UNMC study to gauge heart disease risk in Nebraska farmers
Most people think American farmers lead an active lifestyle that keeps them in shape. But just as advanced machinery, computers and fast-food have influenced the general population, so has it influenced farmers.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing Lincoln Division has launched a pilot study to gauge heart disease risk in farmers. The $20,000 study is funded by the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health at the UNMC College of Public Health and will recruit farmers with the help of two public health districts that cover nine counties in northeast and southeast Nebraska.
“We picture farmers as lifting hay bales and working with cattle,” said Paula Schulz, Ph.D., associate professor, UNMC College of Nursing Lincoln Division. “But, so much of farming is automated today that farmers don’t do as much physical work.
“They have air conditioned cabs with GPS. They have three-wheelers to check on livestock or drive to the range or barn, they are in front of their computers and eating more fast food like the general population,” she said.
Dr. Schulz, principal investigator of the study, said those living in rural areas with geographical and cultural barriers experience greater health disparities in receiving standard risk factor reduction strategies.
She said little is known about the physical activity levels and dietary habits of farmers in today’s environment.
“We have a large number of farmers in Nebraska and because of the disparities that exist, different lifestyle strategies are needed to reduce the risk of heart disease and address health promotion. We saw a need and found out no one has done studies to objectively measure physical activity in farmers.”
Researchers will recruit 40 individuals age 19 and older whose main occupation is farming. Recruitment will occur through two public health districts -- Public Health Solutions in southeast Nebraska and Elkhorn Logan Valley in northeast Nebraska. The counties include Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Saline, Thayer, Burt, Cuming, Madison and Stanton counties.
In the one-year study, researchers will collect information about physical activity and dietary habits, quality of life and cardiovascular disease. The study requires participants to complete survey questions and wear a device that measures activity during peak farming season and during off season.
Researchers hope the information from the small study can be used in future grant proposals to identify strategies that could be tailored to the farming lifestyle to reduce heart disease risk.
Co-investigators of the study are Lani Zimmerman Ph.D., College of Nursing Lincoln Division and Patrick Johansson, M.D., UNMC College of Public Health. Farmers interested in participating can contact Paula Schulz at (402) 472-7336 or pschulz@unmc.edu.
Nebraska Corn is reminding farms to “Take a Second for Safety” during Grain Bin Safety Week
On-farm grain storage is on the rise—and consequently—so are fatal accidents associated with grain handling and storage. That’s why the Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Corn Growers Association are placing special emphasis on grain handling safety during Grain Bin Safety Week, February 21-27, 2016. In observance of the week, Nebraska Corn’s goal is to help prevent grain related accidents by increasing awareness of grain bin safety on farms and commercial grain-handling facilities.
“National statistics show that farming is one of the most dangerous occupations in America,” said David Merrell, farmer from St. Edward, Nebraska and chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board. “With on-farm safety a continual effort at Nebraska Corn, we believe it is always important to remind farmers, grain elevators and other grain handlers to slow down and take a second for safety when working with stored grain. We want both grain handlers and emergency responders to understand how to avoid grain bin accidents—and how to help someone who does end up in trouble in a grain bin.”
Record high yields, combined with an upward trend in on-farm grain storage capacity has experts projecting an increase in grain engulfment accidents. In 2015 alone, there were more than 22 reported grain bin entrapments, resulting in 11 fatalities. Grain engulfment accidents can happen in a blink of an eye, with just one misstep or a moment of distraction, a grain handler could find himself in a grain entrapment emergency. For instance, using a 10-inch auger, it takes a mere 25 seconds for a 6-foot person to be completely buried in grain.
“Grain Bin Safety Week provides a forum for the agricultural community to help prevent these tragic accidents from occurring,” said Morgan Wrich, program director for the Nebraska Corn Growers Association. “With the hectic spring season around the corner, many Nebraska farmers are busy handling their on-farm grain storage—making this annual observance a timely opportunity to remind them and other grain handlers of the hazards of working around grain.”
With the proper safety procedures, grain bin accidents are preventable. That’s why it is important to take the extra second and follow all the safety rules when it comes to working with grain stored in bins. Here are a few grain bin safety tips to keep in mind when you are working with stored grain:
• Use inspection holes or grain level markers to understand what’s happening inside the bin. Use a pole from outside the bin to break up grain bridges.
• You should enter a grain bin only if absolutely necessary. If you must get into the bin, use a body harness secured to the outside of the bin. Have at least two people watching over you as you enter and work inside the bin.
• Use hand signals to communicate—and make sure everyone you’re working with knows what those signals are.
These safety tips and more will be emphasized throughout Grain Bin Safety Week on Nebraska Corn Board’s website: www.nebraskacorn.org.
USDA Seeks Project Proposals to Support Rural Nebraska Businesses
USDA Rural Development State Director Maxine Moul has announced that Nebraska producers can benefit from the 2016 Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. VAPG awards competitive grants that facilitate the creation and development of value-added, famer-owned businesses. The VAPG program will have additional funding compared to recent years, because of authorizations in the 2014 Farm Bill.
“The VAPG program is USDA’s premier rural development tool for producers,” said Moul. “We want to continue helping agricultural producers across the state by enabling farmers, ranchers, and cooperatives to grow their businesses through the development and marketing of new and existing products.”
The VAPG program contributes to business creation in rural areas, while also enhancing food choices for consumers. Independent agricultural producers, farmer or rancher cooperatives, and producer controlled entities are eligible. VAPG grants may be used for planning activities or working capital expenses related to producing or marketing a value-added product.
Since the inception of the program, Nebraska’s USDA Rural Development has awarded 104 Value-Added Producer Grants totaling $11.8 million.
To discuss applicant and project eligibility or for more information on the VAPG program, please contact the following Business Program Specialists.
- Brant Richardson, brant.richardson@ne.usda.gov or (402) 437-5568
- Daniel Janke, daniel.janke@ne.usda.gov or (402) 371-5350 Extension 115
Changes in Energy Use Can Lead to Savings for Swine Producers
Two extremely important questions for swine producers to understand are knowing how much energy is being used and how much should be used in their facilities. By benchmarking their anticipated energy use, producers are able to compare their use with other similar facilities and determine if their energy expenditures are reasonable.
A new publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Farm Energy series titled "Benchmarking energy usage for swine producers" (PM 3063e) helps facility managers determine the approximate level of energy that should be used to both heat swine in the winter and keep them cool in warmer months.
“It is difficult for producers to know if they have been using excess energy in their swine facilities if they don’t have a benchmark with which to compare,” said Jay Harmon, professor and extension livestock housing specialist in agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University. “While annual usage may vary with pig size or the severity of weather, comparing to some sort of standard helps determine if producers should investigate changes in their energy usage further.”
Data was gathered from thirty production facilities in Iowa and Minnesota, with finishing swine, wean-finish and sow farms examined. The findings for finishing and wean-finish swine were also divided between facilities that used curtain barns and those who employed tunnel barns.
Using their findings, Harmon and Dana Schweitzer, program coordinator with the Iowa State University Farm Energy Conservation and Efficiency Initiative, were able to determine ranges for annual electrical and propane usage.
After comparing the ranges of suggested energy use, producers can determine if their outputs are higher or lower than similar facilities. If energy usage is higher than it should be, there are several ways to create possible savings.
Propane is primarily used for building heat and the biggest source of excess energy consumption tends to be over-ventilation or improper controller settings. Something as simple as adjusting the controller setting can lead to savings. Sub-metering equipment or observing run cycles can also help spot a ventilation problem.
Energy consumption can be minimized with proper management, leading directly to an increase in profit. Being aware of costs and comparing them to the benchmarking numbers in the publication can help producers develop a plan to increase their savings.
Protect Cattle Herd with Vaccination Programs
Choosing the correct type of vaccine to use on beef and dairy cattle is extremely important to the long-term health of a herd.
Guidelines for choosing the correct vaccination program and a timeline for giving those vaccines are laid out in a new Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication titled ‘Beef and Dairy Cattle Vaccination Programs’ (IBC 111).
The publication is authored by Grant Dewell, associate professor in beef production and extension beef veterinarian, and Patrick Gorden, senior clinician in veterinary diagnostics and production animal medicine at Iowa State. It can be accessed online at the ISU Extension and Outreach Store.
“Good vaccination programs are vital to establishing an animal health program to control infectious diseases in cattle,” Dewell said. “Each cow herd is unique and vaccine programs should be tailored to meet the potential challenges along with a solid biosecurity program.”
Vaccine plans change throughout the life of the cow and greatly depend on their purpose. A vaccination program for a dairy cow can be much different than one for a pastured beef cow. Different types of vaccines are also available, with antiserums and modified live viral vaccines two of the most common.
“Although beef and dairy cattle are susceptible to the same infectious agents, the facilities and management of the cattle can produce remarkably different risk scenarios,” Dewell said. “Work with a veterinarian that is familiar with the health parameters of your operation to design a vaccination program for your beef or dairy herd.”
The new publication highlights several common diseases that require vaccinations and provides guidelines for vaccinating members of the herd. The type of vaccines that should be given before a calf is weaned, prior to breeding and before calving are also addressed.
Farm Bureau: TPP Will Boost Farm Exports, Income
The Trans-Pacific Partnership will tear down trade barriers and help level the playing field for U.S. agricultural exports to 11 nations across the Pacific Rim. Ratifying TPP will boost annual net farm income in the United States by $4.4 billion, compared to not approving the pact, according to an economic analysis conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation.
“TPP will mean a boat-load of expanded exports and increased demand for America’s agricultural products,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “Clearly, America’s farmers and ranchers have much to gain from approval of TPP and we support its ratification. American agriculture is a growth industry, and to continue that trend, we must expand our market opportunities.”
Not approving the trade deal would have adverse effects, too.
“While our farmers and ranchers have a lot to gain with passage, the consequences of not approving the deal would be harmful,” Duvall said. “Every day we delay means lost markets as other TPP countries implement the deal’s advantages with each other. We are already arriving at the party late because, right now, expanded trade due to TPP is going on across the Pacific Rim – just without us.”
While procedural steps along the way will take time, Duvall said “the sooner TPP is ratified, the better it will be for American agriculture.”
AFBF’s analysis forecasts farm-price increases for corn (5 cents per bushel), soybeans (12 cents per bushel), wheat (2 cents per bushel) and rice (16 cents per hundredweight). While cotton prices are not projected to change, cash receipts are projected to increase by $21 million.
AFBF also predicts price increases for beef ($2.66 per hundredweight), pork ($2.45 per hundredweight) and poultry ($1.40 per hundredweight). In the dairy sector, prices will increase for butter ($2.81 per hundredweight), cheese ($1.68 per hundredweight), nonfat dry milk ($1.29 per hundredweight) and all milk (21 cents per hundredweight).
Net trade is expected to increase for rice, cotton, beef, pork, poultry, butter, cheese, soybeans and products and non-fat dry milk, according to AFBF’s analysis.
While the analysis projects that the net trade for corn will decline by 45.3 million bushels, overall demand and use for corn is forecast to increase by 54.2 million bushels. Corn revenues are expected to rise by $680 million per year and prices are projected to rise by 5 cents per bushel, due to higher domestic feed use from additional beef and pork exports created by TPP.
The agreement has been approved by negotiators from the 12 TPP nations. The U.S. International Trade Commission is preparing an official analysis for the administration, which will formally ask Congress to ratify the deal.
NCBA Urges Swift Action on TPP
Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association sent a letter on behalf of its members and state affiliates urging quick passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. NCBA President Tracy Brunner said cattle producers cannot afford to wait any longer for passage of this critical agreement.
“The value exports add to U.S. beef is undeniable,” said Brunner. “Asia and the Pacific Rim are extremely valuable markets for U.S. beef. We not only export steaks and ground beef, but this region demands high quality variety meats like beef tongue. Those products bring a premium in these markets and add value back to producers here at home. Trade is an investment in our future, profitability for the next generation.”
In 2015, trade added an estimated $325 per head in value. Japan is the largest export market for U.S. beef, amounting to $1.3 billion this past year. Currently, U.S. beef faces a 38.5 percent tariff in Japan. With the implementation of the Australia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, Australian beef has a 10 percent tariff advantage over U.S. beef.
“Due to the preferential agreement between Australia and Japan, U.S. producers have lost over $100 million in sales to Japan this past year,” said Brunner. “The only way to level the playing field, stop the erosion of our market and rebuild market share is passage of TPP. Once TPP is passed the tariff rate on our beef into Japan will immediately reduce to 27.5 percent and continue to reduce to 9 percent over 16 years.”
There are around 260 preferential trade agreements in force worldwide, only 14 of which include the United States. The NCBA urges Congress to quickly take up and pass the TPP to ensure a viable future for U.S. beef exports.
NFU Contests TPP’s Benefits for U.S. Agriculture
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is having a hard time attracting much support on Capitol Hill, so the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) briefed reporters today about TPP’s benefits in hopes of reviving the fledgling trade deal. But one farm organization, representing 200,000 family farmers and ranchers, was quick to point out that USDA’s projections of job growth and rural prosperity closely mirror the failed promises of past trade pacts.
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson offered the following statement following today’s USDA media call:
“The year-after-year growth of the U.S. trade deficit is an alarming trend for an already stressed agriculture economy. To broadly categorize agriculture as benefitting from this agreement is not giving due diligence to the serious concerns that are not addressed by TPP.
“While access to global markets is important for American agriculture, a trade agreement that does little to fix currency manipulation, reign in foreign predatory trade practices, or improve the $531 billion trade imbalance is not the solution.
“In its current form, the TPP stands to hurt our rural economies by pitting American jobs against foreign labor that is paid mere pennies per hour. Beyond the farm gate, any consumer that cares about where their food comes from should be concerned with the TPP.
“This is an issue that affects all Americans alike. I continue to urge Congress to give thoughtful consideration to opposing the TPP.”
In January, Johnson testified to the U.S. International Trade Commission about TPP.
USDA Cold Storage Highlights
Total red meat supplies in freezers on January 31, 2016 were up 9 percent from the previous month and up 7 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 1 percent from the previous month and up 5 percent from last year. Total beef is a record high for the month of January, since the data was first recorded in 1915. Frozen pork supplies were up 17 percent from the previous month and up 7 percent from last year. Total pork is a record high for the month of January, since the data was first recorded in 1915. Stocks of pork bellies were up 14 percent from last month and up 13 percent from last year.
Total frozen poultry supplies on January 31, 2016 were up 5 percent from the previous month and up 11 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were down 4 percent from the previous month but up 13 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 44 percent from last month and up 3 percent from January 31, 2015.
Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on January 31, 2016 were up 3 percent from the previous month and up 12 percent from January 31, 2015. Butter stocks were up 26 percent from last month and up 32 percent from a year ago.
Total frozen fruit stocks were down 8 percent from last month but up 8 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 6 percent from last month but up 6 percent from a year ago.
Rate of Drop for Net Farm Income to Slow Down
USDA's Economic Research Service recently released its Farm Income forecast for 2016. Net cash income and net farm income (which includes the value and costs of items like depreciation, home consumption of farm goods, and unsold inventory) are both expected to fall slightly compared to 2015, but by much less than last year.
USDA Chief Economist Dr. Robert Johansson says net cash income is expected to fall by 2.5%, or about $2.3 billion, and net farm income by 3%, or about $1.6 billion. Last year net cash income fell by 27% and net farm income by 38%.
A large portion of the forecast decline is from lower livestock receipts, expected to be down by about $7.9 billion. Crop receipts are also forecast to be lower by $1.6 billion. On the other hand, input costs are forecast to be down by $3.8 billion, and government payments are expected to be $3.3 billion higher.
The cost of production relative to projected sales remains tight for most commodities. Returns over variable costs leaves very little additional revenue to cover cash rent or pay the operator.
