Tuesday August 01 Ag News

 Heat event hits Northeast Nebraska
Alfredo DiCostanzo, Beef Systems Extension Educator, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Northeast Nebraska went through a severe heat event from July 26 through July 28. This event took a toll on cattle in feedyards in the region. Dr. Terry Mader, while stationed at Haskell Lab of the University of Nebraska in Concord, NE, wrote in 2009 that there are severe heat events that occur every two to three years. In 2019, he was an author on a paper describing that these events are occurring more often. Through his research and that of others, observations, and discussion, animal scientists and consulting nutritionists have equipped feedyard owners and managers with heat mitigation strategies and infrastructure designs to improve animal husbandry practices to lessen the heat load. Yet, even with implementation of those practices, severe heat events such as the one that just occurred result in cattle death loss.

Northeast Nebraska experienced little to no wind on July 26 with ambient daytime temperatures around 100°F and nighttime lows above 70°F. Relative humidity above the 80’s complicated this scenario with little to no cloud cover resulting in high solar radiation. Also, for practical purposes, this was the first severe heat event of 2023:  cattle were not acclimated to this intense heat and likely in heavier condition than when heat events usually start in May or June.

Certain areas within the region experienced these heat load conditions longer and with greater intensity than others. This may explain why some operations were affected more than others despite early deployment of heat abatement measures.

These conditions lasted over three days, which created severe heat loads and metabolic dysfunction in cattle. To reset their bodies to their normal state and growth pattern, it takes many hours of cooler weather. Implementation of precision animal husbandry practices for environmental intervention lessens the time it takes for cattle to reset and get back to normal health and growth.

Drinking water capacity and access, feed management, access to shade, water sprinklers, pen maintenance, and insect control are six of the practices implemented by cattle feeders. Early implementation of these practices decreases the overall heat load of cattle.

Dry matter intake naturally goes down during heat events and feed callers are trained to decrease ration deliveries. Now that cattle are past this heat event and the weather is cooler, building intake back to or close to their pre-heat level is the goal. Increasing roughage level can be an effective short-term practice to get cattle back to their normal intake pattern. Monitor the condition of refused ration and remove it if it is out of condition. Though we cannot eliminate the environmental stress livestock endure, there are practices that Nebraska Extension has developed to lessen the heat load.

Contact your local FSA office for information about the Livestock Indemnity Program to assist with weather-related losses. This must be filed by 30 calendar days of when the loss is first apparent.



Ag land management webinar to offer the latest on cash rents, lease arrangements for 2023

The latest trends in 2023 Nebraska cash rental rates and issues related to landlord and tenant communication will be covered during the next Land Management Quarterly webinar, hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Agricultural Profitability, at noon Central time on Aug 21.

Offered since 2019, the quarterly webinars address common management issues for Nebraska landowners, agricultural operators and related stakeholders interested in the latest insight on trends in real estate, managing agricultural land and solutions for addressing challenges in the upcoming growing season.

The August webinar will cover recent findings from the 2023 Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report, including updates on average cash rental rates and land values and trends in flexible cash lease arrangements. The session will conclude with an “Ask the Experts” session, allowing participants to get live answers to their land or lease questions.

Viewers will have the opportunity to submit land management questions for the presenters to answer during the presentation.

The webinar will be led by Jim Jansen and Allan Vyhnalek, extension faculty with the Center for Agricultural Profitability. Jansen focuses on agricultural finance, land economics, and the direction of the annual Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey and Report. Vyhnalek is a farm succession and farmland management extension educator emeritus.

The webinar is free and will be recorded. Past recordings can be viewed the day after each session, along with recordings from the entire series. Registration is free at https://cap.unl.edu/landmanagement.



BQA training - August 28 in West Point

BQA Training
Date: Monday, August 28, 2023
Time:  6:00 p.m. central
Location:  West Point Livestock, West Point          
Meal hosted by Cuming Co Feeders
Registration link: https://go.unl.edu/westpointbqa



Ricketts Tours Ethanol Plant, Hosts Roundtable to Highlight Flex Fuel Fairness Bill

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined ethanol stakeholders in Lincoln and Central Nebraska to discuss the introduction of his Flex Fuel Fairness Act.

