Thursday January 28 Ag News

Interested in Testing Nitrogen Stabilizers on Your Farm?
Javed Iqbal - NE Extension Nutrient Management and Water Quality Specialist
Laura Thompson - NE Extension Educator

Nitrogen fertilizer management is challenging due to several factors that influence fertilizer nitrogen once applied to the soil. One of the primary concerns is the potential of fertilizer nitrogen (N) to be lost to the environment either through ammonia (NH3) volatilization, denitrification, or nitrate (NO3) leaching, which leads to reduced nitrogen availability for the crop.  

In situations with a high potential for N loss, the use of N fertilizer stabilizers (nitrification inhibitors, urea inhibitors, slow-release coated fertilizers) may decrease the N loss while protecting the fertilizer N investment. Currently, there are several products of N fertilizer stabilizers in the market. For example, products with known efficacy for inhibiting urease activity are N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) and N-(n-propyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NPPT). These active ingredients are found in products with tradenames of Agrotain (NBPT) and Limus (NBPT and NPPT). There are also other products that contain NBPT, since it is no longer patent-protected. Products with known efficacy for inhibiting nitrification are dicyandiamide (DCD), nitrapyrin, and pronitradine. Nitrapyrin has long been sold as N-Serve and Instinct, and pronitradine has recently come into the market with the tradename Centuro. Nitrapyrin and DCD are not patent protected and may be found in a variety of products.  

Precision Nitrogen Management On-Farm Research Project provides opportunities to test nitrogen inhibitor products on the grower’s farms. Participation in the on-farm trial will allow growers to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilizer inhibitors in enhancing nitrogen efficiency and crop yield on their farm. They will work closely with Nebraska Extension to accomplish the project. All cooperating growers will receive compensation for purchasing fertilizer nitrogen inhibitors, their time, and resource commitments.   

Contact Javed Iqbal or Laura Thompson, or your local cropping systems extension educator if you are interested in testing fertilizer N inhibitors.



February 2021 Beefwatch Webinar Series Registration Now Open

The BeefWatch Webinar Series is designed to highlight management strategies in grazing, nutrition, reproduction, and economics to increase cow/calf and stocker production efficiency and profitability. Each session will feature industry experts and plenty of opportunity to interact to get your questions answered. More information about the BeefWatch Webinar Series can be found on our webpage: https://beef.unl.edu/beefwatch-webinar-series.

Each webinar will begin at 8:00 PM Central Time. Dates are February 2, 9, 16 and 23.

The focus for this month’s webinar series is “Stocker and Yearling Management” with the following speakers and topics:

February 2, Highlights from UNL Stocker Systems Research
    Dr. Jim MacDonald, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    When, what, and how much should you supplement stockers? Jim will discuss some of the UNL research related to management systems and supplementation of stockers/yearlings.   

February 9, Winter Rate of Gain and Market Timing in Yearling Systems
    Drs. Mary Drewnoski and Jay Parsons, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    What winter rate of gain should you target and when is the best time to sell yearlings? Mary and Jay will discuss the economics of winter rate of gain and timing of marketing based on a look at the last 18 years of market data.  

February 16, Using Corn Residue for High-Risk Stockers: Current Experiences
    Dr. Halden Clark, Great Plains Veterinary Education Center
    Halden will discuss experiences with a 2-year pilot project grazing corn residue with high-risk stocker calves.   

February 23, How to use Stockers as a Drought Management Tool
    Logan Pribbeno, Wine Glass Ranch
    This talk will focus on a producer's perspective. Logan will talk about how stockers can fit into a system with cow-calf and how you can use stockers as a drought management tool.  

There is no cost to participate in this webinar series.  



Virtual Healthy Farms Conference to Begin Feb. 6

Plan now to attend the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society’s Virtual Healthy Farms Conference, beginning Feb. 6. Online registration is available at www.sustainablenebraska.org.

The conference dates are Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27, and March 6 via ZOOM. All presentations will be followed by a live Q&A session in which all registered attendees may participate. The complete speaker list is available on the SustainableNebraska.org website.

Wally Graeber, treasure with NSAS said, “We have a thoughtful lineup of presenting farmers, a great online venue that will create an atmosphere of engaging learning, growing, and appreciating food and farming.”

