Friday September 15 Ag News

Nelson Appointed to Serve on Nebraska Ethanol Board

Taylor Nelson, who farms near Jackson, Nebraska, joins the Nebraska Ethanol Board as the corn representative. He was appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts Sept. 8.

Nelson earned his agriculture economics degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He returned to the family farm in 2012, and produces corn and soybeans in Dixon and Dakota counties with his father, Doug Nelson, and uncle, Jim Nelson. Along with his wife and parents, Nelson also operates the Jackson Express convenience store.

“After college, we were looking for an opportunity to concentrate my time and get started farming,” Nelson said. “Land opportunities were few and far between and we didn't own livestock, but we saw an opportunity to build a convenience store in my hometown of Jackson.

Although we didn’t have experience in the retail, fuel or food service, we saw it as a way to diversify our operation and bring many needed goods and services to the Jackson area including the ability to sell and promote ethanol.”

Opening in November 2012, Jackson Express quickly became known for quality ethanol fuel and an ideal meeting place for coffee or lunch. Initially, Nelson spent most of his time getting the business off the ground. Now his wife, Emily, is the general manager and he is back farming.

Nelson is now putting his diversified experience to action as a member of the American Coalition for Ethanol and vice president of the northeast Nebraska chapter of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association.

“Taylor’s background in both fuel sales and farming makes him a unique addition to the board,” said Todd Sneller, Nebraska Ethanol Board administrator. “As the youngest board member, we look forward to his input on using new marketing techniques to engage drivers.”

Nelson joins current board members: Mike Thede, chairman (Palmer, Neb.); Jan tenBensel, vice chairman (Cambridge, Neb.); Mark Ondracek, secretary (Omaha, Neb.); Randy Gard (Grand Island, Neb.); Tim Else (Belvidere, Neb.); Scott McPheeters (Gothenburg, Neb.); and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chemical Engineering Professor Hunter Flodman, who serves as the board’s technical advisor.

Members of the Nebraska Ethanol Board are appointed by the Governor to serve four-year terms. The seven-member board includes four members actively engaged in farming (general farming, corn, wheat and sorghum), one member representing labor interests, one member representing petroleum marketers and one member representing business. The Board’s technical advisor serves as a non-voting member.



DNA Technology in Beef Cattle Conference

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension is pleased to announce its DNA technology in beef conference at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 16 at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Neb. The topic is "DNA Technology: Where We Have Been, Where We Are, and Where We Are Headed."

"Genetic selection tools are constantly evolving," said Matt Spangler, UNL Extension Beef Genetics Specialist, said. "Participants will learn about genetic/genomic selection tools in beef cattle and research discoveries over the past year". Presentations will focus on selection for feed efficiency, genetic control of water intake, genetics of feed and leg structure, and new "single-step" genomic evaluations.

Speakers include: Dr. Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Dr. Bob Weaber, Kansas State University; Dr. Megan Rolf, Kansas State University; Dr. Larry Kuehn, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center; Dr. Mark Thallman, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center; and Dr. Gary Bennett, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center.

Registration fee is $15, which includes lunch and all handout materials.

For more information, contact Matt Spangler at 402-472-6489 or mspangler2@unl.edu. Please RSVP by Oct. 2 by contacting Sherri Pitchie at 402-472-2907 or sherri.pitchie@unl.edu.



COMBINE CORN EARLY TO GET SOME STALKS
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist
               Corn may soon be dry enough to combine in many areas.  Maybe it would be wise to harvest some corn early to get some stalks.

               Most of us soon will have only a little pasture left.  But your cows will still be out there trying to get what little they can.  You know the cows and calves can’t be doing very well unless you also are feeding them, but what also is this grazing doing to your pasture?

               Pastures put up with a lot of stress during grazing.  As we approach winter, these plants need time to recover and to winterize.  Even if they have received plenty of rain this year and are growing well, severe grazing now will weaken plants as they go into winter.  Next spring they will green-up later, early growth will be slow, and they'll compete poorly with weeds.

               Maybe the best way to get some rest for these pastures is to harvest some corn a little early and then move the cows to stalks.  Early stalks usually have more protein and energy than late stalks so they can put some condition on your cows while also relieving your pastures.  And after the growing season is completely over you can graze any remaining growth on your pastures without causing much stress.

