Friday July 27 Ag News

Hansen Named “Friend of Agriculture” by Nebraska Farm Bureau PAC

Ben Hansen of Blair has been designated a “Friend of Agriculture” by Nebraska Farm Bureau – PAC (NEFB-PAC), Nebraska Farm Bureau’s political action committee. Hansen is seeking to represent District 16 in the Nebraska Legislature.

“Ben Hansen is a small business owner and a community leader. During his service on the Blair City Council he has worked to control city spending and hold the line on taxes. He’s made it clear that he will bring the same conservative, common sense approach to the Nebraska Legislature,” said Mark McHargue of Central City, chairman of NEFB-PAC and first vice president of Nebraska Farm Bureau.

According to McHargue, Hansen not only understands the connection between agriculture and rural communities, but the importance of both to Nebraska’s broader economy.

“As a small business owner in a rural community, he knows how important agriculture is locally and to the state’s economy. As a member of the board of directors for the Blair Area Chamber of Commerce, the Blair Community School Foundation board of directors, and Blair Lions Club, he’s worked with a variety of interests. We need people who can bring that experience to the Legislature and we are proud to offer our support for Ben as he seeks the District 16 legislative seat,” said McHargue.

Nebraska Farm Bureau’s “Friend of Agriculture” designation is given to selected candidates for public office based on their commitment to and positions on agricultural issues, qualifications, previous experience, communication abilities, and their ability to represent their district. 



Now's an Opportune Time to Scout for SCN
John Wilson - NE Extension Educator, Burt County

July through August is a good time to check soybean fields for soybean cyst nematodes (SCN), the most devastating pest for soybean growers in Nebraska and across the United States.

Yield losses of 25-30% have been documented in fields with no visible injury on the soybean plants. That is why detection of SCN is so important. You need to know if it is present in your field so you can start managing it if it is there.

SCN cysts develop on soybean roots about a month after soybeans emerge and by now may have been on roots in infested fields for a month or more.

Later in the season you may become aware of more subtle signs of an SCN problem. A field with SCN may have dark green, healthy-looking plants, but there can be a slight variation in height. The areas with SCN may be slightly shorter than surrounding soybeans. If conditions become dry, these pockets may wilt while the rest of the field may not. Often wilting may not occur even if SCN is present.

Detecting SCN
There are two ways to detect SCN in fields: a close visual observation of the root system and a soil sample analyzed for the presence of SCN.

For a visual inspection, dig up plants and examine the root system for cysts. Cysts are the only stage in this nematode’s life cycle that can be seen without a microscope. Look for a small, lemon-shaped, white to cream colored "bump" on the outside of the root.

These may be confused with nodules that contain the nitrogen-fixing bacteria normally found on a soybean root. The cyst is much smaller, oblong, and lighter in color than nodules. When scouting fields, if you don't find cysts, you cannot be sure that your field is SCN-free. However, if you DO find cysts, you know you have the pest and need to take action to reduce its buildup in the soil and the resulting yield losses.

A visual examination can confirm its presence, but it does not give you a measure of the level of SCN in the soil. For a more definitive determination you’ll need to take a soil sample, much as you would sample for fertilizer recommendations. Take 15-25 cores from a field, mix them together, and then take a small sample from this mixture.

The cyst is the female nematode that lived inside the soybean root. As it develops eggs, it swells up and ruptures through the root wall. Each cyst can contain up to 400 eggs. Some eggs are released in the soil and the life cycle repeats every 25-28 days.

Because SCN has several generations each growing season and because it is a prolific egg producer, the population of SCN can build up dramatically in a field in one season. Even though the SCN population may not be high enough to cause yield damage this year, it can build up to levels where it will cause problems the next time soybeans are planted, even if there is a year or two of corn between the two soybean crops.

Yield as an Indicator of SCN
The University of Nebraska has had 29 research sites comparing SCN-resistant and SCN-susceptible soybean varieties in fields infested with SCN and 11 sites where the same varieties were planted in fields with no SCN. In infested fields, resistant varieties out-yielded susceptible varieties by an average of about six bushels per acre for about a 10% yield increase. In fields where SCN was not present, susceptible varieties out-yielded resistant varieties by an average of two bushels per acre.

