McClain Family Farms LLC of Phillips County submitted the highest-yielding entry in the contest with a new state record 126.6 bushels per acre. The previous state record of 114.3 was set in 2020 by Sam Miller of Reno County. McClain’s Channel 2823RFX soybeans were entered in the statewide no-till, irrigated division of the contest.

Haug Family Farms LLC, Nemaha County, submitted the top dryland entry of the yield contest. The Golden Harvest 3913XF soybeans made 96.9 bushels per acre.

Lyle Longenecker of Dickinson County, a familiar name at the top of the value contest, took home the top prize once more with an entry of Beck’s Hybrids soybeans that earned a premium of $0.96 over cash value.

In the north-northeast conventional-till dryland division, Jesse and Kaley Clark, Brown County, submitted a 96.7 bushel-per-acre entry to take first place. Kyle Jeschke, Doniphan County, earned second place in the division with 96.2 bushel-per-acre soybeans. Gary Diveley, Doniphan County, took third place with 90.7 bushels per acre.

The north-northeast no-till dryland division had a lone entrant. Henry Farms, Inc., Brown County, entered 81.9 bushel-per-acre soybeans to claim first.

Earning first in the northeast conventional-till dryland division, Wilson Family Farms, Atchison County, submitted a 79.1 bushel-per-acre entry. Rod Bigham, Jefferson County, followed in second place with a 78.2 bushel-per-acre yield.

The northeast no-till dryland division had seven participants vying for the top spot. The Haug Family Farms LLC entry that took top dryland honors claimed first in the division. In second place, Parallel Farms of Jackson County entered a yield of 95.5 bushels per acre. John Koelzer, Nemaha County, submitted a 90.6 bushel-per-acre entry to earn third place.

In the east central no-till dryland division, Robert Litch, Osage County, earned first place with 69.2 bushels per acre. Brandon Litch, Osage County, took second place with 67.6 bushel-per-acre soybeans.

Hudson Farms, Neosho County, submitted a 60.8 bushel-per-acre yield to claim the top spot in the southeast conventional-till dryland division. Bellar Brothers, Labette County, took second place with an entry of 55 bushels per acre.

The southeast no-till dryland division’s top spot went to Geffert Farms, Allen County, with an entry of 53.2 bushels per acre. Jared Nash, Labette County, earned second place with 50.6 bushel-per-acre soybeans.

Don Applegate of Sumner County, the sole entrant in the south central conventional-till division, submitted a 37.4 bushel-per-acre entry for first.

In the south central no-till dryland division, Aaron Pauly of Sedgwick County submitted 89.5 bushel-per-acre soybeans to claim first place.

In the north central conventional-till dryland division, Stewart Family Farms/Rod Stewart, Washington County, earned first place with 62.5 bushel-per-acre soybeans.

Stewart Family Farms/Ryan Stewart, Washington County, took the top spot in the north central no-till dryland division with an entry of 63.5 bushels per acre.

Rounding out dryland entries in the 2024 Yield Contest, Lauren Kats of Phillips County won the northwest no-till dryland division with 31.9 bushels per acre.

Irrigated entries fall into a statewide no-till or conventional-till division. The entry from McClain Family Farms LLC earned top honors in the no-till irrigated division. Robbie Yost, Gray County, took second place with a yield of 96.4 bushels per acre. Olson Family Farms, Brown County, received third place with a yield of 95.1 bushels per acre.

In the conventional-till irrigated division, Tri H Farms of Meade County submitted an entry of 104.2 bushels per acre to earn first place. Arganbright Farms, Marshall County, took second place with a yield of 101.6 bushels per acre. Craig Gigstad, Jefferson County, rounds out the division at 96.2 bushels per acre.

The Value Contest analyzes a 20-ounce sample of soybeans and calculates a premium over-cash-value price based on protein and oil content and other value-added qualities.

Following Longenecker’s top value entry, two entries tied for second place. Kathy Heiniger, Brown County, and Stewart Family Farms, Washington County, submitted soybeans with a $0.92 premium over cash value.

The Kansas Soybean Commission provides monetary awards to finalists each year. The highest dryland and irrigated yields in the state each receive a $1,000 award. In each district and the value contest, first place receives $300, second receives $200, and third receives $100.

Placement prizes are set to be awarded at the inaugural Kansas Soybean Celebration January 31 in Salina. Full contest results are available at www.kansassoybeans.org/contests.

