Thursday February 7 Ag News

Ehresman Resigns from "We Support Ag" amid Lt. Gov. Controversey

(AP) _ A Nebraska woman who exchanged numerous phone calls with former Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy has resigned from her job.  The nonprofit ``We Support Agriculture'' announced Thursday that Michele Ehresman has stepped down as the group's executive director.  Her resignation comes less than a week after Sheehy resigned, following questions into his use of a state cell phone. An investigation by the Omaha World-Herald found that Sheehy called Ehresman and three other women frequently.

``We Support Agriculture'' says the organization and Ehresman mutually agreed to end her contract. The group declined to comment further. Ehresman did not return phone calls on Thursday. One of her phone numbers has been disconnected.

Five agriculture groups formed ``We Support Agriculture'' in 2011 to combat criticisms from animal rights groups.



Dave and Deb Welsch receive Bob Steffen Pioneer Award

On February 11, the eve of the Center for Rural Affairs’ 7th Annual MarketPlace entrepreneurship conference in West Point, the Center for Rural Affairs will present their 2012 Bob Steffen Pioneer Award to Dave and Deb Welsch of Milford, Nebraska. This honor is bestowed by the Center’s Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program each year to a person or persons who make an extraordinary contribution to the work of the program and provide a model for innovation, stewardship or community development.

Dave and Deb are being honored for their integrity, leadership and extraordinary efforts in sustainable agriculture at a special awards banquet in West Point, Nebraska.

"It is quite an honor for Deb and me to be recognized with an award with Bob Steffen's name on it,” said Dave Welsch. “To be recognized in connection with the type of work he did for a lifetime, work that we are doing a fraction of on our farm, is very special." Dave and Deb are organic farmers and owner-operators of West Blue Farm.

“They have supported the work of the Center for a number of years – both in our policy work and in the work of the Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program,” said Kathie Starkweather, Rural Stewardship and Opportunities Program Director for the Center for Rural Affairs.

In addition to their own farming and entrepreneurial efforts, Dave and Deb have sought to share their knowledge and experience by helping teach others as well. Throughout the years the Center for Rural Affairs has organized farm trainings and farm tours that the Welsch’s have graciously hosted and helped facilitate on their farm.

According to Starkweather, Dave and Deb have been excellent spokespeople for the Center’s Land Link program as well.  Recognizing the need to transition their legacy to a new generation, they made a land match and partnered with a young, beginning farm family and helped them start their own farming operation.  

“The Welsch’s are leaders in organic and sustainable agriculture as well, and have made themselves available to help respond to questions that new organic growers have and offer their assistance where needed,” added Starkweather.

Bob Steffen was a pioneer in sustainable agriculture, organic farming, and biodynamics and helped found the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society and was a founding member of the Center for Rural Affairs Board of Directors. The Sierra Club, Audubon Society and Nebraska Wildlife Federation recognized Bob for his service to the environment. And as the Farm Superintendent at Boys Town near Omaha for over 30 years, he influenced thousands of young men with his agriculture programs.



Producer support of the beef checkoff remains high

Support for the beef checkoff remains high, according to a recent survey of beef and dairy producers nationwide. Support, at 76 percent, in unchanged since January 2012 and is at an historic high.

The nationwide survey of 1,200 beef and dairy producers conducted by the independent firm Aspen Media & Market Research in late December 2012 and early January 2013 found an overwhelming majority of beef and dairy producers continue to say their beef checkoff has value for them in many ways:
-    Eight out of 10 producers say the beef checkoff has helped to contribute to a positive trend in beef demand.
-    Seven out of 10 producers say the beef checkoff contributes to the profitability of their operations, is there for them in a crisis and represents their interests.
-    Seven out of 10 beef producers believe the checkoff is well-managed.

“Support for the checkoff remains high,” says Joint Producer Communications Working Group (JPCWG) Chair and a producer from Keldron, SD, Danni Beer. “Interestingly the survey shows that about one-third of producers don’t consider themselves informed about the checkoff.  With the fairly significant reduction in the producer communications budget for FY2013, the working group will be exploring fresh, innovative and efficient ways to communicate with producers about their checkoff and the work the program does for them so we can improve those numbers."



