Thursday June 27 Ag News

Program Uses Soybean as a Model for Teachers

            A program aims to show elementary teachers how to better incorporate relevant science into their classrooms by using the soybean as a model.

            The Nebraska Soybean Board and the United Soybean Board fund the Summer Science Soybean Institute, coordinated by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Groups of teachers from Lincoln, northeast Nebraska and Kansas will meet this summer for three weeks from June 24 through July 12 to discuss ways to learn about agriculture and food. They also will learn how to apply that knowledge and skills to incorporate the soybean system as a model for teaching science and to meet their district, state and national standards.

            The project, geared toward elementary teachers, started in 2010. It has expanded from Maxey Elementary school to other surrounding schools, as well as to schools in northeast Nebraska and Kansas.

            "Really what we wanted to do was provide an opportunity for teachers to experience science," said Tiffany Heng-Moss, professor of entomology and assistant dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. "The teachers will also work with the science educators involved in the project to adopt the soybean system a part of their curriculum and use the soybean system as a model system in their classroom."

            All the teachers in the program will meet at UNL on July 1- 3.     

            Jon Pedersen, the associate dean for research in UNL's College of Education and Human Sciences, helps coordinate the project.

            "It is really about the nature of science and about how we help build teachers' understanding of the nature of science and systems thinking and implementing that in the classroom," Pedersen said.

            Greg Tebo, a K-5 computer teacher at Maxey Elementary School in Lincoln, has been using the program since its inception.

            "A lot of people think that because we live in Nebraska students already know about soybeans," Tebo said.  "The fact is they don't."

            Tebo said that it is fun to watch the students learn more about agriculture.

            The exciting types of things that come about from this is when students have a grandparent that comes to the Ag fair and this grandparent is a farmer," Tebo said. "The students are able to communicate with them. The grandparent gets so excited that the student is learning a little about what they actually do."

            Soybeans can be used to demonstrate many aspects of science, such as weather and soil conditions, Pedersen said.

            "It's really about relevancy to the child's life and to their community as well as learning about the science," Pedersen said. "This has applications across all grade levels."



Brome, Brome and More Brome
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Have you noticed the explosion in bromegrass growth this spring? What a silly question. How could you miss it. So what happened?

Everywhere I look this spring, from my own pastures near Lincoln, throughout eastern Nebraska and points east, and even in drier areas in central and western Nebraska, smooth brome has thrived. It didn't look too promising in late April and early May before the rains came. Even after it started to rain, cool soil and air temperatures appeared to delay brome growth. But sometime in mid to late May, all the right conditions must have come together because suddenly we went from looking and hoping for more grass growth to looking for calves hidden inside all the tall grass.

As all this grass developed, people started complaining that the cows didn't like the grass. I also noticed that cows on my pastures seemed fussier than usual, wanting to move to a fresh pasture while plenty of brome, both stems and leaves, remained for easy grazing. At first I attributed the cows' attitude simply as a plant maturity, stemminess issue. But then something interesting happened -- the cows stopped complaining. And they still seem content even tough they are grazing fully-headed, stemmy brome in early July.

What caused this change? Honestly, I don't know. It seemed to coincide with fewer clouds and more sun so I'm guessing that sugars might be involved. During the extremely rapid growth phase, most sugar was used to support plant growth. Afterwards, maybe more sugar produced by more sunlight stayed in plant tissue and made it more palatable. This is just a guess since I have no sugar measurements, but it makes some sense. But I welcome other explanations, especially with data.

Not everything can be explained. But that doesn't keep it from being interesting.



Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Recognizes Retail Value Steer Challenge Winners and Scholarship Recipients

The annual Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Retail Value Steer Challenge (RVSC) winners and Scholarship recipients were honored at the NC Foundation lunch on June 19th during the Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) Midyear Meeting in Valentine.

The RVSC is the primary fundraiser for NC Foundation with money raised supporting youth & adult educational programs, scholarships, research & infrastructure projects, history preservation and judging teams at colleges in Nebraska.

