Monday February 20 Ag News

NE Nutrient Management Meetings

Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska  Poultry  Industries,  Nebraska Pork  Producers  and  the  Nebraska  State Dairy Association  are pleased  to  announce local  meetings  for  all  livestock  producers to  learn  about  new  and  expanded  nutrient management regulations.

Nebraska Department of  Environmental Quality (NDEQ) nutrient management specialists will give a presentation on the new and expanded regulations. Other industry specialists will be in attendance to answer questions. Changes to Nebraska’s nutrient management regulations have been put in place. These mandatory regulations impact all livestock producers that are permitted by the Nebraska Department of  Environmental Quality (NDEQ). If  your operation is permitted by NDEQ or you are considering expanding your operation then join us for an informational meeting on the new regulations.

• March 1   – Elyria, NE – Country Neighbor at 6:30 p.m.
• March 13 – Bridgeport, NE – Prairie Winds at 11:30 a.m.
• March 14 – Oxford, NE – Mulligans at 6:30 p.m.
• March 19 – Beatrice, NE – Gage County UNL Ext. Offce at 6:30 p.m.
• March 20 – Wakefeld, NE – Legion Hall at 11:30 a.m.
• March 20 – Columbus, NE – Wunderlichs at 7:00 p.m.
• March 21 – Belvidere, NE – Belvidere Community Center – 6:30 p.m.

The meetings are sponsored by We Support Agriculture, JES Environmental Services, Inc., Nutrient Advisors, LLC and Settje Agri-Services & Engineering,  Inc. All  are welcome  to  attend  and  for more  information  please  contact Kristen Hassebrook at 402.475.2333.



Conservation Informational Meetings Offered In Northeast Nebraska

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup. Pheasants Forever, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the USDA, and the Nebraska Environmental Trust will be hosting Landowner Informational Meetings across northeast Nebraska to explain the ins and outs of the program and to talk about ways it can fit economically into present day agricultural operations.

The CRP signup runs March 12th - April 6th. Cassidy Gerdes, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist states, “CRP has changed over the years from a simple land retirement program into a program that has a suite of options which you can use to tailor to your future goals for your land. Obviously, I’ve got a soft spot for habitat, but the CRP program has components which range from erosion control and conservation compliance to water quality and pollinator production.”

CRP rental rates were updated last year to reflect changes in current county land values, so anyone looking to re-enroll old CRP may have a pleasant surprise. Whether or not that new price competes with cash rent is for the landowner to decide, but according to Gerdes it may be worth finding out what all your options are. Even if enrolling the whole field isn’t the best decision for your farm at this time, new technology is starting to show us that treating every acre in your field as an identical unit could be costing you dollars as well.

There are approximately 6 million acres of CRP land expiring nationally, and while the USDA hopes to maintain the CRP program at current levels, they also intend the signup to be a competitive process. By accepting the acres that provide the most environmental benefit, they maintain the integrity of the program and ensure the taxpayer the most bang for their buck. The informational meeting will point out the decisions landowners can make to ensure he or she is submitting a competitive offer.

For this CRP signup, local biologists are teaming up with the Farm Service agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to make individual site visits and recommendations. The purpose of these site visits is to give the producer some baseline information on what he or she currently has and to provide an idea of the type and the amount of work it would take to upgrade the land to meet program requirements and landowner goals.

Those interested in participating on March 16th should arrive at the USDA Service Center in Walthill at 2:00pm. Cookies and coffee will be provided. There is no charge for participating and there is no need to register. According to Gerdes, space may be limited depending upon interest, so you may want to plan to come early. Other area meetings include March 6th, Lifelong Learning Center in Norfolk at 11:00 am, and March 6th, The Max in Wayne at 6:00 pm.  More are being planned for Cuming and Burt Counties. 



Center for Rural Affairs Board announces Leadership Changes

On Saturday, February 18, 2012, the Center for Rural Affairs Board of Directors met by conference call to discuss granting an extended leave of absence to Chuck Hassbrook, Executive Director and long-time staff member of the Center. The board voted, without dissent, to grant Hassebrook up to ten months of unpaid leave, beginning March 1, 2012. Hassebrook requested the leave in order to run for public office.

“As board president, I have every confidence in our staff’s ability to keep the Center and our work for rural America moving forward,” said Jim Knopik, Fullerton, Nebraska farmer and Center Board President. “I’ve seen many changes at the Center since I first became a supporter 14 years ago. I can tell you the Center continues to be in a strong position – now as much as ever.”

