Friday September 14 Ag News

Stalk Rot Diseases in Nebraska Corn Fields 
Tamra Jackson-Ziems, NE Extension Plant Pathologist

Various stalk rot diseases have been confirmed in samples from corn fields across Nebraska. Stalk rot diseases and the pathogens that cause them are common in corn fields. They can weaken corn stalks leading to stalk lodging, breakage, and harvest difficulties for producers. They can also impact yield if they prematurely kill corn plants. Ears lost due to lodged corn may also create volunteer corn issues during the following year(s). It’s important to be aware of stalk rot incidence in fields to better understand the risk they create for harvest difficulties if plants lodge. In addition, knowing which diseases are present in fields can help producers anticipate, prevent, and manage them in subsequent growing years.

Unfortunately, the symptoms that stalk rotting pathogens cause can be misleading and make it difficult to diagnose. For example, some of the earliest symptoms of stalk rot disease may be the discoloration of leaves and rapid plant wilting and/or premature death. In recent weeks, corn samples with stalk rot diseases have been submitted to the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic and have been confirmed elsewhere across Nebraska and other states.

There are numerous stalk rot diseases that occur in Nebraska and other states. Crop stress anytime during the growing season can lead to the development of some stalk rot diseases. Pay special attention to fields that have one or more of these risk factors for stalk rot diseases and lodging:
    higher yielding hybrids;
    lost leaf area (due to leaf diseases, hail, etc.);
    excessive rainfall/ponding;
    stalk wounding, usually by hail or insects;
    high planting populations; or thin stalks.

Evaluating Stalk Strength Prior to Harvest
Walking through the field, randomly select a minimum of 100 plants representing a large portion of the field. To test for stalk rot you can PUSH the plant tops away from you approximately 30 degrees from vertical. If plants don’t snap back to vertical when released, the stalk may have been compromised by stalk rot disease. An alternative method is to PINCH the internodes of the lower stalk. If the stalks crush easily by hand, their integrity has been reduced by stalk rot and they are prone to lodging. If more than 10% of plants exhibit stalk rot symptoms, then harvesting that field first should be a priority over others at less risk in order to reduce the chance of plant lodging prior to harvest. The inside of infected stalks will appear discolored and possibly more hollow as the spongy white pith rots away, leaving the strands of loose vascular bundles.

Several fungi are common in our production fields and can opportunistically cause stalk rot diseases in stressed plants. Some of the most common stalk rot diseases this year are listed below:

Fusarium stalk rot is especially common during damp conditions, but may occur anywhere. One of the most common symptoms is the development of crown rot inside the lower stalk, below the soil line, near where roots attach to the stalk. The pathogen, Fusarium verticillioides, can sometimes be visible as white fungal growth on the outside of stalk nodes. Eventually, the disease may cause discoloration of the inside of stalks to light pink or salmon.

Gibberella stalk rot is also a common disease in Nebraska, caused by Fusarium graminearum (syn. Gibberella zeae). Pink to red discoloration inside the stalk is a common symptom of the disease that may also be accompanied by tiny black fungal structures (Figure 3) on the surface of the stalk and may be scratched off. This and other stalk rot diseases also may lead to weakening and breakage of stalks at nodes.

Anthracnose stalk rot can cause a leaf disease and is a common cause of top rot in corn. In more advanced stages the disease can cause the development of black lesions visible on the outside of the stalk and is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum graminicola.

Charcoal rot is one of the few diseases that are more common during drought conditions, and so, is more likely to affect corn in non-irrigated fields or pivot corners. The disease is characterized by the presence of many tiny black, round structures inside the stalk that can give it a gray to black appearance, like charcoal dust. In addition, the fungus that causes charcoal rot, Macrophomina phaseolina, has a wide host range and can cause the same disease and symptoms in several crops, including corn, soybean, sorghum, and alfalfa.

Stalk Rot Sampling Tips
As you continue to scout fields late in the season, it is important to collect the right kind of sample to ensure proper diagnosis. Over the course of several days, the leaves from plants with stalk rots can change quickly and may become necrotic with symptoms resembling sunscald or discolored to pale green. Splitting the stalks and crowns of these plants may reveal discoloration and decay which can limit water movement up the plant, leading to decline and death of the plant and its leaves. Some stalk rots can be managed through the selection of resistant hybrids. Some cultural practices that lessen plant stress ― balanced fertility, proper planting populations, and insect control, also may reduce the incidence of stalk rot diseases.

