Tuesday August 13 Ag News

New General Manager Hired at Cooperative Supply Inc.
Dan Forey has been hired as the General Manager of Cooperative Supply Inc.  Forey started his career in the feed mill in Ruthven, Iowa in 1982.  After 5 years there, he became the counterman, learning agronomy, seed, grain and feed.  After 3 years, he became the feed department manager and location manager at the same Coop.  He took his first manager position in Paullina, Iowa in 1997.  3 years later,  Forey took a manager position in New Hartford, Iowa.  This allowed him to move closer to his two daughters who were going to college in Cedar Falls Iowa.  Forey spent time in whole sale fertilizer and most recently at accounting software corporation in Story City, Iowa. 

Forey is a father of 2 girls and a son.  He has 8 grand kids (4 girls and 4 boys).  He is engaged to be married to Becky Miller, who works for Oakland Corporation.  So stop by the coop and meet Dan, he would be glad to meet you!
 
Cooperative Supply Customer Appreciation Nights Next Week
Wed. August 21, 2013, Leigh Community Building (fairgrounds) 6:00p.m. until 8:00p.m.
Wed. August 28, 2013, Dodge North Park, 6:00p.m. until 8:00p.m.



SUMMER HEAT AND FORAGE GROWTH
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Summer heat hit us hard the past couple weeks. How do these high temperatures affect different types of forage plants?

When it suddenly turns ‘hooey boy’ hot – you know, 90 plus degrees and humidity so thick you can almost see it – cool-season plants suffer along with you and me. Alfalfa and clovers, bromegrass, orchardgrass, fescues, needlegrasses, and wheatgrasses all struggle during hot weather.

Do you remember – before air conditioning – how drained you used to feel after spending a night when the temperature never dropped below 80? The same thing happens to cool-season forages, resulting in very slow growth, lower forage quality as plants burn up the good nutrients, and limited recovery of root reserves after defoliation. And if it also is dry these conditions can even become deadly.

Warm-season grasses are just the opposite. Millet, sudangrass, sorghums, and our native bluestems, gramas, switchgrass, and other warm-season grasses thrive when the temperature is around 90 degrees. Their metabolism runs at peak efficiency when it is hot so they grow rapidly while maintaining reasonable forage quality and good root growth.

Of course, this assumes these plants have adequate moisture. Once they dry up, these grasses will overheat too, just like cool-season grasses do at lower temperatures.

As you graze or hay, be aware of the stress weather is putting on your forage. When it’s too hot, allow plants to recover for a longer time before next use. And don’t expect high feed values or good animal gains when the goodies are burned right out of the plants.

Proper expectations and management adjustments can limit the stress from stressful weather.

HARVESTING SUMMER ANNUAL GRASSES FOR HAY
Can hay from summer annual grasses be dry and high quality? No way, you say? It can't be done! Well, if these are your thoughts, let’s see if I can change your mind.

It is difficult to put up good quality hay – hay that is dry and will not heat or mold – from summer annual grasses like sorghum-sudan hybrids, pearl millet, and forage sorghums. Obviously, this type of hay, which is also called cane hay by some folks, is challenging to bale or stack for most growers. So let's look at what it takes to make good cane hay.

Nearly all problems making good summer grass or cane hay are caused by the stems. Stems are low in protein and energy, they are unbearably slow to dry, and the lower stems contain most of the potentially toxic nitrates.

To solve some problems, cut early, when plants are only waist high. When cut early, stems are smaller, they’re eaten more readily, and the hay contains more protein and energy. Also, there is less plant volume. So with smaller stems and fewer of them the hay will dry quicker.

Regardless of when you harvest though, cut it high, leaving around eight inches of stubble. Tall stubble pays off three ways – it helps plants begin regrowth quicker, it holds hay off the ground so air can help dry underneath, and it keeps many nitrates out in the field stubble rather than harvesting them all in your hay.

And finally, always crimp cane hay. Even when stems are small, the waxy coating on the stems cause slow drying. But if you break open these stems by crimping, water will be able to escape and evaporate more quickly.

