Monday February 3 Ag News

Strategic Tillage for the Improvement of No-Till Cropping Systems
Charles Wortmann - NE Extension Soil and Nutrient Management Specialist

Occasional tillage (OT) of long-term no-till (also called one-time or strategic tillage) might be desired once in more than 5 or 10 years according to need for integrated weed management, fracturing a compaction layer, incorporating a soil amendment such as lime or manure, reducing vertical stratification of nutrient availability, increasing soil organic matter to greater depth, or reducing crop residue accumulation. The type of tillage for OT should be specific to the objective of the OT. Some of the early OT research was done in Nebraska including a 5-year study at the High Plains Agricultural Laboratory (HPAL) near Sydney using moldboard plow tillage and three 5-year trials in eastern Nebraska in which five OT practices were compared. However, there has been much additional study elsewhere during the past decade. Dozens of other multi-year trials have been conducted including trials in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Spain, and Turkey, as well as in Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Oregon, Texas, and Wyoming.

Negative, neutral and positive effects
An early concern with OT of no till was that benefits to soil properties and productivity gained from continuous no-till would be lost with a single or infrequent tillage practice. The findings from the above studies consistently show that such negative effects are highly unlikely, generally of less than 1-year duration and of little agronomic significance. The two consistent negative effects of OT are the cost of the tillage and increased risk of erosion until crop canopy or residue cover of the soil is re-established.

Occasional tillage overall has several near neutral or inconsistent effects. It does re-distribute vertically stratified organic matter and any loss in soil organic matter (SOM) is recovered within one year. However, inversion of high SOM surface soil with deeper soil with less SOM does not result in a net gain in SOM. Greenhouse gas emission is little affected by OT. Soil aggregation and soil bulk density may be reduced but the effect is generally not detectable one year later. The effects on water infiltration have been inconsistent and short-lived. Soil microbial biomass and activity generally has not been affected. An exception occurred in eastern Nebraska where mycorrhyzal colonization of roots and biomass in the soil were reduced but P uptake by the crop increased with OT.

Some positive effects of OT have occurred with high consistency. It does re-distribute vertically stratified nutrients and pesticide compounds and reduces their loss in runoff. If well planned and targeted, OT is a useful component of integrated weed management and soil compaction management. It does incorporate soil amendments such as lime and manure which may in some cases be advantageous to surface application.

Crop yield
The effect of OT on crop yields was evaluated for two or more years in 35 trials globally with no effect in 72% of the cases, decreased yield in 7% of the cases, and increased yield in 21% of the cases. Crop yield increases were often associated with the correction of a major problem and might have been more frequent if more of the studies had better targeted OT to correct a specific problem. In the 5-year HPAL study, inversion moldboard plow OT to bury seed of downy brome effectively reduced weed numbers and increased wheat yield for the dryland wheat-fallow rotation. In the eastern Nebraska studies, soybean in rotation with corn or grain sorghum had a 3.6% mean yield increase during the 5-year study due to OT with a greater yield benefit following OT with a mini-moldboard plow. The 2.6% mean yield increase over 5 years with OT for corn and grain sorghum was not statistically significant.

Strategic use of OT
The OT should be in response to some well-identified purpose as there is the added cost of performing OT and there may be a significant risk of erosion associated with OT. Success with OT will require the right choice of type and time of OT for a given problem. The best opportunities may be with weed control and fracturing of compaction layers or hardpans.

The biology of a weed problem needs to be considered. Inversion OT such as with a moldboard plow is needed if seed burial is important as disk and chisel OT is unlikely to sufficiently bury seed to have effects of more than one season. Perennial weeds, as in the case of one study targeting control of a perennial bunch grass (e.g. windmill grass), may be reduced for several years with shallow sweep OT. As a component of integrated weed control, OT might be once in five or more years.

Successful OT for fracturing of compaction layers or hardpans requires good characterization of the problem including the cause, the depth and thickness, and then choosing the OT operation and timing accordingly. Soil dryness is important and there may be an optimum stage of the crop rotation. If the compacted layer is within 8 inches of the surface, the layer may be shattered with a chisel, moldboard or mini-moldboard plow. If deeper, a subsoiler, ripper or paraplow may be appropriate. The OT needs to be done when the compacted layer has a low soil water content which is often in the fall. With management to avoid compaction, such OT would be done only once or very infrequently, such as once in more than 10 years.

