Candidates Sought for Nebraska Dairy Princess Title
The Nebraska dairy community is recruiting candidates to become the 2017-18 Nebraska Dairy Princess. The young woman who holds the title represents dairy farm families and the dairy industry by helping consumers learn more about dairy products and how farm families care for their cows and land.
The contest judging is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 18, in Norfolk. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, Feb. 14, and applications are found at MidwestDairy.com or can be obtained by calling the contest director, Julie Meier, at 308-390-9338 or emailing Julie.Meier@Thrivent.com.
The coronation of the new princess will be held during the banquet at the Nebraska State Dairy Convention Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Ramada Inn in Columbus.
The Nebraska Dairy Princess is chosen on the basis of her knowledge and enthusiasm about dairy, personality and communication ability. Both the princess and the runner-up receive scholarships from Midwest Dairy Association, which sponsors the contest and princess program on behalf of Nebraska’s dairy farmers.
Dawn Klabenes, 18, of Chambers is the reigning Nebraska Dairy Princess.
Registration now open for 2017 Agri/Eco-Tourism Workshop
Get registered now for the 2017 Nebraska Agri/Eco-Tourism Workshop, presented by the Nebraska Tourism Commission. The Workshop will be held in Broken Bow, February 21-23, 2017. Join us to learn creative ways to get the right tools to grow your business.
“This Workshop gives landowners and businesses a chance to learn how to use their land, gifts and ideas to develop or advance an attraction, increase their operating income or just bring excitement to their area. We hope people walk away with new skills to successfully connect the land to the visitor and provide tourists a rustic experience in our agriculture based state,” said Karen Kollars, Agri/Eco-Tourism Workshop planner.
This year’s Workshop theme is “Brewing up Business.” The event will officially kick-off Tuesday at Kinkaider Brewing Company where a panel discussion will take place along with an evening event. Opening in 2015, Kinkaider is one of the newest hot spots in Broken Bow and where small-batch, hand crafted beer is created using ingredients from right off their farm.
Wednesday and Thursday’s events will be held at the One Box Convention Center, where all types of breakout sessions will take place, giving folks a chance to learn from a variety of industry professionals. Nebraska native and world-traveler, Dean Jacobs, will be the keynote on Wednesday. Jacobs’ presentation, 7 Wonders 7 Lessons, will give attendees insight from his lessons learned after leaving a successful corporate career and following his dream to travel the world. Dean’s presentation will leave you energized and empowered to take action, challenge the norm and provide a roadmap to effect change.
Wednesday night, the Taste and Feel of Nebraska event will give attendees the opportunity to network while sampling local products. The workshop will wrap-up Thursday, with a tour of attractions in the city of Broken Bow, a NETA meeting and the February Nebraska Tourism Commission meeting.
To get more information and a full schedule go to http://visitnebraska.com/media/industry/2017-agri-ecotourism-workshop.
A block of rooms is reserved at the Cobblestone Hotel & Suites (this hotel is connected to the One Box Convention Center), for hotel reservations call 308-767-2060. The room rate is $ 83 + tax until January 31, 2017. Another block is reserved at The Arrow Hotel, located in downtown Broken Bow. For reservations call 308-872-6662 before January 21, 2017. When calling to book the rooms, make sure to clarify that you’re with the Nebraska Agri/Eco-Tourism Workshop.
NEBRASKA 4Q MILK PRODUCTION
Milk production in Nebraska during October-December 2016 quarter totaled 352 million pounds, up 3.2 percent from the October-December quarter last year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average number of milk cows was 60,000 head.
October-December Milk Production up 2.4 Percent
Milk production in the United States during the October - December quarter totaled 52.5 billion pounds, up 2.4 percent from the October - December quarter last year.
The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.35 million head, 10,000 head more than the July - September quarter, and 26,000 head more than the same period last year.
U.S. December Milk Production up 2.4 Percent
Milk production in the 23 major States during December totaled 16.8 billion pounds, up 2.4 percent from December 2015. November revised production at 16.1 billion pounds, was up 2.8 percent from November 2015. The November revision represented an increase of 27 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.
Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,931 pounds for December, 35 pounds above December 2015. This is the highest production per cow for the month of December since the 23 State series began in 2003.
The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.69 million head, 53,000 head more than December 2015, and 10,000 head more than November 2016.
IOWA - Milk production in Iowa during December 2016 totaled 424 million pounds, up 3 percent from the previous December according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. The average number of milk cows during December, at 214,000 head, was 1,000 more than last month and 4,000 more than last year. Monthly production per cow averaged 1,980 pounds, up 25 pounds from last December.
NEBRASKA CHICKEN AND EGGS
All layers in Nebraska during December 2016 totaled 8.96 million, up from 7.54 million the previous year, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Nebraska egg production during December totaled 231 million eggs, up from 164 million in 2015. December egg production per 100 layers was 2,582 eggs, compared to 2,179 eggs in 2015.
IOWA - Iowa egg production during December 2016 was 1.38 billion eggs, up 6 percent from last month, and up 69 percent from last year, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The average number of all layers on hand during December 2016 was 55.2 million, up 1 percent from last month, and up 45 percent from last year. Eggs per 100 layers for December were 2,500, up 5 percent from last month, up 17 percent from last year, and the highest rate of lay since records began in 1988.
USDA: December Egg Production Up 11 Percent
United States egg production totaled 8.97 billion during December 2016, up 11 percent from last year. Production included 7.84 billion table eggs, and 1.13 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.04 billion were broiler-type and 87.0 million million were egg-type. The total number of layers during December 2016 averaged 372 million, up 7 percent from last year. December egg production per 100 layers was 2,415 eggs, up 4 percent from December 2015.
All layers in the United States on January 1, 2017 totaled 372 million, up 6 percent from last year. The 372 million layers consisted of 314 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 53.9 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.64 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on January 1, 2017, averaged 77.9 eggs per 100 layers, up 4 percent from January 1, 2016.
Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Down 1 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during December 2016 totaled 46.2 million, down 1 percent from December 2015. Eggs in incubators totaled 40.2 million on January 1, 2017, down 16 percent from a year ago.
Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 194 thousand during December 2016, down 10 percent from December 2015.
Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 2 Percent
Broiler-type chicks hatched during December 2016 totaled 811 million, up 2 percent from December 2015. Eggs in incubators totaled 661 million on January 1, 2017, up 2 percent from a year ago.
Leading breeders placed 7.54 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during December 2016, down slightly from December 2015.
USDA Cold Storage December 2016 Highlights
Total red meat supplies in freezers on December 31, 2016 were up 1 percent from the previous month but down 2 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 7 percent from the previous month and up 11 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were down 8 percent from the previous month and down 13 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were down 4 percent from last month and down 67 percent from last year.
Total frozen poultry supplies on December 31, 2016 were up 6 percent from the previous month and up 2 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were up 2 percent from the previous month but down 6 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were up 18 percent from last month and up 39 percent from December 31, 2015.
Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on December 31, 2016 were up 2 percent from the previous month and up 5 percent from December 31, 2015. Butter stocks were up 9 percent from last month and up 13 percent from a year ago.
Total frozen fruit stocks were down 7 percent from last month but up 20 percent from a year ago. Total frozen vegetable stocks were down 3 percent from last month but up 7 percent from a year ago.
Iowa Beef Center Offers Revised BRaNDS Software
The Iowa Beef Center recently updated the Beef Ration and Nutrition Decision Software (BRaNDS), software for beef producers interested in having help balancing rations. Garland Dahlke, Iowa Beef Center assistant scientist, recently completed the update and said the new version is more user friendly and reflects guidelines updated in the recently released "Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle."
"This software will continue to be provided in both Standard and Professional versions," Dahlke said. "For those who already have the existing professional edition, the update will be $50; otherwise, the cost is $525 for new users. For those who have the standard edition, the update is $10 per module, and the complete standard edition will be sold to new customers for $260."
Dahlke said users should note that the professional version now requires Microsoft Excel 2007 or newer installed on a Windows-based computer to operate. The Standard Edition will operate on both Windows and Mac systems running MS Excel.
"Whether you are a new user or are upgrading your old version, remember that program support is just a phone call or email message away," Dahlke said. "You can call the Iowa Beef Center at 515-294-2333 or email us at beefcenter@iastate.edu."
To order, pay for and download your desired version, go to the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach online store at https://store.extension.iastate.edu/ProductList?Keyword=brands+.
Customers updating from a previous version should indicate update in the customer request space on the order shipping page to receive the much lower update price. This will be validated with your name and email. Those who prefer to order a program CD rather than electronically download the program should call the Extension Distribution Store at 515-294-5247.
Informa: Soybean Acres Projected Higher as Corn Acres Draw Down
U.S. farmers will boost soybean acres by 5.2 million acres this spring, while dialing back on corn planting by 3.5 million acres, according to a survey released Tuesday by Informa Economics EIG of prospective crop planting projects.
Corn planted acres are pegged by Informa at just under 90.5 million acres, down from 94 million acres in 2016. That would be a 3.7% decline in corn acres. With a yield assumption of 170.4 bushels per acre, Informa pegs corn production for the 2017-18 marketing year at 14.2 billion bushels. If realized, that would be 978 million bushels below 2016's record harvest.
Soybean planted acres under the survey are projected at 88.6 million acres, up from 83.4 million acres in 2016. That would be a 6.2% bump in soybean acreage. Despite the bump in acres, Informa uses a soybean yield assumption of 47.2 bpa, which is 4.9 bushels below the 2016 record yield of 52.1 bpa. If that plays out, then 2017 soybean production would be 4.2 bb, which is 153 mb lower than 2016's record production.
Spring wheat acres are projected at 11.2 million acres, down 391,000 acres from 2016. Durum wheat acres would be 2.165 million acres, down 355,000 from a year ago.
Grain sorghum planting is pegged at 6.35 million acres, down from 6.69 million acres from 2016.
2016 Biodiesel Market Skunks Previous Records
US consumers saw a record of almost 2.9 billion gallons of biodiesel and
renewable diesel in 2016, outpacing the previous record by almost 40 percent. Also for the first time ever, the monthly market topped 300 million gallons, with December’s numbers coming in at 362 million gallons.
“We are proud to be delivering record gallons of American made biodiesel, but that success is undermined by the fact our members are losing more than a third of the market to foreign imports,” said National Biodiesel Board CEO, Donnell Rehagen.
According to numbers released by the EPA Thursday, the 2.9 billion gallons was an increase of 800 million gallons from 2.1 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel in 2015. At the same time domestic production rose from about 1.4 billion gallons in 2015 to more than 1.8 billion gallons in 2016, well below available capacity. Imports increased by more than 50 percent from an estimated 670 million gallons in 2015 to over 1 billion gallons in 2016, shortchanging potential economic benefits to U.S. producers.
“The market realities spotlight two important points. First the RFS is working to deliver energy choices to consumers and promote local economic activity. Second that reforming the biodiesel tax incentive as a domestic production credit remains critical to grow these programs in America’s best interest,” Rehagen said.
According to a study conducted by LMC International, a 2.9 billion gallon biodiesel and renewable diesel market divided between domestic and foreign supply supports about 64,000 U.S. jobs and $11.42 billion in total impact. Economic benefits increase substantially with growing domestic production, rather than imports. For example, just 2.5 billion gallons domestic production would support at least 81,600 U.S. jobs and $14.7 billion in total economic benefit.
“It’s just common sense that our tax dollars should benefit American jobs and local companies instead of incentivizing imports,” Rehagen said.
The biomass-based diesel category under the RFS alone saw a record 2.6 billion gallon market, allowing the advanced biofuel program to reach over 4 billion ethanol-equivalent gallons. These numbers exceeded EPA’s estimates for 2016, and track NBB’s projections, showing the industry can deliver on the goals set by Congress.
EPA’s announcement comes on the heels of the biodiesel industry’s premier event, the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, held last week in San Diego. During the event biodiesel experts from around the nation discussed future opportunities to grow America’s Advanced Biofuel.
AFBF Endorses Bills to Repeal Death Tax
The American Farm Bureau Federation has endorsed bipartisan legislation in the House and Senate to repeal the federal estate tax. AFBF President Zippy Duvall said the bills are needed because farm and ranch families continue to face challenges to passing their family businesses to the next generation.
The AFBF-endorsed Death Tax Repeal Act of 2017 was introduced today in the House by Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.). Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
“Farmers and ranchers face a number of factors that are unpredictable and beyond their control, from changing weather to fluctuating markets,” Duvall said. “These family-run businesses need a tax code that encourages investment, rather than one that punishes their success. We believe that repeal of the estate tax offers the best solution to protect farms, ranches and all family-owned businesses from the estate tax.”
Maintaining Pork Exports to Canada, Mexico Critical
The National Pork Producers Council today committed to work with the Trump administration to preserve tariff-free market access for U.S. pork exports to Canada and Mexico. The administration is planning to pursue trade discussions with the two countries.
“As far a pork is concerned, the trade deals with Canada and Mexico have been tremendous for U.S. pork producers,” said NPPC President John Weber, a pork producer from Dysart, Iowa. “Our exports to those nations exploded because of the trade pact we have with them. But we know that some concerns have been raised by others, so we are committed to working with the Trump administration in looking for ways to improve our trade relationships with Canada and Mexico.”
Through November, U.S. pork exports to Mexico in 2016 were nearly $1.2 billion, up 21 percent from the same time last year, and to Canada they totaled $731 million, making those countries the No. 2 and No. 4 export markets, respectively, for U.S. pork.
Since the U.S.-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement went into effect Jan. 1, 1994, U.S. trade north and south of the borders has more than tripled, growing more rapidly than U.S. trade with the rest of the world. Canada and Mexico are the two largest destinations for U.S. goods and services, accounting for more than one-third of total U.S. exports, adding $80 billion to the U.S. economy and supporting more than 3 million American jobs, according to data from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. In fact, U.S. manufacturing exports to Canada and Mexico have increased nearly 260 percent over the past 23 years, and U.S. farm exports to the countries have grown by more than 150 percent.
“Trade in pork with Canada and Mexico has been so successful that any disruption in exports with either partner could hurt our producers’ ability to compete,” Weber said. “We need to make sure we maintain and even improve our pork exports to our neighbors while working to ensure that others benefit as much as we do.”
Soy Growers Urge Prudence on NAFTA Renegotiation
The American Soybean Association (ASA) has communicated to the White House that the significant trade benefits U.S. farmers have achieved under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) must be protected as President Donald Trump moves forward with plans to renegotiate the agreement. ASA President Ron Moore, a farmer from Roseville, Ill., noted the significant stakes for soybean farmers in a statement:
“Given the size and impact of the Mexican and Canadian markets for American soybean producers, we're watching the Administration’s decisions very, very closely, and it's fair to say that we're nervous. For the last 20 years, NAFTA has been a core component in the growth of soybeans as a positive contributor to the U.S. balance of trade. Overall, U.S. ag exports to Mexico and Canada have more than quadrupled since NAFTA enactment, growing from $8.9 billion in 1993 to $38.6 billion in 2015. Mexico’s imports alone are a particularly notable success story for U.S. soy, growing more than five-fold over that same time period to $2.44 billion in 2015. Needless to say, there's a great deal at stake.
All of this isn't to suggest that there isn't room for improvement in NAFTA, and we look forward to being part of that discussion. In particular, we are interested in discussing how to reduce non-tariff barriers as well as the few remaining tariffs on U.S. ag products sold to Canada and Mexico. Throughout his campaign, President Trump spoke of the need to give farmers an active role in helping to make policy decisions that impact us. This is clearly the first of those instances, and we look forward to our part in that process.”
Food and ag organizations ready to work with President Trump to modernize NAFTA
A total of 133 organizations and companies from the food and agriculture sector, which supports more than 15 million jobs nationally, sent President Donald J. Trump a letter this week expressing their eagerness to work with his Administration to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), while preserving and expanding the gains achieved to date.
"U.S. food and agricultural exports have produced a trade surplus for nearly 50 years," the letter notes. "Consistent growth over this period resulted in over $130 billion worth of exports, which created $423 billion in U.S. economic activity in 2015." The letter also noted that in the 20 years since NAFTA was implemented, the market integration it fostered helped quadruple the value of U.S. food and agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico.
"With a few key sector exceptions that still require attention, North America intraregional food and agriculture trade is now free of tariff and quota restrictions....," the letter continues. "Because of these market access gains, the food and agricultural sectors of the North American region have become far more integrated, as is evidenced by rising trade in agricultural products and substantial levels of cross-border investment in the agriculture and food sectors....[W]e look forward to working with your Administration on reducing the non-tariff trade barriers that continue to inhibit our exports to the North American marketplace, as well as to addressing the remaining tariffs impeding access for some U.S. export sectors."
Commodity Classic Discounted Registration Fees End January 26
Only a few days remain to take advantage of registration discounts for the 2017 Commodity Classic to be held March 2-4, 2017, in San Antonio, Tex. Thursday, January 26, 2017, is the last day the discounts will be in effect.
Registration fees vary depending on the number of days attended. Full registration covers all three days of the event, and one-day registrations are also available. Members of the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Sorghum Producers and National Association of Wheat Growers receive additional discounts on registration.
All registration and housing reservations should be made online at www.commodityclassic.com. Experient is the official registration and housing provider for Commodity Classic. In order to stay at an official Commodity Classic hotel, reservations must be made only through Experient to ensure favorable rates, reasonable terms and confirmed hotel rooms.
The 2017 Commodity Classic will be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The convention center will house all Commodity Classic events, including the Opening Reception, General Session, Evening of Entertainment, Trade Show, Learning Center Sessions and What’s New Sessions.
A detailed schedule of events is also available on the website.
Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is America's largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show, produced by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers, and Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
Early Signs Show Promising ‘Triple Win’ Possible for Farmers at Soil Health Summit
Building long-term data by its very nature takes time, but early indicators are promising on the relationship between soil health and economic, productivity and environmental gains in agriculture.
That was the message delivered from the Soil Health Partnership, a project to make agriculture more productive and sustainable through healthy soil, at its annual meeting last week. About 185 Ag scientists, industry leaders, environmentalists, water quality experts and enrolled farmers discussed their efforts at SHP’s third annual Soil Health Summit in Des Moines, Iowa Jan. 19-20.
“Through this program, we have powerful analytics underway providing early indicators of tangible links between soil health and enhanced farm performance,” said Nick Goeser, SHP director.
Working with their agronomists and trained field managers, SHP farmers have enrolled about 32,000 acres to provide data for the analytics. The three main areas of study are cover crops, reduced tillage and advanced nutrient management.
Doug Karlen, a USDA distinguished senior research scientist based in Iowa, provided a first look into the soil sample data collected across SHP farms. His team analyzed data from approximately 700 soil health assessment samples. These data provide a basis to guide soil health assessment interpretations.
