Monday March 27 Ag News

 2023 Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week

Nebraska farmers continue to produce more bushels of crop per acre with less resources. The result of this increased efficiency is more on-farm grain storage. In turn, this leaves a bigger risk of fatal accidents associated with grain handling and bin storage. Nebraska Corn encourages farmers to focus on hazards found in grain handling and storage environments during “Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week.” The 2023 theme is “Small Changes, BIG Impact!”

“Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week” takes place Mar. 27 - 31 and is organized through an alliance between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Grain and Feed Association, the Grain Elevator and Processing Society and the Grain Handling Safety Council.

Every year hundreds of employees or farmers are injured or die from preventable hazards while working in grain handling and storage. “Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week” encourages facilities and individuals to commit to safety in the workplace or learn how tasks are performed to create positive safety impacts.

There are many hazards that workers are exposed to when working in the grain handling industry. One of the biggest hazards includes suffocation from engulfment. However, with proper safety procedures, grain bin accidents are preventable. Here are seven steps to grain safety tips to keep in mind, remembering to only enter grain bins when absolutely necessary:
    Turn off and lockout equipment before entering bins or performing maintenance
    Never walk down grain to make it flow
    Place a trained observer outside of the bin in case of an emergency
    Test the air in the bin before entering
    Control the accumulation of grain dust through housekeeping
    Do not enter a bin where grain is built up on the side
    Use a safety harness and anchored lifeline when entering a bin

Nebraska Corn will be sharing grain bin safety tips from their social media channels. More information can also be found at standup4grainsafety.org.



NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending March 26, 2023, topsoil moisture supplies rated 16% very short, 33% short, 46% adequate, and 5% surplus, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 32% very short, 40% short, 27% adequate, and 1% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Winter wheat condition rated 11% very poor, 32% poor, 35% fair, 19% good, and 3% excellent.

Weekly reports will begin April 3rd for the 2023 season.

Data for this news release were provided at the county level by USDA Farm Service Agency, UNL Extension Service, and other reporters across the State.



Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program announces 2023-24 scholarship recipients

The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has announced the recipients of scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year. The one-time scholarships will be awarded to 84 students totaling $184,000 for the ensuing academic year.

The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program was established in 2010 by a gift from the Paul and Virginia Engler Foundation. The mission of the program is to embolden people on the courageous pursuit of their purpose through the art and practice of entrepreneurship. The program offers an academic minor while serving as an intersection in which students from a diverse array of majors and business interests can come together in pursuit of the American Dream.  

Incoming Freshman Scholarship Winners:
Bassett: Brooklyn Buell
Bridgeport: Bethany Nichols  
Burwell: Jaci Larsen
Callaway: Silas Cool
Genoa: Alicia Weeder
Gering: Mackenzie Liakos
Gothenburg: Gage Andersen; Jake Burge
Hooper: Ashley Abrahams
Julian: Abigail Hodges
McCook: Ethan Bortner
Pender: Brieann Bruns
Rising City: Alexa Carter
Seward: Crayton Koranda
Wisner: Cameryn Bellar

