Farmers made significant planting progress thanks to favorable weather conditions, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Above normal temperatures and limited precipitation allowed active field work and aided crop development. Corn planted jumped to near three-fourths complete with 25 percent emerged.

Corn planting advanced to 74 percent complete, well ahead of last year’s 45 percent and one week ahead of the 50 percent average. Corn emerged stood at 25 percent, well ahead of 3 percent last year and eight days ahead of 7 average.

Temperatures averaged 9 degrees above normal across the state with temperatures ranging from the mid 90’s to the low 30’s. Precipitation averaged over one inch in certain parts of the state while other parts received less than half an inch.

The following photographs were taken by Nebraska FFA Chapters, each representing the eight districts of the Nebraska Corn Board. They show the crop progress in each area and illustrate the differences in progress across Nebraska. See more photos on our online photo album.

Ag Facts
Nebraska ranks 3rd nationally in corn production
Only 13% of corn growers around the U.S.use irrigation to raise corn
Nebraska has 25 ethanol plants that use Nebraska’s corn

Field activities have picked up momentum in recent weeks but were slowed due to damp soils, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.

Thanks to a drier winter and spring, corn planting has been able to get an earlier start compared to previous years. Soil temperatures ranged from the low 50’s in the northern part of the state to the upper 50’s across the southern part of the state. Corn was at 14 percent planted, ahead of 4 percent last year and the 9 percent average. Corn emerged was at 1 percent.

For the most part, temperatures averaged one degree below normal across the northern half of the state while temperatures were one degree above normal across the southern half of the state. Precipitation fell across much of the state with most areas receiving less than half an inch. A few counties in northern Nebraska ended up receiving over 1.5 inches of rain.

The following photographs were taken by Nebraska FFA Chapters, each representing the eight districts of the Nebraska Corn Board. They show the crop progress in each of the eight districts along with the differences across the state.

Darreld Domeier accepting the Elevator Industry Appreciation Award from Mark Jagels, District 2, Nebraska Corn Board member.

LINCOLN, NEB — The Nebraska Corn Board presented their annual awards to five Nebraskans during its Cooperator and Awards Dinner in Lincoln recently.

The agricultural awards are the Nebraska Corn Board’s way of paying tribute to an outstanding representative in the grain elevator, livestock, and ethanol industries, as well as awarding an individual in the media, and overall ag achievement each year. It is important to the Nebraska Corn Board to recognize those who help promote, develop and defend not only the corn industry, but agriculture in general.

“It is undeniable that these individuals have had a profound impact on the corn industry, their own community and the state in general,” said Don Hutchens, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board, of the award recipients. “Nebraska’s strength in agriculture is built on the strength of people who have the vision to grow their own businesses. Each of these individuals have added value to Nebraska’s corn, or helped communicate the importance of corn producers and what they grow.”

(Note: More detailed biographies of award winners are provided below.)

The Elevator Industry Appreciation Award was given to Bruning Grain and Feed with Darreld and Tina Domeier being present to accept the award. Bruning Grain and Feed is an independent elevator owned by local farmers and stockholders and located in Southeast Nebraska. They were chosen for their quality of service to customers, as well as for their support of Nebraska agriculture.

The Livestock Industry Appreciation Award was given to Harry Knobbe of West Point, Neb. This award honored Knobbe for his recognition of the value of corn and corn co-products, the corn checkoff investment towards livestock programs, and consumer education of the importance of the livestock industry to the state.

The Ethanol Industry Appreciation Award was given to Loran Schmit, Executive Director of the Association of Nebraska Ethanol Producers for his commitment and support of Nebraska agriculture through his work developing the ethanol industry in the state.

The Media Appreciation Award was presented to Lori Potter of the Kearney Daily Hub newspaper, Kearney, Neb., for her dedication to the corn industry and helping to tell agriculture’s story.

The Ag Achievement Award annually honors someone who has supported and expanded Nebraska agriculture, not just this year, but for many years. This award was given to Keith Heuermann of Phillips, Neb., for his vision, commitment and deep understanding of the value of agriculture and the corn checkoff to the state of Nebraska.

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Editor’s Note: Below is additional information about each of the award recipients. Pictures can be found on www.flickr.com/necornboard under the “2012 Meetings and Awards” set.

Bruning Grain and Feed:
Given annually for over 15 years, the Elevator Industry Appreciation Award recognizes an elevator manager or employee that recognizes and appreciates the mission of the Nebraska corn checkoff program, shows proven leadership in explaining the benefits of the checkoff and its investments and supports Nebraska agriculture.

