Friday January 25 Ag News

LENRD Establishes Ground Water Use Regs in 5 Sub-districts

Some northeast Nebraska farmers are facing new irrigation rules. The rules were adopted Thursday night by the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District Board at its meeting in Norfolk.

The rules bar expansion of irrigation to new areas as well as bar offseason irrigation. There are irrigation educational requirements, and irrigators must install groundwater water monitors.  Some of the irrigators will have annual limits on how much water they can pump. LENRD Water Resource Manager Rick Wasniak says in sub-districts where allocations have been set, flow meters must be installed on irrigators before May 1st of this year.  However, in sub-districts that do not have allocations, the flow meters will have to be installed by May 1st of 2014.  Wasniak says the allocations have been set at either 13 or 14 acre inches, depending on the sub-district. 

The board had received dozens of complaints this past summer from people who said their domestic wells had gone dry on land adjacent to irrigated land.   New or replacement domestic wells also must be drilled to an approved depth.

The district includes all or parts of 13 northeast Nebraska Counties.  However, the new rules are for five sub-districts in parts of Madison, Pierce and Wayne counties. A map of those sub-districts is avialable at www.lenrd.org. 



NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 3 PERCENT

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or morehead, contained 2.48 million cattle on feed on January 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. This inventory was down 3 percent from last year.  Placements during December totaled 390,000 head, up 3 percent from 2011. This ties December 2004 and 2006 for the highest placements since the data series began in 1994.  Fed cattle marketings for the month of December totaled 425,000 head, up 12 percent from last year. This is the highest December marketings since the data series began in 1994. Other disappearance during December 2012 totaled 15,000 head, up 50 percent from 2011.



United States Cattle on Feed Down 6 Percent
   
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.2 million head on January 1, 2013. The inventory was 6 percent below January 1, 2012. The inventory included 7.05 million steers and steer calves, down 3 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.07 million head, down 9 percent from 2012.

Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.66 million, 1 percent below 2011. Net placements were 1.59 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 495,000, 600-699 pounds were 415,000, 700-799 pounds were 379,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 375,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.75 million, 2 percent below 2011. Other disappearance totaled 74,000 during December, 19 percent below 2011.



Management Practices for Adding Value to Your Calves
Steve Tonn, UNL Extension Educator, Washington County

The potential for a lack of forage and increased input costs for beef producers is a possibility in 2013. Washington County beef producers (and those throughout the region) will be looking for ways to increase their efficiency and the value of the calves they are selling.   Dr. Gant Mourer, Oklahoma State University Beef Value Enhancement Specialist, suggests there are several tools that producers can use to increase efficiency of cattle planned for market and in doing so increase margins.  All it takes is a little prior planning for cattle that may be hitting the ground as we speak or calves that producers may be thinking about weaning this spring.

Information and documentation on a cow herd always adds value. Keeping records allows producers to make informed culling, marketing, nutrition and planned mating decisions, after all a quality calf is what adds the most value when it comes to marketing.  Good records also allow producers to document the types of management practices that they have implemented, and records can be easily passed from one segment of the beef industry to the next making a more integrated system, adding value at every step.

Improved record keeping including collecting calf birth dates often times leads to a defined calving season. This may include a spring or fall calving herd or possibly both and typically be 90 days or less in length.  Defining a calving season for your cow herd adds value to calves in several ways: a shortened calving season allows reproductively efficient cows to be easily identified and cows that calve late or not at all can be sold.  A defined calving season means producers can better target calving during a time of the year where high quality forage is more readily available and are able to meet a cow’s increased nutritional requirement during early lactation without increasing supplementation.

Also, a more uniform calf crop is realized, management of calves for the producers is easier and we often see a premium for those uniform calves as they are sold at market. Along with uniformity, increased lot size adds value at auction. Cattle sold in lots of 6 head or more can bring more money per head than smaller lots.  Larger sale lots can be achieved not only through a calving season but also through alliances, whether that is locally with a neighbor or participating in a specific alliance program that requirements have been met.

The use of implant technologies would be warranted in a traditional marketing program if a natural or organic program has not been established and is not planned by a producer. Approved implants can be used on suckling calves and can increase average daily gain but may be even more effective during the stocker phase as calves are weaned and retained for a period of time.  Similarly, ionophores are a cost effective way to increase feed efficiency in cattle.  They can increase gain and act as a coccidiostat and bloat preventer in grazing cattle on high quality forage.

