Monday January 11 Ag News

NE Property Taxes Rise 6 Percent from 2014

The Nebraska Department of Revenue, Property Assessment Division has received the 2015 Certificates of Taxes Levied Reports from every county assessor. The data indicates that total property taxes levied, statewide, increased 6.07% from 2014 to 2015.
-- Total Property Taxes Statewide $3.565 billion $3.781 billion $216 million

The total increase in taxes of $216 million is attributed, approximately, to the following:
-- Voter-Approved Bonds $ 24 million (11%)
-- Newly-Constructed Real Property $ 41 million (19%)
-- Tax Increases to Existing Property $151 million (69%)

The State of Nebraska offsets a portion of the real property taxes levied in 2015 with approximately $72 million in homestead exemptions for qualified individuals and $204 million from the property tax credit relief fund, which are shown as a credit on the tax statements.

The impact of the property tax change on individual taxpayers varies depending on the budget needs of their local governmental subdivisions and voter-approved bonds. For example, Greeley County taxes levied decreased by 4.56%, while Nuckolls County taxes levied increased by 15.40%. See attached tables.

Real property valuations are determined by county assessors. Property tax rates are set by local governments. Property taxes support schools, counties, cities, community colleges, natural resource districts, fire districts, and other local governmental subdivisions. Property taxes are payable to the county treasurer. The State of Nebraska does not receive any property tax revenue.



Cover Crops and No-Till Expert – January 29th

Producers and others that want to learn more about the use of cover crops and or no-till crop production should consider attending this seminar in Columbus on January 29th.  Gabe Brown from Bismarck, ND, is one of the most sought after speakers for no-till, cover crops, livestock grazing, and soil health presentations in the United States.  Gabe is coming to Ag Park,  to present his information about utilizing cover crops,  establishing no-till and his thoughts on soil health.

The day-long event is free.  However, you are asked to register by January 27th by calling the Extension Office at 402-563-4901.  On the 29th the registration/rolls/coffee starts at 9:00 a.m. and the program starts at 9:30 a.m.  Lunch will be provided.  The program will end about 3:00 p.m.

Gabe Brown is featured in several YouTube videos and there are several of his presentations available on the Web.  You can learn more about him at:  http://brownsranch.us/.  The Browns strive to solve problems in a natural and sustainable way.  Improving soil health is a priority and no-till farming has been practiced since 1993.  A diverse cropping strategy, which includes cover and companion crops are used.  They have now eliminated the use of synthetic fertilizers, fungicides, and pesticides.

Groups cooperating to support having Gabe Brown come to the area include Nebraska Extension, Platte County; Natural Resources/Conservation Service Office in Columbus; Lower Platte North NRD, Lower Loup NRD, Lower Elkhorn NRD, Prairieland RC&D, and the Shell Creek Watershed Improvement Group.  Several local banks and businesses are providing the resources needed to support the lunch for this event.

For more information or assistance, please contact Allan Vyhnalek, Extension Educator, Nebraska Extension in Platte County.  Phone: 402-563-4901 or e-mail avyhnalek2@unl.edu



UNL LECTURES ON WATER AND HEALTH BEGIN JAN. 13

    Seven free public lectures on the importance of water and health comprise the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's spring semester water seminar beginning Jan. 13.

    The lectures take place roughly every other Wednesday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. through April 13. All lectures will be in the first-floor auditorium of Hardin Hall, 3310 Holdrege St. on UNL's East Campus.

    Lectures are Jan. 13 and 27, Feb. 10 and 24, March 9 and 30 and April 13.

    "Water and its links to human and animal health are increasingly evident and increasingly a focus of research and study throughout the University of Nebraska system, so this spring's lectures are a wonderful opportunity to involve students and the public in some of the latest research on the topic," said Nebraska Water Center director Chittaranjan Ray. The center, part of the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska, has helped organize and offer the annual spring lectures for more than 40 years.

    "Water and health are at the forefront of much multidisciplinary NU research, so the lectures should hold broad appeal to both students and the public," Ray said.

    Cosponsoring the seminar with the Nebraska Water Center is UNL's School of Natural Resources, which also offers the lecture series for student credit, and UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

    Lecture videos and speaker presentations will be posted at http://watercenter.unl.edu within a few days after each lecture.

    The complete lecture series is as follows:

    > Jan. 13: Martha Rhoades, research manager, UNL, "Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Birth Defects and Water Quality in Nebraska: The Chicken or the Egg?"

    > Jan. 27: Alan Kolok, professor, University of Nebraska at Omaha and University of Nebraska Medical Center, "Water and Health: Issues and Opportunities."  

    > Feb. 10: Williams Memorial Lecture: Elizabeth VanWormer, assistant professor of practice, UNL, "Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface: Tracing Pathogens from Land to Sea."

    > Feb. 24: Norman Uphoff, professor, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., "Improving Food Production for Health in a Water-Constrained World: Opportunities Deriving from Agroecological Knowledge and Experience."

    > March 9:  Kremer Memorial Lecture: Sandra Banack, senior scientist, Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, Wyo., "Toxic Water: Should We Be Concerned?"

    > March 30: Mary Ward, senior investigator, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md., "Drinking Water Nitrate and Cancer: What Do We Know and What Research is Needed?"

    > April 13: Karrie Weber, assistant professor, UNL, "Mobilization of Uranium in Groundwater."



