Monday January 26 Ag News

2015 Beef Feedlot Roundtables at Three Locations in February

Beef feedlot managers, owners, employees and supporting industry personnel will learn the latest in feedlot nutrition, health, and economics at the 2015 Beef Feedlot Roundtables Feb. 10-12 in Bridgeport, Lexington and West Point, with remote connections to locations in Iowa and South Dakota.

The Nebraska Extension Roundtables will be offered Feb. 10 at the Prairie Winds Community Center in Bridgeport, Feb. 11 at the Holiday Inn Express in Lexington, and Feb. 12 at the Nielsen Community Center in West Point. Registration begins at 8 a.m. local time, with introduction and welcome at 8:20 by local extension personnel.

University and industry representatives will speak on feedlot economics, animal health, nutrition and management and other timely topics for feedlot operators.

Topics and presenters include:
·         Byproduct or Corn Usage in Feedlot Diets: Performance and Carcass Characteristics (Andrea Watson, UNL Animal Science)
·         Market Outlook and Rebuilding the Cow Herd (Kate Brooks, UNL Agricultural Economics)
·         Feedlot Survey Results: Labor, Marketing, and Management (Jake Birch, UNL Agribusiness Graduate Program)
·         Producer/Industry Roundtable Discussion (Moderated by local Extension personnel)
·         Beef Industry Update (Rob Eirich, UNL Extension BQA Director, and Doug Straight, Nebraska Beef Council)
·         Managing Holstein Beef: Animal Health Considerations (Dan Grooms, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, via webinar)
·         Managing Holstein Beef: Feedlot Nutrition and Technology (Dan Loy, Iowa State University)
·         Beta-agonists in Feedlot Diets (Galen Erickson, UNL Animal Science)
·         UNL Feedlot Research Update (Matt Luebbe, UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center)
·         Optional BQA Training (Rob Eirich, UNL Extension, Nebraska BQA Director)

The Nebraska Beef Council will give an update on new beef products and sponsor lunch at NE locations.

Preregistration is available by phone, fax, e-mail or mail, and requested by Feb. 3. Cost is $30 for those who preregister, and will be accepted at the door. Cost for those who have not preregistered will be $40.

For more information or a registration form, contact:  Matt Luebbe at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361, phone 308-632-1260, fax 308-632-1365 or e-mail mluebbe2@unl.edu. 



Syngenta Lawsuit Info at Area Meetings

Syngenta problems are not about GMO corn. They are about telling the truth! Did Syngenta tell the truth about its Viptera hybrids? Or did it conceal the truth? When Syngenta’s top official told the group of Wall Street traders and bankers that Viptera crops could enter the export markets, was he concealing the fact that Syngenta knew China would not accept GMO seed containing the traits in Viptera?

That is what the lawsuit it will be about – truthfulness, and the damages caused by not being truthful if that turns out to be what happened.

Domina Law Group pc llo believes there is sufficient evidence to encourage clients to perfect claims and preserve rights. They intend to be active in the ongoing litigation to help ensure producers are fully and fairly paid, and that the interests of corn growers are protected by lawyers with experience, and usual practice contact, with corn growers.

An area informational meeting for corn farmers will be Tuesday, February 3rd at 10am at the Green Lantern in Decatur.  Dave Domina plans to be there to speak.  Discussion will also cover some water rights issues.  Other meetings include...

Monday February 2nd - 7:00 PM - Hartington VFW (126 E. Main St)
Thursday, February 5th - 2:00 PM - Blue Hill Community Center
Thursday, February 5th - 10:00 AM - Aunt Mary’s (111 S. 8th St)  Beatrice
Sunday, February 8th - 1:30 PM  - Doniphan Events Center

For more information, please call Graham Christensen at 402-217-5217.  You can also get information & sign up on the Domina Law website by following this link... http://www.dominalaw.com/Investigations/Syngenta-Corn.aspx.



New faces at the Lower Elkhorn NRD

There are some new faces at the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) office in Norfolk.  Three new members have joined the district staff.  Two Land Use Certification Specialists were recently hired to assist in the certification of irrigated acres across the district.  They are Kristie Olmer of Madison and Mason Bushnell of Kearney.  A new general manager has also started with the district.  Mike Sousek of Wahoo has joined the staff, replacing former general manager, Stan Staab of Norfolk.

