• The State is setting up a Detasseling Task Force.
o Detasselers provide a vital service to our agricultural community.
o Around 7,000 Nebraskans detassel each year.
o We want to do everything we can to protect detasselers as they prepare to work in the fields this summer.
o The task force has participation from seed companies and detasseling contractors. We’ll also be bringing growers onto the task force.
• USDA has announced a program to give $16 billion in direct aid to farmers and ranchers.
o The Farm Service Agency will administer the direct aid. Details of the program are still in development.
• USDA has also announced that it will purchase $3 billion of food to assist ag producers and food distributors.
Meat Processing Essential, Farmers, Grocers Thank Governor for Efforts to Keep Meat Processing Moving Forward
Partners at the beginning and end of the food supply chain are thanking Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts for his work with meat processors to both protect employees and help keep meat processing moving forward in Nebraska.
“This is an extremely difficult time for everyone, but the fact remains that without livestock production and meat processing, there wouldn’t be meat at the grocery store, it wouldn’t’ be available for curbside pickup or delivery from restaurants, nor would you be able to get meat at the fast food drive thru. That is reality,” said Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau president. “Our farmers are already being challenged in finding processing for market ready livestock due to slow-downs at in-state processors and plant closures in neighboring states. Widespread closure of processing plants, even for limited periods of time, could be devastating for farmers and consumers alike. We appreciate Gov. Ricketts’ ongoing efforts to work with meat processors to protect employees and to keep meat processing moving forward.
Millions of Americans, including Nebraskans, rely on meat protein. Meat processing is the critical process of harvesting livestock for conversion into the meat that ultimately is available for consumption in the form of fresh meats like hamburger, pork chops, steaks, roasts, chicken breasts, and in other forms, such as frozen and canned meats, and other meat products.
“The process of how food gets from the farm gate to the dinner plate is a delicate one that shouldn’t be taken for granted. The stability of our food supply is dependent on everyone along the supply chain being able to do their part, including the meat processing sector” said Kathy Siefken, executive director of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association. Whether it is the pepperoni and hamburger on frozen pizzas, or canned chicken and all the different fresh meats behind the counter, when you walk through a grocery store, all those products are the result of meat processing. Farmers are farming, grocery stores are open, it is imperative every step necessary to protect workers is taken to keep meat processors’ doors open. Gov. Ricketts has played a key role in trying to make that happen.”
Gov. Ricketts has worked with meat processors throughout the COVID-19 crisis, recently sharing insights as to his efforts with meat processors and representatives of meat processing employees focused on protecting employees and curbing the spread of COVID-19 in meat processing facilities.
Fortenberry Votes to Replenish Paycheck Protection Program
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) offered the following statement today after voting to replenish funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), help rural hospitals, and expand coronavirus testing.
“The Paycheck Protection Program has been a bipartisan airlift, a lifesaver for people who make things with their own two hands and take care of others under their employ,” Fortenberry said.
“As a matter of policy, it was clear from the beginning that we could run out of funds for the PPP and other disaster loan measures. We’ve reached that point. Today, I wholeheartedly supported legislation to replenish this programmatic bright spot in the trauma we have all faced,” Fortenberry added.
Bacon Votes Yes on Fourth Round of COVID-19 Legislation
Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) and his House colleagues today passed a fourth round of pandemic response legislation, that builds on the CARES Act. This legislation delivers major wins for Nebraska and accomplishes three of his top priorities. Not only does this legislation infuse $310 billion into the Payment Protection Program (PPP), it has additional funding for Community and Rural Health Centers as well as testing, and $60 billion for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) economic injury disaster loans and grants.
“With 26 million people unemployed, this package provides the much-needed relief for our Nebraska families and businesses as we work together to fight the virus and sustain our economy that was rapidly growing prior to this pandemic,” said Rep. Bacon. “For nearly two weeks, many small businesses have been waiting for the PPP to be funded after it was frozen.”
In addition to the $310 billion in increased funding to SBA’s PPP that will support small businesses and families, the bill also expands SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) eligibility to include agriculture producers. Families will also benefit from the $75 billion for reimbursements to hospitals to support the need for COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenue, enabling our medical system to better serve the community.
“I was also pleased to see that $825 million has been set aside for our community health centers who serve our rural areas and those with lower incomes,” said Rep. Bacon. “OneWorld and Charles Drew Community Health Centers in Omaha are just two examples of the impact CHC’s make in our community.”
“While I am pleased to see that these areas will be addressed, I am disappointed that my concerns about a lack of reasonable support to state, county and municipal governments was not considered,” said Rep. Bacon. “I have engaged with Congressional leaders and the administration about the need to develop workable options for our local governments to continue providing essential services such as fire and police protection.”
Rep. Bacon has been working with the League of Municipalities and local mayors to bring these concerns to the forefront.
“My staff is working to get legislation drafted to fix this problem and I hope to introduce it soon,” said Rep. Bacon. “Our municipalities are losing revenue sources and we need to help them just like we have helped small businesses, farmers and healthcare systems. This is an all-out strategy to defend not only our health, but our economy so that our country will survive.”
“In future legislation, I will work to guarantee funds are distributed to cities at no additional cost,” said Rep. Bacon. “This is money that has already been appropriated but redirected to keep our first responders and firefighters from being laid off, the very people who protect our communities. I would also like to see funding included for more non-profits because they also are fighting the pandemic head-on to protect Nebraskans by providing vital services to our communities, citizens and businesses.”
Smith Supports President Trump’s PPP, Votes for Key Funding in COVID-19 Fight
Congressman Adrian Smith released the following statement after voting to pass the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266) today. H.R. 266 replenishes funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provides additional monetary assistance for health care providers and hospitals, and expands testing for COVID-19. PPP was created by the CARES Act to keep workers on payroll at businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 500 employees which have been impacted by social distancing guidelines.
“Community banks across Nebraska’s Third District have been working hard to help their neighbors access over $3 billion from the Paycheck Protection Program already. Small businesses are the lifeblood of rural America and PPP has been critical in keeping them afloat during this pandemic. I appreciate the President’s leadership in supporting hardworking Americans in this difficult time so we can get our economy to back on track after this crisis has passed.”
President Trump is expected to sign H.R. 266 later today.
ADM to Reduce Ethanol Grind in Response to Market Conditions
Due to the challenging operating environment, ADM is currently managing ethanol production throughout its U.S. corn processing network to focus on cash flows and to divert corn grind to other products that are in higher demand, such as alcohol for hand sanitizer.
As part of this process, ADM is temporarily idling ethanol production at the company’s corn dry mill facilities in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Columbus, Nebraska. ADM notified approximately 90 employees in each facility today that they will be furloughed in the coming weeks. During the furlough, employees will continue to receive medical benefits and will be eligible to apply for state and federal unemployment benefits. They will also have the option to apply for other open positions at ADM. The anticipated length of the furlough is currently four months, but the timeframe is dependent on market conditions and could change.
ADM has also reduced the ethanol grind at its corn wet mill plants and rebalanced grind to produce more industrial alcohol for the sanitizer market and industrial starches for the containerboard market to better align production with current demand.
“These are very difficult decisions in a very challenging time, and unfortunately, the current market conditions and the low consumer demand for gasoline at this time have greatly impacted the entire ethanol industry,” said Chris Cuddy, president, Carbohydrate Solutions. “Our primary focus is the respect and care of our employees during this time, and we are doing everything we can to support them until market conditions improve and we can look at ways to restart production.”
More Ethanol Plant Closures in Iowa and Nebraska Underscore Calls for Relief
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor issued a statement following an announcement that two more plants will go offline amid the COVID-19 pandemic:
“This was the third week in a row that ethanol production hit a record-breaking low, even as stockpiles hit a new record-breaking high. The evaporation of fuel demand due to COVID-19 has been a knock-out blow to biofuel plants across the heartland, who were already fighting an uphill battle against trade barriers, regulatory threats, and a flood of foreign oil.
“Half the industry is already offline, and now two ADM plants - one in Iowa and one in Nebraska - have been added to the growing list of plants impacted. Ethanol producers represent the heart of the rural economy, and when they are forced offline, the ripple effect can be felt across the agricultural supply chain – from farmers without a market for their crops to meatpackers and ranchers that rely on local ethanol plants for animal feed and carbon dioxide.
“While a great deal of uncertainty still remains, we will continue to work with our state and congressional champions who are working to secure immediate relief that will keep this highly-skilled workforce intact so we will be ready to bounce back and fuel rural America’s economic recovery. With plans to support the oil and gas industry already underway, it’s vital that policymakers give the same consideration to biofuel workers and farmers equally impacted by disruptions to the motor fuel market.
“We urge policymakers to act swiftly. We have endured downturns before, and we will again, because there is no challenge greater than the resiliency, endurance, and ingenuity of our producers and farm partners.”
Three IANR faculty members complete LEAD21 leadership training
Three faculty members within the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently completed LEAD21 leadership training.
Loren Giesler, professor and head of the department of plant pathology; Mary Ann Johnson, professor and chair of the department of nutrition and health sciences; and Doug Zalesky, director of the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, were among the 90 graduates from across the country who comprised the 15th cohort of the program earlier this year.
LEAD21 aims to enhance the leadership skills of department heads, deans and others in leadership positions at land-grant institutions from throughout the United States. The program also allows participants to meet and share ideas and experiences with peers from wide-ranging programs and institutions nationwide.
At least one faculty member from IANR takes part in the program each year, said Rich Bischoff, IANR associate vice chancellor. The goal, Bischoff said, is to help leaders, particularly those who are relatively new to leadership roles, learn to balance their new responsibilities with their own personal and professional development.
“It’s very easy for a leader, even an experienced one, to manage his or her many tasks without looking to see what’s around the corner,” Bischoff said. “We want our new leaders to be able to create a map that allows them to see what’s 100 miles down the road, instead of just as far as the headlights will take them.”
