Tuesday December 17 Ag News

Make Plans to Attend the Three-State Beef Conference

            Area beef producers should make plans to attend the first annual Three-State Beef Conference Jan. 14, 15 and 16, 2014 with locations in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska.

            Topics and speakers for the conference include:  "Cover Crops for Grazing," Rob Kallenbach, forage specialist, University of Missouri Extension; "Drylotting and Cow Management," Rick Rasby, extension beef specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and "Pasture Rental: Balancing Economics and Relationships", Tim Lemmons, UNL Extension educator.

            On Jan. 16 there will be two different sessions held in Nebraska. The first session will be at the UNL Ag Research and Development Center in Ithaca, Neb.

            Registration for the Ithaca location will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the meeting will start at 11 a.m.

            Later that day, an evening session will be at the Gage County UNL Extension Center in Beatrice, Neb. with registration at 5:30 p.m. and the program to follow at 6 p.m.

            Pre-registration should be made by Jan. 10, which helps with meal plans and also helps keep costs down. Registration is $20 per person and includes a meal and copy of the conference proceedings.

            The Three-State Beef Conference (formerly the Four-State Beef Conference) is designed to give beef cattle producers and others in the beef industry in Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska a regular update on current cow-calf and stocker topics.

            The conference provides a forum of specialists from three of the United States' leading beef cattle land grant universities as well as other industry experts.

            To register for the ARDC location, call or email Lindsay Chichester at 402-624-8030, linday.chichester@unl.edu.

            To register at the Beatrice location, call or email Paul Hay at 402-223-1384 or phay1@unl.edu.

For more information or for locations in Missouri or Iowa, contact a local university extension office or visit the conference website at http://extension.iastate.edu/feci/3StBeef/.



Training For Private Pesticide Applicators Available From Extension

            Private pesticide applicators holding licenses that expire in 2014, as well as anyone seeking first-time private applicator certification, should contact their local University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension office for information on pesticide safety education training sessions that begin in January.

            Licensed private pesticide applicators can buy and use restricted-use pesticides in their own farming operations after completing this training. About 11,000 private applicators statewide are eligible for recertification in 2014.

            "The main topics that applicators will learn about are Nebraska's pesticide laws and regulations, the pesticide label, personal safety, the worker protection standard, environmental protection, integrated pest management, pesticides and application, application equipment and equipment calibration," said UNL Extension pesticide safety educator Clyde Ogg.

            New training topics for 2014 include pesticide drift awareness near sensitive sites like apiaries and vineyards, how to use the Driftwatch website, and control options for prairie dogs and pocket gophers.

            Glyphosate resistant weeds are now appearing in Nebraska. Training will cover strategies to reduce chances of developing weed populations resistant to herbicides.

            "During pesticide training, applicators will be reminded of methods to reduce pesticide drift, to protect human health as well as sensitive crops and commodities such as grapes and bees," said Ogg. "An online tool called Driftwatch is available to help applicators determine if they will be managing land near sensitive crops."

            Private applicators needing recertification in 2014 should have received a letter notifying them of that fact from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture in mid-December, Ogg said. The letter includes a bar code, which eliminates the need to complete the standard NDA application form for those wanting to recertify, he said. Applicators having the bar-coded letter with them at training sessions will not have to fill-out the application form.

            "All who are eligible for recertification will be notified by their local UNL Extension office of recertification training sessions in their area," he said.

            All applicators should check their licenses for the expiration date. If it expires in 2014 and they have not yet received a letter from NDA, contact them at 402-471-2351 or 877-800-4080.

            UNL Extension provides the educational training for recertification, while NDA is responsible for licensing. Cost of UNL training is $30 per person.

            For a list of training sessions, sites and dates, contact your nearest UNL Extension office or go online to http://pested.unl.edu/privateschedule, where applicators will find pesticide education sites for private applicators listed by county.

            There is also another option for becoming certified or recertified through completion of an online course consisting of ten modules and quizzes. Pesticide applicators can purchase access to the online course via http://marketplace.unl.edu and going to the Pesticide Education section. Cost for the course is $60.

