Friday August 10 Ag News

NEBRASKA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT

Based on August 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2018 corn production is forecast at 1.83 billion bushels, up 9 percent from last year's production, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Acreage harvested for grain is estimated at 9.35 million acres, up 1 percent from a year ago. Average yield is forecast at 196 bushels per acre, up 15 bushels from last year. Both yield and production are new record highs if realized.

Soybean production in Nebraska is forecast at 332 million bushels, up 2 percent from last year, and a new record high if realized. Area for harvest, at 5.45 million acres, is down 4 percent from 2017. Yield is forecast at 61 bushels per acre, up 4 bushels from last year, and a record high if realized.

Nebraska's 2018 winter wheat crop is forecast at 48.0 million bushels, up 2 percent from last year. Harvested area for grain, at 1.00 million acres, is down 2 percent from last year and a new record low if realized. Average yield is forecast at 48 bushels per acre, up 2 bushels per acre from 2017.

Sorghum production of 15.8 million bushels, is up 32 percent from a year ago. Area for grain harvest, at 155,000 acres, is up 15 percent from last year. Yield is forecast at 102 bushels per acre, up 13 bushels from last year, and a record high if realized.

Oat production is forecast at 2.43 million bushels, up 42 percent from last year. Harvested area for grain, at 45,000 acres, is up 10,000 acres from last year. Yield is forecast at 54 bushels per acre, up 5 bushels from 2017.

Dry edible bean production is forecast at 2.96 million hundredweight, down 24 percent from last year. The average yield is forecast at 2,410 pounds per acre, down 110 pounds from last year. Acres planted by class are as follows: Pinto, 61,800; Great Northern, 41,800; Light Red Kidney, 8,800; Chickpeas, 12,000.

Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.51 million tons, up 5 percent from 2017. Area for harvest, at 45,500 acres is down 600 acres from last year. Yield is estimated at 33.9 tons per acre, up 2.1 tons from a year ago, and a new record high if realized.

Alfalfa hay production is forecast at 3.78 million tons, up 15 percent from last year. Expected yield, at 4.30 tons per acre, is up 0.35 ton from last year, and a new record high if realized. All other hay production is forecast at 3.33 million tons, up 16 percent from last year. Forecasted yield, at 1.80 tons per acre, is up 0.2 ton from last year. Both yield and production for all other hay are new record highs if realized.



IOWA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT

Iowa corn production is forecast at 2.60 billion bushels according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 202 bushels per acre, equal to last year. If realized, this will be tied for the second highest yield, 1.0 bushel per acre below the record set in 2016. Corn planted acreage is estimated at 13.3 million acres. An estimated 12.9 million of the acres planted will be harvested for grain.

Soybean production is forecast at 581 million bushels. If realized, this will be the highest production on record with 14.2 million bushels more than the previous 2016 record of 566 million. The yield is forecast at 59.0 bushels per acre, 2.5 bushels higher than 2017. If realized, this will be the second highest yield on record behind only the 60.0 set in 2016. Soybean planted acreage is estimated at 9.90 million acres with 9.84 million acres to be harvested.

Oat production for grain is forecast at 3.36 million bushels. The expected yield is 61.0 bushels per acre, down 10.0 bushels from the July forecast and down 16.0 bushels from 2017. An estimated 55,000 acres will be harvested for grain.

Iowa hay yield for alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures is expected to be 3.50 tons per acre with a total production of 2.91 million tons, up 15 percent from the previous year. The projected yield for other hay is 2.10 tons per acre, with production at 777,000 tons, down 6 percent from 2017.

The forecasts in this report are based on August 1 conditions and do not reflect weather effects since that time. The next corn and soybean production forecasts, based on conditions as of September 1, will be released on September 12.



USDA: Corn Production Down Less Than 1 Percent from 2017
Soybean Production Up 4 Percent from 2017
Cotton Production Down 8 Percent from 2017
Winter Wheat Production Down Less Than 1 Percent from July Forecast

Corn production is forecast at 14.6 billion bushels, down less than 1 percent from last year. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 178.4 bushels per acre, up 1.8 bushels from 2017. If realized, this will be the highest yield on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 81.8 million acres, unchanged from the June forecast, but down 1 percent from 2017.