Even though the noticeable symptoms appear on the leaves, the pathogen is not present in the leaves. Additionally, it may be easier to cut the plant a few inches above ground level and leave the crown and roots, but the main difference between crown and stalk rots is where the pathogen infected. If the crown and roots are left and the disease has not progressed up the stalk, it is difficult to get an accurate diagnosis. Submitting entire plants is the best way to get an accurate diagnosis. Proper management starts with a proper diagnosis.

Please do not send dead plants. It is difficult to ID the exact cause of death on a plant once other, opportunistic pathogens and microorganisms have had a chance to infect the weakened plant. Ideal samples are ones that are just starting to show symptoms. Keeping soil on the root ball is helpful in keeping the plant alive a little longer as we work through our diagnosis. Please enclose the root ball in a separate plastic bag to prevent soil from spreading to the rest of the plant. In order to fit the entire plant into a bag or shipping container it is fine to cut, or bend them to fit into a trash bag or large ziplock bag. For more information see How to Submit Crop and Pest Samples.

As always, please fill out the sample ID submission form with as much information as possible.

Management
There is nothing to be done at this point in the season to stop stalk rots as affected stalks will continue to degrade over time, further weakening them. But, you can work to minimize your losses by identifying which fields have the worst stalk rot diseases and adjust the harvest order of those fields in hopes of harvesting them before significant lodging occurs. Consider harvesting or chopping those fields that are heavily impacted by stalk rots first or earlier to minimize losses that can occur after lodging. Some seed companies provide ratings for their hybrids’ reactions to a few stalk rot diseases. This may be helpful in selecting hybrids for fields with chronic stalk rot disease.



Timing Manure Application to Avoid Neighbor Nuisances
Rick Koelsch, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Roughly half of all neighbor complaints of livestock odors originate from land application of manure. A weather forecast and a little knowledge of odor dilution can be a powerful tool for keeping your neighbors happy, or at least avoiding those irate phone calls. This article summarizes those weather conditions that should be considered when planning manure application.

Incorporation of manure into the soil is always the “best” practice for controlling odor. Soil is an excellent filter for removing odors released by manure. However, maintaining residue cover for protecting soil quality and erosion and conserving water does not always allow for manure to be incorporated.

When manure cannot be incorporated, the next 36-hour period after land-applying manure is the most critical. Why? Good drying conditions over the next two days can significantly reduce the release of odors. In addition, the next two evenings are the most likely time when neighbors will experience manure’s odors. Especially, when applying manure without incorporating it, pay close attention to the next 36-hour weather forecast.

PREDICTED WIND DIRECTION
Wind direction is the single most critical information for selecting fields. Odor plumes travel in the same direction as wind and spread out laterally very little. By identifying the edges of the field perpendicular to the wind and the wind’s direction, one can quickly identify the neighbors at greatest risk and those unlikely to be impacted.

EVENING HOURS AND MANURE APPLICATION
Can you recall a time when you observed a smoke cloud hanging near the ground? Often this is observed as air temperatures are cooling and when winds are light, most commonly occurs during evening and nighttime hours. Under these conditions the smoke is not being diluted and is being held near the ground for all to experience. Although we cannot see odors, the exact same atmospheric conditions create the greatest risk for neighbors experiencing odors.

Under daytime conditions, odor plumes are generally rising, being diluted with fresh air to where odors are unlikely to be noticed by your neighbors. Bright sunshine and warming air is best for dispersing odors. Higher wind speeds (especially at night) also encourage greater mixing of fresh and odorous air, and reducing the odor risk. Note that nighttime hours with low wind speeds are the conditions most likely to expose neighbors to odors from land application.

WEATHER FORECASTS AND ODORS
Weather forecasts that provide 1) wind direction and speed; 2) sky conditions, and 3) temperature can be extremely valuable in deciding when and where to apply manure. Many weather services provide this information in their forecasts.
 
