Tuesday June 20 Ag News

Updated Beef Cow Basics-Plus Course Available to Sharpen Cow/Calf Management Skills
Larry Howard, NE Extension Educator, Cuming County
Those looking to take the guesswork out of cow/calf management are encouraged to enroll in the revised Beef Cow Basics-Plus home study course offered by Nebraska Extension. The course, which is now available online, is designed for beef producers, feed consultants, veterinarians and youth wanting to learn more about beef production.

Since 1993, more than 5,500 individuals from more than 40 states have taken Beef Basics courses to further their education. The updated course is available completely online, making it even easier for participants to learn within the comfort of their own home or office.

Information covered in the course includes:
• Goals for the cow/calf producer
• Basic considerations for cow nutrition
• Metabolizable protein system, “The Concept of RDP and RUP”
• Minerals and vitamins for beef cows
• Replacement heifer nutrition
• Basic ration formulation
• Forage analysis and inventory
• Perennial forage production
• Annual forage crops
• Alfalfa Production: Opportunities for improvement
• Livestock grazing management on range and pasture
• Feed ration economics

The course was written and reviewed by extension faculty and individuals involved in the beef industry. Past participants have praised the Beef Basics courses for focusing on the point of view of the cow/calf producer. Participants have estimated that they would save over $16 per cow using the management and production ideas presented in the Beef Basics courses.

The fee for the new online Beef Cow Basics-Plus course ranges from $20 to $120, depending on the status of the individual and whether CEU credits are requested. To register for the new online course, visit https://campus.extension.org and search for “beef cow basics.”

Other Beef Basics courses range from $40 to $60. All of the courses have been approved for American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists and continuing education unit credits are available. Possible number of credits varies with course enrollment.

For additional information or to register, visit http://beef.unl.edu/beefbasics.



NE Cattlemen Educational Opportunities
                                                   
Farmer Stockman Annual Tour - Don't miss the annual Farmer Stockman Tour scheduled for Wednesday, June 28, in the Columbus area.
7:30 am          Cargill, Schuyler Plant - Cargill tour limited to first 25 to RSVP
11:30 am        Lunch
12:00 pm        Sidump'r & Feeding Systems - 2500 E 23rd St., Columbus
1:30 pm          Kent Feeds - 5445 E 23rd St., Columbus
3:30 pm          Reigle Cattle Co. - 55510 823rd Road, Madison - Meal to follow tour

There is no charge for the tour but a RSVP is appreciated for a meal count. You do not have to be an NC member to take part in the tour.  RSVP to Bonita 402-450-0223 / voice or text blederer@necattlemen.org by Monday, June 26

Stockmanship Stewardship
Don't forget about the Stockmanship Stewardship event scheduled for June 29-30 in Lincoln. This event includes: Lessons in horseback cattle handling, live chute-side cattle handling demonstration and BQA certification.  For more information and to register http://www.stockmanshipandstewardship.org/attend/lincoln-ne.



Ricketts Announces International Trade Mission to Canada

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced plans to lead a trade mission to Canada during August 7-11, 2017.  Governor Ricketts will lead the mission in conjunction with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) and Department of Economic Development (DED).

“In Nebraska, we export $8.5 billion worth of total exports every year, making international trade a vital part of the state’s economy,” said Governor Ricketts.  “My administration will continue to focus on trade and the opportunities it brings to Nebraska farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers to help grow our state.”

Canada is Nebraska’s largest export market and fourth largest agriculture export market, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service.  In 2016, total agricultural exports from Nebraska to Canada equaled an estimated $468 million out of a total agriculture export value of $5.4 billion.

NDA Director Greg Ibach stressed the importance of increasing Nebraska’s ag exports and commodities in Canada.

“Consumers around the world want to know more about their food and Nebraska agriculture,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach.  “Trade missions like this give Nebraska farmers and ranchers an opportunity to interact with consumers and agribusiness leaders in different countries and show them the quality ag products that the state has to offer.”

The Governor’s Office, NDA, DED, and Canadian officials developed the Nebraska delegation’s itinerary for the upcoming trade mission with visits to Toronto and Ottawa.  Meetings have been requested with Canadian prime ministers, other national officials, and agricultural officials including representatives from the Canadian Cattlemen Association and the Canadian Pork Council.

