Friday May 13 Ag News

Observing Bulls and Cows during the Breeding Season
NE Extension Beef Systems Educator Steve Tonn, Washington County

May has arrived and that means bull turnout for many spring calving cowherds in Eastern Nebraska.  Hopefully by now every cow herd owner has had their bulls through a breeding soundness exam, and the bulls are in good physical condition and are ready to go to work. 

A good manager will also keep an eye on the bulls during the breeding season to make sure they are getting the cows bred.  This is especially important during the first part of the breeding season.  Take a thermos of hot coffee at dusk or dawn’s early light and watch from the cab of the pickup to see if the bulls are doing the job for which they were purchased.  Any bull that is not showing interest or is physically unable to breed cows should be removed and replaced as soon as possible. 

Producers should also be monitoring estrus behavior in their cowherd to see if the bulls are settling cows.  Watch how bulls are interacting with females and females interacting with each other early in the breeding season because those interactions can give a good indication of the relative proportion of females that are cyclic. 

Over the first 42 days of the breeding season nearly all of the cows should exhibit estrus and be bred at least once.  During this time you may have 3 to 5 percent of your cows cycling each day.  The percentage of cows cycling each day should decrease as the breeding season goes on.  If after 45 days of the breeding season you are still having 3 to 5 percent of your cows cycling each day, then there may be a problem with your bulls.  They should be tested to confirm fertility or replaced with fertile bulls. 

Make sure your bulls stay in good body condition during the breeding season.  If a bull gets thin, then replace him with one in adequate condition.  Be aggressive in rotating or replacing bulls that get injured, have low libido or are in pastures with a high proportion of estrus cows late in the breeding season. 

While finding a bad bull during the breeding season is a bad thing, learning of the problem at pregnancy check time in the fall is even worse.  It will pay to keep tabs on the breeding performance of your cows and bulls during the breeding season. 



FERTILIZING COOL-SEASON GRASSES IN MAY
NE Extesnion Forage Specialist Bruce Anderson

               Most pastures have good soil moisture from spring rains.  Fertilizing now might help you take advantage of that moisture.

               Grass growth is stimulated by nitrogen fertilizer just like other crops.  One key to profitable fertilizing of pastures, though, is to time fertilization to stimulate grass growth for when you need it.  We often fertilize cool-season grass pastures like bromegrass in early April to get a good boost in early growth.  By June or July, though, these pastures run out of both moisture and fertilizer.  Add in hot temperatures and their growth nearly stops.

               This spring most pastures received abundant rain. These pastures should be able to continue to grow longer into summer if soil fertility is adequate.  To take advantage of this extra soil moisture, fertilize cool-season pastures with thirty to sixty pounds of nitrogen per acre between now and Memorial Day to gain extra summer forage.

               To make this May fertilizing work best, I have found that it helps to graze pastures moderately before adding nitrogen fertilizer.  This seems to encourage more thickening of the grass stand and slightly reduces the number of seed stalks produced.  Don’t graze too short, though, or plants will be stressed and regrow more slowly.

               Would it be smart to fertilize again in May if you applied nitrogen earlier this spring?  Normally I say no, especially with nitrogen so expensive.  But if you applied just a light amount earlier and already have grazed off most of the grass, a second application might be beneficial, similar to the multiple nitrogen applications used on irrigated pastures.

               So, if you can use extra grass, fertilize now to take advantage of extra moisture.



Nebraska’s Energy Future community conversation to be held Tues eve @ NECC

Are you interested in renewable energy and energy efficiency? In Nebraska’s energy future? Join us for a community conversation on Tuesday May 17th, hosted by the Norfolk Daily News. The event offers an opportunity to hear from panelists Pat Pope of Nebraska Public Power District, Jeff Sylvester of Black Hills Energy and David Bracht of the Nebraska Energy Office, and to have a discussion with your community. 

