Friday May 22 Ag News

NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED UP 2 PERCENT

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.50 million cattle on feed on May 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 2 percent from last year. This is the highest May 1 inventory since the data series began in 1994.Placements during April totaled 390,000 head, down 7 percent from 2014.  Fed cattle marketings for the month of April totaled 405,000 head, down 2 percent from last year.  Other disappearance during April totaled 15,000 head, unchanged from last year.



IOWA CATTLE ON FEED UP 2 PERCENT

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots totaled 1,280,000 on May 1, 2015 according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. The inventory is down 2 percent from April 1, 2015, but up 2 percent from May 1, 2014. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head had 660,000 head on feed, down 1 percent from last month but unchanged from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head had 620,000 head on feed, down 2 percent from last month but up 5 percent from last year.

Placements during April totaled 118,000 head, a decrease of 21 percent from last month and 10 percent from last year.  Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head placed 63,000 head, down 30 percent from last month and down 9 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head placed 55,000 head. This is down 8 percent from last month and down 11 percent from last year.

Marketings for April were 138,000 head, up 1 percent from last month but down 2 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head marketed 72,000 head, down 9 percent from last month and down 5 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head marketed 66,000 head, up 16 percent from last month and up 2 percent from last year. Other disappearance totaled 5,000 head.



United States Cattle on Feed

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.6 million head on May 1, 2015. The inventory was 1 percent above May 1, 2014.

Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.55 million, 5 percent below 2014. Net placements were 1.48 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 320,000, 600-699 pounds were 240,000, 700-799 pounds were 348,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 640,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.64 million, 8 percent below 2014. April marketings are the lowest since the series began in 1996.  Other disappearance totaled 66,000 during April, 20 percent below 2014.



NE AG DEPARTMENT FINDS THIRD CASE OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed preliminary testing shows the presence of a third case of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in Dixon County. The third farm (referred to as Dixon 3) is within a mile of the initial farm (referred to as Dixon 1) identified last week and is owned by the same operator.

Dixon 3 is a flock of 500,000 pullets (young hens). Dixon 1 and Dixon 2, announced last week, collectively have 3.5 million laying hens.

“These farms are in close proximity to each other so this finding, while unfortunate, is not unexpected,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach. “We continue to receive great support from our federal, state and local partners, as well as from the operator, as we work to control the spread of the virus.”

All three sites are under quarantine, a perimeter has been established around each facility, and the birds are being depopulated. Under the USDA protocol, NDA is visiting all locations that have poultry within a 6.2 mile radius of Dixon 3 to conduct testing. Due to the proximity of Dixon 3 to the other facilities, the 6.2 mile radius overlaps significantly.

The preliminary positive test at Dixon 3 is expected to be confirmed by officials at a federal laboratory sometime over the holiday weekend, but Ibach said response teams in Dixon County already are working at Dixon 3 to address the HPAI finding.

Gov. Pete Ricketts last week issued a state emergency declaration to provide NDA and other state agencies with appropriate resources to address the HPAI situation.

The Centers for Disease Control considers the risk to people from HPAI H5 infections to be low. Proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees kills the virus. Dixon 1 and 2 are egg laying facilities and therefore the chickens are not consumed, and the eggs from these facilities are processed and go through pasteurization, eliminating product consumption risk.

Ibach is asking Nebraska poultry producers, large and small, to follow strict biosecurity measures on their farms and to monitor their flocks for symptoms of the virus and notify NDA immediately if they suspect any problems. All bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to state/federal officials, either through NDA by calling 1-877-800-4080 or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593.

As part of the existing USDA avian influenza response plans, federal and state partners as well as industry are following these five basic steps: 1) Quarantine – restricting movement of poultry and poultry-moving equipment into and out of the control area; 2) Eradicate – humanely euthanizing the affected flock(s); 3) Monitor region – testing wild and domestic birds in a broad area around the quarantine area; 4) Disinfect – kills the virus in the affected flock locations; and 5) Test – confirming that the poultry farm is AI virus-free.

Additional information on HPAI can be found online at www.nda.nebraska.gov. Information is available for producers and the general public.