For example, results indicate soil texture is extremely important for organic matter content, Goeser said.
“While dry lab studies and analyses have documented the patterns shown, this is the first time the relationship has been supported across an on-farm trial network as expansive as the Soil Health Partnership,” he said. “These early looks will help us better understand opportunities and limitations to interpreting soil health assessments based on different regions and soil types. SHP is revolutionary in this effort.”
One of the farmers enrolled is Roger Zylstra, a corn and soybean grower in Lynnville, Iowa. He practices no-till and grows cover crops like cereal rye.
“On our farm, early results show we’re making some progress. This year we noticed a definite suppression of weeds in our soybeans,” Zylstra said. “It’s too soon to say much about yield improvement, but that marked improvement in late season pigweed emergence made a difference and was obviously connected to cover crops.”
Zylstra presented at the summit alongside David Muth, one of the founders of the Ames-based company AgSolver. Farmers enrolled in SHP have access to the company’s software tools to analyze a field’s agronomic and economic performances side-by-side, and compare potential management scenarios.
Three years into the program, the SHP teams, with support from AgSolver, are developing a preliminary research summary to be released soon.
Other speakers included Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, The Nature Conservancy’s Director of Working Lands Michael Doane and Purdue Agricultural Economics Professor Wallace Tyner.
Tyner compared mining the data through SHP to Michelangelo “bringing David out of the marble.”
As for his farm, Zylstra said he expects to see more concrete data coming in the next year, and has some advice for other farmers.
“Anybody thinking about doing cover crops – don’t let the potential challenges at start-up stop you from trying them on the farm,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of value to cover crops. Don’t give up. Try, try again. We need to figure it out to improve our soil.”
An initiative of the National Corn Growers Association, the SHP works closely with diverse organizations including commodity groups, industry groups, federal agencies and well-known environmental groups, including TNC, toward common goals. The Partnership is completing its third year with more than 65 partner farms across nine Midwestern states.
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, January 25, 2017
Monday, January 23, 2017
Monday January 23 Ag News
2017 Beef Feedlot Roundtables Feb. 7-9 at Scottsbluff, Lexington, West Point
Beef feedlot managers, owners, employees and supporting industry personnel will learn the latest in feedlot nutrition, health, and marketing at the 2017 Beef Feedlot Roundtables Feb. 7-9 in Scottsbluff, Lexington, and West Point with remote connections to locations in Iowa. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. At each location with welcome and introduction at 1 p.m. Exact dates and locations are as follows:
· SCOTTSBLUFF: Feb. 7, Panhandle Research and Extension Center
· LEXINGTON: Feb. 8, Dawson County Extension Office
· WEST POINT: Feb. 9, Nielsen Community Center
University and industry representatives will speak about nutrition and management, marketing options, environmental topics, industry updates and other timely topics for feedlot operators. Topics and presenters include:
· Effects of Environment on Bovine Respiratory Disease (Brian Vander Ley, Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center)
· Marketing fat cattle options and what the fed cattle exchange entails (Steve Sunderman, producer and Nebraska Cattlemen Marketing Committee Co-chair)
· Livestock and Climate Change- Facts and Fiction. (Frank Mitloehner, University of California-Davis)
· UNL Feedlot Research Update (Galen Erickson and Matt Luebbe, Nebraska Extension)
· Beef Quality Assurance- Feedlot Assessments (Rob Eirich, Nebraska Extension BQA Director)
· Beef Industry Update (Doug Straight, Nebraska Beef Council)
· Optional BQA Training, 5:00 p.m. (Rob Eirich, UNL Extension, Nebraska BQA Director)
The Nebraska Beef Council will give an update on new beef products and sponsor refreshments at Nebraska locations.
Preregistration is available by phone, fax, e-mail or mail, and requested by Feb. 1. Cost is $20 for those who preregister, and will be accepted at the door. Cost for those who have not preregistered will be $30.
For more information or a registration form contact Matt Luebbe at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361, phone 308-632-1260, fax 308-632-1365 or e-mail mluebbe2@unl.edu.
The Beef Feedlot Roundtable is sponsored by Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Beef Council and ISU Extension.
Free Grain Marketing Workshop at Eastern Nebraska Research & Extension Center at the ARDC
A free grain marketing workshop will be held near Mead on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.
Location: Eastern Nebraska Research & Extension Center located at the Agricultural Research & Development Center near Mead - 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE 68033.
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This workshop will assist grain producers minimize losses during this time of low prices. Nebraska Extension Educators will present location and commodity specific marketing information. Topics include developing a written marketing plan, and understanding basis and carrying charges. The workshops feature the Marketing in a New Era simulator and the Grain Marketing Plan smartphone application.
The workshop is limited to 40 participants with a complimentary lunch.
Register by visiting go.unl.edu/marketingworkshops, calling Cheryl Dunbar at 402-624-8030 or cdunbar2@unl.edu.
NE Cover Crop Conference
Keith Glewen, NE Extension Educator
The Nebraska Cover Crop Conference is Tuesday, February 14 at the Eastern Nebraska Research & Extension Center at the ARDC. The flyer with details and registration information is located at this website link: http://ardc.unl.edu/2017CoverCropConference.pdf. Registration is requested for meal and reference material planning purposes.
What you can expect by attending:
1. No registration fee thanks to the sponsors listed on the flyer.
2. Great information from people with experience.
3. Great food and time to visit with speakers and other growers with cover crop experience.
4. CCA Credits
5. Free parking!
Now if you ask me this is a sweetheart of a deal. Did I say sweetheart? No wait, if you register by Feb. 10 you will receive not one but two Cover Crop hand pocket guides absolutely free! Don’t wait register now.
Trends, Issues and Production Topics Headline Nebraska Dairy Convention
Longtime dairy journalist Jim Dickrell, editor of Dairy Herd Management, is among the featured speakers at the 2017 Nebraska Dairy Convention February 21 at the Ramada Inn, Columbus, Nebraska. Dickrell will discuss dairy industry trends and issues at the convention’s evening banquet at 6:30 p.m. The convention, sponsored by the Nebraska State Dairy Association, includes sessions surrounding dairy production, a trade show and the association’s annual business meeting.
The day will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a presentation from Grow Nebraska on helping the state develop the dairy community from both farm and processing perspectives. Veterinarian Jan Schearer, of Iowa State University, will discuss treatment and control of lameness in dairy cattle, and Thomas Oelberg of Diamond V will present on total mixed ration quality. Their presentations are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.
Lucas Lentsch, the recently named CEO of the Midwest Dairy Association, will be featured at the noon luncheon, providing an update on the organization’s work on dairy farmers’ behalf. Midwest Dairy will also present a workshop on social media from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., featuring Missouri dairy farmer Lisa Leach, who drew the attention of a Chipotle executive through a Facebook post that went viral last summer.
Award presentations and the coronation of the 2017-2018 Nebraska Dairy Princess and Ambassadors will also take place during the evening banquet.
Dairy production awards will be presented at 3 p.m., followed by the Nebraska State Dairy Association’s annual business session at 4 p.m. The trade show hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Nebraska Dairy Convention is free to all Nebraska dairy farmers, families and guests. Pre-registrations are due February 14, in order to be included in meals. Attendee and sponsorship registration forms are available at nebraskamilk.org. Questions about the convention can be directed to Rod Johnson, Nebraska State Dairy Association, at 402-261-5482 or rod@nebraskamilk.org.
Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation 2017 Teachers of the Year Announced
The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation has selected two teachers as their Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom 2017 Teachers of the Year. The Teacher of the Year is awarded to two outstanding teachers that incorporate agriculture into their classroom through innovative ideas.
Jane Gundvaldson, a fourth grade teacher at Thomas Elementary School in Gretna and Matthew Koth, a third grade teacher at Highland Elementary School in Omaha were honored.
“Both of these educators demonstrate how teachers can incorporate agriculture examples and hands on teaching methods into standards-based curriculum to engage the next generation in critical thinking about where their food, fiber and fuel comes from,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation.
Gundvaldson, brings agriculture into her classroom by paralleling what foods her students eat on a regular basis to the farms where the food is grown and raised.
“I believe these lessons linking Nebraskans to where their food comes from are the most fulfilling part of my teaching career,” Gundvaldson said. “I find it more important than ever to help my students understand that the hamburgers or pork chops that they are eating come from Nebraska.”
In addition, Mrs. Gundvaldson’s fourth graders participate in the Foundation’s Ag Pen Pal Program, where their classroom is matched with a farmer in Nebraska. Chuck Homolka, a Merrick County Farm Bureau member, sends videos and pictures of planting and harvest to the students so they can understand what it really takes to grow their food. For the past two years the students have visited Homolka’s farm in Central City to see first-hand the equipment necessary to grow popcorn and corn for ethanol plants and raise cattle.
Koth’s classroom is also involved in the Ag Pen Pal Program and is matched with Arlan and Sarah Paxton in Stapleton.
“The Paxton’s have shared with us by sending video of how they care for the cattle and prepare for the winter by bailing hay,” Koth said. “The students learn first-hand how important agriculture is to the entire state of Nebraska through this program.”
Koth also incorporates agriculture into the classroom by reading the story Stone Soup by Jon Muth to his third graders. The students discuss and write the ingredients on the board then are tasked at finding where each ingredient in the soup is from. From there, they talk about how the food gets from the farm to the grocery store and if we are able to grow those foods in Nebraska.
“This activity brings up discussion about why some crops are grown in different areas of the country and world,” Koth said. “We then compare which ingredients have traveled the furthest and which are the closest to us in Nebraska.”
Each teacher is being awarded an all-expense paid trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Kansas City, Missouri June 20-23. The conference brings educators together from all over the United States to collaborate on how to incorporate agriculture into their curriculum and engage students. Teachers will have the opportunity to attend tours of local ag businesses and farms in the area.
Conservation Efforts Recognized at Annual Lower Elkhorn NRD Awards Banquet
The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) board honored outstanding conservationists at their annual awards banquet on Friday, January 13th. The event was held at the Divots Conference Center in Norfolk and attracted over 60 people.
Outstanding Tree Planter Award
The Outstanding Tree Planter Award is presented to individuals within the district who have shown a strong commitment to the planting and care of trees. The Bill Osborn family of Tilden were honored as the recipients of the 2016 Outstanding Tree Planter Award.
The Osborns live north of Tilden in Pierce County where Bill is a carpenter. The rustic log cabin that the family resides in was built by Bill, with the assistance of friends and family. Bill, and his wife, Kathy, have three children, Tyler, Audrey, and Elizabeth.
The Osborns were nominated by LENRD Forester, Pam Bergstrom. Bergstrom said, “If you were to visit Bill’s place, you would think you were out in a native forest, when you are in fact in a man-made windbreak/forest that encircles the property and has been planted one tree at a time by Bill and his family.”
The main windbreak that protects the log cabin was planted by the Lower Elkhorn NRD in the late 1990s and early 2000s. With planting around 300 new trees each year along with the trees that the NRD has planted, it is estimated that there are over 5,000 trees on his property that have been purchased through the Lower Elkhorn NRD’s Conservation Tree Program, a grand total of 9,200 trees from both the NRD and other nurseries.
Bergstrom added, “This would be roughly 10-15 acres of trees. Maintenance and management on his trees is Bill’s main priority and every year he replants the ones that have died. He is very diligent about making sure that there is no space left vacant. He has started a new project of growing his own trees from seed that he has collected from his own trees and unique trees from around the area. Bill and his family are very deserving of this award.”
Educators of the Year Award
The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District partners with schools across the district and encourages students to become good stewards of our natural resources. At their recent awards banquet, the district recognized two teachers who have demonstrated excellence throughout their career.
Suzy Goedeken and Patrick Kratochvil are instructors at Madison Public School. Madison Public Schools implemented a Watershed Dynamics program into their summer curriculum in 2011. Suzy and Patrick are the co-instructors of the program which brings students together to learn more about our water through a diverse sampling program in the Taylor and Union Creek Watershed. Madison High School has received grants from the Lower Elkhorn NRD to continue the program thanks to the efforts of both Suzy and Patrick.
The program brings approximately 20 students together to complete water sampling and analysis of the data throughout the summer months. Each year, Suzy and Patrick, bring the students to an NRD board meeting so they can give a report on what they discovered and show the directors what they have learned.
Suzy is currently in her 16th year of teaching. She has been working with the Taylor-Union Creek Watershed Program since the beginning. Before that, Suzy worked with the Shell Creek Watershed Program in Newman Grove for 5 years. Suzy and her husband, Mick, have two children, Michayla and Micah.
Patrick is in his 19th year of teaching and has been teaching High School Physical Sciences for 14 years at Madison High School. He has been co-sponsoring the Taylor-Union Watershed Class for 6 years. Patrick and his wife, Beth, have four children, Courtney, Shawn, Michael, and Curtis.
Vice-Chairman of the LENRD Board, Dennis Schultz, presented the awards. Schultz stated, “The educator of the year award recognizes Suzy and Patrick for their excellence in teaching future generations the value of our natural resources.”
Outstanding Partnership
The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District works with various agencies and partners each year as we work to improve the quality of life for the citizens across Northeast Nebraska. At the banquet, the district recognized Susan Risinger Green for the outstanding partnership they have shared with her throughout the years.
Susan Risinger Green is a native of Brunswick and a graduate of Plainview High School. She attended Wayne State College and Northeast Community College.
She began her journalistic career in 1981 at the Neligh News and Leader, and was named assistant news director at WJAG radio in Norfolk in September of 1989. She was with WJAG, Lite Rock 97.5 and 106KIX Radio in Norfolk for more than 26 years, where she served as assistant news director and farm director.
She has received numerous awards over the years for her agricultural reporting and programming, including the 2007 Oscar in Agriculture. Most recently, she received the award of merit for significant achievement in the advancement of agriculture at the AgCeptional Women’s Conference, which the Lower Elkhorn NRD helps sponsor each year.
Schultz said, “Susan has been an outstanding partner with the Lower Elkhorn NRD for the past 26+ years. She has been extensively involved with stories from water to wildlife. This award recognizes Susan for her past support & excellence in reporting on the wise use and conservation of Nebraska's natural resources. Susan, thank you for the partnership we have shared with you.”
Susan joined Northeast Community College in May of 2016 to serve as the campaign director for the proposed Ag and Water Center of Excellence.
She and her husband, Ron, live in Norfolk and have four children.
Service Awards:
Service awards were also presented by LENRD General Manager Mike Sousek.
Laurie Schold of Oakland, Logan East Rural Water System Financial Secretary, was awarded for 10 years of service.
Director awards were also presented to the following: Jarvis Otten of Norfolk for his service on the board since 2015; Dave Shelton of Wayne for his service on the board since 2014; Danny Kluthe of Dodge for his service on the board since 2010; and Tim Tighe for his 25 years of service to the district from 1991-2016.
Vice-Chairman Schultz added, “Congratulations to all of our winners tonight. We thank you for your hard work and continued efforts in protecting our natural resources.”
Ag partnerships continue to demonstrate water quality momentum
The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is partnering with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) to offer additional cost share dollars to pig farmers installing new nutrient loss reduction technologies.
Through this program, IPPA will provide up to $25,000, throughout the next year, to offset up to 50 percent of costs for pig farmers to install saturated buffers or bioreactors on their farm land. Sites will be selected based on greatest opportunity for nitrate reduction and be geographically dispersed throughout the state to aid in education and demonstration opportunities.
"Bioreactors and saturated buffers are new practices that have been developed to address water quality, so this $25,000 investment will help us install them at sites across the state so we can continue to demonstrate to farmers how they may be able fit on their farm," Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said. "I greatly appreciate the Iowa Pork Producers Association for making this significant investment. This is another great example of ag groups in Iowa stepping up to help improve water quality."
Participating producers will be asked to share information and experiences with other farmers through IPPA and IDALS programs.
Pig farmers interested in the program can submit basic farm information for project consideration at www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3108271/IDALS-EOF-Funding-Application. For more information, contact Tyler Bettin at IPPA at (800) 372-7675 or tbettin @iowapork.org or Matt Lechtenberg at IDALS at (515) 281-3857 or matthew.lechtenberg@iowaagriculture.gov.
"We are happy to partner with IDALS to offer this program and technical assistance," said 2017 IPPA President Curtis Meier, a pig farmer from Clarinda. "While these practices are not specific to pork production, our leaders have recognized the importance of enhancing assistance to install and build awareness of these exciting new edge-of-field technologies."
This new offering from IPPA builds on its additional efforts supportive of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, including cover crop research, field day support and educational outreach.
"Iowa Pork Producers Association members have established policy supporting the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and have committed their own Pork Checkoff investments to efforts that can aid in neighbor relations and improve the quality of our natural resources," said Meier. "By supporting the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, enhancing Water Quality Initiative efforts and building efforts with the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, there is a strong momentum and opportunity within our commodity organizations and others to drive progress for continuous improvement and practice adoption."
The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy science assessment cites an average 4 percent reduction in Nitrate loss and up to 46 percent reduction in Phosphorous loss when using swine manure as a nutrient source compared to commercial fertilizer, while also having positive impacts on soil organic carbon, soil structure and runoff. Research from the University of Arkansas shows that efficiencies of modern pork production enabled pig farmers to reduce water use 41 percent land use 78 percent and carbon footprint 35 percent from 1959-2009.
"Manure management is regulated in Iowa. Pig farmers meet requirements for certification to apply manure and do so based on Manure Management Plans and crop needs. It is already against the law for manure from any confinement to reach a body of water," said IPPA Environmental Committee chair and Webster County pig farmer Gregg Hora. "Even with this regulation, pig farmers have a long-standing commitment to continuous improvement and collaborative efforts to build on Iowa's sustainable production model and optimization of manure as a fertilizer resource."
Study Shows Iowa Farm Incomes Strong Despite Economic Downturn
It’s no secret that the farm economy has faced a downturn since its peak in 2012. But how has the downturn affected farmers, specifically related to their farm income and levels of farm debt?
A new study by David Peters, associate professor and extension rural sociologist with Iowa State University, aims to directly answer those questions. "Income Trends for Iowa Farms and Farm Families 2003-2015" (SOC 3076) is now available through the Extension Store.
“Family farm income has remained relatively high, even though there were strong declines in income across the board over the last three years,” Peters said. “That indicates the incomes in 2011 and 2012 must have been phenomenally high to keep income averages this high after a drop off, in many cases, of 30 to even 50 percent over the last two years.”
Commercial farm net income averaged $187,000 in 2015, down from a high of $381,344 in 2012. Intermediate farms, farms where the operator’s primary occupation is farming, averaged an income of $34,000. Residence farms, where the operator’s primary occupation is not farming, had an income of $17,000.
