Monday July 25 Crop Progress Report + Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending July 24, 2016, temperatures averaged four degrees above normal, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Precipitation of an inch or more covered much of the southwest and parts of the southern Panhandle. The eastern half of the State remained mostly dry. Drought conditions existed in south central counties. Seed corn detasseling was active and winter wheat harvest was wrapping up. Producers with livestock in confined areas were taking measures to lessen heat stress. There were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 8 percent very short, 27 short, 64 adequate, and 1 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 5 percent very short, 23 short, 71 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 17 fair, 61 good, and 18 excellent. Corn silking was 82 percent, ahead of 77 last year and the five-year average of 76. Corn in dough was 13 percent, near 9 last year, and equal to average.

Sorghum condition rated 0 percent very poor, 0 poor, 18 fair, 68 good, and 14 excellent. Sorghum headed was 25 percent, behind 36 last year, and near 23 average.

Soybeans condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 19 fair, 63 good, and 14 excellent. Soybeans blooming was 75 percent, near 72 last year and equal to average. Setting pods was 19 percent, behind 28 both last year and average.

Winter wheat condition rated 3 percent very poor, 8 poor, 24 fair, 50 good, and 15 excellent. Winter wheat harvested was 92 percent, ahead of 76 last year and 74 average.

Oats condition rated 2 percent very poor, 1 poor, 26 fair, 63 good, and 8 excellent. Oats coloring was 96 percent, near 95 last year. Harvested was 65 percent, ahead of 51 last year, and near 67 average.

Alfalfa condition rated 4 percent very poor, 3 poor, 15 fair, 64 good, and 14 excellent. Alfalfa second cutting was 92 percent, ahead of 76 last year and 81 average. Third cutting was 21 percent, near 16 last year and 20 average.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 3 poor, 21 fair, 63 good, and 11 excellent. Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 7 short, 90 adequate, and 2 surplus.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Recent heat and humidity helped speed crop development although frequent rains allowed Iowa farmers only 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending July 24, 2016, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included aerial fungicide application to corn and cutting hay when fields were dry enough.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2 percent very short, 10 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus.

Eighty-seven percent of the corn crop reached the silking stage, 8 days ahead of normal, with 11 percent of the corn crop reaching the dough stage. Corn condition rated 82 percent good to excellent. Soybeans blooming reached 83 percent, 6 days ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Forty-four percent of soybeans were setting pods, 6 days ahead of average. Soybean condition rated 81 percent good to excellent last week. Oats harvested for grain or seed reached 54 percent, 2 days ahead of last year. Oat crop condition rated 79 percent good to excellent.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay reached 87 percent, more than 2 weeks ahead of last year. The third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 13 percent. Hay condition was rated 73 percent good to excellent, while pasture condition rated 62 percent good to excellent. Pastures and hay crops were growing. Livestock experienced some stress due to high levels of heat and humidity.



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

It was a hot, humid, and wet week across Iowa. Temperatures were above normal throughout the week with the hottest weather from Wednesday (20th) through Saturday (23rd) when heat indices exceeded 110 degrees somewhere in the state each day. Actual temperatures during the week varied from a Monday (18th) morning low of 55 degrees at Algona to a Wednesday (20th) afternoon high of 97 degrees at Sioux City and Thursday (21st) highs of 97 at Des Moines, Lamoni, and Sioux City. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 5.2 degrees above normal. Heat indices reached a maximum of 119 degrees at Shenandoah on Thursday. Thunderstorms brought rain to the south one-half of the state from Sunday (17th) night into Monday (18th) morning with very heavy rains in parts of southwest Iowa. Rain fell nearly statewide on Tuesday (19th) with locally heavy rain falling across central Iowa. Wednesday (20th) brought rain to extreme eastern and far northwestern Iowa. Another round of thunderstorms brought rain to the eastern one-third of the state on Thursday (21st) night into Friday (22nd) morning. Finally, one last event brought rain to about the north one-half of the state on Saturday (23rd) morning with locally heavy rain in far northeast Iowa. Weekly rain totals varied from only 0.15 inches at Akron on the South Dakota border to 6.19 inches at Bedford and 6.60 inches between Ankeny and Des Moines. The statewide average precipitation was 2.09 inches or more than double the normal of 0.98 inches. This was the third consecutive week of much above normal rainfall.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

Corn and soybean condition ratings held steady at 76% and 71% good to excellent, respectively, in the week ended July 24, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report released Monday.

