Tuesday February 2 Ag News

Managing Young Cows for Optimum Reproductive Performance
Steve Tonn – Extension Educator – Beef Systems

Calving season is underway for some producers and will start this month for many more.  Today, the most common reproductive problem that both purebred and commercial beef producers encounter is getting first calf heifers and 3 year olds rebred.

For first calf heifers and maybe three year old too, calving and lactation occur at a time when they are still growing themselves.  These are major stressors that, if ignored, can lead to a lowered body condition score (BCS), delayed breeding or a smaller calf.  This situation is made worse if the heifers need to compete with older, more aggressive cows for feed.

One of the challenges is providing a high quality diet to young cows after calving.  In many situations, the energy needs are not met and the young female loses weight and body condition from the time of calving to the start of the breeding season.  First calf heifers and also three year olds post calving need to consume a diet that is at least 62% TDN and 10 to 11% crude protein, depending on level of milk production. This higher quality diet is needed both pre and post calving because young cows cannot eat as much as mature cows.  Their intake is less so they need more nutrients in each bite of feed.

Two and three year old cows may require 70 to 90 days to recover from calving and overcome a negative energy balance before they begin having regular estrous cycles and can be rebred.  This interval from calving until re-initiation of estrous cycles is often referred to as their postpartum interval.  This postpartum interval can be influenced by the body condition of the young cow at calving, her milk production, nutritional diet pre and post calving, and her genetic potential for growth.  When genetic potential of the female is out of synch with its production environment, delayed reproduction is one of the first signs.

Calving difficulty is probably the single greatest factor that dictates whether females resume their estrous cycle after birth and become pregnant the following breeding season.  It very important not to let young cows have a prolonged labor.  Heifers receiving assistance early in Stage II 9 (hooves visible) returned to estrus earlier in the post calving period and had higher pregnancy rates than heifers which received help later in Stage II.

Methods to improve the rebreeding performance of young beef cows:
    - Develop first calf heifers to calve at 85% of mature weight
    - Manage heifers to conceive early in a short breeding season
    - Calve heifers 3-4 weeks before mature cows
    - Provide a high quality diet during the last 50 days of gestation and throughout the calving season  - meet energy needs, separate young cows from mature cows
    - Young cows calving in body condition score of 6 – provide adequate pre calving diet
    - Provide early calving assistance when help is needed
    - Utilize 48 hour calf removal to stimulate estrus in thin young cows
    - Breed young cows to calving ease bulls
    - Consider early weaning for young cows

Management questions to consider:
    - Do I know the mature weight of my young cows?
    - Do I hit my target weights of 65% at breeding and 85% at calving of mature weight?
    - Do I breed my heifers in a short breeding season?
    - Do I calve my heifers 3-4 weeks before the mature cows?
    - Do my young cows calve in body condition score of 6?
    - Do I separate young cows from mature cows?
    - Do I feed young cows a higher quality diet pre and post calving?
    - Do I give timely calving assistance if needed to young cows?
    - Do I use calving ease bulls on my young cows?

Additional resources:
-        UNL Beef website: beef.unl.edu
-        UNL BeefWatch (monthly e-newsletter that you can subscribe to): http://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/beef
-        UNL BeefWatch Podcasts (these are more intimate chats with some of the authors of the BeefWatch articles, you can also subscribe or download them): http://beef.unl.edu/beefwatch-podcast



Innovative Youth Corn Challenge

Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Corn Board teamed up to offer the fourth Innovative Youth Corn Challenge contest. This contest, open to 4-H members or FFA members, guided participants through all aspects of corn production, as well as agricultural careers related to corn production.

