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Why are Dutch farmers protesting over emissions?

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Farmers protested around the Netherlands as lawmakers voted Tuesday on proposals to slash emissions of damaging pollutants, a plan that will likely force farmers to cut their livestock herds or stop work altogether.

The government says emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia, which livestock produce, must be drastically reduced close to nature areas that are part of a network of protected habitats for endangered plants and wildlife stretching across the 27-nation European Union.

As tractors gathered outside the parliament building, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said farmers have the right to protest but not to break the law.

“Freedom of speech and the right to demonstrate are a vital part of our democratic society, and I will always defend them,” Rutte said. “But … it is not acceptable to create dangerous situations, it is not acceptable to intimidate officials, we will never accept that.”

WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSING?

The ruling coalition wants to cut emissions of pollutants, predominantly nitrogen oxide and ammonia, by 50% nationwide by 2030. Ministers call the proposal an “unavoidable transition” that aims to improve air, land and water quality.

They warn that farmers will have to adapt or face the prospect of shuttering their businesses.

“The honest message … is that not all farmers can continue their business,” and those who do will likely have to farm differently, the government said in a statement this month as it unveiled emission reduction targets.

Livestock produce ammonia in their urine and feces. The government in the past has called on farmers to use feed for their animals that contains less protein as a way of reducing ammonia emissions. The problem is compounded in the Netherlands, which is known for its intensive farming practices, with large numbers of livestock kept on small areas of land.

It is not only farmers being targeted. In the past, the government also has cut the national maximum speed limit on highways from 130 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour) to 100 kmh during the day as a way of reducing nitrogen oxide created by vehicle engines.

The government has been forced to take action after a series of court rulings that blocked infrastructure and construction projects because of fears they would cause emissions that breach environmental rules. It is giving provincial authorities a year to work out ways to meet the emission reduction targets.

WHAT ARE FARMERS DOING?

Some 40,000 farmers gathered last week in the central Netherlands’ agricultural heartland to protest the government’s plans. Many arrived by tractor, snarling traffic around the country.

On Monday and into Tuesday, farmers again took their protests to crowded highways, driving slowly along the roads or stopping altogether. Some have dumped hay bales on roads, and small groups demonstrated at town and city halls, in some cases starting bonfires outside the buildings.

Some farmers set hay bales ablaze Tuesday alongside highways, while others gathered in towns and cities, including The Hague.

Farmers argue that they are being unfairly targeted as polluters while other industries, such as aviation, construction and transport, also are contributing to emissions and face less far-reaching rules. They also say the government is not giving them a clear picture of their futures amid the proposed reforms.

WHAT ARE THE NATURE AREAS THAT ARE THREATENED?

The government has published a map with reduction targets across the country based on proximity to areas designated as part of the EU’s Natura 2000 network of vulnerable and endangered plant and animal habitats. There are Natura 2000 sites across the 27 member states, covering 18% of the bloc’s land area and 8% of its marine territory.

On its website, the European Commission says conservation and sustainable use of Natura 200 areas is “largely centered on people working with nature rather than against it. However, Member States must ensure that the sites are managed in a sustainable manner, both ecologically and economically.”

Dutch farmers argue that other EU countries are not clamping down on the agricultural industry as hard as the Netherlands. During a protest Monday, a group of farmers at a Dutch Natura 2000 region near the German border put up flags and a “Welcome to Germany” sign to symbolically make it part of the neighboring country.

HOW IMPORTANT IS AGRICULTURE TO THE DUTCH ECONOMY?

Agriculture — from dairy farming to growing crops in fields and greenhouses — is a significant part of the Dutch economy.

According to a national farming lobby group, LTO, there are nearly 54,000 agricultural businesses in the Netherlands with exports totaling 94.5 billion euros in 2019.

–By MIKE CORDER Associated Press

Cost of July 4th cookout 17% higher compared to a year ago

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WASHINGTON — U.S. consumers will pay $69.68 for their favorite Independence Day cookout foods, including cheeseburgers, pork chops, chicken breasts, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream, based on a new American Farm Bureau Federation marketbasket survey.

The average cost of a summer cookout for 10 people is $69.68, which breaks down to less than $7 per person. The overall cost for the cookout is up 17% or about $10 from last year, a result of ongoing supply chain disruptions, inflation and the war in Ukraine.

