Wednesday May 24 Ag News

The Nebraska Junior Beef Expo is pleased to announce its 20th Anniversary on Friday, June 2nd – Sunday, June 4th, Norfolk, NE.

Seven cattle organizations, along with their youth participants, are planning to make its 20th anniversary a huge success.  The Nebraska Junior Beef Expo will be held on Friday, June 2nd, Saturday, June 3rd, and Sunday, 4th, 2017, at the Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska.  Northeast Community College is a co-sponsor of this great event. Breeds represented at this event will be Simmental, Red Angus, Charolais, Shorthorn, Maine-Anjou, Chianina and Limousin.  Each are responsible in working together to present educational contests and cattle show competitions.

Approximately 80 youth, ages 8 to 21, from these breed associations, will compete for prizes and trophies in various competitions ranging from Sales Talk Competition and Poster/Photography Contests to Judging and Showmanship Contests to Interview/Resume Contests. Each contest, along with Showmanship, is divided into a junior and a senior division. The NJBE committee will check-in over 100 cattle entries that represent these seven breed organizations.

Each breed provides their individual contest awards and each contest winner is eligible to win the Supreme Awards presented by the NE Jr. Beef Expo Committee.  Supreme Awards presented by the committee include Supreme Individual Contest Awards, Supreme High Percentage Breeding Heifer, Supreme Low Percentage Breeding Heifer, Supreme Jr. and Sr. Showmanship, Supreme Market Animal and Supreme Bred & Owned.

The NE Jr. Beef Expo relies heavily on businesses, associations and individual sponsorships to provide these opportunities for the youth involved with raising and showing animals.  It also requires many volunteers to run this three-day event. This is a unique event where seven major cattle breeds in Nebraska have come together to offer their junior organizations additional educational and recreational opportunities.

Diamond Level Sponsors are: NE Farm Bureau; Farmer’s National Company; NE Cattlemen’s Foundation and NE Cattlemen’s Classic.

Gold Level Sponsors are: KRVN 880 AM, Lexington, KNEB 94.1 FM & 960 AM, Scottsbluff & KTIC 840 AM, West Point and TransOva Genetics, Sioux Center, IA.

Silver Level Sponsors are: Aurora Cooperative Co., Aurora, NE; Randolph Feed & Grain -Marty Nordhues; Washington County Cattlemen’s.

Bronze Level Sponsors are: Sullivan’s Supply, Dunlap, IA; Purina Honor Show Chow & Elkhorn Feed Center, Norfolk, NE; The Show Circuit, Roland Schumaker, Lexington, IL; Dinkel’s, Norfolk, NE; Northeast NE Cattlemen- Wayne, Dixon, Dakota and Thurston Counties-Dave French, Pres;  Red Barn Veterinary- Dr. James Unwin,  Dr. Stewart Hartwell,  Dr. Patrick Maline and Dr. Kellie Wise, Oakland, NE; Bullis Creek Ranch- Rob and Brenda Brawner and family - Wood Lake, NE; T-T Seed Express & Endurplas- Scott Trauernicht, Wymore & Randy Thimm, Cortland, NE; Kersten Cattle Co., Gretna, NE ; ABS, Larry Rowden, Regional Representative; Vogler Cattle Co/Vogler Semen Centre’. - Ashland, NE- Lloyd, Rosalyn, Les & Loren Vogler; Zoetis Animal Health; Livestock Plus, Inc.- Mike Sorensen; Western Sire Services, John Weston, Manager, Gordon, NE; Green Line Equipment - Serving 9 locations in Nebraska.  Albion - Aurora - Central City - Grand Island - Neligh - Norfolk - Plainview - Spalding - St. Paul; Specially 4 You, Linda Duren; Farm Credit Services of America, Norfolk, O’Neill, Columbus, Lincoln and Beatrice Offices; Central Valley Ag;  Breeder’s World Online Auctions; Wagonhammer Ranches, Albion & Bartlett; First State Insurance Agency, Amy Rains, Wilbur, NE

