Flood

Iowa Farmer Battles Today's Pests While Eyeing Tomorrow's 'Mean Sixteen' Threats

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 19:31:41 GMT

For Worth County, Iowa, farmer Sarah Tweeten, the list of high-priority agronomic threats isn’t a political abstract — it’s a harsh reality she deals with every season.

Farming with her parents, Brian and Julie, and her uncle Roger, Tweeten has been steering the partnership toward more resilient cropping practices since joining the operation in 2021. This includes shifting from conventional tillage to strip tillage and splitting nitrogen applications.

The changes are part of a broader mindset: Protecting yields today from weeds, disease and insects while aggressively preparing for the next generation of agronomic threats. This forward-thinking approach is what led Tweeten to Washington, D.C., earlier this week as a Farm Journal Foundation farmer ambassador to help introduce a new report: “ The Mean Sixteen: Major Biosecurity Threats Facing U.S. Agriculture and How Policy Solutions Can Help. ”

Today’s Battles and Tomorrow’s Warnings
Researched and developed by Stephanie Mercier, PhD, the report takes an in-depth look at 16 significant pest issues U.S. farmers face now or could realistically in the future.

Tweeten is already battling a couple of the problems that underpin the urgency behind the research. For example, Palmer amaranth (pigweed) is gaining ground in her fields and across Iowa. The pervasive broadleaf weed can drastically reduce yields, with studies showing corn yield reductions between 11% and 91% and soybean yield reductions of 17% to 68%.

“We’ve struggled with pigweed as it continues to establish more resistance to our herbicides in our toolkit,” Tweeten says.

Two additional agronomic issues the report details include:

1. Asian Soybean Rust. First detected in the U.S. in Louisiana in 2004, this fungal disease has spread to southern states like Georgia and Mississippi. Scientists warn that warming winters could enable its migration to the Midwest, adding to existing disease pressures.

2. Corn Ear Rot. It can lead to aflatoxin production, making corn unmarketable and posing risks to humans and livestock. Aflatoxin is an issue Pickens County, Ala., farmer Annie Dee says is an ongoing problem for corn growers in her area.

“If we have aflatoxin, it can be impossible to sell the corn,” says Dee, also a Farm Journal Foundation Farmer ambassador.

A more recent threat she references is the impact of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (bird flu) on local poultry farms.

Since January 2022, HPAI has been confirmed in a commercial or backyard poultry flock in all 50 states.

(USDA)

“An important market for us is poultry feed meal, so that’s a constant worry. The trickle-down effect is if we can’t move our corn then we can’t meet our financial obligations,” Dee adds.

Despite agricultural R&D offering a high ROI — $20 in benefits for every $1 spent — the Farm Journal Foundation report notes public funding for ag research has been declining over the past two decades.

“Farmers urgently need sustained support for aflatoxin research and prevention because these risks threaten our yields, our markets and the trust consumers place in American agriculture,” Dee says.

U.S. public spending on ag research and development has been falling for two decades.

(USDA-ERS)

African Swine Fever Has ‘Devastating Potential’
Looking to the future, Tweeten says she is concerned about African swine fever (ASF) and its potential to impact crop farmers as well as hog producers. The highly contagious swine disease hasn’t been detected in the U.S. mainland, but it isn’t far away. ASF has been confirmed in the Caribbean countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, roughly 700 miles from Miami, Fla.

“Being a farmer from Iowa, where we have probably eight times the amount of pigs as we do people, an outbreak of ASF would be just devastating to our state,” Tweeten says.

Hogs are among the biggest customers for the corn and soybeans Tweeten and her family grow. If African swine fever were to shut down hog production or exports, it wouldn’t just be a blow to livestock producers – it would hurt the entire agricultural community, she contends.

Read about 5 livestock diseases that could impact U.S. food security and economic stability.

Food Security Is National Security
When it comes to justifying funding for ag research, Tweeten knows there’s competition for every federal dollar. But she believes agriculture deserves a front-row seat — not only because of its economic weight and impact on farmers, but because of its role in national security.

“There’s that argument that food security is national security,” she says. “If there’s one thing COVID made us aware of, it’s that a disruption to our food chain can be terrifying, quite frankly.”

The pandemic made consumers and policymakers more aware of supply chain vulnerability. In 2020, the shock to the supply chain came from a human disease and logistical bottlenecks.

(Sarah Williams Photography)

Next time, Tweeten says, the disruption could just as easily come from animal or plant disease — whether African swine fever in hogs, Asian soybean rust or some other pathogen in crops. She worries about scenarios where farmers could face a fast-moving disease or crop pest while critical tools are still hung up in regulatory delays.

Her message: Farmers need a full toolbox, not one that’s half-built by the time a threat arrives.

“Ag needs to be in a good position when these sorts of emerging diseases and pests come into the country,” she says, “to have the tools in our toolbox ready for farmers to pull out.”

About the Farm Journal Foundation
The Farm Journal Foundation is a farmer-centered, non-profit, nonpartisan organization established in 2010. It works to advance agricultural innovation, food and nutrition security, conservation, and rural economic development.

When Farmers Can Expect the Next Round of American Relief Act Payments

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:51:11 GMT

USDA is currently in the trenches of issuing the nearly $31 billion in total disaster and emergency relief aid to farmers and ranchers in four stages. That money was appropriated by Congress as part of the American Relief Act, which was passed in December of 2024. In an exclusive interview with Farm Journal on Monday, USDA Deputy Undersecretary Brooke Appleton said the next round of disaster aid payments could be coming the first full week of July.

USDA began issuing the $1 billion in emergency livestock relief program payments last week, which is the latest in a series of disaster and emergency relief. Appleton told Farm Journal that instead of holding the money and issuing it all at once, USDA decided to issue the payments in four phases, as USDA wanted to get assistance out to producers as quickly as possible.

“We had ECAP (Emergency Commodity Assistance Program) , we now have the Emergency Livestock Relief Program, we’re going to have supplemental disaster relief, and then we’re going to have another emergency livestock relief program to cover the flood losses that we saw in ‘23 and ’24,” Appleton said. “So, we’re kind of doing it in stages, it should stream out all through the summer really, and so I’m hoping that that kind of can relieve some of that financial stress.”

Appleton said USDA has issued $7.7 billion out of the appropriated $10 billion in direct payments under ECAP so far, which was the first stage of payments. Sign-ups for that program began in March. USDA initially issued 85% of a producer’s projected payment, with the remaining 15% expected after sign-ups close on Aug. 15.

Just last week, USDA announced the details surrounding $1 billion in Emergency Livestock Relief Program payments , which is the second phase of the American Relief Act. Those payments are being dispersed now, and it covers grazing losses due to eligible drought or wildfire events that happened in 2023 and 2024. That round of the program doesn’t require producers to sign up, as USDA is using existing information. Since the program was announced on May 29, USDA says it’s dispersed more than $641 million in payments to livestock producers who suffered grazing losses during that time.

“FSA is leveraging existing livestock forage disaster program data to streamline these payments and calculations to expedite that relief. So this was unlike most of our programs, farmers and ranchers didn’t have to go into the office to sign up,” Appleton said. “We already have the information. So those emergency relief payments were automatically issued to producers who had already had their data into their FSA office. And those payments started going out in earnest last week, so May 30.”

The next round of American Relief Act disaster aid payments is the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program, which is the larger amount appropriated by Congress. Appleton told Farm Journal details surrounding those payments are being prepared now, and USDA expects to issue those payments next month. The amount of money that will go out during the next round isn’t known at this time, as a USDA official says the agency is still “working diligently to balance the needs with the available funding.”

“The larger supplemental disaster program that is part of that is making its way through the process right now at USDA and other government agencies,” Appleton said. “The timeline for that, we’re targeting to sign up farmers by the first full week in July, so maybe the week of July 7. That will be literally every crop production loss that has happened for ‘23 and ’24, and that’s just additional disaster assistance that was legislated by Congress.”

Once those payments are released, USDA’s final phase of the American Relief Act will be another emergency livestock relief program, but this covers flood losses producers saw in 2023 and 2024.

Appleton says that’s been the most difficult program to outline and detail, as USDA has never administered a disaster program for livestock that covered losses due to flooding.

“We’ve never had a disaster program for livestock that triggered on flooding, so that piece of it is going to take us a little bit longer,” she said. “And that’s something that’s another piece of this larger disaster package. It’s going to roll out later this summer, but as these programs are ready to go and ready to roll out, we’re focused on doing it as soon as we can, rather than holding them all and doing it all at once. We want to make sure as soon is the assistance is ready to go, we are getting it out and we’re getting it to the folks who need it.”

