Friday December 16 Cattle on Feed + Ag News

NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED UP 4 PERCENT

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.56 million cattle on feed on December 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.  The inventory was up  4 percent from last year.  This is the highest inventory for any month since the data series began in 1994.  Placements in feedlots during November totaled 480,000 head, up 8 percent from 2010.  Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 375,000 head, 5 percent below last year.   Other disappearance during November totaled 15,000 head, up 50 percent from 2010.

IOWA:  
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots totaled 1.30 million head on December 1, 2011, according to the Cattle on Feed  report released by USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.  The inventory was up 10 percent from November 1, 2011 and up 1 percent from December 1, 2010.  Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head had 600,000 head on feed, up 5 percent from last month but down 5 percent from last year.  Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head had 700,000 head on feed, up 15 percent from last month and up 7 percent from last year.

Placements during November  totaled 313,000 head, an  increase of 17 percent  from  last month and up 37 percent from last year.   Feedlots with a capacity greater  than 1,000 head placed 133,000 head, up 5 percent  from  last month and up 17 percent from last year.  Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head placed 180,000 head. This is up 29 percent from last month and up 57 percent from last year.

Marketings for November were 185,000 head, down 17 percent from last month but up 3 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head marketed 100,000 head, down 20 percent from last month but up 11 percent from last year.     Feedlots with a capacity  less  than 1,000 head marketed 85,000 head, down 13 percent  from  last month and down 6 percent from last year. Other disappearance totaled 8,000 head.

United States Cattle on Feed
Cattle and  calves on  feed  for  slaughter market  in  the United States  for  feedlots with  capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.1 million head on December 1, 2011. The inventory was 4 percent above December 1, 2010. This is the second highest December 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

Placements  in feedlots during November  totaled 2.04 million, 4 percent above 2010. Net placements were 1.94 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing  less than 600 pounds were 755,000, 600-699 pounds were 499,000, 700-799 pounds were 375,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 410,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.77 million, slightly below 2010.  Other disappearance totaled 102,000 during November, 65 percent above 2010.

More information can be found here, including state by state numbers... http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/CattOnFe/CattOnFe-12-16-2011.txt. 



Brown Stepping Down as General Manager of Nebraska Rural Radio

Eric Brown announced today he is stepping down as general manager of the KRVN/Nebraska Rural Radio Association effective January 1st.  Brown, 66, who will remain with the company in a national sales and public relations role, has been general manager of the Lexington based company since 1979.  He will also work with the Nebraska Rural Radio Foundation.

Succeeding Brown will be Craig Larson.  Larson has been with the company since 1995.  He has  served as station manager of KTIC in West Point and KNEB in Scottsbluff.

Larson is a graduate of University of Nebraska at Kearney.  He holds a masters degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  He is a former chairman of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association.

“It’s an honor to follow a Hall of Fame broadcaster such as Eric,” Larson said.  “His contributions to agriculture and the radio industry are legendary.”

Brown was elected to the Nebraska Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2006 and was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Ag Achievement in 2008.



Fortenberry Measure Would Protect Detasseling

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today introduced a bill that would exempt detasseling from proposed federal Department of Labor rules limiting youth involvement in certain agricultural work.  Congressman Lee Terry is a cosponsor.

“We all believe in ensuring the safety of young people,” Fortenberry said.  “But this proposed rule could go as far as keeping teenagers from detasseling, a rite of passage in Nebraska and other Heartland states.   In the process, it would threaten a vital industry and an important economic opportunity for many Nebraskans.  This bill would exempt detasseling and related work from the new rules should they go into effect.”

Fortenberry, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, has also submitted to the Department of Labor his concerns about the proposed rule's potential impact on family farm operations and agricultural education programs such as 4-H and FFA.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Names 2012 Leadership Academy Members

Fourteen farmers and ranchers from across Nebraska have been selected for Nebraska Farm Bureau's 2012 Farm Bureau Leadership Academy program. They will begin the program on Jan. 19 and 20 in Kearney.

