Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - December 2024

DEVELOPMENTS 

Bill Hudson, founder of The ProExporter Network (PRX), passed away December 6th, 2024. He was a fixture in the global agriculture industry, launching PRX in 1988. He sold the company in 2006, and served as PRX chief editor until his retirement in 2019. “Bill’s contributions to U.S. agribusiness decision making are both extensive and consequential,” said Marty Ruikka, a principal of PRX.  “As a friend, partner, mentor and colleague,” Ruikka added, “Bill was and remains irreplaceable. After his retirement, a senior executive client said to me ‘Bill was a National Treasure to our industry’ and I completely  concur.” The Amos Family Funeral Home in Shawnee, Kansas, is handling funeral arrangements set for December 21.  

USDA does not provide updated commodity production estimates in December, waiting until January to provide “final” estimates.  However, its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates  (WASDE) provided fresh data on corn, soybeans and wheat.  Corn exports were increased 150 million bushels to 2.475 billion bushels, while corn used for ethanol was increased 50 million bushels.  Soybeans were unchanged, except for a reduction in average farm price of $0.60 to $10.20 per bushel.  Wheat imports and exports were increased,  imports by 5 million bushels and exports by 25 million bushels. All PRX reports will be updated with these changes and available later this week. Source: ProExporter, Inc, December 11, 2024. 

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed carbon capture and storage pipeline project. The approval is contingent upon the pipeline’s receiving the necessary permits, and beginning construction in other states along proposed routes before construction can begin in Minnesota. The Otter Tail to Wilkin Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Project is a proposed 28-mile, 4.5-inch diameter carbon steel pipeline. It is designed to transport captured carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the Green Plains Ethanol Plant near Fergus Falls in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, to the North Dakota border south of Breckenridge in Wilkin County. From there, the CO₂ is sequestered underground in North Dakota using Class VI injection wells. Summit CEO Lee Blank has participated in several Kansas City Agricultural Business Council’s meetings, forums and conferences.  

The US agriculture industry has started talks with President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team in a bid to advocate for the food business as the president-elect pledges tariffs and mass deportations.  Groups including the National Grain and Feed Association, which represents agriculture powerhouses such as Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. and Cargill Inc., and the International Fresh Produce Association, were among those involved in the discussions, according to people familiar with the matter. The National Council of Agricultural Employers also has a meeting on the books. Source: BNN Bloomberg, December 12. 2024. 

Kansas State University researchers received a $2 million award from the National Science Foundation’s Global Centers program to develop sensors that can more accurately detect nutrients, chemical compounds, soil microbiomes and greenhouse gases in soil. Suprem Das, an associate professor in K-State’s Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, said, “Advancing soil sensors is essential for advancing precision agriculture and promoting sustainable practices.” Das will lead the project of more than a half dozen scientists aiming to develop sensors using atomically thin carbon sheets in which the actual sensing events occur at the nanoscale, defined as a dimension between 1 and 100 nanometers. The project, Das said, is the first successful example of leveraging K-State’s GRIP (game-changing research initiation program) award to attract highly competitive federal grants. Funding for K-State’s work begins on January 1, 2025. 

During its annual business meeting in November, Kansas Livestock Association focused its policy on milk marketing, Kansas State University dairy facilities, deer permits, federal immigration regulation and other key issues. New resolutions included these: 

• Creation of a milk marketing trust statute that would give unpaid cash sellers priority in the proceeds a dairy processor receives from the sale of milk or dairy products derived from the seller. 

• Renovation of K-State dairy facilities. The present condition of the dairy hinders the ability to perform research that would benefit the state’s growing dairy industry. 

• Election of (instead of appointing) commissioners to the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC). Currently, three commissioners are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. The resolution further states that electing commissioners would more closely reflect the values of Kansas citizens. 

• Amendment of KLA’s existing policy pertaining to deer permits. The amended policy supports the repeal of a statute that allows non-Kansas residents the ability to obtain low-cost, nonresident landowner or tenant deer tags. Such a repeal would require nonresident landowners to enter the annual nonresident drawing to obtain a deer tag and pay full price for it.  

• Amendment of policy on immigration that supports federal immigration policy that allows for an efficient and adequate guest worker program and provides opportunities for foreign agricultural workers to gain year-round work authorization. 

In all, KLA members approved 75 resolutions for 2025. Other issues addressed in KLA policy range from taxes to water to noxious weed control. 

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) shared a comprehensive set of federal policy priorities, December 12, with President-Elect Trump’s transition team. IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M., said IDFA and its more than 300 members are looking to the new administration to help the U.S.  dairy industry to drive innovation, reduce barriers to business efficiency, and open new market access for healthy, nutritious U.S. dairy products around the world. “IDFA is pleased to share the priorities of the dairy industry with President-Elect Trump’s transition team leaders to build new momentum and drive greater prosperity across the U.S. dairy supply chain,” said Dykes, who also noted that U.S. dairy is the most productive in the world, but workforce challenges, dwindling export market opportunities and burdensome regulations are creating uncertainty for our industry.  

EVENTS  

Winter is coming and Kansas Corn and its commodity partners are offering several events with learning and networking opportunities for Kansas corn farmers. With four Kansas Corn and Soybean Schools held across the state, the Kansas Corn Symposium and Kansas Commodity Classic, growers can catch up with their commodity organizations, and farmers from across Kansas, and can hear from top speakers about issues that impact agriculture and their farms’ profitability. All events are offered free to growers. 

• Kansas Corn and Soybean Schools: 2025 Kansas Corn and Soybean Crop Management Schools will be held across the state Jan. 14-17. Kansas Corn and Kansas Soybean partner with K-State Research and Extension to offer the Kansas Corn and Soybean Schools, winter learning sessions for Kansas soybean and corn farmers. The Kansas Corn and Soybean Schools cover a number of issues for growers and are tailored to each region. Morning refreshments and a hot lunch are provided at these in-person schools. 

• Kansas Corn Symposium, Thursday, Jan. 30. Get ready to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Kansas Corn Growers Association at the Kansas Corn Symposium. The symposium will begin with a luncheon, top speakers, the KCGA annual meeting, a 50th Anniversary reception, dinner and entertainment. The Symposium will be held on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 at the Salina Hilton Garden Inn. The Kansas Corn Symposium brings together Kansas corn farmers, leaders and industry supporters to celebrate corn.  

• The Kansas Commodity Classic: Friday, Jan. 31. The Kansas Commodity Classic is the annual convention of the Kansas Corn, Grain Sorghum, Soybean and Wheat growers associations. The Classic will be held Friday, January 31, 2025 at the Salina Hilton Garden Inn, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join us for a high quality program with speakers on markets, policy and more along with breakfast and lunch, all offered free to growers thanks to the generous support of our sponsors. 

More information at kscorn.com. 

PEOPLE 

Kansas  Farmers Union (KFU) members gathered November 20-21 to elect leadership, advance key policy priorities for the upcoming legislative session and new Congress. New food and nutrition policy priorities include support for the expansion and promotion of farm-to-school and farm-to-institution programs and support for policies moving toward universal no-cost meals for all  Kansas  public school children. Kansas  Farmers Union President Donn Teske, Wheaton, was re-elected to a two-year term. Teske, a fifth-generation Pottawatomie County farmer, was first elected president of  Kansas  Farmers Union in 2001. He serves on the board of some twelve state, regional, and national boards concerning agriculture and the environment. 

Missouri Farm Bureau (MOFB) announced that Kayden Guymon has been hired to be its new Director of Regulatory Affairs & Policy Counsel. He will begin his tenure with MOFB on January 2, 2025. Guymon brings a wealth of knowledge and legal experience to MOFB. Prior, he worked for the Law Firm of Haden & Colbert where he specialized in agricultural law, providing legal counsel to farmers, ranchers, and agri-businesses. Guymon a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, Guymon received his bachelor’s degree in animal science and received a law degree from Drake University Law School and also obtained a certificate in Food and Agricultural Law. 

Michelle Cloud  and  Joseph Frueh  joined the Missouri Farm Bureau (MOFB) board of directors during the 110th MOFB annual meeting earlier this month. Cloud, of Jasper County, was selected to serve as the South Director at-large representative, succeeding outgoing board member Amy Jo Estes of Gasconade County. The owner and operator of Cloud’s Meats in Carthage, Cloud has served as the Jasper County Farm Bureau President since 2022. Frueh, of Nodaway County, was selected as the new chair of the MOFB YF&R Committee. He is a fourth-generation farmer who currently serves as the President of both the Nodaway County Farm Bureau and the Nodaway County Cattlemen’s Association.   

Digging Deeper...

