Thursday May 21 Ag News

Nebraska farm, ranch tourism liability bill passes

(AP) _ Farmers and ranchers who open their property to tourists could be shielded from certain lawsuits under a bill passed by Nebraska lawmakers.

The Legislature gave the measure final approval on Thursday with a 46-0 vote.

Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala has said he introduced it to promote rural tourism and give farmers and ranchers another potential revenue source without the fear of lawsuits.

The bill is aimed at sites such as working farms and ranches, hiking trails, lakes and hunting and bird-watching areas. It also could apply to hayrack or boat rides, vineyard tours and haunted houses.

A 2012 Nebraska Tourism Commission report found that liability and insurance concerns were a major roadblock to the tourism industry's growth in the state.



Nebraska Cattlemen Applauds Legislature Approving LB 623 Driver's License Bill

Today, the Nebraska Legislature approved LB 623 on a 34 to 9 vote and it provides immigrants with deferred action for childhood arrival (DACA) status the opportunity to obtain Nebraska driver’s licenses.

The bill was a Nebraska Cattlemen priority bill the group helped write. NC policy supports comprehensive immigration reform to ensure a thriving employee base for beef cattle producers.

“Nebraska Cattlemen appreciates the support of everyone who helped get this common sense measure passed,” said NC President Dave McCracken. “The broad base of other groups in favor of LB 623 was a testament to the positive impact its passage will have statewide. The approved legislation will help provide for a strong employee base in rural Nebraska.”

Also, Nebraska Cattlemen is grateful to the Senators who voted to support the bill. Each of their votes was essential and NC commends those who played key roles in championing the bill to final passage: Senators Baker, Bolz, Campbell, Chambers, Coash, Cook, Crawford, Davis, Ebke, Friesen, Garrett, Gloor, Haar, Hadley, Hansen, Harr, Howard, Hughes, Johnson, Kolowski, Kolterman, Krist, Kuehn, McCollister, Mello, Morfeld, Nordquist, Pansing Brooks, Schumacher, Seiler, Smith, Stinner, Sullivan and Williams.

NC especially acknowledges Senator Jeremy Nordquist for introducing the bill and Senator John McCollister for prioritizing it.



Personal property tax break for Nebraska businesses passes

(AP) _ Nebraska farmers and business owners could get a property tax exemption under a bill passed by lawmakers.

Senators voted 47-0 on Thursday to give final approval to an exemption for personal business property.

The measure by Sen. Mike Gloor of Grand Island would allow business owners to exempt the first $10,000 worth of tangible property used in their operations, for an average tax savings of $162. The bill would apply to farm equipment such as irrigation pivots and tractors, and business equipment such as rail cars, pipelines and factory machines.

The bill would cost the state an estimated $19.6 million a year in lost revenue. It now heads to Gov. Pete Ricketts.



Late Planting Provisions for Crop Insurance
Monte Vandeveer, Nebraska Extension Educator

The frequent and sizable rains seen recently across eastern Nebraska have kept some Nebraska growers from completing their corn plantings.  Although 85% of Nebraska's corn acres had been planted as of May 17, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service report, plantings are lagging in some areas.  The crop insurance "final planting date" for corn in Nebraska is approaching, and those with unplanted wet fields may find it difficult to beat this deadline.

The final planting date for crop insurance is the last day to plant an insured crop and still receive the full level of insurance coverage. For corn across the entire state of Nebraska in 2015, this date is Monday, May 25. For soybean, it's June 10. (See RMA final planting dates for all covered crops.)

Terms to Know
-    Final planting date for corn is the last day to plant an insured crop and still receive the full level of insurance coverage. This year for Nebraska corn it's May 25.
-    The late planting period for corn in Nebraska is 20 days after the final planting date.

Options
Acres that haven't been planted by the final planting date can be handled in one of the following ways.

    Plant the insured crop during the late planting period, and insurance coverage will be provided. The late planting period for corn in Nebraska is 20 days after the final planting date. The production guarantee is reduced 1% per day for each day that planting is delayed after the final planting date.
    
    Plant the insured crop after the late planting period has ended if you have been prevented from planting during the late planting period, and insurance coverage will be provided. The insurance guarantee will be 60% of the original production guarantee.
    
    Acreage that was prevented from being planted due to an insured cause of loss can be left idle and receive a full prevented planting payment, also equal to 60% of the original production guarantee.
    
    Plant a cover crop during or after the end of the late planting period and receive a full prevented planting payment as long as it is not hayed or grazed before November 1.   The cover crop cannot be harvested for grain or seed at any time.
    
    Plant another crop (second crop) after the late planting period (if also prevented from planting through the late planting period), and receive a prevented planting payment equal to 35% of the prevented planting guarantee.

For example, consider a grower with a dryland corn APH yield of 150 bushels per acre who has signed up for Revenue Protection coverage with a 75% coverage level.  Using the spring projected price of $4.15/bushel, this grower would have a production guarantee of 112.5 bushels per acre and a revenue guarantee per acre of $467 (= 150 bu./acre x 75% x $4.15/bu.).  An acre of corn planted five days after the final planting date, for example, would have its production guarantee reduced 5% (1% for each late day), meaning the revenue guarantee would decline 5% from $467 to $444.

