Tuesday October 4 Ag News

Wisner Pilger FFA Wins State Master Conservation Award

     Wisner Pilger FFA Chapter and its members as a member of the elite class of eight selected as winners of the Omaha World Herald’s 2011 Master Conservationist Award.  The Master Conservationist program was established in 1983 to recognize those throughout Nebraska who have excelled in soil and water conservation and protection.  The program has been expanded from a production agriculture focus to now include community conservation efforts, as well as youth’s efforts in conservation.  Current awards focus on recognition of excellence in water conservation.  Awards are sponsored by the Omaha World Herald and the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

    The awards were officially presented at the Younes Conference in Kearney on October 26.  Representing the Wisner Pilger FFA Chapter at the award ceremony were Latham Fullner, Chapter President, Jarrett Sindelar Chapter Community Service Officer and Mark Schroeder Chapter Advisor.  The youth division awards are designed to recognize individuals or groups who are implementing unique ways to sustain water resources while creating new opportunities to improve the environment. Nominees age 19 and younger are eligible to be nominated.  They must be Nebraska residents who have carried out a water and/or soil conservation program for a minimum of two years.

    Leslie Reed reporter and Jeff Beiermann , photographer for the Omaha World Herald spent time interviewing students about their conservation efforts on September 21.  The story they developed as a result of their visit to Wisner Pilger High School was publishing in a story on the front page of the Midlands Section of the Sunday September 25 World Herald. Chad Moyer, Ag Director for KTIC interviewed many of the students during the field day and featured them on his show On the Road for Agriculture.    -----reporter from KCAU Channel 9 of Sioux City Iowa was at the school on October 3 to interview the students and Mr. Schroeder about the conservation projects the chapter has completed.

The goal of Wisner Pilger FFA Chapter conservation project as sited in the nomination has been to teach the students and community the importance of soil and water stewardship and conservation.  It is a multi-faceted project involving no-till conservation farming methods in the FFA Chapter’s crop test plots; providing an environment where conservation methods are stressed in all segments of the program; assisting students with development of an in-depth knowledge base in soil characteristics, types and appropriate management techniques; providing students with information and leadership skills that they use to teach other members of the chapter as well as the community the latest techniques to conserve our scarce natural resources.

Components of the Wisner Pilger FFA Chapter’s Conservation activities noted in the nomination included:
·    The Wisner Pilger FFA Chapter has been given the opportunity to use five acres of farm ground owned by the school district as a test plot for corn and soybean crops.  The students utilize their knowledge from their Junior and Senior Ag classes to plan, plant, manage, harvest and market the crops from the test plots, hosting an annual field day held on September 27, 2011 that has become a popular community learning environment.  The test plots demonstrate total conservation and minimum tillage techniques.  Since the school district in located in an intense livestock production area they  have utilized manure as the key component of their fertilization program, and in turn used the test plots as a teaching environment for the entire community for conservation techniques.
·    Each student involved in the Ag program for their four year career develop in-depth knowledge and skills in soil characteristics, types and appropriate management techniques through their experiences in the land evaluation program.  These valuable life time skills help them evaluate land that they are responsible for managing from residential to large farming operations.  Through the program they prefect their skills and utilize them to make decision during district, state and national (qualifying for Nationals in 2010 and 2011) contests, documenting the command of the knowledge base that they have developed.  These are valuable skills that they will use throughout their lives. Chapter members have been preparing for the 2011 district land judging contest that was held on October 5. 
·    Through the knowledge and leadership skills that the students have developed they took on the challenge of teaching other students and the community cutting edge conservation techniques through the Ag Demonstrations that they developed and presented to over 600 people.  Topics that they have researched and taught include:  wind energy where they demonstrated how to locate, assemble and operate a wind powered electric generator; manure management teaching how to harvest, turn, manage and package fertilizer products; demonstrated how to make bio-diesel fuel and discussed how it can help our environment; installation of water sensor monitors to help manage the use of irrigation water; and in the “War on Wasted Water” they demonstrated how to install water blocks to manage water flow from tiled fields limiting the pollution of streams and rivers, making better use of fertilizers applied and managing water level which in-tern increases yields (Reserve Grand Champion Ag Demonstration at 2011 State FFA Convention).
·    Members have also researched other conservation topics and presented them to chapter members and the community on such issues as:  manure management and electric generation through methane digesters, hydro electric power generation, benefits of wind generators, water and wildlife management through construction of dams, carbon credits, and conservation efforts on a family ranch that earned the coveted Leopold Award for the family ranching operation. They have incorporated their research in a varied of speaking events that are part of the leadership development portion of the FFA program. 
·    Taking on a new project several students are creating from completely recycled materials a pheasant habitat to raise young pheasants to assist in the repopulation of pheasants in our area that was greatly diminished by the harsh 2010 winter.

