Monday February 20 Ag News

Private Applicators Need Certification

All farmers who use restricted use pesticide must have a current certification card according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. The Nebraska Extension is conducting the following training sessions which are approved for renewal or initial certification according to Nebraska Extension Educator Larry Howard of Cuming County.  Again this year, there will be a fee charged to support the cost of materials.  Producers are reminded to bring their old cards or the letter with the form at the bottom that they received from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture if they are re-certifying.

Each session last approximately three hours and will be held in West Point at the Nielsen Community Center on Thursday, March 2 at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

For additional information, contact the Nebraska Extension office in Cuming County at 402/372-6006.



SCN Now Confirmed in 58 Counties; How About Your Field? 
John Wilson - NE Extension Educator
Loren Giesler - NE Extension Plant Pathologist

Thirty years ago last fall, a microscopic pest was identified in a Richardson County soybean field near Falls City. The next spring, a comprehensive sampling program identified the same pest in six counties bordering the Missouri River as well as Pawnee County. Levels of this pest in the soil indicated it had been here much longer, but had gone undetected.

Thirty years later, this pest, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is causing more yield losses for soybean growers in Nebraska and across the U.S. than all other soybean diseases combined! Last year SCN cost Nebraska farmers an estimated $40 million in lost yields; nationally, that loss is estimated at $1.5 billion.

Nebraska Soybean Board Supports SCN Sampling
Without a concentrated effort to sample fields for SCN, it was identified in 27 counties over the next 19 years. Then in 2005, the Nebraska Soybean Board started an extremely successful program that continues today. It provides Nebraska soybean farmers with free soil analysis for SCN by the UNL Department of Plant Pathology. It started slowly, but over the years it grew and has now processed 8,230 samples, almost a third of which have been positive for SCN.

This program had an immediate impact. The first year of the program SCN was identified in seven new counties and in the first seven years, the number of counties where SCN had been identified doubled the number found in the previous 19 years. This illustrates the importance of sampling. In most fields, the grower had no idea SCN was present, but he or she knew their soybeans weren’t yielding as well as they expected or as well as their neighbor’s fields. Farmers can have 20%-30% yield losses with no visible symptoms on the plant—the plant looks dark green and healthy.

We are pleased to have the Nebraska Soybean Board as our partner in this soil sampling effort. They recognized what a serious problem SCN was to soybean growers and, without their support, we would not have reached this many Nebraska farmers. Support from the Nebraska Soybean Board covers the cost of analyzing the soil samples, normally $20 per sample.

Indicators of SCN
Often the first sign of an SCN infestation is when soybean yields hit a plateau or even start to drop off, while corn yields in that field continue to increase.

SCN infestations are rarely uniform across a field. Other signs include field areas you visually observe or that show up on your yield maps with lower-than-expected yields not explained by differences in soil type, weed pressure, herbicide injury, insect infestations, flooded or compacted areas, or other factors. 

Another possible sign of SCN infestations are pockets of sudden death syndrome (SDS) or brown stem rot (BSR). Both of these diseases enter the plant through the roots. Because SCN attacks the roots of a plant, they create microscopic wounds that make it easier for these diseases to infect a plant. It is possible to have SDS or BSR without SCN in a field, or you may have SCN in a field without SDS or BSR. However, in areas where SCN populations are highest, you are more likely to have either of these diseases.

If you observe any of these signs of SCN, collect and analyze a soil sample from the lower yielding area and one from the higher yielding area and compare the SCN egg counts.

Identifying the problem in individual fields is important because once you know you have SCN in a fields, you can start managing this devastating pest.

Next Steps
Although SCN often goes undetected, it is here and reducing profitability for Nebraska soybean producers. To learn more about SCN or to pick up bags to submit soil samples from your fields, contact your local Nebraska Extension office.

