Tuesday June 9 Ag News

Beef Feedlot School to be held in West Point

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be offering a Feedlot School at West Point, NE in June.  Feedlot employees in that area are encouraged to attend the event on June 23 at the West Point Livestock Auction Market (839 S. Colfax/Hwy 275).  The goal of this program is to assist with the training of feedlot employees in the areas of animal health, management and nutrition. 

Specific topics include: sampling, packaging, and recording materials for veterinary diagnostic centers and consulting veterinarians; rumen anatomy and physiology; chute-side live animal evaluation; feedlot nutrition and management. 

There will be a Spanish translator available at the event as well. 

The program will start with registration at 1:00pm and adjourn at 4:30pm.

For more information or to pre-register contact Matt Luebbe (mluebbe2@unl.edu) at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center ph. 308-632-1260.  Or contact Larry Howard, Extension Educator, Nebraska Extension in Cuming County - Phone: 402-372-6006 or e-mail lhoward1@unl.edu



NDA WEEKLY BRIEFING ON AVIAN INFLUENZA

Nebraska Department of Agriculture is coordinating the state response, with staff in the area daily enforcing the quarantines of affected farms; overseeing the depopulation, composting and cleaning / disinfection efforts; monitoring quarantined poultry farms within a 6.2 mile radius of the affected farms and coordinating testing efforts on those farms; and issuing permits for movement of materials such as supplies and egg and egg products outside of the 6.2 mile perimeter.

Two locations in Dixon county were added to the list. These farms are owned and operated by the same producer that owns and operates barns where tests had previously confirmed the presence of HPAI.  Testing indicated that the virus was NOT present in these locations; however, due to epidemiological connections with the other Dixon operations, the producer has chosen to voluntarily depopulate these birds in an effort to contain the spread of the virus within their operations.

Crews at Dixon 1 and 3 have completed the depopulation process and are now working to clean and disinfect each building and the equipment found in those buildings. To learn more about that process, please read the cleaning and disinfection fact sheet on our website.

Knox 1 remains under quarantine at this time based on a presumptive positive test two weeks ago. Subsequent testing has not confirmed the presumptive positive. This facility remains a suspect flock and will remain under quarantine and continue to undergo regular testing. In consultation with USDA, it has been determined that the site will require 21 days of negative testing before the quarantine can be released. Biosecurity protocols will continue to be exercised out of an abundance of caution until further notice.

As part of NDA's surveillance work within the 6.2 mile radius of the affected farms there are currently 15 farms quarantined in Dakota County, 18 farms quarantined in Dixon County, 27 farms quarantined in Knox County and 7 farms quarantined in Wayne County. Today's quarantine numbers are broken down better by county than the 6-2-15 briefing and include additional sites that were quarantined around the Dixon 6 location. NDA continues to test the quarantined flocks within a 6.2 mile radius of Dixon 1, 2, 3 and 6. Testing is on hold at the quarantined farms in Knox County due to the lack of USDA confirmation testing at the Knox 1 facility at this time. These farms will remain under quarantine until further notice.



HARRISON/CRAWFORD CO CORN GROWERS HOST COVER CROP WORKSHOPS

Do you want to learn more about cover crops and what they can do for you in both the short term and in the long term?  Do you want to support the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy?  Do you want to help farmers prevent mandatory regulation of nutrient loss from crop production and to prevent future lawsuits such as that being pursued by the Des Moines Water Works against three northwest Iowa counties?  If so, plan to attend one of the workshops that are being offered on June 23 by the Harrison/Crawford County Corn Growers Association.  One workshop will be held in Missouri Valley at the Rand Community Center at 100 South 4th Street from 830 to 1100 am.  The other workshop will be held in Denison at the Boulders Conference Center at 2507 Boulders Drive from 130 to 4 pm.  The program at each workshop will be the same. 