So cut it early, cut it high. Crimp the stems and they will dry.



Nebraska State Fair Salutes the Beef Industry
(from NE Cattlemen)

The second annual Nebraska Cattleman’s Day, in cooperation with the Nebraska Cattlemen and Sandhills Cattle Association, will be on Aug. 29 in Grand Island during the Nebraska State Fair.

The breed shows will begin at 10:00 am Aug. 28 with the Hereford, Red Angus, Dexter, Maine-Anjou, Simmental and other breeds. Judging and more activities will begin at 9:00 a.m. the next day, featuring a variety of  breeds including Angus, Shorthorn, Limousin, Gelbvieh and Charolais.

A barbecue will be at 5:30 pm Aug. 29 in the Five Points Bank Arena, followed at 7:00 pm  by the Supreme Champion Beef  Cattle Drive, which includes selection of  the Supreme Open Class Female and Bull Champion.

This year, Red Steagall will perform in the Five Points Bank Arena immediately following the supreme champion drive to cap off  the day’s activities.

NCBA will also have a crew on the ground flming the days activities for the RFD-TV program, “Cattlemen to Cattlemen”.

A complimentary gate admission ticket good for Aug. 29 only and barbecue tickets to Nebraska Cattleman’s Day are available by calling the NC offce at 402.475.2333.

Support the Troops
The Farmer Stockman Council will again be recognizing armed forces personnel at the 2013 Nebraska State Fair.  Council members will be at the Beef  Pit on Veterans Day of  the State Fair, September 2nd, to thank active duty and veterans for their service by presenting them with a beef  certifcate.  This is an ever growing program and a great opportunity to thank individuals for their service.  Affliates and members are asked to donate to this fund for beef  certifcates.  Please contact Ashley at the Lincoln offce at 402.475.2333 for more information or if  you would like to contribute.  Donations can be sent to the Lincoln offce at 1010 Lincoln Mall, Suite 101, Lincoln, NE 68508. Deadline is August 19th, 2013.

Nebraska Cattlemen Beef Pit
The Nebraska Cattlemen will once again be operating the Beef  Pit at the Nebraska State Fair August 23 through September 2.  The Beef  Pit is a State Fair tradition operated by Nebraska Cattlemen serving Prime Rib, Roast Beef  and BBQ beef  sandwiches.  Over 350 volunteers from across Nebraska will help serve the great tasting beef  meals over the 11 day fair.  

Last year, the Beef  Pit served over 26,000 beef  sandwiches and is anticipating doing the same this year.  The Beef  Pit is located in the southeast corner of  the Exhibition Building.



Economics of Early Weaning Calves
Kate Brooks, UNL Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist
Matt Stockton, UNL Extension Agricultural Management Specialist

Early weaning of calves is one tool used by cow-calf producers to maximize profits. This may be done during a time of drought to conserve range resources or as part of an overall strategy to accomplish a specific business or personal goal. Early weaning means different things to different managers. There are at least as many options to wean calves early as there are managers. The real question is which choice might lead to increased profits or reduced losses. This of course depends on the current situation and the producer.

Since resources and rainfall are highly variable among producers, forage conditions may continue to be short with reduced hay supply, and a shortage of capital, making it necessary for some producers to consider early weaning as one mitigating option. In a typical year, many producers wean their calves at least 180 days after birth. Weaning earlier may be an economical way to conserve short resources, limit this year’s losses or increase profits. Given these facts producers facing these conditions may wish to consider the following options and any other that may look promising:

1) weaning early (latter part of July) and immediately selling the calves, taking advantage of selling off season, possibly obtaining higher prices for lighter weight calves, and minimizing use of their current forage supply,
2) weaning now and removing the calves from the pasture but utilizing an alternate feed source other than their range until calves reach their normal weaning age/weight, or
3) wait and do nothing which might require supplementing both the cow and calf pair.

