Friday September 28 Hogs & Pigs Report + Ag News

NEBRASKA HOG INVENTORY DOWN 3 PERCENT

Nebraska inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2012, was 3.15 million head, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.  This was down 3 percent from September 1, 2011, but up 2 percent from June 1, 2012.  Breeding hog inventory, at 380,000 head, was equal to September 1, 2011, but down  1 percent from last quarter.  Market hog inventory, at 2.77 million head, was down 3 percent from last year but up 2 percent from last quarter.  

The June-August 2012 Nebraska pig crop, at 1.79 million head, was down 6 percent from 2011.  Sows farrowing during the period totaled 170,000 head, down 6 percent from last year.  

Nebraska hog producers intend to farrow 170,000 sows during the September-November 2012 quarter, down 6 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago.  Intended farrowings for December 2012-February 2013 are 165,000 sows, down 6 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period the previous year.  

Iowa
On September  1,  2012  there were  20.6 million  hogs  and  pigs  on  Iowa  farms  according  the  the  latest USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Hogs and Pigs report.  The September 1 inventory was up over 2 percent from a year ago and became the highest inventory on record.

The June 2012-August 2012 pig crop was 5.07 million head.  A total of 485,000 sows farrowed with an average litter size of 10.45 pigs per sow.

As of September 1, producers planned to farrow 480,000 head of sows and gilts in the September-November 2012 quarter. Farrowing intentions for the December 2012-February 2013 period were estimated at 475,000 as of September 1, 2012. 

United States Hog Inventory Up Slightly
United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2012 was 67.5 million head. This was up slightly from September 1, 2011, and up 3 percent from June 1, 2012. 

Breeding inventory, at 5.79 million head, was down slightly from last year, and down 1 percent from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 61.7 million head, was up slightly from last year, and up 3 percent from last quarter.

The June-August 2012 pig crop, at 29.3 million head, was down slightly from 2011. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.89 million head, down 1 percent from 2011. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 49 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.13 for the June-August period, compared to 10.03 last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.60 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 10.20 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

United States hog producers intend to have 2.85 million sows farrow during the September-November 2012 quarter, down 3 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period in 2011, and down 1 percent from 2010. Intended farrowings for December-February 2013, at 2.82 million sows, are down 1 percent from 2012 and down 1 percent from 2011.

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 47 percent of the total United States hog inventory, up from 46 percent last year.



Land-Grant Universities a Great Success Over 150 Years, But Face New Challenges

             Lest the nation's land-grant universities be tempted to rest on their laurels as they celebrate 150 years of their nation-changing tradition, four former U.S. secretaries of agriculture and the leader of one of the world's leading philanthropic organizations laid out an ambitious to-do list for them for the next few decades.

            The opening Heuermann Lecture of 2012-13 Friday night capped the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's weeklong celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act. The legislation, passed at the height of the Civil War, helped transform the nation by opening up higher education to the masses through a system of land-grant universities.

            The four former agriculture secretaries featured in the Lied Center lecture -- Clayton Yeutter, Mike Johanns, Dan Glickman and John Block -- pronounced the act an unqualified success in its creation of a system of agricultural research, extension and teaching that has helped transform agriculture in the United States into the most technologically advanced, profitable, efficient and productive system in the world.

            The discussion's title, "The Land-Grant Mission of 2012: Transforming Agriculture for the 2050 World," is a nod to the land-grant system's challenges today: Helping to feed a world whose population is expected to increase from 7 billion to 9 billion by 2050.

            Nebraska native Jeff Raikes, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and co-moderator of Friday's lecture, said some estimates are that agricultural outputs actually will need to increase by 70 to 100 percent to meet that 2050 population's needs because as people in the developing world become wealthier, they will seek out more protein-rich diets.

            "If you're going to feed the world … you're going to need science and you're going to need technology and you're going to need the best of land-grant universities," said Johanns, now a U.S. senator from Nebraska.

            "We've got to do everything better than we do it today," Yeutter said.

            Yeutter turned to Ronnie Green, Harlan vice chancellor of UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the other moderator of the lecture, to call on UNL and other land-grant universities to be "bold" in their research, extension and teaching.

