Thursday March 14 Ag News

Free Farm Safety Clinics Focus on Grain Handling

The grain that Nebraska farmers grow can turn deadly in an instant.   Grain entrapments kill or injure dozens of people each year, so it's important for farmers and other who handle grain to learn how to safely manage themselves and their operations.

A series of free farm safety clinics focused on grain handling safety are being held next week, hosted by the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Corn Board and GSI.   Each clinic will include training in confined space safety, flowing grain safety, rope and harness techniques and hands-only CPR.   Anyone who is interested in grain handling safety is invited to attend at no charge.

The schedule of free farm safety clinics is as follows:
Tuesday, March 26:  Kearney Held at and sponsored by M&N Millwright at 8050 East Highway 30.
Wednesday, March 27:  Crete Held at the Saline County Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall and sponsored by Northern Agri Services.
Thursday, March 28:  Norfolk Held at the Ag Complex at Northeast Community College and sponsored by Peterson Ag Systems, Inc.

The training runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day.  A complementary lunch is included.  Training is being provided by the Safety and Technical Rescue Association (SATRA) and the American Red Cross.  For more information, visit necga.org.

"These are potentially life-saving procedures that every farmer—and every person who handles grain in a farm operation—should know," said Joel Grams of Minden, president of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association. "With just one misstep or just a moment of distraction, you could find yourself or someone you know in a grain entrapment emergency.  This free safety training will help farmers and others learn how to avoid a life-threatening situation—and how to respond if one occurs."

According to the Agricultural Safety & Health program at Purdue University, the five-year average of reported grain entrapment incidents—both non-fatal and fatal—is just over 36 per year.  While the total number in 2011 was lower than in previous years, the five-year average has remained at 36.6 incidents annually.   Purdue researchers believe the actual number could be as much as 30 percent higher if all incidents were reported.

The average age of a person involved in a grain entrapment is 41 years old—and there is a trend toward more owners, operators and managers being involved in entrapments.



NCGA Praises Governors of Illinois, Iowa for Voicing Support for RFS

This week, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad called on House and Senate leadership to maintain support of the Renewable Fuel Standard in a letter sent to House Speaker John Boehner Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The National Corn Growers Association praises the governors for their action and urges Congressional leadership to take the many points outlined in their letter into consideration.

"NCGA commends the governors for taking action in support of the RFS and the rural economies that benefit from the jobs that it creates," said NCGA President Pam Johnson. "As their letter states, uncertainty created by proposed RFS modifications has weakened the market for biofuels and discouraged investment. America benefits from having home-grown, affordable biofuels that build our economies while decreasing pollution. The RFS remains in our nation's best economic and energy security interest."

The letter sent by Quinn and Branstad combats misinformation spread by what the letter characterizes as a "well-funded, unrelenting and false" campaign calling for the repeal of the RFS. Specifically criticizing arguments that make inaccurate claims blaming biofuels for rising global food prices, the letter cautions that this misinformation could cause the United States to miss important opportunities to displace foreign oil imports.

In summation the governors wrote, "The current flexibilities and safeguards built into the RFS are working.... We urge you to reject any modifications to the RFS."



Cover Crop Field Day March 26 in Carroll County

Iowa Learning Farms will host a field day, along with Practical Farmers of Iowa, on Tuesday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the American Legion in Dedham. The field day will focus on cover crops and no-till systems for erosion control and soil health. The event includes a visit to the Mike Sporrer farm, rural Dedham.

The field day will include presentations by Steve Nebel, a southeast Iowa no-till and cover crop farmer, who will share his experiences with cover crops including mixes and aeriel seeding. Also speaking is Jeff Rasawehr, a cover crop farmer from Celina, Ohio. He will talk about the benefits of cover crops such as soil quality improvement and soil microbial activity. Clint Miller, Carroll County Natural Resources Conservation Service district conservationist, will provide updates on cost-shares available. During the field visit to Mike Sporrer’s farm, attendees can discuss cover crop issues with a panel of local farmers, from the Certified Conservation Farmers group, who have implemented cover crops on their acres.

The event is free and includes a complimentary lunch. The public is invited to attend, but an RSVP is recommended. To register for this event, please call the Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District office at 712-729-1212 ext. 3.