            "After completing private applicator training, certification applications will be sent to NDA, who will then send a bill to the applicator for the $25 state license fee," Ogg said.



Commercial and Noncommercial Pesticide Safety Education Begins In January

            Nebraska commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicators seeking first-time certification or recertification in 2014 to use or purchase restricted-use pesticides can get training through University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.

            Training is offered at several locations statewide from January through April, said Clyde Ogg, UNL Extension pesticide safety educator.

            UNL Extension's Pesticide Safety Education Program has sent commercial/noncommercial pesticide applicators with certifications expiring in April a 2014 Pesticide Safety Education Program Schedule booklet that has initial certification and recertification information, as well as training dates. Copies of the schedule booklet are available at local extension offices, by phoning UNL's pesticide education office at 800-627-7216 or 402-472-1632 or online at http://pested.unl.edu/commercialschedule.

            Commercial applicators are those using restricted-use pesticides and in some cases general-use pesticides, on a contract or for-hire basis, Ogg said. Noncommercial applicators are those applying these same pesticides to sites owned by an employer or for a governmental agency or political subdivision of the state.

            Advance registration is required for all initial commercial/noncommercial applicator training and most other training sessions. A $60 fee applies for each applicator registering for February through April sessions, regardless of the number of categories for which the applicator registers.

            Required study materials for initial training range from $10 to $30 per manual, depending on category.

            "Initial certification requires passing a general standards exam and one or more specific applicator categories," Ogg said. Applicants can study by themselves, but for best results, Ogg recommends combining the training with the study materials.

            "Training combined with individual study has the best track record in preparing someone to take the state pesticide license exams," he said.

            Recertification opportunities are available at several extension offices in February and March and at several annual conferences and trade association meetings early in 2014. The only opportunity for commercial applicators to recertify in the Agricultural Plant category and Demo/Research subcategory, other than by examination, will be at UNL Crop Production Clinics in January.

            UNL conducts the training programs, and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture grants the licenses. NDA testing is offered at initial training locations. Questions about individual applicator license status should be directed to NDA at 402-471-2351 or 877-800-4080.

            Initial certification in several categories is offered at various locations and dates. Available categories vary at each of the locations; check the pesticide applicator education schedule booklet for details. Those seeking initial certification must preregister for one of the following training sessions and purchase study materials at least 10 days in advance of the training. Preregistration required (pested.unl.edu):
            Beatrice: Gage County Extension Office, Fairgrounds, 1115 W. Scott, March 18.
            Chadron: 4-H Building, Fairgrounds, April 10.
            Columbus: Platte County Courthouse, 2610 14th St., Feb. 4.
            Fremont: Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd St., Feb. 4.
            Grand Island: College Park, Hall County Extension Office, 3180 W. Hwy. 34, Feb. 4, 27.
            Lincoln: Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Rd, Feb. 4, 27, April 10.
            Norfolk: Madison County Extension Office, Lifelong Learning Center, 601 E. Benjamin Ave, Feb. 27, March 18.
            North Platte: UNL West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd, Feb. 4, 27, April 10.
            Ogallala: Valentino's, 55 River Road, March 18.
            Omaha: Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office, 8015 W. Center Rd, Feb. 4, March 18, April 10.
            Scottsbluff: UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Avenue I, Feb. 4, 27, March 18, April 10.
            Valentine: Cherry County Extension Office, 365 N. Main St., Ste. 3, March 18.

