Thursday January 26 Ag News

2012 Pork Industry Day Program - February 20-21, 2012 - Nielsen Community Center, West  Point,  NE
Theme: Safe, Afordable, Abundant Food  -  Our Responsibility

Monday - February 20, 2012
2:00 PM    Exhibitor Registration Opens
2-5:30 PM     Exhibitor Set Up
3:00 PM    TQA Certifcation, Jim Fiala & Eric Hogle, Hormel, Fremont, NE
5:00 PM    PQA Plus Certifcation – Dr. Duane Reese, UNL, Lincoln, NE
6:00 PM     Expo Opens
6:00 PM     President Harrington’s Brats & Beer Reception
7:30 PM     Allied Membership Recognitions

Tuesday - February 21, 2012
7:00 AM    NPPA Executive Committee Meeting
7:30 AM    Expo Opens – Breakfast
8:30 AM    Board of Directors Meeting – Election of Ofcers and Members
8:30 AM    Your Personality, Your Career - Brent Green (Youth)
9:45 AM    NPPA Mini Session - Department of Transportation, Carrier Enforcement, Speaker: Cpt. Gerry Krolikowski
10:00 AM    Boost. Improve. Measure. - Ryan Mead (Youth)
10:30 AM    Keynote Address: Safe, Afordable, Abundant Food, Grady Bishop, US Director of Swine Operations, Elanco
11:30 AM   NPPA Mini Session - Department of Environmental Quality, Speaker: Dennis Heitmann, Lincoln, NE
11:30 AM    Free time with Exhibitors and a social networking social with contest/prizes (Youth)
12:00 PM    Lunch and Industry Awards
1:30 PM   NPPA Mini Session - PRRS, Speaker: Dr. Alan Snodgrass, West Point, NE
1:30 PM    Neighbor to Neighbor- Kris Lansman (Youth)
2:15 PM   NPPA Mini Session - Stress Behavior in Animals, Speaker: Tami Brown-Brandi, US Meat Animal Research, Clay Center,  NE
3:00 PM    Guest Speaker, Jim Whitt - “Purpose Unlimited”, 
3:40PM    2011 Mentor Class Graduation & Introductions of 2012 Class



Conferences Will Help Farmers Use No-Till Successfully

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension will provide corn and soybean producers with information on how to be successful using no-till farming practices at the Nebraska No-Till Conference.  The conference is from 9:25 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 21 at UNL's Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead; from 10:15 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Valley Ag Complex in Ord; and from 9:25 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Ag Center in Holdrege. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the ARDC and Holdrege and at 10 a.m. in Ord.

Conference organizers, UNL Extension educators Keith Glewen and Chuck Burr, and Paul Jasa, UNL extension engineer, say producers will learn the benefits of no-till and how it can work for them.  Speakers include no-till farmers, university specialists and industry representatives.  Sjoerd Willem Duiker, associate professor of soil management, crop and soil sciences at Pennsylvania State University will present "Soil Structure Compaction and No-Till."   Paul Ackley, a no-till farmer from Bedford, Iowa, will speak at the conference about his practical experience with no-till. He has experimented many years to find the right stubble and cover crop rotation for his soybean and corn fields.  Scott Sloan, a product engineering manager for Des Moines, Iowa-based Titan Tire Corporation, will discuss the impact of no-till on tires from a manufacturer's perspective in his "Where Ag Tires Fear to Tread" presentation.  Resistant weed management in no-till will be covered by Lowell Sandell, UNL Extension weed specialist.  Pioneer Hi-Bred International agronomy trials managers Chris Zwiener and Jon Propheter will share information about what precision ag technology is key in no-till farming.  The ARDC and Holdrege conferences also include a farmer panel discussion.

Pre-registration is due Feb 17. To register for the ARDC conference, call 402-624-8030 or 800-529-8030 or email kglewen1@unl.edu.  To register for the Ord conference, call 308-728-5071 or email proot2@unl.edu.  To register for the Holdrege conference, call 308-995-4222 or email cburr1@unl.edu.  Online registration is available at http://ardc.unl.edu/no-till.shtml.