Reporting Affected Acres
An insured grower must report separately
 -   the dates and number of all acres planted on or before the final planting date;
 -   acreage planted per day (including the date) during the late planting period; and
 -   the dates and number of acres planted after the late planting period.

Growers need to check with their insurance agents for details on these reporting requirements.

Prevented Planting Payments
For land that could not be planted by the final planting date due to an insured cause of loss during the insurance period, a prevented planting payment may be available for those acres which remain unplanted for the entire late planting period.  The size of the prevented planting payment depends on whether a second crop is planted after the late planting period ends.  In addition, to qualify for a prevented planting payment, the unplanted acreage must be at least 20 acres or 20% of the crop acreage in the insured unit, whichever is less.

A prevented planting payment is calculated as 60% of the production guarantee for eligible timely planted acres.  There is an option to purchase an additional 5-10% more coverage if done so by the sales closing date.  No harvest price adjustment is used for replant or prevented planting payments.

A reduced prevented planting payment is made if the acreage in question is planted to a second crop after the late planting period ends.  This reduced amount is 35% of the original prevented planting payment.  Selecting this option also affects the premium and the APH yield history.  The premium is reduced to 35% of the original premium, and the producer must accept a lower yield in their yield history, calculated as 60% of their original APH average for those acres receiving the reduced payment.

If any other crop is planted on the acreage in question during the late planting period, no prevented planting payment will be made.

As always, check your plans with your crop insurance agents to ensure compliance with the coverage and to determine expected payments, reporting requirements, and other details.



Rural Mainstreet Economy Slows: Almost One in Five Bankers Reported Negative Impacts from Bird Flu

The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index for May rose slightly from April’s weak reading, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.   

Overall: The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI), which ranges between 0 and 100, climbed to 49.0 from 46.0 in April.

“The stronger U.S. dollar continues to be a drag on the Rural Mainstreet economy. The strong U.S. dollar has made U.S. goods, especially agriculture and energy products, less competitively priced abroad. This has dampened farm income and the Rural Mainstreet economy," said Ernie Goss, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University's Heider College of Business.

Nebraska: The Nebraska RMI for May increased to 47.8 from 45.7 in April. The state’s farmland-price index slipped to 39.0 from 39.4 in April. Nebraska’s new-hiring index grew to 57.6 from April’s 53.1.

Iowa: The May RMI for Iowa advanced to 52.1 from April’s 45.4. Iowa’s farmland-price index for May climbed to 52.3 from April’s 42.1. Iowa’s new-hiring index for May jumped to 62.9 from April’s 55.7.

Farming and ranching: The farmland and ranchland-price index for May climbed to 39.7 from April’s 33.4. “However, this is the 18th straight month the index has moved below growth neutral. But according to banker comments, there is great deal of variation across the region with many areas continuing to experience strong demand for farmland with little deterioration in farmland prices,” said Goss.

The May farm equipment-sales index fell to a record low of 12.5 from 15.6 in April. The index has been below growth neutral for 22 straight months. “With farm income expected to decline for a second straight year, farmers remain very cautious regarding the purchase of agricultural equipment,” said Goss.

This month, bank CEOs were asked to identify the greatest economic challenge to banking operations over the next five years. Approximately, 45.8 percent of the bank CEOs named rising regulatory costs as the top threat to their bank’s profitability. More than one in five, or 20.8 percent, indicated growing competition from Farm Credit and credit unions represented the greatest threat over the next five years.

Approximately 10.4 percent and 8.3 percent identified slow growth and farm foreclosures, respectively, as the number one challenge to their bank’s profitability over the next five years. The remaining 14.9 percent named other factors challenging their operating income over the next five years.

“We asked bankers about the fallout from the avian flu outbreak. Almost one in five of the bankers, or 18.7 percent, reported negative impacts from the outbreak. However, almost one-half, or 48.9, expect negative impacts from the bird flu if it should spread to their area,” said Goss.

Each month, community bank presidents and CEOs in nonurban, agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of a 10-state area are surveyed regarding current economic conditions in their communities and their projected economic outlooks six months down the road. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are included. The survey is supported by a grant from Security State Bank in Ansley, Neb.

This survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural, agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) is a unique index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. It gives the most current real-time analysis of the rural economy. Goss and Bill McQuillan, former chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, created the monthly economic survey in 2005.



