Friday Feburary 12 Ag News

Nebraska Cow-Calf Symposium & Tour: Expanding the Cowherd - The Confinement Option

Are you considering an expansion of the cow herd to help meet the demand for Beef? Are you looking for a revenue source within the Beef Industry that will allow the next generation a chance to come back to the farm? With the less grazing land available, increased cost of land ownership and surplus feedstuffs in the cornbelt; now may be the time to consider Cow-Calf confinement or semi-confinement. The Alliance for the Future of Agriculutre in Nebraska (A-FAN) is hosting a Symposium designed to allow you the chance to gain the insight needed to consider cow-calf confinement as a viable beef production model for the future.

Date:
March 22-23, 2016 - Ramada Inn & Conference Center, Columbus, NE

Speakers:
Morgan Hayes - University of Illinois Extension - Getting Started in Cow-Calf Confinement Production
Willow Holoubek - A-FAN - Cow-Calf Confinement: Investing into the Next Generation
Kelly Jones - Cactus Feeders - Cow-Calf Confinement Co-op Herd Opportunity
Jason Warner - Great Plains Lvst Consulting - Nutrition: Utilizing the Feed Ingredients of the Cornbelt
Roberto Eizmendi - Cactus Feeders - Converting 40,000 Head Feedyard to Cow-Calf Production
Producer Panel - In-Depth Discussion of Cow-Calf Confinement Production

Building Tour:
700 Hd Deep Pit Building
200 Hd/100 Hd Bed Pack Background/Finish
2-600 Hd Bed Pack Finisher
250 Hd Cow-Calf / 250 Hd Background

Register online before March 11th, 2016 for Early Bird tickets... www.necowcalfsymposium.eventbrite.com

Early Bird Tickets.................................................$55
Tickets after 3-11-16 or at the door.......................$70
*Ticket fee includes meals and reservation on bus tour.

Hotel Accomodations:
Ramada Hotel & Conference Center..................$89.95
*must call hotel at 402-564-1492 for "Nebraska Cow-Calf Symposium" special rate.

For More Information:
E-mail or call Emily Skillett - emilys@a-fan.org - 402-421-4416



Current National Drought Summary
droughtmonitor.unl.edu

From February 2-3, a major low pressure system moved from the central Great Plains northeastward across the Great Lakes region and southern Ontario, accompanied by a variety of hazardous weather conditions to the central and eastern contiguous U.S. These hazards included heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions generally to areas north and west of the storm track, and severe weather to the Southeast. Straight-line and tornadic winds were responsible for most of the severe weather damage. Over the weekend, an area of low pressure developed off the Southeast Coast, accompanied by heavy rain over coastal areas, including most of Florida. This ocean storm tracked to the northeast, well off the Atlantic Coast, bringing heavy snow (generally 6-12 inches) to New England and eastern Long Island, NY. Some locations on Cape Cod also experienced high winds and blizzard conditions, with preliminary reports indicating peak wind gusts near 65 mph in Nantucket.

The Great Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley
The primary revisions made to the drought depiction this week were in Texas. Most of the state has been drying out the last 30-days, with only two areas receiving more than a half-inch of precipitation. According to the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS), far eastern Texas received moderate to heavy precipitation (0.5-3.0 inches), and the Trans-Pecos/western Edwards Plateau region generally received between 0.5-1.0 inch. However, many locations around the Abilene/San Angelo area have yet to receive measurable precipitation in 2016. Elsewhere, plant stress and elevated wildfire danger signaled either the expansion of, or introduction of, D0. In particular, deep South Texas has had very low dew points and strong winds. Topsoil moisture is rated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as very short to short. The additions rendered to the USDM map were guided by 1-4 month Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) blends.

Small changes were also made to the depiction in northwestern Kansas and northeastern Colorado. The eastern portion of the D0 band (straddling the state border) was removed, due to somewhat improved conditions. Abnormal dryness (D0) was retained in Washington and part of Kit Carson Counties in northeastern Colorado, based primarily on SPI and soil moisture considerations.