“The concern should be for the 800 to 1,000 acre commercial farm,” Peters said. “We talk in general about the falling farm economy, but the area of most concern is the midsized commercial farm. They are the leaders in rural communities and are the slice of the farm sector that policy makers should be most concerned about.”
The uniqueness of these farms – large enough to sustain a family but not so large as to be able to survive downturns in the economy – place them in a vulnerable position.
“Very large farms bring in a lot of income, there is more room for them to move as the economy goes up or down. And smaller farms survive on off-farm work,” Peters said. “With the midsized commercial class, policy should be aimed at supporting them, the ones with viable farm operations who are the most vulnerable to changes in the farm economy. They are the leaders in rural communities and we don’t want to lose them.”
Growing debt has become a problem for farms of this size. The debt utilization rate (a measure of total debt relative to maximum feasible debt) rose from 35 percent in 2012 to 73 percent in these farms three years later.
“Midsized farms have taken out as much debt as they feasibly can,” Peters said. “When we lump them together with larger farms the outlook is very rosy, but these midsized farms are the ones that are really struggling. Bringing home only around $100,000 a year with high debt levels makes them the most susceptible to any additional downturns in the economy.”
To Peters, the study clarifies the need for financially supporting farmers.
“It is so important to have farm bill income support for farmers,” Peters said. “This is exactly what those farm bill programs are designed to do; when there are short-term fluctuations in the economy they won’t drive people out of farming because they can’t afford it.”
Iowa Learning Farms Releases New 'Talking With Your Tenant' Publication Series
Caring for Iowa’s farmland requires many decisions that impact today and future generation’s ability to best utilize the land for agricultural production. Land rental relationships can vary, but many face similar challenges when discussing new conservation practices with a tenant or landlord. To help begin the conversation, Iowa Learning Farms created a publication series with talking points and relevant research findings about a variety of conservation practices.
“A large number of Iowa cropland acres are rented every year; nearly 50 percent according to recent surveys. These rented acres are greatly influenced by the tenant who farms them,” said Mark Licht, Iowa State University assistant professor of agronomy and Iowa Learning Farms advisor, who conceptualized the series.
“Landowners are integral in the decision-making process: from leasing structure and understanding farming practices, to being considerate of practice costs and profitability. With emphasis being placed on nutrient loss reduction and practices ranging from in-field to land use changes, it’s imperative for landowners and tenants to have conversations about reaching production, profitability and environmental goals,” said Licht. “These conversations can lead to improvements of soil health and water quality, along with meeting productivity and profitability goals.”
As land is passed from one generation to another, or is sold, it can lead to uncertainty for tenants and landowners alike.
“We developed this series in response to questions we heard from landowners. They wanted to understand how conservation practices such as strip-tillage and cover crops would affect both their land and the tenant’s bottom line before asking them to add these practices to their management plans,” said Jacqueline Comito, Iowa Learning Farms director. “While the name of the series is ‘Talking to Your Tenant,’ the reverse is also true. We think tenants will also find the series helpful as they educate their landowners on implementing these important practices.”
The series addresses in-field practices like cover crops, no-tillage and strip-tillage, and edge-of-field practices such as denitrifying bioreactors and wetlands. If landowners or renters with ideas for future topics for this series should contact Liz Juchems at ilf@iastate.edu or call 515-294-5429. The four-part series, along with other print and video resources, is available online at www.iowalearningfarms.org/conservation. Copies will also be available at Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops, or mailed upon request.
National Pork Industry Forum to Be Held March 1-3
Producer delegates from across the United States will gather in Atlanta, March 1-3, for the annual National Pork Industry Forum.
The 15 producers who serve as members of the National Pork Board and Pork Checkoff staff leadership will hear directly from Pork Act Delegates appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Each year the delegates confer, vote on resolutions and advisements and provide valuable direction on the important issues facing pork producers and the industry.
The theme for this year’s Pork Forum, Power of Pork: Moving Mountains, references the current record-breaking U.S. pork production and pork producers’ continued work together to meet the challenges and opportunities of a growing industry. Delegates will learn about the aggressive promotions to grow consumer demand and plans to build consumer trust and drive sustainable production.
“While our industry is growing, so is demand for our product – both domestically and internationally,” said Jan Archer, president of the National Pork Board and a pig farmer from Goldsboro, North Carolina. “With faith and focus, resolve and connectedness to each other, we can achieve our goals and move mountains.”
At the meeting, Pork Act Delegates will rank eight candidates for the National Pork Board and submit the list to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, for approval. The candidates, in alphabetical order, are:
Todd Erickson – Northwood, North Dakota
M. James Faison – Hopewell, Virginia
Heather Hill – Greenfield, Indiana
Brett Kaysen – Nunn, Colorado
Scott Phillips – Drexel, Missouri
Steve Rommereim – Alcester, South Dakota
Kristine Scheller-Stewart – Goldsboro, North Carolina
Charles Wildman – South Charleston, Ohio
Prior to the annual meeting, members of the National Pork Board also will convene their March meeting. The agenda will include updates on 2017 plans to enhance pork demand, increase market opportunities, improve pork production practices and invest in research priorities.
Included on the 2017 Pork Forum agenda will be opportunities for pork producers to become certified in the pork industry’s Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus®) program, as well as learn more about pork industry programs. The full agenda is available at www.porkindustryforum.com.
Sasse Statement on TPP
U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement this morning regarding news reports that President Trump will withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership today.
"It's clear that those of us who believe trade is good for American families have done a terrible job defending trade's historic successes and celebrating its future potential. We have to make the arguments and we have to start now."
Statement by Steve Nelson, President, Regarding the U.S. Withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
“We are certainly disappointed with President Trump’s decision to sign an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Economic analysis conducted by the Nebraska Farm Bureau showed that virtually every county in Nebraska would have been positively impacted by the agreement with the state as a whole projected to see increased agricultural cash receipts by more than $378 million annually.“
“The TPP reflected a major opportunity for the farmers and ranchers who grow and raise Nebraska’s top commodities including beef, pork, corn, and soybeans. Over $150 million or nearly 40 percent of Nebraska’s projected increase in sales of agriculture products under TPP would have come from the sale of Nebraska beef into TPP countries. Nebraska pork producers would have also seen growth opportunities with Nebraska pork sales statewide expanding by more than $39 million annually. Finally, our corn and soybean farmers would have seen annual growth of over $76 million and $34 million respectively.”
“It is imperative that the Trump Administration now work on other ways to expand agricultural trade. While we continue to support all of our previous free trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, which has quadrupled U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico, we stand ready to work with the new administration to help expand and develop new markets for Nebraska agricultural products.”
Smith Statement on U.S. Withdrawing from TPP
Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today after President Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
“TPP was not a perfect agreement, but it established a framework for U.S. exporters to pursue greater economic opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region,” Smith said. “Our country should be a leader in writing the rules of the global economy, rather than allowing other world powers to take our place. Moving forward, I hope we can pursue bilateral agreements with these TPP countries to open more markets to U.S. agriculture producers and manufacturers.”
USMEF Statement on TPP Executive Order
In response to the executive order withdrawing the United States as a signatory to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Philip M. Seng issued the following statement:
USMEF remains fully committed to our valued trading partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). These countries account for more than 60 percent of U.S. red meat exports.
In some of these key markets, the U.S. red meat industry will remain at a serious competitive disadvantage unless meaningful market access gains are realized. We urge the new administration to utilize all means available to return the United States to a competitive position, so that our industry can continue to serve this important international customer base and further expand our export opportunities.
Wheat Grower Organizations Disappointed in TPP Withdrawal; Call for New Agreements in Crucial Asian, Latin American Markets
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) recognize that President Trump’s executive order to withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was inevitable. It is disappointing, however, that until an alternative trade policy is established, export opportunities in the promising Pacific Rim markets that could help U.S. wheat farmers at a time when they need it most are very much at risk.
“U.S. wheat farmers depend heavily on export demand to determine their per-bushel income,” said Jason Scott, USW Chairman and a wheat farmer from Easton, Md. “We can compete very effectively in Asian and Latin American markets where the demand for high quality wheat is rapidly increasing and our organizations took a long-view of the benefits TPP held out — a trade agreement that promoted economic growth abroad as a way to grow export sales and prosperity for farmers at home.”
Without TPP or alternative agreements, U.S. farmers will be forced to the sidelines of trade while losing market share in the region to our competitors including Australia, Canada, Russia and the European Union, which have current agreements or are negotiating new ones with countries outside the network of existing U.S. trade agreements,” said Gordon Stoner, NAWG President and a wheat farmer from Outlook, Mont.
USW and NAWG agree that trade agreements must provide the most benefit possible to our own farmers and industries. We continue to support new agreements that expand free, rules-based trade, as TPP would have done, and encourage that agricultural interests be able to continue to provide input into those negotiations.
NFU Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from Trans-Pacific Partnership
A staunch opponent of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, National Farmers Union (NFU) applauded the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the deeply flawed TPP trade agreement. NFU President Roger Johnson released the following statement in response:
“The Trans-Pacific Partnership was a continuance of our nation’s deeply flawed trade agenda, and we’re pleased that the Trump Administration has decided to formally withdraw the U.S. from the pact to prioritize a fair trade agenda.
“For too long, our nation’s trade negotiators have prioritized a free trade over a fair trade agenda, leading to a massive $531 billion trade deficit, lost jobs and lowered wages in rural communities across America. It’s time our country refocuses the trade agenda to prioritize balanced trade, U.S. sovereignty, and U.S. family farmers, ranchers and rural communities. The Trump Administration should look to do so with a level of tact that does not motivate our trade partners to take retaliatory actions or threaten the integrity of positive trade markets that American agriculture relies upon.
“NFU looks forward to working with the new administration and Congress to promote fair trade solutions that work for family farmers and ranchers and the U.S. economy.”
Cattlemen Express Concerns With Trump Administration's Trade Action
Tracy Brunner, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, today released the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement that he is withdrawing the United States from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal and may seek to take action on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA):
“TPP and NAFTA have long been convenient political punching bags, but the reality is that foreign trade has been one of the greatest success stories in the long history of the U.S. beef industry.
“Fact is American cattle producers are already losing out on $400,000 in sales every day because we don’t have TPP, and since NAFTA was implemented, exports of American-produced beef to Mexico have grown by more than 750 percent. We’re especially concerned that the Administration is taking these actions without any meaningful alternatives in place that would compensate for the tremendous loss that cattle producers will face without TPP or NAFTA.
“Sparking a trade war with Canada, Mexico, and Asia will only lead to higher prices for American-produced beef in those markets and put our American producers at a much steeper competitive disadvantage. The fact remains that 96 percent of the world’s consumers live outside the United States, and expanding access to those consumers is the single best thing we can do to help American cattle-producing families be more successful.”
ASA Registers Significant Concern Following Withdrawal from TPP
The nation's soybean farmers expressed significant concern Monday, following an executive order from President Donald Trump that withdraws the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). American Soybean Association (ASA) President Ron Moore pointed out the high stakes for soybean farmers, and urged the Trump Administration to immediately announce how it intends to engage and expand market access in the Asia-Pacific region.
"Trade is something soybean farmers take very seriously. We export more than half the soy we grow here in the United States, and still more in the form of meat and other products that are produced with our meal and oil," said Moore, who farms in Roseville, Ill. "The TPP held great promise for us, and has been a key priority for several years now. We're very disappointed to see the withdrawal today."
Soybeans are the nation's largest agricultural export, and markets in Southeast Asia and Latin America continue to grow in their potential as buyers of U.S. soy. The biggest beneficiary from TPP, however, was the American livestock industry--in the form of increased meat and dairy exports--which represents the largest domestic market for soybean meal.
The TPP represents 40 percent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP), and according to the Peterson Institute, would have increased overall U.S. exports by $357 billion by 2030. Specifically for U.S. farmers, TPP would have increased annual net farm income by $4.4 billion according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Additionally, TPP was the first regional trade agreement to address the need to coordinate international policy on trade in the products of agricultural biotechnology, a benefit that ASA will push to see in any future agreements with TPP partner nations.
"Moving forward, we expect to see a plan in place as soon as possible to engage the TPP partner nations and capture the value that we lose with the withdrawal today. With net farm income down by over 40 percent from levels just a few years ago, we need trade deals with the Asia-Pacific countries to make up for the $4.4 billion in annual net farm income being lost by farmers from not moving forward with the TPP. Also, we expect a seat at the table to help ensure these agreements in whatever form they take are crafted to capture their full value for soybean farmers," added Moore. "Trade is too important for us to support anything less."
NMPF, USDEC Urge Trump Administration Not to Cede Export Opportunities as United States Withdraws from TPP, Reconsiders NAFTA Role
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) today urged the Trump Administration not to retreat from pursuing new trade opportunities in the Pacific Rim, and to protect the agricultural trade relationship between the United States and Mexico.
The dairy groups spoke out Monday as President Trump formally withdrew the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which NMPF and USDEC had supported because it contained benefits for America’s dairy farmers. A retreat from TPP “must not lead to a retreat from economic engagement with growing Asian markets for American dairy products,” said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern.
“While we recognize that TPP as it now stands has no path forward, we urge the Trump Administration to look for future opportunities to increase our dairy exports in Asia and around the world. Our competitors have been successfully negotiating trade agreements over the past several years. This puts the U.S. agriculture sector at a competitive disadvantage if we don’t pursue our own initiatives,” he said.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership “was far from perfect, but was beneficial to the U.S. dairy sector because in addition to new market access, it also made significant progress in focusing on other barriers, including sanitary/phytosanitary standards, as well as the abuse of geographical indications to block competition in common food categories,” said Matt McKnight, Acting Chief of Staff for USDEC.
He said one approach the new administration could take is to replace TPP with bilateral agreements with countries such as Japan, Vietnam and others in Southeast Asia.
NMPF and USDEC on Monday joined 130 other farm and food organizations in calling on President Trump to preserve hard-fought agriculture market access in Mexico, which is the No. 1 market for U.S. dairy exports, totaling $1.2 billion in 2016.
“The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has opened a major door to Mexico that we don’t want slammed shut,” Mulhern said.
“In contrast, Canada, the other NAFTA party, has habitually and deliberately worked to undermine dairy trade. We have been very vocal in the past year that Canada is not living up to its dairy market access opportunities for the United States. This issue must be on the table in any discussion about the future of NAFTA.”
McKnight noted that “the U.S. dairy sector exports 15 percent of its milk production, or one day’s worth of milk production out of each week. In 2015, those exports were worth over $5 billion, and helped generate more than 120,000 jobs in dairy farming, manufacturing and related sectors.”
He said the groups will continue to press lawmakers on the important link between export sales and dairy job growth in the United States.
Statement by AFBF President Zippy Duvall Regarding the Importance of Trade to U.S. Agriculture
“U.S. agriculture creates jobs and supports economic growth in rural America, and American agriculture depends on maintaining and increasing access to markets outside the United States. Trade is vital to the success of our nation’s farmers and ranchers. More than 25 percent of all U.S. ag production ultimately goes to markets outside our borders.
“While President Trump signed an executive order today withdrawing our nation from the Trans- Pacific Partnership, we viewed TPP as a positive agreement for agriculture – one that would have added $4.4 billion annually to our struggling agriculture economy. With this decision, it is critical that the new administration begin work immediately to do all it can to develop new markets for U.S. agricultural goods and to protect and advance U.S. agricultural interests in the critical Asia-Pacific region.
“American agriculture is virtually always a winner when trade agreements remove barriers to U.S. crop and livestock exports because we impose very few compared to other nations. We have much to gain through strong trade agreements. AFBF pledges to work with the administration to help ensure that American agriculture can compete on a level playing field in markets around the world. But we need the administration’s commitment to ensuring we do not lose the ground gained -- whether in the Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe or other parts of the world.
“This is why we believe it is also important to re-emphasize the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico that have been beneficial for American agriculture. U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico have quadrupled from $8.9 billion in 1993 to over $38 billion today, due in large part to NAFTA. Any renegotiation of NAFTA must recognize the gains achieved by American agriculture and assure that U.S. ag trade with Canada and Mexico remains strong. AFBF will work with the administration to remove remaining barriers that hamstring the ability of America’s farmers and ranchers to benefit from trading relationships with our important North American trading partners.”
CWT Assists with 3.4 Million Pounds of Cheese Export Sales
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 24 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Foremost Farms USA, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) and Tillamook County Creamery Association. These member cooperatives have contracts to sell 3.380 million pounds (1,533 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheeses to customers in Asia, Central America, the Middle East and Oceania. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from January through April 2017.
So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 3.431 million pounds of American-type cheeses and 220,462 pounds of butter (82% milkfat) to eight countries on three continents. The sales are the equivalent of 36.633 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 affects all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.
Beef feedlot managers, owners, employees and supporting industry personnel will learn the latest in feedlot nutrition, health, and marketing at the 2017 Beef Feedlot Roundtables Feb. 7-9 in Scottsbluff, Lexington, and West Point with remote connections to locations in Iowa. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. At each location with welcome and introduction at 1 p.m. Exact dates and locations are as follows:
· SCOTTSBLUFF: Feb. 7, Panhandle Research and Extension Center
· LEXINGTON: Feb. 8, Dawson County Extension Office
· WEST POINT: Feb. 9, Nielsen Community Center
University and industry representatives will speak about nutrition and management, marketing options, environmental topics, industry updates and other timely topics for feedlot operators. Topics and presenters include:
· Effects of Environment on Bovine Respiratory Disease (Brian Vander Ley, Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center)
· Marketing fat cattle options and what the fed cattle exchange entails (Steve Sunderman, producer and Nebraska Cattlemen Marketing Committee Co-chair)
· Livestock and Climate Change- Facts and Fiction. (Frank Mitloehner, University of California-Davis)
· UNL Feedlot Research Update (Galen Erickson and Matt Luebbe, Nebraska Extension)
· Beef Quality Assurance- Feedlot Assessments (Rob Eirich, Nebraska Extension BQA Director)
· Beef Industry Update (Doug Straight, Nebraska Beef Council)
· Optional BQA Training, 5:00 p.m. (Rob Eirich, UNL Extension, Nebraska BQA Director)
The Nebraska Beef Council will give an update on new beef products and sponsor refreshments at Nebraska locations.
Preregistration is available by phone, fax, e-mail or mail, and requested by Feb. 1. Cost is $20 for those who preregister, and will be accepted at the door. Cost for those who have not preregistered will be $30.
For more information or a registration form contact Matt Luebbe at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361, phone 308-632-1260, fax 308-632-1365 or e-mail mluebbe2@unl.edu.
The Beef Feedlot Roundtable is sponsored by Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Beef Council and ISU Extension.
Free Grain Marketing Workshop at Eastern Nebraska Research & Extension Center at the ARDC
A free grain marketing workshop will be held near Mead on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.
