Thursday October 9 Ag News

Managing Soybean Harvest Timing and Moisture Level Can Improve Yields
Steve Tonn, UNL Extension Educator, Washington County

Timely soybean harvest is important to maximize profits.  That is especially true today as market prices are close to breakeven prices.  Harvesting soybeans can be combination of art, luck and skill.  How you develop the art and skill might earn you big dividends at the elevator. 

It is more common for soybeans to be harvested and delivered to the elevator at 10% or below moisture than it is to come in at the “desired” 13% moisture.  Several years ago UNL Extension Educators in South-Central Nebraska checked 115 loads of soybeans delivered to elevators and found that almost 9 out of ten loads were under 13% moisture.

When a crop of soybeans is delivered to the buyer, any difference between actual and desired moisture content in the grain will result in lost revenue to the grain producer.  Beans testing over 13% moisture are assigned a penalty that is directly on the scale ticket.  Beans testing below 13% moisture are accepted by the buyer at face value with the assumption that 60 pounds of soybeans constitutes a bushel.  When soybeans are below 13% moisture, the farmer is selling less than 60 pounds of soybeans per bushel.

What difference does harvesting and selling soybeans at 8% or 9% moisture mean to your bottom line? 
If you sell soybeans at 8% moisture, you are losing about 5.43% of your yield and at 9%, it’s a 4.4% yield loss.  For a field that is yielding 45 bushels per acre at 13% moisture, harvesting at 9% results in selling 2 fewer bushels per acre.  With soybeans priced at $8.50 per bushel that is a loss of $17 per acre. 

Rapid dry down and difficulty harvesting green stems and pods are the most common reasons for harvesting at lower than standard moisture levels.  So what can you do?  I know that it is impossible to harvest all your soybeans at exactly 13% moisture but that should be your goal.  The following practices can help producers maintain quality and expected moisture content.  These practices do have a cost in time and labor but that cost should be weighed against the potential benefit of selling soybeans at 13%, generating more income and reducing harvest losses.
1.     When harvesting tough or green stems, make combine adjustments and operate at slower speeds.
2.    Begin harvesting at 14% or 15% moisture. What appears to be wet from the road may be dry enough to harvest.  Try harvesting when some of the leaves are still dry on the plant; the beans may be drier than you think.  Soybeans are fully mature when 95% of the pods are at their mature tan color.
3.    Harvest under optimum conditions.   Moisture content can increase by several points with an overnight dew or it can decrease by several points during a day with low humidity and windy conditions.  Avoid harvesting when beans are the driest, such as on a hot afternoon, to maintain moisture and reduce shattering losses.
4.    Avoid harvest losses from shattering.  Four to five beans on the ground per square foot can add up to one bushel per acre loss.  If you are putting beans in a bin equipped for drying grain, start harvest at 16% to18% moisture and aerate down to 13%.  Harvest at a slow pace and make adjustments to the combine to match conditions several times a day as conditions change.

Finally, I know it’s too late for this season, but next year select your varieties and schedule your planting to spread out plant maturity and harvest.  Have a safe harvest and hopefully you will harvest an excellent crop of 13% moisture soybeans.



Drought-Stricken Ranchers and Farmers Have More Time to Replace Livestock

Ranchers and farmers who previously were forced to sell livestock due to drought have an extended period of time in which to replace the livestock and defer tax on any gains from the forced sales, the Internal Revenue Service announced recently.

Ranchers and farmers who due to drought sell more livestock than they normally would may defer tax on the extra gains from those sales. To qualify, the livestock generally must be replaced within a four-year period. The IRS is authorized to extend this period if the drought continues.

The one-year extension of the replacement period announced on Sept. 30 generally applies to capital gains realized by eligible ranchers and farmers on sales of livestock held for draft, dairy or breeding purposes due to drought. Sales of other livestock, such as those raised for slaughter or held for sporting purposes, and poultry are not eligible.

The extension is especially important for year-end tax planning and herd planning decisions, said Nebraska Cattlemen President Jeff Rudolph. He added, “We appreciate Sen. Deb Fischer for making sure we were aware of these IRS provisions.”

The IRS is providing this relief to any ranch or farm located in a county listed as suffering exceptional, extreme or severe drought conditions by the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), during any weekly period between Sept. 1, 2013, and Aug. 31, 2014. Any county contiguous to a county listed by the NDMC also qualifies for this relief.

As a result, ranchers and farmers in these areas whose drought sale replacement period was scheduled to expire at the end of this tax year, Dec. 31, 2014, in most cases, will now have until the end of their next tax year. Because the normal drought sale replacement period is four years, this extension immediately impacts drought sales that occurred during 2010. But because of previous drought-related extensions affecting some of these localities, the replacement periods for some drought sales before 2010 are also affected. Additional extensions will be granted if severe drought conditions persist.

