Wednesday May 20 Ag News

Major Site Upgrades Underway for Husker Harvest Days

Husker Harvest Days, the world’s largest totally irrigated working farm show, located near Grand Island, Neb., is receiving major upgrades for its water drainage system  in its visitor parking areas. The 2015 HHD is Sept. 15 - 17.

Construction work is already underway and is scheduled to be completed well before the 2015 show. The improvements involve re-grading the entire visitor parking lot areas and installing new drainage and retention ditches to control surface water over  the entire event area. The visitor parking areas are receiving a complete grading and gravel roadways are being installed on the main travel lanes within the parking lots to alleviate attendee parking and exiting challenges due to rainy weather.

“While no outdoor event is completely weather-proof,” said Matt Jungmann, Penton Agriculture show director, “the new construction certainly puts us in a better position to keep the show open for business, even if we get rain like we had last year.”

Upgrades will total a significant investment in the site and the expense is being shared by Penton Agriculture, the event’s parent company, and the Agriculture Institute of Nebraska.

Hooker Brothers, located in central Nebraska, is handling the engineering, surveying, grading and culvert work. A local Grand Island supplier is contracted for the recycled crushed concrete aggregate that will be used on the roadways. Roger Luebbe, show operations manager, is organizing the project.

The 2014 HHD was held only two of its usual three days due to severe thunderstorms and untimely heavy rains that occurred overnight and during show hours. The moisture was welcomed to recharge the area’s groundwater reserves; however the visitor parking areas were severely damaged from traffic. The show site’s drainage system was overwhelmed and couldn’t handle the amount of rain that was received during the show, especially with the already saturated soils from rains that preceded the show.

All of the current improvements are designed to give show visitors and exhibitors more enjoyable show experiences. The site upgrades will keep the focus on the event’s main theme of showcasing the latest technology and services in agriculture.

Farmers and ranchers from 28 states and several countries attend the show each year. Visitors have access to more than 600 exhibitors with agriculture’s latest product introductions, meet face-to-face with company representatives and gain hands-on knowledge about the latest products and services for their farms and ranches.



ASSESS CONDITION OF ALFALFA FIELDS AT FIRST HARVEST
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

              First cutting of alfalfa is here or approaching rapidly.  That’s a good time to evaluate field conditions and then plan future management.

               Look closely at your alfalfa stand at first cutting.  Look for weeds.  Check for weevils – both larvae and adults.  Count the number of stems per square foot.  Examine thin spots or areas not yielding as well as the rest of the field.

               If you find problems, immediately start to plan how you will deal with them.  For instance, if you have too much pennycress or mustard or downy brome in your first cutting, consider spraying herbicides next fall during the dormant season to kill these weeds.

               Are stands getting thin?  Can you determine why?  Will this allow weeds to invade?  Then, maybe it’s time to rotate to another crop.  If you have other good field options, most dryland fields should be rotated after four to five years and irrigated fields every five to six years.

               If some areas of the field don’t produce well but the stand still is thick, the problem may be dry subsoil, compaction, or inadequate fertility.  Check it out and when you have an answer, then you might be able to do something about it.

               How do your alfalfa plants look when you cut them?  Are lower stems dark colored with many leaves on the ground?  Spring blackstem may be the problem.  Do most plants have open blossoms?  Or are new shoots starting to grow and getting cut off by your mower?  In all these examples, earlier harvest might be wise next year.

               Take some time to look more closely at first cut alfalfa.  It may make you an even better manager next time.



 Kum & Go Ethanol Promotions

Drivers of flex-fuel vehicles in Nebraska and Iowa will be able to fill up with E85 for just 85 cents per gallon during six upcoming promotions at Kum & Go locations in the Omaha metro area. All promotions run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., there is a limit of 30 gallons, and no containers are allowed. The promotions will take place as follows:
-    May 28, 2015 - 90th & Boyd St.
-    June 4, 2015 - 168th & Maple
-    June 11, 2015 - 195th & West Center
-    June 18, 2015 - 4443 S. 84th
-    June 25, 2015 - 1819 N 72nd
-    July 2, 2015 - 10764 Virginia Plaza, Papillion

Currently, one in seven drivers in the Omaha metro has a flex-fuel vehicle, which can run on any blend of American Ethanol and gasoline, from E10 to E85. However, many drivers do not realize they own a flex-fuel vehicle, let alone the additional fuel options they have at the pump. To confirm your vehicle is flex-fuel, look for a yellow fuel cap, a flex-fuel emblem, or check your owner’s manual.

The E85 promotion is sponsored by Green Plains, Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Nebraska Corn Board, and Nebraska Ethanol Board in cooperation with Kum & Go. For additional information about these promotions and American Ethanol, visit E85Omaha.com.