Unlike with other pests, SCN damage to a plant often isn’t obvious. Frequently, lower yields are the first indication that something is wrong. Soybean yields in a given field may hit a plateau or even drop for no apparent reason such as weather or herbicide damage, while corn yields in the same field continue to improve.

Another sign is when low-yielding areas on a yield map can’t be attributed to soil type, weed or insect infestations, compaction, or other yield-limiting factors.

Neither of these indicators is a guarantee there is SCN in the field, but it would be one of the first things to check.

More Information and Free Analysis
For more information about scouting for SCN, what to do if you have it in your fields, or for bags to submit soil samples for a free SCN analysis (worth $20 per sample), contact your local Nebraska Extension Office. Also see the Soybean Cyst Nematode section in the Plant Disease Management section of CropWatch.



Crop Diseases Confirmed in Corn and Soybean July 16-26 
Kyle Broderick - Coordinator of the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic

Next week while I am attending the American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting and International Congress of Plant Pathology, the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic will be operating at partial capacity until Monday, Aug 6.  Samples may still be submitted, but turnaround time will be delayed.  All samples submitted to the clinic during this time will be stored under refrigerated conditions to maintain quality until the samples can be read.

The following diseases were reported in samples submitted to the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab from July 16 – July 26.

Soybean
East District – Anthracnose, brown stem rot, Phytophthora root and stem rot, stem canker, charcoal rot
Northeast District – Frogeye leaf spot, Phyllosticta leaf spot

Corn
East District – Common rust, southern rust, gray leaf spot, eyespot, gray leaf spot (GLS), Physoderma brown spot, holcus spot, northern corn leaf blight, northern corn leaf spot, southern corn leaf blight, Goss’s wilt
Northeast District – Gray leaf spot, southern rust

Resources
Find more information and photos about these diseases in the Crop Disease Management section of CropWatch for Soybean and Corn.

Visit the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic page in CropWatch for
-    information on how to submit crop and pest samples,
-    a sample submission form, and
-    a fee schedule for diagnostic services.



Recap of 2017-18 Eastern Nebraska Winter Wheat Crop 
Nathan Mueller - NE Extension Educator, Dodge County

The winter wheat yield across Nebraska is projected by USDA-NASS to be 48 bushels per acre, which is up 2 bushels from 2017, but down 6 bushels from 2016. However, 2018 wheat yields in eastern Nebraska were significantly lower compared to the past two years.  Let’s break down this past growing season by crop reporting districts.

Northeast and East Central Nebraska
Wheat grown in these two districts only makes up about 20% of the eastern Nebraska wheat acres. Overall, abnormally dry conditions were limited to the southern portion of the east central district during the growing season. Growers found wheat yields this July ranging from 40 to 80 bushels per acre for field averages with test weights of 56 to 62 pounds and protein from 12% to 14%. University of Nebraska Winter Wheat Variety Test results in Lancaster, Saunders, and Washington counties averaged 90 bushels per acre.

Looking back to the start of the season, above-average rainfall in early October delayed planting until the third and fourth week of October. An extremely dry November along with a colder than average first half of November combined with late planting led to reduced fall tillering. Soil moisture conditions were abnormally dry by December. Record cold temperatures in April significantly delayed development by two weeks, but a record hot May and hot June moved harvest back close to normal the second week of July. Daytime highs of over 100°F for several days at the end of May likely affected pollination and kernel abortion in the area.

Wheat was significantly shorter than in past growing seasons. Soil moisture was only a minor factor limiting growth in east central and northeast Nebraska. We know from past experience that late-planted wheat is likely going to be shorter. However, a combination of late planting, a very cold April followed by a hot May during vegetative growth/elongation likely led to the short-statured wheat crop. Unfortunately, heat stress, excessive rainfall, and too many cloudy days in June further reduced wheat yields. Though not common across the area, there was head shattering near Lincoln prior to harvest that impacted some varieties.

There was very little spring disease pressure and an absence of stripe rust unlike in the past several growing seasons. However, late season (after flowering) disease pressure from bacterial leaf streak, leaf rust, and Fusarium head blight was noticeable in June.



