Wednesday April 8 Ag News

Schroeder Recognized for Helping Others After Pilger Tornadoes

The Nebraska FFA Foundation presented Mark Schroeder, Wisner-Pilger High School agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor, with the 2015 Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award at the Nebraska FFA Convention on April 9.

Schroeder was nominated by numerous students, past students and community members. Jeff Albers, a community member, says that Schroeder’s passion for students and community was most obvious following the devastating tornadoes last summer. He made himself available to many who needed help. He worked with his students to mobilize work groups to help with the overwhelming task of land property cleanup for several weeks following the tornadoes. “After thousands of acres had been cleared of debris, he then turned his attention to work with his students to focus on the six FFA students and their families that lost virtually everything.” Schroeder led efforts, with his FFA Officer Team, to coordinate a fundraiser for FFA members yielding $1,000 per FFA family and “priceless camaraderie in the community,” according to Albers.

Beyond tornado cleanup, Schroeder is also well known for his passion in the classroom. Eric Leisy, student, says “he is the kind of teacher that always puts his students before him and wants nothing but the best for others.” Fellow teacher Abby Knobbe says one thing she admires is his hands-on approach. “He’s worked hard to develop a strong relationship between his students and the community so that students are able to have those hands-on experiences and gain knowledge and skills while still in high school.”

He is also a very active member of the agricultural education family by continuing to participate in professional development conferences and through involvement in the Nebraska Agriculture Educators

The Gary Scharf Helping Hand Award recognizes a Nebraska agriculture teacher or FFA advisor for what he or she has done in helping others, specifically in the school and community, outside of agriculture education and FFA. Schroeder was announced as the award winner during the Nebraska State FFA Convention in Lincoln. He received a plaque and $500 cash award from the Nebraska FFA Foundation.

The annual award is named for Gary Scharf, who was a victim of an Omaha mall shooting in December 2007. Scharf grew up on a family farm outside of Curtis, Nebraska and worked in the agricultural chemical industry. He made a significant contribution to Nebraska’s agricultural and FFA community through his years of service on the Nebraska FFA Foundation Board, including a year as Board President in 2002-2003.



Nebraska FFA Membership Explodes to 7,336
6,000 Expected to Flood Lincoln for State Convention This Week

This year’s membership of 7,336 FFA members breaks the all-time high set in 1978. There are currently 157 FFA chapters in Nebraska, breaking the record set in 1956.

FFA prepares junior high and high school students for successful careers in the largest industry in Nebraska – agriculture, food and natural resources – and develops leaders in our communities. The organization serves as the leadership development component of a school-based agricultural education program, which also includes specific agricultural coursework and work-based learning experiences.

The Nebraska FFA Association expects this year’s State FFA Convention to be the largest yet with over 6,000 members and guests expected to attend the three-day conference in Lincoln. Nebraska’s agricultural education students will receive awards for their hard work throughout the year, compete in contests related to the agriculture, food and natural resources career pathway, attend leadership workshops and listen to motivational speakers.



Nebraska Team Ag Ed Addresses Agriculture Teacher Shortage

Nebraska was chosen by the National Teach Ag campaign as one of the pilot states for the State Teach Ag Results (STAR) program, a program designed to identify states with agriculture teacher shortages and assist these states in addressing the teacher shortage.

This year, only four students are graduating in Nebraska with a degree in Agricultural Education with a teaching certificate. Demand for these graduates is high with 14 new schools planning to start agricultural education programs and FFA chapters in the 2015-16 school year if they can find teachers.

Nebraska continues to reach record heights in FFA membership and number of agricultural education programs. In addition, 30 percent of Nebraska’s agriculture teachers could retire in the next three years.

