Tuesday January 14 Ag News

Balancing Feed Costs and Cow Health
Larry Howard, UNL Extension Educator, Cuming County

Winter months can be challenging for beef cow producers from a nutritional standpoint. With less available forage and colder temperatures, proper winter feeding becomes more important than ever. It is critical to maintain adequate body condition scores within a herd during the winter months. Significant loss of body condition can have many negative effects on individual cow performance for the rest of the year. Additionally, feed costs generally account for anywhere from 60 to 70 percent of annual cow costs.

Winter feeding programs can play a huge role in the ultimate success of the operation, affecting not only input cost per head, but also reproduction, disease resistance, and overall herd productivity.  Feeding appropriate amounts of hay and necessary protein supplementation to your herd during the winter months can not only save the ranch money by not overfeeding, it can also increase the productivity of the herd by optimizing nutrients and making the most of the genetic potential within the herd.

The timing of calving season is important to consider. It becomes important to feed more aggressively during the second trimester of pregnancy to ensure that the cow has enough body condition to carry her through until calving. Cows that have a low body condition score heading into the third trimester have a greater chance of having a wide array of calving difficulties.

The primary nutritional factor influencing calf crop percentage on an operation is adequate intake of energy, which is more commonly referred to as total digestible nutrient, or TDN. Having adequate levels of TDN present in winter feeding programs becomes critical for several reasons. First, it helps to initiate puberty in heifers and to maintain proper body condition before and during calving. It also helps by keeping the post-partum interval short to ensure that cows start coming back into heat in a timely manner. Other nutrients which are also important are protein, calcium, and phosphorus, which make year-around mineral supplementation important.

University research has shown that cows with a body condition score (BCS) of 4 or less at calving and breeding will not breed back quickly enough to maintain a 365-day breeding interval. Other research findings indicated that cows that had a BCS of 5 or higher had improved calf health, survivability, and greater weaning weights. However, if cows are over fed to the point of obesity, their fertility is impacted negatively. Additionally, heifers that are fed excessively can have lowered milking ability due to large amounts of fat in the udder.

As all input costs of ranching have risen, the number one factor concerned with cutting winter feeding costs is for producers to actually know the nutritive value of what they’re feeding. Forage testing is money well spent to gain knowledge about harvested feeds.



Estate and Transition Planning for Farms and Ranchers Workshops Planned

Farm  &  Ranch  Succession  Series: Workshop on Estate and Transition Planning,  and  use  of  the  Limited Liability Company well be held at several  locations  in  the month  of January.  The workshops will be held  from 9:00  am  to  3:00pm.    There  is  no charge  for  the  workshop.    To register  (and  for  questions)  call the  Rural  Response  Hotline  at 1.800.464.0258.  Workshop dates and locations include:
- Ogallala – Tuesday,  January 14 at Valentino’s
- Sidney  – Wednesday,  January  15 at  Cheyenne  County  Community Center
- Gering  – Thursday,  January  16  at Gering Civic Center
- Oshkosh  –  Friday,    January  17  at Oshkosh Wesleyan Church
- Norfolk  – Monday,  January  27  at Northeast  Comm.  College,  LifeLong Learning Center Building



Approps Bill Includes Johanns’ Language to Rein In OSHA’s Regulatory Overreach

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) Monday announced that his language restraining efforts by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to expand their regulatory reach was included in a report accompanying the omnibus appropriations bill. Johanns’ language clarifies a more than three-decades-old provision legally prohibiting OSHA from regulating farms with fewer than 10 employees.

“The inclusion of this language makes it very clear that OSHA does not have the authority to harass family farmers,” Johanns said. “This is more than a victory for our ag producers. It is a win for our economy and the law. It’s unfortunate Congress had to reiterate the law in order for OSHA to follow it – despite a decades-old legal precedent – but with this Administration in regulatory overdrive, we must stay vigilant. OSHA and other agencies should immediately back off attempts to expand their regulatory powers by harassing Americans working to get our economy moving.”

OSHA issued a memo in 2011 claiming the agency could regulate certain types of grain handling activity on small or family-run farms, despite a clear legal prohibition.  Johanns called for OSHA to stop this regulatory overreach and led 42 of his colleagues in a bipartisan letter demanding the agency immediately stop the unlawful regulation of family farms.

