Monday February 1 Ag News

LENRD Amended Groundwater Management Area Rules & Regulations become effective February 22

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) held a public hearing on January 14th to consider proposed amendments to the LENRD’s rules and regulations.  Following the public hearing, the LENRD adopted the proposed amendments to the Groundwater Management Plan’s rules and regulations at their January 28th board meeting.  Copies of the order and amended rules are available to view at the LENRD office or by visiting the LENRD website at www.lenrd.org/latest-news/.

The amendments have modified the rules to require flow meters on all irrigation wells across the district.  LENRD Water Resources Manager, Brian Bruckner, said, “Each irrigation well within the LENRD is required to be equipped with a properly installed and functioning flow meter by January 1, 2018.”  There are currently five flow meters on the approved list:  McCrometer Propeller Flow Meters (All Models);  McCrometer McMag 3000 Magmeter;  Senninger Flo-Wise Ag Rotor Sensor System;  Seametrics AG2000 Series Magmeter;  and the Growsmart by Lindsay IM3000 Magnetic Flow Meter.

The LENRD is currently developing a policy for flow meter installation and maintenance inspections, and will require any person wishing to install and/or maintain the flow meters to become certified by the LENRD as a Flow Meter Installer or a Flow Meter Maintenance Technician.  The LENRD is establishing a Flow Meter Installation and Maintenance Certification Program, and will require Flow Meter Technicians to report all installation and maintenance activities to the LENRD.

The rule change also includes the modification of the educational requirements for designated Subareas to 4 hours of educational credits every 4 years.

The effective date of the Order of Designation and the Amended Rules and Regulations is Monday, February 22, 2016.  For more information, contact Rick Wozniak, Curt Becker or Brian Bruckner at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 402-371-7313.



Lower Elkhorn NRD has a vacant seat on Board of Directors

Due to a vacancy on the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) Board of Directors, the LENRD is now accepting applications to fill a term of approximately nine months for Subdistrict 4.  Applicants must be registered voters and reside within the bounds of the subdistrict.  A detailed map is available at the LENRD office in Norfolk or visit their website:  www.lenrd.org/latest-news/.

LENRD General Manager, Mike Sousek, said, “Cory Beller, who represents Subdistrict 4, has moved outside of the district boundaries and can no longer represent the citizens of that area.”

Since the vacancy occurred during the first year of a four-year term the appointment is only good until the next election cycle, at which time the position would be open for election to a two-year term.  Anyone interested in the position is also encouraged to file for election with the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office for the Subdistrict 4 two-year term position prior to the incumbent filing deadline of February 16, 2016.

Interested persons should contact the LENRD at 402-371-7313 or email: msousek@lenrd.org

A resume’ should be submitted to the LENRD by February 19, 2016.



NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the month of January 2016, temperatures averaged near normal, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Multiple snow events occurred during January, but most snow melted by the end of the month. Mild conditions allowed cattle to remain on stalks. Feedlots in southern counties were muddy. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 1 percent very short, 13 short, 77 adequate, and 9 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 17 short, 77 adequate, and 4 surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Winter wheat condition rated 0 percent very poor, 3 poor, 41 fair, 46 good, and 10 excellent.

Livestock Report:
Cattle and calf conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 1 poor, 9 fair, 77 good, and 13 excellent. Calving was 4 percent complete. Cattle and calf death loss rated 1 percent heavy, 58 average, and 41 light.

Sheep and lamb conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 0 poor, 14 fair, 83 good, and 3 excellent. Sheep and lamb death loss rated 0 percent heavy, 59 average, and 41 light.

Hay and roughage supplies rated 0 percent very short, 5 short, 90 adequate, and 5 surplus.

Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 10 short, 87 adequate, and 2 surplus.



Farm Finance & Ag Law Clinics in February

Openings are available for one-on-one, confidential Farm Finance Clinics being conducted across the state each month. An experienced ag law attorney and ag financial counselor will be available to address farm and ranch issues related to financial planning, estate and transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, water rights, and other relevant matters. They offer an opportunity to seek an experienced outside opinion on issues affecting your farm or ranch.

    Fairbury — Thursday, Feb. 4
    Grand Island — Thursday, Feb. 4
    Valentine — Thursday, Feb. 11
    North Platte — Thursday, Feb. 11
    Norfolk — Tuesday, Feb. 16
    Mead —Wednesday, Feb. 17
    Lexington — Thursday, Feb. 18
    Norfolk — Friday, Feb. 26

To sign up for a clinic or to get more information, call Michelle at the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.  The Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska sponsor these clinics.



