Thursday February 16 Ag News

Universities Connect Equine Industry Professionals

Equine business professionals in the North Central Region of the United States are invited to a dynamic, multi-state conference where they will be connected with land grant universities, industry professionals and other valuable resources.

In an effort to keep equine businesses a vital part of rural communities, the Equine Business Conference will provide horse industry professionals with information and resources on liability, business finance, marketing and insurance for equine businesses.

Hosted by Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska and Iowa State University, this one-day conference will be offered on Feb. 25, in four locations -- Ames, Iowa; East Lansing, Mich.; St. Paul, Minn.; and Lincoln, Neb. At each location, participants will hear from a "live" industry expert and will see broadcasts of presenters from the other three locations. The Iowa location is Room 13 Curtiss Hall, Iowa State University, Ames.

Conference topics will include:
-- Equine Insurance: Using Insurance to Protect Your Horse, Yourself, and Your Equine Business Investment; Wade Ellerbrook, licensed real estate broker, insurance broker and appraiser
-- Law: Legal Liability and Contracts; Julie Fershtman, attorney, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, P.C.
-- Taxes and Finance: Structuring Your Horse Business to Succeed in the Future; Tina Barrett, executive director, Nebraska Farm Business
-- Promotion, Marketing and Advertising: Tips on Social Media and Low- and No-Cost Promotion; Terry Schroeder, CEO, Reichert Celebration, Inc.

Advance online registration at www.myhorseuniversity.com/ebc is required. The registration fee is $30. Sponsorship opportunities also are available.

Funded in part by a grant from the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, the Equine Business Conference is a collaborative effort between My Horse University and eXtension/horses.



Nutrient Management Meeting in Elyria

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

Join them on March 1st at 6:30 p.m. at the Country Neighbor in Elyria, Nebraska (between Burwell and Ord) for a speaker and a meal. 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.

This meeting is graciously 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.



Iowans Participate in International Agriculture Trade Mission to Panama and Colombia

For the last two weeks, members of the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development (I-LEAD) program participated in an international agriculture trade mission to Panama and Colombia.  The purpose of the I-LEAD foreign mission is to help class members learn about the world food and fiber system and develop a deeper appreciation for the views of their international customers. The class spent two weeks meeting with government officials, customers, industry experts, and farmers to discuss export market development for four of Iowa’s main agriculture commodities; corn, soybeans, pork and beef.

“The I-LEAD international trade mission showed our class how important it is to keep building relationships with customers who have been loyal to our agricultural products in the past,” said Steve Killpack, a class member from Neola. “When both the Colombian and Panama Free Trade Agreements are implemented we will have an opportunity to earn back some of the market share that we have lost over the past few years.”

Class members determined five objectives that they wanted to focus on during the trade mission. The objectives helped to define an intensive thirteen day agenda. They included:
·         Communicate with existing and potential export customers to determine concerns and opportunities to increase exports of U.S. agricultural products to their country
·         Determine how the current infrastructure affects U.S. agriculture imports
·         Identify regulatory and policy barriers to trade
·         Recognize potential ways or policies that would increase trade; and Experience and define agricultural practices in another country

While in Panama, the class had the opportunity to meet with the Panama Canal Authority to learn what the expansion of the Canal, set to open in 2012, will mean for moving larger ships of bulk agricultural products.

“While the Panama Canal will be able to move much larger vessels through it, we in the United States, have a lot to do to improve barge traffic in our river system to meet the larger vessel capacity,” said Todd Gonnerman, from Milford. “Updating our river infrastructure is the only way that our agriculture products can remain competitive in the global market.”

In Colombia, the group had the opportunity to visit local farms and see their farming practices. They also met with many current and potential customers of U.S. agriculture products.

“During our visits with these customers, the same things were reiterated; price and quality are of upmost concern, said Maddi Sieck, from Ames. “We will need to continue to work with these customers to make sure they are receiving the quality they need and want from us.”



Legislation Introduced to Return Regulatory Control to State Government
NCBA Supports Legislation to Limit EPA's Heavy Hand

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) Feb. 16, 2012, introduced the State Waters Partnership Act of 2012. This is an identical companion bill to H.R. 3856 introduced in the House on Jan. 31, 2012, by Rep. Steve Southerland (R-Fla). The bill would essentially limit the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with respect to certain numeric nutrient criteria. According to NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel Ashley Lyon, this legislation was provoked by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson when the agency took control away from individual states and once again used the "heavy hand" of the federal government to dictate how waters should be managed.

