Tuesday November 4 Ag News

Tips for Getting the Most for Your Cull Cows
Larry Howard, UNL Extension Educator, Cuming County

The cull cow market is typically saturated in the late fall and early winter months. Many producers have their culls sorted from their keepers and it’s time to decide the best way to manage and market this group of cows. This is particularly important because cull cow receipts account for 15-30% of income from the cow-calf enterprise.

Here are five considerations for getting the most for your cull cows.

1. Hit the cull cow market at its peak time - In the Northern Great Plains, the market is generally the highest in the late spring and early summer months and the lowest in the late fall and early winter.  During the fall and early winter, many producers are weaning and preg-checking the herd.
Consequently, large numbers of cows are likely to flood the market and depress prices. Any strategy that can be implemented to market cull cows outside of this seasonal price trend can help improve revenue.

2. Consider feeding cull cows to delay marketing - Cows can be fed for a period of time to delay marketing to more favorable periods. Along with delaying marketing, feeding cull cows for a period of time can increase final weight and improve dressing percent and quality grade.

3. Feed culls to improve quality grade - Cull cows can be marketed as slaughter cows or bred females, depending on pregnancy status, of course. If choosing to market as fed or slaughter cows, the quality grade can greatly impact the price. Cull cows generally fall into one of five grades: Commercial, Utility-Breaker, Utility-Boner, Cutter, and Canner. More commonly, a mature cow older than four years of age, will fall into the bottom three grades, while a younger cow is more likely to be in the Commercial and Utility-Breaker grades. It is possible for young cows to qualify for the same grades used for young cattle (Prime, Choice, Select and Standard). It is recommended feeding cull cows a high-energy diet for as few as 50 days. This strategy can significantly increase the final weight and quality grade as well as the fat color.

4. Graze crop residues for cheaper gains - It may not be realistic to keep a group of cull cows in a place where they can be fed a finishing diet, so grazing crop residues may be the most affordable option to add weight before marketing. Grazing corn stalks is a cheap way to add weight to both cull cows and pregnant cows going into the winter months.  The general rule of thumb for gestating cows is 1 acre/cow/month. However, when feeding cull cows, it may be desirable to allow more acreage/cow to provide more corn for a longer period of time. Under these conditions, it’s not unreasonable to expect a cow grazing corn stalks to gain 1.5+ lbs. per day. Over two months, a cow can conceivably gain 90 lbs., or approximately one body condition score.

5. Pencil out the pros and cons of implants - Implanting cull cows can improve feedlot performance, carcass weight and tenderness. There are several studies that compare the use of implants on cull cows and how well they can improve daily gains, final weights, hot carcass weight, ribeye area and yield grade. Do your research before selecting an implant option and consider how long you plan to keep culls around to see if it’s worth the time, money and labor.



2014 4-H Achievement Day

On Sunday, November 16th, the Cuming County 4-H Council and Cuming County Extension Office will host the annual 4-H Achievement Day. This event will feature a dinner and award ceremony starting at 12:30 p.m. at the Nielsen Community Center in West Point.  This event gives us the opportunity of celebrating the accomplishments of our Cuming County 4-H members and volunteers that occurred during the 2014 year.  We will also recognize members and volunteers for their years of participation and service.  If you know that you are receiving an award please plan to attend the event.

We hope that our 4-H families will join us on this day for food, fun, awards, and prizes.  If you are planning on attending please make your reservation by November 12th by calling the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Office in Cuming County at 402-372-6006.



Introductory RUSLE2 and P Index Workshop Offered for Manure and Nutrient Plan Writers

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, in collaboration with the Iowa USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, has scheduled a workshop to train livestock producers and service providers on how to use the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation 2 (RUSLE2) and the Iowa Phosphorus Index for use in nutrient management and manure management plans.

The workshop will be held on Dec. 18 at the Polk County Extension Office in Altoona, Iowa. The workshop starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 4:15 p.m.

This introductory level workshop is a hands-on software orientation workshop. The orientation includes an introduction to the operating parameters, selection of input values, and developing and saving management operations for RUSLE2. In addition, real field examples will be used in the workshop to determine risk calculations of the Iowa Phosphorus Index and how to incorporate these numbers into manure and nutrient management planning requirements. Soil sampling requirements, common errors, and the DNR’s review process will also be discussed.

“Nutrient and/or manure management plans require updated RULSE2 and P-Index calculations every four years, and this workshop will be a great refresher for those producers who develop their own plans or for consultants who are new to this planning process,” said Angela Rieck-Hinz, extension field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

The cost of the workshop is $200 if registered on or prior to Dec. 12; the registration fee is $225 after Dec. 12. The workshop fee includes handout materials, a CD with software, refreshments and lunch. Because software will be provided, participants are required to bring an MS Windows compatible laptop equipped with a CD-ROM drive and Microsoft Excel Software and the administrator password to the computer in order to install software. The workshop is limited to 30 participants and walk-in attendees are not allowed. Certified Crop Advisor Credits (5SW, 1 NM) are available for this workshop.

Online registration, program information and directions to the workshop are available at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/registration/events/conferences/rusle2/... .



