Wednesday August 2 Ag News

UNIVERSITY LEADS RESEARCH INTO HEAT-TOLERANT CROPS

Harkamal Walia, associate professor of agronomy and horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has been awarded a $5.78 million National Science Foundation grant to explore the affects of high nighttime temperatures on wheat and rice.

The stress of high nighttime temperatures can lead to severe losses in the yield and quality of crops. These losses are particularly high for wheat and rice, two major cereal crops worldwide. During the four-year project, Walia's team will investigate genes and genetic variants in wheat and rice to identify genetic markers and physiological characteristics tied to heat tolerance.

"The effect of high daytime temperatures on crop resilience has been studied, but this project will give us the opportunity to study the impact of high nighttime temperatures," said Walia, who received the award from the NSF's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or EPSCoR. "Models suggest a greater widespread increase in nighttime temperatures than in daytime temperatures, so we need to develop rice and wheat resilient to these conditions."

Walia will lead a multidisciplinary team of Nebraska researchers, including Gota Morota, assistant professor of animal science; Toshihiro Obata, assistant professor of biochemistry; Hongfeng Yu, assistant professor of computer science and engineering; Chi Zhang, associate professor of biological sciences; and Qi Zhang, assistant professor of statistics. The team will also collaborate with researchers from Arkansas State University and Kansas State University.

The team will use a sophisticated image-based phenotyping system that takes high-resolution images of the plants as they endure simulated nighttime conditions. Software processes the images, detecting daily differences among the varieties that are not visible to the human eye. Matching slight variations with differences in each plant's genetic makeup will allow the team to identify the genes responsible for heat tolerance.

"We're hoping to gain a better physiological and genetic understanding of the heat stress responses," Walia said. "This knowledge will drive the development of crops that are more resilient to higher temperatures in terms of yield and quality."

Rice is one of the most important crops for global food security. According to Walia, the crop provides 60 to 65 percent of the daily caloric intake for people who live on less than $1 per day. Wheat is the most widely grown crop in the world and an important commodity for Nebraska. Together, wheat and rice account for more than 50 percent of the world's calorie consumption.

"Genetic improvement of crops for tolerance to increased heat, drought and salinity stress are an important component of an integrated approach toward global food security," said Walia, who will work closely with industry partners to translate discoveries into useful genetic and phenotypic markers. "Nebraska is perfectly poised to lead research of this kind because we've invested in the Greenhouse Innovation Center at Nebraska Innovation Campus."

The Greenhouse Innovation Center is 45,000 square feet of greenhouse and headhouse space. The facility features state-of-the-art computer environmental controls, a high-throughput plant phenotyping system and optimal air circulation. The greenhouses are heated and cooled with sustainable energy.

EPSCoR is designed to fulfill the NSF's mandate of promoting scientific progress nationwide. Twenty-four states and multiple U.S. territories are eligible to compete for funding under EPSCOR's Research Infrastructure Improvement Track 2 investment strategy. RII Track 2 awards build national research strength by initiating collaborations across institutions in two or more EPSCoR jurisdictions and establishing regional partnerships with government, higher education and industry that create lasting improvements in infrastructure and research development.



Public Hearings Scheduled at the Upper Big Blue NRD

The Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors have scheduled two Public Hearings.  The first is the FY2018 Budget scheduled for Thursday, August 17, 2017, at 7:30 p.m., with the August NRD Board Meeting to follow.  A second Public Hearing for the FY2018 Tax Request is scheduled for Monday, September 18, 2017, at 7:30 p.m.  The September 18th date will also be the September NRD Board Meeting following the hearing.

These Public Hearings will be conducted at the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District office building located at 319 East 25th Street, York, Nebraska.  The proposed budget and tax request for FY2018 continues to include safety measures for protecting District citizens and enhancing the delivery of quality services. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend these Public Hearings.



FEEDING VALUE OF CRP HAY
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               CRP has been released for haying and grazing in many areas because of drought.  So what can you expect from this hay as a feed for your animals?

