Wednesday October 1 Ag News

DON’T LET NITRATES COST CATTLE LIVES
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Will you feed cane, millet, or oat hay, or maybe corn stalk bales, to your cows this winter?  If so, don’t let high nitrate levels kill your cows or cause abortions.

Nitrates occur naturally in all forages.  At low levels, nitrates either are converted into microbial protein by bacteria in the rumen or they are excreted.  But when nitrate concentrations get too high, they can kill cows and maybe abort calves.

When stress affects pasture and hay production, nitrates often reach potentially toxic levels.  Some plants are more likely to be high in nitrates than others.  Annual grasses like cane, millet, oats, and even corn often have elevated nitrate levels.  So do certain weeds like pigweed, kochia, and lambsquarter.  If your hay has lots of these weeds or is an annual grass, be alert to the potential for high nitrates.

That doesn’t mean these feeds always are toxic, nor does it mean that high-nitrate hay can’t be fed safely.  But always test these feeds for nitrates in a lab to determine how to feed them safely.

Remember, there are many ways to feed high nitrate hay safely.  Diluting with grain or low nitrate forages is most common.  Frequent, small meals that slowly increase the amount of nitrate fed helps cattle adapt to high nitrate hay.  And make sure cattle have plenty of clean, low nitrate water at all times.

Nitrates cause deaths most often after animals have been prevented from eating naturally for a day or more, like after a snow storm.  Avoid feeding high or even marginally high nitrate hay at this time because cattle will eat an extra large meal when very hungry.  This could create an overload of nitrates to their system, leading to death.

More details about nitrates in forages are available in a NebGuide at your local extension office or online to help you feed safely.



Nebraska Farmers Union Receives Local Foods Grant from USDA

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service announced grants to stimulate locally grown foods market development for Nebraska included a grant to Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) for $89,979.  The $940,800 in grants for 13 programs in Nebraska and Iowa were part of $52 million authorized in the Farm Bill to support locally grown produce and organic production market development.

Nebraska Farmers Union will partner with UNL Extension, Community Crops, Nebraska Sustainable Ag Society, Family Farmed, and others to sponsor a series of five different workshops at four different locations around Nebraska from December through March.  The cities will include Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, and Grand Island.

Each location will hold six different workshops from December through March on topics that will include:
·         Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) – Food Safety - Level 1
·         Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) – Food Safety - Level 2
·         Wholesale Success with Atina Diffley
·         Financial Planning
·         Crop Planning, Forward Contracting and Insurance
·         Internship & Employee Management.

NeFU President John Hansen said “We are excited about helping beginning farmers and existing farmers looking for new opportunities to explore the steps necessary to become involved in growing specialty crops and value added livestock for human consumption.  The interest in locally produced foods continues to grow as does the new market opportunities that go with this new production model.  These workshops will feature top notch presenters thanks to the support of USDA.”  If you have questions or are interested in participating in the trainings, contact Jeremiah Picard at our Lincoln office at (402) 476-8815



Iowa hog farmers celebrate Pork Month

October became known as Pork Month because it marked the time of year when hogs were traditionally marketed. Today, it serves as a celebration to thank pig farmers and share their stories with consumers.

“If you eat, you have a connection to a farmer every day,” said Iowa Pork Producers Association President Jamie Schmidt, a hog farmer from Garner. “October Pork Month is an opportunity to refresh the connection consumers have with farmers. Our mission is to produce safe, nutritious food in a responsible manner for families across the United States and around the world.”

In 2008, hog farmers adopted six We CareSM ethical principles at the National Pork Industry Forum. The pork industry follows the six guiding ethical principles of the We Care initiative to maintain a safe, high-quality pork supply. Producers are committed to:

• Producing safe food,
• Safeguarding natural resources in all industry practices,
• Providing a work environment that is safe and consistent with the industry’s other ethical principles,
• Contributing to a better quality of life in communities,
• Protecting and promoting animal well-being and
• Ensuring practices to protect public health.

“The ethical principles define our values and who we are,” Schmidt said. “Consumers can be confident that the pork they eat was raised using these ethical principles.”

