April 1 Crop Progress and Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending of March 31, 2013, below normal temperatures limited fieldwork  activities with producers awaiting warmer conditions, according  to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics  Service,  Nebraska  Field  Office.    Livestock  producers  have  reported  favorable  spring  calving conditions with good survival rates.   Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 37 percent very short, 43 short, 20 adequate, and 0 surplus.  Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 60 percent very short, 36 short, 4 adequate, and 0 surplus.  There were 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork.
 
Field Crops Report:
Wheat conditions rated 14 percent very poor, 35 poor, 41 fair, 10 good, and 0 excellent.  Oats planted were at 31 percent, behind last year’s 35 but ahead of 16 average. 
 
Livestock, Pasture  and Range Report:
Hay  and  forage  supplies  rated  16  percent  very  short,  43  short,  41 adequate, and 0 surplus.  Cattle and calves condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 poor, 24 fair, 69 good, and 4 excellent. Spring calving was 61 percent complete.   Sheep and  lamb conditions were 0 percent very poor, 0 poor, 25 fair, 73 good, and 2 excellent. Stock water supplies rated 12 percent very short, 24 short, 63 adequate, and 1 surplus. 



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

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

View the national crop progress information here:  http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProg/CropProg-04-01-2013.txt



NSB’s “Bean Team” Celebrates 16 Years of Promoting Healthy Lifestyles during April Soyfoods Month

The Nebraska Soybean Board’s “Bean Team” is set to close out another successful year of promoting healthy lifestyles with a full schedule of events to celebrate “Soyfoods Month” this April.

The Bean Team, which was created by the Nebraska Soybean Board in 1997, is made up of a group of well-trained college students who promote the many health benefits of including soyfoods in your diet. The Bean Team members often make appearances in grocery stores where they make sample soyfoods recipes for shoppers to try.

Soyfoods are readily available at virtually any supermarket, and are naturally high in protein, low in saturated fats and low in cholesterol. One of the main Bean Team messages is that soyfoods are not only good for you, but taste great too.

So far this year, the Bean Team has made over 60 appearances from October-March at various events in Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island and Hastings. To kickof Soyfoods Month, they also have another 20 events planned for April, including several supermarket appearances and radio remote broadcasts. Two major events featuring the Bean Team include the Omaha Taste of Home Show, April 9 and the Omaha Health Expo, April 13-14.

The Bean Team also uses social media to take its message to Nebraskans. The team’s Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/beanteam, provides visitors with a lot of useful information. On the site, folks can find a calendar of events, news and photos from past events and other useful information, such as delicious soy recipes. This spring, the Facebook page will also feature several contests.

Soyfood consumption has been linked to a healthier lifestyle. Recent studies by leading health and educational institutions show that people who eat soyfoods tend to have lower rates of many types of cancers, and reduced risks for osteoporosis and kidney disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that foods containing soy protein may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, as well. Soy is naturally low in saturated fats and cholesterol.

Bean Teamer Ali John, a UNL graduate student in nutrition from Hillsborough, New Jersey, says food manufacturers often add soy to their products as an added source of protein.

“You’re probably already using more soy than you might think,” she says. “All vegetable oils are soy, for example. And you’re going to find soy in a lot of other food products you wouldn’t necessarily think about. Soy is very versatile and can serve as a vegetable, as a protein replacement, and even as dairy,” she says. Soy’s versatility and its many benefits are clearly visible in USDA’s new MyPlate dietary guidelines, where it is included in three of the five major categories.

“Consumers are now much more aware of the benefits of soyfoods in their diets,” says Victor Bohuslavsky, executive director of the Nebraska Soybean Board. Citing soyfood industry studies, he says about one-third of U.S. consumers now seek out products containing soy, with about 31 percent of consumers being aware of the specific health benefits of soy in their diet. “This improvement is a big step forward from a few years ago when we had trouble convincing stores to carry tofu.”

For more information about soy food products and their health benefits, visit the NSB’s website at http://www.nebraskasoybeans.org or learn more about the Bean Team on Facebook.



No-till Planting Tips for a Dry Year
Paul Jasa, UNL Extension Engineer

The residue cover in no-till fields is essential when it comes to conserving water. The residue protects the soil surface, reducing crusting and soil moisture evaporation. When it comes to no-till planting, the key is to minimize the soil and residue disturbance.

