Omaha Ag Outlook at Embassy Suites Old Market
Farmers and agribusiness professionals who want to connect are invited to the Omaha Ag Outlook at Embassy Suites in Omaha's Old Market Dec. 6-7. Pre-registration is required, and is available online at http://go.unl.edu/omahaagoutlook or by calling 402-472-1772. This meeting is a joint effort of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Iowa State University.
The Omaha Ag Outlook meeting begins with the noon meal and a shared livestock market outlook presentation by Kate Brooks of UNL and Lee Schulz of ISU.
After that participants have the option to participate in four different sessions. They could visit with Brooks about marketing livestock in Nebraska or with Schulz about marketing livestock in Iowa. Those without livestock could visit with attorney Melissa O'Rourke about the top 10 estate planning mistakes, and how to avoid them. Participants could also visit with Kelvin Leibold about the profitability in international agriculture. O'Rourke and Leibold are with ISU Extension.
The evening Agricultural and Economic Policy banquet takes place at the Anderson O'Brien Art Gallery. Shuttles are provided. Brad Lubben, UNL ag economist, will help participants untangle the complications of the U.S. farm bill now in conference committee. Nathan Kaufmann, assistant vice president and Omaha branch executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, is the evening's other speaker.
Omaha Ag Outlook continues Saturday morning with Grain and Oilseed Outlook. Chad Hart, ISU Extension, will lead that discussion. Three breakouts by Hart, Lubben and Kaufman follow.
The conference concludes with a summary and charge to the participants provided by Michael Boehlje of Purdue University. Boehlje is a fellow of the Agriculture and Applied Economics Association. The fundamental focus of his work has been to integrate concepts of economics, finance and strategy to solve problems of farm and agribusiness managers.
For more information about the Omaha Ag Outlook conference contact Tim Eggers at teggers@iastate.edu, 712-303-7781.
Registration is available online at http://go.unl.edu/omahaagoutlook or by calling 402-472-1772. Participants who need to stay overnight are encouraged to book rooms through the Embassy Suites under the Ag Outlook preferred rate.
UNL Extension's Mid-Plains Beef Educational Series Dec. 16
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension's Mid-Plains Beef Educational Series will conduct a special Dec. 16 session on expanding grazing options, pricing inputs and reducing health problems at calving.
The session will begin with registration at 9:30 a.m. and end at about 4 p.m. at UNL's Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead.
It will draw on the expertise of Rick Rasby, UNL Extension beef specialist; Richard Randle, UNL Extension beef veterinarian; Keith Glewen, UNL Extension crops educator; Humberto Blanco, UNL professor of agronomy and horticulture; and Jim MacDonald, UNL professor of ruminant nutrition.
The program is designed for producers, veterinarians, students or others involved in the beef industry. This special session will include cover crops and how they may fit into a beef grazing system, testing forages for quality, pricing strategies for hay and supplements, grazing corn stalks and its impact on grain yields, grazing corn stalks with cattle, and reducing and preventing calf health problems at and during birth. Time also will be allotted to visit with the speakers on an individual or small group basis.
Registration is requested by Dec. 13. Cost is $15 which covers educational materials, noon meals and breaks.
The Mid-Plains BEEF Educational Series is an effort by a team of southeastern Nebraska Extension educators. The UNL Agricultural Research and Development Center is at 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, Neb.
To register or obtain more information, contact Lindsay Chichester, Saunders County, 402-624-8030; Steve Tonn, Washington County, 402-426-9455 or Monte Stauffer, Douglas/Sarpy counties, 402-444-7804.
NE Soybean Associaton Annual Meeting is Dec 3
Geoff Ruth, NSA President
Join us for the Nebraska Soybean Association annual meeting to be held on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at the Seward County Fairgrounds Harvest Hall in Seward NE. Registration and coffee opens at 8:00AM. The Annual meeting with discussion on policy resolutions begins at 9:00 AM.
We will meet jointly with the Nebraska Corn Growers Association for a noon lunch followed by a speakers panel to include State Senator Tom Carlson highlighting the work of the Water Resources Funding Task Force and State Senator Ken Schilz addressing the Tax Modernization committee work and top issues for the Agriculture committee for the 2014 Legislative session. For questions contact the NE Soybean Assoc. at 402-441-3239. We hope you can join us.
Mark Jagels Elected Chairman of U. S. Meat Export Federation
Nebraska Corn Board member Mark Jagels, a farmer from Davenport, Neb., was elected chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) at the organization’s recent annual conference. Jagels served as USMEF vice-chairman over the previous year.
“I have enjoyed addressing issues and helping open markets for U.S. beef, pork and lamb over the past year and look forward to continuing those efforts on behalf of our industry,” said Jagels. “Nebraska has a lot at stake, in developing markets for U.S. meat as other countries are becoming strong competitors in that market.” Nebraska currently ranks first nationally in commercial red meat production, third in corn production and seventh in commercial pork production.