Overall students in the program have developed a holistic outlook to conserving natural resources through their four year experience in the Ag program as conservation of natural resources is emphasized in all segments of the program.  Whether the students are involved in residential projects where they develop plans for water management throughout a landscape design, to working to recycle discarded items to increase the pheasant population in the area, to making management decisions for the best use of a parcel of land in order to preserve its natural resources, to teaching a large percentage of the patrons in the school district on the importance of conservation of natural resources in all phases of their operation in town as well in the rural segments of the area.  All of the FFA Chapter members gain an inner holistic sense for the importance of implementing conservation techniques in everything that they do.
 
Innovative techniques that members of the chapter have worked with include:  use of water sensors to manage water use in irrigated field increasing water management in additional acres in the school district, the increased awareness of what water blocks are and how their use in tiled fields can eliminate water waste, leaching of expensive fertilizers and reduce pollution that has caused the “Dead Zone” in the Gulf of Mexico, the opportunities that wind generated power can provide for farming operations as well as agro tourism for hunters from across the nation, to exploring how manure digesters can be used to produce electricity creating a growing interest in the topic due to the large quantity of manure that is produced in the school district and finally the districts patrons have learned research based non-biased information on carbon credits  FFA Chapter members are using their creative skills and personal initiative to develop a habitat for pheasants from all recycled materials in order to increase the depleted pheasant populations. 

The chapter members have created community impact through the in-depth knowledge developed and the presentations that they have developed through Ag demonstrations, public speaking events, land judging contests, and test plot field days they have educated members of our community on how the wise use of conservation techniques can save our valuable resources and have motivated many members of the community to adopt a wide variety of conservation techniques that have helped the operations increase their bottom line profitability as well as conserving our precious natural resources.
   
The Wisner Pilger FFA chapter sincerely appreciates the entire community for their support of all of their activities including:  attending parent’s night to help with speech and demonstration practice; digging hole to practice land judging, providing the land and inputs including seed, fertilizer, composted organic matter, planting and harvesting equipment for the test plots; attending test plot field days; and encouragement to continue to develop knowledge in new Agricultural technology.  The continued support of the Louis and Abby Faye Dinklage Foundation helps to underwrite the expenses of Chapter members competing in district, state and nationals contests.  FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. 



Cuming County Board of Supervisors Seeking Extension Board Nominations
Debra E. Schroeder, Extension Educator

The Cuming County Board of Supervisors, are seeking nominations for individuals interested in serving a three-year term on the Cuming County Extension Board.  Due to changes in the laws, Extension Board Members will be appointed by the Board of Supervisors rather than being elected, as had been the practice in the past.

Two positions on the Cuming County Extension Board are up for
appointment. The district lines are defined according to the Cuming County Board of Supervisors districts.  Nominees are needed for the districts served by supervisors Steve Sill, District II and Glen Wiechman, District IV. Potential candidates are encouraged to contact the Extension Office or the Cuming County Clerk, Bonnie Vogltance, to determine which supervisor district you reside in.

A nominating committee is seeking nominations or calls from interested individuals.  This nominating committee will be responsible for preparing a slate of potential candidates that will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for their consideration.  If you are interested in being a candidate, please feel free to contact the Cuming County Extension office 402/372-6006. You may also contact nominating committee members Kim Knobbe at 402/693-2790, Dr. Del Heftie at 402/529-6575 or 402/529-6931 and Lori Urwiler at 402/529-6332.

According to Extension Educator Debra Schroeder the operation of Extension should be given serious consideration by all county residents.  It operates the tax funds under the guidance of the Cuming county Extension Board.

Extension programs focus on priority needs and problems in five major programming areas including 1) Agriculture, 2) Natural Resources, 3) Home Economics and Family Life, 4) 4-H and Youth Development, and 5) Community Resource Development.



Cuming County Youth Celebrate National 4-H Week October 2-8
Leah M. Miller, Assistant Educator

October 2-8 is National 4-H Week, and Cuming County is celebrating the 4-H youth who have made an impact on the community, and are stepping up to the challenges of a complex and changing world.

Recent findings from Tufts University's 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development indicate that young people in 4-H are three times more likely to contribute to their communities than youth not participating in 4-H. Notably, the Tufts research discovered that the structured learning, encouragement and adult mentoring that 4-H'ers receive play a vital role in helping them actively contribute to their communities. In [name of county] County, more than [number] 4-H members and [number] volunteers are involved in 4‑H.

