Friday February 6 Ag News

Fuel Tests in Omaha-Council Bluffs Area Indicate Excessive Levels of Toxic Compounds

Some 70 Omaha metro area officials and residents recently heard some sobering news about the levels of toxic compounds in the area's gasoline and America's dangerous addiction to oil during a screening of the documentary "PUMP" shown at Film Streams.

The event was co-sponsored by the Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Ethanol Board and Iowa Corn, with support from a wide variety of clean air and renewable fuel advocates.

"PUMP", which was released in 2014, documents the history of petroleum-based fuels and their economic, environmental and military costs. The film also presents a number of alternatives to oil including ethanol, biodiesel, methanol and natural gas. The focus on the film is the need for more choices at the pump rather than being dependent on a single source of fuel. "PUMP" recently became available on iTunes.

During the event, sponsors shared the results of preliminary fuel tests conducted in January. The Nebraska Ethanol Board worked with the Nebraska Department of Weights & Measures to pull random samples of base gasoline at terminals that provide the fuel for the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area. The samples were tested by Midwest Laboratories for levels of toxic compounds including benzene, xylene and toluene.

Oil companies add these known toxics and carcinogens to gasoline to increase octane. Levels of these toxic compounds are regulated and limited in volume in many areas of the country. The fuel tests in Omaha showed levels above national averages and above what would be allowed in ozone non-attainment areas, according to Todd Sneller, administrator of the Nebraska Ethanol Board.

"What we're seeing is a consistent level of 28 percent of these toxics in the base gasoline in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area. That's above the levels allowed by law in reformulated gasoline and more than many places in the U.S.," Sneller said. "These are already very bad compounds at allowable levels. If we are to avoid going into ozone non-attainment in the metro area this is the place to start. Reducing these toxic compounds that are so harmful to human health is a logical step in the right direction.”

Kim Clark, director of biofuels development for the Nebraska Corn Board, said, "Ethanol provides a clean, non-toxic, octane-enhancing alternative to the toxic compounds oil companies add to gasoline. Higher ethanol blends, such as those used in flex fuel vehicles, can dramatically reduce the volumetric levels of toxics in fuel—and improve air quality and reduce the threat to human health."

"Oil prices change. Corn prices change. Geopolitics change. But what does not change are the human health consequences of cancer-causing toxics in our fuel—and the dangerous particulates in the air we breathe," said Doug Durante, executive director of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition based in Washington, DC. "These toxics and particulates enter our lungs, our bloodstreams, our hearts, our brains. The more ethanol we use in our fuel, the lower the level of these proven threats to human health."

The film screening was the kickoff for a sustained initiative in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. Renewable fuels and clean air groups will be working with municipal officials, policy makers and community leaders to develop strategies designed to lower the levels of toxic compounds in fuel, reduce particulate matter in the air, and increase the use of clean-burning sources of octane—namely ethanol.

The Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) has already announced that the focus for its "Little Steps, Big Impact" campaign in 2015 will be to increase awareness about air quality, especially as it relates to transportation fuels.

Angela Tin with the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest was on hand to make comments and co-moderate a post-film discussion with Durante. She pointed out the human health consequences of both fuel evaporation and exhaust emissions.

"We appreciate that the community took the time to attend our event and we urge people to make the decision to choose an alternative fuel that is good for the environment and good for lung health," she said.



Platte Valle Cattlemen Spouse Night is Feb 16
Brett Mueller, President, Platte Valley Cattlemen

Be sure to bring your Valentine for a belated night out Monday, February 16, at Wunderlich’s Catering. The night’s meeting will include Audra Jedlicka, owner of Imagine That Scrapbooking and Gifts, as well as the new Artzy Haven. She will be talking about new projects and how to properly work with barnwood. The social hour will begin at 6:00 p.m. with dinner to follow at 7:00 p.m.  Thank you to our meal and bar sponsors, Nebraska Corn Board and Performance Plus! 

Additionally, the 2015 Banquet is set for Saturday, February 21, at 5:30 p.m. at Platte County Ag Park. The night’s entertainment is 176 Keyes Fun Pianos (Dueling Pianos). Tickets are on sale now for $30.00 each and are available from any Platte Valley Cattlemen Director.We hope you and your spouse can join us for both events. And especially, be sure to tell your friends that the place to be Saturday, February 21, is Ag Park in Columbus.



NEW BLU-JET AT4020 ALLTERRAIN JETSTREAM INJECTION APPLICATOR

BLU-JET's newest All Terrain Liquid Injection Side Dress Applicator, AT4020", provides a unique user experience based upon maximizing efficiencies in fertilizer and labor, while minimizing costs in maintenance and downtime.

