Digging Deeper...

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The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse Communications brought together top economists, industry leaders and government officials to offer unique insights during their 9th annual Ag Outlook Forum. Bob Petersen, executive director, Ag Business Council of Kansas City added that, “the event has become a ‘must attend’ for agribusiness executives looking to re-set their expectations heading into the fall harvest.”
By: Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC

Ag Economy On Solid Ground

The resonant message coming from agriculture economists, policy makers and ag business leaders at the 9th Annual Ag Outlook Forum is that the farm economy appears durable going into 2024. But Roland Fumasi, head of the North American food and agribusiness division of RaboResearch, cautioned somewhat sarcastically “that economists have forecast four of the last nine recessions.” Nevertheless, Fumasi summed up his presentation optimistically, saying that while cash flow will be challenged in the upcoming year, overall liquidity should remain intact. The outlook for the agriculture economy is not great, he conceded, but it enters 2024 “from a strong financial position.”

Economics, policy, technology and best practices aside, the most positive, ringing endorsement of the state of the U.S. agricultural industry came from Denver Caldwell, John Deere’s U.S. & CA director of sales. Concluding his presentation on John Deere’s involvement in agriculture, communities and education, Caldwell claimed the if anyone is looking for a job in advanced high technology, “It’s right here in agriculture and by association at John Deere.”

In her opening remarks for the Ag Outlook Forum, Sara Wyant, founder, editor and publisher of Agri-Pulse, quizzed attendees about their concerns regarding the ag economy. There was an abundance of anxiety-causing culprits, but farm policy or the lack thereof is making the ag industry nervous. Other concerns centered on crop insurance, funding to avert a government shutdown, regulation and what the Farm Bill would look like.

Nutrition At A Glance

At the end of the day, agriculture is all about eating. Dr. Sprio Stefanou, administrator for USDA’s Economic Research Service, delivered a positive keynote message that global food security is estimated to improve this year relative to 2022 due to an average of 3.7% growth per capita GDP and relative easing of international and domestic food commodity price levels. “Despite improvements, though, food insecurity in 2023 remains elevated,” Dr. Stefanou said. The prevalence of food insecurity is estimated at 26.6% for the 83 countries included in the International Food Security Assessment (IFSA) model developed to evaluate food security outlook of low- and middle-income countries. Food insecurity is projected to decline by 2033 in IFSA counties. However, 385.9 million people in the 83 IFSA countries will still be food insecure. “But,” said Dr. Stefanou, “that will represent a decline of 66.1% food insecure people from 2023.”

Hans Kabat, president of Cargill Protein North America, covered a wide range of issues and situations facing growers, food animal producers and processors. The ag industry overall has reached an “inflection point” influenced by climate change, advanced farm technology, rural flight and labor shortages, among others. The key to coping with it requires reframing challenges as opportunities.

“Farmers and ranchers are on the front line of the battle to provide food,” Kabat said, recalling that they got things done despite the array of disruptions Covid-19 brandished. “It took optimism and ability to meet those challenges.” He recalled the quip from Will Rogers: The farmer has to be an optimist or wouldn’t still be a farmer.

Kabat maintains that “producers who succeed are those who seek a new way.” The same initiative applies to processors and packagers, he pointed out. For example, while Cargill continues to package standard meat cuts and grades, it has stepped up market research to learn more about what foods young, affluent consumers want. On the issue of animal protein versus plant-based protein, Kabat said his company has its eye on all sources of protein. But he says the market share for plant-based meat alternatives will be small.

EPA Update

Rod Snyder, EPA’s senior advisor of agriculture, filled in for EPA chief Michael Regan, who had a last minute change in his schedule and could not address this year’s Forum. Snyder stressed that Regan’s North Carolina upbringing and family background in agriculture was a key component of his understanding farmers’ concerns about EPA regulations and pending rules. Snyder said Regan’s insight into agriculture is guiding his efforts to minimize EPA’s impact on farmers and producers. “He is eager to work with agriculture to mitigate conflicts.”

The Endangered Species Act has been a festering thorn for both the EPA and agriculture for a long time. Both parties have been struggling with the science, he noted. For the record, in a House Ag Committee hearing held in Lincoln, Nebraska last April, EPA Administrator Regan said, "I believe if that had been done in the past, we wouldn't have 50 years of ignoring the ESA, and this administration wouldn't find itself in the position that is in.” Accordingly, Snyder synopsized the situation saying it is imperative that the science is correct and farmers have the education to avoid over-spraying. Snyder confirmed the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) “is getting back on track.”

The EPA is drafting a rule to allow permanent year-round sales in eight states. As for WOTUS, Snyder said the issue could go before the Supreme Court for yet a third decision. The problem, he explained, is that “clean water rests on what is an irrational definition.”

Top of Mind

Several experts weighed in on issues agriculture faces in the coming months and in 2024. While fertilizer costs in Europe and South America are unstable, prices in the U.S. have settled. Fall applications will be relatively normal, according to Ken Seitz, president and CEO of Nutrien, a producer of potash, nitrogen and phosphate products. Growers worldwide jumped into the market and secured supplies, which ran prices up, he said. “On this continent, I’d like to think that prices have stabilized,” Seitz said. “We’re looking at a pretty open fall application here in this country and we’re watching normal buying patterns and normal inventories in the U.S.” Global potash usage is normally about 71 million tons per year, but last year the world’s farmers only applied 63 million tons, Seitz said.

Seth Meyer, USDA’s chief economist, said global competition for corn and soybean production is being closely monitored. Brazil is forecast to have record corn and soybean planting and production. “It will be interesting to see how competitive the U.S. will stay with South America as the export season picks up,” he noted. Brazil is expected to compete with the U.S. for the China corn market. China has been boosting its corn imports from Brazil to diversify its source. The real challenge, said Meyer, will come from the cost of getting corn into China. On the bright side, though, he pointed out that strong U.S. domestic demand for soy could compensate for lost corn business in China.

That domestic soy demand could be timely. Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist for StoneX Financial, Inc., FCM Division, explained that it is about time the U.S. soy industry started looking in earnest for other markets “as China drops its demand for soy.” Suderman offered four ‘take home points’ for U.S. agriculture to consider:

• Do not count on Chinese demand to be what it was in the past.

• India offers the next opportunity for expansive growth; but it will take time to develop.

• Focus on developing other markets, especially the U.S. domestic market.

• Focus on renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

Krista Swanson, lead economist for the National Corn Growers Association, said farmers could expect interest rates to remain around current levels or slightly higher. She advised them to make plans for capital purchases carefully. Sometimes farmers can’t hold off on capital purchases, but if they have the option to do so, she said they could see relief on interest rates over the next year. USDA is projecting lower net returns than what corn growers enjoyed over the last two years, said Swanson, but margins are still positive. “Growers still need to adjust to a tighter margin environment.” Her ‘take home messages’ include these:

• Projected 2024 cost of production is lower than 2023 costs for all major commodity crops.

• Despite lower dollar costs of production, falling prices push margins to break-even or lower.

• If 2024 crop insurance projected price is lower, revenue guarantees will be lower.

• Despite fewer acres, USDA projects corn production as yields increase by two bushels per acre annually over the next decade.

Policy Update

Blake Hurst, farmer and retired president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, hosted Kansas’ U.S. Congressional Representatives Sharice Davids and Tracey Mann in a discussion on politics, policy and possibilities. And the 2024 Farm Bill. Hurst put the importance of agriculture in perspective, saying that when the first Farm Bill was created in 1934 farmers represented 25% of the U.S. population. Today farmers account for only 1.3% of the population. Yet U.S. agriculture provides 88% of Americans’ diet.

While optimism has run out for getting the Farm Bill passed in this fiscal year ending September 30, Rep. Mann is confident that it can be hammered out by the end of the calendar year. But he stressed it was more important to “get a bill done right than just getting it done.” And he reminded everyone that Farm Bills are amendments.

Rep. Davids indicated she was deeply concerned that the bill was not on track. At the same time, Rep. Davids wants to ensure the Farm Bill in its final rendition would serve the state of Kansas appropriately. She noted that it was important to have Democrats from agricultural states serving the House and Senate Ag Committees. She acknowledged she was learning more and more about ag’s importance to Kansas.

A big snag in the process of writing and passing a new bill is the SNAP program, which allocates 81% of Farm Bill funds to food and nutrition and 19% to crop insurance. Also, Rep. Mann and Republicans have reservations about proposals to take monies from the bill’s existing conservation agenda to fund climate change priorities of the Progressives. “Farmers are the original stewards of the land,” Mann pointed out. “And they have taken on Mother Nature as a business partner.” Or maybe it’s the other way around.

Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - August 2023

Developments

The Kansas Department of Agriculture hosted two inbound trade missions this summer focused on beef cattle genetics and livestock equipment. During trade missions, Kansas farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses work to build relationships and expand international marketing opportunities for Kansas goods and services in foreign markets. The week of August 28, KDA hosted six cattlemen from Chile who were looking for purebred beef cattle genetics. While in Kansas, the team visited Ohlde Cattle Company, Palmer; Fink Beef Genetics, Randolph; Mill Brae Ranch, Maple Hill; Mushrush Ranches, Strong City; Geiger Cattle, Troy; and the American Angus Association in St. Joseph, Missouri. “These trade mission participants have progressive operations and are continually working to improve their herds through improved genetics. We were honored to host them in Kansas during their search for high-quality beef genetics,” said Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam. “Building trade is all about building relationships, and that’s exactly what Kansas cattlemen have had the opportunity to do over the past few months,” said Suzanne Ryan-Numrich, KDA international trade director.

U.S. consumers remain interested in plant-based meat alternatives, but higher prices have led many prospective return consumers to taper off their purchases. The price of plant-based meats is often several dollars a pound higher than for equivalent meat and poultry products. Beyond cost, lingering negative perceptions surrounding taste, value and versatility are also obstacles the category has yet to overcome. According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the market for plant-based meats has likely reached a tipping point as the initial period of exceptional sales growth appears to be over. Plant-based meat sales peaked in 2020 when consumers had more discretionary income and were curious about broadening their food spend in the wake of pandemic-era food shortages. But fewer than half of Americans who tried the products at the time repeated their purchase, per data from consumer research firm Mintel.