There is no fee for this conference, courtesy of UNL Extension in the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Nebraska Soybean Board and the Nebraska Environmental Trust. Other sponsors include: Lower Platte North Natural Resources District, Tri Basin Natural Resources District, Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, Farm Credit Services of America, Lofquist Welding -- Dustin Lofquist and Arrow Seed Company -- Rich Russell.



Nebraska Cattlemen Establishes Priority Bills

The Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) Legislative Committee recently had a meeting to discuss 134 legislative bills that were introduced this session. Prior to the meeting, NC leadership reviewed 490 bills introduced in this year’s legislative session to determine which bills relate to Nebraska’s beef farmers and ranchers.

For each piece of legislation reviewed, the committee compared NC’s member developed policy with the bill’s language to determine a position of support, oppose or monitor. An important part of this process is the selection of priority bills by the committee which the association plans to devote their efforts. The committee selected two bills as their priority bills for this legislative session.

Legislative Bill (LB) 1066, introduced by Senator Tom Hansen and LB 884, introduced by Senator Kate Sullivan are the two priority bills for Nebraska Cattlemen.

The LB 1066 relates to appropriations of funds for the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska to plan a veterinary diagnostic laboratory facility. LB 884 involves agricultural education and by creating an agricultural literacy task force.

“If Nebraska is indeed going to move forward and become the beef epicenter of the United States this diagnostic laboratory facility is needed research for animal health studies,” states Dale Spencer, NC Legislative Committee Chairman. “The ag literacy task force will create a greater connection to those students removed from the farm to those who raise and grow their food.”



PUBLIC HEARING Scheduled Regarding a District-Wide Change to the Upper Big Blue NRD’s RULE 5 for Water Quality

A Public Hearing concerning proposed changes to the District’s Rule 5 is scheduled for March 1, 2012, at 1:30 p.m. at the York City Auditorium (612 Nebraska Avenue, York, Nebraska). 

The Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District Proposes New Rules for Fertilizer Application
Increasing nitrates in groundwater have been a concern in the Upper Big Blue NRD for several years.  Several communities in the District have found it necessary to construct new wells to comply with state and federal drinking water standards.  Some communities have built, or are considering, treatment plants.  Many rural residents have also replaced wells or installed private water treatment systems.

Nitrate is found naturally in the environment, however excess nitrates that are causing groundwater contamination come primarily from the use of commercial fertilizers.  Nitrogen fertilizer is needed to produce corn, however, the amount and timing of the fertilizer application can reduce the risks of groundwater contamination.  Anhydrous ammonia is the most common form of nitrogen fertilizer used throughout the District.

Since 1996, the NRD has required that farmers wait until November 1st to apply anhydrous, and to wait until March 1st to apply other formulations of nitrogen fertilizer.  In some parts of the District where groundwater nitrate is the highest, farmers are required by existing regulations to attend training classes, take soil samples, and calculate crop nitrogen needs.

Despite these efforts, groundwater nitrate levels have continued to rise.  The proposed changes to District Rule 5 are designed to encourage farmers to adopt fertilizer management practices that will reduce the opportunity time for nitrate leaching out of the crop root zone.

The proposed new rules give the farmer the following fertilizer application options:
1)  Anhydrous ammonia applied between November 1st and February 29th must also be applied with a nitrification inhibitor;
2)  Nitrogen fertilizer applied on or after March 1st, and before planting at a rate greater than 150 pounds per acre, must also include a nitrification inhibitor;
3)  Pre-plant nitrogen fertilizer applied on or after March 1st at a rate less than 150 pounds per acre DOES NOT require a nitrification inhibitor.

Nitrification inhibitors delay the conversion of nitrogen fertilizers to the nitrate form.  This holds the nitrogen in the crop root zone longer, resulting in less opportunity for nitrogen loss.  As an alternative to using a nitrification inhibitor, Option #3 allows the farmer to apply a lower rate of fertilizer before planting, and then apply additional nitrogen if needed after planting when an actively growing crop can utilize it.

