Monday November 26 Ag News

Ag Update December 6th and 7th 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska

Please join us for this year's annual Ag Update sponsored by the Nebraska Agri-Business Association. There are a total of 12 speakers with four on the first day and eight on the second day.

Ag Update is at the Holiday Inn Southwest 2500 Tamarin Ridge Rd, Lincoln, NE and will start with registration at 12:30 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2018, continuing all day Friday, December 7, 2018 with registration beginning at 8:00 am.

The speakers and topics for Thursday are:
    Corey Brubaker - Ephemeral Erosion & Conversion Compliance (SW .5)
    Aaron Hird - Cover Crop Adaptive Management (CM .5)
    Aaron Hird - Soil Health Demonstration Farm Update (SW .5)
    Corey Brubaker - Adaptive Nutrient Management in EQIP (NM .5)
    Joe Luck - In Season Nitrogen Management - Project SENSE (NM 1.0)
    Renee Hancock - Water Quality Update (SW .5)

The speakers and topics for Friday are:
    Justin McMechan - Emerging Pests of Corn and Soybeans (PM 1.0)
    Bekah Nortrup - Nitrogen Stabilizers and the 4R's (NM 1.0)
    Tim Mundorf - Nutrient Pollution in Surface Waters (SW 1.0)
    Tom Clemente - Agriculture Biotechnology: Challenges and Opportunities (CM 1.0)
    Robert Klein - Trying to Solve Weed Management Problems (PM 1.0)
    Andrea Basche and Katja Koehler-Cole - Can Cover Crops be used for Weed Control in Nebraska (CM 1.0)
    Jeremy Quist - Corn Disease Management (PM 1.0)

Your registration includes rolls & coffee, lunch, and all speaker handouts. A registration form is included for you to register for Ag Update or you can register online at:   http://bit.ly/agupdate2018
Please contact Sarah Skirry at sskirry@na-ba.com or (402) 476-1528, if you have any questions. We hope to see you in Lincoln at this year's Ag Update!



Students: Apply by December 15 for Pork Mentorship Program

Choosing a career path can be difficult. In a world full of occupational options, it is helpful to receive a little guidance along the way. That’s why the Nebraska Pork Producers Association is extending help to college-age students who apply to participate in the Pork Mentorship Program.

The deadline for submitting student applications is December 15, with selection notifications to be sent to applicants by January 1.

The Pork Mentorship Program is a career development program that provides a variety of hands-on experiences to promote leadership and communication skills, ultimately fostering career exploration and professional development.  The NPPA Pork Mentorship Program is more than just a scholarship. It’s a way for students to build their capacity as a leader and professional in the swine and agriculture industries in Nebraska. The program provides students with an opportunity to identify future career goals and to evolve into strong agricultural advocates.

The Nebraska Pork Producers Association wants college-age students to be a part of the Pork Mentorship Program. If students are connected to agriculture and believe in the future of the pork industry, they are encouraged to apply. $500 scholarships are available for college-age students who have an interest in the pork industry – they don’t have to be a pork producer! 

How it works
Year-long programming will run from February 1, 2019 to February 1, 2020. During that time, students will attend seminars where they will learn about various aspects of the pork and agriculture industries, participate in a bus tour highlighting Nebraska agriculture, and have opportunities to promote Nebraska’s pork industry. Upon completion, students will receive a $500 scholarship toward their education expenses. Students will not be responsible for any expenses to participate in the program.

Eligible applicants must
·    Be enrolled full-time in a Nebraska post-secondary school, and be between 18-24 years of age
·    Be able to attend all quarterly meetings and complete all requirements before receiving his/her scholarship
·    Have access to and communicate effectively via email

Develop the skills needed to be a strong advocate for agriculture by
·    Shadowing industry professionals
·    Promoting pork
·    Blogging
·    Volunteering
·    Engaging in personal and professional development seminars
·    Attending quarterly meetings

Who Should Apply?
College-age men and women who have an interest in agriculture and the pork industry. You don’t have to be a pork producer.

What  Will I Do?
Job-shadow pork industry professionals, promote agriculture and the pork industry, and improve your leadership, team building and communications skills. You’ll also travel to the World Pork Expo and attend other exciting industry tours and group events.  

Apply Now!
Interested students should complete the application and submit an up-to-date resume by December 15. Applications will be reviewed, and selection notifications will be sent by January 1. Students may apply for the scholarship online by visiting the youth tab on www.nepork.org. 