The academy is a series of seminars designed to develop and retain leaders for County Farm Bureaus and the state organization, Roger Berry, academy coordinator and vice president of member services for Nebraska Farm Bureau, said Dec. 12.

"The academy curriculum focuses on the opportunities for leadership within Farm Bureau and the opportunity to influence public policy through a Farm Bureau leadership role, at the county, state and federal level," he said.

Academy members will participate in sessions on entrepreneurial thinking, understanding the county/state/national structure of Farm Bureau and its grassroots policy process, policy issues important to agriculture, issue management, relationship building, presenting viewpoints and media training, including use of social media.

Participants attend two-day seminars in January, February, March and August. In September, the group will travel to Washington, D.C., for visits with Nebraska's Congressional delegation and federal agency representatives.

Academy participants are expected to increase their leadership involvement in Farm Bureau upon completion of the program, Berry said.

The 2012 Farm Bureau Leadership Academy members are:
•    Darin Zuhlke of Pierce is a member of the Pierce County Farm Bureau. He manages a wean-to-finish hog operation and works on the farm with his family, which also operates a custom feed mill.
•    Kathleen Thies of Fontanelle is a member of the Washington County Farm Bureau. She and her husband Paul own a small landscaping business and also raise fruits and vegetables.
•    John Dietrich of Leigh is a member of the Platte County Farm Bureau. He farms with his father and is half owner of a small herd of Black Angus cattle and also owns some Suffolk breeding ewes. He grows alfalfa and contracts part of his crop to a local dairy farmer and uses the rest for his livestock.
•    Pat McGill of Waverly is a member of the Lancaster County Farm Bureau. She and her husband John raise corn, soybeans and alfalfa and run a cow/calf herd and background breeding heifers for a ranch in Valentine.
•    Andrew McHargue of Central City is a member of the Merrick County Farm Bureau. He is a farm manager for a grain operation in Chapman and runs cows on stalks in the winter for a rancher in northern Nebraska. His wife's name is Emily.
•    Shelley Kurtzer of Lincoln is a member of the Lancaster County Farm Bureau. She works in the Nebraska Farm Bureau state office in the Member Services Department. She and her husband are partners in Kurtzer Brothers Garbage in Lincoln.
•    Sharilyn Sieck of Martell is a member of the Lancaster County Farm Bureau. She and her husband Brent have a cow/calf operation specializing in show cattle. They also raise corn, soybeans and irrigated grass.
•    Julius Goertzen of Aurora is a member of the Hamilton County Farm Bureau. He farms corn and soybeans with this father, brother and uncle.
•    Ben Keep of Scotia is a member of the Howard County Farm Bureau. He and his wife Jamie grow dryland and irrigated corn, soybeans, hay, alfalfa and grain sorghum. He also has a commercial cow herd and a small herd of Charolais cattle.
•    Sarah Bomark of North Platte is a member of the Lincoln County Farm Bureau. She and her husband Jason run their cows with his parents' herd.
•    Daniel McKeon of North Platte is a member of the Lincoln County Farm Bureau. He and his wife Traci grow corn and soybeans and work in agribusiness in the area.
•    Luke Norman of Crawford is a member of the Dawes County Farm Bureau. He and his wife Erin have a cow/calf operation and also raise alfalfa, grass and hay for the winter.
•    Jean Thunker of Paxton is a member of the Keith County Farm Bureau. She and her husband Wayne raise dryland crops and Jean also works as a message therapist.
•    Jena Ziemba of Gothenburg is a member of the Dawson County Farm Bureau. Jena and her husband Marty grow corn, soybeans and wheat. They also raise cattle. Jena also works as a registered nurse in Gothenburg.



Hunnicutts of Aurora Appointed to American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee

Zach and Anna Hunnicutt of Aurora have been appointed to the American Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee. Their term begins in March and they will serve through early 2014.

The Hunnicutts are one of 16 couples and individuals chosen for the committee; every region of the U.S. is represented. American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman announced the appointments Dec. 14.

