Thursday February 26 Ag News

Mid Plains Beef Session -  Preparing for the Breeding Season
April 2  UNL Ag Research and Development Center, 1071 County Road G, south of Mead, NE
Program Schedule:  Lunch 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
     Program Speakers - 12:45 p.m.  – 3:15 p.m.
     Breeding Soundness Exam and Trich Testing of Bulls – Dr. Richard Randle, UNL Extension DVM
     Keep vs. Cull – What to do with problem cows –non calvers, late calvers, last calf – Dr. Kate Brooks, UNL Extension Livestock Economist
     Pasture Lease Provisions – Al Vyhnalek, Platte Co. Extension Educator

Cost is $10 if registered by March 27 or $15 at the door.  Pre-register by contacting Saunders County Extension Office 402-694-8030 or email Lindsay Chichester at lchichester2@unl.edu

                                

Dietary changes needed for early lactation beef cows
Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist

Beef cow owners have known for years that body condition at calving time is a critical determinant in the re-breeding performance of the cows during the next breeding season.  Another key factor that impacts return to estrus cycles and re-breeding is the maintenance or loss of body condition after calving and before breeding.  Cows losing body condition after calving and before the breeding season will be slower to return to heat cycles and rebreed at a lower rate.  Therefore it is necessary that the cow manager understand the change in nutrient requirements of beef cows as they change from gestating cows to early lactation cows.

Using an example of a 1200 pound cow in late gestation, one can examine the nutrient increases as she delivers the calf and starts to lactate.   A 1200 pound late gestation cow requires 1.9 pounds of crude protein daily and 12.9 pounds of Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN).  She can consume voluntarily 24 pounds of dry matter feed/day.  The same cow after calving will weigh at least 100 pounds less (birth weight of calf, placenta, and fluid loss).  An 1100 pound cow in early lactation requires 2.9 pounds of protein each day.  That is a 52% increase in protein needs.  Her energy requirements go up substantially as well.  She needs 16.8 pounds of TDN each day (if she is an average milking beef cow).  This represents a 30% increase in energy intake per day.  Her daily dry matter intake also increases from 24 to 29 pounds but this represents only a 20% increase.

As we examine this example it is very clear that the cow will voluntarily consume a small increase in dry matter, however her needs in protein and energy both increase in larger percentages.  Therefore an increase in both diet quality and quantity is necessary after calving to insure that body condition is maintained into and through the breeding season.

Management questions to consider: 
     - Am I meeting the nutrient requirements of my lactating cows?
     - Have I saved my highest quality forages  for my lactating cows?
     - What is the protein and energy content of the feedstuffs I’m feeding my lactating cows? 
     - What is an average body condition score for my mature cows at calving?
     - What is an average body condition score for my first calf heifers and 3 year old cows at calving?



UNL STUDY CHARACTERIZES GENETIC RESISTANCE TO WHEAT DISEASE

A new study co-authored by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers has unearthed the genetic roots of resistance to a wheat disease that has recently devastated crop yields from southern Africa through the Middle East.

    Though reports of stem rust date back to biblical plagues and ancient Greece, plant breeders successfully combated the disease by introducing rust-resistant cultivars in the mid-20th century. Stem rust epidemics largely faded until 1999, when a mutated strain -- Ug99 -- emerged in the east African country of Uganda.

    Ug99 and its recent variants have toppled nearly all previously resistant genes. The rare holdouts include Sr2, found in an especially hardy wheat variety named Gage that was co-released by the University of Nebraska and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1963.

    The recently published study isolated and examined DNA sequences of Gage to ascertain why it enjoys greater resistance to stem rust, including Ug99, than other cultivars featuring the Sr2 gene. The authors concluded that Gage's rust-resistance during adulthood likely owes to a combination of Sr2 and an additional gene, which the team believes also contributes to the wheat’s resistance in the seedling stage of its development.

    The researchers have narrowed down the location and potential identity of this additional gene, which they said they hope to soon verify through further study.