This year's presentations will be held every Saturday Feb. 6 through March 6, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the following themes:
·       Feb. 6: Direct Marketing in a Pandemic
·       Feb. 13: How Nebraska’s Agriculture Fits into the Global Dynamic
·       Feb. 20: Local Meat Processing
·       Feb.27: Land Access: Connecting the Generations via the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society
·       March 6: Creating A Seat at Our Table: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Healthy Farms Conference has been hosted by the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society for over 40 years. The conference combines farmer-to-farmer training with sessions aimed at equipping farmers, aspiring farmers, foodies, and advocates with the skills and knowledge about sustainable agriculture.

Cost to attend the full conference is $15 for students, $20 for individuals, $40 for farms/family households, and $100 for partner organizations and their staff. All registrations are accepted online by visiting the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society’s website: www.sustainablenebraska.org.



 Nebraska Cover Crop and Soil Health Conference Set for Feb. 11

There are many benefits to utilizing cover crops, such as improved soil health and reduced erosion.  It’s the details of how and what to do that can present challenges. The Nebraska Cover Crop and Soil Health Conference will provide information to growers who are just getting started with cover crops and to those who are already making cover crops part of their operation.

The conference will take place on Thursday, Feb. 11 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. CST with in-person check in at 12:30 p.m.

The conference will be webcasted from the University of Nebraska Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center (ENREC) near Mead, NE to other locations. In-person attendance is not available at ENREC due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Registrants can take part online or attend at the following locations with limited seating:
    Beatrice, Southeast Community College (Academic Excellence Building), 4771 W. Scott Rd, Beatrice NE – Limit 30
    Central City, Merrick Co. Fairgrounds, Central City, NE – Limit 50
    Hastings, Adams Co. Fairgrounds, 947 S Baltimore Ave, Hastings, NE – Limit 100
    Holdrege, Phelps Co. Fairgrounds, 1308 Second Street, Holdrege, NE – Limit 50
    North Platte, University of Nebraska West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W State Fair Road, North Platte, NE – Limit 28
    Syracuse, Kimmel Ag Expo, 198 Plum St., Syracuse, NE – Limit 50
    York, York County Fairgrounds - 4-H Bldg., York, NE - Limit 25

Topics and presenters include:  Soil Sensing and Soil Health - Kristen Veum, Research Soil Scientist at USDA-ARS Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Unit, University of Missouri-Columbia; Optimizing Your Cover Crop ROI - Rebecca Clay, Strategic Initiatives Agronomy Coordinator at Practical Farmers of Iowa; Using Aerial Imagery to Determine Cover Crop Impacts on Cash Crop Growth and Development - Dr. Andrea Basche, Assistant Professor, Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Experiences and Economics Using Cereal Rye as a Cover Crop - Chad Bell, Farmer; Pathway toward a Healthy and Resilient Soil to Achieve Optimum Productivity and Environmental Quality: Cover Crops are Key! - Jerry Hatfield, Retired Director, National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment; On-farm Research of Incorporating Cover Crop into a 3 Crop Dryland Rotation, Ken Herz, Owner/Operator of Herz Land and Cattle, and Cover Crop Panel - discussion with growers, landowners, and consultants.

Registration and details available at:  https://enrec.unl.edu/nebraska-cover-crop-conference/.

There is no fee to attend, but pre-registration is required.  Day-of, walk-in registration will not be permitted. Early registration is encouraged as capacity limitations are in place at each location. Once a location is full, it will no longer be listed as a registration option.

In-person meetings will only be held if local and UNL directed health measures allow and if road conditions are suitable for travel. If a site is cancelled, registrants will be notified via email, phone, or text message.

Facial coverings/masks guidelines may vary based on local directed health measures. For information about the COVID related health measures that will be in place at the meeting of your choosing, please contact the local site host. Contact information for each site host can be found at the web page above.

CCA credits are applied for and pending. Sponsored by Nebraska Extension, the Nebraska Soybean Board.

For more information contact:  Melissa.Bartels@unl.edu or 1-402-367-7410



USDA NRCS Local Working Group Meetings Planned Across State

Local Working Groups that provide input on the priorities for many U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs will be holding meetings across the state over the next several weeks. A list of scheduled meetings is available on the Nebraska Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) website, or by contacting your local NRCS field office.

Meetings include:
Lower Elkhorn - Lower Elkhorn NRD, Norfolk, NE - Feb. 11 - 5:30-7 p.m. via ZOOM
Lower Platte North - Lake Wahahoo Educational Building - Wahoo, NE - Feb. 18 - 1-4 p.m.
Papio - Missouri River - Blair USDA Service Center, Blair, NE - Feb. 24 -  9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Lewis & Clark - Hartington Golf Course, Hartington, NE - Feb. 25 - 12:30 p.m. w/ ZOOM option

The public is invited to attend Local Working Group meetings. Due to COVID-19, some meetings may be held virtually. Those interested in participating may reach out to local NRCS offices for information on how to join.