Location: Eastern Nebraska Research & Extension Center located at the Agricultural Research & Development Center near Mead - 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, NE 68033.
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This workshop will assist grain producers minimize losses during this time of low prices. Nebraska Extension Educators will present location and commodity specific marketing information. Topics include developing a written marketing plan, and understanding basis and carrying charges. The workshops feature the Marketing in a New Era simulator and the Grain Marketing Plan smartphone application.
The workshop is limited to 40 participants with a complimentary lunch.
Register by visiting go.unl.edu/marketingworkshops, calling Cheryl Dunbar at 402-624-8030 or cdunbar2@unl.edu.
NE Cover Crop Conference
Keith Glewen, NE Extension Educator
The Nebraska Cover Crop Conference is Tuesday, February 14 at the Eastern Nebraska Research & Extension Center at the ARDC. The flyer with details and registration information is located at this website link: http://ardc.unl.edu/2017CoverCropConference.pdf. Registration is requested for meal and reference material planning purposes.
What you can expect by attending:
1. No registration fee thanks to the sponsors listed on the flyer.
2. Great information from people with experience.
3. Great food and time to visit with speakers and other growers with cover crop experience.
4. CCA Credits
5. Free parking!
Now if you ask me this is a sweetheart of a deal. Did I say sweetheart? No wait, if you register by Feb. 10 you will receive not one but two Cover Crop hand pocket guides absolutely free! Don’t wait register now.
Trends, Issues and Production Topics Headline Nebraska Dairy Convention
Longtime dairy journalist Jim Dickrell, editor of Dairy Herd Management, is among the featured speakers at the 2017 Nebraska Dairy Convention February 21 at the Ramada Inn, Columbus, Nebraska. Dickrell will discuss dairy industry trends and issues at the convention’s evening banquet at 6:30 p.m. The convention, sponsored by the Nebraska State Dairy Association, includes sessions surrounding dairy production, a trade show and the association’s annual business meeting.
The day will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a presentation from Grow Nebraska on helping the state develop the dairy community from both farm and processing perspectives. Veterinarian Jan Schearer, of Iowa State University, will discuss treatment and control of lameness in dairy cattle, and Thomas Oelberg of Diamond V will present on total mixed ration quality. Their presentations are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.
Lucas Lentsch, the recently named CEO of the Midwest Dairy Association, will be featured at the noon luncheon, providing an update on the organization’s work on dairy farmers’ behalf. Midwest Dairy will also present a workshop on social media from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., featuring Missouri dairy farmer Lisa Leach, who drew the attention of a Chipotle executive through a Facebook post that went viral last summer.
Award presentations and the coronation of the 2017-2018 Nebraska Dairy Princess and Ambassadors will also take place during the evening banquet.
Dairy production awards will be presented at 3 p.m., followed by the Nebraska State Dairy Association’s annual business session at 4 p.m. The trade show hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Nebraska Dairy Convention is free to all Nebraska dairy farmers, families and guests. Pre-registrations are due February 14, in order to be included in meals. Attendee and sponsorship registration forms are available at nebraskamilk.org. Questions about the convention can be directed to Rod Johnson, Nebraska State Dairy Association, at 402-261-5482 or rod@nebraskamilk.org.
Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation 2017 Teachers of the Year Announced
The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation has selected two teachers as their Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom 2017 Teachers of the Year. The Teacher of the Year is awarded to two outstanding teachers that incorporate agriculture into their classroom through innovative ideas.
Jane Gundvaldson, a fourth grade teacher at Thomas Elementary School in Gretna and Matthew Koth, a third grade teacher at Highland Elementary School in Omaha were honored.
“Both of these educators demonstrate how teachers can incorporate agriculture examples and hands on teaching methods into standards-based curriculum to engage the next generation in critical thinking about where their food, fiber and fuel comes from,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation.
Gundvaldson, brings agriculture into her classroom by paralleling what foods her students eat on a regular basis to the farms where the food is grown and raised.
“I believe these lessons linking Nebraskans to where their food comes from are the most fulfilling part of my teaching career,” Gundvaldson said. “I find it more important than ever to help my students understand that the hamburgers or pork chops that they are eating come from Nebraska.”
In addition, Mrs. Gundvaldson’s fourth graders participate in the Foundation’s Ag Pen Pal Program, where their classroom is matched with a farmer in Nebraska. Chuck Homolka, a Merrick County Farm Bureau member, sends videos and pictures of planting and harvest to the students so they can understand what it really takes to grow their food. For the past two years the students have visited Homolka’s farm in Central City to see first-hand the equipment necessary to grow popcorn and corn for ethanol plants and raise cattle.
Koth’s classroom is also involved in the Ag Pen Pal Program and is matched with Arlan and Sarah Paxton in Stapleton.
“The Paxton’s have shared with us by sending video of how they care for the cattle and prepare for the winter by bailing hay,” Koth said. “The students learn first-hand how important agriculture is to the entire state of Nebraska through this program.”
Koth also incorporates agriculture into the classroom by reading the story Stone Soup by Jon Muth to his third graders. The students discuss and write the ingredients on the board then are tasked at finding where each ingredient in the soup is from. From there, they talk about how the food gets from the farm to the grocery store and if we are able to grow those foods in Nebraska.
“This activity brings up discussion about why some crops are grown in different areas of the country and world,” Koth said. “We then compare which ingredients have traveled the furthest and which are the closest to us in Nebraska.”
Each teacher is being awarded an all-expense paid trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Kansas City, Missouri June 20-23. The conference brings educators together from all over the United States to collaborate on how to incorporate agriculture into their curriculum and engage students. Teachers will have the opportunity to attend tours of local ag businesses and farms in the area.
Conservation Efforts Recognized at Annual Lower Elkhorn NRD Awards Banquet
The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) board honored outstanding conservationists at their annual awards banquet on Friday, January 13th. The event was held at the Divots Conference Center in Norfolk and attracted over 60 people.
Outstanding Tree Planter Award
The Outstanding Tree Planter Award is presented to individuals within the district who have shown a strong commitment to the planting and care of trees. The Bill Osborn family of Tilden were honored as the recipients of the 2016 Outstanding Tree Planter Award.
The Osborns live north of Tilden in Pierce County where Bill is a carpenter. The rustic log cabin that the family resides in was built by Bill, with the assistance of friends and family. Bill, and his wife, Kathy, have three children, Tyler, Audrey, and Elizabeth.
The Osborns were nominated by LENRD Forester, Pam Bergstrom. Bergstrom said, “If you were to visit Bill’s place, you would think you were out in a native forest, when you are in fact in a man-made windbreak/forest that encircles the property and has been planted one tree at a time by Bill and his family.”
The main windbreak that protects the log cabin was planted by the Lower Elkhorn NRD in the late 1990s and early 2000s. With planting around 300 new trees each year along with the trees that the NRD has planted, it is estimated that there are over 5,000 trees on his property that have been purchased through the Lower Elkhorn NRD’s Conservation Tree Program, a grand total of 9,200 trees from both the NRD and other nurseries.
Bergstrom added, “This would be roughly 10-15 acres of trees. Maintenance and management on his trees is Bill’s main priority and every year he replants the ones that have died. He is very diligent about making sure that there is no space left vacant. He has started a new project of growing his own trees from seed that he has collected from his own trees and unique trees from around the area. Bill and his family are very deserving of this award.”
Educators of the Year Award
The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District partners with schools across the district and encourages students to become good stewards of our natural resources. At their recent awards banquet, the district recognized two teachers who have demonstrated excellence throughout their career.
Suzy Goedeken and Patrick Kratochvil are instructors at Madison Public School. Madison Public Schools implemented a Watershed Dynamics program into their summer curriculum in 2011. Suzy and Patrick are the co-instructors of the program which brings students together to learn more about our water through a diverse sampling program in the Taylor and Union Creek Watershed. Madison High School has received grants from the Lower Elkhorn NRD to continue the program thanks to the efforts of both Suzy and Patrick.
The program brings approximately 20 students together to complete water sampling and analysis of the data throughout the summer months. Each year, Suzy and Patrick, bring the students to an NRD board meeting so they can give a report on what they discovered and show the directors what they have learned.
Suzy is currently in her 16th year of teaching. She has been working with the Taylor-Union Creek Watershed Program since the beginning. Before that, Suzy worked with the Shell Creek Watershed Program in Newman Grove for 5 years. Suzy and her husband, Mick, have two children, Michayla and Micah.
Patrick is in his 19th year of teaching and has been teaching High School Physical Sciences for 14 years at Madison High School. He has been co-sponsoring the Taylor-Union Watershed Class for 6 years. Patrick and his wife, Beth, have four children, Courtney, Shawn, Michael, and Curtis.
Vice-Chairman of the LENRD Board, Dennis Schultz, presented the awards. Schultz stated, “The educator of the year award recognizes Suzy and Patrick for their excellence in teaching future generations the value of our natural resources.”
Outstanding Partnership
The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District works with various agencies and partners each year as we work to improve the quality of life for the citizens across Northeast Nebraska. At the banquet, the district recognized Susan Risinger Green for the outstanding partnership they have shared with her throughout the years.
Susan Risinger Green is a native of Brunswick and a graduate of Plainview High School. She attended Wayne State College and Northeast Community College.
She began her journalistic career in 1981 at the Neligh News and Leader, and was named assistant news director at WJAG radio in Norfolk in September of 1989. She was with WJAG, Lite Rock 97.5 and 106KIX Radio in Norfolk for more than 26 years, where she served as assistant news director and farm director.
She has received numerous awards over the years for her agricultural reporting and programming, including the 2007 Oscar in Agriculture. Most recently, she received the award of merit for significant achievement in the advancement of agriculture at the AgCeptional Women’s Conference, which the Lower Elkhorn NRD helps sponsor each year.
Schultz said, “Susan has been an outstanding partner with the Lower Elkhorn NRD for the past 26+ years. She has been extensively involved with stories from water to wildlife. This award recognizes Susan for her past support & excellence in reporting on the wise use and conservation of Nebraska's natural resources. Susan, thank you for the partnership we have shared with you.”
Susan joined Northeast Community College in May of 2016 to serve as the campaign director for the proposed Ag and Water Center of Excellence.
She and her husband, Ron, live in Norfolk and have four children.
Service Awards:
Service awards were also presented by LENRD General Manager Mike Sousek.
Laurie Schold of Oakland, Logan East Rural Water System Financial Secretary, was awarded for 10 years of service.
Director awards were also presented to the following: Jarvis Otten of Norfolk for his service on the board since 2015; Dave Shelton of Wayne for his service on the board since 2014; Danny Kluthe of Dodge for his service on the board since 2010; and Tim Tighe for his 25 years of service to the district from 1991-2016.
Vice-Chairman Schultz added, “Congratulations to all of our winners tonight. We thank you for your hard work and continued efforts in protecting our natural resources.”
Ag partnerships continue to demonstrate water quality momentum
The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is partnering with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) to offer additional cost share dollars to pig farmers installing new nutrient loss reduction technologies.
Through this program, IPPA will provide up to $25,000, throughout the next year, to offset up to 50 percent of costs for pig farmers to install saturated buffers or bioreactors on their farm land. Sites will be selected based on greatest opportunity for nitrate reduction and be geographically dispersed throughout the state to aid in education and demonstration opportunities.
"Bioreactors and saturated buffers are new practices that have been developed to address water quality, so this $25,000 investment will help us install them at sites across the state so we can continue to demonstrate to farmers how they may be able fit on their farm," Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said. "I greatly appreciate the Iowa Pork Producers Association for making this significant investment. This is another great example of ag groups in Iowa stepping up to help improve water quality."
Participating producers will be asked to share information and experiences with other farmers through IPPA and IDALS programs.
Pig farmers interested in the program can submit basic farm information for project consideration at www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3108271/IDALS-EOF-Funding-Application. For more information, contact Tyler Bettin at IPPA at (800) 372-7675 or tbettin @iowapork.org or Matt Lechtenberg at IDALS at (515) 281-3857 or matthew.lechtenberg@iowaagriculture.gov.
"We are happy to partner with IDALS to offer this program and technical assistance," said 2017 IPPA President Curtis Meier, a pig farmer from Clarinda. "While these practices are not specific to pork production, our leaders have recognized the importance of enhancing assistance to install and build awareness of these exciting new edge-of-field technologies."
This new offering from IPPA builds on its additional efforts supportive of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, including cover crop research, field day support and educational outreach.
"Iowa Pork Producers Association members have established policy supporting the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and have committed their own Pork Checkoff investments to efforts that can aid in neighbor relations and improve the quality of our natural resources," said Meier. "By supporting the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, enhancing Water Quality Initiative efforts and building efforts with the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, there is a strong momentum and opportunity within our commodity organizations and others to drive progress for continuous improvement and practice adoption."
The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy science assessment cites an average 4 percent reduction in Nitrate loss and up to 46 percent reduction in Phosphorous loss when using swine manure as a nutrient source compared to commercial fertilizer, while also having positive impacts on soil organic carbon, soil structure and runoff. Research from the University of Arkansas shows that efficiencies of modern pork production enabled pig farmers to reduce water use 41 percent land use 78 percent and carbon footprint 35 percent from 1959-2009.
"Manure management is regulated in Iowa. Pig farmers meet requirements for certification to apply manure and do so based on Manure Management Plans and crop needs. It is already against the law for manure from any confinement to reach a body of water," said IPPA Environmental Committee chair and Webster County pig farmer Gregg Hora. "Even with this regulation, pig farmers have a long-standing commitment to continuous improvement and collaborative efforts to build on Iowa's sustainable production model and optimization of manure as a fertilizer resource."
Study Shows Iowa Farm Incomes Strong Despite Economic Downturn
It’s no secret that the farm economy has faced a downturn since its peak in 2012. But how has the downturn affected farmers, specifically related to their farm income and levels of farm debt?
A new study by David Peters, associate professor and extension rural sociologist with Iowa State University, aims to directly answer those questions. "Income Trends for Iowa Farms and Farm Families 2003-2015" (SOC 3076) is now available through the Extension Store.
“Family farm income has remained relatively high, even though there were strong declines in income across the board over the last three years,” Peters said. “That indicates the incomes in 2011 and 2012 must have been phenomenally high to keep income averages this high after a drop off, in many cases, of 30 to even 50 percent over the last two years.”
Commercial farm net income averaged $187,000 in 2015, down from a high of $381,344 in 2012. Intermediate farms, farms where the operator’s primary occupation is farming, averaged an income of $34,000. Residence farms, where the operator’s primary occupation is not farming, had an income of $17,000.
“The concern should be for the 800 to 1,000 acre commercial farm,” Peters said. “We talk in general about the falling farm economy, but the area of most concern is the midsized commercial farm. They are the leaders in rural communities and are the slice of the farm sector that policy makers should be most concerned about.”
The uniqueness of these farms – large enough to sustain a family but not so large as to be able to survive downturns in the economy – place them in a vulnerable position.
“Very large farms bring in a lot of income, there is more room for them to move as the economy goes up or down. And smaller farms survive on off-farm work,” Peters said. “With the midsized commercial class, policy should be aimed at supporting them, the ones with viable farm operations who are the most vulnerable to changes in the farm economy. They are the leaders in rural communities and we don’t want to lose them.”
Growing debt has become a problem for farms of this size. The debt utilization rate (a measure of total debt relative to maximum feasible debt) rose from 35 percent in 2012 to 73 percent in these farms three years later.
“Midsized farms have taken out as much debt as they feasibly can,” Peters said. “When we lump them together with larger farms the outlook is very rosy, but these midsized farms are the ones that are really struggling. Bringing home only around $100,000 a year with high debt levels makes them the most susceptible to any additional downturns in the economy.”
To Peters, the study clarifies the need for financially supporting farmers.
“It is so important to have farm bill income support for farmers,” Peters said. “This is exactly what those farm bill programs are designed to do; when there are short-term fluctuations in the economy they won’t drive people out of farming because they can’t afford it.”
Iowa Learning Farms Releases New 'Talking With Your Tenant' Publication Series
Caring for Iowa’s farmland requires many decisions that impact today and future generation’s ability to best utilize the land for agricultural production. Land rental relationships can vary, but many face similar challenges when discussing new conservation practices with a tenant or landlord. To help begin the conversation, Iowa Learning Farms created a publication series with talking points and relevant research findings about a variety of conservation practices.
“A large number of Iowa cropland acres are rented every year; nearly 50 percent according to recent surveys. These rented acres are greatly influenced by the tenant who farms them,” said Mark Licht, Iowa State University assistant professor of agronomy and Iowa Learning Farms advisor, who conceptualized the series.
“Landowners are integral in the decision-making process: from leasing structure and understanding farming practices, to being considerate of practice costs and profitability. With emphasis being placed on nutrient loss reduction and practices ranging from in-field to land use changes, it’s imperative for landowners and tenants to have conversations about reaching production, profitability and environmental goals,” said Licht. “These conversations can lead to improvements of soil health and water quality, along with meeting productivity and profitability goals.”
As land is passed from one generation to another, or is sold, it can lead to uncertainty for tenants and landowners alike.
“We developed this series in response to questions we heard from landowners. They wanted to understand how conservation practices such as strip-tillage and cover crops would affect both their land and the tenant’s bottom line before asking them to add these practices to their management plans,” said Jacqueline Comito, Iowa Learning Farms director. “While the name of the series is ‘Talking to Your Tenant,’ the reverse is also true. We think tenants will also find the series helpful as they educate their landowners on implementing these important practices.”
The series addresses in-field practices like cover crops, no-tillage and strip-tillage, and edge-of-field practices such as denitrifying bioreactors and wetlands. If landowners or renters with ideas for future topics for this series should contact Liz Juchems at ilf@iastate.edu or call 515-294-5429. The four-part series, along with other print and video resources, is available online at www.iowalearningfarms.org/conservation. Copies will also be available at Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops, or mailed upon request.
National Pork Industry Forum to Be Held March 1-3
Producer delegates from across the United States will gather in Atlanta, March 1-3, for the annual National Pork Industry Forum.
The 15 producers who serve as members of the National Pork Board and Pork Checkoff staff leadership will hear directly from Pork Act Delegates appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Each year the delegates confer, vote on resolutions and advisements and provide valuable direction on the important issues facing pork producers and the industry.
The theme for this year’s Pork Forum, Power of Pork: Moving Mountains, references the current record-breaking U.S. pork production and pork producers’ continued work together to meet the challenges and opportunities of a growing industry. Delegates will learn about the aggressive promotions to grow consumer demand and plans to build consumer trust and drive sustainable production.
“While our industry is growing, so is demand for our product – both domestically and internationally,” said Jan Archer, president of the National Pork Board and a pig farmer from Goldsboro, North Carolina. “With faith and focus, resolve and connectedness to each other, we can achieve our goals and move mountains.”
