Monday March 9 Ag News

SUCCESSFUL FORAGE ESTABLISHMENT
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

               Stand failure is expensive.  It costs more money to reseed and lost production from today’s high value land adds up quickly.  Let’s review important steps to be successful.

               Before planting alfalfa, grass, or other forages this spring, make sure you take the steps needed to give you the best chance for a successful establishment.

               What are these steps?  Well, they may vary a little bit from farm to farm and field to field, but most fields need the following actions.

               Begin by making sure the field is suitable for whatever you intend to plant.  Seeding alfalfa in an area that frequently gets flooded or has standing water is not likely to produce long-term success.  Next, soil test and add recommended fertilizer and lime before planting.

               Probably one of the most important steps is preparing a firm seedbed.  Walk across the field before planting.  You should sink no deeper than the soles of your shoes or boots.  Or bounce a basketball on your seedbed.  If the ball won’t bounce back up, your seedbed is to too soft.  Firm it some more with a flat harrow, a roller, or maybe even irrigate.

               One of the most common causes of poor forage stands is planting too deep.  Most forage seeds are very small and should be planted no more than a quarter to half inch deep on heavy or fine textured soils or a half to one inch deep on sands or coarse textured soils.

               Lastly, control weeds.  Tillage during seedbed preparation, burn-down herbicides before planting, pre-plant incorporated herbicides, post-emerge herbicides, and even mowing all are possible methods.

               It’s tempting to take shortcuts with any one of these steps.  For your best chance of success, though, follow them all to avoid costly failures.



Nebraska Ethanol Board Meeting: March 19, 2015

The Nebraska Ethanol Board will meet at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, March 19. The meeting will be held at Hyatt Place in Lincoln.  Highlights of the agenda include:
    Presentation: Ron Lamberty, American Coalition for Ethanol – Fuel Marketer Workshop
    Presentation: Greg Youell, Metropolitan Area Planning Agency – Transportation Fuels Initiative
    Marketing Programs Update
    State and Federal Legislation Update

This agenda contains all items to come before the Board except those items of an emergency nature.



ACWA Water Conservation Project to focus on Elk Run Watershed

Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance (ACWA) is leading a $713,000 Water Quality Initiative (WQI) in the Elk Run Watershed to engage farmers in parts of Sac, Calhoun and Carroll Counties in discussion and implementation of water conservation practices outlined in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

“As agriculture retailers, we recognize the need to reduce nutrient loss across the agricultural landscape and elevate the awareness and adoption of water quality practices,” Ray Carpenter, ACWA president, said. “Through our water monitoring program, we recognized a need in this watershed and are excited about the opportunity to demonstrate practices and create one-on-one dialogue with farmers.”

Through on-farm evaluations, collecting water samples, implementing practices from the Nutrient Reduction Strategy and uniting farmers, partners and urban entities the Elk Run WQI will strive to further awareness and ultimately implementation of water quality conservation practices.

“We will complement the conservation practices already established in the area and add new ones to create an environment where farmers can learn what practices will have the most impact on their operations,” said Roger Wolf, ACWA executive director. “We hope to have meaningful collaboration throughout the watershed with crop and livestock producers and project stakeholders.”

Outreach events across the watershed will highlight various technologies that significantly reduce loss of nutrients while maintaining productivity. Additional conservation practices to be implemented include bioreactors, saturated buffers, cover crops, nitrification inhibitors and drainage water management.

“We will target and showcase both in-field and edge-of-field practices that reduce nutrient loss to surface waters,” said Harry Arenholtz, ACWA chairman. “The WQI funding and industry collaboration make this possible.”

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Services (IDALS) provided $354,000 to the project as part of the latest WQI projects announcement. The IDALS funding will be dispersed over the course of the three year project in addition to partner and landowner contributions.

Other project partners include the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, Crop Production Services, Farmers Cooperative Company, West Central Cooperative, Iowa State University Extension, USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service, Sac Soil and Water Conservation District, Carroll Soil and Water Conservation District, Calhoun Soil and Water Conservation District and Practical Farmers of Iowa.



