Monday July 6 Ag News

Caterpillars in Soybeans
Bob Wright, UNL Extension Entomologist

We have received several reports of either painted lady caterpillars or green cloverworm caterpillars feeding in soybeans in eastern Nebraska. Both overwinter in the southern U.S. and are occasional pests of soybeans in Nebraska,

Painted Lady Caterpillars. These brown-black caterpillars (also called thistle caterpillars) have a yellow stripe down the length of both sides of the body, and have spiny hairs on the body. They reach up to 1.5 inches in length at maturity. When they feed they web together leaflets. They mostly feed on plants in the family Compositae (thistles, sunflowers and related plants), but also feed on soybeans.  There are usually two generations in the midwestern U.S.

Green Cloverworm Caterpillars. These pale green caterpillars have two white stripes running the length of the body. They reach about 1 inch long at maturity.  Larvae are distinctive among common soybean caterpillars in that they have three pair of abdominal prolegs, while many other common caterpillars have two or four pair.

Treatment Thresholds for Caterpillars in Soybeans
Estimate defoliation levels in several parts of the field. Assess defoliation over the whole plant canopy, not just the upper leaves. In vegetative (pre-flowering) stages, consider treatment if the insects are present and feeding, and defoliation will exceed 30%. In pod-forming or pod-filling stages, consider treatment if the insects are present and defoliation will exceed 20%. These percentages can vary 5% to 10% according to the stage or type of insect(s) present, environmental conditions, the specific stage of the soybean, and the size and condition of the canopy.

Treatments
Several foliar insecticides labelled on soybeans have activity against these and other caterpillars.   See the Insecticide Section in Nebraska Extension's Guide for Weed Management with Insecticide and Fungicide Information (EC 130) for specific information on products, rates and restrictions.



Nebraska Cattlemen to Host State Wide Educational Road Trip

The Nebraska Cattlemen staff is hitting the road again this summer for an educational road trip. These educational meetings are for Nebraska Cattlemen paid members.  NC staff will be discussing various industry issues at each of the six stops across Nebraska July 20-23.  Scheduled stops are at Bridgeport, Thedford, Lexington, Deshler, York and West Point.

Topics to fuel your mind include an update on this year’s legislative session; hear what happened in Lincoln earlier this year that affects cattlemen.

Since the Nebraska Cattlemen is a grassroots organization, staff will be discussing how policy is written, and why it is important for members to be engaged in the development of policy.

Also, how much do you know about brand law and regulations?  NC will provide members with a refresher course on how brand law works in and out of the brand inspection areas.  Staff members will also share some legislation brand issues for next year.

Road Trip stops will include:

Monday, July 20
7:00 pm MDT: Bridgeport - Prairie Winds Community Center, 428 N Main St.

Tuesday, July 21
1:00 pm CDT: Thedford - Lonely Grill, 39359 Hwy 2                          
7:30 pm CDT: Lexington - Dawson Co. Extension Office, 1002 Plum Creek Parkway

Wednesday, July 22
1:00 pm CDT: Deshler - Thayer Co Fairgrounds, Activity Bldg., 1302 4th St
7:30 pm CDT: York - Holiday Inn Express, 4020 Grand Ave.

Thursday, July 23
1:00 pm CDT: West Point - Nielsen Community Center, 200 Anna Stalp Ave       

Sponsors for the Road Trip:
Aurora Coop
Farmers Cooperative Dorchester
Country Partners Cooperative
Dawson Public Power District
Frontier Coop & Central Plains Milling
McCook Public Power District
Panhandle Rural Electric Membership Assoc.
Tri State Generation & Transmission Assoc.
Wheat Belt Public Power District

For more information about the meeting schedule please contact Bonita Lederer at 402-450-0223.



PROFIT OPPORTUNITIES WITH CASH HAY
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

               Have you paid attention to this year’s hay news?  If so, you realize that good quality alfalfa hay could be in short supply this year.  Alfalfa acreage still is way down.  In addition, throughout much of the alfalfa growing region, including here in Nebraska, persistent rains greatly reduced dairy quality hay production during first cutting this spring.  But all that rain may boost total tonnage for the rest of the year.

               What this all means is that dairy hay prices are likely to remain strong but there probably will be downward pressure on other hay prices.

               For you cattle producers and hay growers in our area, this could be good news!  Just think about this.  Suppose someone paid you 200, or even just 150 dollars per ton for your best alfalfa.  Could you find other hay nearby that would work for your animals that would only cost you 60 or 70 dollars?  Even if you paid your neighbor 100 dollars for his average hay, you still could sell high, buy low, and pocket the profits.  And make your neighbor happy, besides.

               What do you have to lose by trying?  If you harvest your alfalfa hay before it blooms, get it baled in heavy, transportable packages with most of the leaves intact, store it under cover to prevent weather damage, and then market that hay to get its true value, you also can sell it for a premium price.  And, if you try but your hay does not meet premium standards, you still can feed it to your own animals.

