Thursday August 10 Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT

Based on August 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2017 corn production is forecast at a record high of 1.74 billion bushels, up 2 percent from last year's production, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Acreage harvested for grain is estimated at 9.50 million acres, down 1 percent from a year ago. Average yield is forecast at 183 bushels per acre, up 5 bushels from last year.

Soybean production in Nebraska is forecast at a record high of 328 million bushels, up 4 percent from last year. Area for harvest, at 5.65 million acres, is up 10 percent from 2016. Yield is forecast at 58 bushels per acre, down 3 bushels from last year.

Nebraska's 2017 Winter wheat crop is forecast at 46 million bushels, down 35 percent from last year. Harvested area for grain, at 1.00 million acres, is down 24 percent from last year. Average yield is forecast at 46 bushels per acre, down 8 bushels per acre from 2016.

Sorghum production, of 10.1 million bushels, is down 43 percent from a year ago. Area for grain harvest, at 110,000 acres, is down 37 percent from last year. Yield is forecast at 92 bushels per acre, down 10 bushels from last year.

Oat production is forecast at 1.50 million bushels, unchanged from last year. Harvested area for grain, at 25,000 acres, is unchanged from last year. Yield is forecast at 60 bushels per acre, unchanged from 2016.

Dry edible bean production is forecast at 4.37 million cwt, up 58 percent from last year. The average yield is forecast at a record high of 2,570 pounds per acre, up 300 pounds from last year. Acres planted by class are as follows: Pinto, 98,000; Great Northern, 56,000; Black, 8,600; Light Red Kidney, 11,000; Chickpeas, 5,200; All Other, 6,200.

Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.57 million tons, up 11 percent from 2016. Area for harvest, at 48,400 acres, is up 1,200 acres from last year. Yield is estimated at a record high of 32.4 tons per acre, up 2.5 tons from a year ago.

Alfalfa hay production is forecast at 2.93 million tons, down 6 percent from last year. Expected yield, at 3.80 tons per acre, is down 0.35 ton from last year. All other hay production is forecast at 2.21 million tons, down 16 percent from last year. Forecasted yield, at 1.30 tons per acre, is down 0.25 ton from last year.



IOWA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT

Iowa corn production is forecast at 2.46 billion bushels according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 188 bushels per acre, a decrease of 15 bushels per acre from last year. If realized, this will be the third highest yield and production on record behind 2016 and 2015, respectively. Corn planted acreage is estimated at 13.5 million acres. An estimated 13.1 million of the acres planted will be harvested for grain.

Soybean production is forecast at 557 million bushels. If realized, this will be the second highest on record behind last year’s 572 million bushels. The yield is forecast at 56.0 bushels per acre, 4.5 bushels less than 2016. If realized, this will be the third highest yield on record behind 2016 and 2015, respectively. Soybean planted acreage is estimated at 10.0 million acres with 9.95 million acres to be harvested.

Oat production for grain is forecast at 3.46 million bushels. The expected yield is 72.0 bushels per acre, down 4.0 bushels from 2016 but up 3.0 bushels from the July forecast. An estimated 48,000 acres will be harvested for grain.

Iowa hay yield for alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures is expected to be 3.60 tons per acre with a total production of 2.66 million tons, up 15 percent from the previous year. The projected yield for other hay is 2.00 tons per acre, with production at 740,000 tons, down 18 percent from 2016.

The forecasts in this report are based on August 1 conditions and do not reflect weather effects since that time. The next corn and soybean production forecasts, based on conditions as of September 1, will be released on September 12.



Corn Production Down 7 Percent from 2016
Soybean Production Up 2 Percent from 2016
Cotton Production Up 20 Percent from 2016
Winter Wheat Production Up 1 Percent from July Forecast

Corn production is forecast at 14.2 billion bushels, down 7 percent from last year. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 169.5 bushels per acre, down 5.1 bushels from 2016. If realized, this will be the third highest yield and production on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 83.5 million acres, unchanged from the June forecast but down 4 percent from 2016.

Soybean production is forecast at 4.38 billion bushels, up 2 percent from last year. Based on August 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 49.4 bushels per acre, down 2.7 bushels from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at a record high 88.7 million acres, unchanged from the June forecast but up 7 percent from 2016. Planted area for the Nation is estimated at a record high 89.5 million acres, also unchanged from June.

