Monday December 19 Ag News

Planning for a Good Calving Season
UNL Extension Educator Larry Howard, Cuming County

While most people are thinking of holiday plans and family get-togethers, many beef producers are concerned with the rising price of feed ingredients and how winter storms will impact their cow herds.  With nearly 90% of fetal growth occurring in the last three months of the cow's pregnancy, we look at body condition score as one of the best measures of how the cow will perform during calving, but late-gestation cow nutrition is important for the health of the newborn calf, too, because the nutrition of the cow impacts the eventual calf's immune status and survivability.

In cattle, the survival of the calf is dependent on its receiving high-quality colostrum within the first 24 hours of life.  Newborn calves can't fight a bacterial or viral challenge until they have acquired passive immunity through the IgG in colostrum.  With cattle, the newborn calf's small intestine can only absorb IgG during the first 24 hours of life.  Furthermore, within the first 24 hours of life, the timing of the calf receiving colostrum is critical as the ability to absorb IgG from the small intestine starts to decline after the first 6 hours, and is essentially stopped after 24 hours.  Therefore, for optimum immunity, the calf needs to nurse well within the first 6 hours. With first-calf heifers, this timing is an important management issue, as heifers that don't let their newborn calves nurse immediately are in a much greater danger of losing them, or having them get sick.

As cattle go through the winter, they will lose body condition due to the nutrient demands of the growing fetus, plus dealing with winter weather, unless nutrition is excellent. From an energy standpoint, body condition scoring is an excellent way to assess the cow herd. In areas where forages are protein deficient, protein supplementation during late gestation has been shown to have several positive effects on reproduction.  In all cases, the health of the newborn calf is impacted by the quality and the quantity of colostrum consumed. The nutrition of the cow in late gestation determines this, with the production of colostrum beginning approximately 5 weeks before calving.

Body condition scores (BCS) describe the relative fatness or body condition of a cow herd through the use of a nine-point scale.  A body condition score five cow is in average flesh and represents a logical target for most cow herds. A BCS 1 cow is extremely thin while a BCS 9 cow is extremely fat and obese.  Body condition score of beef cows at the time of calving has the greatest impact on subsequent rebreeding performance.  If body condition scoring is new to you, just focus on separating cows into thin, moderate, and fat groups without worrying about the numerical score.  You can get additional information from UNL Extension to assist you learning to use the scoring system.



Beef Profit Tips Programs

The Beef Profit Tips program is available several dates across Nebraska January 3rd through January 11th.

January 3, 2012 program will be held at the Prim Town Pub in Primrose, NE beginning at 5:00 p.m.  Rick Funston, Heather DePra, Steve Pritchard and Dennis Bauer will be speaking about the following topics: Fetal Programming, Animal Health Product Differences, Bred Heifer Enterprises, and Using Distiller's Solubles on Ground Hay & Windrows.  Registration is $20 a person. Contact Steve Pritchard at 402.395.2158.

January 10, 2012 program will be held at Klub 81 in Humphrey, NE beginning at 11:00 a.m.  Rick Rasby, Heather DePra, Steve Pritchard and Dennis Bauer will be speaking about the following topics: Corn Stalk Grazing, Added Value Cuts, Animal Health Product Differences, and Using Distillers Solubles on Ground Hay & Windrows.  Registration is $20 a person. Contact Steve Pritchard at 402.395.2158.

January 10, 2012 program will be held at the Stanton Community Building in Stanton, NE beginning at 5:00 p.m.  Rick Rasby, Heather DePra, Steve Pritchard and Dennis Bauer will be speaking about the following topics: Corn Stalk Grazing, Added Value Cuts, Animal Health Product Differences, and Using Distillers Solubles on Ground Hay & Windrows.  Registration is $20 a person. Contact Steve Pritchard at 402.395.2158.

January 11, 2012 program will be held at the Hartington City Auditorium in Hartington, NE beginning at 11:00 a.m.  Heather DePra, Steve Pritchard and Dennis Bauer will be speaking about the following topics: Animal Health Product Differences, Heifer Development Strategies, Mineral Needs Feeding DDGs, and Barta Bros Ranch Update.  Registration is $20 a person. Contact Dennis Bauer at 402.387.2213.

