NEBRASKA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT
Based on November 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2017 corn crop is forecast at 1.66 billion bushels, down 2 percent from last year's production, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Area to be harvested for grain, at 9.30 million acres, is down 3 percent from a year ago. Yield is forecast at 179 bushels per acre, up 1 bushel from last year.
Soybean production is forecast at a record 328 million bushels, up 4 percent from last year. Area for harvest, at 5.65 million acres, is 10 percent above 2016. Yield is forecast at 58 bushels per acre, down 3 bushels from last year.
Sorghum production is forecast at 14.4 million bushels, down 19 percent from last year. Area for harvest, at 150,000 acres, is 14 percent below 2016. Yield is forecast at 96 bushels per acre, down 6 bushels from last year.
Sugarbeet production is forecast at 1.44 million tons, up 2 percent from last year. Area for harvest, at 44,600 acres, is down 6 percent from 2016. Record yield is forecast at 32.3 tons per acre, up 2.4 tons from last year.
Potato acres of 19,000 were planted in 2017, up 15 percent with harvest set at 18,900 acres, up 15 percent. Production is forecast at 8.88 million cwt, up 20 percent from last year. Yield is estimated at 470 cwt per acre, up 20 cwt from last year.
IOWA CROP PRODUCTION REPORT
Iowa corn production is forecast at 2.54 billion bushels according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Crop Production report. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 197 bushels per acre, up 6 bushels per acre from the October 1 forecast but down 6 bushels per acre from last year. If realized, this will be the second highest yield and production on record behind 2016. Acres harvested for grain remain unchanged at 12.9 million acres.
Soybean production is forecast at 557 million bushels. If realized, this will be the second highest production on record behind last year’s 566 million bushels. The yield is forecast at 56.0 bushels per acre, unchanged from the October 1 forecast, but down 4.0 bushels per acre from 2016. If realized, this will be the third highest yield on record, behind 2016 and 2015. Area harvested remained unchanged at 9.95 million acres.
All crop forecasts in this report are based on November 1 conditions and do not reflect weather effects since that time. The next corn and soybean production estimates will be published in the Crop Production – 2017 Summary report which will be released on January 12, 2018.
USDA: Corn Production Up 2 Percent from October Forecast
Soybean Production Down Less Than 1 Percent
Cotton Production Up 1 Percent
Corn production is forecast at 14.6 billion bushels, down 4 percent from last year but up 2 percent from the October forecast. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 175.4 bushels per acre, up 3.6 bushels from the October forecast and up 0.8 bushel from 2016. If realized, this will be the highest yield on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 83.1 million acres, unchanged from the previous estimate but down 4 percent from 2016.
Soybean production is forecast at a record 4.43 billion bushels, down less than 1 percent from October but up 3 percent from last year. Based on November 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 49.5 bushels per acre, unchanged from last month but down 2.5 bushels from last year. Area for harvest in the United States is forecast at a record high 89.5 million acres, unchanged from last month.
All cotton production is forecast at 21.4 million 480-pound bales, up 1 percent from October and up 25 percent from last year. Yield is expected to average 900 pounds per harvested acre, up 11 pounds from last month and up 33 pounds from last year. If realized, the cotton yield forecast for the Nation will be the highest yield on record. Upland cotton production is forecast at 20.7 million 480-pound bales, up 24 percent from 2016. Pima cotton production, forecast at 727,000 bales, was carried forward from an earlier forecast.
Lt. Gov. Foley Signs Memorandum of Understanding in China
Wednesday, Lt. Governor Mike Foley and Director Wang of Hebei Province Department of Human Resources signed a memorandum of understanding to increase exchange of information and build a better relationship between Hebei Province and the State of Nebraska. Hebei is an important center of agriculture and industry in Eastern China.
During his meeting with Director Wang, Lt. Governor Foley welcomed Hebei officials to come visit Nebraska and asked for support from the provincial government in promoting Nebraska as a destination for investment. Both sides expressed their desire to increase trade, exchange ideas, and work together to develop better relations.
Lt. Governor Foley has been travelling in China since November 5th in order to promote Nebraska goods and develop closer business ties between Nebraska and China. On November 5th, Lt. Governor Foley addressed the opening ceremony of the China Agricultural Fair in Yangling, Shaanxi along with dignitaries from China, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Approximately 300,000 people attended the first day of the China Agricultural Fair. After attending the China Agricultural Fair, Lt. Governor Foley travelled to Beijing and surrounding areas November 6-8th.
In addition to attending the China Agricultural Fair, Lt. Governor Mike Foley has been meeting with business and government representatives from across China to build relationships and encourage more business and investment in Nebraska. The Lt. Governor will travel to Shanghai on November 9th, and return to the United States on November 11th.
USMEF Lauds USTR for a Definitive WTO Win on Indonesia’s Beef Import Requirements
Today, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled in favor of the United States in a dispute with Indonesia over its complex and opaque import requirements for beef and beef products. The WTO report found that all 18 of Indonesia’s import measures challenged by the United States were inconsistent with WTO rules and obligations. Today’s ruling marks the end of the WTO dispute settlement process and is expected to open up significant new export opportunities for the U.S. beef industry in the Indonesian market.
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) CEO Philip Seng said, “We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this case and wish to thank the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for its effective presentation of the legal arguments against Indonesia’s import controls. The WTO ruling is confirmation of USTR’s decision to bring the case and supports the need for a strong and transparent dispute settlement system in the WTO.”
Seng said USMEF sees Indonesia as a very promising market for the future. It is the fourth most populous country in the world, but with per capita beef consumption of only 3.4 kg Indonesia has almost unlimited potential to become one of the world’s largest beef importing countries. “Today’s WTO report sets the stage for expansion of Indonesia’s beef market. We are excited about the opportunity to play a big part in its development by introducing U.S. beef to a much wider group of Indonesian customers.”
Last year U.S. beef and beef variety meats exports to Indonesia were 10,783 mt valued at $39.4 million, making it our 9th largest export market by volume and 15th largest by value. Through September of this year, exports to Indonesia were 9,934 mt valued at $36.6 million. This marked a 96 percent increase from the first nine months of 2016 in volume and a 78 percent increase in value.
Indonesia is currently the third-largest export market for U.S. beef hearts following Mexico and Hong Kong.
Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Delay of Effective Date
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is delaying the effective date of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) final rule published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2017.
During the course of reviewing the OLPP Rule, in addition to a question about the scope of the statutory authority, a material error in the record was discovered. USDA is delaying the rule so that important questions, such as the likely costs and benefits, can be more fully assessed through the notice and comment process prior to making a final decision on the direction of the rule.
The OLPP final rule amends the organic livestock and poultry production requirements by adding new provisions for livestock handling and transport for slaughter and avian living conditions; and expands and clarifies existing requirements covering livestock care and production practices and mammalian living conditions.
More information is available in the November 9, 2017 Federal Register Notice 2017-24675.
Conaway on Trump Administration’s Delay of Overreaching Organic Livestock Rule
Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) made the following remarks in response to the Trump administration’s decision to delay the effective date of the controversial and overreaching final rule on organic livestock and poultry practices that was pushed through in the final hours of the Obama administration:
“The organic livestock rule goes far beyond the scope of the National Organic Program, threatening animal health and food safety, and jeopardizing the livelihoods of numerous farmers and ranchers. While I believe withdrawing this costly and unworkable regulation is the best way to provide certainty to livestock and poultry producers across the nation, I do appreciate that Sec. Perdue and his team are taking extra time to evaluate the full implications of the rule. I am hopeful the Trump administration’s commitment to regulatory reform will result in the continued roll-back of burdensome regulations like this one”
The organic livestock rule, initially proposed in April of 2016, vastly expands the list of required animal welfare practices for organic livestock production. Chief among the arbitrarily prescriptive requirements are mandates on outdoor access for poultry that are opposed by numerous industry experts due to the increased risk of diseases for the animals and food-borne illness for consumers.
Delay Sought For Reporting Farm Air Emissions
With a Nov. 15 deadline looming, the National Pork Producers Council and the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association today filed a brief in support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s motion to delay a mandate that farmers report certain air emissions from manure on their farms.
In April, a federal court, ruling on a lawsuit brought by environmental activist groups against EPA, rejected an exemption for farms from reporting “hazardous” emissions under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA). CERCLA mainly is used to clean hazardous waste sites but has a federal reporting component, while EPCRA requires entities to report on the storage, use and release of hazardous substances to state and local governments, including first responders.
EPA had exempted farms from CERCLA reporting, reasoning that while emissions might exceed thresholds that would trigger responses under the law such responses would be “unnecessary, impractical and unlikely.” The agency limited EPCRA reporting to large, confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), requiring them to make one-time reports. Under the decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, all livestock farms, not just CAFOs, are required to report.
Between 60,000 and 100,000 livestock and poultry farmers will need to file air emissions reports with the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center (NRC), beginning Nov. 15, as well as written reports with their regional EPA office within 30 days of reporting to the NRC.
Some farmers already have tried filing reports, but the NRC system has been overwhelmed. NRC operators are refusing to accept reports for more than a single farm per call because of concern that the phone systems will be tied up for non-emergency purposes. In one instance, an NRC operator sent notices out to more than 20 state and federal response authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a state policy agency, after receiving a phone call.
In seeking a second delay in implementing the CERCLA reporting mandate – the original filing deadline technically was the day the federal court threw out the exemption – EPA, NPPC and the poultry and egg association are asking the court to give the agency more time to “provide farmers more specific and final guidance before they must estimate and report emissions” and to develop a system that will enable farmers to comply with their legal obligations.
In Final Decision, Commerce Department Confirms Unfair Subsidies by Argentina, Indonesia of Biodiesel Imports
Today the Commerce Department issued a final determination in a case brought by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) Fair Trade Coalition regarding subsidized biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia. Earlier this year, the Commerce Department made a preliminary finding that Argentina and Indonesia provide subsidies to their biodiesel producers in violation of international trade rules. Today’s decision cements that earlier finding, and the cash deposit rates required of importers of biodiesel will be updated to reflect this final determination.
“The biodiesel industry has been injured for the past several years due to unfairly traded imports from Argentina and Indonesia. We appreciate that these unfair subsidies are being addressed, so we can fix this particular obstacle to continued growth in the domestic industry,” said Doug Whitehead, chief operating officer of the National Biodiesel Board. “Though not yet over, this is a step forward in ensuring the product that supports nearly 64,000 jobs is not undercut by unfair imports.”
To reflect the final determination, the Commerce Department will update the cash deposit rates that importers of Argentinian and Indonesian biodiesel must pay on biodiesel imported from those countries. The cash deposit rates range from 71.45 to 72.28 percent for biodiesel from Argentina, and 34.45 to 64.73 percent for biodiesel from Indonesia, depending on the particular foreign producer/exporter involved.
The NBB Fair Trade Coalition filed these petitions to address a flood of subsidized and dumped imports from Argentina and Indonesia that has resulted in market share losses and depressed prices for domestic producers. Biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia surged by 464 percent from 2014 to 2016, taking 18.3 percentage points of market share from U.S. manufacturers. Imports of biodiesel from Argentina again jumped 144.5 percent following the filing of the petitions. These surging, low-priced imports prevented producers from earning adequate returns on their substantial investments and caused U.S. producers to pull back on further investments to serve a growing market.
To be successful in securing relief, a party must file not only with the Commerce Department, but also with the International Trade Commission (ITC). The Commerce Department determines whether the imports are subsidized and/or dumped, while the ITC determines whether the domestic industry has been injured by reason of such unfairly traded imports. The Commerce Department also determines the margin of duties to impose on imports based on the degree of dumping and subsidies found.
Today, November 9, the ITC is holding a public hearing in Washington, DC, beginning at 9:40AM ET, at which coalition members will testify before the ITC commissioners. The ITC is scheduled to hold its final injury vote on subsidies on December 5th. If the ITC’s final injury vote in December is affirmative, the Commerce Department will publish final countervailing duty orders on the question of subsidies.
The coalition filed both antidumping and countervailing duty petitions with the Commerce Department. Antidumping petitions address concerns whether imports coming into the United States are priced below fair value. Countervailing duty petitions address subsidies provided by foreign governments benefiting imported product. Today’s decision is on the subsidies question.
The antidumping investigations are following a different schedule: Commerce is scheduled to issue final antidumping determinations in early January, which would be followed by another ITC injury vote as it relates to dumped imports.
Ways and Means Committee Passes Tax-Reform Bill After Striking Self-Employment Provision
In advancing their tax-reform bill to the House floor for debate, the House Ways and Means Committee removed language that would have subjected rental income to self-employment taxes.
The topic had become a major sticking point in the tax-reform package for agriculture because it would have taxed more than 1.8 million farmland landlords, including farmers who lease land back to their family partnerships.
"When H.R. 1 was introduced, we realized that it would expand the types of income subject to self-employment tax, including for rental of land. That would have meant that landowners who were renting cropland for farming would have seen an increase in the self-employment taxes," said Brad Palen, principal and a CPA with K-Coe Isom, an agricultural accounting firm. "After we met with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway and expressed our concerns, we were pleased to see this provision removed by the Ways and Means Committee."
K-Coe Isom stated its staff met with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, along with staff from the American Farm Bureau Federation and the accounting firm of Clifton Larson Allen. The accounting firms explained their concerns about the impact that the self-employment changes would have had on farmers.
"Chairman Conaway understood our concerns and said he would help make sure that farmers weren't hurt by this self-employment tax provision," Palen said. "He clearly stayed true to his word today and helped avoid what would have been a significant tax increase on many farmers."
The tax-reform bill was voted out of the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday afternoon on a party-line vote as House Republicans seek to get the legislation to the full House, potentially as early as next week. The bill seeks to cut a net $1.5 trillion over 10 years with an overhaul of corporate tax rates and simplification of personal taxes.
Soil Health Partnership applauds No-till November
The Soil Health Partnership is joining in on some fall fashion advice for farmers: keep the stubble this fall. Stubble in the field looks great—plus it’s good for erosion control and overall soil health.
During a month-long campaign called “No-Till November,” the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service —a supporter of the Soil Health Partnership—is encouraging farmers to “keep the stubble” on their harvested crop fields.
More than half of the farms enrolled in the SHP practice some sort of no-till, including Dan Roehrborn, who farms in Sheboygan Falls, Wisc. He says he’s been practicing no-till on bean acres for about 10 years.
“We save money on fuel and equipment by leaving it alone. Our no-till ground doesn’t erode as much, and is easier to work with in the spring,” Roehrborn says. “We like how the ground behaves when it’s time to plant and it doesn’t require as much work for the next year’s crop.”
The NRCS campaign is mirrored after the national cancer awareness “No Shave November” campaign. “No-Till November” encourages farmers to keep a different kind of stubble by parking tillage equipment in their machine sheds this fall and keep crop stubble on their fields.
“The effects of reducing tillage is an important aspect of the long-term data we’re collecting on the real, working farms enrolled in our program,” said Nick Goeser, SHP director. “The novel research across our farm network will shed new light on how it improves farm profitability.”
SHP’s Angela Knuth farms near Mead, Neb. Several years ago, her farm implemented no-till on bean acres and uses strip-till on corn acres.
“We like the cost savings we’ve seen on no-till. We don’t have to own equipment and we don’t have to run it across the field,” said Knuth. “We have been pleased to see no decrease in yield. We’re hoping to see that continued decrease in our cost of production and improvement in the soil tilth and microbe activity.”
Oklahoma Beef Checkoff Fails
A vote to increase the Oklahoma beef checkoff by $1 has failed with 2,506 opposing the increase and 1,998 backing the measure.
The debate leading up to the vote was an acrimonious affair among various groups. The outcome led to praise by RCALF-USA and the Organization of Competitive Markets, while leaders in the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association complained about out-of-state activism working to defeat the referendum.
"As a rancher, I face challenges every day," said Weston Givens, rancher and president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association. "Unfortunately, those daily challenges are nothing compared to the growing challenges that our industry faces such as: aggressive anti-meat activist groups trying to remove beef from the menu and misleading claims about food safety and animal care. It is disheartening that the Oklahoma Beef Checkoff was defeated, but I'm still proud of the strong collaborative effort of the Vote Yes Coalition and our grassroots campaign."
Bill Bullard, CEO for R-CALF USA, said his group was proud to stand with Oklahoma members to defeat the measure. "It is good to know that in America, if you stand up for what is right, you can still win."
Oklahoma farmer and OCM board member Paul Muegge added, "With my years of experience fighting corporate agriculture, I knew we had to stand up to OCA. They are nothing more than the modern-day cattle barons trying to ride rough shod over family farmers and ranchers and using our government to do so."
OCM and R-CALF USA had asked USDA to launch an investigation into the checkoff election and called for an audit of the Oklahoma Beef Council following the theft of $2.6 million by a former employee who pled guilty to fraud charges.
The $1 federal checkoff sends 50 cents to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board while 50 cents goes to state beef councils. Fifteen states also have a state-operated $1 checkoff: Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington.
EU Nations Again Fail to Agree on Continued Use of Glyphosate
(AP) -- European Union nations failed on Thursday to agree on the continued use of one of the world's most widely used weed killers, glyphosate, amid concerns about its possible links to cancer.
EU member nations met to discuss the issue Thursday following a European Parliament vote last month to limit an extension of the license for the weed killer -- used in chemical-giant Monsanto's popular Roundup herbicide -- to five years.
The European Commission has proposed a license extension of 10 years.
Many of the 28 member states that voted -- 14 countries -- were in favor of the commission's plan. Five countries abstained, and nine were against. But the votes weren't enough to renew the license, which expires on Dec. 15.
It's at least the third time EU countries have failed to secure an agreement.
Greens lawmaker Bart Staes said it's time "for the European Commission to accept that support for their proposals is not there."
He said: "The commission must do the right thing and ban this toxic substance."
Environmentalists have been seeking to ban glyphosate, which the World Health Organization's cancer agency said in 2015 is "probably carcinogenic to humans," while the EU's farmer's union wants a 15-year extension.
Banning glyphosate outright would shake Europe's agriculture sector to its foundations, so widely used is the product.
"Once again, we are left in a situation where no decision has been made on the re-authorization of glyphosate -- one of the safest plant protection products on the market which secures so much environmental benefit in terms of better soils and lower greenhouse gas emissions," said Guy Smith, from the British National Farmers' Union.
"We ask the commission to stand by its own science and regulatory procedure, and re-authorize glyphosate for the maximum period possible," he added.
For the moment, the European Commission plans to push ahead with its proposal. An appeals committee made up of member nations is expected to rule on the vote before the end of November, just a few weeks before the license runs out.
France's government has lobbied against a lengthy extension on use of the weed killer, despite protests from farmers who say it shouldn't be banned until there's a viable alternative.
French Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot, who rose to fame as the star of a TV nature show, said Wednesday that France would vote against any extension longer than three years.
"We are applying the precautionary principle," he said on BFM television. "We are not waiting for a list of tragic victims before we act."
French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said Thursday on Radio Classique: "We absolutely must manage to abolish this pesticide. Research and development should find a less toxic substitute as quickly as possible."
Case IH Steiger Quadtrac 620 Tractor Sets New Performance Records for Maximum Pull and Fuel-efficient Horsepower in Nebraska Test Results
The Case IH Steiger® 620 tractor sets the record — whether wheeled or Quadtrac® — for best-in-class power and efficiency.
In recent tests at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory (NTTL), the Steiger Quadtrac 620 tractor performed better than any other tracked tractor in areas of drawbar fuel efficiency, drawbar horsepower and maximum pull.1 This builds on record-setting results released for the Steiger 620 wheeled model earlier this year.2
“These results prove that Steiger tractors have the highest and most effective transfer of power to the ground,” said Mitch Kaiser, Case IH Steiger tractor marketing manager. “But it’s not just about feeling that power in the operator’s seat. An efficient transfer of power to the ground is important to pull larger implements, or pull the implements you already have, faster to cover more acres in a day.”