The 2015 winning team was Kornhusker Kids 4-H Club that consisted of Kaleb Hasenkamp, Angela Rolf, Matthew Rolf, Levi Schiller and Payton Schiller from Cuming County. The team with the highest percent yield increase over their local county average is the winner. In earning the $1,000 first-place award, Kornhusker Kids 4-H Club decided to test the effect of Procidic with two different application timings to see the effect against Goss’s Wilt and if there were additional plant health benefits. The three treatments were: control, Procidic applied in furrow at planting at 2 oz/ac and Procidic applied in furrow at planting followed by another 2 oz applied post prior to tasseling. Also, important to note is that this team had randomized and replicated plots which is important in figuring out the statistical significance. Their check yielded the highest at 226.7 bushels/acre with the challenge plots yielding 225.4 & 223.7 bushels/acre. Their project sponsor was Chris Schiller.

Second-place team overall was the Palmyra FFA Chapter, earning $500 for their efforts. Team members tested the impact of corn sweetener being applied to the corn plant between the V-6 and V-12 stage of development. They sprayed a foliar application of corn sweetener on the growing corn plant with the challenge plot yielding 214.2 bu/acre and check plot yielding 205.3 bu/acre. Their FFA advisor is Ken Malone and the team consisted of Garret Talcott, Ryan Hoover and Morgan Storant with Norris Talcott as their project sponsor.

Third place went to the Fillmore Central FFA Chapter consisting of Garrett Whitley, Tyler O’Connor and Aaron Poppert with Clark Poppert as project sponsor. They tested nitrogen application rates and tried to push for a higher yield in order to reach the highest potential of their corn variety. They learned that 29.8 pounds of more nitrogen resulted in 14 more bushels per acre with 207.3 pounds of N on their challenge plot yielding 278.2  bu/acre and the check plot with 177 pounds of N yielding 264.2 bu/acre. Their FFA Advisor was Kurt VanDeWalle. 

Other teams who completed their plots were:
Norfolk FFA that consisted of Ben Bonderson and Ethan Behmer with Kevin Bonderson as their sponsor. They did a two pass system, the first pass putting on 65 pounds of nitrogen and the second pass putting on 75 pounds of N and a nitrogen stabilizer to minimize nitrogen loss due to leaching in sandy soils. The main innovation testing was comparing early season fungicide application to no fungicide application. Their challenge plot yielded 191.5 bushel/acre and check at 183.3 bu/acre.

Osceola FFA consisted of Rob Buhl and Riley Girard with Steve Schmit as their sponsor. They tested nitrogen application with the check plot of 210 lbs of N at planting and the challenge plot of 210 lbs/acre in addition to 45 pounds of N applied at pre-tassel. Their check plot was 243.5 bushels/acre and challenge was 244.7 bu/acre.

The Stuart FFA Chapter consisted of Rachel Kaup, Andrew Olson and Alison Strake. Their goal was to improve the yield of corn by adding the AEGIS ESR plant growth stimulator. The product was applied to corn at V-6. They also measured the amount of water in the cornfield using watermark sensors. They determined that the growth stimulator did increase yield as anticipated, as the challenge plot with AEGIS yielded 5 bushels higher at 230 bu/acre compared to 225 for the check plot. Their sponsor was Amy Timmerman and FFA Advisor is Monte Larsen. 

As a team, youth worked with an adult mentor throughout the process. Mentors can be extension faculty, ag teachers, or other qualified agronomy professionals.

Other awards handed out during the banquet held on UNL’s East Campus included:
 ·    The Extra Mile Award, worth $200, went to the Kornhusker Kids 4-H Club.
 ·    The Innovation Award, worth $200, was presented to the Palmyra FFA Chapter.
 ·    The Sustainability Award went to both Kornhusker Kids 4-H Club and Fillmore Central FFA Chapter, which will split the $200 award.

The Sustainability award which uses Field to Market’s Field print Calculator was added this year, led by Randy Pryor, Extension Educator in Saline County. Field to Market, the alliance for sustainable agriculture has grown to 87 members. This group contains multiple fortune 500 companies involved in the nation’s food chain, national farm groups, conservation groups and Nebraska Extension is a new affiliate member.  The diverse group is all about defining, measuring and advancing sustainability in the food sector from the farm field to the retail level. The current version of the Fieldprint Calculator is free to use, and these youth were the first 4-H and FFA students in Nebraska to ever use the Fieldprint Calculator for sustainability measures.  The metrics used were:
 ·    Land use efficiency
 ·    Soil conservation
 ·    Soil carbon
 ·    Irrigation Water Use Efficiency
 ·    Water Quality Index
 ·    Energy Use Efficiency
 ·    and Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

To participate in 2016, youth must complete and return an entry form by March 15th to the Fillmore County Extension Office in Geneva, NE. Forms can be downloaded at cropwatch.unl.edu/youth/activities. For more information, contact Brandy VanDeWalle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu, Aaron Nygren at anygren2@unl.edu or Amy Timmerman at atimmerman2@unl.edu.



