Tuesday March 28 Ag News

Experts Highlight the Power of Local Lessons to Help Feed the World

The 2017 Water for Food Global Conference will welcome a record 100 speakers and global experts to share ideas and help find solutions to the world's pressing water and food security needs.

The flagship event of the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska, held in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Drought Mitigation Center, will be April 10-12 at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. More information, including the speaker list, agenda and registration details, are available on the conference website: http://waterforfood.nebraska.edu/2017wfc.

Researchers, practitioners, policymakers, farmers, faculty, students, thought leaders and industry experts will explore "Water for Food Security: From Local Lessons to Global Impacts,"a theme inspired by the notion that global breakthroughs come from local action.Participants can expect three full days of learning and networking.

"We are energized to bring together such a dynamic and diverse group of speakers and experts to the University of Nebraska," said Peter McCornick, executive director. "This year's conference will push us further toward finding real-world solutions - locally and globally - to the complex challenge of ensuring water and food security."

Joining Heuermann Lecture and closing plenary speaker Arthur Gen "A.G." Kawamura, former California Secretary of Agriculture, are:
-    Ann M. Bartuska, Acting Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Washington, D.C.
-    Robert Bertram, chief scientist, Bureau for Food Security, U.S. Agency for International Development; Washington, D.C.
-    Mbogo Futakamba, Ministry of Water and Irrigation; Tanzania
-    Marlos De Souza, Secretary, Water Platform, Land and Water Division; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Rome, Italy
-    Chandra Madramootoo, James McGill Professor, Bioresource Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, McGill University; Quebec, Canada
-    Sithembile Ndema Mwamakamba, Climate Smart Agriculture Program Manager; Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network; Johannesburg, South Africa
-    Timothy Prewitt, CEO, iDE; Denver, Colorado 
-    Jeff Raikes, co-founder, Raikes Foundation; Board Chair, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute; Seattle, Washington
-    Brian Richter, director, Global Freshwater Strategies, Nature Conservancy; Crozet, Virginia
-    Steven Schonberger, practice manager for Middle East and North Africa Region and global lead for Water in Agriculture, Water Global Practice, World Bank; Washington, D.C.
-    Timothy Williams, director for Africa, International Water Management Institute; Accra; Ghana

Topics include:
-   Creating and expanding farmer-led irrigation solutions in sub-Saharan Africa
-    Developing market-based approaches to drought management
-    Enhancing high productivity irrigated agriculture, highlighting challenges and opportunities from the Great Plains to sub-Saharan Africa
-    Improving water management and governance for food security in great river basins of the world
-    Transforming water policy to develop sustainable and equitable water management practices in local regions around the world
-    Understanding the view from the field - how farmers from different parts of the world are using technology and best practices to increase yields
-    Engaging students, stakeholders and future leaders through science literacy and citizen science to examine the relationships between water, food and energy, as well as agriculture and public health.

Regular registration is $550 and will close after April 1. Special registration discounts are available to all academic faculty, staff and students.For assistance with registration, please contact Amber Poythress at apoythress@nebraska.edu or (+1) 402.472.5175.

In addition to the rich variety of programming, the event includes two evening receptions with live music and globally inspired food; Nebraska bar-be-que dinner at Roca Berry Farm; student poster competition; photography competition and exhibit and multimedia artwork by students and professionals.  
The 2017 Water for Food Global Conference is a North American Regional Event for the 8th World Water Forum, the world's largest water-related forum organized by the World Water Council.

Generous support for the 2017 conference is provided by the Robert. B. Daugherty Foundation, the University of Nebraska, Monsanto Co., Senninger Irrigation Inc., the Nebraska Corn Board and LI-COR Biosciences. Media partners include the Water Network and AgWired.



 NE Dairy Ambassadors Off to a Fast Start

The 2017 Nebraska Dairy Ambassador class is off and running. This program, working in partnership with Kim Clark, Nebraska Dairy Extension educator, has five college students enrolled to serve as ambassadors for the Nebraska dairy Industry at school and consumer events throughout the year.

The ambassadors attended a portion of the Nebraska Dairy Convention in February, and participated in a training session in early March presented by Midwest Dairy communications and industry relations staff. During this training, they were coached in ways to respond with good answers to the tough questions they may receive.

During their ambassador year, they will participate in Ag Literacy festivals for students, as well as the Annual Moo at the Zoo event in June and at the State Fair. They will also write blogs about their experience, and shadow someone within the dairy industry for a day. Upon satisfactory completion of the yearly requirements, they will be awarded a scholarship.

Members of this year's class include Jessica Sayers, Maranda Kegley and Dawn Klabenes, students at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Emily Finkhaus, a student at Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture; and Dalton Anderson, who attends Southeast Community College.



Nebraska Soybean Farmers “See for Themselves” How Checkoff Dollars Support International Marketing Efforts
Earlier this month, a group of 14 Nebraska farmers and agribusiness professionals traveled to Washington to take part in the annual See for Yourself International Marketing mission funded by the Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB). The mission gave farmers the opportunity to see firsthand how their soybean checkoff is working to increase their productivity, demand for their crops and profitability. Roughly half of Nebraska’ssoybean crop is exported annually, and understanding how and where their soybeans are being shipped is important for farmers.

Participants toured the Ports of Grays Harbor and Tacoma to learn about the export process. They visited export facilities operated by Omaha-based Ag Processing Company (AGP) and the Tacoma Export Marketing Company (TEMCO). At TEMCO participants toured a Panamax ship being loaded with corn from the Midwest bound for South Korea. Other stops included the Boeing manufacturing plant near Everett and a local BNSF railway office, where they learned about the logistics of moving products across the country and challenges facing the transportation industry.

While on the tour, farmers quickly learned about the amount of capital invested in export facilities in the Pacific Northwest. The group saw an innovative solution to help TEMCO continue operations during frequent wet weather. Rainfall once caused the facility to shut down for the equivalent of one month out of the year. The solution—a roof nearly an acre in size to keep out the rain—allows them to fill 10 more ships per month, which translates to 220–230 million bushels per year.

Gabe Gubbels, a farmer from Osmond, said the tour helped him gain perspective on the exporting process. “Touring the Ports of Grays Harbor and Tacoma was a great experience. The size of the ships being loaded at these ports was unbelievable.”

AGP recently expanded its footprint in Nebraska, increasing the capacity of its Hastings soy processing plant from 30 million to 50 million bushels per year. AGP is a major soybean processor and the world’s largest farmer-owned cooperative. Its location in Hastings is currently the westernmost soy processor in the U.S., giving the company a significant advantage for shipping products to Asia and the Pacific through Grays Harbor. In fact, 80 percent of the soybean meal produced in Hastings will head through Grays Harbor to customers overseas.

Also featured during the tour of Grays Harbor was Renewable Energy Group’s (REG) biodiesel plant. Completed in 2007, it is currently the second largest biodiesel facility in the U.S. in terms of production. The facility has the capacity to manufacture 100 million gallons per year and is the only biodiesel plantwith tri-modal capabilities, meaning it has the ability to export using rail, truck and waterways.

Dan Smydra, a participant from St. Paul, said the tour was well worth the time. “I would strongly encourage any producer interested in exploring beyond their local production and markets to apply for a spot on one of these tours—not only to learn about how your soybean checkoff dollars are invested, but also to understand your connection and role in the global marketplace. Not to mention all the great folks you’ll get to know on the trip!”

For more information about NSB’s See for Yourself program, including future opportunities, please call the Nebraska Soybean Board office at 402-441-3240or visit their website at NebraskaSoybeans.org.



Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey Shares Custom and Machinery Rental Rates

Performing custom work can be an additional source of income for farm operators around the state. For others, custom work is a full-time career. When labor is available, and another party has equipment, renting equipment for a short term is also a common practice. While only a small portion of Iowa farmland is 100 percent custom farmed, many farm operations rent equipment or hire out for one or two tasks that need to be completed on their farm each year.

The 2017 Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey canvassed 441 farmers, custom operators and farm managers from the state, putting together a guide for pricing custom machine work. Of those receiving the survey, 152 usable responses were received from Iowa farmers, custom operators and farm managers. Twenty-one percent of the respondents perform custom work, 13 percent hire work done, 41 percent indicated doing both, 1 percent indicated doing none and 25 percent did not indicate whether they perform or hire custom work.

The publication, which can be found online at the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Store as FM 1698 or on the Ag Decision Maker website as Information File A3-10, provides rates for custom work in the following categories: tillage, planting, drilling, seeding, fertilizer application, harvesting, drying and hauling grain, harvesting forages, complete custom farming, labor and both bin and machine rental. All rates include fuel, repairs, depreciation, interest, labor and all other machinery costs for the tractor and implement unless otherwise noted.

The average rate and range for each machine work function were compiled into the survey as usual, as well as the median charge and number of responses for each category. For the survey, the average is calculated as the simple average of all responses. The median is the response that splits all the ordered responses (from smallest to largest) in half.

The survey found there was an 8.5 percent price increase across all surveyed categories. When the categories with the 5 percent highest and lowest change were removed, the average increase in rate became 2.1 percent.

“After an overall decline in rates in 2016, the slight rate increases in the 2017 survey are similar to a trend observed from 2012-2015,” said Alejandro Plastina, assistant professor and extension economist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “We appreciate the respondents to the survey, as the information available in the Custom Rate Survey is only possible due to their responses provided each year.”

The reported rates are expected to be charged or paid in 2017, including fuel and labor. The average price for diesel fuel was assumed to be $2.15 per gallon. The values presented in the survey are intended only as a guide. There are many reasons the rate charged in a particular situation should be above or below the average. These include the timeliness with which operations are performed, quality and special features of the machine, operator skill, size and shape of fields, number of acres contracted and the condition of the crop for harvesting. The availability of custom operators in a given area will also affect rates. Any custom rate should cover the cost of operating the farm machinery as well as the operator’s labor.

The Ag Decision Maker website offers a Decision Tool to help custom operators and other farmers estimate their own costs for specific machinery operations. Plastina and Ann Johanns, program specialist in economics with ISU Extension and Outreach, authored the publication.

To join the 2018 Custom Rate Survey mailing list, send mail or e-mail address to: Alejandro Plastina, Iowa State University, Department of Economics, 478 E Heady Hall, 518 Farm House Lane, Ames, IA 50011-1054, 515-294-6160, plastina@iastate.edu.



Farm and Rural Life Poll Examines Conservation Practice Use

The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy was implemented in 2013 and efforts to track progress toward its goals are ongoing. The INRS recommends that farmers use a number of soil and water conservation best management practices to reduce nutrient loss into waterways. The 2016 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll asked farmers if they were using or considering use of many of those practices.

A list of 20 practices was provided and farmers who plant row crops were asked to select one of three responses: the practice was not used in 2015, no plans to use it; not used in 2015, might use it in the future; and used the practice in 2015. Three types of conservation practices were covered: tillage and cover crops, nitrogen management and structural practices such as buffers and terraces.

“The scientists who conducted the science assessment for the INRS have concluded that to meet targeted reduction goals, most Iowa farmers will have to increase their use of a diverse mix of practices that are appropriate for their farms,” said J. Gordon Arbuckle, associate professor of sociology at Iowa State University. “This year’s survey tried to get a handle on what practices farmers are using now, and which ones that might be willing to try.”

Among in-field practices listed, no-till was the most commonly used, with 42 percent of respondents reporting employing the practice on at least some of the land they farm. Conservation tillage, excluding no-till and strip tillage, was second, used by 35 percent. Twenty-one percent reported use of cover crops on at least some land.

“Minimizing tillage and use of cover crops are effective ways to reduce erosion and nutrient loss while also improving soil health,” Arbuckle said. “Overall, about 57 percent of farmers reported using some kind of reduced tillage on at least part of their land.”

The survey also asked about nitrogen management practices that can reduce nitrogen loss. The use of nitrogen stabilizers was reported by 38 percent of respondents. Twenty-eight percent reported that they applied nitrogen during the growing season, and 15 percent used a variable rate N application. The corn nitrogen rate calculator, which was developed by Iowa State and partner universities to help farmers determine economically sound N fertilizer rates, was used by 18 percent of respondents.

“The INRS science assessment estimates that farmers can reduce nutrient loss by about 10 percent by using the N rate calculator,” said Arbuckle. “They could also save money on fertilizer.”

Buffers along streams or field edges to filter nutrients and sediment from runoff were the most commonly reported conservation practice, with 46 percent of farmers indicating they were used in 2015. Terraces were reported by 37 percent of respondents and 25 percent used in-field buffer strips. Sedimentation basins (18 percent), extended rotations (15 percent) and converting some cropland from row crops to perennial crops such as hay (14 percent) were also reported.

“The survey results show that many Iowa farmers are using recommended best management practices to some extent,” said Arbuckle. “That said, the majority of Iowa crop farms could incorporate practices such as cover crops and in-field or edge-of-field filter strips to further reduce nutrient loss, yet minorities of farmers report using these and other proven practices. So, there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

Arbuckle noted that the survey also asked farmers if they might consider using best management practices in the future, and results were encouraging.

“Many farmers indicated that they are open to the idea of using practices such as cover crops, the N rate calculator, and variable rate nitrogen application,” said Arbuckle. “That suggests that we need to continue to work with farmers and their advisors to help incorporate more of these practices into more farm operations.”

The Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll has been in existence since 1982, surveying Iowa farmers on issues of importance to agricultural stakeholders. It is the longest-running survey of its kind in the nation.



EPA Now Limited On Farm Data It Can Release

A federal judge yesterday approved a settlement agreement between the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, limiting EPA’s release of information on livestock farmers.

Under the agreement, the agency only may provide under a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request the city, county, zip code and Clean Water Act permit status of a concentrated animal feeding operation. The agreement also requires EPA to conduct training on FOIA, personal information and the federal Privacy Act.

The settlement stems from the February 2013 release by EPA’s Office of Water to several activist groups, which filed a FOIA request, of extensive private and personal information the agency collected on farmers in 29 states. (EPA gathered the information despite being forced in 2012 to drop a proposed data reporting rule for large farms because of concerns about the privacy and biosecurity of family farms.)

“We’re pleased with this agreement, which will protect the personal and private information, including cell phone numbers and health information, of America’s farmers and ranchers,” said NPPC President Ken Maschhoff, a pork producer from Carlyle, Ill. “EPA’s 2013 release to activist groups of sensitive materials on more than 100,000 farmers and ranchers was an outrageous abuse of its power and trust. This settlement helps ensure that won’t happen again.”

Following the 2013 release and after objections from NPPC, the Farm Bureau and other agricultural groups, EPA requested that the activist organizations return the data, but the agency subsequently was prepared to release additional farm information it collected from seven other states. NPPC and the Farm Bureau also objected to the additional release, and in July 2014 filed suit against EPA in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.

That court in late 2015 dismissed the lawsuit, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit in St. Louis reinstated it, and last September it ruled that EPA “abused its discretion in deciding that the information at issue was not exempt from mandatory disclosure under Exemption 6 [personal privacy interests] of FOIA.”

“NPPC will continue vigorously defend the rights and privacy of its producers against outrageous and unethical government actions,” Maschhoff said.



ASA’s Moore Testifies on Title I Programs Before House Ag Subcommittee

In testimony before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Tuesday, American Soybean Association (ASA) President and Illinois soybean farmer Ron Moore spoke on the need for robust programs within the risk management framework of the nation’s farm legislation. Moore contrasted the successful farm economic landscape in which the 2014 Farm Bill was written with the more troubling financial situation many farmers find themselves in today, and called on the committee to make the necessary investments in farm bill programs—including increases where appropriate—so that each can work to its full potential.

“Farm prices are down by 41 percent and farm income is down by 50 percent. Due to continued low prices, estimates for 2017 show a further decline in income of 7.1 percent,” Moore said. “Land rents and input costs remain stubbornly high, and producers are having increasing difficulty obtaining operating loans. In view of these circumstances, ASA [asks] Congress to write the 2018 Farm Bill based on the very real need by U.S. producers for a stronger safety net rather than extending existing programs… Correcting shortcomings in the 2014 Act and funding other important programs whose effectiveness has diminished over time will require additional resources from outside the farm bill.”

Moore’s specific asks of the committee on behalf of ASA included a robust federal crop insurance program, noting that the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the cost of the program will decline by an average of $1 billion annually. Moore also called on the committee to improve and build upon the current Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs included in Title I rather than develop new ones, maintaining that a choice for producers between a price-based PLC program and a revenue-based ARC program appropriately reflects differences between crops and regions. In his discussion of ARC and PLC, Moore highlighted the need to continue the decoupling of Title I programs from planted acres, citing the potential market distortions caused by tying payments to current-year planting decisions.

Moore also noted that other crops, particularly cotton, may require fixes to their programs, and reaffirmed ASA’s support for such fixes, provided their funding does not come from elsewhere in the farm bill and that such a fix is WTO-compliant.

Capping his testimony, Moore reiterated ASA’s vocal support for including nutrition and anti-hunger programs alongside agricultural programs in the farm bill, as has been the case in each previous version of the legislation, and called on the committee to affirm its support for both producers and consumers of food.

“The only groups pushing for them to be split into two bills are critics from outside the agriculture community whose common goal is to defeat rather than to pass a new farm bill,” Moore said. “… An affirmation that the next farm bill must include programs that support both producers and consumers of food would send a strong message to farm bill critics, as well as to farm and anti-hunger organizations that support this goal.”



Spurlock Testifies on Farm Bill Programs at House Hearing

The Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) risk management program and crop insurance have been critical to helping corn farmers during a weak farm economy and should be maintained in the next farm bill, National Corn Growers Association President Wesley Spurlock testified today at House Agriculture General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee hearing.

“Together, crop insurance and the ARC-County program have helped many farmers weather the storm of a weak farm economy and avoid bankruptcy,” said Spurlock, who raises corn, cotton, wheat, sorghum, and beef cattle in the Texas Panhandle.

Spurlock noted that corn prices have averaged below $4.00 per bushel since 2013, and are projected to average just $3.40 this marketing year.

“At that price, few corn farmers have a positive net income. Meanwhile, we face a lot of uncertainty about federal policy on renewable fuel and trade, and how that will impact our bottom lines,” testified Spurlock. “We must work together to rebuild a strong farm economy – but in the meantime, strong farm bill programs are essential to support farmers. ARC was designed to be a market-based program that provides support only when needed, and now is that time. By and large, the program is working as intended.”



Plan Ahead to Maximize Spring Nitrogen Applications in Corn

It’s not too early to plan spring and early-summer nitrogen applications in corn. In fact, with lower corn prices, it’s more important than ever that growers take strategic action to protect yield and return on investment.

Because corn is receptive to – and requires significant amounts of – nitrogen for optimal productivity, in-season application can be a viable option to supplement fall-applied or early pre-plant nitrogen fertilizer applications. Agronomists recommend timing nitrogen topdress applications prior to periods of maximum crop growth to achieve the optimum amount of uptake, usually between the V6 growth stage and tasseling in corn.

Urea or UAN applied to the surface or banded within 2 inches of the soil surface can be vulnerable to ammonia volatilization losses. To prevent this form of loss, many university agronomists in the Corn Belt recommend adding AGROTAIN® nitrogen stabilizer to protect urea and UAN against volatilization.

In areas that receive excessive spring rainfall, growers can consider SUPERU® fertilizer, which contains both a urease and a nitrification inhibitor to minimize volatilization, leaching or denitrification. For UAN applications, AGROTAIN® PLUS stabilizer can be added; its two modes of action work together to minimize the three forms of nitrogen loss.

Steve Cromley, CCA, and technical sales agronomist with Koch Agronomic Services LLC (KAS), the maker of the AGROTAIN® line of nitrogen stabilizers and SUPERU® fertilizer, says recommended nitrogen rates vary widely by geographic area. In fact, optimal nitrogen rates vary by region and even by field. It’s important for growers to use tools that help evaluate proper rates such as soil profile nitrate samples, crop models and crop canopy sensors. Ultimately, though, one of the most important tools is the grower’s knowledge and experience. Regardless of the application method, “The closer the application rate is to the optimum nitrogen rate, the more critical it becomes to protect the applied nitrogen,” adds Cromley.

As with any nitrogen application throughout the crop year, KAS recommends growers follow the 4Rs of Nutrient Stewardship – Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time and Right Place – to minimize nutrient loss and maximize uptake.