NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED UP 2 PERCENT
Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.15 million cattle on feed on September 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 2 percent from last year. Placements during August totaled 470,000 head, up 1 percent from 2016. Fed cattle marketings for the month of August totaled 470,000 head, up 4 percent from last year. Other disappearance during August totaled 10,000 head, up 5,000 head from last year.
IOWA CATTLE ON FEED REPORT
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 640,000 head on September 1, 2017, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was down 2 percent from August 1, 2017, but up 10 percent from September 1, 2016. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 440,000 head on feed, down 4 percent from last month and down 11 percent from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,080,000 head, down 3 percent from last month but up 5,000 head from last year.
Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during August totaled 92,000 head, an increase of 53 percent from last month and up 30 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 41,000 head, up 3 percent from last month and up 14 percent from last year. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 133,000 head, up 33 percent from last month and up 24 percent from last year.
Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during August totaled 101,000 head, up 28 percent from last month and up 12 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 60,000 head, down 22 percent from last month and down 6 percent from last year. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 161,000 head, up 3 percent from last month and up 5 percent from last year. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 2,000 head.
United States Cattle on Feed Up 4 Percent
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.5 million head on September 1, 2017. The inventory was 4 percent above September 1, 2016.
On Feed by State (1,000hd, - % Sept 1 '16)
Colorado .......: 860 - 108
Iowa .............: 640 - 110
Kansas ..........: 2,220 - 102
Nebraska ......: 2,150 - 102
Texas ............: 2,590 - 104
Placements in feedlots during August totaled 1.93 million head, 3 percent above 2016. Net placements were 1.88 million head. During August, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 360,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 285,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 418,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 485,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 270,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 110,000 head.
Placements by State (1,000 hd - % Aug '16)
Colorado .......: 175 - 103
Iowa .............: 92 - 130
Kansas ..........: 495 - 102
Nebraska ......: 470 - 101
Texas ............: 385 - 97
Marketings of fed cattle during August totaled 1.98 million head, 6 percent above 2016. Other disappearance totaled 49,000 head during August, 20 percent above 2016.
Marketings by State (1,000 hd - % Aug '16)
Colorado .......: 190 - 109
Iowa .............: 101 - 112
Kansas ..........: 445 - 107
Nebraska ......: 470 - 104
Texas ............: 435 - 105
THISTLE CONTROL DURING OCTOBER
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist
As October starts to arrive, our thoughts naturally turn towards crop harvest. But don’t forget, it’s also thistle time again. Even if they are hard to see, this is the time to control them.
Timing is everything. That's particularly true with thistle control. And October to early November is one of the best times to use herbicides.
Did you have thistles this year? If so, walk out in those infected areas this week. Look close. I'll bet you find many thistle seedlings. Most thistle seedlings this fall will be small, in a flat, rosette growth form, and they are very sensitive now to certain herbicides. So spray this fall and thistles will not be a big problem next year.
Several herbicides are effective and recommended for thistle control. Several newer herbicides like ForeFront, Milestone, and Chaparral work very well. Two other very effective herbicides are Tordon 22K and Grazon. Be careful with all these herbicides, but especially Tordon and Grazon, since they also can kill woody plants, including trees you might want to keep. 2,4-D also works well while it’s warm, but you will get better thistle control by using a little less 2,4-D and adding a small amount of Banvel or dicamba to the mix.
Other herbicides also can control thistles in pastures – like Redeem, Cimarron, and Curtail. No matter which weed killer you use, though, be sure to read and follow label instructions, and be sure to spray on time.
Next year, avoid overgrazing your pastures so your grass stands get thicker and compete with any new weeds or thistle seedlings.
Give some thought now to thistle control during October and November. Your pastures can be cleaner next spring.
Nebraska Corn Board offers new flex fuel pump grant incentive for fuel retailers
The Nebraska Corn Board recently allocated funds in its 2017-18 fiscal year budget to further develop the renewable fuel infrastructure in Nebraska.