Clean Fuels Director Addresses Ethanol Board

Doug Durante, Clean Fuels Development Coalition (CFDC) executive director, will give a recap of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) and what it means for the Nebraska ethanol industry during the Nebraska Ethanol Board meeting Thursday, Jan. 21, in Lincoln.

After years of uncertainty, the final volumes for the amount of corn ethanol were announced late last year, and corn ethanol is essentially at its limit under the RFS, according to Durante. He will discuss the specific regulatory roadblocks that, if eliminated, would open the market for higher ethanol blends.

“The Nebraska ethanol industry, capable of producing significantly more ethanol than current levels, cannot count on the RFS to ensure a market,” Durante said. “The industry needs to move beyond the RFS and create new, consumer-driven demand that capitalizes on the health benefits of clean octane and the ability to meet low-carbon fuel standards.”

Durante’s national ethanol advocacy efforts and his relationship with the Nebraska ethanol industry span more than 35 years. He frequently consults on international biofuel projects including initiatives that focus on the use of biofuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

CFDC works closely with the Urban Air Initiative (UAI), which has conducted a significant body of research over the past several years showing how toxic compounds known as aromatics, which are added to gasoline to boost octane, are causing a host of respiratory illnesses in urban populations. Durante advocates for a cleaner alternative – ethanol – which is a natural octane enhancer and a clean, low-carbon fuel choice. CFDC and UAI have collaborated with the Nebraska Ethanol Board on fuel testing and analysis as well as public information programs in Nebraska.

Durante, a veteran of biofuel policy and ethanol market development, is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and represents members of the Clean Fuels Development Coalition on Capitol Hill. Previously, he served as an ethanol advisor to members of Congress and as a technical and policy advisor to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Ethanol Board meeting will be held at Country Inn and Suites in Lincoln at 8:30 a.m. Durante will speak at approximately 9 a.m. The agenda also includes:
Presentation: Dr. Hunter Flodman, UNL Chemical Engineering Department
Association of Nebraska Ethanol Producers (ANEEP) Transition
Marketing Programs Update
Election of Officers
State and Federal Legislation Update
Ethanol Plant Reports



Pheasants Forever and Partners in Nebraska Hosting 2016 Prescribed Fire Trainings

Pheasants Forever and its conservation partners are hosting a series of 13 educational workshops throughout Nebraska to provide prescribed fire training for landowners, land managers, resource professionals, volunteer fire departments, and others interested in the safe and effective use of this underutilized land management tool.

Six basic workshops will be held to provide a solid foundation on the fundamentals of planning and conducting a prescribed fire. These workshops are great for those with little to no experience and while serving as a refresher to more experienced fire practitioners. The remaining seven workshops are more advanced and will take an in-depth look at specific aspects of planning or implementing a prescribed fire.

Fire is a natural part of both forest and grassland ecology, and controlled fire can be a tool for foresters and resource professionals to safely reduce excess amounts of brush, shrubs, and trees, encourage the new growth of native vegetation, and maintain the many plant and animal species whose habitats depend on periodic fire.

PRESCRIBED FIRE BASICS

January 28th, 2016
Prescribed Fire Basics — Learn why, when and how to plan and complete a safe and effective prescribed fire.
Lancaster County UNL Extension 444 Cherry Creek Road - Lincoln
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM CST
February 5th, 2016
   
February 9th, 2016
Prescribed Fire Basics — Learn why, when and how to plan and complete a safe and effective prescribed fire.
Life Long Learning Center—Northeast Community College 801 E. Benjamin Ave - Norfolk
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM CST

ADVANCED TOPICS

February 23rd, 2016
Burn Plan Writing
Hartington City Auditorium 101 North Broadway - Hartington
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM CST

February 25th, 2016     
Burn Plan Writing
Lancaster County UNL Extension 444 Cherry Creek Road - Lincoln
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM CST

Each workshop is available to the public for a fee of $10 which includes a meal and training materials. Visit www.NebraskaPF.com or call 308-850-8395 for more information and registration instructions.



Soybean Growers Seek to Regain Markets with High Oleic Varieties

Some Nebraska soybean growers will have the option to plant soybean varieties that produce a functionally improved oil for food applications and increase demand for their crop. The United Soybean Board recently announced that high oleic soybeans will be accepted by AGP in Hastings next fall. Farmers in the Hastings area who grow high oleic soybeans in 2016 will receive a premium for that crop.

Oil derived from high oleic soybeans is free of trans fats and performs better in frying and baking. Cooking oil produced from other varieties of soybeans requires partial hydrogenation, which creates trans fats. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently declared a ban on partially hydrogenated oil that will be implemented over the next three years. As health concerns over trans fats have increased, soybean oil’s share of the cooking oil market has declined. Oil derived from high oleic soybeans contains no trans fats, is naturally more stable at high temperatures and has a longer shelf life.

Soybean grower Gregg Fujan of Weston, Nebraska, is a director on the United Soybean Board. He has worked on a plan to increase U.S. production of high oleic soybeans. “The soybean industry has lost a huge share of the cooking oil market,” said Fujan. “We hope to regain that market share through the growth of high oleic soybeans.”

