Friday November 12 Ag News

 UNL webinar to cover production, financial considerations for ag producers in 2022

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability will present a webinar at noon on Nov. 18, offering the latest updates on fertilizer costs, projected costs of production and navigating a riskier financial environment in 2022.

The webinar will provide an overview of projected input costs and commodity prices to help prepare for the next production season amid ongoing price volatility. It will discuss how soil test results can help set fertilizer application priorities, using economic optimum rates for fertilizer decisions, customizing crop budgets to know cost of production and how to use this information to inform 2022 marketing strategies.

Presenters with Nebraska Extension will include Jessica Groskopf, an agricultural economist; Aaron Nygren, a cropping systems educator; Glennis McClure, a farm and ranch management analyst; and Cory Walters, a grain marketing specialist.

The webinar is presented as part of the Center for Agricultural Profitability’s weekly series. Registration is open at https://cap.unl.edu/webinars.

 

NEBRASKA SOYBEAN BOARD MEETING Nov 22-23 in Lincoln

The Nebraska Soybean Board is set to have their next meeting on November 22-23, 2021 at the Marriott Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Highlights of the agenda include
  - Strategic Visioning & Planning Workshop
  - Election of Officers and  Committee Assignments
  - On-Farm Biodiesel Credit Program update
  - World Initiative for Soy in Human Health Update (WISHH) update
  - Committee Meetings - Research, Education/Communication, Domestic Marketing, and International Marketing
  - STC Bridge Testing/Replacement Update
The meeting is open to the public and will provide an opportunity for public discussion. The complete agenda for the meeting is available for inspection on the Nebraska Soybean Board website at www.nebraskasoybeans.org.  



Farmers Encouraged to "Keep the Stubble" During "No Till November."

During a special month-long campaign called “No Till November”, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is encouraging Nebraska farmers “keep the stubble” on their harvested crop fields and improve soil health.

Mirrored after the national cancer awareness “No Shave November” campaign. The “No Till November” campaign encourages farmers to keep a different kind of stubble by parking tillage equipment in their machine sheds this fall and keep crop stubble on their fields.

“No till farming is a cornerstone soil health practice, which also promotes water quality while saving farmers time and money,” said Acting State Conservationist John Wilson. “One of the first soil health principles is ‘do not disturb.’ This campaign is a fun way to remind farmers about the important relationship between tillage and soil health.”

Nebraska State Conservation Agronomist Corey Brubaker says fall tillage disturbs soil and removes valuable cover that can leave soil exposed and unprotected during harsh winter months. Other field-disturbing practices like baling corn stalks also removes valuable cover and nutrients from the field.

“Farmers who bale cornstalks for livestock bedding or sell it to other livestock producers could be entering into a losing proposition due to the lost nutrient value and soil health benefits,” Brubaker said.

Based on current commodity prices and the nutrient value in each bale, Brubaker says farmers should leave crop residue in the field especially if the fields are highly erodible and subject to conservation compliance.

“The plant residue left in the field after harvest is a valuable resource,” says Brubaker. “The value in cornstalks can be better used for reducing soil erosion, providing extra organic matter content in the soil, and contributing nutrients back to the soil.”

In Nebraska, cornstalk bales are currently selling for $45-$80 per ton.  The estimated cost of baling cornstalks, considering the value of the nutrients removed ($28/ton*), custom raking ($3/ton), and custom baling ($22/ton), is about $53 per ton. If bales are sold at the lower end of the current rate, farmers are not only losing money, but also losing the benefits of leaving residue on their fields.

Conservationists at the Natural Resources Conservation Service say the best thing producers can do for their cropland is to leave it undisturbed as much as possible. They encourage producers this November to not till their fields and keep crop residue in place to replenish the soil.

For more information on how to protect and improve soil quality, contact your local NRCS office.



ISU Soil Study: Nitrous Oxide Emissions Factor into Climate Change

Poorly drained agricultural soils emit enough of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide that the resulting climate change effects could far exceed the benefits of using the same soils as a means of sequestering carbon, according to a recently published scientific study.

The study, published in the academic journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that a range of agricultural soils produce nitrous oxide emissions in quantities big enough to contribute to climate change. The researchers compared soils with various moisture content and found agricultural soils are capable of high nitrous oxide emissions across a wide range of environmental conditions.

Nitrous oxide has 298 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over 100 years, according to previous research, suggesting that climate change mitigation efforts must account for nitrous oxide, said Steven Hall, an associate professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology at Iowa State University and the study's senior author.

