Tuesday December 18 Ag News

HUSKER RESEARCH BRINGS SWINE INDUSTRY CLOSER TO BROAD VIRUS PROTECTION

After eight years of gathering data from more than 1,000 pigs infected with porcine circovirus 2, University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers have identified the gene associated with pigs’ susceptibility to the deadly swine disease.

Based on the research, genetic tests can now be developed to help the swine industry identify pigs more resistant to the virus, said lead researcher Daniel Ciobanu, associate professor of animal science at Nebraska. Early identification of pigs susceptible to the virus should improve the general health and welfare of swine populations worldwide. This discovery may also have broader implications across species and viral pathogens, Ciobanu said.

Despite being the smallest virus known to infect mammalian cells, porcine circovirus 2 is one of the most detrimental to the swine industry. The virus is found in all swine populations across the world, costing U.S. swine producers more than $250 million annually — mostly in the form of vaccines. Though the virus is found on all swine farms, only a few pigs show signs of infection. Because no methods are available to differentiate susceptible from tolerant pigs, producers are forced to vaccinate all of their pigs.       By blinding the immune system, the virus also makes swine susceptible to other pathogens, Ciobanu said.

The research team started by monitoring 1,000 infected pigs at the university’s Animal Science Complex. The researchers analyzed the pigs both for basic genetic information and indicators of disease, such as the number of viral copies in blood, presence of antibodies and weight loss during infection. Statistical analyses interrogated relationships between DNA markers located across the genome and indicators of disease susceptibility.

Those efforts allowed the researchers to associate PCV2 susceptibility with a specific DNA variant and a gene called Synaptogyrin 2.       The discovery also solved a puzzle of swine biology: why certain pigs, but not others, were tolerant to the infectious disease.

“The research integrated the largest data set ever generated to understand the role of host genetics in PCV2-related illnesses,” Ciobanu said. “We found that a pig’s own genetics can impact the ability of the virus to multiply and cause disease.”

Working with Ciobanu were Nebraska graduate students Lianna Walker, Taylor Engle and Emily Tosky; Thomas Burkey and Hiep Vu from the Department of Animal Science; Stephen Kachman from the Department of Statistics; Dan Nonneman and Timothy Smith from the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center; Tudor Borza from Dalhousie University; and Graham Plastow from the University of Alberta.

The results of the study were recently published in PLOS Genetics.



USDA NASS Regional Director to Retire

Dean Groskurth, the director of National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) Northern Plains Region, will retire on January 5 after more than 33 years of service with the United States Department of Agriculture.

Groskurth’s career with NASS started in the Nebraska field office in Lincoln, where he trained as a student intern while attending the University of Nebraska. After graduation, he worked in NASS’s Iowa and California field offices, where he broadened his experience, learning about the diversity of American agriculture and working with commodities not found back home. In 1993 he transferred to NASS headquarters in Washington D.C., where he served as NASS’s national cattle statistician and later as the Head of the Specialty Commodities Section.

In 1999, Groskurth moved back home to NASS’s Nebraska field office and worked his way up through a variety of roles to his current post of regional director. “Since moving back to Nebraska in 1999, it has been my privilege to work with and for so many dedicated partners serving the agricultural community.” Groskurth said.

“This career became the perfect fit for me because of my passion for agriculture. It allowed me to provide a valuable service to all farmers and ranchers by providing access to unbiased and statistically defensible data that levels the playing field for everyone,” Groskurth said.

The Northern Plains Region’s Deputy Directors, Patrick Boyle and Nicholas Streff will lead the region until a new director is named.



Farm Bill Implications for Dairy Producers Is Topic of Webinar

A webinar discussing changes dairy producers should be aware of in the new farm bill will be held on Thursday, Dec. 27 at noon. The free webinar will be held by Marin Bozic, assistant professor in applied economics at the University of Minnesota.

The webinar is free but registration is required at http://bit.ly/DMC-2019-FarmBill .

