Monday May 13 Crop Progress & Conditon + Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending May 12, 2013, corn planting was active early in the week until light rain Wednesday through Friday limited progress, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service,  Nebraska  Field  Office.  Corn  planting  was  most  advanced  in  south  central  counties  and  least  in northeastern areas where precipitation has been 25-50 percent above normal since April 1.  Average  temperatures were again below normal, with lows dipping below freezing in some areas.  Soil temperatures as of Sunday were 55 degrees or higher throughout the state.  Pastures continue to show limited growth with much of the grazing land in the western half of the state in poor or very poor condition. Fieldwork was limited with only 4.7 days considered suitable.  Statewide, topsoil moisture supplies rated 14 percent very short, 25 short, 59 adequate, and 2 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 40 percent very short, 42 short, 18 adequate, and 0 surplus.  
 
Field Crops Report:
Corn planted was 43 percent, well behind last year’s 89 and 10 days behind 77 average. Emerged was 2 percent, well behind last year’s 52 and 25 average.

Soybeans planted was 7 percent, behind last year’s 56 and 33 average.

Sorghum planted was 2 percent, behind 22 last year and 12 average.

Wheat conditions  rated 14 percent very poor, 34 poor, 40  fair, 12 good, and 0 excellent. Wheat  jointed was  34 percent, well behind last year’s 94 and 2 weeks behind 67 average.

Oat conditions  rated 4 percent very poor, 8 poor, 55  fair, 32 good, and 1 excellent. Oats planted were at 95 percent, behind  last year’s 99 and 98 average.  Oats emerged were 59 percent, behind  last year’s 91 and 83 average.  
 
Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Stock water supplies rated 7 percent very short, 17 short, 75 adequate, and  1  surplus.    Pasture  and  range  condition  rated  28  percent  very  poor,  41  poor,  27  fair,  4  good,  and  0 excellent.  Hay and forage supplies rated 25 percent very short, 46 short, 29 adequate, and 0 surplus.
  


Access the National publication for Crop Progress and Condition tables at: http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/nass/CropProg//2010s/2013/CropProg-05-13-2013.txt.  

Access the High Plains Region Climate Center for Temperature and Precipitation Maps at: http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/maps/current/index.php?action=update_region&state=NE&region=HPRCC

Access the U.S. Drought Monitor at: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_state.htm?NE,HP



IOWA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

Wet  conditions  during  the  week  ending May  12,  2013  continued  to hinder  planting  progress  in  Iowa,  according  to  the  USDA,  National Agricultural  Statistics  Service.   Moisture  received  on Wednesday  and Thursday  brought  a  halt  to  field  activities.    In  areas  of  the  state  that received  less moisture, some fields dried enough for farmers to resume fieldwork by  the  end of  the week.   There was  an  average of 1.6 days suitable  for  fieldwork  during  the week.    Fieldwork  included  planting, tilling, and application of fertilizers and herbicides.  

Topsoil  moisture  levels  rated  1  percent  very  short,  4  percent  short, 68 percent  adequate  and  27  percent  surplus.    Subsoil moisture  levels rated 4 percent very short, 20 percent short and 63 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus.  

Fifteen percent of Iowa’s corn acreage has been planted compared with 86 percent at this time last year and the five-year average of 79 percent.  This  is  the first year since 1993  that  less  than 20 percent of corn acres were planted by May 12th.   Soybean planting was 1 percent  compete, well  behind  last  year’s  34  percent  and  the  five-year  average  of 30 percent.  This is the latest start to soybean planting since 1995.  Oat planting was 81 percent complete; at this time last year oat planting was complete.   Forty-five percent of oat acreage has emerged, well behind last year’s 94 percent and the five-year average of 77 percent.   

Pasture and range condition rated 10 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 37 percent fair and 31 percent good and 5 percent excellent.     



IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY
Provided by Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship

The past reporting week began with temperatures slightly above normal from  Monday  (6th)  through  Thursday  (9th)  but  with  sharply  colder weather for the weekend.  Temperatures climbed to 80 degrees at a few eastern  Iowa  locations  on  Tuesday  and  to  81  degrees  at  Cresco, Dubuque Lock #11 and Keokuk on Wednesday.  However, a freeze was reported over much of  Iowa on Sunday  (12th) morning with 23 degree minimums reported at Battle Creek, Sibley and Spencer.  Temperatures for  the  week  as  a  whole  averaged  2.1  degrees  below  normal.  Meanwhile,  dry weather  prevailed  over most  of  the  state  on Monday and Tuesday with a period of rain beginning  in western Iowa Tuesday night  and  finally exiting eastern areas Friday morning.   Heaviest  rains fell Wednesday night with localized amounts of two inches in a narrow band from Council Bluffs to Ames.  Weekly rain totals varied from only 0.02  inches  at  Hamburg  in  far  southwest  Iowa  to  2.58  inches  near Jamaica  in Guthrie County.    The  statewide  average  precipitation was 0.72 inches while normal for the week is 1.00 inches.