Northey Encourages Century & Heritage Farm Owners to Apply

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey encouraged eligible farm owners to apply for the 2013 Century and Heritage Farm Program. The program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau and recognizes families that have owned their farm for 100 years in the case of Century Farms and 150 years for Heritage Farms.

"These awards are an opportunity to recognize the hard work and commitment by these families that is necessary to keep a farm in the same family for 100 or 150 years," Northey said. "If you consider all the challenges and unexpected obstacles each of them would have had to overcome during their life on the farm, it gives you a greater appreciation of the dedication and perseverance of each of the families being recognized."

Applications are available on the Department's website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov by clicking on the Century Farm or Heritage Farm link under "Hot Topics."

Applications may also be requested from Becky Lorenz, Coordinator of the Century and Heritage Farm Program via phone at 515-281-3645, email at Becky.Lorenz@IowaAgriculture.gov or by writing to Century or Heritage Farms Program, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Henry A. Wallace Building, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319.

Farm families seeking to qualify for the Century or Heritage Farms Program must submit an application to the Department no later than June 1.

The ceremony to recognize the 2013 Century and Heritage Farms will be held at the Iowa State Fair and is scheduled for Aug. 13.

The Century Farm program began in 1976 as part of the Nation's Bicentennial Celebration and 17,486 farms from across the state have received this recognition. The Heritage Farm program was started in 2006, on the 30th anniversary of the Century Farm program, and 583 farms have been recognized.

Last year 345 Century Farms and 69 Heritage Farms were recognized.

"Century and Heritage Farm recognitions at the Iowa State Fair are a great celebration of Iowa agriculture and the families that care for the land and produce our food," Northey said. "I hope eligible families will take the time to apply and then come to the State Fair to be recognized."



U.S. Pork Exports Boost Producers’ Profitability

U.S. Pork exports have continued to match the record-setting pace of 2011, and this impressive performance in 2012 couldn’t have come at a better time.

“International marketing efforts by the Pork Checkoff and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) are helping producers get what they need from the international market at a critical time,” said Chris Novak, chief executive officer of the National Pork Board. “With the drought that producers faced in 2012, along with record-high feed prices, we’re seeing international markets respond to the value of U.S. Pork.”

The most current data available through November of 2012 show that U.S. Pork exports continued to top 2011 levels by 2 percent in volume, with a total of 4.577 billion pounds and 5 percent in value, at a total of $5.8 billion. Mexico remains the United States’ top pork volume destination, with totals through November up 15 percent in volume and 11 percent in value, pushing the 11-month total to 1.213 billion pounds valued at more than $1 billion.

“The export market is a bright star right now for U.S. Pork,” said Channing Gooden, a pork producer from Elizabethtown, N.C., who traveled to California recently with the Pork Leadership Institute (PLI) to learn more about pork export markets. “I’ve always respected the importance of trade, but seeing the mechanics of how it works is amazing.”

Exports Add Significant Value
Year-to-date, U.S. Pork exports account for 27 percent of total production (including 23.5 percent for muscle cuts) and the per-head export value is $56.12, up 3 percent from last year.

“The export market is an important key to growing the pork industry in the United States,” said Nathan Horton, a Murphy Brown feed mill team leader and PLI member from Milford, Utah. “I’m impressed by the pork industry’s leadership in trade issues.”

Along with Mexico and Japan, markets driving increased volume for U.S. Pork in November of 2012 included Canada (up 15 percent from November of 2011), South Korea (up 26 percent), Russia (up 100 percent) and Central/South America (up 21.1 percent), according to statistics released by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and compiled by the USMEF.

The quality and leanness of U.S. Pork keep international buyers coming back, Novak said. “Through the years, U.S. pork producers have done a good job through the Pork Quality Assurance® Plus program to provide customers worldwide with safe, high-quality pork.”

