Thursday October 13 Ag News

Gov. Heineman, Ag Director Ibach Pleased with Passage of U.S. Free Trade Agreements

Gov. Dave Heineman and Nebraska’s Agriculture Director Greg Ibach offered positive remarks of the free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama passed by the U.S. Congress. Governor Heineman had urged Congress to pass these agreements for months in order to benefit Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers.

“These three trade agreements hold great opportunity for increased Nebraska exports, particularly for our agricultural sector,” said Gov. Heineman. “I am pleased that Congress and the administration finally were able to approve these measures which we will be pursuing at the state level.”

These agreements provide new potential for a number of Nebraska commodities, including corn, soybeans, wheat, beef and pork. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture expects the increased trade will help Nebraska reach more than $5 billion in annual agriculture exports.

Gov. Heineman, Dir. Ibach and several agricultural organizations sent a letter to President Barack Obama in April, encouraging him to work with Congress to pass the agreements. The letter highlighted the significance of agriculture exports to the Nebraska economy.

“With yesterday’s action, we hope to be able to grow our robust agricultural exports even more,” Dir. Ibach said. “The reduction or elimination of tariffs and other trade barriers will allow us to be more competitive in these markets.” 



Trade agreements offer opportunities for Nebraska, U.S. agriculture

South Korea is one of the top five corn export markets for the United States, Colombia is poised to return to buying more U.S. corn and Panama is a growing market with potential. Thanks to Congressional approval of trade agreements with all three countries yesterday, U.S. farmers will see improved market access and more opportunities, according to the Nebraska Corn Board.

“Trade is an important component of Nebraska agriculture. It provides good markets for corn and corn products,” said Tim Scheer, chair of the Nebraska Corn Board’s government affairs committee and a farmer from St. Paul, Neb. “Yet it is also critical for livestock producers, as a growing amount of U.S. beef and pork makes its way to markets around the world.”

The Nebraska Corn Board said it appreciates Senators Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns and Representatives Jeff Fortenberry, Lee Terry and Adrian Smith for voting to approve all three trade agreements.

“We appreciate the support of Nebraska’s Congressional delegation,” Scheer said. “Approving these agreements is critical for the competitiveness of Nebraska and U.S. corn and other agricultural products, especially considering that other countries already have trade agreements in place or are negotiating them. We can’t afford to step away from the table and lose market share.”

The agreements approved yesterday eliminate or reduce import tariffs on many agricultural products, which means Nebraska and U.S. farmers and ranchers will have better access to markets in South Korea, Panama and Colombia.

“It means we’ll be more competitive in their markets because the duty on our products will be eliminated or reduced,” Scheer said. “It also means buyers in those countries will have better access to our products, as we are perhaps the most reliable supplier in the world, and that’s good for them and their people.”

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures, Nebraska exported more than $5 billion worth of agricultural products in 2010, including $1.3 billion worth of corn and other feed grains.

Statistics show passage of the three trade agreements could create 250,000 American jobs and add an additional $13 billion annually in exports.



Free Trade Agreements Advance to the President's Desk    

Nebraska Cattlemen has urged the passage of the Free Trade Agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, for several years and on October 12th the United States (U.S.) Senate and House of Representatives passed them on to the President to be signed.

“Nebraska Cattlemen appreciates the movement forward on the Free Trade Agreements, since we have been working so hard to get them passed,” said Chuck Folken, Nebraska Cattlemen President. “We are now urging President Obama to sign the agreements, as it would greatly benefit Nebraska by creating jobs and stimulating the state’s economy which is driven largely by agriculture.”

According to the International Trade Commission, the three agreements, once fully implemented will create 250,000 jobs. The agreements would level the playing field for U.S. beef by reducing and eventually eliminating import tariffs imposed by Colombia (80 percent), Panama (30 percent) and South Korea (40 percent).



Boswell: FTAs 'Shaky' and 'Not True Job-Creator'

Iowa Congressman Leonard Boswell Wednesday released the following statement regarding his vote against free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea:  "This shaky trade legislation is not a true job-creator. The reality is these deals put tens of thousands of jobs on the line during an especially difficult time for our country.  Let us not forget the effects of previous trade agreements on our communities -- the most vivid example being Newton when thousands of workers lost their jobs after the Maytag plant closure. We cannot risk that again by allowing trade agreements that only benefit big corporations at the expense of our working class."



Landlord/Tenant Cash Lease Workshops Cover Market Volatility, Other Issues

Helping landlords and tenants establish and maintain a positive farm leasing relationship will be the focus of  workshops to be held this November and December in central and eastern Nebraska. The programs will be hosted by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and sponsored by the Nebraska Soybean Board.  Workshops begin with 5 p.m. registration and conclude at 9 p.m. at each location.

