Friday June 10 Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT

Based on June 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2016 winter wheat crop is forecast at 62.5 million bushels, up 36 percent from last year’s crop, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Average yield is forecast at 50 bushels per acre, up 12 bushels from a year earlier. If realized this would be a new record yield.

Acreage to be harvested for grain is estimated at 1.25 million acres, up 40,000 acres from a year ago. This would be 93 percent of the planted acres, above last year’s 81 percent harvested.



US Winter Wheat Production Up 6 Percent from May

Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.51 billion bushels, up 6 percent from the May 1 forecast and up 10 percent from 2015. Based on June 1 conditions, the United States yield is forecast at 50.5 bushels per acre, up 2.7 bushel from last month and up 8 bushels from last year. If realized, this will be the highest yield on record for the United States.

Hard Red Winter production, at 938 million bushels, is up 9 percent from last month. Soft Red Winter, at 355 million bushels, is down less than 1 percent from the May forecast. White Winter, at 214 million bushels, is up 3 percent from last month. Of the White Winter production, 19.0 million bushels are Hard White and 195 million bushels are Soft White.



USDA Drops Corn, Soy Ending Stocks
DTN

USDA lowered new-crop ending stocks for both corn and soybeans in the June World Agricultural Supply and Demand report released Friday.

New-crop corn ending stocks were pegged at 2.008 billion bushels, which was dropped 145 million bushels from last month's projection. That dropped the projected stocks-to-use ratio for the 2016-17 corn crop to 14.2%.

For the 2016-17 soybean crop, USDA dropped the ending stocks by 45 million bushels to 260 million bushels. That lowered soybean stocks-to-use for the new crop to 6.6%.

CORN
USDA reduced the 2015-16 ending stocks by 95 million bushels to 1.708 billion bushels, lower than analysts expected in pre-report estimates. This was due to improved competitiveness of the U.S. corn crop on the world export market because corn production was lowered in Brazil and harvest is delayed in Argentina.

Production for the new crop planted this spring remained at 14.43 billion bushels with the average yield at 168 bushels per acre. USDA did raise the median season price by 15 cents per bushel to $3.50.

SOYBEANS
USDA lowered new-crop ending stocks for soybeans by 45 million bushels from the May report based on lower beginning stocks and increased exports.

Soybean production is still pegged at 3.8 billion bushels with yield projected at 46.7 bushels per acre.

For the new-crop farm price, the median season price was increased 40 cents to an average of $9.50 per bushel.

WHEAT
Hard Red Winter Wheat was pegged at a surprising 938 million bushels, up 9% from last month. That was 28 million bushels above any of the pre-report estimates. Total winter wheat production is forecast at 1.51 billion bushels, up 10% from the 2015 crop. The U.S. yield for all winter wheat is projected at 50.5 bushels per acre, which is 8 bushels above last year. If realized, that would be the highest yield on record for the U.S.

ANALYSIS
On the domestic side, USDA reduced its estimate of U.S. corn ending stocks for 2016-17 from 2.153 billion to 2.008 billion bushels, which was less than expected. 

USDA's estimate of U.S. soybean ending stocks for 2016-17 was reduced from 305 million to 260 million bushels, less than expected. 

USDA's estimate of U.S. ending wheat stocks for 2016-17 was increased from 1.029 billion to 1.050 billion bushels, which was a little higher than expected.

Meanwhile, on the global side, USDA's estimate of world ending corn stocks for 2016-17 was reduced from 207.04 million metric tons to 205.12 mmt, slightly less than expected.

USDA's world ending soybean stocks estimate for 2016-17 was reduced from 68.21 mmt to 66.31 mmt, as expected.

USDA's estimate of world ending wheat stocks for 2016-17 was increased from 257.34 mmt to 257.84 mmt, but was less than expected.



Soybeans hit the trifecta - Prices surge due to strong demand, weather issues

Demand strikes again.

 Three big soybean market movers were highlighted in today’s U.S. Department of Agriculture World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report. The government lowered beginning and ending stocks, increased export projections and bumped up domestic crush.

Soybean beginning stocks for the 2016/17 marketing year are pegged at 370 million bushels this month, down 30 million from May. Ending stocks are projected at 260 million bushels, down 45 million from last month. Exports for the 2015/16 marketing year are estimated at 1.76 million bushels, up 20 million from May. Soybean crush for the current marketing year, ending in August, was raised 10 million bushels to 1.89 billion bushels.

 Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) experts and industry analysts say the report was extremely bullish on beans.

