Nebraska Soybean Board Promotes US Beef, Pork in Japan Events

A visiting team of producers sponsored by Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) shared a meal and some preparation tips for American beef and pork with Japanese families, at a pair of recent events conducted by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

The annual summer festival, Marunouchi Kids Festa, is a major attraction that drew 110,000 people last year.  This year USMEF conducted an American pork cooking seminar three times a day on Aug. 17-19, for 720 Japanese parents and their young children.

The Nebraska Soybean Board contingent included Chairman Lisa Lunz of Wakefield, Neb., and Lois Ronhovde, NSB accounting coordinator and pork producer from Lincoln, Neb.  They were joined by Kristen Eggerling of Martell, Neb., chairman of the education committee for the Nebraska Cattlemen.

"This was a great opportunity for us to build relationships," said Ronhovde.  "The retailers we met were excited to meet Nebraska beef and pork producers, and the Japanese consumers were happy to put our faces to the U.S. pork and beef products that they buy."

Popular Japanese chef and cooking instructor Hiromi Akahori demonstrated how to cook several U.S. pork recipes for the visiting Nebraska team, including microwave-steamed pork and pork back rib with curry pilaf.

At the American Beef Family BBQ Festival at Kasai Seaside Park in Tokyo, the Nebraska team joined USMEF in hosting 300 pairs of parents and children - selected from more than 3,000 applicants - for a demonstration of barbecue cooking techniques, games for the children and information on U.S. beef quality and nutrition for the parents.

"After meeting American producers, I feel closer to and more familiar with American meat products," one of the participating mothers said after the event.  "I was very impressed when the American producers told us: 'When you see American meat products, please remember us.'"

"It was a wonderful experience," said Ronhovde.  "At our farm in Nebraska, we produce high-quality soybeans and raise 600 hogs.  Seeing Japanese consumers enjoy the U.S. pork that we produce is a great feeling."



Linn Group Lowers Corn Yield Forecast

The Linn Group, a Chicago-based commodity research and brokerage firm, forecast the 2010 U.S. corn crop at 13.016 million bushels, with an average yield of 160.7 bushels per acre (bpa).  The figures were down from the firm's August forecast, which pegged the corn yield at 162.1 bpa and production at 13.127 billion bushels.  The estimates also came in below the U.S. Department of Agriculture's August corn production forecast of 13.365 billion bushels, with an average yield of 165 bpa. USDA was scheduled to release updated estimates on Sept. 10.

The Linn Group attributed the reduction in its corn estimate to hot and dry weather in the past month.  "Extreme variability remains the feature in the U.S. corn crop this year," the firm said in a statement. "Hot, dry, and windy conditions across the Midwest, particularly in the Eastern belt, have led many corn plants to shut down early."

The Linn Group estimated the 2010 U.S. soybean crop at 3.399 billion bushels, with an average yield of 43.6 bpa.  Its soybean forecast was up slightly from August, when the firm pegged the crop at 3.331 billion bushels with an average yield of 43.2 bpa.  USDA last month forecast U.S. soybean production at 3.433 billion bushels with a yield of 44.0 bpa.

"Soybean yield expectations remain uncertain, although our ideas have firmed in the last month," the firm said. "These plants are still filling out, and can yet be positively impacted by rain this week, or negatively impacted by the lack thereof."



USDA Rural Development Awards Funding to Seven Nebraska Recipients to Assist With Energy Needs

Seven Nebraska recipients have been selected to receive $657,798 in loans and grants.  Funds will be used to make energy efficiency improvements that will promote energy conservation.  Projects announced today will save annually 7,250,235,344 BTUs for an annual cost savings of nearly $114,167.

“These energy dollars will help make needed energy conservation improvements,” said Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul, USDA Rural Development.  “Through these projects, energy consumption will be reduced, thereby making more dollars available to be kept within rural Nebraska there by assisting the state’s rural economy.”

The funding was made available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).  This program provides opportunities for farmers and rural small business owners to install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements, as well explore the feasibility of implementing renewable energy projects.  Additional information on the Rural Energy for America Program may be found at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne/Energy_energy_home.htm.

Detailed below by county are the energy projects selected from the first National Office Reserve Allocation. Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant and loan agreements.

Colfax:
Dry Creek Farms, Inc.-Schuyler-$46,405 grant and $92,810 guaranteed loan-Replace inefficient grain dryer.

Cuming:
Gary Brester-Howells-$40,494 grant and $40,494 guaranteed loan-Replace inefficient grain dryer.

Custer:
Charles Patterson-Callaway-$50,000 grant and $100,000 guaranteed loan-Convert irrigation system from gravity to sub-surface drip.

Platte:
Eugene Sueper-Lindsay-$40,139 grant and $40,139 guaranteed loan-Replace inefficient grain dryer.

Valley:
Richard Bossen dba Bossen Feeding Company-Arcadia-$37,125 grant and $74,250 guaranteed loan-Replace inefficient grain dryer.

Scottsbluff:
Prairie Sky Foods-Minatare-$4,158 grant and $8,300 guaranteed loan-Replace inefficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system in the grocery store.

Sherman:
S & S Feeders, LLP-Ravenna-$27,828 grant and $55,656 guaranteed loan-Convert two diesel engines to electric motor conversions, replace inefficient pivot system, re-bowl the well, and install associated underground pipe and wire.

