Monday September 23 Ag News

CPC October Forecast Indicates Below Normal Precipitation
Al Dutcher, UNL Extension State Climatologist

The latest long lead outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center back down earlier predictions for above normal moisture this fall in the central and eastern Corn Belt and much of eastern Nebraska.

The CPC is now indicating that Nebraska lies at the center of an area of below normal precipitation that includes eastern Colorado, southeastern Wyoming, Kansas, southern South Dakota, and western Iowa. October temperatures are projected to be above normal for all but the eastern third of the U.S. and the Pacific Northwest.

The October-December forecast indicates that Nebraska has equal chances of receiving above normal, normal, or below normal precipitation and temperatures. The only region with a tendency for above normal moisture lies across the northern Rockies and includes northern Wyoming, northeastern Oregon, western Washington, northern Idaho, and all of Montana.

We need to remember that these two-week lead forecasts are highly dependent on trends depicted in the 8-14 day forecast. I would not be shocked to see a change to the 30-day forecast issued at the end of September for October. There has been a trend toward changes in the CPC monthly intervals at two to three week intervals for most of the growing season as upper air patterns shift from a trough to a ridge.

Even though short-term model forecasts are hinting at the reestablishment of an upper air ridge over the western U.S. in early October, recent upper air patterns have been more progressive recently and I expect that trend to continue during the next 30 days. If this does occur, harvest weather will be more challenging than recent years when an absence of moisture during October led to a rapid conclusion of combine activity.



Water Diverted from River for Flood Mitigation and Aquifer Recharge

The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, local natural resources districts, and irrigation districts in the Platte River Basin have taken steps to divert floodwaters out of the river as they moved into Nebraska from Colorado. These efforts consisted of developing agreements and coordinating the timing of the diversions of this flow in an attempt to attenuate the peak flood flows. The diversion of these floodwaters will have the added benefit of recharging the aquifer as these waters seep into the ground beneath the canals and lakes along the South Platte, North Platte, and Platte Rivers.

The flows on the South Platte River measured at the Colorado stateline peaked at 21,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on September 18. While flows are slowly receding, they are expected to remain elevated for several weeks. The diversions will continue as long as these excess flows are available in order to maximize the aquifer recharge benefits. These groundwater recharge benefits will be realized in both the Platte and Republican River Basins as this groundwater slowly percolates through the ground into these rivers and their tributaries over time.

These diversion projects were set up in a very short time frame as Nebraska braced for the large flows expected after the devastating floods in Colorado. The Director of the Department of Natural Resources, Brian Dunnigan, said “the expeditious work by all parties in developing and implementing these agreements is a wonderful demonstration of what can be achieved when all parties are able to work in close collaboration toward the same goal.” This effort is similar to the diversion of flood waters carried out along the Platte River in 2011 by the Department and the local natural resources districts and irrigation districts, which also provided significant flood mitigation and aquifer recharge benefits.



DON’T LET NITRATES COST CATTLE LIVES
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Will you feed cane, millet, or oat hay, or maybe corn stalk bales, to your cows this winter?  If so, don’t let high nitrate levels kill your cows or cause abortions.

Nitrates occur naturally in all forages.  At low levels, nitrates either are converted into microbial protein by bacteria in the rumen or they are excreted.  But when nitrate concentrations get too high, they can kill cows and maybe abort calves.

When drought affects pasture and hay production, nitrates often reach potentially toxic levels.  Some plants are more likely to be high in nitrates than others.  Annual grasses like cane, millet, oats, and even corn often have elevated nitrate levels.  So do certain weeds like pigweed, kochia, and lambsquarter.  If your hay has lots of these weeds or is an annual grass, be alert to the potential for high nitrates.

That doesn’t mean these feeds always are toxic, nor does it mean that high-nitrate hay can’t be fed safely.  But always test these feeds for nitrates in a lab to determine how to feed them safely.

Remember, there are many ways to feed high nitrate hay safely.  Diluting with grain or low nitrate forages is most common.  Frequent, small meals that slowly increase the amount of nitrate fed helps cattle adapt to high nitrate hay.  And make sure cattle have plenty of clean, low nitrate water at all times.

