Friday February 7 Ag News

Midwest Dairy Announces Inaugural Class for Dairy Experience and Agricultural Leadership Program
Midwest Dairy announced today the first class of the Dairy Experience and Agricultural Leadership Program (DEAL), a new initiative that will help develop the dairy leaders of tomorrow. This 18-month program provides an opportunity for young dairy farmers across the region to gain a deeper understanding of dairy checkoff while strengthening skills for engaging with consumers, conducting media interviews and networking with industry professionals and peers.

The 2020-2021 class of participants was selected using a competitive application process that included written essays and farmer references. These 15 young dairy farmers, ages 40 and younger, represent dairy farm families from across the Midwest Dairy region and have demonstrated a passion for sharing their stories and helping lead the future of dairy farming. Inaugural class participants are:
·        Carrie Murman, Glenvil, Neb.
·        Heath Snodgrass, Orchard, Neb.
·        Josie Rozum, Ely, Iowa
·        Aaron Titterington, Spence, Iowa
·        Ben Yoder, Hutchinson, Kan.
·        Ashton Atteberry, Conway, Mo.
·        Scott VanZyverden, Niangua, Mo.
·        Logan Courtney, Chouteau, Okla.
·        Dakota Cowger, Peotone, Ill.
·        Angie Hildebrandt, South Beloit, Ill.
·        Pat Bakeberg, Waverly, Minn.
·        Andrew Miron, Hugo, Minn.
·        Tyler Otte, Randolph, Minn.
·        Megan Schrupp, Eden Valley, Minn.
·        Rita Vander Kooi, Worthington, Minn.

The DEAL program will have three phases, each phase with large group in-person meetings along with local assignments, such as meeting their local Midwest Dairy leadership team members, participating in consumer events and media opportunities.

The first phase will start with a group trip to San Antonio, Tx., February 11-13, 2020, and will be a deep-dive into the role and strategies of dairy checkoff at both the national and regional/state levels. It will also feature workshops and discussions to help the participants hone in on their top strengths and how they can use these talents and skills to help their businesses and the industry as a whole. Following two more phases, each complete with learnings and tasks in between the group meetings, this program will conclude in July of 2021.

“The DEAL program offers a tremendous opportunity for tomorrow’s dairy leaders to stretch themselves and gain the knowledge and skills needed to help dairy thrive,” said Theresa Reps, Agricultural Affairs manager at Midwest Dairy. “We’re looking forward to helping these young leaders maximize their strengths while they gain a well-rounded understanding of all aspects of the industry, positioning them to be strong voices for the future of dairy.”

Recruitment for the next class of DEAL participants will begin in 2021. For more information visit MidwestDairy.com.



GROWERS STATEWIDE TO SHARE ON-FARM RESEARCH
Farm operators and agronomists from across Nebraska are invited to attend upcoming local meetings for updated research results from the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network.

Producers will obtain valuable crop production-related information from more than 100 research projects conducted on Nebraska farms by Nebraska farmers in partnership with University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty. The projects cover products, practices and new technologies that impact farm productivity and profitability.

“These meetings provide a great opportunity to network with innovative farmers and hear directly from those who have been conducting research on their own farms,” said Laura Thompson, Nebraska Extension educator. “We anticipate that people who attend the meetings will leave with new ideas to try out on their operations in the upcoming growing season.”

Locations and times include:
> Beatrice: Feb. 18, 9 a.m., Holiday Inn Express, 4005 N. Sixth St.

> Mead: Feb. 19, 9 a.m., Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, 1071 County Road G

> Norfolk: Feb. 20, 9 a.m., Madison County Extension Office, 1305 S. 13th St.

> Kearney: Feb. 26, 9 a.m., Buffalo County Extension Office, 1400 E. 34th St.

> Alliance: Feb. 27, 9 a.m., Knight Museum and Sandhills Center, 908 Yellowstone Ave.

> York: Feb. 28, 9 a.m., Holthus Convention Center, 3130 Holen Ave. (This meeting will have a special focus on cover crops and soil health. It is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network.)

Check in begins 30 minutes before the start times listed. Lunch will be served at all locations.

The February programs will provide an opportunity to hear growers who conducted on-farm research share their results from the 2019 growing season.

