Wednesday May 2 Ag News

Climatologist Says to Take Comfort in Science-based Action, Not Myth

When you hear there's a tornado watch, do you console yourself or your family with the idea that it can't happen here? That we're in a bowl that's sheltered from tornadoes, or that we're protected by an ancient Indian blessing?

Those myths may make us feel better, but actually learning how to tune in to official warnings and learning what to do and what not to do in severe weather are better ways to protect ourselves and our families, says Ken Dewey, climatologist and severe weather expert at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Natural Resources.

In a nutshell, Dewey recommends that you pay attention to forecasts, that you own and use a weather radio and that you know where you will take shelter when a tornado watch turns to a tornado warning. He added know what a warning siren means in your community and take it seriously.

Southeast Nebraska had six tornadoes on April 14 and there were 130-plus tornadoes that day in the area where they had been forecast, mostly in Kansas. Dewey noted that an afternoon downpour that caused flash-flooding in southeast Nebraska stabilized the atmosphere with cooler air and prevented more tornadoes from forming.

Dewey urged people not to become complacent because it didn't get as bad as it could have on April 14, and to prepare for the rest of the storm season, which normally peaks in June.

He recommends people have a battery- or crank-powered weather radio that receives broadcasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service.

"Own and use a weather radio," Dewey said. "Don't depend on friends, TV or radio. You need a NOAA weather radio."

But do stay tuned to TV and radio when possible, and do pay attention when someone tells you to take shelter. Check the weather more frequently when severe storms or tornadoes are forecast.

Know where you will and won't go if the weather looks bad, if there is a tornado watch, or when a tornado has been sighted and a warning has been issued.

"If the weather is threatening and you're under a tornado watch, have a plan," Dewey said. "Are you in an area with a tornado siren? Do you have an escape route? Don't head into a congested area. Many deaths occur when people are backed up in traffic jams."

Consider what kind of buildings you enter if there is a tornado watch.

"Big box stores with big roofs are at risk of collapse," Dewey said. "Think about all that stuff piled up on shelves, flying through at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. Some grocery stores are OK because they put people in a reinforced room like a cooler."

Make contingency plans at home. "If you're on an upper floor of an apartment, go down and meet the people on the first floor," Dewey said. "If you're in a mobile home, go someplace else that's safe."

Dewey recommends having your valuables in a box that you can take with you if you need to take shelter, or can carry out of the house if it's on fire, and he doesn't mean jewelry. "You're going to need to reestablish your life," he said. "What do you need? ID, your insurance card, passports, birth certificates, medications."

And finally, Dewey said, wear shoes, or make sure there's a pair where you'll be taking shelter, so that you're not climbing barefoot out of rubble.



Lt. Governor Sheehy Announces Gage County Now Designated as Livestock Friendly

Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy today announced the official designation of Gage County as Nebraska’s newest Livestock Friendly County. With the addition of Gage County, there are now 15 counties designated as Livestock Friendly through the state program, including: Adams, Box Butte, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Grant, Hitchcock, Jefferson, Keith, Lincoln, Morrill, Sheridan, Wayne, and Webster Counties.

“In receiving this designation, Gage County has made a strong commitment to supporting rural economic development,” said Lt. Governor Sheehy. “Being part of the Livestock Friendly program is a way to recognize the tremendous impact the livestock industry has on Main Street and the local economy. It provides jobs for those working with animals and a marketplace for grain and hay producers while also adding value to those products. With this designation, Gage County has demonstrated that it is open to agribusiness and the benefits that come from responsible livestock production.”

Lt. Governor Sheehy presented the Livestock Friendly certificate to Gage County Supervisors Rex Adams, Myron Dorn, Matt Bauman, Kathy Setzer, Dennis Byars, Gary Lytle and Terry Jergens. The county will also receive road signs bearing the program logo to display along highways. The program is coordinated by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA).

NDA Director Greg Ibach said the official designation makes a positive statement about Gage County. “Gage County has a relatively large and dispersed population base. This designation shows that a county doesn’t have to choose between people and livestock. The county board has identified areas where agriculture and livestock can exist, prosper and grow, while still allowing room for people to enjoy country living.”

To apply for a livestock friendly county designation, the county board must hold a public hearing and pass a resolution to apply.  A completed application is then submitted to NDA for review.  Local producers or community groups can encourage their county board to submit a livestock friendly county application.

