Wednesday December 23 Hogs & Pigs Report + Ag News

NEBRASKA HOG INVENTORY UP 3 PERCENT

Nebraska inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2015, was 3.3 million head, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This was up 3 percent from December 1, 2014, and up 3 percent from September 1, 2015.

Breeding hog inventory, at 420,000 head, was up 5 percent from December 1, 2014, and up 2 percent from last quarter. Market hog inventory, at 2.88 million head, was up 3 percent from last year, and up 3 percent from last quarter.

The September - November 2015 Nebraska pig crop, at 1.95 million head, was down 1 percent from 2014. Sows farrowed during the period totaled 175,000 head, down 3 percent from last year. The average pigs saved per litter was a record 11.15 for the September - November period, compared to 11.00 last year.

Nebraska hog producers intend to farrow 170,000 sows during the December 2015 – February 2016 quarter, unchanged from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago. Intended farrowings for March – May 2016 are 170,00



IOWA HOG INVENTORY REPORT

On December 1, 2015, there were 20.8 million hogs and pigs on Iowa farms, according to the latest USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Hogs and Pigs report. The December 1 inventory was down 2 percent from September and down 2 percent from last December’s 21.3 million head.

The September-November quarterly pig crop was 5.61 million head, up 4 percent from the previous quarter and 3 percent above 2014. A total of 510,000 sows farrowed during this quarter. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.00 for the September-November quarter, a record high.

As of December 1, producers planned to farrow 500,000 head of sows and gilts in the December 2015-February 2016 quarter and 495,000 head during the March-May 2016 quarter.



United States Hog Inventory Up 1 Percent

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2015 was 68.3 million head. This was up 1 percent from December 1, 2014, and up slightly from September 1, 2015. This is the highest inventory of all hogs and pigs since quarterly United States estimates began in 1988.

Breeding inventory, at 6.00 million head, was up 1 percent from last year, and up slightly from the previous quarter.

Market hog inventory, at 62.3 million head, was up 1 percent from last year, and up slightly from last quarter. This is the highest market hog inventory since quarterly United States estimates began in 1988.

The September-November 2015 pig crop, at 30.3 million head, was down 1 percent from 2014. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.88 million head, down 4 percent from 2014. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 48 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.53 for the September-November period, compared to 10.23 last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 8.20 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 10.60 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

United States hog producers intend to have 2.84 million sows farrow during the December-February 2016 quarter, down 2 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period in 2015, but up 3 percent from 2014. Intended farrowings for March-May 2016, at 2.85 million sows, are down slightly from 2015, but up 1 percent from 2014.

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 46 percent of the total United States hog inventory, unchanged from last year.



USDA:  Commercial Red Meat Production Up 7 Percent From Last Year

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.03 billion pounds in November, up 7 percent from the 3.76 billion pounds produced in November 2014.

Beef production, at 1.93 billion pounds, was 5 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.29 million head, up 2 percent from November 2014. The average live weight was up 30 pounds from the previous year, at 1,393 pounds.

Veal production totaled 7.1 million pounds, 9 percent above November a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 38,800 head, up 8 percent from November 2014. The average live weight was up 4 pounds from last year, at 310 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.08 billion pounds, up 10 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.76 million head, up 11 percent from November 2014. The average live weight was down 1 pound from the previous year, at 285 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 11.8 million pounds, was up 3 percent from November 2014. Sheep slaughter totaled 181,100 head, 5 percent above last year. The average live wight was 130 pounds, down 3 pounds from November a year ago.

Red Meat Production by State in Nov 2015
                                     (1,000 lbs - % of Nov '14) 
Nebraska ..............:         653.4     -       110      
Iowa .....................:         577.6     -       105      
Kansas ..................:        391.0     -       104      

January to November 2015 commercial red meat production was 44.1 billion pounds, up 2 percent from 2014. Accumulated beef production was down 3 percent from last year, veal was down 13 percent, pork was up 8 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 4 percent.

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Nebraska Cover Crops: What, Where, and How

Earlier this year 258 Nebraska farmers responded to a University of Nebraska-Lincoln survey, sharing information and insights on their current management practices and the use of cover crops in Nebraska cropping systems. Farmers attending the 2015 Pesticide Safety Education Program Courses, Crop Production Clinics, and the Nebraska No-till Conferences were invited to take the survey.

The results of the survey showed:
-    Of the participating farmers, 34% planted cover crops during the previous cropping season.
-    The top ranked barrier to cover crop use was time and labor required to manage cover crops. This was followed closely by cover crop seed cost.
-    Despite being a small proportion of the acres managed, corn silage and hybrid seed corn acres made up slightly over one-third of the cover crop acres.
-    Brassicas and winter cereal grains were the most commonly planted cover crops.
-    Of the farmers who planted cover crops, 49% grazed some portion of their cover crop acres.

