Thursday April 14 Ag News

CONTROLLING MUSK THISTLE
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Does anybody like musk thistles in pastures?  If not, let’s do something about them.

               This warmer spring weather and recent moisture probably has you anxious to get into the field for planting.  Don’t forget, though, that this also is the best time to control musk thistles.  And I’ll also bet that you can get into your pastures to spray at least one or two days sooner than you can get into row crop fields to plant.

               Did you have musk thistles last year?  If so, I’m sure you’ll have them again this spring.  And the current short rosette growth form is the ideal stage for controlling these plants this spring.  That means spray herbicides soon, while your musk thistle plants still are in that rosette form, and very few plants will send up flowering stalks for hand digging later.

               Several herbicides are effective and recommended for musk thistle control.  My current favorites are called Milestone and GrazonNext, which basically is a mixture of Milestone and 2,4-D.  Both Milestone and GrazonNext also will help control other weeds that usually appear later in the season.

               Other herbicides also can control musk thistles in pastures this spring – like Chaparral, Cimarron, Overdrive, and Curtail.  A tank mix of dicamba and 2,4-D also works very well.  No matter which weed killer you use, though, be sure to read and follow label instructions, and be especially sure to spray on time.

               All these herbicides will work for you this spring if you spray soon, before musk thistles bolt and send up their flowering stalks.

               After flowering, though, the shovel is about the only method remaining to control thistles this year.




Lake/Pond Management Workshop at ARDC/Mead

Have you ever experienced an algae bloom? Fish kill? Murky water? Or do you just want to know what’s going on in a lake or pond?

Nebraska Extension, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, and Nebraska Game and Parks will present a lake/pond management introductory workshop. This workshop is free and open to everyone who makes pond/lake management decisions or anyone who just wants to learn more. There is no cost to attend this workshop, but pre-registration is required.

Workshop topics include:
· How lakes function in Southeast Nebraska characteristics and challenges
· Managing for fisheries
· Project funding and regulations
· Lake management planning
· Resolving Common Maintenance Problems (Algae, leaks, undesirable fish, fish kills, clarity, erosion, nuisance animals)
· Develop an individualized maintenance plan for your pond!!

Workshop Details
April 18, 2016 - 6:00 pm—8:00 pm
Location: Christenson Research & Education Building at the ARDC in Mead, NE
Registration Fee:  Free, but pre-registration is required.
Register at http://go.unl.edu/MeadLakes.  



A Friendly Reminder from your Local FSA Office
Bruce Coffey, County Executive Director, Colfax County

Farmers!  Don’t forget you need to enroll in the 2016 Farm Program.  This is an annual enrollment process and requires only a few simple steps ---Call your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment!



NECC to add precision agriculture program

Nebraska has long been recognized as a significant player, both nationally and internationally, in production agriculture. However, with 93-percent of Nebraska’s land already being used in agriculture, the industry is studying how to feed a growing world in the coming decades using new technologies and conservation practices which will allow producers to grow more on less land with less resources. That rationale is the basis for a new agriculture program to be offered beginning this fall at Northeast Community College.

Corinne Morris, dean of Agriculture, Math and Science, said the two-year associate of applied science degree in precision agriculture will focus on maximizing yield potential while developing more resource efficient practices and utilizing technologies and data systems to drive decision making.

“Agriculture contributed almost $25 billion to Nebraska’s economy in 2014 and accounted for nearly 25-percent of all jobs in the state. As a country and world leader in agriculture and a state with tremendous natural resources such as the Ogallala aquifer, it becomes critical that Nebraska be at the forefront of conservation, stewardship and the precision agriculture movement.”  

Students in Northeast’s new program will develop technical skills and learn to interpret, analyze, and utilize data gathered from precision agriculture technologies to improve production. Graduates will be skilled and competent to work as technicians and producers in a rapidly changing industry that is concerned with maximizing yield potential through resource efficient practices. A key component of the program will be to deepen students’ understanding of the intricacies that exist between agriculture and natural resources, especially water.

John Blaylock, vice president of Educational Services, said local and regional employers from various agricultural industries have confirmed the need for precision technicians.

“Twenty-one various agricultural businesses and organizations met several times as an advisory committee to help us identify the need and develop the sequence of courses essential to this type of workforce need. In addition, faculty and staff in the agriculture department have noticed an increased level of interest with regard to precision agriculture by both students and parents.”