Nitrates cause deaths most often after animals have been prevented from eating naturally for a day or more.  Avoid feeding high or even marginally high nitrate hay at this time because cattle will eat an extra large meal when very hungry.  This could create an overload of nitrates to their system, leading to death.

More details about nitrates in forages are available in a NebGuide at your local extension office or online to help you feed safely.



Clean Bins, Equipment to Reduce Storage Losses
(from UNL Extension)

With harvest near protect your yield by cleaning and treating grain bins to reduce potential storage losses.

The first step is to clean grain bins thoroughly, disposing of spilled, cracked, and broken grain and grain flour, along with the insects feeding on such material. Storage insects often get started in the grain dust and broken kernels and fines which tend to concentrate right under the loading auger in the center of the bin. (Fines can also restrict airflow through the grain mass and make it harder to uniformly dry the grain and regulate temperature with aeration.) A simple broom and a vacuum cleaner are essential pieces of equipment when cleaning grain bins.

Since stored grain insects can invade new grain from infested harvesting and handling equipment (combines, augers, etc.), it's essential that this equipment and any bins be well cleaned before harvest. Carefully remove all traces of old grain from combines, truck beds, grain carts, augers, and any other equipment used for harvesting, transporting, and handling grain. Even small amounts of moldy or insect-infested grain left in equipment can contaminate a bin of new grain.

Never store new grain on top of old grain due to the risk of infesting new grain with storage insects and mold organisms.

For more information on this topic, see the Grain Storage section of CropWatch... http://cropwatch.unl.edu/grainstorage2. 



Protect Your Health with the Right Mask for the Right Job

Wearing a properly fitted mask can help protect you from the harmful effects of aflatoxins and endotoxins in grain this harvest season. Aflatoxins are potent toxins produced by molds and endotoxins are potent toxins produced by bacteria.  Both can be found in corn and soybeans.

Where drought conditions are prevalent, particularly in dryland production areas, and where corn is moldy, assume all corn dust contains aflatoxin and wear respiratory protection, recommends the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health.

The Center, located at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, also recommends:
-    Wear a properly fitted N95 mask approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in any dusty condition.
-    Tractor cabs with poor filtering systems will not provide protection from mold spores. Wear a mask when combining moldy corn.
-    Clean and change cab filters regularly.

Working with the Iowa Ag Safety group, CSCASH has developed four videos with tips for buying, fitting, and caring for masks, as well as information on the types of organic particles that may cause problems during soybean and corn harvest and how they affect your lungs.  For more safety and health information, visit www.unmc.edu/publichealth/cscash. 



NCTA hosts Student Open Houses Oct. 12 and Nov. 11  

     Scholarship drawings, campus tours, lunch, and faculty and student dialogs will be among the offerings as high students “Discover Their Way at NCTA” during open house events this fall at the Curtis campus.

     The University of Nebraska-Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) opens its doors to potential students for public tours and discussions about college programs on Saturday, October 12, and Monday, November, 11, said Tina K. Smith, NCTA Admissions and Recruiting Coordinator.

     “We look forward to hosting prospective students at an open house here on campus this fall, and then again in the spring,” said Smith.  A highlight this year will be a $500 scholarship drawing at each open house for students who submit paid applications to enroll in classes for Spring, 2014 or for the 2014-2015 school year.  Spring Open Houses will be March 10 and April 12 2014.

     Students, families, guidance counselors and teachers are invited to participate in the daylong activities.  Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by break-out sessions for individual areas of study, tours of the campus, buildings and dormitories, and opportunity for preliminary academic guidance from division heads, Smith said.  Lunch will be served for students.

     Information on campus resources, including costs and financial assistance will be available. In the past three years, more than 90 percent of NCTA’s students have received financial aid. Of those, the average grant or scholarship has exceeded tuition costs by about $1,400, leaving funds for housing and books.

     NCTA, which celebrated its Centennial anniversary in August, offers majors in agribusiness, horticulture, veterinary technology, and agricultural production systems.  Also, concentrations within those majors include irrigation technician, welding and diesel mechanics.

     A new program for fall, 2014 will be training Veterinary Technicians in a Comparative Medicine program headquartered at the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus in Omaha.  An NCTA open house at UNMC in Omaha will be held this fall.  



