Wednesday December 2 Ag News

 SILAGE BUNKERS AND PILES: KNOW THE DANGERS

Horizontal silo forage systems are economical and maintain high-quality forage at low cost. These benefits are maximized when producers and farm managers implement safety practices to reduce potential for tractor or truck rollovers, run-overs by or entanglement in machinery, falls from heights, crushing/engulfment due to collapsing silage or injury resulting from worker complacency or fatigue.
Identifying silage safety principles is one of the aims of Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH). This University of Nebraska Medical Center group (https://www.unmc.edu/publichealth/feedyard/) is conducting two research projects (funded by National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health) that are designed to make a positive impact on the sustainability of cattle feedyards through increased safety and health efforts.

James Carrabba, Agricultural Safety Specialist at the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety-NEC, Bassett Healthcare Network in central New York State, says key silage safety principles used when covering and feeding out silage can help make covering the pile efficient as well as safe.

During filling and packing, silage should be packed in a progressive wedge shape. Packing tractors should aim for spreading and packing silage in four- to six-inch layers to achieve proper packing pressures. Silage that is properly packed may be less prone to face collapses during feedout.

“Before covering activity begins, conduct a safety meeting with the covering crew,” Carrabba says. “Designate those who will work near the edge of the pile. All other workers must stay away from the edge.”

All silage workers must wear non-slip shoes. Before the work begins, remind them to watch out for each other and make it clear that no horseplay will be tolerated.

“All workers should stay away from the edge as much as possible,” Carrabba says. “Use long-handled tools to push plastic and tires out to the edge of the sidewall. Anyone working near the edge should face the edge at all times and know where they are standing in relation to the edge of the pile.”

Anytime new silage is added to an existing silage pile, the transition point should be marked. Train workers on the location of the transition points. The new silage will not be interlocked with the old pile and large sections of silage can collapse during feed out.

New silage should NEVER be placed on top of existing silage that has a plastic covering in place. While this may seem like a good practice in regard to maintaining silage quality, it actually results in excessive potential for face collapse during feedout. Anytime workers are active in transition areas in a silage pile, extra caution is warranted to prevent silage accidents.

Feeding silage from a horizontal silo puts workers in the path of a range of hazards. Understanding the dangers and taking steps to amplify safety can help avoid injury related to toxic gases, injury or death related to a silage avalanche, or serious falls.

Written safety protocols for horizontal silo feedout safety will allow managers and workers to thoroughly refresh their understanding of silage feedout safety. All those working around silage should be thoroughly trained. Training sessions should include signing of an attendance roster to verify that training is completed.

Overhang on a silage pile can pose serious risk for injury or death. For that reason, during loading and packing, silage should never be piled higher than the reach of unloading equipment.

Keep in mind that nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide are generated after initial silo filling. The highest amounts of these deadly gases are present during the first two or three days following filling activities. However, portions of the gases can remain for up to three weeks after the silo is filled. This could be a hazard if the plastic on freshly covered silage has to be removed to add more to the pile. No one should be allowed to be in the silo area during those first three weeks.

At all times, only authorized personnel should have access to the silo. Visitors and children should always be kept away from the area. By placing highly visible signs such as “No Unauthorized Personnel” and “Danger, Keep Out, Silage Can Avalanche,” risks to visitors, children and any bystanders can be reduced. If possible, consider fencing off the horizontal silo area.

“All workers should wear high visibility clothing or vests,” Carrabba says. “Always use the ‘Buddy System’ and have a second worker present when working around silage. While in the silo area, all workers should maintain communication and visibility.”

No one should ever walk up to the silage pile face. A safe distance around a silage pile is three times the height of the pile. In collecting silage samples, use a loader bucket, keeping the loader within the limits of a safe distance from the face.

Workers on top of the silage pile should stay at least 8 to 10 feet away from the leading edge of the pile. Some guidelines suggest staying as far away from the edge as the pile is tall.

“When working around silage, always wear non-slip tread footwear,” Carrabba says. “To pull back tires and plastic from the edge, use long-handled tools. If possible, throw tires and plastic off the sides of the silo.”

Tires, sidewalls, gravel bags and plastic or any coverings should be removed during daylight hours. If this work must be done at night, workers must have adequate lighting.

