Wednesday September 10 Ag News

Husker Harvest Days on Schedule for Thursday

Heavy rains pelted the Husker Harvest show site Tuesday evening requiring the events team to cancel the event for one day.

Gates will reopen for Thursday, Sept. 11, at 8 a.m. with a few conditions.

Tillage, combine, shredding, spraying demonstrations have been canceled for Thursday, while haying demonstrations are to be determined. If weather conditions allow for the hay to be tedded, baling demonstrations will be held at 3 p.m. on Field 4. Cattle handling and wild horse gentling demonstrations will run as scheduled.

Due to the extremely muddy conditions, only four-wheel-drive vehicles will be allowed at the show site. Two-wheel-drive vehicles are not recommended. Please respect and follow the direction of the Nebraska State Patrol and parking crew, and park where directed.

To facilitate an uninterrupted and safe flow of traffic to the event site, the Nebraska State Patrol is recommending only four-wheel-drive vehicles (without trailers), be utilized to drive to the site. The Nebraska State Patrol suggests exhibitors and visitors utilize free shuttle services if they are planning on attending Husker Harvest Days.
 
Where to get free bus service
Orscheln and both Walmarts in Grand Island will provide free parking and shuttle bus service to and from Husker Harvest Days again this year.

Orscheln Farm and Home, at its 515 South Web Road parking lot, will provide bus service every hour, from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will have additional buses scheduled for their show shuttle service.

Additional buses have been added to the Walmart shuttles. They will start at 6:30 a.m. and run continuously. Buses leave from the parking lot (lawn and garden entrance) at each Walmart Supercenter, 2250 N. Diers Ave. and 3501 S. Locust St. Please utilize the free park and ride service while attending the show.

"The problem isn't with the roadways, but with the event site parking lots," says Captain Chris Kolb, Commander Troop C- Grand Island. "Anything other than a four-wheel drive vehicle runs the risk of becoming stuck as the parking lots are extremely muddy."
 
Where to park
Exhibitors may need to park in the visitor lot, instead of the exhibitor parking lot. Just follow the direction of the state patrol and parking crew.

Exhibitors preparing for load out need to wait until 4:30 to bring trailers. There will not be trailer parking available on the site.

Captain Kolb adds, "By limiting the number of vehicles, we hope to prevent significant traffic backups on Husker Highway, should vehicles become disabled in muddy parking areas."

"It is unfortunate that the weather hasn't cooperated," said Kolb. "We are hoping to help get the word out…to avoid any unnecessary congestion on roads leading to and from the event site."

“We are looking forward to hosting our Thursday show visitors,” said Matt Jungmann, Penton Farm Progress events manager. “Our team has worked hard to prepare the site for visitors and exhibitors. We encourage visitors to use the convenient Orscheln and Walmart shuttle bus services."

Exhibitors and visitors are encouraged to check the Husker Harvest Days website www.HuskerHarvestDays.com for additional information about the show.



FALL PREPARATION TO SODSEED PASTURES AND HAY MEADOWS
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Pastures and hay meadows provide higher quality feed, are more productive, and cheaper to grow if they have good forage legumes growing in them.

Yes – nitrogen fertilizer prices have come down.  But they still are so high it’s going to be difficult to justify fertilizing pastures next spring.  So instead, let’s grow our own N using legumes.

Do you have a hay meadow or pasture that is relatively free of weeds and makes up no more than about 15 percent of your total pasture acres?  If so, here is what I want you to do.  From now until that grass will grow no more this year, I want you to graze the living daylights out of that grass.  Grub it down, then graze it some more.

Now why would I want you to do that?  Surely it will hurt the grass.  Well surprise, that's exactly what I want.  Because next spring, you will interseed legumes like red clover, alfalfa, and birdsfoot trefoil into that grass to make it more nutritious.

The biggest challenge to establishing legumes into grass sod is competition by existing grass on new, slow growing legume seedlings.  Anything you do to reduce competition and slow down grass growth will help.  Overgrazing this fall prior to next spring’s sodseeding will weaken the grass and slow its spring growth, thus giving new legume seedlings a better chance to get started.

And while you’re at it, also collect some soil samples.  Then analyze them and apply any needed fertilizer.  Legumes especially need good phosphorus and soil pH.

