Wednesday January 03 Ag News

Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Now Accepting Scholarship Applications for the 2024-2025 Academic Year

The Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation (NCF) announced they are accepting scholarships applications for the 2024-2025 academic year from qualified youth in Nebraska with an interest in the beef industry.

“The NCF’s generous donors share the belief that education is fundamental to the future success of the beef cattle industry, and we encourage students to consider applying for one of our scholarships,” said NCF President Loren Berger.

The prestigious Nebraska Cattlemen Beef State Scholarship awards a $10,000 scholarship to an outstanding college junior, senior or graduate-level student. Eligible students must be residents of Nebraska and be enrolled in a Nebraska college or university pursuing a beef industry-related degree. The scholarship will be awarded based on student need, Nebraska beef industry involvement including past achievements and future plans, and academics. Completed applications are due in the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation office by close of business on Thursday, February 15, 2024. Incomplete applications and applications received after the due date will be disqualified. Finalist will be invited to a personal interview with the selection committee.

NCF offers numerous other $1,000 minimum scholarships, awarded on the basis of academic achievement, beef industry involvement and goals/quality of application. Completed applications are due in the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation office by close of business on Friday, March 15, 2024. Incomplete applications and applications received after the due date will be disqualified. Scholarship recipients must be a high school senior or college student, have a "C" or higher-grade point average, and be enrolled or intending to enroll full time in a college or university that offers a bachelor’s degree, an approved vocation or trade school, or a state accredited junior college.

Refer to the Nebraska Beef State Scholarship application and the general scholarship application for complete selection requirements. Applications are available on the Nebraska Cattlemen website or can be obtained by contacting the NCF office at (402) 475-2333 or NCF@necattlemen.org.

All scholarship winners will be announced during the Nebraska Cattlemen Annual Midyear Meeting in June 2024.



CVA shares 2023 Innovation Series Data

Central Valley Ag (CVA) has derived data from its 6th year of ACS Innovation Series test plots under the new management of Cary Skibinski, Director of Speciality Products, and Korbin Kudera, Innovation Agronomist at CVA.

In 2023, plots were located in Beaver Crossing and Norfolk, Neb., Belleville, Kan., and Sheldon, Iowa. The drought that persisted throughout much of CVA's trade territory had a negative impact on crop yields. However, two innovation plots, Beaver Crossing and Norfolk, had irrigation systems that helped mitigate the drought's effects. Despite being hit by a hailstorm on July 4th resulting in 50% defoliation, the Beaver Crossing plot achieved an overall corn average yield of 192 bushels per acre.

In spite of the challenges this year brought, CVA is still able to provide data and observations to benefit farmers' operations. Throughout these trials, CVA noted several important points.

MicroEssentials SZ has consistently proven to be a highly effective solution in enhancing the yields of corn and soybean crops. This balanced blend of nutrients promotes healthy plant growth and development, leading to higher yields. MicroEssentials SZ continues to prove itself to be a reliable and efficient product.

After six years of testing, CVA Elite PHP has proven to continue to increase corn yield and ROI. CVA Elite PHP92 is in its second year of testing and will launch in all CVA locations in 2024. This new formula has the same attributes for plant health, but contains a more concentrated active ingredient. The new formula has a lower foliar use rate of 9 oz/ac compared to 40 oz/ac of the prior formulation.

The focus in 2023 was to test a variety of Humic and Fulvic Acid products from different suppliers, applied both in-furrow and foliar. The objective was not only to assess the yield, but also to study how these products mix with fertilizers and other inputs. The trials at Beaver Crossing revealed that Boma RTU had the highest soybean yield when applied in-furrow.

Central Valley Ag is committed to exploring new and innovative biological products that can help enhance crop yields. CVA will continue researching bio-stimulants, bio-fertilizers and bio-fungicides, which have shown promising results in numerous studies. CVA has observed a considerable increase in corn yield for the second consecutive year using Utrisha N, topping the overall corn yield at the Beaver Crossing Site.

To view all data from the 2023 ACS Innovation Series test plots, please look through the 2023 Harvest Data Book https://www.cvacoop.com/harvestdatabooks. CVA is proud to provide member-owners and area growers with information to increase farmers' yields year after year.



