Tuesday June 21 Ag News

FSA Reminds Producers of Livestock Indemnity Program Benefits

Nebraska USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Dan Steinkruger today announced that producers who suffer qualifying livestock losses due to natural disasters, including extreme heat and humidity, could be eligible for Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) benefits.

“LIP, along with other livestock disaster assistance programs, was restored by the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill, which provides livestock producers with a vital safety net to help them overcome the damaging financial impact of natural disasters,” said Steinkruger.

LIP compensates livestock owners and contract growers for livestock death losses in excess of normal mortality due to an eligible adverse weather event, including losses due to floods, blizzards, disease, wildfires, extreme heat and extreme cold. For the current calendar year, eligible losses must have occurred on or after Jan. 1, 2016.

“A notice of loss must be filed with FSA within 30 days of when the loss of livestock occurred or became apparent,” said Steinkruger. “Adult livestock that die within 60 days of the date of the qualifying event will be considered eligible for loss benefits, however, producers have seven days to report the loss of a newborn animal.”

The LIP national payment rate for eligible livestock owners is based on 75 percent of the average fair market value of the livestock. 

Within the past year, FSA has made a notable change to LIP regarding livestock owner eligibility. Steinkruger said the livestock owner does not have to have an interest in a farming operation in order to qualify for program benefits. The program requirement, beginning with this year, is that the producer only has to have an interest in producing agricultural products, which includes commercial livestock.

“The previous requirement created issues for livestock owners who didn’t necessarily own a farm, but who did have an interest in cattle in a feedlot setting,” Steinkruger said. “This rule change clarifies that those owners may be qualified to participate in LIP.”

Producers are urged to contact their local county FSA office to schedule an appointment to submit a notice of loss and application for payment. 

Producers are encouraged to bring supporting evidence, including documentation of the number and kind of livestock that died, supplemented if possible by photographs or video records to document the loss, purchase records, veterinarian records, production records and other similar documents.

For more information on LIP and other disaster assistance programs, visit FSA online at www.usda.gov/disaster.



Nebraska Extension Provides Crop Management Clinics

Agribusiness professionals and crop producers will take a hands-on approach to learning at the July 13 midsummer Crop Management Diagnostic Clinic.  The training session provides the opportunity to get a close-up look at field conditions, research and techniques at the University of Nebraska’s Crop Management Diagnostic Clinics.

The Nebraska Extension clinic begins with 7:30 a.m. registration at the Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead and starts at 8 a.m. Participants will meet at the August N. Christenson Research and Education Building.

Keith Glewen, Nebraska Extension educator said, “Nebraska Extension is sharing quality information that will help those attending sharpen their crop management and diagnostic skills.  Benefits of the crop management and diagnostic clinics include one-on-one attention, on-site plot demonstrations, interaction with other participants, discussions about cutting edge research and an opportunity to earn continuing education credits through Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) program."

July 13 topics include: assessing soybean defoliation by insects, early season pivot checkup – a hands-on investigation of pivot irrigation systems looking for improvements, cover crop termination and weed management, genetic resistance management, and weed control.  The training also includes a session with Elwynn Taylor, Extension Climatologist, Iowa State University, “What is the Weather this Season Doing to My Crop? To the Nation? Is There a True Analog Year?”

A total of 8 Certified Crop Adviser credits (integrated pest management – 5.5, crop management – 2.0, and nutrient management – .5) have been applied for and are pending approval for this clinic.

Early registration is recommended to reserve a seat and resource materials. Cost for the July clinic is $170 per clinic for those registering one week in advance and $195 after.

For more information or to register, contact the Nebraska Extension CMDC Programs, 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE 68033, call (800) 529-8030, fax (402) 624-8010, e-mail cdunbar2@unl.edu or visit the Web at http://ardc.unl.edu/crop.shtml.

Two additional crop management diagnostic clinics will be offered in August:  Aug. 24 – late season and Aug. 25 – corn and soybean production school.  CCA credits are also available for these clinics.