Blaylock said questions regarding precision agriculture are frequently raised by prospective students and their parents on college visits. He said they are interested in learning about new technology so as to take the knowledge and skills back and improve their family farm operations. In addition, Blaylock said students want to be better prepared to work in the ever changing and highly technical agricultural industry.

As Northeast considers additional programming, it is also exploring plans for expansion of the Chuck M. Pohlman Agriculture Complex, on the east side of the college’s main campus in Norfolk, as well as the development of state of the art facilities and relocation of the farm operations at that site.  



Current National Drought Summary
droughtmonitor.unl.edu

This week was generally uneventful in those parts of the country experiencing abnormal dryness and drought, with only a few patchy areas received 1 to 3 inches of precipitation. As a result, dryness and drought either remained unchanged or deteriorated where it existed.

The Plains
In central and southern parts of the Plains, between 1 and 3 inches of precipitation fell on southern Oklahoma, and in a narrow swath from southwestern Oklahoma northeastward through southeastern Kansas and into central and southwestern Missouri; however, D0 was removed from only a few small spots where the largest amounts fell. A few patches in other parts of southern Kansas and central Texas reported about an inch, but light precipitation at best was observed elsewhere. D2 (severe drought) was introduced in parts of northwestern Oklahoma, and moderate drought expanded to cover west-central Kansas and an area from east-central Kansas into northwestern Missouri. Some locales from central Kansas southwestward across northwestern Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle, and adjacent New Mexico reported less than 25 percent of normal precipitation for the last 90 days, and amounts totaled 4 to 8 inches below normal in parts of central and eastern Oklahoma, southeastern Kansas, southern and western Missouri, and northwestern Arkansas.

Farther north, only a few tenths of an inch of precipitation, if any, fell across the northern Plains, causing expansion of the areas experiencing abnormal dryness and moderate drought. Deterioration to D1 was noted in northeastern South Dakota and adjacent sections of North Dakota and Minnesota, as well as a smaller area in northwestern South Dakota. Farther south, abnormal dryness was introduced throughout the remaining northern tier of South Dakota, and in a band extending through south-central parts of the state. Over the last 30 days, 0.5 to 1.5 inches of precipitation fell on most locations, with little or none observed in western North Dakota, eastern Montana, and the parts of South Dakota and adjacent areas where deterioration occurred on the Drought Monitor.

Looking Ahead
Heavy precipitation is expected in some of the driest parts of the Plains during the next 5 days (April 14 – 18, 2016). Generally 3 to locally over 6 inches is forecast from the Texas Panhandle northward through western sections of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska as well as eastern Colorado. Forecast totals decrease markedly outside of this area, but amounts approaching or exceeding an inch are expected for much of the Plains from southern Texas northward through the central Dakotas. Moderate to locally heavy precipitation is also anticipated for southeastern Georgia and northeastern Florida, but only light precipitation, if any, is anticipated in the remaining areas of dryness and drought across the contiguous 48 states.

Over the ensuing 5 days (April 19 – 23, 2016), the odds favor wetter than normal weather from the southern half of the Plains eastward across the Gulf Coast States, and in the northwesternmost part of the Alaskan Panhandle. In contrast, enhanced chances for subnormal precipitation exist for the areas of dryness and drought in the central Appalachians, Northeast, northern Plains, Rockies, Intermountain West, and Far West. In addition, the odds favor below-normal precipitation in part of the east-central Alaskan dry area.



FY 2017 Agriculture Spending Bill Advances in House Subcommittee

On Wednesday, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee considered and approved its version of the FY 2017 Agriculture Appropriations bill. The spending bill would allocate $21.3 billion in discretionary spending, which is $451 million below the FY 2016 enacted level and $281 million below the President’s budget request. It does not include any specific provisions cutting Title 1 farm programs or crop insurance.  However, the bill unfortunately contains cuts to several conservation programs that receive mandatory funding through the Farm Bill. Specifically, the bill would cap the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) at 8 million acres for FY 2017 enrollment (down from 10 million acres), and it would cut funding from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Watershed Rehabilitation Program.

Beyond conservation, the bill provides $2.85 billion for agricultural research programs, covering both the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) budgets. For the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) competitive grants program, the President had requested a doubling of funding from the $350 million FY 2016 enacted level to $700 million ($375 million in discretionary spending and $325 million in mandatory spending), but the Committee rejected the inclusion of new mandatory spending. The bill bumps up discretionary spending by $25 million to $375 million. Additionally, there is language included in the bill prohibiting the Farm Service Agency (FSA) from closing FSA county offices as well as from permanently relocating county employees if that relocation would result in two or fewer employees, without first notifying and receiving approval from Congress.