This year’s recipient of the 2012 Nebraska Elevator Industry Appreciation Award is Bruning Grain and Feed. Incorporated in 1949, Bruning Grain and Feed is an independent elevator located in Southeast Nebraska, a corporation owned by local farmers and stockholders. Their full line of grain products and services include the addition in May 1995 of a soybean processing facility. In November 2001, they added a commodity blending facility to meet customer demand for custom feed mixing.

Bruning Grain and Feed has a total storage of 4 million bushels and handles dry fertilizer as well as anhydrous ammonia. They strive to provide high quality products and superior service to their customers through the US and Mexico. As they originate grain and value add on-site, they are able to be very competitive and convenient.

The award was accepted by Darreld and Tina Domeier. Darreld is the Vice President and General Manager, and Tina is the assistant manager of Bruning Grain and Feed. Darreld has been with the company over 45 years. Darreld is an individual who works very closely with his clients to help make the best marketing decisions they can, as well as looking for long-term sustainability for their company, the local community and for all of agriculture.

Harry Knobbe:
The Livestock Industry Appreciation Award honors a producer who recognizes the value of corn and corn co-products, the corn checkoff investment towards livestock programs, and consumer education of the importance of the livestock industry to the state.

Whether it’s growing crops, adding value to their livestock or helping ‘Plow Cancer Under’ by hosting the 2011 Cattlemen’s Ball, Harry Knobbe is well deserving to receive the Livestock Appreciation Award.

Residing in Eastern Nebraska, Harry and his wife, Doris, have farmed over 50 years near West Point. Harry is the youngest of the third generation of their family farm. He is also the owner/operator of the Harry Knobbe Feed Yard, Knobbe Livestock and Knobbe Commodities.

It truly is a family affair on the Knobbe Farm with their son, Scott, being very involved with the family farm. Besides Harry’s involvement in numerous ag organizations, stewardship of the land, faith and local community involvement are also very important to Harry and his family.

Just like Nebraska corn farmers are Sustaining Innovation by growing more with less, the Nebraska Corn Board recognizes Harry Knobbe for the innovative ways he produces food and takes care of the land and precious resources.

Loran Schmit:
The Ethanol Industry Appreciation Award is to recognize a producer or person in the industry who has worked hard to develop ethanol markets and expand demand for ethanol in the state while appreciating the value of the corn checkoff and its involvement in ethanol market development.

This year’s recipient has a long history and career of developing the ethanol industry in the state of Nebraska. The Nebraska Corn Board recognized Loran Schmit for his commitment, support, and dedication to the ethanol industry in Nebraska.

Loran is currently the Executive Director of the Association of Nebraska Ethanol Producers and lobbies and consults on behalf of the Nebraska ethanol industry, specifically ANEEP.

Loran is a former member of the Nebraska Legislature and began his career in politics at an early age. In 1968, Loran was elected to his first four-year term for the Nebraska Unicameral. During his time in office, Loran introduced many bills including LB776 which established the Gasohol Committee, better known today as the Nebraska Ethanol Board.

Loran is known as the Father of the Gasohol Movement and laid the groundwork for the development of the Nebraska ethanol industry.

Lori Potter:
The Nebraska Corn Board’s Media Award is designed to recognize an outstanding individual or company that helps tell agriculture’s story. Lori Potter of the Kearney Daily Hub newspaper is the recipient of the 2012 Media Award.

Lori is a staff writer-photographer specializing in agriculture and natural resources. She also writes a weekly column, “Potter’s Wheel.” She has been at the Hub for more than 25 years, including 9 and a half as regional editor, and previously worked at the York News-Times for eight years and the Alliance Times-Herald for one year.

She grew up on a Franklin County farm south of Wilcox, graduated from Wilcox High School in 1974 and received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kearney State College in December 1977.

Her “higher education” came as a member of the Nebraska LEAD 20 class. A member of Nebraska Press Women and the National Federation of Press Women for more than 33 years, Lori currently is serving a two-year term as national president.

Lori’s diligent efforts to include updates to Nebraska’s 26,000 corn farmers on behalf of the Nebraska Corn Board has not gone unnoted. She gives an objective point of view an always puts her “ag foot” forward when it comes to defending Nebraska’s number one industry…agriculture.

