Monday May 9 Crop Progress + Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending May 8, 2016, dry conditions prevailed allowing producers to get back into fields after midweek, however widespread rainfall was reported late in the week, shutting down activities, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rainfall accumulations of one or more inches were common in Panhandle, central and southeastern counties. Temperatures were near normal. Standing water in low lying areas made portions of fields inaccessible. Wheat producers in southern areas were having fields sprayed to control rust. There were 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 3 short, 81 adequate, and 15 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 0 percent very short, 5 short, 87 adequate, and 8 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn planted was at 53 percent, behind 71 last year and the five-year average of 59. Emerged was at 15 percent, behind 24 last year, but equal to average.

Sorghum planted was at 5 percent, behind 20 last year, but near 9 average.

Soybeans planted was at 13 percent, behind 21 both last year and average.

Winter wheat condition rated 0 percent very poor, 3 poor, 31 fair, 55 good, and 11 excellent. Winter wheat jointed was at 81 percent, ahead of 75 last year, and well ahead of 54 average. Headed was at 10 percent, near 7 last year and 8 average.

Oats condition rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 23 fair, 71 good, and 5 excellent. Oats planted was at 89 percent, behind 100 last year and 95 average. Emerged was at 79 percent, behind 89 last year, but ahead of 72 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 24 fair, 64 good, and 11 excellent.  Stock water supplies rated 0 percent very short, 2 short, 93 adequate, and 5 surplus.



Access the National publication for Crop Progress and Condition tables at: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/nass/CropProg/2010s/2016/CropProg-05-09-2016.pdf.

Access the High Plains Region Climate Center for Temperature and Precipitation Maps at: http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/maps.php?map=ACISClimateMaps.

Access the U.S. Drought Monitor at:
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NE.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION

A dry week across much of Iowa allowed planting to progress for the week ending May 8, 2016, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork, up nearly 2 full days from last week. Dry and sunny weather aided crop emergence, when compared to last week.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 2 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 18 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 0 percent very short, 1 percent short, 84 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. The western third of Iowa reported 20 percent or more with surplus subsoil moisture.

Eighty percent of the corn crop has been planted, a day ahead of last year, and 8 days ahead of the 5-year average. Farmers in north central and central Iowa have already planted over 90 percent of their corn crop. Twenty-eight percent of corn has emerged, 2 days ahead of last year, and 5 days ahead of the average. Twenty-nine percent of the soybean acreage has been planted, 5 days ahead of normal. Planting of the State’s oat crop is nearing completion. Oats emerged reached 84 percent, 3 days ahead of the previous year and 9 days ahead of the average. Oat condition was rated 74 percent good to excellent.

Hay condition rated 73 percent good to excellent. Pasture condition rated 70 percent good to excellent an increase of 5 percentage points from the previous week. Livestock conditions were reported as good with very little stress.  



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

The past reporting week began with cooler than normal weather prevailing in most areas through mid-week. High temperatures on Sunday (1st) were mostly in the forties while sixties prevailed in most areas from Monday through Wednesday. Light freezes were recorded in scattered areas on Monday (2nd), Tuesday (3rd) and Thursday (5th) mornings. Warmer air arrived in northwestern Iowa on Thursday and statewide on Friday. Friday was easily the warmest day of the week with highs in the eighties over most of Iowa. Slightly cooler weather returned for the weekend. Temperature extremes for the week ranged from Thursday morning lows of 30 degrees at Cresco and Elkader to Friday afternoon highs of 90 degrees at Guttenberg and Marion (the first 90 degree readings in the state this year). Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged a bit warmer than usual over the west and a little below normal over the east with a statewide average of 0.6 degrees above normal. Rain fell nearly statewide on Sunday (1st) afternoon and evening with the greatest amounts falling over east central Iowa. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday were dry statewide. There were a few light showers and thunderstorms over extreme eastern Iowa on Tuesday night. Scattered light rain fell over much of northern Iowa late Friday night into Saturday. Light showers and thunderstorms were also scattered across the southwestern two-thirds of the state on Saturday (7th) night into Sunday morning. Weekly rain totals varied from only sprinkles at Sidney, Shenandoah and Lake Mills to 0.86 inches at Davenport. The statewide average precipitation was 0.24 inches, or about one-fourth of the weekly normal of 0.98 inches. Soil temperatures at the four inch depth were averaging in the mid-fifties to low sixties as of Sunday (8th).



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

The week ended May 8 was quite productive for U.S. farmers, according to USDA's weekly Crop Progress report. Corn planting advanced by nearly 20 percentage points and soybean planting leapt ahead 15 percentage points.

