Tuesday April 19 Ag News

Costco and Lincoln Premium Poultry Respond To Nickerson Village Board Decision

Costco and Lincoln Premium Poultry announced today their intention to continue looking at all options in the Greater Fremont area, but indicated a change in their strategy.

“Costco and Lincoln Premium Poultry management teams have consistently maintained that the ultimate right solution for Project Rawhide will be a positive for all involved,” said Cecilia Harry, Executive Director of the Greater Fremont Development Council. “In consideration of the decision rendered by Nickerson’s Village Board on April 4, 2016, Costco and Lincoln Premium Poultry representatives informed us today they have eliminated from consideration the proposed site near Nickerson.”

“It’s disappointing to hear that the Village of Nickerson won’t receive the direct benefits of the project, but I’m excited to hear that other options in the Greater Fremont Area are still being considered,” said Ron Tillery, Executive Director of the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce.

The project will continue to evaluate multiple sites in the region and will work with appropriate community leaders to determine whether or not the Greater Fremont Area is an ultimate positive fit for Lincoln Premium Poultry and Costco’s poultry complex.



42nd Annual Cuming County 4-H Beef Preview Results

The 42nd annual Cuming County 4-H Beef Preview was held on Saturday, April 16 at the Cuming County Fairgrounds in West Point.  According to Nebraska Extension Educator in Cuming County Larry Howard, the show is sponsored by the Cuming County Feeders Association and Nebraska Extension in Cuming County.  The judge for the show was Aksel Wiseman.

The Champion Market Steer was shown by Carter Stratman of West Point while Jacob Gall of Clarkson showed the Reserve Champion Steer.  The Champion Market Heifer was exhibited by Carter Stratman of West Point and Dax Behmer of Hoskins showed the Reserve Champion Market Heifer.  The Supreme Breeding Heifer was shown by Kali Stratman of West Point and Morgan Gall had the Reserve Champion Breeding Heifer.

In the Showmanship divisions the winners were: Junior Champion- Dax Behmer of Hoskins; Reserve – Carter Stratman of West Point.  Intermediate Champion-Logan Buhrman of Wisner; Reserve-Morgan Gall of Clarkson; Senior Champion-Kali Stratman of West Point; Reserve-Jacob Gall of Clarkson.



HEUERMANN LECTURE TO FOCUS ON FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RESEARCH

    Sally Rockey, executive director of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, will speak at the next Heuermann Lecture April 26. Rockey will highlight new ways of thinking about public-private partnerships and how to leverage collaboration to drive innovation in food and agriculture.

    The free lecture, sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will be at 4 p.m. at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, 2021 Transformation Drive.

    Rockey has devoted her career to improving people's lives through research. Through her work with the foundation, she builds partnerships to support innovative science, addressing today's food and agriculture challenges. The Foundation for Food and Agriculture is a nonprofit organization established by the 2014 Farm Bill.

    Prior to this role, Rockey was a leader in federal research, overseeing the operations of extramural programs in agriculture and biomedicine. She spent 19 years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she had a number of positions within the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service including chief information officer.

    Rockey received her doctorate in entomology from Ohio State University and did postgraduate work at the University of Wisconsin before joining the government. 

    The lecture will be in conjunction with the seventh annual Water for Food Global Conference, which will focus on the powerful impact that can be achieved through public-private partnerships in water for food research, technology and project development. The international conference is organized by the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska.

    Heuermann Lectures are free and open to the public. Lectures focus on providing and sustaining enough food, natural resources and renewable energy for the world's people, and on securing the sustainability of rural communities where the vital work of producing food and renewable energy occurs. They are made possible by a gift from B. Keith and Norma Heuermann of Phillips, longtime university supporters with a strong commitment to Nebraska's production agriculture, natural resources, rural areas and people. 

    Lectures stream live at http://heuermannlectures.unl.edu and are archived on that site soon afterward.  They also air live on UNL campus and state cable channel 4, and are broadcast on NET2 World at a later date.