Farmers are feeling the price-point pain too, like the people they grow food for, according to AFBF Chief Economist Roger Cryan.

“Despite higher food prices, the supply chain disruptions and inflation have made farm supplies more expensive; like consumers, farmers are price-takers not price-makers,” Cryan said. He added, “Bottom line, in many cases the higher prices farmers are being paid aren’t covering the increase in their farm expenses. The cost of fuel is up and fertilizer prices have tripled.”

Cryan also pointed to the cascading effects of the war in Ukraine, as that country’s contributions to global food security are cut off, Russian and Belarusian fertilizer exports are constrained, and some other countries pull back exports to protect their domestic supplies.

The marketbasket survey shows the largest year-to-year price increase was for ground beef. Survey results showed the retail price for 2 pounds of ground beef at $11.12, up 36% from last year. Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department’s Producer Price Index indicates that compared to a year ago, farm-level cattle prices are up 17.5%, but wholesale beef prices are down 14%. This serves to highlight the differences between farm-level, wholesale and retail beef prices and how the events of the last few years have had significant impacts on the beef production and cattle pricing cycles, making them all hard to predict.

Several other foods in the survey, including chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, fresh-squeezed lemonade, pork & beans, hamburger buns and cookies, also increased in price.

One bright spot for consumers is the average retail price for strawberries, which declined by 86 cents compared to a year ago. Sliced cheese and potato chips also dropped in price, 48 cents and 22 cents, respectively. Better weather conditions in some fruit-growing regions and greater retailer pricing flexibility for processed products are the likely drivers behind the modest price declines for these items.

The year-to-year direction of the marketbasket survey tracks with the federal government’s Consumer Price Index report for food at home and general inflation across the economy. Both the index and the marketbasket show increases of more than 10% compared to year-ago levels.

“According to the Agriculture Department’s revised Food Dollar Series, farmers currently receive approximately 8% of every food marketing dollar,” Cryan said. “The farmers’ share of the retail food dollar is as low as 2% to 4% for highly processed foods such as bread and cereal, and can be 35% or more for some fresh products.”

Commenting on big picture concerns related to food security, AFBF President Zippy Duvall said: “The increased cost of food and supplies is a very real concern in our country and across the globe. U.S. food assistance programs and food banks help those who struggle to make ends meet here at home, but the story is much different around the globe as food insecurity skyrockets. The big impact of a single event in Ukraine shows how dependent the world is on stable, productive agriculture.

The July 4th cookout survey is part of the Farm Bureau marketbasket series, which also includes the popular annual Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Survey of common food staples Americans use to prepare meals at home.

Data for this year’s survey was collected by 176 volunteer shoppers across the country and in Puerto Rico, including Farm Bureau members and others.

Individual Prices, AFBF 2022 Summer Cookout

  • 2 pounds of ground beef, $11.12 (+36%)
  • 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, $8.99 (+33%)
  • 32 ounces of pork & beans, $2.53 (+33%)
  • 3 pounds of center cut pork chops, $15.26 (+31%)
  • 2.5 quarts of fresh-squeezed lemonade, $4.43 (+22%)
  • 2.5 pounds of homemade potato salad, $3.27 (+19%)
  • 8 hamburger buns, $1.93 (+16%)
  • Half-gallon of vanilla ice cream, $5.16 (+10%)
  • 13-ounce bag of chocolate chip cookies, $4.31 (+7%)
  • 2 pints of strawberries, $4.44 (-16%)
  • 1 pound of sliced cheese, $3.53 (-13%)
  • 16-ounce bag of potato chips, $4.71 (-4%)

AFBF is the nation’s largest general farm organization with member families in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Learn more at http://facebook.com/FarmBureau or follow @FarmBureau on Twitter or @farmbureau on Instagram.

–American Farm Bureau Federation

The quest for a perfect food

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WASHINGTON — Some perceive rice as a “bad” source of carbohydrates. That’s because most varieties of rice have a high glycemic index. This makes rice less favorable to people with diabetes as well as in supporting obesity prevention or weight loss programs. The June 23rd, 2022 Sustainable, Secure Food Blog explains how rice breeders in Louisiana developed a new low glycemic index, high protein rice.