NE Extension Grain Marketing Workshops at 6 Sites in March

Grain marketing workshops will be offered at six sites in March to help grain producers create a written post-harvest marketing plan customized for their operation.

Nebraska Extension educators will present location and commodity specific marketing information. Topics include developing a written marketing plan, and understanding basis and carrying charges. The workshops feature the Marketing in a New Era simulator and Decide NOW grain marketing smartphone App.

Register at go.unl.edu/marketingworkshops or by calling the number listed with each location. Each workshop will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. Registrations are limited to 40 participants at each site.

Grain Marketing Workshop Locations
    March 3 in McCook at the Red Willow County Fair Grounds, West 5th St.; Contact: Robert Tigner 308-345-3390
    March 4 in Gothenburg at the Monsanto Learning Center, 76268 NE 47; Contact: Robert Tigner 308-345-3390
    March 7 in North Platte at West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd; Contact: Robert Tigner 308-345-3390
    March 8 near Mead at the Agricultural Research and Development Center/Saunders County Extension Office, 1071 County Rd G, Ithaca; Contact: Keith Glewen 402-624-8000
    March 9 in Lincoln at the Lancaster Extension Education Center, 444 Cherry Creek Rd, Suite A; Contact: Tyler Williams 402-441-7180
    March 10 in Auburn at Nemaha County Fairgrounds 4-H Building, 816 I St.; Contact: Gary Lesoing 402-274-4755

Workshops are funded by the Nebraska Soybean Board, Nebraska Corn Board, North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center, USDA-NIFA, and Nebraska Extension Innovation Funding.

For more information or assistance, contact Jessica Groskopf, Nebraska Extension Educator, 308-632-1247, e-mail jgroskopf2@unl.edu.



IRRIGATED PASTURES BEAT HIGH RENT AND LOW CROP PRICES
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               High pasture rents, risk of drought, and little profit from irrigated crops make irrigated pasture an attractive option.

               When pasture rent approaches or even exceeds three hundred dollars per cow-calf pair for the season, it may be time to look at other options.  One attractive option might be to grow your own irrigated pasture, especially when corn prices are below four dollars a bushel.  Well-managed irrigated pasture can support about one and one-half cow-calf pairs per acre.  This could save you over four hundred dollars per acre at rental pasture rates.

               Of course, you will gross a whole lot more per acre by continuing to grow irrigated corn.  But, cash costs to raise corn are way more for corn than for irrigated pasture so you might actually be losing money with corn.

               And this doesn’t take into account other advantages of irrigated pasture.  Things like the convenience of having so many animals together close to home, better early spring grass, and improved bull power when breeding in such small areas.  Only you can determine what these are worth to you.

               Irrigated pastures can be highly productive and profitable, but your best management effort is needed.  For details on seeding and managing irrigated pastures, several extension NebGuides are available on-line and at local extension offices.

               Do you get the most out of your irrigated acres?  Is corn at four dollars per bushel making you money?  If not, irrigated pasture might be better.  Think about it.



Workshops to Address Growing Challenge of Pest Resistance
Stevan Knezevic, NE Extension Weed Management Specialist

Pest resistance to pesticides (herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides) is not new, but is becoming a critical aspect of managing weeds, diseases, and insects in crop production. Pest resistance is also contributing to increased costs of production in some areas.

Nebraska Extension will be hosting four Pest Resistance Workshops this spring to educate farmers and ag advisors on the importance of herbicide, insecticide and fungicide resistance management, mode of action, and how to use this information to reduce the potential for resistant weeds, insects, and plant pathogens in Nebraska.

Status of Resistance
Pest resistance to any pest management tool, tactic, or strategy (chemical or nonchemical) has been documented for many years.

Weeds. In the mid-1950s, weed scientists predicted that repeated use of any herbicide could lead to shifts in weed species composition within a weed community and that herbicide tolerance in weeds can quickly increase with repeated use of the same herbicide. Soon after that, in the early 1970s, the first cases of weed resistance were documented in pigweed species showing resistance to atrazine.

Worldwide about 368 weed biotypes are reported to be resistant to 19 herbicide modes of action. For example, 40 dicot and 15 monocot species are known to have biotypes resistant to triazine herbicides. At least 50 weed species have been reported to have biotypes resistant to one or more herbicide families (www.weedscience.com). Repeated use of the same herbicide has always been the main reason for weed resistance to herbicides.

Six pesticide-resistant weeds found in Nebraska
Insects have shown a similar pattern in developing resistance to many types of insecticides used to control crop pests. Insecticide resistance is a global issue for a wide variety of agriculturally important pests and has been reported in over 540 insect and mite species (www.pesticideresistance.com).