Dehorning calves as well as castration of intact males are management tools that require little overhead cost to accomplish and can add substantial value.  The earlier a calf can be dehorned or castrated the better off and less stress occurs when that calf goes to market.

Vaccinations, along with a preconditioning period over 45 days, qualify many cattle to be enrolled in a value added program. These programs work by combining many of the management strategies listed above and offering those cattle for sale to buyers for a premium. Buyers will pay premiums for cattle that have been managed correctly because they perform better in the feedlot with less sickness and death loss as compared to cattle not previously weaned.

These are only a few of the “tools” that a producer can choose to put into their tool box that comes from what is considered a “traditional” beef cattle system. Some producers may choose to use only some of the tools or some may choose not to use any of them, but the bottom line is for producers to have the information at hand to make informed decisions as they go to market calves in 2013 and not leave any money on the table when they do so.



Forage Specialist Offers Methods of Coping with Drought
With a drought as severe as last summer's, the long-lasting effects require long-term adaptations from producers who are working with the limited water supply.

As producers throughout the region search for ways to deal with the continuing drought, they can try to take advantage of the limited water they can access. University of Nebraska-Lincoln forage specialist Bruce Anderson suggests how they can do just that.

Many ponds and creeks dried up last year, leaving some cattle producers with only unreliable water sources.

"Maybe rain will replenish them this spring, but this might be a good time to develop more wells or pipelines to reliably put water into tanks," Anderson said.

Tank water may be cooler and offer easier access than ponds or creeks. It is often healthier for cattle, and they usually prefer it. When cows walk into ponds and creeks, they stir mud and sediments into the water and often deposit waste.

"No wonder calves consistently choose tank water over ponds when given a choice," Anderson said.

Reports show that the higher water quality found in tanks provides a boost in cattle gains. Calves can weigh an extra 50 pounds at weaning when tank water is available, and yearling steers can gain an extra three- to four-tenths of a pound per day. With this much added performance, pumping water into tanks can pay off in just a few years and offers an even more immediate payoff in the case of dried up ponds.

Another related way producers can adjust to water shortages, according to Anderson, is to grow limited irrigation forages rather than a grain crop. Many irrigated acres may not receive enough water this summer to grow a good grain or root crop.

"Sometimes you can combine water allocated for several fields onto one field to get a crop, but that still leaves the other acres with little or no water at all," Anderson explained.

Forage crops also need water for highest production, but at least some useful yield can be gathered when total water available is very low. A perennial forage would eliminate the cost and time of establishing a new crop if water limits continue for several more years.

According to Anderson, switchgrass is one good choice. It's less expensive to plant, its primary water needs occur in early summer when water usually is available, and it can be managed for hay or pasture. Other warm-season grass options include big or sand bluestem and indiangrass.

"It may not be what you hoped for, but growing forages under limited irrigation may help you make the best out of a bad situation."



Upper Big Blue NRD Board Selects New Board Positions for 2013

The Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors met Thursday, January 17, 2013, at the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District office to discuss and vote on January’s committee actions and reports.  During the meeting, Upper Big Blue NRD board members were nominated and votes were cast to fill board positions for 2013 as follows: 
Roger W. Houdersheldt of Shelby—CHAIRMAN;
Yvonne C. Austin of Staplehurst—VICE CHAIRMAN;
Ronda Rich of York—SECRETARY;
William “Bill” Stahly of Milford—TREASURER;
Larry K. Moore of Ulysses—NARD (Nebraska Association of Resources Districts) REPRESENTATIVE;
Gary E. Eberle of Bradshaw—NARD (Nebraska Association of Resources Districts) REPRESENTATIVE ALTERNATE.   



Registration Deadline Approaching for I-29 Dairy Conference

David Okerlund and a top-notch slate of dairy industry experts will focus on sustainability and industry perspective topics at the eighth annual I-29 Dairy Conference.

The 2013 I-29 Dairy Conference will be held Feb. 27 and 28 at the Ramkota Inn in Sioux Falls, S.D. Producers should complete the online registration form at http://igrow.org/events/i-29-dairy-conference by Feb. 18, however registration will be accepted at the door. The event is coordinated by extension dairy specialists from the five states in the I-29 corridor.

