Tuesday June 4 Ag News

Considerations for Delayed Soybean Planting
Jim Specht, UNL Professor of Agronomy and Horticulture

This year has been another interesting one. With recent, much needed rains, soybean planting continues to be delayed. According to the USDA NASS crop report on May 28, soybean planting was 63% complete compared to the average of 79%. As we approach June, we have received questions regarding how agronomic practices should change — if at all — for late planting. The following are considerations when planting in June or July.

Row Spacing
Several have asked if narrowing rows at this time of the year would be a good idea. Because the longest day of the year occurs on June 21, and all days get shorter after that, soybeans need as much sunlight as possible to make pods, seed, and yield. We like to see that canopy “green to the eye by the fourth of July” which may or may not be possible at this point. To close the canopy sooner, you may want to consider planting narrower than 30 inches. UNL research has shown that up to 5/8 bu/ac can be lost for every day after May 1 that planting is delayed. Thus, there is now a need to mitigate, to the degree still possible, the loss in the crop’s ability to capture all incoming sunlight from now on.

Cautions with Narrow Rows
While narrowing rows can help close the canopy quicker at this point, there are a few cautions to consider. In general, non-uniformity of seed depth placement and of seed-to-seed placement within the row is more of a concern with drills versus 15-inch or 30-inch planter units. Increasing seeding rates by 10% (potentially up to 20%) may be necessary to fill in gaps that occur. This may not be as much of a concern with newer precision planting drills. Also, narrowing rows can favor diseases such as sclerotinia stem rot (white mold of soybean) that like a humid, moist canopy. While sclerotinia has not a major issue in Nebraska, it has been observed in some fields; we would not recommend narrow rows if you have experienced a problem with white mold in your fields.

Relative Maturity
Generally, with late planting (after June 15) it is still best to stick with varieties that are in the maturity-adaptation range for the given region. You could go with the earliest maturity group (MG) number recommended for the given area, such as reducing your MG number by 0.5-1.0, but don’t try using a maturity group much shorter than that or you will sacrifice yield potential.

There have been some seed quality issues with soybean this year that have caused producers to look at seed in other maturity groups. Some producers have looked at later MG than that typically recommended for their area in order to get better seed. At this point in the season, that can present a risk for frost. We would instead recommend looking at the earlier end of the recommended MG for your area.
Seeding Rate

Increasing seeding rate by about 10% after early June for drilled and planted beans also can help achieve canopy closure.

It’s also important to be aware of crop insurance considerations and your options. For more on this, please see the CropWatch article, Late Planting Provisions for Multiple Peril Crop Insurance.

In summary, right now soybean producers should be considering narrowing their row spacings, increasing their seeding rates by 10%, and maintaining their current maturity group (or reducing it no more than 0.5-1.0).



Are Soybean Inoculants Recommended after Drought?
Charles Shapiro, UNL Extension Soil Specialist, Haskell Ag Lab

Most recent research has found that inoculants provide the most benefit when used on land that has not had soybeans before or has not been inoculated in a long time. Some research from other states shows that over the long term, use of inoculants may increase soybean yields by about 1 bushel per acre. These studies were conducted over a range of fields under a range of conditions.

In a drought there might be some differences, but my informed opinion is that the bacteria are resistant to one year’s bad conditions, and so the drought would have negligible effect. We conducted a study near Tekamah and Brownville last year on ground that had been under water for an extended period due to Missouri River flooding. This would create harsh conditions for microbes that need oxygen to survive.

At Tekamah our yields for soybeans grown without inoculant averaged 61 bu/ac compared to 60 bu/ac with traditional inoculant, and 57 bu/ac with another inoculant that was an enhanced product. At Brownville the uninoculated soybeans yielded 57 bu/ac and one inoculated treatment yielded 64 bu/ac and the other 70 bu/ac. At Tekamah the least significant difference (LSD) was 9 bu/ac and at the Brownville site, the LSD was 12 bu/ac. The LSD indicates the yield difference that is needed to have confidence that the difference is due to the treatment and not chance. Yields at both sites were very variable.

A Purdue University Extension publication, Utilizing Inoculants in a Corn-Soybean Rotation, summarizes the inoculant information.



NFBF on Approval of Water Task Force Legislation

LB 517 establishes a Water Funding Task Force charged with prioritizing water programs, projects and activities in need of funding in four broad areas: research, data and water modeling needs; rehabilitation and construction of water management infrastructure; conjunctive management of ground and surface water; and state compliance with interstate water compacts. The task force is to report back to the Legislature by Dec. 31, 2013. The task force will include members of the Natural Resources Commission and 11 additional members to be appointed by the governor. The director of Natural Resources, the Chair of the Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee and five additional members of the Legislature serve as ex-official members. The legislation was introduced by Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege, Neb., chair of the Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee.

“We greatly appreciate the work of both the Legislature and the governor in approving legislation that will help Nebraska move forward in addressing the long-term funding needs related to managing our state’s water resources. The establishment of the water task force initiated by the passage and signing of Legislative Bill 517 is an important step in working toward solutions that will help meet the diverse needs of Nebraska water users.”

“Water is the lifeblood of Nebraska agriculture and is key to helping fuel Nebraska’s agriculture-based economy. Sound water policy and water resource management is not only critical to Nebraska farm and ranch families, but to all Nebraskans. It is our hope the task force will successfully find ways in which Nebraska can fund water management programs, projects and activities that will help assure the state’s long-term water needs are met, help the state meet its obligations under interstate water use compacts and the federal endangered species law, and in the management of both ground and surface water. It is our belief that efforts made today to address these important issues will only benefit future generations of Nebraskans.”