USDA:  Corn 28% Planted; Soybeans 6% Planted

Corn planting increased 16 percentage points in the week ended May 12 to 28% nationwide, but emergence only increased two percentage points to 5% emerged in the same time frame due to continuing cool temps last week.  Twenty-eight percent of the nation's corn is in the ground, compared to 12% last week and a 65% five-year average. Emergence is at 5%, compared to 3% last week and a 28% five-year average.

Soybeans planted rose four percentage points to 6% planted, compared to 2% last week and a 24% five-year average. "This number should be viewed as neutral to bullish," Newsom said.

Winter wheat headed increased to 29% from 20% last week. The five-year average is 51%. Winter wheat condition held basically steady at 39% rated poor to very poor, with one percentage point shifting from the poor to very poor category.

Sorghum planting rose to 29%, compared to 28% last week and a 36% five-year average. 



Assessing Freeze Damage to Alfalfa
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Frozen alfalfa usually needs time to recover before true damage estimates can be made. Now that we've had several warm days since last week's storm, it's time to recheck your alfalfa fields.

To assess the extent of the damage, don't just look for frozen or wilting leaves. You need to determine if the growing point was killed.

The growing point, also called the apical meristem, is the initial development source of all new leaves, stems, and branches on alfalfa. It is inside the dense cluster of unfolded leaves near the top of the main stem. Because it is inside a cluster of leaves, the growing point is somewhat protected from cold injury. Exposed leaves and stems all around it can be frozen, wilted, and dying while the growing point cluster survives, waiting for warm weather before continuing to grow. If the growing points in your
alfalfa survived the freeze, just wait for growth to begin again.

If the growing point was killed, however, growth ceases on that stem. New growth must come from new shoots at the crown or from lower branches. When a large existing plant remains intact, regrowth can be delayed, and harvesting damaged plants can hasten recovery.

This year, since most alfalfa fields don't have enough growth to justify harvest, I suggest just letting them come back on their own even if it takes a little longer.

Pre-Season Irrigation May be Warranted in Some Alfalfa Fields
With reduced precipitation and soil moisture in some areas, alfalfa growers may want to start irrigating before the first cutting this year.

Consider a pre-season irrigation if your soil is dry, as is common in central and western Nebraska. In fact, early spring often is the best time to irrigate alfalfa because it's about the only time you can build a reserve water source for use later in the summer.

Alfalfa can develop roots more than eight feet deep, if necessary, to find soil moisture. Deep roots that are in deep moisture will make your summer irrigating much easier by providing extra moisture when plants use as much as 0.5 inch per day. Conversely, typical shallow watering during summer encourages shallow rooting.

The biggest advantage of having a reserve of deep water comes after each summer cutting. Alfalfa roots need oxygen in the soil if plants are to regrow rapidly. Irrigating right after cutting suffocates roots, slowing down regrowth. Immediate watering also stimulates shallow rooted or sprouting weeds, especially at a time when alfalfa plants are not very competitive. Both problems are reduced when water is available for deep alfalfa roots while the top several inches of soil remain dry. After alfalfa regrows several inches it will out-compete most weeds so irrigation can begin again.

Improve your alfalfa this season by irrigating early with a goal of having six to eight feet of soil at field capacity for soil moisture by the first cutting.



Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Announces Scholarship Recipients

The Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation (NCF) is pleased to announce the following students as recipients of NCF scholarships for the 2013-2014 academic year.

