Tuesday August 26 Ag News

Husker Ag Wins Inaugural Award

Continued efforts to provide consumers access to higher blends of American Ethanol earns Husker Ag, LLC the Power By People Award.

The new award was presented during the annual American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Conference in Omaha Aug. 20. It is presented to a plant or an individual who has gone the extra mile to help get ethanol’s message out to the public.

“Everyone is very proud to have worked together to receive this prestigious award,” said Seth Harder, Husker Ag general manager. “We are proud to be members of Husker Ag.”

ACE Executive Director Brian Jennings said Husker Ag’s recent response to a Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) public hearing made them a perfect fit for the inaugural Power by People Award.

According to Jennings, when the RFS hearing was announced, Harder and his team immediately stepped forward with a group of employees, shareholders, investors and a fuel retailer to testify in Kansas City despite short notice.

In addition to addressing policy issues, Husker Ag provides support for flex fuel infrastructure throughout northeast Nebraska.

In 2012, Husker Ag passed a resolution to promote higher ethanol fuel blends at the retail level. Since then, the Plainview ethanol plant has provided grant money and ethanol for several retail locations including Creighton, Crofton, Hartington, Osmond, and Pierce at two locations.  Plainview and Norfolk locations are in various stages of flex fuel pump installation, and equipment is ready for installation at possibly four more locations.

“Husker Ag is a leader in ethanol infrastructure development,” said Todd Sneller, Nebraska Ethanol Board administrator. “The Husker Ag team continues to invest capital to expand a marketing network for ethanol fuels in communities across Nebraska. Seth and his team know that when consumers have a choice of fuel they generally opt for high octane, lower cost fuels that burn cleaner and provide high performance. Husker Ag invests in fueling sites with partners who understand the value of providing consumers with more choices at the pump.”

Approximately 90 pumps in Nebraska offer higher blends of American Ethanol, including 32 flex fuel pumps and 58 E85 dispensers.



PLANNING THAT LAST CUTTING OF ALFALFA
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               As we approach September, it's time to decide when to take your last cutting of alfalfa.

               The date you take your last harvest of alfalfa affects its winter survival and next spring's vigor.  Alfalfa needs about six weeks of uninterrupted growth in the fall to become well winterized.  This winterterizing generally begins about three weeks before the average date of first frost.  To have little worry about harvest affecting stand life, your last harvest can occur anytime before winterizing begins or after the winterizing period is over.  But, harvest during winterizing can be risky.

               How risky is it to harvest alfalfa during winterizing?  Well, that depends on how much total stress your alfalfa experienced this year.  The most important factor is the number of cuts you took this year.  Fields cut 4 or 5 times are more susceptible to winter injury than fields cut 3 times or less.  Also, young stands of winterhardy, disease resistant varieties are less stressed and can be harvested during winterizing with less risk than older stands of varieties that may be only moderately winter hardy.

               Also consider your need for extra alfalfa or its cash crop value.  Dairy hay still is priced high, so cutting dairy hay from this final harvest may be worth the risk of lowering next year’s yield.  Stock cow and grinding hay, though, is quite plentiful and has dropped in value this year.  When this hay is available and reasonably priced, it may be better to purchase extra hay rather than risk another cutting.  Remember, you can cut after winterizing with less risk.

               Harvesting alfalfa during its winterizing period is risky, but by reducing total stress, you control how risky it is.



Ricketts Announces Hamilton County as Nebraska’s Newest Livestock Friendly County

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced that Hamilton County has become the newest county in the state to become designated as a Livestock Friendly County (LFC) through a program administered by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA).

“The livestock industry in Nebraska generates more than half of the total on-farm receipts of our state’s number one industry, agriculture,” said Gov. Ricketts. “That’s why is so important that counties like Hamilton demonstrate they want to promote the expansion of current livestock operations and establish new businesses in their area. It not only supports and grows the local economy, but it also Grows Nebraska as a whole.”

