Thursday March 5 Ag News

Drewnoski receives Outstanding Young Extension Specialist award

Dr. Mary Drewnoski is the recipient of the 2020 Midwest Section of the American Society of Animal Science Outstanding Young Extension Specialist Award. Drewnoski is an associate professor and beef systems specialist in the Animal Science Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The award was presented to her this week during the annual 2020 Midwest section of the American Society of Animal Science meeting held in Omaha, Nebraska.

Drewnoski grew up in Appalachia, attended Berea College and North Carolina State followed by a three year post doctorate at Iowa State and two years on faculty at University of Idaho. She was hired by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2014 as part of an interdisciplinary team focused on developing integrated crop and cattle production systems in Nebraska.

Her extension and research program is focused on the utilization of crop residues and cover crop forages for backgrounding calves and beef cows. She has been instrumental in developing a $4.8 million Nebraska Beef Systems Initiative and leads the extension component. Drewnoski has made 87 presentations at extension meetings and has authored or co-authored 31 extension articles and done 45 interviews over the past three years.

She instigated the development of an exchange for farmers with crop residues or cover crops to connect with cattlemen looking for grazing opportunities. Drewnoski has certainly achieved the goals envisioned as a Beef Systems Specialist.

The ASAS Outstanding Young Extension Specialist Award recognizes an individual currently employed as an extension specialist by a state or federal service and is engaged in outreach education conducting programs in animal or dairy science. This person actively works with people that produce livestock animals or with people in the meat industry and uses their connections to initiate and develop educational programs dedicated to increasing education in areas such as breeding, milk production, nutrition, management, physiology, and many other areas that promote the growth of the industry. This award is sponsored by Purina Animal Nutrition.



AFAN announces winners of 15th anniversary scholarship

The Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN) is honoring their 15th anniversary by celebrating agriculture’s next generation of producers. From over 50 applicants, AFAN has awarded 15 exceptional college students from across the state of Nebraska with a $250 scholarship. To be considered, students applying had to be currently enrolled in college pursuing a degree in the field of agriculture and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Community colleges, universities, undergrad and graduate programs were all eligible.

“AFAN is committed to growing Nebraska agriculture throughout generations so we are excited to be able to celebrate students who are pursuing a degree that will benefit Nebraska agriculture,” said Steve Martin, executive director.

AFAN was formed in 2005 by the leading agricultural organizations in Nebraska to conduct outreach, promotion, and provide information to consumers about Nebraska agriculture and where their food comes from. In 2015, these organizations saw another need – advancing livestock development, agriculture and food processing businesses in Nebraska. Since then AFAN has focused on encouraging the development of livestock, working with communities and Nebraska leaders to create opportunities for industries that add value to Nebraska’s agricultural output and energize the economy.

Following are the 15 students who will receive an AFAN scholarship:
- Nathan Burnett, a freshman from Shelton majoring in livestock industry management and agribusiness at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis.
- Cesar Cyuzuzo, a sophomore from Rwanda majoring in integrated sciences at the University of Nebraska– Lincoln (UNL).
- Sarah Eberspacher, a freshman from Beaver Crossing majoring in agriculture and environmental sciences communication at UNL.
- Brianna Gable, a freshman from Waverly majoring in agricultural economics at UNL.
- Maria Harthoorn, a sophomore from Ainsworth majoring in agricultural economics at UNL.
- Marissa Kegley, a graduate student from Kearney majoring in veterinary medicine at UNL.
- Korbin Kudera, a sophomore from Clarkson majoring in agronomy at UNL.
- Morgan Leefers, a junior from Otoe majoring in agricultural economics at UNL.
- Olivia Leising, a freshman from Arapahoe majoring in agricultural science at Concordia University in Seward.
- Sydni Lienemann, a senior from Princeton majoring in agricultural economics at UNL.
- Tyler Michael Quick, a sophomore from Alliance majoring in agricultural education and horticulture at UNL.
- Jacob Rosse, a senior from Gothenburg majoring in agronomy at UNL.
- Kara Valasek, a graduate student from Palmer majoring in veterinary medicine at UNL
- Alexandra Volchoskie, a Senior from Wilcox majoring in agricultural and environmental sciences
communication at UNL.
- Michael Wolfe, a junior from Palmer majoring in animal science (pre-vet) at UNL.

The Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN) is a non-profit organization formed by leading agriculture organizations with the support of other membership groups, individuals, commodity organizations and private businesses. AFAN works with individual producers and communities across Nebraska to encourage the development of environmentally responsible and economically viable livestock production in the state. For more information, go to becomeafan.org.