Kansas Department of Agriculture officials joined staff from Harvesters –The Community Food Network in Topeka earlier this month to welcome deliveries of fresh produce purchased under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. KDA has been awarded an additional $2.5 million to further the state’s work under USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service's Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). The additional funds will be used to purchase and distribute Kansas grown and processed foods to underserved communities and families across Kansas for an additional year. “We have been proud of the success of the LFPA Program and are pleased to be able to extend it for another growing season,” said Kansas Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kelsey Olson. “Kansas-grown food is reaching communities across the state, which benefits not only those communities but also the farmers and producers.”

The National FFA Organization has announced a record-high student membership of 945,988, an increase of 11 percent from last year. In addition, the number of FFA chapters increased by 168 this year, resulting in 9,163 chapters in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “It’s exciting to see our numbers grow and know we continue to influence the next generation of leaders,” said National FFA CEO Scott Stump. “This generation is making a difference in their communities and agriculture. We’re excited to see the enthusiasm for agricultural education reflected in our membership.” The top five membership states of the organization are Texas, California, Georgia, Illinois and North Carolina.

Soybean is one of the most economically and societally impactful crops in the world, providing a significant percentage of all protein for animal consumption on a global scale, and playing key roles in oil production, manufacturing, and biofuel applications. In 2022, an estimated 4.3 billion bushels of soybeans were produced in the United States, a decrease of almost 200 million bushels compared to the previous year. To keep up with the growing demand for soy-based animal feed, the USDA projects soybean acreage will increase by 19.6% by 2032. Hybrid breeding in soybean has the potential to increase the productivity of one of the most planted and consumed crops in the Americas, yet it has remained largely unexplored.

New research by scientists at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Cornell University provides a key enabling technology to produce obligate outcrossing in soybean. The newly published research appears in the current issue of Plant Biotechnology Journal and describes a new resource that can be used to amplify hybrid seed sets, enabling large-scale trials for heterosis in this major crop. “Improved soybean is a long-term goal of farmers, plant breeders, and scientists,” says Blake Meyers, PhD, Danforth Center principal investigator and professor of plant science at the University of Missouri. “Improvements could have a potentially substantial effect—and offer a benefit to beleaguered pollinators as well.”

Consumers who report they are most satisfied with their food consumption also spend the lowest share of their incomes on food, according to the latest Consumer Food Insights Report. The report’s July 2023 survey also asked consumers how they feel about beef from cattle compared to three meat alternatives: plant-based, cell-cultured and lab-grown. The report from Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability assesses food spending, consumer satisfaction and values, support of agricultural and food policies, and trust in information sources. Purdue experts conducted and evaluated the survey, which included 1,200 consumers across the U.S. Nearly three of every four Americans generally continue to report that their food satisfaction is high. The researchers found that consumers do not believe meat alternatives are better than beef from cattle, although plant-based alternatives are rated higher than beef when animal-welfare is considered.

USDA reports inflation-adjusted net farm income in 2022 was $167.3 billion, 8.3% higher than farm income in 2021 and the highest seen since 1973. Investing in farmland has yielded stable returns because of increasing land values and profit generated from crops. The monetization of farmland has also been bolstered by the tax exemptions granted in the United States to pension funds and endowments. Investors are attracted to farmland investment because of its low correlation with stock market volatility. When agricultural products increase, the value of farmland tends to increase as well because the land becomes more valuable. Therefore, even in inflationary environments or during recessions, American farmland is highly likely to retain its value over time.

The Biden Administration has informed federal courts that have enjoined its WOTUS rule that it has revised that rule to conform with the Supreme Court’s Sackett Decision, allowing litigation to move forward. The rule, which was published before the Supreme Court decision, is enjoined in 27 states due to three court orders issued after it went into effect in March. The courts stayed the litigation, however, after EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers said they would issue new language to align the rule with the Supreme Court decision, which was issued in May. Once the revisions are official by being published in the Federal Register, the courts are expected to lift the stays and proceed with trying the cases. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications, September 5, 2023.

This is the time of year when cattle producers need to pay extra attention to heat stress in their operations, says University of Missouri Extension beef specialist Eric Bailey. Unlike many other animals, cattle can’t rid their bodies of heat by sweating. Instead, they pant. Heat-stressed cattle show symptoms such as open-mouth breathing, slobbering and restlessness, Bailey says. Chronic heat stress leads to long-term problems such as decreased fertility and weight gain. Breathing rate is a good indicator of heat stress in cattle, he says. Producers should be alert when respiration rates range from 90-110 breaths per minute. Rates of 110-130 breaths per minute indicate a dangerous level of stress. At 130 breaths per minute or above, producers should take emergency measures. The MU Extension publication “Hot Weather Livestock Stress” (G2099) is available online here.

The bipartisan Agricultural Labor Working Group, which was formed by the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture in late June, is seeking input on workforce issues within the industry from stakeholders. Through a 16-question survey, producers are being asked to share the realities they face every day dealing with labor shortages. All answers will remain anonymous. Access to the survey is available through the Kansas Livestock Association. The 14 members of the working group were selected from those who currently hold seats on the committee and represent every sector and region of American agriculture. The working group not only was charged with seeking input from the industry on labor issues, but also producing a report for the committee with recommendations to address the problems, including those within the H-2A visa program.

Kansas Corn Growers Association treasurer Kent Moore and CEO Josh Roe assisted Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s staff and officials in developing a set of comments to the Department of Interior and Bureau of Reclamation. These comments showcased the need for funding for water conservation projects across the state, and especially within the Rattlesnake Creek Basin. The Rattlesnake Creek Basin contains the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, which has filed an impairment claim with the Chief Engineer, claiming they have not received adequate water in the past. This claim could lead to the Chief Engineer filing administrative orders to irrigated farmers in the region to curtail groundwater pumping for the refuge to receive their surface water allotment. In the Governor’s news release, Moore stated: “KCGA is pleased and thankful for Governor Kelly recognizing the importance of requesting expansion of this federal funding for water conservation projects in Kansas,” said Kent Moore, Kansas Corn Growers Association (KCGA) Treasurer and farmer from Iuka, Kan. “These funds will provide key components in resolving the Quivira Impairment. We look forward to continuing to work with the Kelly administration in facilitating and implementing needed water conservation projects that benefit Kansas farmers, our environment, and our state’s economy.”

Events

The Missouri Pork Association will be hosting the 2023 Kansas City Taste of Elegance culinary competition on Monday, October 30 at Harrah’s North Kansas City. The event brings top chefs from across the Kansas City area to compete for the best pork entrée as blind-judged by industry experts. After the official judging, Missouri Pork hosts a banquet honoring Harvesters—The Community Food Network. During the banquet, attendees sample all entrées and vote for their favorite. Council members are invited to join them for this event and complementary dinner. RSVP by October 20 if you can join us. Doors open to the banquet at 6:30 pm at Harrah’s, with awards being announced at 8:15 pm.

For producers who raise purebred cattle and are interested in exporting, Kansas Department of Agriculture is currently recruiting for an outbound mission to Mexico. On October 24-28, 2023, KDA will be traveling to Guadalajara, Mexico, to visit ranches and attend Expo Ganadera Jalisco to network and promote U.S. beef cattle genetics during an educational seminar. Up to three Kansas producers will be selected to participate in the trade mission. More information, including an application, can be found here.

University of Missouri Extension will offer a self-paced “Conventional Vegetable Production Series” this fall. “We know vegetable growers are busy,” says MU Extension horticulturist Justin Keay. “Many hold an off-farm job in addition to their on-farm responsibilities. We recognize that offering content to growers in multiple formats is the best way to reach our audience. This includes offering in-person workshops, webinars and, now, our first offering of a self-paced class series.” The self-paced series includes access to 21 recorded classes, scheduled office hours and course materials. Topics include planning, fertility, insects, weeds, diseases, produce safety and crop-specific classes on 12 of the most-grown vegetable crops in Missouri. Register here. Access to course materials is available until November 20.

Farmers markets nationwide celebrated National Farmers Market Week earlier this month. National Farmers Market Week is an annual celebration of farmers markets proclaimed by USDA and coordinated by the Farmers Market Coalition, a membership-based nonprofit organization that supports farmers markets nationwide through training, technical assistance, and network-building. This year, the campaign was centered around the essential role that farmers market operators play in local food systems. For more than fifty years, farmers markets have influenced the way Americans eat, shop, and connect to their food, their farmers, and one another. Farmers markets are more than market places, they are places where neighbors learn, grow, and work together. Find your local farmers market using this tool from USDA AMS. For more information, visit the Farmers Market Coalition website here.

People

Monica Thornburg has joined the Missouri Beef Industry Council as the new manager of industry relations. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a degree in agricultural science. She later worked on a ranch in Delta Junction, Alaska, and also started her own agricultural marketing business, called Agriculture for All Communication.

Nick Althoff has been hired as a field representative for Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., based in Columbia, Missouri. He will help Hawley as farm bill discussions ramp up. Althoff most recently was an economics intern at the American Farm Bureau Federation. He also interned for former Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo.

Two lifelong Kansans have been selected for positions in Kansas State University's K-State 105 Initiative. Jessica Gnad, a small business owner and entrepreneurial-minded program manager, will serve as K-State 105 director. Jennifer Tidball, public information officer for K-State's Division of Communications and Marketing, will serve as K-State 105 communications director. Both appointments began Aug. 21. "Jessica and Jennifer have the leadership skills, professionalism and passion to advance the K-State 105 initiative statewide," said Marshall Stewart, executive vice president and chief of staff. "Their work on this initiative is crucial for economic growth across all 105 Kansas counties and can become a road map for other land-grant universities to follow." The initiative leverages new and existing institutional partnerships with its established K-State Extension infrastructure to solve problems and support community and economic development between urban and rural areas.

The National Institute for Animal Agriculture is now accepting nominations for the second cohort of the Advanced Training for Animal Agriculture Leaders program. Nominations are due Wednesday, November 15 by 11:59 p.m. The 16-month leadership program blends in-person and virtual working sessions to focus on key areas of leadership development. Members of the program work together on applied-learning. The selection process begins with an application or nomination from a sponsoring organization. More information about how to nominate an individual for the program or become an applicant is available here.

Digging Deeper...