Pork is the world’s most widely eaten meat, representing 37 percent of all meat consumed, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Some 81 percent of the population consumes pork in-home at least once in an average two-week period. As of May 2014, real per capita pork expenditures were up 7.5 percent for 2014 compared with the same time period a year ago.

According to retail scanner data from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, the top five most popular pork cuts sold are boneless New York chops, back ribs, bone-in chops, spareribs and boneless tenderloin. In terms of sales, boneless New York Chops accounted for more than $847 million, back ribs more than $612 million, bone-in chops more than $404 million, spareribs more than $387 million and boneless tenderloin more than $369 million.

“Consumers recognize the versatility of serving pork in their homes,” said Schmidt. “Cook pork until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a three-minute rest. This will ensure flavorful and tender pork on the plate.”



ISU study on nutrient inputs and long-term corn yield sustainability

New research suggests that conventional corn-soybean systems, managed with synthetic fertilizer alone, do not produce enough plant material to sustain soil organic matter levels, reducing crop yield in the long term.

Iowa State University agronomist Michael Castellano, who led research on a recently completed project funded by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, studied soil properties at four field sites in Iowa, each with continuous corn and corn-soybean rotations. Plots at each site have been maintained for 13 years under specific fertilizer regimes—ranging from 0 to 240 lbs. of synthetic nitrogen per acre, per year—including some maintained at the agronomic optimum of about 150 lbs. per acre.

Results of the two-year study show that when managed at optimum levels, continuous corn systems generally produce enough residue — about 3 tons per acre, per year — to maintain or increase soil organic matter. Soybeans, on the other hand, create half that much residue, so corn-soybean systems overall do not produce enough bulk matter to replenish soil organic matter stocks in the long term, even at optimum fertilizer levels. Moreover, increasing synthetic fertilizer inputs beyond optimum levels does not appear to impact soil organic matter because it does not increase residue inputs and is rapidly lost to the environment.

“The corn-soybean system in Iowa is losing organic matter when managed with synthetic fertilizer only, even in the absence of erosion,” says Castellano. “Our data highlights the importance of getting as much organic matter into that system as possible.”

Funded in 2011 by the Leopold Center’s Ecology Initiative, the project was conducted on sites with little or no slopes to control against erosion, otherwise the biggest factor in soil organic matter loss. The carbon and nitrogen content of soil samples collected in 1999 were compared against samples from 2009.

More detailed analysis also was done on the continuous corn systems to understand what percentage of the soil organic matter was chemically available for plants to take up, and what percentage formed stable aggregates resistant to breakdown by soil microbes. The soil aggregates, because they resist decomposition for many years — sometimes centuries — are critical for long-term carbon and nitrogen sequestration.

On corn-soybean operations, Castellano says the best way to increase soil organic matter, after controlling for erosion, is to return manures to the soil, since they contain carbon in addition to nitrogen.

Cover crops also may increase soil organic matter levels. At the Marsden Farm, where researcher Matt Liebman has run a diversified cropping systems project since 2002, Castellano collected soil data from a two-year corn-soybean rotation versus a three-year corn-soybean-oat + red clover cover crop system. Preliminary analysis confirms previous research suggesting that the three-year rotation has more nitrogen available for plant uptake, resulting in greater yields than those observed for two-year rotations.

Castellano hypothesizes that high-quality manure or crop residue benefits soil quality. He’d also like to test the hypothesis that soils with low organic matter levels have lower fertilizer and nitrogen use efficiency than well-managed soils with high organic matter.

Answering these new questions dovetails with Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals to reduce nutrient loading of waterways. While over-fertilization results in nutrient pollution to air and water, Castellano’s work shows that under-fertilization also is detrimental, since it reduces the amount of soil organic matter that acts as a reservoir for nutrients put onto the field. Meanwhile, the “optimum” level of synthetic nitrogen inputs is always variable, depending on factors including field site conditions, management goals and weather conditions.

“There are many sites that don’t respond to nitrogen fertilizer in one given year, and we don’t even know how to predict those,” says Castellano. “There’s always going to be uncertainty surrounding whether [farmers] are managing their organic matter optimally.”