NEW RESEARCH LINKS GENE FOUND IN WILD WHEAT TO DROUGHT TOLERANCE IN CULTIVATED WHEAT

New research from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has led to the discovery of a novel gene that improves drought adaptation in wheat — a breakthrough that could contribute to increased world food security.

In new research published in Plant Biotechnology Journal, Harkamal Walia, associate professor and Heuermann Chair of Agronomy and Horticulture at Nebraska, and colleagues describe a novel form of a gene obtained from wild wheat that has the potential to improve drought tolerance in cultivated wheat. Introducing this gene into cultivated wheat improved the plant root structure so that it continued to grow in search of water under dry soil conditions.

Wheat is the most widely grown crop in the world and, together with rice, provides more than 50% of the caloric intake of humans globally. Like other crops, wheat is exposed to a wide range of environmental limitations, such as high temperature, disease pressure and drought.

The scavenging nature of wheat root systems during times of drought may have been lost when wild wheats were adopted for agriculture by early humans or as cultivated wheat was bred for improved responsiveness to irrigation and fertilizers during the mid-1900s. This improved responsiveness was key to feeding a booming world population during the 1960s.

As today’s producers strive for “more crop per drop” to feed a world population that is again in the midst of a boom and is expected to grow from about 7.5 billion today to more than 9.6 billion by 2050, it is evident that future crops will need greater drought resilience. The discovery by Walia and his colleagues could represent an important new genetic resource, enabling breeders to recapture this natural survival trait in cultivated wheat. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has secured a patent on the discovery via NUtech Ventures, enabling future commercialization of this technology.

The potential impact of the discovery grew substantially when the team found that adding the wild root gene also resulted in plants with larger grains in the absence of drought. Walia and his team were not expecting this, as introducing tolerance to a stress can sometimes result in lost productivity when the stress is absent.

“This particular trait may have the opposite effect, which is a benefit in both conditions,” Walia said. “We are now working to understand the reason behind this surprising finding.”

The genetic engineering of wheat plants was performed at Nebraska’s Center for Biotechnology.

Walia is one of many researchers worldwide helping to develop a catalog of genes that will contribute to creating more robust plants for the future. Drought response is a complicated trait, Walia said, which involves many genes contributing to survival and productivity when water is limited. He hopes that research in this area will continue to discover new genetic resources that plant breeders and geneticists can use to develop more drought-tolerant crops.

“From a genetic improvement perspective, it takes a community to make a crop more adaptive,” Walia said. “This finding is one piece of a very large puzzle.”

The research was spearheaded by doctoral students Dante Placido and Jaspreet Sandhu in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. The work was supported by the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute.



Iowa Still Leads Nation in Egg Production, but Some Challenges Remain

Iowa is the nation’s leader in egg production and eggs play a key role in the Iowa economy, supporting the livelihoods of thousands of Iowans.

To help explain the importance of Iowa’s $1.33 billion egg industry, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has compiled a new report on the number of Iowa’s egg-producing farms, how much they produce and their economic impact.

Called the “Economic Importance of the Iowa Egg Industry,” the 12-page publication highlights the continued expansion of the state’s egg industry, the continued demand for eggs and future opportunities and challenges.

According to the report, a growing population and higher per capita egg consumption have led to a 1.5% annual expansion in egg production nationally over the last 30 years. With Iowa’s abundance of corn and soybean meal for feed, the state is well situated as the nation’s leader.

In one year, the Iowa egg industry uses 57.8 million bushels of corn and 531,317 tons of soybean meal for feed, including the feed used to grow young chicks (pullets).

From 2007-2014, Iowa produced more eggs than the second and third largest egg-producing states, according to the report. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated there were about 57.7 million egg-laying hens in Iowa during 2018, which produced 16.4 billion eggs.

Ongoing challenges
While Iowa is poised to continue leading the nation in egg production, the report outlines several ongoing challenges, including the cost of transporting eggs and egg products to areas where there are more people.

Another challenge is the transition to alternative production systems, which require more space per hen and more labor. These types of housing, which are required in some states like California, significantly increase production costs and the cost to consumer.

Beyond cage-free, there is also the potential for further regulations or customer requests for hens to have access to the outdoors year-round, which would pose a significant challenge for Iowa, given its cold winters and hot summers.

The report is compiled about every three to five years, with new data and a focus on current and emerging trends.



United States and Canadian Cattle Inventory Down 1 Percent

All cattle and calves in the United States and Canada combined totaled 105.6 million head on January 1, 2020, down 1 percent from the 106.2 million head on January 1, 2019. All cows and heifers that have calved inventory at 45.2 million head, down 1 percent from a year ago.

All cattle and calves in the United States as of January 1, 2020 totaled 94.4 million head, down slightly from the 94.8 million head on January 1, 2019.All cows and heifers that have calved inventory at 40.7 million head, down  1 percent from a year ago.