Details on this relief, including a list of NDMC-designated counties, are available in Notice 2014-60, posted on IRS.gov. Details on reporting drought sales and other farm-related tax issues can be found in Publication 225, Farmer’s Tax Guide, also available on the IRS web site.

Rudolph added, it is important that producers contact their tax professional.  There are times when due to a person’s individual circumstances that taking the tax deferral can cause problems down the road.



DEADLINES FOR NDA’S NextGen PROGRAM APPROACHING

Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Greg Ibach is reminding beginning farmers of upcoming application deadlines for NDA’s NextGen program.

According to Ibach, NextGen has two parts, the personal property tax exemption for beginning farmers, and the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program that offers tax credits to existing farmers or ranchers who own agricultural assets and partner with a beginning farmer or rancher.

Beginning farmers and ranchers who are interested in applying for the 2014 personal property tax exemption must have their applications postmarked by November 1, 2014.  This program provides the beginning farmer with a potential tax exemption on personal property used in production agriculture or horticulture, valued up to $100,000.

Applications for the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program require application work from both the beginning farmer/rancher and those from whom they are leasing an asset.  To apply for this program for Nebraska income tax credits for 2014, the application must be postmarked by December 31, 2014.

All applications received will be submitted to the NextGen Board of Directors for review.

“Since the NextGen program was passed into law in 1999, the program has assisted 308 beginning farmers and ranchers and has provided $6.4 million in Nebraska income tax credits to asset owners,” said NextGen program manager Karla Bahm.  “We are pleased to be able to assist Nebraska’s next generation of farmers and ranchers through this program.”

Those interested in learning more about the NextGen program and the eligibility requirements are encouraged to visit www.nextgen.nebraska.gov or call Bahm at 800-446-4071.



ISU Extension Scheduling Farm Bill - Program Overview Meetings

Iowa farmers and landowners will learn about the new programs authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (commonly referred to as the Farm Bill) at informational meetings conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and local USDA Farm Service Agency staff members. Meetings will be held across the state to explain options available under the new Farm Bill.

Farm Bill – Program Overview meetings will focus on the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) that will be administered by USDA Farm Service Agency, and the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) administered by USDA Risk Management Agency through federal crop insurance providers.

“Extension farm management specialists are prepared to discuss decisions farmers and landowners need to make in the coming months regarding Price Loss Coverage, and Agricultural Risk Coverage Individual and County options,” said Chad Hart, ISU Extension and Outreach economist and program coordinator. "Local FSA staff members who administer the programs will be available to answer questions."

The timeline for when decisions need to be made along with information about online Farm Bill decision tools also will be shared at the meetings. Topics that will be covered during the meetings include:
-    Base reallocation
-    Yield updating
-    Price Loss Coverage (PLC)
-    Ag Risk Coverage (ARC)
-    Implications of PLC and ARC on participation in the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO)
-    Dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP)
-    Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)

Farm Bill meetings for upcoming months continue to be added to the ISU Extension and Outreach Statewide Calendar. For the most current listing of meeting locations and dates visit the Ag Decision Maker Farm Bill website at www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/info/farmbill.html or contact your county extension office.



Americans showing increased preference for pork

Results of a consumer tracking study conducted in June and released by the Pork Checkoff found that more American consumers are reporting an enduring love for pork. Key research findings show more U.S. consumers rate their enjoyment of pork higher than in previous studies. Also, consumer-buying habits measured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture also show more consumers are buying pork.

"People are becoming more passionate about their consumption of pork," said Iowa Pork Producers Association President-elect David Struthers, a hog farmer from Collins. "These studies confirm that consumers are eating more pork in recipes and as a menu item because of its value, flavor and versatility."

Consumers taking part in the Pork Checkoff study were asked to rate pork cuts on a 10-point scale, resulting in a demonstrated increase in the volume of consumers who rank pork as an eight or higher.

The tracking study indicates the size of the Pork Checkoff's consumer target market has grown to 45 percent of U.S. households, up from 36 percent in June 2013. In 2010, the consumer target was just 27 percent of U.S. households. Growth in the target size is attributed to people rating pork cuts higher, as well as their confidence in cooking meat.

The study also found that a majority of all fresh pork eaten - 86 percent at home and 77 percent away from home - is consumed by consumers in the Pork Checkoff's target market. The total percent of pork eaten by the consumers grew significantly since the Pork Be Inspired® campaign was introduced in 2011.