DISCUSSION OF GRAIN AND FEED COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS TO TAKE PLACE AT UPCOMING SEMINAR

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), in partnership with the Nebraska and National Grain and Feed Associations, will be hosting a one-day seminar to discuss new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations which will affect the grain and feed industry this year.

The informational seminar, which will focus on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), is being held at the Kearney Holiday Inn on Wednesday, July 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“There has been a lot of dialogue in the grain and feed industry about how the FSMA and VFD regulations will impact businesses and daily operations,” NDA Director Greg Ibach said. “By conducting this seminar, in conjunction with our partners, we are able to provide a forum to discuss these regulations in more detail and answer questions regarding compliance requirements.”

The FSMA regulations will apply to domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack or store animal feed as well as pet food. For more information on FSMA visit http://www.fda.gov/food/guidanceregulation/fsma/default.htm.

The VFD regulation will impact feed manufacturers and distributors of certain antibiotics. More information on the VFD requirements can be found at http://www.nda.nebraska.gov/animal/feed/index.html.

The seminar costs $50. To register contact Nebraska Grain and Feed Association at (402) 476-6174 or email sara.bishop@negfa.org.



MANAGING WINDROW DISEASE IN ALFALFA
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Rained-on hay plagues all of us eventually.  This year maybe more than usual.  The 'windrow disease' that often follows presents lingering problems.

               Windrow disease — that’s the name I give to the striped appearance in fields where alfalfa windrows remained so long that regrowth was delayed.  Usually it’s due to rained on hay and sometimes, insects.

               Windrow disease presents special challenges.  Weeds often invade, requiring spraying to maintain quality and protect stands.  During the next growth period, plants that were not smothered regrow rapidly, while plants underneath the windrow suffer delays.  Part of the field often will begin to bloom while windrow-stressed plants are still short and tender.  So when do you harvest?  When the first plants begin to bloom or do you wait until injured plants are ready?

               I suggest using two factors to tell you when you should cut — the health and vigor of your stand and the nutrient needs of your livestock.  For example, is your alfalfa stand young, healthy and regrowing well?  If not, wait to cut until stunted plants begin to bloom so you can avoid weakening them even more.

               But, if your alfalfa is in good shape, then cut when it will best meet the needs of your animals.  Dairy cows need alfalfa that is cut early, so harvest when the first plants begin to bloom.  Regrowth of injured plants may be slow after cutting, but this sacrifice is needed for profitable milk production.  Beef cows, though, do not need such rich hay.  So if the hay will be fed to beef cattle, let stunted plants recover, and then cut when they are ready to bloom.

               Hopefully, by next cut, growth will be more uniform, plants healthy, and production back to normal.



May Milk Production in the United States up 1.2 Percent
USDA reports milk production in the United States during May totaled 18.6 billion pounds, up 1.2 percent from May 2015.  Production per cow in the United States averaged 1,999 pounds for May, 23 pounds above May 2015.  The number of milk cows on farms in the United States was 9.33 million head, 3,000 head more than May 2015, but unchanged from April 2016.

Milk production in Iowa during May 2016 totaled 437 million pounds, up 2 percent from the previous May according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during May, at 211,000 head, was the same as last month but 1,000 fewer than a year ago. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,070 pounds, up 55 pounds from last May. This is the highest monthly milk per cow on record for Iowa.



NEBRASKA CHICKEN AND EGGS

All layers in Nebraska during May 2016 totaled 9.20 million, up from 8.2 million the previous year, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Nebraska egg production during May totaled 229 million eggs, up from 210 million in 2015. May egg production per 100 layers was 2,490 eggs, compared to 2,562 eggs in 2015.

Iowa egg production during May 2016 was 1.21 billion eggs, up 17 percent from last year, and up 11 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 May 2016 was 50.1 million, up 13 percent from last year, and up 2 percent from last month. Eggs per 100 layers for May were 2,405, up 3 percent from last year, and up 9 percent from last month.

