Monday September 09 Ag News

 Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund accepting grant applications until Oct. 1

The Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund (DGSHF) knows that the creativity and ideas of farmers, ranchers, teachers and students can often exceed the budget available for special projects. DGSHF is now accepting applications for grant funding made available to organizations, projects, people, and initiatives that are advancing soil health and regenerative agriculture.  The fund was established to promote educational practices related to soil health and regenerative agriculture, including but not limited to no-till farming, water conservation, tree conservation and planting cover crops.

Established as an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation, DGSHF raises funds to award grants twice per year that support education and programming for youth, current and future farmers, ranchers and others directly involved in agriculture in Nebraska and surrounding states.

A volunteer fund advisory committee that determines grant awardees prioritizes projects supporting current and future growers (adults or youth) in adopting practices that address water quality and soil health, such as cover crops, reduced tillage, complex crop rotations and nutrient management to reduce soil erosion, nutrient run-off and greenhouse gas emissions.

Past DGSHF grants have supported organizations such as No Till on the Plains, UNL Extension, Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District and the Northeast Community College’s agronomy field day.  Other grants have been awarded to youth centered projects and programs including City Sprouts which supports urban students with interests in agricultural careers, the Battle Creek FFA chapter and Central City High School for the benefit of a student’s scientific research program on the effect on land management technique on soil aggregation and the soil microbiome.

Ag teachers, agriscience innovators, educators, current and future farmers and ranchers are urged to apply for a DGSHF grant. Applications are being accepted now with a deadline of Oct. 1, 2024, for an award of up to $1,500. The application is a quick and simple one-page online form available at https://go.unl.edu/dggrant

Questions may be directed to Randy Pryor, UNL Emeritus Extension Educator and Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund Advisory Chair at randy.pryor@unl.edu.



Husker Harvest Days includes Free Trees and Water Testing

Questions about trees, erosion, flood control or water quality? Stop in to visit Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts during Husker Harvest Days Sept. 10-12.

“This is a great opportunity for producers to meet with conservation agencies all in one place and learn more about cost-share programs that can benefit their operation and Nebraska’s natural resources,” said Martin Graff, president of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD).

Located in the Natural Resources Hub (39E), Nebraska’s NRDs are stationed with various organizations that offer conservation assistance, cost-share opportunities and producer programs. Attendees can visit with the Nebraska Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, The Nature Conservancy, and Central Platte NRD’s Native Prairie and Pollination Awareness Program.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy Water Well Standards Program will also be on site to provide free water testing and screen for nitrates in minutes. Private well owners should bring a cup-size sample of water in a clean container.

In addition, the Natural Resources Districts will announce three individuals to induct into the NRD Hall of Fame during a press conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, on the Hospitality Tent Stage (SE Quadrant, #33). These Hall of Fame inductees have made significant contributions to protect our state’s natural resources through the NRDs. Hall of Fame categories include:
    Natural Resources District Board Member
    Natural Resources District Employee
    Natural Resources District Supporter

During the three-day event, Husker Harvest attendees also will receive a free blue spruce tree seedling from the NRD Conservation Tree Program. All 23 Nebraska NRDs administer tree planting programs to provide trees and shrubs for local landowners. Each district varies, but possible services include planting, weed barrier installation or weed control, and drip irrigation. Free prairie grass seed will also be available as part of the Native Prairie and Pollinator Awareness Project.

For more information on the Conservation Tree Program and other conservation resources, visit www.nrdnet.org.



Nebraska seminars tackle herbicide resistance in weeds

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Department of Agronomy and Horticulture will begin its fall seminar series with “Pollen-mediated Gene Flow and Transfer of Herbicide Resistance Alleles,” presented by Amit Jhala, associate department head and professor of agronomy and horticulture, on Thursday, Sept. 12. Jhala will discuss how herbicide-resistant weeds spread through pollen-mediated gene flow and explain how different weed species have varying potentials for this gene transfer.

“Managing herbicide-resistant weeds is a challenge for growers,” Jhala said. “Once herbicide-resistant weeds evolve, it can be spread by pollen, known as pollen-mediated gene flow. Reproductive biology differs markedly among weed species, as does the potential for gene flow.”

During the seminar, Jhala will present examples of economically significant weeds, such as waterhemp, Palmer amaranth, and giant ragweed, alongside crops like corn and popcorn. These examples will help illustrate how pollen-mediated gene flow impacts the transfer of herbicide resistance alleles in agricultural settings.

The seminar series will continue each Thursday in Keim Hall, Room 150, at 11 a.m. CST/CDT. All seminars are free and open to the public, with live streaming and recorded options available unless otherwise noted. Refreshments will be served at 10:30 a.m.  Register at https://agronomy.unl.edu/agronomy-and-horticulture-seminar-series.  

Upcoming topics in the series include agricultural collaborations, genetic research in crops, sustainable farming practices, and conservation efforts. Speakers include experts from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and guest speakers from institutions such as Auburn University and Corteva Agriscience.

For those interested in attending, the series offers an opportunity to learn about the latest advancements in agriculture, environmental science, and sustainable farming practices.



Cuming County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
September 18 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm CDT
Join our Cuming County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting at the Pizza Ranch Party Room in West Point, NE.

Antelope County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
September 23 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm CDT
Join our Antelope County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting at the Neligh Legion Club.
RSVP to Steve Pellatz at (402) 929-3665 by texting or calling.

Dixon County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
September 23 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm CDT
Join our Dixon County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting at the Allen Fire Hall in Allen, NE.



Safety First: Considerations for Early Fall Manure Removal

As fall approaches, many farmers are evaluating the timing of their manure application. Ideally, ammonium-rich manures are applied when temperatures are cooler (50 degrees Fahrenheit and cooling) to increase the probability that applied nitrogen will still be in the upper soil profile next year when crops are growing.

However, sometimes that’s not possible, and applications earlier in the fall may be necessary, according to Daniel Andersen, professor and extension agricultural engineering specialist at Iowa State University.

“Whether you're dealing with foam in your manure pits or facing storage capacity concerns after a wet year, applying manure earlier than desired can be justified —especially from a safety standpoint,” he said. “Always keep safety as your top priority when dealing with early applications.

“Performing manure removal and agitation when the barn is empty allows you to aggressively agitate, ensuring that solids are thoroughly mixed and removed,” Andersen said. “It also protects animals and workers from unsafe air quality conditions.”

Foam in manure pits is more than an inconvenience, it’s a safety hazard. Foam can trap dangerous gases like methane, which significantly increases the risk of explosions.

“You need to take action when your pits foam and more than 6 inches of foam are present,” Andersen said. “An ideal time to manage the risk is between turns when your barn is empty, as it allows being more aggressive with your manure agitation, treatment and removal strategy.”

Agitate the manure thoroughly to break down the foam and release any trapped gases. Be sure to maintain high ventilation levels to exhaust the released methane as you do so and to turn off potential ignition sources.

“Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is one of the most dangerous gases associated with manure storage, and it can be lethal at high concentrations,” Andersen said. “This gas is produced when manure is agitated, especially after it has settled for long periods that allowed solids to accumulate and anaerobic conditions to intensify.”

When these layers of solids are disturbed during agitation, H₂S can be released in large quantities, posing a severe risk to both humans and livestock. The publication "Hydrogen Sulfide Safety – Manure Agitation (AE3604)" describes how to stay safe during manure agitation.

Andersen advises producers to consider using pit treatments that target foam reduction and potentially reset the microbial population in the pit. This can help prevent foam from becoming a recurring problem.



NPPC Leads Coalition to Appeal NFPA Sprinkler Decision
 
National Pork Producers Council Chief Legal Strategist Michael Formica in August led a coalition of agricultural groups in an appeal before the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)’s Standards Council over a decision earlier this summer to change the fire code to require livestock barns to install sprinkler systems.
 
The coalition was supported in its appeal by the insurance industry, the Farm Credit Council, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, and others. The sprinkler requirement was introduced by the Sprinkler Fitters Union and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI). In 2012, a similar version of this language, introduced by the Humane Society of the United States, was rejected by NFPA.  
 
NPPC detailed the numerous procedural irregularities in the development and adoption of the standard and provided examples of biosecurity risks and how sprinklers would do more harm in farm operations. NPPC discussed the need for data-driven fire solutions to better understand the cause of fires in barns and designing solutions to address those risks to prevent fires. NPPC also pointed out that AWI’s interests are putting farmers out of business, resulting in AWI revising their mission statement and the Sprinkler Fitters Union distancing themselves from AWI during the hearing.
 
Made up of representatives of the fire sprinkler industry and other fire professionals, the Standards Council has historically granted very few of the appeals.
 
If allowed to stand, producers would begin to see state fire code changes after 2025 that require installation of fire sprinkler systems in new barns and those undergoing major retrofitting.
 
Preliminary estimates have shown sprinkler systems to run approximately $9-$15 per square foot, which would also need to have a dedicated source of water to allow the system to run until the fire department’s arrival to extinguish the fire. Sprinkler systems also require periodic inspections and significant maintenance, especially in an environment such as a livestock barn, which creates biosecurity concerns.
 
Finally, NFPA research indicates that the operation of ventilation systems, in conjunction with a sprinkler, reduces the functionality and will likely shut down ventilation systems for sprinklers to work properly, creating severe animal welfare concerns.
 
The care and protection of their animals, including from fires, is the top priority for pork producers. The pork industry continues to invest in research to understand all risks on the farm, including fires, and supports additional research in identification of fire risks and designing systems to eliminate them. The fire code includes numerous recommendations for the construction and design of barns, which pork producers, in conjunction with their insurers, already implement. A blanket sprinkler requirement for all farms, without a scientific basis and disregard of feasibility, is improper and should be reversed.



Dairy Products July 2024 Production Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.19 billion pounds, 1.9 percent above July 2023 and 2.7 percent above June 2024. Italian type cheese production totaled 495 million pounds, 2.4 percent above July 2023 and 2.0 percent above June 2024. American type cheese production totaled 474 million pounds, 1.6 percent below July 2023 but 3.9 percent above June 2024. Butter production was 162 million pounds, 2.2 percent above July 2023 but 3.8 percent below June 2024.

Dry milk products (comparisons in percentage with July 2023)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 122 million pounds, down 8.6 percent.
Skim milk powder - 62.4 million pounds, down 13.8 percent.

Whey products (comparisons in percentage with July 2023)
Dry whey, total - 67.7 million pounds, down 24.2 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 95.3 million pounds, up 1.1 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 40.1 million pounds, down 6.2 percent.

Frozen products (comparisons in percentage with July 2023)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 64.9 million gallons, up 5.0 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 39.5 million gallons, down 5.1 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 1.79 million gallons, up 5.6 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 4.29 million gallons, up slightly.