Thursday January 31 Ag News

2013 Young Cattlemen's Conference Creates Future Leaders

Listen to consumers’ questions and concerns regarding the beef industry. Have a goal in mind to create a great eating experience for that consumer. Work together closely with other segments of the beef industry, sharing both in the hardships and the successes.  Learn what it takes to become a leader in the beef industry. And, most importantly, be proud of what you do as a cattleman or cattlewomen in raising beef to feed the world.

These are the main focuses of the Nebraska Cattlemen Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC) which was held January 22nd thru January 24th in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Over the 3 day experience, participants were able to tour Cargill facilities in Schuyler and Nebraska City and also Sysco Corporation in Lincoln. Beef 101 training was held at the University of Nebraska Lincoln where participants learned about retail meat cutting, value-added products, and lean finely textured beef. Lieutenant Governor Rick Sheehy, Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning and Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach took time to meet with participants. Also, attendees were able to network and create relationships with others in industry.

Ten young cattlemen and cattlewomen join together to participate in YCC each year.  The program is a comprehensive, tour of beef industry sectors, created to enhance leadership skills in beef industry professionals. To qualify for participation, a man or woman must be nominated by one of Nebraska Cattlemen’s affiliate members, be between the ages of 25 and 50, and be a Nebraska Cattlemen member.



Food Processing Center Ice Cream Contest for High School Sophomores, Juniors

Who hasn't stood in front of a grocery freezer or in line at a dairy store and thought, "Boy, do I have a great idea for an ice cream flavor"? Well, now's your chance to back up your sweet talking.

The Food Processing Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is sponsoring a contest for Nebraska's high school sophomore and junior students to create a new ice cream flavor. Participants may use extracts, colors, sauces and purees alone or in combination.  Solid additions, such as chocolate chips, cookie pieces or nuts, are allowed, but not required.  Additions may be varied and multiple, but items with a high moisture content – fruit, for example – must be stabilized so they have a good texture.  Fruit can be stabilized by cooking in a sugar base; The Food Processing Center website offers advice:  http://fpc.unl.edu/contest-fresh-fruits.  One swirl is allowed, but not required.  Making the flavor prior to recipe submission is not required; however, if you choose to do so, a base mix recipe is offered here: http://fpc.unl.edu/contest-base-recipe. All submissions will be assessed by a team of experts and only a limited number will be further developed by The Food Processing Center for evaluation.  Final product development will be performed by The Food Processing Center.  The winning recipe will become the sole property of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

While considering ingredients, participants should keep in mind there will be financial restrictions to ready the recipe for commercial production.  Entries will be evaluated on the basis of uniqueness of concept, overall appeal and feasibility.  The current flavors should not be replicated; the Dairy Store website lists those flavors:  http://dairystore.unl.edu/ice-cream.

Participants must provide a list of ingredients to be used in the recipe.  A list of commercial ingredients is listed at http://fpc.unl.edu/contest-ingredients.  Those who use a "home-made" ingredient recipe should supply instructions on how to prepare the ingredients from scratch.

Entry deadline is April 2, with the winner announced by April 30.  The winning student will be notified before public announcement, and will have the opportunity to visit UNL to participate in the final production run of the winning flavor.  The public will enjoy the award winning flavor at The Food Processing Center's 30th Year Anniversary Open House June 9.

At the open house, the student will be recognized and awarded a scholarship by Rolando Flores, director of The Food Processing Center.  The $1,500 scholarship is contingent on the student enrolling at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in a declared food science and technology major.  To learn more about the Department of Food Science and Technology, visit http://foodsci.unl.edu; to learn more about The Food Processing Center, visit http://fpc.unl.edu/.

Email or send your application and agreement form, found at http://fpc.unl.edu/ice-cream-contest, along with your recipe as noted on the on the form.  If you have any questions, email or call Jonathan Hnosko (jhnosko2@unl.edu) at 402-472-2267 or Lori Byrne (lbyrne1@unl.edu) at 402-472-3991.