An area to watch over the next few weeks is northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. This region has been quite dry during the past 30-days, with less than 0.10-inch of precipitation reported. A few counties (such as Franklin and Polk in Arkansas) have issued bans against outdoor burning. Dry spells are not uncommon during the winter, and it is noteworthy that this particular area received 10-14 inches of precipitation in late December.

Looking Ahead
During February 11-15, a half-inch or less of precipitation (liquid equivalent) is forecast for far northwestern California and the western margin of the drought region in Oregon. One to two inches of precipitation is anticipated across northern Idaho and northeastern Oregon. Unfortunately, much heavier amounts of precipitation (3-7 inches) are predicted for parts of the Pacific Northwest which are no longer in drought. Precipitation amounts of a half-inch or less are predicted for the Dakotas and most of the Mississippi Valley, with perhaps an inch for the Ark-La-Tex region, and for downwind areas of the Lower Great Lakes region.

During the ensuing 5 days (February 16-20), the projected precipitation pattern generally favors above-median precipitation from the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies eastward across North Dakota, and continuing eastward and southeastward across the Great Lakes region, the Ohio and upper Tennessee Valleys, Appalachians, and Atlantic Coast states from Maine to South Carolina. Below-median precipitation is favored from California and the Southwest eastward across central and southern sections of both the Rockies and Great Plains, most of the Middle and Lower Mississippi Valley, and the Gulf Coast states including all of Florida. This pattern is what would be expected of a La Nina winter, not an El Nino winter. At any rate, some drought relief is at least favored across the northern U.S. during this period, but this is not the case for places like (most of) California, the Southwest, and Texas. Dryness is rapidly expanding across Texas, and some degradation in the drought depiction will probably be needed next week.





NE Extension hosts Crop Scout Trainig for Pest Managers

Monday, March 14, 2016 at the ARDC Near Mead, NE
Registration begins at 8:30;  Program runs 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

This session is ideal for new employees preparing to take the CCA exam and serves as an excellent refresher course for experienced personnel. Courses are taught by University and industry specialists. This educational training provides current, detailed instruction and is specifically designed to furnish employees with the necessary knowledge, expertise and confidence to fulfill the requirements of their employment.

Topics include:
•  How Corn and Soybean Plants Grow and Develop
•  Soybean and Corn Insect Management
•  Nutrient Deficiencies
•  Identifying Weeds - Plant Morphology,
•  Using a Key to Identify Weed Seedlings
•  Crop Diseases and Quiz

Fee for this training is $165 which includes a resource book.  Or for participants attending the training only (no resource book) the fee is $50.  Pre-register to reserve your seat and to ensure workshop materials are available the day of the training session.

Fees include lunch, refreshment breaks, and workshop materials. About the optional resource book - the instruction manual contains a variety of reference materials that are excellent resources for crop scouting professions. Registration fees do not include the cost of lodging.

For more information, contact Nebraska Extension at (402)624-8000 or via e-mail at kglewen1@unl.edu.   Registration questions - e-mail cdunbar2@unl.edu or call 402-624-8000.  Website is at:  ardc.unl.edu/cmwp.shtml.



Vilsack Appoints New Nebraska Farm Service Agency Committee Member

Roy Stoltenberg of Cairo, Nebraska has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Nebraska Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Committee by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Roy will join four current Committee members to serve on the FSA State Committee (STC).  The Committee evaluates Nebraska federal farm program and farm loan program policies.  They hear appeals from farmers and ranchers under USDA’s administrative appeals process.  They also oversee FSA’s administrative operations for County Committees and field office operations.

Roy Stoltenberg and his wife, Mary have been active in farming since 1974.  They have raised corn, soybeans, alfalfa, hogs and cattle.  They produce irrigated and dryland crops.

Roy and his family have been active in the community and their church.  He has served on the Aurora Coop Board, the 4-H program, the Nebraska Farmers Union and other local activities.

Roy and his wife, Mary have three children and six grandchildren.



Kansas City Fed Says Farm Economy Tightens Further

Farmland values in the seven-state Tenth District Federal Reserve District softened in the fourth quarter of 2015 as farm income continued to weaken, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's quarterly Survey of Agricultural Credit Conditions.

According to survey respondents, values of nonirrigated and irrigated cropland decreased 4 percent and 2 percent, respectively, from a year ago. Growth in the value of ranchland also stalled in the fourth quarter alongside sharp declines in cattle prices that persisted to the end of the year.