All cotton production is forecast at 20.5 million 480-pound bales, up 20 percent from last year. Yield is expected to average 892 pounds per harvested acre, up 25 pounds from last year. Upland cotton production is forecast at 19.8 million 480-pound bales, up 19 percent from 2016. Pima cotton production is forecast at 770,000 bales, up 35 percent from last year.

All wheat production, at 1.74 billion bushels, is down 1 percent from the July forecast and down 25 percent from 2016. Based on August 1 conditions, the United States yield is forecast at 45.6 bushels per acre, down 0.6 bushel from last month and down 7 bushels from last year.

Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.29 billion bushels, up 1 percent from the July 1 forecast but down 23 percent from 2016. Based on August 1 conditions, the United States yield is forecast at 50.0 bushels per acre, up 0.3 bushel from last month but down 5.3 bushels from last year. The area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 25.8 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 15 percent from last year. Hard Red Winter production, at 758 million bushels, is up less than 1 percent from last month. Soft Red Winter, at 306 million bushels, is up less than 1 percent from the July forecast. White Winter, at 223 million bushels, is up 3 percent from last month. Of the White Winter production, 18.8 million bushels are Hard White and 204 million bushels are Soft White.

Durum wheat production is forecast at 50.5 million bushels, down 12 percent from the July 1 forecast and down 51 percent from 2016. The United States yield is forecast at 27.2 bushels per acre, down 3.7 bushels from last month and down 16.8 bushels from last year. Expected area to be harvested for grain or seed totals 1.86 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 21 percent from last year.

Other spring wheat production is forecast at 402 million bushels, down 5 percent from the July 1 forecast and down 25 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain or seed is expected to total 10.5 million acres, unchanged from last month but down 7 percent from last year. The United States yield is forecast at 38.3 bushels per acre, down 2 bushels from last month and down 8.9 bushels from last year. Of the total production, 364 million bushels are Hard Red Spring wheat, down 5 percent from the previous forecast and down 26 percent from last year.



Blue Jackets, Bright Futures Program

It’s so much more than just a jacket…

For those of us who have worn the FFA jacket in the past know with complete certainty the outcomes of being an FFA member are far-reaching. You can provide a new member with a lifetime of opportunities, experiences and connections…so much more than just a jacket. Please consider a tax-deductible gift of $100.00 to provide a new FFA jacket and tie/scarf through the Blue Jackets, Bright Futures Program. Donations can be made online by visiting www.neffafoundation.org.

Hundreds of students are headed back to school in the next few weeks, and that means that there will be hundreds of new FFA members starting their journey in this organization! Those new members are going to need their FFA Jacket in order to participate in activities. Through the Blue Jackets, Bright Futures program students have the opportunity to receive a free FFA Jacket and tie or scarf.  Students go through an application process and will be selected by a committee. You can be sure that those students who receive this gift will be deserving and will take pride in their new jacket! The foundation provided over 260 jackets last year to deserving members…maybe this year they can provide 300 jackets to new members. A reminder that all donations are a tax-deductible gift. Each jacket with a tie or scarf is $100.00.

You are encouraged to donate online on the Nebraska FFA Foundation website, www.neffafoundation.org .



Iowa State University Field Day Aug. 24 to Focus on New Crop Forecasting Project

An Iowa State University project to forecast and evaluate real-time soil and crop conditions in specific fields will be the subject of a field day Aug. 24 at the Agricultural Engineering/Agronomy Farm near Boone.

The Forecast and Assessment of Cropping sysTemS (FACTS) project uses information from 33 cropping systems across Iowa to answer questions about the impact of current weather conditions on crop yields, as well as the status of soil, water and nitrogen availability. Details about the project are available at:  https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/facts/.

Its goal is to provide quantitative answers to questions that farmers commonly ask, such as:  the potential yield, nitrogen availability and the yield effects of using more nitrogen, planting more seeds or having more soil moisture available.

The field day, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 9 a.m. with registration. The program starts at 9:30 a.m. at the farm, which is located at 1308 U Ave., Boone. It will conclude with lunch served at noon.