Leave residue over the row. Too many producers move residue away from the row when planting, trying to make the seedbed warmer and drier during the cool part of the growing season. This isn’t necessary in a warm, dry spring, especially if drought conditions continue. Growers should focus instead on using residue to keep the soil cooler and wetter during the hot part of the growing season. By leaving the residue over the row while planting, soil moisture evaporation is reduced and the root zone is kept cooler for the entire season.

Use seeding disks to cut residue. When properly adjusted and working together, the sharp double disk seed furrow openers on planters can easily cut through the residue and soil to place the seeds. Running coulters in front of seeding disks often increases “hair pinning” of residue as the tillage of the coulters incorporates some of the residue into the seed zone. Planters can more effectively cut residue using the seeding disks, as the disks are sharper than most coulters on the market. In some situations, the coulters start pushing the residue down without cutting it and the seeding disks fold or “hair pin” the residue because they don’t have a firm soil surface to cut the residue. If hair pinning of the residue is a problem, increase the planting depth some to improve the residue cutting angle of the disks.

Provide uniform residue cover. Producers who did not uniformly spread their residue during the previous harvest could use residue movers to "even up" the residue and create a more uniform residue layer. However, they should not remove all of the residue from the row as soil moisture losses are higher from bare soil. If the residue cover is already uniform, such as in long-term no-till, residue movers can do more harm than good. In these cases, the movers break residue loose from the soil and some of the residue can then blow back over the row, creating non-uniform conditions. In addition, the emerging seedlings may leaf out under the residue and may have difficulty surviving.

Add downpressure springs and weight to ensure penetration. The residue of no-till, especially in hard, dry soil, requires downpressure springs and extra weight (as necessary) on the planter to cut through and penetrate the soil to achieve the desired seeding depth. Enough downpressure should be on the row units to make sure that the depth gauging wheels are actually gauging planting depth. Check the downpressure on the row units as conditions change to avoid over compacting wet soils, creating sidewall compaction.

Plant on or near the old row. Producers should plant down the old row to place the seed in the old root zone, the most biologically active area of the field. Don’t seed between the old rows as some of the new rows will be in soft, untrafficked row middles with different soil conditions than the wheel tracks, the most compacted area in the field. Planting about 5 inches to the side of the old row works well for corn on corn to reduce planter bounce, resulting in more uniform depth control. This also reduces tire wear as compared to driving on the root stumps to plant between the old rows.

Planting deeper may be warranted in dry years. Producers should consider planting deeper to ensure that all of the seeds are in good soil moisture for uniform emergence. Keeton Seed Firmers or Schaffert Rebounders help place all of the seeds at the bottom of the seed-vee for a more uniform planting depth. Planting the seeds deeper also puts them into a more buffered soil environment with a more uniform soil temperature and soil moisture. This improves uniformity of emergence which increases yields. In addition, by planting deeper, the root system is better established, improving standability and allowing the plant to better handle stresses. Corn should be planted at least 2 inches deep as most corn planters were designed for planting depths of 2 to 3 inches. Consider the 3-inch planting depth in dry years and low residue conditions to reduce potential drying of the seed zone.

Ensure good seed-vee closure. The seed-vee should be properly closed for good seed-to-soil contact and to reduce drying out of the seed zone. Some producers add spoked closing wheels to their planters to help close the seed-vee, especially in wet soil conditions. The spoked wheels serve three purposes:
-    drying the soil with tillage,
-    closing the seed-vee while fracturing the sidewall, and
-    providing loose soil above the seed.

The loose soil created by the spoked wheels reduces the potential for the seed-vee opening back up as the soil dries. However, depending on the moisture situation, the tillage of the closing wheels might dry out the soil too much. In some cases, growers get better results using one spoked wheel and one regular closing wheel. Also, some closing wheel brands have less aggressive spokes than others. A drag chain is usually needed behind aggressive spoked wheels to help smooth and level the soil.



Planning for Summer Forage Needs, Managing Pasture Problem Spots
Paul Hay, UNL Extension Educator
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Hay supplies are down and many hay fields and pastures will be late and thin this spring. Planting oats might be one of the surest ways to boost hay supply for your cattle this year.