Other Cash and In-Kind Donations: Farmer’s Union Coop Supply Co., Clarkson - Stanton- Howells; Hawkeye Breeders Service, Inc.- Adel, IA ; Ken’s Trailer Sales & Repair- Norfolk, NE; Nichols Ranch, Dave, Lynn, Taylor & Nicole; Wurtz Cattle Co., Valley, NE; Wayne & Barb Ohlrichs, Norfolk, NE;  Preferred Genetics, Phil Buhman; Illingworth Farms, Amber Illingworth, Fairfield, NE; Citizen’s State Bank- Spalding; G & S Livestock- Greg & Susan Gehl; S. Diamond Angus, Kim & Lindy Siebert, Henderson, NE; Reproductive Services- Bennet NE; Off-The-Wall Graphics, Rising City, NE ; Circle 5 Beef, Henderson, NE; One Source Office Solutions, Norfolk, NE ; Ahlberg Cattle, Longmont, CO; Ruth Simmentals, Rising City, NE; Foxxy Ladies Simmental Sale (Felt/Roberts/Beeson)- Wakefield, NE; Stateline Farms-Jim & Ellen Zvolanek, Wymore, NE; West Point Livestock Auction.



HASTENING HAY DRY-DOWN
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Haying season is here, along with the rainy season.  We need ways to hasten hay dry-down to beat the weather.

               Does it seem to you that clouds and rain are here just about every other day this spring?  Rain obviously is a problem when making hay, but why I’m also talking about clouds.  Well, other than rain itself, the most important weather factor that affects rate of hay dry-down is sunlight.  Temperature, humidity, soil moisture content, and wind speed all are important, but solar radiation has the greatest impact on drying rate.  In fact, research has shown as much as a 10-fold increase in drying rate as solar radiation changes from heavy cloud cover to full sunlight.  No other factor affected drying rate even half as much.

               So how do you use this information?  Obviously, you can’t control how much sunlight you receive.  But, you can watch weather reports and try to cut hay during sunny weather.  Okay – that states the obvious.  Another thing you should do, though, is spread your cut hay out in as wide a swath as possible to expose more hay to direct sunlight.  This does two things.  Sunlight keeps stomates open on the leaves, which is the fastest way for moisture to exit the plant.  Stomates in the dark inside or bottom of windrows will close, preventing rapid moisture loss.  Wide windrows also enables your hay to absorb as much sun energy as possible to heat and evaporate moisture out of your hay.  This may bleach hay more than thick windrows, but fast dry-down usually is more valuable than green color.

               Also, mechanically condition your hay and turn it gently after tops get dry to expose moist hay under the swath to hasten dry-down.

               Make hay while the sun shines is an old, old saying but today’s science has shown how true it really is.



USDA Webinar: Using Fire and Grazing to Manage Grasslands, June 1

Using fire and grazing management effectively is critically important in maintaining the ecological health of grasslands.  In this webinar, Dr. Chris Helzer, Director of Science with The Nature Conservancy, in Aurora, Nebraska, discusses:
-    Fire and grazing management techniques,
-    The value of biological diversity and ecological resilience in maintaining healthy grasslands,
-    How fire and grazing can sustain wildlife habitat, pollinator communities and other important components of grassland ecosystems, and
-    How landowners can evaluate the success of their fire and grazing management practices from a conservation standpoint.

Education credits are available from the American Forage and Grassland Council, the Society for Range Management and The Wildlife Society.

This webinar, sponsored by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, is scheduled for June 1, 2017, at 2 p.m., Eastern. Connect to the webinar at http://www.conservationwebinars.net/adobe-connect-webinar-access-instructions. Audio is computer broadcast only.

For more information, contact Dr. William L. Hohman, NRCS Wildlife Biologist, on william.hohman@ftw.usda.gov. Or visit the webinar’s webpage at http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/using-fire-and-grazing-to-maintain-productive-and-ecologically-resilient-grasslands.



ICA Welcomes Governor Kim Reynolds

The Iowa Cattlemen’s association today released the following statement in response to the swearing in of Governor Kim Reynolds:

On behalf of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association, ICA President Mike Cline said "The Iowa Cattlemen's Association sends sincerest congratulations to Governor Kim Reynolds. Governor Reynolds has been an ally to Iowa agriculture and the beef industry in our state as Lieutenant Governor, and we are excited to see her transition to her new role. Iowa Cattlemen look forward to what she will accomplish as Governor."

Reynolds succeeds former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad who has been confirmed as the United States Ambassador to China. Branstad was officially sworn in as ambassador at a ceremony today at the Iowa State Capitol and Governor Reynolds was sworn in as the Governor of Iowa shortly after.



 Jay Debertin Elected President and CEO of CHS Inc.

