Tuesday March 19 Ag News

Cast Your Vote for the 2013 Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame 

Vote for the 2013 Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame inductees now at www.cattlefeeders.org. In the fifth year of nominations, the caliber of cattle feeders nominated continues to be impressive.  From the five nominees, two inductees will be announced during the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame banquet this summer in Denver.
 
2013 Hall of Fame nominees:
-  Louis Dinklage – Dinklage Feedyards Inc.
Louis Dinklage was one of the pioneers in the cattle-feeding business in eastern Nebraska. In 1923, he established a 3,000-head operation near Wisner. Through the years, he was instrumental in making the area one of the nation’s cattle-feeding hubs.
-  Leo Timmerman – Timmerman & Son Feeding Co. Inc.
In 1945, Leo Timmerman established his career as a cattle feeder in Omaha, Neb. He founded Leo Timmerman Feeding Co., a business that specialized in providing custom feeding, placements and commodity trading for feeders throughout the country. Timmerman is recognized as a one of the first facilitators between cattle feeders and the meat industry.
-  James Herring – Friona Industries L.P.
James Herring is the president and CEO of Friona Industries L.P., the fourth largest           cattle-feeding operation in the U.S. Friona operates four commercial feedyards in the Texas panhandle and a one-time capacity of more than 275,000 head. Herring previously served as president of CattleFax and the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
-  Robert “Bob” Josserand – AzTx Cattle Co.
Bob Josserand is the chairman of the board and founder of AzTx Cattle Co., a family cattle operation with feedyards in Texas and Kansas. The AzTx Cattle Co. is known in the industry for developing a specialized branded beef program. Josserand has been a devoted member of the cattle-feeding industry and is a past president of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association and the National Cattlemen’s Association.
-  Marshall “Jack” Reeve – Reeve Cattle Co.
Jack Reeve had a private veterinary practice in St. Charles, Mo., and in Garden City, Kan. Always an entrepreneur, he began feeding cattle, which led to the purchase of the ReeveCattle Co. Reeve had a significant effect on higher education as a member of the Kansas Board of Regents and numerous other state and national boards and committees.
 
Industry Leadership Award voting
In addition to the 2013 Hall of Fame nominees, voting also is open for the 2013 Industry Leadership Award nominees. The 2013 nominees for the Industry Leadership Award have contributed to the cattle-feeding industry through outstanding advocacy and leadership. Their efforts embody our core beliefs and help us communicate our message within the industry to our end-users – American families. Please vote for one of the following nominees at www.cattlefeeders.org.

2013 Hall of Fame Industry Leadership Award nominees:
-  Betty Jo Gigot is the editor and publisher of CALF News, a magazine she has served for more than 23 years. She became involved in the cattle-feeding industry in 1980, when she founded her own computer company and began writing and installing programs in feedyards across the country.
-  Harry Knobbe has spent his career investing in the future of cattlemen and the cattle industry. He serves as an active member on numerous industry committees, such as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Knobbe also served as the chairman for the Ag Policy Committee.
-  Topper Thorpe was the first market analyst hired by CattleFax and was the company’s former CEO.  In his 32-year tenure with the company, he provided the cattle industry with invaluable market information.

Distinguished Service Award
The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame established an award to honor the heart and soul of the cattle-feeding industry — feedyard employees. The Arturo Armendariz Distinguished Service Award was established in honor of the late, long-time employee at Poky Feeders. His role as a devoted employee, family man, friend and longtime member of the beef industry made him an ideal namesake for the award.

To nominate outstanding members of your operation, visit www.cattlefeeders.org or email nominations to info@cattlefeeders.org.   

Voting for the 2013 Hall of Fame inductees and Industry Leadership Award nominees and nominations for the Arturo Armendariz Distinguished Service Award will close March 31.
 
About the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame
The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame was established to honor the exceptional, visionary men and women who have made lasting contributions to the cattle-feeding industry. Each year, two pioneers are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Additionally, a recipient for the Industry Leadership Award and the Arturo Armendariz Distinguished Service Award is chosen. For more information on the inductees and award winners, or about the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame, visit www.cattlefeeders.org. 



