Monday October 9 Ag News

Fall Cattle Louse Treatments
Amy Timmerman – NE Extension Educator

As livestock producers start planning for fall weaning, pregnancy observation, and vaccinations they often will apply an endectocide treatment for internal and external parasites such as cattle lice. While this practice is efficacious for most internal parasites and horn flies, it does not always completely control a cattle louse problem. Cattle lice are a cold weather insect, thriving during wintery conditions. During summer months cattle lice undergo a process called estivation (a period of dormancy) when their reproduction is reduced significantly. If fall temperatures (September, October, and mid-November) are above 78° F, cattle skin temperature will exceed 100° F and suppress louse development. Thus, if endectocide treatments are applied too early during a warm extended fall, such as we saw in 2016, lice will be developing slowly and can largely escape the endectocide treatment. Later when cold weather does set in, lice outbreaks can occur if the endectocide has broken down. Livestock producers who utilize a fall treatment strategy should monitor their cattle for signs of lice especially during the months of December, January, and February.

In Nebraska we can encounter four different cattle lice species. The biting or chewing louse (little red) Bovicola (Damalinia) bovis, is reddish brown in color with dark bands running transversally across the body. Typically the chewing louse feeds on hair, skin, skin exudates and debris near the skin surface. This species is initially found on the shoulder, top line, and back, but as populations increase, can be found on the sides and sometimes over the whole animal.

The other three species are sucking lice, which feed on blood, and can cause irritation, anemia, impact weight gain, and even death in extreme cases.

The short-nose cattle louse, Haematopinus eurysternus, is the largest louse at 3-5 mm in length and is typically found on older animals, but can be found on any age or breed of cattle. This species can usually be found in the neck region, dewlap, back, and base of tail.

The long-nose cattle louse, Linognathus vituli, is about 2.5 mm in length, bluish in color and differs from other louse species by its long slender head. This louse can be found on the dewlap, shoulders, sides of neck and rump, but when numbers are high, they can be found over the entire body.

The little blue cattle louse, Solenopotes capillatus, is about 1-2 mm in length, bluish in color, and smallest of the sucking lice species. It often can be found in dense patches on the dewlap, muzzle, around eyes, and neck. Heavy populations can greatly impact cattle weight gains.

Nebraska cattle are usually infested with more than one species of louse and calves, yearlings and older poor conditioned cattle usually have the heaviest lice infestations. Heavy louse populations can lower milk production, stunt growth, cause hair loss, an unthrifty appearance and anemia.

University of Nebraska and other studies indicate heavy lice populations (more than 10 lice/inch2) may reduce calf weight gains by as much as 0.21 lb/day. These studies also indicate calves fed at a higher nutrition level had lower lice populations and were affected less severely by lice than calves fed a maintenance ration.

Cattle louse treatment products fall into several categories: animal sprays, non-systemic (contact) pour-on, and endectocides (systemic pour-on, absorbed internally and systemic injectable). Some non-systemic pour-ons require just one application and some require two applications spaced 14 days apart. Systemic injectables work better on the three species of sucking lice than on the little red chewing louse. A systemic pour-on can effectively kill both chewing and sucking lice. Use of systemic control products between Nov. 1 and Feb. 1 is not advised as they may cause a host-parasite reaction from killing developing cattle grubs while they are in the esophagus or spinal canal of the animal. A systemic product used during fall weaning will not be a problem. Producers who did not use a systemic during fall weaning, should consider using only non-systemic control products during this November to February time frame. If replacement animals are brought into a herd during the winter months they should be examined for lice. If present, the animals should be isolated and treated before introduction into the existing herd.

Insecticide treatments, regardless of application method, should be rotated through IRAC Insecticide Mode of Action groups (MoA) to reduce the likelihood of developing resistance. Continual use of products from a single numbered group against a pest species can lead to reduced control (resistance to all products in the group). To reduce control failures due to insecticide resistance, do not apply pesticides within the same group number repeatedly. The recommended management practice to manage resistance is to alternate insecticide classes, and that applies to animal sprays, dusts, non-systemic pour-ons, and endectocides (injectable and pour-on formulations).