    "It so happens that the source of Sr2 that was used to create Gage -- the variety Hope -- actually had a number of other stem rust resistance genes in it," said P. Stephen Baenziger, a co-author and the Nebraska Wheat Growers Presidential Chair at UNL. "Our results would say that it looks like Gage got the lucky straw, so to speak, from Hope.

    "If it's a two-gene resistance, then it should be more durable. Let's say you have a mutation that
allows something to become virulent to your gene one in a million times. When you have two genes, the idea would be that a mutation that overcomes both genes happens only once in a million multiplied by a million."

    Drawing a genetic map to that level of resistance could prove extremely valuable against Ug99, which has raced down the Nile River valley to threaten some of the most fertile areas of the Middle East and west Asia.

    The wealthiest African farmers fight Ug99 with fungicides, which introduce foreign chemicals into the environment. Yet most farmers in the affected regions cannot afford these fungicides, leaving them little defense against the ravages of the mutated strain, according to Baenziger.

    "It's already crossed over into the Arabian Peninsula. It's spreading now toward Pakistan, Afghanistan and India, which are the real breadbaskets for that part of Asia," Baenziger said.

    "It's important to understand the resistance to stem rust, because with the mutations that are coming out of Africa, we're losing genes all the time. But Sr2 is still resistant to it, and now that we can associate parts of the genome with the resistance, we're making good progress."

    The team's study appeared in the January-February edition of the journal Crop Science. Baenziger's UNL co-authors included Tadele Kumssa, postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Plant Science Innovation, along with postdoctoral researcher Mary Guttieri, professor Ismail Dweikat and assistant professor Aaron Lorenz, all with the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. Researchers from the USDA Agricultural Research Service, University of Minnesota, North Carolina State University and Kansas State University also contributed to the study.



NEBRASKA CHICKEN AND EGGS

Nebraska's layer numbers during 2014 averaged 9.47 million, up 2 percent from the year earlier, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The annual average production per layer on hand in 2014 was 302 eggs, up 1 percent from 2013.

Nebraska egg production during the year ending November 30, 2014 totaled 2.86 billion eggs, up
3 percent from 2013.

Total number of chickens on hand on December 1, 2014 (excluding commercial broilers) was
11.6 million birds, up 1 percent from last year.

The total value of all chickens in Nebraska on December 1, 2014 was $35.8 million, down 13
percent from December 1, 2013. The average value decreased from $3.60 per bird on December
1, 2013, to $3.10 per bird on December 1, 2014.



I-29 Dairy Beef Short Course March 24

The I-29 Dairy Outreach Consortium is offering the Moo University, Dairy Beef Short Course March 24 as part of the Central Plains Dairy Expo pre-conference educational events.

This event is being co-sponsored by the I-29 Dairy Outreach Consortium which includes SDSU Extension, University of Minnesota Extension, Iowa State University Extension, North Dakota State University Extension, and Nebraska Extension Services, Iowa State Dairy Association, South Dakota Dairy Producers, & SW MN Dairy Profit Group and Hubbard Feeds.

The Moo University, Dairy Beef Short Course which will be held March 24 begins at 11 a.m. and concludes around 3 p.m. in rooms 6 & 7 of the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. (1201 N. West Avenue).

This event is free and lunch will be provided to attendees.

Due to limited seating capacity, attendees are encouraged to pre-register for the event. To pre-register, for this free short course, contact Tracey Erickson, SDSU Extension Dairy Specialist at 605.882.5140 or by email.

Topics to be covered during the short Course include the following:

-- Is There Profit in Dairy Steers? Economics (Budgets, Breakeven & Marketing) of Dairy Beef Production; led by Robert Tigner, Nebraska Extension Educator, Agriculture

-- Nutritional and Management Strategies for Dairy Beef Producers; led by Reid McDaniels, SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Specialist.

-- The impact of the Veterinary Feed Directive on Dairy Beef Production; led by Russ Daly, SDSU Extension Veterinarian, Associate Professor and State Public Health Veterinarian.

-- Specialized Management for Dairy Beef: High energy feeding, implants, marketing dairy beef; led by Hubbard Feed's representative.

Upon completion of the seminar attendees are encouraged to partake in the evening activities during the Welcome Reception for the Central Plains Dairy Expo, featuring Thompson Square as entertainment.

