Tuesday May 22 Ag News

AFAN Announces its Individualized One-on-One Resource for Ag Producers Considering Expansion or Relocation

AFAN is making an enhanced resource available to agriculture producers who are considering expanding or relocating their livestock operations in Nebraska. This service provides individualized help that walks producers through the many, often complicated, steps required to gain approvals for moving or expanding their operations by connecting the producer with the organizations and resources to accomplish their goals.  

One-on-One, headed by Will Keech, AFAN’s Director of Livestock Development, provides person-to-person assistance navigating a range of critical issues.  Keech will help you navigate Nebraska’s state and county regulations, such as zoning restrictions, which often vary from state to state and county to county.

AFAN can assist you throughout the process, from opening discussions to the necessary paperwork. AFAN can offer guidance on site selection, financing and construction. Keech will help you open lines of communication with state agencies, agriculture groups, and the communities in which you are interested in building. And AFAN can be an advocate for producers throughout the entire county planning/zoning approval process. 

“One-on-One draws upon AFAN’s network of partners and specialized resources to provide this individualized support,” says Kristen Hassebrook, AFAN’s Executive Director. “Will Keech provides the upfront expertise in this process and helps producers connect with the right research, financial, and legal experts to help them navigate successfully through the approval process.”

Producers interested in setting up a One-on-One consultation for their operations are to contact Will Keech at 402-326-8232 or at willk@a-fan.org.



A TALE OF TWO REGIONS
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               East versus west.  Wet versus dry.  Looks like we are starting this year with very different conditions depending on where you live.

               If you pay any attention to weather reports, you probably have noticed that we Nebraskans are experiencing two very different worlds of weather.  Much of the Sandhills as well as the Panhandle have received relatively abundant precipitation this spring, certainly enough to give pastures a good start.  Unfortunately, much of southern and eastern Nebraska are dry and getting drier.

               Why is this important?  I think it’s important for you to realize this when you read or listen to farm and ranch advice – advice in magazines, in newspapers, even on the radio like from me.  Most advice assumes certain kinds of growing conditions.  Advice for good moisture locations usually isn’t suitable for dry areas and recommendations dealing with drought rarely optimize production where rainfall is good.

               I know you recognize this difference, but sometimes when advice is given it isn’t all that clear what weather conditions are required for that advice to be useful.  For example, I often discuss fertilizing grasses during spring but sometimes I don’t comment much on fertilizing relative to spring soil moisture conditions.  That advice assumes that moisture will be adequate to take advantage of the potential growth stimulation by the fertilizer.  So – the advice is good for folks in areas with adequate moisture but should be ignored or at least modified if you are in drought.

               This kind of confusion or apparently misleading advice is likely to continue until either all of us are in full drought or the entire region is back to good moisture.

               Until then, only use the advice that fits your conditions.



Losey Honored as Nebraska Young Dietitian of Year

Audra Losey, Nebraska Extension educator in Douglas-Sarpy counties accepted, the Young Dietitian of the Year award by the Nebraska Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year award recognizes the competence and activities of younger dietitians in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and their continued participation in Academy affairs.

Audra has served in a leadership role with NAND and most currently serves as the Nebraska House of Delegates representative. Audra also demonstrates leadership in her position with Nebraska Extension. She leads the NAP SACC Go program in Douglas and Sarpy counties. NAP SACC stands for Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for childcare, a program designed to promote healthy child development by supporting healthy eating physical activity for children with childcare providers. NAP SACC improved the policies, practices, and overall environment of childcare.



NEBRASKA CHICKEN AND EGGS

All layers in Nebraska during April 2018 totaled 7.76 million, down from 8.25 million the previous year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Nebraska egg production during April totaled 192 million eggs, down from 203 million in 2017. April egg production per 100 layers was 2,472 eggs, compared to 2,455 eggs in 2017.



IOWA CHICKEN & EGGS

Iowa egg production during April 2018 was 1.31 billion eggs, down 3 percent from last month but up 1 percent from last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The average number of all layers on hand during April 2018 was 56.6 million, down slightly from last month but up 3 percent from last year. Eggs per 100 layers for April were 2,322, down 2 percent from last month and down 3 percent from last year.



April Egg Production Up 1 Percent

United States egg production totaled 8.79 billion during April 2018, up 1 percent from last year. Production included 7.65 billion table eggs, and 1.14 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.06 billion were broiler-type and 79.6 million were egg-type. The average number of layers during April 2018 totaled 386 million, up 3 percent from last year. April egg production per 100 layers was 2,277 eggs, down 2 percent from April 2017.
                                   
