Monday July 15 Crop Progress & Condition Reports + Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For  the week  ending  July  14,  2013,  dryland  crop  conditions  declined due  to  above normal  temperatures and  limited  rainfall, according  to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.  Temperatures averaged 4 degrees above normal with  irrigation  in  full swing.  Wheat harvest was complete  in southeastern areas and was expected to gain momentum  in Panhandle counties in the coming days.  The second cutting of alfalfa was near 50 percent  complete  with  excellent  harvest  conditions  reported.   The  high  temperatures  and  humidity  resulted  in  some livestock  losses during  the week.  Statewide, producers had 6.4 days suitable for  fieldwork.  Topsoil moisture supplies declined and rated 17 percent very short, 45 short, 38 adequate, and 0 surplus.   Statewide, subsoil moisture supplies also declined and rated 28 percent very short, 41 short, 31 adequate, and 0 surplus. 
 
Field Crops Report:
All corn conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 22 fair, 54 good, and 17 excellent.  Irrigated corn conditions rated 81 percent good or excellent, compared  to 78 average.   Dryland corn conditions rated 57 percent good or excellent, compared to 69 average. Corn silking was 14 percent complete, behind 67 last year and 36 average.

Soybean conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 23 fair, 59 good, and 11 excellent. Thirty-nine percent of the crop was blooming, behind 60 last year but near 40 average.  Two percent of the crop was setting pods, behind 12 last year but near 4 average. 

Sorghum conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 13 poor, 33 fair, 30 good, and 22 excellent. 

Wheat  conditions  rated  23  percent  very  poor,  24  poor,  33  fair,  18  good,  and  2  excellent. Wheat  turning  color  was  99 percent, behind 100  last year but  equal  to 99  average.  Wheat  ripe was  57 percent, well behind  100  last year  and  71 average.  Twenty-nine percent of the crop was harvested, well behind 96 last year and 42 average.

Oat conditions  rated 5 percent very poor, 11 poor, 30  fair, 46 good, and 8 excellent.  Oats harvested were 27 percent, compared to last year’s 88 and 31 average.

Dry bean  conditions  rated 0 percent very poor, 0 poor,  22  fair, 70 good,  and 8  excellent.   Dry beans  blooming were  5 percent, behind 26 last year and 10 average.  

Alfalfa  conditions were  4  percent  very  poor,  10  poor,  35  fair,  46  good,  and  5  excellent.   Alfalfa  second  cutting was  48 percent complete, behind last year’s 89 and 60 average.
 
Livestock, Pasture  and Range Report: 
Stock water  supplies  rated  7  percent  very  short,  16  short,  77  adequate,  and  0 surplus.   Pasture and range condition was 12 percent very poor, 26 poor, 39 fair, 22 good, and 1 excellent.   Hay and forage supplies rated 21 percent very short, 33 short, 46 adequate, and 0 surplus.
  


Access the National publication for Crop Progress and Condition tables at: http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/nass/CropProg//2010s/2013/CropProg-07-15-2013.txt. 

Access the High Plains Region Climate Center for Temperature and Precipitation Maps at: http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/maps/current/index.php?action=update_region&state=NE&region=HPRCC

Access the U.S. Drought Monitor at: http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_state.htm?NE,HP



Iowa Crops & Weather Report - July 15, 2013

Dry  weather  continued  across most  of  Iowa  during  the  week  ending July 14, 2013, according  to  the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.    The  only  significant  precipitation was  received  in  the  north central and northeast portions of  the state.   The dry weather was good for putting up hay and applying herbicides, but crops are beginning  to need additional moisture.   Statewide  there was  an average of 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork, the most this crop year.  Northeast Iowa had only 5.8 days suitable  for  fieldwork, while  in South Central  Iowa  the entire week was suitable for fieldwork.   

The  warm  and  dry  weather  led  to  a  decline  in  soil  moisture  levels.  Statewide,  65 percent  of  topsoil  is  in  the  adequate  and  surplus categories, a 23 percentage point decline from last week and 84 percent of subsoil is in the adequate and surplus categories, down 12 percentage points  from  last  week.    Topsoil  moisture  levels  rated  5 percent  very short,  30 percent  short,  61 percent  adequate  and  4 percent  surplus.  Subsoil  moisture  levels  rated  1 percent  very  short,  15 percent  short, 78 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus.  

Five percent  of  the  corn  crop  had  tasseled,  well  behind  last  year’s 83 percent and the five-year average of 42 percent.  Scattered reports of the corn crop beginning to silk were received.  Corn condition was rated 4 percent  very  poor,  9 percent  poor,  30 percent  fair,  45 percent  good and  12 percent  excellent.   

Thirteen percent  of  the  soybean  crop  is blooming,  lagging behind  last year’s 71 percent and  two weeks behind normal.    Soybean  condition was  rated  3 percent  very  poor,  9 percent poor, 30 percent fair, 46 percent good and 12 percent excellent.  

Forty-five percent  of  the  oat  crop  has  turned  color,  behind  last  year’s 97 percent  and  the  five-year  average  of  74 percent.    Oat  harvest  has begun across most of the State.    

The 2nd cutting of  alfalfa  is 27 percent  complete, behind  the  five-year average of 52 percent.  Hay condition was rated at 1 percent very poor, 5 percent  poor,  28 percent  fair,  52 percent  good  and  14 percent excellent.  Pasture conditions were beginning to deteriorate as continued warm  and dry  conditions have  limited  the growth of grasses.   Pasture and  range  conditions  rated  2 percent  very  poor,  8 percent  poor, 30 percent fair, 48 percent good and 12 percent excellent.  



IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY
Provided by Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship

Dry weather  became more  of  a  concern  over much  of  Iowa  this  past reporting week.     Light  rain  fell Sunday  (7th)  night  into Monday  (8th) morning over  the northeast and southeast corners of  the state although there were a few local totals of more than an inch in the northeast.   The most widespread rain came on Tuesday (9th) morning when nearly all of Iowa  received  some measurable  rain  but  significant  totals were  again restricted  to a  few areas  in  the northeast.     Dry weather  then prevailed until Saturday  (13th) when  rain  fell over much of northern  Iowa and a small portion of  the southwest.   Very heavy  rain  fell over portions of north central Iowa where Lake Mills recorded 4.75 inches.   Rain totals for  the week  ranged  from  only  sprinkles  at Chariton  and Ottumwa  to 5.45  inches  at  Lake Mills.      The  statewide  average  precipitation was 0.47 inches while normal for the week is 1.05 inches.   Meanwhile, the reporting week began with very warm and humid conditions prevailing from Sunday  (7th)  through Tuesday  (9th) with  highs  climbing  into  the 90’s over portions of the state.   Cooler and drier air dominated the state from  Wednesday  through  Saturday  with  temperatures  edging  back above normal on Sunday  (14th).     Temperature  extremes  for  the week ranged  from  afternoon  highs  of  95  degrees  at Hampton,  Clarion  and Pocahontas  on  Monday  (8th)  to  a  Thursday  (11th)  morning  low  of 52 degrees  at  Chariton.      Temperatures  for  the  week  as  a  whole averaged about one degree cooler than usual over the southeast and two to  four  degrees  above  normal  in  the  far  northwest.      The  statewide average temperature for the week was 0.9 degrees above normal.