Soybean production is forecast at 4.59 billion bushels, up 4 percent from last year. Based on conditions as of August 1, yields are expected to average 51.6 bushels per acre, up 2.5 bushels from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at 88.9 million acres, unchanged from the June forecast, but down 1 percent from 2017.

All cotton production is forecast at 19.2 million 480-pound bales, down 8 percent from last year. Yield is expected to average 911 pounds per harvested acre, up 6 pounds from last year. Harvested area for all cotton is expected to total 10.1 million acres, down 9 percent from 2017. Upland cotton production is forecast at 18.5 million 480-pound bales, down 9 percent from 2017. Upland harvested area is expected to total 9.90 million acres, down 9 percent from last year. Pima cotton production, forecast at 779,000 bales, is up 11 percent from last year. Pima cotton harvested area, at 240,400 acres, is down 4 percent from 2017.

All wheat production, at 1.88 billion bushels, is down less than 1 percent from the July forecast but up 8 percent from 2017. Based on August 1 conditions, the United States yield is forecast at 47.4 bushels per acre, down 0.1 bushel from last month, but up 1.1 bushels from last year. The area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 39.6 million acres, down slightly from last month, but up 5 percent from last year.

Winter wheat production is forecast at 1.19 billion bushels, down less than 1 percent from the July forecast and down 6 percent from 2017. As of August 1, the United States yield is forecast at 47.9 bushels per acre, down 0.1 bushel from last month and down 2.3 bushels from last year's average yield of 50.2 bushels per acre. The area expected to be harvested for grain totals 24.8 million acres, down slightly from last month and down 2 percent from last year.

Hard Red Winter production, at 661 million bushels, is up 1 percent from last month. Soft Red Winter, at 292 million bushels, is down 4 percent from the July forecast. White Winter, at 236 million bushels, is up 2 percent from last month. Of the White Winter production, 21.0 million bushels are Hard White and 215 million bushels are Soft White.

Durum wheat production is forecast at 73.4 million bushels, down 2 percent from the July forecast but up 34 percent from 2017. The United States yield is forecast at 39.9 bushels per acre, down 0.8 bushel from the July forecast but up 14.2 bushels from last year. Area expected to be harvested for grain or seed totals 1.84 million acres, unchanged from last month, but 14 percent below 2017.

Other spring wheat production is forecast at 614 million bushels, up slightly from the July forecast and up 48 percent from last year. If realized, this represents the third highest production on record. Area harvested for grain or seed is expected to total 12.9 million acres, unchanged from last month, but 27 percent above 2017. The United States yield is forecast at a record high 47.6 bushels per acre, unchanged from the July forecast, but up 6.6 bushels from last year. Of the total production, 583 million bushels are Hard Red Spring wheat, up 51 percent from last year.



Soil Health Demonstration Farm Field Day near Stanton

A Soil Health NRCS Demonstration Farm Field Day will be held Aug. 23 near Stanton on the Loren Pestel Farm. Cover crops, wheat production, a field tour, and cost-share programs are all on the agenda as experts from NRCS, Nebraska Extension, and private industry share their latest findings.

The program begins with registration and rolls at 8:30 a.m., with the program starting at 9 a.m. and ending at noon. Presentations will include:
    Welcome — Waylon Petsche, USDA NRCS, and Aaron Nygren, Extension Educator
    The Banker Won't like Wheat, but Your Soil Will – Hear Why! — Nathan Mueller, Extension Educator
    Grazing Cover Crops – Livestock Integration — Mary Drewnoski, Extension Beef Systems Specialist
    Cover Crop Mixtures and Field Tour — Dale Strickler, Green Cover Seed
    LENRD and USDA NRCS Cost Share Programs Available — Curt Becker, Lower Elkhorn NRD, and Robin Sutherland, USDA NRCS.