Giesler, one of the faculty members who graduated from the program this year, said the training has proven invaluable. The training was divided into three parts, Giesler said. The first section focused on the participants as individuals and included assessments of personal strengths, weaknesses, and how each participant deals with change, among other topics. The second focused on leadership of teams, and the third focused on change within large organizations.
Giesler appreciated all components of the training but said the assessments in the first portion were particularly enlightening. “Self-awareness is probably one the greatest outcomes of these kinds of programs,” he said. “If you can manage yourself, you can effectively manage others.”
Giesler has drawn on what he learned from LEAD21 as he leads the plant pathology department through the shift to remote teaching, learning, work and research during the university’s COVID-19 response. “The challenge in leadership is to make sure you reflect back and engage tools that have been presented to you, and that you don’t just react,” he said.
Nebraska Farmers Union PAC Announces Primary Endorsements
NEBFARMPAC, the political action committee of the Nebraska Farmers Union, Nebraska’s second largest general farm organization with over 4,000 farm and ranch families announced its Primary endorsements at this time for the Legislature, State Board of Education, Public Power Districts, Natural Resource Districts, and County Commissioners.
Based on their position on family farm and ranch issues and input from county and district officers, the NEBFARMPAC Board of Directors announced the following Primary endorsements:
Public Service Commission: Crystal Rhoades, Public Service Commission District 2
Nebraska Legislature:
Julie Slama, Nebraska Legislature, LD1
Carol Blood, Nebraska Legislature LD3
Tony Vargas, Nebraska Legislature, LD7
Terrell McKinney, Nebraska Legislature, LD11
Lynne Walz, Nebraska Legislature, LD15
Sheryl Lindau, Nebraska Legislature, LD17
Dan Quick, Nebraska Legislature, LD35
State Board of Education:
Lisa Fricke in District 2
Omaha Public Power District:
Amanda Bogner, OPPD Subdivision 1
Sara Howard, OPPD, Subdivision 2
Lower Platte North NRD, Subdistrict 3: Andrew Tonnies
Lower Platte South NRD, Subdistrict 4: Edison McDonald
Lower Elkhorn NRD, Subdistrict 7: Randy Ruppert
Upper Elkhorn NRD, Subdistrict 6: Art Tanderup
Upper Elkhorn NRD, Subdistrict 7: Keith Heithoff
Lancaster County Commissioner Subdistrict 2: Christa Yoakum,
Gage County Commissioner, District 6: Don Schuller
NEBFARMPAC will make additional endorsements after the Primary Election.
NEBFARMPAC is the political action committee of the Nebraska Farmers Union, which is a non-partisan, not-for-profit general farm organization founded in 1913 with a mission to protect and enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of family farmers and ranchers and their rural communities. NeFU is the respected voice of family farm and ranch agriculture with more than 4,000 family memberships.
CASNR LAUNCHES CHANGE-MAKER SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has launched a new quick pitch scholarship competition for students who dare to dream big and do the extraordinary to address worldwide issues.
The CASNR Change-Maker Quick Pitch Competition asks current and prospective CASNR students to submit a two-minute video explaining an original, innovative way to address global issues such as food security, sustainability and water use. Two current CASNR students and eight incoming freshmen and transfer students will be awarded full-tuition scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year based on their submitted videos. Winning students will be matched with a mentor to help make their big idea a reality.
Additionally, eight $1,000 CASNR scholarships will be awarded to youth in the sixth through 11th grades.
“We want innovators, change-makers and future leaders to get their start right here in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources,” said CASNR Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss. “This competition will reward our current students who strive to tackle these big issues. At the same time, we hope to attract new students who are in search of a college experience in which they will be encouraged and expected to challenge themselves and change the world in the process.”
In Nebraska, one in four jobs is tied to agriculture and natural resources. Within CASNR, students, faculty and staff are already engaged in important work to provide food, fuel, feed and fiber to a rapidly growing world, while conserving agricultural landscapes and natural resources and maintaining quality of life for farmers and ranchers, said Mike Boehm, vice chancellor and vice president of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“Our state’s deep roots in agriculture, coupled with Nebraska’s abundant natural resources and our ingenuity and grit, make CASNR the ideal and natural epicenter for nurturing the world’s next generation of change-makers,” Boehm said. “We want to do everything we can to build on CASNR’s culture that allows students to think critically, dream big and accomplish extraordinary things.”
Current and prospective students can apply online at https://casnr.unl.edu/casnr-change-maker-competition. Videos should be no more than two minutes long and must focus on one or more of the following issues:
> Feeding the world
> Water for the future
> New energy
> Climate and the future
> Biodiversity, sustainability and the environment
> Health
> Engaging diverse communities
> Developing tomorrow’s leaders
The competition opened on April 20 and will close at noon May 15. Winners will be announced in June, and winning videos will be shared on social media. The winner whose video receives the most likes will also receive a textbook scholarship.
Complete application guidelines and more information can be found at the webpage above.
Collegiate Farm Bureau Leaders Receive Ron Hanson Scholarship
The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation awarded the Ron Hanson Collegiate Leader Scholarship to two members of Collegiate Farm Bureau at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln who are pursuing degrees from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR).
Emily Reitz and Tanner Nun, both sophomores at CASNR, received $1,500 scholarships.
“Dr. Ron Hanson, professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, established the scholarship to reward students who prioritize leadership building activities while on campus,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation. “A longtime Farm Bureau member, Dr. Hanson recognizes the power of grassroot volunteers, and he wants to encourage the next generation of leaders to step up, make their voices heard, and serve their communities. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is honored to steward this important award.”
This year’s recipients rose to the top of a strong candidate pool. Applicants were judged based on their involvement with Collegiate Farm Bureau, volunteer and leadership activities, and their goals for the future.
Reitz is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Education with a minor in Animal Science. She is involved in many volunteer organizations including Collegiate Farm Bureau, Nebraska FFA Foundation, and the Nebraska Human Resources Institute (NHRI). Reitz serves as a leadership mentor through NHRI for a seventh-grade student at a Lincoln middle school. Reitz also serves as the 2019-2020 UNL FFA Alumni Club secretary, where she works closely with fellow officers and members to help promote and advocate for Nebraska FFA and agricultural education. Upon graduation, Reitz aims to work in an agricultural education position that allows her to reach consumers of all ages to bridge the gap between consumers and agricultural producers.
Nun is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Education with plans to be an agricultural educator at a Nebraska high school. Nun volunteers as the treasurer for the UNL Collegiate Farm Bureau and is active in the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, where he serves as an Executive Officer and Philanthropy Chair. Nun is a member of the of the Nebraska Corn and Soy Ambassador program where he works alongside the Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, and other prestigious agricultural groups. His goal and purpose are to give the next generation of students opportunities to be successful in the Nebraska agricultural industry. He wants to help aid in creating a generation of passionate and driven agriculturalists to boost Nebraska agriculture, as well as the Nebraska economy as a whole.
Record High Red Meat, Beef, and Pork Production in March
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 5.00 billion pounds in March, up 13 percent from the 4.43 billion pounds produced in March 2019.
Beef production, at 2.41 billion pounds, was 14 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.92 million head, up 10 percent from March 2019. The average live weight was up 29 pounds from the previous year, at 1,368 pounds.
Veal production totaled 5.8 million pounds, slightly above March a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 43,200 head, down 6 percent from March 2019. The average live weight was up 13 pounds from last year, at 232 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.57 billion pounds, up 12 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 11.9 million head, up 11 percent from March 2019. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at 288 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 12.2 million pounds, was down 6 percent from March 2019. Sheep slaughter totaled 187,500 head, 2 percent below last year. The average live weight was 131 pounds, down 6 pounds from March a year ago.
By State (million lbs - % March '19)
Nebraska .......: 709.4 114
Iowa ..............: 806.1 112
Kansas ...........: 525.9 116
January to March 2020 commercial red meat production was 14.4 billion pounds, up 8 percent from 2019. Accumulated beef production was up 8 percent from last year, veal was down 6 percent, pork was up 9 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 5 percent.
Webinar to Focus on Iowa Water Quality Challenge and Reducing Runoff
Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar at noon on Wednesday, April 29, about the work being done in Iowa to reduce losses of agricultural nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as the progress that has been made.
What are the drivers of nutrient loss and water quality impacts in Iowa? To what extent are agricultural conservation practices being used in Iowa to address these concerns? This webinar will explore these questions, describe the wide variety of data sources available, and present findings from the forthcoming “Annual Progress Report of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.”
Laurie Nowatzke, research analyst for the water quality program and the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy at Iowa State University, will share how Iowa’s water quality efforts are tracked, the latest findings and where participants can find additional resources about these efforts.
“There are many programs and initiatives working toward reducing nutrient loss in Iowa,” said Nowatzke. “This project uses data to show the current status and outcomes of those efforts, and it aims to provide Iowans with timely information regarding water quality improvement.”
Nowatzke works for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to evaluate Iowa’s progress in meeting water quality goals, research Iowa farmers’ conservation practice adoption, and track statewide use of water quality improvement practices in agriculture.
To participate in the live webinar, shortly before noon on April 29 visit https://iastate.zoom.us/j/364284172. Or go to https://iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 364 284 172.
Or, join from a dial-in phone line by dialing +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923. The meeting identification is 364 284 172.
The webinar will also be recorded and archived on the ILF website, so that it can be watched at any time. Archived webinars are available at https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars.
A Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit has been applied for, for those who are able to participate in the live webinar. Information about how to apply to receive the credit (if approved) will be provided at the end of the live webinar.
New Study: ASF Could Cost United States $50 Billion
National Pork Board newsletter
A new study by Iowa State University economists say the economic impact of an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) on U.S. agriculture could be as much as $50 billion over 10 years. The researchers calculated the grim figure by determining that 140,000 jobs would be lost as a result of a downsized domestic pork industry devastated by uncontrolled ASF.
