Friday July 1 Ag News

 CELEBRATING 4th OF JULY AROUND THE WORLD WITH NEBRASKA BEEF

July 4th celebrations are popular here in America and at U.S. Embassies around the world, as well. This year, Nebraska beef is a featured menu item at U.S. Embassy Fourth of July celebrations in Bulgaria, Israel and Singapore. These celebratory receptions are giving those in attendance a taste of the delicious and quality beef product Nebraska has to offer.

“Showcasing beef at special events is part of our ongoing effort to tell the story of Nebraska agriculture,” said Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Greg Ibach. “We’re here to develop and promote the Nebraska brand of excellence and quality wherever that takes us.”

At the U.S. Embassy receptions in Bulgaria and Singapore this week, hundreds were in attendance including the diplomatic corps, politicians, actors, singers, business leaders and educators. The Nebraska Beef Council sponsored the events providing a taste of Nebraska beef to everyone in attendance. 

“Foreign marketing is a key component of the strategic plan for the beef checkoff, and these types of activities only help to build upon the solid foundation that Nebraska has as an extraordinary supplier of high quality beef,” said Buck Wehrbein, chairman of the Nebraska Beef Council.

At the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, the Ambassador announced to a cheering crowd that beef from “the Great State of Nebraska” would soon be available in Israel. WR Reserve of Hastings provided the beef featured at the event and is the only U.S.-approved supplier to the Israeli market at this time.

“Export activity like what we are seeing in the beef sector is exactly what we need to continue to grow our Nebraska economy,” said Ibach. “I am excited to further our state’s export efforts for all Nebraska agricultural goods.”       



2016 Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report Released
NE Extension Educator Jim Jansen

    The state wide all-land average value for the year ending February 1, 2016, averaged $3,115 per acre equating to approximately 4 percent ($135 per acre) decline over last year’s value of $3,250 per acre.  Northeast Nebraska saw a 3% decline for the year to average $5,980 an acre.  East Central Nebraska average land values fell 2% to 6,990/acre. 

    Declines in the all-land average varied across Nebraska. The Northwest, North, Central, Southwest, and Southeast Districts averaged around 5 percent lower, whereas the Northeast, East, and Southwest declined at 3, 2, and 8 percent, respectively.

    Panel members indicated purchases for farm expansion and 1031 tax exchanges as the two most positive factors influencing land value increases, but these factors were noted as only being slightly higher than neutral. General expectations among panel members weakened for future increases in land value.

    Current crop prices once again were listed as the most negative factor for the second year in a row by panel members leading to the decline in land values across Nebraska. Additional concern amongst panel members indicated property taxes may have a negative bearing on the value of agricultural land, depending upon future policies.

    Based on 2016 market values, the estimated total value of agricultural land and buildings in Nebraska has declined to $132.0 billion. Between 2015 and 2016, the decline in agricultural land and building values totaled about $5.8 billion.

    The Nebraska all land average price of $3,115 per acre marks a 4 percent decline and the second consecutive year of lower weighted average farmland values in the state as commodity prices for crops and livestock continued trending lower from record setting levels.

    Declines in cropland generally trended lower across the state. Gravity and center pivot irrigated cropland trended lower at $6,480 and $6,940 per acre for declines of 6 and 5 percent. Dryland cropland with irrigation potential also fell 5 percent to an average of $4,785 per acre, but dryland cropland without irrigation potential recorded a slight uptick of 2 percent to $3,470 per acre.

    Hayland used for forage production recorded the highest rate of decline for 2016 at 17 percent. Compounding effects from the drought of 2012 for forages led to increased demand for hayland with record-setting hay prices. Adequate precipitation and lower hay prices in 2015 resulted in lower hayland values seen across the major cow-calf producing regions of the state including the Northwest and North.

    Demand for pasture or rangeland slightly receded as grazing land (nontillable) declined 3 percent to $975 per acre, whereas grazing land (tillable) dropped 1 percent to $1,495 per acre. The rate of change for these two land types greatly varied across the districts ranging from a negative 7 to a positive 7 percent.