            The panelists cited several goals for land-grant universities in the next few decades:
            -- Increase public-private partnerships, especially given federal budget limits that mean fewer government dollars for research.
            -- Help farmers continue to adjust to climate change and its impact on production.
            -- Continue to pursue biofuels options, notable cellulosic ethanol, that do not pit fuel vs. food as crop uses.
            -- Help farmers in the developing world increase their productivity and efficiency.

            Johanns stressed that last point. While American farmers are justifiably proud of their role in feeding the world, he said, meeting the needs of 2050 and beyond will require producers in Africa and elsewhere to get more efficient. American scientists, many of them in land-grant universities, can play a key role in training them to do so.

            "Nothing will buy more good will for the United States of America," Johanns added.

            "They want our help. They want to feed themselves," Glickman agreed.

            Although farmers now comprise fewer than 2 percent of Americans -- compared to 60 percent when the Morrill Act was passed -- the ag sector actually is positioned to have greater political, social and economic influence than ever because of concerns about the expanding population's food needs, panelists agreed.

            In fact, Glickman said, if the movie "The Graduate" were made today, the one-word career advice to Benjamin Braddock would be "agriculture."

            "Over the long term agriculture and food is poised to be a very dominant industry in America," Glickman said.

            This year's punishing drought has increased the interest of people who normally don't think about agriculture, Block said.

            "They don't know about farming, they don't care about farming, but they do care about having enough food," he said.

            The four former agriculture secretaries, all but one of whom -- Glickman -- served Republican presidents, generally agreed on the issues and challenges, but for a good-natured exchange between Block and Glickman over organic agriculture, which the former dismissed as largely insignificant, while Glickman noted that consumers nowadays do want food that's been treated with fewer chemicals. "That doesn't mean they want to be vegetarian hippies from the 1960s," he joked.

            Johanns and Glickman agreed that today’s consumers do want more information about the food they eat, and they expect choices in the marketplace they didn’t expect in years past.

            This lecture will be archived later at heuermannlectures.unl.edu, as well as broadcast later on NET2 World, RFD-TV and RURAL TV.



Over 800 4th Graders to Attend Ag Festival near Mead

With continued urban growth, many youth do not have as much exposure to agriculture as in the past. Many communities are losing touch with Nebraska's greatest resource - agriculture. An upcoming ag awareness festival will provide an opportunity for youth to take a close-up look at agriculture.

The festival will be held at the University of Nebraska's Agricultural Research and Development (ARDC) near Mead, Nebraska on Oct. 2, 3, 4, and 5.   Sessions run from 10 a.m. – 1:40 p.m.    It is aimed at 4th grade students.  Omaha schools and surrounding schools attending this year include:
Oct. 2 - St. Robert Bellarmine, Oakdale, Mary Our Queen, and Blumfield
Oct. 3 - Wilson Focus, Mt. View, Wildewood, Meadows, Yutan, and Seymour
Oct. 4 - St. Wenceslaus (Wahoo), Holy Name, and Ackerman
Oct. 5 - Ashland/Greenwood, Lothrop, and Minne Lusa

While at the festival, students will learn about beef, dairy, grains, and swine.  Production, technology, and products in agriculture are covered. 

15,121 Students Attended Ag Awareness Festivals
The first fall festival was held in 1996 at the UNL's Agricultural Research and Development Center (ARDC) near Mead, Nebraska. The one-day event served as a pilot project for 200 Omaha Public School sixth-graders. It has since grown to four days annually and hosted up to 950 fourth-grade students, primarily from Douglas, Sarpy and Saunders Counties.

Over 10,979 students have attended the fall festival from 1996-2011. In an effort to reach more urban youth, a spring festival was added in 2001 at the Lancaster County Event Center in Lincoln. This festival is primarily for Lancaster County youth. It, too, started as a one-day festival and has grown to 2 days.

Over 4,100 students have attended the spring festival. At the festivals, students learn about beef production/products and food safety, ruminant nutrition, dairy production/products and nutrition, grain production/products, farming technology, and swine. Horses, poultry, goats, and horticulture have also been included, depending on the time available.

Students and teachers consistently give the festivals excellent reviews.

Evaluations from teachers attending in the past have noted the following impacts on their students:
·        The festival made the students from the city aware of how much agriculture is a part of their lives.
·        Students saw and experienced different kinds of agriculture, which helped them understand how dependent we are on it.
·        Students were introduced to the contributions that Nebraska farming and ranching make to the global economy.



