Tuesday August 15 Ag News

 Reflections on the 101st Cuming County Fair
Alfredo DiCostanzo, Beef Systems Extension Educator, University of Nebraska

The 101st edition of the Cuming County Fair is now part of our rich history. Historically, county fairs developed from a desire to showcase agriculture; eventually, they incorporated youth activities with the foresight that involvement in projects would develop strong youth.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to live and work in this community and, through my association with County Extension, to be involved in executing duties in support of this great event. A special note of gratitude to my colleagues in the County Extension Office. They have worked tirelessly for a long time to take care of every little item and detail needed during the 4-H shows. This is not an easy task. Gathering information, meeting deadlines, inventorying and purchasing supplies, updating show lists, ordering trophies, banners, and ribbons, coordinating with the Fair Board, and then ensuring that everything is in order and ready to hand out to the appropriate individual at the correct time, be it a judge, volunteer, parent, or Fair Board member.  These tasks do not end at the conclusion of our Fair. Follow-up work continues clear into the week leading to the State Fair and beyond. Lastly, notes and feedback are gathered to incorporate changes for the next edition of the Cuming County Fair. This begins the cycle of preparation for the next Cuming County Fair.

Similarly, many youths and parents worked for long hours to complete projects for them to compete during the fair. During the shows, it is inspiring to watch young people put their best effort forward to present the best features of their project. You cannot help but think how constructive this process has been for their upbringing. Hard work and determination associated with preparing and showing at the fair result in strong, skilled, and resilient individuals.

In some ways, preparing for a fair, whether you are a youth in 4-H or adult involved in putting on the fair, reminds me of a scientist conducting elaborate procedures for which results can be summarized in a 3-sentence paragraph in an obscure journal that reach a small population. So, it is with planning and preparing for the fair, the show is over in a matter of hours.

Perhaps, then, it is not the show itself where we derive the most benefit from participating in the fair. Perhaps it is the planning, preparation, and participation that delivers the most significant effects on all participants.

We learn to plan, adapt, evolve, and improve on our efforts. More importantly, we learn patience, kindness, and compassion.

Looking forward to seeing all of you at the 2024 Cuming County Fair.



Summer Annual Forage Pasture Walk on Aug. 23
Mary Drewnoski - Beef Systems Specialist
Connor Biehler - Beef Assistant Extension Educator

Nebraska Extension is hosting a pasture walk on Wednesday, Aug. 23 at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead, Nebraska. During the pasture walk, participants will get to see and hear about the summer-long rotational grazing of stockers and cow/calf pairs on sudangrass or a mix of sudangrass with sunnhemp. Come engage in a lively conversation.

Topics for discussion include:
    What has and hasn’t worked this summer.
    Grazing management suggestions to optimize productivity of warm-season annuals.
    Potential carrying capacity of annual forages.
    Suggestions for fertility management of annual forages.
    Prussic acid and nitrate considerations.
    Anything the group has on their mind!

The walk will begin at 9 a.m. and end around 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome to come join in this free event. Note: the field can be a bit muddy if we get rain, so come prepared.

Directions to the Field:
From the ENREEC headquarters (1071 Co Rd G, Ithaca, Nebraska), head east on NE-66 for 1.9 miles. Turn right onto Ninth Street and travel south one mile. Turn left (east) at the first cross street onto County Road F. The field will be on the left in 0.7 mile.



What are Your Options with Wet Hay?
Hannah (Greenwell) Smith, Nebraska Extension Educator
Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator
Connor Biehler, Nebraska Extension Educator

Top 5 Takeaways
    Wet bales are at risk for combustion; store appropriately and check temperatures. Anything above 170°F is high risk.
    Mold may produce mycotoxins, so roll out and let animals select good portions of moldy bales. Make sure other clean feed is available.
    Protect yourself from respiratory issues while working with moldy bales by using a dust mask.
    Hay testing is especially important when hay quality and safety are concerns.
    Wet bales continue to lose quality over the course of the year, so sample a few weeks before you plan to feed for accurate results.

Cattle producers in some parts of the country had to adjust quickly from too dry to too wet this year.

Hay that gets rained on while it’s still in the windrow will lose nutritional value, but if it’s put up too wet, has been sitting in water, or is otherwise saturated, it needs special consideration.

Hay Combustion
Moisture can lead to combustion. Hay should be put up at 20 percent moisture or less. Above this, microbes begin to break down plant matter, and mold growth occurs. This breaking down of the hay produces heat and leads to the danger of combustion.

