Monday March 2 Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the month of February 2015, temperatures averaged below normal across the eastern two-thirds of the State, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.  Snow cover was light as the month came to a close, allowing livestock continued access to stalk fields.Calving was underway with producers taking additional care to protect the newborn from the cold. Crop producers were focused on bookwork and preparations for spring field work. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 30 short, 66 adequate, and 0 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 8 percent very short, 26 short, 65 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Field Crops Report: Winter wheat condition rated 0 percent very poor, 3 poor, 35 fair, 57 good, and 5 excellent.

Livestock Report: Cattle and calf conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 13 fair, 73 good, and 13 excellent.  Sheep and lamb conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 0 poor, 13 fair, 76 good, and 11 excellent.  Hay and roughage supplies rated 0 percent very short, 6 short, 92 adequate, and 2 surplus.  Stock water supplies rated 0 percent very short, 8 short, 91 adequate, and 1 surplus.



RICKETTS NAMES DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY DIRECTOR

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced that Jim Macy of Jefferson City, Missouri would serve as the next Director of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. After an interview process, the Environmental Quality Council forwarded finalists to Governor Ricketts who selected Macy as the department’s new director.

From 2012 to 2014, Macy served as the Director for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Financial Assistance Center which provides funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects. During his tenure in this position, Macy developed and executed a plan to produce annual reports to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which had become an issue during EPA audits of the agency. He also developed and executed on a $54 million plan to address underutilization of drinking water grant and loan funds to address concerns raised by an Inspector General’s review of the program.

Previously, Macy has served in a variety of capacities throughout the Missouri Department of Natural Resources including roles as the Environmental Compliance Section Chief, the Division Director of Field Services, the Regional Director of the Kansas City Regional Office, a Soil and Water District Coordinator, and an Environmental Specialist.

Macy holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with an emphasis in Animal Science and a Master’s in Education with a focus on Vocational/Technical Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. In 2001, Macy received the EPA National Notable Achievement Award for Outstanding RCRA Stakeholder Involvement Team of the Year.

“I look forward to working with the Ricketts administration to streamline regulatory processes,” said Jim Macy. “Like my home state, agriculture is Nebraska’s number one industry.  I look forward to working with business owners and ag producers across the state in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration.”

 “Jim has developed broad experience from a variety of assignments,” said Governor Pete Ricketts. “Whether he’s working with farmers or municipalities, his experience will aid the department as it seeks to provide fair and thoughtful programming and regulation for Nebraska’s air, land, and water resources.”

Macy will start March 9, 2015. His salary will be $120,000.



Nebraska CattleWomen to Host Beef Ambassador Contest April 3, 2015 in Kearney

The Nebraska CattleWomen will host the 2015 Nebraska Beef Ambassador Contest at 1:00 p.m. on April 3th, 2015 at the Holiday Inn/Younes Conference Center. The contest provides an opportunity for youth to become spokespersons and future leaders in the beef industry.

For more information, call Ashton Bohling at (402) 239-0936 or email ashton.bohling@apsbulldogs.org.  Registration is due by March 1st, 2015.


Other Cattlemens' Activities...........  
March 5, 2015
Cass-Otoe Affiliate Meeting
Cass County Extension Office, Weeping Water
7:00 p.m.

March 7, 2015
Knox County Cattlemen Banquet
Ohiya Casino
6:00 p.m.
March 16, 2015

March 21, 2015
Burt County Feeders Ladies' Night
Tekamah City Auditorium
6:00 p.m. Social, 6:45 p.m. Meal

March 21, 2015
Boone Nance Cattlemen Banquet & Auction
Boone County Event Center, Albion
Social 6:00 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m.



FISCHER TO KEYNOTE NEBRASKA LEAD BANQUET MARCH 13

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska will be the keynote speaker at the annual Nebraska LEAD (Leadership Education/Action Development) Program recognition banquet March 13.

Fischer’s address will provide insight on leadership development while addressing the need for strong leadership at all levels during the banquet honoring Nebraska LEAD Group 33 at the Nebraska East Union on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus.

Prior to the banquet, at 4:45 p.m., the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council will conduct its annual meeting. The council will elect 2015-16 officers to its board of directors.