Corn is 64% planted, compared to 45% last week, 69% last year and a five-year average of 50%. Emergence is pegged at 27%, compared to 13% last week, 23% last year and 17% on average.

Soybean planting is 23% complete, compared to 8% last week, 26% last year and a 16% average.

Winter wheat is 57% headed, compared to 42% last week, 52% last year and 44% on average. Winter wheat condition improved slightly to 62% good to excellent compared to 61% last week.

Spring wheat is 77% planted and 39% emerged, compared with 54% and 22% last week, 84% and 47% last year and 51% and 25% on average.

Cotton is 26% planted, compared to 16% last week, 23% last year and a 26% average. Rice is 82% planted and 67% emerged, compared to 72% and 55% last week, 77% and 48% last year, and 68% and 50% on average. Rice condition was reported for the first time this growing season at 57% good to excellent.

Sorghum is 30% planted compared to 23% last week, 31% last year and a 31% average. Oats are 88% planted and 70% emerged, compared to 78% and 56% last week, 91% and 68% last year and 74% and 56% averages. Oats condition was reported for the first time this growing season at 72% good to excellent. Barley is 79% planted and 47% emerged, compared to 57% and 29% last week, 84% and 53% last year, and 60% and 30% averages.

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Using Chemigation for In-Season N Application
Bill Kranz - Extension Irrigation Specialist

Rainfall the past several weeks in many areas of the state has been a big boost to the soil water profile. Most of Nebraska has received several inches of precipitation and most of it has soaked in. On rainfed fields this stored soil water is like money in the bank.  However, on irrigated fields, if the soil water profile was fairly full at harvest last fall, this precipitation has more than likely passed through the soil profile taking residual nitrogen with it. Nitrogen leaching is a concern because it
-    contaminates groundwater used for individual and municipal water supplies
-    represents a loss of money to the producer, and
-    may result in reduced yields or a need to apply more nitrogen fertilizer.

Knowing exactly how much nitrogen exited the root zone is difficult. Multi-year studies in Nebraska found an average of 5.7 to 10 lb of nitrogen leached per inch of drainage water leaving the soil profile (Irrigation Management Home Study Course, EC98-788-S, Chapter 5). This may require applying more nitrogen to the field. Chemigation would be an excellent application method for applying additional nitrogen later in the growing season when your crop’s nitrogen needs are highest. Matching application timing with greatest nitrogen plant use would limit the potential for nitrogen leaching below the rootzone.

Chemigation Requirements
While chemigation is an excellent application method, it does require time to meet the equipment approval and registration process. The Nebraska Chemigation Act was passed in 1986 and outlines the requirements for chemigation. Conducting chemigation requires a two-step process: First you have to become certified as a chemigation applicator. Second, you need to install pollution prevention equipment and have it inspected and approved by your local Natural Resources District.

To become a chemigation applicator you must attend approved training and pass a chemigation exam. Chemigators needing to recertify can take a home study course and complete the exam at one of 16 testing sites across the state. The training dates for initial chemigation applicators have all passed. Your options for this year would be to have a neighbor or ag business who is certified conduct the chemigation application this summer. Learn more about the Chemigation Act and UNL chemigation training and resources.

The second requirement is that pollution prevention equipment must be installed at each injection location (field). Such equipment includes:
-    irrigation pipeline check valve;
-    low pressure drain;
-    vacuum relief valve;
-    inspection port;
-    injection line check valve; and a
-    simultaneous interlock between injection pump and pumping plant.

Once the equipment is installed, you must apply for a Chemigation Permit for each injection location. The local NRD then has 45 days to inspect the equipment and issue, or deny, the permit, so plan your time accordingly. Chemigation permits expire on June 1 of the year following approval and must be renewed annually.

Chemigation can also be used for the injection of fungicides, herbicides or insecticides into irrigation water. Additional requirements may need to be met. Consult the product label for the insecticides, fungicides and herbicides you plan to inject. They may require that you also need to be a certified private pesticide applicator as well.  For more information about pesticide certification see the Nebraska Extension NebGuide, Pesticide Laws and Regulations.

Livestock waste is also included in the chemigation requirements. Consult Title 130 – Livestock Waste Control Regulations for more information. Also see the Nebraska Extension publication, Application of Liquid Animal Manures Using Center Pivot Irrigation Systems.