For current Nebraska control recommendations, please refer to EC 1550, Nebraska Management Guide for Insect Pest of Livestock and Horses at: http://Entomology.unl.edu/Livestock. 



So You’ve Inherited a Farm, Now What? 
Allan Vyhnalek - NE Extension Educator

If you've inherited or received farmland and want to learn more about the best strategies for managing this asset, learn what it means to own agricultural land today at one of several Nebraska Extension programs being hosted this fall across the state.

Topics to be covered in the 2.5-hour workshop include:
-    Am I keeping the farm or selling it?
-    How do I manage a farm?
-    If leasing, what are key lease provisions?
-    What legal considerations do I have with this decision?
-    And, how do we manage family communications and expectations when other family is involved?

“I am contacted monthly from citizens who have had their parents pass away, and now they are managing a farm for the first time in their lives,” said Allan Vyhnalek, Nebraska Extension educator and event speaker.  “They may have even grown up there, but haven’t been around for 30 or 40 years and need to understand that farming practices and management concepts have changed.”

The program is being presented by Vyhnalek and Jim Jansen, a Nebraska Extension Educator. They provide farm land management education for eastern Nebraska.

Program Dates, Sites and Contact Info 
Nov. 2 - Prairie Winds Community Center     Bridgeport     9:00 a.m.     308-632-1247
Nov. 6 - Hall County Extension Office     Grand Island     9:30 a.m.     308-385-5088
Nov. 8 - Ella Missing Community Building     Arapahoe     10:00 a.m.     308-268-3105
Nov. 9 - Holt County Extension Office     O’Neill     1:00 p.m.     402-336-2760
Nov. 10 - 4-H Building     Auburn     1:30 p.m.     402-274-4755
Nov. 13 - 4-H Building     York     1:30 p.m.     402-362-5508
Nov. 20 - Community Center     Scribner     1:30 p.m.     402-727-2775
Nov. 20 - Madison County Ext. (Lifelong Learn Cntr)     Norfolk     6:30 p.m.     402-370-4040
Nov. 21 - Fire Hall     Wayne     9:30 a.m.     402-375-3310
Dec. 4 - Cass County Extension     Weeping Water     9:30 a.m.     402-267-2205
Dec. 5 - 1st Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall     Wilber     1:00 p.m.     402-821-2151
Dec. 7 - Buffalo County Extension Office     Kearney     1:00 p.m.     308-236-1235
Dec. 14 - Northeast Community College     South Sioux City     6:30 p.m.     402-987-2140
Dec. 19 - Lincoln County Extension Office     North Platte     9:30 a.m.     308-532-2683
Dec. 20 - Crossroads Wesleyan Church     Imperial     9:00 a.m.     308-882-4731

Registration
Pre-registration is requested by two days prior to the event.  Advance registration is requested to ensure enough handouts for the program. This program is free because of funding from the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture under award number 2015-49200-24226.

For more information or assistance, please contact Allan Vyhnalek, Extension educator, farm succession, at 402-472-1771 or e-mail avyhnalek2@unl.edu, or contact Jim Jansen, Extension economist for northeast Nebraska at 402-261-7572 or e-mail jjansen4@unl.edu.



NGLC Traveling Roadshow-Beef

The Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition (NGLC) and Nebraska Extension have partnered to bring Dr. Dan Thomson, a third generation bovine veterinarian from Clearfield, IA to travel to several locations throughout the state to speak about the beef cattle industry. The event is called “The U.S. Beef Cattle Production Journey: The Destination Is Up to Us”. Dr. Thomson received his MS and PhD in Ruminant Nutrition from South Dakota State and Texas Tech University. Currently, he does Veterinary and Research Consulting in Greeley, CO.