Social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by the 6:30 p.m. banquet. Reservations are $25 and may be made by calling the Nebraska LEAD Program office at (402) 472-6810 by March 6.

The purpose of the Nebraska LEAD Program is to prepare and motivate men and women in agriculture for more effective leadership. It is under the direction of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council, a non-profit organization in cooperation with the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. It is supported by Nebraska colleges, universities, businesses, industries and individuals throughout the state.



SNOW OR WATER – WHAT’S THE DIF?
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

               Are you getting tired of winter?  Tired of hauling water or chopping ice?  Well maybe, just maybe you can let your cows eat snow once in a while for their water needs.

               Snow sometimes can be a good source of livestock water.  Research from Canada and several northern states have shown that cows can eat 30 to 40 pounds of snow per day to meet their water needs.  And some ranchers already rely on only snow to provide water on their winter pastures.

               To be successful using snow as your water source, several conditions must be met.  First off, the snow must be clean and fresh.  We’ve all heard jokes about eating yellow snow, but it’s no joke if that is what your cows are depending on.  Snow that’s crusted over, filled with dirt, or heavily trampled is not adequate.

               Second, the cows must be in good shape.  It will take body heat energy to melt the snow they eat so thin cows or sick cows should not be forced to rely on snow for water.  Lactating cows also should have a good source of liquid water.

               Make sure the cows are eating an adequate diet to provide the extra energy needed to melt that snow.  Cows that go off feed or aren’t eating enough might be having trouble getting enough water from the snow.  After all, they do need to learn how to effectively graze snow to get enough water.

               Lastly, be sure to have an alternate water source readily available.  Snow availability and snow conditions can change rapidly.

               Snow can be used as the only source of water for many livestock, saving time, money, and potentially extending grazing to remote areas or later in the season.  However, monitor intake and cow condition carefully to be successful.



Iowa State Herbicide Guide Offers Strategies to Manage Resistant Weeds

Using herbicides that differ in the ways they kill weeds goes a long way to battling herbicide resistance, according to Iowa State University agronomists.

Bob Hartzler and Mike Owen, professors of agronomy and ISU Extension and Outreach weed scientists, updated the 2015 Herbicide Guide for Iowa Corn and Soybean Production to reflect the 2014 growing season, product effectiveness and changes in industry offerings. It is available at no charge from the Extension Online Store at https://store.extension.iastate.edu/.

“In this era when herbicide resistance is spreading rapidly across the state, it is important to not only develop a weed management program that provides effective control, but also reduces the likelihood of allowing resistance to become established in fields,” Hartzler said. “To do this, you need to know the effectiveness of the individual herbicides used and the sites of action of the herbicides (herbicide group). The guide is a convenient resource to find this information.”

Waterhemp continues to be the biggest problem weed in the state and giant ragweed populations are expanding, according to the guide. Marestail/horseweed still is a major problem in the south and southwest where most of the no-tillage production is practiced. All three of these weeds have populations resistant to glyphosate and ALS inhibitor herbicides, and many of the populations have multiple resistances.

Many Iowa farmers believe they have identified pesticide resistance on the land they farm, the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll found last year, and most are concerned that herbicide-resistant weeds and pesticide-resistant insects will become a problem. 

“Simple and convenient tactics are failing rapidly and farmers must diversify, not just the herbicides they use, but everything,” Owen said. “They also need to understand that many herbicide combinations, while advertised as effective on resistant weeds because they include multiple mechanisms of herbicide action, are not a good tactic unless the herbicides are effective on the target weeds.”

A greater diversity of tactics is needed to combat herbicide-resistant weeds. Rotation of herbicide mechanisms of action is beneficial, but inclusion of multiple effective herbicide mechanisms of action for every herbicide application is more effective, said Owen and Hartzler.

Herbicides kill plants by disrupting essential physiological processes. This normally is accomplished by the herbicide specifically binding to a single protein, referred to as the “site of action.” Herbicides in the same chemical family generally have the same site of action. The mechanism by which a herbicide kills a plant is known as its “mode of action.”

The Weed Science Society of America has developed a numerical system for identifying herbicide sites of action. Certain sites of action have multiple numbers since different herbicides may bind at different locations on the target enzyme or different enzymes in the pathway may be targeted.