The roots of our Holiday Christmas Trees run deep in human history. Early Rome marked the winter solstice with its Saturnalia festival honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture. To observe the occasion, Romans decorated their homes and temples with evergreen wreaths. Druid priests of ancient Celtic culture in Northern Europe arranged evergreen sprigs and branches to symbolize everlasting life. As winter days grew darker, the Norse Vikings draped boughs of mistletoe – a semi-parasitic evergreen shrub – as a metaphor of love and betrayal.
By Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC. Sources: Julia Musto, The Independent, December 2, 2024, Independent Digital News & Media Ltd, UK; Wall Street Journal, November 28, 2024; Mordor Intelligence, India; A&E Networks (formerly the History Channel), a joint venture between Hearst  Communications and the Walt Disney Company.

Hurricane Helene And Christmas Cheer 

The United States is home to a vast, dynamic Christmas tree industry.  Evergreens are harvested across all 50 states. In 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported the U.S. is the world’s largest market for Christmas trees. That’s quite an achievement considering the country was late to the historical yuletide celebrations by several millennia, give or take a century or two.   

Germany is credited with starting the modern Christmas tree tradition – as we now know it – in the 16th Century  when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.  It is not surprising that the tree was adopted so late in America, noted The History Channel in a November 28, 2023 program. New England’s first Puritan leaders viewed Christmas celebrations as unholy, according to Channel’s editors who said, “Pilgrim governor William Bradford tried hard to stamp out pagan mockery of the observance, penalizing any frivolity.” In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 an offense punishable with jail time.  People could be fined for draping decorations on their property and in their homes. Such stern measures were common until the influx of German and Irish immigrants in the 1800s helped make Christmas trees ubiquitous in American life.  

Now there are over 15,000 farms producing Christmas trees on plots measuring 2 to 9,000 acres in size. Larger farms dominate the market with around 434 farms controlling 75% of the supply. In recent years, the market has benefited from rising demand for eco-friendly products and that is ensuring a steady growth of natural Christmas tree production. Environmental consciousness, especially among millennials, has boosted the demand for natural trees as a more sustainable alternative to artificial trees.  

One of the main factors driving the sales of natural trees is the competitive pricing compared to artificial trees. In 2022, natural trees cost an average of $81 per tree, while artificial trees were priced higher at $107 per tree. Additionally, accessibility to freshly cut trees through online and offline platforms has contributed to the rising sales of real Christmas trees. The convenience of buying natural trees online has particularly appealed to eco-conscious millennials.   

The U.S. is the hub for the global Christmas tree market, according to World Population Review, a research firm based in Southern California. It notes that North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin lead in production and sales of Christmas trees. The Michigan Christmas Tree Association says around 30 million natural Christmas trees are sold annually in the U.S. Over 100 million trees currently are growing nationwide to ensure Americans a steady supply for years. Mordor Intelligence, India, has valued the North America Christmas tree market at $1.38 billion for 2024, and has forecast it to reach $1.71 billion by 2029. As sustainability gains importance, the North American natural Christmas tree market is expected to further expand in the coming years. 

But………. 

This year’s Christmas tree market hasn’t been all that merry with tidings of comfort and joy. The catastrophic flooding and destruction that Hurricane Helene unleashed on western North Carolina caused upwards of $53 billion in damages and recovery costs. “It’s the hardest year ever in North Carolina agriculture,” said Lee Wicker, deputy director of the North Carolina Growers Association, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal in late November. 

Among Helene’s victims was Trinity Tree Company-Avery Farms, located in western North Carolina. The family-owned farm and Christmas tree operation has been in business since the early 1700s, when the queen of England ceded the land to the Avery family as a gift.  On September 27, Helene dumped as much as 36 inches of rain and registered wind speeds as high as 175 MPH. 

“Helene hit our farm with aggression,” posted the family on its website, “wiping out our home, the barn, our office space, farm equipment, hauling trailers, dump trucks and all of our farm vehicles.” Some 60,000 Christmas trees, representing a third of the farm’s Christmas tree crop, were damaged. Many of the trees were partially submerged by floodwater, the family said.  “Others were covered in silt that resists washing.” Over the last couple of months Avery Farms has been salvaging what it can. The Wall Street Journal reported the staff is cutting tree tops off for table displays and using any salvageable greenery to make 3,000 wreaths, twice the normal number. “We’re cleaning what we can and we’re making little 4-foot trees out of 8-foot trees,” said Waightstill Avery III, scion to the three-century old farm operation. 

Looking at the bright side of the situation, the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association says  the current Christmas tree inventory should be enough to supply everyone who wants a real tree this year. But growers say that buyers might need to adjust their expectations for next year. The damage Helene inflicted on the Christmas tree crop this year will impact the Christmas tree industry many years to come. The Wall Street Journal pointed out that it takes roughly 10 years to produce a full-size Fraser fir, which grows about a foot a year. Many of the trees that were damaged were several years from maturity, explained The Wall Street Journal. That could affect supply for five or six years. Seedlings now being tended to in a nursery will require even more time before being planted.  

Washington Update at Council’s December Luncheon

Mike Seyfert

Kansas State University alum Mike Seyfert, President and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), addressed Ag Business Council members during December’s annual meeting and December luncheon at the Grand Street Café. As Agriculture closely watches the Presidential transition, Seyfert provided his insights on what Council members can expect from Washington in 2025.  

Seyfert noted that NGFA enjoyed a positive working relationship with the previous Trump administration and is looking forward to partnering with his new administration over the next four years to strengthen the rural economy, and “put U.S. agriculture in a position to flourish for many years to come.” But agriculture is a tough business, and he commented that House Speaker Mike Johnson could have a rough time. “From passage of a new Farm Bill to transportation investments and opening of new markets for NGFA member companies, there is a lot of work to do,” said Seyfert. That sentiment was reiterated at the 53rd Country Elevator Conference held in Kansas City this past week, sponsored by the NGFA. The U.S. grain and feed industry will have several issues to navigate in 2025, including a difficult rural economy, shifting political realities and potential extreme weather conditions.  

The situation, however, is not without opportunity. Lower wheat export volumes from the E.U. and Russia could create windfalls for the U.S. and Canada. Emerging biofuel demand in the E.U., Mexico, India and Vietnam could open new markets for the U.S. Deregulation, an extension of tax cuts, renewed interest in agriculture production along with increased domestic energy production constitute opportunities for rural America.  

Shortly before his visit with the Kansas City Agricultural Business Council, Seyfert explained that USDA’s forecast for growth in grain production and steady export share of grain demand has the potential to provide opportunities for rail freight growth. He said U.S. grain production has nearly doubled over the past four decades, and wheat, corn and soybean yields are expected to increase from 21 billion bushels in 2023 to 23 billion bushels by 2033. Grain exports will expand from 4.5 billion bushels currently to 5.5 billion by 2023.  

Ag Business Council Raises Young Leaders to Board of Directors

Emma Reynolds (Dairy Farmers of America) and Sam Bormann (Merck Animal Health) succeed outgoing directors Jackie Klippenstein and Bill Vaughan

KANSAS CITY, MO--   The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City held its annual meeting on December 4, re-electing Chair Ron Seeber and Vice Chair Kristie Larson, and elevating two young leaders in agriculture and animal health to the Board of Directors. Emma Reynolds and Sam Bormann will succeed outgoing directors Jackie Klippenstein and Bill Vaughan.

Seeber serves as CEO of the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association, Kansas Grain and Feed Association, and Renew Kansas Biofuels Association. Larson is the Strategic Relationship Manager at The DeBruce Foundation.

Reynolds is Manager of Dairy Policy and Industry Relation at Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), where she has served the cooperative’s farmer-owners since her career began. She started at DFA as an intern while earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri. Reynolds was raised on a row-crop and beef cattle operation in West-Central Missouri. 

Bormann leads the parasiticides business for the US Commercial Cattle Team at Merck Animal Health, drawing on extensive leadership experience at Merck, and earlier at Virbac and Elanco Animal Health. Bormann is a committed leader in his community, serving on the board of Christ Preparatory Academy and the K-State Olathe Advisory Board.

Klippenstein and Vaughan, the outgoing directors, each served on the Council Board of Directors for six years, and provided indispensable leadership throughout a decade of growth and programmatic success at the Council.

Tom Worth, Division Director at USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), was elected as an ex-officio member of the Board. He will succeed outgoing ex-officio director Jim Staiert, the Associate Administrator of ERS.