In newly released Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory results, the Steiger® 620 tractor — whether wheeled or Quadtrac® — sets new performance records for best-in-class power and efficiency.
Efficient Power engine design
In many high-draft load conditions, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) emissions technology can aid in providing fuel economy and power generation that surpasses competitive engines. Additionally, it allows the engine to run cleaner, which extends oil change intervals — 600 hours for Case IH versus 450 hours for most competitive units — thus reducing operating costs and helping to keep maintenance lower. Thanks to an efficient transmission and driveline, the tractor also delivers additional drawbar horsepower to increase productivity.
Proven four-track design
More than 20 years of industry-leading track technology can be found on every Steiger Quadtrac tractor, featuring four individually driven, positive drive oscillating tracks. These four-track systems include an exclusive Case IH five-axle design to distribute weight evenly and consistently. Each track maintains constant contact with the ground, giving producers a great ride, optimal pressure, superior flotation, increased traction and less compaction.
The NTTL results reflect the Case IH Customer Driven Product Design process, which includes focus groups and intensive testing by customers and engineers alike to ensure equipment is built for High-Efficiency Farming. This design has resulted in a standard variable rate steering system for smoother operation and exclusive four-point full-cab suspension for a more comfortable ride.
The NTTL is the officially designated tractor testing station for the United States and tests tractors according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) codes. Twenty-nine countries adhere to the OECD tractor test codes, with active test stations in 25 countries around the world.
Enogen® Feed hybrids energize beef and dairy rations, improve profit potential
Enogen® Feed corn hybrids from Syngenta can help beef and dairy producers improve crop production in the field and unlock the energy potential of their ration. With proven genetics and traits, Enogen Feed hybrids deliver excellent agronomic performance, and as grain or silage, are a valuable ration component that helps provide more available energy for cattle.
“Enogen Feed hybrids are unique in that they benefit beef and dairy operations in multiple ways to help increase profit potential,” said Duane Martin, commercial traits product lead, Syngenta. “It’s a simple switch. Incorporating Enogen Feed hybrids into beef and dairy operations is as easy as replacing the corn or silage currently grown and fed on-farm.”
In the field, Enogen Feed corn performs equal to or better than other high-performing corn hybrids1, with no additional agronomic management challenges2, unlike some silage-specific hybrids. Additionally, it offers producers the flexibility to chop for silage or harvest for grain.
When fed as grain or silage, Enogen Feed hybrids represent a step-change in starch and sugar availability, which helps improve digestibility and provides more available energy. Energy is a key component to maximizing beef or dairy production, and corn is an important energy source because it supplies starch, which is converted to sugar during digestion.
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, November 10, 2017
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Wednesday November 8 Ag News
Cuming County Farm Service Agency Committee Elections to Begin; Producers to Receive Ballots Week of November 6th
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director Sarah Beck in Cuming County today announced that FSA will begin mailing ballots to eligible voters for the 2017 FSA county committee elections on Monday, November 6, 2017. Producers must return ballots to the Cuming County FSA office by Dec. 4, 2017, to ensure that their vote is counted.
“County committee members play an important role in their communities and provide a link between the agricultural community and USDA,” said Beck.
This year, Local Administrative Area 3 is up for election and the candidate in this year’s election is:
Vincent Meiergerd is nominated for Cuming County, to serve as a committee member. Meiergerd has produced corn, soybeans, and alfalfa for 35 years. He is an active member of the Cattlemen's Association.
Nearly 7,800 FSA county committee members serve FSA offices nationwide. Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office. One-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. County committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, emergency programs and eligibility.
Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. Approximately 1.9 million producers are currently eligible to vote. Farmers and ranchers who supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, but are not of legal voting age, also may be eligible to vote.
Farmers and ranchers will begin receiving their ballots the week of November 6, 2017. Ballots include the names of candidates running for the local committee election. FSA has modified the ballot, making it more easily identifiable and less likely to be overlooked. Voters who do not receive ballots in the coming week can pick one up at the Cuming County FSA office. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 4, 2017. Newly elected committee members and their alternates will take office Jan. 1, 2018.
For more information, visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. You may also contact the Cuming County FSA office at (402) 372-2451.
Northwest Iowa Field Day to Feature Sheep Grazing Cover Crops
Sheep producers and agribusiness staff are invited to a field day featuring ewes and cover crops on Nov. 28 in Plymouth County. The field day is sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Northwest Iowa Sheep Producers, Iowa Sheep Industry Association and the Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board. ISU Extension and Outreach beef specialist Beth Doran organized the event.
“Cover crops have been used to stretch grazing in the fall and early spring for cattle, but less research has been conducted regarding their potential with sheep,” Doran said. “This field day features two northwest Iowa sheep producers who actively graze cover crops.”
The field day will begin at 10 a.m. at the Tyler Meyer farm, located at 2465 500th Street, Ireton. Meyer aerial-seeded a cereal rye and radish mix for his mature ewes to graze. He will share lessons he’s learned with fall and spring grazing.
In the afternoon, Travis Hawkins of Le Mars will share his experience with ewes grazing a blend of cereal rye, radishes, rape and turnips. In late August he aerial-seeded this mix into standing corn. His farm is located at 11363 Nature Ave.
The field day includes a noon lunch at the Craig Cooperative in Craig, and updates from the Northwest Iowa Sheep Producers Association and ISU Extension and Outreach. Registration is $5 per person, and is due Nov. 21. Register by using the event flyer registration form or download form from the Iowa Beef Center website. Complete and send to ISU Extension and Outreach Plymouth County, 251 12th St. SE, Le Mars, Iowa 51031, or call that office at 712-546-7835.
Attendees are encouraged to dress for winter conditions as the morning and afternoon sessions will be outside. For biosecurity reasons, participants should wear clean clothes and footwear. For more details on the individual field day sites, see the event flyer or contact Beth Doran at doranb@iastate.edu or phone 712-737-4230.
Design of Drainage Water Quality Practices Focus of Workshop
The design and layout of new practices currently being considered for water quality improvements of farmland drainage will be the focus of a workshop scheduled for Dec. 14 in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
The day-long program will be held at the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Webster County office at 217 South 25th St., Suite C12, Fort Dodge. It will provide information essential for designing and planning new water quality practices such as bioreactors, controls structures, saturated buffers and wetlands. While the economic benefits of tiling are well recognized, there are also environmental impacts from drainage. These new technologies can be useful in minimizing negative environmental impacts.
The workshop also qualifies for Certified Crop Advisor credits. A sign-up sheet for the credits will be available on the day of the workshop.
Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. with the morning session starting at 8 a.m. The morning session will focus on the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, woodchip bioreactor sizing and layout, water table management with shallow tiles and installation of control structures. Jamie Benning, water quality program manager with ISU Extension and Outreach, will provide an update on the status of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and how different combinations of practices can be helpful. Matt Helmers, professor and extension agricultural engineer at Iowa State, will discuss the sizing and layout of woodchip bioreactors.
Chris Hay, senior environmental scientist with the Iowa Soybean Association, will conclude the morning with information on managing drainage with control structures.
The afternoon session will begin with Dan Jaynes, research soil scientist with the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, USDA-ARS, discussing site selection and the design of saturated buffers. The event will close with Kapil Arora, agricultural engineering specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, presenting on siting wetlands for small watersheds.
Additional information and online registration are available. Registration can also be done by contacting the ISU Extension and Outreach Webster County office at 515-576-2119 or lcline@iastate.edu. Registration is $150 and includes morning refreshments, lunch and workshop materials. Registration cost increases to $175 if done after Dec. 8.
Each participant should bring a laptop computer equipped with a USB drive. Microsoft Excel software used for designing select practices will be provided on a thumb drive. All laptops must have Excel pre-installed on them to run the spreadsheets and to perform design calculations. Use of laptops will be limited to practices using the spreadsheets for making design calculations.
The workshop is presented by ISU Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Soybean Association, and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
Ethanol Stocks, Blending Demand Ease
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released a weekly report midmorning Wednesday, Nov. 8, showing decreases for U.S. ethanol inventory and blending demand while plant production rose again during the week-ended Nov. 3.
The EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report showed fuel ethanol stocks fell by 200,000 barrels (bbl), or 0.9%, to 21.3 million bbl, with a year-over-year supply overhang at 2.1 million bbl, or 10.9%.
Domestic plant production edged up 1,000 barrels per day (bpd) to a 1.057 million bpd two-month high during the week reviewed, while up 55,000 bpd, or 5.5%, year over year. For the four weeks ended last week, ethanol production averaged 1.043 million bpd, up 40,000 bpd, or 4.0%, against year prior.
Net refiner and blender inputs, a measure for ethanol demand, tumbled 12,000 bpd, or 1.3%, to a 918,000 bpd four-week high, while down 5,000 bpd, or 0.5%, year over year. For the four-week period ended Nov. 3, blending demand averaged 924,000 bpd, up 4,000 bpd, or 0.4%, against the comparable period a year ago.
China to Pledge More U.S. Soy Imports During Trump Visit
China will commit to buy more U.S. soybeans during President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing this week, a U.S. industry official said, underlining the importance of trade in farm goods even as tensions grow between the world’s top two economies. China is the world's biggest soybean importer and the U.S. is its second largest supplier.
According to Reuters, Chinese soybean buyers will sign a letter of intent with the U.S. Soybean Export Council committing to purchasing a certain volume of soybeans in the future.
The volume under the new deal will be 'much less' and will reflect orders due to be signed in the current marketing year that were not included in the July agreement. But China will also promise to buy more U.S. soybeans in future, according to a source familiar with the plan.
A signing ceremony is scheduled to take place as Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China will also promise to buy more U.S. beef, barley and dairy products, including cheese, the source said. China dropped a 14-year ban on U.S. beef imports this year.
The U.S. sold 20.7 million tonnes of beans to China in the first nine months of this year, up 14.8 percent from a year ago. In 2016, it sold 38.2 million tonnes, or 40 percent of China's total soybean imports.
Food and Farm Facts Educator Guides, Trivia Game Available
Educator guides for Food and Farm Facts, the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s 32-page, full-color book of facts and easy-to-read infographics, are now available for grades 4-6 and 7-12.
Each guide features a collection of 12 easy-to-implement activities developed using national learning standards that reflect the knowledge and skills young people need for success in college and careers. Curriculum areas include math, science, social science, health and language arts.
The guides are 9” x 6” booklets with activity cards on a key ring. Each activity card includes step-by-step instructions, discussion questions and an estimated time for completion. The cost per booklet is $6.
A new Food and Farm Facts trivia card set also is available for $10. With more than 250 questions on 46 playing cards, the set brings a popular game element to important national agricultural statistics. In a classroom or living room, the cards test players’ knowledge about agricultural production, sustainability and nutrition. Cards are aligned to the 2017 Food and Farm Facts book.
Food and Farm Facts helps answer the questions “Where does our food come from and who grows it?” by exploring topics about agriculture in the U.S. The book can be used in a variety of ways to help increase agricultural literacy and would be a valuable resource in the classroom, at fairs and events, for student leadership organizations and on social media.
Copies of Food and Farm Facts may be purchased for $4.25 each (up to 49 copies). Price breaks are available for multi-copy purchases starting at 50: 50-99 copies, $3.50 each; 100 or more copies, $2.50 each. Each copy of the book includes a color “America the Bountiful” map poster depicting top agricultural products produced in every state. A pocket guide version of Food and Farm Facts is also available (100 copies for $10) and features several popular infographics from the book.
Purchase Food and Farm Facts books and related resources online at http://bit.ly/2vxwM3u; visit the Food and Farm Facts resource page for tips on using the publication.
Arkansas Sets In-Season Dicamba Restrictions
Arkansas State Plant Board members voted Nov. 8 during a public hearing and board meeting to approve regulatory changes for the application of products labeled for agricultural use that contain dicamba.
In a vote of 10 to 3 with one member recusing, the board voted to prohibit the use of dicamba in Arkansas between April 16 and Oct. 31. The regulations include exemptions for the use of dicamba in pastures, rangeland, turf, ornamental, direct injection for forestry, and home use. The regulation change is now subject to final approval by the executive subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council, according to Terry Walker, Arkansas State Plant Board (ASPB) director.
"It is out of the Plant Board court now and in the hands of the legislature as soon as the final rule is filed," Walker said. He added that because this is a hot issue, it is possible the legislature could get it on the next calendar or call a special session to deal with it separately.
The Plant Board meets again on Dec. 12 for a public hearing and board meeting to consider more proposed regulations that would clarify their ability to request additional information about a pesticide before it is registered for use in the state of Arkansas.
Also hanging over the ASPB is a pending lawsuit filed by Monsanto for the previous ban of its XtendiMax herbicide. Walker said board members have not yet been served papers in the suit.
Bill Would Eliminate Taxpayer Subsidy for Harvest Price Option on Crop Insurance
Corn and soybean farmers saw no benefit this fall from adding the harvest price option to their crop insurance plan, but that wasn't enough to stop a pair of senators and a congressman from introducing legislation that would end the taxpayer premium subsidy on the harvest price option for crop insurance.
Sens. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., introduced a bill they called the Harvest Price Subsidy Prohibition Act, which is the second piece of legislation the pair have introduced this fall to target crop insurance. The senators stated that eliminating the taxpayer premium subsidy for the harvest price option would save $21.1 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
The harvest price option gives farmers the chance to benefit from a price floor for their crops during the price discovery month of February (for corn and soybeans) and October when prices may move higher. That was not the case for 2017, as the spring guarantee for corn was $3.96 but the CME December corn contract at the end of October was $3.49. The spring price for soybeans was $10.19 but the CME November price for soybeans at the end of October was $9.75.
The harvest price option did work to the benefit of farmers in 2016 when fall prices for corn and soybeans were higher than spring prices.
The senators introduced a bill on Wednesday to eliminate the harvest price option for crop insurance. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Rep. John Duncan, R-Tenn.
Flake and Shaheen stated the cost to taxpayers of offering the harvest price option has escalated over time. The Congressional Budget Office had forecast taxpayers would pay $9 billion over 10 years back in 2013 when Flake first championed a similar bill. The senators noted the cost now is scored at $21.1 billion over 10 years.
"Making a living in agriculture isn't easy or predictable, and there's a case to be made for safety-net programs such as traditional crop insurance," Flake said. "But HPO isn't a safety net, it's a taxpayer-funded windfall. With a $20 trillion national debt, taxpayers shouldn't be expected to pay Big Ag billions of dollars for profits that they never expected to earn in the first place."
Shaheen added that the senators were proposing "a commonsense reform" to save $21 billion for taxpayers. "This is a smart, pragmatic bill that will provide our current crop insurance program with a much-needed fix. We ought to act on it immediately to save taxpayer dollars," Shaheen said.
Flake and Shaheen also introduced legislation targeting crop insurance profits that was scored at cutting taxpayer costs for crop insurance by $3.9 billion over 10 years. The bill would lower the rate of return for crop insurance companies from 14.5% to 8.9%.
Flake and Shaheen proposed identical changes to the crop insurance programs in 2015. Neither senator is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Cautious Optimism for Next Three Years in Grains, Ethanol Markets
Rising incomes worldwide will underpin global demand and create opportunities for U.S. exports in grains, oilseeds and ethanol according to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division. Meanwhile, global commodity surpluses, trade agreement renegotiations and relative strength of key currencies will set the scope of growth over the next three years.
“In the absence of major weather disruptions, global grain surpluses are expected to persist over the next three years. Acreage expansions and improvements to yields in competing export hubs will be headwinds for U.S. exports,” said Tanner Ehmke, manager of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division. “The bright spot will be the continual growth in demand. As the global middle class grows, so will the opportunities for U.S. exports.”
Overall, U.S. grains, oilseeds and ethanol will face mounting competition in export markets, but there are specific considerations for each commodity.
Corn
In the short term, demand for corn will continue on a solid growth path. However, the trajectory is expected to slow over the medium term as livestock and broiler growth slows. The ethanol sector will also struggle to grow demand substantively due to changing market dynamics in Brazil, and remaining challenges related to higher blend levels in the U.S. In the export market, corn will face significant competition from South America and Eastern Europe, specifically Brazil, Argentina and Ukraine.
“The combination of anemic demand growth domestically and rising export competition abroad is expected to result in only minor improvements in the years ahead,” said Ehmke. “Free trade agreements are needed to increase our competitiveness abroad.”
Wheat
The long-term trends of low prices, declining acreage and rising export competition point to more challenges for U.S. wheat.
“Russia’s dominance in the world wheat market creates an uphill battle for U.S. wheat farmers, many of whom are reducing or eliminating wheat in their rotations in search of more profitable crops,” said Ehmke.
Soybeans
The U.S. is still the world’s largest producer of soybeans, but has handed the mantle of largest exporter to Brazil. This trend is expected to continue as the value of the real remains low compared to the U.S. dollar, and nagging infrastructure challenges in Brazil are improving.
“Global demand growth for livestock feed and biodiesel production will support U.S. soybeans,” said Ehmke. “But Brazil is looking to further its lead in exports and will continue to expand soybean plantings.”
Ethanol
Brazil and China are determined to reduce their dependence on U.S. ethanol. Expansion of U.S. demand also faces challenges, as higher blend levels will be slow to gain acceptance.
“The U.S. could lose Brazil as an export market, and will also be competing globally with Brazil moving forward,” said Ehmke. “The U.S. will shift focus to emerging markets like Mexico, Thailand, India and Indonesia in the medium term. However, the newly developed markets are unlikely to fully offset losses in China and Brazil, resulting in weaker crush margins.”
Farm Supply
Commodity price stagnation and overcapacity in fertilizer production point to a weak fertilizer market over the short to medium term. Crop protection and seed sales are also expected to struggle due to low commodity prices and rising farm debt levels. Seed and chemical prices, though, are expected to rise, stemming from mergers and acquisitions throughout the world and increased environmental regulatory burdens on chemical companies in China.
A brief video synopsis of the report, “2018-2020: Pressure on Grain and Farm Supply Sectors to Persist” is available on the CoBank YouTube channel.
Aveo™ EZ Nematicide Now Available for Soybean Cyst Nematode Management
Valent U.S.A. LLC announced today the launch of new Aveo™ EZ Nematicide to help protect soybeans from yield loss caused by Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN), Reniform nematode and more.
Aveo EZ is a biological seed protectant that colonizes the roots of the soybean plant to reduce nematode reproduction. The highly concentrated formulation of Aveo EZ contains more colony forming units (cfu) per ml than competitive products, which means more powerful protection at a lower use rate (0.1 fl oz/140,000 seeds). Plus, the formulation of Aveo EZ has a long shelf life to help retailers manage their inventory.
Comprised of naturally-occurring microbes, Aveo EZ offers easy handling for seed treaters, requiring standard personal protection equipment. (PPE), including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and protective gloves when handling treated seed.
In research trials in fields with known SCN infestations, Aveo EZ yielded an additional 1.83 bushels per acre when added to a base treatment, demonstrating stronger performance than competitive seed treatments.1 The performance and handling of Aveo EZ was put to the test in a 2017 national trial among retailers and growers. An overwhelming majority of retailers in the Midwest and the South saw greater than 90% seed coverage, under a wide range of cold and warm conditions when treated.2 Retailers consistently reported that the low use rate of Aveo EZ made it easy to mix and use with other seed treatment products.2 Growers also saw a greater rate of emergence with Aveo EZ compared to the competitive plots.2
Available as a stand-alone product, Aveo EZ gives retailers flexibility to optimize the ratio of nematicide to fungicide and insecticide protection in soybeans. Seed treaters can easily add SCN protection to a base seed treatment of INTEGO SUITE Soybeans, with minimal adjustment to the treater settings.
“Aveo EZ is a new, user-friendly nematicide that offers convenience for retailers and performance for growers,” says Thad Haes, Seed Protection Business Manager for Valent U.S.A. “We anticipate that the low use rate will create a real benefit for retailers who apply multiple products to the seed and want to achieve quality seed coverage that delivers yield-enhancing performance for their growers.”