Additional information on the Livestock Friendly County program is available by contacting NDA toll free at 800-422-6692, or by visiting the NDA website at www.agr.ne.gov and clicking the Livestock Friendly County link.



Bayer CropScience announces plans to move forward with breeding facility near Goehner, Nebraska.

Bayer CropScience is moving forward with plans to develop a new North American wheat breeding station and has entered into an agreement to lease and option to purchase 400 acres of land near Goehner, Nebraska, located 30 miles west of Lincoln in Seward County.  The company will take possession of the land on May 1, 2012, and will develop the site as a focal point for Bayer CropScience’s wheat breeding program in North America. 

“Bayer is excited about establishing this new breeding station, and we’re looking forward to working with local experts, farmers and organizations in the Goehner community,” said Edward Souza, Global Wheat Breeding Manager for Bayer CropScience. “We expect that the work done at this site will result in exciting advances in wheat productivity and sustainability that will benefit famers in this region and ultimately the grain trade worldwide.”

In 2010, Bayer CropScience AG and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln signed a non-exclusive agreement to improve wheat breeding and generate new wheat varieties.  Since that time, Bayer CropScience has been working to identify a suitable site in Nebraska to establish its North American Regional Wheat Breeding Station.

Throughout the process, Bayer has worked with the State of Nebraska Department of Economic Development and Seward County Economic Development.  The company will continue to work closely with these groups and the community in and around Goehner as development plans progress on the site.

“The addition of Bayer CropScience to the business community in Seward County is a welcomed addition, and exactly what we’ve been striving for in our local economic development efforts,” stated Ryne Seaman, member of the Seward County Economic Development Board.Bayer CropScience Commits to Improving Wheat Varieties with Nebraska Breeding Station 



Korean Meat Buyer Team Visits US on Heels of BSE Announcement

With support provided by the beef checkoff, last week the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), contractor to the beef checkoff, hosted a group of 14 meat buyers from a major Korean retailer and importer. Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO, says maybe it was opportune that they were here visiting or just a coincidence in good timing, but the trip couldn’t have been planned better for the largest Korean retailer and importer to witness firsthand our production systems for beef in the U.S.  Seng says,  “The idea there was to bring in the largest retailer and frankly to have them look at our systems, look at our BQA programs, take a look at our assurances that we have as far as on the farm as far as safety, etc. Of course they visited feedlots and they also visited packing plants and the idea was to give them the total review, the total exposure to our programs. This is something we do with checkoff dollars because it’s very important that we keep reinforcing our safety commitment and the message.”

Seng explains how the BSE announcement has affected the global marketplace for beef. “In Asia, there’s probably more attention made to what is Japan doing. And I think the fact that Japan came out initially and said that they’re not going to change anything, that they know the U.S. systems, that they know it’s safe, they know they have an export verification program; and so because Japan has also had 36 cases of BSE, they’re quite familiar with BSE – about the difference between classical and a-typical – so a lot of that ground has already been covered in Japan. And so when they came out and said we are not going to close the market, we’re going to let things go on as normal and we are also going to continue the process for moving forward beyond 20 months, I think this was the kind of reassurance that these governments need. Because the first step is making sure that the governments in these markets – their health authorities – keep the markets open. And I think the agreements that have been initial between our government and a lot of these governments always stipulated that only if our BSE status was downgraded that then that would be called into question.”

The only market that now has closed their border to U.S. beef is Indonesia. Seng says that maintaining market access is only part of the battle. In key markets, checkoff dollars have been invested to actively engage with industry partners, media contacts and other influential sources in an effort to maintain consumer confidence and dispel any misinformation about the safety or quality of U.S. beef. These activities are critical to maintaining consumer demand and protecting U.S. market share.  “Having the markets open and the policy portion of this, that’s really the first step. But the second major step for this is winning the public. And you know there’s press, because our epidemiological report hasn’t been advanced  yet or sent to these markets, sometimes the press like to do their own investigations, sometimes that press isn’t always friendly. So the sooner we can get the epidemiological report out… And for example when all of this surfaced on April 24th, what you really see was that our staff were going to all the retailers in these markets and basically asking them to keep the product on their shelves. So a lot of work is done not only from the government side but in the market itself, using again checkoff dollars, to ensure that those products remain in the stores and they’re not taken off the shelves.”