The Landlord/Tenant Cash Lease Workshop series will help producers deal with the volatility of cash grain markets for corn and soybeans, said Allan Vyhnalek, UNL Extension educator in Platte County.  “Landlords are trying to be loyal to their tenants, yet want a fair return for the land asset,” Vyhnalek said. “Tenants want to be sure to stay in business, yet feel the pressure of bidding to keep the land base that they have been farming.”

Discussion topics will include:
    expectations from the lease, including goal setting for the rental property;
    lease communication, determining appropriate information sharing for both the tenant and landlord;
    tips for farm leases that include relatives;
    irrigation system questions, as they pertain to setting lease rates; and
    alternative cash lease arrangements and flexible provision considerations

Other topics, such as grain bin rental, will be covered as time allows.

Vyhnalek and UNL Extension educators Tim Lemmons and Jessica Jones will be on hand to discuss these topics and provide common sense tips during the presentation.

It is very helpful if both the tenant and landlord can attend together, Vyhnalek said.  “Putting together the right lease isn’t about what is being discussed at the coffee shop, or what a university survey of cash lease rates says; it is about what fits both the landlord and tenant for their circumstance and situation,” he said. “Attending this presentation will provide a set of ideas to work from as those specifics are discussed.”

Workshop Site Details
Nov. 14 – Syracuse, Syracuse National Bank, Johnson County Extension, 402-335-3669
Nov. 15 – Wilber, Sokol Hall, Saline County Extension, 402-821-2151
Nov. 28 -- Broken Bow, Country Club, Custer County Extension, 308-872-6831
Dec. 6 – Hastings, Adams County Fairgrounds, Adams County Extension, 402-461-7209
Dec. 7 -- Central City, Community Room, Merrick County Extension, 308-946-3843
Dec. 12 – Fremont, Dodge County Extension Office, Dodge County Extension, 402-727-2775
Dec. 13 -- West Point, Community Building, Cuming County Extension, 402-372-6006
Dec. 14 – Neligh, Imperial Steak House, Antelope County Extension, 402-887-5414



Joint Effort Reaches Dietitians, Other Nutrition Professionals at National Conference

State beef councils from across the country joined the national Beef Checkoff Program last month in reaching thousands of dietitians and other nutrition professionals at the American Dietetic Association’s Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE) in San Diego. The event attracted about 5,000 registered dietitians, allowing the beef industry to reach those who give health advice with messages about the benefits of lean beef.

Among the beef industry’s efforts at FNCE was a booth at which nearly 5,000 samples of checkoff-developed beef recipes and 1,000 informational CDs were distributed; a sponsorship of a breakfast for dietitians who specialize in the aging population where beef breakfast recipes were served and a nationally known expert discussed the power of protein; and sponsorship of the FNCE gala, where beef was center of the plate.

According to Katie Caputo, R.D., who works for the California and Nevada Beef Councils and assisted at the event, FNCE is a “must” for those who want to reach important health influencers and food industry leaders.

“It’s not just registered dietitians,” says Caputo. “There are also health care providers and researchers – pretty much anyone that’s an industry leader in the food and nutrition world. It’s a key networking event with all of these health influencers.”

Caputo says one of the activities remembered by most attendees is the large, eye-catching checkoff-funded booth in the FNCE Expo Hall.

“People are excited to come up to our booth and see what we have to offer for the year,” she says. “And in these economic times, a lot of nutrition professionals are in need of the educational resources the beef industry has to offer for use with their clients.”

The great thing about these resources, Caputo says, is they show how beef is an essential building block to incorporate fruits, vegetables and whole grains into the diet. “These checkoff resources are about a healthful lifestyle and diet that includes all of the different foods that are out there,” she says.

Caputo says there is no audience more important than the one reached at the Food and Nutrition Conference. “They’re the ones that are ultimately giving consumers the ‘permission’ they need to enjoy beef as part of a healthful diet,” she says. “I think having a presence there every year and showcasing our materials creates a sense of loyalty among registered dietitians, who are excited to see us and come back for more year after year.”

While the booth might have been the most visible of the checkoff-funded roles in the Conference, the breakfast at which beef recipes were showcased and a recognized authority on aging spoke on how the body changes and healthy lifestyle practices also made an impact. That event was sponsored by the New York Beef Industry Council, the Nebraska Beef Council and the national Beef Checkoff.

“We had about 150 influential dietitians sampling our delicious beef for breakfast recipes that the checkoff has created,” says Michelle Easterly, R.D., who works for the New York Beef Industry Council. “We also had Georgia Kostas, MPH, RD, LD, a nationally recognized nutrition author and speaker, who shared the scientific evidence demonstrating the importance of protein through the day, specifically choosing 3 oz., or 25 grams, of protein at each meal.”