Hispanic and Women Farmers and Ranchers May File USDA Discrimination Claims

“Hispanic and women farmers who believe they have faced discriminatory practices from the USDA must file a claim by March 25, 2013 in order to have a chance to receive a cash payment or loan forgiveness,” said Farm Service Agency Director Dan Steinkruger.

The process offers a voluntary alternative to litigation for each Hispanic or female farmer and rancher who can provide that USDA denied their applications for loan or loan servicing assistance for discriminatory reasons for certain time periods between 1981 and 2000.

Call center representatives can be reached at 1-888-508-4429.  Claimants must register for a claims package (by calling the number or visiting the website) and the claim package will be mailed to claimants.  All those interested in learning more or receiving information about the claims process and claims packages are encouraged to contact the website or claims telephone number:
    Website:  www.farmerclaims.gov
    Phone:  1-888-508-4429
    Claims Period:  Ends March 25, 2013

Independent legal services companies will administer the claims process and adjudicate the claims.  Although there are no filing fees to participate and a lawyer is not required to participate in the claims process, persons seeking legal advice may contact a lawyer or other legal services provider.

Steinkruger noted, “We have about seven weeks left in this claims period for filing.  Individuals may contact the call center or their local USDA Service Center for more information.”



ASA Backs Bill Eliminating Duplicative Pesticide Permit Requirements

The American Soybean Association (ASA) welcomes legislation introduced yesterday from Senate Agriculture Committee members Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) that amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to eliminate the duplicative pesticide permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act. The bill, S. 175, will ensure that Clean Water Act permits are not needed for the applications of pesticides currently registered under FIFRA. ASA President Danny Murphy, a soybean farmer from Canton, Miss., issues the following statement on the legislation:

“The elimination of these redundant pesticide permitting requirements has been a priority for ASA since 2010, and we are very supportive of Senator Roberts and Senator Johanns in their efforts to reduce the red tape for our farmers. Farmers are always willing to cooperate with regulations based on sound science and grounded in practical, real-world farming practices. This legislation will remove the uncertainty that the current system creates, while leaving well-established rules in place to effectively protect the environment. We commend Senators Roberts and Johanns on their work, and call on the Senate to pass this bill quickly.”



ASA’s Biotech Working Group Meets in Washington D.C.

ASA’s Biotech Working Group met Jan. 30-31 in Washington, D.C. to continue working with industry partners to advocate for the next generation of biotech soybean traits. The working group comprises farmer leaders from ASA, the United Soybean Board (USB) and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC). Together with corporate members BASF, Bayer CropScience, Dow, DuPont Pioneer, Monsanto and Syngenta, they met for discussions on the domestic and international working group’s reports and updates, U.S. regulatory environment and improvements/setbacks, a European Union (EU) biotech update, and potential future missions.

Additionally, representatives from the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) including Dr. Cathy Enright, BIO’s executive vice president for food and agriculture, gave updates on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) established last fall between ASA, BIO, the National Grain and Feed Association, American Seed Trade Association, National Corn Growers Association, North American Export Grain Association, Corn Refiners Association, National Oilseed Processors Association and U.S. Grains Council. The MOU brings together the resources of the participating organizations to strengthen communication throughout the value chain on biotech and marketability issues.



Senators Introduce Bill to Extend Expired Disaster Assistance

Three Senators introduced a bill this week to extend agriculture disaster assistance programs that expired at the end of 2011 fiscal year and were not part of the 2008 Farm Bill extension.

Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who is also chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said they hope the legislation will be approved to provide funding for 2012 and 2013 while Congress works to pass a new long-term farm bill.

The legislation introduced this week is meant to help the farmers and ranchers who have been left with no support while recovering from severe fires and drought that swept the country last year.

The livestock disaster programs that would be extended by the bill include the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP).

