Tuesday December 2 Ag News

90 Days before calving – time to sort off your thin cows for extra feed
Larry Howard, UNL Extension Educator, Cuming County

Now is the time to body condition score your spring-calving herd and sort off the thin cows so you can give them a little extra feed.  March calving cows have about 90 days left to put on body condition before calving. The last 90 days before calving is your last opportunity to cost effectively put condition back on thin cows.

Body condition at calving is an important factor affecting rebreeding performance of spring-calving cows. The longer you wait to put condition back on cows, the more difficult and expensive it becomes. Cows calving in a body condition score of 5 or higher rebreed more quickly after calving than cows that are in a lower condition. Pregnancy rate increases as body condition at calving increase to a score of 5.

Not only do cows in a body condition score of 4 and thinner have reduced chances of rebreeding, but they also produce less colostrum and their calves have lower immunoglobulin levels. This means they may be less able to fight off disease. On top of that, calves from thin cows are less vigorous and slower to stand.

So, thin cows have a lessened chance of rebreeding and give birth to weaker calves. These are two good reasons to sort off thin cows and give them extra feed. Managing spring calving cows in two groups for the 90 days before calving allows you to better manage your feed resources. You can save feed by not overfeeding the cows that don’t need it.

For more in-depth information, see the recently revised NebGuide Body Condition Scoring Beef Cows: A Tool for Managing the Nutrition Program for Beef Herds (http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/ec281.pdf). It describes the 1 to 9 of body condition scoring, complete with pictures and details for assigning scores.  Additionally, more information on beef in general is available at http://beef.unl.edu.



Western  Integrated  Seeds  Expands at Hooper,  NE  seed processing facility

Western Integrated Seed announced today that it has broken ground on its  latest  expansion  phase  at  the  Hooper,  NE  seed  processing  and  shipping  facility.    Construction  is underway on a new project that includes expanded warehousing, shipping and office facilities.  Bierman Construction out of Columbus, NE was selected as the contractor on this project.

“Our new shipping and logistics management facility will further align our organization’s resources with the needs of our customers,” said Kelvin Whited, Business and Finance Manager.

The new  facilities  include 42,000 additional square  feet of warehouse, and 11,000  square  feet of cold storage.  With this expansion, the organization will be able to serve customers with over 200,000 square feet of warehouse, including more than 20,000 square feet of cold storage.  Finally, the facility will feature new  loading  docks,  a  state-of-the  art  truck  scale,  offices,  conference  rooms  and  eco-friendly  electric charging stations for its forklift fleet.  

“Meeting and exceeding our customers’ expectation is priority number one at Western Integrated Seed,” said Paul Robertson, Operations Manager.  “This new facility will allows us more flexibility and improves our efficiency  so  that we can continue  to move  forward and provide best-in-class  service  to all of our organization’s stakeholders.”

Western  Integrated Seed was  founded by the H. Chris Hoegemeyer  family  in 1937 on the banks of the Elkhorn River  in Hooper, Nebraska.    Today  it  is  still  family owed  and offers  contract  seed production, conditioning, blending, treatment, shipping services and customized logistic solutions.

“Our  family  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  our  employees,  customers  and  friends  throughout  the  seed industry,”  commented Erik Hoegemeyer, Vice-President.    “Our  team  is  looking  forward  to  serving our customers’ needs, and to continuing to investing capital dollars into our local community.”



Fraley, Stine, Schickler among ag leaders to keynote Iowa Soybean Association’s 50th Symposium Dec. 17-18 in Des Moines

More than 300 farmers, industry and political leaders and industry stakeholders will gather for the Iowa Soybean Association’s 50th Anniversary Symposium & Recognition Award Banquet at the Downton Des Moines Embassy Suites. The program will focus on the past, present and future of the soybean industry, Iowa Soybean Association and U.S. agriculture.

While there’s certainly plenty to celebrate, experts will devote considerable time to critical issues of the day and explore future opportunities and challenges. Issues to be discussed with audience engagement encouraged include transportation, farm policy, global ag trade and demand, renewable energy, production research, freedom to operate, environmental quality and market forecasts.

