Thursday September 8 Ag News

ASSESSMENT MATRIX WILL SERVE AS A VALUABLE TOOL FOR NEBRASKA COUNTIES MAKING LIVESTOCK SITING DECISIONS

Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Greg Ibach, in consultation with an appointed committee, has approved a matrix designed to assist local officials in evaluating livestock siting applications.

The development of the assessment matrix is a result of LB 106 which was passed by the Nebraska Legislature and signed by the Governor in 2015. Under the bill, NDA was directed to create the assessment matrix based on input from a committee appointed by the NDA director. The committee is comprised of representatives from several entities involved in zoning and livestock development, including producers and county officials.

“The evaluation guidelines in the matrix are based on sound science, professional expertise and personal experiences from people who have a lot of knowledge about this process,” said Director Ibach. “Livestock development is critical to the state’s agricultural industry. It adds value to the millions of bushels of feed grains we produce annually. I urge counties to consider utilizing the matrix as another tool to aid in the locally-controlled siting process.”

The initial draft of the matrix was posted on NDA’s website for public comments. The Department worked with the committee to make final adjustments to the matrix to reflect suggestions offered during the comment period. Members of the committee are John Csukker, Shelby; Elizabeth (Liz) Doerr, Creighton; Leon Kolbet, Hayes Center; Dean Krueger, Hebron; Mark McHargue, Central City; Jennifer (Jen) Myers, Palmer; Sarah Pillen, Columbus; Andrew (Andy) Scholting, Wisner; Steve Sill, Wisner; and Richard (Rick) Stowell, Ph.D., P.E., Lincoln.

“I want to thank members of the committee who put a lot of hours in this project to provide a tool that will ensure livestock facilities are properly sited,” said Ibach.

The approved matrix can be accessed at nda.nebraska.gov. Usage of the matrix is voluntary.



2016 Eng Symposium - Innovations in Intensive Beef Cow Production, Care and Management
October 5-6, 2016 - Lincoln, Nebraska

The Dr. Kenneth & Caroline Eng (-K-) Trust Fund was established in 2011 by Kenneth in memory and as a legacy to his wife, Caroline, who loved life, cattle and cattle people, and to provide research money to universities to study cow/calf efficiency. Through development and adoption of technologies that reduce cost of feed, the long-term economic sustainability of the U.S. beef industry cow-calf sector will improve. Kenneth is from San Antonio, TX and has had a long career as a rancher and consulting feedyard nutritionist.

A symposium is held yearly as an outlet for universities to present new research findings. The research is being conducted through grants provided by the Dr. Kenneth & Caroline Eng (-K-) Trust Fund. The research targets the improvements of beef cow efficiency and profit ability by intensive and semi con fined production systems. This year’s symposium will be held at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska on October 5th -6th, 2016 and will be hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Dr. Kenneth & Caroline Eng (-K-) Trust Fund. Attendees will include researchers, students and cattle producers alike.
Schedule

The symposium will begin at 12:00 p.m. on October 5th, 2016 and end at 1:00 pm on October 6th, 2016.

Speakers include:
    Dr. Karla Jenkins, UNL
    Dr. Terry Kopfenstein, UNL
    Dr. Galen Erickson, UNL
    Dr. Rusell Cross, TAMU
    Dr. Jason Sawyer, TAMU
    Dr. Tryon Wickersham, TAMU
    Dr. Gerald Horn, OSU
    Miles Redden, OSU
    Dr. David Lalman, OSU

Registration
Registration is now open for the Eng Symposium. The registration form may also be used to order Dr. Eng's books, "Poetic Memories of Old Friends, Old Flames, and the Tales We Can Tell" and "Just Started Small and Got Lucky".

On-site registration will begin at 8 a.m. on October 5th, 2016.
    General Registration - $150
    General Pre-Registration - $125
    Graduate Student Registration - $50
    Dr. Engs Book - $20

More information and registration is available here... http://animalscience.unl.edu/eng-symposium.



POLL FINDS RURAL NEBRASKANS VALUE THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS

    At least three-quarters of rural Nebraskans rate a safe environment for students, high graduation rate, high-quality teachers, teaching problem solving or critical thinking skills to students and preparing students for college as high priorities for their local schools, according to the 2016 Nebraska Rural Poll.

