Wednesday October 29 Ag News

Sarpy-Douglas FSA Sets Farm Program Info Meetings

The Sarpy-Douglas County Farm Service Agency and UNL Extension Service are hosting a Farm Bill meeting on Nov. 24 at 9 a.m. at the Chalco Hills Recreation Center located at 8901 S 154th. The meeting is free and open to the public. Meeting attendees will learn about Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Bill programs.

Tim Lemmons, Extension Educator, will demonstrate the online decision-making tools that are available to producers to help make important enrollment decisions regarding the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. Learning more about ARC and PLC is extremely important for producers who must make a one-time decision about base and yield updates as well as ARC or PLC election and enrollment decisions. An FSA representative will be in attendance to answer any questions on ARC and PLC policy and procedure.

For more information about the meeting, please contact the Sarpy-Douglas County FSA Office at 402-896-0121 extension 2.

Access to a full schedule of statewide Producer Information Meetings is available at www.fsa.usda.gov or farmbill.unl.edu.

Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in this meeting/event/function should contact CED Bryan Ralston at 402-721-8455 extension 2 or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 by Nov. 17.



Do Cows Need Protein Supplements on Corn Stalks?
Aaron Berger, UNL Extension Educator

Two factors influence whether or not there is benefit to feeding cows a protein supplement when grazing cornstalks. Consider the following when determining whether or not the feeding of a protein supplement is needed.

The first factor is the quality and quantity of forage available. The amount of corn, leaves and husks will vary with growing and harvest conditions. Cattle will select the grain and best quality forage first when initially turned into a field. As cattle continue to graze, their diet quality will decrease. Once cattle have eaten the available husks and leaves and begin eating more of the stalk, diet quality will go down significantly. Weathering will deteriorate forage quality. Cool, dry weather conditions in the fall and winter will maintain quality for a longer period of time, while wet, warm, muddy conditions will result in a faster deterioration of leaves and husk.

The second factor is cow body condition score at the initiation of grazing. Recent research at the University of Nebraska indicates that mature, spring calving cows in a body condition score 5 or better do not need supplemental protein or energy when grazing targets removal of half of the leaves and husk based on corn yield. See the 2012 Nebraska Beef Report Supplementing Gestating Beef Cows Grazing Cornstalk Residue (http://go.unl.edu/ci6j) for more information. Plan to supplement cows with salt and mineral. Bred two-year-old heifers in their third trimester as well as lactating cows will have higher nutrient requirements. These will need both protein and energy supplementation to meet their nutrient requirements. Spring calving cows in a body condition score less than 5 would likely benefit from protein supplementation.

For more information on management of grazing cows on cornstalks or other crop residues, please see the recently released UNL Extension Circular “Grazing Crop Residues with Beef Cattle” (http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/live/ec278/build/ec278.pdf). To view a webinar on cornstalk grazing go to the Beef.unl.edu website and see “Cornstalk Grazing - Understanding the Value to Cattle Producers and Corn Farmers”.



Hay Quality and Supplemental Feeding
Daren Redfearn, UNL Forage and Crop Residue Systems Specialist
Mary Drewnoski, UNL Beef Systems Specialist
Jay Parsons, UNL Biosystems Economist

To answer the question, “is my hay feeding program meeting the cowherd’s nutritional requirements?”, two key pieces of information are needed. The first piece of information to obtain is the animal nutritional needs. Nutrient requirements are not consistent for all classes of livestock, so some knowledge of their body weight and stage of production is also required. Your Extension Educator can provide information on determining beef nutrient requirements. The next piece of information is the results from a forage analysis. At a minimum, it is important to know the crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrient (TDN) values for hay supplies. Most forage quality analyses cost $10 to $20 per sample.

