Thursday December 22 Ag News

Getting More Calves Born During the Daytime
Steve Tonn, UNL Extension Educator, Washington County

Calving season is just around the corner with some producers even starting to calve in January.  It is generally accepted that adequate supervision at calving has a significant impact on reducing calf mortality. Which do you prefer, checking and assisting cows and heifers at night or during the daytime hours?  Adequate supervision has been of increasing importance with the use of larger beef breeds and cattle with larger birth weights. On most cow calf operations, supervision of the first calf heifers will be best accomplished in daylight hours and the poorest observation takes place in the middle of the night. 

The easiest and most practical method of inhibiting nighttime calving at present is by feeding cows at night; the physiological mechanism is unknown, but some hormonal effect may be involved. Rumen motility studies indicate the frequency of rumen contractions falls a few hours before parturition. Intraruminal pressure begins to fall in the last 2 weeks of gestation, with a more rapid decline during calving. It has been suggested that night feeding causes intraruminal pressures to rise at night and decline in the daytime.

In the most convincing study to date, 1331 cows on 15 farms in Iowa were fed once daily at dusk, 85% of the calves were born between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm. Whether cows were started on the night feeding the week before calving started in the herd or 2 to 3 weeks earlier made no apparent difference in calving time.  Currently, evening feeding of cattle seems to be the most effective method of scheduling parturition so assistance can be available during daylight hours.

What about the situation where large round bales of hay are being fed to the cows and heifers?  If the cows have unrestricted access to the hay around the clock, then the best method of influencing the time of calving is via the time of day that the supplement is being fed.  At Oklahoma State University, the switch from supplement feeding in daytime to late afternoon/early evening feeding encouraged 72% of the cows to calve between 6 AM and 6 PM.  These cows had 24/7 access to large round bales of grass hay.  Before the change was made, when supplement was fed during the morning hours, the ratio of night time versus day time calving was nearly even, with half of the calves born at night and half during the day. 

Some small herd owners have reported success controlling access to the large round bales.  The hay is fed within a small enclosed pasture or lot near a larger pasture where the cows graze during the day.  In the evening, the gate to the area where the hay is placed is opened and the cows are allowed to enter and consume hay during the night.  The next morning, they are moved back to the daytime pasture to graze until the following evening.  In this manner, the nighttime feeding is accomplished with hay or silage only. 

Whatever method fits your operation should be utilized.  The advantages of heifers/cows being observed with daylight during calving are obvious.  Also during winter months, baby calves born in the warmer part of the day with radiant heat from the sun to reduce cold stress, have a better chance for early colostrum consumption and therefore survival. 



Nebraska Agriculture: Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Opportunities
Governor Dave Heineman

The 24th Annual Governor’s Ag Conference will be held February 15-16 at the Holiday Inn in Kearney. The theme for this year’s conference is “Nebraska Agriculture: Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Opportunities.” This event presents an annual opportunity for agricultural producers and leaders to learn more about their industry, and to come together to help ensure this vital industry remains strong. While these dates are earlier than usual, we listened to the feedback of our conference attendees and worked hard to ensure that our event did not conflict with other large agriculture meetings.

This year’s speakers will include John Doggett who is the Senior Lecturer of International Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainability, and a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Doggett will discuss Nebraska’s agriculture role in the global economy of the future.

Bruce Knight, the Principal and Founder of Strategic Conservation Solutions, will provide an update on the federal Farm Bill reauthorization. Mr. Knight is a former USDA Under Secretary and he will share insight on the farm policy picture and its potential impact on Nebraska.

A statistic often heard is to feed an anticipated 9 billion people, farmers will need to double agricultural output by 2050 and perhaps even sooner. We will have two speakers who will address how Nebraska agriculture can respond to this challenge - Dr. Archie Clutter and Mr. Bill Holbrook.

Dr. Clutter is with the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska and he will explain how the University is positioning itself to be part of meeting the challenge to provide food to a growing world population. As a leading research institution, we are pleased to have him discuss their progress and ideas for the future. Mr. Holbrook is from The ProExporter Network, an agribusiness economic research and analysis provider, and he’ll discuss opportunities and challenges farmers will face in meeting food production demand.

A panel of Nebraskans will join us to discuss their organizations and how they connect consumers with farmers and ranchers. The panelists include Willow Holoubek from A-FAN, Dawn Caldwell from Common Ground Nebraska, and Pete McClymont with We Support Agriculture.

Overall, the farm economy is doing well. Farmers and ranchers generally reinvest profits in their industry in order to improve their production capabilities for the future. They are making needed investments and improvements. They are putting additional conservation practices in place that improve the land and protect the environment. They are putting up new machine shops and bins, and they are paying down debt.