According to blogger Herry Utomo, he and colleague Ida Wenefrida and their teams at Louisiana State University have been working on breeding a rice that is higher in protein – and has a lower glycemic index for many years.

The first of its kind anywhere in the world, this new variety – ‘Frontière,’ is a rice superstar. It has the lowest glycemic index* for any rice. It has 53% more protein than regular rice. Its low GI property allow people with prediabetes or diabetes to eat rice safely. The increase in protein content provides additional lean protein and improves overall rice’s nutritional profile.

In addition to the 750 million people suffering malnutrition, there are more than 260 million rice-eating people worldwide are affected by diabetes. Providing low glycemic rice that can reach into a great portion of these people from diverse cultures with different rice eating preferences is truly monumental challenges. The low glycemic index, high protein rice that enters the U.S. markets this year perhaps can be used as an initial step to meet these great challenges. Frontière is sold commercially as “Parish Rice” and “Cahokia Rice.” It is currently being grown on farms in Illinois and Louisiana.

How this new variety was bred

The pursuit for perfect rice started with 7 years of research using traditional mutational breeding techniques. This helped us to acquire new genetic capabilities for the two traits of low glycemic index and higher protein. Both traits are rarely expressed in natural rice populations.

Retaining the premium standards for grain qualities for the U.S. long grain rice was another important consideration while carrying out the process.

To provide a strong genetic foundation, rice cultivar Cypress was selected as a parental line in the mutational breeding. Cypress is well known for its high milling quality with a capability to maintain high whole-grain milling yields at lower harvest moisture across different environments. This provides a great genetic source for an ideal grain quality consistency.

Mutation breeding has been studied by scientists for almost 90 years in plants. It has been used to induce mutations associated with favorable traits in plants. Seeds are treated with X-rays, gamma rays, or chemicals in low doses, and then the next generations are measured for the best qualities. We used the chemical ethyl methane sulfonate on Cypress to breed new varieties. This chemical creates conditions that allow for faster mutations in plants, which speeds up the breeding process. All traces of chemicals are removed, and no residual remains in or on the plants.

The early generations of mutated materials exhibited an array of phenotypic variability. Some were sterile or grew less vigorously. Others grew to less desirable heights and had low yields. After years of extensive selections and purifications, various undesirable variabilities were successfully removed.

The successful variety was finally released as cultivar ‘Frontière’ in 2017. Phenotypically, Frontière is very similar to Cypress. It consistently performs well in diverse rice growing environments like the Southern and Midwest US and Puerto Rico. Our team used conventional mutational breeding to acquire these exceptional characteristics to express naturally on its own. This new rice is not transgenic (non-GMO).

Characteristics of ‘Frontière’

  • Protein. The increased protein content in ‘Frontière’ is important for optimal functioning of human body. Over 750 million people globally are malnourished due to protein deficiency. More than a half of them are in the rice eating countries where they eat rice three times a day. Rice with higher protein content provides additional protein to help reduce protein deficiency. For developed countries, using higher protein rice can reduce the amount of red meats consumed.
  • Low glycemic Index. As we eat food or beverage that is high in carbohydrates, our body breaks down the carbs into glucose. The glucose goes into bloodstream causing the blood glucose (blood sugar) levels to rise. High-glycemic foods lead to a quicker and greater spike in blood sugar levels. These foods place a higher demand for insulin on the body. They also lead to more dramatic dips in blood glucose after the spike, potentially causing hunger, carbohydrate cravings, and weakness. ‘Frontière’s’ low glycemic index alleviates these problems and is especially helpful for diabetic patients who must watch their insulin levels.
  • Taste, Cook, and Appearance. Consumer acceptability of any new variety of food is critical. Without it, the efforts will not reach the intended goals. The cooking quality, grain chemistry, appearance and taste of the low glycemic rice are virtually the same with typical U.S. long grain rice cultivars such as Cypress and Cocodrie. This long grain, low glycemic high protein rice can serve rice consumers in the U.S. as well as many countries of the U.S. rice export destinations including Mexico, Haiti, Japan, Canada, and South Korea.