Most manufacturers are including these herbicide groups (designated by “HG” followed by a number) on herbicide labels to aid development of herbicide resistance management strategies. Prepackage mixes will contain the herbicide group numbers of all active ingredients.

Varying herbicide mechanisms of action and using multiple effective herbicide mechanisms of action for every herbicide application are necessary steps, say Owen and Hartzler, but producers should include non-herbicidal tactics.

Cultural tactics such as crop rotation, narrow-row spacing and the inclusion of cover crops reduce the selection pressure on weeds placed by herbicides, according to the weed scientists. Mechanical weed control is an important option for Iowa farmers to use in the management of herbicide-resistant weeds and the benefits and risks should be evaluated to determine if mechanical tactics have a fit in specific fields.

The guide also includes their assessment of herbicide pre-mixtures; the latest research on weed management and cover crops; and a review of new genetically engineered crop traits for weed management.



ISU Extension Offers Farm Financial Planning Support

It’s safe to say that financial management for farm families is unique. Farm income can be irregular and unpredictable. Bills must be paid, livestock fed and crops tended to. Taking care of a family’s needs can add stress.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering Farm Financial Planning, a program providing one-on-one financial support and advice to farmers. The program includes FINPACK, a computerized analysis of the farm business. It also offers useful referrals to ISU Extension and Outreach programs and outside services such as counseling or finance management courses.

“FINPACK gives information to make more informed and profitable decisions for the future of a farm business,” said Ann Johanns, extension program specialist. “The farm financial planning program was initiated in the 1980s in response to the farm crisis. It continures to be available to give Iowans confidence with stressful issues, legal questions and financial concerns.”

Any farmer who wants to understand a complete picture of their farm financial situation, which many lenders are requiring before they will extend further credit, should consider the Farm Financial Planning program. The goal of the program is to help determine farm business needs, and whether or not future changes are desirable.

As part of the program analysis, farm business operators will see at least three in-depth FINPACK business plans and how to implement alternatives like the addition, expansion or phasing out of a livestock operation, or buying, selling or renting land. Farm Financial Planning can also help evaluate ways to correct negative cash flow and profitability problems.

A trained ISU Extension and Outreach associate meets with the family one to two times to get farm records and to discuss results of the FINPACK analysis in confidence and possible effects if changes are made. The extension associate may introduce other farm and family financial materials or information about outside sources of help.

The service is available at no charge and is funded by the Agricultural Credit School, a program of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and the Iowa Bankers Association.

Farm Financial associates are part-time ISU Extension and Outreach employees trained in farm budgeting and financial analysis. They have farm backgrounds so they understand farming and the challenges it may bring.

For more information, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach farm management specialist in your county office at www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/farm-management-0. Or contact the Beginning Farmer Center at 877-232-1999.



Recommendations for Dietary Guidelines for Americans Released
(from CBB)

If you have been hearing news about the Recommendations for Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) being released, it might not be clear to you that these recommendations are not the actual DGA. The report from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee includes recommendations for what the DGA should include, but the DGA still must be developed and released. If you would like to join in the conversation via social media, here are some talking points on behalf of the beef checkoff:

    The good news for Americans is you can continue to enjoy the beef you love. As a rancher, I can tell you beef still belongs on my plate and you can feel confident including lean beef in your diet.

    More Americans are discovering the benefits of including lean beef in the diet.

    There is a large body of strong and consistent evidence that supports lean meats, including lean beef's, positive role in healthy diets.

    We want to help Americans continue to choose lean beef more often as a part of a healthful diet. Beef is the perfect partner to fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and whole grains.

    When it comes to meeting the protein (and meat) recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines, Americans are right on track.

    Americans are already enjoying and building healthy diets today that include lean red meat.



Brazil Truckers Continue Protest

A police crackdown on protesting Brazilian truckers Sunday led to a sharp drop in the number of roadblocks along highways Sunday.  But truckers struck back Monday morning, renewing blockades across six states, indicating the movement may not be petering out.

As Monday Morning, some 46 highways were blocked, which is down from the figures of over 100 registered last week but up from 12 on Sunday evening.

