NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED UP 3 PERCENT
LINCOLN, NE November 21, 2014 -- Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head,contained 2.45 million cattle on feed on November 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 3 percent from last year.Placements during October totaled 660,000 head, up 5 percent from 2013.Fed cattle marketings for the month of October totaled 430,000 head, down 3 percent from last year.Other disappearance during October totaled 20,000 head, up 5,000 head from last year.
IOWA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 8% FROM LAST YEAR
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots totaled 1,065,000 on November 1, 2014, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Iowa Field Office. The inventory is up 3 percent from October 1, 2014, but down 8 percent from November 1, 2013. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head had 590,000 head on feed, up 5 percent from last month but unchanged from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head had 475,000 head on feed, up 1 percent from last month but down 17 percent from last year. This marks the lowest November 1 inventory for feedlots with less than 1,000 head capacity since records began in 1999.
Placements during October totaled 207,000 head, an increase of 8 percent from last month but down 24 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head placed 132,000 head, up 33 percent from last month and up 1 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head placed 75,000 head. This is down 19 percent from last month and down 47 percent from last year. This marks the lowest October placements for feedlots with less than 1,000 head capacity since records began in 1999.
Marketings for October were 166,000 head, down 19 percent from last month and down 11 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head marketed 100,000 head, down 12 percent from last month but up 12 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head marketed 66,000 head, down 27 percent from last month and down 33 percent from last year. This marks the lowest October marketings for feedlots with less than 1,000 head capacity since 2006. Other disappearance totaled 6,000 head.
United States Cattle on Feed Up Slightly
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.6 million head on November 1, 2014. The inventory was slightly above November 1, 2013.
Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.36 million, 1 percent below 2013. Net placements were 2.26 million head. During October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 690,000, 600-699 pounds were 570,000, 700-799 pounds were 462,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 635,000. For the month of October, placements are the second lowest since the series began in 1996.
Marketings of fed cattle during October totaled 1.69 million, 8 percent below 2013. October marketings are the lowest since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 97,000 during October, 28 percent above 2013.
Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and US: 2013 and 2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : November 1, 2014
: : :--------------------------------------------
State :November 1, 2013 : October 1, 2014 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ----
Arizona ..........: 270 252 250 93 99
California .......: 495 415 420 85 101
Colorado .........: 950 840 900 95 107
Idaho ............: 220 205 220 100 107
Iowa .............: 590 560 590 100 105
Kansas ...........: 2,050 2,010 2,080 101 103
Minnesota ........: 117 114 132 113 116
Nebraska .........: 2,370 2,240 2,450 103 109
Oklahoma .........: 270 245 260 96 106
South Dakota .....: 200 190 230 115 121
Texas ............: 2,520 2,470 2,550 101 103
Washington .......: 203 212 226 111 107
Other States .....: 330 305 325 98 107
United States ....: 10,585 10,058 10,633 100 106
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# of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month-States and US: 2013 and 2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : During October 2014
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State : October 2013 :September 2014: : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----
Arizona ..........: 28 20 22 79 110
California .......: 55 43 53 96 123
Colorado .........: 230 200 210 91 105
Idaho ............: 56 64 61 109 95
Iowa .............: 131 99 132 101 133
Kansas ...........: 470 400 420 89 105
Minnesota ........: 25 20 30 120 150
Nebraska .........: 630 520 660 105 127
Oklahoma .........: 65 55 60 92 109
South Dakota .....: 59 50 84 142 168
Texas ............: 520 445 520 100 117
Washington .......: 59 46 51 86 111
Other States .....: 50 45 54 108 120
United States ....: 2,378 2,007 2,357 99 117
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Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and US: 2013 and 2014
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : During October 2014
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State : October 2013 :September 2014: : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----
Arizona ..........: 25 24 21 84 88
California .......: 50 38 40 80 105
Colorado .........: 145 155 145 100 94
Idaho ............: 45 38 45 100 118
Iowa .............: 89 114 100 112 88
Kansas ...........: 400 325 320 80 98
Minnesota ........: 10 18 11 110 61
Nebraska .........: 445 400 430 97 108
Oklahoma .........: 78 54 43 55 80
South Dakota .....: 38 42 43 113 102
Texas ............: 430 410 420 98 102
Washington .......: 39 32 35 90 109
Other States .....: 33 33 32 97 97
United States ....: 1,827 1,683 1,685 92 100
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USDA Cold Storage Highlights
Total red meat supplies in freezers were down 2 percent from the previous month and down 9 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up slightly from the previous month but down 15 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 4 percent from the previous month and down
7 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were down 18 percent from last month but up 5 percent from last year.
Total frozen poultry supplies on October 31, 2014 were down 5 percent from the previous month and down 9 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were up 5 percent from the previous month but down 9 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were down 19 percent from last month and down 10 percent from October 31, 2013.
Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on October 31, 2014 were down 3 percent from the previous month and down 4 percent from October 31, 2013. Butter stocks were down 5 percent from last month and down 24 percent from a year ago.
Total frozen fruit stocks were up 13 percent from last month and up 2 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were up 5 percent from last month and up 3 percent from a year ago.
NE Dept. of Natural Resources Director Resigns
Director Brian Dunnigan of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources resigned on Thursday. Director Dunnigan was appointed by Governor Heineman to the position in 2008 after serving in the Department for over 30 years. Director Dunnigan said, “It has been a great privilege to serve the citizens of the state and I will miss all of the wonderful people that I have worked with across the state.”
The Department has broad water management authorities, including floodplain management, interstate water management, permitting, and dam safety. During his tenure, Director Dunnigan was able to provide a strong foundation to support effective water management activities across the state by engaging local partners.
Director Dunnigan’s early days as director found him wrestling with key interstate water matters in the Republican River and Platte River basins. His leadership was instrumental in resolving those critical interstate water matters and improving the overall resilience of Nebraskans to respond to extreme droughts and floods. Through the course of Director Dunnigan’s tenure with the Department the disputes of the Republican River Compact have been stabilized and a new path of collaboration with the state of Kansas has been opened. Nebraska has also established a successful plan to implement the requirements of the federal endangered species program in the Platte River Basin. His 25 years of expertise in developing Nebraska’s framework for flood management also allowed for improved floodplain mapping and effective and efficient support in providing timely warnings to those individuals at high risk during flooding events.
Director Dunnigan said, “I certainly appreciate all of the relationships that I have developed over the years and believe that Nebraska is well poised to proactively address our state’s future water needs.”
Nebraska Soybean Day and Machinery Expo Offers 2015 Growing Season Information
The 2014 Nebraska Soybean Day and Machinery Expo Dec. 18 will assist soybean producers in planning for next year's growing season.
The expo, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will be in the pavilion at the Saunders County Fairgrounds in Wahoo, said Keith Glewen, Nebraska Extension educator.
The expo opens with coffee, doughnuts and the opportunity to view equipment and exhibitor booths. Speakers start at 9 a.m.
Presenters include University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers and specialists, Nebraska Soybean Board representatives, soybean growers and private industry representatives.
Ed Usset, a well-known grain marketing specialist from the University of Minnesota, will present a different approach to grain marketing that focuses on eliminating mistakes in “Five Common Mistakes in Grain Marketing.” Bryce Anderson, DTN ag meteorologist and analyst, will examine the recent trends in historic-strength weather events as he presents, “Are Weather Extremes the New Normal?” Nebraska Extension policy specialist Brad Lubben will provide perspectives on how to navigate choices in the new farm bill. And Lowell Sandell, field market development specialist, Valent U.S.A., will look at approaches for combatting glyphosate-resistant weeds in “Fighting the War on Waterhemp, Palmer Amaranth and Marestail."
The expo also will include an update on the Nebraska Soybean Checkoff and association information.
Producers will be able to visit with representatives from seed, herbicide, fertilizer and equipment companies and view new farm equipment during a 30-minute break at 10 a.m.
The Saunders County Soybean Growers Organization requests that each participant donate one or more cans of nonperishable food to the food pantry.
Complimentary noon lunch will be served.
Registration is available the day of the expo at the door. For more information about the program or exhibitor information, call (800) 529-8030 or e-mail kglewen1@unl.edu.
This program is sponsored by UNL Extension in the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Nebraska Soybean Board, Saunders County Soybean Growers Organization and private industry. There is no registration fee.
EPA Delays Renewable Fuels Standard Announcement
This morning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would not finalize the 2014 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) this year.
According to the statement released by the EPA, the agency will set the final 2014 volume standard in 2015, and get back on schedule to propose the 2015 and 2016 blending volumes.
"Finalization of the 2014 standards rule has been significantly delayed,” the EPA said in a statement. “Due to this delay, and given ongoing consideration of the issues presented by the commenters, the EPA is not in a position to finalize the 2014 RFS standards rule before the end of the year.”
Originally, the EPA proposed rulemaking to establish 2014 Renewable Fuel Standards Nov. 29, 2013. The proposal led to controversy and comments, which expressed concerns regarding the proposal’s ability to ensure continued progress toward achieving the volumes of renewable fuel targeted by the statute.
“Changes proposed by the EPA in renewable fuel volume requirements for 2014 are not consistent with current law or legislative history,” said Todd Sneller, Nebraska Ethanol Board administrator. “The proposed reductions in biofuel use impede progress toward the use of more domestically-produced renewable fuels that mitigate the adverse impacts of petroleum on public health, the environment and the economy. Consumers deserve a wider variety of transportation fuel choices including E15 and E85. The RFS was intended to ensure choices are available to consumers. Oil companies have an obligation to meet these fuel standards.”
RFS supporters continue to advocate for renewable fuels, particularly cellulosic biofuels, which will reduce greenhouse gases emitted from transportation fuels and help diversify the nation’s fuel supply.
NeFBF Statement on EPA’s Delayed Action on 2014 Renewable Fuels Standard
Steve Nelson, President, Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation
“It is unfortunate and disappointing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has again delayed action in establishing standards for the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standards Program. Pushing back their decision making into 2015, as announced earlier today, only creates unwarranted uncertainty in the marketplace for renewable fuels.”
“The growth in renewable fuels have played a huge role in reducing our country’s dependence on foreign crude oil and at the same time brought new jobs and opportunities for many rural Nebraskans, through development of Nebraska’s ethanol and renewable fuels industries.”
Statement by Iowa Soybean Association President Tom Oswald
Reaction to the EPA’s decision to delay RFS ruling
Iowa Soybean Association President Tom Oswald, who farms near Cleghorn, issued the following statement concerning today’s announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency that it will delay finalizing the 2014 Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) until sometime next year.
“A delay is better than making an ill-advised decision. However, kicking the can down the road couldn’t come at a worse time for Iowa’s soybean farmers given record production and tightening margins. Inaction in Washington, D.C., has negative consequences for biodiesel producers and farmers across the state.
“The EPA’s decision creates more uncertainty in the biodiesel industry, which discourages investment and expansion. Biodiesel production in Iowa, the nation’s leader, is down as a result. That costs jobs and hurts the state’s economy.
