Tuesday June 06 Ag News

Are we ready for another year of drought?
Alfredo DiCostanzo, Nebraska Beef Systems Extension Educator, Cuming County

It is now June of 2023, my expectations for drought to subside began in the Fall of 2022.  Early in the winter, precipitation, including snow and ice, brought hope for relief.  Hope for relief continued in the spring, but rains have not normalized.  Instead, the U.S. Drought Monitor Maps reflect worsening conditions for counties in Northeast Nebraska since last year (please see Figure 1 below).  In fact, since March 2023, more counties in Northeast and South-Central Nebraska have been added to the list of counties experiencing exceptional drought.  

It seems appropriate to dedicate time to consider the implications of a second year of dry conditions on soils, crops, and pastures.   Although currently green and growing, we expect pasture or forage crop growth to stop in the near term if precipitation lacks after first cutting or first pass from grazing herds.  This will lead to a decline in forage supply during the hottest months of the year.  At this point, poor grass regrowth will permit weeds to take over pastures.  Lack of suitable forage in pastures may force cows to consume weeds which may have toxic properties.  In addition, continued grazing pressure and hoof action on pastures may further complicate pasture recovery when rainfall normalizes again.  

Is this the year to consider shipping cows (with or without calves) to a neighboring state where better pasture conditions exist?  Unless a cow-calf operator can access a drylot or irrigated pastures, the answer may be yes.  Although much of the High Plains and Midwest region are under drought, certain pockets in Southwest South Dakota, Southwest Minnesota, Northeast Missouri, and Southeast Nebraska are currently free of drought.  

It would cost a rancher about $100/cow for a round trip on a semi-trailer to and from a location 400 miles away.  At a cash rental rate for 1 acre of average productivity pasture of $60, and cow-calf pair requirement of 10 acres for 5 months of grazing, the overall summer cost of carrying a cow-calf pair would be $700.  Alternatively, grazing fees may range from $1.50 to $2.50 per cow-calf pair daily.  For a 150-day period, grazing costs could be as high as $375.  Either way, it seems that from $500 to $700 (including trucking to and from the pasture location) ought to cover summer grazing costs at an alternative location.  If one considers that the cost of maintaining a cow in Nebraska is $1,150 to $1,350 per year, costs of $500 to $700 to graze cows in pastures away from the ranch for 5 months are not out of pace with the total cost.

For producers growing cattle in drylots and feedlots, the feed situation will depend on cost of grain and harvested forage.  Because of demand, corn grain prices and those of corn co-products are not expected to drop.  Therefore, feeding costs will be in the range of $0.90 to $1.10 per lb gain.  Total feeding costs will average from $1.15 to $1.30 per lb gain.  Although feeder and fed cattle prices support higher feeding costs, health concerns arising from excessive heat loads should be addressed.

Cattle nearing the end of their feeding period should be given priority when deploying heat abatement strategies.  Extra space for cattle to access water should be added to all pens but particularly to those of cattle near harvest.  The issue is not water supply, it is water access.  Cattle behavior changes to promote cooling off:  boss cattle remain at the water tank longer than necessary to drink simply playing with water or “hanging out” to experience a cooler microclimate.  

Managing intake may require that bunk readers hold off on calling for additional feed.  Also, some nutritionists may switch the feedlot to “cooler” diets (diets with more roughage).  Use of bedding on strategic locations may help to reduce heat absorption from the pen surface.  

Under emergency conditions a watering trough slip-in can be built where water tankers can deliver water in the feed bunk. Cap the ends of 20-foot culver pipe sections (12- to 18-inch in diameter to fit at the bottom of a feeding bunk) before cutting lengthwise to produce two identical size troughs.  Burn the edges with a flame torch to smooth sharp edges resulting from the cut.  This results in a trough that can be slipped to the bottom of the feed bunk.  A single 20-foot section should add at least five watering spaces and 130 gallons to the watering tanks in the pen.  Keeping these slips full of water should ease the pressure on watering tanks during hot and still days.   