            Recertification in several applicator categories is offered at the following locations and dates. Available categories vary at each of the locations; check the pesticide applicator education schedule booklet for details. Preregistration required (pested.unl.edu):
            Ainsworth: Courthouse Meeting Room, 148 W. 4th St., Feb. 6, 25.
            Beatrice: Gage County Extension Office, Fairgrounds, 1115 W. Scott, Feb. 6, 25, March 20.
            Chadron: 4-H Building, Fairgrounds, Feb. 20.
            Columbus: Platte County Courthouse, 2610 14th St., Feb 5.
            Dakota City: Farm Service Center, 1505 Broadway, Feb. 20.      
            Fremont: Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd St., Feb. 6, March 20.
            Grand Island: College Park, Hall County Extension Office, 3180 W. Hwy. 34, Feb. 6, 25.
            Holdrege: Phelps County Fairgrounds, Ag Center, 1308 2nd St., Feb. 6, March 20.
            Lincoln: Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Rd, Feb. 6, 25, March 20.
            Norfolk: Madison County Extension Office, Lifelong Learning Center, 601 E. Benjamin Ave, Feb. 6, 25, March 20.
            North Platte: UNL West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd, Feb. 6, 25.
            Ogallala: Valentino's, 55 River Road, March 20.
            Omaha: Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office, 8015 W. Center Rd, Feb. 6, 20, 25, March 20.
            Scottsbluff: UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave I, Feb. 6, 25, March 20.
            Valentine: Cherry County Extension Office, 365 N. Main St., Ste. 3, March 20.

            UNL Crop Production Clinics are a great way to recertify in the Agricultural Pest Control – Plant category. Preregister on-line for $60 (http://cpc.unl.edu) or at the door for $75. The clinics begin at 8:45 a.m., local time, at the following locations:
            Jan. 7 – Gering; Gering Civic Center, 1050 M St.
            Jan. 8 – North Platte; Sandhills Convention Center, 2102 S. Jeffers
            Jan. 9 – Hastings; Adams County Fairgrounds, 947 S. Baltimore
            Jan. 14 – Kearney; Younes Conference Center, 416 Talmadge Rd
            Jan. 15 – York; The Auditorium, 612 N. Nebraska Ave
            Jan. 16 – Beatrice; Classics Country Club, 1301 Oak St.
            Jan. 21 – Atkinson; Atkinson Community Center, 206 W. 5th St.
            Jan. 22 – Norfolk; Lifelong Learning Center, 601 E. Benjamin Ave
            Jan. 23 – ARDC; 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE

            Recertification is also available through attending annual trade organization conferences. Conferences offering these opportunities for specific categories include:

            Nebraska Turf Conference: Jan. 7-9, LaVista Conference Center, 12540 Westport Parkway, LaVista, Nebraska. Recertification in Ornamental and Turf pest control category. Preregister at http://www.nebraskaturfgrass.com/events/nebraska-turf-conference/ or call the Nebraska Turfgrass Association at 402-472-5351 for questions.

            Nebraska Great Plains Conference, Jan. 16-17, The Cornhusker Hotel, 333 S. 13th St., Lincoln. Recertification in Ornamental and Turf Pest Control category. Visit http://www.nnla.org/ or call 402-390-1701 for registration information.

            Nebraska Urban Pest Management Conference: Feb. 18-19, The Cornhusker Hotel, 333 S. 13 St., Lincoln. Recertification in Structural/Health-related pest control, Wood Destroying Organisms, Public Health pest control, Fumigation, and Wildlife Damage control categories. Preregister at http://entomology.unl.edu/upm.shtml or call the UNL Department of Entomology at 402-472-6857 for copies of the program and registration information.

            Nebraska Aviation Trades Association Convention: Feb. 24-26, Ramada Inn, 301 S. 2nd Ave, Kearney. Recertification in Aerial Pest Control category. Visit http://gonata.net/ or call the Nebraska Aviation Trades Association 402-475-6282 for information.


 
UNL Research Raises Concerns About Future Global Crop Yield Projections

            About 30 percent of the major global cereal crops – rice, wheat and corn – may have reached their maximum possible yields in farmers' fields, according to University of Nebraska-Lincoln research published this week in Nature Communications. These findings raise concerns about efforts to increase food production to meet growing global populations.

            Yields of these crops have recently decreased or plateaued. Future projections that would ensure global food security are typically based on a constant increase in yield, a trend that this research now suggests may not be possible.

            Estimates of future global food production and its ability to meet the dietary needs of a population expected to grow from 7 billion to 9 billion by 2050 have been based largely on projections of historical trends. Past trends have, however, been dominated by the rapid adoption of new technologies – some of which were one-time innovations – which allowed for an increase in crop production.