Agenda:
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Noon - Opening luncheon—featuring Tom Oswald, ISA Board president; Gov. Terry Branstad and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden
2:30 p.m. - Reflections of 50 Years—featuring Ken Root, broadcaster, Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network
3:45 p.m. - Progress Now—panel of ISA senior staff directors will discuss improving the competitiveness of Iowa soybean farmers
6:30 p.m. - Recognition Award Banquet

Thursday, Dec. 18
7:30 a.m. - Market forecast with Al Kluis, president and managing partner, Kluis Commodities
8:15 a.m. - Global ag outlook with Emily French, managing director, ConsiliAgra
9:45 a.m. - “The Next 50” panel discussion featuring:
-            Kirk Leeds, chief executive officer, Iowa Soybean Association
-            Dr. Robb Fraley, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Monsanto
-            Jim Knuth, sr. vice president, Farm Credit Services of America
-            Paul Schickler, president, DuPont Pioneer
-            Harry Stine, president and founder, Stine Seed Company



Iowa Egg Production Up 3 Percent

Egg production in Iowa during October 2014 was a record high 1.41 billion eggs, up 3 percent from last month, and up 4 percent from last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs release from USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The total number of layers on hand during October was at a record high of 59.2 million, up fractionally from last month, and up 3 percent from the 57.4 million last year.

Eggs per 100 layers for the month of October were 2,384, up 3 percent from last month, and up 1 percent from 2,370 last year.

US October Egg Production Up 2 Percent
United States egg production totaled 8.44 billion during October 2014, up 2 percent from last year. Production included 7.34 billion table eggs, and 1.10 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.02 billion were broiler-type and 72 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during October 2014 averaged 358 million, up 2 percent from last year. October egg production per 100 layers was 2,354 eggs, up slightly from October 2013.
                                   
All layers in the United States on November 1, 2014 totaled 359 million, up 2 percent from last year. The 359 million layers consisted of 303 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 52.9 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.95 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on November 1, 2014, averaged 76.5 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from November 1, 2013.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 5 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during October 2014 totaled 44.4 million, up 5 percent from October 2013. Eggs in incubators totaled 38.0 million on November 1, 2014, down 8 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 369 thousand during October 2014, up 146 percent from October 2013.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 3 Percent
Broiler-type chicks hatched during October 2014 totaled 760 million, up 3 percent from October 2013. Eggs in incubators totaled 610 million on November 1, 2014, up 2 percent from a year ago.

Leading breeders placed 6.82 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during October 2014, up 10 percent from October 2013.



Online Seminar Helps Growers Adapt to Bt Corn Resistance

Since its commercialization in 2003, Bt corn has-and still is-proving to be an important technology for the control of insect pests, higher yield production, and higher quality grain. In recent years, however, the western corn rootworm's increasing resistance to Bt corn has caused some alarm.

Bt resistance has been confirmed to one or more Bt rootworm toxins in Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, and scientists in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New York, South Dakota and Wisconsin also are reporting significant damage in fields planted to corn hybrids containing Bt rootworm toxins.

To help U.S. corn growers and consultants tackle this growing issue, Dr. Robert Wright, Research & Extension Entomologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, organized a seminar comprising five webcast presentations that focus on the many new and changing aspects of western corn rootworm management in the transgenic era.

This seminar, titled "Corn Rootworm in the Transgenic Era" is located in the Plant Management Network's 'Focus on Corn' resource, which is co-sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association. All five talks are freely available 24/7 to corn producers, consultants, extension agents, and other practitioners involved with Bt corn and the management of western corn rootworm.

'Focus on Corn' is a publication of the Plant Management Network, a nonprofit online publisher whose mission is to enhance the health, management, and production of crops through quality, science-based crop management information for agricultural practitioners. To help achieve its nonprofit publishing mission, PMN partners with more than 80 organizations, which include universities, nonprofits like NCGA, and agribusinesses.



