Monday January 24 Ag News

2022 Silage for Beef Cattle Conference: Focus on Small Grain Silage

Nebraska Extension, Lallemand Animal Nutrition and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are hosting the fourth Silage for Beef Cattle Conference on March 17, 2022. The meeting will start at 8:30 am and end at 4 pm. Registration is free and producers have the option to either stream the conference online or attend in-person at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center in Ithaca, Neb.

Topics and speakers will include:
  - Agronomic management of small grain for silages, led by Daren Redfearn, Ph.D., Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  - When to harvest small grain silage, led by Mary Drewnoski, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  - Sorghum silage: A solution for limited water, led by Renato Schmidt, Ph.D., Technical Services – Forage, Lallemand Animal Nutrition
  - Why fermentation analysis is important and what it means for your operation, led by John Goeser, Ph.D., Director of Nutritional Research & Innovation at Rock River Laboratory and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin – Madison
  - Fundamentals of silage harvest management, led by Becky Arnold, Custom Harvest Business Development Manager, Lallemand Animal Nutrition
  - Inoculants for small grain silage with Limin Kung, Ph.D., Professor at the University of Delaware
Economics and ROI on quality forage in grower and finishing rations, led by Jhones Sarturi, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Texas Tech University
  - Making small grain silage work, a producer and nutritionist panel discussion led by Dan Loy, Ph.D., Director of the Iowa Beef Center and Professor at Iowa State University

Pre-register to join in-person or virtually by March 2, 2022 at HTTPS://GO.UNL.EDU/SILAGEFORBEEF2022



PLANNING FOR SPRING ANNUAL FORAGES
– Jerry Volesky, NE Extension Educator
 
While we are still early in the new year, it is time to start planning and thinking about any spring annual forages that we might plant.  Part of the process may be anticipating a need for extra feed or booking seed early for possible discounts.
 
For spring or cool-season annual forages, the planting period is typically late March to early April, or when soil temperatures are in the 42 to 45 degree range.  Oats is probably the most common cool-season annual forage planted in Nebraska.  However, spring triticale or spring barley are two other small grain options that have been found to perform similarly to oats in terms of forage yield and quality.
 
Also similar is the number of days until ready to begin grazing or hay; so, the different species could be mixed if desired.  One could look at seed cost of the different species before making a decision.   With the early spring planting date of the cool-season annuals, grazing can typically begin around the 3rd or 4th week of May and last into early July.  Haying usually take place around the 3rd week of June.
 
If grazing is a primary goal, Italian ryegrass could be included in a mix with the cereal grains and this will result in a longer grazing period.  Field peas are another species that could be included to enhance forage quality and provide some nitrogen fixation.
 
Don’t forget to consider the herbicides that may have been used on a field the previous year.  Some herbicides have long residuals that could hinder establishment even into this spring.  For today’s Pasture and Forage Minute, I’m Nebraska Extension Range and Forage Specialist, Jerry Volesky.



Fischer Applauds Supreme Court Decision to Take Up WOTUS Case
 
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released the following statement today after learning that the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the Sackett vs. EPA case involving the definition of “waters of the United States”:

“Since 2015, I’ve fought against the Obama-era WOTUS rule because it is the federal government at its worst: it is overreaching and hurtful to families, communities, and businesses. Nebraskans own the water in our state and they take great care of this key resource. Expanded federal regulation of our state’s water is completely unacceptable, and I’m pleased the court is taking a look at this overreach.”

In Sackett vs. EPA, the Court will be determining whether the 9th Circuit used the proper tests in determining whether wetlands were “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. The case involves an Idaho couple who were told they needed a Clean Water Act permit to build a home on their private property, even though the lot they were building on lacked a surface water connection to any stream, creek, lake, or other water body.

In 2015, the Obama administration finalized a rule that greatly expanded the definition of federally regulated Waters of the United States. President Trump began the process of rescinding Obama’s WOTUS rule and released the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. Last year, President Biden signed an executive order to undo the Trump administration’s actions.

Senator Fischer has been a leader in efforts to stop the 2015 WOTUS rule. A list of her actions on this issue is below.
    Cosponsored legislation to codify the Navigable Water Protection Rule into law.
    Signed a letter to EPA Administrator Regan and the Army Corps of Engineers Acting Assistant Secretary expressing opposition to altering the Navigable Water Protection Rule.
    Joined 25 of her Senate colleagues in a resolution calling for the Senate not to eliminate the Navigable Waters Protection Rule.
    Chaired a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee field hearing in Lincoln, Nebraska, regarding the rule.
    Introduced the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, which would have required the Obama administration to consult states and stakeholders before imposing federal regulations on state-owned water resources.
    Introduced the Defending Rivers from Overreaching Policies (DROP) Act. This bill targeted the flawed science used by the EPA to expand the definition of water.



