Monday August 27 Ag News

Early Signs Suggest Potential for Fall Moisture
Al Dutcher, UNL Extension State Climatologist

As September approaches, producers have been raising questions about whether 2013 will bring a repeat performance of the drought conditions that have brought misery to a significant portion of the U.S. Corn Belt. In all honesty, it is simply too early to make an educated guess. The next three months will determine whether we begin the drought recovery process and have a reasonable chance of building enough soil moisture to elevate our chances of producing normal crops during 2013.

I am seeing hope in some signs in the upper air patterns that simply didn’t exist for much of the past three months. During the past two weeks, most of Nebraska has experienced below normal temperatures as upper air troughs have moved southeast from the northern Rockies, regularly bringing cold fronts through the state. Unfortunately, the cooler conditions have not resulted in widespread precipitation across the state.

As this upper air ridge buckles when these troughs approach the northern High Plains, monsoon moisture has been pulled northward into the central Rockies, helping form scattered pockets of thunderstorms across the state. With cooler air developing aloft, a more unstable atmosphere is created as cold fronts approach the region. For much of the summer, the atmosphere under the high pressure ridge was just too warm aloft and convection was suppressed.

If these troughs begin to dig further southward as September progresses, we should begin to see more widespread moisture events, especially if the monsoon moisture continues to stream into the central Rockies. With wheat planting rapidly approaching, I am hopeful that enough moisture will fall to germinate and establish stands.

Additionally, we generally don’t concentrate on soil moisture recharge until late September because crops are still actively using water. With the amount of silage being cut and corn fields close to harvest, there is the opportunity for an additional month of building soil moisture reserves for the 2013 production season than we would typically see.

In addition, tropical storm Isaac is expected to make landfall near the Alabama-Mississippi coast next Wednesday. The moisture from this system should bring significant moisture to the southeastern U.S. and possibly make it northward into eastern sections of the Corn Belt. There has been a continual westward drift in the consensus storm track the past four days and there is an outside chance that landfall could be as far west as the northeastern coast of Texas.

If this system can deliver two or more inches of moisture across the eastern and central Corn Belt, the resulting surface moisture could affect weather patterns and increase the likelihood of more expansive precipitation patterns across the entire Corn Belt.



Scout Fields for Aspergillus Ear Rot to Avoid Losses Due to Aflatoxin Contamination
Tamra Jackson-Ziems, UNL Extension Plant Pathologist

The unusually high temperatures and drought this summer are having severe impacts on Nebraska corn. In addition to reductions in test weight and overall yield, secondary problems are developing in some corn fields as a result of these conditions.

Drought and high temperatures promote development of the disease Aspergillus ear rot. The fungi that cause this disease (most commonly, Aspergillus flavus) can produce aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is one of many chemicals in a group known as mycotoxins that are produced by fungi (molds). Mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin, can be toxic to animal and human consumers and, at certain concentrations, can lead to dockage or rejection of grain at elevators.

Corn harvested for grain to this point has been predominantly from fields that sustained substantial drought damage leading to early maturation and plant death. Notable aflatoxin contamination appears to be in a small percentage of southeast Nebraska fields, based on samples submitted to several laboratories in the area.

Mycotoxins are common and can be safely consumed at low concentrations. The concentration of aflatoxin that is considered safe for consumption depends on the age and species of the consumer. 

Testing for Aflatoxin
Farmers and crop consultants can scout high risk fields for Aspergillus ear rot as an indicator for aflatoxin, but only lab testing of grain samples can accurately identify the concentrations of aflatoxin in the grain. Accurate lab test results for aflatoxin will depend greatly on the quality of the sample that is collected and the laboratory methods used to test it. The test results are only applicable to the sample that is submitted, so it is very important to collect an adequate sample for the best results. Refer to the publication, Sampling and Analyzing Feed for Fungal (Mold) Toxins (Mycotoxins) for recommendations on how to collect and submit a high quality sample for mycotoxin analysis.