Ag Groups Endorse the Governor's Property Tax Relief Plan

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts, Revenue Chairman Mike Gloor, and Education Chairwoman Kate Sullivan announced that major groups representing Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers had endorsed their property tax relief package.

“This property tax package provides relief for all Nebraska property owners, and these endorsements underscore the impact the relief provided in this package will have on our state’s family farms and ranches,” said Governor Ricketts.

“We appreciate the support of each of these groups.  Endorsements from the state’s leading ag groups provides confirmation that this is the tax relief Nebraskans need,” said Revenue Chairman Mike Gloor.

“Nebraskans are demanding property tax relief this year, and the support of these groups is a key step in building support for the tax relief package in the Legislature,” said Education Chairwoman Kate Sullivan. 

STATEMENTS FROM ENDORSING GROUPS
“Nebraska ag producers, who represent a full 25 percent of the state's economy, need property tax relief,” said Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson.   “In the last five years, ag property taxes have increased over 100 percent “The bills brought forward by Governor Ricketts and Senators Sullivan and Gloor are an important step in providing structural relief for ag producers as well as residential and commercial property tax payers.”

“To begin the critically important process of property tax reform, controlling ag land gross valuation is a fundamental key,” said Nebraska Cattlemen Executive Vice President Pete McClymont.  “Going forward, ag land tax payers would see valuation capped by a statewide aggregate adjustment.  This is a step in the right direction.  After years of double digit increases, a cap will begin normalizing growth.  Nebraska Cattlemen membership appreciates that Governor Ricketts’ tax plan emphasizes this need.”

“We are pleased the Governor has made property tax relief his top priority this year,” said Nebraska Pork Producers Executive Director Al Juhnke.  “On behalf of the state’s pork producers, we look forward to working with the Governor on his much-needed ag property tax relief package.”

OVERVIEW OF THE GOVERNOR’S TAX PACKAGE
The Governor’s property tax relief package includes a bill introduced by Chairman Gloor to change revenue policy, while Chairwoman Sullivan introduced a bill focused on measured growth in school spending and state aid.  The Governor has said property tax relief is his number one priority for this legislative session.

This two-bill package makes structural changes to how property taxes are levied on residential, commercial, and agricultural property.  Together, the proposals:

·       Tighten current spending limits on all local governments, such as limiting the carryover of unused budget authority to 3 percent.

·       Tighten current levy limits on all local governments by removing exceptions that do not require voter approval, such as exceptions for bonded indebtedness.

·       Control growth within the school funding formula.  For example, Sullivan’s bill limits growth to 5 percent plus student growth for each district’s target funding level, instead of 12 percent and no limit for growing districts.

·       Limit the statewide aggregate increase in the class of agricultural property to 3 percent per year by adjusting the value of agricultural and horticultural land.

The first of two bills contained in this property tax package will be heard in the Revenue Committee this Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 1:30pm.  Nebraskans are invited to attend the hearing and to watch on NET2 or online at www.netnebraska.org/capitol.



Hanson, Effertz Elected Federation of State Beef Council Officers at 2016 Cattle Industry Convention

Steve Hanson, a cow/calf operator from Elsie, Neb., was elected chairman of the Federation of State Beef Councils during the 2016 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in San Diego, Calif., last week. Elected vice chairman of the Federation was Jerry Effertz, a cow/calf operator from Velva, N.D. The Federation of State Beef Councils is the national home of state beef councils and a division of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program.

