Tuesday December 12 Ag News

Nebraska Farmers Union 110th Annual State Convention Completed

Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) held their 110th annual state convention in Norfolk at Divots Conference Center.  The convention theme was: “Proudly serving Family Farm, Ranch, and Rural Families Since 1913”.  The event was well attended. NeFU delegates elected their state president, two NeFU Board of Directors, 3 delegates and 3 alternates to the 2024 National Farmers Union convention, and two members of the NeFU Foundation Board of Directors. The members and guests also heard reports on the year’s activities for the farm organization, its Foundation, and its political action committee as well as educational presentations.     

NeFU Election Results:   
            Delegates elected John Hansen from Newman Grove to his 18th two-year term as their state president without opposition. Hansen’s 34 years at the helm as president started in 1990. He is the longest serving NeFU President, and current National Farmers Union Board of Director.

            Delegates from their respective districts elected two NeFU Board of Directors.  Al Davis of Hyannis was re-elected to a three-year term from NeFU District 1, and Ron Todd-Meyer of Lincoln was re-elected to a three-year term from District 5.

            Three delegates from the membership were elected as delegates to the 122nd National Farmers Union convention that will be held March 10-12, 2024 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Keith Dittrich of Tilden, Don Schuller of Wymore, and Andrew Tonnies of North Bend were elected to represent NeFU as delegates.  Darrel Buschkoetter of Lawrence, Marcia Regier of Beatrice and Gail Knopik of Fullerton were elected first, second and third alternates.

            There were three selections made to the NeFU Foundation Board of Directors. Gayland Regier of Beatrice was elected by the membership, Keith Dittrich of Tilden to represent the NeFU District Presidents, and Al Davis of Hyannis to represent the NeFU Board of Directors.    

President’s Award Winner:
            The President’s Award is NeFU’s highest award, and is presented to individuals who provide outstanding service and leadership to family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities at the state or national levels.

            This year’s President’s Award winner was Kay Walter and Tim Rinne for their amazing work on behalf of urban Agriculture, community gardens, and local foods. “Kay and Tim have transformed their lower income urban neighborhood into ‘Hawley Hamlet’ which is a truly outstanding community garden. Tim co-chairs the ‘Mayor’s Community Committee on Local Food,’ and is a charter member of the NRCS State Technical Committee’s ‘Urban Agriculture Subcommittee’” said NeFU President Hansen. “As good leaders do, Tim & Kay lead by example.”

NeFU delegates set policy.  NeFU Policy Chair Vern Jantzen led NeFU delegates through both NeFU Policy Day December 7th and at Convention as they adopted the 2023-2024 NeFU policy and approved seven Special Orders of Business highlighting this year’s priorities. The NeFU State policy is posted on the NeFU website at:   www.nebraskafarmersunion.org.



Save the Date - January 25th - Eastern Nebraska Corn & Soybean Expo

Nebraska Extension in Dodge and Saunders counties have combined the Fremont Corn Expo and the Nebraska Soybean Day & Machinery Expo into one new event... the Eastern Nebraska Corn and Soybean Expo that will focus on both crops and will rotate between Saunders and Dodge county locations.

This year’s Expo will be held on Thursday, January 25th at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center located at 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE 68033. The program will kick off at 8:30 a.m. and will finish up at 3:00 p.m.

Plan to learn from a variety of speakers and vendors about important topics for corn and soybean production in 2024!  

More information will be coming out shortly with information on vendor registration and the program agenda.  Please email NE Extension Educator Aaron Nygren at anygren2@unl.edu or call 402-624-8030 with any questions.

 

CIOBANU NAMED FELLOW OF NATIONAL ACADEMY OF INVENTORS

A University of Nebraska–Lincoln molecular geneticist has been named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors.

Daniel Ciobanu, professor of animal science, is among 162 new NAI fellows this year. The designation highlights academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in developing inventions that have tangibly impacted quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.

Ciobanu is a world-renowned molecular geneticist whose research and inventions have significantly impacted the field of animal genetics, with a particular focus on swine. His work to identify genetic variants that affect traits like viral disease susceptibility, sow fertility and meat quality has led to three U.S. patents and two international patents. These have generated products used by farmers in Nebraska and beyond. Technologies stemming from Ciobanu’s work are used routinely by swine genetics companies in the United States, which produce more than 100 million pigs annually and many more internationally.