According to lead study author, Dermot Hayes, professor of economics and finance at Iowa State, the researchers looked at two scenarios. One assumes that the disease spreads to feral swine and that the United States is unable to eliminate the disease over the 10-year projection period (the all-years scenario). The second scenario assumes that the United States gets the disease under control and reenters export markets within two years. The immediate impact of both scenarios is a 40% to 50% reduction in domestic live hog prices, which would be needed to clear the market of surplus pork that would otherwise be exported.
In the all-years scenario, the domestic pork industry would be downsized after about five years of losses and remain at lower output levels for the remainder of the period. This would result in large employment losses. In the two-year scenario, the industry faces a period of large financial losses but is back in export markets before significant downsizing begins.
Pork industry losses would total $15 billion in the two-year scenario (green line in chart) and up to a little over $50 billion in the all-years scenario (red line). Nationwide employment losses would equal 140,000 jobs at the end of 10 years in the all-years scenario. There would be almost no job losses at the end of 10 years for the two-year scenario.
“This study underscores the need for ASF preparedness by everyone in the U.S. pork industry,” said David Newman, National Pork Board president and a pig farmer representing Arkansas. “It’s why the Pork Checkoff continues to encourage producers to participate in the voluntary Secure Pork Supply plan. It’s also why we’re continuing to collaborate with state, federal and allied-industry partners to protect our country from foreign animal diseases and to have plans in place should the worst ever happen.”
Papua New Guinea: Latest African Swine Fever Victim
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) confirmed the presence of African swine fever (ASF) in Papua New Guinea at the end of March. This latest outbreak officially put the costly disease in the geographic part of the world known as Oceania, most notably shared with Australia and New Zealand.
On the tropical island nation, more than 300 pigs had died in previous months in the Southern Highlands part of the country. As of March 30, more than 1,500 pigs had died from ASF. This was confirmed by tests done in neighboring Australia, which is less than 100 miles away by air.
Australian Pork Limited chief executive officer Margo Andrae said that the potential national economic impact of ASF reaching Australia was estimated at more than $2 billion (AUD).
“There is no cure for ASF, and millions of Australian pigs would be at risk if the disease reached our country,” she said. “That would devastate pork producers and Australian fresh pork supplies and seriously jeopardize the well-being of the 36,000 Australians employed in our industry.”
NCBA Sends Letter To Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue Urging Against CFAP Payment Limitations On Cattle Producers
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging against payment limitations for cattle producers under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane issued the following statement:
“The economic damage to cattle producers across the country continues to mount due to the COVID-19 crisis. While we are extremely grateful to Congress, USDA and the Trump Administration for their work to keep the beef supply chain moving and deliver aid to our producers, we are concerned that the distribution of CARES Act funds to cattle producers could miss the mark.
"The low payment cap of $125,000 per commodity will prevent many operations, large and small, from receiving enough assistance to soften this blow. The proposed anticipated loss payment formula for cattle will also leave many producers, including a large percentage of the cow-calf sector, out in the cold. We do not believe this was USDA’s intent, but recognize we are in uncharted territory for the cattle industry with this type of assistance. As such, we feel it is critical to continue providing feedback from our producers across the country to USDA.
"We are hopeful that USDA will move quickly to outline additional plans for the $14.4 billion also allocated to damage assistance under the CARES Act and provide assurance that producers across all segments receive equitable assistance from these critical funds.”
Peterson Urges Pence, Coronavirus Task Force to Address Challenge facing Hog Farmers
In a letter Thursday to Vice President Mike Pence, who chairs the White House Coronavirus Task Force, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson called on the Federal government to address the building stress and challenges facing the nation’s pork producers.
“Because of COVID-19, many of America’s pork producers have no access to processing and have no choice but to depopulate their herds,” wrote Peterson, calling on the Vice President to marshal a “robust Federal response to address this dire situation.”
Specifically, Peterson urged the Vice President to direct the Task Force to:
·Coordinate between all involved Federal, state, and local governments to provide urgent assistance to impacted farmers;
·Develop standards for humane euthanasia and disposal of impacted animals as well as outreach on existing financial and technical assistance resources available to producers;
·Provide flexibility to use all available state and Federal processing capacity to the maximum extent possible to minimize supply chain disruption;
·Issue Federal guidance on best practices to prevent COVID-19 transmission in plants;
·Provide access to adequate COVID-19 testing for plant workers and communities;
·Provide sufficient personal protective equipment for all plant workers and federal meat inspectors;
·Develop resources and conduct outreach to help farmers deal with added stress during this difficult time; and
·Utilize any other means at the Task Force’s disposal to support farmers, processing plant workers, and plant communities.
“Without fast action and clear coordination, this situation will only get worse, not just for pork producers but for other livestock and poultry producers as well,” Peterson added.
NCBA Ensures Cattle Producers Can Access Additional PPP Relief
NCBA Vice President, Government Affairs Ethan Lane, today released the following statement in response to final Congressional approval of the Paycheck Protection Program Increase Act.
“America’s cattle producers are working hard every day to keep feeding America, even as they face more than $13 billion in financial losses while also tending to the health of their families during this pandemic,” said Lane. “We truly appreciate the swift bipartisan passage of the PPP Increase Act, which we hope will make more aid available to cattle producers across rural America. We’re also thankful Congress explicitly authorized producer eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans and emergency grants administered by the Small Business Administration.
Extending this program to agriculture provides another critical source of financing to help preserve family farm and ranch businesses suffering in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following NCBA’s letter to USDA earlier today, members in both chambers of Congress sent a letter to President Trump, aligning with NCBA’s request that payment caps be lifted to ensure all cattle producers can access the funds that will be needed to sustain their operations through the COVID-19 crisis. The bipartisan, bicameral effort was signed by more than 150 members of the House and Senate, and urgently requests the lifting of payment caps for the agricultural industries which continue to fight hard to feed Americans despite massive economic hardships.
Lane said NCBA members are extremely thankful to members of the House and Senate who spearheaded support for the request.
“We’re very thankful to the many elected officials on both sides of the aisle who have worked together with each other and with NCBA to make sure that America’s cattle producers have what they need to keep feeding our nation during these challenging times, and we look forward to working in a bipartisan and cooperative way as we continue to move forward through this crisis.”
Feed Pigs Less Fat, More Fiber to Slow Growth
As work at meat processing plants slows during COVID-19, hog producers may want to feed pigs cheaper diets and hold them longer.
University of Missouri Extension swine nutritionist Marcia Shannon says producers can feed more fiber and less fat to slow growth.
"This is a good time to move to feeding low-energy, high-fiber diets with an adjusted lysine-to-calorie ratio and remove any growth-promoting technologies," Shannon says.
Fiber, a poor source of energy, is cheap and fills pigs up. Pigs might eat more, but the feed is cheaper than traditional mixes, she says. Fiber is the carbohydrate part of the diet that can't be digested by enzymes secreted in the pig's intestinal tract.
Shannon suggests replacing all protein and fat sources with soy hulls, wheat middling, wheat bran, corn gluten or sugar beet pulp, but probably not distillers grains because those sources are drying up as well due to lower gas prices and reduced ethanol production. Currently, most other fiber sources are easy to find in Missouri.
One drawback is that confinement pits will fill with more manure when feeding high-fiber diets. "This means confinement producers will need to monitor their manure management more closely," she says.
The goal is to increase the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of the diet to 20%. Pigs fed NDF content of 10-15% will eat more to meet their daily energy requirement. As NDF nears 20%, pigs get too full to eat, Shannon says.
Also, remove additives such as copper sulfate and extra protein packs that raise the cost of the diet. "Don't add any extra fat. Cheapen those diets up," she says.
Doing this will increase time in the finisher by as much as four to seven days. If producers remove growth promoters, they might be able to add two or three days more on top of that. The younger the pigs are, the easier it is to slow growth.
Show-pig producers have used this growth technique successfully for many years to continue to show in certain weight classes at fairs, she says.
Shannon says she does not recall anything that has closed processing plants for this length of time. Even a day's closing for an ice storm can cause a backlog in the food supply chain.
"If some of these meat processing plants stay closed for an extended period, we'll see a backlog. Some estimates are four days of backlog for every day the plant is closed," she says.
Two years ago, pork producers dealt with piglet losses from porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, another coronavirus. Unlike COVID-19, PEDV does not affect humans. However, both will have huge impacts on the swine industry through disruptions in the food supply chain.
Shannon recommends related resources at pork.org/public-health/what-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19. MU Extension also lists numerous COVID-19 resources at extension2.missouri.edu/covid-19-resources-public.
Cattle and Beef Markets
Stephen R. Koontz, Dept of Ag Economics, Colorado State University
Early in the month of March, cattle and beef markets began to price a worst-case scenario. Composite beef values rallied as retailers chased supplies. Fed cattle prices softened as animals were pulled forward from the pool of already large supplies. Wholesale margins widened considerably to the consternation of upstream and downstream market participants. But the concern was clearly about supply chain disruptions in slaughter and fabrication. Now, one month later, the market concern has clearly come to fruition. Several North American beef plants are temporarily offline or are operating at reduced speeds. The first week of April, steer and heifer slaughter were close to 550 thousand head. The prior four weeks of March slaughter was close to or above 500 thousand head per week. For the most recent week of April slaughter will likely be around 400 thousand head or lower. We will have to wait until the end of the month to see the USDA data but these are reasonable estimates given the known impacts on plant operations. Packer margin discussions are irrelevant when plants don't run.