With working widths up to 66 feet, tank sizes up to 2,000 gallons, and a fully integrated Plug and Apply ISOBUS control system, the AT4020 meets the demands of today's top producers. Add in the narrowest transport width in the industry, narrowest transport height in the industry, superior ease-of-use, and our industry renowned 5-yearframe warranty, and the AT4020 transcends current competitive models to bring growers an unparalleled operating experience.

For more than forty years, BLU-JET has been an innovative leader in FertilizerInjection and Tillage Equipment. Our products are known for their durability, lowmaintenance, and return on investment in large acre farming operations.

Each new BLU-JET product is analytically designed, piece by piece, ensuring successful field durability prior to the first prototype being produced. This stringent process makes certain that each BLU-JET product released for commercial sale meets our high standards for quality and reliability.



WINERY AND GRAPE GROWERS FORUM AND TRADE SHOW MOVES TO OMAHA

University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor Paul Read remembers a time when only one winery existed in Nebraska, and his passion for viticulture propelled him to start the very first wine and grape growers forum. That was 18 years ago.

Today, Nebraska boasts 30 wineries, more than 100 grape growers, and numerous national and international wine awards of excellence. It is a testament, Read says, to the education and promotion provided by such events for the growing industry throughout the state.

The 18th annual Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Forum and Trade Show, sponsored by the University of Nebraska Viticulture Program and the Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Association, will run March 5–7 at the Omaha Marriott. Featured speakers, particularly well known to the Midwest grape and wine industry, will share their advice on everything from growing grapes to marketing wine.

Read believes the annual forum and trade show has been instrumental in improved wine quality in the state.

“It helps grape growers learn efficient ways to produce quality crops and gives winemakers insights from experts around the country,” Read said. “A large percentage of participants come from the wine supply industry and enologists (winemakers), but it’s open to the public as well.”

Read is hopeful the move from Kearney, where it was held the last 15 years, to a new venue in Omaha will be advantageous for attendees traveling from the four-state area, especially participants from eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. The location near a large airport also will help, he said, and he hopes will bring in a record number of trade show vendors.

Featured speakers include Murli Dharmadhikari, famed enologist and director of the Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute at Iowa State University, who will speak on wine and winemaking, and Jerry Lohr, South Dakota native and owner of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines in California, who will speak at the Grand Awards Banquet. Donniella Winchell, executive director of the Ohio Wine Association, will share marketing and promotion strategies; Andy Allen, chair of the Viticulture and Enology Program at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark, will be the featured viticulture speaker; and Maria Peterson, a filtration specialist from Scott Laboratories in Petaluma, Calif., will be a resource for filtration related questions and products.

Along with the forum and trade show, participants will have the opportunity for wine tasting on several days and to partake in the Grand Awards Banquet held the last evening of the event. The banquet will feature specially selected Nebraska wines paired with each of the six courses served during the meal. The wines were submitted by Nebraska wineries and chosen by a panel of judges this week.

For more information and to preregister for the event, go to http://agronomy.unl.edu/viticulture. Register before Feb. 13 to receive an early bird rate.



Darling Buys Dairy Plant in Ravenna for Wet Pet Food Operation

Darling Ingredients Inc. has acquired the Leprino Foods Company site located at 102 Lincoln Avenue, Ravenna, Neb. Darling has already commenced renovations to the facility and intends to commence production of a wet pet food ingredients operation by the summer of 2015. Darling expects to hire 20-25 employees for two production shifts and will evaluate the need for a third production shift in 2016.

"The process of locating a new owner started the day the plant closed," said Darren Robinson, president of the Economic Development Council of Buffalo County. "Darling is a reputable company that is rich in history and their $11M total investment in Ravenna is a reflection of Darling's commitment. I'm pleased that Darling has selected Ravenna to grow their business."

The Ravenna Leprino plant closed in November 2013. In 2003, Leprino closed their plants in Hartington and Dodge, Neb. Today, the Hardington plant houses a small manufacturer that employs eight, and the Dodge plant is still vacant.

Darling Ingredients Inc. is the world's largest publicly-traded developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a wide range of ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, technical, fuel, bioenergy and fertilizer industries. With operations on five continents, the company collects and transforms all aspects of animal by-product streams into usable and specialty ingredients, such as gelatin, edible fats, feed-grade fats, animal proteins and meals, plasma, pet food ingredients, organic fertilizers, yellow grease, fuel feedstocks, green energy, natural casings and hides. The company also recovers and converts used cooking oil and commercial bakery residuals into valuable feed and fuel ingredients. In addition, the company provides grease trap services to food service establishments, environmental services to food processors and sells restaurant cooking oil delivery and collection equipment.



McConville named new Assistant Dean at NCTA

A business faculty member at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture has been promoted to a new assistant dean’s position at the college in Curtis.