Given all this variability, he says, manure inputs or cover crops provide a level of insurance against nutrient losses. By improving organic matter, they serve as a buffer against year-to-year uncertainties.

“Cover crops are particularly promising,” says Castellano, “because the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy has identified those as a big tool to reduce nitrate loads. So if they also can increase or neutralize the loss of organic matter in a corn-soybean system, there are two factors that really can contribute to long-term sustainability of Iowa’s farmlands.”



Spray Drift, Local Foods Top Agenda at IFU Annual Meeting

What's the latest with making negligent spray drifters pay? Is there policy that puts more money into market farmers' pockets? How can we help fight CAFOs while creating an even playing field for small livestock producers?

These are just some of the issues and solutions attendees to the Iowa Farmers Union 99th annual convention will discuss Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 at the Hotel Fort Des Moines in downtown Des Moines. Early registration ends Oct. 10 for this affordable yet crucial gathering to develop family-scale farm policy for the upcoming legislative session. Farmers and Friends of the Family Farmer are invited with a special offer to those of you new to the Iowa Farmers Union.

This year's convention theme is Farmer vs. Environmentalist, Building New Coalitions for our Farm, Food and Energy Future. The first day will bring together beginning farmers for a social networking lunch and present afternoon info sessions on: 
-- Your rights under eminent domain and energy development,
-- The best and worst of the latest farm bill,
-- Fact or fiction about the EPA's latest water quality rule,
-- The real scoop on crop insurance for organic producers. Friday night it's time to dance to live music at the Halloween Harvest Hoedown - a fun evening of food and drinks with new friends and old! All proceeds benefit the IFU Education Foundation's youth and adult education programs (and are tax deductible).

Saturday will be chock full with panel discussions, coffee talks with farm experts on an array of issues, voting on policy positions, and a keynote panel on what in store for the next 100 years of fighting for the family farm. Your voice counts in the Iowa Farmers Union where we employ a professional to keep tabs on our legislators and inform our members of our progress throughout the legislative session.

Register early for the best possible rate and join the only true voice for family-scale, local food and environmental-friendly farming in Iowa.



Stewardship of New Technologies Embraced by U.S. Meat Industry

For the past several months, a diverse group of representatives from technology companies and the U.S. beef, pork and lamb industries has tackled a critical question related to global access for U.S. meat: What steps can the meat industry take to ensure that the introduction of new production and processing technologies does not interrupt trade?

“The U.S. meat industry is a global leader when it comes to advancements in quality, safety, efficiency and productivity, which is why our products are in such great demand around the world,” said Forrest Roberts, chief executive officer of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). “Our goal as an industry is to adopt new technologies in a manner that is consistent with continuing to grow exports. To meet this objective it is imperative that we continue to work together as an industry in a proactive manner.”

Roberts was recently elected chairman of the Meat Industry International Stewardship Advisory Council (MIISAC), which was formed with exactly this goal in mind. Its primary focus is to foster better communication, coordination, and collaboration at all levels of red meat production, processing and marketing so that new technologies are introduced in a manner that minimizes disruptions in exports without stifling the development of next-generation technologies. Norman Bessac, vice president for international pork sales at Cargill Fresh Meats, was elected MIISAC vice chairman.

To ensure that MIISAC draws upon experience and expertise from a broad range of meat and livestock sectors, it includes representatives from the Cattleman’s Beef Board, NCBA, National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, American Lamb Board, the feedgrains sector, meat packing and export trading companies, technology providers, American Meat Institute, North American Meat Association and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Roberts and Bessac have appointed working group chairs for operations, strategy, and communications to carry the work of the council forward.

As new technology products are launched into the U.S. market, MIISAC will collaborate with the companies introducing the products to assess the potential benefits and costs of their adoption to the red meat industry and develop strategies for minimizing impediments in export markets that have not approved the technology. Questions addressed in this process could include:
-    Do regulatory approvals need to be secured in key international markets?
-    How long will this process take?
-    Will approval be controversial, and how will this impact consumer confidence?
-    Is there an avenue, such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX), for establishing an international standard? Which trading partners are likely to adopt a CODEX standard?
-    How do we address foreign markets that have no functioning regulatory process?

