UNL Collegiate Farm Bureau Defeats Meatless Mondays Campaign
Students that are in favor of agriculture organized to become one voice at the Association for Students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (ASUN) senate meeting Wednesday Dec. 3, according to the vice president of programming for Collegiate Farm Bureau, Lukas Fricke.
“The Collegiate Farm Bureau received information that ASUN would be voting on a resolution to spend student money on an educational campaign to promote Meatless Mondays as proposed by the Environmental Sustainability Committee. This information prompted us to launch a grassroots campaign in support of meat production in Nebraska and to gather students to speak against the resolution,” Fricke said.
ASUN Senator, Spencer Hartman, joined the coalition of students and spoke against the resolution in debate.
“As a land grant institution, in the number one beef producing state in the nation, attended by students whose heritage and livelihoods are depending on livestock production, this is something that we cannot stand for.” Hartman told to his fellow senators.
Collegiate Farm Bureau organized the coalition of more than 100 students that came to the senate meeting. During open forum, multiple student leaders expressed their opposition of the topic and encouraged the senate to vote down the resolution.
“The student government’s proposal for a Meatless Monday had me baffled,” said sophomore animal science major Ashtyn Shrewsbury. “We are a land grant university, whose mission, as set forth in the Morrill Act of 1862, is to focus on the teaching of agriculture. Not only is agriculture the backbone of this University, it is the backbone of this state.”
In the end, the student senate voted down the purposed resolution with a clear majority vote. The Collegiate Farm Bureau plans to continue working to serve as the “Voice of Agriculture on Campus” by educating students and faculty about the importance of agriculture.
“Meatless Mondays” is an initiative encouraging people to stop eating meat on Monday’s.
The Collegiate Farm Bureau is a student organization that is dedicated to serving as the ‘Voice of Agriculture on Campus’ through a wide variety of education, service, and advocacy efforts. For more information about Collegiate Farm Bureau, visit our Facebook page www.facebook.com/UNLCollegiateFarmBureau.
NEBRASKA STUDENTS TO TOUR TAIWAN
Three Nebraska students will travel to Taiwan next week to experience the country’s agricultural education system, agricultural industry and to learn more about the role Nebraska agriculture plays in foreign markets.
The students are participating in a student exchange program between the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) and the National Taichung Agricultural Senior High School in Taiwan. For the past eleven years, three students from the Taiwan school have visited Nebraska to attend the annual Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute (NAYI) – a week-long summer program coordinated by NDA. In return, NDA chooses three NAYI delegates to travel to Taiwan.
"This exchange program is a wonderful opportunity for our students to experience a different culture, and to see firsthand how far reaching Nebraska agriculture’s impact truly is,” said NDA Director Greg Ibach. “This is a program our students, and the students from Taiwan, look forward to every year.”
The trip is coordinated by NDA and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Kansas City and is sponsored by the Nebraska Farm Bureau and TECO.
The students will leave for Taiwan on December 7 and will return to Nebraska on December 12. While in Taiwan, the students will be staying at the Taichung school. Their visit will include tours of the campus, interaction with Taiwanese students, participation in presentations, visits to local farms, and observations of several agricultural research institutes. They also will have the opportunity to do some sightseeing.
The students will participate in the 2015 NAYI, where they will share their experiences with the delegates.
The three students selected by NDA are:
· Mr. Grant Suddarth from York. Grant is a senior at York High School and is the son of Zach and Lori Suddarth.
· Mr. Collin Thompson from Eustis. Collin is a senior at Eustis-Farnam and is the son of Tucker and Melissa Thompson.
· Mr. Jacob Wilkins from Ainsworth. Jacob is a senior at Ainsworth High School and is the son of Brad and Wendy Wilkins.
ICON PREPARES FOR NINTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska (ICON) will be hosting their annual convention in Brewster, NE, on Friday, December 19, 2014, 12 noon MST, at Uncle Buck’s Lodge.
The day starts at 11 a.m. with registration. A luncheon will be served at the Lodge at noon and followed by the afternoon activities. Up first will be a workshop with Paul Dorr of Copperhead Consulting who will talk about School Bonds and Property Taxes. Senator Al Davis of District 43 will host an Up Close and Personal conversation about what’s happening in the legislature. The last afternoon event will be a discussion with retiring Executive Director of the Brand Committee, Steve F. Stanec, and incoming Executive Director, Shawn D. Harvey. The day will conclude with an ICON business meeting.
The evening will start with a Social Hour at 6 p.m., Prime Rib evening banquet at 7 p.m., auction for Jim Hanna Scholarship and benefit of ICON and Willard Hollopeter and his 'Cowboy Poetry' as our evening entertainment.
Registration for the 2014 ICON Convention Registration is $50 and includes the noon luncheon. Guests accompanying a paid registration can register for $20. The evening Banquet with prime rib is an extra $25 per attendee. ICON membership dues for 2014 are $100 and if members have not paid, there will be a $10 discount at the convention.
ICON Convention registration can be sent to: ICON/Linda Wuebben, 55669 888th Road, Fordyce, NE 68736. For more information, call 402-357-3778 or visit ICON www.independentcattlemen.com.
ASA Hails Barge Fuel Increase to Fund Waterways Improvements
As part of H.R. 647, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, the House of Representatives on Wednesday passed, by a vote of 404-17, a provision to increase the barge fuel fee to fund needed waterways infrastructure projects. American Soybean Association (ASA) President and Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser expressed ASA’s appreciation for the fee, which is supported by those in the waterways industry.
“The nine-cent increase in the per-gallon barge fuel fee is something that is supported not only by the nation’s soybean farmers, but also by the commercial barge and towing operators who pay it. We all support this as a way to dedicate funds to new waterways infrastructure construction and major rehabilitation of the inland waterways system through the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. We are pleased that the House passed this provision, and we call on the Senate to quickly do the same.”
Free Online Tool Helps Growers with Split Nitrogen Application Decisions
The Useful to Usable (U2U) climate initiative recently launched a new online decision support tool, Corn Split N, that helps farmers and farm advisors manage the application of in-field nitrogen for maximum crop yields and minimum environmental damage.
The free tool, available for use in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas, combines historical weather data and fieldwork conditions with economic considerations to determine the feasibility and profitability of completing a post-planting nitrogen application for corn production. The product will be expanded in 2015 to seven additional North Central states.
Chad Hart, Corn Split N local project coordinator and crop markets specialist at Iowa State University, shared information about the tool at the Integrated Crop Management conference in Ames Dec. 3.
“Traditionally, farmers have applied nitrogen to the soil in a single pass either in the fall or in the spring before planting," Hart said. "However, research has shown that by splitting the nitrogen over two intervals, applying it once in the fall or spring when the soil is not saturated and the temperature is between 50 – 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and then a second time when the plants are in the ground and need it the most, will ultimately lead to better results because less fertilizer will be needed overall and not as much will be lost in run off.”
He said that nitrogen management of corn includes many factors. One factor is the timing of the application, which varies depending on the weather and soil conditions. Corn Split N tool’s historical climate data is designed to assist farmers pinpoint when nitrogen should be applied for best results.
Because the post-planting application must be done before the corn gets too tall, estimates of corn development stages based on location, selected planting date and the accumulated corn growing degree days (GDD) for the year are also factored into the tool. GDD accumulations and associated corn growth beyond the current day are estimated based on the historical 30-year (1981-2010) average GDD accumulation for a location.
Hart noted that the Corn Split N tool helps farmers quantify the costs and benefits under an average, worst and best case scenario when doing a post-planting nitrogen application, even taking into account two passes of ground equipment in the fields.
Farmers get customized results based on their planting and fertilization schedule, local costs and available equipment. In addition, a summarized fieldwork table and crop calendar makes it easy to see how schedule adjustments might affect their ability to fertilize on time.
To learn more, visit Scenarios and Split Nitrogen Timing and Application Methods at https://mygeohub.org/groups/u2u/.
Corn Split NDST is part of the U2UDST suite of tools created to help farmers and agricultural advisors manage increasingly variable weather and climate conditions across the Corn Belt. The tools incorporate historical climate data to help inform purchasing, marketing and activity planning throughout the growing cycle. Data in all tools is updated on a regular basis, even daily in some cases.
Useful to Usable is a USDA-funded research and extension project designed to improve the resilience and profitability of U.S. farms in the Corn Belt amid a variable and changing climate. The project is comprised of a team of 50 faculty, staff, and students from nine North Central universities with expertise in applied climatology, crop modeling, agronomy, cyber-technology, agricultural economics, and other social sciences. Learn more at http://AgClimate4u.org or on Twitter at @AgClimate4U.
Land Value Survey News Conference to be Held Dec. 18
A news conference will be held at 10 a.m. on Dec. 18 announcing the results of the 2014 Iowa Land Value Survey conducted by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at Iowa State University. This year, the conference will take place in Room 004 of the Scheman building on the ISU campus in Ames.
Michael Duffy, a retired ISU Extension economist who is helping transition responsibility for conducting the survey from ISU Extension to CARD, will head the news conference and announce the latest findings. Background materials will be available at the conference, and will include Iowa land value data from 1950 to present, current land value data from all 99 counties, and a press release summarizing the 2014 survey results. Duffy will make himself available to reporters for follow-up questions or one-on-one interviews immediately following the presentation of results.
For those who can’t attend, the conference will be videotaped, and the video and printed materials from the conference will be made availalbe on the CARD homepage at http://www.card.iastate.edu soon after the conference.
The Scheman building is located next to Hilton Coliseum and Fisher Theater. Maps and directions to Scheman are available at http://bit.ly/LVSDirections. Free parking is available in the Scheman and Hilton lots.
Biodiesel Association Responds to Tax Package
The National Biodiesel Board applauded the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday for voting overwhelmingly to reinstate the biodiesel tax incentive but urged lawmakers to act quickly on a longer-term tax deal that would provide more certainty for growth and investment in the U.S. biodiesel industry.
“While we appreciate a one-year extension, we are urging Congress to continue pressing for a longer-term policy that can afford this industry the certainty needed to invest and grow,” said Anne Steckel, NBB’s vice president of federal affairs. “Biodiesel businesses across the country are poised to expand their operations, hire new workers and build new infrastructure, but we need forward-looking policy.”
“Under a 2014-only package, we will see the biodiesel tax incentive expire on Jan. 1 for the fourth time in six years. It is very difficult to run a business with that kind of uncertainty,” Steckel added. “So whether it happens in the closing days of this Congress or early next year, we are calling on Congress to act as quickly as possible to pass a multi-year extension that provides some stability.”
The House voted 378-46 Wednesday night to approve HR 5771, which reinstates a host of tax incentives for 2014. The package includes the $1-per-gallon biodiesel incentive, which expired at the beginning of the year. The House vote sets up a potential Senate vote in the coming days.
“The biodiesel incentive is proven to create jobs and economic activity, and it pays tremendous dividends in terms of reducing costly pollution and improving our energy security as well,” said NBB Board Chairman Steven J. Levy, managing director at Sprague Operating Resources. “It is a successful policy that is working so there is no reason to have this kind of perpetual uncertainty.”
Apply for the 2016 Corn Board Today!
The National Corn Growers Association Nominating Committee reminds members that it is accepting applications from members for the 2016 Corn Board. Through the Corn Board, members can become an integral part of the organization's leadership. Click here for the application, which provides complete information on requirements, responsibilities and deadlines.
"Through my years on the Corn Board, I have enjoyed working the talented, dedicated volunteers who step forward to lead this organization," said NCGA Chairman and Nominating Committee Chair Martin Barbre. "The willingness of farmers to step forward as volunteer leaders plays is crucial to NCGA's continued success. A true grassroots organization, NCGA relies upon farmers to volunteer for leadership, helping to shape policy and drive efforts. Serving on the Corn Board empowers farmers and allows them to play an active role in shaping their industry and our collective future."
The NCGA Corn Board represents the organization on all matters while directing both policy and supervising day-to-day operations. Board members serve the organization in a variety of ways. They represent the federation of state organizations, supervise the affairs and activities of NCGA in partnership with the chief executive officer and implement NCGA policy established by the Corn Congress. Members also act as spokespeople for the NCGA and enhance the organization's public standing on all organizational and policy issues.
Applications are due Friday, January 9. Nominated candidates will be introduced at the February 2015 Corn Congress meeting, held in conjunction with the Commodity Classic in Phoenix, Ariz. Corn Board members will be elected at the July 2015 Corn Congress in Washington, D.C., and the new terms begin Oct. 1.
Congress Prepares for New Food Label Fight
The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, which consists of 37 trade groups, including the National Association of Wheat Growers, is gearing up to push for a federal labeling bill introduced earlier this year by Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan. The bill would require that all new foods containing GMO ingredients being brought to the market must first undergo a review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It would preempt any mandatory state labeling law, because foods would not need to be labeled if FDA deems them to be safe. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, on which Pompeo serves, is expected to hold a hearing on the legislation in December. Legislation has been introduced in over 20 states and more states are gathering signatures for mandatory GMO labeling initiatives next fall. “This is going to continue until we get federal solution,” says coalition consultant Randy Russell. “It's not going to be easy, but the alternative is a patchwork of state laws that will have a major economic cost and be a threat to the technology itself.”
USDA Extends Application Deadline for Dairy Margin Protection Program to Dec. 19
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the application deadline for the dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP) will be extended until Dec. 19, 2014. The program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, protects participating dairy producers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below levels of protection selected by the applicant.
"The 2014 Farm Bill created these safety net programs to provide safeguards against the uncertainty of weather and markets, but this safety net is not automatic. Producers must visit their local Farm Service Agency office to enroll before December 19," said Vilsack. "Despite the best forecasts, weather and markets can change, so a modest investment today can protect against unexpected losses tomorrow."
"For just $100, a farmer can cover 90 percent of production at $4 margin swings, and with affordable incremental premiums, dairy farmers can cover up to $8 margin swings," said Vilsack. "Those who apply this year will receive a slight increase in production protection that will not be available in the future. Farmers who do not sign up for the Margin Protection Program for 2015 will forfeit the 1 percent base production increase. For a 400 cow operation, this would equate to an additional 80,000 pounds of milk that are eligible for coverage. It's a small step to take to ensure your business is covered."
Vilsack encourages producers to use the online Web resource at www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool to calculate the best levels of coverage for their dairy operation. They can type in specific operation data and explore price projections and market scenarios to determine what level of coverage is best for them. They can also compare the data to see how the program would have helped in previous years, such as 2008, when margins dropped from $8 to $3 in just three months. The online resource is on a secure website that can be accessed from computers, mobile phones or tablets, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Farmers also have a chance to share comments and help shape the Margin Protection Program for the future. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the extension of the opportunity for public comments on both the Margin Protection Program and the Dairy Product Donation Program until Dec. 15, 2014. Comments can be submitted to USDA via the regulations.gov website at http://go.usa.gov/GJSA or send them by mail to: Danielle Cooke, Special Programs Manager, Price Support Division, FSA, USDA, STOP 0512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-0512.
NMPF Thanks USDA for Extending Sign-Up Deadline for New Margin Protection Program
The National Milk Producers Federation applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture today for giving dairy farmers two more weeks to sign up for the revamped dairy safety net included in the 2014 farm bill. Instead of Friday, December 5, the USDA announced today that it has extended the enrollment deadline for the new Margin Protection Program until Friday, December 19.
“The most important New Year’s resolution a dairy farmer can make for 2015 is using the new Margin Protection Program to take advantage of this opportunity to guard against the possibility of low margin conditions at some point in the next year,” said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern.
“With a busy harvest season now done, along with this year’s favorable milk prices, many dairy farmers are just now taking the time to review their options and explore the need for the new MPP program,” said Mulhern.
The strong milk prices of 2014 are giving way to lower prices in the coming year, which “should prompt many farmers to consider their risk management options should prices drop further,” Mulhern said.
Mulhern said there are good reasons for farmers to sign up for the program. “First,” he said, “futures indicate dairy margins are leaving their record territory and will trend down through much of 2015.”
He cited the crash in oil prices in recent weeks as an example of where sudden price changes in a commodity can catch many by surprise, adding that “no one expected oil prices would drop by 40 percent in just a few months, but sudden movements either up or down are a frequent occurrence in commodity markets.”
In addition, Mulhern said, with U.S. milk production expected to increase by more than one percent this year, signing up for MPP boosts an individual farm’s production history going forward by the same amount as the national increase.
“MPP payments are based on past production, and that production history increases only with the rise in national milk production,” Mulhern said. “As a result, those who sign up now for 2015 coverage will benefit from this year’s increase in milk production, thus allowing them to insure a larger base in the future.”
NMPF has a variety of tools on its website and on a separate website devoted exclusively to the new program to help producers make their decisions. Included is a downloadable calculator on which producers can plug in their own numbers and get a sense of the program’s impact on their farm. Farmers who have already enrolled have the opportunity to change their coverage levels until December 19.
“Basic coverage costs farmers only $100 a year,” Mulhern said. “But that relatively small investment does a lot to protect the future of a farm. We encourage all producers to take advantage of USDA’s deadline extension and get to their county Farm Service Agency office to sign up for the Margin Protection Program in the next two weeks.”
CWT Helps Sell 47,000 Pounds of Cheddar Cheese in November
Cooperatives Working Together helped Dairy Farmers of America and Tillamook County Creamery Association make export sales of more than 47,000 pounds of Cheddar cheese in November. The product will be delivered to customers in Asia and the Middle East this month.
The November sales bring year-to-date totals for CWT-assisted sales to more than 99 million pounds of cheese, 53 million pounds of butter and 56 million pounds of whole milk powder. The sales to customers in 45 countries on six continents are the equivalent of 2.5 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.
CWT is a voluntary, farmer-funded program that helps member cooperatives maintain and expand world markets for U.S. dairy products. At the NMPF annual meeting in October, President and CEO Jim Mulhern credited CWT with helping to keep U.S. dairy product prices high amid a steep decline in dairy prices worldwide. By moving U.S. dairy products into world markets, Mulhern said, the NMPF-developed program has helped keep domestic inventories low and strengthened milk prices across the board.