USDA Cold Storage Highlights - Sept 23, 2013

Total red meat supplies in freezers were down 3 percent from the previous month and down 5 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were down 6 percent from the previous month but up slightly from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 1 percent from the previous month and down 8 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were down 32 percent from last month but up 35 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on August 31, 2013 were up slightly from the previous month and up 5 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were up 1 percent from the previous month and up 5 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were down slightly from last month but up 6 percent from August 31, 2012.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on August 31, 2013 were down 4 percent from the previous month but up 5 percent from August 31, 2012.  Butter stocks were down 9 percent from last month but up 34 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks were up 7 percent from last month and up 17 percent from a year ago.  Total frozen vegetable stocks were up 18 percent from last month but down 4 percent from a year ago.



Is a Cow Eating My Lunch? A New CAST Issue Paper Examines Debatable Information Regarding Animal Agriculture

Animal agriculture is bad—or at least that seems to be the message emanating from certain groups and individuals. Some mistakenly believe that animal agriculture takes away human food supplies and wastes resources—this general message can be misconstrued or misused. In this CAST Issue Paper, scientific experts address the knowledge gap that exists as to the quantity of human food and fiber by-products used within animal agriculture. A task force of authors and reviewers led by Dr. Jude Capper examines the facts and provides science-based research to support credible information about the “feed versus food” issue, including....
-    The global livestock industry faces considerable challenges as the population grows, and demands for more food must be aligned with concerns about the environment, economy, and sustainability. Many do not realize the productivity gains made by modern practices, by-product feeds, and technology.
-    Global animal agriculture provides safe, affordable, nutrient-dense foodstuffs that support human health and well-being as part of a balanced diet as well as many by-products that benefit humans.
-    Livestock production is important in the economic and social sustainability of developed and developing countries alike.
-    Large areas of land are incapable of supporting the production of human food crops. Terrain, soil type, and climate render the majority of land currently used for grazing unsuitable for production of vegetable-based foods, yet forages can be efficiently converted by ruminant animals into meat and milk products.

This paper emphasizes that improved communication is needed between livestock production stakeholders and the consumer to further a better understanding of the economic, environmental, nutritional, and social advantages conferred by animal agriculture on a global and regional basis.

Task Force Authors:
Jude L. Capper (Chair), Montana State University
Larry Berger, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Helen H. Jensen, Iowa State University
Mindy M. Brashears, Texas Tech University

CAST Issue Paper 53 and its companion Ag quickCAST are available online at the CAST website, www.cast-science.org. 



Oil Closes at Six-Week Low

(AP) -- The price of oil closed at a six-week low as the catalysts that drove it above $110 earlier this month lost strength.

Meanwhile, pump prices in the U.S. are the lowest since early July, and experts say they're likely headed lower.

Benchmark oil for November delivery fell $1.16, or 1.1 percent, to close at $103.59 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil has dropped 6.3 percent since closing at a two-year high of $110.53 on Sept. 6.

Analysts said the apparent progress being made in the elimination of Syria's chemical weapons, a seeming thaw in relations between Iran and Western powers and the return to markets of crude from Libya and South Sudan were weighing on oil prices.

In the U.S., the average price for a gallon of gasoline fell over the weekend to $3.47. That's the lowest level since July 8, and is 34 cents cheaper than at this time last year.

The price-watching site GasBuddy.com expects the price of gas to fall further as refineries produce ample amounts of fuel while demand remains about where it was a year ago.

Brent crude, the benchmark for international crudes used by many U.S. refineries, dropped $1.06 to $108.16 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

In other energy futures trading on Nymex:
— Wholesale gasoline fell 6 cents to $2.62 per gallon.
— Natural gas lost 9 cents to $3.60 per 1,000 cubic feet.
— Heating oil retreated 5 cents to $2.96 per gallon.



Ethanol Cutting Crude Oil, Gasoline Prices

Consumers are saving $0.50-1.50 per gallon on gasoline as a result of increased ethanol production under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), according to a new analysis by renowned energy economist Philip K. Verleger, who served as an advisor on energy issues to both the Ford and Carter administrations.