At the meeting, Pork Act Delegates will rank eight candidates for the National Pork Board and submit the list to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, for approval. The candidates, in alphabetical order, are:
Todd Erickson – Northwood, North Dakota
M. James Faison – Hopewell, Virginia
Heather Hill – Greenfield, Indiana
Brett Kaysen – Nunn, Colorado
Scott Phillips – Drexel, Missouri
Steve Rommereim – Alcester, South Dakota
Kristine Scheller-Stewart – Goldsboro, North Carolina
Charles Wildman – South Charleston, Ohio
Prior to the annual meeting, members of the National Pork Board also will convene their March meeting. The agenda will include updates on 2017 plans to enhance pork demand, increase market opportunities, improve pork production practices and invest in research priorities.
Included on the 2017 Pork Forum agenda will be opportunities for pork producers to become certified in the pork industry’s Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus®) program, as well as learn more about pork industry programs. The full agenda is available at www.porkindustryforum.com.
Sasse Statement on TPP
U.S. Senator Ben Sasse issued the following statement this morning regarding news reports that President Trump will withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership today.
"It's clear that those of us who believe trade is good for American families have done a terrible job defending trade's historic successes and celebrating its future potential. We have to make the arguments and we have to start now."
Statement by Steve Nelson, President, Regarding the U.S. Withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
“We are certainly disappointed with President Trump’s decision to sign an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Economic analysis conducted by the Nebraska Farm Bureau showed that virtually every county in Nebraska would have been positively impacted by the agreement with the state as a whole projected to see increased agricultural cash receipts by more than $378 million annually.“
“The TPP reflected a major opportunity for the farmers and ranchers who grow and raise Nebraska’s top commodities including beef, pork, corn, and soybeans. Over $150 million or nearly 40 percent of Nebraska’s projected increase in sales of agriculture products under TPP would have come from the sale of Nebraska beef into TPP countries. Nebraska pork producers would have also seen growth opportunities with Nebraska pork sales statewide expanding by more than $39 million annually. Finally, our corn and soybean farmers would have seen annual growth of over $76 million and $34 million respectively.”
“It is imperative that the Trump Administration now work on other ways to expand agricultural trade. While we continue to support all of our previous free trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, which has quadrupled U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico, we stand ready to work with the new administration to help expand and develop new markets for Nebraska agricultural products.”
Smith Statement on U.S. Withdrawing from TPP
Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement today after President Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
“TPP was not a perfect agreement, but it established a framework for U.S. exporters to pursue greater economic opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region,” Smith said. “Our country should be a leader in writing the rules of the global economy, rather than allowing other world powers to take our place. Moving forward, I hope we can pursue bilateral agreements with these TPP countries to open more markets to U.S. agriculture producers and manufacturers.”
USMEF Statement on TPP Executive Order
In response to the executive order withdrawing the United States as a signatory to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Philip M. Seng issued the following statement:
USMEF remains fully committed to our valued trading partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). These countries account for more than 60 percent of U.S. red meat exports.
In some of these key markets, the U.S. red meat industry will remain at a serious competitive disadvantage unless meaningful market access gains are realized. We urge the new administration to utilize all means available to return the United States to a competitive position, so that our industry can continue to serve this important international customer base and further expand our export opportunities.
Wheat Grower Organizations Disappointed in TPP Withdrawal; Call for New Agreements in Crucial Asian, Latin American Markets
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) recognize that President Trump’s executive order to withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was inevitable. It is disappointing, however, that until an alternative trade policy is established, export opportunities in the promising Pacific Rim markets that could help U.S. wheat farmers at a time when they need it most are very much at risk.
“U.S. wheat farmers depend heavily on export demand to determine their per-bushel income,” said Jason Scott, USW Chairman and a wheat farmer from Easton, Md. “We can compete very effectively in Asian and Latin American markets where the demand for high quality wheat is rapidly increasing and our organizations took a long-view of the benefits TPP held out — a trade agreement that promoted economic growth abroad as a way to grow export sales and prosperity for farmers at home.”
Without TPP or alternative agreements, U.S. farmers will be forced to the sidelines of trade while losing market share in the region to our competitors including Australia, Canada, Russia and the European Union, which have current agreements or are negotiating new ones with countries outside the network of existing U.S. trade agreements,” said Gordon Stoner, NAWG President and a wheat farmer from Outlook, Mont.
USW and NAWG agree that trade agreements must provide the most benefit possible to our own farmers and industries. We continue to support new agreements that expand free, rules-based trade, as TPP would have done, and encourage that agricultural interests be able to continue to provide input into those negotiations.
NFU Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from Trans-Pacific Partnership
A staunch opponent of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, National Farmers Union (NFU) applauded the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the deeply flawed TPP trade agreement. NFU President Roger Johnson released the following statement in response:
“The Trans-Pacific Partnership was a continuance of our nation’s deeply flawed trade agenda, and we’re pleased that the Trump Administration has decided to formally withdraw the U.S. from the pact to prioritize a fair trade agenda.
“For too long, our nation’s trade negotiators have prioritized a free trade over a fair trade agenda, leading to a massive $531 billion trade deficit, lost jobs and lowered wages in rural communities across America. It’s time our country refocuses the trade agenda to prioritize balanced trade, U.S. sovereignty, and U.S. family farmers, ranchers and rural communities. The Trump Administration should look to do so with a level of tact that does not motivate our trade partners to take retaliatory actions or threaten the integrity of positive trade markets that American agriculture relies upon.
“NFU looks forward to working with the new administration and Congress to promote fair trade solutions that work for family farmers and ranchers and the U.S. economy.”
Cattlemen Express Concerns With Trump Administration's Trade Action
Tracy Brunner, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, today released the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement that he is withdrawing the United States from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal and may seek to take action on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA):
“TPP and NAFTA have long been convenient political punching bags, but the reality is that foreign trade has been one of the greatest success stories in the long history of the U.S. beef industry.
“Fact is American cattle producers are already losing out on $400,000 in sales every day because we don’t have TPP, and since NAFTA was implemented, exports of American-produced beef to Mexico have grown by more than 750 percent. We’re especially concerned that the Administration is taking these actions without any meaningful alternatives in place that would compensate for the tremendous loss that cattle producers will face without TPP or NAFTA.
“Sparking a trade war with Canada, Mexico, and Asia will only lead to higher prices for American-produced beef in those markets and put our American producers at a much steeper competitive disadvantage. The fact remains that 96 percent of the world’s consumers live outside the United States, and expanding access to those consumers is the single best thing we can do to help American cattle-producing families be more successful.”
ASA Registers Significant Concern Following Withdrawal from TPP
The nation's soybean farmers expressed significant concern Monday, following an executive order from President Donald Trump that withdraws the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). American Soybean Association (ASA) President Ron Moore pointed out the high stakes for soybean farmers, and urged the Trump Administration to immediately announce how it intends to engage and expand market access in the Asia-Pacific region.
"Trade is something soybean farmers take very seriously. We export more than half the soy we grow here in the United States, and still more in the form of meat and other products that are produced with our meal and oil," said Moore, who farms in Roseville, Ill. "The TPP held great promise for us, and has been a key priority for several years now. We're very disappointed to see the withdrawal today."
Soybeans are the nation's largest agricultural export, and markets in Southeast Asia and Latin America continue to grow in their potential as buyers of U.S. soy. The biggest beneficiary from TPP, however, was the American livestock industry--in the form of increased meat and dairy exports--which represents the largest domestic market for soybean meal.
The TPP represents 40 percent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP), and according to the Peterson Institute, would have increased overall U.S. exports by $357 billion by 2030. Specifically for U.S. farmers, TPP would have increased annual net farm income by $4.4 billion according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Additionally, TPP was the first regional trade agreement to address the need to coordinate international policy on trade in the products of agricultural biotechnology, a benefit that ASA will push to see in any future agreements with TPP partner nations.
"Moving forward, we expect to see a plan in place as soon as possible to engage the TPP partner nations and capture the value that we lose with the withdrawal today. With net farm income down by over 40 percent from levels just a few years ago, we need trade deals with the Asia-Pacific countries to make up for the $4.4 billion in annual net farm income being lost by farmers from not moving forward with the TPP. Also, we expect a seat at the table to help ensure these agreements in whatever form they take are crafted to capture their full value for soybean farmers," added Moore. "Trade is too important for us to support anything less."
NMPF, USDEC Urge Trump Administration Not to Cede Export Opportunities as United States Withdraws from TPP, Reconsiders NAFTA Role
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) today urged the Trump Administration not to retreat from pursuing new trade opportunities in the Pacific Rim, and to protect the agricultural trade relationship between the United States and Mexico.
The dairy groups spoke out Monday as President Trump formally withdrew the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which NMPF and USDEC had supported because it contained benefits for America’s dairy farmers. A retreat from TPP “must not lead to a retreat from economic engagement with growing Asian markets for American dairy products,” said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern.
“While we recognize that TPP as it now stands has no path forward, we urge the Trump Administration to look for future opportunities to increase our dairy exports in Asia and around the world. Our competitors have been successfully negotiating trade agreements over the past several years. This puts the U.S. agriculture sector at a competitive disadvantage if we don’t pursue our own initiatives,” he said.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership “was far from perfect, but was beneficial to the U.S. dairy sector because in addition to new market access, it also made significant progress in focusing on other barriers, including sanitary/phytosanitary standards, as well as the abuse of geographical indications to block competition in common food categories,” said Matt McKnight, Acting Chief of Staff for USDEC.
He said one approach the new administration could take is to replace TPP with bilateral agreements with countries such as Japan, Vietnam and others in Southeast Asia.
NMPF and USDEC on Monday joined 130 other farm and food organizations in calling on President Trump to preserve hard-fought agriculture market access in Mexico, which is the No. 1 market for U.S. dairy exports, totaling $1.2 billion in 2016.
“The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has opened a major door to Mexico that we don’t want slammed shut,” Mulhern said.
“In contrast, Canada, the other NAFTA party, has habitually and deliberately worked to undermine dairy trade. We have been very vocal in the past year that Canada is not living up to its dairy market access opportunities for the United States. This issue must be on the table in any discussion about the future of NAFTA.”
McKnight noted that “the U.S. dairy sector exports 15 percent of its milk production, or one day’s worth of milk production out of each week. In 2015, those exports were worth over $5 billion, and helped generate more than 120,000 jobs in dairy farming, manufacturing and related sectors.”
He said the groups will continue to press lawmakers on the important link between export sales and dairy job growth in the United States.
Statement by AFBF President Zippy Duvall Regarding the Importance of Trade to U.S. Agriculture
“U.S. agriculture creates jobs and supports economic growth in rural America, and American agriculture depends on maintaining and increasing access to markets outside the United States. Trade is vital to the success of our nation’s farmers and ranchers. More than 25 percent of all U.S. ag production ultimately goes to markets outside our borders.
“While President Trump signed an executive order today withdrawing our nation from the Trans- Pacific Partnership, we viewed TPP as a positive agreement for agriculture – one that would have added $4.4 billion annually to our struggling agriculture economy. With this decision, it is critical that the new administration begin work immediately to do all it can to develop new markets for U.S. agricultural goods and to protect and advance U.S. agricultural interests in the critical Asia-Pacific region.
“American agriculture is virtually always a winner when trade agreements remove barriers to U.S. crop and livestock exports because we impose very few compared to other nations. We have much to gain through strong trade agreements. AFBF pledges to work with the administration to help ensure that American agriculture can compete on a level playing field in markets around the world. But we need the administration’s commitment to ensuring we do not lose the ground gained -- whether in the Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe or other parts of the world.
“This is why we believe it is also important to re-emphasize the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico that have been beneficial for American agriculture. U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico have quadrupled from $8.9 billion in 1993 to over $38 billion today, due in large part to NAFTA. Any renegotiation of NAFTA must recognize the gains achieved by American agriculture and assure that U.S. ag trade with Canada and Mexico remains strong. AFBF will work with the administration to remove remaining barriers that hamstring the ability of America’s farmers and ranchers to benefit from trading relationships with our important North American trading partners.”
CWT Assists with 3.4 Million Pounds of Cheese Export Sales
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 24 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Foremost Farms USA, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) and Tillamook County Creamery Association. These member cooperatives have contracts to sell 3.380 million pounds (1,533 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheeses to customers in Asia, Central America, the Middle East and Oceania. The product has been contracted for delivery in the period from January through April 2017.
So far this year, CWT has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 3.431 million pounds of American-type cheeses and 220,462 pounds of butter (82% milkfat) to eight countries on three continents. The sales are the equivalent of 36.633 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 affects all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Friday January 20 Ag News
MIDWEST COW-CALF SYMPOSIUM
Expanding the Cowherd - The Confinement Option
Are you considering an expansion of the cow herd to help meet the demand for Beef? Are you looking for a revenue source within the Beef Industry that will allow the next generation a chance to come back to the farm? With less grazing land available, increased cost of land ownership and surplus feedstuffs in the cornbelt; now may be the time to consider Cow-Calf confinement or semi-confinement. This Symposium is designed to allow you the chance to gain the insight needed to consider cow-calf confinement as a viable beef production model for the future.
Symposium Agenda:
Tuesday, March 21
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Hotel/Tradeshow Check-In
2:00 pm - 2:15 pm Welcome to the Midwest Cow-Calf Symposium
2:15 pm - 3:00 pm Getting Started in Cow-Calf Confinement Production - Morgan Hayes, Ph.D., P.E. - University of Kentucky
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm An Economic Analysis: Investing in the Next Generation - Moe Russell - Russell Consulting Group
3:45 pm - 4:30 pm Tradeshow/Break
4:30 pm - 5:15 pm Health Management in a Confined Scenario - Sarah Barber, D.V.M. - Veterinary Medical Center
5:15 pm - 6:00 pm Cattlemen's Social Hour
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Cattlemen's Supper (provided)
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Cow-Calf Confinement Producer Panel - Session 1
Wednesday, March 22nd
7:30 am - 8:15 am Breakfast (provided)
8:15 am - 9:00 am Financing a Cow-Calf Facility: What You Need To Know - Bruce Eberle - Rabo AgriFinance
9:00am - 9:30 am Tradeshow/Break
9:30 am - 10:15 am Managing Cows in Confinement: Theory in Practice - Kelly Jones - Cactus Feeders, Inc.
10:15 am - 11:00 am Nutritional Management of Confined Production Cows - Karla Jenkins - UNL Panhandle Research & Extension Center
11:00 am - 11:45 am Tradeshow/Break
11:45 am - 12:15 pm Cattlemen's Supper (provided)
12:15 pm - 2:00 pm Virtual Barn Tour & Producer Panel - Session 2
Hotel Accomodations:
Coco Keys Resort Hotel/Hotel RL (formerly Ramada Inn) | Special room rate of $79.00 under the "Midwest Cow-Calf" room block. Deadline for special rate is March 1st, 2017.
The Midwest Cow-Calf Symposium is hosted by The Alliance for the Future of Agricululture in Nebraska, Nebraska Cattlemen, Iowa Cattlemens Association, and the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers. More inforamtion at www.becomeafan.org.
NEBRASKA PRODUCERS FACE STRESSFUL FARM LOAN RENEWAL SEASON
More than 77 percent of Nebraska producers are concerned that they may not be able to obtain operating capital in 2017, according to the 2016 Farm Financial Health Survey conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Department of Agricultural Economics.
Nebraska Extension is increasing its efforts to help producers, who rely on annual operating notes to finance day-to-day needs such as seed, chemicals, fertilizer, feed and utilities.
"Demand is on the rise for operating loans, which is leading to some difficult conversations between producers and their bankers," said Jessica Groskopf, assistant extension educator with Nebraska Extension.
Low commodity prices have resulted in the fourth consecutive year of declining net farm income, or the return that farmers and ranchers get for their input of labor, management and capital. The decline has forced producers to use cash reserves to service debt and to pay for non-farm expenses such as family living that now exceed earnings. This reduces the operation's ability to make debt payments, which makes it more difficult for banks to approve operating loans.
So what can farmers and ranchers do to ensure a smooth farm loan renewal season? Starting the process as soon as possible is critical, Groskopf said.
"Producers need to talk to their loan officer early," she said. "Some banks will work through your options with you if you are low on capital, which is why you need to start the conversation early."
If a producer's operating loan is turned down, their next steps will likely involve trying to find another lender, restructuring debt and making changes to their operations.
Nebraska Extension is ramping up efforts to support the state's producers through this process. In addition to its normal support team, more than 20 extension professionals across the state have been trained on financial literacy. These professionals are available to help producers on an on-demand basis or through workshops.
The Quicken record-keeping workshop is designed to help producers use the commercial software for farms and ranches. The tool can be flexible for ag and non-ag business enterprises and separates family living expenses.
Additionally, financial health check workshops focus on financial documents. Extension educators will go through a balance sheet, cash flow and income statement and show producers what ratios a banker will be looking at on those documents.
"The financial health check workshops can help producers identify potential weaknesses on their statements, which allows them to create a proactive plan and control the conversation with their banker," Groskopf said.
For producers in need of immediate assistance, the State of Nebraska has a dedicated farm/ranch hotline. Producers can call 1-800-464-0258 to find financial, legal and counseling services and referrals.
Producers across the nation are facing this issue, but the impact will be greater in Nebraska, according to Groskopf.
"With Nebraska's economy highly dependent on agriculture, we're going to see this reflect on our state budget and on main street in our hometowns," she said.
For more information on how Nebraska Extension can help producers through farm loan renewal season, contact Groskopf at jgroskopf2@unl.edu or 308-632-1247. Resources can also be found at http://cropwatch.unl.edu and http://beef.unl.edu.
Volume of New Ag Loans Drops
Nathan Kauffman, KC Fed Assistant Vice President and Omaha Branch Executive
Matt Clark, Assistant Economist
Fourth Quarter National Farm Loan Data
The volume of new farm loans dropped sharply in the fourth quarter of 2016, according to respondents to the Survey of Terms of Bank Lending to Farmers. The survey, which asks bankers about new loans to farmers, indicated the volume of non-real estate loans in the farm sector dropped 40 percent from a year ago. The 40-percent drop was the largest year-over-year decline in nearly 20 years.
The sharp reduction in the volume of new farm loans at commercial banks occurred during a prolonged decline in farm revenue. In 2016, prices for most agricultural commodities continued to fall, building on the declines of previous years, with soybeans being a notable exception. A 30-percent year-over-year drop in the price of feeder cattle helped reduce the cost of purchasing the animals and likely contributed to the sharp reduction in loan volumes in the livestock sector. More generally, lower prices appeared to temper demand for new agricultural financing as producers tried to curtail expenditures. Some banks, recognizing greater risk in the farm sector, may have been more selective in financing new loan requests, and some financing decisions may have been delayed in the environment of heightened risk.