Variety Meats Create Opportunities
These exports put more money in U.S. producers’ pockets, said Dr. Dermot Hayes, a professor of economics at Iowa State University. “Every $1 million increase in the value of U.S. Pork exports adds six cents per hundredweight to live hog prices.”

The United States has many advantages compared to other countries, from efficient pork production systems to good disease management programs, he noted. As U.S. Pork continues to gain access to new markets, some of the biggest opportunities may come from variety meats.

“Many Asian buyers would like it if pigs had six ears and eight feet,” said Hayes, who noted that variety meats factor prominently in many cuisines around the world, from soups to sausages. “While we currently render a lot of variety meats domestically at 12 to 15 cents per pound, we could add to the overall value of the carcass by growing our exports of variety meats.”



ASA Relays Priorities to USDA, EPA in Washington Meetings

Farmer leaders from the American Soybean Association (ASA) met last week with officials from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to relay the association’s critical policy priorities to the administration of President Barack Obama for the coming year.

ASA Chairman Steve Wellman and First Vice President Ray Gaesser met Wednesday, January 30, with Krysta Harden, chief of staff to Secretary Tom Vilsack. During the meeting, ASA congratulated Secretary Vilsack on his reappointment to a second term in the Obama Administration, highlighting the association’s excellent relationship with the secretary and his staff. ASA also thanked the Secretary’s office for its commitment to biodiesel and biobased products, and USDA’s decision to use FY-2012 funds to keep the Foreign Market Development and Market Access Programs operating until the farm bill extension passed as part of the package to avert the “fiscal cliff”.

ASA also expressed its appreciation for the Obama Administration’s efforts to address asynchronous approvals of biotech traits in the Chinese market, as well as USDA-APHIS’ commitment to streamline the deregulation process. At the same time, ASA expressed concern about the length of time a number of new soybean traits have been under review, and encouraged APHIS to accelerate these deregulations as well.

“Wednesday’s meeting gave us a venue to discuss a host of issues that will impact soybean farmers in the coming year, and the Secretary’s office has provided a receptive ear to our concerns,” said Gaesser. “Our concerns regarding the biotech approvals process, trade issues, the farm bill and renewable energy issues were well received, and we are confident that we will continue to have a strong partner in the USDA in the administration’s second term.”

On Thursday afternoon, January 31, ASA President Danny Murphy joined Wellman and Gaesser for a meeting with EPA officials, including the directors and acting directors of the agency’s Registration Division (RD), Environmental Fate and Effects Division (EFED), and Biological and Economic Analysis Division (BEAD) to address the need for new herbicide tolerant crop technologies to prevent and manage weed resistance. Currently, EPA approves label and maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides used on new herbicide tolerant crops.

“Farmers need timely action from EPA on these issues because we need these new technologies to prevent and manage weed resistance, and to produce abundant food for the U.S. and abroad,” said Murphy. “Farmers have experience in managing the application of different chemistries and following label requirements, and during our meeting Thursday, we were able to convey those abilities to EPA.”

“We are very appreciative of the ability to meet with leaders at USDA and EPA,” added Murphy. “Their candor and readiness to exchange ideas provides us with a great deal of confidence in our ability to work productively together in the coming year.”



Pork Checkoff Offers Sow-Housing Webinar Series Starting March 26

To get the latest information and insight about today’s sow-housing options, plan to register at pork.org for the 2013 Pork Checkoff Sow Housing Webinar series, set to begin on March 26 at 1 p.m. Central Time. The free, 45-minute webinars will feature top experts discussing:
• Group Housing Systems - Choices and Designs – March 26
• Forming Sow Groups – March 28
• Floor-Space Allocation and Group Size – April 2
• Genetic Considerations– April 4
• Feeding Practices– April 6
• Production Flow and Management– April 11
• New and Conversion Construction– April 16
• Economics of Sow-Housing Conversion– April 18

After each presentation, participants can ask the experts questions. For those who miss any of the Tuesday and Thursday sessions, they will be archived on pork.org to view later. To register, go to pork.org/sowhousing.