Nebraska “Team Ag Ed,” consisting of the Nebraska FFA Association, Nebraska Department of Education, the Nebraska FFA Foundation and its corporate partners, including the CHS Foundation and Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Nebraska’s Community Colleges, the Nebraska Agricultural Educators Association, and the Nebraska FFA Alumni, is implementing a plan through the STAR program to recruit new agriculture teachers through Teach Ag workshops for high school students and parents, recruitment coordinators on campus and shadowing opportunities. Retention efforts revolve around supporting students studying to become agriculture teachers through internships and immersion into agriculture teacher professional development opportunities and networking. Current teachers are encouraged to be active in the agricultural education community and are awarded for excellent mentoring.



NEBRASKA AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL ELECTS NEW OFFICERS

The Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council recently elected new officers and board members during its annual meeting.

Newly elected officers are chairman of the board Terry Schutte of Lincoln, vice chair Greg Ibach of Sumner, secretary Leland Poppe of North Platte and treasurer Larry Pearson of Bennington.

Newly elected board members are Lori Pankoke of Lincoln, Pat Rasmussen of Geneva and Ed Woeppel of Firth. Re-elected for a second three-year term were Poppe and Jarid Childears of North Platte.

Other board members are Cindi Allen of Ogallala, Bryan Barrett of Gering, Eric Brown of Lincoln, Jim Farrell of Omaha, Galen Frenzen of Fullerton, Carol Hudkins of Malcolm, Stephanie Liska of Wayne, Brad Lubben of Eagle, William Rhea III of Arlington, Royce Schaneman of Denton, Ray Ward of Kearney, Marvion Reichert Jr. of Elm Creek, president of the Nebraska LEAD Alumni Association, and Jill Brown of Lincoln, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources liaison representative.

The council's president is Terry Hejny, who also is the director of the Nebraska LEAD Program.

The program includes men and women currently active in production agriculture and agribusiness and is a two-year leadership development program under the direction of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council in cooperation with the University of Nebraska's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

For more information or to request an application for Nebraska LEAD 35, which will begin in September, contact the Nebraska LEAD Program, 104 Agricultural Communications Building, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0940. Interested persons also may call 402-472-6810 or email lszalkiewicz2@unl.edu. Applications are due on June 15.



CHS and Nebraska co-op mark grain shuttle completion

CHS Inc., the nation’s leading cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company, and Aurora (Neb.) Cooperative have completed a 1.25 million bushel grain shuttle loading and fertilizer storage facility constructed through a unique CHS capital investment program.

The two cooperatives marked the completion of the Superior East, LLC, facility during an event at the south-central Nebraska facility on April 2.

“This was an opportunity to work with a strong and successful member cooperative to create an asset with significant and long-lasting benefit in connecting this region’s farmers with the global marketplace,” said Lynden Johnson, CHS Executive Vice President, Country Operations. “In addition, this project demonstrates the ability of member cooperatives can chose how CHS can help them succeed in their marketplace today and tomorrow.”

Superior East was formed using the CHS Partnered Equity Program which enabled Aurora Cooperative, as a CHS member-owner, to use a portion of its CHS equity as capital to fund a major project. Cooperatives participating in the program use a portion of their CHS equity as a contribution to a venture with CHS focused on helping their cooperative grow. Eligible projects include shuttle loaders, fertilizer hub plants, energy assets and other growth opportunities. The facility will be operated as a 50-50 joint venture with a governing board of Aurora Cooperative and CHS representatives. Aurora Cooperative will operate the complex.

“This project is core to our strategic plan and, with CHS as an equal partner, we were able to construct, finance and operate the facility,” said George Hohwieler, Aurora Cooperative president and chief executive officer. “We recognized many years ago that our existing grain elevator complex would not meet our future farmers’ demands of a high-speed, high-expectation operation.”

Superior East, LLC has a storage capacity of 1.25 million bushels and includes a 120-railcar capacity circle track on the BNSF line, enabling the facility to move corn, soybeans and hard red winter wheat to markets west and south, including Mexico. The location also includes a grain ground piling system, as well as 10,000 tons of liquid fertilizer storage. The site includes ample room to expand both grain and fertilizer capacity.