Picking the right weather conditions for land applying manure, may not improve your popularity in the community, but it can go along way with improving your community’s acceptance of livestock systems.



Lundy Named Beef Specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach

Erika Lundy has been hired as a beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

A graduate of Iowa State University, Lundy has spent the last four years as a program specialist with the Iowa Beef Center, working with producers, industry leaders and other stakeholders across the state to develop new extension educational programming. She has also headed research projects on grazing cover crops, implant strategies in feedlots and fescue tolerance effects on cow reproduction.

Lundy will be housed in the ISU Extension and Outreach Adair County office and will work with producers in the southwest part of the state.

“I’m very excited to be back in southwest Iowa and have the opportunity to work with producers on a daily basis,” Lundy said. “In this role, interaction with producers is a two-way street and provides me with an opportunity to learn just as much from other producers as they hopefully can learn from me.”

Lundy joins a group of five other extension beef specialists located across Iowa who work to provide research-based information on cattle, production, marketing and management. Field specialists work in conjunction with faculty and staff at the Iowa Beef Center to develop and deliver the latest information to improve the profitability and vitality of Iowa’s beef industry.

“Erika has a strong background and training in both cow-calf and feedlot production as well as both extension and research experience,” said Dan Loy, director of the Iowa Beef Center and extension beef specialist at Iowa State. “Her background, along with the fact that she was born and raised in the area, makes her the perfect fit for the position.”

In addition to her work experience as a program specialist, Lundy has worked as a graduate assistant with the Iowa Beef Center and at Iowa State’s Ruminant Nutrition Laboratory. She is the author or co-author of several ISU Extension and Outreach publications, including “Pasture Management Guide for Livestock Producers” (AS 0014), “Growth Promotant Implants for Cattle” (IBC 0113) and “Feed Bunk Management” (IBCR 0201A). She also contributed to a six-part series titled “Ethanol Coproducts for Beef Cattle.”

Lundy holds a degree in animal science with a minor in agricultural business and a Master’s degree in animal science from Iowa State.



9th Annual ICA Carcass Challenge

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association is kicking off the 9th annual statewide Carcass Challenge.

As Iowa’s only statewide fed-beef competition, the ICA Carcass Challenge was created to:
-    Showcase Iowa’s beef cattle genetics, feedyard management, and modern technology.
-    Offer Iowa’s cattle industry a fun and competitive statewide fed-beef contest to highlight Iowa’s beef production advantages.
-    Generate additional non-dues ICA revenue to grow Iowa’s beef business through advocacy, leadership and education.
-    Provide leadership and learning opportunities through the ICA Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP).

Each November, sponsors donate 700 lb. steer calves to compete in this prestigious Iowa fed-beef contest. Steers complete 180-200 days on feed to an average 1,400 lb., market-ready end point.

Cash prizes and special awards are presented to contributors of the Top 10% of individual steers based on the “Retail Value per Day on Feed,” recognizing both feedyard performance and end carcass merit. A $5,000 cash prize is awarded to the Champion Steer donor(s). Awards for outstanding individual carcass results are also presented. Every effort is made to deliver maximum cattle efficiency, carcass value and net revenue of all steers.

“We are excited to work with Kennedy Cattle Company of Atlantic, Iowa to feed the steers again this year,” says Casey Allison, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association staff. “Throughout the testing period, we will collect data on the growth progression of each animal by utilizing ultrasound technology, EID’s and recording weights on test, at the interim period and off-test weights.” Steer donors and YCLP participants will receive regular communication throughout the test via email to stay up to date on progress in the feedyard.

The program’s primary sponsor, Elanco, donates all the animal health products for the steers. Other partners include Gregory Feedlots, the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity, Shnurman Sire Services, Thielen Trucking, Kooima & Kaemink and First National Bank.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a steer for the Carcass Challenge should call the ICA office at 515-296-2266 or visit https://www.iacattlemen.org/carcasschallenge.aspx.



NCGA to Drivers: Fuel Up with E15 Beginning Sunday

The National Corn Growers Association is urging drivers to fuel up with E15 as the fuel again becomes available Sunday following its limited summer availability. NCGA also renewed its call for President Trump to follow through on his commitment to allow for year-round sales of E15 and ethanol blends greater than 10 percent.