Young leaders learn about U.S. agriculture and corn policy during annual D.C. leadership mission

Nine young leaders visited Washington, D.C. July 15-19, 2018 to learn about corn policy development, explore American agriculture outside of the Midwest, and visit with congressional leaders and agribusinesses. The trip was sponsored by the Nebraska Corn Board and is designed to encourage young leaders to take an active role in the agricultural industry.

“Through the Nebraska Corn leadership program, I was able to compare farming in the eastern portion of the country to what we do back home in Nebraska,” said Cody Mallette, a junior agricultural business student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “I also have a better understanding of policy development related to corn production. It was great to see corn farmers come together from several different states to work on common goals and strategize for the future.”

The nine-member leadership team consisted of:
    Heidi Borg, Wakefield, Nebraska
    Evan Janzen, Aurora, Nebraska
    Bryce Lammers, Fordyce, Nebraska
    Cody Mallette, Oakland, Nebraska
    Matt Morton, Nehawka, Nebraska
    Courtney Nelson, Monroe, Nebraska
    Ted Retzlaff, Eagle, Nebraska
    Shelby Riggs, Mitchell, South Dakota
    Jacob Rix, Omaha, Nebraska

Early in the week, the group visited a variety of farms specializing in poultry, organic grain and produce, trees and shrubs. The leadership team then spent time in Washington, D.C. and toured U.S. national monuments and visited with USDA Undersecretary Greg Ibach. As the week progressed, the group participated in Corn Congress, a multi-day policy development event organized by the National Corn Growers Association. During Corn Congress, participants had time to meet with Nebraska’s congressional leaders and national agribusinesses, such as the U.S. Grains Council, the American Farm Bureau and Growth Energy.

“Nebraska agriculture has always been a part of my life, but I never fully understood how national issues and policy development can impact local farmers,” said Courtney Nelson, a sophomore agricultural engineering student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “By attending Nebraska Corn’s leadership program, I have a greater knowledge of the magnitude of how policy impacts farming in the Midwest and across the country.”

Participants of Nebraska Corn’s leadership group were selected after completing an application process. This is the sixth year the Nebraska Corn Board has sponsored the leadership group.



NE Corn Board to Meet

The Nebraska Corn Board will hold its next meeting Wednesday, August 15 and Thursday, August 16, 2018 at Bayside located at 865 Lakeview West Rd, Brule, Nebraska.

The Board will conduct regular board business and hold election of officers during the morning of August 15th.  The remainder of the 15th and the morning of the 16th, the Board will hold a joint Nebraska Corn Growers Association and Nebraska Corn Board meeting.  The meeting is open to the public and will provide an opportunity for public discussion.  A copy of the agenda is available by writing to the Nebraska Corn Board, PO Box 95107, Lincoln, NE  68509, sending an email to susan.zabel@nebraska.gov or by calling 402/471-2676.



Iowa Soybean Association to Engage Fairgoers on Food, Farming
With more than one million fairgoers expected to attend the 2018 Iowa State Fair, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) takes to the ground to engage Iowans about the many ways soybean production and agriculture positively impacts their lives, whether at work or play.

“Follow A Farmer!” with the Iowa Food & Family Project
The Iowa Food & Family Project (www.iowafoodandfamily.com) exhibit in the South Atrium of the Varied Industries Building will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and offers fairgoers a unique perspective about agriculture, farm families, food and food retailers.

More than 250,000 fairgoers are expected to “follow a farmer” through a one-of-a-kind, home-in-barn where they will learn about the process of bringing food from the field to the table. Visitors can then complete a short quiz and enter to win a $500 meat & dairy bundle, $500 Hy-Vee Gift Card, $500 Earl May Dream Garden or Casey’s Pizza for a Year.

Visitors of all ages can also take their turn at the Food and Farm Trivia Wheel and meet celebrity artists such as Governor Kim Reynolds, mascots Cy and Herky, and former Hawkeye quarterback Chuck Long as they paint a larger-than-life mural celebrating Iowa and the families and food that grow here.  “The iconic Iowa State Fair is the perfect opportunity to unite Iowans and celebrate our state’s rural and urban communities,” says Kelly Visser, Iowa Soybean Association Communications Program Coordinator. “The lineup of fun, hands-on activities ISA is involved in gives fairgoers the opportunity to learn where their food comes from and connect with the farmers who grow it.”

