Tuesday October 21 Ag News

Ak-Sar-Ben Carcass Results for Cuming County 4-H Exhibitors

Cuming County members placed well in the livestock carcass results that were just released from the 87th annual Ak-Sar-Ben Livestock exposition according to University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator in Cuming County Larry Howard.

In the Sheep contest, Kennedie Ott of Wisner placed 9th with 134 pound lamb that had a 77.72 pound carcass, 3.,91 inch loin eye area, .17 inch fat.  She also had the 42nd place carcass, both receiving purples.  Chase Ott placed 31st also receiving a purple.  Cuming County 4-H exhibitors also received four blue ribbons.

In the Beef carcass contest, Heath Schroeder of West Point placed 26th with his 1280 pound Calf Challenge Market Steer that had an 815 pound carcass, a 13.3 inch rib eye area, .35 inch fat, graded low choice and received a purple, Cuming County 4-H exhibitors also receive one blue and one white ribbon.

In the Swine contest, Anna Karnopp of Oakland placed 40th and received a purple.  Cuming County 4-H members also received five blue, nine red, and one white ribbon.

Complete results for Cuming County 4-H exhibitors are as follows:
Sheep Carcass Contest
Purple: Kennedie Ott, Wisner x2; Chase Ott, Wisner
Blue:  Tymarie Ott, Wisner x2; Chase Ott, Wisner; Kennedie Ott, Wisner

Beef Carcass Contest
Purple:  Heath Schroeder, West Point
Blue:  Emily Ludwig, Wisner
White:  Nathan Groth, Beemer

Swine Carcass Contest
Purple:  Anna Karnopp, Oakland
Blue:  Elizabeth Karnopp, Oakland; Anna Karnopp, Oakland; Kate Gnad, West Point; Megan Groth, Beemer; Jamie Plagge, West Point
Red:  Kate Gnad, West Point; Allison Guenther, West Point; Elizabeth Karnopp, Oakland; Blake Guenther, West Point x2; Tiffany Plagge, West Point; Nathan Groth, Beemer; Hunter Schroeder, West Point; Nathan Groth, Beemer
White:  Hunter Schroeder, West Point



Minimizing Storage and Feeding Losses of Round Bale Hay
Larry Howard, UNL Extension Educator, Cuming County

Storing big round hay bales by lining them up along the fence row may be easy, but it is not economical. Baled forage probably constitutes the highest percentage of winter feed cost we have invested in a cow. The production of hay uses a large amount of resources and the ration of beef cattle can be affected by the hay quality. Storing dry hay on the ground without cover is the worst possible storage technique. Results found from ranch research done in the Sandhills of Nebraska by the University of Nebraska Extension in 2005 – 2008 reported no significant nutrient changes in total dry matter pounds, pounds of crude protein or pounds of total digestible nutrients on native hay and alfalfa plots. However, visual damage losses after one year between covered and uncovered with twine or net wrap are reported at (http://go.unl.edu/49pk). Losses after two years of storage are reported at (http://go.unl.edu/okud).

There’s no one “right way” for everyone when it comes to hay storage. Producers should consider three factors in determining their optimum storage method.

1. Look at hay quality, or value. There’s a big dollar difference in a 25% loss on $120/ton of hay vs. $40/ton of hay. The better the quality, the more you’ll save putting it under storage.

2. Evaluate the likelihood of spoilage in your climate. Spoilage, or weathering, is the result of moisture getting into bales, and temperature accelerating bacterial breakdown of the cellulose. Warmer temperatures combined with moisture increase bale deterioration. Wind can also influence drying time. Moisture gets into bales in three ways: rainfall, snowmelt, and humidity. The tops of bales absorb moisture from rain and snowmelt, the bottom wicks moisture from the ground.

3. Consider the length of time bales will be exposed to weathering. First cutting forages are more susceptible than hay harvested in the fall, depending on when it’s fed. Once you’ve considered your elements, choose a storage method that best fits your needs.