“The key to export success is building on existing relationships and creating new opportunities in international marketplaces,” said Governor Ricketts.  “Our trade team is able to share their knowledge base in a personal, meaningful way which will result in more sales in the future.”

Throughout the trip, Governor Ricketts and the Nebraska delegation will have opportunities to meet with current and potential investors, as well as host events to promote Nebraska ag products. 

DED Director Courtney Dentlinger highlighted the importance of Nebraska’s continued partnership with Canada.

“Canada is the state’s largest export market and a valued partner in economic development,” said DED Director Courtney Dentlinger.  “Canadian companies create jobs in Nebraska through long term investment and Canada is also host to numerous investments from Nebraska companies.”

The news of a trade delegation heading to Canada follows last week’s news about Nebraska beef heading to China for the first time in 14 years.  Opening world markets and keeping them open depend on trade agreements and protocols negotiated at the federal level.

"Out of all the states that are sending beef internationally, Nebraska leads the way,” said Ibach.  “We will continue to invest in the future by focusing attention on all of our partners across the globe and spreading the good news about Nebraska ag products.”

The Governor encourages Nebraska agriculture and business representatives to consider joining the Canadian trade mission for an opportunity to meet with government officials, community leaders, and industry representatives.  Because space is limited, company officials interested in participating in the trade mission should register by July 5, 2017 by calling 402-471-2341 and asking for Stan Garbacz.



PRAIRIE HAY STRATEGIES
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

When should you cut prairie hay?  Let’s look at some things to consider.

When is the best time to cut prairie hay?  While it’s still leafy?  When it heads out?  After it’s done growing for the year?

First let’s make sure we all know what I mean by prairie hay.  In today’s message, I’m talking mostly about warm-season grasses like the bluestems and gramas, indiangrass, switchgrass, lovegrass, or prairie sandreed.  There might be some wheatgrass or junegrass or other cool-season species present, but if this field is fully green and growing by mid-April in Nebraska, it’s not what I’m calling prairie hay.

One factor to consider when timing harvest of prairie hay is stand persistence.  Producer experience and university research both show that prairie hay stands decline rapidly if they are often harvested twice a year.  Another factor is hay quality.  Prairie hay cut in late June or early July might have over 10 percent protein and 60 percent TDN.  But as grass gets older and develops stems and seedheads, its forage quality will decline.  If you wait until late August to cut, protein might drop down below 5 percent and TDN as low as 45 percent.

Other practical considerations might be your difficulty harvesting all your prairie hay at once and your potential need for both high quality hay for young stock and average quality hay for dry cows.

What I think this means is that most operations should have at least two different prairie hay areas.  Harvest one area in late June or early July for high quality and again in October if sufficient regrowth occurs.  Or winter graze the regrowth.  Harvest the other area just once in early August for high yield.  Then switch areas the next year.

Prairie hay is a valuable resource.  Extra care can assure long term production of highly useable hay.



Wheat Coproducts Vary in Pig Diet Digestibility

Research from the University of Illinois is helping to determine the quality of protein in wheat middlings and red dog, two coproducts of the wheat milling process that can be included in diets fed to pigs and other livestock.

Red dog consists mainly of the aleurone layer that lies between the bran and the endosperm, along with small particles of bran, germ, and flour. Wheat middlings are granular particles of the wheat endosperm, bran, and germ. They contain about three times as much dietary fiber as red dog.

"We have information about the digestibility of crude protein in some wheat coproducts produced in Canada and China, but only very limited information about the nutritional value of wheat middlings and red dog produced in the United States," says Hans H. Stein, professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at U of I.

"In addition, because wheat coproducts vary in terms of the conditions under which they are produced, their nutritional value may vary as well," he says.

Stein and Ph. D. candidate Gloria Casas procured wheat middlings from 10 suppliers in Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, along with red dog from a supplier in Iowa, and fed them to growing pigs.

Despite the variety in the sources of wheat middlings, the concentration and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of crude protein were generally consistent. However, there was variation in the digestibility of most amino acids among sources of wheat middlings.

Red dog contained slightly less crude protein than wheat middlings: the mean protein concentration of the wheat middlings samples was 17.67 percent, compared with 17 percent in red dog.

However, the SID of crude protein and all but three amino acids--arginine, histidine, and serine--was greater in red dog than in wheat middlings.

