Monday July 2 Ag News

Gov. Heineman Declares Emergency on Statewide Drought Conditions

Gov. Dave Heineman has declared a state of emergency due to current drought conditions throughout the state.

Gov. Heineman authorized an emergency declaration for statewide drought that allows state personnel and resources to assist with emergency situations and prevention, and allows maximum flexibility to the state to deploy Nebraska National Guard and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency assets and resources as needed.

“This declaration is important for continued efforts of state officials to ensure the safety of Nebraskans,” Gov. Heineman said. “This action is necessary as dry conditions are presenting an imminent threat to the ability of local governments to respond to drought conditions. Additionally, actions such as haying along the roadsides in Nebraska help with drought conditions.”

Additionally, the Governor has directed the Nebraska Department of Roads to advance the starting date for roadside haying from July 15 to July 3 in the following 55 counties: Adams, Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Boyd, Box Butte, Brown, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dundy, Franklin, Furnas, Frontier, Gage, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Greeley, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Howard, Jefferson, Kearney, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Nuckolls, Pawnee, Perkins, Phelps, Red Willow, Richardson, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sherman, Sioux, Thayer, Thomas, Valley, and Webster.

The Governor and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency will continue to monitor the situation throughout the state, as the drought continues.



Nebraska Cattlemen Urges Caution with Fireworks During Current Drought

As the Fourth of July holiday season approaches, Nebraska Cattlemen warns that wildfire danger is a major threat and urge caution and common sense, accordingly, with fireworks.  Summer heat and inconsistent rainfall in the past months have pushed many parts of Nebraska into moderate and serve drought.  Sparks from fireworks can ignite wildfires, especially in dry fields and grass pastures, and with a small amount of wind, these fires can spread very quickly and causes serve damage.  Nebraska Cattlemen urges firework users to follow all safety guidelines to insure a safe holiday.  For more information on the current drought, go to www.droughtmonitor.unl.edu.



Irrigation Management in Extreme Conditions
Bill Kranz, UNL Extension Irrigation Specialist, Haskell Ag Lab, Northeast REC

Achieving maximum efficiency from your center pivot starts with limiting runoff and ensuring uniform water application and infiltration. With the early hot, dry start to the season, getting the most from each irrigation will be important in managing input costs.

Runoff
If the water you apply doesn’t soak in uniformly, you are wasting the application. The only real way to know if you have runoff in the field is to get out and look. Look at the last two spans of the pivot on the steepest portion of the field. These spans have the highest water application rate and this field area offers the best chance to spot runoff.

If you have runoff, take steps to reduce or eliminate it. In the short-term, reduce application amounts and/or move sprinklers out of the canopy. Moving sprinklers above the canopy will increase wetted diameter and decrease application rate. In the long-term, you can install a new sprinkler package with a greater wetted diameter and/or use no-till to increase residue on the soil surface and improve the soil infiltration rate. If compaction is reducing infiltration, a deep tillage operation may be needed.

Check Sprinkler Spacing
One aspect of center pivot system design that can result in non-uniform water application is sprinklers that are spaced too widely apart. Spacing issues can be exacerbated by positioning sprinklers to operate within the crop canopy. Unfortunately, this problem often is not obvious and may only become apparent during extremely dry weather when continued non-uniform water application results in dry areas between sprinklers. In 2004 we saw this issue from aerial photos of pivots showing well-watered and under-watered rings. When sprinklers are placed in the canopy, the corn leaves and stalks interrupt the water pattern. When sprinklers are operated above the canopy, the overlap between patterns is usually adequate, but may become limited once corn grows above the sprinkler height. Figure 1 shows how sprinkler location affected actual applied depth of water.