New Smartphone App Keeps Farmers and Ranchers in the Know

A new University of Nebraska-Lincoln smartphone app helps agricultural producers track key temperatures.

The Climate App publishes maps that show recent highs, lows, and soil temperatures. The High Plains Regional Climate Center in UNL's School of Natural Resources released the app to keep agricultural producers aware of the temperature ranges that could affect production timelines.

Ken Hubbard, a regional research climatologist and the coordinator heading the app's development, said that the project aims to inform producers' decision-making.

"We already had maps online," said Hubbard. "But we realized that producers don't really have time to go hunting on their computers for information. So the hope is that the app will go with them on their phones and make their jobs easier."

The Climate App's homepage currently presents five options: "Maximum Temperature (F) yesterday," "Minimum Temperature (F) yesterday," "7 Day Average Soil Temperature (4")," "1 Day Soil Temperature (4")," and "1 Day Precipitation Total." Each option links to a map with a color scale that indicates the corresponding local information.

"The maps are scalable to help people find their location," Hubbard said.

The current map options focus on temperature because the HPRCC wants to help farmers decide whether it is a good time to plant. In the coming months, the app will progress to showcase precipitation information and corn water-use for the previous day. The intention is that this information would help farmers know whether to irrigate.

Sixty- seven weather stations report data to the HPRCC. Using this data, Hubbard and the team at HPRCC create maps that showcase the variations in temperature at a local level.

The Climate App is the latest development in the HPRCC's mission to provide useful information to help producers make decisions regarding their production timelines and procedures. The app automatically imports data from the HPRCC's established system.

"The main challenge we faced in developing the app was getting the right people with the right knowledge together," said Hubbard.

For this reason, the HPRCC partnered with representatives from other groups, including UNL's Information Services, UNL's Agronomy and Horticulture department, and financial sponsors at Kansas State University. Additionally, UNL extension personnel provided invaluable feedback as the team developed prototype apps.

"The developers are on the research side," said Hubbard, "but the extension educators are the ones who talk to people who use the app. They've been providing information about how the app actually gets used."

Those interested in the app can use the phone's browser and enter the URL as hprcc3.unl.edu/Ap.  There is no cost for the app.  Hubbard and the app's team welcome feedback regarding the Climate App's function and future.

Hubbard can be reached at khubbard1@unl.edu.  More information on other topics is available at the respective websites below:
-  Crop production and pest management: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/
-  Water information: http://water.unl.edu/home
-  Climate: http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/



Raise Cutting Height When First Harvest is Delayed
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Rain has delayed many folks from cutting alfalfa. If you haven't taken first cutting yet, you might need a small change to the way you may be planning to cut this crop.

Have you harvested your first cutting of alfalfa yet? Even if it is not blooming heavily, you might be surprised to find that it already has started to grow your next cutting.

Walk into your alfalfa field before cutting and look closely at the base or crown of the plants. Do you see short, new shoots starting to grow? If so, these new shoots are the new plants that your alfalfa hopes to turn into your second cutting.

Look closely -- how tall are these new shoots? Are many of them a couple inches taller than your usual cutting height? If you cut these new shoots off -- along with the first growth -- your alfalfa plants will have to start a whole new set of shoots for regrowth. This could cause a delay in second cutting regrowth by as much as one week.

Fortunately, you can avoid this delay. All you need to do is raise your cutting height just a couple inches so that you avoid clipping off most of these new, second growth shoots. Your regrowth then will have a head start towards next cutting. And since the stubble you leave behind has quite low feed value anyway, the yield you temporarily sacrifice is mostly just filler.

Normally I suggest cutting alfalfa as short as possible because that maximizes yield and it doesn't affect rate of regrowth. But a late cutting that already has new shoots growing is different.

Don't blindly start cutting alfalfa when harvest is delayed. First look for new shoots, then raise cutting height if needed.



Dairy Farmers Celebrate Feeding Our Nation during June Dairy Month

Dairy farmers take pride in their role in producing wholesome, nutritious dairy foods and in helping to feed the nation. During June Dairy Month, Midwest Dairy Association, which works on behalf of more than 9,500 dairy farm families across 10 Midwest states, has partnered with Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, to help fight hunger. Starting on June 3, Midwest Dairy will donate $1 for every view to its Feedin’ A Nation parody video up to $20,000. For each $1 raised, eight meals are secured by Feeding America on behalf of local food banks.

According to the USDA, more than one in five children in this country may not know where they will find their next meal. Food insecurity and child obesity often go hand-in-hand. For many children, food insecurity and obesity stem from disrupted meal patterns, family stress and lack of access especially during summer months without school meals.

Midwest Dairy created the Feedin’ A Nation video to elevate the awareness of Midwest dairy farmers’ commitment to and passion for helping to feed the nation. The video includes more than 65 dairy farmers and was filmed at dairy farm family homes in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota in early March. Set to the tune of the original song “Good Vibrations,” as recorded by the Beach Boys, the “Good, Good Food, Feedin’ a Nation” song and video hope to capture and resonate with people the role everyone can play in feeding others by supporting local food banks.

“Food is a universal cause, and providing our growing population with nutritious, affordable food is one of our greatest challenges,” says Jerry Messer, a North Dakota dairy farmer and Chairmen of the Midwest Dairy Association Board.  “As dairy farmers, we recognize we have a shared responsibility in the health of future generations and are committed to being part of the solution.”

