Monday March 18 Ag News

NE FFA Chapters Surpass $100,000 Goal for I Believe Campaign
Stacey Agnew, Executive Director, NE FFA Foundation

This year, local FFA chapters took the goal of $100,000 and ran with it! Nebraska FFA chapters raised almost $169,000 at the local level as part of the I Believe in the Future of Ag campaign.

As part of the campaign, all of this money was sent into the Nebraska FFA Foundation offices and 100% of it will be returned to the designated chapter. In addition, chapters will receive a portion of a $20,000 matching grant provided by 18 corporate sponsors.

Awards for the top fundraising chapter and chapter with the most individual donors will be given out at Nebraska FFA State Convention next month.

Nebraska FFA State Convention kicks off April 3
This time of year is one of the best to reflect back on my FFA experience. In a few weeks, Nebraska's FFA members will flood The Cornhusker Hotel, Pershing Auditorium and UNL's East Campus. I remember traveling over four hours to Lincoln, listening to the inspirational speakers and competing in many contests as a high school student. As an FFA advisor and ag teacher, I remember spending countless hours preparing students for state competitions, bringing them to Lincoln to give them the opportunity to learn new leadership skills, be recognized for their hard work and experience the one common thread for over 3,000 FFA members each year.

This year, Nebraska FFA is celebrating 85 years. FFA has changed a lot in the last 85 years, but many things have stayed the same. FFA's motto-Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live and Living to Serve-still remains the focus of this great organization. There is evidence every year at Nebraska FFA's State Convention.

The 85th Nebraska FFA State Convention will be held April 3-5, 2013 in Lincoln. You can watch the evening sessions live online. Witness students across Nebraska receive awards, outstanding chapters being recognized and ag education teachers be honored for their outstanding work. Sessions will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5 and can be found on the Nebraska Agricultural Education website... http://www.neaged.org/stream-state-ffa-convention.html. 



Five Nebraska Students Selected to Participate in National Ag Day Program

Five students were selected as delegates to represent Nebraska for the National Ag Day on the Hill Program.  The Ag Day on the Hill program allows college students from Nebraska to join with other students from across the country to learn more about policy, natural resources and agriculture.   Natural resources districts (NRDs) protect the future of natural resources by educating young people through programs such as Ag Day on the Hill. The Nebraska delegates and the Ag Day on the Hill program are supported by the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) Foundation.

“Programs like Ag Day on the Hill are a great way to involve young people in the political process and encourage networking with their peers from other states and experience the inner workings of our United States Government,” said Joe Anderjaska, NARD Board President. “This is a great opportunity for Nebraska students to take an interest in agriculture and natural resources issues and to be better prepared for leadership in our state,” said Anderjaska.

“I hope to gain a greater understanding of how to advocate for the agriculture industry from a policy standpoint.  Passing along information as well as learning more about policy decisions being made will be important as I enter a career,” said Jud Hoffschneider, Nebraska Ag Day on the Hill representative.

The five Nebraska representatives are Anastasia Johnson, Lindsay Long, Jud Hoffschneider, Emma Likens, and Will Miller and are all students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL).  Anastasia is a junior at UNL majoring in diversified agriculture and is from Central City.  Jud is a sophomore at UNL majoring in agribusiness and is from Arlington.  Emma is also a sophomore at UNL majoring in Agricultural Journalism and is from Swanton.  Will and Lindsay are both Animal Science majors at UNL.  Will is a sophomore from Culbertson, and Lindsay is a junior from Springfield.

“As active constituents, it’s important to keep up to date on developing policies and voice our concerns to our state representatives,” said Emma Likens. 

The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts Foundation is a supporter of Ag Day on the Hill for the Nebraska delegates.  The Foundation uses funds raised to help youth develop an interest in a variety of natural resources programs including Nebraska 4-H, FFA and others.   Funds for the NARD Foundation are raised through a variety of activities such as live and silent auctions at the NRD Annual Conference held every September.  The NARD Foundation was established to support students with a desire to enter the field of natural resources.

“The Foundation provides scholarships, internships and support for high school students to continue their education in natural resources,” said Anderjaska.

Ag Day on the Hill takes place in March during National Ag Week, March 17-23, 2013, with National Ag Day celebrated on the final day.  Delegates will be in Washington D.C. March 18-19 to learn more about agriculture and natural resources policy and meet policy makers.  As part of Ag Day, the Ag Council organizes an essay contest and sponsors outstanding student representatives from across the country to participate in activities on the Hill.  The students—from FFA, 4-H and AFA—put a face on the future of agriculture and spread a message of awareness to lawmakers and other national leaders.



