Tuesday January 5 Ag News

LENRD Seeks Public Comment on Groundwater Management Plan

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) voted in November to amend the Groundwater Management Plan to require flow meters on all irrigation wells across the 15-county district.  The Board is now preparing for the next public hearing that will be held on Thursday, January 14th at 6:30 p.m. to receive public testimony on modifications to the LENRD Rules and Regulations for Management of Groundwater that are necessary for implementation of this new requirement.

At their December meeting, the board approved several additions to the flow meter list.  The following meters are approved for installation across the district:
·         McCrometer Propeller Flow Meters (All Models)
·         McCrometer McMag 3000 Magmeter
·         Senninger Flo-Wise Ag Rotor Sensor System
·         Seametrics AG2000 Series Magmeter
·         Growsmart by Lindsay IM3000 Magnetic Flow Meter

The board has not yet approved the deadline for when the meters need to be installed.  They are considering a January 1, 2018 deadline.  “The board will continue to work on the details of the rules and regulations and make further decisions after the public hearing on January 14th,” said LENRD General Manager Mike Sousek.

The public hearing will be held in the Lifelong Learning Center on the campus of Northeast Community College in Norfolk.



Livestock Mortality Composting Demonstration to be Held

Nebraska Extension is hosting a livestock mortality composting event for livestock producers and individuals and groups that support the livestock industry.  This event will be held on Wednesday, January 20 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Christenson Research & Education Building at the UNL Agricultural Research & Development Center near Mead and Ithaca, NE. 

This event will include speakers from Nebraska Extension and the USDA-NRCS discussing planning, construction, and management of a livestock mortality compost pile.  The topics that will be covered and presenters are:
-    “Mortality Compost as Part of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan” – Renee Hancock, NRCS Water Quality Specialist
-    “Biosecurity Considerations When Composting Mortalities” – Dr. Kelly Heath, UNL Attending Veterinarian
-    “Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Cost Share Opportunities” – Renee Hancock, NRCS
-    “Composting Site Design, Construction and Operation” – Dr. Amy Schmidt, UNL Livestock Bioenvironmental Engineer
-    “Compost Pile Management: Lessons Learned” – Henry Hilscher, ARDC Research Manager

Lunch will be provided by A-FAN (Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska).

A visit to an on-site mortality composting pile will provide attendees an opportunity to view the compost process up close, see how the pile is managed, and learn how to establish a new pile during a demonstration process.

Those wishing to attend are asked to please RSVP by Jan 15th to: Amber Patterson, apatterson6@unl.edu, (402)472-1646 so the lunch plans can be made.  For additional information on this event please contact:  Dr. Amy Schmidt, Livestock Bioenvironmental Engineer, aschmidt@unl.edu, (402)472-0877 or Larry Howard, Nebraska Extension Educator, Cuming County, lhoward1@unl.edu, (402)372-6006.  



2016 Nebraska Dairy Convention

The 2016 Nebraska Dairy Convention will be held on February 2, 2016 at the Ramada Inn in Columbus, NE.

The Nebraska Dairy Convention is open to all Nebraska dairy producers, families and guests — members and non- members.  The  2016 NSDA Convention Sponsorship form, the 2016 Producer Membership form, and Convention Registration forms are available here for downloading... www.nebraskamilk.org. 

They will again feature presentations aimed at helping dairy farmers be efficient and profitable farm managers, offer opportunities to visit with our allied sponsors in the Expo, and  provide an setting for networking and visiting with your fellow dairy farmers.    Plan to be in Columbus on February 2nd.



Nebraska Soybean Board Seeks Leaders to Represent Nebraska Soybean Farmers
This year, the Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) will be seeking three soybean farmers to serve on the Board of Directors and to represent fellow soybean farmers and the industry.

How does the Election Work?
The election is conducted by mail-in ballot in July. Soybean farmers who reside in counties that are up for election in 2016 will receive ballots and candidate information regarding NSB’s election process via direct mail.

What are the 2016 Election Districts and Counties?
District 2: Counties of Burt, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Stanton, Thurston and Wayne.
District 4: Counties of Boone, Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk and York.
District 8: Counties of Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Box Butte, Brown, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Greeley, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Howard, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Perkins, Phelps, Red Willow, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sherman, Sioux, Thomas, Valley and Wheeler.