Created in 2003 by the Nebraska Legislature, the LFC program is designed to recognize counties in the state that support the expansion of the livestock industry. In 2014, livestock receipts in the state comprised over half of the $24 billion of Nebraska’s total on-farm receipts. The LFC designation gives counties an extra promotional tool to encourage expansion of current livestock operations and attract new businesses that spur local economies.

“Hamilton County is a great example of a county that looks to the future and includes agriculture in that vision,” said NDA Assistant Director Bobbie Kriz-Wickham. “They already have a strong agriculture and agribusiness base. The county’s willingness to grow responsible livestock production further supports existing grain producers, encourages opportunities for diversification of farms, and positively impacts main street businesses.”

With the addition of Hamilton County, there are now 34 counties designated as Livestock Friendly through the state program.

Counties wishing to apply for the LFC designation must hold a public hearing and the county board must pass a resolution to apply for the designation. Then a completed application must be submitted to NDA. Local producers or groups can encourage county officials to apply.

Additional information about the Livestock Friendly County program is available on the NDA website at www.nda.nebraska.gov or by calling 800-422-6692.



Governor Ricketts to keynote York-NCTA ag kickoff

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts will be the keynote speaker on September 3 in York as a new partnership kicks off career readiness and agricultural workforce training of York High School sophomores, juniors and seniors.

New dual credit agricultural training programs are being offered this year by YHS staff, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Central Valley Ag Cooperative and Reinke Manufacturing, Inc.

Combined with their classroom and laboratory training by YHS and NCTA faculty, students can gain work certification through internships with CVA and Reinke, said Mike Lucas, superintendent at York Public Schools.

“We are extremely excited to see the amazing things our students will do with this cutting-edge opportunity,” Lucas said. The partnership with NCTA is significant to readying students for careers in two of Nebraska’s primary industries – irrigation and agricultural production.

YHS students can earn NCTA certificates in diversified agriculture or as irrigation technicians, and potentially as certified agricultural chemical applicators.

“Nebraska agriculture has strong demand for skilled employees in technical, industry-specific jobs,” said Governor Ricketts. “This ‘Ag Track’ program can launch career-ready workers upon high school graduation.”

A year ago, YHS started an agricultural academy with Monsanto, Mycogen, Pioneer and Syngenta and is continuing courses focused on agronomy and agribusiness.

In addition to the keynote by Governor Ricketts, the Sept. 3 kickoff will include student and partner remarks and signing the “Agricultural Workforce Development and Career Track” agreement. The public is invited to attend at 1 p.m. in the YHS Theater, 1005 Duke Drive.

Ron Rosati, dean of the University of Nebraska NCTA, and Ron Yoder, associate vice chancellor of the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, also will participate in the event.



 Toxic Gasoline Emissions Topic of Omaha Science Café

David Hallberg, Urban Air Initiative policy consultant, will present “Examining the Public Health Threat of Gasoline Emissions in Urban Areas” at The Slowdown during a Science Café Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m.

“The fuels combusted on our nation’s roadways are a predominant source of the most dangerous particle-borne toxic emissions,” said Hallberg, an Omaha resident. “Adding toxic carcinogens to gasoline is the way oil companies achieve the octane your engine needs to perform. Using more biofuels is a non-toxic octane enhancer and a proven method of reducing those toxic levels.”

Hallberg has served as legislative director in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and was actively involved in drafting and enactment of much of the ethanol industry’s formative legislation from 1977 to 1981. Hallberg founded and served as president/CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association from 1981-1985. He was a member of the U.S. delegation to the G8 Forum on climate change in Shonan Village, Japan, in 2001.

Hallberg is the inventor of three U.S. patents for integrated processes to produce renewable fuels and reduce carbon emissions. Appointed by Gov. Ben Nelson, he served as a Nebraska Ethanol Board member from 1998-2010. Hallberg is the recipient of American Coalition of Ethanol’s Grassroots and Merle Anderson awards. He currently works with a number of clients in the biofuels arena.