Event Details
The demonstration farm is at 57161 834 Road, Stanton.

The event is sponsored by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources district. Please RSVP to your local NRCS Office.



JULY ELECTION RESULTS FOR BOARD MEMBERS ON NEBRASKA SOYBEAN BOARD

The Nebraska Soybean Board held an election in July for board members in Districts 1, 3, and 6. Nebraska soybean farmers in those districts voted with the following results:

District 1 (Counties of Antelope, Boyd, Cedar, Holt, Knox, Madison, and Pierce) Candidates:
    Anne Meis, Elgin, NE – Antelope County - Re-elected
    Ron Stech, Osmond, NE – Pierce County   
    Bret Wallin, Madison, NE – Madison County
The re-elected board member, Anne Meis, will begin her second term on the board.

District 3 (Counties of Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders, and Washington) Candidates:
    Richard Bartek, Ithaca, NE – Saunders County - Re-elected
    Rebecca Kreikemeier, Bellwood, NE – Butler County
The re-elected board member, Richard Bartek, will begin his third term on the board.

District 6 (Counties of Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Saline, Seward, and Thayer) Candidates:
    Nathan Dorn, Firth, NE – Gage County - Elected
    Larry Tonniges, Utica, NE – Seward County
The elected board member, Nathan Dorn, will begin his first term on the board.

“A special thank you to all the candidates who took time out of their busy schedule to run in this year’s election. The two returning directors and one new director will continue to face the many challenges and seek opportunities that will benefit all soybean farmers in Nebraska,” said Victor Bohuslavsky, Nebraska Soybean Board executive director.

The elected board members will serve a three-year term beginning October 1, 2018 and ending September 30, 2021.



 Crop Disease Update 
Tamra Jackson-Ziems, NE Extension Plant Pathologist

Bacterial Leaf Streak
Grower reports and samples submitted to the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic indicate bacterial leaf streak is increasing in corn. This week it was confirmed in Box Butte, Scotts Bluff, and Kimball counties and has now been confirmed in 70 counties. A survey is underway to collect samples from western Nebraska counties where it hasn't been confirmed.

Southern Rust
Southern rust was confirmed in three more counties this week: Phelps, Howard, and Otoe, making a total of 12 counties in eastern Nebraska where it's been found. To follow movement of Southern rust in Nebraska and other states, view the map at http://ext.ipipe.org/.

Given the economics of a fungicide application and low corn prices, an application is generally not recommended at this point in the season unless there is a major flare-up in a given field, or if the field was planted very late and is earlier in development and more vulnerable to disease.

Gray leaf spot is also being reported in corn.

Frogeye Leaf Spot
Reports of phytophthora and Frogeye leaf spot continue in soybean. If you apply a fungicide for control of Frogeye leaf spot and do not get the control you expect and suspect resistance to fungicides, please send samples to the university's Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic and indicate the sample is for Frogeye research. Please indicate the fungicide applied, application rate, and date applied. Fungicide resistance has been documented in the Bootheel of Missouri and in eastern Iowa.

For more information on individual diseases of corn and soybean, see Plant Disease Management for Agricultural Crops in CropWatch... https://cropwatch.unl.edu/plantdisease. 



Ricketts Announces Seward County as Newest Nebraska Livestock Friendly County

Today, at the Seward County Fair, Governor Pete Ricketts named Seward County Nebraska’s newest Livestock Friendly County (LFC).  Seward County is the 48th county in Nebraska to receive the LFC designation.  The LFC program is administered by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA).

“Agriculture is the largest segment of Nebraska’s economy,” said Governor Ricketts.  “Congratulations to Seward County on becoming livestock friendly.  With more than half of all Nebraska counties designated as livestock friendly, we are setting ourselves up for long-term growth by creating more opportunities for the next generation of farm families.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Seward County had a total of $308 million in market value of agriculture products for the year 2012.  Livestock sales accounted for $124 million, or 40 percent of the total value, with cattle/calves, hogs, and dairy being the largest livestock segments in the county.  Crop production accounted for $184 million, or 60 percent of the total value.  Major crops raised in Seward County include corn and soybeans.