If weather conditions don’t allow the hay to dry and cure, baleage or other high-moisture baling techniques can be an option. These use a plastic wrap or tube to exclude oxygen and create an anaerobic fermentation environment that limits decomposition and heat production.

If you end up with “hot” hay that’s too wet in the bale, store that away from other bales, and outside to limit the risk of a fire spreading. Some insurance policies have limits on how many bales they will cover per stack, so now is a good time to check into that.

Periodically check temperatures on these bales by using a long-stem compost thermometer or driving a metal pipe into the bale and lowering in a non-mercury thermometer. Any bales at 170°F or higher should be closely monitored. At this point, temperatures will most likely continue to rise.

Bale combustion can begin at temperatures as low as 190°F, especially in coarse hays like sorghum-sudangrass hybrids. Increased oxygen flow in these bales due to the coarse stems means higher risk. Moving hot bales can also open them up and increase oxygen flow, increasing the risk of combustion.

Moldy Hay
Even if they don’t catch fire, wet bales will continue to decrease in quality. Mold growth uses plant tissues as an energy and protein source, decreasing quality. Hot temperatures denature cell structures, which changes proteins and carbohydrates, making them less useful for the animal when digested. In some cases when we have anaerobic conditions and heat, hay may “caramelize,” becoming golden colored and sweet smelling. While highly palatable, this heat-fermented hay is also lower in quality due to heat damage during the fermentation process.

Managing Hay Mycotoxins
Mold has the potential to produce mycotoxins which, in high enough levels, could be deadly to animals that ingest it in extreme circumstances. The moderate side effect is reduced intake, a decrease in ruminal function, and overall reduced performance of the animal, leading to economic losses. While this may seem minor, the lowered feed values of forages due to increased rain and extended winters amplify the potential for poor breed-up and decreased calf weights.

The best way to use moldy hay is to spread out the bales and let the animals pick through, with a second source of clean hay for them to select from as well. Mold often reduces palatability and animals will avoid especially bad chunks. Having clean hay available ensures animals aren’t forced to eat anything they don’t choose to. Pregnant animals are more sensitive to mycotoxin poisoning, which can lead to fetal termination, so consider limiting the amount of moldy hay these animals receive. Horses are highly sensitive to mold in hay, with danger of both respiratory and toxin issues. As such, it is best to keep moldy hay away from horses.

Mold can also be a health risk to the producer. Frequently breathing in large amounts of dust and mold can cause respiratory issues such as farmer’s lung. To protect against this, wear a dust mask when working with hay that may have high amounts of mold.
Hay Testing

Hay testing is going to be critical this year. Determining actual, as-fed hay quality is important for meeting animal nutrition needs through the winter. If moldy hay is being ground for a diet, correctly diluting forages to ensure bad hay isn’t being overfed is vital, since these animals don’t have the option for refusal. Mold and mycotoxin tests can be a bit expensive and not all labs offer these tests. Your local Beef Extension Educator would be happy to help with finding a lab and determining a cost-effective sampling strategy.

Until bales cool off and moisture content drops below 20%, the quality of hay will continue to drop through the year. To make sure we are getting an accurate assessment of hay quality, sample by lot (hay harvested from the same field within a 48-hour period) a few weeks before you plan to feed. Early samples can be taken to gauge quality for planning purposes, but since the degradation process in these bales is ongoing, a true reading won’t be understood until right before feeding. This should give an accurate idea of the forage quality while still giving the lab time to get results back to you. Knowing the quality of hay allows for better decision making of how to use low quality forage and prevent underfeeding of animals.



PSC ISSUES ORDER ASSESSING CIVIL PENALTY AGAINST NEBRASKA GRAIN WAREHOUSE

The Nebraska Public Service Commission (PSC) has issued an Order (GWC-450/GW-2184) sustaining the complaint and assessing a civil penalty of $24,100.00 against The Andersons, Inc. of Kearney, for storing grain in an unlicensed facility in violation of the Grain Warehouse Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 88-525 to 88-552.

In July of 2022, an inspection by the PSC of the company’s grain warehouse in Paxton, Nebraska determined that the company was storing grain in six grain bins not listed on the company’s grain warehouse license.  A complaint was then a filed against Andersons Inc., by the director of the PSC grain warehouse department alleging the company stored grain in unapproved bins between October 2021 and July 2022.