The OT may be justified with some combination of lesser benefits such as partial or full incorporation of excess crop residue, deep placement of an applied immobile nutrient or redistribution of vertically stratified P and other immobile nutrients for improved nutrient availability and reduced soluble nutrient runoff, or incorporation of a soil amendment. Such OT is not likely to be justified more frequently than once in more than 10 years.

Other practices may be alternatives or complementary to OT. Controlled traffic to have the majority of land surface with no traffic and avoiding traffic on wet soil is important to minimized compaction and to prolong the benefit of shattering a compaction layer with OT. Well-chosen and managed cover crops can be of value to reduce compaction. Integrated weed management may be improved with weed suppression through competitive and allelopathic effects of cover crops or primary crop rotation choices. Incorporation of a soil amendment (e.g. lime, manure, gypsum) or an immobile nutrient may enhance the benefits of OT. Occasional strip tillage may be an alternative to OT for shallow compacted layers and for deep placement of immobile nutrients.

Conclusion
Overall, most soils are resilient to any negative effects of OT if erosion is controlled. The practice of OT once in 5 to 10 years or more is not likely to adversely affect no-till systems. However, to be beneficial, the OT has to be well-planned and implemented to target a well-characterized problem such as a weed control or compaction problem.



Growers statewide to share on-farm research

Farm operators and agronomists from across the state are invited to attend the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network research results update meeting at a location near them.  Producers will obtain valuable crop production-related information from over 100 on-farm research projects conducted on Nebraska farms by Nebraska farmers in partnership with the University of Nebraska faculty. These research 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 the farmers 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. CST, Holiday Inn Express, 4005 N 6th St.
    MEAD: Feb. 19 – 9 a.m. CST, Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, 1071 County Road G
    NORFOLK: Feb. 20 - 9 a.m. CST, Madison County Extension Office, 1305 S. 13th St.
    KEARNEY: Feb. 26 - 9 a.m. CST, Buffalo County Extension, 1400 E 34th St.
    ALLIANCE: Feb. 27 – 9 a.m. MST, Knight Museum & Sandhills Center, 908 Yellowstone Ave.
    YORK: Feb. 28 – 9 a.m. CST, Holthus Convention Center, 3130 Holen Ave.
(York special focus - Cover Crops and Soil Health - Jointly sponsored by USDA-NRCS and the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network).

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

Research projects to be discussed 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. Additionally, participants will hear from growers who conducted on-farm research share their results from the 2019 growing season. Field length replicated treatment comparisons were completed in growers’ fields, using their equipment.

Certified Crop Advisor Credits are applied for and pending upon approval.

There is no fee to attend.  Preregistration is requested for meal planning purposes. Call (402)-624-8030 or e-mail onfarm@unl.edu to register for any of the six sites. 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 sponsored by Nebraska Extension in partnership with the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, the Nebraska Corn Board, the Nebraska Soybean Checkoff, and the Nebraska Dry Bean Commission.



Nebraska Extension farm succession workshop available online

The Department of Agricultural Economics and Nebraska Extension at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has published video resources on farm succession for agricultural landowners, ranchers and farmers thinking about retiring, exiting or transferring the farm or ranch.

“Preparing for the Future: Farm/Ranch Transition and Succession” is a full workshop developed by Allan Vyhnalek, an extension educator who specializes in farm succession. His recent presentation in Cass County was recorded and is available as 12 short segments, organized by topic. 

“We broke down the workshop into shorter segments so that you can watch as much as you want at any one time, then come back and watch the rest later,” Vyhnalek said. “This organization will allow you to think about what you have heard before going on.”

The segments cover topics like the importance of planning, proper family communication and negotiating, as well as estate planning and financial strategies.

“Retiring or passing the farm to the next generation is difficult to think about and is an admission of your own impending demise,” Vyhnalek said. “However, it is a necessary step and, with good planning, can be made as painless as possible. I encourage you to get a plan together to prepare for unexpected circumstances that we don’t always anticipate.”

The video segments and other resources on farm and ranch succession may be found at agecon.unl.edu/succession.



Quarterly webinar series addresses Nebraska land management issues

The Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will continue its webinar series, “Land Management Quarterly,” on Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. CST.

Started in 2019, the series offers management advice and insight for Nebraska landowners, agricultural producers and others interested in properly managing agricultural land.

The February episode will examine methods for setting cash rents, flex lease alternatives and considerations for updating agricultural rental arrangements for 2020. The interactive sessions may be attended live. They conclude with an “Ask the Experts” session, offering participants the chance to get answers to their land or lease questions.

