Friday February 10 Ag News

Corn and Soybean Growers Share On-Farm Research

Corn and soybean growers are invited to attend the Nebraska Soybean and Feed Grains Profitability Project on-farm research update March 13 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead.  The 9 a.m.-3 p.m. program will be at the August N. Christenson Research and Education Building.

Producers will obtain valuable crop production-related information from on-farm research projects conducted on Nebraska farms by Nebraska farmers.

The Nebraska Soybean and Feed Grains Profitability Project is an on-farm research project designed to provide farm operators with an understanding of how to conduct crop research on their farms using their own machinery. Comparisons are scientifically designed, statistically analyzed and conducted for three years to assure reliable, useful information.

"The Seven Wonders of High Yield Corn Management" will be presented via interactive video conference by the luncheon speaker, Fred Below, University of Illinois.

Below is a professor of plant physiology with the University of Illinois and has spent over 25 years researching what it takes to reach the 300 bushel yield goal. Through his innovative research, he has determined the seven most important factors to achieve the highest possible corn yields. His research focuses on understanding factors limiting crop productivity.

Registration is $50 for non-NSFGPP members. This includes a copy of the annual on-farm research report, refreshments and noon luncheon. Pre-registration is encouraged by March 8.

To register or for more information about the Nebraska Soybean and Feed Grains Profitability Project or how to conduct crop-related research on your farm, call 800-529-8030 or visit the website at http://on-farmresearch.unl.edu/.

This event is sponsored by UNL Extension in the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.



Four Candidates to Interview for Extension Dean, Director Position

Four finalists for the position of Cooperative Extension Division dean and Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service director will interview on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's East Campus in March.  Names of the candidates and their interview schedules follow. Each public presentation is followed by a reception so attendees can meet and talk with the candidates.

Susan Williams, district director of the UNL Southeast Research and Extension Center, will interview March 6-9, with a public presentation from 3:30 to 5 p.m. p.m. March 7 at the Nebraska East Union.

Williams has been the district director of the UNL Southeast Research and Extension Center since 2001. She also served as an extension educator for both Saunders and Custer counties from 1983-2001. She holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Kansas State University and a doctorate in human sciences from UNL.

Deborah Sheely, U.S. Department of Agriculture assistant director for the Institute of Food Production and Sustainability in the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, will interview March 13-16, with a public presentation from 3:30 to 5 p.m. March 14 at the Nebraska East Union.

Sheely has worked for USDA in Washington, D.C., since 1997. She has received awards for facilitating the integration of research, education and extension. Sheely has her bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Missouri-Columbia and her doctorate in plant biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Duane Williams, associate director of the Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Wyoming, will interview March 20-23, with a public presentation from 3:30 to 5 p.m. March 22 at the Nebraska East Union.

Williams has Cooperative Extension experience in three states – Kansas, Missouri and Wyoming. In addition to his current position at the University of Wyoming, he also has been the interim county program director for Gentry County in Missouri and the manager of the Extension Laboratory for Community Analysis and Applied Demographics at Kansas State University. Williams has both his bachelor's and master's degrees in agricultural economics-regional and community development from Oklahoma State University and his doctorate in rural sociology-community, demography and human ecology from Kansas State University.

David Hardin, associate dean of the UNL Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine and director of the UNL School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, will interview March 25-28, with a public presentation from 3:30 to 5 p.m. March 26 at the Nebraska East Union.

In 2006 Hardin arrived at UNL to develop, implement and lead the Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine, a cooperative veterinary medical educational program with Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He has led research, outreach and extension programs at both the University of Missouri system and Mississippi State. Hardin received his bachelor's in agriculture, his doctorate in veterinary medicine and his residency certificate in theriogenology from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Additional candidate information is available at www.extension.unl.edu.



Statement from Agriculture Secretary Vilsack on Record U.S. Farm Exports for Calendar Year 2011

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement regarding data released today showing U.S. farm exports reached a record $136.3 billion in calendar year 2011:

"The data released today by USDA represents a record-breaking calendar year for farm exports, demonstrating—once again—that American agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation's economy. We saw a rise in both the value and volume of U.S. agricultural exports worldwide in 2011, as international sales rose $20.5 billion over the previous record set in calendar year 2010. Total agricultural exports for calendar year 2011 were a robust $136.3 billion.