In December 2011, internet web service provider Yahoo released an article describing an agricultural college degree as “useless.” The story was based on a survey of 1,000 employers who revealed their hiring plans at that time. The story, published by Yahoo’s Education Division and written by Terence Loose, relied on statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor and details from the National Association of Colleges & Employers’ “2012 Job Outlook Report” to make its claim. Mr. Loose reviewed the data to come up with a list of “useless degrees” that students “might want to avoid.” At the top of the list he placed a diploma from an agricultural institution. The backlash was immediate. Dozens of farm publications filed stories disputing the supposition, and deans of agriculture schools at universities around the country roundly refuted the assertion. But something else took place.
By: Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC – Sources/References: Wallaces Farmer, February 15, 2012; Recruiting Trends 2010-2011, Collegiate Employment Research Institute, Michigan State University; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections Program; Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources and the Environment, United Sates 2020 to 2025, USDA, Purdue University; Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education – Missouri Agricultural Education; University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources.

Agriculture Education: Cultivating the Future

If the ag industry/academic complex hadn’t been so incredulous about someone actually declaring agriculture studies a useless major, it might have been hopping mad. But that’s just not the nature of farmers, livestock producers and ag folk in general. While their indignation over Yahoo‘s insulting assessment of ag degrees was justified, ag industry professors, producers and processors didn’t dwell on it. Instead ag educators, in particular, seemed to have taken the slight as motivation to review its educational mission and update its mandate to make agriculture more relevant and attractive to students from all backgrounds – not just for students with a rural upbringing.

If anything, aggies were puzzled by the Yahoo article that was published on January 19, 2012. The assertion just didn’t fit the facts. For instance, Wallaces Farmer (February 15, 2012) reported that Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture had just recorded its highest career placement percentages ever at 98.2% in 2011. At the same time, Phil Gardner, Ph.D., Director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University published Recruiting Trends 2010-2011, in which he stated, “No sector [of the economy] appears stronger than agriculture/food processing [based on] an increase in hires of approximately 14%.”

Moving closer to the present, a report published in 2021 by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Purdue University shows a strong job demand for new college graduates with degrees in agricultural programs. U.S. college graduates can expect approximately 59,400 job opportunities annually through 2025. This reflects a 2.6% growth from the previous five years. Employer demand will exceed the supply of available graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher in agriculture-related fields.

“Future development of our complex global food system requires the brightest minds from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and disciplines working together to solve the challenges before us,” said Parag Chitnis, acting director of NIFA at the time. “This report shows that students across America who are studying food, agriculture and related sciences to take on these challenges have made a sound career choice and will graduate into a strong and growing job market in the years ahead.” (Dr. Chitnis is currently associated with the University of Wyoming and was an assistant professor in the Division of Biology at Kansas State University).

Graduates earning degrees with emphasis in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and the environment (FARNRE) will account for 61% of the annual supply pool. Most of the employment opportunities will be in business and management at 42% and another 31% in science and engineering. Openings anticipated in education, communication and government will make up 14%, and 13% will be in food and biomaterials production with nearly 92% of those jobs going to FARNRE majors.

The report – Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources and the Environment, United Sates 2020 to 2025 – is available here. It is the ninth in a series of five-year projections initiated by USDA in 1980.

Ag Goes Back To School

Something’s been in the air lately, signaling significant changes in the stereotype of ag students. In early August the National FFA Organization announced a record-high student membership of 945,988, an increase of 11 percent from last year. In addition, the number of FFA chapters increased by 168 this year, resulting in 9,163 chapters in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “It’s exciting to see our numbers grow and know we continue to influence the next generation of leaders,” said National FFA president/CEO Scott Stump. “This generation is making a difference in their communities and agriculture. We’re excited to see the enthusiasm for agricultural education reflected in our membership.”

But the new aggies are not necessarily like the old ones. For more than a decade, the number of ag school students who actually grew up on a farm is dwindling. That cohort represents only 27% of FFA membership. For another, close to half (40%) live in rural nonfarm regions, while a significant 34% hail from urban and suburban areas. “These membership numbers help prove what we already knew,” said Dr. Larry Case, former National FFA Advisor, in 2008. Ag education is relevant for students from various backgrounds and locations, with varying interests and talents. “It helps them prepare them for more than 300 diverse plentiful career opportunities in agriculture, food, fuel and fiber industries,” Dr. Case said.

“Agriculture plays a key role in everyday life,” FFA’s Stump said, “and it’s evident that students today understand the important role they can play in agriculture.”

Jim Morgan, an ag educator at Louisburg (Kansas) High School, was honored last month by the Kansas City Agricultural Business Council for his 42-year teaching career and his participation in FFA and with the Kansas and National Associations of Agriculture Educators. He currently has about 120 students enrolled in his classes, but remarked that if his sole focus was on production ag his students would number around 10. He has adapted his curriculum to current circumstances and his class offerings touch on food science, vet tech, and so forth.

“I found this pretty fascinating,” noted AgBiz Council executive director Bob Petersen. “I grew up in an era where the secondary program was called vocational agriculture and very much geared toward production ag. Today vo-ag teachers are called ag educators to reflect their broader role.”

Petersen added that agriculture needs suburban youngsters in the workforce and needs to demonstrate to them there are many cool careers in the sector. “I am guessing the transformation in the student population is borne out by a look at who now participates in FFA.”

So What’s Happening?

Whether the Yahoo article was an impetus for the recent overhaul of agriculture education in the last 12 years or was simply the catalyst is debatable. It certainly can be considered an accelerant. Actually, the ag industry and ag educators got serious about reinventing agricultural education in the aftermath of the 1980s Farm Crisis.

Unlike situations in which nature played a heavy role in affecting productivity and income, this farm crisis was mostly caused by negative institutional finance and market factors. Record production caused a decline in commodity prices. The 1980 grain embargo against the Soviet Union precipitated steep export trade losses. The Farm Credit System experienced large losses, which were the first losses since the Great Depression. Credit availability and inflation had contributed to an increase in the price of farm land. Agricultural banks felt the impact of the crisis. In 1981 there were ten bank failures, only one of which was an agricultural bank. In 1985, the number had climbed to 62, of which agricultural banks accounted for over half, according the FDIC’s History of the 1980s: An Examination of the Banking Crisis of the 1980s and Early 1990s, Chapter 8 (updated June 12, 2024).

Addressing these conditions created by the 1980s Farm Crisis, ag educators were in agreement that ag school curricula had to encompass more than courses about ag production. And ag schools would have to attract more students from demographics other than the historical group whose families were deeply rooted in farming and ranching. A study at Kansas State University (2013) identified factors that influenced urban students to enroll in K-State’s College of Agriculture.

The study showed that having a family member who worked in an agriculture-related field was the most important factor in influencing students’ choice of major. But it also identified a variety of secondary factors, including career opportunities and hands-on learning experience that influenced KSU students when choosing to enroll in an agriculture-related program. Interestingly, only 11% of the agriculture students in the KSU study reported having traditional farm or ranch experience.

At Iowa State University (ISU), the agronomy student population largely consisted of men from rural or farm backgrounds from the early 1970s through 2006. Based on the results of its study, the university began a marketing campaign in 2006 to reach out to nontraditional students. By early 2010, the agronomy program at ISU had recorded a 91% increase in enrollment, largely due to the effects of the new marketing campaign. More women and students from the suburbs and cities comprised the student body.

How’s It Happening?

Attracting and recruiting students from non-farm/non-rural backgrounds is one thing. Keeping them engaged and enrolled in agriculture education programs is another. But thought-leaders in elementary, secondary and college ag education are making further inroads in the creation of stimulating, relevant courses of study and degree programs. Kristie Larson, strategic relations manager, DeBruce Foundation, says that introducing and emphasizing STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) programs into the ag curriculum shows students from non-farm backgrounds that there are plenty of jobs and career opportunities in the ag industry in which STEM disciplines and skills can be applied – indeed, in which, more and more, they are required.

Keith Dietzschold, Director of Agricultural Education for Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MODESE-AG Ed) agrees that emphasizing STEM programs in agriculture education is essential to achieving priorities and goals set forth in the Department’s recently released Five Year Strategic Plan 2024-2029. “But you have to consider that STEM is nothing new to us,” he says, “agriculture was the original adapter and implementer of STEM discipline millenniums ago.”

“Agriculture and the food, fiber and natural resource system is America’s most creative, productive and foundational industry,” MODESE-AG Ed claims. “Much of this country’s success in agriculture can be attributed to a sound program of education. To advance a dynamic and efficient agriculture, food, fiber & natural resource system and to assure the continued well- being of our society, exceptional, well-rounded education must continue to be a high priority. A cooperative effort among educational institutions, government agencies and food, fiber and natural resource-related businesses will help Missouri provide leadership for the future through enhanced education.”

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It Starts In the First Grade
Missouri Agricultural Education’s
Five Year Strategic Plan
2024-2025

In the mid-1990s, national agricultural education leaders determined that agricultural education was becoming more complex. Internet technology and online access for just about anyone who wanted it was rapidly changing schools, businesses and societies. Developments and advances in information collection and processing required new ways of thinking, working and interacting. On January 1, 1996, in the U.S.’s National Council for Agricultural Education inaugurated Reinventing Agricultural Education for the Year 2020. It was an initiative to strengthen agricultural and food systems education for the 21st Century.

The project has been a national effort on behalf of agricultural education to create a vision and develop a strategic plan for agricultural education going forward. Conceptually it was an effort to bring together key stakeholders at the local, state, regional and national levels. These groups shared their thoughts and ideas while developing consensus on what agricultural education should be in the 21st century. But time flies.

In an interview last month with the Kansas City AgBiz Council, Keith Dietzschold, Director of Agricultural Education for Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MODESE-AG Ed), asked rhetorically, “Does Missouri agriculture education need to be looking at updating the initiative?” Yes, he emphasized.

Here’s The Plan

Agricultural education is an integral aspect of the success of the Missouri agriculture, food, and natural resources industry. Investment in this area of education is unique and is meant to:

• Grow wise and informed consumers

• Assist with workforce development

• Meet the needs of traditional and non-traditional agricultural education students

• Help students develop practical and leadership skills

Representatives from education government agencies, industry, and other key stakeholders were brought together in a multi-stage initiative to uncover the key issues facing agricultural education in Missouri and determine the vision to lead agricultural education into the future. Seeking input from all voices was a driving force behind the development of the plan, thus, creating a resource for all connected to education and agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) in the state.

