Friday July 05 Ag News

 EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA CONFIRMED IN COLFAX COUNTY HORSE

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) has confirmed a case of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in a horse in Colfax County. This is the first confirmed case of EIA in Nebraska since 2013. The horses on the infected premises have been quarantined and will be released after state regulations are met. NDA staff are working with the owner and local veterinarian to monitor potentially exposed horses.

EIA is an incurable, infectious viral disease spread through blood-to-blood contact. The virus can be transmitted from an infected equine to an uninfected equine by blood-feeding insects such as horseflies, deerflies, or stable flies, and by people using contaminated medical equipment, such as needles, syringes, and IV sets. There are currently no USDA-approved vaccines for EIA.

“Equine owners can help limit the spread of EIA by following strict biosecurity measures, by regularly testing equine for diseases such as EIA, and by prioritizing sanitary practices, especially when injecting horses,” said Dr. Roger Dudley, State Veterinarian. “Producers and veterinarians play an important role in limiting the spread of EIA and other bloodborne equine diseases by reporting sick equine.”

Common signs of EIA include, but are not limited to, fever, depression, low platelet count, anemia, red or purple spots on the mucous membranes, edema, muscle weakness, and muscle atrophy. EIA can appear as acute, chronic or inapparent. Clinical signs range from mild to severe and appear within a few weeks after infection. However, it may take 60 days or more for the horse to test positive. Infected animals that survive the disease become virus carriers and can infect other equids for life.

Owners can help protect their equine by implementing insect controls, keeping stables and facilities clean, eliminating standing water, using one needle per horse, separating infected equine from the healthy, and never using blood-contaminated medical equipment on multiple equids.

Nebraska has import restrictions for livestock coming into the state from states that have confirmed EIA cases. If you are considering moving an animal into Nebraska from an affected state, please call 402-471-2351 to learn more about the importation order.

EIA also affects exports. Individuals from Nebraska transporting animals and animal products to other states and countries should contact the destination state/country to learn about their import requirements before transporting animals.

EIA is a notifiable disease in all states. Individuals or practitioners who suspect or have concerns about EIA should contact NDA at 402-471-2351. For more information on EIA, visit: https://nda.nebraska.gov/animal/diseases/eia/index.html.



Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Takes on Salt Lake City

2024 Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year, Ivette Kinney, and Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation Education Specialists, Brooke Tempel and Shelby Snidarich, attended the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Salt Lake City!

The group was able to attend numerous workshops, explore Utah agriculture and connect with educators from across the country who champion incorporating agriculture in their classrooms.

"The conference has been so eye opening to how I have been incorporating Ag in the Classroom without even knowing it! I found some great resources that I can't wait to share with my grade level. So much fun being around so many passionate people!" said Kinney.



Keep an eye out for post-flood cattle health problems

As Northwest Iowa and regions of surrounding states deal with devastating flooding, area cattle producers should be aware of the plethora of health problems that could be caused by flooding. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Chris Clark said severe flooding can increase the risk for numerous health challenges including malnutrition, respiratory disease, ruminal acidosis, poisoning and more.

"The sky is the limit in terms of what can go wrong during and following flooding events. In severe flooding events, cattle can actually wash away or drown," he said. "Stress can cause immunosuppression and aspiration of water can cause respiratory disease. Housing and feeding systems are often damaged or destroyed and getting cattle back on feed while protecting rumen health can be challenging."

Clark also urged producers to remember that access to clean water may be limited. This increases the potential for dehydration, poisoning and disease related to the intake of impure water.

Provision of dry housing, clean water, and feed are critical. Cattle may need to be moved to higher ground or even out of the local region to an area not affected by flooding. Housing should be provided to facilitate rest, rehydration and recovery. A major component of this is access to dry ground and bedding to allow skin and coat to dry and to support rest. Clean water must be provided and cattle must have access to quality feed. Care must be taken to provide adequate nutrition and to protect rumen health.

“For cow-calf operations, feeding is probably relatively straightforward. Good quality grass hay, perhaps access to pasture, maybe some low-starch supplemental concentrate probably makes a lot of sense," Clark said. "The scenario is more complicated for feedlot cattle that may be adapted to a nutrient dense, high starch diet. Great care must be taken to safely get those cattle back on feed. In some cases, those cattle will need to be backed up to higher roughage, lower starch diets and then over time, producers can work them back up.”

Flooding can sometimes separate nursing calves from cows. Depending on calf age, this can cause great stress and malnutrition. Older calves may be able to fend for themselves on available grass and any provided feed while younger calves may quickly become malnourished due to lack of access to milk. Assuming calves and cows can be reunited, there could be pairing issues and the possibility of cows not accepting calves, or cows and calves not finding one another.

"Reuniting those pairs quickly is a big deal to minimize stress, provide sustenance to the calves and facilitate pairing. The longer those pairs are separated from one another, the more challenging the situation will become,” Clark said.

For human and animal safety, producers should be aware of the possibility that stray voltage could reach flood waters, and great care should be taken to avoid electrocution. Flood water can carry an unlimited number of contaminants and can wash up foreign materials that can cause problems even after flood waters recede.