Three winners of each of the three categories were awarded for their steer’s performance in the 14th annual Retail Value Steer Challenge. First place in the Average Daily Gain category was awarded to Rhea Farms, Arlington, Rhea Cattle, Arlington & Sandy Fussell Livestock, Erin, TN; second went to Pony Express Chevrolet, Lexington; and third place was awarded to Wells Enterprises, Stapleton and Matt Miles, Brownlee.  Rick Sebade, Emerson and Herman Dinklage Inc., Wisner won the Carcass Value category; Pete McClymont, Lincoln received second and Howard Benjamin, Cozad, was third. The Overall Winners were the Reed Hamilton Ranch, Thedford and UNL Animal Science Faculty, Lincoln in first place. Second place went to UNL Professor Matt Spangler, Lincoln; and third went to Hall & Sons Cattle Co., Thedford.

In addition to the RVSC awards, NC Foundation also recognized 26 youth scholarship winners for 2013.  “Thanks to the generosity of donors and the great participation in the Retail Value Steer Challenge, the Foundation awarded $26,000 in scholarships this year.” says Loretta Hamilton, NC Foundation President.  

The NC Foundation would like to recognize the support of Darr Feedlot, Cozad, for yardage and administration to conduct the test and finish the steers that were entered into this year’s challenge. In addition, the Foundation appreciates the following sponsors for their support of the Retail Value Steer Challenge: ADM Alliance Nutrition, Bill’s Volume Sales, Inc., Elanco Animal Health, Gallagher Grace-Mayer Insurance, Zinpro Performance Minerals and Zoetis.



No USDA Dollars for Obamacare Promotion

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) today expressed outrage with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) plan to use USDA to promote the health care law. In letters addressed to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Johanns requests details of a “special contract” between USDA and HHS. So far, USDA has announced $795,455 in grants out of USDA’s Cooperative Extension Service resources to promote the health care law. Extension funds are supposed to fund programs to educate producers about the latest ag technology and to educate the next generation of farmers.

“USDA is not responsible for helping to promote HHS’s flawed health care law—especially when it means syphoning funds away from higher education programs to keep agriculture on the cutting edge, as well as 4-H youth development programs,” Johanns said. “Secretary Vilsack has made it abundantly clear that he does not believe Congress provides USDA with enough funds to fulfill its Congressionally-mandated obligations, yet all of a sudden they find almost a million dollars to throw at promoting the work of another federal agency? It’s wrong and should be reversed.”

In a speech to the National Rural Assembly on June 25, 2013, Secretary Sebelius referenced a “special contract” between HHS and USDA. The next day, USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) posted a grants notice for up to $795,455 of cooperative extension resources to conduct outreach to promote the health care law, a purpose far outside any congressionally-authorized use.

Congress has denied HHS and Internal Revenue Service requests for increased or additional funding to implement the health care law.



Pheasant Recovery Project has 50,000 Acres of CRP Available

Iowa's pheasant recovery plan takes a second step this year with a new 50,000 acre continuous CRP practice.

The new Iowa Pheasant Recovery project is Iowa's fourth special project under USDA's CP38 program "State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement" CRP practice to address local wildlife habitat conservation needs.

The Iowa Pheasant Recovery project was designed for the year-round needs of pheasants -- provide severe winter cover, nesting habitat, and food -- and be located in counties with the best chance for pheasant recovery.

"Combining specific conservation practices with counties where we have the opportunity to get the highest bird production should put us on the path of growing our pheasant population again once the plan is installed and has a few growing years under its belt," said Todd Bogenschutz, upland biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The requirements of the Iowa Pheasant Recovery project are designed to create favorable winter and nesting habitat, in addition to a nearby food source. Offered tracks will range in size of 20 to 160 acres, with requirements for severe winter cover and food. It may be stacked against existing CRP to create larger complex of habitat.

Eligible land must be cropped or considered cropped for four years between 2002 and 2007, as either row crops, small grains or forage crops grown in an acceptable rotation.