The report language is below:
·         “The bill continues the exemption of small farming operations from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation. The OSHA is encouraged to work with the Department of Agriculture before moving forward with any attempts to redefine and regulate post-harvest activities, to include, but not limited to, storing, drying, grinding, and other activities necessary to market farm products to subsequent users in the agricultural value chain, and clarify that this exemption shall apply to on farm post-harvest activities.”



BROWN MID-RIB VARIETIES IMPROVE FORAGE QUALITY
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Summer annual grasses often are an important part of many hay and pasture plans.  As you select a variety to plant this coming summer, choose one with a genetic trait that improves animal nutrition.

Sudangrass.  Cane.  Sorghum-sudan hybrids.  Forage sorghum.  Millet.  These summer annuals can produce much forage even under dry growing conditions.  But they tend to be more stemmy and less digestible than many cattle producers prefer.  Can they be made better?

These days the answer is – yes.  A natural, genetic trait called bmr is being used in many varieties and hybrids of summer annual grasses to make them more digestible.  This enables your cattle to extract more energy from these forages.

BMR stands for ‘brown mid-rib’.  It received this name because the mid-rib or vein that runs down the center of each leaf has a brownish tint in summer annual grasses that have this genetic trait.  Normally this mid-rib is a whitish color.

Mid-rib color, though, is not what is important.  The important characteristic is how the bmr gene affects forage quality.  Grasses that have the bmr gene produce less lignin than normal plants.  Lignin is a complex compound that attaches to fiber components like cellulose in the plant and make it less digestible.  Since plants with the bmr gene produce less lignin, more of the fiber can be digested by your cattle, increasing the energy or TDN value of this forage.  In addition, animals eat more of the stems, reducing waste.

The bmr gene has little other affect on these plants, so they respond like normal plants to other management practices, like planting rate, fertilization, and harvest timing.

Improving forage quality is important for your livestock’s performance.  Give bmr forages a try and I think you will be pleased.



Mob Grazing Workshop Jan. 27 in Lincoln

A workshop on mob grazing will be held Jan. 27 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, 1825 N 38th in Room 150 of Keim Hall. Farmers are invited to join in for an afternoon about ultra-high stocking-density grazing with Chad Peterson. There is no cost to attend.

The workshop begins at 1 p.m. and includes sessions on:
-- Mob Grazing in Nebraska: Ranch History, Goals, and Management - Chad Peterson
-- Mob Grazing at Barta Brothers' Ranch - Ben Beckman and Miles Redden
-- Soil organic matter - Ana Wingeyer
-- Group Discussion

Peterson is a mob grazing practitioner in Nebraska with over 10 years of experience. He mob grazes Sandhills meadows near Newport, Neb. and is a collaborating rancher of the Demonstrating Mob Grazing Impacts project.

"With this project we want to demonstrate the influence of mob grazing on rangeland vegetation composition and produc-tivity, soil and water quality, and soil carbon sequestration, alongside typical rotational grazing systems currently used in the Sandhills. We document the effect of mob grazing systems on rangeland health on both upland and meadow sites at different stocking densities in the Sandhills," reported the organizers.

Hypotheses are that the trampling of vegetation and incorporation of litter through hoof action, together with a uniform manure and urine distribution promote microbial activity and the rapid recycling of nutrients, which can favor increases in soil organic matter and water infiltration. The pastures benefit from the rapid recycling of nutrients and the incorporation of seeds into soil resulting in more vegetation diversity and productivity. The extended recovery period allows for deeper root development re-sulting in drought resistance and improved wildlife habitat.

For more information about the workshop or mob grazing, contact Wingeyer at awingeyer2@unl.edu or 402-472-2811.



Diverse Nebraska coalition endorses resolution calling for updated immigration laws

Today, State Senator John Wightman together with 12 bipartisan cosponsors, introduced LR399, a resolution calling on Nebraska’s U.S. Congressmen to take action in support of a common-sense fix to our country’s outdated immigration laws.

A broad coalition of Nebraska civic, business, agriculture, immigrant, faith-based, and legal groups – including the Nebraska Restaurant Association, Nebraska Cattlemen, League of Women Voters, and others – strongly supports the resolution.

“We believe immigration is an important economic, family, and moral issue in Nebraska,” said Jim Partington, Executive Director of the Nebraska Restaurant Association, a member of the Nebraska Coalition for Immigration Reform. 