“We were delighted when the Midwest Dairy Association approached Feeding America with the idea of this particular cause marketing campaign. Within the ten-state region covered by the Midwest Dairy Association, 35 Feeding America member food banks meet the needs of millions of hungry Americans,” says Kelli Walker, Manager of Corporate Partnerships for Feeding America. “We have a strong national partnership with dairy farmers through the National Dairy Council, and we appreciate the long-standing tradition of dairy farmers’ commitment to feeding local communities. Low-fat dairy products are also highly valued commodities within our network of food banks.”

On a national level, National Dairy Council, Feeding America and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics formed a partnership in 2012 to help alleviate hunger through an increased focus on nutrition. During the Washington Post Live Future of Food event last month, the three partners reaffirmed that commitment by announcing a $100,000 grant program to support nutrition education and increase access to dairy and other nutrient-rich foods.

Dairy foods are an economical source of nutrition. Together, milk cheese and yogurt deliver nine essential nutrients in a variety of tasty, affordable and convenient options. Dairy is among the top five food items in demand among food bank patrons, yet it only makes up 5.3 percent of total pounds distributed in the Feeding America food bank network. Small efforts, like donating and volunteering with your local food bank, or even watching this video, can have a big impact in improving nutrition security.

To learn more, including how you can help, visit DairyMakesSense.com or FeedingAmerica.org. To view the video, visit Midwest Dairy’s YouTube channel here: www.youtube.com/MidwestDairy. To learn more about the national partnership, visit DairyGood.org.



EIA CASES CONFIRMED IN NEBRASKA HORSES

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) has confirmed 12 cases of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in one horse herd located in Northwestern Nebraska. State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Hughes said EIA affects only horses, mules and donkeys, and is usually fatal to these animals. No other animals or humans can be infected with this disease.

EIA is a blood borne disease and is typically transmitted by biting insects (such as horseflies and deerflies), but also can be transmitted from horse to horse through infected needles. There are no treatment options for infected horses, Hughes said.

Horse owners are encouraged to take biosecurity precautions to reduce the risk of infection in their herds, including: implement control measures, including husbandry practices, that reduce biting insects, such as horseflies and deerflies; follow the rule of one horse-one needle; and additions to herds should have a negative Coggins test before being allowed to intermingle with other equine.  For more information related to actions to further protect horses visit: www.nda.nebraska.gov.

EIA symptoms include: fever, depression, weight loss, swelling and anemia.  Producers with horses, donkeys or mules that exhibit these symptoms are urged to contact their veterinarian immediately.

Dr. Hughes reminds those who are importing horses into Nebraska for show/exhibition or other reasons to follow Nebraska’s horse import regulations, which includes the requirement of a negative Coggins test – the test utilized to determine the presence of EIA. Producers with questions about import regulations should contact NDA at (402) 471-2351.



Certified Grazier Program Expands in 2013

Following a successful pilot season in 2012, the Certified Grazier Program is being expanded to two southern Iowa locations this year. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef program specialist Joe Sellers said the program is ideal for those who have experience with grazing and want more detailed information on tools and techniques.

“Past participants of our Greenhorn Grazing series or other in-depth grazing programs will benefit from this next-level programming,” he said. “This series offers classroom and field-bases sessions, including personalized learning opportunities, at Fairfield and Creston this summer and fall.”

General information sessions feature a variety of management strategies and ways to apply those strategies to participants’ land. Personalized sessions offer in-depth looks at specific topics that can be incorporated into individual grazing plans, while networking with others provides opportunities for discussions with fellow producers on how they’ve approached grazing and developed plans tailored to available resources and goals.

Sellers said producers can take advantage of others’ practical experiences by seeing actual on-farm results of various techniques, and can build and strengthen mentoring relationships between themselves and experienced graziers, as well as university and industry personnel.

Cost is $100 per person for the six-part series, which includes a meal at each session and a reference guide. The registration fee is payable to the Jefferson County Extension office at Fairfield or the Lucas County Extension office at Chariton.

Dates for the six-part series are specific to each location as follows:
-    Fairfield, Jefferson County Extension office — July 9, July 30, Aug. 20, Sept. 17, Oct. 15 and Nov. 5
-    Creston, Southwestern Community College agricultural center — July 2, July 25, Aug. 27, Sept. 19, Oct. 17 and Nov. 12

Sponsors of the Certified Grazier Program are ISU Extension and Outreach, Iowa Beef Center, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Dow AgroScience, Southern Iowa Forage and Livestock Committee, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

For more information, contact Sellers at 641-203-1270, ISU beef program specialist Byron Leu at 641-799-2298, Certified Grazier Program coordinator Brian Peterson at 641-344-1026, or Rick Sprague of NRCS at 712-542-8765.



FSA Announces New Higher Soil Rental Rates Being Used for CRP

John R. Whitaker, State Executive Director for USDA’s Iowa Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that new soil rental rates are now being used for the Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Maximum CRP rental rates are calculated using the three predominant soil types that make up the offered area. A weighted average of the individual rates associated with each soil type determines the overall rental payment per acre. Most soil rates have increased throughout the state.

“These new higher rates have been increased to continue to make CRP competitive with higher cash rent prices,” said Whitaker. “Producers who have inquired about CRP have been surprised at our new rates, which in most cases are significantly higher when compared to the rates used for contacts expiring this fall.”