When Nebraska agriculture does well, so does main street Nebraska. Registration information is available on the Nebraska Department of Agriculture website at www.agr.ne.gov or by calling 1-800-831-0550. I look forward to seeing Nebraska’s farmers, ranchers and agribusiness leaders at the 2012 Governor’s Ag Conference.



Economist Sees Modest Pork Industry Expansion

Ron Plain, University of Missouri Agricultural economist, says hog producers enjoyed record hog prices this summer which he believe has caused some modest herd expansion. Plain discusses his expectations for the USDA December Hogs and Pigs Report due out this Friday, Dec. 23, as well as 2012 hog prices.

"I expect live hog prices to average close to $64 per hundredweight ($85 per hundredweight carcass) in the first quarter of 2012; $69 per hundredweight ($91 per hundredweight carcass) in the second and third quarters of 2012; and $58 per hundredweight ($77 per hundredweight carcass) in the fourth quarter of 2012," he says. "My estimates are that the breeding herd is 0.8 percent larger than a year ago; the market hog inventory is 1.4 percent larger; and the total herd is 1.4 percent larger than in December 2010. My estimates of the December 1 market hog inventory by weight groups are: 180 pounds and heavier 102 percent, 120-179 pounds 101.3 percent, 50-119 pounds 101 percent, and under 50 pounds 101.6 percent of a year earlier."

September-November sow slaughter was up 4.2 percent. Imports of Canadian sows for slaughter during this period were up 8.4 percent. Thus, net slaughter of U.S. sows was up 3.5 percent out of a sow herd that was 0.6 percent larger compared to 12 months earlier.

Slaughter of barrows and gilts during September-November was up two percent compared with a year earlier. USDA's September report implied summer slaughter would be up 2.1 percent. There appears little need for USDA to make any large changes in their September market hog inventory or their estimate of sows farrowed and pig crop during March-May.

Plain says in their last inventory report, USDA predicted that September-November farrowings would be down 0.2 percent and December-February farrowings would be 0.5 percent higher than a year earlier. There is a good chance that hot weather last summer slightly reduced the size of the winter pig crop. I believe fall farrowings actually were down 0.5 percent.

"I'm forecasting winter farrowings to be unchanged and March-May farrowings up 0.5 percent compared to last spring," he noted.



Composting Helps Swine Farm Improve Biosecurity

Following an initial project begun in 1999 at the Iowa State University (ISU) swine breeding farm, the university's swine teaching farm started composting mortalities eight years ago in an effort to increase biosecurity practices. Swine farms manager Jay Lampe said the move was positive.

"This process has changed our management style and lowered our biosecurity risks at the farm while providing a sustainable way of managing mortalities," he said. "Composting has eliminated two potential sources of disease outbreaks for our farms: rendering and fuel trucks entering our property."

"We are able to decrease the number of outside vehicles like rendering trucks entering the farm grounds, and that helps us keep our biosecurity at a high level," Lampe said.

Constructing a composting facility The size of and cost to construct a composting facility varies according to available land, type of materials and size of mortalities to be composted. The swine teaching farm facility is completely roofed with eight bays, each of which is approximately 10 feet square with four foot high concrete walls. This allows adequate space for all carcass sizes from the farm to be incorporated.

ISU agricultural and biosystems engineering professor Tom Glanville said the correct process of preparing and using a mortality composting facility is vital to its success.

"Start by placing a 12-inch layer of dry cover material, like sawdust, wood shavings or chopped corn stalk in the bottom of a compost bin," he said. "Decaying carcasses will release excess moisture, so this absorptive base layer plays an important role in preventing release of excess liquid."

Alternate layers of cover material with additional carcasses until the bin or bay is filled, Glanville said. "The top layer should always be cover material," he said. "Realize that you might not be able to fill an entire bin in a short period of time depending on your operation's mortality rates and size of the moralities."

After a bin is filled, the compost must undergo a primary heating cycle of 60 to 90 days. This time frame varies based on the size of mortalities placed in the bin. After this initial heating cycle, the partially composted carcasses are moved from the primary bin to a secondary bin.

"Moving the compost breaks up the materials in the pile, redistributes excess moisture and introduces a new oxygen supply," Glanville said. "By the end of a 60- to 90-day secondary heating cycle with additional decomposition activity, even large carcasses of breeding stock are normally reduced to a few large bones that are free of soft tissues which cause odors or attract insects and predators."