Within the budget for the Food and Drug Administration, which is contained in the same Appropriations bill, there is a provision allocating $3 million for consumer outreach activities to promote understanding and acceptance of agricultural biotechnology and biotech-derived food products and animal feed.

The full House Appropriations Committee will markup the FY 2017 Agriculture Appropriations bill Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. eastern time.



ASA Asks for Full Funding of Market Access and Foreign Market Development

The American Soybean Association (ASA) and a number of agriculture groups signed a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee on April 11, urging them to provide the full funding of $200 million for the Market Access Program (MAP) and $34.5 million for the Foreign Market Development program (FMD) as authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.

These highly effective cost-share programs help maintain and expand U.S. agricultural exports, protect and create American jobs, strengthen farm income, and help to offset the considerable government-supported advantages afforded our international competitors.

The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee marked up and approved the FY 17 Agriculture Appropriations bill on April 13.  As approved by the subcommittee, the legislation includes full funding of $200 million for MAP and $34.5 million for FMD, as authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The House Appropriations Committee has scheduled markup on the bill for next Tuesday, April 19.



Senate Ag Committee Advances CFTC Reauthorization Bill

The Senate Agriculture Committee considered and approved legislation on Thursday that would reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The bill, entitled the “Commodity End-User Relief Act,” contains a number of provisions intended to aid agricultural hedgers who use futures and swaps to manage risk.  A broad coalition of agriculture and agribusiness associations in support the legislation. During the markup, the Committee considered an amendment from Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (MI) that would’ve instituted a fee-for-service that would’ve exempted farmers and ranchers; however, that amendment was rejected by the Committee on a 9-10 vote.

In his opening statement, Chairman Pat Roberts (KS) remarked, “Overall, the mark before us today addresses this regulatory overreach and provides much needed clarity and relief for our folks on the ground as well as putting in place appropriate customer protections in the wake of the disasters of M.F. Global and Peregrine Financial.”

Legislation to reauthorize the CFTC has already been approved in the House of Representatives. The next step in the process would be consideration by the full Senate.




Senate Drops Effort to Include Biodiesel, Other Tax Credits to FAA Bill

Negotiations to add energy and other unrelated tax items, including the biodiesel tax credit, to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill fell apart this week and Senate leaders now plan to move a “clean” bill without any tax items that are not related to the FAA.

The size of the tax title and the number of entities clamoring to get in the FAA bill caused it to become overloaded and there was not enough support in the Senate to pass an FAA bill with a large tax title.

The American Soybean Association (ASA) appreciates everyone who made calls or contacted their Senate offices to express support for the biodiesel tax credit. These efforts were beneficial in garnering commitments from some Senators to cosponsor the Grassley/Cantwell biodiesel tax credit extension and restructuring. The contacts also serve to reiterate the importance to soybean farmers and the level of support that exists for the biodiesel tax credit.

Senate leaders have indicated their intent to address a tax extenders package later this year, however it will be more challenging than previous years since some of the larger tax issues were permanently addressed in the 2015 tax package and many Members of Congress have voiced opposition to re-visiting “tax extenders” or specific tax credits unless and until there is comprehensive tax reform. ASA and our biodiesel industry partners will continue to push for extension and restructuring of the biodiesel tax credit before it expires on Dec. 31, 2016.



Farms Face Increased Financial Pressure, Farm Bureau President Tells Agriculture Subcommittee

Farmers are feeling the pain of the continued slump in commodity prices, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall told Congress today. Lower prices will affect income for all farmers and ranchers, but will have an even greater impact on new and young farmers who have not built up equity, are renting a significant portion of their land or are paying off equipment.

“The bottom line is that farmers and ranchers are being forced to tighten their belts and pay much closer attention to their financial situation,” Duvall told the House Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. “They will be in greater need of safety net and risk management programs than has been the case for some time—for some, since they started farming.”

Duvall's testimony included a long list of bad economic news:
-    Cotton -- 80 cents a pound just a few years ago -- now brings prices in the 50-cent range.
-    Milk that was selling for $20 or more per hundred pounds a couple years back now fetches $15 or $16.
-    Net farm income, which includes other factors like depreciation, inventory change and other non-cash costs, declined from $123 billion in 2013 to $56 billion in 2015 and is estimated at $55 billion for 2016.
-    Longer-term projections by the Agriculture Department leave net cash income averaging less than $80 billion for the coming decade and net farm income at less than $70 billion over the same period.