HUSKER FOOD CONNECTION COMING TO CITY CAMPUS APRIL 21

    Husker Food Connection will take place April 21 at the Nebraska Union Plaza on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's City Campus.

    Husker Food Connection helps urban students learn about agriculture and better understand how their food is produced. The theme for this year's event is "Agriculture Feeds You Three Times a Day."

    "We want to start a dialogue between producers and consumers at Husker Food Connection," said Rachel Fuxa, an organizer of the event. "It's an opportunity to clear up any misconceptions people may have about the agriculture industry."

    Fuxa is a sophomore environmental studies major from David City.

    The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature free lunch catered by Skeeter Barnes. Agri-educational displays will have live animal enclosures with a cow, calf, egg-laying chickens and feeder pigs.

    UNL agricultural students, the Collegiate Farm Bureau club and the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (A-Fan) organize the annual event. A-Fan is a nonprofit organization formed by leading agricultural membership groups in Nebraska to encourage the development of environmentally responsible and economically viable livestock production in the state.

    For more information on Husker Food Connection, visit www.becomeafan.org.



Nebraska Pork Named 2015 Allied Member of the Year

The Nebraska Pork Producers Association (NPPA) was recognized by the Nebraska Restaurant Association (NRA) as Allied Member of the Year for 2015 at its annual Taste of Nebraska.

The presentation took place Monday evening, April 18, 2016, during the Nebraska Restaurant Association’s annual gala, the Taste of Nebraska, held at Embassy Suites in La Vista. Held in April of each year, guests enjoy an excellent opportunity to mingle and get to know other members of the Nebraska Restaurant Association.  Keynote speaker for the event was Phil Kafarakif of the National Restaurant Association and special guest was Governor Pete Ricketts. Nicole Jesse, current Nebraska Restaurant Association President made the presentation.   “Nebraska’s pork producers appreciate this honor very much. Our Association has been a member of the Nebraska Restaurant Association for many years and we certainly value our relationship of mutual support through events such as Baconfest and other promotional and educational programs. The restaurant industry is extremely important  to pork producers considering over one-half of all pork harvested funnels into food service,” said Jane Stone, Domestic Marketing Director, for the Nebraska Pork Producers Association.                 

The Allied Member of the Year Award is selected by a committee of past Nebraska Restaurant Association Board Presidents. In making the selection criteria such as being a Nebraska Restaurant Association member in good standing, community service and involvement, association participation and support, quality of operations and customer service and building and contributing to advance the restaurant industry in the state of Nebraska in considered.



This Earth Day Choose the Cleaner-Burning Fuel, American Ethanol

As Earth Day nears, environmental stewards around the world will take part in events to raise awareness about challenges facing the environment. But drivers can do their part year round by filling up with renewable biofuels such as American Ethanol.

In 2015, the use of ethanol in gasoline reduced greenhouse gas emissions on our roads and highways by 41.2 million metric tons. That’s equivalent to removing 8.7 million cars from the road, according to the Renewable Fuels Association.

Drivers, who fill up with cleaner-burning biofuels, take a little step every day to make a big impact on the environment.

Everyone can choose E10 at the pump. If you drive a 2001 or newer vehicle, you can use E15. And if you are among the one in seven Nebraskans who drives a flex fuel vehicle, choose higher American Ethanol blends such as E30 and E85.

In order to reach the octane levels needed for our engines to run, oil companies replaced lead in gasoline with toxic chemicals – toluene, benzene and xylene. What doesn’t combust in the engine leaves the tailpipe as harmful particles.

“Hydrocarbon octane sources like benzene are highly toxic and pose a threat to our air and water,” said Roger Berry, director of market development for the Nebraska Corn Board. “They end up in the air we breathe as tiny particles that enter our lungs, hearts, brains and bloodstream.”

American Ethanol adds oxygen which helps fuel burn more completely. The more American Ethanol in our fuel, the fewer toxic chemicals and particles floating in the air we breathe.

“Adding 10 percent American Ethanol to base gasoline reduces the volume of toxic compounds in our fuel by about 25 percent,” added Berry.

