Weekend Ag News Round-up - October 2

Signup begins October 1st for new irrigated acres

One of the primary responsibilities of Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) is to manage groundwater to protect both its quality and quantity for all Nebraskans.  To achieve its management goals, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) continues to invest resources to study the geology, storage capacity, quality, and connection of groundwater to surface water.

At their September meeting, the LENRD Board of Directors approved a sign-up period for Standard Variances, for new irrigated acres, between October 1st, 2021, and October 31st, 2021.

Some discussion was held about postponing the signup until the completion of the LENRD’s Hydrogeologic Groundwater Model in 2022.  In the end, the board decided to move ahead with this year’s sign-up.  When the model is completed, it will allow the board and staff to complete simulations that will help illustrate the changes in groundwater and surface water systems.

The LENRD board approved up to 295.00-acre feet of new stream water depletions for new groundwater irrigation development in the Hydrologically Connected Area in the LENRD, and up to 2,500 acres of new groundwater irrigation development in the Non-Hydrologically Connected Area.

LENRD Assistant Manager, Brian Bruckner, said, “A minimum soil score of 85 must be met in the soil conservation category for any standard variance application to be considered for approval, regardless of the total score.  Geographic portions of the district that are eligible to be considered for standard variances will remain the same as the 2020 classification map.”

Applications and a map of the eligible locations are available at the LENRD office in Norfolk and on the district’s website.  Excluded from consideration for this sign-up period will be any parcel of land located in any Quantity Management Subarea or Phase 3 Area.

Also at the meeting, the board engaged in further discussion on the proposed Phase 2 groundwater management area in parts of Cuming, Colfax, and Dodge counties.  The board is seeking more information from vadose zone and isotope analysis in that area and have postponed their decision until a later date.

The board also accepted the scope of work and Flow Meter Maintenance Agreement from Derek and Austin Becker which outlines the requirements for the completion of flow meter preventative maintenance services within the LENRD.

The LENRD board & staff meet each month to develop and implement management plans to protect our natural resources for the future.  The next LENRD board meeting will be Thursday, October 28th at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.  




Take a Second for Safety This Harvest Season

Farmers across the Midwest are realizing the fruits of their labor as the harvest season begins. During this time, the Nebraska Corn Board (NCB) and Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) encourage farmers, as well as residents and visitors, to take a second for safety in rural areas during this time.

The agricultural sector is one of the most dangerous industries in America according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are over 2 million workers employed full-time in production agriculture, which does not account for part-time help or family members who also live and work on farms. In 2019, there were 573 reported fatalities of agricultural workers, which equates to 23.1 deaths per 100,000 workers. Accidents on the farm are not exclusive to the harvest season which means it is important to be mindful of safety precautions year-round in the agricultural industry.

“As farmers, we’re often at the mercy of Mother Nature when we’re harvesting our crops,” said Jay Reiners, chairman of NCB and farmer from Juniata. “When we have good conditions, we want to get as much done as possible which makes it easy to get in a hurry and neglect safety. However, we encourage farmers to take that extra second for safety because extra time and caution can really save lives.”

In addition to fluctuating weather and field conditions, machinery and additional worker availability may result in a narrow window to complete harvest work. Therefore, it’s important farmers take care of themselves to ensure a safe and productive season.

“A well-rested farmer is a safe and alert farmer,” said Andy Jobman, president of NeCGA and farmer from Gothenburg. “It may often seem like we, as farmers, have an overwhelming job ahead of us but with a little time and patience, we can harvest our 2021 crops successfully without injury or death.”

Farmers are not the only people who should be cautious during the harvest season. Anyone who may be visiting or traveling through rural areas should be mindful of increased farm traffic on roads and highways. Harvest equipment should be visible with front and rear warning lights, as well as slow-moving vehicle emblems, to notify motorists of approaching machinery. In rural areas, parents of small children should also develop safety rules to prevent youth from playing on or near harvest equipment.