Corn condition was unchanged from a week ago and 6 percentage points higher than a year ago ratings. USDA said 76% of the corn crop was rated good to excellent, the same as a week ago.

The nation's corn crop is 79% silked, compared to 56% last week, 71% last year and a 70% 5-year average. Corn in the dogh stage was reported for the first time this growing season at 13%. That compares to 12% last year and a 13% average.

Soybean condition ratings were steady with a week ago and 9 percentage points ahead of last year's ratings. USDA said 71% of soybeans were rated good-to-excellent.

Seventy-six percent of the nation's soybeans are blooming and 35% are setting pods, compared to 59% and 18% last week, 67% and 29% last year and 66% and 26% on average.

Winter wheat was 83% harvested as of Sunday, compared to 76% last week, 82% last year and a 79% average. 

Spring wheat condition was rated as 68% good to excellent, slightly lower than last week. 

Cotton squaring was at 85%, compared to 77% last week, 82% last year and an 84% average. Setting bolls was reported at 46%, compared to 28% last week, 41% last year and a 43% average. Cotton condition worsened to 13% poor to very poor, compared to 10% last week.

Rice was 57% headed, compared to 41% last week, 48% last year and a 41% average. Rice condition worsened slightly to 67% good to excellent, compared to 68% last week.

Sorghum was 49% headed, compared to 39% last week, 42% last year and 41% on average. Coloring was reported at 23%, compared to 19% last week, 22% last year and a 26% average. Sorghum condition worsened to 65% good to excellent compared to 68% last week.

Oats were 37% harvested, compared to 22% last week, 24% last year and 30% average. Oats condition worsened to 64% good to excellent, compared to 66% last week. Barley was condition held steady at 73% good to excellent.

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Illegal Blighting Lawsuit Filed by Fremont Citizens in Costco Poultry Plant Fight

Three members of the citizens group Nebraska Communities United (NCU) filed a lawsuit yesterday in the Nebraska District Court of the 6th Judicial District against the City of Fremont on the illegal blighting of farmland to provide Tax Incentive Financing (TIF) for the proposed Costco/Lincoln Premium Poultry chicken processing plant. Nebraska Statute NEB. REV. STAT. § 18-2103 does not provide for blighting large portions of agricultural land for the use of TIF money. The disputed area by law must be urban or suburban, and not rural in character. With limited citizen participation, the Fremont City Council voted this month to annex and blight nearly 1,000 acres to site the operation. Over 400 acres are prime farmland, currently cornfields.

“The City of Fremont is trying to sidestep State laws and declare perfectly good agricultural land as
blighted and substandard, and it needs to be stopped," said lifelong local farmer and NCU member John Schauer.

“We had hoped that it would not come to this,” said the plaintiffs’ Lincoln-based attorney, Greg Barton of Barton Law P.C., L.L.O. “But Fremont officials left us with no other choice.”

For months the plan to site the proposed massive Costco-owned poultry operation, called Project
Rawhide, has been the center of local community dispute. Lincoln Premium Poultry was created by
Georgia-based Crider Foods to operate the sprawling industrial animal processing facility. The proposed complex will include a feed mill, hatchery and processing facility, turning out approximately 340,000 chickens per day.

“Industry giants and large-scale animal operations across the nation are evading the law at the expense of community health and citizen rights,” said Laura Krebsbach, Regional Representative for Socially Responsible Agricultural Project (SRAP), a national nonprofit working with NCU to organize and educate Fremont community members on the impact of industrial poultry facilities. “These Fremont residents voiced their concerns to Costco and were not heard. Now they will.”
The lawsuit also alleges violations of citizen rights of due process under Federal and State laws, including under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and NEB. REV. STAT. § 20-148 and NEB. REV. STAT. §§ 25-21,149.