To date, 38 applications totaling nearly $1.2 million in loans and grants have been selected to receive funding in two rounds of REAP. Additional national office reserve funding announcements will be forthcoming. For additional information on the USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program, contact Deb Yocum, debra.yocum@ne.usda.gov; (402) 437-5554.  Visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne/.



Checkoff Aims To Help Producers Safeguard Their Industry

One of the weapons used when attacking the beef industry is the term “factory farming,” used to paint a picture of animal suffering, excessive antibiotic and hormone use, food safety concerns and environmental damage.  A July 2010 consumer tracking study, funded by the beef checkoff, found that the percentage of consumers who are familiar with the term “factory farming” increased from 49 percent to 64 percent in the last two years, though the number of consumers who associate cattle with factory farming has remained fairly stable since 2008.

The study also found that more than half of consumers believe the beef they buy at the supermarket is from animals raised in factory farms. Of concern, more than half of these consumers worry about the safety of the beef they buy.  

The checkoff’s issues management team continues to reinforce the need for producers to share their story with fellow producers, the media and consumers. The industry seems to be operating based on bad news, misperceptions, misinformation and fear of the unknown, which creates consumer guilt over buying beef. According to past checkoff studies, the most compelling animal welfare support statement to combat those “factory farming” accusations is, “doing the right thing for and by animals” which can help alleviate a tremendous guilt burden.




Ethanol Stocks Down Week Ended Aug. 27

The Energy Information Administration on Wednesday released data showing that total U.S. ethanol stocks were 17.562 million barrels (bbl) for the week ended Aug. 27, down 296,000 bbl from the previous week's 17.858 million bbl.  The latest data represents the second week in a row that U.S. ethanol stocks have fallen. For the week ended Aug. 20, total stocks were drawn down by a steep 1.347 million bbl, according to the EIA data.

Of the total stocks for the Aug. 27 week, 6.698 million bbl of supply was in the PADD 1 East Coast region, down 281,000 bbl from the 6.979 million bbl seen a week earlier. In the PADD 2 Midwest region, ethanol supply was seen at 5.975 million bbl, down 1,000 bbl from 5.976 million bbl for the previous week. Ethanol stocks totaled 2.531 million bbl in the PADD 3 Gulf Coast region, down 145,000 bbl from 2.676 million bbl for the previous week. In the PADD 4 or Rocky Mountain region, ethanol stocks were unchanged last week at 174,000 bbl, while the EIA tallied 2.184 million bbl of supply in the PADD 5 West Coast region, up 132,000 bbl from 2.052 million bbl for the previous week.

The EIA data also showed U.S. ethanol plant production for the week-ended Aug. 27 at 856,000 barrels per day (bpd), up 22,000 bpd from the 835,000-bpd output rate for the previous week.

Refiner and blender net inputs came in at 799,000 bpd, down 11,000 bpd from 810,000 bpd for the previous week. Refiner and blender net inputs represent a major portion of implied demand for ethanol.

Meanwhile, implied demand for gasoline rose by 11,000 bpd to 9.386 million bpd for the week.

The data again showed there were no ethanol imports during the week.



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for September 2010

 The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for September 2010. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for September 2010 is 0.250 percent, unchanged from 0.250 in August 2010. For 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans, the interest rate for loans disbursed during September 2010 is 1.250 percent, unchanged from 1.250 in August 2010.

 In accordance with the 2008 Farm Bill, interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for September 2010 are as follows, 2.250 percent with seven-year loan terms, down from 2.500 in August 2010, 2.875 percent with 10-year loan terms, down from 3.000 in August 2010, and 3.125 percent with 12-year loan terms, down from 3.375 percent in August 2010. The interest rate for Sugar Storage Facility Loans for September 2010 is 3.375 percent, down from 3.625 in August 2010.



Lack of U.S. Action Results in Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Cheese Exports

National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) expressed great disappointment at the August 18th announcement by the Mexican government that it would impose tariffs of 20% to 25% on several major categories of U.S. exports to Mexico, including many cheeses. This action targeted shipments to largest U.S. export market for dairy products and included products such as Cheddar, Mozzarella, Gouda, Provolone, Colby, Monterey Jack, cream cheese, and many others.

“These tariffs come at a terrible time for U.S. dairy producers, who are still struggling to recover from the horrendous cost-price squeeze endured throughout 2009,” said Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of NMPF. “In order to help restore profitability and stability to America’s hard-working dairy producers, we should be doing all we can to help boost our exports, not pursuing policies that cost us existing sales in critical foreign markets.”

According to the Mexican government, this action is being taken as part of Mexico’s ongoing effort to seek U.S. compliance with its NAFTA obligation to provide Mexico with cross-border trucking access into the United States. Since March 2009, Mexico has imposed retaliatory tariffs on a list of U.S. exports that previously did not include cheese or other notable dairy products.

This retaliation had been authorized by a NAFTA Dispute Settlement Panel due to lack of U.S. compliance with its NAFTA transportation obligations. With respect to the newly published retaliation list, Mexico noted that it had “yet to receive a formal proposal for the resolution of this dispute and an unequivocal signal that the U.S. government is working to eliminate the barriers that Mexican long-haul carriers face to access the U.S. market. As a result, the Government of Mexico has renewed the list of U.S. goods subject to increased tariffs.”

