Tuesday Apirl 14 Ag News

Nebraska Fence Laws and Responsibility of Landowners
Larry Howard, UNL Extension Educator, Cuming County

Keeping fences in good repair can help to build good relationships with neighbors.  Keeping livestock out of fields, gardens, and off other's property is just part of being a good neighbor, whether you live on an acreage or a large ranch.   

According to current fence laws in Nebraska, landowners are required to equally split the cost of establishing and maintaining a fence to divide their properties if either of the parties would like to establish the boundary.   Landowners may also work out a mutual agreement on the cost of establishing and maintaining a fence according to their own requirements.   The provisions established between the two parties in the mutual agreement may better align with their unique circumstance and serves as a better solution than other legal recourse.

A general rule of thumb landowners in Nebraska have used to establish or maintain fence lines is to meet in the middle of the boundary and each individual looks to the right to identify their responsible portion.   The part of the fence line to the individual's right is the portion of the fence line the landowner would either establish or maintain throughout the year.

Current fence laws define the types of fences that each party must pay equally to cover if one of the landowners would like to establish the boundary and a mutual agreement could not be reached.   Landowners are encouraged to work with their neighbors when deciding the proper arrangement for establishing or maintaining a proper fence line.   Other legal measures to get the uncompliant party to cooperate may be costly and take a considerable amount of time.   Seeking the services of a lawyer along with filing a court case requiring a judge to settle the dilemma significantly increase the cost of establishing a fence line.

Building good fences and maintaining them is just one of the many responsibilities that come with owning livestock and living in rural areas.



PROVIDING WATER TO PASTURED LIVESTOCK
Bruce Anderson, Extension Forage Specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

               Water distribution to livestock is one of the most critical parts of good grazing management.  Let’s discuss ways to provide water throughout your pastures.

               Plentiful, reliable, good quality water is essential for grazing livestock.  Without good water, it doesn't matter how effective other grazing management practices might be.

               But how important is location of that water?  Cattle resist traveling far from water.  They graze very little when more than a half mile away from water in rough country or a mile away on flat land.  Under 1000 feet is the ideal.  When they do travel far for water, they spend less time grazing, they burn off pounds walking, and they graze distant areas incompletely.

               As animals walk back and forth from water they deposit manure and urine along the cow path and around water sites. This transfers nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients to areas with little grazing. A more even distribution of these deposits would grow more grass.

               How can you improve your water distribution?  More ponds, windmills, wells, and dugouts will help, but they can get expensive.  Plus, they can only be placed in certain locations and they can’t be moved.  So my preference often is to use a pipeline.  Pipelines can be put almost anywhere and you can establish a new water site anywhere along the pipeline.  And water lines are less expensive than you might think.  Water pipe and frost-proof trenching often qualify for cost-share funds.  You also can leave your pipe on top of the ground, saving trenching costs, if you only need water during the growing season.

               Over time, these water improvements pay for themselves with better grass and improved animal performance.



Study Reveals Positive Economic Impacts of Nebraska’s Ethanol Industry

A recent impact study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln economists reveals Nebraska’s ethanol production capacity growth between 1995 and 2014 is tenfold. The results of the “Economic Impacts of the Ethanol Industry in Nebraska” study were released during a press conference this morning.

The authors ­– Dr. Kathleen Brooks, UNL agricultural economics professor; Dr. Dennis Conley, UNL agricultural economics professor; Dr. Eric Thompson, UNL economics professor and Bureau of Business Research director; and Dr. Cory Walters, UNL agricultural economics professor – examined the economic impact of Nebraska’s ethanol industry during the last five years.

As of June 2014, Nebraska’s production capacity was 2,077 million gallons per year with 1,301 full-time employees at 24 facilities. During the past five years, Nebraska’s value of production for ethanol and dried distillers grain with solubles (DDGS) ranged from slightly less than $4 billion to more than $6.6 billion.

“The quantifiable economic impact of ethanol production on the Nebraska economy is clear,” said Paul Kenney, chairman of the Nebraska Ethanol Board. “But we should also understand the enormous savings in health and environmental costs associated with displacing toxic petroleum products with cleaner burning biofuels like ethanol. Choosing ethanol fuels brings additional cost savings in terms of our health.”

Nebraska’s large ethanol production results in 96 percent (1.805 billion gallons) being shipped out of state and makes Nebraska one of the largest exporters of bioenergy. In addition, 58 percent of DDGS produced in 2014 were shipped out of state. These out-of-state shipments result in a net positive for the state and represent a direct economic impact by bringing new money into the state economy.

The study noted that Nebraska’s ethanol industry could be affected by emerging trends and at least four are worth watching – the recovery of carbon dioxide (CO2), the extraction of corn oil, and world export markets for both ethanol and DDGS. Many of these upcoming trends will be discussed later this week during the annual Ethanol 2015: Emerging Issues Forum in Omaha April 16-17.