The legislation would allow USDA to use “such sums as necessary” to make livestock indemnity payments to producers who have suffered losses due to adverse weather or losses due to attacks by animals reintroduced to the wild by the federal government. The bill would also provide assistance for weather-related forage losses.

The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) are also included in this bill, which would allow the Secretary of Agriculture to use “such sums as necessary” to provide assistance to orchardists and nursery tree growers who have faced natural disasters.

Baucus and Stabenow have a history of working together on disaster programs, including creating the Livestock Disaster Assistance Program in the 2008 Farm Bill. The language of this bill was included in the Senate-passed farm bill draft that was approved June 21, 2012, and Baucus also introduced it separately in 2012.  



2012 Brief: U.S. ethanol prices and production lower compared to 2011
(from EIA)

Spot prices for U.S. fuel ethanol were lower throughout most of 2012 compared to 2011. Prices were relatively stable during the first half of 2012, but they rose at mid-year as severe drought and scorching temperatures reduced corn yields, resulting in higher prices for corn that is used to make nearly all U.S. ethanol.

Ethanol spot prices rose from a low of around $2 per gallon in mid-June to a 2012 peak of $2.61 in late July. However, that was still 30 cents per gallon lower than the peak spot price at about the same time in 2011. Ethanol prices last year did not rise above 2011 levels until December 2012.

Higher ethanol prices during the second half of 2012 were mainly the result of higher corn prices, which rose 35% from mid-June through August because of concerns that the corn crop would be affected by the worst drought in the Midwest since the 1950s, coupled with triple-digit temperatures. During the hot and dry summer of 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that 88% of the U.S. corn crop was within a drought area. The 2012-13 U.S. corn crop is expected to be the smallest in six years at nearly 10.8 billion bushels, according to USDA's January 2013 crop forecast, 13% smaller than the 2011-12 crop. USDA indicates that about 4.5 billion bushels, or 42% of the harvest, will go to make ethanol. That level is down from just over 5 billion bushels used to make ethanol during the previous crop year.

The combination of lower corn supplies, higher corn prices for ethanol producers, and weaker gasoline demand contributed to U.S. ethanol output falling from an average 900,000 barrels per day (bbl/day) during the first half of 2012 to an average of 815,000 bbl/day during in latter half, about 90,000 bbl/day less than in the second half of 2011, according to EIA data.

Ethanol production capacity was little changed in 2012. There were 194 ethanol plants in the United States at the beginning of 2012, with a maximum sustainable production capacity of 934,000 bbl/day, according to EIA. That level is slightly higher than 193 plants a year earlier, with a sustainable capacity of 929,000 bbl/day of ethanol.

Partly because of lower domestic ethanol production during the second half of 2012, the United States became a net importer of ethanol in August 2012 for the first time since January 2010. The United States continued to import more ethanol, mostly sugar cane-based ethanol from Brazil, than it exported through October 2012, according to the latest available data.

Most gasoline sold in the United States contains 10% ethanol by volume. However, gasoline that is 15% ethanol, which the Environmental Protection Agency approved as E15 in 2011 for use in vehicles built since the 2001 model year, began selling last summer. Use of E15 was extremely small during 2012, as only eight fueling stations in Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa were selling the motor fuel by the end of the year.



Corn Harvest Quality Report: High Marks from Foreign Buyers

"What we heard from buyers was essentially, 'this is great information, and we want more,'" said U.S. Grains Council Chairman Don Fast. "Since the Corn Harvest Quality Report was developed to serve buyers, it's good to know that we're hitting the mark."

Fast and Bill Kubecka, USGC sorghum sector director, participated recently in the rollout of the Harvest Report 2012/13 at a series of nine well-attended buyer seminars in Colombia and Mexico, two countries with a rapidly growing middle class and significant growth potential for U.S. coarse grains and DDGS exports. In only its second year, the Council's Corn Harvest Quality Report has already become a recognized and trusted resource for buyers interested in sourcing from the United States.