Oats grow during cool spring weather when we are most likely to receive rain and when soil moisture is used most efficiently to produce forage. Other benefits include low risk, relatively low cost, and multiple use options. Oat hay is ideal for young livestock if cut when oats just begin to head out. You can also increase yield by about one-third and cut oats in the early milk stage for hay that's excellent for stock cows. Also, oats in the milk to early dough stage make excellent silage. Oats can also be grazed, but care should be taken to transition the cattle to this lush forage.

Oats are often best planted in March or early April, depending on location in the state. Drill three to four bushels of oats into new fields for hay. With good soil moisture and 60 to 80 pounds of nitrogen, oats will produce two to three tons of hay for harvest in June.

After the oats are harvested, sudangrass or sorghum-sudan hybrids can be seeded for fall grazing or hay production. Growth needs to be 3 feet or more before grazing as a compound called prussic acid can be potentially poisonous. Prussic acid is nothing to fear if you take a few precautions. First, do not turn hungry animals into sudangrass or sorghum-sudan pastures. They may eat so rapidly that they get a quick overdose of prussic acid. Secondly, since the highest concentration of prussic acid is in new shoots, let the grass grow to 24-36 inches tall before it's grazed. Pearl millet doesn't contain prussic acid and can be grazed when it reaches 12 to 15 inches tall.

Managing Summer Annual Grasses
Summer annual grasses respond best to a simple, rotational grazing system. Divide fields into three or more smaller paddocks of a size that permits animals to graze a paddock down to about 8 or so inches of leafy stubble within 7 to 10 days. Repeat this procedure with all paddocks. If some grass gets too tall, either cut it for hay or rotate animals more quickly so grass doesn't head out. A well-planned start, a good rotation, and a little rain will give you good pasture from these grasses all the rest of the summer.

Check brome pastures in March for dead spots. These may be due to drought, grubs or other insects damaging the roots, overgrazing, or cheatgrass that overtook good grass. These thin or dead patches need to be reclaimed and integrated back into your grazing program. If you ignore them, weeds will overrun the area and spread into your good grass. Reseeding these areas follows the same basic guidelines as planting a whole new pasture. Native pastures will heal themselves with weed control and rest.

Plant a brome and orchardgrass mix with equipment that places seed just slightly below the soil surface from March 15 through April. Your biggest challenges are selecting the seed to use and keeping cattle out while new seedlings develop. To determine what to seed, consider whether the patch will be part of a larger pasture or a whole new area. If it's to be part of the larger pasture, it is critical that you plant the same kind of plants that will be next to it when you add it back to the existing pasture. If you plant something cattle like better, they'll overgraze it. If they don't like it as well, they won't use it.



UNL Extension Irrigation and Soils Courses Now Online at Marketplace.unl.edu

            University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension provides two online short courses on irrigation and soils at marketplace.unl.edu.

            The courses combine the convenience and flexibility of online learning with the opportunity to obtain continuing education unit (CEU) credits.

            UNL Extension educator Chuck Burr said the virtual learning environment is especially suited for those whose schedules or location may prevent them from attending traditional extension training opportunities. The modules are intended for crop consultants, agency personnel, crop producers and others interested in improving their soil science or soil fertility management and irrigation management skills.

            "UNL Extension still offers programs for those who prefer traditional, classroom-style training," Burr said. "However, the new online course on irrigation management allows participants to learn at the click of a mouse."

            UNL Extension educator Keith Glewen added, "The courses are designed to assist online learners in acquiring new knowledge. This in turn can result in management decisions which have a positive impact on financial and environmental outcomes."

            The soils course aims to expand the participant's knowledge of soil science, including the origins, physical properties and chemical properties of soil. Understanding this information benefits those making management decisions related to soil fertility and crop production. This in turn can improve the efficiency of fertilizer applications, reduce nutrient loss and improve crop yields.

            The irrigation management course will help increase awareness and understanding of irrigation management concepts. Agricultural water users can optimize water use efficiency and protect the quality of water resources by applying basic information about irrigation systems, crop water use and management practices.