MID-WINTER CORNSTALK GRAZING
– Jerry Volesky, NE Extension

Here in mid-winter, cornstalks remain a great forage resource for livestock producers.  So far, snow cover on cornstalks has been minimal, or what snow has fallen has mostly melted off.   While cattle can graze with snow cover, remember that if an icy crust develops on the snow, this will limit grazing and supplemental feed may need to be provided.  

Another important consideration is the stocking rate and how long they have been in a particular field.  Nutritional value of cornstalk residue is greatest at the beginning of a grazing period and declines with time as the most nutritious plant parts are consumed.  A general stalk grazing rule is there is about 30 cow days per 100 bushels of corn that the field produced.

Over the fall and winter, weathering can also play a role in reducing cornstalk quality.   Rain or melting snow soaks into dry corn stalk residue and leaches out some of the soluble nutrients.  Most serious is the loss of sugars and other energy-dense nutrients, which lowers the TDN or energy value of the stalks.

Another factor that affects cornstalk grazing is wind.  We have had our share of excessively high winds which easily blow corn leaves and husks off the field.  This of course, can impact the amount of feed, and after grain, those leaves and husks contain the highest nutritional quality.

Cornstalks are still a great and economical winter feed source.  Just be sure to closely monitor cow and field conditions while adjusting your supplementation program accordingly.  



Workshop series for veterans focuses on agritourism

Military veterans interested in agriculture are invited to attend a series of on-farm and virtual workshops highlighting farm stores, onsite and off. This course is free for active military service members and military veterans.

Hosted by the Center for Rural Affairs, the 11-session series, “Agritourism through Farm Stores,” starts Feb. 19 and runs through August. The workshops will rotate between online classroom sessions and on-farm sessions with an online option.

“In our classroom sessions, participants will hear from experts, learn business and financial skills, and obtain resources applicable to farm stores, whether it be an actual storefront, online store, or a farm stand,” said Kirstin Bailey, senior project associate for the Center. “During the on-farm sessions, experienced farmers will go through the ins and outs of on- and off-site farm stores, how they set up their on-farm buying experiences, and challenges they have faced.”

Session topics include obtaining proper equipment, maintaining adequate facilities, setting up purchasing systems, and more.

Farmer-leaders with experience in various types of agriculture and agritourism (such as poultry, pork, beef, beekeeping) will be available to assist participants throughout the course’s online platform.

For more information or to register, contact Bailey at 402.870.2390 or kirstinb@cfra.org. Participant stipends are available to cover approved expenses such as travel, meals, and child care. Individuals are welcome to attend with family members. For on-farm events, physical accommodations may be made upon request.

Find a detailed schedule, including dates and times of sessions, at cfra.org/AgVets2024.



Returning to the Farm workshop for families in transition is March 8, 9 in Kearney

The Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will present Returning to the Farm, a workshop series for families who are in the transition process of bringing members back to the farm or ranch. It will begin with a two-day workshop in Kearney for multi-generational families on March 8 and 9 at the office of Nebraska Extension in Buffalo County, 1400 E 34th St.

The series, which is rescheduled from December 2023, assists families and agricultural operations with developing financial plans and successful working arrangements to meet their unique needs. It will guide families in developing estate and transition plans, setting personal and professional goals and improving the communication process between family members.

"Returning to the Farm gives families the tools and resources to have a successful transition with more family joining the business," said extension educator Jessica Groskopf. "We really want to have two or three generations come to this together and take that time, as a family, to sit down, learn together and start these important processes."

Presenters will include extension experts as well as agribusiness and legal professionals. During the program, participants will:
    Learn communication strategies
    Set both personal and professional goals
    Develop a farm or ranch transition plan
    Identify estate planning issues and develop effective strategies for planning
    Review financial feasibility and financial tools

The workshop fee is $75 per person on or before March 1. March 2, the fee increases to $85 per person. Registration includes dinner on March 8 and lunch on March 9. It also includes two follow-up workshops, to be held virtually. Hotel accommodations are not included.

Registration may be completed online at https://cap.unl.edu/rtf24. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number FSA22CPT0012189.



Dairy Days 2024 To Help Producers Better Use New Web-based Heifer Management Products From DRMS

There are new web-based products that are available to all dairy herds that process records through DRMS. Two of those products will be reviewed and demonstrated at the 2024 Dairy Days across Iowa in January.

Local producers can hear about this topic and more on Jan. 30 at the Northwest Iowa Dairy Day.