“During 2013, the coalition coordinated roundtable discussions in five Nebraska communities: Crete, Omaha, Norfolk, Lexington and Scottsbluff. During these conversations with community leaders, educators, business owners, cattlemen, farmers, and immigrant Nebraskans, we learned that communities with growing immigrant populations in Nebraska are thriving,” said Partington. “However, we also heard repeatedly how the country’s outdated immigration laws – written largely in 1986 and earlier – are creating barriers to healthy community development and undermining the success of Nebraska communities.”

“Together with many partners, we share the view expressed by LR399 that updating our federal immigration laws to create a common-sense system will support agriculture, small businesses, and working Nebraskans, and lead to increases in the labor market and professions essential to sustaining jobs and rural communities,” said Kristen Hassebrook of the Nebraska Cattlemen.

In June 2013, the U.S. Senate passed a historic, bipartisan immigration bill, S. 744, also known as the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.”  The resolution introduced today calls for Nebraska’s House of Representatives members to show leadership on a similar House bill so Congress can move forward on a law that protects families, grows the economy, and provides a strong foundation for the future of our state and country.



Eligible Voters Reminded of January 17th Deadline to Submit Ballots for Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, Dan Steinkruger, today reminded farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers that they have until this Friday, January 17, 2014, to return completed ballots to FSA. Eligible voters who have not received a ballot can obtain one from their local USDA Service Center. The last day for voters to submit completed ballots in person to local USDA Service Centers is January 17, 2014. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than January 17, 2014.

County committee members are an important component of the operations of FSA and provide a link between the agricultural community and USDA. Farmers and ranchers elected to county committees help deliver FSA programs at the local level, applying their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on commodity price support programs; conservation programs; incentive indemnity and disaster programs for some commodities; emergency programs and eligibility. FSA committees operate within official regulations designed to carry out federal laws.

To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program. A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm may also be eligible to vote. Agricultural producers in each county submitted candidate nominations during the nomination period, which ended on August 1, 2013.

Close to 7,700 FSA county committee members serve in the 2,124 FSA offices nationwide. Nebraska FSA is comprised of 71 county committees with a total of 245 county committee members.  Each county committee in Nebraska has three to seven members who serve three-year terms, up to a maximum of three consecutive terms. Approximately one-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. More information on county committees, such as the 2013 fact sheet and brochures, can be found on the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections or at a local USDA Service Center.



USDA SURVEY TO FOCUS ON IRRIGATION

Water is a source of life and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is giving Iowa farmers and ranchers a chance to report on their stewardship of this precious resource. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey to gauge on-farm water use and irrigation practices.

 “This survey provides the only comprehensive information on irrigation activities and water use and Iowa producers themselves stand to benefit the most from this survey,” said  Greg Thessen,  director of the NASS Iowa Field Office. “By providing comprehensive information on irrigation activities and water use on their farms, producers will help in the development of improved technology, better equipment and more efficient water use practices.”

The survey will also include an additional focus on nursery and horticultural operations. NASS will collect information about irrigation water use during 2013, including application methods, equipment, facilities, expenditures, crop acreage and yield.

In early January NASS mailed the irrigation survey to 625 producers in Iowa, with responses due back by February 10, 2014. As is the case with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is protected by law. NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.

Only those producers who indicated irrigation in the 2012 Census of Agriculture, will receive the survey. As part of the Census program, the irrigation survey participation is mandatory with accordance to U.S. law. 

For more information about the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey, call (888) 424-7828 or visit www.agcensus.usda.gov. 



Iowa Soybean, Iowa Corn put farm wives at center stage with CommonGround

Conversations and connections are center to the CommonGround Iowa program, which features Iowa farm women joining together to talk to people about food production, food safety, farm life and their common ground.

What do they do? They use blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube to tell their stories. They host tours of their farms, visit with media and speak at various meetings throughout the state and the country. Most importantly, they open the farm gate and welcome the consumer to see how today’s food is produced.

The CommonGround Iowa program is a joint effort between Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa Corn Growers Association, with support from United Soybean Board and National Corn Growers Association.