CHS reports net income of $471.5 million for first six months of fiscal 2015

CHS Inc., the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company, today announced company net income of $471.5 million for the first six months of its 2015 fiscal year.

CHS net income of $471.5 million for the period Sept. 1, 2014 through Feb. 28, 2015, represented a 6 percent decrease from $502.3 million for the same period of fiscal 2014, primarily attributed to lower earnings within the company's energy businesses, which were partially offset by improved performance by the company's Ag segment.  Revenues of $17.9 billion for the first half of fiscal 2015 were down 14 percent compared with $20.7 billion through the second quarter of fiscal 2014, largely due to lower average selling prices for the commodity energy, grain, fertilizer and processed grains the company handles.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2015 (Dec. 1, 2014 – Feb. 28, 2015), CHS reported net income of $92.8 million compared with $260.1 million for the same quarter of fiscal 2014. Revenues for the quarter of $8.4 billion declined from $9.7 billion the same period a year ago.

Earnings within the Energy segment declined for the six-month period, primarily due to significantly lower petroleum refining margins during the second quarter, as well as lower propane earnings.

The company's Ag segment – which includes its grain marketing and fertilizer businesses, renewable fuels, local retail operations, and soybean processing and food ingredients – reported increased earnings through the second quarter. Within this segment, wholesale fertilizer margins increased while local retail operations earnings improved due to higher grain volumes and margins. CHS processing business reported increased income. Renewable fuels earnings were flat, while grain marketing earnings declined, primarily due to decreased logistical performance which was partially offset by improved export margins.

CHS reports results for its business services operations and its two food processing-related joint ventures under the Corporate and Other category which experienced lower profitability through the second quarter of fiscal 2015, primarily due to lower earnings from company finance, risk management and insurance businesses, its equity investments in wheat milling and vegetable-oil foods joint ventures.



Rapid Increase in Neonicotinoid Insecticides Driven by Seed Treatments

Use of a class of insecticides, called neonicotinoids, increased dramatically in the mid-2000s and was driven almost entirely by the use of corn and soybean seeds treated with the pesticides, according to researchers at Penn State.

"Previous studies suggested that the percentage of corn acres treated with insecticides decreased during the 2000s, but once we took seed treatments into account we found the opposite pattern," said Margaret Douglas, graduate student in entomology. "Our results show that application of neonicotinoids to seed of corn and soybeans has driven a major surge in the U.S. cropland treated with insecticides since the mid-2000s."

According to Douglas, research suggests that neonicotinoids may harm pollinators. The European Union suspended neonicotioid use on bee-attractive crops and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expediting their review.

After discovering that neonicotinoid seed treatments were not explicitly documented in U.S. government pesticide surveys, the researchers synthesized available information to characterize the widespread use of these insecticides. First they compiled pesticide data from two public sources -- the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- that both reported aspects of neonicotinoid use, but did not estimate seed treatment use specifically. Using these data, together with information from insecticide product labels, the team estimated the percentage of land planted in corn and soybeans in which neonicotinoid-treated seeds have been used since these products were introduced in the mid-2000s. They corroborated their results with information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DuPont Pioneer, a major seed supplier.

The team found that in 2000, less than 5 percent of soybean acres and less than 30 percent of corn acres were treated with an insecticide, but by 2011, at least a third of all soybean acres and at least 79 percent of all corn acres were planted with neonicotinoid-coated seed, constituting a significant expansion in insecticide use. The researchers also found that the vast majority of neonicotinoids are used on crops, rather than in other arenas such as people's homes or gardens, or in turf grass and ornamental settings. The results will appear today (Apr. 2,) in Environmental Science & Technology.

"Adoption of neonicotinoid insecticides by seed companies and farmers has been very rapid and does not appear to relate well to a corresponding risk from insect pests," said John Tooker, associate professor of entomology. "This pattern suggests that neonicotinoids are often being used as an 'insurance policy' against uncertain insect attack, rather than in response to a documented pest threat."