“Starting September 16, consumers will once again have the option to choose E15 at the pump,” said NCGA President Kevin Skunes. “E15 typically costs 3 to 10 cents less than regular E10 gasoline and offers more environmental benefits, making it a common-sense choice for many drivers. When consumers benefit from choice, it makes no sense than an outdated regulation prevents E15 from being sold in many areas for three and a half months of the year.”

“Just this week, USDA said it is anticipating near-record level corn production. Approving year-round E15 would go a long way toward growing the market for this year’s crop,” Skunes added.

NCGA recently joined other agriculture and ethanol groups in a letter to President Trump urging he immediately restore the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and allow year-round sales of E15 and other mid-level ethanol blends.

Outdated regulations limit the ability of fuel retailers to offer ethanol blends greater than 10 percent in most of the country from June 1 to September 15. EPA made the current regulatory interpretation long before E15 became an approved fuel in 2011. EPA’s regulation aims to limit evaporative emissions from fuel, which is measured by its Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP). Providing the same RVP treatment for E15 as EPA currently applies to E10 would enable year-round sales of E15 without impacting evaporative emissions because E15 and other blends greater than 10 percent have lower emissions. E15 is currently sold at more than 1400 stations in 30 states.



As Summertime E15 Sale Restriction Ends Sunday, Growth Energy Launches E15 Now Bus Tour

This Sunday, the nearly 30 year-old restriction that prevents E15, a renewable fuel blend made from 15 percent ethanol, from being sold in the summer months comes to an end, allowing American drivers to once again have access to a cleaner burning, better valued homegrown fuel.

“E15 is good for the consumer, it’s good for the environment, and it’s good for the wallet – plain and simple,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Allowing year-round sales of higher blend fuels like E15 also helps our farmers by increasing domestic markets for farmers, a critical need when American farm income is declining for the 5th consecutive year. Not only does this give farmers in rural America more certainty because of increased demand for their grain, it also allows consumers to choose a more affordable and cleaner burning fuel at the pump. We need E15 year-round, and we need it now.”

E15 is already sold in 30 states at least 8 months out of the year. However, due to outdated regulations, many consumers are unable to choose to put cleaner burning renewable biofuel blends like E15 in their tanks, an option which could save them 4 to 10 cents per gallon.

President Trump has repeatedly made clear he would like to end the “unnecessary” and “ridiculous” restriction on access to E15 year-round, and has the support of U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in addition to wide  bipartisan  support among policy makers on the state and federal level. Growth Energy and it’s members continue to press the administration and members of Congress to make their voices heard with this administration to get E15 year-round across the finish line.

As part of their campaign, Growth Energy is launching a bus tour to rally support for quick action on the president’s promise to unleash E15 ethanol blends. Over the next few months, the bus will appear at Midwest gatherings, including this weekend’s Cattle Congress in Waterloo, Iowa on Saturday, September 15.

“Rural America is counting on the Trump Administration to open up new domestic markets for homegrown fuel so we can have cleaner, more affordable options at the pump,” said Skor. “Nationwide adoption of E15 could drive billions of gallons of new ethanol demand, creating a much-needed market for two billion bushels of American corn. We’re calling on policymakers to make certain that 2018 was the last summer that drivers are denied a chance to save money on fuel while supporting local farmers. Our bus tour will help spread the message at fairs, campaign rallies, and community events across the heartland that rural America wants action on E15, and we want it now.”

Learn more at http://www.e15now.com.



Ways and Means Committee Moves to Make Important Tax Provisions Permanent

The House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday approved a Farm Bureau-supported bill that would make permanent several important tax reform provisions that are set to expire after 2025. The Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018 (H.R. 6760) addresses bonus depreciation and the estate tax, among other tax provisions.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed in 2017, reduced taxes for all businesses, but only the tax cuts for incorporated businesses operated as C corporations are permanent. The vast majority of farms and ranches, however, file their taxes as sole-proprietors, partnerships or S corporations.