“Soybean oil is a primary feed stock in biodiesel, and limiting markets has curtailed prices at a time when margins are already razor thin or nonexistent.”
SNOW AFFECTS WINTER GRAZING
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist
Snow has covered a lot of winter pasture acres for quite a few days already this winter. How has it affected your winter grazing?
November has been snowier and a lot colder than usual. These early season conditions eventually can affect the ability of your cattle to get the nutrition they need from grazing corn stalks or winter pasture.
Grazing cattle often select plant parts like corn husks and grain or grass leaves that contain higher amounts of protein or energy than do the coarser stalks and stems. This early snow can make it difficult for them to make these selections. So your cattle eat what they can get to easily. Also, moisture on dead, frozen grass can leach sugars and other soluble nutrients out of the plants. The end result may be a diet that is less nutritious than usual. If this goes on for very long your cattle might lose weight and go out of condition.
So – what can you do about it? Obviously, you can’t turn on a heater to melt the snow or put nutrients back into the plants. Instead, you need to estimate how much different your animals’ diets are from normal and provide supplements to replace those nutrients.
This isn’t difficult. Normally you probably supplement your cattle after they have grazed the best plant parts. All the snow does is force you to begin a little sooner or increase the amount they receive by a small amount.
Of course, I assume you normally supplement correctly. If your cows usually are a bit fat following winter, maybe they don’t need the extra supplement. But if you usually end up with cows with just enough weight to be healthy, extra supplement might be needed this year.
That little extra might make all the difference this snowy winter.
Upper Big Blue NRD to Construct New Headquarters to Serve Public Better
In order to serve the public better and effectively manage the ever-increasing regulatory burden placed upon Nebraska’s NRDs, the Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors approved building a new NRD headquarters north of the York County Fairgrounds, after outgrowing the current building the NRD has been in for 32 years.
“The new facility will be a big benefit to the District,” said Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District General Manager John Turnbull. “Right now the office is full with little room for new staff, has limited utility storage, and lacks a much needed small meeting room. While the office is handicap accessible it could be better. Our vehicles and equipment are in various places. We rent cold storage space across town for spring tree sales. Parking is a major problem, particularly for landowners conducting business and on meeting days. Expansion of the existing building is difficult because of our location, lot size and surrounding businesses. The new modern facility will allow the District to continue to offer the best service to the public.”
The board feels that a new building is necessary to provide for a more efficient layout and smoother work flow, while allowing for a future increase of staff. The changing work load is due to the regulation of irrigation to ensure long-life of the aquifer and good quality water for District farmers and citizens. The goal is to continue providing the high level of customer attention and reliable service benefiting District citizens that they are accustomed to. The Upper Big Blue NRD is dedicated to maintaining the face-to-face relationships that have been established for citizens to have personal and transparent access to local government.
The NRD has carefully worked to conserve natural resources and the management of groundwater at the local level for the benefit of all Nebraskans. Numerous measures such as Community Hazard Mitigation plans and Wellhead Protection Areas have also been established and will continue to be maintained to ensure the safety of District citizens and their families.
The cost for the office building and maintenance/motor pool building is $4.5 million. Construction will begin in the spring of 2015 with a projected completion date of February 2016.
High Nitrate Levels in IA Rivers
(AP) -- Two rivers that supply water to 500,000 people in the Des Moines area show nitrate levels spiking to levels that make it unsafe for some to drink, a concentration experts haven't before seen in the fall that likely stems from especially wet weather in recent months.
The utility that supplies Des Moines and most of its suburbs had workers blending river water with other sources to lower the nitrate levels, but the situation may be nearing the point at which the city starts a process that costs about $7,000 a day to remove them. If that happens, the utility has threatened to sue the state.
On Friday, the nitrate level in the Des Moines River was at 12.8 parts per million and the Raccoon River was at 13.7. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires officials to inform the public about safety risks at 10 parts per million.
Iowa and other states often have problems with nitrates in the spring, when rain washes unused fertilizer from farm fields. But it's unheard of to have spikes so high in November, said Des Moines Water Works CEO Bill Stowe. Scientists believe the current problem is caused by wet weather in the late summer and fall, which sent nitrogen remaining in the soil washing downstream.
"What we're seeing are numbers late into the fall and into the early winter like we've never seen before," Stowe said.
Stowe said so far workers were keeping the drinking water at just over 8 ppm. Water above 10 ppm can be deadly to children younger than 6 months because the chemical can reduce the amount of oxygen carried in their blood. Pregnant women and adults with reduced stomach acidity are advised not to drink water above the EPA limit.
In spring 2013, nitrate levels hit all-time highs on both rivers when a wet spring washed nitrogen from fields after a severe drought. Water Works mechanically cleaned the water at a cost of $900,000 until nitrate levels subsided more than two months later. If it happens again, Stowe said the utility likely will sue, alleging the state is violating the Clean Water Act by failing to reduce the nitrogen levels in rivers.
Monitors in rivers throughout the nation show no other sites with such high nitrate levels. But the issue is especially severe in parts of Iowa given the intense farming and tiling of land. More than 2 million acres in west-central Iowa drain into the Raccoon River, most of it cropland or livestock farms. An estimated 78 percent uses man-made drainage tiles to quickly move water downstream.
Although Iowa began a voluntary program in May 2013 that encourages farmers to make changes to reduce runoff, Stowe and environmental groups argue that strategy is toothless and lacks measurable benchmarks or a timeline for improvement.
For years, environmental groups have called for the state to regulate livestock farms, much as they already do for city wastewater treatment plans, which must have permits that limit release of contaminants into rivers. They're also seeking ways to measure and limit the release of nitrates from fields where tile has been laid underground.
Iowa DNR spokesman Kevin Baskins said the state acknowledges the need to improve its waterways, but that it will take time for voluntary efforts to work. He said farmers are beginning conservation practices and government grants are giving them incentives.
"This isn't something where you just get instant results," Baskins said. "We didn't get into the kind of situation we have today in terms of excess nutrients overnight and we won't get out of it overnight."
Significantly reducing nitrogen levels likely requires slowing the flow of water into rivers by setting up wetlands or planting grasses or other cover crops on harvested fields, allowing the plants to retain water and consume excess chemicals.
"We have millions of acres on which we need to implement this stuff," said Chris Jones, an environmental scientist with the Iowa Soybean Association who has studied the Raccoon River. He said fixing the problem would cost billions of dollars.
Did You Know... ...Beef Shorts
Did you know ...
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Did you know ...
The checkoff’s Twitter handle @Beef has been on the forefront of new technologies and has been one of the only brands to fully embrace and leverage the second screen movement – targeting consumers who utilize the internet on their laptops or smartphones while, at the same time, are watching TV. These consumers are oftentimes watching their favorite shows and are commenting and discussing them through social media, primarily Twitter. The technology that helps beef target these consumers is called “TeleContext,” a new piece of technology that only the beef checkoff uses. During this initial phase of launching TeleContext, numerous influential bloggers and celebrity chefs from the Food Network have already participated in online conversations with the @Beef handle. Plans for FY15 include expanding the list of shows that will engage the current beef community as well as drive new and potential consumers to beef checkoff recipes, tips and techniques on “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” Shows like the Biggest Loser, The Today Show and Hell’s Kitchen will be added to the list – this will grow beef’s TeleContext audience to over 2.7 million potential Twitter users!
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NMPF Statement on White House Executive Action on Immigration Policy
Jim Mulhern, President and Chief Executive Officer, NMPF
“The executive action announced by the White House this week will not solve the current or future needs of dairy farmers. We still need congressional action, in the form of comprehensive legislative reform of our broken immigration system. This is both an opportunity and an obligation for Congress. We need action in both the House and Senate, with support from both Republicans and Democrats, to do the job that needs to be done.
“NMPF’s focus remains the same going forward, as it has been in the past decade: we must secure a permanent fix to our broken immigration system – and that must be done by the Congress. “Regardless of the executive order announced by the White House, we must continue pressing for a long-term, meaningful solution that provides permanent relief for current workers and future labor needs. It is imperative that Congress address this issue in 2015 and resolve it, once and for all.”
EPA to Delay Issuing 2014 Standards for the Renewable Fuel Standard Program
(from EPA advanced Federal Register notice)
Today EPA is announcing that it will not be finalizing 2014 applicable percentage standards under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program before the end of 2014. In light of this delay in issuing the 2014 RFS standards, the compliance demonstration deadline for the 2013 RFS standards will take place in 2015. EPA will be making modifications to the EPA-Moderated Transaction System (EMTS) to ensure that Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) generated in 2012 are valid for demonstrating compliance with the 2013 applicable standard.
On November 29, 2013, EPA published a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish the 2014 RFS
standards. The proposal has generated significant comment and controversy, particularly about how volumes should be set in light of lower gasoline consumption than had been forecast at the time that the Energy Independence and Security Act was enacted, and whether and on what basis the statutory volumes should be waived. Most notably, commenters expressed concerns regarding the proposal’s ability to ensure continued progress towards achieving the volumes of renewable fuel targeted by the statute. EPA has been evaluating these issues in light of the purposes of the statute and the Administration’s commitment to the goals of the statute to increase the use of renewable fuels, particularly cellulosic biofuels, which will reduce the greenhouse gases emitted from the consumption of transportation fuels and diversify the nation’s fuel supply.
Finalization of the 2014 standards rule has been significantly delayed. Due to this delay, and given ongoing consideration of the issues presented by the commenters, EPA is not in a position to finalize the 2014 RFS standards rule before the end of the year. Accordingly, we intend to take action on the 2014 standards rule in 2015 prior to or in conjunction with action on the 2015 standards rule.
NCGA Statement Regarding EPA RFS Announcement
The following is a statement from Chip Bowling, Maryland farmer and president of the National Corn Growers Association, in response to today’s EPA announcement related to the Renewable Fuel Standard:
“Today’s announcement by EPA shows the Administration recognizes the proposed rule was inherently flawed and based on an unworkable methodology. We will continue to work with EPA to ensure that the 2014 and 2015 renewable fuel requirements are consistent with what Congress set forth in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
Congress created the RFS to help reduce our dependence on foreign oil and to provide cleaner fuel choices for consumers. We will continue working to defend the interests of corn farmers and consumers by holding EPA accountable for implementing the law as enacted by Congress.
Corn farmers have produced a second record crop in two years—resulting in corn prices that have fallen below the cost of production in many parts of the country. Our members have been frustrated by the uncertainty and delays surrounding the RFS. When the time came for them to speak up, they did so – loudly and forcefully. Our growers and allies sent the EPA a clear signal when this proposal was first issued, with nearly 200,000 people responding to the public comment opportunity in opposition to the reduction. Nearly 10,000 farmers called the White House directly. We have never before seen so much grassroots interest in a particular issue. Our farmers will continue to raise our voices as necessary in defense of this important policy.”