“I am pleased to announce that Jennifer Rittnhouse McConville has been selected to serve as the new Assistant Dean for Finance and Operations at NCTA,” said Ron Rosati NCTA Dean. The new post started Monday.

McConville has served on the agribusiness management faculty since 2012, and will complete teaching assignments in early May. However, she has assumed responsibilities in the new role this week, Rosat said.

The new assistant dean is responsible for all portins of NCTA budgets, business operations, food service, facilities and campus bookstore.

While at NCTA, McConville has served on the Strategic Planning Steering Committee and one year as the faculty senate president. Currently, she serves on the Accreditation Steering Committee and heads the Criterion Two Team.

Prior to joining NCTA, she had served as Executive Administrator of the Southwest Nebraska Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), and as Executive Administrator for Southwest Weed Management.  She also taught as an adjunct instructor with Mid-Plains Community College.

Her educational degrees include: Associate of Science from MPCC in McCook, Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Bellevue University, and Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

Currently, McConville is working on a Doctorate of Education at UNL. She farms with her husband Kirk and her four children north of Indianola.



Water Is a Hot Topic for Production and Stewardship                                     

The National Corn Growers Association's Production and Stewardship Action Team met in New Orleans, La. to review progress on a number of current programs and learn about issues associated with transportation on the lower Mississippi River.

"The team covers a wide range of topics," said team Chairman Don Glenn. "It's impossible for us to do justice to each issue that falls under production and stewardship at every meeting, so we hit the hot topics hard and cover information on other matters with updates."

This meeting's agenda included updates on the Honey Bee Health Coalition and issues associated with pollinators, railroad commodity shipments, EPA clean water and air issues and the Water Environment Research Foundation Project. Presentations were made by the Americas Wetland Foundation regarding wetland restoration, the U.S. Grains Council on corn marketing and quality transportation, the Surface Transportation Board, Rail Customer and Public Assistance Program on current challenges with moving commodities by rail, the importance of dredging efforts on the lower Mississippi River by the Big River Coalition, and hypoxia areas on the Mississippi River by Louisiana State University professor Dr. Gene Turn.

The team also enjoyed tours of USDA's ARS Southern Regional Research Center labs researching mycotoxin and the Port of New Orleans.

In addition to Glenn, team members include Vice Chair Brent Hostetler of Ohio, Board Liaison Kevin Ross of Iowa, Jim Burg of South Dakota, Morris Heitman of Missouri, Kirby Hettver of Minnesota, Gary Hudson of Illinois, Jeff Jarboe of Illinois, Carson Klosterman of North Dakota, Gail Lierer of Ohio, Ronnie Mohr of Indiana, Carl Sousek of Nebraska, Randy Woodruff of Wisconsin, and state affiliate staff representative Theresa Sisung of Michigan. NCGA staff for the team include Director of Production, Stewardship and Livestock Max Starbuck; Manager of Public Policy Ethan Mathews; and NCYC Coordinator Linda Kassoff.  



Outstanding Students Awarded CME Beef Industry Scholarship

Ten outstanding college students were awarded $1,500 CME Beef Industry Scholarships at the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 6. The scholarship is sponsored by the CME Group and administered by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. The overall essay winner, Laura Gorecki of Farewell, Neb., was also awarded a trip to the convention in San Antonio.

The CME Beef Industry Scholarship was introduced in 1989 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Live Cattle futures contract on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. It recognizes and encourages talented students who will one day be industry leaders.

“The CME Beef Industry Scholarship enables us to invest in the next generation of our nation’s food producers, while helping them understand the importance of risk management to the beef industry,” said Tim Andriesen, CME Group Managing Director of Agricultural Commodities. “For more than 25 years, NCBA has been a key partner in advancing risk management education to future beef industry leaders through this important scholarship program.”

Essay winner Gorecki is a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in Animal Science and Business with minors in Agricultural Leadership and Communication as well as Leadership and Entrepreneurship. She grew up on a cow-calf operation and was involved with 4-H and FFA. Her essay was on using our voices to reach consumers through technologies such as Facebook and Twitter. In the future, Gorecki hopes to pursue a graduate degree in Animal Behavior and Welfare.



CattleFax Predicts Strong Prices to Remain in 2015
 
The popular CattleFax Outlook Session today at the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show gave cattlemen and women reasons to be optimistic. Analysts told the capacity crowd to expect fed cattle prices averaging in the mid-$150s, slightly higher than last year. Prices will trade in a range from near $140 at the lows to near $170 at the highs in the year ahead. While early year highs for 550 pound steers will range from near $285 to lows near $235. Analysts cited the improved forage situation, lower grain prices and record margins in 2014 for feeders and stockers as the primary reason cow-calf producers will remain in the driver’s seat for the year ahead.

Despite exceptional prices in 2014, CattleFax CEO Randy Blach said he expects the market peak is behind the cattle industry now.

“We put the top in the market in the past year and the signal for expansion has been transmitted,” he said. “We will begin to see some modesty expansion in herd numbers now and that will cause prices to trend lower in the years ahead than what we saw in 2014.”

He explained that growing supplies of cattle and beef over the next several years will rebalance the normal price and margin environment among industry segments.

“Prices will then retreat back to the lower end of the new trading range,” said Blach.

Despite the adjustment, he explained that cow-calf producers will continue to see relatively strong returns over the next four to five years, aided by corn prices expected to average $3.60 per bushel in 2015 and an improved forage production picture.

Art Douglas, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at Creighton University, presented the annual weather forecast which projects moisture conditions in the United States through the summer.

“El Nino conditions have again built across the Pacific and this will fuel a split jet stream pattern into the Southwestern United States. Moisture will gradually increase in February from southern California to the southern High Plains,” said Douglas. “Snow-packs in the northern Rockies are expected to remain well below normal at 50-70 percent levels while the southern Rockies should gradually build their snowpack through March. As the jet heads east it will pick up Gulf moisture and lead to above normal rainfall throughout the southeast.”

“The pesky ridge in the West will gradually weaken during February and by the spring this will allow moisture to increase in the Pacific Northwest,” he explained. A strong Great Lakes trough is forecast to keep a broad portion of the United States colder than normal through the spring and early summer.”

Douglas said this pattern should lead to delayed planting in the Corn Belt with possible threat of late frosts into the late spring.

“The cool temperatures are likely to persist into early summer and this will slow crop progress but be ideal for corn pollination in July. The silver lining in the forecast is that the Midwest should turn warmer by August and September and this will help speed up crop maturation,” he said.



NCBA Effort Places Renewed Focus on Young Beef Leaders
 
A new program from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is placing renewed focus on this country’s young beef producers. The NCBA Young Beef Leader (YBL) program, which involves state affiliates from across the country, will give young people 21-35 years old opportunities for education and increased involvement in local, regional and national industry efforts.

The initiative was announced following an NCBA YBL Roundtable Feb. 5 during the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Included in the roundtable, sponsored by Caterpillar and attended by representatives from 36 state and breed affiliates, was a state sharing forum and discussion of what the new program would include and how it would be conducted. In addition, representatives from seven regions were elected to serve on a Steering Committee for the new program.

Elected chairman of the new YBL Steering Committee was Keith Nantz of Maupin, Oregon. Nantz said the program has an important function in today’s beef industry.

“We need to engage the next generation in a way that keeps them involved and gives them opportunities,” said Nantz. “This effort will open the door to our youth in the areas of production, policy and leadership.”

Elected to the Steering Committee were Chris Jeffcoat, Pennsylvania, American Angus Association (Region I); Jacob Nyhuis, Georgia Cattlemen’s Association (Region II); Ben Novack, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (Region III); April Bonds, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (Region IV); Matt Hunt, Colorado Livestock Association (Region V); Amber Miller, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association (Region VI); and Jaclyn Wilson, Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association (Region VII).

The NCBA YBL program will place particular attention on creating a strong state/national partnership, with NCBA state and breed affiliates playing a key role both in guiding the new program and in developing the young leaders in the future. Funding and staff support from NCBA will make additional state initiatives possible.

A social for those interested in supporting the program, also sponsored by Caterpillar, was held Feb. 4.

Nantz encourages other young producers to get involved in this effort.

“It’s a chance to strengthen relationships and networking, enabling growth on both the personal and industry levels,” he said.

For more information on the NCBA YBL program, contact Sara Arp at sarp@beef.org.



Five Beef Quality Assurance Awards Presented

This week, three producers were honored with the checkoff’s annual national Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) award and Dairy Beef Quality Assurance (DBQA) award, which were created to recognize outstanding beef and dairy producers from across the country who incorporate BQA principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their operations. In addition, key cattle industry influencers who promote BQA principles on a daily basis were honored. One individual was recognized with the BQA Marketer Award, and one individual received the BQA Educator of the Year Award.

2015 winners were:
-    Ira and Kim Brackett, Brackett Ranches from Castleford, Idaho (BQA Cow Calf Award)
-    Bill and Nancy Couser, Couser Cattle Company, Nevada, Iowa (BQA Feed yard Award)
-    Tim and Maria Forry and Chad and George Hurst, Oregon Dairy Farm, Lititz, Pa. (BQA Dairy Award)
-    Joe Wright, Corey Rozenboom, Jeff Ewing & Bub Hoskins, Knoxville Regional Livestock Market, Knoxville, Iowa (BQA Marketer Award)
-    Dr. Dan Thomson, The Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University (BQA Educator of the Year Award)

Josh White, executive director of producer education, who coordinates the national BQA efforts, says, “Our 2015 award winners are exemplary models for promoting beef as a quality product from the local to the national level.

“They are working diligently to implement the newest, safest, most efficient animal health, handling, daily management and record-keeping practices,” says White. “Sharing the words of one nominator:  Integrity, honesty, hard work, and a sense of producing a quality product is what drives them all to be successful in this industry and create a sustainable operation for the next generation.”



New Iowa Pork Producers president outlines top 2015 issues

The new president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association says he's prepared and ready to lead the organization through the issues and challenges facing the industry.

David Struthers of Collins began his one-year term as Iowa's pork industry leader on Jan. 27 and he says the IPPA Board of Directors will need to address several major issues in the coming year. One of the top issues is maintaining the industry's good environmental record, especially in light of a threatened water quality lawsuit against three northwest Iowa counties.

"Producers need to maintain their high reputation of environmental stewardship and we need to make sure that's expressed and kept in the forefront," Struthers said.

Struthers also stated that hog farmers need to continue incorporating good biosecurity and best management practices to keep the PRRS and PEDv swine diseases in check. Hopefully through research and pharmaceuticals, we'll have some breakthroughs and vaccines to do more to prevent the diseases, he said.

One of the key ways IPPA supports hog farmers is by funding critical research at Iowa State University and elsewhere and Struthers sees that continuing during his term.

"We'll have to see what's presented to us," he said. "We've put a lot of money into PEDv and foaming pit research. We're still going to be strong in research and promotion with the Checkoff funds available to us."

Struthers expressed concern over the ongoing slowdown at several West Coast shipping ports due to a labor dispute, which is being partially blamed for a recent drop in hog prices.

"There's enough of a backlog that it's really affected prices," Struthers said.

Trade Promotion Authority, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling are other key issues that need to be finalized, according to Struthers.

Struthers has served on the IPPA Board since 2009. He has been a member of the executive committee and chaired several others. He started farming and raising hogs in 1985 and now has a 300-sow farrow-to-finish business and 850 acres of row crops in a family corporation.



Livestock Master Matrix Passes in 88 Iowa Counties

A vast majority of Iowa counties, 88, voted to use the master matrix to evaluate construction permit applications submitted to the DNR and proposed locations for animal confinements.

Animal producers in these counties must meet higher standards than other confinement producers who also need a construction permit. They must earn points on the master matrix by choosing a site and using practices that reduce impacts on air, water and the community.

The following counties will not use the matrix in 2015 and January of 2016: Decatur, Des Moines, Iowa, Keokuk, Lee, Mahaska, Osceola, Plymouth, Wapello, Warren and Washington. All other counties will use the matrix during the next 12 months.

Counties that adopt the master matrix can provide more input to producers on site selection, the proposed structures and proposed facility management. Participating counties can also join in DNR visits to a proposed confinement site.

While all counties may submit comments to the DNR during the review process for permit applications, counties that adopt the master matrix can also appeal approval of a preliminary permit to the state Environmental Protection Commission.

The deadline for enrolling in the program is Jan. 31 of each year.

Producers and citizens can obtain more information and view a map of participating counties by looking for preconstruction requirements for permitted confinements at www.iowadnr.gov/afo. Or, look at www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/LandStewardship/AnimalFeedingOperations/Confinements/ConstructionRequirements/Permitted/MasterMatrix.aspx.

The matrix affects only producers who must get a construction permit for a confinement. Generally, these include proposed construction, expansion or modification of confinement feeding operations with more than 2,500 finishing hogs, 1,000 beef cattle or 715 mature dairy cows. Confinements are totally roofed facilities.



Modeling Nutrient Loss from Midwestern Crop Fields

Using cover crops in between corn and soybean crop production in the Midwest could significantly reduce nitrate load runoff via subsurface drains, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists. This reduction could support national efforts to reduce nitrate loads and protect water quality in the Gulf of Mexico.

Excess water laden with nitrates in many Midwestern crop fields drains into subsurface perforated pipes and then flows into surface streams and rivers. The nutrient-rich field drainage reaches the Gulf of Mexico and supports algal blooms that lower water oxygen levels and contribute to developing a devastating "dead zone."

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists Rob Malone, Tom Kaspar, and Dan Jaynes are using the Root Zone Water Quality Model to assess how using winter rye cover crops in corn--soybean rotations could mitigate nitrate loads in the field-drainage water. The researchers are with the ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment in Ames, Iowa. The ARS field-scale computer model was developed to simulate plant growth and the movement of water, nutrients and chemicals within and around the root zones of agricultural crops. ARS is USDA's chief intramural scientific research agency, and this research supports the USDA goal of promoting agricultural sustainability.

