Tuesday October 6 Ag News

FARMERS, RANCHERS SHARE VIDEO TESTIMONIALS ON BENEFITS OF NEXTGEN PROGRAM

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is providing another avenue for beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as asset owners, to learn more about the NextGen program. A series of videos is now available online at www.nextgen.nebraska.gov. The vignettes feature farmers and ranchers telling their own stories about how they benefitted from taking part in the program.

“Hearing firsthand from people who have participated in NextGen will resonate with other beginning farmers, ranchers and asset owners who have had an interest in taking advantage of the program,” NDA Director Greg Ibach said. “We want to make sure people are aware of the benefits they can derive from NextGen. Our ultimate goal is to provide ample opportunities for the next generation of farmers and ranchers in Nebraska to be successful in getting started in their own agricultural operations.”

The NextGen program was created by the Nebraska Legislature to assist farmers and ranchers who are beginning a career in production agriculture. The program has two parts: the personal property tax exemption for beginning farmers, and tax credits that are offered to existing farmers or ranchers who own agricultural assets and partner with a beginning farmer or rancher. The program is administered by NDA.

Ibach said two deadlines are fast approaching to participate in NextGen for 2015.

Beginning farmers and ranchers, who are interested in applying for the 2015 personal property tax exemption, must have their applications postmarked by Nov. 1, 2015. This program provides qualified beginning farmers with a tax exemption on personal property used in production agriculture or horticulture, valued up to $100,000.

Applicants applying for income tax credits must submit their own paperwork as well as paperwork from the beginning farmer/rancher to whom they are leasing an asset. Applications must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2015, for people seeking the 2015 tax credits.

According to NDA’s NextGen Program Manager Karla Bahm, the program has assisted 358 beginning farmers and ranchers and has provided $7.4 million in Nebraska income tax credits to asset owners since its implementation in 1999.

For eligibility requirements and other details regarding the NextGen program, visit www.nextgen.nebraska.gov or call 800-446-4071.



Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming Land Update

During the first half of 2015, the wide region covering Colorado, western South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming saw continued healthy land sales activity. While values have not increased significantly, they are still at a steady, high level. As the demand for average to medium quality cropland has softened as much as 10% to 20%, individual areas in south-central and southwest Nebraska have seen 25% decreases in land prices, said JD Maxson, area sales manager for Farmers National Company in North Platte, Nebraska. 

Area demand still remains strong for high quality farms with top class soils, excellent access, and gentle, rolling topography. However, a lack of high quality cropland inventory available has slowed the overall land market, Maxson said.

Land auctions held in eastern Nebraska during the first half of 2015 drew sales at or above appraised prices. "The key to this auction activity is prime location," said Maxson. "Areas in south-central and western Nebraska conversely are feeling the impact of lower commodity prices."

High inputs and shorter profit margins have area farm operators and investors concerned with bottom line profits. With overall cattle numbers down, grazing acres and pasture grass remain relatively strong, as livestock producers focus on building their herds. 

"Looking toward the end of 2015, we are likely to continue to see relatively flat land prices if we do not see an upward movement in commodity price," said Maxson.

Prices in this wide region are ranging from $4,000 to $10,500 per acre for high quality tillable acres, with location, soils, and topography dictating price. 



Fall BQA Certification Off to a Great Start

Attention beef and dairy producers! You can become Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)-certified for free online through Nov. 20! Chase DeCoite, associate director of the checkoff’s Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, says there has been great participation since the free certification campaign kicked off mid-September.  DeCoite says,  “We’ve seen great uptake on the fall free certification campaign for the Beef Quality Assurance program. Over 1,200 producers and those involved in the cattle industry have already signed up to complete their BQA certification campaign, and we really just don’t see the momentum stopping.” 

DeCoite has been traveling across the country for various tradeshows and says “word on the street” is that producers are very interested in BQA and what it means to their own operations. He says,  “You know obviously fall is a big time for meetings and conventions within the cattle industry. We’ve been out on the road at the Bovine Practitioners conference, at the World Dairy Expo, we still have the Range Beef Cow Symposium coming up, so lots of opportunities to interact with producers. But really word on the street is just that producers are proud to be BQA-certified and they’re encouraging their friends. They’re very interested in it, they’ve at least heard of it and they want to know what it takes. This free certification campaign is perfectly timed for them to be able to take advantage of it and if they’re interested, they can go through it and see what it’s all about.”

DeCoite says the BQA program is important to the cattle industry because it is a producers’ consumer-friendly story to tell.  “Beef Quality Assurance is really the basis for producing beef responsibly. What we do on our farms and ranches is already a very progressive and responsible way of producing beef. Beef Quality Assurance just gives us a program that we can turn to when we’re talking to consumer groups, when we’re talking to those retail and foodservice folks, and share with them this is what it’s founded on and this is why we produce beef this way. So it’s really a story that can put some confidence in the consumer when they’re buying their beef product.”

Visit BQA.org/ to sign up to become BQA-certified.