There is a Local Working Group in each Natural Resources District (NRD). Local Working Group members include Federal, State, county, Tribal or local government representatives. According to Jeff Vander Wilt, acting state conservationist with Nebraska NRCS, these working groups provide local input into how Federal dollars are spent.

“The Local Working Group recommends to the NRCS State Conservationist how conservation programs would be used most effectively in their area. Recommendations can include special target areas, which conservation practices should have cost assistance, or how many dollars could be needed,” said Vander Wilt.

Nebraska NRCS obligates funds to farmers and ranchers through conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). These programs help landowners and operators make natural resource improvements to their land, water, or wildlife. This funding is allocated, in part, according to priorities set by Local Working Groups.

For more information about the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the programs and services they provide, visit your local USDA Service Center or www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov.



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:

Grain Sorghum Development, Utilization and Marketing Board
Klint G. Stewart, Columbus

Nebraska Potato Development Committee
Chase Engel, Mitchell
Timothy May, Imperial
Matthew R. Ward, North Platte

The following appointees are unpaid and subject to Legislative confirmation:

Nebraska Ethanol Board
Randy L. Gard, Grand Island

Nebraska Natural Resources Commission
Rick Kubat, Omaha

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.



Iowa Cattlemen's Association Concludes 2021 Policy Development

On January 26, Iowa cattlemen from across the state participated in a virtual Annual Meeting to adopt policy for the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association in 2021. This yearly event, normally held in person as part of the Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit, is the culmination of ICA’s policy development process.

“The past year presented many challenges for Iowa’s beef cattle industry. Members ‘took the bull by the horns’ and acted decisively to respond to market disruption, the Derecho, drought conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Cora Fox, ICA Director of Government Relations. “All the while, members focused on creating policy to fit the needs and future of Iowa’s beef business in 2021 and beyond.”

Over the course of seven weeks, more than 300 producer members participated in the formal policy development process. ICA hosted two virtual meetings for each of the following committees: Beef Products, Business Issues, and Cattle Production. Members reviewed expiring resolutions, drafted amendments and proposed new resolutions. Grassroots recommendations, determined by members, were presented and ratified during the Annual Meeting. In total, members reviewed more than 30 resolutions that will guide ICA’s work at the local, state and federal levels.

ICA will continue to support their mission to “Grow Iowa’s beef business through advocacy, leadership and education” in 2021 with opportunities for members to get involved. To learn more about the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, programs or upcoming events, visit www.iacattlemen.org.



Electricity as Weed Management for the Future

The use of electricity to manage herbicide-resistant weeds is the topic of an Iowa Learning Farms webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at noon.

The movement to farm more sustainably coincides with developments in technology to produce higher value agricultural products. Levi Lyle, a Washington County farmer, will explain how electricity can be used as an effective weed management tool against herbicide-resistant weeds.

With thousands of acres logged behind the wheel of his Weed Zapper implement, Lyle will share how electricity performs in crops, such as soybean, potatoes, flax, sunflowers and more. Participants will learn about how effectively electricity can terminate waterhemp, giant ragweed, marestail, burdock, foxtail, velvetleaf, thistle, bindweed, and even alfalfa and CRP brome.

“Safety features of the modern high voltage weed-zappers instill confidence in their use as a chemical alternative,” said Lyle. “Prepare to be inspired.”
Webinar Access Instructions

To participate in the live webinar, shortly before 12 p.m. CST on Feb. 3:
    Click this URL, or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/j/364284172.
    Or, go to https://iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID 364 284 172.
    Or, join from a dial-in phone line: Dial +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923; meeting ID 364 284 172.

The webinar will also be recorded and archived on the ILF website, so that it can be watched at any time. Archived webinars are available at https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars.

A Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit has been applied for, for those who are able to participate in the live webinar. Information about how to apply to receive the CEU will be provided at the end of the live webinar.

Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a culture of conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (USEPA section 319) and GROWMARK Inc.



Iowa Pork Producers Name 2021 Youth Leadership Team

Leah Marek, Riverside; Paige Dagel, Sanborn; and Reagan Gibson, Panora, are the 2021 Iowa Pork Youth Leadership Team. They were selected from the 11 young Iowans who competed for the honor earlier this week.
 