All Eyes on Japan: High Stakes Election Has Big Implications for TPP
With 40 percent of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) covered by the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks, Japan’s coming elections have implications that may shape the world’s economy for years to come.
“If it is done in a forward looking manner, the TPP will be a game changer for U.S. agriculture,” said U.S. Grains Council Chairman Ron Gray. “We realize that the politics of trade are tough, in the United States as well as in a number of other countries. That’s why the upcoming elections in Japan are so important.”
Japan’s parliamentary elections will be held Dec. 14. Negotiations on TPP have been stalled by delays in reaching an agreement on bilateral U.S.-Japanese issues, especially on agricultural trade.
“Obviously TPP isn’t the only thing Japanese voters will be considering next week, but this is an important opportunity to strengthen the pro-economic growth and pro-trade coalition in a key negotiating partner,” Gray said. “U.S. farmers and agribusinesses have a vested interest in the outcome.”
TPP is a comprehensive trade and investment agreement that is currently under negotiation by 12 Pacific Rim countries with a combined population of 800 million. The TPP countries currently account for almost 40 percent of U.S. agricultural exports.
A recent United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report underscored the importance of TPP to U.S. agriculture. U.S. farm exports to the other 11 TPP partners could rise by more than 5 percent if a high-quality agreement can be reached, with exports to Japan among the biggest opportunities.
“We understand that some sectors of Japanese agriculture are worried about increased competition,” Gray said. “But there are also real opportunities for Japan. Japan has one of the highest quality food systems in the world and is universally recognized for food safety.
“Japan can be an export platform for high-quality, value-added food products to the rest of Asia. That has worked for Japan in manufacturing, and it can work again here. Since a major expansion of Japanese food exports would require more imported ingredients, including feed grains, there is a real opportunity for the United States as well.”
Economic growth in Japan has been sluggish in recent years, and tax and economic issues dominate the current political debate. While the political campaign has not focused heavily on TPP, a stronger pro-trade policy helps support economic growth. The election results may be a key indicator of Japan’s readiness to address tough political issues like trade liberalization.
U.S. Negotiators Must Prioritize TPP Market Access Gains for U.S. Dairy Industry, Not for Other Countries, Dairy Groups Urge
The U.S. dairy industry advised top U.S. government agricultural trade negotiators that their efforts on any final Pacific Rim free trade agreement must put access to foreign markets for U.S. dairy farmers and processors first, and avoid pressure from other countries to regionalize all new market access opportunities in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) made the point in letters sent today to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
As TPP negotiations head into their final stage, the dairy organizations expressed concern that industries in competing countries are counting on the United States to deliver export gains for all, rather than relying on their own governments to secure concessions in the trade agreement. “It is crucial,” USDEC President Tom Suber said, “for the U.S. to prioritize delivery of benefits to our dairy industry, not other TPP countries.”
As a case in point, the three groups cited the recently concluded Japan-Australia FTA, which does little to open agricultural markets and instead aims to put the burden on U.S. negotiators to win agricultural concessions for all in the TPP.
“The Japan-Australia FTA is an excellent example of the negative impact such a dynamic can have on U.S. interests,” NMFP President and CEO Jim Mulhern said. “Our competitors in other TPP countries must work with their own governments to secure market access rather than insisting that any gains secured by the U.S. in challenging areas such as agriculture be made broadly available to all.”
The dairy organizations applauded U.S. efforts to gain market access through TPP for U.S. dairy products in countries including Japan and Canada. They stressed that no tariff line should be left untouched in this agreement.
“We believe the negotiators will continue to push forward and leave no stone unturned in their negotiations with Japan and Canada,” said Connie Tipton, IDFA president and CEO.
More Farms at Risk of Bird Flu
Canadian authorities said Wednesday they have quarantined two more poultry farms in British Columbia as they race to contain a bout of avian influenza that has already hit two farms in the province and caused a number of Asian countries to impose restrictions on farm imports from Canada.
On Tuesday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed the presence of H5 avian influenza on two farms in the southwest part of British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province. The precise subtype and strain of the virus has yet to be determined.
On Wednesday, the watchdog also quarantined two nearby farms suspected of being at risk of avian flu and warned more could be in the offing. Avian flu hasn't been confirmed at the two farms most recently quarantined.
"As avian influenza is highly contagious and can spread rapidly, it is possible that additional at-risk farms may be identified in the coming days," Dr. Harpreet Kochhar, the agency's chief veterinarian, told journalists.
Dr. Kochhar said initial testing suggests about 18,000 birds will need to be slaughtered.
The agency said avian flu viruses don't pose risks to food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked. The virus rarely affects humans who don't have consistent contact with infected birds.
Still, in the wake of this week's news, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan have applied restrictions on Canadian poultry products and chicks, a spokesman for Canada's Agriculture Department said.
Officials said it was too early to pinpoint the source of the infection, noting it could have spread from migratory birds, wild birds or a breach in biosecurity. "Our focus is to make sure we get ahead of the game and of containing the virus spread," said Dr. Kochhar.
Canadian officials are working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, given the proximity of B.C. to the state of Washington, he said.
Last month, authorities in the U.K. and Netherlands also reported outbreaks of avian flu and killed over 150,000 birds. Dutch authorities imposed a 72-hour ban on the transport of domestic poultry and eggs.
USW Presents Global Wheat Food Security Initiative to International Millers
Citing the inadequacy of past, centrally planned food security policies, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) President Alan Tracy today proposed an initiative to provide “genuine food security to the world’s wheat importers” by fully liberalizing global wheat trade. Tracy presented the concept of a global wheat food security initiative at the 25th Annual International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) Mideast & Africa Conference & Expo in Cape Town, South Africa.
“Wheat is the most important food grain in the world,” Tracy said. “It provides 20 percent of the calories consumed every day on earth and 20 percent of the protein for the poorest half of human population. Demand is growing, but not every country that consumes wheat can produce wheat. Thus, wheat is both the world's most planted grain and the most traded. Creating a government-to-government sectoral trade agreement, similar to the current initiative to achieve global free trade in environmental goods under the World Trade Organization (WTO), that eliminates trade barriers would assure importing countries of guaranteed access to the world's exportable wheat supplies.”
Tracy said real food security is possible when markets are allowed to work and governments invest to improve infrastructure that supports local production and improves access to world food supplies through trade. Policies that intervene in market dynamics, while implemented with good intentions, have only distorted trade and encouraged unsustainable investments.
Tracy noted that the call in 2011 by the G20 under the leadership of French President Sarkozy for internationally controlled emergency wheat stockpiles and other measures largely proved unworkable. He also criticized India’s food security demands that appeared to derail hopes for a WTO trade facilitation agreement in Bali, Indonesia, earlier this year.
"India's demand for an exemption from WTO subsidy rules was not really about food security," he said.
Admitting that such an initiative faces many challenges, Tracy said USW has shared the concept with some government trade officials and industry representatives who have expressed interest in discussing the idea in more depth.
“Given a fair chance, we can compete very well because we produce the highest quality wheat in the world,” said Paul Penner, a Hillsboro, Kan., wheat farmer and president of the National Association of Wheat Growers. “We agree that lower tariffs, less government intervention and freer global wheat trade would expand opportunity for farmers and their customers and we are eager to see how stakeholders respond to this idea.”
Tracy also asked flour millers at the IAOM meeting for their support within their own governments if the idea takes root.
“In exchange for eliminating tariffs, licenses and other trade barriers, the world’s wheat buyers would have guaranteed access to exportable wheat supplies even when world supplies are down,” Tracy said. “It also would encourage sound investment in wheat production and create a more level playing field on which exporting countries can compete. I believe, with your support, we can genuinely boost food security that is so critical to peace and justice in this growing world.”
Cargill Animal Nutrition Launches Cargill Nutrition System
Cargill is launching a new proprietary nutrient formulating platform, Cargill Nutrition System (CNS), which combines real-time global nutrient analysis of feed ingredients with the latest research into nutrient application and industry-leading ingredient sourcing to provide customers clarity and consistency in feed application.
CNS allows Cargill to deliver precise feed formulations to producers based on a host of variables often unique to each individual customer: species, climate, location, business goals, nutrient-content requirements and cost considerations of available ingredients. Ultimately, it helps Cargill bring nutrition solutions customized to meet specific customer needs faster and with the best cost formulation to boost profitability.
"Our customers operate in an ever-changing environment. CNS allows us to design products and solutions that take their unique and changing conditions into account and help manage them effectively," said Scott Ainslie, director of Strategic Marketing & Technology for Cargill's animal nutrition business. "CNS combines 'big data' nutrient analysis, world-leading nutrient application expertise and Cargill's sourcing power to allow us to provide customers with clarity in feed application, rather than just a 'best guess,' to achieve better production costs and higher performance."
Recently, poultry customers in Indonesia provided a clear example of the impact of CNS. Through CNS' nutritional review process, it was discovered that by decreasing levels of crude protein and changing amino acid and fiber levels in poultry feeds, customers saw improved animal performance along with better feed cost per unit of production.
"By understanding species' specific nutrient requirements better than anyone else, we are able to consistently deliver improved solutions to our customers," said Henk Enting, poultry technology director for Cargill's animal nutrition business. "Without CNS, poultry would continue to be overfed a number of fermentable nutrients, potentially resulting in performance issues for the animal due to undigested nutrients, as well as unnecessary spending by our customers. As a result of changing the diet, customers in Indonesia saw a decrease in wet litter and feed cost savings."
CNS also had an impact on customers' businesses in Vietnam when the team there re-designed its sow offerings. "Using CNS, we reviewed our sow offerings and upgraded them with updated nutrients like fermentable carbohydrate to support better hormonal balance during gestation and reduce constipation. We also included a new ideal protein model (IPM) to support balanced nutrition based on sow requirements during gestation and lactation, and did work to stimulate mineral retention during gestation in order to promote mineral mobilization during lactation for higher milk production," said Jihoon Kim, Ph. D, and Strategic Marketing & Technology director for Cargill's feed business in Vietnam.
The new sow offerings were launched early last summer and customers already are reporting better performance including: decreased constipation in gestation sows, increased piglet birth weights, higher milk production during lactation for heavier weaning weights and healthier sows at the weaning resulting in shorter weaning-estrus intervals.
The database behind CNS is comprised of over 2 million nutrient samples, covering more than 200 ingredients, and 10 million annual nutrient predictions, and is constantly being refreshed. This data is combined with the vast knowledge and experience of Cargill Animal Nutrition's 17,000 employees, including more than 500 research and development professionals, with more than 200 Ph.D and veterinary degrees.
CNS is one of the many arms of Cargill's robust animal nutrition research and development unit. "CNS is a clear example of the significant role innovation will continue to play," said Dave Cook, Research & Development director for Cargill's animal nutrition business. "Research and development fuels the insights and innovations that our customers seek, and it enables us to continue to be our customers' trusted advisor. The rollout of CNS is a significant milestone for Cargill. We maintain a long-term commitment to research as we look to continually deliver pioneering solutions to our customers."
Welcome to the KTIC Agriculture Information blog!!! Check back here for the latest in ag news and information, from local events to international happenings and government reports that affect your operation. Please email with suggestions! -Chad Moyer, Farm Director, KTIC Radio
Friday, December 5, 2014
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Wednesday December 3 Ag News
What did it cost you to produce a calf this year? What will it cost you in 2015?
Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Educator
2014 will go down in the record books as one where record profits occurred for many in the business of producing weaned calves. Was your cow-calf business profitable this year? What did it cost you to produce a pound of weaned calf? What do you project it will cost in 2015?
Unit cost of production (UCOP) is a value based on a relationship in production or manufacturing between costs and units of product made or produced.
Unit Cost of Production = Costs / Units Produced
The relationship between the numerator (Costs) and the denominator (Units Produced) is what drives the UCOP value. The power of the UCOP ratio for cow-calf producers is that everything involved in the production of a pound of calf is represented in the numerator or denominator of the equation. For example, if a producer wants to buy a pickup that will be used in the production of calves, he can estimate how the purchase of that new pickup will affect his UCOP in terms of cost per pound of calf produced. The same thing goes for the purchase of a new bull. Evaluating the purchase of a bull in light of how many estimated pounds of calf that bull will produce in relation to his cost can give insight into what a producer might be willing to spend.
What did it cost to produce a pound of weaned calf this year? What is it projected to cost next year? The old adage “you can’t effectively manage what you don’t measure” is true in relation to managing the cow-calf enterprise. The first step in calculating UCOP is to have production and financial records. These records do not have to be complicated, but they need to be accurate and thorough. If current management and information systems don’t provide the data to run this type of analysis, consider changes that will provide the records needed.
Unit Costs of Production takes into account both product produced and input costs. Knowing UCOP allows a manager to look forward utilizing both present and projected input costs with production numbers to make informed decisions. Cow-calf producers who know UCOP numbers for their operation’s enterprises and understand the interaction between input costs and production can implement strategies to effectively manage resources to meet business and personal goals.
Table 1 (http://go.unl.edu/zh2r) shows estimated costs to produce a weaned calf from a sample central Nebraska ranch. In this example, the cowherd is static with a 16% replacement rate. The number of bred heifers entering the herd is equal to the number of cows that are culled or lost due to death loss. All costs including labor, depreciation, and opportunity cost on cowherd value is included in this example.
THE AREA'S LARGEST AGRICULTURE EXPOSITION IS COMING BACK TO THE CENTURYLINK CENTER-OMAHA March 11-12, 2015
One of the Midwest's premier indoor farm events, the TRIUMPH OF AGRICULTURE EXPOSITION will be held March 11-12, 2015 at the CenturyLink Center-Omaha, 10th and Capitol Avenue, just off I-480. The 49th Annual Farm and Ranch Machinery Show will once again be filled with the latest agricultural innovations, equipment and supplies with more than 900 exhibits for farmers, ranchers, and their wives to visit all on one level of over 200,000 square feet in the state-of-the-art CenturyLink Center-Omaha.
"It's an excellent opportunity to see all types of Short-Line farm equipment, new products, labor and time saving ideas all under one roof," says Bob Mancuso, Sr., the Show's Producer. "The Triumph of Ag Expo is the best place for farmers to find answers for what they do control while taking advantage of the new technologies at the Expo - ranging from machinery to new plant varieties that are available." The Farm Show is open 9 AM to 4 PM on Wed and 9 AM to 3 PM on Thurs. Advance free admission tickets can be obtained from Exhibitors, County Extension agents, farm machinery and equipment dealers or at the CenturyLink Center-Omaha door. This is an ideal time for area Farm Operators to find ways to improve productivity and increase profits, before spring field work begins.
Brien McCready from John Deere and A & M Green Power and Show Councilman says he's looking for a great Show at the CenturyLink Center Omaha and says, "The Triumph of Ag Expo is always packed with lots of new improvements and helpful information." At no other time this spring will area Farm Operators be able to see this much farm equipment and technology on display. The Triumph of Ag Expo offers visitors a hands-on experience with continuous demonstrations so those attending will be able to compare and evaluate quickly and conveniently, all under one roof, in one location and on one level with over 4,500 on-site parking available.
Regarded as one of the largest indoor diversified short-line farm machinery shows, Ben Hellbusch, from Busch Equipment of Columbus, Nebraska and Council Board Member said, "The Expo has something for every kind of farm operation," including tillage equipment, planters, monitor and control systems, soil testing equipment, mowers, cattle chutes, augers, fertilizers, various seed hybrids, feeders, tanks and pumps, hay moving and handling equipment, plows, combines, computers and software, tractors, and many more agricultural products and services for today's farmers and ranchers.
Bob Mancuso, Jr., Show Director, said if you are interested in agriculture and farming, this year’s Expo is the place to be on March 11-12, 2015 . In addition to all of the latest equipment, products, and services - there will be seminars throughout the Show, craft items and displays, antique farm tractors and equipment, and special programs. The Triumph of Ag Expo is a charter member of the North American Farm Show Council – the Top 25 shows in North America!
County Farm Bureaus Show Progress, Innovation in 2014 Through New Iowa Farm Bureau Share Program
To kick off Iowa Farm Bureau Week, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) is celebrating the innovation and achievements of 19 county Farm Bureaus who participated in a new IFBF Share Program launched earlier in the year.
“IFBF developed the Share Program this year to encourage county Farm Bureaus to engage in activities that support conservation and water quality, education, and community revitalization,” said IFBF President Craig Hill. “Farm Bureau is unique in that we have a presence in every county in Iowa, and it’s important to our members to ensure the vitality of agriculture and those communities for the long-term. The Share Program is one tool the counties can use to help them meet important goals at the local level.”
“The projects these counties conducted this year range in size but the goals are the same – to bring measurable progress to rural Iowa,” Hill continued. “One Share project started a three-year push to make measurable soil erosion and sedimentation reductions in the Middle Nodaway River; other projects included cover crop demonstrations in Cherokee, Decatur and Hamilton counties.”
Additional efforts focused on utilizing updated technology tools, such as iPads, for conducting agriculture education programs in Cerro Gordo, Kossuth, Winnebago, and Worth county schools to help young Iowans understand the role agriculture and farming plays now and in their futures. A Union county project helped a volunteer fire department secure an ATV to aid in rural rescues in remote terrain. “This is measureable work - vital work - that will benefit communities today and well into the future; we applaud their great work,” said Hill.
The IFBF Share Program will continue in 2015, with a focus on nurturing issues and projects important to Farm Bureau, including the promotion of new conservation and water quality projects, agriculture education, rural and agriculture entrepreneurship and farm safety.
NORTHEY REQUESTS $7.5 MILLION FOR WATER QUALITY
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today requested $7.5 million for the Iowa Water Quality Initiative in a public meeting with Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds as part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2017 budget requests. This request puts funding at the level of support sought for the soil conservation cost share program, or Iowa Financial Incentives Program (IFIP), over the next two years.
“The strong support from the Governor, Lt. Governor and Legislature for the Water Quality Initiative has been critically important to the exciting progress we have made. This request is designed to allow us to continue to build on the initiative. Funding water quality and soil conservation efforts at equal levels will allow us to continue the exciting work taking place in both of these critically important programs,” Northey said.
