Tuesday January 21 Ag News

Preparing for the Calving Season
Larry Howard, NE Extension, Cuming County

It is time to start thinking about and planning for calving season. Planning ahead and being prepared can help increase the chances of success. You can begin by asking yourself two simple questions. Are my cows ready for calving? Am I ready for calving?

Ideally, we would like our cows to give birth to healthy, vigorous calves with little calving difficulty and successfully re-breed. A major factor to this happening is the nutritional status of the cows at calving. Evaluating the nutritional status of your cows using Body Condition Scores (BCS) 60 to 80 days prior to the calving season provides a means to offset these problems. Cows with a BCS 5 and heifers with a BCS 6 on a 1 to 9 scale at calving are much less likely to suffer these problems and have a much greater chance of re-breeding. For more information on BCS scoring refer to “Body Condition Scoring Your Beef Cow Herd” (https://beef.unl.edu/learning/condition1a.shtml).

Getting yourself ready for calving season starts with evaluating calving areas to make sure that all are clean, dry, strong, safe, and functioning correctly. Consider assembling all the needed supplies so everything is in one place. Supplies should include disposable obstetrical sleeves, disinfectant, lubricant, obstetrical chains, and obstetrical handles.

Lastly, before calving season starts, review and develop a protocol. Refer to the publication “Assisting the Beef Cow at Calving Time” (http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/live/ec1907/build/ec1907.pdf) for more information. You should plan what to do, when to do it, who to call for help, and how to know when you need help. Review these plans with all family members or your help. Make sure everyone is familiar with what to expect during a normal calving and how to determine if there is a problem. Visit with your veterinarian about the protocol and incorporate their suggestions. Having a plan and being prepared will help make the calving season a success. 

2020 Nutrient Management Record Keeping Calendars are Now Available
An easy-to-use record keeping calendar for livestock operations that keeps track of manure related records is available to all livestock producers. The calendar was designed to be used by all sizes of livestock operations and includes all records required for operations permitted for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). It has been approved by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) and recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a valuable resource for livestock producers.

Records of rainfall, storage depth gauge levels, and storage and equipment inspections are an important aspect of required manure and runoff storage records for a NDEQ permit. It also has a sample of an Annual Report that a CAFO must submit by March 1st of each year.  These and other records will help you gain value from manure nutrients and document your stewardship of the environment.  The calendar also has several pieces of information throughout that will be helpful to the producer.

The calendar is available for free.  You can pick one up at the Cuming County Extension office or receive one by contacting Leslie Johnson (leslie.johnson@unl.edu) or the NDEE office. Calendars are good through January 2021.




GRANT TO HELP CORN, WHEAT GROWERS MANAGE NITROGEN FERTILIZER APPLICATION

Corn and wheat growers across Nebraska will be able to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies that will allow them to more precisely identify the amount of nitrogen fertilizer their crops need, while preventing excess nitrates from ending up in the state’s water supply.

This opportunity comes in the form of a $1.2 million On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service. The grant was awarded to 14 extension educators and four extension specialists working with Nebraska Extension’s On-Farm Research Network. The network consists of producers from across the state who work with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to try out new technologies and emerging practices in their own operations. Each year, 60 to 70 producers and agronomists participate in 70 to 100 trials, said Laura Thompson, an extension educator who helps coordinate the On-Farm Research Network.

Thompson said producers involved with the project will use new technologies to more precisely apply nitrogen fertilizer to their crops. Thompson hopes that by better managing nitrogen applications, farmers will increase profits, while preventing excess nitrogen from leaching into the water supply.

“There’s a lot of potential to help farmers use real-time data to manage nitrogen more efficiently,” Thompson said, “and that will help not only with their own profitability, but with conservation of our natural resources.”

Technologies to be used in the trial include:
> Crop canopy sensors, which farmers can use to measure plant reflectance, which can help indicate the need for nitrogen;

> Imagery captured by drones, satellites or airplanes, which can give producers an overview of field conditions and also measure plant reflectance;

> Crop nitrogen-simulation models, which can incorporate weather and soil conditions to predict nitrogen needs;

> Nitrification and urease inhibitors, which can be mixed with some fertilizers to reduce loss of nitrogen from fields.

These technologies may be cost-prohibitive for producers to try on their own, Thompson said, or farmers may not have the background and training to use them effectively.

“One of our goals is to help farmers get exposure to these technologies in their own operations,” Thompson said. “This will help them determine if these technologies are a good fit for them and if they should adopt them in their operations.”

In turn, the university can evaluate and improve the technologies on real, working farms across Nebraska’s diverse crop production environments.

