AG REMAINS A DRIVER OF ECONOMIC WELL-BEING FOR MOST RURAL NEBRASKANS
Most rural Nebraskans believe that agriculture is a driver of economic well-being in their households, communities or both, according to the 2020 Nebraska Rural Poll.
Most rural Nebraskans also have deep roots in the state’s agricultural industry, the poll found. Half of those surveyed are one generation or less removed from the farm or ranch, while just 28% of households have no farming or ranching history in the previous four generations. These findings are similar to the 2010 survey.
Four in 10 rural Nebraskans surveyed said their economic well-being is dependent on the success of production agriculture, said Rebecca Vogt, survey manager of the Nebraska Rural Poll, an annual survey of rural Nebraska households conducted each spring. Another 23% of respondents said some of their economic well-being is tied to production agriculture. When looking at animal agriculture in particular, a third of respondents said their economic well-being is dependent on it, and another 23% said it impacts some of their economic well-being.
Furthermore, most rural Nebraskans surveyed say the economic well-being of their community or county is dependent on the success of both production and animal agriculture. Three-quarters said the economic well-being of their community or county is affected by the success of production agriculture in general. In addition, 71% said the economic well-being of their community or county is dependent on animal agriculture in particular.
The importance of agriculture as a driver of personal and community well-being is consistent with the findings of a recent report on the economic impact of the ag sector in Nebraska, said Brad Lubben, extension associate professor and policy specialist at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
“With nearly one in four people across the entire state — metropolitan areas included — employed in ag production or an ag-related profession, it’s obvious that overall well-being and agriculture are tied closely together in Nebraska,” Lubben said. “As the survey results show, even those not directly involved in agriculture connect the success of agriculture to the success of their communities.”
While rural Nebraskans may recognize their connection to agriculture, they may not be as familiar with some ag policies in the state. Many rural Nebraskans surveyed reported they were not familiar with the Livestock Friendly County designation administered by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and adopted by 50 counties. The voluntary program helps counties and agricultural producers promote the livestock industry and further development and expansion. Only four in 10 respondents reported knowing whether their county was designated as livestock friendly. Thirty-two percent reported being familiar with the designation. Even among people employed in agriculture, only a slight majority (52%) reported they were familiar with the designation and knew the significance.
Overall, though, rural Nebraskans are supportive of new livestock development. Seventy-two percent of respondents agree that encouraging new livestock development is beneficial for their county. A similar proportion, 70%, agree that it is important to have a logical, predictable approval process for new livestock development in their county.
Given that many are unfamiliar with the Livestock Friendly County designation, it is not surprising that opinions were mixed on its impacts. Nineteen percent of respondents agreed with a statement suggesting that the designation would limit local/county control and local input in the process. However, 17% disagreed and 65% neither agreed nor disagreed.
The Livestock Friendly County designation provides counties a way to signal their interest and openness to potential livestock development and provides producers a sign that regulations and decisions on new livestock developments in the county are straightforward and predictable, Lubben said.
“The survey results are consistent with those goals for the Livestock Friendly County policy,” he said. “However, the policy doesn’t eliminate local control of the decision, nor does it eliminate some of the ongoing challenges for large-scale animal agriculture.”
The 2020 poll was mailed to 7,000 rural households across the state in April. It is the largest annual poll of rural Nebraskans' perceptions on quality of life and policy issues. This year's response rate was 33%. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 2%. Complete results are available at http://ruralpoll.unl.edu. The university's Department of Agricultural Economics conducts the poll with funding from Nebraska Extension and Rural Prosperity Nebraska.
Cuming County Board of Supervisors Seeking Extension Board Nominations
The Cuming County Board of Supervisors are seeking nominations for individuals interested in serving a three-year term on the Cuming County Extension Board. Due to changes in the laws, Extension Board Members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors rather than being elected.
Two positions on the Cuming County Extension Board are up for appointment. The district lines are defined according to the Cuming County Board of Supervisors districts. Nominees are needed for the districts served by Supervisors Steve Sill, District 6 and Glen Wiechman, District 5. Melanie Thompson, representing District 6, has agreed to serve an additional 3-year term. Extension Board members are eligible serve two consecutive terms. Wahneeta Norton, representing District 5 is completing her second 3-year term. Potential candidates are encouraged to contact the Extension Office, if you have questions on which supervisor district you reside in.