Kristie Olmer received degrees from Central Wyoming College and Chadron State College, where she majored in rangeland management with a livestock option.  Olmer says she is “happy to be returning to the area where she grew up and is excited to learn new things with the NRD.”

Mason Bushnell graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha with a major in geography.  Bushnell says he’s “excited to get to know a different part of Nebraska.”

Mike Sousek received his degree in biology from Wayne State College and recently completed his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.  Sousek says “the LENRD is a great district and has so much going for it.  I’m excited to be a part of the challenges ahead of us.”  Sousek was formerly the rural water manager at the Lower Platte North NRD in Wahoo.  He and his wife, Carrie, will be moving to Norfolk soon with their three children, Ben, 8, Gabby, 2, and Robert, 1.

Along with the new staff, there are new members of the board as well.  Five new board members have taken the Oath of Office as elected officials for the LENRD.  The new members are:  Cory Beller of Norfolk;  Kurt Janke of Wayne;  Chad Korth of Meadow Grove;  Jarvis Otten of Norfolk;  and Luke Winkelbauer of Norfolk.  The new board & staff members attended their first board meetings in January.



Weather Outlook Uncertain, but Storms Could Lie Ahead
Al Dutcher, NE State Climatologist

Our meteorological winter has reached its midpoint and Nebraska has been fortunate enough to have escaped the endless string of bitter cold temperatures we experienced last winter.  There is no denying that we have experienced periods of bitter cold temperatures during the 60 plus days, but these distinct cold periods have been sandwiched between periods of warmth that were of equal or greater magnitude.

 Part of the reason for this continual swing in temperatures lies is that a weak El Nino event is ongoing and the sub-tropical jet is driving systems eastward through the extreme southern U.S.  This leaves a substantial portion of the central and northern Plains between the southern and northern jet streams when storms enter the western U.S.  When the southern jet weakens, the northern jet becomes stronger and it is much easier for Arctic air to invade the eastern half of the country.

Bitter cold temperatures during the first two weeks of November brought back memories of the 2013-14 winter when the United States was dealing with a persistently strong upper air trough (Polar vortex) over the eastern half of the country. Our precipitation events were generally in the form of Alberta Clippers that brought light snow events, except across the Panhandle where cold air damming up against the Rockies resulted in several moderate upslope snow events.

This pattern quickly broke down as the trough weakened and was replaced by an upper air ridge.  As the eastern ridge began to strengthen, the western U.S. came under the influence of an upper air trough in the Gulf of Alaska.  A series of storms pressed on shore through the third week of December, resulting in above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation for most areas between the Rocky and Appalachian mountain ranges.

There was only one significant precipitation event during this period (12/14-12/16) and it came in the form of rain for the most part.  Fortunately the stretch of warm weather preceding the event thawed out soils and allowed for substantial infiltration of this moisture into the upper soil profile. Rainfall reports across the western half of the state indicated individual locations received anywhere from 50% to over 100% of the precipitation expected during a normal winter.

Precipitation totals across the eastern half of the state weren't as generous during this storm system, with most locations receiving 75% to 150% of normal December precipitation.  An area situated from Hebron eastward to Fairbury and northward to Highway 2 reported moisture of 0.25 to 0.50 inches.

A return to cold temperatures from late December through mid-January signaled a return to the Polar Vortex pattern, but as happened in November, the pattern once again broke down and the western U.S. ridge shifted eastward, resulting in our present January thaw.  A stormy pattern appears to be developing across the western U.S., but it's uncertain as to whether this activity will eventually move eastward and impact Nebraska or pass south of the state.

The most recent Climate Prediction Center 30- and 90-day outlooks suggest that stormy weather entering the western United States will persist into spring.  The 30-day outlook suggests a sizable area from southern California through the southern Plains (including Kansas) will see above normal moisture.  The only difference in the 90-day precipitation outlook (February-April) is for an expansion northward of above normal moisture to include southwest, west central, and the southern Panhandle of Nebraska.