            Reducing irrigation application amounts and increasing uniformity of application leads to reduced deep percolation and runoff. The result can be reduced irrigation costs, increased efficiency, increased yields and reduced surface and groundwater contamination.

            Formal admission to UNL is not required to enroll in the short courses. Register online at marketplace.unl.edu/extension/registration. The registration fee for each course is $50. CEU credit is available for an additional $10 per credit with a maximum of 13 credits per course.

            Contact Burr at chuck.burr@unl.edu for details on the irrigation short course and Glewen at kglewen1@unl.edu for information on the soils short course.



USDA TAKES A LOOK AT FARM LABOR

During the second half of April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct its biannual Agricultural Labor Survey. The survey will collect information about agricultural labor on Nebraska’s farms and ranches.

“The beginning of the growing season is usually the perfect time to look at farm labor,” said Dean Groskurth, Director of the NASS Nebraska Field Office. “The data that farm operators provide through NASS’s Agricultural Labor Survey allow Nebraska and federal policy-makers to establish labor policies based on accurate information and help ensure farmers can get sufficient hired labor for their operations.”

USDA and the Department of Labor will use statistics gathered in the Agricultural Labor Survey to help establish minimum wage rates for agricultural workers, administer farm labor recruitment and placement service programs, and assist legislators in determining labor policies.
  
In the survey, NASS asks participants to answer a variety of questions about hired farm labor on their operations, including total number of hired farm workers, hours worked, and wage rates paid for the weeks of January 6-12 and April 7-13. For their convenience, survey participants have the option to respond online.
    
“Due to season variations, despite collecting farm labor data twice a year, we provide all data on a quarterly basis,” said Groskurth. “This approach helps us ensure that anyone using our data can perform more accurate analyses.”
  
NASS will compile, analyze and publish survey results in the Farm Labor report, to be released on May 21. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Nebraska Field Office at 1-800-582-6443.



The New, Ideal On-Pack Fresh Beef Label

Today’s consumer is confused about fresh meat cuts, and as a result, they tend to purchase only the three or four cuts they are most familiar with preparing at home. This presents huge marketing potential to drive meat department sales by helping shoppers become confident about the beef and pork they purchase.

The beef checkoff, together with the National Pork Board, conducted extensive research to:
-    Understand the gaps in consumer knowledge about fresh meat cut names - Uniform Retail Meat Identity Standards, better known as URMIS
-    Determine the most effective ways to share information through a targeted redesign of on-pack labels

The findings led the industry to update the URMIS nomenclature and develop new labeling best practices to minimize consumer confusion and boost shopper confidence at the meat case.
-    63% of consumers said they were likely to try a new cut of meat after being introduced to the new names and labels
-    77% said they were likely to find and go to a store that had this program; 31% said they were very likely



Save the Date for 2013 Iowa Grazing Conference
Iowa grazing supporters are planning the 2013 edition of the Iowa Grazing Conference set for later this summer. They encourage those who use grazing in their livestock operations to put the June 25-26 event on their calendars now. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef program specialist Joe Sellers has been involved with the conference for several years and said this year’s event has classroom and field experiences.

“The featured speaker is Garry Lacefield, a grazing and forage specialist from the University of Kentucky, and we have a great variety of breakout session topics for attendees,” he said. “Improving grazing management, cover crops, using annual forage crops for hay and pasture, using grazing to improve wildlife habitat and environmental impacts of grazing are just a few of the topics on the agenda.”

The conference at the Southwestern Community College campus in Creston runs from 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25 to noon on Wednesday, June 26. In addition to breakout sessions and a producer panel, the event also has a pasture walk and barbeque meal on the evening of June 25.

Sellers said final program details and registration information will be available in late April through program sponsors Iowa Beef Center at www.iowabeefcenter.org  and Iowa Forage and Grasslands Council at iowaforage.org. Other sponsors and planners include ISU Extension and Outreach, the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Southwestern Community College and Practical Farmers of Iowa.



U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance to Hold two Chicago Food Dialogues Events

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has announced the dates and locations for two events in the continuation of its high-profile discussions, The Food Dialogues, designed to answer Americans’ questions on some of today’s most provocative issues surrounding food.