Also during National 4-H Week, hundreds of thousands of youth from all around the nation will complete a single, innovative experiment on 4-H National Youth Science Day, which will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. The 2011 National Science Experiment, Wired for Wind, will introduce young people to the possibilities of using wind as a clean, widely available, and low-cost source of renewable energy.

4-H youth are a living breathing, culture-changing revolution for doing the right thing, breaking through obstacles and pushing our country forward by making a measurable difference right where they live. Learn how you can Join the Revolution of Responsibility at 4-H.org/revolution, or contact the Extension Office.



Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Payments to Producers in 41 States to Expand the Production and Availability of Advanced Biofuels
Nebraska Receives Nearly $2.2 Million

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA will make payments to more than 160 energy producers in 41 states to support and ensure the production and expansion of advanced biofuels.  Three Nebraska based companies are among those receiving payments.

Ag Processing, Inc. in Omaha, Nebraska has been selected to receive a $2,177,108 contract payment to help offset the costs of producing advanced biodiesel from soybean and other vegetable oils produced in its Sergeant Bluffs, Iowa and St. Joseph, Missouri facilities.  In Fremont, Nebraska, Horizon Biofuels Inc. will use the contract payment of $1,844 to assist with costs associated with the production of biomass pellets from waste wood materials.  KAAPA Ethanol, LLC of Minden, Nebraska will utilize a payment of $1,028 towards the production of advanced ethanol fuel derived from sorghum produced in the Minden, Nebraska facility.

"Renewable energy production will create tens of thousands of direct, American jobs; thousands more indirect jobs, and clean electricity to power millions of homes. The payments I have announced represent the continuing commitment of the Obama administration to work with producers to provide the biofuels necessary to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign energy sources," Vilsack said. "The payments support America's growing advanced biofuels industry."

The payments are authorized under the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels (Section 9005 of the 2008 Farm Bill) and are made to eligible producers to support and ensure an expanding production of advanced biofuels. Payments are based on the amount of biofuels a recipient produces from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Eligible examples include biofuels derived from cellulose, crop residue, animal, food and yard waste material, biogas (landfill and sewage waste treatment gas), vegetable oil and animal fat.



Nebraska Corn Board to serve up corn-fed beef prior to Cornhusker football game on Saturday

What would you rather have…a buckeye or a ribeye?  When it comes down to a buckeye or a ribeye, the Nebraska Corn Board is confident Nebraska Cornhusker fans will chose the ribeye. They’re so confident, in fact, they’ll be cooking up and handing out samples of some great Nebraska corn-fed steak prior to the Cornhusker game on Saturday, Oct. 8.  They’ll begin serving on Stadium Drive on the west side of Memorial Stadium around 4 pm.

“Just look for the big Nebraska Corn Board display trailer and signs asking which you’d rather have…a buckeye or a ribeye,” said Alan Tiemann, chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board and a farmer from Seward. “I’m guessing everyone will take the ribeye, even the occasional Ohio State Buckeyes fan that shows up in Husker territory. It’s only fair we give them some great tasting ribeye while they’re here. It’ll be the highlight of their trip because for Nebraska fans, that corn-fed steak tastes a lot like victory.”

The promotion prior to the Cornhusker game is a component of the Nebraska Corn Board’s “Sustaining Innovation” program that includes sharing information about how Nebraska corn farmers are growing more corn with less fertilizer, less water and less environmental impact.

“We’re sharing the fact that Nebraska corn farmers have cut energy use 37 percent per bushel over the last three decades, and that we’re producing 87 percent more corn per ounce of fertilizer applied thanks to innovative farming practices,” Tiemann said. “We want people to know that 95 percent of America’s corn farms are family owned and operated, and that all farmers are committed to doing a better job every year.”

Nebraska Corn Board farmer-directors from across the state will be on hand during the game day promotion to share their story about how they are Sustaining Innovation. They are available for media interviews about the Sustaining Innovation campaign and can provide harvest updates and insight.

In addition to funding from the Nebraska corn checkoff, partners in the Cornhusker game day steak promotion include Cargill and Skeeter Barnes.



College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Offers Open House Nov. 12

Prospective and transfer students can learn more about the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources during the Experience the Power of Red Open House Nov. 12.

The open house from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Nebraska East Union on UNL's East Campus will allow students to meet with UNL faculty and staff, experience campus and learn about the college's 28 programs of study and two pre-professional programs, said Laura Frey, UNL college relations director.