During the winter hay feeding period, it will take about 1000 pounds (DM basis) of grass hay to feed an 1100-pound mature cow for 30 days. This is equivalent to 28 pounds (DM basis) of hay per day. The following example can be used to help explain the relationship between forage quality and stage of production. In a 1000-pound bale of medium-quality grass hay with 7.0% CP (DM basis) and 58% TDN (DM basis), there are 70 pounds of CP and 580 pounds of TDN. The nutritional requirements for a mature cow during the middle 1/3 of gestation is 1.4 pounds of CP (DM basis) and 9.7 pounds of TDN (DM basis) each day. From a couple of simple calculations (Table 1, http://go.unl.edu/ndc7), the 30-day CP requirement for this animal is 42 pounds and the TDN requirement is 291 pounds. This hay should be adequate to maintain the 1100-pound mature cow during the middle 1/3 of gestation if her daily DM hay consumption is at least 28 pounds.

The nutrient requirements for the same 1100-pound cow the first 90 days after calving increase to 2.9 pounds of CP (DM basis) and 16.8 pounds of TDN (DM basis) each day. Assuming she consumes 28 pounds (DM basis) of hay per day, both her protein and energy requirements will be deficient. In this instance, both additional protein and energy should be provided to meet the increased nutritional requirements.

It would require about 4 pounds per day (DM basis) of distiller’s grains to meet the 17-pound CP deficiency of an animal during the first 90 days after calving if she were consuming medium-quality grass hay containing 7.0% CP (DM basis) and 58% TDN (DM basis). At a cost of $125 per ton for the supplement, the cost of supplementation would be $0.25 per day. However, this supplementation is not needed during the middle 1/3 of gestation. In this example, over-supplementing a 100-cow herd for 90 days during the middle 1/3 of gestation would result in unnecessary feed costs of $2,250. Greater profit potential is the primary reason livestock producers need to know the quality of the forages they are feeding. The cost to determine if additional protein or energy feeding is needed can be quickly recovered in either feed cost savings or improved animal performance.



USDA Making Plans for a Separate Beef Checkoff

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association is calling on beef producers to voice opposition to a proposal by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to create an additional checkoff. The checkoff would be in addition to the $1 per head already collected and would go directly to USDA.

Ed Greiman, of Garner, Iowa, president of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association, said he's frustrated by the proposal.  He says a beef checkoff working group, comprised of representatives of 11 organizations, has been meeting for three years and his understanding was that everyone was in agreement when a proposal was brought forth this summer.

On Sept. 30, Vilsack met with industry groups and made it clear that if the groups involved didn't reach consensus, USDA may step in.

The current checkoff operates under the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985. Under this checkoff, the $1 collected is split equally between the state in which it is collected the federal program. The money is used for promotion, education and research.

USDA says there will be opportunities to comment on Vilsack's proposal.

Meanwhile, the NCBA asks producers to send a letter to their elected officials and Secretary Vilsack to voice their opinion on the proposal to implement an additional checkoff. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the main contractor for beef checkoff funds.



Deadline to Seed Winter Hardy Cover Crops Extended to Nov. 15

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and State Agronomist Barb Stewart with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced that farmers participating in state cost-share and most federal financial assistance programs now have until Nov. 15, 2014 to plant winter hardy cover crops and still qualify for assistance.

The seeding date is extended following the announcement that only 81 percent of Iowa’s soybeans and 36 percent of corn were harvested as of Sunday. “The crop report indicates both corn and soybean harvests are behind the five-year average,” said Northey. “Extending the deadline to November 15 will allow additional farmers to get cover crops planted while still benefiting water quality.”

Winter hardy cover crops include cereal rye, winter wheat, triticale, among others. An extension was given to farmers last year, too, following a late harvest. “Late seeded winter hardy cover crops provided adequate spring growth for erosion control last year when allowed to grow to at least eight inches tall before termination,” said Stewart.

Guidance from Iowa State University confirmed cover crops planted through the Nov. 15 deadline still have the potential to provide a substantial reduction in nutrient losses and soil erosion.

The following applies to cover crops planted in the extension period (Oct. 16 – Nov. 15):
-    Cover crops will be seeded as soon as possible after harvest of the principal crop.
-    The cover crop to be seeded must be winter hardy (i.e. cereal rye, winter wheat, triticale).
-    The cover crop will be no-till drilled in crop residue.
-    Allow cover crop to add growth as long as possible in the spring prior to termination to maximize benefits.  (Must be allowed to grow until at least 8 inches for those participating in federal programs)
-    The extension does not apply for all federal programs. Contact your NRCS office if you have questions.