               You may need do some work and have a little luck to be able to sell high and buy low.  Smart operators look for these opportunities.



Ethanol Industry Provides Rural Job Opportunities for Nebraska Graduates

In conjunction with the Nebraska Agriculture Youth Institute Career Fair, the Nebraska Ethanol Board staff will discuss agriculture-related career opportunities Thursday, July 9, at 3:30 p.m.

The Nebraska Agriculture Youth Institute (NAYI) is a weeklong experience – July 6-10 – for high school juniors and seniors from across Nebraska to learn about career opportunities within agriculture. This conference features speakers, workshops, agricultural education, networking with peers and industry leaders, professional development and leadership experience.

“NAYI is an opportunity for high school students to get a taste of the variety of opportunities in agriculture,” said Trent Mastny, Nebraska Agriculture Youth Council head counselor. “Youth from across the state can make connections and share their passion for agriculture and feeding the world.”

A recent impact study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln economists reveals Nebraska’s ethanol production growth was tenfold in the past two decades, which means high-quality jobs in the state. Nebraska’s 24 ethanol plants staff 1,300 full-time employees earning $71 million in annual wages and benefits.

“The ethanol industry has opportunities in agriculture fields, as well as careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), which are in high demand,” said Todd Sneller, Nebraska Ethanol Board administrator. “Ethanol plants provide jobs for educated youth in rural communities.”

Since its inception in 1971, NAYI has reached more than 5,000 youth from across Nebraska. The Institute is the longest-running agricultural youth institute of its kind in the nation. Delegates are able to attend the Institute free of charge because of the generous donations of numerous agricultural businesses, commodity groups and agricultural organizations.



GOVERNOR SIGNS INTO LAW $9.6 MILLION FOR WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today thanked Governor Branstad and the Iowa Legislature for their continued commitment to partnering with farmers to make significant long-term progress in protecting Iowa’s soil and water resources. The Governor signed into law $9.6 million to support the Iowa Water Quality Initiative in the new fiscal year.

“Iowans in both rural and urban areas continue to be engaged in efforts to improve water quality.  These funds will help as we work to continue to build and expand practices shown to protect water quality and monitor progress.  Iowa is a model nationally for the progress that can be made on this important issue,” Northey said.

The Legislature provided $4.4 million for water quality in the Agriculture and Natural Resources appropriation bill (SF 494), which was signed into law on June 18.  In addition, $5.2 million was included in the in Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF budget, HF 650), which was signed into law on July 2.

SF 494 also added “Water Quality” to the name of the Department’s Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality to formalize the increased focus on the issue by the Department over the last several years.

The funds will allow the Department to continue to offer cost share statewide to farmers trying new water quality practices, continue work in targeted watersheds to achieve measurable water quality improvements, expand urban conservation efforts, and develop new programs to help engage all Iowans in improving water quality.

The appropriation for the Department also includes $6.75 million for conservation cost share.  For over four decades, Iowa’s soil conservation cost share program has encouraged the adoption of conservation structures and practices to protect and preserve our state’s natural resources and improve water quality.

$1.92 million was also appropriated to support the closure of eight additional agriculture drainage wells in the state to protect groundwater quality.

In addition to the funds approved for the Department for water quality, $1.35 million was provided to the Nutrient Research Center at Iowa State University to evaluate the performance of current and emerging nutrient management practices and help develop new practices.  Iowa State also received a $1.23 million appropriation for a three-year pilot project to quantify infield activities focused on improving water quality.  The Department will also pass-through $450,000 to the Center for “nutrient water monitoring network technology and equipment.”



Retail Pork, Chicken Prices Down From Last Year

When shopping at the meat counter this Fourth of July, consumers may have noticed differences in prices per pound compared to last year.

A pound of pork chops sold for $3.79 in May 2015 compared to $4.11 per pound in May 2014, a decrease of 7.8 percent.

The price of boneless chicken breasts has also fallen, decreasing by 1.9 percent over the last year to $3.41 per pound.

In contrast, beef prices are up this year, largely due to drought conditions throughout the Southern Plains and Southwest.  On average, consumers are paying $0.28 more per pound for ground beef and $1.23 more per pound for sirloin steak in May 2015 compared to a year earlier.



WDE Dairy Cattle Entries Now Open; Due Aug. 31

Dairy cattle entries are now open for those wishing to exhibit at the 2015 World Dairy Expo. Entry forms are available online through the Dairy Cattle Entry system or for print on the Expo website. All entries are due Aug. 31, 2015. Late entries will be accepted until the day of the show at an increased rate (online late entries close Sept. 13, 2015). Entry information, schedule of events, rules and changes/additions can be found in the Premium book, available on the Expo website. To request a print copy, contact Laurie Breuch, Dairy Cattle Show Coordinator, at lbreuch@wdexpo.com or Ann Marie Magnochi, Dairy Cattle Show Manager, at amagnochi@wdexpo.com.  