“Dr. Ciobanu is truly innovative thinker whose work has led to greater understanding of how changes in DNA can affect attributes including nutritional efficiency, reproduction and resilience in livestock,” said Derek McLean, dean and director of the university’s Agricultural Research Division. “His work has far-reaching implications for Nebraska and the entire animal protein industry.”

Ciobanu said he is excited to be joining a group of highly esteemed inventors.

“My research accomplishments represent a collaborative effort with contributions from many colleagues across multiple disciplines,” he said. “I am honored to be inducted as a fellow of the academy, and it is very special to me to be nominated by my colleagues and mentors who helped shape my career.”

Since joining Nebraska in 2009, Ciobanu has mainly focused on identifying the genetic underpinnings of viral disease susceptibility in swine. His goal is to provide molecular solutions to farmers to increase the genetic fitness of their populations and reduce the economic impact of infectious diseases.

Ciobanu’s most significant contribution relates to porcine circovirus 2, or PCV2, which costs U.S. swine producers more than $250 million annually — most of which goes to vaccinations. Ciobanu led the largest genomic study to date related to the disease, an eight-year endeavor that integrated data from more than 1,000 pigs infected with PCV2, extensive genotyping and sequencing, and multiple cell lines developed in the laboratory for validation — the most expansive data set ever generated for this virus. His team ultimately identified the gene associated with pigs’ susceptibility to the disease, paving the way for a patent and development of genetic tests that can predict PCV2 susceptibility.

These tests and many others were incorporated by Ciobanu’s group in the SowPro90 DNA genotyping array, a collaborative effort between UNL, the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center and Affymetrix to support genomics research and development of commercial applications for swine genetic improvement. Technologies like these help producers improve the genetic resilience and health of their animals and reduce costs.

“This was one of my dreams, to discover the causal genetic source that could explain differences in viral disease susceptibility observed by farmers in the field,” Ciobanu said. “The 2018 paper where we reported the discovery of a novel gene associated with PCV2 susceptibility will be remembered for some time.”

His team is currently building on that discovery, investigating how that gene may impact susceptibility to other viruses in swine and other species.

Ciobanu has also advanced understanding of the genetic diversity of atypical porcine pestivirus, which causes congenital tremor in piglets, a condition that leads to nursing difficulties and poor survival. Ciobanu’s team designed, tested and recently reported an improved diagnostic test that identifies any strain of this highly diverse virus.

Prior to joining Nebraska, Ciobanu worked at Sygen International, where he investigated genes associated with traits important in swine and shrimp production, the latter of which was an emerging field at the time. His work related to shrimp contributed to the development of the first genotyping array, which is sold to shrimp breeding companies and researchers.

Before Sygen, Ciobanu conducted research at Iowa State University to pinpoint genes associated with improved pork quality. This work led to two patents for DNA markers related to glycogen metabolism and tenderness, as well as significant royalty-producing commercialization for ISU.

Ciobanu has published 42 peer-reviewed journal articles, three book chapters, and 49 abstracts and peer-reviewed proceedings. He’s received several awards, including the Distinguished Service Award from the National Swine Improvement Federation and the Gamma Sigma Delta Excellence in Research Award from UNL. But his real passion is the day-to-day work of passing the spirit of invention to tomorrow’s researchers.

“I love to expose students to research, witnessing their excitement for science and discovery, and passing the knowledge to the next generation,” Ciobanu said. “That’s my No. 1. There is nothing more important than that.”

Ciobanu will be honored and presented a medal by a senior official of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office at the NAI’s 13th Annual Meeting on June 18, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is among 13 founding institutions of the National Academy of Inventors. Ciobanu is the 12th Husker researcher to be named an NAI fellow.

      

REMOVE NET WRAP AND TWINE
– Jerry Volesky, NE Extension Educator

Is twine or net wrap good feed?  Obviously not, but it can cause health problems if animals eat too much of it.

To lighten the workload when feeding hay, we often take short cuts and leave some twine or net wrap on the bales.  And whether we want them to or not, animals eat some of that twine.

There is the potential for twine to accumulate in the rumen of cattle and cause obstruction.  Research at North Dakota State University has confirmed this risk and provided further information on what happens to twine when cattle eat it.