“We have seen unusually high export demand recently that’s reflected in this report,” said Grant Kimberley, ISA director of market development. “We expect demand to keep chugging along. With weather concerns in South America, the U.S. could soon be the only soybean store in town, and our shelves are full  for now.

“At this rate we may see even lower ending stocks before the marketing year is over,” Kimberley continued. “The biggest factor now is watching U.S. weather this summer.”

According to the report, Brazil’s soybean crop is 2 million tons less than earlier projections at 97 million tons. Hot, dry conditions in the center-west and northeast parts of the country reduced yields. Extreme wet weather and flooding curtailed soybean production and exports in Argentina.

An increase in U.S. soybean and soybean meal exports are primarily fueling the recent week-after-week price rally not seen since the mid-1970s, analysts say. November soybeans on the Chicago Board of Trade increased 10 cents after the report was released, trading at more than $11.60 per bushel. New-crop beans have jumped about $2.50 since early March.

Oilseed expert John Baize of Falls Church, Virginia said the report is clearly bullish, noting soybean use is higher than expected as the current marketing year winds down.

“This was a greater stocks reduction than the average trade estimates,” Baize said.

Another positive, Baize said, is the government raised export projects for the current marketing year and the next as well based on early-season export projections. Exports are projected 15 million bushels higher for 2016/17 at 1.9 billion bushels.

“That’s very positive,” Baize said. However, he cautions “a downward price correction could occur as many industry experts believe prices have risen too high.”



Windbreak Workshop in Tekamah June 23rd

The Nebraska Forest Service along with the University of Nebraska Extension, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD), and the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District will be hosting a windbreak workshop in Tekamah at the First National Bank Northeast on Thursday, June 23, 2016.  Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the workshop starting at 9:00 a.m.  The workshop will be divided into two parts an indoor discussion in the morning followed by an outdoor site visit in the afternoon.

Morning discussion will include renovating old and deteriorating windbreaks, planting a new windbreak, tree planting programs, cost-share availability, insect and disease issues, and root maker trees.  After the morning session, a Subway lunch will be provided by the NRDs before heading out to do a site visit at a potential windbreak renovation.

“If you’re thinking of doing a windbreak renovation or a tree planting project, this workshop is a great fit,” states Pam Bergstrom, LENRD Forester.  “This will be a good mixture of some indoor discussion with background on what windbreak renovation and establishments are and how they work.  The afternoon session will take us out to a site to get an idea of what the process is like from start to finish.”

For more information, please contact:
Steve Karloff, Nebraska Forest Service:  402.472.3645 – skarloff1@unl.edu
John Wilson, Nebraska Extension Educator:  402.374.2929 – jwilson3@unl.edu



Nebraska Cattlemen Road Trip 2016 Coming to You the Week of July 25th!

Monday, July 25
     1:00 pm CDT   Columbus
     River’s Edge Convention Center, 265 33rd Ave.
     7:30 pm CDT   St. Paul
     Miletta Vista Winery, 732 Hwy 281

Tuesday, July 26
     1:00 pm CDT   Oxford
     Kuch’s Restaurant, 801 Ogden         
     7:30 pm CDT   Lexington
     Dawson Co. 4-H Building, 1002 Plum Creek Parkway

Wednesday, July 27
     1:00 pm CDT   Curtis
     NCTA - Education Center Room 131, 404 E 7th
     7:30 pm MDT   Gering
     Gering Civic Center - Platte River Room, 1050 M

Thursday, July 28
     1:00 pm MDT   Rushville
     Sand Ridge Golf Course, 402 W 3rd Street
     7:30 pm MDT   Ainsworth
     Ainsworth Conference Center, 606 E 4th

Topics to Fuel your Mind:
- Legislative Update
- LB977 / Implements of Husbandry on Highways
- Veterinary Feed Directive
- Property Rights
- Fence law
- What do you want from your NC membership?

Meals are being planned at several of the meeting locations.  Watch for more information via direct mail and social media. 



STOCKPILE EXTRA SUMMER GROWTH FOR WINTER PASTURE
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Abundant rain produces abundant grass.  If this describes your grasslands, let’s find the best way to take advantage of this blessing.

               When you get abundant rain and warm, sunny weather, your pastures may produce more growth than needed for your current summer stocking rates.  Options to use the extra growth are needed.

               Sometimes we cut and bale extra growth as hay.  This is a good plan if you need the hay.  Other times we simply let cattle graze what they want and leave the excess in the field.  Rebuilding surface litter that was burned up by recent droughts can be healthy for the pasture.

               How about another option?  Try stockpiling, or saving some extra pasture growth for grazing during the winter.