"Students will be able to explore career opportunities, meet current students and register for a scholarship and other prizes," Frey said. "It is a great opportunity to see what the college is all about and connect with other future students."

The open house begins at 9 a.m. with a browsing session that allows guests to visit department displays to learn more about the college's programs of study. A welcome and overview will start at 10 a.m., followed by academic and parent sessions until 12:45 p.m. The open house wraps up with lunch and a scholarship drawing. Optional tours begin at 2 p.m.

Academic interest areas featured at the Experience the Power of Red Open House include: agribusiness/agricultural economics; agricultural education/agricultural journalism/hospitality; restaurant and tourism management; agronomy; animal science; applied science; biochemistry; food science and technology; food technology for companion animals; forensic science; grazing livestock systems; horticulture; insect science; mechanized systems management/agricultural engineering/biological systems engineering; natural resources; PGA golf management; plant biology; turfgrass and landscape management; and veterinary science.

Preregistration for the open house is due Nov. 4. For more information or to register, visit the Web at http://casnr.unl.edu/openhouse, or call 1-800-742-8800, ext. 2541.



Saluting Iowa’s pork producers during National Pork Month

October is National Pork Month, an opportunity for hog farmers to not only promote their industry, but to reflect on their recent success.

Iowa became the nation’s leading pork-producing state in the 1880s and it continues today with approximately 30 million hogs raised each year. More than 39,000 jobs are directly related to raising and caring for hogs in Iowa. The Iowa pork industry generates nearly $950 million in household income for pork producers and production alone contributes nearly $5 billion to the state’s economy.

The state’s pork producers have earned a strong international reputation of cost-efficiently producing quality pork that is safe and reliable and in 2010, exports of Iowa pork reached an all-time high of $1.1 billion. Exports to Japan, Mexico, Canada, China, Hong Kong and other countries help increase the price farmers receive for their hogs.

Much of the industry’s recent success can be attributed to the commitment of Iowa’s hog farmers to an industry-wide, continuous improvement program started in 2007 that outlines good production practices in the areas of food safety and animal well-being. Iowa producers have overwhelmingly embraced the Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus) program with more than 14,000 producers, employees and others involved in pork production on Iowa farms certified in the program. In addition, more than 5,300 production sites have been PQA Plus-assessed by an independent third party.

Demand for pork was bolstered last spring when the National Pork Board introduced a new branding position that celebrates pork’s ability to offer a wide range of kitchen options. With PORK® as the brand, the new campaign slogan of Pork® Be inspiredSM shows pork’s place in nearly any menu, day part, cuisine or lifestyle. The new brand targets the 82 million Americans who already cook, eat and love pork.

Another success story was written in May when the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service unveiled new cooking guidelines for pork. The announcement confirmed National Pork Board research that showed pork can be consumed safely when cooked to an internal temperature of 145º F. and followed by a three-minute rest period. The new pork cooking guidelines help consumers enjoy pork at its most flavorful, juicy and safe temperature.

As with all farmers, pork producers won’t rest on their laurels. They continue to look for new and improved ways to enhance pork quality, improve animal well-being, protect our natural resources and contribute to a better quality of life in our communities.



Pork Outlook Brightens

Finally pork producers have some positive news that has increased optimism for greater profitability in the coming year, said a Purdue University agricultural economist.

"That good news came from USDA in two forms. The first was the September Hogs and Pigs report which indicated little change in the size of the breeding herd. The second was the feed-price lowering impacts of higher-than-expected corn inventories revealed in the September Grain Stocks report," said Chris Hurt.

The combination of stronger hog prices and lower feed prices has put the pork outlook back into solid black for the coming year, he said.

Pork producers have largely settled for the status quo because of the uncertainty over feed prices. As a result, USDA says the breeding herd has expanded only slightly as producers awaited the corn and soybean yield and price outcomes of the troubled 2011 growing season, he said.

"USDA indicated that the breeding herd has increased just 0.6 percent over the past year. The expansion is occurring in the traditional hog production states of the Midwest. The breeding herd was up 4 percent in Missouri and 3 percent each in Ohio, Indiana, and Nebraska. Iowa's herd was up 1 percent," Hurt said.

While the breeding herd only increased fractionally, pork production will be up by a larger percentage due to the surging sow productivity. This summer, the number of pigs per litter set a new quarterly record at a bit over 10 pigs. This establishes the possibility that the yearly average will be at 10 pigs or higher for the first time, he said.

"In contrast, the weaning rate was at just nine pigs per litter in 2005. This represents an annual productivity growth of about 2 percent," he added.

