Monday October 10 Ag News

Glyphosate Resistant Giant Ragweed Confirmed In Eastern Nebraska
Lowell Sandell, Weed Science Extension Educator
Avishek Datta, Post Doctoral Research Associate
Stevan Knezevic, Extension Weeds Specialist, Haskell Ag Lab
Greg Kruger, Extension Cropping Systems Specialist, West Central REC

In 2006 marestail (horseweed) was the first weed species in Nebraska found to be resistant to glyphosate. While marestail has become a significant management problem in many fields, a new glyphosate resistant weed is emerging in Nebraska. Greenhouse studies conducted by UNL weed scientists have confirmed glyphosate resistance in multiple giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) populations.

Giant ragweed seeds were collected from suspected populations in Butler, Nemaha, Richardson, and Washington counties in eastern Nebraska in fall 2010. Greenhouse bioassays were conducted, and glyphosate dose response curves were defined for each giant ragweed population. Visual weed control ratings and plant biomass reduction curve comparisons clearly show a glyphosate resistance level ranging from two to six fold, depending on the population and plant size. For example, 90% control of a susceptible population was achieved with 32 oz of glyphosate (3 lb/gal acid equivalent), while the resistant populations needed approximately 100 oz/ac and 200 oz/ac at 4- and 8-inch plant heights respectively, in order to achieve the same level of control.

The Development of Herbicide Resistance
Herbicide resistance usually results from repeated use of the same herbicide. Widespread adoption of glyphosate tolerant crops in the Midwest (primarily corn and soybean), coupled with an over-reliance on glyphosate-based herbicides, has resulted in the evolution of glyphosate resistant weed populations. The selection pressure exerted on weed populations by increased glyphosate use in glyphosate tolerant crops over the last 10 to 15 years is unprecedented in the era of herbicide weed control. Prior to the introduction of glyphosate tolerant crops, only a few weed species were resistant worldwide.

The number of weed species with reported glyphosate resistant populations has reached almost 20 worldwide, and 12 in the U.S., due to repeated glyphosate use over a large land area (more than 300 million acres just in the U.S.).

Weed species with glyphosate resistant populations in the U.S. include common waterhemp, giant ragweed, common ragweed, kochia, palmer amaranth, marestail (horseweed), hairy fleabane, junglerice, goosegrass, Johnsongrass, Italian ryegrass, and annual bluegrass (source: International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds).

Diversify to Reduce the Potential for Resistance
While these giant ragweed populations are currently in small pockets, this further illustrates the need for everyone making weed management decisions  to adopt a more diversified approach to weed control. We believe that herbicide tolerant crops, including those based on glyphosate, can remain a useful component of our crop production systems, but only with proper management.

Glyphosate’s low cost, effectiveness, crop safety, and ease of use make it easy to become over reliant on it rather than use using a diversity of preemergence and postemergence tank mix partners when glyphosate tolerant crops are grown in succession. Properly using herbicide tolerant crop technologies as a component of an integrated weed management program is the key to preserving the long-term benefits of these technologies, while avoiding many of the concerns associated with their use or misuse.



Gains in Nebraska Land Values and Cash Rents for 2006-2011
Tom Dorn, UNL Extension Educator, Lancaster County

Cropland values have appreciated considerably in the last several years reflecting higher commodity prices. With only a few exceptions cash rental rates have climbed and followed gains in land values quite closely.

A comparison of statewide average land prices from 2006 to 2011 shows that dry land cropland with no irrigation potential increased an average of 70%. Dry land cropland with the potential for irrigation development showed the highest percentage increase of all classifications, averaging a 105% increase over 2006 prices. Center pivot irrigated land had the second highest percentage gain with a 102% increase over the five-year period.

Cash rents increased from 46% to 91% during the same period.

Click here to see the breakdown by region on the CropWatch web site... http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/cropwatch/archive?articleID=4662862.   



Northeast Nebraska RC&D Attends Nebraska RC&D Conference

Northeast Nebraska RC&D was the recipient of two outstanding awards at the Nebraska RC&D Conference held last week in McCook, Nebraska and sponsored by the Southwest RC&D. 

Dennis Wacker, Plainview was presented the Outstanding Performance by a Council Member
Dennis is a passionate volunteer and currently serving in his 4th year as the representative from Pierce County on the Board of Directors and has served as President since January of 2009.  He willingly volunteers for many projects and also does small “fix-it” jobs in the office, assists artists who are putting up their artwork for display, attends many staff meetings and participates in the State Association monthly teleconference.  He has developed a personal relationship with an individual who has given talks about his Native American culture at Dennis’ request, to not only the RC&D but other organizations and events as well.  Dennis is also one of the “new to organic” producers and led a tour of his strip cropped fields of oats, corn and soybeans.  Dennis is the driver behind “Boomerang Central” and his motto is:  “All good things come back to you.”

