Tuesday November 10 Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT

Based on November 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2020 corn crop is forecast at a record 1.82 billion bushels, up 2% from last year's production, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Area to be harvested for grain, at 9.83 million acres, is up slightly from a year ago. Yield is forecast at 185 bushels per acre, up 3 bushels from last year.

Soybean production is forecast at 299 million bushels, up 5% from last year. Area for harvest, at 5.15 million acres, is up 6% from 2019. Yield is forecast at 58 bushels per acre, down 0.5 bushel from last year.

Sorghum production is forecast at 12.4 million bushels, up 3% from last year. Area for harvest, at 135,000 acres, is up 4% from 2019. Yield is forecast at 92 bushels per acre, down 1 bushel from last year.

Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.48 million tons, up 38% from last year. Area for harvest, at 45,800 acres, is up 9% from 2019. Record yield is forecast at 32.3 tons per acre, up 6.9 tons from last year.

Potato acres of 19,000 were planted in 2020, down 7%. Harvested acreage set at 18,700 acres, down 7%. Production is forecast at 9.16 million cwt, down 5% from last year. Record yield is forecast at 490 cwt per acre, up 15 cwt from last year.



IOWA CORN, SOYBEAN PRODUCTION FORECAST

Iowa corn production is forecast at 2.34 billion bushels according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 184 bushels per acre, down 2 bushels per acre from the October 1 forecast and down 14 bushels per acre from last year. If realized, this would be the lowest corn yield for Iowa since 2014. Corn planted acreage is estimated at 13.7 million acres. An estimated 12.7 million of the acres planted will be harvested for grain.

Soybean production is forecast at 503 million bushels. The yield is forecast at 54.0 bushels per acre, down 2.0 bushels per acre from the October forecast and 1.0 bushel per acre lower than 2019. Soybean planted acreage is estimated at 9.40 million acres with 9.32 million acres to be harvested.

The forecasts in this report are based on November 1 conditions and do not reflect weather effects since that time. The next corn and soybean production estimates will be published in the Crop Production – Annual Summary report which will be released January 12, 2021.



USDA:  Corn Production Down 1 Percent from October Forecast
Soybean Production Down 2 Percent
Cotton Production Up less than 1 Percent

Corn production for grain is forecast at 14.5 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the previous forecast but up 7 percent from 2019. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 175.8 bushels per harvested acre, down 2.6 bushels from the previous forecast but up 8.3 bushels from last year. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 82.5 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast, but up 1 percent from the previous year.

Soybean production for beans is forecast at 4.17 billio bushels, down 2 percent from the previous forecast but up 17 percent from last year. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 50.7 bushels per harvested acre, down 1.2 bushels from the previous forecast but up 3.3 bushels from 2019. Area harvested for beans in the United States is forecast at 82.3 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast but up 10 percent from 2019.

All cotton production is forecast at 17.1 million 480-pound bales, up less than 1 percent from the previous forecast but down 14 percent from 2019. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 911 pounds per harvested acre, up 2 pounds from the previous forecast and up 88 pounds from 2019. Upland cotton production is forecast at 16.5 million 480-pound bales, up less than 1 percent from the previous forecast but down 14 percent from 2019. Pima cotton production is forecast at 557,000 bales, up 2 percent from the previous forecast but down 19 percent from 2019. All
cotton area harvested is forecast at 9.01 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast, but down 22 percent from 2019.



November WASDE Brings New Optimism for Corn and Soybean Markets
AFBF Market Intel

USDA released its November World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates with amended supply and demand expectations for the 2020/21 marketing year. Largely in response to Chinese imports, U.S. corn exports increased this month compared to last. Corn and soybean supplies were lowered as expected yields were reduced for both crops. Anticipating higher export levels and lower yields, price expectations rose for the second month in a row. Today’s article reviews the November WASDE updates.

