Thursday June 7 Ag News

Farm Bill Clears First Hurdle in Senate

(AP) -- A five-year farm and food bill that would revamp the federal safety net for farmers and eliminate direct government payments for idle crop fields took its first step toward passage Thursday in the Senate.

A 90-8 vote to officially begin debate opens the way for what could be several weeks of attempts to amend proposed legislation that spends some $100 billion a year on crop insurance, conservation and nutrition programs.

The measure would save $23 billion over a 10-year period from current spending levels. Some of those savings would come from eliminating the current system where farmers get direct payments from the government regardless of whether they actually plant a crop.

"This is not your father's farm bill," said Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., who crafted the legislation with the top Republican on the committee, Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas.

The old direct farm subsidy program would be replaced by a new plan that places greater stress on subsidized crop insurance and a new program that compensates farmers when revenues from planted fields fall below levels as determined by a five-year average.

Roberts said the bill cuts or streamlines more than 100 programs, including combining four commodity protection plans into one and reducing conservation programs from 23 to 13.

The White House on Thursday issued a statement in support of the legislation, saying it would eliminate direct payments, tighten eligibility requirements and strengthen access to healthy, affordable foods. The Obama administration also said the bill would protect emergency food aid and increase flexibility in the delivery of international food aid.

"It is critical that the Congress pass legislation that provides certainty for rural America and includes needed reforms and savings," the White House note said.

The farm bill, which differs from many bills in not splitting Congress among party lines, could become one of the few major measures to reach the president's desk before the November elections. But it won't be easy.

Senators are likely to use the bill as a vehicle to take up unrelated issues, such as looming automatic cuts in the defense budget set off by the failed negotiations in Congress last year to reduce spending. Southern senators are also expected to seek changes in the new revenue protection program, which they say discriminates against southern crops such as rice and peanuts.

Other legislators are seeking reductions in the crop insurance program under which the government shoulders more than 60 percent of farmers' insurance premiums and protest the bill's cuts of more than $4 billion over 10 years in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps.

About 80 percent of the $100 billion in annual spending under the bill would go to nutrition programs. Some 46 million Americans receive food stamps, a number that has risen sharply during the economic downturn.

The House Agriculture Committee is expected to write a farm bill more sympathetic to southern growers, who want to keep aspects of the existing system where farmers are paid when prices dip below certain target levels. House Republicans also say that more savings can be squeezed out of the food stamp program.

The current farm act expires at the end of September.



STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY - S. 3240 - Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012

The Administration supports Senate passage of S. 3240, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012, and looks forward to working with the Congress to address the important concerns described below prior to final passage.

The Administration greatly appreciates the Senate's bipartisan efforts to enact a farm bill.  With authorization for farm- and food-related programs set to expire this year, it is critical that the Congress pass legislation that provides certainty for rural America and includes needed reforms and savings.  The new farm bill should promote rural development, preserve a farm safety net, maintain strong nutrition programs, enhance conservation, honor our World Trade Organization commitments, and advance agricultural research.  In light of the Nation's long-term fiscal challenge, the legislation should also contribute significantly to deficit reduction.

The Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012, S. 3240, makes meaningful progress toward the Administration's goals.  Notable reforms include eliminating the direct payment system; tightening payment and eligibility requirements; strengthening access to healthy, affordable food; protecting emergency food aid programs and authorities; and increasing flexibility in the delivery of international food aid.  The Administration supports the Senate's efforts to consolidate and streamline conservation assistance, which will reduce administrative burdens on farmers and ranchers and improve environmental outcomes.  The bill's funding for bioenergy programs will enhance our energy security while supporting innovation and growth in rural economies.

Consistent with the President's Budget, the Administration looks forward to working with the Congress to achieve crop insurance and commodity program savings that are not contained in S. 3240, while at the same time strengthening the farm safety net in times of need and supporting the next generation of farmers.  The Administration also strongly supports the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a cornerstone of our Nation's food assistance safety net, which is why it was not subject to cuts in the President's Budget.  SNAP helps families put food on the table, while also benefitting farm and rural economies.  The Administration also looks forward to working with the Congress to structure reporting requirements and the proposed Research Foundation in ways that will maximize and facilitate agricultural research.