Contact and submit samples to a laboratory that is certified by the federal Grain Inspection Service and Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) for mycotoxin analysis for the most accurate results. A GIPSA website lists laboratories certified to conduct testing in Nebraska. They include:
-    Lincoln Inspection Service, Inc.;
-    Fremont Grain Inspection Department, Inc.;
-    Omaha Grain Inspection Service, Inc; and the
-    Sioux City Inspection and Weighing service Company.

Some grain elevators and individuals may be using a black light (ultraviolet light) to detect for fluorescence as a method for rapid screening of grain samples. This practice is NOT recommended when making decisions about aflatoxin contamination in loads of grain. The component that produces fluorescence under black light is called kojic acid. Although kojic acid is produced by the same fungus that produces aflatoxin, its presence is not necessarily an indicator of aflatoxin and might lead to false positive results and unnecessary rejection of grain.

High Risk Factors for Aflatoxin Contamination in Corn
-    Drought-damaged fields, including rainfed (dryland) fields and non-irrigated pivot corners
-    Fields or areas with higher incidence of corn ear-feeding insects, such as the corn ear worm
-    Grain damaged before or during harvest or after harvest while in storage

Scouting For Aspergillus Ear Rot
Ear rot diseases and aflatoxin are not evenly distributed across fields or in the grain, so scouting and/or sampling should include a substantial portion, at least several acres. The presence of the fungus in kernels does not always correlate well with the presence of aflatoxin, nor does the absence of visible fungal growth necessarily indicate the absence of aflatoxin.
-    Open husks to view a large number of ears.
-    Look for the presence of dusty yellow-green to olive-green spores, especially on the surface of damaged kernels or ear tips.
-    Pay special attention to higher risk areas.

Harvest and Storage
If fields have documented Aspergillus ear rot and/or risk of aflatoxin contamination, it is recommended that you harvest and keep grain separate from other grain at less risk, such as irrigated fields. Storage of affected grain is not recommended because ear rot diseases and mycotoxins can continue to accumulate during storage. If storage is necessary, cooling and drying grain to less than 15% moisture within 48 hours of harvest will help to slow fungal growth and aflatoxin production. Grain intended to be stored for longer periods of time should be dried to less than 13% moisture.

Presently, it is too early in the harvest to know the extent of aflatoxin contamination in this year’s corn crop, but at this time only a small percentage appears to be affected.



Steps to Preparing Bins and Equipment for Harvest
Tom Dorn, UNL Extension Educator

Grain harvested in Nebraska is essentially insect-free, but can become infested by storage insects, which originate in or around the bin or in contaminated equipment such as combines and grain augers. Take time now to clean and prepare bins for this year's grain by following these tips:

Start with Clean Grain and Equipment
First, be sure to store sound, clean, dry grain. It may be advisable to screen out broken grains, trash and fines to increase the quality of the final storage product. Also, the elimination of trash will enhance fumigation, should this procedure be required later.

Since stored grain insects can invade new grain from infested harvesting and handling equipment (combines, augers, etc.), cleanup is essential. Carefully remove all traces of old grain from combines, truck beds, grain carts, augers, and any other equipment used for harvesting, transporting, and handling grain. Even small amounts of moldy or insect-infested grain left in equipment can contaminate a bin of new grain. Then clean grain bins thoroughly, disposing of spilled, cracked, and broken grain and grain flour, along with the insects feeding on such material. A simple broom and a vacuum cleaner are essential pieces of equipment in cleaning grain bins.

“How clean is clean enough?” is a question many producers ask. A good rule of thumb to follow when cleaning bins and equipment is: If you can tell what was stored or handled last season by looking in the auger, bin, or combine, it is not clean enough to prevent re-contamination of the new crop.