Pork production for the coming year will be up 2 to 3 percent. This will be led by the higher sow productivity and by somewhat higher market weights with lower feed prices, Hurt noted.

"While pork production will be higher in the next 12 months, hog prices are expected to be higher, led by strong demand. The stronger demand will come from very low levels of beef available in the domestic market and from continued growth in pork exports," he said.

In the last 12 months, live hog prices averaged about $62 per hundred pounds with a forecast of $66 for the next 12-month period. Feed costs are expected to be lower over these two periods as well, with lower corn and soybean meal prices. Total feed costs are forecast to be about $1.75 per hundred lower in the coming 12 months, he said.

"The pork profit outlook has improved sharply in recent weeks," he added. "Producers had been targeting $7.00 cash corn prices as the profit fulcrum. Corn prices above $7.00 would throw many into losses, and prices below $7.00 could mean profits. U.S. corn prices are expected to average about $5.75 per bushel over the next 12 months, according to cash price forecasts from corn futures markets on Oct. 3," he said.

Of course, these corn prices are well below the $7.00 fulcrum and turn the profit outlook positive. In the past 12 months, estimated profits were about $5 per head. In the next 12 months, that turns to expected profits above $20 per head, which would be the highest estimated returns since 2006 when corn prices were still low, he noted.

"Given the profit outlook, will producers shift their thoughts toward expansion? The answer is that their thoughts may be moving in that direction but not their actions," he said.

The reason is because uncertainties remain so large. Those uncertainties include concerns about world economic growth and the impacts on pork demand as well as feed prices. When corn prices can change 40 cents in one day, pork producers know the profit outlook can be altered quickly, as was just witnessed in the month of September, he said.

If the current profit outlook holds over the next six months, then further expansion can be expected by the March or June reports in 2012, he noted.

According to Hurt, prospects for a return to normal yields in 2012 provide the likelihood for further moderation in corn prices in the fall of 2012. This would also be considered as a positive prospect that would encourage further expansion by mid- and late 2012.



Tracking Pork’s Carbon Footprint

As part of the pork industry’s continuing commitment to protecting the environment, pork producers are utilizing the Carbon Footprint Calculator software provided by the Pork Checkoff.

“The National Pork Board’s motivation for doing the Carbon Footprint Initiative was to help producers see where they could realize benefits from more efficient operations,” said Allan Stokes, director of environmental programs for the Pork Checkoff. “Also, this effort demonstrates producers’ commitment to doing the right thing, as outlined in the industry’s We Care initiative.”

The initial release of the Carbon Footprint Calculator made its debut during the annual World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 8.  Many producers, with a variety of production systems, took their first step in discovering how to become more socially responsible during the event by picking up the tool.

“The analysis helps us to understand the Green House Gas contribution of live-hog production relative to other portions of the overall pork chain,” Stokes said.

Pork producers can use this tool to enter information specific to their farm, such as rations, manure management systems and types and sizes of animal housing. The tool accommodates a variety of production systems, from confinement systems with lagoons or deep pits to production systems with pasture-raised pigs. The tool, which was developed and refined with producer input, generates a report for the producer’s use only.

“As we went through the literature review, I realized the complexity of the mathematical calculations behind the tool,” Spronk said.  “Yet, when you run the tool and it’s 17 steps, it really is very easy to input the data and get results.”

Using the Carbon Footprint Calculator validated Spronk’s decision to changeover all of the light bulbs in his facilities to the energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs, he said.  In addition, the tool can be used both proactively and retroactively.  It can help you make environmentally friendly and money saving decisions in the future as well as provide scientifically supported data for the decisions made in the past, according to Spronk.



NDSU Schedules Tri-State Sheep Tour

The North Dakota State University Extension Service is holding a tour of research and private sheep operations in South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa on Oct. 25 -26.

"The American sheep industry is experiencing record-breaking high lamb and wool prices, and that's inspiring many sheep producers to expand their operation," says Reid Redden, NDSU Extension sheep specialist. "It also is encouraging new producers to enter the business. As a result, North Dakota likely will see many new sheep flocks started by less-experienced producers with lots of questions."

The tour will provide more experience in the commercial sheep industry for producers and the Extension agents assisting them. Participants will visit state-of-the-art sheep facilities and meet sheep industry leaders in the north-central region of the U.S.

Tentative stops for the tour are:
-- South Dakota State University Sheep Unit, Brookings - Jeff Held will provide a tour of the sheep barn and discuss research topics at SDSU.
-- Dakota Lamb, Hurley, S.D. - Bill Aeschilmann will provide a tour of his custom lamb feed yard and discuss his lamb marketing business.
-- U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Neb. - Kreg Leymaster will provide an educational seminar on commercial sheep breeding systems and lead a tour of the research center.
-- Iron Horse Farms, Harlan, Iowa - Tom Schechinger will provide a tour of his 100 percent confinement sheep operation.