The Welcome Reception is free to dairy producers, dairy beef feeders and others in the dairy industry. It is being held in the Sanford Premier Center, which is adjacent to the Convention Center. To learn more, visit the Central Plains Dairy Expo website.



Fuel Tax Legislation Signed by Branstad

Transportation infrastructure is essential for corn growers and Iowa's economy. Because Iowa's roads and bridges are in desperate need of repair, today Governor Branstad signed SF 257 into law, which will provide the necessary funding for the growing maintenance demands. The legislation increases the state fuel tax by 10 cents, directing more than $200 million into Iowa's Road Use Tax Fund (RUTF), a constitutionally protected mechanism to support transportation infrastructure projects.

"Farmers and agribusiness rely on Iowa's roads and bridges, and the longevity of our infrastructure relies on us," says Jerry Mohr, a farmer from Eldridge and current ICGA president. "We thank Governor Branstad and the Iowa Legislature for passage of this important bill for Iowa's future."

The bill passed both the Iowa House and the Iowa Senate on Tuesday, and Governor Branstad signed the bill into law this morning. SF 257 increases the current state fuel tax by 10 cents, effective March 1, while maintaining a differential incentive for ethanol and adding an incentive for biodiesel blends of fuel.

On behalf of its nearly 8,000 farmer members across the state, the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) thanked Branstad and the Iowa Legislature for their support of SF 257 which will ensure the future of Iowa's transportation infrastructure.



Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey Shows Slight Increases for 2015

Rates for custom machine work and services are showing a steady increase again for 2015, according to the 2015 Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey. The service categories that were surveyed include information on tillage, planting, spraying, harvesting and hauling grain and forages. Also included are values for miscellaneous services, and machinery and grain storage rental.

Alejandro Plastina, economist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, indicates that expected farm custom rates for 2015 increased 1.2 percent from their 2014 survey results.

“In dollar terms, rates are 19 cents higher on average. However, 90 percent of the changes in custom rates range between a decline of $2.10 and an increase of $2.20 from their 2014 levels, averaging only a 1-cent increase,” said Plastina.

Reported values on the survey are averaged from all the received responses for each category. The range of the highest and lowest responses received is also reported. The values survey participants report are what they expect to pay or charge in the coming year. These values are intended only as a guide to help both custom operators and people who hire custom work done arrive at a reasonable rate.

A total of 166 Iowa farmers, custom operators and farm managers replied to the survey. Twenty-five percent of them reported that they performed custom work for others, 11 percent reported hiring custom work done and 64 percent indicated that they did both.

There are many reasons why the rate charged in a particular situation should be above or below the average. These include the timeliness with which operations are performed, quality and special features of the machine, operator skill, size and shape of fields, number of acres contracted, and the condition of the crop for harvesting. The availability of custom operators in a given area also will affect rates.

Ag Decision Maker offers a Decision Tool to help custom operators and other farmers estimate their own costs for specific machinery operations. The Machinery Cost Calculator, File A3-29 can be found under Crops, then Machinery in the Ag Decision Maker left-hand navigation bar.

The 2015 Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey is available at your county extension office or online as publication FM-1698, from the Extension Online Store, or as Information File A3-10, Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey, on the Ag Decision Maker website www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/.



FARMLAND Documentary Debuting on DVD

Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Moll's feature-length documentary, FARMLAND, will be available on DVD beginning Tuesday, March 3, at Walmart and Walmart.com. The availability of the documentary at retail locations across the country and online, provides another opportunity for viewers to experience the film, which offers a firsthand glimpse inside the world of farming by showcasing the lives of six young farmers and ranchers in their twenties.

FARMLAND premiered in theaters across the country in spring 2014, and now, beginning March 3rd, is available on hard disk for rent and purchase at Netflix, Amazon, select retail outlets and via On Demand platforms.

"Walmart is certainly the premier retail outlet for top-line DVD releases," said Mark Borde, Freestyle Media. "We were thrilled they selected FARMLAND to be one of their new documentary titles this month."