Rental rates will be based on a maximum soil rental rate established for the three predominant soils, plus an annual maintenance payment. The standard 50 percent FSA cost share is available, plus 40 percent incentive to establish the practice. There is a sign-up bonus of an additional $100 per acre. Contracts are for 10 to 15 years.

Some counties are not eligible for the Pheasant Recovery CP38, but Iowa has several other continuous CRP practices such as Upland Habitat Buffers, the new Highly Erodible Land Initiative, and many wetland practices. These continuous CRP practices are available statewide on a first come first serve basis.

Contact your local DNR Private Lands biologist at 515-281-5918 or www.iowadnr.gov/habitat or stop by the local FSA office for more information.



Friday Meeting to Discuss Shallow River Habitat on Missouri

A public meeting to discuss proposed development of shallow river habitat projects by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be held at 10 a.m. June 28 at the Lewis & Clark State Park Visitor's Center, 21914 Park Loop, Onawa, Iowa.

"We realize that there are a lot of different stakeholders who have thoughts and questions about these projects. We will have the people there who can discuss these proposals and provide the answers to the questions," said Chuck Gipp, director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources who will moderate the meeting.

The shallow water habitat projects are being considered as part of the compliance requirement for the Endangered Species Act relating to operation of the Missouri River system.

State leaders are interested in hearing stakeholder input and perspectives on these projects. The meeting will include an overview presentation from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials and then a discussion of questions and comments from attendees.



Producers Praise Christie For Supporting Farmers

America’s hog farmers and the National Pork Producers Council today thanked New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for vetoing legislation that would have banned the use of individual maternity pens for pregnant sows. The legislation was pushed by animal-rights groups despite the fact that few of New Jersey’s small number of hog farmers use such housing.

“This is a great example of a governor standing up to powerful lobbying groups on behalf of small, independent farmers,” said NPPC President-elect Dr. Howard Hill, a pork producer from Cambridge, Iowa. “America’s family hog farmers thank Gov. Christie for rejecting this bad legislation.”

The legislation was championed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other radical animal-rights activists even though it would have prevented farmers from caring for their animals in a way approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. Those organizations long have recognize individual maternity pens as appropriate for providing for the well-being of sows during pregnancy.

“HSUS continues to drive this unreasonable legislation in states with little pork production in an attempt to push a national agenda, but states are starting to push back,” Hill said.

In rejecting the legislation, Christie said: “The proper balancing of humane treatment of gestation pigs with the interests of farmers whose livelihood depends on their ability to properly manage their livestock best rests with the State’s farming experts – the State Board [of Agriculture] and the Department [of Agriculture].”

The New Jersey agriculture departments in 2004 adopted “Humane Standards” for livestock, and the state Supreme Court in 2008 upheld most of the standards, including a direct challenge of the regulations governing the treatment of gestating pigs.

The defeat in New Jersey was the latest in a series of them for HSUS, which over the past 10 years has spent millions of dollars in states around the country to advance its radical agenda.

Very few states have enacted bans through ballot initiatives or through the legislative process because of the negative impacts such prohibitions would have had on local pork producers. Most recently, the legislatures in Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont chose not to pass measures banning individual maternity pens.



Livestock and Poultry Groups Urge Congress to Repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard

Following an announcement by Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) that they have introduced the bi-partisan Renewable Fuels Standard Repeal Act (S. 1195), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), National Chicken Council (NCC) and the National Turkey Federation (NTF) urge Congress to repeal the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

“The RFS has been such a poorly managed mess, it’s time to drain the swamp,” said NTF President Joel Brandenberger. “The RFS needs a fresh start in order to put in place a smarter policy on the mix of fuel and feed.”

The RFS last year required 13.2 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol to be blended into gasoline; it mandates that 13.9 billion gallons be blended in 2013, an amount that will use about 4.9 billion bushels of corn, or about 40 percent of the nation’s crop.

“Chicken producers are already competing with the weather,” said NCC President Mike Brown. “Why must we also compete with an inflexible federal mandate that voluntarily places another strain on our limited resources? I commend Sens. Barrasso, Pryor and Toomey for taking an approach that would let the free market decide whether corn should go to food or to fuel.”