Clear Away Clutter, Landscaping Near Bins
Around the bins, be sure to remove old equipment, junk, and clutter to make the area less attractive to insects and rodents. Make sure that the bin is insect and rodent-proofed by plugging holes, sealing bins, caulking, and making general repairs. Grain spilled near the bin attracts insects and draws mice and rats. Clean up and dispose of any spilled grain several weeks before harvest. If rats have tunneled under foundations, use baits or traps to reduce or eliminate them. Tall weeds can harbor insects and provide cover for rodents. Mow around the bin site to remove tall grass and weeds to reduce the potential for insect and rodent infestation. If necessary, re-grade the site so that water readily drains away from bin foundations. One cannot always wait for the soil to dry before loading or unloading grain from bin sites. Make certain that travel lanes have enough rock or gravel to bear the weight of heavy trucks and grain carts.

Landscaping should be maintained well away from grain storage facilities. Leave a 4-foot wide strip of bare gravel around the perimeter of storage bins. If buying old crop grain for storage with newly harvested grain, watch for insects in the incoming grain. If infested grain is purchased for livestock feed, store it away from the new crop and feed it as soon as possible. Grain stocks may be rotated or moved and a grain protectant applied at the time of turning.

Manage Grain Conditions to Reduce Insect Problems
Stored grain insects cannot live on extremely dry grain (less than 10%); however, it is impractical to reduce grain moisture much below minimum moisture levels necessary for long-term storage. Insect activity and reproduction are favored, however, by high grain moisture (14% or more), especially when condensation and molds occur, and fermentation raises temperature in the grain mass.

Spoilage and internal heating allow insects to remain active even in winter. Manage aeration to manipulate grain temperature. Since insects are “cold-blooded,” they are not active much below 50°F, and grain cooling can be particularly important in reducing insect reproduction. Condensation of moisture in the grain mass is prevented by slow cooling and gradual reduction of the gradient between the grain mass temperature and the outside (ambient) temperature.

Check and Repair Mechanical Areas
A bin of 19% moisture corn with a starting temperature of 75°F can lose a full market grade in about five days if the aeration system shuts down, allowing the grain to heat and deteriorate. Electrical system maintenance before harvest can prevent costly downtime. Wiring for fans and other electrical components should be inspected for corrosion and cracked, frayed, or broken insulation. Exposed wiring should be run through waterproof, dust-tight conduit. Avoid kinking the conduit and make sure all connections are secure.

Mice often nest in control boxes where they are protected from predators. They can strip insulation from wires for nest material and their urine sometimes causes corrosion on relays and other electrical components. If rodent damage is found, clean and repair or replace damaged wiring, relays, and other electrical equipment. Then seal over knock-outs and other openings that may permit rodent entry.

Fans, heaters, transitions, and ducts should be checked for corrosion and other damage. Remove any accumulated dust and dirt that may reduce operating efficiency and be sure all connections are tight to prevent air leaks that can reduce operating efficiency.

Treatment of Bins and Stored Grain Insects
Once empty bins have been thoroughly cleaned, a residual treatment may be applied to bin surfaces to protect incoming grain from insect infestation. Follow label instructions carefully. The following materials are listed for empty grain bin surface treatments:
-    silicon dioxide, also known as diatomaceous earth – available under many brand names
-    Butylcarityl + Pyrethrins – available under many brand names. Related chemicals include Binfenthrin (Capture) and Pybuthryn (Butacide, Pyrenone Crop Spray).

For bins with false floors, which are inaccessible for cleaning, chloropicrin, a bin “clean-out” fumigant, is legal to use, prior to binning the grain.

Other fumigants that could be used on empty bins would be magnesium phosphide and methyl bromide.

Caution! Fumigants are dangerous, restricted-use pesticides and may require gas monitoring devices and respirator protection for the applicator. It is highly recommended that fumigation be done by a commercial pesticide applicator who has been trained and EPA/NDA-certified in safe fumigant handling and application techniques. Refer to current labels for specific details and instructions.