Survey Says: Pork Producers Optimistic About State of the Industry

Since 2002, the National Pork Board has conducted an annual survey of pork producers to gain insight to the condition of the industry, general attitudes of pig farming and their support of the Checkoff. The most recent survey was conducted in November 2014 and shows great optimism.

For the fifth consecutive year, pork producer support for the Checkoff has increased to 89 percent – up 2 percentage points from last year’s results. Meanwhile, opposition to the Checkoff declined one percent to a low of 5 percent. These results are the most positive in survey history. Other survey highlights include:

-   Right direction / wrong track: 83 percent of producers feel the industry is heading “in the right direction,” growing from a 2013 score of 75 percent. Of those surveyed, 9 percent feel the industry is “on the wrong track,” dropping from a 2013 score of 13 percent.

-   Support for the Checkoff and general optimism of the industry is strongest among larger producers, or those that marketed more than 20,000 pigs in the past year.

-    The biggest overall challenge facing producers is managing hog health and disease. A recently announced $15 million investment in a Swine Health Information Center directly addresses this concern.

-    The single most important thing the Checkoff can do to help their operation is to educate consumers about the safety of pork.

“Educating consumers about the safety of pork is a shift from previous years’ results when top-of-mind desires were focused first and foremost on advertising and marketing pork,” said Dale Norton, president of the Pork Checkoff and a producer from Bronson, Mich. “This change stems from the increasing conversations that people are having about food production.”

That sentiment was also evident in embarking on the National Pork Board’s recent five-year strategic planning process. The stated goals of the new plan resonate with producers.

On a 10-point scale:
-   Build Consumer Trust rated a mean score of 8.85 – the highest result and growing to 9.05 among large producers.
-   Grow Consumer Demand rated a mean score of 8.39.
-   Drive sustainable production rated a mean score of 7.86.

“This tells the Board that the development of our strategic plan is in synch with the concerns, interests and thoughts of producers,” Norton said. The survey is based on phone interviews with 550 producers this past November.



NPPC Elects New Officers, Board Members

The National Pork Producers Council Friday elected new officers and members to its board of directors at its annual business meeting – the National Pork Industry Forum – held in San Antonio, Texas, March 5-7.

Elected as president of the organization was Dr. Ron Prestage. A pork producer from Camden, S.C., Prestage is part of the family-owned Prestage Farms, which includes hogs, turkeys, cattle and cropland for hay. He’s primarily responsible for the sows and turkeys on the farms in South Carolina and a swine operation in Mississippi.

Elected as president-elect was John Weber, a pork producer from Dysart, Iowa. In addition to raising hogs for Cargill Inc., he manages with his son Valley Lane Farms Inc., a grain and livestock operation.

Ken Maschhoff, a pork producer from Carlyle, Ill., was picked as vice president. Maschhoff is chairman of Maschhoff Family Foods and co-owner and chairman of The Maschhoffs, the third-largest pork producer in the United States.

New members elected to the board for three-year terms were Kraig Westerbeek, of Warsaw, N.C., and Dale Reicks, of New Hampton, Iowa. They join current directors Kent Bang, of Omaha, Neb. – who is the allied industry representative – Phil Borgic, of Nokomis, Ill., Jim Compart, of Nicollet, Minn., Jim Heimerl, of Johnstown, Ohio, David Herring, of Lillington, N.C., Bill Kessler, of Mexico, Mo., AV Roth, of Wauzeka, Wis., and Terry Wolters, of Pipestone, Minn. Heimerl and Kessler were re-elected to the board for another three-year term.

Also elected to the board for a two-year term as the Packer Processor Industry Council representative was Cory Bollum, with Hormel Foods Corp. in Austin, Minn.

Scott Hayes, of Monroe City, Mo., and Brandon Schafer, of Goodhue, Minn., were elected for two-year terms to NPPC’s Nominating Committee.

“In Ron, John and Ken, we have some great leadership at the helm of NPPC, and the pork industry has some thoughtful innovators,” said NPPC CEO Neil Dierks. “And the addition of Kraig and Dale to the NPPC board gives us some good young leaders who will help take the industry into the future.”