            As a result, projections of future yields have been optimistic – perhaps too much so, indicates the findings of UNL scientists Kenneth Cassman and Patricio Grassini, of the agronomy and horticulture department, and Kent Eskridge of the statistics department.

            They studied past yield trends in countries with greatest cereal production and provide evidence against a projected scenario of continued linear crop yield increase. Their data suggest that the rate of yield gain has recently decreased or stopped for one or more of the major cereals in many of the most intensively cropped areas of the world, including eastern Asia, Europe and the United States.

            The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources scientists calculate that this decrease or stagnation in yield gain affects 33 percent of major rice-producing countries and 27 percent of major wheat-producing countries.

            In China, for example, the increase in crop yields in wheat has remained constant, and rate of corn yield increase has decreased by 64 percent for the period 2010-2011 relative to the years 2002-2003 despite a large increase in investment in agricultural research and development, education and infrastructure for both crops. This suggests that return on these investments is steadily declining in terms of impact on raising crop yields.

            The authors report that sustaining further yield gain likely would require fine tuning of many different factors in the production of crops. But this is often difficult to achieve in farmers' fields and the associated marginal costs, labour requirements, risks and environmental impacts may outweigh the benefits.



Iowa Conservation Action Network Launched

The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA), the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and the Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA) are launching a unique private sector initiative to demonstrate technology-based conservation practice planning.

"What we currently use in the public sector for conservation technical assistance isn't keeping up today," said Roger Zylstra, a farmer from Central Iowa and the president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association. "We can do a better job and through technology, we can accelerate our adoption rate and have better farmer support of Iowa's Nutrient Reduction Strategy."

A key component of the Iowa Conservation Action Network (IACAN) will be offering subsidized conservation planning assistance to ICGA and ISA farmer members for a limited time in five priority watersheds: Floyd, Turkey, Middle Cedar, and East and West Nishnabotna. Members in these watersheds can call, email, or attend meetings to get planning assistance for grassed waterways, wetlands, ponds, sediment basins, and soil loss assessments.

"This project is a great opportunity for ISA and ICGA members in these watersheds to receive conservation planning assistance," according to Brian Kemp, Iowa Soybean Association President and farmer from Sibley. "ISA is committed to helping Iowa farmers engage in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, and this project is a great opportunity to test some cutting edge tools."

The planning assistance relies on a suite of conservation practice planning software developed by Iowa-based small-business, Agren. The Agren software utilizes aerial imagery and high resolution elevation data to reduce the time to plan conservation practices from weeks to just minutes. Using technology to improve production has been central to agriculture.

Chairman of Iowa LICA, Tim Recker said, "By combining resources, we have the capacity to make a significant and long-term impact on conservation delivery in Iowa. Furthermore, as representatives of farm and earth-moving businesses in Iowa, we aim to preserve the livelihoods of our member businesses."

IACAN focuses on engaging the private sector in conservation planning to help our member-farmers achieve the goals called for in the nutrient reduction strategy.

For more information, visit www.iowaconservation.org.



Senators Ask For Elimination Of Barriers To U.S. Pork

A group of U.S. senators are urging U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to push for broad market access for U.S. pork in the countries that are part of the current Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade talks.

The TPP is a regional trade negotiation that includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, which account for nearly 40 percent of global GDP.

In a letter circulated by Sens. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and sent Friday to Froman and Vilsack, 32 Senate lawmakers said the TPP talks represent an opportunity for the United States to open new markets to U.S. pork in the Asia-Pacific region, to expand existing markets and to establish a standard for future trade agreements.

But, the senators pointed out, a number of the TPP nations currently have highly restrictive trade barriers that limit U.S. pork exports. Japan, for example, maintains a complex system of tariffs that reduce the volume of U.S. pork exports, while other countries have non-tariff barriers that constrain U.S. pork shipments.

U.S. negotiators should insist that tariff and non-tariff barriers to U.S. pork in each TPP country be removed, action that would prompt U.S. pork exports to grow by more than 50 percent within 10 years, they said.

