Wednesday May 2 Ag News

SILAGE FOR BEEF CATTLE CONFERENCE IS JUNE 14

Nebraska Extension is partnering with Lallemand Animal Nutrition and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to offer a one-day conference focused on one of the largest components of many beef producers’ bottom lines: silage.

The silage for beef cattle conference will be held June 14 at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center near Mead.

“Corn silage can be economical when included in growing and finishing rations for beef cattle,” said Galen Erickson, professor and beef feedlot extension specialist at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. “There are many important variables including variety of corn, ensiling, pricing and feedout management. When feed is one of the largest costs, it’s important we consider all these angles.”

Producers will hear from experts on silage production and management during the conference, which is free to attend for those who register in advance.

“Our team is excited to once again be working with the University of Nebraska and Iowa State University to bring this conference to the beef industry,” said Bob Charley, forage products manager, Lallemand Animal Nutrition. “We heard a lot of positive feedback after the 2016 conference and have developed an excellent lineup of speakers. After the conference, everyone attending should be able to improve silage quality, limit losses and better formulate rations. There’s no operation that couldn’t benefit from those improvements.”

Participants will hear 10 presentations from leading experts in silage production and management, including:
-    Key steps to improve the nutritive value of corn silage, Luiz Ferraretto, University of Florida
-    Beef up your silage management for minimal shrink, Renato Schmidt, Lallemand Animal Nutrition
-    Garbage in, garbage out: impacts of silage mismanagement, Andy Skidmore, Lallemand Animal Nutrition
-    The value of silage in backgrounding rations, Jason Warner, Great Plains Livestock Consulting, Inc.
-    Considerations for using silage, earlage and HMC in finishing cattle, Allen Stateler, Nutrition Services Associates
-    Panel discussion on silage featuring Dr. Warner, Dr. Stateler, Mark Blackford, Craig Cattle Co. and John Schroeder, Darr Feedyard
-    Silage growing programs and the importance of protein, Andrea Watson, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
-    Characteristics of silage use in Iowa feedlots, Russ Euken, beef specialist and Dan Loy, Iowa State University
-    Inclusion, hybrid and kernel processing for finishing cattle feeding systems, Galen Erickson
-    Accurately pricing corn silage, Terry Klopfenstein, and Henry Hislcher, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

The event is free for producers, nutrition consultants and extension personnel that register by June 11 and costs just $30 to register at the door. The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. and will adjourn by 4 p.m. Attendees can pre-register at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln website, https://go.unl.edu/silageforbeef2018.

For those unable to attend the event, a free live-stream option can be found at the Iowa Beef Center website. More details will be available soon at www.iowabeefcenter.org.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Tells EPA “Glyphosate Critical to Agriculture”

The Nebraska Farm Bureau says farmers, ranchers, and the environment would suffer the most if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were to limit or take away the ability to use Glyphosate as a crop protection tool. The Nebraska Farm Bureau comments were shared with EPA in response to the agency initiating a formal review of the registration of Glyphosate under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). FIFRA requires EPA to review pesticide registrations every 15 years to ensure the available science continues to support the safety of the product.

“Studies continue to show that Glyphosate is not only safe but is a critical crop protection tool that helps farmers and the environment by reducing on-farm fuel use and air emissions, through limiting the number of passes farmers need to make through a field to control weeds,” said Jordan Dux, Nebraska Farm Bureau director of national affairs.

Glyphosate, an ingredient in Roundup® brand herbicides, as well as in other herbicides, was first registered for use in the U.S. in 1974. It is one of the most widely used herbicides in the United States, including use in agriculture and forestry, on lawns and gardens, and for weeds in industrial areas.

“Many of our members utilize glyphosate in their agriculture operations as it is proven to be an effective tool in controlling weeds in Nebraska’s primary crops like corn, soybeans, and sugar beets. Losing access or limiting the ability to use Glyphosate would not only hurt productivity but could force farmers to look at higher cost weed control methods,” said Dux. “We’ll continue to relay the importance of Glyphosate as a tool for agriculture to the EPA as they work through the re-registration process.”



Dairy Ambassadors Participate in Husker Food Connection at UNL

The Midwest Dairy Ambassadors participated with the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN) and numerous agricultural clubs on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) East Campus to team up for the Husker Food Connection (HFC) event. HFC, which was held for the first time seven years ago, helps students gain a better knowledge of agriculture within the state of Nebraska.

"Husker Food Connection provided the opportunity for students who have little to no experience with agriculture to see hands-on what it is all about," commented Dairy Ambassador Dawn Klabenes, "The dairy calf was a big hit, as well as the piglets, tractor, and games. Overall, it was a great day for the relationship between the farmer, plate, and consumer to be strengthened."