The webinars are led by Jim Jansen and Allan Vyhnalek, who are both in the Department of Agricultural Economics. Jansen focuses on agricultural finance and land economics, as well as the direction of the annual Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Survey and Report. Vyhnalek is a farm succession and farmland management extension educator.

“Land is one of Nebraska’s most critical assets,” said Jansen. “This webinar series will help those with a vested interest in land to better understand the financial and human forces reshaping the rural agricultural landscape.”

Participants are encouraged to sign up to receive reminders each quarter and submit questions at agecon.unl.edu/landmanagement. Anyone can join the webinar from this page when it goes live at 6 p.m. on Feb. 17.

2020 Land Management Quarterly webinar dates are:
Feb. 17, 6:30 p.m.
May 18, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 17, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 16., 6:30 p.m.

Each webinar is free and will be recorded. Those can be viewed the day after each session, along with recordings from the entire series.



Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Nominees

Know a Nebraska rancher, farmer or forester who goes above and beyond in the care and management of natural resources? Nominate them for the 2020 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award®.

Sand County Foundation presents the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 20 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In Nebraska, the $10,000 award is presented with Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN), Cargill and the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

Nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.

The application deadline is March 2, 2020. Applications can be emailed to judys@a-fan.org or postmarked by March 2, and mailed to:
Leopold Conservation Award
c/o AFAN
5225 S. 16th Street
Lincoln, NE 68512

Selected recipients must be available for an Earth Day press conference, summer video production, and fall award ceremony.

The first Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award was presented to Wilson Ranch of Lakeside in 2006. The 2019 recipient of the award was Broken Box Ranch in Moorefield.

The Leopold Conservation Award Program in Nebraska is made possible thanks to the generous support of Cargill, AFAN, Nebraska Environmental Trust, Sand County Foundation, Audubon Nebraska, Lyle Sittler Memorial Fund, McDonald’s, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Nebraska Land Trust, Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, Sandhills Task Force, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, World Wildlife Fund-Northern Great Plains, and Green Cover Seed.



Midwest Cover Crops Council Annual Conference Is Feb. 11-12 in Kansas City
Gary Lesoing - NE Extension Educator

The 2020 Midwest Cover Crops Council Annual Conference has been scheduled for February 11-12, 2020, at the KCI Expo Center in Kansas City, MO. Both days are open to the public.

The conference has a strong Nebraska presence, with presentations by University of Nebraska Extension Specialists and a Nebraskan on the Farmer Panel.

On Tuesday, February 11th, there are posters, a tradeshow and the States/Provinces will give their reports of research and extension activities for 2019.

On Wednesday, February 12th, the conference will kick off with the keynote address by Paul Jasa, University of Nebraska Extension Engineer, “Selecting and Managing Cover Crops”. Following the keynote address there will be concurrent sessions on Crop Production, Livestock Grazing and Environmental and Economic Issues.

Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist will discuss Cow/calf Grazing of Cover Crops. Jay Parsons, University of Nebraska Ag Economist will discuss Leasing Arrangements with Cover Crops and on the farmer panel, Ben Steffen from Humboldt, NE will discuss how he uses cover crops in his operation in southeast Nebraska and how it has impacted his soils and crop production on his farm.

There will also be opportunities to see presentations from specialists from Kansas State University and the University of Missouri and other experts that have been using cover crops for several years.

For a complete agenda, registration details and/or information about lodging please visit the conference website... http://mccc.msu.edu/. 



Safety first for thousands of licensed Nebraska pesticide applicators

Pesticides are integrated in our lives and in our economy, even our social fabric. Without pesticides, weeds, insects and disease could overtake human and animal food supplies, and degrade our landscapes and homes.

Bringing attention to using pesticides safely, economically and effectively is the purpose of the third annual National Pesticide Safety Education Month in February. The designation is organized through funding by the National Stakeholder Team for Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).

“Without pesticides, human and animal health, and our economic well-being could be compromised,” said Clyde Ogg, director of Nebraska Extension’s PSEP at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

“Our goal is to train competent, qualified applicators who keep themselves, others, beneficial insects and other non-targets safe and free from pesticides and any drift – all while effectively managing pests,” said Ogg.

Nebraska PSEP provides training and materials for the state’s estimated 30,000 licensed pesticide applicators. Materials are approved by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, which administers the licensing program. New applicators must pass exams to demonstrate they understand how to safely handle, apply and dispose of pesticides generally, and in at least one of 19 available categories. Afterward, they must attend training every three years to recertify their license.