“The implication for world consumers is clear… [T]he US renewable fuels program has cut annual consumer expenditures in 2013 between $700 billion and $2.6 trillion,” writes Verleger in a short commentary available on pkverlegerllc.com. “This translates to consumers paying between $0.50 and $1.50 per gallon less for gasoline.” The commentary summarizes a more detailed analysis that was included in Verleger’s August Petroleum Economics Monthly newsletter.

Crude oil prices would be between $15-$40 per barrel higher today without the substantial volumes of ethanol that have been added to petroleum inventories since enactment of the RFS. According to the commentary, the RFS today has added “…the equivalent of Ecuador’s crude oil output to the world market at a time of extreme tightness.”

“Had Congress not raised the renewable fuels requirement, commercial crude oil inventories at the end of August would have dropped to 5.2 million barrels, a level two hundred million barrels lower than at any time since 1990,” Verleger writes. “The lower stocks would almost certainly have pushed prices higher. Crude oil today might easily sell at prices as high as or higher than in 2008. Preliminary econometric tests suggest the price at the end of August would have been $150 per barrel.”



Midwest Dairy Announces Fuel Up with Milk World School Milk Day Contest

After heading back to school this fall, students across the Midwest will be asked to create their very own milk mustache poses for a chance to win Midwest Dairy Council’s Fuel Up with Milk World School Milk Day Contest, open from Sept.18 to Oct. 2, 2013. Stickers and contest brochures were included in all Fuel Up to Play 60 Back to School Kits for the 2013-2014 school year.

World School Milk Day is Sept. 25, 2013.  To celebrate, teachers and students are encouraged to submit photos of themselves wearing real milk mustaches or milk mustache stickers while participating in various school activities – eating breakfast or lunch, working at a computer, doing a favorite physical activity or simply posing with a teacher or school principal. Full contest details and contest rules can be found at MidwestDairy.com/rewards.

One Grand Prize winner will receive a $1,000 Fuel Up to Play 60 Game Time Rewards Prize Locker and two soft-sided Fuel Up to Play 60 coolers. Ten second-prize winners will be chosen to receive Fuel Up to Play 60 Game Time Rewards Prize Locker worth $500. Twenty third-prize winners will receive a soft-sided Fuel Up to Play 60 cooler.

“We are looking forward to reviewing the submissions for this contest,” said Bridget Sheehan, a registered dietitian with Midwest Dairy Council. “We are encouraging schools to join in the celebration and be one of many schools from more than 40 countries recognizing the importance of school milk on World School Milk Day.”

Fuel Up to Play 60 provides an opportunity for students to collaborate with their peers to showcase what they have learned about “fueling up” with nutrient-rich foods and getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Students and teachers can view other schools’ submissions or get involved with the program by visiting www.FuelUpToPlay60.com.



USDA:  August Egg Production Up 3 Percent 

United States egg production totaled 8.04 billion during August 2013, up 3 percent from last year. Production included 6.95 billion table eggs, and 1.08 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.00 billion were broiler-type and 80 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during August 2013 averaged 346 million, up 3 percent from last year. August egg production per 100 layers was 2,322 eggs, down slightly from August 2012. 

All  layers  in  the United States on September 1, 2013  totaled 347 million, up 3 percent  from  last year. The 347 million layers  consisted  of  292 million  layers  producing  table  or market  type  eggs,  51.8 million  layers  producing  broiler-type hatching  eggs,  and  3.18 million  layers  producing  egg-type  hatching  eggs. Rate  of  lay  per  day  on  September  1,  2013, averaged 75.2 eggs per 100 layers, up slightly from September 1, 2012.
 
IOWA
Egg production in Iowa for August 2013 was 1.24 billion eggs, up 1 percent from last month, and up fractionally from last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs release from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. 

The  total  number  of  layers  on  hand  during  August  was 52.9 million,  up  1  percent  from  last  month,  and  up  1 percent from  the 51.2 million  in August, 2012. Eggs per 100 layers for the  month  of  August  were  2,348,  up  fractionally  from  last month, but down 1 percent from the 2,371 last year.



USDA Wants Public Input on Coexisting with Agriculture

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA will soon publish a notice in the Federal Register asking the public to comment on how agricultural coexistence in the United States can be strengthened.

