Thursday October 15 Ag News - NE Lvst Custom Rates Survey Open - CAP Webinar on PRF Ins - NC Meeting in WP - Carroll Restaurant Named Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin - Milk Production Update - and more!

Nebraska Livestock Custom Rates Survey Open Through Dec. 15

Nebraska producers and service providers who perform or pay for livestock-related custom work can help set the state’s next custom rate benchmarks by completing a survey open now through Dec. 15, 2026.

The Center for Agricultural Profitability at Nebraska conducts the survey every two years and will publish the results in early 2027. Glennis McClure, an extension farm and ranch management analyst who leads the survey and report, said it gives producers, lenders and custom operators a current reference point for what others in their part of the state are charging and paying.

“Nebraska Extension regularly fields questions on prevailing rates for livestock services, and the published ranges and averages are only as good as the number of operations that respond,” McClure said. “That makes participation from across the state’s districts important, particularly from those doing the work and those hiring it done.”

The survey is open to anyone on either side of a custom arrangement. Individual responses are anonymous and confidential. Only district and statewide ranges and averages appear in the report.

The survey is at go.unl.edu/2027CR.

Nebraska custom rates reports are available at cap.unl.edu/customrates. For more information, contact Glennis McClure at gmcclure3@unl.edu or 402-472-0661.



CAP Webinar: Making PRF Insurance Work: Risk Protection Strategies and Performance
Oct 22, 2026 12:00 PM 

Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) Insurance has become an important risk management tool for livestock producers facing increasing precipitation variability. This presentation examines how PRF insurance works, evaluates alternative coverage strategies, and analyzes historical performance across Nebraska. Using examples from Nebraska grids and recent state and national program data, the presentation provides practical insights into using PRF insurance to manage forage production risk and increase financial resilience.

Presenter: Jay Parsons, Professor, Farm and Ranch Management Specialist and Director of the Center for Agricultural Profitability

Register in the Center for Agricultural Profitability's webinar page, https://cap.unl.edu/webinars. 



Nebraska Cattlemen to Host Feedlot Council Meeting in West Point

Nebraska Cattlemen is inviting feedlot operators to a series of meetings next month to discuss industry policy, market outlooks and production issues. TaraLee Hudson, director of producer relations and engagement, says the meetings are open to current members, prospective members and former members.
 
Meetings are scheduled November 10th in West Point, November 11th in McCool Junction and November 12th at North Campus in Curtis. Meals begin at six p.m., followed by speakers.

Attendees are asked to RSVP to Hudson by October 30th. She can be reached at 402-200-9856 or email thudson@necattlemen.org.



Wasted Grain Named Iowa's Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin
    
Wasted Grain in Carroll serves Iowa's best breaded pork tenderloin this year, according to the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA). The restaurant rose to the top of 464 restaurants nominated by Iowans this spring, then beat four other finalists to win IPPA’s 2026 Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin contest, announced during National Pork Month, better known as Porktober. 

    2026 Winner: Wasted Grain, Carroll — receives $500, a plaque, and an outdoor banner 
    Runner-up: Friends Hide-A-Way, Underwood — receives $250, a plaque, and an outdoor banner  

IPPA will present the award to Wasted Grain today at noon at the restaurant,1235 Plaza Drive in Carroll. 

A hometown favorite, recreated 
This year’s winning sandwich started as a memory. Co-owner Cory Handlos remembers eating tenderloins at Darrell's Place in Hamlin, a famous diner that won IPPA's inaugural tenderloin contest in 2003. For Handlos, it set the standard. Now, more than two decades later, the tenderloin it inspired has earned the same title. 

When Handlos and his wife, Missy, opened Wasted Grain on Mother's Day 2023, he knew the tenderloin had to be on the menu, and he knew how he wanted it to taste. 

"I've traveled around the country all my life, harvesting and farming, and I know what good food is," said Handlos, whose family raises pigs near Audubon. "I wanted that here at Wasted Grain. The pork tenderloin definitely had to be on the menu." 

The Wasted Grain team worked with him to recreate the tenderloin he remembered. Within the restaurant's first year, the recipe was set. 

Tasting the pork, not just the breading 
The key to the recipe was simple: tenderize the pork once instead of twice and add a couple of extra ounces of meat. Tenderizing twice made the cutlet wide and thin, so a bite was mostly bun and breading. Wasted Grain's version is still big enough to hang off the bun, but each bite balances bun, breading, and pork. 

"Otherwise, you're tasting breading, you're not tasting the pork," Handlos said. "Appearance matters too, so it still sits out past the bun. But the main thing is tenderizing it once to get the meat in the bun." 

That balance is exactly what the judges look for, and it stood out to them. 

“A lightly golden-brown breading with a moist and very tasty pork flavor, this breaded pork tenderloin hits the spot,” said Phil Carey, a finalist judge and retired chef and culinary instructor. “A very enjoyable sandwich to eat.” 

Each tenderloin is hand-breaded in the restaurant’s small kitchen using a recipe the team keeps under wraps. For the Wasted Grain team, getting it right comes down to care and consistency, whether it’s the tenderloin or anything else they serve.  

"We'd rather put out a good product and cook it the right way," said Jordan Hunter, general manager. "If we hear something isn't right on any item on our menu, we keep working on it until it is. That's what we did with the tenderloin, and we had no idea it would lead to this." 

How the contest works 
The contest begins each spring when Iowans nominate restaurants that serve a hand-breaded or hand-battered pork tenderloin on their regular menu. Eligible restaurants must keep regular, year-round hours. Food trucks, concession stands, seasonal businesses, and caterers can't compete. This year, Iowans submitted nearly 6,000 nominations for 464 restaurants across the state. 

After nominations closed June 1, IPPA's tenderloin committee selected the top 40 restaurants, including the top five from each of IPPA's eight districts. Pork producers then visited each one undercover, scoring pork quality, flavor, appearance, and overall experience. The five highest-scoring restaurants became finalists, and a final panel of judges, including a pork producer, a chef, an industry representative, and a food influencer, visited each one to choose the winner and runner-up. 

Wasted Grain's owners didn't campaign for the title. They shared the nomination link once on Facebook and say they had no idea they'd made the top five until the phone started ringing. 

One fan is celebrating, too. Sienna Becker of Carroll nominated Wasted Grain last spring and was randomly selected from those who nominated the winning restaurant. She won IPPA's $100 nomination prize. 

Customers have already driven up to three hours to try the sandwich. If last year is any guide, the attention will keep growing: 2025 winner Hometown Heroes in Grinnell saw its tenderloin sales increase 20 times after winning. 

This year's other restaurant finalists were: 
    Landmark Grill & Grind — Williamsburg 
    Sasquatch Jacks Hideaway Barroom & Grill — Waverly 
    Tin Roost — North Liberty 

Wasted Grain joins recent winners: 
    Hometown Heroes — Grinnell (2025) 
    Dairy Sweet — Dunlap (2024) 
    Cliff's Place — Manning (2023) 
    Lid's Bar & Grill — Waukon (2022) 
    Complete list of winners and finalists since 2003 

Celebrate at Pork Fest 
Wasted Grain is turning its annual fall festival into Pork Fest on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the restaurant. The celebration includes a mechanical pig ride, inflatables, pig-themed games, and live music. 

Starting at 4 p.m., the kitchen will serve only breaded pork tenderloins with a topping bar and sides. Diners can build their tenderloin however they like. 

With Iowa leading the nation in pork production, there's no better place to celebrate this hometown favorite.  

“We’re proud to keep Iowa’s breaded pork tenderloin tradition going strong,” said Kelsey Sutter, director of marketing programs at IPPA. “But it doesn’t stop there. From restaurant favorites to quick weeknight dinners to slow-cooked classics, pork is an easy, flavorful and affordable protein for families any time of day, all year long.” 



Upper Midwest Dairy Update: Production Rises as Global Expansion Puts Pressure on Commodity Prices
Fred Hall, ISU Extension Dairy Field Specialist

Milk supplies across the upper Midwest continue to trend higher, reflecting a broader national and international growth wave. According to recent dairy market data, world milk production is expanding at its fastest pace in over a decade, driven by robust output from the United States and European exporters.

Between January and August, the world’s five largest dairy exporters—the European Union, United States, New Zealand, Argentina, and Australia—pumped out nearly 211 million metric tons of milk, a 2.9% increase compared to the first eight months of the previous year. The U.S. has contributed nearly two-thirds of this recent growth.

Locally, the recent Dairy Market News reports milk supplies across the Central region and upper Midwest are steady to slightly higher, with spot loads of milk remaining readily available. Processing facilities are actively taking in heavy contracted cream volumes, while cream multiples soften nationwide. Despite persistently low butter prices—with CME Group cash Grade AA butter closing at $1.2750—regional butter manufacturers report that churns remain active and production holds steady. Inventories of 80% butterfat remain heavy, whereas 82% butterfat stocks are notably lighter.

In regional cheese markets, milk supplies are sufficient to support steady production. However, inventories of bulk and spot cheese remain heavy, keeping the overall market tone steady to weak. Spot Class III milk traded from $1.00-under to $4.00-over class. Cheese makers highlight strong interest in mozzarella and provolone, alongside mixed domestic demand and export sales influenced by ongoing freight and diesel costs.

Overall, surging global supplies of butterfat and cheese are keeping dairy commodity prices under pressure. CME spot Cheddar blocks and international cheese prices remain roughly 17% lower than a year ago, while CME spot butter has fallen 22% over the past 12 months. Upper Midwest producers are encouraged to monitor local basis levels and processing demands closely as global trade dynamics continue to shape regional markets.