Hanson and his wife, Susan, operate a family farm and ranch in southwest Nebraska with their son, Nick, the fifth generation on the farm, feeding out calves they raise with grain grown on their operation. Hanson has been very active in both state and national industry organizations, serving on the checkoff’s Freedom to Operate Committee, Global Growth Committee and Evaluation Committee. He has served as the chairman of the Nebraska Beef Council, and on numerous local church and school boards. Hanson had previously served as the Federation’s vice chairman.

Effertz and his wife, Norma, operate Black Butte Acres Limousin Ranch, raising seedstock Limousin cattle and backgrounding feeder calves. To educate people about the cattle business and stewardship of the land, they also operate Black Butte Adventures, which includes hiking and biking trails as well as farm tours. Effertz, the third generation of his family to own and operate their farm and ranch, also served in leadership positions in state and national beef industry organizations, including the North Dakota Beef Commission, U.S. Meat Export Federation, and several beef checkoff committees.

As chairman of the Federation, Hanson will serve as vice chair of the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC), which funds beef checkoff projects at the national level. Effertz will also serve on that committee. This will be the fifth year each has served on the BPOC. Approval of BPOC-approved projects and budgets is required by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In addition to Hanson and Effertz, other Federation members of the BPOC for 2016 are Austin Brown III (Texas), Brent Buckley (Hawaii), Clay Burtrum (Oklahoma), Dawn Caldwell (Nebraska), Gary Deering (South Dakota), Barb Downey (Kansas), Scott McGregor (Iowa) and Kristin Larson (Montana). The CBB also appoints 10 members to the BPOC.

Federation Presents Grants
Also at the Convention, the Federation Executive Committee approved six grants to five state beef councils worth $55,400 through its Federation Initiative Fund program. The state beef councils and respective awards are:
-    Indiana Beef Council – $2,200 to continue their Team BEEF program;
-    Michigan Beef Industry Commission –$4,700 to conduct a family mealtime event with a retail partner;
-    New York Beef Council – $18,000 to execute a social media strategy focused on millennial consumers;
-    Ohio Beef Council – $5,000 to implement a beef culinary experience in partnership with the Texas Beef Council ; and
-    Pennsylvania Beef Council – two grants: $20,000 to execute a grilling promotion using an on-line coupon service, and $5,500 to partner with the Pennsylvania Dietetics Association at their annual meeting.

The Federation Initiative Fund has awarded about $2.4 million to 22 states conducting more than 195 programs since it was started in 2006. Additional projects will be considered at the 2016 Summer Meeting in Denver in July.

The 2016 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show attracted more than 6,700 cattlemen and women to San Diego. Next year’s convention will be held in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 1-3, 2017.



Corn Findings and Recommendations to be Presented

Researchers with the Climate and Corn-based Cropping Systems Coordinated Agricultural Project have documented 130 findings, some of which will be explored during a Feb. 11 webinar, open to the public through Iowa State University.

The five-year USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture research project is nearing completion, led by Lois Wright Morton, a professor of sociology at Iowa State. In 2011, Morton convened 140 researchers from 10 land-grant universities in the Corn Belt and USDA Agricultural Research Service, to begin a study of farmers' perceptions and farm management practices.

The practices had the potential to provide resilience in times of drought, reduce soil and nutrient losses under saturated soil conditions, decrease field nitrogen losses, retain carbon in the soil and ensure crop and soil productivity. The researchers collected measurements at 35 field sites with diverse landscapes and soils, and from surveys of thousands of Midwestern farmers, entering all the data into one database for the team's use.

The project's extension educators worked to ensure the findings could be used by farmers, crop advisers, teachers and students of agriculture and other extension educators, during project years and beyond. More than 60 fact sheets, videos and other project publications are available at http://store.extension.iastate.edu/Topic/Crops/Climate-and-Agriculture.

In 2016, project researchers will continue cross-disciplinary integration of the data and publish recommendations focused on combining various practices for optimum results.