For more information on the survey results, please see the Cover Crop Survey of Nebraska Farmers Summary... http://cropwatch.unl.edu/cover-crop-survey-nebraska-farmers. 

Also watch for more information and a follow-up cover crop survey at Nebraska Extension meetings this winter, including the Crop Production Clinics.



CVA Coop Makes Investment for Kansas Member-Owners

Central Valley Ag Cooperative (CVA) has purchased a percentage of the Concordia Grain Terminal in Concordia, Kansas and will be joining AgMark Grain Marketing LLC. Concordia Terminal LLC partners are Cloud County Coop of Concordia Kansas, Farmway Coop of Beloit Kansas and Randall Farmers Union Coop of Randall Kansas. AgMark LLC partners are Farmway Coop, Cloud County Coop, Randall Farmers Union Coop and Pro-Ag Marketing.

“We believe this opportunity further demonstrates how local cooperatives can work together to add value for their members,” said Carl Dickinson, CEO of CVA. “We feel that joining other cooperatives is a much better answer than building duplicate assets.

The Concordia Grain Terminal is located on Highway 81 and Highway 9 in Concordia, Kansas this will provide the long needed rail access to provide member-owners with speed, space and access to the rail markets for years to come. Member-owners near CVA locations in Narka, Haddam, Washington, Greenleaf, Norway, Agenda, Linn, Barnes, Clyde and Clifton Kansas will benefit from this investment.



PorkBridge and SowBridge Program Registrations Now Open

Registrations for two valuable distance education programs for specific segments of the pork industry are now open through Iowa State University. SowBridge, for people who work with boars, sows and their litters, begins its eighth year, and PorkBridge, for those affiliated with grow-finish facilities, begins its 10th year, both in February 2016.

Iowa State animal science professor and extension swine specialist Ken Stalder said comments and suggestions from subscribers help maintain the value of both programs for future participants.

“These programs provide our subscribers with the opportunity to hear directly from experts on topics of current interest, and to contact those experts following the individual sessions,“ Stalder said. “We are also pleased to announce the registration fee has not changed for either program.”

Both program registration fees provide access to one phone line per session and all program materials for each registration, Stalder said. Program costs are slightly different for those with non-U.S. mailing addresses, and potential subscribers from outside the U.S. are encouraged to contact Sherry Hoyer at Iowa Pork Industry Center by phone at 515-294-4496 or email shoyer@iastate.edu for more information. Iowa residents who want more information on either program can call IPIC at 800-808-7675.

Before each session, subscribers will receive an email message with links to download the materials for that session. Most participants will call a toll-free conference line to listen to and interact with presenters, and the audio portions of all sessions for both programs are recorded. Links to download those recordings are sent to all subscribers of the respective program after each session.

Registrations for both programs are due Jan. 10, 2016, to ensure participants receive materials in time for the first session of each program.

SowBridge
Registration is $250 for the 12-session program year. Sessions are approximately 45 minutes long, and are on the first Wednesday of each month beginning at 11:30 a.m. Central Time. See the program brochure with registration panel.

PorkBridge
Registration is $125 for six sessions delivered on an every-other-month basis. These sessions are approximately 90 minutes long, and begin at noon Central time on the first Thursday of the specified months. See the program brochure with registration panel.

SowBridge and PorkBridge are sponsored by a group of 11 state universities – including Iowa State – from the major swine producing states.



Feedlot Forum 2016 to Focus on Pressing Issues

Feedlot Forum 2016 is an annual event but very little in the cattle industry seems to be annual or "regular" these days, according to Beth Doran, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

"The 2016 forum features a few of the latest pressures feedlot producers are facing," Doran said. "Defending agriculture, sustainability, competitiveness, drug usage and profitability are real issues challenging today's beef producers."

Feedlot Forum 2016 is set for Jan. 19 at the Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center and runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The program features more than 20 trade show exhibitors and includes presentations by industry experts.

-- Gary Sides, technical services nutritionist for Zoetis, speaks on "Modern Ag in a Facebook Culture"

-- Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, executive director of global sustainability for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, asks, "Is Beef Production Sustainable?"

-- Lee Schulz, extension livestock market economist with Iowa State University, talks about the status of the Iowa feedlot industry

-- Dr. Mike Apley with production medicine/clinical pharmacology at Kansas State University, speaks on implementing the veterinary feed directive

-- Carl Babler, senior hedge specialist with Atten Babler Commodities, reports "Feeding Cattle in a Global Market: Situation and Outlook"

-- Steve Rehder and Kent Pruismann, board members with the Iowa Beef Industry Council, talk about why we need the Beef Checkoff

-- District 1 Director Craig Moss with Iowa Cattlemen's Association gives the District One ICA update

Registration is $25 per person with student registration $10 per person. Registrations are due Jan. 12 to the ISU Extension and Outreach Office in Sioux County. For more information, contact Beth Doran at 712-737-4230 or email doranb@iastate.edu.



