Friday November 9 Ag News

Exciting Changes to the Nebraska Power Farming Show!

The second largest indoor U.S. farm show, presented by Farm Credit Services of America and AgDirect, will be held December 4-6 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Spread across 9.2 acres, the 12th annual Nebraska Power Farming Show features the broadest mix of ag-related products and services in the Midwest.

“Every year we work hard to come up with new ways to improve the overall show experience,” said Tom Junge, show director. “This year, we are excited to be hosting an Ag Innovation Pitch Competition at the show on Wednesday.” Facility changes, such as improved parking and better cellular coverage, also enhance the show experience.

2019 Nebraska Power Farming Show changes include:
  - NEW this year – see an Ag Innovation Pitch Competition on Wednesday at 2 pm in Pavilion 2 East. Watch six ag tech start-ups pitch their latest ideas to help producers manage their operations more effectively. A $20,000 Grand Prize and $5,000 People’s Choice will be awarded!
  - IMPROVED cellular coverage due to C.O.W. (Cell tower On Wheels) onsite
  - 95 NEW exhibitors
  - NEW to the Midwest - Be one of the first to see Yamaha’s RMAX – an unmanned copter sprayer – in the Pavilion 3 café.
  - IMPROVED parking lots leading to 3 easy-to-access entrances
  - NEW show hours – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday and Wednesday, and 8:30 am to 3 pm Thursday.

Admission and parking at the Lancaster Event Center are FREE! For additional show information, visit nebraskapowershow.com.

The Nebraska Power Farming Show is produced by the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association in conjunction with local Nebraska and Iowa farm equipment dealerships. The show is sponsored by: Diamond Sponsor – Farm Credit Services of America and AgDirect; Platinum Sponsors – Bayer and Nebraska Farm Bureau; Gold Sponsors – Mitas, Stine Seed Company and Sukup Manufacturing; Siver Sponsor – Heartland Chevy Dealers; and Media Sponsors – Midwest Messenger and Rural Radio Network.



IS MY ALFALFA SAFE TO GRAZE
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist

               Every fall I am asked the question “Is my alfalfa safe to graze?”.  Do you sometimes have that question?

               Is my alfalfa safe to graze?  When I hear that question I can almost imagine the scenarios from which it comes.  Usually corn stalks are ready to be grazed.  It would be convenient and useful to include an adjacent alfalfa field for extra grazing and protein.  Another scenario has grazing ending on summer range but the final growth of alfalfa is still standing in the field.

               Usually the alfalfa is still quite green, despite several nights with low temperatures in the twenties or even teens like last week.  There may be some wilting and yellowing, especially on the top, but most leaves still are attached to the plant stems.

               The real question often being asked is “Can I be sure my cows won’t bloat and die if they graze my alfalfa?”.  To be quite honest, you never can be 100 percent certain that alfalfa won’t cause bloat.  Back on my father’s small dairy farm, we had a couple cows that would bloat even when eating dry alfalfa hay.  Since they were good milkers my Dad didn’t want to cull them.  So those cows were hand fed small amounts of alfalfa hay at a time so their bloat could be minimized.

               So – the only true answer to questions about grazing alfalfa safely is ‘probably’.  Bloat risk is much lower a week after a hard freeze that causes wilting.  But always use good animal husbandry methods to reduce the risk further.  Have cows full before turning out to alfalfa.  Wait until mid-day, after frost or dew is gone, before turning out.  Provide other dry, palatable feeds or even bloat retardants.  And keep a close eye on them for the first couple days.

               Alfalfa can be grazed safely.  Just be careful and realistic.



Six Tours to Feature Fall Grazing of Cover Crops

Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University will host six tours focused on fall grazing cover crops. Tours are scheduled for late November and early December across Iowa.The tours are part of a fall grazing cover crops risk management project funded through USDA-NIFA, and will be led by IBC beef specialists. Tour stops will include Iowa State research projects and producers who have successfully grazed cover crops in the fall and will share their tips for overcoming the challenges of adequate fall growth for grazing.