The speakers scheduled to present include:
-        Kendall Lamkey, chair of the Department of Agronomy, opening remarks and vision
-        Sotirios Archontoulis, assistant professor of agronomy, FACTS overview, soil and water dynamics and root depths
-        Mike Castellano, associate professor of agronomy, soil nitrogen dynamics
-        Andy Vanloocke, assistant professor of agronomy, evapotranspiration stations
-        Dennis Todey, director of the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, 2017 weather
-        Mark Licht, assistant professor of agronomy, 2017 yield predictions



Understand Safety when Dealing with Hydrogen Sulfide

The risks of hydrogen sulfide in swine operations have been known for years, but beef operators also need to be aware of the dangers this gas can pose. Increasing this awareness led Dan Andersen, assistant professor and agricultural engineering specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, to create a series of four publications that provide information and resources to help farmers stay safe when working with manure.

“One breath of hydrogen sulfide at 500 parts per million is enough to render someone unconscious almost immediately,” Andersen said. “Once you realize the gas is a problem it’s usually too late. Hydrogen sulfide gas smells at 1-2 ppm, but levels above that knocks out your ability to smell, so our natural detection system goes away.”

Information about the importance of monitoring for hydrogen sulfide and the types of monitors available for purchase is available in publication AE 3603, “Hydrogen Sulfide Safety – Monitoring.” Monitors are available from ISU Extension and Outreach agricultural engineering specialists who have several models for farmers to test.

“Personal protection meters are a low cost investment, usually around $200, that will notify you if gas is present,” he said. “These instruments can be taken anywhere and are always monitoring the air.”

The second publication in the series, “Hydrogen Sulfide Safety – Manure Agitation” (AE 3604), discusses how to stay safe when agitating manure.

“Manure that is stagnant and sitting around has minimal loss of hydrogen sulfide,” said Andersen. “These levels of hydrogen sulfide are typically not hazardous. But when the manure is agitated and the crust is disrupted, hydrogen sulfide levels can elevate quickly.”

The final two publications in the series focus on barn ventilation for both cattle and swine facilities. “Hydrogen Sulfide Safety – Barn Ventilation at Cattle Facilities” (AE 3605) and “Hydrogen Sulfide Safety – Swine Barn Ventilation” (AE 3606) discuss how to set up a ventilation strategy when working with manure.

“The most important thing to do is to try to maximize airflow,” Andersen said. “When agitating there should be at least a 10 mile per hour breeze and fans can be set up to bring in additional air.”

Proper positioning can also help minimize risks of exposure to gas.

“Think about where you are setting up,” Andersen said. “Don’t stand downwind from the barn if at all possible.”



USDA to Survey Pork Producers for Inventories, Intentions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is contacting producers for the September 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.

NASS will mail the questionnaires to all producers selected for the survey in late August. 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.

The data gathered in these quarterly surveys allow NASS to accurately measure and report conditions and trends in the U.S. pork industry over the course of the year. The information is used by all sectors of the industry to help make sound and timely business decisions.

NASS will publish the survey results in the Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report on Sept. 28.



Exports of U.S. Feed Grains In All Forms Setting Records As End of Marketing Year Nears

Exports of U.S. feed grains in all forms (GIAF) are up 20 percent year-over-year from September-June to 96.9 million metric tons, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and analysis by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC).

With only two months left in the 2016/2017 marketing year, exports by this measure that is inclusive of feed grains and the products they produce could set a new record high, a result of attractive U.S. prices and diligent work by the Council to maintain long-time trading partners and find new areas of near-term demand.

U.S. ethanol exports have already reached a new all-time high at 1.15 billion gallons this marketing year, according to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, surpassing the 1.09 billion gallons exported in 2011/2012. Ethanol exports to Brazil more than quadrupled to 438 million gallons, even though purchases are expected to slow in coming months.

Exports of U.S. ethanol to Canada, a key partner through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), also increased to 263 million gallons, a five percent growth compared to the same time the year prior. And India set a new record for U.S. ethanol purchases, more than doubling year-over-year to 116 million gallons.