Dr. Thomson will cover a variety of topics relative to the beef industry. Of which are: Understanding the “One Beef” concept and beef retailer objectives, how communication between segments can improve profitability, the future trends in beef cattle health and well-being management, and how to prepare cattle for change of address.

There will be 8 locations covered in 4 days.

On Monday, November 13, 2017 from 10 AM – 2 PM (Central time), Dr. Dan will be at Casey’s Center, Boone County Fairgrounds, Albion, NE. Please contact Steve Pritchard, Nebraska Extension in Boone and Nance Counties to pre-register, 402-395-2158. That evening, Dr. Dan will be at Broken Bow Country Club, Broken Bow, NE from 5 PM – 9 PM (Central time). Please contact Troy Walz, Nebraska Extension in Custer County to pre-register, 308-872-6831.

On Tuesday, November 14, 2017 from 10 AM – 2 PM (Mountain time), Dr. Dan will be at Gudmundsen Sandhills Lab, Whitman, NE. Please contact Bethany Johnston, Nebraska Extension in Central Sandhills Area to pre-register, 308-645-2267 or 800-657-2113. That evening from 5 PM – 9 PM (Mountain time), Dr. Dan will be at Chadron State College, Student Center, Chadron, NE. Please contact Jack Arterburn, Nebraska Extension in Dawes County to pre-register, 308-432-3373.

On Wednesday, November 15, 2017 from 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM (Mountain time), Dr. Dan will be at Cheyenne Co. 4-H Building, Sidney, NE. Please contact Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension in Banner, Kimball and Cheyenne Counties to pre-register, 308-235-3122. That evening from 5 PM – 9 PM (Central time), Dr. Dan will be at Nebraska Ag Industry Education Center, NCTA, Curtis, NE. Please contact Kathy Burr, Nebraska Extension in Frontier County to register, 308-367-4424 or 888-367-4424.

On Thursday, November 16, 2017 from 10 AM – 2 PM (Central time), Dr. Dan will be at Clay County Fairgrounds, Clay Center, NE. Please contact Bradley Schick, Nebraska Extension in Webster County to pre-register, 402-746-3417. That evening from 5 PM – 9 PM (Central time), Dr. Dan will be at Southeast Community College Jackson Hall Conference Room, Beatrice, NE. Please contact Kristen Ulmer, Nebraska Extension in Gage County to pre-register, 402-223-1384.

The cost is $15, which covers the cost of the meal. NGLC will pick up the cost of all student registrations. Must pre-register by November 7 to reserve a meal by calling the UNL Extension office indicated. Registrations will be taken until full.  For more information, contact Ron Bolze, Coordinator, NGLC, 402-321-0067 (cell) or ron@nebraskagrazinglands.org or Meredith Cable, NGLC Assistant, 402-741-0833.



Johanns joins Water for Food board

Former U.S. Agriculture Secretary and Nebraska Sen. Mike Johanns has joined the board of directors of the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska, bringing his 30 years of experience and expertise in agriculture, banking, commerce, foreign trade, law and governance.

“We’re truly honored to welcome Mike Johanns to the Daugherty Institute’s Board of Directors. His vast experience, both in Nebraska and internationally, brings valuable connections and perspective to the work of the institute. And he shares our excitement about the University of Nebraska’s leadership potential in sustainably feeding the growing global population,” said NU President and DWFI Board Chair Hank Bounds. “When Mike agreed to join the Board, I told him, ‘Let’s change the world.’ Thanks to our visionary advisers, talented faculty and staff, and partners around the world, we’re ready to do just that.”