The event featured a free lunch catered by Skeeter Barnes, farm equipment displays and an opportunity to interact with farm animals at the UNL City Campus Union Plaza.

The 2018 Husker Food Connection theme was "Connecting with Consumers." HFC organizers answered questions and shared personal experiences from production agriculture by engaging in one on one conversations. All students and faculty were encouraged to take part in the interactive event.

HFC is jointly sponsored by AFAN, several on-campus organizations and commodity groups including Midwest Dairy and Hiland Dairy.




Nebraska Cattlemen Receives Grant from Nebraska Environmental Trust

Nebraska Cattlemen announced today that it will receive $150,000 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for the “Wildlife Habitat Improvement Through Prescribed Grazing: A Private/Public Partnership” project. The Trust Board announced funding for the project at its meeting on April 5, 2018 in Lincoln. This is the first year of award with a potential for 2nd year funding totaling $50,000. The project is one of the 105 projects receiving $18,301,819 in grant awards from the Nebraska Environmental Trust this year. Of these, 66 were new applications and 39 are carry-over projects.

The objective of this project is to improve wildlife habitat on private and public lands by installing fencing and watering facilities to allow for prescribed grazing management. The environmental outputs will be improved lake, stream, wetland, and prairie habitat on 5,895 acres and improved water quality by encouraging best management practices on surrounding lakes, streams, and wetland areas.  Partners in this project include private landowners, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Nebraska Cattlemen.  These partners will provide match exceeding 1:1. This project is a continuation of a partnership that received Nebraska Environmental Trust in the past (04-169, 05-176, 08-144, and 12-142) when the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission was the applicant.  All four grants have all been successfully completed, and a summary of the results is provided in the narrative.

The Nebraska Legislature created the Nebraska Environmental Trust in 1992. Using revenue from the Nebraska Lottery, the Trust has provided over $289 million in grants to over 2,000 projects across the state. Anyone – citizens, organizations, communities, farmers and businesses – can apply for funding to protect habitat, improve water quality and establish recycling programs in Nebraska. The Nebraska Environmental Trust works to preserve, protect and restore our natural resources for future generations.



FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR CONSERVATION RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced the State Soil Conservation and Water Quality Committee Research and Demonstration Fund has assistance available for research, education or demonstration projects focused on reducing erosion and improving water quality.  Funds are available to collaborative teams of scientists, farmers, institutions, soil and water conservation districts and educators.

Applications must be submitted to the State Soil Conservation and Water Quality Committee by May 20, 2018. A July 1 start date for selected projects is anticipated.

“New conservation tools and a better understanding of how different practices impact our soil and water are critically important to achieving the conservation goals we all share. These funds support projects focused on developing these new tools and educating farmers about how they can fit them into their operation,” Naig said.

Successful projects should be focused on sustaining and improving environmental quality of the natural resource base on which agriculture depends.  Applications should also explain how the projects would enhance the quality of life for farmers, rural communities and society as a whole.

Expected outcomes for the project and how they will assist in working toward these objectives, how project outcomes will be evaluated, and the impact of projects should all be clearly explained in the application.

Funding level for the grant program is established by the State Soil Conservation and Water Quality Committee. It is anticipated that $150,000 will be available this year. Individual grants cannot exceed a total of $50,000 over a three year period.

More information about applying for assistance can be found at www.IowaAgriculture.gov and then click on “Conservation” on the middle of the page.  Interested applicants can also contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality at 515-281-5851.

The State Soil Conservation and Water Quality Committee has operated this program for several years and there are currently 14 active grant projects. More information about the Committee can be found at https://www.iowaagriculture.gov/soilConservationCommittee.asp.



Farm Bureau Develops Dairy Revenue Protection Insurance
The American Farm Bureau Federation, in cooperation with American Farm Bureau Insurance Services, has developed a new risk-management insurance product for dairy farmers. Approved by the Agriculture Department’s Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, “Dairy Revenue Protection” insurance will provide dairy farmers the opportunity to manage risk by focusing on revenue from milk sales.

“We know that the level of risk protection available to dairy farmers was inadequate and we saw a clear opportunity to help by specifically addressing the impact of milk price volatility on a dairy farmer’s revenue,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “This coverage will help shield dairy farmers from unexpected declines in milk prices as well as unexpected declines in milk production by addressing overall revenue. We are excited about teaming up with American Farm Bureau Insurance Services to offer this new risk management tool to dairy farmers.”

As designed, Dairy Revenue Protection will provide several levels of insurance coverage based on the value of the farmer’s milk. One option will use manufacturing milk futures prices, and the other option would be based on the value of milk components, such as milkfat, protein and other milk solids. A majority of dairy farmers selling milk in the U.S. are paid based on the amount of milkfat and protein in their milk.