               Just how good of a feed is CRP hay?  Well, to be perfectly honest, I really don't know.  The biggest complicating factor is how much old residue from previous years is in the hay.  This residue contains only 3 or 4 percent protein and maybe 40 percent TDN.  So, the more residue in the hay, the lower the hay's nutrient level is going to be.  And animals aren't going to be too anxious to eat it either.

               My best guess is that most brome or fescue-type CRP hay will be just a little worse than regular brome and fescue hay because most of these fields had relatively low amounts of residue.  Brome and fescue harvested as hay in August or later, though, is very mature, so protein probably will be less than 9 percent and TDN barely over 50 percent.

               Warm-season grass hay, like switchgrass or native mixtures, likely will suffer more from old residue.  Protein might be only 5 percent and TDN about 50 percent if much residue is present.  Of course, if the field was harvested last year or residue was burned off of these warm-season grass CRP fields this spring, the hay quality will be better, probably around 7 to 8 percent protein and 50 to 55 percent TDN.  And most important of all, your animals will eat it much better.

               For your fields, though, these estimates could be way, way off.  So this year, more than ever, get a forage test of hay quality to learn exactly what you have to feed.  Then you can design proper feeding and supplement programs to use this hay effectively.

               CRP hay can be a very useful feed.  But since it's difficult to predict its feeding value, forage test to know what you have.



Webinar: Antimicrobial Resistance and Beef Producers

A free webinar hosted by NIAA on behalf of the Beef Checkoff will allow beef producers a unique opportunity to explore antimicrobial resistance in the U.S. and provide a forum to share knowledge around antibiotic stewardship.

No matter if you're top of class in terms of your knowledge and practice of stewardship and antimicrobial resistance or brand new to this complex topic, there's massive value in attending. Why? Continuous improvement (of course) and the webinar features one of the best in the beef industry; Dr. Bob Smith, DVM, who will lead dialogue around:
- Current state of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
- Human Health--What's being done to combat AMR?
- Three areas of focus for beef producers to combat AMR.
- Sharing best practices in engaging around antibiotic stewardship with those outside of the beef community.

Dr. Smith is a veterinarian who provides service to feedlot clients in nine states. The practice oversees health care for feedlots that have a combined one-time capacity for over 1 million cattle. He's been involved in BQA since the early 90's and is currently the Vice-Chair of the BQA Advisory board. For 25 years, he was on clinical faculty at Oklahoma State University and he's served as president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the Academy of Veterinary Consultants and the Western Veterinary Conference, and has edited both the Bovine Practitioner and the Veterinary Clinics of North America Food Animal Practice since 1999.

Dr. Smith has engaged in AMR work at local, state, and national levels and brings an unmatched skill-set into this space and organizers hope producers will join in Aug. 10.

It's simple to join. To attend you'll need a phone line and internet connected computer (or if you only have access to a phone line, you can listen in on the audio only without the slides). Simply click the following link to register: http://bit.ly/2hmiAo0. You will receive login information after you've completed this step.

Additionally, producers are encouraged to read the 2016 Antibiotic Symposium White Paper to gain a national perspective of how stakeholders are working together for better solutions for animal agriculture and human health. Dr. Smith was one of ten beef producers who attended the Antibiotics Symposium on behalf of the beef checkoff last fall, and he'll be sharing his experiences during this webinar focused on a collaborative and continued dialogue about antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance.

Click to read the White Paper at http://bit.ly/2uisR5R.



Keller Elected U.S. Grains Council Chairman, First Woman To Hold The Office

Deb Keller, a farmer from Clarion, Iowa, was elected as U.S. Grains Council (USGC) chairman Wednesday at the organization’s 57th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting in Vancouver, Washington.

In accepting the chairman’s gavel, she also made history as the first female selected for the role in the organization’s nearly 60 year history.  Keller’s experience as a strong advocate for trade will amplify the Council’s mission of developing markets, enabling trade and improving lives.