As a result, it is likely farmers will continue to rely on reserves built up when farm incomes were record high and to lower costs wherever possible, including renegotiating rental contracts, minimizing input costs, and possibly taking out more operating loans.
A slightly higher debt (mostly from operating loans) and lower assets (from some erosion in land values) will result in a slight increase in the debt-to-asset level in 2016. While such an increase indicates rising financial pressures, those ratios still remain near historic lows.
The lowest debt-to-asset ratio we have seen for decades was 11.3% in 2012, and the highest was 22.2% in 1985 during the farm financial crisis. This year the ratio is forecast to be 13.2%, compared to 12.7% in 2015.
The higher the debt is relative to assets (the lower the equity), the greater the indication of financial stress in the sector.
American Farm Bureau to Support Roberts’ Senate GMO Bill to Protect Ag Innovation
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s Board of Directors today voted to support efforts of Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) to move forward with a bill to pre-empt state GMO labeling mandates.
“The Senate Agriculture Committee this week is marking up a bill to provide American consumers a wealth of easily accessible, accurate information about GMOs through a voluntary, national GMO labeling program,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “The bill would pre-empt a patchwork of mandatory and misleading state GMO labeling laws founded more on scare-tactics than science, and we must move this process forward.”
Duvall said Chairman Roberts’ bill will provide consumers access to information they need to make informed choices in the marketplace. He emphasized, however, that AFBF would closely monitor the bill’s progress to ensure it is compatible with AFBF’s grassroots policy.
“The key provisions of this effort will ensure greater transparency for consumers, with an emphasis on science rather than state-by-state scare tactics,” Duvall said, adding that 750 Farm Bureau members from across the nation are taking that message to Capitol Hill this week during a grassroots fly-in.
2016 Commodity Classic Learning Center Sessions Include Wide Range of Farmer-Focused Topics & Issues
From microbes to honey bees, from unmanned aerial systems to measuring sustainability, from global weather patterns to a more efficient office space—the line-up of Learning Center Sessions at the 2016 Commodity Classic offers a wide range of topics designed to help farmers become even better in every aspect of their operations.
The 2016 Commodity Classic, held March 3-5 in New Orleans, Louisiana, promises to be the biggest ever, with the largest trade show in event history and record attendance.
Learning Center sessions are in-depth discussions of current issues and topics that have a direct impact on a farmer’s productivity and profitability. Learning Center Sessions complement the other educational experiences at Commodity Classic including the Early Riser Marketing Sessions, What’s New Sessions. Mini What’s New Sessions and the new AG CONNECT Main Stage on the trade show floor.
This year’s Learning Center sessions include the following presentations:
“Will Microbes Lead the Next Yield Revolution?” which will highlight advances in technology related to plant-microbe interactions and how microbes can be used to increase plant health and reduce the need for additional inputs.
“Farm Different to Break Through Yield Barriers” will feature a panel of progressive growers sharing their use of specific cultural and management practices to farm differently for higher yields.
“Hot Topics from Our Nation’s Capital 2016” features a panel of DC insiders discussing what’s hot in Congress and regulatory agencies.
“The Bee Understanding Project” will explain the initiative to improve communication and collaboration between beekeepers, crop advisors, seed companies, farmers and others who are important in the health of honey bees.
“Precision Farming from Above: The Future of Satellite Technology on the Farm” will explore the latest breakthroughs in crop health monitoring and remote sensing technology.
“New Mode of Action in Soybeans” will provide information for better decision-making in weed management and improving the health of soybean fields.
“Amplifying Agriculture’s Authentic Voices: Project 155” will outline ways in which farmers can comfortably connect with consumers and have conversations that impact the way people view modern farms.
“The Future of Fuel” will provide an update on cellulosic ethanol production and a program designed to expand the flex fuel infrastructure and increase demand for American Ethanol.
“Measuring & Reporting Sustainability on the Farm: Progress and Challenges” will feature a diverse panel discussing the metrics and information required to meet consumers’ interest in the sustainability of the products they use.
“Agronomic Strategies to Improve Soybean Yields” will provide the latest agronomic strategies to break through the soybean yield ceiling.
“Workspace Rescue: Organize Your Office” will outline ways to turn your farm office space into a productive oasis instead of a stressful, clutter-strewn mess.
“Straight Talk about Robotic Aircraft on Your Farm in 2016” will feature the current rules and regulations governing unmanned aerial systems and how these systems can help in a farming operation.
“Judging the Forest, Watching the Trees” is a complete look at current weather and soil moisture conditions in the U.S. and around the globe—and how these conditions may affect commodity markets.
“Healthy Soils, Happy Farmers: Reshaping 21st Century Conservation Management for Sustainability and Prosperity” will highlight the activities of the Soil Health Partnership and how farmers are improving soil health, increasing prosperity and reducing environmental impact.
“Maximizing Farm Profitability and Managing Nutrients with Drip Irrigation Technology” will highlight the value of drip irrigation as a crop management tool and its role in improving nutrient management for a more sustainable operation.
“Commodity Classic is all about helping farmers become even better at what they do. The quality, relevance and diversity of these Learning Center Sessions is a direct result of the farmer-focused, farmer-driven focus at Commodity Classic,” said Commodity Classic Co-Chair Wesley Spurlock, a Texas corn farmer. “Farmers review the proposals for Learning Center Sessions and select those that will have the greatest value and bottom-line impact for their colleagues who attend the event. We want farmers to leave Commodity Classic feeling better informed, inspired and energized.”
Attendees are encouraged to download the Commodity Classic mobile app to build their own schedule, receive alerts and keep up on event details. Information on downloading the mobile app is available at www.commodityclassic.com/app.
Three Fertilizers Continue to Plunge
As has been the case over the last couple of months, some retail fertilizer prices are showing noticeable declines the third week of February 2016, according to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN. All eight major fertilizers were lower compared to a month earlier.
Anhydrous slid 7% compared to last month and the nitrogen fertilizer averaged $538 per ton. Both MAP and UAN32 were down 5% compared to a month earlier. MAP averaged $496/ton and UAN28 was at $259/ton.
The remaining five fertilizers edged lower but just slightly. DAP averaged $477/ton, potash $375/ton, urea $370/ton, 10-34-0 $565/ton and UAN32 $309/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was $0.40/lb.N, anhydrous $0.33/lb.N, UAN28 $0.46/lb.N and UAN32 $0.48/lb.N.
According to DTN's weekly retail surveys, all fertilizers are lower compared to a year earlier. All but one fertilizer is now double digits lower. The only fertilizer not down much is 10-34-0, which is down 5%.
However, DAP is now 16% lower, both MAP and UAN32 are 17% less expensive and both UAN28 and urea are now 22% less expensive than a year ago. In addition, both potash and anhydrous are 24% lower compared to a year earlier.
Growth Energy Members Discuss Eliminating Market Barriers to Ethanol
Today, Growth Energy, the largest trade association representing the producers and supporters of the ethanol industry, held the first panel at their seventh annual Executive Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla. The panel was entitled, “Don’t Get Stuck in the Gears – Eliminating Market Barriers to Ethanol.”
There is no shortage of obstacles hindering the sale of ethanol. The uncertainty surrounding the Renewable Fuel Standard, consistently shifting legal challenges on the state and federal levels and the Reid Vapor Pressure debate are all barriers to the widespread adoption of higher blends of ethanol, such as E15.
Discussion focused on the important actions the policy, legal and regulatory teams must take so the industry can overcome these hurdles. Growth Energy’s efforts are clear - to usher in the widespread availability of renewable fuels so that consumers have an unrestricted choice of renewable fuels when they go to fill up at the pump.
The panel was moderated by Mitch Miller, CEO of Carbon Green BioEnergy, and panelists included Chris Bliley, Director of Regulatory Affairs at Growth Energy, John Fuher, Director of Government Affairs at Growth Energy, Kristy Moore, founder and Principle of KM Consulting, Shailesh Sahay, Regulatory Counsel at POET, and Amy Davis of Government Affairs at Novozymes.
During the discussion, Amy Davis noted that, “In many ways the challenges of today are not that much different than the past - the RFS fight is a battle about market share.”
Kristy Moore added that as we are pushing hard to get E15 treated equally, we are having to ward off some significant attacks. Moore said, “We are working to help define our fuels, not restrict them. E15 is the most studied fuel in decades. We’ve got huge markets like Texas and Florida that are moving E15 into the marketplace with zero issues.”
The panel concluded by noting the importance of engaging lawmakers, influencers and stakeholders to build the support necessary to remove the obstacles to ensure widespread adoption of higher blends.
International Policy Experts Discuss Ethanol’s Global Role
Today, Growth Energy, the largest trade association representing the producers and supporters of the ethanol industry, held another panel entitled, “Ethanol on the World Stage,” at their seventh annual Executive Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla.
As uncertainty has loomed domestically, ethanol producers have increasingly looked abroad for new opportunities in growing international markets that are in need of a cleaner burning, renewable fuel. Additionally, producers have progressively exported higher levels of DDGS, a co-product of ethanol that has become a popular high-protein feedstock. DDGS are becoming widely incorporated into the livestock feed industry overseas due to their versatility and high nutrient concentration, and have thus evolved into a key component of the ethanol industry’s exports. In fact, 2015 was a record year for DDGS exports, while fuel ethanol exports were also very strong.
The discussion focused on the important role that ethanol occupies in the global marketplace and the need to seize every opportunity to expand ethanol utilization worldwide. Panelists also reviewed the importance of additional trade missions to identify new markets and expand existing ones. These efforts are designed to produce win-win opportunities for our international customers, global ethanol producers and the U.S. ethanol industry.
The panel was moderated by Ray Defenbaugh, CEO & Chairman of Big River Resources, LLC. Panelists included Paul Trupo, Director of the USDA FAS Global Policy Analysis Division, Joel Williams, Manager of Ethanol Trading at ADM, Mark Marquis, CEO of Marquis Energy, LLC, Amit Sachdev, South Asia Representative (India Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka) at the U.S. Grains Council, and Junyang Jiang, Deputy Director of the U.S. Grains Council China World Office.
During the discussion, Ray Defenbaugh stressed the importance of the partnership with the U.S Grains Council, as it is helping create new opportunities across the globe for exports. During the panel, it was announced by Mark Marquis, a board member of Growth Energy, that Growth Energy has set a goal to export at least 2 billion gallons of fuel ethanol by 2022, calling the program, “At Least 2 by 22.”
Marquis added that, “foreign market development needs to be an additional prong of our major activities.” He added, “In light of the COP21 agreement, I think there is a general realization that ethanol can be an important tool in improving air quality in heavily populated areas such as India and China.”
Paul Trupo explained that, “Opening new markets in foreign countries is not always strictly market driven. It often requires changes in regulatory systems and influencing policymakers.” Trupo added that, “We need this export market to continue to balance our supply/demand equation through a combination of domestic and foreign sales.
As the panel concluded, the general consensus was that there are tremendous opportunities for exports moving forward and that Growth Energy and its members will continue to participate in trade missions to open new markets to meet the growing global demand for ethanol and DDGS.
CWT Assists with 2.1 Million Pounds of Cheese, Butter and Whole Milk Powder Export Sales
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 12 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold), and Tillamook County Creamery Association who have contracts to sell 1.483 million pounds (673 metric tons) of Cheddar Colby, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese, 220,462 pounds (100 metric tons) of butter (82% milkfat) and 352,740 pounds (160 metric tons) of whole milk powder to customers in Asia, Central America, the Middle East and South America. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from February through August 2016.
So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 7.487 million pounds of cheese, 5.401 million pounds of butter and 5.745 million pounds of whole milk powder to eleven countries on five continents. The sales are the equivalent of 232.574 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.
Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program, in the long-term, helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively impacts all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.
Food System Biosecurity Featured at NIAA Annual Conference, Species by Species
“I’ve been impressed every year with the NIAA Annual Conference themes and how they are presented,” says Paul Rodgers, Deputy Director of Policy at the American Sheep Industry Association. “The General Sessions give a broad prospective of the year’s theme, and the special Sessions set aside for individual species really let you dig into the topic and its impact on your own area of the industry.” NIAA member Rodgers serves as a co-chair, along with Ron Miller, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, for the NIAA Small Ruminant Committee and its session at this year’s NIAA Annual Conference to be held in April in Kansas City, Mo.
Each year, the National Institute for Animal Agriculture chooses a theme for its Annual Conference from the most important and trending topics impacting species across the animal agriculture industry. The 2016 theme "From Farm to Table – Food System Biosecurity for Animal Agriculture" will focus on identifying risks, challenges and solutions of animal disease epidemics at a time when both the swine and poultry industries are still recovering from much-publicized and economically damaging disease outbreaks.
Rodgers says the Small Ruminant Session speakers will offer a different perspective on how biosecurity will impact Small Ruminants and animal agriculture as a whole. “We don’t necessarily share all the same diseases as swine and poultry, but we can all benefit from what they have been learning about transportation and biosecurity.”
Dr. Glynn Tonsor, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University, will be addressing the economic risk of animal disease spread and the investment into biosecurity. Tonsor will approach the subject from the regulatory side of food safety and animal health, as well as the practices, choices and incentives which drive decision making on biosecurity.
“Integrity of Risk Assessment Science Underlying USDA Policy” is the title of Dr. Mark Thurmond’s presentation to the Small Ruminant Session. Thurmond is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Medicine & Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, at University of California, Davis. He will look at the difference between qualitative and quantitative risk assessment in risk modeling, and speak to the process of putting a numerical values on risk.
Dr. Linda Detweiler, Clinical Professor, Department of Pathobiology & Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, at Mississippi State University, will present on the subject of “Emergency Response Preparedness: Considerations for the Small Ruminant Industry.” She will focus on diseases more specific to the Small Ruminant industry.
Biosecurity, says Rodgers, is relevant to all of animal agriculture. It goes hand in hand with animal care, food security and the economic components of loss. In addition, Rodgers says biosecurity is very important to the Small Ruminant industry both at home and as it relates to trade. The Small Ruminant industry in the US may not be as large as in some other countries, but it is still a very important one. Sheep and goats are a major source of red meat and natural fibers around the world. “On both sides, import and export,” says Rodgers, “meeting safety regulations and having secure processes in place can impact whether or not animals are considered valuable and influence the marketplace.”
The NIAA Annual Conference will be held April 4-6, 2016 at the Downtown Marriott in Kansas City, Mo. and will provide speakers and presentations for twelve separate agendas for Species Committees and Issues Council meetings within the Conference along with the General Sessions, pre-Conference tour, and an additional special BVD Forum following the Conference on April 7th. For registration information go to NIAA's website, www.animalagriculture.org.
MONSANTO SEARCHES FOR NEXT “FARM MOM OF THE YEAR”
They are warm and caring, yet tough as nails. They’re dedicated, nurturing, gritty, loving, hard-working and fun go-getters who go above and beyond to care for and protect their farms, families, communities and the agriculture industry they love. Monsanto Company once again wants to recognize these inspiring women, and today announced it has officially opened up nominations for its 2016 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year contest.
“This is the seventh year we’ve held the America’s Farmers Mom of the Year contest, and each year we are introduced to the most phenomenal women,” says Tracy Mueller, Monsanto Corporate Brand Communications Manager. “We read every nomination and their stories are powerful, encouraging and hopeful. These women inspire us, and we’re proud, humbled and excited to share their stories with the rest of the country.”
Nominations are open from February 23, 2016, through March 29, 2016. Anyone can enter their favorite farm mom, whether it’s their mom, sister, aunt, daughter, friend or community member. Just visit AmericasFarmers.com during the nomination period and submit a brief essay online or by mail that explains how the nominated farm mom contributes to each of four areas -- her family, farm, community and the agriculture industry.