Research indicates that if sprinklers are located too far apart, generally greater than 7.5 feet, you may have dry rings around the field and their impact may not always be visible. This phenomenon will increase as the pivot makes more and more circles. The wet areas will have normal growth while the dryer areas will be shorter in stature and yield may be affected. In the 2004 study, yields in the dry areas were 20-40 bushels less than in the well-watered rings. This phenomenon likely occurs every year. Normal early season precipitation will mask this effect during vegetative growth, but later in the season it may affect yield. Unless you go out into the field and look, your yield monitor will not pick up the difference in yield as it takes in both the well-watered and under-watered rows together. After an application go into the field and use a soil probe to check the soil water content in several consecutive rows that are perpendicular to the length of the pivot. If one row is extremely wet and the next is almost dry, you have application issues.

Perform an Irrigation System Check-up
Here are some additional steps you can take to ensure your pivot is operating at peak efficiency...
-    Check for plugged or damaged sprinklers and pressure regulators.
-    Obtain a sprinkler chart from your dealer and check to be sure your sprinkler package agrees with the printout. You just have to do this once unless sprinklers are replaced with sprinklers you just happen to have around.
-    Buy a pressure gauge and make sure your system is operated at the designed pressure. Pressure regulators are important to low-pressure sprinkler packages and will not function properly unless the delivery line pressure is at least 5 psi greater than the pressure rating of the regulator. A non-functioning regulator means non-uniform water application.

Tips for Irrigating in Extreme Hot, Dry Conditions
I am often asked if you should operate your pivot during extreme weather conditions with high winds, high  temperatures, and low relative humidity. My answer is “that depends.”

It depends on your system capacity and type of sprinkler package. If your system has a limited capacity, it is likely better to continue to apply water even though you may have 15% evaporation and drift from high pressure impact sprinklers.

If you have a sprinkler package that uses coarse or medium groove deflection pads, your evaporation loss will be minimal since most droplets are large enough that little evaporation occurs even in very windy conditions. The small droplets you get on your windshield driving downwind of a pivot don’t amount to much of the total application occurring in the field. However, windy conditions do impact water application patterns. I often suggest that producers limit the amount of time the system operates in windy conditions.

Another way to limit the impact of wind speed and direction on irrigated crop production is to stagger the start times so that water is applied to a specific area of the field at different times of the day.



NC Farmer Stockman Tour - July 24

The Nebraska Cattlemen Farmer Stockman Tour  is open  to all members of Nebraska Cattlemen and anyone else interested in learning more about the cattle industry.  The  tour and meals are  free  to all attendees.  If  you are planning on attending please RSVP by July 18th to Doug Parde  at  402.866.4941  or  at  parde20@diodecom.net  or the Lincoln Offce at 402.475.2333.

8:00 a.m. Registration at Pfzer Animal Health, 601 West Cornhusker, Lincoln (Coffee and Donuts provided by Pfizer Animal Health)
8:30 a.m. Pfizer Plant Tour
11:30 a.m. Prairieland Dairy (Lunch & Tour) 13000 Pella Road, Firth
2:30 p.m. E-Energy Tour, 510 Main Street, Adams
4:30 p.m. Vegetative Treatment System Tour, Adams, NE
5:00 p.m. Supper in Adams



Western Corn Rootworm and Japanese Beetle Adults Becoming Active
Bob Wright, UNL Extension Entomologist

We have received reports of western corn rootworm beetles emerging in southeast and south central Nebraska over the last two weeks. This is earlier than we normally see them. When rootworm beetles emerge before silking, they may feed on the surface tissue of corn leaves, scraping away the green tissue. As soon as silks emerge, the beetles will move to those tissues which are highly preferred for feeding.

Japanese beetles have been emerging over the last week or so. We have received reports in the past of Japanese beetles feeding on crops in parts of Hamilton and Saline counties. Japanese beetles may feed on soybean leaves and corn silks. Entomologists in states east of Nebraska report that Japanese beetles may also feed on corn leaves if silks have not emerged, producing similar damage to that caused by western corn rootworms.

Damage in soybeans should be evaluated in relation to other defoliating insects in soybeans. Consider treatment if defoliation in vegetative soybeans will exceed 30% and insects are present (20% threshold in reproductive stage soybeans).



Seedling Alfalfa Management During Drought
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Alfalfa seedlings experiencing drought during their first summer may struggle to survive.

