Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Monday June 7 Ag News

 NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending June 6, 2021, there were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 3% very short, 20% short, 75% adequate, and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 5% very short, 22% short, 70% adequate, and 3% surplus.

Field Crops Report:

Corn condition rated 1% very poor, 2% poor, 13% fair, 60% good, and 24% excellent. Corn emerged was 95%, near 94% last year, and ahead of 89% for the five-year average.

Soybean condition rated 1% very poor, 2% poor, 11% fair, 66% good, and 20% excellent.  Soybeans planted was 98%, equal to last year, and ahead of 90% average. Emerged was 84%,  near 83% last year, and ahead of 70% average.

Winter wheat condition rated 3% very poor, 9% poor, 32% fair, 46% good, and 10% excellent. Winter wheat headed was 79%, ahead of 63% last year, and near 77% average.

Sorghum condition rated 0% very poor, 1% poor, 13% fair, 78% good, and 8% excellent. Sorghum planted was 73%, behind 91% last year, and near 77% average.

Oats condition rated 2% very poor, 7% poor, 36% fair, 48% good, and 7% excellent. Oats headed was 54%, well ahead of 34% last year, and ahead of 41% average.

Dry edible beans planted was 47%, well behind 76% last year, but ahead of 32% average.  Emerged was 10%, well behind 44% last year, and equal to average.

Pasture and Range Report:

Pasture and range conditions rated 3% very poor, 7% poor, 46% fair, 31% good, and 13% excellent.



IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION REPORT


 Dry conditions and warming temperatures meant farmers had 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending June 6, 2021 according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. In addition to planting, field activities included spraying post emergence herbicides, side dressing nitrogen, baling cover crops and harvesting hay.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 7% very short, 32% short, 59% adequate and 2% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 12% very short, 34% short, 53% adequate and 1% surplus. Subsoil mosture conditions in northwest, west central, central and south central Iowa were rated over 50% short to very short.

Some producers in the upper two-thirds of the State re-planted corn and soybeans due to frost damage that occurred in late May.

Corn emergence reached 96%, 9 days ahead of the 5-year average. Iowa’s corn condition rated 77% good to excellent. At 98%, nearly all of Iowa’s soybean crop has been planted, almost 2 weeks ahead of normal.

Statewide, soybeans emerged reached 86%, 9 days ahead of the 5-year average. Soybean emergence in southeast Iowa is slightly behind with over one-quarter of the soybean crop yet to emerge. Soybean condition rated 73% good to excellent.

Oats headed reached 37%, 4 days ahead of normal. Iowa’s oat condition rated 68% good to excellent.

Iowa farmers took advantage of the week’s dry weather and completed 41% of the first cutting of alfalfa hay during the week ending June 6 to reach 58% complete, 2 days ahead of normal. Hay condition rated 62% good to excellent.

Pasture condition rated 53% good to excellent. Some stress on livestock due to high temperatures was reported.



USDA:  Corn, Soybean Development Ahead of Average, But Conditions Fall Below Last Year


While the development of U.S. corn and soybeans remains ahead of the average pace, condition ratings for both crops are below those of last year, USDA NASS reported in its weekly Crop Progress report on Monday.

In its first condition rating of the year for soybeans, NASS pegged the crop at 67% in good-to-excellent condition, down from 72% good to excellent at the same time last year.

The corn crop's good-to-excellent rating dropped to 72% last week, down 4 percentage points from 76% the previous week, and falling below last year's good-to-excellent rating at the same time of 75%.

Meanwhile, planting and development of both corn and soybeans remained ahead of the five-year average. NASS estimated that 90% of the intended soybean crop was in the ground as of Sunday, June 7 -- 6 percentage points ahead of last year at the same time and 11 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 79%. NASS estimated that 76% of soybeans had emerged -- 17 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 59%. NASS was calling corn planting complete and estimated 90% of the crop had emerged as of Sunday -- 8 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 82%.