Next on the pipeline

To serve more diverse market needs, we are now breeding other cultivars for low glycemic index and high protein. Two advanced lines are in the pipeline for releases. One long grain and one medium grain were developed for southern U.S. rice growing regions. Another medium grain rice for California is also in development. A specific selection index with three key determinants is used for low glycemic index selections in parallel to high protein screening.

To read the entire blog, visit: https://sustainable-secure-food-blog.com/2022/06/22/low-glycemic-high-protein-rice-the-quest-for-a-perfect-food/

–American Society of Agronomy
Crop Science Society of America

Romanian port struggles to handle flow of Ukrainian grain

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CONSTANTA, Romania (AP) — With Ukraine’s seaports blockaded or captured by Russian forces, neighboring Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanta has emerged as a main conduit for the war-torn country’s grain exports amid a growing world food crisis.

It’s Romania’s biggest port, home to Europe’s fastest-loading grain terminal, and has processed nearly a million tons of grain from Ukraine — one of the world’s biggest exporters of wheat and corn — since the Feb. 24 invasion.

But port operators say that maintaining, let alone increasing, the volume they handle could soon be impossible without concerted European Union support and investment.

“If we want to keep helping Ukrainian farmers, we need help to increase our handling capacities,” said Dan Dolghin, director of cereal operations at the Black Sea port’s main Comvex operator.

“No single operator can invest in infrastructure that will become redundant once the war ends,” he added.

Comvex can process up to 72,000 tonnes of cereals per day. That and Constanta’s proximity by land to Ukraine, and by sea to the Suez Canal, make it the best current route for Ukrainian agricultural exports. Other alternatives include road and rail shipments across Ukraine’s western border into Poland and its Baltic Sea ports.

Efforts to lift the Russian blockade have got nowhere, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization projects up to 181 million people in 41 countries could face food crisis or worse levels of hunger this year in connection with the Ukraine war.

Just days into the Russian invasion, Comvex invested in a new unloading facility, anticipating that the neighboring country would have to reroute its agricultural exports.

This enabled the port over the past four months to ship close to a million tons of Ukrainian grain, most of it arriving by barge down the Danube River. But with 20 times that amount still blocked in Ukraine and the summer harvest season fast approaching in Romania itself and other countries that use Constanta for their exports, Dolghin said it’s likely the pace of Ukrainian grain shipping through his port will slow.

“As the summer harvest in Romania gathers momentum, all port operators will turn to Romanian cereals,” he warned.

Ukraine’s deputy agricultural minister, Markian Dmytrasevych, is also worried.

In an address to the European Parliament earlier this month, Dmytrasevych said that when Constanta operators turn to European grain suppliers in the summer “it will further complicate the export of Ukrainian products.”

Romanian and other EU officials have also voiced concern, lining up in recent weeks to pledge support.

On a recent visit to Kyiv with the leaders of France, Germany and Italy, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis said his country was seeking possible ways of overcoming the “weaponization of grain exports by Russia.”

“As a relevant part of the solution to the food insecurity generated by Russia, Romania is actively involved in facilitating the transit of Ukraine exports and in serving as a hub for grain,” to reach traditional markets in the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia, he said.

The solutions discussed in Kyiv, Iohannis said, included speeding up Danube barge shipments, increasing the speed of their unloading at Romanian ports, new border crossings for trucks with Ukrainian grain and reopening a decommissioned railway linking Romania with Ukraine and Moldova.

A Romanian analyst said finding alternative routes for Ukraine’s grain exports goes beyond private logistics companies or any single country, echoing Iohannis’s call in Kyiv for an international “coalition of the willing” to tackle the problem.

“The situation in Ukraine will not be solved soon; the conflict may end tomorrow but tensions will last. … That is why new transport routes must be considered and consolidated,” said George Vulcanescu.

He said that in that sense there are just three financially viable routes for Ukrainian exports — via Romania, Poland or the Baltic states.

However, he added, “port operators need financial support from Romanian authorities, but the funding should come from the European Union.”

Vulcanescu said a combination of fast and “minimal, not maximal” investment is needed.

“Big investment cannot be done quickly — we need to look for fast solutions for expanding the (existing) storage and handling capacities of Romanian ports,” he added. “If we want to help Ukraine now, we need to look for smaller investment to improve the infrastructure we already have.”