US May Egg Production Up 5 Percent
United States egg production totaled 8.52 billion during May 2016, up 5 percent from last year. Production included 7.36 billion table eggs, and 1.16 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.06 billion were broiler-type and 100 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during May 2016 averaged 361 million, up 4 percent from last year. May egg production per 100 layers was 2,362 eggs, up 1 percent from May 2015.
                                   
All layers in the United States on June 1, 2016 totaled 360 million, up 8 percent from last year. The 360 million layers consisted of 302 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 54.6 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.85 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on June 1, 2016, averaged 76.2 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from June 1, 2015.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 18 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during May 2016 totaled 57.1 million, up 18 percent from May 2015. Eggs in incubators totaled 54.9 million on June 1, 2016, up 14 percent from a year ago.  Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 198 thousand during May 2016, down 16 percent from May 2015.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Down Slightly
Broiler-type chicks hatched during May 2016 totaled 808 million, down slightly from May 2015. Eggs in incubators totaled 658 million on June 1, 2016, up slightly from a year ago.  Leading breeders placed 8.08 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during May 2016, up 7 percent from May 2015.



USDA Changing Insurance Rules
Chris Clayton, DTN Ag Policy Editor

USDA's Federal Crop Insurance Corp. is changing rules and definitions for replanting crops and counting double-crop acres starting in the 2017 crop year.

The rule changes, meant to clarify crop-insurance policies for farmers and insurers, will be published Wednesday in the Federal Register.

USDA is trying to clarify rules regarding when it is "practical to replant." Concerns have been raised regarding the definition, difficulty and inconsistency in the replanting language on crop-insurance policies. Insurance companies have varying interpretations regarding when it is practical to replant even when adjusters from different companies are working on an early season crop loss in the same area.

USDA wants to set a clearer definition for when a field and crop is considered practical to replant, and if not replanted, when coverage would not be provided for that initial lost crop. The new definition on "practical to replant" also would include exceptions for weather conditions that make it impossible to replant, or would have an effect on seed germination and emergence.

According to the rule language, USDA will consider it practical to replant by looking at moisture availability, marketing window, condition of the field and time until crop matures for that replanted crop to ensure it will reach maturity before the end of the insurance period. It will be practical to replant before the late-planting period, or on or before the final planting date if there is no late-planting period for that crop. However, the exception will apply if it's physically impossible to replant the acreage or if there is no chance that the seeds would germinate, emerge or develop into a healthy plant.

Another change would make it easier on farmers who double crop certain acres. Farmers have a problem keeping records on acreage and production in areas that may be double cropped, or not. For instance, if a farmer has two fields in the same crop-insurance unit, a farmer may only double crop on one field and not the other, but the farmer is expected to keep production records showing that part of that unit was double cropped and part of it was not.

Current double-cropping requirements don't take into account changes in a farm operation such as accounting for added acres. The rule change will deal with both added acreages on a farm and account for multiple crop rotations. USDA is changing the rules to allow eligible double-cropping acres to be based on either the highest number of acres double cropped in the last four crop years, or the percentage of acres historically double cropped.

The double-cropping rule would make it easier to deal with records production. If a farmer doesn't have specific records on production and acreage for the double-cropped acres, then USDA will allocate the first and second crop production to acreage in proportion to the liability for the acreage that was double cropped and acreage that was not double cropped.

For example, if a farmer who doesn't maintain separate acres for a double-cropping field operates a 100-acre farm that has historically double cropped 50 acres of wheat followed by soybeans, then the farmer has 50% of acres that are considered historically double-cropped. So if the farmer buys an additional 200 acres, then the number of acres eligible for double cropping would be 150 acres, or 50% of the total farm.

While USDA is publishing the rule as "final," the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. will have a 60-day comment period that could prompt possible further changes in the rules.

More details on the rule change for practical to replant and double cropping will likely be provided by USDA's Risk Management Agency to crop insurers and farmers as the marketing year begins for the 2017 crops.