ASA Reacts to EPA’s Deferral of Biodiesel RVO Number Until 2015
In response to today’s announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency that the EPA would not finalize the 2014 Required Volume Obligations (RVO) will not before the end of the year, American Soybean Association President Ray Gaesser highlighted soybean farmer concerns with EPA’s inaction on the issue.
“The continued delays create great uncertainty for the biodiesel industry and soybean farmers and limits the industry’s ability to invest and expand,” said Gaesser. “The Proposed Rule was unacceptable and would have taken biodiesel backward from the amounts produced and utilized in 2013. However, ASA believes that EPA can and should finalize a 2014 rule that sets the biomass-based diesel volumes at or above the nearly 1.8 billion gallons that were produced and consumed in the U.S. in 2013.” ASA will continue to work with the National Biodiesel Board and industry partners to secure appropriate and beneficial biodiesel RFS volume requirements from EPA and the Administration.”
In making the announcement, EPA noted that it would take action in 2015 prior to or combined with the rulemaking for the 2015 RVO standards.
Statement by Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Regarding Delayed Action on 2014 Renewable Fuel Standards
“Renewable fuels have been a tremendous success story for the nation by reducing our country’s dependence on foreign crude oil, reducing air pollution and providing good-paying jobs within rural America. That is why the American Farm Bureau Federation is disappointed in the Environmental Protection Agency’s notice of delay in issuing 2014 standards for the Renewable Fuel Standard Program. Rather than set 2014 standards by the end of the year, EPA has once again delayed action on the 2014 standards.
“This significant delay and inability of the EPA to set standards for the Renewable Fuel Standard Program creates unneeded uncertainty in the marketplace. Even though EPA took the appropriate course in reconsidering its proposed rule after receiving substantial pushback from rural America, Farm Bureau continues to believe that adhering to the framework of the RFS2 remains the best approach.”
RFS Announcement: A Cloud of Uncertainty with a Silver Lining
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it is delaying finalization of the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) until 2015. Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, released the following statement:
“Deciding not to decide is not a decision. Unfortunately, the announcement today perpetuates the uncertainty that has plagued the continued evolution of biofuels production and marketing for a year. Nevertheless, the Administration has taken a major step by walking away from a proposed rule that was wrong on the law, wrong on the market impacts, wrong for innovation, and wrong for consumers.
“Moreover, it is clear that one of the reasons we find ourselves in this position is that the oil industry has steadfastly refused to make the investments in infrastructure or allow their marketers to offer higher ethanol blends like E85 or E15. In the absence of their dogged efforts to undermine the RFS, this would be far simpler for EPA.
“The monopoly-protecting talking points of the oil industry notwithstanding, the RFS has been enormously successful. It has compelled competition in motor fuel markets, lowered consumer gasoline costs, and reduced the carbon footprint of transportation fuels. We look forward to working with the Administration to assure this critically important program is implemented consistent with congressional intent, to the benefit of consumers and with the goal of advancing the evolution of biofuels production and marketing.
“Refiners will continue to resist the competition from biofuels. The RFS must be allowed to be the market forcing mechanism it was designed to be. In the end, the verdict on today’s announcement can only be made after a decision on a path forward for biofuels is identified.”
Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner Rises, Still Under $50 for 10
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 29th annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $49.41, a 37-cent increase from last year’s average of $49.04.
The big ticket item – a 16-pound turkey – came in at $21.65 this year. That’s roughly $1.35 per pound, a decrease of less than 1 cent per pound, or a total of 11 cents per whole turkey, compared to 2013.
“Turkey production has been somewhat lower this year and wholesale prices are a little higher, but consumers should find an adequate supply of birds at their local grocery store,” AFBF Deputy Chief Economist John Anderson said. Some grocers may use turkeys as “loss leaders,” a common strategy deployed to entice shoppers to come through the doors and buy other popular Thanksgiving foods.
The AFBF survey shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and beverages of coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10. There is also plenty for leftovers.
Foods showing the largest increases this year were sweet potatoes, dairy products and pumpkin pie mix. Sweet potatoes came in at $3.56 for three pounds. A half pint of whipping cream was $2.00; one gallon of whole milk, $3.76; and a 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix, $3.12. A one-pound relish tray of carrots and celery ($.82) and one pound of green peas ($1.55) also increased in price. A combined group of miscellaneous items, including coffee and ingredients necessary to prepare the meal (butter, evaporated milk, onions, eggs, sugar and flour) rose to $3.48.
In addition to the turkey, other items that declined modestly in price included a 14-ounce package of cubed bread stuffing, $2.54; 12 ounces of fresh cranberries, $2.34; two nine-inch pie shells, $2.42; and a dozen brown-n-serve rolls, $2.17.
The average cost of the dinner has remained around $49 since 2011.
“America’s farmers and ranchers remain committed to continuously improving the way they grow food for our tables, both for everyday meals and special occasions like Thanksgiving dinner that many of us look forward to all year,” Anderson said. “We are blessed to be able to provide a special holiday meal for 10 people for about $5.00 per serving – less than the cost of most fast food meals.”
The stable average price reported this year by Farm Bureau for a classic Thanksgiving dinner tracks closely with the government’s Consumer Price Index for food eaten at home (available online at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm), which indicates a 3-percent increase compared to a year ago.
A total of 179 volunteer shoppers checked prices at grocery stores in 35 states. Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers are asked to look for the best possible prices, without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or purchase deals, such as spending $50 and receiving a free turkey.
Shoppers with an eye for bargains in all areas of the country should be able to purchase individual menu items at prices comparable to the Farm Bureau survey averages. Another option for busy families without a lot of time to cook is ready-to-eat Thanksgiving meals for up to 10 people, with all the trimmings, which are available at many supermarkets and take-out restaurants for around $50 to $75.
The AFBF survey was first conducted in 1986. While Farm Bureau does not make any scientific claims about the data, it is an informal gauge of price trends around the nation. Farm Bureau’s survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.
Checkoff Lawsuit Seeks to Uncover Why OIG Did an About-Face
In a lawsuit filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Organization for Competitive Markets v. Office of Inspector General, the plaintiff alleges that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is unlawfully withholding records regarding the agency's 2011 through 2014 investigation into the USDA-controlled national beef checkoff program.
The OIG investigation followed the 2010 discovery that the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) had misappropriated over $216,000 in beef checkoff program funds and all the USDA did at the time was ask that NCBA reimburse the checkoff program for those ill-gotten funds.
R-CALF USA is hopeful the court will order the OIG to release all the records associated with the OIG's multi-year investigation.
"Those secret records are particularly important because the OIG officially withdrew its original report that erroneously concluded that the USDA and the NCBA were operating the beef checkoff program in accordance with the law and that checkoff funds were being properly spent. The OIG later re-issued its report and stated that the facts uncovered during its investigation did not support its original conclusions," said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.
The OIG's issuance of a corrected report resulted from a May 9, 2013 complaint that R-CALF USA filed under the 2001 Data Quality Act. The complaint alleged that the OIG's initial report was a "colossal whitewash of monumental proportions," and that it misled Congress and the public because it contained significant "errors, omissions, and falsehoods."
Bullard said the OIG's action of withdrawing its original audit report from the public domain and then reissuing a substantively corrected report is unprecedented.
"The credibility and integrity of the OIG and USDA are called into question as a result of the OIG's action of making false claims that improperly exonerated USDA and the NCBA for their roles in abusing producer checkoff funds.
"After we filed our complaint under the Data Quality Act, Secretary Vilsack unexplainably defended the original, false report by the OIG stating that he had "full confidence" that OIG's audit report on USDA's oversight of the beef checkoff program was proper.
"Then, and even after the Secretary's confidence in the OIG was proven unwarranted when OIG was forced to re-issue a corrected report, USDA Under Secretary Edward Avalos, nevertheless continued to claim the OIG audit report had exonerated both USDA and NCBA.
"In response to our request that USDA take action to address the abuses within the current beef checkoff program, Under Secretary Avalos stated unequivocally that the OIG had fully addressed all of our concerns and that there is no basis for USDA to take any further action.
"The OCM lawsuit may very well help us to finally get to the bottom of these bizarre circumstances that strongly suggest that both the USDA and the OIG are involved in a serious cover-up designed to preserve the NCBA's primary income stream, which is the tens of millions of dollars it receives each year from the beef checkoff program that is funded by mandatory assessments on independent cattle producers," Bullard concluded.
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 21, 2014
Thursday November 20 Ag News
November’s Rural Mainstreet Index Still Weak: Almost 30 Percent Increase in Regulatory Compliance Costs
The Rural Mainstreet Index moved higher according to the November survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy. The index has been trending lower since June 2013.
Overall: The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI), which ranges between 0 and 100, rose to growth neutral, 50.0,up from 43.4 in October.
“Even though the overall index rose sharply, low grain and energy prices continue to restrain the rural economy,” said Ernie Goss, Ph.D., Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business.
Higher input costs and lower crop prices are squeezing farm profitability across the region. According to Jim Ashworth, president of CNB Bank Shares of Carlinville, Ill., “Some landlords acknowledge that all grain input costs are increasing. If grain prices can't sustain costs, something will have to give.”
Farming and ranching: The farmland and ranchland-price index for November advanced to a very weak 30.0 from October’s record low 20.2. “Much weaker crop prices continue to take the air out of the bubble in agriculture land prices. This is the 12th straight month that the index has moved below growth neutral,” said Goss.
The November farm-equipment sales index expanded to 18.6 from October’s record low 15.1. The index has been below growth neutral for 16 straight months. “As a result of the more than 30 percent decline in crop prices, farmers continue to reduce their purchases of agriculture equipment,” said Goss.
Nebraska: The Nebraska RMI for November advanced to 48.3 from 43.0 in October. The state’s farmland-price index for November expanded to 21.5 from 13.1 in October. Nebraska’s new-hiring index jumped to 52.5 from October’s 46.9.
Iowa: The November RMI for Iowa advanced to 49.8 from October’s 40.5. The state’s farmland-price index for November expanded to 30.2 from 18.9 in October. Iowa’s new-hiring index for November rose to 59.5 from October’s 53.9.
Each month, community bank presidents and CEOs in nonurban, agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of a 10-state area are surveyed regarding current economic conditions in their communities and their projected economic outlooks six months down the road. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are included. The survey is supported by a grant from Security State Bank in Ansley, Neb.
This survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural, agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) is a unique index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. It gives the most current real-time analysis of the rural economy. Goss and Bill McQuillan, former chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, created the monthly economic survey in 2005.
Saunders Co Bean Growers Plan Bus Tour
Keith Glewen, UNL Extension Educator
The Saunders County Soybean Growers Organization is sponsoring a bus tour on Wednesday, December 3rd to the Lincoln area. Thanks to a grant from the Nebraska Soybean Board a chartered bus has been reserved. In addition, the grant will cover the cost of the noon lunch. The bus will depart from the Fairgrounds in Wahoo at 8:00 a.m. – Sharp! and return by 9 p.m. or sooner.