So, plan to add some legumes to your pasture next spring.  Graze your grass this fall until virtually nothing is left.  Then, keep grazing a couple weeks more just to make sure.

Legumes you add next spring will establish better because of it.



Farm Bill Info Meeting Sept. 15 for Crawford, Ida Counties

ISU Extension and USDA Farm Service Agency are hosting a program on the 2014 Farm Bill. This program will be held Sept. 15 at the Denison National Guard Armory at 12 N. 35th St. Denison. The program is from 9:30 - 11 a.m. and all producers in Crawford and Ida counties are encouraged to attend.  Shane Ellis, ISU Extension and Outreach Farm Management Specialist will be discussing:
-- 2014 Farm Bill overview
-- "New" crop insurance programs & sign up
-- Considerations for choosing insurance
-- Base acre reallocation
-- Updating counter cyclical yields

To aid in the event planning, please pre-register by contacting the Crawford County Extension Office at (712)263-4697 or by emailing khipnar@iastate.edu.



Iowa Soybeans are driving success

Soybean farmers and the Iowa Hawkeyes football team have a lot in common this year — both rely on clean-burning biodiesel to get to the field

The Hawkeyes’ team bus is powered by a 5 percent blend of Iowa-grown biodiesel (B5). The fuel is better for the environment because it burns cleaner, reduces harmful emissions and has little to no odor, as compared to regular petroleum diesel fuel. This makes the air cleaner for all Iowans on and off the field.

“Iowa farmers excel at providing food, fuel and fiber,” said Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) President Tom Oswald, who farms near Cleghorn. “Biodiesel is a win for the state’s economy and environment. Teaming up with the Hawkeyes to improve air quality by using America’s first advanced biofuel is a victory for all Iowans.”

University of Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta said the Hawkeye family recognizes the continuous improvement of farmers and the quality products they grow and provide.

“We have a great respect for the role farmers play in feeding and fueling our state and the Hawkeye Nation,” he said. “We’re proud to partner with the Iowa Soybean Association. They’re a great addition to Hawkeye Game Day activities.”

Iowa’s biodiesel industry includes 13 processing plants that support more than 5,000 jobs and contribute $400 million to Iowa’s gross domestic product annually, making Iowa the leading biodiesel state. Soybean, corn and livestock farmers all benefit from biodiesel production.

“The farm community knows how important biodiesel is to the state,” said Oswald. “Now, we’re getting a chance to show a broader audience.”

The ISA and Iowa soybean farmers are honored to sponsor the Hawkeyes’ team bus and the biodiesel it runs on.



BIO Highlights the Value of Intellectual Property for Animal Biotechnology at the 2014 Livestock Biotech Summit

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announced that it will showcase a series of unique sessions at this year’s Livestock Biotech Summit, including a panel highlighting the value of intellectual property in animal biotechnology.  Polsinelli PC will sponsor two sessions, one on the importance of protecting patent rights to helped spur innovation and the second on utilizing biotechnology to better human and animal health.  BIO’s Livestock Biotech Summit will be held September 16-18, 2014, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls, SD.

“Intellectual Property is critical to protecting innovation and attracting investment for animal biotechnology.  Understanding how to properly protect innovation is highly important to the future success of this industry,” said Cathy Enright, Executive Vice President, Food and Agriculture at BIO.  “We are pleased that Polsinelli PC is able to provide attendees at this year’s Livestock Biotech Summit a unique view into the important role that patents play in the animal biotechnology industry.”

On Thursday, September 18, the Intellectual Property: Value to Animal Biotechnology session is scheduled to occur 8:45 am – 10:15 am and will discuss the role of intellectual property in a commercial context and the current events impacting the rights of patent holders.  Following this session, BIO is set to host Polsinelli’s second panel discussion, Human and Animal Health Solutions, from 10:30am – 12:00pm.  Here, presenters will address how animal biotechnology can act as powerful tool to meet human and animal health needs.

“Intellectual Property is critical to the Livestock industry, both in the United States and internationally,” said Tim Worrall, patent attorney and shareholder at the law firm Polsinelli PC.   “Changes in intellectual property law are impacting the ability to protect technology in ways which will affect the bottom line of existing and future product lines.  Our panel seeks to highlight how intellectual property can affect the bottom line of companies, and its role in a corporate and university environment.”