The Harvest Report 2012/13 presents detailed qualitative information on the current U.S. corn crop. "Since 2009, due to perceived quality issues with the U.S. crop, Colombia has been trying to diversify its suppliers," noted Fast, "and in both countries, recent price differentials have opened the door to South American competitors.

"But buyers also expressed a clear interest in continuing to buy U.S. corn, sorghum, and DDGS. The Corn Harvest Quality Report responds directly to lingering quality concerns. It puts us ahead of the competition. These markets will respond when the drought ends and U.S. production rebounds."

Fast and Kubecka were accompanied by Alvaro Cordero, manager of global trade in the Council's Washington, D.C., office, Julio Hernandez, USGC Mexico director, and Kurt Shultz, USGC regional director for the Americas. The Corn Harvest Quality Report is also being presented in other key markets by the Council's global international staff. The second annual Corn Export Cargo Quality Report, which details the U.S. crop at the point of export shipment, will be published this Spring.



EPA Proposes 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing the 2013 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2).

The proposal announced today will be open for a 45-day public comment period and EPA will consider feedback from a range of stakeholders before the proposal is finalized. EPA continues to support the use of renewable fuels within the transportation sector through the RFS2 program, which encourages innovation, strengthens American energy security, and decreases greenhouse gas pollution.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) established the RFS2 program and the annual renewable fuel volume targets, which steadily increase to an overall level of 36 billion gallons in 2022. To achieve these volumes, EPA calculates a percentage-based standard for the following year. Based on the standard, each refiner and importer determines the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in its transportation fuel.

The proposed 2013 overall volumes and standards are:
-  Biomass-based diesel (1.28 billion gallons; 1.12 percent)
-  Advanced biofuels (2.75 billion gallons; 1.60 percent)
-  Cellulosic biofuels (14 million gallons; 0.008 percent)
-  Total renewable fuels (16.55 billion gallons; 9.63 percent)

Overall, EPA’s RFS2 program encourages greater use of renewable fuels, including advanced biofuels. For 2013, the program is proposing to implement EISA’s requirement to blend more than 1.35 billion gallons of renewable fuels over the amount mandated for 2012.

More information on the standards and regulations:  http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/regulations.htm. 



RFA on 2013 RFS Proposal: Program Working, But Imports a Concern

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its long-awaited proposed rule for 2013 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumetric requirements. The proposal waives the cellulosic biofuel requirement from one billion gallons to 14 million gallons, but retains overall advanced biofuel and renewable fuel requirements. In response, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen offered the following comments:

“The 2013 RFS requirements will be the catalyst that finally compels oil companies to get serious about breaching the so-called blend wall. This year’s RFS requirements will necessitate the use of more E15, E85 and other higher-level blends. Injecting larger volumes of biofuels into the U.S. fuel supply and spurring a more rapid transition to domestically produced renewables is exactly what the RFS was intended to do. The program is working as envisioned by Congress.

“EPA again considered the best available information — including projections from the Energy Information Administration — to set the 2013 cellulosic biofuel requirement. The proposed standard in no way exaggerates the volumes that will be available in 2013 based on current information, and may ultimately prove to be conservative. Cellulosic ethanol is being produced today at commercial scale in Florida, and with construction nearing completion at several other commercial sites, we fully expect 2013 to be the breakthrough year for cellulosic ethanol. At the same time, the fact that EPA waived 98.6 percent of the statutory cellulosic biofuel standard demonstrates the extraordinary flexibility and adaptability of the RFS program.