NCU leader, Randy Ruppert says the slate of public hearings did more harm than good to community
confidence in Costco, Lincoln Premium Poultry and their own City Council.

“Every vote was 8 to 0. Our elected officials had their minds made up before there was even one public hearing,” said Ruppert. “With Costco driving the agenda, equal time was not even a possibility.”

A temporary injunction request was also filed that would stop the City of Fremont from taking further action on Project Rawhide. Additionally, the submission includes a Notice of Intent to subpoena the City, the Greater Fremont Development Council, and blighting study preparer JEO Consulting that will require preservation of all documents associated with the project.

“Above our State Capitol is inscribed ‘The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness in the Citizen,” said
Schauer. “With the changes the Costco operation threatens to bring to this community, there is no
better time to remember and follow those words.”



HEAT EFFECTS ON ALFALFA
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               As we experience the extreme heat of summer, plants adjust in various ways.

               When it gets hot, alfalfa plants grow more slowly and moisture stress becomes common, even in moist soil.  Production of high-quality hay is nearly impossible due to high temperatures, especially at night.  High night-time temperatures cause rapid respiration rates in alfalfa, burning off valuable nutrients that plants accumulated during the day.  This often produces alfalfa hay with fine stems that contain high protein, but they also have high fiber and low relative feed value.  So if your hay tests low, blame the heat.

               Another problem is how fast alfalfa plants mature.  When it’s hot, alfalfa may begin to bloom in less than four weeks.  If you use blooming as a signal to harvest, this early bloom can be misleading.  Alfalfa plants need more time, not less time to rebuild nutrient reserves in their roots during hot weather because they burn off nutrients instead of moving them to the roots when it is hot.  So watch the calendar as well as your plants to determine when to cut.

               You might adjust time of day when you cut hay.  Some research has shown that cutting in late afternoon produces higher quality hay than cutting in the morning.  But, on good drying days it still may be wiser to cut in the morning.  When cut hay stays above fifty percent moisture, plant cells continue to respire, burning away valuable nutrients.  Hay cut late in the day respires all night long, losing yield and quality.  On good drying days, plant cells can dry enough to be stabilized before nightfall, reducing respiration losses.

               Getting high quality hay is challenging.  Both you and the weather must cooperate and even then there are no guarantees.



Nebraska Producers Reminded of Aug. 1 Deadline to Submit Nominations for Farm Service Agency County Committees

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nebraska Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Dan Steinkruger today reminded farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers they have until Aug. 1, 2016, to nominate eligible candidates to serve on local FSA county committees.

“The August 1 deadline to submit nominations is quickly approaching,” said Steinkruger. “If you’ve been considering nominating a candidate or nominating yourself to serve on your local county committee, I encourage you to go to your county office right now to submit that nomination form. I especially encourage the nomination of beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as women and minorities. This is your opportunity to have a say in how federal programs are delivered in your county.”

FSA county committees help local farmers through their decisions on commodity price support loans, conservation programs and disaster programs, and by working closely with FSA county executive directors.

To be eligible to hold office as a county committee member, individuals must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and live in the local administrative area where they are running. A complete list of eligibility requirements, more information and nomination forms are available at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

All nominees must sign the nomination form FSA-669A. All nomination forms for the 2016 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 1, 2016. Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters by Nov. 7 and are due back to the local USDA Service Centers on Dec. 5. The newly elected county committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2017.



USGC Members Gather In Louisville for Summer Meeting

As the public conversation about the merits of trade heats up, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) members are gathering in Louisville, Kentucky, for the export market development organization’s summer business meetings.

USGC delegates and guests at the 56th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting will hear from dynamic speakers on the impact of trade to U.S. agriculture and the grains sectors specifically as well as updates on USGC programs operating in more than 50 countries.

Presentations in the general sessions and topical breakouts Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will also provide information on the economic impact of USDA export market development programs and specific hot topics including ethanol export promotion programs, feed grain market development and trade with the European Union.