CHS Inc., the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company, announced today that its board of directors has elected Jay D. Debertin as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of CHS.  Debertin succeeds Carl Casale, who led CHS during record performance levels and expansion.

CHS Inc., the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company, announced that its board of directors has elected Jay D. Debertin as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of CHS.

During Casale's seven years with the company, CHS returned $3 billion to its owners, invested $9 billion in new capital expenditures and nearly doubled the size of its balance sheet from $8.7 billion in 2010 to $17.3 billion at the end of fiscal 2016. Casale focused on prudent fiscal management and enhancing management systems at the company.

"As we take our cooperative into its next chapter, we are confident that Jay is the right leader," said Dan Schurr, chairman of the CHS Board of Directors. "Jay's experience in achieving operational excellence and driving results fits squarely with our unwavering goal to deliver returns to our member-owners now and for the long term."

Debertin previously served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for the company's diverse energy operations and processing and food ingredients business. He joined CHS in 1984 and has held a variety of leadership positions within the organization in energy, trading and risk management, transportation, and agricultural processing. Jay also serves as chairman of Ventura Foods.

"CHS is strong today because we drive the business with a central purpose in mind and that is to help our cooperatives and farmers grow," said Debertin. "I look forward to working with our talented group of employees as we concentrate on world-class execution across our system. I see growth and strength ahead for our business."

Debertin, who is originally from East Grand Forks, Minn., holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D., and an MBA from University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Additional Information from CHS Board chairman Dan Schurr
After careful consideration, Dave Bielenberg has decided to step down as chairman of the CHS Board of Directors after serving in the position since 2012. Dave will continue to serve as the CHS Board of Directors Region 6 representative.

Therefore, at the CHS Board of Directors meeting in May, directors held an election for the chair position, and I was elected to serve as your new chairman. In addition, C.J. Blew, representing Region 8, was appointed first vice chair and Jon Erickson, representing Region 3, second vice chair. These appointments are effective immediately. No other officer changes were made.

On behalf of the CHS Board of Directors, I want to thank Dave for his leadership as chair over the past five years. Dave brings the owner’s perspective to everything he’s worked on at CHS. His steadfast leadership over the years has helped create the strong foundation upon which we continue to build our future.



USDA to Survey Pork Producers in June

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is contacting producers for the June Hogs and Pigs Survey. The agency will survey pork producers for detailed information on market hog and breeding stock inventories as well as pig crop and farrowing intentions.

The information is used by all sectors of the industry to help make sound and timely business decisions. NASS will mail the questionnaires to all producers selected for the survey in late May. To ensure all survey participants have an opportunity to respond, NASS interviewers will contact producers who do not respond by mail or online to conduct telephone and personal interviews.

NASS will publish the survey results in the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report on June 29.



American Drivers Surpass 1 Billion Miles on Earth-Kind, Engine-Smart E15 Saving up to $72 Million by End of 2017

Cleaner-burning, high-octane E15 has fueled more than 1 billion miles for American motorists around the country

American consumers have helped E15 – a fuel containing 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline – reach a significant milestone. According to Growth Energy’s ongoing analysis of fuel sales and consumption data reported by major gasoline retailers, drivers across the United States have logged more than 1 billion miles on E15 – attesting to the fuel’s performance, safety, and value. The availability of E15 could save consumers up to $72 million by the end of 2017, based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data.

“American drivers are taking advantage of the proven performance, environmental benefits, and savings E15 provides,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “That’s why Congress should pass the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act and give drivers freedom to choose E15 year-round. This common-sense fix to the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) law will end confusing restrictions on retailers and allow consumers to choose a fuel that is kinder to the earth, good for their engines, and saves them up to 10 cents per gallon each trip to the pump in the summer.”

Growth Energy is proud to celebrate this milestone and highlight the value E15 delivers in terms of better performance, reduction of toxic emissions, and savings at the pump. Today, E15 is sold at more than 800 retail outlets across 29 states, and its availability continues to grow each day because 21st century drivers are demanding 21st century fuels.

The EPA approves E15 for use in any vehicle manufactured since 2001, which equates to 9 out of 10 cars on the road today. Automakers also approve E15 for use in nearly three-quarters of new cars.



Little Price Movement in Fertilizer Prices Again

Average retail fertilizer prices continued to stay fairly stable the third week of May 2017, with no prices significantly higher or lower compared to last month, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN.