Corn Silking - Selected States
[These 18 States planted 92% of the 2012 corn acreage]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                 :            Week ending            :          
                 :-----------------------------------:          
      State      : July 14,  :  July 7,  : July 14,  : 2008-2012
                 :   2012    :   2013    :   2013    :  Average 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                    percent                   
Colorado ........:    18           3           8          13    
Illinois ............:    91           8          21          50    
Indiana ...........:    76           -          22          39    
Iowa ...............:    70           -           1          29    
Kansas ...........:    70          12          33          56    
Kentucky ........:    75          16          37          55    
Michigan .........:    39           2           9          20    
Minnesota .......:    72           -           1          24    
Missouri ..........:    86          15          30          61    
Nebraska .........:    67           1          14          36    
North Carolina ..:    97          88          93          95    
North Dakota ...:    38           -           5          12    
Ohio ...............:    63           4          19          30    
Pennsylvania ...:    50           4          23          31    
South Dakota ..:    34           -           6           9    
Tennessee ......:    96          60          75          86    
Texas .............:    82          67          72          78    
Wisconsin ......:    32           -           2          14    
18 States .......:    67           6          16          35    
-----------------------------------------------------------------


Corn Condition - Selected States: Week Ending July 14, 2013
[National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2012 planted acreage]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      State     : Very poor :   Poor    :   Fair    :   Good    : Excellent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                          percent                         
Colorado .......:    10          14          29          42           5    
Illinois ...........:     1           5          25          50          19    
Indiana ..........:     1           3          16          50          30    
Iowa ..............:     4           9          30          45          12    
Kansas ..........:     7          15          38          36           4    
Kentucky .......:     -           2          13          50          35    
Michigan ........:     2           4          21          52          21    
Minnesota ......:     3           5          28          52          12    
Missouri .........:     3          11          31          46           9    
Nebraska ........:     2           5          22          54          17    
North Carolina .:     1           3          18          53          25    
North Dakota ..:     2           5          22          57          14    
Ohio ..............:     2           7          17          45          29    
Pennsylvania ..:     -           2          13          51          34    
South Dakota .:     2           3          20          56          19    
Tennessee .....:     -           3          14          57          26    
Texas ............:     2          10          40          38          10    
Wisconsin .....:     2           7          27          44          20    
18 States ......:     3           6          25          49          17    
Previous week .:     2           6          24          51          17    
Previous year ..:    16          22          31          27           4    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Soybeans Blooming - Selected States
[These 18 States planted 95% of the 2012 soybean acreage]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                 :            Week ending            :          
                 :-----------------------------------:          
      State      : July 14,  :  July 7,  : July 14,  : 2008-2012
                 :   2012    :   2013    :   2013    :  Average 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                    percent                   
Arkansas ......:    79          25          37          50    
Illinois ...........:    66           9          32          38    
Indiana ..........:    61           9          30          36    
Iowa ..............:    71           4          13          52    
Kansas ..........:    44           4          21          31    
Kentucky .......:    50           4          11          34    
Louisiana .......:    85          51          74          80    
Michigan ........:    49          21          44          34    
Minnesota ......:    77           5          21          40    
Mississippi .....:    93          59          66          89    
Missouri .........:    43           2           7          24    
Nebraska ........:    60          20          39          40    
North Carolina .:    19           2           7          18    
North Dakota ..:    66           -          26          39    
Ohio ..............:    57           7          27          35    
South Dakota .:    70           8          36          41    
Tennessee .....:    59           5          15          45    
Wisconsin .....:    36           -          13          24    
18 States ......:    63          10          26          40    
-----------------------------------------------------------------


Soybean Condition - Selected States: Week Ending July 14, 2013
[National crop conditions for selected States are weighted based on 2012 planted acreage]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      State     : Very poor :   Poor    :   Fair    :   Good    : Excellent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                          percent                         
Arkansas ......:     7          10          31          37          15    
Illinois ...........:     2           4          21          61          12    
Indiana ..........:     1           4          21          52          22    
Iowa ..............:     3           9          30          46          12    
Kansas ..........:     2           7          45          43           3    
Kentucky .......:     -           2          14          59          25    
Louisiana .......:     3           3          28          50          16    
Michigan ........:     2           7          22          57          12    
Minnesota ......:     1           5          31          53          10    
Mississippi .....:     1          10          34          46           9    
Missouri .........:     4           9          34          47           6    
Nebraska ........:     2           5          23          59          11    
North Carolina .:     3           7          31          54           5    
North Dakota ..:     1           3          22          61          13    
Ohio ..............:     3           7          23          50          17    
South Dakota .:     1           4          24          54          17    
Tennessee .....:     1           4          15          59          21    
Wisconsin .....:     1           6          27          48          18    
18 States ......:     2           6          27          52          13    
Previous week .:     2           5           26          55          12    
Previous year ..:    10          20          36          30           4    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------


Winter Wheat Harvested - Selected States
[These 18 States harvested 88% of the 2012 winter wheat acreage]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                 :            Week ending            :          
                 :-----------------------------------:          
      State      : July 14,  :  July 7,  : July 14,  : 2008-2012
                 :   2012    :   2013    :   2013    :  Average 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                    percent                   
Arkansas .......:    100        99          100         100   
California .......:     97         90           95          92   
Colorado ........:     99         16           44          52   
Idaho .............:      -            -              -            -   
Illinois ............:    100         68           88          92   
Indiana ...........:    100         32           68          89   
Kansas ..........:    100         87           98          97   
Michigan ........:     93           -             9           38   
Missouri .........:    100         86           97          97   
Montana .........:      3           -             -            1   
Nebraska ........:     96         12           29          42   
North Carolina .:    100         74           83         100   
Ohio ...............:     98          9           28          82   
Oklahoma .......:    100         94           99          99   
Oregon ...........:      6           -              9           6   
South Dakota ..:     76          -              -          20   
Texas .............:    100        84           98          98   
Washington ....:      -            -             1            2   
18 States .......:     81         57           67          71   
-----------------------------------------------------------------




Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers, Ranchers Talk Farm Bill, Regulatory Relief in D.C.

Members of Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee participated in a national affairs visit to Washington, D.C., July 6-10, urged Nebraska’s Congressional delegation to do what they can to help secure the passage of a comprehensive new farm bill.

“As young farmers and ranchers we support passage of a farm bill that doesn’t guarantee a profit, but protects farmers and ranchers from catastrophic occurrences. There is considerable risk involved in agriculture, but those risks are amplified for young people working to get their start in farming and ranching. A farm bill safety net is critical to those of us building our operations from the ground up,” said Shelly Thompson, who co-chairs the Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee with her husband Thorpe. The Thompsons are ranchers from Whitney, Neb.

