Friday November 04 Ag News

LENRD Hosts Flow Meter Installation Certification Training Dates

These training sessions are intended for individuals who would like to install their own flow meters.  Each training session listed below will certify an individual for that specific brand of flow meter only.
You need only attend the training session(s) that corresponds to the type of meter(s) that you plan to     install. An individual would need to attend each of the five training sessions to be certified to install     all five meters on the Lower Elkhorn NRD approved list.

Training Dates and Locations:
Date:  November 16th, 2016
Location:  Cuming County Courthouse Lower Level Meeting Room, West Point, NE 
RSVP:  No RSVP necessary for this site.

Date:  November 22nd, 2016
Location:  Village of Pilger Clerk’s Office, Pilger, NE
RSVP:  Space is limited at this site. Please RSVP to the LENRD at 402-371-7313

Date:  November 29th, 2016
Location:  Legion Lounge & Backroom Steakhouse, Pierce, NE
RSVP:  No RSVP necessary for this site.

Each Days Training Schedule:
Session 1:  9:00 am – 9:45 am     Senninger Flo-Wise Ag Rotor Sensor System
Session 2:  10:00 am - 11:00 am     McCrometer Propeller Flowmeters (All Models)
Session 3:  11:15 am – Noon      McCrometer McMag 3000 Magmeter
  - Lunch is on your own from Noon to 1:00pm
Session 4:  1:00 pm – 1:45 pm     Seametrics AG 2000 Series Magmeter
Session 5:  2:00 pm – 2:45 pm     Growsmart by Lindsay IM3000 Magnetic Flow Meter



Vilsack to keynote Iowa Farm Bureau's 98th Annual Meeting, showcasing Iowans who 'Believe, Lead, Achieve'

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will keynote the 98th gathering of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) Dec. 6 and 7 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines.   The 2016 annual meeting theme, “Believe, Lead, Achieve,” acknowledges the accomplishments of farmers and rural Iowans and the many ways they embrace innovation to benefit all.

To mark the occasion, Governor Terry Branstad has declared Dec. 4-Dec. 10 as ‘Iowa Farm Bureau Week,’ honoring the unity and strength of the state’s 159,000-member farm organization.

“Believe, Lead, Achieve is our theme this year and it is a testament to IFBF’s impact in so many sectors of our state.  We are recognized around the world as Iowa’s largest grassroots farm organization, but our member-centric programs also are known for improving the lives of all Iowans.  We Lead and Achieve measurable success in areas that benefit all Iowans.  For example, this is the 10th anniversary of our Renew Rural Iowa program, which has mentored more than 3,000 Iowans and helped them start or grow their businesses, bringing more than $125 million in economic impact for rural Iowa,” says IFBF President Craig Hill.

“Today’s responsible farmers are always looking for ways to grow more, do more, try new things while reducing their impact on the land.  We are excited to showcase some of Iowa’s best and brightest farm families who are doing just that.  Our education seminars this year will focus on digital data use and access tools that help farmers manage Iowa’s variable weather.  We will also hear from conservation trail-blazers in a special educational seminar, and get encouragement to protect the state’s endangered species.  As a general farm organization, we uniquely focus on all these areas and so much more, and we know that ‘leading by example’ is a common value shared by our keynote speaker, Secretary Vilsack,” says Hill.

This year’s entertainment includes an evening Ice Cream Social for all members and special music by the Painchaud Family of Canada.

Members can register for the 2016 IFBF annual meeting at their county Farm Bureau offices.

In addition to showcasing important issues in nine educational seminars, the 98th annual IFBF meeting will also bring the state’s next generation of farm leaders to the stage December 6, to compete for the IFBF Young Farmer Discussion Meet title.  In addition to vying for the state title, the winner will also receive a John Deere X320 riding lawn mower, and the chance to advance to the national competition during the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Annual Convention, January 8-11, in Phoenix, Arizona. 



Pit Gases Pose a Danger in Beef Barns

Hydrogen sulfide gas is a serious issue both in and around barns with liquid manure storage. The decomposition of organic matter in manure results in the release of several gases: ammonia, carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen sulfide among them. Most of the time these gases are emitted at low levels, but any time manure is being agitated or pumped, or the surface is disturbed, hydrogen sulfide can be rapidly released.

Although all are potentially dangerous, hydrogen sulfide tends to be the most concerning in these cases. Hydrogen sulfide has an intense rotten egg smell, so it is relatively easy to detect its presence, even in very low concentrations, but people quickly suffer olfactory fatigue and lose the ability to smell it. This makes it necessary to use analytical instruments to detect dangerous levels.
Consider monitoring equipment for safety

Hydrogen sulfide monitors can be purchased to help keep those working around manure safe. A monitor, which is small enough to wear, ranges in cost from $99 to $800 and will alert you if the situation is dangerous. There are numerous options available for monitoring hydrogen sulfide levels when working with manure. Below are links to five meters to consider. These meters typically have audible alarms that will sound an alert as dangerous concentrations develop.
-    Honeywell GasAlertMax XT II
-    BW Honeywell GasAlert Clip Extreme GA24XT-H
-    BW Honeywell GasAlert Micro Clip XL 4-Gas Monitor
-    Draeger Pac 3500 H2S Monitor
-    RAE Systems ToxiRAE II

Neither endorsement of companies, individuals or their services mentioned is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar companies, individuals or their services not mentioned.

Best tips for agitation
Hydrogen sulfide can spike quickly and without warning during pit pumping. This can result in hazardous concentrations for both the animals and the farm employees around the facility. Aggressive agitation can contribute to the risk of gas spikes when agitation first begins and when the pit becomes nearly empty. The manure agitation technique used can make a big difference in how much, and how quickly, hydrogen sulfide is off-gassed from the manure.

People should NEVER enter a building being pumped. Use yellow caution tape to mark barn entrances to block door or consider lockout tags during pumping. If possible, remove animals before pumping. For barns with multiple pits, move cattle out of the room with the pit being agitated.

Following are a few best practices regarding manure application.....

Agitation strategy
-    Don’t agitate until the manure level is 1.5 to 2 feet below the slats. Hydrogen sulfide is denser than air and as a result will tend to pool on the manure surface; sufficient separation is required to minimize hydrogen sulfide in the animal breathing zone.
-    Avoid aggressive agitation when animals are in the building (no rooster tailing). Surface agitation causes more turbulence and greatly increases the release of hydrogen sulfide.
-    Do not direct agitator nozzles toward pillars, walls or toward a corner. Pillars and walls stop flow quickly and cause the manure to churn, increasing the rate hydrogen sulfide is off gassed from the manure. Corners are often dead air zones; releases of hydrogen sulfide in this area are more likely to result in animal loss
-    Stop agitating when bottom nozzle is less than 6 inches below the manure surface. Keep the agitation below the surface at all times.
-    Avoid sudden changes in agitator depth and intensity. Quick changes can result in large amounts of solids that haven’t previously been agitated and result in rapid gas release. Slower changes in power, flow direction and depth allow for a slower, more continuous release that is safer for animals and workers.

Ventilation
-    Ventilation should be maximized during agitation.
-    Back-wall curtains should be completely opened to allow maximum air flow.
-    A cross wind (through the barn) of at least 7.5 mph is recommended. Wind velocity must maintain this speed and be directed through the barn. If the wind direction is at an angle to the barn, 10 mph wind speeds or greater are recommended.
-    Watch for changing weather conditions, as many times night air is more still than daytime air.
-    Warming air can help disperse hydrogen sulfide; cooling air causes it to settle and pool. As hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air, this can create dangerous conditions.
-    Consider using PTO driven fans to provide extra ventilation. If conditions are calm, use large, PTO driven fans to increase ventilation and air exchange.
-    If present, turn on stir fans in the barn. This moves air around and will decrease the chance of air “dead zones” where inadequate ventilation exists.

