Friday March 3 Ag News

DODGE COUNTY FIRST TO ADOPT LIVESTOCK ASSESSMENT MATRIX

Dodge County is the first county in Nebraska to adopt the Livestock Assessment Matrix, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA). The matrix is a valuable tool to assist local officials in evaluating livestock siting applications.

“Livestock development is critical to Nebraska’s agricultural industry because it adds value to the millions of bushels of feed grains we produce,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach. “I’d like to congratulate Dodge County on adopting the matrix and incorporating it into their local decision making process.

The Livestock Assessment Matrix is the result of legislation that directed NDA to appoint a committee and create a matrix based on input from those committee members. The committee represented several entities involved in zoning and livestock development, livestock producers and county officials. Committee members based the matrix evaluation guidelines on sound science, professional expertise and personal experiences in siting livestock operations, said Ibach.

The Dodge County Board voted unanimously to adopt the Livestock Assessment Matrix. Bob Missel, chair of the Dodge County Board of Supervisors, said it made sense for Dodge County to adopt the matrix because it provides another decision-making tool for siting livestock operations.

“The more tools and scientific information you have access to, the easier it is to make a sound decision,” said Missel. 

Dodge County Zoning Administrator Jean Andrews said the matrix will be part of the livestock siting application process. Applicants will be asked to complete the matrix and score their projects based on the evaluation guidelines. The county will still use their existing process of review and recommendation by the zoning committee as well as a review and public hearing before the Board of Supervisors.

The matrix can be accessed at nda.nebraska.gov. For more information, contact NDA at (402) 471-4876.



Preserving Technology Protects Future

Herbicide resistance plagues soybean farmers across the growing region. But resistance isn’t limited to weeds. So to help farmers fight the next attack on their profitability, the soy checkoff is being proactive.

The United Soybean Board (USB) recently announced the expansion of its Take Action program. In addition to combating herbicide-resistant weeds, the program will now be tackling fungicide resistance in soybeans.

“Herbicide resistance is a significant issue farmers face in their fields,” says Carl Bradley, Ph.D., extension plant pathologist at the University of Kentucky. “It’s possible that fungicide resistance is going down the same path. Now is our chance to get ahead of it before it gets too severe.”

Take Action, an industry-wide partnership spearheaded by the soy checkoff, advocates a diverse approach to weed management to avoid resistance. The program applies the same philosophy to disease management.

“To stay ahead of fungicide resistance, we can’t cut corners,” says Gregg Fujan, a checkoff farmer-leader from Nebraska. “We believe a well-rounded method of pest management is needed to preserve existing technology and protect farmers’ long-term profitability.”

If not addressed soon, farmers risk losing the few fungicides they have available now.

“If we lose the tools we have, there’s a financial risk of having diseases we can no longer control,” says Fujan.

At a recent press conference, Fujan called out four steps farmers can use today to help preserve current technology and avoid resistance:
    1. Scout fields regularly for diseases.
    2. Understand disease thresholds.
    3. Apply fungicides only when it makes economic sense.
    4. Rotate fungicide modes of action.

“Many farmers may be of the mindset that a fungicide application will give a bit of a yield bump, even if diseases are not at economically damaging levels,” says Bradley. “But if they’re applying fungicides no matter what, they’re beginning to chip away at the tools they have to fight yield-damaging pathogen outbreaks. We want to encourage farmers to be mindful of what they’re using and when so they don’t lose what they have.”



Nebraska Soybean Board Seeks Leaders to Represent Nebraska Soybean Farmers

This year, the Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) will be seeking soybean farmers to serve on the Board
of Directors and to represent fellow soybean farmers and the industry.

How does the Election Work?
The election is conducted by mail-in ballot in July for Districts 5 and 7. Soybean farmers who reside in counties that are up for election in 2017 will receive ballots and candidate information regarding NSB’s election process via direct mail. The At-Large position on the Nebraska Soybean Board is open to all soybean farmers in Nebraska and will be elected by the NSB Directors at the July Board meeting.

What are the 2017 Election Districts and Counties?
The election districts and counties are:
District 5: Counties of Cass, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee and Richardson.
District 7: Counties of Adams, Buffalo, Clay, Franklin, Hall, Kearney, Nuckolls and Webster.
At-Large: All counties in Nebraska.

Who Can Be a Candidate for the NSB seats or the At-Large Position on the Board?
· Be a resident of Nebraska
· Be a resident of the district in which the election is being held
· Be a soybean farmer in Nebraska for at least the previous 5 years
· Be 21 years of age or older
· Have submitted a NSB candidacy petition

To apply for Candidacy in District 5 and 7 or the At-Large Position you must:
· Obtain a NSB Candidacy Petition by contacting NSB’s executive director, Victor Bohuslavsky at 402-432-5720.
· Complete the petition and collect the signatures of 50 soybean farmers in their district.
· Return petition to the NSB office on or before April 15, 2017.

Roles and Responsibilities of Soybean Board Member Representative:
· Attend every NSB meeting – 8 day fiscal year commitment.
· Attend/participate in other educational events sponsored by the Nebraska Soybean Checkoff in your district.
· Receive no salary but reimbursed for expenses incurred while carrying out board business.
· Serve a three-year term that would begin October 1, 2017.

Areas of Focus for the Soybean Industry:
As an elected representative to NSB, you will help guide the Nebraska soybean industry in the areas of research, education, domestic and foreign markets, including new uses for soybeans and soybean products.

If you have questions regarding the election process, please contact NSB’s executive director, Victor Bohuslavsky at 402-432-5720. For more information about the Nebraska soybean checkoff, visit www.nebraskasoybeans.org.  



FROST SEED LEGUMES INTO PASTURES AND HAY MEADOWS
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

Adding clovers, alfalfa, or other legumes to grasslands can boost profits.  Today I'll describe three steps to add legumes successfully to your pastures and meadows.

Can you afford to fertilize your pastures with expensive nitrogen?  Maybe you can if you graze effectively, but there may be a better solution - add legumes.

Legumes like red clover and alfalfa reduce nitrogen costs on pastures and make them more productive and higher quality.  But, to add legumes to your grass you must accomplish three tasks correctly.

First, fertilize for the legume.  Legumes need extra phosphorus and a soil pH above 6, and sometimes higher, to establish and grow in a grass sod.  So, add phosphorus and maybe even lime if needed.

Second, place seed into the soil.  One way is by frost seeding, which involves broadcasting seed on snow-free fields during winter. Right now is an excellent time for frost seeding.  The freezing and thawing of the soil as spring approaches helps work the seed into the ground.  Results from frost seeding have been variable in our area, though.  Red clover is the only legume that has given good results with broadcasting.  So instead, I suggest using a drill whenever possible, even if all it does is barely scratch your seed into the soil.  You’ll get faster, more uniform stands that way.

Finally, during spring, reduce competition from the existing sod.  I think the best option is flash grazing.  Whenever grass gets 3 to 4 inches taller than legumes this spring, stock heavily so animals graze grass down to the height of the legumes in just one day.  Then remove livestock until grass gets tall again and repeat the flash grazing.

Once established, legumes will cut your fertilizer costs and make your grasslands better than ever.



Cattle Groups Support a Sonny Perdue/Charles Herbster USDA Team

In a joint letter sent today to President Donald J. Trump, several local, state and national cattle trade associations urge the appointment of Sonny Perdue as the nation's next Agriculture Secretary and Charles W. Herbster as his Deputy Secretary.

Perdue, a former governor of Georgia, previously practiced veterinary medicine and started three agriculture-related small businesses.  Herbster, owner of Herbster Angus Farms in Falls City, Nebraska, is also a corn and soybean farmer as well as the owner of the manufacturing firm, Conklin Company, Inc. Herbster was appointed National Chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Advisory Committee for the Donald J. Trump campaign for President.

 "The only way to improve upon the tremendous opportunity that Mr. Perdue will bring as your Secretary of Agriculture would be to include the entrepreneurial talents and production-agriculture knowledge of Charles W. Herbster on Mr. Perdue's executive team - as Mr. Perdue's Deputy Secretary," the groups told the president in their letter.

Although they did not specify what changes they want to see at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the groups made it clear they want Perdue and Herbster to lead American agriculture in a new direction.

The groups state, "We strongly believe that a combination of Mr. Perdue's leadership and Mr. Herbster's direct assistance will afford American agriculture the best opportunity for it to unleash its tremendous potential, which will undoubtedly result in an immediate boost to Rural America's ailing economy."

