Friday September 18 Ag News

NDA SEEKING EXPERTS FOR LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT MATRIX COMMITTEE

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is seeking individuals who are interested in becoming members of the Livestock Development Matrix Committee, a group created through legislation in the 2015 session of the Nebraska Legislature.

Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach is asking those interested in serving on the Matrix Committee to submit a cover letter outlining their qualifications and resume to NDA by close of business Sept. 30, 2015.

The bill creating the committee, Legislative Bill 106, was signed by Gov. Pete Ricketts on May 27, 2015. The law charges the Nebraska Department of Agriculture with development of an assessment matrix that can be used by county government officials for siting livestock operations.

Under the law Director Ibach is to appoint a committee of experts, up to 10 members, to provide consultation during the development process. Representation must come from: county boards, county zoning administrators, livestock production agriculture, the University of Nebraska and others as determined by Ibach. Committee members, by law, must review the matrix annually and recommend changes to the Department, if needed.

The assessment matrix must be complete by Aug. 30, 2016.

Cover letters and resumes can be mailed to: Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Attn. Greg Ibach, P.O. Box 94947, Lincoln, NE 68509, or emailed to greg.ibach@nebraska.gov.



UNL Animal Science Reunion Set For Oct 16th

The University of Nebraska – Lincoln College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Animal Science Department is calling on Alumni to join them on East Campus for a reunion on Friday, October 16th.

“It is a great time to reconnect with former classmates and professors,” said Willow Holoubek – Executive Director of AFAN and former UNL Animal Science alumnus of 1981. “We have had an excellent amount of alumni involvement since we started this event, every year it grows.” Holoubek added.

Last year’s Alumni Roundup had over 150+ attendees consisting of faculty, students, family, and animal science leaders. This year, the event will be held in the Great Plains Room in the Nebraska East Union starting 5:00 PM on October 16th. There is also an Alumni item silent auction with proceeds benefiting current Animal Science students and UNL Animal Science programs.

For more information or to register, email ansc@unl.edu or go to http://animalscience.unl.edu/alumni-reunion or call 402-472-3571. Alumni that are interested, please return the registration form with payment by October 7. Adults are $25 dollars a ticket and Children 12 and under are $15 a ticket. Please note on registration if you desire to participate in an Animal Science building tour that starts at 4:00 PM.



 2015 Nebraska Cattlemen Beef Pit a Success

The 2015 Nebraska State Fair marked the 32nd year of the Nebraska Cattlemen Beef Pit restaurant and once again, the Beef Pit served over 22,000 delicious prime rib, roast beef and BBQ beef sandwiches to hungry fairgoers. Serving thousands of sandwiches utilizes more than 10,000 pounds of beef over the 11 day event.

“We had a great 11 day run at the Fair this year.  It’s exciting to promote our industry at the Fair and see the public enjoy our product” says Meghan Anderson, who along with her husband Troy chair the NC Beef Pit Committee.  “We also are very appreciative of all the volunteers that come out to help us serve our great beef sandwiches.”  

Without the help of over 350 volunteers, donating their time to prepare and serve the beef meals during the fair, the Beef Pit would not have such great success year after year. Volunteers travel from all parts of the state to be involved with such a great event at the Nebraska State Fair.

Sponsor contributions also play a large role in making the Beef Pit possible each year. Thank you to Aurora Cooperative, Agri Affiliates Inc., Certified Angus Beef, LLC., Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation, Rolling Stone Feed Yard, Skeeter Barns, and T&E Cattle Company for gracious sponsorship donations for the 2015 fair season.



Iowa Hosts Taiwanese Goodwill Delegation Signing Letters of Intent to Purchase Iowa Corn 

A Taiwanese delegation visited Iowa this week and met with Iowa Corn farmer leaders as part of a Good Will Mission to build relationships between Taiwanese agricultural leaders and U.S. farmers and grain suppliers for future trade. As part of this mission, the delegation took part in a signing ceremony on Thursday with Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, ICPB Director Roger Zylstra and the U.S. Grains Council (USGC).  Denny Friest, a farmer leader from Radcliffe, Iowa and District 5 Director on the Iowa Corn Growers Assoication also attended the signing ceremony.