"These figures indicate how demand for the American brand of agriculture continues to soar worldwide, supporting good jobs for Americans across a variety of industries such as transportation, renewable energy, manufacturing, food services, and on-farm employment. During the past three years, the U.S. farm sector has continued to support and create jobs on a consistent basis, strengthening an American economy that's built to last. Every $1 billion in agricultural exports supports 8,400 American jobs, meaning that U.S. farm exports helped support more than 1 million U.S. jobs in 2011.

"And that gets to the innovation of our American farmers, ranchers and growers. American agriculture continues to apply the latest in technology and achieve a nearly unparalleled level of productivity. In fact, U.S. agriculture is the second-most productive sector of our economy in the past few decades outside of information technology.

"Exports of almost all major U.S. commodities rose in calendar year 201l, helping us to reach President Obama's goal of doubling all U.S. exports by the end of 2014. Grains were the biggest contributor to the overall record, reaching an all-time high of $37.7 billion, a $9.2 billion increase over 2010. Cotton experienced the biggest year-to-year increase, up 44 percent from 2010, reaching a record $8.5 billion. Dairy and pork exports also set records in 2011, reaching $4.8 billion and $6 billion respectively.

"Another success story is U.S. beef exports. Last year, the United States exported an all-time high of $5.4 billion worth of beef and beef products, surpassing the previous record by more than $1.6 billion. The volume of shipments also surpassed the 2003 levels, the last year before a detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Washington State disrupted U.S. trade. The return to pre-2003 levels marks an important milestone in USDA's steadfast efforts to open and expand international markets. Despite this progress, restrictions continue to constrain exports to many of our key markets and we remain fully committed to breaking down those trade barriers.

"There was more good news for U.S. beef exporters when United Arab Emirates (UAE) officials issued a decree on Jan. 24, 2012 liberalizing imports of U.S. beef by eliminating age restrictions. The expansion of U.S. beef access to UAE—one of the largest markets for U.S. beef in the Middle East—underscores the tenacity of the Obama Administration to improve our trade relationships, expand export opportunities and strengthen an American economy that's built to last."

The latest export data is available via the Global Agricultural Trade System at http://www.fas.usda.gov/data.asp.



Surface Transportation Bills Moving Through Congress

Both the House and Senate are working on surface transportation funding bills, which could address a number of agriculture industry priorities. Bills ready for floor action in both chambers primarily tackle funding for the highway trust fund, which provides funding for projects across the country and is set to run out of money in the fall.

According to the National Wheat Growers Association, the House version of the bill, H.R. 7, reportedly addresses needed hours-of-service exemptions for ag producers and commercial drivers license requirements for fuel transportation, as well as mandating a report on truck weight issues. Work is ongoing related to these issues in the Senate legislation, S. 1813.



Senate Ag Committee to Take Up Farm Bill Energy Title Programs Next Week

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, recently announced the hearing schedule for the 2012 Farm Bill reauthorization, with farm energy and rural development the topics for the first hearing Wednesday, Feb. 15.

Ned Stowe, a policy associate with the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, says the hearing may give renewable energy advocates an idea if federal programs critical to the development of sustainable bioenergy and the bioeconomy will be renewed in the next Farm Bill. The authorization for current programs will expire at the end of this year.  Stowe says the Agriculture Committee is under pressure to reduce overall spending for nutrition and agriculture programs in the next Farm Bill. In November, the leadership of the House and Senate Agriculture committees recommended cuts of $23 billion.

The energy title in the current Farm Bill, enacted in 2008, authorized a dozen programs, and EESI estimates that title also authorized a total of $1.037 billion mandatory funding and $1.113 billion discretionary funding for fiscal years 2008 through 2012, all to advance the development of bioenergy and other types of renewable energy and energy efficiency across rural America. "Programs such as the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, Biorefinery Assistance Program, and Rural Energy for America Program offer significant returns on the public investment in terms of job creation, rural economic development, and energy security," Stowe says. "However, because these programs do not receive baseline funding, they may be especially vulnerable to cuts in the next authorization bill."

Conservation programs, which are considered critical to renewable energy interests because of their capacity to provide acreage for non-food bioenergy crops, will be the topic of a committee hearing set for Feb. 29.



NFU's Beginning Farmer Institute Accepting Applications

National Farmers Union (NFU) encourages individuals who are contemplating starting a career in farming or ranching to apply for the Beginning Farmer Institute. The program is also open to those across the nation who have just begun farming or are in the process of transferring an operation from a parent, relative, or non-relative.

Beginning farmers and ranchers face a seemingly unlimited number of decisions to make, from drawing up a business plan and arranging financing to learning what programs are available to make it easier to start up and sustain a successful operation.