Announcing the 7th Annual SCN ‘Tode Awards 
Each year the results of soybean cyst nematode soil tests conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Plant Pathology are reviewed and analyzed. Based on the 2016 SCN tests in Nebraska, the following counties were recognized:

In the category of Most (#) Samples Submitted:
Winner: Seward County (63)
Honorable Mention: Madison (62), Buffalo (53), and Antelope (50)

In the category of Most (#) Samples Positive for SCN:
Winner: Seward County (32)
Honorable Mention: Antelope (29), Madison (19), and York (16)

In the category of Most (%) Samples Positive for SCN: (must have submitted at least five samples)
Winner: York County (89%)
Honorable Mention: Richardson (80%), Burt (71%), and Dodge (70%)

In the category of Sample with Highest Egg Count: (# eggs/100 ccs of soil)
Winner: Holt County (42,240)
Honorable Mention: Dixon (38,320), Antelope (28,640), and Rock (14,480)

And finally, in the category of Counties with First SCN Detection:
Winners: none!

We had no county where SCN was detected for the first time this year. That isn’t completely surprising as the counties where SCN has already been detected produce about 93% of the soybeans grown in Nebraska. Our chances of finding a new county are becoming less and less. What is noteworthy is that two counties, Antelope and Seward, have now submitted over 100 samples that tested positive for moderate (>500 eggs/100 cc’s of soil) or high levels of SCN.



Dormant Spraying Alfalfa Weeds 
Bruce Anderson - NE Extension Forage Specialist

Before the warm weather greens up your alfalfa, consider the advantages of starting your weed control now.

Weeds like pennycress, downy brome, mustards, cheatgrass, and shepherd's purse are common in first cut alfalfa.  They lower yields, reduce quality, lessen palatability, and slow hay drydown. If you walk over your fields during the next few weeks when snow is gone, you should be able to see their small, green, over-wintering growth.

If your alfalfa variety is Roundup Ready, you can spray almost anytime without hurting your alfalfa. Once conventional alfalfa starts growing, though, you can't control these weeds very well without also hurting your alfalfa.  However, if you treat your alfalfa as soon as possible during this spring-like weather, you can have cleaner, healthier alfalfa at first cutting.

Before spraying these weeds, be sure they are causing economic damage to your alfalfa. Spraying will give you more pure alfalfa but may cost some in total tonnage.

Several herbicides can help control winter annual grasses and weeds in conventional alfalfa. They include metribuzin, Velpar, Sinbar, Pursuit, Raptor, and Karmex.  They all control mustards and pennycress, but Karmex and Pursuit do not control downy brome very well.

Timing is crucial when controlling winter annual weeds in alfalfa. To be most successful, you must apply most of these herbicides before alfalfa shoots green up this spring to avoid much injury to your alfalfa.  If alfalfa shoots are green when you spray, plant growth may be set back a couple weeks. If it does get late before you can make an application, use either Raptor or Pursuit because they tend to cause less injury to alfalfa.

Be Alert to Risk of Alfalfa Winter Injury 
Like many alfalfa growers this year, I’m a little worried about what this winter may do to our alfalfa fields.

Alfalfa usually is a dependable crop. It seems to come back year after year. After the nice winters. After the cold winters. And even after the ugly winters. But what about this winter?

I’m not good at predictions and I’m not going to tell you that your alfalfa will be fine this spring nor will I predict that it winterkilled, but I will suggest that you check it extra closely this spring to judge how well it made it through this winter.

The recent long spell of daytime temperatures in the 50s, 60s, and even some 70s probably awakened at least some alfalfa plants from winter dormancy. When alfalfa plants break winter dormancy they use nutrients stored in their roots and crown and start to grow as if spring has arrived.

A return to average winter temperatures forces these plants back into dormancy. Another streak of warm weather could break dormancy again, using more nutrient reserves. If this is followed by more cold weather, eventually the alfalfa plants will exhaust their reserves and be unable to start growing when spring truly does return.

Another problem in other areas has been snow followed by melting followed by freezing. Prolonged or repeated formation of ice at or on the soil surface can prevent the exchange of gases between the air and the soil. As alfalfa roots respire during winter they produce some gases that can become toxic to alfalfa plants if too concentrated. The roots also need some oxygen to respire and remain healthy. Without this interchange plants can essentially suffocate.

It’s impossible to predict if alfalfa will be hurt this winter. Since weather conditions have been risky, be ready to check your fields and make any necessary adjustments early.



McKenzie Beals Awarded Sitzman Youth in Nebraska Agriculture Scholarship

McKenzie Beals of Friend, NE, has been awarded the 2017 Larry E. Sitzman Youth in Nebraska Agriculture Scholarship.

McKenzie is a senior studying Animal Science/Pre-Veterinary Medicine at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She has been accepted as a member of the veterinary school class of 2021, in the cooperative program between the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and Iowa State University. Upon graduation, she plans to focus in food animal medicine and will return to rural Nebraska to help producers improve herd health, management, and sustainability of livestock production while maintaining the integrity and quality of the food supply that feeds the world.

McKenzie has experienced the diversity and breadth of agriculture, growing up around swine, beef cattle, sheep, and horses. Therefore she understands how all agriculture industries have a common goal of feeding the world, protecting hard working farmers and ranchers, and promoting the agriculture industry to the public.

McKenzie says, “As a veterinarian, you are more than just your title, you are a role model and a community leader. I’m excited for my future as a veterinarian where I will impact agriculture in my work, membership with agricultural organizations, and as a role model to young people interested in agriculture.”

Dr. Ronald Lewis, professor of animal breeding and genomics at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln wrote, “McKenzie has a passion for our agricultural industries, with the capacity to make a difference. Her personal qualities and ambition, coupled with her community spirit and leadership skills personify the vision of Larry Sitzman and this scholarship program.”

McKenzie is the scholarship chair for Sigma Alpha Professional Agriculture Sorority, treasurer for the Pre-Veterinary Medicine Club, historian/social media chair for Tau Sigma Transfer Honor Society and a member of many other organizations on and off campus.

McKenzie says, “Using my varied experiences and knowledge of the agriculture industry, I can promote and be a leader for the agriculture industry in the fullest way possible.”

The Larry E. Sitzman Youth in Nebraska Agriculture Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship, which was awarded to McKenzie during the Annual Meeting of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association on February 14, 2017.



Rural Mainstreet Climbs to Highest Level Since September 2015

The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index remained weak with a reading below growth neutral for the 18th straight month, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy. 

Overall: The index, which ranges between 0 and 100 advanced to 45.8 from 42.8 in January. This is the highest overall index since September 2015.

“Weak farm commodity prices continue to squeeze Rural Mainstreet economies. However, the negatives are getting less negative. Over the past 12 months, livestock commodity prices have tumbled by 9.4 percent and grain commodity prices have slumped by 6.3 percent, both an improvement over last month,” said Ernie Goss, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University'sHeider College of Business.

Only 14.9 percent of bankers reported that their local economy was expanding. Approximately 34 percent indicated their local economy was in a recession with the remaining 51.1 percent indicating little or no economic growth.

Nebraska: The Nebraska RMI for February declined to 47.1 from 52.6 in January. The state’s farmland-price index rose to 39.3 from January’s 37.7. Nebraska’s new-hiring index climbed 58.3 from 56.1 in January.

Iowa: The February RMI for Iowa fell to 46.1 from 50.2 in January. Iowa’s farmland-price index for February sank to 40.1 from 48.6 in January.  Iowa’s new-hiring index for February slipped to a still strong 58.6 from January’s 60.1.

Farming and ranching: The farmland and ranchland-price index for February dipped to a frail 33.7 from January’s 33.8. This is the 39th straight month the index has languished below growth neutral 50.0.

Bankers indicated that farmland prices in their area had declined by an average of 5.1 percent across the region over the past 12 months.

The February farm equipment-sales index increased to 20.5 from 16.7 in January.  Almost three-fourths of the bankers expect agriculture equipment sales to continue to decline over the next 12 months. Only 4.3 percent expect agriculture equipment sales to increase over the same period of time.

Confidence: The confidence index, which reflects expectations for the economy six months out, improved to a weak 45.7 from 42.7 in January indicating a continued pessimistic outlook among bankers. “Until agricultural commodity prices begin to trend higher, I expect banker’s economic outlook to remain weak,” said Goss.



NEW EQUIPMENT SPEEDS RESPONSE TO ANIMAL DISEASES

When scours, pink eye or respiratory disease strikes a cow-calf herd or feedlot pen, quick and accurate diagnosis of the culprit pathogen is key to containing the damage.

A new instrument has enabled veterinarians at the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to identify potentially deadly bacteria in a matter of minutes – compared to the days it once took to identify pathogens via lab culture.

The $250,000 instrument uses MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, which stands for Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight. Purchased at the urging of the Nebraska Cattlemen and the Nebraska Veterinary Medial Association, the device will be a centerpiece of the new $44.7 million veterinary lab now under construction on the university's East Campus.

Approved by the Nebraska Legislature in 2012, the new diagnostic facility is expected to open June 1. Donors provided 10 percent of the facility cost; the rest will be paid with state bonds in the next 10 years.

As a sign of the future and of the university's commitment to the region's livestock and animal health industries, the MALDI-TOF already is an integral part of the center's diagnostic procedures. It is used to diagnose ailments in pets and zoo animals, as well as livestock.

"The new MALDI-TOF in the Veterinary Diagnostic Center was purchased in order to provide our clients with new cutting-edge technology regarding identification of bacterial pathogens in a timely and accurate fashion," said Alan Doster, director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Center.

With an infectious disease, every day matters for the animal and the herd, said Dustin Loy, faculty supervisor of bacteriology in the laboratory. Some pathogens, such as E. coli and Salmonella, can cross over species to cause human illnesses. Others have become antibiotic resistant, making quick identification even more critical. The wrong medication not only is ineffective – it could foster even more antibiotic-resistant strains.

"It makes our throughput faster and our capacity higher and we can get diagnoses faster," Loy said. "Then we can treat faster and more appropriately, whether it's choosing the right antibiotic or vaccine or some other intervention."

For example, a 2014 case in which a shiga toxin-producing E. coli strain was found in a Nebraska feedlot relied on quick action and diagnosis. After observing bloody diarrhea among the heifer calves in the affected pen, the feedlot crew treated the animals for a parasitic infection. One animal was euthanized after displaying neurological symptoms. An immediate necropsy enabled university veterinarians to identify the E. coli infection, which appeared to be the first report in cattle of disease associated with that strain of E. coli.

Because that E. coli strain can cause human illness, the case led to a call for Nebraska veterinarians and livestock producers to watch for additional cases among cattle.

"Although we did not have the MALDI for this case, this type of situation underscores the impact diagnostics can have on potential public health issues," Loy said. “If we had had the MALDI, we would have been able to get the information to the veterinarian and the producer even faster."

Developed in Japan and awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 2002, the MALDI-TOF technology previously was used mostly for research. Recent improvements in bioinformatics and software now allow it also to be used for clinical purposes. The instrument is becoming standard equipment in the top veterinary labs across the country. Loy said Nebraska is one of about 30 U.S. veterinary diagnostic laboratories that have the instrument. About 60 state and university animal diagnostic laboratories, including Nebraska's, are part of the USDA's National Animal Health Laboratory Network.

When an animal becomes ill, veterinarians working with livestock producers, pet owners and even zoos submit samples from blood, stool, swabs, bedding or tissue for bacterial culture to the diagnostic center. The MALDI-TOF instrument requires a bacterial sample only the size of a tip of a toothpick.

A matrix material is applied to the samples, which are inserted into the machine via a port. A laser heats the matrix, which causes a microexplosion that vaporizes the bacteria into ionized proteins. The proteins are identified by their mass and charge as they fly through a vacuum chamber and collide with a detector. Each species of bacterium has its own mass spectrum "fingerprint." A nearby computer screen reveals the peaks, intensity and size of the spectra. The instrument has the capacity to compare and match with 7,000 reference strains of bacteria, Loy said, with Nebraska scientists constantly adding more to the database.

For example, Loy specializes in the study of pink eye and respiratory diseases found in calves. His undergraduate student, Kara Robbins, a pre-vet honors student from Brookings, South Dakota, is working to validate the method to identify a diverse collection of bacteria in the genus Moraxella, which cause pink eye, so that they can be accurately identified via MALDI-TOF.

Doster explained that the laboratory previously needed two to four days to use fermentation or media growth methods to culture a large enough sample of bacteria to identify it and to determine its antibiotic sensitivity.

Research now underway will develop methods to use the MALDI-TOF to determine which bacteria are more likely to be resistant to antibiotics or more pathogenic based on the specific proteins found in the individual bacteria.

