Monday August 15 Crop Progress + Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending August 14, 2016, Nebraska experienced near normal temperatures, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Many areas received more than two inches of rain, while large pockets in the central and southwestern parts of the State remained dry. In these dry areas, there was concern about the lack of rainfall affecting dryland crop conditions. There were 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 8 percent very short, 30 short, 59 adequate, and 3 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 6 percent very short, 29 short, 64 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 18 fair, 59 good, and 17 excellent. Corn dough was 76 percent, ahead of 64 last year and the five-year average of 66. Dented was 17 percent, ahead of 11 last year, but near 19 average.

Sorghum condition rated 0 percent very poor, 0 poor, 15 fair, 68 good, and 17 excellent. Sorghum headed was 87 percent, near 91 last year, but ahead of 76 average. Coloring was 27 percent, ahead of 10 both last year and average.

Soybeans condition rated 1 percent very poor, 3 poor, 18 fair, 63 good, and 15 excellent. Soybeans blooming was 97 percent, equal to both last year and average. Setting pods was 81 percent, near 77 last year and 80 average.

Oats harvested was 89 percent, near 91 last year, and behind 96 average.

Alfalfa condition rated 4 percent very poor, 4 poor, 17 fair, 62 good, and 13 excellent. Alfalfa third cutting was 77 percent, ahead of 60 last year and 62 average. Fourth cutting was 17 percent, ahead of 11 last year.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 24 fair, 59 good, and 10 excellent. Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 11 short, 86 adequate, and 2 surplus.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

Above normal precipitation across much of Iowa limited fieldwork to 4.3 days suitable for the week ending August 14, 2016, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities for the week included cutting hay and fungicide and insecticide applications. Spraying activities were wrapping up in some areas.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus.

Eighty percent of the corn crop was in or beyond the dough stage, 5 days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the 5-year average. Twenty-three percent of Iowa’s corn crop reached the dent stage, 3 days ahead of normal. Corn condition rated 83 percent good to excellent.

Soybeans blooming reached 97 percent, 8 days ahead of the previous year. Eighty-seven percent of soybeans were setting pods, with a few scattered reports of soybeans starting to turn color. Soybean condition rated 83 percent good to excellent, although there were scattered reports of Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) across the State.

Ninety-five percent of the oat crop for grain or seed has been harvested, equal to last year’s pace.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay is 52 percent complete, 4 days ahead of average. Hay condition rated 73 percent good to excellent, while pasture condition rated 62 percent good to excellent. Livestock conditions were reported as normal.



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

Dry weather prevailed across the state through Wednesday (10th) morning. Thunderstorms began developing Wednesday afternoon and continued increasing in coverage Wednesday night into Thursday. The heaviest rains came Thursday night into Friday morning when rain totals of three to five inches were common over large areas of central and east central Iowa, as well as over the far southwest corner of the state. Most of the weekend was dry excepting some isolated showers and thunderstorms in central Iowa Saturday (13th) night. Weekly rain totals varied from 0.62 inches at Dorchester in far northeast Iowa to 7.14 inches at Swisher in Johnson County. There was a statewide average of 2.20 inches of rain, or more than double the normal for the week of 0.98 inches. The past reporting week began mild with daytime highs mostly near 80 degrees on Monday (8th) while Estherville reported the lowest temperature of the week with a Monday morning minimum of 52 degrees. However, heat and humidity quickly returned on Tuesday with the hottest weather prevailing on Wednesday (10th) and Thursday (11th). Heat indices peaked at 110 degrees at Shenandoah on Wednesday and 113 at Mount Pleasant on Thursday. Actual air temperatures maxed out at 96 degrees at Sioux City on Wednesday and 97 at Lamoni on Thursday. Seasonal temperatures and humidity returned for the weekend. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 2.5 degrees above normal.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

U.S. corn and soybeans continued to develop at an average to slightly ahead-of-average pace last week, while the condition of both crops held steady, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report released Monday.