Among those offering input and insight toward Missouri Agricultural Education’s of Five Year Strategic Plan is Doug Kueker, Ph.D., co-founder of Vivayic and a KC AgBiz Council member. Over the last 17 years, he and his colleagues have worked on more than 2,000 projects in the agriculture sector of the U.S. economy to prepare and develop human capital. Working with Vivayic, others education development groups such as the DeBruce Foundation and numerous stakeholders in Missouri Agriculture, MODESE-AG Ed identified four key priorities:

• Comprehensive Reach of Agricultural Education Programs

• Quality Curriculum and Resources

• Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Literacy

• Quality Instructors and Instruction

Comprehensive Reach of Agricultural Education Programs – Agricultural education should strive to be a comprehensive school-based agricultural education program for kindergarten through adult learners. The education model should include a focus on equitably balancing all parts of the school-based agricultural education model (experiential learning experiences, classroom, and leadership development) and incorporating a community-based model.

• All students, from kindergarten to adults, will have access to agricultural education in Missouri. The focus will be placed on programs where state standards can be incorporated into the curriculum. Elementary programs can lean on a ‘ready to use’ curriculum developed through groups like Ag Ed on the Move and Ag in the Classroom. All levels should focus on building partnerships with other disciplines and administrators to include agriculture topics in other courses and/or allow agriculture courses to fill core education requirements, especially at the secondary and postsecondary levels.

• Agricultural education systems at the secondary level should have an equitable emphasis on all three pieces of the school-based agricultural education program. State staff should assist with emphasizing the need for balance without taking autonomy away from instructors.

Quality Curriculum and Resources – The success of all agricultural education hinges, in part, on quality curriculum and access to appropriate resources. Curriculum should be industry-relevant and focused on career readiness. Instructors should have the support and information at their disposal to acquire and use resources appropriate for the experiential nature of the agricultural industry.

• All levels of education (kindergarten through adult) will have access to a high-quality and affordable agriculture curriculum that meets all appropriate state standards. The curriculum should be developed in cooperation with instructors, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and industry professionals; and evaluated for appropriate updates every five years.

• Continued emphasis on accessible resources and supplies should be available to all instructors. These resources should include: Directory of industry contacts and connections for technical advice for instructors to reference Enhanced availability and affordability of equipment to use in the classroom, including a list of suppliers for educational resources in Missouri. A defined list of funding and grant opportunities available to instructors, specifically at the secondary level, to help provide increased access to funds for resources for students.

• Increased focus on programming in secondary programs to ensure student readiness for post-graduation – whether their program of choice is agriculture or non-agriculture. Develop stronger articulation program relationships between secondary and post-secondary programs Develop stronger career readiness programming in secondary programs.

Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) Literacy – There is a clear need to increase AFNR literacy from kindergarten to adulthood. This is a vast responsibility that should be addressed by all stakeholders of agricultural education. The focus on literacy will inform consumers, tell the story of agriculture, and connect agriculture with other disciplines in the education system.

• The idea of agriculture literacy is simple, yet the ability to define it is challenging. Agricultural education must concisely define AFNR literacy, with the involvement of industry partners and stakeholders.

• Once AFNR literacy is defined, a process must be created to establish an agricultural knowledge baseline for key groups.

• The key groups to address when creating and deploying literacy efforts include: School personnel/ Elementary students; Middle School students; High School students; Post-secondary stakeholders; Local community members; Agriculture, food, and natural resources industry members; Local and state leadership and policy decision-makers.

Quality Instructors and Instruction – Sustaining a successful agricultural education program requires recruiting, developing, supporting, and retaining dynamic instructors who deliver quality instruction to students of all ages, abilities, and experiences.

• Recruitment: Identify ways to provide early exposure to agricultural education-specific work experience; Create learning and leadership opportunities for future agricultural education instructors in each district.

• Development: Curate a list of subject matter experts (SMEs) and guidelines for quality instruction for each topic area in agricultural education, specifically at the secondary level; Establish a culture of collaboration between instructors and industry professionals early; Establish an expectation of professional development for all instructors;

• Support and Retention: Develop seamless and consistent curriculum updates and make supplies and resources accessible to all instructors; Incorporate industry leaders in the classroom to provide curriculum guidance and support; Continue facilitating experiences (i.e., professional development and mentorship programs) that foster a strong community atmosphere for instructors at all levels.

Source/References: Adapted from Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education – Missouri Agricultural Education’s Five Year Strategic Plan 2024-2029.

Renewable Energy Put in the Spotlight

Three prominent players in the renewable energy space of the U.S. economy briefed Ag Council members on developments in the search for renewable sources of power and their implications for agriculture. The Council’s August Luncheon Meeting was hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City at its elegant headquarters. Francisco Scott, an economist in the Economic Research Department at the Kansas City Fed and moderator of the discussion, noted the Fed regularly incorporates agriculture perspectives in its policy deliberations. He also pointed out that the Kansas City Fed serviced more ag banks and counted more ag counties under its administrations than any of the nine banks in the Federal Reserve System. “The relationship between energy and ag prices has been stronger since 2005,” Scott said.

Panel member Chace Daley, Senior Vice President and Director of Energy Management at Oklahoma-based Farmers National Company talked about renewable energy developments from the perspective of landowners. In an amped-up sellers’ market, landowners “have nowhere to hide” from energy companies – traditional oil and gas and now wind and solar operations – that are hungry to acquire or lease land from farm operators. But, Chace advises farmers “to have a plan” as they structure deals with oil, gas and renewable energy companies. He warned that renewable projects, because of the time it takes to reach scale, are “inherently structured in a suboptimal manner for landowners.”

Lee Blank, CEO, Summit Carbon Solutions, described how his company is developing the largest integrated carbon capture, transportation and storage project in the world. It is partnering with 34 bio-refineries across the Midwest to capture CO2 that otherwise would be emitted into the atmosphere. The CO2 is compressed and transported through a newly constructed pipeline system to an injection site in North Dakota where it will be permanently and safely stored in deep underground geologic formations. Ethanol and agriculture can work together, Blank said, to add value across the supply chain that will have a positive economic impact on rural America.

Scott Fenwick, Technical Director, Clean Fuels Alliance America, promoted renewable energy, saying biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel will be recognized as mainstream low-carbon fuel options with superior performance and emission characteristics.” Fenwick forecasts ethanol use for on-road, off-road, air transportation, electricity generation and home heating applications will exceed 6 billion gallons by 2030. “That would cut over 50 million metric tons of CO equivalent greenhouse gas emissions annually.” With advancements in feedstock, CFAA claims use will reach 15 billion gallons by 2050.

Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - July 2023

Developments

May pork exports reached 261,361 metric tons, up 16% from a year ago, the ninth largest on record and the largest since May 2021. Export value climbed 12% to $731.1 million, also the highest since May 2021 and the seventh highest on record. Pork variety meat exports were particularly outstanding in May, setting a value record of $127 million. May exports to leading market Mexico were well above last year, while shipments to Taiwan were the largest in 12 years and export value to South Korea reached a five-year high. Exports were also significantly higher to Australia, Central America and Malaysia. “While pork shipments to Mexico are on a remarkable pace, it takes a wide range of markets to achieve double-digit growth,” said Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO. “Demand is strong throughout the Western Hemisphere and the U.S. industry continues to make gains in Asian markets where supplies of European pork are much tighter than a year ago.”

May beef exports totaled 116,159 metric tons, down 14% from the May 2022 record but up 4% from the previous month. Export value was $874.7 million, down 19% year-over-year but 2% above April. May exports strengthened to Mexico, Taiwan and South Africa, and export value to Canada was the highest in nearly eight years. Beef variety meat exports were the largest in 12 months at just under 27,000 mt. For January through May, beef and beef variety exports were down 10% to 554,069 mt, valued at $4.09 billion (down 21%).

Time is running out to get a Farm Bill written before the current legislation expires at the end of September. According to the most recent Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor, a majority of ag economists don’t expect a farm bill to be written by the upcoming deadline. But a few think it could happen by January 1, 2024. Both the House and Senate are actively holding Congressional hearings and listening sessions to draft a new five-year bill, but Congress could test the waters this week. Source: Farm Journal’s The Scoop, July 18, 2023.

Ranches across the Show-Me State manage approximately two million cattle — a significant number of which are Angus, a top-tier breed that has unrivaled success in the commercial beef market. In a new study, University of Missouri researcher Jared Decker, Ph.D., and Thompson Research Farm tested a group of commercial Angus cows using a commercial genomic prediction tool called Zoetis GeneMax Advantage to investigate the ability of the test to predict their calves’ performance and profitability. This project demonstrates an important step forward in helping inform the selective breeding of commercial cowherds and giving Missouri cattle producers a competitive market advantage. While testing a sample of commercial Angus females and their offspring at MU’s Thompson Research Farm, Dr. Decker found significant relationships between the cows’ genetic merit and the performance of their calves. For the study, researchers focused on specific traits, such as weaning and carcass weight, marbling, fat, and ribeye area. For Missouri’s beef industry, a genomic prediction technology represents an opportunity for growth, both for producers and the economy.

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is evaluating a plan from the three lower Colorado River Basin states to conserve at least 3 million acre-feet of water until 2026 with hopes to release an action alternative for public comment later this summer. The plan, a compromise between negotiators from Arizona, California and Nevada, calls for Inflation Reduction Act funding to be used to compensate water users for up to 2.3 million acre-feet of reductions, while the remaining 700,000 acre feet would either go uncompensated or be paid for using state or local funds. Source: Agri-Pulse Communication, July 20, 2023.

Reported food insecurity has reached 17%, matching the rate last reached in March 2022, according to the June Consumer Food Insights Report. The survey-based report out of Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability assesses food spending, consumer satisfaction and values, support of agricultural and food policies, and trust in information sources. Purdue experts conduct and evaluate the survey, which includes 1,200 consumers across the U.S. “Overall, there continues to be a similar narrative of extended upward pressure on food prices as we try to discern whether this stress has led to a tipping point where consumers are struggling to buy the foods that they want,” said Jayson Lusk, Distinguished Professor of Agricultural Economics at Purdue. “The 17% food insecurity rate is up from 14% just two months ago, which is not necessarily far outside of the normal variation we have measured. However, this increase could be concerning given the sum of external pressures being exerted on more vulnerable consumers.”