The instrument represents a significant change for bacteriologists such as Loy.

"For me, professionally, it's a paradigm change," he said. "We're moving from classic, test-tube biochemical testing and phenotyping to using a proteomics-based approach. It's driven by computing capacity. This device can take large numbers of spectra and analyze them so quickly. The applications of this technology are just beginning."



Field Crop Scout School March 25 in Ames

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer a Field Crop Scout School Saturday, March 25, at the Scheman Building in Ames. Designed for beginning crop scouts, the day-long course features sessions on crop growth and development, scouting methods and techniques, and identification of weeds, diseases and insects.

"The school provides a basic understanding of crop pests, how to identify them and field guides to help with identification," said Warren Pierson, program specialist for the Field Extension Education Laboratory with ISU Extension and Outreach. "It's very important to be able to identify insects, weeds and diseases to carry out a successful integrated pest management plan. Especially right now, when margins are tight, you want to make management decisions including applications that are timely and cost effective."

Kollin DeBerg, a senior in ag studies at Iowa State, attended the Field Crop Scout School in 2015 as an incoming intern for Innovative Ag Services. He believes the educational materials helped better prepare him for his internship.

"I also really liked the discussion on weed identification and learning more about the growth stages of crops," DeBerg said. "The scout school gives you a good base of scouting knowledge to know what to look for when you are out in the field. I would recommend attending the scout school because it teaches you something new and provides you with useful materials that you can use in the field."

Pre-registration is required and must be completed before midnight, March 17. The registration fee of $100 includes field guides, course handouts, lunch and breaks. Additional information and online registration is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/scout. Registration fees includes copies of the Corn and Soybean Field Guide, Weed Identification Field Guide, and Field Crops Insects publication. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. on March 25, with sessions beginning at 9 a.m. and adjourning at 3 p.m.

New this year is an optional session providing agricultural worker pesticide safety training, as outlined by the Worker Protection Standard. Certifications of completion for the training will be provided. The optional agricultural worker pesticide safety training session will begin at 3 p.m. and conclude at 4:10 p.m.



Deere Announces First-Quarter Earnings of $194 Million

Net income attributable to Deere & Company was $193.8 million, or $0.61 per share, for the first quarter ended January 29, compared with $254.4 million, or $0.80 per share, for the period ended January 31, 2016. Worldwide net sales and revenues for the first quarter increased 2 percent, to $5.625 billion, compared with $5.525 billion last year. Net sales of the equipment operations were $4.698 billion for the quarter compared with $4.769 billion a year ago.

"John Deere has started out the year on a positive note in the continued face of soft market conditions," said Samuel R. Allen, chairman and chief executive officer. "Although the quarter's sales and earnings were somewhat lower than last year, all of our businesses remained solidly profitable. Deere's performance showed further benefits from the sound execution of its operating plans, the strength of a broad product portfolio and the impact of a more flexible cost structure. At the same time, we are seeing signs that after several years of steep declines key agricultural markets may be stabilizing."

Summary of Operations
Net sales of the worldwide equipment operations declined 1 percent for the quarter. Sales included price realization of 2 percent and a favorable currency-translation effect of 1 percent. Equipment net sales in the United States and Canada decreased 8 percent. Outside the U.S. and Canada, net sales increased 11 percent, with a favorable currency-translation effect of 1 percent.

Deere's equipment operations reported operating profit of $247 million for the quarter, compared with $214 million in 2016. The improvement for the quarter was primarily driven by price realization, partially offset by expenses associated with the previously announced voluntary employee-separation program, higher warranty costs and the unfavorable effects of foreign-currency exchange. Additionally, the current quarter benefited from a gain on the sale of a partial interest in the unconsolidated affiliate SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc.

Net income of the company's equipment operations was $80 million for the quarter, compared with $127 million for the same period last year. In addition to the operating factors mentioned above, a higher effective tax rate in 2017 reduced quarterly results.

Financial services reported net income attributable to Deere &  Company of $114.4 million for the quarter compared with $129.4 million last year. Lower results for the quarter were primarily due to less-favorable financing spreads and voluntary separation expenses.