They're tough. Despite their slow rate of growth and tender appearance, many of them manage to survive stressful conditions and become productive hay-makers.

But some years are harder on these seedlings than others, and this is one of those years. Because of the extended heat and dry weather, alfalfa seedlings are experiencing more stress than usual.  Anything you can do to reduce stress and competition will help.

Weeds. One place to begin is with weed control. Weeds use moisture and intercept light, two critical needs of seedlings. If weeds aren’t large and are growing actively, herbicides are a good option. Otherwise, clipping may be necessary. If you must clip, be careful that you don’t smother seedlings with your clippings. And leave a tall stubble so seedlings don’t go into shock after clipping due to the sudden change in their micro-environment.

Insects. Leafhoppers, aphids, grasshoppers, and other insects cause extra problems during stressful weather. Timely insecticide application or mowing is more important than ever.

Harvest. During drought, I like to give seedlings 70 days or more since planting before harvest. They probably will be in full bloom but they also will have a pretty good root system to gather whatever moisture they can or grow quickly after it rains. They may be short, but at today’s hay prices, it doesn’t take much to pay harvest costs.

These are difficult days for alfalfa seedlings. Help them if you can.

With Early Heat and Early Dormancy, Pastures Short
It’s time for a reality check in pastures. It’s dry, and even if it does rain, you still will be short of pasture this year.

If your pastures are based on cool-season grasses like needlegrass in the Panhandle or brome and bluegrass in eastern Nebraska, rain will help, but only a little. These grasses have already been growing for over three months and are reacting accordingly. For the next eight weeks or so they are going to be almost dormant due to summer heat and will have very slow growth no matter how much rain or fertilizer they receive.

In pastures with warm season grasses, like in the Sandhills and many areas of southern Nebraska, there is a little more hope. These grasses do most of their growing in late June and July, but even if they get lots of rain in the next couple weeks, total production isn’t likely to catch up with expectations.

Alternative feed plans will need to be made in many areas this summer.



Dean of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Retiring

            When Weldon Sleight arrived in Curtis in 2006, he looked around him at a rural Nebraska that was struggling, many youth leaving hometowns never to return. He set out to help reverse that trend by transforming a tiny college that had fought off its own near-death experiences into a catalyst for rural entrepreneurship.

            Six years later, as Sleight prepares to retire as dean of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, he can point to a number of improvements that are helping the college give rural Nebraska new ways to survive and even thrive.

            "Weldon is not just one of the leading advocates for rural Nebraska within the university and state. I believe he's one of the most creative thinkers about the future of rural America in the nation," said Ronnie Green, University of Nebraska vice president for agriculture and natural resources.

            "Weldon has been a terrific advocate for NCTA and rural Nebraska," NU President James B. Milliken said. "He had a vision for a vibrant agricultural economy and rural life and was always innovative – and I've been particularly impressed by his commitment to serving our students. Weldon has made tremendous contributions to the university and to Nebraska and he will be missed. We wish him and his family the very best."

            To the casual observer, NCTA's most obvious success is a construction boom that produced a new Education Center, an addition to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, a new residence hall and a biomass project to use wood chips from red cedar trees rather than natural gas for the school's heating system.

            Those improvements were critical to improving the student learning and living environment,  Sleight said, but private investment in bricks and mortar doesn't come "unless people see the vision, understand what you're trying to do."

            That vision starts with a fairly simple premise, Sleight said: For rural Nebraska to survive, it must keep its young people from leaving forever. Rural communities must tell young people they want them to return and help them see potential there, and they must drive that point home to youth before they go away to college.

            "Put your arm around those kids and invite them to come home" is advice Sleight gives often in presentations to communities. "What happens more times than not, though, is we say, 'there's nothing here, get as far away as you can and make a better life for yourself.'"

            "Many kids would like to go back, but they don't know how to go home," Sleight added.

            Under Sleight's leadership, NCTA has worked entrepreneurship into its entire curriculum. Most recently, the college began a yearlong outreach program, called "Own the Farm or Ranch," aimed at producers and farm and ranch employees who want to one day own their own agricultural enterprise.