"In this study, we show that the climate warming effects of nitrous oxide emissions from local corn and soybean soils are two-fold greater than the climate cooling that might be achieved by increasing soil carbon storage with common agricultural practices," Hall said.

Researchers, farmers and policymakers are considering strategies that might encourage producers to store carbon, also a greenhouse gas, in the soil, where it can't contribute to climate change. Hall said storing carbon in agricultural soils is a valuable tactic to mitigate climate change, but the new research indicates any such policies should first take into account nitrous oxide emissions. Failure to do so could result in policies that are much less effective in addressing climate change.

Instead, Hall said management plans also should encourage nitrous oxide mitigation strategies in concert with carbon sequestration. Examples of such strategies include more precise and efficient use of nitrogen fertilizer. New products known as enhanced efficiency fertilizers, as well as the application of biochar to fields, might also help to limit nitrous oxide emissions.

Microorganisms in the soil give off nitrous oxide as a byproduct as they cycle nitrogen. Nitrogen stimulates nitrous oxide production, so adding nitrogen fertilizers to soil tends to result in more emissions.

"If we want to maximize our climate benefit, we want to be strategic about it," Hall said. "We're not simply going to flip the switch on climate just by putting more carbon in the soil. Nitrous oxide emissions need to be a priority as well."

Hall and his fellow researchers developed a new means of measuring nitrous oxide emissions from corn and soybean fields to help gather data for the study. The scientists tweaked previously existing technologies to measure nitrous oxide emissions every four hours. The technology utilizes small containers placed at various locations on top of the soil of ISU research farms in central Iowa. The containers pump air samples into a central shed where an analyzer automatically measures nitrous oxide content. This method hadn't been used before to measure nitrous oxide, and Hall said the researchers had to design the system to withstand the wet conditions often present in agricultural fields.

Hall's coauthors include Nathaniel Lawrence, an ISU graduate student in ecology, evolution and organismal biology; Carlos Tenesaca, a research scientist in ecology, evolution and organismal biology; and Andy VanLoocke, an associate professor of agronomy.



NPPC Applauds USDA Decision to Allow Faster Line Speeds

The National Pork Producers Council today commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture for allowing some pork packing plants to run faster line speeds, a move that could increase packing capacity and alleviate supply issues in the face of strong demand.

“We’re very pleased with USDA’s proposal to let certain plants run at higher line speeds, which will allow more hogs to be harvested and more pork to get to consumers,” said NPPC President Jen Sorenson. “This is particularly important now given the strong demand for pork, supply chain problems and our industry’s packing capacity constraints.”

Nine plants that adopted the agency’s 2019 New Swine Inspection System (NSIS) may apply for a one-year trial program to use faster line speeds, during which they will need to collect data on the effects of line speeds on workers and share it with U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The line speed provision of the 2019 NSIS final rule was more than 20 years in the making, with six pork plants operating faster line speeds through the HACCP-Based Inspection Models Project (HIMP), a program begun in 1997 under the Clinton administration.

“We believe the 20-year pilot program demonstrated that increased line speeds and protecting worker safety are not mutually exclusive,” Sorenson said. “We are optimistic that this new program, with OSHA involvement, will result in more pork for consumers without sacrificing worker safety.”

In March, a U.S. District Court in Minnesota struck down the NSIS line speeds provision, arguing that USDA did not consider worker safety in promulgating the NSIS final rule. When the court’s ruling took effect on July 1, 2021, the pork industry lost 2.5 percent of its harvest capacity, according to Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes.

With the reduction in packing capacity because of the court’s line speed decision, some pork producers lost market leverage and had fewer options for selling their hogs, NPPC pointed out. The ruling also opened the door for packers to exercise the force majeure clause to cancel contracts with producers, which would compel some producers to find other harvest facilities with capacity and likely require many to transport hogs long distances.” That, according to Iowa State’s Hayes, would add up to $10 per hog to the cost of production for farmers already faced with razor-thin margins.

Since the court’s decision, NPPC has been urging the Biden administration to reinstate the use of faster line speeds either by appealing the court ruling, issuing new rulemaking or exercising its waiver authority. Since the court ruling, several members of Congress have been engaged with the Administration on this issue helping to ensure the concerns of impacted producers were ultimately addressed.

“USDA’s action here is very timely as the pork industry has a significant capacity problem,” said Sorenson. “Even though the industry is less concentrated and has more plants and capacity than it did five years ago, capacity remains very tight. That shortfall has been exacerbated not only by the court’s line speed decision but also by the industry’s severe labor shortage, including a shortage of USDA FSIS inspectors at harvest facilities, inhibiting the ability of the facilities to operate at full capacity. We look forward to the expeditious implementation of this program to help the industry recover its lost capacity.”