Farmers approved for cost-share assistance who are still unable to plant cover crops should contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District office.



Ethanol Stocks Plunge to 5-Month Low

The Energy Information Administration released data Wednesday, Oct. 29, showing ethanol inventories in the United States plunged last week for the fourth straight week, drawn down to a five-month low despite a rise in plant production.

Total ethanol stocks were drawn down about 900,000 barrel (bbl), or 5%, to 17.0 million bbl during the week-ended Oct. 24, the lowest stock level since the week-ended May 16 when supplies were below 17.0 million bbl.

The fact that inventories fell despite higher domestic production and a marginal increase in domestic demand supports speculation more barrels are being exported overseas.

Although domestic ethanol stocks have declined sharply since they reached an 18-month high of 18.828 bbl during the week-ended Sept. 26, they remain 2.1 million bbl, or 13.9% above a year ago.

Plant production increased 41,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 4.6%, last week to 937,000 bpd while up 2.9% year-over-year, with four-week average output edging up 2.1%.

Blender inputs, a proxy for ethanol demand, increased 2,000 bpd to 878,000 bpd last week while up 0.9% year-over-year, with four-week average demand up 1.5%.



USDA Extends Dairy Margin Protection Program Deadlines

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, speaking at the National Milk Producers Federation annual meeting, today announced extended deadlines for the dairy Margin Protection Program. Farmers now have until Dec. 5, 2014, to enroll in the voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill. The program provides financial assistance to participating farmers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below the coverage level selected by the farmer.

"We want dairy producers to have enough time to make thoughtful and well-studied choices," said Vilsack. "Markets change and the Margin Protection Program can help protect dairy producers from those changes."

Vilsack encouraged producers to use the online Web resource at www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool to calculate the best levels of coverage for their dairy operation. "Historical scenarios also can be explored to see how the Margin Protection Program would function should poor market conditions occur again in the future," said Vilsack. The secure website can be accessed via computer, smartphone or tablet.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also extended the opportunity for public comments on both the Margin Protection Program and the Dairy Product Donation Program until Dec. 15, 2014.

"USDA is committed to creating strong opportunities for the next generation of farmers and ranchers. When dairy producers bring new family members into the business, these changes could affect safety net coverage," said Vilsack. "If our current rules hinder intergenerational changes or if improvements are needed in these programs, then we want to hear from dairy producers."



NMPF Welcomes Four New Co-ops as Members as 2014 Annual Meeting Closes

The National Milk Producers Federation welcomed four new dairy cooperative members, two new board members and one new board officer, as the organization wrapped up its 2014 annual meeting here Wednesday.

Also at the meeting, guest speaker Tom Vilsack, the U.S. Agriculture Secretary, told attendees that the USDA is extending by one week the deadline for farmers to enroll in the new Margin Protection Program. The previous deadline, November 28, will be moved back to Friday, December 5th, to ensure that dairy producers have time after the Thanksgiving weekend to sign up for the new dairy safety net. NMPF had asked USDA to consider an extension, because November 28 is “Black Friday.”

The new cooperative members are Bongards’ Creameries, Norwood, Minnesota; Cortland Bulk Milk Producers Cooperative, Cortland, New York; Mount Joy Farmers Cooperative Association, Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, and Oneida-Madison Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Sherrill, New York.

These new members bring the number of dairy cooperatives in NMPF to 31. NMPF members market the majority of the milk produced in the United States, making NMPF the voice of more than 32,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.

The two new NMPF board members are Michael Doyle, president and CEO of Foremost Farms USA in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and Scot Meyer, board member of Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Ellsworth, Wisconsin. In addition, board member Keith Murfield, CEO of United Dairymen of Arizona, was elected to serve as secretary of the organization.

In addition, NMPF recognized six outgoing board members for their service to the organization and presented the NMPF Political Action Committee Award to board member Dan Senestraro of Dairy Farmers of America.

The six outgoing board members receiving certificates of appreciation were William Blalock, Cooperative Milk Producers Association; Albert Knegendorf, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery;  Dennis Donohue, FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative; David Newhouse, Farmers Cooperative Creamery; Dave Fuhrmann, Foremost Farms USA; and  Donald DeJong, Select Milk Producers.