“Failure to [make these provisions permanent] will result in a huge tax increase. In addition, the uncertainty caused by temporary tax provisions makes the already tough business of running a farm or ranch even harder,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall wrote in a letter urging committee members to support the bill.

The legislation would make permanent the following provisions that are particularly important to farm and ranch businesses:
-    Reduced pass-through tax rates and expanded brackets
-    The Section 199A new 20 percent business income deduction
-    Unlimited bonus depreciation (expensing)
-    The doubled estate tax exemption ($11 million person/$22 million couple)
-    The increased alternative minimum tax threshold for individuals

The Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018 was introduced as part of a three-bill package dubbed “Tax Reform 2.0” by the House Ways and Means Committee. The other two bills, also approved by the committee on Thursday, are the Family Savings Act of 2018 (H.R. 6757) and the American Innovation Act of 2018 (H.R. 6756).



Interior’s Sue and Settle Order Exposes Secret Settlements with Activists

Activists have grown rich by suing the government and reaping billions of taxpayers’ dollars – and all in secret. The U.S. Department of Interior, however, has issued an order to curb this abuse of basic, democratic processes and to open backroom deals to public scrutiny. The American Farm Bureau Federation applauds this overdue action.

Interior alone paid out more than $4.4 billion in monetary awards under terms of 460 settlement agreements and consent decrees between Jan. 1, 2012, and Jan. 19, 2017. In other words, Interior paid out an average of more than $800 million a year while keeping key aspects of litigation secret.

It’s easy to see why so many outside observers fear an unaccountable bureaucracy cutting deals with activists.“The Department of Interior is shining light on a corner of government most people don’t even know exists,” AFBF General Counsel Ellen Steen said. “Basic transparency demands that citizens know what their government is doing. When activists sue, they can tie up the government with dozens of frivolous claims but still recover attorneys’ fees if a judge upholds even one, solitary claim.

“Faced with a barrage of allegations that sap agency time and resources whether they have merit or not, the government is too often motivated to capitulate through secret settlements. Some agencies have even been known to invite litigation with the purpose of entering a settlement to provide political cover for controversial agency policies. And in settling, agencies often agree to pay legal fees, which further fuels the sue-and-settle machine. This action is a solid first step to fixing the problem. Every other federal agency should follow suit.”

Among other things, the department has committed to:
-    Establish a publicly accessible webpage that details ongoing litigation.
-    Post a searchable list and text of final judicial and administrative consent decrees and settlement agreements that govern departmental actions along with details of attorneys’ fees paid.
-    Post any proposed consent decree or settlement agreement that commits DOI to seek a particular appropriation or budget authorization from Congress or formally reprogram appropriated funds.
-    Publish notice of proposed consent decrees and settlements in the Federal Register, and provide a public comment period of at least 30 days.

Full text and details of the order can be found here: https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/so_3368_promoting_transparency_and_accountability_in_consent_decrees_and_settlement_agreements.pdf.



Settlement Reached on Behalf of Cargill Somali-American Muslim Workers
Cargill Meat Solutions (Cargill), Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today announced that they have reached a settlement to resolve EEOC charges filed on behalf of 138 Somali-American Muslim workers.

In their charges, the workers alleged wrongful termination based on discrimination and the wrongful revocation of a religious accommodation policy that permitted them to take short breaks to perform their obligatory prayers in accordance with their sincerely-held beliefs.

While Cargill does not accept the basis of these EEOC complaints, it decided to settle the matter out of court to avoid a protracted legal proceeding and provide all parties with a path forward.

The agreement includes a financial settlement of $1,500,000 for the 138 terminated employees, inclusive of attorneys’ fees and costs. In conjunction with this agreement, Cargill has reaffirmed its commitment to continue to allow Muslim workers to take short breaks to perform their obligatory prayers. Cargill’s religious accommodation policy takes into account key business requirements, such as employee and food safety, and production line needs.

“Providing our employees with religious accommodation is an important part of engaging and supporting our employees, and our policy has remained consistent for more than 10 years,” said Brian Sikes, president of Cargill Meat Solutions.