Nebraska has had a long history with insecticide-resistant pests. The western corn rootworm has been particularly difficult and has developed resistance to numerous insecticides for both larval and adult controls. In addition, corn rootworms in parts of Nebraska and the Midwest have developed resistance to some of the Bt proteins found in genetically modified corn, leaving growers with fewer control options and greater management costs. In the United States alone, crop losses due to pesticide resistance are estimated at $1.4 billion annually.

Plant Diseases. Plant pathogens have not developed significant resistance to fungicides for the most common diseases in field crops; however, there are some and the increased use of fungicides may lead to more resistance issues.

Currently, frogeye leaf spot of soybean and fusarium head blight of wheat are the only diseases known to have fungicide resistance in the U.S. corn, soybean and wheat crops. Neither has been identified in Nebraska yet.

Among specialty crops grown in Nebraska, there is fungicide resistance in ascochyta blight of chickpeas.  Fungicides are still a primary means of controlling plant diseases and many companies are developing products with multiple modes of action to provide more durable products and manage resistance development.

Pest Resistance Workshops
Nebraska Extension Pest Resistance Workshops will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at
    Wayne, March 7 — Wayne Fire Hall; Host Extension Educator Keith Jarvi;
    Clay Center, March 8 — Clay County Fairgrounds; Host Extension Educator Jennifer Rees;
    Grant, March 10 — UNL’s Stumpf Int'l Wheat Center; Host Extension Educator Strahinja Stepanovic;
    Scottsbluff, March 11 — Panhandle R&EC, Bluestem Room; Host Extension Educator Gary Stone.

These 5-hour workshops include presentations on:
    insect resistance,
    herbicide-tolerant crops,
    herbicide mode of action and site of action groupings,
    how weed resistance develops, and
    weed resistance in the Midwest and Nebraska.

Attendees will also have a chance to conduct a hands-on exercise on controlling major multiple resistant weed species.

 Workshop speakers are members of the UNL weed science, entomology and plant pathology teams, including: Stevan Knezevic (lead), Amit Jhala, Cody Creech, Nevin Lawrence, Chris Proctor, Keith Jarvi, Robert Wright, Julie Peterson, Jeff Bradshaw, Tamra Jackson-Ziems, Anthony Adesemoye, Sarah Schlund, and Robert Harveson.

Preregistration
Online preregistration is required for these workshops and is available at http://agronomy.unl.edu/pest-resistance. Cost is $50, which includes all materials.

For more information contact the host educator listed in the schedule, program lead Stevan Knezevic, or Wendy Winstead. Cancellations must be made at least one week prior to the registered session to get a refund of all but a $10 processing fee.




Adam Guenther of West Point Participates in 2016 Young Cattlemen's Conference

Nebraska Cattlemen today announced local beef industry professional Adam Guenther of West Point participated in the 2016 Young Cattlemen's Conference (YCC) held mid-January in Lincoln.

"YCC provided great insight into areas of the beef industry that take place outside of the day to day operations of producers" said Guenther.

YCC nominees are accepted from Nebraska Cattlemen affiliate organizations throughout the state and selected by committee. Each class is limited to 10 individuals who make a two-year commitment to participate in the leadership program, including two four-day intensive learning sessions. The 2016 class will return to Lincoln for the second session, focusing on legislative issues, in early 2017.

The goal of the Young Cattlemen's Conference is to expose young and emerging leaders to a variety of areas of the beef industry and provide them with necessary leadership tools. During the two-year program, YCC members are provided training on professional communication, given the opportunity to tour multiple Nebraska-based agriculture production facilities and learn to navigate state agencies and legislative processes.

YCC is the flagship educational program offered to members of Nebraska Cattlemen. The program receives sponsorship from Farm Credit Services and DuPont Pioneer and is coordinated by NC Director of Producer Education Bonita Lederer.

In addition to Guenther, the 2016 YCC class includes:
Bradley Christensen, Columbus
Reiss L. Bruning, Bruning
Jentry Cain, Berywn
Tricia Goes, Odell
Gus Petersen, Cambridge
Heide Pieper, Farnam
Doug Smith, Ph.D., Curtis
Kenneth Stauffer, Harrisburg
Kelly Terrell, Gothenburg

For more information, visit www.nebraskacattlemen.org.



Fischer to Host Community Coffees in Eastern Nebraska

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) announced today she will hold several community coffees in Nebraska during the week of February 15th.  Fischer will host these sessions across eastern Nebraska, including Blair, South Sioux City, Norfolk, Columbus, Stromsburg, Seward, and Fremont.