The Department received $4.4 million for the current fiscal year for the Water Quality Initiative. The $7.5 million per year requested would allow the Department to continue offering cost share statewide to farmers trying new water quality practices, expand work in targeted watersheds to achieve measurable water quality improvements, and develop new programs to help engage all Iowans in water quality efforts.
Northey also requested $7.5 million for conservation cost share for each of the next two fiscal years. For over four decades, Iowa’s soil conservation cost share program has encouraged the adoption of conservation structures and practices to protect and preserve our state’s natural resources. Last year alone, the state’s $9.5 million investment generated $13 million in matching funds from Iowa farmers and land owners to support conservation practices.
In the meeting with Branstad, Northey also requested $1.92 million in both fiscal 2016 and 2017 to support the closure of seventeen additional agriculture drainage wells in the state.
“I appreciate the opportunity to outline this proposal for the Governor and Lt. Governor and I look forward to working with them and the Legislature to keep Iowa’s conservation efforts moving forward,” Northey said.
With Passage of Tax Extenders Stopgap, ASA Callsfor Longer-Term Solution
In response to the passage of a short-term extension of several key tax credits by the House of Representatives today, the American Soybean Association (ASA) expressed both its appreciation for a fix in the near term, and disappointment in the absence of a longer-term solution. ASA President and Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser used the opportunity to call on Congress to redouble its efforts to pass a longer-term tax extenders package.
“ASA first and foremost supports a long-term extension of several of the items included in today’s short-term fix. These initiatives include the dollar-per-gallon biodiesel tax credit, expensing for farm equipment and infrastructure under the Section 179 expensing provision, and bonus depreciation on farm assets. Such an approach provides greater certainty and a more stable climate for the farmers and producers who make use of these programs, and we were very disappointed that agreement was not reached on a broader measure. That said, we support the House’s passage of their short-term extension in the absence of a more permanent solution. While it remains only a stopgap measure, we hope that the Senate will take up and pass it quickly. At that point, we urge both chambers to join together and tackle the work of extending these critical tax incentives for the long term.”
EIA: Ethanol Output Down
Domestic ethanol supply increased while demand and output both declined during the week-ended Nov. 28, the Energy Information Administration reported at midmorning Wednesday.
EIA showed ethanol supply increased 200,000 bbl to 17.3 million bbl, with the build taking place in the Midwest PADD 2, where inventory totaled 5.9 million bbl on Nov. 28. Inventory was unchanged in the remaining four PAD districts.
U.S. ethanol supply is 2.2 million bbl higher than during the comparable year-ago period while down 2.0 million bbl from the same week in 2012.
The supply build came despite a 20,000 bpd drop off in output from U.S. ethanol plants to 962,000 bpd, albeit the decline in production came from a record high. During the four weeks through Nov. 28, U.S. ethanol output averaged 965,000 bpd, 47,000 bpd or 5.1% higher than during the same four weeks in 2013.
Refiner and blender net inputs of ethanol, a proxy for ethanol demand, slid 18,000 bpd to 856,000 bpd. Inputs averaged 861,000 bpd during the four weeks ended Nov. 28, 1.3% greater than during the comparable year-ago period.
Implied gasoline demand surged 170,000 bpd to 9.425 million bpd, a three-month high, during the week reviewed, which included three of the five travel days for the Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend. It was the second highest weekly demand rate of 2014, and marked the fifth consecutive week in which implied demand topped 9.0 million bpd, an occurrence that last took place during the 2013 summer driving season.
E15 Debuts in Florida
Today, Protec Fuel will begin to offer E15 in Florida at retail stations in Ft. Myers and Sarasota. E15 (15 percent ethanol) is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in vehicles 2001 and newer. In addition to E15, consumers will also be able to purchase E85 (85 percent ethanol) at these stations for use in flex-fuel vehicles. The retail stations are operated by Mid-State Energy.
“Floridians in the Sunshine State certainly have something to smile about today as they now have another choice at the pump,” stated Robert White, vice president of industry relations at the Renewable Fuels Association. “It is exciting to see E15 continue its expansion to the East Coast and it is my hope that additional states in the South and East that don’t currently offer E15 will follow Florida’s example and begin offering low-cost E15 to their consumers.”
“Protec Fuel is proud to be at the forefront of E15 expansion and is excited to bring E15 to Florida,” said Todd Garner, managing partner and CEO of Protec Fuel. “Drivers deserve options. They deserve access to low-cost fuel. E15 will certainly be a welcome option down here in Florida.”
The Renewable Fuels Association worked with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for more than two years to overcome regulatory barriers that hindered the sale of E15 in Florida.
Science Denial and Today’s Food Consumer - New CFI Research Cracks the Code to Informed Decision Making
Overwhelming scientific consensus tells us that genetically modified foods are safe and that humans contribute more to antibiotic resistance than animals. Yet consumer skepticism about these and other issues is widespread, leaving those dedicated to improving lives through science-based technology and innovation asking, “Science says it’s so, so why is there still debate?”
“Cracking the Code on Food Issues: Insights from Moms, Millennials and Foodies,” the new consumer trust research from The Center for Food Integrity (CFI), provides a roadmap for those in today’s food system to make complex, technical and controversial information relevant and meaningful to the decision-making process of today’s consumer.
“This research provides guidance to the food system for overcoming the many communication barriers that keep consumers from integrating science-based information into their decisions,” said Charlie Arnot, CFI CEO. “The food system can use CFI’s new models developed through this research as a guide to connect with consumers, especially moms, millennials and foodies, but it will require communicators to embrace a new approach.”
A key takeaway from the research is how important food issues are to moms, millennials and foodies. They help define who they are as people and shape their cultural identities. Foodies, in particular, express a higher level of concern about food-related topics than any other segment. Because these issues are meaningful and relevant to each of these groups, how technical and scientific information is introduced to them is crucial. By following the approach outlined in the research, we can find new ways to encourage informed decision-making.
“I hope all of those who dedicate their lives to technology and innovation that benefits society will incorporate these strategies from CFI’s latest research to assure that the value of their work will be recognized and given proper consideration by those whose welfare it can improve,” said Dan Kahan, Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Law and Professor of Psychology at Yale Law School and member of the Yale Cultural Cognition Project, which focuses on how cultural values shape public risk perceptions and related policy beliefs.
The 2014 CFI web-based survey was completed by 2,005 respondents who reflect the general U.S. consumer population. To provide deeper insights into moms, millennials and foodies, those groups driving consumer thought on key food issues, the results were segmented into the three groups.
Additionally, using scenarios on the topics of genetically modified ingredients in food and antibiotic use in animal agriculture, the survey tested three voices: a Mom Scientist, a Federal Government Scientist and a Peer “who shares my interest about food.”
After reading information about the two topics by each of the three voices, trust in the Mom Scientist and Government Scientist remained strong while the Peer lost trust. This indicates that once shared values have been established, having technical expertise and a credential build credibility when communicating technical information.
Further, the research also revealed respondents’ trusted sources for food system information. Websites rank highest for moms, millennials and foodies. The second choice for moms is local television stations, while millennials and foodies prefer friends (not online). Food-specific TV programs and networks are important sources for foodies.
Since 2007, CFI has conducted annual consumer trust research to track trends and attitudes, and provide insights and guidance to those in agriculture and food on how to best engage today’s increasingly skeptical consumer.
To download the 2014 CFI Consumer Trust Research report or learn more, visit www.foodintegrity.org.
Rabobank AGri commodity market outlook for 2015
Rabobank has published its outlook for the global agri commodity markets in 2015, looking at issues of demand, supply and pricing across international agri commodities, and forecasting a 12-month price outlook for 12 major agri commodities. (chart below)
In the report, the bank’s Agri Commodities Markets Research analysts say that fundamentals in the agri commodity markets appear more balanced through 2015, but they expect narrower trading ranges for many commodities versus 2014. On the demand side, growth has slowed in recent years. However, lower price levels should now encourage consumption growth, which will support prices. Rabobank says key variables to watch in the year ahead are U.S. dollar strength, uncertain Chinese demand growth, slowing biofuel demand, and oil price weakness.
Stefan Vogel, global head of Rabobank Agri Commodities Markets Research, said, “2015 will be another interesting year for agri commodities. Macro drivers remain very much in play and price swings from supply and demand shocks are still likely, given that the stocks for most commodities are not yet at levels necessary to provide an adequate buffer.”
The pace of world economic growth has been disappointing during 2014, particularly in the Eurozone where counter sanctions from Russia have hindered economic recovery. Rabobank says that the UK and the U.S. are the bright spots for 2015, but their pace of expansion will be tempered by slow growth elsewhere. Significantly, in 2015 Rabobank expects a downward revision of China’s 7.5% annual growth rate.
Rabobank says farmer selling and planting decisions, global demand and weather-related production risks remain key drivers through 2015. Assuming normal growing conditions, moderate increases in demand will allow stocks to build for most commodities through 2015.
However, the projected lower price levels through 2015 also provide a great incentive for consumption to exceed the forecast levels. In particular, China’s import demand will continue to be one of the most important variables for many agri commodity markets.
On the supply side, weather-related production abnormalities will impact agri commodity prices. The weather in 2014 was somewhat of an anomaly for agri commodity production, with favorable to ideal growing-season conditions experienced across most regions driving bumper crops across commodities. The only exception was persistent drought conditions across central and southeast Brazil and the east coast of Australia. Despite the higher beginning stocks in 2015, weather threats, including risk of a weak-to-moderate El Nino, could cause prices to diverge from our base case.
Appleton Joins NCGA Public Policy Department
The National Corn Growers Association welcomes Brooke Appleton as director of public policy and political strategy. Appleton brings an excellent combination of experience on the Hill, strong analytical skills and a production agriculture background. In this new position, she will handle transportation issues, Title II of the farm bill and other lobbying duties. Additionally, she will coordinate the efforts of the NCGA lobbying staff, St. Louis-based grassroots program, state associations and the NCGA CornPAC while building and maintaining strategic alliances in Washington.
"Brooke is an incredibly valuable addition to our team, and we are excited utilizing her unique skillset in an innovative manner," said NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett. "She already has a wealth of experience interacting with the many stakeholders necessary to ensure the organization's continued success. She will play a central role in shaping a forward-facing, cohesive strategy to address the many upcoming challenges farmers will face."
Appleton most recently worked for the National Association of Wheat Growers as the director of government affairs for risk management. Previously, she also served on the staff of the House Committee on Small Business and in the office of Congressman Sam Graves of Missouri as a legislative assistant. She holds a Bachelor of Science in agribusiness management from the University of Missouri and has also completed course work at the Czech University of Agriculture in Prague.
USDA Dairy Product Production - October 2014 Highlights
Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 977 million pounds, 2.3 percent above October 2013 and 3.5 percent above September 2014. Italian type cheese production totaled 421 million pounds, 2.9 percent above October 2013 and 1.2 percent above September 2014. American type cheese production totaled 383 million pounds, 3.2 percent above October 2013 and 5.8 percent above September 2014. Butter production was 148 million pounds, 1.5 percent above October 2013 and 13.8 percent above September 2014.
Dry milk powders (comparisons with October 2013)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 132 million pounds, up 54.1 percent.
Skim milk powders - 41.1 million pounds, down 34.1 percent.
Whey products (comparisons with October 2013)
Dry whey, total - 70.6 million pounds, down 1.2 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 97.2 million pounds, up 9.0 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 46.3 million pounds, up 1.7 percent.
Frozen products (comparisons with October 2013)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 60.4 million gallons, down 7.5 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 30.6 million gallons, up 1.7 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 3.03 million gallons, down 7.3 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 4.66 million gallons, down 17.9 percent.
Coca-Cola Enters Premium Milk Market
After conquering the soda industry, Coca-Cola has set its sights on a new market: milk.
Beginning in December, the company will debut Fairlife, a premium, filtered, lactose-free milk, Business Insider reported. Currently, Fairlife is only available in select markets, but will soon be available nationwide, reports Oregon Live.
"The milk is made on a sustainable dairy with fully-sustainable high care processes with animals," Sandy Douglas, global chief customer officer and president of Coca-Cola North America, said at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer Conference last week.
But what sets it apart from the milk you currently drink is the "proprietary milk filtering process" which increases protein by 50 percent, lowers sugar content by 30 percent and removes lactose, Douglas explained.
"It's basically the premiumisation of milk...and we'll charge twice as much for it as the milk we (sic) used to buying in a jug." Douglas said.
The company plans to invest in the "milk business" for the next several years and says Fairlife will eventually "rain money."
Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Educator
2014 will go down in the record books as one where record profits occurred for many in the business of producing weaned calves. Was your cow-calf business profitable this year? What did it cost you to produce a pound of weaned calf? What do you project it will cost in 2015?
Unit cost of production (UCOP) is a value based on a relationship in production or manufacturing between costs and units of product made or produced.
Unit Cost of Production = Costs / Units Produced
The relationship between the numerator (Costs) and the denominator (Units Produced) is what drives the UCOP value. The power of the UCOP ratio for cow-calf producers is that everything involved in the production of a pound of calf is represented in the numerator or denominator of the equation. For example, if a producer wants to buy a pickup that will be used in the production of calves, he can estimate how the purchase of that new pickup will affect his UCOP in terms of cost per pound of calf produced. The same thing goes for the purchase of a new bull. Evaluating the purchase of a bull in light of how many estimated pounds of calf that bull will produce in relation to his cost can give insight into what a producer might be willing to spend.
What did it cost to produce a pound of weaned calf this year? What is it projected to cost next year? The old adage “you can’t effectively manage what you don’t measure” is true in relation to managing the cow-calf enterprise. The first step in calculating UCOP is to have production and financial records. These records do not have to be complicated, but they need to be accurate and thorough. If current management and information systems don’t provide the data to run this type of analysis, consider changes that will provide the records needed.
Unit Costs of Production takes into account both product produced and input costs. Knowing UCOP allows a manager to look forward utilizing both present and projected input costs with production numbers to make informed decisions. Cow-calf producers who know UCOP numbers for their operation’s enterprises and understand the interaction between input costs and production can implement strategies to effectively manage resources to meet business and personal goals.
Table 1 (http://go.unl.edu/zh2r) shows estimated costs to produce a weaned calf from a sample central Nebraska ranch. In this example, the cowherd is static with a 16% replacement rate. The number of bred heifers entering the herd is equal to the number of cows that are culled or lost due to death loss. All costs including labor, depreciation, and opportunity cost on cowherd value is included in this example.
THE AREA'S LARGEST AGRICULTURE EXPOSITION IS COMING BACK TO THE CENTURYLINK CENTER-OMAHA March 11-12, 2015
One of the Midwest's premier indoor farm events, the TRIUMPH OF AGRICULTURE EXPOSITION will be held March 11-12, 2015 at the CenturyLink Center-Omaha, 10th and Capitol Avenue, just off I-480. The 49th Annual Farm and Ranch Machinery Show will once again be filled with the latest agricultural innovations, equipment and supplies with more than 900 exhibits for farmers, ranchers, and their wives to visit all on one level of over 200,000 square feet in the state-of-the-art CenturyLink Center-Omaha.
"It's an excellent opportunity to see all types of Short-Line farm equipment, new products, labor and time saving ideas all under one roof," says Bob Mancuso, Sr., the Show's Producer. "The Triumph of Ag Expo is the best place for farmers to find answers for what they do control while taking advantage of the new technologies at the Expo - ranging from machinery to new plant varieties that are available." The Farm Show is open 9 AM to 4 PM on Wed and 9 AM to 3 PM on Thurs. Advance free admission tickets can be obtained from Exhibitors, County Extension agents, farm machinery and equipment dealers or at the CenturyLink Center-Omaha door. This is an ideal time for area Farm Operators to find ways to improve productivity and increase profits, before spring field work begins.
Brien McCready from John Deere and A & M Green Power and Show Councilman says he's looking for a great Show at the CenturyLink Center Omaha and says, "The Triumph of Ag Expo is always packed with lots of new improvements and helpful information." At no other time this spring will area Farm Operators be able to see this much farm equipment and technology on display. The Triumph of Ag Expo offers visitors a hands-on experience with continuous demonstrations so those attending will be able to compare and evaluate quickly and conveniently, all under one roof, in one location and on one level with over 4,500 on-site parking available.
Regarded as one of the largest indoor diversified short-line farm machinery shows, Ben Hellbusch, from Busch Equipment of Columbus, Nebraska and Council Board Member said, "The Expo has something for every kind of farm operation," including tillage equipment, planters, monitor and control systems, soil testing equipment, mowers, cattle chutes, augers, fertilizers, various seed hybrids, feeders, tanks and pumps, hay moving and handling equipment, plows, combines, computers and software, tractors, and many more agricultural products and services for today's farmers and ranchers.
Bob Mancuso, Jr., Show Director, said if you are interested in agriculture and farming, this year’s Expo is the place to be on March 11-12, 2015 . In addition to all of the latest equipment, products, and services - there will be seminars throughout the Show, craft items and displays, antique farm tractors and equipment, and special programs. The Triumph of Ag Expo is a charter member of the North American Farm Show Council – the Top 25 shows in North America!
County Farm Bureaus Show Progress, Innovation in 2014 Through New Iowa Farm Bureau Share Program
To kick off Iowa Farm Bureau Week, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) is celebrating the innovation and achievements of 19 county Farm Bureaus who participated in a new IFBF Share Program launched earlier in the year.
“IFBF developed the Share Program this year to encourage county Farm Bureaus to engage in activities that support conservation and water quality, education, and community revitalization,” said IFBF President Craig Hill. “Farm Bureau is unique in that we have a presence in every county in Iowa, and it’s important to our members to ensure the vitality of agriculture and those communities for the long-term. The Share Program is one tool the counties can use to help them meet important goals at the local level.”
“The projects these counties conducted this year range in size but the goals are the same – to bring measurable progress to rural Iowa,” Hill continued. “One Share project started a three-year push to make measurable soil erosion and sedimentation reductions in the Middle Nodaway River; other projects included cover crop demonstrations in Cherokee, Decatur and Hamilton counties.”