“The livestock industry has been a significant value-added partner of the corn industry for generations, and it is rewarding to see a Nebraska corn farmer give of his time to serve and expand the opportunities for both industries,” commented Don Hutchens, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board.
The Nebraska Corn Board so strongly believes in USMEF’s mission that it has supported the organization with corn checkoff dollars since USMEF was founded in 1979. With 96% of the world’s population outside of the U. S. and that population projected to grow to 9 billion by 2050, we want to be ones providing them with the protein that they need, in turn helping drive our balance of trade, create jobs, tax revenue and opportunities for livestock producers and farmers alike.
“It has also been great to see corn checkoff support go beyond membership to assist in re-opening markets,” Jagels noted. Specifically, it was Nebraska corn farmers, through their checkoff, that recently supported activities in Japan following their announcement to re-open their country to U.S. beef 30-month and younger.
Mark, a fourth generation farmer, raises corn and soybeans, feeds cattle and runs a cow/calf operation alongside his father. Before being elected as an officer, Jagels served as a member of the USMEF executive committee representing feed grains, and has co-chaired USMEF’s Feed Grains & Oilseed Committee.
Federal Ethanol Policy Cited as "Doing What it Was Intended to Do"
Ethanol policy in the United States has been one of the most successful federal programs in recent history—doing exactly what it was originally intended to do, according to corn and ethanol industry officials in Nebraska.
"It's important to remember why the modern ethanol industry began in the first place," said Todd Sneller, administrator of the Nebraska Ethanol Board. "We did not want our nation to continue to be held hostage to foreign oil imports and we wanted to take greater control over our domestic fuel supply. Federal policy regarding renewable fuels has created more choices at the pump for consumers, helped drive down fuel costs, and created economic vitality across Nebraska and the nation. Bottom line: Ethanol policy in the United States is working."
Nebraska is the nation's second largest ethanol producer and third largest corn producer. Ethanol production also creates distillers grains, a high-quality livestock feed that has attracted millions of head of cattle to Nebraska for be finished prior to processing.
A healthy rural economy, spurred in large part by ethanol production and strong commodity prices—driven in great part by weather conditions in recent years—has helped Nebraska manage difficult economic times more successfully than most of the rest of the nation.
As the ethanol industry has grown, Nebraska's corn farmers have enjoyed a significant value-added market for their product. "We're looking at record corn harvests this year and a national corn reserve pushing two billion bushels," said Don Hutchens, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board. "America's farmers are doing their job in growing food, fuel and feed to meet global demand—and they've done it by using technology and innovation to grow more corn with less land, less water and less impact on the environment."
An Associated Press story published earlier this week attempted to draw a correlation between ethanol production and reduced conservation practices among American farmers. The story was widely criticized as an unwarranted and misinformed attack on American agriculture. Even U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack weighed in to point out a number of factual "errors and inaccuracies" in the story, especially related to conservation programs.
"This story was one of the worst examples of professional journalism I've seen in a very long time, but the story got one thing right when it pointed out that oil is bad," Hutchens said. "Petroleum based fuels are polluting our air, land and water, causing human health concerns and costing America billions of dollars being sent to foreign oil suppliers."
Energy costs—especially transportation fuel—have a dramatic effect on household income and overall economic vitality across the U.S. Having ethanol in the nation's transportation fuel supply helps mitigate the effect of geopolitics, refinery shutdowns and other factors that influence oil prices and supply, Sneller said.
"Does anyone really believe that gas prices are going to stay below $3 per gallon forever?" said Todd Sneller, administrator of the Nebraska Ethanol Board. "Requiring petroleum marketers to include ethanol in a certain percentage of their products helps ensure choice, competition and cost-savings to American consumers—while increasing the total volume of our domestic fuel supply. Without this requirement, all of us end up living with a 100 percent oil mandate."
IFB Annual Meeting to Feature Economist-Futurist Lehr
Members of the state's largest grassroots farm organization will gather with excitement to hear nationally-renowned economist and futurist, Dr. Jay Lehr, keynote the 95th Annual Meeting of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), Dec. 3 and 4 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines, formerly known as Veterans Auditorium.
To mark the occasion, Governor Terry Branstad has declared Dec. 2-8 as 'Iowa Farm Bureau Week' to honor the many accomplishments and contributions of the 95-year-old grassroots farm organization.