“Thinking ahead, I see so many areas for growth, but I also see challenges that will take much time and patience to see through,” Keller said in her incoming chairman’s remarks. “After working with our delegates, the board and our staff both internationally and domestically, I know we can be successful together.”

Keller introduced the theme of the upcoming year - “Friends and Frontiers” - reflecting both the opportunities and difficulties of the current trade environment. She shared how her personal experiences traveling with the Council, hosting teams of international customers and serving on USGC Advisory Teams (A-teams) have broadened her understanding of what it takes to make trade happen and how trade benefits her own farm.

“We all know how important it is to maintain our relationships with our old friends,” she told the delegation. “And we are also looking to the future, to new opportunities. Those new frontiers exist throughout our industry and around the globe. There are so many places where we must continue to work to build new demand for today and tomorrow.”

Keller has previously served as the lead of the Council’s ROW (Rest of World) A-team, as well as the chair of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and a member of the National Corn Growers Association's (NCGA's) Research and Business Development Action Team.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Purdue University and has farmed in Wright County, Iowa, for more than 25 years with her husband, Gary, whom she met while working in a corn field.

The 2017-2018 USGC Board of Directors
At the Vancouver meeting, the USGC Board of Delegates also elected new members of the Council’s Board of Directors. That body now includes:
-    Deb Keller, Chairman, Iowa Corn Promotion Board
-    Jim Stitzlein, Consolidated Grain and Barge Co., Vice Chairman
-    Darren Armstrong, Corn Growers Association of North Carolina, Inc., Secretary/Treasurer
-    Philip “Chip” Councell, Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, Past Chairman
-    Tom Sleight, President and CEO
-    Ray Defenbaugh, Big River Resources LLC, Agribusiness/Ethanol And Co-Products Sector Director
-    Craig Floss, Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Checkoff Sector Director
-    Greg Hibner, J.D. Heiskell Hawkeye Gold Office, Agribusiness Sector Director
-    Charles Ray Huddleston, Texas Grain Sorghum Association, Sorghum Sector Director
-    Philip McCoun, Kentucky Corn Promotional Council, At-Large Director
-    Tom Mueller, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Corn Sector Director
-    Jim Raben, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, At-Large Director
-    Mark Seastrand, North Dakota Barley Council, Barley Sector Director
-    Jim Stuever, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, At-Large Director
-    Chad Willis, Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council, At-Large Director

The new Board of Directors seated Wednesday will serve until July 2018.



Anhydrous, Urea Prices Lower Again

Some retail fertilizers -- mainly nitrogen fertilizers -- continued to see significant price decreases the fourth week of July 2017, according to fertilizer retailers surveyed by DTN. Once again, prices for all eight of the major fertilizers were lower compared to a month earlier.

Only two fertilizers had significant price drops compared to a month earlier. Anhydrous showed another large decrease in price, down 13% compared to last month. The nitrogen fertilizer had an average price of $423 per ton.

The other fertilizer with a sizeable retail price decline was urea. The nitrogen fertilizer was down 7% compared to last month and had an average price of $308 per ton.

Prices for the remaining six fertilizers were lower compared to last month, but not by significant amounts. DAP had an average price of $434/ton, MAP $462/ton, potash $338/ton, 10-34-0 $425/ton and UAN32 $265/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.34/lb.N, anhydrous $0.26/lb.N, UAN28 $0.41/lb.N and UAN32 $0.41/lb.N.

Prices for all retail fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. Five of the eight major fertilizers are double digits lower.

Both 10-34-0 and anhydrous are now 22% lower from a year ago while both urea and UAN32 are 13% lower and UAN28 is 11% less expensive. Both DAP and MAP are 6% lower while potash is 5% lower.



EIA: US Ethanol Stocks Down

The Energy Information Administration in their weekly support report Wednesday showed declines in ethanol inventory and plant production in the United States during the final week of July while blending demand again rose.  The EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report showed fuel ethanol stocks tumbled during the week-ended July 28 by about 600,000 barrels (bbl), or 2.8%, to 20.9 million bbl, while 300,000 bbl, or 1.5%, higher than a year ago.