DVDs of FARMLAND will be for sale at select Walmart locations and on Walmart.com beginning March 3rd. The documentary is also now available to rent on DVD from Netflix and to purchase on Amazon, with continued availability for rent and purchase via digital download on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Blockbuster On-Demand, Sony PlayStation, Vudu.com, Xbox and YouTube.

"I'm thrilled by how wide the distribution has been for Farmland." said Moll. "There's a lot of interest out there in the lives of young farmers and ranchers. It is a fascinating topic and I'm glad that there's such a demand for the film on DVD and online."

During its theatrical debut in 2014, FARMLAND was shown in more than 170 theaters across the country. The film was also featured at film festivals in Atlanta, Cleveland, Nashville and Newport Beach, Calif.

Produced by Moll's Allentown Productions, FARMLAND was made with the generous support of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, of which the National Corn Growers Association was a founding affiliate. Check out the official trailer and more information about the feature length documentary at FARMLANDfilm.com.



National Wheat Foundation Announces Wheat Yield Competition

Today the National Wheat Foundation (NWF) announced the creation and implementation of a National Wheat Yield Contest during a press conference at Commodity Classic. Through the primary support of BASF, NWF is able to launch this new venture.

“We appreciate the generous support of our primary industry partner, BASF, to assist in the creation of this program. We are looking forward to this contest increasing grower productivity, helping build a stronger U.S. wheat industry and increasing knowledge transfer between growers,” commented NWF chairman, Dusty Tallman, wheat grower from Brandon, Colo.

The contest hopes to increase U.S. wheat grower productivity to ensure an ample supply of quality U.S. wheat to reliably meet the needs of the domestic wheat market and our foreign customers.

“Our goal is to help growers get the most out of every acre,” said Neil Bentley, Director of Marketing, BASF. “Initiatives such as the National Wheat Yield Contest give growers an opportunity to work with innovations that help them break yield barriers, and allows farmers to grow and learn from one another.”

A few objectives of the National Wheat Yield Contest are: drive innovation, enable knowledge transfer between growers, urge experimentation with new technologies, and identify top wheat producers in each state.

Yield contest participants will compete by wheat class, by dryland or irrigated and by state and region to ensure the competition is between peers. Contest parameters include class, geography, quality and yield. The contest rules are still being developed and will be announced well prior to the entry start date.



USDA Releases Data Showing How Trans Pacific Partnership Benefits All 50 States

In conjunction with a series of Made in Rural America Executive Actions announced today by President Obama and the White House, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released data today showing the opportunities for agriculture of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) to help boost agricultural exports across the 50 United States. TPP is a 21st century trade agreement that will promote job growth, increase farm income, generate greater rural economic activity, and help expand U.S. agricultural exports to some of the fastest growing countries in the Asia-Pacific region. USDA released its TPP data today after President Obama announced a set of new executive actions to help grow manufacturing in rural areas and to provide new markets to small businesses across our nation's heartland. The President's announcement underscored the White House's "Made in Rural America" initiative launched in February 2014 and co-led by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

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.

Here is just a snapshot of how the TPP would boost exports of some U.S. food and agricultural products:

    Soybeans and Soybean Products: Under the Agreement, tariffs across the TPP region will be cut, offering new market access opportunities to U.S. producers and exporters of soybeans and soybean products. In 2014 the United States exported $5.5 billion of this product to the TPP region.

    Poultry and Beef: Under the Agreement, tariffs across the TPP region will be cut, offering new market access opportunities to U.S. poultry and beef producers and exporters. In 2014, the United States exported about $7 billion in poultry and beef to the TPP region.

    Fresh Fruits and Fresh and Processed Vegetables: Under the Agreement, tariffs across the TPP region will be cut, offering new market access opportunities to producers and exporters of U.S. fresh fruits and fresh and processed vegetables. In 2014, the United States exported about $8.1 billion of these products to the TPP region.

Trade is a vital contributor to the U.S. economy. More than 95 percent of the world's potential consumers, representing nearly 80 percent of the world's purchasing power, live outside our borders. To learn how the TPP would benefit your state's food and agricultural economy, visit www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trans-pacific-partnership-tpp.