Certified applicators include those who treat lawns, homes, schools, grain structures, rights of way, waterways, and agricultural fields by air or land.

“Applicators are trained to measure and use the right amounts herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and termiticides to get the job done safely and economically,” Ogg said. “They learn how to use the right equipment, under the right circumstances, wearing the right clothing or protective gear.”

At minimum, that is long pants, long-sleeved shirt, socks, shoes, chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, and respirator where directed by the label.

“The label is a legal document,” Ogg said, adding that failure to follow pesticide label directions violates federal law.

Ogg noted that while pesticides are an important part of pest management, they should be used in conjunction with a diversity of strategies. The process is known as Integrated Pest Management. IPM includes prevention; cultural, biological and mechanical means, such as hand labor; and pesticides where needed.

Nebraska training takes place through face-to-face meetings and conferences, at local Extension offices and online at https://pested.unl.edu. Among the audiences are Master Gardener volunteers who learn science-based horticulture education to share with the public.

Ogg notes ongoing research reveals more about pesticide behavior, which then affects the program’s training. Another challenge can be continually changing product labels and federal regulations.

“The more we learn, the more we need to get the word out about the complexities and necessity of safety education,” Ogg said.



Field Crop Scout School to be held in March

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer the annual Field Crop Scout School March 7, at the Scheman Building in Ames. Intended to be a foundational course, the Field Crop Scout School provides essential information for effective and efficient crop scouting.

This year’s program features sessions such as corn and soybean growth and development, pest identification and scouting methods for beginning crop scouts.  Instructors and their topics for the day include:
-    Virgil Schmitt, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach – Crop scouting tips and tricks.
-    Mark Licht, assistant professor in agronomy and extension specialist at Iowa State – Corn growth and development.
-    Ed Zaworski, plant pathologist for Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State – Crop plant disease identification.
-    Rebecca Baker, weed science graduate research assistant at Iowa State – Weed identification.
-    Warren Pierson, program specialist with the Field Extension Education Laboratory with ISU Extension and Outreach – Soybean growth and development.
-    Erin Hodgson, associate professor and extension specialist in entomology at Iowa State – Insect pest identification.

“The Field Crop Scout School is a staple for those wanting to refresh their knowledge and skills, as well as for those new to crop scouting,” said Pierson. “The educational sessions, combined with the field guide publications, make this an exceptional value for those looking to increase their toolbox of resources to be better growers or crop scouts.”

Five publications are included with registration costs, and include
-    Soybean Diseases and Corn Diseases booklets: a combined 88-page compendium of soybean and corn diseases in Iowa and the greater north central region, in full color. Each guide is complete with disease life cycles and diagrams, as well as foliar disease estimation charts.
-    Corn and Soybean Field Guide: includes updated text and 375 images, illustrations, diagrams and tables to assist farmers with identifying corn and soybean diseases, insects and disorders found throughout the Midwest. This 158-page guide focuses on development stages, pesticide decisions and production-related topics, and for the first time, has information on newer soybean viruses to help you when scouting fields this summer.
-    Weed Identification Field Guide 2nd Edition: contains 35 illustrations and more than 250 high-quality photographs of weeds found in Iowa. Palmer amaranth information was added to this 108-page field guide, and information on herbicide resistance and management was updated from the first edition.
-    Field Crop Insects: contains descriptions and color images of more than 55 pest and beneficial insects, as well as information on insect life cycle, damage, scouting and management options. There is also information on basic entomology and integrated pest management tactics.

Advance registration is required. The cost of $100 includes five ISU field publications, lunch, and refreshments. Registration for the course closes March 3, and the course is limited to 75 students.

Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m., with the program running from 8:55 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information and to register, visit www.aep.iastate.edu/scout.



USDA Issues Third Tranche of 2019 MFP Payments

At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the third and final tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments aimed at assisting farmers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. The payments will begin to show up in farmers’ bank accounts by the end of this week.

“It’s been a great start to 2020 for American Agriculture with the signing of the historic Phase One Deal with China and the signing of USMCA,” said Secretary Perdue. “While these agreements are welcome news, we must not forget that 2019 was a tough year for farmers as they were the tip of the spear when it came to unfair trade retaliation. President Trump has shown time and again that he is fighting for America’s farmers and ranchers and this third tranche of 2019 MFP payments is proof. President Trump is following through on his promise to help and support farmers as he continues to fight for fair market access just like he did with China.”

