Thursday December 4 Ag News

UNL Collegiate Farm Bureau Defeats Meatless Mondays Campaign

Students that are in favor of agriculture organized to become one voice at the Association for Students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (ASUN) senate meeting Wednesday Dec. 3, according to the vice president of programming for Collegiate Farm Bureau, Lukas Fricke.

“The Collegiate Farm Bureau received information that ASUN would be voting on a resolution to spend student money on an educational campaign to promote Meatless Mondays as proposed by the Environmental Sustainability Committee. This information prompted us to launch a grassroots campaign in support of meat production in Nebraska and to gather students to speak against the resolution,” Fricke said.

ASUN Senator, Spencer Hartman, joined the coalition of students and spoke against the resolution in debate.

 “As a land grant institution, in the number one beef producing state in the nation, attended by students whose heritage and livelihoods are depending on livestock production, this is something that we cannot stand for.” Hartman told to his fellow senators.

Collegiate Farm Bureau organized the coalition of more than 100 students that came to the senate meeting. During open forum, multiple student leaders expressed their opposition of the topic and encouraged the senate to vote down the resolution.

“The student government’s proposal for a Meatless Monday had me baffled,” said sophomore animal science major Ashtyn Shrewsbury. “We are a land grant university, whose mission, as set forth in the Morrill Act of 1862, is to focus on the teaching of agriculture. Not only is agriculture the backbone of this University, it is the backbone of this state.”

In the end, the student senate voted down the purposed resolution with a clear majority vote. The Collegiate Farm Bureau plans to continue working to serve as the “Voice of Agriculture on Campus” by educating students and faculty about the importance of agriculture.

“Meatless Mondays” is an initiative encouraging people to stop eating meat on Monday’s.

The Collegiate Farm Bureau is a student organization that is dedicated to serving as the ‘Voice of Agriculture on Campus’ through a wide variety of education, service, and advocacy efforts. For more information about Collegiate Farm Bureau, visit our Facebook page www.facebook.com/UNLCollegiateFarmBureau.



NEBRASKA STUDENTS TO TOUR TAIWAN

Three Nebraska students will travel to Taiwan next week to experience the country’s agricultural education system, agricultural industry and to learn more about the role Nebraska agriculture plays in foreign markets.

The students are participating in a student exchange program between the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) and the National Taichung Agricultural Senior High School in Taiwan.  For the past eleven years, three students from the Taiwan school have visited Nebraska to attend the annual Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI) – a week-long summer program coordinated by NDA.  In return, NDA chooses three NAYI delegates to travel to Taiwan.

"This exchange program is a wonderful opportunity for our students to experience a different culture, and to see firsthand how far reaching Nebraska agriculture’s impact truly is,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach.  “This is a program our students, and the students from Taiwan, look forward to every year.” 

The trip is coordinated by NDA and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Kansas City and is sponsored by the Nebraska Farm Bureau and TECO.

The students will leave for Taiwan on December 7 and will return to Nebraska on December 12.  While in Taiwan, the students will be staying at the Taichung school.  Their visit will include tours of the campus, interaction with Taiwanese students, participation in presentations, visits to local farms, and observations of several agricultural research institutes.  They also will have the opportunity to do some sightseeing.

The students will participate in the 2015 NAYI, where they will share their experiences with the delegates.

The three students selected by NDA are:
·         Mr. Grant Suddarth from York.  Grant is a senior at York High School and is the son of Zach and Lori Suddarth.
·         Mr. Collin Thompson from Eustis.  Collin is a senior at Eustis-Farnam and is the son of Tucker and Melissa Thompson.
·         Mr. Jacob Wilkins from Ainsworth.  Jacob is a senior at Ainsworth High School and is the son of Brad and Wendy Wilkins. 



ICON PREPARES FOR NINTH ANNUAL CONVENTION

Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska (ICON) will be hosting their annual convention in Brewster, NE, on Friday, December 19, 2014, 12 noon MST, at Uncle Buck’s Lodge.