How long will reduced beef plant operations continue? That is the next unknown the market is pricing. Boxed beef values have given back half of the late-March rally. And individual primal cut values are showing their relationship to at-home versus away-from-home consumption: end meats are strong and middle meats are weak. Fed cattle prices continue to soften and the impact of delayed marketings will weigh on the market until summer. I'll get to talk about the normal spring rally in fed and feeder cattle next year. Fed animal slaughter weights have started the seasonal decline but the inventory of long-fed cattle is climbing. The Cattle on Feed Report at the end of this week are inventories as of the first of the month and flows from last month. So, the uncertainty of pricing short-term needs and availability will be unclear for at least another month. Some certainty to the course of the CORVID-19 pandemic will be needed to mitigate this risk.
I remember the record low hog prices of 1998. We don't often consider the possibility of something like that happening again. Perhaps now is the time. And any concern that producers have about cattle and beef prices needs to consider that happened in the oil futures market on Monday and Tuesday. The May crude oil contract closed at a negative $37.63 per barrel on Monday, after trading down to a negative $40, and opened at a negative $14 on Tuesday. Apparently, there was a long position that needed to be liquidated... Regardless, the oil complex is trading below $15 in the nearby and below $30 for the rest of the year. This is not good news for the economy.
NMPF Commends Progress Towards SBA Programs Better Assisting Farmers
Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the largest U.S. dairy-farmer organization, issued the following statement in anticipation of the U.S. House of Representatives passing H.R. 266, which would replenish funding for Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs in the CARES Act:
“We appreciate Congress’s bipartisan efforts to support our nation’s small businesses and workers both with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) included in the CARES Act. Dairy producers and other farmers have not had equitable access to these important programs due to how they were rolled out, and this legislation should help improve that access.
“To ensure that dairy producers can receive the support Congress clearly intended for them to receive as small businesses, NMPF has worked with allied stakeholders, members of Congress from both parties, and administration officials to make certain that PPP and EIDLs are properly administered. NMPF thanks our champions in Congress and their staff for everything they have done to address the disadvantages farmers have faced when trying to access this needed small business support.
“In addition to providing further funding for PPP and COVID-19 EIDLs, this bill changes these programs in ways that make treatment for dairy producers more equitable. NMPF is extremely pleased that Congress makes it clear in this bill that farmers with 500 or fewer employees should be able to access COVID-19 EIDLs, removing a significant obstacle that has prevented small business support from reaching America’s farmers. On the PPP side, we are hopeful that the measure’s provisions aimed at ensuring small lenders – including community banks and credit unions – have adequate access to PPP funds will make it easier for dairy producers and others in rural areas to apply for support.
“It’s important to note that issues remain with these programs, including challenges family farms and other sole proprietors face when trying to apply for a PPP loan. NMPF will continue efforts to address remaining problems so farmers are better enabled to fulfill their critical role in helping our nation throughout this pandemic.”
New 2021 hybrids and varieties bring farmers more diversity and maximize trait choice
Golden Harvest is expanding its product portfolio for the 2021 growing season with the release of 12 new corn hybrids and 22 new soybean varieties. The diverse portfolio is bred with elite genetics to equip farmers with agronomic options for all field types, soil characteristics and weather conditions so farmers can find the products that work best for their fields.
"The 12 new Golden Harvest® corn hybrids are coupled with more industry-leading Agrisure® traits than ever before and join a strong portfolio of Golden Harvest and Enogen® corn hybrids that not only bring farmers outstanding agronomics like strong stalks and great roots, but also fit a wide variety of acres," said Drew Showalter, Syngenta strategic corn marketing manager. "We are introducing hybrids that are going to fit on highly productive acres and deliver top-end yield potential, and we're also bringing our customers hybrids better suited for moderately productive acres, in the trait version they need."
The 12 new hybrids range in relative maturity from 96 to 115 days and include:
- One hybrid with Agrisure Artesian® technology, the most advanced water optimization technology for season-long performance.
- This 104-day hybrid also contains Agrisure Viptera®, bringing two industry-leading traits together for a broad fit in the central and western Corn Belt.
- Six hybrids with the Agrisure Viptera® trait, the most comprehensive above-ground insect control and the only effective western bean cutworm control trait.
- Five hybrids with the Agrisure Duracade® trait for above-and-below ground insect protection and the best-in-class corn rootworm control.
- Nine hybrids available as E-Z Refuge® seed blend products, providing a convenient, in-bag seed blend.
The 22 new Golden Harvest soybean varieties join an industry-leading portfolio at the forefront of weed control technology. The Golden Harvest soybean portfolio offers farmers access to Enlist E3®, the newest soybean technology, as well as Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans and LibertyLink® GT27.
The varieties contain the industry's broadest choice of herbicide trait options, and their high-yielding genetics are proven performers. 2019 Farmers' Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) trial results revealed that Golden Harvest varieties took home 23 top three finishes and eight first place wins.
"We offer soybean varieties that provide farmers with consistent performance in trait choices that provide options to help crush not only weeds, but also the competition," said Stephanie Porter, Golden Harvest soybean product manager.
The 22 new varieties range in relative maturity from .05 to 5.1 and provide advanced trait technology for maximum soybean yield potential.
- 14 varieties include the new Enlist E3 trait technology with three modes of action, offering tolerance to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate and glufosinate.
- Three offer Sulfonyl-Urea Tolerant Soybeans (STS®) herbicide tolerance and may increase tolerance to ALS-inhibitors, allowing higher application rates on select herbicides.
- Six varieties include Roundup Ready 2 Xtend trait technology.
- Two varieties include the new LibertyLink GT27 trait technology.
The Golden Harvest portfolio is available from Golden Harvest Seed Advisors, who deliver high-yielding seed options combined with local agronomic knowledge. To find your local, independent Seed Advisor and gain more information on Golden Harvest corn and soybeans, visit GoldenHarvestSeeds.com.
Coalition of Farmer, Environmental, and Antitrust Groups Urges Mnuchin to Ban Large Agribusinesses from CARES Act Aid
A coalition of 68 farmer, environmental, and antitrust groups across the country sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin today, urging the U.S. Department of the Treasury to ensure that pandemic relief funds do not lead to a further consolidation of the food and agriculture industry.
The letter urges Secretary Mnuchin to instead invest stimulus funds into farming systems that lift up farmers and rural communities while providing opportunities for diverse, sustainable agriculture systems to thrive. The letter argues that the current food system under the control of a few major corporate players is unsustainable — a reality that the coronavirus pandemic has laid bare.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law late March, provides over $2 trillion in funds to help individuals and businesses weather the economic challenges stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. The package includes $9.5 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to distribute to farmers and agriculture businesses. However, Title IV of the CARES Act authorizes an unprecedented $500 billion to the U.S. Treasury Department “to make loans, loan guarantees, and other investments” to businesses, states, and municipalities.
“While farmers and advocates of rural communities are closely watching how USDA will distribute the $9.5 billion allocated through the CARES Act, little discussion or oversite is being given to this other, much larger pot of money with few strings attached,” said Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Action. “Treasury Secretary Mnuchin must make sure that money from this $500 slush fund doesn’t flow straight from the Treasury Department into the pockets of large corporations, including the food and agricultural corporations that already have a stranglehold on the market.”
“During this crisis, relief must be prioritized for the frontline workers and farmers who are the backbone of America’s food supply,” said Jason Davidson, food and agriculture campaigner with Friends of the Earth. “Consolidation in food and agriculture has already taken a toll on the security of our food system. The Trump Administration must not use Title IV funds to place more power in the hands of corporate agribusiness to wield against small farmers.”
Large agribusinesses have spent the last few decades consolidating their market power through horizontal and vertical mergers. Farmers today buy inputs from and sell into a tightly consolidated market, depressing farm income while raising prices consumers see at the grocery registers. For example, the top four beef processing firms slaughter four out of every five cattle in the U.S. Yet farm wages are stagnant, with medium farm income at negative $1,840.
The pandemic exposes the weaknesses in this tightly consolidated system and the detrimental impacts on farmers, workers, and rural communities. It is no surprise that slaughterhouses, where workers face grueling conditions in close quarters, are epicenters of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, the rise in large slaughterhouses — such as Smithfield’s Sioux Falls, SD plant, which processes 4 to 5 percent of all U.S. hogs — obliterated locally owned slaughterhouses. This means the closure of a single plant due to an outbreak in COVID-19 leaves thousands of farmers with no market in which to sell their livestock.
Nebraska corn farmers will plant 10.5 million acres of corn in 2020 according to the latest Prospective Plantings report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This is nearly a 4% increase from last year’s total planted corn acres. If these planting estimates hold up, Nebraska corn farmers will invest nearly $2.7 billion dollars into the state’s economy over a two-month period. This amount is a result of inputs, such as seed, fuel and fertilizer, but does not include land costs, labor or equipment. Despite the seemingly high investments now, the full economic impact will be realized over time.
“The total investment Nebraska corn farmers make during the planting season is substantial,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board. “This investment really sets the stage for the entire growing season. However, farmers are concerned this year. They’re experiencing difficult financial times, which is leading to much uncertainty. We’re hopeful the current economic conditions improve and the full economic impact of this year’s planted corn crop is realized.”
Farmers in Nebraska historically begin to plant their corn in mid-April and try to finish by mid-May. However, weather often dictates when farmers can plant. The latest Crop Progress report issued by the USDA (released April 20, 2020), showed Nebraska farmers are 2% completed with corn planting, which is ahead of this time last year (1%), but behind of the five-year average (5%).
Even though the corn industry is an economic booster for Nebraska, farmers face challenges in the months ahead. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently released a report highlighting revenue declines for corn farmers due to COVID-19. Based on this report and further analysis from the Nebraska Corn Board (NCB), corn prices have declined by 20% in Nebraska as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Projections show an average loss of $52 per acre in Nebraska, or nearly $512 million.
“Farming is an unpredictable business, and there’s a lot of risk involved,” said David Bruntz, chairman of NCB and farmer from Friend. “It’s necessary to invest a great deal to produce high-quality, high-yielding crops. However, there are so many unknowns, from weather fluctuations, input prices and global pandemics. Thankfully, farmers are resilient and we keep going no matter what.”