Hear from Matt Lechtenberg, Water Quality Coordinator from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship [IDALS] about the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and many of the practices that farmers can use today to reduce nutrient loss from farm fields with an emphasis on the use of cover crops.  Hear an update on the status of the Des Moines Water Works lawsuit against three northwest Iowa counties and the lawsuit’s relevance to farmers.  Hear from Sarah Carlson, Midwest Cover Crop Research Coordinator from Practical Farmers of Iowa who will discuss several aspects relevant to the use of cover crops.  Some of those aspects are how to establish cover crops in the fall, how to terminate those cover crops in the spring, how cover crops can reduce soil erosion and improve water quality, what cover crops should be used, and long term study results on corn and soybean yields after the use of cover crops.  She will also provide to each workshop attendee a listing of cover crop businesses that can help in the use of cover crops and the current guidelines for terminating a cover crop without affecting crop insurance policies.  Hear from Ray Gaesser who is a corn and soybean farmer of 6600 acres from Corning, Iowa. He is past president of the Iowa Soybean Association, past president of the American Soybean Association, and currently chairman of the American Soybean Association Executive Committee.  He will share his personal experience relative to his increasing use of cover crops.  Hear why he started to use cover crops, what he feels is the best way to seed cover crops and lower the cost of seeding, what type of cover crop is he growing and why, what he sees as benefits to his operation from both a short term and long term perspective, what has he seen in terms of yields after he has been using cover crops, and why the use of cover crops makes sense even in the current farm economic situation where profit margins are very tight.  Finally hear about federal and state cost share programs available to farmers to support the use of cover crops from NRCS/FSA staff.  Farm Credit Services of America will provide donuts, coffee, and water for workshop attendees. 

If you are thinking of using cover crops in your operation, if you have used cover crops and want more information, or if you are quite experienced in using cover crops and can share your experience, please attend these workshops.  As the term workshop implies, while the workshops have presentations by experts on the use of cover crops, the workshop will encourage discussion and sharing of thoughts and ideas by all. 

If you have any questions at all on these workshops, feel free to contact Larry Buss who is President of the Harrison/Crawford County Corn Growers Association.   He can be contacted at 712-269-2989 or at email l-bbuss@windstream.net.    



IFBF Applauds 2015 Legislature on Road Infrastructure Funding, Conservation, Water Quality

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), Iowa’s largest grassroots farm organization, saw a longtime goal realized in the 2015 legislative session: passage of a bill that funds much-needed road infrastructure improvements.  The 2015 legislature passed an increase in the fuel tax, which will provide constitutionally-protected funding to repair Iowa’s roads and bridges.

 “This is a culmination of years of work and grassroots strength by rural Iowans, and as a result, rural Iowa will receive an additional $72 million per year to maintain and improve county roads.  Our economy depends on safe, accessible and reliable infrastructure to provide market access to all Iowans.  Debt and property taxes were becoming the default funding mechanism, so we are pleased that lawmakers realized a fuel tax is the most equitable way to fund our roads.  We applaud Iowa lawmakers for passing legislation to fix our critical road infrastructure,” says IFBF President Craig Hill (pictured). 

Lawmakers this year also committed significant additional funding to continue conservation work that improves water quality. “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other state environmental and agriculture leaders realize the value of the Iowa Water Quality Initiative.  In just the early stages since it was launched, farmers and 100 local organizations in 16 targeted, smaller watersheds have combined more than $11.8 million in their own funding with more than $7.5 million in state money and are setting goals, planning and implementing conservation activities, supported by the science that is appropriate for their local conditions.  We are pleased that lawmakers this year came together to approve $4.75 million in additional funding, which will help launch many new watershed improvement projects,” says Hill.

The Ag Drainage Well Closure Program also received $1.92 million this year, and lawmakers worked together to fund more than $1 million for a three-year pilot project that measures and identifies conservation practices that balance crop production while protecting waterways.

Property taxpayer protections were also approved this year, as lawmakers extended the funding mechanism that ensures the increase in education state supplemental aid will limit property tax increases.  When it comes to property taxes to support mental health funding, the county levy system has had a $125 million statewide cap which was extended again for next year.  Farm Bureau members will continue to ask that the property tax cap, which has had an annual sunset, be made a permanent property tax limitation. 



Iowa Soybean Association celebrates policy wins, identifies continued priorities

Providing additional funds for soil and water conservation as well as transportation infrastructure were recognized by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) as major accomplishments of the 2015 legislative session.

