Thursday September 1 Ag News

Prepare Your Operation for the New Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD)
Steve Tonn, NE Extension Educator, Washington County

As January 1, 2017 nears, beef cattle producers need to be prepared for the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) regulation being implemented by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The regulation will require producers to work directly with their veterinarian to utilize feed grade antibiotics with all food producing livestock.

A Veterinary Feed Directive is a written order—paper or electronic—by a licensed veterinarian approving the use of a VFD medication (feed grade antibiotic) for the prevention, treatment or control of a diagnosed disease. As the regulation goes into effect, it will apply only to antibiotics in livestock feed. They will not affect feed use medications such as ionophores, coccidia, other parasite and insect control drugs, or reproductive control medications. They will also not apply to antibiotics used by injection administration.

The first step producers should complete before January 2017 is to develop a Valid Veterinarian Client Patient Relationship (VCPR) through an operation site visit and herd health discussion. Within this discuss a complete herd health plan should be created for vaccination and treatment protocols. Producers must look at their operation production calendar to determine what health risks they may encounter over the course of the year and determine how to possibly prevent the risk through vaccinations or how to treat the diagnosis with antibiotics. This may also be an opportunity to look at other potential alternatives to help reduce the animal health risk, such as mineral programs or probiotic additives.

If the treatment protocol is to utilize a feed grade antibiotic, producers will be required to obtain a VFD from their veterinarian prior to purchasing and feeding the product. The veterinarian must create and sign a valid VFD (written or electronic), providing copies to the feed distributor and producer before the VFD product is delivered to the producer. The VFD will determine what indication is being treated, product being used, rate of inclusion, duration of treatment, number of head being treated, and at what location/operation. Each VFD will also include an expiration date which is the last date the product can be fed.

Another key point for producers to understand is that there is NO extra label use of medicated feeds. With the VFD this regulation will also be more enforced within the livestock industry. VFD products can only be used for prevention, treatment or control of indication on the FDA Approved Labels. Currently, all feed manufacturers have submitted new labels removing all performance improvement claims and adding the new VFD regulation requirements. The new labels will help veterinarians determine how the VFD products can be used and how the VFD is to be implemented for that specific product. All labels will be approved by January 2017 for implementation of this new FDA regulation. A list of common beef cattle products can be found on the VFD page at the Nebraska BQA website.

As with any Federal regulation there will be documentation and record keeping involved. Veterinarians will be required to keep a record of the diagnosis and the original VFD document. Feed Distributors will keep a copy of the VFD with the purchase/delivery receipts. Producers also hold a copy of the VFD, purchase/delivery receipts, and feeding records. All of the documents must be filed and kept for two years from the VFD issued date.

The Veterinarian Feed Directive regulation will be a new way of doing business for everyone involved in the livestock industry. There will be growing pains as the implementation takes place for all entities involved. Producers taking the first step of developing a Valid VCPR with their veterinarian through discussions on their herd health plan, will be more prepared as final implementation occurs.

For more information on VFD visit the Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance website at: http://bqa.unl.edu and clicking of the Veterinary Feed Directive tab. Also feel free to contact Rob Eirich at 308.632.1230 or email reirich2@unl.edu.



IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RECOGNIZES STUDENTS FOR PROVIDING ARTWORK FOR “FROM THE FARM TO YOU” CALENDAR

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recognized thirteen students from Iowa at the State Fair for providing the artwork that appears in the “From the Farm to You” calendar.  The calendar was distributed to fairgoers by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and emphasizes the connection between the production of Iowa’s farmers and the products used by people every day

“Iowa’s rich soil and vast landscape has made Iowa one of the most productive areas for food and livestock production in the world,” Northey said.  “These students are helping showcase Iowa agriculture and breakdown the idea that food comes from grocery stores, not from farms.  It is great to be able to recognize them at the State Fair for their hard work and creativity.”

Northey presented the students with a certificate during the State Fair recognizing their selection.  The winners of the contest are listed below. 
First Name, Last Name, City, Grade, Month
Danielle Heartsill, Chariton, 11th Grade, Cover
Axel Manning, Maquoketa, 7th Grade, September
Rebekah Heartsill, Chariton, 7th Grade, October
Garrett Greenlees, Adel, 2nd Grade, November
Malachi Gutman, Kanawha, 4th Grade, December
Alexa McConn, Red Oak, 7th Grade, January
Madison Kovarna, Merrill, 10th Grade, February
Leah Koehler, Monticello, 3rd Grade, March
Daphne Funk, Scotch Grove, 10th Grade, April
Rose Greenlees, Adel, Kindergarten, May
Josiah Heartsill, Chariton, 3rd Grade, June
Natalie Hansen, Ames, 4th Grade, July
Kendall Siebels, Monticello, 3rd Grade, August

Photos from the presentation can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/iowaagriculture/albums/72157672907016576. Also, an electronic version of the calendar can be seen at http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/press/pdfs/2016/FarmToYouCalendar2016.pdf.