National Pork Board Reports Solid Consumer Demand for Pork in 2014

Five years after setting an aggressive goal of 10 percent growth in real per capita consumer expenditures for pork, the National Pork Board announced it met that goal with total consumer expenditures growing 15.7 percent since 2009. Pork expenditures – the product of total pork volume available in the U.S. multiplied by the average U.S. Department of Agriculture retail pork price – grew by 7.6 percent in 2014 from just the previous year.

“2014 was a fantastic year of growth for the pork industry. Overall, there was less pork to sell due to the impact of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED), a production virus. So growth in the second half of the year came largely from higher pork prices,” said Dale Norton, a Bronson, Mich., pig farmer and president of the National Pork Board. “Pork expenditures directly correlate to consumer demand. Despite record high prices, demand grew and was even higher than expected.” The inventory of both breeding herds and the stock of pigs bound for market increased. As of year-end 2014, total U.S. pig inventory increased 2 percent to 66.1 million head over 2013, marking a solid rebound.

“So far, this winter has been relatively mild for PEDV cases and pig inventory is strong,” Norton said. “But barring any recurrence of the virus, we should see more pork enter the market in the second half of 2015.”

Norton added, that this may require adjusting the Pork Checkoff’s marketing plan to balance any potential increase in product hitting the consumer market. An influx supply of pork could lower consumer prices at the meat counter, but likewise may lower producer revenue.

“The last two years have been outstanding for pork demand,” said Steve Meyer, president of Paragon Economics and a Pork Checkoff consultant. “We haven’t moved demand upward by this magnitude since the 1990s.” Meyer attributed the growth to the National Pork Board’s focus to capitalize on food trends such as the rise of foodies and a growing passion for protein.

Pork Be inspired® resonates with consumers
In 2014, the National Pork Board centered its consumer messaging on pork’s inspiration as a menu item and for creative home meals. Marketing of pork directly reached consumers, as well as engaged foodservice and retail decision-makers.

    National Advertising – The yearlong national print, TV and digital advertising campaign included 49 print ad insertions, 10 weeks of cable TV and 18 digital media partners.

    Retail Marketing – National retail promotions with the top 10 retailers efficiently contributed to demand growth, costing only five cents per incremental pound of pork sold.

    State Association Marketing – Cooperative advertising between the National Pork Board and state pork associations led to more alignment and effective results. In 2014, 19 state associations participated in a cooperative advertising buy.

    Multicultural Marketing – According to the U.S. Census, approximately 92 percent of population growth in the United States from 2000 to 2010 can be attributed to multicultural audiences who have a combined purchasing power estimated at $3 trillion. The National Pork Board added multicultural outreach to its marketing plans in 2013. Advertising and public relations efforts aimed at diverse audiences were expanded in 2014 and a comprehensive communications plan was developed to guide the Pork Checkoff into the future.

“The pork expenditure results offer solid insight into what we view as a consistently growing consumer demand for pork,” said Ceci Snyder, vice president of domestic marketing for the Pork Checkoff. “Despite record-high pork prices, demand for pork has increased. As we head into a year of higher supplies, we need to constantly remind consumers of pork’s unique combination of flavor and versatility.”

A new television advertising campaign will debut in May and will build on new market research. The Pork Checkoff will measure consumer response to the new ads through tracking studies in the months ahead.



U.S. Pork Exports Up 10 Percent to $6.67 Billion In 2014

 For the fourth year in a row, U.S. pork exports eclipsed the $6 billion mark. In 2014, 4.803 billion bounds of pork and pork variety meats valued at $6.674 billion were exported, up 2 percent and 10 percent, respectively from 2013.

“We saw a dynamic environment for U.S. pork exports last year,” said Brian Zimmerman, chair of the Pork Checkoff’s Trade Committee and a Beatrice, Neb., producer. “Our strong global partnerships and rising demand across the globe for our product meant that despite record prices, we continued to see growing revenue from exports. However, our exporters dealt with many trials, as it was a highly competitive market.”