“We are concerned, however, that the proposed 2013 advanced biofuel standard will open the door even wider to imports of more expensive Brazilian sugarcane ethanol. We hope the requirement can be met with domestic advanced biofuels, like waste-derived ethanol and biodiesel. However, we must be mindful that imports accounted for 92 percent of the 2012 advanced biofuel standard. In an unconstrained fuel market where E15 and other mid-level blends were broadly available, imports would not be a major concern. However, in today’s constrained market, where oil companies continue to throw up roadblocks to E15 and other mid-level blends, every gallon of imported ethanol is one less gallon of domestically-produced ethanol that will be used. This occurs only because EPA allows more expensive imported Brazilian ethanol to claim the advanced biofuel RIN that is currently trading at $0.48. High-priced sugar ethanol imports began to cannibalize the U.S. market in 2012, and today’s decision potentially adds fuel to the fire.

“RFA will continue to encourage EPA to revisit its lifecycle analysis, which graciously assigns advanced biofuel status to sugarcane ethanol. EPA’s outdated analysis suggests sugarcane ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 52 to 71 percent relative to gasoline. However, the most recent peer-reviewed, published estimate found the range of sugarcane GHG reductions to be 40 to 62 percent, meaning nearly half of current sugarcane imports likely do not meet the 50 percent GHG reduction requirement.”

RFA will be filing comments in response to today’s proposal from EPA.

With regard to EPA's proposal to address biodiesel RIN fraud, Dinneen added, “We're encouraged that EPA has proposed a voluntary mechanism for obligated parties to assure the RINs they are using for compliance actually reflect a gallon produced. It addresses a major concern oil companies have raised regarding biodiesel RINs and assures the overall integrity of the RFS program. It is important to note that there have been no incidents of RIN fraud with ethanol gallons produced for the RFS in large part because ethanol producers generally do not separate the RINs from the gallons they produced, as is the case with other biofuels.”



Biodiesel Industry Welcomes 2013 Advanced Biofuels Proposal

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) on Thursday welcomed a proposed rule from the EPA establishing this year's Advanced Biofuels requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

"We want to thank the EPA and the entire Obama Administration for standing strong behind these important standards for Advanced Biofuels," said Anne Steckel, NBB's vice president of federal affairs. "The U.S. biodiesel industry is poised and ready to help meet these requirements, and that will mean reduced greenhouse gas emissions, a better economy and more domestic fuel choices for consumers."

"With plants across the country and more than a billion gallons of production last year, the U.S. biodiesel industry is already the leading producer of Advanced Biofuels in the country, accounting for more than 80 percent of required production to date," Steckel added. "The industry is adding new feedstocks and building capacity every year, and this policy will only help us continue that growth."

Biodiesel is the first and only domestic fuel produced on a commercial scale nationwide to meet the EPA's standards as an Advanced Biofuel - meaning it reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent compared with petroleum diesel. According to the EPA, biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 57 percent to 86 percent, depending on the feedstock used to produce it. The industry has exceeded the RFS production requirements for two consecutive years, and in 2012 it produced nearly 1.1 billion gallons of fuel, with plants in nearly every state in the country supporting more than 64,000 jobs.

Under the RFS, the Biomass-based Diesel requirement is a subset of the overall Advanced Biofuel requirement. For 2013, the EPA's proposal calls for an overall Advanced Biofuel requirement of 2.75 billion gallons. Within that total, the Biomass-based Diesel requirement - which has already been finalized and was not a part of today's announcement - is 1.28 billion gallons. Refiners have the option of using biodiesel or other EPA-designated Advanced Biofuels to help fill the remaining overall Advanced Biofuel pool, and many experts are predicting that biodiesel will play an increasing role in doing so this year.