Additional efforts focused on utilizing updated technology tools, such as iPads, for conducting agriculture education programs in Cerro Gordo, Kossuth, Winnebago, and Worth county schools to help young Iowans understand the role agriculture and farming plays now and in their futures. A Union county project helped a volunteer fire department secure an ATV to aid in rural rescues in remote terrain. “This is measureable work - vital work - that will benefit communities today and well into the future; we applaud their great work,” said Hill.
The IFBF Share Program will continue in 2015, with a focus on nurturing issues and projects important to Farm Bureau, including the promotion of new conservation and water quality projects, agriculture education, rural and agriculture entrepreneurship and farm safety.
NORTHEY REQUESTS $7.5 MILLION FOR WATER QUALITY
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today requested $7.5 million for the Iowa Water Quality Initiative in a public meeting with Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds as part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2017 budget requests. This request puts funding at the level of support sought for the soil conservation cost share program, or Iowa Financial Incentives Program (IFIP), over the next two years.
“The strong support from the Governor, Lt. Governor and Legislature for the Water Quality Initiative has been critically important to the exciting progress we have made. This request is designed to allow us to continue to build on the initiative. Funding water quality and soil conservation efforts at equal levels will allow us to continue the exciting work taking place in both of these critically important programs,” Northey said.
The Department received $4.4 million for the current fiscal year for the Water Quality Initiative. The $7.5 million per year requested would allow the Department to continue offering cost share statewide to farmers trying new water quality practices, expand work in targeted watersheds to achieve measurable water quality improvements, and develop new programs to help engage all Iowans in water quality efforts.
Northey also requested $7.5 million for conservation cost share for each of the next two fiscal years. For over four decades, Iowa’s soil conservation cost share program has encouraged the adoption of conservation structures and practices to protect and preserve our state’s natural resources. Last year alone, the state’s $9.5 million investment generated $13 million in matching funds from Iowa farmers and land owners to support conservation practices.
In the meeting with Branstad, Northey also requested $1.92 million in both fiscal 2016 and 2017 to support the closure of seventeen additional agriculture drainage wells in the state.
“I appreciate the opportunity to outline this proposal for the Governor and Lt. Governor and I look forward to working with them and the Legislature to keep Iowa’s conservation efforts moving forward,” Northey said.
With Passage of Tax Extenders Stopgap, ASA Callsfor Longer-Term Solution
In response to the passage of a short-term extension of several key tax credits by the House of Representatives today, the American Soybean Association (ASA) expressed both its appreciation for a fix in the near term, and disappointment in the absence of a longer-term solution. ASA President and Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser used the opportunity to call on Congress to redouble its efforts to pass a longer-term tax extenders package.
“ASA first and foremost supports a long-term extension of several of the items included in today’s short-term fix. These initiatives include the dollar-per-gallon biodiesel tax credit, expensing for farm equipment and infrastructure under the Section 179 expensing provision, and bonus depreciation on farm assets. Such an approach provides greater certainty and a more stable climate for the farmers and producers who make use of these programs, and we were very disappointed that agreement was not reached on a broader measure. That said, we support the House’s passage of their short-term extension in the absence of a more permanent solution. While it remains only a stopgap measure, we hope that the Senate will take up and pass it quickly. At that point, we urge both chambers to join together and tackle the work of extending these critical tax incentives for the long term.”
EIA: Ethanol Output Down
Domestic ethanol supply increased while demand and output both declined during the week-ended Nov. 28, the Energy Information Administration reported at midmorning Wednesday.
EIA showed ethanol supply increased 200,000 bbl to 17.3 million bbl, with the build taking place in the Midwest PADD 2, where inventory totaled 5.9 million bbl on Nov. 28. Inventory was unchanged in the remaining four PAD districts.
U.S. ethanol supply is 2.2 million bbl higher than during the comparable year-ago period while down 2.0 million bbl from the same week in 2012.
The supply build came despite a 20,000 bpd drop off in output from U.S. ethanol plants to 962,000 bpd, albeit the decline in production came from a record high. During the four weeks through Nov. 28, U.S. ethanol output averaged 965,000 bpd, 47,000 bpd or 5.1% higher than during the same four weeks in 2013.
Refiner and blender net inputs of ethanol, a proxy for ethanol demand, slid 18,000 bpd to 856,000 bpd. Inputs averaged 861,000 bpd during the four weeks ended Nov. 28, 1.3% greater than during the comparable year-ago period.
Implied gasoline demand surged 170,000 bpd to 9.425 million bpd, a three-month high, during the week reviewed, which included three of the five travel days for the Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend. It was the second highest weekly demand rate of 2014, and marked the fifth consecutive week in which implied demand topped 9.0 million bpd, an occurrence that last took place during the 2013 summer driving season.
E15 Debuts in Florida
Today, Protec Fuel will begin to offer E15 in Florida at retail stations in Ft. Myers and Sarasota. E15 (15 percent ethanol) is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in vehicles 2001 and newer. In addition to E15, consumers will also be able to purchase E85 (85 percent ethanol) at these stations for use in flex-fuel vehicles. The retail stations are operated by Mid-State Energy.
“Floridians in the Sunshine State certainly have something to smile about today as they now have another choice at the pump,” stated Robert White, vice president of industry relations at the Renewable Fuels Association. “It is exciting to see E15 continue its expansion to the East Coast and it is my hope that additional states in the South and East that don’t currently offer E15 will follow Florida’s example and begin offering low-cost E15 to their consumers.”
“Protec Fuel is proud to be at the forefront of E15 expansion and is excited to bring E15 to Florida,” said Todd Garner, managing partner and CEO of Protec Fuel. “Drivers deserve options. They deserve access to low-cost fuel. E15 will certainly be a welcome option down here in Florida.”
The Renewable Fuels Association worked with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for more than two years to overcome regulatory barriers that hindered the sale of E15 in Florida.
Science Denial and Today’s Food Consumer - New CFI Research Cracks the Code to Informed Decision Making
Overwhelming scientific consensus tells us that genetically modified foods are safe and that humans contribute more to antibiotic resistance than animals. Yet consumer skepticism about these and other issues is widespread, leaving those dedicated to improving lives through science-based technology and innovation asking, “Science says it’s so, so why is there still debate?”
“Cracking the Code on Food Issues: Insights from Moms, Millennials and Foodies,” the new consumer trust research from The Center for Food Integrity (CFI), provides a roadmap for those in today’s food system to make complex, technical and controversial information relevant and meaningful to the decision-making process of today’s consumer.
“This research provides guidance to the food system for overcoming the many communication barriers that keep consumers from integrating science-based information into their decisions,” said Charlie Arnot, CFI CEO. “The food system can use CFI’s new models developed through this research as a guide to connect with consumers, especially moms, millennials and foodies, but it will require communicators to embrace a new approach.”
A key takeaway from the research is how important food issues are to moms, millennials and foodies. They help define who they are as people and shape their cultural identities. Foodies, in particular, express a higher level of concern about food-related topics than any other segment. Because these issues are meaningful and relevant to each of these groups, how technical and scientific information is introduced to them is crucial. By following the approach outlined in the research, we can find new ways to encourage informed decision-making.
“I hope all of those who dedicate their lives to technology and innovation that benefits society will incorporate these strategies from CFI’s latest research to assure that the value of their work will be recognized and given proper consideration by those whose welfare it can improve,” said Dan Kahan, Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Law and Professor of Psychology at Yale Law School and member of the Yale Cultural Cognition Project, which focuses on how cultural values shape public risk perceptions and related policy beliefs.
The 2014 CFI web-based survey was completed by 2,005 respondents who reflect the general U.S. consumer population. To provide deeper insights into moms, millennials and foodies, those groups driving consumer thought on key food issues, the results were segmented into the three groups.
Additionally, using scenarios on the topics of genetically modified ingredients in food and antibiotic use in animal agriculture, the survey tested three voices: a Mom Scientist, a Federal Government Scientist and a Peer “who shares my interest about food.”
After reading information about the two topics by each of the three voices, trust in the Mom Scientist and Government Scientist remained strong while the Peer lost trust. This indicates that once shared values have been established, having technical expertise and a credential build credibility when communicating technical information.
Further, the research also revealed respondents’ trusted sources for food system information. Websites rank highest for moms, millennials and foodies. The second choice for moms is local television stations, while millennials and foodies prefer friends (not online). Food-specific TV programs and networks are important sources for foodies.
Since 2007, CFI has conducted annual consumer trust research to track trends and attitudes, and provide insights and guidance to those in agriculture and food on how to best engage today’s increasingly skeptical consumer.
To download the 2014 CFI Consumer Trust Research report or learn more, visit www.foodintegrity.org.
Rabobank AGri commodity market outlook for 2015
Rabobank has published its outlook for the global agri commodity markets in 2015, looking at issues of demand, supply and pricing across international agri commodities, and forecasting a 12-month price outlook for 12 major agri commodities. (chart below)
In the report, the bank’s Agri Commodities Markets Research analysts say that fundamentals in the agri commodity markets appear more balanced through 2015, but they expect narrower trading ranges for many commodities versus 2014. On the demand side, growth has slowed in recent years. However, lower price levels should now encourage consumption growth, which will support prices. Rabobank says key variables to watch in the year ahead are U.S. dollar strength, uncertain Chinese demand growth, slowing biofuel demand, and oil price weakness.
Stefan Vogel, global head of Rabobank Agri Commodities Markets Research, said, “2015 will be another interesting year for agri commodities. Macro drivers remain very much in play and price swings from supply and demand shocks are still likely, given that the stocks for most commodities are not yet at levels necessary to provide an adequate buffer.”
The pace of world economic growth has been disappointing during 2014, particularly in the Eurozone where counter sanctions from Russia have hindered economic recovery. Rabobank says that the UK and the U.S. are the bright spots for 2015, but their pace of expansion will be tempered by slow growth elsewhere. Significantly, in 2015 Rabobank expects a downward revision of China’s 7.5% annual growth rate.
Rabobank says farmer selling and planting decisions, global demand and weather-related production risks remain key drivers through 2015. Assuming normal growing conditions, moderate increases in demand will allow stocks to build for most commodities through 2015.
However, the projected lower price levels through 2015 also provide a great incentive for consumption to exceed the forecast levels. In particular, China’s import demand will continue to be one of the most important variables for many agri commodity markets.
On the supply side, weather-related production abnormalities will impact agri commodity prices. The weather in 2014 was somewhat of an anomaly for agri commodity production, with favorable to ideal growing-season conditions experienced across most regions driving bumper crops across commodities. The only exception was persistent drought conditions across central and southeast Brazil and the east coast of Australia. Despite the higher beginning stocks in 2015, weather threats, including risk of a weak-to-moderate El Nino, could cause prices to diverge from our base case.
Appleton Joins NCGA Public Policy Department
The National Corn Growers Association welcomes Brooke Appleton as director of public policy and political strategy. Appleton brings an excellent combination of experience on the Hill, strong analytical skills and a production agriculture background. In this new position, she will handle transportation issues, Title II of the farm bill and other lobbying duties. Additionally, she will coordinate the efforts of the NCGA lobbying staff, St. Louis-based grassroots program, state associations and the NCGA CornPAC while building and maintaining strategic alliances in Washington.
"Brooke is an incredibly valuable addition to our team, and we are excited utilizing her unique skillset in an innovative manner," said NCGA Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett. "She already has a wealth of experience interacting with the many stakeholders necessary to ensure the organization's continued success. She will play a central role in shaping a forward-facing, cohesive strategy to address the many upcoming challenges farmers will face."
Appleton most recently worked for the National Association of Wheat Growers as the director of government affairs for risk management. Previously, she also served on the staff of the House Committee on Small Business and in the office of Congressman Sam Graves of Missouri as a legislative assistant. She holds a Bachelor of Science in agribusiness management from the University of Missouri and has also completed course work at the Czech University of Agriculture in Prague.
USDA Dairy Product Production - October 2014 Highlights
Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 977 million pounds, 2.3 percent above October 2013 and 3.5 percent above September 2014. Italian type cheese production totaled 421 million pounds, 2.9 percent above October 2013 and 1.2 percent above September 2014. American type cheese production totaled 383 million pounds, 3.2 percent above October 2013 and 5.8 percent above September 2014. Butter production was 148 million pounds, 1.5 percent above October 2013 and 13.8 percent above September 2014.
Dry milk powders (comparisons with October 2013)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 132 million pounds, up 54.1 percent.
Skim milk powders - 41.1 million pounds, down 34.1 percent.
Whey products (comparisons with October 2013)
Dry whey, total - 70.6 million pounds, down 1.2 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 97.2 million pounds, up 9.0 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 46.3 million pounds, up 1.7 percent.
Frozen products (comparisons with October 2013)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 60.4 million gallons, down 7.5 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 30.6 million gallons, up 1.7 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 3.03 million gallons, down 7.3 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 4.66 million gallons, down 17.9 percent.
Coca-Cola Enters Premium Milk Market
After conquering the soda industry, Coca-Cola has set its sights on a new market: milk.
Beginning in December, the company will debut Fairlife, a premium, filtered, lactose-free milk, Business Insider reported. Currently, Fairlife is only available in select markets, but will soon be available nationwide, reports Oregon Live.
"The milk is made on a sustainable dairy with fully-sustainable high care processes with animals," Sandy Douglas, global chief customer officer and president of Coca-Cola North America, said at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer Conference last week.
But what sets it apart from the milk you currently drink is the "proprietary milk filtering process" which increases protein by 50 percent, lowers sugar content by 30 percent and removes lactose, Douglas explained.
"It's basically the premiumisation of milk...and we'll charge twice as much for it as the milk we (sic) used to buying in a jug." Douglas said.
The company plans to invest in the "milk business" for the next several years and says Fairlife will eventually "rain money."
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Tuesday December 2 Ag News
90 Days before calving – time to sort off your thin cows for extra feed
Larry Howard, UNL Extension Educator, Cuming County
Now is the time to body condition score your spring-calving herd and sort off the thin cows so you can give them a little extra feed. March calving cows have about 90 days left to put on body condition before calving. The last 90 days before calving is your last opportunity to cost effectively put condition back on thin cows.
Body condition at calving is an important factor affecting rebreeding performance of spring-calving cows. The longer you wait to put condition back on cows, the more difficult and expensive it becomes. Cows calving in a body condition score of 5 or higher rebreed more quickly after calving than cows that are in a lower condition. Pregnancy rate increases as body condition at calving increase to a score of 5.
Not only do cows in a body condition score of 4 and thinner have reduced chances of rebreeding, but they also produce less colostrum and their calves have lower immunoglobulin levels. This means they may be less able to fight off disease. On top of that, calves from thin cows are less vigorous and slower to stand.
So, thin cows have a lessened chance of rebreeding and give birth to weaker calves. These are two good reasons to sort off thin cows and give them extra feed. Managing spring calving cows in two groups for the 90 days before calving allows you to better manage your feed resources. You can save feed by not overfeeding the cows that don’t need it.
For more in-depth information, see the recently revised NebGuide Body Condition Scoring Beef Cows: A Tool for Managing the Nutrition Program for Beef Herds (http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/ec281.pdf). It describes the 1 to 9 of body condition scoring, complete with pictures and details for assigning scores. Additionally, more information on beef in general is available at http://beef.unl.edu.
Western Integrated Seeds Expands at Hooper, NE seed processing facility
Western Integrated Seed announced today that it has broken ground on its latest expansion phase at the Hooper, NE seed processing and shipping facility. Construction is underway on a new project that includes expanded warehousing, shipping and office facilities. Bierman Construction out of Columbus, NE was selected as the contractor on this project.
“Our new shipping and logistics management facility will further align our organization’s resources with the needs of our customers,” said Kelvin Whited, Business and Finance Manager.
The new facilities include 42,000 additional square feet of warehouse, and 11,000 square feet of cold storage. With this expansion, the organization will be able to serve customers with over 200,000 square feet of warehouse, including more than 20,000 square feet of cold storage. Finally, the facility will feature new loading docks, a state-of-the art truck scale, offices, conference rooms and eco-friendly electric charging stations for its forklift fleet.
“Meeting and exceeding our customers’ expectation is priority number one at Western Integrated Seed,” said Paul Robertson, Operations Manager. “This new facility will allows us more flexibility and improves our efficiency so that we can continue to move forward and provide best-in-class service to all of our organization’s stakeholders.”
Western Integrated Seed was founded by the H. Chris Hoegemeyer family in 1937 on the banks of the Elkhorn River in Hooper, Nebraska. Today it is still family owed and offers contract seed production, conditioning, blending, treatment, shipping services and customized logistic solutions.
“Our family owes a debt of gratitude to our employees, customers and friends throughout the seed industry,” commented Erik Hoegemeyer, Vice-President. “Our team is looking forward to serving our customers’ needs, and to continuing to investing capital dollars into our local community.”
Fraley, Stine, Schickler among ag leaders to keynote Iowa Soybean Association’s 50th Symposium Dec. 17-18 in Des Moines
More than 300 farmers, industry and political leaders and industry stakeholders will gather for the Iowa Soybean Association’s 50th Anniversary Symposium & Recognition Award Banquet at the Downton Des Moines Embassy Suites. The program will focus on the past, present and future of the soybean industry, Iowa Soybean Association and U.S. agriculture.
While there’s certainly plenty to celebrate, experts will devote considerable time to critical issues of the day and explore future opportunities and challenges. Issues to be discussed with audience engagement encouraged include transportation, farm policy, global ag trade and demand, renewable energy, production research, freedom to operate, environmental quality and market forecasts.