A panel of judges from American Agri-Women will once again review nominations and help Monsanto select five regional winners. They will specifically look for nominations that include all four areas addressed above (farm, family, community and agriculture).
“So many women, particularly in agriculture, just focus on what needs to get done, and they do it – no matter what challenges or adversities they may be facing,” says Donnell Scott, Vice President of Education for American Agri-Women. “They don’t do it to get credit or attention. These women have a ‘get it done’ attitude and love what they do and who they do it for. We love reading about their efforts and are proud to help acknowledge their hard work and contributions.”
The five regional winners will be announced at the end of April, and each winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize. Profiles of the winners will then be posted to AmericasFarmers.com, where the public can vote for one national farm mom winner. Announced just prior to Mother’s Day, the national winner will receive an additional $5,000 cash prize above and beyond her regional prize, for a total of $10,000.
For more information on the program or for complete eligibility requirements and official contest rules visit AmericasFarmers.com. Interested parties may also send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to America's Farmers Mom of the Year, Attn: Sue Dillon, 349 Marshall Ave., Ste. 200, St. Louis, MO 63119.
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
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
Monday February 22 Ag News
Nebraska Farm Bureau Says “Right to Farm” Protections Must Be Done Right
The Legislature should be cautious and a careful examination is needed before moving forward with a proposed constitutional amendment that would put “Right to Farm” protections in the Nebraska Constitution, said Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau president, Feb.22.
“No one is more concerned than we are about ensuring our farm and ranch members continue to have the ability to use new practices and employ new technologies in their operations. After considerable input and a great deal of examination by our Board, we have concluded it’s critical we give more thoughtful consideration to any measure that would modify the state constitution as it relates to agriculture,” said Nelson. “We have an obligation to fully explore the pros and cons of these types of initiatives, including how they will impact our members not just today, but well into the future.”
The Legislature’s Agriculture Committee will hear testimony on Legislative Resolution 378CA, Tues., Feb. 23. The measure seeks to protect farming practices in the state constitution. Nebraska Farm Bureau will testify in a neutral position and encourage the Committee to consider placing “right to farm” protections in state statute as opposed to a ballot measure to amend the state constitution.
“Agriculture is vital to our state. It’s important that we make sure we handle this issue the right way and that means having a thorough discussion about what we’re trying to achieve and the best way to go about doing that,” said Nelson. “We already have “Right to Farm” laws in place as it relates to nuisance issues in agriculture. At this point in time, we think exploring legislative actions to similarly protect farming practices is a good place to continue “Right to Farm” discussions.
“We’re confident Nebraskans know the vast majority of farmers and ranchers are good people who care for their livestock and for their land. This is about working to find the best course of action and we need to look carefully at the options available to us,” said Nelson.
Saunders County Livestock Meeting is Feb 23
The Saunders County Livestock Association would like to invite you to their monthly meeting, to be held on Tuesday February 23 at the 4-H building, Saunders County Fairgrounds in Wahoo. Social hour starts at 6pm, the meal will be at 7pm, and the business meeting will follow. Speakers and sponsors for the meal include Brian Reid from Reid's Farmacy LLC, John Liston of Agnition, and David Veldhamp of Veldkamp Drainage.
Now is the time to get dues in for the year! If you have not yet for the year, you can bring it along to Tuesday's meeting. Also, scholarships are available to graduating seniors who are children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of Saunders Co Lvst members. Call 402-624-8030 to get more information and obtain an application.
Producers' Help Needed to Identify Current Soybean Practices
Patricio Grassini, UNL Assistant Professor and Cropping Systems Specialist
A new statewide project being conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln needs producer feedback to identify yield-limiting factors affecting Nebraska soybean production. The eventual pay-off for participating producers? Insights into how they can ramp up their bushels per acre.
I and my colleagues at the UNL Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and Nebraska Extension are collecting producer baseline data on current soybean management practices in Nebraska’s irrigated and rainfed production systems. The project goal is to identify key factors that preclude Nebraska soybean producers from achieving the full soybean yield potential for each of their farms. The term used for the difference between what yield is possible on your farm each year and actual yield is called a “yield gap.”
Our thanks go to the Nebraska Soybean Board and the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) for funding this project.
Soybean Farmer Input Needed
We are asking Nebraska soybean producers to provide us with yield and other agronomic data specific to their soybean fields. With this data, we can conduct an in‐depth analysis of what on‐farm factors may be causing a yield gap on Nebraska soybean farms. We intend to provide annual reports to all crop producers informing you of what factors we may have identified that, based on our analysis of the data collected from Nebraska farms, are likely limiting you from achieving soybean yields closer to your yield potential!
We have put together a two-page survey on soybean yield and management that we would like you to fill out. Specifically, we are requesting yield and other data specific to four 2015 fields of soybean (first page of the survey) and four 2014 fields of soybeans (second page of the survey) that you grew on your farm. Both dryland and irrigated fields are acceptable.
We recognize that you may best remember the yields and related agronomic data for the 2015 season. However, we would very much appreciate additional data for four 2014 soybean fields on your farm. If you cannot recall or do not have data for any given cell in the columns shown on the Survey Form, leave them blank.
You may have already received a copy of the survey from your local Extension Educator or Natural Resource District (NRD) office. If not, here is your opportunity to contribute to the project! It is available in both a Word® version or a PDF version. We would greatly appreciate it if you could fill out they survey and e-mail the completed file (as an attachment) to me (pgrassini2@unl.edu) before March 31. Alternatively, you can print the survey, fill it out, and mail it to: Dr. Patricio Grassini, Dept. of Agronomy & Horticulture, 387 Plant Sciences Hall, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE 68583‐0915.
We look forward to receiving your data. Keep in mind that all data submissions will be kept strictly confidential. In this project, our objective is to work for you, our Nebraska soybean producers. Our goal is to use the data you supply to help you get soybean yields on your farm that will be closer to the potential yields for those fields, once you know what production system factors are holding back your current soybean yields
NACEB Outstanding Business Award and Outstanding Youth Award
The Nebraska Association of County Extension Boards (NACEB) held its Annual meeting on February 8th 2016 at the Nebraska Club in Lincoln Nebraska. Each year, NACEB recognizes one Nebraska Youth Volunteer and one Business that has gone above and beyond in support of Nebraska Extension’s Mission. This year NACEB recognized Butler County Extension Youth Volunteer Craig Hruska and Butler County Extension Business Volunteer Bar S Veterinary Clinic to receive this year’s awards at our annual meeting. These outstanding volunteers were selected from nominations received from all counties across the state of Nebraska. Congratulations Craig and Bar S Veterinary Clinic and thanks for all you do for Nebraska Extension.
(from the awards application)
Dr. Randy Schawang/Bar S Veterinary Clinic has been a strong supporter of Butler County Extension 4-H and other area youth programs since his arrival in Butler County in 1990. This has lead to individual success of youth as well as overall extension youth programming success in the areas of livestock, livestock judging and even weed identification.
Dr. Schawant has actively done this by providing beef for annual 4-H livestock judging contests (often multiple classes each year), supporting youth at the county fair by serving as examining veterinarian, and further supports local livestock youth by providing monetary support. He opens his facility to allow 4-H beef weigh-day every year.
The Butler County 4-H Council has noted his diligence in helping 4-H and other youth to succeed, and has twice honored Dr. Schawang and Bar S Veterinary Clinic as the outstanding business in supporting Butler County 4-H, the only business/businessman to be twice recognized in the past 20 years.
His support for youth goes beyond local 4-H and FFA members. He has mentored and allowed all-summer long job shadowing for a number of UNL pre-vet students over the years, which allowed them to determine if veterinary science was indeed a potential career for them.
(from award application)
In his role as student worker the past two summers and partial falls, Craig Hruska was responsible for data collection from approximately 25 field experiments on corn, soybeans, green beans, wheat and smooth brome. He has also responsible for small plot harvest from many of the smooth brome experiments. He also helped with application of materials in several experiments. Much of this was not easy work, but Craig never complained.
His keen observation skills resulted in the discovery that gibberellic acid application at specific growth stages can result in branching at unifoliate nodes, which has the potential to greatly increase soybean yields.
As the result of his efforts and involvement, there will about 20 research reports that have been/will be made available to Nebraska producers in the near future, with many of these reports also expected to be submitted to scientific journals. Craig was also a co-author on a research poster selected for inclusion at the 2nd World Congress on Biostimulants in Agriculture held in 2015 at Florence, Italy.
SEARCH BEGINS FOR NEXT HEAD OF UNL ANIMAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A committee appointed by Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Harlan Vice Chancellor Ronnie Green has begun the search process to recruit and select candidates for a new head of the Animal Science Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The committee will be led by Deb Hamernik, associate dean of the Agricultural Research Division; and Galen Erickson, professor of ruminant nutrition in animal science.
The current head of the Animal Science Department, Larry Berger, has indicated his intent to retire effective June 30. Berger has spent more than six years in the position.
"We must have a visionary and effective leader in this role to guide our overall efforts in teaching, research and extension in the department in the coming years and to continue to grow our international prominence in the animal sciences," Green said.
The search committee will conduct a vigorous national and international search to identify highly qualified candidates. Public interviews are expected to begin in May.
In addition to Hamernik and Erickson, members of the search committee are: Samodha Fernando, assistant professor, animal science; Jana Harding, doctoral student, animal science; Tommi Jones, research lab manager, animal science; Maci Lienemann, undergraduate student, animal science; Lisa Karr-Lillienthal, associate professor, animal science; John Pollak, director, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center; Tom Rathje, industry stakeholder, chief technology officer, DNA Genetics; Matt Spangler, associate professor, animal science; Craig Uden, industry stakeholder, president-elect, National Cattleman's Beef Association; Jennifer Wood, associate professor, animal science.
The Animal Science Department implements resident instruction, extension and research programs in breeding and genetics, meat science, non-ruminant and ruminant nutrition, physiology, animal well-being, production and management. Species represented in these programs include beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, poultry, swine, companion animals and laboratory animals. Students who graduate in animal science go into animal production, veterinary medicine, sales and marketing, research and many other career fields.
March Clinics Offer Free Financial & Legal Counseling
Openings are available for one-on-one, confidential Farm Finance Clinics being conducted across the state each month. An experienced ag law attorney and ag financial counselor will be available to address farm and ranch issues related to financial planning, estate and transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, water rights, and other relevant matters. They offer an opportunity to seek an experienced outside opinion on issues affecting your farm or ranch.
March Clinic Sites and Dates
Grand Island — Thursday, March 3
Norfolk — Thursday, March 10
North Platte — Thursday, March 10
Valentine — Friday, March 11
Lexington —Thursday, March 17
Fairbury — Tuesday, March 22
Norfolk — Thursday, March 24
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska sponsor these clinics. To sign up for a clinic or to get more information, call Michelle at the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.
Northey Highlights the Importance of Tax Coupling
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey issued the following statement on the importance of tax coupling and encouraging the Iowa Senate to take up House File 2092. A summary issue from the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State University can be found at https://www.calt.iastate.edu/article/iowa-coupling-unlikely-tax-software-trying-keep.
“I encourage the Iowa Senate to take up and pass House File 2092 as soon as possible to avoid an enormous tax increase on thousands of Iowans. I have talked to farmers all across the state that are facing huge, unexpected tax bills if Iowa doesn’t couple with federal tax law. These farmers understandably feel punished for making a significant investment in their farm with the expectation that Iowa would match federal law as they have the last several years. Due to the uncertainty facing taxpayers and tax preparers, I also encourage the Iowa Department of Revenue to extend the farm filing date from March 1 to April 30.”
Beef Checkoff Partners to Launch New Beef Items
Krystal®, one of the country’s first hamburger chains established in the South, is re-inventing tradition with a brand new menu of Country-Fried items, available for a limited time. The core of the line is the Country-Fried Steak Krystal, an item that came about as a result of a partnership with the beef checkoff. The Country-Fried Steak Krystal and other menu items are set to debut today -- Monday, Feb. 22, 2016.
“Once we came up with the Country-Fried Steak Krystal, the ideas just kept coming,” said Alice Crowder, vice president of marketing for Krystal®. “The deep Southern heritage and history of the Krystal® brand lends itself perfectly to hearty, country-fried tastes, and so we’ve developed a whole menu around the concept.”
Available at participating locations through April 24 (or while supplies last) the Country-Fried menu provides an innovative twist on Krystal® classics. The Country-Fried Steak Krystal® is a tender all-beef steak coated in a special blend of country spices, cooked to a delicious golden brown, topped with country gravy and served on a soft steamy Krystal® bun. The Krystal® Chik patty is topped with country gravy to create the Country Chik. During breakfast hours, the option of a biscuit will be available instead of a bun. For side orders, guests will be able to choose country fries, crispy fries topped with country gravy, and crumbled bacon.
All the featured items, especially the Country-Fried Steak offerings, are generating a lot of excitement. The checkoff’s Beef Innovations Group worked side-by-side with Krystal® to develop this new signature taste. “Krystal® and the checkoff have an established relationship of culinary creativity and cooperation,” said Steve Wald, executive director of innovation and culinary initiatives for the beef checkoff. “From idea generation, through product and package design, to launch, the Country-Fried Steak Krystal and Country-Fried Steak Biscuit were both the result of a truly collaborative journey.”
It's National FFA Week in America
More than half a million FFA members will celebrate the role agriculture plays in our lives this week while sharing their message of agriculture and agricultural education throughout the country. During National FFA Week, a host of activities are planned to raise awareness about the role the National FFA Organization plays in the development of agriculture's future leaders and the importance of agricultural education.
The weeklong tradition, which began in 1948, was designated by the National FFA Board of Directors in recognition of Washington's legacy as an agriculturalist and farmer. FFA was founded by a group of young farmers back in 1928. Its mission is to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. Founding members of the organization taught generations that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting--it involves science, business and more.
Today, FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet new agricultural challenges by helping members develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways. Members progress to enjoy careers as biologists, chemists, veterinarians, engineers and entrepreneurs.
FFA Week is also a time for alumni and sponsors to advocate for agricultural education and FFA. On Tuesday, Feb. 23, the National FFA Foundation will celebrate "Give FFA Day," a daylong campaign that will encourage the public to support the various needs impacting FFA members. Every gift will count toward achieving the FFA mission. Visit FFA.org/giveFFAday to donate.
Brazil Soy Harvest 23% Done
With no more than sparse showers registered across Brazil's principal soy-producing regions, harvest efforts moved forward smartly last week, according to AgRural, a local farm consultancy. Fieldwork progressed seven percentage points to 23% as of Friday (Feb. 19), surpassing the five-year average of 20% collected at this point of the season.
Harvesting was particularly quick in the states of Parana, Mato Grosso do Sul and Sao Paulo
In Parana, the No. 2 soy-producing state, harvest progressed 13 points to 43% complete, up from 27% at the same point last year. In general, yields have been excellent in this western area of the state, although dry weather in January has reduced long-cycle bean yields by 5% to 10%, said AgRural. In Campo Gerais, northern Parana, yields of 49 to 58 bushels per acre have been recorded.
Harvesting really leapt forward in Mato Grosso do Sul, where 38% of the crop is now harvested, up from 24% at the same point last year. Showers across Mato Grosso, the No. 1 soy-producing state, didn't really affect harvesting, which progressed 9 points to reach 33% complete, just behind last year when fieldwork was 34% finished.
Yields are varying wildly in the north of the state, which was one of the areas most affected by a dry October and November. Figures of between 40 bpa and 55 bpa are being posted in Sinop, said AgRural. In Rondonopolis, in the south of the state, average yields of 49 bpa are being registered.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state, harvest has just begun and is 1% complete. Early bean yields are a disappointing 36 bpa to 40 bpa in Ijui, in the northwest of the state, after a dry January.