AFBF Applauds Supreme Court Decision to Hear Clean Water Act Case

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the U.S. Supreme Court decision to hear Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, which challenges EPA’s overreach of its Clean Water Act jurisdiction.

“AFBF is pleased that the Supreme Court has agreed to take up the important issue of what constitutes ‘Waters of the U.S.’ under the Clean Water Act. Farmers and ranchers share the goal of protecting the resources they’re entrusted with, but they shouldn’t need a team of lawyers to farm their land. We hope this case will bring more clarity to water regulations.

“In light of today’s decision, we call on EPA to push pause on its plan to write a new WOTUS rule until it has more guidance on which waters fall under federal jurisdiction. For the past 10 years, Farm Bureau has led the charge on elevating the issue of government overreach in water regulations. The goal is simple, clean water and clear rules.”



NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION

For the week ending January 23, 2022, topsoil moisture supplies rated 21% very short, 52% short, 27% adequate, and 0% surplus, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 18% very short, 49% short, 33% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Field Crops Report:
Winter wheat condition rated 8% very poor, 11% poor, 45% fair, 33% good, and 3% excellent.

The next report is currently scheduled to be issued February 22, 2022 but may change due to the
federal holiday on February 21st.



NEBRASKA MILK PRODUCTION

Milk production in Nebraska during the October-December 2021 quarter totaled 352 million pounds, down 5% from the October-December quarter last year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of milk cows was 58,000 head, 2,000 head less than the same period last year.

October-December Milk Production down 0.1 Percent
Milk production in the United States during the October - December quarter totaled 55.5 billion pounds, down 0.1 percent from the October - December quarter of the prior year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was  9.38 million head, 67,000 head less than the July - September quarter, and  46,000 head less than the same period last year.

IOWA: Milk production in Iowa during December 2021 totaled 470 million pounds, up 2 percent from the previous December according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service - Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during December, at 225,000 head, was unchanged from last month but up 5,000 from December 2020. Monthly production per cow averaged 2,090 pounds, down 5 pounds from last December.

December Milk Production down slightly
Milk production in the 24 major States during December totaled 18.0 billion pounds, down slightly from December 2020. November revised production, at 17.2 billion pounds, was down 0.2 percent from November 2020. The November revision represented a decrease of 16 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.  Production per cow in the 24 major States averaged 2,027 pounds for December, 8 pounds above December 2020. The number of milk cows on farms in the 24 major States was 8.88 million head, 42,000 head less than December 2020, and 8,000 head less than November 2021.



ICGA Applauds Action to Expand Ethanol Opportunities

Today, the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) welcomes the introduction of HSB 594.  This bill, proposed by Governor Reynolds, will create more access for drivers to homegrown, cleaner burning E15 while expanding markets for Iowa’s corn farmers.

ICGA President Lance Lillibridge made the following statement.
“A top priority for Iowa’s corn farmers is market access and availability of corn-based ethanol, including E15, here in Iowa and around the world. The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) thanks Governor Reynolds for her leadership to make Iowa not only the largest corn and ethanol producing state, but also a leader in using homegrown, clean burning ethanol. ICGA will be proactive and continue working on this bill to see it to the finish line and increase opportunities for Iowans to select higher blends of ethanol at the pump.”



POET Applauds Iowa Legislation
 
POET, the world’s largest biofuel producer, today applauded the introduction of House Study Bill 594 – legislation that would help give Iowans greater access to E15, a cleaner, cost-saving, renewable fuel blend made with 15% homegrown bioethanol.

“Iowans deserve the freedom to choose E15 every time they fill up,” said Michael Walz, POET Vice President of Public Affairs. “E15 will save Iowans money at the pump, create new value for farm families, support thousands of jobs and drive economic growth across the state. E15 is America’s next standard fuel, and POET is proud to see Iowa’s Governor Kim Reynolds once again leading the way.”

Read more about what E15 can do for Iowa at poet.com/IowaE15.



Growth Energy Applauds Governor Reynolds’ Support for Biofuels

Today, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds unveiled her 2022 Biofuel Access Bill (HSB 594) to continue Iowa’s national leadership in providing widespread access to higher biofuel blends, including offering E15 statewide by 2026 and updating the E15 promotion tax credit to $0.09 per gallon year-round through 2025. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor released the following statement in support of the legislation:  

“The state of Iowa has long led the nation in ethanol policy,” said Skor. “Through her legislation announced today, Gov. Reynolds continues this legacy by prioritizing expanded access to higher blends of biofuel choices at the pump. Statewide access to higher blends of biofuels means that all drivers across Iowa have the opportunity to choose fuel that is good for their engine, good for their pocketbook, and one that benefits the community around them.   