Some of the main highlights include big changes to U.S. corn export expectations, which grew by 325 million bushels, going from 2.3 billion bushels to 2.6 billion bushels. If these expectations are fulfilled, it would be the largest amount of corn the U.S. has exported on record. This bump in U.S. corn exports is largely driven by the increase of Chinese imports from 7 MMT to 13 MMT, some of which is expected to come from the U.S. If realized, it would be the largest amount of corn China has imported on record (i.e. China Could Be Looking to Import More Corn). USDA has stated that though there have not been any public statements regarding the Chinese corn import quota, shipment data for exporting countries through early November indicates China will exceed the current tariff-rate quota of 7.2 MMT. However, there are rumors China has increased the TRQ by 5 MMT through December. If the TRQ is not lifted, any additional corn China imports above the TRQ could be subject to a tariff of up to 65% of the purchase price.

USDA put corn yield expectations lower, dropping from 178.4 bushels per acre to 175.8 bushels per acre. The two major changes to supply and demand for corn push ending stocks for the 2020/21 marketing year down to 1.7 billion bushels. Last month, the October WASDE had corn ending stocks above 2 billion bushels. With the adjustment, the average farm price rises from $3.60 per bushel to $4.00 per bushel, the highest price for corn since 2013, when the price was $4.46 per bushel.

Soybean highlights come from the changes USDA made in supply, reducing yield slightly from 51.9 bushels per acre to 50.7 bushels per acre and reducing overall 2020/21 soybean supply by 98 million bushels, going from 4.8 billion bushels to 4.7 billion bushels. The tightened supply decreases ending stocks from 290 million bushels to 190 million bushels, making it the lowest amount of soybean stocks on hand since 2013. With the tightening in supply and lower stocks, USDA raised the average farm price of soybeans from $9.80 per bushel to $10.40 per bushel, the highest price for soybeans since 2014, when the price was $10.10 per bushel.

 

Brazil Raises 2020-2021 Soybean Forecast to 135M Tons

Brazilian crop agency Conab raised its forecast for soybean production for the 2020-2021 growing season as farmers are expected to plant a larger area with crop amid strong demand from China and good prices.

Brazilian farmers will produce a record 135 million metric tons of soybeans this season, the agency said Tuesday. In October, the agency forecast a crop of 133.7 million tons. Brazil produced 124.8 million tons of soybeans in 2019-2020, the previous record for the country.

Hot, dry weather in parts of Brazil, the world's biggest producer and exporter of soybeans, has slowed planting in some soybean-growing areas of the country. But as precipitation returns to closer to normal, Conab expects most farmers to have finished that work within the ideal window for the crop.

The area planted with soybeans in Brazil in the current season will increase 3.5% from 2019-2020, Conab said. Strong demand from China, Brazil's weak currency and high prices for soybeans should give producers enough money to invest more in care for the crop, according to the agency.

Conab trimmed its forecast for the 2020-2021 corn crop, to 104.9 million metric tons from 105.2 million tons. In 2019-2020, Brazil produced 102.5 million tons. The agency forecast a slight reduction, of 0.5%, in the planted area for the country's corn crop.



GRAZING STOCKPILED GRASS DURING WINTER
– Jerry Volesky, UNL

Grass remaining for winter grazing can help cut feed costs for stock cows.  Your management can greatly influence how effectively this works for you.

Grazing winter range or pastures has several benefits.  It can save as much as a dollar a day per cow compared to feeding hay.   On native range, there is little risk of damage to the grasses because they are dormant and winter stocking rates can be somewhat higher compared to the summer.  Often times, you will notice that pastures only grazed during the winter are the most vigorous and productive.

It is important though, that you closely monitor body condition of the cows during the winter grazing period.  Crude protein is generally the most limiting nutrient during winter grazing.  The crude protein content of dormant warm-season grasses will be around 5 to 7%, and will slowly decline through the winter months from weathering and as the cattle selectively grazing the higher quality forage in a pasture.

Stockpiled cool-season grass pastures are those that have been only lightly or not grazed during the growing season.  These pastures may have slightly higher crude protein levels, but that quality will also decline as the winter progresses.  Feeding the right amount of protein supplement while winter grazing will allow the cows to effectively utilize that winter forage and maintain the desired body condition.