Additional tips for farmers, farmworkers, and rural residents to consider while on the farm this fall:

Equipment Safety
    Be careful when approaching harvest equipment. Approach from the front and gain eye contact with the operator before approaching.
    Ensure the harvesting equipment is fully stopped and disengaged before climbing onto a vehicle.
    Do not place yourself near any unguarded or otherwise running machinery.
    Avoid pinch points between equipment – such as tractors with grain wagons. Visibility can be limited and serious injury can occur.

Entanglement Hazard
    Entanglement hazards can happen very quickly.
    Do not ever try to unplug any equipment without disengaging power and removing energy from the equipment.
    Never pull or try to remove plugged plants from an operating machine.
    Always keep shields in place to avoid snags and entanglement when working around equipment.

Fall Hazard
    Be careful climbing on and off equipment.
    Be alert and extremely careful when working in wet or slippery conditions.
    Keep all walkways and platforms open and free of tools, dust, debris, or other obstacles. Clean all walkways and platforms before use.
    Wear clothing that is well-fitting and not baggy or loose.  Also wear proper non-slip, closed-toe shoes.
    Use grab bars when mounting or dismounting machinery. Face machinery when dismounting and never jump from equipment.
    Never dismount from a moving vehicle.

Fire Prevention
    Carry a fire extinguisher with you in your vehicle (A-B-C, 5 or 10 pound).
    Remove dust and buildup from equipment.  Check bearings regularly to prevent overheating and the chance of fire.

Grain Wagon Safety
    Be careful to monitor grain wagon weight to never exceed maximum weight limits. As weight increases, grain wagons can be more difficult to control.
    Load grain wagons evenly to distribute weight to prevent weaving or instability across the grain wagon.
    Inspect grain wagon tires and replace any worn or cracked tires.

Grain Bin Safety
    If entering a bin, wear a harness attached to a secure rope.
    Never work alone.
    Never allow children to get too close or inside the bin.
    Wear a dust filter or respirator when working in bins.
    Stay out of bins when equipment is running.

For more information on farm safety, visit the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety online at necasag.org.



Sample for Soybean Cyst Nematode This Fall
Melissa Bartels - NE Extension Educator, Butler County

It is a busy time of year as harvest begins across the state, but this is the perfect time to collect soil samples for soybean cyst nematode while waiting in the field in a grain cart or truck as the combine fills.

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) causes the most yield limiting disease of soybeans in North America. Research has shown that SCN can cause over 40% yield loss in soybeans, including 30% yield loss that can occur with no other visible symptoms, making it an invisible yield threat. SCN reduces yields but typically doesn’t display aboveground visible symptoms in the field during the growing season unless the SCN population is very high, then stunting and yellowing in soybeans may develop. By the time you see symptoms caused by SCN, population densities may be very high and very difficult to reduce, so we recommend regular monitoring by collecting and submitting soil samples for SCN analyses. You can collect a good sample for SCN in any crop, any time of the year you can get a soil probe in the ground. Since SCN lives in the upper 8 inches of soil, collecting a sample is easy.

How?
Collect SCN samples with a 1-inch diameter soil sampling probe. Some soil probes have a foot-peg on the side for easier sampling. Collect at least 15 to 20 soil cores from a zigzag pattern from across the field. Samples should be collected from a depth of about 8 inches across about 10 to 20 acres. Take 15 to 20 soil cores, breaking them up and mixing them well in a bucket. Place at least 2 cups of the composite soil sample in a bag and submit for SCN testing. A sealable plastic bag works great to prevent samples from drying or use marked SCN sample bags available at your local Nebraska Extension office or the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic. Be sure to complete all the information necessary for sample submission on the front of the SCN sample bag or your own sample bag. Mail samples to the UNL Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic where SCN analyses of 2021 samples will be conducted at no charge for samples collected from Nebraska fields, courtesy of support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

SCN Sample Bag Information to Include:
    Name
    Address
    Email address
    Phone number
    Field name or ID for your reference
    Number of acres the sample represents
    Crop history of the field
    This year’s crop

Where?
SCN has been identified in most soybean-producing counties in Nebraska. SCN can cause substantial yield loss with no visible symptoms. Remember, anything that moves soil may also move SCN, including water, wind, and farming equipment. These create higher-risk areas of fields where SCN may first be introduced and could be your best target areas for sampling.

