Wednesday January 11 Ag News

2i Conference returns to West Point’s Nielsen Center

Wednesday January 25th, is the day slated for the 4th 2i Conference to be held at the Nielsen Center in West Point. The 2i Conference is hosted by three area businesses with the goal of bringing information and innovation to farmers and livestock producers. Nutrient Advisors, Summit Ag Inc. and the Agronomic Consulting Group (ACG) are excited to bring back this popular event that will host over 450 progressive farmers and livestock operators from at least four different states.

David Kohl, PhD, will again be a featured keynote speaker. Dr. Kohl, who is Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech, is widely recognized as one of the most respected Ag Economy speakers in the United States. Dr. Kohl provides cutting-edge information in a dynamic format based upon his many years of academic research and working with commercial banks, ag lenders and producers throughout the world. Dr. Kohl's personal involvement with agriculture and interaction with key industry players provide unique perspective into the future trends of the agricultural industry and economy.

New this year, Gary Baise will be the second keynote speaker at the 2i Conference. Mr. Baise is a principal attorney at OFW Law, is also co-head of the litigation practice, specializes in Clean Water Act (CWA), Clean Air Act (CAA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA) litigation as well as agricultural corporate governance issues. Gary Baise will be bringing his vast knowledge to the 2i Conference to educate producers. Gary Baise is a very active member of the Trump transition team and is responsible for putting together Trump's Agricultural Advisory Committee. Gary was mentioned as a possible choice for the Director or the EPA under the Trump Administration.

The 2i Conference will also feature a trade show with curated vendors who will be showcasing innovative services and products throughout the event. The 2i Conference will begin with registration and the opening of the trade show at 10:00am Wednesday, January 25th, followed by a lunch served at 11:00am, with Dr. Kohl taking the stage at noon. Gary Baise will discuss “Regulatory Changes and the American Farmer” at 2:00pm. Following the second keynote speaker an expert panel will convene on stage and field questions from the audience. Both Dr. Kohl and Mr. Baise will be a part of the panel discussion. The event will wrap up with a social hour during the trade show.

A limited number of tickets are available for purchase. To acquire tickets to the 2i Conference please contact Ellan Ruskamp at Nutrient Advisors at 402-372-2236. For additional information please visit the event website at www.2iconf.com.  



Rep. Bacon Named to House Agriculture Committee

Today, Representative Don Bacon (NE-02) was named to the House Agriculture Committee for the 115th Congress. Representative Bacon’s rural upbringing on a family farm with corn, soybeans, hay and beef cattle will prove valuable experience and insight to benefit bot the Second Congressional District and Nebraska.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) said, “I look forward to Rep. Don Bacon joining us on the House Agriculture Committee for the 115th Congress. With nearly 49,000 farms in Nebraska, I am confident Don will be a tremendous asset and strong voice for his home state. From being raised on a farm in the Midwest to his distinguished experience in the U.S. Air Force, Don brings a unique and valuable skillset to our committee, and I am excited to have him as a part of our new team.”

Representative Bacon grew up in Momence, Illinois where he worked on the family farm until he was 21 years old prior to joining the United States Air Force.

“I am eager to serve Nebraskans as our delegation member on the Agriculture Committee, representing the most productive farmers and ranchers in the world," Rep. Don Bacon said. "I was raised on the farm and know the hard work that it takes to make a living. Our farmers and ranchers feed our nation and the world. Nebraska and United States agriculture is a national treasure.”

Representative Bacon added, “A few goals I’ve heard from Nebraskans include opening up more markets overseas, lowering the costs of health insurance, and easing the burden of regulations that hurt our agriculture community. I appreciate the selection for this highly competitive position on the Agriculture Committee in order to best serve Nebraska.”

The new House Agriculture Committee members are as follows:
  - Don Bacon, representing Nebraska's 2nd District
  - Jodey Arrington, representing Texas’ 19th District
  - James Comer, representing Kentucky's 1st District
  - Neal Dunn, representing Florida’s 2nd District
  - John Faso, representing New York’s 19th District
  - Roger Marshall, representing Kansas’ 1st District