Ag Building and Animal Learning Center
ISA will also sponsor activities at the Ag Building and Animal Learning Center – two popular State Fair destinations. Soybean farmers will be in the Ag Building Aug. 9 and 16 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to share insights about the soybean industry and answer questions about production, environmental stewardship and trade. Visitors can test their agricultural knowledge and win a special prize.

Activities at the Animal Learning Center will reinforce the important partnership between soybean farmers and the livestock they feed. A display with lift tabs will offer unique insights about the many foods and household products made with soy.

Little Hands on the Farm
The ISA is proud to sponsor the Little Hands on the Farm Kids Zone on the fairground’s north side. Little Hands on the Farm teaches children the importance of agriculture and how it affects their daily lives in a fun and interactive way.

Children ages two to ten become farmers at this free, hands-on exhibit. Children obtain a gathering basket and proceed along a path that includes a garden, grain bin, soybeans, apple orchard, chicken coop, tractor shed, sheep barn and dairy barn.

After gathering items along the way, children will get the chance to sell these items at the Little Hands on the Farm Farmers’ Market for a Little Hands dollar to spend at the Grocery Store for such items as a piece of fruit, a granola bar or an ice cream sandwich.

Biodiesel Powering the Fair
ISA and home-grown biodiesel will also power the State Fair trams, raising awareness on the importance of this biofuel. Biodiesel is America’s first Advanced Biofuel, it’s renewable, clean-burning and reduces America’s dependence on imported diesel.

Farm to Fair
On Sunday, Aug. 12 nearly 100 farmers will welcome 400 guests as they gather around the largest dinner table ever set at the Iowa State Fair. The table will be set in the middle of the Grand Concourse and encourage farm and city fellowship. The ISA is proud to help sponsor this unique event where farmers will share how food is grown and makes its way from the farm to the fair.



Cattlemen Urge Trump to Support Oversight of Lab-Grown Fake Meat

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association and other leading organizations in the animal agriculture industry have sent a letter to President Trump urging him to ensure the USDA acts as the primary regulatory authority over lab-grown fake meat products. The Federal Meat Inspection Act designates USDA as the main oversight body for emerging lab-grown products. However, in recent weeks the Food and Drug Administration has moved aggressively to assert regulatory jurisdiction over lab-grown fake meat.

"The American people elected President Trump because they trusted him to promote a level playing field for American products around the world," said NCBA President Kevin Kester. "Now, the President has the chance to demonstrate his support for free and fair markets right here at home. By supporting USDA oversight of lab-grown fake meat, the President will protect American consumers and ensure that America's farmers and ranchers are not disadvantaged in the marketplace."

In the letter, the Barnyard groups highlight the critical role USDA plays in enforcing the same rigorous food safety and labeling standards for all meat and poultry products.

"Undoubtedly, USDA's exacting standards impose regulatory burdens on meat and poultry producers - as they should," the groups wrote. "However, if cell-cultured protein companies want the privilege of marketing their products as meat and poultry products to the American public, in order to ensure a fair and competitive marketplace, they should be happy to follow the same rules as everyone else. Consumers expect and deserve nothing less."



NPPC AND OTHER GROUPS ASK PRESIDENT TRUMP TO RESOLVE LABORATORY PROTEIN DEBATE

The National Pork Producers Council and other meat and livestock organizations sent a letter to President Trump this week urging him to take a stand on the regulatory dispute over lab-produced cultured protein. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are seeking regulatory authority.  In the letter to the president, NPPC and other livestock groups said, “Protecting the health and welfare of consumers is our top priority and this goal is achieved under a comprehensive regulatory system administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). That system ensures all meat and poultry products are held to the same rigorous food safety and labeling standards. Anything less is a grave disservice to consumers and producers.” More detail on NPPC’s position on alternative protein regulation can be found in this “Meat of the Matter” white paper.... http://nppc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Meat-of-the-Matter-Alternative-Protein.pdf.

In a related matter, the European Court of Justice this week ruled that gene-edited plants and animals will be regulated under the European Union’s Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Directive, a move likely to disrupt U.S. exports of gene-edited products to the EU. The GMO Directive regulates all forms of genetic engineering in the EU.