Joining Forces
Another important aspect of FNCE – at least for the beef industry – was the opportunity to join forces with other beef supporters from around the country to maximize checkoff effectiveness and reach health influencers on behalf of the nation’s beef producers.

“We all had name tags, and obviously attendees recognized there were representatives from Nebraska, New York, California and other states, as well those with our national group in Colorado,” says Caputo. “So this was a great demonstration of unity, not only for someone like me working at a state beef council as part of a team to promote the beef message, but also for those dietitians coming up and seeing how we work together as a state and national program.”

Easterly agrees, and says programs conducted by state beef councils in their own states, along with those conducted in conjunction with the National Beef Checkoff, are all crucial to the success of the national effort to educate dietitians and health professionals.

“I see it as kind of a synergistic relationship,” says Easterly. “And I think we both work very well together. The programs the national team creates and develops I can deliver to health professionals and dietitians at the state level. There are lots of great resources and materials we can share.”

In addition to the registered dietitians from the California and New York Beef Councils, staff dietitians from Nebraska, Wisconsin and Texas also helped educate health professionals at the Food and Nutrition Conference. Funding for the programs was provided by the $1-per-head beef checkoff program, which is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB). The beef industry’s participation in FNCE was coordinated by the Food and Nutrition Communications team at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a beef checkoff contractor.



Kohl to Lead Off Farmers and Ranchers College Nov. 30

Returning to the Farmers and Ranchers College for the 2011-12 season will be David Kohl, professor emeritus of Agricultural Finance and Small Business Management at Virginia Tech University.  A popular speaker in previous years, Kohl will give an interactive presentation on "Global Economic Impacts on the Farm and Ranch."  The workshop will be 1-4 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Bruning Opera House.

Kohl will address several topics, engaging farmers and ranchers in discussion along the way:
   What are the new mega trends impacting producers’ profitability and lifestyles?
    What will be the role of emerging nations?
    What will be the economic game changers?
    How can producers position themselves to capitalize on these trends?
    Do high farmland values represent a credit or asset bubble?
    Where is the economy heading?

Registration for this event is free due to generous support from its sponsors.  The Farmers and Ranchers College was started in January 2000 and continues today as a series of workshops for ag producers in south central Nebraska.  For more information, contact the UNL Extension Office in Fillmore County at (402) 759-3712 or fillmore.unl.edu.



Grant Funds for Sustainable Agriculture Farmer/Rancher Grants

Competitive grant funds are available to Nebraska farmers and ranchers interested in conducting sustainable agriculture research, demonstration, or education projects. 

The North Central Region of USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program each year awards up to $400,000 in the 12-state region for projects conducted by farmers and ranchers.  The deadline for this year's proposals is 4:30 p.m. (CST) Dec. 2.

Farmer/rancher NCR-SARE grants provide opportunities for farmers/ranchers to use sustainable agriculture practices and their own innovative ideas to solve problems on the farm or ranch, and to share their ideas.

Grant Types
Three types of competitive grants are available:
    Individual grants ($7,500 maximum),
    Partner grants for two farmers/ranchers from separate operations who are working together ($15,000 maximum), and
    Group grants for three or more farmers/ranchers from separate operations who are working together ($22,500 maximum).

Projects must be completed in 25 months.

More Information
For more information about this program and how to submit a proposal, visit the  Nebraska SARE website at nesare.unl.edu.  The site also links to a webinar, "What You Need to Know About 2011 Farmer/Rancher Grants, Youth Educator Grants, and Youth Grants." 



Ethanol Stocks Down to 10-Month Low

Domestic ethanol supply was drawn down 400,000 barrels (bbl) to 16.9 million bbl during the first week of October, a 10-month low, reported the Energy Information Administration this morning. The previous low was during the final week of 2010.

The EIA report shows ethanol supply down 400,000 bbl each in the PADD II Midwest production region, to 5.7 million bbl, and in the PADD III Gulf Coast region to 2.5 million bbl. Ethanol supply bulked up 300,000 bbl to 6.2 million bbl in the East Coast PADD III region. Ethanol supply was flat in the Rocky Mountain PADD IV region at 200,000 bbl and also unchanged for the West Coast PADD V region at 2.3 million bbl.

Ethanol output at domestic production facilities fell 3,000 barrels per day (bpd) to average 860,000 bpd during the first week in October, while the four-week average through Oct. 7 is 859,000 bpd. During the comparable week in 2010, ethanol producers' output was 877,000 bpd, while the four-week average was 854,000 bpd.

