Developments

ADM, a global leader in sustainable human and animal nutrition, announced it is supporting Missouri Farmers Care Foundation’s (MFCF) efforts to alleviate childhood hunger while highlighting Missouri agriculture. With this support, ADM and Brownfield Ag News are serving as presenting partners for the 2022 Drive to Feed Kids. The contribution by ADM will provide the equivalent of 500,000 meals to food insecure families throughout Missouri.

FCS Financial recently selected 35 recipients for its Scholarship Program who will each receive a $1,500 scholarship to assist with the cost of higher education. Since 2004, nearly $775,000 has been distributed through the FCS Financial Scholarship Program. The program is designed to encourage and support higher education for children and grandchildren of FCS Financial members. “FCS Financial’s Scholarship Program provides essential funds for Missouri’s youth who demonstrate academic and community leadership,” says David Janish, CEO. “As a cooperative, we are dedicated to supporting our rural communities and the next generation of leaders. This year’s recipients will no doubt prove to be valuable resources for the future of rural Missouri and agriculture.”

A forecast from CoBank says consumers may reduce their beef consumption as retail beef prices rise, reports Agri-Pulse Communications (April 29, 2022). “The sharply higher costs for feed, energy and labor have yet to fully impact wholesale and retail meat prices, but that will soon change. And as consumers notice their dollar is not going as far as it used to, they may trade down at the meat case, with chicken being the primary beneficiary,” said Brian Earnest lead animal protein economist for CoBank.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture reported the state exported $5.35 billion in agriculture goods in 2021, an increase from $4.04 billion in 2020. The total included $2 billion in meat and $1.5 billion in cereals, with two-thirds of all exports going to Mexico and Japan. The surge in 2021 represented a 32% increase in Kansas agricultural exports, which also included vinegar, beverages, dairy products, milling products, fats, vegetables, flour and starch. It was the first time Kansas agricultural exports topped $5 billion in a decade.

Kansas Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, has identified highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock. KDA is working closely with USDA–APHIS on a joint incident response at the affected premises in McPherson County. According to KDA’s animal health officials, the turkey farm increased its biosecurity in early March and increased the monitoring of their flock. Upon noticing clinical signs of HPAI in their birds, they immediately contacted KDA. The affected premises was placed under quarantine and the birds will be humanely depopulated and disposed of in an approved manner to prevent the spread of the disease. In addition, KDA will be establishing a 20-km surveillance zone around the infected premises, and other farms or properties with poultry that fall within that zone will not be allowed to move birds or poultry products on or off their property without permission from KDA. The animal health team is working to locate all poultry owners in the area to ensure they know the symptoms of HPAI and are taking critical steps to protect their birds.

Producers are increasingly worried about supplies of key inputs for the upcoming growing season, pushing a measure of farmer sentiment to the lowest point since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. This concern is behind the Ag Economy Barometer’s drop in farmer optimism of about 10% in March, 36% below the same month in 2021. The indicator, maintained monthly by Purdue University and the CME Group, reflected several factors weighing on the minds of the 400 producers surveyed in mid-March, but chief among them was the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Concern about the war's impact on input prices and input availability on their farming operations was paramount in the minds of producers responding to the March survey and was a major factor in this month's decline in sentiment,” said James Mintert, director of Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture. The concerns about the future financial situation were also reflected in a pair of questions about future investment plans. Some 62% of producers said their plans for machinery purchases were lower than a year ago; half the respondents offered a similar response one month ago. About 57% of producers said they expect input prices to rise by more than 20%, while 36% have an even more pessimistic view and expect prices to rise by 30% or more.

Farm Journal Foundation is partnering with the Zoetis Foundation to launch a new program to find solutions for relieving student debt in the veterinary industry. The effort’s long-term goal seeks to address shortages of veterinarians to work with farmers in rural areas. The new Veterinary Debt Solutions Program will convene leaders from across the livestock, academic, nonprofit, and veterinary sectors to address barriers that veterinarians face in building long-term careers in rural areas.

According to recent data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), ag tractor and combine sales in March declined for the first time since July 2021. Total farm tractor sales in the U.S. fell 21.1% in March compared with a year ago. Sales for self-propelled combines also dipped 10.2%, with 343 machines sold. One area that saw growth was the 100+ hp. 2WD segment, which was up 7%. Curt Blades, AEM’s senior vice president, industry sectors and product leadership, says the sales report was not a surprise. “Inventory levels are down more than 10% in both the U.S. and Canada, and this is the result of supply chain difficulties catching up with this segment of the manufacturing industry.”

Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company is planting a species of dandelion, as it looks to develop a rubber source that can be cultivated in U.S. soils. The tire maker hopes to develop and commercialize a source of natural rubber, planting Taraxacum kok-saghyz, in Ohio this spring. The species, native to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, is one of the few plants the company has flagged as a potential source of tire-quality rubber. "Global demand for natural rubber continues to grow, and it remains a key raw material for the tire industry," Chris Helsel, a senior vice president of global operations and chief technology officer for Goodyear, said in a release. "This is a critical time to develop a domestic source of natural rubber, which may help mitigate future supply chain challenges." More than 90% of the natural rubber produced in the world today is made using latex from rubber trees outside of the U.S., the release stated. The goal of the program is to create a source of latex that can be harvested every six months and grow in the temperate climate of the U.S. Goodyear is working with Ohio-based Farmland Materials on the "multi-year, multi-million-dollar" project, which also has support from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Air Force Research Lab and BioMADE. The rubber produced will be used to produce tires for military aircraft.

NCBA, along with several state affiliates, including Kansas Livestock Association, submitted an amicus brief last week to the U.S. Supreme Court urging them to adopt a limited, clear waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) definition that provides certainty for cattle producers. The brief was submitted because the Supreme Court is hearing a case that challenges the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Water Act. While cattle producers are not direct parties in Sackett v. EPA, the case has implications for the livestock industry and will impact the Biden administration’s rulemaking on WOTUS.

Kansas Corn observed Earth Day by teaming up with over 50 fuel stations across the state of Kansas to offer Earth Day discounts for ethanol fuels. Several independent stations as well as many Casey’s General Stores and 24/7 Travel Stores provided a 22-cent-per-gallon discount on E15/Unleaded 88 fuels during a two-hour time window Friday, April 22.

In a recent commentary published on the Missouri Farm Bureau’s website, MFB president Garrett Hawkins takes on the issue of eminent domain as it relates to Missouri farmers and landowners who have fought to protect private property rights against private, for-profit companies from using the power of eminent domain without providing a substantial benefit to Missourians. Read the full document at www.mofb.org.

People

Kansas City-based AgriThority®, an agricultural product development company, announces new members of its Board of Advisors composed of globally respected leaders in the agriculture industry. As a specialist in accelerating innovative technologies to commercialization around the world, AgriThority continues to evolve services with the independent counsel of its advisors. Adrian Percy, Ph.D. is executive director of the NC Plant Sciences Initiative at North Carolina State University and Venture partner of Finistere Ventures LLC. With more than 30 years of experience in the agricultural sector, Percy is an advocate of the need for and benefits of modern agriculture. Valdemar Fischer serves as chairman of Syngenta Group LATAM at Syngenta Group in Panama City, Panama. His deep international experience extends from the U.S. and Mexico to Ecuador, Brazil, and Australia. He continues to monitor the agricultural needs and sustainability movement within the EU and around the world.

Events

After a two-year postponement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Royal Rodeo returns to Kansas City, May 5-7 at the American Royal Complex. The PRCA-sanctioned ProRodeo will feature bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, bull riding and other competitions. More information available here.

Kansas State Olathe will conduct a two-day, interactive workshop as an introductory course on the regulatory aspects of animal drug and vaccine development. The workshop provides attendees with an understanding of the veterinary drug approval processes. Content is designed for those tasked with developing and maintaining an animal health company's product portfolio and with a company's regulatory strategies. The workshop will take place May 11-12, 2022. More information available here.

The Angus Foundation invites golf and Angus enthusiasts to enjoy a day on the green at its annual Golf Tournament, held in conjunction with the 2022 National Junior Angus Show in Kansas City, Missouri. The event, which will help further the Foundation’s mission of supporting Angus youth, education and research, will be held on Tuesday, July 5 at the Shiloh Springs Golf Club in Platte City, Missouri. Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. Sponsorship options are available to state and regional Angus associations, individuals, businesses, farms and ranches. There are different promotional opportunities at eight sponsorship levels. The sponsorship deadline is June 3. Player registration is open until June 20. Adult registration is $100, and National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) member registration is $75.