Consider Sampling these High-risk Areas:
    Areas of the field where soybean crops yielded less than expected.
    Areas of the field where soybean plants appeared stunted, yellow, and/or defoliated earlier than the rest of the field.
    Low spots in fields.
    Previously flooded areas of fields.
    Just inside field entryways.
    Along field borders
    Areas where sudden death syndrome (SDS) or brown stem rot (BSR) developed

Results - What Do They Mean?
Understanding your SCN analysis results can be tricky. It’s important to realize that SCN populations are not distributed evenly within the field and can vary widely within only a few feet. This means that how and where we collect samples can have a big impact on the results we receive. The highest densities occur in random patches in the field, which is why we may see small round stunted, yellow areas of plants in the field where very high population densities are present. If your results report “0” SCN detected in your sample, keep in mind that low levels of SCN may be difficult to detect in the field and during sample processing.

Detection limits can also vary by lab and may be as high as 1000-2000 eggs per 100 cc of soil. The patchy nature of the nematodes make it difficult to get accurate samples and results. And, multiple samples from a field may provide different results, so it’s important to collect soil cores from as large of an area as is practical. We recommend continuing to monitor SCN population densities regularly in your fields, especially if soybean yields are less than expected. Sampling every 2-3 years may be needed to document changes in populations and explain yield loss, especially when other possible causes have been ruled out.

We thank the Nebraska Soybean Board for their continued support on providing free sampling to Nebraska producers. Thank you!



Nebraska Women in Agriculture program to host fall book club

The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program has announced a book club series that will begin this fall with a look into the life of author Carey Portell, who will be a keynote speaker at the 2022 Women in Agriculture Conference in February.

Participants will read Portell’s book, “Facing Life Head On: Healing with Courage, Gratitude and Attitude,” and participate in a one-on-one webinar with her.  

Now living with long-term disabling injuries after surviving being hit by a drunk driver, Portell has become an expert at breaking through limitations. A speaker, blogger and author, in “Facing Life Head On,” she shares her journey of self-growth through resilience, determination and the fine art of attitude adjustment.  

“Carey Portell is a survivor and a thriver, but most importantly Carey is a mom, wife, neighbor, and friend,” reads a statement on Portell’s website. “She and her husband oversee a farm in mid-Missouri where she balances caring for her family while corralling cattle and horses.”

The book club registration will open Oct. 4 and the one-on-one session with Portell will be held at 6 p.m. on Nov. 17. The first 50 people to register will receive a free signed copy of Portell’s book.

Women in Agricultural plans to host a new book club quarterly. Featured books will cover a variety of topics such as inspiration, grain marketing, farm finance, estate planning and more. To find out more about the book club or to register, visit https://wia.unl.edu.



New $3.43 million NIH grant to create core research facility at College of Veterinary Medicine
 
Like a hub that connects the spokes of a wheel, the College of Veterinary Medicine is creating a new research center that brings together five highly focused laboratories at Kansas State University. The core laboratory is being made possible by a $3.43 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and will strengthen research efficiency and collaboration among K-State scientists and beyond.

The core-facility suite is the final element of a three-phase renovation at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Phase 1 delivered the Boehringer Ingelheim Auditorium adjacent to Mosier Hall — a 220 seat, contemporary educational space. Phase 2 became the Hill's Pet Health and Nutrition Center for clinical training and community service, which occupies the first-floor space created by deconstruction of the outdated, two-story auditorium. Phase 3, the 5,000-square-foot research laboratory, will occupy the second floor of the old auditorium space.

"This new core research facility strategically combines five key disciplines: animal model/pathology, molecular and cellular biology, microscopic imaging, flow cytometry and cell sorting, and next-generation sequencing," said Bonnie Rush, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The new research facility represents a critical component of the university's research infrastructure to support infectious disease studies. It will provide direct support of K-State's Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, or CEZID, which was created by an $11.3 million grant in 2020 through the NIH's Center of Biomedical Research Excellence, and nearby federal facilities in Manhattan that include the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, or NBAF, and Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit.

