Monday Aug 4 Ag News

OPTIONS FOR LATE SUMMER PASTURE WEEDS
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

How does your pasture look today?  Is it full of weeds?  Let’s discuss your options to minimize this problem.

Weeds have exploded recently in many pastures.  Plants like ragweed, ironweed, goldenrod, gumweed, and vervain are abundant everywhere.  Where did we go wrong and what can you do now?

Early summer rains stimulated growth of these weeds.  Although this rain also boosted grass production, grazing has removed much of this grass, providing the opportunity needed by these weeds to flourish.  Only pastures or areas in pastures with continuously thick, relatively tall grass stands have few weeds.

Spraying many weeds now does little good.  Most weeds are too large to kill so herbicides might only reduce some seed production and may make pastures a bit more attractive.  Shredding might actually work better to reduce weed seeds if it’s not already too late.

Two other approaches are more important for long-term weed control.  First, do more rotational grazing next year to improve the health, vigor, and density of your grass.  And as you rotate, leave more residue behind when moving animals to a new pasture.  This helps maintain higher competition.  Healthy, competitive grass stands are essential to reduce weed populations economically.

Second, use herbicides when they will do the most good.  Early June usually is most effective, especially with herbicides like Grazon, Forefront, Chaparral, Curtail, 2,4-D, and dicamba.  Most perennial weeds, and many annuals, are sensitive to chemicals in June.  Weed control, along with good grazing, will thicken your grass stands so herbicides won’t be needed as often in the future.

Don’t let weeds take over your pasture, but don’t spend money controlling them needlessly.  A good plan will work best.



Farm Credit Services of America Announces Mid-Year Earnings

Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica), a customer-owned financial cooperative serving more than 50,000 farmers and ranchers in a four-state area, today announced financial results for the first six months of calendar year 2014.

Net income for the first six months was $238.8 million compared to $225.9 million for the same period in 2013. The increase in net income is primarily due to an increase in net interest income from growth in loan volume, a non-recurring gain from the sale of other property owned, and increases in distributions from AgDirect, LLP and AgriBank, FCB patronage.  The income increases are partially offset by increases in the provision for credit losses, non-interest expense for additional staffing to support business initiatives and growth, and premiums charged by the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation.

Doug Stark, chief executive officer at FCSAmerica, said, “Commodity prices have been volatile, with grain prices down while livestock producers generally experienced strong profits during the second quarter.  As a lender owned by farmers and ranchers, it’s our mission to help producers successfully navigate these cycles.  We’ve built the financial strength that allows us to continue supporting our customers while investing in new products, services and tools that add value to their business.”

Loan volume increased by $259.8 million to $20.5 billion during the first six months of 2014. Members’ equity increased to $3.8 billion from $3.6 billion at the end of 2013.



Iowa EPC to Consider CAFO Rules at Aug. 19 Meeting

The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission will consider adopting rules for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) at its Aug. 19 meeting.

Commissioners moved the meeting to the Wallace State Office Building Auditorium, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines.

If adopted, the rules will incorporate by reference the federal rules that require CAFOs to comply with national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permits. The Iowa Legislature directed adopting the federal rules. Adoption was also a condition of a work plan agreement signed between the DNR and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Sept.11, 2013.

The federal rules require confinement feeding operations that are CAFOs and discharge to waters of the U.S. to seek an NPDES permit. Generally, confinements are animal feeding operations that are totally roofed. The U.S. EPA defines a large CAFO as one that confines at least 1,000 cattle or cow/calf pairs, 700 mature dairy cattle, 2,500 finishing swine or 55,000 turkeys.

In other business, commissioners will be asked to approve contracts for watershed projects, statewide groundwater analysis and a food waste study.

The meeting begins at 10 a.m. with public comments to follow. At 1 p.m., commissioners will hear an appeal of a proposed contested case decision for P and J Pork, L.L.C. A demand for a hearing from Palo Alto County is scheduled for 2 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.

Find more information on EPC agenda items at www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/BoardsCommissions.aspx.