Evaluate Drought-Stressed Cool Season Pastures This Spring
Steve Tonn, UNL Extension Educator, Washington County

We had some of the most extreme drought conditions in recent memory and many of our pastures are still in poor condition.  Evaluating them this spring will be very important.  Early April will be the time to take a close look at our cool season grass pastures.

All pasture evaluation methods are subjective and their usefulness depends on the judgment of the evaluator.  The best evaluator is the pasture manager.  The manager of the pasture has the best sense of the condition of a particular pasture compared to normal, what has changed due to the extended drought and what issues can be addressed immediately.

Dr. Stephen Barnhart, Iowa State University Extension forage agronomist, suggests that to get the best view of plant recovery and vigor wait until there are 2 to 3 inches of spring regrowth.  Then walk through your pastures and consider: 
1.    Have there been any changes in plant species since the last season?
2.    Is the pasture density less than last season? 
3.    Is there evidence that weeds will be more of a problem? 
4.    Is there active erosion or localized damage due to supplemental hay feeding?

Pastures with little or no drought damage should have overwintered well and have a stand density of 80 percent sod cover or greater.  These pastures should recover with good growing conditions.  Even with apparent “normal growth”, plants have had some drought and use stress, and they may require a deferred grazing for a couple of weeks longer than usual for complete recovery.

Pastures with greater drought damage may have some stand loss, with less than 80 percent sod cover.  These pastures will benefit from deferred spring grazing and early spring fertilization.  Interseeding with legumes may also be an option to thicken up the stand.  Even with deferred grazing, fertilization, overseeding and weed management, these pastures may require good growing conditions and two to three months of careful grazing management for complete recovery.

Severely damage stands (stands with less than 40 perecent sod cover) are going to require good growing conditions, weed management, an aggressive overseeding effort (or even complete renovation) and patience for adequate recovery opportunities.

Our March snows will provide some moisture for our cool season grass pastures to start growing.  But don’t let that first growth fool you.  Below ground, many plants are still suffering from last year’s drought.

Delay turn out a couple of weeks so plants develop enough leaf area to begin repairing injured roots.  Also reduce stocking rates by 20 percent on improved pastures to account for weakened root systems.  Don’t risk long-term pasture injury for short–term feed gains.  Manage grazing to help pastures recover from last year’s stress.



SPCC Webinar on March 26

Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Corn Growers Association and Nebraska Soybean Association are cosponsoring a webinar that will update participants on EPA Regulations pertaining to the Spill Prevention Control and counter Measure (SPCC).  The webinar will begin on Tuesday, March 26, at 9:00 am CDT, and will last about an hour.  Participants can view the webcast from their home/farm computers.  During the webinar, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions to the presenter.  The webinar will also be recorded to view after the event.

Space is limited.  Reserve your Webinar seat now at:  https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/713217086.  After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.
-  PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
-  Mac®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer
-  Mobile attendees Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet



Preseason Irrigation Check-up can Mean Fewer Mid Season Problems
Bill Kranz, UNL Extension Irrigation Specialist, Northeast REC

Giving your irrigation system a thorough check-up and tune-up this spring can lead to more effective water application and potentially, to fewer breakdowns or problems during the heart of the irrigation season.

Following is a preseason irrigation checklist that can help you save energy and cut costs. Each irrigation system will have a number of areas to lubricate or parts that may need to be replaced before the first irrigation. Here are 10 items to include on your irrigation system check-up.
-    Change the engine oil and filter.
-    Replace the air and fuel filters.
-    Grease drive shafts on pump and motor.
-    Check spark plugs on gas, propane, or natural gas motors.
-    Drain, flush and refill the cooling system.
-    Refill the drip oil reservoir and allow oil to drain into the drip line based on pump column length.
-    Ensure that the right-angle gear head is free moving and clean and lubricate non-reverse pins.
-    Run the motor at the normal operating speed for 45 minutes.
-    Start the pump and walk along the system looking for malfunctioning sprinklers. Nozzle wear depends on the quality of the water and the system operating pressure. As a rule of thumb, sprinkler replacement should be considered after approximately 10,000-12,000 hours of operation. Be sure to replace malfunctioning nozzles with ones listed on the computer printout you received from the manufacturer.
-    Check chemigation pump and safety equipment operation. Check hoses and replace if cracking is noticeable.