BIO’s Livestock Biotech Summit three day program will include a number of leading experts in the field of animal biotechnology to share their experiences and insights into this promising field, including keynote addresses by Dr. Richard Raymond, former undersecretary of agriculture for food safety at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Dr. James Murray, Professor Animal Science and Population Health at the University of California at Davis.

Additionally, South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard will attend the Summit on Wednesday, September 17 and will speak to attendees about how South Dakota is leading the way with the kind of technology that allows us to live longer, healthier lives.

Visit BIO’s Livestock Biotech Summit website for program updates and news on summit registration, events and speakers. All Livestock Biotech Summit sessions are open to credentialed media. Complimentary media registration is available to editors and reporters with valid press credentials working full time for print, broadcast or web publications. Pre-registration for reporters is now open.... http://www.bio.org/events/conferences/livestock-biotech-summit. 



US Ethanol Supply Climbs

Domestic supply of ethanol increased to a five-week high as plant production increased to a three-week high while demand from oil refiners and blenders sunk to four-month low during the week-ended Sept. 5, the Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday morning.

Ethanol inventory in the United States increased 300,000 barrels (bbl) to 18.0 million bbl last week, well above the 16.3 million bbl supply level during the comparable year-ago period while down from the 19.0 million bbl reported for the same week in 2012.

The higher supply coincided with a 6,000 barrel per day (bpd) increase in production at U.S. ethanol plants for the week reviewed to 927,000 bpd, a three-week high, which compares with output at 848,000 bpd year prior. Four-week average production through Sept. 5 averaged 924,000 bpd, 91,000 bpd, or 10.9%, above the year-ago production rate.

The increased production came as oil refiners and blenders cut inputs of ethanol 30,000 bpd to 850,000 bpd, the lowest demand rate since early May. Ethanol inputs are above the 834,000 bpd rate during the comparable year-ago period. During the four weeks ended Sept. 5, ethanol inputs averaged 871,000 bpd, up 14,000 bpd, or 1.6%, from the same four weeks in 2013.

Gasoline supplied to market tumbled 869,000 bpd from the highest implied demand rate of 2014 to 8.611 million bpd, the lowest number of gallons supplied to the primary market since mid-April. The Labor Day holiday is seen to have amplified implied demand prior to the weekend holiday as suppliers staged product closer to retail outlets, with the holiday seen limiting these movements during the week reported on Wednesday.



Great American Milk Drive Provides Product to America's Food Banks

From coast to coast, thousands of families in need have benefited from milk donations to The Great American Milk Drive, the first-ever nationwide program to deliver highly desired and nutrient-rich gallons of milk to hungry families who need it.

Since April, Feeding America has partnered with the nation's milk companies and dairy farmers to create The Great American Milk Drive. The initiative makes it easy to donate gallons of milk to those in your community via a simple click of a mouse (www.milklife.com/give) or text message (text "Milk" to 27722). But there's much more work to be done to help deliver milk to the more than 46.5 million Americans served by Feeding America annually.

"Nutrient-rich milk remains one of the most requested and least available items at our food banks. The Great American Milk Drive is helping to change that, delivering thousands of gallons of milk to families who would otherwise go without," said Bob Aiken, CEO of Feeding America. "The more Americans support the program -- form California to Maine, the more milk we can deliver to families who need it most."

Findings from Feeding America's newly released Hunger in America Study 2014, the largest study of its kind analyzing the impact of hunger on Americans today, are truly alarming. For the millions of Americans struggling with food insecurity, the study noted that opting for unhealthy foods or even watering down food and drinks are common coping strategies -- strategies that directly impact health and nutrition.

"All children need nutritious food and drinks to have the best start in life," said Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP, Medical Editor of Healthy Children.org, the parenting website of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). "Good nutrition is necessary for health, growth, and learning, and milk provides many of these essential nutrients. The AAP is pleased to help raise awareness about ways all families can help each other in their communities, including how to help those who may need better access to beneficial food and drinks."

With eight grams of high-quality protein per serving and three of the top nutrients most likely to be missing in the American diet -- calcium, vitamin D and potassium -- milk is an affordable, efficient way for America's feeding programs to get nutrients into the hands of people who need it.