The CommonGround Iowa spokeswomen include:
·         Kellie Blair, Dayton
·         Stephanie Essick, Dickens
·         Kellie Gregorich, Lost Nation
·         Julie Kenney, Ankeny
·         Katie Olthoff, Stanhope
·         Nicole Patterson, Ames
·         Sara Ross, Minden
·         Suzanne Shirbroun, Farmersburg
·         Jan Stillman, Emmetsburg
·         Julie Van Manen, Kellogg
·         Jill Vander Veen, Hartley

With more Iowans growing up in urban and suburban areas, miles from farm life, there is an increasing disconnect between the consumer and the people who grow their food. This unique, mom-driven movement strives to bridge those gaps and foster understanding and confidence.

“I believe we have the healthiest food supply in the world, so consumers should feel comfortable making their food decisions at the grocery store,” explained Ross. “As a CommonGround volunteer and farmer, I can speak directly to consumers about these topics and help clear up the misconceptions they may have.”

For more information, visit www.findourcommonground.com.



Report Shows HSUS Spent A Fraction Of Budget On Pet Shelters
(from NE Cattlemen Newsletter)

The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) has released its fourth annual report  documenting  the  total contributions  to  local  pet  shelters by  the  Humane  Society  of  the U.S.  (HSUS).  In 2012, HSUS spent a  total of $120 million, but only 1 percent of that went to supporting local  sheltering  organizations nationwide.

The report comes in the wake of a September  2013 poll of  1,050  self-identifed HSUS  donors  in which 87 percent said they were unaware that  HSUS  gives  such  a  small portion  of  its  annual  budget  to local pet  shelters. When provided the facts, a full 83 percent of those donors agreed the group “misleads people into thinking that it supports local  humane  societies  and  pet shelters,” and 59 percent were less likely  to  support  the group going forward.

Information  for  the  CCF  report was  taken directly  from Form 990 tax  returns  fled  by  HSUS  with the  Internal  Revenue  Service. The  documents  showed  HSUS spent  $50 million  on  fundraising, supported  anti-animal  agriculture campaigns and maintained a large legal staff.



Nelson Elected to American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors

Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation President Steve Nelson has been elected to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) board of directors. Nelson was elected to the position during the 2014 AFBF Annual Convention held Jan. 12-14 in San Antonio, Texas.

Nelson will join state Farm Bureau presidents from Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, South Dakota, Indiana and Michigan in representing Midwestern states on the AFBF board of directors. Nelson was elected president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation in 2011.

A Nebraska native, Nelson farms near Axtell, Neb., in south central Nebraska and produces irrigated corn, hybrid seed corn and soybeans.

In his role on the board, Nelson will help lead American Farm Bureau's grassroots organization charged with enhancing and strengthening the lives of rural Americans and building strong and prosperous agricultural communities.

Expected Improvements for Livestock Markets in 2014
Improved weather conditions and moderation in feed prices could show continued improvement for livestock markets in 2014, according to Dr. Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist and professor of agribusiness at Oklahoma State University. Peel addressed farmers and ranchers from across the country today during an issues conference at the American Farm Bureau Federation's 95th Annual Convention.

“The latter part of 2013 turned things around for most of the country, with drought conditions receding and increased market prices for beef,” Peel said. “Livestock markets are looking strong for 2014.”

Peel expressed extreme optimism for the cattle sector, predicting herd expansion for the next several years.

“Depending on the market and weather conditions, we have the potential to be in expansion mode for the rest of this decade. We haven’t seen this scenario since the '90s,” Peel said.

With cattle numbers at record lows since the 1950s, Peel said farmers and ranchers need to focus on expanding herds and responding to current markets.

“The incentives are there. We are at record prices and will move higher still,” he said. “But how profitable producers will be is a function of managing costs and production.”

Export markets will continue to be a strong outlet for farmers and ranchers in 2014, although Peel estimated a slight decrease in beef exports due to higher prices and lower production. American farmers are adapting to current conditions and are competitive in foreign markets, Peel said.

Federal Crop Insurance Program Expands
The Federal Crop Insurance Program is expected to grow in 2014, said an Agriculture Department official at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 95th Annual Convention. Tim Hoffmann, director of Product Administration and Standards for the Risk Management Agency, presented to convention attendees at a workshop the reasons behind the growth of the program that farmers use to manage the risks of growing crops.