David Okerlund, an International Hall of Fame speaker, will be the event’s keynote speaker talking about “The Joys of Stress.” Mr. Okerlund grew up in the rural Midwest and was nominated as the Outstanding Young Speech Educator in the first year of teaching in Iowa. His keynote presentation at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, will be followed by a wine and cheese reception.

“We’ve had a great response to the slate of speakers and are looking forward to strong attendance from dairy producers from all five states of the I-29 corridor,” said Kevin Lager, dairy specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and conference planning committee member.

Presentations on Thursday, Feb. 28 include:
-    “Cherished Cows Sometimes Do Make the Best Burgers: How to Create a Positive Mindset about Coping with Change,” David Okerlund
-    “Feeding for Uncertain Times,” Jim Linn, University of Minnesota
-    “What I am Doing to Make my Farm Business Sustainable,” Producer Panel
-    “Meeting the Challenges of the Dairy Industry in the Upper Midwest,” Industry Perspective Panel

Registration for the full conference is $30, including the dinner, the keynote presentation, and a wine and cheese reception on Feb. 27 and sessions on Feb. 28.

More details and a full program schedule are available at http://igrow.org/events/i-29-dairy-conference.

The conference is being coordinated by extension dairy specialists from North Dakota State University, Iowa State University, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska, and South Dakota State University. Additional partners coordinating the conference include Midwest Dairy Association, Southwest Minnesota Dairy Profit Group, and the Nebraska Corn Board.

Conference sponsors include Davisco, Midwest Dairy Association, Alltech Pfizer Animal Health, POET Nutrition, Bel Brands, AgStar Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Services of America, AgStar Financial Services, United FCS, Elanco, Nebraska Corn Board, Vi-Cor, Prince Agri Products, Inc., Associated Milk Producers, Inc. (AMPI), Huvepharma, and Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc., Adisseo, RABO, UdderTech.



Trade Team Visits Inspire Confidence in U.S. Pork

The old adage that seeing is believing is played out several times a year when the U.S. pork industry welcomes international trade teams. The visits help develop and strengthen partnerships that put more U.S. Pork on the world's table.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), partially funded by the Pork Checkoff, often works with groups, such as the Iowa Pork Producers Association, to coordinate the visits.

"Building relationships is critical, because it helps drive demand for U.S. Pork," said Rich Degner, executive director of the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

Trade teams typically:
• Meet with U.S. exporters from whom they may potentially purchase pork.
• Tour universities to learn about current pork research.
• Visit farms, where they can meet pork producers and learn about the We Care ethical
   principles that they adhere to when raising the animals in their care.

"I saw that U.S. producers were highly aware of animal welfare," noted a member of a Japanese trade team that traveled to Iowa in 2012.

Visit U.S. packing facilities, observing their cleanliness firsthand.
"International visitors appreciate sitting down with packers and processors to define their specific product needs," said Becca Hendricks, assistant vice president of international marketing for the Pork Checkoff.

A Japanese trade team member agreed, saying, "It was good to know that U.S. producers were more flexible to specifications and processing than I expected.  Since each packer has different strong points, we can choose from a wide range of products, according to our needs."

Jose Humberto Rodriguez, El Salvador, is glad he had the opportunity to travel to Iowa this year with a trade team.

"Since we import a great deal of pork, I could see all of the technology and advancements made in the U.S. industry," Rodriguez said. "It makes me confident that I am importing quality pork from responsible producers."

Humberto Sanchez Ali, a trade team member representing Mexico's Carnes Selectas Ali, echoed his sentiments.

"We distribute (pork) all over Mexico, and I value the relationship we have with the United States," Ali said. "By visiting processing plants and farms and talking with producers, I had the opportunity to discuss new product opportunities and be assured that the U.S. pork industry is willing to meet my needs as a processor."

Hendricks added, "The Checkoff looks forward to working with USMEF and state pork associations to host more trade teams. The visitors become influential ambassadors for U.S. Pork in their home countries."



University of Iowa chef wins 2013 Iowa Pork Taste of Elegance contest

The executive chef for housing and dining at the University of Iowa in Iowa City captured top honors at the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s 2013 Iowa Pork Taste of Elegance competition this week in Des Moines.