The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) sponsors the contest, which includes interviews, speech presentations, and knowledge of pork and pig production. Their previous community
    
involvement and experience are also considered. The top female contestant is crowned pork queen, and the top remaining contestants, male or female, are named youth ambassadors.
 
Marek, a freshman at Iowa State University, will reign as the 2021 Iowa Pork Queen. Dagel and Gibson are Pork Ambassadors. Each receives a $4,000 scholarship and plaque noting their award. But according to their predecessors, the most valuable things they will gain are the many growth and leadership opportunities provided by these positions. Over the next year, the IPPA Youth Leadership Team will participate in public activities promoting pork and pig production, from county activities around Iowa to the Iowa State Fair and World Pork Expo.
 
Leah Marek
Leah Marek is the daughter of Timothy and Heather Marek of Riverside. Her family has a long history in pork production in Washington County, with a current focus on raising show pigs. Marek says she has shown pigs since she could walk. That early interest in agriculture led to her involvement with the Global Youth Institute through the World Food Prize. The combination of those interests is seen in Marek's biology and global resource systems majors at ISU.
 
Paige Dagel
Paige Dagel, the daughter of Paul and Stacey Dagel of Sanborn, is a freshman at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City pursuing degrees in business and public relations. Dagel says her family's diversified farm operation, including a pig nursery and finishers is the foundation of her passion for the pork industry.
 
She had served as the O'Brien County Pork Queen in 2020, and took the opportunity to learn about more aspects of the pork industry than what she had experience with on her farm.
 
Reagan Gibson
Reagan Gibson is the daughter of Jim and Karwyn Gibson of Panora, where Reagan is a senior at Panorama High School. While she hasn't made a final decision on where she will attend college, her career goal is to teach high school ag education.
 
Her family has a purebred swine operation where Reagan spends time learning more about that business. She is also involved with the Iowa Swine Jackpot Series Junior Board of Directors and her school's FFA chapter. She also spends time tutoring elementary students in math and reading.



Stakeholders From East, West Africa Attend USGC Corn Quality Seminars For First Time

For the first time, stakeholders in markets across East and West Africa attended a U.S. Grains Council (USGC) corn crop quality seminar this month. The virtual format permitted participation across the Middle East and Africa, including by participants in developing markets in Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania.

“This year’s crop quality seminar series allowed the Council to expand its reach and present the findings of the 2020/2021 Corn Harvest Quality Report to participants across the African continent,” said Ramy Taieb, USGC regional director for the Middle East and Africa. “While the Sub-Saharan markets are long-term markets that do not currently import significant volumes of U.S. feed grains, the seminars in North Africa were particularly timely as the feed industry in the region just bought around 800,000 metric tons (31.5 million bushels) of U.S. corn.”

The Council conducted four seminars for customers in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region this year, each catered to the specific interests of markets represented. More than 125 grain purchasers, feed millers, poultry and livestock producers and end-users attended virtually, representing more than 18 countries.

In addition to data from the harvest quality report, the seminars featured farm operation reports from farmers in Kansas, Maryland and Michigan. These on-the-ground reports provide a unique perspective of U.S. corn production, handling and processing directly from those growing the grain. Technical presentations also discussed risk management, ocean freight and the nutritional added-value of U.S. corn and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in poultry and livestock diets.

“The crop quality seminars over the last two weeks offered an opportunity for attendees to learn about current quality and availability of U.S. corn and co-products for export,” Taieb said. “These seminars - whether conducted in-person or virtually - provide key insights about the U.S. corn crop that are critical for customers to make adequate purchasing decisions, especially nowadays with a tight supply outside of the United States and an increasing demand for grains all over the world.”

While East and West Africa are home to relatively small poultry industries today, these operations are rapidly growing, which is why the Council is focusing its efforts on supporting the development of poultry industries in these regions. An estimated 15 percent of the global growth in poultry demand over the next two decades is expected in Africa due to increasing population, urbanization and gains in purchasing power.

These changing consumer patterns have resulted in the emergence of large grocery retailers and fast-food chains. These dynamics have also bolstered demand for animal protein, creating significant opportunities for local poultry production to grow in tandem.

The Council is working with poultry industries across the African continent to provide technical training and practical experience necessary to address both short- and long-term production challenges. The inclusion of participants from these countries in programs like the crop quality seminars is the next step of the Council’s mission to develop markets, enable trade and improve lives in the region.



