Tuesday August 8 Ag News

 Three days, 1,000 miles: Chancellor Bennett hits the road to get acquainted with Nebraska

Rodney Bennett, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s new chancellor, embraced his new state during a three-day, 1,000 plus-mile bus tour of landmarks and university facilities from Nebraska City to Scottsbluff and points in between.

Along the way, the chancellor, his wife, Temple, and other participants in the Aug. 1-3 “IANR Roads Scholar” tour were given a bird’s eye view of the past, present and future of Nebraska’s agriculture-based economy.

“The sites we are visiting provide a holistic view and an important reminder of the partnership between the university and Nebraska’s agriculture and natural resources community,” Bennett said after activities at South Central Agriculture Laboratory near Clay Center Aug. 1. “Each component we have seen is important, individually and in and of itself, but bringing it together into a large picture shows how the university’s support of Nebraska’s agriculture and natural resources community benefits all of us.”

The Roads Scholar tour is intended to familiarize newly hired faculty with the statewide scope of UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. About two dozen UNL faculty, staff and administrators joined this year’s tour, which received coverage by the Lincoln Journal Star and several western Nebraska news outlets.

“Now, not only can you talk about Kimmel Orchard, you’ve had the apple fritter there, you’ve been on the hayrack ride,” Bennett told Journal Star higher education reporter Chris Dunker after visiting the Nebraska City orchard and vineyard that frequently partners with the university. “It isn’t an abstract concept anymore, it’s something that becomes part of you, whether you’re in Lincoln or another part of the state or even the world.”

At Homestead National Historic Park, where America’s “first” homesteader, Daniel Freeman, claimed land outside present-day Beatrice on Jan. 1, 1863, park rangers provided Bennett and his travel companions an unflinching account of both the triumph and heartbreak behind Nebraska’s homesteading history. Later, the group examined a weather-beaten 1945 Allis Chalmers Model C tractor used by the last homesteader, Ken Deardorff, on an 80-acre claim in Alaska in the 1970s. Students in UNL’s Tractor Restoration Club prepared the vintage Allis for exhibit at the Beatrice-area museum after it was retrieved from Alaska in 2017.

Later, at the South Central Agriculture Laboratory, Bennett climbed aboard a massive John Deere See and Spray 612R self-propelled spraying rig. The $700,000 rig, on loan from the AKRS John Deere dealership, features two 60-foot folding booms and 36 computerized cameras with the ability to distinguish weeds from crops, so that weeds can be precisionally targeted with herbicide.

The tour launched July 31 with a get-together at the University of Nebraska State Museum at Morrill Hall on campus and concluded Aug. 3 with a dinner at Milletta Vist Vineyard outside St. Paul.

Other stops were Kimmel Orchard and Vineyards near Nebraska City; Golden Spike Tower, located at the world’s largest railroad classification yard in North Platte; UNL’s West Central Research, Extension and Education Center outside North Platte; Lake McConaughy Visitors Center and Water Interpretive Center near Ogallala; Scotts Bluff National Monument in Scotts Bluff County; Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering; UNL’s Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff; and UNL’s Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, a 12,800-acre working ranch in Grant, Hooker and Cherry Counties.

The tour’s aim is to forge a tighter connection between UNL faculty and the people and places of Nebraska, said Mike Boehm, Harlan vice chancellor for IANR. It introduces new faculty to resources for their teaching, research, Extension and engagement efforts, as well as orienting them to the needs and issues facing the state.

“Nebraska is such an amazing place, a magical combination of people and places,” Boehm said. “The goal for the tour is to give our new faculty a sense of that magic, as well as a point of reference as they build their programs.”

Mark Stone, selected to head Nebraska’s Biological Systems Engineering program in January, said the tour built camaraderie among new faculty members. A native of Laurel, Nebraska, Stone previously served as a professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at the University of New Mexico.

“The chancellor’s presence adds a layer of excitement and fun and demonstrates how important IANR is in his eyes,” Stone added.

While bouncing along in a hayrack through the Kimmel orchards, Bennett laughed loudly at a series of silly fruit jokes told by intern Emily Martindale, a UNL junior and agriculture education major.

Examples: “What do you call it when your friends encourage you to eat more fruit? Pear Pressure.” “What do you call an apple that plays the trumpet? A tooty-frooty.” “What do you call the time in between eating a load of peaches? A pit stop.”