In 2014, 26.5 percent of U.S. pork and pork variety meat were exported, adding $62.45 per hog marketed. Strong pork variety meat demand around the world continues to increase exports and positively impact producer profitability. For every $1 million of pork variety meats exported, the live value of hogs is increased by $0.20 per cwt, according to a regression analysis conducted by Iowa State University.

“While 2014 exports remained strong, the industry faced many challenges, such as market closures, increasing competition, export port issues, a high-valued U.S. dollar and global trade shifts,” said Becca Hendricks, vice president of international marketing for the Pork Checkoff. “Checkoff resources were extremely important in monitoring and reacting to situations to allow for continuous trade.”

During 2014, more than 100 countries around the world imported U.S. pork.

    The top five markets in total pounds of pork exported were: Mexico (1.501 billion pounds), Japan (1.033 billion pounds), China and Hong Kong (743.6 million pounds), Canada (457.2 million pounds) and Korea (298.5 million pounds).

    The top five markets in total value exported were: Japan ($1.932 billion), Mexico ($1.558 billion), Canada ($904.7 million) China and Hong Kong ($775.4 million) and Korea ($444.6 million).



Pork Checkoff Honors 2014 Pork Industry Environmental Stewards

The Pork Checkoff, along with its cosponsor, National Hog Farmer magazine, honored the 2014 Pork Industry Environmental Stewards at the 2015 National Pork Industry Forum held in San Antonio, Texas, last week. The award, in its 20th year, recognizes producers who are dedicated to safeguarding the environment and contributing to their local communities. The 2014 award recipients are:
• Bruce and Jenny Wessling, Grand Junction, Iowa
• David and Sharon Stephens, Malta Bend, Mo.

The applicants’ farms were evaluated based on their manure management systems, water and soil conservation practices, odor-control strategies, farm aesthetics and neighbor relations, and wildlife habitat promotion. The applicants also authored an essay on the importance of environmental stewardship on their farm and how they implement innovative ideas to create tangible actions to safeguard and protect the environment.

“The 2014 Stewards clearly understand the comprehensive approach that producers need to take in raising pigs today,” said Lynn Harrison, chair of the Environmental Stewards selection subcommittee and former president of the National Pork Board. “These farms clearly show how bright ideas can become innovative solutions. From relying more on solar power to giving back to their communities, these Stewards have put their own stamp on raising high-quality pork for customers.”

Like past Steward Award recipients, the Wessling and Stephens families manage their farms with an eye on sustainability and on their local communities. And they do so while adhering to the U.S. pork industry’s We CareSM ethical principles.

The Environmental Stewards Award program ends its 20-year run with this class. A new award from the National Pork Board, America’s Pig Farmer of the YearSM, is set to begin on April 1, which builds on the foundation of the longtime Stewards Award. More information on this new program can be found at americaspigfarmer.com and pork.org.



New Pork Checkoff Award to Help Build Consumer Trust

The National Pork Board announced its new America’s Pig Farmer of the YearSM award program during its annual Pork Industry Forum meeting in San Antonio last week. The award will honor the U.S. pork producer who best excels at raising pigs using the We Care ethical principles and wants to share how he or she does that to the public.

The program, which opens its six-week nomination window on April 1, builds on many elements behind the successful 20-year run of the now-retired Environmental Stewards Award program.

“The public is the main audience rather than our own industry because that’s who has questions about how we raise pigs,” said Brad Greenway, vice president of the National Pork Board and chairman of the Stewards Task Force, which oversaw creation of the new program. “Producers demonstrate the We Care ethical principles on their farms every day, and the new award is a unique way to share that with the public,” he said.

The intent is to establish the winner as a practical expert in pig handling and pork production, according to Kevin Waetke, vice president of strategic communications for the Pork Checkoff. “Consistent with the National Pork Board’s new strategic plan, we want to build consumer trust through on-farm transparency and accountability,” he said. “The focus is on environmental sustainability, along with animal welfare, production efficiency, the adoption of best practices and a commitment to continuous improvement.”