            Other efforts include the 100-Acre Farm, 100 Beef Cow and the NCTA Business Builder ownership programs, and there's also the Combat Boots to Cowboy Boots initiative aimed at returning soldiers.

            The cow program currently has 25 students enrolled, with more interested.

            Sleight said support from Nebraska's agricultural industry, including major commodity groups, has been key to NCTA's progress. The school's enrollment has grown from 262 the year before Sleight arrived to 333 in 2011-12.

            Sleight also is encouraged by NU's development of the Rural Futures Institute, saying it's "an absolute must" for the entire university to partner with others in the state to revitalize rural Nebraska.

            Bob Phares, University of Nebraska regent from North Platte, said, "Weldon's cast a vision for that school that is rare, and I think he has excited not only the faculty and the staff but a lot of people of rural Nebraska ... about how we can revitalize the rural areas of our state.

            "NCTA is stronger than it has ever been. It's better positioned than it ever has been. And a lot of that is due to his vision and his persistence in getting it done," Phares added. "We're extremely fortunate to have had him."

            Sleight has roots in Nebraska; his great-great grandfather farmed in the state. He's retiring to tend to a seriously ill daughter in Idaho.

            "This is agricultural paradise," he said. "I hate to leave, but we feel we need to be there."

            Sleight's retirement takes effect in December. The university will begin a national search for a replacement later this year.



Branstad, Reynolds Commend Noble on Stopping Illegal Farm Inspections

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued statements commending Department of Public Safety Commissioner Larry Noble for stopping illegal farm inspections.

Commissioner Noble issued an order on June 22, 2012 making it clear that his department would not conduct farm inspections, except as required by Iowa law. Inspections of farm homes and farm buildings open to the public will continue as required by law.

On Jan. 23 of this year, Gov. Branstad formally objected to an overbearing rule by the Electrical Examining Board mandating farm inspections by regulation, even though Iowa law does not require them.

"The Electrical Examining Board went beyond their statutory authority. Their overreaching rule required a state inspection for any electrical work on farm buildings or structures, even though the legislature provided a common sense exception for farmers in the law. This rule is unnecessary and costly, and it was created by a board that did not have the authority to create it. This power-grab by the Electrical Examining Board hurts hard-working Iowa farmers and the Iowa economy," said Branstad.

"I am glad that that DPS has taken this action to stop this regulatory overreach that hurts hard-working Iowa farmers. Iowa farmers have safely conducted electrical work on their barns, grain bins and outbuildings for years. They've hired experienced electrical contractors and licensed professionals who don't need the state looking over their shoulders. Overreaching regulation by the Electrical Examining Board hasn't changed that. Farmers still have qualified people do their electrical work. But, the rule added another significant expense to farmers' projects and caused delays lasting days or weeks that are especially costly when livestock are involved--or during busy times of the crop year. Now, with the action by Commissioner Noble, it is clear that these overreaching inspections will no longer be forced on farmers."

Reynolds said, "Over-reaching rules hurt economic opportunities in agriculture and job growth in Iowa. Our administration is committed to regulatory reform. We know that small businesses, including farmers, are the greatest generators of job growth and are also disproportionately burdened by regulations. I applaud today's action by Commissioner Noble."



Ferguson to Head Iowa Ag Development Authority

Gov. Terry Branstad named Steven K. Ferguson the new executive director of the Iowa Agricultural Development Authority. Ferguson begins his new position on Monday, July 9.  "Steven will be a tremendous executive director, and brings with him significant skills gained in a variety of different financial and agricultural positions," said Branstad.

Ferguson most recently served as the director of international programs at the Greater Des Moines Partnership. He has also worked at Bankers Trust in Des Moines, F&M Bank in Newton, the American Soybean Association, USDA Rural Development and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

The Iowa Agricultural Development Authority was created by the Iowa General Assembly in 1980 to provide financial assistance to Iowa's grain and livestock producers.



