Wednesday August 30 Ag News

 FALL FORAGE INVENTORY
– Ben Beckman, NE Extension Educator

Summer is flying by and fall is just around the corner. While it may seem like a weird question to ask already, do you know how much feed or hay you have for this fall or going into winter?

Last year’s winter didn’t do anyone’s bale yard a favor and a dry spring and early summer didn’t help alleviate pressure on forage resources. With tight supply and high costs, it’s worth asking if you have enough feed this fall or winter for your current cattle numbers.

Consider the “best case” and “worst case” scenarios. Count bales, measure silage, calculate remaining pasture, and get a real idea of how many calves and feeders you may have. If more forage is needed, there is still a very short window to plant a fall grazing crop, find some extra acres to hay, or decide to chop a bit more silage if the situation calls for it.

While temperatures are still warm, those wanting to plant some extra forage should skip the warm season species and focus on cool season crops that will really take off in the fall. Right now your two best choices are oats for either hay or grazing and turnips for grazing.  Winter small grains like cereal rye, wheat, and triticale can be mixed with the oats and turnips. They won’t produce much fall growth, but they will provide some early grazing next spring.

If growing your own feed isn’t an option, another action plan to consider is buying feeds that are cheaper now and storing them through the winter. We know how to do this with hay and silage, but what about distillers grains? Mixing distillers with low quality feeds and packing in a bunker or in a bag, can significantly reduce the cost of protein and energy supplements during the winter months. This is especially helpful if cows are coming of off grass thin and need to improve condition before calving.

Planning is indispensable. Having a feed inventory, adding needed forage when able, and checking prices and availability of purchased feeds now will go a long way to reducing the anxiety of what we will feed our cows this fall and winter.



Students at Eight Rural NE Schools To Learn 'Specialty Crop' Production
 
Students in eight rural Nebraska schools will soon be getting hands-on experience in “specialty crop” production thanks to a two-year U.S. Department of Agriculture grant awarded to the Center for Rural Affairs. Kirstin Bailey is senior project associate with the Center and the lead staff on the Nebraska Young Farmer Program – Introducing Specialty Crop Production. It’s a collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Education’s Farm to School Program. Bailey says “specialty crops” are non-commodity crops, including most vegetables, fruits, herbs, Christmas trees, cut flowers and honey. She says these crops are well-suited for school ag programs. She says, "Specialty crops can be done on as small as a couple of raised beds. So that’s what’s nice about it for schools, they might not need tons of acres to implement a new strategy. "
 
Bailey says each school will select a specialty crop and be matched up with an area farmer who will serve as a mentor – with both the farmer and the school receiving a stipend. In addition to a farm tour, students and teachers will receive training on budgeting and technical assistance from their farmer mentor, the Center and the NDE. Banner County and Bancroft-Rosalie schools are signed on so far, and applications will be accepted soon to add six more schools.
 
Bailey says this project came about after a number of students approached the Center's staff with questions about beekeeping and other specialty crops at the state FFA convention.  She says, "Because of their interest, we were able to put together this proposal and this project, so we’re really looking forward to what we’re going to learn from those kids and how this can help the schools introduce different forms of ag to these kids. "
 
Sarah Smith, a Farm to School Specialist at the Nebraska Department of Education, says the project has the potential to have a huge impact on students.  She says, "This has such a tie-in to actually involving the students in farm-to-school efforts, and growth in potential for careers in the future. "
 
And she praises the number of farm-to-school elements it incorporates... "They will have participation from the school nutrition programs where they’ll have a stake in the food that is grown on site, but also connecting those students to the farms, and those farmers that are mentoring the school as well. "



CVA's Technical Team partners with community for training

Central Valley Ag’s Technical Rescue Team had opportunities to get out into the public eye this month. On Aug. 10, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Haskell Ag Lab hosted a Family Field Day with visitors ranging from eight years old to 80. CVA’s Technical Rescue Team was invited to present a bin rescue demonstration. The team set up the grain bin prop with the ropes/cables in place to present a grain bin extraction. This demonstration led to several conversations regarding safe bin entry procedures and the dangers of not following such procedures.

On Aug. 15, CVA’s Technical Rescue Team 3, based in Humphrey, Neb., and the Columbus, Neb. Fire Department got together for rescue training. The two teams did patient packaging in the morning and discussed bin rescue protocol. That afternoon they practiced bin rigging and removing a victim from a grain bin, which featured the Mayor of Columbus acting as the victim in the demonstration.  The teams packaged him in a stokes stretcher and used a ladder truck and rope systems to get him to the ground. Both teams learned a lot from each other throughout this training.

Thank you to CVA’s James Droescher and firefighter/paramedic, Ryan Sabata, for coordinating this training.