Background on USDA’s Support Package for Farmers:
President Trump directed Secretary Perdue to craft a second support package for farmers while the Administration continues to work on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals to open more markets to help American farmers compete globally. Specifically, the President authorized the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide up to $16 billion in programs, which is in line with the estimated impacts of unjustified retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods and other trade disruptions. In May, Secretary Perdue announced these actions to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation and trade disruption:
-    MFP for 2019, authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act and administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), is providing approximately $14.5 billion in direct payments to producers.
-    Additionally, CCC Charter Act authority is being used to implement a $1.4 billion Food Purchase and Distribution Program (FPDP) through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to purchase surplus commodities affected by trade retaliation such as fruits, vegetables, some processed foods, beef, pork, lamb, poultry, and milk for distribution by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to food banks, schools, and other outlets serving low-income individuals.
-    Finally, the CCC has used its Charter Act authority for $100 million to be issued through the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) administered by the Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) to assist in developing new export markets on behalf of producers.

Details Regarding Third Tranche of 2019 MFP Payments:
Payments will be made by FSA under the authority of CCC Charter Act to producers of alfalfa hay, barley, canola, corn, crambe, dried beans, dry peas, extra-long staple cotton, flaxseed, lentils, long grain and medium grain rice, millet, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, rapeseed, rye, safflower, sesame seed, small and large chickpeas, sorghum, soybeans, sunflower seed, temperate japonica rice, triticale, upland cotton, and wheat. MFP assistance for these non-specialty crops is based on a single county payment rate multiplied by a farm’s total plantings of MFP-eligible crops in aggregate in 2019. Those per-acre payments are not dependent on which of these crops are planted in 2019. A producer’s total payment-eligible plantings cannot exceed total 2018 plantings. County payment rates range from $15 to $150 per acre, depending on the impact of unjustified trade retaliation in that county.

Dairy producers who were in business as of June 1, 2019, will receive a per hundredweight payment on Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) production history, and hog producers will receive a payment based on the number of live hogs owned on a day selected by the producer between April 1 and May 15, 2019.

MFP payments will also be made to producers of almonds, cranberries, cultivated ginseng, fresh grapes, fresh sweet cherries, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts. Each specialty crop will receive a payment based on 2019 acres of fruit or nut bearing plants, or in the case of ginseng, based on harvested acres in 2019.

Acreage of non-specialty crops and cover crops had to be planted by August 1, 2019 to be considered eligible for MFP payments.

Per-acre non-specialty crop county payment rates, specialty crop payment rates, and livestock payment rates are all currently available on farmers.gov.

This is the final of three tranches of MFP payments. The first tranche was comprised of the higher of either 50 percent of a producer’s calculated payment or $15 per acre, which may reduce potential payments to be made in tranche three. The second tranche was 25% of the total payment expected, in addition to the 50% from the first tranche.

MFP payments are limited to a combined $250,000 for non-specialty crops per person or legal entity. MFP payments are also limited to a combined $250,000 for dairy and hog producers and a combined $250,000 for specialty crop producers. However, no applicant can receive more than $500,000. Eligible applicants must also have an average adjusted gross income (AGI) for tax years 2015, 2016, and 2017 of less than $900,000 unless at least 75 percent of the person’s or legal entity’s AGI is derived from farming, ranching, or forestry related activities. Applicants must also comply with the provisions of the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation regulations.

Many producers were affected by natural disasters this spring, such as flooding, that kept them out of the field for extended periods of time. Producers who filed a prevented planting claim and planted an FSA-certified cover crop, with the potential to be harvested qualify for a $15 per acre payment. Acres that were never planted in 2019 are not eligible for an MFP payment.

In June, H.R. 2157, the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019, was signed into law by President Trump, requiring a change to the first round of MFP assistance provided in 2018. Producers previously deemed ineligible for MFP in 2018 because they had an average AGI level higher than $900,000 may now be eligible for 2018 MFP benefits. Those producers must be able to verify 75 percent or more of their average AGI was derived from farming and ranching to qualify. This supplemental MFP signup period will run parallel to the 2019 MFP signup, from July 29 through December 6, 2019.

For more information on the MFP, visit www.farmers.gov/mfp. 



USDA Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses was 530 million bushels in December 2019. Total corn consumption was up 5 percent from November 2019 and up 4 percent from December 2018. December 2019 usage included 92.3 percent for alcohol and 7.7 percent for other purposes. Corn consumed for beverage alcohol totaled 3.24 million bushels, down 5 percent from November 2019 but up 27 percent from December 2018. Corn for fuel alcohol, at 479 million bushels, was up 5 percent from November 2019 and up 4 percent from December 2018. Corn consumed in December 2019 for dry milling fuel production and wet milling fuel production was 90.0 percent and 10.0 percent, respectively.