Grain Bin Safety in the Spotlight
With Grain Bin Safety Week taking place this week, and many bins still full from the fall, the National Corn Growers Association reminds farmers of the importance of proper grain bin safety procedures - and is pleased to offer a video highlighting the importance of proper safety procedures.
To view the video, click here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaZlS-GZoIA&feature=youtu.be.
While supplies last, a free DVD of the video can be requested by sending an email with your name and mailing address to corninfo@ncga.com. The video was co-produced with the National Grain and Feed Foundation, the research and education arm of the National Grain and Feed Association.
First released in 2011, this video remains relevant and illustrates the significant threat bin entrapment can pose. Shot on location in several states, it provides a wide range of information, from prevention tips and background data on grain bin accidents. The project also involved interviews with professionals in the fields of grain bin safety research and rescue to provide as much information to viewers as possible.
Safety training for youth working in agriculture: tractor and farm machinery certification offered
Each state is responsible for providing the approved safety training that allows minors under age 16 to be legally employed to operate a tractor or other specified farm machinery, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). Now is the time to prepare youth for agricultural jobs that will begin this spring and summer.
The National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP), housed at Penn State University, trains and certifies instructors in 30 states to provide this required tractor and farm machinery safety training to youth.
In addition to the NSTMOP resource, Gearing Up for Safety, which is housed at Purdue University, provides another resource for this important training. The Gearing Up for Safety program includes an online curriculum, as well as a Program Leaders Guide (CD-ROM), and provides instructors with tools for organizing and conducting an agricultural safety training program that meets the USDOL requirements and addresses the most frequent causes of injuries and fatalities to youth in agriculture.
Since 1969, the USDOL has declared certain agricultural tasks to be hazardous to youth younger than 16, including operating tractors and other farm machinery. Over the past few decades, the Hazardous Occupations Order for Agriculture (AgHO) has established the age for employment in agriculture as 16 years of age, or 14 years of age with training and certification from an approved tractor and farm machinery safety training program. Individuals 16 years of age and older can be employed in agriculture without this certification, but this training is also beneficial to this at-risk age group. The order also identifies hazardous operations and farm tasks.
The current standard for training is the USDOL certificate of training for tractor driving. To attain the certification, the minor will complete four hours of orientation to on-farm hazards and general safety, in addition to a 10-hour tractor safety course. With an additional 10-hour machinery safety course, the minor will receive a certificate of training for tractor and machinery operation.
Since its implementation in 1969, several tractor and machinery programs were developed; however, these programs deteriorated with a loss of interest and implementation over the years. Little is known about the extent to which tractor and machinery safety certification programs reach young tractor and machinery operators.
Multiple variations exist in the type of teaching materials, the number of hours, the forms of instruction, the testing procedures, and the skills assessment in these programs. The need for current and better quality training materials was cited by both certification program instructors and coordinators, which led to development of NSTMOP in 2001 by Penn State University, Ohio State University and the National Safety Council, with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The best place to start looking for courses near you is to contact your local Agricultural Extension office or Agricultural Education program. You can also contact NSTMOP or Gearing Up for Safety.
Ethanol Industry Leaders Gather in Orlando
Today, Growth Energy, the leading trade organization representing ethanol producers and supporters, kicked off its seventh annual Executive Leadership Conference at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida. The organization’s leadership opened the conference with addresses to the membership, and the first panel of the day focused on “The E15 Revolution,” where retailers discussed growth in consumer demand of higher ethanol blends such as E15.
In discussing the changing marketplace, Mike Lorenz, Executive Vice President of Petroleum Supply at Sheetz commented that initial sales have exceeded expectations, even before kicking off a marketing campaign around E15. "The consumers are finding it on their own, and sales are increasing."
Jim Pirolli, Vice President of Fuels at Kum-N-Go, said cost is the biggest selling point for E15. "A big difference on the street is just having that lower price on the price sign," he said. They are seeing strong sales in all of their markets. "When it comes to consumer choice, they're going to go with a higher performance, better value product."
The message from the panel of leading fuel retailers was clear – E15 is the fuel of the future and that its widespread commercial adoption is simply a matter of time and education.
Jeff Broin, co-chair of Growth Energy’s Board of Directors, delivered a “Chairman’s Report” that outlined the current state of the renewable fuels industry and how this year is all about going full throttle for the industry. Broin noted that the industry had a record year producing a product that represents a growing share of the gasoline market and said, “This is a long-term game, and we will not give up. Our industry is poised to succeed, because we are doing the right thing for our nation and generations to come. We will continue to go full throttle to produce a biofuel that reduces toxic air emissions while improving performance for future vehicles.”
Following Jeff Broin’s speech, Tom Buis, Co-Chair and CEO of Growth Energy, delivered his annual “CEO Report.” In his address, Buis told attendees, “last year was an interesting year, we increased exports, had another great corn crop and defeated every single attempt to repeal or reform the RFS.”
Buis also praised how the industry stepped up and helped change the course of this administration’s rulemaking regarding the RVOs, noting “while it’s not perfect and it has flaws, it was far better than the original, and the blend wall was finally cracked this year.” Furthermore, Buis outlined how defending the Renewable Fuel Standard and expanding market access to E15 will continue to be among the industry’s top priorities in 2016.
Additionally, Buis highlighted the importance of doing what is best for our industry, noting that “we need to grab the bull by the horns and discuss all the good work that this industry does, including the environmental benefits, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and all the good jobs we create across the nation, while helping bring choice to American consumers.”
Buis added that by engaging with retailers, we have been successful in bringing E15 and higher blends to the marketplace. Buis said, “Our work showed that we were not going to let others define us, we must share our story on how we are tomorrow’s fuel,” noting that “fossil fuels will go the way of the steamboat, horse and buggy and the blimp.” Buis then added, “Anytime we are compared to the oil industry, we win.”
Buis closed by saying, “I think as an industry, there is no industry that is better. With our knowledge, passion and engagement, we’re going to win this fight, but it’s going to take effort. Effort equals results. We will not sit back, we will roll up our sleeves and we will win.” Buis then quoted Robert Kennedy who said, “Some people see things the way they are and ask why, we dream things that never were and ask why not!”
Following both speeches and the panel on E15, the message from the first day of Growth Energy’s conference was that the demand for E15 is here, and the ethanol industry represents the future, one in which our industry will work to improve our environment by continuing to deliver a clean, high-performance enhancement to motor fuel.
The Legislature should be cautious and a careful examination is needed before moving forward with a proposed constitutional amendment that would put “Right to Farm” protections in the Nebraska Constitution, said Steve Nelson, Nebraska Farm Bureau president, Feb.22.
“No one is more concerned than we are about ensuring our farm and ranch members continue to have the ability to use new practices and employ new technologies in their operations. After considerable input and a great deal of examination by our Board, we have concluded it’s critical we give more thoughtful consideration to any measure that would modify the state constitution as it relates to agriculture,” said Nelson. “We have an obligation to fully explore the pros and cons of these types of initiatives, including how they will impact our members not just today, but well into the future.”
The Legislature’s Agriculture Committee will hear testimony on Legislative Resolution 378CA, Tues., Feb. 23. The measure seeks to protect farming practices in the state constitution. Nebraska Farm Bureau will testify in a neutral position and encourage the Committee to consider placing “right to farm” protections in state statute as opposed to a ballot measure to amend the state constitution.
“Agriculture is vital to our state. It’s important that we make sure we handle this issue the right way and that means having a thorough discussion about what we’re trying to achieve and the best way to go about doing that,” said Nelson. “We already have “Right to Farm” laws in place as it relates to nuisance issues in agriculture. At this point in time, we think exploring legislative actions to similarly protect farming practices is a good place to continue “Right to Farm” discussions.
“We’re confident Nebraskans know the vast majority of farmers and ranchers are good people who care for their livestock and for their land. This is about working to find the best course of action and we need to look carefully at the options available to us,” said Nelson.
Saunders County Livestock Meeting is Feb 23
The Saunders County Livestock Association would like to invite you to their monthly meeting, to be held on Tuesday February 23 at the 4-H building, Saunders County Fairgrounds in Wahoo. Social hour starts at 6pm, the meal will be at 7pm, and the business meeting will follow. Speakers and sponsors for the meal include Brian Reid from Reid's Farmacy LLC, John Liston of Agnition, and David Veldhamp of Veldkamp Drainage.
Now is the time to get dues in for the year! If you have not yet for the year, you can bring it along to Tuesday's meeting. Also, scholarships are available to graduating seniors who are children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of Saunders Co Lvst members. Call 402-624-8030 to get more information and obtain an application.
Producers' Help Needed to Identify Current Soybean Practices
Patricio Grassini, UNL Assistant Professor and Cropping Systems Specialist
A new statewide project being conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln needs producer feedback to identify yield-limiting factors affecting Nebraska soybean production. The eventual pay-off for participating producers? Insights into how they can ramp up their bushels per acre.
I and my colleagues at the UNL Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and Nebraska Extension are collecting producer baseline data on current soybean management practices in Nebraska’s irrigated and rainfed production systems. The project goal is to identify key factors that preclude Nebraska soybean producers from achieving the full soybean yield potential for each of their farms. The term used for the difference between what yield is possible on your farm each year and actual yield is called a “yield gap.”
Our thanks go to the Nebraska Soybean Board and the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) for funding this project.
Soybean Farmer Input Needed
We are asking Nebraska soybean producers to provide us with yield and other agronomic data specific to their soybean fields. With this data, we can conduct an in‐depth analysis of what on‐farm factors may be causing a yield gap on Nebraska soybean farms. We intend to provide annual reports to all crop producers informing you of what factors we may have identified that, based on our analysis of the data collected from Nebraska farms, are likely limiting you from achieving soybean yields closer to your yield potential!
We have put together a two-page survey on soybean yield and management that we would like you to fill out. Specifically, we are requesting yield and other data specific to four 2015 fields of soybean (first page of the survey) and four 2014 fields of soybeans (second page of the survey) that you grew on your farm. Both dryland and irrigated fields are acceptable.
We recognize that you may best remember the yields and related agronomic data for the 2015 season. However, we would very much appreciate additional data for four 2014 soybean fields on your farm. If you cannot recall or do not have data for any given cell in the columns shown on the Survey Form, leave them blank.
You may have already received a copy of the survey from your local Extension Educator or Natural Resource District (NRD) office. If not, here is your opportunity to contribute to the project! It is available in both a Word® version or a PDF version. We would greatly appreciate it if you could fill out they survey and e-mail the completed file (as an attachment) to me (pgrassini2@unl.edu) before March 31. Alternatively, you can print the survey, fill it out, and mail it to: Dr. Patricio Grassini, Dept. of Agronomy & Horticulture, 387 Plant Sciences Hall, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE 68583‐0915.
We look forward to receiving your data. Keep in mind that all data submissions will be kept strictly confidential. In this project, our objective is to work for you, our Nebraska soybean producers. Our goal is to use the data you supply to help you get soybean yields on your farm that will be closer to the potential yields for those fields, once you know what production system factors are holding back your current soybean yields
NACEB Outstanding Business Award and Outstanding Youth Award
The Nebraska Association of County Extension Boards (NACEB) held its Annual meeting on February 8th 2016 at the Nebraska Club in Lincoln Nebraska. Each year, NACEB recognizes one Nebraska Youth Volunteer and one Business that has gone above and beyond in support of Nebraska Extension’s Mission. This year NACEB recognized Butler County Extension Youth Volunteer Craig Hruska and Butler County Extension Business Volunteer Bar S Veterinary Clinic to receive this year’s awards at our annual meeting. These outstanding volunteers were selected from nominations received from all counties across the state of Nebraska. Congratulations Craig and Bar S Veterinary Clinic and thanks for all you do for Nebraska Extension.
(from the awards application)
Dr. Randy Schawang/Bar S Veterinary Clinic has been a strong supporter of Butler County Extension 4-H and other area youth programs since his arrival in Butler County in 1990. This has lead to individual success of youth as well as overall extension youth programming success in the areas of livestock, livestock judging and even weed identification.
Dr. Schawant has actively done this by providing beef for annual 4-H livestock judging contests (often multiple classes each year), supporting youth at the county fair by serving as examining veterinarian, and further supports local livestock youth by providing monetary support. He opens his facility to allow 4-H beef weigh-day every year.
The Butler County 4-H Council has noted his diligence in helping 4-H and other youth to succeed, and has twice honored Dr. Schawang and Bar S Veterinary Clinic as the outstanding business in supporting Butler County 4-H, the only business/businessman to be twice recognized in the past 20 years.
His support for youth goes beyond local 4-H and FFA members. He has mentored and allowed all-summer long job shadowing for a number of UNL pre-vet students over the years, which allowed them to determine if veterinary science was indeed a potential career for them.
(from award application)
In his role as student worker the past two summers and partial falls, Craig Hruska was responsible for data collection from approximately 25 field experiments on corn, soybeans, green beans, wheat and smooth brome. He has also responsible for small plot harvest from many of the smooth brome experiments. He also helped with application of materials in several experiments. Much of this was not easy work, but Craig never complained.
His keen observation skills resulted in the discovery that gibberellic acid application at specific growth stages can result in branching at unifoliate nodes, which has the potential to greatly increase soybean yields.
As the result of his efforts and involvement, there will about 20 research reports that have been/will be made available to Nebraska producers in the near future, with many of these reports also expected to be submitted to scientific journals. Craig was also a co-author on a research poster selected for inclusion at the 2nd World Congress on Biostimulants in Agriculture held in 2015 at Florence, Italy.
SEARCH BEGINS FOR NEXT HEAD OF UNL ANIMAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A committee appointed by Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Harlan Vice Chancellor Ronnie Green has begun the search process to recruit and select candidates for a new head of the Animal Science Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The committee will be led by Deb Hamernik, associate dean of the Agricultural Research Division; and Galen Erickson, professor of ruminant nutrition in animal science.
The current head of the Animal Science Department, Larry Berger, has indicated his intent to retire effective June 30. Berger has spent more than six years in the position.
"We must have a visionary and effective leader in this role to guide our overall efforts in teaching, research and extension in the department in the coming years and to continue to grow our international prominence in the animal sciences," Green said.
The search committee will conduct a vigorous national and international search to identify highly qualified candidates. Public interviews are expected to begin in May.
In addition to Hamernik and Erickson, members of the search committee are: Samodha Fernando, assistant professor, animal science; Jana Harding, doctoral student, animal science; Tommi Jones, research lab manager, animal science; Maci Lienemann, undergraduate student, animal science; Lisa Karr-Lillienthal, associate professor, animal science; John Pollak, director, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center; Tom Rathje, industry stakeholder, chief technology officer, DNA Genetics; Matt Spangler, associate professor, animal science; Craig Uden, industry stakeholder, president-elect, National Cattleman's Beef Association; Jennifer Wood, associate professor, animal science.
The Animal Science Department implements resident instruction, extension and research programs in breeding and genetics, meat science, non-ruminant and ruminant nutrition, physiology, animal well-being, production and management. Species represented in these programs include beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, poultry, swine, companion animals and laboratory animals. Students who graduate in animal science go into animal production, veterinary medicine, sales and marketing, research and many other career fields.
March Clinics Offer Free Financial & Legal Counseling
Openings are available for one-on-one, confidential Farm Finance Clinics being conducted across the state each month. An experienced ag law attorney and ag financial counselor will be available to address farm and ranch issues related to financial planning, estate and transition planning, farm loan programs, debtor/creditor law, water rights, and other relevant matters. They offer an opportunity to seek an experienced outside opinion on issues affecting your farm or ranch.
March Clinic Sites and Dates
Grand Island — Thursday, March 3
Norfolk — Thursday, March 10
North Platte — Thursday, March 10
Valentine — Friday, March 11
Lexington —Thursday, March 17
Fairbury — Tuesday, March 22
Norfolk — Thursday, March 24
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture and Legal Aid of Nebraska sponsor these clinics. To sign up for a clinic or to get more information, call Michelle at the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.