The temperature outlook for February contains considerable uncertainty as the CPC shows no climatological trend for Nebraska.  CPC suggests a weak tendency in the 90-day outlook for below normal temperatures across southwest and south central Nebraska, with no distinct trend indicated for the remainder of the state.

CPC data analysis of late winter and early spring climate tendencies during El Nino events indicates that colder than normal temperatures, above normal moisture, and above normal snowfall can be expected 60%-70% of the time from Kansas southward through Texas from February through April.  Nebraska sits on the northern boundary of this region.

Colder than normal temperatures, above normal moisture (including snow) occurs a little over 60% of the time for Nebraska during the March-May period, with the highest probabilities assigned to the western half of the state.  It remains to be seen whether these conditions will occur this winter, but cattle producers may want to aware that heavy, wet snows are fairly common during a majority of El Nino springs.



Alternative Fuels Documentary Comes to Omaha

After a successful showing in Lincoln, a one-time screening of "Pump" will hit the big screen at
Film Streams' Ruth Sokolof Theater Feb. 2. The 88-minute film will be shown at 7 p.m.

"Pump", which is narrated by Jason Bateman, explores America's dependence on oil and its
effect on the economy. The documentary demonstrates how biofuels like ethanol offer
consumers a cheaper, cleaner alternative to gasoline.

Following the screening, there will be a short panel discussion. David Bracht, Nebraska Energy
Office director; Doug Durante, Clean Fuels Development Coalition executive director
representing Urban Air Initiative; and Angela Tin, American Lung Association of the Upper
Midwest vice-president for environmental health, will discuss fuel choice and its impact on the
environment and public health.

"Motor vehicle emissions are a major source of environmental pollution," Tin said.  "The use of
alternative fuels, like E85, will benefit air quality and supports our mission to save lives by
improving lung health and preventing lung disease."

"Pump" is being shown nationwide on a small scale and is currently available for purchase on
iTunes. The film has received positive entertainment reviews.

Pete Lehner, executive director of Natural Resources Defense Council, said "Pump" is "a must-
see movie that jumpstarts an important conversation about the crippling costs of our oil
addiction."

This event is open to the public and includes free admission and popcorn. Please reserve
tickets by emailing rsvppump@gmail.com.

"Pump" and the panel discussion are sponsored by Clean Fuels Development Coalition, Iowa Corn
Promotion Board, Midwest Renewable Energy, Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Ethanol Board, Pinnacle Bank, Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy and Urban Air Initiative.



Innovative Youth Corn Challenge 2014 Awards Ceremony Held
Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Corn Board teamed up to offer the third Innovative Youth Corn Challenge contest. This contest, open to 4-H members (age 10 & older as of Jan. 1st) or FFA members (in-school members), guided participants through all aspects of corn production, as well as agricultural careers related to corn production.

The 2014 winning team was from the Fillmore Central FFA chapter. The team with the highest percent yield increase over their local county average is the winner. In earning the $1,000 first-place award, Fillmore Central FFA tested corn-seeding rates on irrigated ground to determine the optimum rate. Their check plot of 32,000 seeds per acre yielded 253 bushels per acre, while their challenge plot, planted at 38,000, yielded 281 bushels per acre.  The Fillmore Central FFA Chapter included Adam Hoarty, Garrett Whitley, Tyler O'Conner, Logan Peppard and Aaron Poppert.

Second-place team overall was the Kornhusker Kids 4-H Club of Cuming County, earning $500 for their efforts. Team members tested two different sources of sulfur--gypsum (calcium sulfate) and ammonium sulfate. The check plot of 167 bushels per acre yielded the highest. The ammonium sulfate treatment produced 164 bushels per acre and gypsum 163 bushels per acre. The Kornhusker Kids 4-H Club included Kaleb Hasenkamp, Angela Rolf, Matthew Rolf, Levi Schiller and Payton Schiller.

Third-place team was the Eagle Hustlers 4-H Club consisting of Miles and Jace Stagemeyer, which tested a product, called Pervaide, which was developed to reduce compaction. The challenge plot yielded 213 bushels per acre, while the check plot yielded 210 bushels per acre.

As a team, youth worked with an adult mentor throughout the process. Mentors can be extension faculty, ag teachers, or other qualified agronomy professionals.