Chef Barry Greenberg was named Chef Par Excellence in IPPA’s 27th annual culinary contest Jan. 21 at the Des Moines Marriott. Greenberg’s winning pork entrée was “Duet of Pork New Orleans: Charlotte of Pork Cheeks and Collard Greens with Roasted Garlic Custard & Andouille-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Black-eyed Pea Salad.”

For his efforts, Greenberg received a plaque, $1,000 and the opportunity to compete in the National Pork Summit competition in St. Helena, Calif., this spring.

The title of Superior Chef went to Chef Alex Strauss of Hy-Vee West Lakes in West Des Moines. He captured second place with a creation titled “Pork Belly & Shoulder Donburi.” Strauss won a plaque and $500.

Chef Kevin Scharpf of the WoodFire Grille in Dubuque was selected as the Premier Chef winner. For placing third, Scharpf received a plaque and $250. He prepared a dish titled “Sustainable Swine.”

The Taste of Elegance includes a People’s Choice Award, which went to Chef Andrew Weis of Carolines Restaurant & the Hotel Julien in Dubuque. He prepared “Pork Trinity” and earned $250 and a plaque.

A dozen chefs from around Iowa entered this year’s competition. Each was required to use a fresh pork cut in an original entrée. The winning pork dishes were selected on the basis of taste, appearance and originality by a panel of judges.

The expert panel of judges included Craig Christensen, a hog farmer and restaurateur from Ogden; Lynn Blanchard, Meredith test kitchen director; and Steve Britton, executive chef at the Iowa Machine Shed Restaurant.

A crowd of more than 200 invited guests enjoyed the evening reception, samples of each chef’s entrée, and the award ceremonies. Six Central Iowa wineries also were on hand sampling their best products.

The Taste of Elegance is a Pork Checkoff-funded culinary competition designed to inspire innovative and exciting ways to menu pork. This event brings together talented chefs from across Iowa for an elegant occasion that highlights pork and its popularity as a menu favorite.

The 2013 IPPA Taste of Elegance competition helped kick off the 41st annual Iowa Pork Congress, held Jan. 23 and 24 at the Iowa Events Center.



Less Is More with Winter Bedding, Study Shows

Study Shows You'd think more bedding is always warmer and more comfortable for hogs, but new Pork Checkoff-funded research has shown that this isn't true in any season - including winter.  "In cold weather, there's no added benefit to using more than six bales of bedding per trailer," said John McGlone, a swine researcher at Texas Tech University and principal researcher for the study.

McGlone and Anna Butters-Johnson, an Iowa State University researcher, looked at various rates of bedding in semi-trailers at different times of year and in different locations throughout the Midwest. Their research shows that it's possible for producers to reduce the amount of bedding used during transport year-round. With that comes the added bonus of significant cost savings to the industry - an estimated $10.1 million annually.

"The bedding research is a win-win, because it shows that we can continue to improve animal well-being practices and actually save money at the same time," said Karen Richter, a pork producer from Montgomery, Minn., and National Pork Board vice president.
 
Minimal Problems
"Overall, the pork industry is doing a good job of transporting roughly two million pigs per week in a safe, humane way," said Sherrie Niekamp, swine welfare director for the Checkoff. "Statistics back this up, with fewer than 0.7 percent of pigs sent to market having a negative well-being experience, which could be anything from temporary fatigue to mortality."

Pigs are sensitive to temperature extremes, however, and this leads to stress that can quickly elevate to a negative well-being experience if steps to alleviate the condition aren't taken immediately, McGlone said. Too much bedding can be more of a hindrance than a help as the mercury drops, he added. Cold temperatures cause wet bedding to freeze, making pigs more likely to slip on the ice, thereby causing more downed pigs.

"Obviously, the ice can lead to more injuries, but the real problem with the ice is that it makes the pigs cold, which increases their risk of then going down," said McGlone, who encourages producers to evaluate their bedding practices and determine if they can implement the study's protocols. "There is no advantage in using more bedding than necessary."