Republican River Compact Administration to hold annual meeting

The Republican River Compact Administration (RRCA) will hold its 55th annual meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2015, at the Cornhusker Marriott Hotel, Hawthorne Conference Room, 333 South 13th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.

The RRCA 2015 meeting is hosted by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. The meeting will focus on water related issues and activities, including compact compliance, within the Republican River basin in  Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas.

Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska entered into the Republican River Compact in 1943 to provide for the equitable division of the basin’s waters, remove causes of potential controversy, promote interstate cooperation and joint action by the States and the United States in the efficient use of water and the control of destructive floods as well as provide for the most efficient use of waters in the Republican River basin. The RRCA is comprised of three commissioners representing Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska: Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources Chief Engineer David Barfield; Colorado State Engineer Dick Wolfe and Nebraska Department of Natural Resources Director Jeff Fassett.

In addition, RRCA will hold a work session to prepare for the annual meeting at 1:00 p.m. August 26, at the Nebraska State Office Building, Lower Level Conference Room F, 301 Centennial Mall South. Both the work session and the annual meeting are open to the public.

For additional information about the Republican River compact and this year’s annual meeting, please visit: http://agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/dwr/interstate-rivers-and-compacts/republican-river-compact.



Rapid City workshop examines stewardship of antimicrobial drug use in livestock

Stewardship of medically-important antimicrobial drugs in food animals is the subject of workshop targeted to all livestock producers, feed suppliers and veterinarians in the Upper Plain States. The workshop will be Oct. 13, 2015, at the Journey Museum, 222 New York Street, Rapid City, SD.

Organized by Farm Foundation, NFP, the workshop is an opportunity for participants to gain a comprehensive understanding of two Guidance for Industry (GFIs) issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the use of medically-important antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals, as well as FDA's revised Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). These actions mean some drugs will see label changes allowing only therapeutic uses, and some drugs will require veterinary oversight in the form of a veterinarian's prescription, direct administration by a veterinarian or a veterinary consultation on disease management protocols.

This free workshop is targeted to all pork, cattle, poultry and sheep producers, veterinarians and feed suppliers in South Dakota, North Dakota, Eastern Wyoming, Nebraska, Eastern Montana, and Minnesota. While not required, advance registration is requested and can be completed online here. This is one of 12 regional workshops Farm Foundation is hosting across the nation. A complete list of workshop locations is available on the Farm Foundation website.

The Oct. 13 workshop will include presentations by regional producers, veterinarians and feed industry representatives. Officials from FDA and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will be at the workshop to discuss the policies and answer questions. A major part of the agenda is designated for producers, veterinarians and feed suppliers to identify and discuss the management challenges ahead. The workshop is also an opportunity for state and federal agencies, colleges of veterinary medicine and university extension personnel, to gain insights into the changes needed to meet the requirements.
   
To gauge awareness of the changes being put in place by FDA on the use of medically-important antimicrobial drugs in food animals, Farm Foundation, NFP is asking stakeholders to complete a brief survey. The survey is also intended to learn more about the potential implications of these changes. The survey is open to all livestock producers, feed suppliers and veterinarians, whether or not you attend a workshop. CLICK HERE to complete the survey. Survey results will only be gathered and reported in the aggregate. Survey results will be shared with workshop participants.

Comments gathered at the 12 workshops will be compiled in a report assessing the economic and physical challenges facing producers as they implement the new provisions in the GFIs and revised VFD. Informational and educational needs will also be evaluated, as well as the role of veterinarians in monitoring and managing antimicrobial drug use.

Farm Foundation will convene a national summit in late fall 2015 for farmers, ranchers, feed suppliers, veterinarians, academics and government agency staff to address the issues identified in the regional workshops. This will also be an opportunity to advance the conversation on the industry's adaptation to the changing landscape of antimicrobial drug use.