Research from past studies show outdoor storage losses range from 5-35% of which can be reduced by 66% with indoor storage and be reduced by 50% with good plastic covering outdoors.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STORAGE TECHNIQUES
Make a dense bale: It will shed more precipitation, sag less, and have less surface area to absorb moisture. By using net wrap you will reduce bale sag and maintain bale shape. In addition, net wrap makes a tight, smooth surface that will resist weathering, insects, and rodents. Store bales on a well drained location with a 4-6 inch coarse rock base that will minimize bottom spoilage. Store bales end-to-end in long lines in a northwest to southeast direction whenever possible. Space adjacent lines at least 10 feet apart. Stacking bales usually increased losses. Locate bale rows away from fences and fields and it is recommended to cover hay if keeping more than one year.



CONTROL WINTER ANNUAL WEEDS NOW
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

Pennycress, mustards, henbit, and downy brome may be getting started in your alfalfa.  Treat them now if you want to avoid heavy weed pressure next spring.

This has been a nice fall.  Abundant moisture and moderate temperatures have blessed many areas and much alfalfa still is green after a few overnight freezes.

I hate to spoil this pleasant scenario, but it also has been a great fall for winter annual weeds to get started in that green alfalfa.  Check your fields and you might find lots of small henbit plants or mustard rosettes or short grass seedlings of downy brome.  This robust start suggests heavy weed growth next spring.  If left uncontrolled they could grow rapidly, reducing alfalfa yield, thinning stands, and lowering forage quality.

To avoid next spring’s weed infestation, spray fields before soils freeze up.  Probably the three best herbicides to use right now are metribuzin, Sinbar, and Velpar.  All three do an excellent job of controlling pennycress, mustards, and downy brome.  Raptor might be a better choice, though, if henbit is your biggest problem.

Now you might be thinking – I can wait until early next spring to spend money on these herbicides to spray for these weeds.  And you’re right – you can wait.  The risk with this thinking, though, is that spring spraying must be done before alfalfa greens up or you will injure your alfalfa plants.  Usually, there are only a few days in spring where alfalfa is dormant, the weeds are actively growing, and it’s not too wet or windy.  Many times, fields don’t get sprayed at all or they get sprayed late and alfalfa suffers some setback.

Control weeds now in your alfalfa.  That way you won't be plagued by them next spring.



Nebraska Fence Laws and Responsibility of Landowners
Jim Jansen Cedar and Knox Counties Extension Educator
Dave Aiken, UNL Extension Agricultural Law Specialist 

Nebraska fence laws and the responsibility of landowners have evolved over time since the first established statute in 1867. According to current fence laws in Nebraska landowners are required to equally split the cost of establishing and maintaining a fence to divide their properties if either of the parties would like to establish the boundary. Landowners may also work out a mutual agreement on the cost of establishing and maintaining a fence according to their own requirements. The provisions established between the two parties in the mutual agreement may better align with their unique circumstance and serves as a better solution than other legal recourse. 

A general rule of thumb landowners in Nebraska have used to establish or maintain fence lines is to meet in the middle of the boundary and each individual looks to their right to identify their responsible portion. The part of the fence line to the individual’s right is the portion of the fence line the landowner would either establish or maintain throughout the year. 

Current fence laws define the types of fences that each party must pay equally to cover if one of the landowners would like to establish the boundary and a mutual agreement could not be reached. Landowners are encouraged to work with their neighbors when deciding the proper arrangement for establishing or maintaining a proper fence line. Other legal measures forcing the uncompliant party to cooperate may be costly and take a considerable amount of time. Seeking the services of a lawyer along with filing a court case requiring a judge to settle the dilemma significantly increase the cost of establishing a fence line.   



Iowa Corn Collegiate Advisory Team Select 20 Students from Across the State

20 Iowa college students have been named to the fourth Iowa Corn Collegiate Advisory Team (CAT). 

The Iowa Corn CAT is sponsored by the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB).  The Iowa Corn CAT assists the ICGA and ICPB in developing programs that target and enhance Iowa Corn’s relationship with students who are pursuing careers in agricultural production and agriculture business and industries.

"The Iowa Corn Collegiate Advisory Team is a great opportunity for students to engage and connect with the agriculture industry," said Lowell Appleton, an Iowa Corn director and chair of the committee that oversees the program.   "We are looking forward to working with these talented students on programs and ideas to help promote and grow the industry."