               Since you need a little time to set up fences and water tanks on stalk fields anyway, maybe you should start corn harvest a little early this year.  It might lessen the hectic pace you often feel later when you want to spend time in the combine harvesting crops as well as setting up stalk grazing.

               Moving to stalks early is good for both your animals and your pastures.  If you can work it out, take the time to make the change.



Fortenberry Receives Golden Triangle Award From Farmers Union

Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) presented Representative Jeff Fortenberry with the Golden Triangle Award, National Farmers Union’s (NFU) highest legislative honor.  The award was presented recently as part of the annual NFU fall Fly-In that brought 320 Farmers Union members from across the country to Washington, DC to share their views and concerns with their elected officials.  Fortenberry was one of 33 House and Senate members honored this year.

Eight Nebraskans participated in the NFU Fly-In meetings with members of Congress and their staffs.  In addition to Hansen, Nebraska participants included Bill Armbrust and Jeffrey Downing from Elkhorn, Kevin Harrington and Camdyn Kavan from Lincoln, Sean Mohlman from Red Cloud, Jim Knopik from Belgrade, and Dr. Merlin Friesen from Filley.

The Golden Triangle is an annual award presented to members of Congress who have demonstrated leadership and support policies that benefit America’s family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.

The Golden Triangle, first presented in 1988, symbolizes the core principles of the Farmers Union:  education, cooperation, and legislation. This year’s Golden Triangle honorees were selected for their leadership and contribution to several issues important to family farmers and ranchers.

Representative Fortenberry’s award was presented by NeFU President John Hansen and the NeFU team during their meeting with him Wednesday morning.

“We appreciate Representative Fortenberry’s continued leadership on renewable energy, conservation, rural development, and a wide range family farm and ranch issues that support farm and ranch families and their rural communities,” said NeFU President John Hansen.  “We appreciate Representative Fortenberry’s thoughtful approach to understanding the issues that impact family farm and ranch agriculture and our state.” 



Taiwanese Goodwill Delegation Signs Letters of Intent to Purchase Iowa Corn

A trade team from the Taiwan Feed Industry Association visited Iowa this week and met with Iowa Corn leaders as part of a Goodwill Mission to build contacts between Taiwanese agricultural leaders and Iowa farmers and suppliers.

As part of this mission, the delegation met with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) and U.S. Grains Council (USGC) in taking part in a signing ceremony held today. The letter of intent signed between ICPB and the Taiwan Feed Industry Association, outlines the intention by the Taiwanese to purchase 5.0 million metric tons (197 million bushels) of corn and 0.5 million metric tons of distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) between 2018 and 2019. The estimated value of these future purchases totals $1.05 billion.

“Taiwan is an important buyer of U.S. corn and co-products,” said ICPB Director Mark Heckman, a farmer from West Liberty. “By having this Goodwill Mission in our state, we are strengthening trade ties and helping to maintain the well-established partnership between the United States and Taiwan. Trade matters to our economy and to U.S. farmers who need access to global markets to maintain and expand exports of corn in all forms.”

Taiwan imported more than 2 million metric tons (80.2 million bushels) of U.S. corn in marketing year 2015/2016, claiming nearly 40 percent of total market share and a position as the sixth largest U.S. corn market. Taiwan also serves as a key buyer of U.S. DDGS, a co-product of ethanol production that is a high-protein feed ingredient for livestock.

The Goodwill Mission has been organized by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) every other year since 1998 and allows Taiwanese participants to gain familiarity with U.S. coarse grains’ yield, production and quality. It also educates the delegation on the advantages of U.S. coarse grains and related co-products and reconfirms the United States’ commitment to being the long-term, reliable supplier of grains for their market.



Trusted Rancher Recordkeeping Tool Soon Available for 2018

A pocket-sized recordkeeping tool used by cattle producers for more than 30 years will be available for the 2018 year starting October 2, 2017.  The Redbook from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association helps cattle producers effectively and efficiently record their daily production efforts, helping enhance profitability.

The 2018 Redbook has more than 100 pages to record calving activity, herd health, pasture use, cattle inventory, body condition, cattle treatment, AI breeding records and more.  It also contains a Producers Guide for Judicious Use of Antimicrobials in Cattle, Beef Quality Assurance Best Practices and proper injection technique information, as well as a calendar and notes section.