The field day will be held at the American Legion Hall, 302 Main St., Dedham. The field site is at the Mike Sporrer farm, 22943 Highway 141, Dedham. The site is located one-half mile west of Dedham.



Iowa State University Study Examines Farmer Use of Conservation Loan Programs

Iowa is one of the most productive agricultural states in the U.S., but it also faces water quality challenges related to crop and livestock production practices. A number of conservation programs are in place to help farmers and landowners improve conservation practices; however, demand for the programs often outweighs the funds available. To help address this issue, Iowa introduced Clean Water State Revolving Fund nonpoint source pollution programs within the state in 2005. To see if the programs were making a difference, state CWSRF staff contacted Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to help conduct an evaluation.

Results from an ISU Extension and Outreach-led evaluation of the CWSRF’s Local Water Protection Program were published in the February 2013 issue of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association. Extension sociologist J. Gordon Arbuckle Jr. led the research team.

Congress established the CWSRF in 1987 to help communities fund infrastructure and other water-quality improvement projects. In 1992, some states' CWSRF programs began providing loans for agricultural pollution projects. These programs use federal money to provide subsidized loans to help farmers and landowners fund conservation practices that improve water quality. In 2004 the Iowa CWSRF established the Local Water Protection Program and the Livestock Water Quality program. The programs are jointly administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

The CWSRF nonpoint source loan programs were designed to increase the scope, scale and rate of best management practices adoption on Iowa's agricultural land by relieving capital constraints and decreasing the financial burden associated with adopting the practices. While the programs gained traction in their first years, by 2007 they had not attained desired levels of participation and Iowa CWSRF staff wanted to find out why. They also wanted to know if the programs were helping participants to increase investments in conservation practices.

In 2008, Arbuckle began working with IDNR and IDALS staff to evaluate the programs. The research team surveyed farmers and landowners and conducted focus groups with agency field staff.

“We learned that farmers who had taken loans viewed them as effective and user-friendly. Nearly all loan recipients believed that the loans had helped them to accomplish their conservation goals more rapidly then they would have otherwise. More than 90 percent agreed that they would recommend the programs to others and would take a loan again if needed,” Arbuckle said. "Our focus groups with agency field staff found that many of the staff who were not promoting the programs simply were not familiar enough with them to feel comfortable using them.

The article published in the Journal of the American Water Resources Association focuses on the LWPP.

The LWPP loans are not a replacement for cost-share funding of on-farm conservation projects, but rather, the loans leverage the cost-share and allow farmers to expand their conservation projects and complete them in a more timely manner, Arbuckle said. Based on results from the survey, farmers typically supplement their cost-shares with these loans. The loan program aids farmers in making larger investments in conservation.

“One of our main findings was that landowners who used the program thought it was very effective,” Arbuckle said. “The program helped the participants implement more conservation practices more quickly than they could have without the loans.”

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach provides many resources for farmers and landowners. For more information, visit http://www.extension.iastate.edu/topic/agriculture.



BRINGING BENEFITS HOME: THE U.S.-KOREA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
(USTR)

March 15, 2013 marks the one-year anniversary of the entry into force of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement – and that agreement is living up to its promise to provide tangible benefits  for American businesses and workers.    Two rounds of tariff cuts and eliminations have already taken place under the agreement, non-tariff barriers are coming down, and there’s good news to report across America’s economy:

More Exports to Korea of Made-in-America Manufactured Goods
U.S. manufacturing exports to Korea were up 1.3 percent from $34.3 billion in 2011 to $34.8 billion in 2012.  Exports of transportation equipment have experienced a significant bump of nearly a billion dollars – that’s up 24 percent to $5.0 billion.  Sales of “Detroit 3” cars in Korea increased 18 percent, and overall U.S. passenger vehicle exports to Korea increased 48 percent, by quantity.  Exports of aircraft and parts have also experienced gains of 34 percent – that’s $896 million in additional exports, to $3.5 billion total.