Through a grant program, the Nebraska Corn Board will award qualifying retailers up to $50,000 for installation of flex fuel pumps, other necessary equipment and hardware to offer higher blends of ethanol fuel. Blender pumps make it easier for retailers to offer additional ethanol blended fuels. This expands their fuel offerings and provides a point of distinction in the marketplace while serving the growing number of motorists driving flex fuel vehicles.
Such pumps also provide opportunities for stations to more easily offer E15, which is approved for use in all vehicles model year 2001 and newer. This includes cars, light-duty trucks and SUVs.
Grants are available on a first come, first served basis. Once funding is exhausted, retailers will be placed on a waiting list and awarded grant money in the order applications were received, if additional funding becomes available.
“In the last several years we have partnered with many fuel retailers and currently have close to 100 stations across the state of Nebraska offering mid and higher level ethanol blends,” said Tim Scheer, Nebraska Corn Board director and farmer from St. Paul, Nebraska. “This has provided good coverage across the state, and with this grant program we can continue to expand that coverage for every Nebraskan to have a choice at the fuel pump.”
“There are currently around 235,000 flex fuel vehicles in Nebraska and that number is increasing every day,” said Roger Berry, director of market development with the Nebraska Corn Board. “Nebraska is the second largest producer of ethanol in the country and many of those ethanol plants partner with retailers to make E15 and flex fuels an even better value for consumers.”
Station owners who install blender pumps benefit from the blending economics and a higher volume of ethanol sales, while their customers enjoy a new array of fuel choices at the pump. “Flex fuel vehicle owners of today and tomorrow will appreciate the ability to pull up to a pump and find higher blends of ethanol fuel such as E30 or E85,” Scheer said. “Additionally, drivers of vehicles 2001 and newer can save at the pump and help clean the air with E15.”
“We are encouraging every fuel retailer to take a look at this new grant program,” said Berry. For more information about the grant program or to request an application, email Berry at roger.berry@nebraska.gov or call him at 402-471-2676.
Drop the Most Deadly Industry Title by Improving Tractor Safety
Agriculture continues to be the most deadly industry in the United States based on the number of deaths per 100,000 workers. The leading causes of these agricultural fatalities are tractor overturns, runovers and collisions. The tragedy is that the majority of these agricultural tractor fatalities are preventable with the addition of rollover protective structures, using safe tractor practices and adequate marking.
Charles Schwab, farm safety specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and other safety professionals maintain that many tractor-related deaths can be prevented. Rollover protection structures keep the tractor operator in a safe area when the tractor overturns. Without ROPS, the entire weight of the tractor can crush the operator during an overturn.
The good news is modern tractors built since 1985 are required to have ROPS. The bad news is there are a significant number of older tractors without ROPS in Iowa. Choosing to operate a tractor without ROPS could cost you your life.
“Using only tractors with ROPS is a smart and safe decision,” said Schwab “Tractor rides for kids are risky and potentially a deadly activity.”
Many of the tractor runovers fatalities occur when an innocent tractor ride turns tragic. Other tractor runovers occur when young children are not seen by operators as the tractor approaches high traffic area of the farmstead.
“Have firm rules about permitting extra riders and when it is safe for young children to approach a tractor around the farmstead” Schwab said.
If taking a tractor on a public road, make sure your Slow Moving Vehicle emblem is not faded or covered with mud. This is an important visible indicator to other motorists that your vehicle is traveling slower than other traffic and needs their full attention. The rapid closure speed between approaching vehicles and your tractor need the advance warning an SMV emblem provides.
Do your part putting farm safety into practice this fall by improving tractor safety. If Iowa could reduce the number of tractor injuries and fatalities this year, it could be the year when agriculture loses the title of the most deadly industry in the United States.
Corn Farmers Commend Senator Ernst for Supporting USDA’s MAP & FMD Funding
Iowa Corn Growers Association President Mark Recker
We would like to thank Senator Ernst for introducing the CREAATE ACT, a bill to increase investment in two federal U.S. Department of Agriculture programs vital to U.S. agricultural exports, the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program. These initiatives support the promotion of corn in all forms in international markets.
