Wednesday October 24 Ag News

UNL Extension Offers Mid-Plains BEEF Session on Winter Drought Management Tips for Cow Herds

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension's Mid-Plains BEEF Educational Series will conduct a special November session on winter drought management tips for cow herds at the UNL Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead.

The session will draw on the expertise of Rick Rasby, UNL extension beef specialist, Dr. Richard Randle, DVM and UNL extension beef veterinarian, and Lindsay Chichester, Jessica Jones, Sara Ellicott, Monte Stauffer and Steve Tonn, extension educators, to share their beef cattle expertise with participants.

The program is designed for producers, veterinarians or others involved in the beef industry. This special session will deal with tips on managing the cow herd during the winter to reduce the effects of the drought. Participants will learn more about tips to manage and feed drought affected forages, stretching short forage supplies, using alternative feedstuffs, hay feeding methods and reducing feeding losses, nitrate poisoning symptoms and managing respiratory problems with drylotting cows and calves.  Time will also be allotted to visit with the speakers on an individual or small group basis.

The session will be Nov. 29 beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. at the UNL Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead, NE.

Registration for the November 29 program is requested by Nov. 21.

Registration is $60 which covers educational materials, noon meals and breaks.

The Mid-Plains BEEF Educational Series is an effort by a team of southeastern Nebraska Extension educators.   
   
To register or obtain more information, contact them at: Lindsay Chichester, Richardson County, 402-245-4324; Sara Ellicott, Saunders County, 402-624-8030; Jessica Jones, Johnson County, 402-335-3669; Darci McGee, Nuckolls/Thayer Counties, 402-768-7212 or 402-225-2381; Monte Stauffer, Douglas/Sarpy Counties, 402-444-7804; or Steve Tonn, Washington County, 402-426-9455.




Risk Management Education Center Continues Grant Program

The North Central Risk Management Education Center has been awarded nearly $1.2 million in funding for 2013.

This funding will be turned around in the form of grants to qualified entities including educational institutions, farm and commodity organizations, lenders, consultants and other risk management education providers, said Brad Lubben, NCRMEC program director.

For the 11th year, the Extension Risk Management Education program will award grants to projects that teach farmers and ranchers the tools they need to address the uncertainties in farm income, particularly in the areas of production, price/market, financial, legal and human risks.

Eligible programs should have the capacity to develop and carry out educational programs for farmers and ranchers. In the past, the NCRMEC has funded many projects across the region, including projects that have a legacy of serving producers, such as "Winning the Game" and "Annie's Project."

The current prime award represents the first year of funding for an expected three year cycle of $3.3 million in funding, he said. The North Central RME Center funds awards for up to $50,000.

The Extension Risk Management Education is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

UNL's Department of Agricultural Economics and UNL Extension has been the host of the North Central Region since the program's inception in 2001.

This year's request for applications will be announced around Nov. 1, with the final proposal deadlines in February. More information is available at www.ncrme.org.



Ak-Sar-Ben Carcass Results

Cuming County 4-H members placed well in the livestock carcass contest that followed the live shows at the 85th annual Ak-Sar-Ben Livestock exposition according to University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator in Cuming County, Larry Howard.

In the Swine contest, Hunter Schroeder of West Point placed 3rd with his 258 pound gilt that had a 199 pound carcass weight, a 9.51 inch loin eye area, .58 inch fat and a 59.35 lean index.  Allison Guenther of West Point placed 7th and Erin Doernemann of Dodge placed 14th.  Cuming County 4-H Swine exhibitors received five purple, six blue, and four white ribbons.

In the Beef contest, Paige Schroeder of Fremont placed 5th with her 1367 pound steer that had a 872 pound carcass, a 14.7 inch rib eye area, .22 inch fat, and graded high choice. Haley Schroeder of West Point placed 10th.  Cuming  County 4-H beef exhibitors received three purple, three blue and one white ribbon.

In the Sheep contest, Cuming County exhibitors received four blue, one red and one white ribbon.

Complete carcass results for Cuming County 4-H exhibitors are as follows:

Swine Carcass Contest
Purple: Hunter Schroeder, West Point; Allison Guenther, West Point; Erin Doernemann, Dodge; Kiley Guenther, West Point; Blake Guenther, West Point.
Blue: Darby Doernemann, Dodge; Nathan Groth, Beemer; Megan Groth, Beemer x2; Blake Guenther, West Point; Allison Guenther, West Point.
White: Nathan Groth, Beemer; Braxton Deets, West Point; Hunter Schroeder, West Point; Eric Klitz, West Point.