2015 Leopold Conservation Award Applications Available

In partnership with Sand County Foundation, Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) today announced the application period is open for the Nebraska 2015 Leopold Conservation Award. Leopold Conservation Award winners are recognized for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. The winner receives an Aldo Leopold crystal and a check for $10,000.
The Leopold Conservation Award is presented in honor of famed conservationist and author Aldo Leopold, who called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

The Leopold Conservation Award in Nebraska is made possible through the generous support of: Cargill, Farm Credit Services of America, Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation, Nebraska Environmental Trust, Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, Sandhills Task Force, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and World Wildlife Fund.

The Leopold Conservation Award recipient will be announced in April 2015.

Landowners may nominate themselves or others and nominations are also welcome from groups or organizations. The nomination deadline is March 1, 2015. 2015 application details can be found here or by visiting www.leopoldfoundationaward.org.

For more information, please contact NC Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs Kristen Hassebrook at 402-475-2333.



Growers Exercise Leadership Skills in Nation's Capital

Corn farmers from across the country have traveled to Washington this week to take part in the second phase of the annual leadership development programs co-sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association and Syngenta. While in town, the group will visit numerous members of the Senate and House of Representatives and get an inside look at parliamentary procedure and how lobbying works on Capitol Hill.

"For more than a quarter of a century, Leadership At Its Best has been an invaluable tool for helping corn growers become leaders at the state and national level," said Chip Bowling, NCGA's current president and a LAIB graduate himself. "In Washington, our farmers can see first-hand how decisions made here impact us back on the farm. Having a strong voice here in the capital is very important for NCGA and its farmer members."

The Leadership At Its Best class will receive briefings from NCGA staffers on the issues facing America's farmers in the coming year followed by presentations from lobbyist and Hill staffer panels explaining how the lobbying process functions in the Capitol and how to get the best result from interaction with members of Congress and their staff. They then will have the opportunity to see the process in action during a series of visits with Congressional leaders. Additionally, the group will participate in parliamentary procedure training with NCGA Parliamentarian Chris Dickey.

This year's Leadership At Its Best class includes Matt Amick (Mo.), Russell Carpenter (N.Y.), Ann Cross (Colo.), Kurtis Gregory (Mo.), Mark Heckman (Iowa), Bob Hemesath (Iowa), Noah Hultgren (Minn.), Paul Jeschke (Ill.), Andy Jobman (Neb.),  Greg Krissek (Kan.), Jon Miller (Ohio), Ted Mottaz (Ill.), Danny Nerud (Neb.), and Dennis Vennekotter (Ohio).

Phase one of Leadership At Its Best takes place in August and includes sessions on media training, public speaking, business etiquette and meeting management. Applications for Leadership At Its Best will be available in February from state and national offices.



Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments Critical for Certain Soybean Operations

In comments submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today, the American Soybean Association (ASA) disagreed with the conclusions of a recent report from EPA that calls into question the efficacy of neonicotinoid seed treatments in soybean operations.

In the association’s comments, ASA President and Brownfield, Texas, farmer Wade Cowan pointed out that “…soybean producers use neonicotinoid seed treatments where they are needed and effective, and don’t use them where not.” Cowan also argued that recent research from Mississippi showing approximately 90 percent adoption of neonicotinoid seed treatments signals that the technology does work for farmers in certain areas.

In the comments, Cowan noted that neonicotinoid seed treatment use is tailored to a very specific set of circumstances, and in those settings, that particular technology is critical, “Farmers balance the efficacy of different treatments based on their individual farms, and experience shows that farmers who purchase seed treatment for soybeans do so because it reduces or eliminates the need for application of additional inputs after the soybean seedling has emerged,” he said. “Seed treatments both protect the soybeans from insects in the soil after planting as well as protecting the seedlings as they emerge. A below-ground insect infestation has no rescue options except replanting, and in the northern growing regions, replanting is not often an option.”

“EPA must not allow political pressure to lead to restrictions on crop protection tools,” concluded Cowan. “We have appreciated EPA’s science-based decision-making in evaluating crop protection products, particularly as they are wrongly singled out as the cause of pollinator decline. We urge EPA to maintain its commitment to science in evaluating crop protection tools.”