A comprehensive TPP agreement that eliminates all tariff and non-tariff barriers to U.S. pork is strongly supported by the National Pork Producers Council.

“Increasing pork exports are important to many more Americans than just pork producers,” said NPPC President Randy Spronk, a hog farmer from Edgerton, Minn., who pointed out that more than 110,000 U.S. jobs are generated by U.S. pork exports. “So a comprehensive agreement that gives the U.S. pork industry more access to the markets of the TPP countries will be good for pork producers and the U.S. economy.”



President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:
·         Eric Rosenbach – Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense, Department of Defense
·         Darci L. Vetter – Chief Agricultural Negotiator, with the rank of Ambassador, Office of the United States Trade Representative

President Obama said, “I am proud that such experienced and committed individuals have agreed to serve the American people in these important roles. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

Background:  Darci L. Vetter, Nominee for Chief Agricultural Negotiator, with the rank of Ambassador, Office of the United States Trade Representative
Darci L. Vetter is Deputy Under Secretary in the Office of the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a position she has held since 2010.  From 2007 to 2010, she was an International Trade Advisor on the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.  Prior to working in the Senate, Ms. Vetter held numerous roles at the Office of the United States Trade Representative, including Director for Agricultural Affairs from 2005 to 2007 and Director for Sustainable Development from 2001 to 2005.  Prior to that, she was Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Management at the U.S. Department of State from 2000 to 2001.  Ms. Vetter received a B.A. from Drake University and an M.P.A. and Certificate in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.



Scientific Advisory Board Considering EPA Draft Report on Water Connectivity

This week, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency convened a Scientific Advisory Board to conduct a peer review of the Water Body Connectivity Report draft released by that agency in September. The panel, which includes a broad variety of independent scientific experts, is assessing the scientific validity of that report, upon which the agency will base their rule defining Waters of the United States. This rule seeks to expand EPA's regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act. The review, which began on Monday, has thus far proceeded in a constructive yet inquisitive manner that the National Corn Growers Association hopes will lead to findings that positively impact the final rule.

"While the debate going on in Washington may seem academic and ephemeral, it will have real-world implications for farmers in their fields," said NCGA Production and Stewardship Action Team Chair Don Glenn, who farms in Alabama. "Farmers take their responsibility to care for natural resources very seriously, and we depend upon clean water to maintain thriving operations. At the same time, we urge all involved to consider the vital question of how large a body of water has to be to have a significant impact. To be effective, rules need to be both practical and have a basis in credible science. Our goal is to find effective, practical solutions that will lead to a bright future for our land, air and water."

Prior to this panel, NCGA submitted comments to the EPA outlining the positive and potentially flawed portions of the draft report. In those comments, the association urged the Scientific Advisory Board to consider a handful of crucial concerns.

"While the considerable amount of science makes a contribution to our understanding of the need to work in the entire watershed to achieve water quality goals, there is a marked lack of science that allows the report to guide decisions as to what is or is not a water of the United States," the association noted in its comments. "The connectivity report does not address the problem of when and where and how there might be a significant nexus between remote drainage features or isolated waters like wetlands and the downstream navigable waters or their tributaries.  The report does not make critical distinctions between drainage features and streams or other waterways, and as a result implies that essentially every drainage feature in agricultural areas could merit designation as a water of the United States, which carries with it a host of mandatory measures under the CWA.  We encourage the SAB to consider carefully the legal and policy context of the physical challenges of identifying waters of the United States and then offer to EPA recommendations about the appropriate scientific context and the questions to be asked to properly address those challenges. "



Heavy Rain Puts Brazil on Asian Soy Rust Alert

A hot, wet December was just what the soybean crop in Brazil's top-producing center-west region needed. And that's what it is getting.

But the humid conditions are also promoting the spread of the deadly Asian rust fungus

The first confirmed cases among commercial crops were reported in Mato Grosso and Goias at the start of the month and instances are now expected to multiply quickly as the crop hits the later stages of development.

In total, Brazil has registered 47 cases so far this season, up from 27 at the same stage last year. So far, many of the cases are in voluntary plants.