I-LEAD Class 6 Applications Now Being Accepted

Iowa men and women with a commitment to the future of Iowa agriculture and an interest in developing their leadership potential are invited to apply for Class 6 of the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development (I-LEAD) class, sponsored by the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB).

“Iowa’s agriculture industry is built on generations of individuals who made agriculture their cause, not just their job,” said Bob Hemesath, chairman of the Iowa Corn Grassroots Network Membership & Checkoff Committee and a corn farmer from Calmar. “The ICPB and the ICGA recognize the future of agriculture depends on developing new leaders with passion.”

Each I-LEAD class meets for a series of nine workshops over a two-year period to build leadership skills.  Sessions provide skills training and practice in areas such as communications, decision-making and an international trade mission. Featured speakers who help class members expand their understanding of Iowa agriculture and its place in the world.

“The skills that I learned as a member of I-LEAD have been very useful today as a leader within Iowa Corn as well as in other areas,” said Kevin Rempp, ICPB Vice Chair, a farmer from Montezuma and a member of I-LEAD Class 1. "The I-Lead program is an extremely valuable tool to develop grassroots leaders for agriculture, helping to ensure a bright future for farming and agribusiness in Iowa.”

Iowa men and women who are involved in production agriculture, the food and agriculture industry, agriculture media, education and government are all encouraged to apply.  To participate, candidates must be Iowa residents and commit to attend all nine sessions.

I-LEAD application forms and details are available at www.iowacorn.org/ilead or by email at corninfo@iowacorn.org. The deadline for applying is June 29.  Class 6 participants will be announced in early September.



Branstad to Lead Trade Mission to Chile, Brazil

Governor Terry E. Branstad will lead a trade mission to Brazil and Chile July 21-28, with the aim to expand trade opportunities for Iowa companies and products. The Iowa Economic Development Authority's (IEDA) International Trade Office will coordinate the trip, and Iowa companies in all industry sectors are invited to participate in this mission.

Brazil is Iowa's sixth-largest trading partner, with exports exceeding $527 million in 2011 -- a nearly 50% increase over 2010. Chile is Iowa's 19th-largest export destination, with exports of over $88 million in 2011.

"Exporting creates jobs, and careers, for Iowans, and that is why we have made it a goal to increase overall exports by 20 percent," said Gov. Branstad. "Trade missions like this one will help Iowa companies in expanding their markets outside of the U.S., which will lead to more jobs here at home."

"This trade mission will help build on Iowa's success in trading with Brazil and Chile and will continue to strengthen our partnership with these countries," said IEDA Director Debi Durham. "Both Brazil and Chile remain key destinations for many Iowa products so it is important that we continue to have a presence there."

Visits to Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile are part of the Iowa delegation's itinerary. Highlights include meetings with government and industry association officials, briefings on each market, and "Growing Iowa's Global Partnerships" events. Iowa companies will participate in meetings specific to their market entry or expansion needs.



Coon Bowl III ‘bowls over’ judges to win Iowa’s Best Burger

The Coon Bowl III, a diner and bowling alley in Coon Rapids, took home this year’s title of Iowa’s Best Burger, which is awarded by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.

Three generations of noted cooking skills have influenced the burgers, as has the ground beef that comes from the nearby Arcadia Locker. “One of the judges noted the juiciness of the burgers,” said Michelle Baumhover, the coordinator of the contest. “She said she was very appreciative of having the napkin holder right in front of her!”

There are two co-managers of the Coon Bowl, Cindy Heydon and Dan George. George handles much of the grilling at the diner. He comes from a line of good family cooks. “My Grandma (Viva Johnston) was known for the 10-course meals she would serve threshing crews on the family farm,” he said. Her daughter (and Dan’s mother) ran Arlene’s, a Coon Rapids’ restaurant, for 11 years. When she closed the restaurant, Dan headed to the Coon Bowl, and has been flipping burgers and preparing lots of other diner fare for the past 16 years.

Heydon noted that he also makes a “killer meat loaf” and several other beef items on the menu including five versions of the classic hamburger, hamburger steak, and tacos.

The Coon Bowl III uses an 80/20 blend of ground chuck, one of the most popular blends for tasty burgers. George says he doesn’t add any seasoning unless the customer requests it, so the beef flavor is predominant in the variations served at the diner. Customers are also in charge of asking for any extras, whether that’s “running the burger through a garden” or adding cheese, bacon, or mushrooms as toppings.