Other than those dairy pricing options, Dairy-RP coverage otherwise functions similarly to area-based crop revenue protection insurance policies. The coverage would offer revenue guarantees based on futures prices, expected production and market-implied risk. The premiums for coverage will be subsidized.

It is expected that Dairy-RP policies will be available in late summer 2018.



Land O'Lakes, Inc. reports results for first quarter 2018

Land O’Lakes, Inc. today reported quarterly net sales of $3.9 billion and net earnings of $115.7 million in the first quarter ending March 31, 2018, compared with 2017 first quarter net sales of $3.7 billion and net earnings of $109.9 million. These strong first quarter earnings come on the heels of a record full year net earnings of $364.8 million in 2017, and net sales $13.7 billion.

Our 2018 first quarter performance continues to build on our strong performance of 2017 despite a difficult operating environment across the segments in which we compete,” said Land O’Lakes, Inc. President and CEO Chris Policinski. “By investing in growth and sharpening our focus on both the near- and long-term future, our enterprise is well-positioned to deliver another strong year for our member-owners. Our growth reflects our members’ growth and our profitability provides a direct investment back to our members’ agricultural communities during a critical time for American agriculture.”

First quarter earnings benefited from strong performance in the company’s Animal Nutrition segment driven by higher vitamin markets due to an industry supply disruption. Lower earnings in Crop Inputs were driven by product mix, competitive pricing discounts, and lower seed sales due to later spring planting. Dairy Foods delivered higher volume sales in its retail and ingredients businesses while overall earnings remained flat due to commodity market impacts. The company’s Crop Nutrient business, which was added in October 2017 contributed an incremental $3 million to first quarter earnings.



Brazil Produces Another Record Soybean Harvest

Brazilian soybean farmers have produced a record soybean harvest of 117 million metric tons in the 2017-2018 growing season, according to INTL FCStone. The previous record, of 114.1 million tons, was set in the 2016-2017 season.

Farmers are finishing up the harvesting work for the 2017-2018 season now, and the crop would have been even bigger this year if not for a lack of rain in some areas in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, according to analyst Ana Luiza Lodi. Dry weather in other areas of the country will reduce the size of Brazil's winter crop of corn, Lodi said.

Brazil is the second biggest producer of soybeans in the world, after the US, and the South American country's farmers take advantage of its mild winters to plant to grain crops per year.



U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef Kicks-Off Fourth General Assembly Meeting

The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef’s (USRSB) fourth annual General Assembly Meeting began today, drawing more than 140 diverse stakeholders interested in continuously improving the sustainability of beef production. These stakeholders will spend the next two days discussing, exploring, and learning about the environmental, economic and social factors impacting the U.S. beef industry.

“We can learn more by being open and by examining sustainability through a variety of lenses,” said Rickette Collins, the 2017 – 2018 USRSB Chair. “This is what makes events like the USRSB General Assembly Meeting unique and valuable for the beef community.”

The highlight of the USRSB General Assembly Meeting is the presentation of the group’s Sustainability Framework; a comprehensive set of resources developed by the USRSB membership to help the beef value-chain assess their individual sustainability efforts.

“The USRSB Sustainability Framework is the first of its kind, approaching beef sustainability in a holistic and unique way by examining important areas our industry can impact, and individual approaches to continuously improving the production, processing, and distribution of beef,” Collins said.

Attendees had an opportunity to witness some of these approaches first-hand through a sustainability tour offered prior to the General Assembly Meeting. The tour visited Lopez Foods, a beef processing plant, Express Ranches, a seedstock operation, and Haines Ranch, a cow-calf operation.

Other highlights of the General Assembly include a consumer insights panel by Millennium Research, beef consumer research by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and a panel discussion about lifecycle assessments for the animal protein industries. The event agenda also includes updates from the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture.

Tomorrow, the USRSB Board of Directors will meet and will vote to send the draft USRSB Sustainability Framework to public comment and elect a new Board of Directors.

“From supporting pilots and projects to developing a complete Framework to assess sustainability, the USRSB has achieved so much in just short three years. We hope to build on this momentum as we begin collecting feedback from the public.”



EIA: Ethanol Stocks Continue Higher

Domestic ethanol inventories rose for a second straight week while plant production increased for the first time in six weeks, according to Energy Information Administration data.

EIA reports ethanol inventories rose 441,000 barrels (bbl) to 22.142 million bbl during the week-ended April 27, the highest level since the last week of March but about 5% lower than the same time in 2017.