"This year our annual meeting theme, 'Generations of Innovation,' celebrates the dedication, accomplishments, and potential of our many diverse family farmers. Today's responsible farmers are dedicated members of their communities," says IFBF President Craig Hill. "They're always looking for better ways to provide safe food choices for today's consumers and embrace innovation and the expertise of others. That's why we're bringing a high caliber group of experts like Dr. Lehr, an expert in environmental science with five decades of agricultural economics experience, to speak on a variety of timely agriculture-related subjects."
In addition to innovative speakers, the 95th IFBF annual meeting will also feature several 'hands-on' educational seminars to help Farm Bureau members navigate challenging markets, rules and regulations, the evolution of conservation, as well as preparing for the future and strengthening the family farm legacy. This year the access to expert advice from noted leaders has been expanded to include three separate sessions on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
In addition, Iowa's best and brightest young farmers will take the stage for the IFBF Young Farmer Discussion Meet Dec. 3, competing for the state title, a John Deere X320 riding lawn mower, and the chance to advance to the national competition during the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Annual Convention, January 12-15, in San Antonio, Texas.
IFBF President and Milo farmer Craig Hill will address members and special guests on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 8:15 a.m. The organization will celebrate the generations of innovation and contributions dedicated Farm Bureau members have made with a recognition luncheon Tuesday, Dec. 3, at noon and a young farm leaders' achievement luncheon on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 12:30 p.m.
Farm Bureau's voting delegate session will be held Wednesday, Dec. 4.
Accomplished trumpeter, Jesse McGuire, will provide entertainment on Tuesday, Dec 3, during the Recognition Luncheon. Michael Sarver, a singer and finalist on the eighth season of American Idol¸ will close out the 2013 Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 4, following the Young Farmers Luncheon.
Members can register for the 2013 IFBF Annual Meeting at their county Farm Bureau offices. For a complete listing of events and activities, visit www.iowafarmbureau.com.
Iowa FFA member, Iowa State University student elected Central Region vice president of 2013-14 National FFA Officer team
Steven Brockshus of Iowa was to say the least an active high school student. At Sibley-Ocheyedan High School in Sibley, Iowa, he was active in concert, marching and jazz bands. He was a choir member and performed as lead in several high school plays and musicals. Brockshus was a member of the varsity football, wrestling and track teams. And he belonged to groups including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, 4-H and more.
“I joined so many activities in high school to find out where I belonged,” he said. “While I didn’t feel out of place in any of them, I found something special in FFA.”
FFA inspired Brockshus, he recalls. “The organization itself is empty without people. FFA creates an atmosphere in which anyone can find their place, regardless of background, family structure, age, skin color, language or accent.”
Brockshus was elected to the 2013-14 National FFA Officer team as Central Region vice president at the 86th National FFA Convention & Expo.
Other members of the team are Brian Walsh of Virginia as president, Mitch Baker of Tennessee as secretary, Jackson Harris of Alabama as Southern Region vice president, Wes Davis of West Virginia as Eastern Region vice president and Jason Wetzler of Oregon as Western Region vice president.
Originally from Sibley, Iowa, and today an agricultural education and global resource systems major at Iowa State University, Brockshus previously served as Iowa FFA Association president and northwest state vice president. In high school, he served as his FFA chapter’s reporter and secretary.
Each year at the National FFA Convention & Expo, six students are elected by delegates to represent the organization as National FFA officers. Delegates elect a president, secretary and vice presidents representing the central, southern, eastern and western regions of the country.
National officers commit to a year of service to the National FFA Organization. Each travels more than 100,000 national and international miles to interact with business and industry leaders, thousands of FFA members and teachers, corporate sponsors, government and education officials, state FFA leaders, the general public and more. The team will lead personal growth and leadership training seminars for FFA members throughout the country and help set policies that will guide the future of FFA and promote agricultural literacy.
After graduation from Iowa State, Brockshus hopes to develop agriculture, teach and be involved in missionary work in a third-world country to encourage community development, spur innovation and motivate people in need.
“I am excited to help members find their belonging by serving as a role model, unconditionally loving every person I meet,” he said. “I want to make every interaction a moment of positive influence by being vulnerable and sharing my passion.
“I hope to foster an atmosphere of belonging in every member I come in contact with while serving as a national officer. I want to empower members by creating opportunities for self-discovery and express the value of living in the moment with every interaction.”
Biodiesel Industry Supporting 62,000 Jobs
The U.S. biodiesel industry – the largest producer of EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel in the nation – is supporting more than 62,000 jobs and $2.6 billion in wages this year with production on pace for a record of 1.7 billion gallons, according to a study released Wednesday.
"This is further evidence that a growing biodiesel industry and a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) are good for the economy," said Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs at the National Biodiesel Board (NBB). "Biodiesel is a true RFS success story, and we should continue that momentum next year with modest growth that will create even more jobs."