The day starts at 11 a.m. with registration. A luncheon will be served at the Lodge at noon and followed by the afternoon activities. Up first will be a workshop with Paul Dorr of Copperhead Consulting who will talk about School Bonds and Property Taxes. Senator Al Davis of District 43 will host an Up Close and Personal conversation about what’s happening in the legislature. The last afternoon event will be a discussion with retiring Executive Director of the Brand Committee, Steve F. Stanec, and incoming Executive Director, Shawn D. Harvey. The day will conclude with an ICON business meeting.

The evening will start with a Social Hour at 6 p.m., Prime Rib evening banquet at 7 p.m., auction for Jim Hanna Scholarship and benefit of ICON and Willard Hollopeter and his 'Cowboy Poetry' as our evening entertainment.

Registration for the 2014 ICON Convention Registration is $50 and includes the noon luncheon. Guests accompanying a paid registration can register for $20. The evening Banquet with prime rib is an extra $25 per attendee. ICON membership dues for 2014 are $100 and if members have not paid, there will be a $10 discount at the convention.

ICON Convention registration can be sent to: ICON/Linda Wuebben, 55669 888th Road, Fordyce, NE 68736. For more information, call 402-357-3778 or visit ICON www.independentcattlemen.com.



ASA Hails Barge Fuel Increase to Fund Waterways Improvements

As part of H.R. 647, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, the House of Representatives on Wednesday passed, by a vote of 404-17, a provision to increase the barge fuel fee to fund needed waterways infrastructure projects. American Soybean Association (ASA) President and Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser expressed ASA’s appreciation for the fee, which is supported by those in the waterways industry.

“The nine-cent increase in the per-gallon barge fuel fee is something that is supported not only by the nation’s soybean farmers, but also by the commercial barge and towing operators who pay it. We all support this as a way to dedicate funds to new waterways infrastructure construction and major rehabilitation of the inland waterways system through the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. We are pleased that the House passed this provision, and we call on the Senate to quickly do the same.”



Free Online Tool Helps Growers with Split Nitrogen Application Decisions

The Useful to Usable (U2U) climate initiative recently launched a new online decision support tool, Corn Split N, that helps farmers and farm advisors manage the application of in-field nitrogen for maximum crop yields and minimum environmental damage.

The free tool, available for use in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas, combines historical weather data and fieldwork conditions with economic considerations to determine the feasibility and profitability of completing a post-planting nitrogen application for corn production. The product will be expanded in 2015 to seven additional North Central states.

Chad Hart, Corn Split N local project coordinator and crop markets specialist at Iowa State University, shared information about the tool at the Integrated Crop Management conference in Ames Dec. 3.

“Traditionally, farmers have applied nitrogen to the soil in a single pass either in the fall or in the spring before planting," Hart said. "However, research has shown that by splitting the nitrogen over two intervals, applying it once in the fall or spring when the soil is not saturated and the temperature is between 50 – 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and then a second time when the plants are in the ground and need it the most, will ultimately lead to better results because less fertilizer will be needed overall and not as much will be lost in run off.”

He said that nitrogen management of corn includes many factors. One factor is the timing of the application, which varies depending on the weather and soil conditions. Corn Split N tool’s historical climate data is designed to assist farmers pinpoint when nitrogen should be applied for best results.

Because the post-planting application must be done before the corn gets too tall, estimates of corn development stages based on location, selected planting date and the accumulated corn growing degree days (GDD) for the year are also factored into the tool. GDD accumulations and associated corn growth beyond the current day are estimated based on the historical 30-year (1981-2010) average GDD accumulation for a location.

Hart noted that the Corn Split N tool helps farmers quantify the costs and benefits under an average, worst and best case scenario when doing a post-planting nitrogen application, even taking into account two passes of ground equipment in the fields.

Farmers get customized results based on their planting and fertilization schedule, local costs and available equipment. In addition, a summarized fieldwork table and crop calendar makes it easy to see how schedule adjustments might affect their ability to fertilize on time.

To learn more, visit Scenarios and Split Nitrogen Timing and Application Methods at https://mygeohub.org/groups/u2u/.