Nebraska’s Energy Future community conversation
Tuesday, May 17th @ 5:30 pm
Northeast Community College
Cox Activities Center Theater
801 E. Benjamin Ave. 
Norfolk,  NE  68702



NEBRASKA HONEY BEE COLONIES

Honey bee colonies for operations with five or more colonies in Nebraska as of January 1, 2016 totaled 10.5 thousand. This is 5 percent above the 10.0 thousand colonies on January 1, 2015. During 2015, honey bee colonies on April 1, July 1, and October 1 were 29.0 thousand, 67.0 thousand, and 72.0 thousand, respectively.

Honey bee colonies lost for operations with five or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2016, was 330 colonies or 2 percent lost. This is the lowest number of colonies lost during the most recent five quarters. The quarter of October-December 2015 had a loss of 7.0 thousand colonies or 10 percent, the highest honey bee colonies loss of the five quarters.

Honey bee colonies added for operations with five or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2016 was 40 colonies. The quarter of April-June 2015, added 15.5 thousand colonies, the highest number of honey bee colonies added of the five quarters. The quarter of October-December 2015, at 10 colonies, showed the least amount of honey bee colonies added.

Honey bee colonies renovated for operations with five or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2016 was 30 colonies. This is the lowest number of colonies renovated during the five most recent quarters. The number of colonies renovated during the quarter of January-March 2015 was 310 or 1 percent. The highest number of honey bee colonies renovated for any quarter, at 6.0 thousand, occurred during July-September 2015. Renovated colonies are those that were requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.

Varroa mites were the number one stressor for operations with five or more colonies during four out of the five quarters surveyed. The quarter of January-March 2016 showed varroa mites at 1.7 percent. The quarter of July-September 2015 showed the highest percentage of varroa mites at 33.2 percent affected.



Iowa Honey Bee Colonies Summary

 Honey bee colonies for operations with 5 or more colonies in Iowa as of January 1, 2016 totaled 16.5 thousand colonies. This is 32 percent above the 12.5 thousand colonies on January 1, 2015. During 2015, honey bee colonies on April 1, July 1, and October 1 were 12.5 thousand, 29.0 thousand, and 35.0 thousand, respectively. The quarter of July-September 2015 had the largest maximum number of colonies, with 37.0 thousand, while January-March 2016 had the smallest maximum number of colonies with 16.5 thousand.

Honey bee colonies lost for operations with 5 or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2016 was 3,200, 3 percent above the number lost during the same quarter the year before. With 19 percent of the maximum colonies lost, this was the highest percent of colonies lost during the 5 quarters. The quarter April-June 2015, at 6 percent or 1,400 colonies, showed the smallest loss.

Varroa mites were the number one stressor for operations with 5 or more colonies during each of the quarters surveyed. The quarter of January-March 2016 showed varroa mites affected 41.6 percent of Iowa’s honey bee colonies. The quarter of October-December 2015 showed the highest percentage affected by varroa mites at 53.4 percent.



UNITED STATES HONEY BEE COLONIES

Honey bee colonies for operations with five or more colonies in the United States as of January 1, 2016 totaled 2.59 million. This is 8 percent below the 2.82 million colonies on January 1, 2015. During 2015, honey bee colonies on April 1, July 1, and October 1 were 2.85 million, 3.13 million, and 2.87 million, respectively. Honey bee colonies lost for operations with five or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2016, was 429 thousand colonies or 17 percent lost. The quarter of January-March 2015 had a loss of 500 thousand colonies or 18 percent, the highest honey bee colonies loss of the five quarters. The quarter of April-June 2015, at 353 thousand or 12 percent, showed the least amount of lost honey bee colonies.

Varroa mites were the number one stressor for operations with five or more colonies during each of the quarters surveyed. The quarter of January-March 2016 showed varroa mites at 34.3 percent. The quarter of April-June 2015 showed the highest percentage of varroa mites at 43.4 percent affected.