Interim Heads Named for IANR Animal, Food Science Departments

The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska--Lincoln has appointed Phil Miller to the post of interim head of the Department of Animal Science and Curt Weller to the position of interim head of the Department of Food Science and Technology.

Miller, professor of animal science, will fill the leadership position held by Larry Berger who has announced his retirement effective June 30.

Weller, professor of food science and biological systems engineering, will fill the role left by Rolando Flores, who has been named dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at New Mexico State University. Flores will assume that role on Aug. 1.

"We have great confidence in Phil and Curt to lead their respective departments in the interim," said Ron Yoder, interim vice chancellor for IANR. "Searches to identify permanent heads for each of these departments are moving forward quickly."

The search committee for the animal science department head is concluding interviews with final candidates this week. A search committee is currently being assembled for the food science and technology department head. No specific deadline has been established for the completion of either search process.

In addition, IANR has named longtime faculty member Clayton Kelling as new director of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and associate dean for the ISU/UNL joint Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine. The position was previously held by Don Reynolds. Kelling will serve in the position for a three-year term after which leadership in the school will be reevaluated.



Japanese Beetles Emerging; Identification Key to Management July 1, 2016
Robert Wright, NE Extension Entomologist

Japanese beetle adults are beginning to emerge in eastern Nebraska. Their distribution has been increasing in Nebraska the last few years and they are being seen in corn and soybeans more frequently, in addition to feeding on landscape trees and shrubs. They will continue to emerge for the next few weeks. They have one generation per year. They often feed in clusters, both because of attraction to the female sex pheromone, and they are attracted to volatile chemicals produced by damaged plants.

Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman) can contribute to defoliation in soybeans, along with a complex of other insects, such as bean leaf beetles, grasshoppers, and several caterpillar species. They feed by skeletonizing the leaves, leaving only the leaf veins. In soybeans insecticide treatment is recommended when insects are present and damage is expected to exceed 30% defoliation in vegetative stage, and 20% in reproductive stage soybeans. For more information see Managing Soybean Defoliators, NebGuide G2259.

Similar to corn rootworm beetles, Japanese beetles will scrape off the green surface tissue on corn leaves before silks emerge, but prefer silks once they are available. Japanese beetles feed on corn silks, and may interfere with pollination if abundant enough to severely clip silks before pollination. University of Illinois Extension recommends: "An insecticidal treatment should be considered during the silking period if:
-    there are three or more Japanese beetles per ear,
-    silks have been clipped to less than ½ inch, AND
-    pollination is less than 50% complete."

Be aware that Japanese beetle numbers are often highest on field margins, so scout across the whole field before making a treatment decision. Japanese beetle adults are about ½ inch long and have a metallic green head and thorax. A key characteristic is a series of white tufts of hair on each side of the abdomen.

A variety of insecticides labelled on corn and soybeans would be expected to provide control of Japanese beetles. See product labels or the Insecticides for Field Crops section from Nebraska Extension EC130, for rates and restrictions.

In some cases people have mistaken the Japanese beetle for its look-alike, the false Japanese beetle, or sand chafer, Strigoderma arboricola, which is a native Nebraska insect found across most of the state. Sand chafers (Figure 3) are commonly found along the Platte River valley and other river valleys in Nebraska. False Japanese beetle adults are about the same size as Japanese beetles, but do not have a metallic green head. They may vary in color from coppery brown to black. They may have some white hairs on the side of the abdomen but they are not organized into tufts of hair.

They are often noticed because they have a habit of landing on people and seem to be attracted to people wearing light-colored clothing. They have not been reported to cause economic damage to crops as adults, although the immature white grub has been reported to cause damage to potato tubers.



July 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, July 7
    Norfolk — Friday, July 8
    Fairbury — Tuesday, July 12
    North Platte — Thursday, July 14
    Lexington — Thursday, July 21

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



NPPC PARTICIPATES IN MEETING ON COMBATTING ANTIOBIOTIC RESISTANCE

The National Pork Producers Council Chief Veterinarian Dr. Liz Wagstrom last week participated in the Presidential Advisory Council on Combatting Antibiotic Resistance (CARB) two-day meeting. The first day was dedicated to presentations from federal and non-government stakeholders about incentives for the development of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. The second day focused on the environment and antibiotic resistance, in addition to a presentation on the new Food and Drug Administration's Guidance 213, which phases out the use in food animals of medically important antibiotics labeled only for growth promotion. Beginning in 2017, it will be illegal to use those antibiotics for that purpose.