Together, U.S. exports under these four tariff lines total 44 million pounds this year (January–June data) and are estimated to be worth $59 million. Full year U.S. exports under these tariff lines in 2008 and 2009 averaged 77 million pounds and are estimated to have averaged $104 million over the two years. Exports in 2010 had been on track to recover strongly from a slight dip in value shipped last year.

NMPF and USDEC again have called on the Obama Administration to immediately offer a concrete proposal for resolution of this issue that has already negatively impacted many U.S. exports and will now impose harm on even more sectors of our economy, including America’s dairy industry.



Iowa Corn Growers Association Announces Corn PAC Awards

Today, the Iowa Corn Growers Association  Political Action Committee (ICGA PAC) endorsed 66 candidates for the November 2010 elections, including 57 candidates for the Iowa State Senate and the Iowa House of Representatives.

The ICGA PAC established bipartisan support for Democrats and Republicans for the 2010 state and federal races, including 33 Democrats and 33 Republicans.

“Political decisions here in Iowa are critical to the future of farming,” said Bruce Rohwer, PAC chair. “PAC support is one tool we can use to help elect people who have supported corn growers’ policies and who have taken action on issues that matter to corn growers.”

ICGA PAC decisions are made through an objective analysis including candidate responses to our survey, voting records, letters and other quantified evidence of support.  The ICGA PAC committee members include farmers from across Iowa, with an equal balance of party affiliation to ensure decisions are based only on corn growers’ policies.

Endorsements for the 2010 federal election cycle include:
    * Senator Grassley (R)
    * Congressman Boswell (D)
    * Congressman Braley (D)
    * Congressman King (R)
    * Congressman Latham (R)
    * Congressman Loebsack (D)

The Iowa Corn Growers Political Action Committee (PAC) has endorsed both Terry Branstad (R) and Chet Culver (D) for the 2010 State of Iowa, Governor’s Race.  The Iowa Corn Growers PAC is also endorsing Bill Northey (R) for the 2010 Iowa Secretary of Agriculture race.

The Iowa Corn PAC endorsed 57 candidates for the Iowa State Senate and the Iowa House of Representatives for the 2010 election cycle.
·         For Iowa Senate:
Staci Appel (D), Daryl Beall (D), Dennis Black (D), Nancy Boettger (R), Bill Dix (R), Bill Dotzler (D), Robert Dvorsky (D), Sandy Greiner (R), Bill Heckroth (D), Hubert Houser (R), David Johnson (R), Keith Kreiman (D), Larry Noble (R), Rich Olive (D), Amanda Ragan (D), Becky Schmitz (D), and Joe Seng (D).   

·         For Iowa House of Representatives:
Dwayne Alons (R), Richard Arnold (R), McKinley Bailey (D), Clel Baudler (R), John Beard (D), Dennis Cohoon (D), Betty De Boef (R), Dave Deyoe (R), Cecil Dolecheck (R), Jack Drake (R), David Heaton (R), Erik Helland (R), Daniel Huseman (R), Jeff Kaufmann (R), Bob Kressig (D), Steven Lukan (R), Jim Lykam (D), Larry Marek (D), Kevin McCarthy (D), Helen Miller (D), Patrick Murphy (D), Donovan Olson (D), Steven Olson (R), Eric Palmer (D), Kraig Paulsen (R), Henry Rayhons (R), Michael Reasoner (D), Nathan Reichert (D), Thomas Sands (R), Paul Shomshor (D), Sharon Steckman (D), Kurt Swaim (D), Annette Sweeney (R), Linda Upmeyer (R), Jim Van Engelenhoven (R), Ralph Watts (R), Andrew Wenthe (D), Matt Windschitl (R), Gary Worthan (R), and Ray Zirkelbach (D).

Iowa Corn Growers Association PAC decisions are made by a bipartisan committee of Iowa Corn Growers Association members after candidates are evaluated for their support of Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) policies, including such topics as the farm bill, ethanol, livestock support and transportation.  Funding for the Iowa Corn Growers Association PAC comes from voluntary donations by ICGA members. ICGA dues money are not used for PAC contributions.



New equipment from Case IH at Farm Progress Show

Following you will find links to four Case IH press releases detailing new high-horsepower tractor offerings from Case IH:   http://www.pressroom.caseih.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=newsreleases.welcome&mode=date.  

NEW ROUND BALER FROM CASE IH DESIGNED FOR RURAL LIFESTYLE RANCHERS
CASE IH LAUNCHES 3020 FLEX HEAD TO MAXIMIZE FIELD TIME AND PRODUCTIVITY
CASE IH INTRODUCES RD3 ROTARY DISC HEADS
CASE IH UNVEILS NEXT GENERATION OF MAGNUM™ TRACTORS
CASE IH ROLLS OUT NEW PUMA 130-160 SERIES CVT MODELS
CASE IH LAUNCHES NEW GENERATION STEIGER® TRACTORS
CASE IH STARTS UP NEW TIER 4A TRACTOR ENGINES FOR 2011

Today marked the first full public showing of these tractors at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.