The live, Adobe Connect webinar is Feb. 11, 1 -3 p.m. (Central time) at connect.extension.iastate.edu/sustainablecorn/. For audio, call (888) 450-5996; passcode 424492#. The recording (visual and audio) will be available afterwards, at www.sustainablecorn.org. Topics include tillage and drainage water management, cover crops and farmer adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Certified Crop Advisers, Certified Professional Agronomists and Certified Professional Soil Scientists can receive CEUs for attending the webinar.

For more information about the webinar and the project, go to www.sustainablecorn.org.



Iowa Learning Farms to Host Spring Cover Crop Management Workshops

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa and the Iowa Cover Crop Working Group, will host six cover crop workshops this spring in Cerro Gordo, O’Brien, Black Hawk, Johnson, Mahaska and Pottawattamie counties. The workshops are free, open to the public and include a complimentary meal.

Cover crops continue to grow in popularity in Iowa due to the many benefits they provide. Such benefits include reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, increased soil organic matter and reduced soil erosion. Fall 2015 was a good season for cover crop establishment and growth, with adequate moisture and growing temperatures. Great fall growth helped protect the soil during the heavy rain events, but could present challenges this spring if farmers are not prepared with a termination plan and equipment adjustments.

These cover crop workshops will help prepare producers for spring management of cover crops and allow time for discussion to answer questions from new and experienced cover crop users. Topics at the workshops range from herbicide recommendations for termination and establishment, planter settings to handle higher amounts of biomass, cover crop seed selection, cover crop effects on soil health and other local topics. Speakers include specialists from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Practical Farmers of Iowa and USDA-ARS National Soil Tilth Laboratory.

Iowa cover crop workshop dates and locations
-    Feb. 23: Ventura Community Center, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.; 4 North Weimer Street, Ventura
-    Feb. 24: ISU Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; 6320 500th Street, Sutherland
-    Feb. 25: Hawkeye Community College, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; Tama Hall, Room 102; 844 W 4th St, Waterloo. In partnership with Miller Creek Water Quality Improvement Project
-    March 1: The Celebration Farm, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; Timber Frame Barn; 4696 Robin Woods Ln NE, Iowa City. In partnership with Rapid Creek Watershed Project
-    March 2: Mahaska County Extension Office, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; 212 North I Street, Oskaloosa
-    March 3: Armstrong Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; 53020 Hitchcock Avenue, Lewis

Workshops are free and open to the public, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Contact Liz Juchems at 515-294-5429 or email ilf@iastate.edu. 

For details on the workshops, and for more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit the website: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ilf/.



CF Industries and CHS Commence Strategic Venture

CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CF) and CHS Inc. (NASDAQ: CHSCP) announced today that they have commenced their previously announced nitrogen fertilizer strategic venture. CHS, the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative, completed its $2.8 billion equity investment in CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC, (“CF Nitrogen”), a CF Industries subsidiary, and today begins receiving delivery of urea and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) from CF Industries under a long-term supply agreement.

“We are pleased today to start our strategic venture with CHS, beginning the next chapter in a mutually beneficial long-term relationship,” said Tony Will, president and chief executive officer, CF Industries. “The venture will deliver attractive returns to CF shareholders as the equity investment helps support our longstanding capital allocation priorities and the supply agreement connects us to a reliable partner who will take ratable delivery of product across the year.”

“This is an important day for CHS member-owners as we not only complete the single largest investment in our history, but more importantly establish long-term dependable nitrogen fertilizer supply, supply chain efficiency and opportunity for economic value,” said Carl Casale, president and chief executive officer, CHS Inc. “This is a strategic decision about adding value for our member cooperative- and producer-owners on par with the significant investments made in our energy and grains businesses over our 85 years of operation.”

CHS has purchased a minority equity interest in CF Nitrogen for $2.8 billion effective Feb. 1, 2016. Through the investment, CHS will be entitled to semi-annual profit distributions from CF Nitrogen based generally on the volume of granular urea and UAN purchased by CHS pursuant to the supply agreement.