     In smaller communities, schools have been argued to provide other benefits to residents. However, providing an economic base and community social events were not highly prioritized by rural Nebraskans or residents of smaller communities.

    "While we know that schools provide an important function in communities beyond the classroom, including economic and social activity, the survey results suggest that rural Nebraskans prioritize education first, with relatively low percentages also prioritizing economic and social effects of schools on communities," said Brad Lubben, assistant professor of agricultural economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

    Poll manager Rebecca Vogt said these questions were an effort to measure what rural Nebraskans expect from their local schools and if those expectations are being met.

    Some of the highly prioritized items also have the highest satisfaction ratings. At least four in 10 rural Nebraskans surveyed are very satisfied with the safety of the environment for students, graduation rate, quality school buildings, and opportunities for physical activities and sports at their local school.

    However, there are some large differences between the characteristics that people expected from their local school and how they describe it. For almost all of the characteristics listed, the proportions that feel each is a high priority are larger than the proportions very satisfied with each. For example, 76 percent of rural Nebraskans rate teaching problem solving or critical thinking skills to students as a high priority, but only 22 percent said they are very satisfied with that characteristic in their local school.

    Many of those gaps are greater for residents of the largest cities because people living in or near smaller towns are more likely to express satisfaction with many of the characteristics at their local school. At least half of people living in or near communities with populations under 5,000 are very satisfied with the safe environment for students, compared to 34 percent of people living in or near cities with populations of 10,000 or more. Forty-three percent of people living in or near communities with populations under 1,000 are very satisfied with class sizes, compared to 20 percent of people living in or near cities with populations of 10,000 or more.

    As community size increases, satisfaction levels increase when it comes to providing courses for college credit, advanced placement, foreign languages and English as a second language.

    "Rural Nebraskans value their local schools," said Jeanne Surface, associate professor for educational leadership at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. "Unfortunately, the challenge of population decline continues to constitute a threat to our rural schools and communities and their ability to prepare students for future success."

    The 21st annual Rural Poll was sent to 6,115 households in 86 Nebraska counties in April. Results are based on 1,746 responses. It is the largest annual poll of rural Nebraskans' perceptions on quality of life and policy issues. This year's response rate was 29 percent. The margin of error is plus or minus 2 percent. Complete results are available at http://ruralpoll.unl.edu.

    Although the Grand Island area (Hall, Hamilton, Howard and Merrick counties) was designated a metropolitan area by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2013, the Rural Poll continues to include those counties in its sample. Also, Dixon and Dakota counties were added to the poll in 2014.

    The university's Department of Agricultural Economics conducts the poll in cooperation with the Nebraska Rural Futures Institute with funding from Nebraska Extension and the Agricultural Research Division in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.



Iowa Soybean Association board of directors elects 2017 officers

Six farmers were elected to leadership positions at the Sept. 8 meeting of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) board of directors.

Rolland Schnell of Newton took his seat as president. Farmers elected were:
    Bill Shipley, Nodaway — president-elect
    Lindsay Greiner, Keota — treasurer
    Randy Souder, Rockwell City— secretary
    Stephanie Essick, Dickens — executive committee

ISA directors also elected Morey Hill, Madrid, and Brian Kemp, Sibley, to represent Iowa on the American Soybean Association (ASA) board of directors.

“The ISA Board has set a strategic plan to continuously improve the competitiveness of Iowa soybean farmers and these leaders will work to accomplish that goal,” Schnell said. “Through production research, market development, the policy process and maintaining  our freedom to operate, these leaders will work on behalf of Iowa soybean farmers to carefully manage checkoff and non-checkoff resources as Iowa continues to lead national soybean production.”



July Beef and Pork Export Volumes Higher Year-over-Year; Value Results Mixed

U.S. red meat exports posted solid results in July, with volumes for both U.S. beef and pork trending higher than a year ago, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef export value was down from last July, but pork export value increased significantly.

July beef export volume increased 8 percent from a year ago to 99,341 metric tons (mt) – the second-largest monthly total this year – while export value was $526.7 million, down 5 percent. For January through July, export volume was up 4 percent to 640,888 mt, while value fell 10 percent to $3.44 billion.

Exports accounted for 14 percent of total beef production in July and 11 percent for muscle cuts only – each up about 1 percentage point from a year ago. For January through July, these ratios were 13 percent and 10 percent, respectively, steady with last year. Export value per head of fed slaughter was $263.89 in July, down 5 percent from a year ago, and $251.82 for January through July, down 13 percent.

Pork exports reached 180,547 mt in July, up 8 percent from a year ago, while export value increased 11 percent to $491.9 million. For January through July, pork export volume increased 3 percent to 1.29 million mt, while value was $3.27 billion – still 2 percent below last year’s pace.

Exports accounted for 27.5 percent of total pork production in July and 23 percent for muscle cuts only – an impressive jump from a year ago when these ratios were 23.5 percent and 21 percent, respectively. For the first seven months of the year, exports accounted for 25.5 percent of total pork production and 21.5 percent for muscle cuts – each up slightly from a year ago. Export value per head slaughtered was $56.14 in July – up 19 percent from a year ago. For January through July, per-head value averaged $49.37, down 2 percent.

Beef exports shine in Japan, Korea; Taiwan remains steady
Japan and South Korea continued to be top performers for U.S. beef in July, driven by strong demand for chilled beef. Exports to Japan climbed 10 percent to 23,042 mt, while value was steady with last July at $129 million. Through July, beef exports to Japan were up 12 percent from a year ago in volume (145,358 mt) and 4 percent in value ($836.2 million). Chilled beef exports to Japan were up 40 percent to 59,783 mt.

In Korea, July beef exports soared 37 percent to 16,459 mt, valued at $94.5 million (up 27 percent). For January through July, exports to Korea climbed 23 percent in volume (90,401 mt) and 7 percent in value ($531 million). Chilled beef exports to Korea were up 42 percent to 12,249 mt.

Chilled U.S. beef is also in high demand in Taiwan, where July exports held relatively steady year-over-year. Through July, exports to Taiwan totaled 20,907 mt (up 3 percent) valued at $173.2 million (down 6 percent). Chilled exports were up 13 percent to 8,320 mt and the United States holds more than 65 percent of the chilled beef market in Taiwan – the highest share of any Asian market.

Highlighting the need for more destinations for beef variety meat, exports to Egypt continued to slump in July – dropping 26 percent from a year ago in volume (6,753 mt) and 50 percent in value ($6.4 million). While Egypt remains a leading destination for beef variety meat, January-July exports to Egypt were down 3 percent from a year ago in volume (52,136 mt) and 31 percent in value ($57.3 million).

On a positive note, total U.S. beef variety meat exports increased in July, pushing January-July exports up 6 percent from a year ago to 185,722 mt, valued at $491 million (down 1 percent). Growth has been led by Japan (27,779 mt, up 29 percent), Korea (7,442 mt, up 47 percent), and a slight uptick in Mexico (63,760 mt, up 2 percent), but also the ability to ship to South Africa, where exports reached 2,386 mt. Variety meat exports also trended higher to Chile and Colombia, and to the Caribbean and ASEAN regions.

“We are pleased to see demand for U.S. beef variety meats increasing in other markets, and helping to offset the slowdown to Egypt,” said Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO. “It is a top priority for USMEF and our beef industry partners to expand the reach of beef variety meat exports and build demand in alternative destinations, and those efforts are paying off.”

China/Hong Kong continues to drive pork exports; chilled pork strong in Japan
July pork exports to China/Hong Kong were the smallest since February, but volume was still up 73 percent year-over-year to 47,701 mt, while value climbed 60 percent to $94 million. For January through July, exports to the region were up 79 percent in volume (332,601 mt) and 63 percent in value ($634.5 million).

Pork export volume to Mexico dipped in July (54,805 mt, down 6 percent), but value climbed 15 percent to $113 million. This was the highest monthly value total of 2016, with unit values up 22 percent, reflecting a notable improvement in ham prices. For January through July, exports to Mexico were down 8 percent year-over-year in volume (379,550 mt) and 5 percent in value ($679.1 million)

U.S. exports of chilled pork to Japan remain on a record pace at 126,394 mt, up 12 percent through July. So although Europe is dominating Japan’s frozen pork imports for further processing into ham and bacon, U.S. exports of high-quality chilled pork have fully rebounded from the West Coast port issues of 2015 and are reaching new heights. Total U.S. exports to Japan slowed again in July to 30,479 mt (down 6 percent), putting the year-to-date total at 223,341 mt, down 12 percent. Export value to Japan was $879.5 million through July, down 10 percent.

Led by strong demand in Honduras and Guatemala, exports to Central America continue to shine in 2016. Through July, exports to the region increased 16 percent from a year ago in volume (36,536 mt) and climbed 8 percent in value ($85.7 million). Exports to the Dominican Republic were also strong in July, pushing January-July volume up 3 percent from a year ago to 15,008 mt, while value was down 3 percent to $32.1 million.

July was also a strong month for pork exports to Canada, pushing January-July totals ahead of last year’s pace in both volume (113,694 mt, up 2 percent) and value ($454.3 million, up 1 percent). Exports to Australia also remained above year-ago levels in July, pushing the year-to-date total to 39,010 mt (up 9 percent) valued at $106.5 million (down 3 percent).

“While it is encouraging to see the strong results in China/Hong Kong continue, the reality is that China’s domestic pork prices have fallen and import demand has slowed,” Seng explained. “That’s why it is so vitally important that we defend U.S. pork’s market share and further expand demand in markets around the world. The competitiveness of U.S. pork is also improving, and this should boost exports through the end of the year.”

July lamb exports show improvement
While still down from a year ago, July lamb exports were the largest since March at 682 mt. July export value was $1.5 million, up 3 percent year-over-year. July was a strong month for exports to Hong Kong and the Philippines, while Bermuda continued to trend sharply higher than a year ago. For the first seven months of 2016, lamb exports were down 9 percent in volume (5,012 mt) and 11 percent in value ($10.2 million).



Urea, UAN Lead Fertilizers Lower

Retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN the last week of August 2016 continued to show significant declines for the fourth consecutive week. All eight major fertilizers slid lower compared to a month earlier, and all but one fertilizer have seen significant price drops.

UAN28 and UAN32 were 9% less expensive compared to the previous month. UAN28 averaged $233 per ton and UAN32 $275/ton.

Urea and potash both fell 8% compared to last month. Potash averaged $327/ton and urea $326/ton. Both 10-34-0 and anhydrous were 7% lower compared to last month. The starter's average price was $493/ton while anhydrous averaged $509/ton.

MAP was 6% less expensive compared to the last week of July. MAP's average price was $464/ton.

The only fertilizer not to see a significant price decline was DAP. The phosphorus fertilizer had only a slight price decline and an average price of $449/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.35/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

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

10-34-0 is now down 18%, both DAP and MAP are 20% lower and UAN32 is 21% less expensive. Both anhydrous and UAN28 are now 23% lower, urea is down 26% and potash is 31% lower compared to a year ago.



 EIA: Ethanol Stocks, Production Down

Total U.S. ethanol stockpiles and domestic production declined while refiner and blender inputs rose during the week-ended Sept. 2, according to the Energy Information Administration's weekly ethanol report issued Thursday morning.

The data showed U.S. ethanol inventories fell 200,000 barrels (bbl) to 20.7 million bbl for the week reviewed while up 2.0 million bbl, or 10.8%, year over year.

Plant production declined 25,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 998,000 bpd last week, while up 40,000 bpd, or 4.2%, year over year. For the four weeks ended Sept. 2, domestic ethanol production averaged 1.02 million bpd, 6.7% above the comparable year-ago period.

Net refiner and blender inputs of ethanol reversed higher after falling for four straight weeks, edging up 5,000 bpd to 934,000 bpd during the week-ended Sept. 2, while up 38,000 bpd, or 4.2%, year over year. The four-week average blender input rate through Sept. 2 is up 27,000 bpd, or 3.0%, year over year at 934,000 bpd.



NFU Defends Family Farmers and Ranchers Against Conservative Think Tank Report Attacking Farm Programs

Responding to a new report challenging the validity of the farm safety net, National Farmers Union defended the importance of risk management programs for family farmers and ranchers facing severe financial stress during the farm economic downturn.

The report, released today by conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, claims agricultural producers are doing well financially and calls on Congress to phase out subsidies and end federal support for crop insurance.

“Farming can be a pretty thankless job, especially when you are a family who is financially struggling to keep producing food that feeds consumers around the world while a multi-million-dollar organization is trying to pull the plug on your life line,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “We see every Farm Bill cycle, groups with little connection to actual agriculture, like the Heritage Foundation, coming off the sidelines to attack farm programs that provide critically needed assistance for family farmers and ranchers. Many producers rely on those programs to continue farming through these tough economic times.”

Despite the report’s assertions, facts show that producers are not doing so well financially. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farm income has declined more than 40 percent since 2013, and farm jobs decreased by nearly 15 percent from 2001 to 2013. Most farm budgets today project serious losses on all the major commodities. Nor is the pain limited to producers, the ripple effect through the rural economy is chilling.

“When farm country hurts, that impact is felt both on both sides of the farm gate. Over the last couple years, we’ve seen thousands and thousands of layoffs in rural American business and manufacturing as an indirect result of the plummeting farm economy,” Johnson explained. “This isn’t just a callous attack on farmers and ranchers, this is an attack on rural American industries, jobs and communities.”

The report’s authors also questioned the need for government involvement in risk management for agricultural producers when other businesses don’t receive the same support. As Johnson explains, markets for agricultural products are different from other commodities because access to sufficient food is essential to human life.

“Farm programs are essential to the security and economic well-being of the American and global population. These programs, while never perfect, do ensure a level of stability in the food supply, which most Americans, unlike many other countries, are able to take for granted,” he added.

Earlier this year, Johnson testified before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, asking for protection of the safety net and acknowledging that some farm programs will need to be reformed to better benefit the producers they were intended to support.

“When it comes to improvements to food and farm policy programs, it should be our moral obligation, rather than our political impulse, that motivates change. We will continue to work on behalf of nearly 200,000 family farmers and ranchers to ensure they can continue to feed consumers at home and abroad,” Johnson concluded.



Industry Groups Ask High Court to Review Clean Water Rule Appeal Venue

Organizations seeking to vacate the Environmental Protection Agency's and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' expansive "waters of the U.S." rule are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review whether the 6th Circuit Court is the appropriate court to hear challenges to the rule. The 6th Circuit earlier dismissed arguments that legal challenges to the rule should be brought first in federal district court and not courts of appeal.

"This petition to the Supreme Court is not related to the merits of our case and we are confident that eventually the 6th Circuit and the Supreme Court will agree that the rule is unlawful," said Ellen Steen, General Counsel of the American Farm Bureau Federation. "The petition was filed because the jurisdiction question is one that repeatedly arises in challenges to Clean Water Act actions. The time is ripe for the Supreme Court to resolve confusion among lower courts as to where jurisdiction lies, so that the American Farm Bureau Federation and others can stop wasting time and resources arguing with the federal government over where to file these important legal challenges."

Federal courts of appeals are divided on how to interpret a provision of the Clean Water Act mandating that certain types of legal challenges be filed directly to courts of appeals. When pressed to decide this question, the 3-judge panel of the 6th Circuit issued three separate opinions with only a single judge concluding that jurisdiction was lawfully in that court, making this question ripe for clarification by the Supreme Court.



World Food Prices Hit 15-Month High in August

World food prices climbed to a 15-month high in August, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said Thursday.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 165.6 points in August, up 1.9% from July and up nearly 7% from August 2015, the FAO said.

"The monthly jump was mostly driven by cheese and palm oil quotations, while those for wheat, maize and rice all fell," it said.

The FAO also increased its grain-production forecast for 2016 to 2.57 billion metric tons, 22 million tons higher than last month's forecast, on higher forecasts for wheat and corn production.



Kroger Launches New Line of Cage-Free Eggs

The Kroger Co.announced a new, more affordable corporate brand line of cage-free eggs.

"Kroger-brand Cage-Free Eggs are now available in our family of stores nationwide," said Gil Phipps, Kroger's vice president of corporate brands. "More customers are looking for an affordable cage-free egg option. Our goal is to help our customers migrate to the cage-free category by offering an affordable alternative to conventional eggs."

Kroger has been a leader in cage-free eggs for many years. The company also offers cage-free eggs under its popular Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic brands. In 2015, 15% of the eggs Kroger sold were cage-free compared to the industry average of 9%.

In March, Kroger announced its goal is to transition to a 100% cage-free egg supply chain by 2025.