                “We’re pleased the Integrated Farm and Livestock Management program was once again fully funded by the legislature, providing $400,000 for research through ISA’s On-Farm Network®,” said Tom Oswald, ISA president and farmer from Cleghorn. “The On-Farm Network is a trusted source for helping farmers continuously improve their practices, which ultimately benefits all Iowans. ISA members and staff served as a resource and voice of reason on this and many other issues important to farmers during the legislative session.”

                 After six years of work, the legislature finally passed a 10-cent fuel tax increase. A portion of which will go toward increased funding for rural roads and bridges. The bill also provides a 3-cent deduction in the tax for biodiesel blends above B10, also a long-term ISA priority.

                “Iowa soybean farmers cannot continue to be competitive on a global scale without investment and updates to our transportation system,” said Wayne Fredericks, Osage farmer and ISA board policy committee chair. “We commend the legislature for their action on this matter and appreciate the reduction for biodiesel. As an alternative fuel, biodiesel drives demand for the Iowa soybeans as well as lowers the cost of soybean meal used by Iowa livestock farmers.”

                  In late December, ISA board members and voting delegates established and updated policy priorities in anticipation of the 2015 session. At that time, emphasis was placed on continued support for the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. ISA commends the legislature for providing $9.6 million to support the Iowa Water Quality Initiative and $6.75 million for conservation cost share. These funds will be utilized throughout the next fiscal year to support conservation practices and projects across the state.

                 At the end of the legislative session, ISA supported another effort to increase funding for conservation — raising the state sales tax by three-eighths of a cent. This effort would have provided an estimated $165 million for the state’s natural resources trust fund. Nearly two-thirds of these resources would fund practices to benefit soil conservation and water quality improvements. State legislators did not act this year but ISA members will continue to engage with them to build support for this popular measure.

               “Farmers are committed to water quality and conservation efforts and appreciate the increased financial support of these efforts,” said Carol Balvanz, ISA policy director. “While we are pleased with the positive movement around the issue, we believe there is still more to be done and will continue to focus on this conversation outside of the legislative session to help build and support the future.”



AFIA to House: TPA Key to US Trade Success

The American Feed Industry Association today strongly urged members of the House of Representatives in a letter to vote "yes" for Trade Promotion Authority, stating, "TPA is key to successfully negotiating trade agreements vital to the growth of the U.S. animal food industry."

AFIA, which represents 75 percent of the commercial animal food produced in the U.S., explained the breadth of the feed industry, as it indirectly represents 70-plus percent of the cost of producing meat, milk and dairy products.

"With the passage of TPA--and subsequently new trade agreements down the line--the feed industry will have better access to growing global demands," said Gina Tumbarello, AFIA director of international policy and trade.

Tumbarello noted last year alone the U.S. exported more than $10 billion worth of animal feeds, animal food ingredients and pet food.

"Passage of TPA sends a clear message to our trade partners that U.S. representatives have unambiguous authority to negotiate these agreements," AFIA wrote. "TPA ensures negotiating partners have confidence in the United States' ability to live up to the terms of any negotiated agreement because Congress cannot change the draft treaty prior to voting to approve or disapprove the deal."

AFIA firmly believes a lack of TPA for this administration will likely scuttle other pending trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the TransAtlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. If these agreements collapse, the U.S. loses new export market opportunities for agricultural products.

"We need trading rules developed on sound science--rules that create an equal, level playing field. Passage of TPA can provide that," said Tumbarello.

AFIA urges the House to vote "yes" on TPA. The decision will ensure high credibility for U.S. negotiators and aid successful completion of important trade agreements. Without TPA, U.S. influence in negotiating these trade agreements is minimized.



House Proposes 9% Cut to EPA Spending

(AP) --- House Republicans proposed a spending bill Tuesday that cuts the budget at the Environmental Protection Agency by 9 percent and tries to prevent the Obama administration from enacting several regulations.

At the top of their regulatory hit list is a proposed rule on cutting carbon dioxide emissions from coal plants.

The bill made public Tuesday by the House Appropriations Committee would reduce the EPA workforce to 15,000 people, the same level as in 1989. The agency had more than 17,300 employees five years ago and has gradually lost employees since.

The bill covers the Interior Department, the Smithsonian and other agencies, and it calls for spending $30.2 billion. That's $246 million below last year's levels and $3 billion below President Barack Obama's request.