By making a green choice and using American Ethanol, every time you fuel up, drivers can help improve the air quality in their community and the world.



BE REALISTIC WITH IRRIGATED PASTURES
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Many folks are planting irrigated pastures this spring.  While it might be your best crop choice, don’t expect miracles.

               Many farm advisors, including myself, suggest you consider planting irrigated pasture due to poor crop prices compared to cattle and forage needs.  But sometimes, in our enthusiasm, we cause you to expect too much.  So let’s try to set the record straight.

               Irrigated pasture takes more management skill and dedication and work than other crops.  Growing the crop is easy.  But timing harvest or irrigation, and grazing properly to get the most out of pasture takes knowledge, experience, and a little luck.  These decisions are made almost daily.  So don’t expect to relax just because your grass has water.  Even with water, many plants won’t grow much when it gets too hot.

               If you are starting out using annual forages like oats, sudan grass, and millet, be sure you have some backup feed.  On paper, it looks great to stagger plantings so grazing is available all season long.  But what happens if cool weather slows growth or rain delays planting a new section or hail wipes out a month’s worth of feed?  Or what if you simply try to graze too many animals for your pasture?

               With perennial grasses and legumes, you must be patient.  It can take two or three years before maximum production levels are reached.  And that assumes you don’t limit plant root development by grazing too much, too soon.  And speaking of legumes – they won’t replace all your nitrogen needs unless you have over 70 percent legume in your pasture, which then could lead to bloat problems.  So plan to fertilize.

               Irrigated pastures are a wonderful resource.  But they aren’t magic.  The weather, your soils, and you make them work.



Reaching for Excellence: Nebraska Strengthens Grassroots Advocacy

In 2015, the National Corn Growers Association launched the Reaching for Excellence award. Developed through the Grower Services Action Team, this award spotlights new approaches to challenges state corn grower associations face and brings forth creative solutions others in similar solutions might find helpful. While the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association took home the award during Commodity Classic in March, NCGA received six excellent submissions which all offer innovative new solutions.

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association held its third Grassroots Advocacy Workshop in 2015. The two-day event, which was open to all members, focused on strengthening the attendee's advocacy skills. With updates from industry, state and national perspectives, the workshop provided farmers with insight into issues beyond the farm gate to aid in advocacy. The program also helped attendees build the skillset needed to be an effective advocate with training in social media strategies, interacting with elected officials and writing impactful op-eds for local newspapers.



THREE CASES OF EHM CONFIRMED AT FONNER PARK IN GRAND ISLAND

Three cases of the Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) have been confirmed at Fonner Park in Grand Island resulting in State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Hughes calling for horse owners to use best biosecurity practices.  Samples were collected and sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, where the disease was confirmed.  One of the affected horses was euthanized on site while the other two have been isolated on the premises.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture in cooperation with Fonner Park management has quarantined the horses located at Fonner Park.  Horses located in the Red Barn (where the affected horses were stabled) will not be allowed to race at present time.  Racing will continue at Fonner Park with the horses located in the other barns on the premises.

EHM is the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). Cases of the diseases have been confirmed at several locations around the country, many of them at horse race tracks or events where horses are co-mingled.

“It is of utmost importance that horse owners and facility managers take appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of this disease,” said Dr. Hughes. “Vigilance is especially important in situations where horses can come into contact with each other. There can be a high susceptibility to the disease where we have horses co-mingling from different regions or states.”

The disease is spread through direct or indirect contact with infected horses, so Dr. Hughes encourages operators of horse shows and exhibitions to review their biosecurity plans and minimize the opportunity for horses to have direct or indirect contact with each other. Indirect contact includes the use of shared water and feed sources, as well as the use of shared equipment. In addition, Dr. Hughes said he recommends horse owners planning to travel to shows and exhibitions contact the venue prior to transporting their horses to inquire about entrance requirements for the event.

Biosecurity measures horse owners should take at their own operations include requiring individuals to wash their hands before and after contact with each horse, disinfecting boots and changing clothes that come into contact with horses other than their own.