The registration fee is $50 to cover the transportation costs. The registration deadline is Oct. 14. For more information or to register, contact Redden at (701) 231-5597 or reid.redden@ndsu.edu.



Fertilizer Prices at a Standstill

As has been the case for the last several weeks, fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the fourth week of September 2011 continue to show very little movement in either direction.  All eight of the major fertilizers were higher compared to the fourth week of August, but none of the fertilizers rose significantly. DAP had an average price of $711 per ton, MAP $738/ton, potash $656/ton, urea $620/ton, anhydrous $814/ton, UAN28 $406/ton and UAN32 $454/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.67/lb.N, anhydrous $0.48/lb.N, UAN28 $0.73/lb.N and UAN32 $0.71/lb.N.

All eight major fertilizers are now showing double-digit increases in price compared to one year earlier. Leading the way higher is 10-34-0. The starter fertilizer has skyrocketed in recent months and is now 83% higher compared to the fourth week of September 2010.  Urea has jumped 43% higher in the last year while potash has climbed 36%, UAN32 34%, UAN28 33% higher and anhydrous 23%.  The two phosphate fertilizers again are bringing up the rear. DAP is 21% more expensive while MAP is 19% higher compared to September of 2010.



RFA Challenges Completeness of National Academy of Sciences Biofuel Report

The results of a new National Academies of Sciences (NAS) study, entitled “Renewable Fuel Standard: Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U.S. Biofuel Policy”, should be interpreted with extreme caution, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) warned today. Specifically, the NAS study released this morning and the executive summary reviewed by the RFA largely assesses ethanol and other biofuels in a vacuum and fails to appropriately compare the costs and benefits of renewable fuels to the impacts of the marginal petroleum sources they are displacing.

“Global demand for energy continues to escalate yet this report chooses to focus with laser-like precision on the perceived shortcomings of conventional and next-generation biofuels.  Instead, we should be comparing the relative costs and benefits of all future energy options,” said RFA Vice President Geoff Cooper, who presented oral testimony last year to the NAS National Research Council (NRC) committee tasked with drafting this report.  “Biofuels are increasingly displacing and delaying the need for marginal sources of petroleum—like Canadian tar sands and shale oil—that come with extreme environmental and economic costs.  Moreover, American ethanol production continues to evolve, reducing water and energy requirements while producing increasing amounts of fuel and livestock feed.  While today’s NAS report does recognize some of the improvements in biofuels production, it also rehashes many of the well-worn criticisms that have been discredited time and again.”

As for the report’s key finding, the RFA does share the committee’s view that commercializing advanced and cellulosic ethanol technologies will require more policy certainty and a recommitment to reducing oil import dependency.  The RFA has longed called for an extension of cellulosic ethanol tax incentives and a repeal of decades-old subsidies for the oil industry, totaling at least $4 billion a year in direct benefits. Stable policy will provide a foundation for the technology innovation that the NAS study says is needed to commercialize advanced biofuels.

“The report’s suggestion that unstable government policy could discourage investment in advanced biofuels shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone,” Cooper said. “Commercialization of next-generation biofuels will continue to be a challenge as long as the industry and investment community receive mixed signals from policymakers about whether there will be enduring support for biofuels. It is true that the goals of the RFS could go unmet if we continually keep telling ourselves that we can’t do it. Instead of wringing our hands about the challenges associated with revolutionizing our energy supply, we should immediately end the billions in subsidies channeled every year to the mature fossil fuel industry and invest in the advanced and cellulosic ethanol technologies and related infrastructure that are needed to get us over the hump.”

While the RFA has not had the opportunity to review the entire 446-page report in detail, a review of the key findings raises several red flags.

• At the report’s outset, the committee co-chairs state that “…our clearest conclusion is that there is very high uncertainty in the impacts we were trying to estimate.” They go on to write that, “[t]he bottom line is that it simply was not possible to come up with clear quantitative answers to many of the questions.” Despite these admissions, many of the report’s findings are stated definitively and will undoubtedly be interpreted by some as being conclusive in nature.