The researchers ran the model simulation for several different planting scenarios at 41 sites across the Midwest from 1961 to 2005. Their results indicated that winter rye crops seeded in no-till corn--soybean systems when the cash crops were mature have the potential to reduce annual nitrate loss in field drainage by about 43 percent, or by 18 pounds per acre.

Malone and his colleagues used their findings in a larger regional simulation of nitrate losses from drained fields located within the Mississippi River Watershed. Results indicated that producers could introduce winter rye cover cropping on around 30 to 80 percent of the land used for corn and soybean production, and that the cover crop systems could potentially reduce nitrate loadings in the Mississippi River by approximately 20 percent.

Read more about this research in the Agricultural Research magazine.



Workshops for Dry Manure Applicator Certification Offered by Extension

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will offer manure applicator certification workshops for dry/solid manure operators on seven different dates and locations in February. These workshops meet manure applicator certification requirements for both confinement site manure applicators and commercial manure applicators who primarily apply dry or solid manure.

“The information in this workshop will benefit not only those needing certification, but anyone using dry or solid sources of manure as a nutrient resource,” said Dan Andersen, coordinator of the Manure Applicator Certification Program.

The workshops are free to attend and open to all. Applicators will be required to submit certification forms and fees to the Iowa DNR to meet manure applicator certification requirements.

Register for one of the workshops by calling the number listed with the selected site. All workshops begin at 1 p.m.
-    Feb. 9, ISU Extension and Outreach Sioux County Office, Orange City. Call 712-737-4230 to register.
-    Feb. 10, Branding Iron Restaurant, Thompson. Call 641-584-2261 to register.
-    Feb. 12, ISU Extension Buena Vista County Office, Storm Lake. Call 712-732-5056 to register
-    Feb. 17, Adair County Fairgrounds, Greenfield. Call 641-743-8412 to register.
-    Feb 17, ISU Extension Washington County Office, Washington. Call 319-653-4811 to register.
-    Feb. 19, Kamrar Lions Community Building, Kamrar. Call 515-832-9597 to register.
-    Feb. 20, Heartland Museum, Clarion. Call 515-532-3453 to register.



Value Records for Beef, Pork Exports in 2014; Volumes also Higher Year-over-Year

Export value for both U.S. beef and pork reached new heights in 2014, posting double-digit gains over the previous year’s totals, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Beef export value was $7.13 billion – an increase of 16 percent (and nearly $1 billion) over the previous record set in 2013. Export volume was just under 1.2 million metric tons (mt) – which was short of the 2011 record, but up 2 percent year-over-year.

Pork export value totaled $6.67 billion, an increase of 10 percent year-over-year, breaking the 2012 record by 6 percent. Pork export volume increased 2 percent to 2.18 million mt. The volume record is 2.62 million mt, set in 2012.

Exports overcame significant challenges to reach these milestones, including market access restrictions in Russia and China, an appreciating U.S. dollar and, most recently, shipping difficulties related to a labor dispute in the West Coast ports.

In December, beef export volume slipped 2 percent year-over-year to 100,270 mt, though value still increased 17 percent to $643.2 million. December pork export volume was down 5 percent to 183,498 mt, but value still achieved a slight increase to $541.3 million.

“2014 was an outstanding year for red meat exports, but headwinds continued to mount late in the year,” said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. “The West Coast port congestion is extremely troubling, because the delays faced by exporters in December have become even more severe in 2015. If this dispute is not resolved soon, the meat industry will have to win back long-term customers who still want our product, but have no choice but to seek alternative suppliers.”

The situation is especially critical because Asian markets take a large volume of chilled U.S. beef and pork, valued at more than $2 billion in 2014.

The strength in international demand for U.S. red meat was showcased in 2014, as customers paid record prices for U.S. beef and pork while still purchasing larger volumes. This is especially noteworthy because U.S. pork prices were higher than EU prices for most of the year, and U.S. cattle prices were significantly higher than prices in Australia and all other major beef-exporting countries. Exports continue to generate strong returns for producers, as beef export value per head of fed slaughter averaged a record $297.68 in 2014, up $52.72 from the previous year. December export value was $340.69 per head, up $61.53 from a year ago. Pork export value per head slaughtered also set a record of $62.45 in 2014 (up $8.50 from a year ago), despite slipping slightly in December ($54.94, down $0.33).

“These exceptional results illustrate the strength of the international markets,” Seng said. “In the past five years, per-head export value has more than doubled for beef producers and has increased more than 60 percent for pork.”

Beef exports in 2014 equated to 14 percent of total production (muscle cuts plus variety meat) and 11 percent of muscle cuts alone, up from 13 percent and 10 percent, respectively, a year ago. Pork exports equated to 26.5 percent of total pork production and 22 percent of muscle cuts alone, up slightly from 2013.