The bill Ricketts introduced with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) would level the playing field for vehicles running on low-carbon liquid fuels like ethanol by providing a meaningful incentive for automakers to manufacture flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) in addition to battery electric vehicles (EVs). The bill is the second piece of legislation in Ricketts’ “Proven Nebraska Solutions Ready for America” package.

Ricketts held a roundtable with members of the Nebraska Ethanol Board and other stakeholders in Lincoln, NE. Later in the day, he toured the KAAPA Ethanol Commodities facility in Minden, NE.

“Nebraskans know biofuels like ethanol are a proven solution that lowers prices for consumers at the pump, is great for our farmers and ranchers, and reduces our dependence on foreign oil,” said Ricketts. “The Flex Fuel Fairness Act forces President Biden to get his thumb off the scale in favor of mandating expensive, burdensome electric vehicles and instead levels the playing field for an America-first solution – flex fuel vehicles.”



2023 NEBRASKA HONEY BEE COLONIES

Honey bee colonies for operations with five or more colonies in Nebraska as of January 1, 2023 totaled 17,000 according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The number of colonies in Nebraska on April 1, 2023 was 11,000. During 2022, honey bee colonies on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 were 24,000, 19,000, 51,000, and 29,000, respectively.

Honey bee colonies lost for operations with five or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2023, was 1,100 colonies or 5% lost. During April-June 2023, 1,200 colonies or 4% of colonies were lost. The quarter of October-December 2022, at 5,500 or 12%, showed the highest number of lost honey bee colonies of any quarter in 2022. The quarter of January-March 2022 had a loss of 840 colonies or 3%, the lowest number of honey bee colonies lost in 2022.

Honey bee colonies added for operations with five or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2023, was 0 colonies. The number of colonies added during the April-June 2023 quarter was 10,000. The quarter of April-June 2022, added 11,000 colonies, the highest number of honey bee colonies added for any quarter in 2022. The quarter of January-March 2022, at 30 added, showed the lowest number of honey bee colonies added during 2022.

Honey bee colonies renovated for operations with five or more colonies during the quarter of January-March 2023, was 0 colonies. The number of colonies renovated during the quarter of April-June 2023 was 1,900. During April-June 2022, 5,000 colonies were renovated, the highest number of colonies renovated during 2022. The lowest number of honey bee colonies renovated for any quarter of 2022, at 0, occurred during January-March 2022. Renovated colonies are those that were requeened or received new honey bees through a nuc or package.

Varroa mites were the number one stressor for operations with five or more colonies during all of the quarters of 2022. The quarter of October-December 2022 showed the highest percentage of varroa mites during 2022, at 31.4%. The percent of colonies reported to be affected by varroa mites during January-March 2023, and April-June 2023 were 8.2% and 26.8%, respectively.



Iowa Honey Bee Colonies

Honey bee colonies for operations with 5 or more colonies in Iowa as of January 1, 2023, totaled 36,000 colonies. This was up 38 percent from 26,000 colonies on January 1 last year and up 132 percent from 15,500 colonies during the October-December 2022 quarter. The maximum number of colonies during the January-March 2023 quarter was 53,000.

Honey bee colonies lost for operations with 5 or more colonies for the January-March 2023 quarter was 1,700, or 3 percent. This was down 7 percentage points from the same period last year but the percentage was unchanged from losses reported during the October-December 2022 quarter.

Varroa mites was the number one stressor for operations with 5 or more colonies in all of 2022.



January 1 Honey Bee colonies Down 7 Percent for Operations with Five or More colonies

Honey bee colonies for operations with five or more colonies in the United States on January 1, 2023 totaled 2.68 million colonies, down 7 percent from January 1, 2022. The number of colonies in the United States on April 1, 2023, was 2.71 million colonies. During 2022, honey bee colonies on  January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 were 2.88 million, 2.91 million, 3.11 million, and 2.89 million colonies, respectively.