These new rates are in affect for the 45th general CRP sign-up, which began on May 20, 2013 and continues through June 14, 2013, as well as for the continuous CRP that continues through September 30, 2013. CRP is a voluntary program that assists farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers to use their environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. CRP helps protect groundwater by reducing water runoff, sedimentation, and is a major contributor to increases in wildlife. Producers enrolling in CRP plant long-term resource-conserving cover in exchange for the rental payments, cost-share and technical assistance.

Whitaker added, that producers with expiring contracts or producers with environmentally sensitive land are encouraged to evaluate their options under CRP especially given these new increased rates.  On September 30, 2013, contracts on an estimated 3.3 million acres of CRP nationwide are set to expire; 183,399 acres will expire in Iowa.

Currently, about 27 million acres are enrolled in CRP nationwide, 1.5 million acres in Iowa. CRP is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them safeguard environmentally sensitive land. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion and enhance wildlife habitat.



Hog Profits Emerge - Delayed Planting Keeps Producers Wary

Hog production has returned to profitability as hog prices rallied from the mid-$50s per live hundredweight in March to the low $70s today. Moderation in feed prices after the USDA's March Grain Stocks report was released in late March also helped reduce costs of production with second quarter costs averaging about $67 per live hundredweight compared to an estimated $70 in the first quarter. Delayed planting that is raising concerns about fewer planted acres and reduced yields has most recently sent corn and meal prices trending to the upside. This has prompted questions about hog production costs and if they will not drop as much as some had anticipated, according to a Purdue University Extension economist.

"Looking back, the drought of 2012 caused large losses for pork producers due to high feed prices," Chris Hurt said. "Losses from spring 2012 to spring 2013 averaged about $23 per head. This was the most severe period of pork producer losses since the financial collapse and recession in late 2008 and 2009. Hog prices for the third quarter are expected to average $67, which is similar to the second-quarter average. Currently, costs are expected to be at about the same level with breakeven conditions prevailing. As a reminder, breakeven means all costs are covered, including full depreciation and family labor. This means that a hog operation can continue into the future with breakeven returns calculated in this manner," he said.

Prices for corn and meal are expected to drop sharply into the late summer and fall as markets make the transition to new crop supplies, according to Hurt. Current forecasts are that fourth-quarter corn prices will be $1.25 per bushel lower than third-quarter prices and soybean meal prices will be $40 per ton lower. "That means costs will drop from about $67 per live hundredweight this summer, closer to $60 for the final quarter of the year," Hurt said. "Hog prices are expected to be near the $60 level for the final quarter of 2013 and first quarter of 2014, thus continuing breakeven conditions."

Hurt said that prospects for the entire year of 2014 have begun to come into focus, although the size of this summer's crops can still have a strong influence on final outcomes, especially with regard to costs of production and to pork supplies in the second-half of 2014.

"USDA has made their first forecast for 2014 hog prices in a range from $56 to $60 per live hundredweight," Hurt said. "That appears considerably lower than current lean-hog futures are suggesting, with an average for 2014 around $62 to $63. The primary difference is that USDA made their forecast in early May when they were anticipating very low corn and meal prices. In fact, the mid-point of the USDA 2013/14 marketing year U.S. corn price was $4.70 per bushel with high-protein Decatur meal prices of $300 per ton. In contrast, futures markets never were that low and currently are roughly $5.60 per bushel for corn and near $400 per ton for Decatur meal. These substantially higher feed costs would be expected to keep the pork industry from expanding and result in hog prices more in line with current lean-hog futures prices," he said.

Hurt recommended that hog producers should generally keep any expansion plans on hold awaiting better clarification of the size and prices for 2013 crops and the implications for hog production costs. "The size of those crops should be more transparent in another 60 days, although late-planting likely means that frost will also be a threat for much of the month of September.

"In general, if corn prices stay below $6 per bushel, the pork industry will be able to survive another year of low-crop production," Hurt said. "Corn prices above $6 would push the outlook back into losses. The opposite would be true of $5 or lower corn prices. Some expansion could be expected with low $5 corn prices and a more aggressive expansion would be expected with corn prices dropping below $5," he said.

Expansion, if it occurs, is not expected until the fall, Hurt concluded. "Retention of additional gilts at that time to expand the herd means pork supplies would begin to increase late in the summer and fall of 2014," he said. "For now, industry losses have come to an end, and pork producers are keeping a close eye on weather just like their crop-producer cousins."



Peterson tells Grange members

During an address Monday to Grange members attending the organization's annual Fly-In, Ranking House Democrat Collin Peterson warned we may be seeing "the last Farm Bill," if the omnibus legislation even passes through Congress this year.

"If we can't get the votes then I think we're done until the next election," Peterson said during his luncheon address at the National Press Club. "But this might be the last Farm Bill."

Peterson said the bill is making some progress, and is expected to come to the House floor on the week of June 17.

In spite of nearly $21 billion in proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - funding for what was formerly known as food stamps that makes up nearly 80 percent of the $1 trillion piece of legislation - Peterson said some Republicans still may not budge.

"Some Republicans tell me that the high water mark among the Republican Caucus is 150 (votes)," Peterson said. "I agreed to the SNAP cuts because (Rep.) Lucas thought it's what needed to be done in order to get the votes. For some of them, $21 billion isn't enough. For some of them, $100 billion wouldn't be enough."

Peterson said he and Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) believe limiting the number of amendments to no more than 30 that can be added to be bill is necessary to allow it to pass.

