Monday August 13 Ag News

Early Indicators Signal Relief from Relentless Hot, Dry Conditions
Al Dutcher, UNL Extension State Climatologist

The atmospheric conditions responsible for the unrelenting heat and severe to extreme drought conditions that have dominated the central Plains for the past two months may finally be showing signs of weakening. The past two weekends brought temporary relief from the heat as cold fronts moved southeastward through the state. Although the heat was quick to return, these cold fronts may be signaling that the upper air ridge responsible for the dire conditions is finally weakening.

Short to medium range models are coming into agreement that a significant upper air trough will develop over the northern Rockies eastward through the northern Plains. If these models are accurate, this upper air trough will push southward during the second half of next week and high temperatures may drop into the 70s for eastern Nebraska by next weekend. Western Nebraska may not get as cool, but could see low to mid 80s.

The weather models push the trough southward beginning next Wednesday and initiate rain and thunderstorms over northern Nebraska during the second half of the day. The associated surface front is projected to slowly sag south and not completely clear the state until late Friday. This will provide about a 48-hour window for widespread precipitation across the state. Current precipitation forecasts indicate the potential for 0.50-1.50 inches of moisture, with locally heavier amounts if severe weather develops.

The rain will be too late for dryland corn, but should provide valuable moisture to dryland soybeans for pod set and fill. The moisture would also be welcome for wheat producers as the fall planting window is rapidly approaching. After a quick warm-up August 20-22, the weather models indicate another significant trough will work into the central Plains and generate the potential for several more days of rain and thunderstorm activity.

Even if all of the precipitation currently predicted does occur, it will take some time for drought impacts to ease. Precipitation deficits since last October are running 6-10 inches below normal for most of the state. In order to cut these deficits in half by the end of September, we would need to see 6.5 to 9.5 inches of moisture. Normal moisture from now through the end of September averages between 3.50 inches for western Nebraska to 4.50 inches for southeast Nebraska.

The crucial 30-day and 90-day outlooks issued by the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) next Thursday should give some insight on whether the short-term moisture prospects are temporary or the start of a sustained weather trend for Nebraska. I will be looking to see if the CPC verifies an El Nino wet fall pattern that appears in Nebraska climate records. Even a forecast for normal temperatures and precipitation conditions would be a vast improvement over their persistently dry and hot weather we’ve had the past four months.



Considerations for Late Summer-planted Forage Crops
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Most row crop acres will be harvested early this year, and many dryland acres are being harvested for silage or hay. Irrigated crops are maturing early and silage and grain harvest will be two or more weeks earlier than average. This may be an opportunity to double crop for forage production.

Ground left bare may need to be planted to a cover crop to maintain adequate ground cover. Since forage is scarce and values high, a cool season forage crop could be planted to graze or harvest mechanically. What should you plant?

Before planting anything, review your herbicide history. Prior use of contact herbicides like glyphosate won’t cause any problems, but some herbicides have a long soil residual effect that could prevent successful establishment of some crops.

Double crop choice is likely to be different for rainfed and irrigated conditions. One ton (dry weight) of forage production is likely to use 4-5 inches of water. For rainfed conditions, a crop that will winter kill is preferred in order to accumulate soil water from snow melt and spring rainfall for the next crop. For irrigated conditions, forage production will be more with a crop that survives winter and is spring harvested—although irrigation for the forage and following crop will likely need to be increased compared with no double cropping.

Fall Forage
Determine when the forage crop is to be harvested and how it will be used. For fall-harvested hay or silage, oats or other spring cereals will outyield all other options. Plant about 100 lb of seed per acre. Various legumes like hairy vetch, field peas, or winter peas can be added to increase protein concentration a percentage point or two, but they are unlikely to increase dry matter yield; the forage from the cereal alone will meet most cattle protein needs. Also be wary of spending more for the seed than the extra protein might be worth. For grazing this fall and winter, turnips and oats (separately or in a mixture) usually will provide the most feed.

Early planting and emergence (irrigation or soil moisture must be available immediately) is essential for successful fall forage. Plantings after Labor Day rarely produce sufficient growth for mechanical harvest in the fall and the amount of fall grazing becomes negligible for plantings made after mid-September. Even earlier planting dates may be needed for sites north of the Platte River. Later plantings should consist of winter cereals. Also, the chances for successful establishment are low unless soil is sufficiently moist to at least an eight-inch depth at time of planting.