In addition to passage of a farm bill, committee members advocate for the passage of legislation to fix (EPA) regulations governing above-ground oil storage on farms. EPA’s Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) oil spill regulations have been a source of contention since the finalized in 2009. Nebraska Farm Bureau has since advocated for legislation that would raise the oil storage capacity threshold that triggers regulatory requirements.

“The original intent of the oil spill regulations was to govern large-scale, oil refinery type operations, not farms and ranches. Agriculture has no history of oil spills and raising the threshold for compliance would help eliminate costly regulatory requirements for young people in agriculture,” said Thompson.

The president’s new climate initiative was also on the minds of committee members. In late June the Administration released details of a climate plan that would impose deadlines for EPA to limit carbon dioxide emissions at U.S. power plants which could drive up energy costs for farmers. The proposal also includes new fuel economy standards on heavy-duty vehicles which could raise the cost and limit availability of new heavy-duty vehicles used on the farm and ranch. 

“When it comes to climate -related initiatives, we favor efforts that focus on developing technologies and production practices rather than establishing additional regulations. New regulations only put a greater burden on the economy and harm farmers and ranchers,” said Thompson.

Members of the committee also shared support for funding U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections at U.S. horse processing facilities. A Government Accountability Office report released last summer documented the harmful impact of processing restrictions noting the numerous and rising cases of horse abandonment and neglect since the last U.S. processing plant closed in 2007. Funding for horse inspections is in question in Congress where votes removing USDA funding for horse inspection have advanced through the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

“Horse slaughter provides a much needed avenue for the removal of unwanted horses. We know many animals have already suffered from starvation and abandonment due to the loss of a viable horse market. USDA-approved inspection at horse processing facilities allows for a humane end to these animals lives,” said Thompson.

Representatives of the Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee met with all five members of Nebraska’s Congressional delegation. Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee members visiting Washington, D.C., in addition to Thompson and her husband, included Matt and Elizabeth Albrecht of Cozad; Tim and Stephanie Hruby of Hemingford; and Ben and Jamie Keep of Scotia.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee helps farmer and rancher members up to age 35 develop their leadership skills and provide them opportunities to meet and socialize with their peers.



Goss’s Wilt in Scattered Areas across Southern Nebraska
Tamra Jackson-Ziems, UNL Extension Plant Pathologist

This week Goss’s bacterial wilt and blight was confirmed in numerous corn samples from southwest to southeast Nebraska. Plant wounding due to recent severe weather and a history of widespread Goss’s wilt across the state are likely to blame for the seemingly early development of the disease in corn fields again this year.

This disease can develop any time during the growing season and during any corn growth stage. Yield impact worsens the earlier it develops and the more leaf area that is affected by lesions. Disease development now on susceptible hybrids could have devastating impacts on yield if the disease continues to worsen in those fields. At this point, the most severely affected fields are those planted with susceptible dent corn hybrids or popcorn, which is often susceptible.

Goss’s wilt does not appear to be widespread at this time, but scouting is recommended, particularly in high risk fields, to determine if it is present and to what extent. In addition, a few corn plants have been systemically infected by the bacterium, which can ultimately lead to plant death, stand loss, and greater yield loss. Systemic Goss’s wilt can develop even in resistant hybrids that have been wounded substantially.

When scouting fields for Goss’s wilt, pay special attention to:
-    hybrids that are sensitive to Goss’s wilt, including popcorn,
-    fields with a recent history of the disease, and
-    fields with injured plants (due to hail, high winds, sandblasting)

Symptoms
Two key features of this disease can aid in diagnosis:

    Freckles — Also known as discontinuous water-soaked spots, these “freckles” appear as small dark green to black spots on the edges of spreading lesions (Figure 1a). While some lesions may lack this symptom, those expressing it most likely have Goss’s bacterial wilt and blight, as it is the only known pathogen to cause the symptom. Freckles may be more evident when backlit by bright light, such as the sun (Figure 1b). But, be careful to avoid confusing these “freckles” with the development of secondary fungal growth in the centers of lesions that give the surface a dusty appearance as they grow and produce spores on dead leaf tissue.
    
    Ooze — Also known as bacterial exudate, “ooze” occurs when bacteria are secreted on the surface of lesions. When fresh, the ooze may appear sticky and brown, but once dry, it gives the leaf a glistening or sparkling appearance (Figure 2). Be sure to check the bottom side of the leaf carefully, as well, as the exudate may be washed away by rainfall or overhead irrigation.

Identifying both of these characteristics is a likely indication that the plant has Goss’s bacterial wilt and blight. To test for Goss’s wilt, samples can be submitted to the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic.

Management
The most effective disease management is with the selection and use of Goss’s wilt resistant hybrids and crop rotation to reduce the amount of overwintering inoculum (bacteria). However, several products are being evaluated in an effort to identify ways to reduce losses due to the disease.

Some bactericides are labeled for use in corn, but limited testing has been completed on corn and the Goss’s wilt pathogen. However, when considering the application of these or any pesticides, consider that some products are contact products that will not be absorbed and moved systemically in plants. Therefore, contact products are unable to provide curative activity for the infections that are already inside plants. (This is in contrast to many foliar fungicides used more commonly on corn that are systemic and provide both curative and protective activity against fungal diseases like gray leaf spot.) Contact products can provide protection from new infections for one or more weeks, but will be washed off by rainfall or overhead irrigation. Some products also may be cost prohibitive, particularly considering that they may require multiple applications for long-term protection of leaves. However, a timely application(s) may be of value in slowing disease progression.

The results of the 2009 Goss’s Wilt Management trial are posted in a June 8, 2012 Crop Watch article. The positive results were from corn plots that had just been inoculated with the bacteria causing Goss’s wilt. The treatments were applied immediately prior to or within 24 hours after inoculation. No symptoms were present at the time of application and no results are available from trials where treatments were made after lesion development.



NE Cattlemen Farmer Stockman Tour - July 23

The Farmer Stockman Tour is open to all members of Nebraska Cattlemen and anyone else interested in learning more about the beef  industry.  All meals are provided. If  you are planning on attending please RSVP by July 18th to the NC offce at 402.475.2333 or to anunnenkamp@necattlemen.org, as space is limited this year.  The tour will start at Drinnin West Cattle Co. with donuts provided at 8:30am.

-  Drinnin West Cattle Co.: 14500 Valley Road, Palmer
-  Bills Volume Sales: East Hwy 30, Central City
-  Preferred Popcorn:132 9th Rd  Chapman
-  Grain Place Foods: 1904 Nebraska 14  Marquette
-  Uncle Ed’s Steakhouse: 2624 S Locust St  Grand Island

If  you have questions please contact Ashley at the NC offce at 402.475.2333.



The Soybean Aphid Season Has Begun
Tom Hunt, Extension Entomology Specialist

We are beginning to get reports of soybean aphids in southwest Minnesota and South Dakota. The numbers are low, but relatively widespread. We have only had a couple reports of soybean aphids in Nebraska, again at very low numbers, but this is when we generally start to find them. Start scouting now, as populations can start late and build fast. In 2011 we monitored a soybean field in Dixon County that was almost devoid of aphids on July 22, but by August 18 was over 2000 aphids per plant in untreated field areas.