All cattle and calves in Canada as of January 1, 2020 totaled 11.2 million head, down 2 percent from the 11.4 million on January 1, 2019. All cows and heifers that have calved inventory at 4.54 million, down 2 percent from a year ago.



United States and Canadian Hog Inventory Up 2 Percent

United States and Canadian inventory of all hogs and pigs for December 2019 was 91.2 million head. This was up 2 percent from December 2018, and up 4 percent from December 2017. The breeding inventory, at 7.70 million head, was up 2 percent from a year ago and up 4 percent from 2017. Market hog inventory, at 83.5 million head, was up 3 percent from last year and up 5 percent from 2017. The semi-annual pig crop, at 84.6 million head, was up 3 percent from 2018 and up 5 percent from 2017. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 7.57 million head, down slightly from last year but up 2 percent from 2017.

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2019 was 77.3 million head. This was up 3 percent from December 1, 2018 but down slightly from September 1, 2019. The breeding inventory, at 6.46 million head, was up 2 percent from last year, and up slightly from the previous quarter. Market hog inventory, at 70.9 million head, was up 3 percent from last year, but down slightly from last quarter. The pig crop, at 35.1 million head, was up 2 percent from 2018 and up 5 percent from 2017. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 3.17 million head, down 1 percent from 2018 but up 2 percent from 2017. 

Canadian inventory of all hogs and pigs on January 1, 2020 was 13.9 million head. This was down 1 percent from January 1, 2019 and down 2 percent from January 1, 2018. The breeding inventory, at 1.24 million head, was down 1 percent from last year and down 1 percent from 2018. Market hog inventory, at 12.6 million head, was down 1 percent from last year and down 2 percent from 2018. The semi-annual pig crop, at 14.2 million head, was up 1 percent from 2019 but down 1 percent from 2018. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 1.22 million head, up slightly from last year but down 2 percent from 2018.



United States and Canadian Sheep Inventory Down 1 Percent

All sheep and lambs in the United States and Canada combined totaled 6.00 million head on January 1, 2020, down 1 percent from the 6.07 million on January 1, 2019. Breeding sheep inventory at 4.40 million head, down 1 percent from a year ago. Market sheep and lambs totaled 1.60 million head, down 1 percent from last year.

All sheep and lambs in the United States as of January 1, 2020 totaled 5.20 million head, 1 percent below the 5.23 million head on January 1, 2019. Breeding sheep inventory at 3.81 million head, down slightly from a year ago. Market sheep and lambs totaled 1.39 million head, down 1 percent from last year.

All sheep and lambs in Canada as of January 1, 2020 totaled 802 thousand head, down 4 percent from last year's number of 835 thousand. Breeding sheep inventory at 590 thousand head, down 5 percent from last year. Market sheep and lambs totaled 213 thousand head, down 2 percent from a year ago.



U.S. Farm & Biofuel Leaders Urge President Trump Stand by RFS

America’s top biofuel and farm advocates called on President Trump to immediately speak out against reports from within the administration that the White House may bow to a misinformation campaign spearheaded by Senator Ted Cruz. The senator has urged the president to join a handful of oil refineries seeking to overturn a unanimous court decision that would halt the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) abuse of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The following joint statement was issued by the National Corn Growers Association, the Renewable Fuels Association, the American Soybean Association, the National Farmers Union, Growth Energy, the American Coalition for Ethanol, the National Biodiesel Board, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, and Fuels America.

“The president needs to understand that Ted Cruz doesn’t care about this administration or families across the heartland who are counting on the White House to keep its promises. Just days ago, thousands of farmers rallied behind Secretary Perdue, who expressed his confidence that we had finally reached the end of a long and painful fight against EPA demand destruction. Tearing open that wound, against the advice of rural champions and the president’s own advisors, would be viewed as a stunning betrayal of America’s rural workers and farmers. We cannot stress enough how important this decision is to the future of the rural economy and to President Trump’s relationship with leaders and voters across the heartland. Ted Cruz comes back year after year with the same lies about refinery profits, disproven over and over by economists, the EPA, and even by Big Oil. We urge the president to stand up now against this misguided effort to torpedo the rural recovery.”

Days ago, more than 20 farm and biofuel groups, including the American Farm Bureau and the National Farmers Union, also sent the attached letter asking President Trump to reject “an appeal of the court decision, given the clarity, unanimity, and strength of the ruling.”



Record Number of Farmers Attend 2020 Commodity Classic

A record number of farmers converged on Texas last week for the 2020 Commodity Classic.  Total farmers registered was 4,678—the highest number in the show’s 24-year history, eclipsing the previous record of 4,595 set in 2016 in New Orleans.  Total registrations of 9,350 was also second only to the New Orleans event.