"We were very pleased and honored to have Rep. Peterson offer his insight into the Farm Bill process to our eager crowd," National Grange President Edward L. Luttrell said. "Our members will be using this information as well as others they learned this week in their conversations with Representatives and Senators today and tomorrow across the Hill."

The National Grange Fly-In is an annual event held to encourage members of the 145-year-old organization to speak directly to their elected officials about issues of importance to rural Americans and the agriculture sector.

The Fly-In began Sunday evening with a briefing by Joel White, President of Council for Affordable Health Care Coverage, on the status of the Affordable Care Act and runs through Tuesday.

After Peterson spoke, the National Grange and members proudly presented the first William Saunders Award for Rural Awareness to RAM for their Super Bowl Commercial, "God Made a Farmer."



Congress Reauthorizes the Animal Drug User Fee Act

The Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) passed the House of Representatives last night with a vote of 390-12. With the passage of ADUFA last month in the Senate, the legislation, which authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect fees for certain animal drug applications, now heads to the White House for the President's signature.

Reauthorization of ADUFA is one of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's (NCBA) top policy priorities. NCBA President Scott George, a dairy and beef producer from Cody, Wyo., said the passage of ADUFA is important because new animal health technologies allow cattle producers and veterinarians to prevent, control and treat diseases to maintain a healthy herd.

“Raising healthy cattle is of utmost importance to cattlemen and women, and it is important for producers and the veterinarians they work with to have the ability to best manage herd health and produce safe, nutritious beef,” said George. "The reauthorization of ADUFA will provide resources for the FDA to conduct timely and thorough reviews of new animal drugs for safety and effectiveness."

George added that with a "clean" bill free of amendments, the fees paid by animal health companies to fund FDA reviews and evaluations will be utilized to support and facilitate the new animal drug approval process.

"Cattle producers know that keeping our animals healthy is critical to the viability of our operations and our industry," said George. "We sincerely thank the Senate and House leadership for working together to pass this legislation and for realizing the importance of passing a clean bill without unnecessary language or amendments."



‘CLEAN’ ANIMAL-DRUG REVIEW BILL APPROVED

The National Pork Producers Council today praised Congress for approving legislation to reauthorize animal-drug review laws that will give pork producers access to products that safeguard animal and public health.

The House last night passed, 390-12, a bill to reauthorize for five years the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) and the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act (AGDUFA). The House took up the measure (S. 622) approved by unanimous consent in the Senate May 8.

“We want to commend the leadership on both sides of the aisle in the Senate and House for approving this important legislation,” said NPPC President Randy Spronk, a pork producer from Edgerton, Minn. “The laws will help ensure that pork producers have access to products that keep our pigs healthy and our products safe and wholesome.”

First enacted in 2003, ADUFA and AGDUFA allow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to collect fees from animal health companies for the review and approval of animal health products, including ones for farm animals and pets. The fees supplement the agency’s annual congressionally-approved appropriations and have enabled FDA to dramatically reduce its review time for new animal drugs, bringing medications to market more quickly while maintaining high standards for safety and effectiveness.

The legislation was approved without amendments. Opponents of modern livestock production had threatened to offer provisions to restrict from use in food-animal production certain antibiotics and to require reporting of on-farm uses of animal health products. [FDA already collects antibiotics sales data, which a number of groups have misused in efforts to blame animal agriculture for the rise of antibiotic-resistant illnesses in people.]

“NPPC thanks Sens. [Tom] Harkin and [Lamar] Alexander and Reps. [John] Shimkus, [Fred] Upton, [Joe] Pitts and [Cory] Gardner for making sure this was a ‘clean’ bill,” Spronk said. “They understood that limiting our ability to keep our animals healthy and burdening producers with paperwork wasn’t going to help us produce safe food or add to the knowledge base about the important issue of antibiotic resistance.”

Since ADUFA and AGDUFA were signed into law, several new swine health products have come on the market, helping producers fight swine respiratory and other diseases. In the past five years, veterinarians and pet owners received more than a dozen new products to help pets live longer, healthier lives.



Corn Growers Question Study on Climate and Corn Yield

A new study out of Rice University and the University of California at Davis that looks ahead 40 years at farming and climate change and draws some very specific conclusions needs to go back to the research table, according to the National Corn Growers Association.

"At a time when meteorologists struggle to tell you what the weekend will be like, it's odd to see a report that tries to so specifically pinpoint the weather 40 years from now," said NCGA President Pam Johnson. "But that's only one of the problems we have with this very problematic study."

The report, published in the American Chemical Society journal Environmental Science and Technology, states that the yield of corn grown for ethanol in the United States would be reduced by an average of 7 percent over the next four decades, and the amount of irrigation needed for the corn would increase by 9 percent. Among its other flaws, Johnson noted:

The news release that accompanies the report, which looks only at corn grown for ethanol, clearly states the bias of the authors, who "have long questioned the United States' support of biofuels as a means to cut vehicle emissions," the release said. It's no wonder, then, that the report looks ahead a full four decades to criticize an ethanol policy, the Renewable Fuel Standard, which only cover renewable fuels for the next nine years.

The report ignores any possible advances in technology to improve corn growing, such as new agronomic practices or technology. "Looking back 40 years, corn farming was so different in 1973 than it is today, and it's a difference that could not have been predicted back then," Johnson noted. "The fact of the matter is, it's not only naive to assume that corn yield will not increase as it has been, but our current average yield is already sufficient to produce the five billion bushels needed to meet the full conventional RFS volumes."