From the platform of the See and Spray rig, Bennett pretended to launch his first State of the University address before he took a seat in the cab for a quick lesson on the sprayer’s control panel.

Boehm said the chancellor’s participation sends powerful messages about building relationships with faculty and his commitment to the university’s partnership with Nebraska agriculture and those who steward the state’s water and soils.

“He’s sending a message to the people of Nebraska that the entire state is part of the UNL campus — and he’s not wasting any time getting started,” Boehm said.



KERNEL PROCESSING FOR QUALITY CORN SILAGE
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator

Assessing the quality of chop as the harvest comes in can mean the difference between quality silage and a subpar harvest. Are you prepared for silage harvest?

Energy from corn silage comes in a large part from starch in the grain itself. After consuming however, the outer seed coat impedes starch digestion.  To counter act this, many modern choppers are fitted with a kernel processer, that physically crush or damage the grain and stalks, improving digestibility.  Correctly setting these rollers is critical.  Too close and we have excess ware on the machine, too far apart and kernels aren’t broken and digestibility is decreased.

If not properly set, we need to catch the problem as soon as possible. To do this, grab a 32 oz. cup and at least once an hour during harvest, grab a sample from the pile.

Next spread the sample out on a flat surface like a card table near the pile and go through the kernels.  Count all the kernels that are ½ or greater in size. You can also put the sample into a bucket of water.  The kernels will sink to the bottom and stalks and leaves will float.  Skim/drain off the top layer and again count any kernels that are ½ or greater in size.

For both methods, the goal is to have 2 or fewer whole or ½ size kernels in your count.  Anything over that and word can be passed to the chopper to adjust the processing.

For those who don’t have access to a kernel processer, keeping chop length short can help accomplish similar results.  Shortening chop length to 3/8 inch for machines without a processor will do more kernel damage and maintain similar fiber particles.  For those who don’t have to worry about particle size, mostly our beef producers, dropping down to ½ inch will damage even more kernels and provide the additional benefit of getting a good pack.

STORAGE METHODS TO REDUCE HAY LOSSES
Hay is a very valuable commodity this year.  So, as you bring in your round bales for winter storage and feeding, store them to minimize weather losses.

Hay stored outside will be damaged by rain, snow, wind, and ice this fall and winter.  The average round bale may lose up to one fourth of its original nutrients during storage, but these losses can be reduced to less than 10 percent or so.

For instance, do you usually line up bales for easy access so the twine sides touch each other?  Or do you stack your bales?  If so, extra spoilage will occur where these bales touch because rain, snow, and ice will gather in spots where bales touch instead of running off.  Research has shown that round bales stacked in a pyramid form will have greater dry matter losses compared bales butted end-to-end, cigar-like.

Does snow drift around your bales?  Bales placed in east-west rows often have drifts on the south side.  Hay next to fencelines or trees can get extra snow.  As snow melts it soaks into bales or makes the ground muddy.  Plus, the north side never gets any sun so it's slow to dry.  This year, line your bales up north-and-south for fewer drifts and faster drying as sunlight and prevailing winds hit both sides of the row.

Most important is the bottom of your bales.  Always put bales on higher, well-drained ground so water drains away from them.  If necessary, use crushed rock or other materials to elevate bales to keep the bottoms dry.  This also will reduce problems getting to your hay or getting it moved due to snow drifts or mud.

So, for outside storage, a single row of bales end to end, along with consideration for row orientation and the ground surface drainage, will be the best storage method.

DELAYED HAY HARVEST?
Weather this year has been quite the roller coaster, resulting in many producers dealing with adverse conditions when harvesting and putting hay up.  Do you know the impact these conditions will have on the final product?

For some producers, too much moisture has been causing issues.  Wet meadows where harvest has been delayed are dealing with prairie hay that is past it’s prime.  As plants mature, quality drops, so expect this hay to be at least a bit lower quality than normal.

In other parts of the state, too little rain led to brome fields that weren’t even worth an early harvest.  With some precipitation returning, these fields are coming back and may be recovered for a fall harvest.  This is a complicated topic, so check out the latest BeefWatch for an article with full considerations.  However, ensuring that stands are fully recovered is critical before deciding to cut.  Additionally, plants that were unable to fully mature earlier may try producing seed late, leading to lower quality than we normally see in fall brome growth.