The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana), would increase investment in MAP and FMD programs. A companion bill was introduced in the House earlier this year. We need Congress to pass this legislation quickly.
MAP and FMD form public-private partnerships that promote U.S. agriculture. Cooperators in the initiatives, like the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), employ staff around the world, to build and defend U.S. market share of corn in all forms, including meat, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) each year designates Iowa corn checkoff dollars to match and support international market development programs through these partner organizations. They deliver a strong return-on-investment, every $1 invested creates $28 in exports.
These initiatives not only support our agricultural economy but the nation’s economy overall. For instance, exports of Iowa’s corn, ethanol, DDGS, corn gluten feed, corn gluten meal and corn-fed meat products generated an estimated $5.2 billion in economic output in 2015 creating 15,665 full-time jobs, according to an Informa Economics study. At a time when the farm economy continues to struggle, we should be investing more in these programs, not less.
Funding for MAP and FMD have not kept pace with inflation, administrative costs, global marketplace growth nor the investments made by competing countries. The CREAATE Act would gradually increase MAP funding from $200 million to $400 million per year and FMD funding from $34.5 million to $69 million per year, over the course of the next five years.
The protection of MAP and FMD funding continues to be one of the top priority issues of the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA). We call on our farmer-members and those in agriculture to urge Congress to pass the CREAATE Act.
Iowa Farmers Union to Host Food Safety Field Day
The Iowa Farmers Union (IFU), along with Iowa State University Extension & Outreach, and the Center for Rural Affairs, will be hosting an on-farm food safety field day for fruit and vegetable growers on Sept. 28 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Buske farm near Fort Dodge. The field day will focus on new requirements for fruit and vegetable growers under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. Guests will learn more about FSMA regulations and trainings, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) training, and food safety record-keeping. Guests also will have a chance to observe an on-farm food safety inspection. An evening meal will be provided for field day participants.
"Any Iowa farmer who grows or handles produce should be up to speed on FSMA and how these new rules will impact their farming operation," said IFU Food Safety Coordinator Ronald Tigner. "Even if they think their farm may be exempt from the new rules, many produce buyers will be using FSMA as the new food safety standard for their growers. This field day will provide a good overview about what FSMA will mean for your farm and what practical steps farmers will need to take to get trained and implement good on-farm food safety practices."
Field day presenters include:
- Shannon Coleman, extension specialist with the ISU Department of Food Sciences and Human Nutrition.
- Joe Hannan, horticulture specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. Joe will lead discussions on produce safety, demonstrate an on-farm food safety inspection, and share information on the latest trends for hoop house production.
- Anna Johnson, policy program associate with the Center for Rural Affairs. Anna will give a presentation on the upcoming 2018 Farm Bill and its relevance for fruit and vegetable growers.
The Buske Farm is located at 1550 Madison Ave., Fort Dodge. Directions from Fort Dodge: From the junction of US Hwy 169 and IA Hwy 7 on the northwest side of Fort Dodge, proceed north on Hwy 169 for 2 miles. Turn east (right) onto 170th Street (County Rd D14). Travel east 0.4 mile to Madison Avenue. Turn north (left) onto Madison Avenue. Go 1.5 miles, then turn east (right) into the farm lane for the Buske Farm at 1550 Madison Avenue.
The field day is free and open to the public. An evening meal will be provided to guests.
Please RSVP by Sept. 26 to Ronald Tigner, rtigner@iowafarmersunion.org, (515) 357-0503.
For more information on FSMA and food safety rules and trainings, please visit the food safety resource page on the IFU website: iowafarmersunion.org/food-safety.
Veterinary researcher receives grants worth more than $700,000 to investigate swine diseases and influenza B virus
A Kansas State University veterinary researcher is taking aim at swine diseases with the help of two major grants.
Wenjun Ma, associate professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine has received a National Institutes of Health R21 grant of $411,664. His second award of $303,865 is a contract grant from Merck Animal Health.
The NIH grant will be used to investigate the connections between respiratory swine disease and influenza B virus.