Starting Feb. 1, 2016, CHS is entitled to purchase up to 1.1 million tons of granular urea and 580,000 tons of UAN annually from CF Nitrogen for ratable delivery. The 1.7 million product tons available under the supply agreement represent approximately 8.9 percent of CF’s total production capacity once its capacity expansion projects are completed at Donaldsonville, La., and Port Neal, Iowa, expected in 2016.

The two companies marked the start of the strategic relationship with an event for CHS fertilizer customers at CF’s Port Neal Nitrogen Complex.



Five Years of Celebrating Good Deeds in America

Communities across America are better places because individuals make a difference. Helping each other with random acts of kindness, these selfless souls are being thanked in a grassroots program that is entering its fifth year. Since 2012, more than 10,000 people in more than 3,000 communities across the Midwest have been nominated by their neighbors and honored by the Cenex® Tanks of Thanks® program.

The Tanks of Thanks program is part of a commitment to celebrating local communities by Cenex, the CHS energy brand, with a network of 1,450 retailers across the nation's heartland and the Pacific Northwest. In its first four years, the program awarded more than $500,000 in free fuel to selected Tanks of Thanks honorees.

"Continuing the Cenex Tanks of Thanks program in its fifth year speaks to the overwhelmingly positive response from people in hundreds of U.S. communities," says Akhtar Hussain, refined fuels brand marketing manager, CHS. "The Tanks of Thanks program celebrates the thoughtful, hard-working people who make their communities better places to live. And Cenex retailers are proud to be vital, active members of those communities."

The program encourages people to nominate others for free fuel as a way to recognize and reward good deeds. Each month, 100 nominees are randomly selected to each receive a $50 Tanks of Thanks gift card that can be redeemed at any Cenex retail location. Cenex retailers also award additional Tanks of Thanks gift cards to people they see making a difference in their hometowns. Nominees have contributed to their communities in many ways, from organizing food shelves to shoveling snow for elderly neighbors.

"We hope the Tanks of Thanks program will inspire people to notice good deeds happening around them," says Hussain. "Everyone knows at least one person who deserves a thank you. What's even more exciting is the 'pay-it-forward' effect we're seeing as a result of the Tanks of Thanks program. After receiving a Tanks of Thanks gift card, many people tell us they are inspired to nominate others who deserve recognition. Imagine the positive influence that has on a community."

To nominate someone for Tanks of Thanks, visit tanksofthanks.com. There is no limit to the number of people you can nominate, and anyone can be nominated for any act of kindness – big or small.



NCGA Membership Symposium Focuses on Service, Growth, Engagement

Every two years, staff from the National Corn Growers Association's state affiliates and select grower volunteers come together to talk about the challenges and opportunities in growing and serving the organization's membership.

This week in Santa Fe, participants from 15 states gathered for several days of presentations and dialogue on topics such as attracting new members, building member diversity, and engaging members through new technology. The group also looked at ways to ensure farming families are adequately represented in state and national membership rolls.

"This was a great opportunity to bring together people who are working day in and out to build and serve membership throughout the country," said NCGA Grower Services Action Team Chairwoman Patty Mann, a grower from Ohio. "NCGA and its affiliates have always been forward-thinking and dedicated to increasing membership - and increasing member support and activity. These meetings help people from around the country share ideas and best practices to benefit all the organizations."

States represented by staff and growers included Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. Scheduled to immediately follow the symposium on Wednesday afternoon is a meeting of the NCGA Grower Services Action Team, which define and implement many of the organization's membership, leadership and communications programs.



USSEC Announces Site, Date for 2016 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange

CEO Jim Sutter announced today that the U.S. Soybean Export Council’s (USSEC) fourth annual U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, from August 30–September 1, 2016. The U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange will be held in conjunction with the 13th annual Midwest Shippers Association Midwest Specialty Grain Conference and Trade Show.

“We wanted to get this date to our customers as soon as possible,” said Sutter. “We think our international buyers will be very excited to visit Indiana, which is one of the top soybean producing states in the U.S.”

Indiana ranks third in production of U.S. Soy. In 2015, Indiana soybean farmers harvested 307.4 million bushels on 5.5 million acres, worth $3.167 billion.