Do plant-based “milk” products deliver the same nutrition as cow’s milk? Results from a new study suggest that most don’t. Cow’s milk is an important source of calcium and vitamin D, both of which are identified in the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans as nutrients of public health concern for under-consumption. Cow’s milk is also a major source of protein in the American diet. To assess how the nutritional content of plant-based milk alternatives compares to that of cow’s milk, researchers examined more than 200 plant-based milk alternative products being sold in the U.S. in 2023 — many more products than were included in previous studies. Compared to cow’s milk, only 12% of the milk alternative products contained comparable or greater amounts of all three nutrients studied: calcium, vitamin D, and protein. Abigail Johnson, assistant professor and associate director of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health Nutrition Coordinating Center, presented the findings at the American Society for Nutrition, held July 22-25 in Boston.

In a new study funded by a $3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), University of Missouri researcher Kiho Lee, an associate professor in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, will use gene editing to investigate the building blocks of disease. His ultimate goal — to discover clinically significant explanations for human diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer and infertility, while working on solutions to global food insecurity. Working toward this outcome, Lee and his team will evaluate the efficacy and safety of genome editing technology — known as the CRISPR/Cas system — to improve the gene-testing process and design approaches that help researchers make the most of a targeted genome editing event.

Kansas Department of Agriculture reminds producers and landowners who install enduring conservation practices, they may qualify to receive financial assistance for these projects through a voluntary cost share program. The FY 2024 state cost share program for conservation practices is underway to encourage projects that improve water quality and quantity. Funding is provided by the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Conservation (KDA–DOC) through appropriation from the State Applications for cost share funds. Application assistance along with more information concerning state cost share programs and other available services, are available here. agriculture.ks.gov/ConservationDistricts

People

Patterson Family Foundation named veteran nonprofit executive Kevin Prine president and CEO. The Patterson Family Foundation was founded by the late Cerner Corp. CEO and co-founder Neal Patterson. Prine, an established area nonprofit leader, will take hold of the reigns of the $1.2 billion-asset organization.

The University of Kansas recognized Senator Robert Dole’s accomplishments on July 22, the 100th anniversary of his birth. The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas honored the longtime Republican U.S. senator with what it described as a Landmark Celebration.

Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting nominations for the Missouri Agriculture Awards. “We would like to recognize those who stand out for supporting the efforts of our farmers and ranchers,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “Their work focuses on protecting and promoting our food supply and they are great examples for future generations.” Awards will be given in these two categories: Missouri Agriculture Education Leader Award and Missouri Food Animal Veterinarian Award. Nominations may be submitted using an online form at www.agriculture.mo.gov and must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, September 1, 2023. For more information about the Missouri Department of Agriculture and its programs, visit Agriculture.Mo.Gov.

Samuel Saffa is the new Missouri chief of staff for Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo. He previously served as the director of government relations for Midwest grocery chain Hy-Vee.

Events

Chris Chinn, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, will be the featured speaker at a free Women in Agriculture workshop August 2 in Lewis County at the First Baptist Church of Ewing. Chinn, a fifth-generation farmer, lives in Shelby County in northeastern Missouri. She has served as the state’s director of agriculture since 2017 and has used social media to attract more than 10,000 followers. She and her husband have a 1,600-sow farrow-to-finish hog operation as well as a family feed mill and small cow-calf herd. Register here.

This year’s Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference, September 20-21 in Benton County, Missouri, will provide several days of learning about rural innovations for leaders with an eye on business growth. Participants will tour businesses in Cole Camp, Warsaw and Lincoln. “This conference is designed for people who decide where resources go,” said Annette Kendall, assistant extension professor of business and innovation in the University of Missouri Division of Applied Social Sciences. “Those in government, banking, education, libraries who can provide services to entrepreneurs who want to do something differently.” The event is presented by MU Extension with Benton County Economic Development and Benton County Tourism and Recreation. Registration information is available here.

Registration is open for St. Joseph, Missouri-based American Angus Association’s 2023 Angus Convention, November 3-6 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Attendees can visit the official convention website here to secure spots and access additional information about the event, including the schedule, tours, accommodations, and exhibitor details.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture meets next month in Manhattan to discuss growth opportunities for agriculture at its Eighth Annual Kansas Governor’s Summit on Agricultural Growth on Thursday, August 17, at the Manhattan Conference Center at the Hilton Garden Inn. Attendees are also invited to participate in a social event on the evening of August 16, also at the Manhattan Conference Center. Speakers for the 2023 Ag Growth Summit will focus on broad topics that affect the whole Kansas agriculture community. Guests will include Chuck Conner, President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and Nathan Hendricks, a professor in agricultural economics at Kansas State University who specializes in the economics of land and water. There is no cost to attend any of the Ag Growth Summit meetings or events, but it is important that attendees register so KDA can provide adequate materials for attendees and have accurate meal counts. More information is available here.

Navigating the landscape of buying and selling businesses in the animal health and nutrition industry is complex. Brakke Consulting will present an educational due diligence seminar, tailored specifically for animal health professionals, after the KCAHC Animal Health Summit in Kansas City on Wednesday and Thursday, August 30-31. The comprehensive seminar will provide the knowledge, tools, and strategies to make informed decisions and to successfully manage a transaction. Presenters include Bob Jones, Jim Kroman, Randy Freides and Ron Brakke, as well as Damian Burke, Main Street Capital and Mark Stoneman, Armstrong, Teasdale, LLP. For more information, contact Amanda McDavid at amcdavid@brakkeconsulting.com or call 336.396.3916.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan will speak at the Ag Outlook Forum in K.C.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan will provide perspective on key issues facing his agency during the Ag Outlook Forum on September 25 at the downtown Marriott in Kansas City.

“With so many environmental issues top of mind for the agricultural community, we are excited to have the Administrator join us in person,” said Sara Wyant, editor-in-chief of Agri-Pulse.  Bob Petersen, executive director, Ag Business Council of Kansas City added that, “the event has become a ‘must attend’ for agribusiness executives looking to re-set their expectations heading into the fall harvest.”

The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse Communications are bringing together top economists, industry leaders and government officials to offer unique insights during their 9th annual Ag Outlook Forum. Other speakers include:

• Denver Caldwell, director of sales for the U.S. and Canada, John Deere

• Hans Kabat, president, Cargill Protein North America

• Ken Seitz, president, and CEO, Nutrien

USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer will lead-off a panel discussion looking at the ag economy.  Panelists include:

• Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist, StoneX

• Krista Swanson, lead economist, National Corn Growers Association

• Roland Fumasi, EVP & North American regional head, RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness

• Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse will serve as the panel moderator

The program will also feature a discussion of the 2023 farm bill prospects led by Missouri farmer Blake Hurst.  Invited to join him on the panel are U.S. Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Tracey Mann (R-KS).

Further information, including registration, is available at www.agoutlookforum.com. Attendees may register to attend both in-person and virtually.

Sponsors for the 2023 Ag Outlook Forum include the following.

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Digging Deeper...

In his opening remarks kicking off USDA’s 99th Agriculture Outlook Forum this past February, Seth Meyer, Ph.D., USDA Chief Economist struck a note of optimism. “We enter 2023 with a sense of optimism but amid continued uncertainty,” he said. Dr. Meyer, who will be a key speaker at the upcoming Ag Outlook Forum hosted by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse Communications, September 25, 2023, cited several positive economic signals. The farm sector of the U.S. economy as a whole, he noted, was in “good financial health with a strong cash position and solid balance sheet.” Challenges, of course, would still present themselves. Drought, high input costs, HPAI cases, war in Ukraine and such are always lurking. “But U.S. agriculture is resilient and innovative,” he said, “and these challenges only highlight the need for continued productivity growth to maintain the abundant and affordable food supply we so easily take for granted.” Rabobank’s current “North American Agricultural Review,” published in June 2023, underscored Dr. Meyer’s earlier positive expectations.
Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC – Sources: USDA  99th Agricultural Outlook Forum, February 23-24, 2023; Rabobank Research, North American Agriculture Review, June 2023.

U.S. Agriculture’s Meat Midterm Report Card

Rabobank’s recent release of its annual North American Agribusiness Review 2023 shows the U.S. meat producers are having a pretty good year.  Its economic fundamentals are positive, and its performance so far this year warrants honor roll status.  However, there are some dark clouds gathering – but not the kind that might bring rain. Rabo expects the Federal Reserve to tighten monetary supply to slow the economy and reduce inflation.  That could make it difficult for the Fed to stick a soft landing. “So we think a mild recession is likely to start in the second half of the year,” says Rabo. The Fed will have to keep rates high until inflation is under control which, the report notes, is not likely to occur before 2024.

Beef 

Retail beef and cattle prices climbed to new heights as supplies tightened and demand remained strong. USDA all-fresh beef retail price in May was $7.50 a pound, a new annual high and the third-highest price on record. If there is a negative in this scenario, it’s that consumers have seen rising prices in the grocery store and at restaurants because supply is tight and demand has been robust.

Wholesale beef and cattle prices also climbed sharply. USDA’s daily composite boxed beef cutout topped out at $330/cwt, the highest pricing since pandemic-influenced increases in 2020 and 2021. Fed cattle prices reached upwards of $190/cwt on a U.S. average basis.

Easing drought conditions in many cattle producing states over the last several months have been a blessing. Pasture conditions have improved 12% since the start of the grazing season, according to USDA reports. “Heifer retention should be a viable option for cow-calf producers this fall,” says Rabobank, adding that May and June beef cow slaughter implies an average culling rate near 11.7%, which is close to 2021 levels.”  Even with lower U.S. production and demand —both down 5% through April—the report said wholesale beef demand remains the second largest of the last 30 years.

But consumers have begun to balk at higher beef prices. In early July, Kansas State University’s Meat Demand Monitor, said American consumers have lowered their willingness to pay more for ribeye steaks, ground beef, pork chops and bacon in June compared to May. However, even with somewhat lower U.S. production and demand, wholesale beef demand has been at its highest in the last 30 years.

Pork

Lower weekly hog slaughter and lighter weights reduced production this spring, helping to stabilize prices. While producers continue to struggle during what is traditionally a season of stronger margins, a rebound in prices and a gradual decline in feed costs have improved the near-term outlook. “While current sow slaughter remains low,” says Rabobank, “we expect contraction in the sow herd to begin in the second half of this year.” Based on its current data, Rabobank expects at least a 7% decline in the U.S. sow herd over the next 12 to 18 months will be needed to restore herd profitability.