Farmers have been successfully dealing with climate change on this continent for 2,000 years and have shown remarkable resilience and adaptation, Johnson said. Last year, even with a significant drought, they brought in the eighth largest crop ever and saw a significant yield increase compared to the last drought year. This shows that farming practices and tools will change to respond to changing conditions. Two examples offered by Johnson: Since 1980, corn farmers have reduced per-bushel greenhouse gas emissions by 36 percent - and irrigated water use by 53 percent.

"President Eisenhower once said that farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the corn field," Johnson noted. "We encourage academics to get out of their ivory towers and learn what farmers are really doing, instead of simulating information that is basically useless."



Steady Fertilizer Prices Rule

As has been the case for over six months now, retail fertilizer prices continue to hold steady, according to DTN's national retailer survey for the fourth week of May 2013.  Seven of the eight major fertilizers slipped lower compared to last month, but these moves were fairly tiny. DAP had an average price of $611/ton, MAP $650/ton, urea $565/ton, 10-34-0 $612/ton, anhydrous $838/ton, UAN28 $399/ton and UAN32 $446/ton.  The remaining fertilizer was higher compared to the fourth week of April but again the move higher was extremely minute. Potash had an average price of $587/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.61/lb.N, anhydrous $0.51/lb.N, UAN28 $0.71/lb.N and UAN32 $0.70/lb.N.

Only one of the eight major fertilizers is showing a price increase compared to one year earlier. Anhydrous is now 9% higher compared to last year.  Four fertilizers are a single digit lower in price compared to May 2012. DAP is 4% lower, MAP is 6% less while both UAN28 and UAN32 are 8% lower compared to last year.  The remaining three fertilizers are now down double digits from a year ago. Potash is now down 11%, 10-34-0 is 21% less expensive and urea is down 26%.



Kansas Wheat Farmer Sues Monsanto Over GM Wheat

A Kansas wheat farmer today filed a civil lawsuit against Monsanto alleging gross negligence and other causes of action following press reports last week of the discovery of unapproved genetically modified wheat in an 80-acre field in Oregon. The farmer seeks compensation for damages caused by the discovery, which sent wheat export futures prices spiraling downward. The case may be the first of many Monsanto faces over alleged wheat contamination.

Susman Godfrey, one of the nation's leading trial firms, along with co-counsel the Murray Law Firm and Goldman Phipps, PLLC, filed the case before the Honorable Monti Belot, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.

"Monsanto has failed our nation's wheat farmers," said Stephen Susman, Susman Godfrey's lead attorney on the case. "We believe Monsanto knew of the risks its genetically altered wheat posed and failed to protect farmers and their crops from those risks."

After news broke of the discovery of the unapproved wheat, Japan and South Korea suspended some imports of American wheat, and the European Union, which imports more than 1 million tons of U.S. wheat a year, said it would ensure its "zero tolerance" policy against genetically modified crops was maintained. Kansas exports about 90 percent of its wheat.

According to Martin Phipps, who litigated similar contamination claims involving the U.S. rice crop over the past several years, the reaction in Asian and European markets does not come as a surprise. "Our agricultural trading partners have little tolerance when it comes to genetically modified foods. Contamination of non-GMO crops presents a huge risk to our agricultural economy."

Monsanto developed and planted the experimental wheat in open fields from 1998 to 2005. The company engineered the wheat to be resistant to glyphosate, the key ingredient in its own weed killer, Roundup. However the company never submitted the wheat to federal agencies for commercial approval when it became apparent that world markets did not want any form of genetically modified wheat.

Given the size of the wheat crop, farmers may face significant damages. New Orleans trial lawyer Stephen Murray stated: "The full extent of the damage Monsanto has caused is not yet known, but we are committed to helping farmers as the extent of the wheat contamination becomes clear."



NOAA Avoids Furloughs

As hurricane season gets under way, the U.S. agency that runs the National Weather Service has found a way to meet its 2013 sequestration budget without forcing its workers to go on unpaid leave.

In a May 31 memo to employees, obtained by Dow Jones, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the agency is cancelling plans to furlough all 12,000 of its employees.

NOAA implemented a hiring freeze, limited travel and training, and cut grant and contract funding -- all aimed at preserving its workforce and its critical missions, according to NOAA Acting Administrator Kathryn Sullivan.

The announcement came on the eve of the 2013 hurricane season, which started June 1. The agency is predicting an "active" or "extremely active" season this year, with up to 20 named storms and potentially six major hurricanes.

The announcement was sent to NOAA employees just hours after the latest round of storms hit Oklahoma, striking the Oklahoma City area on Friday and killing more than a dozen people. An earlier, more devastating twister hit the suburb of Moore, leveling neighborhoods and killing more than 20.

Recent weather events "remind us how important every single employee within NOAA is to the health, safety and well-being of this nation," Sullivan said in the memo, adding her own emphasis. "That is precisely why I'm pleased to report that this evening the Department of Commerce transmitted a plan to Congress that will avoid all furloughs in NOAA."

NOAA employees were facing up to 20 days of furlough when the agency received its appropriation in late March, Sullivan said. "This was neither acceptable nor executable," Sullivan said.

NOAA is a division within Commerce.