Pioneer Hi-Bred Expands Seed Research Program Designed for Localized Testing Across North America

          Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, announced plans to expand a new, innovative research initiative across North America for the 2011 growing season. The program supports a 50 percent increase in the number of experimental products Pioneer can test to help growers ultimately get the right product on the right acre to maximize productivity.
          Pioneer's IMPACTTM program, which stands for Intensively Managed Product Advancement, Characterization and Training trials, will significantly increase Pioneer's investment in local research and development, helping to maximize grower productivity and profitability. These plots provide local testing of multiple products at the last stage before they are advanced for sale to growers. Evaluations take place on growers' farms, emphasizing local testing to match products with regional growing conditions.
          The IMPACT program also marks a unique cooperative effort between Pioneer's research efforts and its sales organization, linking product development and advancement with the company's "Right Product, Right Acre" strategy to help producers get the best results from each acre.
          Pioneer announced the program expansion at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. This follows a successful test launch of the program during the 2010 growing season.
          "Tools such as the Accelerated Yield Technology (AYTTM) system are driving a tenfold increase in the number of inbreds Pioneer research scientists generate," says John Soper, vice president - Pioneer Crop Genetics Research & Development. "Data from IMPACT trials help us understand which products offer the best performance in certain environments, allowing us to more readily target specific customer needs."
          As the name implies, IMPACT plots benefit from intensive management and evaluation throughout the growing season. Pioneer is hiring local research teams to work exclusively on these plots which are located across North America corn- and soybean-growing regions. The IMPACT program represents a multimillion dollar investment by Pioneer in resources, equipment and trial seed production.
          This system replaces Pioneer's former Product Advancement Trials (PAT) system. The PAT system served Pioneer well for almost 15 years, but as agriculture has changed, so have the objectives of pre-commercial testing. For example, the PAT system limited testing to about 10 to 15 potential products. In contrast, the IMPACT system can test between 100 and 250 potential products at each location to determine the top candidates for commercialization.
          "IMPACT takes the number of on-farm trials and the amount of data collected to a whole new level, exponentially funneling more local information into the product advancement decision process," says Soper.
          The Pioneer sales organization works with research colleagues to help select growers and fields throughout North America to best evaluate products in key growing conditions.
          "The Pioneer sales force teams up with research to choose representative micro-environments, including soil type, disease pressure and other key local growing conditions within specific regions," says Alejandro Munoz, vice president and regional director - Pioneer North America. "This assures us these products are tested against the same conditions local growers face so our sales professionals can help customers plant the right product on the right acre."
          These plots also allow growers to see the newest products and technologies firsthand and participate in the product and agronomic performance evaluation. The Pioneer IMPACT team plants and harvests the crop and tracks performance. The grower cooperator has the opportunity to interact with Pioneer research scientists, sales professionals, account managers and area agronomists to learn firsthand how potential new products will fit their growing environments.

Harvest Safety Reminders
Tom Dorn, Extension Educator, Lancaster County

Harvest will soon be underway and farmers will be in one of their busiest times of the year. Long hours and dangerous working conditions are accepted as a normal part of a farmer’s life, but no one should become a statistic for the sake of getting done a day or two earlier.

Safety Tips for Farmers
      Farmers are encouraged to be especially mindful of their safety during the rush of harvest.  (IANR Photo by Brett Hampton)
    * Stay alert. Take breaks -- get out of the cab and walk around every few hours.
    * Shut down the machine before working on it. If the combine becomes clogged, shut off the motor, not just the header, before attempting to unplug it by hand.
    * Know where your co-workers are. Visibility is poor around large machinery. Many deaths are the result of bystanders being run over or crushed between machines.
    * Never trust hydraulic systems when working under a machine. Always use a safety prop if you must work under a header or other heavy machinery.
    * Never step over a rotating PTO. The few extra steps you save by not walking around the tractor aren’t worth losing your life.
    * Never stand on grain that is being moved. Every year people “drown” in grain carts and grain bins that are being emptied.
    * Keep grain auger grates and shields in place. Protect your hands and feet.
    * If you must move machinery on a roadway after dark, have working headlights and flashing front and rear warning lights.
    * Always display the reflective, triangular slow-moving vehicle emblem on all tractors, combines, grain carts, and other farm machinery when driven or pulled on public roadways.

Safety Tips for Rural Residents
    * Remember to be watchful on county roads during harvest. A car going 50 mph coming up behind a farm implement moving at 15 mph closes at a rate of over 50 feet per second.
    * Don’t pull out in front of farm vehicles. Heavily loaded trucks and grain trailers can’t stop as quickly as a passenger car.
    * Watch out! Trucks and farm equipment may be entering the roadway from field lanes in places where you wouldn’t normally expect them.
    * Give them room. Eight-row headers are nearly 25 feet wide and 12-row headers are nearly 35 feet wide. These take up nearly all of a roadway. When overtaking a combine, give the farmer time to see you and to find a safe place where he/she can pull over and make room for you to pass. Never attempt to pass a wide farm machine until the driver is aware of your presence.
    * Never try to pass a combine or other implement on the shoulder of the road. If you hit a washout or hidden culvert, you could roll the vehicle.
    * Harvest activity can disturb deer, causing them to be on the move during times of the day they are usually lying down. Be especially alert for deer during harvest.



