Wednesday October 7 Ag News

Nebraska Corn opens invitation for bus trip to Kansas Speedway for October 18 NASCAR race

NASCAR fans, start your engines and join Nebraska corn farmers as we head to the races! The Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Corn Growers Association has an open invitation to consumers interested in attending the Sunday, October 18, 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway.

The ticket package includes transportation to and from the race, ticket for the race, morning, lunch and evening meals, and a gift certificate for Fan Vision – a device that allows you to watch the race on a small monitor and listen to the announcers or the conversation between the driver and his crew. Everything in this package is only $100 per person.

The purpose of the invitation and attendance is to give consumers a great opportunity to see American Ethanol E15 being utilized in NASCAR. American Ethanol began a partnership with NASCAR five seasons ago and is the premier fuel of NASCAR Nationwide, Sprint Cup, and Camping World Series racecars. NASCAR is proud to partner with American Ethanol to show Americans that ethanol is clean, green and homegrown. The Nebraska Corn Board is a supporter of American Ethanol through the National Corn Growers Association. Learn more at www.americanethanolracing.org.

“This partnership with American Ethanol was formed to promote ethanol, educate consumers about agriculture, and feature a homegrown, renewal energy that is used in one of the most popular sporting events,” said Roger Berry, director of market development for the Nebraska Corn Board. “We are excited to offer a great package that allows consumers the opportunity to go to the Kansas Speedway, experience the race and learn how American Ethanol is used.”

The race begins at 1:15 pm. The bus will leave from downtown Lincoln at 5:30 am and return about 7:30 pm that evening.

This package deal is limited to the first 100 paid participants. Anyone wishing to go can get their seat on the bus, race ticket and package reserved with payment. No payments will be accepted the day of the race. For payment information to reserve your ticket, please call 402-471-2676.



NDA ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF ORGANIC CERTIFICATION FUNDS FOR NEBRASKA PRODUCERS, HANDLERS

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is accepting applications until Nov. 7, 2015, from eligible producers and handlers in the state who want to participate in USDA’s National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program. Producers or handlers who are currently certified organic under the National Organic Program (NOP), and whose certified land is located in Nebraska, are eligible to receive a 75 percent refund (up to $750) for their 2015 certification expenses.

“The USDA created this program to encourage and support organic farmers who have become officially NOP certified,” NDA Cost-Share Program Manager Steve Martin said. “The department administers the program for USDA and has been allocated $115,300 in funds for 2015. We strongly encourage our eligible NOP certified growers and handlers to take advantage of this program.”

Martin said USDA listed 217 NOP certified organic operations in Nebraska in 2014. USDA’s recently released Organic Survey indicates Nebraska’s value of sales of organically produced commodities in 2014 was nearly $76 million. That compares to $48.6 million in value of sales in 2008.

Applications for the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program can be found at www.nda.nebraska.gov or by calling 800-422-6692. Applications are processed as they are received and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are expended.

The USDA National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program was part of the 2014 Farm Bill and will be funded for the next three years.



Nation's Ag Co-ops Set Records for Income and Revenue

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the nation's farmer, rancher and fishery cooperatives posted record income and revenue in 2014.

As part of USDA's observance of October as National Cooperative Month, Vilsack previewed a USDA report to be released later this month that shows cooperatives earned $6.5 billion in net income and generated $246.7 billion in total revenue last year.

Net income increased 16.5 percent while revenue rose 0.4 percent from 2013. Co-ops set records for income and revenue in 2014 for the fourth year in a row.

"The nation's co-ops are essential to the U.S. economy and to rural America," Vilsack said. "The income they generate is reinvested or returned to members who spend it in their local communities. USDA is proud to continue its support of the cooperative movement."

Ag co-op employment increased 0.4 percent to 191,000 people in 2014. The number of full-time co-op employees dipped slightly, 0.4 percent, while the number of part-time employees increased by 2 percent.

The total number of ag cooperatives declined from 2,186 in 2013 to 2,106 last year, a drop of nearly 4 percent. Despite the decline, co-op memberships grew by 1 percent, to just under 2 million. Many farmers and ranchers are members of more than one cooperative. In addition to providing supplies and marketing services to farmers and ranchers, the nation's co-ops provide telecommunications, energy, financial and other important services.