The nation's corn crop was 73% in the dough stage as of Sunday, ahead of 65% last year and ahead of the five-year average of 60%. Corn dented was 21%, ahead of 18% last year but even with the five-year average of 21%. Corn condition was unchanged from the previous week at 74% good to excellent.

Soybeans were 95% blooming, slightly ahead of last year's 92% and the five-year average of 93%. Eighty percent of soybeans were setting pods, also slightly ahead of 76% last year and 75% for the five-year average. Soybean conditions were also unchanged from the previous week at 72% good to excellent.

Winter wheat was 97% harvested as of Sunday, down from 99% a year ago, but above the five-year average of 95% harvested. 

Spring wheat harvest was 48% complete, up from 46% a year ago and above the five-year average of 30%. Spring wheat condition was rated as 66% good to excellent, down two percentage points from the previous week.

Cotton setting bolls was reported at 88%, compared to 70% last week, 72% last year and an 83% average. Twelve percent of cotton bolls were opening, compared to 9% last year and a 10% average. Cotton condition held steady from the previous week at 48% good to excellent.

Rice was 94% headed, compared to 86% last week, 86% last year and an 80% average. Thirteen percent of the rice crop was harvested, compared to 12% last year and a 9% average. Rice condition was down 1 percentage point from the previous week at 65% good to excellent.

Sorghum was 83% headed, compared to 74% last week, 80% last year and 72% on average. Coloring was reported at 42%, compared to 31% last week, 37% last year and a 37% average. Twenty-three percent of sorghum was mature, equal to last year, but slightly behind the five-year average of 26%. Sorghum condition held steady from the previous week at 65% good to excellent.

Oats were 80% harvested as of Sunday, compared to 68% last week, 75% last year and a 71% average.

Barley harvest was reported at 55% complete, compared to 32% last week, 59% last year and a 34% average. Barley condition was down 1 percentage point from the previous week at 71% good to excellent.



LATE SUMMER PLANTING OF ALFALFA
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Is planting alfalfa in you plans yet this year?  This is a good time to plant and replace fields that have dried up or thinned out.

               Alfalfa planted in late summer establishes well when moisture is available.  Be sure to plant early enough, though, so alfalfa has six to eight weeks between emergence and freeze back to develop good cold tolerance.  In northwest Nebraska or southern South Dakota, you probably need to plant right away.  But only if you also have moisture present for seeds to germinate.  Any delay is likely to cause poorer stands.  In southeast Nebraska you can plant as late as Labor Day but earlier is better.  In central Kansas alfalfa can be planted as late as mid-September.

               Proper seedbed preparation is crucial for late summer plantings.  Good seed-to-soil contact and weed control are critical, both when seeding into tilled, prepared seedbeds or into wheat stubble.  Conserve soil moisture whenever possible, and put extra effort into getting a firm, firm seedbed.

               Whenever seeding alfalfa in late summer, be especially wary of grasshoppers.  They sometimes seem to come from nowhere, and they love to eat new alfalfa seedlings.  Spray field margins with insecticides before planting if necessary.

               One important caution — never plant into dry soil.  In the Great Plains, August plantings into dry soil may lie dormant for several weeks until it rains.  Too little time then will remain for seedlings to develop good cold tolerance.  Many failures occur because fall rains come too late or not at all.

               But if you have moisture, then plant.  With help from Mother Nature, good hay is just a spring away.



ICON Concerned with Brand Committee’s Action

The State Auditor of Public Accounts recently completed an audit of the Nebraska Brand Committee with a number of resulting deficiencies which are of great concern to members of the Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska (ICON). Perhaps more alarming is the response of the Nebraska Brand Committee to the audit and the attitude of the committee which appears to ignore the spirit of the audit and the issues it raised.