According to Douglas, the results inform an ongoing debate that is driven by detection of neonicotinoids in the environment and their possible negative effects on non-target animals, including wild and managed pollinators.

"Regulators, seed companies, farmers and the public are weighing the costs and benefits of neonicotinoid use," she said. "This debate has been happening in a void of basic information about when, where and how neonicotinoids are used. Our work is holding up a mirror so that this conversation can be informed by basic facts about neonicotinoid use."

In the future, the researchers plan to better document the prevalence of secondary insect pests targeted by seed treatments. They also will explore the unintended effects of neonicotinoid seed treatments on predatory insects that help to suppress insect pests. Finally, they are studying alternative management practices for early-season insect pests, for instance, using cover crops to reduce pest pressure and foster predatory insects.

The USDA's Northeast IPM Center supported this research.



Media Buzz on Pollinators Lacks Balance

With significant media attention being paid to the health of pollinator communities, it is important to recognize the breadth of scientific opinion on this topic. Though many take an alarmist stance based in misinformation, strategies to move forward and ensure a healthy future for our environment and pollinators in particular must be based in sound scientific information.

One new paper released today,"'Beepocalypse' Not," provides perspective on how potential bans and restrictions on a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids could do more harm than good for honeybees as more toxic chemicals will likely be used as a replacement.

The papers author, Dr. Angela Logomasini, posits that:

"Honeybee health issues can and will be managed largely by beekeepers themselves along with some collaboration with farmers and even home gardeners. But we won't reach such solutions if we focus on the wrong issues.

"The best solutions will strike a balance that recognizes the value of targeted and managed use of agrochemicals and minimizes any impact on commercially farmed honeybees and wildlife. Such policies can only be pursued when we dispense with misinformed alarmism and focus on science-based solutions and productive collaboration."

While this paper represents only one of the many possible voices in an important conversation, it points out the importance of truly examining issues before taking action. Working together with Honey Bee Health Coalition, the National Corn Growers Association works to promote sound science on this and other issues while advocating for corn growers across the country.



Ethanol Stocks, Production Down

U.S. ethanol supplies were little changed in the week-ended April 3, new data from Energy Information Administration showed, with supplies edging down 64,000 barrels (bbl) to 20.483 million bbl while still up 24.8% year over year.

The EIA data showed domestic production dropping 16,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 1.7%, to a five-week low of 936,000 bpd while up 4.5% year over year.

Blender inputs, a proxy for ethanol demand, eased 2,000 bpd to 867,000 bpd last week, while up 1.8% year over year.

EIA also reported implied demand for motor gasoline tumbled 825,000 bpd to 8.61 million bpd while down 4.3% year over year.



Census Confirms Rural Population Continued to Decline Last Year

The number of people living in rural counties declined for the fourth year in a row according to population estimates released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau.

While hundreds of individual counties have lost population over the years, especially in remote or sparsely-settled regions, this marks the first period of population decline for rural areas as a whole.

Population declines stem from a combination of fewer births, more deaths, and changing migration patterns.

From July 2013 to July 2014, the increase in rural population that came from natural change (58,348 more births than deaths) did not match the decrease in population from net migration (89,251 more people moved out than moved in), leading to overall population loss.

The contribution of natural change to rural population growth will likely continue its gradual downward trend due to historically low fertility rates and an aging population.



Sorghum Checkoff Commits $350,000 to Sugarcane Aphid Control

The Sorghum Checkoff in collaboration with Dow AgroSciences announced today a national endeavor geared toward addressing scientific and educational needs as they relate to controlling the sugarcane aphid in U.S. sorghum production.  

"The sugarcane aphid has proven to be one of the most significant pests to sorghum in recent history," said Justin Weinheimer, Sorghum Checkoff crop improvement director. "The Sorghum Checkoff board of directors invested $350,000 in this project to ensure farmers have the tools they need to be successful."