Nationally, farmers are estimated to plant nearly 97 million acres of corn in 2020, which is up 8% from last year. For more crop progress information throughout the year, follow the Nebraska Corn Board on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Ricketts Establishes Detasseling Safety Task Force
This afternoon, at his daily coronavirus briefing, Governor Pete Ricketts discussed guidelines for farmers’ markets, nurseries, and garden centers as they operate during the ongoing public health emergency. Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Steve Wellman joined the Governor at today’s briefing. He talked about safely setting up and shopping at farmers’ markets and garden centers. He also announced the formation of a Detasseling Task Force to ensure the safety of Nebraskans working in fields this summer.
Director Wellman: Farmers’ Markets and Garden Centers
• It’s springtime, which is time for farmers to plant crops and for gardeners to be out in their yards.
• Tomorrow is Arbor Day. I invite Nebraskans to take part in the great tradition—started by J. Sterling Morton—by planting a tree.
• NDA has issued guidelines for nurseries and garden centers during COVID-19: nda.nebraska.gov/COVID-19/GuidanceNurseriesGardenCenters.pdf
o The general physical distancing rules apply to these retailers.
o Nurseries and garden centers should heed state and local directed health measures.
o They should also provide extra space for customers and help to direct foot traffic.
• NDA also has guidance available for farmers’ markets: nda.nebraska.gov/COVID-19/FarmersMarketGuidance.pdf
o Vendors should not hand out samples of food.
o They should also have plentiful sanitizers available for customers.
o Customers should appropriately distance themselves from one another.
o They are also encouraged to wear masks while shopping.
o Customers should touch only what they intend to purchase.
• NDA offers coupons to WIC participants that can be used for purchases at farmers’ markets.
o Call NDA for information on accessing the coupons at 402-471-2341.
• The State is setting up a Detasseling Task Force.
o Detasselers provide a vital service to our agricultural community.
o Around 7,000 Nebraskans detassel each year.
o We want to do everything we can to protect detasselers as they prepare to work in the fields this summer.
o The task force has participation from seed companies and detasseling contractors. We’ll also be bringing growers onto the task force.
• USDA has announced a program to give $16 billion in direct aid to farmers and ranchers.
o The Farm Service Agency will administer the direct aid. Details of the program are still in development.
• USDA has also announced that it will purchase $3 billion of food to assist ag producers and food distributors.
Meat Processing Essential, Farmers, Grocers Thank Governor for Efforts to Keep Meat Processing Moving Forward
Partners at the beginning and end of the food supply chain are thanking Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts for his work with meat processors to both protect employees and help keep meat processing moving forward in Nebraska.
“This is an extremely difficult time for everyone, but the fact remains that without livestock production and meat processing, there wouldn’t be meat at the grocery store, it wouldn’t’ be available for curbside pickup or delivery from restaurants, nor would you be able to get meat at the fast food drive thru. That is reality,” said Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau president. “Our farmers are already being challenged in finding processing for market ready livestock due to slow-downs at in-state processors and plant closures in neighboring states. Widespread closure of processing plants, even for limited periods of time, could be devastating for farmers and consumers alike. We appreciate Gov. Ricketts’ ongoing efforts to work with meat processors to protect employees and to keep meat processing moving forward.
Millions of Americans, including Nebraskans, rely on meat protein. Meat processing is the critical process of harvesting livestock for conversion into the meat that ultimately is available for consumption in the form of fresh meats like hamburger, pork chops, steaks, roasts, chicken breasts, and in other forms, such as frozen and canned meats, and other meat products.
“The process of how food gets from the farm gate to the dinner plate is a delicate one that shouldn’t be taken for granted. The stability of our food supply is dependent on everyone along the supply chain being able to do their part, including the meat processing sector” said Kathy Siefken, executive director of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association. Whether it is the pepperoni and hamburger on frozen pizzas, or canned chicken and all the different fresh meats behind the counter, when you walk through a grocery store, all those products are the result of meat processing. Farmers are farming, grocery stores are open, it is imperative every step necessary to protect workers is taken to keep meat processors’ doors open. Gov. Ricketts has played a key role in trying to make that happen.”
Gov. Ricketts has worked with meat processors throughout the COVID-19 crisis, recently sharing insights as to his efforts with meat processors and representatives of meat processing employees focused on protecting employees and curbing the spread of COVID-19 in meat processing facilities.
Fortenberry Votes to Replenish Paycheck Protection Program
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) offered the following statement today after voting to replenish funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), help rural hospitals, and expand coronavirus testing.
“The Paycheck Protection Program has been a bipartisan airlift, a lifesaver for people who make things with their own two hands and take care of others under their employ,” Fortenberry said.
“As a matter of policy, it was clear from the beginning that we could run out of funds for the PPP and other disaster loan measures. We’ve reached that point. Today, I wholeheartedly supported legislation to replenish this programmatic bright spot in the trauma we have all faced,” Fortenberry added.
Bacon Votes Yes on Fourth Round of COVID-19 Legislation
Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) and his House colleagues today passed a fourth round of pandemic response legislation, that builds on the CARES Act. This legislation delivers major wins for Nebraska and accomplishes three of his top priorities. Not only does this legislation infuse $310 billion into the Payment Protection Program (PPP), it has additional funding for Community and Rural Health Centers as well as testing, and $60 billion for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) economic injury disaster loans and grants.
“With 26 million people unemployed, this package provides the much-needed relief for our Nebraska families and businesses as we work together to fight the virus and sustain our economy that was rapidly growing prior to this pandemic,” said Rep. Bacon. “For nearly two weeks, many small businesses have been waiting for the PPP to be funded after it was frozen.”
In addition to the $310 billion in increased funding to SBA’s PPP that will support small businesses and families, the bill also expands SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) eligibility to include agriculture producers. Families will also benefit from the $75 billion for reimbursements to hospitals to support the need for COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenue, enabling our medical system to better serve the community.
“I was also pleased to see that $825 million has been set aside for our community health centers who serve our rural areas and those with lower incomes,” said Rep. Bacon. “OneWorld and Charles Drew Community Health Centers in Omaha are just two examples of the impact CHC’s make in our community.”
“While I am pleased to see that these areas will be addressed, I am disappointed that my concerns about a lack of reasonable support to state, county and municipal governments was not considered,” said Rep. Bacon. “I have engaged with Congressional leaders and the administration about the need to develop workable options for our local governments to continue providing essential services such as fire and police protection.”
Rep. Bacon has been working with the League of Municipalities and local mayors to bring these concerns to the forefront.
“My staff is working to get legislation drafted to fix this problem and I hope to introduce it soon,” said Rep. Bacon. “Our municipalities are losing revenue sources and we need to help them just like we have helped small businesses, farmers and healthcare systems. This is an all-out strategy to defend not only our health, but our economy so that our country will survive.”
“In future legislation, I will work to guarantee funds are distributed to cities at no additional cost,” said Rep. Bacon. “This is money that has already been appropriated but redirected to keep our first responders and firefighters from being laid off, the very people who protect our communities. I would also like to see funding included for more non-profits because they also are fighting the pandemic head-on to protect Nebraskans by providing vital services to our communities, citizens and businesses.”
Smith Supports President Trump’s PPP, Votes for Key Funding in COVID-19 Fight
Congressman Adrian Smith released the following statement after voting to pass the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266) today. H.R. 266 replenishes funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provides additional monetary assistance for health care providers and hospitals, and expands testing for COVID-19. PPP was created by the CARES Act to keep workers on payroll at businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 500 employees which have been impacted by social distancing guidelines.
“Community banks across Nebraska’s Third District have been working hard to help their neighbors access over $3 billion from the Paycheck Protection Program already. Small businesses are the lifeblood of rural America and PPP has been critical in keeping them afloat during this pandemic. I appreciate the President’s leadership in supporting hardworking Americans in this difficult time so we can get our economy to back on track after this crisis has passed.”
President Trump is expected to sign H.R. 266 later today.
ADM to Reduce Ethanol Grind in Response to Market Conditions
Due to the challenging operating environment, ADM is currently managing ethanol production throughout its U.S. corn processing network to focus on cash flows and to divert corn grind to other products that are in higher demand, such as alcohol for hand sanitizer.
As part of this process, ADM is temporarily idling ethanol production at the company’s corn dry mill facilities in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Columbus, Nebraska. ADM notified approximately 90 employees in each facility today that they will be furloughed in the coming weeks. During the furlough, employees will continue to receive medical benefits and will be eligible to apply for state and federal unemployment benefits. They will also have the option to apply for other open positions at ADM. The anticipated length of the furlough is currently four months, but the timeframe is dependent on market conditions and could change.
ADM has also reduced the ethanol grind at its corn wet mill plants and rebalanced grind to produce more industrial alcohol for the sanitizer market and industrial starches for the containerboard market to better align production with current demand.
“These are very difficult decisions in a very challenging time, and unfortunately, the current market conditions and the low consumer demand for gasoline at this time have greatly impacted the entire ethanol industry,” said Chris Cuddy, president, Carbohydrate Solutions. “Our primary focus is the respect and care of our employees during this time, and we are doing everything we can to support them until market conditions improve and we can look at ways to restart production.”
More Ethanol Plant Closures in Iowa and Nebraska Underscore Calls for Relief
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor issued a statement following an announcement that two more plants will go offline amid the COVID-19 pandemic:
“This was the third week in a row that ethanol production hit a record-breaking low, even as stockpiles hit a new record-breaking high. The evaporation of fuel demand due to COVID-19 has been a knock-out blow to biofuel plants across the heartland, who were already fighting an uphill battle against trade barriers, regulatory threats, and a flood of foreign oil.
“Half the industry is already offline, and now two ADM plants - one in Iowa and one in Nebraska - have been added to the growing list of plants impacted. Ethanol producers represent the heart of the rural economy, and when they are forced offline, the ripple effect can be felt across the agricultural supply chain – from farmers without a market for their crops to meatpackers and ranchers that rely on local ethanol plants for animal feed and carbon dioxide.