According to Knopik, Hassebrook has been with the Center for 34 years and was named Director in 1996, serving in that capacity for the last 16 years.

“Chuck has guided us through thick and thin. He has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of rural Americans,” Knopik continued. “I know I speak for my fellow board members when I say thank you Chuck, for all you’ve done.”

The Center Board, in other action, voted to implement a succession plan previously developed by Center board and staff and tapped Assistant Executive Director Brian Depew to fill the role of Acting Executive Director. Depew will assume the interim position on March 1, 2012.

The Center for Rural Affairs is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and does not support or oppose any candidate for public office.



2012 Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic Team Penning and Team Roping

The 2012 Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic experienced a large turnout for the first day of activities. New this year was the Speed Penning competition which had 36 people sign up for this event.  This was held in conjunction with the Team Penning and Team Roping events on Monday, February 20th in Kearney, NE. Over 70 teams signed up to show off their team penning skills which represented teams from NE, MO, SD, CO, IA and KS. These three events kicked off the 21st Annual NE Cattlemen’s Classic and attendance exceeded last year’s crowd for the first day of the week-long event. 

1st Place Team Penning honors went to:
James Hanson, St. Paul, NE
Corey Avery, Iowa
Philip Wright, Leigh, NE

2nd  Place Team Penning honors went to:
Bailey Lukasiewicz, Farwell, NE
Cindy Murray, IA
Mike Korth, Greeley, NE

3rd Place Team Penning honors went to:
T.J. Vance, Bladen, NE
Lukas Rupprecht, Campbell, NE
Glen Bonifas, Roseland, NE

4th  Place Team Penning honors went to:
Kirt Lukasiewicz, Farwell, NE
Tracy Lukasiewicz, Farwell, NE
Bailey Lukasiewicz, Farwell, NE

5th  Place Team Penning honors went to:
T.J. Vance, Bladen, NE
Lukas Rupprecht, Campbell, NE
Brett Rupprecht, Campbell, NE

1st Place Speed Penning honors went to: 
Dennis Reed, Oconto, NE
Bob Frye, Spalding, NE

Team roping activities culminated the evening activities and excitement was high for the second day of working horse and dog events at the 21st Annual NE Cattlemen’s Classic.    



Algona Native is Selected as Iowa 4-H Foundation Executive Director

An Algona native and Iowa 4-H alumni, Kris Fish Kulhmann, is the Iowa 4-H Foundation’s new executive director. She brings her skills in leadership, business, and relationship-building to the organization that provides funding support to the 4-H programs across the state.

In essence, she is an example of what 4-H can mean to young people.

“As we conducted our national search, we knew the ideal candidate would have vision, passion and be dedicated to 4-H.  Kris Fish Kuhlmann brings a fervent knowledge of 4-H by having been a former state 4-H council member, and she has a proven track record of success and leadership in her career,” said Scott Mortimer, Iowa 4-H Foundation President.

The skills that 4-Hers learn: critical thinking, leadership, communication and social skills, are key components that Fish Kuhlmann will use as she builds upon the Iowa 4-H Foundation’s reputation as one of the best of its kind in the country. “We are very fortunate to have found and selected a candidate that met all of the search committee’s criteria and then some,” Mortimer said.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to provide funding for Iowa 4-H youth programming and believe our new executive director will boldly build the foundation’s resources.” Mortimer said. “Kris and our team will bring an enthusiastic approach to raising the money needed to continue to grow 4-H throughout our state.”

“This is an exciting opportunity!” Fish Kuhlmann said.  “I am honored to be associated with the Iowa 4-H Foundation, the ideal model for helping 4-H kids throughout the country.  I look forward to connecting with current and potential contributors to the Iowa 4-H Foundation”.

Fish Kuhlmann, who currently lives in Lenexa, KS, and is relocating to Ames; has established three independent businesses, and has experience in human resources management. She is currently a Senior Loan Officer at Mortgage Lenders of America in Overland Park, KS. Fish Kuhlmann has an education degree from Iowa State University, and has also studied at Drake University and Webster University in Kansas City.

In addition, the Iowa 4-H Foundation is pleased to announce that Albert Grunenwald has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer.  “Albert has been with the Foundation for 16 years and has grown to be a valuable resource for the Foundation and our donors. We look forward to Grunenwald handling these additional responsibilities,” added Mortimer.