"Kansas State University is poised to become the preeminent institution to advance the discovery and development of biosecurity strategies for emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases," Rush said. "With the upcoming deployment of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility next to our college, K-State will be the only U.S. university with a full continuum of biosecurity level-1 through biosecurity level-4 facilities co-located on one campus. The new core laboratory will be an important resource for non-containment research."

Currently, existing laboratories are isolated from each other, spread across three buildings and in some cases, hosted by individual faculty members, creating a burden for the host scientist and inefficient workflow for all parties, Rush said. Consolidating these individual facilities into a combined core will improve laboratory access, optimize research workflows and experimental outcomes, and provide coordinated training opportunities for students.

"This will give our university a modern biomedical research facility with advanced instrumentation and technical support to foster collaborative, transdisciplinary science across the university and beyond," Rush said. "This is critical to promoting a robust research and training environment where researchers can answer the most challenging and urgent biomedical questions of our time."

Rush said the latest NIH grant will support CEZID and collaborating scientists to advance the discovery and molecular characterization of infectious pathogens and diseases affecting animals and people. Projects within this new core research facility will bridge areas of excellence across K-State colleges that conduct STEM research. These projects examine cross-cutting themes, such as virulence factors and host-pathogen interactions of pathogens of significance for human health, employing in vitro systems and animal models."

The newly funded, core-facility suite will assemble state-of-the-art technologies in a single location to facilitate the delivery of coordinated services for academic, corporate and federal researchers in imaging and molecular analyses, providing a complete range of services from whole tissues to single-cell nucleic acid analyses. Currently, CEZID has collaborative partnerships with the University of Missouri, Columbia; MRI Global in Kansas City, Missouri; and regional pharmaceutical companies in the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, such as Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health in St. Joseph, Missouri, CEVA Animal Health in Lenexa and Elanco Animal Health in Overland Park.

Rush said the proposed plan is to complete renovation and then occupy the consolidated biomedical core facilities by the fourth quarter of 2023.



LIVESTOCK PRICE REPORTING AUTHORITY EXTENDED THROUGH 2021

Congress this week as part of a short-term funding measure approved a nine-week extension of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act (LMRA), which requires meatpackers to report to USDA the prices they pay for cattle, hogs and lambs and other information. USDA publishes twice-daily reports with pricing information, contracting for purchase, supply and demand conditions for livestock, livestock production and livestock product values.

The National Pork Porducers Council had been urging the Biden administration and congressional lawmakers to ensure that LMRA authorization did not lapse with the end of the 2021 fiscal year, which concluded Thursday, or because of a government shutdown. The continuing resolution passed by the Senate and House keeps the government funded and LMRA authorized through Dec. 3.




NCGA Applauds Congress for Funding Disaster Assistance for Farmers

Farmers who have been impacted by extreme weather patterns will see relief thanks to funding that was included in the continuing resolution that passed Congress this week.

"Farmers will be pleased with this development,” said NCGA President Chris Edgington. "The funding will be extremely helpful to our members who have struggled with adverse weather conditions in recent years."

The bill provides $10 billion to continue the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus, or WHIP+, for the losses in 2020 and 2021. It requires that recipients of that assistance purchase crop insurance or Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program coverage for the two following crop years.  

Assistance will be available for losses caused by droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze, polar vortexes, smoke exposure, quality losses of crops and excessive moisture in 2020 and 2021.  

The Secretary of Agriculture will be required to submit a report to Congress within 120 days of the end of FY 2022 specifying the type, amount and methods of assistance by state and territory.   



Fats and Oils: Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks - August 2021

Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 5.05 million tons (168 million bushels) in August 2021, compared with 4.99 million tons (166 million bushels) in July 2021 and 5.24 million tons (175 million bushels) in August 2020. Crude oil produced was 1.99 billion pounds up 1 percent from July 2021 but down 1 percent from August 2020. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.63 billion pounds during August 2021 increased 3 percent from July 2021 but decreased 1 percent from August 2020.

Canola seeds crushed for crude oil was 132,422 tons in August 2021, compared with 145,967 tons in July 2021 and 202,580 tons in August 2020. Canola crude oil produced was 105 million pounds, down 16 percent from July 2021 and down 39 percent from August 2020. Canola once refined oil production, at 118 million pounds during August 2021, was down 20 percent from July 2021 and down 6 percent from August 2020.