Performing a preseason checkup of your irrigation equipment this spring should be part of your regular maintenance schedule.

Component wear happens, resulting in less uniform water application, increased energy use, and untimely breakdowns during your irrigation season. Identify and replace worn components now to have your system ready when you need it.

Record System Data Monthly
One of the best ways to identify worn components such as sprinklers, pumps, or irrigation systems is to keep good records. Recording the outlet pressure, flow rate, hours of operation, and energy use each month provides an excellent means of evaluating pump and motor performance and identifying changes.

The pivot should be in the same position each time the operating pressure is recorded since the pump will produce different outlet pressures depending on whether it's facing uphill or downhill. Also, systems that do not have pressure regulators to maintain sprinkler pressure will have different flow rates. Compare the current flow rate and pressure to last year's and the years before.

Test Safety Switches
Testing safety switches will ensure that, should a system component fail, the system will be shut down prior to causing major damage.

Each irrigation system is equipped with a number of safety switches to shut the system down in the case of failure. Now is the best time to ensure that all these function properly. Run the system through a set of conditions that should cause each safety control to function.

Check System Efficiencies
Addressing these items will ensure that the system will operate. However, a more difficult task is to determine how efficiently the system is functioning. Periodic pumping plant evaluations will help identify whether the pumping plant is operating at an optimum level.

The evaluation should identify the overall operating efficiency and provide the pump outlet pressure, system flow rate, and energy use rate. This information will provide a base point to compare with future operating characteristics. If you have recent pumping plant evaluation results, simply compare the information you collect with the results to determine if the system is becoming less efficient over time.



Nebraska Corn Checkoff Investments Create Economic Opportunity for Entire State

As the nation celebrates National Agriculture Week March 17-23, Nebraska's 23,000 family corn farmers are preparing to plant what again promises to be the third largest state corn crop in the nation.  At the same time, they continue to invest in their future—and in the economic success of the state—through the checkoff program they helped establish 35 years ago.

Nebraska's corn farmers invest a half-cent per bushel of corn in the Nebraska corn checkoff program. These funds are managed and invested by the nine-member Nebraska Corn Board, who are corn farmers themselves.   Farmers' checkoff investments in market development, research, education and promotion have leveraged Nebraska's strength in corn production into economic vitality all across the state.

In recent years, Nebraska corn checkoff investments have increased in the area of consumer education and communication.  "Growing global demand for food, feed and fuel has raised the profile of agriculture," said Tim Scheer, a St. Paul, Nebraska, farmer who serves as chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board.  "As a result, it has become critically important for those of us in agriculture to tell our story in order to combat the myths and misinformation that are being circulated by groups and individuals who have an anti-agriculture agenda."

In addition to Nebraska-focused communications programs, Nebraska corn checkoff dollars support a number of consumer outreach programs that involve collaborations with other state and national agriculture organizations to better leverage checkoff investments.  These initiatives include:
        •  CommonGround, a national effort which features women in agriculture having conversations with female consumers about farming and food.
        •  U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, a coalition of more than 80 agricultural organizations nationwide focused on engaging with consumers regarding food production, stewardship, and food safety.
        •  Farmers Feed US, a program led by the Center for Food Integrity that connects farmers and ranchers with consumers through the Internet.
        •  A major NASCAR sponsorship, which has raised the profile of American ethanol as a clean-burning, renewable, domestic fuel source.

In addition to consumer education initiatives, Nebraska corn checkoff dollars are invested in research and market development programs designed to expand the use and value of Nebraska corn in the areas of livestock production, biofuels and new uses for corn.  "Nebraska corn checkoff dollars helped get the ethanol industry established and bring jobs and economic development to rural Nebraska," Scheer said.  "We remain focused on growing demand for biofuels as well as on research related to the next innovations in biofuels and other uses of corn that can replace petroleum-based products."

Supporting the state's livestock industry is also a key component of Nebraska Corn Board investment as checkoff dollars support research and promotion of Nebraska's beef, dairy, pork and poultry industries.  A particular emphasis is placed on the use of distillers grains (a co-product of ethanol production) in livestock rations.  "With distillers grains, we are able to provide a high-quality feed product for our livestock customers while also producing a renewable domestic fuel for America," Scheer said.  "Ethanol production transforms corn into fuel, food and feed."