Spring Forage
For spring forage, the winter cereals rye, triticale, and wheat tend to be the best choices. Rye is your best choice for early spring pasture and produces much growth before being terminated for timely planting of a row crop. Some rye varieties also provide enough fall growth for some light grazing if planted early enough. Rye also may be the most reliable crop when planted under stressful conditions. Rye has some drawbacks. It turns stemmy and matures much earlier than triticale or wheat, with a loss in feed value and palatability, although this should not be an issue if harvest ends in time for spring planting of a row crop. Also, it should not be used in fields that will be used to grow grain wheat due to potential contamination that could lead to discounts/dockage when wheat grain is sold.

Triticale holds on to its feed value best into late spring. This makes it well suited for hay and silage, or for stretching grazing well into June if grazing begins two or three weeks later than it could begin with rye. Triticale often is more susceptible to winter injury than rye and wheat.

Winter wheat will provide very little grazing for fall. During spring, forage quality and acceptance is very high but forage yield is less than rye and triticale. It can be grazed and then allowed to produce grain if grazing ends when plants begin to joint and elongate.

Mixtures often can be desirable and can be designed for individual needs. For example, an early planting of 30 lb of oats plus 75 lb of winter rye per acre may provide both fall grazing from the oats and spring grazing from the rye.

How Much Soil Water is Needed Before You Sow?
Soil water has been very much depleted in rainfed fields. Water in the surface soil is well below the permanent wilting point. Sowing after a rainfall that does not adequately restore soil water will have a high risk of failed crop establishment.

Under rainfed conditions we suggest that sowing of forage crops be delayed under rainfed conditions until at least two inches of rainfall are received within a one-week period or, for medium and fine texture soils, that precipitation has wetted the soil to at least the 8-inch depth. Wetting should be deeper for sandy soils. A successful crop will still require additional rainfall as the crop will need 4-5 inches of water for each ton of dry weight production, but this sowing guideline gives a good probability of successful crop establishment.



Consider Label Restrictions for Corn and Soybean Insecticides
Bob Wright, UNL Extension Entomologist

With increased interest in harvesting or grazing drought-damaged corn and soybeans for livestock feed, be alert to label restrictions if any insecticides were applied to these crops.

In some cases, it is illegal to graze or feed harvested crops if certain insecticides have been applied. Several insecticides, including some pyrethroids labeled for soybeans, have language such as, “Do not graze or harvest treated soybean forage, straw or hay for livestock feed” or similar language. These include Ambush 2E, Arctic 3.2EC, Asana XL, Belay, Delta Gold 1.5EC, Endigo ZC, Gaucho and Poncho/Votivo seed treatment, Hero, Lorsban Advanced, Mustang MAX EC, Nufos 4E, Pounce 25WP, Proaxis, Respect EC, Stallion, Steed, Steward, Tracer, Warrior II. This is not an exhaustive list.

In other cases there may be pre-harvest intervals to consider. For example in soybeans, several pyrethroid insecticides have 45-day preharvest intervals. These include Baythroid XL, products containing gamma-cyhalothrin, and Leverage. Other products, such as Cobalt and Warrior, have 30-day preharvest intervals. Similar restrictions apply to some corn insecticides.

Before you feed or graze corn or soybean crops to livestock, be sure to check the label of any insecticides applied earlier in the season, to be aware of any restrictions that may apply.



Drought Stress May Make Scouting for SCN Easier
Loren Giesler, UNL Extension Plant Pathologist
John Wilson, UNL Extension Educator, Burt County

This year’s drought conditions may hold one benefit for soybean producers: a better opportunity than most years to scout for the elusive soybean cyst nematode (SCN).

Damage due to soybean cyst nematode typically does not show any above ground symptoms, especially with normal conditions for soybean production. In years with stressful conditions, especially drought stress, symptoms will be more evident.

Patches of stunted, yellow, and/or wilted soybeans could indicate the presence of SCN. The nematode population will vary across the field and will be found in dense pockets. You may see patches of soybeans that are more affected with gradients of damage extending out from a center area which corresponds to these pockets of higher soybean cyst nematode. This will look much like a low spot in the field that has a root rot problem.

Other clues for the presence of SCN include, good corn yields with soybean yields hitting a plateau or even dropping over time. This combined with any symptoms in drought is a strong indication that SCN may be present in your field.

If you see these symptoms and have not tested for SCN in your fields, consider collecting soil from these sites. The Nebraska Soybean Board is funding a free sample program. Send in your soil sample to receive have it tested and determine the egg density in your field. Further information and sample bags are available from your local UNL extension office or by calling (402) 472-2559.