“I’m more comfortable leaving home without my pocket knife than my Redbook,” according to Dan Kniffen, a Pennsylvania beef producer. “The Redbook puts documentation in my shirt pocket and helps me identify potential day-to-day problems with my herd, as well as progress I’m making in efforts to improve it. The challenges I face are more manageable when I have the information for dealing with them right in front of me.”

Redbooks can be purchased for $7.00 each, plus shipping and handling. Customization of the Redbooks is available (for 100 books or more), and quantity discounts are available.  To order, visit www.beefusa.org.  



Japan Expands Market Access for U.S. Chipping Potatoes

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that Japan is expanding market access for U.S. chipping potatoes, resuming imports from Idaho for the first time in 11 years.

“The United States has a reputation around the globe for growing high-quality potatoes,” said Secretary Perdue. “We are committed to opening up new market opportunities for U.S. producers, and I am gratified that farmers in Idaho, our largest potato-producing state, will prosper while helping Japan with their supply of fresh chipping potatoes.”

The United States enjoys a 98-percent share of the Japanese potato market, with exports of fresh and chilled potatoes growing from $1 million in 2010 to $19 million in 2016.  Beginning with the 2018 season, Idaho will again be among the U.S. states eligible to ship chipping potatoes to Japan.

Japan halted imports of chipping potatoes from Idaho after detection of pale cyst nematode (PCN) in the southeastern part of the state in 2006. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has worked closely with the U.S. potato industry and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture to demonstrate the effectiveness of the PCN eradication program. As a result, Japan has reopened the market to chipping potatoes from all Idaho counties except Bingham and Bonneville, which remain under quarantine for PCN.

Japan has also clarified that all U.S. seed-producing states that are free from PCN and golden nematode are eligible to supply seed potatoes to produce chipping potatoes for export to Japan.



Bayer and Luke Bryan Toast American Farmers with Tour

Country music superstar Luke Bryan is no stranger to celebrating America's hard-working farmers. At this year's Bayer Presents Luke Bryan Farm Tour, tour sponsor Bayer will join him in toasting U.S. farmers with its Here's To The Farmer campaign.

"I come from a farming background so I understand the hard work and passion it takes for farmers to feed America and feed the world," Bryan said. "That's why I'm proud to join my friends at Bayer in thanking farmers for everything they do by saying, 'Here's To The Farmer.' "

Bryan, the son of a peanut farmer from Georgia, launched his annual Farm Tour in 2009 as a way to highlight and celebrate the contributions of America's farmers. Bayer, a world leader in innovation and agriculture, is the title sponsor of the tour for the third consecutive year and will highlight its Here's To The Farmer campaign which asks fans to share #HeresToTheFarmer online to show their gratitude to America's farmers. For every share, Bayer will donate a meal* to someone in need through Feeding America.

"Last year, Bayer and Luke donated 500,000 meals. With the help of Luke's fans across the country sharing #HeresToTheFarmer, I know we'll be able to reach our new goal of donating 1 million meals to fight hunger right here in America," said Ray Kerins, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Bayer.

Bayer's Here's To The Farmer campaign will also help tackle hunger locally by donating more than $10,000 to area food banks, and by honoring a local farmer on stage with Bryan at each location.

"America's farmers work tremendously hard to give all of us safe, affordable and nutritious food. What better way to show our appreciation to them than by providing some great country music and raising a glass with Luke Bryan to say, 'Here's To The Farmer,' " Kerins said.

To learn more about Bayer's Here's To The Farmer campaign visit www.herestothefarmer.com.

Dates and locations for the tour include:
- Sept. 28 -- Lincoln, Neb., Benes Farm
- Sept. 29 -- Baldwin City, Kan., Don-Ale Farms
- Sept. 30 -- Boone, Iowa, Ziel Farm
- Oct. 5 -- Fort Wayne, Ind., Spangler Farms West
- Oct. 6 -- Edinburg, Ill., Ayers Family Farm
- Oct. 7 -- Centralia, Mo., Stowers Farm

For details on show locations and tickets, visit www.lukebryan.com/farmtour.

$1 helps provide 11 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. Bayer provided the financial equivalent of 1,000,000 meals in conjunction with the promotion from 09/21/2017 to 10/31/2017.