Now the task is to control the fungus

The rust fungus, or Phakopsora pachyrhizi, causes lesions on the leaves of soybean plants, which impede the formation of the bean and can result in massive yield losses. In more extreme cases, the fungus can kill the plant.

It is virtually impossible to prevent rust's arrival as the fungal spores are carried on the wind. However, it can be controlled by fungicide.

In 2012-13, rust cut yields by as much as 10% in Mato Grosso, according to the Mato Grosso Agricultural Research Foundation (Famato-MT).



Precision Farming Market Worth $3,721 Billion by 2018

According to a new market research report "Precision Farming Market by Technology, Components, Applications - Global Forecast & Analysis (2013 - 2018)" , published by MarketsandMarkets, the overall Global precision farming market will be worth $3,721.27 billion by 2018, at an estimated CAGR of 13.36%.

The ever increasing global food demands and environmental issues have plagued the countries across the globe; there are growing concerns to tackle both the issues, simultaneously. In this challenging situation, precision farming presents a way ahead by offering increasing yields, and at the same time, reducing the wastage and environmental degradation. Precision farming is a technology based in-field management system that optimizes the overall farming practices and input resources. The major drivers for the global market are profitability & enhancement in the yields, government assistance, energy & cost saving, and the growing agro industry. The restraints for the growth of this market are high initial investments, and lack of technical know-how. The UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and penetration of broadband and mobile technologies are the key opportunities in this market.

The global market covers the entire industry on the basis of technology, hardware & software component, application, and geography. The technology section covers different GPS and variable rate technologies, along with their current and future estimations. Of all the major technologies, variable rate technology is expected to register higher adoption rates for mass markets. The application section covers yield monitoring, variable rate application, field mapping, soil monitoring, crop scouting, and others. The applications such as variable rate applications and yield monitoring are expected to be the major revenue generators for the Global Precision Farming Market. The geographical analysis covers the Americas, Europe, APAC and ROW regions.

The major companies involved in the global industry are Deere & Company (U.S.), Trimble Navigation Ltd. (U.S.), Raven Industries (U.S.), Precision Planting Inc. (U.S.), and AgJunction Inc. (U.S.), among others. The U.S. will remain the leading market in the Americas, throughout the forecasted period, due to their high adoption rate, financially strong growers, and continuous development.



Dow AgroSciences, John Deere Collaborate to Help Farmers Link Data With Expertise for Advanced Product Precision

Helping farmers get more value per acre through the expert analysis of production data is the goal of a collaboration announced between Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), and John Deere. The companies announced today that they will work together to develop approaches and technology that will deliver data and provide information to farmers that will assist in the execution of site-specific applications to improve yields and manage costs. Specifically, Dow AgroSciences has signed on to leverage the MyJohnDeere platform and new cloud-based technologies for future delivery of customized prescriptions tailored to the grower’s environments.

This agreement will help Dow AgroSciences’ customers take full advantage of the company’s products through optimal placement of technology into specific environments based on a farmer’s field conditions. Bringing together production information with analysis from company experts and channel partners will enable specific product recommendations from a broad portfolio of corn hybrids. This precision enables effective management of inputs and the ability to monitor crop development, which ultimately can drive increased yields.

In 2012, John Deere introduced MyJohnDeere, a comprehensive information platform to help agricultural producers improve yields and operational efficiency by enabling the management of equipment data, production data and farm operations. This online platform allows producers to analyze yield variability, access decision support tools and collaborate with their agronomic advisers to improve their bottom line.

“This collaboration is part of our strategy to deliver innovative Dow AgroSciences solutions tailored to each farmer’s specific environment,” says Larry Robertson, global corn project leader, Dow AgroSciences. “Exploring the promise of precision product placement is important to our customers, and we are pleased to work with John Deere on approaches that ensure the best product and management tools are put to use on each acre.”

“John Deere is committed to supporting the success of producers through the MyJohnDeere open platform that delivers visibility to operations and enables production optimization through nonexclusive collaboration with agronomic partners. Dow AgroSciences and John Deere share the commitment to optimize producer returns while honoring the foundational principles of data management and stewardship,” says Pat Pinkston, vice president Technology and Information Solutions, John Deere.



