Monday April 10 Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending April 9, 2023, there were 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 25% very short, 39% short, 35% adequate, and 1% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 37% very short, 40% short, 23% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Winter wheat condition rated 10% very poor, 31% poor, 36% fair, 20% good, and 3% excellent.

Oats planted was 20%, well behind 40% last year, and behind 26% for the five-year average. Emerged was 1%, near 5% last year and 3% average.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

Dry conditions and warming temperatures helped Iowa farmers by increasing the days suitable for fieldwork to 3.5 during the week ending April 9, 2023, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. A storm cell brought strong winds and hail to parts of Iowa. Field activities included fertilizer applications and oat seeding.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 19 percent short, 73 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 7 percent very short, 27 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.

Thirteen percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, 1 day ahead of last year but 1 day behind the 5-year average. There were limited reports of oats beginning to emerge.

Pastures were starting to turn green although growth was still minimal. Calving continued. Overall, livestock conditions improved with warmer weather.



USDA Crop Progress: Winter Wheat Condition Tied for Lowest Rating in 40 Years

U.S. winter wheat condition, already the lowest in decades, dropped another point last week, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress Report on Monday.

WINTER WHEAT
-- Crop condition: Nationwide, winter wheat was rated 27% good to excellent, down 1 percentage point from 28% the previous week and 5 percentage points below last year's rating at this time of 32%. The current rating is tied with 1996 for the lowest in four decades. The crop in the top winter wheat-producer Kansas is rated only 13% good to excellent.
-- Crop development: 7% of winter wheat was headed nationwide as of Sunday. That's 2 percentage points ahead of last year's 5% and 3 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 4%.

CORN
-- Planting progress: Corn planting moved ahead just 1 percentage point last week to reach 3% as of Sunday, May 9. That is 1 percentage point ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Texas leads the way at 61% planted, ahead of its average pace of 58%. Missouri's corn was 7% planted, ahead of the state's average of 3%.

SPRING WHEAT
-- Planting progress: 1% of spring wheat crop was planted, down from the five-year average of 4% with some early progress in Washington.



Cover Crop Termination Tradeoffs
Katja Koehler-Cole - Extension Educator

A fall-planted cereal rye, wheat, or triticale cover crop can have both positive and negative impacts, for example by tying up nitrogen, reducing soil moisture prior to planting, increasing insect pressure, reducing weed pressure, reducing soil erosion and allelopathy.

Each year we receive questions on termination timing of cereal covers. This question occurs as farmers consider trade-offs between a positive return on investment from the cover crop, by allowing more biomass growth with the potential for yield loss if termination is delayed too long. Information being shared can be confusing, with one source saying to terminate pre-plant while another says to plant green into the cover.

What’s the “right” answer? We don’t know that there is one. That’s because farmers’ goals and level of risk vary. In general, there are less risks to planting green with soybean than corn. This article will share tradeoffs to help you better assess cover crop termination timing for your operation and risk level.

Cereal Rye and Potential Allelopathy
For several years, we’ve heard about the potential allelopathic effect cereal rye can have on corn. To avoid the potential allelopathic effects, it’s often recommended to terminate cereal rye at least two weeks before planting corn. Others report successfully planting corn into green cereal rye, leading to the question: Can allelopathic chemicals from rye affect corn?

We do know studies investigating the effects of allelopathic chemicals from cereal rye on corn germination have mostly been done in laboratory settings. One study found that allelopathic chemical extracts from rye reduced corn root length, but another study found no similar effects. It is hard to say with confidence whether allelopathic effects contribute to slower growth and reduced germination that can sometimes be observed with corn in the field or if it is the result of other environmental factors or simply nitrogen tie-up (which we feel is more likely the cause). For one thing, corn has a relatively large seed, making it less likely to be affected by allelopathic chemicals than small-seeded plants. Also, allelopathic chemicals quickly degrade in the soil, so increasing time between cover crop termination and corn planting should decrease the likelihood that allelochemicals would negatively affect corn germination.

Challenges with Terminating Rye Pre-plant
While the potential effects of allelopathy are worth noting, there are challenges with timely termination of rye prior to corn planting. Killing the rye at least 14 days before planting may not allow for much rye growth in early spring or would require delayed corn planting, either way reducing the potential benefits from cover cropping. Weather conditions are not always conducive for effective cereal rye termination. In early spring when temperatures are less than 55°F and cloudy conditions are common, herbicides such as glyphosate can have reduced absorption and translocation, resulting in delayed or partial control of cereal rye.