THE PUBLIC IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THIS PUBLIC HEARING AS IT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE UPPER BIG BLUE NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT.



ASA & USDA Join Afghanistan’s Ambassador and Business Leaders

The American Soybean Association’s (ASA) World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials joined Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the U.S. Eklil Ahmad Hakimi and a key Afghan business leader for a signing ceremony. Held at the Afghan Embassy in Washington, D.C., the Jan. 20 event marked the launch of a new agricultural trade association to promote oil crops for both food and feed in Afghanistan.

“Agriculture, not only historically, but also traditionally, is the main component of our economic growth,” said Ambassador Hakimi. “I’m sure that soybeans will contribute not only to the economy and agricultural development of Afghanistan, but more importantly, they will have a positive implication for the security of our country.”

Abdul Ghafoor is chairman of the new Oil Crops Growers Association of Afghanistan (OCGAA) that includes 11 founding members representing different sectors of the agricultural value chain. These members will plan and implement the initiative through a USDA Food for Progress three-year soy value-chain project with WISHH. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Acting Administrator Suzanne Heinen also joined the event at the Afghan embassy.

During the ceremony, Ghafoor described the “enormous good” that the initiative can do to mobilize and encourage Afghanistan’s use of oil crops to produce edible oils for human consumption, as well as animal feed to develop its livestock industries. “And we’ll create jobs,” Ghafoor said.

“ASA’s WISHH program is pleased to be part of this landmark USDA effort to assist Afghanistan in starting a trade association that uses oilseed crops to develop their food and feed industries,” said WISHH Chairman David Iverson, a South Dakota soybean grower. “This work offers great potential for the production of animal feed for poultry and livestock as well as human foods.”

WISHH and partners are implementing the multi-faceted Soybeans in Agricultural Renewal of Afghanistan (SARAI) project that uses soybeans to benefit Afghan farmers, food processors, and rural communities as well as women and children. In 2011, SARAI helped open Afghanistan’s first soybean processing facility. SARAI also provides a total of 80 metric tons of defatted soy flour, 13,750 metric tons of soybean oil and 6,000 metric tons of soybeans over three year. Over the life of the program and all of its activities, this project will benefit more than 405,000 Afghan people.

Currently, Afghanistan imports more than 90 percent of its cooking oil. Much of that is palm oil. Afghanistan’s poultry and livestock industries also look to expand with quality meal from oilseed crops, such as soybeans. Growth of these oilseed-based industries will improve Afghan diets as well as create jobs and other economic progress.

Therefore, the new oilseed association, with assistance from WISHH, will conduct a review of all the oilseed research available in Afghanistan to identify opportunities and obstacles as well as make recommendations on how to address them. The new association will also compile information on edible oils in Afghanistan and ways for the feed industry to use oilseed cakes. It will also hold a conference on edible oils in Afghanistan.

Since being founded by U.S. soybean farmers in 2000, WISHH has worked in 24 countries to improve diets, as well as encouraged growth of food industries. The WISHH program is managed from ASA’s world headquarters in St. Louis. For more information, visit www.wishh.org.



Farm Bureau Urges Congress to Reject Antibiotic Restrictions

The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging congressional members to oppose legislation that would restrict the use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry. In letters to Senate and House members, AFBF said the legislation would handicap veterinarians and farmers in their efforts to maintain animal health and protect the nation's food supply.

"Farm Bureau members use antibiotics carefully, judiciously and according to label instructions to treat, prevent and control disease in their flocks and herds," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "These products are critically important to the health and welfare of the animals and to the safety of the food produced from these animals."

AFBF went further to say that antibiotic use in animals does not pose a serious public health threat.

