July 15, 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

• Brazil’s Uptick in Corn Exports Not Necessarily Indicative of Trend, Ag Economist Says
• Market Development Action Team Investment Questionnaire
• NCGA Urges Advocates and Allies to Ask Congress to Advance Farm Bill
• USGC Releases New Video Highlighting Sustainability Efforts
• Prevented Planting Request for Information and Stakeholder Listening Sessions
• Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education

Brazil’s Uptick in Corn Exports Not Necessarily Indicative of Trend, Ag Economist Says

While Brazil is positioned to surpass the U.S. in corn exports this year, the data don’t indicate the trend leading to this development will necessarily continue, as the South American country faces many challenges when it comes to agriculture and trade, a national ag economist said today.

“U.S. exports have been hindered by droughts that have affected key areas of the Corn Belt,” NCGA Lead Economist Krista Swanson said. “But the U.S. has several relative advantages in the global corn market that can be harnessed to support our $90 billion corn industry.”

The U.S. is bolstered by far superior infrastructure and sustainable farming practices, Swanson noted. For example, she said Brazil is 86.6% of the size of the entire United States but has just 25% of the roadway miles found in this country, of which only 12.4% are paved. Nearly 70% of roadway miles are paved in the U.S.

The comments were made during a joint press conference hosted by the National Corn Growers Association and the U.S. Grains Council and come as reports show that Brazil is on pace to surpass the U.S. in corn exports this year.

Read more...

Read the white paper on this issue here.

Market Development Action Team Investment Questionnaire

Your Market Development Action Team is looking for your ideas to promote and market Colorado corn. What things would you like to see the MDAT focus on or invest in? Some ideas that have been put forward include: more E15 gas pumps in northern Colorado, promote corn-based plastics, exports of corn in all forms, inform the public about uses of corn and to inform consumers about the steps farmers are taking to preserve our clean waters and our land. What ideas do you have?

NCGA Urges Advocates and Allies to Ask Congress to Advance Farm Bill

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) launched a campaign today that encourages advocates and allies to contact their congressional delegation about the importance of passing a bipartisan, comprehensive farm bill in 2023 that will support and protect the corn industry.

NCGA has been working diligently since the implementation of the last farm bill to thoughtfully develop recommendations for the 2023 farm bill by surveying membership, processing input from Action Teams and grower leaders, and analyzing the political environment. You can find more information about NCGA’s farm bill priorities here.

So far thousands of messages have been sent by farmers across the country and if you would like to add your voice on the Farm Bill you can by following this link: Add Your Voice Here

USGC Releases New Video Highlighting Sustainability Efforts

A new video released by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) highlights the organization’s efforts to showcase the sustainability practices of the U.S. corn supply chain. The video also provides a breakdown of the Council’s new Sustainable Corn Exports (SCE) platform and the Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol (CSAP).

“The Records of Sustainability that the USGC is making available to international customers will provide consumers with transparent data and information on the sustainability of U.S. corn. Additionally, the database of records enables our international customers to comply with ingredient sourcing standards they or their downstream customers may be subject to. We hope this video provides a succinct explanation of the new sustainability tools the Council has launched,” said Andrew Brandt, USGC director of trade policy.

Read more...

Prevented Planting Request for Information and Stakeholder Listening Sessions

RMA is gathering feedback on possible changes to prevented planting crop insurance coverage through a request for information (published May 23, 2023) as well as virtual and in-person listening sessions. These feedback opportunities will enable RMA to provide better crop insurance options.

Request for Information

The request for information on prevented planting requests input on prevented planting topics to include:

• Harvest Price Option – Feedback on whether to allow the prevented planting payment calculations to be based on the higher of projected price or harvest price under the revenue protection plan of insurance.
• “1 in 4” Rule – Input on the challenges or experiences since the rule (to be eligible for a prevented planting coverage acreage must have been planted to a crop, insured, and harvested in at least 1 out of the previous 4 crop years) was implemented nationwide.
• 10 percent additional coverage option – Input on if RMA should reinstate the option to buy-up prevented planting coverage by 10 percent.
• Contract price – Whether prevented planting costs are higher for contracted crops and how prevented planting payments should be calculated for contract crops.
• General – Willingness to pay additional premium for expanded prevented planting benefits, recommendations on other prevented planting limitations, etc.



Comments are due September 1, 2023, and they should be submitted through regulations.gov. The request for information, which includes details for submitting feedback, is available in this Federal Register notice.

Colorado will have an in-person listening session on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

• Colorado State University Agricultural Research, Development and Education Center (ARDEC) Conference Center
• 4616 NE Frontage Road Fort Collins, Colorado 80524

Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education

Mountain West PEST provides live in-person workshops and live online recertification credit training via Zoom Webinars.  Live online webinars and in-person workshops have been developed and approved for core and category credits. If your category is not listed as an "upcoming" webinar/workshop, please contact MWPEST (sandra@mountainwestpest.com).

View upcoming workshops

UPCOMING DEADLINES

• RMA Comments Due - Sept. 1, 2023
• Margin Protection Insurance Plan – Sept. 30, 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS

• July 25 - CCPC Board Meeting
• August 2 - RMA Listening Session
• August 25-Sept 4 - Colorado State Fair