About Kansas Soybean:

The Kansas Soybean Association, headquartered in Topeka, is the voice and advocate on local, state, national and international issues of importance to Kansas’ 16,000 soybean farms. Founded in 1973, its advocacy efforts are made possible through the voluntary memberships of farmers and industry supporters. It also is the primary, administrative contractor to the Kansas Soybean Commission.

The Kansas Soybean Commission, established in 1977, includes nine volunteer farmer-commissioners who are elected by their peers. They oversee investments of the legislated “soybean checkoff” assessment in research, consumer information, market development, industry relations and farmer outreach to improve the profit opportunities for all Kansas soybean farmers.

— Kansas Soybean

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“The Corporate Transparency Act requires millions of family farmers and ranchers to file complex paperwork and disclose beneficial ownership information with the federal government under penalty of severe fines and jailtime,” said NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus. “FinCEN should do the right thing and provide a realistic delay to the Corporate Transparency Act until Congress has an opportunity to provide a permanent fix that protects family farmers and ranchers.”

On Monday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a nationwide preliminary injunction on the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act, holding that the government is likely to prevail in a constitutional challenge. This decision places many small businesses in jeopardy that have not yet filed Beneficial Ownership Information with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

In light of the Fifth Circuit’s decision, FinCEN announced it will delay enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act until January 13, 2025—just three weeks from now. This delay does not allow enough time for millions of small businesses to comply with the law, and it is deeply concerning that FinCEN will proceed with enforcing this law when it has failed to give adequate notice and instructions to law abiding family business owners.

NCBA will continue fighting for a permanent solution that protects cattle farmers and ranchers from this overreaching mandate. In the meantime, cattle producers are advised to consult their attorney and/or tax professional regarding this new development.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has represented America’s cattle producers since 1898, preserving the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy.  As the largest association of cattle producers, NCBA works to create new markets and increase demand for beef.  Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or membership@beef.org.

–National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

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Other key findings in the report were:

• Of the 75.8 million hogs and pigs, 69.8 million were market hogs, while 6.00 million were kept for breeding.
• Between September and November 2024, 35.2 million pigs were weaned on U.S. farms, up 2% from the same time period one year earlier.
• From September through November 2024, U.S. hog and pig producers weaned an average of 11.92 pigs per litter.
• U.S. hog producers intend to have 2.93 million sows farrow between December 2024 and February 2025, and 2.95 million sows farrow between March 2025 and May 2025.
• Iowa hog producers accounted for the largest inventory among the states, at 24.6 million head. Minnesota had the second largest inventory at 9.50 million head. North Carolina was third with 8.20 million head.

To obtain an accurate measurement of the U.S. swine industry, NASS surveyed 6,046 operators across the nation during the first half of December. The data collected were received online through NASS’s Respondent Portal, by mail, telephone and through face-to-face interviews.

The Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report and all other NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov.

–USDA NASS

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I hope all of you will be able to look back on the year’s greatness. Put your pencil to paper as you consider all you learned from 2024; some very important lessons were sprinkled in there.

To give time for reflection and enjoyment this holiday season, we will not be sending out our daily emails the week between Christmas and New Year’s. The Morning Ag Clips’ daily email will resume on Thursday, January 2, 2025.

There will still be news articles published on our site, so make sure to stay up-to-date by going to morningagclips.com. Every day there will be something new, and there will be an editor watching for breaking ag news every day. But like you, we all need a break, and the only way to get it is to be extremely intentional about it, so we are!

Here’s to you, your family, and a prosperous and healthy New Year! We will see you in 2025!

With love,
Kate

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Ranging from red, white, green, pink or a color combination, poinsettias can be maintained year-round, says Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini.

“Poinsettias do best with temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit,” Domenghini said. “Consistency is key, so avoid drafts from windows or heat sources, such as the fireplace or space heaters.”

While bright, indirect light is preferred, Domenghini advised keeping poinsettia leaves from touching cold windows. Soil should be kept moist as well.

“If it dries completely, the poinsettia will wilt and potentially lose some leaves,” Domenghini said. “Water the plant in the sink until water runs through the drainage holes of the container.”

She warns that the roots will rot if the poinsettia is left in standing water, such as in a saucer or in the plastic sleeve they are often sold in.

“Fertilizing and other maintenance is not necessary until after the holidays,” Domenghini said.

— K-State Research and Extension news service

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I expect the January Cattle Inventory report to show some additional liquidation has occurred leading to a smaller calf crop in 2025. It seems most likely that the summer of 2026 is the soonest substantial national heifer retention may begin. While there is recently elevated uncertainty around international trade that should not be overlooked, most anticipate domestic beef availability to decline perhaps by 2-3% per year (per person) in 2025 and 2026.