Nebraska corn checkoff dollars also go to support the efforts of the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the U.S. Grains Council, organizations focused on building export markets for corn, corn products and corn-fed red meat.  "While domestic use of corn has been on the rise, we cannot ignore the fact that the majority of the world's population lives outside the United States," Scheer added.  "As other nations improve their standard of living, they will need more protein, grain and fuel.  Nebraska can be a global leader in meeting this demand—and we can build economic vitality in our state as a result," Scheer said.

For more information on Nebraska's corn checkoff program, visit www.nebraskacorn.org.



Beginning Farmer and Rancher Workshop Scheduled for April

Six beginning farmer and rancher workshops are scheduled across Nebraska.

The workshops are funded by the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Grant Program and are offered by the Center for Rural Affairs, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension and the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society.

Three of the workshops will focus on the concepts of mob grazing and/or marketing grass-fed beef, while the other three will focus on the beginning farmer and vegetable/fruit production.

The mob grazing and/or marketing grass-fed beef workshop will feature established farmers and ranchers that use one or both of these concepts. They will speak about their operations and answer questions. An attorney from Legal Aid of Nebraska will discuss pasture leases right before lunch. Following lunch there will be a session on beginning business planning, where participants will learn about basic business principles, such as net worth, cash flow, income profit and loss statements and how these can be important business tools in a mob grazing and grass-fed beef operation.

At the vegetable/fruit production workshops, established produce growers will discuss their operations and the various production and marketing strategies they use on their farms. Beginning business planning principles also will be discussed and explained for use in a vegetable/fruit farm.

The free workshops include refreshments, lunch and some resources as part of the workshops.

Please pre-register at least three days before each event, by calling Gary Lesoing, UNL Extension in Nemaha County, at 402-274-4755.

Workshop dates, times, locations and focus are:
-  April 3 – 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 920 S. 20th St., Norfolk, mob grazing and grass-fed beef
-  April 4 – 9 a.m.-3 p.m., UNL Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, mob grazing and grass-fed beef
-  April 8 – 10 a.m.-3 p.m., UNL Extension in Lancaster County, 444 Cherrycreek Rd., Suite A, Lincoln, vegetable/fruit production
-  April 9 – 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Ramada Inn, 301 S. Second Ave., Kearney, mob grazing and grass-fed beef
-  April 12 – 10 a.m.-3 p.m., UNL Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, vegetable/fruit production
-  April 16 – 10 a.m.-3 p.m., UNL Extension in Douglas Sarpy Counties, 8015 W. Center Rd., Omaha, vegetable/fruit production.   



Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board Seeks Applicants for Open Board Seats

Three directorships on the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board are open for appointment. The appointments will fill directorships to represent Districts 2 and 3 and a governor-appointed at-large seat. The term for the members currently filling these seats will expire July 1, 2013. The filing deadline is no later than 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 15, 2013.

District 2 includes the counties of Knox, Antelope, Pierce, Madison, Boone, Platte, Nance, Merrick, Polk, Hamilton, York, Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Webster, Nuckolls and Thayer.

District 3 includes the counties of Keya Paha, Boyd, Brown, Rock, Holt, Blaine, Loup, Garfield, Wheeler, Custer, Valley, Greeley, Sherman, Howard, Dawson, Buffalo, Hall, Gosper, Phelps, Kearney, Furans, Harlan and Franklin.

Sorghum growers interested in appointment to fill the open seats may place their name on a candidacy list by submitting to the board a completed application for gubernatorial appointment, a letter or statement of interest in serving on the board, two letters of endorsement from grain sorghum growers, and documentation substantiating qualification to serve as a member of the board (sales receipts, warehouse receipts, government loan documentation, or acreage certification). Qualified candidates include those who are citizens of Nebraska, are at least 21 years of age, and derive a portion of their income from growing grain sorghum.

Applications for appointment can be obtained from the Nebraska governor’s office by writing Kathleen Dolezal, staff assistant for boards and commissions, Nebraska Governor’s Office, State Capitol, Box 94848, Lincoln, NE 68509-4848, 402.471-1971; or the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board, P.O. Box 94982, Lincoln, NE 68509, 402.471.4276; or email: sorghum.board@nebraska.gov.



Iowa Soybean Association leaders travel to China to strengthen, expand markets

Soybean exports to China represent a major component of Iowa’s agricultural economic power. Several members of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) are traveling throughout China March 15-24 to strengthen existing relationships and explore new markets and opportunities. The trade trip’s progress will be documented at http://www.iasoybeans.com/chinablog2013/.