Growth Energy congratulates Tom Buis on receiving High Octane award at FEW

Each year BBI International and Ethanol Producer Magazine honor an individual with the High Octane award at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW). This year’s recipient is Tom Buis, Growth Energy’s Co-Chairman and former CEO. The award represents the highest honor given at FEW and recognizes a person whose commitment and passion made significant strides in helping the ethanol industry mature and progress over the years. In honor of this award, Growth Energy’s CEO Emily Skor released the following statement:

“Tom’s unrivaled dedication to improving people’s lives through renewable fuels and agriculture is commendable and the vast accomplishments made under his leadership for our industry will not be forgotten. We extend the sincerest congratulations to him on this impressive award and express our deepest gratitude for all his work and continued commitment to America’s ethanol industry.

“In his time as CEO, Tom successfully thwarted any legislative changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) despite the fact that this was the number one priority for the American Petroleum Institute and other special interest groups who fought our industry at every turn. His accomplishments also include the submission and approval of the Green Jobs Waiver to allow E15 in 21st century vehicles, a NASCAR partnership to promote E15 to millions of consumers, foreign market development initiatives, a successful political campaign in Iowa that made the RFS a top issue for presidential contenders and an effort in comment submissions to the U.S. EPA for the 2014-2016 rule on renewable volume obligations that eventually broke the blend wall for the first time, just to name a few.

“Tom has been a steadfast champion for driving our country forward with clean, homegrown ethanol. He has been an agent of progress and has moved the needle for this industry significantly with unrivaled passion and tireless commitment. We are proud to have him in our corner and grateful for all he has accomplished.”



NAGC Officially Opens Its Doors

The National Agricultural Genotyping Center officially opens its doors today with representatives from government and industry on hand for the grand opening of the new facility. Together North Dakota Ag Commissioner Goehring, Fargo Mayor Mahoney, legislative staff and agricultural association leadership discussed the center’s possibilities while touring the state-of-the-art laboratories.

“This facility is the first of its kind for a farmer-led association, giving growers more influence on research agendas,” said Larry Hoffmann, chair of the Research and Business Development Action Team. “NAGC will help growers increase production and lower costs. With so many stakeholders on hand and actively expressing interest, it was apparent to all present that the exciting potential for innovation is enormous and will lead to concrete results that can strengthen the bottom line for U.S. farmers.”

The National Agricultural Genotyping Center will translate scientific discoveries, such as the information from the maize genome project, into solutions for production agriculture, food safety, functional foods, bioenergy and national security.

The NAGC partnership brings together Los Alamos National Laboratory, the premier research institution in the world with a proven track record in developing high-throughput genotyping technology, and the National Corn Growers Association, an organization representing more than 42,000 farmer members.



FFA Award Winners Tour Costa Rica, Gain Perspective on Global Agriculture

As the agricultural community becomes increasingly global, it is crucial that young people considering careers in the industry understand the opportunities and challenges of international trade. A group of 50 National FFA award winners toured agricultural sites in Costa Rica this summer and compared the industries in Central America and the United States. Following an orientation session in Atlanta on June 9, the group departed for a 10-day tour.

Costa Rica is an ideal agricultural tour site as it includes some of the most diverse agriculture and geography in the world. Yet, the country is small enough that the contingent selected for the National FFA Organization’s 2016 Costa Rica Proficiency and Stars Travel Seminar immersed themselves into a complete agriculture experience.

Seminar participants were selected from national agricultural proficiency award finalists and American Star Farmer and Star in Agribusiness finalists named last October at the 88th National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky. The seminar, in addition to cash awards and plaques, are made possible by business and industry contributions to the National FFA Foundation.

Through June 18, the group visited Dole's Costa Rican banana farm, several of the country's large and small production farms, a Starbucks coffee plantation, and rainforests. They also took in plenty of sights during their trip. FFA members toured the Costa Rican capital of San Jose, one of the country’s national parks and a host of popular tourist destinations.

During the seminar, students had an opportunity to truly experience global agriculture and the culture of Costa Rica. The international seminar is an educational study seminar designed to introduce the award participants to agriculture as it is practiced in other countries.