Congress earmarked $2 billion for livestock losses due to droughts, wildfires and floods. The first livestock disaster aid announced last week totaled $1 billion, which means another $1 billion should be dispersed through the livestock disaster payments that cover losses due to flooding.

USDA says it is fully committed to expediting remaining disaster assistance provided by the American Relief Act 2025. On May 7, it launched its 2023/2024 Supplemental Disaster Assistance public landing page where the status of USDA disaster assistance and block grant rollout timeline can be tracked.

Rollins Says USDA Will Announce Application Process for $21 Billion in Disaster Aid Within Days

Wed, 07 May 2025 18:44:02 GMT

In her first hearing on Capitol Hill since the confirmation process earlier this year, Secretary Brooke Rollins faced the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, fielding questions on everything from USDA’s bold budget cuts and frozen funding to the fate of the nearly $21 billion in disaster aid.

Rollins fiercely defended the cuts, continuing to argue that it is a way to make USDA more effective and more efficient. She also told the committee that farmers will be able to sign up for the disaster aid by the end of May.

Congress approved the disaster aid on Dec. 21, 2024. While the $10 billion in Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) was passed the same day, it was separate and came with a clear deadline on when USDA had to disperse those funds. In the hearing this week, Rollins admitted the disaster aid program has been more complicated to roll out.

“That one’s a little more complicated than the ECAP, the disaster or the emergency relief payments, but we’re really close and within a matter of days or weeks, certainly by the end of this month, that money will begin moving,” Rollins said on Tuesday.

The nearly $21 billion in disaster aid targets agricultural losses from natural disasters in 2023 and 2024, which includes:

Droughts
Hurricanes
Floods
Wildfires
And other extreme weather events.

Of those funds, $2 billion is earmarked for livestock losses attributed to droughts wildfires and floods. There is also an allocation of $220 million that will be distributed through block grants to smaller agricultural states with limited farm income and acreage.

“We are within days of announcing the application process,” Rollins said. “Of course, that’s a little more complicated because we don’t have the specifics, and it isn’t, as [Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D.] mentioned, in North Dakota, 15,794 of your farmers and ranchers have received money through that first tranche, through the first $10 billion, the emergency aid. On the weather-related programs, that application opens in the next week or two. And we will be moving very, very quickly.”

.@SecRollins testifies before Congress: "When farmers prosper, rural America prospers." pic.twitter.com/rXwV12JPDD
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 6, 2025

According to Pro Farmer, the disaster aid is intended to cover losses in revenue, production quality, and infrastructure for crops, livestock and timber. And most of the aid is expected to be administered through USDA’s Emergency Relief Program (ERP), which has been used for similar disaster relief in previous years. However, USDA has indicated the new program will be more farmer-friendly than the Biden administration’s implementation of the last ag disaster funds.

Rollins says the rollout of the disaster aid funds is “a long time coming,” bacause it is related to disasters that happened as long as two years ago.

“And so ensuring that we get that out as quickly as we possibly can with the team that we have in place,” Rollins said. “I’m really proud of, I believe, how efficiently and how quickly the team moved out that first tranche. And I believe that you’ll see the same sort of efficiency and effectiveness with the second tranche, so it’s within the coming weeks.”

Rollins Fiercely Defends Cuts at USDA

Also in the hearing, Rollins defended recent budget and DOGE cuts, saying her team is eliminating what she called wasteful DEI spending, fraud and abuse in all USDA programs. She argued the plan is to rebuild USDA to put farmers first.

Rollins also discussed some frozen funds at the agency and when a review of them will be completed.

“We are working around the clock, going line by line, we’re down to the final 5 billion out of, I believe, almost 20 billion of frozen funds, but $5 billion is a lot of money,” Rollins said. “And when you think about that in terms of grant or contract and moving that out quickly, we’re very helpful to keep moving through that very, very quickly and have that done very soon.”

Rollins was also asked about the 15,000 USDA employees who have taken buyout offers from the federal government . Reports show that accounts for nearly USDA’s total workforece, and impacts farmer-facing agencies such as Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency.

“The 15,000 number, it is less than 15% of our total workforce,” Rollins said. “I realize that’s still a very, very big number. But I think it’s important to realize in the context that every year USDA, through attrition loses between 8,000 and 10,000 employees. So, it’s a massive government agency, but they’re refilled. Well, and that’s what we are looking to refill. The front liners, that’s I was talking about right now. So whether it’s FSA, APHIS, the Wildland Firefighters, those are through a memorandum I just signed, we are actively looking and recruiting to fill those positions that are integral to the efforts and the key front line.”

Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., followed up and asked, “So, you let people go, and you’re looking for new people to fill the positions that they had experienced in?”

“We’re having those discussions right now,” Rollins said. “We are working with all of you around the country, in your states. We believe our firefighters are operationally ready for wildfire season. Our FSA offices, we are making things more efficient, but bringing on new people that could potentially be a game changer in those offices.”

The workforce reduction is part of the federal government’s current Deferred Resignation Program (DRP), which is the voluntary program that allows eligible federal employees to resign in advance while continuing to receive pay and benefits until Sept. 30.

Rollins then clarified and explained the 15,000 USDA employees who accepted the buyouts, weren’t employees who were fired, they were resignations.

“None of those people were fired,” she added. “So, if they want to come back, and if they were in a key position, then we would love to have that conversation.”

Rollins said the latest round of DRPs, which happened in April, USDA didn’t accept some of the resignations, specifically if those employees were in what Rollins called “key positions,” which includes APHIS, FSA, etc.

“We are very intentionally approaching this,” she said. “Have we done it perfectly? No. Any type of whole scale change, and big effort to basically realign an entire government agency is difficult. And we know that, and we know it hasn’t been perfect, but we’re working every day to solve for a lot of this, and I think we’re making a lot of really good progress.”

USDA Spends $400 Million a Day on Food Assistance Programs

The other hot button topic during the hearing was food assistance. The secretary pointed out USDA spends more than $400 million a day on food assistance programs and said ending COVID-era funding programs doesn’t mean defunding food assistance.

You can listen to her pointed comments in the video below.

USDA alone spends $400+ MILLION each day on food assistance programs.

Ending COVID-era funding programs doesn’t defund food assistance. It ensures we’re good stewards of taxpayer dollars. pic.twitter.com/3lT7Fu6or9
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) May 6, 2025

'Stay Tuned, We'll Be Right Back With Your Forecast'

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 15:02:27 GMT

What if you could know the timing of significant weather events for your area during the next six months with 91% accuracy?

Now you can, according to Gary Lezak, a former meteorologist with KSHB-TV in Kansas City turned weather entrepreneur.

Lezak’s business, Weather 20/20, provides weather-based data analytics on a global basis to its customers, who range from farmers to retailers to general consumers.

Eighty Years In The Making
Lezak learned in the mid-1980s that a weather cycle exists, an insight he attributes to Jerome Namais, who first addressed the concept in the 1940s. Namais, a renowned American meteorologist, was Chief of the United States Weather Bureau’s Extended Forecast Section in Washington, D.C. from 1941 to 1971.

“What it’s all about is the weather pattern above us – the river of air that goes across North America through the westerly belt, across to Europe, Asia, and then back around across the Pacific. That jet stream flow, that river of air above us, has an order to it,” Lezak told Andrew McCrea, host of the Farming The Countryside podcast, during a recent conversation.

For the next 20 years Lezak continued to study the weather cycling concept, refining what he learned as he went along.

By the early 2000s, Lezak was blogging about what he had learned, eventually calling the concept he developed the Lezak Recurring Cycle (LRC). He founded Weather 20/20 in 2008.

“The LRC is all about the cycle,” Lezak says. “After many years of practicing it, 20 to 30 years of using it, we are able to predict when and where and a little bit of the what,” with regard to weather, he told McCrea.

The core tenet of the LRC is that a unique weather pattern establishes itself every year. It starts to set up in early October, with develpment continuing through early January. By then, Lezak says the pattern can be identified and predictions of every day’s weather around the world can be produced.

Based on the LRC, Lezak says he can predict with a 91% accuracy level when and where there will be major weather events – from snowstorms to hurricanes to droughts – for the next seven to eight months in the U.S.

“That (timing) is the sweet spot of the LRC and fits agriculture perfectly,” Lezak says.