According to Stein, "The SID of amino acids is probably greater in red dog because it contains less fiber compared with wheat middlings. It's also possible that excessive heat was used in the processing of the wheat middlings, causing heat damage."

The SID of lysine, the amino acid most susceptible to heat damage, was 72.3 percent in red dog but averaged only 46.2 percent in wheat middlings.

Stein says the results of this study provide guidance to producers who hope to incorporate wheat co-products into diets fed to pigs.

"The amino acids in red dog are well digested, so there should be no problem with incorporating them into swine diets," he says. "However, we would advise anyone feeding wheat middlings to add crystalline amino acids or other protein sources so that the diet will have sufficient digestible amino acids."

The paper, "The ileal digestibility of most amino acids is greater in red dog than in wheat middlings when fed to growing pigs," appears in the June issue of the Journal of Animal Science. The National Pork Board of Des Moines, Iowa, provided funding for the study.



Joint Statement of Secretary Perdue (U.S.), Minister Lawrence MacAulay (Canada) & Secretary Calzada (Mexico) Regarding Trilateral Agriculture Meetings in Savannah, Georgia

Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay; Mexican Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food Jose Calzada; and United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement at the conclusion of their first trilateral meetings in Savannah, GA, June 19-20, 2017.

“Our three nations are connected not only geographically, but through our deeply integrated agricultural markets. Our trading relationship is vital to the economies - and the people - of our respective countries. We are working together to support and create good jobs in all three countries. We share a commitment to keeping our markets open and transparent so that trade can continue to grow. That mutual commitment was reaffirmed in our discussions this week.

“The North American Free Trade Agreement has greatly helped our respective agricultural sectors as well as our consumers who have benefitted from an ever-growing variety of safe, affordable food products all year around. While even the best trading partnerships face challenges from time to time, our agricultural differences are relatively few in the context of the $85 billion in agricultural trade that flows between our three nations each year.

“Over the years, the United States, Mexico, and Canada have also worked collaboratively to protect plant and animal health, conduct joint research, and share best practices. These efforts have helped to eradicate several pests and diseases from the region, differentiating us from the rest of the world. Our three countries remain committed to continued collaboration to ensure a safe and reliable regional supply chain that makes the North American agriculture sector more competitive.

“Our visit to Georgia fostered the mutual understanding and personal relationships that will help North American agriculture thrive, improve our regional partnership and collaboration, and strengthen our trading relationship.”



ASA Supports Doud Nomination as Chief Agricultural Negotiator

The American Soybean Association (ASA) supports President Donald Trump’s nomination of Gregg Doud, president of the Commodity Markets Council, to be the chief agricultural negotiator under the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

“Doud is a farm policy veteran with a wealth of experience and a solid understanding of the vital role trade plays in the U.S. agriculture economy,” ASA Vice President John Heisdorffer said.

Doud’s background includes experience as senior aide to the Senate Agriculture Committee, chief economist for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, and international trade analyst for the American Soybean Association.

ASA also urged prompt confirmation as the USTR plays a central role in developing U.S. international trade policy and leading trade negotiations.

“With the upcoming renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, we hope both the Administration and Congress will do their parts to quickly advance and confirm Doud’s nomination,” Heisdorffer said. “Now is the time to fill positions with qualified individuals who understand the importance of trade to further enhance economic growth and job creation here at home.”



NAWG Applauds the Administration’s Choice for Chief Agricultural Negotiator
The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) supports President Donald Trump’s nomination of Gregory Doud to be the chief agricultural negotiator, with the rank of Ambassador, under the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Gregory Doud, of Kansas, is a former U.S. Wheat Associates staff member and the current President of the Commodity Markets Council.

“Trade is a top priority for U.S. wheat farmers and this nomination is welcome news to America’s wheat farmers,” stated NAWG CEO Chandler Goule. “With the Administration currently working on renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and our desire to see the Administration move aggressively to expand our markets abroad, we encourage the U.S. Senate to quickly confirm Doud as chief agricultural negotiator.”

