Pro Farmer 2014 Corn, Soybean Crop Estimates
Pro Farmer pegs 2014 U.S. corn crop at 14.093 billion bu.; Average yield of 169.3 bu. per acre
+/- 1% = 14.233 billion bu. to 13.952 billion bu.; 171.0 bu. to 167.6 bu. per acre
Pro Farmer pegs 2014 U.S. soybean crop at 3.812 billion bu.; Average yield of 45.35 bu. per acre
Soybeans +/- 2% = 3.888 billion bu. to 3.736 billion bu.; 46.3 bu. to 44.4 bu. per acre
Note: These estimates are based on assumptions for normal weather through September, which would include a “slow cook” on the corn crop, allowing it to gain the weight needed to reach our estimates. Based on FSA certified acreage data and our observations on Crop Tour, we have decided to leave harvested soybean acres unchanged at 84.058 million and take 600,000 acres off of harvested corn acres — 500,000 acres off North Dakota and 100,000 off Minnesota — bringing it to 83.239 million acres.
Corn
Nebraska: 171.5 bu. per acre. A May frost hurt the irrigated corn in Nebraska, leading to too many plant skips. But dryland corn planted later in the year missed out on the event and helped pull up the bottom end of yields, similar to last year.
Iowa: 183 bu. per acre. Lush fields with strong yield prospects in the west contrast with too-dry fields in the east. Excessive rain early in the season created some holes and emergence issues in some areas. Nevertheless, the Iowa corn crop is expected to be solid.
South Dakota: 140 bu. per acre. The state has an average corn crop. The unknown is whether corn in the east-central and northeastern areas can pull the average yield up.
Ohio: 187 bu. per acre. The only thing bad we have to say about the crop is that it’s immature. But if the Ohio crop is nipped by an early frost, the whole Corn Belt is likely in trouble as the state is sheltered by the Great Lakes. The crop is consistently good.
Indiana: 193 bu. per acre. If Illinois’ crop wasn’t so outstanding, we could make a case Indiana has the best crop we’ve ever seen. It should have no trouble getting to the finish.
Illinois: 198 bu. per acre. We saw what can happen when conditions are ideal throughout the growing season in this state. The crop is massive and should have no trouble holding onto yield potential into harvest.
Minnesota: 160 bu. per acre. Nitrogen deficiency is a problem and there is evidence of heavy early-season rains in the state. Thirty days without rain also took the top end off the crop.
Soybeans
Nebraska: 51 bu. per acre. This state knows how to grow beans and maturity was not as big of a concern this year. Water hemp was a major problem in the state, however, which could draw down yields.
Iowa: 49.5 bu. per acre. There is variability in pod counts across the state, with the eastern half holding down the yield potential. Western Iowa beans look really good and could push the state back to 50 bu. per acre.
South Dakota: 40 bu. per acre. It would be nice to get to Oct. 10 without a frost to allow the healthy bean crop to realize its full potential. Right now, it’s an average crop.
Ohio: 50 bu. per acre. We measured the highest pod counts in the Corn Belt here, though maturity lagged slightly. The crop is healthy, especially now that some rainfall has been added to the mix.
Indiana: 52 bu. per acre. There were minor health issues with the crop, including isolated instances of SDS. But maturity is right on pace and pod counts are strong.
Illinois: 54 bu. per acre. The bean crop looked just as impressive as the corn crop. Beans were uniform and tall, though there was some variability when it came to pod counts. We expect a record-large yield for the state. There was some minor SDS in the crop, but this is certainly not a deal breaker.
Minnesota: 41.5 bu. per acre. It’s an average Minnesota bean crop. With rain during Crop Tour and more expected in late August, the risk is that Minnesota bean yields could improve by mid-September.
Next Grain Marketing/Risk Mgt. Breakfast is Sept. 3rd
The quarterly Big Red Grain Marketing and Risk Management Breakfast is scheduled for Wednesday, September 3rd at the ARDC/Extension Office. Breakfast is served from 7:45-8:15 a.m. compliments of the Saunders County Soybean Growers Organization and the Saunders County Corn Growers Association.
The program will feature a presentation from Allan Vynalek, UNL Extension Educator. His topic is entitled: Farmland Leases for ’15 – is the roller coaster heading a different direction?
Our second speaker is Jeff MacKenzie, Consultant, MacKenzie Marketing Research. Mr. MacKenzie provides grain market analyzes for numerous crop input companies. He will share his grain market and economic forecast.
For food preparation purposes, please call in a reservation at 402-624-8030 by noon on September 2.