"The industry is beginning to see the impact of new marketing campaigns. We're making a distinct difference in the marketplace and in how American consumers view and buy pork," Struthers said. "Across the board, consumers are buying more pork from stores and foodservice outlets."

The tracking study results are further reinforced by the Pork Checkoff's key measure of domestic marketing, which is real per capita consumer pork expenditures. Using USDA data, consumer pork expenditures measure the volume (in pounds) and value (in dollars) of pork sold in the United States. Data through May 2014 showed year-to-date per capita pork expenditures grew by 7.5 percent.

The consumer tracking study also asked pork eaters, "Other than price, what most influences your meat-purchasing decisions?" The top three drivers of meat purchases are quality (63 percent), followed by appearance (50 percent) and convenience (32 percent).

The nationally fielded tracking study is conducted by the Pork Checkoff in June and November each calendar year. Respondents are representative of the U.S. population for gender, age, ethnicity and income.



USAID Officials to Travel to Iowa for Premier Conference on Global Agriculture

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant to the Administrator for Food Security Tjada McKenna will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, October 14-16, to participate in the Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium as part of the 2014 World Food Prize events.

McKenna, who also serves as USAID’s Feed the Future Deputy Coordinator for Development, will speak at a high-level panel on Wednesday, October 15, at 3:15 CST, on the challenges of feeding more than 9 billion people by 2050. McKenna will highlight how the U.S. Government is mobilizing public and private innovation, civil society organizations, and local leaders to end global hunger and extreme poverty through Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative. Other USAID officials, including newly named Chief Scientist Robert Bertram, will also attend.

In 2013, Feed the Future reached more than 7 million farmers and other food producers with new technologies and management practices on more than 4 million hectares of land, while reaching more than 12.5 million children with nutrition interventions that improve health and development. Last month, a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders introduced Feed the Future legislation in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives in a powerful statement of support for ending global hunger and undernutrition.



Harvested Biotech Crops Top 4 Billion Acres

When the sixteen farmers representing agriculture around the globe gather in Des Moines next week for the Global Farmer Roundtable, they can celebrate a milestone. Since 1996 until now, over 4 billion acres of biotech crops will have been harvested. That’s billion with a B.

Four billion acres is 1.5 times the size of Europe. It’s nearly as big as South America.

Ross Korves, economic and trade policy analyst with Truth About Trade and Technology: “The calculation starts with 1996 commercial production of biotech crops. Each February we benchmark back to the ISAAA (International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications) December 31 number of acres planted for the year. Much of the world does not have a harvested number like the U.S., but we’re making an educated guess to paint a simple picture. The counters (for planted acres and harvested acres) run 365 days per year. They come alive in the spring and fall and peak out at 25-30 million acres per week in the northern hemisphere and 15-20 million in the southern hemisphere.”

What’s the bottom line lesson here?

Bill Horan, chairman of Truth About Trade and Technology: “The B word for billion acres of biotech crops without any reported issues in the food chain means just one thing. There are a lot of voices out there critical of biotechnology, spinning their precautionary tales. Four billion acres of biotech crops have filled a lot of stomachs, and biotech is one of the answers for meeting agriculture’s goal to feed 9 billion people by the year 2050. I think it’s time we lay all of these scary food myths to rest, like the passing of the boogeyman, once Halloween is over. Once we’re able to do that, we could focus on the work ahead of us.”

Truth About Trade and Technology was founded in 2000. It’s a nonprofit advocacy group led by farmers who support free trade and a farmer’s freedom to choose the tools, technologies and strategies they need to maximize productivity and profitability in a sustainable manner.  



Census Export Data Reports Record Soybean Marketing Year Volume, Exports

U.S. soybeans reached a new all-time record, according to the Census Department marketing year final volume and value export numbers. For the 2013/14 marketing year, U.S. soybean exports totaled 44,815,120 MT (1.6465 billion bushels) with a value of $24,121,752,000 with an average price of $538.25/MT ($14.65/bushel). The soybean marketing year runs from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31.




U.S. Corn Sales to Egypt Still Surging

In the past marketing year that ended Aug. 31, U.S. corn exports to Egypt rebounded to 2.6 million metric tons (102.4 million bushels), a pace that does not appear to be slowing with 270,600 tons (10.7 million bushels) of U.S. corn already imported into the country in the new marketing year, as of Oct. 2. This is made all the more remarkable by the fact that in the 2012/2013 marketing year, Egypt imported no U.S. corn.

