Developments

Economists at the American Farm Bureau Federation have posted a primer on the Ukraine war and the implications for global food and fertilizer supplies. Economist Veronica Nigh warns that many countries that import fertilizer from Russia are on its list of “unfriendly” nations, which could ultimately disrupt fertilizer trade and drive prices up even further. According to AFBF, Russia supplies 17% of global nitrogen exports, it holds a 13% market share of phosphate and it exports nearly 17% of all potassium.

The University of Missouri announced the creation of the Missouri Water Center, a central hub for research on the state’s water resources. The new academic center will combine existing resources and improve coordination across campus – tackling emerging water quality issues and factors that contributed to record flooding in 2019 and years of persistent drought. It will facilitate new collaborations among faculty, government and industry partners. The Center was created by merging two existing centers at the university: The Missouri Water Resource Center in the College of Engineering and the Center for Watershed Management and Water Quality in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

Farmer sentiment rose 6 points to a reading of 125 in February according to the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The Index of Current Conditions was down 1 point to a reading of 132, while the Index of Future Expectations improved 10 points to a reading of 122. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. But keep in mind, this month’s survey was conducted in mid-February just days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Rising commodity prices contributed to a rise in optimism, but concern over production costs could dampen sentiment going forward, noted James Mintert, head of the Purdue/CME Group.

University of Missouri Extension has launched Mizzou Crop & Pest News, an electronic newsletter for agriculture professionals and extension specialists that provides information on current agronomic challenges. Mizzou Crop & Pest News is an updated version of the Integrated Pest & Crop Management (IPCM) newsletter. The new format will provide readers with more concise information, including estimated read times and one-sentence summaries of articles, said Mandy Bish, MU Integrated Pest Management coordinator. Bish said the newsletter will include new topics as well as content that subscribers to the IPCM newsletter have come to expect, such as state extension weed specialist Kevin Bradley’s weed management articles. Sign up for the newsletter here.

U.S. retail beef prices in the last quarter of 2021 were 23% above the five-year average, according to a recent report from Rabobank. Strong demand and limited supplies have kept prices high in the past two years, but this could cost industry consumers. “Further increases in beef prices run the risk of consumers substituting to other proteins or reducing their overall consumption,” said Angus Gidley-Baird, senior animal protein analyst at Rabobank. “And we are starting to see signs that they might be reaching their limit.”

A lack of clarity about organic foods is making it more difficult for consumers to trust the industry, according to a new survey from public relations firm Edelman, reported Agri-Pulse Communications. “There is widespread confusion about what it means to be organic,” the survey said, adding “trust in organic foods is being held back by a lack of familiarity; producers of raw materials are more trusted than manufacturers.” Only one in three people surveyed know USDA is responsible for enforcing organic standards, Edelman found after conducting interviews with 7,500 consumers in September and October. The survey, commissioned by the Organic Trade Association surveyed six markets — the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

The United States Supreme Court announced it would review a challenge to a California law that set certain conditions for pork sold in the state. The case stems from a 2018 ballot measure where California voters approved the nation’s toughest living space standards for breeding pigs. Two agricultural associations challenging the law say almost no farms satisfy those conditions. They say the “massive costs of complying” with the law will “fall almost exclusively on out-of-state farmers” and that the costs will be passed on to consumers nationwide. The law had a January 1 effective date, but California is currently allowing the continued sale of pork processed under the old rules. The groups challenging the law are the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation. The case is expected to be argued in the court’s new term in October 2022.

The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) has launched a new sustainability council to empower NIAA members, partners, and industry experts to explore, discuss, learn, and develop knowledge that ensures the viability and acceptance of animal agriculture in today’s food system. The council will host the inaugural webinar on April 14, 2022. Animal agriculture leaders within today’s food system have always considered sustainability vitally important to the success of the industry. However, conversations on the topic have greatly expanded and escalated outside of the animal agriculture sector within recent years. Like many topics, food system sustainability has evolved from a conversation of theory and policy to one of practice and application. Additionally, consumer and corporate definitions of sustainability have expanded to now include environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability. Animal agriculture topics of interest related to social responsibility include animal welfare, food security, labor and human rights, and more. To register for the webinar or annual conference, visit the NIAA website event page or contact Morgan Young, NIAA director of communications and outreach.