Upper Big Blue NRD Board Approved Rules Changes Regarding Temporary Stay on Well Drilling
The Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors approved the motion to enact changes to the District’s Rule 5 in relation to the temporary 180-day stay in well drilling in sub-areas. The stay was used as a “time-out” to assess water availability regarding the Villages of Dwight and Brainard. The two villages expressed concern over the future viability of their water supply and the impact that surrounding irrigation wells have on their municipal wells’ ability to pump water for citizens. Municipal concerns, along with drought conditions experienced during 2012 and 2013, prompted the temporary stay. The stay will be lifted in October.
By statute, NRDs have the authority to put an immediate temporary stay on well drilling. During the 180-day stay, the NRD board and staff members reviewed data in the sub-areas, further researched possible solutions and alternatives to alleviate concerns within these areas, and developed a common-sense regulatory approach to help mitigate current and future issues regarding water quantity and quality in the affected areas of the District.
New Rules for High Risk Groundwater Area
The new rules adopted by the Board for the High Risk Groundwater Area include the following: New high capacity wells (wells that pump more than 50 gpm) must be at least 1,250 feet from existing high capacity wells, including wells with the same ownership. New high capacity wells must be at least 1,250 feet from existing domestic wells under different ownership. New high capacity wells must be at least two miles from existing municipal wells. No more than one high capacity well may exist on a tract of land consisting of eighty acres or less, with no more than two wells per one-hundred sixty acres. Existing wells may be replaced. Municipal Users shall have adopted an administrative procedure that allows the Municipal User to require water conservation practices and restrict the water use of its customers. New or replacement domestic water wells shall be constructed to such a depth that they are less likely to be affected by seasonal water level declines caused by other water wells in the same area. Regulations for the remainder of the District were not changed.
In Other News
The Upper Big Blue NRD Board passed the motion to “Prioritize Ayars & Ayars, Inc., (Lincoln), as the first design-build firm to negotiate with for a contract for the design, schedule and cost of the new NRD headquarters facilities; and further to negotiate with JLC Inc., (York), and Schemmer Associates, Inc., (Omaha), if negotiations with Ayars & Ayars are unsuccessful.” The Upper Big Blue NRD has purchased land north of the York County Fairgrounds for the site of building the new office and maintenance buildings. As far as building design, cost, and construction schedules, these are all yet to be conceptualized and discussed further by the Board.
FLYING COVER CROPS INTO CORN AND BEANS
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist
Corn stalks and other crop residues provide good winter feed. Adding cover crops to them can sometimes make them even better. Getting them established can be tricky, though.
Corn stalks and bean stubble are some of the least expensive winter feeds we have. But once cattle finish eating grain and husks from corn or licking up pods from beans, what remains isn’t very good.
Some growers have improved both the amount and quality of corn and bean residue by flying cover crop seed onto standing corn or beans. When successful, cover crops provide more grazing days and extra protein when residues become poor quality.
Let me emphasize the words ‘when successful’. It’s not all that easy to get a good stand of cover crops to become productive in a growing corn or bean field.
Several factors limit success rates. Herbicide carryover can cause problems. Time of planting is critical to get sunlight to new seedlings. Seed into beans just before leaves start to drop. In corn, wait until plants dry up to the ear. And the earlier these crops can be harvested, the better, for cover crop growth.
Don’t be cheap with moisture. Usually it takes about three irrigations or equivalent rainfall to be successful.
Cover crop selection is very important. Only use firm, dense seeds like spring barley, cereal rye, turnip, and radish that don’t require much depth of seeding. Avoid large seeds like peas or complex, expensive cocktails.
Lastly is wheel traffic at harvest. Turnips and radishes are damaged more than grasses, but both lose stand if fields get muddy.
I like improving corn stalks or bean stubble with cover crops. But there are challenges, and try to find ways to overcome them.
Ag Bankers to Gather in Omaha to Ponder Future Economy
In recent years, the agricultural economy has seen the best of times, but what's around the corner? Is the great farm boom of the 21st century coming to an end? That's what the nation's leading experts in ag lending will gather to discuss in Omaha, Neb. this November. The American Bankers Association National Agricultural Bankers Conference -- now in its 62nd year -- will be held at the Hilton Omaha and Century Link Center Nov. 9-12.
This year's event, "Big Times Demand Big Data," will help bankers become more effective lenders in a changing and perhaps turbulent agricultural economy. Attendees will have unmatched access to industry experts, academics and peers willing to share strategies for success.