In carrying out its mandate, MIISAC will not be setting industry policy, nor will it approve or disapprove new technologies.

“The goal is definitely not to serve as a standard-setting or policy-making body, but rather to provide a broad, forward-thinking perspective on how a new technology will impact our industry once it is approved,” Roberts explained.



Ethanol Stocks Hit 18-Month High

The Energy Information Administration released data Wednesday, Oct. 1, showing ethanol inventories in the United States rebounded last week, rising to a better-than-18-month high despite a decline in plant production.

Total ethanol stocks rose 236,000 barrels (bbl), or 1.3%, to 18.828 million bbl during the week-ended Sept. 26, with stocks 3.3 million or 21.4% above a year ago.

Plant production fell 8,000 barrels per day (bpd) last week, or 0.9%, to 881,000 bpd, near a 6-1/2-month low, while slightly higher than a year ago. Four-week average output surged 6.9%.

Blender inputs, a proxy for ethanol demand, tumbled 24,000 bpd, or 2.7%, to 862,000 bpd last week, although up 1.9% year over year, while four-week average demand was up 2.1%.



AgriBank Pays Quarterly Preferred Stock Dividend

Today St. Paul-based AgriBank paid a quarterly cash dividend of $1.7188 per share on its 6.875 percent non-cumulative perpetual class A preferred stock to holders of record as of Sept. 1, 2014.

AgriBank issued $250 million of preferred stock on Oct. 29, 2013 to provide the Bank and the 15-state Farm Credit District it serves with long-term access to high-quality capital, helping ensure the District is well-positioned to meet the long-term growth and credit needs of farmer and rancher customers.

AgriBank is one of the largest banks within the national Farm Credit System, with more than $85 billion in total assets. Under the Farm Credit System's cooperative structure, AgriBank is owned by 17 affiliated Farm Credit Associations. The AgriBank District covers America's Midwest, a 15-state area stretching from Wyoming to Ohio and Minnesota to Arkansas. More than half of the nation's cropland is located within the AgriBank District, providing the Bank and its Association owners with exceptional expertise in production agriculture. For more information, visit www.AgriBank.com.



NASS to Re-Survey Operators with Unharvested Small Grains

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will re-contact small grain growers in eight states who reported unharvested acreage in the survey NASS conducted earlier this month. Operators will be asked to verify and update, if necessary, the acreage, yield, and production for barley, oats, Durum wheat and other spring wheat.

If the responses received result in changes to the current estimates, NASS will publish updated acreage, yield, production and stocks in the November 10 Crop Production report.

When NASS surveyed producers during the first half of September, there were significant unharvested crop areas reported due to delays in this year’s harvest. Unharvested areas of crops were reported in the following states:
-    Barley: Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming
-    Oats: Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming
-    Durum wheat: Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota
-    Other spring wheat: Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah

Unharvested area and expected production is included in the estimates published on September 30.

NASS will recontact only survey respondents who previously reported unharvested acreage in the eight states identified. As a result of this re-surveying effort, NASS may release updated estimates for small grains in its November 10 Crop Production report. Stocks estimates are also subject to review since unharvested production is included in the estimate of on-farm stocks.



Nominations Sought for Advisory Committee on Ag Statistics

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations to the advisory committee on agriculture statistics. Members of the panel will advise the secretary of agriculture on the scope, timing and content of periodic agricultural censuses, surveys of agriculture and other related industries. The committee also makes recommendations on the content of agriculture reports and represents the views and data needs of suppliers and users of agricultural statistics.

"The Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics serves a vital role to the National Agricultural Statistics Service," said Hubert Hamer, executive director of the Agricultural Statistics Board. "It is a diverse panel of experts, and we tap into their expertise and experiences to keep current with shifting data needs in the rapidly changing agricultural environment. Committee members also help keep NASS informed of emerging issues in the agriculture community that can affect our statistics activities."