“Exports of corn, sorghum and barley were worth nearly $12 billion to the U.S. economy last marketing year, with exports of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol worth another $4.6 billion,” said USGC Chairman Alan Tiemann, a farmer from Nebraska. “That is real economic impact on U.S. farmers, the agribusinesses who support their operations and our national livelihood.

“Those of us gathering in Louisville this week know how critical the grain trade is to our operations and are committed to growing it this year and long into the future.”

Also at the meeting, USGC Advisory Teams (A-Teams), which provide guidance and set priorities for the Council’s operations, will meet to hear mid-year reports on strategies to promote and expand exports in key markets.



Nebraska FFA Foundation Announces Milstead Leadership Development Endowment

The Nebraska FFA Foundation is pleased to announce it has received $40,000 to establish the Milstead Leadership Development Endowment.

The endowment will fund new FFA chapter development, local Supervised Agriculture Experiences either in the entrepreneurship or school-based enterprises, agriculture teacher professional development in power, structure and technical systems, agriculture teacher recruitment, as well as retention or awards and recognition related to power, structure and technical system pathways or in agricultural entrepreneurship.

Perry Case, an owner of Plains Equipment Group says, “The leadership and character that has been demonstrated by Jim Milstead through his career with John Deere Company and its dealerships, as well as his involvement on the Board of Directors for Plains Equipment aligns perfectly with the development of agricultural youth through FFA in Nebraska!  What better way to honor Jim than to carry on his legacy by developing future ag leaders through FFA!”

“Right now, there is a great need in our teachers having the skills necessary to teach the power, structure and technical systems pathway courses like welding and small engines. We also see the need for more skilled workers in this area, so this endowment will give Ag Ed programs the tools they need to make a great long term impact for the future of that segment of the industry specifically,” says Stacey Agnew, Nebraska FFA Foundation Executive Director.

In addition to a cash donation, the Case Family Foundation has donated Mr. Milstead’s 2005 Harley Road King Classic motorcycle and special trailer, which will be auctioned at Husker Harvest Days on September 14. All proceeds will be added to the Milstead Leadership Development Endowment.



Iowa Soybean Association supports proposed Wright County pork processor

A pork processing facility planned for construction in rural Wright County is the kind of bread-and-butter economic development that has defined Iowa’s leadership in food production for generations. It’s also the type of project that helps insulate the state from steep job cuts that can occur when the nation’s economy hits turbulence.

This assessment by the Iowa Soybean Association coincided with a public hearing hosted today by the Wright County Board of Supervisors in Clarion. Nearly 125 people attended the meeting and provided two hours of public comment regarding the state-of-the-art facility proposed by Prestage Farms of Iowa.

“The vast majority of comments were in support of the project,” said ISA member Dean Coleman of Humboldt, who attended and spoke at the hearing. “The plan put forth by Prestage and county leaders is well thought out. The new facility will offer good paying jobs, environmental protections and new demand for pork and grain. It will be good for the people and communities of north central Iowa.”

As an Iowa soybean industry leader, Coleman has traveled the world marketing Iowa-grown soybeans and other agricultural products. This project, he said, is in keeping with the state’s strong reputation as a leading provider of high-quality food in a location ideally suited for agriculture.

“Pork is our No. 1 customer and a domestic one at that,” he said. “Projects like the one being proposed for Wright County are a win-win for communities, farmers and everyone who relies on an economy that’s working and producing.

“As a grain farmer, it also boosts market opportunities for what I grow and positions me as a trusted and reliable source of high-quality feed for pigs.”

Last year, Iowa farmers harvested a record 554 million bushels of soybeans. More than one out of every four rows of Iowa soybeans is consumed by nearly 40 million head of hogs raised annually in the state, according to ISA research.

The proposed $240 million pork processing plant would be located approximately five miles south of Eagle Grove on Highway 17. According to the company, the facility will initially employ 922 workers at an average wage of $15.75 per hour plus benefits.

The Wright County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a second hearing on the proposed facility for Monday, Aug. 1.



Dairy Budgets Available through ISU Extension and Outreach

Managing a dairy farm’s finances and ensuring it is profitable is no easy task. The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dairy team has developed a series of budgets to help dairy producers understand their current financial situation and determine the profitability of their operation.