National Drought Summary for May 19, 2015

Nearly coast-to-coast storminess reduced drought’s footprint across the nation’s mid-section but triggered lowland flooding from the southeastern Plains and the western Gulf Coast region into the mid-South. Farther east, however, only light showers, if any, dampened the eastern U.S., except for some briefly heavy rain in the northern Mid-Atlantic region. In the Northeast, where little precipitation has fallen during the spring, another mostly dry week raised concerns about a lack of soil moisture and declining streamflows. Meanwhile, cool, wet weather in the upper Midwest provided much-needed moisture, following a period of rapid planting progress. In fact, below-normal temperatures dominated much of the country, with widespread freezes noted across the north-central U.S. from May 18-20. Elsewhere, broadly unsettled weather prevailed in the West, with the heaviest precipitation falling across the northern Intermountain region and the central and southern Rockies. The Western precipitation boosted topsoil moisture, aided winter grains, and reduced irrigation requirements. Beneficial showers dampened parts of California and Nevada, but failed to dent the Far West’s serious hydrological drought.

Great Plains
Frenetic weather led to further reductions in drought coverage. Late-season snow briefly blanketed several areas, including parts of North Dakota on May 17-18 and western Nebraska on May 19-20. Farther south, multiple rounds of heavy showers and locally severe thunderstorms led to flooding, particularly across the southeastern Plains. Several gauging points, including the Red River near DeKalb, Texas, and the Poteau River near Panama, Oklahoma, climbed to their highest levels since May 1990. The Red River near DeKalb rose 4.51 feet above flood stage on May 13, while the Poteau River near Panama surged 14.54 feet above flood stage on May 12. By May 20, cumulative storage in Texas’ reservoirs climbed to 24.78 million acre-feet (78.5% of capacity)—the highest in more than 4 years. Only a month ago, Texas’ storage was 22.53 million acre-feet, or 71.4% of capacity. Six months ago, on November 20, 2014, storage stood at just 19.43 million acre-feet, 62.0% of capacity.

Midwestern and Great Lakes States
Significant rainfall pushed as far east as the upper Mississippi Valley but tapered to light showers east of the Mississippi River. As a result, substantial improvements in areas affected by dryness and drought were limited to the upper Midwest. St. Cloud, Minnesota, received 5.19 inches of rain during the first 18 days of May, followed by consecutive freezes (30 and 31°F, respectively) on May 19-20.



Record Pork Production for April
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.02 billion pounds in April, up 1 percent from the 3.98 billion pounds produced in April 2014.

By State  (million pounds, % of Apr '14)
Nebraska .....:         581.1             99      
Iowa ............:         598.7            108      
Kansas .........:         409.5             96      

Beef production, at 1.93 billion pounds, was 6 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.38 million head, down 8 percent from April 2014. The average live weight was up 32 pounds from the previous year, at 1,338 pounds.

Veal production totaled 6.6 million pounds, 21 percent below April a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 35,400 head, down 27 percent from April 2014. The average live weight was up 24 pounds from last year, at 318 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.07 billion pounds, up 8 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.68 million head, up 9 percent from April 2014. The average live weight was down 3 pounds from the previous year, at 284 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 13.6 million pounds, was down 10 percent from April 2014. Sheep slaughter totaled 198,200 head, 11 percent below last year. The average live weight was 138 pounds, up 1 pound from April a year ago.

January to April 2015 commercial red meat production was 15.9 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2014. Accumulated beef production was down 4 percent from last year, veal was down 23 percent, pork was up 7 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 2 percent.



Iowa farm equipment company to close plants, eliminate jobs

(AP) _ A farm equipment manufacturer in Sioux City is shutting down its two plants, eliminating more than 50 jobs in the area.

The Sioux City Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1Ai0NSC ) Soo Tractor, which has been doing business as Radius Steel Fabrication, will shut down production at its two Sioux City plants between the end of May and the end of June.

It's unclear why the company, founded more than 70 years ago, is shutting down the plants. Its chairman, Allen Mahaney, died in February at age 77.

The newspaper reports the company will host a job fair May 29 for displaced workers such as welders, machinists and laser cutters.



ONE PROBABLE CASE OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN BUENA VISTA COUNTY

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to a probable case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Buena Vista County.  With this new announcement, Iowa now has 63 cases of the disease in the state. The Department has quarantined the premise and once the presence of the disease is confirmed, all birds on the property will be humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.

Buena Vista 17 – Commercial laying operation that has experienced increased mortality.  An estimate on the number of birds is still pending.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.



EXHIBITIONS OF BIRDS CANCELLED FOR 2015 DUE TO AVIAN INFLUENZA
Fairs, livestock auctions, swap meet and exotic sales will not include birds

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today announced an order to cancel all live bird exhibitions at county fairs, the Iowa State Fair, and other gatherings of birds due to avian influenza. The Department’s order begins immediately, is effective through the end of 2015, and also prohibits live birds from being sold at livestock auction markets, swap meets and exotic sales.

Iowa has over 25 million birds and more than 60 farms impacted by H5N2 highly-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The purpose of the Department’s directive is to minimize the risk of potential further spread of the virus to other poultry.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Iowa Department of Public Health consider the risk to the public related to HPAI H5 infections to be very low.  No human infections of the virus have ever been detected and there is no food safety risk for consumers.

“We are asking producers and bird owners to increase their biosecurity measures and we feel this is a needed step to further minimize the risk of spreading the virus,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.  "The scale of this outbreak has been unprecedented, so we think it is important we take every possible step to limit the chance that this disease will spread any further."