Never hand-pitch spoiled silage of the top of the pile. In removing silage, shave down the face, keeping the silage face as smooth as possible. As its fed out, the silage face could be angled back slightly toward the pile to further reduce overhang conditions. Overhang situations can also be reduced by avoiding removal of silage at the bottom of the silage face.

In driving loaders or other heavy equipment, do not drive either parallel or in close proximity to the pile. Never park vehicles inside the silage-face safety zone.

To reduce potential for entanglement in equipment, shut off equipment, such as a silage defacer, before servicing or adjusting. All guards and shields should be in place on rotating components.

Silage feedout faces can be as high as 20 to 25 feet and bunker silo walls are often 14 to 16 feet high. Guidelines that reduce the risk of a serious or fatal fall include:
⦁    Use caution in removing plastic, oxygen-barrier film, tires, tire sidewalls, and gravel bags.
⦁    Always wear shoes featuring a non-slip tread.
⦁    Consider wearing a safety harness tethered with a lifeline. The lifeline anchor point must be able to withstand 5,000 pounds of force. The lifeline must be short enough to keep the worker from hitting the ground if they fall.
⦁    Never stand closer to the top edge of the feedout face than the height of the silage.
⦁    Enforce zero tolerance for any kind of horseplay on the top of the pile.
⦁    Don’t pitch or discard surface spoiled silage by hand.
⦁    Never allow anyone to ride in a loader bucket for any reason.
⦁    
Silage avalanche can occur at any time, quickly inuring or suffocating anyone caught in its path. To avoid risk of injury or death from an avalanche:
⦁    Never fill the silo hinger than the unloading equipment can safely reach.
⦁    Never allow anyone to approach the feed-out face inside the area less than three times the height of the pile.
⦁    Always use the Buddy Rule so someone is immediately available to help rescue anyone buried by a silage avalanche.
⦁    Never dig the loader into the bottom of the silage pile. This type of undercutting creates an overhang that can fall at any time.
⦁    If the loader must be driven inside the safe zone along the feed-out face, always implement the Buddy Rule.
⦁    Never work or stand closer to the edge of the pile face than its height.
⦁    
“Silage safety awareness has improved in recent years,”Carrabba says. “However, there’s still much to be done to protect farmers and workers from these hazards.”



Ricketts Announces Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced recent appointments he has made to fill Nebraska’s boards and commissions.

The following appointees are unpaid and are not subject to Legislative confirmation:

Corn Development, Utilization & Marketing Board
John S. Greer, Edgar
Brandon Hunnicutt, Giltner

The following appointees are unpaid and subject to Legislative confirmation:

Beginning Farmer Board
John E. Walvoord, Waterloo

Thank you to the many Nebraskans that give generously of their time and talent to make a difference in our state.  These appointments will provide crucial insight and expertise to their respective boards, committees, and commissions.  To learn about openings and apply to serve on a board or commission, go to https://governor.nebraska.gov/board-comm-req.



Scoular Announces Five-year Sustainability Strategy

Scoular on Wednesday announced that it has deployed a five-year sustainability strategy as it strives to create a positive impact on the agricultural industry and provide sustainable solutions for and with customers and other third-party partners, including farmers.

“Scoular has long embraced high-integrity business practices and supported the communities in which our employees work and live,” said CEO Paul Maass. “Our sustainability strategy builds on this foundation to guide and measure the positive impact we aim to deliver for the future of our industry, our communities and our planet.”

The strategy encompasses five pillars, each tied to milestones and measurable goals Scoular will work to achieve by 2025. Those five pillars are:
⦁    • Reducing our carbon footprint
⦁    • Fostering responsible marine sourcing
⦁    • Engaging in our communities
⦁    • Promoting diversity and inclusion
⦁    • Upholding workplace health and safety

Progress against the goals will be reported annually to employees, customers, vendors, Scoular’s Board of Directors and other stakeholders.

Maass said Scoular looks forward to partnering with its customers, producers and other third parties to create sustainability-focused, customized solutions.

“Scoular empowers its employees to quickly respond to a customer’s specific needs,” Maass said. “We are well-positioned to join with our partners to create sustainable solutions for their businesses, strategies which are in tune with Scoular’s values and deep history of stewardship. We are excited about the foundation this provides for Scoular’s sustainability impact over the upcoming five years and leveraging this platform to partner with our customers on their unique sustainability programs and needs.”