Biodiesel is made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil, agricultural oils and animal fats. The study, which can be found here, found that employment supported by the industry would drop by almost 8,000 jobs if the EPA were to limit production to 1.28 billion gallons, the volume proposal included in a recently leaked EPA document outlining potential RFS standards next year.
"The negative impact of that proposal is clear – it would force biodiesel plants to close and put people out of work," Steckel said. "The EPA and the Obama Administration can avoid that by supporting a strong 2014 standard that is at least consistent with this year’s production.”
The study, commissioned by NBB and conducted by LMC International, a global economic research firm, looked at three production scenarios for 2014. First, under status quo production of 1.7 billion gallons, supported employment would remain at 62,200 jobs with supported wages of $2.6 billion and total economic impact of nearly $16.8 billion.
If production were to fall back to 1.28 billion gallons, the number of supported jobs would drop to 54,500, with supported wages falling below $2.3 billion and total economic impact reduced to $12.2 billion.
A third analysis looks at a high-volume scenario, consistent with recent months’ volumes averaging roughly 170 million gallons, or an annualized rate of 2 billion gallons. It found that the number of supported jobs would rise to 66,600, supporting wages of nearly $2.8 billion and total economic impact of more than $20 billion.
"The difference between 1.28 and 2 billion gallons next year could result in a swing of 12,000 jobs supported, $500 million in wages paid, and $7.8 billion in total economic impact,” Steckel said.
U.S. crude oil output exceeds crude oil imports
Estimated U.S. crude oil production in October surpassed U.S. crude oil imports on a monthly basis for the first time since February 1995.
Domestic crude oil output averaged 7.7 million barrels per day in October... the highest production for any October in 25 years while ... U.S. crude oil imports were 7.6 million barrels per day last month according to the new monthly forecast from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. .
Crude oil production is forecast to average 7.5 million barrels per day this year and then jump to 8.5 million barrels per day in 2014. That would be the highest annual output since 1986. In response to higher oil production, EIA expects U.S. net petroleum imports to meet 28% of domestic petroleum demand in 2014, the lowest share since 1985 and less than half the 60% peak reached in 2005.
U.S. gasoline prices at its lowest since February 2011
The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline fell 7.1 cents from a week ago to $3.19 a gallon on Monday. That’s the lowest national pump price since February 2011, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Pump prices were highest in the West Coast region at 3.51 a gallon, down 5.7 cents from a week ago. Prices were lowest in the Gulf Coast States at 2.98 a gallon, marking the first time since late January 2013 that a regional price has dropped below $3 a gallon. The Midwest average was $3.074, down 11.4 cents from the prior week and down 25.7 cents from a year ago.
Diesel prices continue to decrease
The U.S. average retail price for on-highway diesel fuel fell to $3.83 a gallon on Monday. That’s down 2 ½ cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Diesel prices were highest in the New England region at 3.99 a gallon, down 1.7 cents from a week ago. Prices were lowest in the Gulf Coast region at 3.75 a gallon, down 1.7 cents. The Midwest average came in at 3.798, which was down 2.8 cents from the prior week and also down 11 cents from a year ago.
October Ethanol Production Up Over 80,000 Bpd on Year
The Energy Information Administration on Wednesday in its most recent Short-term Energy Outlook said ethanol production continues to recover from last year's drought, rising more than 80,000 barrels per day (bpd) in October from the corresponding 2012 period.
Ethanol production for the month profiled averaged 892,000 bpd, up 42,000 bpd from September and a hike of 86,000 bpd from October 2012. EIA forecast ethanol production will average 900,000 bpd in 2014 compared with estimates last month at 880,000 bpd.
Biodiesel production, which averaged 64,000 bpd, or 1.0 billion gallons per year, in 2012, has trended higher this year, reaching a record level of 128 million gallons or 98,000 bpd in August.
NASS to Release Preliminary Results of 2012 Census of Agriculture on February 20, 2014
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will release preliminary results of the 2012 Census of Agriculture on February 20, 2014. The release, which will provide an initial look at national and state findings, will take place at the Ag Outlook Forum. NASS will release the full Census results at a later date and is working to set a revised schedule that ensures the highest-quality data. The release date was delayed by the work stoppage caused by the lapse in federal funding in October 2013 .
New FARM Program Report Quantifies High Level of Animal Care on U.S. Dairy Farms
Dairy farmers participating in the industry’s program to quantify animal care practices are continuing to improve the manner in which they adhere to the program’s standards, according to a new summary year in review report issued today by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF).
Available to all dairy farmers in the United States, Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) is a voluntary, national set of guidelines designed to demonstrate farmers’ commitment to outstanding animal care and a quality milk supply. Cooperatives, proprietary milk processors, and individual producers are using the program to assure consumers that the dairy foods they purchase are produced with integrity. Since enrollment began in September 2010, the FARM Animal Care Program has been implemented by suppliers accounting for 70% of the nation’s milk supply.
