Monday May 23 Crop Progress Report + Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending May 22, 2016, dry conditions allowed producers to get back into fields and resume spring planting activities, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rain was experienced late in the week with an inch or more common in central and north central counties. Temperatures averaged two to six degrees below normal. Corn planting was winding up with producers focused on soybean acres. The first cutting of alfalfa was underway, with insect pressure noted in some fields. Wheat diseases were a concern in untreated fields. There were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent very short, 3 short, 81 adequate, and 16 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent very short, 3 short, 85 adequate, and 12 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn planted was at 90 percent, equal to last year, and near the five-year average of 93. Emerged was at 51 percent, behind 68 last year and 62 average.

Sorghum planted was at 30 percent, behind 47 last year and 40 average.

Soybeans planted was at 54 percent, equal to last year, but behind 67 average. Emerged was at 13 percent, near 17 last year, but behind 25 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 0 percent very poor, 5 poor, 29 fair, 55 good, and 11 excellent. Winter wheat jointed was at 94 percent, equal to last year, but ahead of 83 average. Headed was at 43 percent, ahead of 35 last year and 31 average.

Oats condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 21 fair, 73 good, and 5 excellent. Oats planted was at 96 percent, near 100 last year and 99 average. Emerged was at 90 percent, behind 97 last year, but near 92 average. Jointed was at 46 percent, near 49 last year. Headed was at 7 percent, ahead of 1 last year, but near 4 average.

Alfalfa condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 9 fair, 75 good, and 15 excellent. Alfalfa first cutting was at 13 percent, ahead of 8 last year, but near 17 average.

Dry edible beans planted was at 2 percent, equal to last year, but behind 7 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 0 poor, 15 fair, 72 good, and 13 excellent. Stock water supplies rated 0 percent very short, 2 short, 92 adequate, and 6 surplus.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Drier conditions allowed farmers to make good progress with 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the week ending May 22, 2016, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were scattered reports of corn being replanted in the northern third of Iowa.

Topsoil moisture levels increased to 0 percent very short, 5 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 85 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus.

Ninety-six percent of the corn crop has been planted, 2 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of the 5-year average. Corn emerged reached 75 percent, on pace with last year, but 4 days ahead of normal. The first corn condition rating of the season was 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 11 percent excellent.

Soybean planting reached 74 percent complete, almost a week ahead of last year. Twenty-one percent of the soybeans have emerged, 2 days behind last year, but equal to the 5-year average.

Oat emergence was nearly complete at 96 percent, while oats headed reached 11 percent this week, 11 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of the 5-year average. Oat condition was rated 80 percent good to excellent.

The first cutting of alfalfa hay advanced to 19 percent completed. Hay conditions improved slightly to 75 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition also improved to 76 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were described as generally good with some feedlots starting to dry up.



IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY
Provided by Harry J. Hillaker, State Climatologist
Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship

The past reporting week was mostly on the cooler and drier side of normal. Temperatures were below normal statewide through Saturday (21st) morning with mild days and cool nights. Temperatures climbed into the seventies statewide on Saturday (21st) afternoon and into the eighties over most of Iowa on Sunday (22nd). Temperature extremes varied from a Wednesday (18th) morning low of 30 degrees at Elkader to a Sunday (22nd) afternoon high of 87 degrees at Le Claire. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged one to three degrees below normal across northern Iowa to three to six degrees subnormal over the south where daytime cloud cover was more frequent. The statewide average temperature for the week was 3.5 degrees below normal. Light rain fell over about the southern one-third of Iowa on Monday (16th) and parts of the southeast one-half of the state on Tuesday (17th). There were a few, isolated, very light showers scattered across small areas of southern and western Iowa on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Randolph in Fremont County reported the most rain for the week with 0.52 inches while no rain was reported over parts of northwest, north central, west central, central and east central Iowa. The statewide average rainfall for the week was only 0.07 inches while normal for the week is 1.05 inches. Soil temperatures at the four inch depth were averaging in the low to mid-sixties over most of Iowa as of Sunday (22nd).



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Corn planting and emergence continued to run ahead of the five-year average in the week ended May 22, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report.

Corn is 86% planted, compared to 75% last week, 90% last year and a five-year average of 85%. Emergence is pegged at 60%, compared to 43% last week, 69% last year and 55% on average.