Continuing Student Scholarship Winners:  
Ainsworth:  Tom Ortner, Libby Wilkins, sophomores; Sam Wilkins, senior
Albion:  Dustin Andreasen, Braden Benes, Cody Maricle, sophomores; Samantha Weeder, junior
Alliance:  Madison Adam, senior
Arapahoe: Grant Taylor, sophomore
Avoca:  Jenna Knake, sophomore
Azle, TX:  Kaytlynn Lemley, sophomore
Bassett:  Jillian Buell, junior; Jaya Nelson, sophomore
Berthoud, CO:  Kace Thoren, junior
Brainard, MN:  Addison Hillman, sophomore
Bricelyn, MN: Melany Ehlert, sophomore
Bridgman, MI:  Emma Schmidt, senior
Cedar Rapids:  Paul VanDeWalle, junior
Colon:  Teresa Quinn, sophomore
Firth: Erin Oldemeyer, sophomore; Daniel Oldemeyer, senior
Franklin:  Kristen Herrick, junior
Fremont:  Adelaide Witte, sophomore
Ft Lupton, CO:  Dominic Gittlein, junior  
Gilbert, AZ:  Rachel Clarkson, senior
Gooding, ID:  Charlotte Brockman, junior
Gothenburg:  Savannah Jensen, sophomore; Heath Keiser, senior  
Herman:  Jadyn Fleischman, Luke Mathiesen, seniors
Hickman:  Carter Rohrer, senior
Hooper:  Rebecca Wulf, senior
Kalletal, Germany: Saskia Lanwermann, junior
Kearney:  Logan Greeno, sophomore
Lemoyne:  Sheridan Wilson, junior
Lincoln: Allison Walbrecht, sophomore
Lindsay:  Preston Sueper, senior
Long Pine:  Logan Hafer, junior
Mead:  Abby Miller, senior
Minden:  Molly Burchell, sophomore; Kaleb Senff, junior
Morse Bluff:  Hannah Williams, junior
Nelson: Kylie Beard, sophomore
North Platte:  Celie Childears, senior  
Oakland: Anna Karnopp, sophomores
Omaha: Naidaly Gonzalez-Miranda, Kelsey Simon, sophomores
Ord:  Amber Staab, senior
Osmond:  Landon Stelling, senior
Petersburg:  Seth Wright, junior
Scribner:  Levi Schiller, sophomore
Seward:  Emma Kuss, junior  
Shenandoah, IA:  Ty Lantz, junior
St Paul:  Madison Hirschman, sophomore
Stockton, KS:  Caleigh Iwanski, senior
Sumner: Mattison Beattie, sophomore
Sunbury, OH: Caleb Durheim, senior
Syracuse:  Madison Kreifels, junior
Unadilla:  Sydney Wellsandt, junior
Valentine:  Brody Benson, senior  
Waco:  Kailey Ziegler, junior
Waverly: Emelia Rourke, sophomore
West Point: Keegan Doggett, sophomore
Wood Lake:  Ty Schlueter, sophomore
Wray, CO:  Jaden Dodsworth, sophomore
Wymore:  Ashtyn Humphreys, senior
York:  Keeley Conrad, junior

For more information, contact program director Tom Field at 402-472-5643 or tfield2@unl.edu.



Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council Elects New Officers

The Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council elected new officers and board members during its annual meeting on March 17, 2023.  

Newly elected officers include Chair of the Board: Jolene Messinger of McCook; Vice Chair: Raymond Morse of Norfolk; Secretary: Jay Rempe of Lincoln and Treasurer: Bobbie Kriz-Wickham of Lincoln.  

Newly elected board members include Scot Blehm of Lincoln, Matt Dolch of Lincoln, and Chris Roth of Deshler. Mary Eisenzimmer of Big Springs, Jessica Groskopf of Gering, and Bobbie Kriz-Wickham of Lincoln were re-elected for a second three-year term.  

Retiring board members include Gerald Clausen of Lincoln who served as Board Chair and Jerry Catlett of Bruning who served as Vice Chair of the Board for 2022-2023, and Scott Richert of Gresham.  

Board members also include Nicole Bohuslavsky of Omaha, David Englund of Omaha, Drew Jensen of Lincoln, Suzanna Klaasmeyer of Hershey, Lori Luebbe of Lincoln, Scott Meradith of Lincoln, and Dr. Marysz Rames of Wayne. Dr. Richard Bischoff of Lincoln serves as the IANR Liaison Representative, and Stan Mitchell of Seward serves as the President of the Nebraska LEAD Alumni Association. The Council’s President is Dr. Terry Hejny, who also serves as the Director of the Nebraska LEAD Program.

The Nebraska LEAD Program includes men and women, currently active in production agriculture and agribusiness and is a two-year leadership development program under the direction of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council in cooperation with the University of Nebraska's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  

For more information, or to request an application for Nebraska LEAD 42 which will begin in September of 2023, contact the Nebraska LEAD Program, 104 ACB, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0940.  You may also call 402-472-6810 or email leadprogram@unl.edu Applications will be due June 15, 2022.