Nebraska Livestock Coalition Responds to Launch of HSUS National Agriculture Advisory Council

Friday, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) announced the formation of a National Agriculture Advisory Council which would “advise the organization on national agriculture issues.”

Members of We Support Agriculture, a livestock coalition comprised of Nebraska animal agriculture organizations, encouraged everyone to take a closer look at the history of HSUS and understand the consequences of the organization’s actual agenda. 

“HSUS is not interested in enhancing animal welfare.  It’s a Washington D.C.-based interest group  led by a vegan animal rights activist,” according to Ansley Mick, Executive Director.  “The group raises money under the auspices of helping local animal shelters, while the true objective is much more extreme.”

“I would encourage livestock growers – and meat-eaters for that matter – to take a closer look at HSUS, an organization which encourages “eating with a conscience” by replacing meat and other animal-based foods with plant-based foods,” said Pete McClymont, President of the Nebraska Cattlemen and WSA Board President.  “The activists pushing these extreme agendas aren’t interested in working with our farmers and ranchers; they’re trying to put them out of business.”    

"We work with experts and veterinarians to ensure modern animal agriculture practices are humane and sustainable," said Al Juhnke, President of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association. "Family farmers and ranchers are tired of HSUS and other fringe animal rights organizations being touted as animal welfare experts." 

We Support Agriculture (WSA), a coalition comprised of the Nebraska Cattlemen Association, Nebraska State Dairy Association, Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation, Nebraska Pork Producers Association, and Nebraska Poultry Industries, Inc., represents livestock producers who recognize their obligation to provide for the well-being of their animals and to raise them in a humane and compassionate manner.  The coalition continues to work to bring transparency to entities with agendas which ignore science and threaten farm families, global consumers, our way of life, and Nebraska’s economy.




FIELD DAY TO FOCUS ON USING A CRIMPER TO PROVIDE MULCH

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln triticale crimping field day will be on Friday, May 13. The field tour will start at 5 p.m. at the Roh farm a half mile west of Abie.  There is no charge to attend the field day.

Experts will be on hand to answer farmer’s questions on using a mulch crop to avoid soil crusting and erosion in soybeans. Participants will see the first use of an aggressive crimper designed by UNL students to stop triticale growth at the flowering stage and rolll the triticale down to form a week-suppressive mulch. Green beans will be immediately planted into the triticale mulch at the Roh farm.

Last year 30 early-flowering, high biomass triticale lines were screened on the nearby Stanislav farm. Seven of the best lines were planted last fall in replicated plots on the Roh, Stanislav and nearby Fendrich farms. The plan is to drill beans into standing triticale a week before the crimper demonstration and into adjacent strips on the day of crimping.  Participants are welcome to visit the Stanislav plots 3 miles north of Abie following the crimper demonstration to view soybeans planted into the standing triticale. 

 For more information on the field day contact UNL research technologist, Richard Little at 402-805-7482 or visit http://agronomy.unl.edu/mulchcropping.



REDUCING RAGWEED IN PASTURES
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Ragweed has been a problem in many pastures during recent years.  Let’s look at ways to reduce the problem this year.

               Ragweed growth exploded in some pastures during recent years.  Timely spring rains encourage germination and seedling growth.  Sunny dry falls help seed develop.  And earlier droughts weakened competition.

               Both common ragweed, which is an annual, and western ragweed, which is a perennial, can be held in check using similar methods.  However, common ragweed is controlled more easily with grazing management or herbicides than western ragweed.

               Research and observations both show that ragweed problems are worst in pastures that fail to maintain competition from a full leaf canopy of grass during late May through late June.  If you had ragweed problems the past couple of years, look for tiny plants or seedlings underneath your grass during the next few weeks.  Heavy grazing or haying during this time opens up the grass sward, letting these seedlings and small plants grow rapidly.

               Any management that develops and maintains a dense leaf canopy at this time helps reduce problems with ragweed.  This includes increasing grass growth with fertilizer and thickening stands by seeding, but most important of all is to avoid grazing heavily in areas with ragweed problems.  If you do graze heavily or cut hay, spraying herbicides like 2,4-D or Grazon or Curtail or Weedmaster after grazing or cutting gives good control of ragweed seedlings and small plants.  And if ragweed gets away, shredding in September can reduce seed production.

               It takes time, and a well-planned approach, to control ragweed.  With good grazing, some spraying, and timely shredding it can be done.



50 Outstanding Students Awarded 2016 AKSARBEN AG Leaders Scholarship 

The AKSARBEN Foundation today announced 50 students from a seven-state region as the 2016 recipients of an AKSARBEN AG Leaders Scholarship. Together the students will receive $100,000 in recognition of their contributions to the agricultural tradition of the Heartland.  