Exports of U.S. corn increased 36 percent year-over-year to 49.9 million tons (1.96 billion bushels), already exceeding export totals for the last five marketing years.

U.S. corn exports to Japan, the traditional top customer of U.S. corn, are up 48 percent compared to the same time the year prior to 11.5 million tons (453 million bushels), surpassing last year’s total with two months of sales remaining. U.S. corn sales to several countries have already outpaced historical sales, including a new record set for exports to Saudi Arabia, the highest exports to Taiwan since the 1994/1995 marketing year and the most corn exported to South Korea in the last 10 marketing years.

The Council is also seeing increased demand for U.S. DDGS as a result of price and efforts to promote the product in a diverse set of markets.

Sales of U.S. DDGS dropped significantly from the two largest traditional markets - China and Vietnam. While this void had a substantial impact, it left ample supply for other world buyers to purchase - and USGC programs throughout the world are helping end-users learn how to incorporate U.S. DDGS into their rations. As a result, overall purchases are only just behind last year’s export pace at 9.32 million tons. In contrast, exports to Mexico, this year’s top market, are up nine percent year-over-year to 1.69 million tons.

Turkey now ranks as the second largest market for U.S. DDGS with exports that nearly doubled year-over-year to 1.11 million tons, the largest amount since the country started purchasing DDGS in 2004/2005. U.S. DDGS exports to South Korea and the European Union also set new sales records at 847,000 tons and 792,000 tons, respectively.

In contrast, U.S. barley exports are down significantly, driven by a drop in sales to the top traditional customer, Mexico. But, exports to Canada and Japan jumped substantially, both already exceeding their total purchases last marketing year, to 62,700 tons (2.88 million bushels) and 22,900 tons (1.05 million bushels), respectively. In Japan, the Council’s market promotion efforts are building demand for barley food-based products, directly benefitting U.S. producers through this increase in sales. Please note the marketing year for barley differs from that of corn and runs June-May.

Export sales of U.S. sorghum also decreased significantly thus far in the marketing year. However, China kept its status as the largest customer with 3.94 million tons in purchases from September-June. Yet U.S. sorghum exports to Japan more than doubled to 182,000 tons, the highest amount in the last five years, while Mexico increased purchases of U.S. sorghum six percent year-over-year to 524,000 tons.

As the 2016/2017 marketing year comes to an end, the Council and members are celebrating a strong export year, while at the same time preparing for a challenging 2017/2018 marketing campaign.

Engagement with both long-standing trading partners and opportunistic buyers combined with attractive prices have allowed U.S. feed grains and co-products to move into markets old and new. As the current marketing year ends and the new one begins, this work on market access, technical education and trade servicing will become increasingly important to secure U.S. market share and continue the Council’s mission of enabling trade, developing markets and improving lives.



Soy Growers Urge Budget Office to Keep Biotech Disclosure Rule on Track

Soy growers are working to make sure the establishment of a national, comprehensive rule for the labeling of bioengineered food products is a still on track.

The American Soybean Association (ASA), along with several other ag organizations, sent a letter this week requesting a meeting with Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In the letter, the groups expressed concerns that the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Act is on the “inactives” list.

“The bill was supported by over 1,100 local, state, and national groups representing U.S. producers, cooperatives, agribusinesses, processors, seed makers, handlers, food and feed manufacturers, restaurants, lenders, and retailers,” the letter states. “Congress provided two years for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promulgate regulations implementing the Act.”

The groups said that with the statutory deadline only a year way, every phase of the rulemaking process is critical and urged the OMB to work closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to move quickly through the rulemaking process.



Protect Applied Manure Straight From the Manure Pit to the Field

Farmers who use liquid manure to fertilize corn crops can now mix Instinct® nitrogen stabilizer in their pit for easy application to protect applied nitrogen.

Field studies conducted by Dow AgroSciences and several Midwestern universities show notable corn and silage yield increases when manure is applied with Instinct. Maximizing manure with Instinct reduces leaching and denitrification, regardless of whether spring- or fall-applied, leading to increased yield opportunity at harvest while protecting the environment.