Research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln funded by the Nebraska Soybean Board has permitted extensive testing of high oleic soybeans. UNL professor Tom Clemente first conducted research with high oleic soybeans in the late 1990s. Clemente says high oleic soybean oil contains significantly more oleic acid, mirroring olive oil, with reduced polyunsaturated fatty acids. The result is oil with high oxidative stability, which translates to increased shelf life.

“It has superior functionality relative to standard commodity soybean oil and maintains protein levels and quality in the meal without loss of yield,” said Clemente.

High oleic soybeans have been grown for several years in the Eastern Corn Belt states and in the Delmarva Peninsula on the East Coast. Fujan says high oleic soybeans yield competitively with elite genetics that farmers are planting now and include the agronomic traits for disease resistance as well as pest tolerance that are important for this region. High oleic soybeans require identity preservation, which means they can’t be mixed with standard commodity soybeans on the farm or at the processor. Growers receive a premium on each bushel of high oleic soybeans. 

In the long run, Fujan believes high oleic soybeans will improve the bottom line for Nebraska farmers. “If we can increase demand for oil, we can increase the price of soybeans.”

To meet expected demand by the food industry, the soybean industry has set a goal for U.S. farmers to plant 18 million acres of high oleic soybeans by 2023. In Nebraska, farmers interested in planting high oleic soybeans should contact their seed dealers.




Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Awards: Mike Johanns and Saxby Chambliss Honored

The American Farm Bureau Federation presented its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, to former Sens. Mike Johanns and Saxby Chambliss during the 97th AFBF Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show.

AFBF established the Distinguished Service Award to honor individuals who have devoted their careers to serving agriculture.

For more than three decades, Johanns served America’s farmers and ranchers tirelessly as Nebraska governor, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and U.S. senator. Johanns’ unfailing dedication to the interests of farmers and ranchers has protected and enhanced the cause of agriculture across the country.

Johanns’ humble upbringing and work on a dairy farm in Iowa gave him solid training for serving others in his career. In his roles as secretary of agriculture and as senator, Johanns met with farmers and ranchers, listened to their concerns and put their input directly into developing the 2008 and 2014 farm bills. Johanns also stood up to regulatory overreach and promoted innovative solutions to reducing dependence on foreign oil. His commitment to opening the marketplace for U.S. agriculture helped expand trade and create a more level playing field for America’s farmers and ranchers.

“Senator Johanns’ humility, hard work and discipline, along with his genuine interest in hearing from and working with those he served, set him apart from many other politicians,” AFBF President Bob Stallman said. “He’s stood side-by-side with America’s farmers and ranchers, putting a stop to over-regulation and expanding market opportunities to keep the business of agriculture moving forward.”

Chambliss has time and again proven himself to be a true friend and champion of agriculture. As chairman and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, he was a key author on four farm bills, crafting market-oriented programs and securing a valid safety net for farmers and ranchers through updated commodity titles and federal crop insurance.

Chambliss has been working closely with farmers since the early days of his career as a lawyer from Moultrie, Georgia. Those relationships gave him a deep appreciation for agriculture, and he kept the needs and interests of rural America at the forefront when he came to Capitol Hill. In addition to his critical efforts on farm bill programs, Chambliss worked to reform the nation’s immigration laws to provide a legal and stable workforce for agriculture, and served on key congressional committees dealing with national security and intelligence gathering.

“Saxby Chambliss has led the way on some of the most pressing and complex issues facing agriculture with his courage and straight talk,” Stallman said. “For 20 years, he was one of the best friends that farmers and ranchers had in Washington, D.C.”

The Nebraska Farm Bureau nominated Johanns to receive the DSA award; the Georgia Farm Bureau nominated Chambliss. A national Farm Bureau committee named them both as winners.



AccuGrain of Iowa Honored as Farm Bureau Entrepreneur of the Year

The American Farm Bureau Federation has announced an ag technology entry as the Farm Bureau Entrepreneur of the Year as part of its Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge. The winner was announced at AFBF’s 97th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show.

AccuGrain of Rose Hill, Iowa, team lead Ryan Augustine, was selected from a field of four finalists and received a total of $30,000 in prize money to implement his business idea, which is X-ray technology to inventory flowing grain in real time.

Garnering 49 percent of the vote, Farm Specific Technology of Bolivar, Tennessee, team lead Shawn Butler, won the People’s Choice award in the competition and an additional $10,000 in prize money for a no-till crimper for cover crop production. Members of the live audience at the finals competition and members of the general public voted online to select the People’s Choice winner. Tennessee residents cast the most votes (1,229) followed by Iowa (1,068) and Kansas (205).

AgriSync of Dallas Center, Iowa, team lead Casey Niemann, and Fedora Malthouse of Shepherd, Michigan, team lead Julie Baker, were the other two finalists who competed in the final round of the challenge in Orlando.



U of M, USDA-NADC, and Iowa State University collaboration brings new insights into ‘Livestock Associated’ MRSA in US pigs

Peter Davies, Ph.D., professor in the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, in partnership with scientists from the USDA National Animal Disease Center and the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, conducted two studies that found MRSA appears to be much less common in US pig herds than anticipated, but more varied than in pigs in Europe. The studies also found that both the main European variety of MRSA and another variety that has up to now only been seen in North America showed little genetic capability to cause infections in humans.