Bus transportation will be provided for all tours except the Newell tour, where producers will caravan. A registration fee of $5 will be charged to cover meal expenses and can be paid on the tour.

Participants should contact tour coordinators to preregister at least 3 days prior to the tour to aid in meal planning and ensure adequate bus seating. Remember the weather may be cold and participants will be out in fields, so dress accordingly for winter and being outdoors.

Tour dates, times and locations in chronological order
-    Nov. 26, 12:30-6 p.m., leaving from the Holiday Inn Airport in Des Moines. Preregister on the Iowa Forage and Grasslands Council website. For more information contact Patrick Wall, patwall@iastate.edu, 515-450-7665. Download the flyer.
-    Nov. 28, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., leaving from the Lucas County Extension office in Chariton. Preregister by calling Lucas County Extension at 641-774-2016. For more information, contact Christopher Clark, caclark@iastate.edu, 712-250-0070. Download the flyer.
-    Nov. 29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., leaving from the Wyoming Fairgrounds in Wyoming. Preregister by calling Benton County Extension at 319-472-4739. For more information, contact Denise Schwab, dschwab@iastate.edu, 319-721-9624. Download the flyer.
-    Nov. 30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., leaving from ISU Western Research and Demonstration Farm, 36515 Hwy E34, Castana. Preregister with Keith Baker at ISU Extension Monona County by phone 712-423-2175 or email kwbaker@iastate.edu. For more information, contact Beth Doran, doranb@iastate.edu, 712-737-4230. Download the flyer.
-    Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Leaving from Seth & Lynn Smith farm, Nemaha. Everyone driving on their own. Preregister with Lora Wright at ISU Extension Sac County by phone 712-662-7131 or email ldwright@iastate.edu . For more information, contact Beth Doran, doranb@iastate.edu, 712-737-4230. Download the flyer.
-    Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., leaving from the National Farm Toy Museum in Dyersville. Preregister by calling Benton County Extension at 319-472-4739. For more information, contact Denise Schwab, dschwab@iastate.edu, 319-721-9624. Download the flyer.

Establishing cover crops following grain production is proven to protect soil, reduce erosion, improve water quality and enhance soil health, while also providing opportunities to extend the grazing season. Fall grazing cover crops has the potential to reduce feed costs, but has more challenges due to weather risk. One month of extended grazing can reduce the cost of production of the cow herd by more than 5%. The window for fall growth and grazing can be more limited than in the spring due to the timing of grain harvest, seeding method, species selection, available nutrients, and weather. 

Funding for this project was provided by the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture under Award Number 2015-49200-24226.



IFBF celebrates being 'A Century Strong' at the 2018 100th Annual Meeting

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), Iowa’s largest grassroots general farm organization, will celebrate a century of success December 3-5 in Des Moines during the 100th IFBF Annual Meeting. 

IFBF’s ‘A Century Strong’ celebration officially kicks off Monday, Dec. 3, at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Des Moines with a special centennial celebration on Monday evening featuring award-winning entertainment by Don Felder, renowned as former lead guitarist of the Eagles, one the of the most popular and influential rock groups of all time.

The educational sessions start Tuesday and continue Wednesday and will feature a wide variety of seminars and panels with timely updates on critical farm programs and opportunities for growth in rural Iowa.  The opening seminar, ‘Making Things Happen in Rural Communities,’ will feature a panel of rural entrepreneurs who will share their insight into economic growth in rural communities, particularly looking at value-added agriculture opportunities in rural Iowa.

Members will also benefit from a seminar featuring USDA and U.S. Senate ag committee staff members who will provide an update on the farm bill and its programs that are critical for Iowa farmers.  Tuesday afternoon will also feature cyber security expert, Mark Lanterman’s presentation, ‘Don’t be Another Fish in the Dark Net,’ and how farmers need to secure sensitive information.

Trade and export markets are a top priority in agriculture with farmers closely following developments.  Ambassador Gregg Doud, U.S. Trade Representative, will lead a trade-focused panel session and will share the latest updates and outlook with members.  Paul Clayton, senior vice president of export services at the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), will also serve on the Farm Bill and U.S. Trade panels.