• Numerous studies have determined that corn-based ethanol and other biofuels provide large reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to gasoline.  Several of those studies are acknowledged in the NAS report, but they are significantly overshadowed by discussion of highly speculative and uncertain indirect GHG effects. However, even with the inclusion of the prescriptive indirect land use change emissions, the latest research published in Biomass & Bioenergy by Purdue University economists (including one of the NRC committee’s co-chairs) and the Department of Energy states “…at present and in the near future, using corn ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emission by more than 20%, relative to those of petroleum gasoline.” Further, they found “…second-generation ethanol could achieve much higher reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.” The NAS study refers to this report, but still inexplicably suggests the RFS may be ineffective in reducing GHGs.

• Equally troubling is this committee’s reliance on out-of-date ethanol efficiency data.  For instance, the committee concludes that ethanol production could take up to 1,500 gallons of water per gallon of ethanol.  This is simply untrue and extremely misleading.  Attributing the feedstock’s consumptive water needs that are met by rainfall to the biofuel is disingenuous. According to the latest research published in Biotechnology Letters, ethanol production today requires less than three gallons of water per gallon of ethanol. This value compares quite favorably to the water requirements for conventional gasoline production and is superior to the water requirements for unconventional sources like tar sands.  Unlike the oil industry, ethanol’s water demands continue to fall, decreasing some 30% in the last decade.

• The committee’s assertion that biofuels are only cost-competitive in an environment with high oil prices and an active carbon market is at odds with the realities of today’s transportation fuels market. Today, U.S.-produced grain ethanol is the lowest-cost liquid transportation fuel in the world. As such, global demand for U.S. ethanol is increasing dramatically and exports are booming. The efficiency gains that have enabled cost reductions in grain ethanol production are likely to apply to next-generation biofuels as well as the industry grows and matures.



Biodiesel Industry Statement on Renewable Fuel Study

Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs for the National Biodiesel Board, made the following statement regarding the report released Tuesday from the National Research Council on the Renewable Fuel Standard:

"We were pleased to see the authors reaffirm that biodiesel is an Advanced Biofuel that can meet the biomass-based diesel targets under the EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2). In fact, biodiesel - as an Advanced Biofuel under RFS - is also well-positioned to help fill the program's general volume requirement for Advanced Biofuels.

We agree with the authors that biofuels must be produced in a sustainable way to achieve our goals of improving the environment, reducing U.S. dependence on imported oil, and creating jobs. We believe the biodiesel industry is doing just that by displacing nearly 1 billion gallons of petroleum diesel this year while supporting some 31,000 jobs across the country.

We were happy that the authors recognized a wide variety of environmental and economic benefits from biodiesel. For example, they noted that soy biodiesel_ about half of U.S. biodiesel production_ has a positive impact on livestock feed prices, helping hold down costs. This is because only the oil - which accounts for about 18 percent of a soybean - can be used for fuel, and the highly nutritious soybean meal is used for feed. The report also reaffirmed that biodiesel significantly reduces particulate matter and other harmful tailpipe emissions when compared to petroleum diesel.

Regarding greenhouse gases, the report again makes clear that there are significant uncertainties surrounding the hypothetical modeling used to calculate indirect land-use change for biofuels. We believe the evidence demonstrates that biodiesel compares very favorably when compared to petroleum, as the EPA found in its most recent analysis, which shows that biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 57 percent to 86 percent, depending on the feedstock used.

Biodiesel is currently the most diverse fuel in the world, made from a wide variety of resources including secondary-use agricultural oils, animal fats and recycled cooking grease.  It is the only fuel produced on a commercial-scale across the country that meets the EPA's standards as an Advanced Biofuel."



World Dairy Expo Kicks-Off in Madison, WI

One of the largest agricultural events in Wisconsin takes place this week as World Dairy Expo opens its gates in Madison. Officials with the dairy and trade show say they expect about 65,000 people from over 90 countries to attend the five-day event through Saturday.

The festivities kicked off Monday with the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, National Intercollegiate & International Post-Secondary Dairy Cattle Judging Contests, 4-H Awards Banquet and the International Post-Secondary Judging Contest Awards Banquet.

Tuesday's show ring activities include the International Junior Holstein Show, Central National Ayrshire Show and Central National Jersey Show. The FFA Dairy Judging Contests will also be held today. And the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest will hold an auction of all first place winners on Tuesday, where all proceeds will go youth dairy programs.

Organizers say this year's tradeshow has nearly 800 exhibitors from 28 countries providing dairy producers a chance to explore everything from new self-propelled feed delivery systems to computerized herd management systems.

"Over 120 new companies will join this year, allowing dairy producers a chance to discover the latest inventions, go hands-on with the coolest gadgets and share the newest ideas in dairy management," said WDE Spokeswoman Janet Keller.

Meanwhile, the show will also feature its free educational seminars, virtual farm tours and plenty of concessions during each of the event's five days.