USDA Dairy Products April 2013 Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 928 million pounds, 3.2 percent above April 2012 but 2.9 percent below March 2013.  Italian type cheese production totaled 397 million pounds, 2.9 percent above April 2012 but 4.0 percent below March 2013.  American type cheese production totaled 373 million pounds, 2.4 percent above April 2012 but 3.0 percent below March 2013.  Butter production was 169 million pounds, 0.3 percent below April 2012 and 6.9 percent below March 2013.

Dry milk powders (comparisons with April 2012)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 161 million pounds, down 15.7 percent.
Skim milk powders - 39.4 million pounds, up 110.6 percent.

Whey products (comparisons with April 2012)
Dry whey, total - 82.0 million pounds, down 2.6 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 89.0 million pounds, up 1.8 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 37.6 million pounds, up 1.4 percent.

Frozen products (comparisons with April 2012)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 71.6 million gallons, up 1.5 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 39.1 million gallons, down 12.1 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 4.40 million gallons, up 9.3 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 6.73 million gallons, up 3.4 percent.



USDA and EPA Launch U.S. Food Waste Challenge

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the U.S. Food Waste Challenge, calling on others across the food chain—including producer groups, processors, manufacturers, retailers, communities, and other government agencies − to join the effort to reduce, recover, and recycle food waste. Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe were joined at the event by representatives from private-sector partners and supporters including Rio Farms, Unilever, General Mills, the Food Waste Reduction Alliance, Feeding America, and Rock and Wrap It Up!.

Food waste in the United States is estimated at roughly between 30 to 40 percent of the food supply. In 2010, an estimated 133 billion pounds of food from U.S. retail food stores, restaurants, and homes never made it into people's stomachs. The amount of uneaten food in homes and restaurants was valued at almost $390 per U.S. consumer in 2008, more than an average month's worth of food expenditures.

"The United States enjoys the most productive and abundant food supply on earth, but too much of this food goes to waste," said Secretary Vilsack. "Not only could this food be going to folks who need it – we also have an opportunity to reduce the amount of food that ends up in America's landfills. By joining together with EPA and businesses from around the country, we have an opportunity to better educate folks about the problem of food waste and begin to address this problem across the nation."

"Food waste the single largest type of waste entering our landfills -- Americans throw away up to 40 percent of their food. Addressing this issue not only helps with combating hunger and saving money, but also with combating climate change: food in landfills decomposes to create potent greenhouse gases," said EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe. "I'm proud that EPA is joining with USDA today to announce the U.S. Food Waste Challenge. With the help of partners across the country, we can ensure that our nation's food goes to our families and those in need – not the landfill."

The goal of the U.S. Food Waste Challenge is to lead a fundamental shift in how we think about and manage food and food waste in this country. The Challenge includes a goal to have 400 partner organizations by 2015 and 1,000 by 2020.

As part of its contribution to the U.S. Food Waste Challenge, USDA is initiating a wide range of activities including activities to reduce waste in the school meals program, educate consumers about food waste and food storage, and develop new technologies to reduce food waste. USDA will also work with industry to increase donations from imported produce that does not meet quality standards, streamline procedures for donating wholesome misbranded meat and poultry products, update U.S. food loss estimates at the retail level, and pilot-test a meat-composting program to reduce the amount of meat being sent to landfills from food safety inspection labs.

Through its Food Recovery Challenge, EPA will provide U.S. Food Waste Challenge participants with the opportunity to access data management software and technical assistance (www.epa.gov/smm/foodrecovery/) to help them quantify and improve their sustainable food management practices.

To join the Challenge and learn more about USDA's activities and the activities of those who have already joined, visit: www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste/index.htm.



Monsoon Boosts India Grain Output

India's foodgrain output will likely rise in the crop year beginning July as monsoon rains have arrived as expected, the farm ministry said in a statement late Monday.  Rains reached the mainland through the southern Kerala state over the weekend. The monsoon is progressing well and is expected to advance to most of south India in two to three days, the weather department said.

The timely arrival and distribution of monsoon rains are crucial to crop sowing in the main summer season as a majority of the country's farmlands are rain-dependent. The rainy season starts in the first week of June and ends mid-September.

India's food production is estimated to have fallen to 255.36 million metric tons in the year ending June due to late arrival and erratic distribution of monsoon rains last year. It hit a record 259.32 million tons the previous year.



TMCO INC/National Manufacturing Sponsors Great American Wheat Harvest Documentary Film             

Conrad Weaver of ConjoStudios, LLC announces Total Manufacturing Company (TMCO  INC) a of Lincoln, Neb., and its National Manufacturing equipment division, as a Silver Sponsor for the Great American Wheat Harvest documentary film. 

Established 1974, TMCO specializes in one-stop, concept-to-completion metal manufacturing services from any stage of design, fabrication, paint, assembly and makes parts for some of the world’s top pivot irrigation, weed control, seed planting and harvesting equipment companies.  

As a division of TMCO working directly with the United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), National Manufacturing, produces equipment utilized in the initial processing stages of wheat breeding, storage and milling, test baking and also in product development and quality control.

-more- “With its roots deep in the agriculture industry, TMCO and National Manufacturing work with wheat breeders, food research laboratories, universities and companies worldwide that all have direct links to the food supply chain,” says Weaver.  “This association further helps our efforts to better connect consumers to those who produce their food as we share the stories of North America’s wheat growers and custom harvesters.”

Dan Moore, director of operations of National Mfg., Division of TMCO Inc., says for companies that depend on consistency in taste, texture and appearance, and in high-quality wheat, the analysis machines produced at National Mfg., allow for continuous testing of every batch and the monitoring of any necessary correction. 