He adds that Mother Nature still creates weather disruptions he can’t predict 9% of the time, based on influences such as El Nino, La Nina and the Arctic Oscillation.

Lezak’s take on the accuracy of weather forecasts differs from what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports, though an apples-to-apples comparison is not available.

The NOAA says a seven-day forecast can accurately predict the weather about 80 percent of the time and a five-day forecast can accurately predict the weather approximately 90 percent of the time. However, a 10-day—or longer—forecast is only right about half the time.

Agriculture Takes Notice
As Lezak was honing the development of the LRC in the early 2000s, fellow meteorologist, Dean Wysocki, then based in Nebraska, learned of it and reached out to Lezak for more details.

Wysocki started using the information he learned during his broadcasts, noting that Nebraska farmers were hungry for more accurate weather insights and predictions.

“I’ll tell you what, it’s a game changer. That’s the easiest way to put it,” says Wysocki, who joined Lezak on the podcast.

Wysocki, now based in Fargo, N.D., got LRC certified and began telling farmers in the Dakotas and Minnesota about its benefits.

“It’s a major piece of long-term weather forecasting, and the accuracy on it has just been amazing,” Wysocki says. “We’ve signed up between about 50 to 100 in our ag community and we’ve got nothing but positive feedback. Is it 100% correct? No, nothing is, but it’s a great tool to have on your tool belt.”

The Weather Outlook Ahead
During the conversation with McCrea, Lezak and Wysocki shared some of their weather predictions for late winter and early spring 2025, based on information the LRC has provided. Here are three of their predictions:

1. Lezak says a La Nina, which is the cooling of the tropical Pacific Ocean, has a grip currently on parts of the western and upper Corn Belt areas, but he expects that to ease up.

“That grip that it has tends to shift precipitation patterns to the eastern Corn Belt. That’s not good for Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota,” Lezak says. “It shifts precipitation patterns to the East, but that grip we think is going to be let loose by March.”

2. Wysocki says he foresees a wetter spring, in March and April, for most of the Dakotas.

“We’ll get our moisture that we need in March and more than likely into the first part of April, and that should be good for planting season,” he says. “I’m still concerned about the western Dakotas into areas of Montana and Wyoming, worried that they’ll remain dry.”

3. With regard to drought, Lezak encourages farmers to keep an eye on the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor, as he says droughts are constantly either shrinking or expanding.

“It appears that over the last year or so that areas of drought, as we look at the entire nation, have begun to decrease,” he says. “This one has been shrinking for weeks, and that is a good sign. The likelihood of that trend continuing is high.”

Wysocki and Lezak offered additional weather insights during their conversation with McCrea. You can hear more of those specifics on the podcast, available here:

Your next read: With More Arctic Air Set to Blast the U.S., Why This Winter Could Be Remembered for Its Extremes

Now Is the Time to Pay Attention to the Weather Forecast: Severe Snowstorm Forecasted to Dump Multiple Feet of Snow

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 21:08:28 GMT

As the calendar flipped to the new year, Mother Nature unleashed the potential for back-to-back blasts of winter weather. From the possibility of blizzard conditions early next week, to flooding in the southeast, the impact on agriculture could be two-fold: a possible cure for drought conditions in parts of the Plains and South, but stressful for livestock.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the forecast is pointing to a very active weather winter pattern in January, which is a hallmark of El Niño.

“There’s no question about it. As I always say, you can’t blame an individual or a single storm and El Niño, but you start looking at the overall patterns, and there’s absolutely no question that when you start seeing a pattern setting up like this, a storm pipeline from the Pacific coming across the Southwest and into the Midwest or east, that is El Niño,” Rippey says.

Eric Snodgrass is a well-known ag meteorologist who’s also watching the change in potential winter weather this month. He says El Niño reached its peak at the end of December.

“It has plateaued. And what that typically means is we tend to have what we call a back-half weighted winter, which means December is usually pretty mild, not a whole lot to talk about, but once we get going into this new year, that jet stream is really going to start to become quite a bit more active,” Snodgrass says.

Active Jet Stream Set to Bring Multiple Winter Storms

The active jet stream is exactly what the U.S. is now seeing, with multiple storms lined up for the start of the year. Rippey says it’s an active storm track that starts in the South, eventually ending up along the East Coast.

“The storm that’s coming out late this week, it’s going to be a decent storm system - a decent winter storm. But it’s going to pale in comparison to the blockbuster storm that we see coming for early next week,” he says.

High Plains with current storm 53% covered in shallow layer of snow. Feet of snow on the way? pic.twitter.com/fAZzWeHurr
— Allen Motew (@QTweather) January 5, 2024

Snowfall reports from the National Weather Service (NWS) Albuquerque, New Mexico station shows impressive snowfall already falling in the Rocky Mountains. As of midday Friday, January 5, NWS reports 10 to 18 inch snowfall totals in the southern Rockies before it made its way across Kansas.

Eye-Popping Snowfall Totals Possible

However, Rippey says this first snow system isn’t the headline. Early to mid-week next week, a different significant storm will emerge from the Southwest and Four Corners region, which could bring monstrous snowfall totals.

“That storm will be going across the Central and Southern Plains Monday and reach the lower Great Lakes region by Wednesday,” Rippey says. “That system really has the potential to create a wide degree of disarray across the country.”

(Farm Journal)

The storm early next week will pack a punch with high winds, but it will also bring much needed drought relief. NOAA is warning of weather impacts that will span from Coast to Coast. They report heavy snow is likely in the higher elevation with blizzard conditions possible. The high winds are expected to hit much of the Central and Eastern U.S., with some winds exceeding 50 MPH.

“Some of them can be big snow makers through parts of the Midwest and some of them are putting down some heavy rains across the South,” Snodgrass says. “And the big picture here is that our U.S. Drought Monitor, which still shows about 50% to 55% of the land area in some form of drought, about one-third of it in the drought categories, that could really change a lot in the coming weeks.”

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Winter arrives finally. 10 days from now mountains, West, Plains, North BURIED! pic.twitter.com/EbPLLFlB74
— Allen Motew (@QTweather) January 5, 2024

The winter storm is forecasted to bring heavy snow, which could provide relief for winter wheat country.

“We’ve already chipped away at the drought across the Great Plains,” Rippey says. “If you look at USDA’s winter wheat condition, we saw improvement from the end of November to the end of December. Kansas winter wheat jumped from 32% good to excellent at the end of November to 43% in December. Oklahoma saw a big jump from 53% to 67% good to excellent. So more moisture, more snow - that’ll be good news for winter wheat.

(Farm Journal)

While the storm system will bring much needed relief, it could also pose problems for livestock producers.

“As the storm crosses the southern Great Plains and moves into the Midwest, we’re going to have a big wind-driven snow event. So certainly, some livestock stress. And then for the Southeast, those folks where it’s not a drought situation, they could be dealing with flooding and flash flooding, as well as our first significant severe weather outbreak of the season early next week,” Rippey says.

Euro model... 😳❄️🌨️ pic.twitter.com/PqZKmP7G0W
— Darin D. Fessler ✝️ (@DDFalpha) January 5, 2024

Much Need Moisture in Areas

As the south braces for impacts of the forecasted storms, Snodgrass says that moisture is desperately needed.

“The South has been, in my opinion, on the wildest ride with moisture in the last 24 months compared to any other place on the planet at this point,” he says.

And as this El Niño pattern takes hold, Snodgrass thinks cotton country could final see some relief this winter.

“I think the best chance for recovery and moisture is going to be across the South, pockets of the Mid-South, the Southeast and in the East Coast,” Snodgrass says. “That track from Texas to South Carolina to Maine, I like it. That area is going to be getting some good moisture.”

It’s not just snow that producers will need to brace for, but temperatures are forecast to plunge with a possible Artic blast. Weather models are pointing to extremely cold and extreme Arctic air also moving in.

Still watching historic climate emergency risk from Arctic blast 📉❄️🌡️

Overnight weather model [ECMWF HRES 00Z] still shows historic Arctic blast into the Pacific Northwest and Western U.S. in 6-7 days.

Extremely cold w/potential for snowfall along California coast including… pic.twitter.com/PsNLPAccdj
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) January 5, 2024

The Duration of El Niño

Snodgrass says the question is how long until El Niño fades, and the impact it could have on the spring.

“If El Niño peaks right now and begins to fade throughout the rest of winter and into spring, I’ve looked at every event since 1960, and most times when that happens, we tend to do okay in the Midwest the following year in terms of precipitation. That’s not a guarantee, but you look at historically, we tend to go out of ridge riding storms, which are often the types of storms that save crops,” he says.