"Proponents of the bill suggest that antibiotic use could constitute a public health threat through antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animals being passed along, creating a similar resistance in humans," said Stallman. "However, in more than 40 years of antibiotics being used to treat animals, such a public health threat has not arisen, and recent government data shows the potential that one might occur is declining."

Increased use of improved food safety technologies over the past several years has contributed to decreased bacteria survival in food processing/handling and in food-borne illnesses.

"Further, data indicates development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animals is stable, and food-borne bacteria resistance in humans is declining," Stallman said. "In fact, recent research indicates using antibiotics to keep animals healthy reduces the incidence of foodborne pathogens in meat."

Pending bills H.R. 965 (House) and S. 1211 (Senate) would remove specific antibiotics and classes of antibiotics that are important for use in animals from the market.



National FFA Organization Seeks Young Farmers

The National FFA Organization is now accepting applications for its 2012 New Century Farmer conference.  This exclusive, highly competitive conference is open to college of agriculture students who intend to pursue careers in production agriculture after college. Those selected to attend the conference will be among the first in the nation to learn about the latest technological developments in the agriculture industry, and they will receive business management advice from top industry leaders. The program will also help students develop a nationwide network of industry professionals and colleagues.

The conference is free to those students who are selected and will take place July 8-14 in Johnstown, Iowa. The deadline for applications is March15 at 5 p.m. EST. Only the top applicants will be selected to participate. Potential participants can learn more about the program and download an application at www.ffa.org/collegiate.

The conference is sponsored by Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business; Case IH; CSX Corporation; and Farm Credit as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. Successful Farming is a media partner of the conference.



USDA to Release New Long-Term Agricultural Projections

The U. S. Department of Agriculture will release new 10-year agricultural projections Feb. 13 at 12:00 noon EST. The USDA Agricultural Projections to 2021 report will be released on the Office of the Chief Economist web site at www.usda.gov/oce. USDA publishes the projections each year in February.

The long-term projections are developed by interagency committees in USDA, with the Economic Research Service (ERS) having the lead role in the preparation of the report. The new projections cover crop and livestock commodities, agricultural trade and aggregate indicators, such as farm income and food prices through 2021. The projections do not represent a USDA forecast, but a conditional, long-run scenario based on specific assumptions about farm policy, weather, the economy and international developments. Provisions of the 2008 Farm Act and subsequent legislation are incorporated into the projections and are assumed to remain in effect through 2021. Normal weather also is assumed throughout the projection period.

Background on USDA's long-term projections and past issues of the report are available on the ERS web site at www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/projections.

The report will be available in printed form on February 23-24 at USDA's 2012 Agricultural Outlook Forum in Arlington, Va. (Conference details are found at: www.usda.gov/oce/forum). Copies also can be ordered from the National Technical Information Service at www.ntis.gov or 1-800-999-6779. Request document OCE-2012-1.



Groups Support US-EU Trade Agreement

A coalition of food and agricultural organizations led by the National Pork Producers Council expressed in a letter sent yesterday to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative its support for a free trade agreement between the United States and the European Union.

Such an FTA is a likely option to be considered by a joint international working group on jobs and growth chaired by USTR Ambassador Ron Kirk and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht.

“Carried out properly,” the coalition wrote in its letter to Kirk, “such an agreement would indeed generate economic growth and create many thousands of new jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.

“Of course, this would require that the EU be prepared to negotiate and implement the type of high-standard, 21st-century agreement that is central to the [Obama] administration’s trade policy efforts,” wrote the coalition. “Free trade deals negotiated by the EU with other countries certainly do not come close to meeting those standards.”

It also pointed out that EU regulatory measures often conflict with the interests of the United States and with World Trade Organization rules, including regulations on “genetically modified” crop approval and labels, which restrict U.S. corn, soy and refined corn product exports and restrictions on production methods in poultry – antimicrobial use – and pork – ractopamine.

Despite WTO rules, the EU often has sought to circumvent such international regulations by using its 27 votes in international standard-setting bodies such as the U.N.’s Codex Alimentarius to “legitimize” non-science-based measures, the coalition pointed out.