Students can submit drawings to be considered for inclusion in the calendar next year.  Pictures should be drawn using only black lines on plain white paper, 8 ½ by 11 inches.  The pictures should not be colored.  They can be submitted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Calendar Kids, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319.



2016 America's Pig Farmer of the Year(SM) Finalists Announced

The National Pork Board has announced the four finalists who are vying to become 2016 America's Pig Farmer of the YearSM. The program honors a U.S. pig farmer each year who excels at raising pigs using the We CareSM ethical principles and is committed to sharing his or her farming story with the American public.

"The four finalists represent the diversity of the pork industry in the United States," said National Pork Board President Jan Archer, a pig farmer from Goldsboro, North Carolina. "They exemplify the best in pig farming and in taking the lead on environmental sustainability, animal welfare and continuous improvement.

The 2016 finalists are:
    Craig Andersen – Centerville, South Dakota
    Jarrod Bakker – Dike, Iowa
    Brad Greenway – Mitchell, South Dakota
    Maria Mauer – Greensburg, Indiana

The four finalists are meeting today with an expert panel of third-party judges in Chicago. The judges will view videos produced at the finalists' farms and will interview each of them.

From Sept. 1 through Sept. 10, the public can vote once a day per person per email address for their favorite finalist at www.americaspigfarmer.com. The winner will be announced Oct. 11.

About the Finalists
Craig Andersen – Centerville, South Dakota
Farming is a family tradition for Craig Andersen, who grew up and now lives on his family's Century Farm. Craig, along with his wife, Gail, and children, Tyler, Jacob and Emily, raises pigs in modern barns and markets 6,000 pigs annually. Andersen Farm also raises corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa and cattle.

Jarrod Bakker – Dike, Iowa 
Raising pigs has been a life-long passion for Jarrod Bakker, who grew up on a farrow-to-finish pig farm. Bakker, along with his brother, Jordan, and wife, Shari, owns Bakker Bros. Genetics. The 50-sow farm markets 1,000 pigs annually. Bakker also works for Fast Genetics, where he sells breeding stock to farmers across the country.

Brad Greenway – Mitchell, South Dakota 
Focusing on doing what's right has been Brad Greenway's goal in raising pigs for the past 40 years on his family farm. Greenway and his wife Peggy own two 2,400-head, modern wean-to-finish pig barns. They also have a cow-calf operation and raise corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa. The Greenways are also part owners in a 4,000-head sow farm where they source their pigs.

Maria Mauer – Greensburg, Indiana
Providing sows with a clean, comfortable environment is step No. 1 for Maria Mauer at Smiley Brothers, Inc. Marketing 18,000 pigs per year, Smiley Brothers is a farrow-to-finish operation. Mauer also believes in the importance in teaching her five-year old son life lessons by bringing him to the barn with her to care for the sows.

About the Expert Judging Panel
Members of the five-member panel are Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane; Kari Underly, a third-generation butcher, author and principal of Range®, Inc., a meat marketing and education firm; Justin Ransom, senior director, supply chain management at McDonald's USA; Jodi Sterle, an associate professor of animal science at Iowa State University; and Keith Schoettmer, the 2015 America's Pig Farmer of the Year.

The National Pork Board created the America's Pig Farmer of the Year program to recognize the best in pig farming. This honor will be awarded annually to the pig farmer who demonstrates and lives by the We Care ethical principles.



Beef Checkoff Updates Educational Resources

The beef checkoff has launched an updated beef resources web page dedicated to sharing nationally focused beef-education tools with teachers, volunteers, farmers and ranchers.

The site features a new video highlighting the checkoff-funded 2016 On the Farm STEM event and its impact on district- and university-level STEM coordinators.

“We are excited to debut this online educational resource featuring professional development events for science, technology, engineering and mathematics teachers, educators and coordinators who are looking for real-world applications of STEM concepts,” said Julie Tesch, executive director of the American Farm Bureau Foundation, a contractor to the beef checkoff.

Educators who are interested in professional development events in 2017 can find information on the application process online.  Find more information at this web site... http://agfoundation.org/on-the-farm. 



NRCS Releases Updated CSP Enhancements

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is undertaking a refresh of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for new fiscal year 2017 enrollments and today posted new and revised enhancements and program information on the USDA website.  