“The 2022 Biofuel Access Bill also allows Iowans to make a simple change for the environment by choosing E15. In fact, research shows that statewide E15 in Iowa could cut climate emissions by 180,000 metric tons, the equivalent of removing almost 40,000 vehicles off the road across the state.”

“We appreciate Gov. Reynolds’ tireless support for biofuels and look forward to working with Chairman Lee Hein and other legislative leaders to ensure the bill’s passage.”



USDA Cold Storage December 2021 Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on December 31, 2021 were up 1 percent from the previous month but down 6 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 3 percent from the previous month but down 6 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 1 percent from the previous month and down 4 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were up 57 percent from last month and up 29 percent from last year.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on December 31, 2021 were up 2 percent from the previous month and up 3 percent from December 31, 2020. Butter stocks were down 5 percent from last month and down 27 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen poultry supplies on December 31, 2021 were up 3 percent from the previous month but down 16 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down slightly from the previous month and down 14 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 22 percent from last month but down 23 percent from December 31, 2020.

Total frozen fruit stocks on December 31, 2021 were down 6 percent from last month and down 8 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 7 percent from last month and down 4 percent from a year ago.



R-CALF USA Board of Directors Elect New Officers; Seats New Director

During their January meeting, the Board of Directors of R-CALF USA elected Region III Director Brett Kenzy as their new President of the Board and Region VII Director Eric Nelson as the Board’s new Vice President.

Under R-CALF USA’s governance, the President and Vice-President of the Board are selected by the Board from among their ranks. The two officers then serve two-year terms.

Outgoing President of the Board, Region II Director and cow/calf rancher Gerald Schreiber from Woodrow, Colo. served the maximum of two three-year terms and served as President of the Board since 2015. Judy McCullough, a cow/calf rancher from Moorcroft, Wyo. was elected to replace Schreiber as the new Region II Director by R-CALF USA’s cattle-owning members in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah.  

Kenzy, whose region consists of North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska, operates Kenzy Backgrounding, a 3000-head feedlot and maintains a commercial cow herd in south central South Dakota with his family. Kenzy and his wife have seven children.

“R-CALF USA is the organization that fights for competition, transparency, and honesty for independent livestock producers.” Kenzy said adding, “I believe that it is one of the very few organizations actively resisting the now global push for full vertical integration of our beef industry. Cooperation is a good thing; control is a different story.”

Nelson, whose region consists of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin is a fourth-generation farmer/feeder and rancher from Moville, Iowa. Along with his wife and family, he operates two feedlots, a cow-calf operation, raises crops and operates a commercial farm seed business in a three-county area.

Nelson is also an individual plaintiff in the national class action antitrust lawsuit that R-CALF USA first filed against the four largest beef packers in 2019.

“R-CALF USA is steadfast on its work on competition, country-of-origin labeling (COOL), and total transparency. A vibrant cattle industry is vital to all of agriculture, rural communities and to the entire nation,” Nelson said of his support for his organization.



Cattle on Feed Report
Brenda Boetel, Dept of Ag Economics, University of Wisconsin - River Falls

Cattle on feed inventories for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.037 million head on January 1, 2022, up only 0.58% over 2021, but almost 3% above the previous 3-year average. This is the sixth highest inventory since the series began in 1992 and is down 0.57% from the second highest inventory level, which was achieved in February 2021. February 2006 had the highest inventory levels.

Heifers on feed accounted for 38.84% of total on-feed inventory; the 2019-2021 average percentage for heifers on-feed was 38%. In January 2014, at the most recent cattle cycle inventory low, the percentage of heifers on-feed inventory was 35.5%. This percentage will decrease during the initial phases of herd rebuilding as heifers will be held back as replacements, and the percentage will increase during herd contraction. Currently levels indicate that 2022 will see continued herd contraction and the USDA Cattle report on January 31, 2022 will likely the inventory of cows that have calved and beef heifers held as replacements decrease from 36.97 million head to approximately 36.75 million head.

Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.963 million head, up 6.4% from December 2020. Only two states of the twelve recorded states reported placements that were down as compared to December 2020. Those two states were Arizona, with a year-over-year decline of 6.2%, and Iowa, down 6.4%.  Because placements of cattle on feed affect future supplies, cattle prices for future months are impacted more by changes in placements than prices for current delivery.  