In contrast, glyphosate applied when weather is favorable can provide very effective termination of cereal rye while also providing early-season weed suppression. An option more growers are considering is to use clethodim instead of glyphosate when terminating a small grain prior to corn and/or seed corn planting. Clethodim kills cereals slower than glyphosate allowing for them to stay around longer between the rows for weed and erosion control, if those are part of the farmer's goals.
Benefits to Green Planting

Some farmers have shared the difficulty of planting through the partially decomposed “mushy” cover crop. Farmers also noticed corn planted into these conditions often came up slow and had a yellow, sickly look to it for a time. Farmers that switched to planting green say it was easier to plant compared with planting into the decomposing-dying cover and noted the corn also tended to look less yellow or sickly. Two farmers in 2020 also shared the green standing rye held the previous crop residue in place and their corn emergence was more even in those fields compared to planting into terminated cover crop residue. Many have shared the observation of early-season weed suppression.

Risks to Planting Green
In spite of these observations, planting green is not for everyone and one needs to assess the risk of doing so. Cover crops use moisture and can dry out the seedbed. Some farmers in non-irrigated situations have planted corn/soybeans into dry seedbeds when planting green and hoped for rains. Some farmers have found the need to run pivots to get moisture into the seedbed. Thus, there’s greater risk for farmers with non-irrigated land and those in water allocation situations.

Another risk is the potential for increased insects. In 2017, wheat stem maggot was observed migrating from late-terminated cereal rye to emerging corn plants. We think it’s important to have insects in the back of one’s mind when planting green.

Research from Penn State and Wisconsin showed no yield difference when soybean was planted green vs. planted into pre-plant terminated cereal rye or triticale. Research from Penn State showed yield loss 50% of the time when corn was planted green vs. into pre-plant terminated rye or triticale. A 2020 survey of Nebraska and Wisconsin farmers who planted green showed 42% (77 respondents) saw no yield increase while 42% saw a 1-5 bu/ac increase in soybean yields, whereas 59% (83 respondents) saw no yield reduction by planting corn green.

Considerations for Pre-Plant Termination
    Terminating 10-14 days pre-plant can aid with saving soil moisture, particularly in non-irrigated or water allocation situations and is a more conservative (risk averse) approach when rotating to corn. Be aware of any herbicide label restrictions prior to corn planting when using herbicides other than glyphosate for termination.
    Apply nitrogen as a starter, as nitrogen tie-up is perhaps a bigger issue than potential allelopathy. This may help the corn not look so sickly as it emerges through the dying rye.
    Be aware that rye death following termination and drying out will depend on environmental conditions each spring. Anticipate it may be difficult to cut through the rye residue when planting and do your best to set equipment accordingly.
    Consider using clethodim instead of glyphosate to allow the rye to die slower and maintain some biomass for weed/erosion control.

Considerations for Planting Green
    Apply nitrogen as a starter with corn when planting green; nitrogen tie-up is perhaps a bigger issue than any potential allelopathy.
    Wait for the corn or soybean seed to begin germination before terminating the cover crop (which may be a few days).
    Waiting to terminate a few days after planting also allows the rye that’s been run over by the planter to regrow and kill better.
    If irrigation is available, have the irrigation system ready to go prior to planting in the event you need to add some moisture into a dry seedbed.
    Upon planting the field, scout for insect pressure, particularly observing if any adult wheat stem maggot flies are present.
    For those who wanted the greatest amount of biomass for weed suppression in soybean, termination of rye occurred closer to heading. For those who plan to roller-crimp rye for weed control, termination occurs at boot stage to heading.
    When terminating a rye cover crop, if the cover is 12 inches or more and you’re planning on a residual herbicide, consider waiting on the residual as a second pass after the rye starts dying. We realize no one wants an additional pass or expense. Observation and research show that less residual gets down to the soil when cover crops are 12 inches or taller. How long one waits for the second pass for rye to start dying will depend on the environmental conditions each year. The other option if one chooses to add residual when terminating is to plan on an irrigation or rainfall event shortly after application to help move the residual herbicide down to the soil.
    Please see the following articles for additional information regarding cover crop termination and application of residual herbicide: Final Results from a Multi-state Study on Cover Crop Termination with Herbicides; Managing Residual Herbicides with Cover Crops.
    Risk Management Agency Guidelines allow for planting green and are based on “best management practices” for different zones and for irrigated or non-irrigated ground. You can read more on USDA’s Cover Crops site. This is for crops with a contract change date of June 30, 2019, or later, beginning with the 2020 crop year and including successive crop years.