“We are gratified with the settlement reached for the 138 former Cargill employees that we represented in this proceeding and applaud the company for its ongoing efforts to consistently grant prayer requests to people of all faiths based on its longstanding policy and values,” stated Qusair Mohamedbhai of Denver law firm Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC. “We appreciate the collaborative efforts of Cargill and Cargill’s commitment to continue to communicate its longstanding prayer accommodation practices.”

“We commend Cargill for reaching this settlement with 138 of its former employees and for valuing the religious diversity of its workers,” said CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri. “We applaud this settlement, which represents a mutually agreeable resolution of this case, and we welcome Cargill’s commitment to accommodating the religious needs of Muslim workers and workers of other faith backgrounds.”



NCGA NAMES JON DOGGETT CEO

Today, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Corn Board has named Jon Doggett as the organization’s new chief executive officer. Doggett is the fifth CEO in the organization’s 61-year history. The change is effective immediately.

Doggett has served in the capacity of NCGA interim CEO since August 1st and as NCGA executive vice president since late 2014. Prior to that, he served as vice president of public policy, and has continuously managed the organization’s 11-person Washington, DC office and led its public policy efforts since joining NCGA in July of 2002.

“The Corn Board is thrilled to have Jon Doggett at the helm to lead the charge for Corn Growers and guide the organization forward,” said NCGA President Kevin Skunes. “We have a lot of serious issues impacting America’s corn farmers and rural communities right now. As such, Jon’s experience and leadership in the broader American agricultural industry, as well as the epicenter of national and international policy in Washington D.C., are invaluable to our organization. His ‘back to the basics’ and focused approach will be of key importance when it comes to refining our vision, goals, strategies and tactics, with the laser-focused goal of bringing profitability back to growing corn on the farm – by creating and increasing profitable demand for corn, as well as promoting and defending our way of life and the tools that enable economical corn farming.”

“None of these are short-term challenges,” notes Skunes. “All of these – increased corn demand as well as cost-effective tools and technologies for corn growing – will take much time. And we can’t really expect anyone to do it for us. Thus, as corn farmers, it is time to once again roll-up our collective sleeves like we have in past cycles of long-term commodity prices that are well below the cost of production.”

Raised on his family’s Montana ranch, Doggett has substantial knowledge of production agriculture and agribusiness, as well as more than 30 years of agricultural policy and leadership experience, after moving to Washington in the late 1980s.

Before joining NCGA, Doggett served 11 years at the American Farm Bureau Federation, where he was the Bureau’s lead lobbyist on a number of public policy issues, including ethanol, climate change, land use, conservation, and endangered species.

While in Washington, Doggett also worked for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association/Public Lands Council and served on Capitol Hill as senior legislative assistant for the late Montana Congressman Ron Marlenee.

“I look forward with excitement and much optimism to working even more closely with and building even stronger relationships with our outstanding state and national farmer leaders and the talented, experienced staff of state corn groups,” Doggett said. “We also have a tremendously enthusiastic and energetic national staff based in St. Louis, MO. and Washington D.C., as well as working from pickups throughout the Corn Belt and beyond.”

“As the premier association in the U.S. for nearly 40,000 corn farmer members and 49 affiliated state growers’ associations and checkoff organizations, we have a lot of work ahead of us,” notes Doggett. “I am ready now to be front and center in the trenches, side-by-side with our state and national staff, farmer leaders, dues-paying members and checkoff investors, to listen and ensure we are doing everything we can and are driving the same direction to advance our mission. Corn Growers mission is creating and increasing opportunities for corn growers, through enhancing corn demand and promoting our way of life and tools and technologies of growing corn, all in our noble quest and vision to sustainably feed and fuel a growing world.”

Jon attended the University of Montana majoring in journalism and finance. He is a certified Sea Kayak Instructor. Jon and his wife, Nancy, have two adult children and two precious grandchildren.



New farm safety website to debut in time for National Farm Safety Week, Sept. 22-26

A new farm safety website, “Telling the Story,” features firsthand accounts by farmers who have been injured or who have lost family members to agriculture-related incidents. The website debuts just in time for National Farm Safety Week, Sept. 22-26.

Some of the stories are painful, but those sharing their farm experiences through the “Telling the Story Project” firmly believe in the website’s tagline – tell a story, save a life. Article topics featured on the site include ATVs, equipment upgrades, falls, farming with injuries, fire, foaming manure and ladder safety.