“There are nearly 1,000 farms in Seward County, so people there are familiar with livestock development and all the benefits that come with responsible livestock production,” said Steve Martin, Ag Promotion Coordinator with the NDA.  “By applying for and receiving Nebraska’s Livestock Friendly County designation, the people of Seward County are supporting the livestock industry and recognizing the tremendous impact the industry has on the local economy.”

The LFC program was created by the Nebraska Legislature in 2003 to recognize counties that support the livestock industry and new livestock developments.  A county wishing to apply for the LFC designation must hold a public hearing, and the county board must pass a resolution to apply for the designation.  Additional information about the LFC program is available on NDA’s website at nda.nebraska.gov or by calling 800-422-6692.



Public Hearings Scheduled at the Upper Big Blue NRD

The Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors have scheduled two Public Hearings. The first is the FY2019 Budget scheduled for Thursday, August 16, 2018, at 7:30 p.m., with the August NRD Board Meeting to follow. A second Public Hearing for the FY2019 Tax Request is scheduled for Tuesday, September 18, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. The September 18th date will also be the September NRD Board Meeting following the hearing. These Public Hearings will be conducted at the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District office building located at 319 East 25th Street, York, Nebraska. The proposed budget and tax request for FY2019 continues to include safety measures for protecting District citizens and enhancing the delivery of quality services. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend these Public Hearings.

The Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District (NRD) protects lives, property and the future of this area through a wide-range of stewardship, management and educational programs—from flood control to groundwater monitoring, from irrigation management to outdoor recreation and more. Activities and projects of the Upper Big Blue NRD are reviewed and approved by a locally elected Board of Directors. The Upper Big Blue NRD is one of 23 Natural

Resources Districts across the state. For more information, visit www.upperbigblue.org or call (402) 362-6601.



ISU Extension and Outreach Entomologists Identify New Soybean Pest

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach entomologists have identified and confirmed the presence of a new soybean pest, the soybean gall midge, in 12 Iowa counties: Lyon, O’Brien, Clay, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Woodbury, Harrison, Shelby, Pottawattamie, Cass and Page. In 2016 and 2017, there were isolated reports of soybean injury as a result of soybean gall midge in northwest Iowa. The pest’s presence was reported in 2011 in Nebraska and 2015 in South Dakota.

Midges are a fly in the Cecidomyiidae family, with 6,000 species worldwide; at least 1,100 species are in North America. Midges are small (2-3 mm in length), have long antennae and have unusually hairy wings. Most midges are fragile and weak fliers. Many midge species are considered economically important plant pests; however, some are predatory on aphids and mites. Midge maggots are not mobile and must be located on or near the host plant to survive. Midge larvae feed within the host plant tissue, creating abnormal growths called galls. This particular midge larvae are clear-colored and eventually turn bright orange as they mature.

Not much is known about the soybean gall midge, and entomologists have not been able to confirm the species as of yet. Plant injury as a result of the pest has been most severe at field edges, which is a possible indicator that adults fly to new soybean fields following the growing season. Injury is usually restricted to the base of the plant. Initially, infested stems look swollen, then eventually turn brown and break off, resulting in plant death. In some instances, plants were infected with a fungal disease, but this was not a consistent occurrence.

From observations thus far, cultural control practices, including variety selection, time of planting, row spacing, tillage or manure application, do not appear to have an impact on soybean gall midge. Insecticidal seed treatment does not appear to effectively suppress the midges. Entomologists think that the soybean gall midge can complete at least two generations in Iowa, but it is not known yet how long a generation takes to develop. It is assumed that it can overwinter in Iowa, and does so as a pupa in the soil or leaf litter similar to other midges.

If you see these midges infesting a soybean field in Iowa, please contact Erin Hodgson, associate professor and extension specialist in entomology at Iowa State, via email at ewh@iastate.edu or on Twitter @erinwhodgson. More information will be shared as it becomes available about this pest, as well as effective management solutions as they become available.