 “Congratulations to these young farmers and ranchers, who are stepping up to serve as national Farm Bureau leaders,” he said. “As conscientious and hard-working stewards of our nation’s land, water and air, they take seriously their role as food producers for America’s consumers.” Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers are between the ages of 18 and 35.

The Hunnicutts were recommended for the committee by Nebraska Farm Bureau. “Zach and Anna are very deserving of this appointment. They will bring a great deal of enthusiasm to the national committee, as well as offering a very common-sense approach to the projects and subcommittees to which they will be appointed. As farmers who are very into social media, they will bring a new passion for agriculture to the committee,” said Cathy Day, Nebraska Farm Bureau director of special programs, who has worked with the Hunnicutts through their service on Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee.

The national committee members will study farm and food policy issues, participate in leadership training exercises and hone other professional skills during their service on the committee. The committee runs the Young Farmers and Ranchers competitions at the American Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and plans and conducts Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers National Conference.

The Hunnicutts grow corn, popcorn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum. They have two children, Everett, 4, and Adeline, 2. The couple will be recognized at the American Farm Bureau’s 2012 convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, next month. They are members of Hamilton County Farm Bureau.



Informa Hikes Corn Acres

Private analytical firm Informa Economics raised its outlook for U.S. corn plantings in 2012 and lowered projected soybean acreage for the second consecutive month on Friday, traders said.

Informa, a closely watched crop forecaster, projected corn plantings of 94.389 million acres, according to traders, up from a November estimate of 94 million. Farmers planted an estimated 91.9 million acres in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The firm projects soybean acreage of 74.608 million, down from a November estimate of 76.1 million and an estimate of 77 million the month before that.

Analysts say the potential returns on corn planting has remained more favorable than for soybean planting, although some have warned that futures prices for next year's crop could limit farmers' enthusiasm for corn.



China Soybean Output Down

Soybean output in China's Heilongjiang province, the top-producing area, fell 7.5% to 5.42 million metric tons this year, the local statistics bureau said in a statement this week.  Despite the decline, the official figure is still far higher than analysts' estimates of around 5 million tons, as farmers allocated more acreage to corn during planting, encouraged by high prices.  Heilongjiang accounts for about 40% of China's soybean production.

China's National Bureau of Statistics has yet to announce 2011 soybean output.  However, the state-backed grain research agency, the China National Grain & Oils Information Center, Wednesday maintained its domestic soybean output estimate at 13.5 million tons, down 10.5% on year.



USMEF-Korea Unveils Latest “To Trust” Campaign: World Class Beef
The newest installment in the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) beef imaging campaign in South Korea was released this week to help sustain the very positive growth trend for U.S. beef since it was reintroduced in Korea in 2008.

“World Class Beef” continues the “To Trust” theme, but is designed to help address those consumers, as well as end-users, such as restaurant owners, who have remained on the sidelines in the wake of extensive Korean media coverage that inaccurately reported concerns about American beef.

“Over the past two years, our ‘To Trust’ imaging campaign has helped us make significant gains in shifting consumer perceptions about U.S. beef,” said Jihae Yang, USMEF-Korea director. “Now, we are changing the focus from safety to quality and helping educate Korean consumers on the fact that U.S. beef is enjoyed by millions of people just like them all over the world.”

The “World Class Beef” story line, which was developed with support from the USDA Market Access Program (MAP) and the Beef Checkoff, depicts consumers in the United States, France, Mexico and Korea waking up to the delicious smell of beef with the message that world-class U.S. beef is enjoyed by families in 110 countries around the world.

The campaign will include television commercials on Korean networks as well as targeted cable channels in addition to print and subway advertisements.

“When Korean consumers sample U.S. beef, they realize that it is delicious and very competitively priced,” said Yang. “This campaign focuses on the positive qualities of U.S. beef, providing clear reasons why consumers should choose it for their families.