 Nebraska Ethanol Board Meeting: May 29, 2015

The Nebraska Ethanol Board will meet at 10 a.m. Friday, May 29. The meeting will be held at the Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center (Alda I-80 Exit 305). Highlights of the agenda include:
     - Marketing Programs update
     - State and Federal Legislation update
     - Ethanol Plant Reports

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



Proper Use of Nitrogen Encouraged in Iowa’s Corn Production

A new publication, Nitrogen Use in Iowa Corn Production (CROP 7073) released by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach provides an overview of nitrogen use in regard to the soil system and corn fertilization. Included is use of economical optimum nitrogen rates and how they should be used to increase crop yields, use nitrogen efficiently, and enhance water quality.

“Nitrogen is essential for growth and reproduction of crops and is involved in many important plant biochemical processes,” said John Sawyer, professor of agronomy and Extension soil fertility specialist with Iowa State University and author of the new publication. “Nitrogen management is critical for optimal yields for corn production systems.

"Of great interest to farmers, crop advisers, agricultural businesses and suppliers will be the maximum return rate to nitrogen (MRTN) system; the nitrogen rate approach used across the Midwest Corn Belt. “The publication contains the nitrogen rate guidelines for Iowa called MRTN and are provided in both the publication and the online Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator,” he said.

Also, new rate guidelines were added for the Southeast Iowa area.

The publication highlights long-term nitrogen rate research conducted in Iowa, where corn yields average 60 bushels per acre for continuous corn and 115 bushels per acre for corn following soybean when corn is not fertilized. However, corn fertilized with proper nitrogen levels can easily yield 200 bushels per acre or more. Such yield increases highlight the importance of nitrogen use in corn production systems.

The publication also provides an overview of corn nitrogen fertilization use in different rotations, nitrogen cycling in soils, economic return to nitrogen application and nitrogen use relative to water quality. Soil is an open system where nitrogen losses occur naturally with the movement of water through the soil or with gaseous loss.

Jamie Benning, water quality program manager with ISU Extension and Outreach explains, “Farmers consider many factors when selecting nitrogen rates and timing of application, they strive for optimum corn yields while trying to minimize nitrogen loss and negative impacts to water quality.”



TWO PROBABLE CASES OF HPAI IN SAC AND CALHOUN COUNTIES

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to two probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Sac and Calhoun counties.  With the new announcements, Iowa now has 62 cases of the disease in the state. The Department has quarantined the premises 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.

Sac 6 – Turkey farm 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.

Calhoun 1 – Turkey farm 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.

As the Department receives final confirmations of the disease updated information will be posted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.iowaagriculture.gov/avianinfluenza.asp.



House Ag Committee Passes COOL Repeal Legislation
 
Today, the House Agriculture Committee approved legislation that would repeal Country of Origin Labeling (H.R. 2393) by a bi-partisan vote of 38 to 6. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President and Chugwater, Wyoming, cattleman Philip Ellis applauded today’s action.

“I thank Chairman Conaway (R-Texas), Rep. Costa (D-Cali.), and their colleagues for the swift introduction of this legislation and today’s passage,” said Ellis. “Following the WTO’s ruling Monday, the next step for Canada and Mexico is retaliation, which could take place as early as this summer. The time to negotiate and consider alternatives is long past; COOL has been around in one form or another for over a decade without benefit, and now is time to act to repeal this broken legislation. We ask the full House to take up this legislation as soon as possible, as it is the only way to avoid retaliation.”



ASA Will Oppose Amendments to TPA Bill in Senate

Citing the importance of achieving fast track authority in order to finalize new trade deals as seamlessly as possible, the farmer leaders of the American Soybean Association (ASA) announced today that the group will oppose all controversial amendments to the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act, which would extend trade promotion authority to President Barack Obama.

“This bill is one that Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member Wyden put a painstaking number of hours into, and the result is legislation that represents a broad range of interests. There is enough here to bring lawmakers of all stripes to the table, and we believe the clearest path to passage is one that involves a bill with no controversial amendments that make it harder or in some cases impossible for lawmakers to support the legislation,” said ASA President and Brownfield, Texas, farmer Wade Cowan.

More than any other commodity, soybean farmers’ success domestically is tied to markets overseas. More than half of the U.S. soybean crop is exported, and in 2014, the U.S. exported roughly $30.5 billion in soybeans, soybean meal and soybean oil. Moreover, the export share of annual U.S. soy production has grown steadily. Between 2000 and 2010, the value of U.S. oilseed and product exports more than doubled, from $9 billion to over $20 billion.



NPPC Urges Senate To Pass ‘Clean’ TPA Bill

The National Pork Producers Council supports quick approval of Trade Promotion Authority legislation and opposes “controversial” amendments to the bill that could prolong debate and potentially prevent passage. The organization is urging the Senate to pass a clean TPA bill as soon as possible.