“It is easy to say the United States has returned as one of their major suppliers of corn to Egypt,” said U.S. Grains Council Regional Director of the Middle East and Africa Cary Sifferath. “While Brazil, Argentina, Ukraine and other Black Sea origin corn still went to Egypt during the 2013/2014 marketing year, having U.S. market share go from zero to roughly 45 percent in one year is a major move.”

U.S. corn has been arriving in Egypt regularly each month in the 2014 calendar year, with no Ukrainian corn or other Black Sea origin corn coming in during the summer months. However, Black Sea origin corn did come in September, with more expected this month and next as new crop Ukrainian corn becomes ready for export.   

“Egypt imported 6.177 million tons (243 million bushels) of corn from all destinations during the first nine months of 2014 and is now experiencing a surplus of corn in the country,” Sifferath said. “However, Egypt should still easily import 6.9 to 7.2 million tons (272 to 283 million bushels) of corn in 2014.”

That would be an increase from 6 million tons (236 million bushels) in 2013 and 5.8 million tons (228 million bushels) in 2012.

“This means in Egypt, demand for corn is not falling, but rather growing during the past two years after a down year in 2012,” Sifferath said.  

The Council will work to carry this momentum into the 2014/2015 marketing year as a record U.S. corn crop is harvested.




ASA Joins Committee Opposing Maui County Farming Ban

The American Soybean Association recently joined Citizens Against Maui County Farming Ban, a committee opposing the proposed November ballot initiative that would ban certain types of farming, including use of genetically modified crops in Maui, Molokai and Lanai, Hawaii.

According to the committee, the initiative is billed as a “temporary moratorium,” but would permanently criminalize farming genetically engineered crops, leading to the complete shutdown of many farms that have operated in Maui County for decades, without any scientific justification.

“It could eliminate nearly 600 well-paying jobs and the incomes that many families depend on,” the group states on its member form. “This would send a devastating ripple effect through the local economy, harming not just the workers themselves, but the businesses that support them.”

On the Citizens Against Maui County Farming Ban website, the group states farmers on Maui, Molokai and Lanai want to be able to take advantage of future advances in agricultural technologies that can protect their crops from pests and disease, or promote conservation, but this initiative could impose criminal and civil penalties for doing so.

Maui County is home to extensive soybean, corn and other crop breeding and seed multiplication activities important to U.S. soybean growers. ASA stands with the Maui County Farm Bureau, the Molokai Farm Bureau, local farm employees and their families and other citizens of Maui, Molokai and Lanai who oppose this harmful initiative.



STB REQUIRES CLASS I RAILROADS TO PUBLICLY FILE WEEKLY DATA REPORTS ON SERVICE PERFORMANCE
The Surface Transportation Board announced Wednesday that it is requiring all Class I railroads to publicly file weekly data reports regarding service performance to promote industry-wide transparency, accountability, and improved service. This order follows the Board's recent public hearings regarding rail service issues, at which many rail shippers expressed concerns about the lack of publicly available rail service metrics and requested access to certain performance data from the railroads to help them better understand the scope, magnitude, and impact of the current service problems. The data collected pursuant to this order will give the Board and interested parties a better real-time understanding of the current rail service issues.



Brazil Forecasts Record Soy Crop

Brazilian farmers will grow another record harvest of soybeans in the 2014-2015 growing season that is currently in the early planting stage, the country's crop agency Conab said Thursday.

Brazil's farms produced 86.1 million metric tons of soy in the 2013-2014 crop season and will grow 88.8 mmt to 92.4 mmt in 2014-2015, Conab said. The growth will come mostly from an increase in the area planted with the crop of about 3.5%, according to the agency.

The country's corn farmers grew 79.9 million metric tons of that crop in 2013-2014, Conab estimated. They will produce 76.6 mmt to 78.9 million tons of corn in the 2014-2015 season, the agency said.



Farmers and Ag Professionals Collaborate on Sharing Farmland

Have you seen the documentary “FARMLAND”? Chances are, if you work in agriculture, it was on your radar screen, even with its limited engagement. The ultimate goal was for many consumers to see it as well. That’s where you can get involved. In agriculture, we see a lot of pushback from consumers who are more and more removed from the farm. If you’ve not put yourself out there as an agricultural advocate, it might seem intimidating. What do you say about growth hormones or GMOs or pesticides? How do you get started? 

To address this challenge, USFRA and Beck Ag collaborated to create an online forum for folks in agriculture to share their experiences, ideas and challenges in a secure community without noise and chatter from non-ag audiences. BeckAgConnects.com is an online community strictly for those who work in the agricultural industry. Almost 16,000 farmers, ranchers, retailers, consultants and other ag professionals currently participate in this unique environment to share information and ideas. 