“If possible, horse owners should avoid contact with other people’s horses, and isolate horses returning from shows or exhibitions for 3 to 4 weeks,” said Dr. Hughes. “Owners who will be co-mingling their horses also should consider contacting their veterinarian to discuss their horses’ current vaccination status and weigh the benefits of vaccination.”

EHM symptoms include: fever, decreased coordination, nasal discharge, urine dribbling, loss of tail tone, hind limb weakness, leaning against a wall or fence to maintain balance, lethargy and the inability to rise. While there is no cure, the symptoms of the disease may be treatable. Additional information can be viewed at www.nda.nebraska.gov/animal/diseases/ehv/index.html.  



Checkoff Calling for Nominations for Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards

Award applications for the 11th annual checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Award now are being accepted. The 2017 National BQA Awards recognize five winners in the areas of beef, dairy, marketing and education:
-    The BQA Cow Calf, BQA Feedyard and BQA Dairy awards recognize producers that best demonstrate the implementation of BQA principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their respective operations.
-    The BQA Educator Award is open to individuals or companies that provide high quality and innovative training to individuals that care and handle cattle throughout the industry chain.
-    The BQA Marketer Award is open to livestock markets, cattle buyers and supply-chain programs that promote BQA to their customers and offer them opportunities to get certified.

* Please review the nomination packet carefully as the submission process and requirements have changed.

The National BQA Awards are selected by a committee of BQA certified representatives from universities, state beef councils, sponsors and affiliated groups. Nominations are submitted by organizations, groups or individuals on behalf of a U.S. beef producer, dairy beef producer, marketer or educator. Individuals and families may not nominate themselves, though the nominees are expected to be involved in the preparation of the application. Past nominees are encouraged to submit their application under the new nomination structure. Previous winners may not reapply.

Find the application and nomination requirements here... www.bqa.org.  Applications are due by June 24, 2016.

For more information about your beef checkoff investment, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.



NFU “Appalled” by Latest GIPSA Stall Attack

After several years of proactively limiting farmers’ basic rights and protections, Congress appeared poised to finally let the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) implement a provision included in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide needed marketplace protections to contract farmers. But, the House Appropriations Committee today passed an amendment designed to further stall the long-awaited Grain Inspection and Stockyards Protection Administration (GIPSA) rule.

“The idea that the House Appropriations Committee would ignore the progress we’ve made towards finalizing this important set of rules is completely appalling. Today’s action is a direct assault on family farmers and ranchers in this country,” said National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson. “NFU will work hard to ensure that this partisan amendment never becomes law and that USDA is allowed to do its job.”

The Grain Inspection and Stockyards Protection Administration (GIPSA) rule would address abusive contracting and marketing practices in the highly concentrated livestock and poultry sectors – such as prohibiting retaliation for farmers who speak to USDA or with members of Congress and requiring transparency in how pay is calculated. An annual appropriations rider had repeatedly blocked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from implementing the final rule, until late last year when lawmakers omitted the rider from the congressional appropriations omnibus bill.

The amendment passed today in the House Appropriations Committee would bar USDA from writing rules that address unjust discriminatory practices, such as retaliation against farmers who speak out about unfair practices. The roadblock erected today was “disheartening,” given the recent progress and commitment from lawmakers and the administration towards implementation of the regulation, Johnson explained.

At the NFU Annual Convention in March, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack pledged to make the GIPSA rule a priority during the remainder of his tenure. Shortly thereafter, eight congressional champions for agriculture wrote a letter to Vilsack, voicing their support for GIPSA.

“Family farmers and ranchers are competing in an increasingly more concentrated marketplace while trying to keep their bottom lines out of the red in a depressed farm sector.  These producers do not need more cards stacked against them,” Johnson said. “It’s unfortunate that too many lawmakers chose big business over family farming and rural America today.”

Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) continued their support for finalizing of GIPSA rules during today’s House Appropriations markup hearing.

