Monday November 14 Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending November 13, 2016, unseasonably warm temperatures were again experienced and averaged six to nine degrees above normal, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rain early in the week was confined mostly to south central and central counties, with totals generally less than an inch. Harvest activities made good progress, with many producers now done combining. With limited rainfall over the last month, dry soils were noted in a number of counties. There were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 14 percent very short, 38 short, 47 adequate, and 1 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 11 percent very short, 32 short, 56 adequate, and 1 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Corn harvested was 93 percent, near 91 both last year and the five-year average.

Sorghum harvested was 97 percent, ahead of 90 last year, and near 93 average.

Winter wheat condition rated 2 percent very poor, 10 poor, 35 fair, 48 good, and 5 excellent.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 5 percent very poor, 13 poor, 31 fair, 47 good, and 4 excellent. Stock water supplies rated 2 percent very short, 14 short, 83 adequate, and 1 surplus.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT

 Minimal precipitation and warm temperatures allowed farmers to make progress towards harvest completion during the week ending November 13, 2016, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Activities for the week included harvesting, baling corn stalks, tiling, terracing, hauling and spreading manure, and anhydrous application.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 2 percent very short, 10 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 2 percent very short, 6 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus.

Ninety-four percent of the corn crop for grain has been harvested, equal to the 5-year average. This was the first time during the 2016 corn for grain harvest that progress was not behind average. Moisture content of all corn for grain being harvested in Iowa was unchanged from last week at 16 percent. While harvest is winding down in much of the State, southwest and south central Iowa still have over 10 percent of the corn crop and almost 10 percent of the soybean crop remaining to be harvested.

Grain movement from farm to elevator was rated 55 percent moderate to heavy, down 7 percentage points from the previous week. Off-farm grain storage availability was rated 65 percent adequate to surplus. On-farm grain storage availability was rated 59 percent adequate to surplus.

Livestock conditions were described as ideal with the week’s above normal temperatures and drier conditions.



USDA Weekly Crop Progress

The U.S. corn and soybean harvest continued slightly ahead of the average pace last week as the 2016 harvest enters the homestretch, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report released Monday.

The nation's corn crop was 93% harvested as of Sunday, down from 95% last year but slightly ahead of the five-year average of 92%. 

Meanwhile, 97% of soybeans were harvested as of Sunday, even with a year ago but up from the five-year average of 95%.

The winter wheat crop was 94% planted, up from 93% a year ago, and below the five-year average of 95%. Eighty-four percent of the crop had emerged, down from 85% a year ago and even with the five-year average of 84%. The condition of winter wheat was rated 59% good-to-excellent, up 1 percentage point from the previous week.



Nebraska Extension Offers Training on Unmanned Aircraft Systems 

Those interested in incorporating unmanned aircraft systems into their business operations and agricultural enterprises are encouraged to attend one of five introductory training sessions offered across the state by Nebraska Extension.

The sessions will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations:

Scottsbluff: Nov. 21, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I. Register by Wednesday, Nov. 16.

North Platte: Nov. 22, West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Road. Register by Wednesday, Nov. 16.

Norfolk: Nov. 29, Lifelong Learning Center, Northeast Community College, 801 E. Benjamin Ave. Register by Monday, Nov. 21.

Mead: Dec. 14, Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1071 County Road G. Register by Monday, Dec. 5.

Grand Island: Dec. 16, Hall County Extension Office, 3180 W. Highway 34. Register by Thursday, Dec. 8.

"Emerging technology such as unmanned aircraft systems have the potential to benefit all types of businesses, and especially applications of the agricultural industry," said Wayne Woldt, associate professor in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Department of Biological Systems Engineering and one of the training organizers. Woldt is a rated pilot who developed the Nebraska Unmanned Aircraft Innovation, Research and Education (NU-AIRE) laboratory and flight program, with a focus on research and education in unmanned aircraft systems.

The training will highlight information needed by an unmanned aircraft operator and pilot, including:
-    hobby flight, educational interpretation and best practices for privacy concerns;
-    Federal Part 107 rules for commercial flight and piloting; and
-    an overview of applications.

At the conclusion of the program, training attendees will have flight time with a small unmanned aircraft system.