A possible grazing management strategy that can be used is to do simple rotational grazing where cattle are periodically moved to a new winter pasture.  This will allow for a more consistent diet quality when winter grazing.

Whatever your strategy, though, consider carefully what kind of nutrition animals are getting from the pasture so you neither underfeed nor overfeed expensive supplements.  And be sure to provide salt, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin A free choice at all times.

Winter grazing is a great opportunity to reduce winter feed costs.  With proper management, it can help you meet many of your feeding goals.



Nebraska farmer grows 148.8 bu/A soybeans to break his own record
 
For the second time in three years, Jimmy Frederick has set a new world record for rain-fed soybeans, producing 148.8 bu/acre over a five acre area on his Rulo, Nebraska farm. This tops his own mark of 138 bu/A set in 2018 in the very same field.  
 
Supported by root systems resembling those of "baby trees," Frederick described a typical plant as being waist high, with 5-7 lateral branches, and producing 450-500 pods.  
 
To achieve such a feat, you would think everything had to go perfect. But for Frederick, who farms 2,500 acres of corn and soybeans across terraces, hills and bottom ground in the southwest corner of Nebraska, that was anything but the case.
 
Just after he planted his AgriGold®3520 soybeans on April 21, 50 mph winds blew across his field and helped form a heavy crust on top of the soil. It took nearly three weeks for the plants to emerge.
 
"I planted deeper than usual, at two inches, and after two weeks I thought that might not have been the way to go," laughed Frederick. "I almost ripped it up and started over."   
 
But when the plants did emerge, they shot up uniformly and maintained strong vigor, aided by a biological seed treatment package from Biovante that included BioCore and Invade 5G seed inoculants. Once plants reached the V5 stage, they showed excellent plant health with a near perfect stand count. That's when he first realized it could be a special year.
 
While yield-breaking growers are often associated with using high levels of crop inputs, Frederick takes the opposite approach. He's found that less is more. That starts with population rates that vary between 30,000 to 90,000 seeds per acre. If this sounds more like corn planting, that was purely his intent in 2020.
 
"I basically used the same settings to plant both my corn and soybeans," says Frederick, who runs a John Deere 1770 on 30-inch rows. "This year I used 27-hole planter plates and kept the depth at two inches. In the past, I used 76-, then 56-hole soybean plates, but to achieve the consistently wider spacing I was looking for, I gave this a try."
 
While Frederick said his record yield was achieved at 70,000 spa, most of the field was planted at far lower rates. The entire 204-acre field averaged better than 90 bu/A.  
 
"We're getting more air and sunlight to our plants, creating healthier plants, lots of branching and way fewer pod abortions," noted Frederick. "Plus, we've eliminated all the yellowing on the bottom leaves. We now have 4-bean pods on the top and bottom branches."
 
These lower, intensively managed plant populations better prepared him for what the remainder of 2020 had in store.
 
"With lower populations, you definitely have fewer mouths to feed," he explained. "We got 27 inches of rain from April through July, and our annual rainfall is 34 inches. With so much rain early, the plant root structure was more horizontal than vertical than I'd like. Then the water shut off in July and we only received two inches the rest of the season with very high heat levels."
 
While adding that "when you lower plant populations, you must make every seed count," Frederick said he pays close attention to the energy curve of his plants, so he can regulate how the plant performs at each stage of growth. This includes frequent tissue sampling and timely applications of Biovante biological products, specialty fertilizers and fungicides throughout the season. He typically makes 5-7 trips across his field.
 
Seed population isn't the only thing that Frederick has lowered. He's not used a dry fertilizer product for five years and also dramatically slashed fertilizer and other input costs. His focus is on improving both the health of his soil and the strength of his plants.
 
"BioRed is a microbial product that really improves nitrogen fixation," says Frederick. "Even on these high yielded fields, I've never applied any additional nitrogen to my soybeans. "Six years ago I came to the realization that I needed to adopt a different system for farming, one that focused on soil health, crop rotation, low plant populations and less dependence of synthetic products," concluded Frederick. "That's when I reached out to Chris Masters at Biovante, and we've been refining that system every year since."