Soybean Cyst Nematode is a significant yield-robbing pathogen that is not obvious at the time of initial infestation, but can be found in almost every soybean field, according to Todd Mayhew, Seed Protection Product Development Manager at Valent U.S.A. He encourages growers to take a proactive management approach to SCN. “In some areas of the U.S., SCN is not perceived as a problem because growers have relied on SCN-resistant soybean varieties,” noted Mayhew. “However, with SCN developing the ability to reproduce on these varieties3, an integrated approach, including a nematicide such as Aveo EZ, is vital for effective management.”
“Aveo EZ complements our growing line of seed protection solutions, including INTEGO SUITE Soybeans,” added Haes. “At Valent, we are investing in proprietary, below-ground technology to help growers protect their crop from disease, insects and nematodes and optimize its health through water and nutrient-management solutions.”
The Andersons Reports Lower Quarterly Profits
The Andersons, Inc. announces financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. The company reported third quarter 2017 net income attributable to The Andersons of $2.5 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, on revenues of $837 million. Those results compared to 2016 third quarter net income of $1.7 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, on revenues of $860 million.
"We performed reasonably well in the third quarter when considering that we continue to face some difficult market conditions, and we incurred some unusual expenses and sold two former retail properties," said President and CEO Pat Bowe. "The Grain Group again recorded better year-over-year results driven by good margins on corn and soybean sales and strong space margins for wheat. On a year-to-date basis, our Grain earnings have improved by more than $33 million."
Bowe continued, "Ethanol margins were lower year-over-year for the quarter in spite of strong U.S. exports. Current margins are disappointing. Forward curve margins into the first quarter of 2018 are below last year's levels as well."
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director Sarah Beck in Cuming County today announced that FSA will begin mailing ballots to eligible voters for the 2017 FSA county committee elections on Monday, November 6, 2017. Producers must return ballots to the Cuming County FSA office by Dec. 4, 2017, to ensure that their vote is counted.
“County committee members play an important role in their communities and provide a link between the agricultural community and USDA,” said Beck.
This year, Local Administrative Area 3 is up for election and the candidate in this year’s election is:
Vincent Meiergerd is nominated for Cuming County, to serve as a committee member. Meiergerd has produced corn, soybeans, and alfalfa for 35 years. He is an active member of the Cattlemen's Association.
Nearly 7,800 FSA county committee members serve FSA offices nationwide. Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office. One-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. County committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, emergency programs and eligibility.
Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. Approximately 1.9 million producers are currently eligible to vote. Farmers and ranchers who supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, but are not of legal voting age, also may be eligible to vote.
Farmers and ranchers will begin receiving their ballots the week of November 6, 2017. Ballots include the names of candidates running for the local committee election. FSA has modified the ballot, making it more easily identifiable and less likely to be overlooked. Voters who do not receive ballots in the coming week can pick one up at the Cuming County FSA office. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 4, 2017. Newly elected committee members and their alternates will take office Jan. 1, 2018.
For more information, visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. You may also contact the Cuming County FSA office at (402) 372-2451.
Northwest Iowa Field Day to Feature Sheep Grazing Cover Crops
Sheep producers and agribusiness staff are invited to a field day featuring ewes and cover crops on Nov. 28 in Plymouth County. The field day is sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Northwest Iowa Sheep Producers, Iowa Sheep Industry Association and the Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board. ISU Extension and Outreach beef specialist Beth Doran organized the event.
“Cover crops have been used to stretch grazing in the fall and early spring for cattle, but less research has been conducted regarding their potential with sheep,” Doran said. “This field day features two northwest Iowa sheep producers who actively graze cover crops.”
The field day will begin at 10 a.m. at the Tyler Meyer farm, located at 2465 500th Street, Ireton. Meyer aerial-seeded a cereal rye and radish mix for his mature ewes to graze. He will share lessons he’s learned with fall and spring grazing.
In the afternoon, Travis Hawkins of Le Mars will share his experience with ewes grazing a blend of cereal rye, radishes, rape and turnips. In late August he aerial-seeded this mix into standing corn. His farm is located at 11363 Nature Ave.
The field day includes a noon lunch at the Craig Cooperative in Craig, and updates from the Northwest Iowa Sheep Producers Association and ISU Extension and Outreach. Registration is $5 per person, and is due Nov. 21. Register by using the event flyer registration form or download form from the Iowa Beef Center website. Complete and send to ISU Extension and Outreach Plymouth County, 251 12th St. SE, Le Mars, Iowa 51031, or call that office at 712-546-7835.
Attendees are encouraged to dress for winter conditions as the morning and afternoon sessions will be outside. For biosecurity reasons, participants should wear clean clothes and footwear. For more details on the individual field day sites, see the event flyer or contact Beth Doran at doranb@iastate.edu or phone 712-737-4230.
Design of Drainage Water Quality Practices Focus of Workshop
The design and layout of new practices currently being considered for water quality improvements of farmland drainage will be the focus of a workshop scheduled for Dec. 14 in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
The day-long program will be held at the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Webster County office at 217 South 25th St., Suite C12, Fort Dodge. It will provide information essential for designing and planning new water quality practices such as bioreactors, controls structures, saturated buffers and wetlands. While the economic benefits of tiling are well recognized, there are also environmental impacts from drainage. These new technologies can be useful in minimizing negative environmental impacts.
The workshop also qualifies for Certified Crop Advisor credits. A sign-up sheet for the credits will be available on the day of the workshop.
Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. with the morning session starting at 8 a.m. The morning session will focus on the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, woodchip bioreactor sizing and layout, water table management with shallow tiles and installation of control structures. Jamie Benning, water quality program manager with ISU Extension and Outreach, will provide an update on the status of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and how different combinations of practices can be helpful. Matt Helmers, professor and extension agricultural engineer at Iowa State, will discuss the sizing and layout of woodchip bioreactors.
Chris Hay, senior environmental scientist with the Iowa Soybean Association, will conclude the morning with information on managing drainage with control structures.
The afternoon session will begin with Dan Jaynes, research soil scientist with the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, USDA-ARS, discussing site selection and the design of saturated buffers. The event will close with Kapil Arora, agricultural engineering specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, presenting on siting wetlands for small watersheds.
Additional information and online registration are available. Registration can also be done by contacting the ISU Extension and Outreach Webster County office at 515-576-2119 or lcline@iastate.edu. Registration is $150 and includes morning refreshments, lunch and workshop materials. Registration cost increases to $175 if done after Dec. 8.
Each participant should bring a laptop computer equipped with a USB drive. Microsoft Excel software used for designing select practices will be provided on a thumb drive. All laptops must have Excel pre-installed on them to run the spreadsheets and to perform design calculations. Use of laptops will be limited to practices using the spreadsheets for making design calculations.
The workshop is presented by ISU Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Soybean Association, and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
Ethanol Stocks, Blending Demand Ease
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released a weekly report midmorning Wednesday, Nov. 8, showing decreases for U.S. ethanol inventory and blending demand while plant production rose again during the week-ended Nov. 3.
The EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report showed fuel ethanol stocks fell by 200,000 barrels (bbl), or 0.9%, to 21.3 million bbl, with a year-over-year supply overhang at 2.1 million bbl, or 10.9%.
Domestic plant production edged up 1,000 barrels per day (bpd) to a 1.057 million bpd two-month high during the week reviewed, while up 55,000 bpd, or 5.5%, year over year. For the four weeks ended last week, ethanol production averaged 1.043 million bpd, up 40,000 bpd, or 4.0%, against year prior.
Net refiner and blender inputs, a measure for ethanol demand, tumbled 12,000 bpd, or 1.3%, to a 918,000 bpd four-week high, while down 5,000 bpd, or 0.5%, year over year. For the four-week period ended Nov. 3, blending demand averaged 924,000 bpd, up 4,000 bpd, or 0.4%, against the comparable period a year ago.
China to Pledge More U.S. Soy Imports During Trump Visit
China will commit to buy more U.S. soybeans during President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing this week, a U.S. industry official said, underlining the importance of trade in farm goods even as tensions grow between the world’s top two economies. China is the world's biggest soybean importer and the U.S. is its second largest supplier.
According to Reuters, Chinese soybean buyers will sign a letter of intent with the U.S. Soybean Export Council committing to purchasing a certain volume of soybeans in the future.
The volume under the new deal will be 'much less' and will reflect orders due to be signed in the current marketing year that were not included in the July agreement. But China will also promise to buy more U.S. soybeans in future, according to a source familiar with the plan.
A signing ceremony is scheduled to take place as Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China will also promise to buy more U.S. beef, barley and dairy products, including cheese, the source said. China dropped a 14-year ban on U.S. beef imports this year.
The U.S. sold 20.7 million tonnes of beans to China in the first nine months of this year, up 14.8 percent from a year ago. In 2016, it sold 38.2 million tonnes, or 40 percent of China's total soybean imports.
Food and Farm Facts Educator Guides, Trivia Game Available
Educator guides for Food and Farm Facts, the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s 32-page, full-color book of facts and easy-to-read infographics, are now available for grades 4-6 and 7-12.
Each guide features a collection of 12 easy-to-implement activities developed using national learning standards that reflect the knowledge and skills young people need for success in college and careers. Curriculum areas include math, science, social science, health and language arts.
The guides are 9” x 6” booklets with activity cards on a key ring. Each activity card includes step-by-step instructions, discussion questions and an estimated time for completion. The cost per booklet is $6.
A new Food and Farm Facts trivia card set also is available for $10. With more than 250 questions on 46 playing cards, the set brings a popular game element to important national agricultural statistics. In a classroom or living room, the cards test players’ knowledge about agricultural production, sustainability and nutrition. Cards are aligned to the 2017 Food and Farm Facts book.
Food and Farm Facts helps answer the questions “Where does our food come from and who grows it?” by exploring topics about agriculture in the U.S. The book can be used in a variety of ways to help increase agricultural literacy and would be a valuable resource in the classroom, at fairs and events, for student leadership organizations and on social media.
Copies of Food and Farm Facts may be purchased for $4.25 each (up to 49 copies). Price breaks are available for multi-copy purchases starting at 50: 50-99 copies, $3.50 each; 100 or more copies, $2.50 each. Each copy of the book includes a color “America the Bountiful” map poster depicting top agricultural products produced in every state. A pocket guide version of Food and Farm Facts is also available (100 copies for $10) and features several popular infographics from the book.
Purchase Food and Farm Facts books and related resources online at http://bit.ly/2vxwM3u; visit the Food and Farm Facts resource page for tips on using the publication.
Arkansas Sets In-Season Dicamba Restrictions
Arkansas State Plant Board members voted Nov. 8 during a public hearing and board meeting to approve regulatory changes for the application of products labeled for agricultural use that contain dicamba.
In a vote of 10 to 3 with one member recusing, the board voted to prohibit the use of dicamba in Arkansas between April 16 and Oct. 31. The regulations include exemptions for the use of dicamba in pastures, rangeland, turf, ornamental, direct injection for forestry, and home use. The regulation change is now subject to final approval by the executive subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council, according to Terry Walker, Arkansas State Plant Board (ASPB) director.
"It is out of the Plant Board court now and in the hands of the legislature as soon as the final rule is filed," Walker said. He added that because this is a hot issue, it is possible the legislature could get it on the next calendar or call a special session to deal with it separately.
The Plant Board meets again on Dec. 12 for a public hearing and board meeting to consider more proposed regulations that would clarify their ability to request additional information about a pesticide before it is registered for use in the state of Arkansas.
Also hanging over the ASPB is a pending lawsuit filed by Monsanto for the previous ban of its XtendiMax herbicide. Walker said board members have not yet been served papers in the suit.
Bill Would Eliminate Taxpayer Subsidy for Harvest Price Option on Crop Insurance
Corn and soybean farmers saw no benefit this fall from adding the harvest price option to their crop insurance plan, but that wasn't enough to stop a pair of senators and a congressman from introducing legislation that would end the taxpayer premium subsidy on the harvest price option for crop insurance.
Sens. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., introduced a bill they called the Harvest Price Subsidy Prohibition Act, which is the second piece of legislation the pair have introduced this fall to target crop insurance. The senators stated that eliminating the taxpayer premium subsidy for the harvest price option would save $21.1 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
The harvest price option gives farmers the chance to benefit from a price floor for their crops during the price discovery month of February (for corn and soybeans) and October when prices may move higher. That was not the case for 2017, as the spring guarantee for corn was $3.96 but the CME December corn contract at the end of October was $3.49. The spring price for soybeans was $10.19 but the CME November price for soybeans at the end of October was $9.75.
The harvest price option did work to the benefit of farmers in 2016 when fall prices for corn and soybeans were higher than spring prices.
The senators introduced a bill on Wednesday to eliminate the harvest price option for crop insurance. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Rep. John Duncan, R-Tenn.
Flake and Shaheen stated the cost to taxpayers of offering the harvest price option has escalated over time. The Congressional Budget Office had forecast taxpayers would pay $9 billion over 10 years back in 2013 when Flake first championed a similar bill. The senators noted the cost now is scored at $21.1 billion over 10 years.
"Making a living in agriculture isn't easy or predictable, and there's a case to be made for safety-net programs such as traditional crop insurance," Flake said. "But HPO isn't a safety net, it's a taxpayer-funded windfall. With a $20 trillion national debt, taxpayers shouldn't be expected to pay Big Ag billions of dollars for profits that they never expected to earn in the first place."
Shaheen added that the senators were proposing "a commonsense reform" to save $21 billion for taxpayers. "This is a smart, pragmatic bill that will provide our current crop insurance program with a much-needed fix. We ought to act on it immediately to save taxpayer dollars," Shaheen said.
Flake and Shaheen also introduced legislation targeting crop insurance profits that was scored at cutting taxpayer costs for crop insurance by $3.9 billion over 10 years. The bill would lower the rate of return for crop insurance companies from 14.5% to 8.9%.
Flake and Shaheen proposed identical changes to the crop insurance programs in 2015. Neither senator is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Cautious Optimism for Next Three Years in Grains, Ethanol Markets
Rising incomes worldwide will underpin global demand and create opportunities for U.S. exports in grains, oilseeds and ethanol according to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division. Meanwhile, global commodity surpluses, trade agreement renegotiations and relative strength of key currencies will set the scope of growth over the next three years.
“In the absence of major weather disruptions, global grain surpluses are expected to persist over the next three years. Acreage expansions and improvements to yields in competing export hubs will be headwinds for U.S. exports,” said Tanner Ehmke, manager of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division. “The bright spot will be the continual growth in demand. As the global middle class grows, so will the opportunities for U.S. exports.”
Overall, U.S. grains, oilseeds and ethanol will face mounting competition in export markets, but there are specific considerations for each commodity.
Corn
In the short term, demand for corn will continue on a solid growth path. However, the trajectory is expected to slow over the medium term as livestock and broiler growth slows. The ethanol sector will also struggle to grow demand substantively due to changing market dynamics in Brazil, and remaining challenges related to higher blend levels in the U.S. In the export market, corn will face significant competition from South America and Eastern Europe, specifically Brazil, Argentina and Ukraine.
“The combination of anemic demand growth domestically and rising export competition abroad is expected to result in only minor improvements in the years ahead,” said Ehmke. “Free trade agreements are needed to increase our competitiveness abroad.”
Wheat
The long-term trends of low prices, declining acreage and rising export competition point to more challenges for U.S. wheat.
“Russia’s dominance in the world wheat market creates an uphill battle for U.S. wheat farmers, many of whom are reducing or eliminating wheat in their rotations in search of more profitable crops,” said Ehmke.
Soybeans
The U.S. is still the world’s largest producer of soybeans, but has handed the mantle of largest exporter to Brazil. This trend is expected to continue as the value of the real remains low compared to the U.S. dollar, and nagging infrastructure challenges in Brazil are improving.
“Global demand growth for livestock feed and biodiesel production will support U.S. soybeans,” said Ehmke. “But Brazil is looking to further its lead in exports and will continue to expand soybean plantings.”
Ethanol
Brazil and China are determined to reduce their dependence on U.S. ethanol. Expansion of U.S. demand also faces challenges, as higher blend levels will be slow to gain acceptance.
“The U.S. could lose Brazil as an export market, and will also be competing globally with Brazil moving forward,” said Ehmke. “The U.S. will shift focus to emerging markets like Mexico, Thailand, India and Indonesia in the medium term. However, the newly developed markets are unlikely to fully offset losses in China and Brazil, resulting in weaker crush margins.”
Farm Supply
Commodity price stagnation and overcapacity in fertilizer production point to a weak fertilizer market over the short to medium term. Crop protection and seed sales are also expected to struggle due to low commodity prices and rising farm debt levels. Seed and chemical prices, though, are expected to rise, stemming from mergers and acquisitions throughout the world and increased environmental regulatory burdens on chemical companies in China.
A brief video synopsis of the report, “2018-2020: Pressure on Grain and Farm Supply Sectors to Persist” is available on the CoBank YouTube channel.
Aveo™ EZ Nematicide Now Available for Soybean Cyst Nematode Management
Valent U.S.A. LLC announced today the launch of new Aveo™ EZ Nematicide to help protect soybeans from yield loss caused by Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN), Reniform nematode and more.
Aveo EZ is a biological seed protectant that colonizes the roots of the soybean plant to reduce nematode reproduction. The highly concentrated formulation of Aveo EZ contains more colony forming units (cfu) per ml than competitive products, which means more powerful protection at a lower use rate (0.1 fl oz/140,000 seeds). Plus, the formulation of Aveo EZ has a long shelf life to help retailers manage their inventory.
Comprised of naturally-occurring microbes, Aveo EZ offers easy handling for seed treaters, requiring standard personal protection equipment. (PPE), including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and protective gloves when handling treated seed.
In research trials in fields with known SCN infestations, Aveo EZ yielded an additional 1.83 bushels per acre when added to a base treatment, demonstrating stronger performance than competitive seed treatments.1 The performance and handling of Aveo EZ was put to the test in a 2017 national trial among retailers and growers. An overwhelming majority of retailers in the Midwest and the South saw greater than 90% seed coverage, under a wide range of cold and warm conditions when treated.2 Retailers consistently reported that the low use rate of Aveo EZ made it easy to mix and use with other seed treatment products.2 Growers also saw a greater rate of emergence with Aveo EZ compared to the competitive plots.2
Available as a stand-alone product, Aveo EZ gives retailers flexibility to optimize the ratio of nematicide to fungicide and insecticide protection in soybeans. Seed treaters can easily add SCN protection to a base seed treatment of INTEGO SUITE Soybeans, with minimal adjustment to the treater settings.
“Aveo EZ is a new, user-friendly nematicide that offers convenience for retailers and performance for growers,” says Thad Haes, Seed Protection Business Manager for Valent U.S.A. “We anticipate that the low use rate will create a real benefit for retailers who apply multiple products to the seed and want to achieve quality seed coverage that delivers yield-enhancing performance for their growers.”
Soybean Cyst Nematode is a significant yield-robbing pathogen that is not obvious at the time of initial infestation, but can be found in almost every soybean field, according to Todd Mayhew, Seed Protection Product Development Manager at Valent U.S.A. He encourages growers to take a proactive management approach to SCN. “In some areas of the U.S., SCN is not perceived as a problem because growers have relied on SCN-resistant soybean varieties,” noted Mayhew. “However, with SCN developing the ability to reproduce on these varieties3, an integrated approach, including a nematicide such as Aveo EZ, is vital for effective management.”
“Aveo EZ complements our growing line of seed protection solutions, including INTEGO SUITE Soybeans,” added Haes. “At Valent, we are investing in proprietary, below-ground technology to help growers protect their crop from disease, insects and nematodes and optimize its health through water and nutrient-management solutions.”
The Andersons Reports Lower Quarterly Profits
The Andersons, Inc. announces financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. The company reported third quarter 2017 net income attributable to The Andersons of $2.5 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, on revenues of $837 million. Those results compared to 2016 third quarter net income of $1.7 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, on revenues of $860 million.
