Thursday December 6 Ag News

Beef Quality Assurance -- Creston -- 12/18

All producers are invited to attend the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Training in your area.  Nebraska Extension has teamed up with local sponsors to schedule the training that will be a certification or recertification opportunity for cattle producers.

Date and Location
•             December 18, 12:00 Noon, Creston, NE, Alice’s - Meal Provided
•             Sponsors:
    o             Kent Feeds – Keith Paitz
    o             Rosendahl Farms, Seed and Feed

Rob Eirich, Nebraska Director of Beef Quality Assurance will be presenting BQA Best Management Practices, Animal Health & Antimicrobial Stewardship and the 2016 National Beef Quality Audit information.  Beef Cattle Producers are committed to producing a quality, wholesome and safe beef product for consumers.  These meetings will update producers on implementing BQA principles to ensure quality cattle care and handling.

All producers are encouraged to attend.  There is a $20 fee to become BQA certified/recertified, which is valid for three year time period.

For more information contact your local sponsors or Rob Eirich, Nebraska Extension, 308-632-1230 or reirich2@unl.edu

RSVP for meal count to 402-564-4237. 



NEBRASKA SOYBEAN DAY AND MACHINERY EXPO IS DEC. 13 IN WAHOO

The 2018 Nebraska Soybean Day and Machinery Expo will assist soybean producers in planning for growing season. The expo is 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Dec. 13 in the pavilion at the Saunders County Fairgrounds in Wahoo.

The expo opens with coffee, doughnuts and the opportunity to view equipment and exhibitor booths. Speakers start at 9 a.m. and include university researchers and specialists, Nebraska Soybean Checkoff representatives, soybean growers and private-industry representatives. Producers will be able to visit with representatives from seed, herbicide, fertilizer and equipment companies and view new farm equipment during a 30-minute break at 9:45 a.m.

David Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech University, is the featured speaker. Kohl’s domestic and global overview will provide perspective on the factors and transformative trends influencing customers’ financials. His session contrasts the best-management characteristics of the top 40 percent of producers with those of the bottom 30 percent.

Justin McMechan, crop protection and cropping systems specialist at the University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, will update growers on new and emerging soybean pests. The primary focus of the presentation will be on the observations and management of soybean orange gall midge, a new and potentially damaging soybean pest in eastern Nebraska. Information will also be provided on the expansion, scouting and management of Japanese beetles and Dectes stem borers.

Darwin Rader, international sales and marketing manager with Zeeland Farm Services, will give a presentation on growing and marketing specialty soybeans to increase profits. Ken Hellevang, extension engineer from North Dakota State University, will discuss managing soybeans in storage. The expo will also include an update on the Nebraska Soybean Checkoff.

A complimentary lunch will be served at noon.

Registration is available at the door on the day of the expo. Registration is free, but the Saunders County Soybean Growers Organization requests donations of one or more cans of nonperishable food to the food pantry.

For more information about the program or exhibitor details, call 800-529-8030 or email kglewen1@unl.edu. Information is also available at https://enre.unl.edu/nebraskasoyexpo.

The program is sponsored by Nebraska Extension, the Nebraska Soybean Board, the Saunders County Soybean Growers Organization and private industry.



Farmers and Ranchers Adopt Policy Positions, Elect State Leaders at Nebraska Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and Convention

Farmers and ranchers from across the state set Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) policy positions for the coming year and elected four individuals to the organization’s Board of Directors during the NEFB Annual Meeting and Convention held Dec. 2-4 in Kearney. NEFB is Nebraska’s largest general farming organization, representing the interests of farmers and ranchers who produce virtually every agricultural commodity in Nebraska.

“It’s clear property taxes remain a top priority for our members. We spent considerable time discussing the importance of solving our state’s property tax problem, but our delegates also covered a wide range of other policy issues that impact their operations,” said Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau president.

Among the policy resolutions adopted was support for the continued availability and use of dicamba herbicide for use on dicamba tolerant crops. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released new label directions for dicamba use in response to concerns about dicamba drift. Delegates also shared support for continued education efforts on proper dicamba application.