Below is the complete House Agriculture Committee Majority roster for the 115th Congress:
  - Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11)
  - Vice Chairman Glenn 'GT' Thompson (PA-5)
  - Don Bacon (NE-2)
  - Steven King (IA-4)
  - Frank D. Lucas (OK-3)
  - Bob Goodlatte (VA-6)
  - Mike Rogers (AL-3)
  - Bob Gibbs (OH-7)
  - Austin Scott (GA-8)
  - Rick Crawford (AR-1)
  - Scott DesJarlais (TN-4)
  - Vicky Hartzler (MO-4)
  - Jeff Denham (CA-10)
  - Doug LaMalfa (CA-1)
  - Rodney Davis (IL-13)
  - Ted Yoho (FL-3)
  - Rick Allen (GA-12)
  - Mike Bost (IL-12)
  - David Rouzer (NC-7)
  - Ralph Abraham (LA-5)
  - Trent Kelly (MS-1)
  - James Comer (KY-1)
  - Roger Marshall (KS-1)
  - John Faso (NY-19)
  - Neal Dunn (FL-2)
  - Jodey Arrington (TX-19)

Chairman Conaway added, “This is a great group of incoming and returning members, both for the Agriculture Committee and the Republican conference as a whole. Their diverse backgrounds will be integral as the committee goes to work – from protecting the farm safety net for producers, to ensuring the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) works to help lift families out of poverty, to rolling back burdensome regulations that strangle businesses. I am confident in the team we have assembled, and I look forward to working alongside my new colleagues.”

The House Agriculture Committee’s oversight includes policy and legislation related to farm policy for agriculture and rural America.



Nebraska Agriculture, Natural Resources Groups Encourage Landowners to Consider New Conservation Program Option
The Nebraska Farm Bureau, the Nebraska Cattlemen, the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the Nebraska Farm Service Agency and others today joined in an announcement to encourage the state’s landowners to learn more about a new U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) option. Under the “Migratory Birds, Butterflies and Pollinators” State Acres for Wildlife (Migratory Birds SAFE) option, up to 10,000 acres can be enrolled in this CRP initiative in areas of the state known for playa wetlands.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) manages the CRP program. Nebraska FSA will open enrollment for this new SAFE in the coming weeks.

“This CRP option gives Nebraska farmers another tool they can use to improve the economic viability of their operations, especially in marginally productive and flood prone acres. Such tools and options are particularly important in these challenging times,” said Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau president.

According to Andy Bishop, Rainwater Basin Joint Venture coordinator, the Joint Venture partnered with several other entities to develop and present this project proposal to USDA FSA as a way to provide landowners with farmed crop acres that continually flood a financially viable alternative that also increases important habitat for migratory birds.

“These wetlands support millions of migratory birds during their biannual migrations from the wintering grounds to the breeding grounds. Acres enrolled in this program will also serve to improve water quality and seasonally recharge groundwater in the Ogallala Aquifer,” said Bishop.   

Roric Paulman, a producer near Sutherland, Nebraska, praised the partners for developing an economically viable conservation program with the programmatic flexibility to fit into irrigated agriculture operations.

“Nebraska’s producers recognize the importance of good stewardship, but conservation programs have to be economically viable and complement the farm operation or they simply can’t be implemented,” said Paulman.      

The program allows for a minimum parcel size of two acres up to a maximum of 160 acres.

“Mid-contract management, meaning the application of management practices to keep the cover healthy, will be required,” said Greg Reisdorff, Nebraska FSA chief for Conservation and Environmental Programs. “This includes the option for managed harvesting of the acres and/or prescribed grazing. Contracts will be for 10-15 years.”

Landowners interested in learning more about this CRP SAFE project should visit their local FSA office. To find a county office in Nebraska, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/ne, and click on “county offices” in the left hand toolbar.

For more on the Nebraska Cattlemen visit http://nebraskacattlemen.org/.

For more on the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture visit http://rwbjv.org/.

For more on the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission visit http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/homepage.html.

For more the Nebraska Farm Service Agency visit https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Nebraska/index.



Mo Valley Crop Fair - Growing Success on Your Farming Operation
January 17, 2017 - 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Rand Center - 100 S. 4th St., Missouri Valley, IA

This FREE crop fair is designed to give you direct access to timely information that can help make your operation more profitable. 

AGENDA
9:00AM - 2017 Market Outlook- What will the Crop Market look like?  Jim Engler, Senior Broker, AgWest Commodities

10:00AM - 2017 Weather Outlook - Elwynn Taylor, Climatologist, Iowa State University
   
11:00AM - U.S. Grains Council Overview- Programs, Challenges, Opportunities for Growth in Exports and Ethanol Markets - Lindsey Erb, Director of Industry Relations, US Grains Council
  
12:00PM  - Lunch - Free to all crop fair attendees

RSVP’S appreciated by January 16th to Janelle Kracht by calling 515.229.9980 or email jkracht@iowacorn.org

Joining the Iowa Corn Growers Association gives you a seat at the table on issues that impact your farming operation. Become a member by calling the Iowa Corn office at 515-225-9242 or visit iowacorn.org/membership.



