Friday June 19 Ag News

NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED UP 1 PERCENT

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.40 million cattle on feed on June 1, according to the USDA s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 1 percent from last year. This is the highest June 1 inventory since the data series began in 1994.  Placements during May totaled 390,000 head, down 8 percent from 2014.  Fed cattle marketings for the month of May totaled 470,000 head, down 3 percent from last year.  Other disappearance during May totaled 20,000 head, unchanged from last year.



IOWA CATTLE ON FEED UP 5%

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots totaled 1,260,000 on June 1, 2015, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. The inventory is down 2 percent from May 1, 2015, but up 5 percent from June 1, 2014. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head had 650,000 head on feed, down 2 percent from last month but up 2 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head had 610,000 head on feed, down 2 percent from last month but up 9 percent from last year.

Placements during May totaled 109,000 head, a decrease of 8 percent from last month but up 14 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head placed 65,000 head, up 3 percent from last month and up 20 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head placed 44,000 head. This is down 20 percent from last month but up 5 percent from last year.

Marketings for May were 123,000 head, down 11 percent from last month and last year. Feedlots with  a capacity greater than 1,000 head marketed 74,000 head, up 3 percent from last month and up 6 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head marketed 49,000 head, down 26 percent from last month and down 28 percent from last year. Other disappearance totaled 6,000 head.



USDA:  United States Cattle on Feed Up 1 Percent
   
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 June 1, 2015. The inventory was 1 percent above June 1, 2014.

Placements in feedlots during May totaled 1.71 million, 10 percent below 2014. Net placements were 1.63 million head. During May, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 355,000, 600-699 pounds were 260,000, 700-799 pounds were 389,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 710,000.

Marktings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.71 million, 8 percent below 2014. May marketings are the lowest since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 82,000 during May, 19 percent below 2014.



Wheat Stem Maggot Damaging Corn
Wayne Ohnesorg, UNL Extension Educator

An unusual situation has surfaced in northeast Nebraska. A number of producers are reporting stunted corn plants with brown flagging in their fields. Reported stand reductions range from 5%-10%. Upon investigation the wheat stem maggot (Meromyza americana; WSM) was identified as the culprit. 

Wheat stem maggot is a species of Chloropid fly. It overwinters in the stem of its host plants as a larva. Adults emerge in May. Two more generations will be completed in the same year; one will be in summer and the other in the fall. Cultivated hosts include: wheat, barley, rye, timothy, and oats. Other hosts include: quack grass, slender wheat grass, western wheat grass, wild barley, wild rye grass, brome grass, green foxtail, and yellow foxtail.

An incidence of wheat stem maggot was reported in northeast Nebraska in 2005. Current and past fields with damage all had a single factor in common: a cereal grain was planted as a cover crop. Plants affected had maggots that entered the plant around the first node. The activity of the maggots caused the plants to produce a gall. The maggots made feeding tunnels that went up through the growing point and, in the process, destroyed it. Destruction of the growing point led to the characteristic stunting and flagging of plants.

There are no known management options at this point. The pupae and larvae are inside the stem where they are safe from insecticide exposure. Three generations of adults and multiple weedy host plants make the adults difficult to manage. We know that currently infested fields have a range of insecticide treatment levels. Seed was treated with Pocho® at 250, 500, or 1250 rates. Given the range of treatment levels it appears that seed treatments may not be a viable option for management.

Environmental factors likely were ideal this spring for wheat stem maggot to infest corn. It is expected that this pest will continue to be a rare, sporadic pest of corn.



Wanted: Members for NC’s Post-Secondary Education Subcommittee

NC is seeking members interested in serving on its Post-Secondary Education Subcommittee. The group’s mission is to maintain strong relationships with post-secondary education institutions in Nebraska concerning research, extension and recruitment that benefit the Nebraska beef industry.  One person from each of the nine NC regions is needed to be involved in this subcommittee.

Please contact Bonita Lederer for more information or to sign up.  blederer@necattlemen.org  (402) 450-0223.



Time to Manage the Weedy Mess in Soybeans
Rodrigo Werle, UNL Weed Science Graduate Student

Because of excessive and constant rainfall, many growers in eastern Nebraska were not able to make pre-emergent herbicide treatments in soybean fields this season. Now weeds are taking big advantage of that. The lack of pre-emergent herbicides along with late crop planting, warm temperatures, and plenty of soil moisture are providing the perfect conditions for weeds to thrive.

According to data from UNL Weed Scientist Stevan Knezevic and his colleagues, yield losses due to competition are already occurring and will be aggravated if growers don't eliminate these undesired plants from their fields in the near future. Therefore, weed control should be on the top priority of growers "to-do" list.