Farm Credit Statement On Rural Infrastructure Letter Sent To Biden

Farm Credit Council President and CEO Todd Van Hoose today voiced Farm Credit’s strong support for the Rebuild Rural Coalition’s letter to President Joe Biden, and he called on Congress and the Biden Administration to set aside specific funds for rural infrastructure priorities.

“Our country’s rural infrastructure requires serious and specialized investment. Farm Credit urges Congress and President Biden to dedicate 25 percent of any infrastructure funds specifically for rural communities. Investing in rural infrastructure will help our small towns and rural communities rebuild from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and provide good paying jobs to support rural families.

“Infrastructure needs in rural America are unique and require targeted solutions. And we’re talking about more than roads and bridges – though those need repair, too. Our rural communities suffer from lack of access to broadband internet, affordable healthcare, reliable electricity, clean and safe drinking water, and available and affordable housing options.

“Modernizing and expanding rural infrastructure is critical to the viability of rural communities – whether they can attract jobs and grow their economy, whether residents have access to life-saving telehealth, whether students can complete homework assignments.

“Rural infrastructure challenges also endanger our agricultural and food supply chains. We saw the significant disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The long-term success and competitiveness of America’s agricultural producers rests with their ability to easily and effectively transport their goods to markets and ports.

“Farm Credit stands ready to help rebuild rural infrastructure. It is a vital part of our mission to support rural communities and agriculture.”



CFAP Provides Lifeline to Farmers and Ranchers

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the USDA suspension of CFAP payments.

“The pandemic has taken an unprecedented toll on American agriculture, and the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program has provided a lifeline for farmers and ranchers across the country. Many growers who previously did not qualify for assistance continue to suffer losses and need the help CFAP provides.

“We recognize the new administration’s desire to review important farmer and rancher assistance programs and we urge USDA to take into consideration our comments on how to improve such programs. We appreciate that CFAP applications will continue to be accepted, and we encourage the swift resumption of distribution of resources to the people who are working to keep America’s pantries stocked.”

From https://www.farmers.gov/cfap:  
In accordance with the White House memo, Regulatory Freeze Pending Review, USDA has suspended the processing and payments under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program - Additional Assistance and has halted implementation until further notice. FSA local offices will continue to accept applications during the evaluation period.

In the coming days, USDA and the Biden Administration intend to take additional steps to bring relief and support to all parts of food and agriculture during the coronavirus pandemic, including by ensuring producers have access to the capital, risk management tools, disaster assistance, and other federal resources.



Executive Orders Support Farmers' Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Efforts

In accordance with his campaign promise to aggressively address the climate crisis and create new jobs, President Joe Biden today issued several executive orders outlining actions the administration will take to cut greenhouse gas emissions, conserve natural resources, invest in renewable energy, advance environmental justice, and protect climate research.

A strong advocate of climate action, National Farmers Union (NFU) welcomed the effort, particularly provisions that will support climate-smart agricultural practices that sequester carbon in the soil and include farmers and other stakeholders in decision making. NFU President Rob Larew issued the following statement in support of the administration’s actions:

“Climate change is an immense, complex crisis with far-reaching consequences. To be successful in our fight against it, we must approach it immediately and from every angle possible – just as President Biden’s economy-wide climate plan intends to do. National Farmers Union is especially encouraged by the administration’s focus on climate-smart agriculture, whose capacity for mitigation and adaptation has been largely overlooked until recently.

“We are also pleased that President Biden has instructed the USDA to solicit input from farmers and other stakeholders as they develop and carry out climate programs; though lawmakers and administration officials are generally well-intentioned, they may not always recognize policies’ unintended consequences. By offering food producers a seat at the table, they can ensure that programs are feasible and beneficial for all parties involved.

“In the coming months, National Farmers Union will hold the administration to this promise and work with them to flesh out policies that provide farmers with the support they need to implement solutions and build resilience.”



NCBA Delivers House Introduction of Bipartisan DIRECT Act

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today hailed the introduction of bipartisan legislation to create new opportunities for cattle producers and processors to market beef products.
 
Introduced by U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R - At-Large, S.D.)  and Henry Cuellar (D - 28th Dist., TX), the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act of 2021 would allow retail quantities of meat processed under state-inspection to be sold across state lines through e-commerce, providing beef producers and local processors alike with more options to market direct-to-consumers.
 
“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted an urgent need for our industry to expand opportunities for state-inspected meatpackers. NCBA acted quickly last year, advocating to allow more beef to be safely sold online across state lines. The DIRECT Act will allow cattle producers and smaller beef processors to more easily evolve to meet the growing demand for e-commerce sales,” said NCBA Policy Division Chair and South Dakota rancher Todd Wilkinson. “Thank you to Representatives Johnson and Cuellar for recognizing the shifts in an ever-changing market and introducing this critical legislation."
 