New Video Helps Livestock Producers Respond to Foreign Diseases

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced Tuesday that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, in conjunction with Iowa State University, has developed a video showing livestock producers how to set up a vehicle cleaning and disinfection corridor to protect their farms, and neighboring farms, during a foreign animal disease outbreak. This is one of many steps the Department is taking to help Iowa livestock producers prepare for a potential foreign animal disease outbreak.

Biosecurity is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of a foreign animal disease, and a vehicle cleaning and disinfection corridor is a critical component of an on-farm biosecurity plan. All vehicles, trucks, trailers and equipment entering or exiting a farm during a foreign animal disease outbreak should be properly cleaned and disinfected to help prevent pathogens from spreading to other locations and livestock.

"Practicing proper biosecurity on livestock farms every day is the best way to protect animal health, and biosecurity becomes even more important during a foreign animal disease outbreak," said Naig. "This video is one of many resources the Department has created to help livestock producers plan and prepare for a foreign animal disease outbreak so they can respond more effectively, if an outbreak occurs."

The video "Setting Up and Operating a Cleaning and Disinfection Station" is a free resource for livestock producers. It is available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's biosecurity web page.

The video explains
- How to select the location and prepare a decontamination corridor
- What items are needed to operate a cleaning and disinfection station
- What to do when a vehicle arrives at the farm
- How vehicles should enter the decontamination corridor
- How vehicles should leave a farm directly impacted by a foreign animal disease
- How to disinfect the decontamination corridor
- How to protect personnel
- How to properly remove personal protective equipment (PPE)
- How to plan for inclement weather

The Iowa Department of Agriculture produced this video using the Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Fund (163.3B), provided by the Iowa Legislature to protect the state's food animal production and economy.

Foreign Animal Disease Prevention and Preparation
Efforts are underway by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent a foreign animal disease from breaching the border. If it does, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has been working closely with the USDA, farmer-led livestock groups, and other livestock-producing states to develop plans and resources to contain and eradicate it as quickly as possible.

In September 2019, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and 14 other swine-producing states participated in a four-day African Swine Fever workshop led by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to test current foreign animal disease response plans. Each day of the exercise focused on different tactics deployed during an outbreak -- detection, containment, eradication and cleaning and disinfection. This allowed the USDA, the Iowa Department of Agriculture, state agencies, industry representatives and producers to put response plans into action to make sure they could be executed quickly and effectively.

In May 2020, the Department launched a foreign animal disease program for veterinarians licensed to practice in Iowa. The IowaFADefense program teaches veterinarians how to rapidly detect, respond to and contain foreign animal diseases affecting livestock and poultry. The program also increases the number of veterinarians who are trained and able to assist the Iowa Department of Agriculture and USDA in responding to a foreign animal disease outbreak.

To learn more about the state's foreign animal disease response plans, visit iowaagriculture.gov/animal-industry-bureau/animal-disease-response.



Covid-19 Drives Changes for 2021 Iowa Pork Congress

The January 2021 Iowa Pork Congress will look much different than the 48 previous events hosted by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA). The IPPA Board of Directors decided to cancel the Iowa Pork Congress trade show, which would have been Jan. 27 and 28. The trade show and educational sessions held during the two days typically attract 4,000 to 5,000 people involved in pork production from Iowa and the Midwest.
 
"We are disappointed to cancel the trade show, and to postpone some other events typically held during Iowa Pork Congress," said IPPA President Mike Paustian of Walcott. "We simply relied on our We Care Iowa core values: caring for the people in our communities and working together to solve the big issues our communities face, and today that big issue is coronavirus."
 
As scheduled, IPPA will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. "We have worked closely with the Iowa Events Center staff in planning this required in-person event so that social distancing can be maintained throughout the day," Paustian said.
 
The day will also include the Master Pork Producers Awards program, as well as the announcement of the 2021 Iowa Pork Youth Leadership Team. Both the awards program and announcement of the Youth Leadership Team will be seated events held in rooms that allow social distancing. They will also be streamed online for those who chose to watch the events from their homes.
 
The educational seminars held during Iowa Pork Congress and the Iowa Pork Foundation Auction will both move to virtual formats. As more details on that programming are developed, the information will be shared on www.IowaPorkCongress.org.
 
Additionally, the Taste of Elegance restaurant event that usually kicks off Iowa Pork Congress, and the youth swine judging contest that occurs at the end, have both been postponed until later in 2021.
 
