Wednesday April 17 Ag News

Nebraska Agribusiness Club opens awards nomination to the agribusiness community

The Nebraska Agribusiness Club would like to announce that nomination forms for the Public Service to Agriculture and New Horizon awards are now available.  The Public Service to Agriculture award has been presented annually since 1967.  The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Nebraska agriculture and Nebraska agribusiness.  The New Horizon Award is an award that recognizes individuals 40 years of age and younger who are upcoming leaders in the agricultural industry.

Nominations for both awards are due by July 15, 2013.  The nomination forms, guidelines and more information can be found at NebraskaAgribusinessClub.org or by e-mail at nebraskaagribusinessclub@gmail.com.  Nomination forms do not need to come only from club members.



Midwest Dairy Announces 2012-2013 Fuel Up to Play 60 Program Advisors of the Year

Twelve adult leaders from across the Midwest have been named Fuel Up to Play 60 Program Advisors of the Year.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program created in partnership with Midwest Dairy Council and the NFL, in collaboration with USDA, and provided by the Midwest Dairy Council in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. The program encourages students to eat healthy, be active, and make positive, healthy changes in their schools and communities.

Leaders chosen as Program Advisors of the Year have taken an active role in their respective schools, encouraging and empowering students to get involved in Fuel Up to Play 60. They have also helped their schools and students earn recognition, rewards and funding to support wellness initiatives. This year’s honorees in the Midwest include:
-    Alan Sarka, Neihardt Elementary - Millard, Neb.
-    Penny Arey, Indianola Middle School - Indianola, Iowa
-    Jeffery Arellano, Gardiner Elementary - Wichita, Kan.
-    Michele Brown, Lamar Elementary - Lamar, Ark.
-    Wendy Starwalt, Carrie Busey Elementary - Savoy, Ill.
-    Greg Ulrich and Matt Moore, Sunnyside Elementary - New Brighton, Minn.
-    Julie Dwyer, Pond Elementary - Grover, Mo.
-    Leah Swedberg and Chelsea Hendricks, West Fargo High School - West Fargo, N.D.
-    Benito Rodriguez and Jason Bruce, Woonsocket School - Woonsocket, S.D.

“These leaders have gone above and beyond to connect with their students and get them excited about the Fuel Up to Play 60 program,” said Molly Pelzer, RD, LD, senior vice president of Midwest Dairy Council. “Across the Midwest, they are creating healthier schools and healthier futures for our youth. They have each set a tremendous example for current and future program advisors to follow.”

Any adult enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60 can become a program advisor. To learn more about Fuel Up to Play 60 program advisors visit http://school.fueluptoplay60.com/welcome/program-advisor.php.



UNL Graduate Student Conducts Biomass Research

            Eastern red cedar trees are becoming a nuisance tree, growing where they are not wanted. But instead of removing and wasting the trees, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student is trying to simplify a way to use the material for good.

            Adam Smith, a first-year natural resource sciences graduate student, is conducting research that could help people throughout Nebraska use eastern red cedar trees in a non-wasteful and even helpful way.

            Smith, who graduated from UNL in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in fisheries and wildlife, is attempting to estimate the volume of woody material a property has available for biomass utilization purposes, often in the form of woodchips and used as a heating fuel, based on the height and diameter of the trees on the property. When Smith began his job at the Nebraska Forest Service as the forestry project coordinator, he saw an opportunity to assist landowners in using unwanted red cedars as an economic resource.

            "The alternative to woody biomass utilization is to pile the trees and destroy them, when they could be a source of income," Smith said.

            After selecting forest inventory points throughout the state, Smith collected data on the location, species, diameter and height of trees at these points. Research by Tala Awada, professor and interim director of the School of Natural Resources, is used to estimate the mass of red cedar trees per cubic foot. The estimate of tree mass per cubic foot and Smith's volume estimate together will determine the total weight of each tree and therefore estimate total available woody material in the area.

