Wednesday July 11 Ag News

Nebraska Corn Board urges farmers to take precautions when unloading grain bins

In light of recent tragedies involving grain handling, the Nebraska Corn Board would like to remind farmers, farm workers and farm families that grain handling, especially the unloading and cleaning out of grain bins, deserves special attention because it is one of the most dangerous tasks on the farm.

“There is more than 1 billion bushels of on-farm grain storage capacity across Nebraska, and cleaning out those grain bins is something many farmers do during the summer months as they sell grain and prepare for harvest in the fall,” said Alan Tiemann, a farmer from Seward and chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board.

Tiemann said farmers should take extra precautions and use the buddy system to help keep everyone safe during the process. “Always have at least one other person on site who knows the safety rules, how to shut down augers and how to get help if it’s needed,” he said.

Dangers in a bin being unloaded include flowing grain, which can in a matter of seconds pull a person down into and even under the grain. Grain just around the legs is enough to trap a person and grain around a person’s chest can cause suffocation because of the pressure.

Crusted grain along the sides of a grain bin or forming a “bridge” along the top of the grain is also dangerous. A person standing on a crust of grain either not knowing or knowing but trying to break it can fall down into the bin and into the grain should the crust collapse. Grain crusted along the side can fall like an avalanche onto a person who is trying to break the crust or clean out the bin.

“People can suffocate with only 12 inches of grain covering them because that’s the equivalent to nearly 50 pounds per cubic foot and you can’t get up,” Tiemann said.

Another area of concern are sweep augers, which help unload the grain from the bin. While these augers can have some safety guards in place, they are generally open at least on one side to gather the grain. It’s critical to stay clear of the auger and know the situation – and have a buddy who knows how to shut down the system keeping watch.

“Farmers, their families and employees should develop a set of safety rules that everyone should know and follow,” Tiemann said. “Safety in and around grain bins should be at the top of that list.”



Stink Bugs Reported in Nebraska Corn and Soybeans

Relatively high numbers of stink bugs have been reported in Nebraska corn and soybean.

"Both crops are sensitive to stink bug injury during their reproductive stages, so stink bug scouting should now begin," said Bob Wright, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension entomologist.

Stink bug surveys conducted in Nebraska from 2009 to 2011 show four species of stink bugs that can be found in soybeans and corn. They are the green stink bug, brown stink bug, onespotted stink bug, and red-shouldered stink bug. All stink bugs are shield-shaped as nymphs and as adults and are either green or brown.

Stink bugs feed on plants and other insects by piercing and injecting the plant or insect with digestive enzymes, and removing fluids from the plant or insect, Wright said.

Nymphs and adult stink bugs injure vegetative stage corn by feeding at the base of the seedling corn plant, which results in irregular shaped, oblong holes with yellow margins on corn leaves as they emerge from the whorls. The bugs damage reproductive stage corn by piercing the husk and feeding on the developing kernels, which leads to missing or shrunken kernels.

In soybean, nymphs and adult stink bugs puncture various soybean plant parts and extract plant fluids. This injury leads to deformed seeds and pods and makes the plants more susceptible to pathogens. It also causes delayed maturity and deformed leaf growth.

"Injury often appears first on field borders as the stink bugs move into the field," Wright said. "With time, the stink bugs can move throughout the field."

In the past, stink bugs have not been considered a significant pest of corn or soybean in Nebraska, but they are significant economic pests to a variety of crops in the southern United States. Wright said over the last 10 years, there has been an increasing trend for stink bug populations in more northern states, including Nebraska.



Fortenberry: Farm Bill Must be Lean, Fair, Forward-Looking

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Operations, Oversight, and Credit Subcommittee, released the following statement as the House Ag Committee works this week to finalize its farm bill proposal:

“Agriculture is one of the few bright spots in our nation’s economy.  Farmers today not only provide food security, they enhance economic opportunity in rural America, increase our energy independence, and strengthen national security.

“For the good of all Americans, it is critical that sound public policies help create the conditions for continued agricultural prosperity and innovation.  While respecting the federal government’s severe budgetary constraints, we need a new farm bill that provides adequate protection options for farmers, helps young and beginning farmers, and embraces new market opportunities domestically and internationally.”