Soybeans also remain ahead of average at 56% planted, compared to 36% last week, 56% last year and a 52% average. Soybean emergence is estimated at 22%, compared to 10% last week, 27% last year and a 21% five-year average.

Winter wheat is 75% headed, compared to 68% last week, 74% last year and 66% on average. Winter wheat condition held steady at 62% good to excellent.

Spring wheat is 95% planted and 78% emerged, compared with 89% and 60% last week, 95% and 76% last year and 77% and 51% on average.

Cotton is 46% planted, compared to 40% last week, 44% last year and a 54% average. Rice is 93% planted and 83% emerged, compared to 87% and 76% last week, 92% and 79% last year, and 89% and 73% on average. Rice condition improved to 67% good to excellent, compared to 63% last week.

Sorghum is 37% planted compared to 33% last week, 40% last year and a 43% average. Oats are 98% planted and 90% emerged, compared to 94% and 81% last week, 99% and 89% last year and 90% and 76% averages. Oats are 25% headed, compared to 24% last year and a 29% average. Oats condition held steady at 73% good to excellent.

Barley is 94% planted and 80% emerged, compared to 90% and 68% last week, 99% and 82% last year, and 81% and 56% averages. Barley condition improved slightly to 76% good to excellent, compared to 75% last week.

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Costco Moves Forward with Due Diligence in Fremont

On Friday, Costco Wholesale Corporation filed a petition for annexation and rezoning for a poultry processing complex at Hills Farm, an industrial tract located south of Cloverly Road.

“We are thrilled that we were able to help Costco find an appropriate location in the Greater Fremont area,” said Scott Getzschman, Mayor of Fremont. “It is rare for a community to realize a project of this scope and size. It speaks to all the regional assets we have that will make this project successful, and we are grateful for Costco’s commitment to the relationships they have developed throughout this process.”

“This location with its infrastructure and industrial character is a great fit for the project,” Fremont City Council president Larry Johnson shared. “We look forward to playing our role in the approval process.”

Cecilia Harry, Executive Director of the Greater Fremont Development Council, expressed her enthusiasm about moving this location forward through the formal process.



Seedling Diseases Developing in Corn
Nathan Mueller - NE Extension Educator
Tamra Jackson-Ziems, NE Extension Plant Pathologist

Cool wet soil conditions from repeated rainfall events across Nebraska can likely be to blame for development of some seedling diseases in corn. A number of different pathogens can cause similar symptoms, negatively impacting plant health and potentially reducing plant stands. This week seedling diseases were documented in 10% of surveyed fields in Dodge County in eastern Nebraska, mostly in corn-after-corn fields in river valleys. Be sure to monitor seedling emergence and stand establishment across the state during the coming weeks so that if problems occur they can be detected as early as possible.

Seedling diseases can be caused by any of several common soilborne organisms, such as Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia or plant parasitic nematodes. Seedling diseases are often difficult to diagnose because their symptoms are very similar. Sometimes, diagnosis may be of limited value because management is often the same for several seedling diseases. Microscopic examination and other laboratory analyses of the diseased seedlings can often identify the cause(s) of the problems. In addition seedling diseases can be confused with insect injury, herbicide damage, planting problems, or environmental stresses that often have similar symptoms.
corn seedling disease

Symptoms of seedling diseases include:
-    Rotted seed prior to germination
-    Rotted or discolored seedlings after germination prior to emergence
-    Post-emergence seedling damping off 
-    Root or hypocotyl decay

At least 14 species of Pythium can cause seedling blight and root rot. These pathogens require excessive moisture because they produce motile swimming zoospores that infect plant roots. Thus, wet soil conditions are most favorable for Pythium root rot. The pathogen overwinters in soil and infected plant debris by producing thick-walled oospores that can survive for several years in the absence of a suitable host of favorable weather conditions.

Management
Unfortunately, resistance is not available for seedling diseases in corn. Improved field drainage can help reduce the incidence and severity of some seedling diseases and delaying planting until soil conditions are warmer will promote rapid seed germination and emergence. The most common method for disease management is the use of seed treatment fungicides on almost all seed corn.

Crop rotation can provide some reduction in disease, but some pathogens also may infect soybean and other crops.