"This legislation would return regulatory control to the state of Florida," said Lyon. "We commend Senator Rubio and Congressman Southerland for introducing the State Waters Partnership Act of 2012."

Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), each state must develop water quality standards that relate to the designated uses the state chooses for its waters. In a review of its water quality standards, Florida was in the process of developing its own scientifically-based standards. In fact, on Sept. 28, 2007, EPA approved Florida's revised Numeric Nutrient Criteria Development Plan. Environmentalists then sued EPA for failure to develop new water quality standards for Florida. EPA initially contested the argument. However, in a December 2008 memo, EPA staff caved to the environmentalists, laying the foundation for EPA to establish numeric nutrient criteria in Florida. Sen. Rubio said he is encouraged by the ongoing state process and continues to support returning regulatory control over nutrient criteria in the state of Florida.

"Florida has one of the most aggressive water quality protection programs in the nation implemented by the people who know our state best, and it's time the EPA stops bullying us into accepting another Washington-contrived mandate that would devastate job creation. This legislation simply reaffirms that states and the federal government should be partners in making sure our water is clean and prevent Washington overreaches from harming our economy," said Rubio. "EPA needs to step back and realize that Florida will not simply stand by as their policies negatively impact Florida's consumers, agriculture producers, municipalities, small businesses and other job creators."

Lyon said EPA's actions in Florida could serve as a model for other water basins across the country.

"There is no reason to believe this is only a Florida issue. EPA has indicated that this rule in Florida will be a template for the rest of the country. I have no reason whatsoever to believe Florida is the only target," said Lyon. "If this rule isn't stopped dead in its track, we will see litigation instituted in other states to cause the same result. It will be a model for every water basin in the country, including the Mississippi River Basin, which is the lifeblood of rural America."

In addition to this legislation, Lyon said the Florida Cattlemen's Association and NCBA filed a petition on April 28, 2011, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.



USDA Announces START2FARM.GOV to Support America's Future Farming Generations

Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and USDA's National Agricultural Library, in partnership with the American Farm Bureau Federation, announced Start2farm.gov, a new online portal that helps to provide assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers. The portal includes links to training, financing, technical assistance and other support services specifically for beginning farmers and ranchers as well as successful case studies about new and beginning farmers and ranchers.

"America's farmers and rural communities are vitally important to our nation's economy, producing the food, feed, fiber and fuel that continue to help us grow," said Secretary Vilsack. "USDA is working to provide opportunities for the next generation to get into agriculture in order to continue the record success of America's farmers and ranchers who are seeing record farm incomes and record exports. Start2Farm.gov will help us protect and sustain these successes, so that we continue to build an agriculture industry diverse and successful enough to attract the smartest, hardest-working young people in the nation."

Start2Farm.gov was funded via the NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), program that funded the development of education, training, outreach and mentoring programs to enhance the sustainability of the next generation of America's farmers and ranchers. The Program has been funded since fiscal year 2009. It was authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill with $75 million through FY12. In the first year of NIFA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, three-year grants supported training for 5,000 beginning farmers and ranchers. In 2011, it is anticipated that these grants will have supported training for more than 10,000 beginning farmer and ranchers.

The BFRDP legislation requires the Secretary to establish an online clearinghouse that makes available to beginning farmers or ranchers supporting education curricula and training materials and programs. This clearinghouse, Start2Farm.gov, allows potential and beginning farmers to search for programs and resources that will help them find training, financing, technical assistance, and support networks. Additional features include a 'Thinking about farming?' tutorial and an event calendar. Start2farm.gov also showcases stories of how other BFRDP grantees have started, and stayed in, farming and ranching.

Beginning farmers, by USDA definition, are those operated by individuals with 10 years or less experience operating farms. About 20% of the 2.1 million U.S. farms are classified as beginning farms, based on the USDA definition. Most beginning farmers are not young (that is, under 35 years old), do not have a college education, nor have access to farmland through their relatives, and more than one-quarter have zero value of farm production.

Most beginning farmers and ranchers experience shared challenges in getting started. The two most common and important challenges faced by beginning farmers are (1) having the market opportunity to buy or rent suitable land and (2) having capital to acquire land of a large enough scale to be profitable.