Soybean Cyst Nematode Field Days August 27-30

It's estimated that last year soybean cyst nematodes cost Nebraska farmers over $45 million in lost yields. Identifying fields where they're present and implementing management measures can help you recapture this lost yield.

UNL Extension will be hosting a series of meetings in late August in central and eastern Nebraska to help producers learn more about managing this pest.  At each site you will be able to:
-    See SCN-resistant and susceptible soybean varieties
-    Examine cysts on infested soybean plant roots
-    Learn how to identify and manage SCN infestations
-    Receive a kit for one free SCN analysis ($20 value)
-    Talk with specialists to get the answers you need about SCN
-    Enjoy a complimentary meal

SCN Field Days will be held at the following locations:
Laurel — Monday, August 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Jerry Johnson farm.  From Laurel, go 7.25 miles north on Highway 15, then 2.8 miles east on 877th Road (south side)
Hastings — Tuesday, August 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Neil Beck farm.  From Hastings, go 4 miles east on Highway 6, then 1 mile south on Maxon Road, 0.5 mile east on “J” Street. (north side)
Bellwood — Wednesday, August 29, 5:30 p.m. at the Pete C. Schmidt and Sons Field Day.  From Bellwood, go 5.5 miles west on Highway 64 (1 mile east of junction of Hwy 81 and 64), 1 mile south on Rd B and 0.25 miles east on Rd 40 (north side)
Plattsmouth — Thursday, August 30, 1:30 p.m. at Partners in Progress (Wiles Brothers Farm).  From Plattsmouth, go 0.5 mile south on Hwy 75 and 0.5 mile west on Wiles Road (north side)



Scout for Feeding Injury by Soybean Stem Borers
Bob Wright, UNL Extension Entomologist

We are starting to see dead leaves caused by feeding of soybean stem borer larvae in south central Nebraska soybeans. No control measures are appropriate at this time, but monitor your fields and be aware that high populations of soybean stem borers may predispose the field to lodging and make harvest difficult. Fields with higher levels of injury by soybean stem borers should be harvested first to minimize lodging losses.

Soybean stem borers are the immature stages of a long-horned beetle, Dectes texanus (Figure 1). The adults lay eggs in the upper leaf canopy, typically in the leaf petiole. Larvae (Figure 2) feed by tunneling within the soybean plant. At this time of year larvae move from the leaf petiole into the main stem of the soybean plant, and at that time the leaf dies. These leaves are easily detached from the stem, and a circular tunnel can be seen where the leaf petiole was attached to the main stem.

As larvae grow larger they continue to tunnel within the main stem, and by the end of the growing season they have tunneled to the base of the plant where they overwinter. In preparation for overwintering, they hollow out a cell at the base of the plant, which weakens the stem and makes it more susceptible to breakage.



Consider Nutrient Removal and Ground Cover Costs When Harvesting Corn for Silage
Charles Wortmann, UNL Extension Soil Nutrient Management Specialist

Nutrient removal and loss of ground cover need to be considered when estimating the cost of harvesting drought-affected immature corn for silage.

Removed nutrients need to be replaced with applied fertilizer unless the soil has adequate capacity to supply the nutrients. This is often the case for potassium, magnesium, and sulfur. The nitrogen removed in silage is of little value if the 2013 crop will be soybean.

Silage with intermediate amounts of grain, for example 25% grain, is expected to have intermediate nutrient concentrations. Nutrient removal amounts can be adjusted to silage on an as-it-is water content by multiplying the tabular nutrient content (lb/ton) by the estimated dry matter content of the silage. For example, if the silage is 60% water and 40% dry matter, the estimated N content of the immature corn silage without grain on the ear = 30 X 0.4 = 12 lb/ton.

Silage harvest leaves the soil bare, which will increase evaporation and often increase runoff until the ground is covered by the 2013 crop. The increased evaporation could be 1-4 inches, depending on the amount of precipitation and nature of rainfall events occurring between now and next June. Evaporative losses will be greater from frequent, small events compared with fewer but larger events.

The bare soil also will be susceptible to water and wind erosion, and will have minimal capacity for trapping snow. Harvest of silage may remove the field from compliance with NRCS programs.



UNL Team to compete in international SAE competition in Lincoln

The 2012 Formula SAE Collegiate design and performance racing series in Lincoln during late June provided an opportunity for university teams to evaluate ethanol versus gasoline racing fuels.  Engineering students determined whether they would compete with high octane gasoline or E85, a high octane blend of 85% ethanol and gasoline.  Based on results from the 2012 competition the University of Nebraska-Lincoln team will participate in the 2013 SAE international competition scheduled for Lincoln.  The Nebraska team will again compete with E85 racing fuel.