Consider adding pump out curtains (tarps) around the manure agitator to limit air exchange of hydrogen sulfide gas near the applicator. This curtain blocks some of the pit air from swirling back towards the pump operator.



Researchers at Kansas State University have identified a new swine circovirus

Its discovery is auspicious, as a related swine circovirus, porcine circovirus type 2, also known as PCV2, has had a devastating history in swine production. Associated diseases caused millions of dollars in losses globally in the 1900s and early 2000s.

The new circovirus discovered by Benjamin Hause and Rachel Palinski, who is with the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, along with collaborators at Kansas State University, Iowa State University and Smithfield Hog Production, is different from other known circoviruses.

"The Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory was sent samples from sows with signs of clinical disease typically caused by PCV2 infection; however, the samples were negative for PCV2," said Hause, an adjunct professor at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. "Through further investigation, we identified an extremely novel, divergent new species of circovirus. We also performed polymerase chain reaction testing, or PCR, on random samples submitted to the lab to see how widespread this virus is in the U.S. swine herd. Twelve percent were positive for this new virus. We are hoping this is not the beginning of what could be a whole new epidemic of circovirus infections."

Palinski is a doctoral student in pathobiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The results of the discovery were published in the article "A novel porcine circovirus distantly related to known circoviruses is associated with porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome and reproductive failure," which appears in the November issue of the Journal of Virology, produced by the American Society for Microbiology.

Porcine circovirus type 2 was first identified in Canada in the mid-1990s during sporadic outbreaks of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome, or PWMS, where young pigs fail to thrive and progressively lose body condition.

“PCV2 caused sporadic disease at first, but then there were massive epidemics of PMWS in Asia and Europe, and in North America in the early 2000s," Hause said. "When I started working in the industry in 2005, this was about the height of this disease, and it literally killed millions and millions of pigs."

Hause said that vaccination for porcine circovirus type 2 has successfully controlled the disease, but that it remains to be one of the most significant viruses of swine.

"Now we have a novel porcine circovirus that is distantly related to known circoviruses and that has been identified in sows with porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome, or PDNS, and reproductive failure," Hause said. "Porcine circovirus 2, which has previously been associated with these clinical presentations, was not identified here. This virus is clearly not a variant of PCV2, but a novel virus in its own right."

Hause said after they discovered the new virus, they were able to check for its presence in archived samples.

"We detected porcine circovirus type 3 in aborted fetuses and in archival diagnostic cases of PDNS lesions that previously tested negative for PCV2," Hause said. "Given the high economic impact of PCV2, this novel circovirus warrants further studies to elucidate its significance and role in porcine circovirus associated disease."



‘ENHANCED’ PORK CUTOUT NOW IN EFFECT

A new regulation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) related to the pork carcass cutout took effect Oct. 31. The pork cutout is an estimated value for a hog carcass based on current wholesale prices paid for sub-primal pork cuts. AMS added muscle cuts (insides, outsides and knuckles) to the ham primal as a way to more accurately reflect today’s marketing environment and to capture more product to be included in the weighted average calculation. According to analysis from AMS, the “enhanced” cutout is expected to lower the overall carcass cutout value by an average of $1.41. Producers who utilize the cutout calculations for pricing should keep that in mind when negotiating contracts with packers.



USDA Expands Working-Lands Conservation Opportunities through CRP

Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Deputy Under Secretary Alexis Taylor today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will offer a new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands practice specifically tailored for small-scale livestock grazing operations. Small livestock operations with 100 or fewer head of grazing dairy cows (or the equivalent) can submit applications to enroll up to 200 acres of grasslands per farm. USDA’s goal is to enroll up to 200,000 acres.

“For 30 years, lands in the Conservation Reserve Program have contributed to soil and water protection and wildlife and pollinator habitat, while playing a significant role in mitigating climate change,” said Taylor. “CRP Grasslands recognizes the conservation value of well-managed, working grazing lands and pasturelands. This new opportunity for small livestock operations, like the dairy farms or small beef farms common in Pennsylvania, will help ensure that livestock operations of varying scales and across the country have an opportunity to achieve environmental and economic benefits.  Small livestock operations are encouraged to contact their local Farm Service Agency office to learn more about this program.”

Taylor also announced that the current CRP Grassland ranking period will end on Nov. 10, 2016. To date, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has received nearly 5,000 offers covering over 1 million acres for this CRP working-lands conservation program. These offers are predominantly larger acreage ranchland in Western states.

The new practice for small-scale livestock grazers aims, in part, to encourage greater diversity geographically and in types of livestock operation. This opportunity will close on Dec. 16, 2016. Offers selected this fiscal year will be enrolled into CRP Grasslands beginning Oct. 1, 2017.

Participants in CRP Grasslands establish or maintain long-term, resource-conserving grasses and other plant species to control soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat on marginally productive agricultural lands. CRP Grasslands participants can use the land for livestock production (e.g. grazing or producing hay), while following their conservation and grazing plans in order to maintain the cover. A goal of CRP Grasslands is to minimize conversion of grasslands either to row crops or to non-agricultural uses. Participants can receive annual payments of up to 75 percent of the grazing value of the land and up to 50 percent to fund cover or practices like cross-fencing to support rotational grazing or improving pasture cover to benefit pollinators or other wildlife.

USDA will select offers for enrollment based on six ranking factors: (1) current and future use, (2) new farmer/rancher or underserved producer involvement, (3) maximum grassland preservation, (4) vegetative cover, (5) environmental factors and (6) pollinator habitat. Offers for the second ranking period also will be considered from producers who submitted offers for the first ranking period but were not accepted, as well as from new offers submitted through Dec. 16.

“Adding a working-lands conservation program to the toolbox is an exciting opportunity for the future of CRP,” said Taylor. “There also are ways that CRP Grasslands could be combined with other traditional CRP conservation practices, such as riparian buffers on the same farm, to create a package that can help keep small livestock operations in production. An example of such a package would be to dedicate the most sensitive land to conservation, while still maintaining the bulk of the area as working grasslands for livestock. USDA would provide cost-share assistance to help farmers install fencing and provide alternative water sources to livestock, as well as annual CRP payments to help the farm's bottom-line.”

In May, FSA accepted 101,000 acres in the grasslands program, with more than 70 percent of the acres having diverse native grasslands under threat of conversion, and more than 97 percent of the acres having a new, veteran or underserved farmer or rancher as a primary producer.

Small livestock operations or other farming and ranching operations interested in participating in CRP Grasslands should contact their local FSA office. To find your local FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov. To learn more about FSA’s conservation programs, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation.



NPPC WORKING TO STRENGTHEN U.S., ARGENTINA TRADE TIES

National Pork Producers Council Vice President of Global Government Affairs Nick Giordano and NPPC Deputy Director of International Trade Maria Zieba this week traveled to Argentina to promote market access for U.S. pork, meeting with U.S. and Argentine government officials, importers and Argentine pork producers, among others. The United States and Argentina are working toward closer commercial ties, a move that would bode well for the U.S. pork industry.

NPPC continues to look for opportunities to expand exports in Latin America, and, among the non-FTA partner nations there, Argentina presents the best opportunity for expanding U.S. pork exports.

NPPC already has been working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in negotiating an export certificate with Argentina that would open that country’s market to more U.S. pork. Compared with other nations in the Southern Hemisphere, Argentina has a high per capita income and a large population, and it has experienced a very significant increase in pork consumption over the past 10 years, with future increases expected.

NPPC COMMENTS ON USDA RESPONSE PLAN FOR EMERGING ANIMAL DISEASES
NPPC this week submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture comments on the agency’s proposed plan for responding to emerging animal diseases. Being developed by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Veterinary Services (VS), the plan is supposed to outline efforts by VS, states and the livestock industry to respond to new and emerging diseases in ways to minimizing their economic impact.

In its comments, NPPC suggested that the proposed plan’s top-down decision making be modified to be more inclusive of the states and the livestock industry. The organization also expressed concern about a lack of incentive for producers to report suspicions of a disease given that doing so could result in an order to stop movement of animals or to depopulate a herd without compensation.

NPPC suggested that USDA seek new authority to pay indemnity to producers in such situations. It also recommended that the agency seek new resources to implement the disease response plan so that funds won’t be taken from existing USDA programs. Recognizing that industry-specific plans may be developed, NPPC urged USDA to consider adopting the emerging diseases response plan already developed by the pork industry.



US Ethanol Exports Up 59% From Year Ago; Biodiesel - DDGs Down

The U.S. Census Bureau said Friday that exports of goods and services in September totaled $189.2 billion, up $1.0 billion from the previous month. Imports totaled $225.6 billion, down $3.0 billion from the previous month. Later, USDA provided more details for exports of ethanol, biodiesel and distillers grains.

USDA said that U.S. exports of ethanol totaled 99.6 million gallons in September, up 59% from a year ago. Canada was the top customer in September, accounting for 28% of all exports and followed by Brazil and China. Year-to-date ethanol exports in 2016 are up 13% from a year ago.

U.S. exports of biodiesel totaled 21,145 metric tons in September, down 25% from a year ago. Canada was again the top customer for biodiesel exports in September, taking 75% of all exports. In the first nine months of 2016, U.S. biodiesel exports are up 3% from a year ago.

U.S. exports of distillers grains totaled 990,971 metric tons in September, down 14% from a year ago. China's purchases of distillers grains from the U.S. are down 62% in the first nine months of 2016, but China was again the top customer in September, accounting for 17% of total exports. So far in 2016, U.S. exports of distillers grains are down 12% from a year ago. Friday's report again confirmed this year's weaker export demand and was slightly bearish for distillers grains, Hultman said.



Nominations Open for Trade Advisory Committees

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Office of the United States Trade Representative, is accepting nominations for new members to serve on its agricultural trade advisory committees. Nominations received by Nov. 18 will be considered for the next round of appointments.

"USDA and USTR rely on the agricultural trade advisory committees to provide significant insight into trade issues for the United States. Hearing the diverse views of our agricultural experts helps us formulate trade strategy and keep American exports growing," Vilsack said. "Committee members serve an invaluable role to help enact trade agreements and trade policies that benefit America's farmers, ranchers and rural America."

Members of the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) advise USDA and USTR on operating existing U.S. trade agreements, on negotiating new agreements and on other trade policy matters. Members of the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs) represent specific commodity sectors and provide technical advice and guidance on trade issues that affect both domestic and foreign production.

Committee members represent a cross-section of U.S. food and agricultural stakeholders and must have knowledge of agriculture and trade matters. Committee members, who serve four-year terms, must be U.S. citizens, qualify for a security clearance, and serve without compensation for time, travel or expenses. The committees generally meet in Washington, D.C., at least twice a year.

Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. ET on Nov. 18. Nominations received after that date will be considered for future appointments as appropriate to maintain staggered terms. All nomination materials should be mailed in a single, complete package to: Thomas Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-1001, Attn: APAC/ATACs. Courtesy electronic copies of the nomination materials should be sent to ATACs@fas.usda.gov.



China's Soybean Imports Expected to Hit Record in 2016-17

China's soybean imports are expected to hit a record of 86 million metric tons in year ended September 30 as a result of a recovery in Chinese swine production, growth in the overall poultry sector, and expected higher domestic demand for industry feed and protein meal, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a note. "However, the growth rate of soybean imports slowed due to a forecast recovery in domestic soybean production and China's sale of oilseed and oilseed product reserves." It does note that forecast lower imports of distiller grains, as a result of China's implementation of anti-dumping duties, "may increase demand for soybean meal and could thus support continued growth in soybean imports."