Livestock and poultry groups called on the administration last fall to waive the RFS for the second time since 2008. And for the second time, in spite of the widespread drought and lowered harvest, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) refused to use the safety valve built into the biofuels mandate.

“Cattlemen and women are self-reliant, but in order to maintain that we cannot be asked to compete with federal mandates like the Renewable Fuels Standard for the limited supply of feed grains,” said NCBA Policy Vice Chair Craig Uden, an Elwood, Neb., cattle feeder. “When EPA is unable to provide even a temporary waiver of the RFS during the worst drought in 50 years, it is apparent the RFS is broken and we appreciate the efforts of Sens. Barrasso, Pryor and Toomey to fix this flawed program.”

NCBA, NCC and NTF call on Congress to repeal the RFS to ensure market stability certainty for rural American economies.



Rabo AgriFinance Report Finds Cattle Feeding Recovery Key to Rebuilding Beef Industry

Structural shrinkage in the North American beef industry is expected to continue, perhaps even worsen in the near term, according to a new report from the Rabobank Food & Agribusiness (FAR) Research and Advisory group.

“It is a rare occurrence that all sectors within the cattle industry are profitable at the same,” says report author and Rabobank Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory (FAR) group analyst, Don Close. “However, before the U.S. cattle industry can begin to fully rebuild after several years of contraction, it is necessary for equity recovery to take place in the cattle feeding sector.”

The report, “North American Beef: The Liquidation Continues,” finds high feed prices and severe drought challenges have placed significant pressure on the industry in recent years. At the beginning of 2013, the market was optimistic that the industry could turn the corner and begin to grow again.  However, the second half of the year is bringing a less optimistic view as the industry contracts and, as a result, is at risk of becoming a higher-priced luxury protein.

“A number of complex challenges, including growing price spreads between beef and alternative proteins, excess capacity along the supply chain and dwindling profitability along the chain, are contributing to the shrinkage,” notes Close. “Rabobank expects domestic beef supplies to continue to contract and the supply chain to continue restructuring, making a rebound in the beef industry unlikely in the near term.”

The industry has settled into a painful process of contraction, excess capacity and restructuring. As a result, consumers are seeing beef prices escalating. The spread is widening between beef and other protein sources, and people are not only downgrading between selected beef items, they are more frequently opting for the other proteins.

This report outlines how feeder supplies, contracting North American supplies and Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL) legislation are contributing to the challenges faced by cattle feeders and processors.



Risk Management Agency Improves Area Risk Protection Insurance for 2014 Crop Year

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week a streamlined and simpler approach to buying area risk protection. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) published the Area Risk Protection Insurance (ARPI) final rule effective for the 2014 and succeeding crop years. This new rule, published today, provides clarity, simplicity, transparency, and the reduction of duplication for producers and agents.  

ARPI combines the Group Risk Plan (GRP), which covers against loss of yield due to a county level production loss, and the Group Risk Income Protection Plan (GRIP), which covers against loss of revenue due to a county level production loss, price decline, or combination of both, into one insurance policy. With the publication of this final rule the GRP and GRIP insurance plans will not be available for the 2014 crop year. 

“This change provides a simpler and streamlined option for those producers who use area plans to protect themselves from price declines and natural disasters. It will also improve the collection of data, which will help RMA offer producers more risk management options in the future,” RMA Administrator Brandon Willis said.

Under ARPI, producers will be able to choose from one of three area insurance plans, Area Revenue Protection, Area Revenue Protection with the Harvest Price Exclusion, or Area Yield Protection all under one umbrella policy with specific provisions for each crop.  Previously, under GRP and GRIP, insurance providers would issue two separate policies, so a policyholder might have had multiple copies of essentially the same information.

ARPI includes crop provisions for barley, corn, cotton, forage, grain sorghum, peanuts, soybeans, and wheat. The first major contract change date is June 30 for wheat.  Current GRP and GRIP policyholders do not have to reapply as their policy will roll to the similar ARPI plan of insurance.