The second scenario, early weaning calves and feeding them until the normal weaning age might include different feeding strategies, such as putting calves on a ration that would increase weight beyond the average weaning weight expected. Producers could feed a number of different rations to alter their average daily gain (ADG). Three such rations we thought might be applicable assuming July/August weaned calves weighing about 300 pounds were:

1) to feed hay and cake to achieve an ADG of 1.9 pounds, making them gain similar to what they would as unweaned calves,
2) feed hay and distillers grains to achieve an ADG of 2.4 pounds, a higher plan of nutrition with higher than normal gains, or
3) feed just hay and limit ADG to about 1.12 pounds.

Various calf prices and costs alter which strategy provides the best outcome, making it important to do a thorough analysis.

The idea of weaning early and selling immediately is a stop loss strategy that allows producers with limited access to capital resources to potentially continue to ranch by minimizing losses or increasing profits. However, it is important to note, that this is not guaranteed and may lead to larger losses or decreased profits. It is only through careful analysis that a best choice can be made for this or any other proposed option. For example, if hay prices soften and calf prices remain strong the additional weight gain in the calves will more than likely offset the added costs. Tools producers may find useful in making these calculations are the “Cow-Calf Cost Cow-Q-Lator” or any other Excel spreadsheet. The important thing is to consider any such decision carefully, objectively and with the best and most complete information possible with professional help if needed (Extension Professional, Banker, Accountant, etc.).

The “Cow-Calf Cost Cow-Q-Lator,” can be found at http://westcentral.unl.edu/agecon3. This tool can help producers analyze the above scenarios or any other scenario relative to cow costs. It is a straightforward process of changing the costs and price ranges of calves, feed costs, calf weights, labor and any other costs or variable. This tool has the added advantage of including risk, providing an estimated range of input costs and profitability, allowing the producer to analyze which scenario provides the best potential range of returns.



Managing Weeds with Livestock
Steve Young, UNL Weed Ecologist

Invasive plants, noxious weeds, and undesirable vegetation are terms that most landowners and livestock producers are familiar with. These troublesome plants have plagued rangelands and pastures for decades, or in some cases centuries and require continuous attention. Many methods have been developed for managing weeds, and depending on their location in the landscape can include very intense approaches to complete disregard; the latter not recommended. While the method employed is critical for successful weed control, so is an understanding of the attributes of the specific weed and knowing how the environment impacts its spread and distribution. In rangelands and pastures, low intensity management is common and justified as the large and vast acreages provide little incentive for intense management that is used in cropping systems. Nevertheless, producing livestock or maintaining CRP on rangelands and pastures is more than just “letting the land take care of itself.” In these cases, weedy and invasive plants can establish and proliferate and cause serious problems, including the nearly impossible task of eradicating them.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has a list of noxious weeds that require management (http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/noxious_weed/). A few of the more familiar ones are Canada thistle, leafy spurge, and non-native common reed, which are found in rangelands, pastures, and riparian areas. These three species have the same perennial growth habit and can create dense monocultures that prevent other desirable vegetation from growing and in some areas restrict access by animals and/or humans. Canada thistle and leafy spurge thrive in degraded areas where there is little competition and can even become a nuisance in a healthy, robust pasture or rangeland. Similarly, common reed (Phragmites) proliferates in river channels and wetlands that are shallow, have low or intermittent flows, and lack competitive vegetation. In addition to the state-listed noxious weeds in Nebraska, there are other problematic plant species that occur on rangelands, pastures, and wild lands that are not regulated but equally as challenging to manage and include eastern redcedar, soapweed yucca, and others.

With limited resources, landowners and producers are often stretched thin to effectively manage large acreages. Often, a management plan that has a well-defined goal and long-term strategies for reaching a desirable outcome is missing. Landowners and producers may not have the knowledge to develop a plan or resources to implement even the simplest approaches. Without direct intervention, the undesirable vegetation can become the dominant vegetation over time. With increasing disturbance events from flooding or drought, noxious and invasive plants will take advantage of reduced competition by the compromised desirable plants and expand their range.