"We performed reasonably well in the third quarter when considering that we continue to face some difficult market conditions, and we incurred some unusual expenses and sold two former retail properties," said President and CEO Pat Bowe. "The Grain Group again recorded better year-over-year results driven by good margins on corn and soybean sales and strong space margins for wheat. On a year-to-date basis, our Grain earnings have improved by more than $33 million."
Bowe continued, "Ethanol margins were lower year-over-year for the quarter in spite of strong U.S. exports. Current margins are disappointing. Forward curve margins into the first quarter of 2018 are below last year's levels as well."
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Tuesday November 7 Ag News
USDA Chief Scientist Statement on WHO Guidelines on Antibiotics
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released recommendations regarding the use of antibiotics in agriculture. Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Acting Chief Scientist, today issued the following statement:
“The WHO guidelines are not in alignment with U.S. policy and are not supported by sound science. The recommendations erroneously conflate disease prevention with growth promotion in animals."
“The WHO previously requested that the standards for on-farm antibiotic use in animals be updated through a transparent, consensus, science-based process of CODEX. However, before the first meeting of the CODEX was held, the WHO released these guidelines, which according to language in the guidelines are based on ‘low-quality evidence,’ and in some cases, ‘very low-quality evidence.'"
“Under current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) policy, medically important antibiotics should not be used for growth promotion in animals. In the U.S., the FDA allows for the use of antimicrobial drugs in treating, controlling, and preventing disease in food-producing animals under the professional oversight of licensed veterinarians. While the WHO guidelines acknowledge the role of veterinarians, they would also impose unnecessary and unrealistic constraints on their professional judgement."
“USDA agrees that we need more data to assess progress on antimicrobial use and resistance, and we need to continue to develop alternative therapies for the treatment, control, and prevention of disease in animals. We remain committed to addressing antimicrobial resistance in people and animals. We will continue to work with the WHO, World Organization for Animal Health, and Food and Agriculture Organization to promote antibiotic stewardship to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.”
NPPC Statement On WHO Call For Ban On Prevention Uses Of Antibiotics
A ban on disease prevention uses of antibiotics in food-animal production being advocated by the World Health Organization would be ill-advised and wrong. Denying pigs, cows and chickens necessary antibiotics would be unethical and immoral, leading to animal suffering and possibly death, and could compromise the nation’s food system.
America’s pork farmers share the WHO’s concern about the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which is why they have taken steps over the past 30 years to ensure they’re using antibiotics strategically and responsibly to keep animals healthy and to produce safe food. They are complying with an FDA directive that prohibits the use of antibiotics important to human medicine for promoting animal growth and that requires feed and water uses of those same antibiotics to be under a veterinary prescription. They also participate in pork industry-developed programs that include responsible antibiotics use and support federal efforts to track antibiotic resistance in foodborne bacteria from humans, retail meats and food animals.
Prevention uses of antibiotics involve administering antimicrobial drugs to animals that aren’t exhibiting clinical signs of disease but that likely will get disease if a drug isn’t administered. Veterinary involvement in the decision-making process associated with the use of medically important antimicrobial drugs not only is an important aspect of ensuring appropriate use, but for feed and water uses it’s the law. Additionally, using antibiotics to prevent disease, in most cases, supplants the need to use more potent medically important antibiotics to treat disease.
The U.S. pork industry’s goal is to reduce the need for antibiotics, and it has devoted time and resources to that end, including adopting good antibiotic stewardship practices and studying alternatives to antibiotics. Simply reducing on-farm uses of antibiotics, as the WHO suggests, however, likely would have no effect on public health and would jeopardize animal health. Its call for stopping the use of antibiotics that are critically important in human medicine for treating infected animals is antithetical to pork farmers’ and veterinarians’ moral obligation to care for their pigs.
Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle
Rick Funston, NE Extension Beef Cattle Reproductive Physiologist
Cattlemen, academia and allied industry interested in improving reproductive strategies in beef cattle gathered in Manhattan, Kansas, Aug. 29-30 for the 2017 Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle (ARSBC) symposium.
Considered the premier national event in beef cattle reproductive management, the meeting has a long history of providing the latest information on the application of reproductive technologies and includes a range of topics related to cow herd reproduction — such as nutritional interactions, management, and male fertility.
Cow-calf producers know that reproduction is the most economically important trait and this meeting brings together some of the most practical and knowledgeable individuals in the industry to discuss reproductive management.
The Beef Reproduction Task Force, which includes reproductive physiologists from land-grant universities work together on reproductive management education. The program is a joint effort of the Task Force and K-State Research and Extension.
Proceedings from this and past meetings plus other valuable resources can be found at http://beefrepro.info.
Meeting the Nutrient Demands of Cows Grazing Cornstalks
Karla Jenkins, NE Extension Cow/calf Specialist
As fall harvest comes to a close many cows will be turned out on cornstalks to graze the crop residue left after harvest for the winter. This can be an economical forage resource for many producers. Keeping feed costs low while maintaining production is an important part of profitability. Knowing the nutrient needs of cows is key to knowing what supplementation strategy is necessary.
One of the first things producers need to do is to estimate the amount of residue available in a field for the cattle to graze. The amount of residue is proportional to the grain yield from the field and a simple formula will give producers a starting point in estimating the days of grazing they would have available.
Cattle prefer to pick up dropped ears of corn, husks, and leaves and will not eat the stalks unless forced to. There is about 16 pounds of dry matter of leaves and husks for each bushel of grain produced. However, only about 8 pounds of dry matter are available to the cattle because of trampling loss. So for example, a field that produced 200 bushels per acre would have 1600 pounds of residue available for grazing. If it is assumed that a pregnant, non-lactating 1200 pound cow eats 26 pounds of dry forage each day then one acre would likely last about two months (1600/26).
Research from the University of Nebraska showed pregnant dry cows given protein supplement gained body condition while non-supplemented cows did not. However, subsequent birth weight and pregnancy rates were similar suggesting the added cost of protein supplement to the spring calving cow over the winter when residue was adequate for grazing was not beneficial https://beef.unl.edu/4f986585-d3f1-4e00-ad3b-9945992c0af7.pdf.
Late summer or fall calving cows grazing cornstalk residue with their nursing calves have a much higher nutrient requirement than their dry counterparts. For example, a pregnant dry 1200 pound cow only requires 8-10 pounds of total digestible nutrients (TDN) per day during mid-gestation, whereas that same cow requires 14-16 pounds of TDN during lactation. This does not account for the needs of the calf who will begin grazing within the first month of life. If the cow ate 26 pounds of residue and the residue was 50% TDN then she would only be consuming 13 pounds of TDN and could not meet her requirements. In a study utilizing residue grazing pairs, approximately 5 pounds of dried distillers grains was supplemented daily. The cows lost a little over half a body condition score but had acceptable breeding rates. The calves gained just under 2 pounds per day in this study conducted from November to April (https://go.unl.edu/7do2). If producers choose to place pairs on residue rather than wean the calves, the goals for calf gain and cow body condition score must be determined and supplement planned accordingly. However, the cost of gain must be carefully weighed against the value of the calf. University extension personnel are willing to assist with ration formulation.
Some producers choose to run pregnant dry cows on cornstalk residue all winter and then calve on the residue in the spring, particularly in western Nebraska. This system works well and the residue fields are a good place to hold the new pairs until green grass is available. Producers need to remember the energy needs double once lactation starts and supplemental protein will be needed at that point as well. Cows in peak lactation will also increase dry matter intake by about 20% and residue fields in spring are likely becoming short on available residue and quality. However, supplemental diets can be developed to meet her needs and prevent her from losing body condition prior to rebreeding.
Cornstalk residue can be a great winter feed resource for cows. Visit with extension personnel to determine supplement needs and estimated returns.
Iowa Pork Center Rolls Out Euthanasia Workshop
Pork producers are committed to making sure their pigs receive proper humane animal care. But despite their best efforts, not every pig will make it to market. A new euthanasia workshop created by Dr. Anna Johnson, associate professor of animal science; Dr. Suzanne Millman, professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine and biomedical science; and the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University will address this important issue.
"We developed the workshop in response to concerns from pork producers about this critical swine welfare issue," J. Erik Potter, IPIC swine specialist, said. "Participants will leave the workshop confident in their ability to recognize compromised pigs and will feel comfortable talking through the euthanasia process."
The workshop is structured in a modular fashion to allow customization based on the type of American Veterinarian Medical Association-approved euthanasia methods used by each pork producer.
"The goal of this workshop is not to push one type of euthanasia over another," Johnson said. "Pork producers already are comfortable with the methods they use. The workshop is designed to review and refresh producers on the euthanasia process. We also provide them with opportunity to learn about alternate methods they may wish to consider using on their farms."
In addition, the workshop will provide producers with a way to help prepare them for a third-party Common Swine Industry Audit.
"Euthanasia is a sensitive topic and speaking openly about it can be a stumbling point while being interviewed by an auditor," Potter said.
Topics in the two-hour workshop include:
- Review of Pork Quality Assurance Plus and CSIA euthanasia materials
- Euthanasia introduction
- Insensibility signs
- How to determine death
- Review of pigs that meet euthanasia criteria per PQA Plus and the CSIA
- Approved swine euthanasia method(s) based on what the producer is using
For questions or to schedule a workshop, contact Potter at jepotter@iastate.edu or your local Iowa State Extension and Outreach swine specialist.
New NASS analysis shows Iowa farmers continue to efficiently raise livestock and grain despite market challenges
A comprehensive analysis of Iowa agriculture is detailed in a new book released by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), compiled by the Iowa office of the National Agricultural Statistics Services (NASS). This 119-page book provides statewide and county specific stats that offer a glimpse of what agriculture in Iowa looks like today.
According to the latest statistics, the size of family farms has remained virtually unchanged since 1998, hovering around the 350-acre mark. Despite this unchanging trend, farms have continued to increase in efficiency, and Iowa farmers are the envy of the globe for their innovation. Iowa continues to lead the nation in corn production, and last year conditions were ideal for a record corn crop of 203 bushels per acre, up from 137 bushes in 2012 and above the 2016 United States average of 174.6 bushels per acre.
Iowa’s farmers continue to work closely with their veterinarians to improve animal health, and the statistics reflect these efforts. Today’s cows are producing 23,634 pounds of milk, up 3 percent from just a year ago and nearly 860 more pounds than the U.S. average. Iowa continues to lead in pork production, and with improvements have seen an increase in pig litters from 9.85 pigs ten years ago to 10.9 pigs per litter today. Iowa is also a top egg producer, averaging 276 eggs per layer in 2016, an increase of 10 eggs from 2007.
“We continue to see farmers in Iowa adapt to new technologies and adopt the latest animal welfare and handling practices thanks to research being done at Iowa State University and through the close relationships farmers have with their local veterinarians,” said Craig Hill, IFBF president. “Iowa remains a powerhouse in U.S. agriculture, and it is not only due to our rich soil or geographical conditions but the resilience and innovation of our state’s farming men and women and the abundance of careers in Iowa that lend to our increasing productivity and support of agriculture.”
Cost of production continues to come down but grain prices also continue to stay low, squeezing profits margins for many Iowa farmers. In 2013, to raise corn following soybeans had a price tag of $4.31 per bushel to raise a bushel, and in 2017 that lowered to $3.51. However, the 2015-16 marketing year had the average corn price as $3.35 per bushel. Soybeans following corn had a production price of $9.66 per bushel while the average price received by farmers in 2015-16 was $9.40 per bushel. Cash rent continues to be a top expenditure in farm operations, second to feed for animals on livestock farms. New livestock processing plants popping up in the state have greatly increased the amount of red meat, including beef, veal, pork and mutton, in Iowa. Slaughter plants in Iowa produced 7.06 billion pounds of red meat (beef, veal, pork, and mutton) during 2016, increasing 86.2 million pounds from 2015.
But, despite the efficiency, all is not good news on the Iowa farm front. “The data shows that the Iowa farm economy continues to suffer from a multi-year decline with gross farm receipts down 8% in 2016 compared to a year earlier and 22% below the peak seen in 2012. Net farm income in Iowa fell sharply, down 24% in 2016 from the prior year and down a staggering 56% since 2012. Financial stress on farm families is accelerating and reverberating throughout the Iowa economy,” says IFBF Director of Research and Commodity Services Dave Miller. “This is why Iowa Farm Bureau continues to offer members access to free marketing, tax and economic webinars and support to help Iowa farmers find efficiencies and keep sustainable during this continued economic downturn.”
The stats book can be ordered, for a cost of $12, from the Marketing and Communications Division, Iowa Farm Bureau, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. Checks should be made payable to the Iowa Farm Bureau.
New Study Shows Grain Exports Offered $55.5 Billion In Economic Output
Exports of U.S. feed grains and related products provide critical support across the U.S. economy, offering billions in economic direct and indirect economic benefits to farmers, rural communities and the nation as a whole.
New research commissioned by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) quantified these benefits, showing that U.S. feed grain and grain products exports were worth $18.9 billion in 2015 and supported $55.5 billion in economic output. These exports were linked directly or indirectly to nearly 262,000 jobs.
Furthermore, if exports were halted, the analysis indicated that more than 46,000 jobs and $2.6 billion in GDP would be adversely impacted at the farm, ethanol production and meat production levels before accounting for losses in linked industries.
“International markets represent demand that would not exist elsewhere,” said Deb Keller, USGC chairman and a farmer from Iowa. “This research highlights the important economic benefits of exports that our U.S. economy depends upon to subsist.”
Informa Economics conducted the study, which examined the economic contributions to each state and 52 congressional districts from exports of corn, barley, sorghum, ethanol, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), corn gluten feed and meal as well as the corn equivalent of meat on the U.S. economy.
The study extended analysis to determine the importance of exports across the broader U.S. economy. Total impact of grain and grain products exported in 2015 indirectly supported more than 261,000 jobs across the United States and $21 billion in gross domestic product (GDP).
Breaking down the numbers, these results showed every $1 of grain exports generated supported an additional $2.19 in business sales. And every job directly created by the export of grain and grain products supported an additional 4.7 jobs in the United States.
These indirect and induced business activities extend well beyond the agricultural industry, including to the wholesale trade, real estate, oil and natural gas extraction to service sectors including restaurants, hospitals and employment services industries.
“The value of exports to the U.S. economy extends far beyond our fields and farms,” said NCGA President and North Dakota farmer Kevin Skunes. “By analyzing the impacts to individual states and congressional districts, constituents and legislators alike can better understand how their local communities benefit from and depend on exports.”
Ag Banks: Farm Profitability Still Down But Improving
Even with current commodity prices, ag lenders are slightly more optimistic this year than last. About 82% of agricultural lenders reported a decline in farm profitability in the last 12 months, according to a joint survey by the American Bankers Association and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation. Despite the continued decline, the survey of more than 580 agricultural lenders revealed that the agricultural loan approval rate is 84%.
"We were encouraged to see that lenders remain ready to assist farmers and fulfill their credit needs despite the drag in the agricultural economy," said Brittany Kleinpaste, director of economic policy and research at ABA. "Overall, the data showed that agricultural lenders are a little more optimistic about what's ahead for their customers than they were in December of 2016."
While a high percentage of ag lenders continue to report a decline in farm profitability, 7 percent fewer reported a decline compared to the December 2016 ABA/Farmer Mac survey. However, the drivers of industry stress remain the same. Ninety-three percent of lenders indicated commodity prices are a top concern. Grain and dairy remained the sectors that lenders are most concerned about, while lenders reported less concern for the cattle and hog sectors than in the previous survey. Other top concerns are liquidity (87 percent), farm income (85 percent), farm leverage (77 percent) and weather (56 percent).
On average, survey respondents exhibited more confidence in stable land values than in the December 2016 survey. Fifty-seven percent of respondents reported stable values in the first half of 2017, and 51 percent expected no major changes in the second half of 2017. Lenders reported that a high percentage of average quality land (41 percent) and cash rents (32 percent) are above fair market value in their area.
Cattle Feeding Returns Improving
Jim Mintert, Purdue University
Cattle feeding profitability has been on a roller coaster ride the last couple of years. Estimated cattle feeding returns calculated each month by Iowa State Extension provide insight into the situation Corn Belt feeders face. According to the Iowa State data, which assumes that cattle are placed on feed each month with inputs purchased and fed cattle sold in the cash market without any risk management, cattle feeders suffered horrific losses in both 2015 and 2016. Losses continued throughout 2016 and still averaged a loss of $117 per head for a typical yearling feeding program, and a loss of $216 per head for a typical calf feeding program, during 2016's October-December quarter.
The situation changed dramatically in 2017. Relying again on the Iowa State estimates, during the first nine months of 2017, feeding returns for yearlings averaged +$198 per head and +$191 for calves. The turnaround was even more dramatic when the monthly returns are examined as monthly yearling returns actually reached +$415 and calf feeding returns climbed over $500 per head during May 2017. The return for feeding calves during May was a new record in the Iowa State data going back to 1981 and the yearling feeding return was the highest value since 2003. The increase in feeding returns during 2003 occurred primarily as a result of a surge in fed cattle prices during the brief time window when Canada was locked out of the export markets because of BSE in Canada and before the U.S. had its first BSE case. The increase in feeding returns in spring 2017 was the result of cattle feeders' breakevens declining from $117 per cwt. at the beginning of the year to the upper $90's per cwt., for calf programs, and the low $100's per cwt., for yearling programs, by spring, combined with a strengthening fed cattle market. Sale prices for fed cattle climbed roughly $20 per cwt. from the beginning of 2017 to mid-spring, pushing the revenue per head up by approximately $250 per head.
Although cattle feeding was profitable during most of 2017, Corn Belt feeding returns did turn negative in September 2017, relying on Iowa State's calculations. Yearling returns in September were -$41 per head and calf feeding returns were -$26 per head. The shift from profitability to negative returns begs the question, what lies ahead for cattle feeders?
Answering that questions requires a better understanding of what was behind the large losses in 2015 and 2016. The losses that occurred in 2015 and 2016 were mostly attributable to two factors: 1) cattle feeders bid up feeder cattle prices to record levels, which in turn, pushed the fed cattle prices needed to breakeven up dramatically and 2) contrary to expectations, prices for fed cattle dropped sharply. The combination of high costs and weak fed cattle prices proved devastating, leading to record losses for cattle feeders.
What's happened so far in 2017? Total costs per head have climbed since the peak in profitability last spring, but the increase to date has been modest. Total costs per head for a yearling program rose from $1,388 for cattle marketed during May to $1,420 per head for cattle marketed in September. The big shift occurred in the value of fed cattle marketed. The total sales value per head dropped from a peak of $1,815 to just $1,388 in September as the fed cattle sales price decline from a monthly average near $140 last May to less than $107 in September. To date, it appears that cattle feeders have not repeated the mistakes of 2015 and 2016 with both calf and yearling values trading at more manageable price levels, helping to hold down feeders' breakeven prices. The real key to profitability will be the direction that fed cattle prices follow the rest of the fall and into early winter.
Cash prices for slaughter cattle bottomed in early September, trading near $105 per cwt. in the Southern Plains. Prices have strengthened since then, climbing above $124 last week after trading near $118 a week earlier. The turnaround in fed cattle prices has pushed cattle feeding returns back into positive territory. Given the moderation in feeder cattle prices this year, unlike 2015 and 2016, prospects for cattle feeders to operate profitably the rest of the fall and early winter look good.
Commodity Classic Registration & Housing Opens
Registration and housing for the 2018 Commodity Classic, February 27-March 1 in Anaheim, Cal., will officially open at 10:00 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, November 14, 2017.
The 2018 Commodity Classic will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center. The schedule includes a robust line-up of educational sessions on a wide range of current and relevant topics and issues. Commodity Classic also boasts a huge trade show, the latest in agricultural innovation and technology, inspiring speakers, an evening of entertainment and the opportunity to network with farmers from across the United States.
A detailed schedule of events is available at www.commodityclassic.com. This year’s Commodity Classic will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday—providing an opportunity for families to come in early or stay late to enjoy a weekend in the Anaheim area.