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for July 2012

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for July 2012. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for July 2012 is 0.250 percent, up from 0.125 in June 2012. For 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans, the interest rate for loans disbursed during July 2012 is 1.250 percent, up from 1.125 in June 2012.

In accordance with the 2008 Farm Bill, interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for July 2012 are as follows, 1.125 percent with seven-year loan terms, down from 1.250 in June 2012; 1.625 percent with 10-year loan terms, down from 1.875 in June 2012 and; 1.875 percent with 12-year loan terms, down from 2.125 percent in June 2012.



IGC Cuts World 2012-13 Wheat Output View on Unfavorable Weather

The International Grains Council Monday downwardly revised its estimate for world wheat output in 2012-13, by 6 million metric tons to 665 million tons, due to unfavorable conditions in some countries including a further deterioration in crop expectations in Russia.

However, the London-based body said results from the U.S. wheat harvest were generally better-than-expected, while recent rains had helped crops in parts of the European Union to show some recovery from less-than-ideal conditions earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, the IGC upwardly revised its global corn production estimate by 4 million tons to 917 million tons, as projections for some countries, including China and India were increased.

However, overly hot and dry weather conditions in the U.S. Midwest have led to a downgrade in the country's corn production forecast, with projected yields now likely to be below the ten-year trend.

Despite this downgrade, that crop is still forecast at a record 350 million tons, although the IGC said risks are to the downside.



Sorghum Checkoff Launches Leadership Sorghum Program, Now Accepting Applications

The Sorghum Checkoff is launching a new program to develop the next generation of leaders for the sorghum industry and is seeking applications for its inaugural class.

Leadership Sorghum Class I will be exposed to various aspects of the sorghum industry from basic research to international marketing. Through both hands-on and classroom style education, participants will gain an understanding of how sorghum moves through the value chain, how checkoffs and interest organizations interact on behalf of the industry and what the future holds for the crop. The program will also provide professional development training and networking opportunities.

“Strong leadership is key to the development and progress of any industry,” said Bill Kubecka, chairman for the Sorghum Checkoff and producer from Palacios, Texas. “We believe Leadership Sorghum will help us recruit new leaders while educating and exposing them to all facets of our diverse industry.”

Leadership Sorghum is now seeking applications from interested sorghum producers. Eligible applicants must be farmers actively engaged in sorghum production in the United States.

Applications and recommendations for Class I of Leadership Sorghum are due July 20, 2012. All completed applications and references will be reviewed by a committee comprised of USCP board members and staff. Class members and alternates will be notified of acceptance no later than August 3, 2012. Electronic forms and a class schedule are available at www.SorghumCheckoff.com/leadership.

For more information on how to apply for Leadership Sorghum, contact leadership@sorghumcheckoff.com or 806-687-8727.



CWT Assists with 2.2 Million Pounds of Cheese Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 14 requests for export assistance from Agri-Mark, Bongards, Dairy Farmers of America, Darigold and Foremost Farms to sell a total of 2.191 million pounds (984 metric tons) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia-Pacific, North Africa, Central America and the Middle East. The product will be delivered July through October 2012.

In 2012, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 66.3 million pounds, and butter and anhydrous milk fat totaling 45.2 million pounds, to 32 countries on four continents. On a butterfat basis, the milk equivalent of these exports is 1.597 billion pounds, or the same as the annual milk production of 76,100 cows.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by reducing inventories that overhang the market and depress cheese and butter prices. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the farm milk that produces them.

CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidders only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.



Russians Protest Entry Into WTO

More than 1,000 people waving communist and imperial flags protested over the weekend in central Moscow against Russia's upcoming entry into the World Trade Organization.  Russia's parliament is expected to vote July 10 to ratify the agreement on WTO membership, which took nearly two decades to negotiate.  Once Russia joins WTO, it will be subject to its rules for global trade and settling disputes. European Union and U.S. officials predict it will lead to greater exports to Russia.  The organizers of Sunday's protest say the result of WTO membership will be the collapse of tens of thousands of Russian factories and the loss of tens of millions of jobs.  Supporters of WTO membership say it will boost Russia's economy in the long run by giving more confidence to foreign investors.