ARPI uses the same Commodity Exchange Price Provisions (CEPP) that the Common Crop Policy uses, providing consistent prices for both individual and area-based insurance plans. ARPI includes provisions that will require production reporting by a production reporting date at the conclusion of the current insurance year to assist in more accurately and efficiently operating the area-based program.

Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. Contact a local crop insurance agent for more information about the program. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers or on the RMA web site at: www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents/.  



Mississippi River to Halt Barge Traffic

Rising water on the Mississippi River will force the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to close numerous locks on the major shipping waterway for the second time this month, from central Iowa to central Missouri. The river is already above flood stage at numerous locations following recent heavy rains and more precipitation is in the forecast for the region. 

The river is the main barge shipping channel for moving grain from Midwest production areas to export terminals at the Gulf Coast. Some 60 percent of all U.S. grain exports are shipped via the Gulf.

Corps engineers, who manage locks and dams throughout the inland waterways system, have to remove critical lock operating equipment when the river gets too high.

Lock 12 near Bellevue, Iowa, was expected to close early on Thursday, along with locks 16 and 17 further downriver, said Army Corps Rock Island District spokesman Ron Fournier. Locks 13, 18, and 20 through 22 were forecast to close between June 29 and July 2, he added.

At Lock 24 in Clarksville, Missouri, the river was expected to hit the lock closure stage around July 4 or 5, said Michael Petersen, St. Louis District spokesman for the Corps.

Neither had a reliable forecast for reopening the locks due to unpredictable weather.

The rising river also prevented some grain elevators in the flooded areas from loading grain barges, because the vessels were unable to get under the loading spout that hangs above the river.



June Farm Prices Received Index Increased 4 Points

The preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in June, at 200 percent, based on 1990-1992=100, increased 4 points (2.0 percent) from May. The Crop Index is up 8 points (3.6 percent) but the Livestock Index decreased 2 points (1.2 percent). Producers received higher prices for oranges, hogs, and corn and lower prices for eggs, cattle, wheat, and broilers. In addition to prices, the overall index is also affected by the seasonal change based on a 3-year average mix of commodities producers sell. Increased monthly movement of wheat, hay, and corn offset the decreased marketing of cattle, oranges, milk, and broilers.

The preliminary All Farm Products Index is up 17 points (9.3 percent) from June 2012. The Food Commodities Index, at 186, increased 4 points (2.2 percent) from last month and is 14 points (8.1 percent) higher than June 2012.

Prices Paid Index up 1 Point
The June Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes, and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW) is 221 percent of the 1990-1992 average. The index is up 1 point (0.5 percent) from May and 7 points (3.3 percent) above June 2012. Higher prices in June for concentrates, nitrogen, other services, and feeder cattle more than offset lower prices for supplements, feeder pigs, and LP gas, and complete feeds.

Prices Received by Farmers
All crops: The June index, at 232, increased 3.6 percent from May and is 7.9 percent above June 2012. Index increases for fruits & nuts and oilseeds more than offset the index decreases for food grains, feed grains & hay, and potatoes & dry beans.

Food grains: The June index, at 239, is 3.2 percent below the previous month but 6.7 percent above a year ago. The June price for all wheat, at $7.13 per bushel, is down 55 cents from May but 43 cents higher than June 2012.

Feed grains & hay: The June index, at 298, is down 0.3 percent from last month but 11 percent above a year ago. The corn price, at $7.02 per bushel, is up 5 cents from last month and 65 cents above June 2012. The all hay price, at $199 per ton, is down $4.00 from May but up $16.00 from last June. Sorghum grain, at $11.40 per cwt, is down 10 cents from May but $1.84 above June last year.

Cotton, Upland: The June index, at 125, is up 0.8 percent from May but 1.6 percent below last year. The June price, at 75.6 cents per pound, is up 0.3 cents from the previous month but 1.5 cents lower than last June.