Survey respondents expected farmland values to fall further in the coming months. In fact, bankers expected the value of each land type - nonirrigated cropland, irrigated cropland and ranchland - to decline again in the first quarter of 2016.

Reduced farm income likely has contributed to expectations of further declines in both farmland values and cash rents. Persistently low prices for agricultural commodities remained a primary driver of diminished farm income across District states. Bankers surveyed expected farm income to remain subdued in the coming months.

Farm Income
Reduced farm income likely has contributed to expectations of further declines in both farmland values and cash rents. In the fourth quarter, 87 percent of survey respondents reported farm income was lower than a year ago. Reports of waning farm income also were consistent across District states. In fact, for the first time since 2002, bankers in all District states reported that farm income in the fourth quarter was lower than a year ago.

Persistently low prices for agricultural commodities remained a primary driver of diminished farm income across District states. In addition to sharp declines in cattle prices, most crop prices also fell from year-ago levels. For instance, national average prices for soybeans and wheat dropped 14 percent and 19 percent, respectively, while corn prices also declined slightly. Moreover, corn prices were nearly 40 percent lower, on average, in 2015 than two years earlier. Sustained weakness in corn, soybean and wheat prices has had a particularly negative effect on farm income because these three crops account for about 70 percent of harvested crop acreage in Tenth District states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Bankers expected farm income to remain subdued in the coming months. For the second quarter in a row, bankers in all District states indicated they expect a further decline in farm income in the coming quarter (Chart 9). These expectations of lower farm income continued the trend of reduced incomes in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, but marked a significant downturn in expectations for future farm income in Oklahoma and the Mountain States.

Farm Sector Credit Conditions
Farm credit conditions in the Tenth District also deteriorated somewhat alongside lower farm income. Farm loan repayment rates slipped further in the fourth quarter while farm loan demand remained high. Moreover, both loan demand and repayment rates moved in similar directions in all District states. Through the fourth quarter, softening repayments rates and strong loan demand appeared to be a reflection of persistently weaker farm income and reduced cash flow. Yet, commercial banks generally continued to report low delinquency rates on agricultural loans. 

Softening farm income and consistently strong loan demand appeared to also reduce credit availability for some borrowers in the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter marked the 11th consecutive quarter of increased loan demand and the second straight quarter of diminished availability of funds for agricultural loans. In addition to strong demand for farm loans, the recent surge in loan renewals and extensions and weaker repayment rates likely has reduced principal payments, thereby restricting the availability of funds for new loans. Bankers also indicated they expect credit availability to tighten somewhat in the first quarter of 2016, which would mark the longest period of reduced availability of funds at agricultural banks in the District since 2000.



USDA, Partners to Invest $720 Million in Large-Scale, Targeted Conservation Projects

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and partners across the nation will direct up to $720 million towards 84 conservation projects that will help communities improve water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. These projects make up the second round of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) created by the 2014 Farm Bill.

Out of the 84 projects, Nebraska was one of the top recipients in the nation, receiving approval for six projects totaling over $22 million.

The three projects focused solely in Nebraska were approved for over $3 million to improve irrigation water management, create wildlife habitat and reduce soil erosion on cropland. The lead partners involved with these projects include the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Lower Elkhorn and Lower Republican Natural Resources Districts.

NRCS State Conservationist Craig Derickson said “Nebraska’s conservation partnership is tailor-made to take full advantage of the RCPP. We put out a call for innovative projects, and our partners answered with creative, locally-led approaches to address natural resource challenges. NRCS has a long, successful history working with Natural Resources Districts and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. We look forward to working with these partners to help protect Nebraska’s natural resources.”

Nebraska is also part of three multi-state RCPP projects, which are funded at over $19 million to focus on improving habitat for pollinators, mitigating the impacts of climate change on Tribal land, and improving and protecting water quality. Partners in those projects include Pheasants Forever, the Intertribal Agriculture Council, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Water quality and drought are dominant themes in this year’s RCPP project list with 45 of the 84 projects focusing on water resource concerns. The projects in Nebraska focus on water quantity, water quality, soil erosion prevention and habitat creation.