Registration and housing reservations should be made online at www.commodityclassic.com. Experient is the official registration and housing provider for Commodity Classic. In order to stay at an official Commodity Classic hotel, reservations must be made only through Experient to ensure favorable rates, reasonable terms and confirmed hotel rooms.
Exhibitors at the 2018 Commodity Classic will receive a link directly from Experient to register and make housing reservations.
Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is America's largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show, produced by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers and Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
Farm Groups Urge President Trump to Implement Farmer Fair Practices Rules
National Farmers Union joined a coalition of 82 farm, rural and consumers groups today in sending a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to implement the Farmer Fair Practices Rules via executive order. The rules would provide the most basic of protections to American family farmers and ranchers who are enduring unfair and abusive practices as a result of extremely consolidated agricultural marketplaces.
Massive consolidation in the meatpacking industry over the past forty years placed just four companies in control of 85 percent of the beef market, 74 percent of the pork market and more than half of the poultry market. In that time, 90 percent of hog farmers and 41 percent of cattle producers have gone out of business, and 71 percent of poultry growers now live below the federal poverty level.
“Family farmers and ranchers, simply put, have virtually no market power any more,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “Multinational and foreign meatpackers control our market prices and are dictating much of what happens on our farms and ranches. We’re urging the President to take the first step in addressing the most abusive and unfair practices that happen as a result of our highly concentrated markets. He can do that by implementing the Farmer Fair Practices Rules.”
Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) withdrew two of the three Farmer Fair Practices rules, effectively siding with multinational meatpackers in their market dominance over family farmers. In their request to President Trump, the farm groups offered the administration an avenue to reverse this action.
“You, Mr. President, have the opportunity to make the difference in the future of rural America and preserve America’s family farmers and ranchers,” the groups wrote.
The Farmer Fair Practices Rules are a necessary clarification of the Packers and Stockyards Act, which was passed to ensure competition and integrity in livestock and poultry markets. The rules were first proposed in 2016, but they are the product of law written into the 2008 Farm Bill, hundreds of field hearings conducted by the USDA, and six years of rulemaking.
The groups contend in their letter to the President that the USDA erred in its assertion that the purpose of the Packers and Stockyards Act does not include protecting individual farmers from unfair, predatory and retaliatory practices. “The original intent of the P&S Act of 1921 was to protect individual producers against the heavy hand of large corporations,” they wrote.
The groups also note that the USDA decision ignores all previous administrations’ interpretation of the intent and purpose of P&S Act and that it releases “the abusive market power of foreign corporations and foreign countries onto family farmers and consumers alike.”
“We call on you, by executive order, to do what others have failed to do and are unwilling to do: return justice to the marketplace,” the groups wrote to Trump. “We remain hopeful you and your administration can take these rules across the finish line on behalf of America’s family farmers, our rural communities and consumers.”
Alltech 37+® test now identifies five extra mycotoxins that can threaten animal health and producer profitability
Mycotoxins threaten animal health and producer profitability, so identifying and addressing these hidden challenges is very important for farmers. Alltech is a world leader in mycotoxin management and now has the ability to test for over 40 different mycotoxins in animal feed samples. With this new analytical capability, Alltech is able to not only detect these new mycotoxins, but can also begin to understand how they can impact animal performance and health.
The Alltech 37+® mycotoxin analysis test is the cornerstone of the Alltech® Mycotoxin Management program, as it tests for more than 37 types of mycotoxins. When samples are submitted for testing, farmers will now see an additional five mycotoxins that have recently gained attention in scientific research for becoming important to the agriculture industry. These additional mycotoxins and toxicity symptoms are:
- Citrinin:
o Kidney damage, oxidative stress, gut health challenges, diarrhea/loose manure
- Beauvericin:
o Oxidative stress, antimicrobial activity, contamination of milk/meat
- Moniliformin:
o Heart damage, immune suppression, loss of performance
- Citreoviridin:
o Vitamin B1 deficiency, immune suppression, oxidative stress, poor reproductive performance, reduced weight gain
- Cyclopiazonic acid:
o GIT damage, oxidative stress, immune suppression, loss of performance
Alltech 37+ test results provide a realistic picture of feed contaminants in feed ingredients or total mixed rations to speed up the process of diagnosis, suggest effective remediation and help move toward an effective mycotoxin control plan. Between Alltech’s 37+ mycotoxin analytical services laboratories in Lexington, Kentucky, and Dunboyne, Ireland, they have run nearly 20,000 samples, each searching for over 37 mycotoxins in animal feed.
To learn more, visit www.knowmycotoxins.com.
New ImpactZ™ Herbicide from AMVAC Receives Federal Registration for Corn
AMVAC Chemical Corporation today announced its new broad spectrum, low use rate corn herbicide, ImpactZ, has received federal registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ImpactZ herbicide will give growers a new safe and flexible solution for control of tough broadleaf and grass weeds - including glyphosate resistant species - in corn.
ImpactZ herbicide is registered for use in field corn, seed corn, popcorn and sweetcorn, with no restrictions on soil type, tank mix partners or insecticides. ImpactZ herbicide contains both Impact® and Atrazine for highly effective control of grass and broadleaf weeds in corn.
"Impact herbicide has long provided value to corn growers as an excellent tool for weed resistance management," said Jim Lappin, AMVAC crop marketing manager, corn and soybeans. "ImpactZ herbicide provides safe, effective broad spectrum control in corn."
ImpactZ herbicide provides excellent control of tough grass weeds, including barnyardgrass, crabgrass and foxtails. It also controls a broad spectrum of broadleaf weeds, including waterhemp, palmer amaranth, lambsquarters and velvetleaf.
Corn growers will have flexibility to apply ImpactZ herbicide from weed emergence until corn reaches 12-inches in height as a sequential, early post or total post emergence program.
"AMVAC recognizes the challenges that corn growers face, and we work to deliver products that offer superior performance, crop safety and flexibility," said Lappin. "ImpactZ herbicide is an excellent tool to take on key grasses and broadleaf weeds that challenge yield potential in corn"
Individual state registrations for ImpactZ herbicide are pending. For more information on ImpactZ herbicide or additional AMVAC products and crop protection technologies, visit www.amvac-chemical.com.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released recommendations regarding the use of antibiotics in agriculture. Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, USDA Acting Chief Scientist, today issued the following statement:
“The WHO guidelines are not in alignment with U.S. policy and are not supported by sound science. The recommendations erroneously conflate disease prevention with growth promotion in animals."
“The WHO previously requested that the standards for on-farm antibiotic use in animals be updated through a transparent, consensus, science-based process of CODEX. However, before the first meeting of the CODEX was held, the WHO released these guidelines, which according to language in the guidelines are based on ‘low-quality evidence,’ and in some cases, ‘very low-quality evidence.'"
“Under current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) policy, medically important antibiotics should not be used for growth promotion in animals. In the U.S., the FDA allows for the use of antimicrobial drugs in treating, controlling, and preventing disease in food-producing animals under the professional oversight of licensed veterinarians. While the WHO guidelines acknowledge the role of veterinarians, they would also impose unnecessary and unrealistic constraints on their professional judgement."
“USDA agrees that we need more data to assess progress on antimicrobial use and resistance, and we need to continue to develop alternative therapies for the treatment, control, and prevention of disease in animals. We remain committed to addressing antimicrobial resistance in people and animals. We will continue to work with the WHO, World Organization for Animal Health, and Food and Agriculture Organization to promote antibiotic stewardship to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.”
NPPC Statement On WHO Call For Ban On Prevention Uses Of Antibiotics
A ban on disease prevention uses of antibiotics in food-animal production being advocated by the World Health Organization would be ill-advised and wrong. Denying pigs, cows and chickens necessary antibiotics would be unethical and immoral, leading to animal suffering and possibly death, and could compromise the nation’s food system.
America’s pork farmers share the WHO’s concern about the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which is why they have taken steps over the past 30 years to ensure they’re using antibiotics strategically and responsibly to keep animals healthy and to produce safe food. They are complying with an FDA directive that prohibits the use of antibiotics important to human medicine for promoting animal growth and that requires feed and water uses of those same antibiotics to be under a veterinary prescription. They also participate in pork industry-developed programs that include responsible antibiotics use and support federal efforts to track antibiotic resistance in foodborne bacteria from humans, retail meats and food animals.
Prevention uses of antibiotics involve administering antimicrobial drugs to animals that aren’t exhibiting clinical signs of disease but that likely will get disease if a drug isn’t administered. Veterinary involvement in the decision-making process associated with the use of medically important antimicrobial drugs not only is an important aspect of ensuring appropriate use, but for feed and water uses it’s the law. Additionally, using antibiotics to prevent disease, in most cases, supplants the need to use more potent medically important antibiotics to treat disease.
The U.S. pork industry’s goal is to reduce the need for antibiotics, and it has devoted time and resources to that end, including adopting good antibiotic stewardship practices and studying alternatives to antibiotics. Simply reducing on-farm uses of antibiotics, as the WHO suggests, however, likely would have no effect on public health and would jeopardize animal health. Its call for stopping the use of antibiotics that are critically important in human medicine for treating infected animals is antithetical to pork farmers’ and veterinarians’ moral obligation to care for their pigs.
Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle
Rick Funston, NE Extension Beef Cattle Reproductive Physiologist
Cattlemen, academia and allied industry interested in improving reproductive strategies in beef cattle gathered in Manhattan, Kansas, Aug. 29-30 for the 2017 Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle (ARSBC) symposium.
Considered the premier national event in beef cattle reproductive management, the meeting has a long history of providing the latest information on the application of reproductive technologies and includes a range of topics related to cow herd reproduction — such as nutritional interactions, management, and male fertility.
Cow-calf producers know that reproduction is the most economically important trait and this meeting brings together some of the most practical and knowledgeable individuals in the industry to discuss reproductive management.
The Beef Reproduction Task Force, which includes reproductive physiologists from land-grant universities work together on reproductive management education. The program is a joint effort of the Task Force and K-State Research and Extension.
Proceedings from this and past meetings plus other valuable resources can be found at http://beefrepro.info.
Meeting the Nutrient Demands of Cows Grazing Cornstalks
Karla Jenkins, NE Extension Cow/calf Specialist
As fall harvest comes to a close many cows will be turned out on cornstalks to graze the crop residue left after harvest for the winter. This can be an economical forage resource for many producers. Keeping feed costs low while maintaining production is an important part of profitability. Knowing the nutrient needs of cows is key to knowing what supplementation strategy is necessary.
One of the first things producers need to do is to estimate the amount of residue available in a field for the cattle to graze. The amount of residue is proportional to the grain yield from the field and a simple formula will give producers a starting point in estimating the days of grazing they would have available.
Cattle prefer to pick up dropped ears of corn, husks, and leaves and will not eat the stalks unless forced to. There is about 16 pounds of dry matter of leaves and husks for each bushel of grain produced. However, only about 8 pounds of dry matter are available to the cattle because of trampling loss. So for example, a field that produced 200 bushels per acre would have 1600 pounds of residue available for grazing. If it is assumed that a pregnant, non-lactating 1200 pound cow eats 26 pounds of dry forage each day then one acre would likely last about two months (1600/26).
Research from the University of Nebraska showed pregnant dry cows given protein supplement gained body condition while non-supplemented cows did not. However, subsequent birth weight and pregnancy rates were similar suggesting the added cost of protein supplement to the spring calving cow over the winter when residue was adequate for grazing was not beneficial https://beef.unl.edu/4f986585-d3f1-4e00-ad3b-9945992c0af7.pdf.
Late summer or fall calving cows grazing cornstalk residue with their nursing calves have a much higher nutrient requirement than their dry counterparts. For example, a pregnant dry 1200 pound cow only requires 8-10 pounds of total digestible nutrients (TDN) per day during mid-gestation, whereas that same cow requires 14-16 pounds of TDN during lactation. This does not account for the needs of the calf who will begin grazing within the first month of life. If the cow ate 26 pounds of residue and the residue was 50% TDN then she would only be consuming 13 pounds of TDN and could not meet her requirements. In a study utilizing residue grazing pairs, approximately 5 pounds of dried distillers grains was supplemented daily. The cows lost a little over half a body condition score but had acceptable breeding rates. The calves gained just under 2 pounds per day in this study conducted from November to April (https://go.unl.edu/7do2). If producers choose to place pairs on residue rather than wean the calves, the goals for calf gain and cow body condition score must be determined and supplement planned accordingly. However, the cost of gain must be carefully weighed against the value of the calf. University extension personnel are willing to assist with ration formulation.
Some producers choose to run pregnant dry cows on cornstalk residue all winter and then calve on the residue in the spring, particularly in western Nebraska. This system works well and the residue fields are a good place to hold the new pairs until green grass is available. Producers need to remember the energy needs double once lactation starts and supplemental protein will be needed at that point as well. Cows in peak lactation will also increase dry matter intake by about 20% and residue fields in spring are likely becoming short on available residue and quality. However, supplemental diets can be developed to meet her needs and prevent her from losing body condition prior to rebreeding.
Cornstalk residue can be a great winter feed resource for cows. Visit with extension personnel to determine supplement needs and estimated returns.
Iowa Pork Center Rolls Out Euthanasia Workshop
Pork producers are committed to making sure their pigs receive proper humane animal care. But despite their best efforts, not every pig will make it to market. A new euthanasia workshop created by Dr. Anna Johnson, associate professor of animal science; Dr. Suzanne Millman, professor, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine and biomedical science; and the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University will address this important issue.
"We developed the workshop in response to concerns from pork producers about this critical swine welfare issue," J. Erik Potter, IPIC swine specialist, said. "Participants will leave the workshop confident in their ability to recognize compromised pigs and will feel comfortable talking through the euthanasia process."
The workshop is structured in a modular fashion to allow customization based on the type of American Veterinarian Medical Association-approved euthanasia methods used by each pork producer.
"The goal of this workshop is not to push one type of euthanasia over another," Johnson said. "Pork producers already are comfortable with the methods they use. The workshop is designed to review and refresh producers on the euthanasia process. We also provide them with opportunity to learn about alternate methods they may wish to consider using on their farms."
In addition, the workshop will provide producers with a way to help prepare them for a third-party Common Swine Industry Audit.
"Euthanasia is a sensitive topic and speaking openly about it can be a stumbling point while being interviewed by an auditor," Potter said.
Topics in the two-hour workshop include:
- Review of Pork Quality Assurance Plus and CSIA euthanasia materials
- Euthanasia introduction
- Insensibility signs
- How to determine death
- Review of pigs that meet euthanasia criteria per PQA Plus and the CSIA
- Approved swine euthanasia method(s) based on what the producer is using
For questions or to schedule a workshop, contact Potter at jepotter@iastate.edu or your local Iowa State Extension and Outreach swine specialist.
New NASS analysis shows Iowa farmers continue to efficiently raise livestock and grain despite market challenges
A comprehensive analysis of Iowa agriculture is detailed in a new book released by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), compiled by the Iowa office of the National Agricultural Statistics Services (NASS). This 119-page book provides statewide and county specific stats that offer a glimpse of what agriculture in Iowa looks like today.
According to the latest statistics, the size of family farms has remained virtually unchanged since 1998, hovering around the 350-acre mark. Despite this unchanging trend, farms have continued to increase in efficiency, and Iowa farmers are the envy of the globe for their innovation. Iowa continues to lead the nation in corn production, and last year conditions were ideal for a record corn crop of 203 bushels per acre, up from 137 bushes in 2012 and above the 2016 United States average of 174.6 bushels per acre.
Iowa’s farmers continue to work closely with their veterinarians to improve animal health, and the statistics reflect these efforts. Today’s cows are producing 23,634 pounds of milk, up 3 percent from just a year ago and nearly 860 more pounds than the U.S. average. Iowa continues to lead in pork production, and with improvements have seen an increase in pig litters from 9.85 pigs ten years ago to 10.9 pigs per litter today. Iowa is also a top egg producer, averaging 276 eggs per layer in 2016, an increase of 10 eggs from 2007.
“We continue to see farmers in Iowa adapt to new technologies and adopt the latest animal welfare and handling practices thanks to research being done at Iowa State University and through the close relationships farmers have with their local veterinarians,” said Craig Hill, IFBF president. “Iowa remains a powerhouse in U.S. agriculture, and it is not only due to our rich soil or geographical conditions but the resilience and innovation of our state’s farming men and women and the abundance of careers in Iowa that lend to our increasing productivity and support of agriculture.”
Cost of production continues to come down but grain prices also continue to stay low, squeezing profits margins for many Iowa farmers. In 2013, to raise corn following soybeans had a price tag of $4.31 per bushel to raise a bushel, and in 2017 that lowered to $3.51. However, the 2015-16 marketing year had the average corn price as $3.35 per bushel. Soybeans following corn had a production price of $9.66 per bushel while the average price received by farmers in 2015-16 was $9.40 per bushel. Cash rent continues to be a top expenditure in farm operations, second to feed for animals on livestock farms. New livestock processing plants popping up in the state have greatly increased the amount of red meat, including beef, veal, pork and mutton, in Iowa. Slaughter plants in Iowa produced 7.06 billion pounds of red meat (beef, veal, pork, and mutton) during 2016, increasing 86.2 million pounds from 2015.
But, despite the efficiency, all is not good news on the Iowa farm front. “The data shows that the Iowa farm economy continues to suffer from a multi-year decline with gross farm receipts down 8% in 2016 compared to a year earlier and 22% below the peak seen in 2012. Net farm income in Iowa fell sharply, down 24% in 2016 from the prior year and down a staggering 56% since 2012. Financial stress on farm families is accelerating and reverberating throughout the Iowa economy,” says IFBF Director of Research and Commodity Services Dave Miller. “This is why Iowa Farm Bureau continues to offer members access to free marketing, tax and economic webinars and support to help Iowa farmers find efficiencies and keep sustainable during this continued economic downturn.”
The stats book can be ordered, for a cost of $12, from the Marketing and Communications Division, Iowa Farm Bureau, 5400 University Avenue, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. Checks should be made payable to the Iowa Farm Bureau.
New Study Shows Grain Exports Offered $55.5 Billion In Economic Output
Exports of U.S. feed grains and related products provide critical support across the U.S. economy, offering billions in economic direct and indirect economic benefits to farmers, rural communities and the nation as a whole.
New research commissioned by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) quantified these benefits, showing that U.S. feed grain and grain products exports were worth $18.9 billion in 2015 and supported $55.5 billion in economic output. These exports were linked directly or indirectly to nearly 262,000 jobs.
Furthermore, if exports were halted, the analysis indicated that more than 46,000 jobs and $2.6 billion in GDP would be adversely impacted at the farm, ethanol production and meat production levels before accounting for losses in linked industries.
“International markets represent demand that would not exist elsewhere,” said Deb Keller, USGC chairman and a farmer from Iowa. “This research highlights the important economic benefits of exports that our U.S. economy depends upon to subsist.”
Informa Economics conducted the study, which examined the economic contributions to each state and 52 congressional districts from exports of corn, barley, sorghum, ethanol, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), corn gluten feed and meal as well as the corn equivalent of meat on the U.S. economy.
The study extended analysis to determine the importance of exports across the broader U.S. economy. Total impact of grain and grain products exported in 2015 indirectly supported more than 261,000 jobs across the United States and $21 billion in gross domestic product (GDP).
Breaking down the numbers, these results showed every $1 of grain exports generated supported an additional $2.19 in business sales. And every job directly created by the export of grain and grain products supported an additional 4.7 jobs in the United States.
These indirect and induced business activities extend well beyond the agricultural industry, including to the wholesale trade, real estate, oil and natural gas extraction to service sectors including restaurants, hospitals and employment services industries.
“The value of exports to the U.S. economy extends far beyond our fields and farms,” said NCGA President and North Dakota farmer Kevin Skunes. “By analyzing the impacts to individual states and congressional districts, constituents and legislators alike can better understand how their local communities benefit from and depend on exports.”