NAFA Releases “Alfalfa for Beef Cows”

Alfalfa has long been known as the “Queen of Forages,” recognized as the premier source of energy, protein, fiber, and minerals for high-producing dairy cattle. With so much focus on its benefits as a high-quality dairy feed, however, alfalfa can often be thought of as “too good” for beef cattle. Nothing could be further from the truth. While beef cows and growing cattle have lower dietary protein needs than lactating dairy cows, few forages surpass alfalfa’s value as a high-energy, high-protein feed source.

To provide a comprehensive overview of the advantages of feeding alfalfa hay to beef cows, the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance (NAFA) has recently updated and released, “Alfalfa for Beef Cows,” serving as a quick & handy guide to everything livestock farmers should know about feeding alfalfa to beef cows. Some of the publication’s highlights include:
    Why Consider Alfalfa for Beef Cattle?
    Alfalfa as a Protein Source
    Harvest Management of Alfalfa
    Utilizing Alfalfa in Beef Herds
    Breeding and Selection of Alfalfa

“Alfalfa is most often thought of as the premier forage for dairy cattle,” said Beth Nelson, NAFA President. “But alfalfa’s contribution as a high energy, high protein feed source in a well-managed, nutrient-dense beef cattle diet is critically important as well.”

In addition to discussing alfalfa’s dietary energy content, vitamin and mineral concentrations, and dry matter content, Alfalfa for Beef Cows also covers stand persistence, alfalfa-bermudagrass mixtures, and the use of alfalfa for grazing.

This publication is intended as a resource for both livestock producers and hay farmers as a useful educational tool to provide valuable information to their regular customers and to potential buyers. Get your copy today!

Alfalfa for Beef Cows is available to order for $2/copy in print form or may be downloaded for free at https://www.alfalfa.org/publications.php.



NCBA Urges Vilsack to Halt Brazilian Beef Imports

Today, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) called on Secretary Vilsack to immediately suspend all imports of fresh beef from Brazil to the United States.

In the letter to USDA, NCBA asked for a suspension until the agency conducts a thorough risk assessment and review of the processes that Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply (MAPA) uses to detect disease and other threats to consumers. NCBA also urged USDA to review Brazil's veterinary diagnostic laboratory system.

"It's time to keep Brazilian fresh beef out of this country until USDA can confirm that Brazil meets the same consumer and food safety standards that we apply to all our trade partners," said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane.

"NCBA has long expressed concerns about Brazil's history of failing to report atypical BSE cases in a timely manner, a pattern that stretches back as far as 2012. Their poor track record and lack of transparency raises serious doubts about Brazil's ability to produce cattle and beef at an equivalent level of safety as American producers. If they cannot meet that bar, their product has no place here," added Lane.

According to reports published by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), Brazil took more than eight weeks to report two confirmed cases of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The OIE requires countries to report within 24 hours for any animal disease event that could be of international concern for public health emergencies.

After the market devastation of 2003, American cattle producers have worked diligently to protect consumers and restore confidence both at home and abroad. Farmers and ranchers benefit greatly from the demand for beef that is built upon a commitment to integrity, transparency, and the highest scientific standards.

The consumer trust that our producers have worked so hard to build must not be jeopardized by any country that seeks to cut corners or conceal the truth about food safety concerns. Brazilian beef companies must prove that they are worthy of access to American consumers.



Rains in Argentina Boost Soy Planting, Corn Crops

Rains over recent days in Argentina boosted 2021/22 soybean planting and improved conditions for the development of newly-sown corn fields, the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange said in its weekly crop report on Thursday.

The South American grains powerhouse is the world's No. 2 corn exporter and top supplier of soymeal livestock feed.

Despite the current episode of the La Nina climate phenomenon, which usually brings dryness to Argentina, timely rains have benefited the early stages of the 2021/22 season.

Over the last week, soy planting advanced 11.6 percentage points to cover 18.8% of forecasted sowing area. The exchange expects a 2021/22 soy harvest of 44 million tonnes.

"The greatest progress was made over the center of the agricultural area, driven by rains that replaced surface moisture during the last ten days," the exchange said.

The earlier-planted corn fields have begun to enter into their reproductive stages "under good ground moisture conditions," it said in the report.

Corn planting is 29% complete, the exchange said, with the harvest forecasted at 55 million tonnes.

Regarding 2021/22 wheat, the exchange said that the rains caused interruptions in harvesting over the last week. As of Wednesday, farmers had harvested 11.7% of the area sown with corn, with output expected at a record 19.8 million tonnes.