In other NMPF annual meeting news, a provolone made by Dairy Farmers of America in its Turlock, California, processing plant was received the top award, known as the Chairman’s Plaque, in the 2014 NMPF cheese competition. Complete cheese contest results are on the NMPF website.

The 2014 NMPF Communicator of the Year award was presented to Michelle Carter, communications specialist with Northwest Dairy Association/Darigold in Seattle.

The incoming 2015 Young Cooperator council elected its leadership for the upcoming year. Brian and Carrie Preston, Michigan Milk Producers Association, were chosen to serve as the YC Chaircouple. Tommy and Anna Watkins, Southeast Milk, will serve as the Vice Chaircouple, and Donald and Bernadette Harwood, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, will be the Secretary Couple.



MONSANTO INVESTS TO TRANSFORM PLANT BREEDING AND DELIVER IMPROVED AG SOLUTIONS TO FARMERS

With a growing global population and increased pressures on agriculture due to climate change, farmers around the world will increasingly require a broad range of agricultural solutions to improve the on-farm potential of crops on our world’s finite farmland. Today, Monsanto Company reinforced its commitment to further improve the genetic potential of seeds by announcing a $20 million investment in integrated technology centers as part of its global breeding program. These technology centers will utilize continuing advancements in data science, genomic breeding methods and predictive analytics to further enhance seeds. This work will help farmers unlock untapped yield potential as they produce crops to help nourish our growing world.

“We are at a unique inflection point in the evolution of plant breeding where data science and predictive analytics will help to unlock previously untapped potential of plant genetics,” said Sam Eathington, Monsanto vice president of global plant breeding. “Monsanto is committed to continue to deliver new agricultural solutions through plant breeding so that farmers can keep up with the growing demands of food production in the face of population growth and climate change.”

Monsanto utilizes its broad network of breeding and field testing locations, global germplasm library and advanced technologies to develop better products for farmers. And with today’s announcement, the company highlighted its commitment to invest $20 million over the next two years to accelerate plant breeding research across integrated technology centers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota and Nebraska. These integrated technology centers will enable the company to combine some local operations, utilize new advancements and discoveries, as well as share best practices across crop research.

“Advanced plant breeding techniques and the application of data science are key elements working together to contribute to a food-secure future. And we’re scaling our breeding engine to develop products that help farmers around the world meet this challenge,” said Eathington.

About Plant Breeding at Monsanto
Plant breeding is a core platform of Monsanto’s research and development pipeline. The company invests a significant amount of its R&D effort in developing better seeds through plant breeding. Monsanto collaborates with academic institutions, industry partners and organizations to broadly license our technology and share information to ensure farmers have access to many solutions. Teams around the world utilize breeding across row crops – corn, soybeans, cotton, canola/oilseed rape, wheat, sorghum and sugarcane – as well as fruits and vegetables to meet the needs of farmers and society. Monsanto’s global field testing network, genomic breeding methods and predictive analytics capabilities enable plant breeders to identify, select and commercialize better performing crops for farmers regardless of the size of the land they farm. The plant breeding team is focused on delivering new seed products to support improvements in on-farm yield, enhance overall plant health, mitigate increased pest pressures, deliver improvements in fruits and vegetables, as well as increase overall genetic diversity of seed products available to farmers.

Monsanto also remains committed to the advancement and understanding of plant genomes that can benefit broader society. The company worked with a broad network of leaders to complete a draft sequence of the corn genome, which resulted in the first mapping of the corn genome in the world in 2008. The company also previously made its rice genome data publically available to the worldwide research community to expand scientific knowledge and accelerate related research projects.



Bayer CropScience Acquires Certain DuPont Crop Protection Land Management Business Assets

Bayer CropScience (Bayer) and DuPont Crop Protection (DuPont) announced today the signing of an agreement for Bayer to purchase certain DuPont Crop Protection Land Management assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.  Closing of the transaction is expected in the fourth quarter 2014, subject to customary regulatory approvals.  Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

This acquisition will enable Bayer’s Environmental Science business unit to offer a comprehensive portfolio of products for effective weed control for Industrial Vegetation Management (IVM). Furthermore the company will gain access to the growing Forestry and Range & Pasture business segments in North America. Under the agreement, DuPont will continue to sell its Land Management products outside the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand and its range and pasture products in Mexico and Latin America.

