Tuesday January 24 Ag News

Goes Joins Nebraska Beef Council Board

Mark Goes, a former livestock educator at Southeast Community College and cattle rancher from Odell, has been elected to the Nebraska Beef Council Board of Directors in 2023. Goes will represent fellow beef producers in the council's eighth district including Seward, Lancaster, Otoe, Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Saline, Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Webster, Nuckolls, Thayer, Jefferson, Pawnee and Richardson counties. Goes will replace outgoing board member Gregg Wiedel from Hebron.

“I have always been an advocate of the Beef Checkoff,” said Goes. “If I can leverage $1 on an animal to help promote and market my livelihood, which is meat, animal protein production in the form of beef, then I want to do what I can personally to help promote it too.”

Current board members Rosemary Vinton Anderson of Whitman, Jim Ramm of Atkinson,  and Michele Cutler of Elsie will each begin second terms representing their respective districts in 2023. Board members may serve a maximum of two consecutive four-year terms.

Officers for the Nebraska Beef Council Board were also elected to serve in 2023 including: George Cooksley of Anselmo as chair; Jeff Rudolph of Gothenburg as Vice Chair; Michele Cutler of Elsie as Treasurer; and Ivan Rush of Scottsbluff as Secretary.

For more information and a complete list of the Nebraska Beef Council Board of Directors, visit www.nebeef.org.



Nebraska Cattlemen Supports Confirmation of Sherry Vinton for Director of Nebraska Department of Agriculture

Today, after giving his official testimony to the Nebraska Legislature Agriculture Committee, Nebraska Cattlemen President Steve Hanson released the following statement in support of Sherry Vinton to serve as Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture:

“Sherry Vinton has first-hand experience in our industry and knows the grit, commitment, and sacrifice it takes to be a successful cattle producer. Nebraska Cattlemen is proud to support Sherry, as her background and service to the beef cattle industry and knowledge of farming will allow her to work with all scopes and sectors of our industry.” He continued, “Sherry understands the issues facing Nebraska agriculture and we look forward to working alongside her to keep the Beef State thriving.”

FULL TESTIMONY
*As prepared
Good afternoon, Chairman Halloran, and members of the Agriculture Committee. My name is Steve Hanson, I serve as the President of Nebraska Cattlemen and a fourth-generation cattle producer from Elsie. Nebraska Cattlemen supports Sherry Vinton to be the Director of Agriculture.

Sherry’s background and service to the beef cattle industry and knowledge of farming, make us confident in her ability to work with all scopes and sectors of our industry. Her real-world experiences are why she has been nominated for this prestigious position.

Her family runs a respected ranch in the Sandhills near Whitman. They have a cow-calf operation, where they raise high-quality Angus cattle. She understands the issues facing Nebraska agriculture and why it is vital that we remain the beef state which delivers a high quality, safe product to our consumers.

Throughout her career, she has served the industry in multiple capacities on local, state, and national levels throughout associations and advisory committees. Sherry was appointed to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board in 2012. She also represented ranchers and farmers across Congressional District 3 on Nebraska’s Environmental Trust Board for 14 years. In addition, she is a long-time member of Nebraska Cattlemen, Agriculture Builders of Nebraska, and Nebraska Farm Bureau.

In this role, we believe she will continue to represent and serve all sectors of the agriculture industry in Nebraska. Sherry will lead by example as she works with farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness leaders across the state. She will utilize her real-world experience to form and develop policies with a common-sense approach.

Sherry is not only a cattle producer herself, but she also has invaluable experiences that establish she is the individual who will get the job done. She knows the agriculture industry from top to bottom. For these reasons, the members of Nebraska Cattlemen urge you to confirm Mrs. Sherry Vinton.



Iowa's CropsTV Returns for Season 3 of On-demand Education

CropsTV, powered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, returns for a third season in 2023. This educational program delivers crop production information directly to farmers and agribusinesses and provides the convenience of crop production education at home, in the office or anywhere there is an internet connection. All episodes will be available for on-demand viewing, providing flexibility for busy viewers.

The Season Three program features 33 episodes covering a variety of crop management, pest management, nutrient management, and soil and water management topics. Topics were selected from the Integrated Crop Management Conference and Crop Advantage series, and some are exclusive to CropsTV.

CropsTV graphic.The first 11 episodes are now available for viewing, and new episodes will be released every two weeks during January. Subscribers will have access through the end of March.

“After two successful seasons of CropsTV, we are excited to be launching our third season in a new learning platform, the same system used for online university coursework,” said Rebecca Vittetoe, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “We are excited for the new platform, but we will still be providing subscribers with the same flexibility in selecting interesting topics to watch on a flexible schedule.”