AK-SAR-BEN ANNOUNCES GIVING CHALLENGE IN HONOR OF ANNIVERSARY

One of Nebraska’s oldest Foundations, The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation, is celebrating its 118th anniversary on March 28, 2013 with a 12 day “Giving Challenge” in honor of its original Board of Directors. The program kicks off today and will run through March 30.

The “Giving Challenge” is open to all and is as simple as logging onto www.aksarben.org and donating to one of the existing Ak-Sar-Ben programs in the amount of your choice or one of the options that pay tribute to the year in which the organization was founded – 1895. Donations of $18.95, $189.50, $1895 or any dollar value can be made to the Ak-Sar-Ben Scholarship in partnership with Horatio Alger and TeamMates, the Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Scholarships, the Ak-Sar-Ben Friends Community College Scholarships or the Ak-Sar-Ben Community Grants.   
           
The Challenge is part of the Foundation’s activation of a multi-year vision and business plan culminating in 2020 when the Foundation will celebrate its 125 anniversary. Chairman Jane E. Miller, representing the 45 current members of the Board, said,”Ak-Sar-Ben is focused on ensuring perpetual existence through measurable growth of mission and impact in our focus areas of youth, volunteerism, education, economic growth and pro-business efforts.”  
           
In 2012 the Foundation’s philanthropic donations to scholarships and other programs totaled nearly $500,000.

March 28, 1895 was the first evening that the 12 men who formed the Executive Committee of the Commercial Club met and set forth a plan to keep the State Fair from moving by securing the floats from the Mardi Gras Parade for use during Fair week.  These 12 business leaders became the original Board of Governors of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben. They were: Major R.S. Wilcox, President of the Committee and local manager of Browning & Co.; Dudley Smith, Vice President of the Committee and President of Steele-Smith Grocery Co.; H.J. Penfold, Treasurer of the Committee and owner of the Penfold Drug Co.; William Lyle Dickey, Secretary of

the Committee and owner of the William Lyle Dickey & Co.; Lewis H. Rheem, General Manager of the American District Telegraph; Honorable E. M. Barlett of Bartlett, Baldridge & DeBoard; Thomas A. Fry, Manager of the Booth Packing Company; Elmer E. Bryson, Local Manager of the Fleischmann Compressed Yeast Co.; Walter Jardine of the Omaha Merchants Express Co.; John E. Utt, Commissioner of the Commercial Club; William R. Bennett of the W.R. Bennett Department Store; and Clement Chase, Editor of The Omaha Excelsior.

Today, the Board is comprised of 45 business leaders who meet bi-monthly and in-between, as needed, to support the mission of leveraging collective business leadership to build a more prosperous Heartland. The Foundation hosts two major community events to generate funds for its scholarship programs. They are the Ak-Sar-Ben Coronation and Scholarship Ball and Ak-Sar-Ben’s River City Rodeo $ Stock Show. The events have a combined annual economic impact on the region of $22.3 million. For more information on the Foundation’s history, mission or programs, visit www.aksarben.org.



CFRA Grassroots Advocacy Leadership Training in Norfolk

The Center for Rural Affairs will offer a policy advocacy and leadership training. The free event will take place at the Eldorado Hills Golf Club at 1227 Eldorado Road in Norfolk, NE on Saturday, March 23, 2013 from 10:00 a.m to 2:30 p.m. 

During the training, participants will learn how to work with legislators and other decision makers to advance their views, identify strategies and tactics to gain influence on rural issues, and work with the media to tell their story.  Rural health care affordability, small business entrepreneurship and fair Nebraska tax policy will also be discussed. 

According to Virginia Meyer with the Center for Rural Affairs, the purpose of the training is to continue to develop a core group of active leaders to speak up and advocate for affordable health care, entrepreneurial development, small business and fair taxes in rural Nebraska. Attendees will gain the skills they need to be successful advocates before the state legislature and beyond.