Given this setting and the opportunity for some extended armchair-pondering around the holidays, some context on economic concepts and an important historical reminder is prudent. Economists analyzing the beef industry use the term “demand” to refer to the willingness and ability to buy beef at a specific price. A change in beef demand is not triggered by changes in beef prices but rather by consumer income or wealth adjustments, changes in prices of other goods, or perceptions of beef quality evolving. To this later point, the clear improvement in overall beef quality (simple example is Prime or Upper Choice percentage versus past decades) has been core to beef demand growth (see K-State demand indices here: https://agmanager.info/livestock-meat/meat-demand/monthly-domestic-meat-demand-indices-usdabls-data/monthly-domestic-0 ).

As we turn to 2025 it is important to pause and connect the dots around things such as current feedlot supplies, future breeding herd size and corresponding beef availability, and what one may expect at the retail and food service level. Yes, lower beef supplies are expected and with that, most anticipate higher end-user beef prices. In fact, the industry should be hoping for that! Research with Melissa McKendree, Ted Schroeder, and Nathan Hendricks (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1093/ajae/aaz034 ) shows that feeder cattle sellers stand to gain the most when beef demand grows, and lose the most when demand falters.

If alternatively, lower beef availability is observed in conjunction with flat or lower beef prices, then beef demand clearly declined. In that unfortunate situation, economic viability for most in the industry also declines. While some younger market participants may dismiss this scenario, recall the 1980s & 90s was a period largely characterized by a shrinking herd, weakening beef demand, and overall decline in industry vitality. Indeed, lower beef volumes alone do not guarantee higher beef nor cattle prices. This experience is worth periodic reflection as the industry has made massive improvements that should not be overlooked or taken for granted. To the extent that beef prices increase reflecting stable or growing beef demand that indeed is a market outcome that should not only “be allowed” but encouraged. While the term “demand destruction” is likely to appear more in coming months, industry stakeholders are encouraged to take pause and in fact hope that higher prices develop reflecting stable or growing beef demand.

Finally, and most importantly I wish all readers a Merry Christmas, the ability to see the true reason for the season, and a joyous New Year.

— Glynn T. Tonsor, Ph.D., Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University

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The selection committee of TAL alumni chose: Justin Aude (Farm Credit Services of America); Byron Bina (MKC); Bryant Blank (Lockton Companies); Jordan Burris (Cornerstone Ag, LLC); Casey Carlson (Producer Ag, LLC); Courtney Crawford (ProValue Insurance); Jeff Krehbiel (Kanza Cooperative Association); John O’Leary (Pride Ag Resources); Sarah Shepherd (ADM) and Rilee Spresser (Hi-Plains Cooperative Association) to complete the 27th class.

“I want to offer my sincerest congratulations to our newest members of the TAL program,” KARA and KGFA President and CEO Ron Seeber said. “We’ve been coordinating TAL for nearly 30 years and have seen more than 200 individuals graduate from the program with a renewed, or brand-new, understanding on how important it is for our membership to advocate for agribusiness. We can’t wait to meet our newest participants and get started in January.”

Each class participates in three sessions designed to improve the leadership skills of Kansas agribusiness men and women through increasing their understanding of the association’s mission and activities, teaching the state and federal legislative process, improving leadership and communication skills, and preparing members for possible public service through campaigns or public office.

About Kansas Grain and Feed Association

Founded in 1896, the Topeka-based Kansas Grain and Feed Association (KGFA) is a voluntary non-profit, trade organization providing governmental representation, educational opportunities and a wide variety of other services to the vast and indispensable grain and feed marketing system. KGFA’s 900 members include country elevators, subterminal and terminal elevators, feed manufacturers, flour mills, grain merchandisers and allied industries such as grain exchanges, equipment manufacturers, insurance firms and railroads. KGFA is proud to represent 99 percent of the federal or state licensed grain storage in the state of Kansas. In addition, KGFA also manages the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association, Renew Kansas, and provides association management and lobbying services to a number of other clients.

About Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association is a volunteer organization whose membership includes more than 700 agribusiness firms. These firms are primarily retail facilities supplying fertilizers, crop protection chemicals, seed, petroleum products and agronomic expertise to Kansas farmers. KARA’s membership base also includes ag-chemical and equipment manufacturing firms, distribution firms and various other businesses associated with the retail crop production industry.