Domestic plant production fell 10,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 1.0%, to 1.012 million bpd during the week reviewed, while down 2,000 bpd year-on-year. For the four weeks ended July 28, fuel ethanol production averaged 1.012 million bpd, up 3,000 bpd against year prior.

Net refiner and blender inputs, a gauge for ethanol demand, increased 6,000 bpd, or 0.6%, to 951,000 bpd while unchanged year-on-year. For the four-week period ended July 28, blending demand is up 1,000 bpd.

Fuel ethanol imports totaled 38,000 bpd last week, with the supply shipped to the West Coast, the data showed.



Gulf of Mexico ‘dead zone’ is the largest ever measured

Scientists have determined this year’s Gulf of Mexico “dead zone,” an area of low oxygen that can kill fish and marine life, is 8,776 square miles, an area about the size of New Jersey. It is the largest measured since dead zone mapping began there in 1985.

The measured size is close to the 8,185 square miles forecast by NOAA in June. 

The annual forecast, generated from a suite of NOAA-sponsored models, is based on nutrient runoff data from theU.S. Geological Survey. Both NOAA’s June forecast and the actual size show the role of Mississippi River nutrient runoff in determining the size of the dead zone.

This large dead zone size shows that nutrient pollution, primarily from agriculture and developed land runoff in the Mississippi River watershed is continuing to affect the nation’s coastal resources and habitats in the Gulf.

These nutrients stimulate massive algal growth that eventually decomposes, which uses up the oxygen needed to support life in the Gulf. This loss of oxygen can cause the loss of fish habitat or force them to move to other areas to survive, decreased reproductive capabilities in fish species and a reduction in the average size of shrimp caught.

The Gulf dead zone may slow shrimp growth, leading to fewer large shrimp, according to a NOAA-funded study led by Duke University. The study also found the price of small shrimp went down and the price of large shrimp increased, which led to short-term economic ripples in the Gulf brown shrimp fishery.

A team of scientists led by Louisiana State University and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium collected data to determine the size of the dead zone during a survey mission from July 24 to 31 aboard the R/V Pelican.

“We expected one of the largest zones ever recorded because the Mississippi River discharge levels, and the May data indicated a high delivery of nutrients during this critical month which stimulates the mid-summer dead zone,” said Nancy Rabalais, Ph.D., research professor at LSU and LUMCON, who led the survey mission.

“Having a long-term record of the size of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone is vital in forecasting its size, trends and effects each year,” said Steven Thur, Ph.D., acting director of NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. “These measurements ultimately inform the best strategies for managers to reduce both its size and its impacts on the sustainability and productivity of our coastal living resources and economy.”

Previously the largest Gulf of Mexico dead zone was measured in 2002, encompassing 8,497 square miles. The average size of the dead zone over the past five years has been about 5,806 square miles, three times larger than the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force target of 1,900 square miles.

NOAA funds monitoring and research efforts to understand the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico through its Northern Gulf of Mexico Ecosystems & Hypoxia Assessment program, known as NGOMEX. The annual dead zone measurement is used by the Gulf of Mexico/Mississippi River Watershed Nutrient Task Force to determine whether efforts to reduce nutrient pollution in the Mississippi River basin are working. New initiatives such as the Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast are designed to help farmers apply fertilizer at optimum times to limit nutrient runoff to the Gulf. 



IA commends Sens. Udall and Portman for introducing the Water Efficiency Improvement Act of 2017

With the EPA’s WaterSense program currently under consideration for elimination, Sens. Tom Udall and Rob Portman stepped up to the plate by introducing the Water Efficiency Improvement Act of 2017 to authorize the program. Sens. Udall and Portman now join various other members of Congress, from both parties, in supporting this program that requires congressional authorization before it is able to receive direct funding from Congress.