Colonies with loss reported that met all of the following criteria: 1) Little to no build-up of dead bees in the hive or at the hive entrance 2) Rapid loss of adult honey bee population despite the presence of queen, capped brood, and food reserves 3) Absence or delayed robbing of the food reserves 4) Loss not attributable to varroa or nosema loads, peaked at 114 thousand colonies lost during January-March 2016. That same quarter a year ago showed 92.3 thousand colonies lost.




The uncertainties of politics, trade and interest rates expected to draw big crowd to the 2016 Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit

Already facing a downturned ag economy, Iowa farmers are facing uncertain times when it comes to Presidential politics and the future of trade and interest rates.

Those issues and more are the subject of discussion at the 2016 Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit, titled, “Buckle Up for the Bumpy Ride,” June 27 in West Des Moines. The summit will feature the nation’s leading marketing experts to help Iowa farmers manage risks, not just today, but over the next several years.

One of the featured speakers at the IFBF Economic Summit is Dan Mitchell of the Cato Institute, a Washington, D.C. think tank. Mitchell keeps a close eye on politics and how it affects the economy and will share how the various candidates and their positions are likely to impact Iowa agriculture.

“It’s certainly been a very surprising year in politics,” said Dave Miller, Iowa Farm Bureau director of Research and Commodity Services. “But now that we have a good idea of who the candidates are for the November election, it’s important to examine their positions to see where they stand in areas critical to agriculture, such as international trade agreements, regulation and farm safety net programs.”

The summit will feature a range of Iowa-based and national experts, ranging from economist Nathan Kaufmann of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Iowa State University’s (ISU) Chad Hart, and Charlie Happel, chief financial officer of Farm Bureau Financial Services who will address the overall economic climate. “The recovery in the overall economy has been pretty lukewarm,” said Miller. “So it’s important to see how that translates into things that are important to Iowa farmers, like consumer beef and pork demand, as well as the direction of interest rates.”

Mike Pearson of IPTV’s Market to Market will moderate the one-day event which will be held at IFBF headquarters, 5400 University Avenue in West Des Moines, June 27 beginning at 7:30 a.m. There will also be special panel discussions on key issues and experts to take questions. Summit registration, which includes access to all presentations and lunch, is $75 for Farm Bureau members and $100 for non-members. Register now for this essential risk management seminar. Visit https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/News/2016-Economic-Summit or call Lavonne Baldwin at 515-225-5633 or email lbaldwin@ifbf.org.



COST-SHARE AVAILABLE FOR IOWA WATER QUALITY PRACTICES 

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced today the 2016 sign-up period is open for cost share funds to help farmers install nutrient reduction practices.  This program has been popular with farmers interested in adding additional practices to their operation.  Practices eligible for this funding are cover crops, no-till or strip till, or using a nitrification inhibitor when applying fertilizer.

“We have seen significant growth in cover crops and other water quality focused practices in recent years, but many farmers are still exploring how they fit on their farm.  This statewide program is designed to help them get started with a new practice and learn how they can use one or more of these tools to help protect water quality,” Northey said.  “I encourage farmers to reach out to their local Soil and Water Conservation District office for more information on how to apply.”

The cost share rate for farmers planting cover crops is $25 per acre ($15 per acre for past cover crop users) and for farmers trying no-till or strip till is $10 per acre.  Farmers using a nitrapyrin nitrification inhibitor when applying fall fertilizer can receive $3 per acre.

Farmers who have already used cover crops on their farm are eligible for a reduced rate of $15 per acre. First-time cover crop users will receive priority consideration for this assistance.  Farmers are only eligible for cost share on up to 160 acres. The funds will be made available in July, but farmers can immediately start submitting applications through their local Soil and Water Conservation District office.

Farmers are still encouraged to visit their local Soil and Water Conservation District office to inquire about additional opportunities for cost share funding through other programs offered at their local SWCDs.  A Soil and Water Conservation Districts directory can be found on www.IowaAgriculture.gov under “Hot Topics.”