Who Can Be a Candidate for the NSB seat on the Board?
· Be a resident of Nebraska
· Be a resident of the district in which the election is being held
· Be a soybean farmer in Nebraska for at least the previous 5 years
· Be 21 years of age or older
· Have submitted a NSB candidacy petition

Candidacy Must:
· Obtain a NSB Candidacy Petition by contacting NSB’s executive director, Victor Bohuslavsky, at 402-432-5720.
· Complete the petition and collect the signatures of 50 soybean farmers in their district
· Return such petition to the NSB office on or before April 15, 2016.

Roles and Responsibilities of Soybean Board Member Representative:
· Attend every NSB meeting – 8 day fiscal year commitment
· Attend/participate in other educational events sponsored by the Nebraska Soybean Checkoff
· Receive no salary but are reimbursed for expenses incurred while carrying out board business
· Serve a three-year term that would begin October 1, 2016

Areas of Focus for the Soybean Industry:
As an elected representative to NSB, you will help guide the Nebraska soybean industry in the areas of research, education, domestic and foreign markets, including new uses for soybeans and soybean products.

If you have questions regarding the election process, please contact NSB’s executive director, Victor Bohuslavsky, at 402-432-5720. For more information about the Nebraska soybean checkoff, visit www.nebraskasoybeans.org.



2016 Legislative Session Begins Jan. 6
(from NE Farm Bureau)

Nebraska’s 49 state senators are back in Lincoln for another round of lawmaking. Here are some things you should know as they begin the second session of the 104th Legislature.
-    It begins Jan. 6 and is tentatively scheduled to end April 20.
-    Public Hearings start on Jan. 19
-    This is the short, 60-day session of the two-year cycle.
-    There were 664 bills introduced last year and 243 were approved by the governor. Bills that weren’t killed or passed last session can be debated this year.

For more information about this year’s session go to Nebraskalegislature.gov.



Legislative Session Commences
Governor Pete Ricketts

Each New Year is a time to reflect on the last year and plan for next year.  This is a special year at home for us, because my twins will enter their senior year of high school this fall.  Between their work and school schedules, and my calendar, we cherish every moment we have together.  Susanne and I hope the principles we have worked to impart to them–hard work, respect for others, and keeping your word–will serve them well as adults.

One of the reasons Nebraska is a great place to raise a family is because of the principles that Nebraskans share.  We also value personal responsibility and common sense, and we don’t spend money we don’t have.

Our State Senators, who share these values and advocate for them, give of their time to represent their neighbors and serve taxpayers.  This week, they will return to Lincoln for the second session of the 104th Legislature.  During this session, senators will have the opportunity to deliver much-needed property tax relief, prioritize spending, and define strategies to grow Nebraska for future generations.

Our Unicameral Legislature has a proud history.  Established in 1937, the Unicameral remains the only non-partisan, one-house legislative body in the United States.  By law, we balance our budget, and we cannot borrow money to achieve this like the federal government.  We work together to actually pass a budget each year—something that does not happen in many states.  These traditions work to keep the State Capitol focused on fiscal responsibility.

This summer and fall, I held more than 20 town hall meetings across Nebraska, and people were clear and consistent on the need for property tax relief.  State Senators tell me they hear the same thing in their districts.  Last session we put $408 million into the property tax relief fund, a 45 percent increase over previous years.  I believe property taxes are the number one issue we need to address this session, and I have been working with legislative leaders to make more progress on this for taxpayers.

There are many other priorities that will be considered in this short session.  The $154 million reduction in the revenue forecast means we must work together to balance the budget and constrain the growth of government.  With only 60 days to consider other issues like education funding, infrastructure, religious freedom, marijuana legalization, and another effort to expand Medicaid in Nebraska, this session will move quickly.

This session, however, is significant beyond the issues at hand.  This is the last session for 11 term-limited senators who answered the noble calling of public service.  Our appreciation goes out to Speaker Galen Hadley and Senators Dave Bloomfield, Kathy Campbell, Colby Coash, Tanya Cook, Mike Gloor, Ken Haar, Beau McCoy, Heath Mello, Ken Schilz, and Kate Sullivan.  These senators have given of themselves to serve our great state and their constituents, and we are all grateful for their contribution to our democracy.

As the session opens, I ask that you contribute to democracy by engaging with those of us serving you.  Please stay in touch with my office and with your senator’s office about how we can represent you best.  You can find contact information for your senator by visiting www.NebraskaLegislature.gov, and you can reach my office by emailing pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov or calling 402-471-2244.  I provide updates about important bills on my website, so please be sure to watch www.Governor.Nebraska.gov in the coming weeks and months.



ISU Winter Classes Scheduled for Women in Agriculture

Farm women have important management roles in Iowa agriculture, with responsibilities ranging from agriculture business management and grain marketing to farm transition planning. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach provides research-based educational programs for Iowa women farmers through the Women in Agriculture program. Registration is now open for classes in nine Iowa counties at http://www.aep.iastate.edu/womeninag/.