Asian markets propel beef export results
U.S. beef performed exceptionally well in key Asian markets in 2014, including:
-    Exports to Japan increased 3 percent in volume (241,129 mt) and 14 percent in value ($1.58 billion). Value eclipsed the 2003 (pre-BSE) mark ($1.39 billion) for the first time, though volume was still below the 2003 total.
-    Hong Kong set new annual records as export volume increased 19 percent to 154,520 mt and value surged 40 percent to $1.15 billion.
-    Exports to South Korea set a new annual value record of $847.4 million, up 39 percent. Volume increased 12 percent to 117,567 mt.
-    Taiwan also set a new annual value record of $293.6 million (up 15 percent), while volume increased 5 percent to 33,804 mt.

In Mexico, exports increased 12 percent in volume to 242,566 mt and 26 percent in value to $1.17 billion. As USMEF has previously noted, however, issues with the 2013 data suggest these year-over-year increases may be overstated.

Mexico, Korea, Colombia drive pork export success
Russia’s ban on EU pork (which has now lasted more than a full year) and its August suspension of pork imports from the U.S. and Canada had a significant impact on the global pork market in 2014. But U.S. pork exports held relatively strong, buoyed by leading volume market Mexico. Exports to Mexico set volume and value records for the third consecutive year, reaching 680,843 mt (up 9 percent) valued at $1.56 billion (up 27 percent). Other highlights include:
-    Exports to South Korea soared 36 percent in volume to 135,396 mt and 61 percent in value to $444.6 million.
-    In Colombia, exports have more than doubled since 2012 and set new volume and value records in five consecutive years. In 2014, exports increased 39 percent in volume to 47,441 mt and 52 percent in value to $134.11 million.
-    Although pork exports to Canada were lower in volume (207,362 mt, - 9 percent), export value set a new record of $904.7 million (up 7 percent).

Lamb exports struggle late in 2014
U.S. lamb exports were sluggish for the second consecutive month in December and finished the year down 16 percent in volume (10,407 mt) and 3 percent in value ($27.33 million). Exports increased to top markets Mexico (8,733 mt, up 1 percent; $14.8 million, up 4 percent) and the Caribbean (628 mt, up 14 percent; $4.5 million, up 8 percent). Gains were also posted in emerging markets such as the United Arab Emirates, Panama and the Philippines.



Vilsack on New Data Showing That Agricultural Exports Support More Than One Million Jobs

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released the following statement after USDA's Economic Research Service issued new data showing that agricultural exports support more than one million jobs here at home:

"More than one million people go to work every day thanks to exports of American-grown products. Expanded U.S. agricultural exports mean more new jobs, but our farmers and ranchers will miss out on new markets for American products if Congress doesn't 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, despite the fact that many other countries' markets are not as open to American products as our markets are to theirs. Agricultural exports last fiscal year reached $152.5 billion, the highest level on record. U.S. agricultural exports now support more than one million jobs here at home, a substantial part of the nearly 11.3 million jobs supported by exports all across our country.



Majority of Scientists Believe GMOs Safe, In Stark Contrast With Public

A strong majority, 89 percent, of scientists believe genetically modified (GM) foods are safe, according to a Pew Research Center study on science literacy, undertaken in cooperation with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and released on Jan. 29.

The study examined the views of scientists compared to the general public on technical topics like GM foods and found sharp differences in opinion on many measures.

According to the study, there was a 51 percentage point gap between scientists who think eating GM foods is safe and members of the general public who share the same opinion.

“The United States is the world’s leader in developing and adopting GM crops,” said US Grains Council Manager of Biotechnology Andrew Conner. “The rapid advancement of this technology in U.S. corn production has raised questions about how to regulate it. This study confirms what we in the industry have long understood – that scientists and users of GM crops must do a better job communicating the safety and benefits of these technologies to the population as a whole.”

In a previous seperate statement released by the AAAS concerning the safety of GM foods and why a consensus of its members oppose mandatory labeling, the organization stated: “There are several current efforts to require labeling of foods containing products derived from genetically modified crop plants, commonly known as GM crops or GMOs. These efforts are not driven by evidence that GM foods are actually dangerous. Indeed, the science is quite clear: crop improvement by the modern molecular techniques of biotechnology is safe.” 

In the same statement, the AAAS addressed claims by anti-GMO advocacy groups that GM foods are less tested and nutritionally deficient when compared to organic or other conventional foods. The organization said:

“.. contrary to popular misconceptions, GM crops are the most extensively tested crops ever added to our food supply. There are occasional claims that feeding GM foods to animals causes aberrations ranging from digestive disorders, to sterility, tumors and premature death. Although such claims are often sensationalized and receive a great deal of media attention, none have stood up to rigorous scientific scrutiny.