University of Nebraska Launches Rural Futures Institute

Partnering with rural communities to help them meet their economic and social challenges is a natural mission for land-grant universities in the 21st century, the president of the University of Nebraska said Thursday.

James B. Milliken made his comments in Columbus as the university formally launched the Rural Futures Institute, an NU-wide institute that will tap faculty expertise across all four NU campuses for research, education and engagement involving partner organizations and rural communities across the Great Plains.

Milliken said it wasn't by accident that the announcement was made during the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's week-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act, which created land-grant universities.

The land-grant tradition of establishing research and extension in agriculture is "what gives us our grounding today," Milliken said.

"What does it mean to be a land-grant university in the 21st century?," Milliken asked. In Nebraska, he said, it will be a focus "on a range of issues in the rural economy and the rural life."

What separates the Rural Futures Institute from previous university-based rural-development efforts will be a commitment from the university's uppermost leadership, inclusion of all four of NU's campuses and collaborations with communities across the state, he added.

Nebraska's efforts already have gained national, even international, attention, Milliken said. A Rural Futures Conference in Lincoln in May drew participants from around the world.

Ronnie Green, NU vice president and Harlan vice chancellor of the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said he, Milliken and other university administrators knew it was time to "elevate the effort."

Green said the institute will begin with a $1.75 million budget its first year, growing to $3.5 million in a couple of years. Green added that $750,000 has been set aside for a first round of research-engagement and teaching-engagement grants to be awarded early in 2013.

Doug O'Brien, U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary for rural development, said, "We are in a time that presents more opportunities for rural communities and for people who live in them than we've seen in generations."

But the challenges are significant, too, he said. Partnerships and innovative ways of doing business will be more important than ever at a time when federal, state and local governments have less money to spend on development.

Representatives of all the NU campuses – UNL, University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska Kearney and the University of Nebraska Medical Center – discussed their institutions' roles in the RFI, each pointing to programs already under way that can be incorporated into the new initiative and strengthened as they work together with others in the system.

Chuck Hassebrook, NU regent and executive director of the Center for Rural Affairs, said, "This has the potential, if we do it right, to be the premier program in the nation ... I'm excited about this; it's a big deal."

In an interview this summer, Green said Nebraska is the perfect place to lead such an effort.

"No one else is doing this ... I think we're better positioned than anyone else" to lead it, Green said. "We have the best living laboratory for it in the country."

The Rural Futures Institute will go before the NU Board of Regents for formal approval this fall.



Grants Available to Retailers for Biodiesel Blender Pump Infrastructure

The Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) is seeking potential diesel retailers to be awarded grants to invest in equipment used to sell biodiesel blends at retail stations.   NSB is offering up to $60,000 per station for blending reimbursements.  The requirements are that the station offers B5 in the winter months and B20 in the summer months for at least 2 years.  In addition to the grant money, the Nebraska Soybean Board will provide technical assistance with handling and storage of diesel and biodiesel blends, provide fuel quality monitoring services and even assistance with procuring biodiesel if needed.

Nebraska is one of the top soybean producing states in the US and soybeans are currently the primary feedstock of biodiesel. These funds are provided by the Nebraska Soybean checkoff.  The Nebraska Soybean Board has invested heavily into this emerging industry and would like to see biodiesel more readily available to users of diesel throughout the state of Nebraska.  The goal of this program is to promote biodiesel use in Nebraska and further the industry nationally. To inquire about blender pump funding, please contact Andy Chvatal at andy@nebraskasoybeans.org, or call 402-441-3240.



New Uses for Old Tools Could Boost Biodiesel Output

Tried-and-true techniques could help optimize oilseed yield for biodiesel production, according to studies conducted by USDA scientists.

For more than 30 years, near infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy has been used as a rapid and nondestructive method for measuring protein, moisture, and oil levels in whole grains. Now Agricultural Research Service (ARS) research leader Dan Long is studying how to use remote sensing tools to quickly assess seed oil quality and quantity before and after harvest.

ARS is USDA's chief intramural scientific research agency, and this sensory tool research supports what USDA officials say is priority of developing new sources of bioenergy.