    Hannah Kesterson, Alliance - $1,000 Robert E. Lute II Memorial Scholarship
    Carrick Perlinger, Paxton - $1,000 Frank & Shirley Sibert Scholarship
    Eleanor Wagner, Petersburg - $1,000 Bill Heller Memorial Scholarship
    Maci Lienemann, Princeton - $1,000 Donavan Yoachim Memorial Scholarship
    Levi McPhillips, Columbus - $1,000 Clarence and Lois Jean Hartmann Scholarship
    Kyra Baldwin, Mitchell - $1,000 Ron & Shirley Huss Scholarship
    Larissa Wach, Wauneta - $1,000 Cattlemen's Open Scholarship
    Sara Cooksley, Anselmo - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
    Janelle Kesterson, Bridgeport - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
    Patrick Heerten, Springview - $1,000 Martin Viersen Range Management/Conservation Scholarship
    Melissa Matulka, Thedford - $1,000 Nebraska Cattlemen Beef Pit Scholarship
    Kara Ostrand, Mason City - $1,000 Colonel Melvin Huss Memorial Scholarship
    Morgan Rezac, Ceresco - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
    Judson Hoffschneider, Arlington - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
    Tevyn Baldwin, Mitchell - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
    Morgan Zumpfe, Friend - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
    Garett Amsberry, Ansley - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
    Railen Ripp, Kearney - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
    Darren Wright, Bradshaw - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
    Valerie Matulka, Thedford - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
    Travis Line, Miller - $1,000 Vance Uden Memorial Scholarship
    Ashley Buescher, Lawrence - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
    Ashtyn Shrewsbury, Alliance - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
    Blake Jeffres, Burwell - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
    McKenzie Beals, Alexandria - $500 Agri-Labs Scholarship
    Alec Ibach, Sumner - $500 Lallamand Animal Nutrition Scholarship

The Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation strongly believes in the importance of a sound education for tomorrow’s industry leaders and is pleased to be able to offer these scholarships which are provided through contributions received by NCF.

“The Foundation reviewed applications from many well-qualified youth and is extremely pleased to be able to award these scholarships to help students with their educational goals,” says Loretta Hamilton, Thedford, NE, president of the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation.  “Thanks to the generosity of many donors and to the participants of the Retail Value Steer Challenge, the primary fundraiser for the Foundation, we were able to award 26 scholarships, the greatest number in the 45 year history of the Foundation.”          

Scholarship recipients will be recognized during the Nebraska Cattlemen Midyear Meeting in Valentine, Wednesday, June 19, at the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Lunch.



ICON Reacts to EPA Release of CAFO Information

A recent disclosure of personal information of 80,000 livestock producers by the EPA to activist groups strikes very close to home for Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska (ICON).

“It’s all about controlling your information and not allowing someone else to control you or your information,” said ICON president David Wright of Neligh. Believing in this philosophy goes back to ICON’s roots and pushed the organization, which works for the independent cattle producer, to fight the premise ID law created by the USDA back in 2006.

“This is precisely why ICON worked with Sen. Cap Dierks on making LB 632 the law, back in 2008,” said Wright. “LB 632 says that animal ID in Nebraska will be voluntary, if you don't want your information and your premise information to be controlled by the State then that should be your choice.”

ICON was instrumental in drafting the bill and lobbying for the bill when it was introduced by Dierks in the legislature. The shocking news of the release of personal and private information of any U.S. individual in states across the U.S. does not come as a surprise to the ICON members. When the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) was announced to the Ag industry, ICON and its members immediately began brainstorming to find a way to stop the introduction of NAIS and premise ID in Nebraska.

“It was a great day for Nebraska’s independent Livestock Producers,” said ICON Director Chris Abbott of Gordon about the passage of LB632 into law. “ICON demonstrated when important issues like this come up, it has the network and the people in place to influence the outcome in a positive fashion. Being forced to participate in a program which guaranteed no privacy for ranchers and farmers in the future was unacceptable in the eyes of ICON members.”    

ICON was supported by several Ag-related groups including Women Involved in Farm Economics, Farm Bureau, NE Veterinary Medicine Association and NE Livestock Marketing Association when they were working to protect private individuals, farmers and ranchers. Opposition arose from the Nebraska Cattlemen and the Nebraska Pork Producers. Farmers Union was neutral at the time. Time has proven trust is a valuable commodity and the misuse of personal and private information by government organizations challenges the trust U.S. citizens place in their elected officials and government offices.

“Cattle producers for many years have identified cattle with brands as IDs; the information registered with the state for brands is minimal,” said Wright. “If anyone needs more information they must contact the owner of the brand. With identity theft on the rise we need to be cautious with our information. Putting all your information in a data base to which you no longer have control of is not a good idea, whether it is the State or a private group.”



Food Processing Center to Mark 30th with Open House, Free Ice Cream June 9

            The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Food Processing Center will celebrate its 30th anniversary next month with tours and free ice cream.