Protections for farm and ranch operations were also addressed by the delegate body in calls for strengthening private property and nuisance laws for agriculture. The resolutions seek to ensure existing Nebraska farms and ranches would continue to have the flexibility to change their operations as needed into the future without loss of private property rights and nuisance protections.

“Delegates also supported a resolution to prevent plant-based and lab-produced protein makers from using the word ‘meat’ or other ‘meat’ related terms from describing their products. With the lab-produced protein products entering the market, our members felt it was important to protect the significant financial investments made by farmers and ranchers over the years in programs to market and promote meat products from the traditional harvesting of livestock,” said Nelson.

Several resolutions were also advanced for consideration by delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting and Convention in January.

“With all the advancements in technology, our members want to make sure there is appropriate oversight for these technologies when applied in the agriculture marketplace. Our members adopted resolutions encouraging enhanced oversight of block trading should those types of market exchanges be found to be problematic in the future. Delegates also supported the use of blockchain technology provided it is beneficial to agriculture and trade relations,” said Nelson.

Delegates also called for the U.S. to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The agreement would provide tremendous market access for Nebraska agriculture commodities into CPTPP member nations. In addition, delegates advanced resolutions urging the U.S. to work with its allied trade partners to pressure China to address unfair trade and business practices.

Resolutions seeking flexibility in regulations governing the acquisition and use of antibiotics by farmers and ranchers to treat sick livestock also advanced.

In addition to setting state and making national policy recommendations, delegates elected four individuals to the Nebraska Farm Bureau Board of Directors.

Mark McHargue of Central City was re-elected to the position of Nebraska Farm Bureau first vice president.

Dennis Beethe of Elk Creek was elected to represent the Southeast Region on the Nebraska Farm Bureau Board of Directors. Beethe will represent members from Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Gage, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Sarpy, Saunders, and Washington counties.

Kevin Peterson of Osceola was elected to represent the Central Region on the Nebraska Farm Bureau Board of Directors. Peterson will represent members from Boone, Buffalo, Butler, Colfax, Greeley, Hall, Howard, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk, Sherman, and Valley counties.

Lance Atwater of Ayr was elected to the Youth-At-Large position on the Nebraska Farm Bureau Board of Directors. The Youth-At-Large position is charged with representing the Nebraska Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee on the state board of directors.



Nebraska plant scientist digs deeper into soybeans and soil bacteria

Nebraska plant scientist Marc Libault seeks to better understand soybeans and other legumes’ mutually beneficial relationship with the bacteria rhizobia.

If soybeans can take advantage of the air’s abundant supply of nitrogen, why does corn rely solely on nitrogen available in the soil? It’s no secret that soybeans have evolved a unique relationship with rhizobia, a common soil bacteria that converts atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants can use. Yet much about this alliance is unknown.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln plant scientist Marc Libault seeks to better understand soybeans and other legumes’ mutually beneficial relationship with the bacteria rhizobia. His research could help lead to improving legumes’ efficiency at assimilating atmospheric nitrogen, called nitrogen fixation, and even to transferring the capability to other crops, such as corn. Greater efficiency and expanding nitrogen fixation beyond legumes could reduce the need for costly fertilizers.

“Biological nitrogen fixation is quite useful, especially in Nebraska, because it has the capability of really minimizing the use of nitrogen fertilizer,” said Libault, associate professor of plant biology. “Overuse of fertilizers can create massive water pollution from runoff into lakes and rivers.” Excessive nutrients cause plants and algae to proliferate, choking out fish and other organisms.

Although plants are surrounded by atmospheric nitrogen, a vital nutrient, they’re unable to use it directly. Rhizobia have the ability to convert nitrogen gas into ammonia, a form of nitrogen that plants can use to manufacture the molecular components they need to grow. To take advantage of rhizobia’s ability to fix nitrogen, legumes entice the bacteria to live inside, or infect, their roots, where the plants supply them with energy and other nutritional needs. In exchange, rhizobia produce ammonia stored inside nodules that develop on the roots. Other organisms, particularly certain trees, such as alders, also have evolved this symbiotic relationship with rhizobia.