USGC Projects China Bumper Crop
Corn Imports Expected to Continue to Meet Surging Demand

The U.S. Grains Council today released estimates of a bumper corn crop in China of 167 million metric tons (6.6 billion bushels), an increase of approximately 9 million tons (3.54 million bushels) over last year. The estimate was developed by the USGC’s China Corn Harvest Tour, which concluded its annual survey last week. Given the projected corn harvest area of 30.9 million hectares (76.35 million acres), this implies a yield of 5.39 tons per hectare or 85.9 bushels per acre.

“As a farmer, I’m always happy to see strong harvests, and today’s figures are good news,” said Dr. Wendell Shauman, USGC chairman. “Demand for high quality protein continues to grow, thanks to the surging growth of the global middle class. As a result, world corn prices this summer and fall reached record highs. Strong harvests will help moderate prices and keep our international growth markets on track. In the long run, that’s good for both producers and consumers all around the world.”

The Council has conducted an annual China Corn Harvest Tour since 1996, at a time when it was the only independent, non-governmental crop information collected on China. The Tour consists of detailed field surveys in China’s major corn production regions conducted by teams of highly experienced private sector analysts with long experience in the China grain market.

Over the past seven years, the cumulative difference between the Council’s crop production estimate and the official Chinese government estimate is approximately 97 million tons (3.8 billion bushels). Private sector analysts generally believe China’s corn reserves, figures for which are not officially released, have been drawn down during this period. In addition, domestic corn prices are high, and in the last two years China has reemerged as a major corn importer.

“All around, government, private analysts and the Council say this is a good crop. However, the Council’s estimate indicates China’s production will be insufficient to meet anticipated domestic demand. In addition, China has drawn down its stocks below its comfort level, which is roughly 25 percent. The Council believes the 2011 production will provide for 14-16 percent ending stocks. Therefore, China will need to import to fully satisfy domestic demand and rebuild those stocks,” said Don Hutchens, Nebraska Corn Board executive director who participated in the Tour.

“With the fastest-growing middle class in the world, China has a great opportunity to enhance its food security through trade. That translates into a growing opportunity for U.S. producers over the next several years,” said Shauman.

As recently as 2002/2003, China exported nearly 600 million bushels of corn. Exports then began to decline, and China was a net importer in 2009/2010 and 2010/2011. Projections for China’s corn imports in 2011/2012 vary widely, from 2 million tons or 78.7 million bushels (USDA) to more than 10 million tons or 393.7 million bushels (private estimates).



Pioneer Hi-Bred Releases New Silage BMR Hybrid

Growers now have access to a brown midrib (BMR) trait in elite genetics from Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, providing hybrids with increased fiber digestibility for dairy cattle. The company is releasing Pioneer® hybrid P1376XR, a 113-day BMR hybrid, in limited quantities to growers primarily across the northeastern United States for the 2012 planting season.

"Through the industry-leading silage genetics research program, Pioneer plant scientists discovered a BMR gene in elite Pioneer germplasm," says Kyle Whitaker, Pioneer senior sales and marketing manager - global forages. "The new Pioneer BMR hybrid is unlike any BMR on the market today because of its outstanding agronomic performance. P1376XR combines the digestibility you expect from a BMR with tremendous yields, high starch, strong drought tolerance, and a robust disease and pest package."

This hybrid contains Herculex® XTRA insect protection for above- and below-ground protection, as well as the Roundup Ready® Corn 2 trait and the LibertyLink® gene.

Historically, growers who would plant BMR hybrids had to choose digestibility over tonnage, standability and overall plant health. Pioneer hybrid P1376XR possesses the strong agronomics package you expect from an elite Pioneer hybrid, staying healthy and standing in the field through harvest without sacrificing yield, compared to competitive BMR hybrids.

"New P1376XR helps growers capture the value of increased fiber digestibility without giving up tonnage," says Bill Mahanna, Pioneer dairy nutritionist. "Through testing, we know that increased fiber digestibility will lead to improved intakes and increased milk production. All these factors contribute to greater profitability on the farm."

For 2012 and 2013, Pioneer will offer one BMR hybrid, with plans for additional BMR hybrids by the 2014 planting season.

"Pioneer is excited to offer a BMR product, helping growers match the right product to their specific needs," Whitaker says. "Pioneer's nutritional sciences team is committed to helping growers increase production efficiency and whole-herd profitability and improving forage quality - whether that's with Pioneer® brand inoculant 11C33 with a BMR hybrid, or conventional silage hybrids paired with our fiber technology inoculant, 11CFT."