Wednesday August 17 Ag News

LETTERS OF INTENT SIGNED IN TAIWAN, MORE EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES SOUGHT FOR NEBRASKA AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

Today, a Nebraska trade delegation, led by Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director (NDA) Greg Ibach, participated in an official ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan to sign letters of intent to purchase more than $400 million in Nebraska agricultural products. The purchases will include wheat, corn, soybeans, distiller’s grain, beef and pork.

The letters were signed by Ibach, representing the state, Nebraska Farm Bureau president Steve Nelson, representing Nebraska commodity boards, and representatives of various Taiwanese meat, grain and export/import associations. Also representing Nebraska at the signing ceremony were Von Johnson, board member, Nebraska Wheat Board and Richard Shrunk, board member, Nebraska Beef Council.

“These letters further strengthen our bond with Taiwan as a highly-valued trade partner,” said Ibach. “This trip has allowed us to showcase Nebraska’s quality agriculture products and continue discussions on how we can open additional trade opportunities in the future.”

Prior to the signing ceremony, a meeting was held with representatives from the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). The letter of intent includes purchases of Nebraska beef and pork products which have not been included in previous agreements. The delegation will participate in various promotions of Nebraska meat products and have the opportunity to receive customer feedback.

"Anytime we can continue to bolster our exports of beef from Nebraska that's a move in right direction for all agriculture,” said Shrunk. “We are very proud to be part of this event and look forward to continued success in this Taiwan market."

The delegation spent Tuesday meeting with the U.S. Soybean Export Council, U.S. Wheat Associates, Taiwan Vegetable Oil Manufacturers Association and the Taiwan Flour Mills Association to discuss options to overcome challenges facing Taiwan companies wishing to import soybeans and wheat.

“We appreciate the efforts of Governor Ricketts and Director Ibach in developing these letters with Taiwan. With half of our state’s wheat exported every year, it is vital that we maintain relationships and develop markets for our farmers,” said Von Johnson. “We’ve enjoyed working with the Taiwan Flour Mill Association in the past, and are excited that the relationship between Nebraska and Taiwan continues to grow.”

The delegation also met with representatives from Taiwan’s Agriculture Council and Food and Drug Administration’s Ministry of Health concerning policies that affect the importation of Nebraska and U.S. agricultural products.

Thursday’s activities will include:

·         A briefing by representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Ag Service, U.S. Commerce Foreign Commercial Service and other U.S. state departments on the current political and social environment in Taiwan and its impact on future agricultural exports.

·         Meeting with Dr. Julie C.L. Sun, Director of the Biotechnology Industry Study Centre at the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research to discuss biotechnology acceptance.

“The meeting with the Biotechnology Industry Study Centre is an opportunity for us to discuss the importance of biotechnology acceptance,” said Ibach. “This discussion will allow us to talk about the success Nebraska farmers have had utilizing biotechnology on their farms to produce a safe, abundant crop which we hope opens the doors to even more trading opportunities.”

The Nebraska trade delegation is scheduled to complete activities in Taiwan on Thursday and begin the return trip to the U.S. on Friday.



RYE, TRITICALE, OR WHEAT – WHICH IS BEST?
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Are you planting or at least thinking about planting wheat, rye, or triticale for early spring forage?  Which one will you choose?

               Which small grain – wheat, rye, or triticale – should you plant this fall for forage next spring?  Let’s look at some of their characteristics to help you select.

               Let’s start with cereal rye.  Rye is your best choice for the earliest grazing possible.  Because it’s early, it also may be the best match for double cropping.  Some varieties provide quite a bit of fall growth, too, if planted early.  Rye also may be the most reliable when planted under stressful conditions.  But it has some drawbacks.  It turns stemmy and matures much earlier than wheat or triticale, losing feed value and palatability earlier in the spring.  Plus, wheat grain producers don’t want it contaminating fields next year.

               Triticale holds on to its feed value best into late spring.  This makes it well suited for hay and silage, or for stretching grazing well into June if you don’t mind starting two or three weeks later compared to rye.  But triticale tends to be a bit more susceptible to winter injury.