Officials with the Department have spoken with leadership from the Iowa State Fair and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach this week to discuss the situation.

“We have been working in conjunction with our state veterinarian to monitor the situation,” said Gary Slater, Iowa State Fair CEO/Manager. “We strive to provide safe and healthy competition for all the animals at our State Fair and know this decision was made in the best interest of our exhibitors and our poultry industry.”

“Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H's priority is youth and their learning experiences," said Mike Anderson, Extension 4-H State Livestock Specialist and State Fair 4-H Livestock Superintendent. "Some 4-H'ers will be disappointed that they won't be able to exhibit their poultry projects at fairs this summer, but we're exploring alternate learning opportunities to offer them at fairs and will share more details as plans develop. This is a great example to the public, fair-goers, and the consumer that the animal health, animal well-being and the safety of the poultry industry is at the forefront of our young people’s practices. Through our annual Food Safety and Quality Assurance curriculum, we have educated youth for many years on these and other topics such as biosecurity and the potential for diseases to spread.  The education and learning practices are being put into action in the real world."

The Iowa Turkey Federation and Iowa Poultry Association both recommended that bird exhibitions be cancelled this year due to avian influenza.  Iowa leads the nation in egg production and is in the top ten in turkey production.



USMEF Board Meeting Underway in San Antonio

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Board of Directors Meeting kicked off in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday afternoon. USMEF Chair Leann Saunders opened the event by providing members with an update on “Project 40” – a USMEF Executive Committee initiative designed to build on nearly 40 years of success and make USMEF a stronger organization going forward.

Saunders noted that feedback received during a comprehensive survey of the USMEF membership and other interviews conducted as part of Project 40 has been overwhelmingly positive. However, some areas were identified in which members feel the organization could be more proactive and strive for improvement.

“I want you to know that the volunteer leadership and staff of USMEF take these recommendations very seriously,” Saunders said. “USMEF is not a complacent organization. We are always striving for excellence, and will work collectively to move toward positive change. USMEF has achieved a high level of member satisfaction, yet we are always looking to continuously improve.”

CattleFax CEO Randy Blach was Wednesday’s keynote speaker, providing attendees with an informative and enlightening look at the current state of global protein demand, production and trade. He opened with a favorable update on spring planting progress.

“The past few years we’ve put more corn into production and gotten through a tough drought situation, and we’re now producing record-large corn crops,” he said. “And this spring, 85 percent of the corn crop is in the ground. We’re off to a great start, headed for a big corn crop. And on the soybean side we have a similar situation, with huge growth in our soybean output.

“For those of you who are (corn and soybean) producers, I’m not going to pull any punches – we’re going to be at break-even pricing for the next several years. We had great run in our farming operations from 2005 through 2012 or 2013, but now we’re in a period of much, much narrower margins.”

Blach explained that one of the most effective ways of restoring healthier margins to the U.S. farming sector is to expand international sales of high-quality protein, essentially exporting more corn and soybeans in a value-added form. But he emphasized that the global marketplace for red meat is fiercely competitive, so it is important to reduce trade barriers that limit market access for U.S. suppliers and increase their costs.

“That’s why the discussion we are having here today is so critical,” he said. “We have to improve our level of access to international markets for U.S. beef and pork, and it needs to be a high priority.”

Blach also noted that herd expansion has finally gained traction among U.S. cattle producers.

“Heifers are going back into the cow herd,” he explained, “The herd is growing at a rapid pace – and it needed to. If we didn’t respond as an industry to this economic signal to grow the nation’s cow herd, beef would have moved from the center of the plate to the edge of the plate.”

Blach also cautioned beef and pork producers about the potential impact of avian influenza, which has caused the U.S. poultry industry to lose access to some international markets. He noted that the number of birds lost to the disease will not come close to offsetting the upward trend in poultry production, meaning that there will likely be surplus of poultry confined to the domestic market over the next several months.

USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng also spoke to attendees Wednesday, addressing many of the current challenges facing U.S. beef, pork and lamb exports. He noted that the West Coast port congestion that slowed exports earlier this year has been largely resolved, but the industry is still feeling some impact. Competitors – especially European pork suppliers and exporters of Australian beef whose price advantage was already buoyed by weakened currencies – were quick to capitalize on this situation in key Asian markets. He also discussed recently implemented free trade agreements that have altered the competitive landscape in several of these markets, lowering tariff rates for beef and pork supplied by several competitors.

Seng challenged the industry to be more proactive in addressing potential market access barriers related to foreign animal diseases, noting that U.S. exports are still held back to some degree by the BSE case detected in December 2003.

“My suggestion would be that we reach out to the governments of these countries that we’re exporting 80 percent of our products to – that’s probably six or seven governments – and have a conversation about these issues,” Seng said. “Not with our hair on fire, not when we have a crisis – that’s not a good time to talk. But these countries need our product, and we need to have access to them. So what can we do to ensure that we don’t have a repeat of what happened with BSE?”