A hearing in the matter was held in June 2023. Based on the evidence presented at the hearing, the Commission finds that the company stored grain in six bins which were not listed on its grain warehouse license for its Paxton facility, in violation of Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 88-533.

“It is the duty of the Commission to ensure grain warehouses are following state law,” said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier. “Even though no losses occurred in this instance, and the company worked with the Commission to resolve the issue their actions put producers at risk and a civil penalty is justified.”

The Company has 30 days in which to pay the penalty or appeal the Commission’s Order.



Iowa Farm Bureau announces partnership with Farm Rescue to support Iowa farm families during times of crisis

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) today announced a $10,000 gift to Farm Rescue, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides on-farm assistance to farm families who have experienced a major injury, illness or natural disaster.  Today is Farm Bureau Day at the Iowa State Fair, and Farm Rescue staff and volunteers will be stationed in Farm Bureau Park to meet with fairgoers and share their mission and success stories.  

“To make it as a farmer today requires a strong work ethic, tenacity and the determination to overcome countless challenges, but some of life’s challenges can be too much to overcome alone. That’s why we’re so appreciative of Iowa Farm Bureau’s support which will help connect us with a greater number of Iowa farm families that may need assistance with planting or harvesting or feeding their livestock if they are unable,” said Terry Johnston, Farm Rescue development officer. “We are excited to be at Farm Bureau Park and visit with farmers about how we can help them overcome these challenges.”

Farm Rescue’s services include planting, haying, harvest, grain hauling and livestock feeding assistance to farm families during times of extreme need, all at no cost, thanks to a generous collective of volunteers.  Farm Rescue’s volunteers, oftentimes farmers themselves, are trained to operate Farm Rescue’s farm equipment to help families remain farming and persevere through times of crisis.  

Founded in 2005 and now serving seven midwestern states, Farm Rescue assisted its 1000th farm family earlier this summer.  Today, Farm Rescue is equipped to assist 80-100 farm families each year, and Iowa Farm Bureau’s donation will help Farm Rescue deploy even more volunteers to farms in Iowa.

“Farmers and Iowa’s rural communities are known for supporting each other and lending a helping hand during tough times,” said Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson. “Our partnership with Farm Rescue is a natural fit and aligns with the Iowa Farm Bureau mission to support farm families and their communities.  We commend the organization and its volunteers for their dedication and support of farm families.”

To apply or to refer a family to Farm Rescue’s mobile farming operation and services, visit farmrescue.com or call 701-252-2017.  



Secretary Naig Honors 16 Choose Iowa Coloring Calendar Contest Winners at the 2023 Iowa State Fair

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig recognized 16 Iowa students today whose artwork was selected for inclusion in the 2023-2024 Choose Iowa Coloring Calendar. The ceremony was held in the Agriculture Building during the 2023 Iowa State Fair.

"Choose Iowa is all about connecting consumers to the high-quality products that are grown, raised and made in Iowa,” said Secretary Naig. “Iowa is fortunate to have so many talented students, and we are pleased to see how our youngest Iowans are taking the opportunity to learn more about Iowa agriculture and showcase our state in these artistic entries."

The Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship received over 120 submissions from K-12 students across the state and 16 student artists were selected for the annual calendar.

The 2023 winners, listed alphabetically by last name, include:
    Maggie Belloma, Centerville, IA
    Lyndley Dooley, Centerville, IA
    Eveyln Douglas, Keystone, IA
    Autumn Greenless, Adel, IA
    Vylan Jacobi, Belle Plaine, IA
    Madlynn Kehret, Charles City, IA
    Izabella Kochyt, Belle Plaine, IA
    Ryker Kooima, Rock Valley, IA
    Mackenzie Mommsen, DeWitt, IA
    Isaac Postma, Rock Valley, IA
    Regina Ivanova Reynoso-Reyes, Rock Valley, IA
    Drithi Chandra Udutha, Bettendorf, IA
    Lina Yu, West Des Moines, IA

 The 2023 honorable mentions, include:
    Zoey Brandt, Belle Plaine, IA
    Cade Pfeiler, Cedar Rapids, IA
    Brooke Webber, West Branch, IA

High quality photos of the winners receiving their certificates will be available within one month of the ceremony on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Flickr page.

The free 2023-2024 calendar will be available to fairgoers at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s booths in the Agriculture Building and Varied Industries Building.