“Research indicates that farmers are more open to safety messages after reading about a traumatic farm incident,” said Ellen Duysen, coordinator and outreach specialist for the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health. “Farmers generally consider other farmers and agricultural publications to be trusted sources of information.”

Tellingthestoryproject.org provides a venue for farmers who have been impacted by fatal and non-fatal agricultural workplace injuries to share their experiences and offer insight for injury prevention.

“Workers, family and community members have all shared stories through the site,” Duysen said. “The stories are told in their own words. Their experiences help teach us what went wrong and how to avoid similar incidents. They tell their story because we don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”

Duysen, who raised hogs, cattle and three “rascally boys” on farms in Colorado and Iowa, is one of five team members involved in the site. Her personal farming experience provided understanding of the many farming and ranching hazards. While conducting educational outreach with ag communities, Duysen heard many stories of work-related injuries and fatalities. She believes stories told by those who had the experiences raises awareness and stimulates conversations about how to prevent similar incidents.

Fellow team members, Stephanie Leonard, Scott Heiberger, Melissa Ploeckelman, and Aaron Yoder, Ph.D., also work in the agricultural safety and health industry.

Leonard, who grew up on a northwest Iowa farm, works as an industrial hygienist and occupational safety manager at the University of Iowa. She is an outreach team member with the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health (GPCAH), providing health and safety consulting services to a wide range of employers that includes farmers and agribusinesses.

Heiberger is health communications manager at the National Farm Medicine Center (NFMC) and a member of the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH). A former newspaper reporter, Heiberger produces agricultural safety and health content for a variety of platforms and assists media professionals.

Ploeckelman is the National Farm Medicine Center’s full-time outreach specialist and member of the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center outreach team. Formerly an agricultural instructor, Ploeckelman has always lived and worked in central Wisconsin, where she helps with her family’s dairy, and is pleased to take part in helping others learn about safety before an injury occurs.

Dr. Yoder, who grew up in central Pennsylvania, spent time working on his grandfather’s farm before studying agricultural safety and health at Penn State and Purdue. His study focus included injury reporting and data collection. Currently an assistant professor in the UNMC Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, Dr. Yoder works with CS-CASH projects.

One of the storytellers, Leon Sheets of Ionia, Iowa, shared his experience with a flash fire in his swine finishing building in 2014 while he was rinsing off the building’s floor. He didn’t know methane gas from the building pit was released into the air when water spray broke the pit foam 18 inches below the slatted floor. He was engulfed by a fire ball that burned 20 percent of his body, including his farms, hands, and face, and melted his glasses. He now practices and promotes safety.

Mike Biadasz, “a passionate young farmer” from Amherst, Wis., died when he was overcome by hydrogen sulfide gas as he agitated manure in the open lagoon of his family’s cattle feeding operation. The gas also killed 16 nearby cattle. His family has become farm safety advocates. They raise funds for safety workshops and regularly work through the media to share Mike’s story.

Kenny Patterson, of Cherokee, Iowa, experienced five hours of excruciating pain and suffering when his four-wheeler overturned and rolled over him as he was spot-spraying thistles in one of his pastures. His lower body was so impacted by the accident that he had to crawl home from the accident scene, using just his arms.

“I was instantly mad at myself,” Patterson said. “What I did (driving on a sloped grade with uneven terrain) was stupid.”

The site also includes links to major ag safety resources such as the National Ag Safety Database, the US Agricultural Health and Safety Centers YouTube channel, Farm & Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) Community of Practice (CoP) and Ireland’s Health and Safety Authority (HAS) Survivor Stories.

Links to “stories with impact” also put readers in touch with online articles such as Iowa’s Ginnie Peters and Kansas farmer John Blaske, both farmers who have been affected by or considered suicide. This page also features a link to the short documentary film, “Edge of the Real World,” which points to the risks and rewards of grain farming. It describes grain entrapment hazards and includes links on grain handling safety.

“We encourage site visitors to share links to our stories,” Duysen said. “They may be republished without further permission as long as they’re published as written. We simply ask that the work be credited to the author, photographer videographer and/or graphic artist along with a note that the story was produced by TellingtheStoryProject.org.