“Although we live in a very global and digital world, face-to-face communication is vital to our business relationships in countries such as China,” said Mark Jackson, ISA president and farmer from Rose Hill. “Iowa soybean farmers have historically been trusted and valued suppliers to China and we’ll continue to do so. Developing and strengthening these relationships is part of our business plan. In addition, we want to be on the front-lines of new uses and markets for our soybeans, such as aquaculture.”

ISA representatives include Jackson; Brian Kemp, ISA vice president and farmer from Sibley; Grant Kimberley, ISA director of development; and Kirk Leeds, ISA chief executive officer. Also attending are Bill Northey, Iowa Agriculture Secretary; Jeff Stroburg, West Central Cooperative president and CEO; Pete Lombardo, AGP China sales agent; and Peter Mishek, Mishek Inc. international marketing consultant and commodity trader.

China is the world’s biggest soybean importer and consumer and the Iowa leads the nation in producing soy. In 2012, 44 percent of U.S. soybeans were exported and, of those, 65 percent were purchased by China.



National Biodiesel Day Puts Spotlight on America's Advanced Biofuel

From the delivery of food and goods, to city fleets and transit systems, to construction and other heavy equipment, diesel-power is driving our economy and with it biodiesel use is on the rise. 

"You don't have to drive a diesel vehicle to feel the impact of diesel as it moves the freight that drives the economy," said Gary Haer, National Biodiesel Board Chairman.  "Clean diesel technology, growing biodiesel production, and more light duty diesels on the market today are something to celebrate. It means more opportunities for biodiesel, more American jobs, and cleaner air."

National Biodiesel Day is celebrated on March 18 -- the anniversary of Rudolf Diesel's birthday.  Diesel was a true pioneer, as the U.S. is moving closer to his century-old vision. When Diesel developed the first diesel engine it ran on a biofuel, peanut oil. He envisioned a time when vegetable oils would one day be as important as petroleum. 

Biodiesel production topped 1 billion gallons in 2012 for the second consecutive year. With plants in nearly every state in the country, the industry supports more than 64,000 jobs nationwide and recently announced its new 10-year vision: 10 percent of the on-road diesel market by 2022.

Continued growth is expected with the increasing demand for diesel vehicles in the U.S, market.  More than 33 light- and medium-duty diesel passenger cars and trucks, as well as heavy-duty diesel models from nearly 20 different brands, will be available in the market this year. According to recent published reports, clean diesel auto sales increased by 24 percent in 2012 over 2011, while the overall U.S. auto market increased by 13.5 percent.  The Diesel Technology Forum (DTF) predicts that diesel vehicle sales will increase to as much as 10 percent of the American market by 2020.



NCGA Agri-Industry Council Cultivates Understanding, Cooperation

Last week, representatives from over a dozen agribusinesses gathered with NCGA leadership in Washington for NCGA's Agri-Industry Council's biannual meeting. Over the course of two days, attendees received updates on key NCGA programs, heard from several outside speakers and discussed topics of special importance to the entire agricultural community right now, including issues impacting railroad shipping and the outlook for farm programs given the current political climate.

"The discussion in AIC meetings helps NCGA fulfill its mission of creating and maintaining opportunities for corn growers," said NCGA Chairman and AIC Co-Chair Garry Niemeyer. "Only through sharing NCGA's position throughout the industry will we make our voices loud enough to reach the best possible outcomes for growers as we face the challenging political landscape."

Policy Analyst Sallie James of the CATO Institute provided attendees with a Libertarian economist's perspective on farm programs during the first session. During that evening's dinner program, participants delved into campaign strategy with former Obama for American Battleground States Director Mitch Stewart.

One major topic of conversation was how many acres of corn U.S. farmers would plant this season and how ongoing climate conditions would impact overall production. During a session, looking ahead at the 2013 crop year, NCGA Vice President of Production and Utilization Paul Bertels presented several possible trends and the probable outcomes should each be realized.

Following Bertels, NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett offered insight into agricultural legislations during the new congress. Stressing the massive impact the national debt will have upon every sector of government, Doggett explained the implications this larger situation could have for farmers in the coming years.

Representatives from the Center for Strategic and International Studies addressed the group on The Seven Revolutions, a fast-paced, multimedia look at 7 key factors and how they will impact the whole world by 2050. The key factors included: population; strategic resource management of food, water, and energy; technological innovation and diffusion; information and knowledge flow; economic integration; the nature and mode of security; and the challenge of governance.

The group will meet again in August.

NCGA's AIC works to ensure stakeholders throughout the industry exchange information on key issues and work collectively to ensure fair and equitable policies that foster continued growth.