Beef Carcass Contest
Purple: Paige Schroeder, Fremont; Haley Schroeder, West Point; Jackie Schroeder, West Point.
Blue:  Kallie Schroeder, Fremont; Hannah Schroeder, Fremont; Patti Schlickbernd, West Point.
White:  Emily Ludwig, Wisner.

Sheep Carcass Contest
Blue: Krista Ott, Wisner x3; Chase Ott, Wisner.
Red: Chase Ott, Wisner.
White: Chase Ott, Wisner.



USDA Issues CRP and 2008 Farm Bill Direct Payments

“Farm Service Agency (FSA) Offices have issued most of the 2012 federal farm program payments to Nebraska farmers, ranchers and landowners,” announced State Director Dan Steinkruger.  “These payments include Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) annual rental payments, and the final Direct and Counter-cyclical Program (DCP) and Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program direct payments authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill.”

CRP payments will be reduced for acreage that was hayed and grazed under the emergency drought provisions.  All of the payments are subject to eligibility conditions including Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), wetland compliance and highly erodible land compliance, as well as other contract provisions.

Most of the payments are issued by direct deposit.  Statements are mailed from FSA’s Kansas City Office explaining the payments.  Questions about the payments should be directed to local FSA offices.

Steinkruger added, “These payments represent the last of direct payments.  Without a Farm Bill FSA is no longer processing new CRP contracts and 2013 programs are uncertain at this time.”



Scientists Use New Method to Reduce Piglet Mortality

To help increase the survival of newborn piglets, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have developed a new method that predicts animals' mortality and nursing ability.

Physiologist Jeffrey Vallet and his colleagues at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) in Clay Center, Neb., call the measuring technique the "immunocrit," which determines whether preweaning piglets receive adequate colostrum from the sow. ARS is USDA's principal intramural scientific research agency, and this research supports the USDA priority of promoting international food security.

Preweaning mortality costs the U.S. swine industry an estimated $1.6 billion each year, and one of the contributing factors is deficient colostrum intake by piglets. The colostrum produced by a sow after giving birth contains immunoglobulins, or antibodies, which help build immunity against bacteria, viruses and other foreign elements. Piglets that fail to nurse and receive enough colostrum from their mother within the first 24 hours after birth usually die.

The immunocrit measures newborn piglet serum immunoglobulin in blood samples. These measurements indicate piglets' mortality and nursing ability, according to Vallet, research leader of USMARC's Reproduction Unit. Immunocrit results also show that the average measurement of piglets in a litter reflects the sow's ability to produce colostrum.

In addition, scientists have found a connection between immunocrit measurements, piglets' weight and mortality. Pigs that weighed more were more likely to survive the challenge of not getting colostrum within the critical timeframe, as opposed to those that weighed less.

Because test results are obtained so quickly, it is possible to identify compromised piglets while they're still alive, according to Vallet. The immunocrit recognizes piglets within a litter that have not eaten or had the chance to nurse. This provides an opportunity to save at-risk piglets by using intervention strategies.

The new technique, which also works with cattle, can be used by swine producers to test management practices such as split suckling, according to Vallet. A labor-intensive method, split suckling is designed to improve colostrum intake for piglets born last by giving them uninhibited access to the sow. Using the immunocrit, blood samples can be taken 24 hours after the split suckling procedure to determine if colostrum intake has increased in these piglets.

Read more about this research in the October 2012 issue of Agricultural Research magazine.



Valmont Announces Third Quarter Results

Valmont Industries, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of engineered products for infrastructure, mechanized irrigation equipment for agriculture, and a provider of coating services, reported sales for the third quarter of $729.8 million compared with $672.2 million for the same period of 2011. Third quarter 2012 operating income was $90.4 million versus $72.0 million in 2011. Third quarter 2012 net earnings were $56.7 million, or $2.12 per diluted share, versus third quarter 2011 net earnings of $42.1 million, or $1.59 per diluted share.

For the first nine months of 2012, sales were $2,214.5 million versus $1,908.8 million in 2011. Valmont's nine-month net earnings were $169.0 million, or $6.32 per diluted share, compared with 2011 nine-month net earnings of $113.6 million, or $4.28 per diluted share.

"While each segment had record third quarter sales, the major contributor was the substantial increase in Utility Support Structures sales," said Mogens C. Bay, Valmont's chairman and CEO. "Operating income as a percent of sales increased from 10.7% to 12.4%, led by the Utility Support Structures Segment performance and further supported by positive comparisons in the Irrigation, Coatings and Engineered Infrastructure Products Segments," added Bay.