Comvex’s Dolghin said the operator wants to help as much as possible, but added: “We hope to see concrete action, not only statements in support of the port operators.”

–By VADIM GHIRDA Associated Press

Soy Checkoff, IFYE partner to cultivate ag leaders

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ST. LOUIS — With the future of agriculture rooted in generational farming, exposing young adults to careers in this industry ensures a pipeline of strong talent for years to come. This summer, United Soybean Board will send five students from Illinois, Iowa and North Carolina to Germany for a three-month, immersive agricultural experience as part of the U.S. international exchange program.

Facilitated by the International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) Association, these bright young minds will participate in host-family activities to gain a deeper understanding of agriculture abroad. While in Germany, they will learn about production methods, trade dynamics, and soybean exports and imports.

“I look forward to learning and growing as a student, person and representative for U.S. agriculture,” said Josie Noland, an IFYE participant from Iowa. “I am thrilled for the opportunity to experience German culture and learn about agriculture through a European lens. Thank you to the United Soybean Board for this incredible opportunity.”

The five selected students include:

  • Rachel Gray of Stony Point, North Carolina: A recent agricultural business graduate from the University of Mount Olive, Gray has ample experience within the agricultural industry, including serving as a collegiate FFA chapter officer and president of the animal science club. She also works on her family’s dairy farm where she assists with daily production and operations.
  • Josie Noland of Woodward, Iowa: Noland graduated from Grinnell College with a degree in integrative health. She has specific interests in environmental toxicology as well as the role of food and water in society. She worked in a soybean research lab for two years and is also involved with 4-H.
  • Rebecca Pratt of Hopedale, Illinois: Pratt graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in agricultural and consumer economics. She has wide-ranging experience with crop management, including invasive plant species. She also served as a soil testing intern.
  • Jackson Tubbs of Delmar, Iowa: Tubbs has an established background with the National FFA Organization and competed in many career and leadership development events, including veterinary science, agronomy, forestry and others. He plans to pursue a career in wildlife conservation and forestry.
  • Phillip Wessel of Chandlerville, Illinois: Wessel has a degree in environmental science, political science and marine biology from Nova Southeastern University. Wessel currently serves as an AmeriCorps team leader where he leads volunteers on a 10-month program across national projects. Many of these focus on sustainable agriculture.

While in Germany, the students will meet with the U.S. Embassy agriculture attaché and the U.S. Soybean Export Council. The program broadens their knowledge of global agriculture and trade practices while also cultivating the next generation of U.S. agricultural leaders. Upon returning, the group will separately share their experiences with local organizations and commodity checkoffs in their home states. These include the Illinois Soybean Association, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and North Carolina Soybean Producers Association.

“The IFYE program connects the agricultural industry within our nation to global food systems and fosters cultural experiences for these young adults interested in representing our community,” said April Hemmes, USB and ISA director, and farmer from Iowa who helped with the selection process. “We, as soybean farmers, are proud to invest in these individuals and their professional development, since they’ll carry the torch in ushering the next era of farming solutions.”

The participants met on June 16 for orientation in Washington D.C., prior to departing for Germany.

The IFYE program also connects young adults from other countries to rural families throughout the U.S. Participants will hone their language skills, learn to appreciate cultural differences and increase their cultural understanding. The program fosters long-term friendships, with many families and delegates continuing to stay in contact with each other long after the homestay ends. Applications for the 2023 IFYE program will open in August 2022.

About IFYE
Founded in 1948, the International Farm Youth Exchange™ provides cultural exchange programming where participants live with multiple host families during a two-, three- or six-month period in one or more of 15 countries. “Being an IFYE is one of the most life-changing experiences a young adult will have. Living in a new culture opens minds, hearts and brings a new perspective of becoming a world citizen,” says Carolyn Hansen, Interim Executive Director who traveled to the Philippines from Ohio in 1972. IFYE exchanges are conducted in collaboration with country coordinators and programs are facilitated and supported by the IFYE Association of the USA, Inc. The IFYE vision of “Peace through Understanding” continues to touch the lives of people around the world. To learn more visit www.ifyeusa.org.