All producers may have dealt with uncertain forecasts, making the decision to drop hay difficult or raining on cut fields.  Remember the more hay is worked, especially for alfalfa, the more leaf shatter occurs and the lower quality we end up with.  With low hay stores from last year, getting a bit more growth and delaying cutting may be the best option, especially if hay quality will end up being equally low if harvested earlier and raked several times to dry. Especially wet hay that needs to be removed may be better of wrapped and used for balage than deal with the fire risk, mold growth, and declining quality that occurs when hay is put up too wet.



Nebraska Extension Provides Nebraska Corn and Soybean Clinics Aug. 29 at North Platte and Aug. 31 at Mead

Nebraska Extension is providing in-field training opportunities during the Nebraska Corn and Soybean Clinics. The training is scheduled for 2 locations – Mead and North Platte.  Learn about research-based recommendations for improving yield and profit potential. See a “growing season” all in one place - the training includes hands-on interaction and field demos.

Aaron Nygren, Nebraska Extension water and cropping systems educator at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension & Education Center, says “We look forward to better serving Nebraska corn and soybean farmers with these clinics and hope that you will join us to have a hands on discussion with Nebraska Extension specialists and educators about topics important to your operation.”

The Tuesday, Aug. 29 training is at the University of Nebraska West Central Research, Extension & Education Center, 402 West State Farm Road, North Platte, Nebraska and Thursday, Aug. 31 is at the University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension & Education Center (near Mead), 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, Nebraska.

The clinics will differ in content due to variables at each location.  Nicolas Cafaro, assistant professor and cropping systems specialist in agronomy and horticulture at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center, says “Nebraska has diversity of soil, weather conditions, and cropping systems. That means that corn and soybean management is also different across Nebraska. We want to bring better access to the clinics for Nebraskans.”

Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Training is from 9:30 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.

Focusing on both corn and soybeans will provide a well-rounded educational experience.  Cafaro says, “The management of one crop could influence the other crop in the following year and sometimes the same year (such as herbicide drift), so a systems approach is important.”

Topics include: Growth Stage and Crop Physiology: Corn and Soybean Planting-R1; Nutrient management: N, P, IDC; Insect and Weed Management; Weed Management; Growth Stage and Crop Physiology Corn and Soybean R1-harvest; Irrigation; and Plant Pathology.

4.5 CCA credits have been applied for and are pending.

Clinics are limited to 50 participants to ensure so please pre-register one week before each clinic date to ensure a spot. Participants can choose the location they are attending when registering.

The fee is $75 for those seeking CCA credits and $25 for those attending that do not need continuing education credits. Fees include training, lunch and reference materials.

Learn more and register:  https://enreec.unl.edu/nebraska-corn-soybean-clinic/.  



CAP Webinar: Culinary Hacks to Make the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice
Aug 17, 2023 12:00 PM
With: Hannah Guenter, Food, Nutrition and Health Educator, Nebraska Extension

During the busy seasons of planting, calving, and harvest, it’s easy to put healthy eating on the back burner. This session will dive into simple tips and tricks to feed your farmer, rancher, and family quick, nutritious (and delicious) meals. This session will include 2 recipe demonstrations!

Get more information and register at https://cap.unl.edu/webinars.  



Midwest State Renewable Fuels, Corn Organizations Urge EPA to Finalize Year-Round E15 Fix

In a letter sent to the US EPA today, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) and 23 additional Midwest renewable fuels and corn organizations asked the agency to approve the Midwest Governors’ Year-Round E15 fix by the end of September 2023. This action follows a lawsuit filed yesterday by the Iowa and Nebraska Attorneys General seeking to compel the EPA to act.

“IRFA is proud to stand with all these other organizations and say to the EPA – do your job,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Federal law required EPA to act on the Governors’ E15 request over a year ago, yet we’re still waiting. Patience has run out. It’s beyond time to provide certainty for E15.”

While the EPA took emergency action to allow continued sales of E15 during the summer of 2023, a long-term solution would provide stability for 2024 and beyond.

“Consumers need year-round sales of lower-cost, lower-carbon E15,” stated Shaw. “Retailers and suppliers need certainty to make investments. Finalizing the rule by the end of this summer would allow sufficient time for refiners to be ready for the summer of 2024.”

In April of 2022, eight Midwest Governors, led by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, exercised their Clean Air Act (CAA) authority to equalize the summer regulations for E10 and E15. By law, EPA should have approved this action after no more than 90 days. Defying the Congressional deadline, EPA waited until March 6, 2023, almost a year after receiving the petition, to propose approval of the request, and the proposed rule has not yet been finalized.