“After flood waters recede, it will be important for producers to walk fields and lots to look for foreign materials that may cause injury, illness, or toxicity," he said. "For example, I have heard of car batteries washing into fields and causing lead toxicity in cattle.”

Increased awareness of these risks may help solve and prevent at least some of the problems associated with flooding. Many producers will likely need assistance whether that be in the form of labor, money, feed, housing for livestock, etc. Affected producers should contact their local Farm Service Agency with documentation to report losses and to apply for financial assistance. Producers may need to contact veterinarians, nutritionists, extension specialists, and other industry professionals for assistance.



Managing Hail Damage in Alfalfa
Shelby Gruss, Iowa State University Assistant Professor

Many areas in Iowa were impacted by hail this past week. Hailstorms are an unpredictable and formidable adversary for producers, capable of inflicting significant damage on crops, forage, and livestock. The impact of hail can be extensive, from shredded leaves to battered stems and bruised animals. However, there are strategies and solutions that can help assess and mitigate the damage and pave the way for recovery. This article will delve into options for managing hail damage in alfalfa stands.

Hail can cause leaf loss and damage to stems, buds, and the terminal bud. Depending on the stand maturity, loss of the top few inches can lead to significant yield losses, particularly in less mature alfalfa. High leaf loss will decrease forage quality, as leaves are higher in quality than stems.

Assessment of an alfalfa stand begins with evaluating the terminal bud on the stems. The terminal bud (apical meristem) is the growing point of the stem located at the top. This growing point is responsible for the growth of the stem, leaves, and flowers. If the terminal bud is removed or severely damaged, new growth will not occur from the top of the stem. Instead, new growth will occur from the crown or axillary buds, which will be much slower.

Damage to a new stand can be fatal, depending on the extent of damage and whether the plant has an established crown. There should be a ridge where the above-ground growth and the root growth meet. Crown development typically occurs when the plants are about 3-4 inches tall. Plants with damaged terminal buds but without a crown will die. Interseeding damaged new stands (< 1 year old) can help thicken without the concern of autotoxicity. If there are more than 25 plants per square foot, the stand should be okay to leave. Alfalfa taller than 6 inches should have developed crowns and will most likely regrow from the crown.

The balance between damage and proximity to harvest is crucial in production years. If you are within two weeks of harvest and more than half of the terminal buds and/or stems are damaged, it is suggested to harvest after 3-4 days to allow any lodged stems to recover. If lodging was minimal, harvest right away. The stems would have little growth as most of the main growing points were damaged.

If lodging is severe, there are a few strategies to help harvest. Disc mowers with angled knives are better at picking up the forage than sickle bar mowers. Harvesting against the downed forage and titling the cutting bar/discs forward will help pick up the forage.

If you are within two weeks of harvest and less than half of the terminal buds are damaged, allow the plants to grow until the cutting period and then harvest. There will be reduced yield from the damaged stems, but the undamaged stems will continue to grow. Additionally, if branches and leaves remain, regrowth can occur from axillary buds near the base of the stem, although this is slower regrowth than from the crown.

If the alfalfa is less than 12 inches tall, wait for the stand to regrow from new shoots. Harvest should occur at the normal height and quality requirements. However, if this cutting is going to be ensiled, it is recommended to cut the stand to 4-6 inches to allow for even growth and remove the old material to avoid mold growth that could cause problems in ensiling.

When cutting damage stands early, extending the harvest interval for the regrowth can be very beneficial in replenishing root carbohydrate reserves for future persistence.

Hail can lead to DM losses, decline in forage quality, and reduced growth. Hail is hard to predict and avoid, but we can make the best out of a bad situation based on the harvest schedule and how much damage was done to the field.



Dairy Products May 2024 Production Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.21 billion pounds, 0.7 percent above May 2023 and 2.1 percent above April 2024. Italian type cheese production totaled 505 million pounds, 4.4 percent above May 2023 and slightly above April 2024. American type cheese production totaled 488 million pounds, 5.7 percent below May 2023 but 4.5 percent above April 2024. Butter production was 204 million pounds, 4.0 percent above May 2023 but 1.6 percent below April 2024.

Dry milk products (comparisons in percentage with May 2023)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 171 million pounds, down 17.2 percent.
Skim milk powder - 41.9 million pounds, down 10.1 percent.

Whey products (comparisons in percentage with May 2023)
Dry whey, total - 76.6 million pounds, down 6.3 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 93.0 million pounds, down 2.7 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 42.5 million pounds, down 3.2 percent.

Frozen products (comparisons in percentage with May 2023)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 65.0 million gallons, up 2.3 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 40.3 million gallons, down 6.1 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 1.73 million gallons, down 10.6 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 4.32 million gallons, up 0.1 percent.



Urea, Anhydrous Lead All Eight Retail Fertilizer Prices Lower at End of June

Average retail prices for all eight fertilizers were down from last month during the fourth week of June 2024, according to sellers surveyed by DTN. Two fertilizers had substantial price drops from last month, which DTN designates as anything 5% or more. Anhydrous was 7% less expensive compared to last month with an average retail price of $705 per ton. Urea was down 6% from last month with an average price of $506 per ton. Prices for the remaining six fertilizers were down just slightly from last month. DAP had an average price of $760 per ton, MAP $821/ton, potash $506/ton, 10-34-0 $642/ton, UAN28 $345/ton and UAN32 $389/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.55/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.62/lb.N and UAN32 $0.61/lb.N.

All fertilizers are lower compared to one year ago. MAP is 1% lower, anhydrous is 6% less expensive, DAP is 8% lower, 10-34-0 is 12% less expensive, UAN28 are 13% less expensive, UAN32 is 17% lower, urea is 18% less expensive and potash are 19% less expensive compared to a year prior.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 6/28/2024

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending June 28, ethanol production rebounded 2.0% to 1.06 million b/d, equivalent to 44.69 million gallons daily. Output was 0.4% more than the same week last year and 3.7% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate eased 0.2% to 1.05 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.09 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks rose 0.7% to 23.6 million barrels. Stocks were 6.0% higher than the same week last year and 6.7% above the five-year average. Inventories declined in the Midwest (PADD 2) and Rocky Mountains (PADD 4) but rose in other regions, particularly the Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, strengthened 5.1% to 9.42 million b/d (144.87 bg annualized) in advance of the holiday week. Yet, demand was 1.8% less than a year ago and 1.0% below the five-year average.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol edged down 0.2% to 925,000 b/d, equivalent to 14.22 bg annualized. Still, net inputs were 0.2% more than year-ago levels and 1.2% above the five-year average.

Ethanol exports were estimated at 105,000 b/d (4.4 million gallons/day), 45.8% more than the prior week. There were zero imports of ethanol for the 41st consecutive week.



U.S. Ethanol and DDGS Exports Strong in May
Renewable Fuels Assoc. Senior Analyst Ann Lewis

U.S. ethanol exports reached the highest level ever for the month of May at 154.4 million gallons (mg), though this represented a 28% decline from a near-record in April. In a shift from recent trends, shippers targeted just twelve markets. Canada was the largest importer for the 38th consecutive month, despite a 4% decrease to 59.7 mg. The Philippines imported the largest monthly volume since October 2018 with an 82% jump to 16.0 mg. Exports also expanded to the European Union (14.2 mg, +3%), South Korea (13.0 mg, +8% to a 15-month high) and Singapore (9.1 mg, +452%). The remaining fifth of U.S. ethanol exports landed in the United Kingdom, Colombia, Brazil (for the second consecutive month), Mexico, Vietnam, Peru, and Jamaica. Year-to-date U.S. ethanol exports totaled 816.9 mg, up 43% from the same period last year.

The U.S. did not log any meaningful imports of foreign ethanol in May (141,806 gallons of undenatured fuel ethanol shipped from Brazil and Canada). Year-to-date imports stand at 1.4 mg.

U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, climbed 4% to 1.01 million metric tons (mt) on mixed markets. Shipments to Mexico declined by 15% to 198,438 mt, yet volumes were sufficiently strong to remain our top DDGS customer for the fifth straight month. Exports also decreased to South Korea (114,029 mt, -8%), Indonesia (84,884 mt, -33%), Vietnam (78,183 mt, -22%), Canada (55,799 mt, -8%), and Turkey (35,807 mt, -0.3%). Offsetting these reductions was a sizeable export expansion to the European Union (108,420 mt, +128% to a 28-month high), Colombia (40,035 mt, +89%), and China (39,962 mt, +99% to a 28-month high). The remaining quarter of U.S. DDGS shipments were spread across 30 countries. Year-to-date DDGS exports reached 4.93 million mt, up 18% compared to the previous year.



RANTIZO RECEIVES FAA APPROVAL FOR ADVANCED DRONE OPERATIONS

Rantizo, the largest drone spraying network in the country, has achieved a significant milestone in drone operations with the approval of an amendment to Exemption No. 18929B, allowing Rantizo service hub operators to swarm up to 3 drones over 55 pounds, without a visual observer (VO), and at night.

“The approval demonstrates the FAA’s recognition of the safety and reliability of our systems, as well as the evolving needs of operators delivering precise and timely crop protection to their farmer customers.” said Mariah Scott, CEO. “This amendment allows us to unlock a whole new level of productivity, flexibility and efficiency for our team.”

Flying without a VO and multiple drones at once, such as three DJI T30 or two XAG P100 Pro drones, can significantly boost operator productivity, allowing operators to cover more acres, for more farmers and with greater flexibility. Night operations allow operators the flexibility to spray during the most favorable weather conditions for flying and crop coverage, while reducing exposure for pollinators and interruptions for farm workers.

“This is a giant step in the right direction for drone applicators,” said Kevin McDonald, Chief Pilot. “The FAA is really working hard to make more options available for drone operators and this approval shows that drones will continue to unlock new options for precision application technology.”

While there are numerous benefits, flying without a VO, drone swarming and night flying do come with risk. All operators must participate in training prior to adopting these advanced practices, and we recommend it for all operators pursuing similar exemptions.