Corn Split NDST is part of the U2UDST suite of tools created to help farmers and agricultural advisors manage increasingly variable weather and climate conditions across the Corn Belt. The tools incorporate historical climate data to help inform purchasing, marketing and activity planning throughout the growing cycle. Data in all tools is updated on a regular basis, even daily in some cases.

Useful to Usable is a USDA-funded research and extension project designed to improve the resilience and profitability of U.S. farms in the Corn Belt amid a variable and changing climate. The project is comprised of a team of 50 faculty, staff, and students from nine North Central universities with expertise in applied climatology, crop modeling, agronomy, cyber-technology, agricultural economics, and other social sciences. Learn more at http://AgClimate4u.org or on Twitter at @AgClimate4U.



Land Value Survey News Conference to be Held Dec. 18

A news conference will be held at 10 a.m. on Dec. 18 announcing the results of the 2014 Iowa Land Value Survey conducted by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at Iowa State University. This year, the conference will take place in Room 004 of the Scheman building on the ISU campus in Ames.

Michael Duffy, a retired ISU Extension economist who is helping transition responsibility for conducting the survey from ISU Extension to CARD, will head the news conference and announce the latest findings. Background materials will be available at the conference, and will include Iowa land value data from 1950 to present, current land value data from all 99 counties, and a press release summarizing the 2014 survey results. Duffy will make himself available to reporters for follow-up questions or one-on-one interviews immediately following the presentation of results.

For those who can’t attend, the conference will be videotaped, and the video and printed materials from the conference will be made availalbe on the CARD homepage at http://www.card.iastate.edu soon after the conference.

The Scheman building is located next to Hilton Coliseum and Fisher Theater. Maps and directions to Scheman are available at http://bit.ly/LVSDirections. Free parking is available in the Scheman and Hilton lots.



Biodiesel Association Responds to Tax Package

The National Biodiesel Board applauded the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday for voting overwhelmingly to reinstate the biodiesel tax incentive but urged lawmakers to act quickly on a longer-term tax deal that would provide more certainty for growth and investment in the U.S. biodiesel industry.

“While we appreciate a one-year extension, we are urging Congress to continue pressing for a longer-term policy that can afford this industry the certainty needed to invest and grow,” said Anne Steckel, NBB’s vice president of federal affairs. “Biodiesel businesses across the country are poised to expand their operations, hire new workers and build new infrastructure, but we need forward-looking policy.”

“Under a 2014-only package, we will see the biodiesel tax incentive expire on Jan. 1 for the fourth time in six years. It is very difficult to run a business with that kind of uncertainty,” Steckel added. “So whether it happens in the closing days of this Congress or early next year, we are calling on Congress to act as quickly as possible to pass a multi-year extension that provides some stability.”

The House voted 378-46 Wednesday night to approve HR 5771, which reinstates a host of tax incentives for 2014. The package includes the $1-per-gallon biodiesel incentive, which expired at the beginning of the year. The House vote sets up a potential Senate vote in the coming days.

“The biodiesel incentive is proven to create jobs and economic activity, and it pays tremendous dividends in terms of reducing costly pollution and improving our energy security as well,” said NBB Board Chairman Steven J. Levy, managing director at Sprague Operating Resources. “It is a successful policy that is working so there is no reason to have this kind of perpetual uncertainty.”



Apply for the 2016 Corn Board Today!

The National Corn Growers Association Nominating Committee reminds members that it is 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 plays 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.



Congress Prepares for New Food Label Fight
The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, which consists of 37 trade groups, including the National Association of Wheat Growers, is gearing up to push for a federal labeling bill introduced earlier this year by Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan. The bill would require that all new foods containing GMO ingredients being brought to the market must first undergo a review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It would preempt any mandatory state labeling law, because foods would not need to be labeled if FDA deems them to be safe. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, on which Pompeo serves, is expected to hold a hearing on the legislation in December. Legislation has been introduced in over 20 states and more states are gathering signatures for mandatory GMO labeling initiatives next fall. “This is going to continue until we get federal solution,” says coalition consultant Randy Russell. “It's not going to be easy, but the alternative is a patchwork of state laws that will have a major economic cost and be a threat to the technology itself.”