USDA-NIFA is looking to identify reviewers for a Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program that will provide grants to help eligible processors expand their capacity. USDA Rural Development designed MPPEP to encourage competition and sustainable growth in the U.S. meat processing sector, and to strengthen supply chain resiliency. NIFA will provide support to this program by managing the competitive selection process. More details about this program can be found here. This is a new program and a unique opportunity to contribute to a key initiative to improve the U.S. livestock industry. Contact Dr. Keith Harris to participate.

Todd Van Hoose, president and CEO of the Farm Credit Council, believes interest rate hikes are manageable and farmers can handle the increased interest rates that are on the way as the Federal Reserve fights inflation, noted Agri-Pulse Communications. The Fed raised its target federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point this week and is likely to raise rates by a full point and maybe more by the time it’s done, Van Hoose said in an Agri-Pulse Newsmakers interview. “Even if they rise a full percent we’re still talking about very, very low interest rates,” he said, adding that a 30-year farm ownership loan will still be “pretty affordable.” Source: Agri-Pulse Communications.

Missouri Department of Agriculture has issued warnings to poultry producers and backyard flock owners about the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Missouri. In addition, according to a March 9, 2022 news release, MDA is suspending “…all domestic waterfowl and waterfowl egg auctions, shows and swap meets through the end of May.” According to information posted on MDA’s website, HPAI is “a serious disease and requires rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to chickens.” Currently, HPAI has been found in four counties in Missouri: Stoddard, Bates, Jasper, and Lawrence.

USDA’s Kansas City-based National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced an investment of over $13 million in research that explores novel therapies and prevention strategies for animal diseases that cost the agricultural industry billions worldwide. “The health of agricultural animals is critical to ensuring the U.S. maintains a safe and adequate food supply,” said NIFA director Dr. Carrie Castille. “The research we are funding with these grants will create new knowledge and spur discoveries that enhance production efficiency and improve animal health and welfare.” The grants will support projects at 17 universities focusing on disease prevention, vaccine development and management strategies to maintain healthy agricultural animals.

Deere & Co. has announced it would improve farmers’ access to repair resources needed to fix their equipment. Specifically, Deere said it would “roll out an enhanced customer solution that includes a mobile device interface, and the ability to download secure software updates directly to embedded controllers on select John Deere equipment with 4G connections.”

In continued commitment to valuing students as leaders, Agriculture Future of America recently selected 32 college students to serve as organizational Ambassadors. These students represent 32 campuses in 22 states. During their year of service, the Ambassadors will interact with agribusiness leaders, campus faculty and fellow students to increase awareness of AFA on their campuses. AFA is dedicated to developing undergraduate students into the next generation of leaders for the food, agriculture and natural resources industry. The Ambassador program is integral to AFA’s external relations and serves as a liaison between AFA and university faculty, staff and students. Ambassadors work toward goals that increase awareness of AFA’s programs and pursue creative strategies to accomplish these goals. The Ambassadors kick off their term March 31, 2022.

Events

The National Institute for Animal Agriculture's Annual Conference Producing Protein for a Food Insecure & Uncertain World – Leading Food Security, Sustainable Production, and Innovation, will be hosted in Kansas City April 20- 22, 2022. A virtual registration option is also available for attendees unable to attend in person. The 2022 NIAA Annual Conference will convene leaders in animal agriculture to explore, discuss, learn and develop solutions to ensure animal-derived proteins continue to be the protein of choice.