Prices remain weak as the grilling season is underway. The pork cutout is 20% below last year’s. “A lack of market promotion in the retail marketplace,” Rabobank explains, and high pork prices slowed consumption this spring.” Still, pork remains a good value for retailers, and with the implementation of California’s Proposition 12 pushed back until 2024, Rabobank forecasts vigorous sales this summer.

Dairy

U.S. milk production so far this year has outpaced last year’s, but gains are narrowing as 2023 progresses. “Importantly,” Rabobank points out, “milk output remains lower versus two years ago, with 2023’s gains unable to overcome declines recorded during the first half of 2022.” Herd growth was larger than expected in the first quarter of this year, expanding by 50,000 cows. In April that trend lost steam declining by 16,000 head. Rabobank expects further contraction in the near term as margins pressure farmers to cull unprofitable cows. Rabobank pegs milk production in 2023 to be 0.7% higher than 2022.

As for cheese production, volume was up 1% in this year’s first quarter over last year. “There was plenty of milk and processing capacity available for cheddar vats,” said the report’s authors, “pushing monthly output over 5.8%.”  Butter has been a big performer with production increasing 7.6% this spring.

Poultry

Chicken prices are down sharply from last year’s record levels. Boneless breast meat prices continue to trail the record prices of a year ago, down 61% year-over-year. Breast prices are also 18% behind the five year average, as increased supply continues to overwhelm retail and foodservice markets. Dark meat prices are also lower, with thigh prices down 28% YOY. Consumers are beginning to trade to less expensive retail alternatives, which is helping stabilize wholesale prices. “Tighter second half 2023 supplies of beef and a gradual decline in chicken production should help stabilize chicken prices by late summer,” says Rabobank.

At 17.6 billion pounds through early June and 1.5% ahead of YOY levels, ready-to-cook (RTC) chicken production continues to run ahead of expectations. The growth reflects both an increase in slaughter volumes (+1.2% YOY) and a more modest increase in average weights.  “We still expect some moderation in slaughter volumes in 2H 2023 based on the decline in the supply flock in recent months and ongoing productivity challenges, which limit further increases.” Rabobank currently forecasts a 1.8% YOY increase in RTC production in 2023, with planned reductions expected to boost average chicken prices.

Crops

In its recent report, The Mighty U.S. Crop Markets Through 2030, Rabobank said domestic use of corn, wheat and soybeans will rise this year but exports will slump. That trend could persist for several years. “In 2023-24, corn will continue to be king when it comes to area planted,” Rabo researchers said, adding “though we expect soybeans to steal the throne in the coming years to meet future soybean oil demand for renewable diesel.” A main factor likely to structurally change the soy sector going forward from 2024 is new U.S. soybean crushing capacity to meet soybean oil demand for renewable diesel.”

Soybean crush capacity has been expanding since 2021, Food Business News reported, but most of the expansion will take place from 2023 through 2027 with the addition of 620 million bus by the 2026-27 crop year. “That would be nearly a 30% increase from the USDA’s forecast soybean crush of 2,220,000 bushels in 2022-23,” wrote Sosland’s Ron Sterk.

“The US share of global export markets will likely decrease due to growing domestic demand, especially for soybeans,” RaboResearch said. Stocks for all three commodities were forecast to “marginally recover” from current low levels but remain low compared to historical levels.

“While domestic demand has been solid, export markets have been more challenging for U.S. crops,” RaboResearch said. “This is the result of ever-increasing crops in South America, large Russian wheat production and high US prices compared to export competitors. We expect global market uncertainty to be a constant against relatively stable and potentially increasing domestic demand.”   

Further updates will be presented at the Ag Outlook Forum 2023 hosted by the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse Communications, September 25, 2023. More information and registration available at www.agoutlookforum.com.

Digging Deeper...

Cell-cultured meat production is about to face another challenge in its effort to supply consumers with a sustainable way for them to get meat-like protein without eating meat, treating animals inhumanely and damaging the environment. Researchers at the University of California Davis released a report last month concluding that lab-grown meat’s environmental impact could likely be worse than traditionally raised beef. There is, however, a caveat. The study has not yet been peer-reviewed, and was only recently submitted to BioRxiv, an open access preprint repository for the biological sciences.
BY: Dennis McLaughlin, McLaughlin Writers LLC – Sources: UC Davis Cultivated Meat Consortium 2023, Environmental Impacts of Cultured Meat: A Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment, Derrick Risner, Yoonbin Kim, Cuong Nguyen, Justin B. Siegel, Edward S. Spang; Oxford Martin School of Social Sciences, University of Oxford, 2019; Matt McGrath, BBC, February 2019. 

What’s Changing Minds?

For more than a decade, champions of cell-cultured meat have suggested that bypassing the greater biological processes of whole animal production can result in lower GHG emissions per unit of meat produced. Beef production, they claim, emits methane and nitrous oxide from their manures and digestive processes that contribute to global warming, water pollution and other environmental trespasses. “Around a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving up temperatures are estimated to have come from agriculture,” wrote BBC correspondent Matt McGrath in 2019, in a piece about research findings from the Social Sciences Division of the University of Oxford. 

A key objective of this Oxford study was to look at the long-term implications of cultured meat versus meat from cattle. The Oxford scientists challenged the validity of a conventional premise that the various emissions from cattle could be converted to their carbon dioxide equivalent. But this didn’t provide the full story of how methane and nitrous oxide have different impacts on the climate.

Per ton of methane emitted, the research showed, indeed has a much larger warming impact than carbon dioxide. “However, it only remains in the atmosphere for about 12 years, whereas carbon dioxide persists and accumulates for millennia," said Professor Raymond Pierrehumbert, co-author of the Oxford study. "This means methane's impact on long-term warming is not cumulative and is impacted greatly if emissions increase or decrease over time."  The scientists' climate model found that in some circumstance and over the very long term, the manufacture of lab meat can result in more warming.  This is because the emissions from the lab are related to the production of energy which is almost entirely made up of carbon dioxide, which persists in the atmosphere for hundreds of years.

Obtain Full Report

Environmental Impacts of Cultured Meat: A Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment, the yet-to-be-peer-reviewed study by researchers at the University of California Davis’ Department of Food Science and Technology is available on the bioRxivwebsite. The preprint service is operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York.

Cell Cultured Meat: Not Yet Environmentally Friendly

It hasn’t been easy for the lab-grown meat industry. Digging Deeper has been following the possibilities, expectations and hopes that have excited developers of “cell-cultured” meat substitutes – and the realities that are emerging. (See the Ag Council’s Newsletter, December 2021, March 2022) “The industry’s early, heady days were flush with optimism,” reported The Counter (formerly The New Food Economy), an independent nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom investigating forces shaping how and what Americans eat.  Food advocacy groups, vegetarians and environmentalists envisioned sophisticated bioreactors turning out alternative meat products with scalable efficiency that surely would save the planet. Animal rights activists were excited. Investors defined scalable as a chance to grab 10% of the $1.4 trillion global meat industry by 2029. That share, Barclays Bank said in 2019, would be worth $140 billion by 2029. Barclay analysts noted, “Plant-based protein continues to gain ground versus its animal-based counterpart, and we expect this trend to continue for the foreseeable future.”

What’s Happening Now

Despite astounding advances and accomplishments in bioscience, biochemistry and nutrition engineering that have created cultivated-meat in a laboratory, lab-meat proponents may have been unrealistic in estimating the overall complexity and expense of the effort. A study – Lab-Grown Meat Is Supposed To Be Inevitable; Science Tells A Different Story – released in September 2021 by The Counter warned that confidence in the prospects of cell-cultured meats could be overstated. Enthusiasm for its potential to become humanity’s mainstream, predominant source of protein is probably ill-conceived, the editors said.

The truth is this, said Joe Fassler, deputy editor of The Counter, “A sequence of as-yet-unforeseen breakthroughs will still be necessary. We’ll need to train cells to behave in ways that no cells have behaved before. We’ll need to engineer bioreactors that defy widely accepted principles of chemistry and physics. We’ll need to build an entirely new nutrient supply chain using sustainable agricultural practices, inventing forms of bulk amino acid production that are cheap, precise, and safe. Investors will need to care less about money. Germs will have to more or less behave. It will be work worthy of many Nobel prizes—certainly for science, possibly for peace.”

What Could Be

Conventional wisdom among conservationists is that meat cultured from animal cells is better for the environment.  They claim it uses less land and water and releases fewer greenhouse gasses. But in the not-yet-reviewed paper (Environmental Impacts of Cultured Meat: A Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment), researchers at the University of California Davis say that lab-grown meat’s environmental impact could be “orders of magnitude higher” than cattle raised and processed conventionally. “If cell-based meat companies have to purify growth media to pharmaceutical levels, it will use more resources, which then increases global warming potential,” said lead author and doctoral graduate Derrick Risner, UC Davis Department of Food Science and Technology. “If this product continues to be produced using the “pharma” approach, it’s going to be worse for the environment and more expensive than conventional beef production.”

UC Davis researchers conducted a life-cycle assessment of the energy needed and the greenhouse gases emitted in all stages of lab-grown meat production. Then they compared it with conventional beef production. One of the current challenges with lab-grown meat is the use of highly refined or purified growth media – the ingredients needed to help animal cells multiply. These include complex mixtures of salts, carbohydrates, vitamins, amino acids, metabolic precursors, growth factors, hormones, and trace elements. Risner says this method is similar to the biotechnology used to make pharmaceuticals. And that poses a critical question for cultured meat production: Is it a pharmaceutical product or a food product? If lab-meat companies must purify growth media to pharmaceutical levels, explains Risner, it consumes more natural resources, which in turn increases global warming potential. “If this product continues to be produced using the pharma approach,” he states, “it’s going to be worse for the environment and more expensive than conventional beef production.”

UC Davis scientists define the global warming potential as the carbon dioxide equivalents emitted for each kilogram of meat produced. The study found that the global warming potential of lab-based meat using these purified pharma grade growth media ingredients is four to 25 times greater than the average for traditional beef.

One of the goals of the cell-cultured meat industry is to create lab-grown meat using food-grade ingredients rather than expensive, energy-intensive pharmaceutical ingredients and processes. Under such circumstances, researchers have found cultured meat could become more environmentally competitive. While these results show promise, the leap from pharma-to-food still represents a significant technical challenge for “system scale-up.”