Beef Checkoff "Talks About Food" at Boston Globe Event

This past weekend, the beef checkoff’s Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI) took part in the Boston Globe event in downtown Boston, Mass., called “Let’s Talk About Food.” The festival was designed to encourage conversations and discussion centered on food, food production and healthy living. An estimated 12,000 Boston locals braved the chilly, misty weather to attend the event.

The checkoff’s NEBPI partnered with the Maryland Beef Council to support Dr. Scott Barao, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Maryland Beef Council, was a part of the “Meat, What About Those Other Cuts” program that explored the home uses of under-utilized beef cuts. Barao was joined by a local Boston chef and butcher to help encourage consumers to take advantage of the lesser-known cuts on the beef carcass.

"There are many underutilized and under-appreciated cuts of beef that represent excellent value for consumers and also enhance their beef-eating experiences,” noted Barao. “The more we can do to help consumers select and prepare beef cuts from across the entire carcass, the more efficient, profitable, and sustainable we become as a beef industry."

Checkoff staff and Courtney Love, Penn State student and member of the “Millennial-to-Millennial” youth advocate program, were on hand at the event to engage in conversations about beef cookery, cuts, the community and production.

"Let’s Talk About Food was a great opportunity for the beef industry to showcase and promote today's beef as part of a healthy and delicious diet. The NEBPI staff provided an important presence at this premier foodie event and were effective in engaging one-on-one interaction with countless consumers throughout the day," said Barao.

For more information about your beef checkoff investment, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.




DTN Retail Fertilizer Trends - Potash Lower Once Again

Retail fertilizer prices continue to slowly drift lower, according to sellers tracked by DTN for the fifth week of September 2015.

Only one fertilizer type had a price decline of any significance. Potash was down 5% compared to last month with an average price of $450/ton. This is the lowest average potash price in the history of the DTN retail fertilizer prices, which began in November 2008.

The remaining seven major fertilizers were just slightly lower in price compared to a month prior.

DAP had an average price of $561/ton, MAP $573/ton, urea $424/ton, 10-34-0 $594/ton, anhydrous $644/ton, UAN28 $295/ton and UAN32 $342/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.46/lb.N, anhydrous $0.39/lb.N, UAN28 $0.53/lb.N and UAN32 $0.53/lb.N.

Comparing current retail fertilizer prices to year-ago levels, DTN reporting shows only one crop nutrient type, 10-34-0, is higher, up 7% higher from last year.

The remaining seven nutrients are now lower compared to a year ago. DAP is 3% lower, MAP is 4% less expensive, potash 6% lower, anhydrous is 7% lower, UAN32 is 9% less expensive, UAN28 is 10% lower and urea is 18% less expensive from a year previous.



EIA Ethanol, Biodiesel Outlook

The Energy Information Administration in its latest monthly report reiterated that ethanol production, which averaged 934,000 bpd in 2014, would average more than 950,000 bpd in both 2015 and 2016.

In its October Short-Term Energy Outlook, the agency said ethanol consumption, which averaged 877,000 bpd in 2014, is forecast to average slightly more than 900,000 bpd in both 2015 and 2016 resulting in an average 9.9% ethanol share of the total gasoline pool. This forecast mirrored the September estimate. EIA again said it does not expect significant increases in E15 or E85 consumption over the forecast period.

"On May 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a rule setting Renewable Fuel Standard targets for 2014 through 2016. Although these targets could be modified before the final rule is issued, they are used in developing the current STEO," EIA said.

EIA continues to say the proposed RFS targets could encourage imports of Brazilian sugarcane ethanol, which were 3,000 bpd in 2014.

EIA reiterated that it expects the largest effect of the proposed RFS targets to be on biodiesel consumption, which contributes to meeting the biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel RFS targets.

Biodiesel production averaged an estimated 83,000 bpd in 2014 and is forecast to average 92,000 bpd in 2015, slightly higher than last month's estimate, and 98,000 bpd in 2016, steady with September's outlook.

Net imports of biomass-based diesel are also expected to increase from 15,000 bpd in 2014 to 25,000 bpd this year and 35,000 bpd next year. This compares with estimates last month at 23,000 bpd and 35,000 bpd, respectively.



DDG Exports to China Continue Strong Pace

USDA's Foreign Ag Service said exports of U.S. ethanol declined in August from the same month the year prior, but dried distillers grains exports climbed.

U.S. ethanol exports totaled 50.1 million gallons in August, down 7% from the previous year, USDA said in a monthly export trade report. Year-to-date exports for 2015 are 6% higher.

Exports of DDG totaled 1.279 million metric tons in August, up 19% from a year ago. The year-to-date total is also higher, up 3%.

Chinese demand remains particularly strong. Exports of DDG to China were 41% higher in August than they were the year prior. 2015 year-to-date exports to China are up 23%.

Exports of biodiesel were down 1% in August from the previous month at 36,684.3 metric tons. Year-to-date exports are 10% lower than a year ago.



Fall is a Great Time for Farm Bureau Photo Contest Pics

The American Farm Bureau Federation, in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, recently announced the 2015 Farm Bureau Photo Contest. The contest is open to all state and county Farm Bureau members and staff above 18 years of age at the time of entry, including professional photographers.