The search committee was led by four members of the Iowa 4-H Foundation Board of Directors. Fish Kuhlmann replaces Interim 4-H Foundation Executive Director Glen Mente on March 12, 2012  



Young cattle producers encouraged to join leadership class

In an on-going effort to build future leadership for both the Iowa cattle industry and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, ICA is taking applications for the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program through Feb. 29. The application can be downloaded from the ICA website, www.iacattlemen.org.

Those selected for the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) program will meet four times in the coming year to tour relevant locations and learn about trending cattle production issues, governance of ICA and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, communication skills, and legislative processes.

Meetings are tentatively scheduled for late March to mid-April, June, September and December.

The application for YCLP asks potential participants to explain why they are interested in participating in YCLP, as well as explaining their goals and giving their vision of the cattle industry.
If you have questions about the program, or would like an application mailed to you, contact Trent Wellman at Trent@iabeef.org, or call 515-296-2266.

YCLP is sponsored by ICA with funding provided by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation and members of the ICA President’s Council.



Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation offers scholarships

High school seniors interested in scholarships may be eligible for awards from the Iowa Cattlemen's Foundation. Eligible students must graduate from high school this year, and meet any of these criteria:
·    received Youth Beef Team training,
·    completed the Masters of Beef Advocacy, or
·    served as a county Beef Queen/Princess/Ambassador.

Applications for the scholarship must be postmarked by March 15, 2012. The complete guidelines for the applications can be found at www.iowacattlemensfoundation.org.

Candidates will compete for $1,000 scholarships, and up to three scholarships will be given.
An additional $500 will be awarded to any $1,000 scholarship winner who has completed the online course for MBA (Master of Beef Advocacy) by the time of the personal interviews in April.

Ten finalists will participate in a personal interview and presentation in Ames, scheduled for Saturday, April 7, 2012. Each finalist will be interviewed by a panel of judges. Finalists will also give a five to eight minute presentation on an issue of their choice that impacts the beef industry.

Scholarship winners will be announced at the conclusion of the day's events.

Questions about the scholarship program can be directed to Micki Butler, Micki@iabeef.org, or call 515-296-2266.



USMEF’s Seng Sees Positives in Chinese Leaders’ Visit to Iowa

When leaders of the world’s largest agricultural products importer and the largest agricultural products exporter meet in constructive dialogue, only good outcomes are to be expected.

That’s the assessment of U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Philip Seng after his participation in this week’s U.S./China High-Level Agricultural Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa. It was part of a five-day U.S. tour by Chinese Vice President President Xi Jinping, who is positioned to be the next leader of China.

The symposium was built around the themes of food safety, food security and sustainability. At the conclusion, Chinese and U.S. representatives signed a five-year cooperative agreement that focuses on those three food-related areas in addition to biotechnology and transparency.

“So often, meetings of this nature are conducted to resolve disputes,” said Seng. “The tone of this meeting was forward-looking and underscores a spirit of cooperation. The atmosphere was favorable to the desired outcome of partnership and collaboration.”

Seng noted that while there are trade issues yet to be resolved between the United States and China, this meeting appeared to be a different approach than the U.S. has taken with other trading partners.

“This was a constructive exchange that other countries may be viewing with circumspection and, possibly, a tinge of envy,” said Seng.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), China became the top market for U.S. agricultural goods last year, purchasing $20 billion worth of U.S. agricultural exports. Those exports supported more than 160,000 American jobs last year across a variety of business sectors, according to the USDA.

In 2011, the China/Hong Kong region was the No. 3 market for U.S. pork exports, purchasing 483,323 metric tons (more than 1 billion pounds) valued at $910 million, increases of 64 percent in volume and 96 percent in value over the prior year.

China is not currently open to U.S. beef exports, but analysts estimate that in the first full year of exports, China likely would purchase at least $200 million of American beef.

“China has 23 percent of the world’s population but only 9 percent of the arable land,” said Seng. “It will always need to import food, and American agriculture is positioned to truly establish a relationship based on trust, transparency and mutual benefit between the two countries.”



Process Established for Addressing Hidden Camera Livestock Investigations

Hidden camera investigations at livestock farms have heightened public attention on animal care issues. In an effort to foster a more balanced conversation and to provide credible feedback to promote continuous improvement in farm animal care, the Center for Food Integrity (CFI) has created an Animal Care Review panel.

The Panel, made up of recognized animal well-being experts, will examine video footage and report back to the public. The process has been established initially for the pork industry but CFI is willing to engage with other sectors of animal agriculture as they show interest.