Honey bee colonies lost for operations with five or more colonies from January through March 2023, was 373,880 colonies, or 14 percent. The number of colonies lost during the quarter of April through June 2023, was 237,350 colonies, or 9 percent. During the quarter of April through June 2022, colonies lost totaled 363,570 colonies, or 13 percent, the highest number lost of any quarter surveyed in 2022. The quarter surveyed in 2022 with the lowest number of colonies lost was January through March, with 331,480 colonies lost, or 12 percent.

Honey bee colonies added for operations with five or more colonies from January through March 2023 was 384,790 colonies. The number of colonies added during the quarter of April through June 2023 was 596,360. During the quarter of April through June 2022, the number of colonies added were
573,160 colonies, the highest number of honey bee colonies added for any quarter surveyed in 2022. The quarter of July through September 2022 added 152,640 colonies, the least number of honey bee colonies added for any quarter surveyed in 2022.

Honey bee colonies renovated for operations with five or more colonies from January through March 2023 was 113,440 colonies, or 4 percent. During the quarter of April through June 2023, the number of colonies renovated were 478,440 colonies, or 18 percent. The quarter surveyed in 2022 with the highest number of colonies renovated was April through June 2022 with 494,890 colonies renovated, or 17 percent. The quarter surveyed in 2022 with the lowest number of colonies renovated was October through December 2022, with 147,950, or 5 percent. Renovated colonies are those that were requeened or received new honey bees through a nucleus (nuc) colony or package.

Varroa Mites Top Colony Stressor for Operations with Five or More colonies
Varroa mites were the number one stressor for operations with five or more colonies during all quarters surveyed in 2022. The period with the highest percentage of colonies reported to be affected by varroa mites was April through June 2022 at 47.5 percent. The percent of colonies reported to be affected by varroa mites during January through March 2023 and April through June 2023 are 39.7 percent and 50.9 percent, respectively.

Colonies Lost with Colony Collapse Disorder Symptoms Up 25 Percent for Operations with Five or More colonies
Honey bee colonies lost with Colony Collapse Disorder symptoms on operations with five or more colonies was 107,630 colonies from January through March 2023. This represents a 25 percent increase from the same quarter in 2022.  



Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 493 million bushels in June 2023. Total corn consumption was down slightly from May 2023 and down less than 1 percent from June 2022. June 2023 usage included 92.0 percent for alcohol and 8.0 percent for other purposes. Corn consumed for beverage alcohol totaled 5.41 million bushels, up 5 percent from May 2023 and up 47 percent from June 2022. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 441 million bushels, was up 1 percent from May 2023 but down 1 percent from June 2022. Corn consumed in June 2023 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 92.3 percent and 7.7 percent, respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 1.79 million tons during June 2023, up 5 percent from May 2023 but down 7 percent from June 2022. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.30 million tons in June 2023, down 1 percent from May 2023 but up 1 percent from June 2022.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 270,060 tons during June 2023, up 2 percent from May 2023 but down 6 percent from June 2022. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 179,905 tons in June 2023, down 7 percent from May 2023 and down 11 percent from June 2022.

Fats and Oils: Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks
Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 5.24 million tons (175 million bushels) in June 2023, compared with 5.68 million tons (189 million bushels) in May 2023 and 5.22 million tons (174 million bushels) in June 2022. Crude oil produced was 2.07 billion pounds down 7 percent from May 2023 but up less than 1 percent from June 2022. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.73 billion pounds during June 2023 decreased 6 percent from May 2023 but increased 5 percent from June 2022.

Flour Milling Products
All wheat ground for flour during the second quarter 2023 was 222 million bushels, down 2 percent from the first quarter 2023 grind of 225 million bushels and down 4 percent from the second quarter 2022 grind of 232 million bushels. Second quarter 2023 total flour production was 103 million hundredweight, down 2 percent from the first quarter 2023 and down 4 percent from the second quarter 2022. Whole wheat flour production at 4.29 million hundredweight during the second quarter 2023 accounted for 4 percent of the total flour production. Millfeed production from wheat in the second quarter 2023 was 1.61 million tons. The daily 24-hour milling capacity of wheat flour during the second quarter 2023 was 1.58 million hundredweight.