Hoffmann said USDA plans to expand the program by focusing on production history enhancements, creating a limited irrigation contract and prevented planning contract and making nursery program enhancements. USDA is also looking for new ways to use data it collects from insured farmers.

“USDA collects a huge amount of data from crop insurance,” said Hoffmann, noting that it has more data on crop plantings than the National Agriculture Statistics Service.

The Federal Crop Insurance Program covers more than 125 crops, including corn, soybeans and wheat, as well as nursery flowers, fruit and tobacco. Last year it expanded to include specialty crops like seafood, cotton seeds, as well as organic and community supported agriculture.

The program insured more than 295 million acres of crops in 2013 and 283-plus million acres in 2012. The program experienced a sharp increase in costs from last year, totaling $13.2 billion, up from $4.6 billion in 2012. Hoffmann attributed the rise to higher commodity prices and increased liability for insurers.

Drones Hold Great Promise for Agriculture
Small unmanned aircraft systems, better known as drones, hold great promise for agriculture, Kansas State University agronomist Kevin Price told farmers at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 95th Annual Convention.

Agriculture applications for drones in development include data collection on crop health, vigor and yields, tracking the spread of invasive plant species and monitoring cattle feedlots. Data collection of field images by cameras mounted on drones is extremely accurate – to within 1 inch – Price said.

“The biggest challenge is extracting useful data from the ‘tons’ of it that is collected,” Price said. “New software needs to be created that can take data and transform it into useful information.”

The economic potential of drones is tremendous in terms of precision agriculture but will not be realized without approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. States with the most agriculture stand to reap the greatest benefits from the technology.

“About 80 percent of economic income from drone technology will be in agriculture,” Price said.

Drone technology continues to develop rapidly while costs are declining, Price explained. However, he cautioned farmers that many companies are attempting to capitalize on the strong interest in drone technology by selling the wrong aircraft to anyone who will buy them just to make a quick buck.

EU, U.S. Face Feeding the World With Differing Ag Policies
While the European Union and the United States are together feeding the world, their agriculture policies differ, the EU’s Agriculture Counsellor Giulio Melato told workshop attendees at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 95th Annual Convention.

The European Union has 13.7 million farms, Melato said. About 70 percent of those are less than 10 acres and 92 percent are family farms. Those farms employ 17 million people and comprise 6 percent of the EU’s gross domestic product.

With 50 percent of Europe’s land area devoted to agriculture, “We have a different reality in Europe,” than the much larger U.S., Melato noted. With a higher population density, “The [European] population has a strong relationship with the countryside.” The side-by-side coexistence of urban and rural means they share the same air, water and other natural resources, which prompted EU policymakers to actively engage the public as it formulated modern ag policy. Recent droughts and price volatility “scared” European consumers, Melato said, and those fears increased public interest in ag policy.

Melato said the three overriding policy goals are viable food production, sustainable management of natural resources and balanced development. Government’s role, he noted, is to incentivize farmers, not provide subsidies. Roughly one-third of EU direct payments are dependent on three areas: maintaining permanent pasture/grassland; crop diversity; and maintaining “ecological focus” areas of at least 5 percent of the farmer’s land.

“Europe is a price taker,” Melato said, which pushes farmers to maximize what they can get for their product. This means farmers are encouraged to move from bulk commodity production to specialty products identified with regional agriculture. Policymakers are working to protect origin, history and product names, he said, “because the consumer wants authenticity.”

“These kind of products provide real jobs” for skilled workers who market, advertise, transport and sell specialty products, Melato said. Regional agriculture also helps drive tourism and investment, which lead to more jobs. The United States and other nations are welcome to invest in European ag ventures, Melato said, but production will take place in Europe rather than in the investor nation.

Melato said EU ag policy dictates that the safety net be a “real safety net,” and not hiding another support. He said farmers are expected to cooperate with each other in order to improve their position in the market. The state is ready to provide support in the event of major market drops, but farmers “must assume risk.” Less than 10 percent of the EU’s ag budget is earmarked for market intervention.



Beef Checkoff Testifies at the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Meeting

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee held their second public meeting today to hear testimony regarding potential changes. Director of Nutrition Research at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program, Clara Lau, Ph.D, spoke to the importance of lean beef in healthy diets.