Nearly 50 organizations signed the letter to Kirk.



Crumbling Waterways Put Farmers, Consumers at Risk

Deteriorating condition of the U.S. lock and dam system puts the competitiveness of U.S. soybean farmers at risk according to a study funded by the United Soybean Board's (USB's) and the soybean checkoff's Global Opportunities (GO) program. Entitled "America's Locks & Dams: A Ticking Time Bomb for Agriculture," the in-depth examination coordinated by the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) found American farmers and consumers "...will suffer severe economic distress" if catastrophic U.S. lock or dam failures take place.

More than half of the structures that are part of the U.S. inland waterway system for river barge shipping exceed their 50-year usable lifespan, according to the soybean checkoff-funded report. More than one-third surpass 70 years of age, a concern because major rehabilitation is usually necessary to expand the typical lifespan from 50 to 75 years, according to the study.

"The GO committee invested in this study to calculate the impact of the worsening condition of the lock and dam system and what the impact would be on the rail and highway system if those locks failed," says Laura Foell, soybean farmer from Schaller, Iowa, and chair of the GO committee. "It is important for all in the industry and in the public sector to have the information necessary to make informed decisions when it comes to investing in our locks and dams."

Just on the Ohio River alone, the accumulated shipping delays at broken-down locks has more than tripled since 2000, rising from 25,000 hours to 80,000 annually. And that gets expensive. This study shows that a three-month lock closure would increase the cost of transporting 5.5 million tons of oilseeds and grain, the average shipped by barge during that period, by $71.6 million. A failure at any of the locks examined by the study could cost U.S. farmers up to $45 million in lost revenue.

The U.S. inland waterways represent key infrastructure for transporting U.S. soybeans. Up to 89 percent of soybeans exported through the lower Mississippi ports, such as the Port of New Orleans, arrive at those ports in barges that must transit multiple locks for the trip downstream.

The study, conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University, examined the condition of locks on the Upper Mississippi River, Illinois River and Ohio River. The study also calculated the economic impact of specific lock failures on districts within states, showing the effect on agricultural commodity prices--and on fertilizer and coal prices, which also depend on upstream river barge shipping.

"It is important that we have a robust transportation system," adds Foell. "Only by using a combination of the lock and dam system, rail system and truck system can we continue to move our products in a manner that will help us feed the world."

The USB GO program and STC, which is made up of USB, the American Soybean Association and 11 state soybean checkoff boards, plan to examine new and different ways to fund lock and dam and other rural transportation infrastructure improvements. USB made public and private investment in transportation infrastructure one of its top two priority issues.



Farmers Talk Trade, Biotech in Florida

The National Corn Growers Association's Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team convened yesterday in Orlando, Fla., to review the organization's policy and recommendations coming out of the Priority and Policy Conference held earlier in January. Additionally, team members will meet with representatives from government and industry to explore current challenges and opportunities in the areas of trade and biotechnology.

Looking at a variety of issues including how to best support agricultural exports, stress the importance of refuge compliance and facilitate successful communication across the biotechnology value-chain on their issues, the team will use its in-depth knowledge of the subject matter to develop the nuanced, strategic suggestions needed to guide NCGA policy effectively.

"During the winter months, it can begin to feel like farmer leaders spend a large amount of time participating in meetings for a variety of agricultural groups," said team Chair Chad Blindauer. "As my involvement has increased, I have come to appreciate the breadth and scope of the issues facing farmers today. By developing teams with specialization in major areas of opportunity and taking the time to analyze the issues in a critical, thorough manner, we are able to effectively provide input to shape NCGA policy and, subsequently, maximize the effectiveness of farmer-funded market development and production activities."



NMPF Applauds New Government School Meal Standards for Continuing to Recognize Dairy’s Nutritional Contributions

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) today praised the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s updated school meal standards that continue to stress the nutritional benefits of low-fat and fat-free milk and dairy products.