            An open house is planned from 1-5 p.m. June 9 at the center, in the Food Industry Complex on UNL's East Campus. Tours of the center's pilot plants will be offered, as will interactive displays on sensory testing, marketing, food safety and more.

            And then there's the free ice cream. The FPC's Dairy Store is one of East Campus visitors' favorite stops, and the samples will remind open house participants why.

            Nebraska was one of the first states to develop a food processing center, and its center served as an example for other states to do the same. Early successes included assistance to a group of Panhandle farmers growing and processing carrots and onions as alternatives to sugarbeets and work with the Japanese licensee of the Nebraska Sucrose Ester patents, which led to FDA approval of the product for use in the United States.

            The center has a successful Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program used by business people all over the United States to help develop and expand food manufacturing businesses. Its pilot plants enable clients to perform production tests and develop new products using pilot-scale equipment. Areas of expertise in the plants include: extrusion, dairy production and research, high-pressure processing, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, dehydration and more.

            Rolando Flores, director of the center, said the celebration of its history is important, but he's even more enthusiastic about the future. "We have to be more responsive, more efficient with fewer resources and more effectiveness," he said.

            Flores said the center will continue to hone technologies that can be used to ensure more plentiful and safer food and break new ground in areas like functional foods, which are foods that deliver specific health benefits.

            "We need to be responsive in new areas of technology, nutrition and health," he said.

            Flores emphasized, "We will always give support to mom and pop organizations because it's a very important segment, but the future is the strengthening and development of our applied research."

            "We cannot rest on our laurels," he added.



NRDs Encourage Well Owners to Address Concerns Early

Even with the recent rains and snow, the memory of the extremely hot and dry summer of 2012 still receive a lot of attention.  While the recent moisture is greatly appreciated the deficit from last year remains and conservation of the water resource is a high priority.

During 2012 there were several reported issues with wells that included reduced volume, pumping air and even running out of water.  A vast majority of the problems were in the eastern one-third of the state where groundwater aquifers are much different than those in central and western Nebraska.  Other contributing factors were noted to be the age and construction of the well.  In some cases the problems could be remediated by lowering the pump and in extreme situations a new well had to be constructed.

Many reports were received by the Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) with requests for assistance.  State law gives priority in water use to domestic uses over all other uses.  The claim is correct, however, it is usually the legal basis of a lawsuit between landowners in which a judge determines whether irrigation or other well owner is liable to a domestic well owner who has been harmed.   The legal process can take substantial time to reach a remedy or conclusion.  Thus, it is better if the owners involved can reach some other remedy to address the problem in the short term.  The law does not provide any entity with immediate authority to resolve individual well conflicts.

As we move towards summer, dry weather could once again prevail and agriculture producers may have to rely on irrigation to raise a crop.  Multiple days of irrigation use may result in water well issues similar to last year.  Rather than wait until a problem occurs, well owners are being encouraged to be proactive and realize there are resources available to help them understand the situation and available options.  Well owners should talk to a water well contractor soon to determine whether their well is operating as efficiently as possible and whether constructing a deeper well is necessary.

Nebraska’s NRDs are also stressing the importance of communicating with irrigating neighbors to try to coordinate use rather than use litigation as a remedy.

There is a wealth of information on private domestic wells on the University of Nebraska's website at http://droughtresources.unl.edu/drinkingwater.



Fortenberry introduces Farm Program Integrity Act

Last Week, Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) introduced legislation to tighten payment limits on federal farm commodity programs and close loopholes mega-farms use to evade limits, while ensuring small and mid-sized family farmers have the kind of support farm programs were designed to deliver.

“Under current law, the top ten percent of farm payment recipients collect nearly 70 percent of all payments,” said Representative Fortenberry. “The Farm Program Integrity Act seeks to level the playing field for farm families by establishing meaningful payment limitations on large farms and closing loopholes that currently benefit investors not actively engaged in farming. The savings from reforms established in the legislation would help ensure that the farm payments system is set on a more fiscally-sustainable path.”

According to Traci Bruckner, Assistant Policy Director at the Center for Rural Affairs, the bill includes a hard cap on marketing loan gains of $75,000 ($150,00 for a couple). The remainder of the payment limit cap would cover the total amount an individual can receive in safety-net payments generally, up to a grand total of $125,000 ($250,000 for a couple).

Additionally, the bill closes loopholes that allow people with ties to farmland whose management consists of little more than an occasional phone call to receive farm payments. The bill sets a measurable standard for someone to qualify as actively engaged in farming by providing management for the operation, and an exception for farming operations where there is only one manager of the farm.