TPA legislation defines objectives and priorities for trade agreements the United States negotiates and establishes consultation and notification requirements for the president to follow throughout the negotiation process. Under TPA, once trade negotiators finalize a deal, Congress gets to review it and vote yes or no – without amendments – on it. Congress has granted TPA to every president since 1974, with the most recent law being approved in August 2002 and expiring June 30, 2007.

“The U.S. pork industry is dependent on exports, which are facilitated through free trade agreements,” said NPPC President Dr. Ron Prestage, a veterinarian and pork producer from Camden, S.C. “And those agreements are made possible by TPA. The Senate needs to pass that bill now, but adding controversial provisions will make it harder to do that.”

The immediate need for TPA is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a regional trade agreement among the United States and 11 Pacific Rim countries that is close to being finalized. An agreement that eliminates all tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade would increase U.S. pork exports to the TPP nations by 50 percent and help create 10,000 U.S. agricultural jobs, according to Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes.

Yesterday, NPPC joined 24 other food and agricultural organizations in asking the Senate to reject an amendment to the TPA legislation that would require enforceable currency provisions in trade agreements.



Corn Growers: America Needs Long-Term Highway Bill

After the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill late Tuesday to extend the United States Highway Trust Fund's authorization only through July 31, National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling issued the following statement:

"We are disappointed in Congress' repeated failure to pass a long-term highway funding bill. There isn't a county in this country that does not have a road or bridge in need of work. Farmers need all available modes of transportation to safely and efficiently get our products to market and be globally competitive. It's time to move past short-term stopgaps and toward a long-term strategy to invest in our national infrastructure."

The Highway Trust Fund, established in 1956, is a federal transportation fund that pays for the construction and maintenance of highways, roads, and bridges. In the past eight years, there have been 32 extensions and five revenue shortfalls to transportation funding. Last July, Congress passed a measure to extend the Highway Trust Fund through May 31. 



Soy Growers: WTO Appeals Ruling Highlights Need for Solution to COOL

The American Soybean Association (ASA) has again called for a coordinated approach to fix the United States’ mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) rule for imported meat. ASA’s call comes in light of a ruling Monday from the World Trade Organization Appellate Body that determined the COOL rule gives domestic producers an unfair advantage over importers from Canada and Mexico. ASA President Wade Cowan, a farmer from Brownfield, Texas, underscored the association’s concerns and indicated that ASA will support new legislation to repeal COOL from House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway:

“This most recent ruling from the WTO is hardly a surprise, and reinforces our long-held contention that we’ve got to find a fix for COOL. The rule is an unworkable one, and has the potential to create significant problems, both for the livestock industry that represents our number one customer, and for soybean farmers directly, should Canada and Mexico opt to place retaliatory tariffs on American soy. Beyond these most immediate impacts, we remain concerned about the impact of this issue on our trading relationships.

“ASA has consistently opposed the COOL program. In the wake of the WTO's fourth ruling against COOL, we support legislation to repeal the program, including the bill introduced yesterday by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Conaway. Recognizing that legislation to repeal or make COOL compliant with U.S. WTO obligations could take significant time, we call on the Administration to ask the WTO for 60-day arbitration with the governments of Canada and Mexico to prevent more immediate retaliatory tariffs on imports, potentially including soybeans and soy and livestock products. We also call on Congress to look at alternative measures for making COOL WTO-compliant.

“Our primary and most pressing concern is avoiding retaliation. As producers of the nation’s leading farm export, soybean farmers have a huge stake in trade partnerships that are robust and mutually beneficial. With regard to COOL, we have to take every step to ensure that American policies are crafted in such a way that avoids retaliatory steps from our trading partners. All parties, from Congress to USDA to our counterparts in foreign markets, must come to the table and establish a solution that will help to keep the pathways of global trade free and open.”



U.S. Dairy Industry Supports Action by Congress to Repeal Country of Origin Labeling

American dairy products headed to Canada and Mexico could face stiffer tariffs – and ultimately, reach fewer foreign customers – unless Congress repeals Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements for meat products that violate international trade rules, the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council said today.

Under the World Trade Organization ruling announced Monday, “Canada and Mexico are entitled to retaliate against U.S. exports, and that could well include higher tariffs on U.S. dairy products,” said Jim Mulhern, NMPF president and CEO. He noted that Canada has already indicated it will target the U.S. dairy industry, while Mexico retaliated against U.S. dairy products in a past NAFTA finding against the United States.

“America’s dairy farmers should not suffer collateral damage as a consequence of our COOL policy. The U.S. government needs to rectify this situation before we lose any export customers,” Mulhern said.