Obama Administration Announces New Investments to Advance Biofuels Industry and Enhance America’s Energy Security

U.S. Navy, Department of Agriculture and Department of Energy Announce Funding Available for Commercial Scale Advanced Drop-In Biofuels; Energy Department Also Announces Additional Biofuel Investments to Drive Cost Reductions and Technological Breakthroughs

As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to deploying every available source of American energy and reducing our reliance on imported oil, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced new funding available to pursue new innovations in biofuels technologies, increase production of U.S. biofuels, and strengthen American energy security. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Navy and Department of Energy are announcing $30 million in federal funding to match private investments in commercial-scale advanced drop-in biofuels. The Energy Department is also announcing a total of $32 million in new investments for earlier stage research that will continue to drive technological breakthroughs and additional cost reductions in the industry.

Advancing Commercial-Scale Drop-In Biofuel Substitutes for Diesel and Jet Fuel
In his Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future released in March 2011, President Obama set a goal of reducing oil imports by one-third by 2025 and laid out an all-of-the-above energy plan to achieve that goal by developing domestic oil and gas energy resources, increasing energy efficiency, and speeding development of biofuels and other alternatives. Domestic oil and gas production has increased each year the President has been in office. At the same time we continue to take additional steps to reduce our reliance on foreign oil. As part of that effort, the Blueprint directed the Navy, USDA and DOE to collaborate to support commercialization of “drop-in” biofuel substitutes for diesel and jet fuel. Competitively-priced drop-in biofuels will help improve America’s energy security, meeting the fuel needs of U.S. armed forces, as well as the commercial aviation and shipping sectors. Today’s announcement of an available $30 million in funding builds on that commitment, helping to speed the development of biofuels for military and commercial transportation that will reduce the need for foreign oil and strengthen rural America.  

Made possible through the Defense Production Act (DPA), this funding opportunity enhances national security by supporting the creation and commercial viability of a defense-critical domestic biofuels industry to advance alternatives to petroleum. DPA is an authority that dates back to 1950 and has been used to boost industries such as steel, aluminum, titanium, semiconductors, beryllium, and radiation-hardened electronics.

“DPA is a critical component of strengthening our national security, and energy is a national security issue,” stated Secretary Mabus. “Our reliance on foreign oil is a significant military vulnerability and it would be irresponsible not to address it. Pursuing a viable, domestic alternative is the best way to preserve the budget for operational necessities like training and shipbuilding, and this funding opportunity is an important step in accelerating an economically self-sufficient alternative fuels market.”

The FOA comprises a two-phased approach, with government and industry sharing in the cost. In Phase 1, applicants will submit a design package and comprehensive business plan for a commercial-scale biorefinery, identify and secure project sites and take additional required steps spelled out in the announcement. Awardees selected to continue into Phase 2 will submit additional information for the construction or retrofit of a biorefinery.

Agencies participating in this initiative will make additional funding requests to Congress to support the initiative, including President Obama’s FY 2013 budget request of $110 million.

“This is an important time for the biofuels industry to step up and show the Department of the Navy how they have developed biofuels that are certified and certifiable for military use,” stated Secretary Vilsack. “The ability for U.S. industry to make, create and innovate has never been more important to our national and energy security. I know that through this DPA effort the nation will be able to harvest an aviation biofuels industry to satisfy the world’s needs, not just our U.S. military.”

Investments in Biofuels Research, Development and Demonstration to Drive Cost Reductions, Technological Breakthroughs
Today, the Energy Department is also announcing new investments in earlier stage biofuels research that complement the commercial-scale efforts announced today by the Navy and USDA. Totaling $32 million, these early-stage, pre-commercial investments are the latest steps in the Obama Administration’s efforts to advance biofuels technologies to continue to bring down costs, improve performance, and identify new effective, non-food feedstocks and processing technologies.