Long, who works at the ARS Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center in Pendleton, OR, used a special NIR sensor to assess seed oil content in 226 canola samples from Montana, Washington and Oregon. Seed oil concentration is used to estimate extraction efficiency, which is the percentage of oil recovered in relation to the amount of oil in seed.

Using these technique, Long was able to determine that oil concentrations in the samples ranged from 32 percent to 46 percent, and that the NIR sensor estimated seed oil content with an average error of 0.73 percent. A bout of abnormal weather affected results from one group of seeds in this study. If the group had been excluded from the analysis, the overall error rate would have been less than 0.5 percent.

Long believes that NIR sensors could be installed in seed crushing facilities to rapidly and continuously measure the oil content of clean seeds flowing into the expeller, where they are crushed to obtain the oil. Using NIR to monitor extraction efficiency might enable workers to adjust the choke setting on the expeller to compensate for oil loss in meal. Enhancing efficiency would boost profits associated with seed processing, and lower the costs of the oil feedstock that is converted into fuel, Long said.



The Future of the Farm Bill
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry

This summer I sat down with a farmer on the front porch of his farmhouse in the heart of Nebraska’s cattle country.  This farmer has seen it all.  We talked about the current drought and those of the past, cattle prices, input costs, biofuels, and all the complex things that make up modern agriculture.  Overlooking cornfields and blue sky, our discussion was far removed from the halls of Congress, but we in Nebraska understand the importance of agriculture – one of our economy’s few bright spots - to our nation’s well-being.

Last week, Congress left Washington without reauthorizing a new “Farm Bill,” the overarching policy that directs the administration of our nation’s farm, conservation, and nutrition programs.   Enacted in 2008, the current Farm Bill expires this Sunday (farm legislation typically spans over a five-year period).

The U.S. Senate passed its version of new farm policy back in June.  The House Agriculture Committee, on which I serve, advanced its own Farm Bill proposal in July.  Though the bill wasn’t perfect, I supported it as an opportunity to chart a new way forward for America's farmers and ranchers while still respecting the federal government's severe budgetary constraints.  I was hopeful our proposal would receive a vote before the entire House of Representatives so we could move forward in sending a five-year Farm Bill to the President.  Unfortunately, a House vote did not take place and Congress left town with the current Farm Bill set to expire.

Many Nebraskans are now asking about the consequences of this inaction and what it means for farmers and rural communities.  You may have heard that if we do not enact new farm policy by the end of this year, the United States will revert back to “Permanent Law,” which is the 1938 and 1949 statutes—clearly written for another era.  The most immediate impacts would be on dairy and certain conservation management programs, which are based on the calendar year.  Commodity programs are covered under the expiring Farm Bill until the next harvest.  The next winter wheat crop will be the first affected.  Current Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts will not be affected, nor will crop insurance coverage for farmers.  

Although the current uncertainty about the bill is not preferable for planning purposes, Congress has a few more months to pass a new Farm Bill.  Clearly, it is better to act on a five-year bill.  Congress may also choose to extend the current Farm Bill, but then the reforms and budget savings achieved in the new proposal will be lost. 

Agriculture is critical to America's economic security, energy security, and national security.  Farm policy goes beyond farms, farmers, and rural America – it benefits all of America.  We have the lowest food prices in the world, we export and provide food to others, we create clean energy from homegrown sources, and we encourage environmentally responsible management practices that protect and conserve natural resources.  A reasonable long-term Farm Bill plays an important role in these efforts, helping farmers manage risks, plan for productive harvests, and uphold the strong outcomes and traditions of the American agriculture community.



Iowa Cattle Sickened by Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Thursday said that more than fifteen cattle herds primarily in western Iowa have had animals contract the Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) virus.

EHD is a virus that is spread by biting midges and primarily affects deer. A hard freeze kills midges and will stop the spread of the virus.

EHD can cause illness in cattle, including fever, ulcers in the mouth and gums, swollen tongue, excessive salivation, and lameness or stiffness when walking. Death loss is uncommon in cattle and there is no evidence that the EHD virus can infect humans.

EHD rarely affects cattle, but the wild whitetail deer population in southern and western areas of Iowa and surrounding states is seeing the disease at high levels. EHD is common in whitetail and other deer in some years and can be fatal in these deer.

Cattle farmers are advised to use insect control as a preventative measure to reduce the risk of having cattle that become infected. Farmers who notice signs of illness in cattle are encouraged to immediately contact their veterinarian.