USDA Extends Application Deadline for Dairy Margin Protection Program to Dec. 19

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the application deadline for the dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP) will be extended until Dec. 19, 2014. The program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, protects participating dairy producers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below levels of protection selected by the applicant.

"The 2014 Farm Bill created these safety net programs to provide safeguards against the uncertainty of weather and markets, but this safety net is not automatic. Producers must visit their local Farm Service Agency office to enroll before December 19," said Vilsack. "Despite the best forecasts, weather and markets can change, so a modest investment today can protect against unexpected losses tomorrow."

"For just $100, a farmer can cover 90 percent of production at $4 margin swings, and with affordable incremental premiums, dairy farmers can cover up to $8 margin swings," said Vilsack. "Those who apply this year will receive a slight increase in production protection that will not be available in the future. Farmers who do not sign up for the Margin Protection Program for 2015 will forfeit the 1 percent base production increase. For a 400 cow operation, this would equate to an additional 80,000 pounds of milk that are eligible for coverage. It's a small step to take to ensure your business is covered."

Vilsack encourages producers to use the online Web resource at www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool to calculate the best levels of coverage for their dairy operation. They can type in specific operation data and explore price projections and market scenarios to determine what level of coverage is best for them. They can also compare the data to see how the program would have helped in previous years, such as 2008, when margins dropped from $8 to $3 in just three months. The online resource is on a secure website that can be accessed from computers, mobile phones or tablets, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Farmers also have a chance to share comments and help shape the Margin Protection Program for the future. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the extension of the opportunity for public comments on both the Margin Protection Program and the Dairy Product Donation Program until Dec. 15, 2014. Comments can be submitted to USDA via the regulations.gov website at http://go.usa.gov/GJSA or send them by mail to: Danielle Cooke, Special Programs Manager, Price Support Division, FSA, USDA, STOP 0512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-0512.



NMPF Thanks USDA for Extending Sign-Up Deadline for New Margin Protection Program

The National Milk Producers Federation applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture today for giving dairy farmers two more weeks to sign up for the revamped dairy safety net included in the 2014 farm bill. Instead of Friday, December 5, the USDA announced today that it has extended the enrollment deadline for the new Margin Protection Program until Friday, December 19.

“The most important New Year’s resolution a dairy farmer can make for 2015 is using the new Margin Protection Program to take advantage of this opportunity to guard against the possibility of low margin conditions at some point in the next year,” said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern.

“With a busy harvest season now done, along with this year’s favorable milk prices, many dairy farmers are just now taking the time to review their options and explore the need for the new MPP program,” said Mulhern.

The strong milk prices of 2014 are giving way to lower prices in the coming year, which “should prompt many farmers to consider their risk management options should prices drop further,” Mulhern said.

Mulhern said there are good reasons for farmers to sign up for the program. “First,” he said, “futures indicate dairy margins are leaving their record territory and will trend down through much of 2015.”

He cited the crash in oil prices in recent weeks as an example of where sudden price changes in a commodity can catch many by surprise, adding that “no one expected oil prices would drop by 40 percent in just a few months, but sudden movements either up or down are a frequent occurrence in commodity markets.”

In addition, Mulhern said, with U.S. milk production expected to increase by more than one percent this year, signing up for MPP boosts an individual farm’s production history going forward by the same amount as the national increase.

“MPP payments are based on past production, and that production history increases only with the rise in national milk production,” Mulhern said. “As a result, those who sign up now for 2015 coverage will benefit from this year’s increase in milk production, thus allowing them to insure a larger base in the future.”

NMPF has a variety of tools on its website and on a separate website devoted exclusively to the new program to help producers make their decisions. Included is a downloadable calculator on which producers can plug in their own numbers and get a sense of the program’s impact on their farm. Farmers who have already enrolled have the opportunity to change their coverage levels until December 19.

“Basic coverage costs farmers only $100 a year,” Mulhern said. “But that relatively small investment does a lot to protect the future of a farm. We encourage all producers to take advantage of USDA’s deadline extension and get to their county Farm Service Agency office to sign up for the Margin Protection Program in the next two weeks.”



