Farmers National Company News

Animal Health. “Working with the NCBA and state cattle associations is another way that Merck Animal Health works for our beef producing customers, and we couldn’t be more excited to return in person to these important events.”

For details about upcoming Stockmanship & Stewardship events and registration information, visit www. StockmanshipAndStewardship.org.

Health Professional Outreach Promotes Beef as an Early Food for Infants and Toddlers. Feeding nutrient rich foods, like beef, as a complementary food to infants and toddlers may be a new concept for some, with the 20202025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) making recommendations for the first time to include these foods, starting around six months of age.1 This is new information not only for parents but for health professionals as well, including pediatricians, dietitians, and other pediatric feeding experts. NCBA, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, is conducting extensive outreach to these professionals to educate them about the new recommendations and the nutritional benefits of beef in the early years.

On April 27, a “Growing Up Strong: Prioritizing Critical Nutrients from Birth to Adolescence” webinar was held to educate and inform health professionals about the new DGA recommendations for children between birth and 24 months of age, highlighting the critical nutrients beef offers to help close nutrient gaps and support healthy growth and development in the early and adolescent years.

Moderated by Dr. Keith Ayoob, a pediatric nutritionist and registered dietitian who works on obesity, heart health, and family dynamics, the webinar featured speakers Dr. Heather Leidy and Marina Chaparro. Leidy is a nutrition researcher who examines the effects of dietary protein quantity, quality, and timing of consumption on the metabolic, hormonal, and neural signals that promote satiety, healthy eating behavior, and weight management across the lifespan, and was also a member of the 2020-2025 DGA Committee responsible for the new recommendations. Chaparro is a mom of two as well as a registered dietitian specializing in pediatric nutrition and diabetes education.

Speakers discussed the evidence behind beef’s role in healthy dietary patterns to cultivate and optimize well being from the early years to adolescence. They also addressed common misperceptions and inspired ways to build balanced, nutrient dense meals children will enjoy – to make every bite count from the beginning and through teenage years.

The webinar was very successful, with 3,463 registrants and 1,525 live attendees. In addition, 2,768 new contacts were added to the nutrition listserv and will now receive the quarterly beef nutrition e-newsletter. According to feedback from the survey following the event, nearly 70 percent of individuals indicated they would make changes to their practice based on webinar key learnings, and nearly 70 percent felt “very confident” recommending beef as a complementary early food for infants and toddlers, which was an 18.2 percent increase from pre-webinar survey results.

“It is encouraging to see such a positive shift in opinion as a result of the information presented during the webinar,” said Executive Director of Nutrition Science, Health & Wellness at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Shalene McNeill, Ph.D., RDN, “Events like this and Beef Checkoff efforts to educate health professionals are working to expand the

NEWS

Competitive Bidding Pushes Land Prices Higher. Interest in purchasing agricultural land has grown since a coronavirus pandemic induced slowdown blanketed the land market last spring. Farmers are feeling more financially secure as very strong commodity prices arrived on top of large government payments in 2020. This is propelling farmers to bid more aggressively for additional land than has been the case during the past six years.

“Farmland sales prices are up 5-15 percent in the past six months with most of the increase coming since the first of the year,” said Randy Dickhut, senior vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National Company. “Competitive bidding among interested buyers is really pushing land prices right now.”

Individual investors, both first time and experienced buyers, are stepping into the land market as they search for a safe, long term real estate investment in a low interest rate environment. Investor buyers seldom outbid farmer-buyers for a good farm unless they have 1031 tax deferred exchange funds to spend in a short time period.

The increase in ag land prices is happening in most areas of the Grain Belt and with most types of land.

“At Farmers National Company auctions, we are seeing competitive bidding push prices for good cropland to levels approaching 2014 values,” Dickhut said. “Average to lower quality farms are experiencing stronger sales prices, too, while pastureland increases are more modest.”

Currently, the demand for good farmland is outstripping the supply of farms for sale. During the previous few years, the number of farms for sale has been lower, but there remained enough demand in the farmland market to balance the lower supply resulting in steady land prices. At this time, the strong demand to own farmland is one of the main factors pushing prices higher.