The composting process can continue during winter months, he said. The layout of the composting facility also plays an important role. By having bins share a larger amount of common wall area, it cuts down on the amount of bin wall exposed to the cold, reducing heat loss. There is more information on composting equipment, facilities, procedures, sizing and layout in the ISU Extension publication, "Composting Swine Mortalities in Iowa," available from the Extension Online Store at www.extension.iastate.edu/store.

At the ISU swine farm, a nitrogen source (mortalities or manure) and a carbon source (typically corn stalks or woodchips) are the primary materials used in composting. After the process is complete, the composted material is then usually applied on cropland.

"Land disposal of mortality compost adds organic matter to the soil and allows mortalities to be returned to the soil without odor, attraction of flies and other insects or scavengers," Glanville said.

The long term success of composting on the swine farms has led to similar practices at other Iowa State facilities, including the poultry and beef teaching farms.

"Deciding to compost means initial costs of constructing the facility," Lampe said. "But in the long run, it saves money that would be spent on a potential disease break from vehicles such as rendering services or fuel trucks for an incinerator entering the farm property. The trade-off was been well worth it at the farm."

For more information and illustrations on composting swine mortalities, see Glanville's "disSolving Swine Mortality Project."



ICA Board Re-Elects Havens, Greiman, Sexton

The Iowa Cattlemen's Association (ICA) board members re-elected three leaders to each serve a second one-year term. Ross Havens, Wiota, will serve as president; Ed Greiman of Garner will continue as president-elect; and Mike Sexton, Rockwell City, will serve as associate vice president.

Havens continues to focus on involving young people in ICA activities and the cattle business. "One of the goals of my presidency is to work hard to have programs that involve young people; get them active in our association," Havens said. During this past year, ICA's Young Cattlemen's Leadership Program kicked off the ICA Carcass Challenge program, and ICA sponsored Mark Moore of What Cheer to attend NCBA's Young Cattlemen's Conference.

Other members of the ICA executive committee are Larry Johnson, Maquoketa, Northeast Regional VP; Phil Reemtsma, DeWitt, Southeast Regional VP; Scott Hansen, Southwest Regional VP, and Allan Johnson, Northwood, Northwest Regional VP. Reemtsma and Allan Johnson were newly elected at the late summer regional meetings, while Larry Johnson was re-elected to a second term. Leaving the executive committee was Dick Cochran, Ladora, who served as an ICA volunteer leader for the past five years.

At district meetings this fall, county representatives elected two new district directors. They are J.D. Morris, Algona, District 3 Director and Marcus Younge, Ventura, District 4 Director.

Re-elected district directors are Rob Medberry, Volga, Dist. 6; Brett Katzer, Conrad, Dist. 9; Jessica Wilson, Pierson, Dist. 12; Norm Ziskovsky, Swisher, Dist. 15; and Jim Hanson, New Market, Dist. 18.



EPA Releases November Biodiesel Volume

The EPA reported Thursday that nearly 108 million gallons of Biomass-based Diesel were sold during the month of November, continuing a record year of production. Biodiesel makes up the vast majority of the EPA's Biomass-based Diesel category under the Renewable Fuel Standard program, representing about 95 percent of the volume this year.

Biodiesel production specifically had reached an all-time high 908 million gallons through the end of November, according to annual figures compiled by the EPA. The previous annual record for biodiesel production was 690 million gallons in 2008.



USDA Cold Storage Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers were up 3 percent from the previous month and up 3 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 6 percent from the previous month and up 1 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were up 1 percent from the previous month and up 6 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 207 percent from last month but down 29 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on November 30, 2011 were down 23 percent from the previous month and down 9 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down 5 percent from the previous month and down 14 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were down 53 percent from last month but up 11 percent from November 30, 2010.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on November 30, 2011 were down 4 percent from the previous month and down 5 percent from November 30, 2010.  Butter stocks were down 27 percent from last month but up 36 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks were down 1 percent from last month but up 3 percent from a year ago.  Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 3 percent from last month and down 4 percent from a year ago.



Top 5 Ethanol Stories for 2011

America’s ethanol industry has been in a state of rapid evolution since the beginning of 2000.  Record-setting production, policy development, and market expansion have all moved forward with dramatic speed and helped to create the world’s largest, most efficient, most cost effective renewable fuels industry.

However, developments in 2011 have set the stage for a new chapter in American ethanol history.  Here are the Top 5 stories of 2011 as seen through the eyes of the Renewable Fuels Association.

1.  EPA gives final approval to E15 for MY2001 and newer vehicles.  For the first time ever, Americans driving conventional vehicles will be provided the opportunity to choose ethanol blends in excess of 10 percent.  While a strong argument could be made for the end of the tax incentive as the year’s top story, the impact of an expanded market through E15 blends will have an exponentially greater impact on the U.S. ethanol market than the temporary adjustment caused by the end of VEETC.