“Our findings suggest that cultured meat is not inherently better for the environment than conventional beef. It’s not a panacea,” said one of the study’s authors Edward Spang, associate professor in the UC Davis’ Department of Food Science and Technology. But it is possible that its environmental impact could be reduced in the future, say scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and educators currently researching cultivated meat.  However, they maintain that it will require significant technical advances to simultaneously increase the performance of lab-grown meat and to decrease the cost of its production.  Other goals, said Spang, are to establish and evaluate cell lines that could be used to grow meat and find ways to create more structure in cultured meat.

Going Forward

UC Davis’ Environmental Impacts of Cultured Meat study reviewed current traditional best-practices beef production operations and found that they outperformed cultured meat systems whether they were developed via pharmaceutical product or food product standards. The authors suggested more investment in traditional cattle production to advance more climate-friendly beef operations would yield greater reductions in GHG emissions quicker than funding cultured meat. 

The study was not designed to support positions of advocacy, activist, political or industry groups. It was designed and implemented by the UC Davis Cultivated Meat Consortium, a cross-disciplinary group of scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and educators researching cultivated meat. Its goals include establishing and evaluating cell lines that could be used to grow meat and find ways to create more structure in cultured meat.  The research was funded by the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health and the National Science Foundation Growing Convergence Research grant.

Derrick Risner says even if lab-based meat doesn’t result in a more climate friendly burger, there is still valuable science to be learned from the endeavor. “It may not lead to environmentally friendly commodity meat, but it could lead to less expensive pharmaceuticals,” he says. “My concern would just be scaling this [lab-grown meat] up too quickly and doing something harmful for the environment.”

Latest News & Updates in KC Agriculture - June 2023

Developments

Celebrating the 4th of July 2023 with a cookout will cost slightly less than last year. Grillsters will pay $67.73 to host an Independence Day cookout for 10 family members or friends, according to the 2023 American Farm Bureau Federation’s Market Basket Survey. This year’s bill for backyard favorites like cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream down 3% from 2022, but still approximately 14% higher than prices were just two years ago. The retail price for a package of eight hamburger buns increased 17% to $2.26. Homemade potato salad will cost $3.44, up 5% from 2022. The cost of 2 pounds of ground beef rose 4% to $11.54.  AFBF notes the cost of the cookout breaks down to around $7 per person. When put in a global context, Americans spend a smaller percentage of their income on food than any other country. AFBF president Zippy Duvall said, “While the increased costs are difficult and have made it more challenging for some families to put food on the table, it’s important to remember that America still has one of the most affordable food supplies in the world, which is due in part to strong farm bill programs.”

According to Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel, recent improvement in the remaining drought regions of the central and southern Great Plains likely means herd liquidation is ending. He said although lingering drought in some areas still is a concern, the arrival of El Niño likely means any additional impact will be minimal. Peel expects the January 1, 2024, cowherd level to be the low from which the industry will rebuild.  Following record culling in 2022, beef cow slaughter is down 11.5% so far this year, a sign that herd liquidation is slowing. It is expected to decrease more sharply in the second half of the year.  Peel suspects increased heifer retention will show up as lower heifer slaughter in the next several months. The July cattle inventory report may be the first sign of increased inventory of beef replacement heifers. The report will be released July 21.  Source: Kansas Livestock Association.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has given final approval to three California-based cultivated meat companies. USDA announced Wednesday it issued grants of inspection to Upside Foods, Good Meat and Good Meat’s manufacturing partner, JOINN Biologics. The companies may begin producing and selling lab-grown chicken. Earlier this month USDA approved Good Meat’s and Upside Foods’ labels to include the term “cell-cultivated chicken” for packaging. Last fall the Food and Drug Administration declared a meat product developed by Upside to be safe for human consumption, paving the way for products derived from real animal cells, but that don’t require an animal to be slaughtered, to be sold in grocery stores and restaurants. While the products may appear on restaurant menus, it may be years before these companies are ready to supply products to regional grocery store chains that can compete on price with traditional animal agriculture products. (See related cell-cultivated story in this month’s Digging Deeper.) Source: Farm Journal’s AgWeb, June 21, 2023.

Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) opened the door to shifting almost $20 billion from her party’s climate and tax credit law enacted last year to more general spending in the upcoming farm bill. Her comments came during a Bloomberg Government panel discussion. Republicans have long eyed the conservation money initially reserved for climate-smart farm conservation programs as a source for general spending. Stabenow has now signaled openness to moving some of these funds to the baseline portion of the farm bill, so long as they remain climate focused. Source: Jim Wiesmeyer, Farm Journal’s AgWeb, June 22, 2023

California regulators have extended the deadline for pork retailers to clear their shelves of pork products not in compliance with Proposition 12’s animal housing law.  The original July 1 implementation date has been pushed out to the end of the year after an agreement between the state and several California grocers associations was reached.  “Granting six months of additional relief for products in the supply chain allows grocery stores to be stocked so the 40 million Californians have uninterrupted access to affordable, safe and nutritious pork products, especially with rising food prices,” said National Pork Producers Council CEO Bryan Humphreys. Source: Agri-Pulse Communications.

Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), Overland Park, Kansas, in cooperation with California-based entities (BlockTrust Network; Mobile Cattle Marketing; Humboldt Livestock Auction Yard; Turlock Livestock Auction Yard; Cattlemen’s Livestock Market; and Blue Grass Stockyards, Lexington, Kentucky), is conducting a pilot project to determine how block chain technology offered by BlockTrust Network may allow LMA member livestock marketing businesses to leverage voluntary data capture of cattle moving through the auctions.  The first of a series of sales took place on June 17 in Petaluma, California, conducted by the Mobile Cattle Marketing Group and featuring 1,500 fancy calves and yearlings. Additional sales are scheduled for July 8 and July 22.  “We see opportunity in discovering how the decentralized database technology, like that offered by BlockTrust Network, may help our member livestock auctions capture greater value for auction customers while also protecting the privacy and rights of the farmer/rancher, the livestock auction and each additional stop along the supply chain,” said Kristen Parman, Vice President Membership Services for LMA.

AgriThority®, a Kansas City, Missouri-based agricultural product, business and market development company specializing in accelerating new technologies to commercialization around the world, will be featured in the award-winning documentary series Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid. This innovative series highlights companies striving for significance and impact in the world. The documentary, Effective Agriculture Technologies and Solutions, will be distributed to Public Television stations on July 17 and can be aired for one full year.  "We chose to feature AgriThority because they are on the forefront of agricultural innovations as an independent third party," said Tony Harris, VP of Programming for Viewpoint. "Through their work, AgriThority has had a direct impact on the future of global food production, sustainability and innovation." Members of the AgriThority leadership team, Council member Jerry Duff, Gloverson Moro, Ph.D., and Ignacio Colonna, discuss the importance of the development process when accelerating new products to market. The documentary focuses on those new innovations’ impact on sustainability. AgriThority provided insights on product, market and business development and shared experiences in accelerating new technologies to market around the globe. “Buzzwords like ‘sustainability’ get thrown around a lot,” said Jerry Duff, Founder and President of AgriThority. “But for growers, sustainability is, and always has been, at the core of their operations.”

USTR recently requested a formal dispute panel be established to resolve Mexico’s unscientific plan to ban genetically modified white corn, a clear violation of USMCA. The Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA), alongside other state and national organizations, has been a vocal advocate in pushing back on this glaring trade infringement. MCGA President Clint Stephens, a corn grower from Advance, Missouri, said, “MCGA is thankful USTR moved forward with this formal dispute panel. Given the transportation advantages, Mexico represents a critical market for Missouri corn farmers. For months, corn farmers have led the charge to push back on a ban based on politics and not science. While it is unfortunate that we have reached the point requiring a formal dispute, the U.S. cannot allow this violation to go unchecked.”

Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins testified before the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) earlier this month regarding Invenergy’s Grain Belt Express’ electric transmission line and issued the following statement: “Missouri landowners, farmers and ranchers have been dealing with the actions of the Invenergy Grain Belt Express project for more than a decade, and despite eminent domain reforms gained in House Bill (HB) 2005 as passed during the 2022 Missouri legislative session, it’s clear that the Tiger Connector line is seeking to subvert the legislated provisions by filing an amendment with the PSC rather than applying for approval as a new project.

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall joined nine senators this week in introducing legislation that would prohibit states and local units of government from interfering with the production of agricultural products in other states. Specifically, the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act would prevent states like California from regulating farmers and ranchers nationwide.  “The last thing we need is a big state like California imposing its will on ag-heavy states like Kansas with regulations that will also restrict our ability to trade among the states,” said Sen. Marshall. “This is a matter of states’ rights. If California wants to regulate agriculture in its own state, that’s fine, but California’s rules should not apply to Kansas, whose Legislature never approved of these regulations.” The act was introduced in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling against the National Pork Producers Council in their challenge of California’s Proposition 12.  

Kansas Livestock Association applauded Senator Marshall’s leadership on this issue. KLA President Shawn Tiffany said, “After the recent Supreme Court decision in NPPC v. Ross, Congress must act pursuant to its enumerated constitutional authority to ensure commerce between states involving agricultural products can continue uninterrupted. Beef, dairy and pork producers in Kansas should not be forced to accommodate a patchwork of radical, unscientific state and local standards of production.”

Missouri 4-H clubs across the state have finished the fifth annual 4-H Feeding Missouri Initiative. Each year, 4-H partners with Feeding Missouri and Missouri Farmers Care’s Drive to Feed Kids to bring awareness and raise resources addressing food insecurity. Last fall, during University of Missouri Extension and Engagement Week, 4-H challenged participants across the state to fight hunger. From January through April, 4-H’ers participated in a friendly competition to raise the most meals for local families. They held food drives and fundraisers, volunteered services and provided education and outreach activities. Through these efforts, 4-H members raised the equivalent of 711,268 meals this year for food-insecure Missourians, bringing the five-year cumulative total to 1,723,331 meals.

Lenexa, Kansas-based Farm Journal hosted a webinar “How to Use Land-Based Income to Increase Profits.” Farm Journal maintains that the outdoor recreational boom is “paying dividends” – as much as $20,000 per year – for farmers and ranchers using alternative passive income strategies by listing their land for hunting, fishing and other activities. “More than 350 landowners in 37 states have added more than $1 million in additional income to their operations by hosting outdoor recreation,” said Chip Flory, host of “AgriTalk and moderator of the Farm Journal webinar. Lean more here.

Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC) is partnering with select sheriff departments in top soybean-producing counties to showcase the innovation of soybean farmers and recognize the importance of law enforcement partners across the state. MSMC equipped more than a dozen Missouri counties with sets of Goodyear Eagle® Enforcer All Weather™ soy-based tires. These environmentally friendly tires meet high-performance standards and support Missouri’s No. 1 agricultural crop growers. This innovation stems from Goodyear’s soy-based line, where 60% of the tire’s petroleum content is replaced by renewable soybean oil. “Developing new uses for soy while addressing challenges our partners face is key to realizing a bright future for Missouri’s top crop – soybeans,” said Aaron Porter, MSMC chair. “The soy-based tires are an exciting example of the innovation we’re proud to drive, through farmers’ investments in their checkoff, and we appreciate the partnership from law enforcement in putting this technology to work.” 

World Pork Expo marked its 35th anniversary on June 7-9, as more than 10,000 producers and industry professionals traveled to the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines to visit the world’s largest pork-specific trade show. Presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), Expo features a wide range of free seminars, networking opportunities and abundant hospitality. “Producers come to Expo to reconnect with their peers, to share and exchange ideas,” said Scott Hays, NPPC president and a Missouri pork producer. “This year is particularly challenging, and you can’t remain stagnant. Producers need to continue to innovate and embrace new ideas.”

USDA is investing $262.5 million in higher education institutions to foster the next generation of diverse agricultural professionals across the nation. This NextGen program is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to lower costs for American families, expand access to markets to producers from all backgrounds and communities, build a clean energy economy and strengthen American supply chains. “Each generation of agricultural professionals faces new challenges as we feed our world’s growing population, and the future generations give me hope that we will rise to the occasion to meet these challenges with opportunity,” said Sec. Tom Vilsack.

People 

Jayson Lusk will become vice president and dean of Oklahoma State University's Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, effective in August. He will succeed Tom Coon, who is retiring. Lusk most recently was the head of the agricultural economics department at Purdue University.

Gregg Doud will be the next president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. He succeeds Jim Mulhern, who is retiring at the end of the year. Doud will join NMPF in September and comes to the organization from Aimpoint Research, where he was the vice president of global situational awareness and chief economist. He also served as the chief ag negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative during the Trump administration.

The World Veterinary Association and Ceva Sante Animale (CEVA), whose North American headquarters is located in Lenexa, Kansas, this past spring created the WVA Global Veterinary Awards. The new WVA Global Veterinary Awards comprise six categories of awards that will recognize veterinarians for their work in providing animal owners, governments, health authorities, farmers, other veterinarians, and the public with best practice across the WVA’s four strategic objectives: One Health,  Medicine Stewardship, Animal Welfare and Veterinary Education.

Events

Coming on the heels of June’s National Dairy Month is July’s National Ice Cream Month. The closest ancestor of today’s ice cream was a concoction confected for emperors of Tang Dynasty China (618-907 A.D.). They enjoyed a frozen drink made with cow, goat or buffalo milk and flour and camphor, notes historian Chandler Hansen who writes for Morning Ag Clips. Americans continue carry on the emperors’ delight in ice cream treats. The average American consumes about four gallons of ice cream per year, according to the International Dairy Foods Association. U.S. ice cream makers produced around 1.38 gallons of ice cream of ice cream in 2022 and enjoyed $13 billion in sales. The IDFA’s survey from last year found America’s top five favorite flavors are chocolate, cookies n’ cream, vanilla, strawberry and chocolate chip.

Join the American Royal Association on July 21 for live entertainment, drinks, and a behind the scenes look at the Saddlebred horse show with a 4-course meal prepared with local producers by Chef Victor Cascone of Cascone’s Italian Restaurant and owner of La Fontanella Foods! Early bird prices end June 30. Find more information here.

Agriculture leaders from across the state will gather at the eighth annual Kansas Governor’s Summit on Agricultural Growth on Thursday, August 17, at the Hilton Garden Inn’s Manhattan Conference Center. The Summit will be held as an in-person event, with an emphasis on opportunities for discussion and networking. This year’s event will take a different format than in past years, with a focus on broad topics that affect the whole agriculture community, rather than small sessions separated by individual ag sectors. All farmers, ranchers, agribusiness owners and industry professionals are welcome. Workforce and water have been identified as two major areas of focus that have a significant impact on the potential for growth in Kansas agriculture, so guest speakers and small group discussions during the day will be directed toward those two topics. There is no cost to attend any of the Ag Growth Summit meetings or events, but it is important that attendees register so KDA can provide adequate materials for attendees and have accurate meal counts. Register at www.agriculture.ks.gov/Summit. For more information regarding the event contact Auburn Wassberg at Auburn.B.Wassberg@ks.gov or 785-564-6799. 

Kansas Corn Growers Association will again be hosting its annual listening tour to meet with corn farmers to talk about the many issues facing the corn and ag industries. Kansas Corn staff will update growers on key topics. Each stop will feature a roundtable discussion around key topics and other issues facing growers. The goal of each stop is to get feedback from corn growers, which is valued by the association and commission boards in their planning. Attendees are asked to register for these summer events online at kscorn.com/tour or by calling the Kansas Corn office at 785-410-5009. 2023 Summer Listening Tour Dates and Locations:  August 2, Tampa; August 8, McCune; August 9, Scranton; August 10, Denton; August 15, Satanta; August 16, Grainfield.

Lenexa, Kansas-based Farm Journal’s Trust In Food is proud to welcome Tyson Foods to Trust In Beef, a collaborative value chain program designed to help ranchers integrate climate-smart agriculture into their operations while sharing their learnings and success stories. Trust In Food is a purpose-driven division of Farm Journal that organizes Trust In Beef in partnership with Drovers and foundational partners Merck Animal Health, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Syngenta/Enogen and U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. “We are excited to be recognized as a Trust In Beef foundational partner,” said Justin Ransom, senior director, sustainable food strategy at Tyson Foods. “Building a coalition of conservation-minded partners across the value chain is critical for our industry and we are thankful for the work Trust In Beef has done as we collaborate to build a more sustainable food system.”

Kansas State University-Olathe is offering a webinar on their Animal Health Regulatory Affairs Graduate Certificate program, July 12, 2023, 12:00 p.m. The online presentation is based on industry input and exclusively tailored to the animal health industry. It provides a series of courses and experiences that will help equip animal health professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate governmental processes and regulations. Register here.

Missouri’s soybean farmers are investing in the future with the Policy Leaders Fellowship conference. In partnership with Iowa soybean growers, the program offers leadership training, networking opportunities, and hands-on work with policy, government and legislative processes. “The Missouri Soybean Association (MSA) is a farmer-led organization with strong grassroots support, and we’re very proud of that foundation,” said Matt Wright, MSA president. “Investing in the next generation of agricultural and policy leaders is key to serving Missouri’s soybean farmers. Our impact grows as we work together, and this is a great step forward for ensuring soybeans are front and center in Missouri and the Midwest well into the future.” The program will kick off August 24-25 in Jefferson City at the Center for Soy Innovation, with a joint meeting of participants from Iowa and Missouri, as well as national-level speakers and mentors. More information available here. 

KC Animal Health Corridor's 2023 Animal Health Summit takes place August 28-29 at the Midland Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. Registration is now open. Click here for additional information.  The event includes multiple days of networking, business partnering meetings, and panels and presentations from industry thought leaders and emerging companies.

Michigan State University is hosting a Universal Food Forum on July 12, 2023 in Washington, DC. The goal of the Forum is to show the inherent nuance and complexity of today’s agricultural and food systems and learn more about the unique perspectives from a variety of stakeholders. Keynote speaker Timothy Caulfield will discuss the effects of misinformation and the lack of understanding and trust in science, and Secretary Tom Vilsack has been invited as the closing keynote.  More information can be found here.

AgBiz Council Briefed On Key Issues Facing Kansas and Missouri

(Left) Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn; (Right) Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam

Missouri and Kansas combined are responsible for almost 7.7% of overall U.S. agricultural production, according to USA By #umbers, a statistics accumulator. That puts the duo in third place nationally and not very far behind California (11.8%) and Iowa (8%). Located side-by-side at the virtual epi center of the Lower 48, Kansas and Missouri represent just about every sector of the nation’s agriculture industry, culture and heritage.

During the Council’s June meeting and luncheon, Chris Chinn, Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture, boasted to Council members that Missouri was ranked nationally in the Top Ten for 12 crop and livestock categories. Mike Beam, Secretary, Kansas Department of Agriculture, described Kansas as a powerhouse of agriculture production and related-industry products. He noted Kansas’s top five ag sectors by output were beef cattle ranching and farming ($8.94 billion); animal slaughter except poultry ($8.83 billion); grain farming ($6.15 billion); meat processed from carcasses ($3.91 billion); and dog and cat food manufacturing ($3.67 billion).

Nevertheless, despite such stellar agri-stats, clouds are gathering, figuratively speaking. Actually, the problem is clouds are not gathering. Director Chinn said, “More than 80% of Missouri is in some stage of drought.” Kansas wheat farmers are bracing for what could be their worst crop in 60 years. Farmers are looking at a harvest that could be 100 million bushels smaller than last year, barely covering input costs.

Secretary Beam worries that drought and pollution are seriously threatening the Ogallala Aquifer. “The aquifer is the principal source of water in one of the major agricultural areas of the country,” he explained. Legislation (Kansas House Bill 2302) is pending that would transfer an additional $35 million to the State Water Plan Fund each year for FY24- FY28 to study the problem and develop solutions.

Director Chinn described another challenge for farmers. A proliferation of black vulture scavengers in Missouri poaching eggs and preying on small newborn animals. If farmers suspect they have a black vulture problem, she said, they should contact USDA APHIS Wildlife Services. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) 2023 has also taken its toll on the state’s poultry industry, causing the elimination of 500,000 birds in Missouri. With the installation of solar panels for energy generation, Kansas and Missouri farmers may encounter a situation similar to the 1980s when CRP was introduced to take certain cropland out of production.

California’s Proposition 12, a law California voters passed in 2018 to define the minimum amount of space that farmers must give to cows, pigs and chickens in confinement, also could be a big problem for food animal producers outside the state. The law applies to food products made from these animals and those sold in California, even if the animals were raised and slaughtered outside of the state.