The On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials grant program is a new resource for institutions helping implement conservation-friendly agricultural practices.

For producers, using the right amount of nitrogen fertilizer is critically important. Using too little can lead to significant yield loss. Using too much can result in elevated levels of nitrate in groundwater. High levels of nitrate can lead to unsafe drinking water, as well as threats to biodiversity and the overall health of natural resources.

“The Conservation Innovation Grants program is funding the future of conservation and agriculture,” said Matthew Lohr, Natural Resource Conservation Service chief.

The grant will fund 40 trials a year for three years. Producers who wish to participate in the program can contact Thompson or visit https://cropwatch.unl.edu/farmresearch for more information. Those who wish to participate in the program must be Environmental Quality Incentives Program eligible.

   

NEBRASKA EXTENSION OFFERS INTRODUCTORY BEEKEEPING WORKSHOPS

Those interested in learning about how to keep honey bees are encouraged to register for Nebraska Extension’s introductory beekeeping workshops. The first of a two-part workshop is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Douglas-Sarpy County Extension’s Central Office, 8015 West Center Road in Omaha.

The workshop consists of lectures, demonstrations and hands-on activities designed to help participants understand the biology and importance of honey bees. Topics will include basic beekeeping techniques and equipment, prime apiary locations, pollinator-friendly plants, honey production and beeswax processing.

The second part of the workshop is a field day designed to teach practical skills on starting and maintaining a honey bee colony. The field day will be at the same extension office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 25.

All ages are invited to participate in the workshop.

Registration is $80 per person, which includes course materials, refreshments and lunch. The cost for each additional family member is $30 and does not include materials. Pre-registration is required for all workshops.

Register online at https://go.unl.edu/qdx2. Checks should be payable to the University of Nebraska and sent to the UNL Bee Lab, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 103 Entomology Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0816

For more information, contact Dustin Scholl at unlbeelab@unl.edu.



NEBRASKA CHICKENS AND EGGS

All layers in Nebraska during December 2019 totaled 9.14 million, up from 8.60 million the previous year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.  Nebraska egg production during December totaled 234 million eggs, up from 219 million in 2018. December egg production per 100 layers was 2,554 eggs, compared to 2,545 eggs in 2018.

IOWA: Iowa egg production during December 2019 was 1.48 billion eggs, up 4 percent from both last month and last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.  The average number of all layers on hand during December 2019 was 58.9 million, up 1 percent from last month and up 3 percent from last year. Eggs per 100 layers for December were 2,519, up 3 percent from last month and up 1 percent from last year.

U.S. December Egg Production Up 4 Percent
United States egg production totaled 9.80 billion during December 2019, up 4 percent from last year. Production included 8.59 billion table eggs, and 1.21 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.12 billion were broiler-type and 88.6 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during December 2019 averaged 403 million, up 3 percent from last year. December egg production per 100 layers was 2,429 eggs, up 1 percent from December 2018.
                                   
All layers in the United States on January 1, 2020 totaled 404 million, up 3 percent from last year. The 404 million layers consisted of 341 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 59.9 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.50 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on January 1, 2020, averaged 78.0 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from January 1, 2019.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 1 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during December 2019 totaled 46.9 million, up 1 percent from December 2018. Eggs in incubators totaled 48.3 million on January 1, 2020, down 6 percent from a year ago. Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 266 thousand during December 2019, down 1 percent from December 2018.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 4 Percent
Broiler-type chicks hatched during December 2019 totaled 858 million, up 4 percent from December 2018. Eggs in incubators totaled 715 million on January 1, 2020, up 5 percent from a year ago. Leading breeders placed 8.66 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during December 2019, up 1 percent from December 2018.



COMING TRADE SCHOOLS TO ENCOURAGE FARMERS, OTHERS TO BECOME TRADE CHAMPIONS

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) are partnering with nearly a dozen state corn organizations this winter to put on five trade schools in farmers’ local areas, aiming to educate and empower grower-leaders on trade topics.

The regional events build on similar workshops held in Washington, D.C., in 2016 and 2019 and in St. Louis in 2018. Each offered wide-ranging information demonstrating the importance of trade to the agriculture industry and farmers’ profitability; details on hot topics on the trade agenda; and training on how participants can talk about trade issues in their communities.

Negotiations on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade agreement with Japan and a trade deal with China dominated much of agriculture news in 2019, spurring interest among those in the ag sector and creating demand for more and more detailed information on trade topics.