“Indeed, a recent review of a dozen well-designed long-term animal feeding studies comparing GM and non-GM potatoes, soy, rice, corn and triticale found that the GM and their non-GM counterparts are nutritionally equivalent.”



Office of the United States Trade Representative Launches New Website

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) launched a redesign of its website on Jan. 27 aimed at being more transparent.

New features on website include an improved navigation menu, user-friendly information about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a blog that will follow USTR staff during trips and social media tools.

Folks can visit USTR’s website at https://ustr.gov/ to learn more about global trade. 



ASA Pushes Congress to Take Up and Pass TPA

The American Soybean Association (ASA), as part of a larger coalition of agriculture and food industry organizations, sent a letter this week to members of Congress encouraging them to support the immediate introduction and enactment of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation. ASA has a particularly valuable stake in global trade, as soybeans represent the largest American agricultural export.

In the letter, the groups pointed to TPA as a critical tool in establishing and expanding trade agreements with foreign partners, without undue legislative and bureaucratic barriers. Specifically cited were the ongoing negotiations over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The groups used the opportunity to illustrate the significant benefits of trade to the domestic farm sector. “As a result of trade agreements implemented since 1989, when the U.S. began using bilateral and regional trade agreements to open foreign markets to our goods, U.S. agricultural exports have nearly quadrupled in value and now stand at a record $152.5 billion (fiscal 2014),” said the groups. “During that period, earnings from U.S. agricultural exports as a share of cash receipts to farmers have grown from 22 percent to over 35 percent.”

The groups also cited the impressive economic multiplier effect and job creation of farm and food exports, “Every $1 in U.S. farm exports is estimated to stimulate an additional $1.27 in business activity… Exports of $152.5 billion in fiscal 2014 therefore generated another $194 billion in economic activity in the U.S., bringing the total benefit to the economy to $347 billion.”

“Every $1 billion of U.S. agricultural exports,” continued the groups, “… requires the full-time work of approximately 6,600 Americans throughout the economy. Exports in fiscal 2014 therefore supported over 1 million full-time jobs.”



NAWG Trade Committee Meets

The National Association of Wheat Growers' Domestic Trade Policy Committee met last week during NAWG’s Winter Wheat Conference in Washington, DC to discuss a wide arrange of policy issues currently affecting America’s wheat industry. Topics such as crop insurance, free trade agreements and FGIS reauthorization were debated by the farmer-led committee. Three guest speakers were invited to address the committee as well: Robert Ibarra, Deputy Administrator for Insurance Services, USDA, RMA to discuss farm bill implementation; Jared Hill, Director of Legislative Affairs, National Grain and Feed Association, to discuss FGIS reauthorization, and Devry Boughner Vorwerk; Director of International Business Relations, Cargill, to discuss the US Agriculture Coalition for Cuba. In addition to the lively debate, a motion was passed by the committee instructing NAWG staff to move forward in constructing a Wheat Caucus for Members of Congress to more effectively work on legislation to benefit wheat farmers. The Domestic Trade Policy Committee will meet again later this month at Commodity Classic in Phoenix, Arizona.

NAWG Environment Committee Meets
The Environment and Renewable Resources Committee met last week in Washington, D.C. to discuss several environmental policy issues impacting wheat growers. The committee heard from Environmental Protection Agency on the proposed ground-level ozone regulation as well as American Farm Bureau Federation regarding the regulation. The Fertilizer Institute’s 4Rs program was reviewed with recommendations that NAWG become a partner of the 4Rs nutrient stewardship program. The committee also heard from the Senate Agriculture Committee staff regarding the committee’s work over the year and heard updates from several states on pending issues within their state.



California’s Three Largest Dairy Cooperatives Submit Proposal for California to Join the Federal Milk Marketing Order

Underscoring continued support of their farmer-owners, the three largest dairy cooperatives in California submitted a joint proposal to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), petitioning for milk producers in the state to begin operating under a Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO). California Dairies Inc. (CDI), Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) and Land O’Lakes, Inc. submitted the proposal this week.

Under existing regulations, California dairy farmers operate under statewide milk pricing plans. The majority of farmers in other states operate under a FMMO, which provides uniform dairy prices for milk based on market prices. Shifting to a FMMO for California supports the desire of these cooperatives’ dairy farmers to receive more equitable, market-based milk prices.

Changes made to the California state order before 2011 resulted in California’s dairy farm families enduring unsustainable pricing for their milk. Cooperative leaders from CDI, DFA and Land O’Lakes, Inc. began advocating for a FMMO to work with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to correct pricing disparity.

As the first step in the process, the proposal requests USDA to announce a regulatory hearing that will provide ample opportunity for other dairy industry organizations, companies and producers to provide input.