A final version of those standards was released Wednesday by the USDA following more than a year of public comment and review. NMPF submitted comments to USDA last April focusing on the nutrient package of milk and dairy foods, which will continue to be a core component of school meals, with fluid milk being offered at all meals.

“The updated nutrition standards require that low-fat or fat-free milk remain a part of every school meal,” said NMPF President and CEO Jerry Kozak. “That’s essential, given that milk is the single largest contributor of nutrients in kids’ diets. A single glass of milk delivers a very affordable package of nine essential nutrients important to good health, including calcium, potassium, phosphorus, protein and vitamins A, D and B12.”

In addition, Kozak said, including both plain and flavored milk in school meals is a sure-fire way to make diets more nutritious. “Milk, including chocolate milk, is the No. 1 source of three out of four nutrients cited by the U.S Dietary guidelines as lacking in children’s diets,” he said, “and chocolate milk is the drink-of-choice in school meal lines. Research shows that milk consumption can drop 35 percent or more when flavored milk is removed.” While Kozak said NMPF would have preferred if USDA allowed low-fat flavored milk in school meals along with fat-free flavored milk, “it’s essential that chocolate milk, in particular, remain available in school cafeterias to assure children are getting the nutrients milk provides.”

Kozak noted that, since 2006, the dairy industry has proactively reduced the sugar in flavored milk by nearly 40 percent, and flavored milk contributes only three percent of the added sugar in children’s diets.

“By comparison, fruit drinks and soft drinks contribute 45 percent of added sugar in kids’ diets,” Kozak said, “and many of these beverages provide few or no nutritional benefits.”

Kozak also praised USDA for keeping low-fat and fat-free yogurt and cheese on school breakfast and lunch menus. “Yogurt and cheese are kid-friendly solutions to help meet protein requirements,” he said. “They are favorites at home so it’s only natural that schools also should offer these products.”

Kozak noted that nearly two-thirds of the cheese distributed to schools by the Agriculture Department in the last school year was lower-fat varieties, and now nearly all the processed American and blended cheese USDA has available for schools will contain at least 25 percent less sodium.

“This also reflects the commitment of both USDA and the dairy industry to the address the problem of childhood obesity,” Kozak said.



Argentina Soy Crop Pegged at 46.2 MMT

Argentina's 2011-12 corn and soybean production prospects have suffered from a lingering drought, but recent showers arrived in the nick of time to prevent a continuing decline in soy prospects, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange said Thursday.

The exchange made its first forecast for both corn and soy production, pegging the corn crop at 22 million metric tons. That's in line with last season's corn production, despite the fact that farmers planted 280,000 more hectares of corn this season, the exchange said.

Corn planting is 95% complete, with the late-planted fields benefiting from the scattered showers seen over the past week, the exchange said.

Meanwhile, soybean production is seen at 46.2 million tons, down 2% on the year, the exchange said. "The rain arrived just in time," the exchange said. Planting is 96% complete.



Ethanol Supply Up at 6 1/2 Month High

Ethanol supply continued to build during the week-ended Jan. 20 despite a reduction in production plant output to a six-week low, data released from the Energy Information Administration Wednesday morning details.

The EIA showed a 300,000 barrel (bbl) increase in ethanol supply for the week reviewed to 19.8 million bbl, a 6-1/2 month high. Ethanol stocks have consistently increased each week since Dec. 9, 2011, increasing stock levels by 2.742 million bbl since that time. At 19.8 million bbl, ethanol supply was 800,000 bbl higher than during the same week in 2011.

The supply increases are coming even though ethanol production plants have ratcheted back output, which fell 7,000 barrels per day (bpd) for the week reviewed to 934,000 bpd. The output rate compares with a 922,000 bpd production level during the same week in 2011. During the four weeks through Jan. 20, ethanol production averaged 946,000 bpd, 39,000 bpd more than during the comparable year-ago period.