The program will highlight and discuss the economic implications of five points:
-    The discontinuation of the Margin Protection program for dairy producers.
-    The introduction of a Dairy Margin Coverage program.
-    Low premiums and coverage levels up to $9.50, as well as discounts for consistent use.
-    Partial rebate of net MPP premiums paid for 2015-2018 period.
-    Removing restrictions on combining crop insurance and Title I programs (LGM and DMC).

There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.

The webinar is sponsored by I-29 Moo University and Minnesota Milk. I-29 Moo University is a collaboration of extension dairy specialists and dairy industry personnel from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska working to grow the dairy industry via outreach education.

For more information contact Fred M. Hall, extension dairy specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach at 712-737-4230 or by email at fredhall@iastate.edu.



USDA-NASS announces 2017 Census of Agriculture response rates, data release details, and upcoming special studies
United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) concluded data collection for the 2017 Census of Agriculture with a 71.5 percent national response rate. As data collection ended in July, Iowa finished with a 77.2 percent response rates, the second highest rate of all states. The Census, conducted once every five years, was mailed to more than 3 million known and potential farms and ranches across the United States late last year with just over 117,000 mailed to Iowa producers.

“We thank each and every producer who took the time to respond to the Census,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “The Census of Agriculture is an important part of U.S. history that remains as relevant today as it was in 1840 when it was first conducted. The Census gives voice and opportunity to all farmers and ranchers in America to tell the changing story of agriculture over the years and identify emerging trends and needs.”

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue also offered his thanks to producers for taking part in the Census, via a video message that can be viewed at www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/Partners/.

Data from the 2017 Census of Agriculture is scheduled to be released starting on February 21, 2019, in conjunction with the 2019 Agricultural Outlook Forum and continue on a staggered schedule through the spring of 2019. The results of the Census will be available in aggregate form, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by Federal law. All Census data products will be available on NASS’ recently merged NASS/Ag Census website at www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.

The Census of Agriculture provides the only source of comprehensive agricultural data for every State and county in the nation. As such, the data are widely-used by local and national decision-makers to help shape agricultural research and education programs, inform farm programs, boost rural infrastructure, determine disaster relief needs, and more. “We appreciate the time Iowa farmers invested in completing their Census form and helping achieve the 77.2 percent response rate. This rate was just behind the 77.8 percent achieved in Illinois. The aggregate information from individual farmer responses provides a powerful tool for everyone involved in agriculture and rural communities” added Greg Thessen, NASS’ Upper Midwest Regional Director.

Two Census special studies will also be conducted this winter: the 2018 Census of Aquaculture and the 2018 Irrigation and Water Management Survey. These questionnaires will be mailed in December and January, respectively, to the farms that reported these activities in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. For more information about these upcoming special studies, visit www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.



Updated Study Quantifies Value Delivered to Corn Producers through Red Meat Exports

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has received the results of an updated study aimed at quantifying the value delivered to U.S. corn producers through exports of red meat. The original 2016 study, as well as the 2018 follow-up, were conducted by World Perspectives, Inc. (WPI), a leading agricultural consulting firm.

The original study, titled The Intersection of U.S. Meat Exports and Domestic Corn Use, concluded that in 2015 exports of U.S. red meat accounted for 11.7 million tons of combined corn and Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) use. In its update, WPI concluded that 2018 beef and pork exports will use a combined total of 14.9 million tons of corn and DDGS, which equates to an additional 459.7 million bushels of corn produced – an increase of 29 percent over the 2015 projections.

Other highlights from the updated study:
-    Since 2015, one in every five bushels of added feed demand for corn is due to beef and pork exports.
-    About 11 percent of the price of corn this year will be derived from red meat exports.
-    Red meat exports’ impact on corn price is 39 cents per bushel (based on annual average price of $3.53 per bushel).
-    There would be a loss of $5.7 billion in corn value without red meat exports.

“USMEF receives outstanding support from the feedgrain and oilseed industries, because these producers understand that red meat exports boost the profitability of their largest customer – the U.S. livestock industry,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom, who noted the study was conducted through support from the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). “It is important that we provide specific data on the return producers receive from their investment, and this study helps us meet that goal.”