               Winter wheat has been the small grain of choice for winter and spring grazing in the southern plains where higher winter temperatures allow growth to continue, although slowly.  Up here where wheat goes dormant, though, its carrying capacity is not as high as triticale or rye.  But it is top quality before stems develop.  And it’s the clear choice if you want the double use as early pasture and then for grain.

               So there it is.  Rye for early pasture, triticale for hay, silage, or later grazing, and wheat for grazing plus grain.  You may have other factors affecting your choice, but in general, these guidelines work well.



“Rural Infrastructure Summit” will be August 29th in Ames

The Summit will address how we develop new, innovative ideas to solve the infrastructure challenges that rural America faces today and in the future; both in the day-to-day operations of the agriculture economy and in moving products around the world.

WHAT:           Rural Infrastructure Summit
WHO:             An all-star line-up of agribusiness and association leaders
WHEN:           Monday, Aug. 29, 2-5:00 pm, followed by a networking reception
WHERE:        Iowa State Center’s Scheman Building in Ames, IA.  Rooms 167-179
WHY:            The Summit will address how we develop new, innovative ideas to solve the infrastructure challenges facing rural America today and in the future; both in the day-to-day operations of the agriculture economy and in moving products around the world.

The program will consist of two panels moderated by Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse Editor.

Welcome - Leif Magnusson, President, CLAAS Global Sales Americas and Chair of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers

Keynote: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey

Panel 1 - Rural Infrastructure and the Ag Economy: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
• Bob Fox - Vice Chair, Ag and Rural Affairs Steering Committee, National Association of Counties, and Commissioner, Renville County, MN
• Doug Boone, President, The Rural Broadband Association, and CEO, Premier Communications, Sioux Center, IA
• Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director, Soy Transportation Coalition
• Stuart Anderson, Iowa DOT, Director of Planning, Programming and Modal Division
• Amanda De Jong, Senior Policy Advisor, Iowa Corn Growers Association

Panel 2 - Disruptive Innovation: Not Just for Silicon Valley
• Andrew Jacob, Chief Vice President, Regulatory, Legislative and Compliance Officer, CoBank
• John Engelen, Vice President, Government Affairs, CHS Inc.
• Darryl Matthews, Senior Vice President and Sector Head, Agriculture, Forestry, Positioning Services and HarvestMark Divisions, Trimble Navigation, LTD
• Kevin Kimle, Director, Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative, Iowa State University
• Bert Farrish, Manager, Big River Rice & Grain, Pioneer, LA

Please register before August 20 by sending a note to jodi@agri-pulse.com



Nelson joins Iowa Soybean Association to lead On-Farm Network

Scott Nelson joins the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) as director of the On-Farm Network this week.

In his role, Nelson will lead the association’s efforts in production research planning and execution across Iowa. He will also play a major part in partner and contract research efforts and manage On-Farm Network team personnel.

“We are delighted to welcome Nelson to ISA and our research team,” said Ed Anderson, director of ISA research. “He has credibility and respect across the agriculture community and the soybean industry as an insightful and trustworthy on-farm researcher. He will bring strong leadership to our On-Farm Network team, while contributing to our collaborative and integrated efforts in providing meaningful on-farm programs and services to our farmers and other stakeholders.”

Nelson brings more than 20 years of research experience to the position. His most recent research work at Beck’s Hybrids and previous positions as agronomy research manager and research scientist with Dupont Pioneer equipped Nelson with the skills to lead the On-Farm Network team to success.

 “The high-level work ISA does in crop management and water quality really drew me to the organization,” Nelson said. “There are so many things that I’m looking forward to doing at ISA including collaborating with farmers and public scientists to positively affect soybean and corn production as well as positively affecting soil health and water management.”

Nelson earned his master’s of crop physiology and production from Iowa State University and a bachelor’s in agronomy and plant genetics from the University of Arizona.