Seng noted that USMEF is well-known for its market development efforts, which have been successful in expanding demand for U.S. red meat in many countries and regions across the world. But he explained that competition is now so intense that traditional market development models may no longer suffice in many of these markets.

“Market development and looking for new markets – those are still important strategies,” Seng said. “But that takes a lot of time and resources, for returns that are not always what we might hope for. I would say that the key strategy USMEF is invoking today is displacement. We have to displace the competition, because that’s exactly what our competition is trying to do to us.”

Wednesday’s general session concluded with a panel discussion in which USMEF representatives from Mexico, the Caribbean and the ASEAN region provided an inside look at marketing strategies designed to add value to underutilized cuts of U.S. beef, pork and lamb. The panel offered insights into the markets to which these cuts are targeted, how they are prepared and the methods used to bring them to the attention of chefs, retailers, distributors and consumers.

One example provided by Elizabeth Wunderlich, USMEF Caribbean representative, is promotion of U.S. lamb belly, which is designed to capitalize on the popularity of pork belly and gain exposure for the high-quality attributes of American lamb.

USMEF ASEAN Director Sabrina Yin explained that cuts such as the beef hind shank are gaining popularity in her region – often being cut into cubes for stew, sliced thin for stir-fry or braised and presented as cold meat slices. Beef short plate, which has been commonly used in stews and soups, is now being touted for use in stir-fry dishes.

Yin said the new approaches for these beef cuts are promoted at chef demonstrations and at trade shows.

“We are also creating market opportunities through promotions in retail and the hotel and restaurant industries,” she said. “We provide importers and their customers with fact sheets on these U.S. beef cuts and give them new menu ideas.”

German Navarette, USMEF-Mexico corporate chef, has launched efforts in Mexico to educate chefs and other foodservice professionals about new methods of preparing beef brisket. In Mexico, brisket has traditionally been cubed or chopped in small pieces for stocks and stews, Navarette explained. But he is familiarizing chefs with slower cooking methods that allow them to work with whole and sliced briskets.

Pork shoulder was often given the same treatment in Mexico, but chefs are now encouraged to prepare pork shoulder in new and innovative ways.

Prior to Wednesday’s launch of the USMEF Board of Directors Meeting, USMEF hosted an informational session for members representing the Texas Beef Council, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Cattle Feeders Association and the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association, as well as other meat and livestock industry guests from the San Antonio area.

USMEF staff provided updates on opportunities and challenges in several key international markets, and offered examples of how support from these Texas-based organizations is being used to expand demand for U.S. red meat.

“USMEF certainly appreciates the excellent support we receive from the state of Texas,” Seng said. “There is a lot of history here dating all the way back to the founding of the organization, and many industry leaders who have been active in USMEF for decades.”

Thursday’s Board of Directors Meeting agenda features a panel discussion on the role of branded products in international markets, followed by meetings of USMEF’s standing committees: the Pork and Allied Industries Committee, Beef and Allied Industries Committee, Exporter Committee and the Feedgrain and Oilseed Caucus.



World Pork Expo seminars provide the most up-to-date information

World Pork Expo is the place to get the most up-to-date information related to pork production, business management and new technologies. More than a dozen seminars scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, and Thursday, June 4, are included in the price of admission to the 2015 World Pork Expo. Brought to you by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), this year’s Expo will take place June 3-5 in the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.

"To me, the most important activity for pork producers at World Pork Expo is the educational seminars," says Ron Prestage, D.V.M., NPPC president and South Carolina pork producer. "The exchange of ideas and information is invaluable. The seminars cover such a wide range of topics that all types of producers can capitalize on new insights they can take back home."

Business seminars feature innovative technologies
The business seminars get underway at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, with Harrisvaccines offering a look at how rapid-responding vaccines can be used for emerging diseases. Swine-health experts from the United States and the Philippines will join Harrisvaccine researchers to discuss the latest research on RNA particle prescription vaccines and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv).

From 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Purina Animal Nutrition will present “Challenge Accepted: Conquer your Mount Everest,” an interactive seminar featuring strategies for powering through challenges. Lance Fox, a veterinarian who has climbed Mount Everest, and others will share practical approaches to setting goals, developing actionable plans and empowering employees.

Rounding out the business seminars on Thursday, June 4, the United Soybean Board will present two, one-hour sessions titled “Biodiesel Works: Fueling Swine Profitability” at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The speaker will talk about how the use of animal fat in biodiesel has added $150 million in revenue to market hogs, and how the increased demand for soy-based biodiesel affects the supply of soybean meal.

PORK Academy offers more seminar options
A longstanding attraction at World Pork Expo, PORK Academy takes place on both Wednesday and Thursday of Expo. Presented by the Pork Checkoff, PORK Academy will feature experts from across the country talking about timely matters like regulatory changes in antibiotic use, a PEDv update and the Common Swine Industry Audit. Other presentations will zero in on sow lifetime productivity, mitigating seasonal losses and additional management topics.