Sales of $217.5 million were 36% higher than the third quarter of 2011. The sales increase reflects an ongoing expansion of the North American electrical transmission grid. There are four main drivers behind the need to expand the grid. One is to improve the reliability of the transmission grid, so power is available during peak demand periods. Another is the need to match physical capacity to the increase in electricity demand over time. Additionally, capacity is needed to accommodate the interconnection of regional transmission entities in order to balance demand with supply. And lastly is the need to connect alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar, to the transmission grid. Valmont believes these demand trends should continue to drive its business over the next several years. The Company is currently adding manufacturing capacity by expanding existing facilities and by constructing a new facility in Oklahoma.

Sales in international utility markets rose mostly due to a growing Australian market, which more than offset a sales decline within China where the market has become increasingly more competitive.

Operating income more than doubled to $30.2 million and was 13.9% of segment sales. The increase in operating income was due to an improved sales mix and volume leverage.

Center pivot and linear move mechanized irrigation equipment and parts for agriculture in global markets.

Sales rose 4% to $156.5 million exceeding last year's record third quarter. Historically high crop commodity prices supported strong demand for mechanized irrigation equipment. Higher crop prices contribute to higher expectations for farm income, thus increasing purchasing power. Initially, third quarter sales faced a typical seasonal sequential decline, however demand firmed as the quarter drew to a close in response to this summer's extreme drought in the U.S.

Sales in international markets rose despite the absence of large project sales during this year's third quarter, supported by demand for feed-grains and historically high crop prices in global markets.

In reaction to the drought, we expect many dry-land farmers with access to water to install irrigation equipment to help mitigate the risk of future dry weather. Irrigated agriculture should benefit from good crops and high commodity prices. Consequently, we expect strong demand during the current selling season.

Operating income grew 14% to $27.1 million and was 17.3% of segment sales. The improvement in operating income reflects improved profitability in international markets and operational leverage, particularly SG&A, in North American markets.

Lighting, traffic and highway safety products, wireless communication structures and components, and industrial gratings and access systems worldwide.



PF/QF Employees Presented Organization’s National Awards

Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) announced the winners of two annual awards at the organizations’ national staff meeting in Lanesboro, Minnesota. Mary Korth of Greely, Neb., was recognized for the Jeffery Finden Conservation Achievement award, and Kelsi Wehrman of Nelson, Neb., was presented with the Conservation Warrior award. Both awards recognize excellence in the organizations’ conservation mission.

“Nebraska has an outstanding group of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever employees that work everyday to further upland conservation,” says Pete Berthelsen, PF and QF Senior Field Coordinator, “Kelsi and Mary are two outstanding examples of dedicating yourself the organizations’ grassroots mission and giving 100% every day."

Conservation Warrior - Kelsi Wehrman, Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist PF/QF Nebraska
The Conservation Warrior award recognizes the employee who has most advanced the mission of the organization through programs and services.

As a Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist, Wehrman’s responsibility is to provide technical assistance to farmers and ranchers—through one-on-one consulting—regarding the benefits of conservation programs (such as the Conservation Reserve Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program). By working with landowners to develop and implement individual wildlife management plans, biologists like Wehrman represent Pheasants Forever’s on-the-ground efforts in ensuring landowners are aware of conservation program options. Earlier this year, Wehrman was recognized at Nebraska’s state staff meeting for her outstanding efforts locally with PF Nebraska’s “Answering the Call” award.

“I am grateful and truly honored to win this extraordinary award.  There are a lot of outstanding biologists throughout the country, and we all share the same passion and commitment for conservation and wildlife habitat.  We are faced with new challenges every day.  However, knowing that hard work can make a difference and being able to actually see results makes our jobs exceptionally gratifying.  We also know that we wouldn’t be able to do our jobs without the great farmers and chapter volunteers we work with to put habitat on the ground,” Kelsi Wehrman.

Wehrman received her B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After college, she worked for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in a number of capacities that ranged from a Conservation Technician to a Wildlife Biologist. Wehrman and her husband, Mike, are new parents to their son, Camden. The three live on their farm near Nelson, Nebraska, with their yellow lab, Jackson. In addition to her normal job duties, Wehrman works closely with the Grassland Improvement Program in south-central Nebraska and the local Prescribed Burn Association.

Jeffery Finden Conservation Achievement Award - Mary Korth, Administrative Assistant PF/QF Nebraska
In recognition of the founder of PF, this award goes to the employee who contributed the most to the grass roots mission of PF through service to chapters and volunteers as voted on by their peers.