In a series of experiments, the North Dakota research first showed that neither plastic net wrap nor biodegradable twine get digested by rumen microbes.  The old-fashioned sisal twine, however, does get digested, although quite a bit more slowly than hay.

In another study net wrap was included in the ration fed to steers for an extended period of time.  Then, 14 days before the steers were harvested, the net wrap was removed from the feed to learn if the net wrap eaten earlier might get cleared out of the rumen and digestive system.  Turns out it was still in the rumen even after 14 days.

So, what should you do?  First, remember that it doesn’t appear to be a health concern very often.  And cows obviously are more at risk than feedlot animals.  So, it might be wise to remove as much twine, especially plastic twine, as can be removed easily from bales before feeding.  Twine in ground hay may be less of a problem since more of it is likely to pass completely through the animal.

Think about how shortcuts and work-reducing actions you take this winter might affect your animals.  Then act accordingly.  



NRCS offers new, expedited process for CSP, EQIP applications

Nebraska producers interested in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) or Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) have a unique opportunity to apply through a new process called ACT NOW.

“Through the Inflation Reduction Act, Nebraska has received additional funding to support CSP and EQIP,” said Kalee Olson, policy associate for the Center for Rural Affairs. “ACT NOW is one way NRCS is working to ensure this support makes its way to farmers and ranchers as efficiently as possible.”

Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), ACT NOW provides an expedited pathway to additional program funding. The deadline to apply is March 1.

CSP and EQIP provide financial and technical assistance to producers to implement conservation practices on working lands. Typically, contracts are processed and awarded in batches, often only once or twice per year. Under ACT NOW, applications will be processed in the order they are received and awarded on an ongoing basis.

Eligible applications must target select practices, such as cover crops, prescribed grazing, and nutrient management, and score higher than a predetermined ranking threshold to be pre-approved.

“Historically, CSP and EQIP have been underfunded and oversubscribed, leaving many producers interested in implementing conservation practices without support,” Olson said. “ACT NOW is designed to help more farmers and ranchers access conservation programs more efficiently.”

Producers interested in applying for CSP or EQIP under ACT NOW should contact their local NRCS as soon as possible. A list of local offices can be found at nrcs.usda.gov/contact/find-a-service-center.




Nebraska Women in Agriculture conference registration opens January 3

The 39th Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference will be held Feb. 22-23, 2024, in Kearney, at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, 110 Second Ave.

A pre-conference workshop on business entity selection for farms and ranches will be held Feb. 21. This training will be provided by Sheila Hansen, CPA, and agricultural attorney Katie Samples Dean, JD.

During the conference, attendees can look forward to hearing from keynote speakers Ashley Machado, Dr. David Kohl and renowned photographer John Noltner, who is preparing a special surprise project for the event.

In addition to the keynote speakers, participants will select from over 20 workshop options that cover the five areas of agricultural risk management: production, market, financial, human and legal. The conference will also offer Continuing Education Credits for veterinary medicine professionals and certified crop advisors.

"Our annual conference is a real highlight of our programming every year," said Jessica Groskopf, Director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. "We look forward to bringing together producers, experts and top-notch keynote speakers to leave everyone feeling empowered, enlightened and connected to each other and their operations. This year’s conference will certainly be one to remember."

About the speakers
Ashley Machado is a TedX speaker and was nominated as a 2023 FFA Change Maker. She is rethinking the way we support mental health in the food and ag space. She specializes in tangible tools and simple strategies through M Well, her mental health consulting firm that provides corporate wellness programs asnd mental health trainings for ag families and businesses. Machado grew up in the dairy industry and now farms and ranches with her family in California’s Central Valley. She has a bachelor’s degree in human development and a master’s in social work with an emphasis in clinical mental health. Her goal is for everyone in the ag industry and rural America to have the tools they need in their mental health toolbox to operate and live life fully.

Dr. David Kohl is an Academic Hall of Famer in the College of Agriculture at Virginia Tech. He has keen insight into the agriculture industry gained through extensive travel, research and involvement in ag businesses. He has traveled nearly 10 million miles; conducted more than 7,000 presentations; and published more than 2,500 articles in his career. Dr. Kohl’s wisdom and engagement with all levels of the industry provide a unique perspective into future trends.

