Monday December 16th Ag News

Jan. 9 Fremont Corn Expo Offers Ideas and Strategies to Remain Competitive

            The Fremont Corn Expo Jan. 9 will help farmers and agribusiness professionals plan for the upcoming growing season. Topics and exhibits are aimed at providing growers with strategies to remain competitive in the corn industry.

            Registration for the free event begins at 8 a.m. with a complimentary waffle breakfast sponsored by Fremont Area Chamber Agribusiness Council and a chance to view exhibits.

            The expo, from 8:50 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the main arena at Christensen Field in Fremont, is designed for growers, crop consultants, agronomists, seed corn representatives and others looking to improve corn production, marketing and utilization. A complimentary lunch will be served to expo participants courtesy of Dodge County Farm Bureau.

            The expo highlights topics identified by corn growers as important to their farming operations. Featured speaker Sue Martin of Webster City, Iowa is the president and owner of Ag and Investment Services Inc. In addition to her popular recurring appearances on Market To Market, Martin delivers daily commentary and analysis to a variety of radio networks and on the Internet. Her presentation focuses on "2013; Will the Pieces Fit?"  Martin's presentation is sponsored by Frontier Co-Op.

            Other program topics include: Is There a Place on Your Farm for Early Maturing Hybrids?, Tom Hoegemeyer, professor of practice, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Agronomy and Horticulture; Did You Know a Customer for Your Corn Could be Leaving the State!, Willow Holoubek, executive director, Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska -  A-FAN; Are We Losing the Battle to Corn Rootworm Genetic Resistance?, Tom Hunt, UNL Extension entomologist.

            The expo also will include an update on the Nebraska Corn Checkoff, association, and industry updates.

            A special nitrogen applicator certification training will be conducted for Lower Platte North Natural Resources District producer at 2:30 p.m.

            For more information contact UNL Extension Educators Keith Glewen at 402-624-8030 or kglewen1@unl.edu or Aaron Nygren at 402-352-3821 or anygren2@unl.edu.

            The Fremont Corn Expo is sponsored by UNL Extension, Colfax-Dodge County Corn Growers, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Corn Board, Fremont Area Chamber Agricultural Business Council, Dodge County Farm Bureau, Frontier Co-Op and area agribusinesses.



PEDv confirmed in Nebraska
Ron Plain and Scott Brown, University of Missouri

Testing data from the National Animal Health Laboratory Network says that as of December 1, the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus has been confirmed on 1,512 swine premises in 20 states. This is an increase of 140 locations and one state (Nebraska) from the week before. This was the largest weekly increase yet. There is an uncertain amount of double counting in this data.



UNL's Mobile Cattle Tracker App Offers Data Collection System

            A new app from EdMedia at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln allows the cow/calf producer to enter events electronically as they happen.

            Cow/calf records need to be collected at specific times during the year, such as at weaning, pregnancy checks and at calving. However, they can be difficult to keep up with, said Richard Randle, a beef cow/calf production management veterinarian in the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

            "Records are a useful part of making any management decisions," Randle said. "So, we developed the Mobile Cattle Tracker app so data could be electronically entered as events happen."

            Production data like birth records, health records, weights and measurements and management activities need to be entered real time, so that they can be available for review when animals are gathered and worked, Randle said. Mobile Cattle Tracker allows producers to collect and access cattle records when they are needed.

            The app isn't a record keeping program, but a way to collect data, Randle said.

            After data is collected it then can be emailed as an Excel file attachment. The app allows producers to keep records from year to year and can be started at any time during the production year.

            The app is available in the Apple store and will soon be available in the Google Play store. It is available for iOS and Android devices. A demo version also will be available soon.

            For more information or to download the app, visit real.unl.edu.



USDA TO MEASURE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF U.S. FARMS AND RANCHES

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will spend the next several months gathering information about production practices from farmers and ranchers across the nation through the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). The results of this survey will serve as a primary source of information for numerous federal policies and programs that affect U.S. farms and farm families. 

“Accurate data are key to better decision-making,” said Dean Groskurth, regional director of the NASS Northern Plains Regional Office. “By responding to ARMS, Nebraska farmers and ranchers ensure that decisions impacting them are based on accurate real-life information.”

NASS conducts ARMS jointly with USDA’s Economic Research Service. In an effort to obtain the most accurate data, the federal agencies will reach out to nearly 33,000 producers nationwide, including 1,745 in Nebraska, between January and April. The survey asks producers to provide data on their operating expenditures, production costs and household characteristics. 

“We realize that this survey is lengthy and some producers may have questions or need clarification,” explained Groskurth.  “In February, our interviewers will begin reaching out to those farmers and ranchers who have not yet responded, to answer any questions they may have and help them fill out their questionnaires.”

In addition to accurate data, NASS is strongly committed to confidentiality. Information provided by respondents is confidential, by law. The agency safeguards the confidentiality of all responses, ensuring no individual respondent or operation can be identified.  