Third-party judges will help determine the recipient, with the winner announced during National Pork Month in October. The public will be engaged during the final judging process via the Pork Checkoff’s social media outlets. Short video clips of the finalists will be displayed at americaspigfarmer.com, where people can vote for their favorite.

“I encourage producers to consider applying or to encourage other producers who would be great candidates to do so,” Greenway said. “This new award will showcase what we do best – raise pigs in an ethical, responsible and transparent way.”

All U.S. producers are welcome to apply April 1 to May 15, with instructions found at americaspigfarmer.com or via the link on pork.org. Specific details also will be available through state pork associations.



Researchers Develop New Test For Soybean Cyst Nematode

University of Illinois researchers have developed a system to test for the soybean cyst nematode that is approximately 20 times faster than current technology and provides more precise data than existing solutions. Kaustubh Bhalerao is the principal investigator for the project.

"Producers typically lose 5 to 10 percent of their yield to the SCN," said Bhalerao. "To combat the problem, they need to evaluate their crops each year. Did the resistant variety they used last year work? Should they use a different variety this year, or should they rotate to corn?"

To make those management decisions, Bhalerao said, most producers pull 10 soil samples from as many acres and pool the samples to get one reading on the SCN population. The test costs about $50, so they spend $5 per acre to get one result, or point, of very poor reproducibility, quality, and spatial resolution.

Bhalerao said the new system can bring that cost down markedly; producers can get 20 points per 10 acres, or about two points per acre, which increases the spatial resolution by 20 times.

Experts recommend 10 points per acre for the most accurate results, and Bhalerao said with properly streamlined operations, the results can be provided for about $20, or $2 per sample.

The system includes an extractor that processes the soil samples to separate the eggs.

A website will be developed so producers can monitor and organize the data they receive from the SCN testing and possibly integrate it with other information they collect, such as data from yield monitors on tractors.



Growth Energy Responds to Jay Leno’s Baseless Attack

In response to a recent opinion piece in Autoweek entitled "Can't We Just Get Rid of Ethanol?" by comedian Jay Leno, Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, released the following statement:

“This commentary from Jay Leno should go down as the worst joke he has ever told. I have always found that good jokes have some thread of truth in them, but clearly Mr. Leno is out of his league when it comes to understanding the benefits of homegrown American ethanol.

“Ethanol supports American jobs and a robust rural economy here at home and it also helps reduce carbon emissions by mitigating climate change and reduces our dangerous dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil. What Mr. Leno fails to acknowledge is that ethanol is the cheapest source of octane, the key component in fuel that drives performance – something he should know about as an avid motorist and car collector.

“In fact, in 2008 Jay Leno was touting ethanol for its performance and environmental benefits – one can only come to the conclusion that he has changed his tune based not on facts or real world testing, but on politics and information perpetuated by Big Oil and other critics who consistently seek to discredit a true American success story.

“It is time to stop accepting the status quo of foreign oil and fossil fuels. Biofuels are driving innovation to create sustainable, renewable fuels that support economies in cities like Des Moines, not Dubai. Approximately 85 percent of vehicles on the road today are compatible with higher blends like E15, and autos around the world in places like Bangkok and Brazil are fueled by higher blends of ethanol, all without problems, just improved performance and decreased cost to the motorist.

“No one is forced to use any fuel, and if Mr. Leno wants to use pure gas, go ahead and pay the premium in price, I am sure he can afford it. But for the majority of Americans, choice, savings and performance all in one is a package is what they are looking for, and that is exactly what ethanol delivers.”



Leadership Program Seeking a Few Good Growers

The National Corn Growers Association invites farmers to become a part of the change they desire by actively honing their leadership skills through the Leadership at Its Best Program, co-sponsored by Syngenta.  Growers must be nominated by their state corn association.  With applications due April 10, interested members should contact their state associations now for further information and get completed applications in to state offices by April 8.