With all of these concerns, it may seem like all hope is lost for getting control of undesirable vegetation. But, what few producers and land owners might not realize is that the livestock that they own or manage could be part of the answer to their weed problems, even state-listed noxious weeds. Research has shown that animals can be trained to perform certain tasks. Throughout history, animals used for farm related activities and other labor intensive operations have received a certain amount of human direction. Even wild horses that are tamed require training to accept a saddle and ultimately a rider. Most everyone has been to or seen the circus where they have been training animals for decades to do some of the most amazing feats without regard for size or fierceness. With all of these accounts, why is it difficult for us to think that it is impossible to train animals to eat weeds? Maybe it is because we can’t imagine an animal actually choosing a weed over a desirable forage species. Or, maybe we think the nutritional content of weeds are so low that livestock cannot possibly make realistic gains in body weight for market. Whatever the case, we might need to change our thinking because using trained livestock to manage weeds really makes sense in terms of economics (no additional inputs), resources (using available labor – animals), spatial scales (livestock will cover the acreage to find the plants), and the environment (reducing noxious, undesirable plants).



USDA Helps Children Discover 'AgVenture' at Iowa State Fair

From pork chops on a stick to deep fried cupcakes, the Iowa State Fair is as tasty as it is big.

If you stop to ask children eating those delicious foods just where the butter in their deep fried butter on a stick came from, the answers they give are nearly as fun as the food.

More than 8,000 children and their parents attending the 2013 Iowa State Fair are discovering connections between their food and agriculture by taking part the AgVenture Discovery Trail, sponsored, in part, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"With less than two percent of our nation's population living on farms today, the disconnect between people and food is growing," said Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa. "In Iowa especially, where agriculture plays such a large role, we have a responsibility to answer questions and encourage learning and cooperation between our ag and urban communities from a young age."

The AgVenture Discovery Trail is designed as a fun way to help children learn more about their food, energy and agriculture, and ask questions of farmers and agriculture community members along the way.  Facts learned along the way include:
-- Many Iowa pork producers are third and fourth generation farmers.
-- There are more than 93,000 Iowa farm families.
-- Iowa has at least 11,000 different soils that make up some of the richest, most productive land in the world.
-- There are nearly 1,700 dairy farms in Iowa.
-- There are nearly 895,000 beef cows in Iowa.
-- 67 percent of FFA members in Iowa do not come from a farm.
-- Each year Iowa sheep farmers produce approximately 235,000 sheep.
-- Each year Iowa turkey farmers produce approximately 8.2 million turkeys.
-- Iowa ranks first in U.S. egg production.
-- Less than 2 percent of the population is involved in farming.
-- Today farmers in Iowa grow the most soybeans of any state. (Nearly 400 million bushels last year.)

"USDA is extremely pleased to be a sponsor and participant in this educational and fun activity," Menner said. "The trail offers a great way to see the fair and check out some places and buildings you may not always visit."

Each stop on the trail provides an opportunity to learn a fact about farming and rural America, many of which highlighted the important role Iowa plays in providing an abundant and safe food and energy supply. This year the trail took families to such places as the Cattle Barn, Agriculture Building, Animal Learning Center, and Sheep Barn.



Butter Cow Vandalized at Iowa State Fair

A group protesting the consumption of animal products vandalized the Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair.

Iowans for Animal Liberation took responsibility for pouring red paint over the sculpture and painting 'Freedom for all' on the window of the Butter Cow display at the state fair in Des Moines. The group included a photo with admissions of guilt for the vandalism it sent to various media outlets.

"The paint represents the blood of 11 billion animals murdered each year in slaughterhouses, egg farms and dairies," said a statement included with the photo.

Group members reportedly hid in the Agriculture Building at the fairgrounds and then broke into the Butter Cow display after the fair closed Saturday night.

Sculptor Sarah Pratt found the vandalism and she was reportedly able to clean up the sculpture before the fair reopened to visitors the next day.

Iowa State Police were investigating the vandalism.



Merck Animal Health Statement on Five Steps to Responsible Beef

We at Merck Animal Health pride ourselves on being a responsible company that puts animals and consumers first. The benefits and safety of Zilmax® (zilpaterol hydrochloride) are well documented and the product has a 30+ year history of research and development and rigorous testing.  Worldwide regulatory agencies have reviewed extensive data on Zilmax and have concluded that use of Zilmax, according to the label, is safe in cattle. It is important to understand these data included rigorous animal health safety and well-being studies – conducted by university experts – that found the behavior and movement of cattle fed Zilmax is normal. 