Students who are 18 years old or younger are invited to submit a drawing for next year’s Choose Iowa Coloring Calendar (Sept. 2024 – Aug. 2025) now through May 2024. Pictures should be drawn in a horizontal orientation using only black lines on plain white, 8.5 by 11-inch paper. The pictures should not be colored in.

Artwork may be submitted by email at ChooseIowa@IowaAgriculture.gov or mailed to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Attn: Choose Iowa, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319. Each submission should include the artist’s name, age, grade, school, address and hometown, along with a parent or guardian’s email and phone number.



THE 41ST IOWA GOVERNOR'S CHARITY STEER SHOW FUNDRAISING SURPASSES PREVIOUS YEARS, RAISING $501,000

Continuing the upward streak, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show exceeded the previous year’s fundraising total donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. This year’s event raised $501,000. Including this year’s donations, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show has raised almost $5.5 million since the event’s inception in 1983.

All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and 62 foreign countries. Families from all 99 counties in Iowa have benefited from the Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa.

This event, hosted by the Office of the Governor of Iowa, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and Iowa Beef Industry Council, is another example of the care the beef cattle industry has for our state, rural communities, and those in need. The youth exhibitors, their families, sponsors, celebrities, and buyers should be proud of their effort given to this year’s event. Their impact through volunteering, donations, and dedication created yet another successful show and fundraising outcome.

Recognizing the Winners
The 41st Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show was held on August 12 in the Livestock Pavilion at the Iowa State Fair. Winners in four categories were recognized in the show ring – Community Hero, Grand Champion Showman, People’s Choice, and Judge’s Grand Champion. This year’s event hosted 24 sponsored steers, shown by their youth exhibitor and a local celebrity.

The Community Hero Award recognizes the youth exhibitor that goes above and beyond collecting non-monetary donations and creating awareness for the event. This year two exceptional youth exhibitors were recognized for their efforts. Will Vlasek from Cedar Rapids and Colbie Fevold of Gladbrook were both honored with the Community Hero Award for collecting non-perishable donations, pop tabs, and sharing information about the event on social media. Will was sponsored by Eastern Iowa Ronald McDonald House and Quad Cities McDonald’s and showed with celebrity, Rebecca Kopelman, a meteorologist from KGAN. Colbie was sponsored by Iowa Premium and showed with the 2022 Tama County Fair Queen, Kaylynn Murty.

Our showmanship contest was judged by Dr. Dan Loy, who recently retired from the Iowa State Beef Center. He commented that showmanship is a partnership between the steer, the youth exhibitor, and the celebrity. He awarded Emma Wayson of Mount Auburn, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, and Junior the steer, with Grand Champion Showman. Emma, Secretary Naig, and Junior were sponsored by Benton County Cattlemen and Local Supporters.

A fan favorite, the People’s Choice Award, gives the audience and team supporters a voice in the competition as they help select the winner of this event. Show emcees, Bob Quinn with WHO Radio and Duane Murley with KWMT AM 540, worked through the steers and had the crowd on their feet and cheering loud for their favorite. In the end, it was the 2022 Iowa State Fair Queen, Mary Ann Fox, and her youth partner, Taylor Quade from Charles City, along with her steer, Max, that took the award home. Mary Ann, Taylor, and Max were sponsored by Friends of Floyd County.

Finally, the most prestigious award of the show, the Judge’s Grand Champion, was selected. Brad Pellett from Atlantic, Iowa had the hardest task of working through and judging the stellar lineup of steers and showman. Celebrity Blake Boldon, Franklin P Johnson director of the Drake Relays and senior associate athletic director at Drake University, and his youth partner, Tyson Mohr from Ladora, received the honor. Batman, the winning steer, along with Blake and Tyson were sponsored by Dee Zee, Inc.

Following the show, a live auction was conducted to raise funds through the sale of each steer and some additional value-added items donated by industry supporters and celebrities. These funds were added to the donations received by each youth participant, resulting in the $501,000 donation going to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa.

Thank you to Governor Kim Reynolds for her continued dedication to this event and for her partnership with Iowa beef cattle producers. This event is a rewarding and humbling experience for all that participate. While the financial results are exceptional, the connection our participants, their families, and volunteers experience to the bigger picture of service the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show offers to fellow Iowans and beyond is monumental.



Champion Seed Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Independently owned and operated Champion Seed is celebrating 20 years of business. The Ellsworth, Iowa-based seed company was started by the Hill and Hodnefield families in 2003. Since then, it has expanded both its size and services.