All layers in the United States on May 1, 2018 totaled 385 million, up 3 percent from last year. The 385 million layers consisted of 322 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 59.3 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.46 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on May 1, 2018, averaged 75.8 eggs per 100 layers, down 1 percent from May 1, 2017.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 12 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during April 2018 totaled 58.9 million, up 12 percent from April 2017. Eggs in incubators totaled 56.6 million on May 1, 2018, up 17 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 215 thousand during April 2018, down 12 percent from April 2017.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 1 Percent
Broiler-type chicks hatched during April 2018 totaled 803 million, up 1 percent from April 2017. Eggs in incubators totaled 691 million on May 1, 2018, up 4 percent from a year ago.

Leading breeders placed 7.71 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during April 2018, up 9 percent from April 2017.



Crop Rotation Changes May Impact Manure Management Plans

As June approaches, some northern areas of the state have experienced delays in corn planting due to a cold spring that turned wet. Producers considering changes to crop rotation, should pay attention to the impact it has on manure management plans.

The Iowa Administrative Code only allows a maximum of 100 pounds N per acre manure application on ground to be planted to soybean. However, it does allow fields that had liquid manure applied at rates intended for growing corn to be switched to soybean on or after June 1 with no penalty of over-application of manure nitrogen. Thus if a field planned for corn has not been planted and will be switched to soybean, this can be done. Producers should document the changes in crop rotation, application methods and other changes in their annual manure management plans.

Given it has been a wet spring in some areas, nutrient management and specifically, nitrogen loss may be top of mind. Livestock producers with Iowa DNR manure management plans are reminded if they have already applied the maximum nitrogen rate to the field, they can’t apply additional sources of nitrogen unless the need is confirmed by the use of a Late Spring Nitrate Test. This test measures nitrate-N concentration at the 0-12 inch depth.

Results can be interpreted by the ISU Extension and Outreach publication “Use of the Late-Spring Soil Nitrate Test in Iowa Corn Production” (CROP 3140), which considers both the original fertilizer source and the amount of rain that occurred in May (excessive is more than five inches in May). When adding extra nitrogen, be sure to document soil sample results and reference the publication to interpret the test results in management plans.

While fall provided favorable application conditions, and periods in March were favorable, producers should plan ahead if not as much manure as normal is applied in the spring. Having a plan in place will help prevent potential issues from turning into problems. Keep an eye on storage, and have a plan for needed action.



Iowa Corn Farmers Host Ethanol Summit of the Asia Pacific Tour Trade Team

Following the  Ethanol Summit of the Asia-Pacific  in Minneapolis this week the U.S. Grains Council will hold post Summit tours for participants to be able to see the full production and value of U.S. ethanol. One such team will be arriving in Iowa this week to see U.S. corn and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) production and supply. The delegation will consist of high-level government and industry representatives from Korea, Taiwan, China, and Singapore. They will visit corn farms, ethanol plants, feed mills, fuel retailers, elevators and co-ops.

The Asia-Pacific region represents substantial market potential for increased U.S. ethanol exports. While current ethanol usage remains low, it’s the fastest growing fuel consuming region in the world. Air quality concerns required these countries to look to blending more ethanol into their fuel supply for its high octane and low-carbon advantages in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving air quality.

On Thursday, May 24 the team will tour the Absolute Energy ethanol plant in St. Ansgar, Iowa. From there, they will visit the farm of Iowa Corn Promotion Board Director Chris Edgington, a farmer from St. Ansgar who raises corn and soybeans, and operates a swine finishing operation. The next stop will be the Hansen Ag Learning Center at Iowa State University in Ames where they will learn about the latest DDGS research with Dr. John Patience.

Other stops will include the Iowa Corn office where the team will receive an overview of the organization and a briefing on Iowa’s ethanol industry, the Magellan Fuel Terminal in Pleasant Hill, Key Coop Agronomy and Feed Mill Center in Grinnell, and the family farm of Iowa Corn Promotion Board Director Roger Zylstra, a farmer from Lynnville who raises corn and soybeans, finishing hogs and cattle.



USDA Cold Storage April 2018 Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on April 30, 2018 were up 4 percent from the previous month and up 7 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 2 percent from the previous month and up 3 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were up 5 percent from the previous month and up 9 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 9 percent from last month and up 93 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on April 30, 2018 were up 2 percent from the previous month and up 7 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down 1 percent from the previous month but up 9 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 7 percent from last month and up 5 percent from April 30, 2017.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on April 30, 2018 were up 2 percent from the previous month and up 3 percent from April 30, 2017.  Butter stocks were up 12 percent from last month and up 5 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks on April 30, 2018 were down 7 percent from last month and down 24 percent from a year ago.  Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 9 percent from last month and down 6 percent from a year ago.



Farmers Union Urges Immediate Action on E15 Waiver

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delay in allowing year-round use of E15 gasoline threatens harm to markets for family farmers, according to National Farmers Union (NFU). NFU President Roger Johnson today wrote to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, urging EPA to immediately institute a waiver for summertime sales of E15.