Ten of the 81 registered university teams, including teams from six countries, chose to use a specification E85 racing fuel for the Formula car competition. The student designed Formula racing type vehicles competed in a variety of categories including design, performance, acceleration and endurance.

“After evaluating several fuel options we were confident that E85 would provide the high octane performance necessary to be competitive”, said Jonah Knepper, a member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Husker Motorsports team.  “We initially calibrated our competition engine on high octane gasoline.  When we fine-tuned the calibration with E85 we gained a ten percent increase in power output. With additional design and tuning we think we can get another ten percent power output.  That is a huge advantage in racing competition”, said Knepper.

Matthew Kalus, engineering lead, stated, “We knew the E85 fuel had an octane rating of 100+ so we were confident of the potential power output.  We saw that increase as soon as we calibrated the 600 cc engine in our car.  To get that increase in power output and have the engine run cooler is a key advantage of the E85 fueling option”.

“The Brazilian racing teams are very well acquainted with ethanol racing fuels and we saw considerable interest in the E85 option among other teams”, said Ben Dean, a racing team member. Ethanol is well established as a racing fuel in the Indy Car and NASCAR racing circuits.  E85 is also becoming popular among sprint car drivers and other racers who understand the potential for increased power output and cooler engine temperatures.  Reduced under hood temperatures are considered an advantage by many race car drivers and mechanics.

At least ten teams are expected to compete with E85 in the 2013 Formula SAE competition which will again be held in Lincoln next year. When teams look at the results it appears that E85 may soon be a fuel of choice for many of the competitors.  The University of Kansas took first place in the Overall competition using E85. They also finished first in the Endurance competition. The University of Wisconsin took the top spot in Fuel Economy and finished with one of the top scores in Acceleration using E85.  Those results confirm the potential for top finishes with ethanol fuel.



ACE Elects New Representatives to Board

During its 25th annual meeting, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) elected three new members to its Board of Directors that will expand grassroots representation of the national ethanol advocacy association.

Paul Enstad, Board of Governors Chairman for Granite Falls Energy, LLC, a 60 million-gallon-per-year (MGY) ethanol producer in Granite Falls, MN, was elected to the ACE board. “ACE and Granite Falls Energy share the same grassroots beginnings and values and I’m honored by this opportunity to work together to promote ethanol’s positive message and develop long term policies for the industry that will support all independently owned producers,” Enstad said.

Doug Punke, CEO of Renewable Products Marketing Group (RPMG), an ethanol marketing company in Shakopee, MN, has also been elected to the ACE board. “Serving on the ACE board is an important opportunity to help promote the ethanol industry. ACE and RPMG are a natural fit given our grassroots reputations and I look forward to helping get the ethanol message to the public and lawmakers on a local and a national level,” Punke said.

John Christenson has joined the ACE board representing Christianson and Associates, an accounting firm that specializes in consulting for biofuel producers and rural businesses. Christianson is a CPA and a partner in the firm. “I am excited about the potential for biofuels and opportunity to serve. ACE has always stood out for its ability to mobilize the grassroots of the industry and I am pleased to join that effort as a board member,” Christianson said.

“We are grateful to have a diverse board representing a variety of industry segments that work well as a grassroots team,” said Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of ACE. “Paul, Doug, and John add important voices to improve our efforts as an organization and we look forward to their service on the ACE board.”

In addition, four current Board members were nominated and accepted for re-election:
·    Ron Alverson, Wentworth, South Dakota, representing Dakota Ethanol
·    David Gillen,  White Lake, South Dakota, representing South Dakota Corn Utilization Council
·    Wallie Hardie, Fairmount, North Dakota, representing North Dakota Corn Growers Association.
·    Brian Wilcox, Columbus, Nebraska, representing Nebraska Public Power District.

“I am pleased to be re-elected to the ACE board,” Alverson said. “Given our current mix of board members, ACE is well-positioned to counter the misinformation campaign from ethanol’s critics, while highlighting the benefits of the industry to the public,” said Alverson.



Nebraska donor establishes first-of-kind endowment to support key FFA program

A Nebraska business owner and former FFA member has established a major endowment to support the development of current and future FFA members.

Through use of a revocable trust, the Ron Grapes Family Broadening Agriculture Experience Fund will provide grants that FFA members can use to successfully complete their required supervised agricultural experience.