            Smith gathered data from across the state and saw a noticeable difference between regions. Although more moisture in eastern Nebraska makes it easy for the trees to establish rapidly in the region, red cedars also can grow in harsh conditions. In western Nebraska, this allows the trees to outgrow other vegetation struggling with hot, dry conditions. Since there is more available land in the west, the trees have more space to grow as well.

            "If the trees have the opportunity to get a foothold, they will," Smith said. "And the current drought conditions offer the perfect opportunity for these trees to continue expanding."

            Smith's research will give professionals the opportunity to calculate how much woody material is available to be used as biomass fuel and offer landowners help in finding a market for it. According to Smith, the landowner can benefit not only from the profit from selling the wood, but also can reclaim the land where the red cedars had been growing.

            "An outdoorsman will appreciate the ability to walk through the grasslands of Nebraska again," he said.



Livestock Disaster Protection Act Introduced in the House of Representatives

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) supports the efforts of Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) in introducing legislation that would provide a safety net for livestock owners across the nation. Under the Livestock Disaster Protection Act - the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) would be extended for five years and would apply retroactively to cover losses in fiscal years 2012 and 2013.

“While cattlemen and women need the certainty that would be provided through a permanent disaster program in a full five year farm bill and we continue to work toward that goal, we appreciate the efforts of all members of Congress in keeping disaster assistance part of the national dialogue,” said Scott George, NCBA President and a dairy and beef producer from Cody, Wyo. “The continued drought which has now covered more than 70 percent of cattle country has impacted all of our ranches. Cattle producers need the tools necessary to manage the risks associated with mother-nature.”

The nation’s livestock producers have been hard hit, with the current drought across the country only adding to the effects caused by multi-year droughts in some of the largest cattle production areas. The drought has been a major factor in lower yields and subsequent high costs for hay and feed grains, forcing many ranchers to sell their cattle.

“The risk our farmers, ranchers and all livestock owners take is undeniable,” said Rep. Noem. “The extreme weather we see across America - from drought to flood to freezes to the extreme heat - demonstrates the importance of providing a strong safety net. My bill gives some long-term certainty to our livestock owners so they'll keep on taking the risk to contribute to our state and nation's robust agriculture industry.”

Rep. Noem had previously introduced this legislation on Apr. 26, 2012. The House of Representatives voted to approve livestock disaster assistance on Aug. 2, 2012 by a vote of 223-197.



National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan a Needed Commitment to Building the U.S. Aquaculture Industry

The American Soybean Association (ASA) and the Soy Aquaculture Alliance (SAA) joined in welcoming today’s announcement of the White House’s National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan.  The soybean industry is the largest provider of protein for the aquaculture industry, and has been advocating the development of a domestic marine aquaculture industry for several years.  “Through this plan, there is a commitment to education, regulatory streamlining, and better monitoring and data,” said ASA President Danny Murphy, a soybean farmer from Canton, Miss. “It reflects a serious and thoughtful plan not only to tackle big problems, but also to take advantage of opportunities to work collaboratively with industry to build a domestic aquaculture industry.”

ASA and SAA pointed to the plan’s acknowledgment that federal inefficiencies in the permitting and approvals process for domestic aquaculture operations has been a significant hindrance in the industry’s growth.

“The Plan notes that more than 90 percent of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, and we face a trade shortfall within the seafood industry of more than $11 billion, a number that grows annually,” added Steve Hart, SAA Executive Director. “The steps in the plan will go a long way toward establishing and nurturing a robust domestic aquaculture industry to help the American seafood industry take advantage of an area for huge potential growth.” While global production of fish from aquaculture grew more than 60 percent between 2000 and 2008, production in the United States remains stagnant.

Hart has been invited to discuss the intricacies of the industry in an address to the National Science and Technology Council’s Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture, a key partner in the plan’s component to address and involve industry.

The National Ocean Policy created a National Ocean Council through which agencies can work together cooperatively to share information and streamline decision-making. The Council developed the Implementation Plan over the past two years with extensive input from public and private sector stakeholders at all levels, including ASA and SAA, to focus on improving coordination to speed federal permitting decisions; better manage resources; develop and disseminate sound scientific information; and collaborate more effectively with public and private-sector stakeholders.

