Tuesday May 16 Ag News

Holding Pond Management during Periods of Wet Weather
Larry Howard, NE Extension Educator, Cuming County

As we move into the summer season we can experience rainfall events that are higher than normal and that exceed the 25 year, 24 hour storm event that livestock producers with lagoon and runoff holding ponds must be aware of.

During these events producers must be careful and watchful as they monitor the fluid levels of their lagoons and runoff ponds and avoid any dangers that could occur. In all cases, good recordkeeping is recommended and required for permitted operations of precipitation, storage basin management, and land application records. These records will help you manage the system before any emergency situation occurs.

During the high rainfall event, producers should do all they can to not allow the holding pond to overflow. If water does overtop the structure it is highly likely that you will compromise the berm which can cause a major discharge. If that concentrated material enters a body of water it is very likely to cause a fish kill.

If producers find themselves in this emergency there are a few recommended practices that they can do to manage the situation.

Usually when we reach this situation, the soils that you need to apply the pond effluent to is already saturated. So think about locations that can handle additional water that will reduce any chance of runoff. Those sites may be vegetated areas like pasture or hay ground or even areas with a high amount of crop residue. Select sites with minimal slope if possible and maintain all of the required separation distances to water bodies like streams, lakes, or impounded water like a reservoir or dam. For small or medium operations that would be no closer than 30 feet and for large concentrated operations it is no closer than 100 feet.

When the emergency situation does require pumping, make sure that it is monitored to minimize any issues. Also maintain complete records of application, pumping times, and pond levels.

In the event that there is a discharge take immediate measures to contain it and then contact the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) at 402-471-4239 within 24 hours. Leave a message if the call is not answered and then provide a written report within 5 days.

Livestock producers are good stewards of the land and their resources and will want to do all they can to manage their lagoon and holding pond structures, so hopefully they do not find themselves in an emergency situation.

A complete list of recommended practices is available at go.unl.edu/pond.




Fischer, Klobuchar Lead 61 Senators in Bipartisan Letter to FCC On Rural Broadband Deployment

U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), members of the Senate Commerce Committee, today led 61 senators in a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, supporting the advancement and the accessibility of broadband services in rural communities.

In the letter, the senators requested more predictable and long-term efficiencies in the FCC’s High-Cost Universal Service Fund, which is responsible for helping meet the Commission’s goal to provide reliable and affordable communications to all Americans. Making sure the USF mechanism works as intended will enable businesses to invest and build out networks in areas lacking broadband services. The program is critical for rural Americans who live in regions of the country where service is needed, but where deploying broadband is difficult and costly.

Fischer and Klobuchar have successfully teamed up on broadband issues in the past. Their Rural Spectrum Accessibility Act, signed into law in March of this year, would boost wireless broadband coverage across rural America. The bill incentivizes wireless carriers to lease unused spectrum to rural or smaller carriers to expand wireless coverage to more rural communities.

A similar letter was led by Reps. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and signed by 130 members of the House of Representatives.



Organic farming is growing in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska, supported by the farm bill

Consumer demand for organically-produced goods is growing across the U.S., with organic sales accounting for more than 4 percent of total food sales.

The Center for Rural Affairs takes a look at this expanding industry in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska, with three fact sheets, “Organic agriculture: consumer demand and economic opportunity” released today.

“Demand for organic food is growing so fast that consumer demand is outstripping some domestic supplies,” said Cora Fox, Center for Rural Affairs policy program associate. “The U.S. spends more than $1 billion per year to import organic food, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This leaves much opportunity for Midwest farmers to enter the organic market and benefit from increased price points.”

Several farm bill programs support the organic agriculture economy including National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) – Transition Incentives Program, and Value-Added Producer Grants Program. The current farm bill expires on Sept. 30, 2018, and lawmakers are working on a new farm bill.

“Organic agriculture offers an important economic opportunity for many rural farmers and ranchers, particularly during times of low prices,” Fox said. “However, the cost of certifying can be prohibitive for some. The House Agriculture Committee has proposed to zero out the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, which offers farmers and ranchers support for that certification cost, allowing farmers and ranchers to access the higher income stream from selling organic products.”

House legislators have also proposed to eliminate the Value-Added Producer Grants Program, which provides a path for farmers and ranchers to diversify their income streams. Organic production is an eligible value-added activity.

For more information, and to view the fact sheets, visit cfra.org/publications/OrganicAgriculture.



ASA Submits Comments to USTR, Highlights Trade War Concerns

The American Soybean Association (ASA) recently submitted comments on the Section 301 tariffs to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) during its 30-day open comment period.

ASA’s comments highlighted concerns for soy growers, as the Chinese government has indicated it will retaliate against the tariffs proposed under Section 301 by imposing a 25 percent tariff on imports of U.S. soybeans. The proposed tariffs have already created uncertainty in the marketplace and threaten the long-standing work of the U.S. soy industry to establish and expand foreign markets for U.S. soybeans.