“As farmers are busy planting, we wanted to get the announcement out as soon as possible so our staff and partners can prepare to sign-up interested farmers if there are rain delays or as field work is wrapped up,” Northey said.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship received $9.6 million for the Iowa Water Quality Initiative in fiscal 2016.  These funds will allow the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to continue to encourage the broad adoption of water quality practices through statewide cost share assistance as well as more intensive work in targeted watersheds.

In the last 3 years this program has been available, over 2,900 farmers in each of Iowa’s 99 counties have put in new nutrient reduction practices on over 294,000 acres.  The state provided about $6.2 million in cost share funding to help farmers try a water quality practice and Iowa farmers provided more than $6.2 million of their own resources to support these water quality practices.



 Farmers Willing to Assist in Monarch Conservation Efforts

With the population of monarch butterflies in North America declining sharply, there is fear that the species’ migration between Mexico and the United State could be in peril. The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium was created by Iowa State University, farmer and commodity groups, conservation organizations, private companies and state agencies in February 2015 to enhance monarch reproduction in Iowa.

“Research in progress at Iowa State suggests that small habitat patches ranging from a half-acre to several acres across the Iowa landscape will likely be most effective to support monarch breeding success,” said Steve Bradbury, ISU professor in natural resource ecology and management and a member of the Monarch Consortium’s research team. “So a lot of the Consortium’s focus will be on helping farmers and other landowners to establish or improve monarch habitat.”

The 2015 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll asked 1,159 farmers about their willingness to consider planting milkweed and other wildflowers to help improve monarch habitat in the state. Forty-two percent responded that they would consider planting or improving monarch habitat on their land.

“Given that farmers spend a lot of time, energy and money trying to get rid of milkweed and other weeds to protect their crops, I thought that 42 percent was a pretty high number,” said poll co-director J. Gordon Arbuckle, associate professor of sociology and extension sociologist at Iowa State University. “The results indicate that a lot of farmers are interested in helping the monarch population bounce back.”

The 42 percent of farmers who said they would be willing to consider planting monarch habitat were then asked how much land they would be willing to plant using their own money, if they could receive half the cost of planting or if they could receive 100 percent of the cost of planting. Many responded that they did not know how many acres they would be willing to plant. Among farmers who provided an estimate, if using their own money they predicted they would plant an average of 7.3 acres, if receiving 50 percent cost-share they would plant 9.5 acres, and if they could receive 100 percent cost-share they would be willing to plant an average of 13.1 acres of monarch-friendly habitat.

“Those acreage numbers might not sound like very much, but if 42 percent of Iowa’s 89,000 farmers were to plant milkweed and other nectaring wildflowers, that would add up to a substantial amount of monarch habitat,” said Arbuckle. “Also, I think that as the Monarch Conservation Consortium partners ramp up their outreach efforts, we’ll see a lot more farmers and rural landowners willing to help.”



Soybean Growers Back Bill Extending Biodiesel Tax Credit

The American Soybean Association (ASA) supports legislation introduced today by Reps. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) that would extend the biodiesel tax incentive through 2019 and reform it as a domestic production credit. ASA issued the following statement from President and Delaware farmer Richard Wilkins in response to the bill’s introduction:

“The bill from Reps. Noem and Pascrell is something ASA is extremely pleased to see, as it seeks to extend the biodiesel tax credit through 2019, and restructures the credit to further promote value-added domestic production. We appreciate the work of Representative Noem and Representative Pascrell and are proud to support their efforts.

“If not renewed, the dollar-per-gallon credit will expire at the end of this year putting a damper on production and preventing the industry from maximizing the benefits provided from this domestic, renewable energy source. In a farm economy that is dealing with low crop prices, that uncertainty and added stress are things that farmers don’t need.

“In the challenging political environment of an election year, it may be easier for lawmakers to pull back from working together, even on common-sense legislation like this, which is what makes the leadership shown by Representatives Noem and Pascrell so commendable. We appreciate their work on this issue and we urge Congress to support the extension and restructuring of the biodiesel tax credit.”