Participants of the selected team include: 
-- Titan Immel, Adair, DMACC-Ankeny Campus
-- Will Vande Voort,New Sharon, Dordt College
-- Cole Birchmier, Story City, Ellsworth Community College
-- Tessa Otto, Murray, Graceland University
-- Angela Petersen, Cedar Falls, Hawkeye Community College
-- Nicolas Davis, Humboldt, Iowa Central Community College
-- Ashley Smeby, Klemme, Iowa State University
-- Kalli Weber, Mapleton, Iowa State University
-- Kaitlin Ihns, Wilton, Iowa State University
-- Rebecca Haugland, Solon, Iowa State University
-- Haley Banwart, West Bend, Iowa State University
-- Brogan Bulecheck, Centerville, Indian Hills Community College
-- Ben Guthrie, Hopkinton, Kirkwood Community College
-- Katie Gubbels, Laurel, Neb., Morningside College
-- Whitley Frieden, Joy, Muscatine Community College
-- Derek Counsell, Orchard, North Iowa Community College
-- Natalie Te Grootenhuis, Hospers, Northwestern College
-- Skyler Wright, Keokuk, Northeast Iowa Community College
-- Haley Vandenberg, Farmington, Southeastern Community College
-- Matt Mitchell, Indianola, Southwestern Community College

The first Iowa Corn CAT meeting will be held in November at the Iowa Corn offices in Johnston. The students were selected to the team for a one-year term.



Brannaman Back at Home with ISU Extension and Outreach

For Nancy Brannaman, it was time to come home.

The Iowa State alum had traveled the world as a Foreign Service officer with the U.S. State Department, but she and John, her husband and fellow ISU alum, felt a pull back towards life in Iowa.

And what better place to land than where she started her career in the 1980s -- with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach?

Brannaman was recently hired as ISU Extension and Outreach's director of operations, and she couldn't be happier to be home.

As director of operations, she is Extension and Outreach's chief financial officer and responsible for planning, organizing, directing and controlling Extension and Outreach operations. Four Extension and Outreach units -- Finance, Conference Planning and Management, Extension Distribution Center and Extension Information Technology -- report to her.

"I was really pleased to have an opportunity to come back to Iowa State University, back to Extension," said Brannaman, who worked as an ISU Extension and Outreach area management specialist in east-central Iowa for seven years during the 1980s. "I thoroughly enjoyed working for Extension. When I saw this opportunity to come back and work as the Director of Operations, I thought, 'This is perfect for me.' My husband and I both wanted to come back to Iowa, so here I am."

The Brannamans worked in Ukraine in the early 1990s following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and in 2000, Nancy decided she wanted to work abroad again. After passing written and oral Foreign Service exams, she was hired by the State Department, with Ukraine as her first post.

From Ukraine, they moved to Baku, Azerbaijan, capital of the former Soviet republic in the Caucasus Mountains, a moderate Muslim nation.

Brannaman called it "one of our most favorite tours," as she and her husband "traveled the country in our Ford Explorer and had a really good time learning about the history and culture of the Caucasus region."

Another former Soviet republic -- Uzbekistan -- was next on the docket. Located in central Asia, Tashkent, Uzbekistan was 10 time zones away from Washington, D.C., and very different culturally.

"It was very historic and had beautiful Islamic art," she said. "One of the early leaders of Uzbekistan made many significant contributions to algebra and astronomy, and built one of the first planetariums in the world."

Following a stateside stint in Washington where she helped support six European embassies as "the eyes, ears and feet of those embassies in Washington" it was back to Europe -- this time, Albania. She spent eight months studying Albanian with a language tutor and was responsible for management, human resources and finance while there.

She then spent another four years in Washington at the State Department working with European embassies before going abroad again to the world's newest nation, South Sudan, which declared independence from Sudan in 2011.

In Juba, South Sudan, the new nation's capital, she helped build the embassy's operations from the inside out, training and hiring a staff largely comprised of locals.

"It was a challenge because the embassy didn't have any financial systems installed," she said. "All of the work had been done (remotely) in Washington or Khartoum, Sudan. But the South Sudanese employees were tremendously hard-working and dedicated."

Following 25 years of civil war which had put a tremendous strain on the Sudanese people, the new nation's residents were eager to learn. For example, Brannaman said she trained guards in finance, human resources and purchasing and procurement.

"After 25 years of civil war there was tremendous unemployment, so many people underemployed," she said. "There were great candidates as we started our staff."

The Brannamans lived in an apartment which was fashioned from an old 20-foot wooden shipping container, fully furnished: they were allowed only 750 pounds of personal belongings. During down time, she and her husband walked the streets and markets of Juba, and never felt any more afraid or vigilant than they would in a large U.S. city.