Central Valley Ag Requests Your Best Recipes for its 2023 Cookbook

Central Valley Ag’s Unity Council is seeking out your favorite recipes to incorporate into a one-of-a-kind cookbook as a fundraiser for CVA's Life Fund program. This cookbook will serve as a way to preserve special recipes from employees, producers, and community members.

The cookbooks will be ready to order by the 2023 holiday season, costing $25.00 each. To order your cookbook please go to www.cvacoop.com/cookbook. You may also preorder when you submit a recipe. Deadline to submit recipes is September 15.

Recipes can be submitted one of three ways: online, in person, or emailed. For more information on how to submit your delicious recipe please go to www.cvacoop.com/cookbook. CVA’s Unity Council hopes this cookbook will become a staple in many households for years to come.

“We wanted to hold a fundraiser that provided our employees, member-owners, and communities with something meaningful,” said Chad Carlson, SVP of Talent at CVA and Director of CVA Unity Council. “This cookbook provides recipes from different cultures, time periods, and families; something that can be passed down through generations. It is our hope that this cookbook will be filled with many recipes, while also supporting CVA’s Life Fund Program.”

Central Valley Ag’s Life Fund is an employee donation program that provides support for CVA employees going through unexpected hardships that place undue financial stress on them and their families. The CVA Unity Council, made up of volunteer CVA employees, lead fundraising efforts to support this program. Show your support by submitting a recipe, or two, to the first ever CVA cookbook.



ICGA Delegates Adopt Policies Impacting Iowa Corn Farmers at Annual Grassroots Summit

The Iowa Corn Growers Association® (ICGA) hosted the Annual Grassroots Summit where ICGA delegates set the direction for state and federal policy priorities for the coming year. During the Grassroots Summit, a group of over 100 farmer-member delegates from across the state voiced opinions and thoughts on legislative priorities and policies.

ICGA delegates engaged in important topics that impact corn growers including the value of the core functions and activities of the Iowa corn checkoff such as market development, research and education. Throughout the policy session, they also discussed Prop-12, green energy, corn-based ethanol, carbon and taxes. While each of these topics yielded much discussion, ICGA farmer members reached a consensus and decision to reflect the majority’s interests.

“The discussions we had at the Grassroots Summit are a testament to the Iowa Corn mission of creating long-term opportunities for Iowa corn farmer profitability,” stated incoming ICGA President Jolene Riessen, a farmer from Ida Grove, Iowa. “Through grassroots policy development, Iowa Corn is able to represent our members’ farms when we work to create or defend policies at the state or national level. I am extremely proud of the farmer delegates who attended and took the time to voice what matters most to them and those they represent and look forward to a year of advocating on their behalf as the Iowa Corn Growers Association President.”

Additionally, the farmer delegates reviewed expiring policies and debated new policy resolutions. This ICGA policy process includes a member-wide survey in the spring, local roundtable discussions held in the summer, and the Annual Grassroots Summit in late August. Policies related to national issues will be brought forward at the Commodity Classic meetings with National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) farmer delegates.  

ICGA will release its finalized 2024 state and federal policy priorities in December based on ICGA Board discussion as well as the grassroots input provided during the Summit. The complete 2023-2024 policy resolution book will be available online and upon request by emailing corninfo@iowacorn.org or calling 515-225-9242.



Cattle Feeders Should Be Cautious When Using Drought-stressed Corn

Iowa is fortunate to have corn as a major cropping enterprise. That's why it's important to keep harvest management tips in mind, according to Beth Doran, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

“We grow a lot of corn, which offers producers the opportunity to harvest green-chopped corn as forage or to put it up as silage,” Doran said. "Regardless of what producers choose, there are other factors to consider, especially when harvesting drought-affected crops."

Doran cautions producers to check with both their Farm Service Agency and crop insurance agency before chopping. If drought-stressed corn is green-chopped, producers should be aware of the potential for nitrate toxicity.

“There is a quick test that can be used to test for the presence of nitrates, but a sample of the green-chopped feed should be sent to a commercial testing laboratory to determine the amount of nitrate,” Doran said. “Do this before feeding!”

Ensiling of drought-stressed corn will reduce the nitrate concentration by about 40% to 60%. Still, producers need to have it tested after ensiling and before feeding to determine the actual level of nitrate. If the nitrate level is high, the silage may be diluted with low-nitrate feedstuffs.

Doran reminds producers that tolerance to nitrate ranges with the type of beef animal. Feedlot cattle over 700 pounds tend to be more tolerant, while lighter feedlot animals or pregnant cows and heifers are least tolerant. It is advisable to feed it to the most tolerant animals.

Other best management practices include raising the cutter bar as high as possible, harvesting at the proper dry matter, allowing four to five weeks for fermentation, slowly adapting the animal to the silage and providing a balanced diet.

See more information on drought and beef cattle in this Nitrates in Livestock Feed publication on the Iowa Beef Center website https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/bch/NitratesLivestockFeed.pdf or contact Doran by phone at 712-737-4230 or email doranb@iastate.edu.