Postemergence herbicides, such as glyphosate in Roundup Ready soybeans (Group 9), ALS-inhibitors (Group 2), PPO inhibitors (Group 14), and Liberty (Group 10) in Liberty Link soybeans, are now the main options for weed control. In fields where glyphosate resistance is a problem, rescue herbicides, such as Cobra and Flextar (Group 14), should be included at this point in tank-mixes. These rescue herbicides should preferably be applied to weeds smaller than 4 inches tall. In fields where Roundup Ready volunteer corn is present, ACCase-inhibitors (Group 1), such as Select Max and Post Plus, should also be considered.

Keep in mind that the use of multiple effective herbicides will result in effective weed control and assist growers on the fight against herbicide-resistant weeds.

For postemergence herbicide options to control established weeds, check the UNL Guide for Weed Management in Nebraska.



Influencers Travel to Nebraska for Beef Experience

The Nebraska Beef Council welcomed 22 guests from across the United States for the 2015 Nebraska Beef Experience tour on June 9th and 10th. The tour attendees included retail grocery directors, chefs, foodservice professionals, dietitians and culinary instructors from states such as New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Louisiana, Utah and Pennsylvania. The annual tour is offered as a way to help educate the influencers on the beef production process and to introduce them to the various segments of the beef community.

“The people on this tour interact with beef products almost every day but seldom get the opportunity to see firsthand how the products are raised,” said Adam Wegner, Director of Marketing for the Nebraska Beef Council. “With more and more people asking questions about where their food comes from, it’s important that we give these folks the tools and experiences they need to feel confident answering those questions.”

The tour began with a trip to Tyson Fresh Meats in Lexington, NE.  The group watched the harvest process and carcass breakdown, ultimately resulting in boxed beef ready for shipment. The next stop was Ridder Hereford Ranch near Callaway, NE where the attendees learned how the production process begins on a cow/calf ranch. The first day ended with a stop at Overton Veterinarian Services near Overton, NE where the group learned about animal care, the Beef Quality Assurance program and the practices used today to treat sick cattle. The second day concluded the tour with a stop at Circle 5 Beef near Henderson, NE where the attendees were able to see a large scale feeding operation and learn about the various feed sources used to raise high quality beef.

“We were pleased to be part of the Nebraska Beef Experience tour this year,” said Mary Ridder, host of the stop at Ridder Hereford Ranch. "There's a huge disconnect between consumers and agriculture today, so there is a lot of room for confusion and misconception. This tour is a great way for us to tell the true beef story. On top of that, our guests were a great, diverse group who were eager to learn at the grass roots level.”

The Nebraska Beef Council hosts the Nebraska Beef Experience tour every year and utilizes the assistance of other state beef councils to identify potential attendees.  The objective is to provide firsthand knowledge to influencers from large population areas so that they can share their experience with consumers, colleagues and students.

“I’m so glad I was invited on this tour,” said Karman Meyer, a registered dietitian from Nashville, TN. “I learned so much and can’t wait to share what I’ve learned with others.”    



SEEDING FORAGES INTO WHEAT STUBBLE
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

               Wheat stubble can be an excellent seedbed to plant forages into using no-till.  It may take some advance preparation, though, to be successful.

               No-till planting of alfalfa, turnips, summer annual grasses, or other cover crops into wheat stubble has many advantages.  Soil moisture is conserved, erosion is reduced, weed seeds remain buried, and tillage expenses are eliminated.  But despite these advantages, many growers still experience spotty stands.

               To help ensure success when planting into wheat stubble, take a few extra steps.  One of the biggest challenges is heavy residue, residue that might limit proper drill operation and seed placement or even might partly smother new seedlings.  Residue can be especially troublesome right behind the combine even when using a good straw chopper.  The best way to minimize this problem is to bale the straw and remove excess residue.  And be sure to have a well-functioning drill.

               Another challenge is weeds, either annual weeds that develop after wheat is combined or volunteer wheat that sprouts later in the summer.  Control weeds prior to planting with herbicides like glyphosate.  And be ready with post-emerge herbicides like Select or Poast Plus when appropriate for latter emerging weeds or volunteer wheat.

               Finally, consider cross- or double-drilling.  Plant one-half of the seed while driving one direction, then plant the other half driving across the rows.  This helps fill in gaps, develops canopy earlier, improves weed control, and may help you plant the right amount of seed if you sometimes end up running out or have much seed left over.

               Wheat stubble makes a good seedbed.  Make it even better with a few management adjustments.



Aurora Cooperative Joins the U.S. Grains Council

Please join the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) in welcoming its newest member, Aurora Cooperative.

Located in Aurora, Nebraska, the company’s grain division is organized for the quick movement of grains into the market. Invested in increasing the market for U.S. grains, the company continues to move more grain quickly through all areas of logistics, from receiving to load out.