From 2011-2013, Doud was a senior aide to the Senate Agriculture Committee for Senator Pat Roberts and Senator Thad Cochran. There he assisted in drafting what would become the 2014 Farm Bill. For eight years, Doud also served as Chief Economist for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

“The Administration has threatened to cut the Farm Bill’s Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program, two key trade provisions for wheat growers,” stated NAWG CEO Chandler Goule. “We know that Doud’s experience as a farmer and drafting the 2014 Farm Bill will influence the discussion around these programs during the reauthorization of the 2018 Farm Bill.”



U.S. Wheat Associates Supports Doud for USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) strongly supports President Trump’s nomination of Gregg Doud to become Chief Agricultural Negotiator, with the rank of Ambassador, in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

"We are thrilled with Gregg’s appointment,” said USW President Alan Tracy. “He has deep ties to U.S. wheat, served as our market analyst and has remained a friend and ally ever since, especially when working for Senator Roberts. He has the background and the energy to excel as USTR's agricultural trade negotiator, a position of great importance to our industry.”

Currently, the important dispute cases against China’s trade distorting domestic wheat support and its tariff rate quota obligations on imported wheat need to move forward, and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement is looming. USW joins the National Association of Wheat Growers in urging an expedited review and confirmation so Doud can get to work at USTR as soon as possible.



USDA Asked to Release North Dakota CRP Grazing Lands

Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer Monday pressed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to provide assistance to North Dakota ranchers facing early season drought conditions by allowing emergency haying of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres.

In a letter to the USDA Secretary, the delegation made the case for releasing the CRP acres citing early drought conditions in central and western North Dakota. Although the state received some rain last week, drought continues in areas of the state. Currently, the Western half of North Dakota is experiencing an early season drought, having received less than 40 percent of normal rainfall thus far in June. The central region of North Dakota, from the South Dakota border to the northern tier of counties, is listed in the "Severe Drought" category of the latest U.S. Drought Monitor. Over half of North Dakota's pasture and rangeland is listed as being in "Poor to Very Poor" condition in the latest USDA Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin.

"In North Dakota, the effects of this abnormally dry weather on pastures and hay crops have been devastating. Media accounts of herd liquidation at sales barns are common. Many North Dakota ranchers are being faced with having to decide whether to sell valuable assets of their livestock operations. The resulting downsizing of herds in North Dakota poses a long-term threat to the viability of the industry in our state especially given that a herd cannot be built overnight," the delegation wrote. "That is why we urge you to allow emergency haying of CRP acres within the state of North Dakota."

Late last week, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., announced USDA extended emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands on behalf of Kansas ranchers affected by the recent wildfires. In April, Roberts and Kansas First District Congressman Roger Marshall sent a letter to Secretary Perdue requesting USDA consider utilizing these actions. The March wildfires burned 700,000 acres in Kansas.



Legislation Offers Relief from Federal Water Extortion

The Water Rights Protection Act, introduced in the House today, could bring U.S. ranchers much-needed relief from ongoing efforts by the federal government to extort privately held water rights from law-abiding citizens, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

“It’s time to put a stop to federal strong-arming of ranchers by a government that owns the majority of the land for grazing west of the Mississippi,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “Water is the most valuable resource for every farmer and rancher. Unfortunately, the federal tactics we’ve seen in recent years have little to do with conservation and everything to do with big government and control.”

In recent years, federal land managers in the West have demanded increasingly that the ranchers who work the land surrender their water rights to the government or leave. Public lands are meant to be enjoyed and shared by our citizens, and America’s ranchers play a critical role in caring for these lands. The government’s treatment of these ranchers is not only unfair, but unconstitutional, AFBF said.

For America’s farmers and ranchers to continue to provide the food, fuel and fiber for the nation and the world, they simply must have access to water. This is especially crucial in the West. All citizens have a right to expect that their lawfully acquired water rights will be respected by the federal government.

If passed, the Water Rights Protection Act (H.R. 2939) would bar the federal government from seizing state-granted water rights from ranchers and restore basic property rights to them. According to AFBF, the act echoes policy changes President Trump set forth in his executive order on Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America, which further supports the protection of ranchers’ water rights.

The legislation would also:
-    Prohibit agencies from demanding transfer of privately held water rights to the federal government in exchange for federal land use permits or other things;
-    Maintain federal deference to state water law; and
-    Maintain environmental safeguards already in place.

Farm Bureau commends Congressman Scott Tipton’s leadership on the legislation, and urges Congress to act swiftly to bring America’s ranchers much-needed relief.