The budgets can be found online through the ISU Extension and Outreach dairy team website.... http://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/content/iowa-dairy-budgets. 

Dairy businesses are often made up of many components that can either complement or compete with each other. The enterprise analysis allows producers to take stock of the entirety of their operation and determine its profitability.

“These are the most comprehensive budgets that we’ve seen specifically made for the dairy industry,” said Larry Tranel, dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We have included budgets for grazing, organic and conventional operations. As we look at the cost of production versus milk prices, it is imperative that producers understand their cost of production, especially those who are just getting into the industry or making changes.”

Three different types of budgets have been prepared, providing farmers who operate a conventional, organic or pasture based system an opportunity to set up a personalized budget plan that works for their operation’s herd size and production level.

"While the budgets are fantastic tools to begin the process of examining a farm’s profitability, visiting with an ISU Extension and Outreach dairy specialist is still a good idea," Tranel said. "Contact your dairy specialist for further information and assistance."

The budgets available online will be updated semi-annually, allowing for a current look at costs and projected income throughout the dairy industry. While the budgets are currently only available in PDF format, an editable Microsoft Excel spreadsheet version is coming soon.

The organic budgets included were created through a grant provided by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.



Placements Big Surprise in COF Report
David P. Anderson, Professor and Extension Economist
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

USDA released its July Cattle on Feed Report on July 22, which gets us to mid-year in cattle on feed inventory.  While marketings were largely in line with the pre-report estimates, June placements were the big surprise, only up 3 percent compared to last year.

Marketings were up 9.4 percent compared to last year.  June 2016 had the same number of slaughter days as June 2015, so the increase is not due to an additional day, but to a faster marketing and slaughter rate.  The 1.912 million head marketed in June was the most since 2012 when 1.935 were marketed.  The good news in the marketing numbers is that cattle are not backing up in the system, so far.

Placements, up 3 percent, were the big surprise, being on the low side of the pre-report estimates.  Good range and pasture conditions, fewer Mexican cattle imports, and some higher feed costs in the month likely cut into placements.  Placements totaled 1.525 million head, which was the largest since 2013 when 1.532 were placed.  The data continued the trend of placing heavier cattle.  The 640,000 placed in June that weighed over 800 pounds were the most in that weight category for that month since the data began in 1995.  The cattle in that heaviest weight class made up 42 percent of total placements, the largest percentage for a June in the data.  That has some implications for Fall marketings.  Placements weighing less than 600 pounds were the fewest (290,000 head) since 1998.

The combination of placements and marketings left cattle on feed up about 1.2 percent from a year ago and slightly higher than the 2010-2014 average.  Cattle on feed inventory largely reflects the seasonal pattern with declining inventories as we go into mid to late summer.   Importantly, the number of cattle on feed more than 120 days has continued to decline, down 301,000 (8 percent) from last year.  This report also included the mix of steers and heifers on feed.  The number of heifers on feed was up 160,000 head from a year ago and made up 34 percent of the cattle on feed.  But there were fewer heifers on feed than in 2014. 



USDA Cold Storage Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on June 30, 2016 were down 2 percent from the previous month and down 6 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 1 percent from the previous month but down 5 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 5 percent from the previous month and down 8 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were down 19 percent from last month but up 42 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on June 30, 2016 were up 5 percent from the previous month and up 11 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were up 1 percent from the previous month and up 12 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 11 percent from last month and up 9 percent from June 30, 2015.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on June 30, 2016 were up slightly from the previous month and up 10 percent from June 30, 2015. Total natural cheese stocks were a record high for the month of June, since the data was first recorded in 1917.  Butter stocks were up slightly from last month and up 27 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks were up 17 percent from last month and up 14 percent from a year ago. Total frozen fruit stocks were a record high for the month of June, since the data was first recorded in 1923.

Total frozen vegetable stocks were up 6 percent from last month and up 10 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were a record high for the month of June, since the data was first recorded in 1962.