Veterinary Feed Directive Module Available

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) is announcing the availability of a new training, Module 29 Veterinary Feed Directive. NVAP worked with the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State's Center for Food Security and Public Health to create this training.

Upon completion of this module, participants will be able to:
- Describe the need for antibiotic stewardship in regard to antibiotic resistance;
- Understand the FDA's regulatory oversight of animal drugs;
- Describe the Federally-defined key elements of a lawful veterinarian-client-patient relationship;
- Recognize the classes and uses of antibiotics requiring a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD);
- Describe the components of a complete VFD;
- Understand the recordkeeping requirements associated with a VFD;
- Apply expiration date and duration of use guidelines to a VFD; and
- Locate additional resources related to VFDs.

In 2011, NVAP launched online, classroom, and hard-copy versions of APHIS Approved Supplemental Training modules which are required for veterinarians to renew their accreditation every three years. The audience for these modules, however, has proven to be much larger, including non-accredited veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary students from all over the world.

In December 2013, the FDA took a significant step in addressing antimicrobial resistance by publishing Guidance #213, which calls on animal drug sponsors of approved medically important antimicrobials administered through medicated feed or water to remove from their product labels indications for use related to growth promotion, and to bring the remaining therapeutic uses of these products under the oversight of a veterinarian by the end of December 2016. All of the affected drug sponsors notified the FDA of their intent to make the recommended changes to their products within the established timeframe.

By January 1, 2017, the FDA expects all drug sponsors will complete the necessary label changes of their affected products and then changes in drug use practices will begin. The marketing status of affected drugs will change from over-the-counter to Rx status for drugs administered through drinking water or to VFD for drugs administered in medicated feeds. Distributors or retail establishments that handle these products will be required to meet all applicable State and Federal regulations for Rx and VFD drugs when dispensing these products.

The module, which is free of charge and does not require a user name or password, is available at aast.cfsph.iastate.edu/VFD/index.htm. 



U.S. Grains Council Statement on China Actions
USGC President and CEO Tom Sleight

"The announcement Tuesday by China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) that it will subject U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) to anti-dumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVDs) is the latest in a rash of measures taken by the Chinese government to restrict access to that market for U.S. feed grains and related products, specifically corn, distiller's dried grains (DDGS) and ethanol.

"It came just ten days after action by the Chinese government to dramatically increase tariffs on imported U.S. ethanol from 5 to 30 percent, effectively stopping a growth market for U.S. farmers and ethanol producers. U.S. farmers also continue to wait for China's approvals of biotech corn events, which last happened in 2014.

"The U.S. Grains Council is deeply disappointed in this series of events that is a severe departure from our industry’s three decades of broad, cooperative work with China's government and livestock industry and that follows a year of extensive cooperation on the part of the U.S. DDGS and ethanol industry with MOFCOM investigations.

"The decisions in the anti-dumping and countervailing duties investigations are not supported by the evidence and raise serious questions regarding the Ministry’s compliance with standard AD/CVD procedures and with China’s international obligations. While painful and damaging to the U.S. DDGS industry, their biggest negative impact will ultimately be on China’s feed and livestock industries, which risk losing access to an important and cost-effective feed ingredient, and on millions of Chinese households that will likely face greater food price inflation and less access to affordable, wholesome pork, poultry and dairy products.

"The decisions to raise tariffs on ethanol and to delay further the approval of helpful plant technology that enhances food safety and environmental protection are short-signed trade barriers that also, ultimately, most hurt the Chinese people, who deserve cleaner air and increased food security through both production and trade.

"This new year marks the 35th anniversary of U.S. Grains Council programs in China. We deeply appreciate the opportunities we have had over this time to partner with a broad cross section of members of local industries and government who are working to make their production more efficient, safer and more environmentally-friendly. The implication of these recent moves is clearly that we are less than welcome in their market, and this will challenge the extent of our engagement with China.

"Protectionist trade restrictions based on false allegations do not benefit either China or the United States and represent a threat to a global trading system that has promoted consumer welfare and jobs around the world while lifting millions of families out of poverty. We look forward to and will continue to work toward the day when U.S.-China trade relations are back on a better and more sensible course that results in benefits for both countries, their farmers and their consumers. Thirty-five years of solid work and cooperation have showed this is possible."



Canada’s Protectionist Policies Will Harm U.S. Economy, Dairy Groups Tell President-Elect Trump

U.S. dairy organizations and the state departments of agriculture across the country today told President-elect Donald Trump that Canada’s existing and soon-to-be-expanded protectionist policies are intentionally designed to block imports from the United States. These policies are in direct violation of Canada’s trade commitments under the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization, said IDFA, NMPF, NASDA and USDEC in a letter urging the president-elect and his key cabinet members to take immediate action.

The letter to Trump outlined estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that show each $1 billion of U.S. dairy exports generates more than 20,000 jobs for Americans and almost $3 billion of economic output. U.S. dairy suppliers are reporting that they are already losing business because of these programs, demonstrating that Canada’s actions are resulting in lost revenues and jobs for dairy farmers and processors across the United States.

“This negative impact is conservatively estimated at $150 million worth of ultra-filtered milk exports being lost by companies in Wisconsin and New York, which are highly reliant on their trade with Canada. In fact, the entire U.S. dairy industry is being hurt, as milk prices are being driven down nationally by Canada’s trade actions,” the groups said. “Having an even wider impact on America’s dairy farmers and processors, additional large volumes of skim milk powder will be forced onto the thinly traded global market resulting in a further depression of prices that will negatively impact the revenues of dairy farmers around the world.”

The letter sent to Trump was signed by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA).

Canada is Flouting Trade Obligations
The U.S. dairy industry is already restricted by Canada’s exorbitant tariffs, they said, and only limited market access is granted under NAFTA. Canada is one of America’s top trading partners, yet the country is clearly flouting its trade obligations by implementing and enforcing these policies.

“The U.S. dairy industry is highly competitive internationally, and overseas markets represent a vital source of future growth opportunities including thousands of new American jobs,” the groups said. “Not long ago, the United States was a net importer of dairy products, but now our nation benefits from a dairy trade surplus of over $2 billion. Enforcement of current trade agreements, whether bilateral or multilateral in nature, is central to strengthening the U.S. economy.”

Copied on the letter were several Cabinet nominees, including Robert Lighthizer, the Trump Administration’s nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, along with the leaders and members of the House and Senate agricultural committees.



Nationwide Hosts Annual Grain Bin Safety Contest

For the fourth consecutive year, Nationwide is collaborating with industry leaders and agricultural professionals to host the Nominate Your Fire Department Contest as part of this year's Grain Bin Safety Week, which will be observed Feb. 19-25, 2017. The event kicked off in Des Moines, Iowa.

The safety contest runs through May 31. It will award grain rescue tubes and specialized hands-on training to help first responders save lives when farmers and other workers become dangerously entrapped in grain bins and other grain storage structures.

"Deploying a grain rescue tube is the only way to safely remove someone trapped in grain," said Brad Liggett, president of Nationwide Agribusiness. "Until we can convince all farmers and other grain handlers to develop a zero-entry mentality, we will continue to make tubes available."

Since its inception in 2014, the contest has attracted over 1,000 nominations and awarded tubes and training to 32 fire departments across 15 states. One of those winners -- the Westphalia Fire Department in Kansas -- used their new skills in 2015 to rescue a man who became entrapped in a grain bin.

Grain Bin Safety Week 2017 is made possible by Nationwide, the No. 1 farm insurer, CHS, West Side Salvage, Specialty Risk Insurance, ABIS, KC Supply Co., The Scoular Company, Authur J Gallagher & Co., NOHR Wortmann Engineering, National Farm Medicine Center and the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.

For more information about the program, purpose or nomination process, visit www.grainbinsafetyweek.com.



Retail Fertilizer Prices Start 2017 With Mixed Moves

Retail fertilizer prices started 2017 the same way they ended 2016 -- with some fertilizer prices lower and some higher compared to a month earlier, according to retailers surveyed by DTN the first week of January 2017.

Five of the eight major fertilizers were lower again, although none were considerably lower. DAP with an average price of $431 per ton, MAP $442/ton, 10-34-0 $436/ton, UAN28 $218/ton and UAN32 $255/ton.

The remaining three fertilizers were slightly higher, though none of these moves were significant. Potash had an average price of $322/ton, urea $339/ton and anhydrous $465/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.37/lb.N, anhydrous $0.28/lb.N, UAN28 $0.39/lb.N and UAN32 $0.40/lb.N.

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

Urea is now down 11%, DAP is 13% less expensive, MAP is 15% lower and potash is 18% less expensive. UAN32 is 19% lower while both anhydrous and UAN28 are 20% less expensive and 10-34-0 is 24% lower compared to a year prior.



Federally mandated databank at Kansas State University serves as vital tool for food animal health

The Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank, or FARAD, hosted by Kansas State University, is continuing its work helping protect the nation's food supply.

The databank received $360,000 as part of an annual, renewable grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture in September 2016.

"FARAD is a federally mandated collaborative project that's been going on for about 35 years," said Ronette Gehring, associate professor of anatomy and physiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine. "The project started off as a collaboration of North Carolina State University, the University of Florida and University of California, Davis, with Kansas State University a new addition in 2012."

The databank is a risk-management program that provides science-based expert advice to help mitigate unsafe chemical residues, such as from drugs, pesticides and biotoxins, that might be found in products derived from food animals.

"We are the only resource for drug withdrawal interval recommendations following extra-label drug use and accidental exposure to environmental contaminants," Gehring said. "Pharmacokinetics is the scientific underpinning for our work, which describes how drugs move through the body using mathematical models. We can extrapolate and give scientifically based recommendations for veterinarians to help food producers."

The databank was co-founded by Jim Riviere while he was at North Carolina State University. Riviere is now the MacDonald endowed chair in veterinary medicine, a Kansas Bioscience eminent scholar and a university distinguished professor at Kansas State University, where he directs of the Institute of Computational Comparative Medicine and continues as the national coordinator for the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank.

"FARAD is a valuable tool to the practicing veterinarian by providing professional advice in real time," Riviere said. "It could also be considered an excellent example of translational medicine applied to animal health. FARAD's call volume has increased yearly by double digits, supporting its value to the veterinary profession. Having a FARAD site at the Institute of Computational Comparative Medicine at Kansas State University strengthens the computational basis upon which withdrawal time estimations are based."

Databank personnel provide scientifically derived answers to residue questions from licensed veterinarians, extension specialist and regulators.

"FARAD is able to answer questions regarding drug regulatory laws, veterinary feed directives, requests for drug withdrawal interval recommendations for extra-label use, and mitigating accidental exposure for most major and minor food animal species," Gehring said. "We also work with the database administrators and responders at the other centers to help each other address questions and issues that might come up."

Gehring said members of the other Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank centers will visit Kansas State University this spring for a special continuing education meeting that will feature extensive pharmacokinetics training.

"We are constantly working on providing tools for our people at the other centers," Gehring said. "We want to keep improving the accuracy and consistency of outward recommendations. We are currently making a WIC – withdrawal interval calculator – a program with a graphical user interface that can be used by respondents at our different centers. It allows them to enter information and to ensure there's a formal approach to finding out what data are out there on which we can base our recommendations."

Kansas State University's Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank also serves in different educational capacities.

"What we do at FARAD feeds into how Kansas State University trains veterinary students," Gehring said. "We can provide unique perspectives in courses focused on veterinary pharmacology. We are also involved with doctoral students in statistics and growing collaborations with that department. Those skills are very sought-after in the pharmaceutical industry, with the unique aspect of different species and residues."

More information about FARAD is available at farad.org. Interested parties can call 1-888-US-FARAD to submit general questions or receive advice regarding residue avoidance.



Trump Meets with Top Executives About Bayer's Planned Purchase

Top executives of Bayer AG and Monsanto Co. met with President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday in New York to pitch the benefits of their planned deal.

Bayer Chief Executive Werner Baumann and Monsanto CEO and Chairman Hugh Grant outlined at the meeting Bayer's planned $57 billion purchase of Monsanto, agreed in September, representatives for the companies said.

The German pharmaceutical giant's planned purchase of Monsanto is one of three planned multibillion-dollar deals set to reshape the global seed and pesticide industry. While the companies have said that combining Bayer's broad portfolio of pesticides with Monsanto's sector-leading capabilities in seed engineering will accelerate breakthroughs in new crops and sprays, some farmers worry that the consolidation will boost the market power of the sector's biggest players and leave farmers with fewer choices for critical supplies, and higher prices.

Several members of Trump's agricultural advisory committee, formed to advise Trump on farm policy during last year's presidential campaign, have spoken out against the merger deals and called for the president-elect to block them. Trump has previously expressed skepticism about megamergers, including AT&T Inc.'s planned purchase of Time Warner Inc., but he hasn't weighed in on the agricultural deals.