Dairy Store Operations to Shift and Expand

In the new year, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dairy Store will dish up scoops of change alongside its rotating slate of sweet treats.

As part of a larger realignment toward the core of East Campus, Dairy Store operations will split, with the storefront moving to the north side of its current home in Filley Hall/Food Industry Complex, and the ice cream/cheese production shifting to the Food Innovation Center on Nebraska Innovation Campus.

The change allows for a modernization to the storefront and expands learning opportunities for students in the food science and technology program, which is based at Nebraska Innovation Campus.

"This is going to be an exciting project for the Dairy Store, students and our patrons," said LeRoy Braden, manager of the Dairy Store. "When the project is complete, we will have improved facilities while maintaining Dairy Store nostalgia with the same flavors everyone loves."

The new Dairy Store location -- which is scheduled to open in late spring -- will shift the ice cream shop to face what is known as Legacy Plaza. The green space, which includes four sculptures of Nebraskans who have served as U.S. secretaries of agriculture, is being transformed into a focal point of activity on East Campus.

The green space project launched in 2015 under the direction of Chancellor Ronnie Green, who, at that time, served as vice chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. When complete, Legacy Plaza will be framed by the new Massengale Residential Center, Dairy Store, Nebraska East Union and C.Y. Thompson Library.

Nebraska East Union is currently under renovation. The project will transition the building's west entrance to the south, facing Legacy Plaza.

The library is also scheduled for a renovation, transforming the space into a learning commons similar to the first floor of Love Library North, offering a shared space for information technology, tutoring, collaborations, meetings and study. While the library is under construction, books will be temporarily available for checkout in the Food Industry Complex.

"From this spring until fall 2020, the old Dairy Store location will become the library circulation desk," said Barry Shull, facilities director for the vice chancellor of IANR.

The tentative construction schedule for the C.Y. Thompson project is a year, starting in October 2019. When complete, the design will include an entrance/seating area that faces Legacy Plaza.

The Dairy Store project will create a new entrance facing Legacy Plaza. The traditional Dairy Store entrance on the south side of the building will continue to be open to patrons. To help alleviate parking constraints, eight 30-minute parking meters have been installed outside Filley Hall/Food Industry Complex.

The Dairy Store is expected to remain open through the remodel. Additional plans call for the creation of an outdoor seating area on Legacy Plaza for Dairy Store patrons.

Plans for moving the Dairy Store's ice cream and cheese production to Nebraska Innovation Campus are underway. The new space will be linked to the Food Innovation Center.

"This is definitely an opportunity for us to make sure we integrate additional training space for students while also allowing for expanded research and development needs for companies who might want to use the Dairy Store production facilities," said Josie Houston, manager of the Dairy Store production facility. "We're still working on a timeline for the move. But, when it is finished, we'll definitely be better positioned to support the needs of the Dairy Store while expanding teaching opportunities to students."



NAIG HIGHLIGHTS ANIMAL DISEASE EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS, WATER QUALITY AND RENEWABLE FUELS INFRASTRUCTURE IN BUDGET REQUEST

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today requested an additional $250,000 to support foreign animal disease response preparations as part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget request. Naig also emphasized the importance of continued funding for the Iowa Water Quality Initiative and Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program.

“Iowa’s $13.45 billion animal industry continues to see significant growth and is a key economic driver for our state. Avian influenza, African swine fever and other foreign animal diseases continue to represent a significant threat to our livestock farms and emphasize the need for us to expand efforts to prevent, prepare and potentially respond to an animal disease emergency,” Naig said. “It is important we continue to invest in priority areas such as animal health, water quality and renewable fuels to support our state’s farmers and help strengthen our rural economy.”

The additional $250,000 for foreign animal disease response preparations would be used to help the Department better equip and prepare for potential future outbreaks, including updating emergency response plans and organizing disease response exercises. The funds would also be targeted towards assisting livestock farmers with additional expertise and resources to increase biosecurity efforts to prevent a disease outbreak.

The Legislature provided $250,000 in funding this fiscal year to support animal disease response preparations, including supporting the hiring of Dr. Andrew Hennenfent as the Emergency Management Coordinator for the Department.

Naig also requested continued funding of $10.575 million to support the Iowa Water Quality Initiative in the next fiscal year. This annual funding is in addition to the long-term water quality funding that was passed last session and will provide $4 million to the Department next fiscal year.