Most seed corn is treated with more than one seed treatment fungicide, often an insecticide, and, sometimes a nematicide. These products can provide protection against some of the pathogens that cause seedling diseases, but, in spite of their activity, diseases may still develop, such as during extended periods of inclement weather or severe pathogen pressure.

Some fungicides now also are labeled for application in-furrow at planting.  Use of fungicides in-furrow at planting may provide some additional protection against these pathogens in fields with severe pathogen pressure and chronic seedling diseases, but more research needs to be conducted to better predict their potential benefits and economic return.

Seed treatment fungicides will only provide protection during the first few weeks immediately after planting.  You can minimize the likelihood of developing seedling diseases by planting high quality seed at appropriate planting depths and soil conditions to support rapid plant growth and emergence.



Nebraska Gasoline Blends Top 13 Billion Gallons of Ethanol

High octane, less expensive, locally produced, renewable – no matter the reason, Nebraska motor fuel sales show that drivers continue to choose ethanol-blended gasoline.

According to the Nebraska Department of Revenue Motor Fuels Division, in the last 37 years more than 13 billion gallons of ethanol have been sold in the Nebraska fuel market.

Ethanol has gained a steady market acceptance in Nebraska, starting in 1978 with just 1/10 of a percent of Nebraska gasoline blended with ethanol. In 2015, 85 percent of Nebraska gasoline contained ethanol, and currently about 90 percent of the nation’s fuel includes ethanol.

“Ethanol has been part of our fuel supply for almost 40 years,” said Todd Sneller, Nebraska Ethanol Board administrator. “Given the choice, consumers purchase homegrown, renewable ethanol that is less expensive and burns cleaner.”

Nebraska has more than 80 fuel pumps around the state that dispense blends higher than E10 including E85 (85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline).

About one in seven Nebraskans are driving a flex fuel vehicle that can operate on any blend of ethanol and gasoline up to E85. In 2001, EPA approved E15 (15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline) for use in light-duty cars, pickups and SUVs model 2001 and newer.

“More fuel retailers are starting to sell E15 and higher blends of ethanol in Nebraska and nationwide,” Sneller said. “Approximately 80 percent of cars, trucks and SUVs on the road today are approved to use E15, and with pollution mitigation efforts underway in large cities, we’ll continue to see more ethanol blended in our fuel.”

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.

Nebraska is the nation’s second-largest producer of ethanol with 25 plants. According to a recent University of Nebraska-Lincoln study, the ethanol industry has a $5 billion annual economic impact on the state.



ASSESS CONDITION OF ALFALFA FIELDS AT FIRST HARVEST
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               First cutting of alfalfa is here or approaching rapidly.  That’s a good time to evaluate field conditions and then plan future management.

               Look closely at your alfalfa stand at first cutting.  Look for weeds.  Check for weevils – both larvae and adults.  Count the number of stems per square foot.  Examine thin spots or areas not yielding as well as the rest of the field.

               If you find problems, immediately start to plan how you will deal with them.  For instance, if you have too much pennycress or mustard or downy brome in your first cutting, consider spraying herbicides next fall during the dormant season to kill these weeds.

               Are stands getting thin?  Can you determine why?  Will this allow weeds to invade?  Then, maybe it’s time to rotate to another crop.  If you have other good alfalfa field options, most dryland fields should be rotated after four to five years and irrigated fields every five to six years.

               If some areas of the field don’t produce well but the stand still is thick, the problem may be dry subsoil, compaction, or inadequate fertility.  Check it out and when you have an answer, then you might be able to do something about it.

               How do your alfalfa plants look when you cut them?  Are lower stems dark colored with many leaves on the ground?  Spring blackstem may be the problem.  Do most plants have open blossoms?  Or are new shoots starting to grow and then getting cut off by your mower?  In all these examples, earlier harvest might be wise next year.

               Take some time to look more closely at first cut alfalfa.  It may make you an even better manager next time.



June Ag Finance and Ag Law Clinics

Openings are available for one-on-one, confidential farm finance and ag law consultations being conducted across the state each month. An experienced ag law attorney and ag financial counselor will be available to address farm and ranch issues related to financial planning, estate and transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, water rights, and other relevant matters. They offer an opportunity to seek an experienced outside opinion on issues affecting your farm or ranch.

Clinic Sites and Dates
    Grand Island — Thursday, June 2
    North Platte — Thursday, June 9
    Valentine — Friday, June 10
    Lexington — Thursday, June 16
    Norfolk — Thursday, June 16
    Fairbury — Tuesday, June 28

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska sponsor these clinics.  To sign up for a clinic or to get more information, call Michelle at the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.



Nebraska’s Beginning Farm & Ranch Opportunity Tour set to Launch

The Center for Rural Affairs is offering a free summer series of Latino Beginning Farmer and Rancher tours in Nebraska City, Martell, Grand Island, and Lincoln, Nebraska. The first session will be held on Saturday June 11, with the last session on October 22, 2016.

"These tours are a great opportunity for people who are either interested in starting a small farm or who already have a farm, to learn from an existing farmer,” commented Kirstin Bailey, Project Organizer, Center for Rural Affairs. “We will be seeing farms that have been in business for just a few years and hear from the owners about their operation. It is a chance to learn from expert presenters and network with other farmers and those interested in farming. We are excited about the different topics we have this year!"

Participants can pick and choose which farm tours work best for them to attend, based on their location. All tours will be presented or interpreted in Spanish.

Transportation to the tour sites will be provided. Participants can meet at Community Action, 210 O St, Lincoln, NE at 9:00 a.m for a ride.

What: Multi-session summer series of Latino Beginning Farmer & Rancher Workshops and Farm Tours

When and Where:
June 11th, 2016 - Basic Orchard Management, Union Orchard, Nebraska City, NE

July 30th, 2016 - Soil Health and Cover Crops,  Jones Produce, Crete, NE
July 30th, 2016 - Small Scale Farming,  Robinette Farms, Martell NE

September 17th, 2016  - Tools for Vegetable Farming, 26th St Farm, Hastings, NE
September 17th, 2016 - Poultry Management, Prairie Pride Poultry, Grand Island, NE

October 22nd, 2016  - Walk Behind Tractor Options and Alternative Soil Amendments, Prairie Pines, Lincoln NE

For more information or to register, contact Lucia Schulz at lucias@cfra.org or (402) 750-5727.  Additional information can be found here: http://www.cfra.org/latino-beg-farmer-workshops.



Course Offers Preventive Controls for Animal Food Certification for Feed Industry Individuals

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Iowa Grain Quality Initiative and the American Feed Industry Association are offering a Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance course June 27-29 on the Iowa State University campus. The preventive controls and animal food safety plans course is a three-day program for individuals responsible for animal feed and feed ingredient safety at milling and processing facilities.

The Food Safety Modernization Act requires feed and feed ingredient facilities to implement current good manufacturing practices and to follow a written animal food safety plan developed and overseen by a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual. This course provides a working knowledge of the new requirements as well as designing an effective animal food safety plan.

The Preventive Controls for Animal Food course at Iowa State is the standardized PCQI-qualification curriculum created by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance under contract with the Food and Drug Administration. Upon completion of the course attendees will receive a certificate of completion for Preventive Control Qualified Individual.

The course will be held in Elings Hall on the Ames campus. Check-in opens at 12 p.m. and the program starts at 1 p.m. June 27. The course adjourns on June 29 at 5 p.m. Pre-registration is required and must be completed before midnight, June 17. Registration is $650 and includes course materials, breaks, lunches and parking permit.

Additional course information and online registration is available at http://www.aep.iastate.edu/animalfood. For assistance with registration, receipts, cancellation or questions on the status of your registration contact ANR Program Services at 515-294-6429 or anr@iastate.edu.



Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Workshop Comes to Iowa

The premiere national event in beef cattle reproductive management comes to Iowa for the first time later this year, and extension cow-calf specialist Patrick Gunn encourages people to make plans to attend. Gunn, one of the host site organizers, said the 2016 Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Workshop will include information for cow-calf producers, bovine veterinarians, industry representatives, extension personnel and students.

The event will be held at the Embassy Suites in Des Moines on Sept. 7-8. It is provided through a cooperative effort by Iowa State University, Iowa Beef Center and the Beef Reproduction Task Force, and will highlight the latest information on reproductive technologies in beef cattle.

“We are fortunate to bring a phenomenal group of speakers to Des Moines,” Gunn said. “Twenty scientists and veterinarians from 13 states will help attendees hone their reproductive skills on best management practices in handling hormones and frozen genetics, nutrition, sexed semen, embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization, reproductive health, genetics, fetal programming and pregnancy detection, among others.”

Registration is now open with an early registration fee of $200 per person when received by midnight Aug. 8. Registration increases to $250 after that date, including onsite registrations. Students receive a $100 discount based on the fee in effect at the time of registration. Online registration and a link to print a form for mailing are on the conference website at http://www.aep.iastate.edu/arsbc/. Telephone registration is not accepted, and registration is not complete without payment.

Up to 15 continuing education units have been approved for veterinarians in Iowa and adjoining states, and for professional animal scientists. For more information on CEUs, see the event website or contact your professional association.

The website also provides the workshop schedule, including a printable version, as well as links to lodging options, sponsorship opportunities, and travel and direction details.

The Beef Reproduction Task Force is a multi-state extension activity in cooperation with the North Central Agricultural and Natural Resources Program Leaders Committee and the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service. Key goals of the task force include promoting widespread adoption of reproductive technologies among cow-calf producers and educating the beef industry on management considerations to increase the likelihood of successful breeding of animals through artificial insemination.



USDA Cold Storage Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on April 30, 2016 were up slightly from the previous month but down 8 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were down 3 percent from the previous month and down 7 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were up 4 percent from the previous month but down 9 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 12 percent from last month and up 3 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on April 30, 2016 were up 4 percent from the previous month and up 4 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were up 2 percent from the previous month and up 5 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 8 percent from last month and up 1 percent from April 30, 2015.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on April 30, 2016 were up 2 percent from the previous month and up 12 percent from April 30, 2015. Total natural cheese stocks were a record high for the month of April, since the data was first recorded in 1917.  Butter stocks were up 23 percent from last month and up 28 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks were down 4 percent from last month but up 8 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 6 percent from last month but up 8 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were a record high for the month of April, since the data was first recorded in 1962.



Consumers Encouraged to "Let's Get Grilling" to win BBQ Battle Tickets

The national beef checkoff, through its Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI) and in partnership with the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC), is encouraging consumers to test their Beef I.Q. through the online “Let’s Get Grilling” contest for the chance to win a grilling-beef prize pack and tickets to the Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle in Washington, D.C. on June 25-26.

The online “Let’s Get Grilling” contest runs from May 23, through 9 p.m. ET, Sunday, June 19, 2016.

Each week during the month-long contest, participants will be asked two beef-related questions, ranging from nutritional value to cooking methods to various cuts of beef. Each entry places the eligible player into a drawing for a pair of tickets to the 2016 Giant Barbecue Battle, plus some beef-checkoff swag. Two separate winners will be chosen at random each week of the contest. Of those winners, one lucky winner will be selected to receive an upgraded family four-pack of VIP tickets to the BBQ Battle, a Roseda Beef meat package, a tour of Roseda Angus Farm and a Weber Grill!

Entries for the “Let’s Get Grilling” Contest must be submitted online via the NEBPI Facebook page each week during the contest period of May 23 – June 19; limit one entry per email address per day. The sweepstakes is open to individuals 21 years or older living in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and South Dakota. Click here for full details and official rules.

The beef checkoff also is an official product sponsor of the 2016 Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle this June. Festival participants are invited to visit the Beef Booth on Pennsylvania Avenue during the weekend, to get recipe ideas, beef barbecue and grilling tips, and facts about the nutritional benefits and versatility of beef. Be sure to follow this checkoff activity on social media – Facebook and Twitter – for great summertime beef recipes and events using #DCLuvsBeef.



April Egg Production Down 1 Percent

United States egg production totaled 8.21 billion during April 2016, down 1 percent from last year. Production included 7.10 billion table eggs, and 1.11 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.02 billion were broiler-type and 93 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during April 2016 averaged 361 million, down slightly from last year. April egg production per 100 layers was 2,273 eggs, down 1 percent from April 2015.
                                   