Mary works with the PF and QF field staff throughout the Great Plains Team, but focuses mainly on administering the many programs, partnerships and employees that are associated with Nebraska. A partial list of Korth’s long and diverse duties include: grant reporting, administering statewide programs, grass seed program administration, and chapter/staff support.

“It is a great honor to receive this award, and I am very excited about receiving it.  Nebraska has great chapter volunteers, and I enjoy working with them and helping deliver habitat through their efforts and statewide programs,” Mary Korth.

An important part of her position is funded by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission as she is the glue and fiber that holds many of PF and QF’s partnerships together and does an exceptionally good job at keeping everything on track. She and her husband, Matt, have one son named Brayden. She has two bassett hounds named Bailey and Howie.

Nebraska is home to 60 PF chapters, four QF chapters and combined over 11,000 PF/QF members.



State Corn Groups Work for Higher Ethanol Blends, Greater Consumer Choice

State corn associations across the country are working diligently to make the increased use of higher ethanol blends a reality through programs to put the necessary infrastructure in place. Laying the groundwork for a shift toward greater use of the domestically produced, environmentally friendly biofuel, a wide variety of programs currently underway will help fuel tomorrow with E15 and midlevel blends while providing easier E85 access for the eight million flex-fuel vehicles already on the road today.

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota all have efforts to increase the use of higher ethanol blends in their respective states by helping fund the installation of the necessary fuel pumps. From programs that completely support the installation of E85 pumps for retailers looking to convert multiple locations to programs that help cover the cost of signage highlighting ethanol options, these programs provide not only infrastructure for retailers but also choice for consumers.

While there are approximately 162,000 service stations nationwide, only 3,000 presently offer E85 fuel for flex-fuel vehicles and few offer the choice of E15, which was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in vehicles model year 2001 or newer. By increasing access to a wider variety of ethanol blends, these state programs simultaneously increase the options readily available to consumers.

Through two additional campaigns, the American Ethanol partnership with NASCAR® and the Blend Your Own program, state associations are joining with national groups representing corn farmers and ethanol producers to educate consumers about ethanol and increase awareness of the available options.

The American Ethanol partnership with NASCAR®, which was formed in 2011, brings together the National Corn Growers Association, Growth Energy and state associations to increase public awareness of ethanol and dispel myths about the renewable, sustainable fuel. For the past two seasons, every car in every race in all three NASCAR® series has been fueled by Sunoco Green E15, an ethanol blend. With more than three million miles logged already, NASCAR® fans across the country are seeing the performance and reliability of ethanol.

Multiple states, along with NCGA, also support the Blend Your Own program, a joint campaign conducted by the American Coalition for Ethanol and the Renewable Fuels Association. More commonly known as BYO, the program also helps retailers integrate the changes necessary to dispense higher ethanol blends as well as providing information to consumers interested in locating stations offering E85 for their flex-fuel vehicles.




Ethanol Stocks Fall; Production Rises

Domestic ethanol inventories were drawn down again this past week, falling 223,000 barrels (bbl), or 1.2%, to 18.766 million bbl for the week-ended Oct. 19, data released from the Energy Information Administration today showed, with supply up 8.5% from a year ago.

U.S. plants production rebounded, rising 3,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 801,000 bpd last week, while down 11.9% compared to a year ago.

Implied demand, as measured by refiner and blender net inputs, rose 18,000 bpd, or 2.2%, to 833,000 bpd for the week-ended Oct. 19. Refiner and blender net inputs represent a major portion of implied demand for ethanol.

EIA reported implied demand for motor gasoline fell 236,000 bpd to 8.493 million bpd for the week-ended Oct. 19, while four-week average gasoline demand at just over 8.6 million bpd was down 1.8% from a year ago.



USFRA, NPPC and NPB Partner to Provide Accurate PORTRAYAL OF TODAY’S PIG CARE

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the National Pork Board (NPB) are proactively making farmers available to provide accurate information following an animated film about pork production focused on sow housing and tail docking being released as part of Food Day.

According to trailers and information available online about this film, it will “take viewers into a pig factory farm where young pig Ginger is surprised to find out how pigs are treated and hatches a plan to escape.” The film is being positioned as a children’s film, and will be released along with a parent-teacher discussion guide.

USFRA, NPPC and the NPB will provide expert voices to mainstream media and social media as part of this effort. Today’s pig farmer voices discussing modern pig production can be heard at www.fooddialogues.com or at Facebook.com/USFarmersandRanchers. To become part of the USFRA F.A.R.M. team that assists farmers and ranchers to share information about today’s agriculture, go to www.fooddialogues.com.