A highlight of the conference this year will be an interactive session with "alpha pup farmers" conducted by Dr. David Kohl, professor emeritus, agricultural and applied economics at Virginia Tech. Alpha pups are young, successful farmers and ranchers who will dominate U.S. agriculture over the next fifty years. ABA will chart the progress of these young farmers over the next several decades, and will invite them back to the conference in the future for updates. They will answer questions about their future in farming, how they use technology, how they market their production, what their goals are and how they access capital.
In addition, attendees will hear a keynote address from Dr. Lowell Catlett of New Mexico State University on big data issues facing the agriculture industry. Another conference highlight is a keynote address from president and founder of Stine Seed Company, Harry Stine, who has had success as an innovator, entrepreneur and -- most importantly -- a farmer.
Experts spanning the agricultural spectrum will lead more than 30 sessions including:
-- Turbulent Times Require Better Data: A free pre-conference seminar looking at key components in analyzing ag credits and current observations;
-- The Farmer Decision: ARC or PLC: Academics will provide a decision-making framework for the available crop support programs in the farm bill;
-- Land Values Outlook: Retired Iowa State Economist Mike Duffy will provide an outlook on land values; and
-- Are the Good Times Still Rolling?: Purdue University Economists Jason Henderson and Brent Gloy will connect dots between the past booms in the agricultural economy and the present one.
Registration for the conference is $875 for ABA members and $1,425 for non-members. Special discounts are available for early bird registration before Sept. 5 and attendees from the same organization who register together.
For additional schedule information or to register for the conference, call 1-800-BANKERS or visit http://www.aba.com/AgConference.
The American Bankers Association is the voice of the nation's $14 trillion banking industry, which is composed of small, regional and large banks that together employ more than 2 million people, safeguard $11 trillion in deposits and extend nearly $8 trillion in loans.
Iowa State-UNL Partnership Creates Plant Science App for Teachers, Students
A new app will give high school agri-science teachers a tool for teaching biotechnology to their students.
"The Journey of a Gene" is the product of a partnership between Iowa State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The project uses the example of soybean and the disease, sudden death syndrome, to illustrate the process of genetic engineering.
The project began with a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for more than $5 million titled "Transgenic Approaches to Sudden Death Syndrome in Soybean." ISU scientists Madan Bhattacharyya and Alison Robertson envisioned an extension component that would target agri-science teachers who also lead FFA chapters across the country.
Bhattacharyya and Robertson thought an app that could be used on a smartphone or tablet would work best for teachers and their students. Robertson was familiar with UNL agronomy professor Don Lee's teaching in genetics and biotechnology, and they partnered with him and UNL's Plant and Soil Science eLibrary to develop and evaluate the app.
Grace Troupe, one of Lee's graduate students, took the app development on as her master's project.
She started with UNL and Lincoln programming experts and was led to Crowd Favorite, a small app development company. She used existing Plant and Soil Science eLibrary resources and worked with videographers to capture the work of scientists from UNL and ISU.
The app, at http://passel.unl.edu/ge/, shows "the real science behind genetic engineering," Troupe said.
The Journey of a Gene breaks down the genetic engineering process into four sections in showing how soybeans can be engineered to be resistant to sudden death syndrome. In the video, scientists explain techniques used in the process.
"We hope the app will capture the attention of youth and educate them in plant biotechnology, which will likely play a key role in the successful second green revolution to feed the ever-growing population in the 21st century," Bhattacharyya said.
Bhattacharyya added that he hopes exposing students to biotechnology through the app might even encourage some to enter plant science as a career.
Troupe said the team will be getting feedback from teachers and further refining the app. It will be piloted with college students this fall to see how it changes their attitudes toward genetic engineering, and the app will be used next spring in the Nebraska FFA contest. Troupe also is presenting it in other regional meetings.
The app gives science teachers a way to present very complicated but critical, science-based information to their students.
"The reason they don't teach this very much is they feel it's a really difficult subject. They worry about misunderstanding the science," Troupe said. She cited the example of one teacher who used to spend 10 minutes on genetic engineering in class in the past; now, using the app, he wants to do eight full class periods on the topic.
"These classrooms have our future producers and consumers. They need to understand this technology so they can make better decisions," Troupe said.
UNL's Plant and Soil Sciences eLibrary produces educational material covering aspects of agriculture ranging from genetics to soil science to agronomic practices. Founded in 1999, the eLibrary is a collaborative project between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Strong Early Results for Beef's Digital Campaign
Millennials initiate more than 5 million online food-related searches each day. What a tremendous opportunity for the beef checkoff’s consumer digital advertising campaign. And just 12 weeks into the new campaign, the results are impressive indeed!