Retail Fertilizer Price Declines Pick Up Pace as Nitrogen Prices Keep Falling

The average retail price of all eight major fertilizers tracked by DTN declined for the third week in a row, with half of the fertilizers posting significant moves lower.

DTN surveyed sellers during the fourth week of July and considers price changes of 5% or more from the previous month to be significant.

Anhydrous retains its leadership in the decline of retail prices. Its average price is 8% less than last month at $691/ton. For perspective, anhydrous was 52% more expensive last year, at $1431/ton. The average price of urea and UAN32 each fell by 6% from last month to $581/ton and $442/ton, respectively. MAP prices dropped by 5% to $1041/ton.

The average price of the remaining four fertilizers also declined from last month. DAP cost $795/ton; potash, $594/ton; 10-34-0, $715/ton; UAN28, $383/ton.

On a price pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.63/lb.N, anhydrous $0.42/lb.N, UAN28 $0.68/lb.N and UAN32 $0.69/lb.N.

All fertilizers are now lower by double digits compared to one year ago.
-- 10-34-0, down 20%
-- DAP, down 21%
-- MAP, down 24%
-- Urea, down 30%
-- Potash, down 33%
-- UAN28, down 36%
-- UAN32, down 37%
-- Anhydrous, down 52%



USDA Announces August 2023 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for August 2023, which are effective Aug. 1, 2023. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.   

Operating, Ownership and Emergency Loans  
FSA offers farm ownership and operating loans with favorable interest rates and terms to help eligible agricultural producers, whether multi-generational, long-time, or new to the industry, obtain financing needed to start, expand or maintain a family agricultural operation. FSA also offers emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters or quarantine.  For many loan options, FSA sets aside funding for underserved producers, including, beginning, women, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Hispanic farmers and ranchers.  

Interest rates for Operating and Ownership loans for August 2023 are as follows:   
    Farm Operating Loans(Direct): 4.875%
    Farm Ownership Loans(Direct): 5.000%  
    Farm Ownership Loans(Direct, Joint Financing): 3.000%
    Farm Ownership Loans(Down Payment): 1.500%
    Emergency Loan(Amount of Actual Loss): 3.750%   

FSA also offers guaranteed loans through commercial lenders at rates set by those lenders.   

To access an interactive online, step-by-step guide through the farm loan process, visit the Loan Assistance Tool on farmers.gov.  

Commodity and Storage Facility Loans
Additionally, FSA provides low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade on-farm storage facilities and purchase handling equipment and loans that provide interim financing to help producers meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are low.  Funds for these loans are provided through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and are administered by FSA.   

Commodity Loans(less than one year disbursed): 6.375%
    Farm Storage Facility Loans:  
        o Three-year loan terms: 4.375%
        o Five-year loan terms:  4.125%
        o Seven-year loan terms:  4.000%
        o Ten-year loan terms: 3.875%
        o Twelve-year loan terms: 3.875%
    Sugar Storage Facility Loans(15 years): 4.000%

Simplified Direct Loan Application  
FSA developed a new, simplified direct loan application for producers seeking a direct farm loan. The new application, reduced from 29 to 13 pages, provides improved customer experience for producers applying for loans and enables them to complete a more streamlined application. Producers now also have the option to complete an electronic fillable form or a traditional paper application for submission to their local FSA service center.

Disaster Support
FSA also reminds rural communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses affected by the past year’s winter storms, drought, hurricanes and other natural disasters, that USDA has programs that provide assistance. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices are prepared to deliver a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to agricultural producers and impacted communities. Many programs are available without an official disaster designation, including several risk management and disaster recovery options.