Coon Bowl III was selected as a Top Ten entry this year based on customer support. “Our customers were really involved in submitting nominations,” Heydon said. Road work crews, those from a nearby ethanol plant, and farmers who stopped in for a meal all filled out forms that were setting on the counter. Also, her daughter used social media to promote the nomination process through her Facebook page.



Dispute with Europe Over Hormones in Beef is Resolved

The European Union voted last week to modify its regulations to open an autonomous tariff quota for imports of high-quality beef not treated with hormones, effectively ending a longstanding dispute between the E.U. and the U.S. over the presence of hormones in imported beef.

The modification expands the number of permissible imports from the current 20,000 tonnes (established in 2009) to 21,500 tonnes, beginning July 1, and to 48,000 tonnes, beginning August 1. The customs duty of this tariff-rate quota will remain fixed at zero.

In return, both the U.S. and Canada have suspended sanctions on EU products, including chocolates, jams, fresh truffles and Roquefort cheese.

In 1998, the WTO found that the EU ban on meat imports treated with certain growth promoting hormones from the U.S. and Canada was inconsistent with the sanitary and phytosanitary measures and authorized the suspension of concessions to the EU.



Urea, UAN Prices Continue Higher Again

Urea and UAN solutions continue to show price strength, according to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the fourth week of April 2012. Urea has risen in price for eight straight weeks while UAN has seen considerably higher prices for four weeks in a row.  Prices of five of the eight major fertilizers were higher compared to a month earlier. Urea jumped 15% higher compared to the fourth week of March and had an average price of $740 per ton.  Also appreciably higher again were the UAN solutions. UAN32 was 13% more expensive and UAN28 was 12% higher compared to month ago. UAN32 had an average price of $481/ton while UAN28 was at $427/ton.  In addition, DAP and potash advanced as well. These two fertilizers were up just slightly with DAP having an average price of $637/ton while potash was at $662/ton.

The remaining three fertilizers were lower compared to a month ago but really not by any significance. MAP had an average price of $695/ton, 10-34-0 was at $766/ton and anhydrous was at $764/ton.

Recent inflation makes anhydrous the cheapest source of N by far this spring. On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.80/lb.N, anhydrous $0.47/lb.N, UAN28 $0.76/lb.N and UAN32 $0.75/lb.N. Spreads between anhydrous and urea, for example, are the widest in at least four years.

Four of the eight major fertilizers are still showing double-digit increases in price compared to one year earlier. Leading the way higher is urea. The nitrogen fertilizer is 52% higher compared to last year while UAN28 has jumped to 13% higher and both UAN28 and potash are now 12% more expensive compared to the fourth week of April 2011.  One fertilizer has seen just slight price increases compared to a year earlier. Anhydrous is now 2% more expensive.  Another fertilizer, 10-34-0, is sitting nearly unchanged from last year.

The two remaining fertilizers, DAP and MAP, are now actually lower compared to one year ago. DAP is now 6% lower while MAP has now decreased 1% in price.



Applications Now Available for Agvocacy 2.0 Farmer Social Media Training

The AgChat Foundation announced today the availability of Agvocacy 2.0 applications for their 2012 social media training conference. The two-day event will explore how farmers can effectively share agriculture’s message using social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, blogs and mobile applications.

The third-annual Agvocacy 2.0 will be held August 23 – 24, 2012, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Exciting features of the conference include:
•  One-on-one chats with agriculture's best and brightest in social media
•  Networking with other participants
•  Information about the latest tools and trends
•  Real-world stories about taking the farm to consumers
•  Insights on the human side of being social
•  The tools to tell farming’s story confidently

“Graduates from Agvocacy 2.0 are making a significant impact in telling the agricultural story to consumers in the places where social communities are forming,” says Darin Grimm, president of The AgChat Foundation. “The prospect of equipping more individuals with the skills they need to successfully share their message is really exciting.”

For those interested in attending, the application can be found at http://www.agchat.org. Up to 75 people representing all sectors of agriculture will be invited to participate, with priority given to farmers and ranchers. Agvocacy 2.0 was completely sold out in 2010 and 2011, so interested applicants should apply early.