Ethanol Industry Leaders Gather in Phoenix

Today, Growth Energy, the leading trade organization representing ethanol producers and supporters, kicked off its sixth annual Executive Leadership Conference at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona.

This morning, Jeff Broin, co-chair of Growth Energy’s Board of Directors, delivered a “Chairman’s Report” that outlined the current state of the renewable fuels industry and how this year is all about “moving ahead and moving faster” to bring clean, homegrown fuels to the American consumer. Broin noted how 2014 was a historic year for our industry, stating that producers have been selling a “clean, green, high octane, homegrown product at a huge discount.”

Broin continued by thanking retailers who have started offering E15, noting that, “We are proud to support you and stand with you to bring American Ethanol to our customers." Broin highlighted what is at stake – saying, “This is more than a war simply between ethanol and oil; it’s a war between agriculture and oil.” Broin concluded by saying, "This is a war we need to keep fighting, a war we cannot loose. The world is depending on us."

Following Jeff Broin’s speech, Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, delivered his annual “CEO Report.” In his address, Buis told attendees, “We are winning this battle and we are winning because of you.” He outlined how oil “Hates us, cause they ain’t us.” He highlighted the accomplishments of the industry this past year. Buis stated, “We have always faced challenges, that’s life, but we focused on growing demand for our product. We have doubled the number of retailers offering E15 this past year, it’s only a matter of time before 2015 becomes the year of E15.” He explained that E15 is the “low hanging fruit” we have to promote and get into the marketplace.

Buis also attacked the so-called food vs. fuel myth, explaining how this fallacy cannot be substantiated by any facts and stated, “It’s time to stick a fork in this food vs. fuel debate.” Furthermore, Buis outlined how defending the Renewable Fuel Standard and expanding market access to E15 will be among the industry’s top priorities in 2015.

Additionally, Buis highlighted the importance of engaging with members of Congress and candidates – telling attendees, “We must continue to educate them on the benefits of ethanol – it reduces our dependence on foreign oil, improves our environment and creates jobs that can be outsourced and ensures a robust farm economy.”

In conclusion, Buis noted that this will not be an easy challenge, and that “America has a can do attitude, and that is what we have to get back to.” He recalled how he called on President Obama to “Tear down this bendwall”
a year ago, continuing, “We are still waiting Mr. President.” Buis also recalled a famous quote of the president, noting that “Yes we can,” when it comes to energy independence, clean air and higher blends of ethanol that are better performing and less expensive and offer consumers a choice and savings at the pump.

Buis closed by saying, “We all know that this is a battle – one over market share, and one that will not be accomplished overnight. Whenever you think there is a challenge, remember what Henry Ford said, ‘When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.’ The facts are on our side and regardless of the challenges; we are going to win this fight.”



Toomey, Feinstein & Flake Legislation Shortsighted Policy

In response to legislation to be introduced today by Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA), Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) that would repeal the corn ethanol portion of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, issued the following statement.

“Just like their previous failed attempt, this legislation is incredibly shortsighted. Nearly identical legislation has been introduced in the past and has always failed to gain any traction since a majority of senators understand the importance of homegrown, American renewable fuels. This bill would eviscerate the RFS - the most successful energy policy enacted in the last 40 years. It will continue to keep us addicted to foreign oil and more than anything, it seems like this legislation is appeasing the wishes of Big Oil and Big Food.

“Additionally, this legislation is based on false, misleading information. To blame ethanol for an increase in the price of food may make for good rhetoric, but it is completely devoid of any facts to back it up. Corn ethanol is not the cause of higher food prices; it is the price of oil that is responsible. Even the World Bank outlined how crude oil prices are responsible for over 50 percent of the increase in food prices since 2004. Countess studies have shown that oil prices, Wall Street speculators and the high costs of manufacturing, packaging and transportation are the true culprits driving up food prices. Furthermore, 2014 yielded a record corn crop and the price of corn dropped precipitously throughout the harvest, even as food costs increased.

“The authors of this legislation fail to understand the actual process of how ethanol is produced. Only the starch is removed, while all of the valuable components – the fiber, oil and protein are returned to the food chain in the form of a high protein animal feed.