NCGA Cheers Strong Majority Vote to Advance Farm Bill in Senate

National Corn Growers Association President Garry Niemeyer released the following statement in response to the Senate voting in favor 90-8 to advance the 2012 Farm Bill to the Senate Floor:

“The overwhelmingly positive vote on the floor reaffirms that Senators understand the importance of passing the 2012 Farm Bill this year.  The National Corn Growers Association cheers the strong bipartisan vote and appreciates the work of Senators Stabenow and Roberts on this legislation.

“The 2012 Farm Bill creates the reforms needed to not only reduce the federal deficit but ensure a positive beginning for the next generation of America’s farmers.  We thank the Senate for their support and urge debate to begin quickly.” 



Iowa Corn Growers Association Tracking Farm Bill Progress

The Senate is starting to debate the 2012 farm bill and the Iowa Corn Growers Association along with the National Corn Growers Association participated in a news conference with Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member Pat Roberts to stress the importance of the reformed legislation.

Lyle Pugh, a farmer from Chesapeake, Virginia, participated in the event along with dairy farmers and fruit growers. Pugh said, “Since I have been involved in agriculture, the industry has changed dramatically. Farmers have sent a strong message that direct payments are no longer defensible and do not provide assistance when it is most needed. Instead, we want a program that will help lessen the blow when farmers are facing years of bad weather or depressed markets.”

Pugh went on to say that as a farmer and taxpayer, he is pleased to see the new farm bill reduces the federal deficit and makes the necessary reforms for the next generation.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on the farm bill earlier this week and a vote on the motion to proceed to the bill passed 90-8 earlier today. Formal debate will now take place on the Senate floor in the coming week. The ICGA and NCGA appreciate the actions by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to move forward with Senate consideration of the 2012 farm bill this week.

“Our hope is that the senate preserves the commitment to the producer government cost share in crop insurance,” said Kevin Ross, ICGA President and a farmer from Minden. We are working so legislators recognize the importance of research and conservation and develop a new market orientated safety net. We thank our Iowa senate leadership for bringing it to the floor and we are hoping for quick movement.” 



Platte Valley Cattlemen Plan Busy Summer
Paul Wilke, PVC President

Our summer tour will be on Monday, June 18th, starting at 3:00 p.m. with a tour of the Smeal Fire Apparatus Plant, located on Hwy 91, in Snyder, Nebraska.  Our second stop will be at Cedar Hill Cattle Company at 4:15 p.m. to tour their new Hoop Beef confinement barns located at County Road R and 15 or (Hwy 91- 5 miles west of Dodge, take County Rd 15 south 5 1/2 miles).   The third stop will be at the Dave Eisenmann Farm at 5:00 p.m. to tour their new confinement cattle barn located at County Roads S and 3 (from Cedar Hill go 12 miles west on Road R to Road 3 and then 1 mile north).  Our final stop on the tour will be for food and refreshments at the Leigh Picnic Shelter at 6:00 p.m. located just west of Park Place on Road W in Leigh, Nebraska.  We will be breaking in your new Platte Valley Cattlemen mobile grill, so be sure to come check it out!

Mark your calendars for other summer activities which will include grilling out for both the Platte and Colfax County Fair Beef Shows, the Central Plains "Beef Industry Day" in Howells, Nebraska, on August 16, 2012, and our annual PVC Golf outing on August 20, 2012, at Quail Run in Columbus, Nebraska.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Urges FSA To Be Prepared for Drought

Nebraska Farm Bureau is asking USDA's Farm Service Agency to be aware of and prepared for drought conditions that have started impacting Nebraska farmers and ranchers.

"We've heard from our members across Western and Southern Nebraska that pasture and other crop conditions are deteriorating rapidly as a combination of high heat, high winds and a lack of moisture have many farmers and ranchers concerned," Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson said June 5.

"Most concerning are reports from the Panhandle counties which indicate on-ground conditions are very similar to the beginnings of the 2002 drought."

In a letter to USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services (FFAS) Michael Scuse, Nelson noted that while the lack of moisture and conditions in Nebraska are not yet as severe as the drought experienced in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, the dry conditions of those areas have already put a significant strain on Nebraska's grass and hay resources.

"Over the past two years, cattle from those areas have made their way into Nebraska. At the same time, much of the Nebraska hay reserves were sent to those areas to provide needed forage for the cattle that remained. If dry conditions persist, we could face a scenario where a lack of feed sources would put a significant strain on Nebraska's cattle industry," Nelson said.

Nebraska became the country's second-largest cattle producing state in 2011, witnessing a 4 percent increase in total cattle numbers due in large part to the movement of cattle into Nebraska from drought-stricken states. Nebraska's cattle industry adds over $7 billion to Nebraska's economy each year.