Inflation Reduction Act Assistance for Distressed Producers  
On Aug. 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. It is a historic, once-in-a-generation investment and opportunity for the agricultural communities that USDA serves. Section 22006 of the IRA provided $3.1 billion for USDA to provide relief for distressed borrowers with certain FSA direct and guaranteed loans and to expedite assistance for those whose agricultural operations are at financial risk. In October 2022, USDA provided approximately $800 million in initial IRA assistance to more than 11,000 delinquent direct and guaranteed borrowers and approximately 2,100 borrowers who had their farms liquidated and still had remaining debt. On May 1, 2023, FSA announced that nearly $130 million in additional, automatic financial assistance had been obligated for qualifying farm loan program borrowers facing financial risk. This assistance included:  
    Assistance to direct loan borrowers who were past due on a qualifying direct loan as of Sept. 30, 2022, but by fewer than 60 days, and remained delinquent on that loan as of March 27, 2023.
    Assistance to borrowers who restructured a qualifying direct loan after Feb. 28, 2020, through primary loan servicing available through FSA.
    Assistance to borrowers whose interest owed on their qualifying direct loan debt exceeded the principal owed (on a loan-by-loan basis). 

Since payments began in October 2022, USDA has provided $1.14 billion to 20,615 financially distressed direct and guaranteed FSA loan borrowers.

In May 2023, FSA began accepting and reviewing individual requests for assistance if they took certain extraordinary measures to avoid delinquency on their direct FSA loans, such as taking on or refinancing more debt, selling property, or cashing out retirement or college savings accounts. On May 19, USDA mailed a letter to all FSA direct loan borrowers detailing eligibility and how to request extraordinary measures assistance.

Also in May, FSA started accepting and reviewing individual distressed borrower assistance requests from direct loan borrowers who missed a recent installment or are unable to make their next scheduled installment. All FSA borrowers should have received a letter detailing the process for seeking this type of assistance even before they become delinquent. As the letter details, borrowers who are within two months of their next installment may seek a cashflow analysis from FSA to determine their eligibility.    



RFA Urges EPA to Finalize Approval of Midwest Governors’ E15 RVP Petition

In a letter sent today to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, the Renewable Fuels Association urged the agency to quickly finalize its regulations accepting the petition of eight Midwest governors that would reduce evaporative emissions and allow summertime sales of the lower-cost, lower-carbon E15 fuel blend in their states.

RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper noted in the letter that the statutory deadline for approving the petition was more than one year ago, and the public has expressed strong support for finalizing approval of the petition. The association called on EPA to finalize the rule before the end of this summer.

“Three months have passed since EPA’s public comment period ended, and more than a year has passed since EPA’s statutory deadline to promulgate a final rule approving the Governors’ petition,” Cooper wrote. “And yet, despite strong public support for EPA’s proposal, the agency still has not finalized the rule or publicly provided a schedule for doing so. With the summer 2024 ozone control season just nine months away, we urge EPA to publish the final rule approving the Governors’ petition as soon as possible.”

RFA’s letter included an analysis of real-world retail gasoline price data that shows virtually no difference between retail prices for lower-volatility gasoline and conventional gasoline in adjacent markets where the two different types of gasoline were being sold during the summer 2022 ozone control season. In fact, Cooper wrote, in several of the markets examined, lower-volatility gasoline was less expensive than higher-volatility conventional gasoline.

“Along with previous studies already submitted to EPA, this empirical data helps to debunk the exaggerated claims from some petroleum refiners and pipeline companies regarding the economic impacts of the Governors’ petition,” Cooper wrote.



EPA Posts Pesticide Incident Data Publicly

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took a major step to increase transparency by posting 10 years of pesticide incident data on its website. Sharing this information advances EPA’s commitment to environmental justice and aligns with EPA’s Equity Action Plan by expanding the availability of data and capacity so the public and community organizations can better understand pesticide exposures, including exposures to vulnerable populations.

This action also advances the President’s transparency goal of ensuring that the public, including members of communities with environmental justice concerns, has adequate access to information on federal activities related to human health or the environment, as charged in Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All.

The data sets, which pull information from EPA’s Incident Data System (IDS), allow users to access raw data on pesticide exposure incidents such as the incident date, the reason for the report (e.g., adverse effect, product defect), and the severity of the incident. It may also provide information on the location of the incident, the pesticide product, and a description of the incident(s). EPA has not verified the raw data for accuracy or completeness, so users should be aware of this limitation before drawing any conclusions from the data.

“People have the right to know when accidental pesticide exposures or other incidents are reported to the Agency,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “It is particularly critical to share how pesticides may have impacted our most vulnerable populations, including children and farmworkers.”