               There are lots of advantages to winter grazing.  For starters, less hay needs to be fed next winter.  Thus, you won’t need to make as much hay this summer.  And stockpiling in summer and fall followed by winter grazing is one of the best methods to improve the health of your grasslands, especially native range.

               If you have some run down, poor condition, low producing pastures, these often are the best candidates for winter grazing.  Grasses that need invigorating will be strengthened if you avoid grazing them during the growing season.  Later, your winter grazing will clean off much of the frozen growth during winter.  Cattle may even eat some plants like yucca and ragweed during winter that they won't hardly touch during summer.  Sure, you'll need some protein supplements, but cattle do a pretty good job of picking high quality plant parts to eat while winter grazing.

               Extra growth is an opportunity to both reduce winter feed costs and improve pasture condition.  Get it by stockpiling extra summer growth for winter grazing.



IFBF Economic Summit to feature in-depth analysis on land value trends, rental rates

Variability and trends in farmland value and land rental rates are critical to any farming operation and the vitality of the rural economy, and for many farmers, rent is the biggest expense for the farm operation.  That’s why Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2016 Economic Summit, “Buckle Up for Bumpy Ride,” to be held June 27 in West Des Moines, will help provide the valuable analysis farmers need to plan for the future.

Dave Miller, director of research and commodity services for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), says it’s often challenging for farmers and those in agriculture to find current information sources on land value trends and fluctuation in land rental rates.  Unlike daily futures markets for commodities like corn or soybeans, it’s harder to find credible information on land price and rental trends, according to Miller.

“It’s important to get a view from someone in the business who can see trends in land prices and rental rates on a broader, statewide basis,” Miller explains.  “That’s what we hope to provide to attendees of our 2016 Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit.”

This year’s Economic Summit features a panel of farm management and lending experts who will examine the trends in land values and rental rates.  Additionally, the experts will look at today’s ag credit conditions and provide a future outlook.  Miller says this is crucial since commodity prices have declined and cash flow is under extreme stress.

“The information from this panel at the Economic Summit should be helpful to those farmers who are looking into buying or selling land in a changed and turbulent market,” Miller says.  “It’s also going to be helpful for those farmers working with landlords to renegotiate leases.”

Attendees of the IFBF Summit will also receive a beneficial look into the factors that farm lenders consider when they extend financing to farmers.  With fluctuating commodity prices and a downturned ag economy, there is a lot of uncertainty and financial stress in farm country, so the in-depth analysis of the ag economy comes at a crucial time for farmers.

The Economic Summit will also feature panels on other key issues facing farmers today, such as export trends, overall outlook for the U.S. farm economy, the effect of the U.S. Presidential election on the farm economy, and key technology such as big data and unmanned aerial vehicles or drones.

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 on 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 www.iowafarmbureau.com or call Lavonne Baldwin at 515-225-5633 or email lbaldwin@ifbf.org.



STUDY FINDS NO REDUCED CANCER RISK BEING VEGETARIAN, EATING LESS MEAT

A study done in the Netherlands may shed some light on the debate about health risks associated with diets containing meat and those that do not. The objective of the study was to see how the different diets affected the risk of contracting lung, breast and prostate cancer. The study included over 11,000 individuals between the ages of 55and 69, with about 1,100 of the participants self-classified as vegetarians. The remaining participants were split into groups based on how many days a week they consumed meat (once, 2-5 times, 6-7 times).

After 20 years, the researches collected incidences of lung, breast and prostate cancer among the participants. The researchers concluded there was no significant associations between the amount of meat consumed and an increased risk for those cancers. Said the study: “Vegetarians, fish eaters and one-day per week meat consumers did not have a reduced risk of lung, postmenopausal breast and overall prostate cancer compared with individuals consuming meat on a daily basis.”



FUNDS FOR COMBATTING ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA APPROVED

The Senate Appropriations Committee this week approved a fiscal 2017 funding bill that includes money for combatting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) appropriations legislation, pass by a vote of 29-1, included an additional $50 million in National Institutes of Health funding for research to combat antimicrobial resistance, as well as an additional $3 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s efforts on the issue of antibiotic resistance. The National Pork Producers Council is urging lawmakers to appropriate funds for USDA’s work relative to combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The LHHS appropriations bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.



AFBFA Announces Grants for Middle and After-School STEM 'Maker Kits'

The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is offering a total of $10,000 in grants to 10 middle school science classrooms and 10 after-school programs serving middle school students. Participating schools will receive $500 each to pilot a new Maker Kit challenge developed by the Foundation.