Johnson noted that year-round use of E15 would have significant benefits for farmers, the economy, energy independence, and the environment. Currently, an arbitrary restriction on use of E15 in summer months is limiting the amount of ethanol that can be blended into the nation’s transportation fuel supply. Yet while EPA has been actively working on allowing year-round use of E15 since October 2017, and President Donald Trump committed to allowing an E15 waiver earlier this year, EPA has yet to take any action or provide any time table as to when a waiver can be expected. This delay in issuing a waiver is threatening to upend any potential benefits of a waiver in the upcoming summer months of 2018.

“It is now May, and the summer restrictions on E15 for this year are looming with no apparent movement from EPA on this issue,” said Johnson in his letter to Administrator Pruitt. “Year-round use of E15 is not a new issue for EPA; this has long been supported by the biofuels industry and agriculture. We urge you to act in an expedited manner to follow President Trump’s direction to allow the use of E15 this summer.”

Johnson noted that farmers are currently facing severe economic difficulties, and that recent actions by EPA, such as granting numerous small refinery exemptions with little information to the public, have exacerbated these difficulties by undermining the Renewable Fuel Standard and demand for higher blends of ethanol. Johnson said a waiver on E15 is an important first step to mitigating these issues and moving the country towards use of higher blends of ethanol, like E30.

“Farmers have worked hard to build value-added markets,” he said. “The RFS and E15 provide significant economic opportunities for farmers facing increasing uncertainty and loss of demand. EPA must provide appropriate signals to the market, and this Administration must follow through on its promises.”



FSA County Committee Nominations Launch June 15

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages America’s farmers and ranchers to nominate candidates to lead, serve and represent their community on their local county committee. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept nominations for county committee members beginning Friday, June 15, 2018.

Producers across the country are already serving on committees where they play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of FSA, making important decisions on programs dealing with disaster and conservation, emergencies, commodity price loan support, county office employment and other agricultural issues.

“Our county committees make decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally to best serve the needs of agriculture in their community,” said Acting FSA Administrator Steve Peterson. “We strongly encourage all eligible producers to visit their local FSA office today to find out how to get involved in their county’s election. There’s an increasing need for representation from underserved producers, which includes beginning, women and other minority farmers and ranchers.”

Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated farmers and ranchers serve on FSA county committees, which consist of three to 11 members and meet once a month, or as needed. Members serve three-year terms.

Producers can nominate themselves or others. Check your local USDA service center to see if your local administrative area is up for election this year.  Organizations, including those representing beginning, women and minority producers, may also nominate candidates to better serve their communities. To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program and reside in the area where the election is being held.

To be considered, a producer must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. All nomination forms for the 2018 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2018. Visit farmers.gov for more information.



Membership Advocacy Is the Foundation of a Strong Organization

National Corn Growers Association has been around for – decades but when it comes to membership this farmer-led, and driven, organization is reinventing itself every day. With so many issues and outside forces impacting corn growers a strong collective voice is more important today than ever.

That’s why NCGA will be hosting a new, interactive program that will focus on member advocacy on July 25-27, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While some of the foundational recruiting methods haven’t changed, our target grower population has changed dramatically, according to Mike Shelby, NCGA association and membership services manager.

“As a grassroots advocacy group, numbers still count and when you are a shrinking part of the population, we need every farmer to join and weigh in on the issues including the next generation. So, we must ask ourselves what motivates a millennial grower to belong to a trade association today? How do we market to a younger, and more diverse grower population?” Shelby said.

That discussion will be paired with a communications training with a focus on social media and grassroots training. Getting to a busy target audience like farmers requires the right motivation and articulating the value proposition of membership, Shelby noted.

“This much we know, if we want to reach the next generation of grower-members, we need to build the next generation of ambassadors to reach them,” Shelby said. “And that’s a fundamental challenge we will tackle because it is critical to a successful future for every corn farmer and their family.”

 To find out more about this opportunity, please contact the membership manager at your state corn association. Or, membership questions can be directed to Mike Shelby at shelby@ncga.com.



Argentina Grain Workers Obey Government Order to End Strike
Crushing plant workers in Argentina said on Friday they would obey a government order to lift a strike and enter mediation as soon as they received it.

The labor ministry on Friday ordered a "mandatory reconciliation" that would end the strike, which started on Thursday to protest lay-offs earlier this year by global grains trader Cargill, reports Reuters.

"We always abide by these resolutions, when it arrives we will do so," said Marco Pozzi, secretary for one of the unions that participated in the strike.

U.S.-based Cargill has faced several walk-offs since January after it laid off dozens of workers in an effort to restructure and reduce costs at some of its operations in Argentina, the world's No. 1 exporter of soyoil and meal.

Cargill said in a statement on Friday that it had replaced the workers with new employees that had identical contracts. It denied that working conditions had deteriorated.