SENATOR FISCHER’S COMMUNITY COFFEES, FEBRUARY 15-17

Monday, February 15, 2016
  - Blair Community Coffee - Billy’s Blair Maple Cafe - 8:30 a.m.– 9:30 a.m. CST
  - South Sioux City Community Coffee - Dakota Perk - 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. CST
  - Norfolk Community Coffee - Black Cow Fat Pig - 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. CST

Tuesday, February 16, 2016
  - Columbus Community Coffee - Sip Espresso Bar - 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. CST
  - Stromsburg Community Coffee - 4th Street Coffee House - 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. CST
  - Seward Community Coffee - JD’s Coffee Shop - 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. CST

Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Fremont Community Coffee - J’s Steakhouse - 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST

These community coffees serve as convenient opportunities for local Nebraskans to hear updates on Senator Fischer’s work and speak with her in a more informal setting. 



Beef Board Elects 2016 Leadership Team

Cattle producers Anne Anderson of Austin, Texas, Brett Morris of Ninnekah, Oklahoma, and Joan Ruskamp of Dodge, Nebraska are the new leadership team for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, elected unanimously by fellow Beef Board members during the 2016 Cattle Industry Convention in San Diego on Jan. 29, 2016. Anderson will serve as chairman, Morris as vice chairman and Ruskamp as secretary/ treasurer of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board to lead the national Beef Checkoff Program for the coming year.

The Beef Board also elected members to serve on the CBB Executive Committee and others to fill the CBB seats on the Beef Promotion Operating Committee.

NEW BEEF BOARD OFFICER TEAM
Newly elected Beef Board Chairman Anne Anderson is a cow-calf and stocker operator from Austin Texas and was the first executive director of the Texas Beef Council. She and her husband, Jim, own a small cattle ranch in Colorado County and a larger one, which Anne manages, in Menard and MuCulloch counties. In addition to ranching, she spent more than 15 years providing assistance to individuals and groups trying to build new companies – mostly in the beef industry, and all in the food industry. Anne also is a co-founder and former CEO of AgInfoLink Global, one of the largest food-tracking companies in the U.S., with additional international offices in Australia, Canada, Mexico and Argentina.

Newly appointed CBB Vice Chairman Brett Morris is a third-generation dairy farmer and runs a dairy, cow/calf and stocker operation, as well as the Washita Fertilizer Company, in partnership with his father. Theirs is a diversified farm operation, including about 1,000 acres of alfalfa, wheat and grassland, 65 registered Holstein cows for milking, 100-125 beef cows, and 200 stocker calves. Morris served as chairman of the Oklahoma Dairy Commission, vice chairman of the Oklahoma Johne's Advisory Committee, as a district voting delegate to DFA, a director of the Federation of State Beef Councils, and as vice chairman of the Oklahoma Beef Council.

2016 CBB Secretary/Treasurer Joan Ruskamp and her husband, Steve, operate a feedlot and row-crop farm west of Dodge, Nebraska, that has been in Steve's family for nearly 100 years. On the farm, Joan's main jobs include walking pens, cattle doctoring/ processing, and office manager. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Curtis, where she earned an associate degree in veterinary medicine in 1980. Joan has been very active in the beef industry, with service to numerous producer organizations. In addition, she has been a 4-H leader for about 20 years, an EMT for more than a decade, and a religious education teacher for nearly 30 years.

CBB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The 12-member CBB Executive Committee includes the Board’s three officers and eight members elected at large. The CBB elected the following members to its 2016 Executive committee: Vice Chairman Brett Morris, who will serve as chairman of the Executive Committee; and members Anne Anderson (CBB chairman); Brett Morris (CBB vice chairman), Joan Ruskamp (CBB secretary/ treasurer);  Laurie Bryant, an importer representative; Chuck Coffey of Oklahoma; Barbara Jacques of Oklahoma; Jana Malot of Pennsylvania; Paul Moss of Tennessee; Kent Pruismann of Iowa; Mike Smith of California; Janna Stubbs of Texas; and, as immediate past CBB Chairman, Jimmy Maxey of California will serve as an advisor to the committee.

The Executive Committee operates under the direction of and within the policies established by the full Board and is responsible for carrying out Beef Board policies and conducting business and making decisions necessary to administer the terms and provisions of the Act and Order between meetings of the full Board.

 OPERATING COMMITTEE
The Beef Promotion Operating Committee was created by the Beef Promotion Research Act to help coordinate state and national beef checkoff programs. The 20-person committee includes 10 members of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, among them the Board’s three officers and seven others elected directly by Beef Board members. The other 10 members are appointed from the Federation of State Beef Councils.