Dry mill co-product production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) was 1.91 million tons during December 2019, up 1 percent from November 2019 but down 1 percent from December 2018. Distillers wet grains (DWG) 65 percent or more moisture was 1.40 million tons in December 2019, up 4 percent from November 2019 and up 1 percent from December 2018.

Wet mill corn gluten feed production was 306,318 tons during December 2019, up 13 percent from November 2019 and up 6 percent from December 2018. Wet corn gluten feed 40 to 60 percent moisture was 257,381 tons in December 2019, down 2 percent from November 2019 but up less than 1 percent from December 2018.

USDA Oilseed Crushings, Production, Consumption and Stocks
Soybeans crushed for crude oil was 5.54 million tons (185 million bushels) in December 2019, compared with 5.24 million tons (175 million bushels) in November 2019 and 5.51 million tons (184 million bushels) in December 2018. Crude oil produced was 2.11 billion pounds up 6 percent from November 2019 but down 1 percent from December 2018. Soybean once refined oil production at 1.36 billion pounds during December 2019 increased slightly from November 2019 but decreased 6 percent from December 2018.

UDSA Flour Milling Production report
All wheat ground for flour during the fourth quarter 2019 was 232 million bushels, up less than 1 percent from the third quarter 2019 grind of 232 million bushels and up less than 1 percent from the fourth quarter 2018 grind of 232 million bushels. Fourth quarter 2019 total flour production was 108 million hundredweight, up 1 percent from the third quarter 2019 and up less than 1 percent from the fourth quarter 2018. Whole wheat flour production at 5.96 million hundredweight during the fourth quarter 2019 accounted for 6 percent of the total flour production. Millfeed production from wheat in the fourth quarter 2019 was 1.62 million tons. The daily 24-hour milling capacity of wheat flour during the fourth quarter 2019 was 1.65 million hundredweight.



Annual Dental Exams Help Keep Horses On Their Best Behavior
Jeff Hall, DVM, senior equine technical services veterinarian, Zoetis

Could dental pain be the culprit for your horse’s behavioral problems? A recent study published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science established a link between common equine behavior problems and abscessed cheek teeth. Periapical infections or abscessed cheek teeth are common in horses1 and will usually induce pain that is displayed in your horse’s behavior. According to the research, half of the cases of periapical infections were diagnosed during routine dental examinations, indicating that horse owners were unaware of the association between undesirable behavioral patterns of their horses and dental pain.

February is Equine Dental Health Awareness Month, which provides a great opportunity to schedule dental examinations to ensure your horse’s health, wellness and behavior are all in check.

Behavioral Problems Linked to Tooth Pain
Common behavioral signs associated with cheek teeth abscesses fall into three main categories. Some signs include:
    Eating and drinking
        Eating slowly or taking frequent pauses while eating hay
        Turning his head while eating or dropping hay or grain from his mouth
        Dipping hay in water or avoiding drinking cold water

    Bit-related
        Evading the bit
        Headshaking, lolling tongue or opening his mouth when ridden and/or driven with a bit
        Rein contact worse on one side of the mouth
        Resistance to bridling

    General:
        Withdrawn, intense stare, aggressive behavior or self-harm to his head
        Avoiding social interaction with other horses and people
        Bad-smelling breath
        Poor performance, such as a decline in athletic ability

Take the Zoetis Equine Dental Wellness Survey
To help you identify behavioral signs associated with dental abnormalities in your horse, Zoetis created an equine dental wellness survey. This short survey will help you recognize many of the eating, drinking, bit-related and general behavioral signs that your horse may be displaying due to a tooth abscess... https://baderrutter.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6Jy0gJggdDf8OBn. 

Zoetis is committed to educating horse owners about the importance of annual dental examinations and care by an equine veterinarian. Behavioral signs caused by dental abnormalities are crucial to identify. Recognizing these potential behavioral changes can help with earlier diagnosis, treatment and improved health and wellness for your horse. 

If your horse is expressing any of these behavioral signs, work with your equine veterinarian to conduct an oral and dental examination. Annual oral and dental examinations is a recommended baseline of care of your horse.2 Depending on your horse’s age, level of performance and overall condition of the teeth, additional examinations throughout the year may be needed.