NASS to review small grain acreage information

In preparation for the August Crop Production report, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will review all available data, including survey data and the latest information from USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency, for planted and harvested acreage for barley, oats, Durum wheat, other spring wheat, and winter wheat. If the data review justifies any changes, NASS will publish updated planted and harvested acreage estimates in the Aug. 11, 2023, report.

NASS conducts planted and harvested acreage reviews based on administrative and survey information during the crop cycle each year as the data become sufficiently complete. Going forward, NASS will review available data for barley, oats, and wheat in August; chickpeas, corn, cotton, dry edible peas, lentils, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans, and sugarbeets in September; and canola, dry edible beans, and sunflowers in October.



EPA Affirms Farmers’ Right to Repair

In a letter to National Farmers Union (NFU), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) affirmed that the Clean Air Act (CAA) cannot be used as a basis to restrict independent repair of farm equipment.

In their opposition to Right to Repair legislation, equipment manufacturers and dealers have invoked EPA regulations and the CAA – specifically related to tampering with emissions control systems – as justification for their need to restrict repair.

“EPA confirmed what farmers have known all along – equipment manufacturers have been using bad faith justifications to restrict independent repair,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “I want to thank Administrator Regan and EPA for taking this issue seriously and providing clarity to NFU and farmers across the nation.”

In the letter to NFU, Administrator Regan stated “Your letter… discusses the important anti-tampering provisions of the Act, and your concern that certain manufacturers may be mischaracterizing the implications of those provisions for independent repair… The Act, implementing regulations, and EPA’s policy and practice are aligned in preventing tampering not by limiting access to independent repair, but rather by enforcing the prohibition against tampering against any party that does so.”

EPA Administrator Regan further stated that “Like NFU and its members, EPA believes barriers to the proper repair and maintenance of nonroad equipment is harmful to the environment… We support efforts by anyone to enact legislation clarifying that independent repair is allowable, provided such efforts continue to clearly prohibit illegal tampering of emissions control systems.”  

NFU strongly supports a federal legislative solution that guarantees farmers and independent mechanics the Right to Repair farm equipment on fair and reasonable terms and costs.

President Larew added, “The Right to Repair has been a pillar of NFU’s Fairness for Farmers campaign to address the monopoly crisis in agriculture and to promote fair and competitive markets. Farmers and ranchers deserve the Right to Repair their own equipment.”



NCBA Slams Presidential Overreach in Latest Antiquities Act Designation

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) slammed President Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to put sweeping federal designations on over a million additional acres of land in Arizona, amounting to yet another presidential land grab.

“This kind of use of the Antiquities Act is one of the most appallingly political moves to lock up millions of acres of land across the country. Today’s latest designation follows a concerning trend of Washington politicians trampling local communities, land managers, farmers, and ranchers with the stroke of a pen,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer. “NCBA is strongly opposed to the continued abuse of the Antiquities Act, and we urge President Biden to listen to the local communities that will be hurt by this designation.”

This designation adds insult to injury for communities that are unheard and intentionally removed from land management conversations. Additionally, the Biden administration failed to communicate with the affected landowners prior to the designation and their so-called public opinion meeting and poll failed to gather perspective from the people most impacted by this decision.

The Antiquities Act gives the President of the United States broad power establish national monuments from existing federal lands. These designations are especially harmful to rural communities that rely on federal lands for their livelihood, such as public lands ranchers. Public lands ranching has existed since the early days of exploration in the West and is governed today by the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934. Nearly 40 percent of cattle spend their time on public lands and public lands ranchers protect water sources, safeguard open space, promote forage growth, limit invasive species, and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.



U.S. Exports of Ethanol and DDGS Incrementally Lower in June
Ann Lewis, Senior Analyst, Renewable Fuels Association

U.S. ethanol exports edged 1% lower to 111.9 million gallons (mg). Nearly all gallons (99%) landed in just 10 markets, with Canada serving as our largest destination for the 27th consecutive month and representing 45% of June sales. The U.S. shipped 50.8 mg of ethanol north of our border—0.3% less than May and the third largest on record—which included 65% of total U.S. denatured fuel exports for the month. The European Union imported 15.8 mg (nearly a third less than May), while the United Kingdom imported 13.5 mg (a 40% month-over month jump). Rounding out the major markets are South Korea (10.3 mg, +6%), Peru (5.5 mg, -11%), Colombia (5.5 mg, -9%), Mexico (4.1 mg, +181%), Nigeria (3.3 mg, up from zero), Singapore (1.0 mg, up from essentially zero), and Jamaica (0.5 mg, -83%). Brazil and India were notably absent from the market. U.S. ethanol exports for the first half of 2023 total 704.9 mg, coming in 11% below last year at this time.