For 2010 and 2011 Agvocacy 2.0 graduates, The AgChat Foundation is accepting up to 25 returning attendees who also endorse a first-time applicant. This will allow for collaboration between those with beginner and advanced social media skill sets.

A memorial scholarship has been established to honor the life of AgChat Foundation board member Dr. Chris Raines and his work to educate consumers about meat production and science through social media. Two applications to the AgChat Foundation Agvocacy 2.0 Conference will be selected to receive a $250 scholarship to use toward registration fees. The recipients will be selected based on their involvement in the meat science industry.

For more information about Agvocacy 2.0 and The AgChat Foundation, visit www.agchat.org.



2012 HRW Wheat Tour -- Day 2
Fields Drier as Scouts Move South, West

Wheat fields in Oklahoma's panhandle are mostly drier than in northern and central Kansas, one group of scouts on an annual crop tour found Wednesday.

Scouts on one leg of the tour, in Oklahoma's Beaver County, reported an average yield of 30.8 bushels per acre by midday after sampling five fields. The average yield for a similar route driven on the tour last year was calculated at 35.0 bushels an acre after a full day of surveys.

The winter wheat tour is focused on Kansas fields, but some scouts passed into northern Oklahoma to survey fields while driving east on the tour's second day.

"The Kansas crop probably also got worse today as other scouts got farther south and farther west," said Ben Handcock, executive vice president of the Wheat Quality Council, which sponsors the tour.

Other scouts fanned out on different routes from Colby, Kan., and tour participants will meet up in Wichita, Kan., on Wednesday evening to compare notes and calculate an average yield for the southwestern region of Kansas. Scouts will continue to Kansas City on Thursday, where the tour will issue a final yield estimate for the Kansas wheat crop around 3 p.m. central time.

Handcock added that "as we go east in Oklahoma and get closer to the area south of Wichita, we're going to see better wheat" due to greater rainfall.

About 100 people are on the tour this year, a record number, including representatives from companies like Archer Daniels Midland Co., Cargill Inc., Gavilon, ConAgra Foods Inc., General Mills Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and Mexican bakeries company Grupo Bimbo SAB.



US Crude Supplies Grew by 2.8M Barrels

The nation's crude oil supplies increased last week, the government said Wednesday.  Crude inventories grew by 2.8 million barrels, or 0.8 percent, to 375.9 million barrels, which is 2.5 percent above year-ago levels, the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report.

Gasoline supplies fell by 2 million barrels, or 0.9 percent, to 209.7 million barrels. That's 2.5 percent more than year-ago levels. Analysts expected gasoline supplies to shrink by 1 million barrels.  Demand for gasoline over the four weeks ended April 27 was 4.7 percent lower than a year earlier, averaging 8.7 million barrels a day.

U.S. refineries ran at 86 percent of total capacity on average, up 1.3 percentage points from the prior week. Analysts expected capacity to rise to 85.1 percent.

Supplies of distillate fuel, which include diesel and heating oil, decreased by 1.9 million barrels to 124 million barrels. Analysts expected distillate stocks to drop by 400,000 barrels.



USDA Dairy Products March 2012 Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 946 million pounds, 3.7 percent above March 2011 and 10.3 percent above February 2012.  Italian type cheese production totaled 405 million pounds, 1.4 percent above March 2011 and 10.4 percent above February 2012.  American type cheese production totaled 382 million pounds, 4.1 percent above March 2011 and 9.9 percent above February 2012.  Butter production was 176 million pounds, 6.4 percent above March 2011 and 3.9 percent above February 2012.

Dry milk powders  (comparisons with March 2011)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 189 million pounds, up 49.9 percent.
Skim milk powders - 11.9 million pounds, down 71.5 percent.

Whey products  (comparisons with March 2011)
Dry whey, total - 90.2 million pounds, down 4.3 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 89.9 million pounds, up 5.4 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 38.9 million pounds, up 5.6 percent.

Frozen products  (comparisons with March 2011)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 72.5 million gallons, down 3.3 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 39.6 million gallons, up 0.4 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 4.08 million gallons, down 8.1 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 5.67 million gallons, down 4.0 percent.



Pizza Ranch Earns Renew Rural Iowa Entrepreneur Award

A well-known Iowa family-owned pizza restaurant chain is being recognized for its commitment to good food, community involvement and support for international needs. Pizza Ranch, headquartered in Orange City, is the winner of Iowa Farm Bureau Federation's (IFBF) Renew Rural Iowa Entrepreneur of the Month award.