NPPC believes that a stronger federal system of antibiotic data collection, monitoring and enhanced surveillance will greatly assist in understanding the impacts of implementation of FDA’s Guidance 213. The information not only will assist policymakers but veterinarians and producers as they make management decisions about the use of antibiotics on their farms.

The pork industry has invested more than $6 million to collect data related to and conduct research on the resistance issue, including on alternative antibiotic technologies, the effects of therapeutic antibiotic treatment on multi-drug resistant Salmonella and the environmental fate of antibiotics in manure.



USDA Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production Report

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 479 million bushels in May 2016. Total corn consumption was up 7 percent from April 2016 but down 5 percent from May 2015. May 2016 usage included 90.7 percent for alcohol and 9.3 percent for other purposes. Corn for beverage alcohol totaled 2.85 million bushels, up 6 percent from April 2016 but down 12 percent from May 2015. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 426 million bushels, was up 8 percent from April 2016 but down 5 percent from May 2015. Corn consumed in May 2016 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 89.1 percent and 10.9 percent respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 1.84 million tons during May 2016, up 7 percent from April 2016 but down 1 percent from May 2015. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.23 million tons in May 2016, down 2 percent from April 2016 and down 10 percent from May 2015.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 333 thousand tons during May 2016, up 9 percent from April 2016 but down 4 percent from May 2015. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 306 thousand tons in May 2016, up 2 percent from April 2016 but down 5 percent from May 2015.



USDA Fats and Oils: Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks Report

Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 4.83 million tons (161 million bushels) in May 2016, compared to 4.75 million tons (158 million bushels) in April 2016 and 4.68 million tons (156 million bushels) in May 2015. Crude oil produced was 1.88 billion pounds up 2 percent from April 2016 and up 7 percent from May 2015. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.44 billion pounds during May 2016 increased 6 percent from April 2016 and increased 3 percent from May 2015.

Canola seeds crushed for crude oil was 132 thousand tons in May 2016, compared to 137 thousand tons in April 2016 and 114 thousand tons in May 2015. Canola crude oil produced was 112 million pounds down 6 percent from April 2016 but up 17 percent from May 2015. Canola once refined oil production at 137 million pounds during May 2016 was up 18 percent from April 2016 but down 1 percent from May 2015. Cottonseeds crushed for crude oil was 127 thousand tons in May 2016, compared to 132 thousand tons in April 2016 and 142 thousand tons in May 2015. Cottonseed crude oil produced was 38.4 million pounds, down 2 percent from April 2016 and down 12 percent from May 2015. Cottonseed once refined oil production at 43.9 million pounds during May 2016 was up 4 percent from April 2016 but down 18 percent from May 2015.

Edible tallow production was 83.2 million pounds during May 2016, up 9 percent from April 2016 and up 23 percent from May 2015. Inedible tallow production was 291 million pounds during May 2016, up 6 percent from April 2016 but down 2 percent from May 2015. Technical tallow production was 113 million pounds during May 2016, up 33 percent from April 2016 and up 10 percent from May 2015. Choice white grease production at 116 million pounds during May 2016 increased 5 percent from April 2016 but decreased 2 percent from May 2015.




IGC Hikes 2016-17 Forecast

The International Grains Council has increased its forecast for total grains production in 2016-17 by 11 million metric tons to 2.026 billion tons after plentiful rain raised harvest prospects in Europe and North America.

The harvest is set to be the second largest on record after the 2.046-billion-ton crop of 2014-15.

The IGC increased its wheat production forecast by 7 million tons to 729 million tons. Forecasts for corn and soybeans were unchanged at 1.003 billion tons and 320 million tons respectively.

The forecast for 2016-17 grains' consumption was little changed at 2.01 billion tons, compared with 2.009 billion tons in last month's forecast.