“We’re creating injury prevention messages that highlight personal stories and firsthand experiences. No one wants to see any of these incidents happen to anyone else.”



DSM and Novozymes Launch Balancius™, a Major Breakthrough in Poultry Nutrition

Optimizing gastrointestinal functionality through balancing feed composition and the microbiota is crucial to efficient feed utilization in poultry farming. Together, with its Alliance partner Novozymes, DSM has created Balancius™, a naturally occurring muramidase that removes bacterial debris made up of fragments of cell wall from dead bacteria that are released into the intestinal lumen where they may interfere with the intestinal surface.

Balancius™ effectively clears this debris through selectively breaking down polymers called peptidoglycans that are structural elements within bacterial cell walls.(3) Optimizing gastrointestinal functionality through the action of Balancius™ has the potential to significantly improve efficiency for the feed industry through enhanced digestibility, feed utilization and weight gain.

“As the population rises so does the global demand for the production of sustainable food. We at DSM are purpose-led, performance driven, which means that we consider that it is our responsibility to devise innovative solutions that meet the emerging challenges faced by current and future generations. In order to achieve such innovations, DSM, in partnership with Novozymes, leveraged its scientific and industrial expertise as a means to improve feed utilization,” says Eduardo Alberto, DSM Vice President Animal Nutrition & Health — North America.

Today’s announcement is supported by data from 40 international studies that showed the addition of Balancius™ to poultry feed significantly improved the feed conversion ratio and weight gain. Ongoing trials are currently addressing the potential for the extension of Balancius™ into other species.

“These results demonstrate that optimizing gastrointestinal functionality through the unique action of Balancius™ significantly improves feed efficiency and encourages weight gain of broiler chickens. These results have the potential to dramatically improve capacity for sustainable poultry production and translate to significant savings for individual production managers,” explains Alberto.

”Together, DSM and Novozymes have developed a solution that contributes to the growth and welfare of animals by removing bacterial cell debris from the chicken’s gut. No other technology works like this,” says Susanne Palsten Buchardt, Vice President at Novozymes for Animal Health & Nutrition Commercial. “It’s a game-changing innovation based on our 20-year Alliance with DSM.”

To date, Balancius™ is registered in LATAM (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico), in the U.S. and in APAC (Bangladesh, Pakistan and India). EMEA will follow soon (mid 2019), after a positive opinion published by EFSA EU in June this year.



Cuba-U.S. Agriculture Business Conference November 8 – 10, 2018, Havana, Cuba

This conference comes at a time when U.S. agriculture needs to expand into new markets, Cuba continues to depend on imports for 80 percent of its food supply, and Congress is poised in the Farm Bill to allow USDA export promotion programs to be used in Cuba. The conference allows participants a chance to meet ministers, leaders of agriculture industry, farmers, cooperatives, and decision makers in Cuba's newly formed government.

“At a time when new markets are needed for our agricultural exports, and Cuba is looking to increase agriculture trade and investment, this conference will help to inform and connect the people who can work to make those things happen,” said Paul Johnson, chair of the U.S. Agricultural Coalition for Cuba (USACC).

“Promoting agriculture exports is a bipartisan issue, and USACC’s continued dialogue with Cuba is vital to developing trade with a nearby market where U.S. products have all the advantages,” said Devry Boughner Vorwerk, USACC Co-Chair and Corporate Vice President of Cargill, a sponsor of the conference.

About the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba
The USACC seeks to advance trade relations between the U.S. and Cuba by re- establishing Cuba as a market for U.S. food and agriculture exports. The USACC believes that normalizing trade relations between the U.S. and Cuba will provide the U.S. farm and business community with new market access opportunities, drive enhanced growth in both countries and allow U.S. farmers, ranchers and food companies to efficiently address Cuban citizen’s food security needs. Under current sanctions, U.S. food and agriculture companies can legally export to Cuba, but financing and trade restrictions limit their ability to serve the market competitively. The USACC ultimately seeks to end the embargo and allow for open trade and investment.

For more information about the coalition and our members, visit www.usagcoalition.com.