Thursday October 26 Ag News

 State Land Judging Competition Challenges Youth near Broken Bow

Students and instructors from 40 high schools met near Broken Bow to compete in State Land Judging Oct. 25. The Lower Loup Natural Resources District (NRD) partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to host the annual competition.

With foggy skies and damp conditions, students judged on a terraced landscape currently enrolled in the USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

“As Nebraska’s largest Natural Resources District, which stretches from the eastern Sandhills in the west to fertile farm ground in the east, the soil types within the Lower Loup NRD are diverse,” said Lower Loup NRD General Manager Russell Callan. “Getting Nebraska’s high school students out onto the landscape is a great way for them to learn about our state’s natural resources. We were honored to host the 2023 Nebraska State Land Judging Contest and congratulate all the students from across Nebraska who took part.”

Land Judging is a high school competition that challenges students to gain a better understanding of soil structure and land evaluation. Teams consist of four students from the same FFA chapter, and a few individuals who qualified separate from a team. Each participant learns how to recognize the physical features of the soil, determine land capability for crop production, and evaluate management practices needed for proper stewardship.

During the competition, students judge four soil pits using an evaluation card to make assessments on: soil depth, surface texture, permeability, slope, thickness of surface and erosion. The evaluation card is scored to determine overall placements for individuals and the team. To compete in the state contest, teams advance from one of the seven regional competitions hosted across the state in October.

2023 State Land Judging Individual Champions:
    Isaiah Neal, Alma
    Isabel Cressler, The Career Academy (Lincoln)
    Brock Niedfeldt, Falls City
    Walker Ott, Wisner Pilger
    Parker Smith, The Career Academy (Lincoln)

2023 State Land Judging Team Champions:
    Falls City: Brock Niedfeldt, Ethan Morris, Kemper Foster, Lathan Richey
    Wisner-Pilger: Walker Ott, Taylor Scholting, Delaney Boyer, Braxton Siebrandt
    Alma: Isaiah Neal, Nolan Pfeil, Wyatt Isaacson, Karsten Bradley
    Bishop Neumann (Wahoo): Jake Rezac, Chisum Wilson, Adam Furasek, Kamber Lechtenberg
    The Career Academy (Lincoln): Isabel Cressler, Parker Smith, Sapphire Guzman, Johanna Roux

These top five Nebraska teams will advance to the national competition hosted in El Reno, Oklahoma, April 30-May 2, 2024. For more information on Nebraska Land Judging, visit www.nrdnet.org.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Urge Action on the Farm Bill, Prop 12, and EPA Herbicide Strategy

The passage of the next Farm Bill is imperative to the continued success of agriculture and is top of mind for producers in Nebraska and across the country. That was one of the key messages Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Committee members shared with the Nebraska congressional delegation during their annual fly-in to Washington, D.C.

While the Farm Bill often finds itself entangled in political debate, it provides policymakers an opportunity to address issues facing the agri-food value chain. YF&R committee members urged the delegation to protect federal crop insurance without any tie to climate focused practices in the next Farm Bill.

“Protecting federal crop insurance means farmers like my husband and I have a protection plan when disaster strikes,” said YF&R committee member Jill England, a corn and soybean farmer from Hall County. “We are incredibly diligent with how we steward our land and resources to ensure they last for generations to come. Tying federal crop insurance to climate focused practices limits our ability to have a strong safety net and do what is best for the future of our operation.”

The consequences of California’s Proposition 12 also commanded the attention of producers around the country. YF&R members thanked the entire Nebraska congressional delegation for their continued support of the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act to rectify the issues caused by Prop 12.

“States and local governments should not be able to dictate production or manufacturing standards of agricultural products or any products for that matter. What a majority of people in one state want should not interfere with the entire nation’s production standards,” said Jaden Melnick, a YF&R committee member from Adams County. “We are disappointed that the Supreme Court did not overturn this decision but have hope that we can fix this legislatively. We must ensure this never happens again.”