U.S. Pork Producers ‘All In’ On TPA

With negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal hanging in the balance, the National Pork Producers Council today threw its support behind renewal of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which will enable the current administration and future ones to negotiate and close trade agreements such as the TPP.

“The U.S. pork industry is the poster child for expanded trade,” said NPPC President Howard Hill, a pork producer from Cambridge, Iowa. “As a result of trade agreements, our exports have increased 1550 percent in value and 1268 percent in volume since 1989, the year the U.S. implemented the FTA with Canada and started opening international markets for value-added agriculture products. Pork producers and U.S. agriculture are dependent on export markets, so NPPC is going to fight tooth and nail to get TPA passed.”

NPPC today sent a letter to every member of Congress, urging passage of legislation to renew TPA.

TPA defines U.S. negotiating objectives and priorities for trade agreements and establishes consultation and notification requirements for the president to follow throughout the negotiation process. Once negotiators finalize a deal, Congress gets an up or down vote – without amendments – on it. Congress has granted TPA to every president since 1974, with the most recent law being approved in August 2002 and expiring June 30, 2007.

While TPA will empower U.S. trade officials to pursue and finalize a number of different trade negotiations, TPP is paramount for U.S. pork producers. The benefits from TPP are expected to far exceed the benefits that have resulted from past trade deals and will represent, according to Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes, “the most important commercial opportunity ever for U.S. pork producers.”

Negotiations on TPP, which includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, are drawing to a conclusion, with the latest round of talks beginning today.

“Significant progress has been made with respect to Japan’s market access offer on pork thanks to the hard work of U.S. trade officials and the strong support of the U.S. Congress,” said NPPC’s Hill. “While NPPC is reserving judgment on a final TPP agreement, we believe it is imperative that Congress approve TPA as a signal to our trading partners that the U.S. is ready to finalize an agreement that expands U.S. trade and generates U.S. jobs.”



Cattlemen Urge Renewal of Trade Promotion Authority
 
As trade negotiators meet again this week, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association urges the renewal of Trade Promotion Authority, legislation that gives the President authority to negotiate trade agreements with an assurance that Congress will give the final agreement only an up or down vote.

Over 12 million American jobs depend on exports, and with the renewal of TPA, valuable free trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership can move forward. NCBA President and Texas cattle producer, Bob McCan said under TPP, the U.S. beef industry could see the elimination of tariff and non-tariff trade barriers that hinder the industry’s ability to meet free market demand for beef in the Pacific Rim.

“The governments of many of our competitors are actively engaged in negotiating trade agreements with growing consumer markets around the world,” said McCan. “Unless the United States takes a similar aggressive approach to secure free trade agreements, we will lose market share; not due to the quality of our products, but because our products will be more expensive due to import tariffs. While the final terms of the agreement are still far from conclusion, TPP could give the United States a stronger foothold in the growing Asian and Pacific Rim markets.”

The multi-lateral TPP agreement is currently being negotiated by the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Canada and Mexico. NCBA encourages the U.S. to push for full and free market access to all TPP member countries, eliminating high tariff rates and quotas that currently limit the United States’ ability to compete for consumers.

McCan warned, however, that just as important as trade agreements are to the domestic economy, on-going west coast port labor negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association have caused a significant disruption to the transport of goods and are threatening the success and continuity of trade with international markets.

“In the face of free trade agreements that provide jobs and foster economic growth, we cannot have our products sitting on ships at dock or in trucks waiting to be loaded,” said McCan. “Supply chains across several industries have been adversely impacted due to events far beyond our control and with perishable items like beef, this is especially concerning. These labor disputes must be settled as soon as possible to resolve the current congestion issues interrupting the flow of commerce.”



Vilsack on Efforts by Agricultural Producers to Urge the Renewal of Trade Promotion Authority

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today made the following statement regarding efforts by the National Pork Producers Council, National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association to urge the renewal of Trade Promotion Authority:

"It is no surprise that agricultural producers are joining the chorus of voices calling on Congress to renew Trade Promotion Authority. The past six years were the strongest period for agricultural exports in the history of our nation, despite the fact that many other countries' markets are not as open to American products as our markets are to theirs. New trade agreements that help level the playing field for agriculture will build on the success we've seen in the agricultural economy since 2009 and help producers create more new jobs across the country. What makes the agricultural economy stronger makes our entire nation's economy stronger. It is imperative that Congress act on Trade Promotion Authority early this year."