Northey Highlights the Importance of Tax Coupling
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey issued the following statement on the importance of tax coupling and encouraging the Iowa Senate to take up House File 2092. A summary issue from the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State University can be found at https://www.calt.iastate.edu/article/iowa-coupling-unlikely-tax-software-trying-keep.
“I encourage the Iowa Senate to take up and pass House File 2092 as soon as possible to avoid an enormous tax increase on thousands of Iowans. I have talked to farmers all across the state that are facing huge, unexpected tax bills if Iowa doesn’t couple with federal tax law. These farmers understandably feel punished for making a significant investment in their farm with the expectation that Iowa would match federal law as they have the last several years. Due to the uncertainty facing taxpayers and tax preparers, I also encourage the Iowa Department of Revenue to extend the farm filing date from March 1 to April 30.”
Beef Checkoff Partners to Launch New Beef Items
Krystal®, one of the country’s first hamburger chains established in the South, is re-inventing tradition with a brand new menu of Country-Fried items, available for a limited time. The core of the line is the Country-Fried Steak Krystal, an item that came about as a result of a partnership with the beef checkoff. The Country-Fried Steak Krystal and other menu items are set to debut today -- Monday, Feb. 22, 2016.
“Once we came up with the Country-Fried Steak Krystal, the ideas just kept coming,” said Alice Crowder, vice president of marketing for Krystal®. “The deep Southern heritage and history of the Krystal® brand lends itself perfectly to hearty, country-fried tastes, and so we’ve developed a whole menu around the concept.”
Available at participating locations through April 24 (or while supplies last) the Country-Fried menu provides an innovative twist on Krystal® classics. The Country-Fried Steak Krystal® is a tender all-beef steak coated in a special blend of country spices, cooked to a delicious golden brown, topped with country gravy and served on a soft steamy Krystal® bun. The Krystal® Chik patty is topped with country gravy to create the Country Chik. During breakfast hours, the option of a biscuit will be available instead of a bun. For side orders, guests will be able to choose country fries, crispy fries topped with country gravy, and crumbled bacon.
All the featured items, especially the Country-Fried Steak offerings, are generating a lot of excitement. The checkoff’s Beef Innovations Group worked side-by-side with Krystal® to develop this new signature taste. “Krystal® and the checkoff have an established relationship of culinary creativity and cooperation,” said Steve Wald, executive director of innovation and culinary initiatives for the beef checkoff. “From idea generation, through product and package design, to launch, the Country-Fried Steak Krystal and Country-Fried Steak Biscuit were both the result of a truly collaborative journey.”
It's National FFA Week in America
More than half a million FFA members will celebrate the role agriculture plays in our lives this week while sharing their message of agriculture and agricultural education throughout the country. During National FFA Week, a host of activities are planned to raise awareness about the role the National FFA Organization plays in the development of agriculture's future leaders and the importance of agricultural education.
The weeklong tradition, which began in 1948, was designated by the National FFA Board of Directors in recognition of Washington's legacy as an agriculturalist and farmer. FFA was founded by a group of young farmers back in 1928. Its mission is to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. Founding members of the organization taught generations that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting--it involves science, business and more.
Today, FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet new agricultural challenges by helping members develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways. Members progress to enjoy careers as biologists, chemists, veterinarians, engineers and entrepreneurs.
FFA Week is also a time for alumni and sponsors to advocate for agricultural education and FFA. On Tuesday, Feb. 23, the National FFA Foundation will celebrate "Give FFA Day," a daylong campaign that will encourage the public to support the various needs impacting FFA members. Every gift will count toward achieving the FFA mission. Visit FFA.org/giveFFAday to donate.
Brazil Soy Harvest 23% Done
With no more than sparse showers registered across Brazil's principal soy-producing regions, harvest efforts moved forward smartly last week, according to AgRural, a local farm consultancy. Fieldwork progressed seven percentage points to 23% as of Friday (Feb. 19), surpassing the five-year average of 20% collected at this point of the season.
Harvesting was particularly quick in the states of Parana, Mato Grosso do Sul and Sao Paulo
In Parana, the No. 2 soy-producing state, harvest progressed 13 points to 43% complete, up from 27% at the same point last year. In general, yields have been excellent in this western area of the state, although dry weather in January has reduced long-cycle bean yields by 5% to 10%, said AgRural. In Campo Gerais, northern Parana, yields of 49 to 58 bushels per acre have been recorded.
Harvesting really leapt forward in Mato Grosso do Sul, where 38% of the crop is now harvested, up from 24% at the same point last year. Showers across Mato Grosso, the No. 1 soy-producing state, didn't really affect harvesting, which progressed 9 points to reach 33% complete, just behind last year when fieldwork was 34% finished.
Yields are varying wildly in the north of the state, which was one of the areas most affected by a dry October and November. Figures of between 40 bpa and 55 bpa are being posted in Sinop, said AgRural. In Rondonopolis, in the south of the state, average yields of 49 bpa are being registered.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state, harvest has just begun and is 1% complete. Early bean yields are a disappointing 36 bpa to 40 bpa in Ijui, in the northwest of the state, after a dry January.
Grain Bin Safety in the Spotlight
With Grain Bin Safety Week taking place this week, and many bins still full from the fall, the National Corn Growers Association reminds farmers of the importance of proper grain bin safety procedures - and is pleased to offer a video highlighting the importance of proper safety procedures.
To view the video, click here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaZlS-GZoIA&feature=youtu.be.
While supplies last, a free DVD of the video can be requested by sending an email with your name and mailing address to corninfo@ncga.com. The video was co-produced with the National Grain and Feed Foundation, the research and education arm of the National Grain and Feed Association.
First released in 2011, this video remains relevant and illustrates the significant threat bin entrapment can pose. Shot on location in several states, it provides a wide range of information, from prevention tips and background data on grain bin accidents. The project also involved interviews with professionals in the fields of grain bin safety research and rescue to provide as much information to viewers as possible.
Safety training for youth working in agriculture: tractor and farm machinery certification offered
Each state is responsible for providing the approved safety training that allows minors under age 16 to be legally employed to operate a tractor or other specified farm machinery, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). Now is the time to prepare youth for agricultural jobs that will begin this spring and summer.
The National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Program (NSTMOP), housed at Penn State University, trains and certifies instructors in 30 states to provide this required tractor and farm machinery safety training to youth.
In addition to the NSTMOP resource, Gearing Up for Safety, which is housed at Purdue University, provides another resource for this important training. The Gearing Up for Safety program includes an online curriculum, as well as a Program Leaders Guide (CD-ROM), and provides instructors with tools for organizing and conducting an agricultural safety training program that meets the USDOL requirements and addresses the most frequent causes of injuries and fatalities to youth in agriculture.
Since 1969, the USDOL has declared certain agricultural tasks to be hazardous to youth younger than 16, including operating tractors and other farm machinery. Over the past few decades, the Hazardous Occupations Order for Agriculture (AgHO) has established the age for employment in agriculture as 16 years of age, or 14 years of age with training and certification from an approved tractor and farm machinery safety training program. Individuals 16 years of age and older can be employed in agriculture without this certification, but this training is also beneficial to this at-risk age group. The order also identifies hazardous operations and farm tasks.
The current standard for training is the USDOL certificate of training for tractor driving. To attain the certification, the minor will complete four hours of orientation to on-farm hazards and general safety, in addition to a 10-hour tractor safety course. With an additional 10-hour machinery safety course, the minor will receive a certificate of training for tractor and machinery operation.
Since its implementation in 1969, several tractor and machinery programs were developed; however, these programs deteriorated with a loss of interest and implementation over the years. Little is known about the extent to which tractor and machinery safety certification programs reach young tractor and machinery operators.
Multiple variations exist in the type of teaching materials, the number of hours, the forms of instruction, the testing procedures, and the skills assessment in these programs. The need for current and better quality training materials was cited by both certification program instructors and coordinators, which led to development of NSTMOP in 2001 by Penn State University, Ohio State University and the National Safety Council, with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The best place to start looking for courses near you is to contact your local Agricultural Extension office or Agricultural Education program. You can also contact NSTMOP or Gearing Up for Safety.
Ethanol Industry Leaders Gather in Orlando
Today, Growth Energy, the leading trade organization representing ethanol producers and supporters, kicked off its seventh annual Executive Leadership Conference at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida. The organization’s leadership opened the conference with addresses to the membership, and the first panel of the day focused on “The E15 Revolution,” where retailers discussed growth in consumer demand of higher ethanol blends such as E15.
In discussing the changing marketplace, Mike Lorenz, Executive Vice President of Petroleum Supply at Sheetz commented that initial sales have exceeded expectations, even before kicking off a marketing campaign around E15. "The consumers are finding it on their own, and sales are increasing."
Jim Pirolli, Vice President of Fuels at Kum-N-Go, said cost is the biggest selling point for E15. "A big difference on the street is just having that lower price on the price sign," he said. They are seeing strong sales in all of their markets. "When it comes to consumer choice, they're going to go with a higher performance, better value product."
The message from the panel of leading fuel retailers was clear – E15 is the fuel of the future and that its widespread commercial adoption is simply a matter of time and education.
Jeff Broin, co-chair of Growth Energy’s Board of Directors, delivered a “Chairman’s Report” that outlined the current state of the renewable fuels industry and how this year is all about going full throttle for the industry. Broin noted that the industry had a record year producing a product that represents a growing share of the gasoline market and said, “This is a long-term game, and we will not give up. Our industry is poised to succeed, because we are doing the right thing for our nation and generations to come. We will continue to go full throttle to produce a biofuel that reduces toxic air emissions while improving performance for future vehicles.”
Following Jeff Broin’s speech, Tom Buis, Co-Chair and CEO of Growth Energy, delivered his annual “CEO Report.” In his address, Buis told attendees, “last year was an interesting year, we increased exports, had another great corn crop and defeated every single attempt to repeal or reform the RFS.”
Buis also praised how the industry stepped up and helped change the course of this administration’s rulemaking regarding the RVOs, noting “while it’s not perfect and it has flaws, it was far better than the original, and the blend wall was finally cracked this year.” Furthermore, Buis outlined how defending the Renewable Fuel Standard and expanding market access to E15 will continue to be among the industry’s top priorities in 2016.
Additionally, Buis highlighted the importance of doing what is best for our industry, noting that “we need to grab the bull by the horns and discuss all the good work that this industry does, including the environmental benefits, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and all the good jobs we create across the nation, while helping bring choice to American consumers.”
Buis added that by engaging with retailers, we have been successful in bringing E15 and higher blends to the marketplace. Buis said, “Our work showed that we were not going to let others define us, we must share our story on how we are tomorrow’s fuel,” noting that “fossil fuels will go the way of the steamboat, horse and buggy and the blimp.” Buis then added, “Anytime we are compared to the oil industry, we win.”
Buis closed by saying, “I think as an industry, there is no industry that is better. With our knowledge, passion and engagement, we’re going to win this fight, but it’s going to take effort. Effort equals results. We will not sit back, we will roll up our sleeves and we will win.” Buis then quoted Robert Kennedy who said, “Some people see things the way they are and ask why, we dream things that never were and ask why not!”
Following both speeches and the panel on E15, the message from the first day of Growth Energy’s conference was that the demand for E15 is here, and the ethanol industry represents the future, one in which our industry will work to improve our environment by continuing to deliver a clean, high-performance enhancement to motor fuel.
Friday, February 19, 2016
Friday February 19 Ag News
NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 2 PERCENT
Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.46 million cattle on feed on February 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 2 percent from last year. Placements during January totaled 490,000 head, down 3 percent from 2015. Fed cattle marketings for the month of January totaled 435,000 head, down 3 percent from last year. Other disappearance during January totaled 15,000 head, unchanged from last year.
IOWA CATTLE ON FEED
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots totaled 1,235,000 on February 1, 2016, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service - Cattle on Feed report. The inventory is up less than one percent from January 1, 2016, but down 2 percent from February 1, 2015. Feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head had 620,000 head on feed, unchanged from last month but down 5 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head had 615,000 head on feed, up 1 percent from last month but unchanged from last year.
Placements during January totaled 168,000 head, a decrease of 12 percent from last month and down 9 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head placed 89,000 head, down 1 percent from last month and last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head placed 79,000 head. This is down 21 percent from last month and down 17 percent from last year.
Marketings for January were 155,000 head, up 13 percent from last month and up 16 percent from last year. Feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head marketed 86,000 head, down 11 percent from last month but up 10 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head marketed 69,000 head, up 73 percent from last month and up 23 percent from last year. Other disappearance totaled 8,000 head.
United States Cattle on Feed Down Slightly
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.7 million head on February 1, 2016. The inventory was slightly below February 1, 2015.
Placements in feedlots during January totaled 1.78 million head, 1 percent below 2015. Net placements were 1.72 million head. During January, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 340,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 365,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 494,000 head, and 800 pounds and greater were 580,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during January totaled 1.59 million head, 2 percent below 2015. Marketings are the lowest for January since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 56,000 head during January, 27 percent below 2015. Other disappearance are the lowest for January since the series began in 1996.
2015 Cattle on Feed and Annual Size Group Estimates
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head represented 80.3 percent of all cattle and calves on feed in the United States on January 1, 2016, down 1 percent from the 81.6 percent on January 1, 2015.
Marketings of fed cattle for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head during 2015 represented 87.2 percent of total cattle marketed from all feedlots in the United States, down slightly from 2014.
Number of Cattle on Feed - as of Feb 1 2016
State - 1,000 hd - % of Feb '15
Colorado ...........: 880 99
Iowa .................: 620 95
Kansas ..............: 2,140 102
Nebraska ..........: 2,460 98
Oklahoma .........: 280 106
Texas ................: 2,430 98
Number of Cattle Placed in Jan 2016
State - 1,000 hd - % of Jan '15
Colorado ...........: 145 107
Iowa .................: 89 99
Kansas ..............: 415 101
Nebraska ..........: 490 97
Oklahoma .........: 45 90
Texas ................: 335 96
Number of Cattle Marketed in Jan 2016
State 1,000 hd - % of Jan '15
Colorado ...........: 130 93
Iowa .................: 86 110
Kansas ..............: 355 100
Nebraska ..........: 435 97
Oklahoma .........: 34 87
Texas ................: 325 94
January Milk Production up 0.3 Percent
Milk production in the 23 major States during January totaled 16.6 billion pounds, up 0.3 percent from January 2015. December revised production, at 16.4 billion pounds, was up 0.7 percent from December 2014. The December revision represented an increase of 19 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.
Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,923 pounds for January, 4 pounds above January 2015. This is the highest production per cow for the month of January since the 23 State series began in 2003.
The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.63 million head, 6,000 head more than January 2015, but 11,000 head less than December 2015.
2015 Annual Milk Production up 1.3 Percent from 2014
State 2015 Milk Production
Nebraska ....: 1,307.0 million pounds - +9.4% from 2014
Iowa ...........: 4,841.0 million pounds - +4.2% from 2014
The annual production of milk for the United States during 2015 was 209 billion pounds, 1.3 percent above 2014. Revisions to 2014 production increased the annual total 8 million pounds. Revised 2015 production was up 139 million pounds from last month's publication.
Production per cow in the United States averaged 22,393 pounds for 2015, 134 pounds above 2014. The average annual rate of milk production per cow has increased 12.6 percent from 2006.
The average number of milk cows on farms in the United States during 2015 was 9.32 million head, up 0.6 percent from 2014. The average number of milk cows was revised up 2,000 head for 2015.
IBACH ENCOURAGES GOVERNOR’S AG CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION AS NEW SPEAKER IS ADDED
A key Cargill official with expertise on the subject of agricultural sustainability has been added to the line-up of speakers for the Nebraska Governor’s Ag Conference, being held March 2-3 in Kearney.