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently changing the process they use to label pesticides as a result of a lawsuit for not complying with the Endangered Species Act. These new labels would require herbicide users to attain “points” by adopting certain runoff reduction practices to use most herbicides. Additionally, it would drastically narrow the drift buffers for ariel and ground application of herbicides and impose new subsurface drainage rules, requiring the channeling of water into retention ponds or saturation buffer zones. These new regulations will make herbicide usage in any capacity near impossible for farmers, ultimately reducing yields and limiting farmers ability to do what is best for their operations.

“It is imperative that EPA edits this proposed rule and finds an alternative to meet the Endangered Species Act obligations. These new labels effectively eliminate producers’ ability to use herbicides which allow us to better use our available water and soil resources to maintain the highest sustainability standards,” said Matthew Erickson, YF&R member. Erickson is a row crop farmer in Johnson County and owns a custom spraying operation with his family.

“It is crucial for our senators and congressmen to hear from producers directly,” said David Schuler, YF&R committee member and cattle rancher from Morrill County. “Giving young producers a seat at the table not only ensures the next generation is well equipped to advocate for the future of agriculture, but also reminds policymakers that agriculture is constantly growing and changing.”

In addition to meeting with all five of Nebraska’s congressional delegates, the group also met with officials from the Environmental Defense Fund, Animal Ag Alliance, the Senate Agriculture Committee, the EPA, and the USDA Chief Economist’s office.

YF&R committee members that participated in the visit to Washington, D.C. included:
    Jaden Melnick, Adams/Webster County Farm Bureau
    Jill England, Hall County Farm Bureau
    David and Christy Schuler, Morrill County Farm Bureau
    Matthew Erickson, Johnson County Farm Bureau

The YF&R committee connects young farmers and ranchers from across Nebraska to develop their leadership skills, engage with their peers, advocate for policy, and serve as the next generation of agricultural leaders.



Ricketts, Gillibrand Introduce Bill to Improve Flood Protection & Infrastructure Resiliency

Today, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act. The bill has three components; it would elevate long-term flood resilience as a priority for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, grant the Secretary of Agriculture discretionary authority to provide an increased federal cost share for EWP grants, and elevate flood protection as a priority in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

“Too often, red tape has prevented states from rebuilding flood protections after devastating natural disasters,” said Senator Ricketts. “These restrictions also make it difficult to make the smart, cost-effective investments needed to rehabilitate aging watershed projects. This bipartisan bill will improve flood protection and infrastructure resiliency and help communities not just recover from disasters but reduce future damage as well.”

“Severe flooding devastated parts of New York this summer and made it clear that we need to make urgent investments in upgrading our water and flood-related infrastructure,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill will help do just that, making sure that communities across our state and country are better prepared for future disasters and can recover faster from flooding. I’m proud to be introducing this bill today and look forward to getting it passed.”

The bill has the support of the American Flood Coalition, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the National Corn Growers Association.

“Flooded fields cost farmers and rural communities billions of dollars in losses every year, which is why Congress needs to prioritize flood solutions in the next farm bill,” said Melissa Roberts, President and Executive Director of American Flood Coalition Action. “We applaud Senators Pete Ricketts and Kirsten Gillibrand for their leadership on the Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act, a proactive solution that will strengthen agricultural communities across the country. This bill will help protect watersheds and downstream communities by empowering farmers to lead on innovative flood solutions and conserve resources for future generations.”

“Farmers are dedicated to caring for the land they’ve been entrusted with, which includes reducing the impact of flooding and improving watersheds,” said Courtney Briggs, Senior Director, Government Affairs, American Farm Bureau Federation. “AFBF appreciates the work of Sen. Ricketts and Sen. Gillibrand on legislation that prioritizes flood prevention and mitigation efforts that protect the hardworking families who are committed to ensuring pantries remain stocked across the country.”

“This legislation will help us take key steps to maintain and upgrade vital levee systems and aid in preventing flooding disasters in our heartland,” said Harold Wolle, President of the National Corn Growers Association. “We appreciate this effort from Sen. Ricketts to protect our growers from these unpredictable and potentially devastating events.”