Another key regulation Republicans seek to squelch involves the EPA's efforts to better protect small streams and tributaries. The GOP has heard from constituents and industry groups that the additional regulation would make it harder for businesses and farmers to operate.

In explaining the proposed spending cuts for EPA, a press release from the committee said "These reductions will help the agency streamline operations, and focus its activities on core duties, rather than unnecessary regulatory expansion."

Stymied by Congress on nearly every front, Obama has turned to actions he can take on his own, often through the rulemaking process. But the GOP is intent on opposing many of those efforts, too. Lawmakers do so through spending bills that explicitly forbid an agency from spending money for specific tasks, such as drafting or enacting new regulations.



Wheat Growers Express Concern Over Water Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protect Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently released the final rule interpreting the definition of “Waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. The National Association of Wheat Growers sees this as creating more confusion for farmers, not less.

“The final WOTUS rule extends well beyond the intent of the Clean Water Act. We are very concerned about the impact this overly burdensome regulation will have on wheat producers,” said Brett Blankenship, President of the National Association of Wheat Growers and a Washington wheat grower. “The provisions of the rule do not provide clarity that growers need.”

“Nobody understands the need for good stewardship and conservation better than America’s wheat farmers. This is what we do everyday. We depend on clean water and healthy soils to make a living and feed the world. However, wheat farmers also need regulatory certainty so they know how to stay in compliance with the law. This 300-page rule does not provide us with a clear understanding of what is or is not under the Clean Water Act’s jurisdiction.”

NAWG calls on Congress to pass legislation requiring the EPA and Army Corps to withdraw the regulation. Legislation has been passed by the House of Representatives and will be reviewed in the Senate Committee this week.



Dow AgroSciences to Launch a New Weed Control Tool in Corn

Dow AgroSciences is planning to release a new corn herbicide to control weeds deep into the growing season. Registration for this herbicide, currently referred to as GF-3471, is expected in 2016.

GF-3471 is designed to feature a novel formulation of three leading active ingredients that have not been included together in any previous herbicide. This exclusive formulation contains three modes of action and does not include atrazine or glyphosate. The intent of the herbicide is to exceed industry standards with strong, trusted residual control of many herbicide-resistant weeds, including Palmer amaranth and giant ragweed.

“Upon regulatory approval, this new herbicide could be an excellent way to give corn growers peace of mind that their weeds are controlled well into the season,” says Luke Peters, corn herbicides product manager, Dow AgroSciences. “We have learned in the past that providing trusted residual activity allows cornfields to stay cleaner longer, which can lead to higher yield.”

This herbicide formulation is expected to offer flexible application timing from preplant to early postemergence.

“The troublesome weeds growers face today are very concerning,” Peters says. “We look forward to offering GF-3471 to improve efficacy and help solve this ever-growing threat to yield potential. In early field trials, it has shown exceptional weed control.”

GF-3471 will be included in university field trials this year and will be featured in public Dow AgroSciences field plots. Developed to help growers meet the needs of their operations, this new corn herbicide will be a welcome addition to the current industry-leading Dow AgroSciences portfolio.



See for Yourself Participants to See Soy Checkoff in Action

Farmer-leaders of the United Soybean Board (USB) recently selected 10 U.S. soybean farmers to learn more about the soy checkoff and see where their soybeans go beyond the elevator through USB’s See for Yourself program.

“The See for Yourself program is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Keith Tapp, a soybean farmer from Sebree, Kentucky, and chair of USB’s Audit and Evaluation Committee, which sponsors See for Yourself. “Participants are able to ask questions and give feedback to me and other farmer-leaders directly, while seeing the results of their checkoff investment firsthand.”

This year, the following farmers get the chance to see how the checkoff helps increase demand for their soybeans:
• Nathan Brown from Hillsboro, Ohio
• Jennifer Campbell from Franklin, Indiana
• Rick Dickerson from Laurel, Delaware
• Caleb Frey from Morganza, Louisiana
• Adam Guetter from Wabasso, Minnesota
• April Hemmes from Hampton, Iowa
• Tina Holst from Chilton, Wisconsin
• Justin Knobel from Elysburg, Pennsylvania
• Carl Philips from Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
• Antron Williams from Rowesville, South Carolina

The See for Yourself program gives participants a firsthand look at how and where their soybeans are being used both domestically and internationally. It also offers farmer-participants an opportunity to evaluate specific, checkoff-funded research and promotional activities. The program will be held July 30-August 7 in St. Louis, China and Vietnam.