In addition to Woldt, others conducting the training are Bill Kreuser and Jacob Smith. Kreuser is an assistant professor in the university's Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. He is a rated pilot who works with unmanned aircraft systems as part of his research and extension program to advance the use of this new technology for managing complex agronomic systems. Smith works with Woldt in the NU-AIRE laboratory. He is a commercial pilot, certified flight instructor, and unmanned aircraft systems expert.

Registration
Space is limited to 45 attendees at each session. For more information and to register see the program brochure or contact Delhay at 402-472-9390 or bdelhay2@unl.edu. The brochure also includes maps to each training site.

The registration fee of $50 may be submitted online at http://nuaire.unl.edu or by mailing a check to Bonita Delhay, Biological Systems Engineering, 234 Chase Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0726. Checks should be payable to the University of Nebraska.

Continuing education credits (CEUs) have been applied for.



 Accepting Applications for the 2017 NePPA Pork Mentorship Program

The Nebraska Pork Producers Association wants students to be a part of the 2017 Pork Mentorship Program. If students are connected to agriculture and believe in the future of the pork industry, they are encouraged to apply! $500 scholarships are available for college-age students who have an interest in the pork industry – they don’t have to be a pork producer! Applications are due December 5th. Students may apply for this opportunity by visiting the youth tab on www.nepork.org.

The Pork Mentorship Program is directed under Kyla Habrock, NPPA Youth Education Director. Habrock stated, “The NPPA Pork Mentorship Program is more than just a scholarship. It’s a way for students to build their capacity as a leader and professional in the swine and agriculture industries in Nebraska. The program provides students with an opportunity to identify future career goals and to evolve into strong agricultural advocates.”

The Pork Mentorship Program was established in 1999. To date, over 125 students have completed the program and over $68,000 in scholarships have been awarded. Each year the students participate in activities that encourage personal growth, leadership development, community engagement, and expand their knowledge of the pork industry. A $500 scholarship is awarded upon the completion of the year-long program.



Understanding the Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ Soybean Weed Management System
Amit Jhala - NE Extension Weed Management Specialist

The evolution of glyphosate-resistant weeds is a concern for successful corn and soybean production. In Nebraska six weed species have been confirmed resistant to glyphosate: common ragweed, giant ragweed, common waterhemp, kochia, marestail, and Palmer amaranth. Crops with multiple-herbicide tolerances, including dicamba- plus glyphosate-resistant Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybean, have been developed, tested, and approved. This new dicamba-tolerant soybean cultivar, expected to be planted on over 15 million acres in 2017, offers an additional means of managing herbicide-resistant weeds.

Special low-volatile dicamba herbicide formulations have been developed for use with this cultivar. They are Roundup Xtend™ (a premix of glyphosate and dicamba; pending EPA approval) and XtendiMax™ (dicamba).  They will be labeled for use before, at, and after planting Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Soybean. Moreover flexibility in applying XtendiMax™ may allow growers to make pre- or post-emergence applications on dicamba-tolerant crops to manage glyphosate-resistant weeds and maximize crop yield potential. In addition, product stewardship programs are expected to help ensure the successful application of XtendiMax™ to minimize off-target movement; however, no research data is currently available of landscape level effect of volatility from this new formulation of dicamba.

This registration is for a formulation of dicamba that contains an additive that reduces volatility and is different from products that were alleged to have been used illegally in the 2016 growing season in several states.

The dicamba formulation for use on dicamba-tolerant soybean has been registered for sale and use in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Related Nebraska Research
Research conducted at UNL’s South Central Agricultural Lab near Clay Center the last four years showed excellent weed control and crop safety with a pre-emergence herbicide applied at planting followed by post-emergence application of XtendiMax™ in Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybean.

The label requires very specific drift mitigation measures, including:
-    no aerial application,
-    no application when wind speed is over 15 miles per hour;
-    application only with approved nozzles at specified pressures; and
-    buffer zones to protect sensitive areas when the wind is blowing toward them.

Weeds can evolve resistance to any herbicide if the same herbicide is applied repeatedly in the same field. For example, dicamba-resistant kochia has been confirmed in western Nebraska. Therefore, growers should not rely only on XtendiMax for weed control in Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybean. Pre-emergence herbicide is a foundation for weed control in any type of soybean. Therefore, select a weed management program that includes herbicides with multiple effective modes of action.



 USDA Providing Funds to Protect and Restore Agricultural Working Lands, Grasslands and Wetlands across Nebraska

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is now accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). This program, created under the 2014 Farm Bill, provides funding for the purchase of conservation easements to help productive farm and ranch lands remain in agriculture and to restore and protect critical wetlands and grasslands.

Nebraska state conservationist Craig Derickson said, “Conservation easements are a good tool to ensure natural resources are conserved and protected for all Nebraskans. We encourage Indian tribes, state and local governments, non-governmental organizations and private landowners to contact their local NRCS office to find out how to apply.”

The main goal of ACEP is to prevent productive agriculture land from being converted to non-agricultural uses and restore and protect wetlands and wildlife habitat. Cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland and nonindustrial private forestland are eligible.

Applications can be submitted at any time, but to be considered for 2017 funding opportunities, applications in Nebraska must be received by December 31. Applications are currently being accepted for both agricultural land and wetland reserve easements.

NRCS provides technical and financial assistance directly to private and tribal landowners to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands through the purchase of conservation easements. Eligible landowners can choose to enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement. Tribal landowners also have the option of enrolling in 30-year contracts.

A key option under the agricultural land easement component is the "grasslands of special environmental significance" that will protect high-quality grasslands under threat of conversion to cropping, urban development and other non-grazing uses.

All applications will be rated according to the easement’s potential for protecting and enhancing habitat for migratory birds, fish and other wildlife. Eligible applicants will be compensated with a payment rate comparable to the local land use value.

Applicants will need to provide accurate records of ownership and ensure they have established current year ownership eligibility with USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Application information is available at your local USDA Service Center and at www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted.

“NRCS staff will work with all interested applicants to help them through the application process and provide one-on-one assistance to create the conservation easement option that works best for their farming or ranching operation,” Derickson said.

For more information about the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the programs and services it provides, visit your local USDA Service Center or www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov.



CLIMATE ASSESSMENT RESPONSE COMMITTEE TO MEET

Mat Habrock, assistant director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, has scheduled a meeting of the Climate Assessment Response Committee (CARC) for Tuesday, November 22, 2016.  The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. in room 901, Hardin Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus.

Officials will brief CARC members on existing, as well as predicted, weather conditions and provide a water availability outlook.

For more details, call the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at (402) 471-2341.



Cattlemen can weigh in on 2017 policies at inaugural Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit

While the election may be over, Iowa cattle producers and friends of the industry still have a chance to exert influence on the issues that matter to them.

As part of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association’s mission to grow Iowa’s beef business through leadership, advocacy and education, ICA will host the inaugural Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit.

The summit, which will be held on December 10 in Ames, will have sessions devoted to leadership development for cattle producers and ICA county cattlemen’s associations. The day will also feature policy committee meetings and the ICA annual meeting.

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association has three policy committees: Beef Products, Business Issues and Cattle Production. The committee meetings are open to any ICA members, and will generate policy related to important topics in the cattle industry. These policies drive the efforts of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and are used by staff and leaders in discussions with local and national elected officials and regulatory agencies.

Policy discussions this year are expected to revolve around live cattle futures trading, market volatility, price discovery, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), foreign animal disease preparedness, protecting Iowa’s fence law, the green and gold tag preconditioning programs, and specific uses for the new state beef checkoff, if the referendum passes.

At the end of the day, ICA members will have a chance to ratify the policy developed in the committee meetings at the ICA annual meeting.

The day will also include the Iowa Beef Industry Council annual meeting and a complimentary lunch featuring the 2016 Iowa’s Best Burger from the Chuckwagon Restaurant in Adair.

There is no cost to attend the Leadership Summit, but RSVPs are requested by November 29. Visit www.iacattlemen.org or call 515-296-2266 for more info.



Monitor Corn and Soybean Growth with New Reference Materials

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Cropping Systems Agronomist Mark Licht is asked every year for information on the developmental stages of corn and soybeans.

In response, Licht has created corn and soybean quick reference materials that cover various aspects of staging, growth and development and are available through the Extension Store. Each publication contains two different documents, one covering staging and the other highlighting key growth stages. The publications are supplements to the larger Corn Growth and Development and the Soybean Growth and Development publications.

“Farmers and agronomists I talk with want to take an abridged version of the longer publications and my presentations with them,” Licht said. “These new publications allow them to take that information with them in a user friendly way. This is an effort to help farmers and agronomists determine key growth stages more accurately to facilitate better decision making.”