Register Today for the 15th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

Biofuels advocates from across the globe will enjoy a jam-packed agenda tackling everything from policy to trade, to the future of the American fuel landscape, and all without braving the cold Iowa weather in January as the 2021 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit goes virtual! Free registration for the 2021 summit is now open.

“By going virtual, it will be easier than ever before for biofuels supporters to join the discussion at the Midwest’s largest biofuels policy conference,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Marketing Director Lisa Coffelt. “In this new virtual setting, we will cover all the big questions on everyone’s minds as we start this new year and attempt to glimpse into the future of U.S. energy and the role biofuels will play. We have successfully hosted the Summit for 14 years and on our 15th anniversary we are excited for the flexibility a virtual Summit provides to bring in speakers and viewers from across the country.”

The 2021 Virtual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit will be streamed on IowaRenewableFuelsSummit.org on January 26, 2021. The Summit is free to attend and open to the public, but registration is required to view the Summit.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit has long hosted one of the biggest biofuels trade shows in the country. To learn about changes to the 2021 trade show, review sponsorship opportunities, and register to attend, please visit IowaRenewableFuelsSummit.org.



National Pork Board Launches AgView, A New Tool to Help Protect the Industry from Foreign Animal Disease Fallout

The National Pork Board today announced the launch of AgView, a technology solution to help the U.S. pork industry respond faster than ever before possible in the event of a foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak. The web-based tool will allow participating producers to easily share their farm’s FAD status updates and pig movement data with state animal health officials. The opt-in, no-fee technology – funded by the Pork Checkoff – will allow for contact-tracing of infected animals to help rapidly contain or regionalize a potential FAD outbreak.
 
While any FAD outbreak on even a single farm would be devastating, the potential collective losses are staggering. According to a recent study1 from Iowa State University, an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in the United States could cost the pork industry $50 billion over 10 years.
 
“When pork producers adopt AgView, they are not only helping protect their farms, but also the entire industry,” said Pork Board CEO Bill Even. “COVID taught us, the best way to quickly contain and recover from a significant supply chain disruption, which an FAD outbreak would be, is through real-time information, collaboration and a common data set to inform decision making.”
 
AgView is designed to help the U.S. pork industry coordinate a unified response to FADs across the nation – from grain farmers to producers, to state health officials and veterinarians. When producer-users grant permission, AgView securely provides state animal health officials with health status, site and pig movement data from registered farms in real-time. This data sharing would go a long way in aiding an effective FAD response and could ultimately help the industry more quickly contain or regionalize in an outbreak.
 
“While local and state reporting protocols already are in place, there is no nationwide repository for this data and no mechanism for real-time sharing,” said Pork Board Chief Veterinarian Dave Pyburn. “Time is money in an FAD response, which is why we’re excited to have AgView to help fill that gap and facilitate a quicker return to business for producers, especially in our export markets”
 
AgView, as a single software platform, allows for the rapid and accurate visualization of relevant pig movement data and diagnostic test results to create visibility, accountability and trust during an outbreak of ASF or another FAD. To make this easier for producers, and ensure data is up to date, AgView can integrate with many existing record-keeping systems for easy synchronization. For those who do manual record-keeping, AgView also accepts imports from an Excel template. For more information, visit www.pork.org/agview.



NMPF Statement on EU’s Retaliatory Tariffs on Dairy

In response to the European Union’s (EU) imposition of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agriculture exports, which escalates the dispute over World Trade Organization (WTO)-incompliant aircraft subsidies, National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern issued the following statement:

“Europe has long wielded restrictive and unjustified trade tactics to limit fair competition from U.S. agriculture, including dairy exports. While Europe may be authorized to retaliate, the U.S. has already taken deliberate action to address the WTO decision. Meanwhile, Europe has failed to come into compliance with their WTO obligations.