“As producers of the Nation's number one agricultural export, soybean farmers want to be an essential part of helping lower our trade deficit with China. We believe that expanding market access can play a vital role in increasing our agricultural trade surplus,” ASA said in the comments. “We ask USTR and the Administration to reconsider the Section 301 tariffs and allow soybean farmers be part of the solution instead of collateral damage from a potential trade war.”



USDA to Drop Proposed Organic Checkoff

The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is set to terminate its rulemaking for the organic checkoff, stopping a process that officially began almost exactly three years ago.

The order came by way of a Federal Register notice, and the termination will be effective on Tuesday. In the notice, AMS cited "uncertain industry support" and "outstanding substantive issues with the proposed program" as its reasons for termination.

"While some comments voiced support for a collective industry program, other comments stated that industry was not aligned in backing the proposal," AMS noted. Specifically, AMS pointed to concerns about eliminating organic farmers from the program, a potential disproportionate impact on high-value commodities, concerns about the voting methodology, and whether the program could exist without disparaging other commodities.

However, the Organic Trade Association thinks the department's assertion of uncertain support is "simply wrong." In a release, the group said the decision "reflects a pattern of holding back forward progress on organic by USDA" and that it "makes no sense that the agency is continuing to take steps to cut it off at the knees."

The checkoff would have been unique in that it would have served as a research and promotion arm for many different products rather than a single commodity.

With the rulemaking terminated, communication restrictions are lifted, which AMS says will allow USDA "to engage fully with all interested parties to discuss and consider the future needs of the industry."



Farmers Union Urges USDA to Proactively Address Farm Suicide Crisis

Many farmers and ranchers are coping with alarming levels of stress, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should serve a critical role in providing support to farmers in crisis, according to the nation’s second largest general farm organization.

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson wrote to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, urging the Secretary to proactively address the farmer suicide crisis. Farmers and ranchers commit suicide at a rate five times that of the general population.

“Farming is a high-stress occupation,” said Johnson. “Due to the prolonged downturn in the farm economy, many farmers are facing even greater stress. USDA’s national reach uniquely positions the Department to assist farmers and ranchers during times of crisis. We urge you to leverage your vision for collaboration across USDA and the entire federal government to develop a response to the farm suicide crisis.”

Johnson noted that financial risk, volatile markets, unpredictable weather, social isolation, and heavy workloads can all place significant strain on farmers’ and ranchers’ mental and emotional well-being. A 2016 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that farmers had a much higher rate of suicide than any other occupation. “This is exacerbated by the fact that 60 percent of rural residents live in areas that suffer from mental health professional shortages,” he noted.

Johnson highlighted USDA’s vast network, including more that 2,100 Farm Service Agency offices that interact with farmers and ranchers on a daily basis. He proposed several options for the USDA to address the farmer suicide crisis:
~ Develop and distribute training materials to help FSA field personnel better identify and respond to the signs of mental stress.
~ Provide guidance and best practices to Cooperative Extension Services for conducting trainings, workshops and webinars on recognizing and responding to the signs of mental stress.
~ Convene agricultural and rural stakeholders at the national, state and local levels to assess the causes of mental stress in farmers and ranchers, identify best practices in responding to that stress, and leverage partnerships with nonprofit organizations and state and local agencies.

Farmers and ranchers who are coping with elevated levels of stress are encouraged to visit FarmCrisis.NFU.org to find resources that can help during tough times.



U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef Elects New Board Members and Executive Officers

The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB), the Nation’s leading multi-stakeholder beef sustainability group, announced a new Board of Directors and Executive Officer group during the recent Fourth Annual General Assembly Meeting in Oklahoma City. Elected by USRSB’s diverse membership body of cattlemen and women, beef processors, retailers, restaurants, technology providers and environmental conservation organizations, the new USRSB board will drive the strategic direction and focus of the world’s largest collaborative beef sustainability forum.

An experienced group of beef production and sustainability experts will serve as USRSB officers for the 2018-2019 term, providing leadership and coordination of the interests of all members and stakeholders. Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, Director of Sustainability at JBS USA and recognized beef sustainability expert, will serve as chair. Ben Weinheimer, Vice President of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, a national livestock organization representing 28 percent of the fed cattle produced in the United States, will serve as chair-elect. Debbie Lyons-Blythe, Manager of Blythe Family Farms, a multi-generational Angus cattle ranch in the Flint Hills of Kansas that has been in family hands since the 1890s, will serve as secretary/treasurer.

“For the past three years, the USRSB has worked hard to establish itself as the leading national beef sustainability roundtable, providing clear leadership to position the U.S. as the trusted global leader in sustainable beef production,” Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson said. “We are excited to build on our momentum and demonstrate the sustainability of U.S. beef through the USRSB Sustainability Framework and other member-driven efforts that will improve the sustainability of the U.S. beef production system.”

The new officers and board will guide the USRSB through a 60-day public comment period on the new USRSB Sustainability Framework, a set of resources for individuals along the beef value chain to voluntarily assess their sustainability efforts, that was recently released for public comment and can be found at www.USRSBFramework.org. The Framework’s creation was strengthened by USRSB’s diverse membership and considerable influence in the U.S. beef value chain.