“We started this company with the goal of serving farmers with the best, most comprehensive seed portfolio focused on above-average yields every season,” says co-owner Brett Hodnefield. “While we’ve changed a lot in 20 years, that goal has remained the same.”

Since 2003, Champion Seed has:
    Grown from 10 to 40 employees.
    Expanded from five dealers to 170 dealers.
    Increased annual seed sales by 700%.
    Increased total acres planting Champion Seed by 800%.
    Diversified corn and soybean traits to create complete, top-of-the-line portfolios.
    Remained one of the fastest-growing, family-owned seed companies in the United States.

“We know farmers have near-unlimited choices when it comes to seed and other inputs,” says co-owner Seth Hill. “We are humbled and honored to have so many farmers choosing our seed products to stay profitable and competitive.”

Hodnefield and Hill remind farmers that while top-quality seed is a priority, customer service and accessibility should be just as important.

“Accessibility is really what sets us apart,” says Hodnefield. “Seth, our devoted team of agronomists and I are available 24/7 to ensure farmers get what they need. From agronomic resources and guidance to an emergency seed delivery, we pride ourselves on being here for you.”



CattleCon24 Registration Opens Early

Registration and housing are now open for CattleCon24, the cattle industry’s largest event of the year. It’s “Onward to Orlando” where cattle producers from across the country will gather, January 31-February 2, for business meetings, educational sessions, engaging speakers and family fun.

“By opening registration early this year, we hope to give producers the ability to plan a family vacation in conjunction with CattleCon,” said Kristin Torres, executive director of Meetings and Events with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). “Orlando and the surrounding areas offer a variety of family-friendly activities, and we want attendees to take advantage of this great location.”

CattleCon attendees can look forward to a variety of educational opportunities including the CattleFax Outlook Seminar, weather and industry updates, grazing management workshop, sessions featuring guest speakers on the NCBA Trade Show floor and the 31st annual Cattlemen’s College. Cattlemen’s College is being reimagined in 2024 with classroom sessions and hands-on demonstrations throughout all three days of CattleCon. Also new are trade show cooking demos and a beef culinary tour.

The cattle industry will be hard at work guiding both Beef Checkoff and NCBA policy programs. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, American National CattleWomen, CattleFax and National Cattlemen’s Foundation will hold annual meetings during the event.

Leaders in sustainability, quality and cattle feeding will be recognized during the Environmental Stewardship Award Program reception, Beef Checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance Awards program and Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame Banquet. CattleCon24 will conclude at Universal Studios for “Cowboys and Coasters” where producers can wind down the week with friends and family and experience theme park thrills.

CattleCon24 is designed to offer value for producers attending with their families. Discounted tickets for area theme parks and multi-day cruises before and after the event are available to attendees. Kids 12 and under will also be admitted to the NCBA Trade Show for free.

A variety of ticket packages are available, as well as payment plan options. For more information and to register and reserve housing, visit https://convention.ncba.org/.



Wheat and Milling Organizations Support Recent Wheat Donation and Protecting U.S. International Food Security Programs

Organizations representing Pacific Northwest wheat growers and the U.S. milling industry are celebrating the latest Food for Peace donation of 28,000 metric tons of U.S. soft white (SW) wheat. On August 15, 2023, longshoremen at the Port of Longview, Wash., loaded the wheat on the U.S.-flag vessel “Liberty Glory” now bound for the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East to help alleviate one of the worst hunger emergencies on the planet.

U.S. wheat farmers, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW), the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), and the North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) have been partners in U.S. international food assistance programs for 70 years. Since 2020, in fact, the American people have donated more than 1 million metric tons of wheat and millions of dollars in food aid every year. The soft white wheat donation loaded Aug. 15 was grown in Washington state, Oregon, and Idaho.

The U.S. has a long history of administering the largest, most diverse, reliable, safe, and effective food assistance programs in the world. Today, the worst hunger crisis in a generation makes U.S. support of food aid programs more important than ever. Yet humanitarian programs like USAID’s Food for Peace program are under intense pressure from some policymakers seeking to cut program funding and divert resources away from emergency hunger needs. In July 2023, USW, NAWG, and NAMA sent a letter with 128 other organizations urging lawmakers to support international food aid programs.

Full funding for Food for Peace and other U.S. food assistance programs is critical to addressing the substantial humanitarian feeding needs around the world. Food for Peace demonstrates the success of starting American foreign policy at home, with American farmers and industry, and ending with food in the hands of those who need it the most.