USDA is addressing these needs, as well as providing access to the farm safety net, through efforts in addition to the BFRDP grants:
-    To raise a new generation of leaders for American agriculture, USDA provides affordable credit, including loans under the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program, and Youth Loans via Extension and 4-H offices. In just the past two years, more than 40% of all FSA's farm loans went to beginning farmers and ranchers. (Since 2008, the number of loans to BFRs has climbed from 9,000 to 15,000.)
-    The Conservation Reserve Transition Incentives Program encourages retiring or retired farmers to sell or lease expiring CRP lands to beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. It facilitates the transition of expiring CRP land to beginning or socially disadvantaged producers to help them begin farming or to expand their operations in a sustainable manner by providing incentives to retiring or retired owners and operators. Currently, there are 1,280 approved TIP contracts in 26 states totaling about 200,000 acres. The states with the largest TIP participation are: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, and North Dakota. As of January 18, 2012, TIP payments totaling about $16.9 million have been obligated to retiring or retired land owners or operators.
-    Risk Management Agency supports crop insurance education and outreach in 47 states to beginning, small, and historically underserved farmers and ranchers. From October 2010 through September 2011, a total of 77,000 farmers and ranchers attended educational sessions or were reached by direct mailing with educational information. In the past few years, the number of beginning, small, and historically underserved farmers and ranchers reached by this program has grown 6-10 percent each year (or 8 percent on average).

Start2farm.gov provides information about these and other USDA programs of particular assistance to beginning farmers. Start2farm.gov is developed in partnership with the American Farm Bureau Federation. As part of this partnership, the National Agricultural Library and the American Farm Bureau Federation are co-hosting the second annual Beginning Farmer and Rancher Conference to be held February 18-19 in Grand Rapids, MI. The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Conference is yet another way beginning farmers can access the knowledge from Start2farm.gov about program from USDA and other organizations focused on help beginning farmers start and stay farming.



U.S., China Sign Plan of Strategic Cooperation in Agriculture

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and China’s Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu today signed an historic Plan of Strategic Cooperation that will guide the two countries’ agricultural relationship for the next 5 years. The plan was signed as part of the U.S.-China Agricultural Symposium held today at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates. The symposium focused on bilateral cooperation in the areas of food safety, food security and sustainable agriculture, as well as enhanced business relationships between the two countries.

“This symposium and plan are a product of a vision I share with my dear old friend Minister Han for the United States and China to work more collaboratively in the future to benefit our nations and agriculture around the world,” Vilsack said.

“This plan builds on the already strong relationship our nations enjoy around agricultural science, trade, and education. It looks to deepen our cooperation through technical exchange and to strengthen coordination in priority areas like animal and plant health and disease, food security, sustainable agriculture, genetic resources, agricultural markets and trade, and biotechnology and other emerging technologies,” he added.

Xi Jinping, China's vice president, opened the symposium and stressed the importance China places on supporting farmers and rural development, as well as on food security.

“China attaches great importance to food security, and ensuring a sufficient food supply for 1.3 billion people,” Xi said.

In the 2011 fiscal year, China became the top market for U.S. agricultural goods, purchasing $20 billion in U.S. agricultural exports. The value of U.S. farm exports to China supported more than 160,000 American jobs in 2011, on and off the farm across a variety of sectors.



Vilsack Before the Opening Session of US-China Agricultural Symposium

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today addressed the opening session of the US-China Agriculture Symposium:

"Thank you all for being here. It's an honor to welcome Vice President Xi back to Iowa and the entire Chinese delegation, including my dear and old friend Minister Han.

"I also want to acknowledge Governor Branstad, Lieutenant Governor Reynolds, Secretary Bill Northey and the many other honored guests and dignitaries joining us here today. Thanks as well to Ambassador Ken Quinn who has graciously offered this beautiful facility for this important gathering.

"Vice President Xi, we are honored and proud that our good hospitality encouraged you to return. I appreciated your kind remarks about Iowa the other night at Vice President Biden's home. I believe there is perhaps no better place to showcase the strengths of American agriculture and American values.

"This symposium is a historic event. It is a real opportunity to strengthen an already-vibrant cooperative relationship built on mutual benefits and mutual trust between our two great nations. One of the strongest links in that relationship is centered on agriculture. Which will be further strengthened with the signing of our Strategic Cooperation Agreement.

"We are the world's two largest agricultural producers and strong collaborators in agricultural research and education. Our great trade relationship benefits the citizens of both of our nations.

"Every day our nations and the livelihoods of our citizens grow more connected. I look forward to strengthening that bond in the years ahead.

"What's more, our two great nations – and our great agricultural economies – have a tremendous capacity to build a better world. I appreciate Minister Han's enthusiastic willingness to co-host and sponsor this symposium focused on food security, food safety, and sustainability, he and I, along with Vice President Xi understand the importance of building strong and lasting relationships between American and Chinese businesses. So, there are many reasons why we meet here and now.