Winter wheat heading was pegged at 85%, near the five-year average of 86%. Two percent of the crop was harvested as of Sunday, led by Texas where 20% of the crop is in. That is behind both last year's 6% harvested and the five-year average of 7%.  Winter wheat condition was rated 50% good to excellent, up 2 percentage points from 48% the previous week but down 1 point from a year ago.

NASS reported that spring wheat planting has wrapped up and an estimated 90% of the crop has emerged, 4 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 86%.  But likely due to the worsening drought conditions in the Northern Plains, spring wheat condition fell again last week to 38% good to excellent, down 5 percentage points from 43% the previous week. The crop's current rating is lowest for this time of year since 1988.

Sorghum was 52% planted, 7 percentage points behind the average.  Cotton planting was 71% complete, 7 percentage points behind the five-year average. Cotton condition was rated 46% good to excellent up 3 percentage points from 43% the previous week.  Rice was pegged at 91% emerged. Rice condition was rated 75% good to excellent, up 1 percentage point from 74% the previous week.  Oats emergence was estimated at 95% Sunday, and heading was at 37%. Oats were rated 46% in good-to-excellent condition, down a significant 9 percentage points from 55% the previous week.



PVC Annual Summer Tour Set for June 21

Tyler Engstrom, Platte Valley Cattlemen President


It’s time for our annual Cattlemen’s tour.  The tour will be held on June 21, 2021.  This year we have a tour bus sponsored by First National Bank that will depart from Reg’s 7 Mile Steakhouse at 10:30 am.  Bank of the Valley will sponsor a sack lunch on the bus.

We will be traveling to Lincoln to tour the Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing plant (12:00-2:00), Nebraska Cattlemen’s office (2:15-3:20), and Great Plains Beef facility (3:45-5:15). We will then return to Reg’s for a steak supper at approximately 6:30 pm.

Please let me know at 402-276-6347 if you will be riding the bus.

Please thank the following supporters of this year’s tour:
                First National Bank
                Bank of the Valley

We look forward to seeing you on June 21, 2021.



MANAGING ALFALFA WEEVIL POST-HARVEST

– Todd Whitney, NE Extension Educator

Generally, alfalfa weevils are cool-weather insects. During this time of year adult insects would be exiting alfalfa fields seeking cooler spots for over-summering in nearby shady areas or under leaf litter.

Although our extended cool and wet spring may have favored cool-season plant growth, it has also dramatically increased alfalfa weevil feeding. A second flush of these 3/16” green caterpillar larvae with a white back stripe may be feeding under windrows remaining in wet fields.

So, what management strategies are recommended for late spring alfalfa weevil infestation? In some cases, producers are chopping their alfalfa for silage to reduce field cover for the insects. Usually, weevil development is controlled by hotter temperatures, but cooler temperatures are keeping these insects in the field. Therefore, insecticide treatments with pyrethroids (active ingredient ending in “thrins”) will likely be needed following harvest to aid alfalfa regrowth.

Remember pyrethroid insecticides can also have detrimental effects on any beneficial insects present, so field scouting is still encouraged before making final treatment decisions. Remember that these cool-weather insects seek shelter during the heat of the day, so scouting can be a challenge when they move into the alfalfa crowns seeking shade. You can find economic threshold recommendations in our Nebraska Extension Guide for Weeds, Insecticide and Fungicide Management (EC130).



Farm and Ranch webinars planned on controlling input costs, grain marketing risk


Two Nebraska Extension webinars this week will explore the farm and ranch management issues of controlling in-season costs for profitability and utilizing hedging strategies and crop insurance in a grain marketing plan.

Controlling input costs: noon on Thursday

The first webinar, “Back to Basics: Control Costs and Maximize Profits,” will be presented at noon on Thursday. A team of extension specialists and educators will highlight how minimizing costs without concern for productivity — and increasing productivity without considering costs  — can hurt profits in an agricultural operation. They will offer tips on how making decisions at the margin is one way to make choices with profitability in mind.