Plant production increased for the first time in six weeks, rising 47,000 bpd to 1.032 million bpd during the week-ended April 27, up 46,000 bpd, or 4.7%, from the same week last year. Four-week average production at 1.015 million bpd as of April 27 was 27,000 bpd higher than the corresponding four weeks in 2017.

Net refiner and blender inputs, a measure for ethanol demand, rose 12,000 bpd during the week profiled to 923,000 bpd, down 4,000 bpd versus a year ago. For the four weeks ended April 27, blending demand averaged 914,000 bpd, down 5,000 bpd versus same period in 2017.



Growth Energy Ad Campaign Rallies Midwest Behind E15 Fix

A new radio ad launched today by Growth Energy reminds listeners across the heartland that it’s “make or break time” for the rural economy. Slated to air alongside a digital ad campaign in Midwestern states, the radio spot encourages listeners to join Growth Energy in calling on President Trump to lift federal restrictions on the sale of E15 fuel blends, a move that would boost farm income amid the sharpest agricultural downturn since the 1980s.

“Outdated regulations kick back in on June 1st, cutting consumers off from a lower-cost product that supports farmers and rural manufacturing,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “President Trump promised Midwest lawmakers that he would fast-track a long-overdue fix, but oil lobbyists have held E15 hostage for years, and the White House needs to hear from rural communities. Too many American farmers are struggling to make ends meet, but we can deliver immediate relief by simply letting consumers make their own choices about American-made biofuel.”

Each year from June 1 to September 15, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules governing Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) limit the sale of E15, dramatically reducing demand for biofuels made from renewable farm crops. Intended to reduce evaporative emissions, the current RVP guidelines were drafted before E15 hit the market, resulting in outdated restrictions that hold E15 to higher standards than less eco-friendly options offered all year long. Growth Energy has led the charge to update EPA regulations and expand market access for higher ethanol blends like E15.

“Expanding the sale of higher-blend ethanol fuel will create a new market for surplus crops, while strengthening our energy security,” notes the new ad, which urges listeners to contact the White House and show President Trump their support for homegrown biofuels. “Ask him to eliminate the government red tape that is hurting the heartland.”

E15 is approved by the EPA for use in nine out of ten cars on the road, and it can already be found at over 1,300 locations in 29 states. By providing regulatory relief to American fuel retailers, Growth Energy says the administration can hold down fuel costs, keep the air clean, and provide a vital market for more than two billion bushels of surplus grain.



Even More Lower Fertilizer Prices

Prices for most retail fertilizers continued to inch higher the fourth week of April 2018. But for a growing number of fertilizers, prices were down from last month, according to retailers surveyed by DTN.

Last week was the first time multiple fertilizers had lower prices in several months. This week, three of the eight major fertilizers were lower in price compared to the previous month. MAP, urea and anhydrous were all slightly lower. MAP had an average price of $504 per ton, urea $367/ton and anhydrous $507/ton.

The remaining five fertilizers saw minor price increases from last month. DAP had an average price of $485 per ton, potash $353/ton, 10-34-0 $431/ton, UAN28 $241/ton and UAN32 $277/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.40/lb.N, anhydrous $0.31/lb.N, UAN28 $0.43/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

Half of the major fertilizers are now higher compared to last year with prices pushing higher in recent months. Both potash and urea are now 4% higher, MAP is 8% more expensive and DAP is 11% higher compared to last year.

The remaining four fertilizers are lower in price compared to a year prior. 10-34-0, anhydrous and UAN32 are all 1% lower, while UAN28 is 3% less expensive looking back a year.



CF Industries Holdings, Inc. Reports First Quarter Net Earnings

CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CF), a leading global fertilizer and chemical company, today announced results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2018.

Overview of Results
CF Industries Holdings, Inc., today announced first quarter 2018 net earnings attributable to common stockholders of $63 million, or $0.27 per diluted share; EBITDA of $302 million; and adjusted EBITDA of $296 million. These results compare to first quarter 2017 net loss attributable to common stockholders of $23 million, or $0.10 per diluted share; EBITDA of $218 million; and adjusted EBITDA of $272 million.

“The CF team executed well in all aspects of our business during the first quarter, maximizing the opportunities available to us even as the spring application season was delayed due to cold and wet weather," said Tony Will, president and chief executive officer, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. "Despite lower volumes, we generated $101 million in cash and are well-positioned to meet the strong demand we expect through the second quarter."

Manufacturing Operations
CF Industries' manufacturing network continued its focus on safety and operated efficiently during the first quarter of 2018. As of March 31, 2018, CF Industries' 12-month rolling average recordable incident rate was 0.6 incidents per 200,000 work hours, the lowest for the company and well below industry averages.

Gross ammonia production during the first quarter of 2018 was more than 2.5 million tons, equal to production during the first quarter of 2017.