Oilseeds: The June index, at 260, is up 1.6 percent from May and 4.4 percent higher than June 2012. The soybean price, at $15.10 per bushel, increased 20 cents from May and is $1.20 above June 2012.

Livestock and products:
The June index, at 168, is 1.2 percent below last month but up 11 percent from June 2012. Compared to a year ago, lower prices for turkeys and calves more than offset higher prices for broilers, milk, hogs, cattle, and eggs. 

Meat animals: The June index, at 163, is unchanged from last month but 0.6 percent higher than last year. The June hog price, at $72.50 per cwt, is up $3.90 from May and $2.30 higher than a year ago. The June beef cattle price of $122 per cwt is down $2.00 from last month but $1.00 higher than June 2012.

Dairy products: The June index, at 151, is unchanged from a month ago but 21 percent higher than June last year. The June all milk price of $19.70 per cwt is unchanged from last month but up $3.40 from June 2012.

Poultry & eggs: The June index, at 194, is down 4.4 percent from May but 22 percent above a year ago. The June market egg price, at 69.4 cents per dozen, decreased 28.2 cents from May but is 0.5 cents above June 2012. The June broiler price, at 67.0 cents per pound, is down 1.0 cent from May but 17.0 cents above a year ago. The June turkey price, at 65.8 cents per pound, is up 0.9 cents from the previous month but down 8.1 cents from a year earlier.



Latin America Regional Conference Reassures Buyers of US Supply

Earlier this month, the U.S. Grains Council hosted a Regional Course Grains and Co-Products Conference, where Latin American buyers and end-users were reassured of the U.S. commitment to regain a significant part of the export market to the region. Latin America is an important region for U.S. grain exporters, as the region typically imports more than 16 million metric tons (629.8 million bushels) of U.S. corn and 2.3 million tons of co-products and 900,000 metric tons (35.4 million bushels) of sorghum.

Sixty participants representing 13 countries in the Latin American region attended the conference and were provided with a current industry overview, product profiles, transportation information, product management information and actual value of the products for end-users. They also heard presentations on topics ranging from the status of the distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and corn gluten industries to producer supply and demand for coarse grains and an update on the ethanol industry.

While there was much discussion about each topic during the conference, two common questions were posed: the value of products and their future in the market. Extensive information was provided on the technical and nutritional value of the products, while market updates addressed the potential challenges and opportunities for each coarse grain.

Besides being an educational event, this was a prime venue for U.S. producers and suppliers to meet some of the top importers and large end-users of U.S. feed grain exports. As a result of this conference, both Colombia and Ecuador have confirmed future shipments of coarse grains and co-products.

Following the conference in Panama, Council staff and U.S. representatives traveled to Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru to meet with local industry representatives and continue answering questions from end-users on feeding practices for U.S. coarse grains and co-products.

Florentino Lopez, executive director of the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, who attended the conference and post-conference tour noted, "The Council's conference put U.S. grains and co-products directly in front of our Latin American buyers and reassured them of the consistency and quality of U.S. products."

From the conference and meetings, it is clear that while Latin America has concerns about the high volatility of the future markets, buyers in the region are hoping to continue their strong trading relationship with the U.S. agricultural sector.



Heat Stress Manager for Sows mobile app

Purina Animal Nutrition introduces the Heat Stress Manager for Sows app for smart phones. This free tool provides heat stress prevention tips and resources to producers, helping them to avoid seasonal production lulls.

“Sows can become heat stressed at temperatures lower than producers may think,” says Vern Pearson, PhD, swine nutritionist for Purina Animal Nutrition. “Producers need to look at both the temperature and the humidity inside the facility to determine the potential for heat stress.”

The Heat Stress Manager for Sows app features an easy to use heat stress calculator for inputting the current temperature and humidity readings. It is recommended that producers install a thermometer and hygrometer in the sow barn to read these temperatures at the location of the sows. After inputting these readings into the app, the temperature and humidity are translated into a THI reading that shows the severity of heat stress, ranging from mild to extreme risk, as shown in Figure 1. Research shows that sows can begin to feel the impact of heat stress at a THI of 80. [1]

“Sows that are heat stressed have a greater potential to experience seasonal infertility, smaller litter sizes, decreased embryo survival rates and death losses,”[2] Pearson says. “But the most common impact of heat stress is decreased feed intake; therefore, ration changes that promote feed intake may be needed as THI levels increase.”

