Thursday September 10 Ag News

NEBRASKA AUCTIONEERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2015 AUCTIONEER STATE CHAMPION

            The Nebraska Auctioneers Association, a state trade organization representing the auctioneering profession in Nebraska, conducted their Annual Auctioneer State Championship on Monday, September 7, 2015. The Championship Competition was held at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island. Contestants competed for the title of Nebraska Auctioneer and Ringman Champion in a live auction before fair attendees.

            The Auctioneer competitors were judged on presentation, chant, voice quality, body language, and other elements of effective auctioneering along with a personal interview. Kyle Layman from North Platte, NE, won the title of Champion. In addition to taking home the prized belt buckle, Kyle will represent Nebraska at the 2016 International Auctioneers Championships to be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Reserve Champion was Adam Marshall, Adam Marshall Auctioneers, Elm Creek, NE. Placing Runner-Up was Curtis Wetovick, CW Auction, Fullerton, NE. Receiving the Rookie Award was Michaela Mapes, The Auction Mill, Omaha, NE.

            Rounding out the top ten auction finalists were: Si Harbottle, AmeriTex Auctions, Bryan, TX; Ben Hoepker, Ericson & Spaulding Livestock Market, Ericson, NE; Scott Jarman, The Auction Mill, Cedar Bluffs, NE; Mark Kliewer, Kliewer Auction Service, Kearney, NE; Josh Larson, JML Auction, Haxton, CO and Courtney Mensik, Jack Nitz & Associates, Fremont, NE.
            The Annual Jon Moravec Memorial Ringman Award was presented to Si Harbottle. The Ringman competitors were judged on presentation, enthusiasm, audience observation, and communication with the auctioneer.

            The Nebraska Auctioneers Association promotes the auction method of marketing by providing professional training and support for auctioneers in Nebraska. Kevin Schow of Schow Auction Service in Paxton, NE is the President of the Association which is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska.



The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series Rivalry Begins This Week

The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) are honored to partner with Learfield Sports on behalf of both Iowa State University and University of Iowa Athletic Departments for the title sponsorship of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series™.

The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series is more than a game. It’s a tribute to the hard-working student athletes who give it their all in the game and in their fields of study in the classroom. Just like hard-working Iowa farmers work in their fields to conserve the land for future generations and grow corn to produce over 4,000 everyday products!

Leading up to the game, Iowa Corn launched the CORN: IT’S EVERYTHING campaign including ads to educate consumers about all the amazing things that come from corn. Sponsorship of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series provides a platform for farmers to educate Iowans on the essential role that corn plays in our state’s economy, for feed, food and fuel. Corn and corn byproducts are used to make more than 4,000 products – everything from plastic cups and water bottles, to bacon and lipstick, ice cream and even beer! It all contains corn.

For more information on the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series including a full listing of this week’s soccer, volleyball and football games, go to www.iowacorncyhawkseries.com.  To find out more about the Corn: It’s Everything campaign, visit www.iowacorn.org. 




Next week's Iowa workshop focused on stewardship of  antimicrobial drug use in food animals

There is still time to register for the workshop on stewardship of medically-important antimicrobial drug use in food-producing animals planned for Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the Gateway Center Hotel, Ames, IA.

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 the FDA's revised Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). These actions mean some drugs will see label changes allowing only therapeutic uses, and use of some drugs will require veterinary oversight--a veterinarian's prescription, direct administration by a veterinarian, or a veterinary consultation on disease management protocols.

The Sept. 16 workshop, which will be 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT, is targeted to all pork, cattle, poultry and sheep producers, as well as veterinarians and feed suppliers in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, western Illinois, northern Missouri, northern Kansas and eastern Nebraska. This free workshop is also an opportunity for state and federal agencies, colleges of veterinary medicine and university extension personnel to gain insights into the changes and tools needed to meet the requirements.

There is no charge to participate. Advanced registration is requested but not required. Registration can be completed online or by going to the Farm Foundation website. 

Representatives from FDA and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will be at the workshop to answer questions about the new policies. Participants will also hear perspectives from Paul Rovey of Rovey Dairy; Job Luque of Five Rivers Feeding; Jim Lytle, DVM of Wickenburg, AZ; and Billy Thompson of Maid Rite Feeds. Breakout sessions will allow producers, veterinarians and feed suppliers to discuss the management challenges ahead.

Comments gathered at this workshop will be the basis of a report assessing the economic and physical challenges facing producers as they implement 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. The report will be presented at a national summit to be convened by Farm Foundation in late fall 2015. 

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. FDA's revised VFD addresses the increased veterinary oversight of medicated feeds called for by GFI 209 and 213. 

In addition to Farm Foundation's leadership, individual producers and many companies are providing financial support for this educational effort. These include JBS United, Hormel Foods Corporation, Jennie-O Turkey Store, Rose Acre Farms, Elanco Animal Health, J.R. Simplot Company, Irsik and Doll, Hardin Farms, C-ARC Enterprises, National Pork Producers Council, the National Pork Board, North American Meat Institute and the National Turkey Federation.



Farmers Meet with Hundreds of International Buyers

More than 300 international soy buyers visited the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” recently to learn about some of U.S. soy’s bestselling points. The third annual U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange in Minneapolis drew representatives of major international companies in countries such as China, Korea, India and many others.

“As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the preference for U.S. soybeans,” says Bob Haselwood, soybean farmer from Kansas and United Soybean Board (USB) chairman. “This event gives U.S. soybean farmers and the U.S. soy industry a platform to prove that we are committed to providing our international customers with a sustainable, high-quality product. The importance of these relationships is immeasurable.”

International representatives committed to buy more than $5 billion worth of U.S. soy combined during the first two U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchanges in 2013 in Davenport, Iowa, and in 2014 in Milwaukee.

In the most recent marketing year, U.S. soybean farmers exported over 2 billion bushels of U.S. soy, valued at more than $30 billion. They’ve exported more than 1.8 million bushels of U.S. soybeans so far this marketing year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USB, the American Soybean Association (ASA), the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and the Midwest Shippers Association co-sponsored the event. Besides meeting with farmer-leaders, attendees also attended a variety of presentations to learn about the benefits of U.S. soybeans, including how the sustainability and quality separate them from the competition.

“This event gives international customers an inside look of how U.S. soybeans stack up against the competition,” Haselwood says. “This experience shows them that we offer a product that not only has a consistent quality and is grown responsibly, but will also get to them in a timely manner. It’s what sets us apart from the competition.”



Biotech Working Group Discusses Regulatory Issues, China and More

Members of the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) Biotechnology Working Group met in Minneapolis, Minn. this week to discuss key developments and regulatory issues facing the industry. The meeting was held in conjunction with the U.S. Global Trade Exchange.

The Biotechnology Working Group brings grower-leaders from ASA, United Soybean Board (USB) and U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) together twice a year to engage in dialogue about emerging technologies, the pace of worldwide biotech approvals, stewardship plans for upcoming commercial launches and other issues surrounding the use and introduction of new biotech seed traits.

In addition to individual biotech trait company consultations with soybean farmers, plans for upcoming U.S.-China Biotech Planning Meetings were reviewed in advance of the U.S. visit by China’s President Xi Jinping, where the need for China to make specific systemic reforms to their biotech regulatory policy will be stressed.



Study: Atrazine Doesn't Have Long Effect on Water, Plant Life

A recent study by a multi-disciplinary team of Baylor University researchers found that a popular herbicide does not appear to have a long-term, measurable impact on aquatic plant life. The study--"Effects of pulsed atrazine exposure on autotropic community structure, biomass, and production in field-based stream mesocosms"--is published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. The study looked at atrazine, a common herbicide used to control weeds in corn and sorghum crops in large-scale farming operations, at the level of concern as identified by United States Environmental Protection Agency.

The study's lead investigator on the study, Ryan S. King, Ph.D., professor of biology in Baylor's College of Arts & Sciences, said this research is the first to address atrazine levels as they would naturally occur in agricultural areas during rainfall runoff events.

"Previous studies at this scale have almost exclusively performed static exposures; that is, added atrazine to the water at a constant rate such that the concentration stays the same over time. This does not occur in nature; hence our study using pulsed exposures is far more appropriate for assessing the effects of atrazine, or any pesticide for that matter, on aquatic life," King said.

Using the Baylor Experimental Aquatic Research artificial stream facility, a 30,000-square-foot outdoor facility with 12 artificial streams and 24 wetland and pond habitats, Baylor researchers dosed three different streams with four pulses of atrazine to achieve average concentrations of 10, 20 and 30 ug/L over a 60-day period.

Atrazine was pulsed through (1) fast-moving water, (2) slower, shallow water and (3) deep, slow-moving water to mimic naturally-occurring scenarios. After the dosing period ended, researchers allowed the streams to remain untreated for 27 days and monitored the aquatic plant life during that time.

Researchers say this is the first stream study to carefully examine aquatic stress caused by realistic herbicide runoff scenarios. It further provides and experimental model for how to examine pesticide impacts on streams in the future.



Dairy Industry Commends Representative Reid Ribble for Introducing Safe Trucking Act

The dairy industry today welcomed the introduction of the Safe, Flexible and Efficient Trucking Act in the House of Representatives. The bill would allow states to increase the gross vehicle weight limit on commercial trucks if they are properly equipped with six axles and meet the same safety standards as trucks currently allowed on interstates. Known as the Safe Trucking Act, the bill was introduced by Representative Reid Ribble (R-WI).

“IDFA thanks Congressman Ribble for his leadership on an issue that is vitally important to the makers and marketers of dairy products and the many other industries relying on trucks to move goods to market, as to those who share our highways with them,” said Connie Tipton, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) . “As a representative of dairy companies as well as a mother and grandmother, I personally believe it’s a win-win when we can achieve greater efficiency and affordability along with safer roadways.”

The dairy industry relies heavily on commercial trucks to get milk from the farm to plants and to move dairy foods from the plants to grocery shelves across the country. Because the products are perishable, they must move quickly and efficiently. Unfortunately, outdated federal transportation rules now force trucks to leave plants when they are less than full because the trucks reach the current weight limit before they meet the capacity limit.

By raising the federal gross vehicle weight limit for trucks equipped with six axles rather than the typical five and giving states the flexibility to utilize these trucks where they see fit, the Safe Trucking Act would safely modernize truck shipments on Interstate highways by allowing trucks to carry more product and thereby reducing the number of trucks on our roadways. In a letter sent to members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, IDFA and NMPF said the combination of greater efficiencies and safer highways makes a lot of sense.

“The current patchwork of varying maximum weights compels dairy marketers to transport partially empty loads of milk.  This uses more fuel, creates more congestion and increases the costs of maintaining roads,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “Common sense changes like those included in the Safe Trucking Act will improve the efficiency and sustainability of the U.S. dairy industry.”

DOT Study Confirms Safety of Heavier Six-Axle Trucks
In June, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released its technical findings in connection with its Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits study. Among its findings, DOT concluded that more productive trucks lower congestion costs, fuel costs, and carbon and other emissions. They also found that vehicle stability and control are virtually unchanged on heavier six-axle vehicles. Truck weight reform would also reduce pavement costs significantly.



USDA Announces State Finalists for the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 21 states will receive grants through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) to add infrastructure needed to supply more renewable fuel to America's drivers. Since announcing the program in May 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) received applications requesting over $130 million, outpacing the $100 million that is available. With a more than 1:1 match from private and state resources, USDA estimates that the BIP grants will support nearly 5,000 pumps at over 1,400 fueling stations across the country.

"The quality and geographic diversity of the applications, backed by supportive state and private partners, demonstrate the strong demand across the country for cleaner, more affordable fuel," said Secretary Vilsack. "The Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership is one approach USDA is using to aggressively pursue investments in American-grown renewable energy to create new markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers, help Americans save money on their energy bills, support America's clean energy economy, cut carbon pollution and reduce dependence on foreign oil and costly fossil fuels."

A typical gas pump delivers fuel with 10 percent ethanol, which limits the amount of renewable energy most consumers can purchase at the pump. USDA estimates that this investment will more than double the number of stations that offer intermediate blends of ethanol, mainly E15 fuel levels, nationwide.

Through BIP, USDA will award competitive grants, matched by states, to expand the infrastructure for distribution of higher blends of ethanol. BIP funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation must be used to pay a portion of the costs related to the installation of fuel pumps and related infrastructure dedicated to the distribution of higher ethanol blends, for example E15 and E85, at vehicle fueling locations. The matching contributions may be used for these items or for related costs such as additional infrastructure to support pumps, marketing, education, data collection, program evaluation and administrative costs. This partnership will expand markets for farmers, support rural economic growth and the jobs that come with it, and ultimately give consumers more choices at the pump.

The preliminary list of state finalists and estimated pumps includes:
Colorado 28
Florida 892
Illinois 428
Indiana 110
Iowa 187
Kansas 174
Louisiana 110
Michigan 89
Minnesota 620
Missouri 171
Nebraska 80
North Carolina 190
North Dakota 90
Ohio 148
Pennsylvania 308
South Dakota 74
Texas 763
Virginia-Maryland 191
West Virginia 107
Wisconsin 120
TOTAL 4880



 Growth Energy Praises USDA Commitment to Bring Higher Blends to Marketplace

 In response to today’s announcement by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) that it will move forward with the Biofuels Infrastructure Program, distributing $100 million dollars of matching grants to states to help fund infrastructure projects to increase the availability of higher ethanol blends, furthering consumer choice, Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, issued the following statement:

“Today’s announcement by the USDA is a tremendous win for American consumers. The USDA is helping advance consumer choice and market access for higher blends of cleaner burning, American made, renewable fuels. I would like to thank the administration and in particular, Secretary Vilsack, for his unwavering leadership and dedication to promoting America’s renewable fuels and helping bring a choice and savings to consumers when they fill up at the pump.

“The USDA, though these matching grants, will help build out the necessary infrastructure to increase market access for higher ethanol blends. This will allow consumers to choose higher performing, less expensive American made ethanol that supports the economy, improves the environment and reduces our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels.

“It is unfortunate that the obligated parties refuse to follow the law and blend increasing amounts of renewable fuel, but the steps by the administration and Secretary Vilsack will ensure higher ethanol blends, such as E15, penetrate the marketplace, and provide consumers with a choice and savings they deserve.”



EIA: Ethanol Stocks, Demand Lower

 Ethanol demand and stocks fell while domestic output rebounded slightly last week, according to a report released Thursday, Sept. 10, by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The report showed ethanol stocks were drawn down 400,000 barrels (bbl), or 1.9%, to 18.6 million bbl during the week-ended Sept. 4, with domestic inventory 3.4% above the comparable year-ago period.

EIA showed domestic ethanol production rose 10,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 1.0%, to 958,000 bpd while up 3.4% year on year.

Blender inputs, a gauge for ethanol demand, fell last week by 25,000 bpd, or 2.7%, to 896,000 bpd while up 5.4% versus a year earlier.

EIA data shows implied demand for gasoline sinking 421,000 bpd to 9.017 million bpd, although 4.7% higher than the same week a year ago. Implied gasoline demand, which measures supply disappearance in the primary market, averaged the lowest demand rate last week since late May.



Public Lands Council Hosts Annual Meeting in Cody, Wyo.

Western ranchers are gathering this week in Cody, Wyo., for the 2015 Public Lands Council annual meeting. As the only organization in Washington D.C. solely dedicated to representing livestock ranchers who utilize public lands, PLC’s annual meeting will focus on legislative and regulatory updates. This year’s meeting has a schedule full of top-notch speakers covering a wide range of topics.

“Each year this meeting gets better, and this year will be no exception,” said Brenda Richards, PLC president. “Ranchers in the West have had some great wins over the past year, including the passage of key provisions of the Grazing Improvement Act, because of our strong membership base and the engagement of our organization. Annual meeting is an important event as we come together to discuss some of the hot-button issues going on in the industry and develop policy priorities.”

The sessions start today and cover a range of topics including the need for modernization of the Endangered Species Act, invasive species, wildfire management, water rights issues, sage grouse, and management of wild horses, and include speakers from the Western Governors Association, Western Resources Legal Center, the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service as well as industry representatives.

“As has been the case in recent years, there continues to be no shortage of issues to discuss this year, and it’s important for ranchers to engage in the conversation that shape national policy decisions,” added Richards. “With many of the best and brightest minds in the public lands policy and management business here, it is set to be a beneficial and informative meeting.”

For more information about the meeting and learn more about the organization, visit www.publiclandscouncil.org.



Ag industry group celebrates National Farm Safety Week by offering safety grants up to $10,000

The Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA) announced it will make available approximately a dozen safety grants up to $10,000 to encourage ag safety interventions at the local and regional level.

“With National Farm Safety and Health Week coming up September 20-26, we’re excited to announce our third year of safety grants,” said ASHCA Chair Leon Graves, who represents Dairy Farmers of America.

ASHCA, a not-for-profit coalition of agribusinesses, producer organizations and safety professionals, has set an application deadline of January 7, 2016. Information regarding eligibility, priorities, application instructions and frequently asked questions is available at www.ashca.org.

“An ideal grant proposal is one that comes from a small company or organization wanting to provide hands-on safety training to ag workers using an evidence-based safety program,” Graves said. “The applicant should show a matched contribution from other sponsors and/or in-kind support from safety consultants or trainers.”

Priority will be given to:
-    Programs that engage both management and workers in the planning and implementation of successful injury reduction programs.
-    “Hands-on” training initiatives that will increase workers’ adoption of proven safety practices and will be sustained beyond the grant period.
-    Initiatives that reach under-served or high-risk populations, e.g., non-English speaking workers.

To see examples of past awards go to http://www.ashca.org/safety-grants-program/. Previous grants have addressed onsite safety training, development of a mobile app, personal protective equipment, safe play zones for farmworker children and other topics.



Alltech verifies 13 products with Where Food Comes From, Inc.

Where Food Comes From, Inc. (d.b.a. IMI Global, Inc.) (OTCQB: WFCF), the most trusted resource for independent, third-party verification of food production practices, has announced the launch of ‘Feed Verified,’ a new resource for livestock producers, feed companies and food brands alike to confirm a particular ingredient or feed product meets a specific verification or certification requirement.

A global leader in the animal health industry, Alltech currently has 13 products listed on the Feed Verified resource, with plans to add more in the future. The products meet the Non-GMO Project's standard for feed inputs, and certifications for Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC), USDA NeverEver3 (Verified Natural) and GAP 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating™.

“Alltech has always been a leader in innovative technologies for the animal health industry,” said Dave Pfenninger, North American beef coordinator for Alltech. “Our focus is on natural nutritional solutions, which has made us a good fit for emerging verification programs. But, oftentimes the program requirements are multifaceted and only continue to grow in complexity, so we knew we needed the right partner to ensure our continued compliance in the marketplace. It was an easy decision when the IMI Global team introduced us to Feed Verified.”

The first of its kind, Feed Verified is an innovative resource that will house a real-time listing of approved feed products and ingredients by name, while indicating the verification or certification programs for which each product is approved. The listing is multi-species, and includes direct hyperlinks to the individual product websites for easy access to additional information and/or purchasing opportunities.

“A critical aspect of verifying certain livestock production practices is knowing, tracking and confirming what an animal eats,” said John Saunders, chairman and CEO of Where Food Comes From, Inc. “It may sound simple, but you have to take a step back and think about the complexity of what we are looking at. Five years ago we were only concerned about animal by-products. Today it is that plus antibiotics, growth promotants, genetically modified organisms, organic ingredients, even the percentage of forage or protein. I could go on, but the reality is that feed is emerging as the new risk in value-added livestock production. It only takes the tiniest of ingredients to disqualify an entire generation of animals from a specific verification program, even when everything else is done exactly right. That is exactly why Feed Verified came to be. We want to do everything in our power to enable farmers and ranchers to be transparent about how they are producing food, and Feed Verified is another tool to help them succeed in that endeavor.”

Many of the top players in the food industry have been utilizing the resources provided by Where Food Comes From, Inc. One of the public ways in which some of them use the information is by displaying label and QR codes that provide consumers with further details on the food they are purchasing.

To view a current version of the resource, visit http://www.imiglobal.com/feed-verified.html. The launch of Feed Verified includes 14 newly approved products from leading industry brands, including Alltech and Bio S.I. Technology.

Alltech’s products are produced under the Alltech Quality System (AQS), which is recognized throughout the feed industry as a standard to follow. The AQS delivers the exact same level of quality assurance and traceability in each of Alltech’s geographical markets, based on a uniform process designed to meet and exceed other third-party systems of certification.