More Exports to Korea of Grown-in-America Agricultural Products
There were dramatic increases in U.S. exports of key agricultural products that benefitted from the reduced tariffs under the agreement.  Exports of soybeans were up 48 percent to $395 million, and exports of wheat were up 38 percent to $645 million.  U.S. orange juice exports to Korea have jumped 130 percent, and grape juice exports were up 128 percent in that same time period.  Exports of wine to Korea were up 57 percent, and exports of fresh fruits were up 46 percent to $370 million.

More Exports to Korea of Straight-from-America Services
U.S. private sector services exports to Korea experienced robust growth since the entry into force of the agreement, and were up 8.7 percent to $18 billion in 2012 (based on preliminary 2012 data from the Department of Commerce).  Royalties and license receipts increased by 23 percent to $5.6 billion, and exports of travel services were up 11 percent to $4.1 billion.  Thanks specifically to market opening provisions in the agreement, 12 U.S. law firms have received approval to open offices in Korea, and U.S. service providers in sectors such as telecommunications, e-commerce, and international express delivery services are benefitting from the agreement.

Outlook
As all the provisions of this trade agreement come into effect, Americans will see even further benefits for U.S. exporters.  By January 1, 2016, Korean tariffs on over 95 percent of exports of U.S. industrial and consumer goods to Korea will have been eliminated.   The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that when the agreement is fully implemented, the tariff cuts alone will boost U.S. goods exports to Korea by $10 billion above where they would have been without the agreement, supporting more jobs here at home.  



Why Millennials Matter: A Research Overview

Millennials: they’re the consumers of the future, a generation of 80 million that, as it moves through society, is changing all the rules – perhaps especially the way products are marketed. Recent research helps the beef industry learn what makes them tick.

The Millennial generation (those born between 1980 and 2000) is a research priority for the beef industry. Millennials are the consumers of tomorrow. But they already account for about a fourth of the U.S. population and about a third of all adults so they represent a big chunk of the current consumer population. 

The checkoff continues to engage in consumer research studies to identify trends affecting beef acceptance and preference and ultimately identify ways the checkoff can respond to help increase consumer interest in and purchases of beef.

So why Millennials? A checkoff-funded study in late 2011 revealed that this generation really enjoys beef, but they also have some beef issues, many of which relate to consumer education.

Millennials in general know very little about shopping for and cooking beef – which is a primary deterrent to purchasing it. They acknowledge beef benefits, like building muscle and helping maintain energy but lack nutritional facts to understand how beef, especially in terms of an appropriate number of servings, fits in a healthy diet and active lifestyle.

The 2011 study met Millennials where they are found most often – on social media sites. Using Facebook, researchers developed a panel of Millennials who shared videos and diaries about their beef experiences in restaurants, at home and in grocery stores to provide depth and texture to the findings. Additionally, there was a quantitative survey of 2,000 Millennials to provide statistically sound measures and make the findings more representative of this group.

Among the findings:
-    Millennials see food as an adventure, a route to diverse cultural and social experiences. They want beef to be part of these experiences.   
-    However, 54 percent say it’s hard to know what cuts to choose in the meat case. Millennials are also far less adept than any other generation when it comes to cooking beef. 
-    56 percent of Millennials report disappointment in the results of a beef meal they’ve prepared, compared to only 31 percent of Boomers. Millennials reported problems preparing steaks and even burgers. 
-    On a positive note, Millennials are knowledge seekers. 75 percent want information about steaks and how to prepare and cook them and 55 percent want information on preparing and serving beef to their children.
-    Millennials tend to buy the same cuts rather than diversify their choices. However, 50 percent said they would buy more beef if they knew more about the different cuts.   
-    Given this knowledge gap, consumer education will be an important tool in marketing to Millennials. Many are very open to learning. For example, 24 percent of Millennials say they would seek information, such as brochures and recipes, recipes, at the meat counter,  compared to 7 percent of Boomers.
-    Millennials eat out often – 38 percent report going to a restaurant in the past month (compared to 28% for boomers)  – and choose from a wide range of operations, from fast food to high-end steak houses.

The 2011 study provided many insights but one in particular stood out: Millennial parents are limiting their children’s consumption of beef. This is a critical finding, as Millennials are not only the key beef consumers of the future, they are the influencers of the following generation.

In 2012, a checkoff-funded Millennial Parent study dug deeper into why this generation limits beef in their children’s diets.