“We are a leader in the professional environmental science market globally and the planned acquisition underlines our ambition to further grow this position in the years to come,” said Bayer CropScience CEO Liam Condon. “It allows us to provide our customers with first-choice solutions to protect and care for the environment in which we live, work and play. Keeping our railways, railroads and infrastructure clean and safe and forestry plantations more productive is part of our mission – Bayer: Science for A Better Life.”

“This agreement is another step in the execution of our DuPont Crop Protection business growth strategy,” said Rik Miller, president of DuPont Crop Protection. “We continue to focus on delivering our science and innovative new offerings to the market that drives profitable growth both today and over the long-term.”

DuPont Crop Protection is a leading supplier of land management herbicides that help land managers and utility foresters control weeds and brush to enhance public safety, improve crew productivity, and protect forestry, range and pasture values. Its current land management product portfolio includes approximately 30 established and innovative brands of herbicides marketed under names such as, DuPont™ Perspective™, Streamline™, Escort™ and Oust™ which will complement Bayer CropScience’s product offering. The acquisition of these assets includes rights in intellectual property, including registrations, data and trademarks related to the land management products.

Bayer CropScience provides industry-leading risk management solutions to professionals that are responsible for reducing risks posed by uncontrolled vegetation in industrial, forestry and natural areas.  Risks include for example reduced access and visibility along transportation corridors, transmission line hazards, wildfires, reduced lifespans of infrastructure like road surfaces and railways as well as decreased productivity of forestry plantations.



AGCO Reports Lower Quarterly Earnings
AGCO reported net sales of approximately $2.2 billion for the third quarter of 2014, a decrease of approximately 13.0% compared to net sales of approximately $2.5 billion for the third quarter of 2013. Reported net income was $0.69 per share and adjusted net income, excluding restructuring and other infrequent expenses, was $0.71 per share for the third quarter of 2014.

These results compare to reported and adjusted net income per share of $1.27 for the third quarter of 2013. Excluding unfavorable currency translation impacts of approximately 0.7%, net sales in the third quarter of 2014 decreased approximately 12.3% compared to the third quarter of 2013.

Net sales for the first nine months of 2014 were approximately $7.2 billion, a decrease of approximately 8.7% compared to the same period in 2013. Excluding the unfavorable impact of currency translation of approximately 0.7%, net sales for the first nine months of 2014 decreased approximately 8.0% compared to the same period in 2013.

For the first nine months of 2014, reported net income was $3.50 per share and adjusted net income, excluding restructuring and other infrequent expenses, was $3.52 per share. These results compare to reported and adjusted net income of $4.61 per share for the first nine months of 2013.



AGCO Jackson, Minnesota, Facility Upgrades Drive Product Quality Improvements

AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO), a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, is in the midst of a multi-year, $42 million upgrade and expansion to its engineering and manufacturing facility in Jackson, Minnesota. The motivation behind the project, which kicked off in 2013, is to further improve the quality of the agricultural equipment built there, as well as the efficiency and production capacity of the facility.

"Farmers expect the best when they purchase AGCO equipment built here in Jackson, and we have a history of meeting those expectations," said Eric Fisher, AGCO director of operations. "With the continuous improvements we're making here and at other AGCO facilities, we continue to provide our dealers and farmers the highest-quality agricultural equipment available."

As of fall, 2014, all Massey Ferguson® and Challenger® tractors built in Jackson must pass 5 quality-assurance tests before being delivered to dealers and farmers. New end-of-line testing procedures ensure each tractor to come off the line performs at or above engineering specifications and is ready to work hard for farmers. The news tests — a jounce test, PTO dynamometer test and chassis dynamometer test — make up the fifth quality-check gate at the Jackson facility. Quality-check gates 1 through 4 verify proper functioning of the hydraulic system, cab electronics, overall systems and fit, finish and tire or track width.
mf on jounce test

The first new quality-assurance test is the jounce test, which rocks each tractor side to side, mimicking a drive across a rough field. The speed and intensity of the rocking are varied throughout the test to simulate farming conditions from everyday to extreme. All hoses, fittings and electrical connections are monitored throughout the test to verify there are no leaks or electrical issues. The lights, wipers and other switches are manually verified again after the test to ensure everything works correctly for new tractor owners.