This will be See for Yourself’s first visit to Vietnam. The third-largest aquaculture-producing country in the world, Vietnam offers a unique look at animal agriculture’s needs for high-quality soybean meal. With the cost of fishmeal-based feeds rising, soybean meal is a more affordable and more sustainable protein option for aquaculture feed. In 2014, Vietnam imported more than 350,000 metric tons of U.S. soybean meal, or the meal from over 16.3 million bushels of U.S. soybeans, most of which was used to feed fish.

Other stops during the program will highlight the checkoff’s work in production research, transportation, biodiesel, high oleic and more.



Fertilizer Prices Steady Again

According to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the first week of June 2015, prices continue extremely steady. As has been the case in recent weeks, no fertilizers are significantly lower or higher compared to a month earlier.

Five of the eight major fertilizers gained in price compared to a month prior, but these moves were fairly minor. DAP averaged $570/ton, potash $491/ton, urea $461/ton, UAN28 $331/ton and UAN32 $371/ton.

Two fertilizers were lower compared to the previous month, but again the move down was small. DAP averaged $570/ton, MAP $597/ton and anhydrous $710/ton.

One fertilizer, MAP, was unchanged from last year's retail price.

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

Only one of the eight major fertilizers are double-digits higher in price compared to June of 2014, all while commodity prices are significantly lower from a year ago; 10-34-0 is 16% higher compared to last year.

Only potash, up 2%, is slightly more expensive compared to a year earlier. One fertilizer, anhydrous, is nearly unchanged from the price from last year.

The remaining five nutrients are now lower compared to retail prices from a year ago. DAP is 4% less expensive, MAP is 5% lower, UAN28 is down 7%, UAN32 is now 8% less expensive and urea is 15% less expensive from a year earlier.



EIA: RFS Boosts Biofuel Consumption

The Energy Information Administration expects ethanol production this year to average 936,000 barrels per day (bpd), according to the most recent Short-term Energy Outlook published Tuesday, June 9, unchanged from last month's estimate and 1,000 bpd higher than output in 2014.

"On May 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a rule setting Renewable Fuel Standard targets for 2014 through 2016. Although these targets could be modified before the final rule is issued, they are used in developing the current STEO," EIA said.

The agency forecast 2016 production at 933,000 bpd, down 4,000 bpd from the May STEO projection.

Ethanol consumption, which averaged 878,000 bpd in 2014, is forecast to average 891,000 bpd this year and 895,000 bpd in 2016, resulting in an average 9.9% ethanol share of the total gasoline pool this year and next.

EIA said it "does not expect measurable increases in E15 or E85 consumption over the forecast period. The proposed RFS targets are expected to encourage imports of Brazilian sugarcane ethanol, which were just 3,000 bpd in 2014."

The agency said that because of the increase in ethanol gross imports, net exports of ethanol are expected to fall from 51,000 bpd in 2014 to 44,000 bpd this year and 36,000 bpd next year.

EIA said it expects the biggest effect of the proposed RFS targets to be on biomass-based diesel consumption, which contributes to meeting the biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel RFS targets.

Biodiesel production averaged an estimated 81,000 bpd in 2014 and is forecast to average 90,000 bpd in 2015, which is 9,000 bpd higher than the prior month. In 2016, biodiesel production is forecast to average 98,000 bpd versus month prior projections at 84,000 bpd.

Net imports of biomass-based diesel are expected to increase from 16,000 bpd in 2014 to 26,000 bpd this year and 35,000 bpd in 2016, which are 9,000 bpd and 19,000 bpd higher than in last month's STEO, respectively.

"EIA expects that a combination of higher biomass-based diesel consumption, higher consumption of domestic and import ethanol, and banked Renewable Identification Numbers will help meet the newly proposed RFS targets through 2016."

The agency estimates that carbon dioxide emissions grew 1.0% in 2014 and are projected to decrease by 0.4% this year and then rise by 0.2% in 2016. These forecasts are sensitive to both weather and economic assumptions.