Of the eight major fertilizers, prices for five are slightly higher compared to a month earlier. These are MAP, potash, anhydrous, UAN28 and UAN32.

MAP had an average price of $471 per ton, potash $340/ton, anhydrous $510/ton, UAN28 $248/ton and UAN32 $283/ton.

The remaining three fertilizers were slightly lower in price from last month but, again, none were down substantially. DAP had an average price of $437/ton, urea $350/ton and 10-34-0 $510/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.38/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.44/lb.N and UAN32 $0.44/lb.N.

Retail fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. Three of the eight major fertilizers are still double digits lower.

10-34-0 is 22% lower from a year ago, anhydrous is 13% less expensive and UAN32 is 12% lower. Both UAN28 and urea are 9% less expensive, DAP is 8% lower, potash is 7% less expensive and MAP are 6% lower compared to year earlier.



Rancher Calls on Congress to Address ‘Sue and Settle’ Abuse

If family ranching operations and rural economies are going to survive another generation, Congress must address the problem of so-called “sue and settle” abuse. That’s the message that Darcy Helmick, Land Manager for Simplot Land & Livestock, stressed to Congress in subcommittee testimony today.

Helmick testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Subcommittee on the Interior, Energy, and Environment during its hearing to examine how environmental advocacy groups and federal agencies regulate through consent decrees using citizen lawsuit provisions in environmental laws, which is known as “sue and settle.”

“In my extensive experience dealing with the federal grazing system and western land use in general, offensive litigation tactics by outside activist groups have served to totally derail business operations,” said Helmick. “While it is critical that we maintain the right of citizens to litigate when necessary, reform is needed to prevent that right from being abused or exploited.”

It is critical that permitted public lands users have a role in any settlement agreements, and that federal employees at a local level have input, Helmick said. She added that while unreasonable timelines have become the norm, once imposed during settlements, they are rarely reached.

“The repercussions of the missed timelines heavily impact the permitted public lands users and result in a level of uncertainty that is prohibitive in any business environment. Unfortunately this is often the goal of these litigants,” said Helmick.

Helmick concluded her testimony by explaining how the sue and settle tactics used by radical environmental groups also serve to limit young producers from entering the industry, which will inevitably lead to further erosion of the footprint of ranching in the West.

“As a fourth generation cattle producer it is in my blood to continue with my family business,” said Helmick. “As my parents age and need more help, my brother and I are working with financial advisors on how to transition the business. How does one budget for litigation, how does one calculate the expense of the stress and time used to work through litigation?” she asked.



Ethanol Stocks, Blend Demand Down

The U.S. Energy Information Administration issued a report midmorning Wednesday showing across-the-board declines for domestic ethanol inventories, plant production and blending demand during the week-ended May 19.

The EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report showed ethanol inventories tumbled roughly 700,000 barrels (bbl), or 3.0%, to about 22.7 million bbl while 1.9 million bbl, or 9.1%, higher year-on-year last week. Stocks declined in all but one of the regions -- the PADD 5 West Coast, with supply up 300,000 bbl to 2.9 million bbl, the highest supply level for the region since the week-ended Dec. 11, 2015.

Domestic plant production declined 17,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 1.7%, to 1.010 million bpd, while up 64,000 bpd or 6.8% higher year-on-year. For the four weeks ended last week, fuel ethanol production averaged 1.007 million bpd, up 62,000 bpd or 6.6%.

Net refiner and blender inputs, a gauge for ethanol demand, eased 2,000 bpd, or 0.2%, to 949,000 bpd. Blending demand surged 33,000 bpd, or 3.6%, year-on-year. For the four-week period ended May 19, blending demand were up 25,000 bpd, or 2.75%.



Agriculture Can’t Balance the Budget Alone
Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation

This week, President Trump sent to Congress a proposal to slash the USDA budget by more than $228 billion over 10 years, including $38 billion from farm programs. This proposal would fail agriculture and rural America, and for that reason the American Farm Bureau cannot support it.

Farm Bureau members are concerned about the federal budget deficit. We believe agriculture should do its fair share to get us back to fiscal discipline and a balanced budget. But we’ve already done more than our fair share.

When Congress passed the 2014 farm bill, it was estimated to cut the deficit by $23 billion over 10 years. Agriculture was the only sector that voluntarily offered savings during the 113th Congress, when the 2014 farm bill was passed. Before that, Congress passed budget reconciliation bills that targeted agriculture for savings. In fact, it is difficult to think of another sector that has done as much as agriculture to address the national deficit.