That scenario, however, spells trouble for key growing areas of the South this spring and summer.

“The only way you can get a ridge riding storm system, though, is to put heat and drought across the South. That’s the Cotton Belt that could be impacted negatively by that,” Snodgrass says. “That’s all speculative. But that’s all you got this time of years to base it off of those bigger picture things.”

Areas of the Country Could Still Be Dry This Spring

With the active storms to start the year, there are still pockets of the country that need much more moisture to replenish dry soils before spring.

“I’m worried about the Northern Plains,” Snodgrass says. “I’m worried about the Canadian Prairie on drought. I’m worried about the lack of snowfall we’ve had so far in parts of the upper Midwest. We need to be piling a whole lot more snow there.”

The debate of just how long El Niño will last is heating up. There’s even talk of La Nina making a return this year. There’s no certainty either way, but for now, Snodgrass says a strong shot of winter weather isn’t a bad thing.

“I’ll just tell you this, the nastiest winters we’ve ever had, have almost always given us fantastic springs and summers,” he says. “So, I hate to say it, but I’m wishing for just a terrible second half of winter so that I can talk to you next spring summer and say, ‘Hey wasn’t that terrible? But now look what we got out of it.’”

Related News:

What impact did El Nino have on the weather in 2023?

Is Your Farm Prepared When Bad Weather Strikes?

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 18:57:37 GMT

Now that warmer temperatures are upon us, so is spring storm season. The wild display of weather this year has showcased flooding, tornadoes and more from coast to coast. This unpredictable weather underscores the importance of having a plan and be ready for whatever severe weather pattern could hit your farm.

Severe weather can be a detriment to your farm. Before bad weather hits, Country Financial offers the following tips to prepare your farm.

Take Inventory. Taking photos is a great way to inventory your belongings. Move cattle, feed, and equipment to higher ground in case of flooding, if possible. Stock up on extra farm supplies ahead of severe weather, like water and livestock feed.
Prepare Employees. Review emergency escape routes for each building. Remember this plan might differ depending on the weather event. Document procedures to account for employees. Create an emergency contact list for owners, employees, family members and supplies. Assign different roles and responsibilities to all employees, like who is responsible for calling emergency contacts.
Check Equipment. Ensure generators are in working order, turn off the propane supply at tanks and close any open chemical containers.
Check Insurance Protection. Meet with your insurance rep to ensure everything you own is properly protected. Also, discuss the process for filing a claim if a disaster strikes.

The Farm Bureau Financial Services offers these safety tips regarding tornados and flash flooding.

Tornadoes

On average, each year, 1,300 tornadoes are reported in the United States, and cause millions of dollars worth of damage. With winds that can reach over 250 miles per hour and the potential to travel up to 50 miles, tornadoes have a destructive potential that often puts them in the headlines. In the face of such a huge force of nature, what do you do?

Don’t remain in your tractor or vehicle. Find a low-lying area, such as a ditch, and cover your head with your arms to protect yourself from flying debris.
Don’t try to outrun a tornado with your vehicle.
Do have a plan for which buildings on your property provide the most protection. Basements are best, of course, but if you’re caught out during a tornado, a building with a strong inner structure, such as a barn, can be a safe haven. If you can, stay away from the outside walls of the building you take shelter in.

Flash Flooding

Intensifying rainfall has caused nearly multi billions in damage in the U.S. in the last few decades. Floods can be sudden and powerful, giving you little time to prepare. If you are confronted with flash flooding, there are a few tips to keep in mind:

Don’t attempt to drive through water over the road. You have no idea how deep it may be, and it only takes 6 inches of water to sweep a vehicle away.
Do avoid low-lying areas in your fields or on your property. During a torrential downpour, all that water has to go somewhere. You don’t want to be there when it arrives.
Do have an evacuation plan in place for your livestock, should you need to move them to higher ground.

How the $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Spending Package Might Impact Your Operation

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:19:29 GMT

Text of the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package was released early Tuesday morning. The Senate will vote first and intends to pass the measure before Thursday, leaving the House no time to demand changes before the Christmas holiday.

Here are the details that might impact your farm:

Disaster Relief

• $250 million in aid to rice producers and $100 million to cotton merchandisers to make up for losses related to the pandemic or supply chain disruptions. USDA previously provided $80 million in aid to textile mills and other cotton users. For rice, USDA would determine payment rates based on yield history and acreage.

• $40.6 billion for drought, hurricanes, flooding, wildfire, natural disasters and other matters — $3.7 billion in disaster aid for farmers to cover 2022 crop and livestock losses.

Food Aid

• Funds two programs that provide foreign food aid. These include the Food for Peace Program (PL 480), which is funded at $1.8 billion, and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program, which is funded at $248 million, for an increase of $11 million over fiscal year 2022.

• Summer Meals Program Modernization: Updates the summer food service program to permanently allow states to provide non-congregate meals and summer electronic benefit (EBT) options nationwide to eligible children in addition to meals provided at congregate feeding sites. Non-congregate meals, such as grab-and-go or home delivery, would be provided in rural areas to eligible children, and summer EBT benefits would be capped at $40 per child per month. This provision is fully offset and based largely on the Hunger-Free Summer for Kids Act, which Boozman authored and introduced earlier this Congress.

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EBT Skimming Regulations and Reimbursement: Requires USDA to coordinate with relevant agencies and stakeholders to investigate reports of stolen SNAP benefits through card skimming, cloning and other similar fraudulent methods. This provision aims to identify the extent of the problem, develop methods to prevent fraud and improve security measures, and provide replacement of benefits stolen through these fraudulent actions.

Conservation

• Cracks down on “conservation easements,” which allow tax breaks when land is dedicated for conservation purposes. The IRS has identified the transactions as a method for avoiding taxes. The conservation easement provision was expected to raise between $6 billion and $7 billion.

• SUSTAINS Act: Enacts a House bill that allows corporations and other private entities to contribute funding for conservation projects and authorizes USDA to match up to 75% in matching the donations.

Inputs

• Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA 5) Reauthorization: Reauthorizes pesticide registration and review process user-fee programs administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and increases registration and maintenance fees to support a more predictable regulatory process, create additional process improvements, and provide resources for safety, training, bilingual labeling, and other services to advance the safe and effective use of pesticides.

• Pesticide Registration Review Deadline Extension: Extends deadline for EPA to complete registration review decisions for all pesticide products registered as of October 1, 2007. EPA is facing a significant backlog of pesticide registrations due to a variety of factors over the past several years, which raises potential implications for continued access to numerous crop protection tools. The agency will be allowed to continue its registration review work through October 1, 2026, as a result of this extension.

Climate

• Growing Climate Solutions Act: Incorporates updated language from the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which directs USDA to establish a program to register entities that provide technical assistance and verification for farmers, ranchers and foresters who participate in voluntary carbon markets with the goal of providing information and confidence to producers.

Farm Business

• $1.92 billion for farm programs, which is $55 million above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. This includes $61 million to resolve ownership and succession of farmland issues, also known as heirs’ property issues. This funding will continue support for various farm, conservation, and emergency loan programs, and help American farmers and ranchers. It will also meet estimates of demand for farm loan programs.

• Funding for specialty crops and remarks on crop insurance/A&O. Some $25 million is being made available for specialty crop equitable relief and report language directing USDA to use its legal authority to index all A&O (crop insurance program) for inflation and provide equitable relief for specialty crops going forward.

Livestock

• Livestock Mandatory Reporting Extension (LMR) Extension: Extends livestock mandatory reporting requirements until September 30, 2023. LMR requires meat packers and importers to report the prices they pay for cattle, hogs, and sheep purchased for slaughter and prices received for meats derived from such species to USDA who then publishes daily, weekly, and monthly public reports detailing these transactions.

Markets

• Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Whistleblower Program Extension: Enables CFTC to continue payment of salaries, customer education initiatives and non-awards expenses related to the whistleblower program to ensure it can continue to function even when awards obligated to whistleblowers exceed the program fund’s balance at the time of distribution.

Some ag sector items that did NOT make the omnibus package:

Nothing for the proposed farmworker labor reforms from Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and others. The bill also left out legislation to reform cattle markets or appoint a special investigator at USDA to investigate possible anti-competitive behavior in the meatpacking sector.

We’ll be updating this article as more details become available.