The Panel will include an animal scientist, a veterinarian and an ethicist to assure various perspectives are represented. CFI is recruiting several experts to participate in the process, but for the video investigation at a swine operation in Iowa released last week by Compassion Over Killing, the panel is comprised of Dr. Temple Grandin, Colorado State University; Dr. Candace Croney, Purdue University; and Dr. Tom Burkgren, American Association of Swine Veterinarians.

Ideally, the panel will receive complete and in-context video footage from the organization that obtained it. This will provide the best opportunity for the experts to have a full understanding of the situation. Short of that, the panel will review edited segments that have been released to the public.

After reviewing the video released last week the panel made the following observations:
•    Most of what is shown in the video are normally accepted production practices and there was nothing that could be considered abusive. It was noted that employees appeared to be competent and well-trained and that the barn floors and the pigs themselves were clean.
•    In one scene, an employee is shown castrating and docking the tail of a piglet in close proximity to the mother. The video contends the sow is grunting in distress. One of the experts said that while it is likely that the sow experiences some distress in such a situation, both the sow and her piglets would probably experience similar or greater levels of stress if the piglet was transported elsewhere.
•    An employee is seen using tape on a piglet’s incisions following castration. One of the experts noted such a practice is considered more welfare friendly than stitches because it is less intrusive and requires less handling of the pig.
•    There was a short glimpse in the video of what appeared to be a herniated piglet and it was implied it was caused by incorrect castration. One expert noted the assertion is not correct – that the condition was likely related to genetics.
•    A scene showing several flies in a farrowing room was a point of concern and something the experts felt should be corrected.
•    Another point of concern is a portion of the video addressing the practice of “back feeding” – a process in which organs of piglets that have died are fed to the sows to boost their immune systems. The experts noted that it is unclear if this practice involves sows or pigs and its exact purpose. It is a normally accepted production practice used to stimulate the immune systems of pregnant sows late in gestation. This results in more effective and improved passive immunity that is passed from the mother to her offspring through the colostrum.
•    A sow shown walking awkwardly because its hooves had not been properly trimmed was also discussed. The experts noted the hooves should have been trimmed but they would have preferred seeing more than just a few seconds of the sow in question so it could be determined if there was a lameness issue.

The issue of only seeing brief scenes was a common concern for the experts. They noted that seeing longer excerpts from the video would allow them to place the practices in better context to allow for evaluation that encourages continuous improvement.  Attempts by CFI to secure longer video segments from Compassion Over Killing were unsuccessful.   CFI remains committed to working with animal protection groups to secure more complete video for evaluation.

The Animal Care Review Panel operates independently. Its reviews, assessments, recommendations and reports will not be submitted to the pork industry for review or approval. CFI’s only role is to facilitate the review process and release the panel’s findings.  The opinions expressed in the review are solely those of the expert panel.



Former Miss America to Headline Sorghum General Session at 2012 Commodity Classic

The 2011 Miss America Teresa Scanlan will deliver the keynote address during the Sorghum General Session on March 1 during the 2012 Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn.

Scanlan, a Nebraska native, began advocating for agriculture during her reign as Miss America by establishing partnerships with several agricultural organizations, including The Hand That Feeds U.S. As a non-traditional spokesperson for agriculture, Scanlan is working to bridge the gap between urban and rural America by speaking about the importance of food production to a broader audience.

“We are so excited to have Teresa as our keynote speaker for this year’s Sorghum General Session,” said NSP Chairman Terry Swanon. “She is an excellent advocate for agriculture, and is a valuable addition to this year’s program.”

Former U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Larry Combest, now of Combest, Sell & Associates, will discuss the current environment surrounding farm policy in Washington, D.C.

A panel of winners of the 2011 NSP Yield and Management Contest will talk about the secrets to their yield success. Panel members representing a variety of sorghum-producing regions will include Non-Irrigated Bin Buster winner Otto Levin of Kensington, Kan., Conventional-Till Irrigated winner John A. Scates of Sturgis, Ill., and Reduced-Till Irrigated second place winner Monte Wright of Perryton, Texas.

Updates from the National Sorghum Producers and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program will be given, as well.

The 2012 Sorghum General Session will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 1 in the Opryland Resort and Convention Center’s Tennessee Ballroom C. Prior to the event, there will be a Sorghum Meet and Greet in Tennessee Lobby A from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. All Classic attendees and media are invited to attend.



 Running to Win: Shauman Outlines Global Vision for Council
“The rest of the world is running a race, and they’re running to win,” said U.S. Grains Council Chairman Wendell Shauman. “And so are we.”