All FFA members are required to complete a supervised agricultural experience, a project they conceptualize with the help of their teachers that involves them either owning and operating an agricultural-based business, getting an agriculture-based job or internship or plan and conduct an agriculture-related scientific experiment. This learn-by-doing project gives FFA members invaluable experience as they progress through their educational careers.

Grapes’ gift marks the first time in the 85-year history of FFA that an endowment specifically supporting the organization’s supervised agricultural experience program has been established.

Nebraska FFA members are first in line to receive financial assistance through the new fund, according to specifics of the endowment. Students with the least agricultural background and students living in urban communities are next, followed by students with an interest in production agriculture. The endowment must be fully funded and earn income for a full 12 months before the first scholarship is awarded.

As a teenager, Grapes served as his FFA chapter’s vice president, competed in his state’s FFA meat judging contest and had the opportunity to attend Nebraska’s state FFA convention. Today, he is principal owner of Grapes Family Farms in Big Springs, Neb.

“With this gift, I wanted to help provide an educated voice for the future national and global discussions of agriculture,” he said.

Grapes said his decision to support the FFA was easy because he personally knows the true impact the FFA can have on a young person’s life. “I want others to know how easy it was to capture my dreams for helping guide the lives of young people,” he said. “This endowment will perpetually fund dreams of students for generations — and I did it all through my estate.”



ISU Extension and Outreach Schedules Town Hall Meetings

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach wants to hear from Iowans about how Iowa State in partnership with counties can best serve citizens. Five town hall meetings have been scheduled across the state.
-    Monday, Aug. 27, 10:30 a.m., Ames: Iowa State University, Sun Room, Memorial Union
-    Monday, Sept. 10, 10:30 a.m., Atlantic: Cass County ISU Extension and Outreach Office, 805 West 10th Street
-    Monday, Sept. 17, 10:30 a.m., Storm Lake: Prairie Lakes AEA Conference Room, 824 Flindt Drive
-    Tuesday, Sept. 18, 10:30 a.m., Oskaloosa: Mahaska County ISU Extension and Outreach Office, 212 North I Street
-    Wednesday, Sept. 19, 10:30 a.m., Waterloo: Waterloo Center for the Arts, Law Court Theater, 225 Commercial Street

Cathann Kress, ISU Extension and Outreach vice president, and Terry Maloy, Iowa Association of County Extension Councils executive director, will participate in these important conversations with Iowans. ISU College of Design Dean Luis Rico-Gutierrez will attend the Storm Lake and Oskaloosa meetings.

“We are committed to listening to Iowans as we carry out our mission. We want to gather feedback about what we are doing well, where we need to improve, and what needs to be addressed,” said Kress. “All Iowans – citizens, community leaders, decision makers, partners, staff and extension council members – are welcome.”



Commercial Manure Applicators Certification Training Scheduled for Sept. 5

A statewide training for commercial manure applicators will be conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on Wednesday, Sept. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon. This training will be a reshow of the same program that was offered for training in January 2012.

This is an opportunity for commercial manure applicators who have not fulfilled their 2012 training to do so before the busy fall manure application season. Commercial manure applicators wishing to become certified for the first time may also attend. Applicators that have already attended training in 2012 do not need to attend.

Iowa law requires commercial manure applicators to attend three hours of annual training and to submit the appropriate forms and fees to the Iowa DNR to meet certification requirements. Those completing the training may apply manure prior to receiving the certification card in the mail, but commercial applicators should carry a copy of the signed paperwork with them until they receive their certification card to prove they have attended their annual training.

There is no fee for the training workshop but applicators must register with the county extension office where they plan to attend by Aug. 29. Applicators should bring their driver’s license or a copy of their certification card.

The counties offering this training include:
    Adams – (641) 322-3184
    Allamakee – (563) 568-6345
    Black Hawk – (319) 234-6811
    Boone – (515) 432-3882
    Calhoun – (712) 297-8611
    Cedar – (563) 886-6157
    Cerro Gordo – (641) 423-0844
    Crawford – (712) 263-4697
    Dallas – (515) 993-4281
    Delaware – (563) 927-4201
    Des Moines – (319) 394-9433
    Dickinson – (712) 336-3488   
    Emmet – (712) 362-3434
    Greene – (515) 386-2138
    Guthrie – (641) 747-227
    Hamilton – (515) 832-9597
    Hardin – (641) 648-4850
    Harrison – (712) 644-2105
    Howard – (563) 547-3001
    Humboldt – (515) 332-2201
    Ida – (712) 364-3003
    Iowa – (319) 642-5504
    Jasper – (641) 792-6433
    Johnson – (319) 337-2145
    Keokuk –(641) 622-2680
    Louisa – (319) 523-2371
    Mitchell – (641) 732-5574
    O’Brien – (712) 957-5045
    Palo Alto – (712) 852-2865
    Pocahontas – (712) 335-3103   
    E. Pottawattamie – (712) 482-6449
    Sioux  – (712) 737-4230
    Story – (515) 382-6551
    Tama – (641) 484-2703
    Warren – (515) 961-6237
    Washington – (319) 653-4811
    Winnebago – (641) 584-2261
    Wright – (515) 532-3453

