Friday January 16 Ag News

NEBRASKA REACHES $1 BILLION IN BEEF EXPORTS IN 2014

Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Greg Ibach announced a new milestone today for the state’s beef sector. In the first 11 months of 2014, over $1 billion of Nebraska beef was exported to international markets, setting a new record for the state.

“Nebraska farmers, ranchers, feedlot operators and processors work hard to produce high-quality beef products that are recognized around the world. That hard work has been rewarded, as we are seeing significant growth in East Asian markets and also in several emerging markets,” Ibach said. “We are optimistic for a continued upward trend in 2015.”

According to Ibach the value of beef muscle cut exports has increased by 250 percent since 2009, while the total volume of beef exports during that same timeframe doubled. In 2009, the state exported $409 million in beef muscle cuts; for 2014, with numbers available through November, the state exported $1.031 billion.

Gov. Pete Ricketts also noted the new benchmark.  “Export activity like what we are seeing in the beef sector is exactly what we need to keep our Nebraska economy moving in the right direction,” Gov. Ricketts said. “I am excited to further our state’s export efforts for all Nebraska agricultural goods.”

Ibach said Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea all have had significant beef import increases during the past six years and are all countries where the state has conducted focused promotion activities. The state also has done work in Europe, an emerging growth market for Nebraska beef.

In addition to beef muscle cuts, Ibach noted export growth over the past six years for beef products that generally aren’t utilized in the American marketplace, such as beef livers and tongues. In 2014, $93 million in exports of these types of products were sold, compared to $32.3 million in 2009.

“The sales increases for these products are important since there is not much value for them in the United States,” he said.

“The reputation of Nebraska beef continues to grow, and we find customers seeking us out for further information on our state,” Ibach said. “Nebraska’s beef sector should be proud of reaching this new $1 billion export high.”



Nebraska Cattlemen Applauds Record-Breaking Beef Exports Numbers

Nebraska Cattlemen Executive Vice President Pete McClymont today released the following statement regarding the Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s announcement of 2014 beef exports topping $1 Billion.

“Nebraska beef producers work hard every day to ensure people across the globe have the protein they need,” said McClymont. “Reaching $1 Billion in exports proves the positive impact of their efforts – for those who have the food they need and for Nebraska’s economic future.”



Nebraska Farm Bureau Offers Help with Farm Bill Decision Making

Nebraska farmers looking for assistance in evaluating how their operations might fair under different options offered through the 2014 Farm Bill can get direct one-on-one assistance thanks to a new service offered by the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation (NFBF). The service gives farmers and landowners an opportunity to evaluate farm bill program options for their operations by having a University of Nebraska-trained individual assist them in working through online farm bill tools, said Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau president.

“Changes in the 2014 Farm Bill have left farmers and landowners with lots to consider as they begin making farm bill program sign-up decisions over the next several months. Landowners will consider base and yield reallocations and farmers will choose between three new farm programs,” said Nelson.

According to Nelson, the purpose of the service isn’t to tell individuals what they should do when it comes to farm programs, but rather to make sure they have good information from which to make those decisions.

“We know there are a lot of questions out there about the new farm bill. Our objective is to give people the opportunity to have someone assist them in walking through the online farm bill tools developed by the University of Illinois and Texas A&M University so they can evaluate the differences between farm bill programs as it relates to their specific operation,” said Nelson.

Farm Bureau members can access the farm bill service for a fee of $50. Non-Farm Bureau members are eligible for the service at a fee of $100, which includes a one-year membership to the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation.

“Our hope is to put good information in people’s hands and do it in a way where they don’t have to leave the comfort of their home. Farm Bureau was founded as an organization to help make life better for Nebraska farm and ranch families and this service is another example of how our organization is striving to assist and meet their needs,” said Nelson.

Farmers and ranchers interested in this service should contact Nebraska Farm Bureau Director of National Affairs Jordan Dux at 402-450-3555 or via email at jordand@nefb.org.



MOST IMPORTANT INVENTION
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

               How important is hay?  You might be surprised at what one of the world’s greatest scholars had to say.

               As you feed alfalfa or grass hay to your horses, cows, sheep, llamas or other livestock, did you know you are using one of the most important inventions of the past two thousand years?  According to physicist Freeman Dyson, a professor at Princeton University, hay is the most important invention of the past two thousand years.

               Professor Dyson explains that all the great early civilizations depended on animals like cattle for human food and horses and oxen for power.  Two thousand years ago civilizations like the Roman Empire could only exist in warm or Mediterranean climates where these animals could stay alive during winter by grazing.  North of the Alps, great cities could not exist because horses, oxen, and cattle could not survive.