The 13-day protest against rising diesel, high tolls and falling freight rates has hurt agribusiness, particularly the soy sector. Brazil is in the middle of its soybean harvest, and the blockades have stopped the flow of beans and soymeal to ports and forced crushing and meat-processing plants to suspend operations.

Police moved in to clear highways on Sunday, but the protests still appear strong in the southernmost states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.

It is the southern ports of Paranagua and Rio Grande, the No. 2 and No. 3 soy exit points, that are suffering most as the arrival of trucks slows to a trickle, although Paranagua will benefit Monday from the fact there is only one blockade in Parana.

Santos, the No. 1 soy port, still has ample supplies, as nearly half its soybeans arrive by rail.

Protest leaders have called for truckers to converge on Brasilia, the nation's capital, Monday to take their protest to the government's doorstep.



Brazil's Soy Harvest 29% Complete

Brazil's soybean harvest continues to lag at 29% complete as of Friday, said AgRural, a local consultancy.  Harvest efforts moved forward nine percentage points last week but are 10 points back on last year, although just four points back on the five-year average.

According to AgRural, the harvest picked up pace in the Center-West last week.

In Mato Grosso, the No. 1 soy state, exactly 50% of the crop had been collected, up 16 points on the week. At some points along the BR-163 highway, farmers had to stop fieldwork due to a lack of diesel, but the truckers' protest has yet to have a massive effect in harvesting.

Yields are varying massively in the state, In northern Mato Grosso, yields of between 43 and 54 bushels per acre are being recorded. In the south, in Campo Verde, yields of 49 bpa are the norm and, in the east, area that were hit hard by drought, around Querencia, are registering 36 bpa, said AgRural.

In the south of Brazil, the harvest is slipping further behind the regular schedule.  Parana, the No. 2 state, has harvested 33% of the crop, back from 42% at the same point last year. Delays are most pronounced in the north of the state, which was affected by dry weather.



National Survey on Cover Crops Seeks Farmer Participation

Farmers are invited to share their thoughts on cover crops - whether or not they use cover crops themselves - in a national survey, now in its third year of collecting valuable data on the increasingly popular management practice. The results, which will be released this summer, will help growers, researchers, agricultural advisors, ag retailers and policymakers more effectively address questions about cover crops and learn about best practices.

Farmers, take the online survey now... http://2014-2015covercropsurvey.questionpro.com/. 

Farmers who complete the questionnaire are eligible for a drawing for one of two $100 Visa gift cards. All answers are anonymous; respondents will be directed to another website at the end of the survey to enter the $100 Visa gift card drawing.

The survey is being conducted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and is sponsored by USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and Corn+Soybean Digest.

All farmers are invited to complete the survey, says Chad Watts, project manager for CTIC.

"It doesn't matter if you've planted cover crops for 40 years or if you've never worked with them before," he notes. "We want to hear from farmers with all levels of interest and experience. It's just as important to understand what might be preventing a farmer from planting cover crops as it is to understand why another grower is so excited."



NFU Salutes True Democracy in Action as Farmer and Rancher Members Drive the Future of Agriculture

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson today saluted the organization’s commitment to grassroots leadership and true democracy in action as NFU members from across the nation prepare to convene at their national convention in Wichita, Kansas, to vote on the organization’s policy and vision for the future of agriculture.

“NFU is one of the few organizations in Washington that is truly driven by its members, who meet with each other, elected officials and government agencies and then convene to discuss the organization’s overall policies and vision for policies important to family farmers and ranchers,” said Johnson.

NFU’s policy-setting process begins in late January with the meeting of the NFU Policy Committee, comprised of members, who are all considered outstanding leaders in their state/regional Farmers Union organizations and were nominated by their respective state's president to serve on the committee. Committee members meet with leaders from the White House, U.S. Department of Agriculture and key Capitol Hill staff to ensure they possess a broad working knowledge of current legislative issues and political landscape as they move to revise NFU's policy handbook.

“The meeting of the policy committee is the first part of the process, whereby chosen leaders representing a wide swath of agriculture convene to better understand and assess current NFU policy,” said Johnson. “They then discuss possible policy changes that will be brought to the voting membership during the annual convention in March.”

The second part of the process this year will take place at NFU’s 113th Anniversary Convention, March 14-17, in Wichita, Kansas. During the convention, the policy committee’s suggestions are considered and voted on, where any Farmers Union member may propose changes to the policy.