In the letter to Scuse, Nelson reiterated the need for USDA to continue to monitor the drought situation in Nebraska and to be ready to act if conditions continue to deteriorate.  "While the last few years have been profitable for Nebraska agriculture, a drought can change things in a hurry and those economic impacts go well beyond the farm gate. Nebraska has largely escaped the economic downturn that has gripped much of the country due to its strong agriculture economy," Nelson said.



UNL, Brazilian University Sign New Agreement for Student, Faculty Exchanges

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil are partners in a new program that will give faculty, staff and undergraduate and graduate students from the schools' respective agriculture and natural resources campuses opportunities to study and do research together.

The agreement, signed last week, has been more than a year in the making. Administrators and faculty from the University of Nebraska have made a couple of visits to Sao Paulo to iron out details.

The arrangement is with USP's ESALQ campus in the city of Piracicaba, which is roughly equivalent to UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Both focus on issues revolving around food, fuel and water.

"It was absolutely clear to us that USP-ESALQ held the potential to be an important and major strategic partner to us in the areas of water for food, bioenergy, food science and plant and animal biosciences," said Ronnie Green, vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, after a visit last year. "We worked with their faculty and administration to identify key focal areas where we can collaborate in research and graduate and undergraduate education."

Ron Yoder, associate vice chancellor of IANR, said partnerships with USP are in demand among U.S. universities, so "it speaks well of us" that the agreement came together.

Under the agreement, faculty from each university will spend up to a year at the partner university teaching, attending conferences and conducting research. Undergraduates will take classes, while graduate students will conduct research in programs coordinated by advisers at both universities. Technical and administrative staff also will participate in the exchange.

One challenge for UNL students: They must be able to speak and understand at least some Portuguese to go to USP.

As Brazilian students spend time at UNL, Yoder said, he hopes groups of UNL students will interact with them and begin to learn the language.

Yoder said the partnership came together because of contacts and relationships among faculty of the two universities.

"Administrators can sign agreements, but unless you make those connections at the faculty level, it's not going to happen, and those connections have been made," Yoder said.

This new agreement is separate from the "Science Without Borders" initiative between UNL and USP. That effort brought about 30 Brazilian undergraduates to UNL last semester. The undergraduate portion of the program is the first to be deployed, with graduate student enrollment to begin in 2013.

Green and Yoder said these international arrangements between universities are great for the schools, the nations and students.

"To meet the needs of the global population for food and natural resource security in the coming decades we need to look to the places where we can collectively have the greatest impact," Green said. "We also need to look to the needs of our own students who will exist in an even greater sense than today in an inter-connected global society.  It is absolutely clear that Brazilians and Americans working together can achieve great things in all of these regards -- so investing in strategic partnerships like we are doing will benefit us all in more ways than we can count now, and in the long-term future."



Top of Iowa Sirloin Steak Celebrates 50th Anniversary

One of Iowan's top steak choices on the grill is celebrating a milestone anniversary. The summer of 2012 kicks' off the 50th Anniversary of the Top of Iowa Sirloin. This lean steak has been the signature cut representing the high quality beef raised by Iowa farmers for five decades.

The story behind the steak . . . the Top of Iowa Sirloin was born in 1962. The Iowa beef industry held a 'name the greatest steak' contest. The Top of Iowa Sirloin was chosen out of more than 4,000 entries. The name 'Top' fit the taste, appeal, tenderness and prestige of the Top Sirloin. 'Iowa' was a natural complement as it had a well-earned reputation of raising high quality beef. The Top of Iowa Sirloin was the perfect reflection of a first-class steak coupled with the high quality premium beef that was raised in Iowa.

The Top of Iowa Sirloin quickly gained popularity not only in Iowa, but acquired a regional reputation as an exceptional taste treat to diners across the nation. After 50 years, the Top of Iowa Sirloin Steak is still topping Iowa restaurant menus and can be readily found in grocery meat cases -- a true example it's still reflective of Iowa beef.

This versatile steak can be grilled whole and served as slices or cut into various sized individual steaks by dividing it into halves, thirds or even fourths. It has many meal uses as it works well cubed for kabobs, sliced for fajitas and stir fry as well as sandwiches and salads.

Learn more about the Top of Iowa Sirloin Steak including recipes and grilling tips by visiting www.iabeef.org.