A nominating committee is seeking nominations or calls from interested individuals. This nomination committee will be responsible for preparing a slate of potential candidates that will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for their consideration. If you are interested in being a candidate, please feel free to contact the Cuming County Extension office at 402/372-6006. You may also contact nominating committee members Justin Sindelar, Melanie Thompson, and Wahneeta Norton.
According to Extension Educator Hannah Guenther, the operation of Nebraska Extension should be given serious consideration by all county residents. It operates the tax funds under the guidance of the Cuming County Extension Board. Extension programs focus on priority needs and issues facing people of the county.
Grazing Corn Stalks or Corn Residue?
Brad Schick, Nebraska Extension Educator
Having corn stalks to graze is a great resource for livestock producers. For dry cows, it is a relatively inexpensive feed that can typically meet, or come very close to meeting nutritional needs. Grazing can also help get rid of corn remaining in the field and potentially reduce volunteer corn the following year. But are cattle really grazing stalks?
Yes and no. In everyday conversation, grazing corn stalks is said, but the stalk is the last thing cattle eat. Cattle do eat stalks, particularly if they are left on a field too long, but they are primarily consuming leaf, husk, and leftover corn. The stem or stalk makes up about 48.5% of the residue, while the leaf blade and husk make up 39.6%. Cattle will consume leaf and husk if available. That diet will consist of 52 to 55% TDN (total digestible nutrients) and 5 to 5.5% crude protein.
When thinking about how long to graze corn residue, the calculation to follow is that for every bushel of corn produced, there is 16 lbs of dry leaf and husk. The recommended grazing plan should be to remove 50% of the leaf and husk. This assumes that portions of the forage will also be lost to trampling, defecation, and other considerations such as wind. Now the calculation is 8 lbs of good forage on a dry matter basis that is available for consumption for every bushel of corn.
For example, say the field produced 200 bu/ac corn. By the calculations, there is 1600 lbs of dry matter per acre available (8 lbs X 200 bu = 1600 lbs). A 1000 lb animal will consume about 26 lbs of dried forage per day which means a 1300 lb animal will consume about 34 lbs per day. However, with lower quality forage such as corn residue, intake will be closer to 2% of bodyweight. In this example, that means closer to 26 lbs for the 1300 lb animal. So, how many days of grazing is that? By the calculations, there are 61 days of grazing for one cow grazing one acre (1600 lbs DM ÷ 26 lbs = 61 days). A general rule is about 30 cow days per 100 bushels of corn produced. Grazing corn residue can be a very cheap way to potentially clean up corn in a field as well.
Calves and replacement heifers can be also be a great option but will need a protein source in order to meet their growing requirements. Not only is grazing corn residue good for the cattle producer, but it is also good for the crop producer. Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have shown that grazing corn residue increases or at least maintains crop yields.
In years when there is ear drop, plants blown over, or other factors, the calculations will likely need to be adjusted. That is when good observation is critical. Checking how much corn is on the ground can help with supplementation costs if needed and to make sure cattle are safe to graze corn residue.
Grazing corn residue, done right, can be very beneficial to the cow and the producer’s bottom line. An accurate calculation will reveal the amount of forage available and will aid in management decisions to be followed.
GETTING THE MOST FROM GRAZING CORN RESIDUE
Daren Redfearn, NE Extension
Corn harvest is starting. That means corn residue will soon available for grazing. How should grazing be managed to get the most out of them?
When corn residue becomes available for grazing, several decisions need to be made. For starters, how soon should you move cows to graze the residue? Most years you probably should start grazing as soon as possible. The nutrient value of residue declines the longer it is exposed to weathering. Grazing residue right away will put more condition on cows and faster gains on stockers.
But be sure to check fields for excess grain before grazing. Fields with small ears or fields with wind damage may have more grain loss than usual. Too much corn can cause acidosis and founder. Adapt cattle to a higher grain ration before grazing if a problem is expected.
How to graze is another decision. Be careful, though, about forcing cows to eat the lower stalks. They won’t get much protein or energy from lower stalks and nitrate levels might be dangerously high. If heavy snow or mud occurs before you graze all areas, some good quality feed can be lost.
Whole-field grazing permits fast, early gains but more supplements are needed late in the season after all grain has disappeared. Strip grazing by giving animals only one or two weeks-worth of grazing at a time uses the residue more efficiently than leaving cattle in the same entire field for a couple months or longer. Strip grazing permits a higher stocking rate and provides a more uniform diet.
Whatever your grazing strategy, consider carefully what kind of nutrition animals are getting from the residue, so you neither underfeed nor overfeed expensive supplements.