Background
Currently, many states such as South Dakota and Texas have State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) as “at least equal to” standards set under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA). Under the existing framework however, state-inspected products can only be sold interstate if approved to do so under the Cooperative Interstate Shipping Program (CIS).
 
The DIRECT Act would amend the retail exemption under the FMIA and PPIA to allow processors, butchers, or other retailers to sell normal retail quantities (300 lbs. of beef, 100 lbs. of pork, 27.5 lbs. of lamb) of MPI State Inspected Meat online to consumers across state lines. Because transactions authorized under the DIRECT Act sales are direct to consumer via e-commerce, sales are traceable and can easily be recalled. The proposal also includes clear prohibitions on export, keeping our equivalency agreements with trading partners intact. The DIRECT Act will allow states operating under the CIS system to ship and label as they are currently.



Effective weed management tops considerations for maximizing soybean yield potential

Soybean growers across the U.S. have been evaluating their 2020 crop yields to make input decisions for next season. Seed selection is often made first; and with more trait options available this year, Syngenta knows growers are facing the challenge of selecting corresponding herbicides that can best protect their seeds’ full genetic yield potential.

Syngenta recently spoke to university agricultural researchers who reinforced the importance of a strong weed resistance management plan and explained the impact such a plan can have on soybean yield potential.

“Having the best crop genetics is like having the keys to a fast car,” said Sarah Lancaster, Ph.D., assistant professor and extension specialist at Kansas State University. “Agronomics and fertility are like the gas in the tank. Having weeds is like having a leak in that tank.”

A key method for maximizing yield potential is to use a combination of cultural and chemical practices to effectively manage weeds and prevent them from going to seed. This means choosing practices such as tillage and narrow-row spacing along with a full-season herbicide program that contains multiple effective sites of action.

Prashant Jha, Ph.D., associate professor and extension weed specialist at Iowa State University, suggests such an integrated strategy that combines herbicide and cultural approaches. “To delay or manage herbicide resistance, integrate some of the cultural strategies, like high seeding rates, reducing row spacing to promote early canopy closure and use of cover crops in integration with herbicide programs. Full rates of herbicides, multiple effective sites of action and a combination of soil residual herbicides are the strategies to go with.”

This year, growers have even more choices to make as new traits are available for planting. “In recent years, new traits have come to market that provide growers even more options for rotating their herbicides to new effective sites of action,” said Pete Eure, Syngenta herbicide technical lead. “The Syngenta portfolio of soybean herbicides can be used regardless of the trait system — from burndown through post-emergence. This gives growers the flexibility to choose their herbicide based on product performance and agronomic value for their specific field, all in combination with sound cultural practices.”

When developing a weed management program, growers should consider the value their inputs make on their bottom line.

“So many folks are focused on cost per acre with weed control,” said Bill Johnson, Ph.D., professor of weed science at Purdue University. “They really need to think about it in terms of cost per bushel.”

In fact, studies indicate that for every day growers are late with their herbicide application beyond the critical period, they lose as much as 1% of their soybean yield*. “There's a period of time, which we call the critical period, when the plant is most susceptible to emerged weeds in terms of yield loss,” said Clarence Swanton, Ph.D., professor emeritus at the University of Guelph, Canada. “The earlier the weeds emerge and the smaller the crop, the greater the impact.”

Eure agreed. “The way to maximize your yield potential is to have the flexibility to use the right products applied at the right time to deliver the best results locally,” he said.

Growers should also anticipate what effect the actions they take now will have on future crop yield, and minimizing herbicide resistance can be a good place to start.

“If weed management is a battle, preventing additions to the soil seed bank effectively reduces the size of the opponent’s forces, giving the farmer the upper hand,” Lancaster said.

To help win the battle against tough and resistant weeds, the Syngenta soybean portfolio includes effective premixes that complement any trait platform. Boundary® 6.5 EC, BroadAxe® XC and Prefix® herbicides each contain multiple effective sites of action with long-lasting residual to give soybeans their best shot at growing in a weed-free field. Prefix, Sequence® and Tavium® Plus VaporGrip® Technology herbicides can provide overlapping post-emergence residual control to help keep soybeans clean through canopy and beyond. Tavium, the market’s first dicamba herbicide premix, recently received a registration extension by the EPA for use on dicamba-tolerant soybeans.