Tuesday will also feature several competitions and recognitions for IFBF young farmer members and an evening dinner and gala.  That night, entertainment by Home Free, an a cappella all-vocal band from Minnesota, will round out the evening entertainment.  District director candidates and vice president receptions will follow the evening program.  

“On Wednesday, we will celebrate the success and hard work of our members during our annual award presentation, and Dr. Peggy Whitson, record-breaking former NASA astronaut and Iowa native, will deliver the keynote speech,” says IFBF President Craig Hill, whose annual meeting remarks help kick off Wednesday’s general session.  “Dr. Whitson’s remarkable life story is an incredible and inspiring example for others to follow.  From humble beginnings on a Ringgold County family farm to daring stories from space flight and crash landings in the fields of Kazakhstan, her stories of adventure, perseverance, and achievement are a fitting way to round out IFBF’s centennial celebration.” 

For more information, a detailed agenda or to register to attend the 2018 IFBF Annual Meeting, check out www.iowafarmbureau.org.  



USMEF Elects New Officer Team, Voices Support for U.S.-Japan Trade Negotiations

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) concluded its Strategic Planning Conference in Long Beach, California, Thursday with the election of new officers for the coming year. Conley Nelson of Algona, Iowa, was elected USMEF chairman.

“I am very humbled to be in this position and excited and proud to be up here representing the U.S. Meat Export Federation as its new chairman,” said Nelson, a pork producer and past president of the National Pork Board. He has worked for Smithfield Foods for 35 years and is currently general manager of Smithfield’s hog production division in the company’s five-state Midwest region.

Nelson was raised on a family farm in north-central Iowa that included a purebred Angus herd, a Holstein dairy herd and a farrow-to-finish hog operation. His family also grew corn and soybeans and has been involved in contract pork production since 1983. He views his term as USMEF chairman as an opportunity to continue the many successes the federation has enjoyed, while also meeting its challenges head-on.

“One of the things I’ve thought about as chair-elect over the past year is that when you become a USMEF officer, you sort of put the allegiances to your own sector – in my case the pork sector – aside, and you think about the big picture,” said Nelson. “I wanted to get myself immersed into some of the other sectors of the red meat industry. So, I attended the Sheep Industry Innovators Conference at the invitation of Greg Ahart, a member of the USMEF Executive Committee and an executive at Superior Farms. It was two-and-a-half days of presentations and tours with sheep producers from all over the United States, and it was a great learning experience.”

Nelson also shared his story of traveling to Manhattan, Kansas, to meet with John Butler, CEO of Beef Marketing Group (BMG), and being given a tour of one of BMG’s feedlots. Nelson then visited rancher Steve Hanson and toured one of his cow-calf operations in Nebraska. Butler and Hanson are both members of USMEF’s Executive Committee.

“These were great ways to connect with different sectors of the livestock industry and learn about their challenges and opportunities,” explained Nelson. “I learned from these experiences that there are more similarities than differences between the sectors, there’s a tremendous amount of love for what we all do and we all have a serious drive to constantly get better and improve our operations. We also share common concerns about the labor situation, what the impact of new technology will be and how we are going to pass these operations on to the next generation.”

Nelson succeeds Dennis Stiffler, who has more than 30 years of livestock and meat industry experience and is currently president of the Texas Division of Halperns’ Steak and Seafood.

The USMEF chair-elect is Eden, Idaho, cattle feeder Cevin Jones, who operates Intermountain Beef, a custom feedlot. Jones served as vice chairman of the Federation of State Beef Councils and on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) board of directors. He is a past winner of the Idaho Cattle Feeder of the Year Award.

Pat Binger of Wichita, Kansas, who heads international sales for Cargill Protein Group, is USMEF vice chair. A 30-year Cargill employee, Binger first became involved with USMEF more than 25 years ago.