Farmers wanting an opportunity to meet Nelson are encouraged to stop by the ISA booth (No. 754) at the upcoming Farm Progress Show, Aug. 30-31 and Sept. 1.



 
Ethanol Stocks Ease, Production Surges

U.S. ethanol inventory fell slightly last week while domestic production increased to match a record high posted a month ago during the week-ended Aug. 12, according to information released Wednesday, Aug. 17, by the Energy Information Administration. Blending activity last week eased.

The data showed U.S. ethanol inventories decreased 35,000 barrels (bbl) to 20.425 million bbl for the week reviewed while up 1.9 million bbl, or 10%, year-over-year.

Plant production increased 11,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 1.1%, to 1.029 million bpd during the second week of August -- matching the record weekly output rate registered through July 15, and up 64,000 bpd, or 6.6%, year-over-year. For the four weeks ended Aug. 12, domestic ethanol production averaged 1.012 million bpd, 48,000 bpd or 5% above the comparable year-ago period.

Net refiner and blender inputs of ethanol fell for the second straight week, down 7,000 bpd, or 0.7%, to 943,000 bpd during the week-ended Aug. 12, while up 35,000 bpd or 3.9% year-over-year. The four week average blender input rate through Aug. 12 is up 40,000 bpd, or 4.4%, at 945,000 bpd.

Implied motor gasoline demand slipped 7,000 bpd last week to 9.762 million bpd, which was 0.6% higher than the same week in 2015. Over the last four weeks, motor gasoline product supplied averaged about 9.8 million bpd, up 1.7% from the same period last year.



Zimmerman Defends Atrazine at Senate Hearing

Losing access to the herbicide atrazine would be detrimental to both the farm economy and the environment, while setting a dangerous precedent for the future of crop management tools, National Corn Growers Association Board of Directors member Jim Zimmerman told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today at a field hearing on the impact of federal regulation on agriculture.

In June, the Environmental Protection Agency released its draft ecological risk assessment for atrazine, including recommendations that would result in a de facto ban on the popular herbicide.

"Atrazine is the most widely used herbicide in conservation tillage systems. Without atrazine, farmers would have to use higher quantities of other herbicides that are less effective while increasing tillage and threatening soil health and nutrients," said Zimmerman, who farms corn, soybeans, and wheat in Rosendale, Wisconsin.

Conservation tillage is a farming method that leaves stubble and residue from the previous year's crop on the field, to cover the soil's surface. Conservation tillage farming practices offer many environmental benefits, including protecting the soil from water and wind erosion, conserving moisture, reducing runoff, and improving wildlife habitat - all while reducing the amount of labor, fuel, and machinery used on a farm.

"This all impacts the bottom line" (of a farming operation), Zimmerman told lawmakers. Studies suggest that losing atrazine could cost corn farmers up to $59 per acre - or up to $2.5 billion to the corn industry.

Like many farmers, Zimmerman said he is frustrated that while the law requires the EPA to base its decisions on science, the Agency appears to be ignoring scientific evidence on atrazine.

"Atrazine has been used in this country for more than 50 years. During that time, more than 7,000 scientific studies have been conducted on the safety of this herbicide to both the environment and to humans. The evidence overwhelmingly confirms atrazine is safe," Zimmerman told lawmakers. If EPA enacts a de facto ban on atrazine despite such strong evidence demonstrating its safety, all crop protection tools are at risk, he explained.

"The cornerstone of our regulatory process must continue to be the best science and data. The credibility of the Agency and the long-term sustainability of U.S. agriculture depend on it."



Three Fertilizers See Large Price Declines

After months of only slight declines, average retail fertilizer prices finally appeared to be dropping substantially the second week of August 2016, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN. While all fertilizer prices were lower, the average prices of several fertilizers were significantly lower than a month earlier.

Anhydrous is now 6% lower compared to the previous month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $522 per ton. Both urea and UAN28 were 5% lower compared to the second week of July. Urea had an average price of $345/ton and UAN28 $249/ton.