"In order to ensure a smooth transition by 2025, we need to start attracting customers to cage-free eggs now," said Mel Bomprezzi, Kroger's vice president of grocery merchandising. "We remain committed to working with our suppliers during this transition in a way that ensures eggs are readily available, safely produced, and affordably priced for all of our customers."

The Kroger Family of Companies serves 8.5 million customers and 431,000 associates who shop or serve in 2,778 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia.



Mycogen Seeds Releases 30 New Corn Hybrids for 2017

Mycogen Seeds is releasing 30 new Mycogen® brand corn hybrids with the latest trait technologies, key agronomic characteristics and integrated refuge options for U.S. growers for the 2017 planting season. Growers can choose from more than 100 Mycogen brand hybrids to match the right product to their fields and farming management practices.

“Advancing hybrids is an intensely managed process,” says Cole Hansen, Mycogen Seeds corn portfolio leader. “We’re bringing products to market that we know will perform well on growers’ acres. And this class accomplishes that — we have a complete lineup of high-yielding hybrids with strong tolerance to diseases and the latest trait technologies so growers can tailor pest protection.”

Standout hybrids for 2017:

    MY09V45 RA: A high-yielding hybrid, widely adapted for a wide range of soil types and growing environments. This hybrid shows strong tolerance to foliar disease, including northern corn leaf blight, gray leaf spot and Goss’s wilt.

    MY13M87 RA: This hybrid has consistent yield and excellent tolerance to Goss’s wilt. It also is tolerant to gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight. Additionally, it has good stalk strength.


    MY10Z28 RA: This is a widely adapted hybrid with top-end yield that performs well in challenging conditions. Plus, growers who purchase at least 50 units of MY10Z28 RA from an authorized Mycogen Seeds dealer will be entered to win a 2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1. Growers should work with their local Mycogen Seeds representative or dealer to learn more.  Full sweepstakes rules are available at www.MycogenSeeds.com/muscle.

    MY06R31: A high-yielding hybrid, widely adapted for a wide range of soil types and environments. It has shown consistent yield and solid stalk strength. This hybrid is tolerant to northern corn leaf blight, gray leaf spot and Goss’s wilt.

    MY12G38 RA: This is a semi-flex ear style with consistent ear fill. This hybrid performs well in moderate to high population densities and adapts to a wide range of soil types and environments.

    MY12G35 RA: This hybrid is in the same family as MY12G38 RA. It offers growers the same strong agronomic characteristics. It also features new PowerCore trait technology for growers who need above-ground protection. For growers who need above- and below-ground protection, they can choose MY12G38 RA with SmartStax trait technology.

    MY87B11 – For stress environments, this hybrid offers growers optimum yield potential. It has strong root growth for standability and flexible harvest timing. MY87B11 performs best at lower plant populations and in fields with a crop rotation cycle. 

    MY94T25 – This hybrid is best suited for highly productive fields. It has strong early season vigor for early planting and no-till environments. It’s tolerant to northern corn leaf blight, Goss’s wilt and gray leaf spot.  

Mycogen brand hybrids also offer SmartStax® and new PowerCore® trait technologies. Growers looking for above-ground protection from corn earworm, western bean cutworm, black cutworm, European corn borer, southwestern corn borer, sugarcane borer and fall armyworm now can choose PowerCore trait technology from Dow AgroSciences. Growers with corn rootworm pressure can select Mycogen brand hybrids with SmartStax trait technology if they need both above- and below-ground insect protection.

“Growers want a hybrid with strong yield stability and overall plant health,” Hansen says. “Placing the right genetics on the right field is key to getting a return on their crop investment. The 2017 Mycogen brand lineup consistently yields and performs — even under the toughest conditions. It’s that type of stability that growers want as they look to 2017.”

Dedicated to hybrid innovation
Mycogen® brand hybrids are developed through the Dow AgroSciences proprietary breeding technology, iBreeding™. This predictive modeling system allows the corn breeding team to understand how products will perform in specific growing and environmental conditions, which, in turn, helps them focus breeding efforts efficiently.

“Before iBreeding, products were field-tested for several years, and compiled data reflected where products performed best,” Hansen says. “Now, we can pinpoint performance in specific geographies and environmental conditions. Then, we test key products through field trials to confirm our iBreeding model predictions, bringing the best products to the market, and doing it faster than ever before.”