CHANGES TO THE H-2A VISA PROGRAM; VOTE POSTPONED ON H-2C PROGRAM
The House Appropriations Committee this week adopted an amendment allowing farmers to use the H-2A visa program for year-round workers as opposed to strictly seasonal labor. The provision, which needs to be included in the final fiscal 2019 spending bill before it becomes law, increases the potential labor supply for U.S. pork and other livestock farmers currently facing a worker shortage. Earlier in the week, the House said it will not hold a vote any earlier than after the summer congressional recess on the “Ag and Legal Workforce Act.”

Similar to the “Agricultural Guestworker Act” bill approved by the House Judiciary Committee last fall, the new bill would establish a year-round visa program – H-2C – for foreign agricultural workers and require employers to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the eligibility of employees to work in the United States. The H-2C visa program would significantly expanding the pool of potential farm workers and processing plant workers. NPPC continues to support visa reform efforts that will provide a strong, viable workforce for America’s pork producers.



House Approves Two-Year HIT Delay

The House on Wednesday passed a bill (H.R. 6311) that contains a Farm Bureau-supported two-year delay of the Health Insurance Tax. The HIT has increased health insurance costs by imposing a levy on the net premiums of health insurance companies, which is passed on to consumers.

The vote “to suspend the HIT for two years is a tremendous step forward for millions of small businesses and their employees who face undue costs from the tax,” the Stop the HIT Coalition, of which the American Farm Bureau Federation is a member, said in a recent statement after the House voted to pass the Increasing Access to Lower Premium Plans and Expanding Health Savings Accounts Act. “We now urge the Senate to take up this two-year delay as soon as possible and provide small business owners and their employees with immediate and necessary cost savings of as much as $570 on average in the small group market.”

During 2014, $8 billion in excise taxes were levied, and $11 billion was collected in 2015 and 2016 each. The tax is on hold through 2019 but since the cost of the HIT increases each year, Americans will face an even higher HIT impact in 2020.

In addition to delaying the HIT for two years, the measure would expand access to lower-cost health care options and encourage health care savings.



National Chicken Council Forges New Food Transparency

As per capita chicken consumption breaks a new record in 2018 and consumers express a growing interest in where their food comes from, the National Chicken Council (NCC)--the United States' oldest and largest national association representing the U.S. broiler chicken industry (chickens raised for meat)--has developed a series of 360° virtual reality videos showing the various stages of chicken's life during modern, commercial production. The new experience is part of NCC's Chicken Check In program, which serves as a resource for consumers to get the information they seek about how most meat chickens are raised.

The virtual reality experience is launched on the heels of a new national survey revealing that nearly 90 percent* of consumers are interested in deeper information about the chicken they buy and eat. Additionally, nearly 40 percent* of consumers indicate information about "how chickens are cared for" as one of the top topics they care about most.

"We know that people want more information about chicken production and that most have not visited a chicken farm, so we are bringing the farm to them," said Tom Super, spokesperson for the National Chicken Council. "Through our virtual reality tours, viewers are able to see the way most chickens are hatched, raised and processed in the U.S. - it's a fully immersive experience."

The virtual reality videos of the chickens' life stages, can be viewed on a mobile phone, tablet, or desktop, with or without a headset. Viewers are able to watch the video in a traditional manner from a two-dimensional perspective, but unlike passively watching, the video can now rotate to see up, down, front, back, and side- to-side from the original starting point.

In the virtual reality series, consumers can experience the three 360° video segments.
- The Hatchery: Chickens begin their life in hatcheries, where fertilized eggs (not table eggs) are incubated and hatched into chickens that are raised for meat.
- The Broiler Chicken Farm: Once the chicks are hatched, they are transported that day to local farms where chickens are raised by farmers with oversight from licensed veterinarians.
- The Processing Plant: When chickens reach the proper market weight, they leave the farm and are transported to the processing plant where they are humanely slaughtered and processed under the supervision of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The chicken ultimately goes to grocery stores, restaurants, cafeterias, etc.

"The virtual reality experience is a natural extension of the Chicken Check In program, which invites consumers to see how chickens are raised and produced in the U.S.," said Super. "We're proud to give a close look at our birds, their lives and how they get to our tables. We plan to bring the experience to consumers not only online, but to trade shows, schools, and various other events."

View the videos on a mobile phone, tablet or desktop, with or without a headset at https://www.chickencheck.in/.