Tiemann, Gengenbach and Scheer Elected to Leadership Positions

The Nebraska Corn Board recently re-elected Alan Tiemann, farmer director from Seward as chairman for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Tiemann is a third generation corn and soybean farmer. Also re-elected were Dennis Gengenbach of Smithfield as vice-chairman and Tim Scheer of St. Paul as secretary-treasurer.   Also, the Nebraska Corn Board, National Corn Growers Association and ten other state corn grower associations were recently recognized by the American Coalition for Ethanol with their 2010 Paul Dana Marketing Vision Award. The award is given in recognition of the late Indy Racing League driver, Paul Dana, for leadership in marketing ethanol. The other states recognized included Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, Iowa, Ohio, Kansas, South Dakota, Illinois, Colorado and Minnesota.
 


Governor's Trade Mission

Earlier this month a Nebraska Trade Delegation Team visited Taiwan and Hong Kong.  In Taiwan, Governor Heineman and Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach reached an estimated agreement of $436 to $516 million dollars in future sales of Nebraska wheat, corn and soybeans.  In Hong Kong Heineman says the tour focused on beef promotion...
(click link below to hear audio)

Heineman_HongKong     :21  Q. done that.

To sell more Nebraska beef, Heineman says will require assistance from the federal goverment with the pending free trade agreements with South Korea, Columbia and Panama.


 
FY 2011 Exports Expected to Rise to $113 Billion; Imports Rise to $81.5 Billion
 
Fiscal 2011 agricultural exports are forecast at $113 billion, up $5.5 billion from the revised 2010 forecast at USDA's Economic Research Service.  Much of the increase is due to greater grain and feed shipments, (up $4.3 billion from the revised 2010 forecast) due to sharply reduced competition from Russia, Kazakhstan, and the Ukraine.  Horticultural exports are forecast up $1.7 billion from 2010 on strong demand from Canada, the EU, and Asian markets.  Increased livestock and poultry product exports are expected to more than offset slight declines in dairy product exports.  Cotton exports are forecast up significantly with larger domestic supplies and less export competition.  The only major category expected to fall is oilseeds, due in part to increased competition from South America.
 
Fiscal 2010 exports are raised $3 billion from the May forecast to $107.5 billion, due mostly to greater grain and feed shipments and higher values along with increased livestock, poultry, and dairy product exports.  The forecasts for cotton, oilseeds, and horticultural products are raised.  Much of the overall increase is due to greater shipments to Asia, primarily Hong Kong and South Korea.   
 
The forecast for 2011 imports is $81.5 billion, up 5.8 percent from the revised 2010 forecast, as import demand grows steadily.  Import values are expected to increase as income growth improves and some commodity prices remain relatively strong. Continued strong demand in 2011 is expected for livestock and horticultural imports, although uncertainty about economic recovery may limit gains for wine, beer, processed fruits and vegetables, and nuts.  The $77-billion total for 2010 reflects higher import unit values than seen in 2009, especially for processed products as volume is lower.



Net Farm Income Forecast Up 24 Percent in 2010
(see the complete report here... http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/FarmIncome/nationalestimates.htm)

Net farm income is forecast to be $77.1 billion in 2010, up $14.9 billion (24 percent) from 2009, according to USDA's Economic Research Service. The 2010 forecast is $12.3 billion above the average of $64.8 billion in net farm income earned in the previous 10 years. The $77.1 billion forecast for 2010 remains the fourth largest amount of income earned in U.S. farming. The top five earnings years have occurred since 2004, attesting to the profitability of farming this decade. Farm income exceeded $80 billion in 2004 and 2008 and topped $70 billion in 2005 and 2007.

Net cash income, at $85.3 billion, is forecast up $16.1 billion (23.3 percent) from 2009, and $13.4 billion above its 10-year average of $71.8 billion. Net farm income reflects income from production in the current year, whether or not sold within the calendar year; net cash income reflects only the cash transactions occurring within the calendar year. Net farm income is a measure of the increase in wealth from production, whereas net cash income is a measure of solvency, or the ability to pay bills and make payments on debt.

 

Highlights
    * After declining more than 20 percent in 2009, all three measures of farm sector earnings are forecast to rise in 2010.
      -Net cash income is expected to rise more than 23 percent, to a level above its previous 10-year average.
      - Net value added, at $127.3 billion, is expected to be up $15.2 billion from 2009, and remain 17.7 percent above its 10-year average. An increase in the value of livestock production accounted for almost all of the upward movement in net value added. Value of dairy production rose by 26.2 percent with the value of meat animal production up 14.6 percent and the value of poultry and egg production rising 8.4 percent.
      - Net farm income, while forecast to be $10.3 billion below its all-time record in 2004, has shown a rebound from 2009, a year in which demand for agricultural products fell worldwide due to the global recession.

    * Total expenses are forecast to increase moderately.
      - Total production expenses in 2010 are forecast to be 1.1 percent higher, reversing the 4.1 percent drop in 2009. The increase is far below upward movements of 15.7 percent and 8.8 percent recorded in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

    * Cash receipts are expected to increase 6.5 percent, due mainly to higher livestock receipts.
      - Crop receipts are forecast to increase a modest 0.4 percent with soybean and cotton receipts expected to show large gains while corn receipts record the largest annual decline.
      - Livestock receipts are expected to increase $17.7 billion in 2010, led by a 26-percent surge in cash receipts for dairy.