Iowa Fairgoers Can Learn About Iowa Beef Industry

Iowa's largest consumer event, the Iowa State Fair, runs from Aug. 7 to Aug. 17 in 2014. Consumers will have plenty of chances to learn about the beef industry. Look for these beef checkoff sponsored activities during the Fair:

-- Animal Learning Center will feature a display that includes the type of feed cattle eat. The checkoff is also co-sponsoring the Thank-a-Farmer program which educates fairgoers on the fact that nearly everything they touch, consume and wear is directly connected to agriculture and a farmer. Shows run daily during the entire fair at 11 a.m.; 1 p.m.; 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

-- Little Hands on the Farm, a popular spot for families, will feature a monoslope cattle barn. Children pick up packages of corn and drop them off at the cattle bunk to feed the cattle. Signage shares how farmer care for their cattle. The exhibit is open daily from 9 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

-- Farmville, an interactive exhibit area in the Agriculture Building sponsored by the beef checkoff and five other commodity groups in partnership with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) will show fairgoers different practices farmers employ to protect and enhance water quality. Beef industry volunteers will be on hand Aug.12 and 13 to answer questions and hand out coupons to the Cattlemen's Beef Quarters. The display is open daily from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.

-- The 32nd annual Governors Charity Steer Show will begin at 4 pm on Aug. 9 in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion with the auction beginning immediately following the show in the Penningroth Media Center. The celebrity steer show has generated nearly $2.3 million dollars in support of Iowa's Ronald McDonald House Charities.

-- Cattlemen's Beef Quarters (CBQ), a favorite dining destination for many, marks its 30th year of service this year. It began its 30 year journey at the fair to serve as an advocate for Iowa cattlemen and women and the high quality beef they raise. It is comprised of 68 county cattlemen's associations and is staffed by some 1,200 beef industry volunteers each year. The CBQ serves roughly 74,000 customers and prepares some 35,000 pounds of beef annually during the 11-day event.

-- Schmacon will debut at the Cattlemen's Beef Quarters. Bold and beefy, Schmacon is a fresh take on bacon. The smoked and cured glazed beef slices are made from whole muscle beef and a proprietary spice blend and cure recipe to create a unique sweet and smoky flavor. The CBQ has added Schmacon to its all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast plate for 2014. Breakfast is served daily from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m.

-- Check out the 51st Annual Farm Bureau's Cook-Out Contest on the Grand Concourse beginning at 9 a.m., Aug. 12. The Iowa Beef Checkoff is the sponsor of the Beef Division.



Cattle Producers Discuss Policy Priorities at Industry Summer Conference

Members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association addressed current policy priorities at the 2014 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver this week, passing new resolutions and directives for the 2014 Policy Agenda.

“Our policy committees are tasked with a broad spectrum of issues, with everything from environmental regulation to nutrition policy to trade barriers on the agenda,” said Bob McCan, NCBA president and Victoria, Texas, cattle producer. “Cattle producers gather from across the country to discuss the biggest issues facing the cattle industry right now and make specific decisions on how to move forward on these priorities.”

Along with revisions to current policies, NCBA members analyzed the overall state of the industry in one-on-one discussions with top government representatives, trade officials and other industry leaders.

“Right now, priority issues include the EPA’s proposed waters of the United States rule, tax reform and ongoing international trade issues,” said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall. “We are engaged in a long list of policy priorities all year long. After the meetings in Denver, NCBA’s D.C. staff is headed back to Washington, ready to hit the ground running with the list of recommendations and policy updates.”

In the Property Rights and Environmental Management committee members passed a resolution to lead the development of a beef sustainability program, inclusive of the beef value chain and stakeholders, that addresses the continued advancement in areas such as economic viability, production efficiencies, animal care and handling, environmental conservation, human resources and community support.

The Cattle Marketing and International Trade Policy passed a resolution for NCBA to support changes to Mandatory Price Reporting. Accurate and detailed market information is imperative for sound decision making, and the directive calls for support of changes to ensure the data reflects the market place.

And NCBA’s Cattle Health and Well-Being committee passed policy regarding foreign animal diseases, which could cause a widespread quarantine and possible massive depopulation of the U.S. cattle herd, thus compromising national security and jeopardizing the U.S. beef supply. As such, a resolution was passed to oppose the importation of live cattle, beef, and/or beef products into the U.S. from foreign countries with histories of significant chronic animal diseases and lack of strict animal disease control and eradication measures.

Further, NCBA urges USDA to include U.S. cattle industry stakeholders in any negotiations with foreign countries relating to efforts that may affect the health of the U.S. cattle industry and provide the U.S. cattle industry opportunities to comment on new procedures for developing risk analyses for any foreign country with significant chronic animal disease issues wishing to export live cattle, beef, and/or beef products into the U.S.