“While a great deal of uncertainty still remains, we will continue to work with our state and congressional champions who are working to secure immediate relief that will keep this highly-skilled workforce intact so we will be ready to bounce back and fuel rural America’s economic recovery. With plans to support the oil and gas industry already underway, it’s vital that policymakers give the same consideration to biofuel workers and farmers equally impacted by disruptions to the motor fuel market.
“We urge policymakers to act swiftly. We have endured downturns before, and we will again, because there is no challenge greater than the resiliency, endurance, and ingenuity of our producers and farm partners.”
Three IANR faculty members complete LEAD21 leadership training
Three faculty members within the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently completed LEAD21 leadership training.
Loren Giesler, professor and head of the department of plant pathology; Mary Ann Johnson, professor and chair of the department of nutrition and health sciences; and Doug Zalesky, director of the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, were among the 90 graduates from across the country who comprised the 15th cohort of the program earlier this year.
LEAD21 aims to enhance the leadership skills of department heads, deans and others in leadership positions at land-grant institutions from throughout the United States. The program also allows participants to meet and share ideas and experiences with peers from wide-ranging programs and institutions nationwide.
At least one faculty member from IANR takes part in the program each year, said Rich Bischoff, IANR associate vice chancellor. The goal, Bischoff said, is to help leaders, particularly those who are relatively new to leadership roles, learn to balance their new responsibilities with their own personal and professional development.
“It’s very easy for a leader, even an experienced one, to manage his or her many tasks without looking to see what’s around the corner,” Bischoff said. “We want our new leaders to be able to create a map that allows them to see what’s 100 miles down the road, instead of just as far as the headlights will take them.”
Giesler, one of the faculty members who graduated from the program this year, said the training has proven invaluable. The training was divided into three parts, Giesler said. The first section focused on the participants as individuals and included assessments of personal strengths, weaknesses, and how each participant deals with change, among other topics. The second focused on leadership of teams, and the third focused on change within large organizations.
Giesler appreciated all components of the training but said the assessments in the first portion were particularly enlightening. “Self-awareness is probably one the greatest outcomes of these kinds of programs,” he said. “If you can manage yourself, you can effectively manage others.”
Giesler has drawn on what he learned from LEAD21 as he leads the plant pathology department through the shift to remote teaching, learning, work and research during the university’s COVID-19 response. “The challenge in leadership is to make sure you reflect back and engage tools that have been presented to you, and that you don’t just react,” he said.
Nebraska Farmers Union PAC Announces Primary Endorsements
NEBFARMPAC, the political action committee of the Nebraska Farmers Union, Nebraska’s second largest general farm organization with over 4,000 farm and ranch families announced its Primary endorsements at this time for the Legislature, State Board of Education, Public Power Districts, Natural Resource Districts, and County Commissioners.
Based on their position on family farm and ranch issues and input from county and district officers, the NEBFARMPAC Board of Directors announced the following Primary endorsements:
Public Service Commission: Crystal Rhoades, Public Service Commission District 2
Nebraska Legislature:
Julie Slama, Nebraska Legislature, LD1
Carol Blood, Nebraska Legislature LD3
Tony Vargas, Nebraska Legislature, LD7
Terrell McKinney, Nebraska Legislature, LD11
Lynne Walz, Nebraska Legislature, LD15
Sheryl Lindau, Nebraska Legislature, LD17
Dan Quick, Nebraska Legislature, LD35
State Board of Education:
Lisa Fricke in District 2
Omaha Public Power District:
Amanda Bogner, OPPD Subdivision 1
Sara Howard, OPPD, Subdivision 2
Lower Platte North NRD, Subdistrict 3: Andrew Tonnies
Lower Platte South NRD, Subdistrict 4: Edison McDonald
Lower Elkhorn NRD, Subdistrict 7: Randy Ruppert
Upper Elkhorn NRD, Subdistrict 6: Art Tanderup
Upper Elkhorn NRD, Subdistrict 7: Keith Heithoff
Lancaster County Commissioner Subdistrict 2: Christa Yoakum,
Gage County Commissioner, District 6: Don Schuller
NEBFARMPAC will make additional endorsements after the Primary Election.
NEBFARMPAC is the political action committee of the Nebraska Farmers Union, which is a non-partisan, not-for-profit general farm organization founded in 1913 with a mission to protect and enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of family farmers and ranchers and their rural communities. NeFU is the respected voice of family farm and ranch agriculture with more than 4,000 family memberships.
CASNR LAUNCHES CHANGE-MAKER SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has launched a new quick pitch scholarship competition for students who dare to dream big and do the extraordinary to address worldwide issues.
The CASNR Change-Maker Quick Pitch Competition asks current and prospective CASNR students to submit a two-minute video explaining an original, innovative way to address global issues such as food security, sustainability and water use. Two current CASNR students and eight incoming freshmen and transfer students will be awarded full-tuition scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year based on their submitted videos. Winning students will be matched with a mentor to help make their big idea a reality.
Additionally, eight $1,000 CASNR scholarships will be awarded to youth in the sixth through 11th grades.
“We want innovators, change-makers and future leaders to get their start right here in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources,” said CASNR Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss. “This competition will reward our current students who strive to tackle these big issues. At the same time, we hope to attract new students who are in search of a college experience in which they will be encouraged and expected to challenge themselves and change the world in the process.”
In Nebraska, one in four jobs is tied to agriculture and natural resources. Within CASNR, students, faculty and staff are already engaged in important work to provide food, fuel, feed and fiber to a rapidly growing world, while conserving agricultural landscapes and natural resources and maintaining quality of life for farmers and ranchers, said Mike Boehm, vice chancellor and vice president of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“Our state’s deep roots in agriculture, coupled with Nebraska’s abundant natural resources and our ingenuity and grit, make CASNR the ideal and natural epicenter for nurturing the world’s next generation of change-makers,” Boehm said. “We want to do everything we can to build on CASNR’s culture that allows students to think critically, dream big and accomplish extraordinary things.”
Current and prospective students can apply online at https://casnr.unl.edu/casnr-change-maker-competition. Videos should be no more than two minutes long and must focus on one or more of the following issues:
> Feeding the world
> Water for the future
> New energy
> Climate and the future
> Biodiversity, sustainability and the environment
> Health
> Engaging diverse communities
> Developing tomorrow’s leaders
The competition opened on April 20 and will close at noon May 15. Winners will be announced in June, and winning videos will be shared on social media. The winner whose video receives the most likes will also receive a textbook scholarship.
Complete application guidelines and more information can be found at the webpage above.
Collegiate Farm Bureau Leaders Receive Ron Hanson Scholarship
The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation awarded the Ron Hanson Collegiate Leader Scholarship to two members of Collegiate Farm Bureau at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln who are pursuing degrees from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR).
Emily Reitz and Tanner Nun, both sophomores at CASNR, received $1,500 scholarships.
“Dr. Ron Hanson, professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, established the scholarship to reward students who prioritize leadership building activities while on campus,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation. “A longtime Farm Bureau member, Dr. Hanson recognizes the power of grassroot volunteers, and he wants to encourage the next generation of leaders to step up, make their voices heard, and serve their communities. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is honored to steward this important award.”
This year’s recipients rose to the top of a strong candidate pool. Applicants were judged based on their involvement with Collegiate Farm Bureau, volunteer and leadership activities, and their goals for the future.
Reitz is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Education with a minor in Animal Science. She is involved in many volunteer organizations including Collegiate Farm Bureau, Nebraska FFA Foundation, and the Nebraska Human Resources Institute (NHRI). Reitz serves as a leadership mentor through NHRI for a seventh-grade student at a Lincoln middle school. Reitz also serves as the 2019-2020 UNL FFA Alumni Club secretary, where she works closely with fellow officers and members to help promote and advocate for Nebraska FFA and agricultural education. Upon graduation, Reitz aims to work in an agricultural education position that allows her to reach consumers of all ages to bridge the gap between consumers and agricultural producers.
Nun is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Education with plans to be an agricultural educator at a Nebraska high school. Nun volunteers as the treasurer for the UNL Collegiate Farm Bureau and is active in the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, where he serves as an Executive Officer and Philanthropy Chair. Nun is a member of the of the Nebraska Corn and Soy Ambassador program where he works alongside the Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, and other prestigious agricultural groups. His goal and purpose are to give the next generation of students opportunities to be successful in the Nebraska agricultural industry. He wants to help aid in creating a generation of passionate and driven agriculturalists to boost Nebraska agriculture, as well as the Nebraska economy as a whole.
Record High Red Meat, Beef, and Pork Production in March
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 5.00 billion pounds in March, up 13 percent from the 4.43 billion pounds produced in March 2019.
Beef production, at 2.41 billion pounds, was 14 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.92 million head, up 10 percent from March 2019. The average live weight was up 29 pounds from the previous year, at 1,368 pounds.
Veal production totaled 5.8 million pounds, slightly above March a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 43,200 head, down 6 percent from March 2019. The average live weight was up 13 pounds from last year, at 232 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.57 billion pounds, up 12 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 11.9 million head, up 11 percent from March 2019. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at 288 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 12.2 million pounds, was down 6 percent from March 2019. Sheep slaughter totaled 187,500 head, 2 percent below last year. The average live weight was 131 pounds, down 6 pounds from March a year ago.
By State (million lbs - % March '19)
Nebraska .......: 709.4 114
Iowa ..............: 806.1 112
Kansas ...........: 525.9 116
January to March 2020 commercial red meat production was 14.4 billion pounds, up 8 percent from 2019. Accumulated beef production was up 8 percent from last year, veal was down 6 percent, pork was up 9 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 5 percent.