EPA considers a pesticide incident as any exposure or effect from a pesticide’s use that is not expected or intended. Pesticide incidents may involve people, domestic animals (e.g., pets or livestock), wildlife, or the environment (e.g., air, soil, water, plants). Reporting a pesticide incident provides EPA with additional information on the effects and consequences of exposures to pesticides affecting people and the environment.

EPA receives information about pesticide incidents from a variety of sources. The incident reports contained in IDS include data from:
    pesticide manufacturers (registrants), as they are required to submit reports of unreasonable adverse effects from their products;
    reporting by the public through other entities (including state regulators for pesticide enforcement);
    information submitted when individuals send an email directly to EPA;
    the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC); and
    the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

Prior to today’s action, EPA generally only provided incident information to the public when responding to requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or as an incident summary as part of EPA’s pesticide registration review process. EPA has made these data accessible to expand the public’s access and understanding of pesticide incidents and pesticide-related illness. Releasing these data is responsive to many long-standing requests to share incident data with farmworker organizations and public health officials.

EPA has made the last 10 years of incident data accessible because incident data older than 10 years may not reflect pesticide product labels currently on the market due to label changes that may occur during registration review. EPA plans to update the data monthly going forward.

Background on EPA’s Review and Use of Incident Data
EPA completes a periodic review of pesticide registrations — including pesticide incidents — at least every 15 years to ensure that, as the ability to assess risk evolves and as policies and practices change, all registered pesticides continue to meet the statutory standard of no unreasonable adverse effects. EPA’s analysis may result in label changes to address any identified risks of concern. As mentioned above, this process is known as registration review.

During registration review, EPA conducts human health and environmental assessments to ensure that pesticides will not cause unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment. Human health risk assessments evaluate the nature and probability of adverse health effects occurring in people who may be exposed to chemicals in their daily activities (e.g., from food and water they consume, air they breathe, contact at work, or other activities). Ecological risk assessments evaluate how a pesticide is expected to move through and break down in the environment, and whether potential exposure to the pesticide will result in unreasonable adverse effects to wildlife and vegetation.

In addition, incident reports, both those submitted to the Agency and those available in open literature, can help EPA determine whether pesticides have adequate use directions and restrictions, protective safety equipment requirements for farmworkers and/or pesticide applicators, and any other necessary mitigation measures to reduce risk to humans and the environment.

Background on the Incident Data System
EPA is making two data sets public. The first data set contains incidents that were submitted to EPA with a description of the incident (e.g., who was involved, how it happened, and where the incident occurred). The second data set contains incidents that were submitted in aggregate to the Agency. Aggregate incidents are submitted in bulk, as outlined in the Agency’s PR Notice 98- 3 and only contain information on the product and the severity of the incident, with no narrative description. For either data set, a single submission may contain one or more incidents.

EPA is publishing these data sets to increase transparency to the public, but the Agency does not currently have the resources to answer individual questions about its content.

It is important to recognize that the data sets contain raw data that have never been reviewed for their validity or modified to facilitate public review. The Agency did not design the incident reporting system to cover only information known to be valid, and as such, cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the data sets. People who download and use the data should exercise caution in drawing conclusions from the data.

For incident reports that contain personally identifiable information, EPA has made every effort to remove this information before making the records public. EPA will continue to redact this information as it updates the data sets each month.



New MAX-IN® Ultra ZMB® Plus Delivers Three Micronutrients Deficient in Most Corn and Soybeans With One Efficient Application

On average, nearly 70% of corn crops are deficient in three vital micronutrients: zinc, manganese and boron according to WinField United tissue sampling research. These micronutrients play a role in everything from leaf growth to disease resistance and are all essential to maximizing crop performance.

Next season, growers will be able to give their deficient crops a more powerful micronutrient boost. MAX-IN® Ultra ZMB® Plus, a new foliar micronutrient from WinField United, combines a high-load blend of zinc, manganese and boron into one convenient and effective product.