Poll Finds Ag Lenders Helping Producers Restructure Debt as Commodity Prices Remain Top Challenge

A new poll of senior leaders from Midwest Farm Credit lenders shows commodity prices as the greatest challenge facing their customers. Farm Credit lenders are responding to this by providing services to restructure the financial situations of their customers. In addition, in a new AgriThought report, Jerry Lehnertz, senior vice president of Credit at AgriBank, examines the challenging farm economy and how lenders are helping farmers navigate it.

The poll’s results showed that 69.1 percent of senior credit and risk officers from the 17 Farm Credit Associations in the AgriBank District selected commodity prices as the top challenge. The next biggest challenges were input costs, credit availability and adverse weather effects.

When asked about the support they are providing to help farmers face these challenges, 86.7 percent said rebalancing borrower debt to bolster working capital and/or reduce principal payment requirements and 73.3 percent said refinancing credit to take advantage of current interest rates. Both answers reflect the changing financial landscape for commodity prices and how lenders are working with customers to help them maintain their financial health. Other responses included consulting on crop insurance and other risk management solutions (80 percent), counseling regarding future operating plans (63.3 percent), and marketing and hedging strategies (50 percent).

The Q&A report with Lehnertz provides a mid-year outlook for the ag economy. He discusses what effects the changing economy is having on farmers and what lenders are doing to help them cope with it.

“The focus has been on commodity prices—in the minds of many producers, if the price of corn were $4.50 per bushel vs. $3.50 per bushel, a lot of problems would be solved,” Lehnertz said. “However, hope—thinking that things might be better next year—is not a plan. Farmers and lenders need to work together to take proactive steps to succeed through today’s environment.”

AgriBank Poll
What is the biggest challenge facing the farmers who are your Association’s customers heading into the second half of 2016?    
Commodity price levels - 69%
Input costs - 10.3%
Other - 13.8%
Credit availability - 3.4%
Production risk due to adverse weather - 3.4%

What support is your Farm Credit Association providing to help borrowers through today’s challenges?      
Rebalancing debt to bolster working capital and/or reduce principal payment requirements - 86.7%
Consulting on crop insurance and other risk management solutions - 80%
Refinancing credit to take advantage of current interest rates - 73.3%
Counseling regarding future operating plans - 63.3%
Marketing and hedging strategies - 50%
Other - 26.7%



National FFA Organization Names 2016 Star Finalists

The National FFA Organization has selected 16 students from throughout the United States as finalists for its 2016 top achievement awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience.

The American Star Awards represent the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients. Recognized are FFA members who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through supervised agricultural experience (SAE) programs; earned an American FFA Degree, the highest level of achievement the organization bestows upon a member; and met agricultural education, leadership and scholarship requirements.

Each star finalist receives $2,000 from the National FFA Foundation.

The finalists include:

American Star Farmer
Tony Phillip Lopes of the Gustine FFA Chapter in California
Tysen Rosenau of the Carrington FFA Chapter in North Dakota
Evan Schaefer of the Miami Trace FFA Chapter in Ohio
Tyler Jacob Schnaithman of the Garber FFA Chapter in Oklahoma

American Star in Agribusiness
Terry Napier of the Madison Southern FFA Chapter in Kentucky
David Stenzel of the United South Central FFA Chapter in Minnesota
Garrett Dale Yerigan of the Pryor FFA Chapter in Oklahoma
Shane A. Mueller of the Garretson FFA Chapter in South Dakota.

American Star in Agricultural Placement
Joseph Knapp Boddiford of the Southeast Bulloch FFA Chapter in Georgia
Riley A. Lewis of the Prairie Heights FFA Chapter in Indiana
Brett Petersen of the Kerkohoven Murdock Sunburg FFA Chapter in Minnesota
Nathan Leystra of the Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA Chapter of Wisconsin

American Star in Agriscience
Jordan Paine of the Southern Valley FFA Chapter in Nebraska
Elizabeth A. Renner of the West Central FFA Chapter in South Dakota
Taylor Shayne Swinson of the Sulphur Springs FFA Chapter in Texas
Kaitlin Hallam of the Spanish Fork FFA Chapter in Utah

A panel of judges will interview finalists and select one winner for each award at the 89th National FFA Convention & Expo, Oct. 19-22, in Indianapolis. The four winners will receive an additional $2,000 and be announced at the convention and expo’s third general session as part of the Stars Over America Pageant on Thursday, Oct. 20.