Tractors with a PTO go through a PTO dynamometer test. For this test, the PTO output is measured across the RPM band and compared to the tractor's rated horsepower and torque output. PTO performance is checked at a variety of speed and load levels to ensure farmers get the productivity they expect from their new tractor.

Finally, every Massey Ferguson and Challenger tractor built in Jackson must pass the chassis dynamometer test. This comprehensive test verifies proper functioning of the steering, brakes and suspension system, as well as transmission shift quality and engine performance. Tractors are held in place on a bed of rollers and run at various speeds and resistance levels to simulate conditions above and beyond what they are likely to encounter in the field. As with each of the three tests, any issues are corrected prior to delivery.

"The AGCO team here in Jackson invests a lot of hard work into every piece of equipment built here," said Arun Shankaran, AGCO senior manufacturing engineer of testing. "The new testing procedures ensure each tractor that comes off the line exceeds farmer expectations and is ready to hit the ground running."

Machining Critical Components In-House
Even well-designed, well-built tractors and sprayers are still the sum of their many parts. To improve the quality of the finished equipment coming out of Jackson, AGCO has invested heavily in manufacturing critical components in-house. The recently completed 30,000-square-foot expansion of the component manufacturing area houses two new laser cutters, a new material handling system and an array of state-of-the-art welding and machining equipment.

All components manufactured in Jackson are first designed in 3-D virtual-reality programs. Operators share 3-D component information through each step of the manufacturing process with touch screens, and manufacturers are not allowed to move to the next step if the real model does not match the 3-D model. This technology helps keep the finished components as consistent as possible.

The two new sheet laser cutters, for example, deliver 6,000 watts of cutting power to within .0016 of an inch for incredibly precise, consistent cuts. "The new laser cutting tools allow us to cut more parts, more accurately, every day," said Rod Paplow, AGCO manufacturing engineer program manager of components. "More accurate cuts mean better joints for welding. Stronger welds make for more durable frames, axles and other parts."

RoGator® axles and Challenger track tractor frames are welded and machined using a StarragHeckert machining center. The StarragHeckert uses a spindle probe to analyze the component to be welded and machined in virtual space, and then machines critical mating surfaces and mounting holes to within .00016 inch of engineered specifications. This level of accuracy and consistency ensures everything fits together as designed, contributing to stronger welds and better component fitment.

AGCO plans to continue the installation of additional robotic welders, sheet lasers and new tube lasers over the next 24 months. These changes will increase component-manufacturing capacity by 20 percent, improve productivity and positively impact quality of all AGCO equipment built in Jackson.

Engineering in Virtual Reality
The engineering facility at Jackson also received an upgrade with the installation of a state-of-the-art 3-D virtual-reality powerwall. Engineering models are displayed in 3-D on an 8-by-16-foot glass screen, allowing engineers to review models virtually, collaborate and improve designs ahead of prototyping.

"The new powerwall is quickly becoming instrumental for our engineering process in Jackson," said Joe Black, AGCO senior business analyst. "Engineers can make small refinements, like adjust clearances, check sight lines and control ergonomics from the cab and review complete tractors, all virtually. This streamlines the design process, helping us build higher-quality tractors and sprayers."

Recent Investments in the Jackson Facility
Farm equipment manufacturing has been a part of the Jackson community since 1963, when Ag-Chem Equipment Company was founded as a distributor of spraying equipment. Ag-Chem was purchased by AGCO in 2001. In 2006, the first tractor assembly was brought to Jackson, with the new assembly line to handle the Challenger track tractors and articulated 4WD tractors. In June 2012, AGCO expanded its Jackson location to bring production of Massey Ferguson and Challenger wheeled row-crop tractors to North America.