The U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange is USSEC’s biggest event of the year, bringing together international trade teams and U.S. Soy industry representatives for key discussions and personal networking. Last year, carefully selected delegates from 55 countries participated in this unique opportunity. In 2016, USSEC is expecting a large international presence of qualified buyers from both the feed and food sectors.



Most Fertilizer Prices Still Lower

Average retail fertilizer prices were mostly lower the fourth week of January 2016. However, the steep price declines of recent weeks appear to be slowing, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN.

Six of the eight major fertilizers edged lower compared to a month earlier with all six down just slightly. MAP averaged $515/ton, potash $391/ton, urea $380/ton, anhydrous $569/ton, UAN28 $271/ton and UAN32 $317/ton.

The remaining two fertilizers were slightly higher in price compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $495/ton and 10-34-0 $571/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.41/lb.N, anhydrous $0.35/lb.N, UAN28 $0.48/lb.N and UAN32 $0.50/lb.N.

With retail fertilizer moving lower in recent months, 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 is down 2%.

DAP is now 13% lower, MAP and UAN32 are down 14%, UAN28 is 17% less than a year ago. Urea and anhydrous are running 19% lower; potash prices average 20% lower.



Beef Herd Rebuilding Continues
Brenda Boetel, Ag Econ Professor, University of Wisconsin-River Falls

U.S. beef cow herd rebuilding continued throughout 2015, as shown by the USDA NASS release of the CATTLE report on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. The number of all cattle and calves in the U.S. on January 1, 2016 totaled 92.0 million head, a 3% increase over 2015.  Note that NASS did revise downward the July 1 2014 cattle and calves inventory by 0.6% and the 2014 calf crop by 1.1%.  Inventory of cattle and calves on January 1, 2015 was also revised downward by 0.7%.

According to the report, on Jan. 1, 2016, the number of beef cows and heifers that calved at 30,300,800 head was up 3.5 percent from the 29,302,100 head on Jan. 1, 2015.  The number of beef replacement heifers at 6,285.2 thousand head increased over 3% from 2015; however industry expectations were for a 5% increase. Finally, the number of beef replacement heifers expected to calve in 2016 at 3,924.6 thousand head was up over 5.7% from the 3,712 thousand in 2015. This suggests that the 2016 calf crop should increase by approximately 3.8% this year as compared to a 2.3% in 2015.

The five states with the largest numbers of beef cows that have calved include Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota.  These states account for over 38% of the U.S. beef cows and over 46% of the increase in the beef cows occurred in these five states. Texas, which has 4.3 million cows and over 14% of U.S. beef cows, saw a 3.9% increase in their beef cow numbers.  Additionally, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota averaged over 4% increases in beef cows.  In spite of continued drought in parts of California in 2015, beef cow numbers increased to 625,000 (5.9%) although milk cow numbers decreased slightly from 1.78 million head to 1.775 million head (0.3%).

Oklahoma saw the greatest increase in U.S. beef replacements of 40,000 head to 460,000 (9.5%), followed by increases of 32,000 head (21%) in Arkansas and 30,000 head each in Colorado (18%) and Texas (4%).  Interestingly, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas all saw decreases in the number of heifers held for beef cow replacements.

A combination of 2.7% more beef and milk cows, and 2.9% more beef and dairy replacement heifers expected to calve should lead to a larger calf crop again in 2016. The combined total of calves under 500 pounds and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds (outside of feedlots) is 25.9 million head. This is 5 percent above one year ago. Those cattle that were grazing small grain pastures at 1.9 million were down 30,000 head from 2015. 



Suspect Conspired to Steal Monsanto, Pioneer Trade Secrets

A naturalized U.S. citizen from China entered a plea agreement with federal prosecutors last week, admitting he participated in a conspiracy to steal seed corn from U.S. companies. According to the Associated Press, Mo Hailong, a lawful and permanent resident of the United States, was living in Florida when he was arrested in December 2013. He is accused of traveling to the Midwest to work with other employees of Kings Nower Seed, a subsidiary of Beijing-based DBN Group to take corn seed out of fields in Iowa with the intent of shipping it to China so scientists could attempt to reproduce its genetic traits.