The committee, appointed by the agriculture secretary, consists of 20 members representing a broad range of disciplines and interests such as producers, national farm organizations, agricultural economists, rural sociologists, farm policy analysts, educators, state agricultural organizations, and agriculture-related business and marketing experts. Members serve a staggered two-year term and can serve up to three terms for a total of six consecutive years. Nominations are currently being sought for six open committee seats.

"Serving on the Advisory Committee of Agriculture Statistics is a significant opportunity to bring your input and recommendations to the table, and we want to ensure those recommendations take into account the needs of the diverse groups served by all of USDA," added Hamer. "We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply to help represent the needs of today's diverse agriculture industry."

To submit a nomination, complete an AD-755 form available online at www.usda.gov/documents/OCIO_AD_755_Master_2012.pdf. The completed form must be received by the October 24 deadline.



DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends

Average retail fertilizer prices continue to hold fairly steady the fourth week of September 2014, according to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN. That pattern has been consistent in recent weeks.

All but one of the major fertilizers averaged lower prices compared to last month, but these moves to the low side remained minor. DAP averaged $579/ton, MAP $600/ton, urea $510/ton, 10-34-0 $555/ton, anhydrous $694/ton, UAN28 $329/ton and UAN32 $377/ton.

One fertilizer, potash, was nearly unchanged from a month earlier. Potash averaged $476/ton.



More than 60,000 students to converge on Louisville Oct. 29-Nov. 1 for 2014 National FFA Convention & Expo

The 2014 National FFA Convention & Expo continues the second year of its three-year run in Louisville Oct. 29. More than 60,000 FFA members from throughout the United States are expected at this year’s convention and expo that goes through Nov. 1.

The convention and expo will bring an estimated economic impact of $40 million, making it the largest convention and expo for Louisville this year. Attendees will stay in 136 hotels for a combined 39,247 nights within a 60-mile radius of Louisville. The event will stay in Louisville through 2015 before returning to Indianapolis for three years.

“Go All Out” is the theme of this year’s convention and expo. "With the opportunities we are given in our lives, we must take action. We must give it our all and put everything we have into everything we do,” 2013-2014 National FFA President Brian Walsh, a Virginia Tech student, said. “We must go all out to develop positive leadership, personal growth and career success.”

Nine general sessions will draw FFA members together at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Students will have countless opportunities to engage exhibitors from more than 450 corporations, organizations and colleges at the expo inside the center. Other events will be held at venues downtown, in the suburbs and beyond.

Nick Vujicic will be the opening session’s headline motivational speaker. Tyson Foods, Inc., President and CEO Donnie Smith will deliver his message to attendees during the third general session on Oct. 30. On Oct. 31, Elanco President Jeff Simmons and Southern humorist Jane Jenkins Herlong will address convention goers during the fourth and seventh general sessions, respectfully.

Throughout the week, students will attend more than 85 leadership and personal growth workshops. FFA members will also tour industry destinations, including Papa John’s international headquarters, Ford’s Louisville assembly plant, Churchill Downs and more.

FFA members will also participate in community-service initiatives throughout the week. Students will help beautify the city, volunteer at a local food bank, harvest and distribute locally grown produce, package meals for families in need, and more.

Country music star Justin Moore with special guest Easton Corbin will perform exclusively for FFA members the night of Oct. 29 at KFC Yum! Center, and on Thursday, Oct. 30, Scotty McCreery, Danielle Bradbery and The Springs will take the stage. The World's Toughest Rodeo will unfold on the nights of Oct. 30 and 31 at Broadbent Arena, inside the Kentucky Exposition Center. A late-night, lock-in dance Oct. 31 will be hosted by the National FFA Alumni Association.

News, features, sights and sounds from the 2014 National FFA Convention & Expo will be published in real time on FFA.org and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with #goFFA all week. Portions of the event will be streamed live on iHigh.com. The convention and expo ends Nov. 1, after national delegates representing FFA in all state associations elect a new, six-member national FFA officer team for 2014-2015.




NSP Names 2015 Legislative Committee Members

National Sorghum Producers board of directors Chairman J.B. Stewart has appointed four new members to the NSP Legislative Committee. These members include: Kent Winter of Kansas, Danny Beyer of Texas, Ethan Branscum of Arkansas, and Jordan Shearer of Oklahoma.