    * Government payments are forecast to decrease 2.7 percent in 2010.
      - Reversing two years of slight increases, direct payments are projected to decrease in 2010 and will be 22 percent below the 5-year average for 2005-2009. Countercyclical payments are forecast to decrease by 79 percent in 2010.



Beef Mantra: Give Consumers What They Want

Consumers are always in the driver’s seat when it comes to selling products, beef included. That’s why success in the beef industry during the coming decade will depend so heavily on the industry’s ability to give consumers what they want – no matter how often they change their minds.

That was the message from Dr. Gary Smith, distinguished agricultural professor at Colorado State University, during the beef checkoff’s 2010 Innovative Beef Symposium in Denver last week.

“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten,” Smith told the 80-plus processors, manufacturers and retailers who participated in the two-day event. “Innovation matters,” he said, if you want to have any chance of attracting new customers and entering new markets.

Innovation can come in various forms – including a company acting spontaneously, investing in a breakthrough and branding it, designing success into new products, or through in-depth research and “homework.”

To date, Smith said, the Beef Checkoff Program has done extremely well with innovation through research that leads to development of new beef products that meet consumers’ changing demands. At the heart of that innovation is muscle profiling, which has developed new cuts from the shoulder clod, the chuck roll and, most recently, the round.

“I think the Beef Checkoff Program … has done a tremendous job of looking down the road,” Smith said, “plucking steaks out of the chuck and round and making something between ground beef and traditional steaks.” Beef Value Cuts created through muscle profiling have truly maximized the value of the chuck and the round – turning previously ground product into profitable steaks.

Looking forward, Smith said, it is important to remember that businesses and industries fail for two reasons: their inability to escape the past and/or their inability to invent the future.

During the next five years, Smith said, the beef industry will experience decreased demand domestically and increased demand on international fronts, and stakeholders will have to become more “consumer-centric and export-minded” if they are to succeed.

“We will differentiate to drive demand, with more product branding and increased innovation,” he said. “Give the consumers what they want – give them product diversity!”

For more information about your beef checkoff investment, visit www.MyBeefCheckoff.com.  



NCBA Questions Cattle Organization’s Partnership with Animal Rights Extremists
 
Representatives of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) questions the affiliation of  the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF) with the animal rights and environmental activist group Food and Water Watch. According to separate news releases issued by the two groups, R-CALF and Food and Water Watch are joining forces on the campaign to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration’s (GIPSA) proposed rule on livestock marketing. NCBA President Steve Foglesong said well-funded activist groups, like Food and Water Watch, are working to obstruct the success of U.S. agriculture and its efforts to feed a growing global population. He said Food and Water Watch, a lobbyist group full of “career activists,” has a longstanding history of lobbying for stringed agricultural regulations that are devoid of science.
 “This group seems to fly under the radar compared to other groups like the Humane Society of the United States, which is larger and more vocal,” said Foglesong. “As a cattle producer, it is concerning that an organization in my industry is admittedly partnering with a group that spreads fiction as fact to 98 percent of the population removed from production agriculture. This industry can disagree – that’s how progress is achieved – but to blatantly misrepresent the hardworking men and women in this industry is something that we cannot take lightly.”
 
Food and Water Watch on its Web site defines factory farms as an agribusiness-controlled operation where “tens of thousands of animals are raised in crowded facilities.” In an attempt to portray the livestock industry as factories, Food and Water Watch sponsored an animated video called The Meatrix, which Foglesong calls a “strong manipulation of reality preying on consumers removed from production agriculture.” The Monday Campaigns, Inc. (Meatless Monday) is also associated with the film, according to the Web site for the video.
 
Foglesong said the lack of science-based information is a red flag on the credibility of this activist group. He said, according to USDA, 98 percent of all U.S. farms are family farms. USDA reports 91 percent of farms in the United States are considered “small family farms,” which is contrary to Food and Water Watch reporting that “the work of producing our food has been replaced by large corporate enterprises.”  Foglesong said innovation, profitability and a commitment to consumers have driven expansion of family owned operations throughout the United States, not agribusiness.
 
“The fact is farmers and ranchers are the most innovative individuals in the country. As the economy plummeted the last two years, agriculture was the shining star. We are resilient and believe the marketplace should be allowed to work without government interference. GIPSA’s proposed rule will open the doors for frivolous lawsuits; allow government control of family owned operations; and limit our ability to contract. The fact R-CALF is partnering with an extremist organization, to support GIPSA’s proposed rule, that wants to regulate us out of business is frightening and makes me wonder what the desired outcome really is. Why would Food and Water Watch want to interfere with how I market my cattle? Their goal far surpasses marketing.”
 


Ethanol Production and Demand Numbers Soar for June 2010

Ethanol production reached an all-time high in June 2010, according to data released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Additionally, ethanol demand for June also hit a record level.  According to data released today, ethanol production in June was just over 854,000 barrels per day (b/d), or 1.08 billion gallons for the month. That is up from 846,000 b/d from May and more than 160,000 b/d higher than June 2009. Based on data from the first six months of 2010, US ethanol production is running at 12.87 billion gallons on an annualized basis.  As calculated by the RFA, ethanol demand also reached an all-time high of 857,000 b/d, up from 721,000 b/d one year ago.