Students who participated in the trip include:
California: Jillian Drake of Fallbrook; Kiana Almaguer of King City
Colorado: Cody Corsentio of Wiggins
Florida: Haley Stark of Deland
Georgia: Sarah Spradlin of Comer
Illinois: Amy Wyant of Morrisonville
Indiana: Madison Boston of Sullivan; Riley Lewis of LaGrange
Iowa: Kellie Einck of Primghar; Emily Martins of Fairbank
Kansas: Casey Craver of Gypsum; Stone Hayden of Chapman
Kentucky: Nicholas Hope of Beech Creek
Louisiana: Christen Wall of Holden
Minnesota: Rebekah Aanerud of Donnelly; Brett Petersen of Murdock
Missouri: Dylan Massa of Lamar; Benjamin Niendick of Wellington; Jacob Noblitt of Bolivar; Clayton Robinson of Center
Nebraska: Logan Peters of Pender
Ohio: Emily Beal of Conover; Zeb Burton of North Fairfield Minster; Sarah Cox of Chillicothe; Collin Dunaway of Felicity; Zach Hasting of Covington; Kelsey Kirchner of Conover; Ellyse Shafer of Bellville; Nathan Teeters of Fletcher
Oklahoma: Reighly Blakley of Oologah; Baylea Block of Harrah; Kaylee Brunker of Stillwater; Jacob Cammack of Edmond; Dakota Crissman of Pauls Valley; Bayli Hyde of Burlington; Kohl Murray of Perkins
South Dakota: Andrew Streff of Salem
Tennessee:  Anita Best of Cookeville; Caleb Brannon of Puryear; Britney Kellum of Burlison
Texas: Lacie DeRojas of Dawson; Britt Larson of Pilot Point; Rory Tucker of Tomball
Virginia: Claire Seibel of Roanoke
West Virginia: Sarah Page of Burlington
Wisconsin: Eric Coddington of Montello; Zachary Olson of Arkdale; Lindsey Rettenmund of Black Earth; Stephanie Theil of Plymouth; Kelly Wilfert of Two Rivers

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 629,367 student members who belong to one of 7,757 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.



CME to Launch EU Wheat Futures

CME Group said on Monday it plans to launch European Union wheat futures and options in September, completing a long-planned entry into the world's biggest wheat production zone where it will go head to head with Euronext.

The futures will be listed on the Chicago Board of Trade, reports Reuters. They will be priced in euros and physically deliverable to silos in France, in line with draft versions previously reported by market sources.

The first delivery position open for trading will be December 2016 and quality specifications will include minimum levels of 10.5 percent for protein and 170 for Hagberg falling numbers.

CME will be competing against Euronext's milling wheat contract that is a price benchmark in the EU.



Australia Beef Exports Decline, Report Says

Australian beef and veal exports will likely fall by 14% in this financial year to 1.17 million metric tons thanks to lower production, and export values appear set to continue declining due to rising competition in key export markets, a government report released Tuesday shows. The Australian Bureau of Agriculture said export unit values rose to their highest level in the first quarter of the year to the end of June, but then fell over the next three quarters. The value of Australian beef and veal exports are forecast to decline by about 5% to A$8.4 billion in the current year and to fall a further 9% in the coming financial year, the agency says. The report notes Australia's beef cattle inventory declined by around 10% in the four years to June 2016, to an estimated 23.3 million head--the largest decline in the national herd since the 1970s.



Above-average bean leaf beetle survival rates prompt Syngenta to call for vigilant soybean scouting

Soybean producers in the Midwest will see higher bean leaf beetle populations in 2016.  An overwinter survival model from the Iowa State University (ISU) Extension predicts bean leaf beetle mortality rates of just 35 to 68 percent compared to a 25-year average of 72 percent. In light of those figures, Syngenta agronomists warn growers to monitor fields closely. 