2013 RFS Targets For Cellulosic Biofuels On Target, Cellulosic Biofuels Coming Online

In response to the release today of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume standards for 2013, Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) released the following statement:

“The advanced ethanol industry appreciates U.S. EPA’s due diligence on getting to the right number on cellulosic biofuels. The cellulosic biofuels industry is just breaking through at commercial scale with the most innovative and cleanest liquid fuel in the world. U.S. EPA worked hard to ensure that the cellulosic biofuels volume standard for 2013 would be tied directly to the commercial production of cellulosic biofuels expected to come online this year. While weaning the United States off of its addiction to foreign oil is not easy, the volume standards proposed today will continue to provide advanced biofuel investors and innovators with a predictable and durable path forward in that effort. U.S. EPA’s acknowledgement of the Brazil situation underscores the need to knock down the ethanol blend wall quickly, so that we are not protecting 90 percent of the market exclusively for fossil fuels. The RFS is one the most, if not the most forward-looking and intelligent energy programs ever enacted in the United States. We look forward to finalizing these targets as quickly as possible to provide our investors and fuel producers with the certainty they need to meet the RFS.”



Biodiesel Industry Responds to EPA RIN Integrity Proposal

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) released the following statement Thursday after the EPA issued its proposed rule for addressing fraudulent Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard:

"While we are still reviewing the details, this proposal appears to be another positive step toward ensuring that RIN fraud is a thing of the past," said Anne Steckel, NBB's vice president of federal affairs. "We want to thank the EPA for working aggressively to address this issue and for proposing constructive solutions that will restore confidence in RIN markets."

"This problem was caused by a handful of wrongdoers who took advantage of a good policy for advancing America's energy security," Steckel added. "Two of those people are now facing significant prison time, and that enforcement along with these tightened regulations will go a long way toward preventing anything like this from happening again."

NBB intends to continue working cooperatively with the EPA and our partners in the petroleum sector in bringing this issue to closure.



January Farm Prices Received Index Increased 18 Points

The preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in January, at 217 percent, based on 1990-1992=100, increased 18 points (9.0 percent) from December. The Crop Index is up 22 points (9.7 percent) and the Livestock Index increased 2 points (1.2 percent). Producers received higher prices for lettuce, broilers, cattle, and corn and lower prices for milk, soybeans, eggs, and wheat. In addition to prices, the overall index is also affected by the seasonal change based on a 3-year average mix of commodities producers sell. Increased monthly movement of corn, soybeans, rice, and strawberries offset the decreased marketing of broilers, milk, wheat, and upland cotton.

Prices Paid Index up 3 Points
The January Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes, and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW) is 221 percent of the 1990-1992 average. The index is up 3 points (1.4 percent) from December and 11 points (5.2 percent) above January 2012. Higher prices in January for cash rent, nitrogen, other services, and taxes offset lower prices for diesel, interest, complete feeds, and mixed fertilizer.

Prices Received by Farmers
The January All Farm Products Index is 217 percent of its 1990-1992 base, up 9.0 percent from the December index and 15 percent above the January 2012 index.

All crops:
The January index, at 248, is up 9.7 percent from December and 17 percent above January 2012. Index increases for commercial vegetables and feed grains & hay more than offset the index decreases for fruits & nuts and oilseeds.

Food grains: The January index, at 259, is down 2.6 percent from the previous month but 11 percent above a year ago. The January price for all wheat, at $8.10 per bushel, is down 19 cents from December but $1.05 above January 2012.

Feed grains & hay: The January index, at 301, is up 2.4 percent from last month and 15 percent above a year ago. The corn price, at $6.98 per bushel, is 11 cents higher than last month and 91 cents above January 2012. The all hay price, at $191 per ton, is down $1.00 from December but $19.00 higher than last January. Sorghum grain, at $12.10 per cwt, is 10 cents lower than December but $1.30 above January last year.

Cotton, Upland: The January index, at 120, is up 1.7 percent from December but 19 percent below last year. The January price, at 72.7 cents per pound, is 1.4 cents higher than the previous month but 17.4 cents below last January.

Oilseeds: The January index, at 250, is down 1.6 percent from December but 17 percent higher than January 2012. The soybean price, at $14.10 per bushel, is down 20 cents from December but is $2.20 above January 2012.