U.S. beef exports to Korea have made solid gains over the past two years. Last year exports jumped from 55,535 metric tons (122.4 million pounds) valued at $215.7 million in 2009 to 112,759 metric tons (248.6 million pounds) valued at $517.9 million. This year, exports are up another 43 percent in volume and 36 percent in value through the first 10 months of the year.



Council Leadership Team First to Follow Up on FTAs

An elite U.S. Grains Council delegation was the first group to meet with key officials in Panama and Colombia since U.S. passage of the Colombia and Panama free trade agreements (FTA).

USGC Chairman Wendell Shauman, National Corn Growers Association Chairman Bart Schott, were accompanied by Council staff, Floyd Gaibler, director of trade policy, Chris Corry, director of international operations, and Kirk Schultz, regional director in Latin America. The team explored the outlook for FTA implementation with government officials in both countries, with private sector grain customers, and with U.S. ambassadors and USDA staff.

“The Council has been committed to regaining unfettered access to markets in both Panama and Colombia,” Shauman said. “The FTA will go far toward reversing trade flow of South American corn and soybeans moving into the Caribbean Basin.”

Schott, who spent much of his year as NCGA president working for U.S. ratification of the agreements, said, “Our purpose was to see how far those folks have gone on implementing the FTAs,” said Schott, who spent much of his year as NCGA president working for U.S. ratification of the agreements.

“In Colombia, we met with a couple of big conglomerates, and they are very excited about the new FTA. Some thought it would be implemented by April, some said June, and some said the end of the year,” Schott reported.

“Now it sounds like [implementation] will progress smoothly in Panama and Colombia, and we’ll be back exporting corn to them,” he added.

The delegation also used the opportunity to answer questions about the availability and quality of U.S. feed grains, reconciling concerns about high levels of dust and foreign material in some shipments.

Both countries are currently sourcing corn from Argentina, and it’s very good quality, according to Shauman. However, excitement about the shipping advantage with U.S. feed grains is clear. Panamanian customers, for example, can place an order and receive their shipment within five days.

Once fully implemented, the Colombian FTA is expected to increase all U.S. agricultural exports by an additional $370 million per year. In Panama, the pact is projected to produce an additional $46 million in annual sales.



Senate Bill Would Require Better Lighting on Ag Equipment

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers applauds U.S. Senate committee approval of legislation to improve safety on rural roads by providing consistency regarding lighting and marking requirements for agricultural machinery. The bill was included in a highway safety bill approved by a voice vote of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The association expects to now see the measure combined with the "highway bill" due for consideration early in 2012.

The measure uses the standard developed by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for establishing a national minimum for lighting and marking agriculture equipment. Many states have already incorporated the ASABE standard or earlier versions into their motor vehicle codes, and ASABE says that, as a result, "countless American lives have been spared from roadway tragedy."

AEM supports the legislation, and at AEM's request, Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sen. Thune (R-SD) introduced the legislation. Sen. Stabenow (D-MI), Chair of the Ag Committee, is a co-sponsor. Two members of the House of Representatives, Phil Hare (D-IL) and Aaron Schock (R-IL), sent a "Dear Colleague" letter to other members of the House in support of the legislation. The letter points out the need for federal legislation since "state laws that apply vary widely, often representing outdated technology."

The letter stated, '55-percent of all traffic fatalities occur on rural two-lane roads where agricultural equipment is moved from field to field during the dimly-lit periods of dawn and dusk, and proper lighting and marking can enhance visibility and increase the safety of transportation on these roads.'

The bill is not retroactive and thus will pose no costs to farmers for existing machinery.



Harkin: Senate-House Appropriations Agreement Contains Vital Funding for Army Corps; FEMA Disaster

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that House and Senate negotiators had reached agreement on an Appropriations measure that will provide significant funding to combat flooding and flood-related damage in Iowa.  The measure also contains funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster fund.  Both the House and the Senate are expected to vote in favor of the measure later today.