US Department of Labor announces grant competition to provide career training to farmworkers

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a grant competition for the National Farmworker Jobs Program. Funds will be used to provide career training and employment and supportive services to improve economic opportunities for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families.

“Farmworkers – harvesting and packaging the vegetables and fruits that feed a nation – are vital to our economy. These Labor Department grants will be an investment that benefits not only these workers but all of us,” said acting Secretary Seth D. Harris.

The National Farmworker Jobs Program helps farmworkers upgrade their agricultural job skills or acquire new skills in industries that offer higher wages and more stable employment. In addition, the program provides supportive services such as child care, housing assistance and transportation, which remove barriers to farmworkers pursuing training, and enable them to begin new careers or retain their employment.

Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, community-based organizations and public agencies that assist farmworkers and their families in attaining greater economic stability. A total of approximately $9.6 million is available for grants to operate the program in central California, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey and Puerto Rico.

The National Farmworker Jobs Program is authorized by Congress in Section 167 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to counter the impact of chronic unemployment and underemployment experienced by migrant and seasonal farmworkers who depend primarily on agricultural jobs.

The solicitation for grant applications, which includes information about how to apply, is available at http://www.grants.gov.

For more information about the National Farmworker Jobs Program and other Department of Labor programs for farmworkers, visit http://www.doleta.gov/msfw.



USDA Extends Census Deadline, Reminds Producers It’s Not too Late

Farmers and ranchers across the country are heeding the call to have their voices heard and their farms represented in the 2012 Census of Agriculture. With 1.4 million Census forms returned, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is thanking everyone for speaking up for their communities, their industry and their future by sending in their Census form. For those who missed the deadline, USDA reminds producers that their farm is important and needs to be counted. As a result, Census forms are still being accepted.

“Information from the Census of Agriculture helps USDA monitor trends and better understand the needs in agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Providing industry stakeholders, community leaders, lawmakers and individual farm operators with the most comprehensive and accurate U.S. agricultural reports, we all help ensure the tools are available to make informed, sound decisions to protect the future of American agriculture.”

Conducted every five years by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census provides detailed data covering nearly every facet of U.S. agriculture. It looks at land use and ownership, production practices, expenditures and other factors that affect the way farmers and ranchers do business. The deadline for submitting Census forms was February 4, and many farmers and ranchers have responded. However, those who did not respond by the original due date will receive another copy of the form in the mail to give them another opportunity.

“Accurate and comprehensive information from all farmers and ranchers is important so that the Census can provide a true picture of U.S. agriculture today and help everyone plan appropriately for future,” said Vilsack. “This level of information is only gathered and released once every five years, so we need the participation of every producer to ensure the agricultural industry and rural America receive the representation that will provide them with the most benefit and value.”

Farmers and ranchers can return their forms by mail or online by visiting a secure website, www.agcensus.usda.gov. Federal law requires all agricultural producers to participate in the Census and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential.

For more information about the Census, including helpful tips on completing your Census form, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call 1-888-4AG-STAT (1-888-424-7828). The Census of Agriculture is your voice, your future, your responsibility.



USDA Climate Change Adaptation Plan Open for Public Comment

USDA is committed to fostering a clean energy economy and to improving the environment by conducting operations in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner, complying with environmental laws and regulations, and leading by example. In order to fulfill its mission of providing leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues, USDA focuses on the future. The Department recognizes the significance of global climate change and how potential impacts such as more frequent or severe weather events can affect our programs and operations.

To better coordinate USDA’s sustainability efforts and build on past success, USDA has prepared its 2012 Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan that underscores strategies and goals to save taxpayer dollars, reduce carbon emissions, cut waste and save energy.  As part of this effort, this year we have also prepared a Climate Change Adaptation Plan that outlines how the Department will address the impacts of climate change on its key mission areas such as agricultural production, food security, rural development, and forestry and natural resources conservation. The plan is available and open for a 60-day public comment period.