About United Soybean Board
United Soybean Board’s 78 volunteer farmer-leaders work on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers to achieve maximum value for their soy checkoff investments. These volunteers create value by investing in research, education and promotion with the vision to deliver sustainable soy solutions to every life, every day across the three priority areas of Infrastructure & Connectivity, Health & Nutrition, and Innovation & Technology. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff. For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit unitedsoybean.org.

— United Soybean Board

Spotted lanternfly quarantine zone expanding to more Va. localities

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RICHMOND, Va. — Spotted lanternfly species of invasive pests damaging vineyards in a few northern Virginia counties is headed south, and state officials are taking action to slow the spread.

With no natural enemies in the U.S., spotted lanternflies, Lycorma delicatula, can cause extensive damage to vines, crops and trees. Virginia’s Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine currently includes the city of Winchester and the counties of Clarke, Warren and Frederick.

“Together, pesticide treatments and the Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine have slowed the spread of this invasive pest,” said David Gianino, program manager for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Plant Industry Services. “However, surveys conducted by VDACS indicate that spotted lanternfly populations have now become established in other cities and counties.”

In early July, the quarantine zone will be expanded to the cities of Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, Staunton and Waynesboro, and Albemarle, Augusta, Carroll, Page, Prince William, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Wythe counties.

“Beyond direct damage to crops, the lanternfly also poses a risk to any business reliant on import and export of goods between states, as other states consider quarantines to prevent the spread of the invasive species,” said Ben Rowe, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation district field services director.

The spotted lanternfly has been traced back to a cargo load of landscaping stone shipped to Pennsylvania from China in 2014. The insects have been prolific in Frederick County since 2018, said Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Mark Sutphin.

Spotted lanternflies amass in high numbers and drink vast amounts of sap, draining a host plant of resources, Sutphin explained. They excrete a sugary substance called honeydew that encourages the growth of black sooty mold and blocks photosynthesis in understory leaves, further reducing plant capacity.

While the pest feeds on over 100 plant species, wine grapes are the crop of greatest concern in Virginia.

“The vines get stressed, which reduces hardiness going into the winter, and can lead to complete death,” he said.

Quarantines and insecticides are somewhat effective.

“But there’s not a silver bullet out there unfortunately,” Sutphin continued. “The goal is to give businesses and growers as much time as possible to allow science to catch up, and maybe a biological control will emerge.”

VDACS officials say regulations are necessary to reduce further spread. Regulated items must be free of spotted lanternflies or egg masses prior to transport outside a quarantine area. A permit allowing businesses to conduct self-inspections of regulated items can be obtained through VDACS after completing online training.

Visit bit.ly/3zES5ke for information on the Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine, including permitting instructions and a list of regulated items.

–Virginia Farm Bureau

Trade teams resume, helping grow international ethanol demand

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Corn Merchandising Council (MCMC) hosted a U.S. Grains Council (USGC)-led trade team from India last month to provide a closer look at the ethanol value chain. Comprised of members from India’s automotive manufacturers, oil companies, and the country’s Governmental Energy Transition Team, the trade group joined USGC and MCMC staff to see the process from corn plant to retail. India previously established the goal of transitioning from E10 to an E20 blending requirement by 2030. Recently, their government announced the transition will occur by 2025. To answer questions from the various value chain stakeholders, the trade team explored all ethanol components from plant to pump.

The team visited with MCMC board member Adam Casner on his farm, where they saw U.S. corn production firsthand. Located in Carrollton, much of Casner’s crop goes to two local ethanol plants, showcasing the direct benefit of ethanol production to growers. The team also visited two ethanol plants and a retail fuel location offering mid-level ethanol blends. In addition, the group participated in technical conversations with researchers from the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab and Oak Ridge National Lab.

As international travel continues to reopen, Missouri Corn looks forward to more opportunities to engage with foreign buyers and expand global markets for Missouri corn farmers. MCMC’s longstanding partnership with the USGC allows growers to showcase the continuously improving practices along with the high quality and quantity of U.S. corn and ethanol production.

These longstanding efforts are paying dividends for growers. According to a new study prepared for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, programs to help U.S. farmers build markets overseas boosted agricultural exports by an average of $9.6 billion annually from 1977 to 2019, an annual lift of 13.7% in export revenues and returning $24.5 for every dollar invested.