At this week’s NMPF annual meeting in Phoenix, a newly-released annual assessment derived from 8,000 second-party evaluations, found universal adoption of many of the best practices from the program. For example, 94% farms enrolled in the program train their employees to properly move animals that cannot walk, and 98% train employees to handle calves with a minimum of stress. Other findings included:
- 99% of farms observe animals daily to identify health issues for early treatment;
- 93% have protocols developed with veterinarians for dealing with common; diseases, calving and animals with special needs.
- 92% train workers to recognize the need for animals to be euthanized.
On the other hand, the report found some areas still in need of improvement. For example, the report indicated less than 82% of farms in the program have a valid veterinarian-client relationship, and just 67% of farm operators apply antiseptic to the navels of calves after birth as a preventative health measure.
Participants are given training materials and are evaluated by a veterinarian or another trained professional. Evaluators provide a status report and, if necessary, recommend areas for improvement.
Each year, a nationwide sample of dairy farms in the program is randomly selected for visits from third-party “verifiers” to assure (to a 95% confidence interval) that the observations recorded during the second-party evaluations are valid. Validus Certification Services, an Iowa-based certified auditing company, is used to conduct the third-party verification process.
“The thousands of data points this program collects on an ongoing basis show that dairy farmers aren’t just talking the talk about animal care – they’re performing dozens of practices on a daily basis to provide for animal well-being and produce high-quality milk,” said Jamie Jonker, NMPF’s vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs. “Still, we’re not yet where we want to be. The journey is continuing.”
The second annual third-party verification of the FARM program was begun in 2012 with on-farm evaluations, and completed in 2013 with statistical analysis of results. This analysis confirmed that effective implementation of the FARM program is occurring through producer education and on-farm evaluation. The third-party verification for 2013 is currently underway, Jonker said.
Also today, NMPF released its 2014 safe use manual for antibiotics and other animal drugs. The Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual permits producers to quickly review those antibiotics approved for use with dairy animals. It can also be used to educate farm managers in how to avoid drug residues in milk and meat.
New in the 2014 edition is a section on multiple drug screening tests, as well as an updated drug and test kit list. The 2014 manual also includes a certificate that can be signed by both a producer and veterinarian to demonstrate commitment to proper antibiotic use.
“With each year, the use of antibiotics and other drugs in livestock is more intently scrutinized,” said Jonker. “To maintain consumer confidence, we must show we are using these medicines properly. This manual shows dairy farmers’ commitment to using antibiotics responsibly.”
The residue prevention manual was sponsored by Charm Sciences, Elanco Animal Health, IDEXX, and Zoetis. No government funds were used in its development. For more information on the FARM program, contact Betsy Flores at (703) 243-6111 or visit www.nationaldairyfarm.com.
Dairy Title Costly to Taxpayers, a Bonanza for Processors and Not Good for Farmers
The head of the nation’s dairy farmer organization today blasted the dairy provisions in the pending House farm bill as costly to taxpayers, a bonanza for processors and not what’s needed to help farmers. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the voice of more than 32,000 dairy farmers in Washington, is wrapping up its annual meeting at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel.
Speaking at the meeting, board chair Randy Mooney, of Rogersville, Missouri, said the House of Representatives was dangerously close to repeating the mistakes of the early 1980s, when the federal dairy safety net was “far too generous.”
In those days, Mooney said, “you had to work at it to lose money milking cows.” Farmers produced more milk than the market could absorb, letting Washington buy up the rest. “The USDA became the largest single customer that farmers had,” Mooney said. “We spent most of the rest of the ’80s paring down the structural surplus that was created because Congress wanted to help us…to a fault.”
Today, Mooney said, “we are in the dangerous position of repeating history because certain people in Congress are forgetting the lessons of the past.” The House, he said, has voted for a new subsidy for dairy farmers modeled on crop insurance but with no mechanism to limit costs when the economy slows down.
The subsidy payments will insulate farmers from the market, and milk production will keep growing. “It’ll be cheap milk for processors, with taxpayers on the hook to keep the insurance money flowing,” Mooney said. “And mark my words: If this approach were adopted, it would be the first, and last time, that a farm bill features this type of program. It’s just not built on a sound financial footing.”
The Senate, by contrast, has embraced a combination of margin insurance and a market stabilization program that sends clear signals to farmers when less milk is needed.
“It’s not government forcing you not to produce,” Mooney told nearly 1,000 dairy farmers and others attending the meeting. “It’s a simple, voluntary device to encourage a faster rebound in healthy margins, and it’s a way to reduce the cost of this new dairy program to taxpayers.”