It is Merck Animal Health’s policy to vigorously pursue all reported adverse events whether or not they are deemed related to the product. It is a responsibility we take very seriously. We are confident in the totality of our data and the safety of the product and the well-being of the animals that receive it.

In response to recent questions about Zilmax, we’re announcing our Five-Step Approach to Ensuring Responsible Beef and educating our customers and interested groups who are involved in animal husbandry and well-being.

1.    Merck Animal Health is committed to re-certifying every feeder/nutritionist/veterinarian that feeds Zilmax to cattle. The re-certification process will begin immediately. Special attention will be given to feed mixing and determining which cattle are good candidates for the use of beta-agonists. We will engage third party experts to provide periodic review of certifications.

2.    Within the next 30 days, Merck Animal Health is committed to reaching out to packers and suppliers to initiate a scientific audit, which will focus on the feeding of Zilmax, and will follow those cattle from the feedyard to the packing plant to determine potential causes of lameness and other mobility issues during feeding, transportation, offloading and staging at the processing facility. Merck Animal Health will do a thorough review of potential compounding factors—such as nutrition, transportation, receiving facilities, etc. We will perform this audit in conjunction with third-party experts.

3.    Based on our findings, Merck Animal Health is committed to reinforcing appropriate management practices for feeder customers to include overall nutrition and feeding objectives, animal handling, low-stress environments and transportation.

4.    Continuing in our work to advance animal well-being, we will form the Merck Animal Health Advisory Board within the next 30 days, made up of representatives from small, medium and large feeders, packers, cow-calf operators, as well as animal health and nutrition experts, to review available data. If additional recommended management practices are needed, these will be identified, shared and promptly implemented.

5.    Merck Animal Health takes our responsibility very seriously and is committed to sharing all of these findings and to be transparent.



NCBA Statement on the Merck Animal Health Five-Step Plan to Ensure Responsible Beef

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) commends Merck Animal Health for taking meaningful action to address questions about the impact of Zilmax on animal welfare. America’s farmers and ranchers take animal care very seriously and support Merck’s efforts to ensure that Zilmax can be used responsibly to raise beef without compromising the health and well-being of cattle.

Beta-agonists, like Zilmax, are FDA-approved feed additives that, when added to feed in small amounts at a specific time in their lives, help cattle make the most of the food they eat resulting in more lean muscle instead of fat. Extensive research shows that beta-agonists are metabolized quickly by cattle so they are not stored in the body and therefore are not present in the meat. Beta-agonists are approved for use in the United States, Canada, Australia and two dozen other countries across the developed world.

Cattlemen and women believe in making decisions about the use of animal health products like beta-agonists based on science, not speculation. At this time, there is no scientific basis for saying the use of beta-agonists caused the animal welfare concerns cited by Tyson in their decision to stop buying cattle fed Zilmax.

However, when concerns about the use of beta-agonists and cattle well-being surfaced in sporadic anecdotal reports, NCBA convened the world’s top animal welfare experts, including Dr. Temple Grandin, to review the science and compare it to real-life observations. Over the past several months we have reviewed numerous scientific studies, gathered input from cattle feeders using the products, and sought to understand any possible correlation between the use of beta-agonists and reported animal welfare issues.

Our goal is to fully understand how the use of these products impacts animal welfare in real-life conditions. If this process determines the current use of beta-agonists is compromising animal welfare, we will take appropriate action to ensure that every animal raised for food receives the proper care it deserves.

The five-step plan announced by Merck today will accelerate this process while ensuring that every feedyard worker handling Zilmax is properly trained and certified to use the product. In committing to retrain and recertify every customer using Zilmax they are going above and beyond what is required to ensure their product is used responsibly.



BIVI Encourages Swine Vets, Researchers to Submit Proposals for PRRS Research

     With porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) costing U.S. swine producers more than $664 million annually in lost production, collaborative scientific research continues to be the industry’s best hope for finding new ways to mitigate this devastating disease. 

