Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - October 2022
/DEVELOPMENTS
According to the latest Ag Economy Barometer from Purdue University and the CME Group, input prices are still the top concern identified by producers, but the number of respondents placing it at the top of their list is shrinking. Interest rates are now top of mind in farm country. Last month 44% chose higher input prices as their top concern, down from 53% in the previous month’s report; by contrast, interest rates were the prime issue for 23% of respondents, up from 14% previously.
More than 16,000 farmers and agricultural organizations representing corn, citrus, grain sorghum, sugar cane, and other crops recently united against EPA’s proposed revision to its 2020 atrazine registration review decision, submitting comments calling for the agency to base decisions on credible scientific evidence. Efforts to help farmers speak out against the proposal were coordinated by the Triazine Network, a diverse coalition of state and national agricultural groups across the nation that rely on atrazine and other triazine herbicides to control weeds. A founding member of the Triazine Network, the Kansas Corn Growers Association has been involved in regulatory issues surrounding atrazine for over 25 years. KCGA CEO Greg Krissek is co-chair of the Triazine Network. “Our growers are frustrated with the repeated attacks on atrazine, one of the safest and most studied herbicides in history,” Krissek said. “Kansas Corn and the organizations who work with the Triazine Network have been fighting this fight for over 25 years. We have science on our side, but EPA continues its attempts to rework the discredited research to reach its own conclusions. We look forward to participating in the upcoming Scientific Advisory Panel.”
Together with the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. and the Beefmaster Breeders United, the Kansas Department of Agriculture hosted an inbound trade team in mid-October 2022, ahead of the annual Beefmaster Breeders United convention. Trade mission participants were Beefmaster breeders representing six countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua and Vietnam. “The Beefmaster cattle were the first American composite breed (a combination of Brahman, Hereford and Shorthorn bloodlines). The breed was developed by selecting cattle with economically important traits such as resistance to heat, drought and insects,” said Suzanne Ryan-Numrich, KDA international trade director. “Especially in the hotter, more tropical climates, like those represented on this trade mission, those are very important traits for cattle to have.” KDA Secretary Mike Beam said, “Trade mission participants represented some of the top Beefmaster breeders from around the world—they have a progressive operation and are continually working to improve their breed through imported genetics. It was an honor for KDA to host them in Kansas.”
Farm Journal’s Trust in Food ™ released its inaugural “Ready or Not? Ag Carbon Markets and U.S Farmers” report, highlighting perspectives from 500 U.S. row crop producers on pathways and barriers to participating in carbon ecosystems. The majority of farmers surveyed report serious concern about overcoming technical and financial roadblocks to success in carbon markets. In addition to more fundamental warning signs, producers fear that costs will outweigh benefits; that ongoing compliance will require too high a burden; that existing conservation ag practices will not be compensated fairly; that data will not be handled appropriately or will be difficult to collect; or that upfront investments will be a barrier to entry. More than half of farmers surveyed labeled each respective concern a significant challenge to carbon market entry. “Our initial findings suggest that even the most carbon-curious farmers are signaling that their participation under current market conditions would require prohibitive investments of time, effort and resources without fair financial and market returns,” said Amy Skoczlas Cole, executive vice president of Trust In Food. “Unless the carbon market value chain takes producers’ perspectives seriously, we fear a critical tool for addressing climate change and increasing farm resilience will fall seriously short of its potential.”
The Kansas Department of Agriculture has identified a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a backyard flock in Shawnee County. This is the third confirmed case of HPAI in Kansas this fall; there were six cases in March and April for a total of nine counties across the state affected so far in 2022. “The widespread nature of the positive premises in Kansas is proof that all counties are susceptible to HPAI because the risk is from the wild birds traveling across the state,” said Dr. Justin Smith, Kansas Animal Health Commissioner. “If you have not yet taken steps to protect your backyard flocks, now is the time to take this threat seriously.”
Livestock Marketing Association members and staff traveled to Washington D.C. September 18-20, 2022, for the LMA D.C. Fly In. This was the first LMA D.C. Fly In hosted by the association since spring of 2020. Over the course of two days, approximately 50 LMA members and staff met with Senators, U.S. Representatives, Congressional staff people, and USDA officials. Chelsea Good, LMA vice president of Government and Industry Affairs & Legal, said, “Participants made an important commitment not only for their own businesses but our industry as a whole. Developing personal relationships with legislative offices, building a base understanding of the livestock marketing industry, and discussing current issues are all key to making sure livestock market interests are well represented in federal policy.”
A new trade report analyzing the effects of beef imports and exports highlights the strong economic value of the U.S. beef industry’s participation in the global marketplace. The report Assessing Economic Impact That Would Follow Loss of U.S. Beef Exports and Imports, published by Oklahoma State University Extension, was prepared by Glynn Tonsor, professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University and livestock marketing specialist Derrell Peel, OSU Extension. “The U.S. is a relatively mature market in terms of where we are with beef demand, but there’s a lot more potential in the global market, broadly speaking,” Peel said. “Potential growth in the industry is going to rest more and more with the trade sector, and we highlight the fact that the marketplace has grown a lot in the last 20 to 30 years.” Peel and Tonsor’s research shows that a 10% reduction in beef imports and exports over a 10-year period would result in a $20 billion impact to cattle producers.