A long-time advocate of agricultural entrepreneurship, Fortenberry will support initiatives that provide new incentives for beginning farmers and farmers markets, and protect lands that have never been tilled for conservation purposes. He will also call for more robust payment limitation considerations.

The House Agriculture Committee began markup the Farm Bill today.



USDA Announces Streamlined Disaster Designation Process with Lower Emergency Loan Rates and Greater CRP Flexibility in Disaster Areas

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a package of program improvements that will deliver faster and more flexible assistance to farmers and ranchers devastated by natural disasters. Vilsack announced three significant improvements to decades-old USDA programs and processes related to Secretarial disaster designations: a final rule that simplifies the process for Secretarial disaster designations and will result in a 40 percent reduction in processing time for most counties affected by disasters; a reduced interest rate for emergency loans that effectively lowers the current rate from 3.75 percent to 2.25 percent; and a payment reduction on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands qualified for emergency haying and grazing in 2012, from 25 to 10 percent.

"Agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation's economy and it is increasingly important that USDA has the tools to act quickly and deliver assistance to farmers and ranchers when they need it most," said Vilsack. "By amending the Secretarial disaster designation, we're creating a more efficient and effective process. And by delivering lower interest rates on emergency loans and providing greater flexibility for haying and grazing on CRP lands, we're keeping more farmers in business and supporting our rural American communities through difficult times. With these improvements, we're also telling American producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood."

A natural disaster designation makes all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency loans. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to designate disaster counties to make disaster assistance programs available to farmers and ranchers. Previous to these changes, the process had been in place for more than two decades and regulations had not been substantively revised since 1988.

The final rule for Secretarial disaster designations is amended as follows:
-    Nearly automatically qualifies a disaster county once it is categorized by the U.S. Drought Monitor as a severe drought for eight consecutive weeks during the growing season. Effective July 12, 1,016 primary counties in 26 states will be designated as natural disaster areas, making all qualified farm operators in the designated areas eligible for low interest emergency loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), provided eligibility requirements are met.
-    Streamlines the USDA Secretarial designation process, which is expected to provide better service to farmers and ranchers by reducing by approximately 40 percent the amount of time required for designating a disaster area.
-    Removes the requirement that a request for a disaster designation be initiated by a state governor or Indian tribal council, increasing the likelihood that counties will be covered. Indian tribal councils and governors may still submit a request for a designation, but it will not be required in order to initiate a disaster declaration.
-    The same criteria currently being used for triggering a disaster designation will apply: a county must either show a 30 percent production loss of at least one crop countywide, or a decision must be made by surveying producers to determine that other lending institutions are not able to provide emergency financing.

During times of need, USDA has historically responded to disasters across the country by providing direct support, disaster assistance, technical assistance, and access to credit. USDA's low-interest emergency loans have helped producers recover from losses due to drought, flooding and other natural disasters for decades. While the current emergency loan interest rate was set in 1993 at 3.75 percent, commercial farm loan and other FSA farm loan interest rates have since been reduced without a corresponding reduction in the emergency loan rate. By reducing the interest rates to 2.25 percent, emergency loans immediately come into line with other rates in the marketplace and provide a much-needed resource for producers hoping to recover from production and physical losses associated with natural disasters.

As part of ongoing efforts to provide greater flexibility in service to American agriculture, USDA also announced that the annual rental payment by producers on CRP acres used for emergency haying or grazing will be reduced to 10 percent in 2012, instead of 25 percent, in response to the seriousness of the drought gripping large portions of the United States.



ICA Membership Numbers at Highest Level Since 2007

The Iowa Cattlemen's Association saw another year of growth during its 2012 membership drive. As of July 1, ICA had 9,592 members, its highest number since 2007, and 114 more members than the year before.

ICA President Ross Havens, Wiota, attributed this year's successful membership drive to the organization's increasing ability to deliver on its mission to 'Grow Iowa's beef business through advocacy, leadership and education.'

"In the past twelve months we have put together a staff to address our three core areas," Havens said. "On the advocacy side, we've been out talking with government officials about the fence law and equitable property tax application to pasture land. We just hired a director of government relations and public policy, and on July 10, we'll return to holding a summer conference for member input on developing public policy and resources."