This funding is used to provide cost share to implement conservation practices across the state. The funds will also support numerous demonstration projects focused on implementing and demonstrating water quality practices. Currently, there are 14 targeted watershed projects, seven projects focused on expanding the use and innovative delivery of water quality practices and 43 urban water quality demonstration projects.

Naig also highlighted the importance of continued funding for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program.  The Department has received $3 million annually to offer cost share grants for the installation of E85 dispensers, blender pumps, biodiesel dispensers and biodiesel storage facilities. Since 2007, the program has distributed nearly $31 million to support the installation of 332 E85 dispensers/blenders, 291 biodiesel dispensers/blenders and 140 biodiesel terminals across Iowa.



BEEF POKE MAKES A DEBUT AT TASTE! LANCASTER

Beef was a hot commodity in Lancaster, PA at the area’s premier food festival, attracting consumers who enjoy the pleasures of eating and entertaining with food. The TASTE! Lancaster Festival of Food, Wine & Spirits 2018 welcomed nearly 8,000 guests to the Lancaster Convention Center on November 16 & 17.

The beef checkoff highlighted beef’s versatility and flavor profile to the crowds as they passed through the festival space. Chef Barry Strand, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, was on-site to demonstrate the new culinary craze of Beef Poke, sharing its trendy appeal to the millennial and foodie crowd. Nearly 1,600 samples of the tangy and delicious recipe were distributed “We wanted to highlight this dish for two reasons. Ribeye filet is a cut that not many people have tried before. You can ask your butcher to break this down for you, or, you can get more hands on and fabricate this cut yourself. There are cutting videos available on www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com. Also, according to Whole Foods Market Top 10 Trends of 2019, flavors of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim will be huge in 2019. This recipe capitalizes on the trend of poke using flavors beef Ribeye FIlet, without using the traditional raw ingredients.”

Along with a weekend of culinary demos, Chef Barry also showcased a step-by-step breakdown of the beef ribeye subprimal, demonstrating how cost effective this can be if done at home. Attendees were fascinated by the cutting demo and watched in amazement as Chef Barry talked through the best technique to freeze beef at home, as well. “Buying beef in bulk and learning the proper steps to freezing beef in smaller potions is a great option for feeding your family on a budget,” comments Jennifer Orr, Director of Nutrition Education with the Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative.

New to the beef booth was a Recipe Inspiration Kiosk, a digital experience where consumers had the opportunity to learn more about beef fabrication, view checkoff promoted videos, enter to win the ‘Beef & Wine’ Entertaining basket and even share recipes with themselves from BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com. Of those entering the survey at the kiosk, 84% stated they have a positive opinion of beef!

Overall, the checkoff was glad to be involved in this local foody event, educating consumers on the many benefits of beef from its versatility, economical capabilities and delicious flavor profile. The checkoff is thankful to JBS Souderton for the generous donation of beef subprimals for the cutting demonstration and ribeye filets, for sampling, in order to help make this event a success!

The event was sponsored by the Beef Checkoff’s Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative, along with the Pennsylvania, Colorado and Iowa State Beef Councils.



NBB Appreciates Proposal for Long-Term Extension of the Biodiesel Tax Incentive

Today, Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, released a proposal to make technical corrections to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (PL 115-97) and to extend several expired tax credits, including the biodiesel and renewable diesel tax incentive. NBB welcomes the proposal for a multi-year extension of this important incentive; it would keep the credit at its current rate of $1.00 per gallon for 2018 through 2021 but gradually reduce it to $0.33 per gallon by 2024 and then allow it to expire.

Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs with the National Biodiesel Board, stated, “The biodiesel industry has long advocated for a long-term tax extension to provide certainty and predictably for producers and feedstock providers. Too often, the credit has been allowed to lapse and then reinstated retroactively, which does not provide the certainty businesses need to plan, invest, and create jobs. We appreciate the recognition that the biodiesel industry is integral to our domestic energy needs through this long-term extension. We look forward to working with our supporters on Capitol Hill to ensure that consumers, producers and marketers benefit from a long-term, forward-looking pro-growth tax policy.”



Inventories Taking Shape
Matthew A. Diersen, Extension Specialist, South Dakota State University

Last week brought a flurry of market information from various NASS reports that give added insight into the cattle supply situation and the inventory levels likely in 2019. In the November Cattle on Feed report, placements were lower and marketings were higher than year ago levels. The placements were at the very low end of trade expectations, while marketings were at the very high end of trade expectations. The slight bump in futures last week, however, did not last long. The latest on-feed total of 11.7 million head continues to be a large absolute level of cattle to work through. Spatially, there was little disparity in the on-feed totals across major feedlot states. The marketings were a little higher in Nebraska than in other states. The implication of these factors is that the number on-feed is narrowing back toward the 2017 level.