In addition to lower commodity prices, lower prices for agricultural inputs may have contributed to the drop in loan volume for items other than real estate. The cost of seeds, fertilizer and cash rents all were down from a year ago. The decline in input costs likely was a significant factor in reducing the volume of loans used, specifically, to finance operating expenses. For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that the cost of cash rent, fertilizer and seed accounted for more than 60 percent of the total cost of corn production in 2016. Because loans used for operating expenses comprise about 60 percent of non-real estate loan volume, the decline in input expenses likely curbed the volume of new farm loans originated in the fourth quarter as farmers prepared for the 2017 planting season.
Although expenses declined, profit margins remained tight and bankers responded with further adjustments to loan terms. Bankers extended the maturities for feeder livestock, other livestock and farm machinery loans by 16, 42 and 13 percent, respectively. Longer maturities on intermediate assets may help some producers facing short-term cash flow shortages and also may help banks avoid past-due payments.
Bankers also raised interest rates in the fourth quarter on all types of non-real estate farm loans. Most notably, interest rates for other livestock and farm machinery increased 0.89 and 0.45 percentage point, respectively. Farm machinery and other livestock carry longer maturity periods and a rate increase may represent a risk-compensation measure when profit margins are tight. Because more than 85 percent of non-real estate loans carried a floating interest rate in the fourth quarter, slight increases in market interest rates may have led to slightly higher interest rates for short-term operating loans in the farm sector. Conversely, interest rates for farm real estate loans edged lower to 4.0 percent in the fourth quarter.
Third Quarter Call Report Data
Despite the sharp reduction in new loan originations, outstanding farm-sector debt at commercial banks continued to rise, but at a slower pace. Call Report data indicated outstanding debt increased 5 percent from a year ago. Although the volume of new loans has dropped recently, a slower rate of loan repayments likely has contributed to further increases in the amount of total farm debt outstanding at commercial banks. Nevertheless, the 5-percent increase in outstanding debt was the smallest in more than three years.
Slower growth in the level of non-real estate farm debt has reduced the overall pace of debt accumulation in the sector. For example, from the third quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2015, outstanding debt used to finance non-real estate farm loans grew at an average annual rate of 6 percent following 12 years of growth that averaged less than 0.5 percent. In the third quarter of 2016, however, non-real estate debt grew less than 2 percent from the previous year. Growth in farm real estate debt also slowed slightly in 2016, but has remained relatively steady since 2000.
An increase in nonperforming loans may also explain a portion of the slowdown in debt accumulation. In the third quarter, the share of nonperforming loans increased to 1.7 percent from 1.1 percent a year earlier. Although still modest historically, the share of total nonperforming loans in the third quarter was the highest since 2012, and may have caused some lenders and borrowers to moderate their use of debt to prevent further financial stress.
Despite slight increases in nonperforming loans, performance of agricultural banks remained strong. Returns on assets, a typical measure of bank performance, increased to 0.91 percent, the highest third quarter rate of return since 1998. The loan-to-deposit ratio at agricultural banks also increased to 0.81 percent, the highest since the third quarter of 2009.
Third Quarter Regional Agricultural Data
Regional Federal Reserve surveys also showed that demand for non-real estate financing in the farm sector increased, but not as strongly as in recent years. According to the surveys, demand for non-real estate loans increased in the Chicago, Kansas City and Minneapolis districts in the third quarter. However, growth was slower in Kansas City and Minneapolis than in 2015. Additionally, demand for non-real estate financing in the third quarter declined in the Dallas district for the first time since 2013 and was unchanged in the St. Louis district for the second consecutive year.
In addition to loan demand, demand for loan renewals and extensions also has continued to rise. The share of bankers that reported an increase in loan renewals and extensions was the highest in survey history for the Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis and St. Louis districts and the highest since 2001 in the Dallas district. Conversely, the share of bankers that reported higher repayment rates was at, or near, historical lows for the Chicago, Dallas, Minneapolis and St. Louis districts and the lowest since 1999 in the Kansas City District. Elevated demand for loan renewals and extensions and weaker repayment rates underscored a growing sense of financial stress in the farm sector.
Prolonged financial stress in the farm sector also has continued to curb farm real estate values. In fact, farmland values in all states in the Chicago, Kansas City and Minneapolis districts have declined from their recent peaks. Most notably, nonirrigated cropland values have dropped by 20 percent, on average, in Kansas and 19 percent in Iowa since 2013. Although, this represents an annualized rate of only 5-8 percent, persistent and gradual declines could lead to further financial stress in the farm sector in the coming years.
Conclusion
A gradual increase in the level of financial stress in the farm sector has caused agricultural lenders and borrowers to become increasingly cautious. Although declines in the cost of some key inputs have provided modest relief, profit margins have remained low and new farm loan originations dropped sharply in the fourth quarter. If profit margins remain low through 2017, the pace of new debt will be a key indicator to monitor in assessing the severity of financial stress through the year.
PLAN FOR DROUGHT WHEN PREPARING PASTURE LEASE
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist
Do you rent pasture? What happens if drought lowers pasture production below expectations? Specifically, what does your pasture lease say about drought?
It’s hard to think about drought in mid-winter but drought can play havoc on pasture leases. All too often, pasture leases fail to include an appropriate plan to adjust to this problem.
Without a plan, both the landowner and the tenant are at risk. Landowners risk having the pasture become overgrazed, resulting in future weed problems, reduced long-term production, and lowered value. The tenant risks poor performance or health of the livestock due to less forage and lower quality feed. This can lead to higher supplemental feed costs or being forced to sell the cattle.
So, who decides when drought has lowered pasture production low enough to remove the cattle? And, what should be the adjustment in the rent payment? And who gets insurance or government payments?
Unfortunately, I can’t give you a specific answer. Instead, now is the time to discuss these issues as landlord and tenant. Be sure to list the length of the grazing period in the lease along with beginning and ending dates. Also make sure that stocking rates are specified in the lease, adjusting these stocking levels for increased cow size if necessary. Usually, it is best to design the lease so both landowner and tenant share in the opportunity and risk associated with drought by adding an appropriate escape clause due to drought. Indicate how a drought adjustment will be made and how that will affect rent payments. And get it all in writing to avoid any misunderstandings later.
Drought can cause a lot of headaches. But if you’ve planned ahead, making sudden adjustments to your pasture leases won’t be one of them.
NeCGA Farm Bill Survey 2017
The Nebraska Corn Growers Association is asking for your input! It’s that time again, time to put together another Farm Bill and we need your opinion. Below is a link that will take you to an anonymous survey with 9 questions regarding the upcoming Farm Bill. If you have already taken the paper copy survey at a farm show or other event, the questions are the same. No need to take it twice! If you have any questions about this survey, please call the office. Remember, NeCGA is YOUR voice in Lincoln and in Washington D.C.!
Click here to take the survey... https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FHZSN5T.
NE NRDs Talk National Security, Emerald Ash Borer Beetle, Historical Groundwater Plan and More
The NRDs are proud to announce Governor Pete Ricketts will be kicking off the Natural Resources Districts 2017 Legislative Conference at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska on Tuesday, January 24th at 8:45 am. The NRDs protect people’s lives, property and future by helping conserve the state’s natural resources, fight potential flooding and much more.
Speakers will present information Tuesday, January 24th starting at 9:00 am and also Wednesday, January 25th from 8:30 am – Noon (Wednesday is when most presentations are scheduled).
Dozens of Nebraska senators are confirmed they’ll be attending the conference. It’s being held at Embassy Suites-Lincoln at 1040 P St, Lincoln, NE. You can find parking in the parking garage at the corner of Q St. and 11th St in downtown Lincoln.
A few important topics that affect all Nebraskans include:
- An opportunity to learn how water is not only the number one priority in Nebraska but is also the top priority of our National and International Security. Discussion on worldwide natural resource challenges and how it impacts immigration, migration and food security. (Wed. 9:20 am, Room: Regents C)
- An update on the latest status of the Emerald Ash Borer in Nebraska, and activities underway at Nebraska Forest Service to help battle the beetle. The presentation will also outline the details of legislation introduced for the Tree Recovery Act. (Wed. 9:20 am, Room: Regents F)
- Nebraska’s Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA) Project is the first federally recognized groundwater-focused plan to address pollution in the nation. Learn what the project has accomplished in just the last few months and the big plans for making a positive difference in our conservation efforts in the future. (Tues. 9:00 am, Room: Regents AB)
Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors Elect Officer Positions for 2017-18
The Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors met Thursday, January 19, 2017, at the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District office to discuss and vote on January’s committee actions and reports. During the meeting, Upper Big Blue NRD board members were nominated and votes were cast to fill board officer positions for a two-year term as follows:
- Lynn W. Yates of Geneva—CHAIRMAN;
- Michael D. Nuss of Sutton—VICE CHAIRMAN;
- William “Bill” Stahly of Milford—SECRETARY;
- Doug C. Bruns of Waco—TREASURER;
- Larry K. Moore of Ulysses—NARD (Nebraska Association of Resources Districts) REPRESENTATIVE;
- Gary E. Eberle of Bradshaw—NARD (Nebraska Association of Resources Districts) REPRESENTATIVE ALTERNATE.
Upper Big Blue NRD Announces Variable Rate Irrigation Pilot Program
The Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District (UBBNRD) is offering financial incentives to landowners interested in installing Variable Rate Irrigation systems. The UBBNRD’s Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) Pilot Program is intended to provide financial assistance for the design, installation, and technical support of Variable Rate Irrigation systems. Properly managed VRI systems can provide a variety of benefits such as: precision application of irrigation water, decreased nitrate leaching due to over irrigation, increased chemigation application efficiency, decreased pumping energy expenses, lowered frequency/severity of yield loss and/or stuck pivots due to over irrigation, reduced irrigation application on hillslopes where runoff potential is high, and elimination of irrigation application on uncropped areas and/or wetlands.
Approved applicants can receive 50% cost-share up to $7,500.00 for installation of a VRI system. The amount of funding available during this initial phase of the UBBNRD VRI Pilot Program is limited to $30,000.00 per year. Applications are available at the local Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) office. The first application deadline is March 1, 2017. Applications will be accepted/awarded on a bi-monthly basis (applications deadlines are March 1, May 1, September 1, November 1, and January 2) until available funds are expended. Certain terms and conditions do apply.
For questions please contact your local NRCS office, or the Jack Wergin, UBBNRD Projects Department Manager at 402-362-6601.
$199.6 Million Invested in Rural Nebraska in 2016 by USDA Rural Development
Nebraska’s rural communities received $199.6 million in USDA Rural Development funding in federal fiscal year 2016. USDA Rural Development’s investment in rural Nebraska now totals more than $3 billion, according to Rural Development Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul.
“Nebraska communities, businesses and citizens invested millions of dollars in fiscal year 2016, with the support and resources of USDA Rural Development,” said Moul. “Our Nebraska staff strives each year to utilize the financial resources available through USDA Rural Development to help build stronger rural communities throughout the state.”
Rural Development programs assist in funding for rural housing, business and community development, water and waste water, energy, distance learning and telemedicine, electric companies and telecommunications.
Private and community foundations and counties, municipalities and other local governments contributed strongly to the projects funded.
Highlights of Fiscal Year 2016 Nebraska Rural Development Funding include:
Housing:
· $100.2 million provided to 995 rural Nebraska families to finance homes and provided necessary repairs and removed health and safety hazards for owner-occupied homes.
· $8.3 million provided 2,422 tenants residing in Rural Development’s nearly 200 multi-family rural rental housing complexes with affordable rents.
Community:
· $52.9 million impacted 43 rural communities through community facilities and water and wastewater loans and grants. Funding provided for ambulances, libraries and other community facility needs along with water and wastewater projects.
Business:
· $36.8 million was invested in Nebraska’s rural businesses and ag producers, supporting 98 projects.
Telecommunications:
· Two Distance Learning and Telemedicine projects in Nebraska totaling $309,807 will bring the benefits of advanced telecommunications services to rural Nebraskans.
Visit www.rd.usda.gov/ne for the full Nebraska 2016 Progress Report.
“Who’s Watching Nebraska’s Water?” Panel Discussion Set
In light of the proposed construction of a Costco-owned chicken processing plant to be located south of Fremont, NE, alongside the Platte River, three experts on will be on hand January 25th and 26th to speak about water quality and public health.
- Bill Stowe, CEO and General Manager of Des Moines Water Works (DMWW), has an engineering background, and has been the key spokesperson for the Des Moines Water Works lawsuit against three Iowa counties that are believed to have caused an increase in nitrates in Des Moines drinking water. DMWW is now exploring building a new de-nitrification facility that is estimated to cost $80 million, which would cause further rising utility costs.
- Dr. Alan Kolok, Director of the Nebraska Watershed Network and Director of the Center for Environmental Health and Toxicology at UNMC, specializes in land use and its impact on water quality and environmental health. Kolok is the author of “Modern Poisons: A Brief Introduction to Contemporary Toxicology”, and several other academic publications, and;
- A Representative from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ), will serve as an expert for the water permitting process for industrialized agricultural operations.
The first discussion will be on Wednesday, January 25th from 7:00-9:00 pm at the University of Nebraska – Omaha’s Community Engagement Center (6400 University Drive South, Room 230, Omaha, NE). Free parking is available for this event, on UNO’s campus north of the CEC building between the clock tower and Library.
The second discussion will be Thursday, January 26th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Unitarian Church (6300 A Street, Lincoln, NE).
The meetings are being held by the Nebraska League of Women Voters, Omaha Together One Community, Guardians of the Aquifer, and Nebraska Communities United. Additional event co-sponsors include Farm Aid, Socially Responsible Ag Project, Sierra Club, Bold Nebraska, Center for Rural Affairs, Nebraska Wildlife Federation, Douglas/Lancaster County Farmers Unions, Nebraskans for Peace, the Unitarian Church of Lincoln Green Sanctuary Committee and GC Resolve. The League of Women Voters will be moderating the panel discussion.
“Clean water is everybody’s most important issue; however many communities don't realize it until a serious problem occurs. The League of Women Voters of Nebraska believes now is a good time for the public to learn more from those whose careers are devoted to keeping our water safe,” said Nebraska League of Women Voters President Sherry Miller.
“OTOC’s Environmental Sustainability Action Team (ESAT) is pleased to co-host this important panel discussion. The goal is to communicate with the public so everyone is aware of major water quality concerns posed by the Costco/Lincoln Premium Poultry plant planned south of Fremont,” said MaryRuth Stegman, Chairperson of OTOC’s Environmental Sustainability Action Team. “This operation will also place over 400 industrial chicken barns around the area. The ESAT members urge action by citizens to stop contamination of our waters and lands which could lead to costly treatment for safe drinking water."
“We must, at this critical time, ask ourselves what is the legacy we are handing our children, and for the young people in the state, now is time to ensure you have a healthy environment for generations to come,” said Randy Ruppert, President of Nebraska Communities United.
"When the people of Omaha and Lincoln understand the issues for our water and health that will come from this Costco chicken processing plant and the litter from the barns, they will insist on government action to protect us. We do not want to be the next Flint, Michigan," stated Mary Pipher with Guardians of the Aquifer.
Iowa Pork to distribute discount pork coupons on Jan. 25
Iowa pig farmers and 2017 Iowa Pork Producers Association Youth Leadership Team contestants will be out in force on Jan. 25 during the Iowa Pork Congress distributing discount "Dine on Us" coupons in downtown Des Moines.
Consumers will receive $5 "Dine on Us!" discount coupons to reduce the cost of a pork meal at any Des Moines-area restaurant participating in the promotion. The coupons will be honored from Jan. 25 through Feb. 15.
"Dine on Us is a promotion that not only allows us to showcase our great pork products, but also many of the Metro's fine restaurants," said IPPA Consumer Information Director Joyce Hoppes. "We thank the 16 restaurants that are participating and giving consumers an opportunity to enjoy a discounted pork entrée at their establishment."
The coupon giveaway will be held on the skywalk over 6th Street between Grand and Locust and over Walnut between 6th and 7th streets and 8th and 9th streets. The pork groups will have displays and hand out coupons from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 25th.
The participating restaurants are Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Co., Smokey D's (3 locations), Jethro's (6 locations), Buzzard Billy's, The Cub Club, Big City Burgers and Greens, Splash Seafood Bar and Grill, RoCA, Goldfinch, Bubba, Guru BBQ, Vivian's, American Restaurant and Lounge, Malo, Django and Centro.
Several of the restaurants routinely menu pork, but others are putting pork on their menu just for the promotion.
Iowa pig farmers proudly raise the most hogs of any state in the nation and adhere to the Ethical Principles of pork production: Producing safe food, protecting and promoting animal well-being, protecting public health, safeguarding natural resources, and supporting their local community.
ISU Extension and Outreach Offers Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management Short Course
Making sound soil fertility management decisions is an important part of successful crop production, on both an economic and environmental level. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will be offering a two-day short course focusing on principles of soils, soil fertility and nutrient management to help crop production professionals make more informed decisions.
Highlights include soil sampling and testing, pH and liming, essential, secondary and micronutrients, nitrogen dynamics and manure management. The small class size allows for increased discussion and interaction with extension specialists.
The Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management Short Course will be held Feb. 8-9 in room 004 of the Scheman Building on the Iowa State campus in Ames. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. with classwork beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. Feb 9. Registration is limited to 40 participants and pre-registration is required. The cost is $275 and includes course reference notebook, lunches and breaks. Registration and fees must be received by midnight, Jan. 31, 2017.
Additional course information and online registration with a credit card is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/soil. For more information, please call ANR Program Services at 515- 294-6429 or email anr@iastate.edu.
Swine health will be key topic at 2017 Iowa Pork Regional Conferences
Swine health, a swine market outlook and barn safety will be three of the subjects discussed at the 2017 Iowa Pork Regional Conferences.
The Iowa Pork Producers Association, the Iowa Pork Industry Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach swine specialists will host the meetings at four Iowa locations Feb. 20-22 and Feb. 24.
All sessions are hosted from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Conference dates and locations are as follows:
● Monday, Feb. 20 - Orange City, Sioux County Extension Office
● Tuesday, Feb. 21 - Carroll, Carroll County Extension Office
● Wednesday, Feb. 22 - Washington, Washington County Extension Office
● Friday, Feb. 24 - Nashua, Borlaug Learning Center
"It's imperative that our producers are equipped with valuable resources for current industry topics," said IPPA Producer Education Director Drew Mogler. "This year's regional conferences will provide worthwhile information for anyone involved in the day-to-day management of pork production."