Some of the stops include:
1. Prairieland Dairy – did you know the average dairy animal consumes approximately 5# of soybeans per day?
2. Tour of State Capital, catered lunch and visit with Senator Jerry Johnson on the important issues facing agriculture.
3. Tour StarTran Bus Company – see and hear how biodiesel has worked over millions of miles in their fleet of busses.
4. UNL East Campus Dairy Store- ice cream compliments of Keith!
5. Tour UNL Tractor Testing Lab
6. Surprise Stop
7. Dinner – Beacon Hills Restaurant – Enjoyable refreshments and dinner your expense.
To reserve a seat on the bus call the Saunders County Extension Office at 402-624-8030 ASAP. A mailing will also be made in the coming days.
National Biodiesel Board Members Elect Governing Board
National Biodiesel Board members selected their trade association leadership this week, electing five returning governing board members and two new members to serve in leadership roles.
“Biodiesel has faced many challenges but with strong leadership from among all sectors of the industry we are in a position as an organization to face those challenges head on,” said NBB CEO Joe Jobe. “This industry has produced more than a billion gallons of advanced biofuels each of the last three years and will continue to grow into the future under the direction of the board.”
Officers elected to lead the board are:
- Steven J. Levy, chairman, Sprague Operating Resources
- Ron Marr, vice chair, Minnesota Soybean Processors
- Mike Cunningham, treasurer, American Soybean Association
- Greg Anderson, secretary, Nebraska Soybean Board
NBB members also voted to fill seven board member spots. Members elected to the Governing Board included officers Steven J. Levy, Greg Anderson, and Mike Cunningham along with:
- Jennifer Case, New Leaf Biofuel
- Tim Keaveney, HERO BX
- Robert Morton, Newport Biodiesel
- Ben Wootton, World Energy
Ron Marr, Gary Haer, Todd Ellis, Kent Engelbrecht, Ed Hegland, Bob Metz, Robert Stobaugh, and Ed Ulch also continue to serve on the Governing Board.
During the annual fall membership meeting NBB members discussed a number of important topics including the current state of federal policies impacting the industry, held meetings of standing committees, and began the annual program planning process.
The NBB governing board also recognized a handful of outstanding members for their involvement in the industry. Those recognized included Wayne Presby, White Mountain Biodiesel; Robert Morton, Newport Biodiesel; Thomas Brooks, Western Dubuque Biodiesel; Grant Kimberley, Iowa Biodiesel Board; Cliff Smith, Mid-America Biofuels; Gene Griffith, Patriot Fuels Biodiesel; and Julia Robbins, New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association.
Cooperative Water Agreement Signed with Colorado, Kansas & Nebraska
Reflecting a new spirit of cooperation, Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska today have reached an historic agreement during a special meeting of the Republican River Compact Administration. Representatives of the States have signed a resolution, approving operational adjustments in 2014 and 2015 under the Republican River Compact that will benefit water users throughout the Basin and set the Administration on a course to find long-term solutions to persistent problems.
Chairman Brian Dunnigan, Nebraska Director of the Department of Natural Resources, cited recent comments by U.S. Supreme Court Special Master William J. Kayatta, who encouraged the States to work toward greater consensus for administering the waters of the Basin. “It is in that spirit that the States have negotiated the resolution that was approved today,” said Chairman Dunnigan.
Today’s signed agreement addresses the operational adjustments address how water is administered for the benefit of irrigators in the Basin. It provides Nebraska with 100% credit for water delivered from augmentation projects to Harlan County Lake prior to June 1, 2015, and the delivered water is for exclusive use by Kansas irrigators.
Today’s agreement is in addition to two cooperative agreements signed in October. Together, these three agreements change the traditional ways the compact has been previously interpreted and implemented for a more cooperative approach.
Kansas Commissioner David Barfield acknowledged that the new resolution comes on the heels of another mutually acceptable pair of resolutions signed in October in Denver, Colorado. “Approving the resolutions will bring significant benefits to the States by preserving the remaining water supply in Harlan County Lake and providing additional certainty to water users throughout the Basin.”
“These resolutions reflect the States’ strong resolve on these matters,” said Dick Wolfe, Commissioner from Colorado. “We know there is additional work to do, but we are moving in the right direction to reach long-term agreements that are fair to all parties and reflect good management of the Basin’s water supply.”
At an October 22 Republican River Compact Administration meeting in Denver, Colorado, two of the agreements were signed. One of the agreements ensured that the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District in north central Kansas will have a viable irrigation water supply for the 2015 growing season while providing Nebraska certainty of the effectiveness of its compact compliance efforts. The other agreement ensured that Colorado and Kansas will work towards improving Kansas’ water supply on the South Fork Republican River while authorizing Colorado to receive credit in the Compact accounting for operating its augmentation project on the North Fork Republican River.
The Republican River Compact Administration is comprised of one member each from the States of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. The purpose of the Republican River Compact Administration is to administer the Republican River Compact. This Compact allocates the waters of the Republican River among the three states.
Soil Health Partnership Field Days Generate Farmer Discussions
There were more than snow flurries sprinkling the Midwest over the past few weeks. In Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana, the Soil Health Partnership was busy holding field days.
In Shelby, Nebraska, SHP demonstration farmer Greg Whitmore told farmers that he approaches soil health by asking himself, "What do I want to happen in specific field? Farmers should consider both the economics and environmental benefits of each soil management practice in their crop plan. One of the unique elements of this program is its emphasis on farmer-to-farmer gatherings that give us an opportunity to discuss what works and what doesn't, what we can change and the time frame for changes."
Whitmore also noted that water quantity looms high on a farmer's list of challenges in Nebraska.
"The soil samples I take help me identify what soil management practices contribute to water efficiency in each of the fields where I want to make a change. After participating in this program, I expect to be better able to assess the interplay of yield with compaction and water filtration, organic matter, the nutrient cycle, and other chemical, physical and biological attributes."
At the Forrest, Illinois field day, Mike Trainor talked about his past experience with cover crops and what he hopes to gain by participating in the Soil Health Partnership.
"What is attractive about this program is the attention it places on the economic benefits of using cover crops," said Trainor.
Dr. Laura Gentry, visiting research assistant professor at the University of Illinois generated farmer interest at the Forrest, Illinois field day when she discussed her research on the local yield effect of stover removal in continuous corn. Depending on market conditions in this part of the Corn Belt, continuous corn can represents anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of the corn planted.
Mark Bramstedt, a soil scientist at the Natural Resources Conservation Service Illinois, explained that drainage and ponding problems in the local clay soils may actually be compaction and soil pore space issues. As such, these issues could be reduced through tillage practices that increase organic matter rather than through tiling.
Although Tim Seifert and Dave Moose both use soil health management practices on their farms in Auburn, Illinois, they have very different approaches towards implementation.
"Dave and I like to challenge each other on this," said Seifert. "We both struggle with the application of cover crops, but we can deal with the challenges. What we fret about are the results. I've been adopting conservation practices for a long time, but cover crops require an intense management system. It's a tool that depends a lot on mother nature."
While Seifert prefers to take an incremental approach to soil health practices, Moose implements on a broader scale.
"The bottom line is that I want to keep my soil out of Lake Springfield and the Mississippi River," said Moose. "Tim is the tester; I jump in. I'm fortunate that I own the family farm. I guess I can take a few more risks."
Leon Corzine, another SHP demonstration farmer, invited his neighbors in Assumption, Illinois to hear how soil health benefits farmers' operations.
"My son Craig now farms with me. Leaving the farm to him in better shape than I got it is important to me," said Corzine. "I'm interested in growing cover crops but, like other farmers, I'm not quite sure what will work best. Working with Soil Health Partnership is a way for me to learn more about what I can do."
"The field is a classroom. The question is, 'Are you taking notes?'" said Randy McElroy, a Monsanto technology development representative from Clay County. "Working with cover crops is long term. Farmers need to develop an 18-month to two-year plan to incorporate cover crops into their operation that has flexibility in its implementation because things will change from growing season to growing season."
In Darlington, Indiana, discussions about the Soil Health Partnership's grounding in scientific results dominated farmer interest. Hosts Brent Bible and Brandon Mosely talked about their experiences with managing cover crops and the importance of farmers gathering to exchange information.
"I haven't been using cover crops long enough to understand how best to utilize this tool on my farm," said Bible. "By getting together with technical experts and other farmers and asking questions about new practices, I may just discover the very thing I want to know."
Although each field day concentrated on the same subjects, it was clear that there are a number of ways to implement soil health management practices. This gives testament to the diverse approach the partnership takes in defining soil health.
Red Meat Production Down 4 Percent From Last Year
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.32 billion pounds in October, down 4 percent from the 4.51 billion pounds produced in October 2013.
Beef production, at 2.17 billion pounds, was 6 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.64 million head, down 9 percent from October 2013. The average live weight was up 28 pounds from the previous year, at 1,355 pounds.
Veal production totaled 7.7 million pounds, 22 percent below October a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 43,300 head, down 38 percent from October 2013. The average live weight was up 59 pounds from last year, at 304 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.13 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.95 million head, down 4 percent from October 2013. The average live weight was up 8 pounds from the previous year, at 286 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 13.4 million pounds, was up 2 percent from October 2013. Sheep slaughter totaled 207,700 head, slightly below last year. The average live weight was 129 pounds, up 3 pounds from October a year ago.
January to October 2014 commercial red meat production was 39.5 billion pounds, down 4 percent from 2013. Accumulated beef production was down 6 percent from last year, veal was down 14 percent, pork was down 1 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down slightly.
By State (million pounds, % of Oct '14)
Nebraska ....: 687.8 99
Iowa ...........: 622.6 103
Greater trust in farming accompanies this holiday season, Food & Family Project survey finds
More Iowans understand how the food they’ll serve this holiday season is grown and they increasingly trust farmers to do a good job growing it, according to an Iowa Food & Family Project (Iowa FFP) survey.
Ninety-five percent of respondents said they are “very” and “somewhat” knowledgeable about how the food they purchase is produced, up 6 percentage points from last year and 9 points from 2012. The survey also found 81 percent of people have a positive impression about farming.
The Consumer Pulse survey, conducted by Campaign HQ of Brooklyn, polled 353 health-conscious Iowans who make the majority of their household’s food purchases. Respondents were queried on a variety of food topics, their familiarity with the Iowa FFP and how that familiarity changes their perceptions about today’s farms and food system.
Fifteen percent of respondents said farmers “do things right regardless of financial benefit,” up 6 percentage points from last year. Sixty-one percent believe growers “balance doing what’s right” with profit, while just 14 percent think farmers are “driven solely by profit,” down 4 points from last year.
These results matter to Cristen Clark, a grain and pig farmer near Runnells. Public perception is influenced by many things, she said, including speculation and a lack of information and transparency. Therefore, having conversations with Iowans and answering their questions about what farmers do and believe are important.