The STEM-focused Maker Kits encourage students to research scenarios related to food production and build their own models to solve a challenge. A detailed outline on how to conduct the challenge - written by teachers, aligned to national learning standards and reviewed by industry experts - will be provided to pilot schools. Supplies to complete the challenge will also be provided.

Pilot locations will be selected by July 15. Materials will be distributed the first week of August, and pilots must be completed by September 15.

The Foundation is accepting recommendations for middle school science teachers and after school programs through July 8. Recommendations may be sent via email to Angela Mayfield, education director for the Foundation educationdirector@fb.org.

This program is a special project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The resources are made possible through the generous support of title sponsor, DuPont Pioneer.



2017 Commodity Classic Trade Show Exhibit Space Now Open

Exhibit space is now open for the 2017 Commodity Classic to be held March 2-4 in San Antonio, Texas.   A limited number of exhibit booth spaces are available on the trade show floor that will feature a diverse range of products, services, technology and equipment targeted to America’s leading farmers.

Visit www.commodityclassic.com/exhibitors to view an on-line floor plan to identify open space and select a preferred booth location.  Exhibitors may also submit an online 2017 exhibitor application and contract using this same web link.  The Commodity Classic trade show office can be reached at 636.922.5551 or email: tradeshow@commodityclassic.com.

The 2016 Commodity Classic in New Orleans shattered attendance records with a total of 9,770 attendees—up 23% over 2015.  A record 4,596 farmer/operators were in attendance, and those famers had an average gross farm income of $1.5 million and farmed 2,893 acres on average.

 “Exhibitors of all types and sizes tell us that Commodity Classic is where America’s best farmers come to learn, engage and improve on what they do every day,” said Kevin Ross, a Minden, Iowa, corn farmer and co-chair of the 2017 Commodity Classic.  “If a company wants to build its brand among the nation’s agricultural leaders, Commodity Classic is definitely the place to be.”

Commodity Classic also attracts the nation’s agricultural media.   “Last year a record 186 key media representatives were on hand interviewing company representatives and highlighting new products, equipment and technology,” said Commodity Classic co-chair Ed Erickson, Jr., a Milnor, N.D., soybean farmer.  “The media know that Commodity Classic is where companies showcase their latest and greatest advancements and they want to be there to share that information with their audience.”

Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is America's largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show, produced by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.



Tonisity Launches First Isotonic Protein Drink for Pigs

Tonisity has launched a new product — the first isotonic protein drink for pigs — named Tonisity Px. It not only encourages fluid intake to improve hydration as early as 24 to 48 hours after birth but also provides nutrients to improve health and production efficiency over the pig’s lifetime.

From Day 2, Tonisity Px helps pigs cope with stress, decreases pre-weaning mortality, increases weaning weights and improves gut health, improving a producer’s return on investment for each litter. With a taste that pigs crave, Tonisity Px provides the hydration and intestinal support needed to get them off to a fast, healthy start.

“Stress in animals comes with change. For a baby pig, change starts right after birth as they transition to sow’s milk in a new environment amid competition with their siblings. This stress can impact the piglet’s intestinal and gut health, resulting in less appetite and dehydration," said Ava Firth, DVM, Director of Research and Development, Tonisity. "Tonisity Px is specifically designed to hydrate and bring balance back to the intestines and gut.”

Tonisity Px contains sodium, potassium, chlorine and dextrose in concentrations similar to those recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for humans. The goal is to supply simple sugars, amino acids, electrolytes and water to restore hydration and glucose levels during times of stress, along with special ingredients that support cell metabolic function.

“We are excited to bring this new solution to help meet the changing needs of the U.S. swine market. Tonisity Px enables producers to get more pigs per litter off to a fast start by increasing nutrient intake, giving pigs the vigor and vitality they need to transition more easily into each stage of production,” said Arie Halpern, Board of Directors, Tonisity. “We are confident that this first-of-its-kind product will result in improved efficiency, leading to increased profitability for the producer.”

Tonisity Px is a powder that mixes easily with water and remains in suspension when used in a creep feeder or pan. It fits into all types of management systems and can be used throughout various stages of swine production, including suckling, weaning and before or after transportation.

Another key to Tonisity Px’s success is its sweet-and-sour taste, which is especially appealing to pigs. On-farm trials show that baby pigs enthusiastically consume water with Tonisity Px as early as Day 2.

“Real-world research demonstrates that Tonisity Px decreases pre-weaning mortality, increases weight gain and average daily gain, and reduces the number of fall-behinds and removals,” said Dr. Firth.