January 11, 2012 program will be held at the City Hall in Dakota City, NE beginning at 5:30 p.m.  Steve Pritchard and Dennis Bauer will be speaking about the following topics: Heifer Development Strategies, Feeding Distillers to Yearlings on Grass, Distillers Grain Storage, and Using Distillers Solubles on Ground Hay & Windrows.  Registration is $20 a person. Contact Dennis Bauer at 402.387.2213.



Animal Welfare and Current Industry Issues for Livestock Producers

As the world population continues to grow; safe and wholesome food production remains a top priority. It is essential that livestock producers make themselves familiar with the perceptions and perspectives of animal welfare in relation to consumers, retailers, and advocacy groups. Four educational programs for livestock producers will be held across Nebraska to address these issues.   Dates and locations for the educational programs are as follows:
    February 6, 2012: West Point
    February 7, 2012: Lincoln
    February 8, 2012: Kearney
    February 9, 2012: Gering

Registration is at 9:30 a.m. and the program is 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The educational programs are designed to give livestock producers the knowledge needed to continue to do what they do best—feed the world. Early bird registration (before February 1, 2012) is $50 per person and $25 for each person from the same operation; registration at the door is $60 per person, and $30 for each additional person from the same operation. Price includes meal, break, and proceedings. These educational programs are being sponsored by the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

Speakers include: Dr. Candace Croney, Purdue University; Dr. Dan Tompson and Dr. Glynn Tonsor, both from Kansas State University; and Mr. Jim Robb from the Livestock Marketing Information Center.

For more information please contact one of the following Extension Educators, or visit their county website for the program brochure:
    Lindsay Chichester, Richardson County, 402-245-4324, richardson.unl.edu
    Denny Bauer, BKR Counties, 800-634-8951, bkr.unl.edu
    Troy Walz, Custer County, 308-872-6831, custer.unl.edu



Boone/Nance Cattlemen Banquet

The Boone/Nance Cattlemen will hold their banquet on March 31, 2012 at the Event Center in Albion, Nebraska. The banquet will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a social and then the meal will be served at 7:00 p.m. Games and fun to follow.



Sioux City Crop Fair Jan 4

Come to the Sioux City Stoney Creek Inn on Wednesday, January 4th from 10:00 to 3:00 for the Sioux City Crop Fair. Speakers will be discussing topics ranging from farming after the flood to the farm bill. The Hefty Brothers, who host Ag-PhD on RFD-TV will be sharing information about their on-farm research and will share ways to enhance your farming operation. Since weather plays a huge role in your farm operation, the state climatologist will be speaking about the outlook for the weather in 2012. Come learn about these topics and more at Sioux City January 4th! Lunch will be provided. For more information visit www.necga.org.




Jan. 5 Fremont Corn Expo Offers Growers Ideas and Strategies to Remain Competitive

From farming with precision technologies to what weather predictions are for 2012, the Fremont Corn Expo Jan. 5 will help farmers and agribusiness professionals remain competitive in the corn industry.

Registration for the free event begins at 8 a.m. with a complimentary breakfast and a chance to view exhibits. The expo, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the main arena at Christensen Field in Fremont, is designed for growers, crop consultants, agronomists, seed corn representatives, and others looking to improve corn production, marketing and utilization. A complimentary lunch will be served to expo participants.

The expo highlights topics identified by corn growers as important to their farming operations. Featured speaker Brian Hefty, farmer and co-host of Ag-PhD on RFD-TV, is convinced there is potential for more grain and more profit. Hefty, who with his brother farm 2,500 acres, will share some of his own on-farm research work and strategies that have enhances his operation. Other program topics include: Farming after the Flood, John Wilson, UNL Extension; Variable Rate Fertility and Seeding Strategies, John Shanahan, Pioneer Hi-Bred International; What’s Happening in Washington, D.C. -- A Look at the Farm Bill, Sam Willet, National Corn Growers Association; Business and Industry Update; Our Top 10 Farming Practices Learned from On-farm Research, Hefty; and Will the Current La Nina Pattern Cause Production Problems in 2012?, Al Dutcher, UNL climatologist.

A special nitrogen applicator and irrigation management certification training will be conducted for Lower Platte North Natural Resources District producer at 3 p.m.

For more information contact Dave Varner, at 402-472-2775 or dvarner1@unl.edu. The program flier is available at http://dodge.unl.edu/web/dodge/FremontCornExpo. Exhibitor space is available.

The Fremont Corn Expo is sponsored by UNL Extension, Colfax-Dodge County Corn Growers and Area Agribusiness, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Corn Board, Fremont Area Chamber Agricultural Business Council, Dodge County Farm Bureau and Iowa Corn Growers.