2. End of VEETC and the secondary tariff.  Without protest, U.S. ethanol producers allowed the $0.45 per gallon tax incentive for ethanol blending to expire.  The offsetting secondary tariff on imported ethanol will also expire.  The domestic ethanol industry has evolved, policy has progressed, and the market has changed making now the right time for the incentive to expire.  Ethanol producers never intended for the tax incentive to be permanent.  Like all incentives, it was put in place to help build an industry and when successful, it should sunset.  Unfortunately, the same mentality does not extend to century-old tax subsidies supporting 20th century petroleum technologies.

3. U.S. exports set all-time highs.  As the U.S. worked to move beyond artificial barriers in the domestic market, new international markets emerged as opportunities for domestic ethanol producers.  An estimated one billion gallons of denatured and undenatured ethanol – gallons never blended with gasoline or eligible for the tax incentive – were exported in 2011.  Additionally, U.S. exports of ethanol feed co-products, largely distillers grains, also surged.  An estimated 8-9 million metric tons of this high value livestock feed was exported in 2011.

4. Restarting the advanced and cellulosic ethanol engine.  Weathering the economic collapse of 2008, advanced and cellulosic ethanol producers made big strides in 2011 to bring these promising technologies to commercial production.  A number of advanced and cellulosic ethanol companies, including Abengoa, Coskata, and Mascoma are beginning construction on ethanol biorefineries that will expand America’s ability to fuel its economy with a broader range of renewable feedstocks.  (An RFA side note:  The formation of the Advanced Ethanol Council in partnership with the RFA was a pivotal step forward in forcefully and effectively advocating for the accelerated commercialization of advanced and cellulosic ethanol technologies.)

5. Emergence of the integrated biorefinery model.  Ethanol production is far more than fuel and feed.  Today, approximately 40 percent of all ethanol facilities are capturing and selling corn oil.  An ever-increasing number of ethanol producers are also deploying technologies to produce proteins, biochemicals and other co-products that can further displace oil in marketplace.  Anything made from oil can be made from biomass.  It is matter of know-how and American ethanol producers are proving that it can be done and be done at scale.

It is these five developments that defined 2011 and are setting the stage for 2012 and beyond.  In the first week of January, the RFA will be publishing a companion piece to this that looks at the Top 5 stories to watch for U.S. ethanol in 2012.



AMPI dispersing $10 million to owners

The dairy farmer-owners of Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) will share $10 million in equity payments this year. The cash will be paid to individuals based on the amount of milk they marketed through AMPI.  In November, $6.5 million of members’ capital retain investment was distributed. This month’s payment of $3.5 million is a result of previously allocated earnings.  The payments to members also included AMPI’s early equity revolvement option. Members who are age 65 and retired from dairying can receive their cooperative equity through an accelerated, five-year distribution.  “Distributing equity reaffirms the cooperative’s focus on its mission of maximizing the return on milk marketed and equity invested for its members,” said AMPI President and CEO Ed Welch.



Cropp: Dairy Farmers Should Watch Output & Exports in 2012

The price of milk paid to dairy producers in 2012 depends heavily upon two things: the level of milk production and the level of dairy exports. That's according to Dr. Bob Cropp, professor emeritus with the University of Wisconsin-Extension. In his monthly Dairy Situation and Outlook report, he says lower milk prices for the start of the year, along with relatively high feed cost, could halt the increase in cow numbers and dampen increases in milk per cow.

"USDA's outlook report for November milk production showed cow numbers declined only slightly for the past two months, down 4,000 head from September, but still 1.0% more than a year ago," Cropp said. "Compared to a year ago, November milk production was 2.2% higher for the 23 reporting states and estimated 1.8% higher for the U.S. The increase in milk per cow continued to run below normal trend, at just 0.8%.

He says the boost in milk production continued to be attributed to western states--many of which had more milk cows than a year ago. In the midwest, production was also up in Iowa and Wisconsin, but down slightly in Minnesota.

"USDA expects dairy exports to decline some, especially for cheese and butter, but yet remain favorable," the report noted. "If this holds and milk production slows milk prices could well improve the second half of 2012, but are likely to still average below 2011 for the year."

Meanwhile, Cropp says the wholesale price of dairy products often decline seasonally starting the end of November into December, especially for butter and cheese. He said cheese prices may well recover some by mid-January and February, but the Class III price for first quarter of 2012 could average near $16.75 per hundredweight.

"Also with lower nonfat dry milk prices dry whey prices will likely show some weakness," Cropp said. "Some forecast lower Class III prices, but total cheese stocks have improved with October 31 stocks being 4.3% lower than a year ago."