Held Feb. 27-29 in San Antonio, Texas, the 2020 Commodity Classic featured dozens of educational sessions, a huge trade show with nearly 400 exhibitors, a keynote address by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, a concert performance by Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry, policy meetings of the sponsoring commodity associations, a wide variety of presentations from well-known industry leaders and top farmers, and tours of area attractions.

Commodity Classic returns to San Antonio March 4-6, 2021, as the show celebrates its Silver Anniversary next year.  For information, visit CommodityClassic.com.



USDA to Open Signup March 16 for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands

Farmers and ranchers may apply to enroll grasslands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands signup beginning March 16. The signup runs through May 15.

“Through this CRP Grasslands signup, farmers and ranchers can protect grasslands, rangelands and pastures, while maintaining the land as working grazing lands,” said Richard Fordyce, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). “The program emphasizes support for grazing operations and plant and animal biodiversity, while protecting land under the greatest threat of conversion or development.”

Through CRP Grasslands, participants retain the right to conduct common grazing practices, such as haying, mowing or harvesting seed from the enrolled land. Timing of some activities may be restricted by the primary nesting season of birds.

Participants will receive an annual rental payment and may receive up to 50 percent cost-share for establishing approved conservation practices. The duration of the CRP contract is either 10 or 15 years. FSA will rank applications using a number of factors including existence of expiring CRP land, threat of conversion or development, existing grassland, and predominance of native species cover, and cost.

The 2018 Farm Bill set aside 2 million acres for CRP Grassland enrollment. CRP is one of the largest conservation programs at USDA. CRP marks its 35-year anniversary in 2020 with 22 million acres currently enrolled.



CWT assisted sales in February total 9.8 million pounds of dairy exports

CWT assisted member cooperatives in securing 75 contracts with sales of 3.6 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 862,008 pounds of butter, 4.6 million pounds of whole milk powder and 745,163 pounds of cream cheese. The product is going to customers in Asia, Central and South America, the Middle East, North Africa and Oceania. The product will be shipped during the months of February through July 2020.

These transactions bring the 2020 total of the CWT-assisted product sales contracts to 4.896 million pounds of cheese, 1.190 million pounds of butter, 5.291 million pounds of whole milk powder and 1.390 million pounds of cream cheese. These contracts will move the equivalent of 121.5 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis overseas in 2020.

Assisting CWT member cooperatives to gain and maintain world market share through the Export Assistance program, in the long-term expands the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively impacts all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.



FFAR Improves Animal Welfare by Enriching Swine Environment

The environment in which pigs are raised contributes to their health, welfare and productivity. The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) awarded a $75,000 grant to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to examine how environmental enrichment techniques can improve pig welfare. Nestle and Tyson Foods provided matching funding for a total $150,000 investment.

Pigs are highly intelligent animals that thrive in environments where they can exhibit natural behaviors. The US livestock industry recognizes the need to improve animal welfare including developing better living conditions, which positively affects health and overall well-being. Group housing benefits pigs by improving social stimulation, but it also sometimes results in damaging behaviors like tail-biting and ear-chewing which occur, in part, due to boredom or frustration. Providing pigs with access to toys and devices, referred to as environmental enrichmen, may reduce aggressive interactions and improve welfare.

“There is increasing public attention on how food is produced, and animal welfare is becoming more important,” said Dr. Jeremy Marchant-Forde, USDA-ARS Animal Scientist. “Retailers and consumers expect farm animals to have a certain quality of life and it is essential that livestock industries meet that expectation.”

Providing enrichment can reduce stress levels, increase performance and productivity and decrease aggressive or abnormal behavior towards other pigs. Researchers are testing various environmental enrichment devices like chew toys and other devices and measuring their effects on pig welfare at key development stages in the pigs’ life cycle. Pig producers will use the results to develop environmental enrichment management strategies that benefit pig welfare and performance.

FFAR, Nestle and Tyson Foods are funding one of the first studies in the United States that examines the impact of enrichment materials on US pigs. This research is assessing the pigs’ welfare by measuring behavior, health and growth rates.

In Europe, minimum standards for pig production have already been successfully implemented, positively impacting pig health and welfare. This research examines how some European environmental enrichment practices can be applied to the US livestock industry.

“Apps, trinkets and doodling help many of us pass time and process information - turns out pigs feel the same way. Understanding how environmental enrichment impacts pig welfare pushes the needle in the right direction to ensuring that animal welfare is protected, while maintaining productivity and profitability,” said Dr. Sally Rockey, FFAR’s Executive Director. “This research will provide swine producers with ways to provide enrichment that they can then easily implement on their farms with minimal cost and effort.”