CBB members elected to the 2016 Beef Promotion Operating Committee during the annual meeting in San Antonio include: Chairman Anne Anderson; Vice Chairman Brett Morris; Secretary/Treasurer Joan Ruskamp; Jared Brackett of Idaho; Sara Childs of Florida; Joe Guthrie of Virginia; Jeanne Harland of Illinois; Chuck Kiker of Texas; Stacy McClintock of Kansas; and Gary Sharp of South Dakota.



2016 Cattle Industry Convention Draws Strong Crowd to San Diego; NCBA Members Elect Officers
 
The 2016 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show wrapped up Sat., Jan 30, 2016, with the NCBA board of directors meeting. More than 6,700 attended this year’s convention to engage in grassroots policy process, hear from industry experts, and attend the expansive tradeshow. Tracy Brunner, Kansas cattle producer, was officially elected to succeed Philip Ellis as NCBA president.

Brunner, a fourth-generation cattleman from Ramona, Kan., expressed optimism about the organization’s momentum, saying he would continue to build on the organization’s success of the prior year.

It’s an honor to take the reins of NCBA for the next year,” said Brunner. “We have a great organization and the strong presence of cattlemen and women gathered this week is a demonstration of several things: the interest we have in improving our businesses, our desire to have fun and fellowship, our belief in the power of dialog to move things forward and our commitment to making this an even greater industry.”

Craig Uden, Elwood, Neb., was elected as NCBA president-elect, and Kevin Kester, Parkfield, Calif., is the new NCBA vice president. Steve Hanson, Elsie, Neb., was elected chairman of the NCBA Federation Division, and Jerry Effertz, Velva, North Dakota., is the new Federation vice chairman. The new NCBA Policy Division chairman is Jennifer Houston of Sweetwater, Tenn., and Joe Guild, Reno, Nev., is the new policy vice chairman.

 “The American beef industry is stronger than it has ever been,” said Brunner. “We have the right people growing the right product in the right way. And, we have the right organizational culture and structure. We have promotion and advocacy; research and education. We have public policy efforts to ensure beef producers are represented in the halls of Congress and at the table as laws are made. We are committed to not only protecting and promoting the beef business of today, but even more importantly, the beef business of tomorrow. We have an exciting year ahead as international demand for American beef continues to rise and trade remains high priority. It’s a great time to be in the beef business and a part of this great organization.”

As president of NCBA, Brunner will lead the organization’s policy work and oversee efforts undertaken as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. To learn more about the organization visit the website: www.beefusa.org/. 



How much can I afford to pay for a bull?
Gary Stauffer, Extension Educator Holt & Boyd Counties

A popular question this time of year is “How much can I afford to pay for a bull”. My go-to answer is usually…”How much revenue loss would you have from a pasture full of open cows?”. After all, we often de-value the role of the bull. We forget that he is a crucial part of the equation to making our product.

Now, the question is a good one to ask. Especially after watching calf prices climb seemingly all of 2014 and the prices paid for bred heifers at year-end, it is only logical to wonder what a good bull will cost this spring.

Old rules of thumb are good to reflect on. For instance, “2times the value of a fat steer” or “4 to 5 times the value of a feeder calf” are both common measures used by old timers to determine the value of a bull. So, I tested these figures with historical prices from the Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale and prices paid for feeders and fats from National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). As it turns out, using values from 1996 to 2014 (last 19 years) the average bull price was 4 times the value of a feeder calf and 2.1 times the value of a fat steer. Looks like those old rules of thumb work pretty well.

Using these multipliers, we can speculate to the average price of bulls this coming sale season. Looking at recent market reports, 500 lb. feeder calves are bringing $2.40 or more. Thus, value of a 5-weight feeder calf is conservatively $1,200. History tells us 4 times that value will get us close to the average. Thus 4 x $1,200 = $4,800 for an average bull price.

A conservative price for fat steers weighing 1300 lb. us $1.60. Therefore the math tells a fat steer values out at nearly $2,100. The previously stated multiplier of 2.1 times the value of a fat steer would yield an average bull price of just over $4,400. So, we have a conservative range of $4,400 to $4,800 for the average bull price.

That said, there will be many bulls that bring in excess of those figures. So, what factors contribute to bulls bringing more than the average? Are they worth the extra money?

For simplicity, let’s say a bull breeds 25 cows per year for 4 years resulting in 100 calves over his lifespan. With these conservative assumptions, even a small improvement in a valuable trait can greatly increase a bull’s value.