This multistate effort seeks to better understand key management protocols, efficacy, susceptible baselines, optimal spray thresholds and other efforts to efficiently manage the sugarcane aphid. To accomplish this, numerous leading scientific and entomology cooperators within 12 states will partner with the Sorghum Checkoff and Dow AgroSciences to answer a series of key questions and provide solutions following a yearlong timeframe. 

“Dow AgroSciences is proud to partner with the Sorghum Checkoff on this initiative," said Phil Jost, Dow AgroSciences insecticides marketing leader. "This industry collaboration will help sorghum growers have access to the latest resources and protocols to effectively combat this troublesome pest that, if left untreated, can be devastating to crop yields."

"The Sorghum Checkoff is confident the collaborating partners and Dow AgroSciences will deliver answers to best management practices regarding sugarcane aphids," Weinheimer said, "Our goal is to provide U.S. sorghum farmers with the most accurate and up-to-date information and education tools to combat this pest and sustain sorghum's role as a viable and profitable crop option."



Groups Challenge Major USDA Change to Organic Rule:
Customary Public Comment Process Averted to the Chagrin of Petitioners

Organic stakeholders have filed a lawsuit in federal court, maintaining that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) violated the federal rulemaking process when it changed established procedures for reviewing the potential hazards and need for allowed synthetic and prohibited natural substances used in producing organic food. A coalition of 15 organic food producers and farmer, consumer, environmental, and certification groups asked the court to require USDA to reconsider its decision on the rule change and reinstitute the agency’s customary public hearing and comment process.

When it comes to organic food production, consumers and producers expect a high level of scrutiny and are willing to pay a premium with the knowledge that a third-party certifier is evaluating compliance with organic standards. The burgeoning $35+ billion organic market relies heavily on a system of public review and input regarding decisions that affect organic production systems and the organic label. The multi-stakeholder National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)1, appointed to a 5-year term by the Secretary of Agriculture, holds semi-annual meetings to solicit public input and to write recommendations to the Secretary on organic policy matters, including the allowance of synthetic and non-organic agricultural materials and ingredients.

The unilateral agency action taken to adopt major policy change without a public process, the plaintiffs maintain, violates one of the foundational principles and practices of OFPA —public participation in organic policy-making. In adopting the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), Congress created standards for organic certification and established the NOSB to oversee the allowance of synthetic materials based on a determination that they do not cause harm to human health and the environment and are necessary in organic food production and processing, given a lack of alternatives.

Under the law, a review of these materials takes place on a five year cycle, with a procedure for relisting if consistent with OFPA criteria. Plaintiffs in this case maintain that the USDA organic rule establishes a public process that creates public trust in the USDA organic label, which has resulted in exponential growth in organic sales over the last two decades.

At issue in the lawsuit is a rule that implements the organic law’s “sunset provision,” which since its origins has been interpreted to require all listed materials to cycle off the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances every five years unless the NOSB votes by a two-thirds majority to relist them. In making its decision, the NOSB is charged with considering public input, new science, and new information on available alternatives.

In September, 2013, in a complete reversal of accepted process, USDA announced a definitive change in the rule it had been operating under since the inception of the organic program without any public input. Now, materials can remain on the National List in perpetuity unless the NOSB takes initiative to vote it off the List.

In a joint statement, the plaintiffs, representing a broad cross-section of interests in organic, said:

We are filing this lawsuit today because we are deeply concerned that the organic decision making process is being undermined by USDA. The complaint challenges the unilateral agency action on the sunset procedure for synthetic materials review, which represents a dramatic departure from the organic community’s commitment to an open and fair decision making process, subject to public input. Legally, the agency’s decision represents a rule change and therefore must be subject to public comment. But equally important, it is a departure from the public process that we have built as a community. This process has created a unique opportunity within government for a community of stakeholders to come together, hear all points of view, and chart a course for the future of organic. It is a process that continually strengthens organic, supports its rapid growth, and builds the integrity of the USDA certified label in the marketplace.