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), sponsor of virtually identical legislation in the U.S. Senate, commented on both the introduction of Rep. Fortenberry’s bill and the inclusion of these provisions in the draft Farm Bill proposed this week by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

“I was pleased to see Congressman Fortenberry introduce companion legislation to my payment limits reform bill in the House today,” said Grassley. “As the House Agriculture Committee considers a farm bill it would send a strong message if the House included the common sense and meaningful payment limit reforms in Congressman Fortenberry’s bill and that Senator Stabenow has included in her mark.”

“And I appreciate Chairwoman Stabenow’s continued commitment to farm program payments reform,” Grassley added. “When two-thirds of the farm payments go to the wealthiest 10 percent of farmers and there are loopholes that allow farm payments to go to non-farmers, Americans lose confidence that we’re using taxpayer money responsibly. By including my reforms, Chairwoman Stabenow is putting forward a mark that is defensible and effective in this area.”



America’s Hog Farmers Urge Christie To Veto Bill
America’s hog farmers and the National Pork Producers Council today urged New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to veto legislation that would dictate how his state’s hog farmers raise and care for their animals.

The request comes after the New Jersey Senate today concurred with the state Assembly in approving a bill that bans the use of gestation stalls for sows. The vast majority of the country’s hog farmer use gestation stalls for pregnant sows, which allow for individualized care and eliminate aggression from other sows.

The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians recognize gestation stalls and group housing as appropriate for providing for the well-being of sows during pregnancy. They point out that there is no scientific consensus on the best way to house gestating sows because each type of housing system has inherent advantages and disadvantages.

The legislation was pushed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other animal-rights groups despite the fact that few, if any, of New Jersey’s small number of hog farmers use gestation stalls.

“The bill is a solution in search of a problem,” said NPPC President-elect Dr. Howard Hill, a hog farmer from Iowa. “This is about HSUS using New Jersey to advance its national animal-rights agenda, and we hope Gov. Christie won’t go along with it.”

Over the past 12 years, HSUS has been lobbying other states to pass gestation stall bans. If approved, the New Jersey legislation would undermine animal-care standards adopted in 2004 by the state’s Department of Agriculture and upheld by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2008.

“Decisions about animal well-being and housing should be determined by those who understand the animals and work with them every day,” Hill said. “We urge Gov. Christie to veto this legislation and allow farmers and veterinarians to decide the best way to care for their animals.”



ASA Welcomes Supreme Court Decision in Bowman v. Monsanto

American Soybean Association (ASA) President and Canton, Miss.-based soybean farmer Danny Murphy welcomed the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling today in Bowman v. Monsanto. The court’s 9-0 ruling expresses support for the protection of intellectual property. Murphy commented on the case’s broad implications for agricultural innovation:

“By ruling unanimously in favor of maintaining the integrity of intellectual property laws, the Supreme Court has ensured that America’s soybean farmers, of which Mr. Bowman is one, can continue to rely on the technological innovation that has pushed American agriculture to the forefront of the effort to feed a global population projected to pass 9 billion by 2050.

“Revolutions in seed science have enabled soybean farmers to produce more food, feed, fiber and fuel with significantly reduced strain on resources. Without the protection of intellectual property that the court reaffirmed today, the companies on whom my fellow soybean farmers and I rely would have no real incentive to make the investments necessary to develop new soybean varieties that yield more, resist disease, weeds, and pests, are drought tolerant, or have improved nutritional profiles.

“Intellectual property protection sparked a sea change in investments by public and private seed breeders into improved seeds for soybeans and other crops. The Supreme Court’s decision today recognized that if you take away the incentive for those entities to strive for a better seed, they won’t make those investments and farmers eventually won’t have the benefits of improved seeds.”



APHIS Decision on 2,4-D, Dicamba-Tolerant Traits an Unnecessary Barrier for Soybean Farmers

Soybean farmers expressed their disappointment with today’s announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) will conduct a full environmental impact statement (EIS) on soybean, corn and cotton crops designed to tolerate the 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and Dicamba herbicides. The move could delay the introduction of new products containing these herbicide-tolerant traits to the market for an additional two to four years, according to industry sources. Danny Murphy, a soybean farmer and president of the American Soybean Association (ASA) from Canton, Miss., noted the association’s frustration with USDA’s announcement:

“ASA is extremely disappointed in USDA’s decision that will serve only to place another barrier between soybean farmers and the tools and technologies farmers need to sustainably grow more food, fiber and fuel for our nation, all while using less of its resources. Farmers rely on our federal agencies to make regulatory decisions based on sound science. There is no reason for APHIS to conduct an additional EIS on top of the already-comprehensive environmental assessment that has been completed for these products. Even in APHIS’ own press release, the agency cites the sustained, safe use of 2,4-D since the 1940s and Dicamba since 1967.