Research projects to be discussed will include: cover crops, variable-rate seeding, planting populations, starter fertilizer, fungicide applications, alternate-crop rotations, seed treatments, and side-dress nitrogen-management technologies, including drone- and sensor-based variable-rate nitrogen management. Certified Crop Adviser credits have been applied for and are pending approval.

There is no fee to attend. Pre-registration is requested for meal-planning purposes. To register for any of the six sites, call 402-624-8030 or email onfarm@unl.edu. To learn more about the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network and how to participate, visit http://cropwatch.unl.edu/farmresearch.

The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network is a statewide, on-farm research program that addresses critical farmer production, profitability and natural resources questions. Growers take an active role in the on-farm research project, which is sponsored by Nebraska Extension in partnership with the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Soybean Checkoff and Nebraska Dry Bean Commission.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference Inspires Leaders in Kearney

The 2020 Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Conference was held Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney. More than 190 young farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness professionals came together to get insights into agriculture trends, knowledge on leading issues facing farmers and ranchers in Nebraska, and building a strong network of lifelong allies needed to thrive in agriculture. This year’s conference was presented by Nebraska Farm Bureau and Aurora Cooperative.

“Making a difference is what young farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness professionals believe is critically important for our future and the future of Nebraska,” said Jason Perdue, YF&R Committee chair and York County Farm Bureau member. "Not just at the local or state level in Nebraska, but even at the national level, our voices and efforts really matter. Just as essential is the opportunity to encourage one another and invest in each other’s lives as allies in a network of young producers tackling the challenges ahead together.”

For nearly four decades, the YF&R conference has been a great way for young farmers and ranchers in Nebraska to network and share ideas. This year’s conference offered local tours, innovative breakout sessions, inspiring keynote speaker, discussion meet contest, and mystery dinner theatre as entertainment. Congressmen Don Bacon and Adrian Smith attended and were recognized as Nebraska Farm Bureau-Political Action Committee (NEFB-PAC) “Friends of Agriculture.”

Tours of local agribusinesses included stops at: CSS Farms, Cash-Wa Distributing, Nebraska Star Beef and Lucky Beef Jerky, Sandhill Plastics, and Thunderhead Brewery. Keynote speaker V.J. Smith inspired attendees to treat others with dignity, kindness, and respect through the life story of Marty, a cashier from his hometown. Breakout sessions covered topics about soil health, grain marketing, how to deal with farm stress, telling your agriculture story, the business of farming, drones in agriculture, how to market yourself, and the Food in the Field nutrition plan.

Seventeen young leaders competed in the YF&R Discussion Meet developing solutions to current and future issues facing agriculture. Finalists from this conference will compete in Kearney in December for a chance to represent Nebraska at the American Farm Bureau Discussion Meet competition in San Diego, California in January 2021. Lance Atwater of Ayr, Amy Musgrave of Ong, Alec Ibach of Kearney, and Karah Perdue of York were named finalists, while Sean Krebs of Clearwater and Tyler Ramsey of Kenesaw were named alternates.

As part of their belief that they make an impact in their counties, attendees raised over $1,000 to support foster care kids and their families in Nebraska through Compass Nebraska, a non-profit organization, through the 2nd Annual YF&R Cornhole Tournament.

"The Nebraska Farm Bureau YF&R program helps young people in agriculture follow their passion and grow as leaders. The program allows for diverse opportunities and demonstrates the importance of the role young leaders can play in agriculture," said Audrey Schipporeit, director of generational engagement.



Nebraska Corn Board Seeks Candidates for Vacancies

This graphic shows the open districts on the Nebraska Corn Board.Notice is hereby given that the terms for three members of the Nebraska Corn Development, Utilization and Marketing Board will expire June 30, 2020, and Nebraska’s corn checkoff program is seeking candidates to petition for those districts. The open positions represent Districts 2, 3 and the board’s at large director.

    District 2 – Includes the counties of Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Franklin, Webster, Nuckolls and Thayer (Note:  John Greer, the current District 2 director, has indicated he will pursue reappointment).
    District 3 – Includes the counties of Merrick, Polk, Hamilton and York (Note: Brandon Hunnicutt, the current District 3 director, has indicated he will pursue reappointment).
    At large – The at large director represents all counties in Nebraska (Note: Jay Reiners, the current at large director, has indicated he will pursue reappointment).