New online tutorials from Syngenta shed light on corn rootworm and management recommendations

Adding to its portfolio of online educational tools, Syngenta, the leader in corn insect control, has launched two new training modules that provide information about corn rootworm and recommendations on how to manage this destructive pest. In the United States, annual combined yield losses and funds spent on control measures for the adaptable and invasive corn rootworm exceed $1 billion. Syngenta aims to lower this figure by providing farmers with the tools and recommendations they need to protect their crop.

“Corn rootworm populations are rising, and their behaviors are changing as they evolve to protect themselves against current technologies designed to eliminate them,” said Bruce Battles, solutions development manager for North America corn and Syngenta Bug Squad member. “Growers must also adapt and use a variety of methods to manage their presence. These online tutorials are an exciting new resource for growers who are concerned about corn rootworm populations devastating their yields.”

The first tutorial in the two-part series shows how to identify corn rootworm eggs, larvae and beetles, and reviews the damage this pest causes throughout the season. Participants learn about important agronomic practices that help manage and reduce rootworm populations, including scouting, planting refuge acres and rotating crops. Participants who complete the quiz at the conclusion of the training module are eligible to receive one credit toward the American Society of Agronomy’s Certified Crop Adviser continuing education program.

The second tutorial reviews the portfolio of traits, insecticidal seed treatments, and soil- and foliar-applied insecticides that Syngenta offers for controlling corn rootworm. This tutorial educates participants on how to create a long-term corn rootworm management program to preserve control technologies, manage the development of resistance and maximize yield potential.

“Growers need to maintain a holistic approach to corn rootworm control, and our technologies play an important role in managing this pest,” said Battles. “Effective corn rootworm management requires the integration of multiple control measures within a multi-year framework. The training modules highlight what is available to growers and teaches participants best practices to use to ensure effective corn rootworm management for a greater yield potential at harvest.”

Explore the library of interactive training tutorials from Syngenta to learn more about important farm management topics.

For more information about Syngenta, visit www.syngenta.com.



Senators urge Korean officials to keep organic trade open

This past week, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and 12 of her Senate colleagues sent a letter to Korean Ambassador Ahn Ho-Young expressing concern that the Korean market may close to organic exports on Jan. 1, 2014. The letter urges the Ambassador to take steps to prevent any disruption in trade by keeping the Korean market open to products certified organic to the USDA National Organic Program standard, pending the negotiation of an equivalency agreement.

Senator Feinstein was joined by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Tester (D-MT), Max Baucus (D-MT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Al Franken (D-MN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

“The Organic Trade Association (OTA) appreciates involvement by our Senators to advocate for this action,” said Laura Batcha, OTA’s Executive Vice President, pointing out, “Korea is a critical market for U.S. exports of organic products, and it is vital for the health and growth of the U.S. organic industry to keep this open.”

Negotiations between the United States and Korea have been ongoing since 2009, when the Korean Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Foods (MIFAFF) promulgated a complex series of regulations governing organic production, labeling, and enforcement in Korea to be implemented on Jan. 1 2010. For the past four years, through concerted efforts by the U.S. government, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, OTA, the U.S. organic industry, and international trading partners (including Canada, the EU, New Zealand, Australia, and Chile), MIFFAF, now known as the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), delayed implementation of the regulation. Thus, U.S. organic products were allowed to be traded freely, without further need for certification.

However, in May 2012, the Korean legislature passed a new Organic Act that is to go into effect in 2014. Unfortunately, the Act only covered processed products. Thus, beginning Jan. 1, 2013, all fresh/raw organic agricultural products and ingredients were shut out of Korea unless they were certified to the Korean standard. On Jan. 1, 2014, processed products will also be shut out of Korea unless they are certified to the Korean standard, thus closing the market to all U.S. organic products not certified to the Korean organic standards.

“The U.S –Korea Trade Agreement lays out a framework to address agriculture trade barriers as they arise. Members of OTA have called on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and USDA to work with Korean officials to find an immediate solution in the spirit of this agreement,” Batcha added.