"Unlike influenza A virus that infects a wide range of species, influenza B virus infections are almost exclusively restricted to humans, despite sporadic infections reported in seals," Ma said. "It is unclear whether other animal species can support the replication of influenza B virus and serve as a reservoir."
One of Ma's previous studies provided evidence that domestic pigs are susceptible to influenza B virus infection. Swine herds previously exposed to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, or PRRSV, had a higher prevalence of influenza B virus antibodies.
"Studying the differences between human and swine influenza B virus isolates might improve our understanding of how influenza B viruses are maintained when they are not circulating in humans," Ma said. "The results of these experiments would likely reveal new information about the molecular mechanisms of influenza B virus replication and its evolution in nonhuman species, which is an important issue in the influenza research community."
The Merck grant will be used to study the molecular epidemiology and pathogenicity of porcine circovirus 3, or PCV3, in pigs.
"While unproven, we suspect that PCV3 plays an etiologic role in porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome, and may be responsible for reproductive failure," Ma said. "To date, no viruses have been successfully isolated and cultured. In this proposal, we try to address critical questions regarding epidemiology and pathogenicity of PCV3 in pigs by collaborating with Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory."
USDA Cold Storage August 2017 Highlights
Total red meat supplies in freezers on August 31, 2017 were up 7 percent from the previous month but down 3 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 10 percent from the previous month but down slightly from last year. Frozen pork supplies were up 4 percent from the previous month but down 5 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 8 percent from last month but down 40 percent from last year.
Total frozen poultry supplies on August 31, 2017 were down slightly from the previous month but up 6 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down 2 percent from the previous month but up 1 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 2 percent from last month and up 14 percent from August 31, 2016.
Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on August 31, 2017 were down 3 percent from the previous month but up 7 percent from August 31, 2016. Butter stocks were down 9 percent from last month and down 12 percent from a year ago.
Total frozen fruit stocks were up 7 percent from last month but down 2 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were up 22 percent from last month but down 2 percent from a year ago.
NPPC ADVOCATES FOR PORT REGULATORY REFORM
As a member of the Fair Port Practices Coalition, the National Pork Producers Council joined 69 other U.S. trade organizations on a letter to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, expressing concerns about their 2017 Clean Air Action Plan. The CAAP, which is required by California law, outlines strategies for reducing air pollution from all port-related sources, for meeting greenhouse gas reduction goals and achieving zero emissions for trucks and terminal equipment. The groups were critical of the draft CAAP’s “lack of information with respect to the commercial availability of specified technologies, the uncertainty of the draft plan’s cost, the absence of any analysis regarding the ports’ future competitiveness, the exclusion of certain technologies and fuels, and the lack of a cost-benefit analysis on the air quality benefits that would result from this program.”
NPPC also joined the Ports Coalition in petitioning the Federal Maritime Commission regarding unfair daily charges and other business practices being levied against shippers due to inefficient port operations. As a member of the Ports Coalition, NPPC remains focused on the efficient and competitive operation of U.S. ports to globally distribute U.S. pork products and support international trade.
USDA: August Egg Production Up 1 Percent
United States egg production totaled 8.85 billion during August 2017, up 1 percent from last year. Production included 7.69 billion table eggs, and 1.17 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.09 billion were broiler-type and 77.3 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during August 2017 averaged 371 million, up 1 percent from last year. August egg production per 100 layers was 2,384 eggs, down slightly from August 2016.
All layers in the United States on September 1, 2017 totaled 372 million, up 1 percent from last year. The 372 million layers consisted of 312 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 56.7 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.19 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on September 1, 2017, averaged 76.2 eggs per 100 layers, down 1 percent from September 1, 2016.
Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 5 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during August 2017 totaled 45.6 million, up 5 percent from August 2016. Eggs in incubators totaled 40.2 million on September 1, 2017, down 6 percent from a year ago.
Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 254 thousand during August 2017, down 22 percent from August 2016.
Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 3 Percent
Broiler-type chicks hatched during August 2017 totaled 833 million, up 3 percent from August 2016. Eggs in incubators totaled 674 million on September 1, 2017, up 4 percent from a year ago.