“As the U.S. works to hold Europe accountable to its WTO obligations, U.S. retaliatory tariffs against EU dairy products continue to play a key role in bringing Europe to the negotiating table and compelling them to fulfill their trade commitments. The EU’s restrictive trade policies that have resulted in a one-way flow of agriculture trade, and in particular dairy trade, to Europe is something that both the current and future Administrations need to keep in mind. In fact, the trade deficit between the EU and U.S. continues to widen as the EU uses unjustified trade tactics to erode U.S. market access and limit fair competition.

“One of the most egregious of these tactics is the EU’s misuse of geographical indications (GIs) to ban the U.S. from selling cheeses with common names, such as asiago, feta or parmesan. We commend USTR’s continued maintenance of GI cheeses on the WTO-authorized list of tariff retaliation as these tariffs help to temporarily level the playing field for U.S. producers.

“It’s time for Europe to not only comply with its WTO obligations, but also make a fundamental change to retire its discriminatory agricultural trade policies once and for all.”



Register for free CAB webinar "Getting to know the brand"
By Abbie Burnett

How do you certify your herd to produce the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand?
The short answer? You don’t.

The long answer is one of the many that Kara Lee, CAB assistant director of producer engagement, will answer in an upcoming virtual presentation.

The free, one-hour "Getting to Know the Certified Angus Beef ® Brand" webinar is set for November 19, 1:30 p.m. Central.

CAB was designed to increase demand for registered Angus cattle by adding value throughout the supply chain, and today quality cattle are worth more to every segment.

Qualifying carcasses earn upwards of $1.7 million in grid premiums each week, Lee says, but knowing how it all comes together is the first step to capturing some of that value.

"The Certified Angus Beef brand is a well-known, almost household name for many cattle producers. However, the structure of the brand is often less well known," she says. "This is for any producer who wants a better understanding of how the company works for them and wants to know how to connect that to what they do on the ranch."

Lee will provide a general overview of the brand and its importance to consumers, and offer insight into how cattle qualify and what typically prevents CAB certification in the first place.

"If you’ve always thought of yourself as familiar with the brand, but find it difficult to explain exactly how it works, this webinar should be a great resource," Lee says.

From the basic to the complex, she’ll talk through the most common FAQs and allow time for participants to ask questions of their own.

"We want everyone who produces high-quality beef to know what it takes to get involved," Lee says.

To register for the Nov. 19 webinar, visit www.cabcattle.com/webinars.



International Beef Trade Dynamics
Josh Maples, Extension Economist, Mississippi State University

The latest monthly trade data were released by the USDA Economic Research Service last week. The September data continued to show adjustments from the beef production and beef price changes earlier in the year as well as the impacts of global beef demand. According to the ERS data, beef exports totaled approximately 239 million pounds during September. This was down 5.6 percent from September 2019. Through September, beef exports in 2020 were about 6 percent lower than during the first 9 months of 2019.

September showed stronger exports to South Korea, Canada, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Exports to Japan, the largest volume destination for U.S. beef exports, were down slightly according to the ERS data. Beef exports to Mexico continued to lag behind the 2019 pace. During September, beef exports to Mexico were about 38 percent lower than in September 2019 and were 40 percent lower for the first 9 months of 2020 compared to the first 9 months of 2019. Exports to Mexico were 14 percent of total January-September 2019 beef exports in 2019; in 2020, that share has dropped to about 9 percent.

Following up on a topic brought up by David Anderson’s article in September, cattle exports to Mexico continue to be stronger relative to past years. Weekly slaughter cattle exports to Mexico averaged 870 head during September and October including 1,432 head during the 4th week of October. These are small numbers relative to overall slaughter, but interesting given that slaughter cattle exports to Mexico have been very limited since 2003. More slaughter cattle were exported to Mexico during July-October 2020 (11,226 head) than during all of 2004-2019 combined (9,184 head).