WOIWODE EXPLAINS BENEFITS OF STANDARDIZED CATTLE-HANDLING TRAINING

America’s cattle sector could benefit greatly by adopting a set standard for proficiency levels in animal care and handling. University of Nebraska–Lincoln scientist Ruth Woiwode, drawing on her expertise in animal behavior, is working to address that challenge.

Woiwode, assistant professor of animal behavior and welfare in the Department of Animal Science, has developed a multi-step approach to teaching cattle handling techniques based on key findings regarding animal behavior. She demonstrated those techniques during a recent gathering of 4-H educators for a two-day set of sessions at Nebraska’s Animal Science Complex.
 
Brett Kreifels, a 4-H educator for Douglas and Sarpy counties, said his background is in poultry rather than cattle, but he was impressed “to see how she was able to take those cattle and move them exactly where she wanted them and did it very effortlessly.”

Among those who observed her demonstration was Temple Grandin, a Colorado State University professor and noted expert in animal behavior. Grandin was Woiwode’s academic adviser during Woiwode’s graduate study at Colorado State. Woiwode’s cattle-handling techniques draw in large part on insights Grandin has provided during her decades-long study of animal behavior.

In watching Woiwode’s demonstration, Grandin noted that the Husker scientist’s techniques had kept the cattle calm while directing them from one gate to another and, in one instance, separating one calf from the rest.

Afterward, 4-H educators said such training, perhaps via video, could have great value in helping children learn effective animal-handling techniques.

One task in Woiwode’s cattle-handling approach involves moving a group of cattle through a gate and closing it, then moving the cattle in a straight line and stopping them at a designated point. Mistakes to be avoided include moving the cattle too fast, causing them to run; scattering the cattle; and cattle running into fences.

In her writings about the training approach, Woiwode has noted the principle that the cattle industry “cannot manage its quality problems until it can measure them.” That principle has served as a central guide for the Beef Quality Assurance program.

Training in husbandry and stockmanship skills traditionally has been passed down from generation to generation, but in modern times, many prospective employees are entering the cattle sector without that background. A standardized approach can provide certainty in training and facilitate efficiency in workforce development.

Such an approach also can build trust with the public, given the public’s increased interest in animal welfare. Another benefit is improved long-term impact on animals, since academic study has shown that handling, positive or negative, can have a cumulative long-term effect on an animal.

Woiwode, with faculty positions in teaching, research and extension, holds certifications for dairy, swine, poultry, meat plant and feedlot animal welfare auditing. Prior to joining Nebraska, she led a team in auditing entire supply chains. She serves on the Animal Welfare Committee and Small Plant Task Force for the North American Meat Institute, the Nebraska Feedyard Safety Advisory Committee, and the Faculty Advisory Committee for Nebraska’s Beef Innovation Hub.



Land O’Lakes President and CEO to speak at Heuermann Lecture in 2023 Water for Food Global Conference

Land O’Lakes, Inc. President and CEO Beth Ford is the featured speaker at the Heuermann Lecture on May 8 in Lincoln, Neb. U.S.A. as part of the 2023 Water for Food Global Conference.

The free lecture, sponsored by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will be held 4:30-6 p.m. at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center, 2021 Transformation Drive and livestreamed online.

Ford serves as president and chief executive officer of Land O’Lakes, Inc., a Fortune 200 food production, and agribusiness company that is also a century-old farmer-owned cooperative. Land O’ Lakes operates Land O’Lakes Dairy Foods, Purina Animal Nutrition, WinField United and Truterra and has operations in more than 60 countries. Ms. Ford joined Land O’Lakes in 2011 and has held a variety of roles across all businesses. She is a passionate advocate on behalf of farmers and rural America with the goal of connecting people, particularly in urban areas, to the farmers and rural communities who grow their food. In addition, she is the convener of The American Connection Project to help bridge the digital divide. Beth's 35-year career spans six industries at seven companies. Ford is on the board of directors of Starbucks and previously served on the board of directors of Blackrock, Inc. She also serves on the board of directors for the Business Roundtable and the Columbia University Business School – Deming Center Board of Advisors. She recently was inducted into the Supply Chain Hall of Fame by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and received a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree from Iowa State University in 2022.