“There is a concerted effort by families to work the land and care for the livestock in a way that allows us to provide the next generation — our children — with a farm that is just as productive or more productive than how we found it,” said Clark, who volunteers as an Iowa FFP advisory team member. “I take pride in passing on farming for my kids just as my great-grandfather did for me. That’s a story I want to share.”
Launched in 2011 by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), the Food & Family Project facilitates greater confidence among food-minded Iowans about how food is grown and acquaints them with the farmers who grow it. Partners include Hy-Vee, Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Egg Council, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Subway, Midwest Dairy Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association and Casey’s General Store, to name a few.
Programs include Join my Journey with Iowa Girl Eats Kristin Porter, in which the popular Des Moines food blogger invites people to follow along as she learns about production agriculture and You on the Farm tours that provide urban residents a chance to experience farm activities. Iowa FFP is also a presenting sponsor of the Iowa Games and a supporter of Live Healthy Iowa.
Survey results indicate the Food & Family Project is having success. People familiar with the Iowa FFP said they are more knowledgeable about farming and have a more favorable impression about production agriculture. They’re:
· Ten percent more confident that farmers care for the well-being of their livestock
· Nine percent more confident that farmers protect the environment
· Nine percent more trusting that farmers balance doing what’s right with financial considerations
· More likely to pay attention to food labels and seek details about how food is grown
“What these numbers tell us is that we’re influencing the food influencers,” said Iowa FFP Coordinator Aaron Putze. “Those involved in the Iowa FFP have a passion for helping Iowans be healthier, happier and more informed about the food they love and the farmers who grow it. Our work is groundbreaking and the results are real, positive and measureable.”
Paula Hender of Ankeny agrees. As a mother, food safety is at the top of the list when buying groceries so she values the opportunity to actively engage in conversations about how food is grown.
Earlier this fall, Paula was selected as a You on the Farm contest winner and, with her husband Derek and sons Jason and Dylan, joined farmers Kevin, Julie, Jacob and Emily Van Manen of Kellogg for corn harvesting. The tour reaffirmed Paula’s opinion that farmers have her best interest in mind when it comes to providing wholesome food.
“I have concerns just like other moms and sometimes they lead me to question the choices I make,” she said. “I want to be confident and purchase food that tastes good and is good for my family. Connecting with the Food and Family Project and Iowa’s farmers has been very helpful.”
The Iowa FFP also queried Iowans about food labels and advertising claims. Seventy-seven percent of consumers said they find labels helpful, a dramatic increase from 31 percent a year ago. Food quality matters most when making food purchases (35 percent), followed by safety (24 percent) and price (21 percent).
Respondents expressed most satisfaction with food labeled “local” (62 percent) but definitions of “local” varied greatly. Food labeled “organic” continues to lose favor among consumers with just 25 percent of those polled saying it’s better than food not labeled “organic,” down 11 points from 2013.
A detailed report on the survey’s findings can be found at www.iowafoodandfamily.com.
STC’s 5th Annual Railroad Report Card: Grain Shippers Rate Union Pacific Best Railroad Amid Widespread Frustration
The Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) released its fifth annual Railroad Report Card last week and Union Pacific reclaimed its position as the top performing railroad. The top ranked railroad in 2011 and 2012, Union Pacific finished second to CSX in 2013. Norfolk Southern Railway climbed to second place from its third place ranking in 2013. Survey respondents ranked Canadian Pacific in last place for the fourth year in a row.
The survey was completed anonymously by agricultural shippers of various sizes and scale of operations and has been comprised of the same eleven questions since the report card’s inception. Surveys were completed and submitted during September and October. The questions are categorized under: 1.) On Time Performance; 2.) Customer Service; and 3.) Costs. For most questions, participants were asked to rate each of the seven Class I railroads on a scale from 1-10 with ten being the highest and one being the lowest. The 2014 survey had the largest number of participants in the history of the report card.
After combining the results from the 11 survey questions, Union Pacific received the highest overall rating. The company ranked first in six out of the eleven questions. Canadian Pacific, rated as the lowest performing railroad, received a last place ranking in each of the 11 questions.
Soy Transportation Coalition Rail Customer Satisfaction Index – Overall Ratings:
1.) Union Pacific Railroad
2.) Norfolk Southern Railway
3.) CSX Transportation
4.) Canadian National Railway
5.) Kansas City Southern Railway
6.) BNSF Railway
7.) Canadian Pacific Railway
Overall, the survey revealed substantial frustration with the condition of rail service in 2014. On average, railroads received a 14 percent lower score than in 2013. Survey respondents in 2014 rated railroads 28 percent lower in their ability to provide on time service – the largest area of decline from the previous year. Moreover, average scores for each of the eleven questions were lower than in 2013 – confirming the widespread conclusion among agricultural shippers that rail service has been inadequate.
U.S. Pork Output Could Reach New Highs in 2015
The United States is projected to produce 10.868 million metric tons and 10.858 million metric tons of beef and pork in 2015, respectively. If realized, this will be the lowest beef production in 23 years, but the most pork produced in history.
The difference between beef and pork production in 2015 is an estimated 10,000 metric tons. This will be the closest beef and pork production ever seen before.
The country first produced over 10 million metric tons of pork in 2008 and has has produced more than 10 million metric tons every year since then. The U.S. first produced 10 million metric tons of beef in 1970. It has produced more than 10 million metric tons every year since then except for three years.
In 1975 and 1976, the United States produced 53 percent more beef than pork. The U.S. produced 30 percent more beef than pork in 2000.
CattleFax Webinar Helps Producers in High-Price Environment
Cow-calf producers are at a fork in the road, according to CattleFax, the global leader in beef industry research, analysis and information. The current expansion environment has produced record profitability and exposed the segment to more financial and production risk than any other time in recent history. CattleFax will address this challenge during its next Trends+ Cow-Calf Webinar at 5:30 p.m. MT, Jan. 21, 2015.
Calf prices are nearly $100/cwt. higher than last year at this time, and bred cow values have increased nearly $1000/head in the last year. The dynamic market shift occurring in 2014 has motivated cow-calf expansion and created indecision at the same time.
During the one-hour session, CattleFax analysts Mike Murphy and Lance Zimmerman will discuss how producers can navigate marketing decisions and business plans for the next five to 10 years. To participate in the webinar and access program details, producers and industry leaders simply need to register online at www.cattlefax.com/meetings.aspx.
Elanco Animal Health is sponsoring the webinar – making it free for all cattle and beef producers to benefit from CattleFax’s analysis and perspective on factors influencing the cow-calf, stocker and backgrounding businesses. The webinar will include …
- A winter and spring 2015 market outlook for breeding cattle, calf, feeder cattle and feedstuff markets,
- Advice on high-return cowherd and bull purchasing decisions, and
- Considerations on the long-term implications of U.S. beef cowherd expansion
The Trends+ webinar is designed to inform cattle producers about current market realities and provide producers with decision-friendly information to assist in making intelligent marketing decisions. More than 1,500 producers have benefitted from the analysis and strategies shared through the webinar series since September 2013.
Farm Bill Allows Early Termination for Certain CRP Contracts
The Farm Service Agency reminds producers with acres under contract through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) that they can apply for early contract termination, as required by the 2014 Farm Bill. The deadline to request early CRP contract termination is Jan. 30, 2015.
This is a unique opportunity to request early termination afforded by the 2014 Farm Bill. The earliest effective date for this early termination is October 1, 2014. The requesting CRP contract must have been in effect for at least five years and additional eligibility conditions must be met to qualify. The 2014 Farm Bill identifies a list of 10 exceptions whereby land will not be eligible for the early termination provisions. For a complete list of these exceptions, please view the program fact sheet online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/crp_opt_out_fact_sht.pdf.
Once a CRP contract termination request is approved by the FSA County Committee, the decision may not be reversed and the terminated contract will not be reinstated. Once the land is no longer considered under the CRP contract all participants must meet HEL/WC and other conservation compliance provisions for all associated lands.
For more information or to verify eligibility for early termination (opt-out) for existing CRP contracts, please contact your local FSA office. For local FSA Service Center contact information, please visit: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.
Soy Checkoff Farmer-Leader Appointed USFRA Chairperson
The United Soybean Board (USB) congratulates soy checkoff farmer-leader Nancy Kavazanjian on her election as chairperson of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). Kavazanjian, a soybean farmer from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, is in her fourth year as a USB farmer-director.
“Nancy is a dedicated farmer-director and a great asset to our industry,” says USB Chairman Jim Call, a soybean farmer from Madison, Minnesota. “She’ll continue to be a leader in telling ag’s story.”
Previously, Kavazanjian served as vice chairperson of USFRA, which consists of more than 80 farmer- and rancher-led organizations and agricultural partners representing virtually all aspects of agriculture. The organization works to engage in dialogue with consumers who have questions about how today’s food is grown and raised.
“Our goal at USFRA is to build trust in the way American farmers and ranchers produce food, and this helps to maintain our freedom to operate,” Kavazanjian says. “This mission is at the heart of both USFRA’s and USB’s work.”
In addition to her leadership roles within the soy checkoff and USFRA, Kavazanjian is also a member of two state-level organizations: the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association and Wisconsin Women in Agriculture. She is also a contributor to her family’s farming operation, Hammer & Kavazanjian Farms, which grows soybeans, corn and wheat.
Export Exchange Follow-Up: Southeast Asia DDGS Buyers Still Adapting to Low-Oil DDGS
During last month’s Export Exchange program in Seattle and associated pre- and post-tours, Council staff discovered that some end-users in Southeast Asia are still learning how to adjust to the newer, low-oil distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) now reaching the market. Many are limiting inclusion rates to dampen the effects of nutrient composition variability from different DDGS producers.
U.S. Grains Council (USGC) staff and consultants are now conducting intensive follow-up outreach throughout Southeast Asia to address questions raised by local customers. By promoting new equations that predict the amount of energy livestock can metabolize from DDGS, the Council hopes to familiarize Southeast Asian nutritionists with low-oil DDGS.
Low-oil DDGS is produced when ethanol producers use corn oil extraction equipment that removes part of the non-food grade corn oil in DDGS. The oil is a valuable co-product that can be made available for other uses, but its extraction changes the feeding characteristics and potential value of DDGS. Traditional DDGS may contain 10 to 12 percent oil (fat), while low-oil varieties contain 6 to 9 percent.
The prediction equations are simple tools that feed mills can use to manage the variability in nutrient content and therefore extract the most value possible from DDGS.
“We need to be careful when using published energy and nutrient composition values from references, especially for low- and medium-oil DDGS, because they represent a limited number of samples and not a lot of information about nutrient composition was known for low-oil DDGS when the reference was published in 2012,” said Dr. Gerald Shurson of the University of Minnesota.
“Removing oil from DDGS leaves a challenging puzzle for nutritionists with regards to energy. Conventional wisdom tells you if you remove oil, you reduce energy, but that’s not necessarily true.”