All layers in the United States on May 1, 2016 totaled 361 million, up 1 percent from last year. The 361 million layers consisted of 302 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 54.8 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.95 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on May 1, 2016, averaged 76.0 eggs per 100 layers, up slightly from May 1, 2015.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Down 2 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during April 2016 totaled 49.4 million, down 2 percent from April 2015. Eggs in incubators totaled 52.5 million on May 1, 2016, up 8 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 240 thousand during April 2016, up 10 percent from April 2015.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 1 Percent
Broiler-type chicks hatched during April 2016 totaled 781 million, up 1 percent from April 2015. Eggs in incubators totaled 650 million on May 1, 2016, down slightly from a year ago.

Leading breeders placed 7.77 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during April 2016, up 11 percent from April 2015.

Iowa egg production during April 2016 was 1.09 billion eggs, down 17 percent from last year, but up 2 percent from last month, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The average number of all layers on hand during April 2016 was 49.2 million, down 12 percent from last year, but up 3 percent from last month. Eggs per 100 layers for April were 2,203, down 5 percent from last year, and down 1 percent from last month.



Agriculture Acting Deputy Secretary Scuse Leads USDA Clean Energy Mission to Mexico

Acting Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse will lead a team of U.S. ethanol industry leaders on a mission to Mexico May 24 to May 25, to explore opportunities to expand both the United States' and Mexico's renewable energy sectors.

"Our goal is to partner with Mexico to support the establishment of an economically viable ethanol industry there, where Mexican domestic production can be supplemented with imported product from the United States," Scuse said. "The increased use of ethanol in the North American fuel market will provide citizens from both countries with an inexpensive source of renewable energy that improves air quality, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and stimulates the rural economy."

The United States is the world's leading manufacturer of ethanol, producing more than half of the global supply. U.S. ethanol has been an important driver of rural economic growth since 2007. The United States currently blends more than 14 billion gallons of ethanol into the transportation fuel supply each year, utilizing five billion bushels of corn and returning nearly $20 billion annually to the U.S. farm economy.

"Mexico, with the right policies in place, has the potential to achieve similar benefits producing ethanol from sugarcane," Scuse said. "We view this as a partnership that can provide benefits for both Mexico and the United States."

“The U.S. is the world’s largest producer of ethanol and for several years now has been the low cost supplier as well, allowing us to dramatically increase our exports. With domestic use artificially capped by EPA at 14.8 billion gallons, we will continue to seek export opportunities,” said Renewable Fuels Association General Counsel Ed Hubbard, who is on the trade mission. “The world is short on octane and looking for low carbon alternative fuels to meet the climate change goals set in Paris last December. This is the right time to explore new trade opportunities.  Mexico, in particular, should be looking for replacements to the highly toxic MTBE. Ethanol can help.”

“This trade mission is an excellent example of the importance of ethanol to the success of nations looking to reduce their imports of harmful fossil fuels in favor of a cleaner burning and a more economical fuel,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “It is also equally important to our goal of expanding the marketplace for U.S. ethanol, which is why we’re proud to be participating in this mission.”

“With the current reform to energy regulations in Mexico, the Council believes that now’s the time to introduce ethanol into the Mexican fuel market in hopes of it one day becoming the principle oxygenate used in the country,” said Ryan LeGrand, USGC director in Mexico. “We see significant potential for exports of U.S. ethanol to Mexico – and therefore, U.S. grain demand - if the right policies are in place.”

Mission participants will share their experiences with both ethanol production and the development of renewable fuels policies, with the goal of demonstrating how Mexico can implement its own renewable fuels program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to pursuing investments in renewable energy by creating new markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers, helping Americans save money on their energy bills, supporting America's clean energy economy, cutting carbon pollution, and reducing dependence on foreign oil and costly fossil fuels. Under the Obama Administration, USDA supports more than 2,200 wind and solar renewable electricity generation projects, enough to power over 130,000 homes annually; contributes to renewable energy research through $332 million in funding for projects ranging from genomic research to bioenergy feedstock crops, to development of biofuel conversion processes and costs/benefit estimates of renewable energy production; is working with 21 states as part of its Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership, providing a $100 million match to more than double the number of biofuel pumps nationwide; and more.



USDA Resumes Incentives to Grow and Harvest Biomass for Energy and Biobased Products

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that incentives resume this month for farmers and foresters who grow and harvest biomass for renewable energy and biobased products. The funds come through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. 

“This program expands the types of feedstock that can be used to make renewable fuels and biobased products, laying the foundation for growing more products made in rural America,” said Dolcini. “The Biomass Crop Assistance Program currently supports more than 890 growers and landowners farming nearly 49,000 acres to establish and produce dedicated, nonfood energy crops for delivery to energy conversion facilities, and it is a key piece of USDA’s strategy to grow the rural economy and create new markets for our farmers and ranchers.”

Facilities seeking to be qualified by USDA to accept biomass can begin enrollment between today, May 23, and June 6, 2016. BCAP provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers who establish and maintain new crops of energy biomass, or who harvest and deliver forest or agricultural residues to a USDA-approved facility that creates energy or biobased products.

In fiscal year 2016, there is $3 million available for BCAP. A portion of the funds will be provided to two existing BCAP projects in New York and Ohio/Pennsylvania to expand acres planted to shrub willow and giant miscanthus. Farmers and forest landowners may enroll for biomass establishment and maintenance payments for these two projects between June 15 and Sept. 13, 2016.

Also, between June 15 to Aug. 4, 2016, USDA will accept applications from foresters and farmers seeking incentives to remove biomass residues from fields or national forests for delivery to energy generation facilities. The retrieval payments are provided at match of $1 for $1, up to $20 per dry ton. Eligible crops include corn residue, diseased or insect-infested wood materials, or orchard waste.

To learn more about BCAP or to enroll in updates, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/bcap or contact your local FSA county office.



NASS Survey Update!

In the first two weeks of June, NASS will gather information about this season's crop production, supplies of grain in storage, and livestock inventory. The information will help producers, suppliers, traders, buyers and others make informed business decisions. The results will be available on June 24 in the Hogs and Pigs report and on June 30 in the Acreage and Grain Stocks reports. Farmers should watch for their surveys and be sure to respond. Your information matters!



CWT Assists with 3.6 Million Pounds of Cheese, Butter and Whole Milk Powder Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 12 requests for export assistance from Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Association, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) and Tillamook County Creamery Association who have contracts to sell 2.776 million pounds (1,259 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese; 771,618 pounds (350 metric tons) of butter and 88,185 pounds (40 metric tons) of whole milk powder to customers in Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, and South America. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from May through November 2016.

So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 22.970 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 8.488 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) and 18.464 million pounds of whole milk powder to seventeen countries on five continents. The sales are the equivalent of 537.773 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program, in the long-term, helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively impacts all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.



Monsanto Announces Major Expansion of St. Louis F&D Facility

Monsanto said last week that it would add 675 jobs and invest more than $400 million at its research facility in Chesterfield, Missouri.  The company will add laboratories, greenhouses and plant growth chambers over the next three years at its Chesterfield Village Research Center, and plans to hire hundreds of scientists to help it develop new plant and seed technologies.

The project calls for the addition of 400,000 square feet of lab space, greenhouses and high-tech plant growth chambers at the research center, which it originally built in 1984 and reacquired from Pfizer in 2010. Construction is scheduled to begin in August.



John Deere Reports Lower Sales, Earnings

Net income attributable to Deere & Company was $495.4 million, or $1.56 per share, for the second quarter ended April 30, compared with $690.5 million, or $2.03 per share, for the same period last year. For the first six months of the year, net income attributable to the equipment maker was $749.8 million, or $2.36 per share, compared with $1.077 billion, or $3.14 per share, last year.

Worldwide net sales and revenues decreased 4 percent, to $7.875 billion, for the second quarter and declined 8 percent, to $13.400 billion, for six months. Net sales of the equipment operations were $7.107 billion for the quarter and $11.876 billion for the first six months, compared with $7.399 billion and $13.004 billion for the periods last year.

"John Deere's second-quarter performance reflected the continuing impact of the downturn in the global farm economy and further weakness in the construction equipment sector," said Samuel R. Allen, chairman and chief executive officer. "In the face of challenging market conditions, Deere's businesses benefited from the sound execution of operating plans, the strength of a broad product portfolio and our success creating a more flexible cost structure."

Agriculture & Turf. Sales were approximately the same for the quarter and down 5 percent for six months. The decline year-to-date was due largely to lower shipment volumes. Results for both periods were impacted by the unfavorable effects of foreign- currency translation, partially offset by price realization.