For the sixth consecutive month, the U.S. did not register any meaningful imports of foreign ethanol.

U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, totaled 949,904 metric tons (mt) in June. While this was 1% less than May and 6% behind year-ago volumes, most of our larger markets experienced appreciable growth. Mexico captured the largest market share (20%) for the 12th consecutive month with imports of 189,364 mt, up 16% from May. Vietnam imported 112,176 mt, up 34% to an 8-month high, and Indonesia imported 92,083, up 3% to an 11-month high. Other substantial markets included South Korea (88,104 mt, -15%), the European Union (75,562 mt, up fivefold to a 9-month high), Canada (71,153, +20% to an 11-month high), Turkey (46,612 mt, -68%), and Israel (39,803 mt, +29% to an 11-month high). DDGS exports for the first half of 2023 total 5.12 million mt, lagging 10% behind last year at this time.



ACE 2023 Conference to Feature Targeted Tracks on Leadership & Management, Technology and Carbon

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) 36th annual conference coming up August 23-25 in Minneapolis offers a variety of breakout sessions covering the latest in technology updates, strategic planning advice, and ways to make ethanol plants more profitable while reducing carbon emissions. The breakout sessions will be held concurrently in three rounds on the afternoon of Thursday, August 24, following the morning general session panels.

This year’s breakouts are split into three tracks: Leadership & Management, Technology, and Carbon. Breakout sessions include:

Leadership & Management Track – Optimization Tactics for Company Processes
Exploring Opportunities and Challenges in Plant Staffing and Administration — Christianson PLLP, Christianson Benchmarking, Beyond (A Christianson Company)

    Attendees will learn best practices for creating an agile business model that pivots as employee’s needs change, as well as how to ensure board and management work together to keep a plant competitive.

Board Succession Planning: How to Determine if you Have an Effective Board — Pinion
    Experts will share practical strategies and tools for conducting board assessments, defining clear succession plans, and developing a pipeline of qualified board candidates. Attendees will gain actionable knowledge to enhance governance practices, ensure continuity, and drive organizational success through effective board succession planning.

Workforce Evolution: Harnessing the Power of your Current Workforce and the Future Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology — IFF, PROtect, Direct Companies
    This session will cover how to use digital tools to develop an even more intimate relationship with your customers and change how you serve the industry, while leaving you with strategies for successful hiring.

Technology Track – Advancements to Improve Producer Operations
Fermentation Treatment and Technology — Kurita America, Lallemand, Leaf by Lesaffre
    This panel looks at successful fermentation management strategies and dives in on topics like antibiotic applications for bacteria control. The panel will also uncover the role of enzymes in sustainable fermentation and advancements in microorganisms and processes to enhance fermentation.

Unlocking Corn Oil Extraction and Utilization Advancements — Phibro Ethanol, Trucent, ICM, Inc.
    This session will highlight emerging trends and what’s being done to unlock the full value and potential of corn oil in today’s market, including how to utilize analytics to deploy refinement and optimization strategies.

Maximizing Your Energy Resources – Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, Bioleap
    This panel will discuss specific contaminants, optimum treatment approaches, and new innovations to minimize and reuse water, including technology to recover water and utilize waste energy to produce clean, boiler-quality steam.

Carbon Track – It’s all about Carbon: Capturing it, Reducing it, Scoring it
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Ethanol’s CI – PrairieFood, Gevo
    This session will highlight companies working to help farmers implement climate-smart farming practices that could eventually reap financial benefits for the producer and ultimately help decarbonize the ethanol production supply chain.

Engineering Carbon Reduction – Fluid Quip Technologies, P&E Solutions LLC, Whitefox Technologies Ltd.
    This session will highlight some specific cutting-edge, carbon-reducing technologies available to the ethanol industry, as well as how to review common carbon intensity (CI) reduction technologies and determine the best CI reduction strategies based on facility specific advantages and challenges.

Real Time CI Scoring for Ethanol Producers – nZero, Gevo, Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE)
    This session will feature platforms to help ethanol producers and farmers realize their unique CI score to maximize revenues.

To register for the event and learn more about these sessions and others, visit ethanol.org/events/conference.