"Americans and Westerners are welcome in South Sudan," she said. "The South Sudanese realize what a help Americans and Westerners have been in creating the country of South Sudan and helping the country get on its feet."

Still, when the new opportunity with ISU Extension and Outreach presented itself, it was impossible to turn down.

"There's just something about the friendliness, the genuineness, the helpful nature of Iowans and Midwesterners that has really kept us attached to Iowa over the years," she said.

After 14 years spent with the State Department -- much of it abroad -- the Brannamans brought their stateside life out of storage. John worked jobs concurrent with Nancy's posts, but he is still in South Sudan finishing his latest position. They collaborated on buying a house over email, and Nancy says she is waiting for the third and final load of their belongings to arrive: they were stored in warehouses in the Washington, D.C., area while they traveled.

Nancy is excited about settling in with a more stable stateside position.

In her new position, Brannaman wants to use Extension and Outreach resources to create a more efficient operation that moves forward by sharing resources.

"One of the biggest things I want to do is help create synergies," she said. "Working with all (Extension and Outreach) groups, I'll see at a high level what the needs are, what the ideas are and how to take people, expertise and talent together to do new things."



USDA to Launch New Farm Bill Program to Help Provide Relief to Farmers Affected by Severe Weather
2014 Farm Bill's APH Yield Exclusion to be Implemented for 2015 Spring Crops

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the implementation of a new Farm Bill initiative that will provide relief to farmers affected by severe weather, including drought. The Actual Production History (APH) Yield Exclusion, available nationwide for farmers of select crops starting next spring, allows eligible producers who have been hit with severe weather to receive a higher approved yield on their insurance policies through the federal crop insurance program.

Spring crops eligible for APH Yield Exclusion include corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, grain sorghum, rice, barley, canola, sunflowers, peanuts, and popcorn. Nearly three-fourths of all acres and liability in the federal crop insurance program will be covered under APH Yield Exclusion.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Risk Management Agency and Farm Service Agency staff worked hard to implement several 2014 Farm Bill programs ahead of schedule, such as the Agricultural Risk Coverage, the Price Loss Coverage, Supplemental Coverage Option and Stacked Income Protection Plan. USDA is now able to leverage data from the Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage to extract the information needed to implement APH Yield Exclusion earlier than expected.

"Key programs launched or extended as part of the 2014 Farm Bill are essential to USDA's commitment to help rural communities grow. These efforts give farmers, ranchers and their families better security as they work to ensure Americans have safe and affordable food," said Vilsack. "By getting other 2014 Farm Bill programs implemented efficiently, we are now able to offer yield exclusion for Spring 2015 crops, providing relief to farmers impacted by severe weather."

The APH Yield Exclusion allows farmers to exclude yields in exceptionally bad years (such as a year in which a natural disaster or other extreme weather occurs) from their production history when calculating yields used to establish their crop insurance coverage. The level of insurance coverage available to a farmer is based on the farmer's average recent yields. In the past, a year of particularly low yields that occurred due to severe weather beyond the farmer's control would reduce the level of insurance coverage available to the farmer in future years. By excluding unusually bad years, farmers will not have to worry that a natural disaster will reduce their insurance coverage for years to come.

Under the new Farm Bill program, yields can be excluded from farm actual production history when the county average yield for that crop year is at least 50 percent below the 10 previous consecutive crop years' average yield.

RMA will provide additional program details in December 2014.

Federal crop insurance, which is sold through private crop insurance agents, offers a variety of options that may impact coverage and premium costs. Producers are encouraged to work with their crop insurance agent to determine the coverage that best meets their risk management needs. Farmers can find a crop insurance agent in their area at: www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html.



Breeding Soybeans That Can Tolerate Heat, Drought

Hot, dry conditions can wreak havoc on a field of soybeans. According to the National Center for Soybean Technology, "drought is the greatest threat to profitability."

Work underway at South Dakota State University may change that. Assistant professor Jai Rohila of the biology and microbiology department is uncovering the molecular mechanisms that lead to drought and heat tolerance. This will help breeders develop soybean varieties that can survive heat and drought.

"Ultimately our goal is to help the farmers in the field," Rohila said.