Among its many attractions, World Pork Expo features the world’s largest pork-specific trade show, which will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, and Thursday, June 4, as well as from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, June 5. The record-setting World Pork Expo Junior National begins Tuesday, June 2, and is expected to involve nearly 750 youth from 24 states. Additional information is available at worldpork.org, and by connecting with World Pork Expo on Facebook, following Expo on Twitter (@NPPCWPX, #WPX15), and downloading the free mobile app by searching for “World Pork” in the Apple Store, Android Market or Blackberry’s App World.



USDA Reminds Farmers to Certify Conservation Compliance by June 1 Deadline

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farmers to file a Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification form (AD-1026) with their local USDA Service Center by June 1, 2015. The 2014 Farm Bill requires producers to have the form on file in order to remain eligible, or to become eligible for crop insurance premium support.

Many farmers already have a certification form on file since it’s required for participation in most USDA programs including marketing assistance loans, farm storage facility loans and disaster assistance. However, farmers who only participate in the federal crop insurance program must now file a certification form to receive crop insurance premium support. These producers might include specialty crop farmers who may not participate in other USDA programs.

“USDA is making every effort possible to get the word out about this new Farm Bill provision,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We’ve deployed a variety of informational documents and online resources including fact sheets, frequently asked questions and brochures to help farmers understand what they need to do. We’ve also conducted informational meetings and training sessions for nearly 6,000 stakeholders across the country. We want to make sure that those who are required to act do so by the June 1 deadline. We want all eligible producers to be able to maintain their ability to protect their operations with affordable crop insurance.”

USDA has conducted extensive outreach over the past year, especially to producers who only participate in the federal crop insurance program and may be subject to conservation compliance for the first time. Along with the outreach done by crop insurance agents and companies, USDA efforts have included letters, postcards, phone calls, producer meetings and interaction with stakeholder groups to help them reach their members. While there are procedures in place to correct good faith errors and omissions on certification forms, the deadline cannot be waived or extended and a form must be filed by June 1.

The Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification form AD-1026 is available at local USDA Service Centers or online at www.fsa.usda.gov/AD1026form.When a farmer completes this form, USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service staff will identify any additional actions that may be required for compliance with highly erodible land and wetland provisions. USDA’s Risk Management Agency, through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, manages the federal crop insurance program.



White Sorghum: Developing a Niche Market in Japan’s Food Industry

The U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) office in Japan recently held a sorghum food tasting event attended by more than 80 food industry reporters, food bloggers and food industry sorghum users who were able to try new sorghum-based dishes and encouraged to share their experiences with their readers.

While Japan’s outstanding sales and accumulated exports of U.S. sorghum totaled only 104,000 metric tons (4 million bushels) as of May 14 for the 2014/2015 marketing year - and only a portion of that is being used for food products - the Council believes Japan’s health-oriented consumers are a promising audience for food products made from U.S. sorghum.

“White sorghum offers many benefits as a food product,” said USGC Director in Japan Tommy Hamamoto. “It is a gluten-free food that has low-oil absorption. These characteristics are important to Japanese consumers who are willing to pay a premium for high-quality foods.”

Also during this event, Erica Angyal, a health icon who is popular among Japanese women, and Chef Tsukuda, who works at the hotel where the event took place, held short discussions about the health benefits of foods made with sorghum.

“This event is important as it kicks off the sorghum food fair that runs for two months,” Hamamoto said. “One restaurant alone is expected to serve 16 sorghum dishes in its buffet. We believe at the end of this event more than 10,000 people will have tried a dish with sorghum in it.”

The entire event was documented in a promotional video that will be shared on social media by the Japan office and provided to the host hotel and attendees for their use as well.

This program is one example of USGC efforts to promote sorghum to the Japanese food industry. The Council’s office in Japan will continue this effort through attending food shows and other outreach.

“Right now the market for white sorghum in the Japanese food industry is relatively small, but in three to five years, we expect Japanese end-users, processers, food industries and consumers will learn the value and benefits of using U.S. sorghum as a food ingredient and begin to commercialize health-oriented food products that use U.S. sorghum,” Hamamoto said. “Until then, the Council will continues its efforts to develop this niche market.”



Senate Ag Committee Approves Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Bill
(from NAWG newsletter)

Today the Senate Agriculture Committee marked up and unanimously approved bipartisan legislation offered by Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to reauthorize the Grain Standards Act (GSA). In addition to reauthorizing the GSA for five years, the legislation includes several important provisions to ensure transparency and predictability in the export grain inspection system. The text of the bill can be viewed here.

Some changes are intended to prevent future disruptions in export inspection services like what occurred last summer at the Port of Vancouver. Specifically, the legislation would require that for any State-delegated agency that intends to temporarily cease inspection services, that agency must provide 72 hours notice to USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS).  USDA would then be required to immediately take the actions needed to address the disruption and resume inspection services. USDA would also be required to report to Congress within 24 hours of the disruption on the actions needed to enable inspections to resume. Additionally, the legislation would require USDA to report to Congress regarding last year’s disruption, including information about the port facility, the security situation, and any policy changes made by USDA to prevent similar future disruptions.