The yield advantage lies in the results
Research from the University of Minnesota shows Instinct applied with fall swine manure provided 10 to 12 bushels per acre yield increase and reduced grain moisture of approximately 1.3 percentage points at harvest.1

Gary Asay grows corn and soybeans on the family farm he took over near Osco, Illinois, 42 years ago. The larger part of his operation is made up of hogs, which he started raising full time after college graduation. Fall-applied manure is the only fertilizer he uses on his corn acres. In 2016, Asay participated in a field trial using Instinct on 10 acres.

“I saw a 10-bushel per acre yield increase with Instinct over the nonstabilized applied manure on side-by-side plots,” Asay says.

Instinct® nitrogen stabilizer with manure made simple
Studies conducted by Dow AgroSciences show Instinct can be uniformly mixed throughout the manure pit, a convenient and sound agronomic practice for protecting nitrogen loss.

When standard agitation procedures are followed, uniformity of Instinct was approximately 96 percent to 110 percent of average concentration throughout the manure pit, says Eric Scherder, Ph.D., field scientist, Dow AgroSciences.

Applying Instinct with manure helps maximize every gallon applied to fields by keeping more nitrogen available for plant uptake.

“Instinct doesn’t allow farmers to add more manure; however, it will help maximize every gallon applied by keeping more nitrogen available rather than leaching or denitrifying,” Scherder says. “Instinct inhibits the conversion of ammonium to nitrates, keeping nitrogen in the ammonium form longer, leading to more readily available nitrogen so crops get the nitrogen they need during critical growth stages.”

The environment can also benefit
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the technology used in Instinct® nitrogen stabilizer the EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in 2016 for providing both economic and environmental benefits to farmers. In recognizing Instinct, the EPA states that in 2014 the chemistry has added an additional 50 million bushels of corn and removed more than 600,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

“The Green Chemistry Challenge Award is an impressive and significant achievement of which we are very proud,” says Kenny Johnson, nitrogen stabilizers product manager, Dow AgroSciences. “Specific to Instinct, our internal studies found an 8.7 bushel per acre advantage in 124 trials. Instinct is proven to be an effective nitrification inhibitor that provides tremendous value to manure applications, the environment and farmers’ bottom lines.”



 USDA Must Continue to Proactively Address Climate Change

As family farmers and ranchers navigate warmer temperatures and increased weather variability as a result of climate change, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will play a vital role in helping producers adapt to and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate volatility.

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson wrote a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today, highlighting the important work the USDA is carrying out on climate change and urging the Secretary to expand these efforts.

“Climate change is underway, and it is undermining the livelihoods of American family farmers and global food security,” wrote Johnson. “We appreciate the many critical, laudable steps that the USDA has undertaken to help family farmers and ranchers cope with changing weather conditions and participate in climate change mitigation. We urge you to amplify USDA’s commitment to these efforts, and to think creatively about more opportunities to connect with family farmers and ranchers on climate change.”

Johnson pointed to several examples of the important work being done at the USDA on the climate change front, including:
·         The Natural Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS) efforts to engage producers on the benefits of enhancing soil health and climate resiliency;
·         The regional Climate Hub’s efforts to disperse location-specific information on changing weather conditions and what they mean for agriculture among producers;
·         The innovative work of the Climate Change Program Office and Office of Environmental Markets, which establish opportunities for producers to receive value for environmental services, diversifying farm income, and ultimately reducing the need for regulation; and
·         The many research endeavors that find new ways for producers to improve their margins while reducing greenhouse gasses, and to make their operations more resilient to climate interference, based on sound science and free of political interference.

Johnson noted that the USDA has the expertise to navigate very difficult issues and the ability to carefully craft messages that resonate with family farmers and ranchers.

“While climate change can often be a tough issue to broach in many communities, there is little doubt that farmers and ranchers want to do the right thing and leave the land in a better state than they found it,” said Johnson. “USDA agencies, like the NRCS, are extremely effective at connecting with producers and landowners – regardless of their views on climate change – and encouraging them to take action.”

“Through heightened awareness, effective communication, and continual education on climate change, we can secure the best possible results for American agriculture and the global food system,” Johnson added.

“NFU has been dedicated to working proactively with farmers on climate change for years and would welcome the opportunity to assist or collaborate with you on this critical work,” he concluded.