The “Beef. Its What’s For Dinner.” website reached more than 1 million consumers during the first 12 weeks of the campaign; the five “no-recipe recipe” YouTube videos on the site were viewed 1.5 million times; and associated social-media sites hosted a total of 434,000 engagements (likes, comments, shares, re-tweets, and click-thrus to checkoff resources such as recipes).
“Our checkoff’s digital advertising program is where the consumers are, across the entire U.S., ensuring beef’s visibility in the marketplace,” says Terri Carstensen, beef producer from Odebolt, Iowa and chairwoman of the checkoff’s Domestic Consumer Preference Committee. “The exciting part is that we are showing consumers they don’t have to sacrifice taste or nutrition for convenience. We continue to engage consumers during their moments of meal planning, inspiration and decision-making, and results show we’re having an impact and that every interaction matters. Digital/social media is such a great tool because it is available 24/7.”
State beef councils using digital platforms from the national media buys included: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. Participating states used digital media, such as Facebook and paid Google search advertising to share positive beef messages with millennials.
The new campaign helps the checkoff get to know beef’s targeted consumers better – like the fact that 80 percent of them eat beef at least once a week and they’re visiting the checkoff-funded “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” site for recipes and beef cooking techniques.
“At the end of the day, the checkoff aims to shift consumers’ perceptions of beef,” says Carstensen. “What the data shows is that 97 percent of consumers have positive opinions about beef after visiting the site. That’s a result to be proud of!”
EPA Sends Renewable Fuels Rule to White House
The National Biodiesel Board released the following statement from Vice President of Federal Affairs Anne Steckel today after the EPA sent the proposed final rule for the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to the White House Office of Management and Budget for final review:
“We’re pleased to see the process moving forward and hope the final rule will show that this Administration is standing behind our national goals for clean, domestic fuels that strengthen our economy and national security. We also continue to urge the Administration to finalize the rule as quickly as possible. The original EPA proposal and continued delays have severely disrupted the U.S. biodiesel industry this year. We can begin to reverse that damage with a meaningful increase in the biodiesel volume that is finalized as quickly as possible so that producers can ramp up production in a timely fashion.”
Biodiesel is made from a wide variety of feedstocks including recycled cooking oil, soybean oil and animal fats. It is the first and only commercial-scale fuel produced across the U.S. to meet the EPA’s definition as an Advanced Biofuel - meaning the EPA has determined that it reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent when compared with petroleum diesel. Produced in nearly every state in the country, the industry has exceeded RFS requirements in every year of the program, reaching a record U.S. market of nearly 1.8 billion gallons and supporting more than 62,000 jobs nationwide.
In a draft RFS rule released in November, the EPA proposed holding biodiesel volumes at 1.28 billion gallons – a sharp drop from last year’s actual production of nearly 1.8 billion gallons. Biodiesel producers around the country have warned that such a proposal will cause severe contraction in the industry. A nationwide survey of producers conducted by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) in April found that more than half have already idled a plant this year and 78 percent have reduced production from last year. Nearly two-thirds – 66 percent – have already laid off employees or anticipate doing so.
Final 2014 RFS Rule Moves to OMB
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent the final 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard Renewable Volume Obligation rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, commented on the development:
“While we have not seen the rule, we hold strong in our belief that EPA and OMB will fulfill President Obama’s commitment to biofuels as a means of greater energy independence, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and wider availability of cost-saving alternative fuels for American consumers. This decision is about more than targets and gallons, it is about a rationale that places highest importance on the long term strength of this country and not the bottom line of oil companies.”
ACE statement on OMB review of 2014 RFS rule
Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of the American Coalition for Ethanol, (ACE) issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent over the final 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard Renewable Volume Obligation rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review today.
“ACE members are pleased the 2014 RVO is now at OMB for interagency review and we continue to encourage the administration to finalize a rule that allows the RFS to work by incentivizing oil companies to blend above the E10 limit. Anything short of that turns the keys to the RFS over to the oil companies and puts cellulosic biofuel at risk. While all stakeholders have waited a long time for the final rule, and it could take another 30 days or more for interagency review, getting the rule done right is far more important than getting it done quickly.”
AFBF Again Urges Court to Restore State Authority in Chesapeake Bay Cleanup
The American Farm Bureau Federation this week asked a federal appellate court in Pennsylvania to reverse a lower court ruling that upheld pollution limits for the Chesapeake Bay watershed imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Although restricted to areas surrounding the Chesapeake Bay, the court’s decision could have sweeping effects on states and economic activity across the country. EPA has claimed that its Bay limits were developed in cooperation with the Bay states. But the AFBF brief points out that “if EPA can set federal limits and deadlines in a TMDL, then it can do so with or without state cooperation: that is why 21 State Attorneys General have supported us as amici.”