Farmers and ranchers tend to be fiscally conservative. But we are not martyrs. We should not be expected to sacrifice more, when we’ve already done more than virtually any other sector. And we certainly shouldn’t be asked to do so at a time of depressed farm prices and income.

Presidents’ budget proposals typically are declared “dead on arrival” in Congress. The president’s budget submission checks a procedural box, but it’s Congress that writes and passes a budget. The American Farm Bureau Federation will work with the appropriate committees in Congress to ensure that we maintain programs that help farmers manage risks and help rural communities survive. 



Beef Takes Center Stage During NYC #BeefTogether Meat Retreat

NYC Meat RetreatSeven New York City bloggers and retail influencers attended a day-long #BeefTogether meat retreat, all thanks to a partnership between the national beef checkoff and the New York and South Dakota Beef Councils.

The event was a meat fabrication and culinary experience hosted at the Brooklyn FoodWorks kitchen in Brooklyn. Attendees had the opportunity to observe Kari Underly, a master butcher and author of The Art of Cutting Beef, break down two beef subprimals, the rib and the top butt, with the opportunity to fabricate their own.  

Attendees then took their passion for beef into the kitchen where they created five different Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. recipes. Checkoff staff provided insight into the beef lifecycle, beef choices and beef nutrition through interactive presentations and Q&A with attendees. 

Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative programs manager, Kaitlyn Carey, noted, “This event provided us the opportunity to engage directly with key influencers in New York City. These influencers have a large following. Arming them with beef skills and information will help them share the beef story with their followers. Our goal is to foster more beef advocates within our region.”

Events such as this one allow the checkoff to highlight beef’s taste, nutritional benefits and flavor-enhancing cooking techniques to those who have a large following on digital media. Checkoff-funded research in the Northeast shows that consumers are not confident in their abilities to pair the correct cut of beef with the appropriate cooking method. Engaging these beef influencers and providing them with information helps share the beef story with their followers. 



Chicago Event Brings the Farm to the Festival

Last weekend, farmers and consumers came together to enjoy corn-based spirits and conversations about sustainability at the Heartland Craft Spirits Festival. The Illinois Corn Marketing Board organized the event, held in Chicago, as a pilot project to test the learnings gained through the National Corn Growers Association's corn reputation research. A number of state corn associations, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin, sponsored state-specific categories in the juried tasting competition preceding the event.

The event, which took place in Bucktown's Concord Music Hall, truly brought the farm to the city. With dozens of living corn plants, virtual reality farm tours and farmer volunteers, craft spirit enthusiasts looked beyond their local distillery to find out more about the men and women who grow corn. This proved particularly relevant as this specific competition, due to the partnership with ICMB, featured only spirits made using corn for 50 percent or more of their feedstock.

"Illinois corn was excited to lead this pilot project and pleased so many representatives from both state and national staff turned out to support the effort," said ICMB Director of Communications Tricia Braid. "This event offered a unique opportunity to interact directly with future opinion leaders and cultural influencers. By meeting this important group in a familiar setting that they enjoy, we were able to reach beyond our normal sphere of contact and build mutual understanding that will facilitate productive conversations based in mutual interest and trust well into the future."

Attendees mingled with several Illinois farmers who traveled to Chicago, despite an ongoing planting season, to engage in important conversations highlighting the sustainability of corn growing and as a source of feed, fuel and fiber. In the outdoor food truck area, sponsored by Illinois pork and beef associations, curious consumers fed their appetites for knowledge with trips through the Biofuels Mobile Education Center.

The day prior to the event, state staff from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin, as well as NCGA staff, explored unique agricultural projects in Chicago. In the morning, the group met with a representative of the group NeighborSpace, a non-profit land trust dedicated to providing long-term protection for community gardens across Chicago. The group, which links community organizations to a support network, helps transform underused spaces into urban oases while growing deep roots for communities. With more than 100 gardens across the city, NeighborSpace fosters not only communities but also helps urban residents develop an understanding of and appreciation for agriculture.

Later, participants visited the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. This magnet school, located on a working farm, allows children from across Chicago the unique opportunity to gain an exceptional level of knowledge in programs such as horticulture, animal sciences, biotechnology, food sciences and agricultural finance while still completing a college preparatory general curriculum. The student-led tour provided firsthand understanding of the excitement for agriculture that permeates the school, which incorporates hands-on programs that allow students to take responsibility for a bee colony, working greenhouse, live farm animals and a joint aquaculture and aquaponics laboratory.