“With a core group of active leaders we can build momentum and create policy that benefits rural Nebraskans,” said Meyer. 

The Center encourages folks to attend, but space is limited so they must RSVP no later than March 21 by contacting Meyer at virginiam@cfra.org or call her at 402-687-2100. Lunch and light refreshments will be provided.



Nebraska Dairy Farms, Farmers Receive Awards

Nebraska’s 2013 Philip H. Cole Distinguished Dairyman is a farmer from Wayne with a dairy herd of 650 cows.  Doug Temme of Temme Dairy was honored with the award during the Nebraska Dairy Convention in Norfolk.

Temme and his wife, Mary, started their dairy career with Temme’s father in 1980, expanding the herd of 100 to its present size over the course of 33 years. The couple’s son, John, joined the business four years ago.

Temme was recognized for a variety of leadership roles in the dairy industry, including serving the boards of the Nebraska State Dairy Association, the local, state and National Dairy Herd Improvement Associations, Cache Valley Select Sires and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Board.  He is the current president of We Support Agriculture and vice-president of the Associated Milk Producers, Inc., board.

Other awards presented at the convention include production recognition for the state’s top dairy herds.  Wallman Dairy, Diller, was the high-producing Holstein herd, followed by Broken Bow Dairy LLC in Milburn and Temme Ag of Wayne.

James Meyer of Roca received the award for high-producing Jerseys, followed by Chad and Robbin Beckmann of Center.  Steffen Ag, Inc., was recognized for the high production mixed breed herd.



Johanns Sponsors Bipartisan Amendment Protecting Private Sector Jobs, Preventing FSIS Furloughs

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) today sponsored a bipartisan amendment to prevent furloughs of meat and poultry inspectors and protect processing facility jobs from temporary shutdowns the furloughs would cause. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has threatened to furlough inspectors at the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) in order to cope with the spending reductions that took effect earlier this month due to legislation signed into law more than a year and a half ago.

“Protecting jobs and keeping the markets open for our livestock producers should be a top priority,” Johanns said. “This amendment does that by allowing food inspectors to keep working so the employees at meat, poultry and egg processing facilities can stay on the job. Providing essential government services and reducing spending do not have to be at odds, and this amendment proves that it is possible to do both.”

The amendment would transfer approximately $55 million in existing USDA funds to FSIS in order to ensure food inspectors are not furloughed. FSIS furloughs would force meat processing facilities to stop operation because federal law requires facilities to have inspectors on the production line in order to operate.

The amendment, if adopted, would ensure as many as 500,000 employees at meat, poultry, and egg production facilities nationwide are protected from layoffs related to the furloughs. Nebraska ranks first in red meat processing and second in cattle in feedlots.

The amendment was introduced by U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.).



American Heart Association Certifies Three More Beef Cuts

The Beef Checkoff Program announced today that three additional fresh beef cuts now are certified to display the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark. With that, retailers have the opportunity to market a total of six different extra-lean beef items to shoppers using one of the most trusted nutrition icons on food packaging today.

The extra-lean beef cuts that meet the American Heart Association’s criteria for heart-healthy foods as part of an overall healthy dietary pattern, and are certified to display the Heart-Check mark include the following USDA Select grade cuts:
-    Sirloin Tip Steak
-    Bottom Round Steak
-    Top Sirloin Stir-Fry
-    Boneless Top Sirloin Petite Roast
-    Top Sirloin Filet
-    Top Sirloin Kabob

“Having the American Heart Association certify three additional extra-lean beef cuts is yet another important milestone in the beef checkoff’s efforts to help consumers understand the positive health and nutritional benefits of beef,” says Jeanne Harland, beef producer from Illinois and chairman of the checkoff's Nutrition and Health Subcommittee. “Using strong science-based guidelines and criteria, the American Heart Association has now certified six different beef cuts, and we will continue to support and apply scientific evidence to show consumers how they can eat healthfully with extra-lean beef.”