Environmental Stewardship Program Rewards Cattlemen

Cattlemen from across the nation are annually recognized for outstanding environmental stewardship practices and conservation achievements through the Environmental Stewardship Award program. The award program was established in 1991 by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. The award is made possible by the generous support and sponsorship of Dow AgroSciences, LLC, the United State Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“The Environmental Stewardship Award highlights our nation’s cattlemen for their excellence in land stewardship and management and allows cattlemen to showcase to the public the positive environmental benefits of farming and ranching,” said NCBA CEO Forrest Roberts. “The award also helps cattle producers across the country learn about examples and ideas of how to engage in beneficial environmental practices on their own farms and ranches. Award recipients excel in the areas of water management, wildlife, vegetation, air, soil, sustainability and the overall leadership abilities of their farms or ranches.”

Nominations for the 2012 award are due by March 2, 2012. Nominations can be submitted by any organization, group, or individual on behalf of a U.S. cattle producer. However, individuals and families cannot nominate themselves. Past nominees are eligible and encouraged to resubmit an application. Previous winners may not reapply. Applications are available online at http://environmentalstewardship.org. For further assistance or information about the program, contact Jill DeLucero at jdelucero@beef.org.



Bolster Confidence In Futures Market, Urges NPPC

Pointing out that pork producers depend on risk-management tools, including futures contracts, to deal with the volatility in feed grain and hog prices, the National Pork Producers Council today urged Congress to bolster confidence in the futures market in the wake of the MF Global bankruptcy.

In written testimony submitted for the record today to the Senate and House agriculture committees and to the House Financial Services Committee, NPPC said most producers were unaware of their connection to MF Global and were stunned to learn in early November, when the clearing broker filed for bankruptcy, that their futures accounts were frozen and funds were “missing.” (As much as $1.2 billion of customer funds may have been comingled with MF Global money and used to buy risky European debt.)

Pork producers who produce at least 20 percent of U.S. hogs had funds with MF Global. Most, if not all, of them, however, did not deposit their funds directly with the clearing broker. They opened futures trading accounts with an “introducing” broker, which put the funds into MF Global.

NPPC raised in its testimony a number of questions about the MF Global situation:
-    Are there mechanisms that can be put in place to prevent another MF Global?
-    Will customers be given priority in the bankruptcy proceedings to recover funds?
-    Will producers whose funds were with MF Global be made whole?
-    How will the transfer of funds from MF Global to new accounts with other clearing brokers be treated by the Internal Revenue Service?
-    Will actions be taken to simplify and expedite claims to recoup funds?

The organization also offered a number of possible ways to prevent customer futures accounts from being compromised, including:
-    Impose stiffer criminal and/or civil penalties for misuse of customer accounts.
-    Require brokers to obtain permission before using customers' funds for purposes other than customer transactions.
-    Extend to commodities exchange customers insurance similar to that provided to securities investors through the Securities Investors Protection Corporation.
-    Require other financial tests and additional audits of brokers and dealers by governmental and non-governmental entities.



November Milk Production up 2.2 Percent
                       
Milk production in the 23 major States during November totaled 14.7 billion pounds, up 2.2 percent from November 2010. October revised production at 15.2 billion pounds, was up 2.5 percent from October 2010. The October revision represented an increase of 1 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.  Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,738 pounds for November, 16 pounds above November 2010.  The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.48 million head, 108,000 head more than November 2010, but unchanged from October 2011.



AGCO Expecting Profitable Year in 2012

Farm equipment maker Agco Corp. said on Friday it expects relatively flat global demand in 2012 but said a recent acquisition would boost earnings to about $5 per share.

The company, whose rivals include Deere & Co and CNH Global NV, said it expects sales to rise 10 percent to 15 percent next year. It forecast "level" demand in Western Europe but healthy growth in Eastern Europe and Russia and said farm fundamentals are strong in Brazil, a key market for agricultural equipment.

Agco this month completed a $928 million acquisition of GSI Holdings, a maker of grain storage systems. It said the deal should add 45 cents a share to next year's profit, reports Reuters.

It was not immediately clear whether average analyst estimates of $4.68 per share in 2012 earnings included that acquisition.



RCIS continues partnership with BASF to benefit growers

Corn growers in Kentucky and Michigan are now among those who may qualify, along with growers in eight other states, to reduce their crop insurance premiums when they use Headline fungicide or Headline AMP fungicide through Insurance Advantage by BASF.