Mooney’s remarks came as a House-Senate conference committee was working in Washington on a final, compromise version of the 2013 farm bill. The dairy title is a key issue in the negotiations. “We’re not asking for a handout,” Mooney said, “we’re asking for a hand. And we are willing to do our part to make sure taxpayers aren’t on the hook for an open-ended, costly new program.”
Mooney, who also serves as board chair of Dairy Farmers of America, one of the nation’s largest dairy cooperatives, addressed several other issues in his speech:
· On immigration, he said, “dairy farmers in every region of the country face the same dilemma. It’s hard to find good help, and the nation’s labor and immigration policies are a hindrance.” The Senate’s comprehensive immigration reform bill, passed this summer, “would be of particular benefit to dairy farmers, since it addresses both our current workers and our future employees.” But the House strategy of pursuing a series of smaller measures hasn’t resulted in any bills reaching the floor. “If reform efforts drag on into 2014, it will be challenging to maintain the momentum needed for a legislative solution,” Mooney said.
· On humane animal care, Mooney said most of the criticisms leveled at livestock producers are “sparked by the hard-core animal rights crowd that wants to do away with meat and milk consumption.”But these criticisms can also affect the views of mainstream consumers, who “don’t know the realities of today’s dairy industry,” Mooney said. In response, NMPF has launched an effort to continuously improve animal care, while also measuring the conscientious care that dairy farmers are already providing. Participation now exceeds 70 percent of the nation’s milk supply, Mooney said.
· On the proliferation of imitation dairy products, Mooney said NMPF is continuing to urge the Food and Drug Administration to crack down on the misuse of dairy terms. “The terms ‘milk,’ ‘cheese,’ ‘yogurt,’ and ‘ice cream’ should be used only for foods that come from cows,” he said. In addition, NMPF is revitalizing the iconic REAL® Seal logo to educate a new generation of consumers about the benefits of real milk. “In contrast to the 1980s, when the Seal was first advertized using print ads, we’re using today’s technology—digital advertising and platforms like Facebook—to get people interested in real dairy foods, and what the REAL® Seal means to them,” Mooney said.
Incoming Head of Dairy Farmer Group Urges More Grassroots Engagement
The incoming president of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) urged dairy farmers today to become more engaged in the organization and the policymaking process.
“We need your financial commitment, yes,” Chief Operating Officer Jim Mulhern told nearly 1,000 attendees at the organization’s annual meeting. “But even more importantly, we need your time and effort and engagement. The more engagement our members have … the more our organization can achieve for our members. It’s a virtuous circle.”
Mulhern will take over as NMPF president and CEO January 1, 2014, when long-time leader Jerry Kozak retires. The organization is the voice of more than 32,000 dairy producers in Washington.
“30 years ago,” Mulhern said, “NMPF, like many organizations, could be a neatly defined hierarchy, and be successful….But not anymore.” Today, he said, both NMPF and the entire dairy industry must be more engaged in the free and rapid flow of information.
“If there’s a message I can leave with you today, it’s that the future of NMPF is not a function of what I want … or any one leader,” he said. “Rather, the successful future of NMPF will be a function of the active engagement that our board, our delegates and, yes, our grassroots members, have in the organization and the industry.”
Mulhern also stressed the need for increased transparency in the dairy industry. “Look at how food marketers have increased the flow of information about their products,” he said. “20 years ago, it was calorie and nutrition information on the back panel. 10 years ago, it was absence claims about artificial sweeteners and growth hormones. And now, it’s whether a product is locally and sustainably produced. Whether it can be traced back from the store to a field or barn.” Mulhern called that “transparency in action,” but he added it can also be misused.
“The strategy of some food companies is to try to increase sales by scaring consumers into paying more for their particular product because of how it was produced,” he said. “That’s not transparency. It’s fear-based marketing….left unchecked, it not only affects the marketplace; it also affects the policy environment. We must tell our story because if we don’t, others—who don’t have our interest at heart—are telling a very different, and harmful, story.”
Mulhern said transparency requires telling stories about brands and product categories and entire industries. “The clean lines that used to exist between farmer and processor and distributor and retailer have blurred.” He said. “Transparency has created a value chain where everyone is accountable for what they do, and why they do it.”
On other subjects, Mulhern said once the 2013 farm bill is enacted NMPF should tackle reform of the federal milk marketing order system and consider addressing some changes to federal identity standards for dairy foods—but only if they benefit farmers.
Milk marketing orders set minimum prices for different categories of milk in regions across the country. For example, processors are required to pay a higher price for milk destined for fluid use compared with milk used to make yogurt, ice cream and cheese. Mulhern said NMPF considered asking Congress to address marketing order reform as part of the 2013 farm bill, but decided against that step. “But reforms delayed cannot be reforms denied,” he said. “It won’t be easy, but it will be a priority going forward.”