Bad news notwithstanding, the Farm Bureau president found hope on the horizon. Duvall told lawmakers there were numerous things they could do to help the farm economy, including:
-    Approving the Trans-Pacific Partnership to raise overall farm income without adding to government spending;
-    Stopping the Waters of the U.S. rule, which places additional costs and burdens on farming;
-    Reversing spill prevention and control requirements that add costs without clear environmental benefit; and
-    Establishing a nation-wide labeling standard for genetically modified food to avoid a patchwork of state laws.

Duvall’s testimony can be found here.... http://www.fb.org/newsroom/news_article/422/DuvallHACGFCTestimony.pdf. 



Unwelcome Rain Hampers Argentine Soy

Continued heavy rain over large parts of Argentina's grain belt is hampering soybean harvest efforts and taking some of the shine off what has been an exemplary crop until now.  Excessive rainfall has caused flooding in central-northern regions of Cordoba and Santa Fe provinces, as well as further north and in Entre Rios province, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange said Thursday.

As a result, harvesting nearly ground to a halt over the last week, progressing just 1.4 percentage points to 15% complete, well behind the 32.5% registered at the same point last year, said the exchange.

Of great concern is that forecasts indicate rains will continue over the next seven days.

Corn has been much less affected. Indeed, so significant is the portion of corn planted late that the precipitation has been mainly beneficial to crops that were in need of some moisture.  However, corn harvesting did slow, progressing just 0.8 points to reach 18.8% complete last week. That's 5.3 points back on last year.

The Buenos Aires exchange maintained its corn crop forecast at 25 mmt.



CEO of the National FFA Organization named 2016 Agribusiness Leader of the Year at National Agri-Marketing Conference

The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) has named National FFA Organization’s Chief Executive Officer W. Dwight Armstrong, Ph.D., the 2016 Agribusiness Leader of the Year.

This award, which is NAMA’s highest honor, recognizes outstanding leadership in private, public or academic service and is conferred each year to a senior agribusiness executive who not only exemplifies excellence in agribusiness but has also made significant contributions to the industry.  Now in its 16th year, the award was presented at the opening general session of the 2016 Agri-Marketing Conference, “From the Ground Up,” April 14 in Kansas City, Mo.

Armstrong has a passion for agriculture and its role in food security.  This passion has infiltrated all aspects of his life. Like other industry leaders, he appreciates the serious and urgent challenge of feeding a global population that will top 9 billion by 2050.  That is why he is focused on delivering the human capital to get that job done.  He works daily to ensure youth are being educated on issues of hunger and food security, as well as playing active roles in their communities.  Through his career, he has mentored, developed and honed many leaders around the globe.

Under Armstrong’s leadership at FFA, there has been dramatic growth in FFA student membership, National FFA Foundation contributions and attendance at the National FFA Convention & Expo.  The organization achieved an all-time record membership this year with 629,367 student members in grades 7-12 in 7,757 local FFA chapters throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  Attendance at the national convention and expo grew from 53,473 in 2009 to 65,173 in 2015, making it the nation’s largest student gathering.  During his tenure, financial stability was strengthened for both the national foundation and organization.  Under the banner of “We Are FFA,” Armstrong created close collaboration and complementary strategic direction for both organizations.

His leadership and service to agriculture have been lifelong, from his early years as an FFA member and his first degree in agriculture from Murray State University.  He continues to serve the industry on numerous business and not-for-profit boards including AgriCorps, Shoulder to Shoulder, The Mathile Institute and Professional Services.  He has received numerous awards and recognitions including an honorary doctorate from Purdue University and the Distinguished Service Award from the American Feed Industry Association.



CommonGround Recognized During National NAMA Awards

This week, CommonGround was recognized for excellence at the National Agri-Marketing Association's National Awards Ceremony. The group's "Ask a Farmer" video, which was created to promote the refreshed website, won First Place for its category, Social Tactic, as well as Best of Show - Digital and the first-ever NAMA Grand Champion award. The redesigned CommonGround website also won First Place for its category, Website Directed to Consumers.

CommonGround is a joint program of the National Corn Growers Association, the United Soybean Board and their state affiliates. Through the work of farm women volunteers, CommonGround connects women on and off the farm for conversations about how food is grown and raised so that everyone can enjoy food without the fear.