As I have mentioned before, cattle prices are good this year, but if there are no or fewer cattle (or pounds) to sell, we do not benefit from them.  It is my hope these recommendations will be made useless by a steady supply of gentle rain soon.



NEBRASKA SCIENTISTS CLOSING IN ON LONG-LASTING SWINE FLU VACCINE

A successful long-term experiment with live hogs indicates Nebraska scientists may be another step closer to achieving a safe, long-lasting and potentially universal vaccine against swine flu.  

The results are not only important to the pork industry, they hold significant implications for human health. That's because pigs act as “mixing vessels,” where various swine and bird influenza strains can reconfigure and become transmissible to humans. In fact, the 2009 swine flu pandemic, involving a variant of the H1N1 strain. first emerged in swine before infecting about a fourth of the global population in its first year, causing nearly 12,500 deaths in the United States and perhaps as many as 575,000 worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Considering the significant role swine play in the evolution and transmission of potential pandemic strains of influenza and the substantial economic impact of swine flu viruses, it is imperative that efforts be made toward the development of more effective vaccination strategies in vulnerable pig populations,” said Erika Petro-Turnquist, a doctoral student and lead author of the study recently published in Frontiers in Immunology.

Petro-Turnquist is advised by Eric Weaver, associate professor and director of the Nebraska Center for Virology. Weaver’s laboratory is spearheading an effort that uses Epigraph, a data-based computer technique co-developed by Bette Korber and James Theiler of Los Alamos National Laboratory, to create a more broad-based vaccine against influenza, which is notoriously difficult to prevent because it mutates rapidly.  

Pork producers currently try to manage swine flu by using commercially available vaccines derived from whole inactivated viruses and weakened live viruses. As of 2008, about half of the vaccines in use in the United States were custom-made for specific herds — an expensive, time-consuming and not very effective strategy because of the rapidity with which swine influenza evolves.

The Epigraph algorithm enables scientists to analyze countless amino acid sequences among hundreds of flu virus variants to create a vaccine “cocktail” of the three most common epitopes — the bits of viral protein that spark the immune system’s response. It could be a pathway to a universal flu vaccine, which the National Institutes of Health defines as a vaccine that is at least 75% effective, protects against multiple types of influenza viruses for at least one year and is suitable for all age groups.

“The first epitope looks like a normal influenza vaccine gene, the second one looks a little weird and third is more rare,” Weaver said. “We’re reversing the evolution and bringing these sequences that the immune system recognizes as pathogens back together. We’re computationally re-linking them and that’s where the power of this vaccine is coming from, that it provides such good protections against such a wide array of viruses.”  

In another strategy to heighten effectiveness, the vaccine is delivered via adenovirus, a common virus that causes cold-like symptoms. Its use as a vector triggers additional immune response by mimicking a natural viral infection.

Two years ago, Weaver’s team published initial results in the journal Nature Communications, based on tests in mice and pigs. Those findings indicated the Epigraph-developed vaccine yielded immune response signatures and physiological protection against a much wider variety of strains than a widely used commercial vaccine and wildtype flu strains.

The follow-up study is apparently the first longitudinal study comparing the onset and duration of an adenovirus-vectored vaccine with that of a whole inactive virus vaccine. Petro-Turnquist and Weaver, along with Matthew Pekarek, Nicholas Jeanjaquet and Hiep Vu of the Department of Animal Science, Cedric Wooledge of the Office of Research and Economic Development and David Steffen of the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center, observed 15 Yorkshire cross-bred female pigs over a period of about six months, the typical lifespan of a market hog.

One group of five received the Epigraph vaccine, a second group of five received a commercial whole inactive virus vaccine, and a third group of five received a saline solution to serve as the control group. The pigs received their initial vaccination at three weeks of age and a booster shot three weeks later. Their antibody levels and T-cell responses were measured weekly for the first month and every 30 days thereafter. At six months of age, they were exposed to a strain of swine flu divergent from those directly represented in the vaccine.

The pigs that received the Epigraph vaccine showed more rapid and long-lasting antibody and T-cell responses to the vaccines. After exposure to the swine flu virus, the Epigraph-vaccinated hogs showed significantly better protection against the disease — less viral shedding, fewer symptoms of infection and stronger immune system responses.