Many producers and businesses across the entire food and agricultural value chain have already taken action to reduce the use of medically-important antimicrobial drugs in food animal production. FDA's  GFI 209 and  GFI 213 call on animal drug sponsors of approved medically-important antimicrobials administered through medicated feed or water to remove production uses (i.e., to promote growth or improve feed efficiency) from their product labels, and bring the remaining therapeutic uses of these products--to treat, control, or prevent disease--under the oversight of a veterinarian. Manufacturers of products containing these medically-important antimicrobial drugs have voluntarily agreed to submit changes to their product labels to comply with the GFIs no later than December 2016. FDA also revised the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) to facilitate the increased veterinary oversight of medicated feeds called for by GFI 209 and 213.

Successful adaptation to the policy changes is critical to public and animal health, ensuring consumer confidence in food safety and the future viability of animal agriculture in the United States. "The success of achieving this goal--for both public health and the economic health of animal agriculture--hinges on producers having access to the information they need to adjust production practices, feed retailers and distributors understanding their changing responsibilities, and the capacity of veterinarians to provide the additional oversight needed," says Farm Foundation President Neil Conklin. "As an organization respected for its objectivity, Farm Foundation is well positioned to quickly respond to this informational need and draw relevant and diverse stakeholder groups to the table for constructive discussions on this important topic."



Farm Sector Profitability Expected To Weaken in 2015

Across nearly all measures, farm sector profitability is forecast to decline for the second straight year. Net cash income is forecast at $100.3 billion, down about 21 percent from 2014 levels. Lower crop and livestock receipts are the main drivers of the change in 2015 net cash farm income from 2014, while cash production expenses are projected down by 1.1 percent. Net farm income is forecast to be $58.3 billion in 2015, down 36 percent from 2014’s estimate of $91.1 billion. The 2015 forecast for net farm income would be the lowest since 2006 (since 2002 in inflation-adjusted terms) and a drop of nearly 53 percent from the record high of $123.7 billion in 2013. As a measure of profitability, net cash farm income is generally less variable over time than the broader net farm income measure. One explanation is that it is possible to exercise greater control on the timing of cash receipts and expenses and thereby moderate large swings from year to year.

Crop receipts for 2015 are expected to decrease by $12.9 billion (6.2 percent) in 2015, led by a projected $7.1-billion decline in corn receipts, $3.4 billion in soybean receipts, and $1.6 billion in wheat receipts compared to 2014. Livestock receipts are forecast to decrease by $19.4 billion (9.1 percent) in 2015 largely due to lower milk and hog prices. Government payments are projected to rise 16 percent ($1.6 billion) to $11.4 billion in 2015. Total production expenses are forecast to decrease by $1.5 billion (less than 0.5 percent) in 2015.

Farm asset values are forecast to decline by 3.5 percent compared to 2014, and farm debt is forecast to increase by 5.8 percent. The farm sector equity measure combines both of these, and is down by $123.9 billion, or 4.8 percent compared to 2014. The primary driver of the drop in asset values is farm real estate, down $49 billion (2.1 percent). Debt is driven by increases in both real estate debt (up 5.3 percent) and nonreal estate debt (up 6.5 percent). While the movements in the balance sheet show an increasingly leveraged farm sector, financial risk ratios remain in acceptable ranges for now.

Median Income of Farm Operator Households Expected To Dip in 2015
The median income of farm households has increased steadily over the past 5 years, peaking at an estimated $80,620 in 2014. However, farm household median income is forecast to decrease slightly in 2015, to $79,287. Given the broad USDA definition of a farm, many farms are not profitable even in the best farm income years. The projected median farm income of -$1,504 is lower than the 2014 estimate of -$869. Most farm households earn all of their income from off-farm sources—median off-farm income is forecast to increase 4 percent in 2015 to $72,494. (Note: Because they are based on unique distributions, median total income will generally not equal the sum of median off-farm and median farm income.)