CWT Helps Sell 47,000 Pounds of Cheddar Cheese in November 

Cooperatives Working Together helped Dairy Farmers of America and Tillamook County Creamery Association make export sales of more than 47,000 pounds of Cheddar cheese in November. The product will be delivered to customers in Asia and the Middle East this month.

The November sales bring year-to-date totals for CWT-assisted sales to more than 99 million pounds of cheese, 53 million pounds of butter and 56 million pounds of whole milk powder. The sales to customers in 45 countries on six continents are the equivalent of 2.5 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

CWT is a voluntary, farmer-funded program that helps member cooperatives maintain and expand world markets for U.S. dairy products. At the NMPF annual meeting in October, President and CEO Jim Mulhern credited CWT with helping to keep U.S. dairy product prices high amid a steep decline in dairy prices worldwide. By moving U.S. dairy products into world markets, Mulhern said, the NMPF-developed program has helped keep domestic inventories low and strengthened milk prices across the board.




All Eyes on Japan: High Stakes Election Has Big Implications for TPP

With 40 percent of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) covered by the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks, Japan’s coming elections have implications that may shape the world’s economy for years to come.

“If it is done in a forward looking manner, the TPP will be a game changer for U.S. agriculture,” said U.S. Grains Council Chairman Ron Gray. “We realize that the politics of trade are tough, in the United States as well as in a number of other countries. That’s why the upcoming elections in Japan are so important.”

Japan’s parliamentary elections will be held Dec. 14. Negotiations on TPP have been stalled by delays in reaching an agreement on bilateral U.S.-Japanese issues, especially on agricultural trade.

“Obviously TPP isn’t the only thing Japanese voters will be considering next week, but this is an important opportunity to strengthen the pro-economic growth and pro-trade coalition in a key negotiating partner,” Gray said. “U.S. farmers and agribusinesses have a vested interest in the outcome.”

TPP is a comprehensive trade and investment agreement that is currently under negotiation by 12 Pacific Rim countries with a combined population of 800 million. The TPP countries currently account for almost 40 percent of U.S. agricultural exports.

 A recent United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report underscored the importance of TPP to U.S. agriculture. U.S. farm exports to the other 11 TPP partners could rise by more than 5 percent if a high-quality agreement can be reached, with exports to Japan among the biggest opportunities.

“We understand that some sectors of Japanese agriculture are worried about increased competition,” Gray said. “But there are also real opportunities for Japan. Japan has one of the highest quality food systems in the world and is universally recognized for food safety.

“Japan can be an export platform for high-quality, value-added food products to the rest of Asia. That has worked for Japan in manufacturing, and it can work again here. Since a major expansion of Japanese food exports would require more imported ingredients, including feed grains, there is a real opportunity for the United States as well.”

Economic growth in Japan has been sluggish in recent years, and tax and economic issues dominate the current political debate. While the political campaign has not focused heavily on TPP, a stronger pro-trade policy helps support economic growth. The election results may be a key indicator of Japan’s readiness to address tough political issues like trade liberalization. 



U.S. Negotiators Must Prioritize TPP Market Access Gains for U.S. Dairy Industry, Not for Other Countries, Dairy Groups Urge

The U.S. dairy industry advised top U.S. government agricultural trade negotiators that their efforts on any final Pacific Rim free trade agreement must put access to foreign markets for U.S. dairy farmers and processors first, and avoid pressure from other countries to regionalize all new market access opportunities in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) made the point in letters sent today to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

As TPP negotiations head into their final stage, the dairy organizations expressed concern that industries in competing countries are counting on the United States to deliver export gains for all, rather than relying on their own governments to secure concessions in the trade agreement. “It is crucial,” USDEC President Tom Suber said, “for the U.S. to prioritize delivery of benefits to our dairy industry, not other TPP countries.”

As a case in point, the three groups cited the recently concluded Japan-Australia FTA, which does little to open agricultural markets and instead aims to put the burden on U.S. negotiators to win agricultural concessions for all in the TPP.