“Farm women are directly impacting Iowa’s economy to the tune of nearly 500 million dollars a year,” said Madeline Schultz, ISU Extension and Outreach Women in Agriculture program manager. “Women value educational programs that help them juggle farming and non-farming careers, work with family/partners and operate profitable businesses.”

Three courses are currently open for registration: Annie’s Project: Farm Business Management, Women Marketing Grain, and Managing for Today and Tomorrow: Farm Transition Planning. 
Farm business management course

Annie’s Project: Farm Business Management is a six-session farm management course for women. Topics include financial, human resources, legal, marketing and production. It is the agricultural business education program that empowers farm and ranch women who want to be even more knowledgeable about their agricultural businesses.
    Jan. 16 – Sac City. Sac County Extension Office, 620 Park Ave
    Jan. 25 – Creston. Southwest Community College, 1501 W Townline St
    Jan. 26 – Onawa. Monona County Extension Office, 119 Iowa Ave
    Feb. 4 – Humboldt. Humboldt County Extension Office, 727 Sumner Ave
    Feb. 8 – West Des Moines. Des Moines Area Community College, 5959 Grand Ave
    March 17 – Waukon. Location to be announced

Grain marketing course
Women Marketing Grain encourages development of crop marketing plans with price, time and financial goals in mind. The goal of this four-session course is to improve participants’ price risk management skills by enhancing their knowledge of marketing principles and risk management tools. Topics include contracts, online decision-making tools, crop insurance and price movements.
    Feb. 8 – Marshalltown. Iowa Valley Continuing Education, 3702 S Center St

Farm transitioning course
Managing for Today and Tomorrow: Farm Transition Planning guides women and their families in making good generational transition decisions. This is a five-session course. Topics include business, estate, retirement and succession planning.
    Feb. 1 – Gilbert. Gilbert High School, 312 Gretten St
    March 10 – Tipton. Cedar County Extension Office, 107 Cedar St

Registration for all courses is available online at http://www.aep.iastate.edu/womeninag/. Course fee is $75, which includes a light meal, course materials and professional development. Advance registration is required.

For more information about women in agriculture courses available from ISU Extension and Outreach contact Madeline Schultz at schultz@iastate.edu or 515-294-0588.



Tally Time – Use herd records to drive decisions
Sandy Johnson, Kansas State University Extension Livestock Specialist

Few people really “enjoy” keeping records but having the records when you need them can be a great help. Cow/calf operations require considerable capital investment and must manage in the face of rising prices, regulatory uncertainty and price volatility. A good set of records can inform decisions and be a great asset in troubleshooting. In the case of disasters they can provide the ready documentation needed for assistance programs.

Legislation aimed at reducing the development of antibiotic resistance will now require producers to retain copies of veterinary feed directives for a period of two years. The silver lining to any required records could be getting producers to collect and analyze more data about their operation than they have in the past.

The “RedBook” was created to help producers have a place to record, on the go, all the day to day happenings that can be useful for management decisions in a cow/calf operation. The calf information and calendar pages take up the bulk of the Redbook but there are a number of other pages that are extremely useful. Often times we might use a few features of such a tool and overlook all the other useful pieces. Whether in this format or another, producers should strive to collect and use all the data represented by these forms.

Which of the following do you collect?
•Cowherd inventory, beginning of fiscal year, start of breeding season
• Bull inventory and breeding soundness exams
• Pasture usage
• SPA Performance Measures
• Body Condition Score Record – weaning, pre-calving, calving, breeding
• Calving Activity – tracks calving distribution for various age or management groups
• Calf health record
• Weaning data
• Cow Health record
• Treatment record
• Cattle movement worksheet
• Cattle Sales
• Death losses
• Supplement Record
• Precipitation Record

The health/vaccination record sheet includes detailed information about the specific product, serial number, lot number, expiration date, withdrawal date, site of administration. All key information to have if there was some reaction to a vaccine or if needed as part of documenting the vaccination history of a group of animals to aid marketing.

The treatment record includes similar information as the vaccination record and helps ensure that appropriate withdrawal times have passed before an animal is sold. We all want a high quality, safe food supply for our families and other consumers. This type of documentation, if shared with consumers, could build consumer confidence in our product.

The Redbook is also available as an Excel file with all the same record sheets. The Excel version could serve as a backup to the paper copy since Redbooks have been known to meet with tragic fates in washing machines and mud puddles.