The appellate court will decide whether EPA has the power to set only the “total” allowable pollutant load for waters, as AFBF and its allies maintain, or also to set individual limits for farming, construction or other activities across the landscape, as EPA claims. AFBF maintains that Congress reserved such land use decision-making exclusively for the states.
According to AFBF, under EPA’s view of its power, “EPA could assign nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment limits for each farm, home site, or even each acre of undeveloped land across the countryside.” Such broad power “amounts to nothing short of federal land use zoning authority, which cannot be squared with Congress’s clear and consistent determination to reserve such authority for the states.”
AFBF also noted that because restoration of the Bay does not depend on the unlawful aspects of the TMDL before the court, cleanup would continue with a court ruling in AFBF’s favor. According to the AFBF brief, a ruling in its favor would not disturb the total pollutant limit set by EPA for each segment of the Bay. In addition, a ruling removing the challenged EPA source limits or “allocations” from the TMDL “would in no way impair the ability of any state to achieve those objectives. It would only allow them the freedom – as Congress intended – to set different allocations and deadlines, if they so choose.”
July Egg Production Up 4 Percent
United States egg production totaled 8.29 billion during July 2014, up 4 percent from last year. Production included 7.19 billion table eggs, and 1.10 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.03 billion were broiler-type and 74 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during July 2014 averaged 352 million, up 2 percent from last year. July egg production per 100 layers was 2,354 eggs, up 2 percent from July 2013.
All layers in the United States on August 1, 2014 totaled 353 million, up 2 percent from last year. The 353 million layers consisted of 296 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 53.8 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.95 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on August 1, 2014, averaged 75.8 eggs per 100 layers, up 2 percent from August 1, 2013.
IOWA: Egg production in Iowa during July 2014 was 1.28 billion eggs, up 3 percent from last month, and up 3 percent from last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs release from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The total number of layers on hand during July was 53.9 million, down 1 percent from last month, but up 2 percent from the 53.1 million last year. Eggs per 100 layers for the month of July were 2,375, up 3 percent from last month, and up 1 percent from 2,343 last year.
Deere to Lay Off 460 on Weak Demand
Deere Co. unveiled another round of layoffs Friday as the company continues to scale back agricultural-equipment production amid weaker demand.
Deere said Friday that it would lay off 460 employees indefinitely at its Waterloo, Iowa operations.
The announcement comes just a week after the company said it would lay off more than 600 factory employees at operations in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas. The company also had said it will also start seasonal and inventory-adjustment shutdowns and temporary layoffs at several of those affected factories.
As of Oct. 31, 2013, Deere had about 67,000 full-time employees.
Earlier this month, the world's largest seller of farm machinery said a slowdown in the farm economy led to lower equipment sales and a notable decline in earnings in the latest quarter.
Tyson Foods to Sponsor College Aggies Online for Second Straight Year
For the second year, the Animal Agriculture Alliance is pleased to welcome Tyson Foods, Inc. as a sponsor of its annual College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship program. CAO, an agriculture outreach and education scholarship competition, will launch September 8, 2014 for the sixth year.
“The entire Tyson Foods team added so much vivacity, expertise and positivity to the College Aggies Program,” said Alliance Vice President Emily Meredith. “From donating a truckload of protein to the club--Montana State University Collegiate Stockgrowers--that collected the most food during the ‘Give Back’ challenge, to hosting the winners at their Arkansas headquarters, to interacting with the participants on Twitter—the Tyson team does it all and we’re grateful for the contributions they’ve made to this program.”
Tyson Foods has a long history of generously contributing to programs that focus on five main areas: hunger relief, health and human services, education, community development and the military. “We’re always looking for new ways to talk about what it’s going to take to feed the world—and that’s modern agriculture,” said Tyson Foods’ director of social media Jack Pate. “Working with the Animal Agriculture Alliance helps us to do that by engaging with young people about where food comes from while also addressing the seriousness of hunger in this country.”
The CAO program, which began in 2009, is designed to enable college students with an interest in agriculture to become confident, proactive and creative communicators using social media tools.
Welcome to the KTIC Agriculture Information blog!!! Check back here for the latest in ag news and information, from local events to international happenings and government reports that affect your operation. Please email with suggestions! -Chad Moyer, Farm Director, KTIC Radio
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