The first study looked at this North American variant of MRSA found in Iowa swine and in veterinarians in several states. The team found that MRSA bacteria appeared to have diminished capability to cause human disease compared with similar variants that caused disease in the human population. When MRSA adapts to the pig, it seems to lose some of the material necessary to cause infections in people.

The second study looked at the prominence of MRSA in US swine herds. Other than the control group, no herds tested positive for MRSA, suggesting that MRSA prevalence in US swine herds is no more than 10 percent. This is noticeably lower than in Europe, where some countries see an estimated 70 percent of swine herds infected.

According to Davies, “As far as we can tell, there is little or no impact on public health. No serious infections have been seen in swine workers or veterinarians.”

Davies encourages more studies to be done on MRSA in relation to US swine herds and veterinarians.

 “US pigs certainly have MRSA, it’s just not widespread at this point,” Davies said. “That doesn’t mean it won't change.”

Background on MRSA (pork.org)
What consumers should know about Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Public health and the safety of the food supply are of great concern to U.S. pork producers. Producers understand that these issues are as important as the well-being of the animals raised on their farms, environmental conservation and the sustainability of the communities that host them and their employees.

In the past several years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has received increased media attention. The bacterium was associated primarily with post-surgical infections or infections acquired after prolonged stays in health care facilities (such as nursing homes) or in people with weakened immune systems.

More attention was called to the pathogen when media began to report on infections acquired outside of health-care facilities. These community-acquired infections happened in locker rooms, gyms, military facilities, prisons and day-care facilities, among other places. These reports heightened concerns because the people affected were not considered to have weakened immune systems or other underlying conditions that would predispose them to infection.

Companion animals including cats, dogs and horses have been found to carry MRSA. Studies have found that veterinarians and others in close contact with these animals also may carry the bacterium.

In late 2007, attention was called to the pork industry and its products when the media reported on a study by Canadian researchers that found MRSA on pig farms. MRSA had previously been reported in pigs and pork products in Holland in 2006. Since then, research conducted in the United States also has found MRSA in pigs in some farms and in a small proportion of pork products. MRSA also has been reported in pork producers and veterinarians who visit pig farms.

About MRSA, people and pigs
MRSA is a type of Staphyloccocus aureus (Staph). Staph are bacteria found commonly in humans. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that Staph can be found in 25 to 50 percent of the United States’ population at any given time without causing infection. MRSA however, can only be found on close to 1 percent of the U.S. population. As with Staph, a person usually carries MRSA in the nasal passages or on the skin without developing an infection. MRSA also can be found on other animals, domestic and wild. Domestic animals such as cats, horses and dogs can carry the bacterium. Livestock, including cattle and pigs, and poultry also may carry MRSA. Wild animals (such as marine mammals, rabbits and turtles) and game animals also have been found to carry it.

Just as MRSA is a type of Staph, there are many types of MRSA. Some have been associated more commonly with health-care associated infections, some with community-acquired infections and some are more commonly associated with animals. The CDC has stated that the MRSA more commonly associated with health-care facilities is different than the one commonly found in community-acquired infections. It also has stated that the MRSA associated with community-acquired infections is clearly of human origin.

The MRSA most commonly found in pigs in North American farms is different from the one associated with health-care and community infections. As is the case with small animal veterinarians and horse owners, it is not unusual for the people who come in contact with MRSA-carrying pigs to also carry MRSA. In many of those cases, the MRSA carried by people and by the pigs is of the same type. The bacteria do not appear to cause illness in the pigs and there are no data to support that the humans carrying this pathogen are at a higher risk of developing infection than the rest of the U.S. population.

Similarly, recent studies of health-care workers in Holland have found no statistical difference in the number that carry MRSA and have contact with livestock and those with no animal contact.



IPPA invites presidential candidates to Iowa Pork Congress forum

The Democratic and Republican presidential candidates are being invited to participate in a forum at the Iowa Pork Congress in Des Moines on Jan. 27.

The Iowa Pork Producers Association has contacted each candidate's campaign to extend an invitation and business executive and Republican hopeful Carly Fiorina was the first to commit to participating.

Plans call for each candidate to be given 30 minutes to deliver prepared remarks and answer questions from pig farmers and others attending the pork convention. Sessions will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

"With all of the candidates from both parties converging on the state in advance of the 2016 Iowa Caucuses, we want to give pig farmers from around Iowa and the Midwest who will be attending the Iowa Pork Congress an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates about their views on agriculture and how they would address the issues directly impacting producers," said IPPA President David Struthers of Collins.

Many of the presidential hopefuls will likely be in Des Moines during Pork Congress and the forum will be a chance for them to visit the "nation's largest winter swine tradeshow," see the latest technology and learn more about the industry.

"Most of the candidates visited the Iowa Pork Tent during the Iowa State Fair to enjoy some fresh Iowa pork and visit with farmers and we'd love to show them how we raise the quality pork they enjoyed," said Jamie Schmidt of Garner, IPPA past president.

The 44th annual Iowa Pork Congress will be held January 27-28 at the Iowa Events Center. The convention offers the approximately 5,000 attendees 500 tradeshow booths, eleven free business seminars and panel discussions, youth activities and social events.



NCGA Welcomes Iowa's Sarah Doese to DC Staff

The National Corn Growers Association today welcomes Sarah Doese, who joins the organization as the legislative assistant for the Washington office. In this position, Doese will help staff the Public Policy Action Team and provide administrative support to the Washington team.