Among those findings: 
-    Chicken is perceived to be easier to prepare, a big favorite with children and widely available as strips and nuggets, so parents know there is always a kid-friendly option, whether eating at home or away from home. 
-    Millennial parents also perceive other meats as more heart-healthy than red meat.
-    Older Millennials (age 25-32) are cautious about preparing family beef meals and 46 percent say they do not find beef convenient to cook for kids.

However, these findings offer opportunity, not just challenge. The 2012 study confirms that Millennial parents want to make the best food choices for their families and are willing to learn. Getting the news out about healthy beef benefits and convenience is critical in fully convincing this generation to feel comfortable and confident in choosing beef. 

Checkoff Millennial research so far offers both positive news and important details for future strategic marketing efforts. 

In particular, special attention should be focused on Millennial parents, who tend to be more concerned about the healthfulness of beef than those without children. Children raised on less beef are likely to be less beef focused in their own dietary choices later in life.  



National Agriculture Day to Celebrate Farmers and Ranchers

According to the Agriculture Council of America, each American farmer feeds 144 people, a large increase from just 25 people in the 1960s. As the world population continues to grow, now more than ever we rely on American farmers and ranchers to provide the nation and world with a safe, affordable and abundant food supply. On Mar. 19, supporters of agriculture nationwide will celebrate National Agriculture Day. Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless others across America join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture.

In Washington, D.C., events will be held on Capitol Hill highlighting the importance of agriculture in our everyday lives. National Ag Day kicks off with a 9:30 a.m. briefing by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance featuring a new perspective on food culture today led by farmers and ranchers. Following the briefing, a luncheon emceed by legendary farm radio broadcaster Orion Samuelson and featuring the Outstanding Young Farmer honorees and members of Congress will be held. Later that evening, the “Celebration of Ag” dinner will be held at the U.S.Department of Agriculture offices. The event will feature U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Teresa Scanlan, Miss America 2011. The winners of the Ag Day essay, video essay and poster contests will also be announced.

“National Ag Day is a great way to honor the nation’s cattlemen and women who work tirelessly to provide our country and the world with healthy, wholesome beef,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall. “Many times, those working behind the scenes, growing and raising the food we eat do not get the recognition they deserve. Not only does National Ag Day bring attention to the vital role agriculture plays in our economy, but also provides awareness and education to those, especially young people, who want to know more about where their food comes from and how it gets to their plate.”





Senate to Release WRDA Proposal with Mark-Up Possible Next Week
(from ASA)

Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and David Vitter (R-La) – the Chair and Ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, respectively – have indicated that they have reached agreement on a bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that will be released tomorrow and scheduled for a mark-up on March 20. The bill would authorize locks, dams, flood control and ecosystem restoration projects across the country.

While the full draft bill has not been released, committee leaders have indicated some of the key aspects of the measure. Among the provisions of interest to ASA, the bill will:
-    Require all tax revenue collected for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) to be spent on actual port maintenance and dredging projects. This is consistent with the RAMP Act that ASA supports to wall off the HMTF dollars.
-    Require that any cuts in the annual Appropriations bills to Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) accounts below the previous year’s level would be subject to a point of order that would take a two-thirds Senate vote to waive. This would ensure that lawmakers do not make up for mandating the annual expenditure of all funds collected in the HMTF by raiding other ACE accounts. Appropriators are expected to strongly oppose these provisions.
-    Streamline environmental reviews of waterway projects, drawing on the model used in the highway bill passed last year.
-    Include "punitive" budgeting penalties that would be imposed on the corps and other federal agencies for missing construction deadlines.
-    Allow ACE to dredge eligible ports and harbors to 50 feet – the depth necessary to accommodate larger cargo ships that will soon be coming through the expanded Panama Canal.
-    The draft bill will not include an increase of the diesel barge taxes. Ranking Member Vitter has stated that he and Chairwoman Boxer support raising the tax but it is the jurisdiction of the Finance Committee and would require their approval.

The American Soybean Association strongly supports enactment of a WRDA that addresses the need to upgrade locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River. ASA is working closely with the Soy Transportation Coalition, other stakeholders, Committee leaders and staff, and other Members of Congress to move a meaningful WRDA bill forward.