"Fall is a great time to take photos of farmers and ranchers working safely during harvest, birthing calves, or even working at agri-tourism events such as pumpkin patches and corn mazes" said Kim Baker, AFBF's assistant director, creative services. "The changing leaves in the fall offer a beautiful backdrop for agriculture-related pictures."

Photo submissions will be used to accurately portray today's agriculture and the safe practices of farmers and ranchers. Additionally, submissions will also be used for future publications, promotions and social media by AFBF and related companies. All photos submitted must exemplify safe practices on the farm or ranch.

The contest is open for submissions until March 31, 2016. Photos may be entered in four categories: Farm Families, Farm Labor, Technology and Consumer Outreach. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top three placing photos from each category. First place winners will be awarded $150, second place $100 and third place $75.

Contest winners will be announced April 15, 2016, on Farm Bureau's social media platforms and website.

For more information on how to register and to view the contest rules and regulations, visit the 2015 Farm Bureau Photo Contest webpage at http://www.fb.org/programs/photocontest/. Questions about the contest may be sent via email to photocontest@fb.org.



Ukraine Grain Exports Up

Ukraine exported 10 million metric tons of grain between the July 1 start of the marketing year and Oct. 5, outstripping last year's pace despite predictions that the harvest and exports would fall because of political instability, the agriculture ministry reported Tuesday.

The ministry said the total amount of export to date included 5.64 million tons of wheat, 2.94 million tons of barley and 640,000 tons of corn.

According to the ministry's past reports, Ukraine exported 8.61 million tons of grain in the comparable period last year, including 4.98 million tons of wheat, 2.87 million tons of barley and 1.45 million tons of corn.

The agriculture ministry expects this year's grain harvest to fall to about 60.5 million tons from 63.8 million tons because of adverse weather conditions and political instability. Still, exports in the 2015-2016 marketing year are expected to increase to 36 million tons from 34.8 million tons in 2014-15, due to the country's increased grain stocks.



Registration Open, Rules Announced for National Wheat Yield Contest

Entries are now being accepted for the first National Wheat Yield Contest in over 20 years. The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) announced the official contest rules and opened registration on their website today for the inaugural year of the contest. The highly anticipated yield competition, first unveiled at the 2015 Commodity Classic, is made possible by the generous support of National Wheat Yield Contest industry category partners BASF (crop protection), Monsanto (seed), John Deere (equipment)  and Winfield (agronomic services).

“We have been eagerly awaiting the launch of the National Wheat Yield Contest and look forward to U.S. wheat farmers competing with the best available technology to demonstrate how they can increase productivity, drive innovation and enable knowledge transfer between growers,” said NWF Chairman Dusty Tallman, a wheat grower from Brandon, Colo.

Wheat growers can compete in two primary contest categories - winter wheat and spring wheat. There will be two sub-categories for each category, respectively, for dry land and irrigated wheat production. Entrants must be a producer, at least 14 years of age, and member of their recognized state wheat grower association, or if from a state without a recognized state wheat grower organization, a member of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG). All contest entries must use certified or branded, and currently commercially available, wheat seed.

Early registration deadlines are April 1 for winter wheat and June 15 for spring wheat. The entry fee for early registration is $100 per seed entry. After the early registration deadline, the entry fee is $125 per seed entry. All entry forms and contest fees must be entered online completely by 5:00pm Eastern Time on May 1 for winter wheat or August 1 for spring wheat to be eligible to compete.

“It’s an exciting time to be involved with wheat and Monsanto is proud to be a sponsor,” said Dr. Jeff Koscelny, Wheat Commercial Lead at Monsanto. “This national yield contest provides a great platform for U.S. wheat farmers to showcase the genetic potential of today’s wheat seed and the innovative farm management practices and technologies being deployed.”

Five national winners will be recognized in each category and sub-category. Winners of the inaugural contest will be formally recognized at the 2017 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas.

For full contest rules and to enter the 2015-16 National Wheat Yield Contest, go to the NWF website at wheatfoundation.org and click on the contest “button” on the homepage.



Bunge Acquires Whole Harvest Foods

Bunge North America, the North American operating arm of Bunge Limited, announced that it purchased Whole Harvest Foods, LLC, a leading refiner and packager of expeller pressed commercial cooking oil.

Whole Harvest Foods products, which including frying oils, pan sprays and liquid butter alternatives are manufactured at its vegetable oil refinery and packaging facility in Warsaw, North Carolina, and its packaging plant in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"Whole Harvest Foods' patented refining process creates a host of minimally processed products that have excellent taste and texture, a long fry life and require no artificial preservatives," said Tim Gallagher, executive vice president, Oilseed Value Chain, Bunge North America. "As 'The Oil Experts,' the Whole Harvest Foods products are a great addition to our product portfolio delivering the simple label features that our customers want."

Whole Harvest Foods' products are made from expeller pressed canola, cottonseed and soy oils and will provide solutions to both Bunge's consumer food manufacturer and foodservice customers. The company has about 35 employees at its two locations who will become a part of the Bunge team.

Financial terms were not disclosed.