Addressing the Council’s 2012 International Marketing Conference (IMC) in Panama City, Panama, Shauman emphasized that 95 percent of the world’s population now lives outside the United States and that the global middle class is driving food demand. Noting that corn last summer topped $10 a bushel in China, Shauman celebrated the historic opportunity presented to U.S. producers by this new global demand - but at the same time, he acknowledged that producers around the world perceive the same opportunity and are ramping up production to compete for market share.

Shauman outlined the Council’s global vision for competing in a dynamic new market environment. The Council late last year adopted a new strategic plan designed to support more aggressive engagement in trade policy issues. The Council has also embraced a new strategic communications initiative and is repositioning its global assets to stay ahead of emerging markets around the world. With 25-30 percent of U.S. farm receipts being generated by imports, and with China emerging as the top international customer for U.S. agriculture, Shauman pledged that the Council would continue to work aggressively to maintain U.S. leadership in global exports of feed grains.

Shauman’s focus was matched by the nearly 300 attendees – an all-time attendance record - at the 2012 IMC. Representing state checkoff organizations and U.S. agribusinesses, the conference attendees focused their efforts on A-Team meetings that reviewed the Council’s progress and set goals for future action. Each year, the A-Team reports from the meeting become a key element in developing the Council’s Unified Export Strategy for the coming year.

Global Producers Respond to Incentives
Sometimes a simple number tells a big story. If one examines global corn supply and demand since 1990, non-U.S. production exceeded 90 percent of non-U.S. consumption in only five of the 16 years from 1990/91 through the 2005/06 marketing year. Since 2006, however, non-U.S. production has topped the 90 percent threshold for six consecutive years. “Think of it as increasing global self-sufficiency,” explained Erick Erickson, U.S. Grains Council director of programs and planning. Non-U.S. demand continues to rise rapidly, prices remain high, and non-U.S. producers are responding. All of this puts pressure on U.S. market share.

Dr. Erickson directed special attention to three major competitors. Brazil has a corn supply and demand picture not unlike the U.S., with a robust internal market absorbing the bulk of production but with a healthy surplus available for export. Argentina and the Ukraine, however, export over half their crop. They are producing primarily for export, and they continue to ramp up production in response to high grain prices in international markets.

“Global demand is also proving to be highly resilient, despite high prices,” noted Erickson. The fundamentals are clearly sound, as the growing global middle class continues to demand an improved diet despite higher prices. Even with some substitution, principally of feed wheat, global corn demand continues to grow at a robust pace - and producers around the world are responding.

Given strong fundamentals, Erickson called for  a focus on the long term: a commitment to long-term reliability and innovation; development of stable, long-term partnerships; investment in infrastructure to handle growing demand; and a recognition that trade is ultimately a “group sport” - that a stable, predictable, transparent and open trade system is in the long run preferable to short-term focus on isolated national interests. “A rising tide lifts all boats,” he reminded attendees, and given strong long-term fundamentals, the Grains Council will continue to uphold its historic commitment to trade expansion. 

Focus on Competitiveness: Rising Demand; Intense Battle for Market Share
U.S. producers face “a crisis of competitiveness,” and the remedy starts with close analysis of the competitive dynamic in global markets.  Rebecca Bratter, the U.S. Grains Council vice president for international operations, greeted attendees at the 9th International Marketing Conference and 52nd Annual Membership Meeting with a no-holds-barred overview of rapidly changing market realities around the world. With the U.S. share of global corn exports now edging below 50 percent for the first time, Bratter made it clear that the U.S. cannot take market dominance for granted.

“Many factors contribute to the change,” Bratter noted. Among the most pervasive, reported in virtually every market around the world, were concerns about U.S. corn quality. Some of this is a lingering effect from recognized issues with the 2009 crop, but some also reflects longstanding concerns, especially in tropical markets, about moisture content. Other key factors include tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, foreign production and export subsidies, and price competition from aggressive competitors in Argentina, Brazil and the Black Sea region, which are ramping up production in response to high global prices for corn and other feed grains.

Echoing a point made earlier by Council Chairman Wendell Shauman, Bratter emphasized that the new competition is here to stay. As Shauman remarked, we can hardly fault others for competing effectively for market share because, in large part, “we taught them how to do it.” But rising competition means U.S. producers must look aggressively to emerging markets in which the U.S. can earn a competitive edge. The United States must also work hard to ensure a level playing field: competitors are negotiating many trade agreements excluding the United States, and enforcement of WTO rules is uneven, to the frequent disadvantage of the United States.