Plan for Options
With the way things are growing this year, it may be wise to have a Plan A and Plan B in mind if you plan on planting green but the cover crop is getting taller than you are comfortable with, especially for corn. For example, Plan A for a non-irrigated situation may be that you are planning on planting green unless the cover is X inches tall by a certain date (ex. April 10-15) upon which you will choose to terminate pre-plant instead (Plan B). We realize none of this is easy and we wish you the best with your decisions this year. Please contact the authors if you wish to discuss these tradeoffs in more detail for your specific situation.



Midwest Dairy welcomes new 2023 leadership from across the 10-state region

Charles Krause from Buffalo, Minnesota, was newly elected as chair of Midwest Dairy during the organization’s annual meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, this week.

Krause Holsteins is a multigenerational dairy farm that first began in 1959 and currently milks around 350 cows. The Krause family has been farming in Wright County for over 150 years, and Krause himself is a fifth-generation farmer. Krause and his wife, Robyn, graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1991 and then had the opportunity to join the family farm full-time. Krause also farms with his son, Andrew, and his daughter, Morgan, helps wherever needed. Krause also grows his own feed on 500 acres.

Krause plays a prominent role in the dairy promotion industry. In addition to serving as Midwest Dairy chair, he has been an officer on the Midwest Dairy division board since 2007 and a member of the corporate board since 2010. His past officer position includes being the corporate board first vice chair since 2016. He also serves on the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA) board as the Secretary and serves the Global Dairy Platform as a United States Ambassador.

In the past, Krause has received recognition for the Farmer Communicator of the Year award from the National Milk Producers Federation, National Dairy Shrine Progressive Dairymen of the Year, Minnesota Milk Producer of the Year, Dairy Farmers of America Members of Distinction, and Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame Inductee

Krause is also involved in a variety of dairy and community leadership positions, such as Dairy Farmers of America-Central Area Council Vice Chair, Centra Sota Cooperative Board of Directors, and the Buffalo FFA Alumni. In his spare time, Charles enjoys traveling with his wife, Robyn.

“I am honored to continue working with my fellow dairy farmers on the Midwest Dairy board as we drive growth and initiatives within the dairy checkoff to serve all dairy farmers in the Midwest better. There are many exciting opportunities for our checkoff organization, and I am proud to be a part of it.” – Charles Krause

Elections for the Corporate board officer team were also held. Dan Hotvedt, Decorah, Iowa, was newly elected as first vice chair; Bill Deutsch, Sycamore, Illinois, was newly elected as second vice chair; Rita Young, Plainview, Minnesota, was re-elected as secretary and Matt Schelling, Orange City, Iowa, was newly elected as treasurer.

New members elected by their divisions to the Midwest Dairy Corporate board include:
• Anthony Anderson – Minnesota
• Eric Hoese – Minnesota
• Tom Walsh – South Dakota

2023 division board officers and new division board members are as follows:
Nebraska Division
• Chair – Mary Temme, Wayne
• Vice chair – Joyce Racicky, Mason City
• Secretary/Treasurer – Jodi Cast, Beaver Crossing

Iowa Division
• Chair – Dan Hotvedt, Decorah
• Vice chair – Lee Maassen, Maurice
• Secretary – Jonna Schutte, Monona
• Treasurer – Pam Bolin, Clarksville
• Josie Rozum, Ely, and Matt Simon, Blairstown, were seated as new members of the Iowa Division
board.

Mo-Kan Division
• Chair – Byron Lehman, Newton, Kansas
• Vice chair – Steve Ohlde, Linn Kansas
• Secretary – Donna Telle, Uniontown, Missouri
• Treasurer – Curtis Steenbock, Longford, Kansas
• Michael Hemme, Concordia, was seated as a new member of the Mo-Kan Division board.

South Dakota Division
• Chair – Marv Post, Volga
• Vice chair – Kevin Van Winkle, Canistota
• Secretary – Maartje Lemstra, Humboldt
• Treasurer – Jogchum Andrenga, Brandt
• Maartje Lemstra, Humboldt, and Tom Walsh, DeGraff, were seated as new members of the South
Dakota Division board.