Nebraska’s Beacon for Youth in Agriculture
Senator Mike Johanns

During this August work period, I had the privilege to once again visit an incredible facility dedicated to helping our young people start or enhance successful livelihoods in rural communities. Tucked away in the rolling hills of our state's southwest corner is the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA), located in Curtis. The college, one of two in the entire country completely dedicated to agriculture, teaches our youth the best practices for owning farms, ranches, and main street businesses.

Established in 1965, the 72-acre campus continues to use innovative technology and teaching tools to ensure a secure future for tomorrow’s agriculture leaders. I hosted a drought roundtable at the college’s new education center, a state-of-the-art facility equipped with a whole host of new educational tools, including advanced veterinary tech classrooms. Additionally, the vet tech facility recently underwent major renovations, and for the first time NCTA can house all of its animals under one roof, providing a more seamless hands-on experience for students.

Another impressive program underway at NCTA is the 100 Beef Cow Ownership Advantage program. It can be a challenge for young people interested in farming to enter the arena on their own.  Purchasing equipment, land and livestock can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and is out of reach for many young adults who have not inherited these from a friend or relative. That is why I was so impressed by the 100 Beef Cow Ownership Advantage program. The program teaches students how to develop partnerships that will someday allow them to own their own ranch. Just a few years old, close to 100 students have already completed the program and each of them are at various stages of implementation.

As a member of the Veterans Affairs and Agriculture Committees in the Senate, I’m also impressed by NCTA’s Combat Boots to Cowboy Boots program, which is designed to assist military personnel and their families in becoming farmers. Most of our armed forces come from rural areas, and the program helps them build successful lives post-deployment. In addition to recruiting veterans to become actively involved in agriculture, it also helps them utilize existing programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Small Business Administration, Veterans Administration and the Department of Defense, as well as state and local programs.

Enrolling approximately 300 students each fall, NCTA is a shining example of the good work being done in Nebraska to keep our young people engaged in agriculture and strengthen the vibrancy of our rural communities. Our small towns in Nebraska have so much to offer, yet it can be difficult for young families just starting out to establish themselves. I am proud of the work being done at NCTA. With agriculture being our state’s top industry, successful agricultural programs for our youth will help ensure we continue to prosper.




67 IOWA FARM FAMILIES RECOGNIZED AS FIRST IOWA FARM ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS

Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Iowa Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey and Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Chuck Gipp presented 67 Iowa farm families with the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award during a ceremony at the Iowa State Fair on Friday, Aug. 17.  Karl Brooks, Regional Administrator for EPA’s Region 7 Office in Kansas City, was also present at ceremony and recognized the winners.

“The agricultural industry is a vital part of the state’s economy, and a vital part in feeding a growing world population. I know farmers take great pride for the work they do and the commodities they produce. Farmers also take pride in their environmental stewardship, by protecting topsoil from erosion and keeping our waterways clean. This award is thanks for their efforts,” Branstad said.

The award is a joint effort between the Governor, Lt. Governor, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources to recognize the efforts of Iowa’s farmers as environmental leaders committed to healthy soils and improved water quality.  It seeks to recognize the exemplary voluntary actions of farmers that improve or protect the environment and natural resources of our state while also encouraging other farmers to follow in their footsteps by building success upon success.

“Iowa has tremendous farmers who are not only the most productive in the world, but who also understand that we must care for the soil and water and preserve it for the next generation,” Northey said.  “By highlighting farmers that have taken steps on their farm to better protect the environment, we also want the award to bring attention to local leaders in environmental stewardship and serve as an encouragement to others to incorporate additional conservation practices.”

Winners were presented a certificate as well as a yard sign donated by Monsanto.

All winners were chosen by a selection group representing both conservation and agricultural groups.

The selection group that approved the 2012 winners included Jim Gillespie from the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship, Bruce Trautman from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Jim Frederick from the Conservation Districts of Iowa, John Lawrence from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Sean McMahon from The Nature Conservancy, Jeff Pape from the Iowa Farm Bureau, Jay Lynch from the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Jim Andrew from the Iowa Soybean Association, Pat Daufeldt from the Iowa Turkey Federation, and Dave Moody from the Iowa Pork Producers Association.