Vilsack recently signed a Cooperative Month proclamation that salutes the nation's cooperative business sector, which includes about 30,000 co-ops.

Top 100 Ag Co-ops
Also today, Secretary Vilsack previewed findings from USDA's annual rankings of the nation's Top 100 Ag Co-ops. Among other things, the rankings show that 15 of the Top 100 agricultural co-ops are headquartered in Iowa, the most of any state. Minnesota is home to the second most Top 100 agricultural co-ops, with 12 headquartered there. Nebraska is next with nine, followed by Illinois with six and California and Wisconsin, both with five. Indiana, Missouri and Ohio each have four Top 100 co-ops, while Kansas is home to three.

For co-op revenue, Minnesota ranks first, with $67.6 billion. Missouri is second at $21.4 billion, and Illinois is third at $14.1 billion.

According to the rankings, CHS Inc., a fuel, supply, grain and food cooperative based in Inver Grove Heights, Minn., is the nation's largest cooperative. It posted $43 billion in revenue in 2014. Rounding out the top three ag co-ops are Kansas City-based Dairy Farmers of America, with $18 billion in total revenue, and Land O'Lakes, headquartered in, St. Paul, Minn., with $15 billion in revenue.

Cooperatives of local interest......
'14 Rank - '13 Rank - Name, State - '14 Business Volume  ($ million)
  5   -    5     -   Ag Processing Inc. Omaha, NE - 5,200 
10   -   12   -   Associated Milk Producers Inc. New Ulm, MN - 2,170 
16   -   27   -   Producers Livestock - Omaha, NE - 1,573  
30   -   24   -   Heartland Co-op, West Des Moines, IA - 983 
36   -   30   -   Aurora Cooperative Elevator Company Aurora, NE - 882 
41   -   43   -   Farmers Cooperative - Dorchester, NE - 862 
42   -   23   -   Cooperative Producers Inc. Hastings, NE - 809 
44   -   50   -   Central Valley Ag Cooperative, O'Neill, NE - 787 
51   -   46   -   NEW Cooperative Inc. Fort Dodge, IA - 690 
55   -   49   -   United Farmers Cooperative, York, NE - 640 
61   -   53   -   Frenchman Valley Farmers Cooperative Inc. Imperial, NE - 603 

Notes:  This list was compiled based on information from before the merger of Central Valley Ag - O'Neill, NE and United Farmers Cooperative - York, NE.   As a combined cooperative, together, they would have placed roughly as the 22nd largest cooperative in terms of 2014 revenue.  This information also predates the mergers of NEW Cooperative Inc. with Western Iowa Coop and Heartland Co-op with United Western Cooperative. 



U.S. Meat Exports Disappointing in August

U.S. beef and pork exports struggled in August, remaining below year-ago levels, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). August beef exports totaled 84,167 metric tons (mt), down 18 percent from a year ago. Beef export value was down 24 percent to $498 million, the lowest in 18 months. For the first eight months of 2015, exports were down 11 percent in volume to 703,231 mt and dropped 5 percent in value to $4.31 billion.

Beef export value per head of fed slaughter has averaged $286.51 this year, up $9.28 from the same period in 2014. Exports accounted for 13 percent of total production and 10 percent for muscle cuts, each down about one percentage point from the same period last year.

For U.S. pork, August exports totaled 160,719 mt, down 1 percent from a year ago, while export value fell 19 percent to $429.8 million – the lowest monthly value in more than four years. For January through August, exports were down 5 percent in volume to 1.41 million mt, while value was down 17 percent to $3.75 billion.

Pork export value per head slaughtered has averaged $49.78 this year, down $15.50 from the same period in 2014. Exports accounted for 24 percent of total production and 21 percent for muscle cuts, down from 28 percent and 23 percent, respectively, last year.

An already-tough global business climate became even more difficult on Aug. 11, when China’s devaluation of the yuan added pressure to the currencies of several key importing countries and large competitors against the U.S. dollar. Customer currencies moving significantly lower included the Korean won, the Taiwanese dollar and the Mexican peso. On the competitor side, the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars have traded at the lowest levels since the global financial crisis, the Brazilian real hit record lows in September, and the euro and the Chilean peso are at their lowest levels in 12 years.