Leading breeders placed 8.16 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during August 2017, up 6 percent from August 2016.
IOWA: Iowa egg production during August 2017 was 1.34 billion eggs, down 1 percent from last month, but up 4 percent from last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The average number of all layers on hand during August 2017 was 55.1 million, a slight increase from last month and up 5 percent from last year. Eggs per 100 layers for August were 2,432, down 1 percent from both last month and last year.
Looking beyond color for next season’s soybean seed treatment
As growers navigate this year’s harvest, decisions for next season are already underway. Increasing those numbers on the yield monitor next year means creating the optimal management plan. Between choosing the right herbicides, soybean varieties, fungicides and more, seed treatments often get overlooked. But in an age where more than 85 percent of soybean seed is treated, this decision merits full attention.
According to the University of Minnesota Extension, seedling infections can cause damage that will persist throughout the growing season. However, when seed treatment decisions are made, it is impossible to know if next season’s weather conditions will be conducive for disease or other pressures.
“Growers need to be prepared for anything,” said Dale Ireland, Ph.D., Seedcare technical product lead at Syngenta. “And seed treatments are the first line of defense against early-season diseases and pests.”
Choosing the right seed treatment is critical to starting the season off strong. According to experts, a robust seed treatment should provide the following:
Resistance to seedborne and soilborne disease
Broad-spectrum protection against damaging early-season insects
Fast emergence and speed-to-canopy
High stand count
Improved root mass and health
Minimal issues with dust off, seed flow and equipment build-up
Product stability, which allows for consistent doses of active ingredients on each seed
Growers who opt for generic and custom blend seed treatments should ask their seed treaters or retailers if their seed treatments fulfil the needs above. On the surface, they may seem similar to a seed treatment like CruiserMaxx® Vibrance® Beans seed treatment, a combination of separately registered products, but they may fall short in performance.
“Generic and custom blend seed treatment ingredients are at risk of separating in the tank prior to application – forming a solution visually similar to adding oil and water together – which leads to inconsistent doses of active ingredients across seeds,” Ireland said. “This means that some seeds do not receive proper protection from insects and diseases. Product separation can also lead to on-farm equipment clogging, making the planting process less efficient.”
Another example of varying performance across seed treatments is stand count. Syngenta trials compared plant-stand performance of different seed treatments under disease pressure. The following percentages represent the average plant stand per acre*:
· Untreated soybean seeds – 41 percent
· Generic blend – 56 percent
· Valent Intego® Suite – 61 percent
· Pioneer Premium Seed Treatment® – 63 percent
· CruiserMaxx Vibrance Beans – 95 percent
Ireland attributes the superior performance of CruiserMaxx Vibrance Beans in these trials to its four active ingredients that help soybeans establish a strong defense system to cope with various disease and insect pressures. The Cruiser® Vigor Effect is scientifically proven to help produce more robust, vigorous plants, even in the absence of insects. This boost also helps increase speed-to-canopy and as a result, aids in weed control. In contrast, generic treatments often use older technologies that have been replaced in the market with newer, higher performing active ingredients.
“Though they may look similar, not all seed treatments are created equal,” Ireland said. “Growers working to start the season strong need to know what’s on their seed. CruiserMaxx Vibrance Beans is proven to be a stable formulation that not only provides the benefits growers expect from their seed treatment, but additional physiological advantages for the soybean roots and seedlings.”
CruiserMaxx Vibrance Beans also contains the RootingPower of Vibrance® fungicide, which protects the entire root system through soil mobility and long-lasting systemic activity for an added level of Rhizoctonia protection.
“The color of different seed treatments may be the same, but the performance isn’t,” Ireland said. “Make sure you know what’s on your seed. Talk to your retailer or seed treater to ensure you start the 2018 season strong with a proven seed treatment.”
Welcome to the KTIC Agriculture Information blog!!! Check back here for the latest in ag news and information, from local events to international happenings and government reports that affect your operation. Please email with suggestions! -Chad Moyer, Farm Director, KTIC Radio
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