Through the 2015 and 2016 rounds, USDA and partners are investing up to $1.5 billion in 199 strategic conservation projects. Projects are selected on a competitive basis, and local private partners must be able to at least match the USDA commitment.

For this round, USDA received 265 applications requesting nearly $900 million, or four times the amount of available federal funding. The 84 projects selected for 2016 include proposed partner matches totaling over $500 million, more than tripling the federal investment alone. Visit the NRCS website to see the full list of 2016 projects.

Secretary Vilsack said, “The Regional Conservation Partnership Program puts local partners in the driver’s seat to accomplish environmental goals that are most meaningful to that community. Joining together public and private resources also harnesses innovation that neither sector could implement alone. We have seen record enrollment of privately owned lands in USDA’s conservation programs under this Administration, and the new Regional Conservation Partnership Program will be instrumental in building on those numbers and demonstrating that government and private entities can work together for greater impacts on America’s communities.”



USDA Awards Millions to Iowa Water Quality Efforts

On behalf of Iowa’s corn farmers, we applaud our partners, the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) and Illinois Corn for receiving Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) co-led the Iowa application. These projects will provide Iowa corn farmers with additional tools to accelerate adoption of conservation practices to improve soil health and water quality.

Combined, these two programs will make available millions of dollars to support Iowa’s water quality and conservation efforts. IAWA and IDALS received $9.5 million in federal funds leveraged by $4.75 million in state funding ($2.5 from IDALS and $2.25 from Iowa DNR) and $33 million from the private sector. This project will focus on priority watersheds in Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska. Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky will receive $5.3 million. The Illinois Corn grant for $5.3 million will offer farmers in Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky tools to apply precision conservation technology to their farm business decision making. Each project has over 30 partner organizations, leveraging tremendous private sector investments.

The programs meet Iowa Corn’s goal of protecting and improving crop land, water, and natural resources and will help implement Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Iowa Corn will have an integral role in helping to launch and implement these two projects.

These partnership initiatives are built upon the strong history of collaboration in Iowa among organizations representing government, growers, non-profit, economic development, and higher education. They will help leverage private sector precision agriculture tools to deliver conservation and water quality improvement. As a farmer, I am working every day to improve soil health and to leave this land better than when I started farming it. Programs like this will help provide better educational tools and resources for adoption of conservation and water quality practices.

We also recognize and thank NRCS and USDA for helping direct Farm Bill funding to conservation practices where they can be most effective.

IAWA Midwest Agriculture Water Quality Partnership
The Midwest Agriculture Water Quality Partnership, co-led by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA), will engage farmers and help scale-up the water quality efforts in targeted watersheds within the North Raccoon, South Skunk, Lake Red Rock, Middle Cedar and Upper Cedar watersheds.




Statement of Iowa Pork Producers Association President Al Wulfekuhle

Today's announcement of USDA's Regional Conservation Partnership Program award of $9.5 million to the Midwest Agriculture Water Quality Partnership is exciting news and we applaud USDA, NRCS and Sec. Vilsack for the support.

Farmers' voluntary response to the need to improve on-farm practices has been impressive and while progress is being made, we still have work to do. These funds will help us continue and expand on the good work that has been done to date. The fact that this is a true public-private partnership only strengthens our resolve because collaboration is the key to improving Iowa's water quality issues!

The Iowa Pork Producers Association is a strong advocate of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and is financially supporting several of the state's key watershed projects. IPPA also is one of the three founding members of the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance along with the Iowa Corn Growers and the Iowa Soybean Association.



Livestock Master Matrix Adopted in 88 IA Counties

Once again, 88 of 99 Iowa counties notified DNR in January that they plan to evaluate construction permit applications and proposed locations for animal confinements by using the master matrix.

Animal producers in these counties must meet higher standards than other confinement producers who also need a construction permit. They must earn points on the master matrix by choosing a site and using practices that reduce impacts on air, water and the community.

With 11 exceptions, all counties will use the matrix during the next 12 months. The following counties will not use the matrix in 2016: Decatur, Des Moines, Fremont, Keokuk, Lee, Mahaska, Osceola, Plymouth, Wapello, Warren and Washington.