The deficiencies noted in the audit cover a wide variety of topics, but indicate an overall sloppiness in the manner in which the brand committee has been operating under the direction of Shawn Harvey who leads the paid staff at the Committee. Although the Committee, at its most recent meeting, accepted Harvey's resignation, they then offered him another position at equal pay and asked him to continue to act as interim director, while Harvey's actions and his veracity as reported in the audit are questionable at best. The creation of this new position would appear to be in opposition to state statutes governing the brand committee.

The audit states that Mr. Harvey had used a state-provided vehicle for personal use, that Harvey had claimed to  have attended a meeting in Cheyenne with the head of the Wyoming Brand Committee when, in fact, the Wyoming office has no record of Harvey's visit and denied that a meeting had taken place there.  It should be apparent to the public and to the committee that honesty and truthfulness are essential to the job at hand and that the committee's actions do not indicate that they appreciate the seriousness of the accusations against Harvey which were revealed in the audit. Ironically, they did cast a unanimous ballot to accept the terms of the audit which would indicate that they recognize that the facts brought forward by the state auditor were legitimate.

Equally as troubling was a decision to release a check for cattle sold at a packing plant to the owner before the paperwork had cleared and before ownership was verified. This is clearly opposed to both state statute and common sense, since the purpose of the brand committee and the brand inspectors and staff is to be sure that cattle ownership is verified before money changes hands. 

Brand inspection is an important tool for livestock owners to assure that the livestock being sold belong to the individual doing the selling.  When funds are released ahead of that fundamental requirement being verified one has to wonder how many other actions like this have occurred prior to the state auditor catching this one.

Harvey also backdated an employee record which is a violation of law. Finally, thousands of dollars of checks were lost which required that they be reissued by Tyson Foods to the committee. In all, 18 items were highlighted by the State Auditor.

The Brand Committee is a public body. It is not the property of any trade group but is designed to serve cattlemen across the brand area. The committee has failed to do its duty. The assistant director recently resigned, a long-time inspector also quit, as did a Committee director. In addition, board members of ICON have received several calls from inspectors who are unhappy with the leadership of the organization. It was only a few years ago that some individuals now serving on the brand committee were lobbying to eliminate the brand inspection program.

Cattlemen across the brand area need to pay attention to what the committee is doing. Inspection is a valuable tool of law enforcement and certainly Cattlemen across the state of Nebraska don't want to lose it. The State Auditor has been in contact with Attorney General, Doug Peterson, and the ICON board encourages Mr. Peterson to take the Auditors report seriously in the investigation which it undertakes.



Branstad, Reynolds and Northey highlight water quality efforts underway statewide

At the Administration’s weekly press conference at the Iowa State Fair today, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey announced that $3.8 million in cost share funds to help over 1,900 farmers install nutrient reduction practices have been obligated to farmers in 97 counties.  The practices that were eligible for this funding are cover crops, no-till or strip till, or using a nitrification inhibitor when applying fall fertilizer.

“We understand the importance of improving our state’s water quality,” said Branstad.  “This summer, we have been all over the state to see firsthand the more than 150 organizations and the thousands of farmers that have been collaborating to improve the state’s water quality through the science-based Nutrient Reduction Strategy.  It’s evident that everyone has a role to play in improving our water quality and we look forward water quality funding being a focal point of discussion in the upcoming 2017 legislative session.”

Reynolds added, “Iowans in both urban and rural areas of our state face challenges when we talk about our state’s water quality.  However, as we’ve seen all over the state in the past few months, many Iowans are already taking steps to prevent the nitrates and phosphorus from leaving our soil.  I have no doubt that Iowans will continue to work together to find solutions to improve our water quality.”

The over 1,900 farmers includes 900 farmers using a practice for the first time and more than 1,000 past users that are trying cover crops again and are receiving a reduced-rate of cost share. As a result, the $3.8 million in state funds will be matched by nearly $6 million from Iowa farmers investing to try these water quality practices.

“Farmers continue to take on the challenge of improving water quality and invest in practices focused on limiting nutrient loss.  Even in a challenging time economically in agriculture we have a record number farmers participating and willing to put their own money towards these practices.  Farmers are committed to action and willing to invest in water quality,” Northey said.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship received applications covering over 200,000 acres from more than 1,900 different farmers seeking to participate in the program. Farmers in 98 of the 100 Soil and Water Conservation Districts across the state signed up to participate.