US Sorghum Showcased at Largest Food Show in Asia
Tommy Hamamoto, U.S. Grains Council Director in Japan

Last week, the U.S. Grains Council participated in FOODEX Japan 2013, the largest food tradeshow in Asia, where more than 71,500 food and restaurant industry professionals were in attendance. In cooperation with Organic Foods Life Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of a new line of white sorghum products, the Council offered samples of a U.S. white sorghum creme soy sauce, sprouted white sorghum crackers and a white sorghum salad dressing.

Attendees were also provided handouts with information on U.S. food corn and barley, in addition to sorghum. Overall, the samples of white sorghum were very well received. Many who visited the booth were surprised to learn of the many uses of sorghum, including its use as a seasoning ingredient. Through this tasting event, the Council was able to encourage the use of U.S. sorghum as a healthy ingredient in the Japanese food market and speak one-on-one with many potential new users.



U.S. DoT Publishes Hours of Service Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DoT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a Final Rule in the Federal Register today to reflect the statutory exemptions for drivers transporting agricultural commodities that were included in the surface transportation bill (MAP-21) passed by Congress last year. States are to adopt compatible regulations as soon as possible after the effective date of this Final Rule, which is today, but no later than three years from the rule’s effective date.

This action follows an Oct. 1, 2012 Federal Register notice from FMCSA alerting motor carriers and enforcement officials of the two statutory exemptions in MAP-21. Specifically, section 32101 provided a statutory exemption from the hours-of-service regulations for certain carriers transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies, and section 32934 provided a statutory exemption from most of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) for the operation of covered farm vehicles by farm and ranch operators, their employees, and certain other specified individuals under certain specific circumstances.

These statutory provisions were self-executing and took effect on Oct. 1, 2012. The Final Rule is currently on display at the Federal Register and may be viewed by clicking here... https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2013-05897.pdf. 



NMPF Cries Foul Over USDA's Suspending of Dairy Reports

Several farm organizations expressed their disapproval of the USDA's announcement this week that its National Agricultural Statistics Service will be suspending a number of statistical surveys and reports for the remainder of the fiscal year due to reduced funding caused by sequestration.

Chris Galen of the National Milk Producers Federation says this information cannot be found by industry leaders anywhere else, making these reports critical for the industry.

"It's going to detrimentally affect how decisions are made about the marketing of milk starting at the farm, and throughout the whole milk production chain." Galen said.

Among the reports being suspended from March through September include Milk Production, Disposition and Income reports.

Before deciding on the program suspensions, NASS reviewed its survey programs against mission- and user-based criteria as well as the amount of time remaining in the fiscal year to conduct the surveys with the goal of finding available cost savings and maintaining the strongest data in service to agriculture. USDA says the decision to suspend these reports was not made lightly, but it was nevertheless necessary, given the funding situation.



Strategie Grains Cuts EU 2013-14 Wheat Output Estimate

Strategie Grains Thursday trimmed its estimate for the European Union's 2013-14 soft wheat harvest by 0.7 million metric tons to 130.5 million tons for the 27 member bloc, due to lower acreage in the U.K., France, Italy and Poland.

The influential analyst group said the U.K.'s winter wheat acreage was a little lower than the already depressed level it had anticipated, while it also reduced estimated wheat acreage in Poland, France and Italy to reflect information from the field.

Meanwhile, Strategie Grains raised its estimate of the bloc's 2013-14 corn production by 0.4 million tons, to 64.1 million tons, due to acreage transfers from winter crops in Poland and France, as well as the inclusion of official estimates for the Czech Republic.

It added that no significant crop losses or damage were reported in February and that crops across the EU were in good condition at the beginning of March.

But Strategie Grains noted that snow cover melted everywhere except the Baltic countries and Finland during last month's thaw and crops are no longer protected, so the impact of a recent cold spell could be significant in Central Europe. Weather conditions in coming days will need to be closely monitored, it said.

Strategie Grains also provides production estimates for a 28 member bloc, with Croatia due to accede to the European Union in July. It forecasts EU 28 soft wheat production at 131.6 million tons, down from 132.2 million tons last month, and corn output of 66 million tons, up from 65.5 million tons last month.