“Those pigs weighed about five pounds when we vaccinated them and by the end of the study, six months later, they were over 400 pounds,” Weaver said. “It’s kind of amazing that this vaccine would maintain itself over that rate of growth. It continues to expand as the animal grows.”

Weaver’s team continues to pursue the research, with next steps including larger studies and possibly a commercial partnership to bring the vaccine to market.

“The more times we do these studies, the more confident we get that this vaccine will be successful in the field,” Weaver said.



Making the Connection Conference Links Educators, Agriculture

Today’s consumers have many questions about agriculture and plenty of misperceptions to go with them. At the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation’s Making the Connection Conference held June 5 in Kearney, educators and agriculture professionals explored tools to help students and consumers understand how agriculture impacts their everyday life. More than 100 people attended the bi-annual conference and presenting sponsor Buffalo County Farm Bureau made free registration possible for all.

“With the average American at least three or four generations removed from the farm or ranch, today’s students and consumers have real questions about how their food is grown and whether production practices align with their values. This conference brought together farmers, ranchers, and agriculture professionals with educators in a setting that encouraged transparency, relationships, and future engagement,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director for the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation.

Keynote Speaker, Dr. David Mouser, provided perspective on the lasting impact that we all can make on students and each other. His message focused on leadership, motivation, and the importance of finding purpose through impacting others in a positive way. The “Taste of Nebraska” lunch showcased Nebraska’s agricultural commodities and businesses via lunch table hosts representing different commodities in Nebraska. Lunch also featured a panel discussion about common consumer misconceptions and how to address them.

Diane Starns is a kindergarten teacher at Ashland-Greenwood Elementary and is always looking for new ways to engage her students. She attended the Making the Connection conference and walked away with new ideas to share with her students about the importance of agriculture.

“This has been such a valuable conference to attend. It provided me with new tools to use in my classroom and reinforced how easy the resources are to use. I’m not even going to wait until fall. I found a fun activity to lead at our community celebration, Stirrup Days, next month.” Starns said.  

Andra Smith is chair of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee. The committee is charged with building stronger relationships with those who don’t understand where or how their food is grown.

“Our committee is made up of farmers and ranchers, and we are called to communicate the many contributions that agriculture makes in our society. This conference was a perfect place for us to share our perspective and give people the right tools to tell agriculture’s wonderful story,” Smith said.

Twelve breakout sessions highlighted how participants can use Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation resources, learn more about Nebraska and National Agriculture in the Classroom, serve as an Ag Pen Pal, and engage student and consumers in their communities.

Buffalo County Farm Bureau proudly sponsored the Making the Connection Conference and supports the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation for their efforts to identify common ground between agriculture and today’s students and consumers.

“Farmers and ranchers do not always have the time to connect with consumers, and we must make that a priority. This conference provided us with great information and an easy way to connect with students and consumers. We are grateful for the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation and all the great volunteers who made this day a huge success,” said Brock Elsen, president of the Buffalo County Farm Bureau.



IRRIGATING FIRST CUTTING ALFALFA
– Todd Whitney, NE Extension Educator

Alfalfa is a tough, drought-tolerant perennial crop with rooting depths down eight feet or more. Depending on deep soil profile moisture during drought, some varieties can move into a dormancy and survive up to 45 days without rainfall. However, forage yields drop dramatically; since alfalfa requires about 6 inches of root available water to produce 1 ton of forage per acre.

So, what irrigation strategy is recommended for alfalfa under extreme moisture stress prior to the first cutting? Remember that once perennial fields lack spring moisture, it is hard to catch up with irrigation during the hot summer season due to high ET (evapotranspiration) water needs. Also, stressed alfalfa, which may be dropping leaves prematurely, may be cut before the recommended one-tenth bloom development stage to salvage yield. This timing disruption may impact target irrigation, which is usually applied, just prior to the first cutting to increase regrowth tonnage for the next cutting.