Field Day to Discuss Best Methods for Transitioning to Organic

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Organic Ag Program will discuss best methods for transitioning into organic corn and soybean production during a field day at the Neely-Kinyon Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm Field Day, Aug. 21. The event will be held from 4-7 p.m. at the research farm near Greenfield.

The field day will begin at 4 p.m. with a farm tour, followed by a light meal at 5:30 p.m. A question and answer session with ISU Extension and Outreach and industry experts will take place after the meal, discussing organic certification, markets and strategies for success.

The Organic Ag Program has studied best management practices for maintaining high yields while enhancing soil and water quality for transitioning and certified organic farmers. Through timely weed management, longer crop rotations and appropriate manure-based fertilization, the program has demonstrated comparable organic corn, soybean, oat, alfalfa, vegetable and fruit yields compared to conventional crops. Greater soil quality has been shown through the use of extended crop rotations, cover crops and compost applications, in addition to organic no-till farming.

Speakers will include Kathleen Delate, professor and extension organic specialist in horticulture and agronomy at Iowa State, who will discuss organic grain, forage and vegetable crops.

Cynthia Cambardella, soil scientist with the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, will present on enhancing soil and water quality through organic practices. Cambardella has documented a 50 percent reduction in nitrate loading from organic vs. conventional fields at her Ames research site.

Paul Scott, corn breeder with USDA-ARS, will discuss his efforts in breeding corn under organic conditions to develop high-performing hybrids.

In addition to the organic cropping systems research, Tim Daley, agronomist with Stonebridge Ltd., will discuss issues facing producers this summer, including insects, disease and herbicide drift. Daley will also discuss weather issues stemming from a wet spring and drought in July, which has affected both planting and now, potentially, yields from moisture stress in southern Iowa.

The organic agriculture industry continues to grow and was listed as a $50 billion industry in the United States in 2018, with a 7 percent increase in the number of organic businesses. Farmers across the Midwest are increasingly interested in transitioning to organic production to reap the premium prices and enjoy the environmental benefits organic has demonstrated, such as higher soil quality. Organic soybeans are currently priced at $19 per bushel and organic corn is $10 per bushel. According to the Organic Trade Association, organic farms across the U.S. are 35 percent more profitable than their conventional counterparts.

Directions to the Neely-Kinyon Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm (2557 Norfolk Avenue, Greenfield): Two miles south of Greenfield on Highway 25, one mile east, and a half mile north.

Contact Kathleen Delate at kdelate@iastate.edu or 515-294-7069 for more information. The field day is supported by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture-Organic Ag Research and Extension Initiative. Additional information on organic research is available at http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/organicag/.



NSP Statement of Chlorpyrifos Ruling

On August 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit court issued a decision to vacate the Environmental Protection Agency order maintaining tolerances for the pesticide chlorpyrifos, and remanded to the EPA with directions to revoke all tolerances and cancel all registrations for chlorpyrifos within 60 days.

In response, NSP Chairman and sorghum farmer from Pawnee City, Nebraska, Don Bloss released the following statement:

"National Sorghum Producers is disappointed by the Ninth Circuit Court's decision, ordering the EPA to cancel all registrations of Chlorpyrifos by 60 days. Chlorpyrifos, in its various formulations, is a vital tool used in rotation to control damaging pests such as sorghum midge, various aphid species, and sorghum webworm and headworm. Additionally, its short residual activity makes it among the more environmentally safe products, especially in the semi-arid conditions in which sorghum is often grown.

"Sorghum farmers understand the need to balance risk and benefits. The benefits of Chlorpyrifos are clear, as it has been evaluated and approved in 79 countries around the world  and the extensive studies strongly point to a reduced risk product that should remain in the toolbox of American farmers. NSP hopes to see the EPA explore all avenues of an appeal after review of the order, and we will continue to advocate for this vital tool for our growers."