“A very positive aspect of the plan,” added Murphy, “is that it ensures federal agencies collaborate efficiently in the interest of protecting the environment while at the same time reducing redundancies and red tape, all without creating additional regulations.”



EPA Releases March Biodiesel Figures

The EPA said Wednesday that 109 million gallons of biodiesel were produced in March.  Biodiesel, an EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel that has exceeded targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for two consecutive years, is reported under the Biomass-based Diesel category under the RFS.  The numbers show a total of more than 127 million gallons of Biomass-based Diesel for March, but that total also includes production of renewable diesel. With the March numbers, year-to-date biodiesel production stands at just under 259 million gallons.

Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil and animal fats, biodiesel is the first and only EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel that's produced on a commercial scale across the U.S. It is produced in nearly every state in the country and is used in existing diesel engines without modification. In 2012 the biodiesel industry produced more than 1 billion gallons, supporting more than 60,000 jobs across the country.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 4/12/2013

According to EIA data, ethanol production averaged 832,000 barrels per day (b/d) — or 34.94 million gallons daily. That is down 22,000 b/d from the week before. The four-week average for ethanol production stood at 824,000 b/d for an annualized rate of 12.63 billion gallons.

Stocks of ethanol stood at 17.5 million barrels. That is a 1.6% decrease from last week.

Imports of ethanol showed zero b/d, unchanged from last week.

Gasoline demand for the week averaged 352.1 million gallons daily.

Expressed as a percentage of daily gasoline demand, daily ethanol production was 9.92%.

On the co-products side, ethanol producers were using 12.615 million bushels of corn to produce ethanol and 92,854 metric tons of livestock feed, 82,780 metric tons of which were distillers grains. The rest is comprised of corn gluten feed and corn gluten meal. Additionally, ethanol producers were providing 4.33 million pounds of corn oil daily.



Cost-Saving Measure to Upgrade Ethanol to Butanol

Scientists today reported a discovery that could speed an emerging effort to replace ethanol in gasoline with a substantially better fuel additive called butanol, which some experts regard as "the gasoline of the future." Their report on this discovery, which holds potential to reduce the costs of converting ethanol factories to production of butanol, came at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.

Duncan Wass explained that ethanol has become a leading biofuel -- millions of gallons added to gasoline around the country each year -- despite several disadvantages. Ethanol, for instance, has a lower energy content per gallon than gasoline, which can reduce fuel mileage. Ethanol also has a corrosive effect on car engines and can't easily be used in amounts higher than 10-15 percent.

"Ethanol actually is a poor alternative fuel," Wass said. "Butanol is much better. It contains about 30 percent more energy per gallon than ethanol, is easier to handle and more of it can be blended into each gallon of gasoline. In fact, you could fuel a car on pure butanol and it would run absolutely fine. That's the basis for butanol's emerging reputation as 'the gasoline of the future.'"

Efforts already have begun to convert some ethanol factories in the Corn Belt to production of butanol, Wass explained. Those factories currently process corn into alcohol with the same fermentation technology used to make beer and beverage alcohol. Converting those factories to ferment corn into butanol would require costly modifications, estimated at $10 million-$15 million for a typical plant.

Wass and his group at the University of Bristol in the U.K. are reporting the discovery of a new family of catalysts that could enable those factories to continue producing ethanol, with the ethanol then converted into butanol. With the catalysts, ethanol factories would require less retrofitting to produce butanol. Catalysts speed up chemical reactions by lowering the amount of energy needed need to jumpstart reactions. They enable production of hundreds of everyday products, and many of the proteins that sustain life are catalysts called enzymes.

Their report was part of a symposium on renewable fuels and catalysts.

"These new catalysts are much better than any previously in existence," Wass said. "There's a long way to go before they are commercialized, but we are reporting a fundamental advance in that direction. Quite simply, they are the world's best catalysts for making the gasoline of the future."