Kicked off on Sept. 4 -- Hunger Action Day -- Feeding America's Hunger Action Month is a nationwide effort to build awareness and help end hunger in America.

The Great American Milk Drive is already delivering much-needed gallons milk to thousands of Americans across the country, and in honor of Hunger Action Month, will deliver an added 5,000 gallons to food banks in the state that generates the most donations in September. You can help get milk to families in need in your community:

Online: Donate milk to families in need for as little as $5.00 at www.milklife.com/give or via text message (text "Milk" to 27722). By entering your zip code, you can ensure that the milk is delivered to a local Feeding America food bank in your community.

In-store: Retailers, including more than 2,000 Kroger Stores, will feature The Great American Milk Drive at the check-out counter.

Social: As an official effort of Feeding America, the color of Hunger Action Month is "Feeding America orange." Turn your social media profile orange and share a picture of your orange style with @FeedingAmerica using the hashtag #HungerAction. Check out the milk social channels, www.facebook.com/milk and @MilkLife on Twitter, for additional information and Great American Milk Drive success stories.

Local donation events: Support your local milk brand and find opportunities to donate to the cause at more than 15 events coast-to-coast.



America's Heartland Launches Tenth Season with New Features, Themed Episodes

America's Heartland, the only weekly series focused on farming and ranching in all 50 states, announced the return of its popular series for an unprecedented tenth season. America's Heartland will combine new themed episodes and the return of popular features and hosts as it premieres this week on PBS stations and RFD-TV.

"We're thrilled to offer a new season of 22 episodes that introduce viewers to new stories of the hard-working men and women who produce food, fuel, and fiber to the nation and the world," said series producer Jim Finnerty. "This year, we're focusing on a wide range of unique themes for each episode, so there will be something to educate and entertain everyone."

One of the highlights this season is "Bacon U.S.A," an all-bacon episode featuring pork producers, bacon-obsessed restaurants and chefs, and top bacon recipes. Another episode takes viewers on an old-fashioned California cattle drive. Other themed episodes this season include potatoes, sugar beets, cotton, aquaculture, urban farming, how agriculture is dealing with climate change, and the challenges facing young farmers.

America's Heartland is seen on more than 270 PBS stations in 104 television markets spanning 32 states, including 15 of the top 25 markets. It also airs three times weekly on RFD-TV, the nationwide cable and satellite channel available in more than 40 million U.S. households.

Launched in 2005, the series will produce its 200th episode this season.

Each episode is hosted by reporters Jason Shoultz, Sarah Gardner, or Rob Stewart. America's Heartland also features Sharon Profis, a popular CNET video host and well-known online chef. Profis returns to the kitchen in the program's Farm to Fork segment to prepare innovative and tasty recipes made with ingredients fresh-picked from the field or farm. All of the recipes will be posted on the America's Heartland website.

Another popular returning feature for America's Heartland's tenth season centers on the interaction that consumers have with their food choices at their local supermarket. Off the Shelf takes viewers into their neighborhood grocery store to talk about changes in food offerings that impact everything from food costs to choices for a family's evening meal.

Farm Credit has generously renewed its full funding support for Season 10 of America's Heartland, and is joined by CropLife America. CropLife is one of the many organizations supporting the Pollinator Project, a nationwide effort to restore native bee populations throughout the U.S.

America's Heartland also receives production support from many prominent agriculture organizations, including the National Corn Growers Association, the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, United Egg Producers, U.S. Grains Council, American Soybean Association, FFA, National Association of Wheat Growers, Young Farmers and Ranchers, and the National Cotton Council of America.

For more information, visit www.americasheartland.org.



Titan Machinery Inc. Announces Results for Fiscal Second Quarter Ended July 31, 2014

Titan Machinery Inc. (Nasdaq: TITN), a leading network of full-service agricultural and construction equipment stores, today reported financial results for the fiscal second quarter and first six months ended July 31, 2014.

Fiscal 2015 Second Quarter Results
For the second quarter of fiscal 2015, revenue was $451.0 million, compared to $488.2 million in the second quarter last year. Equipment sales were $320.1 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to $358.4 million in the second quarter last year. Parts sales were $70.5 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to $70.6 million in the second quarter last year. Revenue generated from service was $38.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to $39.9 million in the second quarter last year. Revenue from rental and other increased to $21.9 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2015 from $19.3 million in the second quarter last year.