Interestingly, the monthly figures from EIA for June are higher than the weekly production averages EIA recently began reporting. According to the weekly data from EIA highlighted by RFA, June production averaged just 839,000 b/d or a difference of 15,000 b/d compared to the monthly figure released today. At 18.9 million gallons for the month, this is a rather large discrepancy. Subsequent weekly and monthly reports will be needed to determine if the discrepancy between the monthly and weekly data is a trend or just a result of the kinks being worked out of the new weekly reporting requirement.

June 2010 Statistics
(mg = million gallons; b/d = barrels per day)
Fuel Ethanol Production - 1076.5mg - 854,367 b/d
Fuel Ethanol Use - 1079.8mg - 857,000b/d
Fuel Ethanol Stocks - 781.6mg - 22 days of reserve
Ethanol Exports - 16.1mg
Ethanol Imports - 1.653mg



FDA Warned Against Hazards of Curtailing Antibiotic Use in Livestock
Growth Promotion Limits Could Do More Harm Than Good

The Competitive Enterprise Institute submitted comments today on an FDA proposal to limit the use of certain antibiotics in livestock, warning that a ban could unintentionally increase the threat of foodborne illness in the United States.
 
The FDA draft guidance would prohibit the use of “medically important” antibiotics for growth promotion in food-producing animals such as cows, pigs, and chickens, and would require veterinary oversight for remaining uses.  In its comments, CEI warned that “uses of these drugs for growth promotion reduces pathogen loads in animal-derived foods and have a positive impact on human safety, so such restrictions could do more harm than good.”
 
Antibiotics use in livestock has been criticized by the public health community due to concerns that it contributes to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria.  However, U.S. government studies indicate that livestock uses account for only about 10 percent of the problem with resistant bacteria and that misuse in human patients is the leading cause of antibiotic resistance.
 
“Whether you’re talking about human or animal use, banning beneficial uses today can have negative impacts on human and animal health just as surely as a lack of long-term drug efficacy can,” said Gregory Conko, CEI’s Director of Food and Drug Policy.  “Instead, we need to balance the current benefits of antimicrobial use against the inevitable development of resistance, and this can include using antibiotics for livestock growth promotion purposes.”
 
The FDA already regulates animal antibiotic use very stringently and mandates efforts to slow down the development of bacterial resistance.  Many governments in Europe have banned the use of antibiotics for growth promotion purposes, but with little or no effect on the development of resistant bacteria.  “After the U.K., Denmark, and then the entire European Union banned antibiotic use for growth promotion, the incidence of many resistant bacteria increased, not decreased,” said Conko.  “Those bans have increased the cost of raising animals and made food more expensive, but they’ve done absolutely nothing to improve public health.”



Anhydrous Prices Still Rising

Anhydrous prices continue their summer rally, according to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the fourth week of August. The nitrogen fertilizer price has soared over the last four weeks in particular but has been higher each week over the last eight weeks.  Anhydrous ran 20 percent higher compared to a month earlier in DTN's latest survey of more than 100 retailers. The average price for anhydrous is now $592.81 per ton. Since the beginning of this most recent rally (July 6-9) in anhydrous, the fertilizer has gained $127 per ton.

UAN solutions were also up compared to a month earlier. UAN32 is up 7 percent, and UAN28 was 6 percent higher. In addition, DAP also saw a 7 percent increase in price. MAP, urea and 10-34-0 were all up just slightly compared to a month earlier.  UAN32 had an average price of $302.88/ton, UAN28 $269.20/ton, DAP $537.26/ton, MAP $542.50/ton, urea $389.26/ton and 10-34-0 $441.31/ton.

Just one fertilizer was lower in price compared to the fourth week of July. Potash continues to plod along about 5 percent lower compared to a month earlier. Potash had an average price of $472.08/ton.

Compared to one year earlier, only one fertilizer now remains down double digits. Potash leads the way lower, down 29 percent. Next is 10-34-0, which is now 6 percent lower.  Six fertilizers have shown an increase in price compared to last year. With its run over the last several weeks, anhydrous has increased the most, now up 43 percent. Next would be DAP, which is 38 percent higher, and UAN28 has spiked 35 percent higher. MAP is 33 percent higher, and UAN32 is 17 percent higher than a year earlier.  In addition, urea is up just slightly compared to the fourth week of August 2009.



August Farm Prices Received Index Up 3 Points

The preliminary All Farm Products Index of Prices Received by Farmers in August, at 145 percent, based on 1990-1992=100, increased 3 points (2.1 percent) from July. The Crop Index is up 5 points (3.3 percent) and the Livestock Index increased 1 point (0.8 percent). Producers received higher prices for wheat, corn, milk, and cattle and lower prices for broilers, lettuce, onions, and cantaloups. In addition to prices, the overall index is also affected by the seasonal change based on a 3-year average mix of commodities producers sell. Increased monthly marketings of cattle, grapes, sweet corn, and potatoes offset decreased marketings of wheat, hay, strawberries, and milk.

The preliminary All Farm Products Index is up 19 points (15 percent) from August 2009. The Food Commodities Index, at 145, increased 3 points (2.1 percent) from last month and increased 21 points (17 percent) from August 2009.