No-till, Cover Crops, and Grazing Bus Tour June 18 & 19
Paul Jasa, UNL Extension Engineer

Nebraska Extension will be conducting a two-day No-till, Cover Crops, and Grazing Bus Tour on Thursday and Friday, June 18 and 19.  The tour will depart from and return to Beatrice, Nebraska and visit several producers in southeast Nebraska and northeast Kansas.  The bus tour is part of our Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund grant project for No-till and Soil Health Education and our Nebraska Extension No-till Educational Program.  We appreciate the support of the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

Brief details are below and the attached file contains a short summary about each of the featured producers.  Please register by filling out the attached registration form and mailing it to me with your check (payable to the “University of Nebraska—Lincoln”) by Wednesday, June 10.  Registration is limited to the first 50 people, with preference given to Nebraskans as we near the deadline.  No e-mail or phone registrations will be accepted and sorry, no credit cards.  No refund if cancelling after June 10.

Since we are using our Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund No-till and Soil Health Education grant and some Nebraska Extension funds to help keep the cost low, the registration fee is slightly higher for attendees from outside of Nebraska and slightly higher for those wanting a single room.  Thank you for your understanding.  The fee is $50 for Nebraska residents/producers and $200 for attendees from outside of Nebraska, based on double occupancy.  There is an extra charge of $50 for those requesting a single room.  If you have a roommate preference, please indicate that on your registration form.  The fee includes motorcoach travel, lodging, and all meals.  You are responsible for snacks, other motel charges, and any “adult” drinks.

The itinerary is (times may be adjusted):

Thursday, June 18
7:30 a.m.  Leave Gage County Fairgrounds, Beatrice, NE  (Parking on the Fairgrounds is available at no charge.)
8:30-10:30 a.m.  Steve Wiese, near Crete, NE  (pivot irrigated forage crops with no-till corn double cropped for silage, beef drylot on-site)
11:30 a.m.  Lunch in Fairbury, NE
2:00-4:30 p.m.  Josh Lloyd, Oakhill, KS  (continuous dryland no-tiller with several crops, double crops, cover crops, cattle, and grazing)
About 5:15 p.m.  Break near Junction City, KS
7:00 p.m.  Supper and motel in Emporia, KS

Friday, June 19
7:45 a.m.  Leave motel
8:00-10:30 a.m.  Gail Fuller, Emporia, KS  (no-tiller with numerous crops, cover crops and grazing forages, several livestock species, and intensive grazing)
11:30 a.m.  Lunch in Osage City, KS
1:00-3:30 p.m.  Keith & Ben Thompson, Osage City, KS  (no-tillers with several crops, cover crops and grazing forages, cattle, and intensive grazing)
About 5:00 p.m.  Break near Wamego, KS
7:00 p.m.  Arrive Beatrice, NE

This will be a nice tour of established no-till, diverse crop rotations, cover crops, and livestock grazing systems.  Join us for an educational and informational tour where some of the best learning comes from the networking with other attendees on the bus (or over a beer in the evenings).  A full information packet will be e-mailed to those who register.  



Groundwater Levels Rise 1.42 Feet on the Average in the Upper Big Blue NRD

During March-April 2015, the NRD measured 513 observation wells throughout the District and then averaged the data of all these wells.  Observation wells are measured in the spring of each year, allowing the water table to rebound from the previous irrigation season.  The observation wells measured are equally distributed geographically throughout the District to provide an accurate profile of the District average.

Overall, the spring 2015 average measurement for the groundwater level change shows a rise of 1.42 feet from last spring.  The findings show that the spring 2015 average groundwater level is 2.35 feet above the “Allocation Trigger”.  As a result, there will be no allocation restrictions for the 2016 irrigation season.  However, flow meters must still be installed on all wells by January 1, 2016.

The District goal is to hold the average groundwater level to above the 1978 level.  In 2005, the District average groundwater level reached the “Reporting Trigger” initiating groundwater users to report annual groundwater use to the District and to certify their irrigated acres.  If the District average level falls below the 1978 level (“Allocation Trigger”), groundwater allocation will begin. 



Nebraska Soybean Board Launches Sizzle of Summer Sweepstakes

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer grilling season and the Nebraska Soybean Board is celebrating with the Sizzle of Summer Sweepstakes. Nebraskans can enter to win prizes all summer at TasteoftheTailgate.com. Visitors to the website will find videos with summer grilling tips by Nebraska experts as well as recipes to try at home.

The giveaways begin after Memorial Day with up to $250 in Omaha Steaks gift cards. For Independence Day, the Sizzle of Summer Sweepstakes winner gets a Weber grill. The grand prize is an end-of-summer cookout party provided by Phat Jack’s BBQ of Lincoln.