Pork Month celebrates pork producers doing the right thing

Decades ago, October was the major month in which large amounts of hogs would be brought to market. Though times have changed and production practices have evolved, October Pork Month is one way in which history and tradition have lived on in the pork industry. October is the month to celebrate pork, and you can show your support by taking part in October Pork Month activities wherever you might find yourself.

“Over the years the pork industry has seen many changes and advancements, but what hasn’t changed is the dedication producers have for providing a safe and healthy product,” said National Pork Board President Conley Nelson, a farmer and pork executive from Algona. “As an industry, we are as committed as ever to doing the right thing.”

With a nod to their past, producers also are looking toward the future. Thanks to the availability of new technology and tools, producers are becoming more sustainable, as shown in a study released this year that compared farm data from 1959 to the same production information for 2009. By reducing their carbon footprint 35 percent and the land needed to produce a pound of pork by 78 percent, producers are showing their ability to do more with less.*

Producers understand it is their responsibility to make sure that they are doing the best they can at every stage of production, not just when it comes to the environment. Nelson points out that the creation of programs like Pork Quality Assurance® Plus and Transport Quality Assurance® have helped demonstrate the industry-wide commitment to animal care and food safety to consumers. All of these programs are designed to increase traceability and trust within the food supply chain.

Producers also are working hard to employ the six ethical principles of the We CareSM initiative. These principles help to build trust with the public while ensuring that producers are doing their part to provide a safe work environment for their employees, humane animal care for their pigs, and a safe and wholesome product.

“We Care and the established ethical principles are a way for producers to highlight and reinforce their passion and dedication for what they do,” Nelson said. “Providing safe food, safeguarding natural resources, working to better the community, and all of the other principles are things that have been the focus of pork production for years.”

Farmers work hard to produce a safe and healthy product. Recently the cooking temperature for pork was lowered to 145° with a three minute rest period, boosting pork’s flavor while still ensuring its safety. Pork isn’t just tasty, but it’s healthy as well. A pork loin is ounce for ounce as lean as a skinless chicken breast. This year for October Pork Month, take the time to express your appreciation to the producers that provide you with a safe, nutritious and sustainable protein source.



Pork Quality Assurance® Plus: Ensuring good production practices

Iowa pork producers know that consumers rely on them to provide a safe and nutritious product that was raised in the best way possible, both for the animal and the farmer. One way producers show their commitment to these ideals is by becoming Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA® Plus)-certified and by achieving PQA Plus site status.

To date in Iowa, 15,539 people have been certified through PQA Plus and 5,970 sites have been assessed. Across the country, 56,414 people are PQA Plus-certified and 16,599 sites have been assessed.

“PQA Plus is one of the many tools that pork producers use to show their commitment to doing the right thing,” said Conley Nelson, an Iowa farmer and pig-production executive from Algona and president of the National Pork Board. “PQA Plus certification shows producer’s commitment to the industry as well as continuous improvement.”

The education component of PQA Plus stresses 10 good production practices that cover all phases of production. Proper handling techniques promote animal well-being, while observing proper antibiotic withdrawal times through medical records helps producers provide safe meat.

PQA Plus site status is designated through on-farm site assessments. This on-farm assessment is a way of taking the program an extra step. It gives producers the chance to demonstrate their understanding and commitment to good production practices while doing what’s right for their animals and their farm. 

Certification in PQA Plus and the achievement of PQA Plus site status helps strengthen trust in producers and their dedication to doing the right thing. “It gives consumers confidence in the care that our animals are receiving and in the safe meat that we, as producers, are providing,” Nelson said.

Youth also are taking the initiative to show their dedication to using good production practices by becoming certified through the Youth PQA Plus® program. The program is taught to people ages eight to 19 and addresses the topics of PQA Plus in an age-appropriate way. Currently, 609 Iowa youth and nearly 31,000 kids around the U.S. are certified through the program. “The PQA Plus and Youth PQA sessions taking place around the country show just how much producers do care,” Nelson said.

To ensure that PQA Plus truly reflects what consumers want and what producers are doing, the program is revised every three years. The latest version of the program aims to be more user friendly than ever and will be rolled out at World Pork Expo in 2013. For more information on PQA Plus or Youth PQA Plus log on to pork.org, and click on the “Certification” tab at the top of the page.