Retailers to share E15, flex fuel experience at ACE conference

A flex fuel retailer panel will be part of the general session lineup again this year at the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) 31st annual conference, August 15-17 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ACE Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty will moderate a discussion between returning panelist Bob O’Connor, owner of Wisconsin-based JETZ Convenience Centers, and first-time panelist Glenn Badenhop, owner of Ohio-based American Freedom Energy, both who have made the switch to higher ethanol blends.

With the prospect for year-round access to E15 as ripe as ever, the ACE conference provides these retailers with a timely platform — in the middle of the summertime ban on E15 — to share successes and challenges in E15 and flex fuel retailing, what they’ve seen so far, and how they view the future of biofuels.  The panel is entitled “E15 and Flex Fuel: How’s that working out for you?” and will take place at 8:30 a.m. Central on Friday, August 17.

“These discussions are an opportunity for ethanol producers and others to hear firsthand from retailers how we can help them sell more of the product we produce,” Lamberty said. “With BIP [Blender Infrastructure Program] in the rearview mirror, I’ll also ask these retailers what they think needs to be done to expand future ethanol sales.”

“Jetz changed their E15 to Unleaded-88 since last year, so we’ll get an update from Bob on how that affected sales,” Lamberty added. “Glenn’s retailing of higher ethanol blends has run the gamut of experiences we’ve seen among a variety of marketers, and he’ll be able to offer some fresh perspective from the fringe of the Midwest, where ethanol production doesn’t dominate the discussion.”

“I am looking forward to telling people what we’ve done with E15 and flex fuels since attending the ACE conference last year,” O’Connor said. “Jetz was the first Milwaukee retailer to offer E15 two years ago and we added a location in Muskego last year. Our stations are located in a low-RVP [Reid vapor pressure] market, so we can promote and sell E15 year-round, and the higher octane and lower price of E15 continues to bring in new business. There are challenges, but I look forward to discussing what I’ve learned about marketing higher blends over the past year.”

“As a third-generation farmer, I understand what ethanol does for rural economies and what it did for my bottom line when it first came out,” Badenhop said. “I believe the education process is huge when it comes to selling higher ethanol blends, and I look forward to sharing my experience with helping customers make good fuel choices at my station with the ACE conference audience.”

Visit ethanol.org/events/conference to view the full agenda and register.



Secretary Perdue Statement on EJC Ruling on Genome Editing

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today issued the following statement regarding this week’s European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling on newer mutagenesis methods, otherwise known as genome editing.

“Government policies should encourage scientific innovation without creating unnecessary barriers or unjustifiably stigmatizing new technologies. Unfortunately, this week’s ECJ ruling is a setback in this regard in that it narrowly considers newer genome editing methods to be within the scope of the European Union’s regressive and outdated regulations governing genetically modified organisms.

"We encourage the European Union to seek input from the scientific and agricultural communities, as well as its trading partners, in determining the appropriate implementation of the ruling.

Innovations in precision biotechnology, such as genome editing, hold great promise. For consumers, potential benefits include healthier, higher-quality foods at affordable prices. For farmers, they include improvements in productivity, plant and animal health, and environmental sustainability.

"The global regulatory treatment of genome-edited agricultural products has strategic innovation and trade implications for U.S. agriculture. For this reason, USDA has clear science- and risk-based policies that enable needed innovation while continuing to ensure these products are safe. In light of the ECJ ruling, USDA will re-double its efforts to work with partners globally towards science- and risk-based regulatory approaches.”



NGFA submits statement on FSMA guidance document

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) submitted a statement to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding an agency guidance document pertaining to animal food rules issued mandated under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

FDA issued a notice of availability of a draft guidance entitled "Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals," published on Jan. 23 in the Federal Register. The draft guidance is intended to assist animal food facilities comply with the requirements for hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls under the agency's regulations for Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals (Animal Food Rule).

NGFA's statement, submitted July 23, addresses a variety of issues, including:
    The vast majority of hazards that are known or reasonably foreseeable for animal food facilities can be controlled adequately through prerequisite programs and do not require the use of preventive controls. The NGFA urged FDA to more clearly indicate this fact when issuing its final guidance.