Statement from Secretary Tom Vilsack on Updated 2015 U.S. Farm Income Forecast

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today made the following statement:

"Today's farm income forecast is heartening for all Americans. The past several years have seen unprecedented highs in farm income, and despite the fact that farm income is forecast to be down from record levels, today's projections provide a snapshot of a rural America that continues to remain stable and resilient in the face of the worst animal disease outbreak in our nation's history and while the western United States remains gripped by drought. Thanks to its ability to be competitive through thick and thin, American agriculture remains fundamentally sound, supporting and creating good-paying American jobs for millions.

"The American agriculture success story is not celebrated often enough. That success is due, in part, to U.S. farmers' bold willingness to seize opportunities in new markets, both domestic and foreign, and harness the best of American technology and innovation. At the same time, markets continue to expand for locally-grown food, a market valued at $11.7 billion last year, and America's biobased economy has emerged as a new frontier for U.S. growth. The country's biobased industry contributed 4 million jobs and $369 billion to the economy in 2013, while displacing about 300 million gallons of petroleum-equivalent to taking 200,000 cars off the road. American agriculture achieved record exports last year and USDA continues to pursue strong new trade deals so that farm and ranch businesses don't miss out on new markets for their products.

"Since 2009, USDA, under President Obama, has made historic investments in rural America and American agriculture. Two-thirds of all rural counties gained jobs over the past year and the overall economy continues a record-breaking pace of 65 straight months of private-sector job growth. USDA and the Obama Administration will continue to stand with America's farming families, small businesses and rural communities as they build a brighter future for our country on the land that they love."



U.S. Soybean Farmers Observe and Evaluate Work of the Checkoff

A recent immersion course provided 10 farmers from around the country the chance to see and evaluate the work of the soy checkoff. This course, the United Soybean Board’s (USB’s) See for Yourself program, took the farmer-participants from St. Louis to China and Vietnam from July 30- Aug. 7 to learn about U.S. soy’s customers,  the soy checkoff’s role in marketing U.S. soy to those customers, and the research being done both domestically and internationally to improve U.S. soy.

“After my participation in the See for Yourself program, I think the checkoff is a worthwhile investment for farmers,” said Antron Williams, a South Carolina soybean farmer and See for Yourself participant. “It is working behind the scenes, where we aren’t even thinking about it, by creating new markets and new technologies.”

Sponsored by USB’s Audit and Evaluation (A&E) Committee, the program began at USB’s St. Louis headquarters. Participants learned more about the soy checkoff and some of the ways their soybeans are used domestically. A tour of DuPont’s™ Nutrition & Health Facility demonstrated a few of the ways soy is being incorporated into a growing number of food products.

Participants next traveled to the country that uses roughly 25 percent of all U.S. soy, China. The group first visited an aquaculture facility that recently increased production by nearly 300 percent, thanks to checkoff-funded technology and the benefits of using a soy-based feed. The farm now uses feed containing more than 60 percent soy. Participants also had the chance to tour the Shanghai Xinnong Feed Mill, which provides feed for numerous large-scale swine operations in the country. Soybean meal is an important component of the feed ration.

“The See for Yourself program has really shown me how our small checkoff investment in the world soybean industry really goes a long way to increase our demand and our customer base,” said Justin Knoebel, Pennsylvania farmer and See for Yourself participant.

The program’s final destination was Vietnam, an emerging market for U.S. soy. Participants first toured the Cai Mep Agricultural Port, which handles approximately 50 percent of all soybean meal imported into Vietnam. Roughly 300,000 metric tons of U.S. soybean meal has passed through the port just this year. One of the most beneficial stops in Vietnam was the opportunity to hear from industry individuals about the promising market outlook for U.S. soy in Vietnam in the near future.