“The Japan-Australia FTA is an excellent example of the negative impact such a dynamic can have on U.S. interests,” NMFP President and CEO Jim Mulhern said. “Our competitors in other TPP countries must work with their own governments to secure market access rather than insisting that any gains secured by the U.S. in challenging areas such as agriculture be made broadly available to all.”

The dairy organizations applauded U.S. efforts to gain market access through TPP for U.S. dairy products in countries including Japan and Canada. They stressed that no tariff line should be left untouched in this agreement.

“We believe the negotiators will continue to push forward and leave no stone unturned in their negotiations with Japan and Canada,” said Connie Tipton, IDFA president and CEO.



More Farms at Risk of Bird Flu

Canadian authorities said Wednesday they have quarantined two more poultry farms in British Columbia as they race to contain a bout of avian influenza that has already hit two farms in the province and caused a number of Asian countries to impose restrictions on farm imports from Canada.

On Tuesday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed the presence of H5 avian influenza on two farms in the southwest part of British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province. The precise subtype and strain of the virus has yet to be determined.

On Wednesday, the watchdog also quarantined two nearby farms suspected of being at risk of avian flu and warned more could be in the offing. Avian flu hasn't been confirmed at the two farms most recently quarantined.

"As avian influenza is highly contagious and can spread rapidly, it is possible that additional at-risk farms may be identified in the coming days," Dr. Harpreet Kochhar, the agency's chief veterinarian, told journalists.

Dr. Kochhar said initial testing suggests about 18,000 birds will need to be slaughtered.

The agency said avian flu viruses don't pose risks to food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked. The virus rarely affects humans who don't have consistent contact with infected birds.

Still, in the wake of this week's news, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan have applied restrictions on Canadian poultry products and chicks, a spokesman for Canada's Agriculture Department said.

Officials said it was too early to pinpoint the source of the infection, noting it could have spread from migratory birds, wild birds or a breach in biosecurity. "Our focus is to make sure we get ahead of the game and of containing the virus spread," said Dr. Kochhar.

Canadian officials are working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, given the proximity of B.C. to the state of Washington, he said.

Last month, authorities in the U.K. and Netherlands also reported outbreaks of avian flu and killed over 150,000 birds. Dutch authorities imposed a 72-hour ban on the transport of domestic poultry and eggs.



USW Presents Global Wheat Food Security Initiative to International Millers

Citing the inadequacy of past, centrally planned food security policies, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) President Alan Tracy today proposed an initiative to provide “genuine food security to the world’s wheat importers” by fully liberalizing global wheat trade. Tracy presented the concept of a global wheat food security initiative at the 25th Annual International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) Mideast & Africa Conference & Expo in Cape Town, South Africa.

“Wheat is the most important food grain in the world,” Tracy said. “It provides 20 percent of the calories consumed every day on earth and 20 percent of the protein for the poorest half of human population. Demand is growing, but not every country that consumes wheat can produce wheat. Thus, wheat is both the world's most planted grain and the most traded. Creating a government-to-government sectoral trade agreement, similar to the current initiative to achieve global free trade in environmental goods under the World Trade Organization (WTO), that eliminates trade barriers would assure importing countries of guaranteed access to the world's exportable wheat supplies.”

Tracy said real food security is possible when markets are allowed to work and governments invest to improve infrastructure that supports local production and improves access to world food supplies through trade. Policies that intervene in market dynamics, while implemented with good intentions, have only distorted trade and encouraged unsustainable investments.

Tracy noted that the call in 2011 by the G20 under the leadership of French President Sarkozy for internationally controlled emergency wheat stockpiles and other measures largely proved unworkable. He also criticized India’s food security demands that appeared to derail hopes for a WTO trade facilitation agreement in Bali, Indonesia, earlier this year.

"India's demand for an exemption from WTO subsidy rules was not really about food security," he said.

Admitting that such an initiative faces many challenges, Tracy said USW has shared the concept with some government trade officials and industry representatives who have expressed interest in discussing the idea in more depth.