The Iowa Pork Congress has been North America's most successful winter swine trade show and conference. The 2022 show is scheduled for Jan. 26-27, 2022.



NCBA Congratulates Rep. David Scott On His Nomination To Chair The House Agriculture Committee

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today issued the following statement in response to U.S. Representative David Scott (GA-13) being nominated by the Democratic Steering Committee to become the next Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee:
 
"Congressman Scott is a devoted friend of America’s cattle producers and I congratulate him on being selected by his colleagues to lead the House Agriculture Committee. His leadership and expertise on cattle issues demonstrates his commitment to helping producers succeed," said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. "He is a consummate leader and an ideal choice to lead the committee. NCBA members are looking forward to the opportunity to continue working with him in the future."



NMPF Awarded USDA Grant for Biosecurity

The National Milk Producers Federation today was awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to develop and improve biosecurity on U.S. dairy farms.

As one of two livestock industry organizations chosen along with 16 state animal health authorities and 14 land-grant universities, NMPF will use the $488,603 grant to implement and coordinate the Secure Milk Supply plan and develop a biosecurity program area through the National Dairy FARM Program (FARM). The FARM Animal Care program places an emphasis on biosecurity as a key element of dairy herd health and the grant funding will allow for further prioritization.

"The dairy industry has partnered with USDA for more than a decade on the Secure Milk Supply Plan. With this new funding, we are eager to continue and expand our work on biosecurity through integration with FARM," said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “We applaud USDA’s work to enhance the prevention, preparedness, detection, and response to animal diseases that threaten the viability of U.S. dairy farms.”

The grant is funded by the 2018 Farm Bill as part of an overall strategy to help prevent animal pests and diseases from entering the U.S. and reduce the spread and impact of potential disease incursions through advance planning and preparedness. APHIS will distribute funding through the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) as well as the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).

USDA has funded the NADPRP projects with the goal of individually and collectively addressing critical livestock biosecurity, large-scale depopulation and carcass disposal concerns in all major livestock industries across all U.S. regions. NMPF will apply the grant funding to advance biosecurity on dairy farms by partnering with stakeholders and experts including the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University, dairy farmers, veterinarians, dairy cooperatives and processors, and state and federal animal health officials.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 11/27/2020

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending November 27, ethanol production slowed by 1.6%, or 16,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 974,000 b/d—equivalent to 40.91 million gallons daily. Production remained 8.1% below the same week last year. The four-week average ethanol production rate rose for the eighth straight week, up 0.4% to 976,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.96 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks grew 1.8% to a 24-week high of 21.2 million barrels, which was 2.9% above a year-ago. Inventories built in the East Coast (PADD 1) and Midwest (PADD 2) but declined across the other regions.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, declined 1.9% to 7.97 million b/d (122.23 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was 11.7% less than a year ago.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol also slipped to the lowest volume since mid-June, down 2.6% to 792,000 b/d, equivalent to 12.14 bg annualized. This was 12.2% below the year-earlier level as a result of the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Imports of ethanol arriving into the West Coast were 9,000 b/d, or 2.65 million gallons for the week. Imports have been logged in thirteen of the past nineteen weeks. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of September 2020.)



Ethanol’s Essential Role in Delivering the COVID-19 Vaccine
Ken Colombini, Director of Communications, Renewable Fuels Assoc.

Among the long list of social media acronyms is “TIL” – “Today I learned,” which people use when they want to share something interesting that they just discovered for themselves. Here is a TIL example: Many people are genuinely surprised to learn about the ethanol industry’s important role when it comes to capturing and supplying carbon dioxide (CO2), which is used in everything from beverage bottling and food preservation to wastewater treatment and medical applications. And here’s another TIL for you: the CO2 captured by ethanol plants will play an important role in combatting COVID-19.

Earlier this year, after the pandemic forced ethanol plants across the Midwest to shutter, there were numerous news stories (Reuters, Wall Street Journal, Raleigh News & Observer) about a shortage of CO2 for beverages and other uses. What most consumers don’t realize is that CO2 is what puts the fizz in beer and soda. They also don’t realize that the ethanol industry is responsible for capturing roughly 40 percent of the national supply of CO2, which equates to between 3 to 3.5 million tons annually. So, there’s a very good chance the bubbles in that soda you’re drinking started at an ethanol plant.