"First, we have responsibility and opportunity to work together to address the causes of global hunger that affect more than 925 million people.

"Current population trends mean we must increase agricultural production by 70% by 2050 to feed more than 9 billion people. I look forward to strengthening partnerships with China to support agricultural productivity in nations where far too many millions go hungry. The expertise, technical know-how, research and combined will of our two nations can go a long way to filling empty stomachs and improve incomes and economies around the world.

"It is fitting, then, that we are meeting at the headquarters of the World Food Prize. The prize was the brainchild of Dr. Norman Borlaug, an Iowa native who saved tens of millions of lives by dedicating himself to the problems of food production and eradicating hunger.

"Two great Chinese men have been recognized with this prestigious prize for helping feed millions of Chinese citizens and people around the world.

"The impact of Dr. Borlaug's work – and the work of all those who have received this honor – should serve as our inspiration as we discuss how our nations can more effectively collaborate to increase the availability and use of sustainably produced food.

"Food security is only one of the important issues to be addressed today.

"We will also have opportunities to collaborate and partner on food safety: ensuring the health of our citizens through the implementation of best practices, advanced by laws and regulations based on science.

"We will talk about sustainable agriculture to leave for future generations healthy soils, ample water, and abundant wildlife. As we improve agricultural production to meet the demands of a growing world, we will also pursue stewardship practices that better conserve and preserve our natural resources.

"Finally, this symposium will help Chinese and American businesses to develop relationships that are integral to opening doors for new opportunities. Those relationships will assure that when difficulties arise, as they sometimes do, we will continue to dialogue until solutions are found.

"The rapid development of China-U.S. agricultural cooperation and trade has provided tremendous benefits the people of both countries. We want to continue building those cooperative relationships and public-private partnerships.

"Vice President Xi, Minister Han and I want to facilitate more investments by business interests in China and America. Our interest in each other's countries can only help to build a lasting friendship and relationship.

"It is now my privilege and honor to introduce my good and old friend Minister Han of China. He will make remarks and introduce our next honored guest, Vice President Xi.

"Minister Han and I got to know each other on my visit to China last November. During that visit, and since that time, we have had productive conversations about issues of mutual interest.

"Most fundamentally, we share a vision that America and China will collaborate more and more in the future to benefit our nations and agriculture around the world.

"This symposium is a forum for the U.S. and China to work together as true partners on agriculture for the benefit of our citizens and to address global challenges. As we do, we will help promote the healthy and steady development of a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit"



China-Argentina Sign Corn Pact

A deal with Argentina that will allow China to buy its first-ever corn from the world's second largest exporter of the grain gives the United States a strong new competitor as China steps up purchases.

Relentless demand has driven corn prices in China -- the world's second largest corn consumer -- to an eight-month top this week, raising concerns over food inflation. Dalian corn, on track for its third monthly gain, jumped to its highest since mid-June on Tuesday.

Argentine and Chinese officials signed a sanitary protocol on Wednesday, opening the door for trade in corn products after months of negotiations, according to the South American country's agriculture minister.

"South American supplies into China will erode demand for U.S. corn," said Ker Chung Yang, an analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore.

"It is likely to be bearish for U.S. corn prices as it shows that demand from China is shifting away from the U.S. market."

U.S. corn futures slid to a three-week low on Thursday, falling for a third straight day. Corn futures have been losing ground to soybeans this week on inter-market spreads as traders fret that U.S. farmers might not plant enough soy acres this spring.

China, which accounts for half of the world's pork consumption, has turned to the world market in recent years to import corn to fatten livestock, threatening to squeeze global supplies. It already buys more than half of the soybeans traded in the world.

The country's purchase of more than 3 million metric tons of U.S. corn last year to refill its depleted state reserves sparked global concern that the country -- the world's second-largest economy -- may become a large importer as it did in soybeans.

To take advantage of China's supply deficit, Argentine officials had aimed to strike a deal with the Asian giant before the harvest of the 2011/12 crop, which was hit by a drought in January.

A government source in Argentina said corn output should total at least 22 million metric tons, despite a drought earlier this season. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts Argentine corn production of 22 million metric tons and exports of 14 million.

Chinese traders said the agreement was unlikely to result in large volumes being shipped from Argentina to China in the weeks ahead partly due to uncompetitive prices.

"Chinese buyers have more choice now," said one Beijing analyst, referring to the agreement. "But we don't expect any import in the short term, some mills could be interested to buy on a trial basis."

A trader in Beijing cited higher South American values as a key constraint.