DWFI works globally, nationally and in Nebraska to find solutions that contribute to water and food security, leveraging the university’s expertise in agricultural research and water management and expanding it through strong local and international partnerships. Johanns will join a prestigious team of advisers on the board, including NU President Hank Bounds, Robert B. Daugherty Foundation Chair Mogens Bay, philanthropist and lecturer Howard W. Buffett and Chancellor of The City University of New York James B. Milliken. Together with more than 120 NU Faculty and Global Fellows, DWFI develops research and policy, enhances education and knowledge sharing, and advances technological innovations to improve the use and management of water in agriculture.

“We are thrilled to have Senator Johanns join our board,” said Peter G. McCornick, executive director of DWFI. “His deep expertise and insights in agriculture and development, and his experience in leading policy development and implementation from Nebraska, to the national and global levels, is especially well aligned with the mission of the institute. This will be invaluable as we re-double our efforts to achieving a water and food secure world.”

Johanns grew up on a dairy farm in Iowa, and feels strongly connected to Nebraska and the institute’s global mission.

“Since 2010, the institute has been a driving force in elevating Nebraska’s work in agricultural water management to the global stage,” said Johanns. “I look forward to working with DWFI’s leadership to build on this momentum — lending my perspective to help advance the institute’s ability to influence change, stimulate global policy dialogue on relevant issues and prepare future leaders to address the challenges ahead of us.”

Johanns is recognized worldwide as a leader in agriculture and development, serving at virtually every level of government and successfully leading large and complex organizations over the past three decades. His bipartisan approach has earned the respect of colleagues and constituents across the political spectrum.

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008, Johanns served in the 111th-113th Congresses as a member of the following committees: Appropriations, Agriculture, Banking, Commerce, Environment & Public Works, Indian Affairs and Veterans’ Affairs.

As Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2005 to 2007, Johanns directed 18 agencies employing 90,000 staff worldwide and managed a $93 billion budget. He opened or expanded access to 40 international markets and accomplished agricultural breakthroughs as a member of the U.S. negotiating team for the Doha Development Round. He conducted 32 international trips to advance trade, aid, food safety and as a representative of the President of the United States. Domestically, Johanns promoted the growth of the renewable fuels industry and advanced cooperative conservation. He guided the country through challenges relating to bird flu, BSE, TB and drought. An unprecedented achievement was the development of a complete farm bill proposal based on 50 nationwide listening sessions, half of which he personally hosted. His proposal became the foundation for improvements and reforms adopted in the 2008 farm bill.

Johanns served as Governor of Nebraska from 1999 to 2005, balancing a $2.6 billion state budget while providing property tax relief. He achieved historic reform of the state’s antiquated mental health system and championed improvements to the state’s child protection system. He expanded value-added agriculture and dramatically increased economic development efforts. Johanns led seven trade missions to eight countries as Governor. He served as the state representative on the Export-Import Bank Advisory Committee; as a member of the National Governors Association Executive Committee; as chair of the Governors’ Biotechnology Partnership and chair of the 25-state Governors’ Ethanol Coalition.

Johanns’ public service began on the Lancaster County Board in Nebraska from 1983 to 1987, followed by the Lincoln City Council from 1989 to 1991. He was elected Mayor of Lincoln in 1991 and reelected in 1995. He is a graduate of St. Mary's University of Minnesota and holds a law degree from Creighton University in Omaha. He clerked for the Nebraska Supreme Court before practicing law in O'Neill and Lincoln, Nebraska.

Johanns currently serves on the Board of Directors for Deere & Co. He also serves on the Board of Managers for Burlington Capital and OSI Group. In 2016, he was appointed by the President and Senate-confirmed to serve a term on the Millennium Challenge Corporation board.



National Pork Board Teams with Hick Hop Innovator Cowboy Troy to Celebrate Pork Chops

Nothing gets your toes tapping better than a song about food. You may have had your Cheeseburger in Paradise, with American Pie for dessert and washed it down with a Pina Colada, but the pork chop has been missing. Until now.