NEW VIDEOS FOCUS ON PRAIRIE STRIPS AS AN EMERGING CONSERVATION PRACTICE

Conservation and production goals are often pitted against each other, but one project is showing how the two objectives need not be mutually exclusive. “The science is showing us that we can have both,” says Iowa State University researcher Lisa Schulte Moore.

That’s great news for farmers because, as Gary Van Ryswyk says, “Anybody who farms does not want their soil to leave their ground.” Van Ryswyk farms at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Jasper County, raising crops alongside prairie strips as part of the STRIPS (Science-based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips) research project. He has helped farm land owned by the refuge where the research plots were set up; he also uses strips in his own operation.

Prairie strips are an emerging agricultural conservation practice that strategically integrates small sections of prairie into corn and soybean fields. The project has been supported by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture since it began in 2007. The initial research site at Neal Smith demonstrated that planting diverse, native perennial vegetation in small areas of crop fields with high conservation value reduces runoff and thereby keeps more soil and nutrients in the field. Seven years later, the project is in the implementation phase with more than 20 farmers and farmland owners interested in experimenting with prairie strips to demonstrate how the practice functions on different landscapes with different soil types.

Schulte Moore, Van Ryswyk, and 21 other STRIPS collaborators—including researchers alongside farmers and landowners as well as representatives from diverse agencies—are featured in a new 12-minute documentary that explains what the STRIPS project is, and why everyone is so excited about it.

One reason is the disproportionate benefits that prairie strips offer. As Schulte Moore explains, “We don’t need to put all of Iowa back into prairie, but if we can be really strategic and put a little bit of prairie on the right spots in the landscape, we can actually harness most of the benefits you would get [from] large patches of prairie.”

Prairie strips also have multiple roles on a landscape from improving soil to providing wildlife and pollinator habitat and contributing to water quality. “Every farm is different, and every farmer,” says Ben Gleason of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, “and you can use the flexibility of these strips to meet their needs.”

But perhaps even more exciting is the collaborative energy around the STRIPS project. “It’s a great project because it’s interdisciplinary,” the Nature Conservancy’s Dave De Geus says. “There aren’t enough of these interdisciplinary projects going on.”

Conservation Districts of Iowa Executive Director Clare Lindahl echoes this sentiment: “It’s not like any other conservation practice I’ve ever encountered in that collaboration and rallying around it.”

In addition to the feature video, Restoring the Balance: Prairie Conservation Strips, that debuted at the 2014 Extension Energy and Environment Summit at Iowa State University, the Leopold Center is producing several video shorts that tell more of the STRIPS story, one interview at a time.

The first two video shorts feature Iowa State researchers Lisa Schulte Moore on STRIPS as “A Difference You Can See” and Matt Helmers on STRIPS as “A Nutrient Reduction Strategy.” Two more video shorts are already in the works, including one with landowner Maggie McQuown discussing why she wants prairie strips on her family’s century farm and one with Anna MacDonald, Badger Creek Watershed Coordinator for the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District, discussing the habitat prairie strips provide for native wildlife.

Find Restoring the Balance: Prairie Conservation Strips and all of the video shorts on the STRIPS research website, www.prairiestrips.org, or the Leopold Center website, www.leopold.iastate.edu/stripsthemovie .



Informa Sees Corn Crop at 14.49 BB, Beans at 3.99 BB

Private analytical firm Informa Economics tweaked its estimates for U.S. corn and soybean production a little higher than last month in a report released Tuesday morning.

Informa pegged corn production at 14.493 billion bushels, 18 million bushels more than USDA forecast in October.

The national average yield estimate, at 174.4 bushels per acre, is just 0.2 bpa higher than USDA's latest estimate. If realized, the yield estimate would surpass the 2009 yield record by more than 10 bpa. Informa now pegs Illinois corn yield at 202 bpa, up 2 bpa from October.

Soybean production is expected to climb by 64 mb to 3.991 bb from last month's USDA estimate. Informa pegged the national average yield at 47.9 bpa, up from 47.1 bpa last month.

Informa also expects USDA to increase its cotton and grain sorghum production estimates when it releases its next Crop Production and supply and demand reports on Monday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m. CST.

Informa also released its global crop report, pegging Brazil and Argentina soybean production at 93 million metric tons and 56 mmt, respectively. Informa's projection for Brazil is 1 mmt lower than USDA's October estimate while Argentina's forecast is 1 mmt higher.



U.S. diesel fuel price falls to lowest level since February 2011

The U.S. average retail price for on-highway diesel fuel fell to $3.62 a gallon on Monday.  That’s down 1.2 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.  

Diesel prices were highest in the West Coast region at 3.79 a gallon, down a penny from a week ago.  Prices were lowest in the Lower Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions at 3.53 a gallon, down 2.2 cents and down 3.1 cents, respectively.  The average on-road diesel fuel price in the Midwest district came in at $3.624/gallon, up 1.3 cents on the week, however that was down 20.2 cents from last year at this time. 