“NFU appreciates the strong advocacy for farmers’ basic protections championed today by Reps. Marcy Kaptur and Chellie Pingree,” Johnson concluded. “We will strongly urge the Senate to oppose this rider so we can continue forward on the path to implementation.”



Colorado Rancher Testifies before House Natural Resources Committee

Fourth generation rancher Robbie LeValley of Western Colorado testified before the House Natural Resources Committee today to discuss the potential consequences of the Administration’s critical habitat policy. A recent rule finalized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will change the regulations for designating critical habitat. While the Service stated that the rule was intended to add clarity and simplify the critical habitat designation process, the reality, LeValley said, is that the rule goes beyond mere clarifications and simplification of the process and instead attempts a broad re-orientation of the scope and purpose of critical habitat designations.

“The livestock industry not only plays an integral role in the safekeeping of our federal lands but also in the maintenance of the critical habitat for the species on that land,” said LeValley, chairman of National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Federal Lands Committee, in her written testimony. “The federal agencies must move away from the scientifically inaccurate idea that removing, reducing and retiring grazing is the answer to every problem the agencies face on public land.  As these new standards are implemented, they will have a negative economic impact on ranchers and rural communities without benefitting habitat and the species that live there.”

After a jaw-dropping opening statement by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) calling the impacts to family businesses by this regulation “folksy anecdotes,” LeValley detailed the very real impacts to both habitat protection and operating certainty for her fourth generation family business. On the LeValley ranch, habitat for the Gunnison Sage Grouse has been a priority since 1995, when they engaged with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Bureau of Land Management to protect grouse habitat through the implementation of several conservation easements, plus an additional 1,300 acres covered in a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances.

 “For generations, ranchers have served as stewards of the land,” said LeValley. “Land and habitat thrives because of the knowledge and resources that we put into our land and grazing management decisions. My operation, and the operations of other ranchers proves that managed grazing not only provides for livestock, but for wildlife as well. The time and money that ranchers invest into public land improves water sources, controls invasive species, and removes the fine fuel loads that contribute to catastrophic wildfires that destroy habitat and food sources for wildlife.”

Under questioning, LeValley detailed the increased uncertainty created by the revised rules, which will give the Service broadly expanded power to classify large areas of unoccupied range as critical habitat based solely on evidence of the “physical and biological features” needed to support a species. Even more alarming, she explained, is that the new rules also provide the ability to designate critical habitat based on a site’s potential to support those physical or biological features, even if they do not exist at the time of the designation. This broad latitude brings every single acre of a species’ range into the crosshairs of a critical habitat designation, which can hamper successful conservation efforts already underway.

In response to a question about collaboration with federal agencies, LeValley said “While we are working with the Fish and Wildlife Service, there are times, especially recently, where they have said ‘Our preferred alternative is no livestock grazing’. That’s concerning.”



Is Time Running Out On Potential For Stronger Cattle Prices?
Stephen R. Koontz, Dept of Ag Econ, Colorado State University

Spring time marches on: Prospective Plantings was quite the surprise, a major moisture event causes flooding in the southern plains with concerns of excess up through Nebraska and generous needed snowfall in Colorado, and the deadline for filing your income taxes passes.  So how about the fundamentals and technical picture in the cattle and beef markets?

The USDA Choice-Select spread posted a bit of a rally through the prior weeks.  The spread widened from it seasonal low of about $4/cwt to a little short of $9/cwt.  This change was as anticipated, very comparable to last year and about a month early.  It will be worth watching to see if this strength continues or has run its course.  Slaughter numbers continue to be strong and carcass weights continue a modest decline.  Probably some of the most optimistic news over the prior weeks was from the byproduct market.  The value of these products aggregated to the live animal level increased $1/cwt of live animal weight.  This total market has seen more than a 30% decline in value over the past year.  Much of this product is exported and that is made difficult by the strong dollar.  This decline in byproduct value is now comparable to the appreciation in the dollar.  Strengthening of byproduct markets are a good overall sign.  And all this is good news for cattle producers.