Fiscal years 2009 to 2014 represent the strongest six years in history for U.S. agricultural trade, with U.S. agricultural product exports totaling $771.7 billion. Agricultural exports last fiscal year reached $152.5 billion, the highest level on record, and supported nearly one million jobs here at home, a substantial part of the nearly 11.3 million jobs supported by exports all across our country.



Alltech Feed Survey reports steady increase in 2014 global production

Around the world, feed producers responded to consumer demands for more protein by increasing the number of mills that produce animal feed and the amount of product they generate.  The 2015 Survey released today by Alltech revealed an estimated total of 980 million metric tons of feed produced globally, an increase of about 2 percent over the prior year.

The top 10 feed producers in the world remained the same: China, the United States, Brazil, Mexico, India, Spain, Russia, Japan, Germany and France. Some of the smaller countries saw significant jumps in productivity, including Indonesia, Turkey, Vietnam, Poland, Romania and Morocco.

China once again won the title of leading feed producer in Alltech’s annual Global Feed Tonnage Survey with 182.69 million tons manufactured throughout the country’s 9,500 feed mills; however, this is the second year the nation has reported a decline in production.

According to Aidan Connolly, chief innovation officer and director of Alltech’s Global Feed Tonnage Survey, there were many areas of ups and downs in worldwide production, impacted by both positive and negative influences such as slow markets, shifting raw feed material costs, fluctuating governance over import/export standards and animal diseases such as PEDv in pigs and bird flu in poultry.  He estimates the feed industry’s net worth at $460 billion, based on average materials prices throughout 2014.

“2015 marks the fourth consecutive year that Alltech has conducted a global feed survey analyzing feed production,” Connolly said. “This undertaking requires a significant amount of work each year, mainly because the feed industry is measured differently and in varying degrees of thoroughness from country to country. Yet, each year, better information is discovered and more is learned about how farmers around the world feed their livestock.”

The Global Feed Survey assessed the compound feed production from 130 countries in Dec. 2014 through information obtained in partnership with local feed associations and Alltech’s sales team, who visit more than 28,000 feed mills annually.

The United States and Brazil ranked second and third respectively among the countries, with the U.S. producing 172.5 million metric tons from 6,718 feed mills and Brazil generating 66 million metric tons from 1,698 feed mills.

Number five global producer India had a considerable boost in feed production, up to 29.4 million tons, a 10 percent increase over 2013, owing mainly to favorable weather conditions and improvements in farming methods and technology. Turkey, Romania, Tunisia and Bolivia were also classified as hot spots for growth and development, with each reporting a second consecutive year for increased production. When grouped in regions, Africa and Latin America saw the greatest growth in 2014, with Africa experiencing growth in all species.

When analyzed by species, poultry held its position as industry leader with a 45 percent share of the feed market at 439 million tons, despite a slight decline compared to last year’s survey. Pigs and pets saw the largest percentage of growth in 2014, pigs up to nearly 256 million tons and pets up to nearly 22 million tons. Aqua again grew, up 1.8 percent to over 41 million tons. Equine feed production saw a decline.

“Increasingly more consumers are asking questions such as: ‘How do feed animals create more nutritious food for humans?’ ‘How can a feeding program impact the environment and the availability of resources?’ and ‘How can agriculture increase efficiency and therefore, feed more people?’” Connolly said. “Answers to these questions and many others can be found by starting with an examination of the feed animals are eating worldwide.”

The Global Feed Survey outlines Alltech’s estimate of the world’s feed tonnage and trends to date and is intended to serve as an industry resource for the coming year.



 CWT Assists with 846,575 Pounds of Cheese and Butter Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 4 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold), and Tillamook County Creamery Association to sell 405,651 pounds (184 metric tons) of Cheddar and Gouda cheese and 440,925 pounds (200 metric tons) of 82% butter to customers in Asia, the Middle East and Central America. The product will be delivered in February through July 2015.

Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 4.215 million pounds of cheese and 13.922 million pounds of butter to fourteen countries on four continents. The sales are the equivalent of 352.156 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program, in the long-term, helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively impacts U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.



Brazil Soy Harvest 3% Done, Dryness a Concern

Hot, dry conditions allowed soybean harvesting to move forward last week in the Mato Grosso and Parana, Brazil's largest soy-producing states, AgRural, a local farm consultancy, said.

Harvesting of the 2014-15 crop is now 3% complete, on a par with last year, it said.

Despite showers falling over the last week, crops in parts of Brazil's northeast, center-west and southeast still need much more rain.

Unless that rain arrives, AgRural will be forced to lower its Brazilian crop estimate of 95 million metric tons (mmt) in February, it said in a report.

In Mato Grosso, more rain would also be welcome across the state, although significant losses have not yet been recorded, said the consultancy. The harvest in the top-producing state is 7% complete.



AgWizard Simplifies Farm Financial Decisions

AgriFinance Advisors, Inc. announces the launch of AgWizard an Online Financial Advisor for
farmers. The #1 frustration farmers experience in managing their business is the complexity in
knowing when to market their grain. With today s extremely volatile commodity prices and razor
thin margins, farming without a marketing plan in place becomes even more challenging.

Now, a farmer who logs in at www.AgWizard.com can gain insight and get answers to
important questions that specifically affect the farm s bottom-line, such as:
· What is my breakeven price?
· What price do I need in order to achieve my profit objective?
· Which farms are the most profitable?
· What is my return on investment for each farm?
· How much cash rent can I afford to pay on each farm?
· How does changing my crop insurance from enterprise to optional units affect my claim?

AgriFinance Advisors, Inc. is a technology-based financial planning firm helping farmers and
farmland investors make more informed decisions. Additionally, the company licenses the
AgWizard platform to ag lenders, accountants, crop insurance agents; or any agribusiness that
wants to differentiate their business and deliver added value. AgWizard will enable farm
customers/prospects to manage their finances with greater predictability and accuracy.

Information on licensing the AgWizard platform can be found at www.AgriFinance.com.



ASA Announces Regional Winners of 2015 Conservation Legacy Awards
The American Soybean Association (ASA) is pleased to announce Steve Berger, Wellman, Iowa (Midwest Region); Mike Starkey, Brownsburg, Ind. (Northeast Region); and Jimmy Thomas, Timberlake, N.C. (South Region), as the regional winners of the 2015 Conservation Legacy Awards. Each winner will be recognized at the ASA Awards Banquet, Feb. 27, 2015, at Commodity Classic in Phoenix, Ariz., where one of them will be chosen as the national winner.

Videos featuring each of the regional conservation winners can be viewed online here.

The Conservation Legacy Awards Program is a national program designed to recognize the outstanding environmental and conservation achievement of U.S. soybean farmers. A national selection committee, composed of soybean farmers, conservationists and natural resource professionals, evaluated nominations based on each farmer’s environmental and economic program. Along with ASA, the program is co-sponsored by BASF, Monsanto, Corn & Soybean Digest magazine and the United Soybean Board/Checkoff.

One of the first conservation measures Berger remembers experiencing as a child is building terraces. He helped build 15 miles around his fourth generation farm at Dennis Berger & Son Inc., to slow down the impact of the rainfall on soil erosion. Berger farms with his mom, dad and wife on their 2,000 acre soybean and corn operation with 20,000 head swine. They’ve been heavily involved in soil conservation since the 1960s. The Bergers introduced no-till nearly 40 years ago and cover crops in the last 15. Berger approaches the farm as a business, science and an art. Berger believes that farmers must be shown conservation practices can work effectively and economically so more of them will embrace conservation voluntarily.

“It is important to have the farmer teaching, learning and working with cover crops in modern-day systems,” he said. “It is challenging in today’s farming environment to blend economics and esthetics, but is very rewarding.”

The sixth generation Starkey family farm lies in an urban area just west of the metropolitan area of Indianapolis. In addition to a dramatic reduction of commercial fertilizer, Starkey has used no-till soybeans since 1989 and introduced cover crops in 2005. He also entered in a NRCS field grant study to monitor tile and stream water.