Libault’s research focuses on the changes that take place inside the plant to initiate a rhizobial infection. Researchers have identified a complex chain of events that plants use to control the initial stage of infection. Libault’s team is elucidating a key component: identifying a set of plant genes important to coordinating the activation and timing of gene expression in root cells in response to rhizobia.

Proteins that target and bind to the genes Libault is after are known. So his team is employing a technique that uses the proteins as bait. After the proteins bind to the genes, they are able to isolate the genes from the rest of the genome and sequence their DNA. By identifying the genes, the team will be able to further investigate their role in establishing rhizobial infection.

This fundamental research is an important step toward one day improving plants’ ability to enhance their nitrogen-fixing capabilities. Better understanding nitrogen-fixing plants may also provide insight into how to genetically modify other crops, such as corn, to give them the ability to attract rhizobia and fix atmospheric nitrogen, Libault said.

Libault’s project is funded with an $573,573 Faculty Early Career Development Program award from the National Science Foundation, the prestigious award given to outstanding pre-tenure faculty. Libault received his CAREER award as a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma and is continuing this work at Nebraska.

Libault also researches how soybeans and sorghum respond to stress from increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide and drought, both consequences of climate change.

Nebraska’s strong investment in researching crop production and plant-microbe interactions drew Libault to the university. He’s affiliated with the Center for Plant Science Innovation and the Center for Root and Rhizobiome Innovation.



Iowa State University to Lead Research to Increase Pig Survivability

A research project led by the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University seeks to increase pork producers’ profits by improving the survivability of their animals.

Jason Ross, the Lloyd L Anderson Professor and director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State, will lead the project that includes scientists from Iowa State, Kansas State University and Purdue University. The National Pork Board and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) are providing nearly $2 million for the five-year study.

“This project is a great example of industry leadership coming together to address emerging issues through university and industry research partnerships,” Ross said.

Across the pork industry, an estimated 30 to 35 percent of pigs born die before reaching the market, creating significant economic losses for farmers. Research indicates that mortality rates across all phases of production have been increasing, presenting a major challenge to animal wellbeing and sustainability.

“The members of the animal science and welfare committees of the National Pork Board recognize improving pig health, welfare and productivity are keys in extending pig survivability,” said Chris Hostetler, director of animal science for the National Pork Board. “While this project is slated to last five years, it is the vision of the committees that this effort will fundamentally shape the way pigs are raised to provide safe, wholesome pork far into the future.”

An interdisciplinary team of nutritionists, physiologists, veterinarians, well-being and behavior experts, geneticists, toxicologists, extension specialists and economists will examine the causes of mortality occurring on commercial swine farms.

“We know that improving survivability will increase the efficiency and environmental sustainability of the whole industry,” said Tim Kurt, FFAR’s scientific program director, “but solutions need to be economically feasible.”

“Increasing sow and piglet survivability is one of the most intractable issues facing the pork industry. While this is a clear animal welfare problem, it is also one of the most important productivity and economic issue for producers,” said Sally Rockey, FFAR’s executive director. “FFAR is pleased to be part of this important research that unquestionably will have a multitude of positive impacts.”

The project seeks a full understanding of the biological mechanisms that limit pig and sow survivability, how they interact and how they can be effectively improved. 

The project’s overarching goal, through effective research and extension activities, is to improve swine survivability by 1 percent or more each year. Increasing the wean-to-finish survival of animals by 1 percent would represent an estimated gain in productivity of approximately 1.2 million pigs a year for the nation’s swine industry.

The research team objectives include:
    Evaluate producers’ management attitudes and economics associated with improving survivability in U.S. swine production
    Identify the causes of mortality on U.S. sow farms to support development and implementation of targeted strategies to maximize survivability
    Define factors that influence wean-to-finish survivability and implement management strategies based on production-based research
    Develop national extension, outreach and education resources and strategies to encourage adoption and implementation of management practices to improve survivability in pork production.