U.S. gasoline price falls under $3
The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline fell to its lowest level since December 2010 at $2.99 a gallon on Monday.  That’s down 6.3 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Pump prices were highest in the West Coast states at 3.30 a gallon, down 9 cents from a week ago.  Prices were lowest in the Gulf Coast region at 2.77 a gallon, down 6.1 cents. Meanwhile, the average gas prices in the Midwest area came in at $2.959/gallon, down 5.8 cents from last week and down 22.9 cents from a year ago. 



US Ethanol Exports Up 2.5 MG in Sept.

U.S. ethanol exports rose 2.5 million gallons, or 4.3%, to 58.0 million gallons in September, up from 55.6 million for August, according to Geoff Cooper, vice president for research for the Renewable Fuel Association.

Cooper, who was still analyzing the data from various government sources including the Census Bureau, said the majority of the exports went to Canada, which has become the single most reliable ethanol trade partner of the United States in recent years.

Other destinations were the Netherlands and the Philippines.



CHS commits $225,000 to IFAMA for agricultural education

CHS Inc. (NASDAQ: CHSCP), the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company, announced today it has expanded its commitment to furthering agricultural education through a gift of $225,000 to the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA).

IFAMA, an international management organization based in Washington, D.C., brings together current and future business, academic and government leaders, along with industry stakeholders to improve food and agribusiness systems globally.

The $225,000 gift will make CHS a premier sponsor of IFAMA's 2015 World Forum and Symposium, held June 14-18 in Minneapolis, Minn. The five-day forum – expected to draw more than 400 students, academic, government and business leaders – will include interactive discussions and presentations that address global nutritional security.

"Investing in the next generation of agriculturists is the primary focus of CHS Corporate Citizenship and the CHS Foundation," said William Nelson, president, CHS Foundation and vice president, CHS Corporate Citizenship. "Partnering with IFAMA and the participating colleges and universities in the Agribusiness & World Food Forum is an excellent example of how CHS works on behalf of its farmer and rancher owners to make investments that create a strong future and strong future leaders for agriculture."

IFAMA President Thad Simmons added: "As agribusiness leaders, it is our responsibility to develop future generations of talent passionate about creating and implementing solutions that will ensure we can overcome food security challenges of the future.

"We believe that partnerships made through the World Forum – between academics, government and the private sector – are foundational to success. Today we are delighted to announce CHS Inc. as a premier supporter of the IFAMA World Forum."



Now Accepting Applications for the 2016 Corn Board

The National Corn Growers Association Nominating Committee is now accepting applications from members for the 2016 Corn Board.  Through the Corn Board, members can become an integral part of the organization's leadership.  Click here for the application, which provides complete information on requirements, responsibilities and deadlines.

"Through my years on the Corn Board, I have enjoyed working the talented, dedicated volunteers who step forward to lead this organization," said NCGA Chairman and Nominating Committee Chair Martin Barbre. "The willingness of farmers to step forward as volunteer leaders is crucial to NCGA's continued success. A true grassroots organization, NCGA relies upon farmers to volunteer for leadership, helping to shape policy and drive efforts. Serving on the Corn Board empowers farmers and allows them to play an active role in shaping their industry and our collective future."

The NCGA Corn Board represents the organization on all matters while directing both policy and supervising day-to-day operations.  Board members serve the organization in a variety of ways.  They represent the federation of state organizations, supervise the affairs and activities of NCGA in partnership with the chief executive officer and implement NCGA policy established by the Corn Congress. Members also act as spokespeople for the NCGA and enhance the organization's public standing on all organizational and policy issues.

Applications are due Friday, January 9. Nominated candidates will be introduced at the February 2015 Corn Congress meeting, held in conjunction with the Commodity Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. Corn Board members will be elected at the July 2015 Corn Congress in Washington, D.C., and the new terms begin Oct. 1.

For more information, growers may contact Kathy Baker at NCGA's St. Louis office at (636) 733-9004.



NFU’s 2015 Women’s Conference Registration Now Available

National Farmers Union (NFU) today announced the opening of registration for the 2015 NFU Women’s Conference, a conference for farm and rural women. The national event, set for Jan. 17-21, 2015, in Clearwater, Fla., will provide participants with tools and information to confidently manage business risks on their farm or ranch operations and improve their rural leadership skills.

“This conference builds on our experience in providing adult education classes specifically designed for women in agriculture,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “It will also help women find new ways to balance the demands of family, community and professionalism within the agricultural community."

NFU and Annie’s Project — a ten-year educational program dedicated to strengthening women's roles in the modern farm enterprise— are teaming up to provide women across the country with a conference experience that will include brief presentations and extended discussions with women agriculture professionals on topics of importance to their future.

Attendees will learn about decision-making resources and practice management principles through hands-on activities. Topics to be covered include financial ratios, communication styles, estate planning, marketing information, break-even price points, farmland leasing and USDA programs. A strong emphasis will be on learning new skills for women leaders in agriculture and peer-to-peer networking.

The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Clearwater, Fla. The $175 registration fee will cover most meals and conference materials. Those interested in participating are urged to register early, as capacity is limited. Full payment must accompany registration and be received by Jan. 2, 2015. More information and registration details are available at www.nfu.org/education.

The conference is sponsored by Farm Credit, CoBank, the FUI Foundation, NFU Foundation and USDA.