North Dakota Division
• Chair – Sue Kleingartner, Gackle
• Vice chair – Terry Entzminger, Jamestown
• Secretary – Kim Ledger, Bismarck
• Treasurer – Lilah Krebs, Gladstone

Minnesota Division
• Chair – Kristine Spadgenske, Menahga
• Vice chair – Kate McAndrews, Sauk Centre
• Secretary – Mindi Arendt, Mazeppa
• Treasurer – Rita Young, Plainview
• Megan Schrupp, Eden Valley, and Rita Vander Kooi, Worthington, were seated as new ex-officio
members of the Minnesota Division board.

Illinois Division
• Chair – Bill Deutsch, Sycamore
• Vice chair – Brent Mueller, Garden Prairie
• Secretary – Amy Hildebrandt, South Beloit
• Treasurer – Glen Meier, Ridott

Ozarks Division
• Chair – Nathan Roth, Mountain Grove, Missouri
• Vice chair – Marilyn Calvin, Mt. Vernon, Missouri
• Secretary – Carrie Rantz, Spokane, Missouri
• Treasurer – Mark Fellwock, Monett, Missouri
• Bill Haak, Gentry, was seated as a new member of the Ozark Division board.



Moxley Finds Antibiotic Resistance in Salmonella in New Study

Dr. Rodney Moxley is a renowned veterinary pathologist who has spent much of his career researching E. coli O157:H7 and its impact on the beef industry. After working in private veterinary practice, and then the USDA as a veterinarian, he obtained a Ph.D. in pathology and took a position at the University of Nebraska. His first position was mainly in diagnostic pathology, but later transitioned into doing research on foodborne pathogens. In recent years, he has shifted his focus to Salmonella and antimicrobial resistance.

 “What we were really interested in were strains that were resistant to multiple antibiotics,” said Dr. Moxley.

 In 2020, the Nebraska Beef Council and the Beef Checkoff Program funded their project, which aimed to identify how Salmonella acquires antimicrobial resistance. Dr. Moxley, Dr. Dustin Loy, and the rest of their team studied the antimicrobial resistance of diagnostic lab isolates from cattle between 2010 and 2020, including strains from a study they conducted 20 years ago.

 “Those more recent ones are sort of representing more of the current isolates that cattle have,” said Dr. Moxley.

 Their objectives were to identify the genes associated with antimicrobial resistance, particularly multidrug resistance, and to determine whether Salmonella acquires drug resistance from respiratory bacteria. They also looked for the prevalence of other resistance gene transfer mechanisms in Salmonella and developed diagnostic tests for detecting multidrug-resistant organisms.

Their research led to a novel discovery: they found evidence of a new mechanism for the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in Salmonella. They used PCR genetic tests and whole genome sequencing to detect this mechanism, and did not find evidence of spread of respiratory pathogen genes into Salmonella. The mechanism of spread that they did find was a new type and consistently associated with the accumulation of multiple genes enabling resistance to several classes of antibiotics, i.e., making them multidrug-resistant.

 Their research provides valuable insights into the spread of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella and highlights the need for further studies to identify new mechanisms for the spread of antibiotic resistance genes as well as treatment.

 “If you knew that an animal had it, it would allow you to at least identify animals that were a threat,” said Moxley. “To get into what you need to do to get rid of it as a whole is a different set of questions and a project that would need to be done.”

 The development of rapid diagnostic tests for detecting multidrug-resistant organisms is also crucial in combating the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens. The collaboration between Dr. Moxley and Dr. Loy is a testament to the importance of interdisciplinary research in addressing complex problems in food safety and health.



CAP Webinar: Rangeland Response and Management Following Drought
With Mitch Stephenson, Extension Range Management Specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Apr 20, 2023 12:00 PM

In 2022, 85% of Nebraska was categorized as being in severe to exceptional drought. While we do not know yet how precipitation is going to play out this year, thinking through range and pasture management during and in the years following drought provides opportunities to limit the negative effects of drought on sustainable range livestock production.

Details and registration can be found at https://cap.unl.edu/webinars.  



USMARC Hiring Sheep Flock Manager

The U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Neb., is seeking a highly motivated, detail oriented individual to provide primary oversight of the daily husbandry and research planning of its sheep flocks. Currently, USMARC has more than 2,000 breeding ewes with genetic backgrounds and management systems reflective of the diversity of American sheep production.