The Council’s Board of Directors consists of 20 members serving staggered two-year terms. Incumbent directors re-elected to the board include:

• Eric Bohl, The Bockorny Group

• Justin Gilpin, Kansas Wheat

• JJ Jones, Cultivated Conversations

• Sarah Kolell, American AgCredit

• Haley Larson, Kansas State University – Olathe

• Emily Narverud, Agriculture Future of America

• James Nygren, Farm Credit Services of America

• Brad Tolbert, John Deere

The re-elected directors will join incumbent directors continuing in their terms:

• Davin Althoff, Missouri Farm Bureau

• Tom Brand, St. Joseph Community Alliance

• Amber DeWitt, Fulcrum Global Capital

• Terry Holdren, Kansas Farm Bureau

• Chelsea Good, Livestock Marketing Association

• Chris Klenklen, Missouri Department of Agriculture

• Jackie McClaskey, American Royal

• Paul Schadegg, Farmers National Company

• Matt Teagarden, Kansas Livestock Association

• Robin Wenneker, Wenneker Properties

The Council’s staff leadership remains unchanged, with Erica Venancio serving as Executive Director and Zach Helder as Director of Member Services. 

The Agricultural Business Council represents over 700 members from the food and agribusiness sector. Agribusiness remains a cornerstone of the Kansas City region, driving 8% of the local workforce and 22% of the gross regional product (GRP).

AFA Looks To A Future With Advanced Technology

Elizabeth Fastiggi,

At its Annual Leaders Conference earlier this month, held in the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel, Agriculture Future of America took a look at how technology is shaping the future of farming.  It was AFA’s most well-attended conference to date. Elizabeth Fastiggi, Global Head of Agri-food at Amazon Web Services (AWS) was guest speaker at the opening breakfast gathering hosted by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City.

“Agriculture is no stranger to harnessing the powerful combination of human ingenuity and machinery and technology,” said Fastiggi. The industry has made tremendous strides in guiding humans to be more efficient, she noted, allowing farming operations to be incredibly productive. “While this technology is rapidly evolving, it is still in its infancy.”

Fastiggi was glad that AFA and Agricultural Business Council thought to incorporate this topic into the agenda. “We as an agriculture ‘industry’ [referring to her particular division’s agricultural focus on generative AI & Innovation] have an opportunity to collaborate with each other and foster the dialogue that also leads to this technology being used responsibly and to the benefit of the farmer and the natural resources so vital to food production and security.”

AWS provides cloud computing infrastructure and over 200 services to ag businesses globally, including more than 20 Fortune 500 ag and food companies.  “We help organizations of all sizes leverage their data more cost efficiently to derive business value and build products that delight their customers,” she said. Given this diverse mix of customers, Fastiggi explained, AWS can help customers use artificial intelligence and machine learning across the value chain. AWS has many customers using its platforms and machine learning services to power their R&D programs that analyze data from field and support clinical trials that determine which genetics or molecules to advance in the pipeline. “AWS is also set up to help farmers with recommendations and decision making or optimizing their supply chains with better demand planning and optimizing routes.

The Time’s Right

Fastiggi asked why all this technology is happening now. She answered her question with these responses:

• “First, there is a proliferation of data. Let’s think about this from the
  agriculture perspective--we are very good at capturing data. We have more
  cost effective and rugged versions of sensors and devices and on farm
  equipment is incredibly sophisticated – we are awash in data.”

• “Next, the cost of compute capacity has come down considerably and it is
  more accessible than ever—this is something that AWS has been doing for
  customers for over a decade now.”

• “And then of course, we have the advancement of Machine Learning technologies and
  modeling capabilities.”

So a tipping point has been reached, she concluded: “The convergence of technological
progress and an understanding of the value of what it can accomplish.”

Digging Deeper...

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow released the text of the Senate’s 2025 Farm Bill on Monday, November 18. It arrived with little more than a month before funding for many farm programs in the current farm bill disappears. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer implored Congress to move the legislation forward to avoid opting for an extension of the current bill. This 2025 Farm Bill under discussion is Sen. Stabenow’s last change to shape farm and nutrition policy before her retirement at the end of the 118thCongress.
By Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC. Sources: Jim Wiesemeyer, Professional Farmers of America, Inc., Nov. 18, 2024; Paul Neiffer, Farm CPA Report, Nov.18, 2024; Jerry Hagstrom, The Hagstrom Report, Nov. 18, 2024; Agri-Pulse Communications, Nov. 20, 2024; U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Press Release, Nov.17, 2024.

Can Farm Bill 2025 Get Over The Finish Line This Year?

Congress has a lot to do before it adjourns, says Jerry Hagstrom, principal of The Hagstrom Report. That includes passage of a measure to fund the government and raise disaster aid for hurricane and flood a victims. “With that in mind,” he notes, “prospects for passage of a farm bill this year appear slim.”

But Sen. Debbie Stabenow appears undaunted. In a statement as she unveiled the Senate’s1,397-page farm bill entitled The Rural Prosperity and food Security Act, the senator said, “The foundation of every successful farm bill is built on holding together the broad bipartisan farm bill coalition.”  She went on to say, “This is a strong bill that invests in all of agriculture, helps families put food on the table, supports rural prosperity and holds that coalition together.”  

Not everyone is in agreement. Senate Ag Committee ranking member John Boozman (R-Ark.) explained that an 11thhour partisan proposal is troubling. National Pork Producers Council president Lori Stevermer said, “This is not a viable bill, as it fails to provide a solution to California Prop 12.”  Stevermer, who was a featured speaker this year at the Agricultural Business Council’s Ag Outlook Forum, explained that pork producers have continually spoken up about the negative impacts of this issue. “It is a shame these conversations were disregarded.” 

Senior Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran commented that since Congress can’t pass a farm bill this year the panel will “focus fully” on negotiating “a natural disaster and economic assistance supplemental for farmers and ranchers who have suffered from high input costs and low commodity prices along with drought.”

What’s New In Stabenow’s Farm Bill Text?

Stabenow’s bill is unlikely to become law, but the text provides a useful barometer for the consensus among Senate Ag Democrats, whose support will be required to reach the 60 votes necessary to pass a farm bill and conduct most Senate business. Importantly, the Senate Ag Committee’s Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act includes $39 billion in new resources to keep farmers farming, families fed and rural communities strong. “It provides farmers with the certainty of a 5-year farm bill and the immediate help they need to manage the urgent needs of the present. It ensures that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) keeps up with the realities of American life, and brings the historic investments in climate-smart conservation practices into the farm bill.” Investments include these allocations:

• $20 billion to strengthen the farm safety net to support all of agriculture and establishes a permanent structure for disaster assistance so emergency relief reaches farmers faster;

• $8.5 billion to help families make ends meet, put food on the table, and improve access to nutrition assistance;

• $4.3 billion to improve quality of life in the rural communities that millions of Americans call home.

More Details

Experts and pundits were quick to identify key features of the senate’s Farm Bill. Paul Neiffer. Publisher/Editor of Farm CPA Report, commented on items that stood out for him:

• Reference Prices: The House proposal raised reference prices by approximately 10-20%. The Senate proposal appears to raise reference prices by a flat 5% (rounded).

• Increase in Base Acres: Only underserved and disadvantaged farmers may increase base acres:

  • Based on average of 2018-2022 plantings

  • Includes prevent planted acres

  • Maximum increase of 160 acres per farm

  • If disadvantage farmer does not farm acres during 2025-2029, then increased base acres are eliminated

  • Special 2023 and 2024 ARC/PLC election

  • Automatic election to be paid the highest amount for 2023 and 2024 crop year even if the farmer originally elected ARC or PLC.

•  Limit on PLC Payment: The maximum amount of payment for PLC will be 15% of the effective reference price. As example, assume a farmer has a PLC yield of 200 bushels for corn and the effective reference price is $4.30 and the final corn harvest price is $3.50. Under the old PLC rules, the farmer could receive 200 bushels times 80 cents per bushel or $160. Under this proposal, the farmer is limited to 65 cents or $130 per acre.

• Partial PLC Payments: Instead of waiting until after October 1 to collect a PLC payment, the farmer, in certain situations may elect to receive up to 50% of the crop beginning February 1. This is based on firm projections by USDA that the final harvest price will be below the effective reference price. If USDA pays too much, then the farmer must pay it back.

• Agricultural Risk Coverage: As expected, the Bill increases the guarantee from the current 86% to 88%, less than the 90% in the House Bill. However, not expected, the Bill increases the maximum payment to 12.50% of benchmark revenue, matching the House Bill and makes this retroactive to the 2024 crop. 2023 crop remains at 10%.

• Partial ARC Payments: Provides same mechanism for partial payments as under PLC.

• Increase to Marketing Loan Rates: For 2025 crops and subsequent years, the loan rate will be the lesser of 110% of current loan rates or an adjustment based on current input costs versus a five-year average.

• Sugar Program: Increase sugar cane payment to 24 cents per pound for 2025-2029. Sugar beet growers will receive 136.5% of sugar cane payment rate.

• Permanent ERP: Emergency Relief Program would be made permanent (at least until next farm bill). Payment limits of $500,000 for specialty crops and $250,000 for all other crops. Terms appear similar to old ERP programs, but it does not mandate how USDA will administer it, etc. Also, no extra payment limit if you can prove you are a farmer. This may still be messy for CPAs to help farmers calculate their claim. Also, requires farmers to insure all acres.

• Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limits: AGI limits dropped from $900,000 to $700,000.Increases AGI limits to $1.5 million for specialty and high-value crops.

  • What happens if a farmer grows both? The Bill does not address this, other than likely leave it up to USDA to come up with rules.

  • Waiver of AGI rules available to economically distressed producer.

  • It appears that no payments will be allowed if the land is owned by someone or an entity whose AGI is over $700,000. This means that a farmer who is cash renting that ground will not qualify for any payment on that ground.

  • Under current rules and the House Farm Bill proposal, any farmer who is cash renting the ground and their AGI is under the limit will qualify for a payment.

  • This is a major change and will create the law of unintended consequences. The Senate bill seems to want to not have an incentive for wealthier individuals to purchase land since their high AGI will not qualify them for any payments. But under current rules they get no payment anyway.

• Increase in CCC Scoring: For purposes of CBO scoring, the restrictions on utilizing CCC funds will be $6.7 billion per year for 2024-2033. The last scoring by CBO was $400 million per year.

• CRP Rentals Limit Increased to $125,000 from current $50,000.

• Crop Insurance Changes: Increases subsidies for beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers to essentially match House proposal.

  • Increases SCO to allow for payment at 88% instead of 86% of guarantee. House was at 90%.

  • Increases premium subsidies.

• Makes improvements to Whole Farm and Micro Farm insurance plans.

End Game

Reporting in Farm Journal (November 18, 2024), Jim Wiesemeyer, Professional Farmers of America, Inc., indicated the reaction of his contacts who have been following farm bill negotiations could be phrased as, “Wow, finally, but too late.” He wrote that even the “usually optimistic Congressional House Ag Committee Chair, Glenn Thompson, signaled it’s time to focus on a 2018 farm bill extension by year’s end.

Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - November 2024

DEVELOPMENTS

The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City is strengthening its advocacy partnership with the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. With new elected leaders coming to the White House, Congress, and the Kansas and Missouri legislatures, AgBizKC Director of Member Services Zach Helder has joined the Chamber Public Policy Council (PPC) as the Council’s representative. Helder, an agriculture policy expert, is working to ensure agriculture has a strong voice in the Chamber’s public policy program. Said Helder, “Now, as much as ever, Agriculture needs to unite in support of free and fair trade, science-based policymaking, and the passage of a strong farm bill. Agriculture drives as much as 20% of our region’s economic output, and the Council is the PPC’s sole representative for the industry, so it’s a job we take very seriously, especially given the uncertainty in the ag economy. The Chamber’s policy staff and PPC members have been great partners and listeners. I’m confident they’ll help us educate policymakers about the broadly-held interests of agriculture, from producers, to businesses, to every American affected by food prices.”

Cooking a Thanksgiving Feast will cost less than last year but will still be more expensive than before the pandemic. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 39th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s traditional holiday feast for 10, which is $58.08 or about $5.80 per person. This is a 5% decrease from 2023, which was 4.5% lower than 2022. Two years of declines don’t erase dramatic increases that led to a record high cost of $64.06 in 2022. Despite the encouraging momentum, a Thanksgiving meal is still 19% higher than it was in 2019, which highlights the impact inflation has had on food prices (and farmers’ costs) since the pandemic. The average price for a 16-pound turkey is $25.67. That is $1.60 per pound, down 6%t from last year. AFBF volunteer shoppers checked prices Nov. 1-7, before most grocery store chains began featuring whole frozen turkeys at sharply lower prices.

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, Senior Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, told Agri-Pulse Communications, that lawmakers are still in the “preliminary stages” of crafting a package of disaster aid and market-loss relief for farmers. But in an interview with Agri-Pulse Newsmakers, Sen. Jerry Moran indicated Congress will ensure this aid package does a better job of covering natural disaster losses than the last version did. “I can assure our viewers that we're absolutely committed to making sure that this Emergency Relief Program payment is one that is actually beneficial to producing farmers,” Moran said.  USDA pro-rated payments under the 2022 version of ERP to ensure smaller scale farmers got a bigger share of their losses covered. USDA officials defended their decision to do that by noting Congress only funded about one-third of the estimated losses. This time, Congress is looking at providing about $24 billion for disaster-related losses in 2023 and 2024, Moran said. Source: Agri-Pulse Daybreak, November 22, 2024.

Cattle producers should stay “business-like” during the next 12 to 24 months said CattleFax CEO Randy Blach during Beef Industry University, sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas. He further explained that the industry is set to face cyclical-low cowherd and fed cattle numbers, but likely already has seen the bulk of the cyclical price increases. “While we all want to remain optimistic, this is not a time in the cattle cycle to bet the whole wad,” Blach said. “We are also at record-high retail beef prices, so we need to be conscious that we could see some consumer pushback and demand erosion.” Blach predicts 2025 calf prices will average around $320/cwt. to $330/cwt., while feeder prices are expected to range between $250/cwt. and $260/cwt. Fed cattle prices should average near $192/cwt. “All in all, this is a pretty unique time in our industry, with some of the best profitability numbers we’ve seen by segment,” he said. Source: Kansas Livestock Cattle Association, November 22, 2024.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture welcomed a beef genetics trade team from Canada in late October. The diverse trade team represented progressive seedstock operations located throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta and the participants had varied cattle breed interests including Black and Red Angus, Charolais, Hereford, and Simmental breeds. Suzanne Ryan-Numrich, international trade director at KDA, highlighted the significance of the trade relationship with Canada. “This trade mission was the direct result of an outbound trade mission to Canadian Western Agribition last fall,” she said. “It highlights the growing interest in beef genetics and the potential for cross-border partnerships in the beef industry. Through these trade missions, Kansans have had the opportunity to market purebred beef cattle and expand their global networks.” Supporting all facets of agriculture is central to KDA’s mission, including facilitating opportunities for producers to market and sell beef genetics both domestically and internationally.

In a statement released in earlier this month, the Livestock Marketing Association urged USDA to suspend enforcement of the electronic identification (EID) rule immediately. The current state of tag availability in various states is setting this transition as well as the livestock industry up for failure. “Our policy is clear in both opposing any move to mandatory individual identification of feeder cattle and demanding any mandate on currently covered animals be fully funded by USDA. This includes readers, infrastructure, tags, tag application, data collection and data management. Despite our extensive efforts in working with Congress, USDA and state veterinarians to ensure this program is handled effectively, major issues remain with the allocation and availability of USDA-provided EID tags needed to comply with the rule. Since this sets up an unfunded mandate on cattle producers, enforcement must be suspended. We will continue to work with Congress, state veterinarians, our member auctions and USDA to impact change on this issue.”

EPA has launched a new, no-cost technical assistance effort focused on reducing exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other emerging contaminants in small or disadvantaged communities. This initiative is part of EPA’s Water Technical Assistance Program. The Tackling Emerging Contaminants initiative will help eligible public drinking-water systems evaluate emerging contaminant issues, conduct initial water quality testing, and identify next steps in 200 small or disadvantaged communities over the next three years. EPA will also share best practices and amplify successes through case studies, fact sheets, webinars, and other resources regarding addressing emerging contaminants, including PFAS. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is providing a focused opportunity to help small and disadvantaged communities address PFAS and emerging contaminants to ensure that drinking water is clean and safe for residents,” said EPA Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. “By working hand-in-hand with local partners, the Tackling Emerging Contaminants initiative will help ensure that historically underserved areas have access to safer drinking water that is essential for healthy and vibrant communities.”

The Kansas Department of Agriculture joined the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the International Brangus Breeders Association on a beef genetics trade mission to northwestern Mexico on November 4-7, 2024. Assistant Secretary Josh McGinn and Agribusiness Coordinator Tessa Beeman represented KDA on the mission team, which spent three days in Sonora visiting Santa Cecilia Angus, El Cosari Ranch, La Muira Ranch, Santa Patricia Brangus, Sierra Angus Ranch and a cattle feedlot Rancho el 17. The team’s ranch visits allowed them to better understand the type of beef genetics that would fit the environment. While in Hermosillo, the group had an opportunity to host a seminar at the Sonora Cattle Union, which presented data on U.S. feedyards and information related to profitability of good genetics. “Witnessing firsthand the ability for Brangus to not just handle but thrive in the harsh environment of Hermosillo was an eye-opening experience,” said Grant Goree, International Junior Brangus Breeders Association Board Member and International Liaison. “My level of respect towards our breed has grown seeing the resilience, strength, and adaptability Brangus brings to an operation.” It is the mission of KDA to support all facets of agriculture, including facilitating opportunities that connect producers who wish to market and sell beef genetics domestically and internationally.

The Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association held the annual Kansas Agri-Business Expo from November 19-21. The Expo featured a leadership conference, which AgBizKC attended, to discuss emerging issues in agriculture. The expo’s keynote speaker was Ray Starling, former USDA Chief of Staff and White House Official in President Donald Trump’s first term, who reportedly is under consideration for a senior role in the next administration.

Farmer sentiment saw an unexpected surge in October ahead of the upcoming U.S. election, according to the latest Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The index rose to 115, marking a 27-point increase from September. This boost in sentiment was primarily driven by a rise in producers’ confidence in the future, with the Future Expectations Index jumping 30 points to 124. While the Current Conditions Index also improved, reaching 95, it still reflected farmers’ concerns that economic conditions this year are worse than last year and weaker than the barometer’s base period of 2015-16 during the early days of a multiyear downturn in the U.S. farm economy. Despite current challenges, the October survey indicated some optimism among producers that economic conditions may strengthen, avoiding an extended downturn in the farm economy. This month’s survey was conducted from Oct. 14-18, 2024. Source: Agriculture of America, November 6, 2024.

EVENTS

Sachse Family Angus would like to invite you to their 3rd Annual RanchFIT Ruck located near Easton, Kansas on Saturday, December 21st. Located near the rolling hills of Kansas' first city of Leavenworth, this ruck is located in the heart of the Sachse family farming and ranching operation. This will be a trail hike through pasture, hayfield, and crop ground. Whether you are a first-time rucker or an avid enthusiast, this ruck is for you. More information and signup is located here.  

Kansas Farm Bureau will celebrate its 106th annual meeting December 7-9 in Manhattan, Kansas. “I’m excited we will be gathering again to conduct the work of the state’s largest general farm organization,” says Joe Newland, president of Kansas Farm Bureau. “I’m so glad I’ll get to celebrate once again with our members, county Farm Bureaus and friends from across the state.” The organization’s annual meeting  will begin Saturday evening with KFB’s Foundations’ Fundraiser, A Night in Vegas, which benefits the End Hunger Program to address food insecurity in Kansas. The doors open for all at 5:45 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, with the event starting promptly at 6 p.m. On Sunday, informational workshops, tradeshow vendors and a silent auction will be open to attendees. Workshop topics include technology in agriculture, biosecurity, succession planning, mental health and more. A full list is available here. During the general session, awards for Friends of Agriculture, Natural Resources, county Farm Bureaus, mental health advocacy and media will be presented. Diane Sullivan, cofounder of Equitable Spaces, and Brian Klippenstein, senior advisor to former USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, will host a panel discussion on how important the freedom to operate on farms and ranches is vital not only to agriculturalists, but also to low-income families.

Winter is coming and Kansas Corn and its commodity partners are offering several events with learning and networking opportunities for Kansas corn farmers. With four Kansas Corn and Soybean Schools held across the state, the Kansas Corn Symposium and Kansas Commodity Classic, growers can catch up with their commodity organizations, and farmers from across Kansas, and can hear from top speakers about issues that impact agriculture and their farms’ profitability. All events are offered free to growers.

• Kansas Corn and Soybean Schools: 2025 Kansas Corn and Soybean Crop Management Schools will be held across the state Jan. 14-17. Kansas Corn and Kansas Soybean partner with K-State Research and Extension to offer the Kansas Corn and Soybean Schools, winter learning sessions for Kansas soybean and corn farmers. The Kansas Corn and Soybean Schools cover a number of issues for growers and are tailored to each region. Morning refreshments and a hot lunch are provided at these in-person schools.

• Kansas Corn Symposium, Thursday, Jan. 30. Get ready to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Kansas Corn Growers Association at the Kansas Corn Symposium. The symposium will begin with a luncheon, top speakers, the KCGA annual meeting, a 50th Anniversary reception, dinner and entertainment. The Symposium will be held on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 at the Salina Hilton Garden Inn. The Kansas Corn Symposium brings together Kansas corn farmers, leaders and industry supporters to celebrate corn.

• The Kansas Commodity Classic: Friday, Jan. 31. The Kansas Commodity Classic is the annual convention of the Kansas Corn, Grain Sorghum, Soybean and Wheat growers associations. The Classic will be held Friday, January 31, 2025 at the Salina Hilton Garden Inn, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join us for a high quality program with speakers on markets, policy and more along with breakfast and lunch, all offered free to growers thanks to the generous support of our sponsors.

More information at kscorn.com.

PEOPLE

Nineteen individuals and six businesses were recognized at the 2024 KLA Convention in Manhattan for joining the association in 1974, and keeping their membership active for a half-century. Those to be honored are Beachner Bros. Livestock, Parsons; William Brethour, Maple Hill; Burkdoll Brothers Inc., Rantoul; Tom Carr, Medicine Lodge; Dave Casement, Sedan; Mike and Pam Collinge, Hamilton; Larry Corah, Manhattan; David Cross, Lewis; Stephen Donley, Ellsworth; Henry Eggers, Yates Center; Five Rivers Cattle Feeding/Grant County Feeders, Ulysses; Grabbe Farms, Hays; Jerry Grout, Mankato, Terry and Paul Handke, Muscotah; Tony Imm, Phillipsburg; Kansas State Bank of Overbrook and Scranton; Kueser Brothers Farms, Richmond; James “Tony” Meseke, Alma; Thomas Perrier, Eureka; Jerald Riemann, Dighton; Loyd Schoen, Lenora; Rex Schultze, Osborne; George Teagarden, La Cygne; Lafe Wilson, Uniontown; and James Zwonitzer, Horton…..   Four members will be honored for 60 years of loyalty to the association. Gartrell Farms, Stockton; Geffert Herefords, Haven; Gilliland Cattle Co. LLC, Leon; and Brad Tate, Welch, OK, all joined KLA in 1964…….Seven decades of membership will be recognized for Adams Cattle Company, Plains; the late Marilyn Fairbairn, Edmond, OK; Jack MacNair, Dodge City; and Tony Renollet, Sterling……This year marked 80 and 90 years of continuous membership by one business in each category: U.S. Bank of Topeka joined KLA in 1944. Leonhard Ranch, Berryton, became a member in 1934…….These loyal individuals and businesses exhibit steadfast commitment to KLA’s mission of “advancing members’ common business interests and enhancing their ability to meet consumer demand.”

Oliver Ward has joined the Agri-Pulse team on Capitol Hill as international trade editor. He has extensive experience in trade and international economics at Inside U.S. Trade and the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a non-partisan think tank. He can be reached by email here.

Missouri Corn Growers Association and Missouri Corn Merchandising Council CEO Bradley Schad of Versailles, Missouri, was recently recognized  with the Honorary American FFA Degree at the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis.  The Honorary American FFA Degree is given to individuals who advance agricultural education and FFA through outstanding personal commitment. Nominations are first submitted to the individual’s state FFA association for approval before being endorsed by the National FFA Organization’s board of directors. As a member of the Versailles FFA Chapter, Schad earned both the State and American FFA Degrees. Recognizing education is a crucial component in moving the industry forward, Missouri Corn has been and remains dedicated to investing in efforts to expand agriculture outreach.

Digging Deeper...

In 2022, former U.S. Congressional Representative and House Ag Committee Chairman Colin Petersen (D-MN) participated in a panel discussion during the Eighth Annual Ag Outlook Forum presented by Agri-Pulse Communications and the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City. During the presentation he told panel moderator Blake Hurst that he was the only democrat on the committee who “wanted to be on it.” And, he added, only a handful of his fellow Democrat committee members were from agriculture districts. The situation now appears to be changing. Over the last few years, House Democrats seem to have become more interested in agriculture, providing some hope for a return to bipartisan agricultural legislating in that chamber, despite recent struggles to pass a Farm Bill in a closely divided U.S. House of Representatives with vocal ag opponents on the far left and right. Ahead of the 2024 election, let’s look at where each of the Presidential candidates stand. 
By Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC. Sources: Sarah Zimmerman, Agriculture Dive, October 2024; American Farm Bureau Federation.

House Democrats’ Agriculture Reset

Most U.S. Senators have urban and rural constituencies alike, facilitating a typically bipartisan and congenial process for legislating farm bills with strong contributions from both parties. In the U.S. House, the urban-rural divide is more starkly partisan, and Democratic House members had gradually drifted from agriculture as Democrats represented fewer rural districts. Long term, this threatened to pose a problem for agriculture, which relies on members from both parties having a stake in the farm bill process. A reset may be on the horizon: on September 25, 2024, the New Democrat Coalition (NDC)’s Farm Bill Task Force sent letters to the leadership of the U.S. House and Senate, as well as to the heads of the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. The New Dems (as they refer to themselves), the largest caucus of more moderate Democrats, are calling for Congress to pass a strong, bipartisan Farm Bill before the end of 2024.