Beef exports to Mainland China continued to increase in September. During September, shipments to China accounted for 5.3 percent of total exports. For comparison, beef exports to China during 2019 were around one percent of total exports. The 12.6 million pounds of beef exported to China during September is the highest monthly level on record and is another sign of growth for that destination.

There were also adjustments in beef imports. Beef imports during September were up 26 percent from a year ago and totaled approximately 300 million pounds. This followed large import totals in July and August. Beef imports during the third quarter of 2020 were about one billion pounds which is 33 percent higher than Q3 2019. The top 4 import sources (Canada, Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand) have combined for about 80 percent of total beef imports in 2020 through September. The big jump in beef imports during the summer was most likely a reaction to the record high retail beef prices during the late spring due to pandemic disruptions. Retail beef prices have moderated in recent months which will impact imports in future reports.

Taken as a whole, beef trade in 2020 shows many of the challenges experienced in 2020. For the U.S., the production disruptions in the spring and the resulting price peaks had significant impacts on beef exports and imports through the summer. Globally, though some recovery has occurred, demand for beef in international destinations continues to be influenced by pandemic responses and safety measures. Beef demand at seated restaurants continues to be impacted, and demand in areas reliant on tourism still faces obstacles. The pace of recovery in international destinations will be key for beef exports moving forward and for the value that beef exports add to cattle production.



Short-Term Energy Outlook Forecast Highlights
Energy Information Administration

Global liquid fuels
    The November Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) remains subject to heightened levels of uncertainty because responses to COVID-19 continue to evolve. Reduced economic activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes in energy demand and supply patterns in 2020 and will continue to affect these patterns in the future. U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 4.4% in the first half of 2020 compared with the same period a year ago. GDP began rising in the third quarter of 2020, and this STEO assumes it will grow by 3.7% from 2020 to 2021. The U.S. macroeconomic assumptions in this outlook are based on forecasts by IHS Markit.

    Brent crude oil spot prices averaged $40 per barrel (b) in October, down $1/b from the average in September. Brent prices fell in October as previously disrupted crude oil production in Libya came back online and as COVID-19 cases began increasing in many countries, which could reduce oil demand in the coming months. Despite these developments, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects global oil inventories to continue falling in the coming months. However, EIA expects high global oil inventory levels and surplus crude oil production capacity will limit upward pressure on oil prices and that Brent prices will remain near $40/b through the end of 2020. EIA expects that as global oil demand rises, forecast inventory draws in 2021 will cause some upward oil price pressures. EIA forecasts Brent crude oil prices will average $47/b in 2021.

    EIA estimates that an average of 95.3 million barrels per day (b/d) of petroleum and liquid fuels was consumed globally in October. Liquid fuels consumption was down 5.9 million b/d from October 2019, but it was up from both the third-quarter 2020 average of 94.1 million b/d and the second-quarter 2020 average of 85.3 million b/d. EIA forecasts that global consumption of petroleum and liquid fuels will average 92.9 million b/d for all of 2020, down by 8.6 million b/d from 2019, before increasing by 5.9 million b/d in 2021.

    EIA reported that 10.6 million b/d of crude oil was produced in the United States in August (the most recent month for which historical data are available), down 0.4 million b/d from July. Production fell in August mainly because hurricanes disrupted production from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. EIA reported that U.S. crude oil production in the Gulf of Mexico averaged 1.2 million b/d in August, down 0.5 million b/d from July. Since reaching a two-and-a-half year low of 10.0 million b/d in May, when producers curtailed wells, U.S. crude oil production has increased mainly because tight oil operators have brought wells back online in response to rising prices. EIA estimates that production will rise to 11.2 million b/d in November. However, EIA expects U.S. crude oil production to generally decline to an average of 11.0 million b/d in the second quarter of 2021 because new drilling activity will not generate enough production to offset declines from existing wells. EIA expects drilling activity to rise later in 2021, contributing to U.S. crude oil production reaching 11.3 million b/d in the fourth quarter of 2021. On an annual average basis, EIA expects U.S. crude oil production to fall from 12.2 million b/d in 2019 to 11.4 million b/d in 2020 and 11.1 million b/d in 2021.