Another aspect of the project is the significant effort placed on training future industry leaders. This includes graduate students and staff, but is also expected to employ many undergraduate and veterinary students through internship programs. 

Additional information on the project team, specific efforts and progress can be followed on the project website www.piglivability.org.



U.S. Beef Gains New Market Access in Morocco

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today that the government of Morocco has agreed to allow imports of U.S. beef and beef products into Morocco. 2018 is the first year that U.S. beef and poultry exporters have access to Morocco’s market under the terms of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA).  Morocco opened its market to U.S. poultry in August, 2018.

“President Trump continues to prioritize the opening of new markets for U.S. agricultural products.  New access to the Moroccan market for beef and beef products is an important step in ensuring that American farmers and ranchers can continue to expand their exports of U.S. agricultural products,” said Ambassador Lighthizer.  “I welcome Morocco’s agreement to allow imports of U.S. beef and look forward to growing our shipments to Morocco.”

“Finding new markets for American agricultural products has been a priority for the Trump Administration from day one, and the opening of the Moroccan market is good news for our producers,” said Secretary Perdue.  “American beef is the best in the world, and once Moroccans get a taste of it, they’ll surely want more.”

In 2017, the United States was the world’s third largest beef exporter, with global sales of beef and beef products valued at $7.3 billion.  As of November 2018, U.S. exports of agricultural products to Morocco exceeded $512 million.  Initial estimates indicate that Morocco would be an $80 million market for U.S. beef and beef products.  Morocco had prohibited imports of U.S. beef.

Under the  leadership of USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Amb. Gregg Doud and the direction of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Ken Isley, U.S. and Moroccan officials met to negotiate a health certificate and the terms for the import of U.S. high quality and standard quality beef into Morocco.  Representatives also discussed improvements to the administration of Morocco’s wheat tariff-rate quota and other agriculture and SPS issues, and will continue this work through the agriculture and SPS subcommittees under the FTA.



NCBA Welcomes New Market Access for U.S. Beef in Morocco

Today President Kevin Kester issued the following statement in response to the announcement that U.S. beef gained new market access in Morocco:

“Open markets are the lifeblood of the U.S. cattle and beef industry. New access to Morocco is welcome news for producers and we are excited that Moroccan consumers can now enjoy high-quality U.S. beef. NCBA is grateful for the leadership President Trump, Ambassador Lighthizer, and Ambassador Doud have shown on this issue. We look forward to working with them to continue tearing down trade barriers for U.S. beef in markets around the world.”



Weekly Ethanol Production for 11/30/2018

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production averaged 1.069 million barrels per day (b/d)—or 44.90 million gallons daily. That is up 21,000 b/d from the week before and the highest since the week before Labor Day. However, the four-week average for ethanol production remained unchanged at 1.056 million b/d for an annualized rate of 16.19 billion gallons.

Stocks of ethanol were 23.0 million barrels. That is up marginally from 22.9 million barrels the prior week.

There were zero imports recorded for the third week in a row. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of October 2018.)

Average weekly gasoline demand dropped 3.4% from the previous week to 8.877 million barrels (372.8 million gallons) daily. This is equivalent to 136.08 billion gallons annualized. Refiner/blender input of ethanol decreased 3.3% to 896,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.74 billion gallons annualized.

Expressed as a percentage of daily gasoline demand, daily ethanol production increased to 12.04%.



RFA: US Ethanol Exports Surged 95%

U.S. ethanol exports surged from 89.9 million gallons in September to 175.4 million gallons in October, posting a 95% increase, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce and analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association.

Data showed Brazil bolstered imports of U.S. ethanol to 54.5 mg, up 49.1 mg, which represents 31% of U.S. export sales, while India purchased a record 29.1 mg or 17% of the total U.S. exports volume. On the other hand, Canada decreased its offtake by 12%, importing 30.7 mg or 18% of U.S. ethanol shipments in October.

According to RFA analysis, American producers shipped 91.4 mg of denatured fuel ethanol in October, a 35% increase and the highest volume on record. Despite a 7% decrease from the prior month, Canada retained a sizable lead as our top customer at 30.4 mg, or 31% of our export market for denatured product.