Gross profit for the second quarter of fiscal 2015 was $79.7 million, compared to $83.5 million in the second quarter last year. The Company’s gross profit margin was 17.7% in the second quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to 17.1% in the second quarter last year. Gross profit from parts and service for the second quarter of fiscal 2015 was 57.4% of overall gross profit, compared to 57.6% in the second quarter last year.

Operating expenses were 15.1% of revenue or $67.8 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to 14.4% of revenue or $70.1 million for the second quarter of last year. The increase in operating expenses as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to the deleveraging of our fixed expenses as total revenue decreased from the prior year. In the second quarter of 2015, the Company recognized a $1.3 million charge from the balance sheet impact of the Ukrainian Hryvnia devaluation and store closing costs of $0.2 million.

Fiscal 2015 First Six Months Results
For the six months ended July 31, 2014, revenue was $916.5 million, compared to $929.9 million in the same period last year. Gross profit margin for the first six months of fiscal 2015 was 17.0%, compared to 16.9% in the same period last year. Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the first six months of fiscal 2015 was $7.0 million, or loss per diluted share of $0.34. In the first six months of fiscal 2015, the Company recognized charges of $7.8 million, including $4.4 million from the balance sheet impact of the Ukrainian Hryvnia devaluation and store closing costs of $3.4 million, the majority of which was recognized in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. Excluding these charges, adjusted net loss for the first six months of fiscal 2015 was $0.7 million, or a loss per diluted share of $0.03. This compares to net income of $3.4 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, in the same period last year.

Acquisition
Subsequent to the end of the second quarter, on August 29, 2014, the Company acquired certain assets of Midland Equipment, Inc., consisting of one agriculture equipment store in Wayne, Nebraska, which expands the Company’s agriculture presence in the state. In its most recently reported fiscal year, Midland Equipment, Inc. generated revenue of approximately $4.5 million.



Study Reveals Cattle Producers’ Most Important Vaccine Concerns

The Zoetis reproductive vaccine portfolio helps deliver what matters most to beef producers and veterinarians, including: infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) abortion prevention, demonstrated duration of immunity and safety, along with fetal protection. The new nationwide study investigates each of the most widely considered attributes when selecting a reproductive vaccine.1

Of the surveyed producers and veterinarians, 100% ranked IBR abortion protection, demonstrated safety and duration of immunity important considerations when selecting a vaccine, and 99% answered the same for fetal protection against bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) persistent infection (PI). The comprehensive reproductive vaccine portfolio from Zoetis, including BOVI-SHIELD GOLD® FP®, CATTLEMASTER® GOLD FP® and PREGGUARD® GOLD FP®, helps producers address these challenges.

“Only select reproductive vaccines offer demonstrated performance and flexibility to address varied herd management practices,” said Daniel Scruggs, DVM, Dipl. ACVP, Technical Services, Zoetis. “Operations don’t need to change to fit the Zoetis reproductive vaccine line; this line of vaccines works for producers in all different management situations.”

Safety, one of the top-ranked concerns of both veterinarians and producers, also is a top priority of Zoetis. To help ensure proper use of reproductive vaccines, it is a shared responsibility among veterinarians, producers and the Technical Services team from Zoetis to make sure everyone involved understands labels and administers products correctly.

“It’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure labels are understood and followed exactly,” Dr. Scruggs explained. “It’s the responsibility of the veterinarian to understand the label and how it fits into a producer’s production setup. It’s the producer’s responsibility to make sure they understand the label as well and to seek their veterinarian for clarification if they have questions. The Technical Services team also can help address customer questions.”

Of those survey participants, 94% consider a recommendation by their veterinarian important when making their vaccine selection. Veterinarians not only can help producers select the right vaccine for their operation but also can help producers improve management issues that can undermine reproductive vaccine effectiveness before a complete program can be implemented.

“If a producer is experiencing pregnancy losses, dozens of factors must be considered,” Dr. Scruggs said. “The veterinarian is indispensable for helping producers address underlying, preventable management problems to help realize the full benefits of a reproductive vaccine program. A veterinarian also can help decide which vaccine program is most appropriate for each producer based on the herd management philosophy and unique challenges specific to the operation.”