Ethanol net inputs by refiners and blenders were up 5,000 bpd to 774,000 bpd for the week, 12,000 bpd higher than during the same week in 2011. For the four-week period ended Jan. 20, the ethanol blending rate was 761,000 bpd, up 14,000 bpd from the comparable year-ago period, EIA data shows.

Implied gasoline demand increased 102,000 bpd to 8.098 million bpd for the week reviewed, with the prior week's reading sliding to the lowest demand rate since September 2001.



Crop Residue Removal Studies from Pioneer Hi-Bred, DuPont Industrial Biosciences Provide Management Options

In many high-yielding areas of the Corn Belt, residue buildup has become a challenge.

          DuPont businesses Pioneer Hi-Bred and DuPont Industrial Biosciences are collaborating with Iowa State University, performing studies on residue to establish best practices in harvesting, storage and transportation, as well as to assure the agronomic and environmental integrity of cornfields.

          "We know the near-term benefits of residue removal," says Andy Heggenstaller, Pioneer agronomy research manager from Iowa. "We're now trying to learn how to take advantage of these benefits with an eye toward achieving similar long-term agronomic advantages."

          The primary advantage in reducing surface residue is preventing stand establishment concerns in the following crop. Another advantage is a solution to nitrogen tie-up that can be caused by residues. Some growers increase their nitrogen fertilizer rates to compensate for nitrogen tied up by microbes. Removing a portion of the residue can reduce additional nitrogen applications.

          "Growers who achieve high yields per acre typically find that residue becomes difficult to manage," Heggenstaller says. "It can be a time-consuming and costly process."

          Costs associated with intensive tillage aren't only monetary. Excessive tillage also can damage the soil. Organic matter that supports high crop yields is depleted when oxygen is introduced into the soil through tillage, Heggenstaller says.

          Good residue management practices are crucial to overcoming some of the challenges associated with reduced-tillage systems.

          The first area of focus for growers should be seed selection. Every year Pioneer conducts extensive emergence trials in a wide range of stressful environments and soil types, including early-planted and reduced-tillage fields. Pioneer assigns each hybrid a stress emergence score based on the genetic potential for a hybrid to establish stand under stress conditions (e.g., cold, wet soils or environments with short periods of severe low temperatures).

          Pioneer also assigns high-residue suitability ratings of highly suitable, suitable or poorly suited for hybrid performance in reduced-tillage systems. This rating is calculated based on trait scores for the following: stress emergence, northern corn leaf blight, anthracnose stalk rot, gray leaf spot and Diplodia ear rot.

          Because heavy residue can hinder planting efforts, growers also should be sure to set up and operate the planter appropriately. This can help improve stand establishment in high-residue systems. Because planter operation may vary widely with soil type and conditions, it can be helpful to consult with an area agronomist or other no-tillers in the area to determine the best equipment and practices based on needs.

          Other planting tips include using row cleaners to clear the planting row of residue, planting slightly deeper to help overcome some of the moisture and temperature variability, and choosing a planting date that allocates extra time for soil under heavy residue to dry before planting.

          While these best management practices can help growers today, DuPont Industrial Biosciences is developing solutions for tomorrow that address the residue itself.

          DuPont plans to build one of the world's first commercial cellulosic ethanol biorefineries in Nevada, Iowa, which will require thousands of tons of stover from Iowa fields.

          "Currently, the most plentiful agricultural source of ligno-cellulosic biomass for ethanol production in the U.S. is corn stover," says Steve Mirshak, business director for DuPont's cellulosic ethanol program. "We're currently working with an exclusive group of growers in a pilot program to collect stover in support of the biorefinery. When completed, the plant will be fueled almost exclusively by cornstalks."

          Experts are keeping in mind long-term impacts. "University research suggests that at a high yield level (200 bushels per acre or more), growers can remove 40 percent of stover without negatively impacting soil organic matter," Heggenstaller says. "As we move forward, cellulosic ethanol production may become a common form of residue management."

          DuPont Industrial Biosciences also hopes the cellulosic ethanol industry will provide opportunities for growers to help manage residue and provide additional value to their croplands.