“This year’s program was especially unique because our participants were able to see a well-established market in China, as well as a market that the checkoff is working to develop in Vietnam,” said Keith Tapp, Kentucky soybean farmer and A&E Committee chairman. “In all of our locations, I think the participants saw a wide range of activities demonstrating how the checkoff works for them and all U.S. soybean farmers.”



Urea, UAN28 Prices Finally Push Lower

For the first time in months, retail fertilizer prices are beginning to drift lower, according to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the third week of August 2015. This comes after some time in which fertilizer retailers predicted prices would fall.

Prices for all eight of the major fertilizers slid compared to a month earlier. Both urea and UAN28 decreased 5% compared to a month earlier. Urea averaged $448 per ton and UAN28 was at $309 per ton.

This marks the first time in four months fertilizer prices moved significantly in either direction. The last time prices moved of any noteworthy amount was the second week of April when 10-34-0 was climbing higher because of acid shortage concerns.

The remaining six fertilizers registered lower prices, but these moves were fairly slight. DAP averaged $568/ton, MAP $587/ton, potash $477/ton, 10-34-0 $611/ton, anhydrous $667/ton and UAN32 $349/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.49/lb.N, anhydrous $0.41/lb.N, UAN28 $0.55/lb.N and UAN32 $0.55/lb.N.

Only one of the eight major fertilizers is double digits higher in price compared to August 2014, all while projected 2016 commodity prices are lower than a year ago. 10-34-0 is still 10% higher compared to last year.

The remaining seven nutrients are now lower compared to retail prices from a year ago. Potash is 1% lower, both MAP and DAP are 3% less expensive, anhydrous is 5% lower, UAN32 is 7% less expensive, UAN28 is down 8% and urea is 13% less expensive than a year earlier.



Millennial Listening Panel helps checkoff define opportunities

How do we know that millennial consumers have little understanding of beef nutrition but seem to feel as though beef is good, or even necessary, for their children? That they are ‘interested’ in health but are not ‘fanatics’?  That value and convenience are two of the most important attributes they want in beef? That they like to experiment in the kitchen but want more resources to improve their skills? That cooking at home is a creative event with family? Or that they are cooking at home more this year than last?

It’s all about research. Market research. And it’s absolutely critical to success in selling beef and beef products to today’s consumers.

Times, they are a'changin'
The “doing-it-like-we’ve-always-done-it” or “we-don’t-like-change” approaches simply won’t do the trick in today’s competitive marketplace. The entire beef chain – from farm to fork – must understand what consumers want from beef that would entice them to increase demand for this industry’s end products.

In short, consumers are in the driver’s seat when it comes to building demand for our end product, and in today’s marketplace, we cannot just toss our product out there and expect the crowds to swarm. If we don’t deliver exactly what consumers want, they’ll just choose something other than beef for their supper tables.

So it makes sense to start by asking them what they want from us, and that’s what why we base all of our checkoff decisions on sound market research.

Listen Up!
With this in mind, the national checkoff’s Market Research Working Group oversees consumer market-research efforts that serve as starting points for virtually all other checkoff programs and investments. The increased consumer demand for beef that we have been experiencing industrywide in recent years doesn’t just happen by chance. Of course, there are market fluctuations based on things li ke supply and Mother Nature’s latest antics, that affect demand but are out of the industry’s control, but listening to consumers and giving them what they want has been a key element of that demand growth.

During the last couple of years, the checkoff’s market-research efforts have included use of a cost-effective and adaptable tool – a Millennial Listening Panel – to understand our target market of 80 million millennials. This monthly panel is made up of millennial consumers from coast-to-coast, and provides us with insight about a range of checkoff programs and improve our understanding about current millennial perceptions and the potential impact of programs we can have on that.

The types of platforms we use to interview consumers on these panels is as varied as the questions we ask. For example, one month, we might ask about nutrition via an online survey; the next month, we might have the panel review a new video about cattle production to see if it improves their perceptions about the industry; panel members can post pictures of their favorite meals and describe what makes them so great; and other times, they might be ask to evaluate potential beef messages, fill out traditional questionnaires, or participate in Skype interviews, online focus groups, or one-on-one interviews..