USDA protocols should be substantiated by sound, scientific evidence and that animal health related regulations not be used as non-tariff trade barriers.

All of these policies from the committees were passed by the full NCBA board of directors.

The official NCBA Policy Book is a detailed compilation of policy priorities on cattle industry issues. The full NCBA 2014 Policy Agenda can be found online at: www.beefusa.org.



U.S. Pork Weighs In On Important Trade Matters

The National Pork Producers Council weighed in on two important trade matters, insisting that U.S. trade negotiators get from Japan a deal on pork similar to the one the United States got from South Korea and urging lawmakers to exclude South Africa from a U.S. preferential trade measure.

In written testimony submitted to the Senate Finance Committee International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness Subcommittee, NPPC said the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, which was implemented in March 2012, “provides the kind of access opportunities for U.S. pork that NPPC would like to see in all U.S. FTAs.” It noted that the deal on pork in the agreement was accomplished despite opposition from South Korean farmers and compared it with the offer from Japan on pork in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. Japan’s trade negotiators so far have refused to eliminate tariffs on pork – and number of other “sensitive” agricultural products – because of opposition from Japanese farmers.

“Opening the market to U.S. pork is no more politically sensitive in Japan than it is in South Korea,” said NPPC, which also pointed out that elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers on all products is the hallmark of U.S. FTAs. “There is absolutely no reason Japan should be treated differently from other U.S. FTA partners.”

The organization also sent testimony to the House Ways and Means trade subcommittee on renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which gives African countries preferential treatment for their products in the U.S. market. AGOA expires next year. (The AGOA testimony also was submitted to the Senate Finance Committee.)

NPPC supports renewal of AGOA for countries that abide by their international trade obligations and that allow access to their markets for U.S. products. It said South Africa, which doesn’t meet those criteria, should be excluded, and the United States should not start free trade negotiations with that country.

Despite years of technical discussions between the U.S. and South African governments, NPPC pointed out in its testimony, the African nation has made no effort to eliminate barriers to U.S. trade in pork. The restrictions, said NPPC, are not based on legitimate food-safety concerns and likely violate World Trade Organization rules.

“Given South Africa’s de facto ban on U.S. pork and its lack of progress in opening its market,” said NPPC, “South Africa should be excluded from participation in the AGOA program.”



New USDA Conservation Partnership Program Receives Nearly 600 Initial Proposals

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said today that USDA's new Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which brings together businesses, tribes, communities and other non-government partners to invest in conservation efforts, has drawn an overwhelming response from partners across the nation. Nearly 5,000 organizations partnered together to submit nearly 600 pre-proposals by the July deadline.

"This program is an entirely new approach to conservation," Secretary Vilsack said. "By establishing new public-private partnerships, we can have an impact that's well beyond what the Federal government could accomplish on its own. And we put our partners in the driver's seat, allowing them to find creative solutions to the conservation issues in their local areas. The overwhelming response to this new effort illustrates an eagerness across country to partner and invest in innovative conservation projects."

The RCPP is a way for private companies, tribes, local communities and non-government partners to collaborate and invest in cleaner water and air, healthier soil and enhanced wildlife habitat. It will allow USDA to partner with third parties or work directly with producers in watersheds and other critical conservation areas to leverage private sector funding to maximize conservation investments.

USDA has invested more than $12.5 billion in Farm Bill conservation programs since 2009. RCCP is also one way that the Obama Administration's National Drought Resilience Partnership can support state, local and tribal efforts to plan and manage for long term drought resilience.



USDA Reminds Farmers of 2014 Farm Bill Conservation Compliance Changes

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today reminded producers that changes mandated through the 2014 Farm Bill require them to have on file a Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification (AD-1026). The Farm Bill relinked highly erodible land conservation and wetland conservation compliance with eligibility for premium support paid under the federal crop insurance program.

“It’s important that farmers and ranchers taking the right steps to conserve valuable farm and natural resources have completed AD-1026 forms on file at their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office,” said Vilsack. “This will ensure they remain eligible for crop insurance support.”

For farmers to be eligible for premium support on their federal crop insurance, a completed and signed AD-1026 form must be on file with the FSA. Since many FSA and Natural Resource Conservation (NRCS) programs have this requirement, most producers should already have an AD-1026 on file. If producers have not filed, they must do so by June 1, 2015.

When a farmer completes the AD-1026, FSA and NRCS staff will outline any additional actions that may be required for compliance with the provisions. The Risk Management Agency, through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), manages the federal crop insurance program that provides the modern farm safety net for American farmers and ranchers.