Ag Banks: Farm Profitability Still Down But Improving
Even with current commodity prices, ag lenders are slightly more optimistic this year than last. About 82% of agricultural lenders reported a decline in farm profitability in the last 12 months, according to a joint survey by the American Bankers Association and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation. Despite the continued decline, the survey of more than 580 agricultural lenders revealed that the agricultural loan approval rate is 84%.
"We were encouraged to see that lenders remain ready to assist farmers and fulfill their credit needs despite the drag in the agricultural economy," said Brittany Kleinpaste, director of economic policy and research at ABA. "Overall, the data showed that agricultural lenders are a little more optimistic about what's ahead for their customers than they were in December of 2016."
While a high percentage of ag lenders continue to report a decline in farm profitability, 7 percent fewer reported a decline compared to the December 2016 ABA/Farmer Mac survey. However, the drivers of industry stress remain the same. Ninety-three percent of lenders indicated commodity prices are a top concern. Grain and dairy remained the sectors that lenders are most concerned about, while lenders reported less concern for the cattle and hog sectors than in the previous survey. Other top concerns are liquidity (87 percent), farm income (85 percent), farm leverage (77 percent) and weather (56 percent).
On average, survey respondents exhibited more confidence in stable land values than in the December 2016 survey. Fifty-seven percent of respondents reported stable values in the first half of 2017, and 51 percent expected no major changes in the second half of 2017. Lenders reported that a high percentage of average quality land (41 percent) and cash rents (32 percent) are above fair market value in their area.
Cattle Feeding Returns Improving
Jim Mintert, Purdue University
Cattle feeding profitability has been on a roller coaster ride the last couple of years. Estimated cattle feeding returns calculated each month by Iowa State Extension provide insight into the situation Corn Belt feeders face. According to the Iowa State data, which assumes that cattle are placed on feed each month with inputs purchased and fed cattle sold in the cash market without any risk management, cattle feeders suffered horrific losses in both 2015 and 2016. Losses continued throughout 2016 and still averaged a loss of $117 per head for a typical yearling feeding program, and a loss of $216 per head for a typical calf feeding program, during 2016's October-December quarter.
The situation changed dramatically in 2017. Relying again on the Iowa State estimates, during the first nine months of 2017, feeding returns for yearlings averaged +$198 per head and +$191 for calves. The turnaround was even more dramatic when the monthly returns are examined as monthly yearling returns actually reached +$415 and calf feeding returns climbed over $500 per head during May 2017. The return for feeding calves during May was a new record in the Iowa State data going back to 1981 and the yearling feeding return was the highest value since 2003. The increase in feeding returns during 2003 occurred primarily as a result of a surge in fed cattle prices during the brief time window when Canada was locked out of the export markets because of BSE in Canada and before the U.S. had its first BSE case. The increase in feeding returns in spring 2017 was the result of cattle feeders' breakevens declining from $117 per cwt. at the beginning of the year to the upper $90's per cwt., for calf programs, and the low $100's per cwt., for yearling programs, by spring, combined with a strengthening fed cattle market. Sale prices for fed cattle climbed roughly $20 per cwt. from the beginning of 2017 to mid-spring, pushing the revenue per head up by approximately $250 per head.
Although cattle feeding was profitable during most of 2017, Corn Belt feeding returns did turn negative in September 2017, relying on Iowa State's calculations. Yearling returns in September were -$41 per head and calf feeding returns were -$26 per head. The shift from profitability to negative returns begs the question, what lies ahead for cattle feeders?
Answering that questions requires a better understanding of what was behind the large losses in 2015 and 2016. The losses that occurred in 2015 and 2016 were mostly attributable to two factors: 1) cattle feeders bid up feeder cattle prices to record levels, which in turn, pushed the fed cattle prices needed to breakeven up dramatically and 2) contrary to expectations, prices for fed cattle dropped sharply. The combination of high costs and weak fed cattle prices proved devastating, leading to record losses for cattle feeders.
What's happened so far in 2017? Total costs per head have climbed since the peak in profitability last spring, but the increase to date has been modest. Total costs per head for a yearling program rose from $1,388 for cattle marketed during May to $1,420 per head for cattle marketed in September. The big shift occurred in the value of fed cattle marketed. The total sales value per head dropped from a peak of $1,815 to just $1,388 in September as the fed cattle sales price decline from a monthly average near $140 last May to less than $107 in September. To date, it appears that cattle feeders have not repeated the mistakes of 2015 and 2016 with both calf and yearling values trading at more manageable price levels, helping to hold down feeders' breakeven prices. The real key to profitability will be the direction that fed cattle prices follow the rest of the fall and into early winter.
Cash prices for slaughter cattle bottomed in early September, trading near $105 per cwt. in the Southern Plains. Prices have strengthened since then, climbing above $124 last week after trading near $118 a week earlier. The turnaround in fed cattle prices has pushed cattle feeding returns back into positive territory. Given the moderation in feeder cattle prices this year, unlike 2015 and 2016, prospects for cattle feeders to operate profitably the rest of the fall and early winter look good.
Commodity Classic Registration & Housing Opens
Registration and housing for the 2018 Commodity Classic, February 27-March 1 in Anaheim, Cal., will officially open at 10:00 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, November 14, 2017.
The 2018 Commodity Classic will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center. The schedule includes a robust line-up of educational sessions on a wide range of current and relevant topics and issues. Commodity Classic also boasts a huge trade show, the latest in agricultural innovation and technology, inspiring speakers, an evening of entertainment and the opportunity to network with farmers from across the United States.
A detailed schedule of events is available at www.commodityclassic.com. This year’s Commodity Classic will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday—providing an opportunity for families to come in early or stay late to enjoy a weekend in the Anaheim area.
Registration and housing reservations should be made online at www.commodityclassic.com. Experient is the official registration and housing provider for Commodity Classic. In order to stay at an official Commodity Classic hotel, reservations must be made only through Experient to ensure favorable rates, reasonable terms and confirmed hotel rooms.
Exhibitors at the 2018 Commodity Classic will receive a link directly from Experient to register and make housing reservations.
Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is America's largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show, produced by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers and Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
Farm Groups Urge President Trump to Implement Farmer Fair Practices Rules
National Farmers Union joined a coalition of 82 farm, rural and consumers groups today in sending a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to implement the Farmer Fair Practices Rules via executive order. The rules would provide the most basic of protections to American family farmers and ranchers who are enduring unfair and abusive practices as a result of extremely consolidated agricultural marketplaces.
Massive consolidation in the meatpacking industry over the past forty years placed just four companies in control of 85 percent of the beef market, 74 percent of the pork market and more than half of the poultry market. In that time, 90 percent of hog farmers and 41 percent of cattle producers have gone out of business, and 71 percent of poultry growers now live below the federal poverty level.
“Family farmers and ranchers, simply put, have virtually no market power any more,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “Multinational and foreign meatpackers control our market prices and are dictating much of what happens on our farms and ranches. We’re urging the President to take the first step in addressing the most abusive and unfair practices that happen as a result of our highly concentrated markets. He can do that by implementing the Farmer Fair Practices Rules.”
Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) withdrew two of the three Farmer Fair Practices rules, effectively siding with multinational meatpackers in their market dominance over family farmers. In their request to President Trump, the farm groups offered the administration an avenue to reverse this action.
“You, Mr. President, have the opportunity to make the difference in the future of rural America and preserve America’s family farmers and ranchers,” the groups wrote.
The Farmer Fair Practices Rules are a necessary clarification of the Packers and Stockyards Act, which was passed to ensure competition and integrity in livestock and poultry markets. The rules were first proposed in 2016, but they are the product of law written into the 2008 Farm Bill, hundreds of field hearings conducted by the USDA, and six years of rulemaking.
The groups contend in their letter to the President that the USDA erred in its assertion that the purpose of the Packers and Stockyards Act does not include protecting individual farmers from unfair, predatory and retaliatory practices. “The original intent of the P&S Act of 1921 was to protect individual producers against the heavy hand of large corporations,” they wrote.
The groups also note that the USDA decision ignores all previous administrations’ interpretation of the intent and purpose of P&S Act and that it releases “the abusive market power of foreign corporations and foreign countries onto family farmers and consumers alike.”
“We call on you, by executive order, to do what others have failed to do and are unwilling to do: return justice to the marketplace,” the groups wrote to Trump. “We remain hopeful you and your administration can take these rules across the finish line on behalf of America’s family farmers, our rural communities and consumers.”
Alltech 37+® test now identifies five extra mycotoxins that can threaten animal health and producer profitability
Mycotoxins threaten animal health and producer profitability, so identifying and addressing these hidden challenges is very important for farmers. Alltech is a world leader in mycotoxin management and now has the ability to test for over 40 different mycotoxins in animal feed samples. With this new analytical capability, Alltech is able to not only detect these new mycotoxins, but can also begin to understand how they can impact animal performance and health.
The Alltech 37+® mycotoxin analysis test is the cornerstone of the Alltech® Mycotoxin Management program, as it tests for more than 37 types of mycotoxins. When samples are submitted for testing, farmers will now see an additional five mycotoxins that have recently gained attention in scientific research for becoming important to the agriculture industry. These additional mycotoxins and toxicity symptoms are:
- Citrinin:
o Kidney damage, oxidative stress, gut health challenges, diarrhea/loose manure
- Beauvericin:
o Oxidative stress, antimicrobial activity, contamination of milk/meat
- Moniliformin:
o Heart damage, immune suppression, loss of performance
- Citreoviridin:
o Vitamin B1 deficiency, immune suppression, oxidative stress, poor reproductive performance, reduced weight gain
- Cyclopiazonic acid:
o GIT damage, oxidative stress, immune suppression, loss of performance
Alltech 37+ test results provide a realistic picture of feed contaminants in feed ingredients or total mixed rations to speed up the process of diagnosis, suggest effective remediation and help move toward an effective mycotoxin control plan. Between Alltech’s 37+ mycotoxin analytical services laboratories in Lexington, Kentucky, and Dunboyne, Ireland, they have run nearly 20,000 samples, each searching for over 37 mycotoxins in animal feed.
To learn more, visit www.knowmycotoxins.com.
New ImpactZ™ Herbicide from AMVAC Receives Federal Registration for Corn
AMVAC Chemical Corporation today announced its new broad spectrum, low use rate corn herbicide, ImpactZ, has received federal registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ImpactZ herbicide will give growers a new safe and flexible solution for control of tough broadleaf and grass weeds - including glyphosate resistant species - in corn.
ImpactZ herbicide is registered for use in field corn, seed corn, popcorn and sweetcorn, with no restrictions on soil type, tank mix partners or insecticides. ImpactZ herbicide contains both Impact® and Atrazine for highly effective control of grass and broadleaf weeds in corn.
"Impact herbicide has long provided value to corn growers as an excellent tool for weed resistance management," said Jim Lappin, AMVAC crop marketing manager, corn and soybeans. "ImpactZ herbicide provides safe, effective broad spectrum control in corn."
ImpactZ herbicide provides excellent control of tough grass weeds, including barnyardgrass, crabgrass and foxtails. It also controls a broad spectrum of broadleaf weeds, including waterhemp, palmer amaranth, lambsquarters and velvetleaf.
Corn growers will have flexibility to apply ImpactZ herbicide from weed emergence until corn reaches 12-inches in height as a sequential, early post or total post emergence program.
"AMVAC recognizes the challenges that corn growers face, and we work to deliver products that offer superior performance, crop safety and flexibility," said Lappin. "ImpactZ herbicide is an excellent tool to take on key grasses and broadleaf weeds that challenge yield potential in corn"
Individual state registrations for ImpactZ herbicide are pending. For more information on ImpactZ herbicide or additional AMVAC products and crop protection technologies, visit www.amvac-chemical.com.
Monday, November 6, 2017
Monday November 6 Ag News + Crop Progress Report
NEBRASKA CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION
For the week ending November 5, 2017, temperatures averaged two to eight degrees below normal, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Precipitation was limited across the State. Dry weather allowed farmers to complete most of the soybean harvest and corn harvest advanced rapidly. There were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 18 short, 79 adequate, and 1 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 19 short, 76 adequate, and 1 surplus.
Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 3 percent very poor, 10 poor, 23 fair, 45 good, and 19 excellent. Corn harvested was 68 percent, behind 82 last year and 81 for the five-year average.
Soybeans harvested was 95 percent, equal to last year, and near 98 average.
Winter wheat condition rated 3 percent very poor, 8 poor, 27 fair, 51 good, and 11 excellent. Winter wheat emerged was 93 percent, near 97 last year and 95 average.
Sorghum condition rated 3 percent very poor, 3 poor, 15 fair, 48 good, and 31 excellent. Sorghum harvested was 66 percent, well behind 90 last year, and behind 84 average.
Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 11 poor, 43 fair, 38 good, and 5 excellent. Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 3 short, 96 adequate, and 0 surplus.
IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION
Dry weather for most of the week allowed many Iowa farmers to make good progress with harvest during the week ending November 5, 2017, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork. A wide variety of activities were performed during the week, including drying and hauling grain, baling corn stalks, tillage, and applying manure and fertilizers.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 3 percent very short, 8 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 6 percent very short, 17 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.
Sixty-seven percent of the corn for grain crop has been harvested, nine days behind the 5-year average. Moisture content of corn being harvested for grain averaged 17 percent. Farmers in all nine Iowa districts have completed harvest of over half of their corn for grain crop with southeast Iowa farmers leading the way with 77 percent harvested. Ninety-two percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, three days behind last year and six days behind average.
Cattle and calves continue to feed on stover with limited amounts of hay being fed. Feedlots have started to dry out.
USDA Weekly Crop Progress
The U.S. corn harvest made up more ground last week, jumping ahead 16 percentage points from the previous week, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report released on Monday.
USDA estimated that 70% of corn was harvested as of Sunday, Nov. 5, down from 84% a year ago and also 13 percentage points behind the five-year average of 83% harvested. That represented a continued improvement from last Monday's report when the corn harvest trailed the average pace by 18 percentage points.
USDA said the soybean crop was 90% harvested, down from 92% a year ago and down from a five-year average of 91% harvested.
Meanwhile, USDA said 91% of winter wheat was planted, up from 90% a year ago and even with the five-year average of 91% planted. Seventy-five percent of winter wheat was emerged, down from 78% a year ago and down from a five-year average of 77%. USDA also said 55% of the winter wheat crop was rated good to excellent.
Sorghum was 72% harvested, behind the five-year average of 78%.
Cotton was 96% in the bolls opening stage and the crop was 54% harvested nationwide, near the average pace of 55% harvested.
So You’ve Inherited a Farm, Now What? Seminar in Scribner – November 20
It has been predicted that in the next 10 years, over half of the agricultural land in Nebraska will change ownership. Consider that according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, 57% of farmers that identified farming as their primary occupation were over 55 years old and 29% were over 65 years old. This shows why experts anticipate a large change in ownership of agricultural land in the next decade.
In some cases a family farm will pass to the next generation. But frequently, the kids or grandkids are not interested in returning to take over the family farming operation when they inherit the farm. It is becoming more common for a person to be faced with managing a farm for the first time in their life after their parents pass away. They may have grown up on the farm, but then moved away and haven’t been involved in a farming operation for 30 or 40 years. They need to understand that farming practices and management concepts have changed dramatically since they were on the farm.
To help address these challenges, Nebraska Extension is hosting a seminar, “So You’ve Inherited A Farm, Now What?” across the state. One of these seminars will be held on Monday, November 20, 1:30 - 4:00 p.m., at Scribner in the new Furstenau Community Center on 530 Main Street. This seminar is free and open to the public, however preregistration is requested to insure enough materials for everyone attending. You can preregister by calling the Nebraska Extension office in Dodge County at 402.727.2775 or registered online at croptechcafe.org. Preregistration is requested by Friday, November 17.
Anyone that owns farmland will want to attend the seminar to get valuable information about selling versus leasing, short and long-term management, lease agreements, legal considerations, and family communication. Growers are also encouraged to share this opportunity with their new landlords to increase their farmland ownership literacy.
NEXT YEAR’S SUCCESS BEGINS TODAY
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist
Thanks finally to some favorable weather, fall field work is nearing completion – or is it? Maybe you can get a jump on next year’s challenges and opportunities.
I’m great at procrastinating. But when it comes to pasture and hay fields, I’ve learned that problem prevention and advanced preparation are the only ways to make significant progress. So today, I’m giving you a laundry list of actions you can still take this fall to make your forage production better next year.
Let’s begin with weeds. Many alfalfa fields are contaminated with mustards, pennycress, cheatgrass, and downy brome every spring. This doesn’t have to happen. Before the ground freezes, spray Sencor, Velpar, Sinbar, or Karmex and these weeds won’t be there next spring.
Similarly, you can avoid letting warm-season grass pastures get overrun by cool-season grasses and weeds. Spray glyphosate or Plateau now while these invaders are still green for cleaner pastures next summer.
Speaking of pasture, is nitrogen fertilizer getting too expensive? Adding clovers or alfalfa to your grass can eliminate your need for any nitrogen fertilizer. Prepare for making this addition by grazing one of your pastures as short as possible this fall to open it up for adding legume seeds early next spring and to slow down its spring growth rate.
Finally, pull soil samples, especially from hay fields but also from some of your pastures, and get them tested this fall. Then use the test results to order fertilizer and maybe even apply it yet this fall if weather conditions still permit.
Don’t be a procrastinator. Act now to reduce hay and pasture problems next year and improve your forage production.
Iowa Learning Farms Webinar to Explore Past, Present, Future of Bioreactors
As substantial investments in drainage systems continue to be made across the Midwest, the use of edge-of-field practices like woodchip bioreactors can help treat tile-drained water and meet water quality goals. Laura Christianson, professional engineer and assistant Pprofessor in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois, will present on bioreactor basics, what is known about how bioreactors work and novel ideas to make bioreactors work better during the Iowa Learning Farms webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at noon.
“Woodchip bioreactors are a scientifically proven method to clean nitrate from tile drainage, and there are lots of good ideas being explored through research to make them work even better,” Christianson commented. Christianson has nine years of experience focused on agricultural drainage water quality and denitrification bioreactors for point and nonpoint nitrogen treatment.
The Iowa Learning Farms monthly webinar series will take place on the third Wednesday of each month at noon. To log in, go to https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/ilf/ at noon and log in through the “guest” option. The webinar will be recorded and archived on the ILF website for viewing at any time at https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars.
USDA to Re-engage Stakeholders on Revisions to Biotechnology Regulations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced it is withdrawing a proposed rule to revise the Agency’s biotechnology regulations and will re-engage with stakeholders to determine the most effective, science-based approach for regulating the products of modern biotechnology while protecting plant health.
“It’s critical that our regulatory requirements foster public confidence and empower American agriculture while also providing industry with an efficient and transparent review process that doesn’t restrict innovation,” said Secretary Sonny Perdue. “To ensure we effectively balance the two, we need to take a fresh look, explore policy alternatives, and continue the dialogue with all interested stakeholders, both domestic and international.”
APHIS oversees the importation, interstate movement and environmental release of genetically engineered organisms to ensure they do not pose a plant pest risk. This important work will continue as APHIS re-engages with stakeholders.
“Today, we need to feed some 7 billion people. By the year 2050, that population will swell to 9.5 billion, over half of which will be living in under-developed conditions. To put the demand for food into perspective, we are going to have to double our production between now and 2050. We will have to produce more food in the next 30 years than has been produced in the last 8,000 years. Innovations in biotechnology have been helping American farmers produce food more efficiently for more than 20 years, and that framework has been essential to that productivity,” Perdue said. “We know that this technology is evolving every day, and we need regulations and policies that are flexible and adaptable to these innovations to ensure food security for the growing population.”
More information will be posted at our webpage below as it becomes available: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/news.
NAWG Pleased with USDA’s Withdrawal of Proposed Part 340 Biotech Rules
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced its intention to withdraw its proposed revisions to regulations (7 CFR part 340) governing agricultural biotechnology.
The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) CEO Chandler Goule issued the following statement in response:
“We applaud USDA for its efforts to update its regulatory system and support its move to withdraw the proposed rule to revise the Agency’s biotechnology regulations.