               At some point, someone discovered that grass could be harvested, dried, and stored to be used later as good feed during the winter months.  As knowledge about hay became more common, people began to discover that it could provide a reliable year-long feed supply for horses, oxen, and cattle.  This enabled civilization to move north of the Alps.

               So it was hay that allowed populations to grow and civilizations to flourish among the forests of Northern Europe.  Hay is what allowed large numbers of humans to move north, transferring the greatness of Rome and giving birth to Vienna and Paris, to London and Berlin, and later to Moscow and New York.

               Next time you feed hay to your animals, think about where you and your animals would be if hay had never been invented.



USDA Rural Development is Seeking Applications to Provide Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Grants and Loans in Rural Areas

USDA Rural Development is seeking applications for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).  REAP is available to agricultural producers and rural small for-profit businesses to complete energy efficiency improvements or install a renewable energy system to their current farm or business operations.

Grants and guaranteed loans may be used for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency equipment and renewable energy systems, such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) units, lighting, windows, pivots or sub-surface drip tape systems as well as, irrigation engines or motors, variable frequency drives, grain dryers, geothermal systems, solar panels, wind turbines, and aneorobic digesters.

Grants are for 25% of the total eligible project costs, and guaranteed loans are for up to 75% of the total eligible project costs.  Rural is defined as cities with a population of less than 50,000.  Applications are to be submitted to your local Rural Development office no later than close of business, 4:30 p.m., April 30, 2015 and June 30, 2015.  All applications submitted are selected based on a competitive scoring process, which is outlined within the application packet.

Wagner’s Supermarket in Arapahoe received a REAP grant to replace existing freezers and coolers in their grocery store.  A 30% annual energy savings has been realized in the past year as a result of the project.

REAP, authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2014, (Farm Bill) is designed to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses to reduce energy costs and consumption and help meet the Nation’s critical energy needs.  USDA is accepting the following applications:

·         Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants (for State, Tribal, or Local Government, and Councils to conduct energy audits to assist agricultural producers and rural small businesses) until February 12, 2015;

·         Energy Efficiency Improvements and Renewable Energy Systems GRANT applications, combination grant and guaranteed loan applications until April 30,2015 and June 30, 2015;

·         Energy Efficiency Improvements and Renewable Energy Systems guaranteed loan only applications will be accepted continuously and compete monthly.

For more information regarding the REAP program, visit:  http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Reap.html. 



EPA Selects New Agriculture Advisor

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Ron Carleton will be the next Agriculture Counselor to the EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. Carleton returns to Washington, D.C. from Colorado where he has been the deputy agriculture commissioner for the state. Prior to working in Colorado, Carleton served as the Representative John Salazar’s chief of staff and also held several other positions on Capitol Hill over the last 30 years. Carleton replaces Alison Wiedeman who has been serving in the position in an acting capacity since the departure of Sarah Bittleman last year.




U.S. Sorghum Team Builds Demand in China

China’s surging imports of U.S. sorghum is one of 2014’s top trade success stories, and a U.S. Grains Council (USGC) team is visiting China this week to help sustain that momentum in 2015.

In the 2013/2014 marketing year, China imported 4.2 million metric tons (165 million bushels) of U.S. sorghum accounting for 87 percent of U.S. global exports. This year is guaranteed to be another big year, with China having outstanding sales and accumulated exports of more than 4.8 million tons (189 million bushels) as of Jan. 8, 2015, for the 2014/2015 marketing year.

“China’s demand for coarse grains is significant,” said Bryan Lohmar, USGC director in China. “The Council and the U.S. sorghum industry have worked hard for three years to introduce sorghum as a new option for China’s producers. This program has begun to yield very impressive results, and we expect China to remain a robust market for U.S. sorghum in the future."

China road showThe Council-led team met this week with swine and poultry producers, representatives of the feed industry and traders to discuss the U.S. sorghum supply, demand and pricing situations and the optimal use of sorghum in livestock rations. The team also presented half-day seminars in Guangzhou and Nanning to more than 200 Chinese nutritionists and livestock producers.

“This is a team effort between the Council, the United Sorghum Checkoff Program and Texas Grain Sorghum Association,” said Alvaro Cordero, USGC manager of global trade and USGC’s staff lead on sorghum export programs.

“We have worked hard for more than three years to put sorghum on the map in China and the growth we have seen is a direct result of these efforts.”

Mexico and Japan are the traditional top destinations for sorghum and remain significant markets in which the Council is working with users of the grain. With an abundant corn and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) supply, and a sorghum industry eager to expand production and exports, the United States is well positioned to meet rising demand in all markets.