State delegated agencies would be able to retain their authority under this legislation. However, USDA would be required to establish a certification process and require delegated agencies to be recertified every five years. The certification process would include an official 30-day public comment period. The bill also restricts the use of private entities for inspections of grain for export.

The legislation would also require a report to Congress on the barriers that U.S. grain producers face in exporting grain to countries that do not provide an official grade, or provide only the lowest designation, for U.S. grain. This provision is particularly relevant given Canada’s treatment of U.S. wheat where it receives only feed quality designation, no matter the quality. The provision in the bill would require an analysis of the possibility that such treatment is inconsistent with the country’s trade obligations.

The House Agriculture Committee has also approved its own reauthorization bill. The next step is floor consideration in both the House of Representatives and Senate.



U.S. Grains Council, Growth Energy and RFA Participate in Exploratory Market Development Mission to Japan

Representatives of Growth Energy, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) traveled to Tokyo this week to follow up on an industry market assessment of the potential to export U.S. ethanol to Japan. Over the next two years, the government of Japan will be undertaking a full review of its national energy policies, including biofuels, potentially opening up opportunities for additional ethanol exports there.

“The team came away with a much greater understanding of the current Japanese requirements and market conditions pertaining to ethanol and began the implementation of a strategy to help ensure that U.S. ethanol receives fair market access under the future energy policy that will be adopted when the current policy expires in 2017,” said Jim Miller, chief economist and vice president of Growth Energy.

In addition to meeting with U.S. Grains Council staff located in Tokyo and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) officials, the team also met with Japanese officials from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and Japanese Diet member Arata Takebe.

"The United States exported 900 million gallons of ethanol in 2014, supporting both U.S. farmers and the ethanol industry. We know that, going forward, ethanol exports have the potential to grow and become equally beneficial for our customers overseas," said Tom Sleight, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council. "USGC, Growth and RFA are committed to launching initiatives in 2015 and 2016 to build demand for U.S. ethanol and address barriers to ongoing imports."

“Japan represents a unique and exciting opportunity for U.S. ethanol exports. However, the opening of markets and trade partnerships don’t happen overnight. This trip provided our team with valuable insight and made great first steps to keep ethanol at the forefront of the discussion in Japan,” said RFA’s director of regulatory affairs Kelly Davis. “The team will continue examining the requirements of the Japanese sustainability standards, looking for ways to overcome infrastructure concerns and compiling data responding to some of the misinformation government officials still hold regarding renewable fuels.”

In 2014, the United States exported a very limited amount of ethanol for industrial uses to Japan. The U.S. ethanol industry believes there is room to open this market for fuel uses, prompting significant additional imports.



Dairy Groups Praise Diplomatic Struggle against Additional Restrictions on Common Food Names

The dairy industry today praised U.S. representatives to a key international meeting for leading the fight against treaty changes that could seriously impair the ability of companies worldwide to use generic food terms in export markets. Among those potentially affected are U.S. dairy producers and processors relying on numerous generic cheese names.

The National Milk Producers Federation, the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the International Dairy Foods Association jointly thanked the U.S. delegation to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Diplomatic Conference on the Lisbon Agreement for calling attention to the treaty changes. They also praised the U.S. diplomats for leading a coalition of countries in criticizing the lack of an inclusive WIPO process as well as the negative costs the agreement will likely impose on taxpayers, farmers and companies in other countries.

The three organizations urged the U.S. Trade Representative to evaluate the degree to which countries’ actions under the agreement are likely to violate World Trade Organization obligations and called on Congress to examine the deeply troubling side-lining of a majority of WIPO members in the development of an agreement with global ramifications.

WIPO is a United Nations agency charged with developing a balanced international intellectual property system. It concluded two weeks of talks in Geneva today that both expanded the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin to include geographical indications and expanded the protections granted under the international registry of protected terms.

Geographical indications limit who can use certain product terms or names to those in a particular geographic area. GIs have been widely abused in recent years by European interests seeking to restrict competition from the United States and other non-European countries.

During the two-week diplomatic conference in Geneva, the United States led a 12-nation coalition in opposing the Lisbon Agreement changes and in urging equal participation rights for all WIPO members in considering the changes. In a radical departure from multiple precedents, WIPO chose to permit Lisbon Agreement members to deny meaningful participation to the majority of WIPO members.

Despite this power grab, the U.S. and its allies used the conference to draw attention to the agreement’s failure to adequately safeguard both trade and intellectual property rights. Dairy groups urged continued international collaboration in opposing misuse of geographical indications.

“The treaty and its proposed changes are clearly aimed at preventing competitors such as dairy producers and processors in the United States and other non-European countries from using names in international trade that they have used for decades,” said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern. “We appreciate and commend the extensive work the office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, along with the departments of State and Agriculture, have put into opposing these changes and in decrying WIPO’s refusal to allow all members to have a full say in the outcome of this agreement.”