The new catalysts are more selective, solving a difficult problem in which current catalysts churn out butanol as well as unwanted products. Wass said the new catalysts yield 95 percent butanol out of the total products from each batch in laboratory-scale tests.

Wass' team acknowledges funding from BP.



Brazil's Crushers Clip 2012-13 Soy View to 82.1 MMT

Brazil's Soybean Crushers Association (ABIOVE) Wednesday trimmed its forecast for the 2012-13 soybean crop to 82.1 million metric tons (mmt) from 82.3 mmt last month.  The industry figure is very close to the 81.8 mmt forecast by the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry last week but well below the 83.5 mmt predicted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

With the Brazilian soybean harvest approaching 85% complete, it should now be clearer how big the harvest actually is and trading firms are in a good position to assess that. However, big variations in private forecasts remain, between 81 and 84 mmt.

Brazil will crush 38.3 mmt of soybeans in 2013-14, up 20% on last year.  Processing of soybeans slipped to 1.86 mmt in February, the lowest level since 2006, reflecting tight inter-harvest stocks and the late start to this year's harvest due to rain in the center-west.

Soy complex exports are expected to reach $28.3 million in 2013, up 8% on the year before as greater volumes make up for lower prices.



Survey Supports Need for Continued Food Conversation

According to a new survey, American moms may be building their grocery lists based on misinformation about how their food was grown and raised.

The Gate-to-Plate survey of more than 1,000 moms was commissioned by CommonGround, a grassroots coalition of farm women who want to foster conversations among all women - on farms and in cities - about where our food comes from and how it is raised. Survey results, which have been distributed nationally to a wide variety of media outlets, highlight the amount of confusion surrounding the labels attached to certain foods and what some production practices actually mean.

CommonGround is a grass-roots movement to foster conversation among women - on farms and in cities - about where our food comes from and how it is grown. The National Corn Growers Association, the United Soybean Board and their state affiliates developed CommonGround to give farm women the opportunity to engage with consumers through the use of a wide range of activities.

Through the study, CommonGround provides not only insight into what questions consumers have about food but also offers the women who make up CommonGround, volunteer family farmers, as a resource for those interested in finding answers and having an open, honest discussion.

"The CommonGround program grew out of a new demand from consumers for food information," said Kentucky CommonGround farmer-volunteer Ashley Reding, who raises soybeans, corn and winter wheat in Howardstown, Ky. "The goal of CommonGround is to be a resource to provide moms with facts and information that can help them make informed food choices. As a farmer and a mother, I want individuals to feel empowered to make food choices based on facts and not fear."

The study found many areas where confusion may be causing consumers to select specific products including:

ORGANIC FOODS
Eighty-four percent of moms surveyed believe that organic food is farmed without any pesticides, fertilizers or herbicides.

The facts -Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used and organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides. However, more than 50 synthetic substances may be used in organic crop production if other substances fail to prevent or control the target pest All foods - whether organic or nonorganic - must meet certain health and safety regulations before being sold to consumers.

GMO FOODS
While one-fourth of the moms who participated in the survey said they had never heard of genetically modified foods, the majority of moms question the safety of GMO foods. Nearly half - 43 percent - of moms in the survey believe that GMO food is nutritionally and chemically different than non-GMO food.

The facts - All GMO foods are still exhaustively assessed for safety by groups like the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture. In the 12-plus years that modern biotech crops have been commercially grown, there has not been a single documented case of an ecosystem disrupted or a person made ill. GMO foods are nutritionally and chemically identical to food grown from non-biotech crops.

HORMONES IN MEAT
More than half of moms in the survey said they believe it is important to feed their families hormone-free poultry and pork - even though it may cost more to do so.

The facts - There's no need to pay extra for poultry or pork that's labeled hormone-free. USDA prohibits farmers from using hormones to raise chickens and pigs.

ALL-NATURAL FOODS
More than half - 53 percent - of moms surveyed said it's important to purchase food labeled "all natural," whenever possible, because it is a more nutritious choice for their family.