ASA Endorses Bill to Eliminate New Pesticide Permitting Rules

Senators Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) last week introduced the Restoring Effective Environmental Protection Act. The measure is being endorsed by the American Soybean Association, along with a coalition of other agriculture stakeholders.

The bill includes identical language from H.R. 872, which clarifies that Clean Water Act permits are not required for pesticide applications in or near water. In 2011, H.R. 872 was passed by the House with bipartisan support and approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee by voice vote.

The REEP Act, which has nine bipartisan cosponsors, also asks the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to report back to Congress on whether the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) process can be improved to better protect human health and the environment from pesticide applications.

As a result of this new regulation, EPA has estimated an additional 365,000 pesticide users, including farmers, ranchers, state agencies, cities, counties, mosquito control districts, water districts, pesticide applicators, and forest managers that perform 5.6 million pesticide applications annually, will be required to obtain Clean Water Act permits. This is nearly double the number of entities previously subject to permitting requirements.

Sponsors of the bill hope it will be acted upon in the lame duck session of Congress that will start in November.



USDA Announces Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Sign-Up Period for 2011 Crop Losses

Farm Service Agency Administrator Juan Garcia announced today the sign-up period for the 2011 crop year Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program will open Oct. 22, 2012. The SURE program is part of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). Under the 2008 Farm Bill, SURE authorizes assistance to farmers and ranchers who suffered crop losses caused by natural disasters occurring through Sept. 30, 2011.

“Any eligible producer who suffered losses during the 2011 crop year is encouraged to visit a local FSA office to learn more about the SURE program and how to apply,” said Garcia.

As of Sept. 30, 2011, the Department’s authority to operate the SURE program expired along with four other, important disaster assistance programs: the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage.

To be eligible for SURE, a farm or ranch must have:
At least a 10-percent production loss on a crop of economic significance; A policy or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for all economically significant crops; Been physically located in a county that was declared a primary disaster county or contiguous county by the Secretary of Agriculture under a Secretarial Disaster Designation. Without a Secretarial Disaster Designation, individual producers may be eligible if the actual production on the farm is less than 50 percent of the normal production on the farm due to a natural disaster. A “farm” for SURE purposes means the entirety of all crop acreage in all counties that a producer planted or intended to be planted for harvest for normal commercial sale or on-farm livestock feeding, including native and improved grassland intended for haying.

Producers considered socially disadvantaged, a beginning farmer or rancher, or a limited resource farmer may be eligible for SURE without a policy or plan of insurance or NAP coverage.  Farmers and ranchers interested in signing up must do so before the June 7, 2013 deadline.  For more information on the 2011 SURE program, visit any FSA county office or www.fsa.usda.gov/sure. 



KSU Researchers Examine DDGS Particle Size for Finishing Pigs

Kansas State University researchers are hoping that further feeding trials will prove that grinding dried distillers grains with solubles into smaller particle sizes affects finishing pig growth performance.

Jon De Jong, graduate research assistant in swine nutrition in the animal science department at Kansas State University, was a member of a research team that recently decided to see if smaller particle size DDGS would increase digestibility and improve feed efficiency in finishing pigs.

De Jong said that research has already shown that decreasing the particle size of corn and sorghum will improve digestibility and feed efficiency, so the team set out to see if the same holds true for DDGS.

A total of 1,235 barrows and gilts were all fed a corn-soybean meal diet, but with one difference: half were fed DDGS straight off the truck (about 780 microns), and half were fed the more finely-ground DDGS (about 691 microns). The DDGS was reground using a roller mill grinder with two sets of rollers on top of each other, De Jong explained.

The differences were not significant, although numerically, the finer particle size had slightly better feed efficiency for each weight phase, he said.  "It was tough not being able to have the particle size we wanted, but it gave us a little glance of what grinding distillers can do," De Jong said.

The KSU team is in the process of planning a second study to use a large-size difference in DDGS particles that will be conducted in the next six months.



NYC 'Bioheat' Mandate Begins Oct. 1

A New York City mandate to blend 2% biodiesel into heating oil known as Bioheat takes effect Monday, Oct. 1.

"All heating oil sold within the city of New York must contain 2% biodiesel, regardless of the fuel's grade or the building's application," John Maniscalco, CEO of the New York Oil Heating Association.