The newest USMEF officer is Mark Swanson, who was elected secretary-treasurer. Swanson, is CEO of Birko Corporation, headquartered in Henderson, Colorado. He has more than 20 years of experience with some of the most respected institutions in the protein industry, including Iowa Beef Processors, ConAgra Foods and Swift & Company.

At its closing business session, the USMEF Board of Directors also approved a resolution expressing support for timely negotiation of a U.S.-Japan trade agreement. The resolution notes that Japan will soon implement two major trade agreements – the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement – that will extend significant tariff rate advantages to all of the U.S. beef and pork industries' major competitors in Japan.

“USMEF members understand the urgency of this situation, and it is important to reinforce this message with our government officials and industry partners,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom.

On Oct. 16, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) officially notified Congress that the Trump administration intends to negotiate a trade agreement with Japan. USTR is accepting comments through Nov. 26 to develop U.S. positions in preparation for these negotiations. A public hearing is set for Dec. 10.

More highlights from the USMEF Strategic Planning Conference are available at www.usmef.org.



Corteva Agriscience Announces Corteva Grows Pollinator Habitat with 4-H and Pheasants Forever

Corteva Agriscience, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, today announced a partnership with National 4-H Council and Pheasants Forever. The program, Corteva Grows Pollinator Habitat, will support monarch butterfly and pollinator habitat at Corteva Agriscience locations throughout the United States. Through this program, Corteva Agriscience will engage 4-H youth to help increase pollinator habitats and populations, supporting biodiversity. The program will also strengthen pollinator education efforts through Pheasants Forever’s Youth Pollinator Habitat Program.

“We are committed to creating pollinator habitats, now and in the future, and our efforts are growing with the help of key partners who share our same vision,” said Krysta Harden, Corteva Agriscience Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer. “There are many things we can do to support bees, butterflies and other pollinators, no matter where you live. Ensuring they have adequate habitats and plentiful food sources provides a strong foundation for pollinators.”

At each location, Corteva Agriscience will provide land and financial support for the pollinator habitat, which will be planted and maintained, in part, by the site’s employees and 4-H youth leaders. Pheasants Forever will provide expertise and support including habitat seed, site preparation, planting support and ongoing mowing. In addition to providing seasonal food supplies and a home to pollinators, the sites will be used to educate students on the benefits of pollinators and their habitats and grow youth with the awareness, passion and skills to be responsible stewards of our planet for generations to come. In the spring of 2019, the first sites will be planted. Additional site plantings will take place through 2020. The majority of locations reside along monarch butterfly flyway, the Interstate 35 corridor between Minnesota and Texas.

“This new partnership is helping to expand critical habitat areas for monarch butterflies, honey bees and grassland birds, while serving as an outdoor classroom for students and Corteva Agriscience employees nationwide,” stated Howard Vincent, President and CEO of Pheasants Forever. “Our organization has taken a lead role nationally among conservation groups to promote this specific habitat variety, helping to boost agricultural production and provide diverse habitat for a wide host of species. We’re very excited to contribute to this phenomenal partnership.”

In addition, the Corteva Grows program will equip more than 30,000 4-H youth with tools and support they need to understand the importance of pollinators and how to build habitats in their communities to take action toward conserving them. Led by 4-H teen ambassadors, the pollinator curriculum will be delivered through peer-to-peer mentorship and direct teaching of younger audiences.

“Agriculture is a vital component to local communities across the U.S. and to our global economy,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, President and CEO of National 4-H Council. “By partnering with Corteva Agriscience on this important initiative, youth will have the opportunity to learn-by-doing and grow the skills to pursue their passions and navigate challenges, especially those facing today’s agriculture.”

Pollinator health isn’t new to Corteva Agriscience™. Earlier this year, to celebrate National Pollinator Week, employees at the Johnston, Iowa, Corteva Agriscience global business center constructed a pollinator demonstration garden. In 2017, employees led efforts to implement more than six acres of highly-diverse prairie habitat along a bike path that runs through the Johnston campus. In total, the campus has more than 10 acres of pollinator habitat. This new partnership is an extension of Corteva Agriscience’s commitment to pollinator habitat expansion.