Counties that adopt the master matrix can provide more input to producers on site selection, the proposed structures and proposed facility management. Participating counties score each master matrix submitted in their county and can also join in DNR visits to a proposed confinement site.

While all counties may submit comments to DNR during the review process for permit applications, counties that adopt the master matrix can also appeal approval of a preliminary permit to the state Environmental Protection Commission.

Producers and citizens can obtain more information and view a map of participating counties by looking for preconstruction requirements for permitted confinements at www.iowadnr.gov/afo. Or, find the maps at www.iowadnr.gov/Environmental-Protection/Land-Quality/Animal-Feeding-Operations/Confinements/Construction-Requirements/Permitted/Master-Matrix.

Only producers who must get a construction permit for a confinement are affected by the master matrix. Generally, these include proposed construction, expansion or modification of confinement feeding operations with more than 2,500 finishing hogs, 1,000 beef cattle or 715 mature dairy cows. Confinements are totally roofed facilities.



 Iowa Speedway and Iowa Corn Cultivate Multi-Year Partnership

 Iowa Speedway and Iowa Corn today announced a multi-year sponsorship renewal that will keep Iowa Corn as title sponsor of the Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300 through 2018. Iowa Corn is in its 10th year of partnership with “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet.” The renewed agreement continues the second longest entitlement sponsorship in INDYCAR racing.

“The state of Iowa continues to lead this country in the production of corn and corn-based ethanol, and we are honored to celebrate and promote these industries at Iowa Speedway,” said Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small. “This has become a lauded Iowan tradition enjoyed by millions across the globe. We are incredibly proud to authentically demonstrate the performance of ethanol in the world’s fastest race cars here at the Fastest Short Track on the Planet.”

“We consider this renewed commitment as an investment in our state, and we are excited to provide Iowa Corn, the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and the Iowa Corn Growers Association with the opportunity to deliver their message to an international audience,” said Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small. “The state of Iowa is the largest producer of both corn and ethanol in America, and the Iowa Corn 300 is an invaluable opportunity to demonstrate the power and reliability of the renewable fuel.”

Iowa Speedway serves as a platform to support the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and promote the benefits of renewable fuels grown in America. INDYCAR weekend at Iowa Speedway is a culmination of the nearly 40 years of hard work and dedication necessary to build the corn-based ethanol market and raises awareness about Iowa farmers’ ability to produce corn for their key trades – livestock, ethanol production and exports.

The 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300 will be contested Sunday, July 10. Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires and the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires also will be in action July 10.

“The Iowa Corn 300 reaches a global audience with an expanding viewership,” explained Mark Heckman, Iowa Corn Promotion Board President and a farmer from West Liberty, Iowa. “What’s really cool is its ethanol powering those E85 Indy cars. The program exposes a broad audience to the state of Iowa, agriculture and corn farming while demonstrating the many benefits of ethanol including its power and performance. We had another phenomenal year in 2015, and we look forward to many more to come.”

The 2016 schedule of events at Iowa Speedway is as follows:
June 18 – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
June 19 – NASCAR XFINITY Series
July 9 – ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards
July 10 – Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tires
July 10 – Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires
July 10 – Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300
July 29 – NASCAR K&N Pro Series East / West
July 30 – NASCAR XFINITY Series U.S. Cellular 250

Season, Weekend and Individual Event tickets are on sale now. Current season ticket holders have the opportunity to renew their existing tickets until Feb. 24, 2016. Payment plans are available and offer great flexibility to fans who want to spread out their payments.



AG TRANSPORTATION COALITION WANTS DELAY IN NEW WEIGHT VERIFICATION RULE

The Agriculture Transportation Coalition is concerned that a new international container weight verification rule could negatively affect U.S. exporters. The coalition will meet Feb. 18 with Commissioner Rebecca Dye of the Federal Maritime Commission to discuss the issue and has asked key congressional committees to review the rule, which was promulgated by the International Maritime Organization and took effect July 1. It requires shippers to provide ocean carriers with certification of a shipment’s Verified Gross Mass, the combined weight of a container and its contents.

The agriculture coalition has pointed out that U.S. exporters of agricultural product that could be moving hundreds of miles to port have no way of knowing whether the product is put in another container for ocean shipment and how much that container weighs.