Rural Community Insurance Services customers in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin who protect their corn acres with a Crop Hail Policy and Green Snap Lodging wind protection may qualify for free Extra Harvest Expense coverage by using Headline or Headline AMP.

"RCIS, the nation's largest crop insurance company based on premium, is pleased to partner with BASF,“ said Mike Eade, RCIS Director of Marketing and Strategic Alliances. "The Insurance Advantage offers another potential way for producers in approved states to manage risk and protect yields."

“Headline and Headline AMP continue to lead in performance, providing superior disease control and Plant Health benefits. On-farm research shows that Headline AMP delivers more bushels of corn per acre than any other fungicide on the market,” said Daryl Theis, Product Manager, BASF. “Headline and Headline AMP help corn growers manage risk and get the most out of every acre. The extension of our agreement with RCIS is a testament to our shared commitment to help growers minimize risk.”



ISA Policy Conference sets priorities for 2012 session

Directors and delegates from Iowa’s nine crop districts met in Ankeny on Thursday, Dec. 15, for the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Annual Meeting and Policy Conference. Close to 70 people attended the session that featured presentations from legislative and congressional experts, including Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Branstad remarked on the recent record increase in farmland prices, China’s continued importance as Iowa’s largest importer of soybeans, along with a growing relationship with South Korea, and the post-flood situation along the Missouri River Basin and the measures needed to make sure such flooding does not happen again by holding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers responsible.

Branstad and other governors in the Missouri River Basin, excluding Montana, have formed a task force to make flood control a top priority.

“The goal is to make sure there is not a repeat, and if there is excessive snowfall in the Rockies again, to make sure the water is released from the reservoirs earlier,” Branstad said.

Tina May with the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee and Stephen Frerichs with AgVantage LLC, both based in Washington, D.C., spoke on the changes and challenges facing the 2012 Farm Bill, including budget resolution.

The delegates then assembled to discuss policy proposals for 2012. Major changes included strong policy opposing EPA regulations on pesticides, new policy on sustainability of soybean production, policy opposing acquisition of band width by any company that would compromise GPS technology for farmers and policy to support private sector conservation planners access to the same tools and resources the public sector uses.



Iowa Ag and Land Stewardship: 25 Years of Serving Iowans

During 2011 the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship celebrated 25 years of serving Iowans. The Iowa legislature conducted government restructuring in 1986 and the outcome was the creation of the Department in its current form.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture was created in 1923 and the state soil conservation agency was created in 1939. The primary change made in 1986 was merging the Iowa Department of Agriculture with the Iowa Department of Soil Conservation.

"The programs and responsibilities within the Department continue to evolve, but its mission remains to provide leadership for all aspects of Iowa agriculture, ensure consumer protection, support food safety and animal health, and promote the responsible use of our natural resources," said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.

Currently there are approximately 335 employees of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and they are responsible for a wide range of programs that touch the life of every Iowan. Both Iowans living on the farm and those in our towns and cities are impacted by the work of the Department.

There are four Divisions within the Department: Administration, Consumer Protect and Industry Services, Foods Safety and Animal Health, and Soil Conservation.

The Division of Soil Conservation contains about half of the Department's employees and provides farmers with expertise and funds to help them install practices that preserve our highly productive soil, prevent erosion and protect our critical waterways.

Historically the Division has focused primarily on preventing soil erosion, but in recent years has expanded efforts to protect water quality and reduce nutrient delivery to the waterways of the state. The Division also has a Mines and Minerals Bureau that works to reclaim abandoned coal mine, limestone, sand and gravel sites that have significant environmental impacts, including acid mine drainage, clogged streams, and hazardous water bodies.

The work of the Division, in cooperation with many federal, state and local partners, has helped make Iowa 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 currently has more than 60 active watershed and water quality projects across the state.

"Moving the Department of Soil Conservation to the Department 25 years ago was a significant moment in our history and the anniversary gives us an opportunity to reflect where we have come from and where we are going as an organization," Northey added.

The Consumer Protection & Industry Services Division and a Food Safety & Animal Health Division contain a wide variety of inspection and promotion programs, including regulating meat processing, commercial feed and fertilizer, grain warehouse oversight, pesticide application, and dairy production and processing. The Weights and Measures Bureau makes sure both buyers and sellers are treated fairly at the gas pump, grocery store or grain elevator.