The following presentations will be delivered at each location:
Swine Health Update
Dr. Chris Rademacher, Extension swine veterinarian - ISU College of Veterinary Medicine
Rademacher will disclose what's been learned about how to manage and prevent introduction or re-introduction of PEDV back into our swine herds. He'll also discuss the current state of PRRS management and what researchers are learning about how to manage and prevent this disease. The latest on Senecavirus A also will be discussed.
Swine Market Outlook
Dr. Lee Schulz, ISU Extension livestock economist
Exports, domestic demand, health challenges and a multitude of other factors can impact the livestock producer's bottom line. Dr. Schulz will dive into these issues and current projections, review forecasts for input costs and market hog value in 2017 and discuss what profit opportunity may be in store for producers in the year to come.
"Safe Pigs, Safe People - Steps to Make Your Barn Safer for All"
Erik Potter, swine specialist, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach
You've built the barn for the safety and well-being of the pigs, but have you identified the safety risks to you or your employees? Participants will learn how to identify risks along with steps to eliminate or minimize those risks. Topics to include animal handling, slips/trips/fall hazards, machine guarding, lock out/tag out, hazard communication, emergency preparedness and pit pumping.
Swine Health Management and Antibiotic Stewardship
ISU Extension swine specialists
Swine producers need to prepare their farms for new regulations that will likely change their health management strategies. As producers, we can choose to ignore, dispute or defend our operations, but during this session, the fourth option, stewardship, will be promoted. The swine specialists will look at what's always been done and try to find ways to do it better. They'll also focus on tools and techniques to use to reduce antibiotic usage.
Free PQA Plus® producer certification training sessions will be held prior to each conference. Training will be hosted from 9:30 a.m. to noon at each location.
To pre-register for the conference and/or certification training, contact Barb Nelson at (800) 372-7675 or bnelson@iowapork.org. The regional conferences are free for those who pre-register or $5 at the door.
For more information, contact Drew Mogler at (800) 372-7675.
NORTHEY ANNOUNCES UPDATED SENSITIVE CROP DIRECTORY
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Bill Northey today encouraged Iowans with pesticide sensitive crops and apiaries to register their locations using the Department’s new sensitive crop registry through FieldWatch™, Inc. FieldWatch™ is a non-profit company that was created by Purdue University in collaboration with interested agricultural stakeholder groups.
The new registry offers two online platforms that provide state of the art mapping features. DriftWatch® is a registry site for use by producers of commercial crops sensitive to pesticides and includes the online capacity to map boundaries around production fields. BeeCheck® is a registry site for beekeepers that designates one-mile radius boundaries around apiaries. Sensitive crop producers with apiaries may enter hive locations using either the DriftWatch® or BeeCheck® registries.
“We’re excited to offer this new directory with all of its capabilities. The mapping features, streamlined data entry, and increased accuracy of the information presented will promote better communication of sensitive site data between farmers and pesticide applicators,” Northey said. “By improving our Sensitive Crop Registry we hope to make sure Iowa continues to be a great place for all types of agriculture.”
Commercial pesticide applicators are also encouraged to register through FieldWatch™ to gain increased access to mapping features and e-mail notifications about new sensitive sites in their spray areas. Applicators can also access downloadable files including shapefiles, Excel, csv or live stream through a software provider for a $100 per year fee. Also, agriculture retailers can join for a $500 fee and $100 per location to give multiple applicators access to the downloadable files.
An information session for applicators will be held during the FieldWatch annual meeting on February 15 as part of the Agribusiness Showcase and Conference at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. More information about this session is available online at http://agribizshowcase.com.
The new registry was made possible by a monetary award presented to IDALS by the Agribusiness Association of Iowa Foundation. Donors included the Iowa Agriculture Aviation Association, Syngenta Crop Protection, Dow AgroScience, GROWMARK Foundation, Monsanto, BASF, Bayer CropScience, Iowa Wine Growers Association, Crop Production Services, Inc., Helena Chemical, and Meridian Agriculture.
Along with apiary sites, half an acre or larger commercial vineyards, orchards, fruit and vegetable grow sites, nursery and Christmas tree production sites, and certified organic crops are included in the registry.
“No Spray” signs will still be provided at cost by IDALS. FieldWatch™ also offers signage on their website. Links to the FieldWatch™ site and the Department’s “No Spray” signs can be found at http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/Horticulture_and_FarmersMarkets/sensitiveCropDirectory.asp . Questions can be directed to IDALS State Horticulturist, Paul Ovrom, at paul.ovrom@iowaagriculture.gov or 515-242-6239.
BASF expands its On Target Application Academy stewardship program with a new online training module
The advent of new and advanced herbicide technologies demands increased stewardship education to ensure proper application and to reduce weed resistance. BASF is responding to this need by expanding its On Target Application Academy (OTAA) stewardship program with an online training module. The new digital training provides growers and applicators easy-to-access best practices for proper and effective herbicide application, including the application of Engenia™ herbicide, the most flexible and advanced dicamba for use on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton.
“Proper application is critical for success with any crop protection product,” said Dr. Bob Wolf, owner of Wolf Consulting & Research LLC and OTAA trainer. “With easy-to-access herbicide application tips, growers and applicators can improve on-target applications.”
The online module, which can be accessed in the field or at home on any device, includes a series of educational videos that feature tips for a successful application, including drift mitigation, nozzle selection and proper calibration.
Additionally, applicators seeking to earn Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits can qualify for 1.0 CEU by completing the OTAA digital training module.
“BASF is continuing its commitment to stewardship through this one-of-a-kind program,” said Chad Asmus, Technical Marketing Manager, BASF. “The newly released module allows BASF to reach more applicators with information that will help steward new technologies and the land for future generations.”
Engenia herbicide is the newest innovation in the BASF herbicide portfolio. It controls more than 200 broadleaf weeds, including glyphosate resistant weeds in dicamba tolerant soybeans and cotton. With stakeholder input, BASF developed a comprehensive set of best management practices and label requirements for Engenia herbicide to maximize on-target application and minimize off-target spray drift.
Since its inception in 2012, the OTAA stewardship program has reached more than 13,400 growers across 31 states. These sessions have tallied more than 9,700 grower and applicator training hours. By taking the program online, BASF aims to bring critical application knowledge inside the homes of growers across the country. In-depth in-person trainings are available for those seeking more extensive training from the OTAA application experts.
Growers and applicators can take the OTAA training module by visiting www.growsmartuniversity.com, clicking on the “Herbicides” tab and selecting the module titled “Making an On Target Engenia Herbicide Application.”
Expanding the Cowherd - The Confinement Option
Are you considering an expansion of the cow herd to help meet the demand for Beef? Are you looking for a revenue source within the Beef Industry that will allow the next generation a chance to come back to the farm? With less grazing land available, increased cost of land ownership and surplus feedstuffs in the cornbelt; now may be the time to consider Cow-Calf confinement or semi-confinement. This Symposium is designed to allow you the chance to gain the insight needed to consider cow-calf confinement as a viable beef production model for the future.
Symposium Agenda:
Tuesday, March 21
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Hotel/Tradeshow Check-In
2:00 pm - 2:15 pm Welcome to the Midwest Cow-Calf Symposium
2:15 pm - 3:00 pm Getting Started in Cow-Calf Confinement Production - Morgan Hayes, Ph.D., P.E. - University of Kentucky
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm An Economic Analysis: Investing in the Next Generation - Moe Russell - Russell Consulting Group
3:45 pm - 4:30 pm Tradeshow/Break
4:30 pm - 5:15 pm Health Management in a Confined Scenario - Sarah Barber, D.V.M. - Veterinary Medical Center
5:15 pm - 6:00 pm Cattlemen's Social Hour
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Cattlemen's Supper (provided)
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Cow-Calf Confinement Producer Panel - Session 1
Wednesday, March 22nd
7:30 am - 8:15 am Breakfast (provided)
8:15 am - 9:00 am Financing a Cow-Calf Facility: What You Need To Know - Bruce Eberle - Rabo AgriFinance
9:00am - 9:30 am Tradeshow/Break
9:30 am - 10:15 am Managing Cows in Confinement: Theory in Practice - Kelly Jones - Cactus Feeders, Inc.
10:15 am - 11:00 am Nutritional Management of Confined Production Cows - Karla Jenkins - UNL Panhandle Research & Extension Center
11:00 am - 11:45 am Tradeshow/Break
11:45 am - 12:15 pm Cattlemen's Supper (provided)
12:15 pm - 2:00 pm Virtual Barn Tour & Producer Panel - Session 2
Hotel Accomodations:
Coco Keys Resort Hotel/Hotel RL (formerly Ramada Inn) | Special room rate of $79.00 under the "Midwest Cow-Calf" room block. Deadline for special rate is March 1st, 2017.
The Midwest Cow-Calf Symposium is hosted by The Alliance for the Future of Agricululture in Nebraska, Nebraska Cattlemen, Iowa Cattlemens Association, and the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers. More inforamtion at www.becomeafan.org.
NEBRASKA PRODUCERS FACE STRESSFUL FARM LOAN RENEWAL SEASON
More than 77 percent of Nebraska producers are concerned that they may not be able to obtain operating capital in 2017, according to the 2016 Farm Financial Health Survey conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Department of Agricultural Economics.
Nebraska Extension is increasing its efforts to help producers, who rely on annual operating notes to finance day-to-day needs such as seed, chemicals, fertilizer, feed and utilities.
"Demand is on the rise for operating loans, which is leading to some difficult conversations between producers and their bankers," said Jessica Groskopf, assistant extension educator with Nebraska Extension.
Low commodity prices have resulted in the fourth consecutive year of declining net farm income, or the return that farmers and ranchers get for their input of labor, management and capital. The decline has forced producers to use cash reserves to service debt and to pay for non-farm expenses such as family living that now exceed earnings. This reduces the operation's ability to make debt payments, which makes it more difficult for banks to approve operating loans.
So what can farmers and ranchers do to ensure a smooth farm loan renewal season? Starting the process as soon as possible is critical, Groskopf said.
"Producers need to talk to their loan officer early," she said. "Some banks will work through your options with you if you are low on capital, which is why you need to start the conversation early."
If a producer's operating loan is turned down, their next steps will likely involve trying to find another lender, restructuring debt and making changes to their operations.
Nebraska Extension is ramping up efforts to support the state's producers through this process. In addition to its normal support team, more than 20 extension professionals across the state have been trained on financial literacy. These professionals are available to help producers on an on-demand basis or through workshops.
The Quicken record-keeping workshop is designed to help producers use the commercial software for farms and ranches. The tool can be flexible for ag and non-ag business enterprises and separates family living expenses.
Additionally, financial health check workshops focus on financial documents. Extension educators will go through a balance sheet, cash flow and income statement and show producers what ratios a banker will be looking at on those documents.
"The financial health check workshops can help producers identify potential weaknesses on their statements, which allows them to create a proactive plan and control the conversation with their banker," Groskopf said.
For producers in need of immediate assistance, the State of Nebraska has a dedicated farm/ranch hotline. Producers can call 1-800-464-0258 to find financial, legal and counseling services and referrals.
Producers across the nation are facing this issue, but the impact will be greater in Nebraska, according to Groskopf.
"With Nebraska's economy highly dependent on agriculture, we're going to see this reflect on our state budget and on main street in our hometowns," she said.
For more information on how Nebraska Extension can help producers through farm loan renewal season, contact Groskopf at jgroskopf2@unl.edu or 308-632-1247. Resources can also be found at http://cropwatch.unl.edu and http://beef.unl.edu.
Volume of New Ag Loans Drops
Nathan Kauffman, KC Fed Assistant Vice President and Omaha Branch Executive
Matt Clark, Assistant Economist
Fourth Quarter National Farm Loan Data
The volume of new farm loans dropped sharply in the fourth quarter of 2016, according to respondents to the Survey of Terms of Bank Lending to Farmers. The survey, which asks bankers about new loans to farmers, indicated the volume of non-real estate loans in the farm sector dropped 40 percent from a year ago. The 40-percent drop was the largest year-over-year decline in nearly 20 years.
The sharp reduction in the volume of new farm loans at commercial banks occurred during a prolonged decline in farm revenue. In 2016, prices for most agricultural commodities continued to fall, building on the declines of previous years, with soybeans being a notable exception. A 30-percent year-over-year drop in the price of feeder cattle helped reduce the cost of purchasing the animals and likely contributed to the sharp reduction in loan volumes in the livestock sector. More generally, lower prices appeared to temper demand for new agricultural financing as producers tried to curtail expenditures. Some banks, recognizing greater risk in the farm sector, may have been more selective in financing new loan requests, and some financing decisions may have been delayed in the environment of heightened risk.
In addition to lower commodity prices, lower prices for agricultural inputs may have contributed to the drop in loan volume for items other than real estate. The cost of seeds, fertilizer and cash rents all were down from a year ago. The decline in input costs likely was a significant factor in reducing the volume of loans used, specifically, to finance operating expenses. For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that the cost of cash rent, fertilizer and seed accounted for more than 60 percent of the total cost of corn production in 2016. Because loans used for operating expenses comprise about 60 percent of non-real estate loan volume, the decline in input expenses likely curbed the volume of new farm loans originated in the fourth quarter as farmers prepared for the 2017 planting season.
Although expenses declined, profit margins remained tight and bankers responded with further adjustments to loan terms. Bankers extended the maturities for feeder livestock, other livestock and farm machinery loans by 16, 42 and 13 percent, respectively. Longer maturities on intermediate assets may help some producers facing short-term cash flow shortages and also may help banks avoid past-due payments.
Bankers also raised interest rates in the fourth quarter on all types of non-real estate farm loans. Most notably, interest rates for other livestock and farm machinery increased 0.89 and 0.45 percentage point, respectively. Farm machinery and other livestock carry longer maturity periods and a rate increase may represent a risk-compensation measure when profit margins are tight. Because more than 85 percent of non-real estate loans carried a floating interest rate in the fourth quarter, slight increases in market interest rates may have led to slightly higher interest rates for short-term operating loans in the farm sector. Conversely, interest rates for farm real estate loans edged lower to 4.0 percent in the fourth quarter.
Third Quarter Call Report Data
Despite the sharp reduction in new loan originations, outstanding farm-sector debt at commercial banks continued to rise, but at a slower pace. Call Report data indicated outstanding debt increased 5 percent from a year ago. Although the volume of new loans has dropped recently, a slower rate of loan repayments likely has contributed to further increases in the amount of total farm debt outstanding at commercial banks. Nevertheless, the 5-percent increase in outstanding debt was the smallest in more than three years.
Slower growth in the level of non-real estate farm debt has reduced the overall pace of debt accumulation in the sector. For example, from the third quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2015, outstanding debt used to finance non-real estate farm loans grew at an average annual rate of 6 percent following 12 years of growth that averaged less than 0.5 percent. In the third quarter of 2016, however, non-real estate debt grew less than 2 percent from the previous year. Growth in farm real estate debt also slowed slightly in 2016, but has remained relatively steady since 2000.
An increase in nonperforming loans may also explain a portion of the slowdown in debt accumulation. In the third quarter, the share of nonperforming loans increased to 1.7 percent from 1.1 percent a year earlier. Although still modest historically, the share of total nonperforming loans in the third quarter was the highest since 2012, and may have caused some lenders and borrowers to moderate their use of debt to prevent further financial stress.
Despite slight increases in nonperforming loans, performance of agricultural banks remained strong. Returns on assets, a typical measure of bank performance, increased to 0.91 percent, the highest third quarter rate of return since 1998. The loan-to-deposit ratio at agricultural banks also increased to 0.81 percent, the highest since the third quarter of 2009.
Third Quarter Regional Agricultural Data
Regional Federal Reserve surveys also showed that demand for non-real estate financing in the farm sector increased, but not as strongly as in recent years. According to the surveys, demand for non-real estate loans increased in the Chicago, Kansas City and Minneapolis districts in the third quarter. However, growth was slower in Kansas City and Minneapolis than in 2015. Additionally, demand for non-real estate financing in the third quarter declined in the Dallas district for the first time since 2013 and was unchanged in the St. Louis district for the second consecutive year.
In addition to loan demand, demand for loan renewals and extensions also has continued to rise. The share of bankers that reported an increase in loan renewals and extensions was the highest in survey history for the Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis and St. Louis districts and the highest since 2001 in the Dallas district. Conversely, the share of bankers that reported higher repayment rates was at, or near, historical lows for the Chicago, Dallas, Minneapolis and St. Louis districts and the lowest since 1999 in the Kansas City District. Elevated demand for loan renewals and extensions and weaker repayment rates underscored a growing sense of financial stress in the farm sector.
Prolonged financial stress in the farm sector also has continued to curb farm real estate values. In fact, farmland values in all states in the Chicago, Kansas City and Minneapolis districts have declined from their recent peaks. Most notably, nonirrigated cropland values have dropped by 20 percent, on average, in Kansas and 19 percent in Iowa since 2013. Although, this represents an annualized rate of only 5-8 percent, persistent and gradual declines could lead to further financial stress in the farm sector in the coming years.
Conclusion
A gradual increase in the level of financial stress in the farm sector has caused agricultural lenders and borrowers to become increasingly cautious. Although declines in the cost of some key inputs have provided modest relief, profit margins have remained low and new farm loan originations dropped sharply in the fourth quarter. If profit margins remain low through 2017, the pace of new debt will be a key indicator to monitor in assessing the severity of financial stress through the year.
PLAN FOR DROUGHT WHEN PREPARING PASTURE LEASE
Bruce Anderson, NE Extension Forage Specialist
Do you rent pasture? What happens if drought lowers pasture production below expectations? Specifically, what does your pasture lease say about drought?
It’s hard to think about drought in mid-winter but drought can play havoc on pasture leases. All too often, pasture leases fail to include an appropriate plan to adjust to this problem.
Without a plan, both the landowner and the tenant are at risk. Landowners risk having the pasture become overgrazed, resulting in future weed problems, reduced long-term production, and lowered value. The tenant risks poor performance or health of the livestock due to less forage and lower quality feed. This can lead to higher supplemental feed costs or being forced to sell the cattle.
So, who decides when drought has lowered pasture production low enough to remove the cattle? And, what should be the adjustment in the rent payment? And who gets insurance or government payments?
Unfortunately, I can’t give you a specific answer. Instead, now is the time to discuss these issues as landlord and tenant. Be sure to list the length of the grazing period in the lease along with beginning and ending dates. Also make sure that stocking rates are specified in the lease, adjusting these stocking levels for increased cow size if necessary. Usually, it is best to design the lease so both landowner and tenant share in the opportunity and risk associated with drought by adding an appropriate escape clause due to drought. Indicate how a drought adjustment will be made and how that will affect rent payments. And get it all in writing to avoid any misunderstandings later.
Drought can cause a lot of headaches. But if you’ve planned ahead, making sudden adjustments to your pasture leases won’t be one of them.
