May 20, 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

• USDA Previews Emergency Relief Assistance for Agricultural Producers Who Incurred Losses Due to 2022 Natural Disaster Events
• New NextGen Scholarship To Fund Youth Leader Attendance at Western Ag Conference
• Nick Colglazier on the Ag Queen Podcast
• The Special Research Edition of Field Journal is Now Available
• Take the CCPC Annual Survey
• USDA Expands Margin Protection for Corn and Soybean Farmers
• Maize Market Minute: U.S. Corn Farmers May Be Called on to Fill Void Left by War in Ukraine
• Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education

USDA Previews Emergency Relief Assistance for Agricultural Producers Who Incurred Losses Due to 2022 Natural Disaster Events

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced plans to roll out $3.7 billion in Emergency Relief Program (ERP) and Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) assistance to crop and livestock producers who sustained losses due to a qualifying natural disaster event in calendar year 2022. USDA is sharing early information to allow producers time to gather documents in advance of program delivery. Through distribution of remaining funds, USDA is also concluding the 2021 ELRP program by sending payments in the amount of 20% of the initial ELRP payment to all existing recipients.

“U.S. agricultural producers nationwide endured crippling natural disaster events in 2022 including a megadrought, Hurricane Ian, epic flooding and catastrophic wildfires. To say these events were costly is an understatement,” Vilsack said. “Last year USDA streamlined the delivery of natural disaster assistance, speeding up the timing of payments and cutting the time spent on paperwork by 90% or one million hours relative to previous disaster programs. While we will use the same streamlined approaches, funding is limited and significantly less than the estimated losses. We are designing payment factors that ensure the fair, equitable and efficient delivery of program benefits to help as many producers as possible offset the significant financial impacts resulting from these ongoing and widespread natural disasters.”

New NextGen Scholarship To Fund Youth Leader Attendance at Western Ag Conference

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is introducing a new leadership opportunity for young leaders interested in agriculture and natural resources in the West. In partnership with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and Minorities in Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS), CDA is launching the inaugural 2023 WASDA NextGen Scholarship Fund. Scholarship recipients will travel to Denver, attend the annual Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture (WASDA) conference. 

“Thanks to the generosity of our conference sponsors, up to six young leaders will be selected to attend the Annual WASDA Regional Meeting in Denver, Colorado, in late July,” said Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. “Awardees will have full access to the conference, Commissioners and Secretaries from State Departments of Ag around the West, and field trips to Colorado farms to see the innovative practices in agriculture and conservation being put into action. They will also hear from a wide range of professional speakers and panelists on emerging trends in agriculture and natural resources, as well as from the opening youth panel.”

NextGen scholarship recipients will be chosen through a competitive application process. Eligible applicants must be 18 years of age or older to apply and must be able to travel to Denver for the WASDA 2023 Regional Meeting, July 23-26. These scholarships are specifically for individuals who would otherwise be unable to attend. Advance payment for travel expenses is available. CDA will work with recipients on any accessibility accommodations needed to attend the conference in person.

Scholarship awardees will receive:

• Free conference registration 
• Meals provided during the conference
• Paid travel and lodging, up to $2,000 total
• Field trips to see agricultural innovation in Colorado
• Access to fun social events in Denver
• Special recognition at the conference
• Assistance and guidance from a dedicated CDA staff throughout the conference 

More information about the application process can be found online at ag.colorado.gov/wasda. Applications must be submitted by June 1, 2023 11:59 PM MDT.

Nick Colglazier on the Ag Queen Podcast

CCPC Executive Director Nicholas Colglazier sat down for an interview with Lorrie Boyer on the Ag Queen Podcast, which also aired on 1010 KSIR, to give an update on the CCPC.

The Special Research Edition of Field Journal is Now Available!

In the latest issue of Field Journal, we took a deep dive in the research that the Colorado Corn Promotion Council has sponsored.

Check it out here!

Take the CCPC Annual Survey

The CCPC is conducting our annual survey. It is very important to the Board of Directors and the staff that we are serving the corn producers of the state in the best way that we can - and that means we need your feedback! Please fill out the short survey, and let us know how we are doing. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete.

USDA Expands Margin Protection for Corn and Soybean Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding its Margin Protection insurance plan, adding more than a thousand counties to the insurance option that provides coverage against an unexpected decrease in operating margin for corn and soybean producers. This expansion, which is in direct response to growing interest among producers, will be available by June 30, 2023. Interested producers will need to purchase their coverage by Sept. 30, 2023, to be eligible for the 2024 crop year. 

See the map of expanded opportunities for corn in Colorado

Maize Market Minute: U.S. Corn Farmers May Be Called on to Fill Void Left by War in Ukraine

A wide range of possible corn production levels in Ukraine translates to a wide range of possible export levels for the nation. Pair that with the unknown fate of the Black Sea Grain Deal, and there is a lot of uncertainty in the world market for corn in the 2023/24 marketing year. As U.S. corn exports fall behind the pace of recent years in an increasingly competitive global market, U.S. farmers may be expected to fill the void left by the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Read more...

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

• CDA NextGen Scholarship Due - June 1, 2023
• ERP Phase Two Enrollment - June 2, 2023
• Margin Protection Insurance Plan – Sept. 30, 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS

• May 29 - CCPC Office Closed for Memorial Day
• June 6 - Research Action Team Meeting
• June 21 - CCPC Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting