Friday April 28 Ag News

Moving Late Calving Cows Up in the Breeding Season
Bethany Johnston & Jay Jenkins, NE Extension Beef Educators

As the end of the calving season nears for many cattlemen, the last few cows in the heavy pen seem to last forever. Those late calvers are doing more than dragging out the calving season. They are costing you money. Their young calves are usually lighter at weaning, late calving cows usually rebreed later or not at all.

How can you move up a late calving cow in the breeding season? The answer is a CIDR. CIDR stands for Controlled Intravaginal Drug Release device. It is inserted into the cow’s vagina, where it releases the hormone progesterone. CIDRs are a common estrus synchronization tool, but they can also be used to bring cows into heat before she would normally come into heat on her own.

In order for this to work, you should insert the CIDR no sooner than 20 days after calving. The uterus must shrink back to its original size for reproduction to occur. Recovery takes time-imagine something holding a 90 pound calf needing to shrink to the size of a volleyball. Trying to “jump start” the cycle with a CIDR (progesterone device) too early after calving could result in less than desired pregnancy results.

If you plan to use natural service breeding insert a CIDR for 7 days, then remove the CIDR on day 7, and give an injection of prostaglandin. Bulls can be immediately be placed with the cows. There is no need for extra bulls, a bull to cow ratio of 1:25 should be sufficient. However, all bulls should have a breeding soundness exam by a veterinarian. Young bulls may require special attention and a higher bull to cow ratio.

This protocol requires two cattle handlings and will cost around $15 for the CIDR and prostaglandin.

Since the CIDR will synchronize estrus you could also use artificial insemination (A.I.). If you choose to A.I. you need to add a GnRH injection at the CIDR insertion, leave the CIDR in for 7 days, and inject prostaglandin when you remove the CIDR.

If you plan to A.I. it would be worth your time to look over the different estrus synchronization protocols at: http://beefrepro.info or visit with your A.I. representative or Extension Educator. Choose a system that works best for you. Any of the 7-day CIDR protocols will “jump start” the estrus cycle. The “recipe” for each system should be followed exactly- no guessing or giving late injections!

Cows should be in good condition, a body condition score of 5 or greater at the time of calving, and maintaining or gaining weight after calving through breeding. Cows maintaining or gaining weight are more likely to conceive and sustain a pregnancy than cows losing weight.

It will cost a little money and take some extra work, but it is possible to move those late calving cows up.



New Bill Would Help Get More Vets Practicing in Shortage Areas

A recently introduced bill to increase grants that encourage veterinarians to practice in veterinary shortage areas has the support of the American Farm Bureau Federation.  The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act (S. 487, H.R. 1268) would eliminate the withholding tax on grants awarded under the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, which provides grants to veterinary school graduates who agree to work for three years in underserved areas.

“Many farmers and ranchers operate in areas that lack adequate veterinary services for their livestock. Expansion of the VMLRP will not only help to improve the health of farm animals but will contribute to the safety of our food supply,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said in a letter to Sens. Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Ron Kind (D-Wis.) and Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), the Senate and House sponsors of the bill.



Animal Disease Response Training in Nebraska, Kansas

A Kansas State University center is offering training to help local and state emergency responders prepare for something they hope never happens: a serious animal disease outbreak.

The National Agricultural Biosecurity Center conducted six animal disease response training sessions in Nebraska in April and is offering two sessions in Kansas in May. The training will be offered in Manhattan on May 9 and in Ottawa on May 11. Registration is available at k-state.edu/nabc/nkrhsc.html. Each one-day session is an awareness-level course designed to cover many aspects of foreign animal disease response, including biosecurity, quarantine, cleaning and disinfection, depopulation and disposal, and proper use of personal protective equipment.

The training targets nontraditional agricultural first responders such as firefighters, public health officials, law enforcement and emergency medical technicians as well as veterinarians and others. Bringing many professions together helps individuals better understand their roles in the response to an animal disease outbreak, said Ken Burton, program director at the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center.

"A lot of the traditional human response personnel don't recognize their potential role in a high-consequence animal disease outbreak," Burton said. "They feel they wouldn't be involved, but the idea behind the class is to make people understand it doesn't matter what your role in the community -- what your day job might be -- the whole community is going to be involved in responding to and be affected by an animal disease outbreak."

Chelsea Kramer, emergency response coordinator for the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, attended all six training sessions and said she would like to see more animal disease response training in Nebraska.

"The training gives nontraditional responders an opportunity to see the response as a whole so when they are asked to set up roadblocks or do traffic control or other pieces, they know why they are being asked -- they know what the purpose is," Kramer said.

Kramer said robust response plans are important.

"In Nebraska, our state's economy is driven by agriculture," Kramer said. "To protect Nebraskans' way of life, we need to respond to emergencies in a timely and effective manner."

Animal disease response training is designed within the Incident Command System framework and is listed in the Federal Emergency Management Agency state and federal catalog. Emergency responders and veterinarians who complete the course will be eligible for continuing education credit.

The training includes presentations, and then concludes with a tabletop exercise during which individuals consider their responses to a scenario and then discuss how they would work together. Burton said responses to the training have been favorable.

"The scope, size and overall effect of an animal disease outbreak are eye-opening," he said. "Law enforcement realizes it's so much bigger than just a checkpoint. The comments are almost all positive."

The National Agricultural Biosecurity Center is working to schedule animal disease response training sessions in northwest and southwest Kansas later this year.



2017 SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION WEEK IS APRIL 30 TO MAY 7

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today highlighted Soil and Water Conservation Week, which runs from April 30 to May 7.  The week is an opportunity to recognize the important conservation practices placed on Iowa’s landscape and bring attention to the ongoing work by farmers, landowners and urban residents to protect the state’s soil and water resources.

“Iowans in our towns and on our farms continue to engage in water quality and soil conservation efforts.  This week is an opportunity to celebrate all the work that has been done and highlight the efforts currently underway to prevent erosion and improve water quality,” Northey said.  “It is vital that we preserve the soil and water resources that help make Iowa agriculture so productive and such a key driver of our state’s economy.”

On Thursday, May 4 Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Northey will visit a farm in the Big Creek watershed where four saturated buffers were installed last fall and a bioreactor and oxbow restoration project will be built later this year.  Branstad will also sign a proclamation recognizing April 30 – May 7 as Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week during the event.  The farm is located at 2155 290th Street, Madrid.

On Wednesday, May 3, there will be a field day and ribbon cutting ceremony for a number of urban water quality projects that have been installed in Rockwell City. The projects, undertaken by the City, will capture stormwater and utilize innovative methods to remove contaminants and improve the quality of the runoff prior to its discharge into the storm sewer system.  The events will start at 9 a.m. with a tour at Featherstone Park (large camping cabin on south end) and will also include a ribbon cutting for the downtown square improvement project at 11:30 a.m. at the Rockwell City Town Square.

Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week is in coordination with the National Stewardship Week, sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts.  This year’s Stewardship Week theme is “Healthy Soils are Full of Life.” More information about the activities that will be held during Soil and Water Conservation Week in Iowa can be found at  www.iowaagriculture.gov/conservationweek.asp. 



Trump Threatens to Terminate ‘KORUS’

In a recent interview, President Donald Trump threatened to terminate a trade agreement with South Korea, which he referred to as a “horrible deal that’s left America destroyed.” A Washington Post article says Trump sharply criticized the U.S. free trade agreement with South Korea, known as “KORUS,” which was most recently ratified in 2011. “It’s a Hillary Clinton disaster, a deal that should never have been made,” Trump said, “it’s a one-way street.”

South Korea is the sixth-largest trading partner with the U.S. However, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative says America’s trade deficit with Korea was $27.7 billion last year. The week of May first marks an anniversary for the trade deal, which triggers a review period that could lead to renegotiation or termination of the deal by either side.

The president says the process to terminate KORUS is much simpler than the process for NAFTA. “With NAFTA, if we terminate tomorrow, it ends in six months.” Trump says, “With KORUS if we terminate, it’s over.” South Korea’s Trade Ministry told the Associated Press it has no plans to renegotiate the deal.



ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERS WITHDRAWING FROM ‘KORUS’
NPPC Newsletter

The Trump administration is considering withdrawing from the Korea-U.S. (KORUS) Free Trade Agreement, citing America’s trade deficit with the Asian nation. The trade deal was ratified in 2011 and is set for a review. On his recent trip to South Korea, Vice President Pence said the United States would like to “reform” the agreement.

The National Pork Producers Council, which was a strong supporter of the trade pact, is hopeful the administration will “modernize” rather than withdraw from KORUS. South Korea is the No. 5 market for U.S. pork exports; the U.S. pork industry shipped more than $365 million of product to South Korea.



Florida Teacher Calls Ag Students “Murderers”

A Florida teacher is on the verge of losing his job after bullying and harassing FFA students that were raising livestock to be sold for slaughter. An Associated Press article says Thomas Allison, Jr., who teaches middle school at the Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks, has been placed on unpaid leave. A Marion County School District letter documenting the case notes that he called students who are raising livestock “murderers.”

Superintendent of Schools Heidi Maier has written a recommendation of termination. The recommendation states that Allison, “has engaged in a repeated, egregious pattern of mistreating, ridiculing, insulting, intimidating, embarrassing bullying and abusing FFA students, crushing their dreams and causing them to feel that they must discontinue FFA activities to enjoy a peaceful school environment."

A local newspaper reported that Allison is accused of harassing the FFA group’s teacher/adviser, as well as encouraging his honors science students to harass FFA members. A direct investigation says Allison is on a mission to eradicate the animal agriculture program because of his animal rights beliefs.

Allison adds that he won’t stop speaking up against animal agriculture and will fight for his job at an upcoming hearing before the school board.



BILL WOULD MAKE RULEMAKING PROCESS MORE TRANSPARENT, FAIR
NPPC Newsletter

Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., this week introduced legislation to make the regulatory process more transparent and “fair.” The “Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017” would require agencies during the rulemaking process to issue a simple notice that explains the problem they intend to address and allows the public to weigh in on the need for the regulation and on options agencies should consider. Agencies also would be required to use the “best reasonably available” scientific, technical and economic information in putting a regulation together, and they would need to conduct cost-benefit analyses on rules and adopt the most cost-effect regulation. The legislation also would improve agency use of guidance documents and ensure agencies don’t use such documents as a way avoid the public input required to write new rules. Additionally, the measure would expand and strengthen retrospective review requirements so that agencies regularly assess whether rules are meeting their objectives.



ICBA Supports Bill Offering Tax Relief for Rural Lending

The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today expressed support for legislation to support farmers, ranchers and rural homeowners by providing tax relief for agricultural and rural residential lending. The Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America Act, introduced by Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), would promote access to credit and reduce borrowing costs amid the current environment of weak commodities prices.

“ICBA strongly supports the Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America Act to help community banks offer lower rates to certain rural borrowers and homeowners, which will help revive rural economies threatened by low commodities prices,” ICBA President and CEO Camden R. Fine said. “This legislation will help farmers and rural communities remain viable during a challenging economic environment as community banks will receive greater flexibility to serve producers and the rural housing market. The legislation will also allow community banks to provide lower loan rates so they operate on a more level playing field and can compete with other rural lenders that already utilize these benefits.”

While farmers enjoyed robust prices for their commodities earlier this decade, the current sag in farm prices has reduced net farm income from $123 billion in 2013 to a projected $62.3billion this year. Meanwhile, strict mortgage and appraisal regulations are driving lenders out of rural mortgage lending, curtailing access to credit, and threatening the rural housing market.

Under the Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America Act, the interest received on farm loans secured by agricultural real estate would not be taxable. The bill would provide similar relief to interest on loans secured by rural single-family homes that are the principal residence of the borrower in towns with a population of less than 2,500. Together, these provisions will offer community bankers greater flexibility to work with farmers who may have trouble servicing their debt while giving lenders a strong incentive to remain in the rural farming and housing markets.

As espoused in its Plan for Prosperity regulatory relief platform, ICBA supports targeted tax relief for community bank lending consistent with advantages enjoyed by other lenders serving the same markets.



ACE urges ethanol advocates to participate in EPA regulatory reform comment period

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) submitted a public comment focused on its ethanol priorities soon after EPA formally began seeking input on existing regulations to be reviewed by its newly established Regulatory Reform Task Force. The Task Force was formed in response to Executive Order 13777 to evaluate existing regulations and make recommendations regarding those that can be repealed, replaced and modified to make them less burdensome.

Following the organization’s comment submission, ACE is now encouraging ethanol advocates to submit their own comments to EPA's regulatory reform effort.

Ethanol advocates are urged to address the following topics when submitting comments to EPA. 
 ·    Allow Reid vapor pressure (RVP) relief to E15 and higher ethanol blends. 
 ·    Update the lifecycle analysis of corn ethanol.
 ·    Modify EPA's mistaken interpretation of Section 211(f) of the Clean Air Act, because it currently limits the concentration of ethanol in fuel without cause. 
 ·    Streamline the approval process for high-octane fuels such as E25-40 blends. 
 ·    Adjust fuel economy (CAFE) compliance to allow flex fuel vehicles to utilize the same incentives that are provided to other alternative vehicles. 
 ·    Discontinue use of the MOVES2014 emissions model until a new emissions study based on real-world test fuels and methods is conducted. 

“It’s imperative for advocates of this industry to take advantage of the opportunity to provide input to the Trump Administration on the kind of regulations that are limiting ethanol’s ability to grow in the marketplace,” said Brian Jennings, ACE executive vice president. “This is a golden opportunity for the Trump EPA to hear directly from those in rural communities—farmers, ethanol producers, retailers and others—who can share their personal experiences on how certain regulations are holding them back.”

The comment period is open through May 15.



CNH Announces First Quarter Financial Results

CNH Industrial N.V. announced consolidated revenues of $5.6 billion for the first quarter of 2017, up 5.8% compared to the first quarter of 2016.

Net sales of Industrial Activities were $5.3 billion in the first quarter of 2017, up 6.1% compared to the first quarter of 2016. Reported net income was $49 million for the first quarter of 2017.

Operating profit of Industrial Activities was $219 million for the first quarter of 2017, a $41 million increase compared to the first quarter of 2016, with an operating margin of 4.1%, up 0.6 p.p. compared to the first quarter of 2016.

Agricultural Equipment's net sales increased 10.5% in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016, as a result of a strong rebound in demand in LATAM and the continuation of positive market momentum in APAC. Revenue in NAFTA and EMEA were flat to slightly down due to a weak demand environment, partially mitigated by positive pricing.