National Biodiesel Board Releases Statement on Tax Legislation

The National Biodiesel Board released the following statement from Vice President of Federal Affairs Anne Steckel after Reps. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., and Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., introduced legislation to extend the biodiesel tax incentive through 2019 and reform it as a domestic production credit:

“While oil tax breaks remain permanently written into the tax code, the biodiesel tax incentive is yet again set to expire in less than eight months. This is no way to do business. Biodiesel producers need stable, predictable tax policy to continue to grow and hire. We want to thank Reps. Noem and Pascrell for taking the lead on this issue to create that stability and spur economic activity.

In addition to extending the incentive, this bill includes an important reform ensuring that this tax incentive is directed toward domestically produced biodiesel. This would not only reduce the cost of the tax incentive to the Treasury, but it would level the playing field for American producers who are now competing against predatory imports that are getting subsidies in their country of origin only to be shipped to the U.S. to receive another incentive from American taxpayers. Incentivizing foreign biodiesel production was never the intent of this incentive, and Congress should reform it immediately.”

Background:
After expiring on Dec. 31, 2014, the $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax incentive was reinstated in late 2015 and is slated to expire again on Dec. 31, 2016. Under the current “blender’s” structure of the incentive, foreign biodiesel imported to the U.S. and blended with petroleum diesel in the U.S. is eligible for the tax incentive. Increasingly, foreign biodiesel producers are taking advantage of the U.S. incentive by shipping their product here. In 2015 alone, some 670 million gallons of biodiesel was imported to the U.S., making up nearly a third of the U.S. market.



BILL LANGUAGE WOULD RETAIN TRUCKING ‘34-HOUR RESTART’ PROVISION

The National Pork Producers Council this week joined other agricultural organizations and businesses in urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to keep language in the fiscal 2017 transportation funding bill that would allow certain truck drivers to use the “34-hour restart” provision of the Hours of Service rules of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

The provision, adopted in 2003, let drivers, who were limited to 70 hours of driving in a week, to “restart” the week by taking a 34-hour break, including two, back-to-back periods of rest between 1 and 5 a.m. New Hours of Service regulations that went into effect July 1, 2013, required drivers to limit their restart to once a week and to include at least two nights off duty from 1 to 5 a.m. In December 2014, Congress suspended the new restart provision until September 30, 2015, and required the FMCSA to determine if it actually decreased driver fatigue.

The language in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill would retain the 34-hour restart provision regardless of the outcome of the FMCSA study, which is being conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. It also would prevent drivers from abusing the provision by capping the amount of time they can drive or be on duty at 73 hours in a 7-day period.



SENATE PASSES FIRST FISCAL 2017 APPROPRIATIONS BILL

The Senate Thursday passed the fiscal 2017 energy, water development and related agencies funding bill by a vote of 90-8. The legislation funds the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It also includes $1.3 billion for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to benefit U.S. ports.

Members of the Agriculture Transportation Working group on a letter to Senate appropriators, asking for continued investment in the nation’s waterway infrastructure. The letter noted that “having access to a modern and efficient inland waterways transportation system is vital to the efficient production, marketing and shipment of agricultural products in international commerce.” The vote marks the first appropriations measure to pass the Senate this Congress.

SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE TO CONSIDER AGRICULTURE SPENDING BILL
The Senate Committee on Appropriation’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies will meet May 17 to consider the agricultural funding bill for fiscal 2017.



Kubota to Acquire Great Plains Mfg of Kansas

Kubota Corporation has announced that their Kubota U.S.A., Inc., Kubota’s subsidiary in U.S., and Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc. headquartered in Salina, KS, a U.S. farm implement manufacturer, and its shareholders have entered into an agreement under which Kubota U.S.A., Inc. will acquire all of the shares of GP as set out below. 