"This program will answer the questions new farmers have, and more importantly share our expertise to answer questions that people do not always think of asking when they begin farming," said NFU President Roger Johnson. "The Beginning Farmer Institute underscores our commitment to growing family agriculture."

Applicants accepted into the 2012 program will attend three separate education sessions, to be held in April in Washington, D.C., November in Minneapolis, Minn., and at the NFU Convention in March 2013 in Springfield, Mass. Program topics will cover business planning, understanding U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, tax and record keeping, and marketing.

A $25 registration fee is required for accepted candidates. The NFU Foundation will cover the costs of materials, transportation, and lodging. This program is supported by the NFU Foundation, Farm Credit and CHS Foundation.

To apply, visit www.nfu.org/education, fill out the form and return it by the March 14 deadline.



USDA Offers Mobile Access and More Efficient Online Tools for Farmers and Ranchers

Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse announced today a package of technology enhancements from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) that include Web access for handheld and smartphone users, as well as a more efficient and timely option for receiving news and critical program information. The technology improvements will allow users of FSA information to gain access to easy-to-read data, including key features such as loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates, posted county prices (PCP), FSA news releases and AskFSA, the agency’s online self-help knowledge base.

Today’s announcement by FSA underscores USDA’s Blueprint for Stronger Service, a plan introduced in January by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that takes a realistic view of the needs of American agriculture in a challenging budget climate, and lays out USDA’s plans to modernize and accelerate service delivery while improving the customer experience through use of innovative technologies and business solutions. Three of the 27 initial recommendations implemented by USDA focus on information technology, while other process improvements already put into place by FSA have strengthened the agency’s electronic customer service and online presence.

“As an increasing number of farmers and ranchers move to mobile devices and other high-tech tools, we need to keep pace by investing in the best possible customer service while making the best use of taxpayer resources,” Scuse said. “The mobile website is an added convenience for farmers and ranchers and an effective, efficient way for USDA to deliver news, program information and reliable guidance on a variety of agricultural issues. And investments in technology help USDA continue to make other, more significant investments in rural America, preserving the success of U.S. agriculture in the long term.”

Scuse announced the new services this morning at the Maryland Farmer’s Breakfast in Crumpton, Md.

Like all websites, the FSA site is accessible through any device that connects to the Internet. The mobile site organizes the information on the website in a way that makes for easy reading on a small, hand-held screen. It does not require screen adjustments or constant scrolling and panning across the information.

A 2011 study conducted by the Pew Research Center indicated that mobile Internet access is growing rapidly. From May 2010 to July 2011, the number of adults with mobile applications jumped from 43 percent to 50 percent. The trend is expected to continue. In addition, USDA’s Economic Research Service found 57 percent of all rural households use broadband Internet at home, but some 6 percent of all rural households (or over 1 million rural households) access the Internet at home solely through wireless broadband services. The new FSA site makes the information available to these households.

In addition to the mobile website, FSA is now offering farmers and ranchers a more efficient and timely option for receiving critical program information. Such things as eligibility requirements, deadlines and related information can be accessed through an electronic news service hosted by GovDelivery.

By signing up for free online communications through GovDelivery, farmers and ranchers can receive news, via e-mail, directly to their home or farm office or to their mobile devices—allowing them to receive immediate notification of farm program news that is pertinent to their agricultural operation. Through GovDelivery, producers can establish subscriber preferences by choosing to receive federal farm program and farm loan information by topic, by state and/or by county. Producers can also select as many subscriber options as they want, which allows producers in multiple counties or across state lines to receive updates from each county in which they opeate or have an interest.

FSA also offers AskFSA and AskFSAmobile, an easy-to-use knowledge database with automated answers to website visitor questions. In 2011, AskFSA received 351,119 visitors—99.7 percent of whom found their answer online without the need for additional assistance.

The Obama Administration, with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack’s leadership, has worked tirelessly to strengthen rural America, implement the Farm Bill, maintain a strong farm safety net, and create opportunities for America’s farmers and ranchers. U.S. agriculture is currently experiencing one of its best years in decades thanks to the productivity, resiliency, and resourcefulness of our producers. Today, net farm income is at record levels while debt has been cut in half since the 1980s. Overall, American agriculture supports 1 in 12 jobs in the United States and provides American consumers with 86 percent of the food we consume, while maintaining affordability and choice. The Obama Administration has aggressively worked to expand export opportunities and reduce barriers to trade, helping to push agricultural exports to record levels in 2011 and beyond. Strong agricultural exports are a positive contribution to the U.S. trade balance, support nearly 1 million American jobs and boost economic growth.