"We are excited to welcome Sarah to NCGA," said DC Office Manager Kendra Keller. "Her enthusiasm and passion for agriculture, as well as her past internships in DC, will be an asset to the organization."

Doese graduated from Iowa State University in December 2015 with a Bachelor's degree in agriculture education. She has completed internships with CropLife America, Iowa FFA Association, and the National Association of Agriculture Educators. Sarah is a former Iowa FFA state officer and was a member if the Sigma Alpha professional agriculture sorority at Iowa State.

She is a native of Fairbank, Iowa.



National Western Stock Show to feature workshop on stewardship of antimicrobial drug use in livestock

Stewardship of medically-important antimicrobial drugs in food animals is the subject of a workshop to be offered Saturday, Jan. 16, as part of the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, CO. This free workshop will be 9 a.m. to noon at the Beef Palace Arena on the NWSS grounds.

A collaboration of Farm Foundation, NFP and the Livestock Division of the NWSS, the workshop will focus on two Guidance for Industry (GFIs) issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the use of medically-important antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals, as well as the FDA's revised Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). These actions mean some drugs will see label changes allowing only therapeutic uses, and some drugs will require veterinary oversight in the form of a veterinarian's prescription, direct administration by a veterinarian or a veterinary consultation on disease management protocols.

Officials from FDA and USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will participate in the workshop to discuss specific elements of the policies. An update will also be provided on USDA's Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan. A major portion of the workshop is designated for participants to identify and give feedback to federal officials on the management challenges ahead.

The workshop is targeted to livestock producers, including youth raising and showing cattle, as well as veterinarians, feed suppliers and educators. Kevin Ochsner of the Adayana Agribusiness Group will lead the workshop.

This workshop will be webcast live by BARN Media, as well as archived for later viewing. To access the webcast go to:  http://livestream.com/BarnMedia/events/4637175.

Between August and October 2015, Farm Foundation conducted 12 regional workshops on this topic across the country. These were opportunities for producers, veterinarians and feed suppliers to gain information on the new policies, and for FDA and APHIS to gain feedback on the management challenges involved in implementing the policies. NWSS provided facilities for a Sept. 28 workshop, and invited Farm Foundation to present another workshop as part of the 2016 Stock Show.

Many producers and businesses across the entire food and agricultural value chain have already taken action to reduce the use of medically-important antimicrobial drugs in food animal production. FDA's GFI 209 and GFI 213 call on animal drug sponsors of approved medically-important antimicrobials administered through medicated feed or water to remove production uses (i.e., to promote growth or improve feed efficiency) from their product labels, and bring the remaining therapeutic uses of these products-to treat, control, or prevent disease-under the oversight of a veterinarian by the end of December 2016. Manufacturers of products containing these medically-important antimicrobial drugs have voluntarily agreed to submit changes to their product labels to comply with the GFIs. FDA also revised the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) to facilitate the increased veterinary oversight of medicated feeds called for by GFI 209 and 213.

Successful adaptation to the policy changes is critical to public and animal health, ensuring consumer confidence in food safety and the future viability of animal agriculture in the United States. "The success of achieving this goal--for both public health and the economic health of animal agriculture--hinges on producers having access to the information they need to adjust production practices, feed retailers and distributors understanding their changing responsibilities, and the capacity of veterinarians to provide the additional oversight needed," says Farm Foundation President Neil Conklin.

A national summit,  Antibiotic Stewardship: Policies, Education and Economics, will take place Jan. 20-21, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. This summit is a collaboration of Farm Foundation, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and USDA's Economic Research Service. This will also be an opportunity for farmers, ranchers, feed suppliers, veterinarians, academics and government agency staff to advance the conversation on the industry's adaptation to the changing landscape of antimicrobial drug use.



Interesting Start to 2016 ...
Glynn T. Tonsor, Associate Professor     
Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University
 
Last week Dr. Brooks provided a series of thoughts on how 2016 may shake out for the cattle industry.  Given developments in multiple financial markets it is useful to pause and appreciate the broader situation underpinning the start of 2016 "outside" of the cattle markets to further assess possible upcoming changes within the cattle complex.

The Dow Jones Industrial average and broader Standard & Poor's 500 index were both down 6% in the year's first full week of trading setting records for the worst start to a calendar year.  Market pundits point to a host of candidate reasons for the stock market reductions led principally by concerns around China's economic growth and corresponding anxiety around broader global growth in 2016.

What is critical for beef industry stakeholders to appreciate is how ongoing concerns around global economic growth impact prospects for beef demand.  A simple yet critical concept to grasp is more adverse economic conditions correspond to weaker global demand for beef.  Quickly looking at the sizeable drop in futures market cattle prices last week, when little changed regarding supply fundamentals, clearly illustrates this point.  Moreover, one of the key reasons for reductions in cattle prices in 2015 was the strengthening US dollar and adverse global economic growth developments that led to limited beef exports.

While of course no individual producer can change the course of beef demand strength, everyone can do their due diligence in understanding key aspects of what demand is and what influences it.  This improved understanding along with focused management of things one can control "in house" (such as critical production cost and product quality control) will position any decision maker to make the most out of any situation.  In fact, one can benefit by "making lemons out of lemonade" only if you recognize the customer base for said lemonade.  That is, being effective at producing something is only valuable if you have access to a properly identified customer who exists and is willingly and able to purchase your product.  Likewise in the beef cattle industry, if one does not fully appreciate demand the prospects for prosperity are certainly restricted.



Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy® announces update to dairy sustainability indicators

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy® — established under the leadership of America's dairy producers and importers — today announced a 60-day stakeholder consultation period for the review of proposed indicators in the Stewardship and Sustainability Guide for U.S. Dairy. Launched in 2013, the Guide provides a voluntary, science-based framework for the dairy value chain to measure and communicate sustainability progress.

The proposed indicators are the result of a multi-year, science-based effort, led by the Innovation Center's Sustainability Alliance, to identify and define the sustainability indicators that matter most. The new indicators for both farms as well as processors and manufacturers have been through an extensive review process by members of the dairy community, including farm cooperatives, dairy processors and manufacturers. They are now available for review by other key stakeholders such as dairy retailers, government agencies and non-governmental organizations. 

The document can be viewed and comments submitted online at USDairy.com/SustainabilityGuide through March 10, 2016.

 "Consumers, customers and other stakeholders are increasingly interested in understanding where their food comes from and how it is made," said Barbara O'Brien, president of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. "The Guide delivers on our commitment to work collaboratively, from farm to retail, to advance and communicate dairy's environmental stewardship and social responsibility."

Farm indicators address soil health, landscape stewardship, resource recovery, feed management, and water quality and quantity. For crop- and field-specific topic areas, the Innovation Center proposes adopting the metrics developed by Field to Market, the leading U.S. initiative focused on the sustainability of row crops. The new processor and manufacturer indicators include resource recovery and air emissions.

"The Stewardship and Sustainability Guide for U.S. Dairy provides a unified and standard system for measuring and communicating dairy's sustainability progress," said Joan Behr, senior director of communications and brand management, Foremost Farms USA. "The indicators allow us to support our customers' sustainable sourcing goals, and the industry-wide alignment is essential to remain competitive."

The Guide's initial indicators, released in 2013, included greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy intensity and animal care at the farm level, and GHG emissions, energy intensity, water quality and quantity, labor management, and community contributions for dairy processors and manufacturers.

The new indicators are expected to be released in May 2016. To learn more about the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Commitment, visit USDairy.com/Sustainability.



USDA Avoids Analyzing Glyphosate Residues on Food for Annual Report

Consumer advocacy group U.S. Right to Know criticized the U.S. Department of Agriculture today for issuing an annual pesticide residue report that avoided any evaluation of residues from glyphosate, a top-selling herbicide important to corporate agricultural companies, but one that has been linked to cancer.

The USDA’s annual pesticide data program summary includes information that the USDA states is to “assure consumers that the food they feed their families is safe.” The program annually tests a wide variety of domestic and imported foods to gather data to determine if pesticide exposure through food is within government-set safety standards. The USDA program typically tests for several hundred different pesticides each year, and the government says it specifically looks at foods most likely to be consumed by children and infants.

But despite consumer demands for the inclusion of glyphosate, the USDA data continues to exclude testing for that pesticide. Only once in the history of the 24-year program has the agency conducted tests for glyphosate residues. Those tests, in 2011, were limited to 300 soybean samples and found that 271 of the samples had glyphosate residues.

Glyphosate-based herbicides are the most widely used weed-killing pesticides in the world, and use of glyphosate has skyrocketed in the United States since the introduction 20 years ago of crops genetically engineered to tolerate treatments of glyphosate. Monsanto Co. is one of the chief purveyors of the herbicide through its glyphosate-based Roundup brand. Many key food crops are sprayed directly with glyphosate, including corn, soybeans, sugar beets, canola and even in some cases, wheat, though wheat has not been genetically engineered as glyphosate-tolerant.

Consumer fears about glyphosate residues on food have mounted as studies have found glyphosate in air, and water samples, and after cancer scientists working for a unit of the World Health Organization determined there was sufficient evidence to classify glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

“It is a scandal that USDA tests for hundreds of pesticide residues but not glyphosate, which is among the most widely used chemicals on our food crops,” said Gary Ruskin, co-director of U.S. Right to Know. “Consumers want to know how much glyphosate is in our food.  Why won’t the USDA tell us? This looks like yet another giant favor from our federal government to Monsanto. It’s past time for Congress to investigate why the Obama administration is bestowing these sweetheart favors to Monsanto and the agrichemical industry.”



Nationwide and partners launch third annual safety contest

Nationwide, the No. 1 farm insurer*, is collaborating with industry leaders and agricultural professionals to launch our third annual safety contest as part of this year's Grain Bin Safety Week.
Grain Bin Safety Week 2016

The Nominate Your Fire Department Contest runs from Jan. 1 through May 31. It will award grain rescue tubes and hands-on training to help first responders save lives, thanks to the support of KC Supply Co., the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety and our other partners.

"Grain bin accidents can tragically impact individuals, families and entire communities," said Brad Liggett, president of Nationwide Agribusiness. "Accident prevention means everyone working together, and Grain Bin Safety Week provides a forum for the agricultural community to help keep people safe." 

During the last two years, the national contest awarded tubes and training to 13 fire departments in 12 states. One of those winners — The Westphalia Fire Department in Kansas — used their new skills in 2015 to rescue a man who became entrapped in some grain.