“The U.S. food and agricultural community are unique stakeholders in the international food aid conversation,” Kansas wheat farmer Ron Suppes said in congressional testimony after visiting Kenya and Tanzania on a trip to monitor U.S. wheat food aid programs in 2017. “I want to see us continue our trend of excellence in providing food aid to the countries that need it most.”

Additionally, wheat growers and the milling industry applauded the introduction of the American Farmers Feed the World Act in June 2023. This legislation would “put the food back into food aid” by restoring Food for Peace to its roots as a purely in-kind commodity donation program and requiring that at least half of all Food for Peace funds be used to purchase American commodities and ship them overseas, minimizing administrative costs and restoring accountability and transparency.

“U.S. millers are proud of the role they play in alleviating world hunger through food aid. Today’s wheat shipment is a moving reminder of the need to both protect Food for Peace from harmful budget cuts and support the American Farmers Feed the World Act to ensure Food for Peace funding goes toward feeding as many people as possible in this time of unprecedented hunger,” said NAMA Senior Director of Government Affairs Kim Cooper.

"This recent donation of U.S. wheat symbolizes our commitment to combating hunger and fostering global food security," said Nicole Berg, a Washington wheat farmer and Past President of the National Association of Wheat Growers. "During a journey to Kenya and Tanzania in 2019, I saw firsthand the effects of these life-changing programs and U.S. commodities. In testimony before Congress I shared the story of a man I met there who emphasized his community is always so happy with the high quality of the U.S. food and wheat flour they receive. NAWG encourages lawmakers to protect funding for Food for Peace and include the American Farmers Feed the World Act as part of the Farm Bill to help feed the world with high-quality American wheat and continue paving the way for excellence in food security and assistance."



New Holland Announces Partnership with Honey Bee® Manufacturing, Partnering Speedrower® PLUS Series Windrowers with WSC Swather Series Draper Heads

New Holland Agriculture North America and Honey Bee® Manufacturing have formed a partnership on a new draper header series for Speedrower® PLUS Series self-propelled windrowers. Developed with customers in mind, the new Honey Bee® WSC Swather Series presents new opportunities for the Speedrower PLUS Series in small grain crops.

“Operations that swath grains have been asking for a draper head solution to work with our Speedrower PLUS Series self-propelled windrowers and we listened,” says Josh Harkenrider, commercial hay and forage product marketing manager for New Holland Agriculture North America. “We’re confident this partnership will provide a robust solution for customers as it combines the experience from Honey Bee with the productivity, precision and performance of our windrowers."

Built on a draper platform, the WSC Swather Series brings more than 20 years of development and proven results from Honey Bee Manufacturing.

“We are proud to have forged this agreement with CNH Industrial as it puts our proven platform into the hands of more farmers through CNH Industrial’s robust dealer network,” says Jamie Pegg, general manager for Honey Bee Manufacturing.

To maximize the impressive capacity of the Speedrower PLUS Series, two models are available: the 30-foot (9.1 m) WSC30 and the 36-foot (10.9 m) WSC36. For clean cutting, these headers feature the tried-and-true SCH Easy Cut Cutting System, which has spring steel guards with cutting edges on the top and bottom, along with alternating, bolted, heat-treated sections that eliminate the need for hold downs. For increased capacity, the Honey Bee® Reel features six bats and quick change plastic teeth. To adjust in changing crop conditions, both hydraulic reel drive and hydraulic fore/aft reel adjustments can be conveniently made from the cab. Cut crop is gently delivered onto two swath decks where it then can be shifted left, right or center with in-cab controls.

WSC Swathers also come with adjustable gauge wheels to help in conditions where skids can scrape or dig and an integrated transport system for convenient maneuvering on-road and storage.

"When you combine the wide cutting widths and the array of proven components, along with the hydraulic capacity, advanced SensiDrive™ drive-by-wire controls and easy-to-use precision solutions on our Speedrower PLUS Series, customers can expect a faster and more efficient harvest for seasons to come,” Harkenrider adds.

New Holland Agriculture North America first displayed a WSC30 Swather Draper Head along with a Speedrower® 260 PLUS windrower at the 2023 Ag PhD Field Day in Baltic, South Dakota. A combination will also be shown at Dakotafest in Mitchell, South Dakota, August 15-17, and at Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island, Nebraska, September 12-14.