“After hearing from delegates and the membership, the policy committee submits a final copy of the suggested policy to the delegates at the convention for their consideration, amendment and adoption,” said Johnson.  “And that is American democracy in action, pure and simple,” he added.

Johnson noted that many of NFU’s key policy initiatives, like Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) were borne through such a process. “NFU members, just like farmers, ranchers and consumers across the nation, believe strongly that food should be labeled and will continue to urge Congress and the U.S. Trade Representative to “stay the course on COOL,” said Johnson. 



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for March 2015

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for March 2015. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for March is 0.250 percent, unchanged from 0.250 percent in February.

The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during March is 1.250 percent, unchanged from 1.250 percent in February.

Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for March are as follows, 1.750 percent with seven-year loan terms, down from 1.875 percent in February; 1.875 percent with 10-year loan terms, down from 2.000 percent in February and; 2.000 percent with 12-year loan terms, down from 2.125 percent in February.



 CWT Assists with 2.9 Million Pounds of Cheese and Butter Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 11 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold), Tillamook County Creamery Association and United Dairymen of Arizona who have contracts to sell 2.477 million pounds (1,124 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda, and Monterey Jack cheese and 385,809 pounds (175 metric tons) of butter to customers in Asia, the Middle East, and the South Pacific. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from March through August 2015.

Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 9.709 million pounds of cheese and 18.839 million pounds of butter to eighteen countries on five continents. The amounts of and butter in these sales contracts represent the equivalent of 513.481 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.

The amounts of cheese and related milk volumes reflect current contracts for delivery, not completed export volumes. CWT will pay export assistance to the bidders only when export and delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.



NMPF/USDEC Endorse Trade Promotion Authority Approval for Trade Agreements

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) today jointly urged Congress to enact new Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation, saying it is crucial to securing well-negotiated trade agreements, including a Pacific Rim pact that must open key markets to more U.S. dairy products.

In a letter to Congress, NMPF and USDEC said renewing TPA, which expired in 2007, will increase congressional influence over trade negotiations and lead to agreements that are better for both the country and the dairy industry.

“By having a clear framework for participating in the process and identified priorities that a successful agreement must address, Congress increases its influence over these agreements as they are being written,” said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern.

Added USDEC President Tom Suber: “TPA plays a key role in supporting a strong trade policy agenda. That is particularly important to the dairy industry, since it now exports the equivalent of one-seventh of its U.S. milk production.” Last year alone, Suber noted, the U.S. industry exported more than $7 billion in dairy products.

The dairy groups urged Congress to approve TPA, but also to become engaged in the final stages of negotiations with 11 other countries over the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership.

“To achieve an agreement with net benefits to the U.S. dairy industry, access to the region’s most protected dairy markets – Japan and Canada – is imperative,” said Mulhern. “While some progress has been made in Japan, both of these countries need to open their markets to a full range of U.S. dairy products.”

Suber said another key issue is improving safeguards for using generic food names, including many common cheese names, in export markets. The European Union, he noted, is attempting to erect trade barriers by limiting the use of names like feta, parmesan and asiago among many others, to particular geographic areas.



Case IH Announces Certified Pre-Owned Program

Case IH, CNH Industrial Parts & Service and CNH Industrial Capital have announced a Certified Pre-Owned program aimed at giving customers the best possible warranties and financing on late model Case IH Steiger tractors, Magnum tractors and Axial-Flow combines.

The new program will assign additional warranty on units that have met the stringent CPO qualification requirements. CPO standards will include a rigorous 100+ point inspection, fluid analysis (engines, hydraulic/transmission and coolants) and genuine Case IH parts wherever any replacement is necessary.

"This program will offer used equipment customers the reliability, warranty, special financing offers and peace of mind typically found only with new equipment purchases," says Eric Weaver, Senior Director of Marketing for Case IH. "By partnering with our dealers, CNH Industrial Parts & Service and CNH Industrial Capital, we can ensure uniform quality standards, warranties, parts benefits and financing options across our network on our most popular brands."

Case IH expects its dealer network to offer the first CPO-qualified units for sale, with financing offers from CNH Industrial Capital starting March 2015.