Iowa Counties Sign Up to Evaluate Animal Confinement Sites

Counties interested in evaluating proposed animal feeding facilities must adopt and submit a construction evaluation resolution to the DNR between Jan. 1 and 31.

About 87 counties pass a resolution each year, which allows them to review construction permit applications required for larger totally roofed animal feeding operations (confinements).

The Master Matrix development, submittal and approval process allows applicants and county supervisors to discuss options for site selection, facility type and management.

"County supervisors review the master matrix items selected by the applicant and determine if a passing score for the matrix has been achieved. The county then submits a recommendation to the DNR on the permit application," said Ken Hessenius, the DNR's animal feeding operations enforcement coordinator.

Producers in counties that file the resolutions must meet higher standards than permitted sites in other counties. They must earn points on a master matrix by choosing a site and using practices that reduce effects on the environment and the community.

Counties that participate in the master matrix process may accompany the DNR on site visits to proposed locations. The county board of supervisors may also appeal the DNR's preliminary approval of a permit to the Environmental Protection Commission.

County boards of supervisors may approve the resolutions at any time, but must mail resolutions between Jan. 1 and 31, 2016, to Jerah Sheets at the DNR, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319, email to Jerah.Sheets@dnr.iowa.gov or fax to 515-725-8202. Sign-ups in January apply to permit applications received in the following February through January of 2017.

For historical information on counties that adopted resolutions, check the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/afo and search for master matrix.

Additional information is available from the Iowa State Association of Counties at www.iowacounties.org/.



NEW Coop Annual Meeting Highlights Successful Year

The 43rd Annual Meeting of NEW Cooperative Inc. was held Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at the Webster County Fairgrounds. More than 350 members turned out for the dinner event.

General Manager, Dan Dix and Board President, Brian Wagner highlighted another impressive fiscal year, with an emphasis on the increase in both Local Net Savings and Capital Asset additions over the past 5 years.

Dean Lemke, Director of the Nutrient Management and Environmental Stewardship for the Agribusiness Association of Iowa was the guest speaker of the night. Lemke covered water quality issues and gave some insight to the members specifically on the Des Moines Water Works lawsuit.

The 2015-16 NEW Cooperative Scholarship Recipients were recognized and awarded their scholarship certificates.  This year’s recipients were Matt Aden, Jacob Clark, Taylor Hintch, Brett Holtorf, Jacob Lauver, Tristan Seil and Celeste Swanson.

Voting ballots were collected and counted, and the results of the 2016 Board of Director Elections were determined.  Roger Nelson, Troy Melohn and Roger Coon were re-elected to each serve another 3 year team on the board.



Iowa Corn Hosts Discussion Talking Soil Health with Secretary Northey

As farmers, we believe in being stewards of the land and water for our families, our communities and the next generation. Iowa Corn Promotion Board continues to take the lead in helping farmers find sustainable and doable science-based solutions to conservation and water quality issues. As part of this effort, Iowa Corn announced today it will hold a farmer-to-farmer roundtable discussion on Friday, January 15 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Fisher Theater, Iowa State University in Ames.

Invited to moderate the discussion is Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. Three Iowa farmers will share their conservation practices. Northey will lead the panel in discussions on investing in technologies and practices to improve soil and water quality.  Participants will include:
 ·    Jerry Mohr, East-central Iowa Farmer
 ·    Jolene Riessen: Northwest Iowa Farmer
 ·    Steve Berger: Southeast Iowa Farmer

As Chairman of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Jerry Mohr understands the importance of using conservation practices, like incorporating cover crops, as a means of implementing the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. “The way I look at it is, when dirt moves, part of me moves,” said Mohr. “We need to preserve the top soil so we can grow productive crops today and for the next generations. The more we can convene as farmers in adopting changes, the further we will be in having a long-term positive impact.”

To participate, go to www.iowacorn.org/water for information on attending in-person or watching the discussion via livestream.

Iowa Corn key water quality initiatives include:
 ·    Engaging in unique initiatives like the Soil Health Partnership which employ real-world, farmer-to-farmer education and encourage adoption of practices to support soil and water quality.
 ·    Working with the Iowa Ag Water Alliance to unify agriculture’s water quality efforts.
 ·    Proactively communicating the positive steps farmers are taking to implement these practices on their farms.



EIA Shows Ethanol Stock Build

U.S. Energy Information Administration reported domestic ethanol inventories increased by 100,000 barrels (bbl) to 20.4 million bbl in the week-ended Dec. 18, pushing the year-over-year surplus up 2.8 million bbl, or 15.7%.

The report showed domestic ethanol production decreased last week by 27,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 2.7%, to 973,000 bpd while down 2.0% year-on-year.