So far in the 2014 marketing year through September, Southeast Asia has imported more than 1 million metric tons of U.S. DDGS, making it the third largest importing region behind East Asia and North America, which include the top importers of U.S. DDGS this marketing year, China and Mexico.
“Whenever you’re not familiar with a new product, the easy answer is to not use it. However, this really puts an industry behind the technology curve and dampens competitiveness. This is certainly the case with DDGS inclusions,” said Kevin Roepke, USGC regional director for South and Southeast Asia.
“When much of the technical information is only available in a language our customers don’t understand, it’s incumbent upon the Council to keep cutting edge technologies and information at the disposal of international feed ingredient formulators.”
Another issue raised during the Export Exchange program was antibiotic residues in DDGS. Ethanol producers sometimes use antibiotics, particularly virginiamycin, to manage bacterial contamination in the fermentation process as bacteria competes with yeast for sugars and can reduce ethanol yield and DDGS nutritional value.
However many end-users in Thailand are becoming increasingly concerned about feed products with antibiotic residue due to their interest in the European market. USGC staff and consultants assured end-users during these follow-ups that residual concentrations are extremely low in DDGS and much less than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved level for feed products for animals. Additionally, the majority of residues in DDGS are inactivated during the distillation process.
The Council recognizes the strong potential for exports of U.S. coarse grain and co-products to Southeast Asia and will continue to provide market education and trade servicing to increase U.S. market share in this dynamic region.
Rebuild, Restore, Renew: Bio S.I.’s SD 25 To The Rescue
Under normal conditions, the four seasons of farming are outlined by specific requirements and crucial steps between preparing, planting, growing and harvesting in order to sustain effective agricultural results. With ongoing and unprecedented drought conditions in place, pile and burn tactics not only hold an even greater fire hazard as the land is already so dry and readily flammable, but they also fail to restore the soil with essential carbon and microbial life. The current “mega-drought” has farmers in 30-35% of the country facing moderate to extreme drought conditions, according to the US Drought Monitor[1]. These conditions, mixed with the cold winter months ahead, one would think would be worst time to consider doing something to rebuild the humus (carbon fraction) of the soil or replenishing the soil life. However, experience shows it is a great time to do just that.
Microbes do a lot of work during the winter months. It has been demonstrated that microbial activity increases the soil temperature by 2-4 degrees when organic matter is available for digestion. By using Bio SI Technology’s (www.biositechnology.com) SD 25 Field Stubble Digester beneficial soil microbes will be added to the soil that digest the plant debris (stubble) left behind after harvest, recycling the nutrients tied up in the plant debris for the next crop. This activity makes both nutrient and water use more efficient. Soil microbes, are essential to restore carbon, improve water efficiency, and improve nutrient holding capacity of the soil. Without a proper mixture of microbes in the soil, organic matter can’t be totally broken down and the soil becomes clogged with two much undigested organic matter that ties up nutrients. SD 25 Field Stubble Digester replenishes the soil with naturally occurring microbes that convert and recycle nutrients tied up in stubble to make them available for the next crop.
“SD 25 works beyond the growing seasons to prepare fields for future planting by releasing the nutrients tied up in leftover debris,” says Bio S.I. Founder and CEO, Wayne Tucker. “Plant debris can be a real problem for the next planting season for some growers. SD 25 helps farmers re-use nutrients they have already paid for plus the benefits of adding carbon (humus) to the soil which holds water and nutrients in their fields.”
The conversion of plant debris to humus aerates the soil, improves soil tilth, and improves water penetration. Creating healthy soils is essential to continuous production of healthy, nutritious food for future generations. SD 25 is an all-natural microbial formula that is safe for organic use. Unlike other stubble digesters, SD 25 is free of preservatives, which makes it safe for use in any setting.
After harvest and before the ground freezes, growers should apply the initial application. SD 25 can be used successfully in till and no-till regimens, although it is important to beat the first freeze because microbial activity and decomposition are significantly slowed by cold temperatures. Growers will notice debris is significantly decomposed within 60-75 days. Apply 20-25 oz. of SD 25 per acre with a minimum of 10 gallons of water per acre. Also add nitrogen to balance the C:N ratio for better breakdown. SD 25 can be used to digest any leftover plant debris; whether that is from corn, wheat, beans, barley, cotton, rice, milo, beets, sugar cane, hops, grasses or any other crop.
The Rural Mainstreet Index moved higher according to the November survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy. The index has been trending lower since June 2013.
Overall: The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI), which ranges between 0 and 100, rose to growth neutral, 50.0,up from 43.4 in October.
“Even though the overall index rose sharply, low grain and energy prices continue to restrain the rural economy,” said Ernie Goss, Ph.D., Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business.
Higher input costs and lower crop prices are squeezing farm profitability across the region. According to Jim Ashworth, president of CNB Bank Shares of Carlinville, Ill., “Some landlords acknowledge that all grain input costs are increasing. If grain prices can't sustain costs, something will have to give.”
Farming and ranching: The farmland and ranchland-price index for November advanced to a very weak 30.0 from October’s record low 20.2. “Much weaker crop prices continue to take the air out of the bubble in agriculture land prices. This is the 12th straight month that the index has moved below growth neutral,” said Goss.
The November farm-equipment sales index expanded to 18.6 from October’s record low 15.1. The index has been below growth neutral for 16 straight months. “As a result of the more than 30 percent decline in crop prices, farmers continue to reduce their purchases of agriculture equipment,” said Goss.
Nebraska: The Nebraska RMI for November advanced to 48.3 from 43.0 in October. The state’s farmland-price index for November expanded to 21.5 from 13.1 in October. Nebraska’s new-hiring index jumped to 52.5 from October’s 46.9.
Iowa: The November RMI for Iowa advanced to 49.8 from October’s 40.5. The state’s farmland-price index for November expanded to 30.2 from 18.9 in October. Iowa’s new-hiring index for November rose to 59.5 from October’s 53.9.
Each month, community bank presidents and CEOs in nonurban, agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of a 10-state area are surveyed regarding current economic conditions in their communities and their projected economic outlooks six months down the road. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are included. The survey is supported by a grant from Security State Bank in Ansley, Neb.
This survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural, agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) is a unique index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. It gives the most current real-time analysis of the rural economy. Goss and Bill McQuillan, former chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, created the monthly economic survey in 2005.
Saunders Co Bean Growers Plan Bus Tour
Keith Glewen, UNL Extension Educator
The Saunders County Soybean Growers Organization is sponsoring a bus tour on Wednesday, December 3rd to the Lincoln area. Thanks to a grant from the Nebraska Soybean Board a chartered bus has been reserved. In addition, the grant will cover the cost of the noon lunch. The bus will depart from the Fairgrounds in Wahoo at 8:00 a.m. – Sharp! and return by 9 p.m. or sooner.
Some of the stops include:
1. Prairieland Dairy – did you know the average dairy animal consumes approximately 5# of soybeans per day?
2. Tour of State Capital, catered lunch and visit with Senator Jerry Johnson on the important issues facing agriculture.
3. Tour StarTran Bus Company – see and hear how biodiesel has worked over millions of miles in their fleet of busses.
4. UNL East Campus Dairy Store- ice cream compliments of Keith!
5. Tour UNL Tractor Testing Lab
6. Surprise Stop
7. Dinner – Beacon Hills Restaurant – Enjoyable refreshments and dinner your expense.
To reserve a seat on the bus call the Saunders County Extension Office at 402-624-8030 ASAP. A mailing will also be made in the coming days.
National Biodiesel Board Members Elect Governing Board
National Biodiesel Board members selected their trade association leadership this week, electing five returning governing board members and two new members to serve in leadership roles.
“Biodiesel has faced many challenges but with strong leadership from among all sectors of the industry we are in a position as an organization to face those challenges head on,” said NBB CEO Joe Jobe. “This industry has produced more than a billion gallons of advanced biofuels each of the last three years and will continue to grow into the future under the direction of the board.”
Officers elected to lead the board are:
- Steven J. Levy, chairman, Sprague Operating Resources
- Ron Marr, vice chair, Minnesota Soybean Processors
- Mike Cunningham, treasurer, American Soybean Association
- Greg Anderson, secretary, Nebraska Soybean Board
NBB members also voted to fill seven board member spots. Members elected to the Governing Board included officers Steven J. Levy, Greg Anderson, and Mike Cunningham along with:
- Jennifer Case, New Leaf Biofuel
- Tim Keaveney, HERO BX
- Robert Morton, Newport Biodiesel
- Ben Wootton, World Energy
Ron Marr, Gary Haer, Todd Ellis, Kent Engelbrecht, Ed Hegland, Bob Metz, Robert Stobaugh, and Ed Ulch also continue to serve on the Governing Board.
During the annual fall membership meeting NBB members discussed a number of important topics including the current state of federal policies impacting the industry, held meetings of standing committees, and began the annual program planning process.
The NBB governing board also recognized a handful of outstanding members for their involvement in the industry. Those recognized included Wayne Presby, White Mountain Biodiesel; Robert Morton, Newport Biodiesel; Thomas Brooks, Western Dubuque Biodiesel; Grant Kimberley, Iowa Biodiesel Board; Cliff Smith, Mid-America Biofuels; Gene Griffith, Patriot Fuels Biodiesel; and Julia Robbins, New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association.
Cooperative Water Agreement Signed with Colorado, Kansas & Nebraska
Reflecting a new spirit of cooperation, Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska today have reached an historic agreement during a special meeting of the Republican River Compact Administration. Representatives of the States have signed a resolution, approving operational adjustments in 2014 and 2015 under the Republican River Compact that will benefit water users throughout the Basin and set the Administration on a course to find long-term solutions to persistent problems.
Chairman Brian Dunnigan, Nebraska Director of the Department of Natural Resources, cited recent comments by U.S. Supreme Court Special Master William J. Kayatta, who encouraged the States to work toward greater consensus for administering the waters of the Basin. “It is in that spirit that the States have negotiated the resolution that was approved today,” said Chairman Dunnigan.
Today’s signed agreement addresses the operational adjustments address how water is administered for the benefit of irrigators in the Basin. It provides Nebraska with 100% credit for water delivered from augmentation projects to Harlan County Lake prior to June 1, 2015, and the delivered water is for exclusive use by Kansas irrigators.
Today’s agreement is in addition to two cooperative agreements signed in October. Together, these three agreements change the traditional ways the compact has been previously interpreted and implemented for a more cooperative approach.
Kansas Commissioner David Barfield acknowledged that the new resolution comes on the heels of another mutually acceptable pair of resolutions signed in October in Denver, Colorado. “Approving the resolutions will bring significant benefits to the States by preserving the remaining water supply in Harlan County Lake and providing additional certainty to water users throughout the Basin.”
“These resolutions reflect the States’ strong resolve on these matters,” said Dick Wolfe, Commissioner from Colorado. “We know there is additional work to do, but we are moving in the right direction to reach long-term agreements that are fair to all parties and reflect good management of the Basin’s water supply.”