Agenda:
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Noon - Opening luncheon—featuring Tom Oswald, ISA Board president; Gov. Terry Branstad and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden
2:30 p.m. - Reflections of 50 Years—featuring Ken Root, broadcaster, Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network
3:45 p.m. - Progress Now—panel of ISA senior staff directors will discuss improving the competitiveness of Iowa soybean farmers
6:30 p.m. - Recognition Award Banquet
Thursday, Dec. 18
7:30 a.m. - Market forecast with Al Kluis, president and managing partner, Kluis Commodities
8:15 a.m. - Global ag outlook with Emily French, managing director, ConsiliAgra
9:45 a.m. - “The Next 50” panel discussion featuring:
- Kirk Leeds, chief executive officer, Iowa Soybean Association
- Dr. Robb Fraley, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Monsanto
- Jim Knuth, sr. vice president, Farm Credit Services of America
- Paul Schickler, president, DuPont Pioneer
- Harry Stine, president and founder, Stine Seed Company
Iowa Egg Production Up 3 Percent
Egg production in Iowa during October 2014 was a record high 1.41 billion eggs, up 3 percent from last month, and up 4 percent from last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs release from USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The total number of layers on hand during October was at a record high of 59.2 million, up fractionally from last month, and up 3 percent from the 57.4 million last year.
Eggs per 100 layers for the month of October were 2,384, up 3 percent from last month, and up 1 percent from 2,370 last year.
US October Egg Production Up 2 Percent
United States egg production totaled 8.44 billion during October 2014, up 2 percent from last year. Production included 7.34 billion table eggs, and 1.10 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.02 billion were broiler-type and 72 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during October 2014 averaged 358 million, up 2 percent from last year. October egg production per 100 layers was 2,354 eggs, up slightly from October 2013.
All layers in the United States on November 1, 2014 totaled 359 million, up 2 percent from last year. The 359 million layers consisted of 303 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 52.9 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.95 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on November 1, 2014, averaged 76.5 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from November 1, 2013.
Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 5 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during October 2014 totaled 44.4 million, up 5 percent from October 2013. Eggs in incubators totaled 38.0 million on November 1, 2014, down 8 percent from a year ago.
Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 369 thousand during October 2014, up 146 percent from October 2013.
Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 3 Percent
Broiler-type chicks hatched during October 2014 totaled 760 million, up 3 percent from October 2013. Eggs in incubators totaled 610 million on November 1, 2014, up 2 percent from a year ago.
Leading breeders placed 6.82 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during October 2014, up 10 percent from October 2013.
Online Seminar Helps Growers Adapt to Bt Corn Resistance
Since its commercialization in 2003, Bt corn has-and still is-proving to be an important technology for the control of insect pests, higher yield production, and higher quality grain. In recent years, however, the western corn rootworm's increasing resistance to Bt corn has caused some alarm.
Bt resistance has been confirmed to one or more Bt rootworm toxins in Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, and scientists in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New York, South Dakota and Wisconsin also are reporting significant damage in fields planted to corn hybrids containing Bt rootworm toxins.
To help U.S. corn growers and consultants tackle this growing issue, Dr. Robert Wright, Research & Extension Entomologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, organized a seminar comprising five webcast presentations that focus on the many new and changing aspects of western corn rootworm management in the transgenic era.
This seminar, titled "Corn Rootworm in the Transgenic Era" is located in the Plant Management Network's 'Focus on Corn' resource, which is co-sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association. All five talks are freely available 24/7 to corn producers, consultants, extension agents, and other practitioners involved with Bt corn and the management of western corn rootworm.
'Focus on Corn' is a publication of the Plant Management Network, a nonprofit online publisher whose mission is to enhance the health, management, and production of crops through quality, science-based crop management information for agricultural practitioners. To help achieve its nonprofit publishing mission, PMN partners with more than 80 organizations, which include universities, nonprofits like NCGA, and agribusinesses.
NCBA and PLC Accepting Summer Internship Applications
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s and the Public Lands Council's government affairs office in Washington, D.C., is accepting applications for the summer 2015 public policy internship. The deadline to submit an application is Feb. 9, 2015.
“NCBA and PLC provide opportunities that very few other internships can offer,” said John Weber, South Dakota State University animal science senior and spring 2014 intern. “They truly make you feel part of the team working on key policy issues that impact the beef industry. The internship gives you the opportunity to cover topics ranging from animal welfare to trade and allows you the chance to advocate on behalf of the industry on Capitol Hill.”
NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts said this is a great opportunity for students with an interest in the beef industry and public policy.
“The internship gives college students the opportunity to work alongside staff on a range of issues that impact U.S. cattlemen and women,” Butts said. “The internship is designed to work closely with the lobbying team on Capitol Hill; to assist with NCBA and PLC’s regulatory efforts; and to work closely with the communications team.”
The full-time internship will begin May 18, 2015 and end Aug. 21, 2015. To apply, interested college juniors, seniors or graduate students should submit the application, college transcripts, two letters of recommendation and a resume to internships@beef.org. More information about the NCBA public policy internship is available on BeefUSA.org.
Fertilizer Prices Stall
Retail fertilizer prices continue to remain firm, as they have for some time now, according to suppliers tracked by DTN for the last week of November. Retailers believe these stable prices could stick around for a while, barring any supply issues.
Five of the eight major fertilizers averaged slightly lower prices compared to a month earlier, while the remaining three were up a bit. No fertilizer price moved an amount of any consequence. DAP, MAP, urea, UAN28 and UAN32 were all just slightly lower in price compared to the previous month. DAP had an average price of $576/ton, MAP $595/ton, urea $492/ton, UAN28 $322/ton and UAN32 $367/ton.
Potash, 10-34-0, and anhydrous were higher in price compared to a month earlier but again these moves were fairly minor. Potash had an average price of $480/ton, 10-34-0 $564/ton and anhydrous $712/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.53/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.58/lb.N and UAN32 $0.57/lb.N.
Three of the eight major fertilizers are now double digits higher in price compared to November 2013, all while commodity prices are significantly lower than a year ago. Urea is now up 12% compared to year earlier, followed by DAP which is 11% more expensive and anhydrous is up 10%.
In addition, 10-34-0 is up 9% while MAP is 7% more expensive and both UAN28 and UAN32 are 1% higher than last year.
Potash remains the only nutrient which is still lower compared to retail prices a year ago. Potash is 1% less expensive than a year previous.
Ethanol Production Expected to be Huge in 2015
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has published its Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting that ethanol production will average 934,000 barrels per day next year.
According to the EIA, ethanol production in June matched the monthly average production record of 959,000 barrels per day set in December 2011, before falling back to average 911,000 barrels per day in October. EIA currently predicts 2014 production will average 927,000 barrels per day this year, increasing to 934,000 barrels per day next year. The 2015 forecast is slightly above the 933,000 barrel per day forecast made in the October issue of the STEO.
Biodiesel production averaged 89,000 barrels per day last year, and is expected to fall to an average of 80,000 barrels per day this year. In 2015, production is expected to increase to an average of 84,000 barrels per day.
Meanwhile, regular gasoline retail prices are expected to continue to decline for the remainder of the year.
USDA Announces Support for Producers of Advanced Biofuel
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is making $5.6 million in grants to 220 producers across the nation to support the production of advanced biofuels, and is awarding more than $4 million in additional grants that will advance the bioeconomy and reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil.
"Producing advanced biofuel is a major component of the drive to take control of America's energy future by developing domestic, renewable energy sources," Vilsack said. "These resources represent the Obama Administration's commitment to support an 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy that seeks to build a robust bio-based economy. Investments in biofuels will also help create jobs and further diversify the economy in our rural communities."
The funding for producers announced today is being provided through USDA's Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, which was established in the 2008 Farm Bill. Under this program, payments are made to eligible producers based on the amount of advanced biofuel produced from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Examples of eligible feedstocks include but are not limited to: crop residue; animal, food and yard waste; vegetable oil; and animal fat.
Through the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, USDA supports the research, investment and infrastructure necessary to build a strong biofuel industry that creates jobs and broadens the range of feedstocks used to produce renewable fuel. USDA has made more than $280 million in payments to more than 350 producers (more than 3,100 total payments) in 47 states and territories since the program's inception. These payments have supported the production of more than 5.8 billion gallons of advanced biofuel and the equivalent of more than 58 billion kilowatt hours of electric energy.
Also today, USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the award of fiscal year 2014 grants through three other programs supporting bioenergy initiatives.
The National Biodiesel Board and Regents of the University of Idaho received $768,000 and $192,000 respectively, through the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. The program was established to stimulate biodiesel consumption and the development of a biodiesel infrastructure. The funded education and outreach activities will raise awareness of biodiesel fuel use among governmental and private entities that operate vehicle fleets and the public. Funded projects also focus on educational programs supporting advances in infrastructure, technology transfer, fuel quality, fuel safety and increasing feedstock production.
South Dakota State University (SDSU) received $2.3 million through the Sun Grant Program. This program encourages bioenergy and biomass research collaboration between government agencies, land-grant colleges and universities, and the private sector. SDSU will lead a consortium of five regional grant centers and one subcenter that makes competitive grants to projects that contribute to research, education and outreach for the regional production and sustainability of possible biobased feedstocks. The project period will not exceed five years.
Through the Critical Agricultural Materials program, Iowa State University of Science and Technology received $1 million for the development of new paint, coating, and adhesive products that are derived from acrylated glycerol, which is a co-product of the biodiesel industry. The Critical Agricultural Materials program supports the development of products that are manufactured from domestically-produced agricultural materials and are of strategic and industrial importance to benefit the economy, defense, and general well-being of the nation. Many such products replace petroleum-based products and offer opportunities to create new businesses and new markets for agricultural materials.
USDA Announces New Support to Help Schools Purchase More Food from Local Farmers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more than $5 million in grants for 82 projects spanning 42 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands that support the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) efforts to connect school cafeterias with local farmers and ranchers through its Farm to School Program. The program helps schools purchase more food from local farmers and ranchers in their communities, expanding access to healthy local food for school children and supporting local economies. According to USDA's first-ever Farm to School Census released earlier this year, school districts participating in farm to school programs purchased and served over $385 million in local food in school year 2011-2012, with more than half of participating schools planning to increase their purchases of local food in the future.
"USDA is proud to support communities across the country as they plan and implement innovative farm to school projects," said Vilsack. "These inspiring collaborations provide students with healthy, fresh food, while supporting healthy local economies. Through farm to school projects, community partners are coming together to ensure a bright future for students, and for local farmers and ranchers."
China to Cut Tariffs on Australian Beef, Dairy
China will reduce import tariffs across a range of Australian agriculture products including beef and dairy as part of a free trade agreement that may boost shipments to the world's second-largest economy. Bloomberg News reports that all dairy tariffs, which can be as high as 20 percent, will be removed within four to 11 years, the Australian government said today. Duties of 12 percent to 25 percent on beef will be removed over nine years and tariffs of 10 percent on live animal exports will be eliminated within four years, it said. Beef is Australia's most valuable agricultural export and the country is the world's third-biggest shipper.
Australia is seeking to reduce its reliance on resource exports and rebalance growth to other areas. The country is the most China-dependent developed economy, with exports to the nation representing 5.3 percent of gross domestic product, Commonwealth Bank of Australia says. The FTA gives Australia an advantage over agricultural competitors such as the U.S. and Canada and counters benefits New Zealand has through its own deal with China signed in 2008, the government said.
Bloomberg says China is the world's largest dairy importer, accounting for about 30 percent of global purchases, according to Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd. The FTA will be "a game changer" for Australian dairy, the company's Managing Director Australia Judith Swales said in an e-mailed statement today.
Larry Howard, UNL Extension Educator, Cuming County
Now is the time to body condition score your spring-calving herd and sort off the thin cows so you can give them a little extra feed. March calving cows have about 90 days left to put on body condition before calving. The last 90 days before calving is your last opportunity to cost effectively put condition back on thin cows.
Body condition at calving is an important factor affecting rebreeding performance of spring-calving cows. The longer you wait to put condition back on cows, the more difficult and expensive it becomes. Cows calving in a body condition score of 5 or higher rebreed more quickly after calving than cows that are in a lower condition. Pregnancy rate increases as body condition at calving increase to a score of 5.
Not only do cows in a body condition score of 4 and thinner have reduced chances of rebreeding, but they also produce less colostrum and their calves have lower immunoglobulin levels. This means they may be less able to fight off disease. On top of that, calves from thin cows are less vigorous and slower to stand.
So, thin cows have a lessened chance of rebreeding and give birth to weaker calves. These are two good reasons to sort off thin cows and give them extra feed. Managing spring calving cows in two groups for the 90 days before calving allows you to better manage your feed resources. You can save feed by not overfeeding the cows that don’t need it.
For more in-depth information, see the recently revised NebGuide Body Condition Scoring Beef Cows: A Tool for Managing the Nutrition Program for Beef Herds (http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/ec281.pdf). It describes the 1 to 9 of body condition scoring, complete with pictures and details for assigning scores. Additionally, more information on beef in general is available at http://beef.unl.edu.
Western Integrated Seeds Expands at Hooper, NE seed processing facility
Western Integrated Seed announced today that it has broken ground on its latest expansion phase at the Hooper, NE seed processing and shipping facility. Construction is underway on a new project that includes expanded warehousing, shipping and office facilities. Bierman Construction out of Columbus, NE was selected as the contractor on this project.
“Our new shipping and logistics management facility will further align our organization’s resources with the needs of our customers,” said Kelvin Whited, Business and Finance Manager.
The new facilities include 42,000 additional square feet of warehouse, and 11,000 square feet of cold storage. With this expansion, the organization will be able to serve customers with over 200,000 square feet of warehouse, including more than 20,000 square feet of cold storage. Finally, the facility will feature new loading docks, a state-of-the art truck scale, offices, conference rooms and eco-friendly electric charging stations for its forklift fleet.
“Meeting and exceeding our customers’ expectation is priority number one at Western Integrated Seed,” said Paul Robertson, Operations Manager. “This new facility will allows us more flexibility and improves our efficiency so that we can continue to move forward and provide best-in-class service to all of our organization’s stakeholders.”
Western Integrated Seed was founded by the H. Chris Hoegemeyer family in 1937 on the banks of the Elkhorn River in Hooper, Nebraska. Today it is still family owed and offers contract seed production, conditioning, blending, treatment, shipping services and customized logistic solutions.
“Our family owes a debt of gratitude to our employees, customers and friends throughout the seed industry,” commented Erik Hoegemeyer, Vice-President. “Our team is looking forward to serving our customers’ needs, and to continuing to investing capital dollars into our local community.”
Fraley, Stine, Schickler among ag leaders to keynote Iowa Soybean Association’s 50th Symposium Dec. 17-18 in Des Moines
More than 300 farmers, industry and political leaders and industry stakeholders will gather for the Iowa Soybean Association’s 50th Anniversary Symposium & Recognition Award Banquet at the Downton Des Moines Embassy Suites. The program will focus on the past, present and future of the soybean industry, Iowa Soybean Association and U.S. agriculture.
While there’s certainly plenty to celebrate, experts will devote considerable time to critical issues of the day and explore future opportunities and challenges. Issues to be discussed with audience engagement encouraged include transportation, farm policy, global ag trade and demand, renewable energy, production research, freedom to operate, environmental quality and market forecasts.
Agenda:
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Noon - Opening luncheon—featuring Tom Oswald, ISA Board president; Gov. Terry Branstad and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden
2:30 p.m. - Reflections of 50 Years—featuring Ken Root, broadcaster, Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network
3:45 p.m. - Progress Now—panel of ISA senior staff directors will discuss improving the competitiveness of Iowa soybean farmers
6:30 p.m. - Recognition Award Banquet
Thursday, Dec. 18
7:30 a.m. - Market forecast with Al Kluis, president and managing partner, Kluis Commodities
8:15 a.m. - Global ag outlook with Emily French, managing director, ConsiliAgra
9:45 a.m. - “The Next 50” panel discussion featuring:
- Kirk Leeds, chief executive officer, Iowa Soybean Association
- Dr. Robb Fraley, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Monsanto
- Jim Knuth, sr. vice president, Farm Credit Services of America
- Paul Schickler, president, DuPont Pioneer
- Harry Stine, president and founder, Stine Seed Company
Iowa Egg Production Up 3 Percent
Egg production in Iowa during October 2014 was a record high 1.41 billion eggs, up 3 percent from last month, and up 4 percent from last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs release from USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The total number of layers on hand during October was at a record high of 59.2 million, up fractionally from last month, and up 3 percent from the 57.4 million last year.
Eggs per 100 layers for the month of October were 2,384, up 3 percent from last month, and up 1 percent from 2,370 last year.
US October Egg Production Up 2 Percent
United States egg production totaled 8.44 billion during October 2014, up 2 percent from last year. Production included 7.34 billion table eggs, and 1.10 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.02 billion were broiler-type and 72 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during October 2014 averaged 358 million, up 2 percent from last year. October egg production per 100 layers was 2,354 eggs, up slightly from October 2013.
All layers in the United States on November 1, 2014 totaled 359 million, up 2 percent from last year. The 359 million layers consisted of 303 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 52.9 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.95 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on November 1, 2014, averaged 76.5 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from November 1, 2013.
Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 5 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during October 2014 totaled 44.4 million, up 5 percent from October 2013. Eggs in incubators totaled 38.0 million on November 1, 2014, down 8 percent from a year ago.
Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 369 thousand during October 2014, up 146 percent from October 2013.
Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 3 Percent
Broiler-type chicks hatched during October 2014 totaled 760 million, up 3 percent from October 2013. Eggs in incubators totaled 610 million on November 1, 2014, up 2 percent from a year ago.
Leading breeders placed 6.82 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during October 2014, up 10 percent from October 2013.
Online Seminar Helps Growers Adapt to Bt Corn Resistance
Since its commercialization in 2003, Bt corn has-and still is-proving to be an important technology for the control of insect pests, higher yield production, and higher quality grain. In recent years, however, the western corn rootworm's increasing resistance to Bt corn has caused some alarm.
Bt resistance has been confirmed to one or more Bt rootworm toxins in Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, and scientists in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New York, South Dakota and Wisconsin also are reporting significant damage in fields planted to corn hybrids containing Bt rootworm toxins.
To help U.S. corn growers and consultants tackle this growing issue, Dr. Robert Wright, Research & Extension Entomologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, organized a seminar comprising five webcast presentations that focus on the many new and changing aspects of western corn rootworm management in the transgenic era.