“Farmers need new technologies such as crops that have herbicide-tolerant traits to manage weeds and weed resistance, and USDA’s decision will delay the availability of these new technologies. USDA’s decision also greatly undermines its previous commitments to eliminate delays in its regulatory reviews and utilize robust environmental assessments. Requiring a full EIS unjustifiably delays the availability of safe products to farmers, increases regulatory costs, chills product innovation, and ultimately reduces the efficiency and productivity of U.S. agriculture.

“My fellow farmers and I are in a race, as is all of American agriculture. We’re in a race to produce enough food and products to satisfy the demands of a global population projected to hit 9 billion people within the next 40 years. Our technology providers have undergone decades of research and development and the world’s most rigorous testing regimen, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, to produce products that are declared safe by EPA and used safely by American farmers day after day for decades. Tools like 2,4-D and Dicamba-tolerant traits are critical to our mission as farmers, and for USDA to require an EIS without any scientific justification is troubling.”



Farming Practices to Minimize Ill Effects on Bees and Other Pollinators

Farmers being observant with seed treatments at planting and pesticide applications during the growing season could minimize ill effects on bee populations, according to Iowa State University entomologists.

In a U.S. Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency report released last week, several possible causes of national decline in honeybees were outlined, including habitat loss, poor diet, diseases, parasites and pesticide exposure. Research so far points to a combination of these factors that may be responsible for the 30 percent decline in honeybees annually since 2006.

Bees, through their role in pollination, are considered to be directly or indirectly responsible for about every third bite of food we eat, according to the USDA. Crops that are predominantly pollinated by honeybees have an estimated value of more than $215 billion annually worldwide.

Matt O’Neal, Iowa State associate professor of entomology, and Erin Hodgson, assistant professor and ISU Extension and Outreach entomologist, said the insecticides are used to protect the germinating seed from pests.

They advised cleaning seed treatment residues from planting equipment away from fields and minimizing off-site dust movement from treated seeds. By taking these precautions, farmers could help minimize bee exposure to a class of insecticides, called neonicotinoids, that some studies have identified as a particular concern.

Using the recommended rate of lubricants that aid the flow of seed through planters is another way to minimize exposure to bees, as well as being aware of wind speed and direction around flowering plants when applying pesticides, they said.

Alerting local beekeepers of upcoming pesticide applications is an important practice. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship maintains an Iowa Sensitive Crops Directory that includes the locations of hives at http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/horticultureandFarmersMarket.asp.

O’Neal said farmers can encourage bee populations by growing native perennial plants around agricultural fields to improve foraging habitat. He includes specific recommendations in a recent ISU publication by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Conserving Beneficial Insects with Native Plants (http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/pubs).

Hodgson and O’Neal have written an article about bee health recommendations for Integrated Crop Management News; find it at www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2013/0508onealewh.htm.



New School Lunch Beef Recipes Win Approval from Kids, Foodservice Directors

After participating in a pilot program at schools around the country, many students and school foodservice directors agree: The Rock and Roll Beef Wrap is delicious and nutritious. The same goes for Spy Thai Beef, Sweet Potato Beef Mash-up, Wrangler’s Beef Chili and Sweet and Sloppy Joes.

“Awesome’ was a common compliment from youngsters who taste-tested and named five all-new ground beef recipes created by the Beef Checkoff Program for school lunches. School foodservice directors noted the “homemade’ flavor of the recipes and the use of economical, widely available ingredients. Another selling point for school staff? The meals pair the timeless appeal of ground beef with “generous’ amounts of vegetables that young people might not otherwise consume.

Some of the new recipes are already on menus at K-12 test schools in several states and are being shared with school foodservice professionals across the country.

Perhaps most important, the recipes help meet new government nutrition guidelines for the national school breakfast/lunch program. The five beef recipes meet all school nutrition guidelines for fat, calories and sodium and help incorporate a variety of food groups, such as meat, vegetables and grains, into meals. The recipes all contain 10 essential nutrients, including fiber, which was recognized as a nutrition concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The recipes were triple-tested in the checkoff's test kitchen. The national beef checkoff and state beef councils in Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Washington then worked with local school districts to field-test the recipes and gather feedback from students and foodservice directors.