More on policy :

Water Resources Bill Reauthorized with a Component that Will Impact Producers
European Union Clinches a Deal on a Carbon Border Tax
U.S.'s “Candid” GMO Corn Conversation With Mexico Results In Changes To Looming Trade Dispute
Senate Clears Annual Defense Policy, Pushing $858 Billion to Military

Water Resources Bill Reauthorized with a Component that Will Impact Producers

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 15:00:00 GMT

In an 83–11 vote in the Senate on Thursday, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) was reauthorized.

The WRDA is a biennial bill that was first set in stone in 2014 to allow U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to implement water infrastructure projects and programs across the nation. By way of the WRDA, the Corps constructs and maintain ports, inland waterways, locks and dams.

WRDA 2022 includes funding for 94 new feasibility studies and 21 projects, as well as instruction for the Corps to “expedite several ongoing studies and projects that are critical to addressing our nation’s water resources needs,” according to the Senate Committee on Environmental and Public Works release.

However, different from other years, WRDA 2022 cements a cost-share system for inland waterway projects in which 65% of funding stems from general treasury while the remaining 35% comes from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund.

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) applauded the passage of the legislation in a release , which it dubbed an “integral” component of the fertilizer distribution system.

“On a ton-mile basis, approximately one-fourth of fertilizer moves on the inland barge system and these projects are absolutely critical to the safe and efficient distribution of fertilizers,” said Corey Rosenbusch, TFI president and CEO. “Making the cost-share permanent will…provide confidence to industry that much needed maintenance and modernization of our inland waterway system.”

According to Rosenbusch, repairs of locks and dams have increased 700% and further hindered production. He adds that these locks and dams—built nearly 100 years ago—were only designed to last 50 years.

“These delays are not only disastrous for the farmers who receive much of the almost 70 million tons of fertilizer each year via our nation’s waterways, they can also raise the prices of everyday goods and food for consumers,” Rosenbusch noted.

The bill will now move to President Biden’s desk, where he will likely sign it in coming weeks.

More on policy:

Expect New WOTUS Testing Rules by the End of 2022, According to Government Lawyer
5 Conservation Needs to be Met in Farm Bill 2023

Flood-hit Chinese County Needs Disinfectants to Tackle Dead Livestock

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 13:31:00 GMT

China’s animal husbandry association urged companies on Tuesday to donate large volumes of disinfectants for a county in the central province of Henan, where widespread floods have killed thousands of livestock.

The rotting carcasses of dead animals easily produce pathogens, but disinfection material is insufficient, the semi-official China Animal Agriculture Association said on its website, after the farms in Tangyin county were flooded.

It also sought donations of other disease prevention materials, such as veterinary drugs, vaccines, and protection equipments, on behalf of local government authorities.

Last week’s heavy rains sparked the province’s worst flash floods in centuries, killing at least 71 people. More than a million animals died and 1,678 large livestock farms were affected, official media said.

“Large quantities of disinfectants are needed,” said a manager with a pig producer that has farms in Henan.

The industry’s biggest concern was the potential for disease to spread, said the manager, who declined to be identified as he was not authorised to talk to the media.

Flooding has hit both small and corporate farms alike, he added.

The disaster came as China battles African swine fever disease, which decimated its pig herd since being first detected in 2018.

Heavy rain and floods, blamed for fresh outbreaks of the disease last year, threatened to frustrate the effort of the past two years to rebuild the herd.

In the move to avert disease, Tangyin authorities have culled more than 210,000 head of livestock, including 3,956 pigs, after floods killed 380,242 animals in the region, the husbandry association said in its website notice.

Tangyin produced 309,000 pigs by the end of last year, the local government said on its website, while Henan, with 43.11 million produced in 2020, ranks as the country’s third largest producer.

Last week, the agriculture ministry advised local government officials on steps to prevent animal disease after flooding, including disposal of carcasses and disinfection.

(Reporting by Hallie Gu and Shivani Singh; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Rain Drain: Farm Journal Readers Pummeled by Flooding, Page 2

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:31:17 GMT

Continued from page 1

Lower Mississippi River Basin

Arkansas-White-Red River Basin

Great Lakes Region

Pacific Northwest Region

Check out more flood maps at USGS.gov .

Storm Could Bring 4 Inches Of Liquid To Already Saturated Fields

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:23:49 GMT

Farmers in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota are bracing for yet another monster storm. This time, meteorologists expect up to 4 inches of moisture in various forms to pummel already saturated fields, many of which are in flooded regions.

“I have some customers out in South Dakota who are reporting almost a foot of snow already,” Ed Vallee of Empire Weather told AgriTalk host Chip Flory. “They’re asking when is this thing going to wind down? Unfortunately, this thing is just developing down on the plains of Colorado, and it’s going to be moving eastward and ramping up.”

According to Vallee, this first band of storms currently moving into Northeastern Iowa has produced more precipitation than meteorologists expected.

“It’s one of those situations where as it starts developing, we do our best to kind of tweak and make the forecast as good as it can be, but I think later tonight and especially late tonight and into Thursday morning we’re going to be dealing with some pretty heavy snowfall in the same areas that got hit with the [last round of flooding].”

The storm won’t only produce snow, Vallee said it’s a dynamic storm and depending on location will likely produce different precipitation types ranging from wet snow, to dry snow and even rain. Severe weather is also a possibility.

“Anytime you get a storm this time of the year, you’re going to be dealing with a lot of different temperature variations over short distances. That’s kind of what fuels the storms to strengthen and ultimately provide a lot of threatening hazards,” he said. “I think as we continue to move on here the snow was very wet, dense especially during the day. But as we get into the nighttime hours, we’re going to feed in a little bit more cold air coming in from the north and that may actually allow the snow to dry out a little bit across South Dakota and portions of western Nebraska.”

This storm is likely to cause additional flooding.

“I think the moisture in this storm is really the takeaway,” he said. “We’re going to be dealing with two to four inches of liquid with this storm on top of the flooding we’ve seen over the last few weeks, so this is not a good situation for a lot of places.”

Vallee expects the storm to stick around through the end of the week and said it will likely peak first thing on Thursday. With the moisture comes a significant wind threat.

“It’s going to be a wide-reaching wind threat. Obviously where there’s snow falling, that’s the biggest concern because you toss wind and snow together that’s a power outage pretty quickly,” he said. “But even if you’re not seeing snow or even any precipitation here, we’re going to be dealing with these winds out of the South in those locations pretty much right through tonight and that’s going to be in that 40 to 60 mile an hour range. Which, even if you’re not getting two feet of snow, that’s obviously not welcome.”

When the storm pushes out of the Western Corn Belt on Thursday night and into the Ohio Valley, severe weather will be the biggest threat, according to Vallee.

“As we get into Friday, this should taper to only a few snow showers and then our focus is going to turn to clean up and then the blowing snow threat, especially across the areas that get hardest hit overnight today,” he said.

Worldwide Hog Industry on Alert for ASF; Flood Wipes Out NE Cattle

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:23:17 GMT

As headlines about African swine fever in China continue to grow, the U.S. and other countries around the world are stepping up measures to prevent the disease from entering their borders.

“This ASF (African swine fever) thing is really gaining in the multiplicity of stories, not only from a U.S. perspective, but around the world. So now it’s either No. 1 or No. 2 relative to China,” said Jim Wiesemeyer on Agritalk last week.

The recent discovery of an illegal shipment of pork from China is even more concerning. Friday, March 22, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents clarified they seized 1 million pounds of food products from China this month, rather than 1 million pounds of pork as they had previously announced on March 15.

The seized containers also had noodles and tea bags that were used to facilitate the unlawful import of pork products, said Anthony Bucci, CBP spokesman. No fresh pork was discovered in the shipment .

But even the shipping manifest said the pork products were from China, Wiesemeyer told Agritalk host Chip Flory, which puts the worldwide hog industry on guard against similar shipments.

While there is no vaccine for the disease that causes a 100% mortality rate, researchers might be able to use gene editing to find a new control, Wiesemeyer said. He added that some researchers are investigating why some animals in herds have not gotten sick.