Reminder to commercial applicator businesses
A postcard reminder will be sent to all licensed commercial manure applicator businesses in early August. Owner and managers should communicate this training opportunity to employees and new hires. If applicators can’t attend this training event, they can still call their county extension office to determine when commercial manure applicator trainings are held. Many county offices will provide flexibility in offering training if called in advance, but some are only offering training on set dates due to scheduling and staffing conflicts.

Applicators also can meet certification requirements by taking and passing the certification exam. Exams are only offered at Iowa DNR field offices. An appointment must be made to take the exam.



Competition Gives Students Crop Scouting Basics

Ten student teams from Iowa high schools competed in the second annual Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Crop Scouting Competition. The competition was created to increase high school students' awareness of Iowa agriculture using hands-on learning and teamwork. Students gained corn and soybean scouting experience based on integrated pest management principles by participating in the competition.

Components of the competition included corn and soybean growth staging, weed identification, nutrient deficiency, soybean cyst nematode, and insects and diseases of corn and soybean.

"The participating students were a talented group of individuals," said Daren Mueller, ISU Integrated Pest Management program director and extension plant pathologist. "Getting the students excited about making good pest management decisions using integrated pest management and saving money sets a great base for their education -- and for Iowa's ag businesses in the future."

Denison DeKalb , the Denison Community School team, received first place in the competition. The Denison team was led by Randall Kuhlmann, Denison FFA adviser. Second place was awarded to the student team from Clarion-Goldfield, led by Rachel Halbach, a North Central Cooperative agronomist, and Angela Charlson, Clarion-Goldfield FFA adviser. The third place team from the Odebolt-Arthur-Battle Creek-Ida Grove (OA-BCIG) Community School was coached by Jolene Riessen, Pioneer Hi-Bred seed dealer near Ida Grove.

"The class will be coming back," said Joe Shirbroun, Pioneer Hi-Bred seed dealer and Farmersburg team leader in Clayton County. "They loved it and I truly enjoyed the day. I was proud of the class I had and I told them I wanted them to get some experience and have fun."

The contest was funded by the Iowa Soybean Association and DuPont Pioneer along with a grant from the North Central Integrated Pest Management Center and support from ISU Extension and Outreach faculty and staff.



New Structure Brings Focus, Flexibility to Checkoff

A newly approved structure for joint beef checkoff committees endeavors to engage more cattle producers and beef importers who pay the checkoff in a more efficient decision-making process about investment of their hard-earned checkoff investments.

Adopted unanimously by both the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) and the Federation of State Beef Councils during the recent 2012 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver, the new structure effectively reduces the number of checkoff program committees – which are responsible for making recommendations to the Beef Promotion Operating Committee about programs to fund with checkoff dollars – from the current 13 to just four in 2013.

Each of those four new committees will be tied directly to core strategies identified in the 2011-2013 Beef Industry Long Range Plan, with subcommittees for the domestic market formed around the beef demand drivers identified in that same plan. As envisioned, committees will be flexible enough to change with adoption of a new long range plan, if those strategies and demand drivers change.

“Unification of the industry around the goals of the Long Range Plan is the vision of the plan itself,” said Beef Board member Hank Maxey, who chaired the CBB Special Committee on Committee Structure, appointed by the Beef Board to examine the checkoff committee structure and determine if it was still the best fit for today’s checkoff. The resulting proposal approved at summer conference was the work of that committee, with input from and coordination with producer leaders of the Federation of State Beef Councils.

“This joint working group reviewed the draft structure presented to the Boards in February, and also reviewed many other committee models, to find the model that would best fit today’s checkoff work,” said Federation Chairman Craig Uden of Nebraska.

Results of that work was presented both to the full Cattlemen’s Beef Board and, separately, to the directors of the Federation, during the 2012 summer conference, and both boards approved the new structure unanimously.