ASA Welcomes Enactment of U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement

The American Soybean Association (ASA) welcomed this week’s announcement from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that the free trade agreement (FTA) between the U.S. and Panama will enter into force on October 31. ASA congratulates the government of both countries for their work on the FTA, a longstanding priority for the association.

“The enactment of the free trade agreement with Panama at the end of the month is a big win for soybean farmers,” said ASA President Steve Wellman, a soybean farmer from Syracuse, Neb. “Panama is one of the most rapidly-growing economies in Latin America, and represents a valuable market for American soy and the many products like poultry and pork for which soy is critical in the production process. We commend the American and Panamanian governments for their work on seeing this agreement to completion and we look forward to continuing a successful partnership with our friends in Panama.”

As of October 31, all tariffs on U.S. soybeans, soybean meal, and crude vegetable oils will be removed with the enactment of the FTA. Tariffs will also be removed for many beef, poultry and pork products, which use soybean meal as feed. Additionally, the FTA will level the trade playing field between the two countries, which currently sees more than 99 percent of Panamanian exports to the U.S. enter duty free under the Caribbean Basin Initiative, while the majority of American exports to Panama are subject to tariffs.

The U.S. exported more than $53 million in soybean products to Panama last year, down from $65 million in 2010. Soybeans and soybean products are the largest U.S. agricultural export commodity, totaling nearly 1.5 billion bushels in 2011, with a value of more than $23 billion. This represents more than half of domestic soybean production and 20 percent of total American farm exports.



Ukraine Confirms Wheat Export Ban

Ukraine's agriculture ministry said Wednesday that a ban on the export of wheat will come into effect from Nov. 15 because of concern that stocks are running low on the domestic market due to a poor harvest.

The Ukrainian government has agreed with the country's wheat exporters that no more than 5 million tons of wheat can be exported in the current marketing year, with shipments now expected to breach that mark by Nov. 15.

Ukraine had exported 3.82 million tons of wheat to Oct. 22.

The ministry said corn exports will increase as wheat exports dwindle, and are likely to total 12 million metric tons in the current marketing year, which runs from July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013.

Wheat and corn can be substituted in animal feed and other human, agricultural and industrial uses.

The ministry said corn exports were already increasing, with 836,000 tons exported in October, compared with 359,000 tons exported in September. Another 500,000 tons of corn has been delivered to sea ports for export and loaded on ships.

The agriculture ministry expects this year's grain harvest between 46 million tons and 46.5 million tons, compared with last year's 56.7 million tons, and grain exports in the 2012-13 marketing year around 20 million tons. In the previous marketing year Ukraine exported 21.794 million tons of grain.



Dobbin Named New CEO of Rabo AgriFinance

Rabobank announces the appointment of Neil Dobbin as Chief Executive Officer of Rabo AgriFinance. The new CEO has a 25-year history with Rabobank Australia and New Zealand, where he spent the last decade heading up rural banking operations.

Announcing the appointment, Rabobank Group executive board member Berry Marttin said during Dobbin’s stewardship, Rabobank had grown to become the leading food and agribusiness bank in Australia and New Zealand. “The United States is such an important food and agriculture market for Rabobank, and we are delighted that Neil’s considerable skills, expertise and experience in agricultural banking will help RAF in its future success and development.”

With headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, Rabo AgriFinance is a provider of capital and financial solutions to U.S. agricultural producers and agribusinesses. The company has more than 40 offices throughout the U.S., and is several years into a tremendous growth phase, opening new locations and expanding teams with the industry’s top specialists.

In addition to his food and agriculture experience in Australia, Dobbin has also been closely involved in the growth and development of Rabo AgriFinance, serving on the company’s board of directors for the past two years. “I’m very pleased to join Rabo AgriFinance after being involved with its leadership as a board member these last few years. I look forward to being more hands-on in the important business of Rabo AgriFinance. The United States is a leader in food and agriculture, and American farmers are meeting the challenge to supply the growing world demand. American producers are making it happen, and they need access to more substantial credit products, industry insights and information, and risk management.”

“It will be very exciting to be part of Rabo AgriFinance as we work with our customers and continue to grow with them.”

As new CEO, Dobbin succeeds John Ryan, who has taken the new role of Country Manager for Rural and Retail in the U.S., and is also the new Chief Executive Officer of Rabobank, N.A., which provides full-service banking products and agricultural financing to California consumers, businesses and the agriculture industry.