USDEC President Tom Suber added, “WIPO’s decision to force non-Lisbon members into second-class status at this conference strips the resulting outcome of its legitimacy as an international agreement. It’s clear that this agreement is an effort to promote the interests of GI holders at the expense of generic users, rather than trying to balance both those concerns in good faith. It is clear to us that there are serious WTO consistency problems with the approach Lisbon members have decided to pursue and we ask USTR to carefully examine how to address these trade commitment violations.”

IDFA President and CEO Connie Tipton agreed, noting that “with U.S. leadership, international collaboration on these crucial issues can continue in a variety of forums. Countries have a right to enter into treaties to address their own goals, but this should not come at the expense of other countries’ exports, nor their rights to fully participate in treaties having international impacts.”



U.S. Wheat Growers Call for Equal Trade in Canada

Yesterday, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) jointly called for improvements in Canada’s treatment of U.S. wheat classes in a letter to Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Gerry Ritz, and Canadian Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast.  While there has been positive collaboration between the two countries on wheat policy, the recent WTO Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) decision concerning the labeling of meat highlights Canada’s inconsistency on the issue of treatment of foreign agricultural products.

The United States is routinely Canada’s top wheat export market and allows wheat grown in Canada to be graded and traded the same as U.S. wheat in the market. Yet, the Canada Grains Act and Varietal Registration System (VRS) denies U.S. producers that same courtesy. Instead, all foreign grown grain is automatically downgraded under Canada’s official grading system to the lowest designation, regardless of whether the wheat is an approved Canadian variety or of high quality.

“Our concerns about the unfair regulatory environment that U.S. wheat faces in Canada closely parallel the arguments Canada successfully made in its WTO complaint against U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) requirements,” states the letter signed by USW Chairman Roy Motter and NAWG President Brett Blankenship. “Specifically, the WTO Appellate Body found that the COOL measure was ‘inconsistent with Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement because it accords less favourable treatment to imported livestock than to like domestic livestock.’ It is readily apparent to us that Canada’s treatment of imported wheat is less favorable than that of domestic wheat through its grading system.”

The two organizations propose that giving the market the freedom to determine origin segregation’s value — rather than mandating foreign grain labeling — not only increases benefits for both sides of the border, but also continues to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, further laying the foundation for a long-term, mutually profitable trade environment.



Trials Show When It Pays for Farmers to Invest in Inputs

When disease threatens yields this season, farmers have reliable data to help them decide if and when a certain treatment will benefit their potential bottom-line profits. Key insights from the 2014 Answer Plot® Program by WinField show that fungicide applications increased yield and improved late-season plant health for most CROPLAN® corn and soybeans in 2014.

In 2014, corn fungicide trials spanned 28 locations with 91 percent of the sites showing an average yield response of 5.2 bushels per acre. Results also showed that even when disease was not present, some genetic types responded favorably to fungicide.

Discovering ROI Potential
Disease can greatly reduce yields, and disease stress intensifies when soybeans are planted in the same field for two or more years. “Even though some varieties have built-in tolerance to certain diseases, they are not immune to yield loss under heavy disease pressure,” said Kevin Eye, vice president of agronomy and product development, WinField.

For example, in soybean trials, 82 percent of Answer Plot® Program locations had a positive yield response by adding fungicide. One trial comparison between two corn hybrids with different genetic backgrounds showed a 5-bushel-per-acre yield variation in response to fungicide. “Knowing how each hybrid will respond to treatment can help farmers decide when they will receive the greatest return potential on their fungicide spray investment.”

Additional Management Insights
Other key insights identified during analysis of 2014 Answer Plot® data also presented significant financial implications for farmers across the country, including:

·       Starter fertilizer provides a hedge against environmental stress at planting. In 37 corn trial locations, 77 percent of sites with cold temperatures at planting had a nearly 3-bushel-per-acre yield advantage with starter fertilizer that included 10-34-0 plus Ultra-Che™ Zn 9% plant nutrients.

·       Tissue sampling helps identify when it’s beneficial to make plant nutrient applications. Answer Plot® data showed that up to 23 percent more sites had a positive yield response when tissue sampling showed a manganese deficiency compared to sites that had sufficient manganese.

·       High management practices help increase quality and yield with new CROPLAN® spring wheat. Trial results showed that higher levels of management such as using seed treatments, fungicide applications, higher populations and increased nitrogen helped new wheat varieties yield an average of 8.3 bushels per acre higher than traditional management practices.

Helping Identify Opportunities
In its 17th year of operation, the Answer Plot® Program has become one of the industry’s premier research and demonstration programs. Following rigorous protocols and strict analytic standards, Answer Plot® data is evaluated at local, regional and national levels, distilling millions of useful data points to help bolster return on investment potential. Information from the program helps fuel cutting-edge ag technology tools from WinField and customized recommendations for each field.

With nearly 200 Answer Plot® locations nationwide, farmers get a firsthand look at how products and management practices work in all types of conditions. Answer Plot® events include demonstrations and advice from WinField agronomists on local crop production issues, including pest management, plant nutrition and more.