Beginning this fiscal year, which starts today, these producers and 13 existing committee members will serve the sorghum industry, shaping future policy and guiding the organization on legislative matters in accordance with NSP’s mission to improve the sorghum industry through advocacy and leadership.

The 2015 National Sorghum Producers Legislative Committee members are:
James Born | Perryton, Texas - Chairman
Danny Beyer | Odem, Texas
Stephen Bigge | Stockton, Kansas
Don Bloss | Pawnee, Nebraska
Ethan Branscum | Little Rock, Arkansas
Stan Fury | Broadview, New Mexico
Jason Frantz | Perryton, Texas
Lance Herndon | Parkton, North Carolina
Jim Massey | Robstown, Texas
Earl Roemer | Healy, Kansas
Luke Sayes | Deville, Louisiana
Burl Scherler | Sheridan Lake, Colorado
Adam Schindler | Reliance, South Dakota
Jordan Shearer | Slapout, Oklahoma
Greg Stone | Garden City, Kansas
John Williams | McLeansboro, Illinois
Kent Winter | Mount Hope, Kansas

The new committee will have their first meeting Oct. 7, 2014.



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for October 2014

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for October 2014. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for October is 0.125 percent, unchanged from 0.125 percent in September.

The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during October is 1.125 percent, unchanged from 1.125 percent in September.

Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for October are as follows, 2.125 percent with seven-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.125 percent in September; 2.500 percent with 10-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.500 percent in September and; 2.625 percent with 12-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.625 percent in September.



New NCGA Pres Sees Exciting Opportunities as Well as Important Challenges for 2015

The National Corn Growers Association enters a new fiscal year today and seated the 2015 Corn Board with Chip Bowling of Newburg, Md., assuming the presidency. 

"The list of challenges and opportunities on the horizon for corn growers is long," he said. "Right now, we are working with the EPA on the Waters of the U.S. rule. We always have issues relating to the importance of the RFS. We are waiting, again on the EPA, to come out with the final RVO numbers. Right now, we have low corn prices which no one wants to have. We need to get exports back on track. We are dealing with GMO labeling. There are plenty of challenges out there.

"With that being said, there are plenty of opportunities out there for corn growers as well. We need to continue to promote understanding of agriculture in a positive way. We need to get all, or at least most, of the issues that I mentioned solved.

"The list is long on both sides. With all of the help that we have in National Corn Growers around me, all of the smart people including the staff and the members, we can get this done. We just need to work together."

Over the coming year, Bowling looks forward to much of the work he will be doing as president.

"I look forward to working with our corn growers all over the country, whether the issues are good or bad," Bowling explained. "Our membership has really been increasing over the past several years. We want to keep that trend going. As we grow membership, we grow our grassroots strength and our ability to get our message to those who need to hear it."

"I would like to continue forming alliances with nontraditional partners, like we did to pass the farm bill this year. We need as many friends as we can get both around the country and in Washington."

"I can't do this interview without mentioning that I am looking forward to working with our new CEO, Chris Novak, who starts in mid-October. Together, we are starting a new era with NCGA."



Hubbard Feeds and Grazix Partner to Combat Pig Scours

There’s a new weapon that pork producers can get through their Hubbard Feeds dealers to fight the battle against vitality-robbing scours, or diarrhea, in pigs. Utilizing natural defense mechanisms found in plants, Grazix™ is a new gut-health management tool that reduces the incidence of pig scours, speeds up recovery and reduces mortality rates.

Developed by Grazix Animal Health Inc., Grazix captures the highly efficient immune response mechanism, known as Reactive Plant Immunity (RPI), which plants use to protect against and recover from sources of stress.

Dr. Randy Simonson, president of Grazix Animal Health, explains how this natural protection mechanism translates to better swine health: “Our patented extraction process, LiveXtract™, saves the RPI activity until it is needed. When producers administer Grazix orally to baby pigs suffering from scours, the RPI activity activates to neutralize the scour-causing pathogens and support healthy gastrointestinal function, resolving the majority of scours cases in an average of two days.”