You get the picture.

Identifying Opportunities and Acting on Them
The upshot is that this ongoing research keeps us up-to-date with consumer trends and perceptions. The responses help us identify consumers’ top barriers and motivators for choosing beef, and ultimately, give us a picture of the most compelling opportunities for helping to grow beef demand through investment of our checkoff dollars, so that every checkoff dollar is leveraged to the most effective and efficient degree possible.

So, imagine a millennial consumer at 4:30 p.m., driving home and stressing, yet again, about what to feed their families for dinner. They want a dinner that everyone will like; something that is tasty and nutritious.. Because our Millennial Listening Panel tells us that this is an ongoing dilemma with busy consumers – especially millennial parents with young families – the checkoff continues to create new recipe concepts that will help these millennial parents increase beef consumption for themselves and their children and families.

The four latest concepts were tested among millennial parents, and the winning concepts will be used to create checkoff content online and social channels (through articles, recipes, etc.). Of these new concepts, ‘hiding veggies’ in an everyday meal captured the most attention and excitement from the target group of millennial parents, intriguing them with its healthiness and the somewhat covert solution it provides them. Watch “Pizza with Purpose,” a short checkoff video that demonstrates this concept, and see additional videos at Bowls with Balance and Three Takes on Slow-Cooked Beef.



USDA Selects ASA’s WISHH to Develop West African Poultry & Feed Market

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has chosen the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program and key partners to implement a major poultry development project in the West African country of Ghana. U.S. soybean growers, as well as Ghana’s poultry and feed industry, and its protein-seeking consumers, will all benefit.

The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Food for Progress Program helps developing countries and emerging democracies modernize and strengthen their agricultural sectors. As a result, it improves agricultural productivity and expands trade of agricultural products.

“ASA is pleased to partner with USDA in agricultural development that supports expanded and mutually beneficial trading relationships,” said ASA President Wade Cowan. “Nowhere is there greater need or bigger potential return on investment in agricultural development than in Sub-Saharan Africa. WISHH is a trailblazer for trade.”

The United States is among Ghana's principal trading partners, with two-way trade between the two countries reaching $1.45 billion in 2014, according to the U.S. State Department. Ghana is home to 26.4 million people, and a West African hub for business growth.

The Ghanaian government seeks to revamp the poultry industry, which has slumped in the last 30 years. “The project will contribute to increasing the supply of both meat and eggs to address ever-growing demand in Ghana”, said William Brown, Ph.D., country director of Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA-Ghana), which is a partner on the initiative.

“The project could trigger the growth of poultry, maize and soy industries, which will provide employment and increased income,” Brown added. “This will culminate in poverty reduction.”

“The USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) and its members believe that U.S. support of the Ghanaian poultry industry and other agricultural development programs are part of an important relationship between Ghana and the USA, which in turn will allow for a healthy trade environment between the two nations,” said USAPEEC Vice President for Marketing Greg Tyler.

Kansas State University is a subcontractor in WISHH’s Assisting Management in the Poultry and Layer Industries by Feed Improvement and Efficiency Strategies in Ghana (AMPLIFIES Ghana).

The multi-faceted project will promote the use of improved poultry feeds, and procure feed ingredients, including 15,000 metric tons of U.S. soybean meal. It will train Ghanaian poultry producers, improve feed milling practices and products, enhance storage and handling of feedstuffs, and much more.

In the early 2000s, forward-thinking U.S. soybean leaders in multiple states recognized that the growing protein demand in developing countries was a driver for their soybean sales. Well-researched studies showed that most future growth in food demand would be in developing and middle-income countries where populations and incomes were both on the rise.