The State Climatologist, Entomologist, and Veterinarian are also all part of the Department. Other areas of responsibility for the Department include Agriculture Statistics, Homeland Security and the Iowa Horse and Dog Breeding program.

The State Horticulturalist also a key part of the Department helps promote the more than 230 farmers markets located across the state and helps administers the Farmers Market Nutrition Program for seniors and residents participating in the WIC program. The Department is also involved in agricultural diversification and has an organic inspection program.

The Century and Heritage Farm program, which recognizes farms that have been in the same family for 100 or 150 years respectively, is also run by the Department in partnership with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

The Department's responsibilities continue to change to this day. Just this year Governor Branstad and the legislature acted to move a number of programs to the Department in order to improve efficiency. The programs moved to the Department include, egg inspections, dairy survey officers, Iowa Agriculture Development Authority, the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board and the Water Resources Coordinating Council.

Throughout its existence the Department has had a wide variety of programs and responsibilities that continue to change. Programs that have moved out from the Department include restaurant inspection (now part of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals) and agriculture trade promotion (now part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority).

"We don't know what the next 25 years will hold, but we look forward to continuing to serve the people of Iowa," Northey said.



CME to Stay in Chicago

CME Group Inc. announced late Friday that it will remain in Illinois after the state's governor signed into law a series of tax breaks.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed the controversial measure adopted earlier this week by both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly.

Quinn's action erased lingering doubts among long-time traders that Chicago would lose its position as a worldwide hub for derivatives trading.

"Could the Chicago Mercantile Exchange be headquartered anywhere but Chicago?" said Larry Schneider, who grew up watching his father trade livestock futures on CME's trading floor. Schneider is now a broker for the Zaner Group.

The bill provides tax relief to CME, options exchange CBOE Holdings Inc. and retailer Sears Holdings Corp.

The Illinois government will tax the exchanges on only 27.54% of all electronic trades, which is the dominant method of buying and selling derivatives contracts. Currently, the exchanges pay taxes on all electronic transactions, even though exchange officials claim most of the trades don't originate in Illinois.

Tax breaks will start for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

In a prepared statement, CME Chairman Terry Duffy said, "we are pleased that Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and the State Legislature have addressed the inequitable distribution of corporate taxes currently levied on CME Group."

"This necessary adjustment to the Illinois corporate tax laws will put CME Group on more equal footing with other Illinois companies and other global exchanges," Duffy said. "We will continue to call the great State of Illinois and City of Chicago the risk management capital of the world," he added.

CBOE and Sears indicated they too would stay in Illinois in statements released after the bill won final legislative approval on Tuesday and again after Quinn signed the bill on Friday.

The legislation "ensures a more equitable tax structure for Chicago's exchanges," said CBOE chief executive William Brodsky.

Lawmakers "recognized the economic value of Chicago's exchanges to the city and state and lent bipartisan support," Brodsky also said.

Sears, a department store chain that also owns Kmart and Lands End, will benefit by paying lower taxes from the renewal of a special taxing district for its headquarters in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates.

"We applaud the governor for his leadership and recognition of Sears' contributions to our state -- thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of tax dollars," the retailer said in a statement released Friday.

Illinois businesses have been sharply critical of the state legislature's January vote to raise the corporate tax rate to 7%, from 4.8%.

Several states, including Florida and Indiana, were quick to court CME, offering their locations as a new home base.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard visited with top CME executives in Chicago on Dec. 2.

"CME [executives] made the best decision for their company that's possible," Marc Lotter, a spokesman for Mayor Ballard said Friday.

"We take advantage of every opportunity we can to speak to companies and talk about the benefits of Indianapolis."

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel praised Gov. Quinn and legislators Friday for protecting thousands of jobs and working to "keep the CME Group where it belongs, here in the city."

Had CME moved its key operations, Duffy warned that only the two trading floors at CME-owned Chicago Board of Trade would have remained. Traditional open outcry trading at CBOT accounts for less than 5% of CME's business, according to Duffy.

State government approval and CME's decision to remain headquartered in Chicago "are certainly comforting words for the Chicago trading community," said Lawrence Malato, a CME member, shareholder, and independent interest rate futures floor trader.

CME's departure would have been a "death knell" for the floor traders left behind, said Malato, creating further disadvantages due to a longer distance between the trading pits and electronic trading operations.