Livestock and products:
The January index, at 168, is 1.2 percent above last month and 7.7 percent higher than January 2012. Compared with a year ago, prices are higher for broilers, milk, cattle, and eggs. The price for calves is unchanged. Prices for turkeys and hogs are down from last year.

Meat animals: The January index, at 165, is up 3.1 percent from last month and 1.2 percent higher than last year. The January hog price, at $62.90 per cwt, is up 50 cents from December but 60 cents lower than a year ago. The January beef cattle price of $128 per cwt is $4.00 higher than last month and up $3.00 from January 2012.

Dairy products: The January index, at 153, is down 4.4 percent from a month ago but 5.5 percent higher than January last year. The January all milk price of $20.00 per cwt is down 90 cents from last month but $1.00 higher than January 2012.



Restricted Vessel Traffic Permitted on Mississippi River

(AP) -- The Coast Guard is permitting restricted commercial vessel traffic on the Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Miss., as crews work to remove oil from a leaking barge, a Guard spokesman said Thursday.

Chief Petty Officer Paul Roszkowski said southbound commercial traffic was being allowed to pass through the area during daylight hours and northbound commercial traffic will be permitted to move at night.

A 16-mile stretch of the river was closed Sunday after two oil barges hit a railroad bridge and one of them started leaking light crude.

The Coast Guard allowed the first barges to pass Wednesday to test how the movement on the river would affect efforts to clean up the leaking oil and take it off the damaged barge.

"We understand the impact that the closure has had on industry and commerce. One of our main goals besides cleaning up the accident is getting traffic moving again. We will push to keep traffic moving as long as it is safe and doesn't impact operations," Roszkowski said.

At times there have been more than 70 vessels, including tow boats, and hundreds of barges idled at the affected section of the river that separates Mississippi and Louisiana. The numbers fluctuate as the barges are let through and others arrive.



Next-generation scientists to attend National Biodiesel Conference 

Jeremy Ferrell, a Ph.D student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, sees great potential for biodiesel to help revitalize rural areas once dominated by tobacco.  It's one reason he chose to pursue a career in energy and environment science, and today he conducts biodiesel research at an industrial ecology project in North Carolina.

"What fascinates me about biodiesel is its diversity across numerous sectors," Ferrell said. "The opportunity for biodiesel to enhance rural economies is one of the things that drives my career." 

Ferrell is one of 16 college students with a unique opportunity to grow their passion for biodiesel at the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, Feb. 4-7 in Las Vegas.  The National Biodiesel Board views student participation as important since many students are already working on exciting biodiesel research, and are future industry leaders.

"They are often called 'student scientists,' but the reality is that these are full-fledged scientists, contributing to the large body of work that makes up biofuels research in this country," said NBB Technical Project Manager Kyle Anderson.  "There is tremendous potential for this NBB program to have a lasting impact on biodiesel research.  It's a great investment to share solid information and build relationships with tomorrow's scientific thought leaders."

The scholarships are awarded to selected applicants who are members of the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel, an NBB program that aims to educate and collaborate with young scientists.  The United Soybean Board also supports the program through the soybean checkoff.

"I believe the conference will present engaging information and activities that will allow me to solidify my knowledge, and strengthen research and career interests that I hope to pursue in my professional life," said Nina De la Rosa, an Environmental Studies student at Florida International University in Miami.  "The knowledge and professional network I gain from this conference will only allow my passion for biofuels to grow and strengthen my commitment to continue in a field that will remain of high importance in our quest for global sustainability."

Like many of the other scholars, De la Rosa and Ferrell will present posters on their research during the event.  This is the second year the conference has hosted a poster session. 