“Canada imports 40 percent of the U.S. ethanol exports and China imports 39 percent of the U.S. distillers grains,” said Todd Sneller, Nebraska Ethanol Board administrator. “There is a strong demand throughout the world for ethanol and its co-products, so we continue to look for ways to expand the Nebraska market as well as international markets in an effort to bring more economic prosperity to Nebraska.”

The purpose of the “Economic Impacts of the Ethanol Industry in Nebraska” study was to estimate the value of production during five years and compare that value to major commodity production values in Nebraska. In addition, the study measured productive capacity, employment, net returns, in-state utilization and out-of-state shipments. To view the full study, visit http://agecon.unl.edu/ethanolimpacts.



Smith Introduces Legislation to Increase Fuel Options for Consumers

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) introduced legislation today to broaden consumer fuel choice by expanding the existing waiver of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations related to the Reid vapor pressure of motor vehicle fuel to include E15 gasoline in addition to E10.

EPA regulations currently inhibit E15 fuel sales during the summer months.  E10 fuel received a waiver in 1990, and Smith’s bill would extend this waiver to also include E15.

“Ethanol provides consumers in Nebraska and across America with a competitive, clean, domestically-produced alternative,” Smith said.  “However, burdensome EPA regulations are restricting consumers’ options at the fuel pump.

“Though E10 received a waiver decades ago, the same regulatory relief has not yet been extended to E15.  We must pursue an all-of-the-above energy policy, which includes ethanol and other renewable fuels, by reducing red tape and encouraging innovation in the energy marketplace.”



Growth Energy Supports Rep. Smith’s Legislation to Extend RVP Waiver to E15

Following the introduction of legislation by Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE), which would extend the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to E15, allowing retailers to offer E15 without restriction and provide greater consumer choice for motorists, Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, issued the following statement:

“We applaud this effort by Congressman Smith to establish greater consumer choice and to remove a major hurdle preventing consumers the opportunity to purchase higher blends such as E15. This has been a major obstacle ever since Growth Energy led the successful effort to get E15 approved for commercial use.

“We are hopeful that Congressman Smith’s legislative efforts are successful in granting this much needed waiver to overcome the single largest regulatory hurdle to ensuring consumers have access to higher blends such as E15.”



Iowa Egg Executives Sentenced to 3 Months in Jail for Salmonella Outbreak

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) -- Two former egg industry executives were sentenced to three months in jail Monday for their roles in a major 2010 salmonella outbreak that sickened thousands.

Austin "Jack" DeCoster and his son, Peter DeCoster, faced up to a year in jail on charges of shipping adulterated food. They will remain free while appealing their three-month sentence.

Prosecutors said the sentence sends a strong message about the importance of following food safety rules because only a handful of similar cases have resulted in jail time.

"A sentence of imprisonment is a fairly significant sentence in a case like this," said Peter Deegan, the assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case.

The DeCosters wanted to avoid jail time, but U.S. District Judge Mark Bennett heeded prosecutors' calls for a tough punishment because of the widespread harm the outbreak caused.

"There's a litany of shameful conduct, in my view, that happened under their watch," Bennett said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked 1,939 illnesses to the outbreak, but officials estimate that up to 56,000 people may have been sickened. Investigators argue that the DeCosters knew their Iowa egg facilities were at risk for salmonella contamination before the outbreak.

The elder DeCoster, 80, of Turner, Maine, and his 51-year-old son, who lives in Clarion, Iowa, both pleaded guilty last year to introducing adulterated eggs into interstate commerce.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the judge didn't sentence them to jail, but I'd be disappointed," food safety lawyer Bill Marler, whose firm represented more than 100 people sickened in the outbreak, said ahead of the sentencing.

The DeCosters' Quality Egg company paid a $6.8 million fine as part of a plea agreement, and the DeCosters each paid $100,000.

Quality Egg has admitted that workers knowingly shipped eggs with false processing and expiration dates to fool state regulators and retail customers about their age and bribed a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector at least twice to approve sales of poor-quality eggs. It's unclear when or how the DeCosters learned about the bribes, but prosecutors said that shows their disregard for food safety regulations.



Congress Looking to Repeal Estate Tax

For the first time in a decade, the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote to fully repeal the estate tax, also called the death tax. The legislation, the Death Tax Repeal Act (H.R. 1105) introduced by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), passed the House Committee on Ways and Means in late March and is slated to be considered by the full House later this week.

The bill would repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes and makes permanent the maximum 35 percent gift tax rate and lifetime gift tax emption. It also provides for an inflation adjustment to such exemption amount.

At the end of 2012, Congress passed legislation to permanently extend the estate tax exemption level at $5 million per individual and raised the top tax rate to 40 percent.

According to the Tax Foundation, the United States has the fourth highest estate or inheritance tax rate in the world. Additionally, the foundation says repealing the estate tax would lead to the creation of nearly 150,000 jobs and would eventually boost federal revenue by $8 billion per year through higher receipts of individual income taxes, payroll taxes and corporate income taxes.