NCBA and PLC Accepting Summer Internship Applications

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s and the Public Lands Council's government affairs office in Washington, D.C., is accepting applications for the summer 2015 public policy internship. The deadline to submit an application is Feb. 9, 2015.

“NCBA and PLC provide opportunities that very few other internships can offer,” said John Weber, South Dakota State University animal science senior and spring 2014 intern. “They truly make you feel part of the team working on key policy issues that impact the beef industry. The internship gives you the opportunity to cover topics ranging from animal welfare to trade and allows you the chance to advocate on behalf of the industry on Capitol Hill.”

NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts said this is a great opportunity for students with an interest in the beef industry and public policy.

“The internship gives college students the opportunity to work alongside staff on a range of issues that impact U.S. cattlemen and women,” Butts said. “The internship is designed to work closely with the lobbying team on Capitol Hill; to assist with NCBA and PLC’s regulatory efforts; and to work closely with the communications team.”

The full-time internship will begin May 18, 2015 and end Aug. 21, 2015. To apply, interested college juniors, seniors or graduate students should submit the application, college transcripts, two letters of recommendation and a resume to internships@beef.org. More information about the NCBA public policy internship is available on BeefUSA.org.



Fertilizer Prices Stall

Retail fertilizer prices continue to remain firm, as they have for some time now, according to suppliers tracked by DTN for the last week of November. Retailers believe these stable prices could stick around for a while, barring any supply issues.

Five of the eight major fertilizers averaged slightly lower prices compared to a month earlier, while the remaining three were up a bit. No fertilizer price moved an amount of any consequence.  DAP, MAP, urea, UAN28 and UAN32 were all just slightly lower in price compared to the previous month. DAP had an average price of $576/ton, MAP $595/ton, urea $492/ton, UAN28 $322/ton and UAN32 $367/ton.

Potash, 10-34-0, and anhydrous were higher in price compared to a month earlier but again these moves were fairly minor. Potash had an average price of $480/ton, 10-34-0 $564/ton and anhydrous $712/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.53/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.58/lb.N and UAN32 $0.57/lb.N.

Three of the eight major fertilizers are now double digits higher in price compared to November 2013, all while commodity prices are significantly lower than a year ago. Urea is now up 12% compared to year earlier, followed by DAP which is 11% more expensive and anhydrous is up 10%.

In addition, 10-34-0 is up 9% while MAP is 7% more expensive and both UAN28 and UAN32 are 1% higher than last year.

Potash remains the only nutrient which is still lower compared to retail prices a year ago. Potash is 1% less expensive than a year previous.



Ethanol Production Expected to be Huge in 2015

The U.S. Energy Information Administration has published its Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting that ethanol production will average 934,000 barrels per day next year.

According to the EIA, ethanol production in June matched the monthly average production record of 959,000 barrels per day set in December 2011, before falling back to average 911,000 barrels per day in October. EIA currently predicts 2014 production will average 927,000 barrels per day this year, increasing to 934,000 barrels per day next year. The 2015 forecast is slightly above the 933,000 barrel per day forecast made in the October issue of the STEO.

Biodiesel production averaged 89,000 barrels per day last year, and is expected to fall to an average of 80,000 barrels per day this year. In 2015, production is expected to increase to an average of 84,000 barrels per day.

Meanwhile, regular gasoline retail prices are expected to continue to decline for the remainder of the year.



USDA Announces Support for Producers of Advanced Biofuel

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is making $5.6 million in grants to 220 producers across the nation to support the production of advanced biofuels, and is awarding more than $4 million in additional grants that will advance the bioeconomy and reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

"Producing advanced biofuel is a major component of the drive to take control of America's energy future by developing domestic, renewable energy sources," Vilsack said. "These resources represent the Obama Administration's commitment to support an 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy that seeks to build a robust bio-based economy. Investments in biofuels will also help create jobs and further diversify the economy in our rural communities."