Appointments to the board for Districts 2 and 3 are made by the Governor of Nebraska. The at large director appointment is made by the board. Any candidate seeking appointment may place his or her name on the candidacy list by filing a petition with the Nebraska Corn Board. Qualified candidates include those individuals who are citizens of Nebraska, are at least 21 years old, have been actively engaged in growing corn in Nebraska for a period of five years and derive a substantial portion of their income from growing corn. Board members who currently represent these districts are also eligible to re-petition.

Petitions may be obtained by writing the Nebraska Corn Board (P.O. Box 95107, Lincoln, NE 68509-5107), by calling 800-632-6761 or emailing nikki.bentzinger@nebraska.gov. A candidacy petition must carry the signatures of at least 50 corn producers from that district. All petitions must be received by the Nebraska Corn Board no later than 5:00 p.m. central time on Friday, May 15, 2020.  Faxed copies do not qualify.



CATTLEMEN’S BEEF BOARD ANNOUNCES NEW OFFICERS AT 2020 CATTLE INDUSTRY CONVENTION

Cattle producers Jared Brackett, Hugh Sanburg and Norman Voyles, Jr. are the new leaders of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB). This officer team is responsible for guiding the national Beef Checkoff throughout 2020.

Brackett, Sanburg and Voyles were elected by their fellow Beef Board members during the 2020 Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio on Friday, February 7, 2020. Brackett, the 2019 Vice Chair, will now serve as the CBB’s Chair, while Sanburg will transition from his role as the 2019 Secretary-Treasurer to become the 2020 Vice Chair. Voyles is the newest member of the officer team, taking on Sanburg’s former responsibilities as Secretary-Treasurer.

2020 Chairman Jared Brackett is a fifth-generation cow/calf producer from Filer, Idaho. Brackett is a Texas A & M alumni and diehard Aggie fan with a degree in agriculture economics. A past president of the Idaho Cattlemen’s Association, Brackett continues to serve on a number of other livestock committees and boards in addition to his responsibilities with the Beef Checkoff.

“The beef industry has been a part of my family’s livelihood for decades,” Brackett said. “While there’s no doubt that our industry has its own unique set of challenges, I believe that by working together, we can enact positive change that will continue to drive beef demand worldwide. During my tenure as the CBB’s Chair, I plan to collaborate with our officer team and the entire board to encourage checkoff advocacy and find new ways to move our industry forward.”

Vice Chair Hugh Sanburg hails from Eckert, Colo., where he and his brother are managing partners of their primarily horned Hereford cow-calf operation, accompanied by a Registered Hereford operation to complement the commercial herd. Sanburg graduated from Colorado School of Mines with a degree in mining engineering in 1983 before moving back to the home ranch in western Colorado. For the past 30-plus years, Sanburg has been an active member of the Colorado Farm Bureau serving on various boards. He is also a member of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and serves as chairman of the Gunnison Basin Roundtable.

Secretary-Treasurer Norman Voyles, Jr. owns and operates a seventh-generation grain and livestock farm near Martinsville, Ind. with his brother Jim and son Kyle. Voyles received a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Purdue University and a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition from the University of Nebraska. Voyles is a member of the Morgan County (Ind.) Beef Cattle Association and the Indiana Cattlemen’s Association. He’s a past member of the Farm Service Agency board of directors and the Morgan County Fair board.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have such a dedicated and experienced group leading the CBB throughout the coming year,” said Greg Hanes, CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. “Not only are they cattle producers themselves, but they’ve also worked diligently on the beef industry’s behalf for many years. Jared, Hugh and Norman are fully aware of the challenges producers currently face, and they have what it takes to answer those challenges while also finding new opportunities. I have no doubt their leadership will help the Beef Checkoff achieve great success in 2020.”

To learn more about the Beef Checkoff and its programs, including promotion, research, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information and safety, visit DrivingDemandForBeef.com.



NCBA Releases Consumer Research Showing Widespread Confusion About Contents of Plant-Based Fake Meat

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today released survey results that show widespread consumer confusion regarding the ingredient composition and purported benefits of plant-based fake meat products.