Nebraska corn producer Dan Wesely, who chairs the NCGA Feed, Food & Industrial Action Team, concurred.

“Continuing to partner with the red meat industry is a key priority for our organization,” Wesely said. “In particular, we have a strategic plan objective to work with groups such as USMEF to grow animal agriculture exports by 40 percent. Beef and pork producers are a large and valued customer of corn, both domestically and abroad. It is important to work with our partners to grow demand and work towards mutually beneficial goals.”

Dave Juday, senior analyst for WPI, explained that exports of both U.S. beef and pork have grown dramatically since 2015, further enhancing the benefits delivered to corn producers.

“Given the recent growth in beef and pork exports, USMEF requested an update of the 2016 study to assess the impact that expanding exports had on domestic corn and DDGS with new long-term projections,” Juday said. “While the original study utilized 2015 export numbers, combined U.S. beef and pork exports this year should be about 26 percent above the 2015 totals. If you look forward, we’re projecting that the baseline over the next 10 years will grow about 10 percent more than USDA had projected back in 2016.”

The updated study also took note of the importance of exporting alternative cuts of beef and pork that are often underutilized in the domestic market.

Beef and pork exports also have a direct impact on the utilization and value of DDGS, the updated WPI study notes. Overall, the value of DDGS sold for feed to livestock represents about 23 percent of the value of ethanol per bushel of corn.

“Over the baseline period of 2018-2027, the combined value of beef and pork exports to corn and DDGS is projected to reach $22.2 billion - $19 billion for corn and $3.2 billion for DDGS. This cumulative 10-year total is almost 19 percent more than the $18.7 billion projected in 2016 using USDA’s 2016-2025 long term baseline meat export forecast,” Juday said.



Groups Issue Framework for Antibiotic Stewardship in Food Animal Production

A group of major food companies, retailers, livestock producers, and trade and professional associations today announced a comprehensive framework to strengthen stewardship of antibiotic use in food animals. The framework is the product of a two-year dialogue among stakeholders, moderated by Farm Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, to ensure that antibiotics are used judiciously throughout production to protect animal and public health.

The stakeholders agreed that the use of medically important antibiotics in all settings, from human health care to livestock production, must be carefully managed to slow the emergence of resistant bacteria and preserve the effectiveness of these vital drugs. The framework issued today defines effective stewardship, lays out its core components, and describes essential characteristics of effective stewardship programs, including key performance measures.

Organizations agreeing to the framework include: Elanco Animal Health, Hormel Foods, Jennie-O Turkey Store, McDonald's Corporation, National Milk Producers Federation, National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation, Smithfield Foods, Inc., Tyson Foods, Walmart Inc., and Zoetis.
   
"Antibiotic stewardship is essential to protecting human and animal health, ensuring food safety and security, and combating antibiotic resistance - issues that consumers increasingly care about when making their purchasing decisions," said Kathy Talkington, who directs Pew's antibiotic resistance project. "The organizations who were part of this dialogue represent the food animal supply chain from farm to table, and they recognize the need for meaningful stewardship programs that everyone can understand and trust."

The 15 core components of the antibiotic stewardship framework are based on the importance of veterinary guidance and partnership, disease prevention strategies, and optimal treatment approaches, as well as effective record keeping and a culture of continuous improvement and commitment to antibiotic stewardship. The components address education, implementation, and evaluation steps for phasing in stewardship programs. The framework's guiding principles are intended to help ensure that stewardship programs have a clear scientific basis, are transparent, minimize the risk of unintended consequences, encourage alternatives to antibiotics, and focus on long-term sustainability.

"There is a broad consensus across the food animal industry that we must continue to drive and demonstrate antibiotic stewardship in animal agriculture," said Joe Swedberg, chairman of the board of Farm Foundation. "This framework is about stakeholders coming together to do the right thing and communicate their commitment to antibiotic stewardship, with a transparent and meaningful approach."