Naig Encourages Fuel Retailers to Apply for Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program Grants

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is encouraging Iowa fuel retailers to apply for cost-share grants through the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) to upgrade fueling systems and provide consumers with greater access to higher blends of lower-cost biofuels.

The RFIP helps fuel retailers provide more consumer options for higher blends of lower cost Iowa grown biofuels by incentivizing the installation, replacement and conversion of ethanol and biodiesel dispensing and storage infrastructure. Incentives to upgrade biodiesel terminal and storage facilities are also available.

During the 2023 legislative session, Gov. Reynolds and the Iowa Legislature authorized a record $15 million for the program during this fiscal year, up from $10 million last year. This increase builds off the momentum that was established during the 2022 session when Iowa became the first state in the nation to establish an E15 access standard.

“As Iowans continue to face expensive fuel costs and unacceptably hot inflation, consumers benefit from greater access to higher blends of lower-cost biofuels,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Given the historic investment made by Gov. Reynolds and the Legislature in this grant program, there has never been a better time for fuel retailers to utilize this cost-share funding to upgrade their fueling infrastructure and help Iowans save money at the pump.”

While the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship manages the program, a board appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate determines grant allocations on a quarterly basis. The board will consider the next round of RFIP grant applications during its next quarterly meeting on Wednesday, October 11. The RFIP grant application is available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website. To be considered at the next meeting, grant applications are due to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship by the close of business on Monday, September 25.

Over the history of the RFIP program, the state has invested approximately $75 million while private industry has invested over $225 million.



United States and Canadian Cattle Inventory Down 3 Percent

All cattle and calves in the United States and Canada combined totaled 108 million head on July 1, 2023, down 3 percent from the 111 million head on July 1, 2022. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 43.4 million head, were down 2 percent from a year ago.
                        
All cattle and calves in the United States as of July 1, 2023, totaled 95.9 million head, down 3 percent from July 1, 2022. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 38.8 million head, were down 2 percent from a year ago.

All cattle and calves in Canada as of July 1, 2023, totaled 12.2 million head, down 1 percent from the 12.3 million head on July 1, 2022. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 4.62 million head, were down 1 percent from a year ago.



United States and Canadian Hog Inventory Down Slightly

United States and Canadian inventory of all hogs and pigs for June 2023 was 86.2 million head. This was slightly lower than June 2022 and down 2 percent from June 2021. The breeding inventory, at 7.39 million head, was slightly lower than last year and down 1 percent from 2021. Market hog inventory, at 78.8 million head, was slightly lower than last year and down 2 percent from 2021. The semi-annual pig crop, at 80.0 million head, was up 1 percent from 2022 but down 1 percent from 2021. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 7.06 million head, down 1 percent from last year and down 2 percent from 2021.

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on June 1, 2023 was 72.4 million head. This was up slightly from June 1, 2022 but down 1 percent from March 1, 2023. The breeding inventory, at 6.15 million head, was down slightly from last year, but up 1 percent from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 66.2 million head, was up slightly from last year, but down 1 percent from last quarter. The pig crop, at 32.9 million head, was up 1 percent from 2022 but down 1 percent from 2021. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.90 million head, down 2 percent from 2022 and down 5 percent from 2021.  

Canadian inventory of all hogs and pigs on July 1, 2023 was 13.8 million head. This was down 1 percent from July 1, 2022 and down 4 percent from July 1, 2021. The breeding inventory, at 1.24 million head, was down slightly from last year and down 2 percent from 2021. Market hog inventory, at 12.5 million head, was down 1 percent from last year and down 4 percent from 2021. The semi-annual pig crop, at 15.0 million head, was up 1 percent from 2022, but down 2 percent from 2021. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 1.25 million head, up 1 percent from last year, but down
2 percent from 2021.



Unified Vision Drives Beef Checkoff Success

Since 1963, the Federation of State Beef Councils has been committed to building beef demand by inspiring, unifying and supporting an effective and coordinated state and national Checkoff partnership. By working together with one unified vision and plan, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, and state beef councils continue to set a positive course for beef’s future.

Here are a few examples of recent program successes:

Nutrition Research
Research continues to serve as the foundation for all Beef Checkoff-funded initiatives. Nutrition research provides proof that beef has a role in a healthy, sustainable diet. Current projects focus on human clinical trials investigating healthy diets, across the lifespan, where beef is the primary source of dietary protein, and focuses on the impact of cardiometabolic health, strength, and performance, and the benefits of beef in the diets of children and adolescents.

National Beef Quality Audit
The National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA), conducted approximately every five years since 1991, is foundational research that provides an understanding of what quality means to the various industry sectors, and the value of those quality attributes. This research helps the industry make modifications necessary to increase the value of its products. The findings from the 2022 NBQA serve to improve quality, minimize economic loss, and aid in advancements in producer education for the U.S. beef industry.