For instance, Calving Ease (CE) EPD is defined as the difference in percentage of unassisted births. So, let’s say you purchase a bull that is 5 points better in his CE than the breed average for current sires. For both Angus and Simmental that would mean purchasing a bull in the top 10% of the breed for that trait…not an unrealistic buy. The 5 point improvement should translate to 5% more unassisted births. In the real world, it’s fair to say half of assisted births don’t make it. Thus, a 5% improvement in the DEC could easily translate to 2.5% more calves. Out of 100 calves sired over a lifetime, that’s 2.5 more calves. The added value from improved CE would be $3,000 (2.5 more calves x 500 lbs. x $2.40/lb.).

The most common example for added value of a bull is improved EPDs for weaning weight (WW). Let’s say you purchase a bull with a WW EPD of 60 (breed average for Angus is 50). That’s 10 additional pounds at weaning per calf. If the bull sires 100 calves in a lifetime and a pound is worth $2.40, then the result is $2,400 more income over his lifetime when compared to the average of current sires.

Another figure bull buyers can look at are $ values (Weaned Calf Value ($W), Beef Value ($B), All-Purpose Index (API), Terminal Index (TI)). These values are expressed in dollars and if you match your herd needs with the correct index, they can help you be more profitable. 



BQA Free Certification Period Announced

During the 2016 Annual Cattle Industry Convention, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI), announced a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) free-certification period — from now through April 15. Beef and dairy producers can take advantage of free BQA certification online courtesy of BIVI and the BQA program, which is funded in part by the beef checkoff. Register today and complete your certification at your own convenience.

And, as an added bonus, anyone who becomes certified during this period is eligible to win a pair of Tin Haul boots, courtesy of BIVI.

BIVI will pick up the $25-$50 online training fee for every person completing BQA training through April 15. That includes anyone who works with cattle – whether it is beef or dairy. Visit www.bivi-bqa.com to take advantage of the open certification period.

The BQA program is important to the cattle industry because it is a producers’ consumer-friendly story to tell, helping them talk about using BQA Best Management Practices for producing a safe and high quality beef product. And for dairy producers, this offering also is beneficial as a tool to promote safe animal-handling practices and because a large percentage of dairy calves, as well as market cows, make their way into the food chain.

The BQA training modules are customized to fit the specific needs of each segment of the cattle industry – cow-calf, stocker, feedyard and dairy operations. The program covers best management practices such as proper handling and administration of animal health products, reducing injection site blemishes, and low stress cattle-handling principles.

Beyond reinforcing industry best practices for cattle production, obtaining certification can be a useful tool in an ever-changing landscape where consumers want to be assured they are receiving a product raised in ways that align with BQA.



NORTHEY RELEASES IOWA WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE 2016 LEGISLATIVE REPORT

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today highlighted the Iowa Water Quality Initiative 2016 Legislative Report during his presentation to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee.

“We continue to see engagement and investment in water quality efforts and it is exciting to see the progress that is being made.  Thanks to the support we have received from the Governor and Legislature the Iowa Water Quality Initiative continues to expand and work with additional farmers.  This report provides an update on the initiative to legislators and outlines our request for the next fiscal year,” Northey said.

The 8-page report provides an update on the $3.5 million made available for statewide cost share for water quality practices and on the 29 demonstration projects that were operating across the state last year to help implement and demonstrate water quality practices.  The report also gives and update on Tracking/Accountability and efforts by the Iowa Nutrient Research Center at Iowa State University.  The Iowa DNR also provided an update on the efforts of point sources that is included in the report.

During the hearing Northey also highlighted the $10 million request for the Water Quality Initiative would allow the Department to continue offering cost share statewide to farmers trying new water quality practices, expand work in targeted watersheds to achieve measurable water quality improvements, and continue to develop new programs to help engage all Iowans in water quality efforts. The Department received $9.6 million for the current fiscal year for the Water Quality Initiative.

A copy of the report can be found at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under “Hot Topics” or at http://www.cleanwateriowa.org/news-and-blog.aspx.



USDA:  Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks

Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 5.01 million tons in December 2015, compared to 4.97 million tons in November 2015 and 5.10 million tons in October 2015. Crude oil produced was 1.93 billion pounds up 1 percent from November 2015 but down 2 percent from October 2015. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.40 billion pounds during December 2015 decreased 2 percent from November 2015 and decreased 11 percent from October 2015.