BACKGROUND

The Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act has three main initiatives:
1) Improving EWP’s level of protection above existing water levels at the time of the disaster to not only help communities recover from flood disasters, but also make critical watershed improvements that would reduce repeated damage during future disasters.

2) Granting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary discretionary authority to provide a variable federal cost share of up to 90% in the Watershed Rehabilitation Program, which provides technical and financial assistance for planning, design, and implementation of projects to rehabilitate aging watershed dams.

3) Amending the USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program to formally add flood prevention, mitigation, and resiliency to RCPP’s statutory purpose, and enable the program to better assist agricultural producers, communities, and nongovernmental stakeholders in implementing regional and watershed-scale flood solutions.



Iowa farmland values stabilize

Iowa farmland values have plateaued following two years of record highs due to several factors, including rising interest rates, declining profits, and drought. Despite this slowdown, farmland prices in Iowa remain close to record levels, with a 0.6% increase in September compared to the previous year, as reported by the Realtors Land Institute-Iowa Chapter.

The Chicago Federal Reserve also showed a 2% increase in July compared to a year earlier. While the market is no longer experiencing the aggressive double-digit growth observed in previous years, it is described as steady.

In 2022, farmland values increased by 10.4% over 2021 to an average of $13,742 per acre, following a substantial 43.3% jump to $12,450 per acre in 2021 compared to 2020. However, through June of this year, average farmland values decreased by 2.6% to $13,385 per acre compared to the previous year.

Rising interest rates have played a significant role in softening the farmland market, as they are the fastest-growing farm production expense, increasing by 19.1% in 2023 and 33.2% in 2022. Additionally, farm debt is expected to reach record highs this year.

Farmland rents in Iowa have climbed by 17% since 2020, averaging $269 per acre this year, impacting approximately 60% of Iowa farmers who lease cropland.

Iowa farmland values have plateaued, they remain at historically high levels, and the market is described as steady, though not experiencing the rapid price increases seen in previous years. Rising interest rates and increasing farm debt are contributing factors to this stabilization.



Dealing With Dairy Lameness Webinar on November 9

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dairy Team’s 2023 Dairy Webinar Series continues Thursday, November 9 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. with a focus on the causes and treatment for lameness in the dairy cow.

“Hoof trimming is a monthly occurrence on dairies around the world and we are now focusing on looking for management that minimizes the expense of lame cows,” notes Iowa State University and Extension Dairy Specialist Fred Hall.

The big points for the program include:
    Cows in the transition period are more prone to lameness a few months after calving.
    Hormones around calving, especially relaxin
    Cow people should make extra sure these cows can lay down as much as possible
    Things that keep these cows from laying down including heat stress and fly pressure

To help producers understand how to manage against lameness we have two presenters on the topic.

Dr. Phillip Jardon graduated from the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine and completed his MPVM and Dairy Production Medicine Residency at UC-Davis.  He has been in private practice and industry for 35 years.  He has particular interest in transition cow diseases. He is currently a Dairy Extension Veterinarian at Iowa State University. He will share the podium discussing Lameness in dairy cows.

Dr. Jan Shearer is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.  He was a veterinary practitioner for approximately 5 years before returning to Ohio State to serve as an Assistant Professor in Preventive Medicine. In 1982, he moved to the University of Florida, where he spent the majority of his career as a Dairy Extension Veterinarian.  He is currently a Dairy Extension Veterinarian at Iowa State University, where his interests are in lameness and welfare issues of cattle.

There is no fee to participate in this webinar; however, preregistration is required at least one hour before the webinar. Preregister online at: https://go.iastate.edu/LAME

For more information, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Dairy Field Specialist in your area: in Northwest Iowa, Fred M. Hall, 712-737-4230 or fredhall@iastate.edu; in Northeast Iowa, Jennifer Bentley, 563-382-2949 or jbentley@iastate.edu; in East Central Iowa, Larry Tranel, 563-583-6496 or tranel@iastate.edu. and statewide contact Dr. Gail Carpenter, 517-204-4957 or acarpen@iastate.edu.