Soybean Aphid Injury to Soybean
Soybean aphids injure soybeans by removing plant sap with their needle-like mouthparts. Symptoms of soybeans infested by soybean aphid may include yellowed, distorted leaves and stunted plants. A charcoal-colored residue also may be present on the plants. This is sooty mold that grows on the honeydew that aphids excrete. Honeydew by itself makes leaves appear shiny. Soybean plants appear to be most vulnerable to aphid injury during the early reproductive stages. Heavy aphid infestations during these stages can cause reduced pod and seed counts.

Soybean Aphid Occurrence in Nebraska
Soybean aphids have been reported in most soybean producing regions of Nebraska, although the highest and most economically damaging populations typically occur in northeast Nebraska.

In much of the soybean aphid’s range, significant aphid infestation often has occurred in the early vegetative stages of soybean. These infestations then undergo rapid population growth to reach high populations during the flowering stages (R1, R2). During most years in Nebraska, however, very few aphids have been found during the vegetative stages. This may be in part because in Nebraska we have less of the soybean aphid’s overwintering host, common buckthorn, than states further east and north do. We usually find a few aphids in late June to early July, but it is usually mid-July, when soybeans are entering or in R3 (beginning pod stage), before we begin to regularly find aphids. While Nebraska aphid populations can reach economically damaging populations in late July, it usually occurs in August, when soybeans are in the mid-reproductive stages (R4-R5). In some years there are many fields where the aphid populations peak in late R5 (beginning seed) to early R6 (full seed).

Soybean Aphid Management
The current recommended economic threshold for late vegetative through R5 stage soybeans is 250 aphids per plant with 80% of the plants infested and populations increasing. Depending on economic conditions, this generally gives you about five to seven days to schedule treatment before populations reach economically damaging levels. If populations do not increase during these five to seven days, you may be able to eliminate or delay treatment. Determining if the aphid population is actively increasing requires several visits to the field. Factors favorable for aphid increase are relatively cool temperatures, plant stress (particularly drought), and lack of natural enemies.

Soybean aphids in Nebraska usually reach the economic threshold and require treatment in late July through August, with a few fields requiring treatment earlier in July. Treatment during this period usually is enough to keep aphid populations from resurging because there is not enough time for populations to build up before they would naturally leave the fields in late August and early September. The earlier a field is treated, the greater the chance that any surviving aphids can later reproduce or new aphids can repopulate the field. Also, insecticide treatment will kill many natural enemies, reducing control from predators or other natural means. Even insecticides with a relatively long residual cannot last when insecticide treatment is done in early or mid-July, particularly during a year when aphid populations are thriving. If you have to treat early, make sure to closely monitor the field until early September for a resurgence of aphids.

Another practice that can result in aphid population resurgence is unwarranted insecticide treatment, either because fields were treated well before the threshold was met or fields were treated along with an herbicide (in some cases a fungicide), regardless of aphid presence. These treatments kill natural enemies and are usually done relatively early so there is plenty of time for aphids to resurge, or re-colonize a field.

Aphid populations below or even at the economic threshold do not cause yield loss, so treating before populations reach 250 aphids/plant only increases the probability of aphid resurgence. In addition, we have observed that many fields support a non-increasing, low population of aphids (e.g., less than 100 aphids/plant) through August. Treating these fields would be a waste of time and money. Tank-mixing insecticides with glyphosate or other herbicides can be problematic because application methods for herbicides (e.g., lower pressures, large droplet-producing nozzles) are not optimal for good insecticide efficacy. Tank-mixing with fungicides can be effective because application methods for fungicides and insecticides require high water pressure for adequate penetration and coverage; however, only conduct this practice if soybean aphid thresholds are met.



Begin Scouting for Western Bean Cutworm Eggs
Bob Wright, Extension Entomologist

Western bean cutworm moths have been emerging since July 1 at Clay Center and North Platte. As moth numbers increase, mating will begin and females will begin laying eggs on corn. The appearance of the first moths provides a signal that farmers and crop consultants should begin to scout fields for the white, dome-shaped eggs.

Scouting
Scouting for western bean cutworm should begin in field corn when the first moths are caught. Control decisions should be made shortly after the moth flight peaks. The moth flight usually peaks in early to mid-July.

When scouting for western bean cutworms in corn, check 20 plants in at least five areas of each field. Look for eggs on the top surface of the upper most leaf or look for larvae in the tassel. If 8% of field corn plants, 5% of seed corn plants, or 5% of popcorn plants have egg masses or larvae, consider applying an insecticide.

Western bean cutworm moths prefer to lay eggs in corn plants that are in the late whorl stage compared to those that have completely tasseled. Pay particular attention to later planted fields or those with uneven development. Western bean cutworm eggs that hatch when corn plants are in the late whorl stage of growth have a high rate of survival. The larvae are well protected in the whorl or tassel.

Treatment Recommendations
Bt corn hybrids with proteins active against western bean cutworms (for example, Cry 1F and VIP3A) appear to control the larvae very well, although not entirely, and should not need treating. See the Handy Bt Trait Table for a list of commercially available Bt corn hybrids and the proteins they express.

If an insecticide treatment is warranted in corn, it should be made when 95% of the plants in a field have tasseled. This application timing increases the chance that the worms will be exposed to the insecticide, resulting in better control.

Chemigation has provided very good control of this insect, even at lowest labeled rates. Asana, Ambush, Baythroid, Pounce, Lorsban, Capture, Mustang, Penncap-M, Prevathon, Proaxis, Warrior, and Sevin are all labeled for control of western bean cutworm. Many generics with these active ingredients also will give good control.



2013 UNL Beef Feedlot School

The University of  Nebraska-Lincoln will be offering the Beef  Feedlot School at the Nebraska College of  Technical Agriculture in Curtis on August 6th. The goal of  this program is to assist with the training of  feedlot employees in the areas of  Beef  Quality Assurance, animal health, and feeding.  Please plan to send employees to this educational opportunity.

For more information or to pre-register please contact Matt Luebbe, mluebbe2@unl.edu, at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center or call 308.632.1260. Please pre-register by phone, fax, email, or mail no later than July 30th. Cost is $10 per person.  If  not pre-registered, cost is $20 at the door.



Nebraska Grazing Conference to take place Aug. 13-14 in Kearney

Experts will discuss topics related to grazing animals and stewardship of grazing lands at the 13th annual Nebraska Grazing Conference at the Kearney Holiday Inn Aug. 13-14.

The event will feature Burke Teichert, a former Rex Ranch manager from Orem, Utah, speaking on key indicators of ranch efficiencies and resource management and monitoring.

"The conference is an opportunity to look at all aspects of managing grazing lands and livestock and wildlife resources for both short-term and long-term benefits," said Bruce Anderson, extension forage specialist and program chair.

Other topics and speakers include:
            – The Gracie Creek Ranch grazing plan, Bob Price and daughter Lindsey Smith with Gracie Creek as well as Terry DeGroff from Management Information Systems in Burwell.
            – Insects as agents of improved rangeland quality and cattle production, Sean Whipple, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research & Extension Center, Scottsbluff.
            – Fitting grazing strategies to your environment, Nebraska producer panel: Doug Olsen, Harrisburg; Jeff Pribbeno, Imperial; and Dan Stelling, Pierce.
            – Managing two billion gallons of water, Lyle Perman, Lowry, SD.
            – Adaptive grazing on semi-arid range, Grady Grissom, Fowler, Colo.
            – Management practices of 2012 Leopold Conservation Award winner, Buell family, Bassett.
            – Grazing has gone to the birds at Calamus Outfitters, Sarah Sortum, Calamus Outfitters/Gracie Creek Landowners, Burwell.
            – Cover crop and fall annual forage grazing, Karla Jenkins, UNL Panhandle Research & Extension Center, Scottsbluff and Jerry Volesky, UNL West Central Research & Extension Center, North Platte.

Registration is $80 if postmarked by Aug. 1 and $95 afterward. One-day registrations are also available and walk-ins are welcome.

Reduced registration fees are offered for full-time high school or college students. Registration fees will be paid by the UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources for students who will still be in high school this fall and who pre-register by the Aug. 1 deadline.

More information is available at http://nebraskagrazingconference.unl.edu, or from the UNL Center for Grassland Studies at 402-472-4101, e-mail grassland@unl.edu, or your local UNL extension office.

The event is sponsored by several public and private organizations, including the conference underwriters: Farm Credit Services of America, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition and the UNL Center for Grassland Studies.



National Pork Board Elects Board

Newly elected National Pork Board President Karen Richter, of Montgomery, Minn., sees great opportunity in the year ahead helping consumers understand the value and versatility of today's pork and updating the strategic direction of America's Pork Checkoff. The Minnesota producer was elected to head the 15-member board at a meeting held in conjunction with the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa.

"As a producer and board member, I am constantly working to make this industry better for future generations," Richter said. "There's never a short list of challenges in the livestock industry, but we continue to evolve our programs so that the pork products we provide and the way that we operate our farms improve to meet the needs of our customers, consumers and producers."

Richter farms with her family in Minnesota on a wean-to-finish operation with 600 hogs and contracts 3,000 gilts through their feeder-to-finish operation. She also raises corn and soybeans on 600 acres. Richter succeeds Conley Nelson, a farmer and pork producer from Algona, Iowa, who will remain on the board's executive committee as immediate past president.

Richter is in her second three-year term on the National Pork Board. She serves on the Checkoff's Domestic Marketing Committee and Pork Safety Quality and Human Nutrition Committee. She has been actively involved with the Minnesota Pork Board serving as president and secretary, as well on the local level with the Le Sueur County Pork Producers.

Serving alongside Richter for the next year is Dale Norton, a pork producer from Bronson, Mich., vice president; and Derrick Sleezer, a pork producer from Cherokee, Iowa, treasurer. The three executive officers will serve one-year terms in their positions beginning immediately.

"As we look ahead to this year, the pork industry has versatile, nutritious products that offer great value to consumers," Norton said. "It's important that producers continue to build trust and share our commitment with customers and consumers."

The new officers will be sworn in at the July board meeting Tuesday July 16th in Wisconsin, along with the incumbents and three new board members.  The appointments include three producers new to the board who will each serve a three-year term. The newly appointed members are Janet Archer, Goldsboro, N.C., Terrance O'Neel, Friend, Neb., and Michael Wyant, Nevada, Mo. Also appointed by Vilsack were two returning board members; Derrick Sleezer, Cherokee, Ia., and Wathina Luthi, Gage, Ok.



Corn Growers Gather in Washington for Information, Action on Industry Issues

Corn farmers from across the country have gathered in Washington for a series of action team and committee meetings, Capitol Hill visits with lawmakers and the semi-annual Corn Congress, where grower-leaders from 28 states will elect five new members of the National Corn Growers Association Corn Board.

"Coming together in Washington right now provides us not only with an opportunity to work together in developing forward-facing, insightful policies for NCGA but also a chance to speak directly with our representation in the House and Senate at a critical moment," NCGA President Pam Johnson said. "We are engaging in important conversations that will help guide the association at the same time we advocate for corn farmers on the Hill. Whether we are debating farm policy, ethanol issues or many others, we have a unique chance to take our message and push for action in real time. "

The week begins today with action team and committee meetings running through the day Tuesday. NCGA's action teams and committees, small groups of growers charged with defining and implementing programs under their jurisdiction, work in a variety of subject areas to further the mission of NCGA in creating and increasing opportunities for corn growers. The major areas of focus include: ethanol; public policy; production and stewardship; trade policy and biotechnology; research and business development; and grower services.

On Wednesday morning, the Corn Congress holds its first session with a vote on the ratification of Chip Bowling from Maryland as first vice president for the 2014 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. The Congress will also elect five new board members. Time is set aside on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning for Capitol Hill visits to senators, representatives and key staff.

"It's great to be able to get in and spend time with the lawmakers and their staff as having a physical presence, really putting a face and story with a name, truly impacts how they see policy playing out back home," Johnson said. "They always want and need to hear from the farmers personally and directly."

Corn Congress reconvenes after lunch Thursday with reports from the chairs of the action teams and committees and farewell remarks from outgoing board members.



Senate Ag Announces First Hearing on CFTC Reauthorization

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS), the committee's ranking member, announced that the Committee will hold a hearing in preparation to reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, with the first in a series of hearings scheduled for July 17 at 2:30 p.m. ET in room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building. The hearing, "Reauthorization of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission," will feature testimony from market participants and stakeholders who will address issues related to the Commodity Exchange Act and the CFTC generally.

Stabenow and Cochran also announced that recommendations made by the public and stakeholders regarding CFTC reauthorization are now public and available for viewing on the Committee's website here. The letters were submitted following a request made in March by Stabenow and Cochran for the public to weigh in on the process.

"Reauthorizing the CFTC is an opportunity to examine these derivatives markets and weigh policy changes that would help protect markets and the public," Stabenow said. "As Ranking Member Cochran and I said earlier this year, this process will be transparent, bipartisan and consensus-driven. It's important to address concerns with commodity market oversight generally as well as the need for additional customer protections in light of the failures of firms like MF Global and Peregrine Financial. At the end of the day, these markets must be safe for trading and we must ensure that farmers and business owners are able to manage risk without fear."

"As part of the Agriculture Committee's oversight responsibilities, we will conduct hearings to prepare for the reauthorization of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. I look forward to these hearings providing the Committee with information about the Commission's important work and what changes need to be considered to make it function better for consumers and the markets it oversees," Cochran said.

The witness list includes the following:
Panel I:
-- The Honorable Kenneth E. Bentsen Jr., president, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, Washington, D.C.
-- Terrence A. Duffy, executive chairman and president, CME Group, Chicago, Ill.
-- Adam Cooper (on behalf of Managed Funds Association), senior managing director and chief legal officer, Citadel LLC, Chicago, I..,
-- Dennis Kelleher, president and chief executive officer, Better Markets, Washington, D.C.
-- Daniel J. Roth, president and chief executive officer, National Futures Association, Chicago, Ill.

Panel II:
-- The Honorable Walter L. Lukken, president and chief executive officer, Futures Industry Association, Washington, D.C.
-- Gene A. Guilford (on behalf of the Commodity Markets Oversight Council), national and regional policy counsel, Connecticut Energy Marketers Association, Cromwell, Conn.
-- John M. Heck (on behalf of the National Grain & Feed Association), vice president, The Scoular Company, Omaha, Neb.
-- Donald A. Russak (on behalf of the American Public Power Association), executive vice president and chief financial officer, New York Power Authority, White Plains, N.Y.
-- Jim Colby, assistant treasurer, Honeywell International, Morristown, N.J.

A live webcast of the hearing can be viewed on the Committee's website at http://ag.senate.gov.



Stabenow, Thune, Nunes, Kind Introduce Ag Research Bill

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and Sen. John Thune (R-SD), a member of the Committee, introduced a bipartisan bill with Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) that will help spur new agricultural research by leveraging private dollars to create charitable partnerships between universities and private entities. The bill, the Charitable Agricultural Research Act, amends the tax code to allow for the creation of new charitable, tax-exempt agricultural research organizations, which are similar to medical research organizations that have been successfully supporting innovation in medical sciences since the 1950s.

"Innovation is critical in protecting the health and welfare of our rural communities and expanding our agriculture economy," Stabenow said. "American agriculture outpaces and outperforms every other nation in the world because of decades of research that has led us to be more efficient with fewer resources. This productivity has created an American agricultural sector that's 16 million jobs strong. This is a 'win-win' effort that builds on decades of success and momentum by continuing to pursue new research, and doing so in a cost-effective way by engaging the private sector."

"In the current tight budget environment Congress needs to enact innovative legislation, such as this bill, which will encourage private donors to help meet shortfalls in agriculture research funding," Thune said. "I am pleased to introduce this bill with Chairwoman Stabenow as it will provide a new investment tool for donors wishing to dedicate their own resources to agriculture research. Production agriculture's current economic strength is a direct result of research that-among other things-has increased crop yields, made livestock healthier, and made food safer. Our bill will facilitate the transfer of much-needed private funding to agricultural research."

"This bill will provide a crucial way for private charitable donors to support agricultural innovation," Nunes said. "It adjusts the tax code to help farmers, who are facing a difficult regulatory environment and many other challenges."

"I am a strong supporter of reforming the tax code to help spur economic growth. The Charitable Agriculture Research Act does just that by bolstering our agriculture industry," Kind said. "This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will help create incentives for charitable donations so we can strengthen the connection between the private sector and the agriculture research industry, and ensure that America stays on the cutting edge of agricultural innovation and production."

Over the last 60 years, agricultural research has expanded food production significantly. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, farm productivity has risen 158 percent since 1948; this increase is attributed to research, by implementing new changes in the efficiency of farming practices and the use of agricultural technology. Today, the United States produces $312 billion in agricultural products and exports $108 billion annually.

However, agricultural scientists warn that failing to invest in agricultural research could spell disaster for the future of American food security and safety. Agricultural research funding has become stagnant and has fallen far behind other federal agencies since the 1970s. The Charitable Agricultural Research Act seeks to address these challenges by creating agricultural research organizations (AROs) that would work in conjunction with agricultural and land-grant colleges and universities to conduct research in the field of agriculture.

The establishment of AROs will complement existing public and private research and also create the opportunity for previously under-funded projects to be fully funded, such as projects addressing specialty crops or specific diseases.

The Senate bill is S. 1280. The House bill is H.R. 2671.



Brazilian Meat Output to Expand

According to the latest Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply Long Term Outlook, Brazilian beef production is forecast to increase 22.5 percent between 2012-13 and 2022-23, reaching 10.9 million tonnes by the end of the 10-year period.

In comparison, poultry production is forecast to increase 46 percent, helping Brazil to maintain its mantle as the world's largest chicken exporter, at an estimated 4.67 million tonnes, according to analysts at Meat and Livestock Australia.

For the same period, Brazilian pork production is forecast to expand 21 percent by 2022-23, to 4.2 million tonnes, with domestic expected to account for around 83 percent of production.

Helping the growth in the feed intensive pork and poultry industries is further expansion in grain output, with corn production expected to rise 20 percent over the next decade, to 93.6 million tonnes by 2022-23.

Brazilian soybean production is currently concentrated in Mato Grosso state, accounting for 29 percent of total production and Parana, Rio Grande do Sul and Goias.

Production is expected to total 99.2 million tonnes by 2022-23, an increase of 22 percent over the next decade.



Cool, Moist Conditions Earlier This Season Increase SDS Potential

For nearly 40 years, sudden death syndrome (SDS) has ranked second only to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) in damage to soybean crops. DuPont Pioneer research shows that, in extreme conditions, this root-rotting disease can cause yield losses as high as 80 percent.

“SDS varies in severity from area to area, and from field to field, but as a result of the cool, moist soil conditions earlier this season there may be a higher incidence of SDS in soybeans this year,” says Jeff Thompson, DuPont Pioneer senior research manager. “Growers must understand clearly the extent of infection in each of their fields to effectively manage this disease so scouting becomes essential.”

Disease severity depends on environmental conditions, time of infection and other stresses on the soybean crop. This year may result in a higher incidence of SDS in soybeans as a result of cool, moist soil conditions early in the growing season. Though SDS infects soybean plants just after germination and emergence, symptoms usually do not appear until midsummer.

Symptoms
The development of symptoms is often linked with weather patterns of cool wet conditions early on followed by warm temperatures and high rainfall during flowering or pod-fill.

“Symptoms begin as small pale-green spots during flowering, just before pod-fill,” Thompson says. “And the most visible symptoms will occur as necrotic lesions during pod-fill, when plants are focused on water uptake and sending nutrients to the developing seed.”

Usually observed 10 to 14 days after heavy rains, root symptoms include rotted roots with deteriorated taproots and lateral roots. The root cortex will show light-gray to brown discoloration, and if soil moisture is high, sometimes bluish fungal colonies are present. These symptoms signal reduced water and nutrient uptake by the plant.

Leaf symptoms of SDS first appear as yellow spots, usually in a mosaic pattern on the upper leaves. The yellow spots coalesce to form chlorotic blotches between the leaf veins and the affected leaves will twist and curl before falling from the plant prematurely.

Management
As soybean plants lose leaf area and their roots deteriorate due to SDS, their yield-making components are damaged. Flower and pod abortion are common, which results in few pods and seeds. Seeds may also be smaller and late-forming pods may not fill or mature. Pioneer experts recommend several management options to combat these effects year after year.

Management practices for SDS include selecting tolerant varieties, planting disease-prone fields last, improving field drainage, reducing compaction, maintaining proper fertility on fields, evaluating tillage systems, and reducing other stresses on the crop.

“Growers should also scout their fields for SCN because there is a tendency for products susceptible to SCN to display more severe SDS symptoms,” Thompson states.

Not only does SCN increase stress on soybean plants, it also creates wounds through which the SDS pathogen can enter the roots. If you discover SCN in your fields, consider planting a high SCN- and SDS-tolerant soybean variety in the future.



Syngenta pledges support for renewable fuels

Syngenta today announced a three-year commitment to contribute $1 to the renewable fuels industry for every acre planted with Enogen® trait technology, beginning with this year’s growing season. The initiative will help support America’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and promote the benefits of renewable fuels grown in America.

“Renewable fuels are an essential part of the American energy equation, benefitting consumers, farmers and American energy independence,” said David Witherspoon, Head of Renewable Fuels at Syngenta. “Ethanol, whether from corn or other biomass sources, is an energy source for today and tomorrow driving economic growth and innovation.”

Syngenta is a leader in the quest for affordable and sustainable renewable fuels – a challenge that is both technological and economic. The company’s focus is on increasing the productivity of renewable fuels made from traditional and non-traditional feedstocks.

Enogen trait technology is the industry’s first and only biotech output trait designed specifically for ethanol production. The revolutionary corn expresses alpha amylase enzyme directly in the corn kernel and replaces liquid alpha amylase enzyme. The unique enzyme present in Enogen grain facilitates a simpler, more efficient ethanol production process helping to maximize the productivity of every gallon produced, and thus the profitability of the ethanol plant. By helping to create savings in electricity, natural gas and water usage, Enogen corn also has the potential to help an ethanol plant reduce its carbon footprint.

In a 100-million gallon plant, efficiency improvements by Enogen can save annually:
-    More than 68 million gallons of water
-    Nearly 10 million KWh of electricity
-    More than 350 billion BTUs of natural gas
-    More than 100 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions

Enogen corn represents a unique value proposition for local communities as well. Enogen corn hybrids are planted under contract with an ethanol plant licensed to use the technology. In exchange for high-quality grain and robust alpha amylase enzyme, ethanol plants pay an average 40 cent per bushel premium to local farmers for their Enogen grain, an economic boost that could mean as much as $80 to $90 an acre for some Midwestern farmers.

Friday July 12 Ag News

USDA Encourages Documenting Livestock and Forage Losses Caused by High Humidity, Heat, and Drought

Recent extreme humidity and temperatures have resulted in livestock deaths in areas of Nebraska.  These losses of livestock or expected forage may be damaging to operations and may be eligible for future USDA assistance.

“Livestock owners experiencing death losses due to recent extreme weather are encouraged to document their losses and inventory numbers” stated Dan Steinkruger, State Director of the Farm Service Agency.  Although past livestock programs are not currently in effect to assist producers with livestock deaths or forage losses, the current farm bill activity appears to support implementation of similar programs when passed.

Under past Livestock Indemnity Program and Livestock Forage Programs, producers were required to provide verifiable documentation of inventory numbers and death losses.  Examples of some types of documentation include: veterinary records, bank loan records, production records, rendering receipts, tax records or dated photos.  Steinkruger suggests, “Especially when dealing with death losses, it is easier to document the death losses prior to disposal. We need farmers and ranchers to maintain critical records so that if these emergency programs are implemented, we can provide USDA assistance.”

For additional information, contact your local Farm Service Agency Office.



"THE BEEF STATE" License Plate Moves Closer To Reality

Beef it's What's For Dinner in Nebraska and soon will be able to show your love for beef.  The revival of "The Beef State" license plate is moving closer to reality.    Nebraska Cattlemen and the Nebraska Cattlemen Research & Education Foundation have realed the favorite design for the new license plate.

Last month, three designs were offered and public voted for their favorite.   The public selected a license plate of a realistic backdrop of a herd of red cattle on the lush green pastures and a windmill. Nebraska Cattlemen say the plate was by far the top vote getter. They received around 5,000 votes in their online poll.

As a specialty plate it will cost an additional $70 per vehicle. Nebraska Cattlemen need 500 orders to begin production.  Applications are available online www.nebraskacattelmen.org.



Chinese Delegation Visits U.S. Swine and Soy Farms, Attends World Pork Expo and SDSU Training Course

The U-S Soybean Export Council - China recently organized a group of executives from major Chinese pig farms, feed millers, and feed additive companies to travel to the U.S.  The delegation visited the Midwest cities of Des Moines, IA; Lincoln, NE; Sioux Falls, SD; and Pipestone, MN to get an overview of the U.S. livestock industry.  The group also attended the World Pork Expo in Des Moines and participated in a weeklong training course at South Dakota State University (SDSU).  Representatives from Wens Group, Huanshan Group, and Xinjiang Tiankang Food Co., Ltd. were among the companies that visited the U.S. from June 5-17.

The World Pork Expo provided opportunities for the group to establish solid business contacts within the U.S. agricultural industry.  Team members also were able to learn about modern equipment and facilities such as stainless steel feeders; drinkers and gestation / farrowing stalls; and other advanced techniques as shown at the Expo.  Most team members believed that the Chinese livestock industry will need to be more adaptive to the changing market if such modern and advanced technologies are to be introduced to China in the near future.

Team members who attended the training course on practical swine feed technology presented by professors and experts at SDSU learned about ventilation systems and disease eradication approaches, among other topics.  Many team members expressed their intention to apply these technologies in their operations to boost their production and felt strongly that the consumption of soy by the Chinese swine industry would be further increased with the adoption of these new technologies.

Following this training, the Chinese swine study team visited several swine and soy farms, feed mills and a packing plant, which all demonstrated modern U.S. agriculture that features high efficiency, less labor, widely adopted automation in crop and livestock production and product processing.  These visits displayed the development of the U.S. swine industry, but also helped to validate the quality and supplies of U.S. soy and the services provided by the U.S. soy industry.

USSEC China Animal Utilization (AU) Director Richard Y. M. Han, AU Technical Consultant Sam Shi and AU Program Manager Sunny Zhang escorted the team on this trip.  The Chinese team members expressed their future interest in participating in USSEC’s technical and marketing activities.



Harkin Lashes Out on House Farm Bill Split

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) released the following statement Thursday after the House of Representatives passed a proposed new farm bill that deletes the continuation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and a number of other federal nutrition assistance programs from the legislation. With strong bipartisan support, the Senate approved last month a comprehensive farm bill, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, which includes a nutrition title, along with titles covering farm commodity, conservation, crop insurance, energy, rural development, and other policy areas.

"House Republicans have demolished the very coalition that has served our whole nation well for decades -- a coalition of rural and urban, farmers and consumers. Their actions today abandon U.S. families who need our help to put food on the table while destroying the time-tested farm bill alliance that has drawn urban votes for agricultural and rural programs. This House action is a grave disservice to the entire nation -- farmers, ranchers, rural communities, consumers and urban areas."

House Republicans passed a farm bill Thursday by slicing federal support for food programs from the bill, breaking a half-century long legislative connection between farm policy and food programs for the poor.

The House GOP's revamp represents about 20 percent of the cost of the original $1 trillion bill. It passed on a 216-to-208 vote with 12 Republicans joining all 196 Democrats in opposition.

The Republican bill is both narrower in scope and less impactful on the federal deficit than its companion in the Senate -- raising questions about how the two chambers will come to an accord on federal farm and food policy before the current farm bill expires at the end of September.



U.S. Soy Relies on Quality, Better Transportation Infrastructure to Combat Brazil’s Bumper Soy Crop

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that Brazil’s successful growing season puts that country neck and neck with the U.S. in soybean production.  The USDA estimates Brazil will harvest more than 3.012 billion bushels of soybeans this year, compared to nearly 3.015 billion bushels harvested in the United States last fall.

United Soybean Board (USB) Director-Farmer David Iverson notes that this increased quantity could extend Brazil’s export supply and negatively impact the price U.S. soybean farmers receive this year.   “Even though Brazil’s success may impact our market, a lot of our customers really like the quality of U.S. soybeans,” he states.

The U.S. transportation infrastructure is another competitive advantage.  U.S. soybean farmers enjoy the overall reliability and efficiency of the U.S. transportation system while Brazil continues to struggle with clogged ports and roads.   According to the Bloomberg news service, soybean vessels have waited as long as 39 days to load at the country’s main port of Santos.  Mr. Iverson and USB Director Bob Metz visited Brazilian port facilities on the Amazon River earlier this year with the South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and witnessed those trucking and shipping bottlenecks first-hand.  According to Mr. Iverson, “We need to maintain our transportation infrastructure and keep making improvements to our lock-and-dam system, roads and bridges, and rail system so we don’t lose that competitive edge.”  “Even with a drought affecting our yields last year, we are still able to produce more soybeans than Brazil, which had a bumper crop harvest.”



NOPA June Soybean Crush Seen at 115.4 Million Bushels

Soybean crush rates for June in the National Oilseed Processors Association's monthly soybean crush report are expected to drop from the previous month to about 115.4 million bushels amid limited soybean supplies for processing, according to a survey of industry analysts.

The month-over-month decrease in the crush is a reflection of the available supply of "old crop" soybeans in the U.S., analysts said.

The crush was measured at 122.6 million bushels in May. Last year, the soy crush for June measured 134.2 million bushels.

The uncertainty of processors' ability to secure enough available soybean supplies to take advantage of favorable processing margins produced wide ranges in analysts' estimates. The estimates ranged from 106.6 million bushels to 126.5 million bushels.

NOPA's report, which includes only data from members, is scheduled to be released Monday at 11am CDT. 



Republicans to Tackle Cuts in Food Stamp Program
(AP) -- House approval of a scaled-back farm bill is setting up what could be an even bigger fight over food stamps and the role of domestic food aid in the United States. Food stamps have been a part of farm bills since the 1970s to gain urban Democratic votes for the rural measure. But that union has soured this year as the food aid has exploded in cost and House Republicans have taken aim at the program.

Normally bipartisan, farm bills have become much less so. Republican leaders in the House won passage of the smaller farm bill on a party-line vote Thursday by dropping a section of the bill that dealt with food stamps, saying they would deal with that issue in a separate bill. After rallying most of his caucus to vote for the farm portion of the bill, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said Republicans would "act with dispatch" to get a food stamp bill to the floor.

It remained unclear what a food stamp bill would look like, how it would move through the House or how quickly lawmakers could craft a bill. While Democrats have opposed any cuts to the $80 billion-a-year program, designed to give people temporary food assistance when their income falls beneath a certain level, Republicans have proposed many different approaches to trimming it. The program has more than doubled in cost in the last five years as the economy faltered and now serves around 1 in 7 Americans. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., has pushed the idea of a split bill for more than a year. A farmer, he has maintained that Congress should consider food stamps by themselves. "By splitting the bill, we can give taxpayers an honest look at how Washington spends our money," he said. If a bill to cut food stamps reaches the House floor, it could be the first major debate over the role of the program, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, in decades. "I think there are some Republicans who think this is their moment to end this program as we know it, and the question is will they succeed or not," said Rep. Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat who has long championed food aid for the poor. SNAP is available for people who meet certain income and asset tests.

In April, more than 47 million people were using the program, including those in 23 million households. The average benefit is about $130 a month for an individual and around $270 for a household. Proposals to reduce the program have ranged from what was in the original farm bill, a 3 percent cut and changes in eligibility, to an overhaul of the program that would take a fraction of the federal money now spent and give it to the states to administer. Others have proposed putting an expiration date on the program, which is now permanent, so Congress would have to take a look at it every few years. Republicans have already supported an amendment to the original farm bill that would have put broad new work requirements on food stamps. Adoption of that amendment caused many Democrats to pull their support for the bill. Democrats were angry, too, that passage of the pared-back bill appeared to set the stage for higher food stamp cuts in a separate bill. Several Democrats delayed the final vote by forcing procedural votes, and many came to the floor to denounce the legislation passionately. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said to Republicans, "You are taking food out of the mouths of your own poor constituents."

Since the food stamp program doesn't expire, the program is untouched as long as no food aid cuts become law. Anti-hunger groups are already mobilizing to deflect whatever Republicans propose. "Republican leadership seems to be coming at the program with malign intent and that's deeply concerning," said James Weill of the Food Research and Action Center. He said they are hoping to rely on the Democratic-led Senate and President Barack Obama, who has also opposed food stamp cuts, to hold off against the House.

The White House issued a veto threat against both bills. A Senate farm bill passed last month would cut around a half a percent from the SNAP program. The GOP caucus is divided over how much to cut. Many Republicans praised the 3 percent cut to SNAP in the original House farm bill and the changes in eligibility. But others said it didn't go far enough and voted against the bill, leading to the legislation's defeat.



Join USSEC Sept. 16-18 in Davenport, Iowa for the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange

The U-S Soybean Export Council and the Midwest Shippers Association (MSA) are teaming up to organize the premier international soy industry event in the U.S. this year. USSEC’s U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange and MSA’s 10th Annual Midwest Specialty Grains/Grain Export Shipping Conference & Trade show enable attendees to network with over 125 key industry decision makers from around the globe. Trade teams are confirmed from China, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico, Europe, Turkey, North Africa and the Middle East.

Shipping and logistics professionals and grain exporters won’t want to miss this key event, as intermodal container, rail, and river barge shipping will be highlighted. And the trade show will feature ag shipping industry suppliers.

International delegates will converge on southeast Iowa's historic Quad Cities river town communities, right in the heart of America’s soybean and corn belt, in order to make real business connections with American companies.

Register now for discounted rates and find out more about the event at www.grainconference.org.