The Sizzle of Summer Sweepstakes is open to Nebraska residents and limited to one entry per household. To enter, visit TasteoftheTailgate.com.



Use American Ethanol-Blended Fuel to Lessen the Burden of Gasoline Costs this Summer

It’s that time of year again. Summer is quickly approaching and gasoline prices are once again climbing. Although gas prices are lower starting off this summer’s driving season compared to last year’s, gas prices have been on the rise.  Thankfully, there is a solution to help lessen the burden on drivers’ pocket books, and that solution is American Ethanol.

The rise of gas prices in the busy summer months can have a big impact on consumers’ summer plans. The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) projection for the April-through-September summer driving season year is on average $2.45/gallon. However, AAA, has the current national average at $2.73, which is the highest price for gasoline since December. American Ethanol-blended fuel lowers gas prices and saves the average American household over $1,000 on their gas bill annually.

“As Nebraskans gear up for their summer travel and recreational plans, the choice to use American Ethanol at the pump is the easy one,” said Kim Clark, Director of Biofuels Development at the Nebraska Corn Board. “American Ethanol-blended fuels provide a wealth of benefits for consumers. It is cost-effective, American-made, renewable, and better for our environment and consumer health.”

Compared with oil, American Ethanol-blended fuel burns cleaner and improves air quality. When drivers use American Ethanol, they’re improving air quality and reducing the causes of asthma, heart disease, and lung cancer not only for themselves but also their children and grandchildren. American Ethanol lowers the level of toxic, cancer-causing emissions in vehicle exhaust—reducing air pollution, improving human health, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

American Ethanol also gives Nebraskans a choice when they go to fill up with gas. Those choices aren’t limited to the lower price of their gas bill, but also the chance to choose a domestic, clean-burning fuel that fuels our state’s economy as well. Drivers with a flex fuel vehicle (FFV) have the choice to use any American Ethanol fuel blend up to 85 percent ethanol (E85)—a blend of 85 percent American Ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. The EPA has also approved that non-flex fuel vehicle owners with automobiles manufactured in model year 2001 and newer, can use E15. Additionally, small engine owners can successfully use American Ethanol-blended fuels up to 10 percent (E10) for their marine watercraft and small engines, such as lawn mowers.

“Consumers and professional drivers alike can appreciate the power and performance that American Ethanol-blended fuels offer while also recognizing the money saving benefits the fuel provides,” said Jon Holzfaster, a farmer from Paxton, Nebraska, Director on the Nebraska Corn Board and chairman of National Corn Growers Association’s NASCAR Advisory Committee. “NASCAR has proven the power and durability of American Ethanol and as consumers you can witness the health and cost savings.”



PRESERVATIVES AND HAY MOISTURE
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

               The moisture content of hay when it is baled influences yield, quality, and storability of the hay.  Preservatives can help us get it right.

               When hay is baled too dry, leaves fall off of stems to the ground, reducing both quality and yield.  Unfortunately, hay baled too wet can get moldy, overheat, or even catch fire.  So we have a narrow moisture range that results in good hay that keeps well.

               Hay can be baled a bit wetter if a preservative like propionic acid is applied as it’s baled.  To get good results from preservatives, though, it helps to know how it works and what it can and can not do.

               Baled hay naturally contains millions of bacteria and mold fungi.  As they consume hay nutrients, these microbes produce heat.  The duration and intensity of this heat determines the amount of damage the hay receives.

               This heat also forces moisture out of the bale, something we often call “going through a sweat”.  Usually, hay gets dry enough that the microbes soon die or go dormant.  But when too much moisture is present, heating becomes excessive, mold develops, or both.

               Preservatives kill many of the microbes so less heat is produced.

This gives hay time to dry out naturally, without the “sweat”.  But as it dries the preservative also vaporizes and disappears.  If we stack bales tightly into storage soon after baling or fail to allow drying to occur in other ways, the remaining microbes eventually produce the mold and heat we wanted to avoid.  Also, if rain, high humidity, or other sources moisten the hay later, microbial activity can redevelop since the protection from preservatives lasts only a short time.

               Preservatives can help make good hay at higher moisture levels but correct management is needed to keep that hay in good shape.



NRCS WORKS WITH LANDOWNER TO IMPROVE PHEASANT HABITAT

With the cost of crops and land increasing, many landowners are concerned with expanding cropland production on their property. However, landowner Regg Swanson had a different idea in mind. Instead of cutting down trees and pushing aside other obstacles interfering with growing crops, Swanson is planting more windbreaks in order to encourage the formation of a wildlife habitat.