Moving forward, an advantage of early alfalfa cutting is that water use will drop sharply; because transpiration is lower when the leaf foliage is removed. Following first cutting, irrigation might be delayed slightly in fields where weeds could respond quicker to the moisture than alfalfa regrowth.

Otherwise, full water irrigation or rainfall target amounts will be typically six to seven inches of water for each subsequent cutting. Spring water usage may only be one-fourth inch per day but will rapidly increase as summer temperatures rise. Peak water alfalfa usage in July and August can extend beyond the normal one-third inch per day (or two inches per week) to half inch per day during extreme stress times.



SHORT PASTURE CONCERNS
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator

A cool spring and dry weather has resulted in lower than expected pasture production in parts of the state.  With summer upon us, even ample moisture now may not return pastures, especially those that are cool season dominated, to full productivity.  So what can we do to stretch a limited forage supply?

While annual forages that prefer cool temperatures like brassicas and small grains may not be an option to plant, those needing summer forage are right on time to get heat loving species like sorghums, sorghum-sudan hybrids, millets, and sudangrass in the ground.  These annual grasses can produce large quantities of forage for harvest.  Different species lend themselves to different harvest methods, so know how you plan on feeding or grazing before you plant.

Another way to stretch pasture is through improved utilization.  Under typical grazing conditions, we only plan on cattle consuming 25% to 30% (harvest efficiency) of a pasture’s production.  Half is left for plant health while another quarter is fouled or trampled.  Something as simple as a single wire electric cross fence can improve harvest efficiency to 35%.  When paired with a back fence, the rest provided to previously grazed plants can aid in recovery and provide regrowth for use later in the year.

Finally, begin looking at herd records now and make a plan for destocking later on in the year if conditions continue to deteriorate.

Planning for a short forage year is not a task we want to undertake in June but may be needed this year.  If the worst does come to pass, looking at other forage options, better utilizing pasture, and planning for destocking now will be worth the effort.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Working with SpaceX’s Starlink To Expand Broadband Coverage in Nebraska

Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) understands that access to high-speed, high-quality broadband service is essential to Nebraska’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. This is why the Nebraska Farm Bureau is excited to work with SpaceX’s Starlink, to better fulfill the broadband needs of all Nebraskans.

"Internet access is a necessity in modern agriculture and for the continued success of the small towns our farmers and ranchers rely on daily. After extensive support and work on the process, Nebraska Farm Bureau is excited to work with Starlink. Starlink’s model of providing quality broadband in Nebraska is revolutionary. Working with Starlink will help ensure quality internet service is delivered to all areas of the state,” said Mark McHargue, NEFB president.

Starlink is engineered and operated by SpaceX. As the world’s leading provider of launch services, SpaceX is leveraging its deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations to deploy the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency broadband internet capable of streaming, online gaming, video calls, and more to users all over the world.

“We are excited to work with Starlink to deliver high speed broadband to rural areas in Nebraska that are underserved,” said McHargue. This will provide Farm Bureau members with two months of free service, a nearly $200 value when subscribing to Starlink for high-speed broadband internet service in remote and rural areas in Nebraska.

“We continue to hear from our members that farms, ranches, rural households, and businesses struggle with getting access to reliable high-speed internet. Whether you are 20 miles from Lincoln or Omaha or in the Sandhills, the thing we hear the most is that quality service and speed is just not available," McHargue said.

While the carriers, providers, and telecoms continue to grapple with federal and state monies to get quality broadband to rural areas of the country, Starlink and NEFB thought it was important to take this broadband service issue into our own hands and deliver the connectivity to our farm, ranch, and rural members in a way that avoids the regulatory hoops and the high cost of getting fiber to the “last mile”. This Starlink and NEFB partnership will provide savings and service of broadband to rural areas that may be years away from getting this valuable connectivity.  

“Starlink is ideal for those who live and work in rural communities, and we couldn’t be more excited to work with the Nebraska Farm Bureau to offer reliable high-speed internet coverage to the last acre for farmers and ranchers across the state,” said Chad Gibbs, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink Business Operations.