“By having the Taiwanese Agricultural Goodwill Mission visit our state, we are strengthening trade ties and helping to maintain the well-established partnership between the United States and Taiwan,” Roger Zylstra, ICPB Director for District 5 and a corn farmer from Lynnville, Iowa.

Taiwan is an important buyer of U.S. agricultural products, especially U.S. corn. For the 2014/2015 marketing year, Taiwan was the sixth largest market for U.S. corn and a top buyer of U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a co-product of ethanol production that is a high-protein feed ingredient for livestock. The letters signed by the Taiwanese during their trip in both Iowa and in Washington, D.C. committed Taiwanese buyers to purchase approximately $3.03 billion worth of U.S. corn and co-products, wheat and soybeans by 2017.

“Fostering relationships helps reassure the Taiwanese ag leaders of the United States’ ability to be the reliable long-term supplier of high-quality grains and ultimately helps to preserve their preference for U.S. products.” Zylstra said.

For the Taiwan feed industry, low-oil DDGS is a relatively new product. Taiwanese DDGS importers want to know how to adapt to the low-oil DDGS and still maintain their current level of nutrient availability, information that the USGC is working to provide. With almost all the large feed mills in Taiwan using DDGS, it is important to educate these importers and end-users so U.S. DDGS market share can continue to grow in Taiwan.



USDA APHIS RELEASES FALL HPAI PLAN

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today issued a report on planning and preparations for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in advance of a potential recurrence of the disease when birds migrate south this fall.

The HPAI outbreak that devastated poultry producers during the winter and spring of 2015 was the worst animal disease in U.S. history. It affected more than 48.8 million birds and 21 States before the final detection on June 17. The incredible scope of this outbreak presented many challenges to Federal, state and industry resources and clearly identified areas where greater coordination, preparation and communication were needed.  While response operations continue in the Midwest, APHIS and its partners have used the time since the last positive detection to plan for the return of the disease, using a hypothetical worst case scenario in an effort to prepare.

APHIS’ planning activities incorporated our experience from this year’s response effort, our epidemiologic studies, and extensive feedback and input gathered from State partners, industry, academia and other stakeholders. The Fall 2015 HPAI Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan captures the results of this planning effort, organizing information on preparatory activities, policy decisions and updated strategy documents into four key areas:
-    preventing or reducing future outbreaks;
-    enhancing preparedness;
-    improving and streamlining response capabilities; and,
-    preparing for the potential use of AI vaccines.

The report includes an updated biosecurity self-assessment for the poultry industry, streamlined and updated procedures for providing indemnity and other payments, a draft vaccine use strategy and many other items of interest to the Agency’s stakeholders. A copy of the Fall 2015 HPAI Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan and supporting documents are available on the APHIS website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-health/aiupdates.

APHIS is keenly aware of the significant impact the spring outbreak has had on all parties—poultry producers, allied industries, federal and state governments, and the American consumer. As we near the beginning of the fall season, APHIS is confident that its surveillance programs in commercial and wild birds, which are the strongest in the world, will enable us to detect the disease early. APHIS’ advanced planning and the preparations undertaken by the States and the poultry industry will help quickly contain the disease. If HPAI should reappear in the coming months, APHIS is ready to respond and committed to helping those affected by the disease.

REACTION FROM IOWA'S NORTHEY
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey released the following statement on the release of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Fall Plan by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).  Northey’s statement follows here:

“USDA has been a key partner throughout the avian influenza outbreak.  The HPAI Fall Plan they released today seeks to apply the lessons learned from the outbreak should the disease reappears in the future.  The plan emphasizes the need to respond even more quickly to try and stop the disease.