BeckAgConnects will launch the I AM FARMLAND Forum in early October, corresponding to the digital release of “FARMLAND,” the film.  The forum will feature one-on-one interviews and Q&A discussions with the farmers and ranchers featured in the film.  In addition, you can pick up tips and ideas for how to share agriculture’s story with consumers and ways to encourage those not directly involved in agriculture to view the film.  

We encourage you to join the conversation and help spread the message about “FARMLAND”, the film, which accurately depicts life as an American farmer and rancher. Stick around to learn about advocating for agriculture and share your own experiences. And because it’s on BeckAgConnects, rest assured that your discussions are among others who care about ag as much as you do. Please click here to join the community.  



DuPont Pioneer, Cargill Announce 2015 Plenish® High Oleic Soy IP Contract Program

DuPont Pioneer and Cargill announced today that they will work with farmers near Cargill’s facility in Sidney, Ohio, to grow Pioneer® brand soybeans with the Plenish® high oleic trait in 2015.

Cargill will contract with soybean farmers in the Sidney, Ohio, area to grow Plenish® high oleic soybeans that will be delivered to a participating elevator or directly to Cargill for processing. Growers will be eligible for a processor-paid incentive for producing and delivering high oleic soybeans.  Industry interest in Plenish® high oleic soybean oil from food and industrial product companies is growing and Cargill’s involvement in the 2015 contract program will provide even greater market momentum.

“Ohio soybean growers have always been innovators in adopting new technology to add value to their soybean production,” said Randy Minton, DuPont Pioneer business director. “This 2015 Plenish® high oleic soybean contracting program with Cargill will provide an opportunity for growers to earn more income per bushel and strengthen long-term market demand for the soybean industry.”
 
“The demands of the global marketplace require constant innovation,” said Jeff Kazin, vice president of oils trading for Cargill. “The Plenish® high oleic soybean program aligns with Cargill’s stated goal of helping farmers prosper and providing innovative solutions for our food customers. We look forward to working with DuPont Pioneer to better serve the total supply chain, from farmers to consumers, to create greater value for all.”

The development and commercialization of Plenish® high oleic soybean oil is a significant milestone for DuPont Pioneer in its efforts to bring product innovation to the soybean value chain.  It’s an important example of how biotechnology is being used to develop products with direct food industry and consumer benefit.  The oil’s improved fatty acid profile provides a soy-based trans fat alternative for food companies and foodservice operators. Its enhanced stability provides longer frying life in restaurant applications and longer shelf life in packaged food products.

From a health and nutrition perspective, Plenish® high oleic soybean oil has 0g trans fat per serving and 20 percent less saturated fat than commodity soybean oil, making it a more attractive ingredient for health-conscious consumers of food products.

The high oleic soybean varieties are developed by DuPont Pioneer using its elite genetics and cutting-edge technologies. Field testing has confirmed yields on par with elite commercial products.

Plenish® high oleic soybeans are approaching completion of global de-regulation with over 90 percent of U.S. soybean export markets now approved.  For more information on Plenish® high oleic soybeans visit www.plenish.com.



Initiative Aims to Reduce Fertilizer Runoff

The Environmental Defense Fund has launched a new, collaborative initiative to eliminate fertilizer pollution as a major environmental concern in the United States. The effort will engage farmers and businesses throughout the supply chain to transform the way fertilizer-dependent grain crops are grown and sourced.

"If we're going to meet food demands for a growing population, we've got to decouple production from pollution as soon as possible," said EDF vice president David Festa. "The most promising way to accomplish this essential task is by collaborating with decision makers at every point in the U.S. grain supply chain - from retailers and food companies to agribusiness and farmers."

Fertilizer is the engine of agriculture, but its inefficient use is one of the biggest threats to a stable climate and clean water. Nitrogen not soaked up by crops emits a heat-trapping gas 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Phosphorus and nitrogen run-off from fertilizer causes toxic algal blooms that contaminate drinking water supplies and create dead zones. Grains, especially corn, are the most fertilizer-intensive of all U.S. crops, using nearly 100 million tons a year.

"Our long-term goal is to make the entire U.S. grain supply sustainable - good for farmers, good for the climate and good for our waterways," said Suzy Friedman, director of EDF's Sustainable Sourcing Initiative.

EDF is collaborating with Iowa-based United Suppliers to develop and implement a fertilizer efficiency program to meet the supply chain demand. United Suppliers is a member-owned wholesaler that provides agricultural products and services to about 700 grower cooperatives and retailers covering 45 million acres of farmland in the United States. The company has committed to optimizing fertilizer use on 10 million acres, which would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 5 million metric tons and contribute to cleaner water.