Grants Announced to Support Specialty Crop Production in Iowa

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has awarded 13 Specialty Crop Block Grants to support education and outreach, research, and market development that benefits Iowa’s specialty crop producers, including Choose Iowa members.

“Specialty crop producers are finding new ways to grow, diversify and create value right here in Iowa, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship wants to help continue that momentum,” said Secretary Naig. “These Specialty Crop Block Grants support research, education and outreach that spur innovation and help Iowa’s specialty crop producers tap into new markets. Not only do these investments strengthen our state’s agriculture-based economy, but they also provide more opportunities for consumers to buy Iowa-grown, Iowa-made and Iowa-raised food, beverage and horticultural products.”

Annual funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grants is authorized by the Farm Bill and provided through a partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). This year, Iowa received more than $435,000 through the federal grant program, and the funding will be distributed to the following grant recipients:

Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Association*
2027 Iowa Specialty Producers Conference

Iowa State University
Managing Soil pH for Iowa Specialty Crops

Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development
Alternative Farm Food Safety Assessments for Wholesale Customers

Iowa State University
Viral Threats to Iowa Apple Production: A Comprehensive Virome Survey of Malus Domestica

Iowa State University
New Shrubs for Iowa's Nursery Industry to Diversify the Landscape in the Upper Midwest

Iowa State University
Optimizing Fermentation of Iowa Specialty Fruits to Expand Value-added Opportunities

Practical Farmers of Iowa*
Cover Crops for Weed Suppression in Specialty Crop Systems

Iowa Wine Growers Association
Iowa Wine Growers Association Annual Conference

Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
The Buzz About Bees: Pollinators and Specialty Crop Connections

Lutheran Services in Iowa*
Expanding Iowa's Access to Naturally Grown Vegetables and Farmer Market Opportunities

Iowa State University
Effects of Pre-harvest Conditioning on Sod Establishment under Deficit Irrigation

Iowa State University
Supporting Producers in Navigating Loans, Grants, and Funding Opportunities: Cultivating Capital, Train the Trainer and Producer Trainings

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Choose Iowa Grown Specialty Crop Products Campaign to Increase Consumer Awareness and Consumption of Local Iowa Agricultural Products



Dept. of Energy’s New 45Z Process Recognizes Biofuel Plant Innovation

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a new process for fuel producers to petition for an individual evaluation of their fuel production pathways when they are not covered by existing default carbon intensity (CI) rate tables. Because a plant’s CI score directly impacts its potential 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit, the process creates an opportunity for producers to demonstrate how investments and innovations at their facilities are improving efficiencies and lowering CI scores.

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw issued the following statement:

“One size does not fit all. Today’s action by the DOE is good news for biofuel producers. While default values are a good starting point, they don’t tell the whole story. IRFA members are constantly innovating and investing in ways to lower their CI scores. Individual plants need an opportunity to demonstrate the improvements happening inside their plants and have that innovation rewarded.”



FFAR Research Explores New World Screwworm Vaccine 

To address the ongoing threats from New World screwworm, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and Medgene are investing $499,996 in a Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to develop and test a vaccine that could help protect cattle from this harmful parasite.

Why it matters: New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of livestock, wildlife, pets and humans. Infestations can be severe and potentially fatal. Female flies can lay up to 400 eggs at a single site, and with a life cycle of about 15 days, the parasite can spread rapidly without effective controls.

“New World screwworm infestations can rapidly cause severe tissue damage and can be fatal within seven to 14 days if left untreated. The parasite threatens more than $100 billion in U.S. economic activity tied to the cattle and livestock industry alone,” said Dr. Jasmine Bruno, FFAR scientific program director. “We urgently need multiple tools to protect cattle and other vulnerable livestock. A vaccine could provide a critical additional layer of protection while complementing existing control efforts.”

The research: Led by Dr. Casey Wright, bacteriology development manager at Medgene, researchers are developing a vaccine that targets proteins New World screwworm larvae need to feed and develop. The goal is to trigger antibodies in vaccinated cattle that interfere with the larvae’s ability to feed on tissue and complete their life cycle.

Using Medgene’s scalable vaccine production platform, the team is vaccinating cattle, assessing safety and measuring their immune response to determine whether the vaccine should advance to field studies.

“This project is another great opportunity for Medgene to partner with FFAR and demonstrate how our platform technology can be leveraged to rapidly support the U.S. livestock industry with emerging threats,” said Dr. Wright. “With this project, we are excited to help veterinarians in the fight against New World Screwworm, just as we have done with other parasites.”

The potential: If successful, the vaccine could give producers another tool to protect cattle and limit New World screwworm’s spread. A vaccine could be particularly valuable in extensive production systems, where livestock are dispersed across large areas and frequent monitoring and treatment can be challenging. The approach would complement the sterile insect release program and other control measures by preventing larvae from successfully feeding and developing in cattle.

This research supports U.S. Department of Agriculture's research priority on Protecting the Integrity of American Agriculture from Invasive Species.

FFAR’s ROAR program rapidly funds research and outreach in response to emerging or unanticipated threats to the U.S. food supply or agricultural systems.



USDA Launches Export Grain Inspection Dashboard 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) Wednesday announced the launch of the Export Inspection and Weighing Dashboard, a new public facing visualization tool that modernizes how official U.S. export grain inspection volumes are reported to industry and the public.

FGIS currently publishes weekly export and weighing data through static reports posted to the AMS website. The new dashboard provides producers, grain handlers, exporters and other industry stakeholders with an easy-to-use, graphical interface that simplifies complex export grain inspection data, offering clearer insight into export pace, seasonality, regional performance and international market reach.

With this new tool, users can access:
    Interactive visualizations of weekly export grain inspection and weighing volumes
    Filtered views for calendar year, market year, grain type, and destination
    Year-over-year comparisons and multi-year trend analysis
    Quantity of export grain inspected and from which individual export port regions
    An intuitive global view of the U.S. grain export landscape

By presenting export grain inspection data in a clear, accessible and visually compelling format, the Export Grain Inspection Dashboard will improve decision-making for farmers, exporters, grain handlers, trade associations and policy partners. Publication of this dashboard aligns with USDA wide modernization goals and supports FGIS’s mission of providing transparent, reliable export reporting for the U.S. grain industry.



Education is a Cornerstone at CattleCon 2027
 
The cattle industry is constantly changing and the future rewards those who prepare. Stay ahead of market and industry shifts by attending CattleCon 2027, in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Feb. 2-4, with business meetings beginning Feb. 1. Education remains a cornerstone of the largest cattle industry event of the year, and CattleCon 2027 has a lot to offer.

“Invest in your future by attending CattleCon 2027,” said Gene Copenhaver, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president. “Industry experts offer valuable insights that you can apply to your business, and the variety of education sessions provides you with practical information you can use to get ahead of what’s next.”

For more than 30 years Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis, has provided cattle producers with valuable information to help improve their herds and businesses. This premier educational experience is open to all CattleCon 2027 attendees.

Cattlemen’s College educational sessions and live animal handling demonstrations cover a variety of important topics including business management, emerging trends, grazing, nutrition, herd health, succession planning, genetics and reproduction. Leading experts including Don Close, Terrain; Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University; Shannon Ferrell, Oklahoma State University; Troy Rowan, University of Tennessee; Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, CSU AgNext; and George Perry, Texas A&M University, among others, will share information that producers can use to make management decisions.

Carey Lohrenz, the first female F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot in the U.S. Navy, will headline the Cattlemen’s College general session on Wednesday, Feb. 3. The aviator and author will share her fascinating experiences operating in one of the world’s most challenging environments – an aircraft carrier.

Cattlemen’s College classroom sessions will be recorded and available for registered attendees to watch when they return home. Participants also have the opportunity to attend an in-person Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training and become certified. A new addition to the Demonstration Arena is a trailer where attendees can watch loading and transportation BQA principles in action.

In addition to Cattlemen’s College, there are numerous educational opportunities available on the NCBA Trade Show floor. Cattle Chats features 20-minute beef industry educational sessions. Attendees can also stop in the Learning Lounge to enjoy informal, face-to-face talks. A new trade show feature, Corral Conversations, takes learning to the next level during in-depth discussions with industry experts. The Marquee Stage also returns featuring a variety of speakers tackling topics such as reproductive technologies, vaccination programs, ag lending and crop protection.

Following CattleCon, the educational opportunities continue with a Grazing Management Workshop & Tour and Agricultural Tour on Friday, Feb. 5 available for an additional fee. These on-farm tours provide unique hands-on experiences for participants.

Cattle producers attending Cattlemen’s College are eligible for the Rancher Resilience Grant, which provides reimbursement for one full registration. For more information and to apply, visit www.ncba.org/producers/rancher-resilience-grant.

Stay ahead of what’s next and register today for CattleCon 2027 at https://convention.ncba.org/. 



Greeneye Technology Establishes North American Headquarters in Salina, Kansas Following Record 2026 Season

Greeneye Technology, a global leader in AI-powered targeted spraying technology, today announced it is establishing its North American headquarters in Salina, Kansas. The investment follows a 2026 season of expanded commercial use: Greeneye-equipped machines have sprayed more than 500,000 acres across 12 U.S. states with a weed detection accuracy rate of over 98%. Use of the system’s unique dual-line design achieved an average non-residual herbicide savings of 81%, saving an estimated six million gallons of chemical across field operations.