“Although our direct red meat exports to China are quite limited, the aftershocks of China’s currency devaluation and concerns about the global economy were felt across the world,” said Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO. “This definitely impacted demand in many of our key export destinations.”

On a positive note, Seng said price gaps with some key competitors began to narrow in recent weeks. Australian cattle producers are finally rebuilding their herds after nearly three years of drought-induced liquidation. Pork prices in the European Union have recently stabilized, though the EU industry continues to struggle with the loss of the Russian market, which closed to EU pork in early 2014.

“A long-awaited slowdown in Australian cattle slaughter finally materialized this summer, and Australian beef exports have begun to pull back from their record pace,” Seng explained. “European pork prices also seem to have found a bottom, and this should help level the playing field in those key Asian markets that saw a large influx of European pork over the past 18 months. It is important that we continue to identify opportunities to recapture and defend market share so that U.S. exports can finish strong in what has been a very difficult year.”

Import slowdowns in Japan and Hong Kong, weak Mexican peso hamper beef exports
Japan’s August beef imports from all suppliers were down 36 percent year-over-year, including a 31 percent drop from the United States, as its frozen inventories remain at very high levels. Through August, U.S. exports to Japan were down 9 percent in volume (146,575 mt) and 11 percent in value ($906.4 million) as lower prices for short plate and other popular cuts failed to stimulate demand. Prior to the recent slowdown in Australia’s production, Japanese importers continued to stock up on Australian beef, benefiting from lower tariffs through the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement and the weak Australian dollar.

Japan remains the leading destination for U.S. beef, however, as exports to Mexico are feeling the impact of record lows for the peso – falling 8 percent in volume (142,536 mt) and 4 percent in value ($712.1 million) in the first eight months of 2015.

Hong Kong took its smallest volume of U.S. beef in more than three years in August, as January-August exports dropped 25 percent in volume (70,459 mt) and 23 percent in value ($514.1 million).

On the positive side, beef exports to South Korea remained ahead of their 2014 pace through August, increasing 10 percent year-over-year in volume (84,073 mt) and 8 percent in value ($565.5 million).

U.S. beef continues to perform very well in Taiwan, with exports climbing 7 percent in volume (24,440 mt) and maintaining a record value pace ($220.9 million, up 16 percent). In both Korea and Taiwan, U.S. beef continues to expand its share of chilled imports, with increased retail featuring.

Although January-August exports to the Middle East were lower than a year ago, the region saw an uptick in demand in August for variety meats destined for Egypt, as well as muscle cuts to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

Pork exports to Mexico solid, but demand slows in other key markets
Pork exports to Mexico remain strong, with January-August volume up 6 percent from a year ago to 471,481 mt. Export value was down 19 percent to $827.9 million, reflecting lower prices for hams and other popular items.

Demand in Korea has slowed from its red-hot pace, as August pork exports were still higher year-over-year but down significantly from recent months. January-August export volume was up 37 percent to 122,387 mt, valued at $355 million (up 28 percent).

Japan’s imports of chilled U.S. pork rebounded in July and August, but a big decline in frozen demand pushed total U.S. exports down 13 percent (to 282,448 mt) through August, valued at $1.09 billion (down 19 percent). Large frozen inventories, partly reflecting increased imports of European pork in 2014, have contributed to lower Japanese imports this year.

Although China’s hog prices have been more than double those in the U.S., the majority of China’s import growth has been from Europe, as EU suppliers held price advantages on key items and enjoy significantly better market access conditions. U.S. exports to China/Hong Kong in August were up 9 percent from last year (24,890 mt) but were still the smallest since February. January-August exports were down 12 percent from a year ago in volume (210,294 mt) and fell 17 percent in value ($442.6 million).

Demand in Central and South America softened in August, as pork exports were the lowest since January. But for January through August, exports to the region were still up 4 percent in volume (80,153 mt), while value dropped 5 percent to $203.8 million. Strong volumes to Honduras, Chile and Guatemala helped offset a slowdown in Colombia, though Colombia remains the region’s largest destination for U.S. pork.

Lamb exports remain sluggish in August
U.S. lamb exports continued to slump in August, posting the second-lowest volume of the year at 586 mt, down 27 percent from a year ago, while export value dropped 33 percent to $1.43 million. For January through August, exports were down 15 percent in volume (6,093 mt) and 32 percent in value ($13 million). Growth markets in 2015 include Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Costa Rica, but these results were offset by declines in Mexico, Canada and several other markets.