The coalition wants a delay in U.S. implementation of the rule.



Farm Bureau Backs Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell's 'Healthy Children, Strong America' Platform

The American Farm Bureau Federation and American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture are pleased to support Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell and her platform of "Healthy Children, Strong America," which encourages children to make healthy choices and stay physically active

Cantrell, who grew up on a 700-acre farm in Warner Robins, Georgia, will join Foundation Executive Director Julie Tesch in introducing the First Peas to the Table Contest. This new national competition for schools will encourage children in kindergarten through fifth grade to plant, raise and harvest peas this spring.

The contest - including official guidelines and rules - will be announced on Monday, Feb. 15 at AFBF's Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.

"We're honored to have Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell join us as we launch the First Peas to the Table Contest," Tesch said. "Getting your hands dirty is the best way to learn! Through this contest, we aim to provide fun, hands-on learning opportunities for students across the country," she said.

The contest highlights the Foundation's latest Book of the Year, "First Peas to the Table," by Susan Grigsby. The Foundation created the contest to help students understand the importance of healthy foods and agriculture in their everyday lives, and to increase their understanding of how plants grow. Classrooms will compete for the grand prize of a visit from Cantrell.

In conjunction with the contest, Tesch encourages educators to invite local farmers and ranchers to speak in their classrooms about food production and the importance of agriculture. Contacting your county Farm Bureau office is a good way to find local farmers.

After her remarks to conference attendees on Monday, Cantrell will visit the Longfellow and Wylie Ronald McDonald Houses and the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Children's Mercy Hospital.



Commodity Classic and Ag PhD Announce Partnership

Two of agriculture’s leading brands have joined forces to amplify the grower education experience at the nation’s leading farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show.  Ag PhD and Commodity Classic have announced a new partnership designed to attract more farmers to Commodity Classic and provide even more opportunities for farmers at the 2016 Commodity Classic in New Orleans, March 3-5.

Through the partnership, Ag PhD will promote Commodity Classic at its farmer workshops and through its various communications and outreach platforms.   Darren and Brian Hefty of Ag PhD will also be featured on the AG CONNECT Main Stage on the Commodity Classic trade show floor.  Their presentation, scheduled for Saturday morning, will focus on ways that farmers can improve their return on investment through cost control, precision farming and other strategies.

“Ag PhD is all about education and Commodity Classic is one of the best educational events of the year for farmers,” said Darren Hefty.  “When it comes to meeting other top-end producers from across the country who are doing a great job or simply learning about new technologies and management practices, Commodity Classic is one of the best places for farmers to be.”

Darren and his brother Brian have attended Commodity Classic for years.  “We go every year because we always learn a lot.  Commodity Classic is helping our farm get better.  It’s helping our farm make more money,” he added.

“We’re very excited to partner with Ag PhD for the 2016 Commodity Classic,” said Fred Stemme, vice president of marketing and operations for the National Corn Growers Association.  “The Hefty brothers have earned a great reputation across the country for their insight, innovation and ability to communicate with growers.  Commodity Classic is focused on providing farmers a wide range of opportunities to improve their operations, their profitability and themselves.  This partnership with Ag PhD is a great thing for our event and everyone who attends.

Registrations for the 2016 Commodity Classic are running well ahead of last year’s record attendance.   Additionally, the trade show will be the largest in Commodity Classic’s 20-year history.

“The 2016 Commodity Classic is going to be the biggest and best ever—and it comes at a critical time for agriculture,” Hefty said.  “You can bury your head in the sand, or you can work to gain new information and more knowledge to improve your return on investment.   Commodity Classic is the can’t-miss event for farmers who want to succeed in these challenging times. We’re thrilled to play an even bigger role at this high-quality event.”



Brazil's Soy Harvest Progresses Amid Favorable Weather

Reduced rainfall during this Carnival week allowed Brazilian farmers to accelerate harvest efforts, said AgRural, a local farm consultancy, Friday.  As a result, fieldwork progressed six percentage points to 16%, surpassing the 14% collected at the same point last year, it said.

Harvesting was particularly quick in Parana, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul.

