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.