At an October 22 Republican River Compact Administration meeting in Denver, Colorado, two of the agreements were signed. One of the agreements ensured that the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District in north central Kansas will have a viable irrigation water supply for the 2015 growing season while providing Nebraska certainty of the effectiveness of its compact compliance efforts. The other agreement ensured that Colorado and Kansas will work towards improving Kansas’ water supply on the South Fork Republican River while authorizing Colorado to receive credit in the Compact accounting for operating its augmentation project on the North Fork Republican River.
The Republican River Compact Administration is comprised of one member each from the States of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. The purpose of the Republican River Compact Administration is to administer the Republican River Compact. This Compact allocates the waters of the Republican River among the three states.
Soil Health Partnership Field Days Generate Farmer Discussions
There were more than snow flurries sprinkling the Midwest over the past few weeks. In Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana, the Soil Health Partnership was busy holding field days.
In Shelby, Nebraska, SHP demonstration farmer Greg Whitmore told farmers that he approaches soil health by asking himself, "What do I want to happen in specific field? Farmers should consider both the economics and environmental benefits of each soil management practice in their crop plan. One of the unique elements of this program is its emphasis on farmer-to-farmer gatherings that give us an opportunity to discuss what works and what doesn't, what we can change and the time frame for changes."
Whitmore also noted that water quantity looms high on a farmer's list of challenges in Nebraska.
"The soil samples I take help me identify what soil management practices contribute to water efficiency in each of the fields where I want to make a change. After participating in this program, I expect to be better able to assess the interplay of yield with compaction and water filtration, organic matter, the nutrient cycle, and other chemical, physical and biological attributes."
At the Forrest, Illinois field day, Mike Trainor talked about his past experience with cover crops and what he hopes to gain by participating in the Soil Health Partnership.
"What is attractive about this program is the attention it places on the economic benefits of using cover crops," said Trainor.
Dr. Laura Gentry, visiting research assistant professor at the University of Illinois generated farmer interest at the Forrest, Illinois field day when she discussed her research on the local yield effect of stover removal in continuous corn. Depending on market conditions in this part of the Corn Belt, continuous corn can represents anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of the corn planted.
Mark Bramstedt, a soil scientist at the Natural Resources Conservation Service Illinois, explained that drainage and ponding problems in the local clay soils may actually be compaction and soil pore space issues. As such, these issues could be reduced through tillage practices that increase organic matter rather than through tiling.
Although Tim Seifert and Dave Moose both use soil health management practices on their farms in Auburn, Illinois, they have very different approaches towards implementation.
"Dave and I like to challenge each other on this," said Seifert. "We both struggle with the application of cover crops, but we can deal with the challenges. What we fret about are the results. I've been adopting conservation practices for a long time, but cover crops require an intense management system. It's a tool that depends a lot on mother nature."
While Seifert prefers to take an incremental approach to soil health practices, Moose implements on a broader scale.
"The bottom line is that I want to keep my soil out of Lake Springfield and the Mississippi River," said Moose. "Tim is the tester; I jump in. I'm fortunate that I own the family farm. I guess I can take a few more risks."
Leon Corzine, another SHP demonstration farmer, invited his neighbors in Assumption, Illinois to hear how soil health benefits farmers' operations.
"My son Craig now farms with me. Leaving the farm to him in better shape than I got it is important to me," said Corzine. "I'm interested in growing cover crops but, like other farmers, I'm not quite sure what will work best. Working with Soil Health Partnership is a way for me to learn more about what I can do."
"The field is a classroom. The question is, 'Are you taking notes?'" said Randy McElroy, a Monsanto technology development representative from Clay County. "Working with cover crops is long term. Farmers need to develop an 18-month to two-year plan to incorporate cover crops into their operation that has flexibility in its implementation because things will change from growing season to growing season."
In Darlington, Indiana, discussions about the Soil Health Partnership's grounding in scientific results dominated farmer interest. Hosts Brent Bible and Brandon Mosely talked about their experiences with managing cover crops and the importance of farmers gathering to exchange information.
"I haven't been using cover crops long enough to understand how best to utilize this tool on my farm," said Bible. "By getting together with technical experts and other farmers and asking questions about new practices, I may just discover the very thing I want to know."
Although each field day concentrated on the same subjects, it was clear that there are a number of ways to implement soil health management practices. This gives testament to the diverse approach the partnership takes in defining soil health.
Red Meat Production Down 4 Percent From Last Year
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.32 billion pounds in October, down 4 percent from the 4.51 billion pounds produced in October 2013.
Beef production, at 2.17 billion pounds, was 6 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.64 million head, down 9 percent from October 2013. The average live weight was up 28 pounds from the previous year, at 1,355 pounds.
Veal production totaled 7.7 million pounds, 22 percent below October a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 43,300 head, down 38 percent from October 2013. The average live weight was up 59 pounds from last year, at 304 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.13 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.95 million head, down 4 percent from October 2013. The average live weight was up 8 pounds from the previous year, at 286 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 13.4 million pounds, was up 2 percent from October 2013. Sheep slaughter totaled 207,700 head, slightly below last year. The average live weight was 129 pounds, up 3 pounds from October a year ago.
January to October 2014 commercial red meat production was 39.5 billion pounds, down 4 percent from 2013. Accumulated beef production was down 6 percent from last year, veal was down 14 percent, pork was down 1 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down slightly.
By State (million pounds, % of Oct '14)
Nebraska ....: 687.8 99
Iowa ...........: 622.6 103
Greater trust in farming accompanies this holiday season, Food & Family Project survey finds
More Iowans understand how the food they’ll serve this holiday season is grown and they increasingly trust farmers to do a good job growing it, according to an Iowa Food & Family Project (Iowa FFP) survey.
Ninety-five percent of respondents said they are “very” and “somewhat” knowledgeable about how the food they purchase is produced, up 6 percentage points from last year and 9 points from 2012. The survey also found 81 percent of people have a positive impression about farming.
The Consumer Pulse survey, conducted by Campaign HQ of Brooklyn, polled 353 health-conscious Iowans who make the majority of their household’s food purchases. Respondents were queried on a variety of food topics, their familiarity with the Iowa FFP and how that familiarity changes their perceptions about today’s farms and food system.
Fifteen percent of respondents said farmers “do things right regardless of financial benefit,” up 6 percentage points from last year. Sixty-one percent believe growers “balance doing what’s right” with profit, while just 14 percent think farmers are “driven solely by profit,” down 4 points from last year.
These results matter to Cristen Clark, a grain and pig farmer near Runnells. Public perception is influenced by many things, she said, including speculation and a lack of information and transparency. Therefore, having conversations with Iowans and answering their questions about what farmers do and believe are important.
“There is a concerted effort by families to work the land and care for the livestock in a way that allows us to provide the next generation — our children — with a farm that is just as productive or more productive than how we found it,” said Clark, who volunteers as an Iowa FFP advisory team member. “I take pride in passing on farming for my kids just as my great-grandfather did for me. That’s a story I want to share.”
Launched in 2011 by the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), the Food & Family Project facilitates greater confidence among food-minded Iowans about how food is grown and acquaints them with the farmers who grow it. Partners include Hy-Vee, Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Egg Council, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Subway, Midwest Dairy Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association and Casey’s General Store, to name a few.
Programs include Join my Journey with Iowa Girl Eats Kristin Porter, in which the popular Des Moines food blogger invites people to follow along as she learns about production agriculture and You on the Farm tours that provide urban residents a chance to experience farm activities. Iowa FFP is also a presenting sponsor of the Iowa Games and a supporter of Live Healthy Iowa.
Survey results indicate the Food & Family Project is having success. People familiar with the Iowa FFP said they are more knowledgeable about farming and have a more favorable impression about production agriculture. They’re:
· Ten percent more confident that farmers care for the well-being of their livestock
· Nine percent more confident that farmers protect the environment
· Nine percent more trusting that farmers balance doing what’s right with financial considerations
· More likely to pay attention to food labels and seek details about how food is grown
“What these numbers tell us is that we’re influencing the food influencers,” said Iowa FFP Coordinator Aaron Putze. “Those involved in the Iowa FFP have a passion for helping Iowans be healthier, happier and more informed about the food they love and the farmers who grow it. Our work is groundbreaking and the results are real, positive and measureable.”
Paula Hender of Ankeny agrees. As a mother, food safety is at the top of the list when buying groceries so she values the opportunity to actively engage in conversations about how food is grown.
Earlier this fall, Paula was selected as a You on the Farm contest winner and, with her husband Derek and sons Jason and Dylan, joined farmers Kevin, Julie, Jacob and Emily Van Manen of Kellogg for corn harvesting. The tour reaffirmed Paula’s opinion that farmers have her best interest in mind when it comes to providing wholesome food.
“I have concerns just like other moms and sometimes they lead me to question the choices I make,” she said. “I want to be confident and purchase food that tastes good and is good for my family. Connecting with the Food and Family Project and Iowa’s farmers has been very helpful.”
The Iowa FFP also queried Iowans about food labels and advertising claims. Seventy-seven percent of consumers said they find labels helpful, a dramatic increase from 31 percent a year ago. Food quality matters most when making food purchases (35 percent), followed by safety (24 percent) and price (21 percent).
Respondents expressed most satisfaction with food labeled “local” (62 percent) but definitions of “local” varied greatly. Food labeled “organic” continues to lose favor among consumers with just 25 percent of those polled saying it’s better than food not labeled “organic,” down 11 points from 2013.
A detailed report on the survey’s findings can be found at www.iowafoodandfamily.com.
STC’s 5th Annual Railroad Report Card: Grain Shippers Rate Union Pacific Best Railroad Amid Widespread Frustration
The Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) released its fifth annual Railroad Report Card last week and Union Pacific reclaimed its position as the top performing railroad. The top ranked railroad in 2011 and 2012, Union Pacific finished second to CSX in 2013. Norfolk Southern Railway climbed to second place from its third place ranking in 2013. Survey respondents ranked Canadian Pacific in last place for the fourth year in a row.
The survey was completed anonymously by agricultural shippers of various sizes and scale of operations and has been comprised of the same eleven questions since the report card’s inception. Surveys were completed and submitted during September and October. The questions are categorized under: 1.) On Time Performance; 2.) Customer Service; and 3.) Costs. For most questions, participants were asked to rate each of the seven Class I railroads on a scale from 1-10 with ten being the highest and one being the lowest. The 2014 survey had the largest number of participants in the history of the report card.
After combining the results from the 11 survey questions, Union Pacific received the highest overall rating. The company ranked first in six out of the eleven questions. Canadian Pacific, rated as the lowest performing railroad, received a last place ranking in each of the 11 questions.