In 2014, 38 documented entrapments resulted in 17 deaths, according to Purdue University. It was the highest numbers since 2010 — when at least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain engulfments.

"That's where Grain Bin Safety Week can help," Liggett said. "This program brings attention to life-saving extraction methods and procedures, which can improve responder and victim safety."

For more information about the program, purpose or nomination process, visit www.grainbinsafetyweek.com.

*Source: 2014 SNL Financial Report. Based on statutory data



Alltech acquires Masterfeeds, Canada’s leading animal nutrition company

Alltech has acquired 100 percent of the outstanding shares of Masterfeeds, Inc., in a share purchase agreement with Ag Processing Inc (AGP). Masterfeeds, a leading commercial animal nutrition company in Canada, is now part of the Alltech family of companies, which includes 12 other companies that Alltech has acquired globally since 2011.

“Masterfeeds has long been a partner and friend of Alltech. With them fully on board now as an Alltech company, together we can narrow our focus and accelerate on-farm performance,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “Between Alltech’s primacy in science and Masterfeeds’ robust network of farm-focused team and dealers, we have a winning combination for moving Canadian agriculture forward to greater farm and ranch efficiency and profitability.”

The addition of Masterfeeds to Alltech’s existing Canadian operations and other Canadian acquisition, EMF Nutrition, brings the companies’ total presence to approximately 700 Canadian employees. Together they operate 25 feed manufacturing and premix facilities, nine retail locations and seven distribution centers in a business spanning the entire country. Alltech has a strong presence in all regions of the world with more than 4,700 employees worldwide.

“Never in our 86-year history has our future been as exciting as it is now that we have joined the Alltech family,” stated Rob Flack, president and CEO of Masterfeeds. “Alltech is at the forefront of science in everything they do. This strengthens our ability to deliver on-farm nutrition solutions like never before.”

Alltech and Masterfeeds have identified possible growth opportunities together, which may include nutritional technologies and feeding programs for antibiotic-free formulation, feed efficiency, organic minerals, algae, mycotoxin management and crop protection and performance. Masterfeeds also has equine and pet product lines, which may be further developed with Alltech nutritional technologies.

Masterfeeds will continue to be headquartered in London, Ontario, Canada, and led by its current Chief Executive Officer, Rob Flack. In addition, Alltech’s own entity, Alltech Canada, remains headquartered in Guelph, Ontario, serving the entire Canadian feed industry.

Alltech has more than tripled its sales in the last three years and is on target to achieve $4 billion USD in sales in the next few years. Since 2011, Alltech has completed 13 acquisitions successfully. This is Alltech’s second acquisition of a company headquartered in Canada, following the success in acquiring EMF Nutrition in 2013.

“The pressure on agriculture today requires the feed business to take an aggressive approach to continuous improvement of nutritional technology,” said Steve Bourne, vice president of Alltech. “Our number one focus is and always will be: How do we improve profitability and efficiency for our customers on the farm and the ranch? This commitment defines our strategy and underscores why we are moving forward with trusted companies like Masterfeeds.”



Dow AgroSciences Receives EPA Registration for Resicore™ Herbicide

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the registration of Resicore™ herbicide, which will be available to growers for the 2016 growing season. Resicore gives corn growers a powerful new way to eliminate herbicide-resistant weeds and protect yield potential.

“Resicore is different from other premixes on the market particularly because it has three active ingredients growers have never seen together before in a single product,” says Luke Peters, corn herbicides product manager, Dow AgroSciences. “The novel formulation has the right balance of active ingredients to offer superior weed control deep into the growing season.”

The three active ingredients — acetochlor, mesotrione and clopyralid — provide three nonglyphosate and nonatrazine modes of action to help growers manage herbicide resistance by controlling weeds in multiple ways.

“The best time to control weeds is before they are out of the ground,” says Jonathan Huff, Ph.D., market development specialist, Dow AgroSciences. “We want to reduce as much early season weed competition we can by using a preemergence, residual herbicide so our crops are not competing with yield-robbing weeds.”

Some of corn’s toughest enemies include waterhemp, giant ragweed, Palmer amaranth, morningglory and marestail. Resicore has been proven to control these troublesome weeds and more than 70 other species growers deal with each season.

“Growers face difficult weed control issues today, and they’re looking for the most powerful product they can find,” Peters says. “With more weeds able to withstand glyphosate-only applications, growers rely on multiple modes of action and residual control they can trust. Resicore offers that power they need in a single product.”

Resicore can be applied preplant to early postemergence and can be used with conventional, reduced- or no-till corn systems. It is tank-mix-compatible with atrazine, glyphosate and other corn herbicides, giving growers the flexibility they need to customize their program to current conditions and weed pressure.



Feed a Bee Initiative Receives Pledges to Plant 65 Million Flowers in First Year

The line at the pollinator all-you-can-eat buffet is a little longer this year thanks to the contributions of consumers and partners joining Bayer’s Feed a Bee initiative to plant more than 65 million flowers in 2015.

More than 250,000 consumers joined the initiative to feed pollinators as the Feed a Bee website and #FeedABee hashtag went viral. By the end of the year, more than 70 organizations joined the fight pledging thousands of acres of land to the pollinator potluck dinner; all while educating the community about the role bees play in producing the fruits, nuts and vegetables we enjoy every day.