Harkin is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and its Energy and Water Development subcommittee, which funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“I am pleased that the U.S. House and Senate worked out an agreement that provides needed funding for flood structure repair so vital to Iowa,” said Harkin.  “Repairing these levees is crucial since the state may encounter future high water along the Missouri River.  I am, however, disappointed that the measure did not include a reimbursement for the Corps to recover some funds they had shifted from various ongoing projects for flood fighting and repair.”

Under the measure, the Corps will receive $1.7 billion for disaster costs including $388 million for the repair of flood damaged levees and other structures across the nation, including those in Southwestern Iowa.  This funding will allow the Corps to move forward with the repair of levees under their jurisdiction.  This sum should be sufficient to fully repair the levees under the jurisdiction of the Corps along the Missouri River in Southwestern Iowa.  

The Appropriations measure also includes $6.4 billion for the FEMA disaster fund.  Without additional funding, FEMA would likely have to limit their spending to immediate disaster needs, deferring their long- term disaster repair and mitigation work in January. 

Levees expected to receive funding with for their repair in Southwestern Iowa include those protecting Bartlett, Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, Hamburg, Omaha, Pacific Junction, Percival, and the rural areas near those communities. 

Earlier this week, Harkin discussed the need to move forward on levee repair with Jo-Ellen Darcy, the Assistant Secretary for Civil Works.  He spoke of both the need to move forward as quickly as possible and with full strength.  He also raised the possibility of preserving a variety of temporary levees for the long-term, particularly noting the Hamburg levee.   



Maid-Rite Awarded 2011 Iowa Beef Backer Award

Iowa's cattlemen have chosen Maid-Rite as the recipient of the 2011 Iowa Beef Backer Award. This annual honor is presented to an Iowa restaurant that goes the extra mile menuing and promoting beef.

"Maid-Rite has an eighty-five year commitment to serving beef to customers across Iowa," said Dan Cook, chairman of the Iowa Beef Industry Council and cattlemen from New Providence, Iowa. "Their dedication to customer service, safety and quality is to be commended. They are a loyal partner to the beef industry and are deserving of the Iowa Beef Backer Award."

"Customer loyalty to our signature menu item, the popular Maid-Rite sandwich, which is a fresh ground beef loose meat sandwich that is made at the time of the customer's order, has made our restaurant chain a Midwestern institution." said Bradley L. Burt, President & CEO of Maid-Rite. "Our business was founded in 1926 on great tasting beef and beef continues to be its cornerstone. We are proud to say our restaurants only serve 100% fresh Midwestern ground beef."

As the Iowa winner, the restaurant chain will compete for the National Beef Backer title which will be announced in Nashville, Tenn., during the Cattle Industry Annual Convention in February.

Maid-Rite has 70 franchise restaurants throughout Iowa and the Midwest. More information can be found by visiting Maid-Rite.com.



Farmers Voice Opinions on Climate Change in 2011 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll

Many Iowa farmers are concerned about the potential impacts of climate change on agriculture, but opinions differ about the causes and questions remain about how to address the issue, according to the 2011 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll.

Results from the annual poll are available in the 2011 Summary Report, PM 3016, which can be downloaded at no cost from the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Online Store, www.extension.iastate.edu/store/.

J. Gordon Arbuckle Jr.“In the past several years, extreme weather events in Iowa and across the Midwest have led to discussions about climate change and its potential impacts on agriculture,” said ISU Extension Sociologist J. Gordon Arbuckle Jr., who co-directs the survey with ISU Extension Sociologist Paul Lasley. “We wanted to understand Iowa farmers’ perspectives on this issue.”

The 2011 poll measured beliefs about whether climate change is occurring, possible causes, potential impacts and appropriate responses from the private and public sectors. Farmers also were asked to rate their level of trust or distrust toward specific agencies, organizations or groups as sources of information on climate change.

Arbuckle said 1,276 farmers participated in the poll. On average, the participating farmers were 65 years old, and 51 percent earned more than half of their income from farming.