“Mexico is our largest export market, and Canada is also a significant destination for U.S. dairy products,” said Tom Suber, president of USDEC. “At a time of softer global dairy demand, we need to be focused on ensuring we keep exports moving and doing all we can to avoid new roadblocks from being put in our exporters’ paths.”

The WTO will finalize by the end of the month the recent decision faulting U.S. COOL requirements, after which Canada and Mexico can formally request permission to retaliate against the United States. Retaliation will be determined by how much the two countries can raise tariffs to address their losses under the U.S. meat labeling requirement, which was first challenged by Canada and Mexico in 2009. A panel will have 60 days to review the tariff amount, although the United States, Canada and Mexico could discuss a settlement before the 60-day clock runs out. The United States could see retaliatory tariffs by late summer or fall.

NMPF and USDEC are among a long list of food and agriculture organizations supporting bipartisan legislation to head off retaliation by repealing country of origin labeling requirements enacted in 2002. H.R. 2393, introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway (R-Texas), is scheduled for committee consideration today.

Mulhern said NMPF will also be educating both House and Senate members to make sure they understand that dairy will likely be hurt if steps are not taken to bring the United States into compliance with the WTO rules.

“With U.S. farmers relying more and more on exports for income, we cannot allow the country of origin labeling issue to interfere with increased dairy trade in the hemisphere,” Mulhern said. 



Growth Energy Challenges Latest Misinformation from API, NMMA

In response to this morning’s call by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) that attempted to fool policymakers and the American public, Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, issued the following statement:

"Once again, API and its allies are trying to keep Americans addicted to foreign oil. They are afraid of competition, plain and simple, and are using every possible tactic, whether it be legal, regulatory or through false public relations campaigns designed to fool people to buy into their false narrative to discourage the use of a cleaner, less expensive, homegrown renewable fuel.

“All major manufacturers of outboard and marine motors, as well as small engines, are approved for the use of gasoline blended with up to 10 percent ethanol. The largest problems associated with engine failure in such equipment and machinery is associated with failure of proper maintenance, not ethanol. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, which represents manufactures of small engines, has even gone on the record to say, ‘We pump E10 without a second thought.’

“What probably does concern boaters is the amount of time they spend dry docked as a result of oil spills, like the one that dumped 21,000 gallons of oil along four miles of coastline in Santa Barbara, California just yesterday.

“This latest charge by API and NMMA does, however, raises a more important question. In Brazil, consumers only have a choice of 27 percent or 100 percent ethanol. To my knowledge, they have boats, outboard motors, lawnmowers, weed whackers and other outdoor power equipment, as well as cars identical to the ones that are sold right here in the U.S., which begs the question, how is the sky not falling there from ethanol use? The answer is pretty simple, ethanol is a safe, reliable alternative fuel that is taking away from the market share of Big Oil and they, along with their aligned special interests, will do and say anything to fool the American consumer and protect their bottom line.”



Organic Farmers Reject Proposed Organic Check-Off

A just-concluded major referendum by the membership of the organic seed industry leader, Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA), was unanimously opposed to the "Organic Check-off" proposed by the Organic Trade Association (OTA). Significantly, not a single vote was cast in favor of the Organic Check-off and America's organic farmers and seed growers reject the OTA's mandatory tax on organics.

The OSGATA membership, comprised of certified organic farmers, seed companies, seed professionals, and affiliate organizations, is concerned that the proposed Organic Check-off will follow suit of other check-off programs in favoring large corporate businesses instead of small-scale family farmers and ranchers.

"The OSGATA membership has spoken loud and clear," said Maine certified organic seed farmer Jim Gerritsen, President of OSGATA. "Organic farmers and seed growers resoundingly reject the OTA's Organic Check-off proposal and our membership believes it's important that organic farmers work together to defeat the industry's mandatory tax on our livelihoods."

Last week, the OTA, in collaboration with the GRO Organic Core Committee, formally petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to initiate a vote and requisite steps for implementing a proposed Organic Check-off program. The petition was made possible by a provision in the 2014 Farm Bill, but is still pending review by USDA for compliance with the Generic Research and Promotion Act. The Organic Check-off's stated purpose, as lobbied by the OTA, is to promote the organic industry while also funding gaps in organic research.

Many in the organic community, including OSGATA members, are concerned that this mandatory national tax on organic producers and its resulting marketing strategy will favor the interests of large-scale producers, processors and retailers in the organic industry and make it more difficult for family-scale farmers to compete.

Other USDA Check-off mandatory tax programs have a history of restrictive promotion guidelines, further burdened by heavy bureaucracy, collections harassment, and a lack of financial accountability. There is little confidence that the proposed Organic Check-off will operate differently than other generic commodity check-off programs.