October exports of U.S. undenatured fuel ethanol were 79.7 mg, a more than 400% increase after dipping to 13.4 mg in September. Brazil accounted for more than half of the market, 41.5 mg or 52%, and India again took a record 24.6 mg for 31% of global sales of U.S. undenatured ethanol.

October sales of ethanol for non-fuel, non-beverage purposes backed off 54% from the prior month to 4.3 mg.

The United States imported 31.6 mg of undenatured ethanol from Brazil in October. This is the largest monthly volume to enter the United States in five years. Total year-to-date U.S. ethanol imports stand at 57.0 mg -- essentially all sourced from Brazil.



Responding to the Needs of Local Schools, USDA Publishes School Meals Final Rule

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today empowered local schools with additional options to serve healthy and appealing meals. A final rule on school meal flexibilities, to be published later this month in the Federal Register, increases local flexibility in implementing school nutrition standards for milk, whole grains, and sodium.  Secretary Perdue said the final rule will deliver on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) promise, made in a May 2017 proclamation, to develop forward-thinking strategies that ensure school nutrition standards are both healthful and practical.

“USDA is committed to serving meals to kids that are both nutritious and satisfying,” said Perdue.  “These common-sense flexibilities provide excellent customer service to our local school nutrition professionals, while giving children the world-class food service they deserve.”

The actions taken today will benefit nearly 99,000 schools and institutions that feed 30 million children annually through USDA’s school meal programs. This rule is part of USDA’s Regulatory Reform Agenda, developed in response to President Trump’s Executive Order to eliminate unnecessary regulatory burdens.

The Child Nutrition Programs: Flexibilities for Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Requirements final rule offers schools new options as they serve meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP) and other federal child nutrition programs.  The rule:
-    Provides the option to offer flavored, low-fat milk to children participating in school meal programs, and to participants ages six and older in the Special Milk Program for Children (SMP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP);
-    Requires half of the weekly grains in the school lunch and breakfast menu be whole grain-rich;
-    Provides more time to reduce sodium levels in school meals.

Perdue said schools have faced challenges serving meals that both are appetizing to students and meet the nutrition standards.  “If kids are not eating what is being served, they are not benefiting, and food is being wasted,” said Perdue. “We all have the same goals in mind -- the health and development of our young people.  USDA trusts our local operators to serve healthy meals that meet local preferences and build bright futures with good nutrition.”

“We will continue to listen to schools, and make common-sense changes as needed, to ensure they can meet the needs of their students based on their real-world experience in local communities,” said Perdue.



NMPF Applauds USDA Support for More Milk Options in School Meals

The National Milk Producers Federation commended Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for returning low-fat (1%) flavored milk as part of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. The final rule implementing regulatory changes needed to add low-fat flavored milk to more school menus and other nutrition programs serving children was announced today by the USDA and will be published later this month in the Federal Register.

“NMPF thanks Secretary Perdue for completing this step that will encourage milk consumption in schools,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the NMPF. “USDA’s own studies have shown that students drank less milk after low-fat chocolate milk was removed from schools. Returning low-fat flavored milk to school menus will help reverse this harmful trend.  Milk has been an integral part of school meals since their beginning, and greater milk consumption equals better nutrition for America’s kids. The new rule is good news for schools, students and American dairy farmers.”

The final rule makes permanent the changes Secretary Purdue implemented last year to streamline the process by which schools can serve low-fat flavored milk. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture eliminated low-fat flavored milk as an option in school meal and a la carte programs, after which milk consumption in schools dropped. Students consumed 288 million fewer half-pints of milk from 2012-2015, even as public-school enrollments grew.

The USDA action will allow schools to offer low-fat flavored milk without requiring them to demonstrate either a reduction in student milk consumption or an increase in school milk waste, bureaucratic hoops that had limited their ability to offer low-fat flavored milk in the 2017/18 school year.

NMPF appreciates the bipartisan efforts of numerous members of Congress who advocated for this change, most notably Reps. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) and Joe Courtney (D-CT).