The day concluded with a trip to the communal inspiring office solution WeWork. There, the staffers interacted with educated urban creatives to practice discussing the sustainability subjects indicated as most important to consumers in the corn reputation research. Trying out both the whiskey submitted by craft distillers to the competition and the messages to promote the sustainability of corn led to a greater understanding by both urban and rural alike.



Syngenta announces name of S-metolachlor/dicamba premix currently under development: Tavium® plus VaporGrip® Technology herbicide

Syngenta announced the name of its new herbicide featuring the active ingredients of S-metolachlor and dicamba. Upon registration by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the herbicide will be marketed as Tavium® plus VaporGrip® Technology.

Syngenta is seeking approval of the S-metolachlor/dicamba premix for preplant, at-planting and post-emergence use on Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® Soybeans and Bollgard II® XtendFlex® Cotton, and preplant application on non-dicamba-tolerant soybeans. This premix will offer growers another tool to manage key ALS-, PPO- and glyphosate-resistant broadleaf and grass weeds with its built-in resistance management.

“Tavium will provide growers a new herbicide designed specifically for dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton,” said John Appel, herbicide product lead at Syngenta. “The addition of S-metolachlor to dicamba in a premix will not only help manage resistance, but will provide residual control compared to solo dicamba products.”

The S-metolachlor/dicamba premix will target driver weeds, including Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, common and giant ragweed, kochia, horseweed (marestail), morningglory, barnyardgrass and foxtail. In addition to its two active ingredients, the herbicide contains VaporGrip Technology to decrease dicamba volatility. Once available, growers will be able to apply the herbicide preplant, at planting, pre-emergence and post-emergence on dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybeans, and as a preplant herbicide on non-dicamba-tolerant soybeans.

“Compared to other stand-alone dicamba products, this herbicide’s dual modes of action broaden the activity spectrum and increase its overall efficacy and sustainability,” said Don Porter, technical herbicide product lead at Syngenta. “To stand a fighting chance against aggressive weeds, we need a herbicide with multiple effective modes of action that controls emerged weeds through contact activity and weeds that have yet to emerge through residual activity.”

Tavium premix will be commercially available for future growing seasons upon EPA approval and receipt of individual state registrations.



CLAAS MAKES LASTING IMPRESSION AT GERMAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

When the German Embassy in Washington, D.C., planned its activities for the annual EU Open House on May 13, it turned to CLAAS of America for help with its display of U.S. trade goods. The North American sales company for CLAAS KGaA mbH was invited to showcase a JAGUAR forage harvester in the Embassy parking lot as an example of the healthy trade business Germany has with the United States of America. The German Embassy was the host site for both German and French officials celebrating along with other EU members.

Approximately 8,000 people braved the rain and overcast weather in order to explore the grounds and enjoy the food, culture, music and traditions of Germany and France. The festival included a German biergarten and French café, musical performances from both nations and plenty of kid-friendly activities.

German ambassador Peter Wittig and French embassy deputy chief of mission Nathalie Broadhurst took a tour of the open house, and made a point to climb onto the JAGUAR forage harvester displayed by CLAAS for a fun photo op.

“The United States is a country of immigrants,” said Leif Magnusson, President of CLAAS Global Sales Americas. “Many of the farmers we serve here in the U.S. have deep cultural ties to Germany and France – both of which are important manufacturing regions for CLAAS equipment.”

CLAAS is not only the global sales leader of self-propelled forage harvesters, it is also the U.S. sales leader in this category, which is home to many of the largest manufacturers of agricultural equipment in the world. “CLAAS pioneered the self-propelled forage harvester which has revolutionized forage production for beef producers and dairies,” explained Magnusson.

A long-line manufacturer of harvesting equipment, CLAAS is the fourth largest agricultural equipment company in the world. In business for more than a century with global headquarters in Harsewinkel, Germany, the family-owned company has manufacturing operations in 11 different countries including the United States, where the LEXION combine is assembled in Omaha, Nebraska.

CLAAS is more than an importer to the U.S. — it’s also an important economic driver. With approximately 400 employees throughout the U.S. and Canada, the equipment manufacturer sources close to 50 percent of its components for the North American LEXION combine locally.