"Argentina's price is about the same as what is offered in the U.S. Also for China, it is not the right time to import," he said. "Argentina allows only a certain volume of exports by issuing export quotas. There may be a chance for China to buy a small volume, but not a very big one."

The U.S. corn stockpile looks to shrink this year to its smallest size in 16 years, down 5 percent from the previous forecast to 801 million bushels, according to a USDA report.

China turned into a net corn importer since 2010 from a major exporter in 2002 and 2003.

U.S. Department of Agriculture expects China to quadruple its purchases of corn in the coming decade as its demand grows.

In a 10-year outlook, USDA said Chinese soybean imports would rise by 59 percent, to 90 million metric tons, by 2021. A quarter of the U.S. soybean crop goes to China, the No. 1 customer for U.S. farm exports.



China Expected to Have GMO Corn by 2013

Although China's approval process for genetically modified varieties is long and tedious, the Chinese government is expected to approve the planting of GM corn from Origin Agritech for production in 2013.

According to Ag Professional, this approval will be the first for GMO corn in China. The Chinese government approved the phytase corn biosafety approval in November 2009 when experts expected commercial production would happen as early as 2012.

Origin Agritech is a Beijing-based company that is working on the biosafety approval of two more strains of GMO corn, including glyphosate tolerance and insect resistance. It is not known when these two strains will be approved by China.

Han Gengchen, chairman, Origin Agritech, told Reuters 'we have bred the gene on local hybrid seeds, which are popularly used and generate high yields. The safety approval process (for seed use) would be faster and likely be this year and we will start production next year.'

The need for corn is growing in China as an increasing middle class is demanding more meat, which requires more grain for feed. China has been a net corn importer since 2010. The country has also been importing GM corn during that time.

China ranks sixth worldwide in the area of biotech crops in 2011, with a record 3.9 million hectares of Bt cotton during the year at the highest adoption rate of 71.5 percent, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).



CASE IH ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF AFS CONNECT
Featuring the agriculture industry’s most powerful application of telematics technology available, Case IH AFS Connect™ is now available through Case IH dealerships. Beginning March 1, dealers will begin retrofitting AFS Connect Manager™ and AFS Connect Executive™ packages on fleets of both Case IH and competitive equipment as part its commercial introduction of Case IH telematics technology.

“More importantly, Case IH will back up our industry-leading AFS technology with the expertise and local support our customers have told us they need to put advanced technologies to work in their operations,” says Trevor Mecham, Case IH Advanced Farming Systems® (AFS) Marketing Manager. “AFS Connect has tremendous potential to improve producers’ abilities to manage their equipment and find new opportunities to improve return on investment, and Case IH product specialists and our dealers are committed to working alongside our customers to help them achieve that potential.”

AFS Connect uses a combination of global positioning system and cellular technology to link equipment, Case IH AFS Pro 600 or Pro 700 displays and the farm office wirelessly in real time. AFS Connect provides immediate information to aid in fleet management, performance analysis, remote file management and even supports two-way messaging, among other key features.”

AFS Connect Manager offers fleet management capabilities, localization of machines, a working status overview, and alerts and security features, says Mecham. “Fleet management accurately pinpoints the location of a given machine,” he explains. “Alerts and security include geo-fencing and curfew management, both of which can guard against theft. Geo-fencing ensures a machine stays within certain coordinates and curfew management sends an alert if a machine is started after working hours.”

AFS Connect Executive includes all the components of AFS Connect Manager as well as some key features exclusively available through the Case IH AFS Connect Executive platform:
·    File Transfer: Operators are able to extract yield data and other valuable information as it occurs and transfer it into AFS software for more rapid decision-making capabilities.
·    Two-way Messaging: Through telematics, managers can select the machines to which they want to send information. Messages can appear on each machine’s display instantaneously, and machine operators can respond for validation.
·    Virtual Display: Owner/managers are able to see the monitor in each machine from a remote location such as an office, with information updated every 15 minutes. They can review coverage area, machine hours, fuel use and a vast array of other inputs. They also can customize the computer view to display information in the most efficient, effective manner.

 “These exclusive AFS Connect features in combination with support from your local dealer and the Case IH field team allow Case IH owners to save time and improve overall efficiency by focusing on top-level management,” says Mecham. 

“Case IH AFS products offer the industry’s most accurate autoguidance systems, easy-to-use machine control interfaces, accurate variable rate delivery systems and powerful telematics interface. AFS Connect and the support team in place to put it to work in the field are another example of how Case IH is leading the equipment industry and helping our customers be ready.”