Iowa Farm Bureau Announces 'Friends of Agriculture'

The Iowa Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (PAC), guided by statewide grassroots input from 98 Iowa counties, has made their 'Friend of Agriculture' designations for the 2012 elections. Candidates seeking national offices this fall have been selected by the state's largest grassroots farm organization based on their support of Farm Bureau policy, voting record and support for Iowa's rural communities.

"Actions matter," said Dallas County farmer and IFBF PAC Chair, Rod Collins. "Our PAC carefully evaluates the candidates' track records to determine who has demonstrated support for our farmers and issues that directly impact their families, businesses and communities. It's a process that emphasizes Farm Bureau policies over partisan politics. The fact that 98 counties participated in the process shows our members are committed and focused on strengthening agriculture and rural Iowa."

Long-time Congressmen Steve King and Tom Latham were designated Friends of Agriculture in newly-drawn U.S. House Districts 4 and 3, respectively. Newcomer Ben Lange from Quasequeton, Iowa, was designated for U. S. House District 1.

The grassroots effort to designate Friends of Agriculture is guided by members and begins in July when county committees start evaluating candidates. The nine-member, bipartisan PAC committee reviews evaluations and questionnaires, while also considering candidates' positions on issues of importance to members, leadership on Farm Bureau priorities and past voting records.



Iowa State University in Many Areas of Farm Progress Show

The temporary “city” known as Farm Progress Show is digging in and rising out of the fields at the intersection of Highways 17 and 30 east of Boone. Tents, mulched areas and landscaping soon will be filled and surrounded by new machinery and product displays for the international crowd that will attend the show Aug. 28-30.

The hoop building that houses the main Iowa State University display is one of only a handful of permanent buildings on the site. Located at the intersection of Seventh Street and Central Avenue, the Iowa State building is a place where visitors meet and talk with Iowa State experts and participate in interactive displays.

“Iowa State University has a permanent presence at the Farm Progress Show for one reason – to deliver on our land-grant mission of serving and educating,” said John Lawrence, director of Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension. “By generating, sharing and applying knowledge, Iowa State has the opportunity to make the world of agriculture a better place.”

Lawrence said this year’s building theme, working together to care for the land, gives Iowa State faculty, researchers and extension specialists a platform for discussions about Iowa’s landscape that increase visitors’ understanding of the relationships between soil and water, and their interactions with plants and people.

“We want to have conversations that help people understand how the actions they take influence the landscape. We want to share the knowledge we have so people will see and talk about what they can do in their part of the landscape,” said Lawrence.

Members of the extension integrated crops team – agronomists, plant pathologists, entomologists, economists, agricultural engineers and watershed specialists – will host the Iowa State building displays including an Ask the Experts area. A schedule of Iowa State building hosts is available online at www.extension.iastate.edu/fps and at the building during the show.

Beyond the Iowa State building
The Farm Progress Show is known for its extensive array of information and technology for today’s farmers. And it is natural that Iowa State University would be integrated into different aspects of the show, including agricultural tours to nearby research projects and facilities. Around the show grounds look for Iowa State banners to locate Iowa State experts and exhibits.

The Rural Life tent is a place to relax or purchase gifts; it is also the place to learn more about Annie’s Project. Led nationally by a team based at Iowa State University, Annie’s Project delivers farm risk management education to farm women. Annie’s Project team members will be available during the show to provide more details about the program and upcoming educational offerings.

Jesse Randall, forester with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, again will operate the Iowa State Sugar House along Antique Row during the show. Further north on the east side of the show grounds the ISU Pull Club will conduct pulling exhibitions with their small scale tractors. The precision agriculture demonstration area east of the show grounds is designed to be educational and is another area where Iowa State agricultural engineers are participating. ISU Extension and Outreach horticulturalists will be available at Conservation Central to share information about hoop building vegetable production.