“In order for the seller to get top dollar in the current land market, they have to ensure there is true competitive bidding,” said Dickhut. “Farmers National Company and its agents employ the most comprehensive platform of competitive bidding systems available in order to get the best price for sellers including public outcry auctions, a full array of online and simultaneous live auctions, various written bidding mechanisms, and other bidding or listing platforms.”

Higher land values will bring more sellers into the market as estates, trusts, recent inheritors, and family groups will decide to sell the farm or ranch and capture the higher prices. Also, uncertainty surrounding future tax policies will trigger a sale sooner than later for some.

Landowners who are thinking of selling their farm are now factoring in both the higher proceeds they would get from the sale, and what potential tax obligations might be due.

The land market will be balancing increased demand for good cropland against what might be an increasing supply of farms for sale.

“Our agents are fielding an increased number of calls from landowners who want to sell because of the aforementioned reasons. Our pipeline of sales activity for summer and fall is filling up,” Dickhut said.

Farmers National Company’s land sales activity has already been very brisk and above the market the past seven months, with dollar volume of land sold up 60 percent over last year and up 67 percent over the average of the past three years. The number of acres sold in this time period is up 64 percent from last year.

“In a rising land market, it becomes more difficult to predict what a farm will actually sell for on any given day, especially when there is demand from both farmers and investors,” Dickhut said.

“The best way to sell cropland in the current market is to take it to auction or some form of competitive bidding that brings together the potential buyers and lets them push the price,” he said.

About Farmers National Company. Farmers National Company, an employee owned company, is the nation’s leading agricultural landowner services company. Over the last five years, Farmers National Company has sold 3,938 properties (1,404 at auction) and more than $5.02 billion of real estate during the last ten years. The company manages more than 5,000 farms and ranches in 29 states comprising more than two million acres. Additional services provided by the company include auctions, appraisals and valuation services, insurance, consultation, oil and gas management, a national hunting lease program, forest resource management, and FNC Ag Stock. For more information on our company and the services provided, visit the Farmers National Company website at www.FarmersNational.com.

positive message of beef as a nutrient rich food for infants and toddlers.”

In addition to health professional outreach and education through webinars and e-newsletters, a new infographic brings to life the research supporting beef’s nutrient package of protein, iron, zinc, and choline for healthy, growing bodies and brains in a highly visual manner. The “Make Every Bite Count with Beef” infographic is a great resource for nutrition influencers and healthcare professionals.

To learn more about recent efforts to promote beef through the Make Every Bite Count-Feeding Beef to Your Baby campaign, visit www. beefitswhatsfordinner.com. Resource 1Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. 2020. Scientific Report of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: Advisory Report to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington, D.C.

Finding Common Ground: Becoming a Beef Advocate. Even before a consumer approaches the meat case at the grocery store, questions about price, taste, nutrition, and sustainability swirl. Consumers are bombarded with advertisements, slogans, and information at every turn, often with conflicting messages. So, how does someone make purchasing decisions when they do not know who to trust for accurate information about the products they are buying?

Unlike 150 years ago, when most families lived an agrarian lifestyle, today, fewer than two percent of the U.S. population resides on a farm or ranch1 . These changes have resulted in a large gap between where food is produced and where it is consumed. In the past year alone, the beef community has faced new issues and challenges from special interest groups that leveraged the COVID-19 pandemic to shed light on their goal of ending animal agriculture as we know it. Now more than ever, it is vital for producers, consumers, and all engaged members of the agriculture community to share their stories instead of relying on someone else to do it for them.

Whether you are new to advocacy or a seasoned veteran, everyone has a story to share and a foundation to becoming a powerful voice for beef. Advocacy is for anyone in support of an idea or a cause. In the case of the beef community, advocates promote a lifestyle that raises a wholesome, nutritious product that is sustainable as producers seek to constantly improve their conservationist methods to care for their animals and the land. Producers across the United States have been joining the conversation and engaging in critical discussions surrounding the beef community, backing their beliefs and systems of thought through social media, writing editorial pieces, posting live videos, or continuing their education through programs such as Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA).