To do this, he is working with University of Minnesota soybean breeder Jim Orf, who provided Rohila with two varieties of soybeans, one that has greater tolerance to hot, dry conditions, and another that is susceptible. The project, which began in 2010, is supported by the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council.

"Drought and heat are very complicated," Rohila said, because multiple genes affect the plant’s physiological and biochemical response to environmental stressors. "I am going to build a bridge between the physiology and the gene discovery."

By comparing the two soybean varieties, Rohila and graduate student Aayudh Das hope to identify the key genes that lead to increased tolerance. Genes regulate the expression of proteins and chemical signaling pathways that determine the plant’s response to heat and lack of water.

Das has found 90 proteins that are differentially expressed during drought and heat conditions in the tolerant variety. These proteins then interact with enzymes that affect the plant’s metabolism including its ability to produce carbohydrates, lipids and various metabolites including amino acids.

A drought-stressed soybean plant, for instance, closes its pores or stomata to prevent water from escaping; however, this action has a cost--it limits the plant’s ability to take in carbon dioxide and ultimately to make the carbohydrates it needs, Das explained.

Though the researchers have more work to do, Das explained that the next step will be to see if overexpressing these enzymes can further protect the soybean plant.



Fertilizer Prices Remain in Limbo

As harvest progresses, retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the third week of October continue on an level trend, remaining steady with very little price movement.  DAP, MAP, potash, 10-34-0 and anhydrous were slightly higher in price compared to a month previous while urea, UAN28 and UAN32 were a little lower. Neither group featured a significant move in either direction.  DAP had an average price of $583/ton, urea $508/ton, UAN28 $326/ton and UAN32 $372/ton. MAP had an average price of $599/ton, potash $477/ton, 10-34-0 $557/ton and anhydrous $696/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.55/lb.N, anhydrous $0.42/lb.N, UAN28 $0.58/lb.N and UAN32 $0.58/lb.N.

Two of the eight major fertilizers are now double-digits higher in price compared to October 2013, all while commodity prices are significantly lower from a year ago. Urea remains up 15% compared to year earlier, followed by DAP 11% more expensive.  In addition, 10-24-0 is up 7% from a year ago, MAP and anhydrous are each up 6% and UAN28 and UAN32 are both just 1% higher.  Potash remains the only nutrient which is still lower compared to retail prices from a year ago, coming in at about 3% lower than a year ago.



Agriculture, Interior Departments partner to measure conservation impacts on water quality

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced a new partnership agreement today that will provide a clearer picture of the benefits of farmers' conservation practices on the quality of our Nation's water.  Working together, USDA's NRCS and DOI's USGS will quantify the benefits of voluntary agricultural practices at a watershed scale.  This information will strengthen the effectiveness of state and federal nutrient reduction strategies while protecting the privacy of individual farmers.  The agreement was announced at the Mississippi River Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force Meeting.

"On a voluntary basis, the agricultural community has put extensive effort into the management of nutrients and reducing runoff into waterways. This collaboration will help evaluate the impact of farmers' conservation efforts on improving water quality," said Ann Mills, USDA's deputy under secretary for Natural Resources and Environment.

Mills said when hundreds of farms take action in one watershed, it can make a difference-it can help prevent an algal bloom downstream or lessen the need for water treatment plants to treat for nitrates.

The U.S. Geological Survey will now use Natural Resources Conservation Service data on conservation work to factor into its surface water quality models, which track how rivers receive and transport nutrients from natural and human sources to downstream reservoirs and estuaries. This information will help provide a more accurate picture of the conservation systems in the watershed that contribute to water quality improvement and will provide crucial information for voluntary nutrient management strategies and watershed planning.

"This agreement will allow NRCS and USGS to combine resource management capabilities with science, and will give us the information we need to prioritize the most effective conservation strategies so that we can improve the quality of streams throughout the Mississippi River Basin," said Lori Caramanian, DOI deputy assistant secretary for Water and Science.

Working together, NRCS and USGS will develop conservation intensity data sets that reflect the value of conservation actions, but do not reveal private information about individual farms, ranches or forests. Protecting the trust relationship between NRCS and farmers and their private information protected by law is vital to the continued success of voluntary conservation on private lands.

"We know our farmers are doing great work to protect our natural resources. Our goal with this partnership is to be able to better recognize these achievements and provide conservation and water quality management communities with science-based information for improving water quality," Mills said. "Farmers invest heavily in conservation systems to improve water quality, and we want to aid their decisions with the best science and information available."