The USDA Climate Change Adaptation Plan includes input from eleven USDA agencies and offices.  It provides a detailed vulnerability assessment, reviews the elements of USDA’s mission that are at risk from climate change, and provides specific actions and steps being taken to build resilience to climate change.  The plan advances President Obama’s efforts to prepare the federal government for climate change.  We expect to revise and update the plan in 2013 in response to comments received from the public.

Specifically, the Plan provides a review of past performance, addresses challenges to achieving sustainability, discusses lessons learned, and outlines actions planned beyond 2012. The Plan also highlights the following achievements within USDA:
-  Purchase and generation of enough green power to meet 19.5 percent of the Department’s electricity use, thus improving the Department’s ranking to number seven on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of the largest Federal agency users of green power
-  12.1 percent reduction in indirect greenhouse gas emissions compared to the 2008 base year.
-  21.8 percent reduction in energy intensity compared to the 2003 base year.
-  Implementation of the National Water Quality Initiative in priority watersheds to improve water quality and aquatic habitat in impaired streams.
-  97 percent increase in alternative fuel consumption (for fleet vehicles) compared to the 2005 base year.
-  Acquisition of 75 percent of covered light duty and mid-sized alternative fuel vehicles.
-  18.9 percent reduction in potable water use compared to the 2007 base year.

USDA encourages the public to review the document and provide comments by April 8, 2013.  The USDA Climate Change Adaptation Plan can be accessed at http://www.dm.usda.gov/emd.



Renewable Fuel Standard a Priority for NCGA

In a panel presentation this week, National Corn Growers Association CEO Rick Tolman highlighted the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard to help increase and guarantee a vibrant domestic renewable fuel market.

"We cannot underestimate the importance of the RFS," Tolman said. "It cut imported oil and serves as the basis for investment in infrastructure growth. It's the single biggest reason for the prosperity across all of agriculture since its inception. It also has lowered fuel costs for consumers and created hundreds of thousands of jobs across America."

Tolman's presentation, at the Renewable Fuel Association's National Ethanol Conference, centered on five areas: the success of the RFS to-date, the importance of preserving the program, implementation challenges and opportunities, pathways to 36 billion gallons by 2022, and the future role of corn in the Renewable Fuel Standard.

NCGA is involved in several programs to protect the RFS and ethanol's role in America's fuel sector, such as the Fuels America coalition and the American Ethanol racing program with NASCAR, Tolman said. The organization recently joined the Urban Air Initiative to promotes the human health and environmental benefits of ethanol.

The rise in domestic oil production, Tolman said, need not mean a decrease in the relevance of biofuels like corn ethanol, but should spell an end to oil imports. "The United States leads the world in biofuel production," he said. "It's had a positive impact on our GDP at the same time it's created jobs and helped clear the air."



Conab Ups Soy Crop Forecast

Brazil's soybean crop, already forecast to be a record harvest, will be even bigger than previously expected after high prices in international markets encouraged farmers to plant more of the oilseed, government crop agency Conab said Thursday.

Brazil's soy production for the 2012-13 harvest should increase 25.7% to 83.4 million metric tons, the agency said in its report. The soy crop is being harvested from late January through June.

Brazil's 2011-12 soybean crop shrank about 12% from the previous year, to 66.4 million tons, as yields plunged due to a severe drought in southern states. The drought, which also hit neighboring South American soybean exporters Argentina and Paraguay, set the stage for tight global supplies of the oilseed when the U.S. suffered its own drought in mid-2012.

Yields per hectare should increase dramatically in Brazil's southern states as they recover from the drought, Conab said. The agency expects an average yield of 3,045 kilos (6713 pounds) per hectare (2.47 acres) from the country's soy farmers, an increase of 0.6% from last year.

Farmers sowed 27.6 million hectares of land with soy beans, an increase of 10.4% from the previous year.

The lack of rain in some soy-growing regions in late December and early January had an adverse effect on the crops in those areas, but won't stop the crop from being the biggest ever, Conab said.

Brazil's 2012-13 cotton crop will shrink 24.2% to 1.42 million tons, Conab estimates, as farmers reduced the area planted with the crop amid declining prices in international markets.