Lau explained as the guidelines have changed over time, so has the beef industry. In 1980 when the first edition of the dietary guidelines was published, it was common to see one-half of an inch of fat trim on beef in the grocery store meat case. Now, retail beef cuts are virtually void of external fat, averaging less than one-tenth of an inch, according to Lau.

“Farmers and ranchers have responded to dietary guidance by supporting research and education to maximize the availability of lean beef,” Lau said. “The industry has selected for leaner cattle, trimmed excessive fat, and encouraged people to choose appropriate portions of lean beef more often. We listened, we changed, and we wanted you to know about it.”

Lau also addressed the lag in the USDA Nutrient Database to reflect lean beef changes, affecting the accuracy of data used in some observational studies.

“The broad category of red meat used in large observational studies, like the Nurses’ Health Study, does not reflect the leaner supply of beef,” Lau said. “So, the lean beef people are actually consuming is not used when comparing beef consumption with health outcomes. Therefore, these comparisons fall short in assessing lean beef as part of a healthful dietary pattern.”

The beef checkoff submitted written comments prior to this meeting, and will continue to be engaged as the 2015 dietary guidelines discussion continues.



NMPF Urges Continued Focus on Lack of Dairy in the American Diet

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) today urged a scientific advisory panel working on the next round of federal dietary advice to keep the recommendation of three daily servings of dairy products for most Americans, since dairy products are the number-one source of nine key nutrients.

“Dairy foods are uniquely nutrient-rich and virtually irreplaceable in the diet if we want to meet nutrient recommendations,” said NMPF Vice President for Nutrition Beth Briczinski. “We strongly urge the committee to maintain the current recommendation of three daily servings of dairy, and to focus on the serious public health problem of under-consumption of milk and dairy products.”

Briczinski reminded the group that milk, cheese, and yogurt contribute more than half the calcium and vitamin D in the American diet, and are the primary source of seven other essential nutrients in children’s diets: phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, vitamins A, B12, D, and riboflavin. In fact, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) found that when foods from the milk group were removed from model food patterns, intakes of calcium, vitamin D, and three other important nutrients fell below the goals.

“Even if calcium levels can be maintained with alternative foods, the levels of other nutrients such as protein, potassium, and vitamin D are adversely affected – there is simply no substitute for dairy,” she said. “Americans have major shortfalls in recommended milk consumption starting at four years of age. None of us should find that acceptable.”

Research published since 2010 has strengthened the case for dairy’s beneficial role in reducing the risk of several chronic diseases, according to Briczinski. “The good news is that if people who under-consume dairy would add even one serving a day, that would bring average daily intakes of Americans much closer to meeting Dietary Guideline recommendations. We hope this committee will encourage people who are under-consuming dairy to add that extra serving.”

Briczinski cited recent research indicating dairy is an inexpensive way of providing these nutrients, and that since the last round of federal nutrition advice, the case has been strengthened that dairy is beneficial in reducing the risk of several chronic diseases.

“Many population groups do not consume anywhere near the recommended amounts of dairy,” she said. “The good news is that if people who under-consume dairy would add even one serving a day, that would bring average daily intakes … much close to meeting Dietary Guideline recommendations.”

Briczinski was speaking at the second of two days of public hearings of the DGAC for the 2015 edition of the federal government’s basic consumer diet advice, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The dietary guidelines are issued jointly by the departments of agriculture and health and human services every five years. The hearings were held in Bethesda, Maryland, outside Washington.



Fertilizer Trends Remain Flat

Average prices of most fertilizers continue to be relatively steady while MAP continues to shift lower, according to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the first week of 2014. However, retailers report there are signs prices could be set to move higher.

Five of the eight major fertilizer prices slipped compared to last month. MAP was the only fertilizer with a significant adjustment. MAP was 7% lower compared to a month earlier and had an average price of $513 per ton.  Four other fertilizers had fairly minor prices reductions. DAP averaged $493 per ton, potash was at $474/ton, 10-34-0 $505/ton and anhydrous $619/ton.

The remaining fertilizers edged higher from last month, but again the move to the high side was fairly minor. Urea had an average price of $458/ton, UAN28 $319/ton and UAN32 $364/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.50/lb.N, anhydrous $0.38/lb.N, UAN28 $0.57/lb.N and UAN32 $0.57/lb.N.