Soy Transportation Coalition Rail Customer Satisfaction Index – Overall Ratings:
1.) Union Pacific Railroad
2.) Norfolk Southern Railway
3.) CSX Transportation
4.) Canadian National Railway
5.) Kansas City Southern Railway
6.) BNSF Railway
7.) Canadian Pacific Railway
Overall, the survey revealed substantial frustration with the condition of rail service in 2014. On average, railroads received a 14 percent lower score than in 2013. Survey respondents in 2014 rated railroads 28 percent lower in their ability to provide on time service – the largest area of decline from the previous year. Moreover, average scores for each of the eleven questions were lower than in 2013 – confirming the widespread conclusion among agricultural shippers that rail service has been inadequate.
U.S. Pork Output Could Reach New Highs in 2015
The United States is projected to produce 10.868 million metric tons and 10.858 million metric tons of beef and pork in 2015, respectively. If realized, this will be the lowest beef production in 23 years, but the most pork produced in history.
The difference between beef and pork production in 2015 is an estimated 10,000 metric tons. This will be the closest beef and pork production ever seen before.
The country first produced over 10 million metric tons of pork in 2008 and has has produced more than 10 million metric tons every year since then. The U.S. first produced 10 million metric tons of beef in 1970. It has produced more than 10 million metric tons every year since then except for three years.
In 1975 and 1976, the United States produced 53 percent more beef than pork. The U.S. produced 30 percent more beef than pork in 2000.
CattleFax Webinar Helps Producers in High-Price Environment
Cow-calf producers are at a fork in the road, according to CattleFax, the global leader in beef industry research, analysis and information. The current expansion environment has produced record profitability and exposed the segment to more financial and production risk than any other time in recent history. CattleFax will address this challenge during its next Trends+ Cow-Calf Webinar at 5:30 p.m. MT, Jan. 21, 2015.
Calf prices are nearly $100/cwt. higher than last year at this time, and bred cow values have increased nearly $1000/head in the last year. The dynamic market shift occurring in 2014 has motivated cow-calf expansion and created indecision at the same time.
During the one-hour session, CattleFax analysts Mike Murphy and Lance Zimmerman will discuss how producers can navigate marketing decisions and business plans for the next five to 10 years. To participate in the webinar and access program details, producers and industry leaders simply need to register online at www.cattlefax.com/meetings.aspx.
Elanco Animal Health is sponsoring the webinar – making it free for all cattle and beef producers to benefit from CattleFax’s analysis and perspective on factors influencing the cow-calf, stocker and backgrounding businesses. The webinar will include …
- A winter and spring 2015 market outlook for breeding cattle, calf, feeder cattle and feedstuff markets,
- Advice on high-return cowherd and bull purchasing decisions, and
- Considerations on the long-term implications of U.S. beef cowherd expansion
The Trends+ webinar is designed to inform cattle producers about current market realities and provide producers with decision-friendly information to assist in making intelligent marketing decisions. More than 1,500 producers have benefitted from the analysis and strategies shared through the webinar series since September 2013.
Farm Bill Allows Early Termination for Certain CRP Contracts
The Farm Service Agency reminds producers with acres under contract through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) that they can apply for early contract termination, as required by the 2014 Farm Bill. The deadline to request early CRP contract termination is Jan. 30, 2015.
This is a unique opportunity to request early termination afforded by the 2014 Farm Bill. The earliest effective date for this early termination is October 1, 2014. The requesting CRP contract must have been in effect for at least five years and additional eligibility conditions must be met to qualify. The 2014 Farm Bill identifies a list of 10 exceptions whereby land will not be eligible for the early termination provisions. For a complete list of these exceptions, please view the program fact sheet online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/crp_opt_out_fact_sht.pdf.
Once a CRP contract termination request is approved by the FSA County Committee, the decision may not be reversed and the terminated contract will not be reinstated. Once the land is no longer considered under the CRP contract all participants must meet HEL/WC and other conservation compliance provisions for all associated lands.
For more information or to verify eligibility for early termination (opt-out) for existing CRP contracts, please contact your local FSA office. For local FSA Service Center contact information, please visit: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.
Soy Checkoff Farmer-Leader Appointed USFRA Chairperson
The United Soybean Board (USB) congratulates soy checkoff farmer-leader Nancy Kavazanjian on her election as chairperson of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). Kavazanjian, a soybean farmer from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, is in her fourth year as a USB farmer-director.
“Nancy is a dedicated farmer-director and a great asset to our industry,” says USB Chairman Jim Call, a soybean farmer from Madison, Minnesota. “She’ll continue to be a leader in telling ag’s story.”
Previously, Kavazanjian served as vice chairperson of USFRA, which consists of more than 80 farmer- and rancher-led organizations and agricultural partners representing virtually all aspects of agriculture. The organization works to engage in dialogue with consumers who have questions about how today’s food is grown and raised.
“Our goal at USFRA is to build trust in the way American farmers and ranchers produce food, and this helps to maintain our freedom to operate,” Kavazanjian says. “This mission is at the heart of both USFRA’s and USB’s work.”
In addition to her leadership roles within the soy checkoff and USFRA, Kavazanjian is also a member of two state-level organizations: the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association and Wisconsin Women in Agriculture. She is also a contributor to her family’s farming operation, Hammer & Kavazanjian Farms, which grows soybeans, corn and wheat.
Export Exchange Follow-Up: Southeast Asia DDGS Buyers Still Adapting to Low-Oil DDGS
During last month’s Export Exchange program in Seattle and associated pre- and post-tours, Council staff discovered that some end-users in Southeast Asia are still learning how to adjust to the newer, low-oil distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) now reaching the market. Many are limiting inclusion rates to dampen the effects of nutrient composition variability from different DDGS producers.
U.S. Grains Council (USGC) staff and consultants are now conducting intensive follow-up outreach throughout Southeast Asia to address questions raised by local customers. By promoting new equations that predict the amount of energy livestock can metabolize from DDGS, the Council hopes to familiarize Southeast Asian nutritionists with low-oil DDGS.
Low-oil DDGS is produced when ethanol producers use corn oil extraction equipment that removes part of the non-food grade corn oil in DDGS. The oil is a valuable co-product that can be made available for other uses, but its extraction changes the feeding characteristics and potential value of DDGS. Traditional DDGS may contain 10 to 12 percent oil (fat), while low-oil varieties contain 6 to 9 percent.
The prediction equations are simple tools that feed mills can use to manage the variability in nutrient content and therefore extract the most value possible from DDGS.
“We need to be careful when using published energy and nutrient composition values from references, especially for low- and medium-oil DDGS, because they represent a limited number of samples and not a lot of information about nutrient composition was known for low-oil DDGS when the reference was published in 2012,” said Dr. Gerald Shurson of the University of Minnesota.
“Removing oil from DDGS leaves a challenging puzzle for nutritionists with regards to energy. Conventional wisdom tells you if you remove oil, you reduce energy, but that’s not necessarily true.”
So far in the 2014 marketing year through September, Southeast Asia has imported more than 1 million metric tons of U.S. DDGS, making it the third largest importing region behind East Asia and North America, which include the top importers of U.S. DDGS this marketing year, China and Mexico.
“Whenever you’re not familiar with a new product, the easy answer is to not use it. However, this really puts an industry behind the technology curve and dampens competitiveness. This is certainly the case with DDGS inclusions,” said Kevin Roepke, USGC regional director for South and Southeast Asia.
“When much of the technical information is only available in a language our customers don’t understand, it’s incumbent upon the Council to keep cutting edge technologies and information at the disposal of international feed ingredient formulators.”
Another issue raised during the Export Exchange program was antibiotic residues in DDGS. Ethanol producers sometimes use antibiotics, particularly virginiamycin, to manage bacterial contamination in the fermentation process as bacteria competes with yeast for sugars and can reduce ethanol yield and DDGS nutritional value.
However many end-users in Thailand are becoming increasingly concerned about feed products with antibiotic residue due to their interest in the European market. USGC staff and consultants assured end-users during these follow-ups that residual concentrations are extremely low in DDGS and much less than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved level for feed products for animals. Additionally, the majority of residues in DDGS are inactivated during the distillation process.
The Council recognizes the strong potential for exports of U.S. coarse grain and co-products to Southeast Asia and will continue to provide market education and trade servicing to increase U.S. market share in this dynamic region.
Rebuild, Restore, Renew: Bio S.I.’s SD 25 To The Rescue
Under normal conditions, the four seasons of farming are outlined by specific requirements and crucial steps between preparing, planting, growing and harvesting in order to sustain effective agricultural results. With ongoing and unprecedented drought conditions in place, pile and burn tactics not only hold an even greater fire hazard as the land is already so dry and readily flammable, but they also fail to restore the soil with essential carbon and microbial life. The current “mega-drought” has farmers in 30-35% of the country facing moderate to extreme drought conditions, according to the US Drought Monitor[1]. These conditions, mixed with the cold winter months ahead, one would think would be worst time to consider doing something to rebuild the humus (carbon fraction) of the soil or replenishing the soil life. However, experience shows it is a great time to do just that.
Microbes do a lot of work during the winter months. It has been demonstrated that microbial activity increases the soil temperature by 2-4 degrees when organic matter is available for digestion. By using Bio SI Technology’s (www.biositechnology.com) SD 25 Field Stubble Digester beneficial soil microbes will be added to the soil that digest the plant debris (stubble) left behind after harvest, recycling the nutrients tied up in the plant debris for the next crop. This activity makes both nutrient and water use more efficient. Soil microbes, are essential to restore carbon, improve water efficiency, and improve nutrient holding capacity of the soil. Without a proper mixture of microbes in the soil, organic matter can’t be totally broken down and the soil becomes clogged with two much undigested organic matter that ties up nutrients. SD 25 Field Stubble Digester replenishes the soil with naturally occurring microbes that convert and recycle nutrients tied up in stubble to make them available for the next crop.
“SD 25 works beyond the growing seasons to prepare fields for future planting by releasing the nutrients tied up in leftover debris,” says Bio S.I. Founder and CEO, Wayne Tucker. “Plant debris can be a real problem for the next planting season for some growers. SD 25 helps farmers re-use nutrients they have already paid for plus the benefits of adding carbon (humus) to the soil which holds water and nutrients in their fields.”
The conversion of plant debris to humus aerates the soil, improves soil tilth, and improves water penetration. Creating healthy soils is essential to continuous production of healthy, nutritious food for future generations. SD 25 is an all-natural microbial formula that is safe for organic use. Unlike other stubble digesters, SD 25 is free of preservatives, which makes it safe for use in any setting.
After harvest and before the ground freezes, growers should apply the initial application. SD 25 can be used successfully in till and no-till regimens, although it is important to beat the first freeze because microbial activity and decomposition are significantly slowed by cold temperatures. Growers will notice debris is significantly decomposed within 60-75 days. Apply 20-25 oz. of SD 25 per acre with a minimum of 10 gallons of water per acre. Also add nitrogen to balance the C:N ratio for better breakdown. SD 25 can be used to digest any leftover plant debris; whether that is from corn, wheat, beans, barley, cotton, rice, milo, beets, sugar cane, hops, grasses or any other crop.
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