Registration for CropsTV is $100 and includes access to 33 pre-recorded episodes, up to 26.5 CCA credits, and access to program and reference materials.

Additional information and registration is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/cropstv. For questions, contact ANR Program Services at 515-294-6429, or email cropstv@iastate.edu.



Governor Kim Reynolds to Speak at Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is excited to announce Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is once again joining the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on February 7.

During 2022, Gov. Reynolds led a successful legislative effort to secure the first-ever state E15 access standard and the first-ever state B30 retailer incentive. Reynolds also led a bipartisan, multi-state effort by Midwest governors to exercise their powers under the federal Clean Air Act to ensure E15 would be available to consumers on a year-round basis.

“Iowa is the leader in biofuels production, and, through rigorous legislative work, Iowa has cemented itself as a leader in biofuels policy,” stated Gov. Reynolds. “Biofuels means so much to Iowa’s economy, farmers and consumers. I am extremely proud of the work Iowa has done to create innovative and groundbreaking policies.”

IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw noted that other states are already seeking to follow Iowa’s lead to ensure their consumers have access to lower cost, higher blend biofuels.

“Gov. Reynolds achieved so much for biofuels in 2022,” stated Shaw. “The long-term impact of her policy victories will go far beyond Iowa’s borders as neighboring states are already seeking to replicate the new Iowa policies. Consumers throughout the Midwest will save literally millions of dollars with higher blends thanks to Gov. Reynold’s leadership.”

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit is taking place on February 7 at the Community Choice Convention Center at the Iowa Events Center. Attendance is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register to attend and learn more, visit IowaRenewableFuelsSummit.org.



Major Equipment Manufacturers and Fleets On the Move With Clean Fuels

At the Clean Fuels Conference in Tampa today, leading diesel engine and equipment manufacturers Caterpillar, John Deere and Cummins joined major fleets including PepsiCo and Florida Power & Light on a featured panel to discuss the important role that low-carbon liquid fuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel play in helping them achieve their near- and long-term corporate sustainability goals. These clean fuels offer substantial and immediate carbon reduction benefits in heavy-duty on-road, off-road, marine and rail transportation, segments which are otherwise difficult to decarbonize or electrify.

Joining the panel of experts was Joel Feucht, Vice President & General Manager for Caterpillar's Large Reciprocating Engine business. Feucht stated, “At Caterpillar, we’ve long recognized the value of sustainable biodiesel and other renewable fuels to our customers who have prioritized the decarbonization of their operations. In fact, CAT diesel-fueled power solutions have enabled operation on B20 biodiesel blends and various hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel products for more than a decade. With the increasing availability and adoption of renewable fuels, we’re committed to expanding our product and service offerings to help equipment owners further capitalize on the benefits they offer.”

As part of a Vehicle Technology Showcase at the Clean Fuels Conference, these featured equipment manufacturers and fleets are displaying a wide variety of vehicles and industrial equipment that supports the use of biodiesel and renewable diesel. While B20 (a blend of 20 percent biodiesel with 80 percent ultra-low sulfur diesel) has been the industry norm for more than a decade and can be used in the majority of diesel vehicles without modification, many fleets are now looking beyond B20 to further accelerate their decarbonization efforts. One hundred percent biodiesel (B100) reduces carbon emissions by more than 70 percent, and Clean Fuels Alliance America member company Optimus Technologies has engineered a system that allows fleets to capitalize on those benefits and run their heavy-duty vehicles on B100 even in the harshest conditions.

Optimus Technologies is showcasing a 2023 Freightliner 114SD equipped with their B100 fuel system technology at the Clean Fuels Conference this week. On loan from the manufacturer, Vac-Con, the truck is being upfitted with Optimus' Vector System during the truck manufacturing process. The final form of this truck will be a 10-Yard Combination Vacuum Truck for sewer cleaning operations, with the ultimate destination being the Washington, D.C. Water and Sewer Authority.

Colin Huwyler, CEO of Optimus Technologies, stated, "The Optimus Vector System is enabling commercial and municipal fleets across the country to immediately decarbonize their most challenging assets. Optimus is proud to be creating a path to a more sustainable future with leading fleets like D.C. Water by using 100 percent biodiesel to power the critical equipment that keeps the infrastructure in our nation's capital functioning."

Clean Fuels Conference attendees as well as local Tampa-area residents will also have the opportunity to test drive some of the latest biodiesel-capable diesel pickup trucks and SUVs coming to market in 2023 during a Biodiesel Ride-and-Drive event at the Tampa Convention Center on Public Day - Wednesday, January 25th from 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM. The event will feature new diesel models supplied by local dealers including Elder Ford of Tampa and Courtesy Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. In addition, Florida Power and Light will be showcasing several of its biodiesel-powered fleet vehicles that have been a critical part of FPL’s recent hurricane recovery operations.