Farm Progress editors and staffers offer the Wallaces Farmer Hospitality Tent as a central meeting place. In addition to editorial staff from the various Farm Progress publications, they are hosting the Iowa State University exhibit that was part of the 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Design in Action. The interactive exhibit demonstrates how Iowa State University has a positive impact on rural communities. The Hospitality Tent also is host to the Beginning Farmer Center staff and the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Tug-of-War with Grain demonstration.

Iowa State University Speakers
Speakers scheduled at the Wallaces Farmer Seminar tent, just north of the Hospitality Tent, give visitors an opportunity to learn the more intricate details of farm management. Iowa State speakers are on the schedule at noon each day of the show. On Tuesday Steve Johnson, extension farm management specialist, will share farm lease information and Kelvin Leibold will take the noontime stage on Wednesday to talk about estate planning. Chad Hart, extension economist, will answer the question, "What is hotter: markets or fields?" during the Thursday session.

Alison Robertson, plant pathologist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will give disease diagnosis show-and-tell demonstrations in the Renze Seeds building on Tuesday and Wednesday. She is scheduled to be in the Iowa State building Tuesday morning and will speak in the Pioneer building on Wednesday. Elwynn Taylor, extension climatologist, also is scheduled to speak each twice each day at the Pioneer Building.

More details about Iowa State University displays at the Farm Progress Show are available in the show program, at the Iowa State hoop building and online at www.extension.iastate.edu/fps.



CWT Assists with 4.6 Million Pounds of Cheese Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 14 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America and Foremost Farms to sell 4.581 million pounds (2,078 metric tons) of Cheddar and Gouda cheese to customers in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and the South Pacific. The product will be delivered September 2012 through February 2013.

In 2012, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 78.3 million pounds, and butter and anhydrous milk fat totaling 56.4 million pounds (adjusted for cancellations), to 33 countries on four continents. On a butterfat basis, the milk equivalent of these exports is 1.953 billion pounds, or the same as the annual milk production of 93,000 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.



Oil Down on Reserve Release, Storm

The price of oil fell Monday as the threat to production from Tropical Storm Isaac appeared to lessen and traders speculated about a release of oil from U.S. reserves.

Forecasts for Isaac have moderated, easing concerns that the storm could damage key oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center now predicts it will grow to a Category 1 hurricane instead of a Category 2. A Category 1 hurricane has winds ranging from 74 mph to 95 mph.

About one-quarter of the nation's oil is produced in the Gulf of Mexico. As of Sunday afternoon, about 24 percent of Gulf oil production was suspended, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.

The potential for a release of oil by the Obama administration from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve also depressed the price of oil. The White House has said a release is one option to combatting higher oil prices. Benchmark U.S. oil has risen 22 percent since late June. Brent crude, which is used to price international blends that many U.S. refineries turn into gasoline, is up 23 percent in the same period.



CA Slaughterhouse OK'd to Reopen

(AP) -- Officials at a California slaughterhouse shut down because of cruelty and food safety allegations said it has been given federal permission to reopen.

Central Valley Meat Co. announced Sunday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the Hanford plant's action plan and gave the OK for workers to return on Monday.

"The USDA informed us that it has accepted our action plan and we are free to reopen," the company said in a statement on Sunday. "Central Valley Meat will resume operations Monday morning and welcome our employees back to work."

A telephone voice recording tells employees to report for work at 9 a.m. The plant employs about 450 people, the Fresno Bee (bit.ly/MVr6nI) reported.

In a statement released Monday, the USDA confirmed that its Food Safety and Inspection Service concluded its evaluation of the slaughterhouse's plan.

"As of this morning (Central Valley Meat) will be allowed to resume processing," the statement said. "The company has committed to a number of corrective actions including additional humane handling training for employees and safeguards to ensure that only ambulatory animals are processed."