Participants include 900 farmers using a practice for the first time and more than 1,000 past users that are trying cover crops again and are receiving a reduced-rate of cost share.  The first-time users cover 80,000 acres of cover crops, 4,800 acres of nitrification inhibitor, 6,600 acres of no-till and 1,900 acres of strip-till.  The past users will use cover crops on nearly 110,000 acres.

Farmers not already utilizing the practice were eligible cost share rate for cover crops of $25 per acre, $10 per acre for trying no-till or strip till and $3 per acre for using a nitrapyrin nitrification inhibitor when applying fall fertilizer. Farmers that had used cover crops in the past were eligible for $15 per acre in cost share.  Cost share was only available on up to 160 acres.

Farmers are encouraged to still reach out to their local Soil and Water Conservation District office as there may be other programs available to help them implement water quality practices on their farm.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship received $9.6 million for the Iowa Water Quality Initiative in fiscal 2017.  These funds will allow the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to continue to encourage the broad adoption of water quality practices through statewide cost share assistance as well as more intensive work in targeted watersheds.



Stopping the Spread of Palmer Amaranth, An Aggressive, Competitive Weed

Palmer amaranth is an invasive weed that is native to the southwestern United States. Over the last three years, however, the weed has made its way into Iowa and has been identified in at least nine counties, most recently in Madison, Clayton, Washington and Crawford counties.

Palmer AmaranthPalmer amaranth is related to waterhemp, a common weed found across Iowa. In addition to traditional weedy traits, the characteristic that makes those two weeds unique and hard to manage is their ability to evolve resistance to herbicides, according to Bob Hartzler, professor of agronomy and extension weed specialist at Iowa State University.

“Both weeds are adapted to a production system that relies on herbicides,” said Hartzler. “Waterhemp is a relatively non-competitive weed so many farmers have learned to accept lower levels of weed control. If Palmer amaranth spreads across the state and farmers try to manage it like they do waterhemp, it will have a huge negative economic impact.”

The known cases of Palmer amaranth in the state are isolated right now, and keeping it from spreading is the immediate need.

“Palmer amaranth built its reputation on how it devastated the cotton industry in the south after the near complete reliance on glyphosate in Roundup Ready cotton,” Hartzler said. “The best way to manage it is to slow its spread into and within the state. This is a highly competitive weed that has adapted to our current management system for corn and soybean crops.”

Potential Crop impact from Habitat Restoration Areas
The initial Palmer amaranth infestations in Iowa were found in crop fields associated with equipment and inputs from outside of the state. More recently, Palmer amaranth has been found on ground set aside for conservation practices. The weed most likely will not persist in these new locations being established for conservation habitat since the Palmer amaranth should be crowded out once native, perennial vegetation is established. The concern, however, is that until the perennial plants become established, Palmer amaranth may produce enough seed to begin moving into neighboring corn and soybean fields.

“With Palmer amaranth being so much more competitive than waterhemp it could have a significant economic impact due to higher weed management costs and greater yield losses,” said Hartzler.

Identifying Palmer Amaranth and Treatment
In the video below Hartzler describes Palmer amaranth and how to identify the weed. It can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/178360206.

Hartzler said Palmer amaranth needs to be identified early so it can be eradicated before it has an opportunity to establish itself. The difficulty arises because of how closely Palmer amaranth resembles waterhemp; the two weeds are virtually identical in their early growth stages.

The one consistent vegetative trait that can be used to differentiate Palmer amaranth from waterhemp is the relative length of the leaf petiole and leaf blade. After removing a leaf from the stem, bend the leaf backward so it lays over the leaf blade. If the petiole is longer than the blade, the weed in question is most likely Palmer amaranth. Not all leaves on a Palmer amaranth have this trait, but most plants will have some leaves with the long petiole.