“USFRA is excited to host The Food Dialogues: Chicago and continue the important conversation about how food is grown and raised,” said Bob Stallman, chairman of USFRA and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “To date, USFRA has hosted The Food Dialogues in four cities consecutively – Washington, D.C., Northwest Indiana, University of California – Davis,  New York City. We’re now taking the conversation to the hub of where many food decisions are being made. With so many food and agricultural companies based in the Midwest, we knew the time was right to bring The Food Dialogues to Chicago.”

The Food Dialogues: Chicago at the BIO International Convention, on April 22 will focus on the impact media has on consumers’ knowledge of biotechnology (GMOs). Access will be available to non-convention attendees if they are pre-registered at www.fooddialogues.com for this event.

The Food Dialogues: Chicago at Kendall College on June 19 will focus on transparency, specifically the type of information consumers are looking for when making food purchasing decisions. Additional details, including event moderators and panelists will be announced in the coming weeks. In the interim, USFRA has created a section of its website where individuals can register and sign up to receive updates as they become available.

USFRA most recently held The Food Dialogues: New York on November 15, 2012, with the event focusing on three of today’s key food issues: Media, Marketing and Healthy Choices, Animal Antibiotics and Biotechnology and Your Food.

For more information about USFRA or its signature event series, The Food Dialogues, visit www.fooddialogues.com. Follow USFRA on Twitter @USFRA using #FoodD or on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/usfarmersandranchers.



Diesel prices dip below the 4 dollar mark

The U.S. average retail price for on-highway diesel fuel dipped below the 4-dollar mark for the first time since late January to $3.99 a gallon on Monday.  That’s down 1.3 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.  Diesel prices were highest in the New England region at 4.15 a gallon, down 2.3 cents from aweek ago.  Prices were lowest in the Gulf Coast region at 3.92 a gallon, down 2 cents.  In the Midwest Region, diesel prices averaged $3.970, down 0.9 cents from last week and down 7.2 cents from last year.

Gasoline prices continue to decrease
The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline fell to $3.65 a gallon on Monday.  That’s down 3 1/2 cents from a week ago, based on the weekly price survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.  Pump prices were highest in the West Coast region at 3.95 a gallon, down 1.7 cents from a week ago.  Prices were lowest in the Gulf Coast States at 3.48 a gallon, down 2.5 cents.  In the Midwest Region, the average retail price for gasoline was $3.597,  which is down six cents from last week and down 30.8 cents from a year ago.



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for April 2013

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for April 2013. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for April 2013 is 0.125 percent, unchanged from 0.125 in March 2013. For 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans, the interest rate for loans disbursed during April 2013 is 1.125 percent, unchanged from 1.125 in March 2013.

Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for April 2013 are as follows, 1.375 percent with seven-year loan terms, unchanged from 1.375 in March 2013; 2.000 percent with 10-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.000 in March 2013 and; 2.250 percent with 12-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.250 percent in March 2013.



Acting USTR Announces Administration Accomplishments in 2012 in Reducing Trade Barriers

Today, Acting United States Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis sent three reports to President Obama and to Congress detailing significant accomplishments that the Obama Administration has achieved in reducing or removing foreign government barriers to U.S. exports.  In addition to describing progress made over the past year, the National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, the Report on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Barriers to Trade and the Report on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) describe current barriers to U.S. exports and detail how the Administration is continuing to work on addressing these barriers so that U.S. exports can continue to grow and support more jobs for American workers.

“The Obama Administration has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to opening markets for American products and services abroad – this translates into increased economic opportunities for U.S. workers and companies here at home,” said Acting USTR Marantis.  “On behalf of America’s farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and service providers, we will continue to eliminate unwarranted barriers that obstruct the sale of high-quality “Made-in-America” products overseas.  And we will maintain our vigorous efforts to ensure a level playing field for U.S. goods and services in markets around the world.”

The Report on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Barriers to Trade focuses on unwarranted SPS barriers that block American agricultural exports.   In addition, USTR is providing information on several successful actions to dismantle barriers, which will provide increased access to international markets for American food and agricultural products.  Among many other efforts, U.S. negotiators successfully removed specific SPS barriers in El Salvador, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, and Taiwan to exports of U.S. beef; opened the European Union (EU) market to exports of beef treated with lactic acid (a pathogen reduction treatment); resolved barriers to U.S. exports of rough (paddy) rice and poultry products to Colombia; improved market access for U.S. cherries entering Korea; and gained access into China for certain pears grown in the United States.