In Parana, the No. 2 soy state, soybeans were 30% harvest as of Friday, up from 23% at the same point last year.  In the center-west, showers benefited the crop without significantly hindering harvest efforts.

In Mato Grosso, the No. 1 soy state, harvesting moved forward 12 points last week to reach 24% complete, marginally ahead of the 23% collected last year.

JAN RAIN BOOSTS SOY
The above-average rainfall in January prompted AgRural to raise its Brazilian soybean crop forecast by 1 million metric tons to 99.7 mmt. That's up 3.6% on the year before.

The wet weather nourished a crop that had suffered amid irregular rainfall in the last quarter of 2015. It particularly favored medium- and long-cycle beans in Mato Grosso and AgRural raised its average yield forecast for the state by 2.7% to 45 bushels per acre. The Goias average yield figure was raised by 2% to 46 bpa.



NFU Files Petition, Joins Coalition Seeking Court Review of EPA RFS Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to set renewable fuel volume targets well below amounts required by law has created an uproar in rural America.  In response, the nation’s second biggest general farm organization is asking the court system to intervene and require EPA to follow congressional direction as laid out by the renewable fuels standard (RFS).

In a petition filed today with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the National Farmers Union (NFU) requested a review of the EPA’s final rule setting of 2014, 2015, and 2016 volume targets.

“Undermining the RFS is not only damaging for agriculture, it is a decision that harms the environment, weakens rural economies and stalls progress towards energy independence,” explained NFU President Roger Johnson.  “We believe the EPA’s final rule and interpretation of their general waiver authority is wrong and requires legal review.”

He added, “When the EPA makes a decision at the expense of the administration’s own climate change goals, I question if the agency considered the market supply and surplus RIN credits when drawing its conclusion.”

NFU joins a coalition of biofuels advocates that expressed similar concerns in a joint-petition filed earlier this year.  Those groups include Americans for Clean Energy, American Coalition for Ethanol, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association, National Sorghum Producers, and the Renewable Fuels Association.

“As an association rooted in the interests of farmers, ranchers and rural America, NFU has been critical of the EPA’s final RFS ruling. We look forward to standing alongside our industry partners in support of a challenge to the EPA’s erroneous interpretation of the renewable fuels supply. We are hopeful our actions will bring clarity to this concerning issue,” Johnson concluded.



USDA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Join Forces to Promote Agriculture Jobs and Farming and Ranching to Military Veterans

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a joint agreement with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to increase employment opportunities in the agricultural sector for military veterans and their spouses.

USDA Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Deputy Under Secretary Lanon Baccam signed the agreement along with Eric Eversole, vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Eversole, a Commander in the Navy Reserve, also serves as the foundation's President of Hiring Our Heroes. Baccam, a U.S. Army and Iowa National Guard veteran who served in Afghanistan, is USDA's Military Veterans Liaison.

"Today's agreement opens the door for thousands of service members who participate in Hiring Our Heroes events around the world to benefit from USDA's vast array of tools and resources," said Baccam. "This new partnership strengthens USDA's ongoing efforts to help veterans pursue rewarding careers in farming, ranching, or in the fast-growing agriculture and food sectors."

The agreement establishes a new partnership between USDA and Hiring Our Heroes, a program that helps military veterans, transitioning active duty personnel, and their spouses and partners with training and opportunities to find meaningful employment when entering the civilian workforce.

Since 2009, USDA has provided $466.8 million in farm loans to help more than 6,868 veterans purchase farmland, buy equipment and make repairs and upgrades. Our microloans, which offer smaller amounts of support to meet the needs of small- or niche-type farm operations, have also grown in popularity among veterans. Since it was launched in January 2013, USDA's microloan program has provided more than $25.8 million in support to help veterans grow their farming businesses.

Recently, USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) also expanded its collaboration with the Department of Defense to better reach the nearly 200,000 service members transitioning from military service to civilian life each year. Through a career training and counseling program, called the Transition Assistance Program, or TAP, USDA provides information on a wide variety of loans, grants, training and technical assistance available for veterans who are passionate about a career in agriculture.

For more information on how USDA can help military veterans transition into agriculture as a career, visit www.usda.gov/veterans.