Greeneye’s 2026 season also marked significant progress in crop compatibility and strategic relationships. The Greeneye system now supports eight crop types: corn, soybeans, cotton, edible beans, wheat, barley, triticale, and sorghum—with oats, sugar beets, peanuts, and canola slated for introduction in 2027. The company also expanded its channel sales network, announcing the addition of new dealer partners, with more to follow in the coming months.

“Growers are seeing targeted spraying deliver measurable results on their fields,” said Nadav Bocher, CEO and Co-Founder of Greeneye Technology. “The conversation has shifted. More growers are asking how they can add targeted spraying to their operations, rather than if they should. The momentum we saw in our 2026 season shows why this is the right time to expand our North American presence and build the infrastructure to support the next stage of growth.”

The Salina headquarters will increase Greeneye’s capacity to serve its growing North American customer base, expand its team, and advance its technical roadmap. The company selected Salina for its location near growers in the agricultural heartland, access to land for product development testing, transportation routes, and proximity to university talent. The decision was supported by a broad coalition of civic, economic development, and business leaders who worked together to showcase the region as a place where the company could build, hire, and scale for the long term.

“Salina puts us close to the growers and agricultural communities we serve, with the space and connections to keep building,” said Keith Crow, General Manager for North America at Greeneye Technology. “We’re excited to grow our team here and explore opportunities to work with Kansas State University and the wider academic community. This headquarters gives us the ideal base for supporting customers and continuing to improve our technology portfolio.”

Greeneye’s AI-powered targeted spraying system uses computer vision and machine learning to instantly identify weeds and apply non-residual herbicide only where needed. Its dual-tank, dual-line configuration allows operators to broadcast residual herbicides while targeting non-residual herbicides in the same pass. The technology can be installed on existing commercial sprayers, giving growers an opportunity to adopt targeted spraying without replacing their equipment.

“We’re excited to welcome Greeneye Technology to Salina’s business community,” said Mitch Robinson, Executive Director of the Salina Economic Development Organization. “Greeneye is bringing proven advanced agricultural technology to a community that understands both farming and the work required to build and support equipment at scale. We look forward to helping the company grow its team and connections here.”

“Kansas is the heart of American farming and a crossroads for agricultural innovation and growth,” said Mike Beam, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture. “Greeneye’s decision to establish its North American headquarters in Salina brings new opportunities for collaboration while helping growers put practical technology to work in their fields.”

The company plans to begin hiring immediately, with an official ribbon cutting ceremony and opportunity to visit the facility slated for early next year. 

Wednesday October 14 Ag News - Weekly Crop Progress Info - CVA Returns $5.4M+ Thru Equity Redemptions - EPA Proposal for RVO Reallocation - Cover Crop, Manure Mgt Workshop in LeMars - and more!

Nebraska Crop Progress: Harvest Gains Momentum, Still Behind Average

After weeks of wet weather, Nebraska producers made significant harvest progress with 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Oct. 11. However, soybean harvest remains well behind its usual pace, and corn harvest is also trailing normal. Winter wheat planting is nearing completion at 81%, only slightly behind the five-year average.

Topsoil moisture supplies rated 7% very short, 18% short, 59% adequate and 16% surplus, while subsoil moisture rated 12% very short, 22% short, 55% adequate and 11% surplus.

Field Crops Report

Corn
    Mature: 91% — equal to the five-year average.
    Harvested: 27% — behind the five-year average of 35%.
    Condition: 5% very poor, 15% poor, 32% fair, 36% good and 12% excellent.

Soybean
    Dropping leaves: 95% — behind the five-year average of 97%.
    Harvested: 26% — behind 55% for the five-year average.
    Condition: 3% very poor, 11% poor, 31% fair, 42% good and 13% excellent.

Winter Wheat
    Planted: 81% — behind 85% for the five-year average.
    Emerged: 48% — behind 59% for the five-year average.

Sorghum
    Mature: 77% — behind 84% for the five-year average.
    Harvested: 17% — behind 30% for the five-year average.
    Condition: 6% very poor, 15% poor, 37% fair, 37% good and 5% excellent.

Pasture and Range 
    Condition: 26% very poor, 21% poor, 28% fair, 24% good and 1% excellent.

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

Editor’s note: Year-ago comparisons are unavailable because USDA NASS did not release Crop Progress reports during this period in 2025 due to a lapse in federal funding.




Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report

There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Oct. 11, 2026. Topsoil moisture condition rated 5 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 6 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus. 

Ninety-five percent of corn has reached maturity, which is on par with the five-year average. Fourteen percent of corn has been harvested, which is 20 percentage points behind the five-year average. Corn condition rated 71 percent good to excellent. 

Ninety-four percent of soybeans are dropping leaves, which is 2 percentage points behind the five-year average. Thirty-one percent of soybeans have been harvested, which is 28 percentage points behind the five-year average. Soybean condition rated 69 percent good to excellent. 

Pasture condition rated 72 percent good to excellent.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report

A week of dry weather helped farmers advance corn and soybean harvests, though both remained slightly behind the five-year average, according to USDA NASS's weekly Crop Progress report released Tuesday. The report, which is normally released on Mondays, was delayed this week due to the Columbus Day holiday.

CORN
-- Crop development: Corn mature was pegged at 91%, steady with the five-year average.
-- Harvest progress: NASS estimated that 33% of corn had been harvested nationally as of Oct. 11, 6 percentage points behind the five-year average of 39%. 
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 56% of the crop remaining in fields was in good-to-excellent condition, 2 percentage points higher than the previous week's 54%. Seventeen percent of the crop was rated very poor to poor, 1 percentage point below the previous week's 18%.

SOYBEANS
-- Crop development: Soybeans dropping leaves were pegged at 92%, 2 percentage points behind the five-year average of 94%.
-- Harvest progress: NASS estimated that 46% of soybeans had been harvested as of Sunday, 4 percentage points behind the five-year average of 50%. 
-- Crop condition: NASS estimated that 57% of soybeans were in good-to-excellent condition, steady with the previous week.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Planting progress: Winter wheat planting was estimated at 51% complete nationally, 7 percentage points behind the five-year average of 58%. 
-- Crop development: Winter wheat emerged was estimated at 27%, 5 percentage points behind the five-year average 32%.



CVA Returns $5.47 Million to Member-Owner Through Equity Redemptions

The Central Valley Ag (CVA) is returning $5.47 million to patrons through revolving and age-based equity redemptions approved by the CVA Board of Directors.

The total includes $4.17 million in revolving equity redemptions for equity earned in 2014 and approximately $1.3 million in age-based equity redemptions to eligible patrons.

“Returning equity is an important part of delivering value to our member-owners and recognizing their continued investment in the cooperative,” said Nic McCarthy, CVA president and CEO. “Their support allows CVA to continue investing in the cooperative while returning value when our financial performance allows.”

As an owner of CVA, a member’s business is returned in the form of cash patronage or reinvested into the cooperative as equity. That equity is then used to strengthen and improve the cooperative’s ability to serve its members. When the cooperative performs well, the board may vote to issue revolving equity redemptions, providing cash back as a return on the member’s investment in the cooperative.

Age-based equity provides another opportunity for CVA to return value to eligible patrons. The $1.3 million in age-based equity included in this redemption is qualified and non-taxable.

“As a cooperative, our strength comes from the members we serve,” said Luke Carlson, CVA board chairman. “These redemptions are another way we can recognize that support while continuing to build a strong cooperative for the future.”

Revolving equity may be qualified or non-qualified, which will be indicated on the check stub. Qualified revolving equity will be nontaxable in the 2026 tax year, while non-qualified equity will be taxable.

When combined with expected patronage for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2026, which is set to be paid in November 2026, CVA will continue to return significant value to its patrons. Investments made on behalf of members, along with their continued utilization, help strengthen the cooperative and its ability to serve member-owners into the future.



HUSKER RESEARCHERS EXPLORE HIDDEN NITROGEN, NEW WAYS TO REDUCE GROUNDWATER RISK
(updated with correct funding amount)

A University of Nebraska–Lincoln research team has received a three-year, $496,722 National Science Foundation grant to investigate an understudied reservoir of organic nitrogen that may shape groundwater quality long after nitrogen management strategies are in place. A separate five-year, $570,000-plus award from the Nebraska Corn Board will help the researchers evaluate approaches that may proactively reduce nitrate risk before it reaches groundwater.

Clean groundwater is vital to drinking water supplies, agriculture and rural communities, but nitrogen contamination remains a persistent challenge. About four out of five Nebraskans drink groundwater. Much of it sits beneath some of the most productive agricultural land in the world. Nitrogen fertilizer is a critical crop nutrient; however, when it leaves the root zone, it becomes a loss to the farmer and a concern for drinking water.

The puzzling part is what happens when nitrogen management practices are improved. Nitrate levels in some Nebraska wells continue to rise, even years after modern nutrient strategies to reduce excess nitrogen use have been implemented. A research team based at the Nebraska Water Center thinks the explanation lies in historical nitrogen stores buried in the deep vadose zone between the surface and the water table. The two new awards will support collaborative efforts to better understand these underground processes and evaluate proactive solutions.

Nebraska Water Center researchers have studied the vadose zone for four decades to understand how nutrients, including nitrogen, move from the land surface to the groundwater. The vadose zone is a critical region for the storage, transport and transformation of chemicals that can affect groundwater quality.