— Missouri Corn Growers Association

USDA reminds New York producers to file crop acreage reports

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Agricultural producers in New York who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting should make an appointment with their U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) service center before the applicable deadline.

“Many USDA programs require producers to file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline,” said Jim Barber, State Executive Director in New York. “Once planting is complete, call your local FSA office to make an appointment to report your acreage. Our FSA staff can assist producers in completing acreage reports, including providing maps.”

An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch and its intended uses. Filing an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage and prevented planted acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits.

How to File a Report

The following acreage reporting dates are applicable in New York:

July 15, 2022 – Corn, Soybeans, Spring Planted Small Grains and most other crops including CRP and cover crops

August 15, 2022 – Cabbage and Beans

Acreage reporting dates vary by crop and by county. Contact your local FSA office for a list of acreage reporting deadlines by crop.

To file a crop acreage report, producers need to provide:

  • Crop and crop type or variety.
  • Intended use of the crop.
  • Number of acres of the crop.
  • Map with approximate boundaries for the crop.
  • Planting date(s).
  • Planting pattern, when applicable.
  • Producer shares.
  • Irrigation practice(s).
  • Acreage prevented from planting, when applicable.
  • Other information as required.

Acreage Reporting Details

The following exceptions apply to acreage reporting dates:

  1. If the crop has not been planted by the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 15 calendar days after planting is completed.
  2. If a producer acquires additional acreage after the acreage reporting date, then the acreage must be reported no later than 30 calendar days after purchase or acquiring the lease. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the county office.
  3. If crops are covered by the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, acreage reports should be submitted by the applicable state, county, or crop-specific reporting deadline or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins.

Producers should also report crop acreage they intended to plant, but due to natural disaster, were unable to because of a natural disaster.

Prevented planting acreage must be reported on form CCC-576, Notice of Loss, no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date as established by FSA and USDA’s Risk Management Agency.

FSA offers continuous certification for perennial forage. This means after perennial forage is reported once and the producer elects continuous certification, the certification remains in effect until a change is made. Check with FSA at the local USDA Service Center for more information on continuous certification.

New Option to View, Print and Label Maps on Farmers.gov

Producers with an eAuth account linked to their USDA customer record can now access their FSA farm records, maps and common land units by logging into farmers.gov. A new feature will allow producers to export field boundaries as shapefiles and import and view other shapefiles, such as precision agriculture boundaries. This will allow producers to view, print and label their own maps for acreage reporting purposes.

Producers who have authority to act on behalf of another customer as a grantee via form FSA-211 Power of Attorney, Business Partner Signature Authority, along with other signature types, or as a member of a business can now access information in the farmers.gov portal.

Producers can learn how to use the farmers.gov Farm Records Mapping functionality with this fact sheet and these video tutorials.

More Information

Producers can make an appointment to report acres by contacting their local USDA Service Center.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

–USDA FSA New York

Governor Laura Kelly announces resources, actions to assist cattle producers impacted by heat wave

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MANHATTAN, Kan. — Governor Laura Kelly announced actions her administration has taken and resources that are available to support cattle feeders in southwestern Kansas whose cattle died over the weekend due to heat stress. A combination of temperatures spiking in a short amount of time, high humidity, and little-to-no wind caused cattle losses last weekend – a rare event in an area that is usually ideal for cattle feeding.

“I have directed state agencies to do everything in their power to help Kansas cattle feeders who lost cattle due to heat stress,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “From expediting burial permits to reaching out to cattle producers across the state, my Administration is working to ease the impact of last weekend’s losses on the Kansas agricultural community.”

“We’re working as quickly as possible to assist facilities in safely disposing of the carcasses and to respond to the needs of impacted ranchers,” said Janet Stanek, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and the Environment. “In the last week, our staff has processed burial permits and worked with landfills to ensure that carcasses are disposed of properly.”

Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam assured that the losses will not create a beef supply glitch.

“Last weekend’s losses reflect a very small percentage of the total fed cattle numbers in the state, so it will not impact meat prices for consumers,” said Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam. “Regardless, this rare event will hit the feeders who owned the cattle quite hard. We have reached out to contacts in Southwest Kansas to offer our assistance and support.”