This seminar, titled "Corn Rootworm in the Transgenic Era" is located in the Plant Management Network's 'Focus on Corn' resource, which is co-sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association. All five talks are freely available 24/7 to corn producers, consultants, extension agents, and other practitioners involved with Bt corn and the management of western corn rootworm.
'Focus on Corn' is a publication of the Plant Management Network, a nonprofit online publisher whose mission is to enhance the health, management, and production of crops through quality, science-based crop management information for agricultural practitioners. To help achieve its nonprofit publishing mission, PMN partners with more than 80 organizations, which include universities, nonprofits like NCGA, and agribusinesses.
NCBA and PLC Accepting Summer Internship Applications
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s and the Public Lands Council's government affairs office in Washington, D.C., is accepting applications for the summer 2015 public policy internship. The deadline to submit an application is Feb. 9, 2015.
“NCBA and PLC provide opportunities that very few other internships can offer,” said John Weber, South Dakota State University animal science senior and spring 2014 intern. “They truly make you feel part of the team working on key policy issues that impact the beef industry. The internship gives you the opportunity to cover topics ranging from animal welfare to trade and allows you the chance to advocate on behalf of the industry on Capitol Hill.”
NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts said this is a great opportunity for students with an interest in the beef industry and public policy.
“The internship gives college students the opportunity to work alongside staff on a range of issues that impact U.S. cattlemen and women,” Butts said. “The internship is designed to work closely with the lobbying team on Capitol Hill; to assist with NCBA and PLC’s regulatory efforts; and to work closely with the communications team.”
The full-time internship will begin May 18, 2015 and end Aug. 21, 2015. To apply, interested college juniors, seniors or graduate students should submit the application, college transcripts, two letters of recommendation and a resume to internships@beef.org. More information about the NCBA public policy internship is available on BeefUSA.org.
Fertilizer Prices Stall
Retail fertilizer prices continue to remain firm, as they have for some time now, according to suppliers tracked by DTN for the last week of November. Retailers believe these stable prices could stick around for a while, barring any supply issues.
Five of the eight major fertilizers averaged slightly lower prices compared to a month earlier, while the remaining three were up a bit. No fertilizer price moved an amount of any consequence. DAP, MAP, urea, UAN28 and UAN32 were all just slightly lower in price compared to the previous month. DAP had an average price of $576/ton, MAP $595/ton, urea $492/ton, UAN28 $322/ton and UAN32 $367/ton.
Potash, 10-34-0, and anhydrous were higher in price compared to a month earlier but again these moves were fairly minor. Potash had an average price of $480/ton, 10-34-0 $564/ton and anhydrous $712/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.53/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.58/lb.N and UAN32 $0.57/lb.N.
Three of the eight major fertilizers are now double digits higher in price compared to November 2013, all while commodity prices are significantly lower than a year ago. Urea is now up 12% compared to year earlier, followed by DAP which is 11% more expensive and anhydrous is up 10%.
In addition, 10-34-0 is up 9% while MAP is 7% more expensive and both UAN28 and UAN32 are 1% higher than last year.
Potash remains the only nutrient which is still lower compared to retail prices a year ago. Potash is 1% less expensive than a year previous.
Ethanol Production Expected to be Huge in 2015
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has published its Short-Term Energy Outlook, predicting that ethanol production will average 934,000 barrels per day next year.
According to the EIA, ethanol production in June matched the monthly average production record of 959,000 barrels per day set in December 2011, before falling back to average 911,000 barrels per day in October. EIA currently predicts 2014 production will average 927,000 barrels per day this year, increasing to 934,000 barrels per day next year. The 2015 forecast is slightly above the 933,000 barrel per day forecast made in the October issue of the STEO.
Biodiesel production averaged 89,000 barrels per day last year, and is expected to fall to an average of 80,000 barrels per day this year. In 2015, production is expected to increase to an average of 84,000 barrels per day.
Meanwhile, regular gasoline retail prices are expected to continue to decline for the remainder of the year.
USDA Announces Support for Producers of Advanced Biofuel
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is making $5.6 million in grants to 220 producers across the nation to support the production of advanced biofuels, and is awarding more than $4 million in additional grants that will advance the bioeconomy and reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil.
"Producing advanced biofuel is a major component of the drive to take control of America's energy future by developing domestic, renewable energy sources," Vilsack said. "These resources represent the Obama Administration's commitment to support an 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy that seeks to build a robust bio-based economy. Investments in biofuels will also help create jobs and further diversify the economy in our rural communities."
The funding for producers announced today is being provided through USDA's Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, which was established in the 2008 Farm Bill. Under this program, payments are made to eligible producers based on the amount of advanced biofuel produced from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Examples of eligible feedstocks include but are not limited to: crop residue; animal, food and yard waste; vegetable oil; and animal fat.
Through the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, USDA supports the research, investment and infrastructure necessary to build a strong biofuel industry that creates jobs and broadens the range of feedstocks used to produce renewable fuel. USDA has made more than $280 million in payments to more than 350 producers (more than 3,100 total payments) in 47 states and territories since the program's inception. These payments have supported the production of more than 5.8 billion gallons of advanced biofuel and the equivalent of more than 58 billion kilowatt hours of electric energy.
Also today, USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the award of fiscal year 2014 grants through three other programs supporting bioenergy initiatives.
The National Biodiesel Board and Regents of the University of Idaho received $768,000 and $192,000 respectively, through the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. The program was established to stimulate biodiesel consumption and the development of a biodiesel infrastructure. The funded education and outreach activities will raise awareness of biodiesel fuel use among governmental and private entities that operate vehicle fleets and the public. Funded projects also focus on educational programs supporting advances in infrastructure, technology transfer, fuel quality, fuel safety and increasing feedstock production.
South Dakota State University (SDSU) received $2.3 million through the Sun Grant Program. This program encourages bioenergy and biomass research collaboration between government agencies, land-grant colleges and universities, and the private sector. SDSU will lead a consortium of five regional grant centers and one subcenter that makes competitive grants to projects that contribute to research, education and outreach for the regional production and sustainability of possible biobased feedstocks. The project period will not exceed five years.
Through the Critical Agricultural Materials program, Iowa State University of Science and Technology received $1 million for the development of new paint, coating, and adhesive products that are derived from acrylated glycerol, which is a co-product of the biodiesel industry. The Critical Agricultural Materials program supports the development of products that are manufactured from domestically-produced agricultural materials and are of strategic and industrial importance to benefit the economy, defense, and general well-being of the nation. Many such products replace petroleum-based products and offer opportunities to create new businesses and new markets for agricultural materials.
USDA Announces New Support to Help Schools Purchase More Food from Local Farmers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more than $5 million in grants for 82 projects spanning 42 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands that support the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) efforts to connect school cafeterias with local farmers and ranchers through its Farm to School Program. The program helps schools purchase more food from local farmers and ranchers in their communities, expanding access to healthy local food for school children and supporting local economies. According to USDA's first-ever Farm to School Census released earlier this year, school districts participating in farm to school programs purchased and served over $385 million in local food in school year 2011-2012, with more than half of participating schools planning to increase their purchases of local food in the future.
"USDA is proud to support communities across the country as they plan and implement innovative farm to school projects," said Vilsack. "These inspiring collaborations provide students with healthy, fresh food, while supporting healthy local economies. Through farm to school projects, community partners are coming together to ensure a bright future for students, and for local farmers and ranchers."
China to Cut Tariffs on Australian Beef, Dairy
China will reduce import tariffs across a range of Australian agriculture products including beef and dairy as part of a free trade agreement that may boost shipments to the world's second-largest economy. Bloomberg News reports that all dairy tariffs, which can be as high as 20 percent, will be removed within four to 11 years, the Australian government said today. Duties of 12 percent to 25 percent on beef will be removed over nine years and tariffs of 10 percent on live animal exports will be eliminated within four years, it said. Beef is Australia's most valuable agricultural export and the country is the world's third-biggest shipper.
Australia is seeking to reduce its reliance on resource exports and rebalance growth to other areas. The country is the most China-dependent developed economy, with exports to the nation representing 5.3 percent of gross domestic product, Commonwealth Bank of Australia says. The FTA gives Australia an advantage over agricultural competitors such as the U.S. and Canada and counters benefits New Zealand has through its own deal with China signed in 2008, the government said.
Bloomberg says China is the world's largest dairy importer, accounting for about 30 percent of global purchases, according to Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd. The FTA will be "a game changer" for Australian dairy, the company's Managing Director Australia Judith Swales said in an e-mailed statement today.
Monday December 1 Ag News
Farm Bill Education Meeting in Scribner, Monday Dec. 15 from 9 am to Noon
Nebraska Extension and the Farm Service Agency (FSA), are teaming up to provide educational meetings about the 2014 Farm Bill. The local meeting is set for Monday, December 15, and will be held at the Mohr Auditorium in Scribner from 9:00 am to Noon.
All farm operators and land owners are invited to attend. FSA will inform participants about the sign-up process for the Farm Bill including the documentation needed and the deadlines for sign-up. UNL Extension will provide information about the decisions that will need to be made for base acre reallocation, yield updates, and for the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) vs. Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program selection.
It should be helpful to attend one of the meetings to get insight on the options everyone has with the 2014 Farm Bill. Farm Operators and Land Owners will have three main steps to signing up. One is to review their current base acre allocations which is occurring at this time. Secondly, a decision about re-allocation of base acres will need to be made. Finally, the program selection will involve the ARC or PLC program. ARC is the revenue safety net program similar to the recent ACRE program and PLC is the price safety net program. With ARC, the options will be an Individual ARC coverage vs. a County ARC coverage. With PLC, the available Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) will be discussed. Decisions made for this Farm Bill sometime in 2015 will be final for the duration of the Bill.
For more information or assistance contact your local FSA or UNL County Extension Office. For more information about the 2014 Farm Bill, go to www.farmbill.unl.edu or www.fsa.usda.gov/farmbill.
Upper Big Blue NRD is Hosting the 11th Annual CROP-TIP Field Day to Help Farmers Gain an Advantage—Increase Bottom Line
Cornerstone Bank and the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District will be sponsoring the “11th Annual CROP-TIP Field Day” on December 10, 2014, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Holthus Convention Center in York. The public is invited to attend this free event.
The following nationally renowned speakers are featured and will cover these topics:
Jay Fuhrer, North Dakota NRCS-Bismarck: “Improving Soil Health to Increase Crop Yield and Cutting the Cost of Inputs.”
Bob Utterback, Economist-Farm Journal & Utterback Marketing Services, Inc. (New Richmond, IN): "Marketing Strategies in the Commodities Market and 2015 Outlook.”
Dr. Al Dutcher, State of Nebraska Climatologist: “Nebraska’s Weather Forecast: What’s Ahead in 2015.”
Dan Leininger, Upper Big Blue NRD: “CROP-TIP Harvest Results.”
Rod DeBuhr, Upper Big Blue NRD: “Groundwater Quality in the Upper Big Blue NRD.”
The “Cornerstone Resources Observation Plot—Test Irrigation Project” (CROP-TIP) was an idea formulated in January 2004 by Cornerstone Bank and the Upper Big Blue NRD. Similar to an outdoor classroom, the water conservation project is used as a research plot for producers and youth throughout the area. We will share the harvest data and irrigation scheduling information at CROP-TIP this year.
We are providing a meal, so a RSVP is necessary by calling DeeDee at the Upper Big Blue NRD at (402) 362-6601.
Beef Checkoff Comments Due December 10, 2014
(from NE Cattlemen Newsletter)
On November 10, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack published his agency’s Notice of Inquiry on the duplicate beef checkoff under the 1996 Generic Commodity Promotion Act. The Secretary made his publication over objections voiced by 45 NCBA state affiliate cattlemen’s associations, representing over 170,000 cattle producers and without request by mainstream cattle producers.
Cattle producers overwhelming support the current Beef Checkoff program under the 1985 Beef Promotion, Research and Education Act. In a recent survey, the Checkoff received support from 4 out of 5 cattlemen. Yet despite concern shown by cattlemen, state cattlemen’s associations, Federation of State Beef Councils, and the lack of Congressional intent to use the 1996 Act in this way; the Secretary has plowed forward with his plan for a duplicate beef checkoff under the 1996 Act.
So why has the Secretary done this? The USDA has called it a companion checkoff, but cattlemen never asked for a companion to their highly successful existing checkoff. There are enhancements that can be made, places we could build on the success, but to turn over a successful program to create a duplicate program is senseless and wasteful of producer dollars. The answer is simpler though. The Secretary has seen a small opportunity to use the efforts toward consensus in the beef industry as an opportunity to take over the current checkoff and replace it with a checkoff that puts all the major decision-making authority in the hands of the Administration.
That is what this boils down to; the tendency of this Administration to seize greater authority up to, and in some cases beyond, Congressional intent. Congress created the Beef Checkoff in 1985, writing most of the key provisions into statute; the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and their administrative role, the Federation of State Beef Councils and their collection role, and even the dollar per head and importer assessment. Beyond that, they left oversight to the USDA and their rule-making authority. But under the 1996 Generic Commodities Act, the Secretary and future Secretaries would have much greater authority, the authority to use their rule-making to write the beef checkoff as they see fit, without intervention from Congress.
That is what the Secretary is doing here, using the 1996 Act to write a beef checkoff that would place the checkoff in the hands of the Secretary for generations to come, rendering beef promotion a political spoil that any future administration could quickly rewrite to suit its political agenda. Even if that is not the intent, it is the result.
The comment period will remain open for 30 days, producers are encouraged to submit comments and contact their Senators and Representative. Tell the Secretary that we don’t need a duplicate checkoff!
Surveying Beef Producers about Their Checkoff
The winter Producer Attitude Survey, a nationwide survey of 1,200 beef and dairy producers conducted by the independent firm Aspen Media & Market Research, will be in the field from mid-December through early January. Results from the survey will be released during the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio Feb. 4-7, 2015, and used in planning future checkoff programs that respond to producer input. View topline results of the last survey here... http://www.beefboard.org/library/files/PAS/Beefmemo14_1.pdf.
Pesticide Applicator Training Program in Iowa Undergoes Name Change
The Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), formerly known as the Pest Management and the Environment Program (PME) at Iowa State University, recently updated its moniker. The name change reflects the program’s emphasis on pesticide safety education to various audiences in Iowa, including certified commercial, public, and private applicators as well as pesticide safety awareness for the general public.
“Our focus has always been on pesticide safety education in addition to applicator certification,” said Kristine Schaefer, program manager at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “This name change better describes the programs we offer and the audiences we serve. We offer much more than applicator training.”
Schaefer noted that the name change is occurring as the national Land-Grant University Pesticide Safety Education Program reaches a 50-year milestone.
"As a land-grant university, we use research-based information to educate the public and certified applicators in the safe application of pesticides,” Schaefer said. “As a result, we are protecting our families and our environment. Our staff is also involved in other areas of pesticide education including integrated pest management, worker protection, environmental quality and agricultural health.”
Schaefer noted that in a recent press release, the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), American Phytopathological Society (APS) and the Entomology Society of America (ESA) stated, “Everyone benefits from a strong national Pesticide Safety Education Program – the general public, the registrants whose products’ availability depends on safe use, the applicators who must be competent in the safe use of pesticides, the expanded network of trainers educated by PSEP and the regulatory agencies that enforce the law.
“The recognition this program deserves is often muted, due to the increasing number of organizations and initiatives that erroneously equate pesticide safety education with promoting pesticide use. On its 50th anniversary, the WSSA, APS and ESA salute the Pesticide Safety Education Program in the Land-Grant Universities and in the territories for its many efforts to protect human health and the environment, as society continues its ongoing battle against pests.”
During 2013, Iowa State University PSEP staff provided Continuing Instructional Course (CIC) training to nearly 26,000 certified applicators who control weeds, insects, disease-causing organisms, rodents and other pests in agricultural cropping systems, forests, structures, turf, ornamentals, rights-of-way, aquatic areas and other important sites. In addition to in-person and distance pesticide safety education training, over 22,000 PSEP Extension publications were distributed in 2013.
To learn more about PSEP and its programs, go to http://www.extension.iastate.edu/psep.
Christie Vetoes NJ Crate Bill
Gov. Chris Christie vetoed legislation Friday that would have banned the practice of confining pregnant pigs in crates, an issue that symbolizes the competing interests facing the potential 2016 Republican presidential contender.
New Jersey has few pig farms, but they are widespread in Iowa, the nation's leading state for pork production that also happens to be a battleground state holding the first presidential caucuses.
While the bill wouldn't affect farmers in Iowa, Mr. Christie has made political alliances with key Republicans there, and pork producers lobbied against the bill.
Meanwhile, animal-rights activists had collected thousands of signatures and enlisted celebrities such as Danny DeVito and Bill Maher. The bill passed both houses of the Legislature by large margins.
In his veto message released Friday, Mr. Christie was critical of the bill, and said lawmakers passed it in response to "misguided partisans and special interest groups."
"This bill is a solution in search of a problem. It is a political movement masquerading as substantive policy," Mr. Christie wrote in his three-page veto message.
Mr. Christie compared the pig-crate legislation to an effort by the Legislature to ban a form of natural-gas extraction known as hydraulic fracturing in New Jersey. The technique, also known as fracking, isn't widespread in New Jersey.
National Pork Producers Council, an industry group, praised Mr. Christie's veto. "Gov. Christie recognized that it's the hog farmers not national animal rights groups who know best how to ensure the well-being of pregnant sows," said David Warner, a spokesman.
Addressing Salmonella Concerns
More than 140 Industry representatives engaged in beef safety programs during the Pathogen Control and Regulatory Compliance in Beef Processing meeting hosted by the North American Meat Association (contractor to the beef checkoff), Oct. 16, and gained new knowledge from research data collected through the beef checkoff. Dr. Dayna Harhay presented results from her project titled “Genomic and Phenotypic Characterization of Salmonella enterica Serotypes Commonly Associated with Cattle and Beef—Creation of a Reference Data Resource for Examining Salmonella Virulence”. Salmonella continues to be a target pathogen for beef processors and this data enhances the knowledge base of the industry and will help to develop better detection methodologies as well as enhanced interventions to address Salmonella in beef products.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for December 2014
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for December 2014. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for December is 0.125 percent, unchanged from 0.125 percent in November.