Cottonseed once refined oil production, at 33.4 million pounds during August 2021, was up 2 percent from July 2021 but down 15 percent from August 2020.

Edible tallow production was 92.9 million pounds during August 2021, up 9 percent from July 2021 and up 2 percent from August 2020. Inedible tallow production was 314 million pounds during August 2021, up 3 percent from July 2021 but down 3 percent from August 2020. Technical tallow production was 128 million pounds during August 2021, up 19 percent from July 2021 but down 4 percent from August 2020. Choice white grease production, at 97 million pounds during August 2021, increased 16 percent from July 2021 but decreased 8 percent from August 2020.



Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production - August 2021

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 471 million bushels in August 2021. Total corn consumption was down 6 percent from July 2021 but up 2 percent from August 2020. August 2021 usage included 90.7 percent for alcohol and 9.3 percent for other purposes. Corn consumed for beverage alcohol totaled 2.37 million bushels, down 35 percent from July 2021 and down 26 percent from August 2020. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 417 million bushels, was down 7 percent from July 2021 but up 2 percent from August 2020. Corn consumed in August 2021 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 92.5 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 1.83 million tons during August 2021, down 7 percent from July 2021 but up 1 percent from August 2020. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.18 million tons in August 2021, up 5 percent from July 2021 and up 24 percent from August 2020.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 274,358 tons during August 2021, down 10 percent from July 2021 but up 5 percent from August 2020. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 205,634 tons in August 2021, down 2 percent from July 2021 and down 18 percent from August 2020.



National Cattlemen’s Foundation Accepting Applications for Beef Industry Scholarships

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship. Ten scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded to outstanding students pursuing careers in the beef industry. 

Introduced in 1989 and sponsored by CME Group, the scholarship identifies and encourages talented students who play an important role in the future of food production. Students studying education, communication, production, research or other areas related to the beef industry are eligible to apply for the annual scholarship program.

“We are proud to partner with the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and NCBA to help advance education opportunities for these hardworking students,” said Managing Director of Agricultural Products at CME Group, Tim Andriesen. “Risk management plays a critical role in the agricultural industry and these scholarships help develop our future leaders and ensure the continued success of beef production in the U.S.”

Eligible applicants must be a graduating high school senior or full-time undergraduate student enrolled at a two- or four-year institution. The application includes a one-page letter expressing their career goals related to the beef industry and a 750-word essay describing an issue in the beef industry and offering solutions to this problem. The applicant or a family member must be a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. 

The application deadline is Nov. 12, 2021, at midnight Central Time. For more information and to apply, visit www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org. Scholarship winners will be announced during the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, Feb. 1-3, 2022, in Houston, Texas. 

Organized in 1972, NCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing charitable, scientific and educational activities to benefit the cattle industry.  



Worm Farms to Meet at U.S. Business Conference

More than 50 worm farms from all over the world will meet in Phoenix, AZ at the Arizona Worm Farm at the first annual US Worm Business Conference. The conference will focus on how to start, expand, or perfect Worm composting and waste reduction.

Global climate change, combined with dramatically increased interest in organic waste reduction and desire to create sustainable, productive soils for agriculture has led to a global shortage of Worms and worm products. This conference is designed to help small and tangential business get into, or perfect, the worm business.

The wholesale price of worms has jumped from $15 per pound in 2020 to an average of more than $35 a pound today. Demand now significantly exceeds supply.

The conference will provide coaching, hands on training, and business advice and recommendations from leading experts in the US Worm Farming community, including three of the United States' most respected worm farmers: Zach Brooks, Arizona Worm Farm, Heather Rinaldi, Texas Worm Ranch, and Steve Churchill, Urban Worm Bag.

Zach Brooks, owner and founder of the Arizona Worm Farm, said: "There has never been a better time to build or expand a Worm Farming business. The world is craving sustainable waste reduction and highly productive organic growing methods. Prices have never been higher and demand has never been greater. This conference is the perfect first step to joining this modern day "black gold" rush.