October cheddar cheese production was 5.8% below a year ago and total cheese production just 1.7% higher. Cheese exports continue to be favorable with October exports 22% higher than a year ago and up 31% for the year.



Farmers May Benefit When Russia Joins WTO

The decision to allow Russia to become a member of the World Trade Organization can be a benefit to American agriculture, the National Corn Growers Association said. WTO ministers adopted Russia's terms of entry at the Eighth Ministerial Meeting, held recently in Geneva, and Russia has 220 days to ratify its accession agreement.

"Russia's membership makes the WTO a more universal trade organization," Chad Blindauer, Chair of NCGA's Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action team said. "It also ensures Russia plays by the same rules as other WTO members.The deal allows for more fair and open trade policy."

The Working Party Chair of Russia's accession, Ambassador Stefan Johannesson of Iceland, said the "documents constituting Russia's terms of entry into the WTO resulted from a tough and successful engagement between Russia and WTO members."

As part of the accession deal, Russia has agreed to undertake further commitments to open its trade regime. This includes lowering tariffs on a wide range of agriculture products.



NRCS Reminds Producers of Program Deadlines

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today announced that the ranking period cut-off date for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is Jan. 13. Producers interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline so that their applications can be considered during the first ranking period of 2012.

"CSP is one of our most popular conservation programs, and we expect to receive many applications," NRCS State Conservationist Jane Hardisty said. "I encourage all farmers who are interested in applying to contact their local NRCS office as soon as possible so they can meet the deadline."

The CSP is offered through continuous sign-ups and provides many conservation benefits including improvement of water and soil quality, wildlife habit enhancements and adoption of conservation activities that address the effects of climate change. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe. CSP offers financial assistance to eligible participants through two possible types of payments: (1) annual payment for installing and adopting additional activities; and improving, maintaining, and managing existing activities and (2) supplemental payment for the adoption of resource-conserving crop rotations.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help potential applicants determine if CSP is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contract obligations and potential payments. It is available from local NRCS offices and at www.nrcs.usda.gov under programs and services.

As part of the CSP application process, potential applicants can work with our NRCS field personnel to complete a resource inventory using a Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT). The CMT determines the conservation performance for existing and new conservation activities. The applicant's conservation performance will be used to determine eligibility, ranking and payments.



Brazil, Argentine Soy Dry

The main soy areas of Brazil and Argentina have not gotten enough rain in recent days to fully relieve fields that are baking under the southern hemisphere's summer sun, experts said Thursday.

There has been no rain to speak of in Brazil's key south and center-west farming zones over the past three days. And the showers that have fallen in Argentina's soy belt have been too scattered and inconsistent to help parched plants.

"Today was the longest day of the year. It was also the hottest day in a decade and this has been the driest December in the century," said a grains farmer in Brazil's Parana state. "I wish I could just go to sleep and wake up with it raining."

Parana is expected to get 19 millimeters of rain between Thursday and early next week. The state has been dry in December but has seen slightly better rainfall than Rio Grande do Sul in the past weeks and ended November with above-average rainfall.

Parana soy crops are further along in development than in Rio Grande do Sul, having been planted several weeks earlier.

The state's crop is more than 30% flowering and will begin the critical pod filling stage in the coming weeks when consistent soil moisture is essential for the formation of beans.

Brazil's main center-west states, with some isolated exceptions of dryness, have seen excellent rainfall in the past weeks. No. 1 soybean state Mato Grosso is expected to begin early harvesting of a record soybean crop of 22.2 million metric tons, 30% of Brazil's soy output, next week.

Rainfall in western Rio Grande do Sul growing areas has been extremely light in December, with only 18 millimeters compared with an average of 131 mm that normally falls in that region over the entire month of December, Somar data showed. That's 86% shy of average rainfall in December and November was 47% below average rainfall for western Rio Grande do Sul.

Four to nine mm of light scattered showers are expected to fall on parts of the state's growing areas over the weekend.

The trend for both Brazil and Argentina remains hot and dry, consistent with La Nina conditions, which tend to produce drier weather to the southern cone.

"It has rained but it has been very uneven," said Argentine climatologist Eduardo Sierra. "The areas that got showers received 30 to 40 millimeters, which is enough for them to get by but not enough to really improve the situation."

Argentina is the world's No. 3 soybean producer after the United States and Brazil. Argentina is also the second biggest international corn supplier.

"Corn is the most exposed to the dry weather because it is finishing its critical development stage without water," he added. "Soy can wait for rain until mid-January."

Regular rainfall is critical for the germination and healthy development of soy, which serves as the world's most important source of protein.