    FDA's final guidance should draw greater distinctions between direct human contact animal food and livestock and poultry feed related to the need for control of pathogens. More specifically, the NGFA strongly recommended that FDA clearly state in its final guidance that pathogens typically are not of regulatory concern for facilities involved in manufacturing and distributing livestock and poultry feed.

    The draft guidance's Appendix E, which lists potential hazards associated with various animal food ingredients, should not, by default, become known or reasonably foreseeable hazards that FDA expects to be addressed by animal food facilities during their hazard analysis. The NGFA urged FDA to characterize such hazards within its final guidance as being potential hazards and clarify that each facility is responsible for determining those hazards that are known or reasonably foreseeable for its own operation.

In its statement, the NGFA commended FDA for "the open and collaborative" process used to solicit input from stakeholders during the rulemaking process. "We also appreciate the agency's on-going commitment to providing a variety of resources - including guidance documents - to assist the industry in understanding and meeting regulatory expectations," the NGFA stated. "We believe that, once finalized, FDA's Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals (PC) guidance will be extremely valuable to facilities when developing compliance strategies and assuring animal food safety."



CNH Industrial Reports Higher Quarterly Earnings

CNH Industrial N.V., which is the parent company of the Racine-based Case IH, announced consolidated revenues of $8.04 billion for the second quarter of 2018, up 15-percent compared to the same three month period a year earlier. Net sales of industrial activities were $7.5 billion in the second quarter, up 16-percent from 2017.

The company says net income of $408 million for the quarter included a pre-tax gain of $20 million as a result of the amortization over approximately 4.5 years of the $527 million positive impact from the modification of a healthcare plan following the favorable judgment issued by the United States Supreme Court.

Despite a tough farm economy, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times in the past 12 months.



Case IH Steps Up High-Efficiency Harvesting With New Axial-Flow 50 Series Combines, AFS Harvest Command Combine Automation System

Building on its legacy of high-capacity, high-efficiency combines, Case IH is expanding its combine lineup with new 50 series Axial-Flow® combines, which includes new Axial-Flow 250 series combines equipped with optional AFS Harvest Command™ combine automation system. Designed to optimize grain quality and grain savings, the 250 series combines feature 2-speed electric shift ground drive, adjustable rotor cage vanes and an improved feeder house design. Plus, AFS Harvest Command automation simplifies harvesting by sensing and optimizing machine settings — regardless of operator skill level.

“We’re excited to roll out the next generation of high-efficiency harvesting with the Axial-Flow 250 series combines,” said Ryan Blasiak, Case IH harvesting marketing manager. “The new series, coupled with the new innovative combine automation system, will help producers simply harvest more of what they grow.”

Automatically optimizes settings
Achieving optimal combine performance requires perfectly balancing ever-changing ground speeds with numerous settings and adjustments throughout a long day of harvesting. Until now, that meant carefully monitoring and tweaking those settings for varying crop conditions and terrain across the field throughout the day. New from Case IH Advanced Farming Systems (AFS), AFS Harvest Command combine automation system — available only on the new 250 series Axial-Flow combines — utilizes 16 sensors to automatically adjust seven combine settings. It reduces the need for operator monitoring and adjustment from 12 down to just three, depending on the level of automation selected.

“AFS Harvest Command automation offers producers the advantage of automatically adjusting itself based on feedback from sensors to target the maximum ground speed and engine load set by the combine operator,” Blasiak said. “This is the distinguishing factor between AFS Harvest Command automation and competitive units. No extra time or margin for operator error is required to establish a baseline, maximizing quality and throughput.”

Initially available for corn, soybeans, wheat and canola crops, AFS Harvest Command automation proactively adjusts the combine as crop conditions change, based on patent-pending technology. It’s simple. Operators just choose the mode of automation to match their harvesting goals. From there, AFS Harvest Command automation takes over.

Each automation mode prioritizes different harvesting outcomes selected by the operator — from grain quality to grain savings to throughput — and continually optimizes machine performance based on the limits set by the operator. The four modes of automation include:
    Performance — Maximize grain savings and grain quality while optimizing throughput.
    Grain Quality — Maximize grain quality while also saving grain and optimizing throughput.
    Fixed Throughput — Operator can fix the machine throughput and the machine will adjust to save grain and maintain a quality sample.
    Maximum Throughput — Operator can maximize the throughput while automation adjusts combine settings to save grain.