Webinar to Focus on Iowa Water Quality Challenge and Reducing Runoff
Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar at noon on Wednesday, April 29, about the work being done in Iowa to reduce losses of agricultural nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as the progress that has been made.
What are the drivers of nutrient loss and water quality impacts in Iowa? To what extent are agricultural conservation practices being used in Iowa to address these concerns? This webinar will explore these questions, describe the wide variety of data sources available, and present findings from the forthcoming “Annual Progress Report of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.”
Laurie Nowatzke, research analyst for the water quality program and the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy at Iowa State University, will share how Iowa’s water quality efforts are tracked, the latest findings and where participants can find additional resources about these efforts.
“There are many programs and initiatives working toward reducing nutrient loss in Iowa,” said Nowatzke. “This project uses data to show the current status and outcomes of those efforts, and it aims to provide Iowans with timely information regarding water quality improvement.”
Nowatzke works for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to evaluate Iowa’s progress in meeting water quality goals, research Iowa farmers’ conservation practice adoption, and track statewide use of water quality improvement practices in agriculture.
To participate in the live webinar, shortly before noon on April 29 visit https://iastate.zoom.us/j/364284172. Or go to https://iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 364 284 172.
Or, join from a dial-in phone line by dialing +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923. The meeting identification is 364 284 172.
The webinar will also be recorded and archived on the ILF website, so that it can be watched at any time. Archived webinars are available at https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars.
A Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit has been applied for, for those who are able to participate in the live webinar. Information about how to apply to receive the credit (if approved) will be provided at the end of the live webinar.
New Study: ASF Could Cost United States $50 Billion
National Pork Board newsletter
A new study by Iowa State University economists say the economic impact of an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) on U.S. agriculture could be as much as $50 billion over 10 years. The researchers calculated the grim figure by determining that 140,000 jobs would be lost as a result of a downsized domestic pork industry devastated by uncontrolled ASF.
According to lead study author, Dermot Hayes, professor of economics and finance at Iowa State, the researchers looked at two scenarios. One assumes that the disease spreads to feral swine and that the United States is unable to eliminate the disease over the 10-year projection period (the all-years scenario). The second scenario assumes that the United States gets the disease under control and reenters export markets within two years. The immediate impact of both scenarios is a 40% to 50% reduction in domestic live hog prices, which would be needed to clear the market of surplus pork that would otherwise be exported.
In the all-years scenario, the domestic pork industry would be downsized after about five years of losses and remain at lower output levels for the remainder of the period. This would result in large employment losses. In the two-year scenario, the industry faces a period of large financial losses but is back in export markets before significant downsizing begins.
Pork industry losses would total $15 billion in the two-year scenario (green line in chart) and up to a little over $50 billion in the all-years scenario (red line). Nationwide employment losses would equal 140,000 jobs at the end of 10 years in the all-years scenario. There would be almost no job losses at the end of 10 years for the two-year scenario.
“This study underscores the need for ASF preparedness by everyone in the U.S. pork industry,” said David Newman, National Pork Board president and a pig farmer representing Arkansas. “It’s why the Pork Checkoff continues to encourage producers to participate in the voluntary Secure Pork Supply plan. It’s also why we’re continuing to collaborate with state, federal and allied-industry partners to protect our country from foreign animal diseases and to have plans in place should the worst ever happen.”
Papua New Guinea: Latest African Swine Fever Victim
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) confirmed the presence of African swine fever (ASF) in Papua New Guinea at the end of March. This latest outbreak officially put the costly disease in the geographic part of the world known as Oceania, most notably shared with Australia and New Zealand.
On the tropical island nation, more than 300 pigs had died in previous months in the Southern Highlands part of the country. As of March 30, more than 1,500 pigs had died from ASF. This was confirmed by tests done in neighboring Australia, which is less than 100 miles away by air.
Australian Pork Limited chief executive officer Margo Andrae said that the potential national economic impact of ASF reaching Australia was estimated at more than $2 billion (AUD).
“There is no cure for ASF, and millions of Australian pigs would be at risk if the disease reached our country,” she said. “That would devastate pork producers and Australian fresh pork supplies and seriously jeopardize the well-being of the 36,000 Australians employed in our industry.”
NCBA Sends Letter To Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue Urging Against CFAP Payment Limitations On Cattle Producers
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging against payment limitations for cattle producers under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane issued the following statement:
“The economic damage to cattle producers across the country continues to mount due to the COVID-19 crisis. While we are extremely grateful to Congress, USDA and the Trump Administration for their work to keep the beef supply chain moving and deliver aid to our producers, we are concerned that the distribution of CARES Act funds to cattle producers could miss the mark.
"The low payment cap of $125,000 per commodity will prevent many operations, large and small, from receiving enough assistance to soften this blow. The proposed anticipated loss payment formula for cattle will also leave many producers, including a large percentage of the cow-calf sector, out in the cold. We do not believe this was USDA’s intent, but recognize we are in uncharted territory for the cattle industry with this type of assistance. As such, we feel it is critical to continue providing feedback from our producers across the country to USDA.
"We are hopeful that USDA will move quickly to outline additional plans for the $14.4 billion also allocated to damage assistance under the CARES Act and provide assurance that producers across all segments receive equitable assistance from these critical funds.”
Peterson Urges Pence, Coronavirus Task Force to Address Challenge facing Hog Farmers
In a letter Thursday to Vice President Mike Pence, who chairs the White House Coronavirus Task Force, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson called on the Federal government to address the building stress and challenges facing the nation’s pork producers.
“Because of COVID-19, many of America’s pork producers have no access to processing and have no choice but to depopulate their herds,” wrote Peterson, calling on the Vice President to marshal a “robust Federal response to address this dire situation.”
Specifically, Peterson urged the Vice President to direct the Task Force to:
·Coordinate between all involved Federal, state, and local governments to provide urgent assistance to impacted farmers;
·Develop standards for humane euthanasia and disposal of impacted animals as well as outreach on existing financial and technical assistance resources available to producers;
·Provide flexibility to use all available state and Federal processing capacity to the maximum extent possible to minimize supply chain disruption;
·Issue Federal guidance on best practices to prevent COVID-19 transmission in plants;
·Provide access to adequate COVID-19 testing for plant workers and communities;
·Provide sufficient personal protective equipment for all plant workers and federal meat inspectors;
·Develop resources and conduct outreach to help farmers deal with added stress during this difficult time; and
·Utilize any other means at the Task Force’s disposal to support farmers, processing plant workers, and plant communities.
“Without fast action and clear coordination, this situation will only get worse, not just for pork producers but for other livestock and poultry producers as well,” Peterson added.
NCBA Ensures Cattle Producers Can Access Additional PPP Relief
NCBA Vice President, Government Affairs Ethan Lane, today released the following statement in response to final Congressional approval of the Paycheck Protection Program Increase Act.
“America’s cattle producers are working hard every day to keep feeding America, even as they face more than $13 billion in financial losses while also tending to the health of their families during this pandemic,” said Lane. “We truly appreciate the swift bipartisan passage of the PPP Increase Act, which we hope will make more aid available to cattle producers across rural America. We’re also thankful Congress explicitly authorized producer eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans and emergency grants administered by the Small Business Administration.
Extending this program to agriculture provides another critical source of financing to help preserve family farm and ranch businesses suffering in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following NCBA’s letter to USDA earlier today, members in both chambers of Congress sent a letter to President Trump, aligning with NCBA’s request that payment caps be lifted to ensure all cattle producers can access the funds that will be needed to sustain their operations through the COVID-19 crisis. The bipartisan, bicameral effort was signed by more than 150 members of the House and Senate, and urgently requests the lifting of payment caps for the agricultural industries which continue to fight hard to feed Americans despite massive economic hardships.
Lane said NCBA members are extremely thankful to members of the House and Senate who spearheaded support for the request.
“We’re very thankful to the many elected officials on both sides of the aisle who have worked together with each other and with NCBA to make sure that America’s cattle producers have what they need to keep feeding our nation during these challenging times, and we look forward to working in a bipartisan and cooperative way as we continue to move forward through this crisis.”
Feed Pigs Less Fat, More Fiber to Slow Growth
As work at meat processing plants slows during COVID-19, hog producers may want to feed pigs cheaper diets and hold them longer.
University of Missouri Extension swine nutritionist Marcia Shannon says producers can feed more fiber and less fat to slow growth.
"This is a good time to move to feeding low-energy, high-fiber diets with an adjusted lysine-to-calorie ratio and remove any growth-promoting technologies," Shannon says.
Fiber, a poor source of energy, is cheap and fills pigs up. Pigs might eat more, but the feed is cheaper than traditional mixes, she says. Fiber is the carbohydrate part of the diet that can't be digested by enzymes secreted in the pig's intestinal tract.
Shannon suggests replacing all protein and fat sources with soy hulls, wheat middling, wheat bran, corn gluten or sugar beet pulp, but probably not distillers grains because those sources are drying up as well due to lower gas prices and reduced ethanol production. Currently, most other fiber sources are easy to find in Missouri.
One drawback is that confinement pits will fill with more manure when feeding high-fiber diets. "This means confinement producers will need to monitor their manure management more closely," she says.
The goal is to increase the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of the diet to 20%. Pigs fed NDF content of 10-15% will eat more to meet their daily energy requirement. As NDF nears 20%, pigs get too full to eat, Shannon says.
Also, remove additives such as copper sulfate and extra protein packs that raise the cost of the diet. "Don't add any extra fat. Cheapen those diets up," she says.
Doing this will increase time in the finisher by as much as four to seven days. If producers remove growth promoters, they might be able to add two or three days more on top of that. The younger the pigs are, the easier it is to slow growth.
Show-pig producers have used this growth technique successfully for many years to continue to show in certain weight classes at fairs, she says.
Shannon says she does not recall anything that has closed processing plants for this length of time. Even a day's closing for an ice storm can cause a backlog in the food supply chain.