Several studies have shown the benefits of Grazix when it’s delivered at the first sign of scours:
-    “Within 24 hours of a single oral treatment of Grazix, 83 percent of piglets suffering from diarrhea were resolved, with another 14 percent resolved within 24-48 hours.
-    Pigs receiving only Grazix in their water for one day had half the mortality rate, at 11 percent, than pigs treated with antibiotics. The antibiotic-treated group had a 21 percent mortality rate.

Ernie Hansen, manager of swine nutrition and tech service for Hubbard Feeds, has worked with Grazix in trials for a number of years. “We’ve found that Grazix is an extremely effective and easy to manage product for piglet diarrhea,” says Hansen.  “If you are looking for a product to address baby pig scours with a high success rate and acceptable costs, then you should consider Grazix Porcine-F or Porcine-W."

“Grazix is also effective in supporting gastrointestinal function through transition periods, such as birth, weaning and transfer from nursery to grow/finish,” Simonson says, “when pathogens could gain a foothold.”



United States and Brazil Reach Agreement to End WTO Cotton Dispute

Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman announced that the United States and Brazil have reached agreement to settle the longstanding Cotton dispute in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Under the terms of the agreement, Brazil will terminate the Cotton case, giving up its rights to countermeasures against U.S. trade or any further proceedings in this dispute. Brazil has also agreed not to bring new WTO actions against U.S. cotton support programs while the current U.S. Farm Bill is in force or against agricultural export credit guarantees under the GSM-102 program as long as the program is operated consistent with the agreed terms.

"Through this negotiated solution, the United States and Brazil can finally put this dispute behind us," said Secretary Vilsack. "Without this agreement, American businesses, including agricultural businesses and producers, could have faced countermeasures in the way of increased tariffs totaling hundreds of millions of dollars every year. This removes that threat and ensures American cotton farmers will have effective risk management tools."

"I am pleased that the United States and Brazil have found a permanent resolution to the Cotton dispute," said Ambassador Froman. "Today's agreement brings to a close a matter which put hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. exports at risk. The United States and Brazil look forward to building on this significant progress in our bilateral economic relationship."

Background
The Cotton dispute is a decade-long dispute brought by Brazil against the United States at the WTO. In 2005 and again in 2008, the WTO found that certain U.S. agriculture programs (domestic support to cotton under the marketing loan and countercyclical payment programs, and export credit guarantees under the GSM-102 program) were inconsistent with the United States' WTO commitments. In August 2009, WTO arbitrators provided the level of countermeasures that Brazil could impose against U.S. trade.

In June 2010, the United States and Brazil signed a Framework Agreement to avert the imposition of countermeasures by Brazil against the United States that at the time would have affected approximately $800 million of U.S. trade, including U.S. intellectual property rights. The Framework provided specific interim steps and a process for quarterly discussions on the programs at issue. The United States also made monthly payments to the Brazil Cotton Institute for technical assistance and capacity building activities for the sector under a related Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). During discussions under the Framework over the past four years, Brazil and the United States worked on the elements of a settlement to the dispute, including changes to the operation of the GSM-102 program and changes to cotton domestic support programs. The Framework expired on February 7, 2014, when the 2014 Farm Bill was enacted. The Farm Bill included significant changes to U.S. cotton domestic support programs, along with changes to the GSM-102 program.

Over the last several months, the United States and Brazil have held intensified discussions to resolve the dispute. Today, the two governments have reached an agreement that provides for formal termination of the Cotton case at the WTO Dispute Settlement Body within 21 days. Brazil will also relinquish all rights to countermeasures against U.S. trade. Other terms and conditions are contained in a MOU that includes new rules governing the fees and tenor for guarantees under the GSM-102 Program, a final transfer of funds to the Brazil Cotton Institute, and limitations on new disputes against U.S. cotton domestic support programs and the GSM-102 program.

The 2014 MOU provides for additional support for the technical assistance and capacity building activities begun under the 2010 Memorandum of Understanding. The United States will make a one-time final contribution of $300 million to the Brazil Cotton Institute, or IBA. The 2014 MOU also provides for additional uses for the funds, such as research in conjunction with U.S. institutions.