Results from the 2022 NBQA indicate that the beef cattle industry is producing a high-quality product that consumers want more efficiently and the industry’s primary focus across the supply chain remains food safety. In addition, there was an increase in the frequency of Prime and Choice quality grades, with 7.5% of carcasses grading Prime, the highest since audits began. Market sectors also reported that their companies strive to increase their sustainability, and work with the entire beef supply chain to do so.

Beef Quality Assurance
Cow-calf producers, stockers and feedyards implement Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) practices on their operations to produce the highest quality cattle and provide consumers with the best possible eating experience. BQA principles don’t end at the farm gate, and cattle haulers can also become BQA Transportation (BQAT) certified through recently updated modules. Since BQAT began in 2017, more than 32,000 certifications have been completed.

E-Commerce
With consumers making more shopping decisions online, e-commerce efforts are essential to driving beef sales. National e-commerce campaigns during the holidays and summer grilling months helped put beef front and center for consumers shopping online. These e-commerce campaigns delivered impressive results, generating more than $22 million in incremental beef sales and reaching nearly 16 million households.

Advocacy
Ten Trailblazers from eight states were selected for the second cohort of beef community spokespeople, beginning the year-long program which includes in-person and virtual training opportunities to prepare the next generation of advocates who will help protect the reputation of the beef industry.

The unified vision of the Federation of State Beef Councils continues to drive Beef Checkoff success. For more information, visit www.ncba.org/federation.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 8/25/2023

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending August 25, ethanol production slowed by 3.9% to 1.007 million b/d, equivalent to 42.29 million gallons daily and the lowest weekly volume since May. However, output was 3.8% more than the same week last year and 2.8% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate decreased 1.4% to 1.037 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 15.90 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks sank 5.2% to a 41-week low of 21.6 million barrels. Stocks were 8.2% less than the same week last year and 3.6% below the five-year average. Inventories thinned across all regions, including a 13.7% drawdown in the Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, rose 1.8% to 9.07 million b/d (139.01 bg annualized). Demand was 5.6% more than a year ago but 1.8% below the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol lifted 0.5% to 920,000 b/d, equivalent to 14.10 bg annualized. Net inputs were 1.5% more than the same week last year and 0.3% above the five-year average.

Ethanol exports were estimated at 69,000 b/d (2.9 million gallons per day), a 26.6% decrease from the prior week. There were zero imports recorded for the 38th consecutive week.



All Major Retail Fertilizer Prices Lower Again

Retail fertilizer prices are once again moving lower, according to sellers tracked by DTN for the third full week of August 2023. As has been the case in recent weeks, all eight major fertilizers were again lower compared to a month ago. Five of the eight major fertilizers had a substantial price decline from a month ago. DTN designates a significant move as anything 5% or more.

Leading the way lower were anhydrous and UAN32. Both were 10% lower compared to last month with anhydrous posting an average price of $622/ton while UAN32 had an average price of $399/ton. DAP was 8% lower compared to last month and the phosphorus fertilizer had an average price of $735/ton. UAN28 was 7% less expensive than last month and had an average price of $355/ton. Potash was also down a considerable amount from last month. The fertilizer was down 6% and had an average price of $557/ton.

Three fertilizers were just slightly lower compared to the prior month. MAP had an average price of $764/ton, urea $575/ton and 10-34-0 $698/ton. 10-34-0 was sub-$700/ton for the first time since the fourth week of October 2021. That week the starter fertilizer's average price was $663/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.62/lb.N, anhydrous $0.38/lb.N, UAN28 $0.63/lb.N and UAN32 $0.62/lb.N.

All fertilizers are now lower by double digits compared to one year ago. 10-34-0 is 20% lower, DAP is 24% less expensive, MAP is 26% lower, urea is 29% less expensive, potash is 37% lower, UAN28 is 38% less expensive, UAN32 is 41% lower and anhydrous is 53% less expensive compared to a year prior.



Growth Energy: EPA Is Right to Deny SREs

Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuels trade association, filed briefs to intervene in three cases this week in support the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its decisions to deny small-refinery exemptions (SREs) for refiners seeking to avoid complying with their blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  

“Petitioners have tried over and over again to avoid complying with the RFS because less biofuel in America’s fuel mix means more money for them,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. "Thankfully, EPA has continued to rightly deny SREs, having demonstrated again and again that refiners have no good reason not to meet their blending obligations. In this week’s filings, Growth Energy continues to seek to defend the RFS—the nation’s most successful climate policy to date—from any attempts to weaken it."

The cases are Calumet Montana Refining LLC v. EPA in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and San Antonio Refinery LLC v. EPA and Wynnewood Refining Co. LLC v. EPA, both in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.