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient present in many forms and is applied as a fertilizer to crops like corn. While these plants take up the nutrients they need, any remaining nitrogen can convert into mobile nitrate. However, the process of particular interest to the Husker research team is if this mobile nitrate may react with soil carbon through microbes to become bound as organic nitrogen in the deeper soil layers. This reaction could potentially act as a slow-release reservoir that gradually breaks down and generates new nitrate years later in the deep vadose zone, moving toward the groundwater.

Nebraska Water Center researchers have found that organic nitrogen accounts for a large majority of total nitrogen stored in Nebraska’s deep vadose zone. While most studies of that underground nitrogen reservoir measure nitrate, the research team measures everything else, too.

“Most of the nitrogen down there isn’t nitrate at all,” said Arindam Malakar, assistant research professor at the Nebraska Water Center and the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, who leads the new project and is part of the School of Natural Resources. “It’s organic nitrogen, locked in forms nobody has been counting. It can break down slowly and may keep making new nitrate long after the fertilizer is gone.”

In conjunction with the NSF funding, the research team is also investigating a novel nitrate remediation approach currently under development. The goal is reducing the amount of nitrate in the vadose zone that becomes a groundwater contaminant, entering drinking water sources and creating challenges for communities and well owners. The Nebraska Corn Board, through corn checkoff funds, has supported the project “Remediation of Nitrate Plume Within the Vadose Zone, Being Proactive to Protect Groundwater Quality,” with more than $570,000 across five years, subject to the board's annual proposal review and approval.

“The primary reason we want to do it is to reduce the cost of treating water,” Malakar said.

Rather than treating water after it reaches the aquifer, the work focuses on nitrate while it is still held in the vadose zone above the water table, which is expected to be more efficient and economical. Preliminary estimates suggest the approach could be less expensive than current water treatment processes that cities and communities use to treat groundwater to safe levels for drinking water.

Initial controlled laboratory studies have shown promising results. Researchers will next evaluate the approach across soil conditions representative of different landscapes across Nebraska and assess effectiveness, repeatability, environmental safety, feasibility and regulatory considerations before any potential field deployment.

Malakar said the appeal of the approach is timing.

“By the time you see nitrate in a well, the decision that put it there was made a long time ago,” he said. “Once it’s in the aquifer, you’re paying to take it back out.”

Malakar envisions a future where the technology is deployed across Nebraska, reducing the amount of nitrate in the vadose zone that becomes a contaminant in the groundwater. That is several years out and contingent on results at every stage, from laboratory experiments to controlled field testing. But if it works, the project’s success could reduce the treatment burden on communities that rely on groundwater.

To meet the research team and learn more about its vadose zone research, visit https://go.unl.edu/vadosestory.



Cover Crop and Manure Management Field Day To Be Held in Le Mars Nov. 3

Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and manure management field day as part of their “Beyond the Basics: Advanced Cover Crop Series” in Le Mars on Tuesday, Nov. 3, from noon to 2 p.m. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost and includes a complimentary meal.

“Cover crops play a key role in ensuring healthy land and water resources in our state. Although livestock manure can add another moving piece, it also offers an opportunity to diversify nutrient sources needed for crop production,” said Mitch Harting, water outreach specialist with Iowa Learning Farms. “This field day will offer more insights into how cover crops and manure can be used together to maximize their benefits.”

The field day will feature Leah Ten Napel, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, who will share the important role cover crops play on the landscape and how they can be integrated into a corn-soybean system. Daniel Andersen, associate professor and extension manure management specialist with Iowa State, will discuss how manure can be integrated into systems with living cover. The field day will also feature Tony Schroeder, local farmer and Plymouth County Soil and Water Conservation District commissioner, who will share about his experiences using cover crops and manure on his farm.

The field day will begin at the upper level of the Le Mars Convention Center, located at 275 12th St SE, Le Mars. It will continue at the Tony Schroeder Farm, located on the corner of K64 and 230th St. 

The event is open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Harting at 515-294-8912 or ilf@iastate.edu by Oct. 27. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for Iowa State Prairie Strips honey.

Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information, visit Iowa Learning Farms website https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/.  



ISA Welcomes EPA Proposal for Full Biofuel Reallocation

The Iowa Soybean Association Tuesday welcomes the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to fully reallocate renewable fuel volumes lost to 2025 small refinery exemptions under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard. Protecting the historic renewable fuel volumes established in the 2026-2027 Renewable Volume Obligation rule is critical to sustaining domestic biofuel demand and supporting Iowa soybean farmers as they navigate ongoing economic pressures and seek stronger markets for their crops.

“We thank Administrator Zeldin and the Trump administration for signaling their commitment to farmers by proposing to restore 100% of biofuel demand lost to 2025 small refinery exemptions,” said Lee Brooke, ISA president and soybean farmer from Clarinda. “Iowa farmers are navigating a challenging farm economy while bringing in this year’s crop. This proposal offers the potential for greater certainty and much-needed domestic demand for soybeans if finalized later this year. We’re encouraged by this step forward and urge the EPA to finalize the rule swiftly to help provide the market certainty farmers need.”



Iowa Corn Growers Welcome EPA Proposed  Ethanol Rule

The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) thanks the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Trump Administration, and our champions in Congress for their support of Iowa’s corn farmers and the biofuels industry. Yesterday, Iowa Corn leaders met with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to ask for reallocation so biofuel demand would not be harmed.  Iowa Corn has worked for years pointing out to current and past administrations the negative impact of small refinery waivers.  Iowa Corn first pointed this out in a White House meeting in 2019 that small refinery waivers should be reallocated, so no harm is done to corn growers.  With a long road behind us, today, Administrator Zeldin announced a proposed rule that would reallocate 100 percent of the 2025 waived small refinery exemption volumes to the renewable fuel volume requirements.

ICGA President Steve Kuiper a farmer from Knoxville issued the following statement: “Iowa’s corn farmers welcome the EPA’s proposals to provide reliable opportunities for market access. As farmers harvest, we prove year after year that we can deliver a bountiful crop. The Trump Administration and EPA are sending a strong market signal that energy independence matters, while supporting farmers and biofuels producers.”

Iowa Corn requested that EPA finalize a proposed rule streamlining regulations around ethanol including E15 usage in existing infrastructure and supporting opening new markets in the marine industry such as maritime fuel.  Iowa Corn appreciates EPA Administrator Zeldin’s time he took to visit with Iowa farmers. 



IRFA Applauds EPA Draft Rule to Fully Reallocate Lost RFS Volumes From Refinery Exemptions

Tuesday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin released a draft rule that fully reallocates volumes lost due to refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), marking an important first step toward ensuring the integrity of the RFS providing greater certainty for farmers and biofuel producers.

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw issued the following statement:

“Biofuels producers and farmers will sleep easier tonight knowing that the draft reallocation rule is moving quickly towards finalization. Today is a great first step, and we thank Administrator Zeldin and the EPA for sending a strong signal to farmers and biofuels producers that these gallons matter. Fully reallocating the lost gallons will ensure the robust 2026-2027 RFS blending levels remain intact, thereby supporting Iowa’s biofuels plants and providing the market certainty our industry needs to keep growing. We appreciate EPA’s action and look forward to submitting comments during the process. We hope the rule can be finalized expeditiously.”



ASA Backs EPA Proposal for Full Biofuel Reallocation

The American Soybean Association welcomes the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to fully reallocate renewable fuel volumes lost to 2025 small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Maintaining the historic renewable fuel volumes established in the 2026-2027 Renewable Volume Obligation rule is a priority for ASA as soybean farmers work to protect domestic biofuel demand amid continued economic pressures.

“ASA applauds Administrator Zeldin and the Trump Administration for keeping their commitment to farmers and proposing to restore 100% of biofuel volume impacted by 2025 small refinery exemption actions,” said ASA Vice President Dave Walton, an Iowa soybean farmer. “Soybean farmers are navigating a tough farm economy, and the administration’s strong domestic biofuel policies will continue to drive much-needed market demand in the U.S. We are encouraged by today’s proposal and urge EPA to get it across the finish line quickly.”

ASA urges EPA to finalize this supplemental rulemaking to reallocate biofuel volumes as quickly as possible.



Corn Farmers Thank EPA for Reallocation Announcement

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Tuesday that it is proposing to reallocate 100% of the difference between projected and actual exempted gallons lost to small refinery exemptions in the 2025 renewable volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard. In response to this development, Matt Frostic, Michigan corn farmer and NCGA president, released the following statement: 

"We are pleased to see that the administration has kept its pledge to protect farmers and biofuel producers while administering this critical program, and we appreciate that biofuel producers will be kept whole with the reallocation of all waived volumes.  

“Biofuels provide essential energy supplies for our nation, and corn farmers are proud to contribute to our nation’s energy security. We hope that the Renewable Fuel Standard and the small refinery exemption program are managed with certainty in the years to come."  

NCGA will submit comments to EPA ahead of the December 4 deadline. 



Stagnant Cutout Values
David Anderson, Extension Specialist – Texas A&M University

While cattle prices have declined sharply since July, the Choice boxed beef cutout value has seen little movement. The cutout value represents the value of the seven primal beef cuts in the proper proportion of the carcass. Cutout values are often used as a good representation of the wholesale value of the beef carcass. 

The Choice cutout declined from $397 per cwt the week before the July 4th holiday to $363 per cwt by the first week of August. Declining cutout values in the weeks following Independence Day are the normal seasonal price pattern. Cutout values tend to increase leading up to Labor Day, and they did this year, climbing back to a weekly average of $388 by late August, although the expected Labor Day price rally was muted. The Choice cutout has since remained in a range between $374 and $379. While the cutout remains at historically high levels, it has been below last year’s Labor Day surge. So, comparing to last year’s price levels is a bit misleading in that last September’s $413 per cwt price peak was a record high, except for two weeks in May 2020 when COVID shut packing plants. 