No ethanol imports were reported for the week-ended Dec. 18 after 32,000 bpd of ethanol imports were received by the United States a week earlier.

Blender inputs, a gauge for ethanol demand, declined 10,000 bpd, or 1.1%, to 880,000 bpd while unchanged from a year earlier.



USDA Trade Mission Spurs Record Ethanol Exports to China

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a significant jump in ethanol exports to China this year, following a USDA-led trade mission to the country last year. Representatives from nine state departments of agriculture and 28 U.S. companies, including renewable fuels businesses, traveled to northeast China to explore opportunities for trade in the region.

China is the largest market for U.S. food and farm products – U.S. agricultural exports to the country tripled over the last decade, now accounting for nearly 20 percent of all foreign sales of U.S. agricultural products.

“Our objective for every trade mission is to create new markets for farm products made in rural America,” said USDA Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse, who led the mission. “U.S. ethanol exports to China have jumped from $8 million to more than $86 million since our May 2014 visit. In October, we exported more ethanol to China than in the previous 10 years combined.”

Scuse led the delegation to promote U.S. agriculture, and explore the role that renewable fuels might play in China’s long-term clean energy strategy. The delegation met with gasoline companies, fuel blenders, oil companies, commodity traders, and government officials to promote the benefits of using higher ethanol blends. During October, the U.S. exported 32.5 million gallons of ethanol to China, valued at $57 million, or 46 percent of total U.S. ethanol exports for the month. Previous U.S. exports of ethanol to China averaged less than $3 million annually from 2005 to 2014.

Earlier this year, USDA partnered with 21 states through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) to nearly double the number of fueling pumps nationwide, expanding the ethanol refueling infrastructure by nearly 5,000 pumps, a $210 million investment that will give consumers access to clean, American-made biofuels, and provide more choices at the pump.

“These are the kind of initiatives that strengthen our rural communities, and open new doors and help our farmers and ranchers capitalize on the tremendous export potential for American agricultural products,” said Scuse.

The past seven years have represented the strongest period for American agricultural exports in the history of our country, with U.S. agricultural product exports totaling $911.3 billion between Fiscal Years 2009 and 2015. In fiscal year 2015, American farmers and ranchers exported $139.7 billion of food and agricultural goods to consumers worldwide. Not only that, U.S. agricultural exports supported more than 1 million American jobs both on and off the farm, a substantial part of the estimated 11.7 million jobs supported by exports all across our country. Record agricultural productivity and exports are one example of how USDA has helped to bring transformative change to Americans living, working and raising families in rural America.



Independent Research Documents Yield Increases From Application of NutriSphere-N Through Irrigation Systems

After three years of trials in Yuma, Colorado, the Irrigation Research Foundation (IRF) has concluded application of NutriSphere-N® Nitrogen Fertilizer Manager through center-pivot irrigation systems provides a measurable yield increase of more than 10 Bu./A* on irrigated corn.

According to Charles Corey, executive director of the IRF, the use of NutriSphere-N helped keep more applied nitrogen available for plant uptake, regardless of field and moisture conditions. Untreated corn, Corey says, suffered considerably more under varying conditions - such as excessive rainfall, low water application, both hot and cool temperatures and other environmental stresses - throughout the three years of research trials.

“Looking at the outcome of these trials in comparison to the corn not treated with NutriSphere-N, we saw upwards of a 10 to 12* – in some cases 15* – Bu./A yield advantage where NutriSphere-N was applied, “ Corey says. “The improved plant performance and yield increases were pretty amazing to us.”

The field research trial showed:
·         In 2014, corn treated with 150 gallons per acre of UAN and NutriSphere-N produced 15 more Bu./A* than did 150 gallons of UAN applied without NutriSphere-N: 218.5 Bu./A* compared to 203.5 Bu./A, respectively.

·         The same research trial comparison in 2013 yielded 203.5 Bu./A* for the corn treated with the product versus 186.8 Bu./A for the untreated corn.

·         In 2012, the yield differential from application of 175 gallons per acre of UAN with and without NutriSphere-N was 237.7 Bu./A* and 225 Bu./A, respectively.


“This will be our fifth year doing trial work with the NutriSphere-N, and over the years we’ve seen quite a bit of variation in weather conditions and the amount of rainfall received, “ Corey explains. “This year, we had our entire annual rainfall in just two days, so it was a real nitrogen-management challenge given the degree of potential leaching and ideal environment for nitrogen loss.”

NutriSphere-N, a product from Verdesian Life Sciences, uses a patented polymer technology to keep more nitrogen available for plant uptake by slowing the conversion of nitrogen into forms which can be lost through volatilization, leaching and denitrification. Use of the product with applied nitrogen provides long-lasting protection of nitrogen for up to 10 to 12 months, according to Verdesian.