“When we talk to the public, the most common question we hear is, ‘What can I do to help bees?” said Dr. Becky Langer, manager of the North American Bee Care Program. “Providing pollinators with abundant, diverse food sources is one of the most important things we can all do to promote bee health. We created Feed a Bee to make it easy for people to be involved, and we are delighted with the overwhelming response. We look forward to getting even more people involved this year.”

Studies have shown when bees have access to adequate, diverse food sources they are better able to withstand the stresses caused by the devastating Varroa mite, as well as other mites and diseases. Through Feed a Bee, Bayer is working to increase forage options for bees and other pollinators at a time when agriculture is relying on them more and more to help produce enough food to feed a growing world population.

The first year of the Feed a Bee program set the bar high, and Bayer aims to generate even more buzz in 2016 by establishing national partnerships and educating more consumers about what they can do to get involved and help pollinators thrive. Through online activations and events throughout the year, Bayer hopes to reach new audiences to surpass the milestones Feed a Bee achieved in 2015.

“We’ve seen some great news in pollinator health in the past year from increasing population numbers to heightened involvement from consumers and other stakeholders,” said Jim Blome, president and CEO of Crop Science, a Division of Bayer. “We still have much work to do to ensure the future health of our honey bee colonies, but we hope the foundation we have from Feed a Bee will continue to bring more partners to the table.”
 
Partnerships Nationwide
In addition to enlisting consumers to plant additional forage, Feed a Bee partnered with several national organizations, including the National Wild Turkey Federation, American Agri-Women and Project Apis m. Headquartered in North Carolina, Bayer also partnered with local organizations to increase forage in the state, including produce delivery service The Produce Box and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

Throughout the year, the Feed a Bee initiative has also helped create additional forage in major urban areas. In June, Feed a Bee enlisted the help of the residents of Atlanta to plant the first pollinator garden in the city’s Piedmont Park to provide food for the bees in the Park’s apiaries. The University of D.C., an official Feed a Bee partner, also planted flowers for forage in its new rooftop garden, providing bees and other beneficial insects in the nation’s capital with additional habitat and food resources.

Feed a Bee continues to attract partners from the nonprofit, public and private sectors, most recently Pheasants Forever, a wildlife conservation group. Other partners that have signed on in 2015 span across individuals, industry sectors and geographies, including:

10 CAN, Inc. (Newberry, Florida)
AgriCenter International (Memphis, Tennessee)
Anoka-Ramsey Community College (Coon Rapids, Minnesota)
Bearpath Golf & Country Club (Eden Prairie, Minnesota)
Bee-Haven (Okanogan, Washington)
Bill Buckner (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Blackberry Hill Farm (Newark, Ohio)
Boston Golf Club (Hingham, Massachusetts)
Buzzard Roost Farms (Memphis, Tennessee)
Cantigny Golf (Wheaton, Illinois)
Carmel Valley Ranch Golf Course (Carmel, California)
Chris Vario (Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania)
City of Donahue (Illinois)
City of Largo, Parks Division (Largo, Florida)
Colton Gorges (New London, Wisconsin)
Cookson-Proctor Cemetery (Cookson, Oklahoma)
Daniel Forsman (Lawrenceville, Georgia)
Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University (Lubbock, Texas)
Down2Earth Farms (Rougemont, North Carolina)
Eric Darm (Lorton, Virginia)
Florida State Beekeepers Association (North Port, Florida)
French Lick Resort (French Lick, Indiana)
Girl Scout Troup 456 (Tappahannock, Virginia)
Hefty Seed Company (Baltic, South Dakota)
James Taylor (Clayton, North Carolina)
K&L Acres (Bracey, Virginia)
Lake Marion Golf Course (Santee, South Carolina)
Laurie Scott (Jeannette, Pennsylvania)
Medina Golf & Country Club (Medina, Minnesota)
Nathan Gulbis (St. Petersburg, Florida)
North Carolina State University Southern Integrated Pest Management Center (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
Oak Meadow Country Club (Evansville, Indiana)
Oakland Beekeepers Association (Macomb, Michigan)
Occoneechee Council Boy Scouts of America (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Peter & Goodie Bees and Blueberry Farm (Baxter, Minnesota)
Powell Farms (Branchville, Virginia)
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (Rabun Gap, Georgia)
Ratcliff Beekeeping (Bedford, Indiana)
Somerset Country Club (Mendota Heights, Minnesota)
SynTech Research Laboratory Services (Stilwell, Kansas)
The Red House Ranch (London, Ohio)
Union County Beekeepers Association (Marshville, North Carolina)
Verona United Methodist Church (Verona, Virginia)
Watson Farms (Kershaw, South Carolina)

“We look forward to building on the successes we have seen this year as we take the Feed a Bee program into 2016,” said Dr. Langer. “None of this would have been possible without the support of everyone from the individuals who planted the wildflower packets they received to our partners who planted acres of additional forage.”

Feed a Bee is one of several programs sponsored by Bayer’s Bee Care Program, continuing its nearly 30 years of supporting bee health. For more information on Bayer’s bee health initiatives, please visit: http://beehealth.bayer.us. You can also follow and share with us on Twitter @BayerBeeCare, on Facebook at facebook.com/BayerBeeCareCenter and view photos on Flickr.