“In the last several years, we’ve really seen the interest in trade and market development surge among farmers who are seeing how critical overseas sales are to their profitability,” said Melissa Kessler, USGC director of strategic relations, who manages the trade school events. “The Council and NCGA work together with our members every day on trade issues and are thrilled for the opportunity to partner in bringing experts to meet with growers who want to continuously learn about these topics.”

The first of the 2019/2020 winter events was held in December in Maryland in partnership with the Maryland Grain Producers Board, attracting local farmers as well as representatives from an elevator, railroad and Farm Credit.

Future events are planned for:
    Indianapolis on Jan. 21 and 22, in partnership with the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, the Ohio Corn Marketing Board, the Michigan Corn Marketing Program and the Kentucky Corn Promotion Program.
    Olathe, Kansas, on Feb. 17, in partnership with Kansas Corn, Nebraska Corn, Missouri Corn and Iowa Corn.
    Moline, Illinois, on Feb. 19, in partnership with Iowa Corn and Illinois Corn.
    Burlington, Colorado, on March 11 and 12, in partnership with Colorado Corn.

“Our focus for 60 years has been on developing markets opened by strong trade policy. We truly believe in our mission and are glad to be sharing that mission with so many in our grains community this winter,” Kessler said.

Each event is free for participants, though pre-registration is required. The events are designed to minimize the time away from home for participants, however, hotel access has been arranged at each location for those who need to stay over.

To learn more about Trade School, click here https://grains.org/tradeschool/. 



Farm Bureau Establishes 2020 Priorities

Farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 101st Annual Convention today adopted policies to guide the organization’s work in 2020 on key topics ranging from dairy to labor and climate change to conservation compliance.

“Delegates from across the nation came together today to look ahead at issues and opportunities facing farms, ranches and rural communities,” said American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Scott VanderWal. “The 2020 policies ensure we are able to continue producing safe and healthy food, fiber and renewable fuel for our nation and the world.”

Delegates also re-elected American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall and Vice President Scott VanderWal for their third terms. VanderWal served as chair of the meeting on behalf of Duvall, who is grieving the loss of his wife, Bonnie.

Delegates updated labor and immigration policies, emphasizing that we must see significant changes to the H-2A program. While AFBF has long had policy in place to ensure an accessible, competitive guest worker program, the updates address problems with the adverse effect wage rate and emphasize the importance of year-round program access to all of agriculture. AFBF looks forward to working with Congress on efforts that align with these policy objectives.

After a year-long process to review ways to modernize Federal Milk Marketing Orders, AFBF’s delegates voted to support creation of a flexible, farmer- and industry-led milk management system. This includes giving individual dairy farmers a voice by allowing them to vote independently and confidentially on rules governing milk prices. The new dairy policies, when combined, will form a strong foundation to guide the organization during future reform efforts to better coordinate milk supply and demand in the U.S.

There are significant new policies on conservation compliance. Delegates called on USDA to significantly improve program transparency and due process for farmers. They specifically prioritized changes in USDA’s processes for wetland delineations and the appeals process. Delegates also adopted a new policy supporting the repeal of Swampbuster provisions. The changes highlight growing frustration with conservation compliance practices within the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Delegates voted to support allowing a higher THC level in hemp, giving AFBF staff the flexibility to engage in discussions with regulators about the appropriate legal level, and to increase the window of time farmers are allowed to conduct THC testing, acknowledging the many questions about how the testing process will work and the potential for backlogs.

New policies are on the books supporting science-based climate change research and the documentation of agriculture’s tremendous advances toward climate-smart practices. Delegates also made clear they want federal climate change policy to reflect regional variations, and they oppose a state-by-state patchwork of climate change policies.

Beyond policy changes, delegates also elected members to serve on the AFBF board of directors and national program committees.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall and Vice President Scott VanderWal were re-elected to two-year terms.

David Fisher, president of New York Farm Bureau (Northeast Region); Shawn Harding, president of North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation (Southern Region); and Randy Kron, Indiana Farm Bureau (Midwest Region) were elected to fill one-year terms on the AFBF board of directors.

Thirteen other state Farm Bureau presidents were re-elected to two-year terms to represent their regions on the board.

Midwest Region
Carl Bednarski, Michigan
Blake Hurst, Missouri
Steve Nelson, Nebraska

Northeast Region
Rick Ebert, Pennsylvania
Ryck Suydam, New Jersey

Southern Region
Mark Haney, Kentucky
John Hoblick, Florida
Harry Ott, South Carolina
Jimmy Parnell, Alabama
Wayne Pryor, Virginia
Rich Hillman, Arkansas

Western Region
Bryan Searle, Idaho
Ron Gibson, Utah

National Program Committees
Morgan Norris of Florida was elected as the new chair of the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee for a one-year term. She will also serve a one-year term on the AFBF board of directors.