However, the boxed beef market is showing some softness and that is being mirrored by the fed cattle market.  Further, the hunt for good news is a bit difficult.  There are modest pieces but little observed to drive price strength and, I think, time is running out for much more good news this year.  Expansion of the cow herd promises more calves this fall and the Prospective Planting report promises abundant feed.  And exports continue to be weak at best.  Sounds to me like a bit like last year.  And the deferred live cattle and feeder cattle futures appear to be in agreement.  These markets are pricing substantial discounts into the fall months.

The futures markets have reversed roles with cash over the past week plus and are offering a cautious tone.  Fed cattle and feeder cattle contracts all were lower through last week.  In mid-March the markets pushed through resistance set in February and January by moving higher.  Then selling pressure emerged that has pushed all the contracts down and contracts are sitting above support planes.

I will be very interested in the April USDA Cattle on Feed this coming week.  Yes, placements will likely be up but what does the report suggest about showlists?  The March report showed the calculated <90 days on feed inventories were sharply lower while the >120 days on feed inventories were sharply higher.  We are a good month past the time when I thought this cattle market wreck would be cleaned up.  It started late last summer with huge slaughter weights and expanding market ready fed cattle inventories.  But these long-fed inventories persist.  Will the industry clean-up showlists prior to the seasonal increases in supplies starting in August and continuing through October?  This week will help inform but time is getting short.



Lawsuit Filed to Stop Ballot Initiative Seeking to Restrict Livestock Production

Massachusetts farmer James Dunn joined with local anti-poverty activist Diane Sullivan in a lawsuit asking the courts to toss a proposed 2016 animal rights ballot measure. The proposed initiative petition (no. 15-11) would create strict new regulations on farmers and place new restrictions on interstate commerce. Experts warn that the proposed rules will actually harm animals, while driving up the cost of food for Massachusetts families.

Diane Sullivan, the policy director for a Boston-based advocacy organization, and herself one of more than 450,000 Massachusetts households who participates in the federally-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), warns of the unintended consequences hidden in the ballot measure.
   
"Too often, we design and implement policies that have these unintended consequences that play out on the backs of most vulnerable neighbors, particularly low income elders and children," she noted. "As demonstrated in California, this ballot measure will absolutely cause an across the board increase to the cost of eggs, perhaps the most accessible and affordable source of protein available to us all."

"Already, farmers and grocers across the state provide consumers options regarding where their food comes from and how it was raised. The choices are vast and ever-growing, from cage-free to free-range, from grass-fed to pasture-raised; the list goes on. The choices are there - and when people have the means and the desire to choose a more expensive food option, they can. Our neighbors struggling to pay the rent do not have that same luxury.  We simply cannot afford to continue to devalue their already diminished purchasing power by furthering this initiative."

Researchers at Cornell University released a study showing that Initiative Petition No. 15-11 would drive up the cost of eggs alone by $95 million per year, while increasing the cost of pork by over $200 million. California passed a similar law in 2008 and, upon its implementation in 2015, saw immediate increases in egg prices combined with shortages in eggs and foods made with eggs.

“The sad irony here is that this law will actually harm the welfare of farm animals,” explained James H. Dunn, a family farmer from Wendell, Massachusetts. “This law will require farmers to use housing that is more expensive to build and makes animals more susceptible to injury, disease, and death. The lawyers who wrote this law just don’t know anything about caring for livestock.”

A study by the Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply demonstrated that cage-free systems, like those required by Initiative Petition No. 15-11, lead to higher instances of bone-breaks, cannibalism, and death in egg-laying hens; while endangering the environment and harming worker safety.

“This Massachusetts ballot proposal is the expanded version of the regressive food tax increase imposed in California, government-directed consumer price gouging if you will.  Official Government reports yesterday show that wholesale egg prices in California remain over twice the prices of eggs in the rest of our country despite false claims by food tax proponents that it is but a penny an egg," concluded Brian Klippenstein, Executive Director of Protect The Harvest Action Fund which is supporting the lawsuit. “By limiting consumer choice and driving up protein prices, it is hoped by the mega-million dollar animal rights lobby that meatless Monday increasingly becomes meatless everyday by bullying low income powerless consumers out of the market."