World Dairy Expo will be held Sept. 29 - Oct. 3, 2015 at the Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wis. with this year’s theme of “Dairy in our DNA.” WDE, recognized as the meeting place for the global dairy industry, attracts more than 70,000 attendees from more than 90 countries each year. Visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@WDExpo or #WDE15) for more information.



Dwyer Joins USGC As Chief Economist

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is pleased to announce the hire of Michael Dwyer as the organization’s chief economist at its Washington, D.C., headquarters.

“Mike has 35 years of experience with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service as a well-respected senior economist, who is also the top analytic mind on the development of the global biofuels industry,” said USGC President and CEO Tom Sleight. “His knowledge about the global food, feed, fiber and biofuel markets, the policies that affect them and the decision-makers that influence the industry’s growth will be an invaluable addition to the Council’s team.”

As chief economist, Dwyer will provide regular reports and analysis of developments in global supply and demand for coarse grains and products; help staff and members stay abreast of developments in the global market; and develop and maintain information on changing market conditions that will benefit the Council’s overseas contacts.

Dwyer’s position with the Council is newly created in an effort to expand the Council’s strategic thinking about the global marketplace.

"The Council's strategic plan outlines a much more aggressive vision for long range planning, and, of course, ethanol export market development," Sleight said. "We expect Mike will be an instant and robust contributor on both fronts."

Prior to the Council, Dwyer worked for USDA’s FAS as the director of global policy analysis, responsible for conducting and coordinating analyses on a wide variety of strategic issues that affected U.S. and world agricultural trade, including those that affected the emerging global biofuels market.

Dwyer holds a bachelor’s degree from Mary Washington College in international affairs and a master’s degree in agricultural economics with a specialization in international trade/marketing and econometrics from The Ohio State University.



U.S. Wheat Associates Announces Two New Staff Assignments

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) announces that Market Analyst Casey Chumrau will transfer to the organization’s Santiago, Chile, office as Marketing Manager for South America, and Planning and Programs Assistant Stephanie Bryant-Erdmann will move into the Market Analyst position. Each have started a transition to their new assignments, which will officially start in mid-September 2015.

“Casey is taking a newly created position in a region where wheat demand is growing in several markets,” said USW Vice President of Overseas Operations Vince Peterson. “We are happy we can provide this kind of opportunity to a talented young associate and at the same time expand our ability to serve customers in ways that increase demand for U.S. wheat.”

Latin America now represents about 40 percent of total U.S. wheat exports. Annual exports to South America the past five years averaged 3.3 million metric tons (MMT) and included five of the six U.S. wheat classes. That represents significant growth compared to the five-year annual average of 2.2 MMT per year as of marketing year 2011/12 (June to May).

Chumrau, who joined USW in 2011, will report to Regional Vice President Alvaro de la Fuente. A Montana native, Chumrau earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Montana and bachelor’s degrees in history and Spanish from the University of Oregon. She also studied abroad in Chile and Italy, spent a year working in Costa Rica and is fluent in Spanish.

Bryant-Erdmann was raised and worked on her family’s Nebraska cattle ranch and earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in agricultural education. Her master’s program thesis at Cornell University’s Institute for Public Affairs focused on the economic feasibility of exporting Kenyan cheese to the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, she was working as an intern at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Trade Information Center where she helped create educational materials for U.S. organizations looking to export products and services.

“Stephanie joined our organization a year ago and quickly demonstrated competence and an interest in new assignments like this,” said Vice President of Communications Steve Mercer. “Market analysis is a big part of our outreach to overseas wheat buyers and our industry stakeholders at home so that position is moving into our communications function.”



Erica Oakley Joins U.S. Wheat Associates as Programs Manager

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) welcomes Erica Oakley to its Arlington, VA, headquarters office staff as Programs Manager effective July 6, 2015. In that position, Oakley will help implement export market development activities planned and managed by USW’s domestic staff, including consulting assignments, board team trips and assistance with customer conferences. She will report to Director of Programs and Planning Jennifer Sydney.

“We are pleased to have Erica join us in an important position,” Sydney says. “Her experience and interest in international food marketing and assistance is exceptional.”

Oakley joins USW after serving as an Associate at Humanitas Global, Washington, DC, since 2012. There she managed programs in food and nutrition security, food sustainability, agriculture and public-private partnership development. Members and funders of this non-governmental organization include the World Food Prize, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization.

She also worked in Washington as a Program Associate at AED, now FHI 360, supporting a USAID Title II-funded Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance II (FANTA-2) project working to strengthen food security and nutrition policies, programs, and systems. Before that Oakley was a Project Associate at Washington-based Futures Group.

A native of North Carolina, Oakley earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies at Meredith College, Raleigh, NC, and a master’s degree in international relations from Utrecht University in The Netherlands.