The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during December is 1.125 percent, unchanged from 1.125 percent in November.
Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for December are as follows, 2.000 percent with seven-year loan terms, down from 2.125 percent in November; 2.375 percent with 10-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.375 percent in November and; 2.500 percent with 12-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.500 percent in November.
Sign-Up Deadline for the New Dairy Safety Net Is End of This Week
Dairy farmers have only a few more days to go to their county Farm Service Agency office and sign up for the new dairy safety net included in the 2014 farm bill. The deadline is Friday, December 5 for enrolling in the new Margin Protection Program, for the remainder of 2014, for all of 2015, or for both.
Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, said there are good reasons to sign up for the program, even though farm milk prices and margins are both favorable right now.
“First,” Mulhern said, “dairy futures indicate margins are leaving their record territory and will continue down into 2015. We liken the situation to a roller coaster cresting, then starting its descent. Lower milk prices and tighter margins are forecast just as the new program kicks in. This program will provide farmers some control over the situation by enrolling now in the MPP.”
In addition, Mulhern said, with U.S. milk production expected to increase by more than two percent this year, signing up for MPP now locks in an increase in each farm’s production history going forward. The upward adjustment in a farm’s production history only happens for farms once they sign up for the program.
“Under the rules, MPP payments are based on past production history, and the only allowed increase in that production base is the percentage increase in national milk production,” Mulhern said. “So, even if next year’s margins don’t trigger any payments, those who sign up now will be able to insure a larger amount of milk production in future years, because of the rise in U.S. milk production in 2014,” he said. He noted that, through October, 2014’s milk production is up 2.2 percent from the first ten months of 2013.
Rather than supporting milk prices, the Margin Protection Program allows producers to insure their income over feed costs on a sliding scale. Basic coverage is free, aside from a $100 annual administrative fee.
Producers decide annually both the percentage of their milk production history to cover – from 25 percent up to 90 percent – and the level of margin they wish to protect, from $4 to $8. NMPF has a variety of tools on its website and on a separate website devoted exclusively to the new program to help producers make their sign- up decisions. Included is a downloadable calculator that allows producers to plug in their own numbers and quickly see the program’s protection impact on their farm.
“Basic coverage costs you only $100 a year. But that relatively small investment does a lot to protect the future of your farm,” Mulhern said. “We encourage all producers to get to their county FSA offices, before the end of this week, and sign up for the Margin Protection Program before it is too late.”
Brazil Soy Planting 85% Done, Moisture Levels Replenished
Brazilian soybean planting moved forward 9 percentage points last week and would have progressed more quickly were it not for the ample rains that fell across key producing regions, according to AgRural, a local farm consultancy.
Soybean planting was 85% complete as of Friday, slightly behind the 89% planted at the same point last year, AgRural said.
The rain was welcomed in Parana, where parts of the northern and central regions had received little in the way of precipitation for weeks. Planting in the No. 2 soy state reached 91% complete.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the No. 3 soybean-producing state, planting progressed from 60% to 74% complete amid unexpected showers.
In Mato Grosso, the No. 1 state, planting is virtually complete at 98% and heavy rain nourished the crop over the past week.
Praises Secretary Vilsack for Seeking Public Comments
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson today called for a ‘new direction’ for the current beef checkoff program in an Agri-Pulse guest column, while also praising Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for seeking public comment on how to strengthen and modernize the outdated program.
“The checkoff program as we know it today has remained virtually unchanged for three decades while the world around it has morphed dramatically,” said Johnson. “This has raised serious doubts about the structure of the checkoff and whether it is capable of appropriately funding the much-needed research and exploring the new markets and new opportunities that the American beef industry so desperately needs. Clearly, the beef checkoff is in dire need of a major course correction.”
Johnson noted that the current checkoff’s need for change stemmed from the fact that it is both underfunded and unacceptably inflexible. Johnson offered principles to guide adequate reform of the program under the Commodity, Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996.
“The modernized beef checkoff should be a single program, modeled after the 1996 Act,” said Johnson. “It would have a clear separation of the policy organization from the non-political, promotional checkoff entity… exclude processors and importers from positions of leadership, ensuring that beef producers are always at the helm… and be precluded from allocating a single dime to any organization engaged in lobbying.”
“The idea of bringing new ideas and much-needed change to the checkoff is nothing new, and in fact, organizations like NFU met for three years discussing a new direction,” noted Johnson. “But the meetings were a bridge to nowhere, because they were largely controlled by the organization that has a vested interest in making sure the current structure never changes. That organization, of course, is the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).”
Johnson also noted that NCBA’s motivation for obstructing each and every idea should have been predictable, considering over 97 percent of all Beef Board contracts went to the NCBA, and the organization relies on the current program for a vast majority of its funding.
“NCBA regards the checkoff as its own personal financial trough and will do everything possible to cement that status into eternity,” said Johnson. “Clearly, NCBA wants to protect its turf and its income stream, but its days of living off the checkoff slush fund need to come to an end.”
Johnson commended Secretary Vilsack for stepping into the fractured discussions of the beef checkoff working group and allowing industry stakeholders to submit comments on ways the checkoff should be reformed.
“Finally, other voices and new ideas will be heard and given thoughtful consideration,” said Johnson. “Finally, after three long, frustrating years, meaningful structural change is actually a real possibility.
“The beauty of our democracy is that programs like the checkoff can be regularly scrutinized, fine-tuned or reformed. Recognizing that the success of the checkoff is an integral part of the success of rural America, let us work together to move this program forward. The promise of tomorrow relies on the changes of today.”
Country’s largest organic farming conference takes place Feb. 26-28 in La Crosse, Wis.
The 26th MOSES Organic Farming Conference happens Feb. 26-28, 2015 at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wis. This annual event, organized by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), is the country’s largest conference about organic and sustainable agriculture. Nearly 3,500 people are expected to attend.
“The MOSES Conference is not only a source of networking, information and education for us, but also a source for renewed energy and enthusiasm to begin each new season,” said Sandy Dietz, an organic farmer from Altura, Minn. About 19 percent of conference participants are certified organic farmers. Another 24 percent use organic and sustainable practices on their farms, while almost 5 percent are farmers who label their farms as conventional.
“We welcome these farmers—the conference is a great opportunity for them to see what ‘organic’ is about, and learn what it would take to make it work on their farms,” explained Faye Jones, MOSES Executive Director.
The conference features 67 workshops over six sessions and a two-floor Exhibit Hall with more than 170 exhibitors. Workshops fall into a number of farming categories, such as livestock, field crops, and market farming, plus broader categories like business and environmental issues. A track of workshops is geared for beginning farmers under the banner of New Organic Stewards. The conference also highlights current research in organic and sustainable agriculture through a workshop track and a large poster gallery.
The keynote speaker for the 2015 MOSES Conference is John Jeavons, whose biologically intensive approach to farming is helping growers around the globe increase yields and build soil fertility while using less water. His presentation is Friday, Feb. 27 at 1:30 p.m.
In addition to attending the conference, farmers can take an all-day Organic University™ course on Feb. 26 to learn in-depth about a topic. Descriptions of these pre-conference courses, conference workshops, and other details about the event are online at mosesorganic.org/conference and in the free MOSES Conference App (also available through the MOSES website).
Conference admission also includes organic meals—breakfasts, lunches and snacks—plus film screenings and entertainment. Singer-songwriter Susan Werner will perform at the Conference KickOff the evening of Feb. 26.
Registration is available online at mosesorganic.org/conference. To request a Conference Guide with a mail-in registration form, call 715-778-5775.
MOSES is a nonprofit organization that promotes organic and sustainable agriculture by providing farmers with education, resources and expertise.
BIVI FLEXcombo® swine vaccine now available in a NEW 50-dose presentation
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) makes it easier for producers and veterinarians to vaccinate pigs against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae with a single injection of FLEXcombo®.
Now FLEXcombo®, a member of the FLEX Family™ of vaccines, is now available in a new 50-dose presentation, in addition to a 250-dose presentation, giving producers and veterinarians a choice of sizes that best fit their operations and number of pigs to vaccinate, with less wasted vaccine.
According to Sarah Jorgensen, FLEX brand manager for the BIVI Swine Division, the packaging and mixing process for the new 50-dose FLEXcombo® is the same as what producers are used to with the larger presentation size. “The 50-dose FLEXcombo® package contains a 50-mL bottle of Ingelvac CircoFLEX® and 50 mL of Ingelvac MycoFLEX® in a 100-mL headspace bottle for easy mixing. The result is 100 mL of mixed vaccine, enough to treat 50 head with a single 2-mL injection,” she explains.
Producers and veterinarians have asked for a smaller presentation of FLEXcombo® so that they can better match vaccine quantity with the number of pigs they need to vaccine, while reducing the amount of left over vaccine.
“Customers now have more choice in product size to go along with the added convenience of vaccinating pigs against two of the most important respiratory diseases in swine, all with a single injection,” Jorgensen adds. “More importantly, customers using either presentation size of FLEXcombo® can reduce stress on both pigs and people while decreasing labor costs because of the need for fewer injections. This all results in greater compliance with the Pork Quality Assurance Plus® program and improved pork quality.”
Verdesian Life Sciences Announces New Biological Herbicide
Verdesian Life Sciences, LLC (“Verdesian”) announces a new product that will soon give growers of cereal crops, grass seed, alfalfa and managers of rangeland and non-cropland areas access to a new biological herbicide for suppression of downy brome.
Discovered by scientist Ann Kennedy with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens, strain D7, offers significant activity to combat downy brome, commonly known as cheatgrass. D7 has been further developed for the commercial market by Verdesian Life Sciences.
An invasive species, downy brome infests millions of acres of cropland, rangeland and non-crop areas across the United States. The weed, which outcompetes native grasses, is especially troublesome for winter wheat growers as its development cycle parallels that of winter wheat. In rangeland and non-crop areas, the unwanted plant has virtually eliminated native grass species and the highly flammable weed blankets the ground to provide fertile fuel for brush fires. In addition, the seeds produced by this invasive weed are very irritating to grazing animals and can induce significant stress in livestock.
The plant’s extensive root system is a key to downy brome’s proliferation. D7 suppresses the weed’s development and growth. For wheat growers who currently control the weed with herbicides that inhibit acetolactate synthase (ALS), D7 will offer a second mode of action to improve activity and help protect against resistance development. Uniquely, D7 does not control weeds through pathogenic interactions but rather through the secretion of chemicals selectively suppressive to cheatgrass.
“Most herbicides for control of cheatgrass are ALS-inhibiting,” said Ryan Bond, Ph.D., vice president of marketing, Verdesian. “We’ve seen some resistance development in the last few years, and D7 will give growers a tool to help mitigate that risk by offering a novel mode of action.”
"We’re committed to developing and acquiring new technologies to help growers improve plant health and increase marketable yield,” said Greg Thompson, chief operating officer, Verdesian. “Verdesian is pleased to bring growers and land managers a new biological solution for this devastating weed.”
D7 will be used at low use rates of 2 grams per acre, and its flexible and unique application allows it to be applied in-furrow, via aerial application or as a seed treatment. D7 will be commercially available in 2015.
New Holland Completes Acquisition of Miller-St. Nazianz, Inc.
CNH Industrial announced today that it has completed the acquisition of precision spraying equipment manufacturer Miller-St. Nazianz, Inc. All assets and activities of Miller are being incorporated into CNH Industrial’s New Holland brand. The Miller products will be further integrated into the New Holland Agriculture portfolio which specializes in agricultural machinery.
The global capital goods company and Miller previously announced the merger in August and the transaction was closed on November 26, 2014. The assets of Miller acquired as part of the transaction will become part of New Holland Agriculture, a CNH Industrial brand. This builds on a successful four year manufacturing and distribution partnership between New Holland and Miller in North America that has seen strong acceptance of a differentiated and best-in-class front-boom self-propelled sprayer offering.
The acquisition of Miller, acknowledged as a leading innovator in front-boom sprayers, brings an exciting product portfolio into the New Holland family for worldwide distribution. This will further expand crop production sales utilizing the New Holland brand network, established in over 170 countries. With this acquisition, New Holland will also gain an expanded offering in hay tools as Miller’s Ag-Bag silage packaging product line will also be managed by New Holland.
“We are very excited to round out our family of crop production products by officially bringing on Miller as a New Holland offering. New Holland dealers are known for in-depth knowledge of field operations and customer needs all while having a community driven approach to servicing their markets,” said Abe Hughes, Vice President of New Holland North America. “Our Miller Sprayer customers will continue to partner with the best innovators, industry leaders and experts in agriculture and at the same time our dealers gain strength and momentum knowing that New Holland continues to invest in them. It’s a true win-win situation.”
A key piece of farm equipment for today’s modern agribusinesses, sprayers operate through crop fields to distribute fertilizer and crop protection products in the form of droplets. Ag-Bag provides dairy and livestock farmers a convenient and low-cost approach to storing silage that preserves the quality of forage for their animals throughout the year. The Miller acquisition defines a new chapter for New Holland’s commitment to the professional and broad acreage segment of the agricultural industry and provides a strong platform to grow the self-propelled sprayer business on a global scale.
Nebraska Extension and the Farm Service Agency (FSA), are teaming up to provide educational meetings about the 2014 Farm Bill. The local meeting is set for Monday, December 15, and will be held at the Mohr Auditorium in Scribner from 9:00 am to Noon.
All farm operators and land owners are invited to attend. FSA will inform participants about the sign-up process for the Farm Bill including the documentation needed and the deadlines for sign-up. UNL Extension will provide information about the decisions that will need to be made for base acre reallocation, yield updates, and for the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) vs. Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program selection.
It should be helpful to attend one of the meetings to get insight on the options everyone has with the 2014 Farm Bill. Farm Operators and Land Owners will have three main steps to signing up. One is to review their current base acre allocations which is occurring at this time. Secondly, a decision about re-allocation of base acres will need to be made. Finally, the program selection will involve the ARC or PLC program. ARC is the revenue safety net program similar to the recent ACRE program and PLC is the price safety net program. With ARC, the options will be an Individual ARC coverage vs. a County ARC coverage. With PLC, the available Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) will be discussed. Decisions made for this Farm Bill sometime in 2015 will be final for the duration of the Bill.
For more information or assistance contact your local FSA or UNL County Extension Office. For more information about the 2014 Farm Bill, go to www.farmbill.unl.edu or www.fsa.usda.gov/farmbill.
Upper Big Blue NRD is Hosting the 11th Annual CROP-TIP Field Day to Help Farmers Gain an Advantage—Increase Bottom Line
Cornerstone Bank and the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District will be sponsoring the “11th Annual CROP-TIP Field Day” on December 10, 2014, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Holthus Convention Center in York. The public is invited to attend this free event.
The following nationally renowned speakers are featured and will cover these topics:
Jay Fuhrer, North Dakota NRCS-Bismarck: “Improving Soil Health to Increase Crop Yield and Cutting the Cost of Inputs.”
Bob Utterback, Economist-Farm Journal & Utterback Marketing Services, Inc. (New Richmond, IN): "Marketing Strategies in the Commodities Market and 2015 Outlook.”
Dr. Al Dutcher, State of Nebraska Climatologist: “Nebraska’s Weather Forecast: What’s Ahead in 2015.”
Dan Leininger, Upper Big Blue NRD: “CROP-TIP Harvest Results.”
Rod DeBuhr, Upper Big Blue NRD: “Groundwater Quality in the Upper Big Blue NRD.”
The “Cornerstone Resources Observation Plot—Test Irrigation Project” (CROP-TIP) was an idea formulated in January 2004 by Cornerstone Bank and the Upper Big Blue NRD. Similar to an outdoor classroom, the water conservation project is used as a research plot for producers and youth throughout the area. We will share the harvest data and irrigation scheduling information at CROP-TIP this year.
We are providing a meal, so a RSVP is necessary by calling DeeDee at the Upper Big Blue NRD at (402) 362-6601.
Beef Checkoff Comments Due December 10, 2014
(from NE Cattlemen Newsletter)
On November 10, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack published his agency’s Notice of Inquiry on the duplicate beef checkoff under the 1996 Generic Commodity Promotion Act. The Secretary made his publication over objections voiced by 45 NCBA state affiliate cattlemen’s associations, representing over 170,000 cattle producers and without request by mainstream cattle producers.
Cattle producers overwhelming support the current Beef Checkoff program under the 1985 Beef Promotion, Research and Education Act. In a recent survey, the Checkoff received support from 4 out of 5 cattlemen. Yet despite concern shown by cattlemen, state cattlemen’s associations, Federation of State Beef Councils, and the lack of Congressional intent to use the 1996 Act in this way; the Secretary has plowed forward with his plan for a duplicate beef checkoff under the 1996 Act.
So why has the Secretary done this? The USDA has called it a companion checkoff, but cattlemen never asked for a companion to their highly successful existing checkoff. There are enhancements that can be made, places we could build on the success, but to turn over a successful program to create a duplicate program is senseless and wasteful of producer dollars. The answer is simpler though. The Secretary has seen a small opportunity to use the efforts toward consensus in the beef industry as an opportunity to take over the current checkoff and replace it with a checkoff that puts all the major decision-making authority in the hands of the Administration.
That is what this boils down to; the tendency of this Administration to seize greater authority up to, and in some cases beyond, Congressional intent. Congress created the Beef Checkoff in 1985, writing most of the key provisions into statute; the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and their administrative role, the Federation of State Beef Councils and their collection role, and even the dollar per head and importer assessment. Beyond that, they left oversight to the USDA and their rule-making authority. But under the 1996 Generic Commodities Act, the Secretary and future Secretaries would have much greater authority, the authority to use their rule-making to write the beef checkoff as they see fit, without intervention from Congress.
That is what the Secretary is doing here, using the 1996 Act to write a beef checkoff that would place the checkoff in the hands of the Secretary for generations to come, rendering beef promotion a political spoil that any future administration could quickly rewrite to suit its political agenda. Even if that is not the intent, it is the result.