The options for producers are increased, now providing over 200 “enhancements”, or the specific conservation activities that producers will undertake on their operations for payment under a 5 year CSP contract.

Enrollment for CSP is expected to be open later this fall and producers will also experience a new enrollment process, with improved clarity in the application process, knowing earlier in the process if they qualify for CSP, or should look into other conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The revisions also include a more transparent payment schedule based on conservation practices, not points, making it clear for producers to understand the payment rates.

CSP is now the largest USDA conservation program with over 70 million acres enrolled. The link to these enhancements is here... http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/financial/csp/?cid=nrcseprd1288250. 



USDA Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 508 million bushels in July 2016. Total corn consumption was up 6 percent from June 2016 and up 1 percent from July 2015. July 2016 usage included 91.2 percent for alcohol and 8.8 percent for other purposes. Corn for beverage alcohol totaled 2.61 million bushels, up slightly from June 2016 but down 1 percent from July 2015. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 455 million bushels, was up 7 percent from June 2016 and up 2 percent from July 2015. Corn consumed in July 2016 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 89.5 percent and 10.5 percent respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 2.05 million tons during July 2016, up 8 percent from June 2016 and up 4 percent from July 2015. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.22 million tons in July 2016, up 1 percent from June 2016 but down 4 percent from July 2015.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 340 thousand tons during July 2016, up 2 percent from June 2016 and up 2 percent from July 2015. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 332 thousand tons in July 2016, up 6 percent from June 2016 and up 5 percent from July 2015.



USDA Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks

Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 4.60 million tons (153 million bushels) in July 2016, compared to 4.62 million tons (154 million bushels) in June 2016 and 4.67 million tons (156 million bushels) in July 2015. Crude oil produced was 1.79 billion pounds up slightly from June 2016 and up 3 percent from July 2015. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.44 billion pounds during July 2016 increased 4 percent from June 2016 and increased 1 percent from July 2015.

Canola seeds crushed for crude oil was 202 thousand tons in July 2016, compared to 202 thousand tons in June 2016 and 161 thousand tons in July 2015. Canola crude oil produced was 162 million pounds down 7 percent from June 2016 but up 20 percent from July 2015. Canola once refined oil production at 138 million pounds during July 2016 was down 14 percent from June 2016 but up 3 percent from July 2015. Cottonseed once refined oil production at 26.2 million pounds during July 2016 was down 30 percent from June 2016 and down 49 percent from July 2015.

Edible tallow production was 67.8 million pounds during July 2016, down 8 percent from June 2016 but up 13 percent from July 2015. Inedible tallow production was 267 million pounds during July 2016, down 8 percent from June 2016 but up 6 percent from July 2015. Technical tallow production was 85.7 million pounds during July 2016, down 12 percent from June 2016 and down slightly from July 2015. Choice white grease production at 98.2 million pounds during July 2016 decreased 15 percent from June 2016 and decreased 9 percent from July 2015.



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for September 2016

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for September 2016. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for September is 0.500 percent, unchanged from 0.500 percent in August.

The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during September is 1.500 percent, unchanged from 1.500 percent in August.

Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for September are as follows, .875 percent with three-year loan terms, up from .750 percent in August; 1.125 percent with five-year loan terms, unchanged from 1.250 percent in August; 1.375 percent with seven-year loan terms, unchanged from 1.375 percent in August; 1.500 percent with 10-year loan terms, unchanged from 1.500 percent in August and; 1.625 percent with 12-year loan terms, unchanged from 1.625 percent in August.



USDEC, NMPF Laud Senators Schumer, Baldwin for Urging Investigation of New Canadian Barriers

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) today praised Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) for urging an investigation into Canadian dairy pricing policies that have impacted current trade and stand to negatively affect U.S. dairy farmers and manufacturers, jeopardizing the country’s trade commitment to the United States.

In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Schumer and Baldwin expressed concern about Canada's recently announced National Ingredients Strategy and its already active Ontario Class VI pricing program. According to the senators, these programs incentivize Canadian processors to use Canadian milk and dairy inputs, penalizing them for the use of imported dairy products.

“We are particularly concerned about reports that through these types of programs, Canada is moving to target New York and Wisconsin exports of ultrafiltered milk,” the letter continues. “Companies from our states inform us that they have already lost considerable export sales as a result of the Ontario dairy policy introduced this past spring.”

These types of programs are intended to discourage the use of U.S. dairy exports, the senators said, potentially worsening an already challenging economic situation for American dairy farmers.

Schumer and Baldwin also voiced their concern that implementing the new National Ingredients Strategy across Canada could raise further compliance issues with Canada’s NAFTA and WTO obligations by “impeding dairy trade” between the two countries.

Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of NMPF, commended the senators for their push to have Canada’s policies evaluated, saying: “This letter comes at a critical time for both trade and the well-being of America’s dairy producers. We appreciate the Senators’ attention to the importance of holding one of our largest trading partners to its international commitments and the key role that the U.S. government must play in doing so.”

Tom Suber, president of USDEC, concurred, noting: “Canada has built up a deeply problematic track record of instituting program after program to intentionally erect roadblocks to dairy imports. This volatile situation with a country that should be one of our most reliable trading partners, given the strength of the U.S.-Canada relationship, cannot continue to erode the investments that U.S. dairy companies have made in shipping to this market.”



New Purina® All Seasons™ Cattle Nutrition Program offers flexible, convenient solutions

Purina Animal Nutrition introduces the new Purina® All Seasons™ Cattle Nutrition Program. The program delivers what producers are looking for in a cattle nutrition program: flexibility, convenience and proof that solutions work.

“Our experience in the field and feedback we’ve gotten from producers nationwide tells us flexibility and convenience are the top components of a great cattle nutrition program,” says Teri Otte, cattle marketing manager with Purina Animal Nutrition. “We developed the Purina® All Seasons™ Cattle Nutrition Program so producers can easily identify and choose from convenient solutions within the existing Purina® cattle product portfolio.”

The program covers all life stages – cow/calf, weaned calf, replacement heifer/breeding bull and grower/finisher – because each life stage has its own unique needs. It also covers every season so cattle can achieve greatness year-round.

The program is built on three distinct pillars:

1. Feeding excellence
Each life stage has its own goals whether it’s staying healthy through the stresses of weaning, maximizing pounds of gain in the feedlot or raising productive heifers and cows that breed back quickly. But, all goals have a common thread for success: high-quality nutrition.

“Healthy cattle don’t just look good; their potential is unlocked for future performance,” says Otte. “The Purina® All Seasons™ Cattle Nutrition Program supports healthy cattle in achieving greatness at every life stage.”

“Cattle that perform well can help deliver long-term profit potential. They are also in a position to successfully transition from one life stage to the next,” adds Otte.

2. Flexible solutions
With flexibility and convenience top of mind, the Purina® All Seasons™ Cattle Nutrition Program has feeding solutions that put producers in control. They can choose from options to fit their forage availability, labor resources, feed type preference and feeding facilities.

“Whether you’re a 100-head cow/calf operator or a 5,000-head grower/finisher, it’s easy to identify solutions that work for your operation,” says Otte.

3. Trusted legacy
Solutions within the Purina® All Seasons™ Cattle Nutrition Program have been demonstrated to work in more than 1,800 Proof Pays feeding trials across the nation. Producers are encouraged to see the proof through their own on-farm feeding trial.

“Doing what’s best for cattle means you’re doing what’s best for your operation. Ultimately, that means you can be confident you’re building a legacy that will last for years to come,” adds Otte. “Producers can trust in Purina’s legacy to help build their own.”

“We encourage you to see the results for yourself; find out if you qualify for a Proof Pays feeding trial. No matter the season or life stage, we are confident the Purina® All Seasons™ Cattle Nutrition Program has a solution for every operation,” adds Otte.



AGCO Introduces New 3200 Series Corn Head

AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO), a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, is offering a wider range of harvesting options for corn growers with the introduction of the 3200 Series corn heads.

 “We know that our producers harvest in many different conditions, and each producer has a unique set of requirements for their operation. The 3200 Series corn heads are our newest solution to advance each operation’s productivity and profitability,” says Caleb Schleder, AGCO tactical marketing manager.

The 3200 Series is available in 6-row 30-inch and folding 12-row 30-inch configurations. Each version is available with a chopping option. The 12-row folding models were introduced at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, August 30, while the 6-row units will make their debut at the Ohio Farm Science Review, September 20, in London, Ohio.

“This new header is a direct response to listening to our customers’ requests. Our goal with the 3200 Series corn head was to provide our producers the options they need, whether it be a 6-row corn head to match grain-handling capacity or a 12-row folding head to enhance the efficiency of transport from field to field,” Schleder continues.

The 3200 Series heads are available for Massey Ferguson® and Gleaner® combines.

Folding head makes transport easier
With the crucial harvest window time frame, our operators are consistently working to make the harvesting process faster and more efficient. The 3200 Series 12-row folding corn head is designed specifically for the grower who is looking to decrease the amount of time it takes to detach and road the head separately.

“The ability to move the combine from field to field without detaching the corn head amounts to time saved and increased productivity, this allows many of our operators to allocate resources to other key functions during harvest,” Schleder adds.