Today, the trends are even clearer, proving that WISHH-founding farmers planned well. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other economic analysis, developing countries dominate world demand growth for agricultural products. USDA projects developing countries' demand for agricultural products will increase faster than their production. As a result, these countries will account for 92 percent of the total increase in world oilseed and meat imports in 2013-2022.



 NFU Thanks Hill Leaders for Encouraging Greater FSMA Outreach to Family Farmers

 National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson thanked U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, and the 12 other members of Congress who sent a letter calling for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implement programs to help family farmers and ranchers comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

“There is a great deal of confusion surrounding FSMA’s requirements for family farmers and ranchers,” said Johnson. “The FDA needs to ensure U.S. producers are provided with proper technical assistance, training and guidance related to the FSMA regulations. NFU thanks the 14 congressional leaders who urged the FDA to offer necessary support to our nation’s family producers.”

The letter urges the FDA to expedite implementation of technical assistance and training geared towards small farmers, and to begin distributing written materials and start conducting outreach and education immediately. Johnson notes that FSMA will be transformational to the agricultural sector and will have broad impacts on the farming community. FDA should help make sure all those that are impacted are prepared.

“While the final regulations have yet to be promulgated, family farmers and ranchers are making planning decisions now,” said Johnson. “NFU encourages FDA to use any available funding and authority to advance education and outreach to farmers across all sizes and sectors so that the farming community is fully aware of when and how to comply.”



Syngenta unveils 63 new corn hybrids for 2016 planting season

Syngenta reaffirms its long-time commitment to improving farmers’ return on investment with 63 new corn hybrids for the 2016 growing season. Resulting from the innovative Y.E.S. Yield Engineering System™, these new Golden Harvest®, NK® and Enogen® Corn hybrids are designed to improve farmer productivity and help them grow more corn.

The 2016 Syngenta corn hybrid portfolio offers a variety of maturities and key agronomic characteristics, delivering consistency, high performance and strong yield potential. The hybrids’ new-to-market genetics are expected to provide improved standability, disease tolerance and the flexibility to adapt to various soil and production environments.

The hybrids were developed using the Y.E.S. Yield Engineering System. This advanced program combines intelligent analytics, testing and technology to introduce new hybrids to the market faster. With ever-changing grower challenges, Syngenta can screen hybrid combinations quickly, using a global resource base to meet local farming communities’ needs more efficiently.

“The backbone of our Y.E.S. Yield Engineering System is our unique germplasm,” said Eric Boersma, product marketing manager, corn seed at Syngenta. “By tapping into the global pool of corn genetics offered by Syngenta, the new 2016 hybrids were developed to efficiently address environmental pressures to help growers maximize their yields and return on investment.”

The 2016 corn hybrids class includes a variety of innovative traits including:
-    13 Agrisure Artesian® hybrids that maximize yield when it rains and increase yield when it doesn’t. Artesian™ hybrids convert water into grain more effectively than other hybrids, representing a simple way to manage the unpredictability of weather.

-    20 hybrids contain the Agrisure Viptera® trait, delivering high-quality grain through the most comprehensive corn insect control. Trait stacks with Agrisure Viptera protect yield potential from key pests including black cutworm, corn earworm and western bean cutworm.

-    12 hybrids with the Agrisure Duracade® trait. Featuring a unique mode of action, Agrisure Duracade is an essential tool in a corn rootworm management program. Available in Agrisure E-Z Refuge® products, and in combination with other insect control, herbicide tolerant and water optimization technologies, Agrisure Duracade trait stacks are a convenient fit to any farming operation seeking corn rootworm control. 

This year’s corn portfolio also includes two new state-of-the-art Enogen® Corn hybrids. Enogen Corn enzyme technology is an exclusive in-seed innovation from Syngenta, and is the industry's first and only biotech corn designed specifically to enhance ethanol production. Farmers who grow Enogen Corn receive an average premium of 40 cents per bushel and ethanol communities benefit from keeping enzyme dollars local.