In the leadership area, Havens pointed to the growth of the organization's Young Cattlemen's Leadership Program. "We have twice the numbers we had in 2011, and our YCLP class is engaged in planning events that will give them leadership experience," Havens said.

ICA worked with a variety of partners this year to provide education to members. Havens said "We've had everything from heifer development meetings held in 10 locations around the state, to events that provided education on monoslopes buildings, and genetic selection for improvement of the Iowa beef cattle herd."

"Most importantly, though, ICA is growing because local members take the time to reach out to their fellow cattle producers and the businesses that support them to become part of our organization," Havens said. "Achieving a successful membership year is not done by one person. I want to thank each member who showed their support of ICA efforts by paying their membership dues."

There are 97 organized county cattlemen's associations, and 58 of them met or exceeded their 2011 membership total. Three of four regions exceeded their membership totals for 2011 as well. Only the northeast region fell short, and just by nine memberships.

ICA welcomed more than 800 new members to the association. The southwest region had the greatest growth by number in this category, bringing in 280 new members. "In order to continue to be a vibrant organization, we need to bring in new members," said Havens.



NCGA Welcomes News on Kansas E15 Pump

National Corn Growers Association President Garry Niemeyer released the following statement in response to Kansas gas station opening the nation’s first E15 pump:  “The National Corn Growers Association welcomes the news that the first operational E15 pump has been opened in Kansas.  Corn ethanol helps diversify America’s fuel supply, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and foster a more vibrant economy.   NCGA strongly supports consumer choice at the pump and the opening of the first E15 pump is a step in the right direction. Americans want a fuel that is domestically produced, creates jobs and lowers prices at the pump.”



Weekly Ethanol Stocks, Production Lower

Domestic ethanol inventories were drawn down for the third straight week, falling by a massive 761,000 barrels (bbl), or 3.8%, to 19.532 million bbl during the week-ended July 6, according to fresh data from the Energy Information Administration.

Total ethanol stocks have fallen by a combined 1.63 million bbl, or 7.8%, in the past three weeks, and they now stand 4% above the level seen a year ago.

Production of ethanol by domestic plants also fell 36,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 4.2%, to 821,000 bpd last week, after declining 26,000 bpd or 2.9% during the prior week. Compared to a year-ago level, production is down 5.8%.

Implied demand, as measured by refiner and blender net inputs, eased 6,000, or 0.7%, to 854,000 bpd for the week-ended July 6 after rising 4,000 bpd, or 0.5%, for the prior week. Compared to the year-ago level, demand is up 6.0%.

Elsewhere, the EIA reported that implied demand for motor gasoline fell last week, down 84,000 bpd to 8.917 million bpd for the week-ended July 6, while four-week average gasoline demand at 8.9 million bpd was down 3.9% from the level seen a year ago.



Tractor & Combine Sales Up Last Month

According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers' monthly "Flash Report," the sales of all tractors in the U.S. for June 2012 were up 7% compared to the same month last year.  For the month, two-wheel-drive smaller tractor (under 40 HP) were up 4% from last year, and 40 & under 100 HP were up 4%. Sales of two-wheel-drive 100+ HP were up 30% from last year, and four-wheel-drive tractors were up 19% for the month.  Combine sales were up 52% for the month.

So far this year, a total of 93,434 tractors were sold, which compares to 87,546 sold through June 2011.  For the first six months, two-wheel drive smaller tractors (under 40 HP) are up 6% from last year, while 40 & under 100 HP are up 8%. Sales of 2-wheel drive 100+ HP are up 8%, while 4-Wheel Drive tractors are up 2% for the year.  Sales of combines for the first six months totaled 3,130, a decrease of 23% over the same period in 2011.



Second National Symposium on Antibiotic Use in Food Animals

When the topic of antibiotic use in food animals comes up in a conversation, most individuals have a point of view, and many of the discussions are based on emotion rather than facts. After all, we all have a vested concern in the food we eat and our health.

One way to become fully informed about the facts related to antibiotics use and resistance is to participate in “A One Health Approach to Antimicrobial Use and Resistance: A Dialogue for a Common Purpose” symposium on Nov. 13-15, 2012 in Columbus, Ohio. Hosted by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, the symposium is open to all who have a stake in engaging in meaningful dialogue and creating successful strategies to preserve antibiotic efficacy.

