Monday May 21 Ag News

Weed Resistance Management Field Day 2012

Please join us for the Weed Resistance Management Field Day at one of two locations:
-    Big Springs on Tuesday, July 11th
-    David City on Wednesday, July 12th

This program will include University and Industry presentations describing herbicide resistance and delivering a unified message about the need for integrated weed management programs to delay the evolution and/or spread of herbicide resistant weeds. Specific topics include glyphosate-resistant kochia at Brule and glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed at David City. The event will be concluded with a talk on how glyphosate-resistant weeds have changed agriculture in the southern US.

There is no cost to attend the Field Day and a complimentary meal will be served for those who have pre-registered. Participants are invited to register by Friday, July 6th so appropriate plans can be made for meals, teaching resources and tour logistics.

This program is sponsored by the Nebraska Soybean Board.  It is open to the public.  Cost is free and a lunch and break will be provided. 

If you have any questions, contact:
Lowell Sandell at (402) 472–1527
Stevan Knezevic at the Northeast Research & Extension Center (402) 584–3808
Greg Kruger at the West Central Research & Extension Center (308) 696–6715



Hoegemeyer Hybrids Recognized for Support of the Guard and Reserve

Hoegemeyer Hybrids has been honored with an Above and Beyond Award in recognition of the company’s support of an employee who serves in the Nebraska Army National Guard. The award was recently presented to Hoegemeyer Hybrids by the Nebraska Committee for the Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense, on behalf of the men and women of National Guard and Reserve Forces for outstanding service and continuing support of the National Defense.

Sergeant First Class Matt Thoene of Hooper, a member of the Army National Guard 189th Transportation Company 2nd Detachment in Mead, nominated Hoegemeyer for its support of the Guard and Reserve, and of him and his family. He is employed by Western Integrated Seed, a family owned company recently spun off from Hoegemeyer Hybrids.

In the nomination, Thoene praised the company for how well it supported his service in the Nebraska Army National Guard. During his deployment, company employees checked in with his wife, mowed the family’s lawn and raked their leaves. Thoene said the company has been flexible with letting him take extra time off to take additional training classes to help him advance through the ranks of the National Guard. In addition, the company paid him a performance bonus while he was gone.

“Hoegemeyer Hybrids is proud to support our employees who are giving back to our country through service in our armed forces. They are making a great sacrifice for all of us and we feel it is our honor to help them in any way we can,” says Stephan Becerra, Hoegemeyer general manager.

Presenting the Above and Beyond Award was Major General Charles Zink II (retired).

The Above and Beyond Award is given in limited numbers and recognizes employers at the state and local level who have gone above and beyond the legal requirements for granting leave and providing support for military duty by their employees. It’s a tribute to the leadership of this company.



Engler Program Names Five Scholars

Five College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources students recently were named Engler Scholars in the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Institute of Agricultural and Natural Resources.

The students were designated Engler Scholars and received renewable scholarships of up to $10,000 based on their need and existing scholarships and grants.

The Engler program began in 2010 with a $20 million gift over 10 years from the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation. The purpose of the program is to identify students with the entrepreneurial drive and then foster development of professional skills conducive to success in applying entrepreneurism in agriculture and agribusiness.

Engler scholars are:
-- Logan Peters, freshman animal science major from Pender. Peters, a believer in diversification in his entrepreneurial efforts, currently raises cattle, chickens, field corn, ornamental corn, sweet corn and pumpkins, and also runs a mowing business and a scrap-metal business. Peters said "my diversified businesses are a direct result of my hard work and drive to be a successful entrepreneur. I would hope to gain relationships and experience through the Engler Program so that one day I can own a successful farm business."

-- Steven Fish, freshman agribusiness major from Oxford. Fish began life on a family farm, but when his father switched careers to commodities broker, Fish shifted with him, accompanying him to meetings with bankers, farmers and others. He became a seed salesman in high school and installed seamless gutters in his spare time and currently farms 57 acres of dryland. Fish said, "Through my very diverse background in the agriculture industry I have grown to realize how much money is lost in rural communities from mismanagement. It is my goal and my desire to make rural communities more profitable through a future entrepreneurship. This along with my past experiences is what continues to drive me to continue and I would be very grateful to be part of this program."

-- Travis Schiefelbein, freshman animal science major from Kimball, Minn. Schiefelbein comes from a family of entrepreneurs. He hopes to be the next generation of leadership on the family's farm, continuing its reputation for innovation in breeding and genetics. Schiefelbein said, "I want to increase my skills and use them to build and grow our farm in the same tradition as my grandfather and uncles, who have set such a tremendous example through their own willingness to take calculated risks and embrace cutting edge technology. This is what has helped our farm evolve and grow into the 21st century. They have left large shoes to fill, and I believe that the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program will be able to help me as I attempt to continue to expand and improve the farm. "

-- Dylan Tegtmeier, freshman fisheries and wildlife major from Milford. Tegtmeier grew up on a small acreage, starting his own animal damage control business and also tanning wild fur pelts. He got involved in 4-H as a youth and later became an instructor and volunteer. Tegtmeier said, "They say if you love your job, you'll never feel like you've worked a day in your life. To me, being an entrepreneur and having my own business is the ultimate goal. Involvement with the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program would assist me in achieving this goal. I enjoy being in control of my time and money and I'm comfortable with the risks and rewards that business ownership entail. I know I have a lot to learn and feel the Engler Entrepreneurship Program can assist me in this endeavor."

-- Haley S. Harthoorn, a sophomore agribusiness major from Ainsworth. Harthoorn takes his inspiration from his father, who built a successful swine operation. Haley Harthoorn helped develop Heartland Corn By-products to market wet distillers grains to feedlots, helped establish the Ainsworth Youth Soccer League, worked on developing the Biz Kidz Entrepreneurship Camp and sells crocheted Husker wear. "Two of my passions are agriculture and rural communities. I want to tie these into my career. In my recent business plan, I've created a business that offers consulting to rural communities to create community vision, leadership development, opportunity assessment, and assistance in the framework of community projects. I am so excited to continue this exploration further."



Crop Scouting Cards Now Available

Farmers and crop scouts can identify and keep track of soybean and corn field problems throughout the season by using a new series of  field crop scouting cards. The cards were produced by the Iowa State University (ISU) Integrated Pest Management program with support from the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA). 

The series includes nine scouting cards: early, mid- and late-season soybean scouting; early, mid- and late-season corn scouting; and problem-specific cards for white mold, soybean aphid and stink bugs. As a recordkeeping tool, the cards can be used to keep track of pest problems in specific fields over time, which then can be referenced when making future decisions. Color images and descriptions on disease and pest cards will simplify the identification of crop issues.

“Identifying insects, diseases and other issues is a critical part of making good management decisions in corn and soybean,” says Daren Mueller, ISU Extension plant pathologist. “These publications can be used by crop scouts as a calling card to let the farmer know the field has been scouted and as a record of any problems in the field.”

The scouting cards were developed to complement the Iowa State field guide series. Several publications in the field guide series and the soybean scouting cards were partially funded by ISA through the soybean checkoff.

ISA CEO Kirk Leeds says, “ISA is proud to continue to partner with Iowa State on the production and distribution of these useful scouting guides. For more than 40 years, the soybean checkoff program has been working with leading researchers and extension specialist at ISU to provide Iowa’s farmers the latest agronomic information. These guides are another in a series of joint publications all aimed at helping soybean farmers more effectively manage their soybean acres.”

Scouting cards can be ordered from the ISU Extension Online Store at store.extension.iastate.edu or by calling (515) 294-5247 and requesting the appropriate publication. Copies of the soybean scouting cards can also be obtained by contacting the Iowa Soybean Association at 800-383-1423; pdfs are also available at www.iasoybeans.com/productionresearch/productiontech.html. 



New Publication Helps Farmers Evaluate Low-Temp Grain Drying

Proper management of low-temperature grain drying equipment can reduce the energy consumed on the farm during and after corn harvest. A new publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach explains the management techniques and equipment needs for low-temperature grain drying.

"Energy Considerations for Low-temperature Grain Drying" (PM 2089U) is available to download from the Extension Online Store, https://store.extension.iastate.edu/.

"Low-temperature or natural-air drying typically requires less energy but also more time than high-temperature grain drying" said Mark Hanna, ISU Extension agricultural engineer. "It is important to understand the process and determine if it may be a good fit for your operation given the right conditions."

This publication gives an overview of techniques and equipment for low-temperature grain drying, including bin size, airflow requirements and grain moisture content. Compared to high-temperature grain drying, low-temperature drying may span weeks or months of time. Management considerations are different for each drying method, but when conditions allow, implementing low-temperature drying techniques can help growers reduce fuel bills for grain drying.

"If your facilities include shorter bins with full perforated drying floors, low-temperature drying can reduce grain handling requirements and total energy consumption during harvest," said Shawn Shouse, ISU Extension agricultural engineer. "Consider how to manage your existing drying facilities to reduce energy use and maintain grain quality."

The Farm Energy publications are part of a series of farm energy conservation and efficiency educational materials being developed through the ISU Farm Energy Initiative. The purpose is to increase farmers' awareness of opportunities for improving efficient use of farm energy. The initiative also will help farmers and utility providers to explore opportunities to reduce farm energy demand and to improve overall profitability in a rapidly changing energy environment.



County Cattle Groups Use Many Paths to Reach Consumers

At least 39 county cattlemen's associations in Iowa have worked on one or more beef promotion activity in May. Those activities range from billboards (where many counties cooperate as a group to cover an area) to radio and TV promotions, newspaper and print advertising, grocery store displays, and local events, such as the promotion by the Marion County Cattlemen at the Knoxville Speedway.

"These are important efforts by local cattlemen to talk to their friends and neighbors about the importance of cattle production and the safety and nutrition of their beef product," says Iowa Cattlemens Association CEO Matt Deppe.  He says, "The beef and cattle industry have been in the news the past two months, and it's important that ICA members explain cattle production with as much transparency as people want."



Seminars to focus on business management during World Pork Expo

Eight business seminars will feature the latest in nutrition, herd health, manure management and price risk at World Pork Expo on Wednesday, June 6, and Thursday, June 7. A highlight of the free business-seminar luncheon at noon on both days will be speakers discussing weather and economic outlooks. Expo-goers will find these business seminars and luncheons in the Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

“The best advice I can share regarding World Pork Expo is to carve out more than just one day to take it all in,” says R.C. Hunt, president, NPPC, from Wilson, N.C. “Before and after continuing your education at business seminars, you’ll see the very latest technology on display in the trade show. Add in great food and hospitality, and you’ll have a first-rate experience along with outstanding ideas to take back home.”

Seminars highlight business management
Starting at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Merck Animal Health will sponsor a series of presentations about factors that affect vaccination results, tips for medicating groups of pigs and deworming options. The speakers include three veterinarians who are technical services managers for Merck Animal Health: Tim Kniffen, Jack Creel and Jamie Lehman.

Wednesday afternoon, sponsors Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC and Zinpro Corporation will offer a sow nutrition forum that looks at how to make weaning 30 pigs per sow each year a reality. Gawain Willis, Ph.D., director of nutritional services for Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, will lead a panel discussion including pork producers and nutritionists starting at 3 p.m.

Thursday’s seminars will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a presentation, “Improve your manure from the pit up,” that’s sponsored by SFP. Dave Schwartz, vice president of sales and business development for SFP, will talk about on-farm research that looks at phosphorus and nitrogen availability of manure applied as fertilizer.

Cargill will sponsor a series of three seminars Thursday, starting at 1 p.m. with nutritionist Kevin Touchette, Ph.D., Cargill, presenting ways to manage your nutrition strategy to stay competitive. Nutritionist Douglas R. Cook, Ph.D., Akey, will share research about managing performance with quality-challenged grain, followed by Terry Mahoney, marketing representative, Cargill, presenting new marketing tools for managing price risk.

A free business-seminar luncheon will be offered on both Wednesday and Thursday at noon in the upper level of the Varied Industries Building, courtesy of the Pork Checkoff. The luncheon program will begin at 12:30 p.m. with Elwynn Taylor, Ph.D., Iowa State University, talking about the weather outlook , followed by Steve Meyer, M.S., Paragon Economics, presenting a perspective on the economic outlook.

Business seminar, PORK Academy details are available
More details about these business seminars and free luncheons are available at www.worldpork.org. You’ll also find information there about PORK Academy seminars at World Pork Expo, June 6-7. Sponsored by the National Pork Board, these educational topics will cover the latest about PRRS, feed ingredient availability, export issues and doing what’s right vs. looking for the camera.

World Pork Expo takes place June 6-8 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. More than 450 commercial exhibits will be on display from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, and Thursday, June 7, as well as from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, June 8. The breeding stock sales will continue on Saturday, June 9, from 8 a.m. until they’re completed at approximately noon.



CWT Assists with 5.2 Million Pounds of Cheese and Butter Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 24 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Darigold, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative and United Dairymen of Arizona to sell a total of 1,623 metric tons (3.578 million pounds) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese and 745 metric tons (1.642 million pounds) of butter to customers in Asia, Africa, Central America and the Middle East. The product will be delivered May through November 2012.

In 2012, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 53.8 million pounds, and butter and anhydrous milk fat totaling 44.4 million pounds, to 27 countries on four continents. On a butterfat basis, the milk equivalent of these exports is 1.465 billion pounds, or the same as the annual milk production of 69,800 cows.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by reducing inventories that overhang the market and depress cheese and butter prices. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the farm milk that produces them.

CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidders only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.



USDA Lifts Quarantines on Two Dairies Linked To Mad Cow

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday it is concluding its investigation into a case of mad cow disease and has lifted the quarantines it placed on two California dairy farms linked to the diseased cow.

Investigators have found no evidence that the diseased cow had consumed contaminated feed at the dairy where it was raised, the USDA said, and it has most of the cows that were raised with the animal.

The USDA announced on April 24 the discovery of the diseased cow, the fourth ever found with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, in the U.S. and the first since 2006. The disease can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of tainted meat.

Meat from the cow didn't enter the human food supply, according to the USDA. The carcass was sent to a rendering facility, where it was tested as part of the government's routine monitoring program for mad-cow disease.

Although cattle feed was investigated, USDA officials have said repeatedly they believe the dairy cow contracted an "atypical" form mad-cow disease, meaning it likely didn't acquire it by eating contaminated feed.

Most cases of mad cow disease are contracted by eating contaminated left-over bovine material that has been added to feed to increase protein levels, but in rarer instances the disease is simply "sporadic," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



Dairy Situation and Outlook
Bob Cropp, Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension

The growth in milk production continues to put downward pressure on milk prices. USDA’s estimate of April milk production for the 23 reporting states was 3.3 % higher than a year ago and for the U.S.3.2 % higher. Milk cows which started to increase back in October of 2010 continue to increase with April numbers up 5,000 head from March placing them 1.0% higher than a year ago. Milk per cow also continues relatively strong with April 2.2% higher than a year ago. USDA has now revised upward their milk production for 2012 and don’t expect cow numbers to decline until 2013. Dairy provisions in the 2012 Farm Bill approved by the U.S. Senate Agricultural Committee and now being discussed in the House perhaps are a contributing factor to the continued strong growth in milk production. One of the provisions is margin protection (returns over feed cost) where dairy producers could decide to participate and get a $4 per hundredweight margin protection at no cost on 80% of their highest annual milk production for any of the past 3 years preceding implementation of the program.

States with the leading relative increases in April milk production were Utah at 7.9%, Colorado at 6.8% and Michigan at 6.2%. The 5 leading dairy states, California, Wisconsin, Idaho, New York and Pennsylvania which account for 53% of U.S. milk production all had increases of 3% or higher except for Pennsylvania which experienced a 1.0% decline all due to fewer milk cows. Pennsylvania was the only one of the 23 reporting states that had less milk production. Five Western states, Arizona, California, Idaho, New Mexico and Texas accounted for 53% of the increase in April’s milk production for the U.S. April milk production was also relatively strong in Upper Midwest states with increases of 4.8% for Illinois, 5.6% for Indiana, 3.2% for Iowa, 1.4% for Minnesota and 3.5% for Wisconsin. Even in the Southeast, Florida had a 3.9% increase.

There are some positive signs for domestic sales. Both the Consumer Confidence Index and the Restaurant Traffic Index continue to improve. These are positive signs particularly for cheese sales. U.S. dairy exports also are positive. Export volume and value for March were higher than a year ago due primarily with continued strong sales of cheese, high value whey proteins and lactose. Exports through March compared to a year ago were 5% higher for nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder, 7% for cheese, 9% for lactose, 5% for whey protein concentrates, and 16% for whey protein isolates, but 8% lower for dry whey and 34% lower for butterfat.

But, domestic sales and exports can’t accommodate all of the increase in milk production without lower prices. With fluid (beverage) milk sales continuing to run below year ago levels the increase in milk production needs to go for manufactured dairy products. Compared to a year ago, increases in March dairy product production were: butter 6.4%, cheddar cheese 5.2%, total cheese 3.7%, and nonfat dry milk 49.9%. Stocks of dairy products are building with March 31st stocks of butter 46% higher than a year ago, American cheese stocks 1.8% higher and nonfat dry milk stocks 49.9% higher.

On the CME butter is $1.35 per pound, the lowest since October of 2009. Barrel cheddar has been holding around $1.45 per pound and 40-pound cheddar blocks at $1.50. Western dry whey still holds some strength at $0.46 to $0.53 per pound, but nonfat dry milk has fallen to $1.05 to $1.19 per pound. At these prices the May Class III price will be near $15.20 and the Class IV price near $13.70. Class III futures show a weak recovery staying below $16 for the reminder of the year. Class IV futures don’t reach $14 until September and stay below $15 for the remainder of the year. A much stronger recovery than this for the last half of the year is still possible, but will require a slowdown in milk production along with good domestic sales and exports.



China April Grain Imports Up From Previous Year

China imported 16,441 metric tons of corn in April, a sevenfold surge compared with a year earlier, according to data published Monday by the Hong Kong-based China Customs Statistics Information Center.  The volume is a 97% reduction from a high base in March, when China imported 471,985 tons.  Corn imports in the first four months totaled 1.76 million tons, up 137 times on year, CCS said.

China's soybean imports in April totaled 4.88 million metric tons, up 26% from a year earlier, the General Administration of Customs said Monday.  Confirming preliminary data released earlier this month, Customs said total imports in the first four months totaled 18.15 million tons, up 22% from a year earlier.  China is the world's largest importer of soybeans; it sources most of its supplies from the U.S., Brazil and Argentina.



Missouri Lawmakers Approve 'Ag-Gag' Bill

The Missouri State Senate passed a bill late Thursday aimed at strengthening agriculture law, and while the bill may be a far cry from the 'ag-gag' bill passed by state House of Representatives, it protects many aspects of the state's agricultural industry, including a time limit for reporting photos and video of animal abuse.

According to Pork Network, state Senators voted 25-5 for the final passage of the bill, which contains dozens of separate agricultural measures.

Under the new law, anyone with photos or video of animal abuse or neglect would have 24 hours to report it to law enforcement.

Originally, the bill approved by the state House in April would have criminalized undercover videos and prevented animal rights activists from lying on job applications or using false pretenses to gain access to a livestock farm or facility.

Similar laws were passed in Iowa and Utah this year.