According to the approved structure, the four initial checkoff program committees will be:
-    Domestic Consumer Preference Committee
-    Global Growth Committee
-    Beef’s Image Committee
-    Freedom to Operate Committee

“If you review the Long Range Plan, you’ll find these four core strategies right up front,” Maxey said. “There are, in total, six core strategies to the Long Range Plan, but these four are the ones the working group said were appropriate for checkoff funding.”

From the outset, the Domestic Consumer Preference Committee will have five subcommittees, each focused on one of five consumer demand drivers in the Long Range Plan: convenience; safety; value; nutrition and health; and taste. Other committees may appoint subcommittees where deemed necessary by committee members.

“You’ll note that the goal is to improve domestic preference for beef – not demand,” Maxey pointed out. “Of course, beef demand involves volume and price. The Long Range Plan committee knew that we have more direct control over improvement of consumer preference, but not so much control over improvement in beef demand, due to our inability to control price.”

Addressing other strategies/committees, Maxey pointed out the continued growth in opportunities for beef in global markets; the industry’s need to focus on proactive ways to strengthen its image in the consumer environment, especially in light of increased attacks on beef and beef products in anti-meat arenas; and the need for the checkoff to help protect the consumer environment, thereby protecting beef producers’ future and freedoms.

Approval of the new structure came just months after the Beef Board and Federation adopted a new Joint Committee Agreement, at the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville in February, which removed all policy members from any committees with checkoff representation and adjusted the way members are appointed to committees. At that time, both boards asked special subcommittees to review the committee structure and report back to them at the summer conference.

Maxey and Uden spoke to a joint gathering of the members of the Beef Board and directors of the Federation during the summer conference to explain the process the special committees went through to form their proposed structure, and explained that structure to them.

“As a kickoff point to our discussion, we agreed upon five critical success factors for an optimal committee structure,” Uden explained. “We asked ourselves, if we had the best committee structure, what would that structure achieve?”

In brief, those five factors said the joint checkoff committees should:
-    Strategically align to the Beef Industry Long Range Plan and research-based beef demand drivers
-    Be flexible enough to change with industry needs
-    Beef efficient in the decision-making process and provide valuable input to program staff and the Operating Committee to which the committees make recommendations for checkoff funding
-    Increase awareness about the Beef Checkoff Program among a greater number of producers and importers
-    Engage committee members and provide them a greater sense of ownership in their beef checkoff.

“The new committee structure is a really big step forward to focusing checkoff work on consumer demand and preference,” Beef Board CEO Polly Ruhland said.

“Of course, most of the work of the checkoff goes into the domestic consumer preference area – in other words, getting American consumers to love beef more than they already do,” Ruhland continued. “So that committee does have five subcommittees, and those subcommittees revolve around consumer demand drivers identified in the Long Range Plan.”

Ruhland explained that converting to the new structure will take place between now and the next cattle industry annual convention, slated for February 2013 in Tampa, Fla. In the fall, she said, CBB and Federation officers, separately, will appoint their members to the new committees. Then, based on the joint agreement the boards approved in winter, the chairman and vice chairman of the Operating Committee (the CBB chairman and the Federation chairman) will appoint chairs and vice chairs to each of the committees.

Ruhland said she is pleased with the level of involvement and engagement of Beef Board members in the process to make committee decisions more strategic and more consumer-focused.

“The Beef Board’s unanimous vote in favor of the new committee structure came after about 40 minutes of very good discussion about it,” she said. “Our Board members are very interested in doing the right thing. They take their responsibility very seriously, so there were a lot of questions about committee size, function, how existing checkoff programs fit into the new structure…. They asked great questions because they wanted to be very educated and clear about what they were doing in approving this new structure to leverage every checkoff dollar to the greatest extent possible.”



Vilsack Announces Meat Purchase to Assist Livestock Producers Impacted by Drought; Bolster Federal Nutrition Programs

As part of the Obama Administration's commitment to do everything it can to help farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and communities being impacted by the nation's persistent drought, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced USDA's intent to purchase up to $170 million of pork, lamb, chicken, and catfish for federal food nutrition assistance programs, including food banks. The purchase will help relieve pressure on American livestock producers during the drought, while helping to bring the nation's meat supply in line with demand while providing high quality, nutritious food to recipients of USDA's nutrition programs.