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and leading health organizations, including the American Heart Association, recognize lean meat as a nutritious food and a single serving of lean meat can be  part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

“Independent research and this certification from the American Heart Association confirms to consumers that extra-lean beef can be a building block in an overall heart-healthy diet,” says Cheryl Hendricks, a registered dietitian with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, contractor for the Beef Checkoff Program. “We know that consumers are looking to retailers as a trusted source of nutrition information. Displaying the American Heart Association Heart-Check mark in the meat case makes it easier for consumers to identify heart-healthy extra-lean beef and as a result, grow beef sales among health-conscious shoppers.”

Hundreds of stores across the U.S. currently display the Heart-Check mark on certified beef items in the meat case and retailers can work with the Beef Checkoff Program to participate in the American Heart Association Food Certification Program to receive significant cost savings.

Integrated promotional tools are available to help retailers merchandise the certified cuts where it matters most – the point of purchase. Resources such as on-pack labels, posters and recipes help make healthier choices with extra-lean beef cuts in the meat case and, ultimately, generate fresh beef sales. In fact, nearly 75 percent of shoppers say the Heart-Check mark improves the likelihood that they’ll buy a product and boosts incremental sales an average of 5 percent when point-of-sale materials are used to promote certified products.

Supermarket chain K-V-A-T Food Stores signed up to participate in the program in 2011 and offers American Heart Association-certified beef products in 94 of its stores. “We’re extremely pleased with the results we’ve seen through the American Heart Association certification program,” said Steve Holloway, Director of Meat and Seafood Operations for K-V-A-T Food Stores, Inc. “The on-pack labels and merchandising support from the Beef Checkoff have proved valuable in educating our shoppers that they can still eat extra-lean beef as part of a healthy lifestyle. It’s been an opportunity to bring consumers back to the category and, as a result, we’ve seen our extra-lean beef sales soar.”



Growers Put Leadership to Practice in Capitol

Corn farmers from across the country traveled to Washington this week to take part in the second phase of an annual leadership development program co-sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association and Syngenta. While in town, they visited numerous members of the Senate and House of Representatives and got an inside look at parliamentary procedure and how lobbying works on Capitol Hill.

"For more than a quarter of a century, Leadership at its Best has been an invaluable tool for helping corn growers become leaders at the state and national level," said NCGA Chairman Garry Niemeyer, himself a graduate of the program. Niemeyer came to Washington to welcome the class and provide an update on NCGA's issues and programs. "In Washington, we can see first-hand - and very quickly - how decisions made here impact us back on the farm. Having a strong voice here in the Capitol is very important for NCGA and its farmer members."

This year's class includes Ben Augustine (Wisc.), Jed Bower (Ohio), Andy Dupraz (S.D.), Jay Fischer (Mo.), Tom Haag (Minn.), Rod Hahn (Colo.), Jerome Hawkins (Ind.), Jeff Jarboe (Ill.), Casey Kelleher (Wisc.), Jason Kontz (S.D.), Lou Lamoreux (Ill.), John Linder (Ohio), Ray Allan Mackey (Ky.), Douglas Noem (S.D.), James Raben (Ill.), Mark Scott (Mo.), Daniel Wesely (Neb.), and Roger Zylstra (Iowa).

Phase one of Leadership at its Best takes place in August and includes media training, in-depth public speaking, business etiquette and meeting management. An Advanced Leadership Academy, provided for growers more established in leadership, is also co-sponsored by Syngenta.

Farmers interested in signing up for future training programs should contact their state corn organizations.



Fertilizer Prices Steady Again

As has been the case for more than four months now, retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the second week of March 2013 continues to show steady prices.  Half of the eight major fertilizers edged higher compared to last month but these moves to the high side were fairly modest. 10-34-0 had average price of $612/ton, anhydrous $862/ton, UAN28 $395/ton and UAN32 $442/ton.  The other four fertilizers slipped compared to the second week of February but again the move lower was insignificant. DAP had an average price of $616/ton, MAP $664/ton, potash $590/ton and urea $575/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.62/lb.N, anhydrous $0.53/lb.N, UAN28 $0.70/lb.N and UAN32 $0.69/lb.N.

