Tuesday September 15 Ag News

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR NEBRASKA EXTENSION DNA TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

    "DNA Technology: Where we've been, where we are and where we're headed," will be the topic of an Oct. 19 conference at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center at Clay Center.

    "This is a constantly evolving technology," said Matt Spangler, Nebraska Extension beef genetics specialist. "Participants will learn about DNA technology as it relates to making selection decisions in beef cattle and the changes in application and research discoveries over the past 12 months with particular emphasis on novel but economically important traits."

    The conference will run from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will include lunch.

    Presentations and speakers include: "Welcome and Overview of USMARC Activities," John Pollak, USMARC; "Genetic Selection for Cattle that are Less Susceptible to BRD," Alison Van Eenennaam, University of California-Davis; "Selecting for More Fertile Females," Jared Decker, University of Missouri; "Selection for Improved Feed Efficiency," Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; "Measuring Feed Intake and BRD Susceptibility: BIF Guidelines," Larry Kuehn, USMARC; "SNP Chips and Whole Genome Sequence Data," Warren Snelling, USMARC; and "Accounting for Bias in Genomic EPD," Mark Thallman, USMARC.

    The conference will conclude with a wrap-up discussion led by Spangler.

    Registration is $15 to cover handouts and lunch. For more information, contact Spangler at 402-472-6489 or mspangler2@unl.edu. To RSVP for lunch by Sept. 25, contact Sherri Pitchie at sherri.pitchie@unl.edu or 402-472-2907.



New Channel Seedsman Comes to Northeast Nebraska
Putting Seedsmanship at Work® into practice, Channel has hired Mike Tomka as a Channel Seedsman in northeast Nebraska.

Tomka’s role will be to work proactively with local farmers to deliver expert advice, customized service and elite seed products to help improve productivity and profitability. Channel Seedsmen focus on getting to know their customers and their farms inside and out, and using that knowledge to provide in-depth, hands-on service and support every step of the way.

“We’re excited to have Mike join the Channel team,” said Channel District Sales Manager Ryan Miller. “His knowledge and experience will be a great fit for farmers in our area looking for the service and support only a Channel Seedsman can provide.”

One of Tomka’s primary responsibilities will be implementing the Channel® Field Check Up Series with local farmers. This series allows Channel Seedsmen to work with farmers throughout the season to observe and monitor crop development.

Walking farmers’ fields allows Channel Seedsmen to diagnose issues and design custom recommendations to increase the farm’s profitability. Year-round farm visits include personal consultations through the four major growth stages: seedling, reproductive, vegetative and maturity. For more information about Channel and the Channel Seedsmanship approach, visit www.channel.com.



LOW FORAGE TEST VALUES
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

               You did everything right, your hay looks great, but the lab test value still is low.  Has this ever happened to you?

               I’ve been expecting it and it finally has started.  What has started, you ask?  The calls, the calls complaining about lower than expected lab tests for alfalfa that was cut in the bud stage, baled without rain damage, had fine stems, and a nice green color.

               I get these calls about this time every year, and there are several reasons for the low test values.  The biggest problem during summer is high temperatures during growth, especially high night time temperatures along with high humidity.  This often produces alfalfa hay with fine stems that contains high protein, but the alfalfa also has high fiber and low relative feed value.

               Another problem is slow drydown, especially if it takes a long time right after cutting for hay to dry down to less than fifty percent moisture.  As long as hay stays above around fifty percent moisture, plant cells will continue to respire, burning away valuable nutrients.  Sometimes cutting hay too late in the day for it to get very dry before nightfall will allow plant cells to respire all night long.  Or, cloudy, cool weather will slow drying rate.  And this year, high humidity hurt, too.

               A similar loss in nutrients can occur after hay is baled.  This happens most commonly if hay is baled just a little tough and weather conditions after baling are cloudy and humid.  Then the hay may cure slowly for a long time, especially in big bales, but bale temperatures elevate only slightly, not hot enough to show obvious heat damage and discoloration.

               Getting high quality hay is challenging.  Both you and the weather must cooperate and even then, there are no guarantees.



CVA Believes In Students Involved In FFA
(from NE FFA Foundation)

Central Valley Ag (CVA) is one of our Spotlight Sponsors of the "I Believe in the Future of Ag" campaign for the 2015-2016 year. They have been a sponsor of the Nebraska FFA Foundation for eight years now. CVA is a member-owned farmers’ cooperative located in Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa. The cooperative provides agronomy, energy, feed, and grain products and services to over 15,000 producers in the area. More than 850 fulltime CVA employees strive to be the first choice for any of the producers’ needs.

Central Valley Ag chooses to support Nebraska FFA because they truly believe in FFA. Kelli Jo Reznicek, the CVA Communications Specialist said, “It is so important to show support for the future of the agricultural industry.” The cooperative has seen many benefits from being a sponsor. Central Valley Ag’s sponsorship has helped them to portray a positive image of CVA in a fact that they truly believe in the young individuals involved in FFA and understand their role in the future of agriculture. This has also provided them with a great opportunity to meet and recruit young individuals once they are finished with their education.

Central Valley Ag is not only active on the state level, but also on the local level. They do a variety of activities with the local FFA chapters. They often have the local chapters help out at the events they host. They feel that the students have a great educational opportunity at the events and in turn receive a donation from CVA. Another way they are involved with local chapters is by giving presentations at the schools. The employees visit the schools to talk about what a coop is, precision technology, grain marketing, or any other topic that benefits their education. The employees also judge at the local and state levels.

The Nebraska FFA Foundation would like to thank Central Valley Ag Cooperative for their generous donations over the past eight years.



NE Grangers Meet in Columbus

The annual meeting of the Nebraska State Grange was held at the Ramada Rivers Edge Inn, at Columbus, Nebraska, September 11-13, 2015.

Resolutions approved, pertaining to state laws were: 1. Asking for reduction of Property Tax on Farm Ground; 2. Working with the Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture to allow state approved packing plants to process meats that will be sold to consumers and restaurants. Resolutions passes which will be forwarded to National Grange for consideration were; 1. Clarifying “Product of the USA” labeling on meat. It should mean animals that are born, raised and harvested in the United States. 2. Asking for the suspension of all Federal Funding for Planned Parenthood, pending the outcome of the Congressional investigation of the allegations that Planned Parenthood is selling infant bodies and parts for profit. 3. Asking for more uniform and clearer labeling of food products containing Mono sodium Glutamate, to protect those who have unpleasant reactions to this additive. Old policies were reviewed and either dropped, updated or retained.

New Officers elected were, Joe Fryman, Blair, Steward; Jeannie Jeary, Seward, Pomona; and Executive Committee member, Vern Waldren, from Elkhorn. 

The National Grange Legislative Director, J. Burton Eller, was introduced.  During the noon luncheon, he touched on many topics, the Iran nuclear deal, is it good or what will the cost be? The Environmental Protection Agency's desire to control the generation of electricity and total control of all watersheds, which could lead to requiring permits to even plant crops. The confusion over what is Genetically Modified and what is not. Meat labeling, is it USA or not? Problems with the highway trust fund that need to be fixed but the National Senate and Congress can not reach an agreement. The need for better Broadband Internet to revive rural America. Oil pipelines and how well they are built and maintained in Iowa and other farming states and are well accepted by residents. “The climate in Washington is in total confusion and even crazier that it looks.”

The National Grange Convention to be held in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the Cornhusker Hotel November 8-15, 2015.



Take Precautions Now for Safe Fall Harvest

Harvest is historically the most dangerous time of year for agriculture. During National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept., 20-26, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach wants to remind everyone to regularly read instruction manuals about potential dangers of farm equipment and to be diligent in preventing farm injuries.

Reading and following the operation and instruction manuals are often overlooked as tedious or non-essential. However, packed in those printed pages is wisdom that can increase a person’s safety and well-being.

For example, air-compressor equipment manuals usually contain warning notices or procedural steps alerting operators that failure to remove condensation will cause the tank to rust prematurely.

“Draining the moisture from the tank may be viewed as an unnecessary task,” said Charles Schwab, Iowa State University professor and extension specialist in agricultural and biosystems engineering. “Unfortunately, if these manual procedures are not followed, there is a serious potential for injury.” With the case of the air-compressor tank, the moisture in the tank will cause it to rust.

Schwab acknowledges that over time, internal rusting weakens the structural integrity of the tank, potentially creating a violent explosion.

“When under pressure, pieces or the tank itself will become projectiles that can inflict injuries or cause damage,” said Schwab. “No one can predict when a rust-weakened tank will explode and where the projectiles will fly.”

The images from one such explosion, where the bottom of the compressed air tank exploded and launched the entire tank vertically into the roof of the building, demonstrate its violent nature. It removed part of the roof before falling back to the ground.

“Farmers and agriculture professionals need to realize that reading and following operation and instruction manuals can prevent injuries, like the example of the eventual rusting and explosion of the air-compressor tank,” Schwab said.



2015 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Re-Cap; A Win For Iowa And For Corn

This past weekend proved to be another exciting rivalry match against the Iowa and Iowa State football teams at the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series™ football game. The Iowa Hawkeyes secured the trophy after walking away with a win of 31-17 in front of a packed Jack Trice Stadium.

The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series isn’t just another game but also an incredible promotion for the organization and our versatile resource of corn.  It’s also a way to recognize the student athletes who give their all on the field and in the classroom. The day began with Iowa Corn Grower Association (ICGA) members experiencing a VIP tailgate experience where they mingled, enjoyed a corn-fed tailgate, and had the chance to pick up a Corn: It’s Everything t-shirt in their favorite team colors.

Members also had the chance to visit with presidential hopefuls and elected officials that happened to stop by the Iowa Corn tent on their way to various tailgates throughout the stadium. ICGA farmer leaders took advantage of the opportunity to speak with candidates and find out where they stand on hot issues that impact the agriculture industry, such as the Renewable Fuels Standard.

After students rushed into the stadium to claim prime spots, Iowa Corn staff members and ISU Corn Club volunteers handed out more than 8,000 Corn: It’s Everything t-shirts to the Iowa State student section. The shirts were clearly visible from every angle inside the stadium and proved to be an excellent advertisement for corn. Once the game began, Iowa Corn executives were acknowledged with an on field recognition during a timeout in the first quarter and then escorted the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk trophy from its previous home to the Iowa State sideline.

 “The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series is a great way to promote Iowa Corn and our industry because about 65 percent of Iowans tune in and are engaged during the game so it’s a great platform to talk about corn and farming,” said Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) President Mark Heckman. “Iowa Corn focuses on the promotion of ethanol, livestock and exports as well as the 4,000 every day products made from corn. We use events like this to bring awareness to our industry. “

If you would like to view photos from the event, please visit our flickr site: https://flic.kr/s/aHskkmP9dy.



'All About Beef' App Features Two New Games

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, contractor to the beef checkoff, released a new educational app, “All About Beef”.

App versions of “The Steaks are High” and “Grocery Grab” are STEM-based games funded by the Beef Checkoff Program and geared toward students in grades 3-5. In addition to teaching nutrition and environmental facts, the apps also feature kid-friendly beef recipes.

The My American Farm games, including “The Steaks are High” and “Grocery Grab” are available on the iTunes store for iPhone and iPad, at Google Play for Android devices, on Amazon for the Kindle Fire and on www.MyAmericanFarm.org.

The Beef Checkoff Program funded development of this game and supporting resources.

The My American Farm educational resource is a special project of the Foundation. The site and resources are made possible through the generous support of title sponsor, DuPont Pioneer. To take advantage of the free My American Farm resources, games and activities, visit www.MyAmericanFarm.org.



BQA Free Certification Period Announced

The countdown has begun for beef and dairy producers to become Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)-certified for free online through Nov. 20. And, as an added bonus, anyone who becomes certified during this period is eligible to win a prize package, courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. and the BQA program, funded in part by the beef checkoff.

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. will pick up the $25-$50 online training fee for every person completing BQA training through Nov. 20. That includes anyone who works with cattle – whether it is beef or dairy. Visit www.bqa.org to take advantage of the open certification period.

The BQA program is important to the cattle industry because it is a producers’ consumer-friendly story to tell, helping them talk about using BQA Best Management Practices for producing a safe and high quality beef product. And for dairy producers, this offering also is beneficial as a tool to promote safe animal-handling practices and because a large percentage of dairy calves, as well as market cows, make their way into the food chain.

The BQA training modules are customized to fit the specific needs of each segment of the cattle industry – cow-calf, stocker, feedyard and dairy operations. The program covers best management practices such as proper handling and administration of animal health products, reducing injection site blemishes, and low stress cattle-handling principles.

More than 2,100 producers across the country became Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)-certified during the last campaign thanks to the program support by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI). That is the highest number in the program’s four-year history, and means that nearly 22,000 producers have taken advantage of these free offers to sign up for the BQA certification program. Through its sponsorship of the BQA certification program, BIVI provides financial support for the Beef Cattle Institute, which developed the training modules.



Cargill to Sell Property of Former Texas Beef Plant

Cargill has placed its idled Plainview, Texas, plant property up for sale and the Dallas office of Commercial real estate broker CBRE has been retained by Cargill to market the site and evaluate potential offers.

The plant was idled on Feb. 1, 2013, as the result of beef processing overcapacity in the region brought about by the area's drought-diminished cattle herd, the impact of federally mandated Country of Origin Labeling on cattle supplies and the effects of the prior year uproar over finely textured beef.

Beef processing overcapacity persists today and plant closures continue even as conditions have improved in some regions and rebuilding of the nation's herd by cattle ranchers has started. A few years ago, the nation's beef cattle herd dropped to the lowest number since 1951. Rebuilding the nation's herd is a slow process, with each heifer/cow producing a single calf yearly.



 State Agriculture Leaders Focus on Fall Planning for Avian Influenza

After months of intense coordination among state departments of agriculture, the federal government, and industry stakeholders, members of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) voted today to call on Congress and the Administration to ensure the availability of the infrastructure and tools needed to implement an efficient and effective response effort for the fall’s looming spread of High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI).

The Action Item, which was introduced by Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Michael Strain, identifies the need for full funding and staffing of animal health diagnostic laboratories and the tools needed to set up effective incident command structures to support biosecurity protocols, depopulation, and disposal of birds.

“NASDA Members have been actively engaged in identifying lessons learned since December and bringing forward solutions in preparation for the fall migratory months. The next sixty days will be a critical rally period to pull together federal, state, and local resources to prevent and mitigate our next HPAI outbreak,” said NASDA CEO Dr. Barbara P. Glenn. “Without a coordinated effort, lost market access will be harder to restore and our poultry producers and rural communities will suffer.”

Outside of the response efforts, NASDA urged policy makers to re-evaluate and improve the indemnification calculation for this incident.

“Although this devastating disease has not brought any human food safety concerns, HPAI has wreaked havoc on family farms and small businesses throughout the countryside. We must have an expeditious indemnification process in place that reflects present day values to salvage operations across rural America.”

NASDA Members also voted in favor of action items on antimicrobial use and resistance strategies, invasive species, and industrial hemp during the Animal and Plant Industries Committee chaired by Strain.



National Biodiesel Board Responds to Protectionist EU Trade Policy

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) released the following statement from Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs, regarding the European Commission’s decision announced Tuesday to extend protectionist trade duties that have blocked U.S. biodiesel from the European market since 2009:

“The European Commission has decided to continue a policy that is clearly aimed at giving European biodiesel producers an edge over their competition and a lock on the European market. It is disappointing, and we will continue evaluating our options for fighting these protectionist duties.”

“This decision highlights why the U.S. biodiesel tax incentive should be reformed and converted into a domestic production credit so that we have a level playing field. When the U.S. biodiesel tax incentive is in effect under the current structure, European biodiesel can be shipped to the United States only to be rewarded with a $1-per-gallon incentive, while at the same time U.S. biodiesel shipped to the EU is slapped with punitive duties. This is obviously unfair to American companies and workers.”

The punitive duties were first imposed by the European Commission on July 7, 2009, and were slated to expire last year. However, in July 2014, the European Biodiesel Board pushed to extend them for another five years, and the Commission has been conducting an “expiry review” for this purpose. The EU has cited the $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax incentive in the U.S. as a reason to extend the duties, ignoring the fact that the biodiesel tax incentive is currently expired and that European biodiesel was eligible to receive the tax credit so long as it was blended in the U.S. 

In challenging the duties throughout the expiry review, NBB emphasized that European biodiesel producers are able to sell biodiesel in both Europe and the United States without duties or limitation and can freely participate in U.S. policies such as the Renewable Fuel Standard and, before it had expired, the U.S. biodiesel tax incentive. In fact, U.S. imports of biodiesel from the EU have grown in recent years while EU imports of U.S. biodiesel have been virtually eliminated since the EU duties were imposed.



10-34-0, Urea Prices Declining

Retail fertilizer prices continue to decline as has been the case over the past few weeks, according to retailers tracked by DTN for the second week of September 2015.

All eight of the major fertilizers slipped in price compared to a month prior. Two fertilizers were significantly lower.

10-34-0 was 6% less while urea was 5% lower compared to a month earlier. 10-34-0 averaged $594 per ton and urea averaged $433 per ton.

10-34-0's average price dipped under $600/ton for the first time since the last week of February 2015. That week the average price for starter was $598/ton.

The remaining six fertilizers registered lower prices, but these moves were fairly small. DAP averaged $563/ton, MAP $580/ton, potash $467/ton, anhydrous $656/ton and UAN32 $346/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.47/lb.N, anhydrous $0.40/lb.N, UAN28 $0.54/lb.N and UAN32 $0.54/lb.N.

With retail fertilizer moving lower in recent weeks, only one fertilizer is now higher compared to a year earlier. 10-34-0 is 7% higher versus last year.

The remaining seven nutrients are now lower compared to retail prices from a year ago. Both potash and MAP are 2% lower, DAP is 3% less expensive, anhydrous is 4% lower, UAN32 is 8% less expensive, UAN28 is down 9% and urea is 16% less expensive from a year ago.



NMPF Asks Agriculture Department to Give Dairy Farmers Two More Months to Enroll in Margin Protection Program for 2016

The nation’s dairy farmers need additional time this fall to consider their risk management options under the new Margin Protection Program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the National Milk Producers Federation, which today asked the USDA to extend the MPP sign-up deadline by two months.

In a letter sent Tuesday to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, NMPF said that the upcoming September 30 deadline to enroll in the MPP for 2016 coincides with the fall harvest in many parts of the nation, as well as with the ARC/PLC enrollment deadline.  Dairy farmers would benefit from additional time to weigh their options for utilizing both crop insurance and the dairy margin insurance, NMPF said.

The USDA granted two sign-up extensions last year for farmers electing coverage under the MPP, which resulted in a last-minute surge of participation for calendar year 2015.  Those extensions “greatly helped to boost enrollment while not complicating the administrative workload of county USDA offices. We believe a similar extension this year, until late November, will likewise enhance participation in the MPP,” wrote NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern.

Mulhern thanked the USDA for providing dairy farmers more flexibility in how they pay their premiums for insurance coverage in the future. The USDA will now allow farmers until September 1, 2016, to pay 100% of their premium (previously, that deadline was June 1). The new date allows producers to pay their premium in whole or in part any time prior to September 1 of the coverage year.  That change also “could have a positive impact on farmers’ decisions regarding next year’s enrollment, but only if they have sufficient time to make an informed decision,” NMPF wrote.

The USDA also said this week it will allow farmers to pay their premiums to county Farm Service Agency offices through milk check deductions, if a farmer works out such an arrangement with his/her milk handler.

A sign-up extension “would also allow the USDA to continue to work on certain program elements that still need resolution or clarification,” Mulhern said. Critical elements that remain unresolved include enabling dairy farmers to purchase supplemental coverage without having their basic catastrophic coverage reduced below 90%; and protecting the next generation of farm families by accommodating intergenerational transfers of farm ownership.

Mulhern said that NMPF will continue its push to make the MPP safety net as useful as possible for farmers.  USDA’s actions “are a good step toward providing more flexibility under the MPP program, and we are continuing to work with the agency in an effort to secure additional changes.”



Country Music Band Sawyer Brown to Headline Commodity Classic Evening of Entertainment
 
When the record-breaking Commodity Classic convention and trade show wraps up next March in New Orleans, it's going out in style - with an Evening of Entertainment, sponsored by Monsanto, spotlighting the multiple-award-winning country band Sawyer Brown.

"We always like to end Commodity Classic with a great night to top off a busy week for our growers," said Wesley Spurlock, a Texas corn farmer and Commodity Classic co-chair.  "Sawyer Brown will be the perfect band to help us enjoy one last night together and celebrate our friendships and successes, before we head home for a hectic planting season."

Since the band was founded in Florida the early 1980s, Sawyer Brown lead vocalist Mark Miller and crew have put in more than 4,500 shows and counting, spotlighting a stunning discography of 23 albums and more than 50 chart singles - including "Some Girls Do," "Thank God for You," "This Time," "I Don't Believe in Goodbye" and "Drive Me Wild," not to mention the new tune "We Got the Night." While racking up the hits, Sawyer Brown also earned numerous awards, from the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, TNN and CMT.

Commodity Classic takes place March 3-5, 2016, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Visit www.CommodityClassic.com for more information.