Beliefs and concerns about climate change
Overall, 68 percent of farmers indicated that they believe climate change is occurring, Arbuckle said. Of those, 35 percent believed that climate change is caused by both natural variations in the environment and human activities. About a quarter of farmers attributed climate change to natural changes in the environment, and 10 percent believed that it is caused mostly by human activities.

“A number of farmers expressed uncertainty or skepticism about climate change. Twenty-eight percent indicated that there is insufficient evidence to determine with certainty whether climate change is occurring or not. Five percent did not believe that climate change is occurring,” Arbuckle said.

More than 40 percent of farmers expressed concern about the potential impacts of climate change on Iowa agriculture, and almost half believe that extreme weather events will happen more frequently in the future, Arbuckle continued. “However, there is also a lot of uncertainty about these issues.”

Potential responses to climate change
In general, farmers appeared to favor individual and private sector responses to the threat of climate change over response by the public sector, Arbuckle said.

“For example 62 percent indicated that seed companies should develop crop varieties adapted to changes in weather patterns. Sixty-one percent agreed that farmers should take steps to protect their land from increases in precipitation, and 46 percent indicated farmers should increase investment in agricultural drainage systems,” Arbuckle said. “On the other hand, farmers were more uncertain on whether public entities such as state agencies should take steps to address climate change.”

Trust in sources of climate information
Farmers also were asked to rate a list of agencies, organizations and individuals regarding how much they did or did not trust them as sources of information about climate change and its potential impacts.

“Of the groups listed, only university extension was trusted by a majority of farmers. At 54 percent, extension was a more trusted source of climate change information than any other individual or entity,” Arbuckle said.

The mainstream news media and radio talk show hosts were the least trusted groups: less than 10 percent of farmers trust them as sources of information about climate change, while about 60 percent distrust them, Arbuckle noted.



Solum's "No Wait Nitrate" Field Lab Chosen for Research Programs at National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment

Solum, Inc., a leader in advanced field measurements for commercial agriculture, today announced that its No Wait Nitrate field lab has been chosen by the National Lab for Agriculture and the Environment (NLAE) to support soil nitrate measurements across a broad set of field research programs.

The National Lab, located on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, coordinates USDA research through program units focused on Soil, Water, and Air Resources; and Agro-ecosystems Management.

Through the use of Solum’s "No Wait Nitrate" field lab technology, the NLAE will be adding immediate nitrate measurements to its portfolio of soil analysis techniques. “Solum’s soil measurement technology is a nice addition to our analytical capabilities,” says Dr. Jerry Hatfield, Director of the NLAE. “Accurate, real-time soil nitrate measurements will provide a critical data layer across a number of our current research projects.”

Since its introduction to ag retailers and consulting agronomists in Spring 2011 the "No Wait Nitrate" field lab has provided reliable soil nitrate measurements on more than 11,000 in-season, field-moist samples from cropping systems across the United States.

The field labs integrate soil processing, quality control, and immediate results into a robust analytical instrument. “We are fortunate to be working with many of the leaders in our industry and look forward to supporting the research programs at the National Lab,” says Mike Preiner, President and Co-founder of Solum, Inc. “Accuracy and quality are two cornerstone commitments in our new product development. Our partnership with the National Lab is a direct reflection of our technical team’s commitment to both.”

Solum is also currently piloting a second product, the Readout ReadyTM field lab, which processes and prepares field-moist soil samples for complete nutrient analysis as well as measurement of the soil’s physical properties.



Gillespie New Director of Iowa Soil Conservation

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that Jim Gillespie has been hired as the new director of the Division of Soil Conservation within the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Chuck Gipp, the previous director, left earlier this year to become deputy director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The Division of Soil Conservation is responsible for administering state programs and providing leadership to farmers, landowners, communities and others to promote the protection and management of soil, water and mineral resources. The Division also assists Soil and Water Conservation Districts and private landowners to meet their agricultural and environmental protection needs.

"Jim has extensive experience with both the people and the programs that make-up the Division of Soil Conservation and I know he will provide strong leadership as the Division continues its work to protect our air, soil and water," Northey said. "We had a number of strong candidates for the position and I know Jim will do a great job."