The corn harvest for the year should increase 4.2% to 76 million tons, Conab said.



Bunge Swings to 4th-Quarter Loss on Charges

Bunge Ltd. swung to a fourth-quarter loss, weighed down by a handful of sizeable charges, as the company also said the head of its North American operations will become its new chief executive when Alberto Weisser retires in June.

The company buys, sells, stores and transports oilseeds and grains to customers worldwide. It processes seeds for protein meal for animal feed and oil products for consumers.

Mr. Weisser said he will retire effective June 1, with Soren Schroder, currently CEO of Bunge North America, to success him. Mr. Schroder is expected to become a director before June 1. The board also appointed Mr. Weisser as executive chairman, serving until Dec. 31.

Looking ahead, Mr. Weisser said the agribusiness environment is robust in 2013, saying the world needs to rebuild grain and oilseed stocks to meet growing consumption. He added that Bunge expects to see strong export demand.

For the latest quarter, Bunge reported a loss of $599 million, or $4.17 a share, compared with a year-earlier profit of $254 million, or $1.65 a share. The latest quarter included a series of charges totaling $683 million, primarily including goodwill write-downs of $327 million in the sugar and bioenergy segment, provisions of $298 million in discontinued operations from the pending sale of its fertilizer business, and $49 million from the sale of long-term recoverable taxes. Excluding those and other items, earnings from continuing operations were down at 57 cents from $1.80.

Sales improved 8.6% to $17.04 billion.

The agribusiness segment, by far the company's largest business by revenue, saw sales rise 14% to $12.67 billion. Sales from the sugar and bioenergy business posted a 28% decline in sales. Edible oil products sales were up 11% amid stronger volume.



Research Confirms Enlist System Provides Greater Than 95 Percent Control of Problem Weeds

Weed resistance is getting increasingly worse across American farmland, and the Enlist™ Weed Control System will be an important tool for farmers to control several difficult-to-manage weed species, according to research presented at the just-completed Weed Science Society of America’s (WSSA) national meeting in Baltimore, Md. Results from dozens of studies during the past two years indicate a program approach including Enlist Duo™ herbicide with Colex-D™ Technology will provide greater than 95 percent control of several key weed species that are tough-to-control or glyphosate resistant. In addition, Colex-D Technology used with best application practices reduced drift by up to 90 percent compared to other 2,4-D and glyphosate herbicide formulations.

Researchers from Dow AgroSciences and a university collaborator shared data and details relating to the company’s highly anticipated Enlist™ Weed Control System which is awaiting regulatory approvals.

“The base chemistry in the Enlist system is the most extensively studied herbicide in American agriculture, and our most recent data confirms that our new innovative formulation will enable farmers to keep troublesome weeds under control,” says Mark Peterson, global biology leader for the Enlist system, Dow AgroSciences.

Peterson also spoke on a panel regarding the path forward for herbicide-resistant weed management. The scientist reinforced there is broad agreement among all involved in the discussion that the best way to address resistant weeds is to provide greater diversity to weed management programs.

“Herbicides have been shown to be a key part of efficient, sustainable weed management systems that maximize production while preserving soil and water resources,” Peterson said. “It is important to note that herbicide-tolerant crops have enabled great advances in soil conservation and carbon sequestration – having farmers go back to widespread tillage to control weeds will negate those environmental advances. New technologies, such as Enlist, will enable more modes of action, increasing weed management diversity and sustainability.”

As Dow AgroSciences works to take technology from the lab to the field, information was also presented about advancements in the best-in-class educational and training tools being developed to help farmers as part of an integrated system. The company has developed Enlist™ Ahead, a management resource designed for farmers that will focus on responsible use of the technology as well as education and best practice recommendations.

“The team at Dow AgroSciences is continuing to educate farmers and applicators about the best ways to ensure the Enlist system is effective in the short term and also for its longevity going into the future. Enlist Ahead is our approach to this on-going dialogue," says Brian Olson, field scientist, Dow AgroSciences.