Introducing the CHS Center for Cooperative Growth

CHS is pleased to introduce the CHS Center for Cooperative Growth, an online platform that gathers and shares diverse viewpoints from agribusinesses, independent agricultural producers, academia and other leaders to foster greater success among America's cooperatives and their leaders.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58033-introducing-the-chs-center-for-cooperative-growth-online-platform/. 

The online platform was launched in October 2012 and features a primary cooperative topic addressed through four perspectives and allows audiences to participate through online polls and a blog. 

"We hope this online resource will break complex cooperative topics into informative content to help cooperative leaders learn and grow," says Lynn Foth, vice president of market development and strategic alignment for CHS.  Using the resources on this site, visitors will be better informed about the choices their cooperatives have to grow, and remain profitable and sustainable into the future.

This quarter ag cooperative expert Michael Boland, Ph.D., professor of agricultural economics, University of Minnesota will talk about equity management.

Log on to chscenterforcooperativegrowth.com to learn more about this new online platform and view discussions about the dynamic global marketplace.



Biofuels Producers React To Mixed D.C. Circuit Decision

The D.C. Circuit issued a narrow, but mixed decision today, vacating the 2012 cellulosic biofuel standard and affirming the 2012 advanced biofuel standard.  Reacting to that decision, leading organizations representing biofuel producers — who had intervened in the litigation to defend the rulemaking — noted that although the court vacated the cellulosic standard, it also rejected API’s argument that EPA was required to follow the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s projections in setting its own.  Similarly, the court rejected API’s argument that EPA was not entitled to consider information from cellulosic biofuel producers in setting its projection, finding that cellulosic producers were, of course, an “almost inevitable source of information” for EPA.  According to the biofuel organizations, these were important decisions that give EPA flexibility in setting cellulosic biofuel volumes in the future.

Nonetheless, the court vacated the cellulosic biofuel standard because it believed that EPA had impermissibly set the volume with the objective of promoting growth in the industry, rather than simply making an accurate prediction.  The biofuels organizations strongly disagree with the court’s characterization of what EPA did — EPA did not determine a reasonably achievable volume and then inflate it. Rather, it set the volume based on the best information available to it at the time.  Regardless, under the D.C. Circuit’s decision, EPA is free to reinstate the volumes that it had established, as long as the information available at the time would support the agency’s conclusion that those volumes were reasonably achievable.  The court’s decision does not now require, or permit, EPA to set volumes based on hindsight.

The D.C. Circuit also affirmed the EPA’s decision not to reduce the advanced biofuel volume, categorically rejecting API’s arguments that EPA must be support its decision not to reduce the applicable volume of advanced biofuels with specific numerical projections.

In a joint statement, the biofuel organization stated that “although we disagree with the court’s decision vacating the 2012 cellulosic volumes, today’s decision once again rejects broad-brushed attempts to effectively roll back the federal Renewable Fuel Standard.”

The biofuel organizations include the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA), Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC), American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), Growth Energy, and Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). They are reviewing the court’s decision and assessing next steps in the matter.

NBB Welcomes Court Ruling
The National Biodiesel Board issued the following statement Friday applauding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for upholding the advanced biofuels requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS):

"This is just the latest in a series of cases in which the oil industry has tried unsuccessfully to re-litigate the standards for renewable fuels, and it is yet another victory for our nation's shift toward cleaner, more diverse energy supplies," said Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs for the National Biodiesel Board. "The fact is that the RFS is a very effective program for improving U.S. energy security, creating jobs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We look forward to working constructively with our partners in the petroleum industry to meet these goals moving forward."



IHOP, Applebee's to Eliminate Pig Cages

DineEquity, Inc., Glendale, Calif., the parent company of iconic restaurant brands IHOP and Applebee's, announced a new policy that will eliminate the use of gestation crates from its pork supply chain for its more than 3,500 restaurants.

Kevin Mortesen, DineEquity's vice president, communications, released the following statement about the company's new policy:

"DineEquity, and our franchisees who own and operate Applebee's and IHOP restaurants, are committed to ensuring our guests enjoy delicious meals featuring ingredients that are produced and sourced as responsibly and sustainably as possible. As part of that commitment, we hold our suppliers to the highest standards of quality and integrity. This includes practices regarding animal welfare, such as our previously announced pledge to increase the use of cage-free egg products."

The group says that by 2020, Applebee's and IHOP will only serve pork products that are produced without the use of gestation crates.