Grain marketing strategies: 9 a.m. on Friday

The second webinar will be at 9 a.m. on Friday and explore the roles of hedging strategies and crop insurance in preventing farm failure. It is a special presentation of a graduate thesis defense by Kara Zimmerman, a Master of Science student in Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Zimmerman’s thesis will aim to help producers gain insights on the financial outcomes of different marketing strategies and how to approach marketing decisions. It will include a comparison of irrigated and non-irrigated production practices and explore the tradeoff between minimizing risk and maximizing income in corn production.

Both webinars are free to attend. Registration for each is open at https://farm.unl.edu/webinars.



4Rs Nutrient Stewardship Field Day set for July 15


The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is excited to offer the first annual 4Rs Nutrient Stewardship Field Day on July 15, 2021, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, Ithaca.  

The 4Rs is a nutrient management and water stewardship approach which emphasizes fertilizer use with the right source, right rate, right time and right placement of fertilizers. This science-based approach focuses on the best nutrient management practices and sustainable crop production with increasing crop yield and farmer’s profit while protecting the environment.  

Key advantages of following 4Rs Nutrient Management Stewardship include:
    An efficient and effective soil fertility program for optimizing the crop nutrient requirements.
    Reducing the cost of fertilizer input while ensuring crop nutrient needs.
    Increasing synchrony of soil nutrients availability and crop growth and development.
    Reducing the potential for nutrient loss to surface water, groundwater and air.
    Enabling efficient use of water with the combined interaction of nutrients availability, crop growth and water use.
    Improving soil organic matter and soil health benefits with more crop biomass production.
    Increasing nutrient use efficiency by minimizing nutrient losses.

Speakers from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Nebraska’s Natural Resource Districts and National Resources Conservation Service will be presenting topics related to 4Rs strategies to improve crop yield and profits while protecting the environment.

The event counts as 4.5 CEUs on Nutrient Management.  

The field day is free, but registration is required for participation. More information is at https://agronomy.unl.edu/4rs-nutrient-stewardship-field-day.  

Coordinating the event is Javed Iqbal, Extension specialist and assistant professor of agronomy, and can be reached at jiqbal2@unl.edu or 402-472-1432.  




NEBRASKA GRAIN SORGHUM BOARD WELCOMES NEW AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER, MR. DENNIS FITZKE, SEEKS DISTRICT 1 REPRESENTATIVE


The Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board met in Lincoln on Thursday, June 3. The meeting consisted of normal business and setting of the annual budget for fiscal year 2021-2022. At the meeting, Mr. Dennis Fitzke was installed to represent Nebraska Sorghum Producers in an At-Large position. Per statute, this position is appointed by the members of the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board.

Mr. Fitzke farms near Edgar with his son and has experience working in the Agri-Business sector.

“We are pleased to have Mr. Fitzke serving on the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board,” stated Executive Director Nate Blum. “Mr. Fitzke’s first-hand experiences as a grower and his experiences in the world of Agri-Business will help to shape innovative approaches to markets development for Nebraska’s Sorghum Producers.”

Mr. Fitzke noted, “Sorghum can play an important role adding diversity to crop rotations and produces a unique grain that has exciting possibilities for Nebraska agriculture. I look forward to being a part of the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board as we exploit sorghum’s awesome potential for economic development.”

The Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board is also seeking a District 1 representative. 


District 1 includes the counties of: Jefferson, Gage, Pawnee, Richardson, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Lancaster, Saline, Seward, Cass, Sarpy, Douglas, Washington, Saunders, Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Burt, Cuming, Stanton, Wayne, Thurston, Dakota, Dixon, Cedar. This seat is appointed by the Governor of the State of Nebraska.

Sorghum growers interested in appointment to fill the open seat may place their name on a candidacy list by submitting to the Board a completed application for gubernatorial appointment, a letter or statement of interest in serving on the Board, two letters of endorsement from grain sorghum growers, and documentation substantiating qualification to serve as a member of the Board (sales receipts, warehouse receipts, government loan documentation, or acreage certification).

Qualified candidates include those who are citizens of Nebraska, are at least 21 years of age, and derive a portion of their income from growing grain sorghum.