The MBA program, managed by NCBA, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, started in 2009, and to date, there are more than 19,000 graduates. The MBA program consists of five modules: • The Beef Community - Context of raising beef from pasture to plate focusing on the community of people involved throughout the beef lifecycle. • Raising Cattle on Grass - An introduction to the first step in the beef lifecycle and the many benefits of raising cattle on our country’s vast grass pasture resources. • Life in the Feedyard - A discussion on the role of feedyards, including animal care, nutrition, and environmental stewardship, at this important step in the beef lifecycle. • From Cattle to Beef - An in-depth look at the slaughter process and the humane handling and safety measures in place at today’s beef processing facilities. • Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. - A primer on choosing and cooking the right cuts of beef and the important role of beef in a healthful diet.

Once all modules are completed, graduates gain access to a variety of continuing education resources ranging from online courses that delve deeper into specific topics such as beef sustainability and nutrition to in-person top advocate training and more. Graduates are also invited to join the Masters of Beef Advocacy Alumni Facebook group, a virtual community for MBA graduates to ask questions and get connected to the latest advocacy resources.

Recently, the MBA program launched MBA NextGen, an updated version of online training modules. The refreshed training makes it easier than ever for a new generation of farmers and ranchers to share their stories and advocate knowledgeably for the beef industry. Updated information and resources are accessible with the click of a mouse to help answer consumer questions. The MBA program continues to be a free, self guided online course that provides farmers, ranchers, service providers, students, consumers, and all members of the beef community the tools and resources necessary to effectively answer tough questions about consuming beef and raising cattle.

Taking your first step into the advocacy arena can be intimidating. However, starting your journey as a beef advocate has never been easier, with programs such as MBA available to help you gain the knowledge necessary to begin sharing your story. During the time spent completing the MBA program, you will develop valuable techniques and skills to build relationships both inperson and online to better communicate a powerful story about beef. The MBA program will help you rethink the value of your story and share updated talking points to help you keep beef front and center during all your conversations.

When asked about the benefits of advocacy, Paul Dybedahl, Manager of Masters of Beef Advocacy, commented, “The MBA program is one of the most effective tools we have to teach a wide audience the core principles of the cattle industry and has been a tremendous asset in our efforts to better inform consumers and thought leaders about our industry. Whether you’re from a family of ranchers or a consumer simply wanting to know more about how that delicious beef dinner got on your plate – MBA NextGen can arm you with the information you need to be a strong advocate for the beef community and communicate with interested consumers.”

If you are interested in becoming a beef advocate or learning more about the beef community, you can apply for the MBA program by visiting www. MastersofBeefAdvocacy.com. After submitting a short application, you will be admitted into the program and can access modules, which take approximately three hours to complete. To learn more about NCBA’s advocacy efforts, contact Chandler Mulvaney at cmulvaney@beef. org or Paul Dybedahl at pdybedahl@beef. org.

Resource 1U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2017). Census of Agriculture. Retrieved from www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/ AgCensus/2017/index.php

2021 Spotlight iSSueS Schedule

Most of the breed associations in North and South Carolina have stepped forward and renewed their contracts for Spotlight sections in The Carolina Cattle Connection for 2021. If your breed is not featured as a Spotlight section and you would like to inquire on any open months please feel free to contact me. Below is the tentative schedule for the upcoming year.

2021 Reserved Spotlight Issues

JANUARY CHAROLAIS FEBRUARY FORAGES MARCH ANGUS APRIL PEST MANAGEMENT MAY BRAHMAN

JUNE

HEREFORD JULY GELBVIEH AUGUST SIMMENTAL SEPTEMBER SANTA GERTRUDIS OCTOBER ----------------------------NOVEMBER SHORTHORN DECEMBER RED ANGUS

Contact The Carolina Cattle Connection 2228 N. Main Street Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 Phone - 919-552-9111 for the contact person for each Spotlight Issue.