The American FFA Degree recognition program is sponsored by ADM Crop Risk Service, Case IH, Elanco, Farm Credit and Syngenta as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.



University of Minnesota’s CIDRAP tackles the global public health issue of antimicrobial resistance

The University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) is tackling antimicrobial resistance, one of the world’s biggest public health issues, through a new program called the Antimicrobial Stewardship Project (ASP). The ASP will help address this issue by providing current, free, accurate and comprehensive information and educational resources on antimicrobial stewardship practice, research and policy.

Antimicrobial stewardship refers to efforts to improve the appropriate use of antimicrobials by promoting the selection of optimal antimicrobial drug regimen, dose, duration of therapy, and route of administration. The overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in humans and animals contributes to the increased occurrence of disease-causing microbes developing resistance and subsequently reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating infectious diseases. A recent comprehensive report on antimicrobial resistance estimates that globally, about 700,000 people die every year from drug-resistant strains of common bacterial infections, HIV, TB and malaria.

“CIDRAP is offering our knowledge and expertise in antimicrobial resistance to help provide possible solutions to this growing global public health problem,” said Michael Osterholm, Ph.D., M.P.H., Regents Professor and director of CIDRAP. “We’ve assembled a panel of 13 internationally renowned advisory experts to work with us. These people have expertise in a wide range of areas, including antimicrobial stewardship, antimicrobial resistance, clinical and veterinary medicine, clinical pharmacology, and public health.”

Antimicrobial stewardship must be addressed globally versus on a per country basis because the problem of resistance is found on every continent and transcends political boundaries. The CIDRAP ASP initiative intends to promote global collaboration through engagement of international experts and through working closely with other international programs devoted to addressing the problems of antimicrobial resistance.

The development of the ASP will assemble multiple initiatives to bring together the most current information we have available to create a “one stop shop” website.

The new ASP website will feature:
-    Expert webinars and podcasts
-    ASP news and information
-    Online resources available from the U.S. and other countries
-    Online journal club
-    Policy updates
-    Bibliographies and online resources
-    Events calendar and conference summaries
-    Social media outreach

CIDRAP’s new website will continue to report from a news perspective and will provide the most comprehensive news and information both existing and new along with original content.

“The best science in the world isn’t worth much unless it translates into good policies. We’re working to marry these segments with the ASP,” said Osterholm.

Osterholm believes this has implications for health today but also for decades to come. By 2050, antimicrobial resistance could be a bigger killer worldwide than either heart disease or cancer unless we take action to address this evolving crisis today. 



Nufarm U.S. Launches Scorch™ Herbicide for Broadleaf Weed Control

Nufarm introduces Scorch™ herbicide for U.S. farmers and ranchers combating a broad range of troublesome broadleaf weeds.

A unique premix of three active ingredients, Scorch is specifically designed with glyphosate-resistant and dicamba-tolerant kochia in mind. It also provides excellent control of more than 60 annual and 50 biennial/perennial weeds, including common ragweed, waterhemp, marestail, lambsquarters and Palmer amaranth.

Scorch is labeled for use on cereal grains, fallow, field corn, sorghum, range and pasture, and more.

Other key benefits of Scorch:
-    With true systemic control, Scorch kills weeds above and below ground instead of just stunting tough broadleaf weeds.
-    Because of its formulation, Scorch works better in challenging cooler weather than other dicamba and 2,4-D herbicides.

“Herbicide-resistant or tolerant weed populations are widespread, and many weed populations are resistant to more than one herbicide,” says Bob Bruss, Director, Technical Services for Nufarm. “With Scorch, we have combined three active ingredients, each with a broad range of activity, to create a tool that’s very effective in combatting weeds resistant to glyphosate, dicamba and ALS-inhibitor herbicides.”

Scorch can be applied to actively growing weeds as aerial, broadcast, band, or spot spray applications, and using water or sprayable fluid fertilizer as a carrier. See label for complete application timing and rate details.