The funding for producers announced today is being provided through USDA's Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, which was established in the 2008 Farm Bill. Under this program, payments are made to eligible producers based on the amount of advanced biofuel produced from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Examples of eligible feedstocks include but are not limited to: crop residue; animal, food and yard waste; vegetable oil; and animal fat.

Through the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, USDA supports the research, investment and infrastructure necessary to build a strong biofuel industry that creates jobs and broadens the range of feedstocks used to produce renewable fuel. USDA has made more than $280 million in payments to more than 350 producers (more than 3,100 total payments) in 47 states and territories since the program's inception. These payments have supported the production of more than 5.8 billion gallons of advanced biofuel and the equivalent of more than 58 billion kilowatt hours of electric energy.

Also today, USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the award of fiscal year 2014 grants through three other programs supporting bioenergy initiatives.

The National Biodiesel Board and Regents of the University of Idaho received $768,000 and $192,000 respectively, through the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. The program was established to stimulate biodiesel consumption and the development of a biodiesel infrastructure. The funded education and outreach activities will raise awareness of biodiesel fuel use among governmental and private entities that operate vehicle fleets and the public. Funded projects also focus on educational programs supporting advances in infrastructure, technology transfer, fuel quality, fuel safety and increasing feedstock production.

South Dakota State University (SDSU) received $2.3 million through the Sun Grant Program. This program encourages bioenergy and biomass research collaboration between government agencies, land-grant colleges and universities, and the private sector. SDSU will lead a consortium of five regional grant centers and one subcenter that makes competitive grants to projects that contribute to research, education and outreach for the regional production and sustainability of possible biobased feedstocks. The project period will not exceed five years.

Through the Critical Agricultural Materials program, Iowa State University of Science and Technology received $1 million for the development of new paint, coating, and adhesive products that are derived from acrylated glycerol, which is a co-product of the biodiesel industry. The Critical Agricultural Materials program supports the development of products that are manufactured from domestically-produced agricultural materials and are of strategic and industrial importance to benefit the economy, defense, and general well-being of the nation. Many such products replace petroleum-based products and offer opportunities to create new businesses and new markets for agricultural materials.



USDA Announces New Support to Help Schools Purchase More Food from Local Farmers

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more than $5 million in grants for 82 projects spanning 42 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands that support the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) efforts to connect school cafeterias with local farmers and ranchers through its Farm to School Program. The program helps schools purchase more food from local farmers and ranchers in their communities, expanding access to healthy local food for school children and supporting local economies. According to USDA's first-ever Farm to School Census released earlier this year, school districts participating in farm to school programs purchased and served over $385 million in local food in school year 2011-2012, with more than half of participating schools planning to increase their purchases of local food in the future.

"USDA is proud to support communities across the country as they plan and implement innovative farm to school projects," said Vilsack. "These inspiring collaborations provide students with healthy, fresh food, while supporting healthy local economies. Through farm to school projects, community partners are coming together to ensure a bright future for students, and for local farmers and ranchers."



China to Cut Tariffs on Australian Beef, Dairy

China will reduce import tariffs across a range of Australian agriculture products including beef and dairy as part of a free trade agreement that may boost shipments to the world's second-largest economy. Bloomberg News reports that all dairy tariffs, which can be as high as 20 percent, will be removed within four to 11 years, the Australian government said today. Duties of 12 percent to 25 percent on beef will be removed over nine years and tariffs of 10 percent on live animal exports will be eliminated within four years, it said. Beef is Australia's most valuable agricultural export and the country is the world's third-biggest shipper.

Australia is seeking to reduce its reliance on resource exports and rebalance growth to other areas. The country is the most China-dependent developed economy, with exports to the nation representing 5.3 percent of gross domestic product, Commonwealth Bank of Australia says. The FTA gives Australia an advantage over agricultural competitors such as the U.S. and Canada and counters benefits New Zealand has through its own deal with China signed in 2008, the government said.

Bloomberg says China is the world's largest dairy importer, accounting for about 30 percent of global purchases, according to Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd. The FTA will be "a game changer" for Australian dairy, the company's Managing Director Australia Judith Swales said in an e-mailed statement today.