For the past 11 years, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) has contributed $75,000 annually through its Advancement in PRRS Research Award to fund three selected research studies. According to Michelle Sprague, DVM, president-elect of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV), results from more than a decade of BIVI-funded research studies have contributed significantly to the industry’s understanding of the disease and how to more effectively manage it.

“After more than 20 years, PRRS continues to be a major disease challenge for swine veterinarians and producers. While we still do not have all of the answers, we have learned a lot about the virus during this time, including how it is transmitted and how to better control it,” Sprague says. “I believe collaborative practical field research will provide valuable information and insight to help us achieve our goal of eradicating PRRS.”

For its 2014 PRRS Research Award, the company is again seeking study proposals from swine veterinarians, diagnosticians and public and private veterinary researchers in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Selected research studies are designed to investigate new ways to diagnose, control and eradicate one of the world’s most costly swine diseases.

BIVI encourages individuals interested in submitting PRRS Research Award proposals to do so by January 1, 2014. Complete details can be found at www.prrsresearch.com. Research Award recipients will be announced at the AASV annual meeting in Dallas, Texas next March. Proposals will be reviewed by an independent scientific board and awarded based on established criteria including potential economic impact to the swine industry, originality and scientific quality and probability of success in completing the year-long study.

This year, BIVI recognized three veterinarians and researchers for the 2013 Advancement in PRRS Research Award. These recipients were: Gil Patterson, DVM, Swine Vet Center, St. Peter, Minn.; Susan Detmer, DVM, Ph.D., University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; and Locke Karriker, DVM, M.S., Dipl. ACVPM, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

To participate in the PRRS Research Award Program, submit a proposal, cover sheet, curriculum vitae and two letters of recommendation by January 1, 2014, to:
     Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.
     Attn: Trudy Luther
     The Advancement in PRRS Research Award
     3902 Gene Field Rd.
     St. Joseph, Mo. 64506 USA

For more information and complete submission instructions, please visit the PRRS Research Award website at www.prrsresearch.com.



New game lets everyone become a virtual veterinarian

Aspiring veterinarians and animal lovers of all ages can now test their skills diagnosing and treating animals through a new game developed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). 

“AVMA Animal Hospital” is available for free through Apple’s AppStore, Google Play, and AVMA’s website (www.avma.org). The game takes place at a virtual veterinary clinic, where clients bring their pets in for treatment. Players must race the clock as they learn about each animal’s condition, diagnose its ailments, and provide treatment. By successfully diagnosing and treating each animal, players will earn points and level up from new veterinarian to chief veterinarian of the hospital.

While the primary audience for the game is children in grades 4-8, it was developed to provide a fun experience for animal lovers of all ages.

“We wanted to make a fun game that players would come back to again and again, but more importantly, we wanted there to be a strong educational component to it as well,” said AVMA CEO Dr. Ron DeHaven. “Games are a great way to learn, and we hope AVMA Animal Hospital helps educate and inspire the next generation of veterinarians.”

AVMA Animal Hospital was developed by Game Gurus with the help of several veterinarians who provided their expertise to create the animal diagnoses and treatments identified within the game. The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) helped fund the development of the game and make it available to the public for free.



Recent News for Corn and Beef Supplies
John Michael Riley, Assistant Extension Professor, Mississippi State University

The national average corn yield is currently projected at 154.4 bushels per acre and production is projected at 13.763 billion bushels. The July WASDE report had corn yield pegged at 156.5 while pre-report estimates from Bloomberg were calling for the national average yield to be 158 bushels per acre. Production was expected to be 14.036 billion bushels based on the pre-report expectations and corn ending stocks were expected to come in at 2.013 billion bushels but due to the smaller crop the reported number was 1.837. Based on this, the market moved higher following the release of the two reports.