The remaining five fertilizers were lower in price compared to the month earlier, but these moves were not significant. DAP had an average price of $453/ton, MAP $482/ton, potash $344/ton, 10-34-0 was at $528/ton and UAN28 $249/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.38/lb.N, anhydrous $0.32/lb.N, UAN28 $0.44/lb.N and UAN32 $0.47/lb.N.

Retail fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. All fertilizers are now double-digits lower.

Both UAN32 and 10-34-0 are 16% lower, MAP is 18% less expensive and DAP is 20% lower. UAN28 is 21% lower, anhydrous is 23% less expensive, urea is 25% lower and potash is 28% less expensive compared to last year.



CLA Calls On Campaigns to Appoint EPA Administrator with Agricultural Background

Speaking yesterday at the Agriculture Policy Forum during the Illinois State Fair, CropLife America (CLA) President and CEO Jay Vroom called for presidential candidates to assure Americans that they will create a new culture at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that understands and strives to work with production agriculture. Since its creation in 1970, EPA has regulated many areas affecting agriculture, including pesticides, water quality and land use. Yet, as Vroom shared, none of the administrators have had a strong background in agriculture, hindering the process of supporting and advancing the U.S. food production system. 

"Why not consider naming a farmer to be the next administrator of EPA?" Vroom asked visitors at the state fair. "Such a move by the next President would help to remove barriers to resolving environmental concerns in agriculture in ways that are supportive of food production. Moreover, a farmer’s experience and in-the-field knowledge could even help EPA with implementing the areas of their mission that are outside of agriculture, further supporting our national economy!”

Advancements in agriculture have led U.S. growers to produce more while reducing their environmental footprint. From 1948 to 2011, for instance, soybean yields doubled, corn yields grew more than fourfold, and labor productivity increased by nearly 16 times. In the same period, total factor productivity (TFP) — the contribution from all inputs in production — grew by about 150 percent.[1] Continual progress in the development of products for farmers, including crop protection products, is necessary to ensure that growers can keep production high without needing to use more land.

Vroom also spoke about the need to preserve the culture of agricultural innovation to benefit growers in the U.S. as well as farmers all over the world. "The U.S. has the leading private and public agriculture research infrastructure contributing to the world's creative engine. Today's political regulatory climate has decreased some of the incentives to innovate; we need to give our agricultural research a jump-start and increase the momentum so that we’ll have the innovations we'll need in 10 and 20 years from now.”

The Ag Policy Forum was organized by several Members of the US Congress from Illinois, including Congressman Rodney L. Davis, Congressman Darin LaHood, Congressman John Shimkus, Congressman Mike Bost and Congressman Adam Kinzinger.



Syngenta offers 12 new Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybean technology varieties

Syngenta will sell 12 new soybean seed varieties with dicamba-tolerant soybean technology in its proprietary NK® and Golden Harvest® brands for 2017 planting. These new varieties offer Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® technology, under a royalty-bearing license from Monsanto Company, in both brands to provide new options and choices for farmers.

“The launch of NK and Golden Harvest brand soybean varieties with this new technology not only gives farmers a great new weed management option, but the bar for yield performance continues to rise from unique genetics not available anywhere else,” says Scott Erickson, soybean seed product manager at Syngenta.

Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans contain the Roundup Ready 2 Yield® trait technology stacked with a trait that provides tolerance to dicamba. At this time, there are no dicamba formulations registered for in-crop use in Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans in the United States.

For more information about Syngenta soybean varieties, visit www.SyngentaSeeds.com or contact your local Seed Advisor or retailer.



Ardent Mills Adds States to Organic Wheat Producer Program and Organic–Certified Facilities

Since being the first in the industry to announce efforts to help U.S. wheat growers double organic wheat acres last December, Ardent Mills, the premier flour-milling and ingredient company, has expanded its producer program to a total of seven U.S. states and a Canadian province while adding more organic-certified milling and packaging locations along with storage.