Among the primal cut values that make up the cutout, the primal rib is the only one climbing in value and hitting new highs for the year. The Choice Primal Rib value hit $667 for the week of October 2nd. The rib normally increases seasonally up to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Wholesale ribeyes appear to be starting their pre-holiday run, with wholesale prices increasing almost $200 per cwt in the last 4 weeks to $1665 per cwt. 

Most of the rest of the primal cuts, round, brisket, plate, and flank, have been declining in value as they often do seasonally. The decline in the primal flank value has been especially striking, down 27 percent compared to a year ago and 36 percent lower than its peak in June. Flank values normally decline into fall, but this year’s decline has been much larger than normal. Primal chucks have averaged about $330 per cwt since early 2026. 

Where to From Here?
The Choice beef cutout tends to decline slightly in the fall. Beef production normally increases, and changing consumer purchases result in lower prices. This fall, continued tight beef supplies should keep the overall cutout value historically high. Given the normal seasonal pattern, it is difficult to see sharply higher cutout values boosting cattle prices.  

Tuesday October 13 Ag News - Nebraska Net Farm Income Jumps 34% in '25 - CLAAS Opens Omaha R&D Center - SIRE Acquires Ord Ethanol Plant - IA Butchery Grants Available - Nominate for NCBA Environmental Stewarship Awards - and more!

Net Farm Income Leaps 
NeFB Economic Tidbits newsletter

Livestock receipts and federal government payments underpinned a leap in Nebraska net farm income last year. The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) estimates nominal (non-inflation adjusted) net farm income in Nebraska was $8.12 billion in 2025, a 34% increase over the prior year. It was the third time income exceeded $8 billion, and the third-highest in history in nominal terms. The record is $9.3 billion, hit in 2023. Among states, real (inflation-adjusted) net farm income was highest in California at $26 billion, followed by Texas at $15 billion, Iowa at $10 billion, and Nebraska. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the four states accounted for more than 30% of the nation’s net farm income. The ERS pegged national net farm income at $238 billion, up just over 1% from 2024.  

Nebraska’s total value of agriculture production last year was estimated at almost $38 billion, a record, rising almost 12% from 2024. Driving the rise were meat animal receipts, up 14%, and poultry and egg receipts, up 37%. Crop receipts were down 3%. Government payments also saw a marked increase, up almost $1 billion. Not surprisingly, expenses were higher too, up 11%. The largest increases were seen in livestock purchases, pesticides, and machinery hire and custom work.  

Last year continued a pattern of sizable annual swings in income since at least 2010 (Figure 2). The average percentage change over the 15-year period in absolute terms was 39%, meaning that farmers must manage for significant year-to-year fluctuations in income. Weather, global events, politics, and international competition all contribute to the volatility which confronts farmers in all phases of their operations — production, marketing, purchasing inputs, and financial management. The volatility only adds to the complexity of managing farms and ranches in today’s agriculture.  

The ERS’s September forecast predicted U.S. net farm income for this year would rise 2%. Again, positive returns for livestock producers and federal government assistance are expected to fuel the rise. Just last week, the USDA announced it will distribute $13.8 billion in federal farm payments this fall. Forecasts by economists at the Universities of Nebraska and Missouri last spring projected Nebraska net farm income could exceed $9 billion this year. Updated estimates, though, should be forthcoming this fall. The livestock sector and government payments will continue to support higher income, but positive returns for crop producers will be a challenge.   



CLAAS Opens New Research & Development Center in Omaha

CLAAS officially opened its new Research & Development Center in Omaha, Nebraska last week, marking another significant investment in the company’s long-term commitment to farmers across the United States and Canada. The new facility expands CLAAS’ ability to develop, test and refine agricultural technology specifically for North American farming conditions.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen joined CLAAS employees, community leaders, and other guests for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 8.
 
“This ribbon cutting underscores CLAAS’ confidence in Omaha as a hub for innovation serving North American agriculture," said Jan-Hendrik Mohr, CEO, CLAAS Group. “The new R&D Center brings together local expertise, customer insights and CLAAS engineering capabilities, enabling us to develop agricultural machinery tailored specifically to North American farming. It is a key element of our multi-year, $100 million investment and growth strategy for North America. By combining these strengths in Omaha, we will develop the next generation of high-performance agricultural technology.”

Located on the growing CLAAS Omaha campus — home to the company’s North American headquarters, LEXION combine assembly plant and CLAAS Training Academy, where dealers, employees and future agricultural professionals are trained and developed — the new R&D Center reinforces CLAAS’ long-standing commitment to the region.

“We are delighted that CLAAS continues to invest in its Omaha campus and in Nebraska,” said Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new CLAAS R&D Center. “For more than 25 years, CLAAS has been an important employer in our region. This investment strengthens our economy, creates high-quality opportunities for skilled workers and reinforces Nebraska’s strong connection to agriculture.”

CLAAS has been part of the Omaha community for more than 25 years, and the company’s continued investment demonstrates the important role Nebraska plays in CLAAS’ North American operations.

The campus employs more than 250 people and plays a critical role in serving farmers across the U.S. and Canada. The Omaha operation brings together manufacturing, engineering, training and customer support — creating a North American base from which CLAAS can respond to the needs of farmers and agricultural businesses across the continent.

“CLAAS’ commitment goes well beyond manufacturing,” Governor Pillen added. “The company is investing in research and innovation, customer experience, quality jobs and vocational training. By helping develop the skilled workforce Nebraska needs, CLAAS is creating lasting value for our agricultural community and for the future of our state.”

“We appreciate the partnership and support of Governor Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development,” said Mohr. “Nebraska is an ideal location for this investment because of its deep agricultural roots, skilled workforce and connection to farmers across North America.”

Investing in Nebraska and North American agriculture
The new R&D Center represents another major investment in Omaha, strengthening CLAAS’ role in Nebraska’s agricultural, manufacturing and technology economy. The 44,800-square-foot facility — including approximately 12,000 square feet of enclosed space — provides 25% more capacity than the previous off-site R&D location and supports high-value engineering and manufacturing jobs across the region.

Designed to support the full development process, the center features two levels of office space, expanded instrumentation, logistics and equipment areas, a heated indoor wash bay and enhanced physical and electronic security. These capabilities enable CLAAS teams to collect field data, analyze results and refine machine performance more efficiently.

“This facility strengthens our ability to develop, test and refine innovative solutions that directly support our customers in the field. By tailoring our machinery to the local conditions, crops and operating demands of North American agriculture, we can deliver technology that performs where it matters most — on the farm,” said Claudius Knierbein, Head of Engineering for CLAAS Omaha.

Testing for North American farming conditions
The new CLAAS Research & Development Center will be the hub for all North American testing activities. While much of the testing will take place on farms throughout the country under various soil, weather and crop conditions, the analysis of those tests will be interpreted by engineers working in the new facility.

That connection between the field and the engineering team is central to the Omaha R&D operation. Testing in real-world North American conditions allows CLAAS engineers to evaluate machine performance across the wide range of crops, soils, weather and farming practices found throughout the United States and Canada.

“Our customers farm in some of the most diverse agricultural conditions in the world,” said Knierbein. “The ability to test machines in those conditions, bring the data back to Omaha and work directly with our engineering teams helps us develop solutions that are relevant to North American farmers.”

A long-term North American commitment
The new R&D Center builds on CLAAS’ established presence in Omaha, which includes the company’s North American headquarters, LEXION combine assembly operation and CLAAS Training Academy. Together, these operations make Omaha an increasingly important center for CLAAS’ North American activities.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Endorses Governor Jim Pillen for Re-Election  

The Nebraska Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (NEFB-PAC) has endorsed Jim Pillen for Governor. Pillen is seeking re-election to the office he’s held since 2022. The NEFB-PAC endorsement is based on results of the organization’s grassroots selection process, which involves gathering input from members and County Farm Bureaus across the state.  

“We are pleased to endorse Governor Jim Pillen, for re-election,” said Katie Olson of Atkinson, chair of the NEFB-PAC and first vice president of  Nebraska Farm Bureau. “Governor Pillen understands the importance of agriculture to Nebraska and shares many of our broader policy goals.” 

Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue echoed those sentiments in making the announcement.  

“Nebraska needs a Governor who is committed to protecting and defending Nebraska’s farm and ranch families. We need a Governor who understands the importance of growing Nebraska’s economy through agriculture. We need a Governor who can help create an environment where it’s possible for the next generation to come home to our farms and ranches. We believe Governor Pillen is the right choice to make those things happen and we look forward to working with him to achieve those ends,” said McHargue.  

“Nebraska agriculture is the beating heart of this state,” said Governor Pillen. “I’m grateful for unity in Nebraska’s agricultural community behind our campaign – and, as the first Nebraska governor from agriculture in over 100 years, I will keep fighting for our family farms and the values that make this state great.” 



SENATOR RICKETTS UNVEILS REBUILD THE AMERICAN HERD PLAN, RECEIVES NEBRASKA CATTLEMEN SUPPORT

Last week Friday, Senator Pete Ricketts unveiled his Rebuild the American Herd Plan at the Sustainable Beef plant in North Platte, a comprehensive strategy to grow the American cattle herd, strengthen Nebraska ranchers, and lower beef prices for families.