As the COVID pandemic has raged on, the storyline has pivoted to focus on another use for CO2, and one arguably more urgent: dry ice production. In essence, dry ice is simply CO2 in its solid form. As we learn more about plans for distributing the COVID-19 vaccine, it is becoming increasingly clear how enormous an undertaking this will be—especially considering the likely need for multiple doses. Essential to the storage and distribution of some forms of the vaccine will be an adequate and stable supply of dry ice, something we don’t quite have. The Pfizer vaccine under development, for example, will require a significant amount of dry ice to ensure the storage remains at the required minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit. Dry ice is vastly colder than regular ice and is therefore used for shipping foods and other items (like medicine) required to stay below a certain temperature for a long period of time. In this case, it’s ideal for moving and storing the new Pfizer vaccine.

Due to the development of these new vaccines and the need to store them at such extremely low temperatures, we’re now seeing a slight increase in dry ice demand, which means a slight increase in CO2 demand. But the need for more dry ice is coming at the same time that CO2 capture in the ethanol industry is down. This is in large part because some ethanol plants that capture CO2 remain idle or are operating significantly below normal rates of output due to repressed demand for their primary product—fuel ethanol. While production of captured CO2 from ethanol plants has improved since the spring, it remains about 25 percent below what it was at this time in 2019.

Before the pandemic, approximately 45-50 ethanol plants (about one quarter of existing plants in the U.S.) captured and sold CO2. During this ongoing national emergency, it is more important than ever before that we ensure a stable supply of captured CO2 is available to meet the growing demand for dry ice and other critical uses like food preservation. As our nation’s political leaders continue to debate additional COVID relief measures, we urge them to consider the important role the ethanol industry plays in providing captured CO2.  



USDA Announces Implementation of Improvements to Prevented Planting Coverage and the Beginning and Veteran Farmer and Rancher Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced that improvements to prevented planting coverage and to the beginning and veteran farmer and rancher program took effect on November 30 for crop year 2021. These improvements, among others, were made to the Common Crop Insurance Policy Basic Provisions.

“These improvements are the result of feedback from producer groups and other stakeholders,” said RMA Administrator Martin Barbre. “These changes will improve prevented planting coverage and the beginning and veteran farmer and rancher program for years to come.”

Improvements to prevented planting coverage include:
-    Expanding the “1 in 4” requirement nationwide, requiring producers to plant, insure and harvest acreage in at least one of the four most recent crop years.
-    Making modifications to ensure that producers’ prevented planting payments adequately reflect the crops the producer intended to plant.
-    For more information, see the previous announcement and these Frequently Asked Questions.

The improvement to the beginning and veteran farmer and rancher program will allow participants with farming experience to use the Actual Production History (APH) of the previous producer, with permission, on newly acquired land. Previously, the APH could only be used if the beginning or veteran farmer or rancher was involved on the specific acreage acquired.

RMA is authorizing additional flexibilities due to coronavirus while continuing to support producers, working through Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to deliver services, including processing policies, claims and agreements. RMA staff are working with AIPs and other customers by phone, mail and electronically to continue supporting crop insurance coverage for producers. Farmers with crop insurance questions or needs should continue to contact their insurance agents about conducting business remotely (by telephone or email). More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.



NBB Congratulates Long-Time Staffer on New Position

National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell Rehagen shared congratulations for current NBB director of communications Kaleb Little who today was named Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas Soybean Association and Administrator of the Kansas Soybean Commission

"We hate to see Kaleb leave NBB but couldn't imagine a better fit for him, his family, and his leadership mindset than this position at Kansas Soybean," Rehagen said. "I am extremely confident he will succeed in this new role and will provide valuable leadership to the farmers of his home state and on the national level."

Little served in various communications roles at NBB since March 2010, most recently as the director of communications since June 2018 where he lead a team of two staff members and 18 key contractors to execute the wide array of annual communications projects at NBB. He has led high-level communications strategy and messaging on behalf of the biodiesel industry and has been instrumental in the annual National Biodiesel Conference & Expo over the years.

A native of Rossville, Kan., Little will take on the CEO and Administrator duties following the announced retirement of longtime Kansas Soybean leader Kenlon Johannes. Little remains with NBB through December and will start with Kansas Soybean January 4.