NeCGA Farm Bill Survey 2017
The Nebraska Corn Growers Association is asking for your input! It’s that time again, time to put together another Farm Bill and we need your opinion. Below is a link that will take you to an anonymous survey with 9 questions regarding the upcoming Farm Bill. If you have already taken the paper copy survey at a farm show or other event, the questions are the same. No need to take it twice! If you have any questions about this survey, please call the office. Remember, NeCGA is YOUR voice in Lincoln and in Washington D.C.!
Click here to take the survey... https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FHZSN5T.
NE NRDs Talk National Security, Emerald Ash Borer Beetle, Historical Groundwater Plan and More
The NRDs are proud to announce Governor Pete Ricketts will be kicking off the Natural Resources Districts 2017 Legislative Conference at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska on Tuesday, January 24th at 8:45 am. The NRDs protect people’s lives, property and future by helping conserve the state’s natural resources, fight potential flooding and much more.
Speakers will present information Tuesday, January 24th starting at 9:00 am and also Wednesday, January 25th from 8:30 am – Noon (Wednesday is when most presentations are scheduled).
Dozens of Nebraska senators are confirmed they’ll be attending the conference. It’s being held at Embassy Suites-Lincoln at 1040 P St, Lincoln, NE. You can find parking in the parking garage at the corner of Q St. and 11th St in downtown Lincoln.
A few important topics that affect all Nebraskans include:
- An opportunity to learn how water is not only the number one priority in Nebraska but is also the top priority of our National and International Security. Discussion on worldwide natural resource challenges and how it impacts immigration, migration and food security. (Wed. 9:20 am, Room: Regents C)
- An update on the latest status of the Emerald Ash Borer in Nebraska, and activities underway at Nebraska Forest Service to help battle the beetle. The presentation will also outline the details of legislation introduced for the Tree Recovery Act. (Wed. 9:20 am, Room: Regents F)
- Nebraska’s Bazile Groundwater Management Area (BGMA) Project is the first federally recognized groundwater-focused plan to address pollution in the nation. Learn what the project has accomplished in just the last few months and the big plans for making a positive difference in our conservation efforts in the future. (Tues. 9:00 am, Room: Regents AB)
Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors Elect Officer Positions for 2017-18
The Upper Big Blue NRD Board of Directors met Thursday, January 19, 2017, at the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District office to discuss and vote on January’s committee actions and reports. During the meeting, Upper Big Blue NRD board members were nominated and votes were cast to fill board officer positions for a two-year term as follows:
- Lynn W. Yates of Geneva—CHAIRMAN;
- Michael D. Nuss of Sutton—VICE CHAIRMAN;
- William “Bill” Stahly of Milford—SECRETARY;
- Doug C. Bruns of Waco—TREASURER;
- Larry K. Moore of Ulysses—NARD (Nebraska Association of Resources Districts) REPRESENTATIVE;
- Gary E. Eberle of Bradshaw—NARD (Nebraska Association of Resources Districts) REPRESENTATIVE ALTERNATE.
Upper Big Blue NRD Announces Variable Rate Irrigation Pilot Program
The Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District (UBBNRD) is offering financial incentives to landowners interested in installing Variable Rate Irrigation systems. The UBBNRD’s Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) Pilot Program is intended to provide financial assistance for the design, installation, and technical support of Variable Rate Irrigation systems. Properly managed VRI systems can provide a variety of benefits such as: precision application of irrigation water, decreased nitrate leaching due to over irrigation, increased chemigation application efficiency, decreased pumping energy expenses, lowered frequency/severity of yield loss and/or stuck pivots due to over irrigation, reduced irrigation application on hillslopes where runoff potential is high, and elimination of irrigation application on uncropped areas and/or wetlands.
Approved applicants can receive 50% cost-share up to $7,500.00 for installation of a VRI system. The amount of funding available during this initial phase of the UBBNRD VRI Pilot Program is limited to $30,000.00 per year. Applications are available at the local Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) office. The first application deadline is March 1, 2017. Applications will be accepted/awarded on a bi-monthly basis (applications deadlines are March 1, May 1, September 1, November 1, and January 2) until available funds are expended. Certain terms and conditions do apply.
For questions please contact your local NRCS office, or the Jack Wergin, UBBNRD Projects Department Manager at 402-362-6601.
$199.6 Million Invested in Rural Nebraska in 2016 by USDA Rural Development
Nebraska’s rural communities received $199.6 million in USDA Rural Development funding in federal fiscal year 2016. USDA Rural Development’s investment in rural Nebraska now totals more than $3 billion, according to Rural Development Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul.
“Nebraska communities, businesses and citizens invested millions of dollars in fiscal year 2016, with the support and resources of USDA Rural Development,” said Moul. “Our Nebraska staff strives each year to utilize the financial resources available through USDA Rural Development to help build stronger rural communities throughout the state.”
Rural Development programs assist in funding for rural housing, business and community development, water and waste water, energy, distance learning and telemedicine, electric companies and telecommunications.
Private and community foundations and counties, municipalities and other local governments contributed strongly to the projects funded.
Highlights of Fiscal Year 2016 Nebraska Rural Development Funding include:
Housing:
· $100.2 million provided to 995 rural Nebraska families to finance homes and provided necessary repairs and removed health and safety hazards for owner-occupied homes.
· $8.3 million provided 2,422 tenants residing in Rural Development’s nearly 200 multi-family rural rental housing complexes with affordable rents.
Community:
· $52.9 million impacted 43 rural communities through community facilities and water and wastewater loans and grants. Funding provided for ambulances, libraries and other community facility needs along with water and wastewater projects.
Business:
· $36.8 million was invested in Nebraska’s rural businesses and ag producers, supporting 98 projects.
Telecommunications:
· Two Distance Learning and Telemedicine projects in Nebraska totaling $309,807 will bring the benefits of advanced telecommunications services to rural Nebraskans.
Visit www.rd.usda.gov/ne for the full Nebraska 2016 Progress Report.
“Who’s Watching Nebraska’s Water?” Panel Discussion Set
In light of the proposed construction of a Costco-owned chicken processing plant to be located south of Fremont, NE, alongside the Platte River, three experts on will be on hand January 25th and 26th to speak about water quality and public health.
- Bill Stowe, CEO and General Manager of Des Moines Water Works (DMWW), has an engineering background, and has been the key spokesperson for the Des Moines Water Works lawsuit against three Iowa counties that are believed to have caused an increase in nitrates in Des Moines drinking water. DMWW is now exploring building a new de-nitrification facility that is estimated to cost $80 million, which would cause further rising utility costs.
- Dr. Alan Kolok, Director of the Nebraska Watershed Network and Director of the Center for Environmental Health and Toxicology at UNMC, specializes in land use and its impact on water quality and environmental health. Kolok is the author of “Modern Poisons: A Brief Introduction to Contemporary Toxicology”, and several other academic publications, and;
- A Representative from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ), will serve as an expert for the water permitting process for industrialized agricultural operations.
The first discussion will be on Wednesday, January 25th from 7:00-9:00 pm at the University of Nebraska – Omaha’s Community Engagement Center (6400 University Drive South, Room 230, Omaha, NE). Free parking is available for this event, on UNO’s campus north of the CEC building between the clock tower and Library.
The second discussion will be Thursday, January 26th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Unitarian Church (6300 A Street, Lincoln, NE).
The meetings are being held by the Nebraska League of Women Voters, Omaha Together One Community, Guardians of the Aquifer, and Nebraska Communities United. Additional event co-sponsors include Farm Aid, Socially Responsible Ag Project, Sierra Club, Bold Nebraska, Center for Rural Affairs, Nebraska Wildlife Federation, Douglas/Lancaster County Farmers Unions, Nebraskans for Peace, the Unitarian Church of Lincoln Green Sanctuary Committee and GC Resolve. The League of Women Voters will be moderating the panel discussion.
“Clean water is everybody’s most important issue; however many communities don't realize it until a serious problem occurs. The League of Women Voters of Nebraska believes now is a good time for the public to learn more from those whose careers are devoted to keeping our water safe,” said Nebraska League of Women Voters President Sherry Miller.
“OTOC’s Environmental Sustainability Action Team (ESAT) is pleased to co-host this important panel discussion. The goal is to communicate with the public so everyone is aware of major water quality concerns posed by the Costco/Lincoln Premium Poultry plant planned south of Fremont,” said MaryRuth Stegman, Chairperson of OTOC’s Environmental Sustainability Action Team. “This operation will also place over 400 industrial chicken barns around the area. The ESAT members urge action by citizens to stop contamination of our waters and lands which could lead to costly treatment for safe drinking water."
“We must, at this critical time, ask ourselves what is the legacy we are handing our children, and for the young people in the state, now is time to ensure you have a healthy environment for generations to come,” said Randy Ruppert, President of Nebraska Communities United.
"When the people of Omaha and Lincoln understand the issues for our water and health that will come from this Costco chicken processing plant and the litter from the barns, they will insist on government action to protect us. We do not want to be the next Flint, Michigan," stated Mary Pipher with Guardians of the Aquifer.
Iowa Pork to distribute discount pork coupons on Jan. 25
Iowa pig farmers and 2017 Iowa Pork Producers Association Youth Leadership Team contestants will be out in force on Jan. 25 during the Iowa Pork Congress distributing discount "Dine on Us" coupons in downtown Des Moines.
Consumers will receive $5 "Dine on Us!" discount coupons to reduce the cost of a pork meal at any Des Moines-area restaurant participating in the promotion. The coupons will be honored from Jan. 25 through Feb. 15.
"Dine on Us is a promotion that not only allows us to showcase our great pork products, but also many of the Metro's fine restaurants," said IPPA Consumer Information Director Joyce Hoppes. "We thank the 16 restaurants that are participating and giving consumers an opportunity to enjoy a discounted pork entrée at their establishment."
The coupon giveaway will be held on the skywalk over 6th Street between Grand and Locust and over Walnut between 6th and 7th streets and 8th and 9th streets. The pork groups will have displays and hand out coupons from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 25th.
The participating restaurants are Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Co., Smokey D's (3 locations), Jethro's (6 locations), Buzzard Billy's, The Cub Club, Big City Burgers and Greens, Splash Seafood Bar and Grill, RoCA, Goldfinch, Bubba, Guru BBQ, Vivian's, American Restaurant and Lounge, Malo, Django and Centro.
Several of the restaurants routinely menu pork, but others are putting pork on their menu just for the promotion.
Iowa pig farmers proudly raise the most hogs of any state in the nation and adhere to the Ethical Principles of pork production: Producing safe food, protecting and promoting animal well-being, protecting public health, safeguarding natural resources, and supporting their local community.
ISU Extension and Outreach Offers Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management Short Course
Making sound soil fertility management decisions is an important part of successful crop production, on both an economic and environmental level. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will be offering a two-day short course focusing on principles of soils, soil fertility and nutrient management to help crop production professionals make more informed decisions.
Highlights include soil sampling and testing, pH and liming, essential, secondary and micronutrients, nitrogen dynamics and manure management. The small class size allows for increased discussion and interaction with extension specialists.
The Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management Short Course will be held Feb. 8-9 in room 004 of the Scheman Building on the Iowa State campus in Ames. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. with classwork beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. Feb 9. Registration is limited to 40 participants and pre-registration is required. The cost is $275 and includes course reference notebook, lunches and breaks. Registration and fees must be received by midnight, Jan. 31, 2017.
Additional course information and online registration with a credit card is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/soil. For more information, please call ANR Program Services at 515- 294-6429 or email anr@iastate.edu.
Swine health will be key topic at 2017 Iowa Pork Regional Conferences
Swine health, a swine market outlook and barn safety will be three of the subjects discussed at the 2017 Iowa Pork Regional Conferences.
The Iowa Pork Producers Association, the Iowa Pork Industry Center and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach swine specialists will host the meetings at four Iowa locations Feb. 20-22 and Feb. 24.
All sessions are hosted from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Conference dates and locations are as follows:
● Monday, Feb. 20 - Orange City, Sioux County Extension Office
● Tuesday, Feb. 21 - Carroll, Carroll County Extension Office
● Wednesday, Feb. 22 - Washington, Washington County Extension Office
● Friday, Feb. 24 - Nashua, Borlaug Learning Center
"It's imperative that our producers are equipped with valuable resources for current industry topics," said IPPA Producer Education Director Drew Mogler. "This year's regional conferences will provide worthwhile information for anyone involved in the day-to-day management of pork production."
The following presentations will be delivered at each location:
Swine Health Update
Dr. Chris Rademacher, Extension swine veterinarian - ISU College of Veterinary Medicine
Rademacher will disclose what's been learned about how to manage and prevent introduction or re-introduction of PEDV back into our swine herds. He'll also discuss the current state of PRRS management and what researchers are learning about how to manage and prevent this disease. The latest on Senecavirus A also will be discussed.
Swine Market Outlook
Dr. Lee Schulz, ISU Extension livestock economist
Exports, domestic demand, health challenges and a multitude of other factors can impact the livestock producer's bottom line. Dr. Schulz will dive into these issues and current projections, review forecasts for input costs and market hog value in 2017 and discuss what profit opportunity may be in store for producers in the year to come.
"Safe Pigs, Safe People - Steps to Make Your Barn Safer for All"
Erik Potter, swine specialist, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach
You've built the barn for the safety and well-being of the pigs, but have you identified the safety risks to you or your employees? Participants will learn how to identify risks along with steps to eliminate or minimize those risks. Topics to include animal handling, slips/trips/fall hazards, machine guarding, lock out/tag out, hazard communication, emergency preparedness and pit pumping.
Swine Health Management and Antibiotic Stewardship
ISU Extension swine specialists
Swine producers need to prepare their farms for new regulations that will likely change their health management strategies. As producers, we can choose to ignore, dispute or defend our operations, but during this session, the fourth option, stewardship, will be promoted. The swine specialists will look at what's always been done and try to find ways to do it better. They'll also focus on tools and techniques to use to reduce antibiotic usage.
Free PQA Plus® producer certification training sessions will be held prior to each conference. Training will be hosted from 9:30 a.m. to noon at each location.
To pre-register for the conference and/or certification training, contact Barb Nelson at (800) 372-7675 or bnelson@iowapork.org. The regional conferences are free for those who pre-register or $5 at the door.
For more information, contact Drew Mogler at (800) 372-7675.
NORTHEY ANNOUNCES UPDATED SENSITIVE CROP DIRECTORY
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Bill Northey today encouraged Iowans with pesticide sensitive crops and apiaries to register their locations using the Department’s new sensitive crop registry through FieldWatch™, Inc. FieldWatch™ is a non-profit company that was created by Purdue University in collaboration with interested agricultural stakeholder groups.
The new registry offers two online platforms that provide state of the art mapping features. DriftWatch® is a registry site for use by producers of commercial crops sensitive to pesticides and includes the online capacity to map boundaries around production fields. BeeCheck® is a registry site for beekeepers that designates one-mile radius boundaries around apiaries. Sensitive crop producers with apiaries may enter hive locations using either the DriftWatch® or BeeCheck® registries.
“We’re excited to offer this new directory with all of its capabilities. The mapping features, streamlined data entry, and increased accuracy of the information presented will promote better communication of sensitive site data between farmers and pesticide applicators,” Northey said. “By improving our Sensitive Crop Registry we hope to make sure Iowa continues to be a great place for all types of agriculture.”
Commercial pesticide applicators are also encouraged to register through FieldWatch™ to gain increased access to mapping features and e-mail notifications about new sensitive sites in their spray areas. Applicators can also access downloadable files including shapefiles, Excel, csv or live stream through a software provider for a $100 per year fee. Also, agriculture retailers can join for a $500 fee and $100 per location to give multiple applicators access to the downloadable files.
An information session for applicators will be held during the FieldWatch annual meeting on February 15 as part of the Agribusiness Showcase and Conference at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. More information about this session is available online at http://agribizshowcase.com.
The new registry was made possible by a monetary award presented to IDALS by the Agribusiness Association of Iowa Foundation. Donors included the Iowa Agriculture Aviation Association, Syngenta Crop Protection, Dow AgroScience, GROWMARK Foundation, Monsanto, BASF, Bayer CropScience, Iowa Wine Growers Association, Crop Production Services, Inc., Helena Chemical, and Meridian Agriculture.
Along with apiary sites, half an acre or larger commercial vineyards, orchards, fruit and vegetable grow sites, nursery and Christmas tree production sites, and certified organic crops are included in the registry.
“No Spray” signs will still be provided at cost by IDALS. FieldWatch™ also offers signage on their website. Links to the FieldWatch™ site and the Department’s “No Spray” signs can be found at http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/Horticulture_and_FarmersMarkets/sensitiveCropDirectory.asp . Questions can be directed to IDALS State Horticulturist, Paul Ovrom, at paul.ovrom@iowaagriculture.gov or 515-242-6239.
BASF expands its On Target Application Academy stewardship program with a new online training module
The advent of new and advanced herbicide technologies demands increased stewardship education to ensure proper application and to reduce weed resistance. BASF is responding to this need by expanding its On Target Application Academy (OTAA) stewardship program with an online training module. The new digital training provides growers and applicators easy-to-access best practices for proper and effective herbicide application, including the application of Engenia™ herbicide, the most flexible and advanced dicamba for use on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton.
“Proper application is critical for success with any crop protection product,” said Dr. Bob Wolf, owner of Wolf Consulting & Research LLC and OTAA trainer. “With easy-to-access herbicide application tips, growers and applicators can improve on-target applications.”
The online module, which can be accessed in the field or at home on any device, includes a series of educational videos that feature tips for a successful application, including drift mitigation, nozzle selection and proper calibration.
Additionally, applicators seeking to earn Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits can qualify for 1.0 CEU by completing the OTAA digital training module.
“BASF is continuing its commitment to stewardship through this one-of-a-kind program,” said Chad Asmus, Technical Marketing Manager, BASF. “The newly released module allows BASF to reach more applicators with information that will help steward new technologies and the land for future generations.”
Engenia herbicide is the newest innovation in the BASF herbicide portfolio. It controls more than 200 broadleaf weeds, including glyphosate resistant weeds in dicamba tolerant soybeans and cotton. With stakeholder input, BASF developed a comprehensive set of best management practices and label requirements for Engenia herbicide to maximize on-target application and minimize off-target spray drift.
Since its inception in 2012, the OTAA stewardship program has reached more than 13,400 growers across 31 states. These sessions have tallied more than 9,700 grower and applicator training hours. By taking the program online, BASF aims to bring critical application knowledge inside the homes of growers across the country. In-depth in-person trainings are available for those seeking more extensive training from the OTAA application experts.
Growers and applicators can take the OTAA training module by visiting www.growsmartuniversity.com, clicking on the “Herbicides” tab and selecting the module titled “Making an On Target Engenia Herbicide Application.”
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