Recording artist Cowboy Troy, known by his given name as Troy Lee Coleman III, has introduced a new song simply titled Porkchop. Cowboy Troy is an American country rapper, Hick Hop innovator and songwriter who currently travels with country superstars Big & Rich. He has previously released six studio albums, landing twice on the Billboard country singles charts. However, moving into the celebration of all things pork is a new path for the 46-year old Texas native.

“Porkchop, as a song, started out as a comedy bit,” said Cowboy Troy. “A friend of mine and his family went out for dinner. My buddy ordered a pork chop. He just started singing ‘gimme that pork chop, pork chop, pork chop, pork chop...’ When he told me and another song-writing partner about it, the lyrics came together quickly. It was just funny.”

Cowboy Troy also has a love for cooking in his “Hick Hop” kitchen. He admits his favorite cut is, obviously, the ribeye pork chop, and he looks for pork chops with great marbling. Perhaps that is because no better word rhymes with “tender” than “render.” Troy often posts his food creations on Instagram with #HickHopKitchen.

“This song is really a gift to our industry,” said Terry O’Neel, National Pork Board president and a pig farmer from Friend, Nebraska. “It is fun and captures the love that so many Americans have for this beloved cut of meat.”

Also featuring the musical talents of Monro Brown, Porkchop was released earlier this year and is on Troy’s forthcoming spring 2018 album, Laugh With Me. When the National Pork Board learned of the new tune, it began discussing promotion options with Cowboy Troy, including through digital and social media, as part of October National Pork Month.

“I call my music Hick Hop music.,” Troy said. “It’s really a mixture of rap, country and rock guitars splashed in. It is really loud, rowdy, party music – just perfect for grilling and entertaining.”

That is, as long as you have a little pork to go with it.



LIVESTOCK FARMERS ENCOURAGED TO MAKE SURE ALL PREMISES ARE REGISTERED AND INFORMATION IS UP TO DATE

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship encourages all Iowa livestock farmers to make sure that all locations where they have livestock have a premises identification number (PIN) and to make sure their information is up-to-date.

“Being able to quickly identify any and all premises during an animal disease outbreak is a vitally important step as we work to stop the spread of the disease and then eliminate it,” said Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.  “We do want to assure farmers that all the information in the premises ID database is completely confidential and protected under federal law and can only be used for animal health purposes.”

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will be contacting livestock producers who have previously registered a premises in an effort to update the Iowa Premises Registration database of Premises Identification Numbers (PIN’s).  Farmers are asked to respond to the letter and either confirm the information is correct or respond with their updated information.

Producers in the following counties can expect to receive their letters in October: Allamakee, Appanoose, Audubon, Benton, Blackhawk, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Buena Vista and Butler.

In November, letters will be sent to producers in in Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clay and Clayton counties.

The Department will then continue alphabetically through the counties over the next several months.

Farmers can complete or renew their premises registration by completing the form found on the Department’s website at http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/animalIndustry/pdf/premiseIDapp2.pdf  and submitting the signed form to the Department.

“Time spent finding unregistered premises during an outbreak is time we can’t focus on controlling the disease, so it is very important Iowa farmers take the time to register their premises and make sure all the information is up to date,” Naig said.  “Producers also benefit by having a premises identification number before a disease outbreak occurs because the premises identification number is the key linchpin to all activities relating to that producer, such as notification that a producer may be in a control zone and tracking diagnostic information.”

Iowa currently has more than 32,500 premises registered.



USDA Processing Pending Conservation Reserve Program Continuous Enrollment Offers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that it will process many pending eligible offers for land enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and it will temporarily suspend accepting most new offers until later in the 2018 fiscal year.

“All current, eligible CRP continuous enrollment offers made through Sept. 30, 2017 – except for those made under the Pollinator Habitat Initiative (CP42) – will be approved,” said Steven J. Peterson, Acting Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator. “Additionally, we are temporarily suspending acceptance of most offers going forward to provide time to review CRP allocation levels, and to avoid exceeding the statutory cap of 24 million acres.”