“The USDA’s plan reinforces the efforts by our Department and the poultry industry to focus on increased surveillance for the disease and strengthened biosecurity on farms.  Preventing the disease through biosecurity and finding it quickly if it does appear is critically important to preventing the spread we saw earlier this year.  All partners are also committed to responding quickly if a case does appear to depopulate and limit the amount of virus created.

“We will continue to closely review the full plan and seek to integrate it into our state response efforts.”



August Milk Production in the United States up 0.8 Percent

Milk production in the United States during August totaled 17.4 billion pounds, up 0.8 percent from August 2014.  Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,863 pounds for August, 5 pounds above August 2014.  The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.32 million head, 53,000 head more than August 2014, but unchanged from July 2015. 

IOWA:  Milk production in Iowa during August 2015 totaled 401 million pounds, up 4 percent from August 2014 according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. This is the highest August milk production for Iowa since August 1970. The average number of milk cows during August, at 211,000 head, was unchanged from last month but 3,000 more than a year ago. Monthly production per cow averaged 1,900 pounds, up 45 pounds from last August.



NPPC’S WAGSTROM PICKED FOR ADVISORY COUNCIL ON ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

National Pork Producers Association Chief Veterinarian Dr. Liz Wagstrom was nominated to the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. The council will work to implement a research-driven National Action Plan to identify and coordinate efforts from various federal agencies to prevent and control outbreaks of resistant pathogens. Wagstrom currently serves on the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities’ Task Force on Antibiotic Resistance in Production Agriculture. She has a long history of working at the interface of animal and public health and led the initial development of the U.S. pork industry’s programs on responsible use of antibiotics. Wagstrom has served as an industry consultant to the Public Health Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance as well as an advisory board member to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Get Smart on the Farm initiative.



Valuable Pocket Tool for Cattle Producers Now Available

A pocket-sized recordkeeping tool that has been used by cattle producers for more than 30 years to enhance profitability will be available for the 2016 year starting October 5 – at a reduced rate for a limited time.  The Integrated Resource Management (IRM) Redbook from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association helps cattle producers effectively and efficiently record their daily production efforts.

The 2016 Redbook has more than 100 pages to record calving activity, herd health, pasture use, cattle inventory, body condition, cattle treatment, AI breeding records and more. It also contains an annual calendar, section for addresses, revised Beef Quality Assurance national guidelines, and proper injection technique information.

“With the growth of branded beef programs, people are asking for more and more documentation on how you raise your cattle,” according to John Paterson, a New Mexico rancher. “The redbook gives you that documentation, putting it right there in your shirt pocket. Just as important, it helps me identify potential problems with my cow herd, and provides me with specific information that I need to better assess my progress, such as the percent of calves born in the first third of calving season and the percent born in the last. It helps me manage many of the challenges on my ranch.”

Until Nov. 15 Redbooks can be purchased for $6.50 each, plus shipping. After Nov. 15 the price of the Redbooks will be $7 each, plus shipping. Customization of the Redbooks is available (for 100 books or more), and quantity discounts are available. To order, visit www.beefusa.org.        

For more information on the NCBA Redbooks, contact Grace Webb at gwebb@beef.org or (800) 525-3085.



Deputy Secretary Harden to Lead Sub-Saharan Africa Trade Mission

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden will lead a trade mission to Accra, Ghana, Nov. 17 to Nov. 20, to expand export opportunities for U.S. agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa.

"Two years ago, I led a mission to southern Africa to launch USDA's Sub-Saharan Africa Trade Initiative, which aims to expand U.S. agricultural and commercial ties in the region," Harden said. "I am excited to return to Africa with a new group of U.S. agricultural leaders to further explore market opportunities, especially for small, minority and women-owned businesses."

The delegation will meet with potential customers from more than a dozen countries across sub-Saharan Africa, forging relationships and learning about the market conditions and business environment in the region. This first-hand intelligence will help them develop strategies to start or expand sales to these key markets.

Participants will include representatives from companies representing a wide array of U.S. food and agricultural products, as well as leaders from state departments of agriculture and U.S. agricultural organizations.

With a strong economic outlook, a growing middle class, and surging demand for consumer-oriented foods, sub-Saharan Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions for U.S. agricultural exports. Over the past decade, U.S. agricultural exports to the region have grown by more than 50 percent, totaling $2.3 billion in 2014. Exports of consumer-oriented products have grown by nearly 90 percent in just five years, from $480 million in 2010 to a record $909 million in 2014.

Additional information about the mission, including application materials, is available at www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions. Applications are due Oct. 2, 2015.



NFU Honors 36 Outstanding Members of Congress with Golden Triangle Award

National Farmers Union (NFU) presented 36 recipients with the Golden Triangle Award, the organization’s highest legislative honor. The annual award is presented to members of Congress who have demonstrated leadership and support policies that benefit America’s family farmers, ranchers, fishermen and rural communities.

“Recipients of the Golden Triangle Award have been strong advocates for family farmers and ranchers, and support similar principles and policies as Farmers Union,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “We are pleased to honor those who have proven to be true allies of our organization and family agriculture.”

This year’s Golden Triangle recipients were selected for their leadership on a variety of issues, including votes on labeling and trade issues. The awards were presented at a reception during NFU’s Annual Legislative Fly-In this September.

List of all 2015 Golden Triangle Award Recipients:
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, Neb.
Rep. Dave Loebsack, Iowa
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Wis.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, Ohio
Rep. Joe Courtney, Conn.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Conn.
Sen. Joe Donnelly, Ind.
Sen. Al Franken, Minn.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, N.Y.
Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, N.M.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, N.M.
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, N.D.
Rep. Steny Hoyer, Md.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Ohio
Sen. Angus King, Maine
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minn.
Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, N.H.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, Vt.
Rep. Ben Ray Luján, N.M.
Rep. Jim McGovern, Mass.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, Oregon
Sen. Christopher Murphy, Conn.
Rep. Rick Nolan, Minn.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Calif.
Sen. Gary Peters, Mich.
Rep. Collin Peterson, Minn.
Rep. Chellie Pingree, Maine
Rep. Mark Pocan, Wis.
Rep. Bruce Poliquin, Maine
Sen. Harry Reid, Nev.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, Calif.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Mich.
Sen. Jon Tester, Mont.
Sen. Tom Udall, N.M.
Rep. Tim Walz, Minn.
Rep. Don Young, Alaska

The Golden Triangle Award is based on NFU’s symbol – a triangle with “legislation” and “cooperation” forming the sides and “education” the base. The Golden Triangle Awards have been presented to legislators since 1988.



NFU Annual Fall Legislative Fly-In Concludes

Following three days of meetings with U.S. Department of Agriculture leaders, key White House staff and nearly every Congressional and Senatorial official on Capitol Hill, the 275 Farmers Union members participating in the organization’s annual fall fly-in are returning home today.

“For decades upon decades, Farmers Union members have made an annual migration to Washington to make their case for smarter, fairer farm policies,” said Johnson.  “The only major change to this event in the last fifty years is the preferred mode of transportation to get here,” he said. “The enthusiasm, passion and commitment are as strong today as they have ever been.”

While here, fly-in participants conducted hundreds of targeted meetings with members of Congress, focusing on: gathering support behind the Senate bill supporting voluntary Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL); opposing any legislative changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) while urging Congress to reject the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s flawed proposal for 2014-2016 ethanol blending targets because they are well below the statutory limits; urging Congress to reject the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), to restore full trade and tourism with Cuba, and urging support of a Senate Agriculture Appropriations Amendment that requires a comprehensive risk assessment plan be in place before resuming trade with parts of Argentina and Brazil that have a history of Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks.