Canola seeds crushed for crude oil was 165.8 thousand tons in December 2015, compared to 128.9 thousand tons in November 2015 and 99.1 thousand tons in October 2015. Canola crude oil produced was 135.7 million pounds up 25 percent from November 2015 and up 66 percent from October 2015. Canola once refined oil production at 96.5 million pounds during December 2015 was down 2 percent from November 2015 but up 17 percent from October 2015. Cottonseeds crushed for crude oil was 149.6 thousand tons in December 2015, compared to 135.7 thousand tons in November 2015 and 123.1 thousand tons in October 2015. Cottonseed crude oil produced was 46.8 million pounds, up 12 percent from November 2015 and up 24 percent from October 2015. Cottonseed once refined oil production at 54.0 million pounds during December 2015 was up 9 percent from November 2015 and up 11 percent from October 2015.

Edible tallow production was 78.9 million pounds during December 2015, down 6 percent from November 2015 and down 6 percent from October 2015. Inedible tallow production was 287.2 million pounds during December 2015, down 6 percent from November 2015 but up 5 percent from October 2015. Technical tallow production was 94.1 million pounds during December 2015, down 11 percent from November 2015 but up 14 percent from October 2015. Choice white grease production at 117.9 million pounds during December 2015 increased 1 percent from November 2015 and increased 3 percent from October 2015.



Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 495.5 million bushels in December 2015. Total corn consumption was up 2 percent from November 2015 but down 3 percent from December 2014. December 2015 usage included 91.6 percent for alcohol and 8.4 percent for other purposes. Corn for beverage alcohol totaled 2.81 million bushels, down 5 percent from November 2015 but up 19 percent from December 2014. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 444.5 million bushels, was up 2 percent from November 2015 but down 3 percent from December 2014. Corn consumed in December 2015 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 88.7 percent and 11.3 percent respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 1.97 million tons during December 2015, up 2 percent from November 2015 and up 3 percent from December 2014. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.27 million tons in December 2015, up 12 percent from November 2015 but down 10 percent from December 2014.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 340.5 thousand tons during December 2015, up 5 percent from November 2015 and up 3 percent from December 2014. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 307.9 thousand tons in December 2015, up 6 percent from November 2015 but down 9 percent from December 2014.



Flour Milling Products Highlights

All wheat ground for flour during the fourth quarter 2015 was 235.9 million bushels, up slightly from the third quarter 2015 grind of 235.0 million bushels but down slightly from the fourth quarter 2014 grind of 235.9 million bushels. Fourth quarter 2015 total flour production was 108.8 million hundredweight, up 1 percent from the third quarter 2015 and up slightly from the fourth quarter 2014. Whole wheat flour production at 6.2 million hundredweight during the fourth quarter 2015 accounted for 6 percent of the total flour production. Millfeed production from wheat in the fourth quarter 2015 was 1.68 million tons. The daily 24-hour milling capacity of wheat flour during the fourth quarter 2015 was 1,618 thousand hundredweight.

Durum wheat ground for flour and semolina production during the fourth quarter of 2015 totaled 17.4 million bushels, up 8 percent from the third quarter 2015 and up 3 percent from the fourth quarter 2014. Fourth quarter 2015 durum flour and semolina production was 8.2 million hundredweight, up 10 percent from the third quarter 2015 and up 2 percent from the fourth quarter 2014. Whole wheat durum flour and semolina production was 189 thousand hundredweight, down 44 percent from 339 thousand hundredweight in the third quarter 2015 and down 40 percent from 313 thousand hundredweight from the fourth quarter 2014. Fourth quarter durum wheat millfeed production was 121.0 thousand tons and the daily 24-hour milling capacity for durum and semolina production was 128 thousand hundredweight.

Rye ground for flour during the fourth quarter of 2015 was 549 thousand bushels, up 6 percent from the third quarter 2015 but down 3 percent from the fourth quarter 2014. Rye flour production during the fourth quarter of 2015 was 261 thousand hundredweight, compared to 241 thousand hundredweight in the previous quarter and 269 thousand hundredweight in the same quarter for the
previous year. The daily 24-hour milling capacity for rye milling was 9 thousand hundredweight for the fourth quarter 2015.



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for February 2016

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for February 2016. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for February is 0.625 percent, unchanged from 0.625 percent in January.

The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during February is 1.625 percent, unchanged from 1.625 percent in January.

Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for February are as follows, 2.000 percent with seven-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.000 percent in January; 2.125 percent with 10-year loan terms, down from 2.250 percent in January and; 2.250 percent with 12-year loan terms, down from 2.375 percent in January.



Important Housing Deadlines Approach for Commodity Classic

As registrations for the 2016 Commodity Classic held March 3-5 in New Orleans continue at a record pace, hotel accommodations are filling up quickly, while some important housing-related deadlines are on the horizon.