The lecture is held in conjunction with the Water for Food Global Conference May 8-11, 2023, which will convene leading international experts and organizations to discuss “Cultivating Innovation: Solutions for a Changing World,” focusing on the next generation of research, smart technology, policy development and best practices that are achieving breakthroughs in water and food security. The conference is organized by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska and features three days of conference sessions, as well as site visits to a local Nebraska farm, a feed lot and a university research center. Registration and more information are available at waterforfood.nebraska.edu.

Heuermann Lectures are funded by a gift from B. Keith and Norma Heuermann of Phillips. The Heuermanns are longtime university supporters with a strong commitment to Nebraska’s production agriculture, natural resources, rural areas and people.

Lectures are streamed lived on the Heuermann Lecture Series website and air live on campus channel 4. Lectures are archived after the event and are later broadcast on NET2.



Nebraska Wheat Board Announces Ambassador Program

The Nebraska Wheat Board (NWB) is now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year Ambassador Program. The goal of the NWB Ambassador Program is to develop college-aged students into better advocates and leaders in agriculture and to help them grow both personally and professionally.

The program consists of ambassadors participating in promotional events, school visits, career exploration and much more. Upon completion of the program, ambassadors will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

Applications are open to any full-time student enrolled in a Nebraska post-secondary school. Students need to complete the application and submit a resume, letters of reference and a copy of their current transcripts. The application deadline is May 31, 2023, at 11:59 PM. Program details and the application can be found online at www.nebraskawheat.com, under “About Us, Student Ambassador Program” tabs.

For more information on the program, reach out to Jadyn Heckenlively at jadyn.heckenlively@nebraska.gov or by phone at (402) 471-4872.



Iowa Beef Center to Host Fencing and Grazing Clinic

The 2023 Fencing and Grazing Clinic, organized and hosted by the Iowa Beef Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, is set for May 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Iowa State University Armstrong Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm near Lewis, in southwest Iowa.

Erika Lundy-Woolfolk, beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, said the clinic is timely and practical. There is no cost to attend the event, but preregistration is required.

“By holding this clinic in May, we hope participants will be able to take more information they’ve learned and put it to use this grazing season,” she said. “Attendees will learn about new fencing tools and technology, managing paddocks and unwanted forages to improve productivity and more.”

Lundy-Woolfolk and Iowa Beef Center extension program specialist Beth Reynolds are planning the daylong event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wallace Learning Center, at the farm, 53020 Hitchcock Ave., Lewis.

“In the morning, our hands-on learning includes a permanent and temporary fencing demonstration led by Gallagher, and a group activity on designing paddocks within your pasture, led by NRCS,” Lundy-Woolfolk said. “We’ve also planned classroom sessions on identifying and managing weeds in pastures, water quality and building a grazing calendar.”

Topics and confirmed speakers are:
    New Tools in Fencing – Brad Cochran and Brad Ketchum, Gallagher.
    Building your Paddocks – Kayla Creek, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
    Red Flag Forages – Aaron Saeugling, ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomist.
    Planning a Grazing Calendar – Beth Reynolds and Erika Lundy-Woolfolk, Iowa Beef Center.
    Water Quality: Testing, Interpreting, and Impact on Performance – Garland Dahlke, Iowa Beef Center.

There is no cost to attend thanks to the event sponsors: Gallagher, Iowa Forage and Grassland Council, Theisen’s, Millborn Seeds, Iowa State Beef Checkoff Program, Practical Farmers of Iowa and Dairyland Laboratories Inc.