Carol Peters, Pierce was presented the Outstanding Performance by a Program Support Assistant
Carol often comes up with new and better ways to do things that benefit the Council and the communities.  Her knowledge of accounting and record keeping has been a real asset to the Council as the funds coming into their account has increased due to five multi-year grants.  She works with the tax preparer to gather all financial records and has shared this helpful information with all Nebraska RC&D’s.  Carol is also an active member on the Area Plan committee and guides everyone down the high road in order to keep things positive.  She has worked with other committees and has sought out numerous grants from county boards.  Carol knows how important it is for the RC&D information to be “Out There.”

Northeast Nebraska RC&D also won the Best Display Booth Award at the Conference.  The prize consisted of a $50 check from the Nebraska RC&D Association. 



Woodside Re-Elected Chairman of Renewable Fuels Association

The Renewable Fuels Association announced that Chuck Woodside, CEO of farmer-owned KAAPA Ethanol in Minden, Nebraska, will continue his role as RFA Chairman.  KAAPA Ethanol is a 60 million gallon per year farmer-owned ethanol facility. The election was held as part of the RFA's Annual Membership Meeting held in Washington, DC last week.

"Leading the nation's preeminent ethanol trade association at a time of great challenge and opportunity for America's ethanol industry is an honor," said Woodside. "This industry has provided the American people increasing environmental and economic value with over 400,000 jobs that cannot be outsourced and an alternative to the petroleum we pay billions of dollars for year after year. I am proud to be a leader of this organization and look forward to working with RFA members and those unaffiliated with the association to build and expand this evolving industry."

Woodside highlighted numerous challenges and opportunities the RFA will focus on in the upcoming year: Maintaining the integrity and intent of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), expanding infrastructure and ethanol markets for Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) and higher ethanol blended fuels, accelerating innovation and commercialization for all existing and new technologies, addressing incomplete science with respect to ethanol's environmental performance, and growing the market for distillers grains, corn oil, and other ethanol co-products.



DFA Calls for Congressional Action on Pending Trade Agreements
John Wilson, DFA Senior Vice President

Last week brought long-awaited movement on free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. On Monday, President Barack Obama submitted the three agreements to Congress, and on Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee approved the agreements, clearing the way for a floor vote by the full House of Representatives.

“With a floor vote now imminent, it is critical that Congress understand the deep implications these export opportunities will provide U.S. industries, including the highly volatile dairy industry, and move quickly to vote the pending trade agreements into law.

"These agreements offer significant opportunity for U.S. dairy producers, providing an estimated benefit of more than $400 million a year. Specifically, according to an economic impact analysis released by the National Milk Producers Federation, the South Korea agreement would benefit U.S. dairy producers by $380 million per year in both increased exports and increased domestic prices. Additionally, that same study estimates the Colombia and Panama agreements together would add $50 million annually to the U.S. dairy sector.

"As economists predict a reduction in dairy prices from today into 2012, the benefits of these trade agreements, once implemented, will be meaningful to the domestic dairy industry. On behalf of our dairy farmer owners, we are urging Congress to show their support for the dairy sector and U.S. industries and pass these agreements immediately."



CWT Assists with 2.7 Million Pounds of Cheese Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 10 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America and United Dairymen of Arizona to sell a total of 1,211 metric tons (2.670 million pounds) of Cheddar cheese to customers in Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. The product will be delivered October through December 2011.

In 2011, CWT has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 33,996 metric tons (74.9 million pounds) to 23 countries on four continents. That is the equivalent of 749 billion pounds of milk, the annual production of 35,700 cows.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by reducing inventories that overhang the market and depress cheese prices. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the farm milk that produces them.

CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidders only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.



ALBERTA COW REIGNS SUPREME CHAMPION AT 2011 WORD DAIRY CHAMPION

The Grand Champion Holstein, Eastside Lewisdale Gold Missy, paraded across the colored shavings to win Supreme Champion honors at the 2011 World Dairy Expo.  Missy is owned by Morsan, Van Ruinen Dairy, M Butz and G Andreasen.  The cow is sired by Braedale Goldwyn. Supreme Champion Cow is awarded the Gregory Blaska Memorial Trophy. The Supreme Champion receives a $1,500 Cash Award from BouMatic, a royal blanket courtesy of Agpro, Inc., Paris, Texas and a director’s chair sponsored by Royal Brand Embroidery, Ellsworth, Wisconsin.

The Reserve Champion title was earned by the Grand Champion Jersey, Pine Haven SSM Marmie, owned by Nic, Jeni, Ben and Andy Sauder of Tremont, Illinois.  Marmie is sired by Select-Scott Minister-ET and is a Four-Year-Old Cow. The Reserve Champion was awarded $1,000 from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., Saint Joseph, Missouri; a royal blanket courtesy of NuPulse, McFarland, Wisconsin and a director’s chair courtesy of Royal Brand Embroidery of Ellsworth, Wisconsin.