To access FSA’s mobile website visit www.fsa.usda.gov/mobile.



Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Highlights Blueprint for Iowa Revitalization and Job Creation Following President Obama's State of the Union Address

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack held a roundtable meeting today with local business and agricultural leaders at the Des Moines Area Community College to discuss the vision laid out in President Obama's State of the Union address that will help grow the Iowa economy. The meeting provided Secretary Vilsack with an opportunity to hear directly from Iowans on how to make sure our students and workers get the education and training they need so that we have a workforce ready to take on the jobs of today and tomorrow.

"President Obama believes this is a make or break moment for the middle class and has laid out a blueprint for an economy that is built to last—an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values," said Vilsack. "Today I had the opportunity to hear directly from Iowans on how we work together to build a nation where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules. Together we will keep our nation moving forward and rebuild an economy where hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded."

Last Friday's employment report shows that private sector payrolls increased by 257,000 in January and the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent. After losing more than 8 million jobs in the recession, the economy has added private sector jobs for 23 straight months, for a total of 3.7 million jobs over that period. Manufacturing jobs are coming back and the auto industry has rebounded. In the last 12 months, 2.2 million private sector jobs were added on net. To ensure we build an economy to last over the long term, we must continue this progress. In his State of the Union Address, the President announced proposals and outlined his vision for:
-   How we will bring about a new era of American manufacturing, with more good jobs and more products stamped Made in the USA;
-    A new era for American energy—an economy fueled by homegrown and alternative energy sources that will be designed and produced by American workers;
-    How we will make sure our students and workers get the education and training they need so that we have a workforce ready to take on the jobs of today and tomorrow; and
-    Return to American Values - of fairness for all, and responsibility from all.

USDA is working to support the President's efforts to promote a new era of American manufacturing by supporting rural businesses, farmers and ranchers to export products made or grown in America. USDA is also supporting the President's vision for a new era for American made renewable energy by working with scientists, farmers and entrepreneurs to help develop a nationwide biofuels economy that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the countryside.

In Iowa, USDA has provided 62 grants and loans to assist rural small and mid-sized businesses create or save 5,300 jobs over the past three years. USDA has also improved and modernized rural electric infrastructure for over 91,000 rural residents and businesses in Iowa with more than 2,636 miles of new and upgraded electric lines. Across the country, USDA has helped more than 7,435 rural families in all 99 counties buy or refinance a home. The department has provided grants and loans for water and waste water community infrastructure projects to help safeguard the health of 257,000 rural residents and create or save 1,900 jobs.



Skills for American Workers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

As America works towards an economy that’s built to last, we must make sure to provide American workers with the skills they need to compete.

If we want to build an economy that makes, creates and innovates; if we want to usher in a new era for American manufacturing and American-produced energy; our students and workers need a good education and strong training.

At USDA, one of our jobs is to help American workers learn the skills they need to be ready to take on the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Our Forest Service operates nearly 30 Job Corps centers that offer training in vocational trades including welding, business technology, computer networking, heavy equipment operations, carpentry, painting, firefighting, and forestry. Last year we trained more than 4,200 students. 90% of them got jobs, joined the military, or went on to further their education.

We also support skills training for Americans looking to start careers in agriculture.  In the past years alone we’ve have supported education and training for 15,000 beginning farmers and ranchers.

USDA also helps support youth programs – like 4H and FFA – that are providing millions of American children with learning opportunities, and teaching them to be citizens and leaders in their communities.  And we support education programs in all 50 states focused on science, technology, engineering and math, as well as engineering and agriculture programs at top public universities.

President Obama and I know this is a make or break moment for the middle class. What’s at stake is the basic American promise that if you work hard, you can do well enough to raise a family, own a home, and put a little away for retirement. But we’ll never get there if our students and workers aren’t up to the jobs of tomorrow.

Over the past weeks, the President laid out his plan for keeping college affordable and within reach for Americans.  He called for a new initiative to train and place two million Americans in good jobs through partnerships between businesses and community colleges. And he wants to put veterans to work protecting our communities and preserving our parks, forests and natural resources.

These are important steps, and we’re ready to help turn them into action.  Because when American workers have the skills they need, we’ll keep our promise to the middle class and rebuild an economy where hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded.  An economy built to last.