The USDA suspended Central Valley Meat operations last week after an undercover video released by Washington, D.C.-based Compassion Over Killing, an animal welfare group, showed cows that appeared to be sick or lame being beaten, kicked, shot and shocked in an attempt to get them to walk to slaughter.

Central Valley Meat Co. primarily slaughters dairy cows that have lost their value as milk producers. The video and the shutdown prompted the USDA, McDonald's Corp. and In-N-Out Burger to suspend or cancel contracts with the company.

Last year, the USDA bought 21 million pounds of beef for more than $50 million from the company owned by Lawrence and Brian Coelho.

On Thursday, three Central California congressmen asked the federal government to reopen the slaughterhouse, citing the region's high unemployment.

Republican lawmakers Devin Nunes, Kevin McCarthy and Jeff Denham signed a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stating that shutting the plant will do nothing to further the goal of responding to the alleged animal abuse.

The GOP trio also asked Vilsack to intervene against "attacks that are occurring at the behest of radical groups."

The letter from the congressmen also noted that the USDA had inspectors onsite while the video was made.



Argentine Fields Get a Soaking
Argentine's corn belt got a real soaking over the last couple of weeks, creating excellent soil conditions for planting of the summer crop, which gets under way in the second half of September.

Indeed, some farmers may be able to bring forward planting of corn by a week or two to the middle of September on the precipitation.

Parts of central, southern and eastern Buenos Aires have suffered from flooding and farmers there are concerned about forecasts of further rain over the next week. But the top-producing regions in the north and the west of Buenos Aires province and across Santa Fe and Cordoba provinces are looking good, according to the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange.

Last season, Argentina's corn and soybean crops were decimated by one of the driest summers on record. Corn output was cut by approximately 30% on original expectations to 21 million metric tons (mmt), while soybean production was reduced by about 23% to 41 mmt.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts Argentine corn production will bounce back to 25 mmt in 2012-13, while soybean output will reach 55 mmt.



Syngenta announces EPA registration of Lexar® EZ and Lumax® EZ herbicides

Syngenta in North America announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted registration approval for Lexar® EZ and Lumax® EZ herbicides. Powered by Callisto Plant Technology®, these products will deliver broad-spectrum residual weed control and application flexibility that will help U.S. farmers grow more corn.

“Lexar EZ and Lumax EZ demonstrate the same performance, residual control, application flexibility and crop safety as market-leading Lexar and Lumax herbicides, but with the added benefit of improved handling,” said Gordon Vail, technical asset lead, Syngenta. “Based on the same patented capsule-suspension formulation technology as Halex® GT herbicide, these extensively tested formulations are designed to minimize the effects of overwintering and maximize compatibility with many nitrogen fertilizers and other critical tank-mix partners.”

Each containing three active ingredients, Lexar EZ and Lumax EZ are highly effective tools to help farmers manage weeds becoming harder to control with glyphosate alone.

“This combination provides multiple modes of action for more effective residual control than competitive corn herbicides on tough grasses and small-seeded broadleaf weeds such as waterhemp, lambsquarters and foxtails,” said John Foresman, asset lead, Syngenta. “Both are targeted for weed biotypes like waterhemp that are tolerant or resistant to glyphosate, ALS-inhibiting, PPO and triazine herbicides.”

Lexar EZ and Lumax EZ feature unmatched application flexibility and excellent crop safety, even in adverse weather conditions. Each can be applied at a full rate pre-emergence, at a foundation rate followed by Halex GT or tank mixed with glyphosate (Touchdown® or Roundup® brand herbicides) as a post-emergence application, providing an application window that ranges from 14 days pre-plant up to 12-inch corn.

“The development of Lexar EZ and Lumax EZ is a direct result of our $2.8 million per day investment in research and development,” added Vail. “We’re committed to providing enhanced technology solutions to meet the needs of growers and our channel partners.”

Lexar EZ and Lumax EZ are registered for use in field corn, seed corn, sweet corn, yellow popcorn and grain sorghum. Refer to the product label for application instructions.