This app helps producers make educated ration and management changes based on the environment in the facility.

In addition to the heat stress calculator, the mobile app offers management and nutrition tips to mitigate heat stress.

The Heat Stress Manager for Sows mobile app is available to download for Android phones at:  http://bit.ly/AndroidSowManager and for iPhones at: http://bit.ly/iPhoneSowManager.



Syngenta encourages change in corn rootworm management

If you grow corn in the Midwest, you have probably spent some time thinking about your corn rootworm management strategy and asked yourself some of these questions:
-    What is the efficacy of my Bt traited corn?
-    Will my current pest management strategy (continue to) work?
-    Is my management strategy maximizing my return on investment?

Syngenta has been researching the answers to those questions plus a few more in an effort to help farmers grow more corn.

“Managing corn rootworm is a common goal for everyone in agriculture and certainly a top priority for us,” said Bruce Battles, an Iowa-based solutions development manager with Syngenta. “But it has to start with a change in how we view corn rootworm management. Oftentimes we react to what we saw in the field the previous year, but we need to take a step back and start to think about a more proactive, long-term approach to corn rootworm management.”

As a leader in corn insect control, Syngenta wants to help farmers develop multi-year, whole-farm strategies for corn rootworm and pest management, taking into account current and historical pest pressures in each field.

“Delivering strategic recommendations that are solidly based on technology preservation and the principles of integrated pest management (IPM) is important,” explained Miloud Araba, Ph.D., Syngenta technical product lead for corn traits. “We recognize that a lasting corn rootworm management strategy will require more than traits or any singular technology, but rather the integration of multiple technologies and control measures.”

Recently, Bt trait technology efficacy concerns in Western corn rootworm have reignited worries over agriculture’s most destructive pest. Reports from labs and cornfields alike have captured the entire industry’s attention.

“Corn rootworm is a complex and resilient pest that has a proven ability to overcome traditional farming methods and technology over time,” said Caydee Savinelli, Ph.D., Syngenta technical product lead and member of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC). “What is evident is that to maximize our customers’ crop productivity, we need to focus on successfully managing corn rootworm.”

With corn farmers in mind, Syngenta invested significant resources to research best practices for corn rootworm management, incorporating expertise, input and data from both internal and external sources. As a result, Syngenta has developed a practical set of corn rootworm management recommendations to help farmers successfully control the pest and grow more corn.

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution for corn rootworm,” Battles noted. “Long-term management will require integrated solutions that incorporate multiple modes of action and product stewardship. At Syngenta, we’re proud to offer our customers the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of rootworm control technologies and a commitment to responsible and effective pest management.”

To view a mobile-friendly version of the corn rootworm management recommendations from Syngenta, visit www.FarmAssist.com/CRW.



EU Agrees On Farm Reform Outline

(AP) -- In what's being cast as a major breakthrough, the European Union agreed Wednesday on an outline for a major farm reform program that seeks to boost environment-friendly agriculture.

The seven-year program is to kick off next year. It is designed to move away from the subsidy-heavy policies that led to excessive red tape and rules that were kinder to huge companies than to the small farmers.

Irish Farm Minister Simon Coveney said that the negotiators from the member states and the European Parliament "have delivered a policy that I believe secures the sustainable development of the sector up to 2020 and beyond."

The deal still needs to include some financial commitments currently under discussion and to obtain the approval of the plenary of the legislature as well as another green light from the 27 member states.

Since all major players that have a say in the final approval have shown support for the deal, Wednesday's blueprint was seen as a huge breakthrough by negotiators. But some environmental activists say the plan is still too weak.

The half-century old Common Agricultural Policy has been a cornerstone of the EU and was instrumental in staving off the threat of hunger on the continent early on. But over the years, it has gotten mired in overproduction and runaway subsidies that distorted the global agricultural markets and gave rise to trans-Atlantic trade conflicts.