This individual will work with a team of scientists and management staff to implement experiments with objectives geared toward solving high-priority issues that improve the profitability, sustainability and livelihood of American farmers and ranchers.

The vacancy will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.

Click Here for more information https://employment.unl.edu/postings/85335.



Nebraska wineries join together to host the 2023 TOAST Nebraska Wine Festival in Omaha!

The Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Association (Nebraska Wines) is excited to host their annual wine festival, TOAST Nebraska, the largest gathering of wineries in the state at Stinson Park in Omaha on May 12-13!

Voted 'Best Festival' in 2021 and 2022 by Best of Omaha, the event is a fantastic chance to experience a wide variety of offerings from wineries located across the state, all in one convenient location. The event is held over the course of two days at Stinson Park, May 12-13, 2023.

This year the event will be hosted on Mother's Day weekend, with some fun surprises planned for moms throughout the event! Attendees can snag a last-minute card or flowers for Sunday; with over 45 local vendors and a fully stocked TOAST Shop teeming with Nebraska Wines merchandise, the perfect gift will be easy to find. Paired with a bottle of wine, attendees can curate a perfect Mother's Day basket. Better yet, buy mom tickets and plan a fun-filled weekend with friends and family!
 
The event reached record attendance in May 2022, with over 4,500 attendees from 35 states. Along with tastings at 17 wineries, attendees can expect products and offerings from local artisans, a street-length of food trucks, live music and bands, and free activities, including the crowd-favorite wine bingo.

Attendees can purchase bottles of wine for consumption on-site, with many sharing a bottle with friends while enjoying the live music or playing a few games of wine bingo in the picnic area. The event is an excellent opportunity to discover a new wine preference or stock up on your Nebraska wine favorites. Some attendees even bring their wagons or carts and shop the state by visiting and purchasing bottles from each booth. A wine check is also available to store wine purchases during attendees' time at the event, saving the hassle of lugging heavy wine totes across the park.

Tickets are $35 for Friday tickets and $45 for Saturday tickets. Admission includes a wine-tasting glass, unlimited wine tastings, a wine tote, access to vendors, live music and bands, and free activities like wine bingo. Two-day tickets, as well as designated driver tickets, are also available. Tickets increase by $20 on May 1 until the event ends. All attendees must be 21 or older - no infants, children, or pets.

Tickets are limited and did sell out before doors opened last year. On-site ticket availability is not guaranteed. To purchase tickets and learn more about the 2023 TOAST Nebraska Wine Festival, visit www.toastwinefest.com.  



Cybersecurity Webinar Series to Focus on Reducing Cyberattacks in Agriculture

Cyberattacks in agriculture, food supply and farming industries are a growing concern, as attackers become more creative and target sectors critical to human infrastructure. With 50 billion devices connected to the internet, everyone is vulnerable. An important part of cybersecurity is cyber defense, and the best way to prepare for a cyberattack is with preventative mitigation.

With these concerns in mind, a series of webinars dedicated to strengthening the digital protections in place for farm businesses and families are being offered during this year’s Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Week.

The three-part series, offered through a partnership between ISU Extension and Outreach and ISU Center for Cybersecurity Innovation and Outreach, will begin at noon each day April 17 through April 19. The series is free and open to everyone. Each session will include a 30-minute presentation as well as time for questions from the participants. Webinars will be recorded for later viewing. “Farm families and business owners are asking: What can happen? How can I reduce my risk? And what do I do when it happens? Webinar attendees will learn the answers to these questions and create a plan to reduce their cybersecurity risk,” said Alexis Stephens, ISU Extension and Outreach farm management specialist.

Monday’s webinar, “Keeping Your Farm Family Secure” will provide an understanding of what an adversary is, what they are looking for, examples of concerns faced and advice for mitigating these concerns. Tuesday’s webinar, “Conducting Your Farm Business Safely,” focuses on malware, vulnerable systems and protection of sensitive information. The series will conclude on Wednesday, with “Building Your Farm Cyber Toolbox.” Presenters will guide attendees through the how-to of multi factor authentication, wireless systems, password keepers, secure documents and choosing a technology service provider.

“The Farm Management Team is so grateful to be working with Doug Jacobson and his team at the Center for Cybersecurity,” said Madeline Schultz, ISU Extension and Outreach program manager. “We’ve learned a lot ourselves and are excited to share our knowledge with others. Jacobson literally ‘wrote the book’ on cybersecurity. Bring your questions to the webinars and get answers from an expert.”