More Here:  https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/.  



National Bison Assn. Moves Winter Events to Rapid City, SD

With the National Western Stock Show in Denver postponed for a year, the National Bison Association has teamed up with the Dakota Territory Buffalo Association (DTBA) to plan its annual live bison show and sale, along with its winter membership meeting for February 18-20, 2021 in Rapid City, SD.

“The Gold Trophy Show and Sale, and our Winter Conference, are vital business activities for our association,” said Jim Matheson, assistant director of the National Bison Association. “Working with the leadership of the Dakota Territory Buffalo Association, we’ve been able to plan an event that will provide a safe way for members to gather and to conduct our show and sale, while also providing an opportunity for people to participate in both the conference and the sale virtually as well.”

The annual Gold Trophy Show and Sale conducted by the bison association is recognized as the leading showcase for quality bison breeding stock in the U.S. Similarly, the DTBA’s performance tested “Girlz Gone Wild” yearling heifer competition provides ranchers with the opportunity to purchase young animals with proven quality. The two events will be combined into one simulcast auction on February 20th. Judging for the two events will take place the day before.

The national association and its regional counterpart have also collaborated to organize a joint conference with individual association membership meetings. That event is scheduled at the Ramkota Inn in Rapid City for February 19-20.

Matheson noted, “We are planning the meeting in a manner that will allow everyone to participate safely in person, or to log on and participate on-line.”

He said that details for the Show and Sale, and the Winter Conference are being posted on the bison association website, www.bisoncentral.com, as they are finalized.



Control Ammonia Levels, Animal Waste Volume in Closed Barns this Winter with All-Natural Ammocure from Brookside Agra

Inadequate ventilation in barns that animals inhabit during the winter months can often lead to pneumonia and respiratory illnesses caused by ammonia build up from waste. Animal producers often close-up their barns in winter to prevent cold drafts on their calves, pigs and poultry; but unfortunately restricting barn air flow can pose a greater risk to the health of their animals and the people who take care of them.

“Ammonia and its effects on human and animal health are seldom noticed when the same person works in the same operation every day. Ammonia can be a hidden killer and often is a major factor in reduced animal and human performance. Producers often admit that they have a problem with ammonia, but seldom realize how great it is,” said Tim Nelson, Vice President – Animal Health & Nutrition Sales at Brookside Agra.

At an ammonia level of 6 ppm, eye and respiratory irritation can occur. Animal performance can be reduced at ammonia levels of 11 ppm, with 25 ppm being the max level for eight-hour exposure. At the 40 ppm level, humans can experience headaches, nausea and appetite loss. Severe reductions in animal performance and health, with an increased possibly of pneumonia, can occur at 50 ppm. At 100 ppm, humans and animals can experience sneezing, salivation and irritation of mucus membranes.

To control ammonia, other offensive gasses and waste volume in animal housing during the winter months, Brookside Agra recommends its all-natural Ammocure line of products. Proven to reduce ammonia levels by up to 50 percent or more when added to a ration, Ammocure helps improve air quality, feed conversion and average daily gain, plus helps increase feed intake for better animal health and more comfortable working conditions for employees.

Made in the U.S.A., Ammocure is a specially formulated source of saponin, a natural wetting agent derived from the Yucca Schidigera plant, for addition to animal feeds. Non-toxic to all species and sizes of livestock, poultry and small animals when used as directed, all-natural Ammocure is available in a 15% Meal, 30% Powder and 50% Liquid formulation.

Ammocure Liquid is proven to control odors and reduce ammonia emissions from manure when added to feeds, while the powder and meal formulations are recommended to control waste volume, ammonia and offensive gasses produced by livestock. Ammocure Powder and Meal can also be used as a flavoring agent in commercial livestock feeds.

Brookside’s Ammocure products contain no fillers or carriers such as Zeolite or Calcium Carbonate that can often inhibit the activity of the saponin. Ammocure is also listed as a GRAS LIST safe-to-use ingredient.