Senator Ricketts was joined at the press conference by Sustainable Beef Co-Founder Rusty Kemp, Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue, State Senator Tanya Storer, and Former Nebraska Cattlemen President Steve Hanson.

Senator Pete Ricketts said: "I will always stand up against foreign beef that undercuts Nebraska ranchers. We helped build Sustainable Beef to give ranchers an alternative to the Big 4 packers and a fair price for their product. This plan keeps that fight going."

At the press conference, Senator Ricketts received the support of the Nebraska Cattlemen Association.

Nebraska Cattlemen Past President Steve Hanson said: "Nebraska Cattlemen is grateful for our longstanding relationship with Senator Pete Ricketts, as he has proven time and time again that he will go to bat for our industry. He is a trusted leader with a proven record of supporting policies to protect cattle producers. We are proud to support his re-election for the United States Senate and his plan to rebuild the American cow herd."

Senator Ricketts is the only candidate in this race who understands agriculture and has a record of delivering for ranchers. As governor, he was the first in the country to stop Biden's 30x30 land grab. He secured $20 million in infrastructure to help launch Sustainable Beef, a rancher-owned packing plant in North Platte.

He led trade missions that produced record ag exports three years running. In the Senate, he fought the EPA's WOTUS rule, made the death tax exemption permanent to protect more than 44,000 Nebraska family farms, introduced the PLOT Act to stop Communist China from buying American farmland, and introduced the Securing American Agriculture Act to bring critical feed production home from Communist China.

The Rebuild the American Herd Plan addresses nine key areas: competition in meatpacking, honest labeling, export markets, protecting family ranches, standing up to Communist China, faster disaster recovery, stopping New World screwworm, securing America's feed supply, and training the next generation.

Read the full plan: petericketts.com/rebuilding-the-american-cattle-herd-plan



Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC to Acquire GreenAmerica Biofuels Ord LLC from Pilot Travel Centers

Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC ("SIRE"), a farmer-owned ethanol producer, announced it has acquired GreenAmerica Biofuels Ord LLC, a subsidiary of Pilot Travel Centers LLC ("Pilot"). GreenAmerica Biofuels Ord LLC owns and operates an approximately 70 million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant in Ord, Nebraska.

The acquisition is a direct step in SIRE's stated growth strategy: expanding its production base, strengthening its scale, and creating new opportunities for value-added agriculture by acquiring high-quality assets with strong operating track records, reliable feedstock supply and access to diverse markets. Upon closing, SIRE's combined production capacity will grow to approximately 230 million gallons of ethanol per year across two plants in Iowa and Nebraska.

"Our strategy is simple and disciplined: grow by investing in Council Bluffs and acquiring quality assets that make SIRE stronger for our members, our farmers and our customers," said Eric Fobes, President and CEO of SIRE. "The Ord plant fits that standard. It is a well-maintained facility with an experienced team, located in the heart of one of the most productive corn regions in the country. We see it as a strong complement to our Council Bluffs operation, and we're excited to welcome the Ord employees to the SIRE team."

The Ord facility sits in central Nebraska's corn belt, giving SIRE a second origination region, added scale in marketing ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil, and greater operational diversity across its asset base. SIRE plans to retain the plant's workforce and continue local grain purchasing, maintaining the facility's role as a key market for area farmers.

The transaction closed October 9, 2026. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed and remain confidential. SIRE was advised by Omaha, NE based law firm McGrath North Mullin & Kratz PC LLO.



Community Meat Lockers Invited to Apply for Choose Iowa Butchery Equipment Grants

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today invited small-scale meat processors and custom lockers to apply for a Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Equipment Only Grant. Eligible businesses may receive up to $20,000 of state funding to purchase cold storage, meat processing and/or packaging equipment that helps increase meat and poultry processing capacity in Iowa.

“As I travel the state meeting with farmers, I consistently hear about the need for more local meat and poultry processing. That need continues to intensify as we see larger plants closing and Iowa’s livestock producers working to grow the U.S. beef herd,” said Secretary Naig. “The Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation grant program helps local meat lockers and custom processors grow their businesses to better serve local farmers and consumers. I will continue asking the Iowa Legislature for additional funding for this and other Choose Iowa programs that support farm families, small businesses and rural communities, and help strengthen the local food system.”

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has allocated $105,000 to support the Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Grant program in FY2027.

“The Butchery Innovation Grant Program continues to be an important tool for Iowa's independent meat processors,” said Iowa Meat Processors Association President Katie Anderson, co-owner of Edgewood Locker in Edgewood. “These investments help businesses modernize operations, improve efficiency, and create opportunities for future growth while continuing to provide high-quality processing services to Iowa livestock producers and consumers.”

How to Apply
State or federally inspected, small-scale meat processors based in Iowa are eligible to apply for the Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation Equipment Only Grant. Eligible businesses may receive up to $20,000 to purchase cold storage, meat processing and/or packaging equipment that helps increase meat and poultry processing capacity in Iowa. Applicants must provide at least a one-to-one financial match. Grant funds are paid out as a reimbursement after the project is completed. Full details including financial matching requirements, application, eligibility, and scoring criteria are available on the Choose Iowa website https://www.chooseiowa.com/grants/butcheryinnovation.

Grant applications should be submitted through the link provided on the Choose Iowa website by 12 p.m./CT on Nov. 20, 2026. Grant recipients will be announced in December 2026. The project cannot be in progress before the application is submitted and projects must be completed by June 30, 2027. Questions about the Butchery Innovation Equipment Only Grant or the Choose Iowa marketing program and member benefits may be emailed to chooseiowagrant@iowaagriculture.gov.

In 2025, IDALS awarded $355,000 in Choose Iowa Butchery Innovation grants to nine local businesses. Approved projects required at least a one-to-one financial match, generating a total investment of about $1.94 million to expand local processing capacity in nine Iowa counties.



2026 Siouxland Agricultural Lender’s Seminar Set for October 29 in Sioux Center

Agricultural lenders, consultants, farm financial advisors and producers are invited to attend the 2026 Siouxland Agricultural Lender’s Seminar on Thursday, October 29, at the Terrace View Event Center, 230 St Andrews Way, Sioux Center, Iowa.

This year’s seminar will provide attendees with current, research-based information to support their work with agricultural producers in managing risk and making informed financial decisions. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with programming running from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Seminar topics and presenters include:
    Water Quality Rights and Regulations- Dan Anderson, Associate Professor, Iowa State University works with manure management and treatment, water quality, and nutrient cycling in agroecosystems. Anderson will discuss the things producers will consider as they seek to invest in water infrastructure and how each falls into their rights and abides by state and federal regulations.
    Rewriting the Rules: Policy, Markets, and the Decisions Reshaping Agriculture- Susan Stroud, Founder of No Bull Agriculture. She will discuss trade deals, biofuel policy and shifting global demand are reshaping crop and livestock markets. This session examines what is driving prices into 2027, where margins are most vulnerable and what lenders should be watching as producers make decisions in a rapidly changing market.
    Land Markets, Machinery and the Economy R.D. Schrader, Shrader Real Estate and Auction Company, Inc. A lifelong auctioneer from Indiana, Schrader pioneered the M3 or Maximum Marketing Method land auction process. Today, almost every farmland auction in the country is conducted in this manner. He will share his insights on the land and equipment market.
    What’s Up With the Farm Bill; Guang Tian, assistant professor, Agricultural Economics, Iowa State University. Guang will outline the action or inaction concerning the Farm Bill.
     Dairy Market Outlook and Risk Management, Will Babler, Pinion Risk Management. Babler has worked in commodity risk management since 2005 advising producers, processors, and endusers on margin management in dairy, grain, livestock and biofuels. He leads PRM’s Dairy Risk Management group and helps guide the firm’s technology strategy and crop insurance solutions. He will share his insights into what’s happening in the dairy market.
    Non-traditional ag partners- Eric Weuve, the North Central Iowa Farm Management Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Weuve will discuss the trend of non-traditional management and financial partners in production agriculture.
    Review of Iowa Dairy Producer Survey- Fred Hall, Dairy Field Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Every five years the dairy team does a producer survey and Hall will recap what the current survey tells us about the Iowa producers.

“This seminar has proven itself in assisting Siouxland lenders and financial advisors as a local source for current information which they can use as they help producers manage risk,” said Fred Hall, ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Specialist.

Registration Cost for the day:
    $100 for the first attendee
    $75 for each additional attendee from the same business
    $30 for students
    $125 for day-of registrations (lunch not guaranteed)

The Preregistration deadline is October 23, attendees can register online at go.iastate.edu/AGLENDERS2026 or by mail. Make checks payable to Sioux County Extension and send to ISU Extension and Outreach Sioux County, 400 Central Ave. NW, Ste 700, Orange City, IA 51041.

For questions or more information, contact Fred Hall at 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu.



Corbet Scientific Launches IRRAMAX, Advancing a New Era in Irrigation Technology

Corbet Scientific today announced IRRAMAX, a polymer-based irrigation enhancer designed to improve water distribution and moisture retention in the crop root zone. The company introduced IRRAMAX at the CAPCA conference in Anaheim, California, on October 11, 2026, at booth 516.

IRRAMAX uses a long-chain polymer to promote lateral water movement and retain moisture in the root zone. The technology is designed to improve irrigation efficiency by reducing uneven water distribution and water loss below the root zone.

Field Trial Results
From August 2023 through May 2026, Corbet Scientific evaluated IRRAMAX in five paired-plot field trials conducted in collaboration with agriMeasures, LLC. The trials included strawberries and citrus in Florida, cotton in Texas, and corn in Nebraska. Each trial compared IRRAMAX-treated plots with grower standard practice (GSP) check plots. Soil moisture was measured using Sentek capacitance probes across all sites.