New 2012 Equine Management Program

Iowa State University and ISU Extension and Outreach are offering a new, customized equine management program. Equine Management will give Iowa horse farm or ranch owners an educational program created for their facility.

"We are providing the program in this way so we can focus on the specifics of a well-managed horse environment that promotes good horse health and safety," said Peggy Miller, equine science associate professor at Iowa State University. "Throughout the program we will encourage proper land and facility management practices that enhance property value, and promote successful horse ownership experiences."

Participation in the customized Equine Management program includes:
-- Two farm/ranch visits from an Iowa State specialist
-- Soil analysis
-- Fertility recommendations
-- Forage quality analysis (if possible) and species identification
-- Poisonous plant identification and weed control recommendations
-- Feeding program analysis
-- Overall facilities assessment
-- Manure management recommendations
-- Phone and email support
-- Supporting fact sheets and supplemental information
-- Customized pasture and grazing management plans

Cost of the program is $650 and is limited to the first 25 Iowa horse farms that participate. More information is available at http://horse.public.iastate.edu. To schedule a visit or for more information contact Dale Miller at dmill@iastate.edu or 641 842-2014; or Peggy A. Miller at peggy@iastate.edu or 515 294-5260.



Farmers Are Reminded to Sign Up for the 2012 Census of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is preparing to mail the 2012 Census of Agriculture to millions of U.S. farmers and ranchers in late December. Producers are reminded not to miss their opportunity to be counted by signing up for the Census before July 1. The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. A farm is defined as any place that produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the Census year (2012).

“The Census is the leading source of facts about American agriculture,” said Renee Picanso, Census and Survey Division Director at USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. “The wealth of data available from the Census includes statistics on small, family farms to large, corporate farms; information on young, beginning farmers to older, experienced farmers; and insight into traditional, rural farming versus trends in areas such as lifestyle and urban farming.”

The sign-up period for the 2012 Census of Agriculture ends in a few weeks and is especially important for those individuals involved in agriculture who did not realize they qualify as a farm or have not previously participated in a Census. All farmers and ranchers are reminded to sign up and be counted.

“The Census provides the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agricultural data for every county in the nation,” said Picanso. “Through the Census, producers can show the nation the value and importance of agriculture, and they can help influence the decisions that will shape the future of American agriculture for years to come. By signing up and then responding to the Census, producers are helping themselves, their communities and all of U.S. agriculture.”

To learn more and sign up for the Census of Agriculture, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov. All individual information will be kept confidential guaranteed by law (Title 7, U.S. Code, and CIPSEA, Public Law 107-347). The 2012 Census of Agriculture is your voice, your future, your responsibility.



‘Special Delivery’ campaign generates more than $400,000 to help Haitians

“Special Delivery. Homes. Help. Hope. For Haiti,” a campaign launched last December by the Iowa Food & Family Project, has generated more than $400,000 in contributions to the Global Compassion Network (GCN) to provide shelter and soy-based meals to Haitians recovering from a devastating 2010 earthquake.

The remarkable results were announced today by Iowa’s Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Ag Secretary Bill Northey, “Special Delivery” campaign co-chairs, at a news conference hosted by Sukup Manufacturing Co. in Sheffield. 

"Special Delivery” encouraged contributions to the Laurens, Iowa-based GCN for the purchase of up to 48 Sukup Safe T Homes®. The dwellings resemble modified grain bins, can provide shelter for up to 10 people and are virtually earthquake proof. The homes are being erected on the Village of Hope established last year by the GCN near Port au Prince, Haiti.

“Our goal was to encourage contributions to the GCN by June 1 totaling 48 homes,” says Reynolds. “Secretary Northey and I are pleased to announce that the equivalent of 64 homes has been contributed. This remarkable support is proof once more that when asked to help, Iowans don’t reply, ‘Why?’ Instead, they say, ‘What can I do and when can I start?’”

“Special Delivery” is also providing much-needed food for Haitians. Earlier this year, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) pledged up to $48,000 – or $1,000 per home, up to 48 – for the purchase of soy-based Meals from the Heartland (MftH). Combined with a contribution from Cargill-Iowa Region, nearly 230,000 servings of MftH were packaged by more than 1,200 FFA members at this spring’s state FFA leadership conference in Ames. They’re currently being delivered to Haiti by the Convoy of Hope.

Northey, who assisted with the MftH food packaging, says he’s overwhelmed, but not surprised, at the outpouring of support. “It’s what Iowans do when people are in need,” he says. “What makes this effort so unique is how representative it is of our state – from homes constructed by Sukup to soybeans grown and harvested by Iowa farm families.”