The Crop Production report revealed that most states were either back to their pre-2012 drought status with Iowa, Washington, and Wisconsin being the only states to have 2013 projected yields lower than 2011's yield. When compared to the olympic average (which excludes the highest and lowest values) from 2005 to 2011 seven states have lower currently projected yields (Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, and Wisconsin). The U.S. average yield is currently projected to be 7.2 bushels higher than 2011 and 3.52 bushels above the olympic average from 2005 to 2011.

Also in the WASDE report were annual and quarterly beef production estimates for 2013 and 2014. Beef production in quarters one through four of 2013 and quarters one and two for 2014 are, respectively: 6.172, 6.517, 6.600, 6.255 and 5.875, 6.180 billion pounds. The second, third and fourth quarter estimates of 2013 were revised higher (by 27, 120, and 60 million pounds) and the 2014 first quarter estimate was revised up by 80 million pounds compared to last month's estimates. Second quarter 2014 estimates were lowered by 55 million pounds. All of this is the result of the culmination of higher than anticipated placements of cattle into feedlots up to this point in time. Collectively, this results in the annual beef production estimates for 2013 and 2014 to currently be projected at 25.544 and 24.130 billion pounds, respectively (up 207 and 25 million pounds).

This piece would be remiss without mention of the recent notification by Tyson Fresh Meats indicating they would no longer purchase cattle that are given the feed additive Zilmax® after September 6, 2013. The letter to feedlots was sent by Tyson last week and much has been covered to this point. Today's projections by USDA provide a baseline to discuss the future impact to beef supplies as a result of the Tyson letter. Recent literature (Scramlin et al., 2010) indicates Zilmax® adds 28.4 pounds to the dressed weight of cattle fed the supplement when compared to a control group. Assuming that 80 percent of all fed steers and heifers sold in the market are provided the supplement, and assuming that Tyson procures 25 percent of the cattle (as multiple media outlets have proclaimed), this 28 pound per carcass decrease would result in approximately a 1.8 percent decline in beef production. Using the projections from the WASDE, the fourth quarter 2013 production could drop by 113 million pounds. Also, if Tyson continues the policy throughout 2014, the decline could amount to a drop in beef production of 434 million pounds. Granted, these reductions are small (-0.4 percent for 2013 total production and 1.8 percent in 2014); however, in a tight supply market the implications carry some weight (pun intended) as was seen in the market reaction following the announcement by Tyson.



Fertilizer Prices Tumble Again

Retail fertilizer prices continued their free-fall this week, according to DTN's most recent nationwide survey. Like last week, more than half of the eight major fertilizers registered substantial price drops.  Once again the nitrogen fertilizers lost the most. Anhydrous was down 11% compared to first week of July and had an average price of $700/ton. Urea declined 7% from last month and had an average price of $499/ton.  The rapid drop in nitrogen prices has been all within the last month. Anhydrous lost over $100/ton in this time. While a considerable adjustment, it is not the largest one-month decrease ever in our database. From November to December 2008, anhydrous dropped more than $300/ton.

Urea has lost nearly $50/ton in a month. Urea's average price sits under $500/ton for the first time since the third week of May 2011. The average price then was at $493/ton.  The UAN solutions were also lower. The liquid nitrogen fertilizers fell 5% from a month earlier with UAN28 having an average price of $361/ton and UAN32 $413/ton.  The remaining fertilizer to have noteworthy price drop was MAP. The phosphorus fertilizer fell 5% compared to last month and had an average price of $606/ton.

Three fertilizers were also lower but these moves were minor. DAP had average price of $570/ton, potash $555/ton and 10-34-0 $585/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.54/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.64/lb.N and UAN32 $0.64/lb.N.

Four fertilizers are single digits lower in price compared to August 2012. UAN32 is 2% lower, UAN28 is 5% less expensive and both DAP and MAP are 8% lower compared to last year.  The remaining four fertilizers have slid double digits from a year ago. 10-34-0 and anhydrous are now down 10% while potash is down 11% and urea is 18% lower compared to a year earlier.



CWT Assists with 4.2 Million Pounds of Cheese and Butter Export Sales
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 14 requests for export assistance from Foremost Farms USA, Land O’Lakes, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association and Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) to sell 2.698 million pounds (1,224 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese and 1.682 pounds (763 metric tons) of butter to customers in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The product will be delivered August 2013 through January 2014.

Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 79.752 million pounds of cheese, 63.946 million pounds of butter, 44,092 pounds of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 pounds of whole milk powder to 35 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 2.176 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

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

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



July Was Good Month for Tractor Sales

The Association of Equipment Manufacturer's monthly "Flash Report" shows that the sale of all tractors in the U.S. for July 2013 were up 18% compared to the same month last year.  Two-wheel drive smaller tractors (under 40 HP) were up 24% from last year, while 40 & under 100 HP were up 15%. Sales of 2-wheel drive 100+ HP were up 13%, while 4-wheel drive tractors were down 18%.  Combine sales were up 2% for the month.

For the seven months in 2013, a total of 121,868 tractors were sold which compares to 108,216 sold thru July 2012, representing an 13% increase year to date.  Two-wheel drive smaller tractors (under 40 HP) are up 13% over last year, while 40 & under 100 HP are up 6%. Sales of 2-wheel drive 100+ HP are up 26%, while 4-wheel drive tractors are up 9%.  Sales of combines for the first seven months totaled 5,645, an increase of 36% over the same period in 2012.



Sorghum Checkoff Names Two Regional Directors

The Sorghum Checkoff has named Sarah Bowser of Holton, Kan., and Jesse McCurry of Colwich, Kan. as regional directors.

Bowser brings a wealth of experience to the Sorghum Checkoff team and will be serving producers in Kansas. She was most recently the vice president of membership services and external affairs for the Kansas Grain and Feed Association. She also directed the Kansas Certified Crop Adviser program within the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association and worked for the Kansas Association of Ethanol Processors.

As a Sorghum Checkoff regional director, McCurry will be serving producers in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota. McCurry most recently served as the director of individual giving for Big Brothers Big Sisters and is on the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL) program board of directors. His past experience with Kennedy and Coe as a business development specialist and with the Kansas Department of Commerce as an economic development representative will serve the sorghum industry well.

Bowser and McCurry will join the Sorghum Checkoff staff Aug. 19.



Historic Win Puts American Ethanol in the Hall of Fame

Today, Austin Dillon unveiled a limited-time only display at the NASCAR® Hall of Fame commemorating his historic win at the inaugural Mudsummer Classic held at the Eldora Speedway on July 25. The exhibit features a jar of dirt Dillon scooped up near the finish line with the Eldora golden shove, his winner's trophy and the No. 39 American Ethanol truck he drove to victory, becoming the first driver to win a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on dirt.

"Dillon's win in Eldora was not only a victory for the up-and-coming star, it was also a victory for American Ethanol," said National Corn Growers Association NASCAR Advisory Committee Chair Jon Holzfaster, a farmer from Paxton, Neb. "By making history in the American Ethanol truck, Dillon drew a bright spotlight to ethanol's ability to fuel victory even under the toughest of conditions. This attention is now compounded as NASCAR Hall of Fame visitors will clearly see how ethanol is not only a winner for NASCAR but for all Americans who want to drive using a high performance, lower emission fuel."

This was the first NASCAR series race held on a dirt track in 43 years, featuring a mix of NASCAR Sprint Cup™ racers, dirt track veterans and rising stars. Dillon pulled out the impressive victory in front of a sold out crowd, overcoming a 19th place start.

The race in Eldora was much anticipated by NASCAR fans eager to see the return to dirt, with the race trending worldwide on Twitter and a ratings boost for SPEED network's primetime coverage. SPEED's coverage, which prominently featured the American Ethanol logo throughout the race, included commentary from racing greats Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski and Clint Bowyer.

Launched by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association, along with the support of other partners, American Ethanol is a breakthrough brand that seeks to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15, and takes the NASCAR Green initiative to the next level. Since the program launch for the 2011 season, NASCAR drivers have run more than 4 million miles on renewable Sunoco Green E15.

Conveniently located in Uptown Charlotte, N.C., the NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, includes artifacts, hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor and NASCAR Media Group-operated broadcast studio.