The Report on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) addresses unwarranted or overly burdensome standards that make it difficult for American manufacturers to sell their products abroad.  In 2012, the Administration successfully addressed several of the TBT barriers identified in the previous year’s report.  Addressing these barriers should make it easier for U.S. products to meet these trading partners’ standards and access their markets.  For example, the Administration’s work with Costa Rica and El Salvador to eliminate a burdensome and unnecessary certification requirement will facilitate exports of processed meat products into these markets.  In addition, we achieved an agreement with Brazil on certification requirements for meat processing facilities and meat products that maintains access for U.S. exports.  The Administration also worked with Vietnam to address tax stamp issues for alcohol and to eliminate the requirement for “consularization” of documents related to export of mobile phones, cosmetics and alcoholic beverages entering Vietnam.

The 2013 SPS and TBT reports are being released in conjunction with the 2013 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, an annual report that identifies foreign barriers to American exports of goods and services, foreign direct investment, and protection of intellectual property rights.  The NTE report outlines current barriers and the actions the Obama Administration has taken to address the export barriers described in the report.  The measures identified in the three reports can both restrict American exports and limit the growth of jobs here at home.

To view the full 2013 SPS, TBT and NTE reports, please visit USTR’s website here...  www.ustr.gov.



USDA Announces New Conservation Collaboration with DuPont to Promote Sustainable Harvesting of Bio-based Feedstocks for Cellulosic Ethanol

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Friday announced a new federal-private collaboration with DuPont to safeguard natural resources on private lands used to supply bio-based feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol production.

The joint agreement between USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and DuPont aims to set voluntary standards for the sustainable harvesting of agricultural residues for renewable fuel, and supports rural job creation, additional income for farmers, bio-based energy development, and the safeguarding of natural resources and land productivity.

"USDA and DuPont share a common interest in the wise use and management of soil, water and energy resources," said Secretary Vilsack. "Both organizations also share an interest in helping individual farmers adapt to new market opportunities in ways that are consistent with the wise use of these natural resources."

"Working with farmers is critical to maximizing the land's productivity and protecting natural resources," said Jim C. Borel, executive vice president of DuPont. "With this new collaboration, we have a partner in the Natural Resources Conservation Service to ensure that the collection of corn stover for the production of cellulosic renewable fuel makes sense for an individual grower's operation and the land they farm."

Today's announcement involves the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NRCS and DuPont. USDA, through NRCS, will provide conservation planning assistance for farmers who supply bio-based feedstocks to biorefineries as the industry begins to commercialize. Conservation plan, written for individual operations, will ensure sustainable harvest of corn crop residues while promoting natural resource conservation and land productivity. A conservation plan is a voluntary document, written in cooperation with farmers, which helps them protect natural resources while promoting a farm's economic sustainability.

Through the MOU, DuPont will develop a process to work with cooperating farms on sustainable harvest practices that help keep soil in the field and out of rivers, streams and lakes; promote healthier soils which help reduce flooding through increased infiltration rates, and provide for the efficient use of nutrients.

The first plant involved in this national agreement is northeast of Des Moines, Iowa, near the town of Nevada where DuPont is building a 30 million gallons/year cellulosic facility. This plant will use harvested residues from a 30-mile radius around the facility.

"This agreement will support our Nation's effort to reduce dependency on foreign oil, while working to protect and improve the productivity of our soils—one of our most valuable resources," said Secretary Vilsack.



USDA Invites Applications for Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Projects

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Friday that USDA is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Funding is available from USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today's announcement is one part of the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

"The Obama Administration continues its commitment to help our nation become more energy independent by partnering with agricultural producers and rural small businesses as they build renewable energy systems and reduce energy usage," said Vilsack. "These investments will not only help our farmers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs, but also provide a new potential revenue source and stabilize their operations' bottom lines."

REAP, authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, (Farm Bill) is designed to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption and help meet the Nation's critical energy needs. USDA is accepting the following applications:
-    Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications until April 30, 2013;
-    Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement guaranteed loan only applications until July 15, 2013;
-    Renewable energy system feasibility study grant applications through April 30, 2013.