Keith Heuermann:
The Ag Achievement Award was first presented in 1991 with the purpose of recognizing outstanding, unselfish, and sacrificial efforts which further the corn industry. This year the Nebraska Corn Board honored Keith Heuermann, Phillips, Neb., with this prestigious award.

Keith produced the most popular do-it-yourself snack food in this country. He didn’t plan on his life taking this direction, but when he prepared to retire from his career designing feed corn for cattle, he started a little hobby.

Keith graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1956 and established Prairie Valley Hybrid. The first crop of hybrid seed was harvested on two acres. The progressive and expanded business was owned and operated by Keith and Eugene Heuermann until 1967. The business was incorporated in 1960 and they grew seed corn for the central corn belt and several European countries. The firm had 300 dealers and six full time employees, which greatly increased at the peak of their season of 1967.

Back in the 1940’s Prairie Valley Seed corn sold for $6.90 a bushel. Prairie Valley was one of first if not the first, to introduce single cross hybrids with the production of their hybrid 325 in 1957. The company was sold in 1979 to Stauffer Chemical Company and is now owned by Syngenta Seeds, Inc.

Heuermann worked 11 years for Stauffer Chemical Co. until he “retired” in 1990. While working for Stauffer, Heuermann began experimenting with popcorn production on his own in 1982 and in 1992, BKH Popcorn Inc. distributed its first popcorn product.

In 1997, the QVC Channel held a state-by-state search for new products. When the “Quest for America” came to Nebraska, Heuermann competed with 280 manufacturers, and the mild-mannered retiree walked away with his microwave popcorn chosen as one of 20 “best new products.”

The Nebraska Corn Board is certainly not the first to notice Keith’s achievements. The Nebraska Crop Improvement Association named Heuermann Premier Seed Grower in 1968. He was recognized as Nebraska Entrepreneur of the year and named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce. In April of 2006, he was honored as the 118th person named to the Nebraska Hall of Agriculture during the Nebraska Hall of Ag Achievement annual banquet.

To all consumers of popcorn, Keith’s achievements are just a better bag of popcorn, but to Nebraska and the 26,000 corn producers, Keith’s quest for a better kernel, a higher yielding ear and a more hardy field of corn is an achievement in itself.

Letter to the Editor, published in the Omaha World Herald on April 6, 2012. Alan Tiemann is a farmer from Seward and chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board.

Gas prices keep heading north.

You can see it at the pump and feel it in your wallet. Analysts keep talking it, adding fuel to the high gas price fire. Prices recently passed $4.00 – but will they reach $5.00 a gallon? I sure hope not because the billions of dollars spent at the pump are just one way high gas prices impact our weekly budgets and consumer confidence. Energy and transportation costs also drive up the price of everything else we buy, further lightening our wallets. And that’s not good for our recovering economy.

While we’ve seen high gas prices before, what’s interesting this go around is that U.S. demand for gasoline is down. While oil refiners and fuel blenders can attempt to explain how lower demand equals higher prices – perhaps they’ll mention they’re exporting record amounts of U.S. gasoline overseas or the higher cost of oil imports – there are opportunities to save motorists money right now.

We have a lower-cost renewable fuel on hand and the capacity to produce more right now. This lower-cost fuel – ethanol – is made here in Nebraska and across the country. A gallon of straight ethanol costs up to $1 per gallon less than gasoline.

Yet the fuel industry isn’t using as much ethanol as it could, as a record amount sits in storage. This just goes to show that big oil won’t use ethanol anytime it has an option to use something else, even if that something else is more expensive gasoline that costs us all more money.

Consumers should be outraged we aren’t using more of a lower cost fuel that is readily available – but there’s more than just the oil industry at fault here.

Because we’re using less gasoline overall, fuel blenders can only use so much ethanol before they max out, currently 10 percent ethanol for a base fuel. This is why we’ve been working so hard to get E15, a 15 percent ethanol blend, to market. E15 is approved for 2001 and newer cars and light duty trucks and SUVs, some 120 million vehicles on the road today.

While the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent registration of E15 moves the blend a lot closer to reality, it is going to take time to see it at your local pump – and pumps across the country. Even so, the ethanol sector is already looking beyond E15 simply because that limit will be reached, too.

Another sensible option is to increase the availability and use of mid-level ethanol blends, like E20 and E30, and the use of E85, a fuel that uses 85 percent ethanol and only 15 percent petroleum-based gasoline.