The Water Efficiency Improvement Act of 2017 is the first bill that strictly focuses on authorization, without any spending limits attached to the program. The bill authorizes the WaterSense program to identify and promote water-efficient products, buildings, facilities, processes and services under the following categories:
-    irrigation technologies and services
-    point-of-use water treatment devices
-    plumbing products
-    reuse and recycling technologies
-    landscaping and gardening products, including moisture control or water-enhancing technologies
-    whole-house humidifiers
-    water-efficient buildings or facilities

The Irrigation Association has expressed its gratitude towards Sens. Udall and Portman and will continue to focus advocacy efforts on the authorization of the WaterSense program.



Fall Feed Outlook: What to expect as we approach the fall cattle run
Brian R. Williams, Asst. Extension Prof., Dept of Ag Econ, Mississippi State University

There is no doubt that cattle feeders are closely watching the conditions of the corn and soybean crop in the field right now. Although many spring-calving producers will likely not market their calves for another month or two, we could see a few more feeder cattle than normal hit the market during August and September. Much of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and even a large portion of the Sandhills in Nebraska are in a severe drought or worse. I fully expect to see many producers in the drought-stricken Northern Plains begin to pull calves off of pasture and market them earlier than usual to relieve some of the stress on pastures and to cut down on the amount of hay that has to be fed. But, where will those cattle go? It is a bit too early for them to be sent south to go on wheat pasture. Producers in the Corn Belt are going to be more concerned with getting their crops out of the field than taking on stocker cattle in August or September. That really only leaves two places for them to go: back to grass further south or to the feedlot. The latest cattle on feed report has already shown evidence of the latter. June placements in South Dakota were up a whopping 67 percent from a year ago. While those were likely not spring-born calves, it does show signs that producers in the Northern Plains are trying to relieve some of the grazing pressure on the dry pastures. As we move forward, it is likely that Northern feedlots will be looking to pick up some discounted lightweight feeder calves and grow them on cheap corn...that is if the corn is actually cheap.

Looking at the current corn crop, it does look like we will have a smaller harvest than we did a year ago. Planted acres are estimated at 90.9 million acres, which is down 3 percent from a year ago. The most recent crop progress report has the U.S. corn crop at 61% good or excellent condition compared to 66% good or excellent condition a year ago at this time. At this point in the season, it looks like we will fall short of the record yields that were posted a year ago and some suggest that we may even see yield fall below the trend. However, even with lower corn production than a year ago, there is still a whole lot of corn still sitting in storage. And, while yields may fall short of the trend line yields it won't be all that bad. That is going to continue to pressure corn prices lower, particularly as we inch closer to harvest. December corn futures have already begun a slow downward march, trading a full 30 cents lower than the early July high. If the weather holds out across the Corn Belt and there are no major hiccups over the course of the next month, the fundamentals suggest that corn will continue to trend lower through harvest. While lower corn prices will be a disappointment for U.S. crop producers, it could provide a much needed boost to the cattle industry. Lower corn prices could help to boost feedlot demand for lighter weight cattle at a time when we will likely see larger supplies of those same cattle. That could help to add some support for feeder cattle prices just as many producers are looking to unload.



Hot Industry Topics Addressed in Expo Seminars

World Dairy Expo® features the best and the brightest during its world-class seminars. This year’s Expo Seminars include topics on robotic milking systems, A2 milk, transition cow health, mycotoxin in feedstuffs, consumer perceptions, cover crops and future farm labor.

Continuing education credits are obtainable by members of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) and the American Association of State Veterinary Boards – RACE Program (RACE).

Seminars will be showcased Tuesday through Saturday in the Mendota 2 meeting room, located in the Exhibition Hall. Additionally, all seminars will be recorded and available for online viewing upon completion. A special thank you to the following sponsors for making Expo Seminars possible: Compeer Financial, Quality Liquid Feeds, Inc., Phibro Animal Health Corp. and Feed Supervisor Software.