All eight of the major fertilizers are now double digits lower in price compared to January 2013.  UAN32 is now down 13%, UAN28 is 14% less expensive and 10-34-0 is 16% lower. Urea is 20% lower, DAP and potash are both now 23% less expensive, MAP is 24% lower and anhydrous is 29% less expensive compared to last year.



CHS and Cenex Tanks of Thanks Program Recognize 10,000 Good Deeds

Cenex®, the CHS energy brand, has announced that it will continue the far-reaching Tanks of Thanks® program for a third year. Since its launch in 2012, the program has collected and shared more than 10,000 inspiring stories of people who go above and beyond to make a difference in their communities.

To date, CHS and the Cenex Tanks of Thanks program have awarded nearly $280,000 in free fuel to people doing good deeds for their communities. That is enough free fuel to travel around the world nearly 90 times, pending the invention of a car that can drive across oceans.

Since the program began, thousands of people have visited tanksofthanks.com to share stories of kindhearted individuals who help others in their communities by contributing to large projects, like organizing entire food shelves, as well as smaller acts, such as shoveling snow for an elderly neighbor. No matter how big or small, Cenex retailers realize these good deeds certainly do not go unnoticed, although they are not always recognized.

That's why CHS created the Cenex Tanks of Thanks program, to recognize the people who go out of their way to make their communities great places to live. The program collects and shares nominations online at tanksofthanks.com and rewards 100 random nominees each month with a $50 gift card redeemable at any Cenex location. At a local level, Cenex retailers also award Tanks of Thanks gifts to people they see making a difference in their hometowns. In total, CHS and Cenex retailers give more than $5,000 in free fuel each month to deserving people across the country.

"Each $50 Tanks of Thanks gift card is a simple token of appreciation for people who make our communities just a little bit better. But the really special part of the program is the 'pay-it-forward' effect," says Akhtar Hussain, CHS refined fuels brand marketing manager. "After receiving a Tanks of Thanks gift card, many people tell us that they feel inspired to share the stories of others who also deserve recognition. If each Tanks of Thanks nominee pays it forward, think of the positive influence that can have on every community."

CHS and Cenex retailers are encouraging customers and community members to nominate friends, family and neighbors for the Tanks of Thanks program and a chance to receive free fuel in 2014.

"We hope the Tanks of Thanks program can inspire people to take a moment each day and notice the good deeds happening all around us," says Hussain. "Everyone knows of at least one person in their life who deserves a thank you, and Tanks of Thanks is an easy way to show your appreciation." 

To nominate someone for Tanks of Thanks, visit tanksofthanks.com and share his or her story of helping others. You can also read stories of those who are giving back and making a difference. There is no limit to the number of people you can nominate, and anyone can be nominated for any act of kindness – big or small.



Federal Spending Bill Would Effectively Ban Horse Slaughterhouses

(AP) -- State and federal lawsuits that have repeatedly delayed the opening of horse slaughterhouses in New Mexico and Missouri could be moot if the budget bill up for a vote in Congress this week passes without changes.

The spending bill released Monday night would effectively reinstate a federal ban on horse slaughter by cutting funding for inspections at equine facilities.

Opponents of attempts to resume domestic horse slaughter applauded the measure.

"Americans do not want to see scarce tax dollars used to oversee an inhumane, disreputable horse slaughter industry," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "We don't have dog and cat slaughter plants in the U.S. catering to small markets overseas, and we shouldn't have horse slaughter operations for that purpose, either."

Proponents, however, contend domestic slaughter is the most humane way to deal with a rising number of abused and abandoned horses. Currently, unwanted horses are shipped to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. Some Indian tribes support a return to slaughter, saying exploding feral horse populations are destroying their rangelands.

"It is certainly disappointing that Congress is returning to a failed policy at the urging of special interest groups while failing to provide for an alternative," said Blair Dunn, an attorney for Valley Meat Co. in Roswell, N.M., and Rains Natural Meats in Gallatin, Mo. " The result is more waste and devastation of the range and the denial of access to an export market that would have created jobs and positive economic impacts to rural agriculture communities that desperately need these opportunities."

Animal rights groups and the Obama administration have been lobbying for the funding cut, as well as outright bans on horse slaughter in the United States. Congress cut funding for inspections at horse slaughterhouses in 2006, but reinstated the funding in 2011, four years after the last of the domestic plants closed.