Three of the eight major fertilizers are showing a price increase compared to one year earlier. Anhydrous is now 12% higher while both UAN28 and UAN32 are 5% more expensive compared to last year.  Three fertilizers are single digits lower in price compared to March 2012. Both DAP and MAP are 5% lower and urea is 8% lower compared to last year.  The remaining two fertilizers are now down double digits from a year ago. Potash is now down 10% while 10-34-0 is 25% less expensive.



USDA: February Milk Production down 3.4 Percent
                       
Milk production in the 23 major States during February totaled 14.6 billion pounds, down 3.4 percent from February 2012. However, production was 0.1 percent above last year after adjusting for the leap year. January revised production at 15.9 billion pounds, was up 0.6 percent from January 2012. The January revision represented an increase of 6 million pounds or less than 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.

Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,722 pounds for February, 58 pounds below February 2012.   

The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.50 million head, 13,000 head less than February 2012, but 2,000 head more than January 2013.



National Dairy FARM Program Reaches 70% Participation Threshold

The dairy industry’s animal care program has achieved an important milestone, with 70 percent of the nation’s milk now participating in the program. With the recent addition of several major cooperatives in the National Dairy FARM Program (Farmers Assuring Responsible ManagementTM), more than two-thirds of the nation’s cows will be covered by the industry’s animal well-being effort, according to the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF).

NMPF started the FARM program three years ago to provide a consistent, national, verifiable means of showing consumers and the food value chain how dairy products are produced. The number of cooperatives and processors subscribing to the program has continued to grow, and now includes farms producing 70% of America’s milk supply.

“Consumers and customers don’t expect perfection, but they do expect us to collectively demonstrate our industry’s responsible practices and our commitment to quality animal care,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF. “I’m proud of the ongoing progress our farmers are making by working to implement the FARM program’s guidelines on their own operations.”

Kozak said that even with the increased participation in the FARM program, “We need more farms, more cooperatives, and more companies to commit themselves to this program. The expectations are out there. The questions are being asked. We have to provide clear answers,” he said.

In addition to the positive development in the level of participation in the program, Kozak said that the FARM program’s guidelines, contained in the National Dairy FARM Animal Care Manual, are in the final stages of an extensive review and revision process. After nearly a year of consultation throughout the industry, with farmers, veterinary experts, and cooperative staff, the three year-old animal care manual will be revised slightly to reflect the latest knowledge and best practices about proper dairy animal care. Revisions to the animal observation component also relied on analysis of over 360,000 animal observations collected through on-farm evaluations for FARM program over the last three years.

The five step process consisted of the following:
Step 1 – Initial revision and draft by the program’s Technical Working Group (TWG) in May 2012
•      The TWG was composed of dairy producers, veterinarians, and animal care experts

Step 2 – NMPF Animal Health & Well-being Committee Review (AHWC) in autumn 2012
•      The NMPF AHWC is composed of dairy producers, veterinarians, and cooperative staff
•      October 2012 – Review of initial TWG draft by Animal Health committee
•      November 2012 – TWG made additional revisions in response to AHWC comments

Step 3 – Industry Comment Period in winter 2012
•      December 2012 – Distributed broadly to industry for comment, including state dairy producer groups, cooperatives, and proprietary processors and veterinary associations
•      February 2013 – TWG made additional revisions in response to comments received during the industry comment period

Step 4 – Review of TWG recommendations and final revisions by NMPF AHWC in March 2013

Step 5 – Review and anticipated approval by NMPF Board of Directors in June 2013

If the NMPF Board approves the revisions in June, the newly-revised manual will be made available on the FARM website at www.nationaldairyfarm.com.



CWT Assists with 5.4 Million Pounds of Butter and Cheese Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 24 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold), Foremost Farms USA, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Michigan Milk Producers Association, United Dairymen of Arizona and Upstate Niagara Cooperative (O-AT-KA) to sell 2.701 million pounds (1,225 metric tons) of butter and 2.740 million pounds (1,243 metric tons) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The product will be delivered April through September 2013.

Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 34.048 million pounds of cheese, 40.907 million pounds of butter and 218,258 pounds of whole milk powder to 24 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 1.206 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis, or the annual milk output of 57,400 cows.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by helping to maintain inventories of cheese and butter at desirable levels. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the farm milk that produces them.

CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidders only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.



National Museum of American History Announces Initiative to Preserve Agricultural Heritage and Document Farm Innovation

On National Agriculture Day, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is unveiling a new website where the public can upload stories about technologies and innovation that have changed their work lives in agriculture—stories about precision farming, food-borne illness tracking, environmental concerns, government practices, irrigation, biotechnology and hybrid seeds.

This spring, the museum is launching the Agricultural Innovation and Heritage Archive, reaching out to farmers, ranchers and American agri-business to preserve America's agricultural heritage and build a collection that reflects modern agricultural practices. Curators are seeking stories, photographs and ephemera to record and preserve the innovations and experiences of farming and ranching. For details and to participate, the public may visit http://americanenterprise.si.edu.

As an example of the agriculture stories the Smithsonian is seeking, the museum will accept a donation of road signs related to no-till production and organic farming from Jim Rapp, a corn and soybean farmer from Princeton, Ill.

"The story of agriculture is important and complex," said John Gray, director of the museum. "In Jefferson's time, 96 percent of Americans were farmers; today, that number is less than 2 percent. Despite this drop, productivity has skyrocketed and agriculture has evolved into a technology-driven profession with the cab of a tractor akin to a traditional CEO's office."

This new collection of stories, photos and objects will play a role in the "American Enterprise" exhibition, an 8,000-square-foot multimedia experience that will immerse visitors in the dramatic arc of the nation's story, focusing on the role of business and innovation in the United States from the mid-1700s to the present. The exhibition is scheduled to open in May 2015.

The American Enterprise project budget is $20 million which includes the exhibition, a virtual exhibition on the Web, a rich array of programs and demonstrations as well as an endowment for a Curator of American Business. Recent gifts in support of the "American Enterprise" exhibition, include a $2 million gift from Monsanto Company and a $1 million gift from the United Soybean Board.

"American agriculture has gone through a tremendous transformation in the last seven decades, becoming a high-tech industry, deeply affecting not just farmers themselves but every American and the American experience in general," said Peter Liebhold, curator and chair, Division of Work and Industry.

The exhibition will tell the story of the nation's business, centering on themes of opportunity, innovation, competition and common good with examples drawn from five areas: agriculture, consumer finance, information technology/communication, manufacturing and retail/service. Chronological in organization, "American Enterprise" will use objects, graphics and interactives to examine how the United States moved from a small dependent nation to one of the world's most vibrant and trend-setting economies.

Visitors will explore the development of American agriculture through objects such as Eli Whitney's cotton gin, a 1920s Fordson tractor and an Agacetus gene gun, which represent machines and innovation that increased productivity and science that gave insight to the genetic structure of plants. Agriculture has employed science and technology to dramatically increase production and choice while lowering prices, but these changes have also altered the experience of farmers and the public in unexpected ways.

The initial objects donated to the Agricultural Innovation and Heritage Archive project came from Tennessee Farm Bureau member Pat Campbell, of Cleburne Jersey Farm, a multigenerational dairy farm founded in the 1870s in Spring Hill, Tenn. Campbell donated a selection of photographs, a computer cow tag and reader unit to show the change in dairying from a hand-labor intensive process to a modern computer-run operation as well as his personal recollections about how changing technology has altered his work life and has led to greater efficiency and safety.

The National Museum of American History is currently renovating its West exhibition wing, developing galleries on business, democracy and culture. For more information, visit http://americanhistory.si.edu. The museum is located at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W., and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.



Dow Partners With the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program to Achieve Cropping System Goals

Dow AgroSciences is pleased to announce a partnership with the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program, which helps growers optimize fertilizer inputs.