Since it launched in November of 2010, CommonGround has made more than 670 million consumer conversations. With 172 volunteers, CommonGround state affiliates host an activity somewhere in the country almost every other day.

The program focuses on nine areas of interest to consumers including: farm ownership; GMOs; food safety; antibiotics and animal health; hormones in meat and milk; organic and local foods; food prices; and sustainability, which was added as a topic just this year.



NCGA Asks EPA to Delay Pesticide Review Meeting

The National Corn Growers Association and other agriculture organizations on Wednesday called on the Environmental Protection Agency to postpone a meeting scheduled for next week related to the pesticide chlorpyrifos.

In a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, NCGA and 41 other organizations argue that the Science Advisory Panel meeting, scheduled for April 19-21, was "hastily called" and is an attempt by EPA to "fundamentally alter its process for evaluating potential risk and regulation of pesticides."

NCGA supports transparent, science-based oversight of pesticides. NCGA and other groups argue that the EPA is not basing its decisions on science, while also trying to change its longtime review processes. In January, NCGA submitted comments to the EPA reiterating support for chlorpyrifos.

Notably, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has also expressed deep concerns over this process and EPA's departure from decades of science-based processes in a letter sent to EPA.

"Effective pest management requires access to a variety of treatments, including chlorpyrifos," said NCGA President Chip Bowling, a farmer from Maryland. "If we become too reliant on a single tool, it can start to lose its effectiveness, and that's how resistance develops. Farmers need access to many crop protection tools to ensure all tools can remain effective."



Small Tractor Sales Rose in March

According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturer's monthly "Flash Report," tractor sales in the U.S. through March 2016, were up 18% compared to last year.

In March, a total of 18,599 tractors were sold which compares to 15,767 sold in March 2015.

For the month, two-wheel drive smaller tractors (under 40 HP) were up 33% over last year, while 40 & under 100 HP were up 10%. Sales of 2-wheel drive 100+ HP were down 18%, while 4-wheel drive tractors were down 49%.

Combine sales were down 17% for the month. Sales of combines for the first three months totaled 856.



Growth Energy Announces Emily Skor as Chief Executive Officer

Today, Growth Energy announced Emily Skor as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective May 16. Skor most recently served as the Vice President for Communications of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) and the Executive Director of the CHPA Educational Foundation. She succeeds Tom Buis, who assumed a new role as Co-Chairman of Growth Energy’s Board of Directors in July 2015.

“For the last seven years, Tom Buis has been a tremendous ally to the ethanol industry, leading Growth Energy through some of its toughest fights, and on behalf of the entire organization, we are thankful for his service and continued commitment to the industry,” said POET Executive Chairman and CEO and Growth Energy Co-Chair Jeff Broin. “As the ethanol industry continues to evolve – facing new opportunities and challenges – Emily is poised to lead Growth Energy as our next generation leader for next generation fuels. Emily brings a new perspective on policy, reputation management and communications to the organization during this dynamic time for the industry.”

At CHPA, a member-based trade association advocating for consumer healthcare products and serving as leader on regulatory and scientific issues for the industry, Skor oversaw public affairs campaigns, integrating strategic communications into legislative campaigns and coordinating ally development. Before joining CHPA in February 2011, Skor served as Senior Vice President at Dezenhall Resources, a nationally recognized crisis communications and issues management firm. For more than a decade, she helped Fortune 500 companies and industry associations manage issues affecting brand confidence and corporate reputation through media, advocacy, coalition building and consumer education campaigns.

“Since its inception, Growth Energy has been a champion for pro-biofuels policies and represented thousands of voices for the ethanol industry,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “The organization and its members are committed to advancing fuel technologies that are proven to be better for the environment and automobile engines. I am thrilled to be part of this effort to take Growth Energy to the next level. As more consumers and automakers alike embrace higher blends of ethanol and legislators continue to support its environmental benefits, we will protect our environment for future generations and give drivers choices at the pump.”

Growth Energy Co-Chairman Tom Buis noted, “The ethanol industry has made tremendous strides since Growth Energy launched in 2008, and I am proud to have been advocating on behalf of the organization. Emily’s successful track record integrating policy and communications into strategic campaigns and leading cross-functional organizations make her a natural successor to lead Growth Energy into the future. I look forward to working with her in my role.”

Skor is a Minnesota native and graduate of Wellesley College. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and two children.