NDC’s Farm Bill Task Force chair, U.S. House Representative Kim Schrier (D-WA), issued a statement accompanying the letter to legislators. “America’s farmers are the backbone of our country and communities,” she said. “They feed and employ our constituents and help power our economy. That’s why Congress must put partisanship aside and pass a robust Farm Bill by the end of the year to avert a harmful lapse in funding for American agriculture.”

Based on sentiments voiced during this year’s Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City last month, Republicans could be asking themselves is there an echo here?  “Passing the bill this year is critical,” said Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), a keynoter at the Forum. He argued that an extension of the legislation is insufficient.

Sen. Moran may have some new friends.  Earlier this month U.S. Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS) was endorsed by the Kansas Farm Bureau, the first Kansas Democrat in Congress to earn the nod. Davids, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, has dedicated considerable time to Agriculture since she joined the committee after three rural counties were added to her district. She recently introduced a new bill – Resilient Food Supply Chain and Affordability Act – aimed at strengthening local and regional food systems. Davids’ bill sits alongside other big picture priorities consistent with bipartisan agricultural consensus – protecting crop insurance from harmful cuts, prioritizing voluntary working lands conservation programs, and updating reference prices to match current conditions.

The bill would make permanent the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program, which is enhancing resilience within the food supply chain, supporting local farmers, creating jobs and reducing grocery costs for consumers. 

Kansas agriculture has welcomed RFSI grants. “It will support improvements across the middle of our state's food supply chain, including increased food processing infrastructure, producer aggregation points, and product storage,” said Mike Beam, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture. “Investing in these Kansas food and farm businesses and other eligible organizations will create diverse local and regional market options and more economic opportunities for our Kansas communities.”

Davids is also a candidate for Chair of the New Democrats in the next Congress, reinforcing hopes for a return to bipartisan agriculture legislation in the U.S. House and strong regional representation for the Kansas City agricultural corridor in the process.

Meanwhile Back On The Campaign Trail

While bipartisanship may be in play in the House and Senate as well-intentioned Democratic and Republican legislators push to pass Farm Bill 2025 this year, there is a presidential election campaign going on. Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have brandished their interpretations of what challenges agriculture faces and how their own policies can fix things.

Food and farm issues have garnered more attention than usual in this election cycle. Higher food prices, complicated trade relations with China and other farm issues have become more central to party platforms. Americans are more aware of how supply chain dynamics, weather cycles and production and processing economics influence product availability and prices at grocery stores.

Presented here are thumbnail sketches of key agriculture issues that have gained prominence on the platforms of both the Democrat and Republican Parties. The source for this synopsis is Agriculture Dive, an online news platform operated by Washington DC-based Industry Dive. Earlier this month, editor Sarah Zimmerman reached out to the American Farm Bureau Federation for its take on how the candidates are approaching key issues that the U.S. agriculture sector faces. AFBF had questioned the candidates regarding their positions on several issues of interest to the agricultural economy.

Food Price Inflation

• HARRIS: Vows to pass the first federal ban on price gouging, and has made statements explicitly targeting the grocery, meat and poultry industries. She is also looking to address higher consumer prices by expanding competition throughout the food system, pledging that she will crack down on unfair mergers and acquisitions involving big food corporations to help create a level playing field.

• TRUMP: Promises to cut farm production costs, though he and his team haven’t provided many details. The former president said he will “bring down interest rates” and slash farm energy costs by half within the first year of his term. He also said he would reverse “every single Biden-Harris burdensome and costly regulation” that is contributing to the increased cost of supplies.

Farm Labor and Immigration

• HARRIS: Applications for H-2A visas have soared throughout Biden and Harris’ term as a pressing labor shortage continues to push farms to recruit workers outside the United States. Large farm groups have pushed back against Biden-Harris administration efforts to strengthen farmworker rights and expand workplace protections including heat safety.  Harris said her administration would focus on “improving our legal immigration system to function better for our economy, farmers, and workers.” The vice president added that any solution should include “both strong border security and an earned path to citizenship.”

• TRUMP: Trump said he would prioritize “merit-based immigration” and expanded support in the domestic agriculture industry. As president he oversaw a significant increase in worksite raids to detain and deport workers. In the 2024 campaign cycle, Trump has ramped up rhetoric on border control, threatening “mass deportations” of millions of immigrants, including those who have legally come into the country under two Biden administration programs.

Climate-smart agriculture

• HARRIS: The Biden-Harris administration expanded opportunities for farmers to transition to more sustainable practices, earmarking an additional $20 billion under the Inflation Reduction Act for climate-smart agriculture. The Democratic platform released in August included a pledge to make the U.S farm sector the world’s first to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 through accelerated adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices.

• TRUMP: In his next term, Trump would roll back climate policies made during the Biden administration, which he claims have contributed to higher energy costs. He believes climate action should occur in the free market, saying “innovation and economic growth will allow us to unleash the technologies and processes that make the environment better while reshoring production away from foreign polluters.”

Farm Bill

• HARRIS: Has not publicly taken a stance on the farm bill, though her campaign has that farm safety net programs like crop insurance are essential to “protect farmers from unforeseen changes in circumstances.” Harris’ vice-presidential pick Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz served six terms on the House Agriculture Committee as a congressman and helped write three Farm Bills. Walz and his experience in Congress representing a rural district, should be “especially encouraging to agricultural stakeholders,” said former Environmental Protection Agency senior agriculture advisor Rod Snyder. Democrats oppose House Republicans’ farm bill plan, arguing it would reverse changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding formula that boosted assistance levels for participants in 2021.

• TRUMP: Supports improvements to reference prices, crop insurance and dairy margin coverage. The former president also supports more specialty crop insurance plus investments in science and technology to “stay ahead of China.” While Trump hasn’t explicitly supported either version of the Farm Bill, House Republicans have pushed for a package that looks to solve budgetary constraints by cutting $30 billion from SNAP and removing funding protections for climate-smart agriculture, while also increasing farm subsidies.

Trade And Relations With China

• HARRIS: The Biden-Harris administration largely kept Trump’s 301 tariffs on China intact, and recently took steps to ratchet up duties on Chinese goods in a bid to protect U.S. manufacturing. As President, she says she will not tolerate unfair trade practices from China or any competitor that undermines American farmers and ranchers,” her campaign wrote to the Farm Bureau. As trade tensions push China to shun U.S. commodities, the Biden-Harris administration has encouraged producers to diversify their export markets to places like Europe and Africa. While targeted agreements have lifted barriers for certain crops, farm groups have pushed for more trade pacts to offset losses from China.

• TRUMP: As president, Trump kicked off a trade war with China that sent farm exports plummeting and oversaw billions of dollars in controversial bailout payments meant to offset those losses. Trump promises to be even tougher on China in his next term, floating tariffs of more than 60% on imports. He’s also looking to implement 10% across-the-board tariffs on all U.S. imports, threatening to erode relations with traditional partners and restart a potentially widespread trade war. Higher tariffs could erode market opportunities for farmers as they continue to compete with lower-priced commodities from other countries. To address the potential loss in exports, Trump said during a campaign stop at a Pennsylvania farm that he would enforce a trade agreement that rolled back some tariffs in exchange for China buying $50 million in farm goods.

Ethanol and biofuels

• HARRIS: The Biden-Harris administration expanded ethanol opportunities to give corn producers more of a chance to cash in on a renewable energy transition. Biden approved a request from eight major farm producing states to allow year-round sales of gasoline with higher blends of ethanol starting in 2025. The administration also opened the door for ethanol makers to get in on the lucrative sustainable aviation fuel market, though the farm requirements to access tax credits has faced some criticism. Harris told the Farm Bureau she looks to build on biofuels opportunities in the sector plus rural infrastructure investments made under the Inflation Reduction Act, saying she is committed to “boosting high-quality job opportunities across rural America and enlisting agriculture as a pivotal tool to fight climate change.”

• TRUMP: Moved to completely lift restrictions on the sale of E15 gasoline in 2019, though a court threw out the rule two years later. Trump said he’s committed to lowering energy prices by removing regulations and increasing domestic production of oil, natural gas and coal. “We won’t just increase ethanol production in our own country, we will make it our mission to export ethanol all over the world.”

Accelerating Farm Innovation

• HARRIS: The Biden-Harris administration launched the first U.S. plan to expand biotechnology and biomanufacturing in 2022 as demand for bio-based products and fuels grows. Earlier this year, the USDA unveiled its roadmap to increase processing capabilities for crop residues and other feedstocks. The department invested $772 million in 2023 for research, development and expanding biomanufacturing infrastructure.  Harris touted investments made during the Biden administration, such as increased funding for land-grant universities.

• TRUMP: The Trump team has portrayed regulation as a barrier to innovation, and during his presidency streamlined the approval processes for ag biotech including gene-editing. The move worried some in the research community, who expressed concern it would make it more difficult to assess risks of these new products.  The former president will continue to take aim at regulations in his next term. He has said, “I will slash regulations that stifle American agriculture and make everything more expensive.”

Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - October 2024

DEVELOPMENTS

Kansas City is home to more than 100 barbecue restaurants, thousands of backyard do-it-yourself smokers and the Barbecue Hall of Fame. It also hosts the World Series of Barbecue competition. “Now, a new museum will celebrate America’s long love affair with fire and smoke-kissed meat,” reported Sarah Kuta (Smithsonian Magazine, October 18, 2024).  Next spring, the Museum of BBQ is slated to open in Kansas City, Missouri, a place that’s famous for its thick, spicy sauce and burnt ends, she added. The museum will be located in the city’s Crown Center shopping and entertainment district. According to an announcement, the new venue will be the world’s first museum dedicated to barbecue. The museum is being co-founded by Jonathan Bender, a food writer and barbecue judge, and Alex Pope, a chef who owns a whole animal butcher shop. The museum will trace the roots of barbecue in the U.S., and will detail the history and methods of preparing barbecue in four main regions of American barbecue: the Carolinas, Texas, Memphis, and Kansas City.

Shippers face the third year of low Mississippi River water levels during harvest. Despite heavy rains from recent hurricanes, water levels throughout the Mississippi River are once again slowing down harvest-season grain barges. While water levels at Memphis spiked by more than 15 feet as the remnants of Hurricane Helene passed through the area, they have “quickly returned” to previous lows, according to Soy Transportation Coalition Executive Director Mike Steenhoek.  He explains barges are seeing “several feet of draft restrictions” in certain parts of the river. For each foot of draft reduction, barges are loaded with 7,000 fewer bushels of soybeans. Tow sizes are being reduced by 30% or more in some sections of the river, he adds. "At a time in which soybean exports are confronted with numerous challenges, it is our hope that our supply chain can encourage profitability, rather than be one further impediment,” Steenhoek says.

Rabobank announced the publication of the latest bi-monthly edition of its North American Agribusiness Review. The report includes an analysis and summary of market conditions and trends across North American agriculture. In this month’s publication, the team provides an overview of what developments to watch in the upcoming months in North America, including fall harvest, inflation, supply chain headwinds and pricing. More information available here.

More than half of the 70 agriculture economists surveyed in Farm Journal’s Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor believe that the United States agriculture economy is in a recession, while 75% of those economists surveyed think the ag economy is on the brink of a recession. “Farmers are seeing heightened volatility in commodity prices as harvest season progresses,” Farm Journal’s Tyne Morgan reported. “The latest Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor from Farm Journal showed a slight rise in optimism compared to the previous month, but economists remain worried about the current state of the agricultural economy when compared to last year.” The 75% of economists who say the agriculture economy is on the brink of recession “is up from the 56% who responded that way in the previous month’s survey, Morgan wrote. 

According to Washington-based sources, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) holds the key as to whether a farm bill can be completed this calendar year, reports Farm Journal’s AgWeb.  The unknown is whether Stabenow can work out a deal with the other farm bill players: Senate Ag ranking member John Boozman;  House Ag Chair G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) and House Ag ranking member David Scott (D-Ga.). Some say that could be at least possible after elections. While seen as a win-win for Democrats and Republicans, in the final farm bill Democrats must be content on funding and policy issues relative to food and nutrition and conservation, and Republicans must be satisfied relative to getting most if not all of the increase in reference prices contained in the House Ag Committee-passed measure. Some long-time Washington contacts still give the odds of a farm bill this year at only 15%. Source: Farm Journal, AgWeb, October 29, 2024.

Agriculture and aviation are two of the biggest industries in Kansas, says Kansas Farm Bureau media manager Greg Doering.  But it’s been rare for commodity farmers and commercial airlines to interact as partners. “As sustainability moves from boardroom buzzword to real world applications,” he explains, “there’s a need for more conversation between the industries.” KFB recently facilitated some of that conversation between farmers in south-central Kansas and representatives from Delta Air Lines.  Talks centered around the recent push to produce more sustainable aviation fuel – from grains and oilseeds that can be refined into jet fuel. (Ed note: Delta Air Lines participated recently in the Ag Biz Council and Agri-Pulse’s Ag Outlook Forum.) The conversation between agriculture and aviation is just getting started” Doering notes.  “It’s commendable the two industries are talking, trying to figure out how to best help each other thrive in the future.”

Late this month, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran travelled to Japan to meet with companies that have invested in Kansas and to talk with Japanese officials about how to deepen the partnership between the U.S. and Japan on defense and agricultural priorities. Panasonic is nearing completion of the $4 billion, 4.7 million square-foot battery manufacturing facility in De Soto, Kansas, that will create 4,000 jobs. This investment adds a new dimension to our state’s economy, diversifying our economic interests to include cutting-edge manufacturing work in a vital technology of the future. “The project is on pace to open early next year, and the team working at the facility is rapidly expanding,” said Sen. Moran, who also met with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense. “I also talked about the increasing role that sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, will play in the Kansas agricultural economy and how the U.S. and Japan can work together on this rapidly expanding industry.”

The October 2024 issue of the Missouri Soybean Association’s Missouri Soybean Farmer boasts that the state of Missouri is ranked No. 2 in biodiesel production in the U.S. and has a lot of opportunities for utilization in-state. “As demand for soybean oil related to biofuels production has increased, we’ve seen more announcements and expansion of soybean crush capacity in the U.S., and we’ve taken note of that in Missouri during the past several years and continue to look for new opportunities for crush capacity increases in Missouri,” said Matt Amick, director of market development for the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. Market dynamics are challenging the market right now, but Amick is optimistic about new growth opportunities ahead. One of the opportunities Missouri Soybeans is working toward is a grant to enhance storage capacity and dispensing capabilities for biodiesel. “The Missouri Biofuels Infrastructure Incentive Program (BIIP) grants are through Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority and are available for entities such as fuel retailers, terminals, fuel suppliers and fleets to utilize more biodiesel,” Amick explained. “We know the move to decarbonize the transportation sector is not going to go away and is going to continue to grow.”

Agricultural trade policy specialist Brent Boydston has launched his new business, Ag Center Solutions. Positioned at the intersection of government policy, trade policy, and foreign market development, Ag Center Solutions offers a unique and timely approach to helping clients expand their business opportunities globally. “I founded Ag Center Solutions to provide specialized consulting for businesses looking to succeed in the complex landscape of international trade, where agricultural goods and services from the United States are very much in demand.” Boydston said, "There is a World of Opportunity, let's talk about how you can move to a global market."  Ag Center Solutions is actively reaching out to businesses ready to expand beyond U.S. borders and benefit from the suite of services provided by Boydston and his associates through ACS. For more information about Ag Center Solutions visit their website.

EVENTS

The Kansas Grain and Feed Association and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association will host the Kansas Agri Business Expo November 20-21 in Wichita. It attracts more than 1,100 attendees from across the country, covering every facet of the agribusiness industry. More information can be found here.

For the first time in its 130-year history, the Kansas Livestock Association is bringing its annual convention to Manhattan. Hundreds of KLA members from across the state will converge on the Little Apple November 20-22 to hear from industry experts, participate in policy meetings and elect new leadership for the coming year. The KLA Convention & Expo will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn and Manhattan Convention Center. A complete schedule, hotel information, and both online and printable registration forms are available here under Events & Meetings.

The Missouri Chapter of Women Owning Woodlands will hold events on chain saw safety in November, says University of Missouri Extension natural resources specialist Sarah Higgins. Three virtual sessions, 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 7, Nov. 14 and Nov. 21, will be followed by an in-person workshop 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, in which participants can practice what they learned. The in-person session will be at the MU Wurdack Extension and Education Center in Cook Station. “Women-focused programming aims to create a welcoming, nonjudgmental learning environment where women feel more comfortable to participate and ask questions when surrounded by peers,” says Higgins. “This workshop will leave women feeling more confident and competent with a chain saw to help them achieve their land stewardship goals.” Register here.

The Kansas Farmers Union is excited to share the tentative schedule and registration link for its upcoming convention November 20-21, 2024 in Lawrence, Kansas. Learn more about the lineup of speakers and topics, and to register, click here. Scholarship opportunities are available for new/emerging farmers: To apply contact KFU Executive Director Nick Levendofsky. Hotel information and convention sponsorship opportunities are also available here.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture recently announced the availability of Building our American Communities grant funds. The BOAC Program provides $12,000 annually to Missouri 4-H clubs and FFA chapters for projects aimed at developing and advancing Missouri’s rural communities. Twelve $500 4-H BOAC grants and 12 $500 FFA BOAC grants are awarded annually, two per each of the six districts. Projects must benefit an agricultural community and/or promote community development. Projects may include improvements to existing facilities, grounds or buildings that are used by various groups or organizations in the applicant’s community. MDA will accept applications postmarked or received electronically by Dec. 1, 2024. Recipients awarded funding will be notified in early January. Projects must be completed by Aug. 1, 2025. Apply here.