“Additionally, ethanol has clear environmental benefits. According to the Argonne National Laboratory, compared to gasoline, ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 34 percent. Advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 100 percent in comparison to gasoline.

“If this legislation was adopted, it would embrace the status quo of our dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil, concede we no longer are serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and seek to pursue a policy that would result in massive upheaval and job loss in today’s booming rural economy.

“It appears to me, this legislation is nothing more than a concession to demands of Big Oil and Big Food, who care more about their own bottom line than the American consumer. Furthermore, this is a slap in the face to consumers who deserve a choice and savings when they go to fill up at the pump.”



Corn Growers to Congress: Don’t Turn Your Back on Ethanol and Other Renewable Fuels
Today, Sens. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act. National Corn Growers Association board member Keith Alverson of South Dakota issued the following statement:

“Every year, corn ethanol gets cleaner and more efficient, and oil gets dirtier. Congress should not turn its back on the success we have seen in renewable fuels. The Renewable Fuel Standard is working. We are growing renewable, clean energy right here in America. Corn ethanol is better for the environment and has historically lowered the cost of filling our tanks by nearly a dollar.

"With a second consecutive record crop, there is more than enough corn to meet all demands for food, fuel, feed, and fiber. Corn farmers have more than met our commitment on the RFS. There are many good reasons to continue this policy, and we look forward to working with Congress to support it.”



Agroconsult Raises Brazil Soy View to 94.7 MMT

Agroconsult, a Brazilian farm consultancy, Thursday raised its forecast for the local 2014-15 soybean crop by 828,000 metric tons to 94.7 million metric tons based on the good health of the crops encountered during the first three stages of its Rally da Safra crop tour.
Farmers were busy harvesting soybean crops Feb. 25 at Sorriso, Mato Grosso and averaging 48 bushels per acre. (DTN photo by Marcia Zarley Taylor)

The hike bucks the recent trend for declining estimates due to the dry January in the top-producing Center-West region.

The strong development of the crop in the southern states of Rio Grande do Sul and Parana and the center-west state of Mato Grosso do Sul will offset losses registered due to dry weather in Minas Gerais and Goias, said Agroconsult in a press statement.

The Agroconsult number is at the top end of forecasts for the 2014-15 crop, which range from 90 mmt to 95 mmt. The crop is about 25% harvested.

The consultancy lowered its summer corn forecast by 979,000 mt to 29.0 mmt due to poor yields in Minas Gerais. Second-crop corn production is pegged at 50 mmt, up 4% on the year before.



USDA Opens Public Comment Period for Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Interim Final Rule

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting public comments on its interim final rule for the new Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), designed to help producers protect working agricultural lands and wetlands. The 2014 Farm Bill consolidated three previous conservation easement programs into ACEP to make it easier for diverse agricultural landowners to fully benefit from conservation initiatives.

“Since 2009, USDA has worked with producers and private landowners to enroll a record number of acres in conservation programs. This interim final rule takes into account recommendations from agricultural landowners and conservation stakeholders about how to better streamline and enhance conservation easement processes,” Vilsack said.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers ACEP, a voluntary program created in the 2014 Farm bill to protect and restore critical wetlands on private and tribal lands through the wetland reserve easement component. ACEP also encourages farmers, ranchers and non-industrial private forest landowners to keep their private and tribal land in agricultural use through the agricultural land easement component. ACEP also conserves grasslands, including rangeland, pastureland and shrubland.

Under ACEP’s agricultural land component, tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs are eligible to partner with USDA to purchase conservation easements. NRCS easement programs have been a critical tool in recent years for advancing landscape-scale private lands conservation.  In FY 2014, NRCS used $328 million in ACEP funding to enroll an estimated 143,833 acres of farmland, grassland, and wetlands through 485 new easements.  In Florida, NRCS used ACEP funds to enroll an additional 6,700 acres in the Northern Everglades Watershed, supporting the restoration and protection of habitat for a variety of listed species, including the Wood Stork, Crested caracara, and Eastern Indigo Snake.  In Georgia, NRCS used these funds to complete the Roundabout Swamp project by enrolling 270 acres of the Carolina Bay to help restore and protect the entire bay ecosystem to historic hydrology and vegetation.