NCBA Sues Biden Administration to Overturn Lesser Prairie Chicken Listing

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has filed a Notice of Intent to sue the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) over the listing of the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act. This is the first step in court toward overturning the listing and revoking FWS’s final rule for both the Northern and Southern Distinct Population Segments (DPS).

“The lesser prairie chicken only survives today because of the voluntary conservation efforts of ranchers,” said NCBA Associate Director of Government Affairs Sigrid Johannes. “The science has proven repeatedly that healthy, diverse rangelands—like those cultivated by livestock grazing—are where the lesser prairie chicken thrives. There are numerous places where this listing goes seriously wrong and we are defending cattle producers against this overreaching, unscientific rule.”

The listing was previously set to take effect at the end of January, but thanks to pressure on the Biden administration from NCBA and our allies in Congress, the rule was delayed by 60 days. The listing will now take effect on March 27, 2023, and the states included in the species’ range are Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado.

NCBA’s lawsuit follows a letter submitted to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and FWS Director Martha Williams last week requesting a delay of the effective date of the rule and flagging particular concerns with the 4(d) rule for the Northern DPS of the bird. By permitting third parties to act as grazing authorities with the power to review and approve grazing management plans within the Northern DPS, FWS has opened the door to activist groups having oversight of cattle grazing. Without these third party-approved grazing management plans, cattle producers operating inside the species’ range will be subject to a punitive degree of civil and criminal penalties for incidental take of the bird.

“This 4(d) rule would allow environmental activist groups to become ‘grazing police’ over cattle producers. Designing a third-party verification system puts political priorities over sound science and empowers distant bureaucrats over land managers and producers with decades of experience,” said Johannes.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. In addition to NCBA, the case is being brought by lead plaintiff Permian Basin Petroleum Association along with the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Kansas Livestock Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, and New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association.



Three Major Pieces to the High Corn Yield Puzzle

Farmers aiming for high corn yields should focus on their genetic selections, balanced nutrition and plant health, says LG Seeds Agronomist Robby Meeker. These aren’t novel or earthshaking concepts. But when combined, these foundational tactics enable farmers to capture more of their crops’ genetic potential.  

#1: Manage your genetic selections
Smart seed selection means choosing a diverse array of hybrids that spread a farmer’s risk and fit his or her ground and goals. But it doesn’t end there. Catering management to those genetic selections is also critical.  

Meeker offers this example: “We have products like LG64C20 that are grain-fill hybrids. They benefit greatly from later-season management and a side-dress application of nitrogen that helps them to build bigger, heavier kernels.”

That differs from kernel-count hybrids that use more nitrogen early in the season to add kernels. Meeker says, “We can put a lot of our nitrogen up front with a kernel-count hybrid like LG5643 and know that we’re maximizing that genetic potential.”  

Knowing your genetics and making sure they are fed at the time of need is crucial to maximizing potential.

#2: Nutrition goes beyond NPK
Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, or NPK, have long been the three major concerns when it comes to crop nutrition. “Our ability to analyze these and other nutrients and micronutrients via soil and tissue tests has improved immensely,” says Meeker. Therefore, he recommends farmers always start with a soil test to assess nutrient and micronutrient levels.  

“Balancing micros can help the plant get the most out of NPK,” Meeker says, offering the micronutrient molybdenum (moly) as an example. “A moly deficiency can hinder a corn plant’s ability to take up nitrogen. We used to think that to grow 240 bushels of corn, we needed 240 pounds of nitrogen,” he says. “We’re learning we can apply less nitrogen if we pay closer attention to micronutrients.”  

How those nutrients are applied also matters. Meeker emphasizes, “Banding as many of those nutrients and micronutrients as we can close to the corn plant’s rootzone will increase plant efficiencies to take yields to a higher level.”   

#3: Don’t let disease threaten plant health
A farmer’s season-long management efforts can be for naught if disease prevents the crop from reaching the finish line. “Farmers need to scout for disease and be ready to make a fungicide pass, if warranted,” Meeker says. “Applying a fungicide at pollination/brown silk to get the corn crop through grain fill enables it to use as much of that nutrition as possible and finish strong.”

Meeker encourages farmers to do harvest-timing studies on their farms. “We need to think about the big picture. We’re widening our harvest window to achieve higher yields,” he says, adding, “Farmers may need to consider an earlier harvest start and limit field dry down.”  

Fine-tuning these three yield-building tactics can improve yields and deliver efficiencies that shift the narrative to higher profits. For support reaching your yield and profitability goals, reach out to your local LG Seeds agronomist.