John Noltner has been telling stories with words and images for 20 years. His work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Forbes Magazine, Midwest Living and the New York Daily News, among other publications. Since 2009, Noltner has been asking people the simple (or not so simple) question, "what does peace mean to you?" for his multimedia arts project, "A Peace of My Mind."

Conference registration opens on Jan. 3. The cost for a two-day registration is $150 for participants who register on or before Feb. 8. The two-day registration fee increases to $175 on Feb. 9. The pre-conference workshop has an additional registration fee.

The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program will award up to 15 scholarships to students to attend the 2024 Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference. Any student attending a four-year college/university, two-year college, a vocational/technical school, or a 4-H or FFA member may apply for a scholarship to attend. Applicants will need to prepare an essay that answers the question: "Why do you want to attend the Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference?" The essay response is limited to 3,000 characters. Applications must be submitted online by Feb.1.

To learn more, visit the Nebraska Women in Agriculture website at https://wia.unl.edu.

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2021-70027-34694.



Reynolds Extends Permission for Overweight Farm Vehicles

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced an extension of the harvest proclamation, allowing farmers to continue transporting certain agricultural products on overweight vehicles without a permit until January 11th, 2024. This extension provides much-needed flexibility for farmers during the busy harvest season.

The proclamation permits the transportation of corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage, stover, fertilizer (dry, liquid, and gas), and manure (dry and liquid) on vehicles exceeding the normal weight limit but not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight. This applies to all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and is subject to specific conditions outlined in the proclamation.

Conditions for overweight transport:
• Vehicles must not exceed a gross weight of 90,000 pounds.
• Vehicles must not exceed the maximum axle weight limit by more than 12.5%.
• Vehicles must comply with posted weight limits on bridges and roads.
• Vehicles must not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds.

This extension provides significant relief to farmers facing challenges during harvest. It allows them to move their products more efficiently and cost-effectively, contributing to the success of the agricultural industry in Iowa.



Land Investment Expo announces panel exploring foreign investment in American farmland

The Land Investment Expo (Expo), one of the premier agricultural forums in the nation, today announced a feature panel focusing on foreign investment in American farmland. This panel will dive into the issue everyone is talking about, including landowners, lawmakers, the media and foreign investors.

The newly announced panel will include:
   •   Harrison Pittman, Director of the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas System’s Division of Agriculture
   •   David Bergvall, Director of Policy and Environment, Manulife Investment Management Timberland and Agriculture
   •   Micah Brown, attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas System’s Division of Agriculture
   •   Todd Friedman, Co-Chair of Stoel Rives Agribusiness, Food, Beverage, and Timber Industry Group

The 2024 Expo will take place at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Tickets are still available here: https://expo.peoplescompany.com/registration. 

The Expo previously announced its 2024 keynote speakers:
   •   Former NFL Quarterback Drew Bledsoe will speak about his transition from the gridiron to winery owner and his passion for growing winegrapes.
   •   Willis Sparks of Eurasia Group will offer perspective on the world’s geopolitical climate and how it will impact our economy.
   •   Former Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Presidents Esther George and Tom Hoenig will take part in an enlightening discussion on navigating today’s economic challenges, including rising interest rates and inflationary pressures.
   •   California Assemblyman James Gallagher will provide a perspective on how agricultural-related policies being developed – and in some cases enacted – in California will have far-reaching ramifications that some may not realize.

In its 17th year, the Land Investment Expo attracts more than 1,600 attendees annually. Tickets for both virtual and in-person attendance are on sale now at www.LandInvestmentExpo.com.

For more information on the Land Investment Expo, please visit www.LandInvestmentExpo.com.



Introductory RUSLE2 Soil Loss and Iowa Phosphorus Workshop Planned for March

A March 7 workshop will provide an opportunity for producers to learn more about the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation 2 (RUSLE2), as well as the Iowa Phosphorus Index. The workshop will be held in Altoona and is a collaborative effort of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the United States Department of Agriculture and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Registration is $225, and a Windows compatible computer with a USB port and Microsoft Excel Software is required.

The RUSLE2 equation is a tool stakeholders can use to calculate soil loss for a given field and is necessary for determining the Iowa Phosphorus Index.