EIA showed refiner and blender net inputs for the week reviewed unchanged at 818,000 bpd, which compares with 815,000 bpd during the same week in 2010. The four-week average ethanol input rate through Oct. 7 is 816,000 bpd compared with 795,000 bpd for the same timeline in 2010.

Gasoline supplied to market during the week reviewed edged up 52,000 bpd to 9.01 million bpd. For the four-week period ended Oct. 7, the implied demand figure averaged 8.948 million bpd, down 0.7% with the comparable year-ago period. Cumulatively from Jan. 1 through Oct. 7, implied demand averaged 1.0% less than during the same period in 2010 at 9.021 million bpd.



USDA Designates 27 Counties in Iowa as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 27 counties in Iowa as natural disaster areas due to losses caused by the combined effects of severe storms, excessive rain, flooding, flash flooding, hail, high winds, lightning, tornadoes, landslides, mudslides, excessive heat and drought that began April 1, 2011, and continues.

Those counties are:  Clarke, Davis, Decatur, Fremont, Henry, Jefferson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lucas, Mahaska, Marshall, Mills, Monona, Monroe, Montgomery, Page, Polk, Tama, Taylor, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, Wayne, Woodbury   

"Iowa producers can continue to count on USDA to provide emergency assistance during difficult times," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "America's farmers and rural communities are vitally important to our nation's economy, producing the food, feed, fiber and fuel that continue to help us grow and out-compete the rest of the world. President Obama and I are committed to using the resources at our disposal to reduce the impact these disasters have had on Connecticut producers and help to get those affected back on their feet."

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Iowa also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous:  Adams, Appanoose, Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Buchanan, Cass, Cedar, Cherokee, Clinton, Crawford, Dallas, Delaware, Des Moines, Dubuque, Grundy, Hardin, Harrison, Ida, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Muscatine, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, PoweshieK, Ringgold, Story, Union, Warren           

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous:
Nebraska:  Burt, Dakota, Sarpy, Cass, Otoe, Thurston
South Dakota:  Union
Missouri:  Atchison, Mercer, Schuyler, Clark, Nodaway, Scotland, Harrison, Putnam, Worth
Illinois: Hancock, Henderson, Mercer, Rock Island

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas Oct. 12, 2011, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.



USDA Designates 3 Counties in South Dakota as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Clay, Marshall and Sanborn counties in South Dakota as natural disaster areas due to losses caused by flooding that began April 1, 2011, and continues.

"South Dakota producers can continue to count on USDA to provide emergency assistance during difficult times," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "America's farmers and rural communities are vitally important to our nation's economy, producing the food, feed, fiber and fuel that continue to help us grow and out-compete the rest of the world. President Obama and I are committed to using the resources at our disposal to reduce the impact of this disaster on South Dakota producers and help to get those affected back on their feet."

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in South Dakota also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous:  Aurora, Beadle, Brown, Davison, Day, Hanson, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lincoln, Miner, Roberts, Turner, Union, Yankton       

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Nebraska and North Dakota also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous:
Nebraska:  Cedar, Dixon
North Dakota:  Richland, Sargent

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas Oct. 12, 2011, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses. FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the EM loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity.

USDA also has made other programs available to assist farmers and ranchers, including the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE), which was approved as part of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008; the Emergency Conservation Program; Federal Crop Insurance; and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. Interested farmers may contact their local USDA Service Centers for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.



MONSANTO’S DEKALB® BRAND TO BE FEATURED ON NEXT WEEK’S EPISODE OF DISCOVERY CHANNEL'S AMERICAN CHOPPER: SENIOR VS. JUNIOR

DEKALB is celebrating its century of performance by partnering with another high-performance brand – Paul Junior Designs from American Choppers: Senior vs. Junior. The result is a commemorative, custom designed DEKALB 100 Anniversary Bike that will be featured on next Monday’s episode of American Choppers: Senior vs. Junior on Discovery Channel.

The construction of the DEKALB 100 Anniversary Bike began on July 11, 2011 and will be featured on two episodes running Oct. 17 and Nov. 7 at 9 p.m. Eastern/8 p.m. Central.

“The DEKALB 100 Anniversary Bike was unveiled at the 2011 Farm Progress Show and is on a tour around rural America including farm shows and conventions where farmers and attendees can see the chopper first-hand,” said Jason Hoag, DEKALB Marketing Lead. “The upcoming episodes on the Discovery network will give farmers a chance to see how the DEKALB 100 Anniversary Bike combines the heritage of DEKALB with the performance and innovation that is expected by our farmers today.”

The DEKALB 100 Anniversary Bike will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross. The online auction will launch in January 2012 to coincide with the official DEKALB 100th Anniversary, and the DEKALB 100 Anniversary Bike will be presented to the winner at the 2012 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.