“Our equipment exemplifies how much the owners of TMCO, Roland Temme, Tony Marquez and John Albers, are dedicated to the grain and food industry, Moore says. “As soon as they learned there was a documentary being made about the wheat harvest, they wanted to know how they could be of assistance.”

Since 1939, National Mfg., has been involved with all facets of the wheat industry and worked with the industry leaders who are committed to the challenge of investing all of their time, finances, equipment and hard work for as long as it takes to see the job to completion.

“This is a mindset TMCO INC is familiar with and the Great American Wheat Harvest is a true story that everyone should experience,” Moore says. 

TMCO and National Manufacturing Company now join other Great American Wheat Harvest major sponsors including: John Deere, MacDon Industries, U.S. Custom Harvesters Inc., Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters, and the Oklahoma Wheat Commission. 



Rabo AgriFinance Report Finds Agribusiness Logistics to Create Complications in Brazil

2013 is likely to be a very difficult year for agribusiness logistics in Brazil, according to a report from Rabobank. The report, “Road to Ruin? Brazil’s Agribusiness Logistics in 2013,” finds transportation costs in the country have risen significantly due to three factors: new legislation impacting the working hours of truck drivers, a sharp increase in diesel prices, and rising export volumes for major commodities. In the next three to four months, the upward pressure on internal freight rates will be intense, owing to the expected large export volumes of soybeans, corn and sugar. Despite current construction projects to improve Brazil’s transport and exporting capacity, virtually nothing can be done to alleviate the current pressure on the system in the short term, or to prevent it from intensifying.

Andy Duff, Rabobank analyst said: “Transport companies have been faced with major implementation costs, compounded by a rise in the price of diesel of more than 10 percent in the space of three months. As the dominant method for transporting major commodities to the ports, the cost of road freight tends to dictate the freight rates for all modes of transport. For this reason, the new legislation on truck drivers’ working hours - stipulating that drivers must take more frequent breaks - has had a substantial impact on commodity transport costs. The challenge for transport companies is maintaining the flow without having to acquire many more vehicles and find many more drivers.”

Compounding the challenge, Brazil’s exports of soybeans, corn and potentially sugar are all expected to rise in 2013, based on higher production forecasts. Favorable margins for soybeans and corn (which run on a July/June crop year) have been the key drivers behind expansion of production of both crops in Brazil. Sugar production (which runs on an April/March crop year) is expected to rise modestly this year as a result of a recovery in cane yields in the Centre/South after two difficult years.

According to Rabobank, soybean trading companies will have to absorb much of the increase in transport costs this year. However, the expectation of higher costs next season is likely to be passed back to farmgate prices via the prices that trading companies offer for contract soybean purchases from farmers. While this would impact margins for soybean producers (and the same is likely to be the case for corn), it could also ultimately result in lower raw material prices for pig and poultry operations in major grain-producing regions.

In the cane and sugar industry, as the vast majority of sugar is sold free on board (FOB), the increase in freight costs has to be absorbed by millers, a situation that is particularly unwelcome in a year where international sugar prices are already low as a result of a significant global surplus of sugar.

Reports such as “Road to Ruin? Brazil’s Agribusiness Logistics in 2013,” are available exclusively to clients of Rabobank and Rabo AgriFinance. Media can obtain the full by contacting Sarah Kolell at Rabo AgriFinance.



MicroEssentials.com Goes Mobile

The Mosaic Company has released another digital tool for farmers to gather important information that can help increase efficiency and generate higher yields.

Recognizing the fact that farmers are increasingly using tablets and smartphones to increase production, The Mosaic Company responded by recently unveiling a mobile site for its premium fertilizer, MicroEssentials®.

The new mobile site for MicroEssentials will provide its customers with a more efficient and convenient user experience, particularly as retailers strive to better serve growers in their own fields and offices.

"We’ve found that smartphones and tablets are quickly becoming indispensable tools our customers use to make important decisions," says Kevin Kimm, Senior Director of Marketing and Agronomy at The Mosaic Company. "It’s essential that we continue to adapt our services to best serve them."

MicroEssentials.com site analytics confirm increasing use of mobile platforms. In certain months, mobile visits consist of more than 40 percent of the website traffic, and the average number of mobile visits year-round is increasing consistently.

Now, when mobile users visit MicroEssentials.com, their device (phone or tablet) will be detected, and they will automatically be sent to the new mobile site. Once there, users will find a more convenient place to learn about MicroEssentials, the patented Fusion™ technology powering the next generation of fertilizer, details on the MicroEssentials product portfolio and a dealer locator tool to find the nearest retailer that sells MicroEssentials.

All this information is made easier to find with a simplified navigation structure that is more conducive to mobile devices, improving the efficiency of site visits by mobile users. By eliminating large, high-resolution images, the mobile site will load more quickly on mobile networks,

Furthermore, the mobile sites allow The Mosaic Company to utilize features exclusive to mobile platforms, such as GPS detection (for the dealer locator tool) and YouTube mobile functionality for MicroEssentials animations and commercials.

“This mobile site will give visitors to MicroEssentials.com the user experience and the ease they want and expect from a forward-thinking company like The Mosaic Company,” says Kimm. “We’ve also now set the stage for more mobile marketing opportunities in the future, all directed toward continuously providing retailers and farmers with the latest crop nutrient products to push yields to the next level.”

To visit MicroEssentials’ new mobile site, visit www.MicroEssentials.com on your smartphone or tablet.