He noted the mandate is for all five New York City boroughs.

The Bioheat law is the third in a series of laws affecting biodiesel and petroleum-based diesel fuel for heating oil. The first is a state law that allows consumers to deduct 1.0 cent for every percentage of biodiesel they blend into heating oil. Thus a 2% biodiesel blend is a 2.0-cent credit for each gallon used in the year. The second is a New York City law which began July 1 to require heating oil in the city to have the same sulfur requirements as ultra-low sulfur diesel, which is 15 parts per million or less. The 2% Bioheat mandate is the third piece of legislation.

"The council finds that the use of Bioheat fuel would reduce the emission of air pollutants, reduce cleaning and maintenance costs, increase the ease of handling fuel oils, provide other operational benefits, strengthen the alternative fuels market, support regional farmers and local businesses, and increase energy independence and the diversity of our energy supply," the law states.

Feedstocks permitted under the NYC Bioheat law define biodiesel as fuel derived from "soybean oil, oil from annual cover crops, algal oil, waste oils, fats or greases" and non-food grade corn oil.

Meantime, the ULSD mandate has reduced diesel sulfur emissions from 2,000 parts per million to 15 ppm, Maniscalco said. "When you combine (ULSD) with Bioheat, now I'm as clean as natural gas," Maniscalco said, adding Bioheat "practically eliminates acid rain," caused in part from emission of sulfur dioxide.

NYC heating oil with 2% biodiesel reduces sulfur dioxide and fine particulates emission by about 99%, according to the National Biodiesel Board.

"This is groundbreaking legislation," said Paul Nazzaro, who spearheads the Bioheat education program for the NBB. "The consumer is the ultimate benefactor of this law, now having access to truly 21st Century heating oil."

Nazzaro added that the entire petroleum supply chain "deserves credit for making the changes needed to embrace blending biodiesel with heating oil to deliver Bioheat."

During the winter season, EIA data shows heating oil demand between 130,000 and 170,000 barrels per day (bpd), while averaging 70,000 bpd year-round in the Empire State.



Japanese Flour Millers Seek Firsthand Knowledge of U.S. Grain Marketing System on Annual Visit

Four Japanese flour millers will visit the United States Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 to meet with all sectors of the grain trade – from wheat breeders to grain inspectors and many more in between. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is sponsoring the team with assistance from the North Dakota Wheat Commission, Washington Grain Commission, Idaho Wheat Commission and Oregon Wheat Commission.

“USW provides continual updates to our Japanese customers on the quality of U.S. wheat, but flour millers want to know even more about the U.S. grain market and inspection systems,” said USW Country Director Wataru “Charlie” Utsunomiya, who will lead the team. “Visits like this one give team members not only the information they are looking for, but also the chance to interact with U.S. wheat farmers, breeders, traders and exporters.”

This year’s members of the annual mid-level management trade team will make stops in North Dakota, Idaho and Oregon. Specifically, the team members will learn about the influence of Canada’s new free market system, current crop quality of hard red spring, durum and soft white wheat in addition to exchanging views on desirable end-use quality characteristics and development of biotech wheat.

U.S. wheat farmers have maintained a close connection with Japan since 1949, when the Oregon Wheat Growers League (OWGL) organized a trade delegation to Japan. That visit resulted in a variety of marketing and educational activities, including a school lunch program and a “Kitchen on Wheels” that travelled through rural Japan from 1956 to 1960. Since that time, Japan has purchased significantly more U.S. wheat than any other country, importing more than 133 million bushels per year on average for the last five years. Total U.S. wheat purchases now conservatively reach $700 million per year, more than 10 percent of total U.S. wheat exports.



RhinoGator® Changes the Game in Pivot Tires

If you thought "tire" automatically meant "rubber", a revolutionary plastic tire for pivot irrigation systems will likely change your mind. RhinoGator® is a new generation of rugged industrial-quality, high-density plastic tire designed specifically for the daily rigors, weight and environmental conditions that are common under pivots.  Its distinctive green color is just a hint at the differences that make RhinoGator stand out.