“My legacy as a conservationist is to improve and protect the borrowed living soil that God has given us and to keep our water clean and pure as the raindrops that fall from the sky,” Starkey said.

Thomas Family Farms Inc. is a traditional, diverse North Carolina operation incorporating corn, soybeans and wheat, tobacco and swine production. There are now three generations working together at Thomas Family Farms: Pete and Levon Thomas; their sons Jimmy and Timmy; Jimmy’s wife Janine and two grandsons.

Thomas said the family incorporated a range of conservation practices into the entire operation. As they picked up new land through purchases or leases, the Thomas family implemented no-till practices on the new farms were the farmer had previously practiced conventional tillage. For the Thomas family, conservation means constant improvement.

“There will always be new generations of the family, new employees, and new technologies and new knowledge about the environment, and we have to be prepared to keep up,” Thomas said. “We will never discover that we have the perfect solution so we have to learn and make continual improvements. We are providing for ourselves and making good conservation choices, and we are educating our employees and family members to continue to seek improvements and utilize new technologies for conservation and stewardship.”



National Farmers President Reviews Market Access, Trade and Rural Issues

During his remarks to members in Nashville, Tenn. Thursday night, National Farmers President Paul Olson, Taylor, Wis., expressed his concern about falling dairy prices, along with grain price levels that, for some crops, are lower than what it costs farmers to grow them.

He spoke about how producers are in a double bind as the prices they are paid for their production trends downward in some commodities, while inputs continue their march upward.

Addressing the issue of shrinking communities in rural America in the past few decades, he underscored the point that a stronger economic footing for farmers and ranchers could have meant those communities could have remained strong.

Regarding market access for producers, he stressed that it’s becoming more difficult in some parts of the country due to increasing consolidation. And, he noted that National Farmers offers price negotiation services in dairy, grain and livestock, which can help producers improve their market positioning.

Olson also said the country could lose a generation of farmers if a sustained period of low prices were to come about. He said he greatly supports farmers producing the highest quality products for America's consumers, but producers must be paid more for those top-tier commodities.

And, he spoke briefly about the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, expressing the requirement that it assures not only free trade for the U.S., but fair trade as well.

National Farmers provides marketing and risk management services to thousands of conventional and organic grain, dairy and livestock producers in the U.S.



USDA Creates More Bird Habitat Opportunities on Irrigated Farmland

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that the Conservation Reserve Program now will encourage more bird habitats to be established in irrigated farmland regions.

Declines in upland bird populations, such as the northern bobwhite, pheasant, and prairie chicken, led to the creation of new Conservation Reserve Program features to help restore habitats for these species in these agricultural areas. Since the program’s creation in 2004, more than 240,000 acres of marginal cropland has been converted to native grasslands, spurring an increase in upland bird populations.

In recent years, however, applications for this type of habitat creation have slowed. To encourage more participation, USDA’s new policy focuses on farmland with center-pivot irrigation systems where there are circular areas of cropland with patches of land beyond the reach of irrigation. Until now, these patches – known as pivot corners – were only eligible for habitat creation when connected by a linear strip of grassland also enrolled in the program. The new policy allows producers interested in habitat creation to use disconnected pivot corners to help increase the population of upland birds.

“This is how creative thinking can strengthen the intersection of both agriculture and conservation,” said Dolcini. “By removing the program’s requirement for connecting strips, we believe more participants will convert more pivot corners into habitat. Studies suggest that the shapes of these patches, and their proximity to each other, create an attractive environment for the birds, even without the connecting strips.”

Other species that can benefit from today’s change include the mourning dove, wild turkey, several sparrows, meadowlark and bobolinks.

The Conservation Reserve Program is a voluntary program. FSA contracts with agricultural landowners so that environmentally sensitive land is not farmed but instead used for conservation. Participants establish long-term plant species that control soil erosion, sequester carbon, improve water quality, and strengthen declining wildlife populations. In return, participants receive annual rental payments between 10 and 15 years.

Interested landowners can enroll pivot corners in the Conservation Reserve Program at any time. Participants and land must meet certain eligibility requirements. Other restrictions may apply. For additional details, contact your local Farm Service Agency office at offices.usda.gov or visit the website at www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation.