Wednesday September 23 Ag News

 2016 Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Retail Value Steer Challenge

The Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation (NCF) is seeking donations of steers for its 17th Annual Retail Value Steer Challenge (RVSC) feeding competition.  This is the primary fund raiser for the Foundation and by participating in the RVSC you join other Nebraska cattle producers to support NCF projects.  Funds from this event support:
-          Youth and Adult Leadership Programs
-          NCF Education Programs - Scholarships
-          NCF Research Programs and Infrastructure Projects
-          History Preservation
-          Judging Teams at University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Northeast Community College, Norfolk and Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Curtis

Your involvement ensures these programs succeed.  You also receive complete carcass data on your steer or steers and the chance to win prize money.  And, you are helping the state’s leading industry sponsor programs that benefit our industry. Contributors should contact their tax professional as to the tax deductible status of this contribution.  NCF is a 501 (3) C entity.

NCF welcomes steer donations by individuals, businesses, groups of individuals or businesses and NC affiliates.  Participants can donate their own steer or purchase a steer from the Foundation for $1,400.   Steers need to be delivered to Darr Feedlot’s south yard between October 24 and 31.  No steers will be accepted after November 1.

Winners will be announced at the Nebraska Cattlemen Midyear Conference in June, 2016.

For more information or to enter a steer contact Lee Weide at 402.475.2333, lweide@necattlemen.org or Jana Jensen, NC Foundation Fundraising Coordinator, at 308.588.6299, janajensen@nebcommfound.org.



Registration Due for Extenion 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.



Smith and Costa Lead 105 Lawmakers in Urging President Obama to Prioritize U.S. Biotech with China

Congressmen Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Jim Costa (D-CA) led 105 Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to make biotech approvals a priority issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his official visit to Washington this week.

“China’s marketplace presents enormous opportunity for Nebraska agriculture, especially with the Third District being the number one agriculture producing district in America,” Rep. Adrian Smith said.  “Unfortunately, China’s arbitrary treatment of U.S. biotech products is hindering the ability of American producers to compete on a level playing field and help feed the world.  We are eager for President Obama to continue advancing U.S. trade by pressing President Xi to meet China’s biotech commitments.”

“As a Representative for one of the most productive agricultural regions in the nation, I believe it is imperative that we use all the tools available to ensure that American agricultural products remain competitive in the global marketplace,” said Rep. Jim Costa.  “While the creation of the Strategic Agricultural Innovation Dialogue is a step forward in advancing the United States and China’s common agricultural objectives, the long delay of China’s approval of biotech crops and grains is concerning.  That is why my colleagues and I are asking President Obama to urge President Xi to implement commitments made last year so that U.S. biotechnology products will be approved for import.  This will enable the U.S. agriculture industry to continue science-based agricultural innovation which better equips us to manage food insecurity as well as environmental and economic policy changes that both the U.S. and China face.”

“China is a vital market for the future prosperity of America’s farmers and ranchers.  GMO crops and other tools of modern agriculture that are proven safe and offer environmental advantages should know no boundaries,” said Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.  “We will continue to work with members of Congress and the administration to find a solution leading to increased and freer commerce between the United States and China.”

“The National Corn Growers Association is pleased with efforts by Congress to deepen the relationship between the U.S. and China to continue moving the dialogue on agricultural biotechnology forward,” said Chip Bowling, president of the National Corn Growers Association and a farmer from Newburg, Maryland.  “Corn farmers value both the access to technology and to markets for our abundant crop.  We appreciate Congress’ engagement to emphasize cooperation and policies that foster trade while maintaining science-based regulatory processes that allow for innovation.”

“The American Soybean Association thanks congressional leaders for highlighting the importance of agricultural biotech issues with China,” said American Soybean Association president Wade Cowan.  “China is the top trading partner for the U.S. soy industry, and in order to maintain that relationship it is vital to have transparent and continuously improving approval processes for trait approvals in China.”

“Ongoing trade disruptions due to a lack of equivalency with China have caused significant hardship for American producers,” said Roger Johnson, National Farmers Union president.  “NFU applauds efforts by Congress and the Administration to address this issue with Chairman Xi for the benefit of our nation’s farmers.” 

“BIO applauds the efforts of these leaders in Congress towards resolving agriculture and biotech issues with China, one of our most important trading partners,” said Brian Baenig, Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO’s) executive vice president for food and agriculture.  “The congressmen’s letter highlights the need for the United States and China to work together towards policies that promote innovation in agriculture, foster trade and bolster ag production and food security.”

Smith and Costa serve as co-chairmen of the House Modern Agriculture Caucus. 



Iowa Corn Promotion Board Patent Improves Production Process for Bio based Plastics

The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) is the recipient of a newly issued patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent relates to an improved production process in making the compound isosorbide a key material in bio based plastics and polyester. Isosorbide can be used to increase the bio content of plastic bottles and other polymers while increasing the useful properties like plastic melting temperature.

Specifically, U.S. patent number 9,120,806 titled “Dianhydrosugar Production Process” removes the need for using an expensive vacuum or inert gas in the production process. Also, it eliminates the need for including environmentally undesirable organic solvents. All of which makes the process cheaper allowing for greater consumption of corn and corn products.

“The new patented process allows for the increased production of corn derived isosorbide creating new markets for corn farmers,” said Research and Business Development Committee Chair Curt Mether, a corn farmer from Harrison County. “This allows for a reduction in the amount of petroleum needed to make plastics, lowers carbon emissions and decreases the cost of consumer goods manufactured employing this process.”

The Iowa Corn Research and Business Development Committee funds research to develop new uses for corn in the area of bioplastics. By 2017, the USDA estimates the bioplastics market will consume more than two billion pounds of plastic a year. This equates to 100 million bushels of corn. Traditional plastics use five percent of the global petroleum supply.

Mether said this project is just one example of ICPB research yielding results for Iowa’s corn farmers.  ICPB investments are working to develop items such as bottles, dining utensils, and shopping bags, all of which can be made from corn.



Iowa State Survey Shows Farmers Using Information Technology for Decision-making

“Farmers are increasing their use of information technology devices, and for those who use them, they tend to access information to help with farming decisions,” said J. Gordon Arbuckle Jr., sociologist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. These findings are included in the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll: 2014 Summary Report (PM 3073).

The 2014 Farm Poll asked farmers about their use of various information technology and communication devices including basic cell phones, smartphones, computers, tablets and type of access to the Internet. The survey was completed during February and March 2014 by 1,090 Iowa farmers.

Devices with Internet access
The proportion of farmers who use a computer with high-speed Internet increased from 58 percent in 2012 to 70 percent in 2014, Arbuckle noted. Farmers’ use of smartphones and tablets is rapidly increasing as well.

“Since 2012, when we last asked farmers about their use of different information technologies, use of smartphones rose from 10 percent to 30 percent. Use of tablet computers, such as iPads and Kindles, also increased, from 10 percent in 2012 to 27 percent in 2014,” Arbuckle said.

Comparisons of technology use by age group showed younger farmers tended to use all technologies except basic cell phones at a higher rate than older farmers. “Sixty-four percent of farmers age 40 or under reported using a smartphone and 46 percent reported using tablets,” said Arbuckle. “Among farmers in the 61- to 70-year-old category, just 29 and 25 percent of farmers reported using smartphones and tablets, respectively.”

Device use for farm decision-making
Farmers were asked to estimate how often they used different devices to access information to help make farm-related decisions. “In general, if farmers indicated that they used a given technology at all, they also reported that they used it to help them make decisions about farming,” noted Arbuckle. “About three-quarters of farmers who reported that they use smartphones and about two-thirds of farmers who reported use of a tablet with a cellular data plan indicated that they use them either often or very often to support farm decision-making.”

Quality of life for farm families
Every two years since 1982, Farm Poll participants have been asked to evaluate quality of life, defined as “the degree of satisfaction with all aspects of life,” for their families and families in their communities. In 2014, 91 percent reported that quality of life for their families either stayed the same or improved over the previous five years.

“That tied the highest level ever reported in the 32-year history of the Farm Poll,” said Arbuckle. “Also, 85 percent indicated that quality of life among families in their communities had either remained the same or improved, which was the highest level ever reported on that question. A strong farm economy in the early 2010s likely buoyed perceptions of quality of life in many of Iowa’s rural communities.

“That said, Farm Poll participants were less optimistic about the future,” Arbuckle noted. “Nearly half of farmers predicted that economic prospects for farmers would decline over the next five years.”



FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR ADDITIONAL PROJECTS FOCUSED ON EXPANDING USE OF INNOVATIVE WATER QUALITY PRACTICES

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced today that funds are available for additional demonstration projects focused on expanding the use of innovative water quality practices.   Projects should emphasize installing practices, innovative methods of delivery and demonstrating results to farmers.

“We continue to see strong interest from a wide variety of groups and organization looking to work collaboratively with farmers and landowners to protect water quality.  Currently there are 29 collaborative, locally led projects from across that state bringing together over 100 individual partners, groups and businesses to advance water quality,” Northey said. “This new funding will help continue the momentum and allow us to continue to engage farmers and encourage even greater adoption of practices focused on protecting water quality.”

Funds are available through the Iowa Water Quality Initiative for proposals focused on practices identified in the Nutrient Reduction Strategy that have the greatest impact on reducing nutrient loss, such as bioreactors, saturated buffers, wetlands, buffer strips and cover crops. Projects are not limited to the nine priority watersheds identified by the Water Resources Coordinating Council, but projects in those watersheds will receive preference in the application process.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts, watershed groups and other non-governmental organizations are eligible to submit applications.  Applicants will be able to seek up to three years of funding for a project, with the possibility of future extensions depending on funding availability and project performance.

The deadline to apply is November 13th, 2015.  Application guidance can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under “Hot Topics” or can be requested by contacting the Department’s Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality at 515-281-5851.

Earlier this year four projects focused on expanding the use and innovative delivery of water quality practices beyond an individual watershed have also received funding.  These projects will receive $3.06 million in funding through the Iowa water quality initiative over the next three years and be matched by $2.59 million in funding from other sources.  These projects include projects that will focus on expanding the use of cover crops, edge of field practices such as bioreactors and saturated buffers, and usage of water quality wetlands.

“Practices like bioreactors and saturated buffers have been documented to have been shown to have significant and long lasting impact on reducing nutrient loss, but are relatively new practices,” Northey said. “These projects will help build on efforts to scale up the delivery of these practices and others to broaden adoption and recognition of these important technologies.”

The announcement of projects selected to receive funding is anticipated for early December, with January 1st, 2016 as the scheduled project start date.  More information can be found in the project application guidance found at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under “Hot Topics.”



Seeking Beef Producer Input

In connection with the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA), the checkoff is helping to distribute a producer survey about use of antibiotics on cattle operations. The survey was created with the help of Kansas State University, in respo nse to comments from the checkoff’s Safety Subcommittee at the 2015 Cattle Industry Summer Conference.  Take the survey here.... https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e5RY1NGhht1GGIB. 

NIAA has been a checkoff subcontractor to the National Livestock Producers Association, on authorization requests that have helped provide funding for a national symposium about use of antibiotics in food animals for each of the last five years. During their meeting in July, members of the checkoff's Safety Subcommittee discussed the need for more producer information on the topic, possibly gathered through a survey about their use of antibiotics. With that, NIAA worked with KSU to prepare a survey for producers, and all producers are encouraged to participate, so please take just a few minutes to complete it!



Barge Traffic Jam on Ohio River

A traffic jam of over 800 boats and barges has formed along a stretch of the Ohio River, as maintenance work ties up one of the busiest domestic shipping routes for grain, coal and other natural resources.

The delays started nearly a month ago after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers partially closed a lock outside Brookport, Ill. that allows vessels to navigate a portion of the Ohio River near where it feeds into the Mississippi River. That created a bottleneck that by midday Wednesday totaled 72 tow boats and 757 barges, according to Martin Hettel, a senior manager with AEP River Operations, a large inland river vessel operator. AEP had seven of its own tow boats waiting in the snarl, moving about 105 barges, mainly of grain. The lock is expected to fully reopen on Friday.

The section of river that includes the lock is among the busiest for transporting commodities within the U.S., with nearly 100 million tons of freight -- mostly corn, soybeans and other grains but also some coal and other resources -- passing through the portion of river that includes the lock each year. Lock-and-dam systems allow barges to navigate between waters that are at different elevations by raising or lowering the vessels from one part of a river to another.

Some shippers say that have faced more frequent delays over the last three years as lock-and-dam infrastructure ages. The Ohio River lock undergoing maintenance this month and another nearby lock, were built in 1929. They are scheduled to be replaced by the Olmsted Locks and Dam project in 2018, at a cost of $3 billion.

"Some of the repairs we're having to make are more significant than in past years, and I would expect that to continue," said Col. Chris Beck, district commander of the Corps.' Louisville office. "This infrastructure is extremely old."

Mr. Hettel, the tow boat and barge operator, said that so far this year, delays related to repairs at the lock have cost his company $46.5 million since 2013 in extra wages and fuel as well as missed incentives for on-time delivery.

Jim Tarmann, field services director of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, which represents farmers who ship their corn via river barges, said delays can be costly for growers because of the added shipping cost.

"We're right in the middle of the harvest, the busiest time of the year for us relying on the river system to take our corn to market," he said. "Any delays on the system, because we're the price-taker, and the buck stops with up, they fall back on the producer."



Open House Opens Many Eyes to Possibilities of Genotyping Center

The National Agricultural Genotyping Center held its first open house yesterday with representatives from government and industry on hand to tour the new facility and discuss the possibilities it will offer. With the board of directors in attendance, they established priorities and assigned responsibilities for the coming year.

"This facility is the first of its kind for a farmer-led association, giving growers more influence on research agendas," said Dr. Richard Vierling, director of research at NCGA. "NAGC will help growers increase production and lower costs. With so many stakeholders on hand and actively expressing interest, it was apparent to all present that the exciting potential for innovation is enormous and will lead to concrete results that can strengthen the bottom line for U.S. farmers."

The National Agricultural Genotyping Center will translate scientific discoveries, such as the information from the maize genome project, into solutions for production agriculture, food safety, functional foods, bioenergy and national security.

The NAGC partnership brings together Los Alamos National Laboratory, the premier research institution in the world with a proven track record in developing high-throughput genotyping technology, and the National Corn Growers Association, an organization representing more than 42,000 farmer members.



College Aggies Online scholarship competition kicks off September 28th

On Monday, September 28th, the Animal Agriculture Alliance will launch its annual College Aggies Online Scholarship Program (CAO). CAO is designed to help college students with an interest in agriculture become confident, positive and proactive communicators. The Alliance is excited to welcome a team of industry experts to advise and mentor students throughout the eight-week program.

"This year's College Aggies Online participants are really in for a rewarding experience," said Alliance President and CEO Kay Johnson Smith. "We are looking forward to helping connect future leaders in agriculture to our expert panel, which consists of experienced and renowned individuals in diverse fields, including online engagement, consumer communications, public policy and digital media."

Program mentors include:
·       Kristina Butts is a Texas native and alumna of Texas Tech University. She has spent the past 12 years serving agriculture through roles on Capitol Hill and with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. As NCBA's executive director of legislative affairs, she leads the organization's legislative engagement on nutrition and food safety policy issues and leads a team who represent America's cattlemen and women on Capitol Hill.

·       Ilina Ewen writes at Dirt & Noise and is a seasoned marketer with 25 years of marketing, brand strategy, communications, and writing experience. Her experience on both the agency and client side of marketing communications affords her a keen understanding of both perspectives. She has an M.S. in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and a B.A. in history from the University of Virginia.

·       Lisa M. Frame is a freelance writer, social media strategist and blogger who currently lives just outside of Charlotte, NC. Blogging since 2002, Lisa has written on assignment for The Savvy Source, Intel, MomLogic, Home Made Simple, Safely, Life 360, Tech Savvy Mama and more. When she's not wearing the keys off of her laptop, she's behind a camera lens or obsessing over her Pinterest boards.

·       Casey Hushon is an account supervisor with Charleston|Orwig, an integrated marketing communications agency in Hartland, Wisconsin. Casey has been with C|O for the past 8 years where she has held numerous roles in public relations and account service. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in dairy science and a minor in professional writing. Casey hails from Maine where her family still resides. Her aunt, uncle and cousins own and operate Castonguay Ayrshires, a dairy farm that ignited her passion for the industry at a young age.

·       Rebecca Shaw is the dairy marketing specialist at Cargill Animal Nutrition. She grew up working on her grandparents' 200-cow dairy farm, and currently works on her family's calf and heifer raising operations. She is a 2014 graduate of Penn State with a degree in agribusiness management, and has since been very involved with social media and advocacy of the dairy an agricultural industries. Rebecca posts about agriculture on a blog, Facebook page and Instagram under the name "The Cow Chronicler."

·       Andy Vance began his career in farm media as a college intern in Columbus, Ohio, and spent ten years as a broadcast journalist at WRFD-AM, the Buckeye Ag Radio Network and ABN Radio. During his time behind the microphone, he became a noted authority on the use of digital and social media in agriculture.  In 2010, Andy made the transition to print media when he joined Feedstuffs as a contributor and blogger. Today, in addition to writing, podcasting and speaking, Andy designs multi-platform campaigns for advertisers reaching an agricultural audience via Feedstuffs, National Hog Farmer and BEEF Magazine.