“Advanced biofuels are an important part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above strategy to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and support American industries and American jobs,” said Secretary Chu. “By pursuing new processes and technologies for producing next-generation biofuels, we are working to accelerate innovation in a critical and growing sector that will help to improve U.S. energy security and protect our air and water.”

The funding announced by DOE today includes $20 million to support innovative pilot-scale and demonstration-scale biorefineries that could produce renewable biofuels that meet military specifications for jet fuel and shipboard diesel using a variety of non-food biomass feedstocks, waste-based materials and algae. These projects may support new plant construction, retrofits on existing U.S. biorefineries or operation at plants ready to begin production at the pilot- or pre-commercial scale. This investment will also help federal and local governments, private developers and industry collect accurate data on the cost of producing fuels made from biomass and waste feedstocks. The full funding solicitation is available HERE.

In addition, the Energy Department also announced $12 million to support up to eight projects focused on researching ways to develop biobased transportation fuels and products using synthetic biological processing. Synthetic biological processing offers an innovative technique to enable efficient, cost-saving conversion of non-food biomass to biofuels. These projects will develop novel biological systems that can enhance the breakdown of raw biomass feedstocks and assist in converting feedstocks into transportation fuels.

The projects will be led by small businesses, universities, national laboratories and industry and will seek to overcome various technical and scientific barriers to cost-competitive advanced biofuels and bioproducts.

The new investments announced today build on the steps the Energy Department is already taking to push the boundaries of biofuel technologies and move towards commercial-scale production at refineries across the country. 



FARMERS CAN ENTER THEIR BEST RIB RECIPE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE GENUITY® RIB COMPLETE® RECIPE CHALLENGE

        The Genuity® RIB Complete® Recipe Challenge has officially kicked off, and farmers are invited to submit their tastiest recipe for barbecue ribs.  Entries can be submitted online, at www. Genuity.com/RecipeChallenge, from July 2 through Aug. 3, 2012.

        The contest is sponsored by Monsanto through its Genuity RIB Complete refuge-in-a-bag products and will be judged in cooperation with the National Barbecue Association. Judging will consist of two phases:

    Judges will read all recipes and then select three regional finalists in each of five regions (for a total of 15 regional finalists) based on originality, expected ease of preparation, how the ingredients complement each other, and expected taste, appearance and tenderness.
    Those 15 finalist recipes will then be prepared and one regional winner for each region will be selected based on actual taste, appearance and tenderness.  One of the five regional winners will be selected as the national winner using these same criteria.

         All five regional winners will receive a Big Green Egg® large grill with stand, rib rack, 3-piece barbecue tool set and other accessories valued at approximately $1,320.  The national winner will also receive a $5,000 seed credit for Genuity® SmartStax® RIB Complete™ corn blend or Genuity® VT Double PRO® RIB Complete™ corn blend for the 2013 growing season.  The other four regional winners will receive a $1,000 seed credit redeemable for the same corn blend(s).

        Both corn products are single-bag refuge management solutions, providing convenience and time savings by eliminating the need to plant a separate, structured insect refuge in the Corn-Growing Area.  Genuity SmartStax RIB Complete provides multiple modes of action for protecting against above and below ground insects, including full-season corn rootworm control. Genuity VT Double PRO RIB Complete offers two ways for controlling above ground insects, including corn earworm.

        The Genuity RIB Complete Recipe Challenge is open to farmers, at least 18 years of age, in the following states who planted at least 250 acres of corn during the 2012 growing season:  Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Wisconsin and Colorado. Professional chefs/cooks and recipes published in cookbooks are not eligible to enter or win.

        The National Barbecue Association was established in 1991 to promote recognition of the barbecue industry. Its members include restaurateurs, caterers, pitmasters, competitors, backyard enthusiasts, writers, vendors and suppliers.

        Contest rules can be obtained on the contest entry site, www.Genuity.com/RecipeChallenge, or by sending a request with self-addressed stamped envelope to Genuity RIB Complete Recipe Challenge, c/o OsbornBarr, 914 Spruce, St. Louis, Mo., 63102.  Recipes can also be submitted by mail to this same address.