Background and purposes of the Transaction
Kubota Tractor Corp., a Kubota’s subsidiary which distributes tractors and construction equipment in the U.S. market, started a strategic alliance with GP, a renowned implement brand in North America, for its implement business in 2007. Since then, the two partners have worked together to expand Kubota’s mainstay compact tractor business. By incorporating GP into Kubota’s Group through the Transaction, Kubota hopes to advance the existing alliance and benefit from synergies, thereby further reinforcing its tractor business in North America.

Kubota entered the implement market in 2012 when it acquired Kverneland ASA, which is a comprehensive implement manufacturer and whose brand is highly recognized in Europe. Kubota will have both GP’s seeders and tillage which are suited to agricultural methods used in North America and Kverneland’s hay implements after the Transaction and it should help Kubota to strengthen and expand its implement product lineup in the North American market, which in turn will further expand its implement business overall.

Summary of the Transaction
Kubota will acquire 100% of GP’s stock via Kubota U.S.A., Inc.
(Stock purchase price: Approx. 430 million U.S. dollars*1, or approx. 49.5 billion yen*2)
*1 To be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of the share purchase agreement
*2 1 U.S. dollar = 115 yen

Schedule and future outlook
The acquisition process is due to be completed in July 2016 after the necessary procedures.
The impact that the Transaction will have on Kubota’s performance is currently under study. If Kubota decides to make revisions to earnings forecasts, or if matters that need to be made public arise, Kubota will disclose it promptly.

The purchase of Great Plains will make Kubota a force in the tillage, planter and drill segments. It also will give Kubota a new presence in Europe, where Great Plains in 2010 bought Simba International and its factory in England, which produces planters, tillage tools and landscape equipment.  According to Friday’s announcement, all five Great Plains divisions will continue to operate as they have been with their infrastructures intact.



Survey Shows Strong Public Perception of Farmers

A recent poll commissioned by National Crop Insurance Services found that a significant majority of Americans have favorable views of farmers and are supportive of federal support for agricultural programs. The survey, which was conducted in early April and was based on telephone responses from 1,000 registered voters, showed that of all registered voters, 86 percent had a favorable view of farmers.

This positive perception reinforces the importance of grassroots engagement in public policy, and thus the importance of farmers contacting their Members of Congress about legislation that would negatively impact agriculture. The survey also provides helpful support to efforts to defend the federal crop insurance program.

Specifically, the survey shows that 79% of all respondents support a system that discounts the price of crop insurance for farmers. As the Senate Appropriations Committee is set to consider its version of the FY 2017 Agriculture Appropriations bill next week, it's particularly important now for farmers to continue weighing in with their Senators about the importance of opposing any amendments to the appropriations bill that would undermine crop insurance, title 1 farm programs, or conservation programs.



BASF’s Varisto herbicide receives registration for use in select crops

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently registered BASF’s Varisto® herbicide for use in clover grown for seed, dry beans, dry peas, English peas, lima beans (succulent), snap beans and soybeans. This new herbicide helps maximize yield potential by delivering a wide spectrum of broadleaf and grass weed control.

“Varisto herbicide offers multiple sites of action for excellent weed control and resistance management in a convenient pre-mix formulation with low crop response,” said Christa Ellers-Kirk, Technical Market Manager, BASF. “The introduction of Varisto herbicide to the market gives growers best-in-class weed control.”

A 2013 University of Idaho research trial showed that Varisto herbicide was 98 percent effective in controlling hairy nightshade, 96 percent effective in controlling redroot pigweed, 90 percent effective in controlling common lamb’s quarters and 84 percent effective in controlling green foxtail. Results were measured 29 days after treatment.

In that same research trial, a post-emergence application of Varisto herbicide preceded by a pre-emergence application of Outlook® herbicide was 99 percent effective in controlling hairy nightshade and redroot pigweed, and 98 percent effective in controlling green foxtail and common lamb’s quarters.

For the best results, use as part of a comprehensive weed management program that includes Prowl® herbicide or Outlook herbicide applied at pre-emergence timing, followed by Varisto herbicide applied at post-emergence timing.