More information on how to apply for funding is available in the March 29, 2013 Federal Register, pages 19183-19190.

Since the passage of the 2008 Farm Bill and through the end of Fiscal Year 2012, REAP has funded nationwide over 6,800 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, feasibility studies, energy audits, and renewable energy development assistance projects.



Monsanto to Waive Some GMO Soy Royalties in Paraguay

Monsanto Co has agreed to waive the collection of royalties for the use of technology for RoundUp Ready soybeans in Paraguay starting next year, the South American country's main farm groups said.

Reuters reports that the deal would end a months-long spat between the company and growers in the world's No. 4 soybean exporter.

The biotech company charges farmers $4 per tonne of soybeans produced using the Roundup Ready strain, which is resistant to glyphosate-based herbicides and is present in about 95 percent of the beans produced in the South American country.

The company had cited an agreement signed with farming associations in 2004 that established payments for the use of its seed technology.

It has long said the deal was meant to apply until 2014 and that its royalty rights remain in place for as long as there are valid patents on the technology anywhere in the world, Reuters reports.

In the middle of the dispute, the government of President Federico Franco authorized the sale of Monsanto's Intacta RR2 Pro seeds, which also help protect crops from caterpillars.

A Paraguayan judge last month rejected a request by soy farmers to block Monsanto from collecting royalty payments for use of Roundup Ready seeds. The growers had argued that the U.S. company's patent on the genetically modified strain had expired.



Claas Celebrates 100 Years of Business

Over the last century, CLAAS has evolved from a small manufacturer of straw binders into a global leader of agricultural implement innovations. August Claas founded the company in 1913 in Germany, and was soon joined by his three brothers - Bernhard, Franz Jr. and Theo -- to form the company "Gerbuder Claas."

In 1921, the "knotter" was patented as a device designed to create perfect knots. Over the next 90 years, the knotter would go on to become the hallmark of CLAAS.

Later in the decade, the company expanded to the fertilizer spreader before being persuaded to explore the combine harvester market. Manufacturing of combines began in 1936 and has become a staple of CLAAS.

Since the first combine rolled off the line, CLAAS has sold over 440,000 units worldwide. In fact, the 450,000th combine is scheduled to drive off the LEXION production line in Omaha, Nebraska in the Spring of 2013.

As productivity and demand grew, CLAAS expanded beyond the borders of Germany. In 1958, a plant was constructed in Metz, France, to produce balers; the first reciprocating plunger balers were built in 1961, and the first sliding plunger balers were manufactured in 1967. Over 280,000 balers have been assembled at the Metz facility in the last six decades.

CLAAS also took a step in tractor development with the 2003 major acquisition of French manufacturer Renault Agriculture. In 2008 CLAAS fully purchased Renault and the French workforce accounts for nearly a third of all CLAAS employees.

While European expansion was taking place, CLAAS was also focusing on reaching the American market. CLAAS of America was founded as an import and distribution firm in 1979 in Columbus, Ind.

The company quickly became a market leader in the sales and services of the JAGUAR forage harvester. During the late 1990s, a new factory for the production of LEXION combine harvesters was built in Omaha, Neb. Here, the largest capacity, most efficient combines in the world roll off the line in yellow and black paint.

Today, CLAAS maintains 11 production facilities around the globe. Along with four facilities in Germany, the seven global plants are spread out from Hungary to India and from Argentina to Russia. All told, CLAAS employs more than 9,000 workers worldwide.

Under the guidance of second- and third-generation CLAAS family members, Helmut Claas and his daughter Cathrina Claas-Muhlhauser, the company has stayed true to its roots as a family-run business. They have seen CLAAS become the fourth-largest agricultural equipment manufacturer in the world and the global market leader in the production of self-propelled forage harvesters.

As CLAAS enters its 100th year as a family-owned agricultural manufacturer, the company is releasing a book chronicling the past century of innovation. Titled "100 Years of Harvesting Excellence", the book contains nearly 400 pages on the history of CLAAS. The book is currently available on deliusklasing.com, and will be available in bookstores this spring.