At the same time, Mulhern said any changes to the federal order system must benefit farmers. “Some of the dairy processors talk about reforming federal milk orders when what they really seem to mean is increasing their control of the market and their share of the dairy dollar,” he said. “That’s a non-starter for us. Our focus will be on reforms needed to ensure the orderly marketing of milk and to protect the financial interests of the nation’s dairy farmers.”
Mulhern noted that some in the processing community are also calling for changes to the federal standards that protect the content and quality of dairy foods. But, he said, “sometimes this talk is being delivered by those who either don’t fully understand the concept of standards of identity. Other times it’s from those who actually do understand, but are looking for a way to benefit financially through deviations marketed as ‘innovations.’”
“Are there some provisions of standards that could be improved? Absolutely, especially if they relate to improvements and efficiencies in plant-level processing technologies,” Mulhern said. “However, NMPF will not agree to revisions to standards designed to ‘water down’ their quality or deceive consumers, and we will continue to work diligently to preserve all aspects of standards that preserve the integrity of traditional dairy products, their names and their composition.”
LG SEEDS DONATES $8,925 TO NATIONAL FFA
LG Seeds donated $8,925 this week to the National FFA Organization. The donation will be used to support existing programs for 580,000 FFA members across the country.
At the company’s annual Fall Focus meeting in East Peoria, Ill., LG Seeds employees donated items to the 1st LG Seeds Benefit Auction. Items auctioned ranged from Nebraska wine baskets to Door County cheeses. At the end of the evening, LG Seeds Key Accounts Manager, Paul Handsacker, auctioned off 60 items raising $8,925.
LG Seeds Supply Manager, Eric Yoder, says LG Seeds is proud to support the National FFA Organization.
“By supporting the National FFA Organization at the local, state and even national levels, we are helping to ensure the next generations of agriculturalists flourish in the industry,” Yoder said. “We are always looking to hire bright, young people who are enthusiastic about agriculture into our internship and trainee programs and the national FFA program helps provide us with those students. If we can help programs like the National FFA succeed, we succeed.”
LG Seeds, based in Elmwood, Ill., is a producer and marketer of seed corn, soybean and alfalfa seed that serves farmers in 14 states across the Midwest.
Monsanto announces launch of new scholarship program
Every year, approximately 25,000 agricultural jobs go unfilled due to a lack of qualified applicants. The agriculture industry needs talented, driven and passionate young people willing to make a commitment to agriculture, especially with a growing population and the subsequent need to feed an estimated 9 billion people by the year 2050.
Monsanto Company recently announced its launch of the America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders scholarship program, to get students in rural America excited about careers in agriculture. America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders, presented by Monsanto in connection with the National FFA Scholarship program, offers students the chance to earn a $1,500 scholarship for college.
“With $1,500 to put toward their college education, students will be better prepared to make a meaningful contribution that benefits them, their rural hometowns and the future of the agricultural industry,” said Elizabeth Vancil, Monsanto customer advocacy outreach manager.
Agriculture is more than just farming—it’s thousands of careers in a variety of fields, including plant science, engineering, communications, finance and much more—and the Grow Ag Leaders scholarship is available to students pursuing these and many other agricultural majors. According to Nebraska Department of Agriculture, one in three Nebraska jobs is tied to agriculture. Monsanto is excited about helping to educate the next generation to fill those jobs and keep them actively involved in rural America.
Monsanto recognizes and supports the role farmers play in the future of agriculture, so each Grow Ag Leaders applicant must have three farmers endorse his or her application. Eligible farmers can also help generate student interest in agricultural careers by spreading the word about this scholarship opportunity to eligible students in their communities and families.
Nebraska was chosen to pilot the Grow Ag Leaders program and is one of only six states receiving the opportunity for scholarships this year. This year, America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders is available in 36 Crop Reporting Districts (CRDs) in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Nebraska, North Carolina and South Carolina. 78 Nebraska counties in eight CRDs are eligible for the program. Unless there are insufficient entries, 16 scholarships, totaling $24,000 will be awarded in Nebraska. A list of all 264 eligible counties within the 36 CRDs, and a full list of student and farmer eligibility requirements can be found at GrowAgLeaders.com.
Eligible students should visit FFA.org/scholarships to complete the application, between November 15, 2013 and February 1, 2014, and for complete program information. Eligible farmers should visit FFA.org/scholarships or call 877-267-3332 before February 8, 2014, to endorse a student. Farmers must have the student’s scholarship application ID to complete the endorsement. No purchase is necessary to apply or win.
Land O’Lakes, Inc. Reports Third Quarter and Year-To-Date Financial Results
Land O'Lakes, Inc. today announced third quarter financial results showing solid sales and strong earnings that surpassed the prior year for both the quarter and year-to-date.