“The best people I’ve consulted say it’s almost impossible to come up with the vaccine. I hope they’re wrong,” he said. “But this thing is far different than most any other disease that we’ve handled.”

```

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Flooding in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri

Disaster relief will come later, rather than sooner, because this is ongoing, Wiesemeyer said. The flooding is likely to hit cattlemen hard, as well as row crop farmers.

“[Sec. Sonny] Perdue actually set a number that seemed high to us at Pro Farmer—up to 1 million calves in Nebraska,” he added.

Listen for more of Wiesemeyer’s insight on other policy issues, including Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and the EPA’s small refinery exemptions for the Renewable Fuels Standard on the player above.

Links to Help for Farmers, Ranchers Impacted by Floods

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:23:06 GMT

Assistance available to help cope with devastating impacts of severe weather

— Nebraska blizzard/flooding resources. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has put together the following resources available to farmers and ranchers affected by severe weather:

NDA Resources

Press Release: Nebraska Department of Agriculture to Assist in Identifying Livestock Producer Needs and Response
For information regarding hay drop-off points, monetary donations and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), view NDA’s Disaster Relief Information Sheet .
NDA’s Hay and Forage Hotline connects buyers with sellers of hay, pasture and other types of forage. This hotline service is available at no cost to buyers and sellers.
Food Safety - Emergency Response Guidance
- Boil Water Advisory Procedure for Food Establishments
- Safety of Food and Water Affected by Flooding
Produce Safety: Guidance and Assistance After Flooding

State Agency Resources

Federal Agency Resources

USDA Farmers.gov
USDA Farm Service Agency Resources
- List of county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices
- Livestock Indemnity Program Fact Sheet : This FSA program financially assists producers when they suffer loss of livestock due to adverse weather.
- Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Fact Sheet : This FSA program covers some livestock losses that do not fall under the Livestock Indemnity Program.
- Emergency Conservation Program Fact Sheet : ECP can provide some cost-share assistance to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters. It also can provide cost-share assistance to help restore fences damaged or lost due to natural disaster.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
- Emergency Watershed Protection Program

Additional Resources

Nebraska Cattlemen - Disaster Assistance Programs & State Regulations to Consider During Emergencies
Nebraska Extension Flood Resources
Nebraska Farm Bureau Disaster Relief Fund and Information Exchange Portal
The Lancaster Event Center has opened an equine and livestock shelter for animals impacted by flooding in the region.
Free legal help for Nebraska’s low-income flood survivors is available through Legal Aid’s Disaster Relief Project ( English , Spanish ). For more information, visit www.disaster.legalaidofnebraska.org .

Further resources and assistance can be found by calling the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline at 800-464-0258. The Hotline is resource for individuals and families who may be feeling overwhelmed with stress, depression, or other mental health related issues.

— Iowa flooding links. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) detailed several resources available over the internet for Iowans and farmers coping with this spring’s severe flooding that has devastated many western Iowa communities and farms. The information:

State Agency Resources:

Flooded grain fact sheet. Link
Flooding and Stored Grain fact sheet: Link
Disaster assistance: Information on disaster assistance and the application link, and a current list of counties with disaster proclamations. Link
Iowa Concern Hotline: As Iowans deals with this devastation, stress can take a toll. To find help regarding stress, disaster recovery, or legal education, call the toll-free hotline at 1-800-447-1985 or visit this link .
Road updates: For information about road closures you may dial 511 or obtain information online at this link .
Governor’s press releases: The updated disaster proclamations are announced through the Governor’s office. Link
Iowa Department of Natural Resources disaster assistance information can be found at this link .
Insurance information: If Iowans have questions or concerns regarding their insurance coverage, they can contact the Iowa Insurance Division. 515-281-5705, link .
To volunteer, contact Red Cross, Salvation Army, or Habitat for Humanity. To volunteer with livestock relief, contact your local Emergency Response Coordinator and the county supervisor. A link to their county coordinators can be found at this link .

Federal Agency Resources

USDA Reference Guide: Use this guide for federal assistance offered. Link .
Farmers.gov gives a list of resources that can be used for recovery. Link .
List of county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices. Link .
Livestock Indemnity Program Fact Sheet: This FSA program financially assists producers when they suffer loss of livestock due to adverse weather. Link .
Emergency Conservation Program Fact Sheet: ECP can provide some cost-share assistance to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters. It also can provide cost-share assistance to help restore fences damaged or lost due to natural disaster. Link .

Executive Order Aids Nebraska's Flood Impacted Livestock Producers

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:23:06 GMT

Two new executive orders have been issued by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts to aid flood impacted areas of the state, with one specifically relieving livestock producers.

Farmers and ranchers in Nebraska are being given a reasonable amount of time via Executive Order 19-03 to dispose of deceased livestock following a severe winter storm that brought widespread blizzard conditions and flooding to the state.

There is also a temporary suspension of requirements for trip permits and fuel tax permits for certain vehicles engaged in flood relief through Executive Order 19-04.

“In light of the historic flooding and devastation our communities have experienced, the Governor’s Office is working to cut red tape,” says Taylor Gage, Director of Strategic Communications for Gov. Ricketts. “These executive orders will help our communities as they work to recover and rebuild after the most widespread natural disaster in state history.”

Both orders allotted on March 20 are in addition to an emergency declaration that Gov. Ricketts issued on March 12.

Gov. Ricketts issued another executive orders on March 15 that directed the Nebraska State Patrol to temporarily waive certain requirements for trucks traveling in and through Nebraska in support of efforts to the response to severe flooding.

“The state has temporarily waived the length and weight requirements for trucks traveling in and through Nebraska,” says Gov. Ricketts. “This will help move materials more efficiently around the state as we work together to respond to the impacts of the flooding and severe weather.”

In agriculture, waiving of truck lengths and weights would help those who might be hauling hay to farmers and ranchers in need.

All of the directives from the Governor are effective immediately and last until April 15, 2019. Gov. Ricketts encourages other states to temporarily ease restrictions that might aid during the recovery efforts.

The Governor’s Office, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency are staying in touch with Nebraska’s agriculture associations on a daily basis to assess emerging needs. State agencies are providing assistance as requests are made by local emergency managers.

The executive order can be read by clicking here .

FDA Offers Resources for Assessing Flood-Related Feed Contamination

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:23:06 GMT

As the Central and Southern Plains of the United States continue to experience extreme weather and flooding, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine reminds animal food producers who may be mixing, storing or distributing grains and other foods for animals about information resources available.

While there are few, if any, crops growing right now, previously harvested crops or siloed feed materials could become contaminated and no longer suitable for feeding. Flood waters, which are different from pooled rain water, may contain sewage, pathogenic organisms, pesticides, chemical wastes, or other toxic substances. Mold growth is another serious concern for flood impacted crops intended for use in animal food. Some molds produce mycotoxins, which are toxic to certain animals and people.

Previously harvested crops that may be deemed unsuitable for human food use sometimes can be salvaged for animal food. FDA will work with producers to consider requests to recondition an adulterated crop into animal food on a case-by-case basis. FDA’s compliance policy guide ( CPG 675.200 ) provides a step-by-step process for reconditioning requests. Those requests should be directed to the following individuals in the relevant FDA field office:

For contamination events that occur in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa:
Victoria Wagoner , 913-495-5150
For contamination events that occur in Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota and North Dakota:
Kristy Zuroski , 612-758-7120
For contamination events that occur in Illinois and Michigan:
Kelli Wilkinson , 313-393-8120
For contamination events that occur in Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky:
Toni Williams , 513-679-2700 x2160
For contamination events that occur in Arkansas:
Casey Hamblin , 214-253-5222

For more information, see Crops Harvested from Flooded Fields Intended for Animal Food: Questions and Answers .

Additionally, your state’s Department of Agriculture may have state-specific requirements regarding any attempt to clean, process, test, and sell/use crops or siloed materials for animal food. FDA will also continue working with USDA, state partners, and associations on broader questions that may arise about crops and materials for animal food.

For more information:

General Information on Evaluating the Safety of Food and Animal Food Crops Exposed to Flood Waters

CPG Sec. 683.100 Action Levels for Aflatoxins in Animal Feeds

Guidance for Industry: Fumonisin Levels in Human Foods and Animal Feeds Final Guidance

Guidance for Industry and FDA: Advisory Levels for Deoxynivalenol (DON) in Finished Wheat Products for Human Consumption and Grains and Grain By-Products used for Animal Feed