To take advantage of this new member benefit, visit www.nefb.org/benefits and sign-in as a member. Find the Starlink benefit and use the link to sign up as a new customer for Starlink service. You must use the link provided by Starlink to Nebraska Farm Bureau to receive the two months of service free. The Starlink kit is mailed to you and takes minutes to install. You will see a credit on your Starlink statement for the first two months of service. You must be a member of Nebraska Farm Bureau to receive this discount. If you’re not currently a member, visit www.nefb.org/join or call (402) 421-4466 and we will help you join today. There is no waiting period to take advantage of this new offer.

“This is an incredible opportunity for farmers, ranchers, and all Nebraskans to have access to high-speed high-quality internet service,” said McHargue. “Ensuring quality broadband and internet services are provided to Nebraska farm and ranch communities is a key goal of Nebraska Farm Bureau, and we are pleased to support this process by working with Starlink.”



Pillen Temporarily Waives Regulations for Truckers Hauling Critically Needed Fuels

Today, Governor Jim Pillen issued Executive Order 23-10 to provide emergency relief in response to regional fuel shortages. The order temporarily allows drivers to work extended hours to haul gasoline or gasoline blends, diesel, fuel oil, ethanol, propane, and biodiesel.

The Governor’s order will help reduce delays at petroleum product terminals, facilitating timely delivery of fuels to consumers. It is effective immediately and will remain in effect through September 4, 2023 at 11:59 pm.



Market Volatility Continues as Organic Soybean Prices Decline, Creating Opportunities and Risks for Organic Crop Producers

The organic soybean market has experienced significant volatility, resulting in declining prices and implications for organic crop producers. Mercaris invites you to explore organic commodity and livestock data in our recently released Spring 2023 Mercaris Commodity Outlook.

U.S. organic soybean production and carryover stocks reached a record high of 14.1 million bu. at the start of 2022/23, up 41% from the previous year. Coupled with strong imports, this oversupply has led to a steady decrease in organic soybean prices, falling from $35.00 to $22.93/bu. between September 2022 and April 2023.

“The price decline is expected to impact the industry, with Mercaris forecasting an 18% decrease in harvested organic soybean acreage for 2023. This reduction may stabilize prices, but poses risks for organic corn and wheat,” says Mercaris Vice President of Economics Ryan Koory. “Mercaris predicts a 10% increase in U.S. organic corn production, potentially leading to bearish prices in the 2023/24 marketing year.”

However, the decline in organic soybean acreage could create opportunities for organic spring wheat cultivation, with a projected 3% increase in total U.S. organic spring wheat acreage. Severe drought conditions may result in a 2% decline in U.S. organic wheat acreage, but improved moisture conditions could boost organic wheat yields by 7% and increase total production by 6%.

“Feed demand is also affected, with declining organic dairy and poultry inventories contributing to a 2% decrease in total feed demand for 2022/23,” says Koory. “Despite this, Mercaris expects a 2% growth in organic soybean meal feed demand due to lower costs and reduced supplies of other meal options.”

Looking ahead to the 2023/24 marketing year, Mercaris anticipates a slight 1% increase in organic feed demand, potentially driving organic soybean prices upward. However, a large organic corn harvest may result in increased carryover stocks despite reduced imports.



NMPF Statement on Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act
President and CEO Jim Mulhern

“We commend House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-PA, and Rep. Kim Schrier, D-WA, for their bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act to help increase kids’ access to milk’s vital nutrients.

“Good nutrition is a cornerstone of kids’ health and development, and milk plays an unparalleled role in providing the nutrients kids need to grow and thrive. However, most kids and adolescents do not meet the daily dairy intake recommendations made in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Kids take more milk, and drink more milk, in school when they have options they like. A growing body of evidence shows that dairy foods at all fat levels have a neutral or positive effect on health outcomes, ranging from lower prevalence of obesity and diabetes to reduced heart disease risk and healthy cholesterol levels.

"The House Education and the Workforce Committee’s approval of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is a significant step toward expanding the popular, healthy milk options schools can serve to improve their students’ nutrient intake.”



Mulhern to Retire as NMPF President and CEO After Decade of Service

NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern announced Tuesday he will retire from his position at the end of this year, concluding a decade of service leading the organization and capping a 45-year career in U.S. agricultural and dairy policy.