Nicole Johnson-Hoffman serves as vice president and managing director for Cargill’s North American McDonald’s Business Unit. She is well-known nationally for her work on the U.S. and Global Roundtables for Sustainable Beef.
“Through her position with Cargill, Nicole has really helped shape the conversation about what the word ‘sustainability’ means from the farm gate all the way through the food chain,” Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach said. “The definition of ‘sustainability’ matters as our Nebraska food processing sector works to meet consumer demand, while allowing farmers and ranchers to be profitable.”
Ibach said Johnson-Hoffman received the national spotlight several years ago when she appeared, on Cargill’s behalf, on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” as it took an inside-look at meat processing. She was Cargill’s Fort Morgan, Colorado, plant manager at the time.
Johnson-Hoffman replaces, on the conference agenda, JBS’s Cameron Bruett who had a scheduling conflict. She joins a slate of Governor’s Ag Conference speakers who will be addressing a wide variety of subjects important to the agriculture community, Ibach said. The event will be held at the Kearney Holiday Inn and Convention Center and gets under way at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2.
Farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness owners are encouraged to attend the event, Ibach said. Registration and additional information, including a detailed agenda with speakers, is available online at www.nda.nebraska.gov or by calling 800-831-0550.
“The conference is for anyone with an interest in agriculture,” Ibach said.
Northeast Cattlemen Membership Meeting
Mon Feb 22nd 6.00pm - 10.00pm
Geno’s Steakhouse, Wayne
Washington County Cattlemen Membership Meeting
Mon Mar 7th 6.00pm - 10.00pm
Blair Marina, Blair
Nebraska Corn Board Vacancies
Notice is hereby given that the terms for three members of the Nebraska Corn Development, Utilization and Marketing Board will expire June 30, 2016. The members represent Districts 1, 4 and 5.
District #1 Counties of Butler, Saunders, Douglas, Sarpy, Seward, Lancaster, Cass, Otoe, Saline, Jefferson, Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, and Richardson (Note: David Bruntz, the current District 1 director, has indicated that he will pursue re-appointment.)
District #4 Counties of Knox, Cedar, Dixon, Dakota, Pierce, Wayne, Thurston, Madison, Stanton, Cuming, Burt, Colfax, Dodge, and Washington (Note: Debbie Borg, the current District 4 director, has indicated that she will pursue re-appointment.)
District #5 Counties of Sherman, Howard, Dawson, Buffalo and Hall (Note: Tim Scheer, the current District 5 director, has indicated that he will pursue re-appointment.)
Appointments to the board for Districts 1, 4 and 5 are made by the Governor. Any candidate for appointment may place his or her name on the candidacy list by filing a petition with the Nebraska Corn Board. Qualified candidates include those individuals who are citizens of Nebraska, are at least 21 years old, have been actively engaged in growing corn in Nebraska for a period of five years, and derive a substantial portion of their income from growing corn. Board members who currently represent these districts are also eligible to re-petition.
Petitions may be obtained by writing the Nebraska Corn Board, P.O. Box 95107, Lincoln, NE 68509-5107 or by calling (800) 632-6761 or email ncb.info@nebraska.gov. A candidacy petition must carry the signatures of at least 50 corn producers from that district. All petitions must be received by the Corn Board no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 20, 2016. Faxed copies do not qualify.
FEED HIGH QUALITY HAY AFTER CALVING
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist
Good cow nutrition is crucial following calving to get cows rebred. Today let's review some guidelines to do the job right.
Cows need good feed after calving. Each cow experiences much stress after calving because she is producing milk for her calf and she is preparing her reproductive system to rebreed. As a result, nutrient demands are high. Energy requirements increase about 30 percent and protein needs nearly double after calving. Underfeeding reduces the amount of milk she provides her calf, and it can delay or even prevent rebreeding. And if it gets cold, wet, or icy again, nutrient demands can sky-rocket.
Winter grass, corn stalks, and other crop residues are low quality right now because these feeds are weathered and have been pretty well picked over. So it is critical that the hay or silage you feed will provide the extra nutrients your cows need.
Not just any hay or silage will do. Your cow needs 10 to 12 percent crude protein and 60 to 65 percent TDN in her total diet. If she is grazing poor quality feeds or eating grass hay, your other forages and supplements must make up any deficiencies.
Make sure your forage has adequate nutrients; if you haven't done so, get it tested now for protein and energy content. Compare this to the nutrient requirements of your cows. Then feed your cows a ration that will meet their requirements. But don't overfeed, either. That is wasteful and expensive.
In summary, avoid underfeeding after calving; it can delay rebreeding and slow down calf growth. Use your best quality forages with any needed supplements to provide adequate nutrition. Your cows will milk well, rebreed on time, and produce healthy calves year after year.
NE Corn Growers 2016 Washington DC Leadership Program
The Nebraska Corn Growers Association selected 13 participants was to attend the Nebraska Corn Growers 28th annual Washington DC Leadership Trip. From February 8th – February 12th, producers from across the state gained firsthand experience of Washington, DC and the legislative process.
The leadership visit to Washington is a great way for Nebraska corn farmers to engage with key contacts and help put a face on Nebraska agriculture. The participants had a full slate of meetings over three days. From meetings with Nebraska’s congressional representatives, to meetings with key industry contacts such as the Renewable Fuels Association, Animal Agriculture Alliance, Corn Refiners Association, North American Millers Association, Syngenta, CropLife, American Farm Bureau, Growth Energy, BIO, and US Grains Council –the participants were able to talk with a wide variety of people and organizations who have a great deal of influence over farming operations.
Participants
Chad McDaniel – Roca
Jared Moser – Crete
Kristi Moser – Crete
Brent Hopkins – Rogers
Jordan Bergquist – Oxford
Janae Bergquist – Oxford
Eric Pospisil – Wahoo
Amy Pospisil – Wahoo
Dan Kristensen – Minden
Dave Warner – Albion
Mitch Schweers – Wisner
Isaac Johnson – Cambridge
Randy Pelster – Petersburg
Leaders
Steve Ebke – Daykin
Larry Mussack – Decatur
Joel Grams – Minden
Brandon Hunnicutt – Giltner
Current National Drought Summary
droughtmonitor.unl.edu
Unsettled, cold weather across the eastern half of the country contrasted with mostly dry, warm weather from the Great Plains to the Pacific Coast. Rain and northern snow fell from the central Gulf Coast into New England, though the heaviest precipitation fell outside of the driest areas. Meanwhile, unseasonably warm, locally hot conditions across Texas renewed concerns over dryness and rapidly-developing drought. Likewise, warm, dry weather returned to the West's core drought areas following recent beneficial rain and mountain snow. However, locally heavy precipitation continued in parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies.
Central Plains
Sunny skies and above-normal temperatures prevailed across this drought-free region. However, pockets of short-term dryness are being monitored from southeastern Colorado into southern Kansas.
Looking Ahead
Mild weather will expand to cover much of the nation, including the previously cold eastern U.S. Warm weather will continue to set high-temperature records across the nation’s mid-section, with warmth peaking in many areas on February 18. On that date, high temperatures could reach 90°F on the southern High Plains. At the height of the southern Plains’ warm spell, gusty winds and dry conditions will lead to an enhanced risk of wildfires. Dry weather will prevail during the next 5 days across the Deep South, as well as the central and southern Plains. In contrast, precipitation totaling 2 to 6 inches — much of which will fall on February 17-18 — can be expected in parts of northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Toward week’s end, snow can be expected from the upper Great Lakes into northern New England, while rain showers will develop from the mid-South into the Ohio Valley. The NWS 6- to 10-day outlook for February 23 – 27 calls for above-normal temperatures across much of the western and central U.S., with cooler-than-normal conditions largely confined to the Southeast. Meanwhile, below-normal precipitation is anticipated from southern California and the Great Basin eastward into the Corn Belt and Great Lakes, encompassing the Rockies and Plains. Wetter-than-normal conditions will be confined to coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest and from the eastern Gulf Coast States into New England.
IFBF Margin Management Series features 2016 crop marketing webinar 'Tactics for tight margins- Are you ready for 2016?'
Farmers are feeling the crunch of more challenging times with tight grain margins and high input costs. Faced with many difficult decisions entering this growing season, the tide has turned to a time when decisions are more critical to a farm’s survival and growth.
On Wednesday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m., the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) has organized a webinar that will look at income and cost trends with a focus on tactics to manage through challenging financial times. The webinar will address several integral questions facing farmers in 2016: Who are the most vulnerable producers? What can you do to make the transition to the new cost/revenue realities? How do you compare to your neighbors? What is your lender looking for? And many more questions that are top of mind for farmers today.
“As record-profit years are in the rear-view mirror for most farmers during this time of extremely tight margins, understanding the trends and tools to keep the farm operating in the black have never been more important,” said IFBF Commodity Services Manager Ed Kordick. “We look forward to sharing sound farm financial management ideas and insight during this critical time for farmers.”
IFBF’s new webinar focused on farm operation survival during difficult times will feature Bob Craven, director of the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota. Craven will provide insight into using the effective tools for farm financial management when margins are tight.
Farmers can access the webinar by going to www.iowafarmbureau.com, clicking on the webinar banner and entering the forum as a guest on the day of the event. Pre-registration is not required for online viewing, but attendees are encouraged to test their computer’s ability to participate prior to the webinar.
For more information, contact Kordick at ekordick@ifbf.org.
ASA Supports Roberts Bill to Set GMO Labeling Standard
The American Soybean Association (ASA) welcomed legislation introduced today by Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts that would establish a national framework for the labeling of foods containing bioengineering. The legislation comes as a result of extensive work between ASA and fellow members of the Coalition for Safe, Affordable Food and Senate leadership, and reflects the urgent need to find a path forward on the GMO issue before a controversial law requiring labeling takes effect in Vermont in July.
“We’ve heard repeatedly that Americans want more information on what’s in their food, and we are invested in providing that information to them. Chairman Roberts’ bill is one that moves the food production industry in a direction of greater transparency, while at the same time protecting farmers’ ability to use what science has repeatedly proven to be a safe and sustainable technology,” said ASA President Richard Wilkins, a farmer from Greenwood, Del.
The bill instructs USDA to establish a set of standards within two years for labeling foods that do contain or may contain bioengineering. The bill also directs USDA to conduct an outreach and education campaign on the safety of bioengineered food. Additionally, the bill would preempt a patchwork of conflicting labeling laws at the state level.
“As growers, our primary concern is the ability to continue to produce food in the quantity and of the quality that American consumers demand, and we are acutely aware of consumers’ desire for us to reduce our impact on the environment in the process,” added Wilkins. “This is the dual promise of bioengineering. It has been proven safe repeatedly for nearly 20 years, and we can’t stand by while a small subset of activists willfully misinterprets and misrepresents bioengineering to advance their agenda.”
“We commend Chairman Roberts for his work,” added Wilkins, “and we will work with offices on both sides of the aisle to underscore just how important a national solution is in advance of the Vermont law.”
National Corn Growers Association Applauds Introduction of Proposal to Avoid Patchwork of State Labeling Laws
The National Corn Growers Association today applauded Sen. Pat Roberts for his introduction of a bill to address the growing threat of a patchwork of state labeling laws and called for the urgent passage of this important legislation.
“The introduction of Roberts’s proposal is an important first step to restoring sanity to America’s food labeling laws,” said National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling, a farmer from Maryland. “GMOs are perfectly safe and America’s farmers rely on this proven technology to protect our crops from insects, weeds and drought. Important food safety and labeling decisions should be made by the scientists and qualified policymakers at the FDA, not political activists and campaigns. Yet, despite the scientific evidence, states such as Vermont are quickly moving toward costly, confusing mandatory labeling legislation. It is imperative that the Senate takes up this issue quickly to avoid a situation in which all American consumers pay a high price and gain little actual information.”
Vermont’s mandatory law requiring on-package labels of foods containing ingredients that have been genetically modified takes effect in July, and unless Congress acts swiftly, families, farmers and food companies will face chaos in the market and higher costs. Multiple studies have shown that the associated costs with Vermont’s GMO-labeling law and a subsequent patchwork of state laws will cost American families hundreds of dollars more in groceries each year – with low-income Americans being hit the hardest.
Roberts’s proposal brings continuity to the marketplace, ensuring that consumers have the access to product information they deserve without stigmatizing this safe, proven technology valued by American farmers. The bill, which will go through a markup by the Senate Committee on Agriculture next Thursday, will provide a national framework that places standards in the hands of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and creates a campaign that will educate the public on both the safety of GMOs and on the way in which they can find out more about the foods they purchase.
NCGA, working with partners across the value chain, has pushed for a solution to this issue for more than two years now as a member of the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food.
For more information on the need for a federal labeling standard, visit the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, at www.CFSAF.org.
USSEC Works with USDA/APHIS to Find Solutions on Temporary Restriction of Russian Imports from the U.S.
The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to find a solution to technical issues affecting exports to Russia. This effort is in response to the disappointing official notification received on February 15, 2016 by the U.S. government of a temporary restriction of imports to the Russian Federation due to alleged violations of national and international phytosanitary requirements on previous shipments.
According to the USDA APHIS, Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (VPSS) has stated that U.S. soybean and corn shipments being loaded prior to February 15 may enter Russia, but will be subject to more intensive inspection. Russia has yet to specify those additional restrictions, which will be placed on shipments loaded thereafter, but prohibition of entry is likely.
“The USSEC Team in Russia and the U.S. is working with APHIS/USDA to endeavor to find a solution to these issues,” stated USSEC CEO Jim Sutter. “We will continue to work collaboratively with VPSS in an effort to lift the temporary prohibition on imports.”
Sutter continues, “In the 2014/15 marketing year, Russia imported 267 thousand metric tons (TMT) of U.S. Soy worth nearly $111 million dollars. With 426 thousand metric tons of U.S. soy exports already reaching Russia since October 1, 2015, we continue to see potential in the market.”
COOL REPEAL RULEMAKING NOW UNDER REVIEW
The regulatory rulemaking for the removal of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements for beef and pork muscle cuts, ground beef and ground pork has been logged at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Congress in December approved a fiscal 2016 catch-all federal spending bill that included repeal of the meat labeling provision of the COOL law, avoiding trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico. OMB must review all regulations before they are implemented.
The COOL statute required meat to be labeled with the country where the animal from which it was derived was born, raised and harvested. (It also applies to fish, shellfish, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables and certain nuts.) Canada and Mexico brought cases against COOL to the World Trade Organization, which ruled that it violated U.S. international trade obligations, discriminating against Canadian and Mexican livestock sent to the United States to be fed out and processed. The decision authorized Canada and Mexico to put retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods going to those countries – the No. 1 and No. 2 U.S. export markets. In December, the WTO set the retaliation level at more than $1 billion annually. Repeal of the labeling provision for pork and beef came the day – Dec. 18 – those tariffs could have been applied to a host of U.S. exports going to Canada and Mexico.
NFU Continues Excellence in Cooperative Education
As supporters of cooperative businesses and young professionals, the nation’s second largest general farm organization will host more than 110 students from 15 colleges and universities here this weekend. The 2016 National Farmers Union (NFU) College Conference on Cooperatives (CCOC) will provide a three-day, interactive learning experience designed to help shape the next generation of agriculture.
“Cooperatives organized by farmers and ranchers play an important role in strengthening rural and urban economies across the country. CCOC engages tomorrow’s leaders through a unique platform that teaches them about cooperative business principles and the opportunities available through the cooperative model,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.
Representatives from traditional and value-added agricultural cooperatives, housing and worker-owned co-ops, and consumer cooperatives such as grocery co-ops will offer insights on cooperative development. Students will also hear about the challenges facing the industry from current cooperative leaders, farmers and members.