The plaintiffs in the case, represented by counsel from Center for Food Safety, include: Beyond Pesticides, Center for Food Safety, Equal Exchange, Food and Water Watch, Frey Vineyards, La Montanita Co-op, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, New Natives, Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Northeast Organic Farmers Association Massachusetts, Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Organic Consumers Association, Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association, PCC Natural Markets, and The Cornucopia Institute.



Milk prices dropping: Feed strategically

Dairy farmers will soon discover that 2015 will be a challenging year to maintain profitability, according to one industry expert.

“Milk prices have dropped 30 percent compared to 2014,” said Mike Hutjens, professor of animal sciences emeritus, University of Illinois, Urbana. “Since feed costs can represent 50 percent of the total cost to produce milk, many dairy farmers are making feed changes that could save ten cents a day but are losing 25 cents of income in the process.” 

When milk prices drop, Hutjens said there are several “Golden Rules” that should never be broken:

    Golden Rule 1: Never give up milk. One pound of additional dry matter can lead to two pounds more milk. One pound of dry matter can cost 12 cents while two pounds of milk can be valued at 30 to 38 cents additional income or a profit margin of 18 cents or more per cow per day.

    Golden Rule 2: Build your milk check through higher milk components (20 to 40 cents more per cwt), lower somatic cell counts (30 cents per cwt) and lower bacteria counts (40 to 60 cents per day).

    Golden Rule 3: Make feed decisions with long term consequences in mind. Be careful that feeding changes do not jeopardize your future herd health or performance. The decisions you make to save 30 cents per cow per day today, may end up hurting you in the long run. For example:

        Removing organic trace minerals may lead to increased mastitis risk, lower reproductive performance and lower immunity.

        Delayed breeding of cows can lead to an additional 120 days open. Each extra day open can cost 0.2 pound of milk per day as cows do not calve on time.

        Reduced hoof trimming can lead to more lame cows, which can result in more culling, less feed intake and lower fertility.

        Slow heifer growth (less forage, concentrate and/or minerals) can result in heifers calving at 26 months of age instead of 23 to 24 months of age. Each additional day heifers consume more than $2 per day in feed costs and lower lifetime milk production.

        Removing feed additives can save 6 to 20 cents per cow per day, but the economics of the recommended and effective feed additives are profitable at $24 or $16 per cwt. Hutjens advises not taking out theses additives for lactating cows:
-            Ionophores to improve feed efficiency, cow health and milk production
-            Yeast product to stabilize the rumen environment, control rumen pH and lower lactic acid levels
-            Silage inoculants to reduce dry matter losses and increase energy
-            Mycotoxin binders to support immune function, rumen health and higher dry matter intake

    Golden Rule 4: Monitor cow response when making feed changes. Cows are always “talking”; are you listening? Watch for:
-        An increase of milk urea nitrogen (MUN) from an optimal of 8 to 12 mg/dl.
-        A change in management level milk or 150 day milk by more than three pounds.
-        A change in dry matter intake of more than two pounds per cow per day.
-        Shift in milkfat or milk protein concentration by 0.1 percentage point.

    Golden Rule 5: Dry matter intake is key. If dry matter intake declines because of lower quality forage, removal byproduct feeds, or less protein supplement, rumen fermentation slows. There is also less microbial amino acid synthesis and lower energy intake, which impacts milk yield, leads to weight loss and can reduce fertility. Fresh cows suffer the most.

“The golden rules can be expanded and customized by dairy farmers, consultants and veterinarians, and the good news is in late 2015, milk prices are expected to recover,” Hutjens said. “Will your herd and cows be ready to respond to this opportunity? Will somatic cell count be optimal? Will cows be pregnant? Will lower peak milk production lead to lower production six months from now? Make profitable decisions and review your golden rules and responses.”

Hutjens will be a featured speaker during Dairy: Today’s Greatest Business Opportunity, part of the Alltech REBELation event exploring innovation, inspiration and world-changing ideas in Lexington, Ky., USA, from May 17-20. To find out more information about the latest nutritional tools for your farm and to register, visit http://rebel.alltech.com.