Summertime Climate After an El Nino Winter

El Nino is here to stay... at least through the winter season, explained Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension Climate Field Specialist.

"It is one of the primary drivers of our climate that affects us on a multi-year scale here in North America," Edwards said. "In South Dakota, very strong El Nino conditions, like we have this year, usually mean warmer than average conditions in the winter season."

But what happens in the growing season following an El Nino winter? "As fall harvest season is upon us, it will soon be time to make some early seed and chemical purchasing decisions for the 2016 crop year, and perhaps some information about those summer seasons will help inform those decisions," Edwards said.

She explained that the current El Nino, as determined by sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, is ranked as number two or three among the strongest El Ninos since 1950. The comparable years are 1982-83 and 1997-98.

Looking back at the May through September growing season following the 82-83 and 97-98 El Nino winters, Edwards said that in general, very strong El Ninos tend to dissipate quickly.

"This limited size of just two growing seasons, combined with other variables creates some uncertainty in the summer season forecast," she said. "In both summers of 1983 and 1998, warmer than average conditions affected eastern South Dakota, with the largest temperature anomalies centered on Iowa."

Differences arose in the precipitation for each season. Edwards said that in 1983, near average or wet conditions occurred statewide during the spring season. Then dry conditions prevailed most of the summer, during July, August and September. "At any given time during the 1983 growing season, there was some level of minor to moderate drought conditions somewhere in the state," she said.

In 1998, June and July were notably wet in western/southwestern South Dakota, though the entire growing season ended up above average for rainfall in those areas. July 1998 had some short-term drought in the northern tier counties, and then September was exceptionally dry and warm.

"It is too early to tell for sure what summer 2016 will bring, but after looking at two recent summers following strong El Ninos, it may be best to be prepared for some amount of warm and dry conditions," Edwards said. Edwards said East River counties tend to be more susceptible to drought during summers like those than the western half of the state.



Tech Entries Dominate 2016 Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge: American Farm Bureau Announces Top 10 Teams

The American Farm Bureau today announced the top 10 teams – four finalists and six semi-finalists – of the 2016 Farm Bureau Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge. The challenge, now in its second year, provides opportunities for individuals to showcase business innovations being developed in rural regions of the U.S. It is the first national business competition focused exclusively on rural entrepreneurs working on food and agriculture businesses.

AFBF President Bob Stallman made the announcement at the organization’s October board of directors meeting, noting that four of the top 10 teams are ag technology entries. The final four teams, chosen from 165 applicants, were each awarded $15,000 and will advance to the next phase of the challenge. They are:

    AccuGrain (Rose Hill, Iowa), ag tech entry, X-ray technology to inventory flowing grain in real time. Team lead: Ryan Augustine.

    AgriSync (Dallas Center, Iowa), ag tech entry, mobile customer support platform for crop farmers. Team lead: Casey Niemann.

    Farm Specific Technology (Bolivar, Tennessee), ag tech entry, no-till crimper for cover crop production. Team lead: Shawn Butler.

    Fedora Malthouse (Village of Shepherd, Michigan), value-added processing entry, malted barley production for use by craft beer brewers. Team lead: Julie Baker.

The final four will pitch their business ideas to a team of judges in front of a live audience at AFBF’s 97th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show in January in hopes of winning the Rural Entrepreneur of the Year Award for an additional $15,000 and the People’s Choice Award for $10,000 more, totaling prize money of up to $40,000 to implement their ideas.

“The depth and diversity of business ideas in cultivation in rural areas across America is truly inspiring,” Stallman said. “The 10 businesses recognized today are an outstanding group of entrepreneurs,” he continued. “Rural entrepreneurs typically face unique challenges including limited options for support with resources such as startup funding, which we aim to address through the challenge.”

Semi-finalists were awarded $10,000 each, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Farm Credit Council. They are:

    Cherry Brother Designs, LLC (Shelbyville, Indiana), farm safety entry, customizable farm and ranch safety plans. Team lead: Tina Cherry.

    Kolb Farms (Cleveland, Wisconsin), farm/ranch entry, grass fed beef marketed direct to consumers. Team lead: Adam Kolb.

    Lilac Hedge Farm (Berlin, Massachusetts), farm/ranch entry, pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb and poultry for direct sale to consumers. Team lead: Ryan MacKay.

    Pumpkin Vine Creek, LLC (Paint Lick, Kentucky), farm/ranch entry, biodegradable ground covers to protect against soil erosion. Team lead: Robin Mason.

    Smiling Hara LLC (Mars Hill, North Carolina), value-added processing entry, soy and soy-free tempeh production and sales. Team lead: McCayne Miller.

    Strategic Management of Agriculture Related Technologies, S.M.A.R.T. (Oakland, Nebraska), ag tech entry, water conservation systems for farms and ranches. Team lead: Kurtis Charling.

The top challenge teams were selected by 40 judges with expertise in business development, equity investment fund management, agribusiness lending and entrepreneurial coaching.



House Agriculture Committee Holds Hearing on Dietary Guidelines

With less than three months before the guidelines are expected to be finalized, the House Agriculture Committee today held a public hearing to continue their oversight of the development of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This proved to be the first time in this process that both Secretaries Vilsack and Burwell have commented on the guidelines process, representing the two agencies charged with authoring the guidelines, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. Following the hearing, Philip Ellis, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president made the following statement:

“Cattle producers commend the Secretaries on the open process in crafting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and appreciate the continued oversight of Congress throughout the process. We were pleased the Secretaries announced the guidelines will not include topics beyond the scope of nutrition and diet and also support their recognition of fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains and lean meats and other proteins as part of a healthy diet.

“Cattle farmers and ranchers have made significant investments in nutrition research to understand beef’s role in a healthy diet. Since the inception of the Dietary Guidelines in 1980 this research has been shared and it’s important for federal policies, like the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, to incorporate the latest nutrition evidence and recognize the role today’s lean beef plays in a healthy diet. We recognize there is still work to be done as the recommendations are being finalized, and we appreciate the House Committee on Agriculture holding this hearing today.”



New USDA Fact Sheets Illustrate State-by-State Benefits of Trans-Pacific Partnership
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released a series of fact sheets illustrating how the newly reached Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement can boost the U.S. agriculture industry, supporting more American jobs and driving the nation's rural economy. Created by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the fact sheets graphically depict how each state and individual commodities stand to benefit from increased agricultural trade with the 11 other TPP countries.

Trade ministers from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam concluded TPP negotiations on Oct. 5 in Atlanta, Ga. Trade with these countries accounted for 42 percent of U.S. agricultural exports in 2014, contributing $63 billion to the U.S. economy.

"Increased demand for American agricultural products and expanded agricultural exports as a result of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement will support stronger commodity prices and increase farm income. Increased exports will support more good paying export-related jobs, further strengthening the rural economy," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "All of this activity benefits rural communities and keeps American agriculture on the cutting edge of global commerce. The TPP agreement will contribute to the future strength of American agriculture and helps to ensure that the historic agricultural trade gains achieved under President Obama since 2009 will continue."

The United States runs an agricultural trade surplus which benefits farmers, ranchers, and all those who live, work and raise families in rural America. Agricultural trade supports more than one million American jobs. TPP will remove unfair trade barriers and help further the global expansion of American agricultural exports, particularly exports of meat, poultry, dairy, fruits, vegetables, grains, oilseeds, cotton and processed products.

Here is just a snapshot of how the TPP would boost exports of some U.S. food and agricultural products:

Beef and Veal
Japan's beef tariff, currently as high as 50 percent, will be reduced to nine percent. Japan will eliminate duties on 75 percent of tariff lines, including processed beef products. Vietnam will eliminate tariffs and Malaysia will lock tariffs in at zero percent.

Pork
Japan will eliminate duties on nearly 80 percent of tariff lines, including processed pork. Remaining tariffs will be cut and the "Gate Price" system significantly altered. Nearly all Malaysian tariffs will be locked in at zero percent and Vietnam will eliminate tariffs.

Fruits
Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam will eliminate tariffs on all fresh and processed fruits, including citrus.

Vegetables
Malaysia and Vietnam will immediately eliminate all tariffs, and Japan nearly all tariffs, on fresh and processed vegetables. All three countries will eliminate tariffs on potatoes and potato products.

Rice
Japan, which excluded rice from its prior trade agreements, will establish a new, duty-free quota for U.S. rice. Malaysia and Vietnam will eliminate tariffs.

The information released today illustrates benefits for key commodities and all 50 states. Learn more about TPP and its benefits to the agricultural economy at http://www.fas.usda.gov/tpp.



Ethanol Stocks, Demand, Output Rose
The U.S. Energy Information Administration on Wednesday reported ethanol inventories, domestic production and demand all edged higher last week.

The report for the week ended Oct. 2 showed ethanol stocks inched up 30,000 bbl to 18.812 million bbl while up 0.9% versus a year ago.

The report showed domestic ethanol production rose 7,000 bpd to 950,000 bpd while up 5.4% year-on-year.

Blender inputs, a gauge for ethanol demand, nudged up 1,000 bpd to 882,000 bpd while up 2.8% versus a year earlier.

Other EIA data showed implied demand for gasoline declined 63,000 bpd during the week-ended Oct. 2 to 8.958 million bpd, but was still 3.6% higher than the same week a year ago.



NCGA Seeks WOTUS Guidance for Farmers

On September 17, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers hosted a closed webinar with agency personnel to address 27 questions regarding the final Waters of the U.S. rule. This week, the National Corn Growers Association joined 15 other agricultural groups requesting that EPA and the Corps to make public the answers to those questions.

"It's unfair to communicate to regulators on how to identify a WOTUS under the new rule, but not also share that information with the farmers and ranchers who are being regulated, and who bear all the risks and liabilities that come with it," said NCGA President Chip Bowling.

"From the beginning, we have been asking for clarity and certainty about farmers' obligations under the Clean Water Act. It only makes sense that farmers should receive the same guidance as EPA and Corps staff. We ask the agencies to provide the answers to these 27 questions, as well as future answers to questions about the rule, so that farmers can make more informed business decisions about their operations."



USDA Announces $3 Million in Funding for Critical Agriculture Production Research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced nearly $3 million in grants to address critical issues affecting agriculturally-important plants and animals. The science developed from these grants will provide timely assistance and have an immediate impact for the agriculture community. The awards were made under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative's (AFRI) Critical Agricultural Research and Extension (CARE) program, and addresses priority areas of the 2014 Farm Bill.

"It is essential to promote partnerships between researchers, extension experts, and producers to ensure the success of American agriculture," said Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director. "The CARE program is centered on the swift identification of problems, creation of solutions, and prevention of interruptions or issues that impact farmers' ability to provide a safe and abundant food supply for our nation."

Fiscal year 2014 is the first year NIFA has made awards under the CARE program. Examples of what these grants will focus on include a project from the University of Georgia that is researching disease management practices for blueberries, particularly addressing the currently unknown life cycle time of the damaging Exobasidium leaf and fruit spot disease. An Extension project from Montana State University will be working directly with cattle producers to adopt sagebrush grazing techniques for their cattle that create a sustainable environment for the greater sage-grouse. Fiscal Year 2014 grants include:
    University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $149,399
    University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $149,580
    University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., $149,925
    University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, $149,884
    Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., $149,995
    Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., $149.988
    Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $149,655
    Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $149,899
    Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont., $149,924
    University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb., $148,203
    University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb., $148,209
    University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb., $150,000
    Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., $150,000
    North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., $149,800
    Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa., $150,000
    South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D., $149,999
    University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville, Tenn., $150,000
    University of Vermont, Burlington, Vt., $141,807
    Washington State University, Pullman, Wash., $149,837
    University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisc., $149,992

AFRI is NIFA's flagship competitive grants program and was established under the 2008 Farm Bill. The AFRI Foundational Program addresses six priority areas to continue building a foundation of knowledge in fundamental and applied food and agricultural sciences critical for solving current and future societal challenges. The six priority areas include: plant health and production and plant products; animal health and production and animal products; food safety, nutrition and health; renewable energy, natural resources and environment; agriculture systems and technology; and agriculture economics and rural communities.



Syngenta outlines tips to stop SCN and associated diseases to achieve greater yields

As preparation for the 2016 planting season begins, Syngenta encourages growers to develop a proactive plan to protect their yields from soybean cyst nematode (SCN). SCN is a microscopic parasite that causes unseen damage and steals yield potential. As the most detrimental pest to soybeans in the U.S., SCN often destroys 30 percent of yields with no obvious aboveground symptoms, according to University of Illinois Extension.

SCN infects soybean at the roots. Juvenile nematodes penetrate into the tissue and leave behind unprotected wounds, which lead to dwarfed or stunted plants with weak roots. These compromised root systems reduce the plant’s ability to take up moisture and nutrients and cause potential yield loss. Weaker plants with wounds are also more susceptible to infection by soilborne pathogens, leading to increased damage from diseases like sudden death syndrome (SDS) and brown stem rot.

“Because SCN is hidden under the soil, growers don’t realize the extent of their problem until they soil sample and/or begin to notice lower yields,” said Dale Ireland, Ph.D., Seedcare technical product lead at Syngenta. “Direct feeding, infection and stress caused by SCN allow additional diseases and yield losses to occur.”

To manage SCN, Ireland recommends rotating crops, planting SCN-resistant varieties, using a seed-applied nematicide and soil sampling after every second soybean crop. He also stresses the importance of keeping fields clean from alternative SCN-host winter weeds, such as henbit and purple deadnettle, to maintain protection offered by genetic SCN-resistance sources.

He also recommends treating seed with Clariva® Complete Beans seed treatment, a combination of separately registered products. Because it contains a nematicide, an insecticide and three fungicides, it provides crops with triple pest protection during the critical early-growth stage.

For additional activity against SDS, growers can add Mertect® 340-F to Clariva Complete Beans. This treatment regime protects high-value soybeans with a combination of direct and indirect activity on SDS.

“There are several options in the tool box to manage SCN,” Ireland said. “You need to utilize all the tools available. A proactive SCN management program is required to protect your soybeans from increased losses and improve your return on investment.”



Red Combines 1915-2015
The Authoritative Guide to International Harvester and Case IH Combines and Harvesting Equipment

From the creators of the award-winning book Red Tractors 1958–2013 comes a beautiful in-depth look at one of the most significant piece of farm equipment built in the 20th century. Red Combines 1915–2015 (Octane Press, Sept. 1, $75) chronicles the complete story of the machine’s impact on agriculture and society.

The 384-page coffee table book is also a tribute of the people who invented the machine that helped shaped the farm as we know it today. Recounting the combine’s remarkable evolution, the book captures behind-the-scenes drama and clandestine encounters with rival companies, personnel and machines. Starting with research conducted by a rogue Swedish engineer in the 1950s and continued by a group of dedicated engineers who did their work in a top-secret garage, the book details how extensive research and development allowed International Harvester (IH) to build a new machine that took the market by storm.

Red Combines 1915–2015 includes detailed accounts by a host of authors and researchers, alongside more than 300 archival images, concept drawings, sketches, and new photography depicting the machines and men at work today. The six-pound volume is the result of dozens of interviews with engineers, salespeople, and customers — all under the direction of Lee Klancher, who serves as the project’s lead author and photo editor.



Center for Consumer Freedom Runs Fourth Chubby Chipotle Ad

A new “Estrogen in every bite” ad from the Center for Consumer Freedom is shining light on Chipotle’s hypocritical assertion that its product is free of added hormones. After all, Chipotle’s tofu and beans have much more hormones than meat from animals that have been given hormones. The full-page ad ran in today’s New York Post.

According to Dr. Dan Loy, director of the Iowa Beef Center at the University of Iowa, pinto beans contain 128,571 times more estrogen than beef from cattle that have been given hormones. Meanwhile tofu (such as that served in Chipotle’s “sofritas” burritos) contains 16 million times more estrogen. According to Cornell University, naturally occurring plant estrogens can mimic estrogen when consumed.

“Whether it’s added hormones, GMOs, or antibiotics, Chipotle makes all sorts of claims to make its food seem healthier or more ethical, but these all fall flat on their face when looked at objectively,” Will Coggin, director of research at the Center for Consumer Freedom, said. “There’s no problem with genetically modified foods or hormones present in foods (according to scientists), or giving antibiotics to animals to keep them healthy. But there is a problem with Chipotle pretending to be something it isn’t and deceiving consumers in order to sell its high-calorie burritos.”