Female Palmer amaranths have long bracts (modified leaves on the flower stem) that extend well beyond the other floral parts of the weed. As the plants mature these bracts become sharp and painful to the touch while waterhemp bracts remain soft. The flowering branches on Palmer amaranth are longer than those of waterhemp, and have a spiky appearance because of the large bracts.

Treatment
“The one thing we have going for us is that every corn and soybean field has waterhemp, so farmers have developed weed management programs targeting waterhemp,” said Hartzler.

“Programs that are effective on waterhemp should provide effective control of Palmer amaranth. That alone will make it hard for the weed to spread rapidly. However, Palmer amaranth is more aggressive and grows more rapidly than waterhemp so that reduces the window of opportunity to implement control tactics,” he said.

Much of the state’s waterhemp is already resistant to glyphosate (Roundup), and it is likely Palmer amaranth will carry that same resistance. Farmers need to develop diversified weed management programs that use multiple herbicide sites of action and include alternative management strategies to delay further selection of herbicide resistant weeds.
 
Conservation Habitats
While new detections of Palmer amaranth have been found in ground reserved for non-crop habitat restoration, there are ways to manage the weed while also continuing to grow the vegetation needed to support water quality and game birds, pollinators and other wildlife populations.

“The standard management practices for establishing native planting habitat is to mow that area three or four times during the first year because the weeds will take off much quicker than native plants. Additional mowing may also be needed in the second year after planting,” Hartzler said. “There is no reason to fear establishing this type of habitat, but anyone who does should become familiar with Palmer amaranth so they can distinguish it from waterhemp or other weeds in the area. In many of the infested fields the number of Palmer amaranth plants was low enough to allow for the hand removal of the plants.”



Rabobank Expects Rental Prices to Fall and Land Values to Follow

A new report from the Rabobank Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory group finds that order for U.S. ag commodity production activity to remain economically viable, land rent must decline.  The report, “The Land Value Wave Dips: Land Values Set to Decline Further, Despite Sticky Rental Prices,” explores the impact of low commodity prices on land values and rent prices..

The report goes on to note that from 2006 to 2013, significant increases in commodity prices, due to surging demand, signaled the need for more land to be converted to row crop production. The subsequent steep increases in agricultural land values have pulled enough acres into row crop production to oversupply most commodities, both domestically and globally.

“The result of this oversupply has been to drive agri commodity price levels below breakeven. After two years of economic losses at the farm level – which resulted largely from the significant drop in commodity prices – the cost of renting land remains sticky and unsustainably high,” notes report author and Rabobank senior analyst Sterling Liddell.

According to Rabobank, in 2017/18 and moving forward, rent values need to begin dropping in order to balance with lower commodity prices over the long term.

“We believe this will lead to the valuation of land also adjusting lower,” notes Liddell. “If rental costs remain sticky at unsustainable levels through the 2017/18 growing period, individual land assets face the threat of much deeper devaluation, as nutrient and crop protection programs are cut and abandonment (usage changes) increases.”



CWT Assists with 1.5 Million Pounds of Cheese Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 13 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) and Tillamook County Creamery Association, who have contracts to sell 1.506 million pounds (683 metric tons) of Cheddar, Colby, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia, Central America, the Middle East and North Africa. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from August through December 2016.

So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 32.161 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 8.373 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) and 21.301 million pounds of whole milk powder to 21 countries on five continents. The sales are the equivalent of 640.740 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis. Totals have been adjusted due to cancellations.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program in the long-term helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively affects all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.



Online Harvest Forms for NCGA Yield Contest Now Available
   
With harvest underway in some areas and soon to begin in others, the National Corn Growers Association announces that online harvest forms for the 2016 National Corn Yield Contest are now available. While the harvest information form deadline may seem distant, entrants are asked to report within seven business days of their final yield check or by Nov. 21, whichever comes first.