Swanson lives in Tennessee, but is a native Nebraskan, an avid hunter and soil conservationist. He has a passion for wildlife and enjoys visiting his piece of land in northeast Nebraska. During those visits, he noticed the population of pheasants on his land was decreasing significantly. Being familiar with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through former projects, Swanson contacted District Conservationist Tyler Specht in the Hartington NRCS field office to find a solution to spur population growth.

Specht said, “It is a rarity to have a project that is focused on wildlife habitat. When we have the opportunity, they are fun to work on.” 

In the past, Swanson and his father had worked with the NRCS to put land into CRP, the Conservation Reserve Program. Because of the success they saw on their property, Regg Swanson decided to continue the program by transitioning more acres to CRP. Through this program, Swanson received seed for 10.1 acres of filter strips, 30.7 acres of habitat buffers, and 70.9 acres of tall grass prairie habitat.

Because the property has sandy soil, Specht’s team wanted to find a way to slow down erosion and provide a healthy habitat for wildlife. Swanson and the local NRCS office worked together to design and establish three windbreaks to add to the two already installed. In total, 1,811 trees were planted on 5.6 acres of land. The Lewis and Clark Natural Resources District cost shared the purchasing, planting, and mulching of the trees.  Ongoing technical assistance is being provided to Swanson’s land throughout the life of the project to ensure it is maintained at its highest potential. “Tyler was exceedingly helpful in guiding me to choose my methods,” Swanson stated.

When discussing how the implemented programs influenced Swanson’s property, Specht mentioned that the improvements were a “good fit for his land.” In fact, thanks to the help of Specht and his team, wind erosion is no longer visible on this property. This has not only affected Swanson’s land, but has significantly reduced soil erosion in the downstream wetlands. The pheasant population is also seeing positive reactions from the NRCS programs. Swanson mentioned that there is “not a lot of habitat in the area. The project drew pheasants to that pocket of land, and I have seen the number grow.”

After the grass and trees were planted in 2008, Swanson has kept a close eye on the property. “You have to continue to work with the land,” he said.  To help improve the stand of grass and keep unwanted trees from encroaching, in April of 2014, Swanson collaborated with his neighbor to perform a prescribed burn. According to Swanson, the burn went “better than expected” and the outcome turned out very well.

When discussing the improvements he has seen on his property, Swanson stated, “Just like anything else, you have to be engaged to be successful or else you will lose the beauty of what you are trying to enhance. Hopefully others can do something similar to improve their properties,” Swanson stated when looking back at his success working with the NRCS.

To learn more about CRP or other programs that the NRCS offers, contact your local field office, or access the website at www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov.



ONE PROBABLE CASE OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN POCAHONTAS COUNTY

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to a probable case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Pocahontas County.  With this new announcement, Iowa now has 64 cases of the disease in the state. The Department has quarantined the premise and once the presence of the disease is confirmed, all birds on the property will be humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.

Pocahontas 3 – Turkey farm with an estimated 21,000 birds that has experienced increased mortality.  Initial testing showed it positive for H5 avian influenza.  Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames.



Wal-Mart Pressures Meat Suppliers

(AP) -- Wal-Mart, the nation's largest food retailer, is urging its thousands of U.S. suppliers to curb the use of antibiotics in farm animals and improve treatment of them.

That means asking meat producers, eggs suppliers and others to use antibiotics only for disease prevention or treatment, not to fatten their animals, a common industry practice. The guidelines also aim to get suppliers to stop using sow gestation crates and other housing that lacks sufficient space.

They're also being asked to avoid painful procedures like de-horning or castration without proper pain management.

Wal-Mart wants suppliers to provide it with an annual report and publicly report their progress on their own websites.

Wal-Mart is facing pressure from shoppers who want to know more about how their food is produced.



NPPC On Walmart Commitment To Responsible Farming
Ron Prestage President, National Pork Producers Council

The National Pork Producers Council applauds Walmart’s commitment, announced today, to sustainable and responsible farming, which America’s pork producers make every day. By using antibiotics responsibly and providing humane and compassionate care for their animals, pork producers ensure animal health and well-being and a safe, wholesome food supply. Walmart’s recognition of that proves that America’s farmers, not extreme animal activist groups, should be setting food policy.