Independent Ranchers Seek Checkoff Injunction in More States

Checkoff programs in Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin would be barred from unconstitutionally collecting funds that subsidize corporate speech

National independent rancher group Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) today moved to expand their legal campaign to end the unconstitutional administration of the Beef Checkoff program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The current injunction against collection of checkoff funds, upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in April, only applies to collection of checkoff funds in Montana. R-CALF USA is now asking for a halt to checkoff funds in Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin as well.

"R-CALF members, including those in Montana, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin, object to being required to turn over their hard-earned money to fund private speech with which they disagree and cannot influence", reads the supplemental pleading in the case filed today.

The Beef Checkoff is a federal tax that compels producers to pay $1 per head every time cattle are sold, half of which is used to fund the advertisements of private state beef councils, like the Montana Beef Council. The Montana Beef Council is a private corporation whose members include representatives of the largest multinational beef packers, and the USDA has admitted as much over the course of this litigation. Public Justice is lead counsel in this constitutional challenge.

"The checkoff program has weakened the U.S. cattle industry by helping importers capture a greater share of our domestic market, and now the courts have found that USDA facilitated this by violating the constitutional rights of cattle producers. It is imperative that we proceed to protect the constitutional rights of cattle producers in these other states by stopping USDA from forcing them to fund private speech that undermines their financial and economic interests," said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.

Montana's Beef Council, for example, promotes the message that there is no difference between domestic beef produced under U.S. food safety laws and beef produced in foreign countries. It has paid for advertisements for the fast-food chain Wendy's, for example, to promote hamburgers that use North American beef, meaning beef that can come from anywhere on the continent, but not necessarily Montana or even the United States.

"Our side in this fight has the momentum, and we are using it to help bring relief to ranchers in these thirteen states who are currently being compelled to subsidize the speech of multinational corporations regardless of their wishes. Today's supplemental pleading is the next step towards reform of the nation's entire Beef Checkoff system that has become a tool for corporate consolidation and control, harming independent farmers," said Food Project Attorney David Muraskin, lead attorney in the case.

In addition to Muraskin, R-CALF USA is also represented in its checkoff case by J. Dudley Butler, of the Farm and Ranch Law Group, and Bill Rossbach of Rossbach Law, P.C. in Missoula, Montana.



NCBA Reaffirms Unwavering Support for Beef Checkoff

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is fully committed to the Beef Checkoff Program and the state beef councils who carry out necessary demand-building programs on behalf of the industry. For more than 50 years, state beef councils have been the cornerstone of beef promotion, enjoying widespread support from the vast majority of the beef producers who invest in the Beef Checkoff.

This week’s attack by R-CALF and its activist partners on 13 additional state beef councils is nothing more than an attempt to broaden the damage they have caused in Montana. There they have already weakened the producer-directed programs that support beef demand and divided neighbors in a manner that undermines the best interests of the entire beef community.

Although NCBA is not a party to the litigation, the association’s support for the Beef Checkoff is unwavering. We will stand with the state beef councils and help defend them against the attacks being orchestrated by R-CALF and its activist allies, who are aligned with the Humane Society of the United States and other anti-agriculture organizations.



National Cattlemen's Foundation Accepting Applications for W.D. Farr Scholarships

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation is now accepting applications for the W.D. Farr Scholarships for the 2018-19 school year. Two annual $15,000 grants will be awarded to outstanding graduate students who demonstrate superior achievement in academics and leadership and are committed to beef industry advancement. The awards will allow the students to further their study in fields that benefit the industry.

The scholarship was established by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation to honor the successful career of the late W.D. Farr. Farr, a third-generation Coloradan, pioneer rancher, statesman and banker was known for his extraordinary vision. His dedication to improving agriculture, livestock and water development has resulted in significant changes in farming methods that have influenced the practices of ranchers and farmers throughout the nation.

To apply for the scholarship, graduate students planning to pursue a career in the beef industry should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, description of applicant’s goals and experience, and statement of belief in the industry, as well as a review of the applicant’s graduate research and three letters of recommendation. Applications close at midnight on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. For more information and to apply, visit www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org. All applications must be submitted online.