The comment period will remain open for 30 days, producers are encouraged to submit comments and contact their Senators and Representative. Tell the Secretary that we don’t need a duplicate checkoff!
Surveying Beef Producers about Their Checkoff
The winter Producer Attitude Survey, a nationwide survey of 1,200 beef and dairy producers conducted by the independent firm Aspen Media & Market Research, will be in the field from mid-December through early January. Results from the survey will be released during the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio Feb. 4-7, 2015, and used in planning future checkoff programs that respond to producer input. View topline results of the last survey here... http://www.beefboard.org/library/files/PAS/Beefmemo14_1.pdf.
Pesticide Applicator Training Program in Iowa Undergoes Name Change
The Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), formerly known as the Pest Management and the Environment Program (PME) at Iowa State University, recently updated its moniker. The name change reflects the program’s emphasis on pesticide safety education to various audiences in Iowa, including certified commercial, public, and private applicators as well as pesticide safety awareness for the general public.
“Our focus has always been on pesticide safety education in addition to applicator certification,” said Kristine Schaefer, program manager at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “This name change better describes the programs we offer and the audiences we serve. We offer much more than applicator training.”
Schaefer noted that the name change is occurring as the national Land-Grant University Pesticide Safety Education Program reaches a 50-year milestone.
"As a land-grant university, we use research-based information to educate the public and certified applicators in the safe application of pesticides,” Schaefer said. “As a result, we are protecting our families and our environment. Our staff is also involved in other areas of pesticide education including integrated pest management, worker protection, environmental quality and agricultural health.”
Schaefer noted that in a recent press release, the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), American Phytopathological Society (APS) and the Entomology Society of America (ESA) stated, “Everyone benefits from a strong national Pesticide Safety Education Program – the general public, the registrants whose products’ availability depends on safe use, the applicators who must be competent in the safe use of pesticides, the expanded network of trainers educated by PSEP and the regulatory agencies that enforce the law.
“The recognition this program deserves is often muted, due to the increasing number of organizations and initiatives that erroneously equate pesticide safety education with promoting pesticide use. On its 50th anniversary, the WSSA, APS and ESA salute the Pesticide Safety Education Program in the Land-Grant Universities and in the territories for its many efforts to protect human health and the environment, as society continues its ongoing battle against pests.”
During 2013, Iowa State University PSEP staff provided Continuing Instructional Course (CIC) training to nearly 26,000 certified applicators who control weeds, insects, disease-causing organisms, rodents and other pests in agricultural cropping systems, forests, structures, turf, ornamentals, rights-of-way, aquatic areas and other important sites. In addition to in-person and distance pesticide safety education training, over 22,000 PSEP Extension publications were distributed in 2013.
To learn more about PSEP and its programs, go to http://www.extension.iastate.edu/psep.
Christie Vetoes NJ Crate Bill
Gov. Chris Christie vetoed legislation Friday that would have banned the practice of confining pregnant pigs in crates, an issue that symbolizes the competing interests facing the potential 2016 Republican presidential contender.
New Jersey has few pig farms, but they are widespread in Iowa, the nation's leading state for pork production that also happens to be a battleground state holding the first presidential caucuses.
While the bill wouldn't affect farmers in Iowa, Mr. Christie has made political alliances with key Republicans there, and pork producers lobbied against the bill.
Meanwhile, animal-rights activists had collected thousands of signatures and enlisted celebrities such as Danny DeVito and Bill Maher. The bill passed both houses of the Legislature by large margins.
In his veto message released Friday, Mr. Christie was critical of the bill, and said lawmakers passed it in response to "misguided partisans and special interest groups."
"This bill is a solution in search of a problem. It is a political movement masquerading as substantive policy," Mr. Christie wrote in his three-page veto message.
Mr. Christie compared the pig-crate legislation to an effort by the Legislature to ban a form of natural-gas extraction known as hydraulic fracturing in New Jersey. The technique, also known as fracking, isn't widespread in New Jersey.
National Pork Producers Council, an industry group, praised Mr. Christie's veto. "Gov. Christie recognized that it's the hog farmers not national animal rights groups who know best how to ensure the well-being of pregnant sows," said David Warner, a spokesman.
Addressing Salmonella Concerns
More than 140 Industry representatives engaged in beef safety programs during the Pathogen Control and Regulatory Compliance in Beef Processing meeting hosted by the North American Meat Association (contractor to the beef checkoff), Oct. 16, and gained new knowledge from research data collected through the beef checkoff. Dr. Dayna Harhay presented results from her project titled “Genomic and Phenotypic Characterization of Salmonella enterica Serotypes Commonly Associated with Cattle and Beef—Creation of a Reference Data Resource for Examining Salmonella Virulence”. Salmonella continues to be a target pathogen for beef processors and this data enhances the knowledge base of the industry and will help to develop better detection methodologies as well as enhanced interventions to address Salmonella in beef products.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for December 2014
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for December 2014. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for December is 0.125 percent, unchanged from 0.125 percent in November.
The interest rate for crop year commodity loans less than one year disbursed during December is 1.125 percent, unchanged from 1.125 percent in November.
Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for December are as follows, 2.000 percent with seven-year loan terms, down from 2.125 percent in November; 2.375 percent with 10-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.375 percent in November and; 2.500 percent with 12-year loan terms, unchanged from 2.500 percent in November.
Sign-Up Deadline for the New Dairy Safety Net Is End of This Week
Dairy farmers have only a few more days to go to their county Farm Service Agency office and sign up for the new dairy safety net included in the 2014 farm bill. The deadline is Friday, December 5 for enrolling in the new Margin Protection Program, for the remainder of 2014, for all of 2015, or for both.
Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, said there are good reasons to sign up for the program, even though farm milk prices and margins are both favorable right now.
“First,” Mulhern said, “dairy futures indicate margins are leaving their record territory and will continue down into 2015. We liken the situation to a roller coaster cresting, then starting its descent. Lower milk prices and tighter margins are forecast just as the new program kicks in. This program will provide farmers some control over the situation by enrolling now in the MPP.”
In addition, Mulhern said, with U.S. milk production expected to increase by more than two percent this year, signing up for MPP now locks in an increase in each farm’s production history going forward. The upward adjustment in a farm’s production history only happens for farms once they sign up for the program.
“Under the rules, MPP payments are based on past production history, and the only allowed increase in that production base is the percentage increase in national milk production,” Mulhern said. “So, even if next year’s margins don’t trigger any payments, those who sign up now will be able to insure a larger amount of milk production in future years, because of the rise in U.S. milk production in 2014,” he said. He noted that, through October, 2014’s milk production is up 2.2 percent from the first ten months of 2013.
Rather than supporting milk prices, the Margin Protection Program allows producers to insure their income over feed costs on a sliding scale. Basic coverage is free, aside from a $100 annual administrative fee.
Producers decide annually both the percentage of their milk production history to cover – from 25 percent up to 90 percent – and the level of margin they wish to protect, from $4 to $8. NMPF has a variety of tools on its website and on a separate website devoted exclusively to the new program to help producers make their sign- up decisions. Included is a downloadable calculator that allows producers to plug in their own numbers and quickly see the program’s protection impact on their farm.
“Basic coverage costs you only $100 a year. But that relatively small investment does a lot to protect the future of your farm,” Mulhern said. “We encourage all producers to get to their county FSA offices, before the end of this week, and sign up for the Margin Protection Program before it is too late.”
Brazil Soy Planting 85% Done, Moisture Levels Replenished
Brazilian soybean planting moved forward 9 percentage points last week and would have progressed more quickly were it not for the ample rains that fell across key producing regions, according to AgRural, a local farm consultancy.
Soybean planting was 85% complete as of Friday, slightly behind the 89% planted at the same point last year, AgRural said.
The rain was welcomed in Parana, where parts of the northern and central regions had received little in the way of precipitation for weeks. Planting in the No. 2 soy state reached 91% complete.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the No. 3 soybean-producing state, planting progressed from 60% to 74% complete amid unexpected showers.
In Mato Grosso, the No. 1 state, planting is virtually complete at 98% and heavy rain nourished the crop over the past week.
Praises Secretary Vilsack for Seeking Public Comments
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson today called for a ‘new direction’ for the current beef checkoff program in an Agri-Pulse guest column, while also praising Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for seeking public comment on how to strengthen and modernize the outdated program.
“The checkoff program as we know it today has remained virtually unchanged for three decades while the world around it has morphed dramatically,” said Johnson. “This has raised serious doubts about the structure of the checkoff and whether it is capable of appropriately funding the much-needed research and exploring the new markets and new opportunities that the American beef industry so desperately needs. Clearly, the beef checkoff is in dire need of a major course correction.”
Johnson noted that the current checkoff’s need for change stemmed from the fact that it is both underfunded and unacceptably inflexible. Johnson offered principles to guide adequate reform of the program under the Commodity, Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996.
“The modernized beef checkoff should be a single program, modeled after the 1996 Act,” said Johnson. “It would have a clear separation of the policy organization from the non-political, promotional checkoff entity… exclude processors and importers from positions of leadership, ensuring that beef producers are always at the helm… and be precluded from allocating a single dime to any organization engaged in lobbying.”
“The idea of bringing new ideas and much-needed change to the checkoff is nothing new, and in fact, organizations like NFU met for three years discussing a new direction,” noted Johnson. “But the meetings were a bridge to nowhere, because they were largely controlled by the organization that has a vested interest in making sure the current structure never changes. That organization, of course, is the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).”
Johnson also noted that NCBA’s motivation for obstructing each and every idea should have been predictable, considering over 97 percent of all Beef Board contracts went to the NCBA, and the organization relies on the current program for a vast majority of its funding.
“NCBA regards the checkoff as its own personal financial trough and will do everything possible to cement that status into eternity,” said Johnson. “Clearly, NCBA wants to protect its turf and its income stream, but its days of living off the checkoff slush fund need to come to an end.”
Johnson commended Secretary Vilsack for stepping into the fractured discussions of the beef checkoff working group and allowing industry stakeholders to submit comments on ways the checkoff should be reformed.
“Finally, other voices and new ideas will be heard and given thoughtful consideration,” said Johnson. “Finally, after three long, frustrating years, meaningful structural change is actually a real possibility.
“The beauty of our democracy is that programs like the checkoff can be regularly scrutinized, fine-tuned or reformed. Recognizing that the success of the checkoff is an integral part of the success of rural America, let us work together to move this program forward. The promise of tomorrow relies on the changes of today.”
Country’s largest organic farming conference takes place Feb. 26-28 in La Crosse, Wis.
The 26th MOSES Organic Farming Conference happens Feb. 26-28, 2015 at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wis. This annual event, organized by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), is the country’s largest conference about organic and sustainable agriculture. Nearly 3,500 people are expected to attend.
“The MOSES Conference is not only a source of networking, information and education for us, but also a source for renewed energy and enthusiasm to begin each new season,” said Sandy Dietz, an organic farmer from Altura, Minn. About 19 percent of conference participants are certified organic farmers. Another 24 percent use organic and sustainable practices on their farms, while almost 5 percent are farmers who label their farms as conventional.
“We welcome these farmers—the conference is a great opportunity for them to see what ‘organic’ is about, and learn what it would take to make it work on their farms,” explained Faye Jones, MOSES Executive Director.
The conference features 67 workshops over six sessions and a two-floor Exhibit Hall with more than 170 exhibitors. Workshops fall into a number of farming categories, such as livestock, field crops, and market farming, plus broader categories like business and environmental issues. A track of workshops is geared for beginning farmers under the banner of New Organic Stewards. The conference also highlights current research in organic and sustainable agriculture through a workshop track and a large poster gallery.
The keynote speaker for the 2015 MOSES Conference is John Jeavons, whose biologically intensive approach to farming is helping growers around the globe increase yields and build soil fertility while using less water. His presentation is Friday, Feb. 27 at 1:30 p.m.
In addition to attending the conference, farmers can take an all-day Organic University™ course on Feb. 26 to learn in-depth about a topic. Descriptions of these pre-conference courses, conference workshops, and other details about the event are online at mosesorganic.org/conference and in the free MOSES Conference App (also available through the MOSES website).
Conference admission also includes organic meals—breakfasts, lunches and snacks—plus film screenings and entertainment. Singer-songwriter Susan Werner will perform at the Conference KickOff the evening of Feb. 26.
Registration is available online at mosesorganic.org/conference. To request a Conference Guide with a mail-in registration form, call 715-778-5775.
MOSES is a nonprofit organization that promotes organic and sustainable agriculture by providing farmers with education, resources and expertise.
BIVI FLEXcombo® swine vaccine now available in a NEW 50-dose presentation
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) makes it easier for producers and veterinarians to vaccinate pigs against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae with a single injection of FLEXcombo®.
Now FLEXcombo®, a member of the FLEX Family™ of vaccines, is now available in a new 50-dose presentation, in addition to a 250-dose presentation, giving producers and veterinarians a choice of sizes that best fit their operations and number of pigs to vaccinate, with less wasted vaccine.
According to Sarah Jorgensen, FLEX brand manager for the BIVI Swine Division, the packaging and mixing process for the new 50-dose FLEXcombo® is the same as what producers are used to with the larger presentation size. “The 50-dose FLEXcombo® package contains a 50-mL bottle of Ingelvac CircoFLEX® and 50 mL of Ingelvac MycoFLEX® in a 100-mL headspace bottle for easy mixing. The result is 100 mL of mixed vaccine, enough to treat 50 head with a single 2-mL injection,” she explains.
Producers and veterinarians have asked for a smaller presentation of FLEXcombo® so that they can better match vaccine quantity with the number of pigs they need to vaccine, while reducing the amount of left over vaccine.
“Customers now have more choice in product size to go along with the added convenience of vaccinating pigs against two of the most important respiratory diseases in swine, all with a single injection,” Jorgensen adds. “More importantly, customers using either presentation size of FLEXcombo® can reduce stress on both pigs and people while decreasing labor costs because of the need for fewer injections. This all results in greater compliance with the Pork Quality Assurance Plus® program and improved pork quality.”
Verdesian Life Sciences Announces New Biological Herbicide
Verdesian Life Sciences, LLC (“Verdesian”) announces a new product that will soon give growers of cereal crops, grass seed, alfalfa and managers of rangeland and non-cropland areas access to a new biological herbicide for suppression of downy brome.
Discovered by scientist Ann Kennedy with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens, strain D7, offers significant activity to combat downy brome, commonly known as cheatgrass. D7 has been further developed for the commercial market by Verdesian Life Sciences.
An invasive species, downy brome infests millions of acres of cropland, rangeland and non-crop areas across the United States. The weed, which outcompetes native grasses, is especially troublesome for winter wheat growers as its development cycle parallels that of winter wheat. In rangeland and non-crop areas, the unwanted plant has virtually eliminated native grass species and the highly flammable weed blankets the ground to provide fertile fuel for brush fires. In addition, the seeds produced by this invasive weed are very irritating to grazing animals and can induce significant stress in livestock.
The plant’s extensive root system is a key to downy brome’s proliferation. D7 suppresses the weed’s development and growth. For wheat growers who currently control the weed with herbicides that inhibit acetolactate synthase (ALS), D7 will offer a second mode of action to improve activity and help protect against resistance development. Uniquely, D7 does not control weeds through pathogenic interactions but rather through the secretion of chemicals selectively suppressive to cheatgrass.
“Most herbicides for control of cheatgrass are ALS-inhibiting,” said Ryan Bond, Ph.D., vice president of marketing, Verdesian. “We’ve seen some resistance development in the last few years, and D7 will give growers a tool to help mitigate that risk by offering a novel mode of action.”
"We’re committed to developing and acquiring new technologies to help growers improve plant health and increase marketable yield,” said Greg Thompson, chief operating officer, Verdesian. “Verdesian is pleased to bring growers and land managers a new biological solution for this devastating weed.”
D7 will be used at low use rates of 2 grams per acre, and its flexible and unique application allows it to be applied in-furrow, via aerial application or as a seed treatment. D7 will be commercially available in 2015.
New Holland Completes Acquisition of Miller-St. Nazianz, Inc.
CNH Industrial announced today that it has completed the acquisition of precision spraying equipment manufacturer Miller-St. Nazianz, Inc. All assets and activities of Miller are being incorporated into CNH Industrial’s New Holland brand. The Miller products will be further integrated into the New Holland Agriculture portfolio which specializes in agricultural machinery.
The global capital goods company and Miller previously announced the merger in August and the transaction was closed on November 26, 2014. The assets of Miller acquired as part of the transaction will become part of New Holland Agriculture, a CNH Industrial brand. This builds on a successful four year manufacturing and distribution partnership between New Holland and Miller in North America that has seen strong acceptance of a differentiated and best-in-class front-boom self-propelled sprayer offering.
The acquisition of Miller, acknowledged as a leading innovator in front-boom sprayers, brings an exciting product portfolio into the New Holland family for worldwide distribution. This will further expand crop production sales utilizing the New Holland brand network, established in over 170 countries. With this acquisition, New Holland will also gain an expanded offering in hay tools as Miller’s Ag-Bag silage packaging product line will also be managed by New Holland.
“We are very excited to round out our family of crop production products by officially bringing on Miller as a New Holland offering. New Holland dealers are known for in-depth knowledge of field operations and customer needs all while having a community driven approach to servicing their markets,” said Abe Hughes, Vice President of New Holland North America. “Our Miller Sprayer customers will continue to partner with the best innovators, industry leaders and experts in agriculture and at the same time our dealers gain strength and momentum knowing that New Holland continues to invest in them. It’s a true win-win situation.”
A key piece of farm equipment for today’s modern agribusinesses, sprayers operate through crop fields to distribute fertilizer and crop protection products in the form of droplets. Ag-Bag provides dairy and livestock farmers a convenient and low-cost approach to storing silage that preserves the quality of forage for their animals throughout the year. The Miller acquisition defines a new chapter for New Holland’s commitment to the professional and broad acreage segment of the agricultural industry and provides a strong platform to grow the self-propelled sprayer business on a global scale.
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