Ultimately, the framework's stakeholders seek to foster and validate the continuous improvement of science-based and validated stewardship practices, and to implement best practices throughout the animal production system. The dialogue's participants also acknowledged that much work still remains to effectively implement the stewardship framework.

"We look forward to continuing to work together to align these stewardship best practices with existing quality and sustainability programs throughout animal production," said Talkington.

Swedberg added: "The participating organizations are enthusiastic that the framework provides the basis for a robust and science-based system-one that consumers can understand and trust, and that enhances both animal and public health."



USDA Trade Aid Falls “Woefully Short” of Meaningful Support

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will move ahead with the second and final round of Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments, which were developed this past summer to provide relief to farmers and ranchers struggling with low farm prices due to trade volatility from the administration’s trade war with China.

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson said that while the payments are appreciated, they are not enough to mitigate the substantial losses family farmers and ranchers will experience for years to come due to President Trump’s trade wars. Johnson released the following statement in response to the news:

“Support through MFP is welcome news to family farmers and ranchers who are suffering the brunt of the retaliation from China and other trading partners, but this trade aid falls woefully short of the sort of support required to blunt current and future damages of the administration’s trade wars.

“Over the past year the President has alienated our closest trading partners, weakening our ability to deal with the world’s worst trade transgressor, China. And it is American family farmers and ranchers who are suffering the most from such tactics. We’ve lost markets that took decades to build. We’ve lost significant value on most commodities. And probably most concerning, we’re losing our reputation as a reliable trading partner, jeopardizing international markets for years to come.

“For months, Farmers Union has called on the administration to both improve MFP prices to reflect trade damages to all family farmers and to work with Congress to develop a long-term support system—one that protects farmers from depressed market prices that will plague American agriculture for years. Heading into 2019, we will continue this effort. The administration needs to understand the grave consequences of its international trade strategy for American family farmers and ranchers, and act in a meaningful way to support farm families during this time of significant financial strife.”



Ag Must Be Part Of U.S.-EU Trade Deal, Groups Insist

An ad hoc coalition of more than 50 food and agriculture organizations is insisting that any trade deal between the United States and the European Union include agriculture and that it address the EU’s restrictive tariff and non-tariff barriers to U.S. farm products.

In a letter sent today to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 53 organizations, led by the National Pork Producers Council, urged the Trump administration “to continue stressing to [the EU] that only a truly comprehensive agreement will be acceptable to the Administration and, ultimately, to the U.S. Congress.”

The EU has expressed reluctance to include agriculture – as it did during earlier negotiations on the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – knowing it would require lifting import barriers that protect EU farmers and removing regulatory measures that are scientifically unjustified or overly restrictive.

Because of the EU’s barriers, the United States had a trade deficit in food and agricultural goods of nearly $11 billion last year. That deficit was $1.8 billion in 2000.

“This is not because European consumers do not want American products,” the U.S. food and agriculture groups pointed out. “It is because EU tariffs and non-science-based regulations deny consumers a choice.”

On pork, for example, the EU’s high tariffs and unscientific sanitary-phytosanitary measures limited U.S. pork exports to the second largest pork-consuming market in the world to less than 4,000 metric tons in 2017. The United States sends more pork to countries such as Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Singapore than it does to the EU.

According to Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes, elimination of the EU’s tariff and non-tariff barriers on U.S. pork would result in billions of dollars in new exports to Europe and would create nearly 18,000 new U.S. jobs.

“The EU has played the United States like a drum in the past,” said NPPC President Jim Heimerl, a pork producer from Johnstown, Ohio. “This must stop. We expect the Trump administration to require the EU to negotiate on agriculture and to eliminate all tariff and non-tariff barriers to U.S. pork and other agricultural products.”

“If the EU wishes to conclude a trade agreement that addresses inequities in trade between us and that ultimately will be approved by Congress, such barriers and measures that restrict U.S. agriculture’s access … must be included as part of negotiations and successfully addressed in a final agreement,” the coalition concluded.