Although many believe cyberattacks are a computer issue, this is actually a human issue. Attackers use social engineering to target specific industries and people through phone calls, text messages, websites, email and more.

One mitigation strategy is separation of users and technology. For example, your 8-year-old grandchild should not have access to the same device used to maintain sensitive farm data. You never know what accidents users – no matter how old – may get themselves into. Instead, use different devices for work and personal uses.

Educating oneself about cybersecurity is the most important mitigation strategy. It is essential to get ahead of the inevitable curve and prepare, as less can be done once a cybersecurity attack has occurred.

Register for the Cybersecurity on the Farm webinar series at https://go.iastate.edu/FH25MU. This series utilizes the Webex Webinar platform. Attendees can join Webex Webinars on a computer, mobile device (with Webex mobile app), or browser.

This cybersecurity webinar series was developed through the North Central Risk Management Education grant project, “Cybersecurity for Iowa Farmers and Rural Businesses,” and supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2021-70027-34694. Project partners include the ISU Extension and Outreach farm management team and the ISU Center for Cybersecurity and Innovation Outreach.



NPPC Files Supreme Court Brief to Defending Agriculture and Hog Barn Construction
 
The National Pork Producers Council filed a brief last week with the U.S. Supreme Court in Signet Builders v. Vanegas, defending the use of H-2A Visa holders constructing barns as clearly engaged in an agricultural activity. NPPC made a strong argument and defense of the fundamental importance of specialized agricultural and livestock workers and requested that the U.S. Supreme Court accept the case and clarify that essential specialized labor (in this instance constructing hog barns) performed at a farm is indeed agricultural.
 
Background: Signet Builders, a construction company that does work for pork producers and other farmers, uses the H-2A Visa program to secure on-farm labor to build barns and other infrastructure necessary for raising livestock. This visa program authorizes foreign workers to perform “agricultural” work in the U.S. on a temporary basis. Trial lawyers representing Vanegas filed suit alleging that even though he was building hog barns, he wasn’t an agricultural employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The District Court dismissed the case, finding that workers building agricultural infrastructure were clearly engaged in agricultural activity.
 
After an appeal from Vanegas, the Seventh Circuit reversed the decision and indicated that despite Vanegas admitting he was only building hog barns, he was not engaged in agricultural activity. Signet has appealed this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that Vanegas’ work clearly falls within the broad FLSA exemption for agricultural work. NPPC’s brief supports Signet and defends the use of specialized workers on farms, such as construction workers building hog barns, as clearly being agricultural work.
 
Agriculture suffers from a severe labor shortage that negatively affects all links in the food supply chain. This case is relevant as it affects the ability of agricultural businesses to hire guest workers on H-2A visas and both the amount and type of work that those workers can perform. Addressing workforce and labor concerns is critical to help feed 8 billion people across the globe.
 
NPPC believes it is vital for producers to be able to employ specialized workers on their farms and that construction of barns and other infrastructure necessary to raising livestock is an essential and fundamental agricultural activity.



Fed Cattle Supplies
Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, South Dakota State University

Despite last quarter’s record high heifer placement numbers, feedlot placements in recent months have been lower than a year earlier, especially of heavier feeder cattle. Steer and heifer weights in 2022 set record-high levels. Recent slaughter weight patterns are sending mixed signals about available beef supply. On a monthly average, the carcass weights are slightly higher than a year ago; however, the most recent weekly average carcass weight is slightly less than a year ago. On an absolute measure, the weights are still high, and the first quarter slaughter totals should provide some clarity of the short-tun supply.

Another aspect of supply is the pace of beef cow slaughter. Federally inspected cow slaughter was almost 7 million head last year. After a steady start, slaughter this year has fallen back to a more average level. Prices are showing some seasonal strength. Slaughter weights continue to be suppressed. The point is that cow slaughter was very high, and it seems to be slowing. The heifer mix on feed was at a record high level to begin 2023. What about the pace of heifer placements? The heifer mix in feeder cattle auction receipts was 42 percent in January and 44 percent in February of 2023, both steady to higher than is seasonally typical. Steer and heifer slaughter levels have moved in tandem in early 2023, suggesting a steady [high] heifer mix on feed as of April 1.