Applications for appointment can be obtained from the Governor’s office by writing Kathleen Dolezal, Staff Assistant for Boards and Commissions, Nebraska Governor’s Office, State Capitol, Box 94848, Lincoln, NE 68509-4848, PH: 402.471-2256; or the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board, P.O. Box 94982, Lincoln, NE 68509; PH: 402.471.4276; or email: sorghum.board@nebraska.gov.

Application may also be made on-line at: https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/files/doc/Executive-Appointment-Application.pdf.



Summer Pneumonia in the Beef Herd

Russ Daly – South Dakota State University Extension Veterinarian


Respiratory disease in pre-weaned beef calves on pasture can be a concern for cow-calf producers. These outbreaks tend to be unpredictable, occurring in well-managed herds, as well as in less-intensively managed herds. As such, they are frustrating for cattle producers and veterinarians alike.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Based on submissions to the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, the infectious agents associated with summer calf pneumonia cases are similar to those implicated in typical post-weaning bovine respiratory disease complex. Bacteria, such as Mannheimia haemolytica, Histophilus somni, Pasteurella multocida and sometimes Mycoplasma bovis, are found in diagnostic samples from calves affected by summer pneumonia. Viruses implicated include Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus (IBRV) and Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV). Bovine coronavirus has frequently been found in nasal swabs from affected calves as well.

Despite this knowledge, a specific diagnosis in an outbreak isn’t obtained all that often. For one thing, calves aren’t always available for post-mortem examination and work up for diagnosis. This is because typical summer pneumonia outbreaks do not exhibit high death losses. In light of this, veterinarians will often take nasal swabs from affected calves to isolate infectious agents. These results need to be interpreted with caution, however. Bacteria and viruses present in the nasal passages might not accurately reflect the infection deeper in the lungs.

Signs of respiratory disease in pre-weaned calves do not always include breathing problems, such as cough or rapid respirations, although those signs may become more obvious when the herd is trailed or otherwise moved. Sluggishness, a reluctance to keep up with the herd and drooping of ears are commonly noted. Many affected calves will have high fevers.

Treatment Options

Most producers and veterinarians report that treating calves with summer pneumonia is frequently successful. A variety of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications have been used with good recovery rates. While these treatments enjoy a high degree of success, they are, of course, difficult to apply to individual calves in pasture situations. In cases late in the grazing season, pre-weaning vaccinations, along with antibiotics, can be administered to all calves if a high proportion of the herd is affected.

Compared to the post-weaning bovine respiratory disease encountered by animals entering the backgrounding lot or feedlot, little is known about the risk factors that predispose calves to pneumonia while on pasture. Some of the factors that have been speculated include:
⦁    Poor colostrum intake as a newborn calf.
⦁    Exposure of calves to older calves (such as feedlot animals) shedding high levels of infectious agents (but not necessarily sick themselves).
⦁    Dusty conditions that interfere with the respiratory tract’s normal defense mechanisms.
⦁    Adverse weather conditions.
⦁    Crowding and separation from mothers for prolonged periods of time, such as during breeding or synchronization.

Vaccine Considerations

Vaccines against respiratory pathogens at branding or turnout time have been utilized by cattle producers in an attempt to reduce the occurrence of calf pneumonia on pasture. While this is successful for many, outbreaks of calf pneumonia occur in well-vaccinated herds as well.


Vaccines that include IBRV, BRSV, Parainfluenza-3, and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) are used to boost immunity against these viral pathogens that set up the calf for more-severe bacterial problems. These vaccines are available in killed as well as modified-live virus versions.


Intranasal vaccines are also a popular choice in calves at this age, as they are believed to offer good local immunity in the nasal passages and stimulate a good overall immunity in young calves. Furthermore, some beef herds vaccinate against bacterial pneumonia pathogens, such as Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Mycoplasma bovis, in turnout programs.


Producers should seek veterinary input for their branding time or turnout vaccine program, especially when changes in products or timing are contemplated.


Much remains to be learned about the factors contributing to pre-weaning calf pneumonia in the region, as well as optimal prevention practices. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect this problem in your herd.




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