The U.S. pork industry’s long-standing training and certification programs have worked to ensure that farmers and veterinarians use antibiotics responsibly, protecting the efficacy and availability of antibiotics for therapeutic and disease prevention purposes for the health and safety of animals and the food supply.

The Judicious Use Guidelines of the American Veterinary Medical Association and of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians and the Responsible Use of Antibiotics Guidelines in the pork industry’s Pork Quality Assurance Plus program are closely aligned, and NPPC supports their incorporation into every farmer’s daily practices. Additionally, the pork industry is adopting changes included in FDA Guidance 213, which is restricting the use in food animals of medically important antibiotics, as well as the agency’s Veterinary Feed Directive. The industry also is working with USDA and FDA to best accomplish meaningful reporting of antibiotics use data.

America’s hog farmers are committed to producing safe, affordable and healthful foods for consumers and using industry practices that have been designed with input from veterinarians and other animal-care experts to provide humane and compassionate care for their pigs at every stage of life.



West Coast Port Agreement Ratified

Just this week, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new labor contract with dockworkers. And today, representatives from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) agreed to ratify the new agreement, officially ending what has turned into an 11-month-long disagreement. The final provisions of the contract, reached in February of this year, improved the arbitration process and streamlined healthcare benefits for effected workers. Conditions of the contract will be retroactive to July 1, 2014, and continue through June 30, 2019. 

Extended contract negotiations between the PMA and the ILWU became aggressive in late 2014, leading to disruptions in maritime commerce for 29 major West Coast ports that together see roughly $1 trillion worth of goods each year. The conflict has directly resulted in a shift away from Western ports in favor of cheaper alternatives in the past few months. According to The Journal of Commerce, in April alone, activity at East and Gulf Coast ports grew 12% and 20%, respectively, while West Coast port activity declined 4%. Resolution between the PMA and ILWU will help bring West Coast ports back to full capacity in the years to 2019 and drive some lost shipping demand back to Western ports.

Nevertheless, West Coast ports have consistently experienced systematic operational disruptions during years when labor agreements are negotiated (e.g. 2002, 2008, and now 2014), so some exporters and importers may seek alternative shipping routes to avoid supply chain disruption when this contract inevitably expires in 2019. In the meantime, companies that rely on goods imported to the West Coast will see shipping costs drop and inventories rise in the coming months, likely decreasing demand for alternative shipping methods, such as air cargo transportation services, national trucking services and local freight trucking services, and softening the price of imported goods in the Western region.



Deere Profit Falls as Equipment Sales Drop

Deere & Co. said its profit dropped 30% in the latest quarter, blaming weak conditions in the global farm economy that continue to affect the agricultural sector.

The results, however, were much better than feared, and Chief Executive Samuel Allen called the results "noteworthy in light of the weak conditions that continue to affect the global agricultural sector."

The Illinois company, which is the world's sales leader in farm equipment, bumped up its projection for net income for the year ending in October--now expecting $1.9 billion, up from its February prediction of $1.8 billion. The forecast includes a 4% currency-related hit to equipment sales.

Deere is facing the added hurdle of a severe slump in farm machinery demand that started last year after a nearly decade of elevated sales fueled by record-high prices for corn and soybeans. Falling crop prices, weakening overseas sales and the curtailment of U.S. tax incentives have dampened demand for farm equipment, particularly for large models in the U.S. and Canada where Deere dominates the market.

The company said Friday that it expects equipment sales to decline about 19% this year and 17% in the current quarter.

That compares with a 20% drop in the latest quarter, with sales in the U.S. and Canada off 14% and sales elsewhere down 28%. Currency effects shaved 10% off international sales, the company said. Operating profit from agriculture and turf plunged 48% to $639 million.

Deere has aggressively scaled back equipment production and slashed costs to align the company with lower demand. Deere last month said it plans to lay off 910 workers at plants in Iowa and Illinois after announcing in August that more than 1,000 jobs would be cut.

In Deere's construction equipment business, which has been helping to offset the company's weak farm machinery segment, sales rose 2% from a year earlier to $1.6 billion. Operating profit from the business grew 43% to $189 million.

Revenue from financial services increased 14% to $653 million. Operating profit in the segment rose 16% to $265 million.

In all, for the quarter ended April 30, the company reported a profit of $690.5 million, or $2.03 a share, down from a year-earlier profit of $980.7 million, or $2.65 a share.

Revenue slid 18% to $8.2 billion. Equipment operations sales dropped 20% to $7.4 billion.