The economic data gathered in ARMS will be published in the annual Farm Production Expenditures report in August 2014. All NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov.  



Pork Checkoff Cosponsors North American PRRS Symposium

Building on a 10-year history as the International Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) Symposium, the Pork Checkoff recently cosponsored the 2013 North American PRRS Symposium in Chicago. The emeting drew 200 participants from across North America and beyond to share the latest research and insights into PRRS. The disease costs the U.S. pork industry $664 million per year or $115 per sow, according to previous research by Iowa State University.

"The main goal of this conference is the exchange of knowledge between some of the world's foremost authorities on PRRS so that key research can move forward as quickly and efficiently as possible," said Dr. Lisa Becton, the Pork Checkoff's director of swine health and information and committee member for the 2013 North American PRRS Symposium.  "The Pork Checkoff's ultimate goal is to see how research can be applied at the farm level to help curb thisdevastating disease."

The meeting specifically focused on the latest discoveries related to PRRS and associated disease syndromes, including Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV).  The speakers sponsored by the Pork Checkoff focused on PEDV, PRRS surveillance, development of a PRRS outbreak investigation, roles of PRRS virus proteins, PRRS virus antibodies and nutritional management of PRRS-infected herds.

The Checkoff-funded nutritional research, presented by Dr. Thomas Burkey, University of Nebraska, focused on how PRRS affects pigs all the way to market weight. The ongoing research showed a decrease in average daily gain and average daily feed intake early in the pig's life from which the pigs were not able to recover through compensatory gain later in life. Tissue accretion also was reduced 15 to 20 percent all the way to market weight. He said continued research was needed to find how to specifically feed pigs that are PRRS-positive.

"We're excited to continue to sponsor this kind of meeting that serves as a major venue for PRRS research," Becton said. "Because PRRS continues to harm our nation's swine herds, we will continue to work on finding innovative solutions at every level of production."

For more information on Checkoff-funded research, including PRRS, go to www.pork.org/research.



NCBA's Cattlemen's College Lineup Set for Feb. 3-4 in Nashville

Celebrating its 21st year, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Cattlemen’s College has established a reputation as one of the most thorough cattle producer education programs in the nation. Sponsored by Zoetis Animal Health, the 2014 edition of Cattlemen’s College offers a wide range of informative, hands-on educational workshops designed for cattle operations of every size and sector.

The program will be held Feb. 3-4, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn., headlining the first day of activities at the 2014 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. Early registration for Cattlemen’s College and the convention ends Jan. 10, 2014.

Cattlemen’s College workshops include an outstanding lineup of industry experts during the course of two jam-packed days. On Mon., Feb. 3, participants will first hear from Dr. Arne Anderson as he presents “Manners Matter: Keeping You and Your Cattle Alive and Well”. This first class is aimed at the “dos” and “don’ts” of processing cattle through a chute, with emphasis placed on safety and efficiency for both the cowboys and the cattle.

Following this presentation, Dr. Jerry Lipsey will demonstrate how to select replacement heifers for longevity in a presentation entitled “Can Visual Evaluation Foresee Differences in Fertility?”, and Dr. Kent Andersen will discuss the selection of replacement bulls for fertility.

On Monday evening, Cattlemen’s College participants will be treated to a reception sponsored by Certified Angus Beef. The reception will be an opportunity to visit with fellow cattlemen as well as the afternoon’s speakers.

Starting Tuesday morning at 7:00 am, Cattlemen’s College classes begin with a keynote address by Bob Langert, who is the corporate vice president, and leads corporate social responsibility & sustainability for McDonald’s Corporation. Langert will share McDonald’s overall sustainable supply chain vision and how beef fits in. As sustainability evolves, listen in to see how McDonald’s is working with various stakeholders, including all parts of the value chain, to collaborate on social and environmental opportunities and challenges.

Proceeding Langert’s address, five concurrent classroom sessions will begin at 8:15 am with each classroom having specific areas of emphasis including resource management, animal management, ranch management, finance and business and consumer relations.

“Cattlemen’s College gives producers an opportunity to hear from some of the leading experts in topics that impact their cattle operations every day, as well as the chance to interact with those experts and ask questions,” said NCBA Executive Director of Producer Education John Paterson. “Many of the presenters are legends in the beef industry, and the wide variety of classes offers something for every producer. We highly encourage cattlemen and women to take advantage of this informative and educational program."

Registration for Cattlemen’s College includes all classes along with lunch on Feb. 4. This schedule allows cattlemen to attend up to five 45-minute workshops.

Cattlemen’s College registration information, as well as a complete schedule for the 2014 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show are available at www.beefusa.org.



Panamanian Government Removes Restrictions on U.S. Corn Imports

Timely action by the U.S. Grains Council, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative averted a patently protectionist seasonal market closure in Panama, keeping this important market open for U.S. corn exports.