ACEP’s agricultural land easement component offers many benefits to landowners and citizens. The easements protect the long-term viability of the nation’s food supply by preventing conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses. Other benefits include environmental quality, historic preservation, wildlife habitat and protection of open space.

Under ACEP’s wetland component, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance directly to private and tribal landowners to restore, protect and enhance wetlands through the purchase of wetland reserve easements. NRCS helps restore, protect and enhance enrolled wetlands to provide habitat for fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species; improve water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals; reduce damage from flooding; recharge groundwater; protect biological diversity and provide opportunities for educational, scientific and limited recreational activities. Under the wetland reserve easement component, eligible landowners can choose to enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement. Tribal landowners also have the option of enrolling in 30-year contracts that are available only for lands owned by American Indian tribes.

The official notice of the proposed ACEP interim final rule can be found in the Federal Register.  Electronic comments during the 60-day comment period must be submitted through regulations.gov.  Comments also can be hand carried or mailed to Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. NRCS-2014-0011, Regulatory and Agency Policy Team, Strategic Planning and Accountability, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Building 1-1112D, Beltsville, MD 20705.



MONSANTO NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR 2015 “FARM MOM OF THE YEAR” CONTEST

They are the heart of the family and the backbone of their farm operation. They are farm moms, and they nourish, nurse and care for everything and everyone in their families, on their farms and in their communities. To once again recognize and thank these inspiring women, Monsanto Company today announced it has opened up nominations for its 2015 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year contest. Nominations will be accepted now through March 31.

“The America’s Farmers Mom of the Year program is one of the most fulfilling things we have the honor of doing all year,” says Tracy Mueller, Monsanto Corporate Brand Communications Manager. “Each year we read about the strong, caring and dedicated moms who not only help raise their crops, livestock and other agricultural goods, but who nurture their families and actively support their communities. Every story is amazing.”

Anyone can nominate their favorite farm mom, whether it’s their mom, sister, aunt, daughter, friend or community member. Just visit AmericasFarmers.com during the nomination period and submit a brief essay online or by mail that explains how the nominated farm mom contributes to her family, farm, community and agriculture. Be sure to address all four areas as a panel of judges from American Agri-Women will use that as part of the criteria they use to help Monsanto select five regional winners.

“It’s so humbling to read about all of the amazing farm moms who give so much of themselves and ask for nothing in return,” says Donnell Scott, Vice President of Education for American Agri-Women. “It truly is just a part of who they are, and they don’t expect, or want, a lot of credit or attention for what they do. It’s their selflessness that makes our job to judge the nominations extremely difficult, but also so rewarding.”

The five regional winners will be announced at the end of April, and each winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize. Profiles of the winners will then be posted to AmericasFarmers.com, where the public can vote for one national farm mom winner. Announced just prior to Mother’s Day, the national winner will receive an additional $5,000 cash prize above and beyond her regional prize, for a total of $10,000.

For more information on the program or for complete eligibility requirements and official contest rules visit AmericasFarmers.com. Interested parties may also send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to America's Farmers Mom of the Year, Attn: Sue Dillon, 349 Marshall Ave., Ste. 200, St. Louis, MO 63119.



Pioneer Arms Professional Agricultural Advisory Network with Latest Tools, Services and Products

DuPont Pioneer will showcase new tools and services available to growers from its industry-leading professional advisory network at the 2015 Commodity Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. During the trade show, Pioneer will demonstrate a new mobile-enabled agronomy App and a new input management platform available through Encirca services. 

“In today’s complex and intensely competitive agricultural environment, growers count on reliable information and insights to help them make the best management decisions for their operations,” said Steve Reno, DuPont Pioneer vice president, business director-U.S. and Canada. “For nearly 90 years, Pioneer has excelled in providing growers with access to an expert field team that provides tailored advice and whole-farm solutions to position the right products on the right acres and improve their productivity and profitability.”