The company started with one restaurant in Hull three decades ago and has grown to 66 locations in Iowa and 100 more in eight other Midwest states.

"It started in an area where there is a spirit of entrepreneurialism and had the resources to get a company like this started," said Matt Schuiteman, president of the Sioux County Farm Bureau. "Pizza Ranch makes a positive impact in every community they're in."

In small-town Iowa, where many Pizza Ranch restaurants are located, the business brings jobs and supports local schools with fundraising opportunities.

"Pizza Ranch provides many opportunities for jobs and has an economic impact on our community that's very special," said Orange City Mayor Les Douma. "It raises the bar for all commercial entities."

In addition to its local community focus, Pizza Ranch is also working to support educational efforts in Ethiopia. Owner Adrie Groeneweg is switching coffee brands and working with farmers in Ethiopia to help keep a portion of coffee bean sales in the African country to support schools there.

Renew Rural Iowa (RRI) is an IFBF initiative supporting new and existing businesses through education, mentoring and financial resources. For more information, go to www.renewruraliowa.com.



ADM Reports Lower Quarterly Earnings

Archer Daniels Midland Company reported May 1 financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The company reported net earnings for the quarter of $399 million, or $0.60 per share, down 31 percent and 30 percent respectively from the same period one year earlier.

ADM says operating profit was $887 million, down 12 percent from the year-ago quarter.

But agricultural Services operating profit was $179 million, up $8 million from the same period one year earlier.

Merchandising and handling earnings were essentially flat. ADM's Black Sea and other international merchandising operations saw good volumes and margins, while North American grain export volumes were down due to low U.S. crop inventories.

Earnings from transportation operations rose $7 million.

"This quarter, we delivered very good results despite difficult margin environments, particularly in ethanol and European oilseeds," said ADM Chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz. "The strong third quarter last year set a high bar, and this quarter represents a solid performance by the team."

Looking ahead, Woertz says planting is underway in North America, and that the company is encouraged by the projected corn and soybean acreage.



FARMERS CAN MONITOR CORN ROOTWORM HATCH IN 2012 WITH ENHANCED ONLINE INSECT FORECAST TOOL

          Over the past two seasons, farmers across the Corn Belt have participated in an online, early warning system tool to monitor above ground pests that could threaten their corn yields.  For 2012, this sophisticated program, known as the Insect Forecast tool, has been enhanced to track another economically damaging pest – corn rootworm – as well as to offer farmers expanded online and mobile access.

          Matt Kirkpatrick, Monsanto Corn Traits Marketing Manager, says farmers can now log onto the site, www.insectforecast.com, to learn when corn rootworm larvae are hatching in their area, allowing for better timing to scout their fields for potential root damage. The corn rootworm hatch varies by geography, but typically occurs from early- to mid-June in the Corn Belt and often coincides with the first appearance of lightening bugs.

          “The Insect Forecast tool this season will also continue to track the migration of two damaging above ground insects – corn earworm and western bean cutworm – that can significantly reduce yield by feeding on corn ears,” Kirkpatrick says.  “Just three damaged kernels per ear can translate into a loss of one bushel-per-acre.”

          Kirkpatrick adds that greater awareness about the annual corn rootworm hatch and migration patterns of corn earworm and western bean cutworm moths can help farmers minimize their impact. “This tool can help farmers make strategic decisions about better timing for pesticide applications. It can also help farmers in choosing the right traited corn hybrids to meet their specific needs, such as those containing Monsanto’s Genuity® corn traits which protect against insect damage and protect yields.”

          Farmers in the Corn Belt can sign up at www.insectforecast.com to receive e-mail alerts from May through September to learn when these insects pose a risk in their areas. In 2011, more than 3,000 farmers visited the Insect Forecast site, resulting in about 5,600 total site visits throughout the growing season. 

          Developed by climatologist and meteorologist Mike Sandstrom, the Insect Forecast tool analyzes moth trapping data and weather patterns to issue one, two and three-to-five day forecasts for corn earworm and western bean cutworm.  The corn rootworm hatch is updated weekly and is based on soil temperature and Growing Degree Days, which is a measure of heat accumulation determined by local temperatures.

          The Insect Forecast tool is being sponsored for the third year by Monsanto and offered to farmers by its Genuity brand.