“The USDA’s regulatory requirements must be clear, transparent, and open to stakeholder engagement. Today’s actions by the Agency are a step in the right direction and we are pleased to see the Agency working to improve its communication with the public.
It is encouraging to see that the Agency is listening to ag industry stakeholders to provide an efficient and transparent review process that doesn’t restrict innovation. NAWG will be sure to continue the dialogue with the USDA to represent the innovation researchers expect to bring to wheat and the US wheat grower.
“NAWG looks forward to working with USDA regulators to create policies that will foster innovation and encourage the adoption of modern technologies that will enable wheat farmers to address climate, disease, and pest problems.”
NCGA Encouraged by USDA Biotech Regulatory Process Announcement
The National Corn Growers Association issued this statement today, in response to the Administration's announcement that it will withdraw the Part 340 proposed rule in favor of taking a closer look at reforming biotechnology regulatory processes.
"The National Corn Growers Association is encouraged by today's announcement and applauds USDA's reconsideration of the proposed rule," said NCGA President and North Dakota Farmer Kevin Skunes. "The proposed rule had desirable elements, but the deficiencies found in key areas would have rendered the overall product unworkable for innovation and America's farm families."
"On behalf of America's corn farmers, I commend Secretary Perdue for the serious nature with which he has approached this important and sizable task. The intent he has expressed in regard to working with stakeholders is heartening. We look forward to collaborating with him to ensure that our nation's system for regulating agricultural biotechnology facilitates both the current and future needs of innovations important to families on and off the farm."
U.S. Pork Exports Steady in September; Beef Continues to Trend Higher
September pork export volume was steady with both the August and year-ago levels, while beef exports edged higher in volume and jumped substantially in value, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Pork exports totaled 183,481 metric tons (mt) in September, nearly identical to both the September 2016 and August 2017 volumes. September export value was $503.8 million, up 3 percent year-over-year. Through the first three quarters of the year, pork exports were 8 percent ahead of last year’s record pace at 1.79 million mt, while export value climbed 10 percent to $4.71 billion.
September exports accounted for 23.6 percent of total pork production and 19.8 percent for muscle cuts only – both down slightly from a year ago. For January through September, these ratios improved about one percentage point from a year ago to 26.5 percent of total production and 22.1 percent for muscle cuts. September export value averaged $48.98 per head slaughtered, up 1 percent from a year ago. Through the first three quarters of the year, per-head export value was $52.79, up 7 percent.
Although lower than the previous month, September beef export volume improved 2 percent from a year ago to 103,552 mt. Export value topped $600 million for the fourth consecutive month at $616.9 million, up 16 percent from a year ago. January-September volume was 926,985 mt, up 9 percent from the first three quarters of 2016, while export value was $5.27 billion – up 16 percent year-over-year and 2 percent above of the record pace established in 2014.
Beef exports accounted for 12.5 percent of total production in September, down one percentage point from a year ago, but the percentage of muscle cuts exported increased from 10.2 percent last year to 10.4 percent. For January through September, beef exports accounted 12.8 percent of total production (down from 13.2 percent) and 10.1 percent for muscle cuts (steady with last year).
September beef export value averaged $289.14 per head of fed slaughter, up 13 percent from a year ago. January-September export value averaged $277.31 per head, up 10 percent.
Pork exports to Mexico soften in September, but remain on record pace
Pork exports to leading volume market Mexico edged modestly lower in September at 63,771 mt – down 4 percent from a year ago – while export value slipped 7 percent to $122.1 million. But through the first three quarters of the year, exports to Mexico remained well ahead of last year’s record volume pace at 585,998 mt (up 15 percent), while export value was up 18 percent to $1.1 billion.
September pork export results were bolstered by year-over-year increases to South Korea, Canada, Central and South America, the ASEAN region and Taiwan, while export volumes trended lower to leading value market Japan, China/Hong Kong and Australia. Market-specific highlights included:
- Pork exports to South Korea climbed 33 percent in volume (9,362 mt) and 27 percent in value ($25.9 million) in September, pushing results through the first three quarters of the year up 27 percent (to 120,633 mt) and 31 percent (to $330.9 million), respectively. Korea’s pork consumption is on pace to set another new record this year, and U.S. pork fits Korean consumer demand for a wide array of convenience foods and home meal replacement items.
- In Canada, September exports climbed 4 percent in volume (20,436 mt) and 9 percent in value ($77.6 million), pushing January-September volume up 3 percent to 155,713 mt, while value was steady with last year at $592.4 million.
- Colombia fueled another strong month for U.S. pork in South America, where September volume was up 55 percent to 8,629 mt and value jumped 43 percent to $21.6 million. Through September, exports were 90 percent ahead of last year’s pace in volume (72,551 mt) and 91 percent higher in value ($186.4 million). In leading market Colombia, domestic production has not kept pace with consumption growth and U.S. pork has become a preferred ingredient for Colombia’s production of processed pork items.
- Led by Honduras and Guatemala, September pork exports to Central America increased 16 percent in volume (5,176 mt) and 15 percent in value ($13.1 million). Through September, exports climbed 6 percent in volume (49,093 mt) and 8 percent in value ($118.8 million).
- A strong increase in exports to the Philippines pushed September results for the ASEAN region up 33 percent in volume (4,910 mt) and 64 percent in value ($17 million). January-September volume increased 24 percent to 35,194 mt while value jumped 38 percent to $95.4 million.
- Despite trending lower in September, pork exports to leading value market Japan remained steady with 2016 through the first three quarters of the year at 289,947 mt, while export value increased 3 percent to $1.19 billion. Chilled pork exports were down 3 percent from a year ago in volume (158,962 mt) but increased 2 percent in value to $750 million.
- Exports to China/Hong Kong continue to reflect China’s uptick in domestic pork production, as January-September exports declined 8 percent in volume (373,814 mt) and slipped 1 percent in value ($781.1 million). But pork variety meat exports to the region remained strong in September, pushing the January-September results up 11 percent year-over-year in volume (243,016 mt) and 22 percent in value ($534.8 million).
- While September exports to Australia declined from a year ago, January-September volume was still up 5 percent to 50,478 mt while value climbed 11 percent to $147.4 million.
“The September export results really illustrate the importance of having a diverse range of pork export markets,” said USMEF CEO Philip Seng. “Even with our three largest markets down year-over-year, volume kept pace with last year and value posted an increase. This is why it is so critical for USMEF to continue identifying and developing new markets for U.S. pork, especially in this time of very large production.”
Beef exports higher to most regions, but hurricanes impact Caribbean demand
Strong momentum for U.S. beef continued in most Asian and Western Hemisphere markets in September, though exports faced some new headwinds. Exports to leading market Japan held up well in September despite Japan’s recent duty rate increase (from 38.5 percent to 50 percent) on imports of frozen U.S. beef. September exports of frozen beef to Japan were up 44 percent from a year ago to 10,512 mt, while chilled exports increased 38 percent to 12,663 mt.
For January through September, exports to Japan increased 22 percent in volume (236,536 mt) and 30 percent in value ($1.45 billion). This included a 42 percent increase in chilled beef exports (113,347 mt) valued at $833 million (up 45 percent). Frozen beef was up 15.5 percent to 85,432 mt, valued at $334 million (up 23 percent).
“USMEF is pleased to see solid demand continuing for U.S. beef in Japan, and this is a testament to the strong, well-established relationships with our loyal customers and the success of U.S. beef promotional campaigns in Japan,” Seng said. “But the 11.5 percent duty rate increase needs to be closely monitored to ascertain where market dislocation will occur. We are watching this situation carefully and remain very concerned about the widening gap in duty rates between U.S. beef and Australian beef.”
Through the first three quarters of 2017, market-specific highlights for U.S. beef include:
- Fueled by rapidly growing demand in South Korea’s retail sector, export volume to Korea increased 7 percent from a year ago to 131,774 mt. Export value ($856.9 million, up 20 percent) is on pace to easily break last year’s record of $1.06 billion. These totals include an 85 percent increase in chilled beef exports (31,648 mt), valued at $283 million (up 92 percent), as U.S. beef continues to gain market share in Korea.
- Taiwan is also an outstanding destination for chilled U.S. beef, with the U.S. holding more than 70 percent of the chilled beef market. Through September, chilled exports to Taiwan were up 19 percent in volume (13,615 mt) and 24 percent in value ($162 million). Total exports to Taiwan increased 9 percent in volume (32,894 mt) and 21 percent in value ($297.5 million).
- Within North America, September beef exports slowed slightly from a year ago in volume to both Mexico and Canada, but increased in value. Through September, exports to Mexico remained slightly ahead of last year’s pace in volume (175,585 mt, up 1 percent) and slightly lower in value ($726.9 million, down 1 percent). Exports to Canada were up 3 percent in volume (86,697 mt) and 6 percent in value ($603.8 million).
- Strong growth in the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam pushed beef exports to the ASEAN region 68 percent ahead of last year’s pace in volume (29,974 mt) and 53 percent higher in value ($149.1 million). The region is especially strong for beef variety meat, with exports through September more than doubling from a year ago in both volume (8,535 mt, up 125 percent) and value ($15.6 million, up 135 percent).
- With hurricanes inflicting severe damage on several Caribbean islands, September beef exports to the region slipped dramatically from a year ago in both volume (1,653 mt, down 22 percent) and value ($9.9 million, down 48 percent). Through September, exports to the Caribbean were still up 4 percent from a year ago in volume (17,759 mt), but value fell 6 percent to $118.2 million.
Lamb export volume slumps, but value moves higher
September exports of U.S. lamb were just 572 mt, down 23 percent from a year ago, but value reached $1.85 million – up 10 percent. For the first three quarters of the year, exports slipped 14 percent in volume (5,579 mt) but were also up 10 percent in value to $14.7 million. The volume decline is due to slow demand for lamb variety meat, as muscle cut exports through September were up substantially in both volume (1,740, up 21 percent) and value ($10.5 million, up 24 percent), including year-over-year increases to Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada, Central America and Taiwan.
Farm Credit Reports 3Q Financial Results
The Farm Credit System reported that combined net income was relatively unchanged at $1.3 billion for the third quarter of 2017 and increased 3.5% to $3.7 billion for the nine months ended September 30, as compared with the same periods of the prior year.
"The System's stable earnings and increased capital levels provide the foundation to execute on our mission through varying agricultural conditions," remarked Tracey McCabe, President and CEO of the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation. "System institutions remain focused on serving our customers in challenging times."
Net interest income increased $86 million or 4.6% to $2.0 billion for the third quarter of 2017 and $228 million or 4.1% to $5.8 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared with the same periods of the prior year. The increases in net interest income primarily resulted from higher levels of average earning assets, driven largely by increased loan volume.
Average earning assets increased $7.8 billion or 2.6% to $310.2 billion and $12.3 billion or 4.1% to $310.2 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared with the prior year periods.
The net interest margin was 2.52% and 2.47% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared with 2.47% for both periods of the prior year. The net interest margin during these periods was positively impacted by a nine and five basis point increase in income earned on earning assets funded by noninterest-bearing sources. Net interest spread decreased four and five basis points to 2.26% and 2.24% for the three- and nine-month periods of 2017, as compared with 2.30% and 2.29% for the same periods of the prior year. The decline in the net interest spread for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily the result of increased debt costs and lower lending spreads due to competitive pressures.
NCGA Now Accepting Applications for the 2019 Corn Board
The National Corn Growers Association Nominating Committee is now accepting applications from members for the 2019 Corn Board. Through the Corn Board, members can become an integral part of the organization's leadership.
"I have had the privilege of working with so many talented, dedicated volunteers who step forward to lead this organization during my years on the Corn Board," said NCGA Chairman and Nominating Committee Chair Wesley Spurlock. "Their willingness to step forward as volunteer leaders play a crucial role in building NCGA's future successes. As a true grassroots organization, we rely upon farmers to volunteer to lead, helping to shape policy and drive efforts. Serving on the Corn Board empowers farmers to play a proactive role in determining the collective future of our industry."
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 5. Nominated candidates will be introduced at the March 2018 Corn Congress meeting, held in conjunction with the Commodity Classic in Anaheim, California. Corn Board members will be elected at the July 2018 Corn Congress in Washington, D.C., and the new terms begin Oct. 1.
For more information, growers may contact Kathy Baker at NCGA's St. Louis office at (636) 733-9004.
Overlap Residual Herbicides to Get Ahead of Palmer Amaranth
Fall is ideal for evaluating what worked and what didn’t work – especially when it comes to weed control. Mark Bernards, associate professor of agronomy at Western Illinois University, and his weed science class conducted research this year to learn about growth of two common weeds. They compared the development of Palmer amaranth with waterhemp plants as they grew in the same pot and had to compete. The result? Palmer amaranth grew more aggressively than waterhemp.
“One of the things we noticed is that Palmer amaranth adds leaves a lot quicker,” Bernards says. “At the end, Palmer amaranth had 17 to 18 leaves per pot whereas waterhemp had somewhere between 13 and 14. Palmer amaranth is a much more aggressive species.”
Whether the concern this year was Palmer amaranth, waterhemp or giant ragweed, corn farmers can implement helpful practices to control herbicide-resistant weeds in the future. Bernards says the two best ways to delay, or prevent, herbicide resistance is to apply herbicide mixtures that have active ingredients effective on the targeted weeds and to overlap residual herbicides with multiple modes of action.
“Our primary focus needs to be eliminating weed seed return, which means we don’t let any new weeds into our fields,” Bernards says. “A preemergence application followed by a post- is critical for herbicide resistance management.”
Using a preemergence herbicide helps farmers protect yield potential early. Following up with a postemergence herbicide will not only provide additional control, but also help farmers navigate unfavorable weather circumstances.
“Farmers need a powerful herbicide program to fend off Palmer amaranth next season,” says Lyndsie Kaehler, U.S. product manager, Dow AgroSciences. “An example of a strong approach is applying SureStart II or FulTime NXT herbicide preemergence followed by Resicore herbicide for four modes of action that will work deep into the season. Many farmers also choose to add glyphosate and atrazine to this program to increase the number of different modes of action.”
Nebraska farmer overlaps residual herbicides to control Palmer amaranth
In Holdrege, Nebraska, farmer Blake Johnson has been no-tilling corn and soybeans for 15 years. Recently, herbicide-resistant weeds have become increasingly hard to control.
“We’ve got a huge resistance problem in this county especially after this year when we had soybean fields full of Palmer amaranth,” Johnson says. “Pigweed is the No. 1 troublesome weed and kochia is No. 2. We saw early stages of resistance a year ago, and it has really escalated in the last year, which scares me.”
Last winter, Johnson started looking for a new mode of action to add to his herbicide program to get ahead of Palmer amaranth. He decided to overlap residual herbicides to keep his fields clean deep into the season. Johnson applied FulTime® NXT herbicide preemergence followed by Resicore® herbicide postemergence.
“We had too many escapes in our soybean fields, but in our cornfields where we used Resicore, we were very happy with the control,” Johnson says. “We had very few escapes and, in general, our cornfields were very clean.”
Like many farmers seeking new tools to combat herbicide-resistant weeds, Johnson tries to select products with multiple modes of action. After a season with heavy Palmer amaranth infestations, Johnson is keeping his foot on the gas in 2018.
“We sprayed corn when it had two leaves on it, and we got enough control out of Resicore to keep the fields clean until crop canopy,” Johnson says. “We had good results with it this year at keeping the fields clean. It’s going to have its work cut out for it next year because there’s going to be a little more pressure in some of the fields because of escapes in soybean fields that went to seed.”
Johnson says he is going to put Resicore to the test next year, and he thinks it will be up for the challenge.
For the week ending November 5, 2017, temperatures averaged two to eight degrees below normal, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Precipitation was limited across the State. Dry weather allowed farmers to complete most of the soybean harvest and corn harvest advanced rapidly. There were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 2 percent very short, 18 short, 79 adequate, and 1 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 4 percent very short, 19 short, 76 adequate, and 1 surplus.
Field Crops Report:
Corn condition rated 3 percent very poor, 10 poor, 23 fair, 45 good, and 19 excellent. Corn harvested was 68 percent, behind 82 last year and 81 for the five-year average.
Soybeans harvested was 95 percent, equal to last year, and near 98 average.
Winter wheat condition rated 3 percent very poor, 8 poor, 27 fair, 51 good, and 11 excellent. Winter wheat emerged was 93 percent, near 97 last year and 95 average.
Sorghum condition rated 3 percent very poor, 3 poor, 15 fair, 48 good, and 31 excellent. Sorghum harvested was 66 percent, well behind 90 last year, and behind 84 average.
Pasture and Range Report:
Pasture and range conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 11 poor, 43 fair, 38 good, and 5 excellent. Stock water supplies rated 1 percent very short, 3 short, 96 adequate, and 0 surplus.
IOWA CROP PROGRESS & CONDITION
Dry weather for most of the week allowed many Iowa farmers to make good progress with harvest during the week ending November 5, 2017, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Statewide there were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork. A wide variety of activities were performed during the week, including drying and hauling grain, baling corn stalks, tillage, and applying manure and fertilizers.
Topsoil moisture levels rated 3 percent very short, 8 percent short, 83 percent adequate and 6 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 6 percent very short, 17 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.
Sixty-seven percent of the corn for grain crop has been harvested, nine days behind the 5-year average. Moisture content of corn being harvested for grain averaged 17 percent. Farmers in all nine Iowa districts have completed harvest of over half of their corn for grain crop with southeast Iowa farmers leading the way with 77 percent harvested. Ninety-two percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, three days behind last year and six days behind average.
Cattle and calves continue to feed on stover with limited amounts of hay being fed. Feedlots have started to dry out.
USDA Weekly Crop Progress
The U.S. corn harvest made up more ground last week, jumping ahead 16 percentage points from the previous week, according to USDA's latest Crop Progress report released on Monday.
USDA estimated that 70% of corn was harvested as of Sunday, Nov. 5, down from 84% a year ago and also 13 percentage points behind the five-year average of 83% harvested. That represented a continued improvement from last Monday's report when the corn harvest trailed the average pace by 18 percentage points.
USDA said the soybean crop was 90% harvested, down from 92% a year ago and down from a five-year average of 91% harvested.
Meanwhile, USDA said 91% of winter wheat was planted, up from 90% a year ago and even with the five-year average of 91% planted. Seventy-five percent of winter wheat was emerged, down from 78% a year ago and down from a five-year average of 77%. USDA also said 55% of the winter wheat crop was rated good to excellent.
Sorghum was 72% harvested, behind the five-year average of 78%.
Cotton was 96% in the bolls opening stage and the crop was 54% harvested nationwide, near the average pace of 55% harvested.
So You’ve Inherited a Farm, Now What? Seminar in Scribner – November 20
It has been predicted that in the next 10 years, over half of the agricultural land in Nebraska will change ownership. Consider that according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, 57% of farmers that identified farming as their primary occupation were over 55 years old and 29% were over 65 years old. This shows why experts anticipate a large change in ownership of agricultural land in the next decade.
In some cases a family farm will pass to the next generation. But frequently, the kids or grandkids are not interested in returning to take over the family farming operation when they inherit the farm. It is becoming more common for a person to be faced with managing a farm for the first time in their life after their parents pass away. They may have grown up on the farm, but then moved away and haven’t been involved in a farming operation for 30 or 40 years. They need to understand that farming practices and management concepts have changed dramatically since they were on the farm.
To help address these challenges, Nebraska Extension is hosting a seminar, “So You’ve Inherited A Farm, Now What?” across the state. One of these seminars will be held on Monday, November 20, 1:30 - 4:00 p.m., at Scribner in the new Furstenau Community Center on 530 Main Street. This seminar is free and open to the public, however preregistration is requested to insure enough materials for everyone attending. You can preregister by calling the Nebraska Extension office in Dodge County at 402.727.2775 or registered online at croptechcafe.org. Preregistration is requested by Friday, November 17.