Valley Meat Co. has been fighting since then to convert its cattle operations to horses. The Department of Agriculture finally issued the company and two others permits last year after Valley filed a lawsuit, but the agency made it clear it was doing so only because it was legally obligated and it has joined animal protection groups in lobbying for the funding inspection cuts as well as an outright ban on horse slaughter.

Shortly after the permits were issued last summer, the Humane Society and other groups were able to block their opening with a federal lawsuit challenging the permitting process. After a federal judge threw out that suit and a federal appeals court declined to keep a temporary order against the plants in place, New Mexico Attorney General Gary King won a temporary restraining order against Valley while a judge hears his claims the plant would violate state food safety and environmental laws.

State District Judge Matthew Wilson said he will issue a written decision Friday on King's request for a preliminary injunction that would keep Valley from opening.

Dunn said a vote by Congress to cut the funding "likely renders the AG's case moot going forward, assuming it was not already moot on jurisdictional grounds," but he said it will not stop efforts to reverse the effects of what he calls "defamatory and tortious actions" from the state attorney general and animal rights groups.



CWT Assists with 1.2 Million Pounds of Butter and Cheese Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted five requests for export assistance from Maryland Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) and United Dairymen of Arizona to sell 533,519 pounds (563 metric tons) of butter and 707,684 pounds (321 metric tons) of cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The product will be delivered January through June 2014.

The product will go to three countries on two continents. These sales are the equivalent of 18.572 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

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



Grassroots ethanol supporters will ‘march’ to Washington, DC March 25-26

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is announcing the dates for the sixth annual Washington, DC fly-in, commonly referred to as the “Biofuels Beltway March.”  Ethanol advocates and supporters will meet with key administration officials and Members of Congress on March 25th and 26th this year.

“The most effective lobbyists aren’t lobbyists at all, but rather farmers, ethanol producers, Main Street business leaders, retailers selling higher ethanol blends, and other grassroots individuals whose daily lives benefit from ethanol,” said Brian Jennings, ACE Executive Vice President.  “ACE’s fly-in will once again feature these real people to deliver ethanol’s message to the top decision makers inside the Beltway.”

“While we successfully countered Big Oil attempts to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in Congress last year, this year we must encourage EPA officials not to cave in to Big Oil demands to reduce the RFS and maintain bipartisan support in Congress,” said Jennings.  “We encourage people from all walks of life who support ethanol to sign-up now for this important opportunity to show and tell the success story of the U.S. ethanol industry.”

Jennings said in addition to focusing on the RFS, participants will explain in their own words how blends such as E15 and E85 are helping reduce gasoline prices, cut harmful emissions, and help retailers offer more choices to consumers. The official host hotel of the ACE fly-in will be the Liaison on Capitol Hill. To register, or to find out more details about the ACE fly-in, contact Shannon Gustafson via email at SGustafson@ethanol.org.



MANA introduces Custodia™ premix fungicide for corn, soybeans and wheat

MANA today introduced Custodia™ premix fungicide for use on corn, soybeans and wheat. Custodia combines the two most complementary systemic fungicide active ingredients available today in an optimized ratio to deliver both preventive and curative disease control. The simultaneous movement of the active ingredients within the plant quickly knocks down diseases and provides a residual barrier that inhibits diseases from developing.

The multiple active ingredients in Custodia allow growers to minimize the number of products they need to control various diseases. Plus, Custodia is labeled on several common rotational crops, which provides flexibility in planning disease control strategies.

“Custodia controls the most devastating diseases that row crop growers are facing today,” said Matt Bradley, Custodia brand leader. “It prevents or controls gray leaf spot and anthracnose on field corn, Cercospora and Septoria on soybeans, and rusts and powdery mildew in wheat. By keeping these diseases at bay, Custodia can help growers remain profitable throughout the season.”

In field corn, Custodia optimizes grain fill by preventing stress during periods where non-optimal photosynthesis periods occur, therefore helping growers increase yield. Custodia can also help soybean growers get to harvest sooner by preventing extended stalk greening.

“Custodia is the broadest spectrum combination fungicide that performs on the most important diseases that are present in corn, soybeans and wheat,” said Bradley. “It adds peace of mind to growers who are looking for solid disease control without having to manage numerous products.”