The conservation intensity products developed through the agreement will provide a uniform representation of conservation activities for use in water quality assessments at local, regional, and national scales. Water quality and land resource managers will therefore have the assurance that they are using consistent and accurate information on conservation activities and a common platform for discussing conservation benefits.



Storage May be Less Severe Than Anticipated

The large size of fall-harvested crops in the United States has raised very real concerns about the ability to readily store the record supply of crops available this year. According to a University of Illinois agricultural economist, supplies that exceed permanent storage capacity require the use of temporary storage facilities or may require delayed harvest in some circumstances. However, weather-related harvest delays to date and a rapid rate of consumption mean that overall storage issues may be less severe than feared this year.

"The supply of crops to be stored in the fall of the year consists of the inventory already in store as well as the newly harvested crops," explained Darrel Good. "The USDA's September Grain Stocks report showed the inventory of feed grains, wheat, and soybeans on Sept. 1, 2014, at 3.528 billion bushels, 422 million bushels larger than the inventory of the previous year. The October Crop Production report estimated that the corn, sorghum, and soybean harvest would total 18.806 billion bushels, 1.134 billion bushels larger than last year's harvest. The fall supply of feed grains, wheat, and soybeans is estimated to be 22.334 billion bushels, 1.556 billion bushels larger than the supply of a year earlier. The majority (62 percent) of the total year-over- year increase in supply comes from larger corn supplies."

Each year, the USDA provides an estimate of on-farm and off-farm grain storage capacity based on surveys conducted in December. Total storage capacity as of Dec. 1, 2013, was estimated at 23.44 billion bushels. "Some additional capacity has been added in 2014, but the total fall crop supply this year likely represents about 95 percent of total storage capacity," Good said. "While overall storage capacity appears to be fully adequate to handle the available crop supply, issues develop because some of that capacity is occupied by other crops and, more important, the location of available storage capacity does not always align with the location of fall-harvested crops. Still, not all of the supply has to be stored. Harvest occurs over a relatively long period of time, and crops are continually consumed."

Good said that harvest has proceeded more slowly this year than in the recent past due to wet weather in some major producing areas. As of October 12, the USDA estimated that only 24 percent of the corn acreage had been harvested, compared to the previous 5-year average of 43 percent. That average includes 2009 when only 13 percent of the acreage had been harvested as of the same date. Soybean harvest has been a little more timely but was estimated at only 40 percent complete as of October 12, compared to the previous 5-year average of 53 percent. The slower pace of harvest has allowed for more crops to be consumed as harvest progresses, reducing the overall requirement for storage space.

Based on USDA weekly export inspection estimates, Good said that the exports of feed grains, wheat, and soybeans from Sept. 1 through Oct. 16 totaled about 625 million bushels. Based on the USDA's projection of feed and residual use of corn for the 2014-15 marketing year and the recent seasonal pattern of that use, about 1.225 billion bushels of corn were likely used in that category during that same time period. Similarly, about 800 million bushels of corn were likely used for domestic food and industrial products, mostly ethanol. Feed and residual use of other feed grains and wheat was likely near only 50 million bushels as residual use of wheat is often negative during the fall quarter. Based on the National Oilseed Processor Association (NOPA) estimate of the domestic soybean crush for September and assuming a normal seasonal increase in October, about 170 million bushels of soybeans were likely processed during that time period. Based on a typical seasonal pattern, seed, feed, and residual use of soybeans was likely near 150 million bushels. Food and industrial use of wheat and feed grains other than corn would have been near 180 million bushels if use followed a typical seasonal pattern.

"In total, it is likely that consumption of feed grains, wheat, and soybeans during the period from Sept. 1 through Oct. 16 totaled about 3.2 billion bushels, or about 69.6 million bushels per day," Good said. "That pace of use continues so that nearly 16 percent of the total fall crop supply has already been consumed. That magnitude of consumption has substantially reduced the requirement for crop storage capacity, resulting in a modest strengthening of the corn and soybean basis in many areas."

Good concluded that while overall crop storage issues may be less severe than anticipated, regional issues persist. "In addition, a more rapid pace of harvest, particularly for corn, is expected to occur this week and beyond as weather conditions remain favorable over much of the production area," Good said. "A rapid pace of harvest would be expected to keep basis levels for corn and soybeans seasonally weak. A typical post-harvest recovery in basis levels, however, is expected."