Anyone that owns farmland will want to attend the seminar to get valuable information about selling versus leasing, short and long-term management, lease agreements, legal considerations, and family communication. Growers are also encouraged to share this opportunity with their new landlords to increase their farmland ownership literacy.
NEXT YEAR’S SUCCESS BEGINS TODAY
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist
Thanks finally to some favorable weather, fall field work is nearing completion – or is it? Maybe you can get a jump on next year’s challenges and opportunities.
I’m great at procrastinating. But when it comes to pasture and hay fields, I’ve learned that problem prevention and advanced preparation are the only ways to make significant progress. So today, I’m giving you a laundry list of actions you can still take this fall to make your forage production better next year.
Let’s begin with weeds. Many alfalfa fields are contaminated with mustards, pennycress, cheatgrass, and downy brome every spring. This doesn’t have to happen. Before the ground freezes, spray Sencor, Velpar, Sinbar, or Karmex and these weeds won’t be there next spring.
Similarly, you can avoid letting warm-season grass pastures get overrun by cool-season grasses and weeds. Spray glyphosate or Plateau now while these invaders are still green for cleaner pastures next summer.
Speaking of pasture, is nitrogen fertilizer getting too expensive? Adding clovers or alfalfa to your grass can eliminate your need for any nitrogen fertilizer. Prepare for making this addition by grazing one of your pastures as short as possible this fall to open it up for adding legume seeds early next spring and to slow down its spring growth rate.
Finally, pull soil samples, especially from hay fields but also from some of your pastures, and get them tested this fall. Then use the test results to order fertilizer and maybe even apply it yet this fall if weather conditions still permit.
Don’t be a procrastinator. Act now to reduce hay and pasture problems next year and improve your forage production.
Iowa Learning Farms Webinar to Explore Past, Present, Future of Bioreactors
As substantial investments in drainage systems continue to be made across the Midwest, the use of edge-of-field practices like woodchip bioreactors can help treat tile-drained water and meet water quality goals. Laura Christianson, professional engineer and assistant Pprofessor in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois, will present on bioreactor basics, what is known about how bioreactors work and novel ideas to make bioreactors work better during the Iowa Learning Farms webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at noon.
“Woodchip bioreactors are a scientifically proven method to clean nitrate from tile drainage, and there are lots of good ideas being explored through research to make them work even better,” Christianson commented. Christianson has nine years of experience focused on agricultural drainage water quality and denitrification bioreactors for point and nonpoint nitrogen treatment.
The Iowa Learning Farms monthly webinar series will take place on the third Wednesday of each month at noon. To log in, go to https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/ilf/ at noon and log in through the “guest” option. The webinar will be recorded and archived on the ILF website for viewing at any time at https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars.
USDA to Re-engage Stakeholders on Revisions to Biotechnology Regulations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced it is withdrawing a proposed rule to revise the Agency’s biotechnology regulations and will re-engage with stakeholders to determine the most effective, science-based approach for regulating the products of modern biotechnology while protecting plant health.
“It’s critical that our regulatory requirements foster public confidence and empower American agriculture while also providing industry with an efficient and transparent review process that doesn’t restrict innovation,” said Secretary Sonny Perdue. “To ensure we effectively balance the two, we need to take a fresh look, explore policy alternatives, and continue the dialogue with all interested stakeholders, both domestic and international.”
APHIS oversees the importation, interstate movement and environmental release of genetically engineered organisms to ensure they do not pose a plant pest risk. This important work will continue as APHIS re-engages with stakeholders.
“Today, we need to feed some 7 billion people. By the year 2050, that population will swell to 9.5 billion, over half of which will be living in under-developed conditions. To put the demand for food into perspective, we are going to have to double our production between now and 2050. We will have to produce more food in the next 30 years than has been produced in the last 8,000 years. Innovations in biotechnology have been helping American farmers produce food more efficiently for more than 20 years, and that framework has been essential to that productivity,” Perdue said. “We know that this technology is evolving every day, and we need regulations and policies that are flexible and adaptable to these innovations to ensure food security for the growing population.”
More information will be posted at our webpage below as it becomes available: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/news.
NAWG Pleased with USDA’s Withdrawal of Proposed Part 340 Biotech Rules
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced its intention to withdraw its proposed revisions to regulations (7 CFR part 340) governing agricultural biotechnology.
The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) CEO Chandler Goule issued the following statement in response:
“We applaud USDA for its efforts to update its regulatory system and support its move to withdraw the proposed rule to revise the Agency’s biotechnology regulations.
“The USDA’s regulatory requirements must be clear, transparent, and open to stakeholder engagement. Today’s actions by the Agency are a step in the right direction and we are pleased to see the Agency working to improve its communication with the public.
It is encouraging to see that the Agency is listening to ag industry stakeholders to provide an efficient and transparent review process that doesn’t restrict innovation. NAWG will be sure to continue the dialogue with the USDA to represent the innovation researchers expect to bring to wheat and the US wheat grower.
“NAWG looks forward to working with USDA regulators to create policies that will foster innovation and encourage the adoption of modern technologies that will enable wheat farmers to address climate, disease, and pest problems.”
NCGA Encouraged by USDA Biotech Regulatory Process Announcement
The National Corn Growers Association issued this statement today, in response to the Administration's announcement that it will withdraw the Part 340 proposed rule in favor of taking a closer look at reforming biotechnology regulatory processes.
"The National Corn Growers Association is encouraged by today's announcement and applauds USDA's reconsideration of the proposed rule," said NCGA President and North Dakota Farmer Kevin Skunes. "The proposed rule had desirable elements, but the deficiencies found in key areas would have rendered the overall product unworkable for innovation and America's farm families."
"On behalf of America's corn farmers, I commend Secretary Perdue for the serious nature with which he has approached this important and sizable task. The intent he has expressed in regard to working with stakeholders is heartening. We look forward to collaborating with him to ensure that our nation's system for regulating agricultural biotechnology facilitates both the current and future needs of innovations important to families on and off the farm."
U.S. Pork Exports Steady in September; Beef Continues to Trend Higher
September pork export volume was steady with both the August and year-ago levels, while beef exports edged higher in volume and jumped substantially in value, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
Pork exports totaled 183,481 metric tons (mt) in September, nearly identical to both the September 2016 and August 2017 volumes. September export value was $503.8 million, up 3 percent year-over-year. Through the first three quarters of the year, pork exports were 8 percent ahead of last year’s record pace at 1.79 million mt, while export value climbed 10 percent to $4.71 billion.
September exports accounted for 23.6 percent of total pork production and 19.8 percent for muscle cuts only – both down slightly from a year ago. For January through September, these ratios improved about one percentage point from a year ago to 26.5 percent of total production and 22.1 percent for muscle cuts. September export value averaged $48.98 per head slaughtered, up 1 percent from a year ago. Through the first three quarters of the year, per-head export value was $52.79, up 7 percent.
Although lower than the previous month, September beef export volume improved 2 percent from a year ago to 103,552 mt. Export value topped $600 million for the fourth consecutive month at $616.9 million, up 16 percent from a year ago. January-September volume was 926,985 mt, up 9 percent from the first three quarters of 2016, while export value was $5.27 billion – up 16 percent year-over-year and 2 percent above of the record pace established in 2014.
Beef exports accounted for 12.5 percent of total production in September, down one percentage point from a year ago, but the percentage of muscle cuts exported increased from 10.2 percent last year to 10.4 percent. For January through September, beef exports accounted 12.8 percent of total production (down from 13.2 percent) and 10.1 percent for muscle cuts (steady with last year).
September beef export value averaged $289.14 per head of fed slaughter, up 13 percent from a year ago. January-September export value averaged $277.31 per head, up 10 percent.
Pork exports to Mexico soften in September, but remain on record pace
Pork exports to leading volume market Mexico edged modestly lower in September at 63,771 mt – down 4 percent from a year ago – while export value slipped 7 percent to $122.1 million. But through the first three quarters of the year, exports to Mexico remained well ahead of last year’s record volume pace at 585,998 mt (up 15 percent), while export value was up 18 percent to $1.1 billion.
September pork export results were bolstered by year-over-year increases to South Korea, Canada, Central and South America, the ASEAN region and Taiwan, while export volumes trended lower to leading value market Japan, China/Hong Kong and Australia. Market-specific highlights included:
- Pork exports to South Korea climbed 33 percent in volume (9,362 mt) and 27 percent in value ($25.9 million) in September, pushing results through the first three quarters of the year up 27 percent (to 120,633 mt) and 31 percent (to $330.9 million), respectively. Korea’s pork consumption is on pace to set another new record this year, and U.S. pork fits Korean consumer demand for a wide array of convenience foods and home meal replacement items.
- In Canada, September exports climbed 4 percent in volume (20,436 mt) and 9 percent in value ($77.6 million), pushing January-September volume up 3 percent to 155,713 mt, while value was steady with last year at $592.4 million.
- Colombia fueled another strong month for U.S. pork in South America, where September volume was up 55 percent to 8,629 mt and value jumped 43 percent to $21.6 million. Through September, exports were 90 percent ahead of last year’s pace in volume (72,551 mt) and 91 percent higher in value ($186.4 million). In leading market Colombia, domestic production has not kept pace with consumption growth and U.S. pork has become a preferred ingredient for Colombia’s production of processed pork items.
- Led by Honduras and Guatemala, September pork exports to Central America increased 16 percent in volume (5,176 mt) and 15 percent in value ($13.1 million). Through September, exports climbed 6 percent in volume (49,093 mt) and 8 percent in value ($118.8 million).
- A strong increase in exports to the Philippines pushed September results for the ASEAN region up 33 percent in volume (4,910 mt) and 64 percent in value ($17 million). January-September volume increased 24 percent to 35,194 mt while value jumped 38 percent to $95.4 million.
- Despite trending lower in September, pork exports to leading value market Japan remained steady with 2016 through the first three quarters of the year at 289,947 mt, while export value increased 3 percent to $1.19 billion. Chilled pork exports were down 3 percent from a year ago in volume (158,962 mt) but increased 2 percent in value to $750 million.
- Exports to China/Hong Kong continue to reflect China’s uptick in domestic pork production, as January-September exports declined 8 percent in volume (373,814 mt) and slipped 1 percent in value ($781.1 million). But pork variety meat exports to the region remained strong in September, pushing the January-September results up 11 percent year-over-year in volume (243,016 mt) and 22 percent in value ($534.8 million).
- While September exports to Australia declined from a year ago, January-September volume was still up 5 percent to 50,478 mt while value climbed 11 percent to $147.4 million.
“The September export results really illustrate the importance of having a diverse range of pork export markets,” said USMEF CEO Philip Seng. “Even with our three largest markets down year-over-year, volume kept pace with last year and value posted an increase. This is why it is so critical for USMEF to continue identifying and developing new markets for U.S. pork, especially in this time of very large production.”
Beef exports higher to most regions, but hurricanes impact Caribbean demand
Strong momentum for U.S. beef continued in most Asian and Western Hemisphere markets in September, though exports faced some new headwinds. Exports to leading market Japan held up well in September despite Japan’s recent duty rate increase (from 38.5 percent to 50 percent) on imports of frozen U.S. beef. September exports of frozen beef to Japan were up 44 percent from a year ago to 10,512 mt, while chilled exports increased 38 percent to 12,663 mt.
For January through September, exports to Japan increased 22 percent in volume (236,536 mt) and 30 percent in value ($1.45 billion). This included a 42 percent increase in chilled beef exports (113,347 mt) valued at $833 million (up 45 percent). Frozen beef was up 15.5 percent to 85,432 mt, valued at $334 million (up 23 percent).
“USMEF is pleased to see solid demand continuing for U.S. beef in Japan, and this is a testament to the strong, well-established relationships with our loyal customers and the success of U.S. beef promotional campaigns in Japan,” Seng said. “But the 11.5 percent duty rate increase needs to be closely monitored to ascertain where market dislocation will occur. We are watching this situation carefully and remain very concerned about the widening gap in duty rates between U.S. beef and Australian beef.”
Through the first three quarters of 2017, market-specific highlights for U.S. beef include:
- Fueled by rapidly growing demand in South Korea’s retail sector, export volume to Korea increased 7 percent from a year ago to 131,774 mt. Export value ($856.9 million, up 20 percent) is on pace to easily break last year’s record of $1.06 billion. These totals include an 85 percent increase in chilled beef exports (31,648 mt), valued at $283 million (up 92 percent), as U.S. beef continues to gain market share in Korea.
- Taiwan is also an outstanding destination for chilled U.S. beef, with the U.S. holding more than 70 percent of the chilled beef market. Through September, chilled exports to Taiwan were up 19 percent in volume (13,615 mt) and 24 percent in value ($162 million). Total exports to Taiwan increased 9 percent in volume (32,894 mt) and 21 percent in value ($297.5 million).
- Within North America, September beef exports slowed slightly from a year ago in volume to both Mexico and Canada, but increased in value. Through September, exports to Mexico remained slightly ahead of last year’s pace in volume (175,585 mt, up 1 percent) and slightly lower in value ($726.9 million, down 1 percent). Exports to Canada were up 3 percent in volume (86,697 mt) and 6 percent in value ($603.8 million).
- Strong growth in the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam pushed beef exports to the ASEAN region 68 percent ahead of last year’s pace in volume (29,974 mt) and 53 percent higher in value ($149.1 million). The region is especially strong for beef variety meat, with exports through September more than doubling from a year ago in both volume (8,535 mt, up 125 percent) and value ($15.6 million, up 135 percent).
- With hurricanes inflicting severe damage on several Caribbean islands, September beef exports to the region slipped dramatically from a year ago in both volume (1,653 mt, down 22 percent) and value ($9.9 million, down 48 percent). Through September, exports to the Caribbean were still up 4 percent from a year ago in volume (17,759 mt), but value fell 6 percent to $118.2 million.
Lamb export volume slumps, but value moves higher
September exports of U.S. lamb were just 572 mt, down 23 percent from a year ago, but value reached $1.85 million – up 10 percent. For the first three quarters of the year, exports slipped 14 percent in volume (5,579 mt) but were also up 10 percent in value to $14.7 million. The volume decline is due to slow demand for lamb variety meat, as muscle cut exports through September were up substantially in both volume (1,740, up 21 percent) and value ($10.5 million, up 24 percent), including year-over-year increases to Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada, Central America and Taiwan.
Farm Credit Reports 3Q Financial Results
The Farm Credit System reported that combined net income was relatively unchanged at $1.3 billion for the third quarter of 2017 and increased 3.5% to $3.7 billion for the nine months ended September 30, as compared with the same periods of the prior year.
"The System's stable earnings and increased capital levels provide the foundation to execute on our mission through varying agricultural conditions," remarked Tracey McCabe, President and CEO of the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation. "System institutions remain focused on serving our customers in challenging times."
Net interest income increased $86 million or 4.6% to $2.0 billion for the third quarter of 2017 and $228 million or 4.1% to $5.8 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared with the same periods of the prior year. The increases in net interest income primarily resulted from higher levels of average earning assets, driven largely by increased loan volume.
Average earning assets increased $7.8 billion or 2.6% to $310.2 billion and $12.3 billion or 4.1% to $310.2 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared with the prior year periods.
The net interest margin was 2.52% and 2.47% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared with 2.47% for both periods of the prior year. The net interest margin during these periods was positively impacted by a nine and five basis point increase in income earned on earning assets funded by noninterest-bearing sources. Net interest spread decreased four and five basis points to 2.26% and 2.24% for the three- and nine-month periods of 2017, as compared with 2.30% and 2.29% for the same periods of the prior year. The decline in the net interest spread for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily the result of increased debt costs and lower lending spreads due to competitive pressures.
NCGA Now Accepting Applications for the 2019 Corn Board
The National Corn Growers Association Nominating Committee is now accepting applications from members for the 2019 Corn Board. Through the Corn Board, members can become an integral part of the organization's leadership.
"I have had the privilege of working with so many talented, dedicated volunteers who step forward to lead this organization during my years on the Corn Board," said NCGA Chairman and Nominating Committee Chair Wesley Spurlock. "Their willingness to step forward as volunteer leaders play a crucial role in building NCGA's future successes. As a true grassroots organization, we rely upon farmers to volunteer to lead, helping to shape policy and drive efforts. Serving on the Corn Board empowers farmers to play a proactive role in determining the collective future of our industry."
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 5. Nominated candidates will be introduced at the March 2018 Corn Congress meeting, held in conjunction with the Commodity Classic in Anaheim, California. Corn Board members will be elected at the July 2018 Corn Congress in Washington, D.C., and the new terms begin Oct. 1.
For more information, growers may contact Kathy Baker at NCGA's St. Louis office at (636) 733-9004.
Overlap Residual Herbicides to Get Ahead of Palmer Amaranth
Fall is ideal for evaluating what worked and what didn’t work – especially when it comes to weed control. Mark Bernards, associate professor of agronomy at Western Illinois University, and his weed science class conducted research this year to learn about growth of two common weeds. They compared the development of Palmer amaranth with waterhemp plants as they grew in the same pot and had to compete. The result? Palmer amaranth grew more aggressively than waterhemp.
“One of the things we noticed is that Palmer amaranth adds leaves a lot quicker,” Bernards says. “At the end, Palmer amaranth had 17 to 18 leaves per pot whereas waterhemp had somewhere between 13 and 14. Palmer amaranth is a much more aggressive species.”
Whether the concern this year was Palmer amaranth, waterhemp or giant ragweed, corn farmers can implement helpful practices to control herbicide-resistant weeds in the future. Bernards says the two best ways to delay, or prevent, herbicide resistance is to apply herbicide mixtures that have active ingredients effective on the targeted weeds and to overlap residual herbicides with multiple modes of action.
“Our primary focus needs to be eliminating weed seed return, which means we don’t let any new weeds into our fields,” Bernards says. “A preemergence application followed by a post- is critical for herbicide resistance management.”
Using a preemergence herbicide helps farmers protect yield potential early. Following up with a postemergence herbicide will not only provide additional control, but also help farmers navigate unfavorable weather circumstances.
“Farmers need a powerful herbicide program to fend off Palmer amaranth next season,” says Lyndsie Kaehler, U.S. product manager, Dow AgroSciences. “An example of a strong approach is applying SureStart II or FulTime NXT herbicide preemergence followed by Resicore herbicide for four modes of action that will work deep into the season. Many farmers also choose to add glyphosate and atrazine to this program to increase the number of different modes of action.”
Nebraska farmer overlaps residual herbicides to control Palmer amaranth
In Holdrege, Nebraska, farmer Blake Johnson has been no-tilling corn and soybeans for 15 years. Recently, herbicide-resistant weeds have become increasingly hard to control.
“We’ve got a huge resistance problem in this county especially after this year when we had soybean fields full of Palmer amaranth,” Johnson says. “Pigweed is the No. 1 troublesome weed and kochia is No. 2. We saw early stages of resistance a year ago, and it has really escalated in the last year, which scares me.”
Last winter, Johnson started looking for a new mode of action to add to his herbicide program to get ahead of Palmer amaranth. He decided to overlap residual herbicides to keep his fields clean deep into the season. Johnson applied FulTime® NXT herbicide preemergence followed by Resicore® herbicide postemergence.
“We had too many escapes in our soybean fields, but in our cornfields where we used Resicore, we were very happy with the control,” Johnson says. “We had very few escapes and, in general, our cornfields were very clean.”
Like many farmers seeking new tools to combat herbicide-resistant weeds, Johnson tries to select products with multiple modes of action. After a season with heavy Palmer amaranth infestations, Johnson is keeping his foot on the gas in 2018.
“We sprayed corn when it had two leaves on it, and we got enough control out of Resicore to keep the fields clean until crop canopy,” Johnson says. “We had good results with it this year at keeping the fields clean. It’s going to have its work cut out for it next year because there’s going to be a little more pressure in some of the fields because of escapes in soybean fields that went to seed.”
Johnson says he is going to put Resicore to the test next year, and he thinks it will be up for the challenge.
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