"While harvest has only begun in a few areas, we ask contest applicants to submit harvest forms within one week of their final yield check to allow NCGA staff adequate time to thoroughly review each form," said Production and Stewardship Action Team Chair Brent Hostetler. "The National Corn Yield Contest plays a significant role in recognizing excellence and finding new, more productive techniques. We hope that growers continue to support the contest by seeing their entry through and submitting their completed harvest data forms."

The online harvest form is available to both farmers and seed representatives using the same login process as the initial entry form. Login does require submission of the entrant's NCGA membership number.

NCGA moved to a solely online entry platform last year. This year, harvest entry documentation must also be submitted online. To complete the form, entrants will upload weight tickets and a form documenting row lengths. Prior to upload, both documents must be signed by the contest supervisor.

For half of a century, NCGA's National Corn Yield Contest has provided corn growers the opportunity to compete with their colleagues to grow the most corn per acre, helping feed and fuel the world. This has given participants not only the recognition they deserved, but the opportunity to learn from their peers.

Winners receive national recognition in publications such as the NCYC Corn Yield Guide, as well as cash trips or other awards from participating sponsoring seed, chemical and crop protection companies. The winners will be honored during Commodity Classic 2017 in San Antonio, Texas.



Farmers’ Almanac Releases Special 200th Collector’s Edition - And Forewarns of a Frigid Forecast

Farmers’ Almanac™ is once again proving that traditions never go out of style with the release of its 2017 anniversary edition on Monday, August 15, 2016. This expanded “throwback” edition features an eclectic mix of weather, astronomy, humor and everyday life-hacks, as well as the much-anticipated winter weather forecast.

The special collector’s edition takes a look back at 200 editions worth of clever, forward-thinking, and occasionally crazy “Almanackey” tips and advice, including Advice to Girls (1876) about playing hard to get; The Power of Sunshine (1869), which is relevant today; and How to Quiet a Fussy Child (1878) that involves molasses and feathers (really!).

“What's really fascinating is a look into how the world has changed, yet how it’s stayed the same,” says Managing Editor Sandi Duncan, Philom., “Some of the healthy tips are eerily appropriate – from warning off tobacco habits (1834), to limiting intake of sugary, greasy foods (1873). The 2017 Farmers’ Almanac truly rewards the curious reader.”

Winter Weather Freeze
Most well-known for its long-range weather predictions, the 2017 Farmers’ Almanac also contains a frigid forecast: “Return of the Ice Cold Winter” is how the Farmers’ Almanac describes the upcoming winter.

The Almanac, which bases its long-range forecasts on an almost 200 century-old formula, forewarns of a colder-than-normal winter for two-thirds of the nation. The exceptionally cold conditions will be most prevalent over the Northern Plains, Great Lakes, Midwest, Ohio Valley, Middle Atlantic, Northeast, and New England states. The West however, seems to be spared any extreme cold this winter, with the Almanac predicting milder than normal conditions for many western states.

“February is the month to really be ready for cold conditions,” warns Editor Peter Geiger, Philom., “according to our long-range outlook, many places will see downright frigid temperatures this month, some as low as 40 degrees below zero!”

As far as snow, the Farmers’ Almanac does contain a forecast that should keep many skiers happy in the East.

The Great American Eclipse
For the first time in 26 years a Total Solar Eclipse will be visible from the United States in August 2017. This edition of the Farmers’ Almanac shares useful details about where, when and how to view this eclipse safely and memorably.

Other stories that will appeal to readers who want to get back in touch with nature include how to raise chickens, ways to tap naturally into your own fountain of youth, a search for Farmers' Almanac Farmer of the Year, as well as Almanac staples, such as a gardening & fishing calendars, recipes (including last year’s Lemon Recipe Contest winners), life-hacks, and astronomical events that are sure to delight.

“Accurate long-range weather is what people associate with the Farmers’ Almanac, says Geiger. “Yet, from the start, it has grown into a manual of sorts that can help people live healthier lives. It has been a guide to good living no matter what is going in the outside world.