Aurora practices a conservative risk management plan that plays a stabilizing role in today’s current and futures markets. Through the years, it has achieved stability for its customers while maintaining access to working capital.



Registration for ACE conference is open
“Quiet Ingenuity, Bold Advance” focus Aug. 19-21

Online registration is open for the 28th annual Ethanol Conference of the American Coalition for Ethanol.  The conference theme of “Quiet Ingenuity, Bold Advance,” will emphasize how the ethanol industry strives to constantly innovate and improve.

To register for the event, which takes place August 19-21 at the Hilton, Omaha, in Omaha, Nebraska, click here... https://www.regonline.com/register/login.aspx?eventID=1714113&MethodId=0&EventsessionId=. 

“One of the best kept secrets of the ethanol industry is how producers are boldly innovating, developing new co-products, and finding ways to improve their bottom line without fanfare. This is an important time for the industry and pivotal topics will take center stage at our upcoming conference,” said ACE Executive Vice President Brian Jennings.

One panel discussion which will reinforce the “Quiet Ingenuity, Bold Advance” theme features Ray Defenbaugh, President, CEO & Chairman of Big River Resources LLC, Delayne Johnson, CEO of Quad County Corn Processors, and Jeff Oestmann, President & CEO of East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC who will discuss the technology and advanced biofuel innovations their respective companies are pursuing.

Quad County Corn Processors is the first ethanol plant in the nation to produce both conventional and cellulosic biofuel, East Kansas Agri-Energy is constructing a renewable diesel facility adjacent to its existing corn ethanol plant, and Big River Resources will be producing a zein protein alongside its ethanol plant in Galva, IL.

Other topics to be highlighted during the conference include a retailer panel on E15 and flex fuel sales, a report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on fueling infrastructure, exports of ethanol and DDGs, plant board member training, and much more.



Informa: 86.8 MA Soy, 88.8 MA Corn
U.S. farmers will plant a record 86.8 million soybean acres in 2015, according to projections made Friday by private forecaster Informa Economics. The figure is the highest ever for soybean acreage, up 3.7%, or 3.1 million acres, from last year, but 425,000 acres lower than the firm's previous forecast.

Corn area in 2015 will likely total 88.8 million acres, which is 40,000 acres above Informa's prior forecast but still about 2% below the 90.6 million planted in 2014.

"Faster-than-normal progress occurred in the Eastern Corn Belt and Northern Plains while the Western Corn Belt and Southern Plains experienced delays," Informa said in its report.

Informa expects wheat acres to total 56.2 million in 2015, roughly 625,000 acres lower than 2014. The company pegged spring wheat seedings, excluding durum, at 13.5 million acres, which would mark a 3.4% increase from last year. Durum area is expected to total 2 million acres, which would be a 41% jump from a year earlier.

Rice acreage will likely total 2.8 million acres, up 10,000 from Informa's prior forecast and 134,000 acres fewer than last year. Cotton area is pegged at 9.4 million acres in 2015, or 14% lower than last year.



Former AFBF President Dean Kleckner Passes

One of the former leaders of the American Farm Bureau has died. Dean Kleckner, 82, passed away June 15 at his current residence in Wayzata, MN.

Kleckner was internationally recognized agricultural leader. A hog farmer from Rudd, Iowa, Kleckner served as President of the AFBF for 14 years beginning in 1986.

Most recently, he was chairman of Truth About Trade and Technology, a nonprofit advocacy group.

A memorial service is planned for August 18 in Urbandale, IA.



HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE PASSES FY16 AGRICULTURE SPENDING BILL
(from NPPC)

The House Appropriations Committee’s agriculture subcommittee approved a $20.7 billion fiscal 2016 discretionary spending bill, $175 million less than the previous year. The subcommittee advanced the bill on a voice vote with no amendments. The bill, which funds the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, would keep agricultural research flat and contains several policy riders, including a roll back of some school nutrition standards and a one-year delay for nationwide menu labeling. The bill includes $60 million toward funding for the National Strategy for Combatting Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria, with nearly $25 million of that going to the FDA — a boost of about $4.2 million. The legislation contains $1.8 billion for overseas food aid and to promote U.S. agricultural exports. This includes $1.4 billion – a $17 million increase above the President’s request – for “Food for Peace” grants, and the requested level for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition program. These programs seek to reduce chronic hunger and increase food security by providing American-grown food, transported by U.S. ships, to foreign countries in need of aid. The bill will move to approval by the full Committee next week.



Senate Ag Appropriations Committee Considers FY 2016 Spending Bill
(from NAWG)

The Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL), marked up and approved by voice vote its version of the FY 2016 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill last Thursday. The bill would provide $20.7 billion in discretionary spending, which would represent a 1 percent reduction from the FY 2015 enacted level, and it is $1.1 billion less than the Administration’s budget request. 

The bill includes a provision that would prohibit USDA from restricting premium assistance related to conservation compliance for crop insurance eligibility for the 2016 reinsurance year. The intended purpose of the language is not to unravel conservation compliance requirements, but rather to allow for additional time for implementation in order to address concerns posed by producers. If enacted, implementation would continue to move forward, but producers would not be penalized for non-compliance during this first year. The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet acted on its own version of the FY 2016 Agriculture Appropriations bill, but consideration could occur soon.



RETALIATION IMMINENT IN COOL CASE
(from NPPC)

Time is running out to avoid retaliation by Canada and Mexico in Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) disputes. The U.S. objected to Canada's request for nearly $2.5 billion in retaliatory tariffs stemming from the recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling on COOL for meat. During a June 17 meeting of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), the U.S. referred the issue to arbitration, which delays —by at least another 60 days—Canada and Mexico's ability to seek sanctions for retaliatory trade measures. NPPC and The Global Business Dialogue held a panel discussion on the implications of trade retaliation. NPPC outside trade counsel David Bond joined Kenneth Smith Ramos, with the Embassy of Mexico; John Masswohl, with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association; Ken Monahan with the National Association of Manufacturers and Randy Russell, former chief of staff to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to discuss the consequences if the Senate does not act to repeal the meat labeling provisions of COOL. “If the Senate thinks that there's a middle path on this, that's a very risky strategy to move forward.  That timeline that was outlined is what we are expecting.  We're expecting that, before the end of this summer, we will be authorized to put tariffs on whatever number the WTO authorizes,” Masswohl said.  According to Masswohl, Canada specifically plans to put retaliatory tariffs on products that are derived from districts of Congressional lawmakers that support COOL, including beef, pork, apples, rice, corn, maple syrup, wine, jewelry, wooden furniture and mattresses. Mexico is in the process of requesting from the WTO the authority to place up to $713 million per year in retaliatory tariffs. The House voted overwhelmingly last week to repeal COOL requirements. NPPC and the other members of the COOL Reform Coalition, a coalition which represents U.S. workers and organizations with an interest in North American trade, are urging the Senate to likewise repeal COOL in order to protect U.S. workers and U.S. exports from the ravages of trade retaliation.



R-CALF Applauds USTR Request to Arbitrate COOL

This week, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) formally triggered an arbitration process with Canada regarding country of origin labeling (COOL) at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The purpose of the arbitration process is to determine the level of damages, if any, that Canada incurred as a result of the United States' mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) law. Canada must now prove that it actually incurred monetary damages before the WTO would consider granting it the right to impose retaliatory tariffs against the United States as compensation for any such damages.

In response to the USTR's request, the WTO on Wednesday referred the United States' request regarding Canada to arbitration. Although the USTR will likely also challenge Mexico's claims for damages, Mexico inserted the wrong dollar value for its damage claims and the United States will have more time to respond to Mexico's corrected request to implement retaliatory tariffs.

Even though the COOL complaint is still pending, and while USTR is still pursuing available WTO options with which to defend COOL, the U.S. House of Representatives last week attempted to preempt the USTR from continuing its defense of COOL by passing a measure to repeal COOL for beef, pork and chicken. Recently, a U.S. appellate court definitively ruled that COOL was in full compliance with the U.S. Constitution.

Efforts are now underway in the U.S. Senate to either support the House's repeal effort or to seriously weaken COOL.

R-CALF USA said it applauds the USTR for defending the United States' sovereign right to notify consumers as to the true origins of the meat they purchase for themselves and their families.

"In addition, during the five years that COOL has been in effect, the share of each consumer beef dollar received by U.S. farmers and ranchers has been restored to a 20-year high. In other words, COOL is reducing the control that multinational meatpackers have over our live cattle supply chain and so the USTR's action is directly benefiting U.S. cattle producers," said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.

The organization also said that Congress is jeopardizing United States' sovereignty by undermining USTR's ongoing efforts to defend COOL through Congress' actions of attempting to outright repeal COOL or to weaken it while the WTO dispute is ongoing.

"We are awe-struck by the tremendous power that multinational meatpackers and foreign countries like Canada and Mexico have over our Congress," said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard who added, "It is unprecedented for Congress to side with foreign countries in an international dispute that involves giving U.S. citizens important information about their food."

Bullard said Congress' effort to repeal or weaken COOL while the WTO case is pending exemplifies a dysfunctional Congress.

"Congress directed the executive branch to subject our U.S.-passed laws to, and to defend those laws within, the global governance structure established by the WTO. But with COOL, Congress is undercutting the executive branch's ability to defend our laws by attempting to surrender them even before the global procedures they agreed to have been completed," Bullard said.

"We urge the U.S. Senate to take no action to repeal or weaken COOL while this important arbitration process is taking place," Bullard concluded.