"I look forward to working with farmers, landowners, partners, and soil and water conservation districts to continue to build on the 'culture of conservation' that is so strong in our state," Gillespie said. "There are great opportunities ahead for Iowa agriculture due to the growing world population and the need to produce more food, so the Division's work to support efforts to protect our soil and water remains tremendously important. It is vital that these resources remain protected and productive for future generations."

Gillespie has served as field services bureau chief for the department since 1989. In this position he has overseen the work of 136 employees for the Division in 100 offices around the state and worked in partnership with the 500 elected Soil and Water Conservation Commissioners.

Previously Gillespie served as a field representative in the Division of Soil Conservation and worked with county soil and water conservation districts on local resource management issues.

He graduated from Northwest Missouri University with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with an emphasis on agriculture. After graduation he taught agriculture classes at Earlham Community School and served as the FFA advisor for four years before joining the Department.

Gillespie and his wife Terri live in Earlham have 4 adult children.

Iowa is a national leader in the implementation of water quality and watershed projects, soil conservation, buffer programs, and mined land reclamation. Iowa currently leads the nation in the continuous conservation reserve program buffer initiative with more than 600,000 acres. Iowa also has more than 60 active watershed and water quality projects across the state.

"We have great employees within the Division of Soil Conservation that work very hard to advance conservation both on the farm and in town and Jim will provide strong leadership as they continue their work with landowner, farmers, stakeholders, and others to better care for our state's precious natural resources," Northey added.



MONSANTO’S VISTIVE GOLD SOYBEANS TRAIT RECEIVES USDA DEREGULATION

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it has deregulated the biotech trait, MON 87705, in Monsanto’s Vistive® Gold soybeans. The improved soybeans produce soybean oil with increased levels of monounsaturated fat while significantly lowering saturated fat. 

“With the availability of Vistive Gold soybeans, farmers will soon be able to deliver an economical and sustainable source of nutritionally improved soybean oil to consumers and food companies,” said Joe Cornelius, Monsanto global technology lead for food quality traits. “Vistive Gold soybeans are a breakthrough innovation that represent years of collaboration across the food supply chain. Monsanto worked closely with the food industry, health and nutrition communities and agricultural sector to bring a biotechnology trait with direct consumer benefit. The result, Vistive Gold soybeans, is one step closer to reality with the recent USDA deregulation.”

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans calls for the reduction of solid fat, including saturated fat and trans fat, in the diet. Vistive Gold soybean oil will provide food companies an option to further reduce saturated fat and maintain zero trans fat in a range of food products. Vistive Gold soybean oil has 60 percent less saturated fat with significantly increased monounsaturated fat, which leads to substantially improved oil stability, compared with conventional soybean oil. Because of the increased stability, Vistive Gold soybean oil does not have to be hydrogenated, and, therefore, does not contain trans fat.

“Consumers want to reduce saturated and trans fats in their diets, but they find it challenging to abandon favorite fried and baked foods,” said Mary Lee Chin, MS, RD, President, Nutrition Edge Communications. “Vistive Gold soybean oil, high in monounsaturated fat--which is recommended as a replacement for solid fat--offers nutritional benefits while allowing consumers to enjoy the foods they love.”

Vistive Gold soybean oil also provides the flavor quality that consumers expect.

In addition to the consumer and food company benefits, Vistive Gold is also an important innovation that will enhance demand for U.S.-produced soybeans. The Vistive Gold trait will be stacked with the Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield® trait, providing farmers with soybean varieties that deliver outstanding agronomic and yield performance.

The USDA deregulation of MON 87705 completes the regulatory processes in the United States, allowing for field testing and seed production to take place within the United States. All field tests and seed production will be conducted under strict stewardship guidelines until Monsanto has obtained the necessary regulatory approvals in the key soybean export markets. The Food and Drug Administration completed the consultation process in January 2011. The trait has also been approved for use in Canada.