Pioneer showcased the uniqueness and strength of the DuPont Pioneer field team with a new video clip titled “With You from the Word Go,” which spotlights the team of specialized professionals who provide on-the-ground support to Pioneer customers – from Pioneer agronomists to Pioneer sales professionals to Encirca℠ certified services agents.
 
Top Agronomy Library Now Mobile-Enabled
During Commodity Classic, Pioneer will unveil a new, free Pioneer® GrowingPoint® agronomy App that will enable growers, Pioneer sales professionals and Pioneer agronomists to easily access and search the Pioneer Agronomy Information Service library on any mobile device. This tool provides access to hundreds of agronomy insights, articles and photos across a variety of topics, including weed and pest control, overall crop management and more.

Pioneer has more than 150 technical product and agronomy professionals who lead more than 10,000 on-farm trials and collaborate with dozens of universities across the United States and Canada to conduct Pioneer® GrowingPoint® agronomy trials. This work ensures that agronomic advice is tailored to local conditions and to a grower’s operation and that insight is captured each growing cycle.

“Pioneer has led the industry in bringing professional agronomy services to growers since the 1950s,” said Reno. “I’m proud of this legacy and that today we are making our vast resource library more easily accessible.”

Download the Pioneer® GrowingPoint® agronomy App for iOS (iPhone, iPad) or for Andriod devices. Once installed, resources are available even without a cellular or internet connection.
 
Input Management Services Draw New Users
Pioneer continues to build on its Encirca℠ services, including the recent release of Encirca℠ Yield Stand to give growers the insight to help them maximize plant stands and yield potential on every acre.

The service helps growers tailor corn and soybean planting prescriptions to unique areas of each field. It includes risk analysis and planting priority tools to make real-time adjustments if weather or other factors interfere with spring planting. At the end of the season, a trusted Pioneer advisor will consult with growers and conduct a yield analysis to learn from every field, every season.  Encirca℠ Yield Stand joins the Encirca℠ Yield Nitrogen Management Service as a cutting-edge input management offering for growers.

Pioneer is seeing strong grower adoption of these new productivity tools with nearly 500,000 acres enrolled in the Encirca℠ Yield Nitrogen Management Service and solid interest in the newly available Encirca℠ Yield Stand service.
 
Advancements for Corn and Soybean Product Lines
Focused investments in research and development continue to drive innovation in the Pioneer seed product pipeline with near-term launches in corn and solid progression in its North America soybean lineup.

Pioneer launched Pioneer® brand Optimum® Leptra™ corn hybrids in the southern U.S. in 2014 under a stewarded program. With the recent Chinese import approval of the Agrisure Viptera® trait, Pioneer will expand the U.S. lineup of Optimum® Leptra™ corn hybrids in 2015 and growers who use these trait stacked corn products will no longer be subject to grain channeling requirements. In addition,

Pioneer is expected to launch Event DP 4114 early in the second half of this decade, pending regulatory approvals in key import markets. Event DP 4114 will help enable Pioneer to develop higher yielding corn hybrids and expand its triple-stack offerings to about half of its North American corn volume in the years following introduction. DP 4114 received cultivation approval in the United States and Canada in 2013 and will conduct IMPACT™ trials with the product this year.

In soybeans, Pioneer is making solid progress transitioning its North America lineup to its newest Pioneer® brand T series varieties, which will account for about two-thirds of volume in 2015. This year soybean varieties with the Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ trait will be tested in our IMPACT™ trial system with first commercial sales anticipated as early as 2016, pending completion of field testing and applicable regulatory reviews.

Pioneer also launched BOLT™ technology herbicide-tolerant trait in soybeans, which provides growers with more options and flexibility to manage glyphosate-resistant weeds from the start of the season. For 2015, Pioneer® brand T Series with BOLT™ technology will be available to farmers across the Mid-South in maturity groups IV and V.

Whether growers are seeking best-in-class data management solutions for their planting programs, or a wide range of seed options to help them maximize their yield potential on their farms, DuPont Pioneer has the tools to bring their plans to life.

“With growers increasingly focused on managing against tightening margins, we see our products and service offerings as an important tool for growers seeking innovative solutions,” Reno said. “Our team of experts will be available to help growers identify the right solutions to help get them to their yield goals in 2015.”