In an online survey of more than 1,800 consumers, less than half of the respondents understood the labeling term “plant-based beef” was intended to describe an entirely vegetarian or vegan food product. One major source of confusion uncovered by NCBA’s research is that approximately one third of surveyed consumers believed that plant-based fake meat products contained at least some real beef in them. When asked to evaluate specific product labels and marketing materials from some of the leading plant-based fake beef products currently on the market, the results were astonishing:
-    Nearly two-thirds of respondents believed the fake meat products produced by Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods and LightLife contained real beef or some form of animal byproduct;
-    32 percent of consumers who were shown a package of Beyond Meat’s “Beyond Burger” plant-based patties (which features a cow icon) told researchers that they thought the patties contained at least small amounts of real meat;
-    37 percent of consumers who were shown a package of Lightlife’s “Gimme Lean”, which features the word “Beef” highlighted in a red box, said the product contained at least some real beef. Neither product contains any real beef.

“The fact that so many consumers look at these labels and think that the products include meat or other animal by-products is a clear sign that the misleading labeling and deceptive marketing practices of plant-based fake meat companies has caused real consumer confusion,” said NCBA President Jennifer Houston. “Many of these fake-meat products purposely use graphics and words that trade on beef’s good name, and it needs to stop immediately. Consumers rely on names and product packaging to inform their purchasing decisions, and they have a right to know that this information is accurate and not misleading.”

When asked to rank plant-based fake meat versus beef on a host of food attributes, the results were even more startling. For example:
-    44 percent of consumers believed plant-based products were lower in sodium, when leading plant-based fake beef is anywhere between 220 to 620 percent higher in sodium than the same size serving of real ground beef. A mere 24 percent of respondents correctly identified beef as being lower in sodium.
-    Scientifically speaking, beef is considered to be an unprocessed or minimally processed food, whereas plant-based fake meat products are classified as an ultra-processed food product. Unfortunately, 34 percent of respondents believed plant-based fake meat to be less processed and another 34 percent believed fake and real beef products were equivalent on the food processing scale.
-    On the broad category of healthfulness, more than half of consumers believed plant-based meat was better.

“This research is a wake-up call for our industry, the news media, and for federal regulators,” Houston said. “We in the beef industry need to do a better job educating consumers about the fact that beef is a nutrient-rich source of high-quality protein and essential nutrients that can play a key role in any healthy lifestyle. We also need reporters and regulators to understand how many consumers are confused and/or misinformed about exactly what’s in these new plant-based alternatives.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the power to prevent this sort of consumer confusion. In 2020, NCBA said it hopes there will be an opportunity to work with the Agency to end inappropriate use of the word “beef” on all non-meat product labels.



Pork Checkoff Commits $500,000 to Develop Highly Trained Industry Professionals

The National Pork Board has opened the application period for a new series of swine research fellowships to provide a pipeline of highly skilled employees for the pork industry. The Pork Checkoff has committed a total of $500,000 for the fellowships, which will fund professional student education and training in critical areas of impact, including animal science, feed science and management, engineering and human resources, among many others.

“Labor supply is a critical issue across the entire pork industry,” said David Newman, president of the National Pork Board and a pig farmer representing Arkansas. “This fellowship program will develop highly trained professionals who possess skills and abilities with direct application to pork production now and in the future.”

According to Chris Hostetler, director of animal science for the National Pork Board, past Checkoff research funding supported graduate students based on specific research priorities.

“While results of swine-related research is not the desired outcome of these fellowships, the Pork Checkoff recognizes that research is a critical component of professional student training,” Hostetler said. “Research outlined in the proposal must be of importance for the pork industry.”

Fellowships will be awarded for a maximum of two years and can be used for M.S., Ph.D. or DVM-Ph.D. programs. Fellowship funding will be capped at $30,000 annually for two years. Second-year funding will be contingent on the submission and approval of a progress report at the end of the first year.

Go to pork.org/rfp for more information, guidelines and the application. All materials must be submitted by Feb. 25 at 5:00 p.m. CST.



Bayer expands commitment to transparency in 2020

Bayer is advancing its industry-leading transparency commitments in 2020, starting with additional documents on the transparency website and the pilot launch of OpenLabs. This step builds on the company’s pledge to enhance transparency by making its product safety studies required for regulatory approval accessible to the public.