RhinoGator is rugged and rigid—and never goes flat. RhinoGator is waterproof and will not fill up with water or mud. The tough, high-density plastic resin formulation was specifically chosen for a wide range of conditions unique to pivot systems including bearing weight, stress and torque, material consistency, ease of handling and exposure to sunlight, moisture and chemicals. The formulation includes renewable plastic made from corn. RhinoGator carries the longest UV protection package available in the plastics industry.

RhinoGator is manufactured in the U.S. under controlled conditions for consistent sizing and reliable fit. Bolt holes are molded into the tire, not hand-drilled. Pre-cut bolts are included, eliminating the safety concerns and labor of hand-shearing bolts to length.

The RhinoGator tread design was computer-engineered for maximum ground-gripping traction on wet soils—even up inclines that challenge standard rubber tires. The non-directional tread ensures maximum performance clockwise or counterclockwise. The beefy center rib makes for a lower profile sidewall for added strength, reduced hill slippage and better self-cleaning. The large anti-slip plate ensures that RhinoGator stays firmly on the rim and doesn't slip.

RhinoGator can be easily installed using standard wrenches and typical safety equipment. RhinoGator is currently available in three standard sizes: 11.2-38, 11.2-24 and 11-24.5. RhinoGator can be installed in combination with ordinary rubber tires on a pivot system. RhinoGator is also available in a ready-to-mount tire-wheel assembly.

RhinoGator is available exclusively from Dawson Tire & Wheel of Gothenburg, Nebraska, North America's leading supplier of tires and wheels for agriculture use. For more information on the rugged RhinoGator plastic pivot tire, visit www.rhinogator.com or call toll free 1.888.604.3403.



Creative Cutting Keeps Consumers
   
Take it or leave it.

Too often, that’s the attitude the beef industry has taken with its customers, but in an effort to retain and grow demand, a third option has emerged. It’s a “we’ll help you deal with it” kind of approach, said Phil Bass, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) meat scientist at the recent Feeding Quality Forum.

Economic incentives continue to point to heavier carcasses, but what does that mean for chefs?

“People’s stomachs aren’t getting that much bigger,” Bass said. “People are getting bigger, but our stomachs aren’t getting that much bigger.”

As those beef primal get bigger, simply cutting steaks into larger portion sizes isn’t an option, nor is cutting thinner steaks.

Bass illustrated that at the late August meetings in Grand Island, Neb., and Amarillo, Texas, by fabricating a ribeye for the attendees.

“Middle meats—the striploin, the tenderloin, the ribeye— traditionally have been fabricated as a large piece and you start cutting steaks right down from one end to the other,” he said.

However, cutting a specific and relatively small portion size out of a large primal can create a very thin steak. That makes cooking a challenge.

“Raw or cremated—those are the two degrees of doneness you can get with that steak,” Bass exaggerated to make his point. “If you’re in a restaurant and you pay $30 for this, you’re going to want it cooked the way you ordered it.”

A thicker cut looks better on a plate, he said. “It also gives chefs a little more cooking flexibility. It helps maintain that flavor, juiciness and tenderness that are so critical for palatability.”
Creativity is the solution for getting desired products out of today’s heavier carcasses.

Cutting a filet of rib from the center leaves behind parts of that valuable primal, which then become tasty and tender medallions or tournados. Another option includes cucina steaks and then tying the remainder into a farmer’s roast or roullade.

“Any major subprimal you can think of, we have an alternative fabrication style that you can use to break down these big carcasses,” Bass said. “We give the customer what they want, instead of saying, ‘Here’s what I’ve got.’”

The larger carcasses haven’t brought only challenges, he noted.

“Can we have a high-quality animal and still have a lot of meat coming off that animal?” he asked. “Absolutely. We’re seeing it today.”

Producers are getting more value out of each head, and historically higher grading trends have been good for the end-users, too.

“As marbling increases, so does the overall eating experience, so does the overall value to the consumer,” Bass said.

The trick is in education and training on what to do with the changing carcasses. CAB is an active participant in both arenas, teaching merchandisers the cutting mechanics and providing marketing materials to help sell consumers on the new offerings.

“We’re using what you folks produce and trying to make that connection and that balancing act,” Bass said, “because if they don’t eat it, you’re out of business.”

The seventh annual meetings were co-sponsored by CAB, Pfizer Animal Health, Purina Land O’ Lakes, and Feedlot Magazine.

For more information or to view past presentations, visit www.cabpartners.com/news.