"U.S. corn farmers increasingly understand the importance of working diligently to maintain all markets for our product both at home and abroad," said NCGA Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team Chair Jim Zimmerman. "The determined efforts of farmers, through the Council, and of our government have resulted in a real victory that will allow this valuable market to remain open and for U.S. corn exports to stay on track."

In September, the Panamanian government published regulations governing quota administration for U.S. corn imports under the Panama - U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Unfortunately the Panamanian government decided to exploit a loophole in the FTA and closed the imports of corn from January through April 15, 2014 in a move that was counter to the spirit of the agreement. This time period coincides with the harvest of the local corn crop and was viewed as an effort to subvert the FTA in order to protect local corn producers and force the Panamanian feed industry to buy local corn.

The Grains Council, of which the National Corn Growers Association is a founding member, alerted the USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative's office of this move and outlined how this action restricted and was burdensome to trade between Panama and the United States. Despite being shorthanded due to the ongoing furlough of vital staff during the U.S. government shutdown, U.S. government officials sprang into action. As a result of the combined efforts of the Council, Panamanian industry and the U.S. government, the Panamanian government issued a new resolution removing any restrictions on U.S. corn imports in 2014.

Under the FTA, Panama will import 12.4 million bushels of U.S. corn in 2014 with an export value of approximately $63 million. The Panamanian livestock sector imports more than 9.8 million bushels of U.S. corn per month to feed their growing poultry and swine sectors. Pro-rated for the period of the proposed Panamanian market closure, the proposed restrictions would have impacted more than 3.1 million bushels of corn imports with an estimated export value of $16 million.

This resolution ensures that U.S. corn producers and exporters will be able to participate in the benefits provided by the FTA between the United States and Panama. It also comes at a critical time as U.S. corn exporters begin to recapture lost market share in Panama with a record U.S. corn crop that is beginning to enter export channels.



Dairy Council & NFL Renew Fuel Up to Play 60 Program

With research showing that increased physical activity and better nutrition can lead to improved academic performance, Fuel Up to Play 60--the nation's largest in-school nutrition and physical activity program, founded under the leadership of America's dairy farmers--celebrates five successful years of empowering students to drive healthy changes in schools across the country. To mark the occasion and look to the future, the National Dairy Council, National Football League, GENYOUth Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education recommitted their efforts and assets for five more years to help Fuel Up to Play 60 continue to build on its success in creating healthier school environments. The $250 million public/private partnership is complemented by the support of health professional, education, physical activity, nutrition, government and corporate organizations who come together to positively impact school health.

The recommitment will be announced today at Pulaski International School in Chicago, Ill. Attendees will include Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner; Dr. David Satcher, 16th U.S. Surgeon General; Carla Hall, celebrity chef and co-host of ABC’s The Chew; former Chicago Bears lineman and 1985 Super Bowl Champion Otis Wilson; Alexis Glick, CEO of GENYOUth Foundation; Thomas Gallagher, Chairman of GENYOUth Foundation; Jerry Messer, Chairman of National Dairy Council as well as other partners, program advocates and students.

"We are pleased to renew our commitment to Fuel Up to Play 60, an important component of our overall NFL Play 60 program," says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "The NFL and its 32 teams are proud to continue working with the state and regional dairy councils to inspire kids to lead healthy lives. We are committed to creating change in the physical activity environment in schools."

Through Fuel Up to Play 60, students in more than 73,000 schools nationwide are making a difference. As a result of the program, last year 14 million students made better food choices by selecting nutritious options like low-fat and fat-free dairy products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Additionally, 14 million students are getting more physically active during the school day.



Brazil Soy Planting 98% Complete; Some Dryness Concerns

Overall, Brazil's soybean crop is in good condition, but farmers in parts of Mato Grosso do Sul and Parana, the No. 2 soy state, are increasingly concerned about the paucity of rains, according to AgRural, a local farm consultancy.

Brazilian soybean planting was 98% complete as of Friday, AgRural reported Monday. The only states with significant field work ahead are Para and Piaui in the north/northeast.

The main concern about dryness is in the south of Mato Grosso do Sul, where rains have been extremely irregular over the past 20 days. Indeed, some regions have received absolutely no rain in this period. Damage to the crop is far from irreversible but, with an ever-increasing portion of the crop entering the pod-filling stage, the need for rain grows more pressing by the day, especially where the soils are sandiest, said AgRural.

In Parana, most of the soybean crop is in good shape, especially in the west of the state, where good yields from early-planted fields are now more or less guaranteed. However, there are some dry regions in the north, principally Cornelio Procopio, said AgRural. The region did receive light showers last week but it wasn't sufficient to significantly improve soil moisture.

Heightening apprehension in the region, weather charts do not predict any more than scattered showers for southern Brazil and the south of Mato Grosso do Sul until the New Year.