"Since our initial announcement, we have continued to see growing demand from restaurants and food companies for organic wheat flour for use in fresh, packaged and menu recipes," states Ardent Mills CEO, Dan Dye. "This is a significant opportunity for growers to become a part of an emerging market and to create additional value for their crops on the path to organic certification. We have been providing organic flour since 1996 and are well positioned to meet this bold challenge."

"By planning and launching regional and national products, we can deliver supply assurance and scalability," says Ardent Mills Director of Specialty, Risk Management, Shrene White. "Since 2015, we've added organic durum, organic cracked wheat and organic spelt to our product mix, which also includes organic whole wheat flour, organic bread wheat flour, organic all-purpose wheat flour and organic pastry flour, various ancient grains and breads made at our Innovative Bakery Resources (IBR) facility."

Ardent Mills maintains strong producer relationships, contracting organic wheat acres in seven states (Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Texas and Wyoming) and a Canadian province (Saskatchewan) to its program in 2016. Soon the company will have a total of eight organic-certified milling and packaging locations along with a storage facility, all focused on quality, consistency, and performance.

Almost 6 percent of total breads and grains sold in the U.S. are organic, according to Organic Trade Association's (OTA) 2016 Organic Industry Survey. OTA data show there was an 8.5 percent increase in organic breads and grains sold in 2015 over 2014 sales.

Ardent Mills VP of Risk Management, Mike Miller, says, "We're very excited to work with farmers as they transition to this growing market and to provide our customers with an assured supply in support of their new product and menu introductions. We know there is demand that will continue to increase well into the future. We understand the barriers our growers face when transitioning to organic. Ardent Mills is addressing these challenges with our Organic Initiative 2019."

Beginning in January 2016, Ardent Mills hosted a series of grower meetings in the west. These sessions, coordinated in conjunction with Oregon Tilth, a leading nonprofit certifier and educator, were opportunities for farmers to learn more about Ardent Mills' Organic Initiative 2019 and to learn more about organic certification.

"As farmers join this effort, they will have direct support services, workshops and long-term contracts for transitional and organic wheat bushels," notes White.



Deadline Extended - Bayer Seeks Nominations for Award Honoring Collaboration between Beekeepers and Growers

Bayer Crop Science Division today announced an extended deadline for nominations for its fourth annual Bee Care Community Leadership Award. Originally due Aug. 19, applications will now be accepted through Aug. 26. The 2016 program recognizes a partnership between a beekeeper and a grower whose collaboration protects pollinators and benefits their community.

An initiative of Bayer’s North American Bee Care Program, the award provides a $6,000 grant to the winners to be used in support of a community partnership that demonstrates how beekeepers and growers are working together to promote and protect pollinators. This year‘s award has evolved from previous years of focusing on the efforts of individuals to recognizing the importance of collaboration between beekeepers and growers in supporting our pollinators.

A panel of three judges consisting of Pamela Smith, editor at The Progressive Farmer, Joe Graham, editor at the American Bee Journal and Dr. Becky Langer-Curry, program manager for the Bayer Bee Care Center, will consider applications based on select criteria. Specifically, they will make their decision based on a description of the cooperative project submitted, the quality of answers to questions about bee health, and a letter of reference from one of several stakeholders, such as an apiarist, community organization, grower, agricultural group or member of a relevant organization, such as a beekeeping or gardening association.

“Honey bees play a critical role in supporting modern agricultural production, the pollination value of which has been estimated as much as $15 billion to American crops,” said Dr. Becky Langer-Curry, project manager for the Bayer North American Bee Care Program. “By working together, beekeepers and growers have shown how they can promote pollinators in their communities. This effort will highlight such programs and support partnerships that support crops and honey bees in a mutually beneficial manner.”

Any beekeeper and grower pair that has created a partnership that promotes bee health in their community may apply. Those interested in applying for the award can obtain an application at BeeHealth.Bayer.us/Beekeepers/Community-Leadership-Award. The extended deadline for submissions is Aug. 26, 2016.

For more information on Bayer’s bee health initiatives, please visit: Beehealth.Bayer.us.