“Labor is important. Whether you’ve ran a combine for 50 years or 50 minutes, this machine is super user-friendly,” said Case IH customer Mark Bartlett, who operated an Axial-Flow 8250 combine with 3162 draper head. “The fact that you can grab someone off the street and get the same results as someone who has run one forever is extremely appealing to us.” Bartlett is from Colby, Kansas, and farms 5,000 acres of mixed crops, including corn, wheat and milo.

Simplified harvesting for more quality grain
Building off of the simplicity of the Axial-Flow family combines, the new 250 series features advancements for even more simple harvesting and operation, allowing producers to maximize throughput and grain quality. Three new Axial-Flow combines — models 7250, 8250 and 9250 — feature a streamlined design with easier settings and operation. Even new operators will achieve higher productivity without sacrificing grain quality.

A new 2-speed electric shift ground-drive transmission increases efficiency in all terrain and ground conditions. With increased tractive effort and a wider speed range, much like cruise control in a car or pickup truck, the transmission maintains precise ground speed up or down hills for more consistent harvesting. It also reduces the frequency to shift in the field or on the road by having one gear for harvesting and another gear for roading. Within each transmission gear there is a Hi/Lo propulsion system to toggle between Hi and Lo ranges during harvest. This provides additional operator control when extra traction or change in speed is required.

From the factory, this combine is available with three levels of technology to fit varying operation needs. Standard on every combine is the Automatic Crop Setting, which allows producers to customize and save preferred combine settings by crop on the AFS Pro 700 display. Or choose optional Feedrate Control to more accurately control ground speed based on crop load, engine power and ground speed limits set by the operator. Full automation is also available through the optional AFS Harvest Command combine automation system.

Additional features for simplified high-efficiency harvesting include:
-    Adjustable rotor cage vanes: 250 series combines come with optional in-cab adjustable rotor cage vanes. The rugged new design eliminates the need to manually remove bolts and pivot the cage vanes. This both saves time and allows the rotor to be fine-tuned to optimize threshing and separating in varying crop conditions and efficiently change from one crop to another. The standard feature includes a gang of cage vanes that are manually adjustable with an easy turnbuckle.
-    Redesigned feeder house: 250 series combines have a redesigned feeder house for improved durability and reliability in demanding crop conditions. An optional feeder fore/aft face plate control enables adjustments to be made from the cab. A redesigned feeder top shaft drive coupler features a crown spline design for greatly improved durability. A simple, two-piece feeder floor design increases durability and improves crop feeding. Plus, up to 13,500 pounds in lift capacity helps handle even the largest chopping corn head on the market.
-    Self-leveling cleaning system: Allows the 250 series combines to clean the grain and move it efficiently — even as the combine undulates across hills — to help save more grain and maintain harvesting ground speeds. The system now includes an in-cab adjustable pre-sieve that allows the operator to make adjustments on-the-go to maximize grain quality.

This new Axial-Flow series matches the efficient harvesting of the AFX rotor with efficient power with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology that meets Tier 4 Final engine emissions standards. The patented SCR technology allows for maximum horsepower (up to 625 peak horsepower for 9250 with 15.9 L), to power through demanding field conditions and high-yielding crops, resulting in better performance, increased fuel efficiency, lower operating temperatures, and greater reliability and durability.

In addition, the high-capacity grain tanks of the 7250, 8250 and 9250 combines feature one of the largest grain tank capacities (410 bushels) currently available on the market. The larger grain tanks together with unload rates of up to 4.5 bushels per second allow operators to open up fields easily and unload quickly.

New, limited-edition 50 series Axial-Flow combines
Designed to commemorate the rich, 40-plus-year legacy of Axial-Flow combines, the new 150 series combine joins the 50 series combine lineup. The 150 series combines feature heritage styling, color schemes and decals of the original Axial-Flow combines. The memorable white cab tops and tire rims give way to the latest harvest advancements, including the Cross-Flow™ cleaning system, 2-speed electric shift transmission and a host of productivity enhancements.

With the industry-leading single rotor design, Case IH continues to provide innovations suited to your individual farming operation. Each advancement is designed to deliver peak harvesting efficiency, grain quality and grain savings to help you simply harvest more of what you grow.