As a result, the IGC expects global grain stocks to climb by 15 million tons year-over-year to 482 million tons.

The forecast for global trade was increased by 1 million tons to 319 million tons.



NFU Board Passes Resolutions on Farm Economy, Consolidation in Ag Inputs

National Farmers Union (NFU) Board of Directors convened this week in Healdsburg, Calif., for their annual June board meeting. Two resolutions were passed by the board, prioritizing critical policy issues identified by the organization, the worsening farm economy and consolidation in the crop inputs and agriculture chemicals industries.

“As a farmer-led organization, we proudly advocate for the issues important to our nearly 200,000 family farm and ranch members. The farm economy and consolidation in agriculture are two timely industry topics, and these board-passed resolutions will define precise calls to action for our organization,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.

NFU has been a vocal advocate in support of a strong safety net to aid farmers as they continue to face low commodity prices and high input costs. The ratified resolution calls for “corrective action and evaluation of price support levels” so that farm programs can serve to minimize the farm income drop.

“Family farmers and ranchers should call on their elected officials at the local, state and national levels to educate them about the economic problems facing our nation’s family farmers and ranchers,” explained Johnson, who testified on the state of the farm economy before a panel of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management earlier this year.

Additionally, the board passed a resolution in support of more robust enforcement of antitrust laws as the agriculture inputs sector faces growing consolidation. NFU has strongly opposed further consolidation in agriculture due to the damaging effects of reduced competition on the economic viability of farmers and ranchers.

“Family farmers, ranchers and rural communities are the ones that lose when industry consolidation cripples competition and reduces innovation. We encourage the Justice Department to critically review the pending mergers and ask that Congress act to prevent further consolidation should the regulatory agencies fail to protect competition in rural America,” Johnson concluded.



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for July 2016

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for July 2016. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for July is 0.625 percent, unchanged from 0.625 percent in June.

The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during July is 1.625 percent, unchanged from 1.625 percent in June.

Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for July are as follows, 1.000 percent with three-year loan terms, unchanged from 1.000 percent in June; 1.250 percent with five-year loan terms, unchanged from 1.250 percent in June; 1.500 percent with seven-year loan terms, down from 1.625 percent in June; 1.750 percent with 10-year loan terms, down from 1.875 percent in June and; 1.875 percent with 12-year loan terms, unchanged from 1.875 percent in June.



2016 Childhood Agricultural Injuries Fact Sheet released

Every three days, a child dies in an agriculture-related incident, and each day, 33 children are injured according to the 2016 Childhood Agricultural Injuries Fact Sheet compiled by the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety in Marshfield, Wis.

The leading sources of fatalities are machinery (25%), motor vehicles/ATVs (17%) and drowning (16%).

Some trends since the last fact sheet was released in 2014:
-  Among household youth on farms, injury rates increased in the 10-19 age group, despite a continued overall decline in the rate of childhood agricultural injuries (which also includes hired youth and visiting children).
-  While overall numbers of farm injuries are declining, injuries to household youth have held steady.
-  From 2003 to 2010, among workers younger than 16 years, the number of worker fatalities in agriculture was consistently higher than in all non-agricultural industries combined.
-  Every day, about 33 children are injured in agriculture-related incidents.
-  In 2014, an estimated 7,469 household youth were injured on a farm and 60% of them were not working when the injury occurred.
-  An estimated 738 hired youth were injured on farms in 2014.

“There is no central database on childhood agricultural injuries,” said Barbara Lee, Ph.D., director of the National Children’s Center. “In putting together this fact sheet we draw upon the best available data from a variety of sources.”

Click on this link to see the fact sheet.... https://www.marshfieldresearch.org/Media/Default/NFMC/PDFs/2016-Child-Ag-Injury-Fact-Sheet.pdf. 



FB Challenge Moves Into Judging Phase

The American Farm Bureau Federation closed entry submissions for its third Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge on June 30 and is pleased to announce the submission of 355 applications from 39 states. Judging of entries submitted by entrepreneurs competing in the challenge - who are vying for $145,000 in startup funds - is under way.