The facts - All-natural doesn't mean nutritional benefits. As required by USDA, meat, poultry and egg products labeled as "natural" must be minimally processed and contain no artificial ingredients. However, the natural label does not include any standards regarding farm practices and only applies to processing of meat and egg products.

LOCAL FOODS
More than half of moms surveyed said locally produced foods are always better for the environment.

The facts - Purchasing locally grown food is a great way to support farmers in your community but does not always benefit the environment. Sometimes it takes more energy to grow and harvest local food than it does to grow it elsewhere and have it shipped.

FAMILY FARMS
Seven out of 10 moms surveyed believe the family farm is dying in the United States.

The facts - Between 96 and 98 percent of the 2.2 million farms in the United States are family farms. Seven out of ten moms in the survey agree that farmers should be a key resource for individuals seeking information related to food and farming, yet only one out of five moms surveyed seeks information from farmers.

Have a question about your food? Find CommonGround online:  www.FindOurCommonGround.com. 



NMPF Praises Senate Agreement on Agriculture Worker Component of Immigration Reform

As a bipartisan group of Senators introduced legislation this morning dealing with comprehensive immigration reform, members of the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) held a press conference Wednesday highlighting the crucial stake American agriculture, including dairy farming, has in the debate.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), which is a founding member of the AWC, has made fixing the broken immigration system one of its highest priorities over the past decade. NMPF’s President & CEO Jerry Kozak told press conference attendees that “what we’re working with lawmakers to do is not merely fixing a broken system, but scrapping an old set of unworkable rules and replacing it with something better.”

“The approach in this agreement is better for employers, better for employees, better for law enforcement, better for the economy – better for America,” Kozak added.

Kozak identified four key items essential to dairy farmers that any eventual deal on immigration reform must contain. These include:
1.      Establishing a blue card for experienced agricultural workers. This provides a means for farmers to keep their existing workforce, including those who may not be legally documented. Dairy farmers should not lose experienced, loyal employees as part of this effort.
2.      Creating a new visa system for future workers that is easy to use and affordable. Current efforts won’t be worth it if the resulting product is too cumbersome, costly, and confusing for farmers to use.
3.      Assuring the future flow of new workers so that as the economy and jobs shift and evolve. Dairy farmers must have a means to recruit and hire new dairy workers for a long period of time.
4.      Eliminating the seasonality element of any ag visa program such as H2A, which prevented U.S. dairy farmers from using it. Dairy farmers need relief from having to demonstrate the seasonal or temporary nature of employment.

Kozak stressed that although much of the work on comprehensive immigration reform has been done, there is still more to do. Negotiations will continue as members of the Senate debate the legislation, and the discussion also begins in the House of Representatives.

To learn more about the AWC, visit www.agworkforcecoalition.com.



Beef Checkoff Returns to National Harbor Waterfront Annual Wine & Food Festival

The beef checkoff, via the Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI), returns to the shores of the Potomac River on May 4-5 for the 2013 National Harbor Wine and Food Festival.

Checkoff Executive Chef Dave Zino will be on the Viking Cooking Stage in the main festival tent at 2 p.m. Saturday to demonstrate how to bridge the gap between healthy recipes and flavorful dishes, without using the crutches of fat and sodium.

Back in the beef checkoff tent throughout the weekend, the NEBPI plans to distribute information about the nutritional value and versatility of lean beef, including recipes for healthier cooking; and Roseda Beef, a sustainable farm located just outside of Baltimore, Md., will be sampling tasting portions of their Black Angus beef.

Festival-goers will be challenged to test their Beef IQ at the tent through various games, including Pin the Cut on the Cow, to win coveted “I Love Beef” swag.

In addition, beef street teams, including several members of the National Beef Ambassador Program, will be on-site to accompany the program’s lively mascot, Miss Patty Melt, as she interacts with the crowd along the piers on the Potomac waterfront.

As in years past, the beef checkoff tent will be located on the raised platform just above “The Awakening” sculpture between the piers at National Harbor. Simply follow your nose to find the beef!

More information about the National Harbor Wine & Food Festival, including show info and tickets, can be found online at wineandfoodnh.com.