Latin American Delegation Experience South Dakota Ethanol Supply Chain

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council hosted a tour last week to show stakeholders from Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama how ethanol blends have been safely, successfully and profitably incorporated in South Dakota as these countries consider implementing ethanol-gasoline blending programs starting in 2024-2025. The delegation was comprised of public officials from the Ministries of Mines and Energy, Environment and Agriculture, and representatives from the private sector and the agricultural industry.
 
The trade mission visited the farm of Ron and Keith Alverson near Chester where they implement conservation practices on the corn they grow; Dakota Ethanol’s 97-million-gallon-per-year plant near Wentworth; and Vollan Oil, a bulk fuel broker, transporter and retailer in Baltic, on day one. The second day started with visits to the NuStar Energy pipeline terminal and a new Get-N-Go fuel station in Sioux Falls, and after touring POET’s 125-million-gallon Chancellor plant, the tour wrapped up at POET headquarters back in Sioux Falls.
 
"Our goal was to show public officials and representatives from agriculture and the private sector in these Latin American countries how ethanol is manufactured, transported, stored and sold in the U.S., and provide opportunities to talk with people who work with ethanol in all parts of the supply chain," said Ron Lamberty, ACE CMO and tour leader. “These delegates' countries have plans to blend ethanol to help reach climate goals and are battling the same ethanol misinformation and fearmongering we've fought for decades. Now, after seeing ethanol in tanks and equipment similar or identical to their home countries, as well as dispelling other myths by asking pointed questions to people who handle and sell ethanol every day, these delegate leaders can return to their countries with confidence and certainty as their nations move forward with ethanol blending programs.”
 
According to Federico Salcedo, USGC’s Regional Ethanol Consultant for Latin America, the South Dakota ethanol field experience was very successful, and delegates returned home with a greater understanding of the U.S. ethanol industry and the opportunities derived from ethanol-gasoline blending in their countries.
 
“During two full days, participants from the private and public sectors learned first-hand about ethanol production's positive impacts on American farmers and the environmental, technical and economic advantages of having cleaner fuels,” Salcedo said. “Reading and hearing about the positive effects of ethanol in multiple stages of the production and marketing chain is one thing. Still, it is something different and quite enriching to live it and experience it directly with those who make this industry a reality.”
 
“We’re proud of our farmers and the ethanol industry that’s developed in South Dakota and very appreciative that the Latin American delegation had the opportunity to view these operations firsthand as a follow-up to the Global Ethanol Summit,” said Chad Blindauer, President of the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council.
 
Read testimonies from participants on the tour:
 
“We’re trying to implement E5 then move to E10 in Panama next year, so I came to see how everything takes place throughout the value chain,” said Paula Mesé, Hydrocarbons Specialist, National Secretariat of Energy – Panama. “For me, it was very important to see it directly from the people who are the main actors in this supply chain, so we can replicate this in Panama.”
 
“I have been working in the alcohol sector for the last 25 years, and I have been involved from the perspective of sugar mills, alcoholic beverages and now export, but I have never experienced corn-based ethanol,” said Ronald Arias, Operations Manager, Sugar Cane Agricultural & Industrial League – Costa Rica. “I take back with me this conviction that the use of ethanol in gas is very beneficial for everybody — for the planet, the consumers, the producers, the farmers and the industry.”

“It was very enriching for me to talk one on one to farmers who produce corn, to the engineers at the ethanol plants, to the drivers that transport it, and the person at the gas station who sells the product,” said Asdrubal Bolaños, Liquid Biofuels Coordinator, ARESEP Public Utilities Regulatory Authority – Costa Rica. “Even though I’m a chemical engineer, seeing every part of the supply chain was very educational, and what is very important in terms of my country is seeing how pre-blended ethanol with gas is transported to different gas stations and stored already blended.”

Guatemala is in the process of implementing E10 by Jan. 1, 2025. According to a member of the delegation, Guatemala will have 70 million gallons of fuel ethanol demand per year and is currently producing about 65 million gallons of sugar cane ethanol, mainly for export with smaller amounts used in domestic beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

“For us, we very much appreciate this opportunity, because in Guatemala we are in the process of implementing an E10 mandate in our country,” said Ivanova Ancheta, Executive Director, Association of Alcohol Producers of Guatemala. “Seeing the ethanol production process in particular at the plants we toured provide great examples for the producers in Guatemala to learn from this experience and apply it in our country.”

“It’s very inspiring to see everything that’s being done in the U.S. across the whole ethanol value chain and the promising future of ag and biotech companies,” said Rennatto Tible, Head Legal Counsel, Grupo Pantaleon - Guatemala. “This experience is very valuable for our regional governments at this juncture, because we are about to adopt blends with ethanol and gasoline, so a lot of the old myths that have been proven wrong for decades in countries are resurfacing. I hope to have the collaboration between the U.S. Grains Council, our international friends, and other associations, such as ACE, that promote biofuels help us along in this delicate moment for our programs in Central America.”



Helena Launches Two Exclusive Soybean Seed Treatments for the 2024 Growing Season

Helena Agri-Enterprises is expanding seed treatment opportunities for soybean growers in 2024 with the launch of Seed Shield® Select and Enertia®. A multi-fungicide and insecticide combination, Seed Shield Select provides protection from all major soybean seedling diseases and insects while optimizing root health and plant vigor. Enertia is an enzyme-based, biological soybean seed treatment designed to enhance soil health and improve nutrient availability as roots develop. With soybean acres expected to rise across the country next season, the duo not only helps insure valuable seed investments, but it also provides a strong foundation for growth and yield potential.

“In farming, re-planting seed or re-spraying a crop are two of the costliest applications a producer can make,” says Josh Byford, Director of Seed at Helena. “Even though current germplasm and technology packages provide the foundation for a high level of success, the environment can bring about a multitude of yield-limiting factors from planting to full crop establishment. A seed treatment can provide valuable protection, or insurance, to minimize seed and seedling loss.”

Seed Shield Select contains five fungicide active ingredients, an industry-standard insecticide, and Helena’s Asset® Formulation Technology. Out of the five fungicides, picarbutrazox is the latest to enter the market. Its performance raises the bar on control of Pythium and Phytophthora, two of the most notorious challenges for soybean farmers.

“A very good seed treatment should provide broad spectrum seedling disease protection, but a lot of products on the market today are deficient, especially against Pythium,” says Tony Lourens, Brand Manager of Seed Treatments, Fungicides and Insecticides with Helena Products Group. “Our goal with Seed Shield Select is to be more effective on the worst diseases by targeting them with multiple modes of action. We combine that activity with well-rounded insect control and strong root and shoot development to give growers a seed treatment that gets soybeans out of the ground faster, healthier and with a lot of vigor.”

Previewed at the Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida, earlier this year, Enertia takes a natural approach to unlocking soil nutrition. Its patented enzyme technology reacts with soil organic matter to increase microbial activity in the root zone and improve nutrient cycling in the soil. By enhancing soil structure and reducing nutrient loss, soybeans can thrive in a more productive growing environment.

“The big benefit of Enertia is VersaShield® Formulation Technology,” says Mike Powell, Senior Brand Manager of BioScience with Helena Products Group. “Most biological seed treatments become ineffective if you try to mix them with insecticides, fungicides and other common inputs. VersaShield stabilizes the enzymes in Enertia for ease of use, long-lasting activity and consistency.

Seed Shield Select and Enertia are the latest in a line of seed treatments from Helena, featuring inoculants, plant growth regulators, SDS solutions, nematicides and other disease and insect control options. Helena encourages soybean growers to secure their seed treatments now, as supply is limited for the 2024 growing season. Visit HelenaAgri.com to find your local Helena representative and for more information on Seed Shield Select and Enertia.