“Greg Palas, manager of DRMS support services at Iowa State University, will lead this discussion,” said Fred Hall, dairy specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “He will demonstrate how these two programs can be accessed and used by dairy producers.”

The two products Hall is referring to are HeiferHub and KeeporBeef.

HeiferHub projects future replacement heifer inventory using past breeding and culling performance and computes potential income from surplus animals given current market prices and semen usage and costs.

KeeporBeef assists in making culling and breeding decisions by providing future economic return or “Keep Value” on each cow and heifer. It also provides guidelines based on greatest economic return for breeding to dairy sexed, conventional or beef semen.

“Greg has been with the DHI [Dairy Herd Improvement] processing center for over 40 years and works with dairy producers and consultants all over the country,” Hall said. “DRMS is the largest DHI processing center in the country and provides service to over 11,000 herds and over 2 million cows. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn from Greg Palas.”

Dairy Days will be offered Jan. 16 in Elma at Innovative Ag Service; Jan. 18 in Elkader at Johnson’s Restaurant; Jan. 23 in Kalona at the Kalona Chamber of Commerce; Jan. 25 in New Vienna at the New Vienna Community Center; and Jan. 30 at the Dordt University Ag Stewardship Center located at 3648 US-75, Sioux Center. Check-in for all events starts at 9:45 a.m. and the program will conclude by 2:30 p.m.

The day-long event has been developed to help dairy producers learn about current best practices supported by the latest research. All the topics will help producers make sound heifer management decisions.

“With nearly 25 percent of a dairy’s production costs associated with raising heifer replacements, optimizing growth and health is important to every dairy operation,” Hall said. “We anticipate great discussion and learning during this year’s Dairy Days.”

In addition to Palas, Dairy Days 2024 topics and presenters include:
    “Dairy Best Heifer: Lessons Learned and Path Forward” – Dr. Gail Carpenter, ISU
    “Starting Your Calves on the Right Hoof” – Dr. Jardon/Jennifer Bentley, ISU
    “What Does it Cost to Raise Your Dairy Best Heifer?” – Larry Tranel, ISU

There is no cost to attend any of the Dairy Days. However, registration is encouraged to plan for noon meal and proceedings. Local sponsors will be recognized at each event.

Pre-registration is requested by the Friday before each event to reserve a meal. Register online at https://go.iastate.edu/2024DAIRYDAYS.

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; in Ames, Dr. Gail Carpenter, 515-294-9085 or ajcarpen@iastate.edu.



Iowa Crop Progress Report

Significantly warmer than normal temperatures were experienced for much of December. The State received some much-needed precipitation during December after a very dry year. Many reporters described December as mild, which allowed more fertilizer, lime, and manure application. Some limited tile work also continued.

Livestock conditions throughout the State were generally described as good, with no reports of death loss. Livestock producers' concerns included water and hay supplies, as well as pasture conditions going into next year.

Grain movement was not hindered by the weather, and there were reports of operators hauling grain.

Soil moisture levels continue to be the primary concern as farmers look forward to the 2024 crop year.

 

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds to Speak at the 2024 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is returning to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on January 11, 2024. Reynolds spearheaded groundbreaking legislation in 2022 to promote higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. She also is leading a bipartisan, multistate effort to force EPA to approve E15 for year-round sales. Attendance is free and open to the public.

“Just as Iowa is the nation’s top renewable fuels producer, Gov. Kim Reynolds has continuously and consistently led that charge to make Iowa a leader for biofuels policy as well,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Marketing Director Lisa Coffelt. “We are excited to hear what goals Gov. Reynolds has for the future of biofuels in our state and across the country.”

The 2024 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit will explore how to “Chart Our Course” for the future of biofuels. The summit will be held on January 11, 2024, at the Prairie Meadows Event Center in Altoona, Iowa. Attendance is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Register and find more information at IowaRenewableFuelsSummit.org.



Forging Future Leaders: Unveiling the Distinctive Class of the Pork Leadership Institute
 
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the National Pork Board (NPB) proudly unveil the dynamic lineup for the Pork Leadership Institute's (PLI) class of 2024. Each year, the PLI program selects a distinguished group of pork producers, and 2024 is no exception. Collaborating closely with state pork association executives and field representatives, NPPC and NPB have identified 19 outstanding individuals from across the nation to join this esteemed group.
 
The PLI Class of 2024:
    Alabama – Daniel Tubbs
    Arizona – Kevin Rogers
    California – Shelby Sopocy
    Colorado – Felipe Gallegos
    Illinois – Corbin Uitermarkt
    Indiana – James Douglas
    Iowa – Doug Gruver
    Iowa – Nick Gilliland
    Kansas – Hyatt Frobose
    Michigan – Colin Kruithoff
    Minnesota – Madison Hokanson
    Mississippi – Kramer Gary
    Missouri – Donnie Hays
    Montana – Logan Braaten
    New York – Michele Ledoux
    North Carolina – Blake Floars
    North Carolina – Mallory Strickland
    Ohio – Colleen Hord
    South Dakota – Mark Fuoss

Bryan Humphreys, NPPC’s CEO, underscores the vital role of the PLI program, stating, “PLI is instrumental in shaping the success of pork producers by cultivating knowledgeable industry ambassadors and future leaders. Participation in PLI is not just an opportunity; it's a strategic imperative, as its graduates are empowered to articulate the compelling narrative of the pork industry — from local communities all the way to the heart of our nation's capital.”
 
The comprehensive, yearlong PLI program comprises five sessions designed to provide a deep understanding of various aspects, including the federal legislative and regulatory process, the importance of international trade, the roles of national pork organizations and state pork associations, and contemporary challenges faced by producers. Additionally, participants undergo extensive media and communications training to emerge as effective grassroots advocates for the pork industry.
 
The Pork Leadership Institute (PLI) stands as a cutting-edge joint training initiative by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the National Pork Board (NPB). Discover more about this transformative program at: Pork Leadership Institute.



EarthOptics passes one million physically mapped acres, leads digital soil revolution

EarthOptics, a next-generation soil mapping and measurement company, announced today it has mapped and physically measured one million acres of farmland and ranchland. The important milestone places the company and its SoilMapper™ platform in the top market position, demonstrating a growing demand amongst farmers and ranchers for comprehensive soil intelligence.

Since 2021 the company has measured and mapped land across four continents and 45 U.S. states, at a current rate of 10,000 physical soil samples a day and 100,000 acres measured and mapped each month. EarthOptics is also the number one carbon measurement company for grassland and rangeland acreage, with 300,000 tons of sequestered carbon tallied to date. As the company swiftly scales its SoilMapper™ platform it is significantly advancing regenerative agriculture practices with comprehensive soil data driving better decisions on tillage, fertilizer, planting, and soil treatments. The platform enables land owners to drive down operational costs and nurture the land sustainably while simultaneously increasing carbon capture.

“EarthOptics has become a trusted partner for Grassroots Carbon. Their expertise in rigorous deep soil sampling and best-in-class measurement protocols enables us to verify and certify high-quality soil carbon drawdown credits on behalf of our network of U.S. ranchers. Together with trusted partners like EarthOptics we are helping reward ranchers for their regenerative soil health practices by generating measured and verified soil carbon credits that meet the rigorous requirements of our leading corporate carbon credit buyers,” said Brad Tipper, CEO of Grassroots Carbon.

The company’s proprietary platform combined with ground truth soil samples, is training its artificial intelligence to read key soil attributes – nutrient levels, ground compaction, carbon content, and moisture – accurately and quickly. The data signaled from ground penetrating radar combined with electromagnetic induction scanning is analyzed alongside physical soil samples, giving growers actionable insights into the physical characteristics of their soil. The insights from SoilMapper™ lead to better decisions on regenerative land practices – through precise data for tillage zones and depth, guidance for variable-rate fertilizer applications, grazing plans, crop rotations, and opportunities for boosting carbon capture.

CEO Lars Dyrud said, “Our vision for next generation soil data integrates physical samples with multi-sensor data, enabling farmers and ranchers to make their operations more efficient, sustainable, and profitable.”

Because the company has covered so many acres, it has learned to execute efficiently across diverse landscapes, often in remote grazing terrain across varying elevations. The efficiency improvements result in better accuracy and value to customers. Plus the soil scans covering more than a million acres have been verified with physical samples–both feeding EarthOptics’ machine learning system and constantly improving the accuracy of its automated intelligence. Together, this drives down customer cost as EarthOptics is able to glean comprehensive soil insights with significantly fewer samples. Already the company has been able to reduce the number of physical samples taken by a factor of five.