There was a slowdown in placements weighing less than 800 pounds. Recent months have had larger levels of lighter placements, which partially explains why more cattle have been on feed for greater than 90 and greater than 120 days. In the Cold Storage report, there was slightly more beef stocks, but slightly less pork stocks as of October 31. In the Livestock Slaughter report, weights were unchanged for most classes. Both beef cow and dairy cow slaughter were up sharply during October. Year to date, there have been fewer steers and more heifers slaughtered compared to this time last year. Recall in the October Cattle on Feed report, the quarterly heifer mix was up compared to July 1 and up compared to a year earlier. An implication of these factors is that more heifers on feed limits the increase in beef production. The average steer dressed weight is about 70 pounds heavier than the average heifer dressed weight.

Other inventory indicators continue to take shape. The total cattle inventory at the beginning of 2018 was 94.4 million head. Extrapolating data on slaughter volumes and cattle trade flows, largely with Mexico and Canada, one can begin to obtain a balance sheet view of cattle inventories. For 2018, exports look to be unchanged from 2017 while imports look to be down slightly. NASS estimates the calf crop was higher. Slaughter is running at a higher pace than a year ago. The five-year average death loss as a percent of supply is about 3%. Adding up all of the changes suggests a 2019 inventory of 95.3 million head. Similarly, the 2018 beef cow inventory was 31.7 million head. The Economic Research Service (ERS) has a breakdown that relates replacements to inventory levels. On July 1, NASS estimated the beef cow inventory level at 32.5 million head. To that, add 25% of the July 1 beef replacements, or have 1.15 million head join the cow herd. Then subtract expected death loss and extrapolated cow slaughter for the second half of the year (1.71 million head), leaving 31.16 million head for January 1, 2019. The total inventory is slightly above and the beef cow inventory is slightly below the new USDA baseline estimates.



Hormel Foods Distributes Annual Profit Sharing

Hormel Foods Corporation, a global branded food company, today distributed its annual profit sharing of $17.9 million to eligible hourly and salaried employees during this 80th annual Thanksgiving Eve Day tradition.

"Our profit sharing program remains unique in our industry, and we are proud to be able to share our continued success with our more than 20,000 inspired team members who work tirelessly to deliver outstanding branded food products to millions of consumers each year," said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. "It is this dedicated team that helps ensure we remain one of the most trusted and successful global branded food companies. We wouldn't be the company we are today without all of them."

The profit sharing program was started by Jay C. Hormel in 1938 and is voluntarily paid at the discretion of the company's Board of Directors.



Charlie Daniels Band to Perform at 2019 Commodity Classic

The Charlie Daniels Band will provide the Evening of Entertainment at the 2019 Commodity Classic, held Thursday, February 28 through Saturday, March 2 in Orlando, Fla.

The band will perform Saturday night to close the three-day event which attracts thousands of America’s top farmers and agricultural advocates.

The Charlie Daniels Band has populated radio with such memorable hits as “Long Haired Country Boy,” “The South’s Gonna Do It Again,” “In America,” “The Legend of Wooley Swamp” and of course, his signature song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” which won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1979 as well as single of the year at the Country Music Association Awards.

An outspoken patriot and still a road warrior, Charlie Daniels has parlayed his passion for music into a multi-platinum, award-winning career.  He’s a member of the Grand Ole Opry and has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Evening of Entertainment is sponsored by Bayer. Admission to the concert is included with full registration or with a Saturday-only registration.

Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused agricultural and educational experience.  Commodity Classic is unlike any other agriculture event, featuring a robust schedule of educational sessions, a huge trade show featuring the latest technology, equipment and innovation, top-notch entertainment, inspiring speakers and the opportunity to network with thousands of farmers from across the nation.

Registration and housing for the 2019 Commodity Classic are now open. To register and to make hotel reservations, visit CommodityClassic.com.

Commodity Classic is presented annually by the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.



NCGA Seeks a Few Good Leaders for the FY2020 Corn Board

The National Corn Growers Association Nominating Committee reminds interested members that it is now accepting applications for the 2020 Corn Board. Through the Corn Board, members can become an integral part of the organization’s leadership.  Click here for the application, which provides complete information on requirements, responsibilities and deadlines.