"If some of these meat processing plants stay closed for an extended period, we'll see a backlog. Some estimates are four days of backlog for every day the plant is closed," she says.
Two years ago, pork producers dealt with piglet losses from porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, another coronavirus. Unlike COVID-19, PEDV does not affect humans. However, both will have huge impacts on the swine industry through disruptions in the food supply chain.
Shannon recommends related resources at pork.org/public-health/what-you-need-to-know-about-covid-19. MU Extension also lists numerous COVID-19 resources at extension2.missouri.edu/covid-19-resources-public.
Cattle and Beef Markets
Stephen R. Koontz, Dept of Ag Economics, Colorado State University
Early in the month of March, cattle and beef markets began to price a worst-case scenario. Composite beef values rallied as retailers chased supplies. Fed cattle prices softened as animals were pulled forward from the pool of already large supplies. Wholesale margins widened considerably to the consternation of upstream and downstream market participants. But the concern was clearly about supply chain disruptions in slaughter and fabrication. Now, one month later, the market concern has clearly come to fruition. Several North American beef plants are temporarily offline or are operating at reduced speeds. The first week of April, steer and heifer slaughter were close to 550 thousand head. The prior four weeks of March slaughter was close to or above 500 thousand head per week. For the most recent week of April slaughter will likely be around 400 thousand head or lower. We will have to wait until the end of the month to see the USDA data but these are reasonable estimates given the known impacts on plant operations. Packer margin discussions are irrelevant when plants don't run.
How long will reduced beef plant operations continue? That is the next unknown the market is pricing. Boxed beef values have given back half of the late-March rally. And individual primal cut values are showing their relationship to at-home versus away-from-home consumption: end meats are strong and middle meats are weak. Fed cattle prices continue to soften and the impact of delayed marketings will weigh on the market until summer. I'll get to talk about the normal spring rally in fed and feeder cattle next year. Fed animal slaughter weights have started the seasonal decline but the inventory of long-fed cattle is climbing. The Cattle on Feed Report at the end of this week are inventories as of the first of the month and flows from last month. So, the uncertainty of pricing short-term needs and availability will be unclear for at least another month. Some certainty to the course of the CORVID-19 pandemic will be needed to mitigate this risk.
I remember the record low hog prices of 1998. We don't often consider the possibility of something like that happening again. Perhaps now is the time. And any concern that producers have about cattle and beef prices needs to consider that happened in the oil futures market on Monday and Tuesday. The May crude oil contract closed at a negative $37.63 per barrel on Monday, after trading down to a negative $40, and opened at a negative $14 on Tuesday. Apparently, there was a long position that needed to be liquidated... Regardless, the oil complex is trading below $15 in the nearby and below $30 for the rest of the year. This is not good news for the economy.
NMPF Commends Progress Towards SBA Programs Better Assisting Farmers
Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the largest U.S. dairy-farmer organization, issued the following statement in anticipation of the U.S. House of Representatives passing H.R. 266, which would replenish funding for Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs in the CARES Act:
“We appreciate Congress’s bipartisan efforts to support our nation’s small businesses and workers both with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) included in the CARES Act. Dairy producers and other farmers have not had equitable access to these important programs due to how they were rolled out, and this legislation should help improve that access.
“To ensure that dairy producers can receive the support Congress clearly intended for them to receive as small businesses, NMPF has worked with allied stakeholders, members of Congress from both parties, and administration officials to make certain that PPP and EIDLs are properly administered. NMPF thanks our champions in Congress and their staff for everything they have done to address the disadvantages farmers have faced when trying to access this needed small business support.
“In addition to providing further funding for PPP and COVID-19 EIDLs, this bill changes these programs in ways that make treatment for dairy producers more equitable. NMPF is extremely pleased that Congress makes it clear in this bill that farmers with 500 or fewer employees should be able to access COVID-19 EIDLs, removing a significant obstacle that has prevented small business support from reaching America’s farmers. On the PPP side, we are hopeful that the measure’s provisions aimed at ensuring small lenders – including community banks and credit unions – have adequate access to PPP funds will make it easier for dairy producers and others in rural areas to apply for support.
“It’s important to note that issues remain with these programs, including challenges family farms and other sole proprietors face when trying to apply for a PPP loan. NMPF will continue efforts to address remaining problems so farmers are better enabled to fulfill their critical role in helping our nation throughout this pandemic.”
New 2021 hybrids and varieties bring farmers more diversity and maximize trait choice
Golden Harvest is expanding its product portfolio for the 2021 growing season with the release of 12 new corn hybrids and 22 new soybean varieties. The diverse portfolio is bred with elite genetics to equip farmers with agronomic options for all field types, soil characteristics and weather conditions so farmers can find the products that work best for their fields.
"The 12 new Golden Harvest® corn hybrids are coupled with more industry-leading Agrisure® traits than ever before and join a strong portfolio of Golden Harvest and Enogen® corn hybrids that not only bring farmers outstanding agronomics like strong stalks and great roots, but also fit a wide variety of acres," said Drew Showalter, Syngenta strategic corn marketing manager. "We are introducing hybrids that are going to fit on highly productive acres and deliver top-end yield potential, and we're also bringing our customers hybrids better suited for moderately productive acres, in the trait version they need."
The 12 new hybrids range in relative maturity from 96 to 115 days and include:
- One hybrid with Agrisure Artesian® technology, the most advanced water optimization technology for season-long performance.
- This 104-day hybrid also contains Agrisure Viptera®, bringing two industry-leading traits together for a broad fit in the central and western Corn Belt.
- Six hybrids with the Agrisure Viptera® trait, the most comprehensive above-ground insect control and the only effective western bean cutworm control trait.
- Five hybrids with the Agrisure Duracade® trait for above-and-below ground insect protection and the best-in-class corn rootworm control.
- Nine hybrids available as E-Z Refuge® seed blend products, providing a convenient, in-bag seed blend.
The 22 new Golden Harvest soybean varieties join an industry-leading portfolio at the forefront of weed control technology. The Golden Harvest soybean portfolio offers farmers access to Enlist E3®, the newest soybean technology, as well as Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans and LibertyLink® GT27.
The varieties contain the industry's broadest choice of herbicide trait options, and their high-yielding genetics are proven performers. 2019 Farmers' Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) trial results revealed that Golden Harvest varieties took home 23 top three finishes and eight first place wins.
"We offer soybean varieties that provide farmers with consistent performance in trait choices that provide options to help crush not only weeds, but also the competition," said Stephanie Porter, Golden Harvest soybean product manager.
The 22 new varieties range in relative maturity from .05 to 5.1 and provide advanced trait technology for maximum soybean yield potential.
- 14 varieties include the new Enlist E3 trait technology with three modes of action, offering tolerance to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate and glufosinate.
- Three offer Sulfonyl-Urea Tolerant Soybeans (STS®) herbicide tolerance and may increase tolerance to ALS-inhibitors, allowing higher application rates on select herbicides.
- Six varieties include Roundup Ready 2 Xtend trait technology.
- Two varieties include the new LibertyLink GT27 trait technology.
The Golden Harvest portfolio is available from Golden Harvest Seed Advisors, who deliver high-yielding seed options combined with local agronomic knowledge. To find your local, independent Seed Advisor and gain more information on Golden Harvest corn and soybeans, visit GoldenHarvestSeeds.com.
Coalition of Farmer, Environmental, and Antitrust Groups Urges Mnuchin to Ban Large Agribusinesses from CARES Act Aid
A coalition of 68 farmer, environmental, and antitrust groups across the country sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin today, urging the U.S. Department of the Treasury to ensure that pandemic relief funds do not lead to a further consolidation of the food and agriculture industry.
The letter urges Secretary Mnuchin to instead invest stimulus funds into farming systems that lift up farmers and rural communities while providing opportunities for diverse, sustainable agriculture systems to thrive. The letter argues that the current food system under the control of a few major corporate players is unsustainable — a reality that the coronavirus pandemic has laid bare.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law late March, provides over $2 trillion in funds to help individuals and businesses weather the economic challenges stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. The package includes $9.5 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to distribute to farmers and agriculture businesses. However, Title IV of the CARES Act authorizes an unprecedented $500 billion to the U.S. Treasury Department “to make loans, loan guarantees, and other investments” to businesses, states, and municipalities.
“While farmers and advocates of rural communities are closely watching how USDA will distribute the $9.5 billion allocated through the CARES Act, little discussion or oversite is being given to this other, much larger pot of money with few strings attached,” said Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Action. “Treasury Secretary Mnuchin must make sure that money from this $500 slush fund doesn’t flow straight from the Treasury Department into the pockets of large corporations, including the food and agricultural corporations that already have a stranglehold on the market.”
“During this crisis, relief must be prioritized for the frontline workers and farmers who are the backbone of America’s food supply,” said Jason Davidson, food and agriculture campaigner with Friends of the Earth. “Consolidation in food and agriculture has already taken a toll on the security of our food system. The Trump Administration must not use Title IV funds to place more power in the hands of corporate agribusiness to wield against small farmers.”
Large agribusinesses have spent the last few decades consolidating their market power through horizontal and vertical mergers. Farmers today buy inputs from and sell into a tightly consolidated market, depressing farm income while raising prices consumers see at the grocery registers. For example, the top four beef processing firms slaughter four out of every five cattle in the U.S. Yet farm wages are stagnant, with medium farm income at negative $1,840.
The pandemic exposes the weaknesses in this tightly consolidated system and the detrimental impacts on farmers, workers, and rural communities. It is no surprise that slaughterhouses, where workers face grueling conditions in close quarters, are epicenters of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, the rise in large slaughterhouses — such as Smithfield’s Sioux Falls, SD plant, which processes 4 to 5 percent of all U.S. hogs — obliterated locally owned slaughterhouses. This means the closure of a single plant due to an outbreak in COVID-19 leaves thousands of farmers with no market in which to sell their livestock.
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