That expansion included AGCO's first North American welcome center, the Intivity Center®. The 17,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art visitor center showcases the farmer-focused innovation behind the brands upon which AGCO has been built. It offers an extensive collection of historical artifacts — many never before seen by the public — and includes a glimpse of the future of agricultural equipment through interactive displays demonstrating equipment technology in development at AGCO. For more information about Intivity Center or to make reservations to tour the AGCO Jackson manufacturing facility, visit IntivityCenter.com.



Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. and Rentech Nitrogen Partners, L.P. sign agreement to enable construction of new Thio-Sul® manufacturing plant

Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. (TKI), the north American subsidiary of Brussels-based Tessenderlo Group, has signed a long-term agreement with Rentech Nitrogen Partners, L.P. (NYSE:RNF) to lease property adjacent to Rentech Nitrogen's production facility in East Dubuque, Illinois for the purpose of building a new plant to manufacture the TKI liquid fertilizer Thio-Sul®.

The agreement creates an exclusive supply relationship for Rentech Nitrogen to provide ammonia to the new TKI manufacturing facility.  Ammonia is a key ingredient in the production of Thio-Sul®.

TKI will own, construct, and operate the new production plant. Construction is expected to begin immediately upon receiving approval of necessary permits. When completed, the new plant will enhance the TKI position as the world's largest producer of sulfur-based liquid fertilizers.



USDA to Provide $4 million For Honey Bee Habitat

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that more than $4 million in technical and financial assistance will be provided to help farmers and ranchers in the Midwest improve the health of honey bees, which play an important role in crop production.

"The future of America's food supply depends on honey bees, and this effort is one way USDA is helping improve the health of honey bee populations," Vilsack said. "Significant progress has been made in understanding the factors that are associated with Colony Collapse Disorder and the overall health of honey bees, and this funding will allow us to work with farmers and ranchers to apply that knowledge over a broader area."

An estimated $15 billion worth of crops is pollinated by honey bees, including more than 130 fruits and vegetables. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is focusing the effort on five Midwestern states: Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. This announcement renews and expands a successful $3 million pilot investment that was announced earlier this year and continues to have high levels of interest. This effort also contributes to the June 2014 Presidential Memorandum – Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, which directs USDA to expand the acreage and forage value in its conservation programs.

Funding will be provided to producers through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Applications are due Friday, November 21.

From June to September, the Midwest is home to more than 65 percent of the commercially managed honey bees in the country. It is a critical time when bees require abundant and diverse forage across broad landscapes to build up hive strength for the winter.

The assistance announced today will provide guidance and support to farmers and ranchers to implement conservation practices that will provide safe and diverse food sources for honey bees. For example, appropriate cover crops or rangeland and pasture management may provide a benefit to producers by reducing erosion, increasing the health of their soil, inhibiting invasive species, and providing quality forage and habitat for honey bees and other pollinators.

This year, several NRCS state offices are setting aside additional funds for similar efforts, including California – where more than half of all managed honey bees in the U.S. help pollinate almond groves and other agricultural lands – as well as Ohio and Florida.

The 2014 Farm Bill kept pollinators as a high priority, and these conservation efforts are one way USDA is working to help improve pollinator habitat.

USDA is actively pursuing solutions to the multiple problems affecting honey bee health. The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) maintains four laboratories across the country conducting research into all aspects of bee genetics, breeding, biology and physiology, with special focus on bee nutrition, control of pathogens and parasites, the effects of pesticide exposure and the interactions between each of these factors. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supports bee research efforts in Land Grant Universities. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducts national honey bee pest and disease surveys and provides border inspections to prevent new invasive bee pests from entering the U.S. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) and NRCS work on improved forage and habitat for bees through programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and EQIP. The Forest Service is restoring, improving, and/or rehabilitating pollinator habitat on the national forests and grasslands and conducting research on pollinators. Additionally, the Economic Research Service (ERS) is currently examining the direct economic costs of the pollinator problem and the associated indirect economic impacts, and the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts limited surveys of honey production, number of colonies, price, and value of production which provide some data essential for research by the other agencies.

For more on technical and financial assistance available through conservation programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or a local USDA service center.