“Zinc, manganese and boron are the most common micronutrient deficiencies in many crops, including corn and soybeans, and a deficiency in just one can impact yield potential,” said Jon Zuk, crop protection product manager with WinField United. “Now, with a single application of MAX-IN Ultra ZMB Plus micronutrient, farmers can meet a majority of in-season crop demands.”

A decade (2012 – 2022) of WinField United NutriSolutions® tissue sampling data from across the country shows the opportunity to optimize yield potential in corn using an in-season micronutrient application. The three key findings included:
    78.7% of corn plants are deficient in zinc.1 Zinc is part of auxin, a well-known plant growth hormone, and is crucial to aid in leaf growth, cell elongation and early ear development.
    65.5% of corn plants are deficient in manganese.1 Manganese is essential for photosynthesis and plays a crucial role in plant disease resistance.
    67% of corn plants are deficient in boron.1 Boron influences cell development and is essential for nitrogen metabolism and reproduction.

“The ability to make a late-season application of boron using MAX-IN Ultra ZMB Plus can unlock additional benefits in corn,” Zuk said. “That’s because boron helps pollen viability when the pollen grains germinate and grow down the silk of the corn with peak accumulation of boron occurring immediately prior to pollination. Also, it plays a critical role during the grain fill period, helping to retain and fill more kernels on the ear.”

MAX-IN Ultra ZMB Plus contains CornSorb® technology to increase the uptake into the leaf and movement of micronutrients by 20-50% in the leaf cuticle and into internal structures.

Before making a late-season micronutrient application, Zuk recommends tissue sampling and analysis using the NutriSolutions 360® program at key growth stages to help pinpoint nutrient deficiencies and identify exactly what crops need before yield potential is reduced.

Easy Tank Mixing, Broad Compatibility and Application Flexibility
MAX-IN Ultra ZMB micronutrient can be applied any time in corn and soybeans, mixes easily and is compatible with other plant nutrients and most crop protection products. This includes likely herbicide tank-mix partners such as Enlist®, dicamba and glyphosate-based herbicides and many fungicides, making it ideal for early- and late-season HIF applications.

For improved operational flexibility, MAX-IN Ultra ZMB Plus offers long-term shelf-life stability and minimal transportation requirements thanks to its non-corrosive classification. It can be also stored over winter with no minimum storage temperature.



Break Out: Biology Is Fertility
A New Approach to Boosting the Impact of Biologicals for More Nutrients and Better Soil Health.

Meristem Crop Performance® today announced “Biology Is Fertility™”, a comprehensive systems approach designed to fully harness the power of biologicals to boost plant nutrition and soil health.

“These biologicals have all been around and working since God created the earth,” said Mitch Eviston, Founder and CEO of Meristem Crop Performance in making the announcement. “It’s only now that we have the technology needed to apply them effectively. Real-farm results across millions of acres show the power of these microbes,” he continued, “and it’s because we’ve found ways to keep them alive and boost their concentration with our two patented delivery systems, Bio-Capsule Technology™ and Microbilize™.” Eviston says it’s time for more farmers to break out and make biologicals the centerpiece of a crop fertility program to:

Enhance Nutrient Use Efficiency. The right biologicals can unlock nutrients tied up
in crop residue and build healthier soils through increased biological activity. In essence, they can help you access more of the NPK you already own.

Build Strong, Healthy Plants Faster. Biofertilizers and biostimulants are redefining the term “starter.” When added to the furrow, they boost plant nutrition by fixing nitrogen, solubilizing nutrients, and building robust root systems.

Optimize Genetic Potential All Season Long. In-season use of biologicals – enzymes, amino acids, and other plant extracts – along with fungicides and micronutrients, will minimize stress in the crop and maximize yield.

“Plants are cultivating, or farming, these microbes in their roots,” explains James F. White, Ph.D. professor of Plant Biology at Rutgers University, who has been studying this sustainable cycle for more than 10 years. “They are essentially attracting these microbes to their roots, internalizing them, extracting nutrients, and then ejecting those microbes back out into the soil to acquire more nutrients.”