In addition, participants will visit several area cooperatives, including the nation’s largest agricultural cooperative CHS Inc., and the Mill City Museum, a river-front museum built into the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill.
Johnson explained, “NFU was founded on the core principles of education and cooperation, and we proudly continue that emphasis today with hands-on learning experiences, like CCOC.”
“Thanks to the support of our sponsors, NFU is able to provide cooperative education beyond the farm and ranch gate to young leaders from college campuses across the United States,” Johnson concluded.
This year’s conference was made possible by the generous support of the CHS Foundation, CHS Inc., CoBank, Farmers Union Industries Foundation, NFU Foundation, Minnesota Cooperative Education Foundation, and Organic Valley.
To learn more, visit www.nfu.org/ccoc.
DUPONT, DOW ANNOUNCE SITE STRUCTURE OF INTENDED INDEPENDENT AGRICULTURE COMPANY
DuPont (NYSE:DD) and The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) today announced the U.S. site structure for the global agriculture leader the companies intend to create following the planned separation of DowDuPont into three independent, publicly traded companies.
The corporate headquarters for the Agriculture company will be located in Wilmington, Delaware and will include the office of the CEO and key corporate support functions. Sites in Johnston, Iowa and Indianapolis, Indiana will serve as Global Business Centers, with leadership of business lines, business support functions, R&D, global supply chain, and sales and marketing capabilities concentrated in the two Midwest locations. In addition, the independent Agriculture company will feature DuPont in the company’s name, following completion of the corporate naming and branding process.
“This efficient structure takes full advantage of the unique expertise and resources that exist in each location, enabling us to deliver the long-term opportunity for the leading global Agriculture company we intend to create,” said Edward D. Breen, chairman and chief executive officer of DuPont. “Our deep presence in Iowa and Indiana will continue the close ties to our customer base and the broader Agriculture community, while leveraging the existing corporate infrastructure and expertise we have in Delaware – DuPont’s home for more than 200 years.”
The structure of the Agriculture company was specifically developed to ensure the cost discipline and efficiency necessary to achieve the previously stated $1.3 billion in synergies, while establishing the strongest foundation possible for sustainable growth over the long term – which will in turn create long-term opportunities for the company’s global employee base and local communities. This structure enables the intended independent Agriculture company to consolidate DuPont’s and Dow’s complete Agriculture capabilities across seed and crop protection in three primary locations, which is integral to achieving the planned synergies.
“We want to thank the leaders of each state for a highly constructive, cooperative process to achieve the best possible approach that leverages key advantages in each location. As we advance plans for the intended merger, DuPont and the state of Delaware are committed to leveraging our respective science infrastructures and competencies to nurture the emerging science and technology innovation hub in the state,” Breen stated.
“The proposed combination of Dow’s and DuPont’s agricultural businesses will create a U.S.-based global leader with the scale and breadth necessary to deliver greater value and choice for growers worldwide and compete against the largest global competitors,” said Andrew N. Liveris, chairman and chief executive officer of Dow. “Combining each company’s strengths in science and R&D, with increased global market access, enables greater opportunity for innovative new solutions in both seed and crop protection. The headquarters location of the Agriculture company being announced as Wilmington, with global business centers in Indiana and Iowa is consistent with the intended headquarters of the Material Science company, to be named Dow, being headquartered in Midland, Michigan, but having global business centers in other U.S. and global locations.”
“Today’s announcement is another step toward our creation of a leading global agriculture company. The intended Agriculture company will be highly focused, stronger, more competitive, more resilient and better equipped to deliver growth and long-term, sustainable value than either DuPont or Dow could deliver on its own. Both companies have highly respected brands in the agriculture industry, such as Pioneer and Mycogen, which we will continue to build and leverage. Going forward, we will be better equipped to meet and exceed grower expectations for innovation in crop technology and agricultural services. We intend to bring a broader suite of products to the market, faster, to increase grower productivity and profitability,” Breen concluded.
THREE INTENDED INDEPENDENT, PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES
With the announcement of the intended Agriculture company site structure, each headquarters location of the three intended independent, publicly traded companies now has been determined.
Agriculture Company: A leading global pure‐play Agriculture company that unites the Seeds and Crop Protection businesses from DuPont and Dow. The combined entity is expected to have the most comprehensive and diverse portfolio in the industry and a robust pipeline with exceptional growth opportunities in the near‐, mid‐ and long‐term. The complementary offerings will provide growers across geographies with a broad portfolio of solutions and greater choice. The Agriculture company will be headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. In addition, the independent Agriculture company will feature DuPont in the company’s name.
Material Science Company: A pure‐play industrial leader, consisting of Dow’s Performance Plastics, Performance Materials and Chemicals, Infrastructure Solutions, Consumer Care and Automotive Solutions (excluding the Dow Electronic Materials business) operating segments, as well as DuPont’s Performance Materials segment. The combination of complementary capabilities is expected to create a low‐cost, innovation‐driven leader that can provide customers in high‐growth, high-value industry segments in packaging, transportation, and infrastructure solutions, among others, with a broad and deep portfolio of cost‐effective offerings. The Material Science company will be headquartered in Midland, Michigan. In addition, the independent Material Science company will feature Dow in the company’s name.
Specialty Products Company: A leading global specialty business focused on attractive secular growth markets where innovative science capabilities offer a clear competitive advantage. The company is expected to be composed of four strong businesses which include DuPont’s Nutrition & Health, Industrial Biosciences, and Protective Solutions businesses as well as the integration of DuPont’s Electronics & Communications business with Dow’s Electronic Materials business unit. The Specialty Products company will be headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.
Prior to the intended separation into three independent companies, DowDuPont will be dual headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and Midland, Michigan.
Both parties continue to plan for the closing of the transaction during the second half of 2016, subject to satisfying the necessary closing conditions including obtaining the required pre-merger regulatory approvals.
Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.46 million cattle on feed on February 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 2 percent from last year. Placements during January totaled 490,000 head, down 3 percent from 2015. Fed cattle marketings for the month of January totaled 435,000 head, down 3 percent from last year. Other disappearance during January totaled 15,000 head, unchanged from last year.
IOWA CATTLE ON FEED
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots totaled 1,235,000 on February 1, 2016, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service - Cattle on Feed report. The inventory is up less than one percent from January 1, 2016, but down 2 percent from February 1, 2015. Feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head had 620,000 head on feed, unchanged from last month but down 5 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head had 615,000 head on feed, up 1 percent from last month but unchanged from last year.
Placements during January totaled 168,000 head, a decrease of 12 percent from last month and down 9 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head placed 89,000 head, down 1 percent from last month and last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head placed 79,000 head. This is down 21 percent from last month and down 17 percent from last year.
Marketings for January were 155,000 head, up 13 percent from last month and up 16 percent from last year. Feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head marketed 86,000 head, down 11 percent from last month but up 10 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head marketed 69,000 head, up 73 percent from last month and up 23 percent from last year. Other disappearance totaled 8,000 head.
United States Cattle on Feed Down Slightly
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.7 million head on February 1, 2016. The inventory was slightly below February 1, 2015.
Placements in feedlots during January totaled 1.78 million head, 1 percent below 2015. Net placements were 1.72 million head. During January, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 340,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 365,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 494,000 head, and 800 pounds and greater were 580,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during January totaled 1.59 million head, 2 percent below 2015. Marketings are the lowest for January since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 56,000 head during January, 27 percent below 2015. Other disappearance are the lowest for January since the series began in 1996.
2015 Cattle on Feed and Annual Size Group Estimates
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head represented 80.3 percent of all cattle and calves on feed in the United States on January 1, 2016, down 1 percent from the 81.6 percent on January 1, 2015.
Marketings of fed cattle for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head during 2015 represented 87.2 percent of total cattle marketed from all feedlots in the United States, down slightly from 2014.
Number of Cattle on Feed - as of Feb 1 2016
State - 1,000 hd - % of Feb '15
Colorado ...........: 880 99
Iowa .................: 620 95
Kansas ..............: 2,140 102
Nebraska ..........: 2,460 98
Oklahoma .........: 280 106
Texas ................: 2,430 98
Number of Cattle Placed in Jan 2016
State - 1,000 hd - % of Jan '15
Colorado ...........: 145 107
Iowa .................: 89 99
Kansas ..............: 415 101
Nebraska ..........: 490 97
Oklahoma .........: 45 90
Texas ................: 335 96
Number of Cattle Marketed in Jan 2016
State 1,000 hd - % of Jan '15
Colorado ...........: 130 93
Iowa .................: 86 110
Kansas ..............: 355 100
Nebraska ..........: 435 97
Oklahoma .........: 34 87
Texas ................: 325 94
January Milk Production up 0.3 Percent
Milk production in the 23 major States during January totaled 16.6 billion pounds, up 0.3 percent from January 2015. December revised production, at 16.4 billion pounds, was up 0.7 percent from December 2014. The December revision represented an increase of 19 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.
Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,923 pounds for January, 4 pounds above January 2015. This is the highest production per cow for the month of January since the 23 State series began in 2003.
The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.63 million head, 6,000 head more than January 2015, but 11,000 head less than December 2015.
2015 Annual Milk Production up 1.3 Percent from 2014
State 2015 Milk Production
Nebraska ....: 1,307.0 million pounds - +9.4% from 2014
Iowa ...........: 4,841.0 million pounds - +4.2% from 2014
The annual production of milk for the United States during 2015 was 209 billion pounds, 1.3 percent above 2014. Revisions to 2014 production increased the annual total 8 million pounds. Revised 2015 production was up 139 million pounds from last month's publication.
Production per cow in the United States averaged 22,393 pounds for 2015, 134 pounds above 2014. The average annual rate of milk production per cow has increased 12.6 percent from 2006.
The average number of milk cows on farms in the United States during 2015 was 9.32 million head, up 0.6 percent from 2014. The average number of milk cows was revised up 2,000 head for 2015.
IBACH ENCOURAGES GOVERNOR’S AG CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION AS NEW SPEAKER IS ADDED
A key Cargill official with expertise on the subject of agricultural sustainability has been added to the line-up of speakers for the Nebraska Governor’s Ag Conference, being held March 2-3 in Kearney.
Nicole Johnson-Hoffman serves as vice president and managing director for Cargill’s North American McDonald’s Business Unit. She is well-known nationally for her work on the U.S. and Global Roundtables for Sustainable Beef.
“Through her position with Cargill, Nicole has really helped shape the conversation about what the word ‘sustainability’ means from the farm gate all the way through the food chain,” Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach said. “The definition of ‘sustainability’ matters as our Nebraska food processing sector works to meet consumer demand, while allowing farmers and ranchers to be profitable.”
Ibach said Johnson-Hoffman received the national spotlight several years ago when she appeared, on Cargill’s behalf, on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” as it took an inside-look at meat processing. She was Cargill’s Fort Morgan, Colorado, plant manager at the time.
Johnson-Hoffman replaces, on the conference agenda, JBS’s Cameron Bruett who had a scheduling conflict. She joins a slate of Governor’s Ag Conference speakers who will be addressing a wide variety of subjects important to the agriculture community, Ibach said. The event will be held at the Kearney Holiday Inn and Convention Center and gets under way at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2.
Farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness owners are encouraged to attend the event, Ibach said. Registration and additional information, including a detailed agenda with speakers, is available online at www.nda.nebraska.gov or by calling 800-831-0550.
“The conference is for anyone with an interest in agriculture,” Ibach said.
Northeast Cattlemen Membership Meeting
Mon Feb 22nd 6.00pm - 10.00pm
Geno’s Steakhouse, Wayne
Washington County Cattlemen Membership Meeting
Mon Mar 7th 6.00pm - 10.00pm
Blair Marina, Blair
Nebraska Corn Board Vacancies
Notice is hereby given that the terms for three members of the Nebraska Corn Development, Utilization and Marketing Board will expire June 30, 2016. The members represent Districts 1, 4 and 5.
District #1 Counties of Butler, Saunders, Douglas, Sarpy, Seward, Lancaster, Cass, Otoe, Saline, Jefferson, Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, and Richardson (Note: David Bruntz, the current District 1 director, has indicated that he will pursue re-appointment.)
District #4 Counties of Knox, Cedar, Dixon, Dakota, Pierce, Wayne, Thurston, Madison, Stanton, Cuming, Burt, Colfax, Dodge, and Washington (Note: Debbie Borg, the current District 4 director, has indicated that she will pursue re-appointment.)
District #5 Counties of Sherman, Howard, Dawson, Buffalo and Hall (Note: Tim Scheer, the current District 5 director, has indicated that he will pursue re-appointment.)
Appointments to the board for Districts 1, 4 and 5 are made by the Governor. Any candidate for appointment may place his or her name on the candidacy list by filing a petition with the Nebraska Corn Board. Qualified candidates include those individuals who are citizens of Nebraska, are at least 21 years old, have been actively engaged in growing corn in Nebraska for a period of five years, and derive a substantial portion of their income from growing corn. Board members who currently represent these districts are also eligible to re-petition.
Petitions may be obtained by writing the Nebraska Corn Board, P.O. Box 95107, Lincoln, NE 68509-5107 or by calling (800) 632-6761 or email ncb.info@nebraska.gov. A candidacy petition must carry the signatures of at least 50 corn producers from that district. All petitions must be received by the Corn Board no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 20, 2016. Faxed copies do not qualify.
FEED HIGH QUALITY HAY AFTER CALVING
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist
Good cow nutrition is crucial following calving to get cows rebred. Today let's review some guidelines to do the job right.
Cows need good feed after calving. Each cow experiences much stress after calving because she is producing milk for her calf and she is preparing her reproductive system to rebreed. As a result, nutrient demands are high. Energy requirements increase about 30 percent and protein needs nearly double after calving. Underfeeding reduces the amount of milk she provides her calf, and it can delay or even prevent rebreeding. And if it gets cold, wet, or icy again, nutrient demands can sky-rocket.
Winter grass, corn stalks, and other crop residues are low quality right now because these feeds are weathered and have been pretty well picked over. So it is critical that the hay or silage you feed will provide the extra nutrients your cows need.
Not just any hay or silage will do. Your cow needs 10 to 12 percent crude protein and 60 to 65 percent TDN in her total diet. If she is grazing poor quality feeds or eating grass hay, your other forages and supplements must make up any deficiencies.
Make sure your forage has adequate nutrients; if you haven't done so, get it tested now for protein and energy content. Compare this to the nutrient requirements of your cows. Then feed your cows a ration that will meet their requirements. But don't overfeed, either. That is wasteful and expensive.
In summary, avoid underfeeding after calving; it can delay rebreeding and slow down calf growth. Use your best quality forages with any needed supplements to provide adequate nutrition. Your cows will milk well, rebreed on time, and produce healthy calves year after year.
NE Corn Growers 2016 Washington DC Leadership Program
The Nebraska Corn Growers Association selected 13 participants was to attend the Nebraska Corn Growers 28th annual Washington DC Leadership Trip. From February 8th – February 12th, producers from across the state gained firsthand experience of Washington, DC and the legislative process.
The leadership visit to Washington is a great way for Nebraska corn farmers to engage with key contacts and help put a face on Nebraska agriculture. The participants had a full slate of meetings over three days. From meetings with Nebraska’s congressional representatives, to meetings with key industry contacts such as the Renewable Fuels Association, Animal Agriculture Alliance, Corn Refiners Association, North American Millers Association, Syngenta, CropLife, American Farm Bureau, Growth Energy, BIO, and US Grains Council –the participants were able to talk with a wide variety of people and organizations who have a great deal of influence over farming operations.