Higher populations of bean leaf beetles pose several concerns for soybean yield potential. Early- and mid-season feeding from the overwintered population and first-generation bean leaf beetles can cause foliar and stem damage. In addition, bean leaf beetles can transmit bean pod mottle virus, a widespread infection that can result in mottling, green stem symptoms and yield losses as high as 52 percent, according to research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Even if the first generation of bean leaf beetles don’t reach an economic threshold, researchers recommend growers keep their guard up for second-generation damage. Appearing in late-summer months, the second generation poses a greater risk for economic loss through pod feeding and leaf defoliation. To keep bean leaf beetle populations in check, it’s recommended that growers scout until seed set and use a bean leaf beetle threshold calculator tool such as that of ISU Extension.

“Bean leaf beetles can be erratic,” said Rich Lee, product development agronomist at Syngenta. “Timely scouting is extremely important if you’re going to treat for bean leaf beetles. If you see pod feeding later in the summer, you should pull the trigger on an insecticide—you wouldn’t want pod loss on your soybeans.”

Endigo® ZC insecticide effectively prevents yield loss from damaging insects like bean leaf beetles. It provides fast knockdown and extended residual control through three industry-leading technologies, including a propriety Zeon® concentrate formulation. It also serves as an excellent rotational product in an integrated pest management program with its tank-mix compatibility.

Taking action when bean leaf beetles reach an economic threshold can significantly reduce soybean injury and the incidence of bean pod mottle virus, ultimately saving yield and profit.  



Moms Launch National Toxin-Free Town Tour

Moms Across America has launched the National Toxin Free Town Campaign. At a time when the European Union is on the brink of disallowing the most widely used herbicide in the world, glyphosate, and the United States EPA considers revoking the very same license. The tour route runs from California to Connecticut to raise awareness about toxins and empower citizens to take action to get Roundup and toxic chemicals out of their towns and GMOs off their tables.

“We are at a crucial time in history,” Moms Across America founder Zen Honeycutt said. “Toxic chemical farming and public spraying is poisoning America and destroying our health. It is time to end the Chemical Era and get toxic chemicals out of our food, towns, water, air, household products and medical treatments.”

Moms Across America is meeting with locals and supporters in 40 stops round trip giving out free flyers, banners and materials to help create healthy communities.

Campaign Stops include:
June 19- Ephraim, UT
June 20- Salt Lake City, UT
June 21- Fruit Heights, UT
June 21-23 Grand Teton, WY
June 24- Yellowstone, WY
June 25- MeadowLark, SD
June 26- Chamberlaine, SD
June 27- Sioux Falls, SD
June 27- Sioux City, IA
June 28- Waterloo, IA
June 28- Milwaukee,, WI
June 28-30- Chicago, IL
June 30- Angola, IN
July 1- Cleveland, OH
July 1-Buffalo, NY
July 2- Syracuse, NY
July 2- Saratoga, NY
July 3- Montpelier, VT
July 4-5 Westminster, VT
July 6- Hartford, CT
July 28-29 New York City
July 30-Manhassett, NY
Aug 11- Lancaster, PA
Aug 11- Harrisonburg, VA
Aug 12- Roanoake, VA
Aug 13- Knoxville, TN
Aug 14- Nashville, TN
Aug 15- Jackson, TN
Aug 15- Memphis, TN
Aug 16- Little Rock, AR
Aug 16- Fort Smith, AR
Aug 17- Oklahoma City, OK
Aug 18- Shamrock, TX
Aug 18- Amarillo, TX
Aug 19- Santa Rosa, NM
Aug 19- Alburquerque, NM
Aug 20- Gallup, NM
Aug 20- Flagstaff, AZ
Aug 21- Havasu Falls, AZ

Sponsored primarily by Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, with additional funding from MAA supporters, NYR Organic, Baker Creek Heirloom, WeedTechnics, Kamut International and Iroquois Valley Farms, Moms Across America’s goal is to see thousands of cities and towns discontinue the use of Roundup and toxic chemicals and replace them with organic alternatives. Moms Across America’s flyers provide several toxin-free solutions that are widely used in America.