“The AG Leaders Scholarship program is designed to provide scholarships annually to youth who have participated in our stock show but never had the opportunity to participate in the Purple Ribbon Auction,” said Kevin Kock, executive director of AKSARBEN Agriculture Initiatives. “These students are leaders and by supporting their passion we hope to keep as many of them as possible leading our rural communities.”

Nearly 1,200 4-H Exhibitors from a 10-state region take part in the AKSARBEN 4-H Stock Show each year. Each AG Learders Scholarship winner is a high school senior and 4-H Exhibitor who has participated in the stock show for three or more years. The scholars also plan to attend a two or four year college or university and have expressed interest in pursuing a career related to agriculture or a non-agriculture career within a rural community.

Scholarships are at the core of AKSARBEN Foundation's mission.  Founded in 1895, the non-profit organization based in Omaha, NE funds and guides best practice, needs-based scholarship programs for Heartland youth, awarding over $1 million annually.

AKSARBEN Foundation President Jon Burt said the organization is proud of its newest group of AG Leaders Scholarship recipients and thankful for the generorsity of its members. 

“AG Leaders not only exemplifies the Foundation’s commitment to scholarships and agriculture,” Burt said..  “It further demonstrates our mission of giving back to the community and moving forward Heartland prosperity.”

2016 AKSARBEN AG Leaders Scholarship recipients are Haley Anderson from Milnor, ND; Kate Asmus from Pierce, NE; Justin Beeson from Correctionville, IA; Taylor Benes from Valparaiso, NE; Jackson Bishop from Indianola, IA; Dannyl Bromander from Eustis, NE; Josh Carlson from Gowrie, IA; Morgan Chipps from Roca, NE; Ashtyn Cooper from Elmwood, NE; Lindsay Crock from Mechanicsville, IA; Heath Downing from Creston, IA; Haley Ehrke from Orleans, NE; Colton Fangmeier from Hebron, NE; Bailey Fleischman from Tekamah, NE; Danielle Funk from Houston, MO; Abigail Galm from Spencer, IA; Abigail Gass from Marshall, MO; Emily Geweke from Ord, NE; Peyton Goracke from Lincoln, NE; Nathan Groth from Beemer, NE; Madelyn Heinecke from Fowler, IL; Aaron Hemme from Fremont, NE; Justin Hennessy from Alvo, NE; Thomas Hennig from Tekamah, NE; Cade Hibdon from Princeton, KS; Cole Ignaszewski from New Richland, MN, Wesly Johnson from Pipestone, MN, Jordan Jurgens from Blue Springs, NE; Emily Keiser from Gothenburg, NE; Stephanie Kersten from Gretna, NE; Clarabell Knapp from Bloomfield, IA; Lakota Larson from Jefferson, IA; Breet Leer from Humeston, IA; Brent Miller from Lyons, NE; Denton Ohlrichs from Merrill, IA; Abigail Peterson from West Point, NE; Brandon Pettit from Prole, IA; Paige Pitlick from Jordan, MN; Olivia Rath from Schuyler, NE; Andrew Reed from Derby, IA; Hadley Schotte from Marysville, KS; Erin Simmerman from Seward, NE, Miles Stagemeyer from Page, NE; Aaron Suhr from Waukee, IA; Emma Troyer from Kalona, IA; Ward Umbaugh from Adair, IA; Eve Vanderneck from York, NE; Hayden VanMeter from Red Oak, IA; Sydney Williams from Wisner, NE; and Cara Wolverton from Seward, NE. 



White House Asked to Challenge WHO Proposal Discouraging Dairy for Children up to Age 3

The U.S. dairy industry today urged the White House to challenge a World Health Organization (WHO) proposal that would discourage the consumption of dairy products by young children, advice that contradicts the recommendations of respected national and global health organizations that endorse milk for its nutritional value.

Dairy foods are doctor-recommended, but the bureaucrats at the WHO are about to overturn decades of sound nutrition and medical advice, charged the National Milk Producers Federation, the International Dairy Foods Association and the U.S. Dairy Export Council in a letter to the Obama Administration.

At issue is a WHO guidance document that will be presented to the World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month, despite repeated requests from dairy organizations to fix significant problems with the proposal. The three dairy organizations urged the U.S. government to seek further scientific review of, and changes to, the WHO guidance and how it may be used in the future.

