August 26, 2025
Six People Die in Colorado Dairy Accident
Six people in Northeast Colorado died last week after what’s being described by officials as a “dairy accident” at Prospect Valley Dairy. One of the deceased was a student in the Weld School District. Three other people were taken to a local hospital and released. Officials report the deaths were due to hydrogen sulfide exposure in a confined space due to a pipe leak. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration says hydrogen sulfide occurs naturally in crude petroleum and natural gas, but is also produced by decomposing manure. It’s mildly irritating to people’s eyes and respiratory systems when exposed to it in low doses, but it can quickly become deadly when people are exposed to large amounts in a confined space. The Weld County Coroner’s Office said that all the victims were male. The property is owned by Prospect Valley Dairy LLC and lists a Bakersfield, California, address for the owners.
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Human Case of New World Screwworm Confirmed in the U.S.
The Department of Health and Human Services reported the first human case of New World Screwworm in the U.S. The diagnosis was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control. The disease appeared in a traveler who’d been returning to the U.S. from Central America, where the disease is already present. State veterinarians learned of the human case during a call last week with the CDC. Oklahoma State Veterinarian Dr. Rod Hall said the patient lives in Maryland, where officials said they’re confident it is contained. Dr. Hall added that he believes the U.S. is probably more likely to get it in a person or pet than in livestock, at least in the short term. South Dakota State Veterinarian Beth Thompson was quoted in a Reuters article as saying that when NWS was confirmed in Maryland, the CDC worked with local physicians to identify the larvae. No livestock movement restrictions are in place.
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U.S. Cattle on Feed Down Two Percent
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.9 million head on August 1, 2025. That was two percent below August 1, 2024, and in line with pre-report trade estimates of 98.1 percent. Drovers said the August 1 level is an eight-year low. The state-by-state breakdown showed a steady increase across most of the states, but compared to a year ago, the Southern feedlots were well below 2024. That’s because of the closure of the Southern U.S. border to Mexican feeder imports. The northern feeder areas were said to be above year-ago levels. Texas placements were at 75 percent of last year, Colorado was 76 percent, Nebraska was at 98 percent, while Kansas and Iowa were at 102 and 118 percent, respectively. Feedlot placements in July were 1.6 million head, six percent below last year.
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EPA Acts on Over 175 Small Refinery Exemption Petitions
The Environmental Protection Agency announced a decision to exempt some small refineries from blending biofuels in their supplies at levels required under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Out of the 175 outstanding petitions, the EPA granted full exemptions to 63, partial exemptions to 77, and denied another 28, while determining seven were ineligible. National Corn Growers President Kenneth Hartman, Jr., said the agency has taken a big step toward resolving a stubborn issue that has lingered without resolution for too many years. Small refineries are allowed to submit petitions to the EPA each year, requesting hardship exemptions from requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The standard was signed into law in 2005 and requires refiners to include ten percent biofuel blends in their fuel production. “With government reports projecting record corn yields this year, we want the Renewable Fuel Standard implemented precisely as it was intended,” Hartmann Jr. said.
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Groups React to EPA Ruling on SRE Petitions
The Environmental Protection Agency issued decisions on 175 small refinery exemptions that had lingered for years. Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, said the more than 140 granted exemptions don’t give farmers and biofuel producers the certainty that they need. “It’s imperative that EPA reallocates each and every exempt gallon in a forthcoming rule,” said Skor. While the Renewable Fuels Association says it doubts the refineries were truly experiencing “disproportionate economic hardship” due to the RFS, President Geoff Cooper said, “We are pleased to see EPA taking an approach to implementation of these exemptions that’s minimally disruptive to the marketplace.” Clean Fuels Alliance America said EPA’s “course correction” on exemptions creates fresh uncertainty for America’s farmers and biodiesel, renewable diesel, and SAF producers. Devin Mogler, President and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association, said his group urges EPA to finalize a reallocation policy that fully accounts for the lost gallons.
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Pro Farmer Crop Tour Estimates Smaller Than USDA Numbers
Pro Farmer’s Crop Tour ended last week with its national harvest estimates for the U.S. corn and soybean crops. Pro Farmer analyzed the information gathered from its 33rd Annual Pro Farmer Crop Tour and other sources. Pro Farmer estimates the 2025 U.S. corn crop at 16.204 billion bushels, based on an average yield of 182.7 bushels per acre, which is down from the USDA’s August estimate of 188.8 bushels. Chip Flory, leader of the Crop Tour’s western leg, said the U.S. should have good corn and bean crops this year. “Neither crop is without risk between now and the end of kernel and pod fill because of a disease-ripe environment, but both crops have done some heavy lifting to build good yields.” Pro Farmer estimates the soybean crop at 4.246 billion bushels, with a national average yield of 53 bushels per acre, down from the 53.6 estimated in August by the USDA.
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