USDA DEREGULATES MONSANTO’S NEXT-GENERATION WEED CONTROL TRAIT TECHNOLOGY

Thursday the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced  its decision to deregulate Monsanto’s dicamba-tolerant trait technologies –Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybeans and Bollgard II® XtendFlex™ cotton. USDA indicated that its decision will be published in the Federal Register in the near future. These weed management solutions will provide farmers with more consistent, flexible control of tough-to-manage broadleaf weeds.

“This announcement marks an important milestone for farmers around the world,” said Robb Fraley, Ph.D., Monsanto’s chief technology officer. “Weeds represent a key pest to agriculture operations around the world and limit crops of much-needed nutrients, sunlight and access to available water resources. We’re excited to provide additional tools that can help improve efficiencies on farm and support farmers in bringing more food to harvest for consumers.”

Monsanto has been working diligently over the last ten years to develop the Roundup Ready® Xtend Crop System and bring it to market. “The dedication, effort and number of people that have touched this project has been extraordinary, and demonstrates our continued commitment to bring a range of agriculture solutions to farmers – including game-changing traits like Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans and Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton,” Fraley added.

To prepare for commercialization and to further enhance growers' experience with the technology, Monsanto trained more than 7,500 growers, retail partners and stakeholders on weed management.

Commercial intentions will be announced in the near future.



Soy Growers Welcome USDA Deregulation of Dicamba-Tolerant Soybeans

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Thursday that the agency will deregulate Monsanto’s Dicamba-resistant soybeans. Following the news, the American Soybean Association (ASA) issued a statement welcoming the decision and calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to quickly finalize the label for the companion Dicamba herbicide technology.

“Today’s decision by USDA to deregulate Dicamba is great news for American soybean farmers. In almost all of our 30 soy-growing states, farmers face a strong foe in herbicide-resistant weeds, and this technology presents another mode of action with which we can combat this issue,” said ASA President and Brownfield, Texas, farmer Wade Cowan. “We appreciate USDA’s work on this issue and encourage them to continue addressing our industry’s need for a more reliable biotech approvals process. We turn our attention now to the final registration of the Dicamba product label at EPA, and then to approvals in key soybean export markets like China, so our farmers can fully implement this technology on their farms.”

Because of the importance of export markets to U.S. soybean farmers, ASA has a long-standing policy requiring technology providers like Monsanto to seek and obtain approvals in key U.S. soy export markets prior to commercializing those traits domestically. ASA works closely with technology companies, fellow members of the soy value chain and government entities to facilitate timely, science-based reviews of new biotech soybean traits both domestically and abroad.



Trait Deregulation Clears the Way for New BASF Weed Control Option in Cotton and Soybeans

Cotton and soybean growers will gain a new tool for controlling more than 190 broadleaf weeds, including key glyphosate-resistant weeds. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced deregulation of a dicamba-tolerant trait for cotton and soybeans, which clears the way for the introduction of Engenia™ herbicide from BASF. Engenia herbicide will control the toughest broadleaf weeds post-emergence in dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybeans. A registration decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Engenia herbicide is anticipated to follow this deregulation milestone.

“BASF is committed to providing new technologies for growers, as shown by our $1.5 million per day investment in agricultural research,” said Scott Kay, Vice President, U.S. Crop Protection, BASF. “Through our continued commitment to innovation, BASF will bring to market its most advanced dicamba formulation, Engenia herbicide.”

The USDA opened public commentary in the fall of 2014 regarding the trait deregulation. According to the feedback on www.regulations.gov, growers believe technologies like dicamba-tolerant cropping systems give farmers choices. Growers stated the technology is necessary so they can continue to improve their farms and remain competitive in the global marketplace by maintaining healthy yields and productivity.

In more than 300 research trials completed in 2011 and 2012, Engenia herbicide demonstrated effective control of resistant broadleaf weeds. When Engenia herbicide is used with other BASF residual herbicides, it has shown more than 95 percent control of both grasses and problematic broadleaf weeds.

As a key part of the dicamba-tolerant cropping system, Engenia herbicide will be used to help protect yield potential and manage increasingly complex weed challenges. According to 2012 field research trials, Engenia herbicide has been shown more effective than 2,4-D on key broadleaf weeds, such as Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, marestail and common and giant ragweed, and provides up to two weeks of soil residual activity to control weeds before they emerge.

“BASF has leveraged more than 50 years of technical expertise with dicamba to develop Engenia herbicide,” Kay said. “Engenia herbicide will provide a much-needed new tool to help growers manage weed problems in dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybeans.”