The checkoff is aware that retaining beef as a viable protein in the school lunch program is integral, and this pilot program helps accomplish that critical goal.

“We have very close foodservice relationships in Colorado, so we were able to get one of the state’s largest school districts on board with the pilot program,’ says Julie Moore, director of nutrition and education for the Colorado Beef Council. “The icing on the cake, so to speak, for us was the collaboration in creating great trial recipes and the entire test process."

“This project gave us direct contact with influential school audiences – staff and the students – who are both our consumers," said Michigan beef producer Garry Wiley, co-chair of the checkoff’s national food and nutrition subcommittee. “We were also able to deliver real tools in the form of recipes. This has been a cooperative project that really supports efforts to ensure beef remains on school lunch menus as a nutritious, delicious meal option for our children.’

Wiley also notes that this kind of effort continues to build vital beef’s visibility and credibility with consumers of all ages.

For easy, kid-inspired meals, try all five recipes (actual food critic comments included):
-    Spy Thai Beef – Asian themed, savory ground beef mixture that pairs perfectly with the crunch of fresh veggies.
-    Wrangler’s Beef Chili – A classic ground beef and bean chili recipe, accompanied by three variations to please any palate.
-    Sweet and Sloppy Joe – A sweet and spicy twist on the classic sandwich.
-    Sweet Potato Beef Mash-Up – Sweet potatoes and ground beef meet up in this Southwestern breakfast-for-lunch.
-    Rock and Roll Beef Wrap – Scrumptious, nutritious lean ground beef, veggies and grains all wrapped up.

Visit www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com for consumer versions of the school recipes.



Ag, Fertilizer Industries to Meet in Kansas City

The International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) is a leading co-sponsor for an upcoming conference, to be held Aug. 13-15 in Kansas City, Mo., to identify solutions to the complex challenges surrounding improved Nitrogen (N) Use Efficiency.

"Higher-yielding crops require wise nutrient input management to achieve realistically attainable yields, and to sustain and improve the soil fertility resource," says Dr. Cliff Snyder, Nitrogen Program Director for IPNI. "Increasing weather uncertainties, and the greater need to protect water quality and air quality, are making it more important than ever to understand the challenges and opportunities to improve farmer profitability while also protecting the environment."

Some small-scale studies have demonstrated that N losses to the environment can be minimized without jeopardizing profitable crop yields. Yet, N losses to the atmosphere as nitrous oxide and ammonia, and nitrate-N losses to surface water and groundwater continue at concerning levels that may pose serious environmental and human health threats.

Private and public sector leaders, who have practical experience in optimizing agricultural N use, and policy experts, will be presenting the latest management science. Case studies will be shared as examples of success, and opportunities for continued improvements in N use efficiency and effectiveness will be revealed.

Managers and advisers on cropland N management will be meeting with other stakeholders to explore the most effective and efficient N sources, implementation of 4R nutrient management, and adoption of technology tools to meet economic, environmental and social goals. Practicing agronomists, crop advisers and extension workers are especially invited to the conference.

All conference attendees can participate in Cafe discussion sessions designed to recommend actions and policies to improve N management with existing knowledge and technologies. Nationally recognized private and government VIPs will summarize the discussions and the stakeholder input in charting our way forward in optimizing N management.

More details on the conference agenda, registration, and lodging may be found at: https://www.soils.org/.



Mosaic Delays Potash Expansion

Mosaic Co., one of the world's largest fertilizer producers, said Monday it will delay plans to expand potash production in western Canada while it waits for better conditions.  The company hopes to proceed with the expansion after 12 to 24 months, Chief Financial Officer Larry Stranghoener told investors in a conference call.  He said, "We think that by waiting a year or two we may see improved labor conditions in Saskatchewan that might help bring down the cost of this project," Stranghoener said. He added that the company may have "better clarity about the long-term supply picture in the potash industry."

Demand for potash, a key nutrient used to fertilize crops, has surged in recent years as demand and prices for grains have climbed, prompting Mosaic and other producers to expand capacity. The expansions have caused some concern in the industry about a potential glut of capacity.



Sales to Tractors, Combine Continue to be Strong

According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturer's monthly "Flash Report," the sale of all tractors in the U.S. for April were up 6% compared to the same month last year.