The morning portion of the workshop will focus on installing software programs, performing dominant critical area and predominant area determinations, and operating RUSLE2. The afternoon session will include discussions on ephemeral gully and classical gully erosion and the updated Iowa Phosphorus Index, which can be used in IDNR manure management plans and open feedlot nutrient management plans.

The workshop will be taught by Kapil Arora, field agricultural engineer with ISU Extension and Outreach; Dan Andersen, associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and extension agriculture engineering specialist at Iowa State University; Chandra Shaw, resource conservationist, United States Department of Agriculture – Iowa NRCS, and Jeremy Klatt, environmental specialist senior, Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

This workshop qualifies for six Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) Credits (5SW, 1NM) and three Professional Development Hours. Participation certificates will be provided upon completion of the workshop.

Registration will be limited to 30 participants and is $225 before March 1, and $250 thereafter. The workshop will be held at the ISU Extension and Outreach Polk County Office, located at 1625 Adventureland Drive, Suite A, Altoona.

Lunch and refreshments are included in registration fees, as well as workshop materials. To register, visit https://go.iastate.edu/C3SD6H. For more information, contact Kapil Arora at pbtiger@iastate.edu or view the workshop brochure here https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/RUSLE2-Brochure-March-7_2024.pdf.



Ahead of China Select Committee Report, Farm Groups Warn Against Impacts of PNTR Repeal

A coalition of major agricultural organizations representing farmers across America sent a letter today to the U.S. Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party asking them to consider the negative impacts to farmers as they consider recommending that Congress repeal China's Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status.

“We respectfully urge this important committee not to recommend revoking China’s PNTR status. The negative consequences for American farmers, ranchers and food producers would be profound and the economic impact on American workers and rural communities would be felt for years,” the organizations write.

The letter points out that “China is now the largest buyer of U.S. food and agricultural products, purchasing 19% of our exports. These exports are critical to America’s farmers and rural communities.”

The letter also highlights lessons learned from the 2018 and 2019 tariff increases and the pain they inflicted on American farmers: “Those retaliatory tariffs led to a significant reduction in U.S. agricultural exports to retaliating partners with China accounting for approximately 95 percent of the losses ($25.7 billion). Rural states with significant agriculture economies like Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska, and Missouri were hit the hardest.”

The letter was led by Farmers for Free Trade which counts many of the nation’s leading agricultural organizations as members, including....
American Soybean Association
Corn Refiners Association
Farmers for Free Trade
Iowa Soybeans Association
National Corn Growers Association
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Milk Producers Federation
National Sorghum Producers
U.S. Dairy Export Council
USA Poultry & Egg Export Council



USDA Signs Agreement with Agriculture Future of America to Prepare Young People for Careers in Agriculture

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Agriculture Future of America (AFA), formalizing a partnership to promote the common goals of strengthening the future competitiveness and sustainability of the U.S. agriculture industry by preparing more young people for careers in agriculture.

“This partnership will enhance USDA’s involvement with AFA and its leadership development and education mission,” said Secretary Vilsack. “This agreement reinforces USDA’s commitment to preparing students for future careers in agriculture with an emphasis on federal sector employment.”

USDA and AFA will continue to collaborate on leadership development efforts, and link these young leaders with career opportunities in food, agricultural science, natural resources, and related fields. Under the MOU, USDA commits to advancing opportunities for AFA delegates to participate in USDA programs, including internships. AFA will provide occasions for USDA to meet with AFA delegates to share information about these opportunities.

The MOU will be administered by USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), which develops and maintains partnerships focused on solutions to challenges facing rural and underserved communities and connects those communities to the education, tools, and resources available to them through USDA programs and initiatives.

“Our collaboration with USDA signifies a shared vision for the future of American agriculture,” said Mark Stewart, President and CEO of AFA. “This MOU is not just a document; it’s a commitment to bridging the gap between talent and opportunity. This agreement reinforces our belief that connecting young leaders with USDA initiatives will enrich their careers and contribute to a more resilient and competitive agriculture industry.”

AFA builds bridges for young leaders to foster engagement and innovation in food and agriculture through premier leader and career development experiences. With program participation increasing 28% in the last five years, AFA has provided 26,000 leader development experiences to college leaders and young professionals from more than 200 colleges and universities throughout 43 states since its inception in 1996. AFA has awarded more than $11 million in academic and leader development scholarships. For more information about AFA, visit www.agfuture.org.