Fertilizer Prices Stay Flat

Fertilizer prices are continuing in their recent, somewhat steady price range, according to retailers tracked by DTN for the first week of April 2015.

Five of the eight major fertilizers edged higher in price compared to a month earlier, but these moves were fairly minor. MAP averaged $598/ton, potash $491/ton, 10-34-0 $648/ton, anhydrous $709/ton and UAN28 $333/ton.

Three fertilizers slipped lower compared to the previous month, but none were down any significant amount. DAP had an average price of $570/ton, urea $461/ton and UAN32 $370/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.50/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.59/lb.N and UAN32 $0.58/lb.N.

One of the eight major fertilizers is now double-digits higher in price compared to April of 2014, while commodity prices are significantly lower from a year ago. 10-34-0 is 25% higher compared to last year.

Two other fertilizers are slightly more expensive compared to a year earlier. Anhydrous is 5% more expensive while potash is 3% higher more expensive compared to a year earlier.

The remaining five nutrients are now lower compared to retail prices from a year ago. MAP is 1% less expensive, DAP is 3% lower, UAN28 is down 6%, UAN32 is down 7% and urea is 16% less expensive than a year ago.



Celebrate your veterinarian by nominating them as America’s favorite!

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) is currently seeking nominations for America’s Favorite Veterinarian, a nationwide contest to honor and recognize outstanding veterinarians for their essential role in preserving and protecting the health and well-being of our animals. Those eligible include veterinarians practicing in all areas of veterinary medicine, such as private practice, health research, public health, agriculture and academia.

Those who have been positively impacted by the work of an extraordinary veterinarian are encouraged to submit a nomination and celebrate the vital role veterinarians play in society as medical professionals.

To nominate a veterinarian:
    ·         Visit: AVMF.org/AFV
    ·         Complete the entry form and include a narrative essay of 250 words or less on why your nominee deserves the title of America’s Favorite Veterinarian
    ·         Submit your nomination by May 17, 2015

Veterinarians will be evaluated by the nominator’s essay, the veterinarian’s responses to questions about their practice and professional philosophy, and the veterinarian’s ability to embrace and advance the well-being and medical care of animals. Once all of the nominations are received, 20 finalists will be selected and the public will vote to determine the winner of America’s Favorite Veterinarian.

America’s Favorite Veterinarian will receive a $500 cash prize, a trip to the 2016 AVMA Convention in San Antonio, a year-long feature on the AVMF website, and a community celebration at their clinic to recognize the accomplishments of the veterinarian and his or her staff. Additionally, the nominator of the winning veterinarian will receive an animal lover’s gift pack.

For more information on America’s Favorite Veterinarian and the AVMF, visit AVMF.org/AFV.



Verdesian Life Sciences Introduces New Cereal Fungicide

A new, phosphite-based fungicide designed for improved suppression of deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat and barley infected by Fusarium head blight (FHB) has been introduced by Verdesian Life Sciences.

The fungicide, Fungi-Phite® Cereals, is recommended for use in tandem with triazole fungicides that are currently labeled and widely used for suppression of FHB by grain producers. While the triazole fungicides are effective in suppressing FHB, they have little or no direct activity on DON.

From an economic standpoint, FHB is one of most devastating cereal diseases, being responsible for significant grain yield and quality losses on farms in at least 18 states. The mycotoxins or vomitoxins, collectively called DON, pose a serious threat to the health of humans and livestock when ingested.

Food industries throughout the U.S. incur losses from the cost of dealing with the toxin-contaminated grain that often accompanies FHB infection. Combined losses to all steps in the food system are difficult to estimate, but the cost at the farm gate alone is estimated to exceed 9 billion dollars since 1990.

“The addition of Fungi-Phite Cereals to the triazole fungicides helps provide an added layer of protection from DON,” said Ryan Bond, Ph.D., vice president of marketing and technical development for Verdesian Life Sciences. “Fungi-Phite Cereals, while it has no direct effect on FHB, it can suppress the expression of DON from the Fusarium.”

According to Bond, in some cases and years, a low presence of FHB still results in a high expression of DON in the grain, and vice versa. “It is all dependent on the level of stress placed on the Fusarium fungi infecting the grain – the greater the stress on the microorganism, the greater the DON is expressed in the grain,” he said. “The objective with this new fungicide is to reduce the incidence of poor quality, infected grain that limits the farmer’s income opportunity.”

Bond also noted that there are no other phosphite fungicides available in the cereals market, and the new product’s unique formulation makes it well suited for broad tank-mix compatibility. Fungi-Phite Cereals is applied at a rate of one quart per acre at flowering with labeled triazoles, either by ground, air or via irrigation systems.

“Based on third-party field trials, Fungi-Phite Cereals reduced DON in harvested grain by 78 percent or less than 1 ppm,” Bond said. “This type of reduction in DON would allow the grower to maximize his ROI by selling his grain at a food-grade premium versus at a lesser livestock value.”