Placements were up for all weight categories, with the exception of cattle weighing 900-999 pounds. The weight of the cattle placed changes the length of time on feed. Knowing if the decline in aggregate placements was at lower or higher weights helps estimate when the decline in placements will transform into a decline in marketings.

Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.857 million head, essentially stable with December 2021. The number of cattle on feed over 120 days was 3.923 million head, up 187,000 head (5%) from December 1, 2021 but down 120,000 head (-3%) from January 1, 2021. The number of cattle on feed for longer times is related to marketing as a percent of the on-feed inventory and gives an indication of how current the market is. The more current the market, the less time cattle are being kept on feed and hence the timelier marketing occurs. If the market is extremely current, there is less downward pressure on future prices as current inventory will not subsidize future inventories.
 
Overall, the January 2022 Cattle on Feed report was slightly bearish as cattle on feed and placements were reported at levels slightly higher than expected. The market continues to decrease on-feed inventories, which will be provide support for 1st quarter fat cattle prices. The increase in placements at lower weights indicates that the deferred live cattle prices will likely bear the majority of the bearish news.



Operation Lifesaver Releases New Rail Safety Resources for Farmers and Farm Machine Operators

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), the national non-profit rail safety education organization celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2022, is releasing new rail safety resources to help farmers and farm machine operators stay safe and avoid incidents around railroad tracks and trains.

Across the U.S., farm vehicles often cross railroad tracks on private roads in agricultural areas. According to preliminary 2020 Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) statistics, 325 crossing collisions comprising 17% of total incidents occurred at private railroad crossings, resulting in 22 fatalities (11.2% of total crossing-related deaths) and 111 injuries (16.1% of total crossing injuries).

The new OLI materials are available in both English and Spanish and include:
    Audio and video public service announcements (PSAs) in 15 and 30-second lengths
    Rail safety education presentations, lesson plans and handout materials for Junior Level (ages 8-11) and Senior Level (ages 12-17) students
    A rail safety sticker to remind farm machine operators and others to “See tracks? Think Train!”

“Every three hours in the U.S., a person or vehicle is hit by a train. We want farmers and farm machine operators to always expect a train, even on private property,” stated OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh. “The new PSA and rail safety education materials for young people along with the rail safety sticker provide actionable advice to farm communities on how to work safely near railroad tracks and trains as well as what to do in the event a tractor or other vehicle is stalled or stuck on the tracks.

“Operation Lifesaver’s mission is to end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on rail property,” Maleh noted. “We look forward to collaborating with our partners at the American Farm Bureau Federation and other national organizations to share these important safety tips with the farming community.”

The rail safety education materials for youth and the sticker were developed with input from members of national youth development programs 4‑H and the National FFA Organization.

The new materials are available in the Materials area of the oli.org website. For more information about railroad safety for farmers and farm machine operators, visit oli.org/farmers-and-farm-machine-operators.



Organic Soybeans Remain a Hot Topic in Early 2022 Prompting Interest in Alternatives
 
With continually rising organic soybean prices remaining a key point of market concern, the question for many becomes which alternative source of organic protein makes the most sense in the current market? This month we explore supply, pricing and potential substitutes for organic proteins in the Monthly Market Update.

Soybeans remain a primary source of protein for livestock, but with the rising cost of organic soybeans – as well as the possibility of supply decreasing with the restriction of imports – some may be looking for new sources for organic proteins. Two possible answers? Organic sunflower and organic canola.

“Domestically, the availability of organic sunflower and canola meal is likely to grow this year. Over the 2021/2022 marketing year harvest, Mercaris estimates U.S. organic sunflower production increased 28 percent year-over-year,” says Henry Wilson, Economist with Mercaris. “Although smaller relative to organic sunflower, U.S. organic canola production is estimated to have grown even more with organic canola up 42 percent year-over-year.”

While U.S. production remains a primary source for organic sunflower and canola, there is also a growing number of imports into the country. As a result, Mercaris’ organic Maritime Imports Report has been expanded to capture these growing markets and provide even more information to Mercaris subscribers. Overall, this extra supply of organic canola and sunflower adds extra viability for organic producers searching for organic soybean substitutes in protein feeds.

So what is Mercaris’ suggested takeaway moving further into 2022  involving organic protein options?

“While organic soybeans will remain a large part of many feed rations, the changing landscape of the organic soybean market may lead some to look for changes,” says Wilson. “As these decisions are made it will be important to not only continue watching the organic soybean market, but to keep a close watch on the market of substitutes such as organic sunflower and canola.”

The information above is summarized from this month’s recently released Monthly Market Update. To find more details and information on other organic and non-GMO markets, visit www.mercaris.com.