Participants
Chad McDaniel – Roca
Jared Moser – Crete
Kristi Moser – Crete
Brent Hopkins – Rogers
Jordan Bergquist – Oxford
Janae Bergquist – Oxford
Eric Pospisil – Wahoo
Amy Pospisil – Wahoo
Dan Kristensen – Minden
Dave Warner – Albion
Mitch Schweers – Wisner
Isaac Johnson – Cambridge
Randy Pelster – Petersburg
Leaders
Steve Ebke – Daykin
Larry Mussack – Decatur
Joel Grams – Minden
Brandon Hunnicutt – Giltner
Current National Drought Summary
droughtmonitor.unl.edu
Unsettled, cold weather across the eastern half of the country contrasted with mostly dry, warm weather from the Great Plains to the Pacific Coast. Rain and northern snow fell from the central Gulf Coast into New England, though the heaviest precipitation fell outside of the driest areas. Meanwhile, unseasonably warm, locally hot conditions across Texas renewed concerns over dryness and rapidly-developing drought. Likewise, warm, dry weather returned to the West's core drought areas following recent beneficial rain and mountain snow. However, locally heavy precipitation continued in parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies.
Central Plains
Sunny skies and above-normal temperatures prevailed across this drought-free region. However, pockets of short-term dryness are being monitored from southeastern Colorado into southern Kansas.
Looking Ahead
Mild weather will expand to cover much of the nation, including the previously cold eastern U.S. Warm weather will continue to set high-temperature records across the nation’s mid-section, with warmth peaking in many areas on February 18. On that date, high temperatures could reach 90°F on the southern High Plains. At the height of the southern Plains’ warm spell, gusty winds and dry conditions will lead to an enhanced risk of wildfires. Dry weather will prevail during the next 5 days across the Deep South, as well as the central and southern Plains. In contrast, precipitation totaling 2 to 6 inches — much of which will fall on February 17-18 — can be expected in parts of northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Toward week’s end, snow can be expected from the upper Great Lakes into northern New England, while rain showers will develop from the mid-South into the Ohio Valley. The NWS 6- to 10-day outlook for February 23 – 27 calls for above-normal temperatures across much of the western and central U.S., with cooler-than-normal conditions largely confined to the Southeast. Meanwhile, below-normal precipitation is anticipated from southern California and the Great Basin eastward into the Corn Belt and Great Lakes, encompassing the Rockies and Plains. Wetter-than-normal conditions will be confined to coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest and from the eastern Gulf Coast States into New England.
IFBF Margin Management Series features 2016 crop marketing webinar 'Tactics for tight margins- Are you ready for 2016?'
Farmers are feeling the crunch of more challenging times with tight grain margins and high input costs. Faced with many difficult decisions entering this growing season, the tide has turned to a time when decisions are more critical to a farm’s survival and growth.
On Wednesday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m., the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) has organized a webinar that will look at income and cost trends with a focus on tactics to manage through challenging financial times. The webinar will address several integral questions facing farmers in 2016: Who are the most vulnerable producers? What can you do to make the transition to the new cost/revenue realities? How do you compare to your neighbors? What is your lender looking for? And many more questions that are top of mind for farmers today.
“As record-profit years are in the rear-view mirror for most farmers during this time of extremely tight margins, understanding the trends and tools to keep the farm operating in the black have never been more important,” said IFBF Commodity Services Manager Ed Kordick. “We look forward to sharing sound farm financial management ideas and insight during this critical time for farmers.”
IFBF’s new webinar focused on farm operation survival during difficult times will feature Bob Craven, director of the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota. Craven will provide insight into using the effective tools for farm financial management when margins are tight.
Farmers can access the webinar by going to www.iowafarmbureau.com, clicking on the webinar banner and entering the forum as a guest on the day of the event. Pre-registration is not required for online viewing, but attendees are encouraged to test their computer’s ability to participate prior to the webinar.
For more information, contact Kordick at ekordick@ifbf.org.
ASA Supports Roberts Bill to Set GMO Labeling Standard
The American Soybean Association (ASA) welcomed legislation introduced today by Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts that would establish a national framework for the labeling of foods containing bioengineering. The legislation comes as a result of extensive work between ASA and fellow members of the Coalition for Safe, Affordable Food and Senate leadership, and reflects the urgent need to find a path forward on the GMO issue before a controversial law requiring labeling takes effect in Vermont in July.
“We’ve heard repeatedly that Americans want more information on what’s in their food, and we are invested in providing that information to them. Chairman Roberts’ bill is one that moves the food production industry in a direction of greater transparency, while at the same time protecting farmers’ ability to use what science has repeatedly proven to be a safe and sustainable technology,” said ASA President Richard Wilkins, a farmer from Greenwood, Del.
The bill instructs USDA to establish a set of standards within two years for labeling foods that do contain or may contain bioengineering. The bill also directs USDA to conduct an outreach and education campaign on the safety of bioengineered food. Additionally, the bill would preempt a patchwork of conflicting labeling laws at the state level.
“As growers, our primary concern is the ability to continue to produce food in the quantity and of the quality that American consumers demand, and we are acutely aware of consumers’ desire for us to reduce our impact on the environment in the process,” added Wilkins. “This is the dual promise of bioengineering. It has been proven safe repeatedly for nearly 20 years, and we can’t stand by while a small subset of activists willfully misinterprets and misrepresents bioengineering to advance their agenda.”
“We commend Chairman Roberts for his work,” added Wilkins, “and we will work with offices on both sides of the aisle to underscore just how important a national solution is in advance of the Vermont law.”
National Corn Growers Association Applauds Introduction of Proposal to Avoid Patchwork of State Labeling Laws
The National Corn Growers Association today applauded Sen. Pat Roberts for his introduction of a bill to address the growing threat of a patchwork of state labeling laws and called for the urgent passage of this important legislation.
“The introduction of Roberts’s proposal is an important first step to restoring sanity to America’s food labeling laws,” said National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling, a farmer from Maryland. “GMOs are perfectly safe and America’s farmers rely on this proven technology to protect our crops from insects, weeds and drought. Important food safety and labeling decisions should be made by the scientists and qualified policymakers at the FDA, not political activists and campaigns. Yet, despite the scientific evidence, states such as Vermont are quickly moving toward costly, confusing mandatory labeling legislation. It is imperative that the Senate takes up this issue quickly to avoid a situation in which all American consumers pay a high price and gain little actual information.”
Vermont’s mandatory law requiring on-package labels of foods containing ingredients that have been genetically modified takes effect in July, and unless Congress acts swiftly, families, farmers and food companies will face chaos in the market and higher costs. Multiple studies have shown that the associated costs with Vermont’s GMO-labeling law and a subsequent patchwork of state laws will cost American families hundreds of dollars more in groceries each year – with low-income Americans being hit the hardest.
Roberts’s proposal brings continuity to the marketplace, ensuring that consumers have the access to product information they deserve without stigmatizing this safe, proven technology valued by American farmers. The bill, which will go through a markup by the Senate Committee on Agriculture next Thursday, will provide a national framework that places standards in the hands of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and creates a campaign that will educate the public on both the safety of GMOs and on the way in which they can find out more about the foods they purchase.
NCGA, working with partners across the value chain, has pushed for a solution to this issue for more than two years now as a member of the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food.
For more information on the need for a federal labeling standard, visit the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, at www.CFSAF.org.
USSEC Works with USDA/APHIS to Find Solutions on Temporary Restriction of Russian Imports from the U.S.
The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to find a solution to technical issues affecting exports to Russia. This effort is in response to the disappointing official notification received on February 15, 2016 by the U.S. government of a temporary restriction of imports to the Russian Federation due to alleged violations of national and international phytosanitary requirements on previous shipments.
According to the USDA APHIS, Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (VPSS) has stated that U.S. soybean and corn shipments being loaded prior to February 15 may enter Russia, but will be subject to more intensive inspection. Russia has yet to specify those additional restrictions, which will be placed on shipments loaded thereafter, but prohibition of entry is likely.
“The USSEC Team in Russia and the U.S. is working with APHIS/USDA to endeavor to find a solution to these issues,” stated USSEC CEO Jim Sutter. “We will continue to work collaboratively with VPSS in an effort to lift the temporary prohibition on imports.”
Sutter continues, “In the 2014/15 marketing year, Russia imported 267 thousand metric tons (TMT) of U.S. Soy worth nearly $111 million dollars. With 426 thousand metric tons of U.S. soy exports already reaching Russia since October 1, 2015, we continue to see potential in the market.”
COOL REPEAL RULEMAKING NOW UNDER REVIEW
The regulatory rulemaking for the removal of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements for beef and pork muscle cuts, ground beef and ground pork has been logged at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Congress in December approved a fiscal 2016 catch-all federal spending bill that included repeal of the meat labeling provision of the COOL law, avoiding trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico. OMB must review all regulations before they are implemented.
The COOL statute required meat to be labeled with the country where the animal from which it was derived was born, raised and harvested. (It also applies to fish, shellfish, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables and certain nuts.) Canada and Mexico brought cases against COOL to the World Trade Organization, which ruled that it violated U.S. international trade obligations, discriminating against Canadian and Mexican livestock sent to the United States to be fed out and processed. The decision authorized Canada and Mexico to put retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods going to those countries – the No. 1 and No. 2 U.S. export markets. In December, the WTO set the retaliation level at more than $1 billion annually. Repeal of the labeling provision for pork and beef came the day – Dec. 18 – those tariffs could have been applied to a host of U.S. exports going to Canada and Mexico.
NFU Continues Excellence in Cooperative Education
As supporters of cooperative businesses and young professionals, the nation’s second largest general farm organization will host more than 110 students from 15 colleges and universities here this weekend. The 2016 National Farmers Union (NFU) College Conference on Cooperatives (CCOC) will provide a three-day, interactive learning experience designed to help shape the next generation of agriculture.
“Cooperatives organized by farmers and ranchers play an important role in strengthening rural and urban economies across the country. CCOC engages tomorrow’s leaders through a unique platform that teaches them about cooperative business principles and the opportunities available through the cooperative model,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.
Representatives from traditional and value-added agricultural cooperatives, housing and worker-owned co-ops, and consumer cooperatives such as grocery co-ops will offer insights on cooperative development. Students will also hear about the challenges facing the industry from current cooperative leaders, farmers and members.
In addition, participants will visit several area cooperatives, including the nation’s largest agricultural cooperative CHS Inc., and the Mill City Museum, a river-front museum built into the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill.
Johnson explained, “NFU was founded on the core principles of education and cooperation, and we proudly continue that emphasis today with hands-on learning experiences, like CCOC.”
“Thanks to the support of our sponsors, NFU is able to provide cooperative education beyond the farm and ranch gate to young leaders from college campuses across the United States,” Johnson concluded.
This year’s conference was made possible by the generous support of the CHS Foundation, CHS Inc., CoBank, Farmers Union Industries Foundation, NFU Foundation, Minnesota Cooperative Education Foundation, and Organic Valley.
To learn more, visit www.nfu.org/ccoc.
DUPONT, DOW ANNOUNCE SITE STRUCTURE OF INTENDED INDEPENDENT AGRICULTURE COMPANY
DuPont (NYSE:DD) and The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) today announced the U.S. site structure for the global agriculture leader the companies intend to create following the planned separation of DowDuPont into three independent, publicly traded companies.
The corporate headquarters for the Agriculture company will be located in Wilmington, Delaware and will include the office of the CEO and key corporate support functions. Sites in Johnston, Iowa and Indianapolis, Indiana will serve as Global Business Centers, with leadership of business lines, business support functions, R&D, global supply chain, and sales and marketing capabilities concentrated in the two Midwest locations. In addition, the independent Agriculture company will feature DuPont in the company’s name, following completion of the corporate naming and branding process.
“This efficient structure takes full advantage of the unique expertise and resources that exist in each location, enabling us to deliver the long-term opportunity for the leading global Agriculture company we intend to create,” said Edward D. Breen, chairman and chief executive officer of DuPont. “Our deep presence in Iowa and Indiana will continue the close ties to our customer base and the broader Agriculture community, while leveraging the existing corporate infrastructure and expertise we have in Delaware – DuPont’s home for more than 200 years.”
The structure of the Agriculture company was specifically developed to ensure the cost discipline and efficiency necessary to achieve the previously stated $1.3 billion in synergies, while establishing the strongest foundation possible for sustainable growth over the long term – which will in turn create long-term opportunities for the company’s global employee base and local communities. This structure enables the intended independent Agriculture company to consolidate DuPont’s and Dow’s complete Agriculture capabilities across seed and crop protection in three primary locations, which is integral to achieving the planned synergies.
“We want to thank the leaders of each state for a highly constructive, cooperative process to achieve the best possible approach that leverages key advantages in each location. As we advance plans for the intended merger, DuPont and the state of Delaware are committed to leveraging our respective science infrastructures and competencies to nurture the emerging science and technology innovation hub in the state,” Breen stated.
“The proposed combination of Dow’s and DuPont’s agricultural businesses will create a U.S.-based global leader with the scale and breadth necessary to deliver greater value and choice for growers worldwide and compete against the largest global competitors,” said Andrew N. Liveris, chairman and chief executive officer of Dow. “Combining each company’s strengths in science and R&D, with increased global market access, enables greater opportunity for innovative new solutions in both seed and crop protection. The headquarters location of the Agriculture company being announced as Wilmington, with global business centers in Indiana and Iowa is consistent with the intended headquarters of the Material Science company, to be named Dow, being headquartered in Midland, Michigan, but having global business centers in other U.S. and global locations.”
“Today’s announcement is another step toward our creation of a leading global agriculture company. The intended Agriculture company will be highly focused, stronger, more competitive, more resilient and better equipped to deliver growth and long-term, sustainable value than either DuPont or Dow could deliver on its own. Both companies have highly respected brands in the agriculture industry, such as Pioneer and Mycogen, which we will continue to build and leverage. Going forward, we will be better equipped to meet and exceed grower expectations for innovation in crop technology and agricultural services. We intend to bring a broader suite of products to the market, faster, to increase grower productivity and profitability,” Breen concluded.
THREE INTENDED INDEPENDENT, PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES
With the announcement of the intended Agriculture company site structure, each headquarters location of the three intended independent, publicly traded companies now has been determined.
Agriculture Company: A leading global pure‐play Agriculture company that unites the Seeds and Crop Protection businesses from DuPont and Dow. The combined entity is expected to have the most comprehensive and diverse portfolio in the industry and a robust pipeline with exceptional growth opportunities in the near‐, mid‐ and long‐term. The complementary offerings will provide growers across geographies with a broad portfolio of solutions and greater choice. The Agriculture company will be headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. In addition, the independent Agriculture company will feature DuPont in the company’s name.
Material Science Company: A pure‐play industrial leader, consisting of Dow’s Performance Plastics, Performance Materials and Chemicals, Infrastructure Solutions, Consumer Care and Automotive Solutions (excluding the Dow Electronic Materials business) operating segments, as well as DuPont’s Performance Materials segment. The combination of complementary capabilities is expected to create a low‐cost, innovation‐driven leader that can provide customers in high‐growth, high-value industry segments in packaging, transportation, and infrastructure solutions, among others, with a broad and deep portfolio of cost‐effective offerings. The Material Science company will be headquartered in Midland, Michigan. In addition, the independent Material Science company will feature Dow in the company’s name.
Specialty Products Company: A leading global specialty business focused on attractive secular growth markets where innovative science capabilities offer a clear competitive advantage. The company is expected to be composed of four strong businesses which include DuPont’s Nutrition & Health, Industrial Biosciences, and Protective Solutions businesses as well as the integration of DuPont’s Electronics & Communications business with Dow’s Electronic Materials business unit. The Specialty Products company will be headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.
Prior to the intended separation into three independent companies, DowDuPont will be dual headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and Midland, Michigan.
Both parties continue to plan for the closing of the transaction during the second half of 2016, subject to satisfying the necessary closing conditions including obtaining the required pre-merger regulatory approvals.
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