Third quarter net sales were $3.1 billion, up 4 percent from the same quarter last year while earnings increased to $49 million, 173 percent higher than the third quarter of 2012. Year-to-date sales were $11.1 billion compared with $10.4 billion last year while net earnings through September were $198 million, 32 percent higher than the $150 million reported during this period in 2012.
“The strong third quarter and year-to-date results reflect the on-going implementation of growth strategies that add value and expand markets of our brands,” said Chris Policinski, president and CEO of Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Policinski noted that the company’s crop inputs business, operating primarily under the WinField brand, is experiencing particularly strong earnings, driven by its expertise in the fast-growing area of precision agriculture that is based on technology-enabled data. “We are successfully capturing agronomic and economic insights that drive product innovations, helping our customers and members increase the productivity and sustainability of their farm operations,” he stated.
Policinski said the company’s Dairy Foods business is also experiencing strong earnings driven by its iconic butter and cheese brands. “The 2013 earnings in Dairy Foods have also grown as a result of new products such as Kozy Shack® refrigerated desserts and continuing innovations such as the recently expanded line of Sauté Express® Sauté Starter products,” he added.
Land O'Lakes, Inc. total debt as of September 30, 2013, was $1.87 billion, up 2 percent from the same date one year ago. The increase was due to higher working capital, which was largely offset by improved cash flow.
Fostera™ PCV MH Combination Vaccine Now Available From Zoetis
Fostera™ PCV MH — the first and only one-bottle, one-dose combination vaccine that helps protect swine from porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD) and enzootic pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) — is now available from Zoetis. With its one-dose or two-dose protocol, the innovative formulation of Fostera PCV MH offers convenience and flexibility to swine managers.
“Respiratory disease from M. hyo and PCVAD from porcine circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) can be devastating to swine herds through reduced growth rate, poor feed efficiency and extended time to market,” said Richard Swalla, DVM, Pork Technical Services, Zoetis. “That’s why we let science lead the way in developing an effective and safe vaccine all in one convenient bottle. It also gives veterinarians and producers a vaccine they can be confident in along with the flexibility that best fits their existing vaccination protocols.”
In clinical research studies of the one- and two-dose protocols, Fostera PCV MH has been demonstrated to aid in preventing viremia, lymphoid depletion and colonization of lymphoid tissue caused by PCV2; and as an aid in reducing PCV2 virus shedding and enzootic pneumonia caused by M. hyo.1-4 In a real-world, dual-challenge study, Fostera PCV MH helped demonstrate effective control of PCVAD and helped reduce PCV2 viremia in vaccinated pigs, allowing those pigs to sustain favorable growth.5 Pigs vaccinated with Fostera PCV MH exhibited improved average daily gain (ADG) up to 4.5% (tracked from processing to market) compared with the control group.
Convenience and flexibility in one bottle
While other combination vaccines require two doses or field mixing, the unique one-bottle formulation of Fostera PCV MH allows the convenience of a one-dose protocol or the flexibility of a two-dose protocol. For healthy pigs 3 weeks of age or older, Fostera PCV MH is licensed for administration in either of two ways:
· A single 2 mL intramuscular (IM) dose
· Two 1 mL IM doses spaced two weeks apart
“During development, we addressed multiple technical issues, such as the need for field mixing or requiring two doses, that can impact safety, efficacy and ease of use,” explained Darrell Neuberger, DVM, Pork Technical Services, Zoetis. “The primary problem we faced involved a compatibility issue when the M. hyo and PCV components were mixed together.”
Built from the ground up
When the M. hyo component is grown, it likely contains PCV antibodies, which can affect the potency of the PCV fraction when the two fractions are combined. To help solve the incompatibility problem, Zoetis looked to a technique used successfully in human medicine called Protein A chromatography, which is used to purify antibodies for human medicines. To develop Fostera PCV MH, scientists used Protein A chromatography to help remove the PCV antibodies from the vaccine’s M. hyo fraction.
“To create Fostera PCV MH, we used Protein A in a manner similar to a sponge to bind to the PCV antibodies and remove them from the rest of the M. hyo component,” Dr. Neuberger said. “With this M. hyo fraction, we can now produce a one-bottle combination vaccine that gives producers and veterinarians the convenience, efficacy and safety they need to help protect pig health.”
Fostera PCV MH is available in 50- and 250-dose vials and can be purchased through your veterinarian or animal health retailer. For more information on Fostera PCV MH, visit zoetisus.com/FosteraPCVMH or visit with your veterinarian or local Zoetis representative.
Welcome to the KTIC Agriculture Information blog!!! Check back here for the latest in ag news and information, from local events to international happenings and government reports that affect your operation. Please email with suggestions! -Chad Moyer, Farm Director, KTIC Radio
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