Fly-in participants also presented the organization’s highest honor, the Golden Triangle Award, to a bipartisan group of 36 senators and representatives who have demonstrated leadership on issues relevant to America’s family farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Members accepted the awards at a reception on Thursday night at the Stewart Mott House in Washington, D.C.

“Year after year, family farmers and ranchers show that they are not only ready to feed the world, but are also willing to take the time from their jobs in the middle of harvest and meet with their elected officials to ensure that smart farm policies are in place for their children and communities,” said Johnson. “Whether it’s keeping food labeling on the books, reducing our dependence on foreign oil through greener substitutes, or fighting for smarter trade policies that that seek trade deficit reduction as a primary goal, Farmers Union members come to Washington year after year and make a difference,” he said.



Vilsack Announces Appointment of Karla Thieman as USDA Chief of Staff

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the appointment of Karla Thieman as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The position was recently vacated by Brian Baenig.

"Karla brings to this position strong leadership, sound judgement, and a fierce passion for agriculture and rural America," said Vilsack. "Karla also understands that USDA is helping to lead transformational change across the country in energy, nutrition, trade, research, conservation, and in building a biobased economy from the ground up. Throughout her career, Karla has been a valuable advocate for farmers, ranchers and rural communities, and I am confident that she will continue to help USDA achieve great things in her new role as Chief of Staff."

Thieman joined USDA in April 2014, serving as a Senior Policy Advisor to Secretary Tom Vilsack and, most recently, as Chief of Staff to Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden. Prior to joining USDA, Thieman worked for the Senate Agriculture Committee for more than five years, serving under three Chairs of the Committee: Senator Tom Harkin, Senator Blanche Lincoln, and Senator Debbie Stabenow. As senior professional staff on the Agriculture Committee, she handled a portfolio that included livestock, food safety, dairy, energy and climate change. Thieman previously served in leadership positions on the campaigns of Senators McCaskill, Udall and Bennet. Thieman grew up on a third-generation family farm in central Missouri where her family raised cattle, corn and soybeans. She has a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri.



NATIONAL FARM SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK, 2015
A PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Since the days of our Revolution when farmers across the Colonies took up arms in defense of our country, America's farmers and ranchers have played a critical role in shaping our progress and forging a better future for coming generations.  Through centuries of hard work, they have supplied our Nation with products and services essential to the economic and physical well-being of our society.  This week, we recognize all those serving on our farms, and we recommit to safeguarding their health and livelihoods.

Farmers and ranchers make tremendous contributions to the way of life our ancestors fought to establish, yet they face considerable hazards in the course of their daily responsibilities. To protect the safety of those working on America's farms, my Administration has taken steps to guarantee they have the knowledge, tools, and resources necessary to mitigate and reduce risks to themselves and their families.  From handling hazardous chemicals and machinery to working in potentially dangerous areas such as silos or grain elevators, our Nation's farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers should be able to secure the prosperity of their land, their loved ones, and their country without sacrificing their own.

That is why the Federal Government has partnered with farm families, organizations, and businesses to ensure the well-being of those who work on farms. We have strengthened our commitment to those who provide nutrition, clothing, and energy to our people, including by developing nationwide training guidelines that aim to reduce the threats posed toAmerica's next generation of farmers and ranchers. Each year, thousands of people are injured on farms and ranches in America, and I remain committed to pursuing pragmatic, responsible solutions to prevent these tragedies from occurring.

Across our country, those who work on farms bolster our economy and nourish our people by providing what we need at a most human level, helping to uphold America's founding creed:Out of many, we are one. This week, let us recognize the steadfast dedication and commitment of agricultural producers and their families, and let us reaffirm our resolve to promote their health and safety.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 20 through September 26, 2015, as National Farm Safety and Health Week. I call upon the agencies, organizations, businesses, and extension services that serve America's agricultural workers to strengthen their commitment to promoting farm safety and health programs. I also urge Americans to honor our agricultural heritage and express appreciation to our farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers for their contributions to our Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have here unto set my hand this eighteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortieth.

BARACK OBAMA