University of Missouri’s National Swine Resource and Research Center has been granted $8 million from the National Institutes of Health to expand the research facility on MU’s campus and speed up the scientific discoveries that can help treat humans who are suffering from the same diseases shown in the genetically modified pigs. “We undertake projects for things that have failed in studies with mice but are much better suited for pigs,” said Randall Prather, Ph.D., a Curators’ Distinguished Professor in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. “For example, you can’t take a mouse’s heart and transplant it into a human, it’s not going to work, but pigs are far more genetically and physiologically similar to a human, so they are very good biomedical models to study diseases that impact humans. The cardiovascular systems are very similar between pigs and humans, and baby pigs are also great for studying infant nutrition, as their nutritional requirements and the way they absorb nutrients is very similar to humans.” In total, the NSRRC has made more than 90 different genetic modifications in pigs to study different diseases, including spinal muscular atrophy and cystic fibrosis, the most common genetic mutation affecting Caucasian adolescents in North America. While the NSRRC is mainly focused on biomedical research, Dr. Prather’s research also has agricultural applications, such as making pigs that are resistant to certain diseases, which has implications for both agriculture and human medicine.
With the Department of Energy’s announcement to release 15 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the National Corn Growers Association called on policymakers to advance ethanol as a solution to increase the nation’s fuel supply and lower prices for American consumers at the pump. NCGA also highlighted a new report that found nationwide E15 sales would save drivers over $20 billion in annual fuel costs. “We welcome the administration’s continued focus on energy security, but we can’t lose sight of the need for long-term solutions,” said NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Brooke Appleton said.
Nearly 60% of the contiguous U.S. is experiencing drought, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in a report released this week. Drought hasn’t been this widespread in the nation in about a decade, said the U.S. Drought Monitor. Over 80% of the country is at least experiencing abnormally dry conditions, a first in the Drought Monitor’s 22-year history. “In the past two decades, this is one of the largest coverages of drought for two reasons,” said Brad Pugh, a meteorologist at NOAA. “There’s a long-term drought that’s been no stranger to the West and a short term drought that’s developed across the Midwest and Southeastern U.S.”
EVENTS
Missouri Pork Association announced their 2022 Kansas City Taste of Elegance to be held on Tuesday, November 1 at the Harrah’s North Kansas City. RSVP to Dawn Hough (dawn@mopork.com) for your complimentary registration to this tasting event featuring several outstanding Kansas City Chefs.
CattleFax CEO Randy Blach will be a featured speaker at the Kansas Livestock Association Convention,November 30 through December 2 in Wichita. He will identify factors driving the cattle and beef markets during his presentation, sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas. Blach will assess where the industry stands on cowherd numbers and what that means for beef supplies in 2023. He also will offer cattle price projections, taking into consideration grain prices, energy costs, beef exports, competing meat supplies and consumer demand. He will factor drought conditions, increasing interest rates and high input costs into his comprehensive forecast as well. Registration and hotel information have been sent to KLA members and can be found online under the Events & Meetings tab at www.kla.org.
Plans for the 2023 Commodity Classic are well underway as America’s largest farmer-led agricultural and educational experience returns to Orlando, March 9-11, 2023. The theme for the 2023 show is Preparing for the Next Generation. Registration and housing for the 2023 Commodity Classic will open in mid-November 2022. Attendees can sign up now to receive email updates at CommodityClassic.com.
PEOPLE
TechAccel LLC, Kansas City-based technology and venture development company investing in scientific breakthroughs for healthier plants, animals and foods, has named Steven Meyer CEO of its subsidiary RNAissance Ag LLC. Meyer most recently was chief operating officer at Lucy Scientific Discovery Inc., British Columbia. Prior to this role, he was the co-founder and CEO of Heya Wellness, St. Charles, Missouri. a vertically integrated medical cannabis firm. The primary focus of RNAissance Ag is the development of sprayable RNAi pesticides against pests such as the Diamondback Moth, Fall Armyworm and several others.
In celebration of 50 years in the Hereford business, four Hereford breeder ranches were honored as Golden Breeders during the American Hereford Association (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting and breakfast in Kansas City, Missouri, October 22. This year’s Golden Breeders are Snedden Ranch, Maricopa, California; Mill Creek Ranch, Alma, Kansas; Reed Farms, Green Ridge, Missouri; K7 Herefords, Lockridge, Iowa.
The Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and the Missouri Corn Growers Association announced a new slate of officers, the appointment of recently elected board members, and national committee assignments. The following MCMC leaders assumed their new roles Oct. 1: Chairman– Brent Hoerr, Palmyra (District 3); Vice Chairman– Matt Lambert, Laclede (District 2); Secretary– Ryan Meyerkorth, Rock Port (District 1); Treasurer– Patrick Seyer, Oran (District 7).
Craig Meeker of Kansas has been elected as the new chairman of the National Sorghum Producers board of directors, succeeding Kody Carson of Texas. Selected to serve as vice chair is Amy France of Kansas. Newly elected to the board are Garrett Love from Kansas and Kent Martin from Oklahoma. Larry Richardson of Texas was re-elected to the board.