Vickie Bryant of Kentucky, Dotty Jensen of Utah and Margaret Gladden of Indiana were elected to two-year terms on the Women’s Leadership Committee. Jennifer Cross of Maryland was re-elected to a two-year term.



The National Biodiesel Board Shares New Industry "Vision"

The biodiesel industry comes together this week to focus their sights on learning, networking, and doing business during the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo. The national event of the year kicked off on Tuesday in Tampa with motivating remarks from industry leadership.

To lead off the conference, all eyes were on National Biodiesel Board CEO, Donnell Rehagen as NBB’s new public vision statement highlighted his state of the industry remarks to attendees. The new NBB vision reads:

Biodiesel, renewable diesel, and renewable jet fuel will be recognized as mainstream low-carbon fuel options with superior performance and emission characteristics. In on road, off road, air transportation, electricity generation, and home heating applications, use will exceed six billion gallons by 2030, eliminating over 35 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions annually.  With advancements in feedstock, use will reach 15 billion gallons by 2050.

“Without a clear vision of the future – what we want to be, where we want to go, and how we’ll get there – we’ll never be more than we are today,” said Rehagen. “As carbon policies around the country really begin to take hold, we see low-carbon fuels like biodiesel, renewable diesel, and renewable jet fuel with a tremendous opportunity for growth. While the volumes in our new industry vision may seem ambitious, there is a very clear path to meeting this vision as long as we stay committed to working together and continuing to collaborate.

“Ambitious industries need ambitious goals. And, in our case, our country needs us to be this ambitious.”

The association’s plan recognizes there is no logical path to zero carbon without growing volumes of carbonless transportation fuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel.

“I truly believe we are on the cutting edge of a fundamental shift in how consumers look at their fuel for transportation and home heating,” shared Rehagen. “Just look at some of our largest markets. Consumers there are already paying for the value of low-carbon fuels. Biodiesel is a premium product and it must be produced, bought, and sold that way."

Rehagen also showcased a new tagline to go with the long-used biodiesel logo that emphasizes the benefits of the fuel in a succinct way –Better. Cleaner. Now! This tag line will be a center point of NBB’s education and promotion activities moving forward, aiming to drive the narrative about the myriad of ways that biodiesel and renewable diesel are a better choice for consumers, policy makers, and the environment.

The opening ceremony also included a look at the industry’s continuous efforts in federal policy, including major challenges and some significant wins in 2019. The crowning achievement last year was the reinstatement of the biodiesel tax credit that provided much-needed retroactivity for 2018 and 2019 and a forward-looking credit through 2022. Three years forward is the longest time period the industry has been able to count on the credit since it was first introduced in 2005. Now the association will turn collective attention to the number one industry driver – the Renewable Fuel Standard.

“Our job is not an easy one with an EPA that has taken every opportunity it has to hold growth of renewable fuels down,” said Rehagen. “2020 will see us aggressively claim our space in the RFS and advocate at all levels of government for the recognition that significant growth of biomass-based diesel in the RFS is not just warranted and earned by our industry but is good federal policy in an environment of carbon reduction.”



Walmart Announces Opening of New Beef Packing Facility

Walmart has opened its new 201,000-sq-ft case-ready beef packing facility in Thomasville, GA. Operated by FPL foods, the project created more than 200 new jobs.

"Our new Angus beef supply chain is a perfect example of Walmart's dedication to bringing customers high-quality food at a great price," Scott Neal, senior vice president, Meat at Walmart U.S., said in a statement. "By enlisting a number of top companies to take part in our Angus beef supply chain, including FLP foods, which operates the facility we're proud to open today, we'll be able to provide customers with unprecedented transparency throughout the supply chain and leverage the learning we gain across our business."

The company started construction on the site in August 2018 as part of an effort to increase the quality of the food products it carries. Walmart's Thomasville plant will process and distribute cuts of Angus beef, including steaks and roasts, to 500 Walmart stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and other parts of the southeast U.S.

As part of its efforts to create an end-to-end beef supply chain, Walmart is also partnering with some prominent suppliers in the space, like cattle supplier Prime Pursuits, feed firm Mc6 Cattle Feeders, and processor Creekstone Farms.

Plans for the project were first announced in April 2019. The retailer said consumer demand for clean labels, traceability and transparency were driving its decision to develop its supply chain and open the new facility in Georgia.



Canada to OK CUSMA Next Week

(AP) -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday Canada will move next week to formally approve the new North American trade agreement.

Trudeau said the government will introduce a motion when Parliament resumes Jan. 27, and will introduce legislation to ratify the deal two days later.