The Kansas State Conservation Commission will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. at the K-State Southwest Research–Extension Center, 4500 E. Mary St. in Garden City. A virtual meeting option can be accessed on request. The SCC consists of five elected commissioners; two ex officio members representing the Kansas State University Agriculture Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service; and two appointed members representing the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. To request a copy of the agenda or directions on how to participate in the online meeting, please contact the KDA–DOC at kda.doc@ks.gov or 785-564-66

People

Missouri Soybeans has named Dr. Eric Oseland director of agronomy and research. Oseland will work with the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council on the selection and oversight of funded projects that will be most impactful to Missouri soybean farmers. This includes managing the evaluation and selection of the plant breeding and biotech research projects as well as the applied agronomic projects funded by Missouri’s checkoff. In addition to managing the portfolio of research and agronomic projects, Oseland will serve as the staff liaison between the North Central Soybean Research Program and the Mid-South Soybean Board.

Megan Niederwerder is the new associate director of the Swine Health Information Center, effective April 1. Niederwerder most recently worked at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University as an assistant professor in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology.

The winner of the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Collegiate Discussion Meet is Jacob Knaebel of Missouri. He was awarded the top prize following a discussion on how young farmers and ranchers can take a proactive approach to farm safety in their rural communities. Knaebel is a senior studying agriculture education/leadership and agriculture communications at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The Collegiate Discussion Meet is designed to replicate a committee meeting where discussion and active participation are expected from each collegiate participant. Participants are judged on their ability to exchange ideas and information on an agricultural topic and find answers or solutions related to it. As the national winner, he received a $3,000 scholarship from competitive event sponsor CHS Foundation.

Kansas City-based AgriThority was a gold sponsor of the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in San Francisco, March 22-23. AgriThority representatives Gloverson Moro, Ph.D., Ignacio Colonna, Tony Pardo and Jerry Duffparticipated in the 10th annual meeting. "We are proud to be a gold sponsor of World Agri-Tech," said Duff, AgriThority founder and president. "The Summit provides a unique opportunity for agribusiness leaders, innovators and growers to gather. After two years of virtual meetings, we look forward to attending in person and engaging with our colleagues in the global agricultural community."

Agriculture Future of America former CEO K. Russell “Russ” Weathers recently retired from his position as chair of the AFA Board of Directors. Current board member Gwyn Schramm, SVP, Strategic Accounts & Licensing at Bayer Crop Science North America, will serve as board chair in a two-year term through February 2024. “We are thrilled to welcome Gwyn as board chair. Her insight and creativity are invaluable as she continues to push the organization toward growth and success,” said Mark Stewart, AFA President and CEO. “At the same time, we tip our hat to the countless contributions Russ made to AFA and the industry as a whole. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to and passion for developing young leaders.” Weathers is a founding director of AFA and the Board of Directors, therefore, remains on the Board of Directors as a lifetime member. Weathers’ time with AFA began in 1996 after accepting the position of president and CEO. Under Weathers’ leadership, the organization provided over 13,000 experiences to young agriculture leaders and awarded over $9 million in leader and academic scholarships.

Dale Moore, a top staffer at the American Farm Bureau Federation is ending a career spanning more than 40 years. Moore has been AFBF’s executive director since 2018 after first joining the organization in 2011. Before his time at Farm Bureau, Moore worked at USDA during the George W. Bush administration, serving as chief of staff for three different secretaries as well as an interim leader of the department. His career also included a stint at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Washington office, a position he held after more than a decade on Capitol Hill working for Kansas Republican Pat Roberts in both his personal House office and as an Ag Committee staffer.

Dr. Richard H. Linton, president of Kansas State University, has joined the Board of Directors of TechAccel LLC, effective immediately. TechAccel, based in Overland Park, Kansas, is a technology and venture development organization investing in scientific breakthroughs to produce healthier plants, animals and foods. It was founded in 2014 by Michael Helmstetter, Ph.D. with support of Kansas State University and an elite investment group of Kansas City-area business leaders. Dr. Linton holds a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in food science and a doctorate in food science, all from Virginia Tech University. He participated in the Food Systems Leadership Institute from 2009-2011 and completed the Harvard Graduate School’s Institutional Educational Management Program in 2018.