 “There is a need for sharing of relevant, scientific information and ongoing dialogue among experts within animal agriculture and those within public health,” states symposium co-chair Leah C. Dorman, DVM, Director of Food Programs, Center for Food and Animal Issues, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

“This symposium promises to deliver the latest research findings and serve as a platform where experts in the field of antimicrobials—public, animal and environmental health—can engage and learn from each other. It’s also where consumers, policy makers and organization leaders, etc. can become armed with the facts presented by these individuals.”

Symposium co-chair Jennifer Koeman, DVM, Director of Producer and Public Health for the National Pork Board, underscores that the 2012 antibiotic use and resistance symposium will build upon information and consensus points established from the 2011 symposium that was conducted in Chicago.

The 2012 symposium will kick off in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 13, and conclude in the early afternoon on Thursday, Nov. 15. In addition to high-level, highly regarded speakers, the symposium will include  group discussions and time  for attendees to ask questions.

The agenda, presentation topics and confirmed presenters for the “A One Health Approach to Antimicrobial Use and Resistance: A Dialogue for a Common Purpose” symposium is available online at http://animalagriculture.org/Solutions/Symposia/2012_antibiotics/agenda.html. 

The white paper summarizing the 2011 antibiotic use symposium is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese and can be accessed online on the National Institute for Animal Agriculture’s website: www.animalagriculture.org

To register for or to learn more about the Nov. 13-15, 2012, “A One Health Approach to Antimicrobial Use and Resistance: A Dialogue for a Common Purpose” symposium, please go online to www.animalagriculture.org or call 719-538-8843.



SPAM to Celebrate 75th Birthday

SPAM, the canned meat Monty Python sang about and the meat product whose name is now used to label unwanted bulk e-mail messages, is about to celebrate its 75th birthday.

Hormel Foods Corp. is putting on the birthday bash at its Austin, Minn., processing plant where it now turns out 110 million pounds of SPAM per year. Hormel promises a "Spamtastic" event on July 28, headlined by The Temptations.

This description is probably fitting for a product with its own museum (also in Austin) that hails SPAM as " a war hero, pop culture icon, and an American institution."

Back in 1937, though, Hormel was just looking for a name for its new canned pork shoulder product.

One story goes that the name came from actor Kenneth Daigneau, who attended a drinking party where Hormel put up a $100 prize for whoever could come up with the best name.

Whether or not this is true, SPAM, short for spiced ham, was born that year - some say just in time - as the new canned meat turned out to be just as critical in winning World War II as the landing crafts known as Higgins Boats or the famous Willy's Jeeps.

An army travels on its stomach. During each week of the war, Hormel delivered 15 million cans of SPAM to Allied armies around the world. Hormel's wartime marketing slogan for SPAM was a "miracle in a can."

Few Americans returned from the war claiming to have developed a taste for SPAM. Most considered it as nothing more than part of the C-ration diets that they hoped never to have to eat again.

But throughout Asia and the Pacific it was a different story. As the war's end neared and the American military began distributing food to local populations, SPAM was the most sought-after offering.

Korea, the Philippines, Okinawa, Saipan, Guam and Hawaii all emerged from the war liking SPAM, and continue to demand it today.

Monty Python did not get around to satirizing SPAM until 1970 when the British comedy trope aired a skit and song about a man trying to order something for breakfast that did not contain SPAM.

It made such an impression that almost 25 years later, the name stood out when a moniker was needed to describe unwanted e-mail and other messages, now including text messages.

Hormel tired swimming against the tide for several years, objecting to the use of its SPAM trademark for calling out the unwanted on the Internet. It finally settled on just asking that SPAM be capitalized when referring to its meat product and written in lower case when referring to unwanted messages.

Today the canned meat comes in 12 varieties, including Classic, Classic Singles, Less Sodium, Oven Roasted Turkey, Jalapeno, Bacon, Cheese, Hot and Spicy, Black Pepper, Hickory Smoke, Lite, Lite Singles, and SPAM spread.

SPAM has also been among Hormel's most problem-free products from a food safety perspective. The last recall of the product on record was in 1998 when metal fragments got into some SPAM at its Fremont, Neb., plant (where the product is also made) causing Hormel to recall 18,000 cans.