Both publications provide images from seed to maturity. This allows farmers to track their crop’s growth and development in an easy-to-use fashion.

Information on each stage of growth is included, with benchmarks the growing crop should be reaching clearly marked. 



NATIONAL THANKSGIVING TURKEY HAILS FROM IOWA

This Thanksgiving, the state of Iowa will be represented in the spotlight of the nation’s historic holiday tradition as President Obama pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey. This year, the National Thanksgiving Turkey hails from the state of Iowa.

Through nearly seven decades, the President has received a turkey from the National Turkey Federation during Thanksgiving week. As part of the White House event, recent custom has the president “pardoning” the turkey, after noting the significance of a time of thanks for the nation’s many blessings, and the opening of the holiday season. 

Iowa Turkey Federation hosts a “send-off” from the family farm the morning of Friday, November 18.  “We highlight the family aspect of turkey farming, and celebrate with this fun, turkey-centered tradition,” Gretta Irwin, Executive Director of Iowa Turkey Federation said.

Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation presents the National Thanksgiving Turkey to the President for Thanksgiving.  This year’s turkey hails from Iowa at the choice of National Turkey Federation Chairman, John Reicks.

The Iowa Turkey Federation is proud to take part in this tradition, the sixth occasion for Iowa to supply the National Thanksgiving Turkey.  Prior presentations from Iowan’s have been to Presidents Johnson, Ford, Reagan, and Bush, and now to Obama.  The tradition began with the first presentation by the National Turkey Federation to President Truman.



U.S. Pig Farmers Celebrate Progress on Antibiotic Stewardship

American pig farmers have a long history of doing what's best for their animals, their customers and their communities. This commitment matches nicely with the goals of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) annual celebration, Get Smart About Antibiotics Week (Nov. 14-20), and demonstrates why it's so critical to use antibiotics wisely to safeguard the health and well-being of people, animals and the environment.

"The Get Smart About Antibiotics Week is a good time to reflect on our long history of accomplishments in the antibiotics area, such as using these medications responsibly and embracing the updated Pork Quality AssuranceSM Plus certification program," said National Pork Board President Jan Archer, a pig farmer from North Carolina. "As pig farmers, we are aware of the challenge of antibiotic resistance and are dedicated to working hard to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics, both on the farm and in human medicine."

According to the CDC, the 2016 Get Smart About Antibiotics Week marks an important year because Congress has allocated $160 million in new funding for the agency to implement its activities listed in the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB). The CDC is using this funding to accelerate outbreak detection and prevention, to support innovative research and to inform providers and the general public about antibiotic resistance and appropriate antibiotic use.

"The single most important action to slow the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant infections is for every one of us to improve the way antibiotics are prescribed and used," said Dr. Lauri Hicks, director for the CDC's Office of Antibiotic Stewardship. "If we don't take better care of the antibiotics we have today – if we aren't better stewards of them – we may lose these antibiotics and the next ones that come along."

The National Pork Board's three-point antibiotic stewardship plan, announced in mid-2015, focuses on promoting research, increasing pig farmer education and communicating with consumers in 2016 and beyond. The Antibiotic Resource Center, found at pork.org/antibiotics, is an example of efforts to assist farmers and others who want to learn more about responsible on-farm antibiotic use.

In another demonstration of its commitment to the complex issue of antibiotic resistance, the National Pork Board hosted a national dialogue earlier this year called Resistance: The Antibiotic Challenge. The Washington, D.C., event brought together key opinion leaders from human health, animal health, government, pharmaceutical, retail and consumer segments to discuss the challenge of responsible antibiotic use in the 21st century. Another joint dialog occurred earlier this month in Denver when the National Pork Board and the American Public Health Association discussed the shared responsibility of reducing the need for antibiotics.

"We are always seeking ways to do what's right for our animals, our consumers and the environment," Archer said. "We are looking for new ways to reduce the overall need for antibiotics, but we need to retain them as essential tools for veterinarians who work hand-in-hand with farmers to raise healthy livestock and produce safe food."

Financially, the farmer-led board has invested more than $6 million in Pork Checkoff funds in antibiotic-related research since 2000, with $750,000 spent this year alone in five research priority areas specifically aimed at reducing antibiotic resistance and finding antibiotic alternatives.

"Real change is underway on pig farms across America, with farmers and their veterinarians shaping the discussion around responsible antibiotic use," Archer said. "As the FDA prepares to implement the new, more stringent rules, such as the upcoming ban on using medically important antibiotics for growth promotion in food animals, we'll be ready."



2016 National Beef Quality Audit Producer Survey Closes FRIDAY!!!

Beef producers all across the country, from every segment of the industry, are being encouraged to participate in a survey that will help establish a benchmark and course for the beef industry for 2017 and beyond. The Producer Survey of the checkoff-funded 2016 National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) will collect producer information and opinions, which will be added to the audit's traditional production research to form an in-depth look at where the industry stands and what its successes and shortcomings are.

The survey will be completely anonymous and include both information about the industry's cattle operations and the opinions of the people who run them about the strengths and weaknesses of the industry. Input from every segment of the industry - cow-calf, stocker, feeder, dairy and others - will be valued and become part of the detailed picture of the U.S. cattle industry. The survey can be accessed at the Beef Quality Assurance website at http://www.bqa.org/nbqa-producer-survey. The deadline to complete the survey is November 18.

Upon completing the survey, participants can choose to leave their contact information to be entered for a chance at winning a YETI® Tundra 75 Marine Cooler. For more information, contact Jesse Fulton at jfulton@beef.org, or 303-850-3461. Final results of the 2016 NBQA will be released in July 2017.



Trade, RFS Among Issues NFU Ready to Tackle with Trump Administration

National Farmers Union (NFU) extended a congratulatory letter to President-elect Donald J. Trump, outlining opportunities to work together with the new administration on several common ground farm policy issues.

“We appreciate the attention that Mr. Trump paid to issues that affect family farmers and rural communities throughout his campaign, and we look forward to working with the new administration and finding issues of mutual agreement for the betterment of farmers, ranchers, rural communities and the broader American public,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.

Rejecting the Trans-Pacific Partnership, reducing the U.S. trade deficit, supporting the Renewable Fuel Standard, putting an end to relentless corporate mergers, and passing strong farm policies in the next Farm Bill were among the list – all issues that the Mr. Trump voiced support for during his campaign.

The Farm Bill will be a major undertaking for the next administration and the new Congress, Johnson explained. “Given the difficult farm economy we hope to work closely with the administration to quickly provide relief for struggling farmers and ranchers.”

Johnson also emphasized the importance of compromise, respect and open communication when the diverse sectors of the agricultural industry don’t agree.

“NFU believes that good opportunities in agriculture are the foundation of strong farm and ranch families, and strong farm and ranch families are the basis for thriving rural communities. We may not agree on every issue, but we can agree on the need for meaningful solutions for farm families and rural America,” Johnson concluded.



CWT Assists with 1.9 Million Pounds of Cheese and Butter Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 11 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Foremost Farms and Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold). These member cooperatives have contracts to sell 1.609 million pounds (730 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese, and 308,647 pounds (140 metric tons) of butter to customers in Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from November 2016 through February 2017.

So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 45.799 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 11.748 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) and 21.316 million pounds of whole milk powder to twenty-three countries on five continents. The sales are the equivalent of 842.673 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

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

The amounts of dairy products and related milk volumes reflect current contracts for delivery, not completed export volumes. CWT will pay export assistance to the bidders only when export and delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.



World Food Prices Edge up in October

World food prices edged up in October to continue an upward trend since January, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday, adding that prospects for global cereal output had improved. Barring a slight dip in July, the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) food price index has steadily increased from a seven-year low hit in the first month of this year, reports Reuters.

The index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 172.6 points in October, 0.7 percent above the month before and 9.1 percent above October last year.

Sustained demand for cheese and butter in the European Union pushed up dairy prices 3.9 percent on the month, while sugar rose on reports of production shortfalls in Brazil and India.

Conversely, sluggish import demand globally for palm oil pushed oil and fats prices down, and weaker appetite for European pork from importers in China weighed on meat prices.

FAO senior economist Abdolreza Abbassian said high production prospects for basic foods such as cereals meant any future price rises would probably be muted.

Cereal prices rose 1.0 percent month-on-month in October as high-quality wheat supplies tightened, but the FAO forecast global wheat output this year would be 1.5 percent higher than in 2015.