CPG Sec. 575.100 Pesticide Residues in Food and Feed - Enforcement Criteria

CPG 675.200 Diversion of Adulterated Food to Acceptable Animal Feed Use

Prepare Now for Livestock Disasters and Emergencies

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:13:58 GMT

Whether it is a wildfire, flood, tornado or an overturned truck, when disasters strike cattle operations, it can be difficult to see any “silver linings.” Beyond the bad news though, we find a couple positive outcomes. First, neighbors, friends, professional colleagues and even total strangers invariably join forces to help in any ways they can. Next, we can all learn from the experience, either directly or indirectly, and apply that knowledge to minimize the damage next time a disaster strikes.

With those outcomes in mind, a group of veterinarians and industry professionals, all with experience in livestock disasters and emergencies, joined forces to compile “ Responding to Natural Disasters and Emergencies in Beef Production ,” a 13-chapter guide published in the July 2018 issue of Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice.

The project began after the March 2017 Starbuck Wildfire along the Kansas and Oklahoma border burned over 800,000 acres, destroying homes, fences and other facilities, killing thousands of cattle and displacing thousands more. Veterinarians Dan Thomson, at Kansas State University, Bob Smith, a consultant from Oklahoma and Christine Navarre at Louisiana State University planned the guide and identified veterinarians and industry professionals from around the country, all with direct experience in livestock disasters ranging from fires and hurricanes to blizzards and highway accidents. Dr. Smith served as consulting editor, and Drs. Thomson and Navarre served as editors and wrote the guide’s introduction.

“As we made our list of topics, we thought about our colleagues, friends, producers, and people who had expertise in these areas from firsthand experience to extensive training in food animal rescue and medicine,” Navarre and Thomson write. “Each article partners veterinarians from private practice, academia, and government organizations to bring practical, straightforward guidance on natural disasters. We are thankful for the great response and expertise that volunteered to complete this issue of Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice.”

Chapters and authors include:

Preface: Responding to Natural Disasters and Emergencies in Beef Production: Dan Thomson and Christine Navarre
Communication and Working with Authorities During Natural Disasters: Dee Ellis, Rebecca McConnico, and Jimmy Tickel
Cattle Assessment On-Site During Emergencies: Arthur Lee Jones, Renée Dawn Dewell, and Joanna Davis
Feeding and Watering Beef Cattle During Disasters: Justin W. Waggoner and K.C. Olson
Tornado Preparation and Response in Feedlot Cattle: Samantha L. Boyajian, Nels N. Lindberg, and David P. Gnad
Blizzards and Range Cattle: Management Before, During, and After the Storm: Russ Daly and Cynthia Marshall Faux
Management of Confined Cattle in Blizzard Conditions: David B. Sjeklocha
Wildfire Response in Range Cattle: David N. Rethorst, Randall K. Spare, and John L. Kellenberger
Preparation and Response to Truck Accidents on Highways Involving Cattle: Lisa Pederson, Jerry Yates, and Audry Wieman
Preparation and Response for Flooding Events in Beef Cattle: Wesley Bissett Jr, Carla Huston, and Christine B. Navarre
Managing Heat Stress Episodes in Confined Cattle: Kevin F. Sullivan and Terry L. Mader
Foreign Animal Disease Outbreaks: Danelle A. Bickett-Weddle, Michael W. Sanderson, and Elizabeth J. Parker
Humane Euthanasia and Carcass Disposal: Jan K. Shearer, Dee Griffin, and Scott E. Cotton
Mental Health During Environmental Crisis and Mass Incident Disasters: Erin Wasson and Audry Wieman

In Livestock Disasters and Emergencies, quick decisions, coordination and teamwork are critical. This guide draws on first-hand experiences of the contributing authors, along with their expertise in veterinary medicine, cattle management and animal welfare to enhance preparation, response and overall outcomes.

Learn more or subscribe for access from Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice .

Weather Chaos Expected to Leave Record U.S. Corn Acres Unplanted

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 03:22:46 GMT

(Bloomberg) -- For months, traders debated which crops U.S. farmers would sow this year. That discussion is now turning to how many acres may be left unplanted as relentless rainfall sweeps the Midwest.

Rabobank is predicting an unprecedented number of unplanted acres of corn, the most widely grown American crop. A Bloomberg survey of 10 traders and analysts indicates growers could file insurance claims for about 6 million corn acres they haven’t been able to sow, almost double the record in 2013.

Corn futures surged more than 20% to a three-year high over the past few weeks on fears farmers wouldn’t be able to get seeds in the ground ahead of crop-insurance deadlines. So-called prevented plant claims reached 3.6 million acres in 2013, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency.

Field conditions deteriorated over the past few weeks, indicating significant corn acreage loss was a risk, according to Gro Intelligence, a New York-based analysis firm that uses satellites among other data sources. Areas with the biggest risk of acreage loss were in central Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, and the region around the borders of South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska.

Such insurance claims are considered a last-ditch effort for farmers, who can receive about half of the value of their crop. Analysts in the Bloomberg survey cautioned estimates could still be skewed by the weather and the government’s market facilitation program, a $16 billion aid package to mitigate the impact of trade wars. Soaring corn prices could also prompt farmers to plant the crop without insurance.

“The MFP payment is dependent upon acres being planted,” said Karl Setzer, market analyst at Agrivisor in Bloomington, Illinois. Setzer estimated that 4 million to 5 million acres of corn could be left unplanted. However, “the recent rally in futures will also encourage planting beyond normal dates,” he said.

Sara Menker, chief executive officer of Gro Intelligence, said some areas could remain too wet to plant either corn or even soybeans. While the market is mostly focused on corn, traders “should probably care about corn and beans in particular areas, because both could be decimated, even with the window not closing for beans,” she said.

The top 25 counties at risk planted 3.7 million acres of corn in 2018, according to Gro Intelligence. In March, the USDA said U.S. farmers intended to plant 92.8 million acres of corn this year. The agency won’t report prevented plant until August.

Some analyst views:

Prevented plant “is all guesswork due to lack of historical data,” said Bryce Knorr, senior analyst at Farm Futures in Saint Charles, Illinois. “I’m penciling in around 5 million fewer harvested acres.”
Roy Huckabay, executive vice president of Chicago brokerage the Linn Group, said as many as 10 million acres intended for corn may not be sown this year, with about 2 million of those acres likely switching to soybeans.
The USDA’s FSA has only published nationwide prevented plant data since 2007. Corn planting progress of only 58% as of Sunday was the slowest pace since records begin in 1980.

NC Pig Farmers Take Extraordinary Steps to Ensure Animal Care

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:08:48 GMT

Five days after Hurricane Florence struck North Carolina, most of our 2,100 hog farms are returning to normal operations. For a small portion of farms, logistical challenges amid record levels of flooding continue as hog farmers and partner production companies are taking extraordinary steps to ensure animal care.

In many cases, this means farmers have remained at the barns for days without access to the outside world because they are remaining with their animals. In others, farmers are accessing the barns by boat and, in a few cases, farmers and employees have shuttled to barns by helicopter to reach the animals.

The size of the area impacted by the hurricane that involves our operations is across 14 counties, the total size of which is larger than the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island combined.

Feed:

Farm workers in Sampson County delivering feed (left) and hand feeding in Columbus County (below). Photos: North Carolina Pork Council

Most farms pre-stocked with feed ahead of the storm, but power outages and other failures have knocked some automatic feed systems off-line. This is a temporary setback and workers are delivering feed by the bucket or cartload.

In some cases, meals are being rationed to stretch the feed out. In some instances, feed bins were knocked over, which makes the feed unusable, so efforts are being made to deliver feed by whatever means necessary (tractor, helicopter, trucks, boats, etc.).

Tanker trucks are lined up to remove liquids from a lagoon in Sampson County. (Photo: North Carolina Pork Council)

Power

Each farm has backup generators that are tested weekly, but in some cases, they were overwhelmed by the storm. Generators are used to provide water, for automatic feed systems, and to provide automatic ventilation, which is crucial to maintaining comfortable temperatures. Companies are working overtime to restore power. We are grateful for the hard work being provided by local utility companies and many others from across the nation who are assisting to restore power as quickly as possible to our rural areas.

Lagoons

While it is clear that farmers properly managed lagoon levels in advance of the storm, a small percentage of lagoons have been impacted by the record-setting rainfalls. Farmers are in regular communication with the state Department of Environmental Quality and plans of action are being implemented in coordination with the regulatory agency. In some cases, lagoon levels are being lowered by transferring liquids off the farm in tanker trucks or by piping to other lagoons with ample capacity.

We are currently aware of the following impacts to lagoons:

As of this posting, State DEQ is reporting five sites with possible structural damages, three of which we believe to be breached. Two of the lagoons lost liquids and the solids remain. We do not have information about the third.
Twenty-one lagoons were inundated by flood waters.
Seventeen lagoons were at capacity due to rainfall and appear to have overtopped. Others are at capacity and efforts are being taken to respond within state regulations and guidance.

Most of the 2,100 farms with more than 3,300 anaerobic treatment lagoons in the state did not see these significant impacts from the storm. However, at this time, we still expect there could be additional impacts to be reported as conditions warrant.