"The Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture recommended that USDA support agricultural coexistence by strengthening education and outreach on this vital issue," said Secretary Vilsack. "In response, with this notice, we are asking all those with a vested interest in coexistence to help us learn more about what coexistence means to them, how they are already contributing to it, and what more is needed to achieve coexistence. With this input, we can continue the dialogue begun by the AC21 group and find practical solutions that will help all sectors of American agriculture be successful."

The AC21 made recommendations in five major areas regarding agricultural coexistence. In the area of education and outreach, the committee recommended that USDA foster communication and collaboration to strengthen coexistence.

USDA's notice seeks public comment to identify ways to foster communication and collaboration among those involved in all sectors of agriculture production. The comment period begins upon publication of the notice in the Federal Register and will be 60 days.

Coexistence is defined as the concurrent cultivation of crops produced through diverse agricultural systems including traditionally produced, organic, identity preserved, and genetically engineered crops. USDA supports all forms of agriculture and wants each sector to be as successful as possible providing products to markets in the United States and abroad.



CHS Inc. prices public offering of preferred stock at $25 per share

CHS Inc. Friday announced the pricing of 10,000,000 shares of Class B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series 1 with a dividend rate of 7.875% per annum and a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share. Pricing took place Sept. 19, 2013.  The underwriters have been granted a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional shares of the Class B Preferred Stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount, to cover over allotments, if any.

The approximately $241,575,000 of net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and expected offering expenses payable by CHS Inc., are intended to be used for general corporate purposes, which may include partially funding the replacement of a coker at one of its refineries with an expected total cost of $555.0 million and expected completion in fiscal 2015, with $131.7 million expended as of May 31, 2013. It may also be used to partially fund a $327.0 million expansion at the National Cooperative Refinery Association's (NCRA) McPherson, Kan., refinery which is anticipated to be completed in fiscal 2016.

The offering is expected to close on or about Sept. 26, 2013, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The underwriters have been granted a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional shares of the Class B Preferred Stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount, to cover over allotments, if any.

The Class B Preferred stock is a new issue of securities and, prior to this offering, there has been no established trading market. The Class B Preferred Stock has been approved for listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, subject to official notice of issuance, under the symbol "CHSCO." It has not been rated by any nationally recognized statistical rating agency.

BofA Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo Securities acted as joint book-running managers in the offering, and D.A. Davidson & Co. served as a co-manager.



Cargill commits $520,000 to support National FFA Organization programs, initiatives

Minnesota-based Cargill has pledged more than $520,000 to support several National FFA Organization programs and initiatives.

A large portion of this corporate donation to the organization – $160,000 – will support “Blast Off,” an annual training conference for newly-elected state FFA officers that helps them identify their strengths, develop personal growth plans, master public speaking and improve management skills.

The company has also pledged $150,000 to support the organization’s continued development of its Agriculture Career Network (AgCN), an online portal that FFA members use from middle school through college and beyond to track educational accomplishments, build career portfolios, apply for awards and scholarships, pursue internships and apply for jobs.

Cargill has further committed an additional $300,000 to support AgCN over the next two years.

Contributions from the company will also help fund the expansion of the organization’s “Feeding the World-Starting at Home initiative” to fight hunger; support the staging of the 2013 National FFA Agriscience Fair, a competition hosted at the annual National FFA Convention & Expo for FFA members interested in agriculture science and technology; and sponsor two national competitions for FFA members, one focused on food science and technology and another involving meat evaluation and technology.

“Cargill is proud to be in its 53rd year as a major supporter for the National FFA Organization,” said Dirk Jones, vice president of Cargill’s ground beef and trim supply chain business and board member of National FFA Foundation Sponsors’ Board. “Developing young leaders is foundational to any organization’s long-term success. We believe Cargill’s support will strengthen members’ skills, engage them in the fight against hunger and provide many channels to build character, shape careers and give back to their communities.”

Employees at Cargill support their local FFA chapters, state FFA associations and the National FFA Organization by volunteering, offering expertise and mentoring members interested in pursuing careers in agriculture. At the annual National FFA Convention & Expo, employees provide hands-on leadership training and career exploration to more than 500 FFA state officers from throughout the country.