— Kansas Grain and Feed Association

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The series, Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Midwestern Farm Women, will be available at 63 sites in three states, as well as offered online. It is being produced through a partnership between extension professionals at Kansas State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Purdue University.

Registration is available online for those wishing to attend in-person and costs $60 through Jan. 12, which includes meals and educational materials. The fee increases to $75 after Jan. 12. Organizers say there is an online option available for $75, but “highly encourage” participants to attend in-person due to the value of group discussions with other participants.

The workshops will be held on successive Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 21 and 28, and continuing on Feb. 4 and 11.

“The focus of the workshops is to help people figure out how to set up their succession plan and find the resources they need to implement it on their farm,” said LaVell Winsor, a K-State farm analyst.

This year’s workshops continue a tradition of educational classes for women in agriculture from K-State’s Department of Agricultural Economics, which hosted a series on farm finances in 2020, risk management on the farm in 2022, and land leasing in 2023.

“Succession planning has become a hot button topic, though it should have been that way forever,” said Ashlee Westerhold, director of K-State’s Office of Farm and Ranch Transition. “In agriculture, we’re always in a state of transition. So there are a lot of questions, whether you’re age 45 and thinking that (the family’s) farm will some day be yours, or you’re age 75 and wondering how you’re going to pass that to the next generation.”

According to data from the U.S. Census, 70% of U.S. farmland will transfer to the next generation within 20 years.

“The impact of farms transitioning – either successfully to the next generation or unsuccessfully in the form of a land and estate sale – has implications for rural communities and rural prosperity,” Westerhold said.

The topics that will be covered in the four-part workshop series include:

• Motivation for succession planning.
• Family communication around estate and transition planning.
• Financial aspects of estate and transition plans.
• Legal aspects of putting your plan into place.

“We’ll also talk about how to pick a provider for all of those pieces,” Winsor said. “The goal is to give people the tools they need to succeed. They can take them home, work on the plan with their families and start to put their succession plan together.”

The workshop is part of K-State’s Women in Ag series, though all sessions are available to all people.

In addition to local sites in Kansas, Nebraska and Indiana, one additional site is available in Oklahoma. For more information about the workshop series, including a listing of sites, contact Robin Reid by email, robinreid@ksu.edu, or visit https://agmanager.info/events/leaving-lasting-legacy-midwestern-farm-women.

— Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension news service

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It was a gift from my father, as should be the case for every child’s first pocketknife. But it was so long ago I can’t remember if it was a birthday or Christmas present. I do know I was still young enough that opening the blades was somewhat difficult.

The clip, or the largest of the three blades, was by far the easiest to dislodge from its safe resting place. Its size compared to the smaller sheepsfoot and awl blades also made it the blade of choice for an impressionable youngster who might have seen “Rambo” far too early.

Consisting of polished steel and a deeply grooved handle, this pocketknife – my pocketknife – was similar yet different from other knives I’d briefly held to open a present on Christmas morning. My knife didn’t have the patina I’d seen on my father’s and grandfather’s. The handles on theirs were also smoothed by years of handling.

Still, I knew my knife was more than a physical gift. It was a signal my father had trust in me to possess a dangerous object. I have no doubt I tested this trust from time to time, but I would like to point out I still have all 10 fingers. I do carry a couple scars from a misplaced blade, but those came when I definitely knew better.

After the initial euphoria of becoming a pocketknife owner wore off, I did experience some disappointment. It turns out that while I could be trusted with the sharp blades, I couldn’t seem to find a reason to use them regularly, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Just as someone holding a hammer begins to see nails everywhere, I used my knife to cut any loose strings on clothing, trim my nails or just whittle points on sticks.

While my first pocketknife is no longer in use, that doesn’t mean I no longer have a use for a pocketknife. Rather, it’s such an indispensable tool I now have several of them. The nicer ones are strewn about the house with one on my dresser, one on the table near my recliner and another on my desk. There’s at least four in my truck and two in my tacklebox, not counting the filet knife.

Some are similar to my original three-bladed knife, while others are single-blade folding knives that can be opened with the flick of a finger. There’s a boot knife or two included in the accounting as well (for whittling really big sticks).

Though I’ve purchased and inherited some of this collection of sharp objects, I’ve received the vast majority of knives as gifts.

While the first gift taught me there are limits to the uses of a pocketknife, it’s true treasure has been understanding it’s far better to have one and not need it than need one and not have it.

— Greg Doering, Kansas Farm Bureau

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