The 2025 Taiwan Agricultural Youth Exchange Program is currently accepting applications from Kansas State University undergraduate students who are interested in agriculture and would like to represent Kansas in a week-long international exchange program in Taiwan from August 8–16, 2025. Up to six K-State undergraduate students will be selected to tour agricultural facilities and businesses in Taiwan to learn more about Taiwanese agriculture and culture. Dr. Dan Moser, Associate Dean of Academic Programs, announced the College of Agriculture will award a $1,000 scholarship to each student selected to participate in the program. Dr. Moser stated, “This is a tremendous opportunity for K-State students to experience agriculture on a global level. We are thrilled to support the exchange program and award scholarships to the students participating in the program.” Exports play an important role in Kansas agriculture. In 2023, Kansas exported $193 million in agricultural products to Taiwan making it the state’s sixth-largest trading partner. Application information and requirements available from Kansas Department Agriculture. The application deadline is November 15, 2024. For additional information, contact Dana Ladner, KDA outreach and education program manager, at 785-564-6660 or FutureofAg@ks.gov.

 PEOPLE

Luke Samuel, Manager of Development Services at Kansas City, Kansas-based AgriThority® will be a featured presenter at the Biostimulants World Congress  on Nov. 15 at 9:50 a.m. EST, in Miami Beach, Florida. Samuel’s presentation, Overcoming Field Experiment Challenges to Increase Biostimulant Product Adoption, will focus on the importance of a holistic strategy and well executed field experiments throughout each development stage, particularly early in the development process. "With the inherent variability of biostimulant performance, the development process must incorporate numerous factors to help ensure successful product launch and high customer confidence," Samuel said. "I’m looking forward to sharing more about this critical process and presenting insights during Biostimulants World Congress."  Biostimulants World Congress has been a priority for AgriThority for many years. "We’re looking forward to sharing our insights on the mainstage at Biostimulants World Congress," says Jerry Duff, AgriThority founder and resident. "With our deep knowledge and experience working with more than 300 biological products, including many biostimulants, this is essential information for anyone working in agricultural innovation."

Kansas Corn Growers are one step closer to creating promising new uses for their crop. During a recent competition in San Francisco, Radicle Corn Value Chain Challenge sponsored by US Corn Farmers awarded a total of $1.5 million to two companies who are developing promising new uses for corn. The Kansas Corn Commission and other state corn checkoffs are funding partners in the challenge conducted by Radicle Growth, a food and agriculture venture capital company. KCGA board member Chad Epler, who serves as Chair of NCGA’s Research and New Uses Action Team participated in the Pitch Day Competition along with Kansas Corn’s Director of Innovation and Commercialization Connie Fischer. “U.S. corn farmers continue to produce an affordable, high-quality and reliable crop each year,” Epler said. “That crop can be turned into more than just food, feed, and fuel. The corn kernel can be utilized in so many ways, which is why we focus on new uses and corn as an industrial feedstock. Working with NCGA and other state corn checkoffs, we are excited to continue to partner across the agricultural and biotech industry to help a variety of new technologies overcome barriers to commercialization so they can begin to grind more corn.”

Longtime American Soybean Association leader Kenneth Bader died Saturday in Chesterfield, Missouri. He was 90. During his 16 years leading the ASA from 1976 to 1992, the group significantly expanded its international footprint from two to 12 overseas offices and started soy feeding trials in Southeast Asia. His work also led to the creation of the national soy checkoff and United Soybean Board. A celebration of Bader’s life will take place on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. in the Friendship Village Chapel in Chesterfield. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc., October 30, 2024.

Chad Breeding, Miami, Texas, was named the new president of the American Hereford Association during the Annual Membership Meeting October 26, in Kansas City, Missouri. Breeding was raised working on his family’s registered Hereford operation, B&C Cattle Co. Austin Snedden, Maricopa, Calif., was selected to serve as the 2024 AHA vice president. Snedden is a fifth-generation rancher, central California, where his family has been raising cattle in the same county for more than 150 years.

When Jerome (Jerry) Roell passed away on December 17, 2023, he left behind a profound legacy of leadership, mentorship and commitment to agriculture. Throughout his 38-year career with John Deere, Jerry was known as the “go-to” person—always there to help, mentor, and elevate his colleagues. His work left a mark on the company and the many lives he touched throughout his career. After his passing from brain cancer last year, his friends and colleagues decided to honor his legacy by creating a scholarship in his name. The idea was sparked by Rick Bormann and a small group of Jerry’s longtime friends from his days at John Deere, including Mike Johanning, David Rock and Chris Ohnysty. They wanted to support students in the field of precision agriculture, one of Jerry’s passions. With the help of Agriculture Future of America (AFA) and their fundraising platform, Classy, they quickly raised enough to create a permanent endowment, ensuring Jerry’s legacy would continue through generations of agricultural students. The fund surpassed $200,000, with more than 130 donors contributing, including many from current John Deere employees, whose donations were matched by the John Deere Foundation.“Seeing the number of people who supported this effort was truly incredible,” said Johanning. “It was a testament to the impact Jerry had—not just at work, but on everyone around him.” 

The inaugural Roell Scholars will receive a $1,600 academic scholarship and a $1,250 sponsorship to attend the AFA Leaders Conference. The first recipients are Kyle Hagen from South Dakota State University and Ojas Shah from the University of Illinois, who will attend the 2024 AFA Leaders Conference. “The scholarship makes me happy, knowing there will always be young students who learn about Jerry’s commitment to agriculture and his love for the land,” said Melissa Roel, Jerry’s wife.

Mark Stewart, AFA President and CEO, emphasized how Jerry’s legacy aligns with AFA’s mission. “Legacy is something deeply meaningful to us at AFA. We’re honored to help carry forward Jerry’s impact, just as we continue the legacy of AFA’s founder, R. Crosby Kemper Jr. Together, we’re cultivating the next generation of agricultural leaders.”

October Monthly Luncheon Showcases Kansas State University

Featuring K-State Alumnus Gregg Doud, CEO, National Milk Producer’s Federation

The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City spotlighted Kansas State University’s Colleges of Agriculture and Animal Health at its October luncheon and meeting on the Olathe Campus. Dr. Ben Wolfe, Olathe campus dean & CEO, discussed the impact that K-State has on the state, region and the world, noting, among others, the school’s concerted effort to create more jobs in agriculture and food production overall. “Food safety and security,” he said, “is a top priority.” Dr. Wolf also announced the Olathe Campus would be awarding $68,000 in new student scholarships.

Dr. Ernie Minton, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension, explained, "A key component of K-State's vision to become the ideal next-generation land-grant university is the College of Agriculture's Agriculture Innovation Initiative." The initiative, he said, includes not only new, state-of-the-art facilities across campus, but also innovative teaching and research approaches that will enable K-State to recruit and retain world-class faculty and researchers.

"We are once again honored that K-State is included in Niche's Top 10 list for 2025 Best Colleges for Agricultural Sciences in America," said Dr. Minton. Niche.com is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company that publishes guidebooks on U.S. colleges as well as K-12 schools throughout the U.S.

The featured speaker at the K-State Showcase was alumnus Gregg Doud, who is President and CEO of the National Milk Producer’s Federation.  He noted that America’s farmers have a bright future if the industry can capitalize on available opportunities for exports, technology and value-added products. Before taking the helm at NMPF, Doud served as the Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative from 2018 until 2021. He also was a staff member for the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, where he helped draft the 2012 Farm Bill.

In an overview of the global ag industry, Doud pointed to the strong demand for protein globally, particularly from China. He commented that Chinese consumers love meat: “China is cleaning the world out of beef.” In August, the Chinese imported an all-time record for beef products from around the world. This situation hints at what the next decade could look like for U.S. beef producers, Doud explained. “In no way, shape or form does the supply of animal protein in the world come anywhere near meeting the demand.” He asked the rhetorical question: Who else in the world can make more animal protein?  “It sure isn’t going to be the Europeans, the Chinese, Japanese or Asians,” he answered. The only place on Earth that can comes close to meeting future demand is the United States. “Let’s get in on this; this is where it’s at.”

Doud pointed out that U.S. cattlemen can meet the supply. The problem is the supply chain, and bringing it up to speed requires technology and a review of regulatory obstacles. The Chinese, he said, are investing in “protein development,” so it is in the best interest of the U.S. protein industry to add effective supply chain dynamics to stay ahead of China. The U.S. food industry has a lot going for it. ‘We have the safest food in the world.” The U.S. just has to get it exported more easily with a minimum of red tape. 

Doud summed up his remarks implying the export sector of the U.S. food industry needs more technology investment targeted at food production, processing, distribution and innovation itself.