"President Obama and I will continue to take swift action to get help to America's farmers and ranchers through this difficult time," said Vilsack. "These purchases will assist pork, catfish, chicken and lamb producers who are currently struggling due to challenging market conditions and the high cost of feed resulting from the widespread drought. The purchases will help mitigate further downward prices, stabilize market conditions, and provide high quality, nutritious food to recipients of USDA's nutrition programs."

Today, USDA announced its intention to purchase up to $100 million of pork products, up to $10 million of catfish products, up to $50 million in chicken products, and up to $10 million of lamb products for federal food nutrition assistance programs, including food banks. Through the Emergency Surplus Removal Program, USDA can use Section 32 funds to purchase meat and poultry products to assist farmers and ranchers who have been affected by natural disasters. The pork, lamb and catfish purchases are based on analyses of current market conditions. A major factor affecting livestock producers is the value of feed, which is currently running high because of the drought.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) purchases a variety of high-quality food products each year to support the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Emergency Food Assistance Program. USDA also makes emergency food purchases for distribution to victims of natural disasters. Government food experts work to ensure that all purchased food is healthful and nutritious. Food items are required to be low in fat, sugar and sodium. The commodities must meet specified requirements and be certified to ensure quality. AMS purchases only products of 100 percent domestic origin.

NPPC President R.C. Hunt On USDA Pork Purchase
“The National Pork Producers Council is grateful for USDA’s $100 million supplemental pork purchase, which will be used for various federal food assistance programs.  This purchase will help pork producers who are struggling with the effects of this severe drought, which has adversely affected much of the nation’s corn crop.  In fact, many producers still face the prospect of severe losses because of record-high feed prices, which have gone up because of the drought.  NPPC will continue to work with USDA to help pork producers through this current crisis.”



Tractor, Combine Sales Still Strong This Summer

According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers' monthly "Flash Report," the sales of all tractors in the U.S. for July 2012 were up 13% compared to the same month last year.

For the month, two-wheel-drive smaller tractor (under 40 HP) were up 12% from last year, and 40 & under 100 HP were up 4%. Sales of two-wheel-drive 100+ HP were up 34% from last year, and four-wheel-drive tractors were up 24% for the month.  Combine sales were up 21% for the month.

For the year 2012, a total of 108,278 tractors were sold, which compares to 100,686 sold through July 2011.  Two-wheel drive smaller tractors (under 40 HP) are up 7% from last year, while 40 & under 100 HP are up 7%. Sales of 2-wheel drive 100+ HP are up 11%, while 4-Wheel Drive tractors are up 5% for the year.  Sales of combines for the first seven months totaled 4,164, a decrease of 16% over the same period in 2011.



CWT Assists with 3.8 Million Pounds of Cheese and Butter Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 12 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Darigold and United Dairymen of Arizona to sell 3.1 million pounds (1,417 metric tons) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, and 661,387 pounds (300 metric tons) of butter, to customers in Asia, the Middle East and the South Pacific. The product will be delivered August 2012 through January 2013.

In 2012, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 73.6 million pounds (adjusted for cancellations), and butter and anhydrous milk fat totaling 56.6 million pounds, to 33 countries on four continents. On a butterfat basis, the milk equivalent of these exports is 1.914 billion pounds, or the same as the annual milk production of 91,100 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.



DEKALB SILAGE PROVEN PRODUCTS FOR 2013 OFFER HIGH QUALITY FEED AND MAXIMUM MILK PRODUCTION

The 2013 lineup of DEKALB Silage Proven products provide high-quality feed with improved digestibility for dairy and beef cattle.  With industry-leading genetics, their high level of nutritional quality and high-tonnage yield potential help farmers produce more milk per acre and more milk per ton.

Among these top-performing products are DEKALB Genuity VT Triple PRO DKC61-88 brand, which is new to the Silage Proven lineup for 2013, and DEKALB Genuity SmartStax DKC53-45RIB blend brand. Both products give dairy and beef producers the high-performance silage quality they demand and another option for maximizing productivity on their farms.

“DEKALB Silage Proven products are screened to attempt to deliver the highest-yielding and highest nutritional-value products to the marketplace,” says Mark Richhart, DEKALB dairy and silage specialist.  “Only products that provide high net energy for lactation and higher tonnage are designated as Silage Proven.”

For higher quality feed, farmers are also encouraged to combine DEKALB Silage Proven products with DEKALB brand Genuity Roundup Ready Alfalfa to get more high quality hay per acre that can lead to higher quality milk products.

Silage Proven corn products also offer growers a broad selection of built-in traits that provide protection against pests like corn rootworms, corn borers and corn earworms, along with tolerance to Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides in a single seed.