“Directing the policy efforts of the nation’s dairy farmers and their cooperatives has been the highlight of my professional career,” said Mulhern, who was asked to lead the organization in 2013 and guided NMPF through two completed farm bills, the COVID-19 crisis, and an ever-quickening pace of change in an industry that in some ways is unrecognizable from that he entered in 1979, when he began his career working for a Midwest dairy cooperative. After coming to Washington to work on Capitol Hill in 1982, he began his first stint with NMPF in 1985, directing the organization’s government affairs activities and shaping NMPF strategy in the face of earlier farm crises.

He returned to Capitol Hill in 1990, to serve as chief of staff to Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl. Following that, he was a partner at Fleishman-Hillard, an international communications firm, and managing partner of Watson/Mulhern LLC, a life sciences communications and public affairs firm that focused on food and agriculture policy challenges.

While his work included providing expert strategic counsel to numerous Fortune 500 companies and working extensively in government relations, issues and crisis management, media relations, and litigation communications, the Portage, WI, native always considered the dairy industry his professional home.

“My hope, all those years ago when I first came to Washington, was to make a difference and remember where I came from. Being part of the agricultural policy community here in Washington and working with and on behalf of many great people in the dairy community across the country has enabled me to achieve both goals,” Mulhern said.

Mulhern leaves NMPF in a commanding position, with the organization spearheading a once-a-generation update of federal milk marketing orders and advancing both a fairer economic and regulatory environment for dairy farmers and a more transparent marketplace for consumers amid the proliferation of plant-based dairy imposters. Through its partnerships with the U.S. Dairy Export Council and others, NMPF has supported policy changes to boost dairy exports, which are reaching records; and through its stewardship of the National Dairy FARM Program, it is enhancing dairy’s leadership agricultural sustainability and animal care.

“Dairy farmers have numerous reasons to be thankful for Jim Mulhern’s leadership at NMPF,” said Randy Mooney, a Rogersville, MO dairy farmer and chairman of NMPF’s Board of Directors. “Jim has been a leader, a visionary, and a friend to dairy, and through that, a leader in agriculture. The combination of his depth of knowledge, his energy, and his unflagging passion for dairy producers is impossible to replace, but we all will know that his influence and achievements will resonate in this industry for years to come.”

The topic of naming a new top executive at NMPF will be discussed at NMPF’s Board Meeting this week in Arlington, VA.  



Cattle Group Urges USDA to Withdraw Paraguayan Beef Import Proposal

In comments submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), R-CALF USA requested the agency immediately withdraw its proposal to allow the importation of fresh (chilled or frozen) beef from Paraguay.

Historically, the United States has not engaged in trade of beef from Paraguay because APHIS has considered Paraguay to be a country affected with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The government of Paraguay has requested that the U.S. allow fresh Paraguayan beef to be imported into the United States.

In response to this request, APHIS conducted a risk analysis, with the most recent on-site visit to Paraguay being nearly 10 years ago, in 2014. The USDA has proposed a rule seeking to allow the importation of fresh beef from Paraguay.

In its comments, R-CALF USA urged APHIS to withdraw its proposed rule on the grounds that it will cause an unnecessary and avoidable risk of introducing FMD into the United States, and subject U.S. consumers to beef from cattle that were not raised in compliance with United States’ more stringent production standards.

The group also noted the proposal would cause undue financial and economic injury to U.S. cattle farmers and ranchers and their communities, accelerate the ongoing contraction of the U.S. cattle industry, accelerate the deforestation of Paraguay, and deprive U.S. citizens of the protections due to them by their sovereign government.

The group also stated that because APHIS’ risk evaluation methodology is incapable of accurately assessing the risk for FMD outbreaks in countries with histories of FMD, the proposal should be withdrawn.

“Several times since 1997 APHIS had underestimated the risk for the reemergence of the disease in countries that are not free of FMD,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard adding, “For example, the agency was dead wrong about the risks in Uruguay, Argentina, South Africa, South Korea and Japan.”