“There is no single, easy answer,” emphasized Bratter; “it’s a country-by-country, market-by-market analysis.” The United States enjoys great competitive advantages and is still the dominant player in the global grains trade. Maintaining that position in the face of rising competition and rebuilding market share is the challenge ahead for U.S. producers and the Grains Council.



NCBA Accepting Applications for Public Policy Internship

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) government affairs office in Washington, D.C., is accepting applications for a summer 2012 public policy internship. The deadline to submit an application for this opportunity is March 12, 2012.

“Gaining valuable, hands-on experience through opportunities like the public policy internship at NCBA helps prepare college students to make the challenging transition from college to career,” said NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts. “We are looking for college students with an interest in the beef industry and in public policy to help NCBA represent cattlemen and women in Washington, D.C.  The internship is designed to work closely with the lobbying and communications teams on Capitol Hill and assist with NCBA’s regulatory efforts.

The full-time internship will begin May 29, 2012 and end Aug. 17, 2012. To apply, interested college juniors, seniors or graduate students should submit the application, an official college transcript, two letters of recommendation and a resume to internship@beef.org. More information and the internship application are available on NCBA’s website.

“This isn’t a ‘check-the-box’ style of internship. NCBA’s public policy interns work alongside NCBA staff on critical issues ranging from the estate tax to food safety, the environment and more.” Butts said.  “If you or someone you know is interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to apply.”



New Vulcan Insecticide Granted EPA Approval

Vulcan insecticide, developed and manufactured by MANA Crop Protection, has received approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its new state of the art chlorpyrifos formulation, labeled for use on corn, soybeans, wheat, pome fruit, tree nuts, grapes, citrus, vegetables and other crops.

Using MANA Crop Protection proprietary technology, new Vulcan touts an advanced formulation which allows for excellent speed of insect knockdown with high levels of control found in emusifiable concentrate (EC) based chlorpyrifos formulations. Vulcan's low-odor quality improves handling and convenience in comparison to previous chlorpyrifos delivery platforms.

Chlorpyrifos, the active ingredient in Vulcan, is a proven and widely-used pesticide for fast-acting and efficacious control of yield-robbing insects. Specific to use on corn, 2011 studies completed by an independent third party researcher showed that Vulcan had faster-acting performance along with improved efficacy when compared rate to rate to Lorsban® Advanced for adult corn rootworm adult and black cutworm larvae control.

New formulation technology
"Vulcan's new and highly-advanced formulation supports the industry's need in placing less reliance on older emusifiable concentrate (EC) products due to the volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions resulting from their use," says Keith Miller, product manager with MANA Crop Protection. "While various ECs are effective in delivering insect control, use of these products is on the decline due to new and pending pesticide regulations. As one of the first advanced chlorpyrifos products of its kind, Vulcan minimizes environmental concerns by reducing impact on air quality, which is an important characteristic for the agrochemical community as a whole."

Testing and development of new formulation discoveries has become a priority within MANA Crop Protection's research group. "With new formulations like Vulcan performing as well as or in some cases better than competitive EC based formulations, we're determined to answer grower and retailer requests for continued use of highly-effective solutions like chlorpyrifos," Miller says. "Through aggressive research and innovation work, we plan to launch eight new formulations of proven products currently in our portfolio by 2013."

U.S., global importance of chlorpyrifos
Chlorpyrifos is one of the most widely-used agricultural insect control solutions worldwide. First registered in the U.S. in 1965, it has been on the market for more than forty years. Today, chlorpyrifos is registered in about 100 countries worldwide.

One of the most extensively-researched crop protection products on the market, chlorpyrifos has more than 5,000 studies supporting its continued use across the globe. In 2006, the compound underwent a rigorous re-registration process with the EPA that included passing a stringent evaluation for potential human health and environmental impacts.

As the active ingredient in MANA Crop Protection's new Vulcan, chlorpyrifos offers the time-tested mode of action that is an integral part of insecticide resistance management programs, a tool widely-endorsed by leading entomologists and university experts.

"Growers depend on chlorpyrifos for integrated pest management success because of its broad-spectrum effectiveness, flexibility of use under varying delivery systems and relatively short existence in the environment after use," Miller says. "Vulcan is a step in the right direction which gives growers and the agricultural industry exactly what's needed in the most affordable and environmentally-friendly way."