The Complaint argues that the initiative petition violates Article 48 of the Massachusetts Constitution.  Under Article 48, initiative petitions must be in proper form for submission to the people and conform with the single subject rule (which demands a petition deal with only one main subject). The single subject rule exists in nearly every state in the country to protect citizens from answering multiple questions with one “yes” or “no” vote.  If found unconstitutional, the initiative will not be placed on the November 2016 ballot.



Rembrandt Foods Going Cage-Free at S.D. Site

Rembrandt Foods announced plans to build a fully dedicated cage-free egg production site in Lake Preston, S.D. The facility expansion will initially house approximately three million cage-free layers, in planned phases. The facility will have on-site breaking equipment, with further growth planned.

The South Dakota location was selected for its central location, access to feed, and biosecurity benefits. Construction will begin in 2016, with the first hens introduced in 2017. "Rembrandt Foods will be a welcome addition to South Dakota's robust agriculture industry," said South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard. "I want to thank Rembrandt for choosing to do business here."

The Rembrandt team would like to express their sincere thanks to the State of South Dakota, the citizens of Kingsbury County, and specifically the community of Lake Preston to help find an excellent site and welcome Rembrandt to the area. "We look forward to becoming a part of the local community and building long term, mutually beneficial relationships in this agricultural region," says Jonathan Spurway, Vice President of Marketing at Rembrandt Foods.

The site will significantly expand the existing cage-free egg production and processing capacity of Rembrandt Foods, one of the world's largest egg and egg ingredient producers. This investment aligns with the commitment to cage-free expansion and growth that Rembrandt announced last year.

More than 100 food companies and industry leaders have announced plans to switch to 100 percent cage-free eggs over the next ten years and the list continues to grow.

"We recognize the growing consumer demand for cage-free eggs and egg products and as a leader in this industry, we are committed to supporting our customers' cage-free needs," says Dave Rettig, President of Rembrandt Foods. "The Lake Preston operation reflects our interest in a cage-free future and we are excited to make this investment."

Rembrandt also offers customers a range of business solutions ranging from industry knowledge and trends to technical support and innovation. The Iowa-based company supplies eggs and egg products to food manufacturers, foodservice providers, restaurant chains, and retail grocers. According to Spurway, "Supplying high-quality cage-free egg products is just one way that Rembrandt partners with our customers. We help our customers understand what it will take to transition to a cage-free supply, and work with them to develop a plan to ensure success."

"A cage-free supply chain isn't built overnight," Rettig adds, "but the Lake Preston facility puts us another step closer to facilitating a cage-free standard."

Rembrandt Foods is a leading egg and egg products company based in Spirit Lake, Iowa. It is the largest in-line processor of egg products in the world, with facilities in Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, and Alabama. With its focus on vertical-integration, from grain to finished product, Rembrandt ensures high-quality egg ingredients to foodservice and food manufacturers in virtually every food category. In 2015, Rembrandt committed to making cage-free production the company standard through growth and expansion.



BioZyme® Develops Natural Silage Additive AmaSile™ to Minimize Nutrient Loss, Speed Up Fermentation

Silage is a staple in many livestock rations. However, if not fermented properly, silage can lose valuable energy, protein and fiber components that are often destroyed during the ensiling process. 

BioZyme® Inc. has developed a natural silage additive called AmaSile™ which is scientifically formulated to reduce the time required by silage to properly ferment, minimize nutrient loss and reduce spoilage by undesirable bacteria.

"AmaSile works to stimulate the growth and development of beneficial microorganisms that speed up and stabilize the fermentation process," said Dorothy Orts, Area Sales Manger for BioZyme. "The results are a stable, highly palatable and more digestible silage that promotes feed and energy intake and improves animal performance. Producers who use it appreciate how cool the silage stays right after chopping and how fresh it remains until the pile is gone."