“Collectively, our members represents 30 percent of the cattle raised, 80 percent of the beef processed, 28 percent of consumers and some of the leading retailers, restaurants and non-governmental organizations in the United States,” Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson said. “Our diverse membership has come together under one umbrella to establish a sustainability framework that will ensure the U.S. continues to provide the most environmentally sound, socially responsible and economically viable beef available in the world.”

In addition to the public comment period, the USRSB will focus on outreach and education to better inform the public of U.S. beef’s sustainability focus and progress, an area Chair-Elect Weinheimer highlighted as a critical next step.

“Our ranchers, auction markets and feedyards across the country work hard every day to raise and feed cattle in a way that protects the environment and the animals under our care, improves the lives of families and communities, and helps ensure the economic viability of farmers and ranchers now and in the future,” Weinheimer said. “These efforts provide assurance to consumers that the high quality beef they enjoy and share with their families was produced in a sustainable way they can be proud of.”
 
The 2018-2019 elected board members for USRSB include Rickette Collins, Director, Quality Systems, McDonald’s Corporation, and past-chair of USRSB; Keith Anderkin, Senior Vice President of Procurement, Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc.; Townsend Bailey, Director, U.S. Supply Chain Sustainability, McDonald’s Corporation; Dr. Michelle Calvo-Lorenzo, Technical Consultant for Animal Well-Being, Elanco Animal Health; Chad Ellis, Industry Relations and Stewardship Manager, Noble Research Institute; Dr. Jessica Finck, Meat Scientist, Merck Animal Health; Rob Manes, Director, The Nature Conservancy; Dr. Wayne Morgan, Corporate Vice President, Golden State Foods; and Steve Wooten, 1st Vice President, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association.



Weather Analytics Acquires & Merges with Athenium Inc.
New entity to become "Athenium Analytics"

Weather Analytics LLC, a leading provider of risk information for insurance carriers, today announced it has acquired and merged with Athenium Inc. Weather Analytics also announced today it is investing more than $25 million to build new decision-support software for insurers, enabled by artificial intelligence and computer-vision capabilities.

Bill Pardue, who co-founded Weather Analytics LLC and now is Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of the merged companies, said both the Athenium acquisition and the $25 million additional investment will expand greatly insurers' current cost-effective choices for advanced decision support.

"Carriers deserve intelligent solutions to get more informed insights, and these solutions will come from additional specialized products for risk selection and pricing," Pardue said. "Insurers also want the choice of a single risk selection and pricing provider who can marry those capabilities with third-party content and operational insights. Merged with Athenium, we now are in a great position to make that happen for customers."

Athenium software currently helps carriers assess performance of both claims and underwriting, noted Joe Kislo, CEO & President of Athenium Inc. "We have helped clients identify more than half a billion dollars of claims and underwriting opportunities since 2010. With this union of our companies, we can apply Weather Analytics' data-science expertise to boost further both operational savings and insights for clients."

"Increasingly over the next two years," Kislo added, "Weather Analytics and Athenium together will become the market-leading information solution for carriers. Our products will deliver for a broad set of insurers' business lines – property, workers' compensation, automotive, and general and professional liability."

Employees at the combined company now total more than 100 people, and recruiting is accelerating for more scientists and technologists. They will continue to work at company offices in Washington, DC, Waltham, MA, and Dover, NH. "The combined entity will operate as 'Athenium Analytics,' with unified web sites and branding, beginning this summer," Kislo said.

Dr. Ellen Cousins, Chief Scientist for the combined companies, noted that Weather Analytics already has expanded solutions beyond weather, by analyzing many previously under-modeled risks – from commercial auto losses, to food security, to the spread of infectious diseases.

Dr. Cousins said the $25 million program for new initiatives will fund creation and applications of probabilistic models to assist insurers. "In the natural-hazard realm, we will assess risks of inland flooding, earthquakes, and wildfire," said Dr. Cousins.

"These new programs will include advanced mobile applications for crop insurance, tools to more efficiently insure small businesses, and models to assess risk in workers' comp for diverse business classifications," Dr. Cousins added. "There also will be new, synergistic solutions involving Athenium products," she said.

"For example, starting this summer, clients using Athenium tools will be able to validate and model weather-related damage claims by using Weather Analytics reporting capabilities," Dr. Cousins said.

"Other major new capabilities in development include deep machine learning for computer recognition of structural objects," said Chris Skarinka, President and cofounder of Weather Analytics. "Computer vision is already beginning to help underwriters drive down costs and improve effectiveness of structural inspections and damageability assessments," Skarinka added.

"Innovative features to identify roof and property attributes for underwriters will generate imaging analytics and damageability models for a fraction of the expense from current providers," he said.

"Together, the two firms now will serve more than 65 insurance carriers and reinsurers, plus financial traders, and the U.S. Intelligence and Defense Communities," Skarinka said.