CLAAS of America Receives Two AE50 New Product Awards

CLAAS of America Inc. recently received two 2018 AE50 New Product Awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), one for the CONVIO Flex Draper and the other for Variable Rate Harvesting. The annual AE50 Awards program celebrates products that feature the highest in innovation, significant engineering advancement and impact on the market served.

“Recognition by professionals in the industry is the highest honor any agricultural product can receive,” said CLAAS of America President and General Manager – Sales, Eric Raby. “CLAAS constantly strives to ensure a better harvest with a long line of premium equipment designed for maximum throughput, efficiency and reliability. We’re excited to be recognized by ASABE for these innovative solutions.”

ASABE is an international scientific and educational organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food and biological systems. Entries for the AE50 awards are submitted from around the world and are then reviewed by a panel of international engineering experts to determine the top 50 products that represent the diversity of agricultural and biological engineering. This year’s recipients join the ranks of many who have been honored for their ingenuity in product development — saving producers time, cost and labor while improving user safety.

CONVIO FLEX Draper
The new CONVIO series of flex draper heads introduces advanced features such as AUTO CONTOUR FLEX and AUTO BELT SPEED — that can be set to automatically adjust on the fly. CONVIO FLEX is the only flex draper in the industry with a 9-inch range of vertical flex.

The CONVIO features a flexible cutterbar, knife bar, and side belts that enable the cutterbar to follow the contour of the ground. The header offers the highest level of operator comfort through a wide range of automatic functions, which are fully integrated in the CEBIS terminal display in the cab of the LEXION combine.

Variable Rate Harvesting
Variable Rate Harvesting — which leverages precision sensor technology with autonomous machine control — is currently available on all CLAAS LEXION combines and JAGUAR forage harvesters. It automatically optimizes machine performance by sensing changing field conditions, crop density and machine speeds and adjusting machine performance accordingly. 

Variable Rate Harvesting completes the Variable Rate Technology circle of planting, application, irrigation and harvesting. It helps farmers embrace the variability in their fields with zone management to boost productivity in areas that have the greatest yield potential. Variable Rate Harvesting can maximize performance based on crop conditions, crop volume and field topography. It reduces labor, fuel and machine costs while improving throughput, grain retention, feed quality and harvesting speed.

The ASABE award program is designed to emphasize the role of new products and systems in bringing advanced technology to the marketplace. These engineering developments help farmers, food processors and equipment manufacturers cut costs, enhance quality and increase profits. For more information, visit www.asabe.org/AE50.



USDA Traveler Website Helps Santa and His Elves Know What Agricultural Items Can Safely Be Brought into the U.S. as Christmas Presents

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced that representatives from the North Pole were among the visitors checking out the Agency’s new traveler information web page. The site, launched in September 2018, provides everyone with important information about which agricultural items are safe to enter the United States – and which ones are best left behind. This helps protect the health of our country’s plants, animals and natural resources, ensuring many happy holidays to come.

“As we are in the overall season of family, feasting and gift-giving, we are thrilled to hear directly from Santa’s elves that the big man himself was comparing his gift list to our requirements,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “We thank Santa for setting a great example of thoughtful and responsible gift giving. We know he always does his part by getting a movement permit for his reindeer to enter the U.S., but this year he’s going above and beyond to help protect our farmers, ranchers and citizens.”

Both food items and other agricultural-based items (things like plants, seeds, and gifts made from wood or plants) from other countries can carry pests and diseases not found here in the United States. For these reasons, certain items are not allowed to be carried in by travelers. Other items may be allowed with specific documentation. USDA’s new site helps everyone looking to bring an agricultural gift from overseas know what is okay to bring back. After all, no one wants to spend time or effort picking the perfect gift if you can’t bring it to the person you are buying it for.

So whether you are selecting a holiday gift for this season – or just planning ahead for next summer’s vacation souvenirs – be sure to be like Santa and check out the site before purchasing gifts.

Visit the site here: www.aphis.usda.gov/travel.