US Egg Production Up 2% in September

United States egg production totaled 8.09 billion during September 2014, up 2 percent from last year. Production included 7.03 billion table eggs, and 1.06 billion hatching eggs, of which 991 million were broiler-type and 70 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during September 2014 averaged 358 million, up 2 percent from last year. September egg production per 100 layers was 2,261 eggs, down slightly from September 2013.
                  
All layers in the United States on October 1, 2014 totaled 358 million, up 2 percent from last year. The 358 million layers consisted of 303 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 52.8 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs,  and  2.97  million  layers  producing  egg-type  hatching  eggs.  Rate  of  lay  per  day  on  October  1,  2014,  averaged 75.2 eggs per 100 layers, down 1 percent from October 1, 2013.

Egg-type  chicks  hatched  during  September  2014  totaled  43.3  million,  up  4  percent  from  September  2013.  Eggs  in incubators totaled 42.8 million on October 1, 2014, up 10 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 394 thousand during September 2014, up 46 percent from September 2013.

Broiler-type  chicks  hatched  during  September  2014  totaled  756 million,  up  1  percent  from  September  2013.  Eggs  in incubators totaled 619 million on October 1, 2014, up 3 percent from a year ago.

Leading  breeders  placed  7.25  million  broiler-type  pullet  chicks  for  future  domestic  hatchery  supply  flocks  during September 2014, up 5 percent from September 2013.

Egg  production  in  Iowa  during  September  2014  was 1.37 billion  eggs,  down  2  percent  from  last month,  but  up 4 percent from last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs  release  from USDA’s National Agricultural  Statistics Service. 

Iowa  layer  inventory  is  at  the  highest  point  since  records began  in  1964.  At  59.0  million  in  September,  it  is  up 1 percent  from  last  month,  and  up  3  percent  from  the 57.6 million  last year. Eggs per 100  layers  for  the month of September  were  2,317,  down  2  percent  from  2,370  last month, but up 1 percent from 2,295 last year.



Syngenta, Bunge GE Lawsuit Revived

(AP) -- A federal appeals court gave agricultural chemical-maker Syngenta Seeds hope Monday that it may be able to proceed with a lawsuit against grain storage and transportation company Bunge North America for refusing to accept one of Syngenta's genetically engineered corn varieties.

Syngenta sued Bunge in 2011, claiming it illegally refused to buy Syngenta's Viptera corn from farmers that year. Viptera is genetically engineered to control pests.

The case highlights the complications arising from genetically modified grain entering international markets; some foreign importers accept GEOs, while others do not.

China is a significant buyer of U.S. corn but has strict rules against accepting GE grain.

When Bunge made its decision not to accept Viptera "China maintained a zero tolerance policy regarding imports of corn grown from seed with genetically-modified traits China had not approved," court documents said. "Pursuant to the policy, Chinese officials could prohibit an entire shipment of corn from entering the Chinese market if the shipment contained traces of corn with an unapproved genetically-modified trait."

Rather than risk that, St. Louis-based Bunge posted signs at its Midwest businesses that said it was unable to accept Viptera.

Minnesota-based Syngenta said that caused some farmers who had purchase contracts with Bunge and who had planted Viptera corn seed to incur additional expenses "due to having to transport their harvested crops to non-Bunge warehouses, obtain non-Viptera corn to fulfill their contracts with Bunge, or buy out their contracts at a loss."

Syngenta said that as a result, it lost profits, market share and goodwill.

In 2012 U.S. District Judge Mark Bennett dismissed Syngenta's lawsuit saying some of the allegations weren't supported by the law and that Syngenta failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove other claims.

A panel of judges on the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that one of Syngenta's claims, alleging Bunge made false statements about Viptera, should be sent back to Bennett for reconsideration after the U.S. Supreme Court changed the legal standard for such cases.

In a statement, Bunge said it's pleased the appeals court rejected most of Syngenta's claims and it is confident it will prevail again in district court.

The company said its decision to not accept Viptera "was a legitimate business decision made to protect our farmer customers and the export supply chain. Bunge will continue to appropriately communicate to our farmer customers regarding seed traits that lack necessary approvals for certain export destinations."