NMPF Wants Dairy Ingredients Problem Fixed in FDA ‘Added Sugar’ Definition

The National Milk Producers Federation wants the Food and Drug Administration to fix a problem in the planned definition of added sugars on food labels, saying it appears to include dairy products used as food ingredients, even though the lactose – or “milk sugar” – in those products occurs naturally.

Commenting August 1st on the FDA’s proposed changes to the nutrition facts label, NMPF was basically supportive of FDA’s proposal to list added sugars, saying it will clarify the contribution of lactose to dairy products and allow consumers to pinpoint added sweeteners in foods.

But, under FDA’s proposed definition, NMPF said the lactose in a tablespoon of nonfat dry milk incorporated into another food would count as an “added sugar,” while the lactose in a glass of milk would not.

“Surely, that can’t be what FDA intends,” said Beth Briczinski, NMPF’s vice present for dairy foods and nutrition. “We assume this is simply an oversight, since nonfat dry milk is often an ingredient in dairy products like yogurt and ice cream, as well as other foods, including baked and processed foods that benefit from added milk solids.”

“Either way,” Briczinski added, “this needs to be corrected.”

NMPF offered three specific reasons to exclude lactose-containing dairy ingredients from the definition of added sugars:

·         Unlike typical added sugars, dairy ingredients containing lactose are not used primarily to sweeten foods. In fact, compared with other sugars, lactose is not very sweet (it would take six times the amount of lactose to equal the sweetness level of table sugar). Instead, dairy ingredients like milk powder or whey powder are added to foods for other reasons, like texture and appearance.

·         The federal definitions of many standard dairy products allow them to include lactose-containing dairy ingredients, like nonfat milk powder, while still allowing the product to be called “unsweetened.” Examples include unsweetened yogurt and no-sugar-added ice cream.

·         Under FDA’s proposed definition, confusion would likely be created, since otherwise-identical dairy products would list or not list added sugars, depending on what ingredient was used. For example, a yogurt made with nonfat dry milk would be required to list added sugars, while the same yogurt made solely from skim milk would not list any added sugar.

NMPF also used its comments on the proposed revisions to the nutrition facts label to remind the FDA that it is allowing manufacturers of imitation dairy products, including soy “milk” and rice “yogurt,” to trick consumers into thinking their products are nutritionally equivalent to real-milk products.

“The name on a food conveys significant nutritional information,” said Briczinski. “Consumers think non-dairy alternatives with the term ‘milk’ or ‘yogurt’ in their name are nutritionally the same as real dairy products. But they are not. In addition, allowing these imitations to call themselves “milk” or “yogurt” is a clear violation of FDA’s own food standards and labeling regulations.

“It’s unfortunate that FDA has ignored this blatant misbranding of food products for decades, and is now touting its efforts to provide meaningful nutrition information to consumers,” Briczinski said.

Other points made in NMPF’s comments on FDA’s proposed revisions to the Nutrition Facts label:

·         Since industry in recent years has drastically reduced the trans fat in food – with a corresponding reduction in the trans fat in the American diet – it may no longer be necessary to list trans fat in the nutrition facts label. Regardless, ruminant trans fatty acids, which occur naturally in meat and dairy products, are not the same as added trans fats and should be exempt from the labeling requirement.

·         Dual-column labeling, designed to allow consumers to see nutritional information per-package as well as per-serving, doesn’t work for some dairy products, which should be exempted from the requirement – including quarts of milk, pints of cottage cheese, and dairy foods that are used primarily as ingredients, like butter and buttermilk.

In separate comments on serving-size issues, NMPF supported reducing a typical serving of yogurt from eight ounces to six ounces and opposed increasing a serving of frozen desserts from half a cup to a full cup. “The yogurt change makes sense,” Briczinski said, “since it brings the government’s measurement in line with packaging found in the marketplace.”

At the same time, Briczinski said, while FDA is proposing to increase a frozen dessert serving, consumption of both ice cream and frozen desserts generally has been declining steadily for two decades. “Consumption data,” she said, “strongly suggests that an increase in the frozen dessert serving size is not warranted.”

“Overall,” said Briczinski, “FDA’s proposed Nutrition Facts and serving size changes will have a positive impact. They will provide accurate nutrition information to consumers. But a few aspects of the proposals will result in unintended consequences for some dairy foods and FDA needs to review those aspects and correct them.”