These higher ethanol blends are becoming more available for those driving flex-fuel vehicles, yet we need more stations to carry them so as the number of flex-fuel vehicles expands, motorists can take advantage of more renewable fuels.

This is also important because automakers need to meet much higher fuel efficiency standards in the future – and they’ll need high-octane fuel to make it happen. Renewable, clean-burning ethanol is a tremendous octane enhancer. We need to get E15 to market and then keep working toward higher blends to help ensure a smooth transition to these high octane fuels and engines designed to run efficiently on them.

We have a capacity to produce about 14 billion gallons of ethanol in the United States, easily more than 10 percent of our motor fuel needs. We have ethanol sitting in storage tanks that could be saving us money right now. Let’s apply some common sense and get this fuel to market and grow the amount we use. In the long-run we’ll all win.

The grand opening of the blender pump will be held Monday, April 9 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The new blender pump is located on west Highway 2 in Broken Bow. During this time, you can register to win one of five $50 ethanol fuel gift cards. There will be additional promotions during this time also.

This E85/blender pump is one of approximately 60 in Nebraska to offer the renewable fuel, ethanol. This station will offer unleaded, E10, E30, and E85. To find a list of retailers that offer E85 and other mid-level ethanol blends visit the Nebraska Ethanol Board website at www.ne-ethanol.org or check the Nebraska Corn Board website at www.nebraskacorn.org.

Over 117,000 Nebraska motorists currently own a flexible fuel vehicle which can run on any blend of ethanol and gasoline, up to E85. To confirm if a vehicle is flex fuel, drivers can check their owner’s manual, their gas cap, look for the flex fuel emblem on their vehicle or visit the website www.ne-ethanol.org/e85.

“We are pleased to see another blender pump available to flex fuel vehicle owners,” said Kim Clark, Ag Program Manager with the Nebraska Corn Board. “Blender pumps give consumers flexibility and with gas prices hitting $4 per gallon ethanol fuel provides a cheaper alternative,” said Clark.

“Consumer choice and ethanol fuel availability are a high priority with today’s gas prices,” said Todd Sneller, Nebraska Ethanol Board’s Administrator. “When flex fuel drivers fill up on E85, they’re strengthening Nebraska’s economy, making our country more energy independent and going easier on the environment,” Sneller said.

Sign up for the Nebraska Ethanol Board’s FFV club for updates of new E85 locations and other announcements. Go to www.ne-ethanol.org/ffv to sign up now.

The grand opening of the blender pump will be held Wednesday, April 11 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The new blender pump is located at 2530 Harvest Road just west of Aurora. Discounts of $0.85 on E85, $0.30 on E30, and $0.10 on E10 will be given during the grand opening. These discounts are applied to vehicles only. They will not be applied to fuel trailers.

This E85/blender pump is one of approximately 60 in Nebraska to offer a variety of renewable ethanol fuel blends. This station will offer unleaded, E10, E30, and E85. To find a list of retailers that offer E85 and other mid-level ethanol blends, visit the Nebraska Ethanol Board website at www.ne-ethanol.org or check the Nebraska Corn Board website at www.nebraskacorn.org.

Over 117,000 Nebraska motorists currently own a flexible fuel vehicle which can run on any blend of ethanol and gasoline, up to E85. To confirm if a vehicle is flex fuel, drivers can check their owner’s manual, their gas cap, look for the flex fuel emblem on their vehicle or visit the website www.ne-ethanol.org/e85.

“Gas prices keep increasing. With ethanol being about a $1.00 per gallon cheaper than gasoline, flex fuel vehicle owners can save even more when fueling up with E85 and other mid-level ethanol blends at blender pumps,” said Kim Clark, Ag Program Manager with the Nebraska Corn Board.

“Consumer choice and ethanol fuel availability are a high priority with today’s gas prices,” said Todd Sneller, Nebraska Ethanol Board’s Administrator. “When flex fuel drivers fill up on E85, they’re strengthening Nebraska’s economy, making our country more energy independent and going easier on the environment,” Sneller said.

Sign up for the Nebraska Ethanol Board’s FFV club for updates of new E85 locations and other announcements. Go to www.ne-ethanol.org/ffv to sign up now.

LINCOLN, NE – In 2009, more than 5,000 Nebraskans voiced their support of E15, a 15 percent ethanol blend, by sending yellow postcards created by the Nebraska Corn Board to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Three years and a lot of hard work later, EPA today approved E15 as registered fuel, helping clear the way for E15 to be used in cars, light duty trucks and SUVs model year 2001 and newer – more than 120 million vehicles across the country.