Those that are more tech savvy may want to set up some of their own record sheets using features such as Google docs. In an area with good smartphone coverage, one producer uses this method for a number of items including tracking hay inventory as it is fed, animal treatments records and group procedures.

There is no one right way, however, relying strictly on memory is subject to sudden and unexpected failure. The process of recording information can actually be beneficial and draw attention toward the ways that information can help the operation. Outside demands may be the only reason some producers keep any records, but increasingly many businesses are finding power in data to drive decisions. Look for opportunities to inform your decisions with data.

You can find the spreadsheet version or order Redbooks directly at this site http://www.beefusa.org/redbook.aspx.  



See for Yourself the Soybean Checkoff’s Role in the Global Soy Industry

Meet domestic and international customers, see where soybeans go beyond the elevator and evaluate the work of the soy checkoff. That’s what farmers will experience during the United Soybean Board’s See for Yourself program.

See for Yourself offers 10 soybean farmers from around the country the opportunity to see and evaluate the work of the checkoff firsthand. From the use of U.S. soy by domestic companies to the export of U.S. soy to customers around the world, See for Yourself shows program participants the checkoff’s role in maximizing U.S. soybean farmer profitability.

“The See for Yourself program showed me that the soy industry is so much more than what we do on each of our farms – it’s a global industry,” says Nathan Brown, a Hillsboro, Ohio, soybean farmer and 2015 See for Yourself program participant. “The program also allowed me to see how USB invests our checkoff dollars.”

Accompanied by checkoff farmer-leaders, participants will meet a diverse set of customers, both domestic and international, and see a variety of sites that represent end uses for U.S. soy, such as animal agriculture, the food industry, industrial users and more. Along the way, USB farmer-leaders will share greater insight into the process and rationale behind checkoff investments.

“The See for Yourself program is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Keith Tapp, chair of the USB Audit and Evaluation Committee, which sponsors See for Yourself. “Participants get the opportunity to see the checkoff up close and the work it does to improve the bottom line for U.S. soybean farmers across the country.” 

All U.S. soybean farmers over the age of 18 can apply through April 1 by visiting the USB website, www.UnitedSoybean.org/SeeforYourself. The program is tentatively scheduled for August 8-12, 2016.



 USDA Updates Swine Enteric Coronavirus Disease Order

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued an updated Federal Order related to swine enteric coronavirus diseases. The updated Order will do several things, including changing how emergency funding APHIS received in 2014 will be used. APHIS has reprioritized its needs going forward and will focus all remaining SECD funds towards diagnostic testing. With this modification, the funds should last long enough to cover diagnostic testing through this winter season.

The revised Federal Order will also eliminate the herd plan requirement, as well as reimbursement to veterinarians for completing those plans. And, it will also eliminate reimbursement for biosecurity actions, like truck washing.

In response to a large number of SECD cases that were causing significant hardship for the U.S. swine industry, APHIS issued a Federal Order in June 2014 making SECD a reportable disease. At the same time, USDA made funds available to cover specific costs associated with the disease. SECD remains a reportable disease, which means that producers, veterinarians, and diagnostic laboratories are required to report all cases of SECD to USDA or State animal health officials. The reporting criteria are unchanged in the updated Federal Order.

Today, USDA is receiving more accurate and timely information about SECD affected herds and their locations, which allows animal health officials to better understand how the disease spreads and what measures are most effective in containing it. The outbreak peaked between January and March 2015. In the last 5 months, the weekly average of new confirmed positive premises has dropped 90% when compared to the average number of weekly cases during the peak of the outbreak.



Fertilizer Prices Plunge in Last Week of 2015

Retail fertilizer prices rounded out 2015 with large declines the final week of December, according to fertilizer retailers tracked by DTN. This marks the first time in many months average prices of multiple fertilizers moved significantly.

All eight of the major fertilizers drifted lower compared to a month earlier, and six of the eight were down by some consequence.

Leading the way lower was DAP, which slid 9% compared to last month. The phosphorus fertilizer had an average price of $494 per ton. DAP fell below the $500-per-ton level for the first time since the second week of January 2014 when the price was $495 per ton.

Both potash and anhydrous were down 6% compared to last month. Potash had an average price of $398/ton and anhydrous at $590/ton.

The current price of $398/ton for potash continues to be the lowest prices on our DTN retail fertilizer dataset. Meanwhile, the $590/ton price for anhydrous is the first time the nitrogen fertilizer had been under $600/ton since the third week of August 2010 when the average price was $593/ton.