IRRAMAX-treated plots recorded higher volumetric soil moisture than GSP check plots in all five trials. In an 83-day Texas cotton trial, the longest of the five studies, soil moisture in the top 12 inches of the treated plot was more than three times that of the GSP plot. In an eight-day Nebraska corn trial, soil moisture readings in treated plots averaged approximately 17% higher than GSP, with a more uniform moisture profile at depths of 4 to 12 inches.

Salinity was also monitored at the Florida citrus and Texas cotton sites. At both sites, IRRAMAX-treated plots recorded lower and more stable salinity readings than GSP check plots.

“I’ve spent nearly five decades in agriculture as a grower and researcher, and across these trials the pattern was consistent: IRRAMAX increases the soil’s holding capacity,” said David Lankford, Research Director at agriMeasures, LLC, who led the trials.

Results varied by site, measurement depth and trial duration. The studies used paired-plot comparisons rather than large-scale replication. The full technical report is available upon request.



Nominations Accepted for 2027 Environmental Stewardship Award

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is accepting nominations for the 2027 Environmental Stewardship Awards. Established in 1991, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) annually recognizes outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers across the country.

“Cattle producers across the country work tirelessly to steward the land for the next generation,” said NCBA President Gene Copenhaver. “This program celebrates their conservation efforts and shares their success stories.”

Any individual, group or organization is eligible to nominate one individual or business raising or feeding cattle. While individuals and families may not nominate themselves, they should be involved in the preparation of the application. Past nominees are encouraged to resubmit applications; however, previous winners may not reapply.

Along with a typed application, one nomination letter and three letters of recommendation highlighting the nominee’s leadership in conservation are required. The application deadline is Feb. 15, 2027. Nominees do not have to be members of NCBA but should support the objectives of their state and national organization.

Award winners are selected by a committee of representatives from universities, cattle production, conservation organizations as well as federal and state agencies. Judges consider the management of water, wildlife, vegetation, air, and soil along with leadership abilities and the viability of the business. Regional winners will be recognized in summer 2027, and the national winner will be announced during CattleCon 2028 in New Orleans, Louisiana, in February 2028.

The Environmental Stewardship Award Program is an initiative of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and is made possible with generous support from Corteva Agriscience and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information and to download the nomination packet, visit www.environmentalstewardship.org.

Monday October 12 Ag News - USDA Crop Production Estimates Updated - ARC/PLC Informational Webinar Oct 15 - 100 Days of Trade with the EU - Lawmakers Urge EPA to Maintain Integrity of RFS - and more!

 USDA Crop Production Estimates - Oct 9, 2026 

Corn production for grain is forecast at 16.0 billion bushels, up 1 percent from the previous forecast but down 5 percent from 2025. If realized, this would be the second highest grain production on record for the Nation. The average yield is forecast at 181.2 bushels per acre, up 2.7 bushels from the previous forecast and but down 5.3 bushels from 2025.

Corn by State
Nebraska .....:     188.0 bu/acre    1,806,680,000 bu total production
Iowa ............:     219.0 bu/acre    2,803,200,000 bu total production

Soybean production for beans is forecast at a record high 4.56 billion bushels, up 1 percent from the previous forecast and up 7 percent from 2025. Yields are expected to average a record high 53.1 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from the previous forecast and up 0.1 bushel from 2025.

Soybeans by State 
Nebraska .....:      59.0 bu/acre      312,110,000 bu total production
Iowa ............:      63.0 bu/acre      612,990,000 bu total production



Commodity Crop Safety Net Informational Webinar on Oct. 15

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Nebraska is partnering with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability (CAP) on a webinar designed to educate commodity crop producers on the 2026 and 2027 Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs election and enrollment process. Producers can make elections and enroll for the 2026 crop year from now through Dec. 11, 2026, and for the 2027 crop year from Nov. 2, 2026, through March 15, 2027. Producers can learn about the ARC and PLC options for 2026 and 2027 during the FSA/CAP webinar scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, Oct. 15.

Cathy Anderson, FSA production and compliance programs chief in Nebraska, and Brad Lubben, Extension policy specialist in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Agricultural Economics, will present information relevant for producers, ag professionals and ag stakeholders. Webinar attendance is free. Register on the CAP website at cap.unl.edu/webinars.

ARC and PLC are key USDA safety-net programs that help producers weather fluctuations in either revenue or price for certain crops. These programs were extended to the 2031 production season through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

“With the 2026 ARC and PLC election and enrollment window now open, we’ll review key points producers need to know as they work with their local FSA office,” said Nebraska FSA State Executive Director Hilary Maricle. “All ARC and PLC program participants are encouraged to review their previous program elections and enroll ahead of the deadline. If producers do not make a 2026 ARC or PLC program election by Dec. 11, 2026, they will be ineligible for 2026 program assistance.”

Brad Lubben, Extension policy specialist with CAP, said program changes and a different price outlook could shift how producers approach their ARC and PLC decisions for 2026 and 2027.

"After a year when producers automatically received the higher of the two programs, 2026 brings back an active choice between ARC and PLC," said Lubben. "Higher reference prices and changes to ARC shift the math from what producers have seen in past years. Understanding the program mechanics and analysis will help producers make sound enrollment decisions with FSA."

In-person ARC and PLC education meetings also are being planned for several locations across the state and will be announced soon.



Flood Celebrates 100 Days of Successful Trade Deal with European Union

Friday, Congressman Mike Flood (NE-01) released a statement celebrating the first 100 days since the European Union eliminated its tariffs on American industrial goods and opened new market access for American agricultural products as part of the broader U.S.-EU trade agreement. The agreement took effect July 1, 2026.

U.S. agricultural exports to the EU are up 17% this year, according to USDA Foreign Agricultural Service data, led by Nebraska’s top exports:
    Ethanol exports to the EU have already surpassed all of 2025, with four months still to go.
    Corn exports are up 82% on the year.
    Beef exports are up 42% on the year. 

“For too long, American farmers and ranchers have played by one set of rules while our trading partners played by another,” said Congressman Flood. “Over the last two years, we’ve renegotiated our trade deals to level the playing field, and our agreement with the European Union shows that it’s working. Europe is buying more American corn, ethanol, and beef than it has in years. When Nebraska producers can compete on fair terms, they win, and this deal gives them that opportunity for years to come.”

Earlier this year, Congressman Flood met with U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Andrew Puzder about the opportunities the deal creates for Nebraska producers.

Nebraska is the nation’s largest beef exporter and is a top exporter of corn, soybeans, and ethanol. The European Union is one of Nebraska’s top five agricultural export markets.



HUSKER RESEARCHERS EXPLORE HIDDEN NITROGEN, NEW WAYS TO REDUCE GROUNDWATER RISK

A University of Nebraska–Lincoln research team has received a three-year, $496,722 National Science Foundation grant to investigate an understudied reservoir of organic nitrogen that may shape groundwater quality long after nitrogen management strategies are in place. A separate five-year, $357,000-plus award from the Nebraska Corn Board will help the researchers evaluate approaches that may proactively reduce nitrate risk before it reaches groundwater.

Clean groundwater is vital to drinking water supplies, agriculture and rural communities, but nitrogen contamination remains a persistent challenge. About four out of five Nebraskans drink groundwater. Much of it sits beneath some of the most productive agricultural land in the world. Nitrogen fertilizer is a critical crop nutrient; however, when it leaves the root zone, it becomes a loss to the farmer and a concern for drinking water.

The puzzling part is what happens when nitrogen management practices are improved. Nitrate levels in some Nebraska wells continue to rise, even years after modern nutrient strategies to reduce excess nitrogen use have been implemented. A research team based at the Nebraska Water Center thinks the explanation lies in historical nitrogen stores buried in the deep vadose zone between the surface and the water table. The two new awards will support collaborative efforts to better understand these underground processes and evaluate proactive solutions.

Nebraska Water Center researchers have studied the vadose zone for four decades to understand how nutrients, including nitrogen, move from the land surface to the groundwater. The vadose zone is a critical region for the storage, transport and transformation of chemicals that can affect groundwater quality.

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient present in many forms and is applied as a fertilizer to crops like corn. While these plants take up the nutrients they need, any remaining nitrogen can convert into mobile nitrate. However, the process of particular interest to the Husker research team is if this mobile nitrate may react with soil carbon through microbes to become bound as organic nitrogen in the deeper soil layers. This reaction could potentially act as a slow-release reservoir that gradually breaks down and generates new nitrate years later in the deep vadose zone, moving toward the groundwater.

Nebraska Water Center researchers have found that organic nitrogen accounts for a large majority of total nitrogen stored in Nebraska’s deep vadose zone. While most studies of that underground nitrogen reservoir measure nitrate, the research team measures everything else, too.

“Most of the nitrogen down there isn’t nitrate at all,” said Arindam Malakar, assistant research professor at the Nebraska Water Center and the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, who leads the new project and is part of the School of Natural Resources. “It’s organic nitrogen, locked in forms nobody has been counting. It can break down slowly and may keep making new nitrate long after the fertilizer is gone.”

In conjunction with the NSF funding, the research team is also investigating a novel nitrate remediation approach currently under development. The goal is reducing the amount of nitrate in the vadose zone that becomes a groundwater contaminant, entering drinking water sources and creating challenges for communities and well owners. The Nebraska Corn Board, through corn checkoff funds, has supported the project “Remediation of Nitrate Plume Within the Vadose Zone, Being Proactive to Protect Groundwater Quality,” with more than $570,000 across five years, subject to the board's annual proposal review and approval.