·       Krissa Welshans works as a staff editor for Feedstuffs covering livestock and feed news. Krissa holds a B.S. in animal science from Michigan State University and an M.S. in public policy from New England College. Before joining Feedstuffs, Krissa worked for the National Pork Producers Council and the Animal Agriculture Alliance. Krissa and her husband live in Marlette, Michigan and are actively involved in the beef industry.

The Alliance is also pleased to welcome Tyson Foods, Inc. back as a CAO sponsor for 2015. Tyson Foods has supported CAO each year since 2013.

"We are thrilled to have Tyson Foods involved with College Aggies again this year," said Hannah Thompson, Alliance communications director. "From inviting program winners to its Arkansas headquarters to donating a truckload of protein to the community on behalf winning club from the food drive challenge, the Tyson Foods team goes above and beyond to help make this program something very special."

This fall's competition will include new, creative assignments, increased participant interaction with industry experts, and a more comprehensive internship and career database. Individuals and collegiate agriculture clubs can compete in challenges ranging from writing blogs and engaging with stakeholders using social media, to volunteering at food banks and hosting events on their college campuses.

The final points from the weekly challenges will be tallied in November 2015 and the club with the most points will receive a $5,000 scholarship, national recognition and a trip for two representatives to attend the Alliance's annual Stakeholders Summit in May. The first place individual will win a $2,500 scholarship and a trip to Summit. Scholarships and recognition will also be awarded to the first and second runner-up clubs as well as to the second and third placing individuals.

To learn more about the competition and how to sign up, please visit the Alliance website.

College Aggies Online Sponsors
CAO would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. 2015 sponsors include: Tyson Foods, Inc., Dairy Management, Inc., National Pork Producers Council Foundation, United Soybean Board, National Turkey Federation, Ohio Poultry Association and the American Dairy Science Association. For more information on how you can support CAO, contact Allyson Jones-Brimmer, Alliance membership and marketing manager, at ajonesbrimmer@animalagalliance.org.



Tips for Preventing Violative Residues
Don’t let violations damage your operation’s reputation

Every day, U.S. dairy producers work hard to ensure the highest standards of quality and safety. Although dairy cattle make up less than a tenth of the total cattle sent to market, data shows they account for 90 percent of the violative residues on an annual basis. When inspectors find drug residues in milk and meat, it’s most often because product labels or withholding times for milk and meat weren’t followed at the farm level.

“We have a huge responsibility to consumers to make sure we supply them with a safe, wholesome and quality product with no residues — in both meat and milk,” said Gary Neubauer, DVM, senior manager, Dairy Technical Services, Zoetis. “If we can do that, they’ll have confidence in buying our products, which hopefully should help producers and the dairy industry in the long run.”

Just one single residue violation can erode consumer confidence. Help your dairy avoid the damage of drug residue violations by recognizing their leading causes and establishing procedures to avoid them. Start with these tips:

Consult with your veterinarian regularly. Having a strong veterinarian-client-patient relationship and including your veterinarian in regular conversations with your management team not only helps improve cow health and the overall performance of your herd but also helps prevent residues in milk and meat.

Keep written treatment protocols up to date. All treatment protocols should be in writing. Review protocols with your veterinarian at least twice a year to make sure they are up to date and appropriate for your operation. Also review protocols with farm employees — especially those administrating animal health treatments. Written protocols should include:
·         How to diagnose the disease
·         Which medications and doses are approved for treatment
·         Instructions for administration
·         Milk discard and pre-slaughter withdrawal times
·         Steps to ensure that cows are withheld the appropriate amount of time

Maintain accurate treatment records. If your operation doesn’t keep accurate records, you’ll significantly increase the risk of a drug residue violation. All records should note the following:
·         Animal treated
·         Date and time of treatment
·         Drug and dosage administered
·         Route of administration
·         Length of any milk discard or pre-slaughter withdrawal times

Always follow labeled instructions. Only a veterinarian can prescribe extra-label uses and determine appropriate withholding times based on dosage and route of administration. Make sure your operation always follows labeled dosages for any drugs as prescribed by a veterinarian or purchased over the counter.

Retrain employees on treatment protocols at least twice a year. Keep all employees on the same page and prevent treatment protocol drift by retraining employees who administer medications at least every six months. Train new employees before allowing them to administer products.

Use separate drug storage areas for lactating and non-lactating cows. Most violative drug residues are caused by human error. Clearly labeling and keeping medicines for lactating and non-lactating cows in separate areas is an easy way to avoid a simple mistake that can have major consequences.

Don’t think residue violations could affect your operation? Understand the risks. Take this 10-question Residue Risk Assessment to learn how your operation needs to maximize its residue avoidance procedures.