Be sure to provide salt, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin A free choice at all times. And once all the grain is gone, cows will need about half a pound per day of an all-natural protein to meet nutrient needs.
Corn residue grazing season is here. Make wise decisions to use it in best way possible.
2021-2022 Engler Entrepreneurship scholarships available
Students passionate about becoming an entrepreneur and learning how to pursue their purpose through entrepreneurship can now apply for scholarships to the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the 2021-2022 academic year. Incoming and current College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources students are eligible to apply, they just need to have had prior FFA or 4-H experience.
Scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 are awarded annually to Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship students, with eligibility to reapply for three years, said to program director Tom Field, In 2020, approximately 70 students received scholarship support totaling over $200,000 from the Engler program.
To apply, students must complete an application and series of essay questions at https://engler.unl.edu/. Applications are due by midnight on Jan. 4, 2021.
The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program is a unique opportunity at Nebraska designed to empower enterprise builders. Approximately 200 students at the university are pursuing development of their entrepreneurial skills and capacity in the program. Participation in the program is not restricted to scholarship recipients.
The Engler program began in 2010 with a $20 million gift over 10 years from the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation. The purpose of the program is to identify students with the entrepreneurial drive and then foster development of professional skills conducive to success in applying entrepreneurism in agriculture and agribusiness.
For more information about the program, visit https://engler.unl.edu.
The 2021 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo Goes Virtual
The National Biodiesel Conference & Expo is going virtual for the 2021 event January 18-21. The must attend, premier event of the year is going online to share the latest biodiesel and renewable diesel industry news, highlight key speakers, and showcase industry sponsor companies. This virtual event will be accessible to everyone, sharing the industry’s message from coast to coast through a new, safe format that will “RISE” to meet the needs of all attendees.
“Our industry is proving its strength and commitment to better, cleaner fuel through this time of uncertainty,” said NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen. “The biodiesel and renewable diesel industry have worked tirelessly to keep this industry growing, collaborating, and coordinated as we face this unique time together, and we can’t wait to kick off a new year in 2021 with our members and key industry partners during our first ever virtual conference, providing attendees a top shelf experience.”
Each year NBB provides the industry with the opportunity to learn and grow. Whether an industry veteran, or just getting started in the biodiesel and renewable diesel world, the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo has plenty for all. The conference lineup is already packed with key discussion topics and thought-provoking industry insights and will still include crowd favorite mainstage and breakout sessions, as well as brand new opportunities to showcase industry businesses through high-visibility sponsorships like never before.
Register for the 2021 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, happening January 18-21, 2021, by visiting biodieselconference.org. View the new and unique opportunities available to sponsors and get a preview of the branding opportunities that a virtual platform provides.
Global Fertilizer Day is October 13
The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today announced that Tuesday, October 13 is Global Fertilizer Day, an annual event celebrated around the world by the fertilizer industry in an effort to educate people about the importance of the fertilizer industry, its contributions to feeding both the global population and the global economy, and encouraging students to explore the many fulfilling career paths available to them within the industry.
“We are extremely proud of the fertilizer industry’s global role and believe we are lucky to be able to not only feed the world by putting food on peoples’ tables, but to feed economies by providing important and fulfilling careers and working tirelessly to innovate to be good environmental stewards,” said TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “We feed the world, we do it sustainably, and we are proud of the women and men working in our industry to make it all happen. It is an honor to celebrate them, and that’s what Global Fertilizer Day is all about.”
In years past, facilities have opened their doors to local school students, elected officials and the general public for facility tours and presentations. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 celebrations have gone mostly virtual.
“TFI and the Nutrients for Life Foundation (NFLF) are jointly hosting a virtual learning event on October 13 focused on workforce development by highlighting available career pathways in the fertilizer industry,” continued Rosenbusch. The learning event consists of interviews with six individuals working in the fertilizer industry and includes a live Q&A with students after each session. “The individuals we’ve chosen to highlight represent a broad swath of available careers within the industry and include product engineers, equipment operators, a chef and a top government affairs professional.”
With group gatherings and in-person events largely curtailed this year, TFI is also helping the industry spread the word through social media channels. “TFI has put together some interesting facts about the industry for companies to share through their channels, and also a few short and fun videos,” Rosenbusch concluded. “We’re excited to share with the world the wonderful and amazing contributions the fertilizer industry makes to feed economies and populations, and also to excite potential employees of the future about the possibilities within our industry.”
No comments:
Post a Comment