“This has been a long road, filled with a lot of research, a lot of technicalities and a lot of work by many organizations who support the use of ethanol and biofuels,” said Kim Clark, ag program manager of the Nebraska Corn Board. “The end goal is to increase the amount of renewable fuel available to motorists in the United States, which can help lower fuel costs and reduce our dependence on petroleum-based fuels. Today’s decision by EPA is a milestone, and we are very happy to have reached it.”

The approval by EPA comes at an important juncture for the ethanol industry.

The industry hit a “blend wall” in the last year since a vast majority of the fuel sold in the U.S. is already an ethanol blend, mostly E10, a 10 percent ethanol blend. “The industry has the capability to produce beyond that wall, and we need to take advantage of it, especially since we are producing ethanol for $1 per gallon less than petroleum-based gasoline right now. It’s saving motorists money right now at E10 and can save even more with E15,” she said.

While EPA gave its go ahead for E15 today, it may take some additional time before the higher blend is available at pumps in Nebraska and elsewhere. Labeling for E15 has already been approved, but fuel retailers need to have misfueling mitigation plans on file with EPA and station owners will need to decide if they want to offer the fuel – E15 is not a mandate or requirement; it is simply an option for retailers.

The Nebraska Corn Board said some fuel retailers may benefit by installing a blender pump, which will allow them to more easily offer multiple ethanol blends, including both E10 and E15, as well as E85, which is approved only for flex fuel vehicles.

“We have had a grant program over the last couple of years that helps station owners cover some of their costs in installing a blender pump,” Clark said. “Station owners who are interested can contact the Nebraska Corn Board for more information.”

Station owners can also go to NebraskaCorn.org and click on the “Blender Pump Info” icon on the right-hand side.

LINCOLN, NE – Nebraska’s corn farmers intend to plant 10.3 million acres of corn this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said today. It takes about $270 per acre to get the corn crop planted and off to a good start, meaning Nebraska corn farmers plan to invest some $2.8 billion this spring.

“Farmers make this multi-billion dollar investment every spring in the hope of producing more corn per acre, as they strive to get better every year,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, the Nebraska Corn Board’s director of research. “USDA’s planting intention numbers today, if realized; show how farmers respond to market signals with the investment necessary to meet demand.”

Good prices are the market signal for more corn acres, yet planting numbers can change depending on springtime weather. Last year’s March estimate, for example, was higher than previous years’ planted acres and increased further, when USDA realized weather allowed greater opportunity for additional corn acres.  Last year’s 9.85 million planted acres was the largest since the 1930’s – and farmers intend to top that by 450,000 this year.

Nationally, USDA said farmers intend to plant 95.9 million acres this year, up 4 percent from last year’s 91.9 million acres. If realized it will be the most planted acres in the United States since 1937 when an estimated 97.2 million acres were planted.

“Unseasonably warm weather so far this spring, has allowed farmers in most Midwestern states to complete field work and fertilizer application, and for some begin planting already, but most farmers in Nebraska will hold off until mid-April because crop insurance coverage doesn’t take effect until then and there’s still the risk of frost,” Brunkhorst said.

Historically in Nebraska, farmers begin planting in mid-April and wrap up as quickly as possible in May.

On average, farmers spend about $270 per acre to get the crop in the ground and off to a good start, based on estimates calculated by the University of Nebraska Extension. Multiplied by the 10.3 million acres USDA estimates Nebraska farmers will plant this year; provides the $2.8 billion investment by the state’s corn farmers. That figure does not include land costs, labor or equipment – it’s purely inputs like seed and fertilizer.

“Those are the things farmers buy every year from their cooperative or other companies,” Brunkhorst said. “If you figure a 2.5 multiplier, the full economic impact of planting reaches some $7.0 billion. Yet the economic value of that crop is even greater, when harvested and that corn is converted to meat, milk and eggs, ethanol, distillers grains, bioplastics and more. Corn is the foundation for all of that, so getting the crop in the ground and off to a good start this spring is critical. Then it’s up to the weather through the growing season to harvest.”

USDA today also reported corn stocks, or the amount of corn in storage in Nebraska and across the country. Nationally, stocks as of March 1 were 6.0 billion bushels, down 8 percent from last year.

In Nebraska, there were 686.6 million bushels in storage as of March 1, 10.3 percent less than a year ago. Of that, 350.0 million bushels were stored on farms, and 336.6 million were stored off-farm.