"Since it began in the mid-1980s, Leadership at Its Best has helped train strong, confident volunteers who have helped shape the industry through their subsequent work at the state and national level," said NCGA President Chip Bowling.  "We again ask farmers to act upon their desire to give back to their peers. NCGA depends upon grassroots leadership and, I personally can attest that the time and effort dedicated are repaid in full through the relationships built with like-minded individuals while doing work crucial to the success of our industry."

Open to all NCGA membership, Leadership at Its Best provides training to interested volunteers of all skill levels.  The first session, held in August in Minneapolis, Minn., addresses personal communications skills, public speaking and association management.  The second session, which will be held in January 2016, addresses public policy issues, working with the Hill and parliamentary procedure.  Through this program, participants build the skill set needed to become a more confident public speaker with a solid background in the procedures and processes used by NCGA and many state organizations.

Participants must be registered members of NCGA.  Those interested should contact their state corn organization which will submit nominees for the programs.

Since 1986, the National Corn Growers Association, the state corn associations and, most importantly, the U.S. corn industry, have benefited tremendously from the Leadership At Its Best Program.  Hundreds of growers have gained invaluable media, communications, association management and public policy knowledge and skills over the lifetime of the program.

Leadership at Its Best acts as a vital leadership incubator for honing the skills of state leaders on "the way up" and stimulating further involvement in and greater commitment from state growers to NCGA.



AgRural Raises Brazil Soy Crop View on Excellent South

AgRural, a Brazilian farm consultancy, late Friday raised its Brazilian 2014-15 soybean crop view by 1.5 million metric tons (mmt) to 93.4 mmt due to excellent southern yields.

The increase was also prompted by a slightly improved outlook for Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul as the middle- to late-cycle beans start being harvested.

AgRural's figure is at the low end of estimates for the Brazilian crop, which range from 91 mmt to 95 mmt. The hike is the latest in a series of estimate bumps by private forecasters in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, the soybean harvest accelerated last week, despite the problems caused by trucker roadblocks.  As of Friday, the harvest was 41% complete, up from 29% last week but lagging the 49% collected at the same point last year. Late planting is the main cause of the delays, while rain hampered field work in Parana, among other areas.



Diverse Coalition Urges White House and U.S. Trade Reps to Stand Strong on COOL

Members of a diverse coalition representing family farmers and ranchers and consumer and trade groups met with officials of the White House and the U.S. Trade Representative to urge the administration to stand strong to protect Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL).

“As we await the World Trade Organization (WTO) process, which can be lengthy, we urge the White House to remain committed to its support of COOL,” said Roger Johnson, president of National Farmers Union. “Ranchers are proud of the products they produce, and consumers overwhelmingly support COOL,” he noted.

During the meeting, Johnson reminded the officials of a recent Auburn University study that clearly demonstrated that an economic downturn, not COOL, caused decreased demand for cattle imports into to the U.S.

“COOL did not cause the declines in livestock exports to the United States, which largely coincided with a substantial global economic downturn that sapped demand for more expensive meat products,” notes the study, authored by C. Robert Taylor, Ph.D, an Alfa Eminent Scholar and professor at Auburn University.

Both Mexico and Canada have been challenging COOL provisions at the WTO since 2008, alleging the widely popular labeling law was a trade barrier that compromised the countries’ export opportunities and market access to the United States for live cattle and hogs. The cost of implementing COOL, they argued, discouraged U.S. meatpacking and processing companies from purchasing livestock of non-U.S. origin and, as a result, reduced the prices of these livestock exports.

Johnson reminded the officials that cattle exports to the U.S. are subject to a number of variables that are completely independent of the implementation of COOL. “Because of this reason, combined with the fact that the public clearly wants to know where its food comes from should underscore the need to keep COOL in place,” said Johnson.

“America needs to stay the course on COOL,” he said.



 CWT Assists with 8.7 Million Pounds of Cheese and Butter Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 20 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 8.483 million pounds (3,848 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda, and Monterey Jack cheese and 176,370 pounds (80 metric tons) of butter to customers in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and the South Pacific. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from March through September 2015.

Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 17.736 million pounds of cheese and 19.015 million pounds of butter to nineteen countries on five continents. The amounts of and butter in these sales contracts represent the equivalent of 591.072 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.