Following is the schedule of Expo Seminars.

Tuesday, October 3, 1:00 p.m.
“Building A Stronger Dairy Producer-Banker Relationship”
Arthur Moessner, Vice President – Dairy Team Lead, American AgCredit
Sponsored by: Compeer Financial
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Wednesday, October 4, 11:00 a.m.
“Economics of Robotic Milking Systems”
Dr. Larry Tranel, Dairy Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Lance and Jonna Schutte, Owners, Jo-Lane Dairy
Doug Gernes, Owner, Gernes Dairy, LLC
Sponsored by: Quality Liquid Feeds, Inc.
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Wednesday, October 4, 1:00 p.m.
“Making Sense of Dairy and Anti-Inflammation: Yogurt, Obesity and A2 Milk”
Dr. Bradley Bolling, Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Thursday, October 5, 11:00 a.m.
“Health and Immunity in Transition Cows”
Dr. Marcus Kehrli, Director, National Animal Disease Center – USDA-ARS
Sponsored by: Phibro Animal Health Corp.
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Thursday, October 5, 1:00 p.m.
“Limiting Mold and Mycotoxin Problems in Dairy Herds”
Dr. Lon Whitlow, Professor Emeritus, North Carolina State University
Sponsored by: Feed Supervisor Software
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Friday, October 6, 11:00 a.m.
“Consumer and Public Perceptions of the US Dairy Industry: Implications for Practices, Policy and Market Demand”
Dr. Christopher Wolf, Professor, Michigan State University
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Friday, October 6, 1:00 p.m.
“Cover Crop Management for Dairy Producers”
Dr. Karla Hernandez, Forages Field Specialist, South Dakota State University Extension
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

Saturday, October 7, 11:00 a.m.
“Who Will Work on America’s Farms in 2025?”
Dr. Don Albrecht, Director, Western Rural Development Center
Continuing Education Credits: ARPAS (1), RACE (1)

For over five decades, the global dairy industry has been meeting in Madison, Wis. for World Dairy Expo. Crowds of nearly 75,000 people from more than 100 countries attended the annual event in 2016. WDE will return Oct. 3-7, 2017 as attendees and exhibitors are encouraged to “Discover New Dairy Worlds.” Visit worlddairyexpo.com. 



Legendary Seedsman Don Funk re-launches Midwest Seed Genetics

Don Funk, founder of Channel Bio Corp, is leading a team of entrepreneurs to launch Midwest Seed Genetics across the Corn Belt for the 2017/2018 growing season.  In 2001, Funk purchased Midwest, a small, sleepy seed company, and turned it into a regional powerhouse.  He is re-acquiring the brand for the purpose of providing farmers meaningful choice in the dynamic future that awaits agriculture.

"Over the last several years, we've been closely watching the seed industry, spending a great deal of time listening to both farmers and seed industry professionals," says Funk. "While there is great excitement for what the future holds, there is also frustration and dissatisfaction.   The people of agriculture are being left behind.  We will put them first again."

"Most importantly, we will bring unique, high-performance, product choice to the American farmer.  We're also stripping away the complexity, gimmicks and inefficiency the industry has created so we can put more money into our customer's pockets...money that is theirs to begin with."

In preparation for the launch, Funk is assembling a core team to drive Midwest into the future. "We're focused on people who share a great entrepreneurial spirit as well as a belief the seed industry is weighted down with inefficient practices.  I'm excited to work with extremely capable people who are focused on bringing real value to farmers for decades to come."

Funk continues, "While the seed industry turns inward, focused mainly on itself, we will practice a philosophy we call Outward Focus, providing product choice and an experience based on what our customers tell us they want, rather than on what we decide is good for them."

"Some may say this is largely going back to what worked best in the past.  We would absolutely agree with them.  We know from experience, if we help farmers succeed they will take us with them.  The next generation of farmers is rightfully looking for the best - the best product, the best service, the best experience.  We won't provide anything less."