“Special Delivery” traces its roots to work begun by Laurens farmer Ken DeYoung. After watching the devastating television footage of the Haitian earthquake, he took action and helped organize the non-profit GCN which, in turn, established the Village of Hope. GCN then began conversations with Sukup early last year about the possibilities of sourcing Safe T Homes for the village to provide temporary housing for Haitians displaced by the earthquake.

“Conversations lead to relationships and relationships create opportunities for partnerships,” says Charles Sukup, president of Sukup Manufacturing Co. “The Sukup team is a family and we’re humbled to be part of this inspiring campaign.”       

DeYoung thanked the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and Monsanto for their contributions and the generosity of every donor. He also applauded the many dedicated volunteers for meeting the aggressive goal in delivering homes and food in just six months’ time.

“Our success does not end today,” says DeYoung. “We will build on the campaign’s momentum by partnering with the Sioux Central FFA to generate additional resources that will assist the people of Haiti as only Iowans can. It’s truly inspiring to be part of this effort.”



Protect soybean profit by controlling disease early

A mild winter has soybean growers on alert for the disease pressure that may have over-wintered in fields and pose a threat to this year’s crop. The increase in disease pressure this year means it’s even more important for growers to intensively manage fields and control disease to produce a healthy, high-yielding crop.

With the high profit potential in soybeans, protecting the crop to get the most out of every acre is increasingly important.

Though weather uncertainty is always an issue for growers, planning ahead is a crucial first step toward success.

“To protect profit potential, growers need to plan early to control disease,” said Nick Fassler, Technical Market Manager, BASF. “Staying ahead of soybean diseases and planning for a well-timed fungicide application is important to control damaging diseases.”

Growers should take the time to actively evaluate weed-control programs and look for early-season disease pressure, Fassler said. Diseases such as Septoria brown spot and frogeye leaf spot are common late-season diseases to watch for. Protecting soybeans from these diseases will keep plants healthy so they can produce higher yields and profit.

“With soybeans planted earlier than usual in many areas this year, we can anticipate larger, healthier, more vegetative growth of the plants earlier in the season,” Fassler said. “The larger plant size increases the number of nodes to develop pods on. It’s important to apply a fungicide to protect the soybean plant during the reproductive stages and through grain fill.”

To protect soybean crops, growers should consider a well-timed application of Priaxor™ fungicide, which provides preventative and post-infection disease control from some of the toughest fungal diseases.

Priaxor, the latest fungicide from BASF, contains F500® — the same active ingredient as Headline® fungicide — and Xemium® fungicide, a new active ingredient, providing an additional mode of action in row crops.

In BASF research from 2009 through 2011, soybeans treated with Priaxor showed nearly 17 percent less severity of Septoria brown spot compared to untreated soybean checks.

“By combining F500 with Xemium, we’ve taken the best soybean fungicide available and made it better,” Fassler said. “These chemistries have similar, broad disease control spectrums that overlap nicely. This allows Priaxor to protect crops from some of the toughest foliar diseases in order to consistently achieve high yield potential.”

Research shows that Priaxor provides consistent performance. In more than 75 trials conducted by BASF in 2010 and 2011, Priaxor-treated soybeans had higher yields than untreated acres 87 percent of the time. In comparison, the current leader in the soybean market, Headline, out-yielded untreated checks 83 percent of the time.



Titan Machinery Announces Quarterly Profits & Earnings

Titan Machinery Inc., a leading network of full-service agricultural and construction equipment stores, reported financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended April 30, 2012.  For the first quarter of fiscal 2013, revenue increased 32.5% to $421.7 million from revenue of $318.2 million in the first quarter last year.

All four of the company's revenue sources-equipment, parts, service, and rental and other-contributed to this period-over-period revenue growth.  Equipment sales were $322.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2013, compared to $249.2 million in the first quarter last year.  Parts sales were $58.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2013, compared to $41.9 million in the first quarter last year.  Revenue generated from service was $29.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2013, compared to $21.0 million in the first quarter last year.

Gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 was $70.4 million, compared to $52.8 million in the first quarter last year. The Company's gross profit margin was 16.7% in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, compared to 16.6% in the first quarter last year. Gross profit from parts, service, and rental and other for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 was 57% of overall gross profit and increased to $40.0 million from $26.9 million in the first quarter of last year.