The Nebraska Corn Board is a self-help program, funded and managed by Nebraska corn farmers. Producers invest in the program at a rate of 1/4 of a cent per bushel of corn sold. Nebraska corn checkoff funds are invested in programs of market development, research and education.

Audio Cuts:

Brunkhorst_Cut1.mp3 (20 seconds): Brunkhorst noted you have to go back to the 1930s to see similar corn acres.

Brunkhorst_Cut2.mp3 (21 seconds): Brunkhorst noted the investment Nebraska farmers are making to plant this year’s corn crop.

The Nebraska Corn Board is excited to share a new opportunity at the Nebraska State FFA Convention, March 28-30, 2012!

At our booth in the ballroom lobby of the Marriott Cornhusker in Downtown Lincoln, we will have a large cutout of Olympic Gold Medalist, Curt Tomasevicz and his bobsled team. We are encouraging students to take a picture and then upload the picture to the Nebraska Corn Board Facebook page (Facebook.com/NebraskaCornBoard).

If their photo is selected, that student will win $50 in ethanol-blended fuel and have Curt Tomasevicz visit your FFA Chapter! We know FFA Banquet season is coming up and this would be a perfect opportunity to bring Curt as your speaker, or to spend the day with your classes.

Enter photos on Facebook by Wednesday, April 4, 2012.

*If you have issues uploading to Facebook, email photo to kelsey.pope@nebraska.gov.

“International buyers and consumers want to know where their beef and pork are coming from. They want to know it is safe and nutritious, and they want U.S. farmers and ranchers to help tell that story,” Jagels said. “Farmers here in Nebraska and across the country help do that by using checkoff dollars to support international marketing efforts organized by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.”

Jagels, a fourth generation farmer, is also vice-chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. During a presentation at a commodity meeting in Nashville, Tenn., recently, Jagels noted that pork exports jumped 18 percent to 2.25 million tons and beef exports 21 percent to 1.29 million tons in 2011.

“That equates to a lot of soybeans, corn and distillers grains going overseas via value-added red meat products,” he said, estimating those figures at more than 94 million bushels of soybeans and more than 568 million bushels of corn. “Meat exports not only support hog and cattle producers by adding value to beef and pork, but they support corn and soybean farmers through the value of exports.”

Kelsey Pope, the Nebraska Corn Board’s director of advocacy and outreach, said 27.5 percent of the pork produced in the United States was exported last year, adding $55.55 to the value of each hog. Nearly 13 percent of the total came from meat products not typically consumed in the United States.

As for beef, she said, 14 percent of all U.S. beef was exported in 2011, adding a record $206.37 to the value of each steer and heifer processed. “Like with pork, about 13 percent of the total came from meat products we don’t generally consume in the U.S. but are highly valued by international customers,” she said.

The Nebraska Corn Board has supported the U.S. Meat Export Federation since it was founded in 1979. In 2011, that support totaled $430,000, but other Nebraska ag groups, including the soybean and beef checkoffs, brought the total support from Nebraska farmers and ranchers to more than $1.2 million. When you compare this with the $1.3 billion export value of Nebraska beef and pork in 2011, the return on investment is tremendous.

“The U.S. Meat Export Federation has 18 offices around the world and does work in more than 80 countries,” Jagels said. “They take our support and leverage it with U.S. Department of Agriculture Market Access Program funding and make a significant difference to every farmer and rancher in Nebraska and the United States as a whole. They build the relationships and organize trade missions that make it happen.”

Research shows that for every dollar invested in U.S. Meat Export Federation programs, the beef industry saw about an $8 return and the pork industry about $15. “That’s a pretty good payback on our investment,” Jagels said. “It’s why we continue to support U.S. meat exports by investing in the U.S. Meat Export Federation and participating in global trade missions.”

The Nebraska Corn Board is a self-help program, funded and managed by Nebraska corn farmers. Producers invest in the program at a rate of 1/4 of a cent per bushel of corn sold. Nebraska corn checkoff funds are invested in programs of market development, research and education.

Audio Cuts:
Jagels_Cut1.mp3 (33 seconds): Jagels talks about record beef exports and what that added to the value of each head of cattle in 2011.

Jagels_Cut2.mp3 (23 seconds): Jagels notes the amount of corn exported via red meat and the return on investment in the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Jagels_Cut3.mp3 (21 seconds): Jagels notes the groups who invest in USMEF – and how much the Nebraska Corn Board invests.