"We are ecstatic and pleased with the great applications and innovations occurring in rural communities across the country!" said Dr. Lisa Benson, AFBF's director of rural development. "We exceeded our goal for the number of applicants and doubled submissions compared to last year."

All applications, which include a business plan, video pitch and photo, will be reviewed by judges and provided feedback. The top 10 teams will be announced in October. This includes six teams who will each win $10,000 in startup funds and the final four teams who will advance as finalists.

"Our judges will be looking for solid business and financial plans," Benson said. "Innovation is one thing but the numbers are important in a competition like this. Those who can provide statistics that back their business plan will do well."

The competition provides an opportunity for individuals to showcase ideas and business innovations that strengthen and build strong, prosperous rural communities. It is the first national rural business competition focused exclusively on innovative entrepreneurs working on food and agriculture businesses.

Businesses related to food and agriculture include farms or ranches, value-added processing, food hubs, community-supported agriculture programs (CSAs), farm-to-table restaurants, farmers' markets, wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries. Businesses can also support food and agriculture such as crop scouting, agritourism, ag advertising and marketing, and ag technology companies.

The final four teams will compete in a live competition at AFBF's 98th Annual Convention in Phoenix on Jan. 8 to win:
-    Farm Bureau Entrepreneur of the Year award and $30,000 (chosen by judges)
-    People's Choice award and $25,000 (chosen by public vote)
-    First runner-up prize, $15,000 and
-    Second runner-up prize, $15,000.

The Entrepreneur of the Year award and the People's Choice award will be awarded to two different teams. The team that wins the Entrepreneur of the Year award will not be eligible for the People's Choice Award. The competition timeline, detailed eligibility guidelines and profiles of the 2015 and 2016 finalist teams are available at www.strongruralamerica.com/challenge .



AgriBank Pays Quarterly Preferred Stock Dividend

St. Paul-based AgriBank today paid a quarterly cash dividend of $1.7188 per share on its 6.875 percent non-cumulative perpetual class A preferred stock to holders of record as of June 1, 2016.

AgriBank issued $250 million of preferred stock on Oct. 29, 2013 to provide the Bank and the 15-state Farm Credit District it serves with long-term access to high-quality capital, helping ensure the District is well-positioned to meet the long-term growth and credit needs of farmer and rancher customers.

AgriBank is one of the largest banks within the national Farm Credit System, with nearly $100 billion in total assets. Under the Farm Credit System's cooperative structure, AgriBank is primarily owned by 17 affiliated Farm Credit Associations. The AgriBank District covers America's Midwest, a 15-state area stretching from Wyoming to Ohio and Minnesota to Arkansas. With about half of the nation’s cropland located in the AgriBank District, and nearly 100 years of experience, the Bank and its Association owners have significant expertise in providing financial products and services for rural communities and agriculture. For more information, please visit www.AgriBank.com.



Entries Open for 50th World Dairy Expo® Cattle Show

Dairy Cattle Show entries are now open for those wishing to exhibit at the 50th World Dairy Expo. Entry forms are available online through the Dairy Cattle Entry system or for print on the Expo website. Entries are due Aug. 31, 2016. Late online entries will be accepted until Sept. 11 and paper entries will be accepted until the day of the show, both at an increased rate.

New this year, all animals must have an official USDA AIN or Canadian CCIA RFID number listed on the entry form at the time of submission. Animal entries lacking this number or with a pending identification status will not be accepted.

Entry information, a complete schedule of events, rules and other updates can be found in the Premium Book – mailed to recent dairy cattle exhibitors on July 1, or available online at worlddairyexpo.com. New exhibitors can request a copy of the Premium Book by contacting the World Dairy Expo office at 608-224-6455 or entries@wdexpo.com.

Recognized as the meeting place for the global dairy industry, World Dairy Expo attracts more than 70,000 attendees from over 90 countries to Madison, Wisconsin, each year. The annual event will take place Oct. 4-8, 2016, with the theme of “Celebrate 50!” to commemorate its golden anniversary. Visit worlddairyexpo.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@WDExpo or #Celebrate50) for more information.