“As a true grassroots organization, we rely upon farmers to volunteer to lead, helping to shape policy and drive efforts,” said NCGA Chairman and Nominating Committee Chair Kevin Skunes. “I have had the privilege of working with so many talented, dedicated volunteers who step forward to lead this organization during my years on the Corn Board. Their willingness to step forward as volunteer leaders plays a crucial role in building NCGA’s future successes. Serving on the Corn Board empowers farmers to play a proactive role in determining the collective future of our industry.”

The NCGA Corn Board represents the organization on all matters while directing both policy and supervising day-to-day operations. Board members serve the organization in a variety of ways. They represent the federation of state organizations, supervise the affairs and activities of NCGA in partnership with the chief executive officer and implement NCGA policy established by the Corn Congress. Members also act as spokespeople for the NCGA and enhance the organization’s public standing on all organizational and policy issues.

Applications are due Friday, January 11. Nominated candidates will be introduced at the 2019 Corn Congress meeting, held in conjunction with the Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida. Corn Board members will be elected at the July 2019 Corn Congress in Washington, D.C., and the new terms begin Oct. 1.

For more information, growers may contact Kathy Baker at NCGA’s St. Louis office at (636) 733-9004.



American Farmland Trust Announces Renewed Commitment to Combating Climate Change

American Farmland Trust, the organization behind the national movement No Farms No Food®, announces new commitments to combatting climate change, including hiring Jennifer Moore-Kucera as the new director of its climate initiative and simultaneously announcing its commitment to support the US Climate Alliance’s Natural and Working Lands Challenge and the Global Soil Health Challenge by California and France.

Jennifer will direct strategy, provide leadership and support program activities for AFT’s “Farmers Combat Climate Change” initiative.

With Jennifer’s leadership, AFT will support states in the US Climate Alliance in developing policies and programs to increase carbon sequestration and reduce GHG on farmland and ranchland to ensure agriculture realizes its potential as an essential element of state plans to combat climate change by 2020.

“America’s farmers and farmland will play critical roles in our society’s response to combatting climate change. Today, American Farmland Trust is renewing our commitment to supporting farmers in responding to climate change with our hiring of a new climate director and our public commitment to supporting the Natural and Working Lands Challenge and the Global Soil Health Challenge,” says John Piotti, AFT president and CEO.

He continues, “Public action on all levels is needed to realize the potential for farmers and farmland to play a role in combatting climate change.  AFT looks forward to supporting the US Climate Alliance and its members states and participants in the Global Soil Health Challenge.”

Jennifer’s lead on “Farmers Combat Climate Change” will be critical to its success. The initiative supports farmers and ranchers in adopting climate-smart farming practices on land they own and rent, encourages smart growth and protecting farmland to reduce transportation emissions and expands renewable energy siting while protecting our nation’s most productive, versatile and resilient farmland.

Jennifer is a renowned soil health expert—researcher, educator and presenter—on soil’s links to carbon sequestration. She brings to AFT her experience as the West Region Soil Health team lead for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Health Division as well as serving as co-director/Natural Resource Conservation Service liaison for the USDA-Northwest Climate Hub.

“Jennifer’s extensive technical and research expertise in soil health management and carbon sequestration practices will help farmers mitigate climate change while increasing crop yield, product quality and overall soil health,” says John Piotti.

He continues, “She has published extensively on soil health and has close connections across our research and public agency partners that will be pivotal to implementing soil health practices on a much larger scale across the country. We are thrilled that she will be joining us to elevate AFT’s work in combating climate change.”

Jennifer will be based in Corvallis, Oregon where she enjoys trail running, skiing, baking, and camping with her family.  She received her Bachelor of Arts in biology and environmental studies from Binghamton University, her Master of Science in soil science from Iowa State University and was awarded a Doctorate in soil science from Oregon State University. She was elected to serve as the 2017 Chair of Soil Biology and Biochemistry Division of the Soil Science Society of America and currently is an Adjunct Faculty member with the Department of Crop and Soil Science at Oregon State University.

“I am very excited to be joining American Farmland Trust and look forward to helping accelerate the adoption of conservation practices and policies that will promote soil health, productivity, and resiliency. The goals and strategies outlined in the Farmers Combat Climate Change Initiative will play a critical role in helping farmers, ranchers, and urban growth planners develop and implement practices that can reduce greenhouse emissions, sequester C, and will help mitigate, if not begin to reverse the negative impacts predicted by climate change models,” says Jennifer Moore-Kucera.