AmaSile works to:
-    Preserve more nutrients and dry matter
-    Support lactic acid bacteria
-    Improve anaerobic ability
-    Lower pH
-    Improve shelf life
-    Reduce heating/spoilage

In ideal conditions, lactic acid bacteria grow rapidly by utilizing the sugar in fresh forage. These bacteria are very efficient and quickly use the sugar to produce lactic acid. The production of lactic acid lowers pH levels of silage and protects it from unwanted microbial growth, such as molds and Listeria monocytogenes during fermentation. AmaSile contains metabolites produced from a proprietary fermentation product, and, unlike silage inoculants, does not contain live microorganisms and therefore remains stable throughout storage and application.

According to a research trial conducted by Dr. Chlou Keh-Ming of National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan, cows fed corn silage treated with AmaSile during the summer exhibited greater dry matter intake, an average milk increase of 3 lbs., and increased weight gain than the control group fed untreated silage. The winter trial showed lower dry matter intake with 3.5 lbs more milk and increased weight gain. Corn silage treated with AmaSile also exhibited a lower pH, a higher percentage of lactic acid, a lower percentage of acetic and butyric acids, decreased NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber) and ADF (Acid Detergent Fiber), and a higher percentage of crude protein and protein fraction A, according to the trial results.

"These findings are significant," said Kevin Glaubius, BioZyme Director of Nutrition and Technical Sales. "When forage tests high in ADF, its digestibility decreases, thus reducing the animal's nutrient and energy intake.  Equally important are the NDF values, which reflect the amount of forage the animal can consume. When NDF percentages elevate, dry matter intake generally decreases. AmaSile has been proven to reduce ADF and NDF values in silage, which are proven to improve feed intake and animal performance."

AmaSile can be used on any forage, in any storage area including piles, bags and pits. The recommended application is 1 ounce per ton of treated silage. AmaSile is available in a 2.5 gallon size, which can treat up to 320 tons.

Cory Burkle of Burkle Ranch in Fredonia, ND used AmaSile on his 2014 silage, but didn’t realize how much of a difference the product made until he compared it to his 2015 pile, which he did not treat with AmaSile.

“There’s absolutely no comparison between the older pile and the new, untreated pile,” said Burkle. “There is only about a six-inch crust on the 2014 pile and at least 12 inches of waste on the untreated 2015 pile. The quality of the two silage piles is way different too. The AmaSile pile smells much sweeter, not burned at all like the 2015 pile. Not using AmaSile last year proved to me what a great investment the product is in feed quality and waste.”

For more information about AmaSile, visit www.vitaferm.com/products/amasile/.



Syngenta #RootedinAg contest to honor individuals and farming community

The application period for the Syngenta #RootedinAg contest is now open. The contest asks growers and other industry professionals to describe how their agricultural roots help their families and communities thrive. In exchange, the five best entries will each receive a mini touch-screen tablet. From those finalists, one grand prizewinner will receive a $500 gift card, plus Syngenta will make a $1,000 donation in the winner’s name to a local charity or civic organization.

“At Syngenta, we share a proud history with the men and women who help make U.S. agriculture the leader in feeding, fueling and clothing the world,” said Wendell Calhoun, communications manager at Syngenta. “Our contest gives us a chance to reward and recognize a few of those individuals.”

The process to participate is simple:
-    Click on the easy-to-use online entry form.
-    In about 200 words, describe how your agricultural roots are helping you, your family and your community thrive.
-    Then, upload a photograph or video that visually supports your written entry.

The deadline for entering is June 30, 2016. Shortly after this date, a panel of judges will choose five finalists. Syngenta will then post all finalists’ entries on the Thrive website and ask visitors to help choose the grand prizewinner by voting for their favorite. These votes, along with the judges’ scores, will determine the winner. Online voting ends Sept. 15, 2016, with Syngenta announcing the grand prizewinner in October.

To apply or learn more about the #RootedinAg contest, visit www.syngentathrive.com.