While we are dismayed by the release of some liquids from some lagoons, we also understand that what has been released from the farms is the result of a once-in-a-lifetime storm and that the contents are highly diluted with rainwater. We believe that the result of this storm will be similar to what has occurred in previous events, including what the state Division of Water Resources found after Hurricane Matthew: “...the amount of water discharged into the river basins resulted in a diluting effect, which primarily resulted in lower than normal concentrations of various pollutants.” Link to the complete report.

The National Weather Service announced that it estimates more than 8 trillion gallons of water fell across North Carolina over a five-day period.

NC Pork Council: No Substantial Impact to Hog Farms After Florence

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:08:44 GMT

Hog farmers in North Carolina are watching with great concern the still-rising flood waters brought by the historic impact of Hurricane Florence. Efforts continue in affected areas to provide feed and care for animals, and fuel to power farms, while ensuring safety for our farm families and farm employees.

On-farm assessments and industry aerial surveys conducted today determined that flood waters have reached portions of our farms in at least three locations. We know that, in these same locations, animals were moved in advance of the storm or are continuing to receive attention from farmers. In many locations, trucks have been able to continue to move animals in response to the flooding.

Given that record-shattering flooding is forecast to persist for days, we expect additionally affected farms. We do not anticipate severe impacts to the vast majority of the more than 2,100 permitted farms in the state. There are no reported breaches of treatment lagoons and no reported instances of lagoon contents spilling out, known as overtopping.

We are saddened that Hurricane Florence has caused the loss of human life and has so broadly impacted state, county and municipal infrastructure, civic properties, and homes and businesses across Eastern North Carolina. This impact includes all sectors of crop and livestock agriculture.

Many hog farmers continue to assist with the ongoing emergency response in their communities, and we are grateful for their efforts. Additionally, we are thankful for the outpouring of support and prayers from across the nation for our farmers.

We urge caution and context from the news media when reporting about our farmers.

A note of caution

In advance of the storm, and since its onset, the North Carolina Pork Council has seen widespread instances of inaccurate reporting in the media about the pork industry in the state. For example, on Sunday, Sept. 16, the Associated Press published and distributed nationally a photograph that labeled two garages as a hog farm. In previous years, we have seen photos of municipal waste plants, poultry houses and other agricultural facilities inaccurately labeled as pig farms. We have seen barns that have been empty for multiple years characterized as active hog farms. We urge caution, especially in a breaking news environment where initial information is often inaccurate. It is precisely in these first hours and days that activists with an agenda seek to exploit the media – or the media simply gets it wrong. Our request: Beware of what you hear about hog farms during Hurricane Florence.

Examples

On Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, the AP falsely called two garages a hog farm:

In 2016, the Washington Post falsely called a municipal treatment facility a hog farm:

Additional information

Hog farms & hurricanes: http://www.ncpork.org/primer/
Matthew, and buyouts: http://www.ncpork.org/buyout/
Beware of misleading agendas: http://www.ncpork.org/beware/
The storm’s threat: http://www.ncpork.org/concern/

Worldwide Hog Industry on Alert for ASF; Flood Wipes Out NE Cattle

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:07:28 GMT

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Flooding in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri

NE Producer Travels By Boat To Take Care of Hogs Due To Flood

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:07:24 GMT

The Missouri River is roughly a mile over its banks. That’s forcing livestock producers near the river to take extreme measures to take care of their animals.

One producer in Blair, Nebraska has to travel by boat to get to his hogs. Luckily, his hogs are safe on higher ground. Fortunately, there are roughly 1,000 head in the barn and they are all a smaller weight. It’s helpful since loading feed won’t be as difficult and the livestock won’t be ready to go to market just yet.

AgDay national reporter Betsy Jibben shares the story of John Tyson in Blair, Nebraska.

5 Tips to Keep Your Farm Operating in a Disaster

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 00:12:00 GMT

All farmers need to know what, where and how they will keep the farm operation going during a disaster. Whether it’s wildfire, hurricane, flood or blizzard, there are planning resources to make a stressful time easier to manage.

1. Do you have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP)?

Every farm needs one, but it’s not always written down or updated with the most current information.

Hog farmers should have an EAP as part of the Pork Quality Assurance assessment . One should be done for the overall operation and a separate assessment for each production site.

Carefully plan for possible emergency scenarios, such as natural disasters, staff changes, disease outbreaks and market interruptions. Perform routine maintenance and training for employees to be to respond quickly and efficiently.

To comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employer must have printed copies of the EAP accessible to all employees. For operations with less than 10 employees, the plan may be reviewed orally.

Also see this Purdue University resource for all types of farms.

2. Plan for Evacuation

Know how you will evacuate in a disaster and where you will go.

If it is not feasible to evacuate your livestock , USDA says to provide adequate food and water to last them until you can return, and a strong shelter. If you plan to move livestock out of state, contact the state veterinarian’s office in the receiving state before you move any animals. You can also contact APHIS Veterinary Services state offices for assistance.

3. Livestock Farmers: Assess Manure Storage, Water and Feed Supplies, Electricity Needs

Many hog farmers ahead of Hurricane Florence are reporting ability of storing at least 25” of rain. Proper lagoon design and maintenance will lower possibility for waste water release. Every hog farm in the state must maintain a minimum buffer of 19” to allow for significant rain events, but many have much higher protection. For more information, see “ Hog Farms and Hurricanes: A Primer on Lagoons and Flooding .”

If heavy rainfall causes hog lagoons to reach capacity and overflow, contact your state natural resources or environmental officials. More information can be found at USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Disaster Recovery Assistance .

Ensure feed and water supplies will adequately sustain animals until the disaster is past and normal operations can resume.

Move pastured animals, such as cattle, horses and sheep to higher ground and cut fences if neccessary. Prepare additional feed supplies, as pastures may not provide enough forage until floodwaters recede.

Expect to loose electricity during hurricanes, and be equipped with generators and back up systems for confined livestock. If hog buildings lose electricity, ensure feeding and ventilation needs are met.

4. Inventory and Label Chemicals, Fuels, Fertilizers and Machinery

Keep good records on the amount of chemical you have in inventory.

Label large equipment, such as fuel tanks or 55-gallon drums of supplies, with your contact information in case flood waters move them off your property.

During and after floodwaters leave, cautiously evaluate on-site and off-site pollution caused by spilled fuels, pesticides, oils, propane, and fertilizers.

Even after floodwaters have receded, spilled product might require expensive remediation.

5. Lists of Emergency Contacts, Suppliers and Employees

Compile a list of contractors who can help with emergency supplies of sand, feed, water and waste removal, and their 24-hour phone numbers. During the emergency, you will be competing for resources.

Without working out a plan ahead of time, the items you need may not be available when you need them.

You can also contact your Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) for individual site consultation.

Specifically, know where you can rent or buy:

Large-volume “trash” pumps
Large-capacity generators to run lights and pumps
Sand and sandbags
Clear or black plastic sheeting
Tractor-trailers
Warehouse space
Rain gear to keep employees dry
Garden hoses (about 600 feet) and nozzles for cleaning, flushing, and washing
Flat shovels for removing muck

After the Disaster Has Passed

Livestock owners and contract growers who experience above normal livestock deaths due to specific weather events, as well as to disease or animal attacks, may qualify for assistance under USDA’s Livestock Indemnity Program .

Livestock, honeybee and farm-raised fish producers who suffer animal, feed, grazing and associated transportation cost losses due to an extreme weather event may qualify for assistance through USDA’s emergency assistance program tailored for their agricultural sectors .

Producers who suffer losses to or are preventing from planting agricultural commodities not covered by federal crop insurance may be eligible for assistance under USDA’s Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Programs if the losses were due to natural disasters.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program can help with immediate needs and long-term support to help recover from natural disasters and conserve water resources.

Farmers and ranchers needing to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters can apply for assistance through USDA’s Emergency Conservation Program , Emergency Forest Restoration Program .

USDA’s Emergency Watershed Protection Program also can help relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by flood, fires and other natural disasters that impair a watershed.

Producers with coverage through the Risk Management Agency (RMA) administered Federal crop insurance program should contact their crop insurance agent for issues regarding filing claims. Producers should report crop damage within 72 hours of damage discovery and follow up in writing within 15 days.