She continues, “At the forefront of this mission is to protect our productive lands and make them as resilient as possible. In combination with implementation of conservation practices and supportive policies, this holistic approach ensures our future with clean air, water and soil and high yielding, healthy food and fiber for our growing populations.



CLAAS Farmers Break 10-Hour Corn Harvesting Mark While Establishing Two World Records

On October 10, 2010, Jeff Gray, Product Manager – Field Support for CLAAS of America, harvested 51,153 bushels of corn in a 10-hour period in a CLAAS LEXION 760 TERRA TRAC combine at Stewart Farms Partnership in Yorkville, Illinois. The impressive harvesting record, which remained unbeaten until now, is a testament to the massive throughput of the LEXION combine and the skillful hand of an operator who knows how to push these machines to the limit.

Eight years later, Craig Stewart and sons Bob and Brad continue to harvest their crops with CLAAS LEXION combines. In fact, they have two CLAAS LEXION TERRA TRAC machines.

Recently, the Stewarts approached CLAAS with a proposition. They wanted to break the old 10-hour corn harvesting record on a field of theirs near Farmer City, Illinois. After some research, it was discovered that Guinness recognizes harvesting records for 8 hours and 12 hours, not 10. Undeterred, the Stewarts decided to break both the 8- and 12-hour world records, as well as the old 10-hour mark that was established on their farm nearly a decade ago.

“A lot has changed in the last eight years on the LEXION 760 TERRA TRAC,” explained Jeff Gray. “More engine horsepower, a higher capacity feederhouse drive, a larger grain tank, faster unloading, a more efficient DYNAMIC COOLING SYSTEM and higher capacity sieves made this challenge easier than the one we did in 2010.”

Maybe even more important than those enhancements are the operator assistance features found in CEMOS AUTOMATIC — the new flagship technology available as an option on 700 Series LEXION combines — which automatically and autonomously optimizes ground speed and system settings throughout the combine based on changing conditions. According to Gray, “CEMOS AUTOMATIC is able to make the same type of adjustments I made when I set the record — only faster and with more precision.”

One component of CEMOS AUTOMATIC that Bob Stewart really appreciates is CRUISE PILOT. “The CRUISE PILOT will actually optimize its own speed and make the adjustments for you on the back end. It’s a big deal.”

Countdown to the World Record
At 8:52 a.m., on Wednesday, September 26, Bob pushed the CMOTION control lever forward on the CLAAS LEXION 760TT combine and 16-row header as the 12-hour countdown clock was started. The conditions were not ideal. After receiving more than half an inch of rain the night before, the corn coming into Tate and Lyle Grain Elevator in Parnell, Illinois, was at 17-18 percent moisture levels. Bob Stewart got the vast majority of the stick time in the combine throughout the day, with Jeff Gray only stepping into the cab on two different occasions.

“I jumped in a couple times. Once to check the settings on CEMOS AUTOMATIC and see what adjustments it was making and another to give Bob a little break between hours 8 and 12.”

While Bob was driving the combine, his brother Brad managed the logistics of the record attempt. His job was to keep three grain carts and 10 trucks running at top speed to keep up with the nearly constant unloading of the CLAAS LEXION combine. “The machine is very impressive. It’s incredibly reliable and just eats corn! Our biggest worry was having enough trucks so that we didn’t keep the combine waiting.”

One key feature on the new LEXION combine is called TELEMATICS. This on-board technology transmits real-time performance information back to computers and mobile devices authorized to receive it. It allowed real-time monitoring of the record for the many people tracking the attempt.

For each of the three records, the Stewarts were required to bring their combine to a full stop, unload any grain in the tank into a grain cart, and unload the grain cart into a waiting truck. The truck was sent to the elevator where the grain totals were tabulated.

At the 8-hour mark, the combine had harvested an incredible 43,739.68 dry bushels of corn. At 10 hours, the total was 54,302.97 — more than 3,000 bushels greater than the record set 8 years earlier.

At the end of 12 hours, the combine came to a complete stop and the lone remaining truck made its way to the elevator. The final result after 12 hours: 63,770.10 bushels. With that, the Stewarts had set their third record for the day.

While the results are still being confirmed by Guinness, third-party witnesses and tabulations by the grain elevator show that new records have been set.