More recently, the environment has been the center of attention.

Key to the deal was that 30 percent of budgets for direct payments to farmers may only be carried out if linked to environmental measures. The European Parliament also said that 30 percent of rural development spending must be for green measures.

"Most farmers will now have to make extra efforts in order to receive the 'green' funding," EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said.

Environmental groups though, complained the reform had not gone far enough, with many of the best green proposals slashed in the last negotiating sessions.

Tony Long of the WWF environment group called it a "wasted opportunity," arguing it will only worsen the problems of soil erosion, water scarcity and pollution.



Management Options for Corn Rootworm

While there are traits and products to help you protect your corn crops against corn rootworm, you still need to manage against the pest and that means knowing about larvae and adult beetle populations in your fields. According to experts from DuPont Pioneer, scouting to keep tabs on those populations is essential to protecting your corn crop against rootworm damage.

“Wet soils and cooler temps challenged the growth of corn early this year. These conditions may have also controlled early-hatching larvae by reducing their food source and saturating the soils,” says Clint Pilcher, DuPont Pioneer insect resistance management expert. “Regardless, growers should still scout their fields to check on the effectiveness of their control program and plan accordingly if they have severe problems.”

The goal is to break the rootworm cycle and manage the population. Options for corn rootworm include rotating crops, alternating traits or stacks within planted corn hybrids, enhancing control with insecticide seed treatments and soil-applied insecticides, or spraying adult beetles during silking.

In-Season Scouting
Adult beetles impact grain fill by chewing off the green silks, causing spotty pollination later in the season. The larval stage, however, is the most damaging and impacts yield by feeding on corn roots.  One way to determine the current level of rootworm pressure and the potential for future threats is to scout your fields for adult beetles in July and August. Scouting helps determine whether to spray the current crop and limit the potential for population outbreaks the next crop season. When scouting, look for lodged plants with heavy damage on the root system.

To ensure that spraying rootworm beetles will pay off, determine that the critical population threshold has been met before using an insecticide. This guideline is location specific, so consult your local DuPont Pioneer agronomist or Pioneer sales professional for corn rootworm beetle threshold levels in your area. If the threshold is met, apply timely foliar insecticides to control the egg-laying adult population.

Planning for Next Year
After following these recommendations, it’s important to begin thinking ahead about controlling corn rootworm for the next crop, which includes following programs that preserve corn rootworm control traits for the long term.

“The best thing growers can do to help eliminate rootworm pressure is to rotate to another crop, such as soybeans,” Pilcher states. “Corn rootworms love corn-on-corn, so anything growers can do to break that cycle is best.”

If there is no opportunity to rotate a field to another crop, consider a product with multiple modes of action in corn rootworm-resistant traits, such as Optimum® AcreMax® XTreme insect protection. Research has shown that integrated refuge, like Optimum AcreMax products, is best for insect resistance management of corn rootworms. If the same mode of action has been continually used to manage rootworm pressure, consider another trait or pyramid products to help break the cycle.                                                                                                             

Another preseason management option, when planting continuous corn-on-corn in regions of extremely heavy rootworm pressure, is a soil-applied insecticide in combination with an Optimum AcreMax product, but Pioneer does not make this a standard recommendation.

“Corn rootworms are becoming more and more difficult to manage, so we as an industry need to be cognizant of the practices we use,” Pilcher reports. “If we want to use these practices and products long term, they need to be managed properly.”

If using a blended, in-bag refuge product is not an option for you then a structured refuge is required in combination with certain Bt-rootworm products. Practicing good stewardship like planting a refuge is vital in helping maintain a population of corn pests that are susceptible to resistance traits. In the long-term this will help preserve the viability of insect protection for in-plant traits.

When it comes to keeping insect control solutions for years to come, rotating products or crops are the best options. You can also work with your local Pioneer sales professional or DuPont Pioneer agronomist to develop a long-term plan that fits your acres.