For the four months in 2013, a total of 59,436 tractors were sold which compares to 54,359 sold thru April, 2012, representing an 9% increase year to date. Two-wheel drive smaller tractors (under 40 HP) were up 4% from last year, while 40 & under 100 HP were down 4%. Sales of 2-wheel drive 100+ HP were up 36%, while 4-wheel drive tractors were up 4%.  Combine sales were up 59% for the month.

Two-wheel drive smaller tractors (under 40 HP) are up 5% over last year, while 40 & under 100 HP are up 5%. Sales of 2-wheel drive 100+ HP are up 30%, while 4-wheel drive tractors are up 18%.  Sales of combines for the first four months totaled 2,980, an increase of 57% over the same period in 2012.



AgriBank Reports First Quarter 2013 Financial Results

Friday,  St. Paul MN based AgriBank announced financial results for the first quarter of 2013.

“Strong fundamentals in agriculture and efficient funding contributed to continuing strong performance. Enterprises in the AgriBank District continue to perform well and mineral income continues to grow.  We anticipate continued loan growth and strong earnings,” said AgriBank CEO Bill York. “This spring we are seeing the effects of the drought reduced significantly, but a late spring and other factors may impact the earnings of some of our customers this year. Credit quality remains strong and we continue to add to our already strong capital base to position us for expected long term growth and potential risks in this vibrant sector.”

Results of Operations
Net income rose 22% to $140.0 million for the first quarter of 2013, up from $114.8 million in the same period of 2012.

Net interest income was $128.3 million compared with $109.0 million in the same period in 2012, driven primarily by an increase in retail volume, including significant growth in loan participations purchased from the AgDirect equipment financing program. Net interest income remains elevated as the Bank continues to take advantage of a favorable interest rate environment by re-pricing callable debt at lower costs.

Loan loss provisions decreased 82% to $0.5 million with current period provisions primarily related to growth in AgDirect.

Non-interest income was up 16% to $40.9 million from $35.3 million in 2012. The increase was attributable to a $4.7 million (38%) increase in income from mineral rights held by AgriBank, the majority of which are in North Dakota.

Loan Portfolio
Total loans declined 3% to $67.7 billion at the end of the quarter, reflecting seasonal paydowns that occur during the first quarter of the year as customers sold crops after year end. AgriBank’s loan portfolio credit quality remains strong with 99.8% non-adverse loans at the end of the period, compared with 99.7% at the end of last year. Nonaccrual loans declined to $51.2 million from $51.4 million at the end of last year while the allowance for loan losses was $12.8 million at March 31, 2013 compared with $13.3 million at the end of last year.

The farm sector continues to perform well despite the effects of the 2012 drought. Multi-peril crop insurance (MPCI) generally mitigated the economic impact of the drought for most crop producers. USDA currently forecasts net farm income of $112.8 billion for 2012, 4.2% lower than 2011. The increased prices for grain commodities are having some negative impact on livestock, poultry, ethanol, and dairy producers who purchase these inputs. Some of this impact is negated by the use of hedging and forward pricing that occurs in these agriculture sectors.

For 2013, the USDA is forecasting net farm income to increase by $15.4 billion to a record $128.2 billion. Higher levels of crop production are forecast but are partially offset by lower projected commodity prices. For this same period, net cash income is projected to decline by $13.2 billion to $123.5 billion. The different trajectories for net farm income and net cash income are mainly due to expectations of substantial increases in the value of corn inventories during the year. Value of inventory change is included in net farm income but only affects net cash income when inventories are sold. The value of corn inventories is expected to rise based on projections of average corn yields and historic corn-acreage levels.

Drought conditions continue in parts of the U.S. but have improved since the fall of 2012. Much of the Midwest now has adequate moisture while parts of the western Corn Belt continue to be in a drought situation. An exceptionally cold spring and excessive precipitation also threaten planting progress on several spring planted crops which could have a negative impact on 2013 crop production.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash and investments (substantially all of which are held for liquidity purposes) totaled $12.8 billion at the end of the quarter compared with $12.1 billion at the end of last year. The Bank’s end of the period liquidity position represented 165 days coverage of maturing debt obligations, well above the 90 day minimum established by the Farm Credit Administration, the Bank’s independent regulator.

Total capital increased $102.2 million during the period to $4.4 billion, driven primarily by earnings of $140.0 million and a reduction in other comprehensive loss of $26.0 million offset by $68.2 million in patronage to Associations.