“Given a fair chance, we can compete very well because we produce the highest quality wheat in the world,” said Paul Penner, a Hillsboro, Kan., wheat farmer and president of the National Association of Wheat Growers. “We agree that lower tariffs, less government intervention and freer global wheat trade would expand opportunity for farmers and their customers and we are eager to see how stakeholders respond to this idea.”

Tracy also asked flour millers at the IAOM meeting for their support within their own governments if the idea takes root.

“In exchange for eliminating tariffs, licenses and other trade barriers, the world’s wheat buyers would have guaranteed access to exportable wheat supplies even when world supplies are down,” Tracy said. “It also would encourage sound investment in wheat production and create a more level playing field on which exporting countries can compete. I believe, with your support, we can genuinely boost food security that is so critical to peace and justice in this growing world.”



Cargill Animal Nutrition Launches Cargill Nutrition System

Cargill is launching a new proprietary nutrient formulating platform, Cargill Nutrition System (CNS), which combines real-time global nutrient analysis of feed ingredients with the latest research into nutrient application and industry-leading ingredient sourcing to provide customers clarity and consistency in feed application.

CNS allows Cargill to deliver precise feed formulations to producers based on a host of variables often unique to each individual customer: species, climate, location, business goals, nutrient-content requirements and cost considerations of available ingredients. Ultimately, it helps Cargill bring nutrition solutions customized to meet specific customer needs faster and with the best cost formulation to boost profitability.

"Our customers operate in an ever-changing environment. CNS allows us to design products and solutions that take their unique and changing conditions into account and help manage them effectively," said Scott Ainslie, director of Strategic Marketing & Technology for Cargill's animal nutrition business. "CNS combines 'big data' nutrient analysis, world-leading nutrient application expertise and Cargill's sourcing power to allow us to provide customers with clarity in feed application, rather than just a 'best guess,' to achieve better production costs and higher performance."

Recently, poultry customers in Indonesia provided a clear example of the impact of CNS. Through CNS' nutritional review process, it was discovered that by decreasing levels of crude protein and changing amino acid and fiber levels in poultry feeds, customers saw improved animal performance along with better feed cost per unit of production.

"By understanding species' specific nutrient requirements better than anyone else, we are able to consistently deliver improved solutions to our customers," said Henk Enting, poultry technology director for Cargill's animal nutrition business. "Without CNS, poultry would continue to be overfed a number of fermentable nutrients, potentially resulting in performance issues for the animal due to undigested nutrients, as well as unnecessary spending by our customers. As a result of changing the diet, customers in Indonesia saw a decrease in wet litter and feed cost savings."

CNS also had an impact on customers' businesses in Vietnam when the team there re-designed its sow offerings. "Using CNS, we reviewed our sow offerings and upgraded them with updated nutrients like fermentable carbohydrate to support better hormonal balance during gestation and reduce constipation. We also included a new ideal protein model (IPM) to support balanced nutrition based on sow requirements during gestation and lactation, and did work to stimulate mineral retention during gestation in order to promote mineral mobilization during lactation for higher milk production," said Jihoon Kim, Ph. D, and Strategic Marketing & Technology director for Cargill's feed business in Vietnam.

The new sow offerings were launched early last summer and customers already are reporting better performance including: decreased constipation in gestation sows, increased piglet birth weights, higher milk production during lactation for heavier weaning weights and healthier sows at the weaning resulting in shorter weaning-estrus intervals.

The database behind CNS is comprised of over 2 million nutrient samples, covering more than 200 ingredients, and 10 million annual nutrient predictions, and is constantly being refreshed. This data is combined with the vast knowledge and experience of Cargill Animal Nutrition's 17,000 employees, including more than 500 research and development professionals, with more than 200 Ph.D and veterinary degrees.

CNS is one of the many arms of Cargill's robust animal nutrition research and development unit. "CNS is a clear example of the significant role innovation will continue to play," said Dave Cook, Research & Development director for Cargill's animal nutrition business. "Research and development fuels the insights and innovations that our customers seek, and it enables us to continue to be our customers' trusted advisor. The rollout of CNS is a significant milestone for Cargill. We maintain a long-term commitment to research as we look to continually deliver pioneering solutions to our customers."