Eviston says the “Biology is Fertility System” will be centerstage at Meristem’s Breakthrough to Excellence Dealer/Parter event next week in Delavan, Wisconsin, where more than 300 dealers and farmers will gain details and insight from David Hula, Dr. Fred Below, Dr. Conor Sible, Jeff Sommers, Ed Corrigan, Brian Haschemeyer and others.

“Biology is fertility,” agrees Dr. Brewer Blessitt, a crop consultant and founder of Blythe Bayou Research and Consulting, who will also speak at the meeting. He helps manage 40,000 acres of crops in the mid-south. “We can put the microbes out there and they will provide nutrients to the plant, and the plant, in return, provides those bugs with energy. This can be a very powerful plant nutrition factory, but you must give it a jump-start.”

Given the benefits, farmers and their agronomists should consider moving $30 out of their traditional fertilizer budget in the fall and at the planter, says Peter Rousonelos, Senior VP of Business Development for Meristem. “Put those dollars toward igniting this ‘biology-is-fertility’ system. We’re confident it will pay dividends.” Rousonelos speaks of his own proven step-by-step approach:

1.       Make The Most of Nutrients You Already Own.
“Unlock valuable pounds of NPK trapped in crop residue with EXCAVATOR®, powered by MICROBILIZE™; you may save even more fuel and labor with one less tillage pass. This stuff works.”

2.       Manage Nitrogen for Just-in-time Delivery.
“Meristem’s MAINTAIN™ ELITE with Micro-Chain Technology captures and maintains more nitrogen in the upper root zone, increasing nitrogen uptake and utilization at planting time.”

3.       Boost the Plant’s Focus on Building Massive Root Systems.
“At planting, use REVLINE HOPPER THROTTLE™, powered by ETHER™ Enzyme Technology, to deliver active, lively microbes to build massive root structures and boost nutrient availability. Growers that have liquid systems on the planter should use UPSHIFT® C liquid fertilizer concentrate to dramatically reduce the cost compared to traditional starters and jumpstart biologicals that make nutrients available.”



CNH REMAN SIGNS SUPPLIER AGREEMENT WITH IHLE FABRICATIONS FOR COMBINE WEAR PARTS

Today, CNH Reman launches a partnership that expands its ability to provide Case IH and New Holland dealers with solutions to help farmers manage the cost of equipment ownership. As of August 1, 2023, CNH Reman has signed an exclusive supplier agreement with Ihle Fabrications, LLC to offer the company’s line of combine wear parts to the Case IH and New Holland dealer networks.

Through this agreement, dealers can choose from a selection of more than 117 Ihle combine wear parts to offer customers. Like CNH Reman’s other product offerings, these parts will carry the company’s industry-leading 24-month warranty.

Bruce Krueger, CNH Reman General Manager, says the agreement will centralize the ordering process so dealers can more efficiently stock parts for their customers.

“In many cases, dealers were buying direct from Ihle, so by making these products available through our distribution channels, we not only expand the scope of our business, but it makes it easier for the dealers to source the parts they need for the end customers,” Krueger said.

Depending on the commodity being harvested and the number of usage hours on the combine, Ihle CEO Doug Bass said the combine wear parts can withstand impact and wear between 2-4 times longer than OEM wear parts.

These parts are made with Hardox® 450 or stainless steel, materials built to withstand wear and extend the life of the combine.

“The single biggest selling point in our products is the fact that the Hardox ® steel greatly extends the wear life,” Bass said.

The relationship between CNH Reman and Ihle goes back to June 2021, when brothers Mike and Brian Ihle brought their Hardox ® steel transition cone liner to CNH Reman to use in remanufactured transition cones, which hit the market in June 2022. Krueger said the positive dealer response indicated that the partnership was in a good position to grow.

“We’re excited to be offering these products. We’ve had a good relationship with Ihle over the last year, so we’re expanding upon that relationship,” Krueger said.

Bass said the agreement is equally beneficial for Ihle’s business, as it provides the increased distribution network of Case IH and New Holland dealer networks around the world.

“The partnership matches our products with the CNH distribution network. It’s a win-win for the customer of both of our organizations, which is the farmer,” Bass said.

Reman wear parts by Ihle Fabrications are now available through your local Case IH and New Holland dealerships.