“Discouraging parents from providing milk, one of the most nutritious foods in the human diet, to their children flies in the face of common sense,” the letter said. “Increased milk and dairy product consumption in recent years has helped improve nutritional outcomes for hundreds of millions of children around the world. This very positive trend should be further encouraged, not thwarted by ill-advised guidance from WHO.”

Earlier this year, the WHO released the draft guidance document that contradicts existing U.S. and international nutritional policy.  It would dictate sweeping new restrictions, directly discouraging consumption of milk, as well as other new limits on various foods including dairy products, by children up to age three. Although the intent of the document is presumably to encourage healthy eating patterns for toddlers, the WHO proposal as now drafted would actually have the opposite effect, as such restrictions would significantly discourage children’s consumption of nutritious dairy products. Two different revisions made to the original proposal failed to adequately address that underlying problem as well as other serious short-comings with the document.

The letter went on to explain that the WHO proposal wrongly portrays milk and dairy products as an obstacle to a healthy start in life, contradicting the science behind U.S. health policy featured in the federal dietary guidelines and the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The dairy industry letter noted that for American toddlers aged 12 – 24 months, dairy products provide 26.7% of total energy intake, 67.8% of calcium intake, 80.4% of vitamin D intake, 39.6% of potassium intake, and 39.5% of protein intake.

“Milk is the original nutritional superfood, yet the WHO is committed to a position that would discourage the consumption of milk and milk products,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF.  “We appreciate the Administration’s recognition that it cannot support an international guideline that undermines the critical role dairy foods play in early childhood health and development.”

“The WHO’s draft guidance is not consistent with available scientific data, including the research used for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans – or even with WHO’s own nutritional guidance,”  said Connie Tipton, IDFA’s president and CEO.  “Given its unwavering commitment to the health of our children, we encourage the Administration to take the necessary steps to press the WHO to reconsider this deeply flawed guideline.”

“This issue affects not only the health of American toddlers, but hundreds of millions of young children around the world,” said Tom Suber, president of USDEC. “Our exporters have worked with countless local processors to help kids get a better start in life through higher rates of dairy consumption. The U.S. government has to ensure the WHO doesn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater by discouraging the benefits of dairy consumption through misdirected advice on good nutrition for children.”



CWT Assists with 668,000 Pounds of Cheese Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 6 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America and Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) who have contracts to sell 668,001 pounds (303 metric tons) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia and Oceania. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from May through September 2016.

So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 19.008 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 7.716 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) and 18.113 million pounds of whole milk powder to sixteen countries on five continents. The sales are the equivalent of 481.287 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.

CWT members capture 11.6 million pounds of dairy export contracts
Cooperatives Working Together member cooperatives received 32 contracts last month to sell 5.979 million pounds of cheese, representing a nearly 50-percent increase in total assisted cheese exports for 2016. CWT members also received contracts totaling 5.657 million pounds of whole milk powder in April. These products will go to customers in Asia, Central America, the Middle East, North Africa, Oceania and South America. The product will be shipped from April through October 2016.

In the first four months of 2016, CWT assisted members in acquiring sales contracts totaling 18.34 million pounds of American-type cheese, 7.716 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) and 20.333 million pounds of whole milk powder, destined for customers in 16 countries. These sales are the equivalent of 491.327 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Assisting CWT member cooperatives in gaining and maintaining world market share through the Export Assistance program expands the long-term 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.



BASF and Balchem to Collaborate on New Product Introduction

BASF and Balchem Corporation (NASDAQ:BCPC) announce they are working together to bring next generation feed efficiency and health products to the North American swine industry.

Backed by the extensive research capabilities of both companies, this relationship opens the door to a unique portfolio of products and technologies that improve feed hygiene, safety and overall animal performance.

"Our alliance with Balchem helps meet the changing needs of the US swine market," said Christian Nitschke, BASF Regional Head, Animal Nutrition North America. "As we combine strong market expertise and close customer relationships with superior technologies and production capacities, we are confident that the result will improve animal health and efficiency, leading to increased profitability for the pork producer."

"BASF has helped the European swine industry by developing innovative feed solutions for more efficient and consumer-responsive pork production," notes Jonathan Griffin, Vice President, Balchem Animal Nutrition & Health. "As we look to 2017, and the changes the US industry faces, we are proud to work closely with BASF to bring new feed management options to pork producers. As the industry continues to work hard to provide a safe and affordable food supply, while also meeting consumer demands, collaboration such as this will be imperative to developing the tools that will help us get there." 

The first offering from this alliance will be launched at World Pork Expo, June 8-10, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa.