March 28 USDA Reports + Ag News

2013 NEBRASKA PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS

Corn growers in Nebraska intend to plant 9.9 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2013, down 1 percent from last year. If realized, this will represent the second largest planted acreage in Nebraska since 1933, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.  

Soybean growers intend to plant 4.7 million acres, down 7 percent from last year.   Hay acreage for harvest, at 2.7 million acres, is expected to be up 5 percent from last year.

Winter wheat acres seeded last fall totaled 1.45 million acres, up 5 percent from a year earlier.  Sorghum growers expect to plant 220,000 acres, up 52 percent from last year.  Oat intentions are estimated at 135,000 acres, up 80 percent from last year. 

Dry edible bean acreage intentions are estimated at 130,000 acres, down 10 percent from 2012.   Sugarbeet growers expect to plant 43,800 acres, down 14 percent from last year.   Oil sunflower planting intentions are 30,000 acres, down 3,000 acres from last year. Non-oil sunflower area is expected to total 13,000 acres, up 4,500 acres from last year. 

These acreage estimates are based on surveys conducted the first two weeks of March. This report is intended  to assist growers  in  finalizing  their acreage plans  for 2013. Actual area planted may vary from  that  indicated  due  to  farmer’s  final  assessment  of  planting  options,  effects  of  weather, availability of production inputs, and changes in price expectations for the coming crop year.



Iowa Prospective Plantings
The annual Prospective Plantings report published by USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service  is based on the voluntary responses from nearly two thousand Iowa producers.  Data collection began February 27, with final interviews completed on March 19.  This report provides an indication of the acres farmers intend to plant as of March 1.  Actual plantings will depend greatly upon weather, economic conditions and the availability of production inputs at the time producers must make their final planting decisions.

Corn: Iowa farmers intend to plant 14.2 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2013.  This is unchanged from 2012 and if realized, would be 200,000 acres below the record acreage planted in 1981.
 
Soybeans:  Producers in Iowa intend to plant 9.4 million acres of soybeans in Iowa this year, up slightly from 2012.  

Oats: Iowa farmers intend to plant 120,000 acres of oats. This is 10,000 acres less than producers planted in 2012.

Hay: Iowa farmers intend to harvest 1.10 million acres of hay in 2013. If realized, it would be 40,000 acres below the record low acreage harvested in 2011 and 2012.



USDA Prospective Plantings

Corn Planted Acreage Up Slightly from 2012
Soybean Acreage Down Slightly
All Wheat Acreage Up 1 Percent
All Cotton Acreage Down 19 Percent

Corn growers intend to plant 97.3 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2013, up slightly from last year and 6 percent higher than in 2011. If realized, this will represent the highest planted acreage in the United States since 1936 when an estimated 102 million acres were planted.

Soybean planted area for 2013 is estimated at 77.1 million acres, down slightly from last year but the fourth highest on record, if realized. Compared with 2012, planted area is down across the Great Plains with the exception of North Dakota. Nebraska and Minnesota are expecting the largest declines compared with last year, while Illinois and North Dakota are expecting the largest increases.

All wheat planted area for 2013 is estimated at 56.4 million acres, up 1 percent from 2012. The 2013 winter wheat planted area, at 42.0 million acres, is 2 percent above last year and up slightly from the previous estimate. Of this total, about 28.9 million acres are Hard Red Winter, 9.67 million acres are Soft Red Winter, and 3.39 million acres are White Winter. Area planted to other spring wheat for 2013 is expected to total 12.7 million acres, up 3 percent from 2012. Of this total, about 12.1 million acres are Hard Red Spring wheat. The intended Durum planted area for 2013 is estimated at 1.75 million acres, down 18 percent from the previous year.

All cotton planted area for 2013 is expected to total 10.0 million acres, 19 percent below last year. Upland area is expected to total 9.82 million acres, down 19 percent from 2012. American Pima area is expected to total 206,000 acres, down 14 percent from 2012.



Sidebar:  USDA Expects Record-High Combined Corn and Soybean Acreage

Determined to make up for a crop that was adversely affected by historic drought last year, U.S. farmers intend to plant a record-high combined 174.4 million acres of corn and soybeans in 2013, according to the Prospective Plantings report released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). If realized, corn will represent the highest planted acreage in the United States since 1936 (102 million planted acres) and for soybeans the fourth highest acreage on record.

Corn growers intend to plant 97.3 million acres in 2013, up for the fifth consecutive year, slightly higher than last year and 6 percent higher than in 2011. With expected returns for corn historically high going into 2013, producers throughout the south and the northern Great Plains intend to plant more corn. Record high corn acreage is expected in Arizona, Idaho, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota and Oregon. Conversely, most states in the Corn Belt which experienced severe drought in 2012 expect to plant slightly less acres to corn in 2013. The largest year-over-year decreases are expected in Illinois, Missouri and South Dakota. Iowa continues to lead the nation with 14.2 million acres of corn.

Farmers in some areas of the country remain challenged by persistent drought conditions which is limiting the amount of expected soybean acreage in some states. Therefore, nationally 77.1 million acres of soybeans are expected to be planted, down slightly from last year but up 3 percent from 2011. Compared with 2012, planting intentions are down across all of the Great Plains, with the exception of North Dakota. The year-over-year national decrease is only 72,000 acres. With planted area in most of the eastern Corn Belt and parts of the Southeast expected to rise, these increases nearly balance out the declines in the Great Plains. If realized, farmers in New York, North Dakota and Pennsylvania will also set new records for planted soybean acres.

Also affected by difficult weather conditions, U.S. cotton growers expect to plant significantly fewer acres in 2013. The expected cotton area this year is 10.0 million acres, down 19 percent from last year. If realized, planted area in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma will be a record low. As of March 24, cotton planting in Texas was 3 percent complete, 5 percentage points behind last year and 2 percentage points behind the 5-year average.

Prospective Plantings provides the first official, survey based estimates of U.S. farmers’ 2013 planting intentions. NASS’s acreage estimates are based on surveys conducted during the first two weeks of March from a sample of more than 83,500 farm operators across the United States.



NEBRASKA MARCH 1, 2013 GRAIN STOCKS

Corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 590 million bushels, down 14 percent from March 1, 2012, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Of the total, 285 million bushels are stored on farms, down 19 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 305 million bushels, are down 9 percent from last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 70.9 million bushels, down 42 percent from last year. On-farm stocks are 20.5 million bushels, down 36 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 50.4 million bushels, are down 44 percent from 2012. 

Wheat stored in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 37.2 million bushels, down 3 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks of 1.6 million are down 33 percent from 2012. Off-farm stocks of 35.6 million bushels are down 1 percent from last year. 

Sorghum stored in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 2.8 million bushels, down 57 percent from 2012 and the lowest level since the data series began in 1957. On-farm stocks are 400,000 bushels, down 69 percent from last year. Off-farm stocks, at 2.4 million bushels, are 54 percent below last year.



Iowa Grain Stocks

Iowa corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 1.05 billion  bushels,  18  percent  less  than  last  year  and  the  lowest March 1 stocks since 1998.  Of the total stocks, 53 percent were stored on-farm.   The December 2012 - February 2013  indicated disappearance  totaled  510 million bushels,  23 percent  less  than the 666 million bushels used during the same period last year.

Iowa soybeans stored in all positions on March 1, 2013  totaled 208  million  bushels,  down  30  percent  from  the  295  million bushels on hand March 1, 2012.   Of  the total stocks, 43 percent were stored on-farm.  Indicated disappearance for the December 2012 - February 2013 period was 130 million bushels, 2 percent more  than the 128 million bushels used during  the same quarter last year.

Iowa oat stocks stored in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 2.78  million  bushels,  down  64  percent  from  the  7.8  million bushels on hand March 1, 2012.   Of  the  total stocks, 36 percent were stored on-farm.



USDA Grain Stocks

Corn Stocks Down 10 Percent from March 2012
Soybean Stocks Down 27 Percent
All Wheat Stocks Up 3 Percent

Corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 5.40 billion bushels, down 10 percent from March 1, 2012. Of the total stocks, 2.67 billion bushels are stored on farms, down 16 percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 2.73 billion bushels, are down 4 percent from a year ago. The December 2012 - February 2013 indicated disappearance is 2.63 billion bushels, compared with 3.62 billion bushels during the same period last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 999 million bushels, down 27 percent from March 1, 2012. Soybean stocks stored on farms are estimated at 457 million bushels, down 18 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 543 million bushels, are down 34 percent from last March. Indicated disappearance for the December 2012 - February 2013 quarter totaled 967 million bushels, down 3 percent from the same period a year earlier.

All wheat stored in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 1.23 billion bushels, up 3 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks are estimated at 237 million bushels, up 9 percent from last March. Off-farm stocks, at 997 million bushels, are up 2 percent from a year ago. The December 2012 - February 2013 indicated disappearance is 436 million bushels, down 6 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Durum wheat stocks in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 42.4 million bushels, up 18 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks, at 21.4 million bushels, are up 20 percent from March 1, 2012. Off-farm stocks totaled 21.0 million bushels, up 17 percent from a year ago. The December 2012 - February 2013 indicated disappearance of 18.6 million bushels is up 52 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Barley stocks in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 116 million bushels, up 24 percent from March 1, 2012. On-farm stocks are estimated at 35.2 million bushels, 33 percent above a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 81.2 million bushels, are 21 percent above March 2012. The December 2012 - February 2013 indicated disappearance totaled 41.7 million bushels, 8 percent below the same period a year earlier.

Oats stored in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 52.6 million bushels, 30 percent below the stocks on March 1, 2012. Of the total stocks on hand, 18.9 million bushels are stored on farms, down 4 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks totaled 33.7 million bushels, down 39 percent from the previous year. Indicated disappearance during December 2012 - February 2013 totaled 20.6 million bushels, up 374 percent from the same period a year ago.

Grain sorghum stored in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 91.4 million bushels, down 15 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks, at 10.9 million bushels, are down 15 percent from last March. Off-farm stocks, at 80.5 million bushels, are down 15 percent from a year earlier. The December 2012 - February 2013 indicated disappearance from all positions is 48.5 million bushels, up 13 percent from the same period last year.

Sunflower stocks in all positions on March 1, 2013 totaled 1.19 billion pounds, up 31 percent from March 1, 2012. All stocks stored on farms totaled 574 million pounds and off-farm stocks totaled 621 million pounds. Stocks of oil type sunflower seed are 1.00 billion pounds; of this total, 503 million pounds are on-farm stocks and 499 million pounds are off-farm stocks. Non-oil sunflower stocks totaled 192 million pounds, with 70.4 million pounds stored on the farm and 122 million pounds stored off the farm.



NEBRASKA HOG INVENTORY DOWN 3 PERCENT

Nebraska inventory of all hogs and pigs on  March 1, 2013, was 3.0 million head, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.  This was down 3 percent from March 1, 2012, but unchanged from December 1, 2012.  Breeding hog inventory, at 390,000 head, was unchanged from March 1, 2012, but up 3 percent from last quarter.  Market hog inventory, at 2.61 million head, was down 4 percent from last year, and down slightly from last quarter.  

The December 2012-February 2013 Nebraska pig crop, at 1.79 million head, was down 2 percent from 2012.  Sows farrowing during the period totaled 170,000 head, down 3 percent from last year.  The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.50 for the December-February period, compared to 10.40 last year.

Nebraska hog producers intend to farrow 180,000 sows during the March-May 2013 quarter, unchanged from the actual farrowings during the same period a year ago.  Intended farrowings for June-August 2013 are 175,000 sows, up 3 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period the previous year.  


 
Iowa Hogs & Pigs

On  March  1,  2013  there  were  20.3  million  hogs  and  pigs  on  Iowa  farms  according  to  the  latest  USDA  National Agricultural Statistics Service Hogs and Pigs report.  The March 1 inventory was down slightly from December 2012 but up 3 percent from a year ago.

The December 2012-February 2013 pig crop was 5.02 million head.   A total of 485,000 sows farrowed with an average litter size of 10.35 pigs per sow.

As of March 1, producers planned to farrow 500,000 head of sows and gilts in the March-May 2013 quarter. Farrowing intentions for the June-August 2013 period were estimated at 490,000 as of March 1, 2013.



United States Hog Inventory Up 1 Percent

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2013 was 65.9 million head. This was up 1 percent fromMarch 1, 2012, but down 1 percent from December 1, 2012.  Breeding inventory, at 5.83 million head, was up slightly from last year, and up slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 60.1 million head, was up 2 percent from last year, but down 1 percent from last quarter.

The December 2012-February 2013 pig crop, at 29.0 million head, was up 2 percent from 2012. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.88 million head, up 1 percent from 2012. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 49 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was a record high 10.08 for the December-February period, compared to 9.97 last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 7.50 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 10.10 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

United States hog producers intend to have 2.96 million sows farrow during the March-May 2013 quarter, down 1 percent from the actual farrowings during the same period in 2012, but up 1 percent from 2011. Intended farrowings for June-August 2013, at 2.91 million sows, are down 1 percent from 2012, and down 1 percent from 2011.

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 47 percent of the total United States hog inventory, unchanged from last year.



Festival to teach 4th graders about agriculture

As communities continue to urbanize, youth are losing touch with Nebraska’s greatest resource - agriculture.  The upcoming ag awareness festival provides hands-on education that will help 4th-graders learn about where food comes from and the role agriculture plays in their daily lives.

The festival will be held on April 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln.  Over 450 students from 8 area schools will attend the event.

While at the festival, students will learn about beef, dairy, grains, swine, horses, sheep, goats, and Nebraska’s important role in agriculture.  Presentations focus on production, technology, and products. The sessions are intended to increase youth understanding and awareness about agricultural concepts.    

The Lincoln festival started in 2001 in conjunction with a festival that has been taking place at UNL's Agricultural Research and Development (ARDC) near Mead, Nebraska since 1996.   The ARDC festival educates youth from Douglas, Saunders, and Dodge Counties each year in the fall.   

To date, over 17,000 children have attended the festivals sponsored by the Ag Awareness Coalition (Over 4,600 of those attending have been at the Lincoln festival).

The Ag Awareness Coalition and sponsorship consists of Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom, Douglas County Farm Bureau, Gifford Farm Education Center, Midwest Dairy Association, Nebraska AgRelations Council , Nebraska Agri Business Club, Nebraska Beef Council, Nebraska Corn Development, Utilization and Marketing Board, Nebraska Pork Producers Association, Nebraska Soybean Board, Omaha Agribusiness Club, Papillion Grange No. 401, University of Nebraska Agricultural Research and Development Center, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Saunders, Lancaster and Douglas/Sarpy Counties.



Early Graze to Control Weeds in Native Pastures
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Have you noticed any green-up in your pastures? This usually is a good sign, except when the green is weeds in warm-season grasses. Stick around to talk about control measures.

Early weeds should be controlled in warm-season grass pastures. Weeds remove moisture that could be used for grass growth later on and they remove valuable nutrients from the soil. Early weeds also can develop so much growth that they can shade, smother, and reduce early growth of your pasture grasses.

Herbicides and prescribed burning can control many early weeds, but I think another method actually is better -- grazing. Heavy, pre-season grazing costs you nothing. In fact, you get some feed from these weeds while herbicides or burning would only kill and remove growth. Plus, this early pasture might be especially valuable this spring. It may save you from feeding expensive hay and let you wait before turning out onto pastures stressed from last year's drought.

Pre-season grazing will not harm your summer grass -- provided you stop grazing before new grass shoots get more than a couple inches tall. This usually doesn't occur until late April or early May in southern Nebraska and slightly later as we move farther north. Early, pre-season grazing of warm-season grass also removes some old growth from last year, which starts recycling nutrients trapped in dead plant tissue. In fact, about the only bad news about early, pre-season grazing is you have to get fences and water ready earlier, you need to move animals to the pasture, and you won't completely kill out these weeds in one year.

Funny thing, though. These so-called weeds might actually make pretty timely and valuable pasture. Give pre-season grazing a try, I think you'll like it.



Filing Deadline for NSB District Election is April 15th

April 15th is the deadline for filing a candidacy petition to run for a seat on the Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB).  If you live in one of the Districts listed below, a soybean producer in Nebraska for the past five years and are 21 years of age or older, you are invited to run for election by filing a candidacy petition by the April 15, 2013 deadline.  This exciting opportunity will take you places you’ve never been before to see for yourself how the soybean checkoff money is invested, and become a part of the decision making.   You will become a VOICE representing your District on the board.

District seats open are:
District 2:    Counties Burt, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Stanton, Thurston and Wayne.
District 4:    Counties of Boone, Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk and York.
District 8:    Counties of Arthur, Banner, Blaine, Box Butte, Brown, Chase, Cherry, Cheyenne, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dundy,  Frontier, Furnas, Garden, Garfield, Gosper, Grant, Greeley, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Howard, Keith, Keya Paha, Kimball, Lincoln, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Perkins, Phelps, Red Willow, Rock, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sherman, Sioux, Thomas, Valley and Wheeler.
What you must do to become a prospective candidate is collect the signatures of 50 soybean producers in your district using an official Nebraska Soybean Board Candidacy Petition and return such petition to the Nebraska Soybean Board office on or before April 15, 2013, to be eligible for placement on the ballot. To obtain a candidacy petition, contact Victor Bohuslavsky at the Nebraska Soybean Board by calling 402-432-5720.

The deadline is approaching so call Victor today!



Pork Consumers' Desires Drive On-Farm Evolution

What do records, eight-tracks, cassette tapes and CDs have in common? The simple answer is they all represent a way in which we listened, or in some cases still listen, to music; but more than that, each was cutting edge technology in the music industry at one point in time. Records are great, but you can't play them in your car, much less strap them to your arm for a morning run. CDs are nice, but when you can put thousands of songs on an MP3 player, they feel a little cumbersome to drag along. The evolution of the music industry highlights how consumer wants and needs change over time and how technology has helped meet those demands. Change is inevitable and no one is immune from its influence, including farmers and ranchers.

Jim Pillen, a third generation pork producer from Columbus, Neb. and a member of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, knows this lesson well. The evolution of pig farming might not be as visible to the average person, but the changes on the Pillen farm over generations are more than on par with evolutions in the music industry.

"I'm guessing most people would be surprised to learn the primary reason for raising pigs in Nebraska wasn't always for food. When my granddad returned home after World War I, he started raising pigs because he needed lard and soap. Protein was looked at as a secondary benefit of raising pigs," Pillen said.

As America's population and its demand for meat grew, the focus of the pig on farms shifted from role of utility player to primary protein source.

"The growing demand for pork as protein changed everything, from the way we viewed the pig to how it was raised. What you see on our farms today is a direct result of what the market place has told us it has wanted over the years," Pillen said. Chief among the changes sought by pork consumers was the desire for a leaner type of pork. A product you can't simply generate overnight or without some very specific changes in the way in which the pigs are bred and raised.

"As we've become more health conscious as a society, people wanted less fat in their diet, which means we needed our pigs to also be leaner and less fatty. We've done that through selective breeding. The off-shoot is that pigs with less fat can't survive temperature extremes, particularly harsh winters. That's one of the primary reasons people see pigs being raised inside climate controlled buildings today," he said.

The other key to raising a leaner pig is health and nutrition, something that is considerably easier to manage in a more controlled environment.

"If you want to be lean you watch what you eat. We do the same with the pigs. The use of technology combined with buildings and individual stalls, gives us the ability to ensure each animal is getting the proper nutrition and care. That's how we are able to provide the leaner product consumers are wanting," Pillen said.

For all the changes made on the Pillen's farm to meet the needs of consumers, what's more impressive is the fact that those changes haven't led to a shortage of meat protein in grocery store coolers or sacrificing in other important areas. Pillen credits that to farmer's long-term focus on sustainability and efficiency in their ability to "make more food with less."

"Over the last 50 years we've been able to raise 80 percent more pigs using 40 percent less land and 40 percent less water. We've been able to do that while helping put leaner cuts of pork on the dinner table. When you think about what we've been able to accomplish from a carbon footprint standpoint, it's really an amazing story," said Pillen.

For those wondering if farmers and ranchers are really paying attention to the wants and needs of their customers, the story of the Pillen family and others like them should be music to your ears...no matter what technology you use to listen.

Pork today is very lean and shouldn't be overcooked. To check doneness, use a digital cooking thermometer. The National Pork Board follows the guidance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which recommends cooking roasts, tenderloins and chops to an internal temperature of 145° F, followed by a 3 minute rest time, resulting in a flavorful, tender and juicy eating experience. Ground pork, like all ground meat, should be cooked to 160° F. Pre-cooked ham can be reheated to 140° F or enjoyed cold.



Scholarship Deadline April 1 for UNL Crop Science Camp

Youths interested in science, agriculture, plants, crops, insects, or diseases will appreciate the Crop Science Investigation (CSI) Big Red Camp to be held June 9-12 at UNL.

Students in grades 10-12 will work with agricultural professionals from across Nebraska to conduct experiments in nutrient management, disease management, insect and weed problems, water management, and crop production. They will practice science, problem-solving, and crop science investigative skills while learning about plants and bioscience.

Participants will also learn about the variety of agricultural careers available to them, including being an agricultural communicators, agronomist, crop consultant, crop insurance adjuster, educator, co-op manager, farmer, rancher, farm credit banker, field or lab researcher, plant breeder, soil or water conservationist, and seed, fertilizer, or chemical sales person.

Scholarship Applications
The cost for the camp is $400, but scholarships are available to help defray costs. To apply complete the 2013 Big Red Summer Academic Camp Scholarship Application and submit it along with your completed registration materials, two short essays (below), and a check for the full registration fee, postmarked by April 1, 2013. (See scholarship application details.) Winners will be notified by April 19 and will receive a refund when they arrive at camp. Scholarships are for camp registration fees only and do not cover the cost of transportation or other expenses.

Registration
The camp is limited to 15 participants to provide hands-on learning experiences and small group interactions with ag professionals. Registrations postmarked by April 1 are $400, from April 1-May 1, $450, and May 1-15, $500. Registrations will not be accepted after May 15.

To register or download a camp brochure, visit BigRedCamps.unl.edu. If you have questions about the camp or the required essays, please contact Brandy VanDeWalle at brandy.vandewalle@unl.edu or 402-759-3712.



Tickets to Cattlemen's Ball in Paxton Selling Fast

Even though the 2013 Cattlemen's Ball is more than 60 days away, tickets are going fast.  In fact, about 1,000 of the 4,000 available tickets have already been sold—and the pace is picking up.   As in the past, Cattlemen's Ball officials expect to sell out well in advance of the event.

The 2013 Cattlemen’s Ball will take place June 7th and 8th on the Hanging H Ranch on U.S. Highway 30 east of Paxton, Nebraska. This year's event is co-hosted by the Ralph and Beverly Holzfaster family and the Neal Hansen family. The Cattlemen’s Ball is the state’s premier fundraiser for the fight against cancer, with 100% of the dollars raised staying in Nebraska.  This year's theme is "On the Trail to a Cure."

Top Hand tickets are $75 each and include all events beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, including entertainment, auctions, fashion show, prime rib dinner, concert performance by country music legends Lone Star and a post-concert dance.  Trail Boss tickets are $350 per person and include a Friday night reception, auction, and dance as well as a Saturday champagne brunch, Saturday luncheon and other special activities.  Tickets in each category are limited and available on a first-served basis.

"You don't have to be a cowboy or dress up to attend the Cattlemen's Ball," said Tim Holzfaster of Paxton.  "Everyone has been touched by cancer in some way—and that's why everyone is invited to attend and help us raise funds for cancer research."

The Cattlemen’s Ball is hosted by a different Nebraska ranch or feedlot every year.  Its mission is to raise money for cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, while showcasing rural Nebraska and promoting beef as part of a healthy diet.  Since its inception, the Cattlemen’s Ball has raised more than $6.3 million.  In addition to providing funds to the Eppley Cancer Center, a portion of the funds is also targeted for local healthcare organizations.

For information and to purchase tickets online, visit www.cattlemensball.com.  Tickets may also be purchased at Adams Bank & Trust in Ogallala, Nebraska, or by calling 308.284.7883.



Registration Now Open for Iowa Swine Day 2013

Building on its successful return to Iowa State University last year, the 2013 version of Iowa Swine Day has a new format and plenty of information for pork industry members. Professor of animal science John Patience said registration for the Thursday, June 27 event is now open.

“Those who register by the early deadline of June 14 will pay $60 – that’s $20 off the full registration fee – and students of any age can attend for just $25,” Patience said. “The fee includes lunch, refreshment breaks and a copy of the conference notebook.”

The day begins with registration at 7:30 a.m. and the welcome at 9 a.m. The morning plenary session features four speakers in Benton Auditorium. Following lunch, attendees will choose from 14 breakout sessions organized into three concurrent tracks: sustaining the global competitiveness of the American pork industry, utilizing human resources most effectively in pork production and what’s new at Iowa State University. The day’s activities will conclude about 5:15 p.m.

The Iowa Swine Day program agenda, links to registration forms and sponsor list are available on the event website, http://www.aep.iastate.edu/iowaswineday/.

Patience, who co-chairs the event with Ken Stalder and Butch Baker of the Iowa Pork Industry Center, said the planning group has worked diligently to learn about information needs and how best to address those needs through the program, which is set in the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center in Ames. Program planning partners are IPIC, Iowa State animal science department, Iowa Pork Producers Association and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

“We consulted with industry representatives to learn what they’d like included in the program and have put together a first rate program of speakers and topics,” Patience said. “Session topics include employee engagement, global success in swine production, success with group housing of sows, effects of heat stress on pig productivity and understanding the impact of the replacement gilt on system health.”

The program has been approved by the Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine for two scientific credits and four management credits.



Do I Really Want to Maximize Feed Efficiency?

The measures of efficiency, performance and, ultimately, success will look different on every farm. According to Dr. John Patience at Iowa State University, applied swine nutrition professor with Iowa State University, this philosophy applies to feed efficiency.

"Feed efficiency is worth a lot of money to us," Patience said, but warned that using feed efficiency as the only target is a dangerous strategy. That's because this metric is influenced by many factors: feed composition (energy content, amino acid concentration, nutrient balance, gross deficiencies in other nutrients, feed processing and feed additives), environmental factors (temperature, health status and access to feed), and the pig itself (growth rate, protein-to-lipid ratio, starting and final weight and mortality rates).

"All of these factors play a role, and if we look at feed efficiency in isolation, we can draw some conclusions that don't take us where we want to be," said Patience.

Patience suggested that caloric efficiency might be a more accurate measurement as long as the pigs are healthy. That's because healthy pigs eat more feed and, even if they are consuming a lower energy diet, healthy pigs can maintain growth rates. With that in mind, Patience recommended producers turn their attention toward energy content.

"Energy is a really tough component of the diet to understand," Patience said. "It is the major component of pig diets and deserves much more attention than it is getting."

First, consider that not all energy sources are equal. For example, lipids have 90-percent efficiency when it comes to body lipid deposition. In contrast, starch shows 74-percent efficiency and fiber drops to 62-percent efficiency. To evaluate the energy value of a feed, you must consider how easily the animal will be able to turn that into fat or muscle. Also remember that changing the level of energy in the diet often results in changes in carcass quality.

Next, think about whether your goal is to maintain or to lay down protein or lipid. One-third of the energy a pig consumes is used for maintenance and only 20 percent drives lean gain. Thus, when considering caloric efficiency, it's important to consider how you can maximize maintenance efficiency by limiting stress.

Look at how you can decrease social stressors through pen management and limit disease challenges through tightened biosecurity programs.

Also evaluate the pig's thermal comfort. As Patience pointed out, "Every single degree makes a difference," and animal health plays a big role in thermal comfort. Metabolizing feed generates heat, but sick pigs eat less feed. As a result, they do not generate as much heat and become even more chilled.

Finally, Patience reminded producers that pigs reach a point where increased energy does not equate to increased growth rates and this point is different on every farm.

"Daily energy intake varies widely among farms," he said. "It is critical for individuals to know daily energy on a farm-to-farm basis."



ASA Details Impact of Continuing Resolution on Soybean Farmers

In response to the signing into law of the Continuing Resolution (CR) by President Barack Obama yesterday, the American Soybean Association (ASA) has examined the ramifications for soybean farmers contained in the measure, which funds the federal government through the end of the 2013 fiscal year on September 30.

“This was a large piece of legislation with many different aspects affecting many different industries. While it’s only a temporary extension for the next six months, it was necessary for us to step back and look at exactly which programs soybean farmers use most will be impacted,” said ASA President Danny Murphy, a soybean farmer from Canton, Miss.

Sequestration
While the sequestration is separate from the CR, Congress allowed sequestration to stand, resulting in an across-the-board reduction in funding for most federal programs by 5.2 percent This follows the Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011, which placed caps on each of the annual appropriations bills through 2021, including the Agricultural Appropriations bill. Additionally, the CR includes an additional 2.5 percent cut in discretionary spending that USDA will have to carry out before the end of FY13.

Research
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), a priority for ASA, was not only funded in the CR, but it was one of the few programs for which funding was increased. The program is now funded at $274.8 million, $10 million more than in FY2012. As a discretionary program, however, AFRI will be subject to USDA’s 2.5 percent reduction within the next six months. Appropriations for research at land-grant universities (often called "capacity funding"), which fund ARS and extension activities, all suffered a cut of 7.61 percent from last year's funding levels.

Conservation
The CR restores funding to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), but reduces the cap on acreage enrolled in the program this year by 740,000 acres. Following the reduction, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will enroll only 12 million acres in the program in FY2013. This was a priority for ASA within the larger discussion of budget constraints and farm programs.

Regulatory
The CR included an amendment introduced by Sens. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) that postpones the enforcement date for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) specifications, which would have required that oil storage facilities with a capacity of over 1,320 gallons make structural improvements to reduce the possibility of oil spills. The plan requires farmers to construct a containment facility, like a dike or a basin, which must retain 110 percent of the fuel in the container.

The rule is now postponed until the end of FY13 on Sept. 30. ASA strongly supported this postponement and is supporting legislation that would adjust the minimum capacity upward to 10,000 gallons while the aggregate level on a production facility would move to 42,000 gallons. The proposal would also place a greater degree of responsibility on the farmer or rancher to self-certify compliance if it exceeds the exemption level.

Biotechnology
Also included in the CR was the ASA-supported Farmer Assurance Provision, language that states farmers may continue to plant seeds bearing traits that have been deregulated by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) without threat of disruption as a result of court decisions. The provision addresses the potential for protracted delays in commercializing new traits pending court-ordered environmental impact reviews. Finally, the provision only applies to biotech traits that have completed the required regulatory review process, and does not restrict the right to challenge USDA’s determination that a trait does not pose a plant pest risk.

Livestock
Finally, ASA welcomes provisions included in the CR that shift funding within USDA to ensure the continuation of inspections of packinghouses and slaughterhouses, averting potential furloughs for the nation’s meat inspectors and the resulting shut-down of slaughterhouses and processing plants that would have very negatively affected the livestock industry. More than 98 percent of the soybean meal produced in the U.S. goes to the livestock sector in the form of animal feed, and disruptions within that industry adversely impact soybean farmers as well.



Congress on Two-Week Spring Recess
(from NAWG)

Members of Congress are in their districts this week and next for a spring recess over the Passover and Easter holidays. The Senate is scheduled to be back in session on April 8, with the House back on April 9. NAWG encourages farmer-leaders to meet with their Members of Congress during recess to discuss priorities including the ongoing farm bill process.

Both Chambers Pass FY2014 Budget Resolutions; Obama Proposal Delayed
Both chambers of Congress passed budget resolutions before leaving town, with the Senate approving its first budget in four years early Saturday morning on a 50-49 vote. The House plan was passed 221-207 earlier in the week. As the vote totals indicate, both measures were largely partisan documents, though their passage is a step toward regular order for the Congressional budgeting and appropriations processes and a sign of some willingness to compromise on overall federal spending. Word came Thursday that the Obama Administration is planning to send its budget proposal to Capitol Hill on April 10. Typically, the president’s proposal goes to the Hill in early February, but this year’s product has been delayed in part because of uncertainty about sequestration cuts.



Chinese Pork Producers Anticipate Loss for 2013

After two consecutive years of prosperity, many Chinese hog producers are anticipating a loss for 2013. As a result of higher feed prices in the past year, hog margins have slowly eroded to a point where many producers will be lucky this year to end up in the black. A U.S. Grains Council team spent much of this week speaking with village level swine producers. Many told the Council it currently costs them 12-13 RMB per kilogram (around 91 cents per pound) to produce a hog to market weight, while the Chinese packer will give them around 12-15 RMB per kilo (about 99 centers per pound) for a live hog. According to the Agricultural Marketing Service, on March 25, the weighted average live hog price for Iowa/Minnesota was quoted at 54 cents per pound.

This is a much different market, compared to the summer of 2011, when live hog prices peaked at around 20 RMB per kilogram ($1.47/pound). One farrow to finish operator in Yunnan province, who has capacity for about 100 sows, told the Council that in 2011 he made RMB 300,000 ($48,000) to distribute amongst his family and one employee. In 2012 he made RMB 100,000 ($16,000). This year, he is projecting a loss of about RMB 50,000 ($8,000). As a result, many producers are drawing down inventories and culling sows to reduce cost. "China will continue to have large swings in the hog price cycle because, despite rapid modernization of the industry, a majority of China's pork still comes from smaller-sized farrow-to-finish operations which tend to adjust inventories more quickly as prices change," said Dr. Bryan Lohmar, USGC director in China.

Kevin Roepke, manager of global trade for the Council, accompanied the team and agreed with Dr. Lohmar. "Although Chinese swine producers have seen better days, this certainly isn't the time to get bearish on Chinese agriculture—in fact, just the opposite. Many producers are positioning themselves to rapidly build their herds back up once grain prices moderate and hog margins recover. This industry is a sleeping giant."

The rapidly evolving Chinese swine industry is a case study in change with many parallels to the general pattern of rising incomes and new development associated with China. All throughout the rural (and semi-rural) areas, hog farms dot the landscape. Many farmers started out with 2-3 sows in their backyard, feeding table scraps and feed concentrates. In less than a decade, they have quickly grown to 100-150 sow operations, with complete feed rations. This rapid growth in feed demand bodes well for long term opportunities for U.S. feed grains, and the Council continues to work closely with Chinese producers to build capacity.



Program Provides Export Market Information for Corn Hybrids

Farmers looking for information about the approval status of U.S.-grown corn hybrids in certain export markets now have access to the most current data through the National Corn Growers Association's Know Before Your Grow program. Recently updated, Know Before Your Grow, featured on the association's website, provides a comprehensive look at this vital information in an easily accessible format.

"It's important for farmers and others to know where they can find good markets for their corn," said NCGA Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team Chair Jim Zimmerman. "Each year, we update our database so growers can stay informed and plan ahead. It's also a valuable tool for others who want or need to track which markets are accepting a certain corn hybrid."

Know Before You Grow stems from NCGA's firm commitment to the principle that U.S.-grown biotech hybrids not intended for some export markets should not be placed into export channels. Because not all hybrids are approved for all export market uses, corn growers who are selling into sensitive markets like wet millers should select hybrids with the full knowledge of whether they are conventional, fully approved for export to major markets or not yet fully approved for those markets.

Growers should read their grower agreements before planting and communicate with their grain buyers. This is why NCGA works with technology providers to publicize regular updates on the approval status of these events. Regardless of export status, there is an ample market for U.S. biotech corn.

http://www.ncga.com/for-farmers/know-before-you-grow



Oil Above $97, Natural Gas Falls Back

(AP) -- The price of oil rose above $97 a barrel Thursday for the first time in five weeks, boosted by gains in U.S. stock markets and more signs of a strengthening economy.

Benchmark oil for May delivery gained 65 cents to close at $97.23 a barrel in New York. Oil has gained nearly $5 per barrel in the past week, driven by encouraging economic indicators.

U.S. stocks set another record Thursday, as the Standard & Poor's 500 topped the closing high it set before the recession. The government said the U.S. economy grew at 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter, up from a previous estimate of 0.1 percent growth. And analysts think the economy is growing at a rate of around 2.5 percent in the current January-March quarter, which ends this week.

Oil's gains haven't yet factored into pump prices. The average price for a gallon of gas is $3.645, down from $3.65 a day earlier. Gas is now on average about 27 cents cheaper than a year ago.

Meanwhile the price of natural gas retreated, a day after it closed above $4 for the first time since Sept. 14, 2011. Natural gas futures fell 4 cents to end at $4.02 per 1,000 cubic feet. Natural gas has risen 67 cents, or 20 percent, this year as colder weather and greater use of natural gas for power generation have helped whittle away at a large surplus of the fuel in the U.S.

Brent crude, used to price many kinds of oil imported by U.S. refineries, was down 33 cents to finish at $109.38 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

In other energy futures trading on the Nymex:
_ Wholesale gasoline fell 1 cent to end at $3.11 a gallon.
_ Heating oil was flat at $2.92 a gallon.



Initiative Promotes Animal Well-Being

Reaffirming its strong commitment to animal care and well-being, the National Pork Producers Council this week joined with the National Pork Board, the dairy industry and the Center for Food Integrity – a not-for-profit corporation that builds consumer trust and confidence in today’s food system – to launch an initiative to encourage the immediate reporting of animal abuse, neglect, mishandling or harm.

The “See It? Stop It!” initiative provides tools for farms to affirm that proper animal care is the responsibility of all employees and that animal abuse is not acceptable or tolerated. Farm workers will be encouraged to report abuse.

“Animal well-being always has been the top priority of pork producers,” said NPPC President Randy Spronk, a producer from Edgerton, Minn. “The ‘See It? Stop It!’ initiative confirms that commitment and is a way to let animal caretakers know that it’s their moral responsibility to speak up to stop any animal abuse.”

In fact, as a condition of employment, many pork operations require workers to sign policy documents that confirm their roles and responsibilities for animal care, including the reporting of any animal abuse they witness. Such policies usually include disciplinary action, including termination, for failure to report abuse.

The initiative is an adjunct to the pork industry’s “We Care” program, which promotes pork producers’ long-standing commitment to responsible pork production and to continuous improvement in animal care, handling and transportation. It also bolsters the Pork Quality Assurance® (PQA) Plus® program, which outlines best practices for proper animal care, and the Transport Quality Assurance program, which certifies people who transport hogs in proper care and handling methods.

“I’ve been a pork producer for a long time, and I know for a fact that the overwhelming majority of producers and farm workers do what’s right for their animals every single day of the year,” Spronk said. “This initiative is more proof of that and of producers’ adherence to ethical principles, including protecting and promoting animal well-being.”

Both the U.S. pork and dairy industries provided funding for the initiative. Additional information about it, including an employer checklist, guidance for integrating the initiative into existing animal well-being programs, posters for use in barns and guidance on employee training is available at www.SeeItStopIt.org. 



Crop Insurance Helps Farmers Bounce Back After Record Drought

As claims come in from one of the worst droughts in decades, farmers and ranchers across the country are receiving indemnity payments for the losses they have incurred. As of March 25, 2013, more than $16 billion has been sent to farmers who suffered losses.

In 2012, farmers invested more than $4.1 billion to purchase more than 1.2 million crop insurance policies, protecting 128 different crops.

Crop insurance policies protect more than 281 million acres of planted land.

$28.6 billion: The amount of money farmers have spent out of their own pockets to purchase the protection of crop insurance in the past decade.

Illinois has the highest loss ratio at 3.81.

19 states have loss ratios exceeding 1.05 – meaning that for every $1 paid in premiums, companies are paying out $1.05 in indemnities.   These states include: Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, South Dakota, New Mexico, New Hampshire, New York, Wisconsin, Texas, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Wyoming, Michigan and Ohio.

Nationally, the loss ratio is 1.44.



Zoetis and American Association of Bovine Practitioners announce call for applications for Veterinary Student Scholarships

For the fifth year, Zoetis and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) Foundation are teaming up to award scholarships to deserving bovine veterinary students. Applications are now being accepted for the 2013 AABP Foundation – Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarships.

The AABP Foundation – Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarships are funded through a unique partnership with veterinarians, animal health suppliers and dealers. Scholarships are awarded to bovine veterinary students to help offset the cost of veterinary school. In 2012, 15 students each received $5,000 scholarships through the AABP Foundation – Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship Fund, for a total of $385,000 in awards in four years.

“Each year, we’re excited to learn about the future leaders of the veterinary profession. Students should take advantage of this opportunity to reduce their debt and focus on their studies,” says M. Gatz Riddell Jr., DVM, executive vice president, AABP. “While reviewing applications, AABP and Zoetis look to support well-rounded veterinary students – those that not only excel in the classroom and clinical work but are also involved in industry-related activities rise to the top of our list.”

Scholarship applicants must be students graduating with their veterinary degree in 2014 and enrolled in colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States. Eligible veterinary students can visit www.foundation.aabp.org/zoetis for additional details regarding the scholarship program and to access the online application form. Applications must be submitted via the AABP website by June 15. Membership in college chapters of AABP or Food Animal Club is strongly encouraged.
                                                                                                                      
The scholarship program is administered by the AABP Foundation with the assistance of the Amstutz Scholarship Committee. Scholarship recipients will be notified prior to the 2013 AABP Annual Conference, which is Sept. 19-21, 2013, in Milwaukee. To receive recognition, scholarship recipients will be encouraged to attend the AABP Annual Conference, with expenses paid, but attendance is not required to receive the scholarship.

Funding for the scholarships is provided by the Zoetis FFA/AABP Industry Support Program. The program, which provides funding for local FFA chapters in addition to the AABP Foundation – Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship program, is offering a 1% rebate on Zoetis cattle products from Feb. 1 through April 30, 2013. Participating partners can direct funds to any local FFA chapter(s) or to the AABP Foundation – Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship Fund. 



Mosaic Reports Higher 3Q Results

Mosaic Co.'s (MOS) fiscal third-quarter profit jumped 26% as the fertilizer producer reported increased potash sales volumes and a foreign currency transaction gain.

Although potash prices have remained under pressure in recent months, as large buyers in China and elsewhere signed supply contracts for 2013 at lower prices, demand has been better than expected, improving market fundamentals, the company said. Revenue from Mosaic's potash segment jumped 37% from a year ago.

"As we emerge from the traditionally slow third fiscal quarter, we are seeing strong demand and improving sentiment in most of our geographies," Mosaic Chief Executive Jim Prokopanko said in a statement. He added that "global farm economics remain compelling."

Prokopanko said he now expects producer inventories to be drawn down in coming months "as North American dealers prepare for what is likely to be a very strong application season."

Still, pressure on potash prices persists, and the company forecast lower average selling prices in the fourth-quarter, which has "slightly negative implications" for Mosaic and other potash producers, Cowen Securities said in a research note to clients.

The suburban Minneapolis company, also one of the world's largest phosphate fertilizer producers, currently has significant cash reserves and little debt, and executives said the top question among investors recently is how they will deploy its capital.

The company last week announced it plans to invest up to $1 billion in a joint venture in Saudi Arabia to produce phosphate, a move that would improve its access to agricultural markets in Asia.

Investors are looking ahead to May, when Mosaic can begin negotiating with Cargill Inc. family members who own Mosaic shares as part of a split-off of Mosaic in 2011. Restrictions preventing those shares from being sold start to lift in late May, with 43 million shares becoming available then. The company plans to buy back shares, Chief Financial Officer Lawrence Stranghoener told investors in a conference call following the earnings release.

"You should expect a substantially more efficient balance sheet in the future," he said. "We would carry less cash, and more debt."

But Stranghoener and other executives also pleaded for patience from investors, noting that the company can't negotiate with the shareholders until the restrictions lift, and that an announcement on Mosaic's plans won't be immediate.

For the quarter ended Feb. 28, Mosaic posted a profit of $344.6 million, or 81 cents a share, versus a year-earlier profit of $273.3 million, or 64 cents a share. The latest quarter included a per-share impact of seven cents from one-time items such as the antitrust settlement and an unrealized loss on derivatives. The year-earlier quarter included eight cents a share in charges tied to negative currency effects and other items.

Revenue rose 2.3% to $2.24 billion.

Gross margin widened to 25.4% from 23.8%, driven by higher potash volumes and lower phosphate raw material costs.

Mosaic recorded a foreign currency transaction gain of $32.3 million versus a loss of $44 million a year ago.

Potash segment sales jumped 37% amid higher volumes, partially offset by lower prices. However, Mosaic noted the segment's operating earnings dropped 8% amid a $42 million charge related to the settlement of potash antitrust litigation.

The company said phosphate sales dropped 9%, although the segment's operating earnings rose 4%.

In January, Mosaic was among a group of three potash miners that agreed to pay just under $100 million to settle several private class-action lawsuits that alleged their pricing of the fertilizer ingredient violated U.S. antitrust laws. The company said it would pay $43.75 million each in fines to plaintiffs in the suits, some of which date back to 2008, a charge reflected in the latest quarter's results.