“Transparency is at the core of how we operate as the leading provider of innovative and sustainable solutions in agriculture,” said Liam Condon, Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and President of the Crop Science Division. “Delivering these crucial and progressive technologies to farmers is a significant part of what we do, and we are equally committed to talking openly about these technologies with the interested public. In addition, by opening up our labs, we can help show how rigorously our products are tested in order to ensure their safety, efficacy and sustainability.”

GM Seeds & Plant Breeding
Bayer will expand the scope of its transparency commitments starting in April 2020 by adding two new information modules to its transparency platform. One of these involves genetically modified (GM) seeds, which are used on farms across much of the world. Since some consumers have questions around GM seeds, the company will be making regulatory submission documents(1) accessible via the transparency platform, along with additional educational materials, such as videos, infographics and other communications, to help put regulatory science into context.

The second new information module is on plant breeding. Innovation in plant breeding, such as gene editing, helps farmers provide the world with enough food by growing crops that are more resilient to a changing climate, while also using less resources and pesticides.

OpenLabs
OpenLabs is a new visitor program that provides a unique opportunity to observe Bayer scientists at the Monheim, Germany site conducting laboratory studies required for regulatory approval. OpenLabs will allow a small group of visitors to literally see the science – and the safety practices behind it – in action in the laboratory and out in the fields. The pilot session will occur over two consecutive days in the second quarter of 2020. The pilot group will be able to connect with Bayer scientists and experts for a series of technical observations and conversations, offering visitors the chance to learn how Bayer scientists follow the Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) process to ensure the reliability, consistency and integrity of safety study results. Due to lab capacity, group sizes will be limited. However, those interested in the OpenLabs program can learn more and sign up via the transparency platform by 15 March 2020.

“By expanding the scope of our efforts in transparency, we are reinforcing our commitment to continually raising the bar on transparency standards around our agricultural innovations in every area where we work,” said Bob Reiter, Head of R&D at Crop Science.

Background
Bayer launched its transparency program in December 2017, making its full, in-depth crop protection safety studies first accessible via its dedicated platform. To date, the company has made information available for 28 active substances, including all 107 Bayer-owned glyphosate safety study reports that were submitted as part of the last regulatory authorization process in the European Union. Learn more at www.cropscience-transparency.bayer.com.



Merck Animal Health Launches Nasalgen3

Merck Animal Health (known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada) has introduced Nasalgen3, a three-way intranasal vaccine that protects beef and dairy cattle from the most common pneumonia-causing viral pathogens. Administering intranasal vaccines to neonatal calves is considered one of the most effective strategies to put protective immunity in place quickly and establish a strong foundation for future respiratory protection.

Nasalgen 3 has the longest six-and-a-half-month duration of immunity (DOI) against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), an 11-week DOI against bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and a three-month DOI against parainfluenza 3.

“Nasalgen 3 mimics natural exposure to the most common pneumonia viruses,” says Scott Nordstrom, D.V.M., associate director of ruminant life cycle management, Merck Animal Health. “The intranasal administration of Nasalgen 3 stimulates a strong, early immune response because the vaccine antigens are delivered to mucosal surfaces in the nose – an area loaded with immunologically active tissues.”

Nasalgen intranasal vaccines avoid interference from maternal antibodies in colostrum that can block injectable vaccines and are less stressful on calves compared to similar injectable vaccinations.  Nasalgen 3 also is designed with an IBR that is not temperature-sensitive, so the vaccine will replicate and protect in a moderate to high temperature environment.

“If producers are working cattle in warm temperatures, Nasalgen 3 will still replicate,” says Dr. Nordstrom. “The IBR antigen elicits a rapid interferon response as well, which provides non-specific protection against many viruses. Cattle are protected early on and then develop both a serum and mucosal antibody response within two weeks of vaccination.”

Unique blue shadow dye for confident administration
Not only is the single 2-mL dose easy to administer, the unique blue shadow dye clearly indicates which animals have been vaccinated. With needle free intranasal administration, carcass quality is not compromised and the product meets best management practices outlined in the industry’s Beef Quality Assurance program.

Nasalgen 3 is proven safe for use in pregnant cows and in calves nursing pregnant cows, as well as young calves. The vaccine is available in 2-mL, 20-mL and 100-mL packages. Consult your veterinarian for specific usage guidance.