With tighter supplies of market-ready cattle in the short-run, the volume moving through the forward contract channels is expected to tighten. Typical sales by pricing type usually show that about 65 percent of fed cattle are sold on a formula, another 30 percent on a negotiated basis and, the final 5 percent on a forward contract. The recent trend has been away from the forward contract option. At the beginning of April 2023, 851,220 head were contracted for future delivery. A year earlier, 1,293,539 head were contracted. The pattern holds across months. For example, there are fewer head contracted for June and December delivery compared to June and December 2022. One would expect basis bids in contracts to increase or a larger share to move through negotiated channels in the coming months.

The increase in fed cattle and feeder cattle prices has coincided with increased price volatility. The implied volatility for the June 2023 live cattle contract was less than 10 percent earlier this year. It has since risen above 13 percent in recent trading sessions. While still not high, it is no longer considered low. The shift or increase is more pronounced in the nearby months versus the deferred contracts. Volatility is also higher for higher strike prices. This suggests that the trade is more concerned about prices moving higher compared to moving lower during the next few months. The implied volatility in the nearby feeder cattle contracts has also increased from relatively low levels. Thus, the price of risk protection using options (for sellers and buyers) has increased.



CHS Inc. and MKC to expand grain marketing joint venture

Longtime cooperative partners CHS Inc. and Mid-Kansas Cooperative (MKC) today announced their intention to expand their current grain marketing joint venture to maximize the value of an end-to-end cooperative supply chain in the Southern Plains. This development will expand market access and patronage-eligible options to maximize owner value by connecting area farmers and cooperatives with end-use markets and customers.

"CHS has been successfully partnering with MKC through joint ventures for more than 10 years," said John Griffith, executive vice president, ag business, CHS. "This initiative expands our collaborative presence and maximizes our complementary asset base in the region to create an efficient, integrated supply chain to connect cooperative- and farmer-owners in the Southern Plains with customers around the world while leveraging the TEMCO terminal in Houston, Texas."

This expanded partnership will drive long-term growth through a responsive grain network and reinvestment to expand marketing opportunities and modernize rail infrastructure in this vital growing region. The two companies are currently building a rail-served grain terminal near Sterling, Kansas, that is scheduled to be operational in 2024.

"Expanding our relationship with CHS will open up market access and create new opportunities for our farmers," said Brad Stedman, president and CEO, MKC. "Our track record of successful partnership and shared vision to create value for cooperative-owners and customers makes MKC and CHS the right partners to link farmers with a more defined southern supply chain."

According to the cooperative partners, both companies will continue to independently own and operate assets throughout the region while expanding their grain marketing joint venture designed to more efficiently move grain through a seamless distribution channel. The companies expect to begin to operate the expanded 50/50 joint venture this summer.



The Importance of Row Width in Soybean Planting

The most common planting configurations in North American soybean production are 15-inch and 30-inch rows, each accounting for more than 1/3 of total acreage.

Numerous research studies have been conducted to determine optimal soybean row spacing for maximum yield potential. In general, studies have found that soybean yield potential is often greater with row spacings narrower than 30 inches.

A review of soybean row spacing studies published in the last decade showed that 15-inch rows outyielded 30-inch rows by 4 bu/A on average. However, many of these studies used higher seeding rates with narrower row spacings, partially due to the use of less accurate drilled soybeans versus using a more accurate planter. A study conducted in 2008-09 (Cox and Cherney, 2011) found no row spacing by seeding rate interaction for soybeans planted in 7.5 inch, 15-inch and 30-inch rows.

“Other than yield, the most important factor driving soybean row spacing practices are equipment and time management during the planting season,” said Dr. Mark Jeschke, Pioneer Agronomy Manager. “One of the key issues growers must consider is whether the economics of their farm justify having a machine dedicated specifically to planting soybeans.”

The need for fungicide and/or insecticide applications may also impact row spacing decisions. When an application is made during vegetative growth, narrow-rowed plants are generally able to compensate for damage caused by the sprayer wheels with little reduction in yield. For applications made following the R1 growth stage, which would include most foliar fungicide and insecticide applications, wheel damaged areas will have lower yield. A research study in Delaware and Virginia found significant yield reductions due to sprayer wheel damage in R4 soybeans planted in 7.5-inch and 15-inch rows, while soybeans planted in 30-inch rows and wider did not sustain any wheel damage (Holshouser and Taylor, 2008).

Every field is unique and each grower should carefully consider the costs, risks and benefits of soybean row spacing options prior to making a decision.