“The primary reason we want to do it is to reduce the cost of treating water,” Malakar said.

Rather than treating water after it reaches the aquifer, the work focuses on nitrate while it is still held in the vadose zone above the water table, which is expected to be more efficient and economical. Preliminary estimates suggest the approach could be less expensive than current water treatment processes that cities and communities use to treat groundwater to safe levels for drinking water.

Initial controlled laboratory studies have shown promising results. Researchers will next evaluate the approach across soil conditions representative of different landscapes across Nebraska and assess effectiveness, repeatability, environmental safety, feasibility and regulatory considerations before any potential field deployment.

Malakar said the appeal of the approach is timing.

“By the time you see nitrate in a well, the decision that put it there was made a long time ago,” he said. “Once it’s in the aquifer, you’re paying to take it back out.”

Malakar envisions a future where the technology is deployed across Nebraska, reducing the amount of nitrate in the vadose zone that becomes a contaminant in the groundwater. That is several years out and contingent on results at every stage, from laboratory experiments to controlled field testing. But if it works, the project’s success could reduce the treatment burden on communities that rely on groundwater.

To meet the research team and learn more about its vadose zone research, visit https://go.unl.edu/vadosestory.



Jeff Clark Named Keynote Speaker for 2026 Nebraska Wind And Solar Conference

Jeff Clark, President and CEO of the Advanced Power Alliance, will deliver the keynote address at the 19th annual Nebraska Wind & Solar Conference, scheduled for October 20–21, 2026, at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel.

Clark will speak during the Keynote Luncheon on Tuesday, October 20, from noon to 1:30 p.m., sponsored by NextEra Energy Resources. Rich Lombardi, Public Policy Director for the Advanced Power Alliance, will serve as moderator.

As President and CEO of the APA, Clark leads a trade association focused on facilitating the development of utility-scale power generation, infrastructure and energy storage. The organization works across major U.S. power markets, specializing in public policy and regulatory affairs in the Southwest Power Pool, ERCOT, and Southeast regions, and represents a broad range of companies in the advanced energy and technologies industries.

Clark brings extensive experience in energy policy, government affairs and business advocacy. Before joining the APA, he served as Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the American Electronics Association, where his work included state policy involving advanced materials and electric systems. He previously led the largest regional office of the National Federation of Independent Business, representing small businesses before policymakers in 17 state capitals and Washington, D.C. He was also twice appointed during the George W. Bush administration to co-chair the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Advisory Council.

“We are pleased to welcome Jeff Clark to Nebraska as this year’s keynote speaker,” said John Hansen, conference chairman. “His experience working at the intersection of energy development, infrastructure and public policy will bring an important perspective to the conversations taking place at this year’s conference.”

In addition to his keynote address, Clark will participate Wednesday morning in “Comparative State Policy and Renewable Siting,” a session examining how Nebraska’s permitting framework compares with approaches in Michigan and Colorado, including local control, appeals processes, siting authority and renewable energy development.

The two-day conference brings together public power leaders, policymakers, developers, industry professionals, community leaders and others to discuss the energy issues affecting Nebraska. This year’s agenda includes discussions on unprecedented electric load growth, regional and Nebraska transmission, state energy policy, renewable siting and property rights, the Southwest Power Pool interconnection queue, energy storage and grid innovation, rural Nebraska, data centers and more.

The Nebraska Wind & Solar Conference will be held October 20–21, 2026, at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel, 333 S. 13th Street in Lincoln. Registration is $250 and remains open through October 12, 2026, or until sold out.

For the complete agenda and registration information, visit www.nebraskawsc.com



Smith, Budzinski Lead Letter Urging the Admin to Support America’s Biofuel Industry

Friday, U.S. Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), led a bipartisan letter with 37 of their colleagues to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright urging the administration to maintain its commitments to America’s biofuel industry. 

In the letter, the lawmakers ask the administration to uphold its commitment to American grown energy by proposing a supplemental rule that preserves the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) biofuel volume requirements for 2026 and 2027 by October 16, 2026. They warn that delays would undermine much-needed market certainty for American farmers and biofuel producers while putting savings at the pump for American families at risk.

The lawmakers write: "The stakes for our constituents could not be higher. Biofuel demand keeps commodity prices competitive for farmers, sustains tens of thousands of rural manufacturing jobs, and delivers measurable savings at the pump for working families. E15 saves drivers an average of 30 cents per gallon compared to E10. B20 biodiesel runs approximately 11 cents cheaper than regular diesel. The 2026 and 2027 volumes in Set 2 were built to capture these cost-savings at scale, but SREs alongside a flawed reallocation approach would erase them.”

In addition to Smith and Budzinski, the letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Angie Craig (D-MN), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Jim Baird (R-IN), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Mike Bost (R-IL), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Kristen McDonald Rivert (D-MI), Mary Miller (R-IL), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), Mark Alford (R-MO), James Comer (R-KY), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), John Rose (R-TN), Derek Schmidt (R-KS), Don Bacon (R-NE), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Mark Messmer (R-IN), Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Shontel Brown (D-OH), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mike Flood (R-NE), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Max Miller (R-OH), Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.), and Donald Davis (D-N.C.).



NCGA Calls for Action on Farm Bill, E15 Legislation Following WASDE Report, Corn Price Drop

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released the October 2026 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, which raised anticipated 2026 corn yields by 2.7 bushels per acre. Corn prices immediately dropped after the report was released. In response, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Matt Frostic released the following statement: 
 
“Once again, we are reiterating our call for Congress to act on legislative priorities that will increase corn demand and provide certainty to farm programs to alleviate some of the economic pain our growers are experiencing.  

“We’re paying record prices for diesel fuel at a time of the year when we need it most and persistently high prices for certain inputs, like fertilizer, continue to put pressure on farm budgets. The drop in corn prices we’ve seen today adds stress to an already challenging year and complicates the outlook for next year.
 
“We are working hard to make ends meet, and it is time Congress did its job. It is critical that the House and Senate make final passage of year-round E15 and the farm bill a priority upon their return to Washington in November. 

“Beyond year-round E15, NCGA is actively working on longer-term demand growth priorities, like maritime and sustainable aviation fuel. We stand ready to work with the Trump administration to position U.S. corn and ethanol competitively in global markets, and we welcome partnerships with elected officials and industry stakeholders to advance corn demand goals.  



Oklahoma Auctioneer Awarded Top Honors at World Livestock Auctioneer Championship Qualifier

Ten auctioneers, led by Kellan Bussell, Idabell, Okla., punched their tickets to the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship after battling it out on the block against competitors from across North America Oct. 5 in Saluda, S.C. They will compete next in the semifinals at Cattlemen’s Livestock Market, Galt, Calif., in June.

Bussell may be young, but he’s already made a name for himself as a competitive livestock auctioneer. In only his second year vying for the world championship, the barely 25-year-old has qualified for the second time.

He said this win was a big honor — and another opportunity to learn from some of the industry’s best.

“When I first started, I just wanted to be as good as I could possibly be,” Bussell said. “Being able to go to these competitions and being around all these guys who are more experienced and know a lot more than I do, that’s going to help me reach that goal.”

The bid-caller, who regularly sells at Southeastern Oklahoma Regional Stockyards, Waurika Livestock Commission Co. and Comanche Livestock Auction, says the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship’s value extends well beyond the results. He said the willingness of experienced auctioneers, including past world champions, to share their knowledge has made a difference as he builds his career.

“That’s one thing that’s so neat about our industry is that there’s always somebody there with a helping hand,” he said.

As he prepares for the championship, Bussell looks forward to reconnecting with fellow contestants and seeing how another livestock market operates.

“I just love the camaraderie and being around everybody in that atmosphere,” he said. “I love cattle and being able to go to a new place and get to see how those people run their business. That’s what it’s all about to me.”

Among the other 24 competitors in South Carolina, Tucker Kail, Puryear, Tenn., was named reserve champion and Philip Gilstrap, Pendleton, S.C., was named runner-up. Austin Roberts, Collinsville, Okla., was the high scoring rookie.

Rounding out the top 10, in no order, were:
• Andy Baumeister, Goldthwaite, Texas
• Brandon Frey, Afton, Iowa
• Chris Pinard, Swainsboro, Ga.
• Marcus Kent, Dunnellon, Fla.
• Ross Parks, New Concord, Ohio
• Austin Schaben, Dunlap, Iowa
• Takoda Kiser, Leon, W.Va.

The contest, facilitated by Livestock Marketing Association, was hosted by Saluda Livestock Exchange.

World Livestock Auctioneer Championship Committee Chair Kyle Shobe, Lewistown, Mont., said the second qualifying event highlighted both the talent of the contestants and the strength of the industry behind them.

“Our hosts did an outstanding job creating a setting where these auctioneers could showcase their skills,” he said. “Every qualifier gives us another look at just how deep the talent runs in this profession. It’s shaping up to be an exciting event in Galt.”

The 2010 world champion, Shobe, understands the opportunities that come with competing for the industry’s highest honor.

“Only one auctioneer earns that title each year, but the experience offers something valuable to everyone who competes,” he said. “The people you meet, the things you learn and the doors it can open can make a lasting difference in your career.”

One chance remains to qualify for the semifinals: Oct. 24 at Farmers Livestock Market, Oakdale, Calif.