There are federal resources available to provide financial relief. Impacted cattle feeders are eligible for United States Department of Agriculture indemnity payments, which are made to compensate for the loss or destruction of certain animals and crops. Fatality insurance may also cover some of the losses.

Heat-related deaths in feedyards are rare because producers take precautions such as providing extra drinking water, altering feeding schedules so cattle are not digesting in the heat of the day, and avoiding moving cattle during the heat of the day.

“This was an unusual and unfortunate event. Cattle feeders continually work to mitigate all weather events, whether it’s excessive heat, snow, or wind, and it is always their goal to make sure their cattle are healthy so they can provide a good product for their families and for consumers,” said Matt Teagarden, Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas Livestock Association. “We appreciate the quick response from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to address this situation.”

Governor Kelly proclaimed May 2022 “Kansas Beef Month” at Lyons Ranch in Manhattan. Kansas is recognized across the nation and the world for raising healthy cattle and producing quality, nutritious beef. Beef cattle contribute nearly $13 billion annually to the state’s economy and Kansas exported more than $1.7 billion in fresh, chilled, and frozen beef to countries around the world last year.

— Kansas Department of Agriculture

Amid Ukraine's war, a farmer takes comfort in her snails

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VERESNYA, Ukraine (AP) — The Ukrainian farmer was living a quiet life with the quietest of creatures: snails that she raises for export. Then, skies on the horizon turned flaming red. Russia had launched its invasion and nearby towns were burning.

Olena Avramenko’s village of Veresnya, northwest of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, was quickly occupied by Russian forces. But her snails were too precious to leave.

So she stayed, sheltering in her basement and cooking meals of snails — snail ravioli, fried snails, snails with garlic butter — for herself and the eight other people she took in.

The war’s disruption to exports of grain and other crops from Ukraine that feed the world has captured global attention and sent bread prices soaring across the world. But the production of other, more niche foodstuffs has also been impacted.

Before the war threw Ukrainian life and its economy into a tailspin, farmers and artisans in the country were successfully trying their hands not just with snails but also with oysters, edible frogs, vegetable-based milks, craft beers, cheeses and other products for European markets.

Avramenko and her son, Anton, turned to snail farming five years ago. He sold everything to invest in the business, which at the time was seen as a risky, exotic business in Ukraine. For them, it was an adventure, something new to learn. They exported the snails to Spanish restaurants and Avramenko realized she had found her calling.

“I stayed to protect our farm and home,” she said. “If I hadn’t done it, nothing would have been left.”

In France, where snails are eaten piping hot with oozing garlic butter or mixed into pates, importers had noticed Ukrainian snails making inroads into the market. Exports to the European Union of raw Ukrainian snails more than doubled between 2017 and 2021, from 347 tons to 844 tons.

“But this number could be underestimated,” said Pierre Commere of the French agro-industry group Adepale. “For several years now there has been a long-running crisis in the snail industry. It has become more and more difficult to find snails and prices are rising.”

During the Russian occupation of her village, Avramenko found another calling: taking her mind off the war by dreaming up new recipes for snails when peace returned.

Her son, luckily, was not in Veresnya when the Russian invasion started on Feb. 24 and he couldn’t immediately get back. But Russian soldiers didn’t seem interested in their snails. They did come searching for fuel, smashing a window and asking Avramenko for her keys.

She gently scolded them for breaking and entering. One of them asked her to forgive him.

Russian forces pulled out of Veresnya at the end of March, part of a general withdrawal from the north and around Kyiv to head out for a massive Russian offensive on Ukraine’s east and south, where the fighting still rages. Many villages in the Kyiv area were littered with bodies and international experts are working there to document suspected war crimes.

Her son called the day after the Russian pullout and said they’d get straight back to work. He said because the war delayed the start of the snail-rearing season, their business will at best only break even this year. But he didn’t want their seasonal workers to have no income. And a return to the slow pace of snail farming, he felt, will do everyone some good.

“I was somewhere between fear and collapse when he said that,” Avramenko said. “But it was the right thing to do. You need to do something to overcome the state of shock. If not, you can easily lose your mind.”

AP journalist John Leicester in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Jade Le Deley in Paris contributed.

Follow AP’s coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

–By HANNA ARHIROVA Associated Press