Trudeau said millions of Canadians depend on stable, reliable trade with their largest trading partners.

That will effectively remove the final legal hurdle to the deal with the U.S. and Mexico.

U.S. President Donald Trump campaigned in 2016 on ripping up trade deals that he said added to the nation's trade deficit and cost the country manufacturing jobs. He promised he would rewrite NAFTA if elected, a pact he described as "the worst trade deal in history."

Last week, the U.S. Senate passed its implementation bill of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Trudeau's government had been waiting for the U.S. to formally ratify the pact before introducing its own bill. Mexico ratified the deal in June.



ASA’s WISHH Trade Team Delivers Four Key

U.S. soybean growers delivered four key soy protein messages to current and potential customers in Cambodia and Myanmar where protein demand is rapidly growing for aquaculture and livestock feeds as well as human foods. The American Soybean Association’s World Initiative for Soy in Human Health’s (WISHH) Southeast Asia trade team also celebrated a milestone with a WISHH strategic partner by joining a ribbon cutting for Cambodia’s first in-pond raceway aquaculture system, an important innovation for the sustainable increase of fish production in the region.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds supported the January 12-20 travel for the 13 soybean leaders to have face-to-face discussions with WISHH’s many contacts in the human food and livestock feed industries. U.S. Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy addressed the U.S. and Cambodian business leaders during WISHH’s 2020 U.S.-Cambodia Soy Trading Conference.

“We came to make personal connections with our current and future customers for U.S. soy. By visiting Cambodia and Myanmar, we hope we demonstrated how much we care about these emerging markets and our customers’ success using U.S. soy,” said WISHH Program Committee Chair Daryl Cates, an Illinois soybean grower.

“U.S. soy delivers quality protein to emerging markets whether their need is feeding their fish, chickens or pigs or they are seeking a nutritious and affordable ingredient for human foods,” Cates added.

“First, we stressed that U.S. soy is high-quality protein. Second, we shared with these emerging market leaders that the United States is a reliable supplier of sustainable soy to meet their protein needs,” Cates said “Third, we emphasized that U.S. soy is delivered in containers, bags and really however they want it. Finally, we reinforced the message to Cambodia and Myanmar’s food and feed leaders that we will help them maximize the value of U.S. soy through WISHH’s multi-faceted technical assistance.”

U.S. Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy recognized the importance of the trade team and the opportunities for U.S. soy in Cambodia in his remarks to the U.S. and Cambodian business leaders during WISHH’s 2020 U.S.-Cambodia Soy Trading Conference on January 17 in Phnom Penh.

The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC) supported WISHH technical assistance in the planning and construction of Cambodia’s first in-pond raceway aquaculture system, which is a channel for continuous flow of water to grow fish at the Rathada Farms Hatchery. The family-owned business breeds tilapia and catfish. Rathada raises the fish through the “seed” and fry stages before selling fingerlings to fish producers in the region.

“Our Missouri farmers’ soybean checkoff dollars were vital to WISHH’s work with Rathada on the new raceway,” said David Lueck, a WISHH Program Committee member and a past MSMC chairman who served on its board for more than a decade. “Furthermore, WISHH leveraged our investment by integrating Rathada’s strengthened fish-production capacity into WISHH’s USDA-funded Commercialization of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade (CAST) – Cambodia project.”

CAST is a USDA Food for Progress project designed to develop a lasting aquaculture industry in Cambodia. Cambodia’s GDP has increased by more than 7 percent per year since 2011, growing the demand for animal and aquaculture-sourced protein. The country’s aquaculture industry demand for soybean protein is projected to reach 100,000 metric tons per year by 2030.

In addition to Cates and Lueck, WISHH Program Committee members on the trade team included WISHH Vice Chair Gerry Hayden (KY), WISHH Treasurer Jim Wilson (MI), Bob Haselwood (KS), Morey Hill (IA), Bob Suver (OH) and United Soybean Board (USB) Ex-Officio Member David Williams (MI). ASA Director David Droste (IL),USB Director Mike McCranie and South Dakota Research and Promotion Council Director Bob Metz joined.. ASA and U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) Director Stan Born as well as USB and USSEC Director Doug Winter, both of Illinois, also joined the team in Myanmar.

The trade team also included representatives of six U.S. soybean exporting companies to directly share information about U.S. food grade soybeans and how U.S. soy is available in containers.

While in Southeast Asia, the WISHH trade team also traveled to Myanmar. WISHH is leading USDA-funded activities to grow Myanmar’s human food market, and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) is active in the animal feed and aquaculture sectors.