The CRP acreage cap is a provision of the 2014 Farm Bill. Current enrollment is about 23.5 million acres nationwide. USDA is accepting all pending continuous enrollment offers that were made beginning on May 4, 2017, and extending through Sept. 30, 2017, except Pollinator Habitat Initiative offers. Pollinator acreage offers are being declined because the program has met its acreage enrollment goal. Effective immediately, USDA is suspending acceptance of all new CRP continuous offers received or submitted after Sept. 30, 2017. The suspension will continue until later in the 2018 fiscal year.

Peterson said, however, that USDA will continue to accept eligible offers for state-specific Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and CRP Grasslands enrollment. Offers received on or after Oct. 1, 2017, are subject to fiscal year 2018 rental rates which have been adjusted to reflect current market conditions and were established after careful review of the latest USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service cash rent data.

In return for enrolling in CRP, USDA, through FSA, provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Landowners enter into contracts that last between 10 and 15 years. CRP pays farmers and ranchers who remove sensitive lands from production and plant certain grasses, shrubs and trees that improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and increase wildlife habitat. Payment totals for 2017 were announced earlier this week totaling over $1.6 billion.

Signed into law by President Reagan in 1985, CRP is one of the largest private-lands conservation program in the United States. Thanks to voluntary participation by farmers and landowners, CRP has improved water quality, reduced soil erosion and increased habitat for endangered and threatened species.

For more information about CRP, contact your local FSA office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/crp. 




NGFA outlines recommendations for USDA reorganization

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) expressed its overall strong support for Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue's reorganization and realignment plan for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), while also outlining several recommendations for certain aspects of the plan.

In comments submitted to USDA on Oct. 7, the NGFA addressed several portions of Perdue's plan important to the grain, feed, grain and oilseed processing, and export sectors, specifically:
-    Extricating the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) from the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) and realigning it within USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS);
-    Realigning the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) grain warehouse functions within AMS; and
-    Realigning the U.S. Codex Alimentarius Office from the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) to the Office of the Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.

NGFA strongly supported Perdue's decision to break FGIS apart from GIPSA and realign the agency within AMS. The Association recommended making FGIS a stand-alone entity within AMS with a direct reporting relationship to the AMS administrator. Once the realignment is completed later this year, NGFA also recommended that FGIS review the current geographical boundaries for designated agencies that provide Official inspection, weighing and other services in the domestic market, and develop a standardized "delegation of authority agreement" that applies to all designated agencies that provide such services at export port locations.

Further, NGFA said it believes once the realignment is complete, "FGIS should evaluate and consider utilizing independent third parties under FGIS oversight to perform mandated and optional inspection services at grain export ports to improve efficiency and reduce inspection costs to the industry and its farmer-customers."

Additionally, NGFA supported the realignment of USDA's grain warehouse functions within AMS, but recommended that USDA explore further cost-cutting efficiencies in Commodity Credit Corp. (CCC) program administration, such as ending duplicative examinations of grain warehouses operating under the Uniform Grain and Rice Storage Agreement contract with CCC if those warehouses already are licensed and examined by USDA or states, unless the warehouse is storing significant quantities of CCC-owned commodities. NGFA also emphasized the importance of the federal grain warehouse program continuing to receive appropriations to pay for services provided under the UGRSA, which primarily benefit USDA and producers obtaining marketing assistance loans under the federal farm program.

Finally, NGFA noted its support of Perdue's decision to realign the U.S. Codex Office within the mission area of the new undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs. However, when doing so, NGFA recommended that the U.S. Codex Office be maintained as a stand-alone office reporting directly to the undersecretary, and not be incorporated within the Foreign Agricultural Service.

"We believe (this is) important to demonstrate that the U.S. Codex Office continues to be an advocate for science-based Codex policies" and prudent and science-driven risk-assessment and risk-management measures focused on food safety, the NGFA noted.