Preregistration is required to attend and should be made no later than Friday, May 12. To register, contact Lundy-Woolfolk at ellundy@iastate.edu or 641-745-5902; or Reynolds at bethr@iastate.edu or 307-761-3353.

See the clinic flyer for a quick look at topics and sponsors https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/events/FencingClinicFlyer2023.pdf.



Improve Thin or Over-grazed Pastures This Spring

The negative impacts of drought, high nitrogen prices and other high prices associated with pasture management have left some pastures in the state in less-than-ideal condition.

As the 2023 growing season approaches, Aaron Saeugling, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, discusses important considerations when improving thin or over-grazed pastures. A recent article written by Saeugling for ISU Extension and Outreach’s Acreage Living Newsletter highlights these considerations and provides resources for pasture improvement.

According to Saeugling, pastures suffering from thinning can be improved with frost-seeding or interseeding this spring. While frost-seeding and interseeding can be a viable long-term solution for some, it is also important to consider pasture conditions such as soil pH, herbicide use and soil fertility, since not all pastures will be ready to be reseeded without soil amendments. As Saeugling explains, taking the time to properly plan and prepare will help to increase the success of these practices.

As an additional benefit given high nitrogen prices, frost-seeding or interseeding with a legume can help to lessen the amount of nitrogen that needs to be applied to the pasture, since many legumes are capable of fixing nitrogen into the soil.

“Nitrogen fixing legumes should include alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, and clover species,” said Saeugling. “Keep in mind with legumes in a pasture, a soil pH above six is best and for alfalfa a soil pH of 6.9.”

Seed placement is another key consideration when frost-seeding or interseeding pastures, as well as seed dispersal method. A drill is preferred for most legumes, as it provides good seed to soil contact. If broadcasting, seeding prior to a snow event can help the seed stick to the surface of the soil.

After frost-seeding or interseeding, it is important to monitor pasture green up and prevent competitive grass species from growing more than 4 inches, as this can result in shading of legume seedlings. Once legume seedlings are established, grazing can be permitted.

For more information on pasture management, a variety of extension resources are available for free from the ISU Extension Store.



NCBA Calls for Continued Ban on Paraguayan Beef Imports

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to continue blocking Paraguay from importing beef to the U.S. in response to USDA releasing a proposed rule that would grant access to Paraguayan beef imports.

“USDA’s proposed rule to allow Paraguayan beef imports into the U.S. is based on 9-year-old data and site visits that occurred in 2008 and 2014. Paraguay has a history of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and we cannot jeopardize the safety of U.S. consumers and the health of our U.S. cattle herd with outdated information,” said NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus. “The United States has the highest animal health and food safety standards in the world because we rely on the most up-to-date information and the highest science-based standards. USDA should not proceed with this application until a thorough review can be conducted with current information that demonstrates Paraguay’s equivalence in animal health and food safety standards.”



Weighing Soil Compaction Risks with Corn Planting Date
Pioneer

A wet spring can put farmers behind their planting schedule and leave them feeling rushed. Timely planting is critical for maximizing yield and delays due to rainfall can lead to farmers planting into wet soils to make up the difference. Before rushing to plant, farmers should weigh the risks of compaction-related yield loss against that of delayed planting.

While planting within the optimum window can impact corn yield anywhere from 2-5%, three other factors are also important to optimizing yield at planting:
    Uniform emergence (5-9%)
    Correct population (1-2%)
    Uniform plant spacing (1-2%)

The ability to get corn planted within the optimum planting window is largely driven by weather conditions. This window that can vary greatly from year to year and lead to planting into wet soils, potentially creating compaction issues.

Compacted soils can limit the ability of plant roots to grow into new soil to extract water and nutrients. This can reduce the amount of the soil profile that is available to contribute to supplying water and nutrients for crop growth. According to Iowa State University, in favorable years, moisture availability, well-timed rain and fertilizer use can mask the effects of soil compaction. In unfavorable years, however, yields can be reduced by as much as 20%, potentially outweighing the drawbacks of late planting.

Growers should consider all factors when planting and not rush to a decision to meet a certain time frame.