The scholarships are funded by state soybean organizations and USB.  The students come from a wide array of institutions, including:
    Utah State University
    Clemson University
    University of Colorado - Boulder
    Southern Illinois University
    University of Cincinnati
    Iowa State University
    Texas A&M
    University of Texas at Arlington
    Dartmouth College



Argentine Soy, Corn Gasping For Rain

Argentine soybean and corn crops are starting to really feel the impact of dry weather over the last month and productive potential is under threat, said the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange in a report late Wednesday.  After an extremely wet second half of 2012, the tap turned off in 2013 and some early-planted soybeans are already suffering badly, while most are in desperate need of moisture or their productive capacity will decline, said the report.  "Rains are needed immediately to interrupt the gradual deterioration before losses begin to take on greater momentum," it said.

Corn is also in desperate need of rain as the harvest begins in the north.  In Cordoba, a major corn area, the grains are suffering not only from a lack of rain but also high temperatures, which is affecting grain filling.  Forecast rain over the next couple of days for Buenos Aires province, the main corn area, does provide hope that some crops can recover there.



Olson, Mitchell Open National Farmers Convention in Kansas City

National Farmers President Paul Olson, Taylor, Wis., in his message at the Connect to Profit national convention in Kansas City, Mo., Jan. 29, acknowledged concerns in the ag industry regarding producers’ access to markets, increasing foreign ownership of milk buyers, lack of ag competition and the need for a farm bill.

He recognized the effects of the global food economy that touch producers every day, and how rapidly the global nature of the industry causes markets to move. He noted National Farmers staff and leaders have long been proponents and pioneers of ag risk management tools to help farmers profit.

“All this makes it more important than ever to have an agent in the markets,” he said. And National Farmers represents producers in the marketplace every day.

Another presenter agreed with Olson’s conviction for passage of a new farm bill. GIPSA Administrator Larry Mitchell addressed National Farmers members Tuesday morning and said both he and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack are awaiting passage of a farm, food and jobs act. He also noted the need for implementation of the new GIPSA rule regarding livestock marketing.

Mitchell talked about the inside workings of grain inspection and GIPSA’s commitment to protect the U.S. high-quality grain reputation worldwide. He also noted his division helps protect grain and livestock producers through oversight and inspection, ensuring grain and livestock quality and payment to livestock producers.

In a question and answer session, Mitchell explained GIPSA testing is critical for the Risk Management Agency as well as for crop insurance integrity.

Mitchell said GIPSA is preparing a succession plan for staff as a majority of workers near retirement.

National Farmers annual farm business marketing meeting continues at AG CONNECT Expo and Summit in Kansas City, Mo., this week.



Persistent Drought Worries Producers

At National Farmers Connect to Profit Convention in Kansas City Tuesday, Senior Grain Marketing Analyst Pete Lorenz spoke about severe drought conditions gripping the nation’s farm lands.

We see real risk for production problems this coming year in wheat, and in some corn areas, because of the drought, Lorenz said. “In Kansas, where I live, the state’s wheat crop is in the poorest condition it has been in 50 years. And I’ve heard South Dakota hasn’t seen crop conditions this poor in history,” Lorenz emphasized.

Weather condition and potential crop losses could lead to extreme market volatility. And it makes marketing plans that much more of a necessity. A combination of all risk management tools, options, forward contracts and other marketing strategies will be needed this year. The Crop insurance sign up deadline is March 15 for Spring—planted crops.

With inadequate subsoil moisture in western Kansas, Lorenz has heard reports of people digging six feet down, without finding moisture — encountering nothing but dust. This puts Spring—planted crops at severe risk. “It will take several rain events to replenish topsoil and subsoil levels, according to Lorenz.

Last year, wheat began growing in February, because warm weather came early. “Once the wheat comes out of dormancy this year, if we don’t receive rain in two to four weeks, there could be a serious problem,” he said.

Additionally, National Farmers Crop Insurance Agent Chris Webb pointed out crop insurance is a win-win for consumers and producers. Even with the 2012 drought, government made no major disaster outlays last year, despite the historic drought.

Lorenz is presenting to grain growers in Kansas City this week during National Farmers Connect to Profit Convention, at AG CONNECT Expo and Summit.