In the plea agreement, Mo admits that he conspired to steal trade secrets from DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto. He is the only one who has been prosecuted for conspiracy. Five other Chinese nationals working with Mo fled the country. Charges were dropped last year against his sister, who is married to DBN's billionaire CEO, and she was allowed to return to China.

Mo, 46, who goes by the name Robert Mo, will be sentenced later in Des Moines. He had faced 10 years in prison on the charges but the government agreed to seek no more than five years.

That AP reports that his attorney said Mo recently completed treatment for a rare and aggressive cancer "and his health is his paramount concern.

He has lived in the U.S. for nearly 20 years, and his wife and children are U.S. citizens.



ADM Misses Expectations

Archer Daniels Midland Co. reported a steeper-than-expected drop in revenue in its fourth quarter, as the grain trader and processor said it was taking a "fresh look" at the capital it spends on operations and portfolio.

"With current headwinds likely to persist, we remain focused on the areas within our control," ADM Chief Executive Juan Luciano said.

ADM, among the world's largest agribusinesses and a major ethanol producer, has been buffeted recently by lower ethanol-production margins and sluggish overseas demand for North American crops.

The company also raised its dividend to 30 cents from 28 cents and announced an investment in Harvest Innovations, a producer of non-GMO, organic and gluten-free ingredients.

In the latest quarter, revenue in the Chicago company's agricultural-services segment, its largest, fell 22% to $8.03 billion. Revenue in the corn-processing business fell 20%. ADM's oilseed-processing business posted a 22% drop in revenue. In the wild flavors and specialty ingredients segment revenue fell 3.6%.

Overall, the company posted earnings of $718 million, or $1.19 a share, up from $701 million, or $1.08 a share, a year prior. Excluding gains on sales, losses on asset impairments and other special items, per-share earnings fell to 61 cents a share from $1 a year earlier.

Revenue slid 21% to $16.45 billion.



Portable, Wire-Free Rear View Vision System Offers Farm Equipment Safety

Hyndsight Vision Systems has announced a new totally portable, wire-free rear view vision system for the agriculture industry that provides a clear view and eliminates blind spots behind tractors and large farm machinery. Hyndsight’s Journey rear view vision system can be easily mounted without any wiring required on any farm vehicle, allowing full rear view coverage on a sunlight readable monitor. It is also perfect for monitoring livestock trailers during transportation.

Journey is designed for the harsh farming environment and is rugged, weather resistant and provides a “real-to-life” visual field. It offers a real-time video stream through a direct wireless connection (camera to monitor) and a clear image that can transmit up to one-third of a mile with direct line of sight.

One of the revolutionary highlights of Journey is that it can be mounted literally anywhere, with the ability to pair-up to four cameras per monitor. This flexibility and portability offers farm owners the ability to easily move the vision system from one piece of machinery to another for multiple applications. It can operate four to five hours before charging is required or can be optionally hard-wired. Three product lines with different lens angles are available, offering additional flexibility and options for use in any environment.

Hyndsight Vision Systems has recently become a vendor partner with Tractor Supply Company, the largest operator of retail farm and ranch stores in the U.S. The vision system is featured in the company’s ecommerce store – TractorSupply.com.

 “We are thrilled to become an ecommerce vendor partner with Tractor Supply which is a major endorsement for our vision system in the farming industry,” notes Melissa Thompson, CEO of Hyndsight.  “Obstructed vision and blind spots are a major problem in the agriculture industry, and Journey provides drivers with a clear field of vision preventing safety issues, while maximizing productivity and profitability.”

Founded in 2011, Hyndsight Vision Systems corporate offices and distribution center is located in Peterborough, NH.  The company has secured world-wide distribution agreements with national and international companies and is currently developing an android version of the product and a version that will have added recording capability. The product is featured on Tractor Supply Company’s online store, Amazon, Dover Saddlery and Camping World online stores.