The Dow AgroSciences nitrogen stabilizer portfolio consists of N-SERVE®, the original nitrogen stabilizer, and INSTINCT®. INSTINCT and N-SERVE protect the crop’s largest input investment, ensuring nitrogen is available when and where corn needs it most.

“We are happy to have Dow AgroSciences as a partner of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program,” says Lara Moody, director of stewardship programs for The Fertilizer Institute. “Nitrogen stabilization is increasingly being utilized by growers to enhance nitrogen use efficiency and reduce losses to the environment. Having Dow AgroSciences as a 4R Partner helps us demonstrate how fertilizer advancements help achieve the cropping system goals.”

The 4R framework takes an innovative, science-based approach that provides stakeholders with educational tools, advocacy support and implementation recommendations for crop nutrient stewardship. The program advocates management practices to increase production, boost farmer profitability, enhance environmental protection and improve sustainability. The concept is to use the right fertilizer source, at the right rate, at the right time, with the right placement.

Dow AgroSciences Commits to the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program
“Our partnership with 4R focuses on the importance of nutrient stewardship and fertilizer efficiency,” says John Demerly, portfolio market leader, Dow AgroSciences. “Since the first nitrogen stabilizer, N-SERVE, was introduced in 1974, we have grown our team of sales and agronomy experts in nitrogen management. Today, we continue to develop innovative solutions for a more sustainable world.”

Dow AgroSciences funds third-party and university research to support the science behind nitrogen stabilizer solutions while reinforcing the 4R program, which promotes nutrient management in a growing agriculture industry.

“INSTINCT and N-SERVE nitrogen stabilizers are a great fit within the 4R program,” says Jason Moulin, product manager, U.S. nitrogen stabilizers, Dow AgroSciences. “Our nitrogen stabilizers support stronger, healthier plants, which ultimately lead to optimum yield.”

How INSTINCT and N-SERVE Support 4R’s Efforts
INSTINCT is proven to optimize yield and profit potential of corn by inhibiting nitrification of applied nitrogen with UAN, urea or manure. N-SERVE® is credited for its ability to inhibit nitrification when used with anhydrous ammonia.

INSTINCT® recently received additional credible backing of a Section 3 Federal Supplemental Label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for postemerge sidedress applications. It is tank-mix compatible and can be incorporated with just a half inch of rain, which can lower field applications and reduce equipment and fuel use. N-SERVE reduces leaching of nitrates into groundwater and reduces the loss of nitrogen as a greenhouse gas into the atmosphere through denitrification.



DuPont Collaborates with Agricultural Educators to Reach More Students

DuPont and the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) has awarded $200,000 in grants to provide agriscience educators with training and classroom resources to implement advanced curriculum that will better prepare students for future careers in agriculture and food.

DuPont Pioneer is working closely with the National Association of Agricultural Educators to award grants to teachers who are implementing Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE), but need additional funding.

“Feeding the world will require that more students understand agriculture and become future leaders in food and agriscience,” said Michelle Gowdy, director of Community & Academic Relations for DuPont Pioneer. “We are working with others in education and in agriculture to ensure teachers have the best tools at their disposal to get more kids excited about agriculture and careers in agriscience.”

CASE is a multi-year approach to agriscience education with rigorous educator training requirements and hands-on, inquiry focused learning activities. The collaboration with DuPont Pioneer and CASE is a special project of the National FFA Foundation.

“We are excited that DuPont Pioneer understands the importance of CASE, and they’re putting their funding where teachers have said they need it most,” said Dan Jansen, CASE project director. “These grants will help teachers who have wanted to implement the CASE curriculum but have not been able to because of school budgets.”

The DuPont Pioneer grants will be available to help with three areas teachers have identified as cost barriers to implementing the program in their schools – teacher training, equipment and materials, and end-of-course assessments.

The DuPont Pioneer Global Giving Program is intended to improve food security by advancing agriculture through science, education and innovation and to enhance the quality of life for farmers and their communities globally. Addressing the unique challenges of our local communities promotes economic growth, improved health, and overall quality of life; all factors important to a healthy and strong business climate.