Group rates at all Commodity Classic hotels are guaranteed through Wednesday, Feb.3 (based on availability). Continue to check the Commodity Classic website for additional hotel availability and updates.  The hotel reservation process is managed through Experient, the Commodity Classic housing bureau.  Reservations cannot be accepted by phone or email and must be made through the website at www.commodityclassic.com in order to receive the group rate discount. For questions, email housing@commodityclassic.com or call (800) 967-8852 or (847) 996-5832.

Check the confirmation you received from the Classic housing bureau for specific hotel cut-off dates and deadlines.

Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is America's largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show, produced by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

For more information on registration, housing and the schedule of activities, visit www.CommodityClassic.com.



CWT Assists with 597,000 Pounds of Cheese and Whole Milk Powder Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 8 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Michigan Milk Producers, and Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) who have contracts to sell 509,268 pounds (231 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese and 88,185 pounds (40 metric tons) of whole milk powder to customers in Asia and Central America. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from January through July 2016.

So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 4.288 million pounds of cheese, 2.866 million pounds of butter and 1.259 million pounds of whole milk powder to eleven countries on five continents. The sales are the equivalent of 119.253 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program, in the long-term, helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively impacts all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.



CNH Reports Lower Revenues, Net Incoming in 2015

CNH Industrial N.V. announced consolidated revenues of $7,144 million for the fourth quarter 2015, down 4.1% compared to the same three months in 2014.

Net sales of Industrial Activities were $6,869 million, down 3.6% compared to fourth quarter a year earlier.

The full year 2015 consolidated revenues were $25,912 million, down 9.2% compared to 2014 on a constant currency basis.

Net sales of Industrial Activities were $24,677 million in 2015, down 9.6% from 2014.

Agricultural Equipment declined 19.6% excluding the negative impact of currency translation, driven by lower industry volumes in the NAFTA and LATAM row crop sectors offset by positive net price realization.

And sales also decreased in Construction Equipment, due primarily to negative industry volumes in LATAM, and in Powertrain, due to lower volume to captive customers.



Soybean cyst nematode: The neglected threat in U.S. fields

At a recent seminar, Syngenta shared results from a survey revealing that a significant number of growers do not consider soybean cyst nematode (SCN) to be a serious threat. Despite this underestimation, SCN is one of the most damaging soybean pests, costing growers an estimated 128 billion bushels of soybeans every year. SCN is found in every soybean-producing state across the U.S., and once present in a field, it cannot be eliminated.

Syngenta sponsored the SCN Awareness and Education Meeting in December 2015 as part of its dedication to providing soybean growers with effective solutions to combat this prolific pest. A broad group of university nematologists, university researchers and representatives from the soybean community discussed the current state of SCN in the U.S., the level of grower awareness and the ongoing research into evolving management strategies. A focal point of the discussion was a fall 2015 survey of more than 1,000 U.S. soybean growers from 17 states.

“The survey provides a baseline assessment of growers’ awareness of SCN, its perceived impact and the SCN management strategies used today,” said Wouter Berkhout, soybean Seedcare product lead at Syngenta.

The survey also revealed that while most growers plant SCN-resistant varieties as a management strategy, a majority of respondents don’t think SCN-resistant varieties have been losing efficacy. However, research has revealed that SCN populations are adapting to genetic resistance.

For more than 20 years, genetic resistance in varieties has come almost exclusively from a single source (PI88788), which is now found in more than 95 percent of SCN-resistant soybean varieties. As with weed resistance, reliance on a single management tool has reduced effectiveness. Research shows that SCN populations have adapted to PI88788, increasing the need for alternate solutions.

“Nematodes adapt to varieties faster than they adapt to sources of resistance,” said Terry Niblack, professor and chair, nematology, at The Ohio State University. “Against a variety, SCN is going to adapt much faster, and the likelihood of yield loss is much higher.”

With scientific evidence of adaptation and the level of growers’ awareness and management practices reflected in this survey, experts agree there is a clear need for additional studies and education.

“The findings confirm that we, in the soybean community, need to work as a team to combat the growing problem of SCN,” said Palle Pederson, Seedcare product marketing head at Syngenta. “This is not something that we can do by ourselves. Growers need to be better informed about issues affecting their soybean fields, and we need to provide more tools to counteract those issues.”

Seed treatments that offer effective protection against SCN are a valuable addition to existing SCN management strategies. Clariva® Complete Beans seed treatment, a combination of separately registered products, is already helping many soybean growers increase their yields, reduce SCN reproduction and selection pressure, and reduce damage from sudden death syndrome and other SCN-related diseases.