Monsanto's Grant said in an interview last month that Monsanto hadn't engaged with the Trump transition team regarding the Bayer deal, but that the sale would translate to larger investment in research and development that would benefit farmers and create new jobs.

Bruce Rastetter, a member of Mr. Trump's agricultural committee and chief executive of Summit Agricultural Group, an Iowa-based grain and livestock farming operation, said he plans to raise his concerns about the mergers directly with Trump in the near future.



Farm size and productivity to be focus of international conference

The relationship between agrarian structure and agricultural productivity will be the subject of an international conference planned Feb. 2-3 in Washington, D.C.

The conference--Farm Size and Productivity: A Global Look--is a collaboration of USDA's Economic Research Service and Farm Foundation, NFP. Researchers and economists from Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the United States will discuss new research findings on agricultural development.

Sessions will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 2, and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 3 at the First Floor Auditorium of Patriot's Plaza III, 355 E. Street SW, Washington, D.C.

Several of the papers to be presented move beyond comparisons of land productivity to total factor productivity (TFP). They explore newly available panels of farms to compare not only differences in productivity levels, but also productivity growth by farm size. Other studies examine how specific policies, institutions and behaviors may explain observed productivity differences across farms.

"Sustaining agricultural productivity growth is a key factor in our ability to feed the world's increasing population," says conference organizer Keith Fuglie, an economist in the Structure, Technology and Productivity Branch of the Resource and Rural Economics Division of ERS. "This conference is an important opportunity to expand our understanding of the relationship between the size and structure of farm operations and agricultural productivity in different location and cropping scenarios worldwide."

Presentation topics will include: consolidation in U.S. agriculture; farm size and productivity in the U.S. Corn Belt; the relationship between farm size and productivity in Australia's grain industry; policy reforms and productivity growth in the European Union dairy sector; and the farm size productivity relationship in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

This conference is targeted to public policy officials, economists and those interested in global development and productivity. The workshop is free of charge but registration is requested. Complete online registration at: https://secure.farmfoundation.org/eventReg.jsp?event=432&.



The Not-so-Obvious Signs of Calfhood Respiratory Disease

Calves impacted by pneumonia during the first 90 days of life are more likely to experience increased age at first calving, higher incidence of dystocia and greater mortality before first calving.

“Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is far too common on dairies,” said Greg Edwards, managing veterinarian, Dairy Technical Services, Zoetis. “Detecting respiratory disease symptoms early in a calf’s life can help prevent chronic infections and lead to better future lifetime productivity.”

Are producers looking for the right signs to know if a calf has contracted BRD? Both the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of California, Davis, offer scoring systems to help determine whether calves are showing clinical signs of respiratory disease, which could include:
·   Eye discharge
·   Nasal discharge
·   Ear droop
·   Head tilt
·   Cough
·   Increased breathing rate
·   Elevated temperature
·   Slow, reduced or zero milk intake during feeding
·   Slow to rise at feeding time
·   Slow to lie down after eating

Producers can use either the UW-Madison scoring system or UC Davis scoring system to record their calves’ symptoms on a daily basis to help determine which animals are sick. Early detection and treatment with an antibiotic approved for use in calves, such as DRAXXIN® (tulathromycin) Injectable Solution, may reduce the risk of treatment failure to help get its health back on track.

Take the opportunity to head off the disease before it affects long-term wellness by identifying animals at high risk, such as those experiencing:
-    Commingling
-    Weaning
-    Seasonal temperature change
-    Introduction to new animals
-    Transportation

Research shows control of BRD during high-risk times can improve dairy heifer growth and performance.

Vaccinate to help prevent pneumonia. The cost to raise a heifer from birth to freshening can exceed $2,000 per head.3 Does it pay to put a calf’s future at risk before she even has a chance to return her profit as a lactating cow? Producers should work with their veterinarian to set up a vaccination program for young calves. Ask him or her about introducing an intranasal vaccine, such as INFORCE™3 respiratory vaccine, that helps protect against three major viral pathogens that cause pneumonia in dairy calves — bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus and parainfluenza 3 (PI3) virus. Vaccines are an important part of helping the immune system fight off BRD.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: DRAXXIN has a pre-slaughter withdrawal time of 18 days in cattle. Do not use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older. Do not use in animals known to be hypersensitive to the product.