Signatories to the joint letter include R-CALF USA, Buckeye Quality Beef (Ohio), Cattle Producers of Louisiana, Cattle Producers of Washington, Independent Beef Association of North Dakota, Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska, Independent Cattlemen of Wyoming, Kansas Cattlemen's Association, Missouri's Best Beef Co-Op., Navajo County Cattlemen's Association (Arizona), New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, Northern Wisconsin Beef Producers Association, South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, and Spokane County Cattlemen (Washington).



Nitrogen Fertilizer Feeds Healthy Soil in Corn, Soybeans

Newly published research from Iowa State University agronomists shows that the application of nitrogen fertilizer at optimum levels to corn and soybeans is required to maintain carbon in the soil, giving rise to a range of environmental and production benefits.

In a study published in the peer-reviewed academy journal PLOS ONE, ISU agronomists showed nitrogen fertilizer can contribute to soil health and water quality by helping retain carbon.

"Our data show that nitrogen fertilizer, when applied at a level that maximizes crop production, is critical to maintain soil carbon for sustainable agricultural systems," said Michael Castellano, an associate professor of agronomy and co-author of the study. "In fact, I'd say it plays an essential role."

The researchers collected soil samples from four ISU research farms in 1999 and 2000 and then again 15 years later, after each site received regimented applications of nitrogen fertilizer. The sites included both continuous corn and rotated corn-soybean production systems.

The results show nitrogen fertilizer helped build soil carbon content for the acres with only corn, while it was essential to maintain soil carbon content in the acres devoted to a corn-soybean rotation. Insufficient nitrogen fertilizer in both systems led to soil carbon losses.

Hanna Poffenbarger, a graduate assistant in agronomy and lead author of the paper, said nitrogen fertilization leads to increased crop yields, which leaves greater amounts of crop residue on the soil after harvest. The crop residue feeds soil microbes and builds carbon in the soil as it decomposes, Poffenbarger said.

"Soil carbon content is positively associated with crop yield, and it's an important indicator of soil health," she said.

Soil carbon improves the ability of the soil to hold water, which reduces runoff and improves downstream water quality. Carbon also helps soil retain nutrients, including nitrates, Poffenbarger said.

The study's findings contradict some previous studies that examined the impact nitrogen fertilization has on soil carbon, Castellano said. That's because the research team zeroed in on finding the optimal rate of nitrogen application to maximize crop production for each field without using excess fertilizer, a step that resulted in more precise results. He said the optimal application rate can vary depending on weather, geography and other soil variables.

"You really have to understand the optimum nitrogen rate to gauge the effect it has in a field," Castellano said. "Applying fertilizer to corn that is already well-supplied will not have the same impact on soil carbon content as a nitrogen application that boosts crop production."



Agriculture Literacy Challenge Grants Available

The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) is making grants available to support local efforts to develop an understanding of agriculture in students and adults.

The Agriculture Literacy Challenge offers five grants of up to $1,000 to help communities initiate new projects or expand existing projects that promote agriculture literacy through education and outreach. Grants can be used to fund innovative lessons, activities, classroom resources, guest speakers, outreach programs, fieldtrips, and other projects.

"Agriculture is vital to the state and local economy and it is essential that we all understand how to create innovation and sustainability in our food and fiber system," said IALF executive director Will Fett. "We hope these grants allow local organizations to teach more people about food, fiber, fuel and natural resources."

Organizations that have agriculture education as a part of their mission or purpose are eligible to apply. Applicants can use available resources to help teach others. Programs like FarmChat and Agriculture in the Classroom are encouraged.

"One in five jobs in Iowa is in the agriculture industry, but most Iowans don't have a direct connection to agriculture production or the agriculture industry," said Fett. "These grants will help elevate the understanding of the chain of production from the farm field to the dinner plate and everything in between."

The deadline for application is April 9 and the proposed project must take place between April 1 and October 31, 2017. To apply online or for more information visit www.iowaagliteracy.org.




Former Ag Secretary Clayton Yeutter Dies At 86

Clayton Yeutter, a native Nebraskan who served as U.S. secretary of agriculture under President George H.W. Bush, has passed away.

Yeutter, 86, had battled cancer for several years but continued to be active in promoting global trade, the sustainable water use and agriculture.

Condolences were offered on social media as word of his death spread Saturday.  Gov. Pete Ricketts mentioned on his Facebook page: “Former President Reagan and Bush, Sr. Advisor Clayton Yeutter was a fierce advocate for Nebraska ag producers. On behalf of our fellow Nebraskans, Susanne and I send our thoughts and prayers to Cristy and the entire Yeutter family. Clayton’s work has left an indelible mark on our state, and will help grow Nebraska for years to come.”

 Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, also tweeted: “I remember him best as Secretary of Ag & Midwest supporter of family farm.”

Also on Twitter,  Ronnie Green, chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said: “America and Nebraska lost a giant last night, and I lost a dear friend and mentor. Rest in peace Clayton P. Yeutter. Exceptionally lived.”

In March 2015, Yeutter made a $2.5 million gift to his alma mater, UNL, to establish a new international trade and finance institute.

Yeutter was named agriculture secretary in 1989 after serving as U.S. trade representative from 1985 to 1988.

He served as chairman for the Republican National Committee from 1991 until 1992, when he took on the job of counselor to the president.

Yeutter was born in Eustis, Nebraska and had deep roots in 4-H in Dawson County.

He graduated No. 1 in his College of Agriculture class in 1952 and later served as a faculty member teaching ag economics. He enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean War, but later enrolled in the NU law school, graduating No. 1 in his class in 1963.

Yeutter’s career also included a stint as president and CEO of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. In recent years, he served as a senior adviser at the international law firm Hogan Lovells in Washington, D.C.

Yeutter, who lived outside Washington, D.C., was diagnosed with colon cancer several years ago and had undergone surgery and chemotherapy.

He was the 1987 winner of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association’s ‘Service to Agriculture’ Award in 1987.



NPPC Elects New Officers, Board Members

The National Pork Producers Council elected new officers and members to its board of directors at its annual business meeting – the National Pork Industry Forum – held here yesterday and today.

Elected as president of the organization was Ken Maschhoff, a pork producer from Carlyle, Ill. Maschhoff is chairman of Maschhoff Family Foods and co-owner and chairman of The Maschhoffs, the largest family-owned pork production company in North America. A fifth-generation pork producer, Maschhoff formerly served on the Illinois Pork Producers Association board of directors as well as on the boards of Midland States Bank and Midland States Bancorp Inc. Currently he serves on the board for various local organizations including, Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School, Potter Electric and First Light USA.

Jim Heimerl, of Johnstown, Ohio, was elevated to president-elect. Heimerl and his wife Kathy, along with three sons and a daughter-in-law, run three farrow-to-finish farms in Ohio and 80 contract finishing farms in several states. Heimerl Farms LTD also consists of crops and cattle, as well as a trucking division and feed mill. Heimerl served as president of the Ohio Pork Producers Council and as board member of the Ohio Soybean Association.

David Herring, of Lillington, N.C., was chosen as vice president. He is vice president of Hog Slat Inc., a pork industry equipment company, and is involved with his family's TDM Farms, which includes a farrow-to-finish operation and 1,100 acres of cropland on which corn, soybeans, wheat and hay are raised.

Re-elected to the board for another three-year term were Phil Borgic, of Nokomis, Ill., Herring and Terry Wolters, of Pipestone, Minn., Scott Hayes, of Monroe City, Mo., was elected as a new member of the board for a three-year term, and Cory Bollum, with Hormel Foods Corp. in Austin, Minn. was reelected for a two-year term as the Packer Processor Industry Council representative.

They join current directors Kent Bang of Omaha. Neb. – who is the Allied Industry Council representative – Jim Compart, of Nicollet, Minn., Bill Kessler, of Mexico, Mo., Dale Reicks, of New Hampton, Iowa, A.V. Roth, of Wauzeka, Wis., Jen Sorensen of Ankeny, Iowa, and Kraig Westerbeek, of Warsaw, N.C.

Pork producers Brandon Schafer, of Goodhue, Minn., and Neill Westerbeek, of Clinton, N.C., were elected for two-year terms to NPPC’s Nominating Committee, which evaluates candidates for the organization’s board of directors.

“In Ken, Jim and David we have great leadership at the helm of NPPC, and the pork industry has some thoughtful leaders and innovators,” said NPPC CEO Neil Dierks. “And the addition of Scott to the NPPC board gives us a good young leader who will help take the industry into the future.”



Legislation Introduced Addressing Agro-Terrorism Threats

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS.), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) Thursday introduced bipartisan legislation to address the threat of agro-terrorism and ensure the safety of food put on the tables of American families.

"I have introduced this legislation in the Senate because it reiterates the important and necessary role of the DHS in the agro-terrorism space," said Senator Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. "As DHS continues to build the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kan., now is the exact time to shore up authorities regarding coordination and mitigation should the worst occur and the nation is hit by a biological attack on our food and agriculture. As former Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I understand the unique threat our farmers and ranchers face. As the backbone of the U.S. economy, the spread of any deadly pathogen among our livestock and plant population would cause irreparable damage. I look forward to continuing to work with DHS and USDA, which play equally important roles, in protecting our homeland's food supply."

Reps. David Young (R-IA), Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), and Dan Donovan (R-NY) introduced the legislation in the House.



NFU Women’s Conference Provides Management, Leadership Skills

Building on a strong history of providing women in agriculture with important leadership and risk management skills, National Farmers Union (NFU) kicked off its annual Women’s Conference today in San Diego, California.

This year’s conference, with a theme of “Shaping the Future,” will prepare attendees and their operations for their own future in many areas, including: business planning, succession planning, running for local office, communications, and innovative marketing.

“NFU’s Women’s Conference offers women of all ages the opportunity to come together to engage with a diverse group of women in agriculture from across the country, and take home invaluable experiences and lessons to improve their farm operations and communities,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “All of agriculture, from family farms and ranches to agribusiness board rooms benefit when the views and ideas provided by women are included and emphasized.”

The Women’s Conference is also a great opportunity to network and hear from leaders and experts in the field of agriculture. This year, the conference will host a number of special guests, including:
~ Audra Mulkern, founder of The Female Farmer Project;
~ Lisa Kivirist, author of Soil Sisters;
~ Kriss Marion, president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union South Central Chapter;
~ Bridget Holcomb, executive director of the Women, Food and Agriculture Network;
~ Madeline Schultz, manager of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women in Ag Program;
~ Dr. Shannon Ferrell, associate professor at Oklahoma State University;
~ Poppy Davis, adjunct professor at University of Arkansas School of Law
~ Sarah Campbell, stakeholder engagement specialist at USDA Farm Service Agency
~ Charlotte Smith, founder of 3CowMarketing.com, and owner of Champoeg Creamery and Charlotte Smith Pastured Meats

The 2017 NFU Women’s Conference programming is sponsored by Farm Credit, CHS Foundation, and NFU Foundation.



Bird Flu Detected in Chicken Breeding Facility in Tennessee

(AP) -- A commercial chicken breeding facility in south-central Tennessee has been hit by a strain of bird flu, agriculture officials said Sunday.

The state Agriculture Department said in a news release that tests confirmed the presence of the H7 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or HPAI, at a facility in Lincoln County. The facility alerted the state veterinarian's office on Friday about an increase in chicken deaths.

The statement did not name the facility. The facility and about 30 other poultry farms within about a six-mile radius of the site are under quarantine.

"Animal health is our top priority," said Dr. Charles Hatcher, the state veterinarian. "With this HPAI detection, we are moving quickly and aggressively to prevent the virus from spreading."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said 73,500 chickens are in the facility's flock.

Officials said HPAI poses no risk to the food supply, and no affected chickens entered the food chain.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPAI can cause up to 100 percent mortality in flocks, often within 48 hours.

"Many Tennessee families rely on the poultry industry for their livelihoods, and the state is working closely with local, county and federal partners and the poultry industry to control the situation and protect the flocks that are critical to our state's economy," Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said.

According to the Tennessee Poultry Association, there are more than 1,650 commercial broiler and breeder houses on more than 550 family farms in the state. The state ranks 13th nationally in broiler production and processing with more than 6 million birds per week at five plants.

The statement said the most recent U.S. detection of HPAI was in January 2016 in a commercial turkey flock in Indiana. More than 414,000 turkeys and chickens were euthanized to contain the outbreak.