MAP, UAN28 and UAN32 were all down 5% from a month earlier. MAP had an average price of $531/ton, UAN28 $273/ton and UAN32 $317/ton.

The remaining two fertilizers, urea and 10-34-0, had slight declines compared to last month. Urea had an average price of $383/ton and 10-34-0 was at $570/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.42/lb.N, anhydrous $0.36/lb.N, UAN28 $0.49/lb.N and UAN32 $0.50/lb.N.

All fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. All but one fertilizer is now double digits lower. The only fertilizer not down much is 10-34-0, which fell 1%.

UAN32 is 10% less expensive, MAP is 11% lower, DAP is 13% less expensive and UAN28 is 15% lower from a year ago. Both anhydrous and urea are 17% lower and potash is now 18% less expensive compared to a year earlier.



USDA to Measure Economic Well-Being of Farms

The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service will spend the next several months contacting farmers and ranchers across the nation to conduct the Agricultural Resource Management Survey. The results of this survey will serve as a baseline for numerous federal policies and programs that affect U.S. farms and farm families.

NASS conducts ARMS jointly with USDA's Economic Research Service. In an effort to obtain the most accurate data, the federal agencies will reach out to nearly 41,000 producers across the country through April 4. The survey asks the producers to provide data on their operating expenditures, production costs and household characteristics.

As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law.

The economic data gathered in ARMS will be published in the annual Farm Production Expenditures report later this summer.



Brazilian Corn Exports Smash Record in December

Brazil registered record corn exports in December, further highlighting its competitiveness in international markets.

Shipments hit 6.3 million metric tons in December, up 84% on the year before, according to Brazilian Development, Trade and Industry Ministry.

As a result, shipments in 2015 reached 28.9 mmt, some 40% higher than 2014 and easily topping the previous record of 26 mmt shipped in 2013.

Brazil harvested a bumper crop of 86 mmt in 2014-15. Meanwhile, a 32% devaluation of the real in 2015 allowed the No. 2 exporter to be aggressive in placing its corn.



API’s "State of American Energy" Speech Embraces Status Quo and Seeks to Deny Consumer Choice

Following the American Petroleum Industry’s (API) annual “State of American Energy” speech, Tom Buis, co-chair of Growth Energy, issued the following statement:

“API’s ‘State of American Energy’ speech, brought to you by Big Oil, is nothing new. While oil companies talk about the future of energy in this country, they seem fixated on a finite resource and fail to acknowledge that renewable fuels play a critical role in meeting the nation’s growing energy needs.

“Year after year, API attempts to drive the narrative that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) must be reformed or repealed. This argument is fundamentally flawed. The claims that renewable fuels will increase the cost of energy or that they are worse for the environment are simply ridiculous. Countless independent studies have shown that renewable fuels like ethanol help drive down the cost of fuel. Furthermore, when it comes environmental damage, no one has a worse record than oil companies. Their record of ecological disasters is extensive and deeply troubling. Between 2008 and 2014, more than 25,000 oil spills accounted for more than 217 million gallons of oil and petroleum based products being dis­charged into U.S. navigable waterways, territorial waters, tributar­ies, the contiguous zone, onto shoreline, or into other waters and land that threaten the environment. That’s an average of more than 30 million gallons spilled a year. In contrast, ethanol is biodegradable and no beaches have ever been closed due to an ethanol spill.

“They claim the RFS is a ‘relic’ that is no longer useful, but the fact is that the RFS has been a resounding success, doing exactly what it was intended to do when a bipartisan Congress passed it over a decade ago.

“The RFS is the most successful energy policy this nation has enacted in the last 40 years. Not only is it creating jobs, it is revitalizing rural economies, reducing harmful emissions, improving our environment and reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuel. Additionally, it is providing consumers with a choice at the pump.

“API notes the importance of consumers in their speech, yet seems to believe the American consumer is best served by denying them a choice. Furthermore, they attempt to distort the truth saying there is no demand for renewable fuels. Yet major retail chains like Sheetz, Kum & Go, MAPCO and others are adopting higher blends and offering them to consumers and seeing tremendous success and growing demand.

“The bottom line is that API wants to kill any competition that may threaten their bottom line and record profits. They will stop at nothing to end the Renewable Fuel Standard, blocking the wide spread adoption of renewable fuels that consumers demand by maintaining the so-called “blend wall” to prevent market access for higher blends of biofuels such as E15 to ensure that their lock on the fuels market goes unchecked.

“The RFS is a win-win for America, as it is an essential part of a true ‘all of the above’ energy strategy needed to meet the growing energy demands of the 21st century.”