ALL CROPS:  The August index is 155, up 3.3 percent from July and 6.2 percent above August 2009. Index increases for food grains, feed grains & hay, fruits & nuts, and oilseeds more than offset the index decreases for commercial vegetables and cotton.

Food Grains:  The August index, at 186, is 22 percent above the previous month and 10 percent above a year ago. The August all wheat price, at $5.56 per bushel, is up $1.06 from July and 71 cents above August 2009.

Feed Grains & Hay:  The August index is 157, up 4.0 percent from last month and 6.1 percent above a year ago. The corn price, at $3.65 per bushel, is up 16 cents from last month and 32 cents above August 2009. The all hay price, at $111 per ton, is down $1.00 from July but up $7.00 from last August. Sorghum grain, at $6.28 per cwt, is 31 cents above July and 91 cents above August last year.

Oilseeds:  The August index, at 179, is up 2.9 percent from July but 6.8 percent lower than August 2009. The soybean price, at $10.10 per bushel, increased 31 cents from July but is 70 cents below August 2009.

LIVESTOCK & PRODUCTS:  The August index, at 133, is 0.8 percent above last month and up 22 percent from August 2009. Compared with a year ago, prices are higher for milk, cattle, hogs, broilers, turkeys, calves, and eggs.

Meat Animals:  The August index, at 128, is up 2.4 percent from last month and 23 percent higher than last year. The August hog price, at $61.30 per cwt, is up $2.80 from July and $24.00 higher than a year ago. The August beef cattle price of $93.20 per cwt is up $1.60 from last month and $12.80 higher than August 2009.

Dairy Products:  The August index, at 127, is up 3.3 percent from a month ago and 37 percent higher than August last year. The August all milk price of $16.60 per cwt is up 60 cents from last month and up $4.50 from August 2009. The fluid grade milk price is up 60 cents and the manufacturing grade milk price is up $1.00 from the previous month.

Poultry & Eggs:  The August index, at 149, is down 2.6 percent from July but 13 percent above a year ago. The August market egg price, at 62.4 cents per dozen, increased 9.6 cents from July and is 3.9 cents above August 2009. The August broiler price, at 48.0 cents per pound, is down 3.0 cents from July but 5.0 cents above a year ago. The August turkey price, at 66.3 cents per pound, is up 1.6 cents from the previous month and 15.2 cents higher than a year earlier.

Prices Paid Index Unchanged                           
The August Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes, and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW) is 182 percent of the 1990-1992 average. The index is unchanged from July but 5 points (2.8 percent) above August 2009. Lower prices in August for nitrogen, feeder pigs, feeder cattle, and hay & forages offset higher prices for concentrates, diesel, feed grains, and LP gas.



Nebraska Bankers Association Pays Tribute to John C. Owens

The Nebraska Bankers Association (NBA) has recognized John C. Owens with the 2010 NBA Agri-business Recognition Award for outstanding service to agriculture.  The NBA’s Agri-business Recognition Award has been presented each year since 1983 to individuals who have made significant contributions to the state of Nebraska and its agricultural industry.
 
John C. Owens most recently served as vice president for agriculture and natural resources and Harlan vice chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Prior to joining the university in January 2001, he was with New Mexico State University.
 
Owens started his career at New Mexico State University in 1977, where he served as associate professor, professor, and head of the department of entomology and plant pathology.  In 1985, he became dean and chief administrative officer of the College of Agriculture and Home Economics, the New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service, and the New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station. He served as executive vice president and chief academic officer for New Mexico State from 1997 to 2000.  The New Mexico State University Board of Regents named him executive vice president emeritus in January 2001.
 
Owens earned his Ph.D. in entomology from Iowa State University, his masters in entomology from Texas Tech University, and his bachelor’s in biology from West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University).
 
Owens is past president of the Southwestern and Rocky Mountain Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.  He is active in the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), formerly known as the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC), having served as chairman of the board on agriculture, as a member of the Council of Academic Affairs Committee on Institutional Quality & Effectiveness, chairman of the Search Committee for the Director of the Office of Federal Relations for Food Environment and International Affairs, and chairman of the Administrative Heads Section.  He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and the Entomological Society of America and is a registered professional entomologist.
 
For his leadership, numerous contributions to the agricultural industry, and his long and distinguished career, John C. Owens has earned the Nebraska Bankers Association’s Agri-business Recognition Award.



NRCS Nebraska State Technical Committee to Meet

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will hold their State Technical Committee (STC) meeting on Sept. 20 at Spring Creek Prairie located 20 miles southwest of Lincoln at 11700 SW 100th Street, Denton, Neb. The meeting will be begin at 12:30 p.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m.

This Committee serves as an advisory body to the NRCS State Conservationist. They provide recommendations on technical aspects of Farm Bill conservation programs.

NRCS State Conservationist Steve Chick said, "The State Technical Committee's involvement can help NRCS assure that financial and technical assistance is targeted to priority natural resource concerns and the conservation needs of people at all levels are considered."

The agenda for the meeting will include an update of Farm Bill conservation programs. These programs include the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI), Agriculture Water Enhancement Program (AWEP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

Following this program update, attendees will take a tour of two local landowners' operations who have successfully applied conservation practices on their land through Farm Bill programs.

Prior to the State Technical Committee meeting, sub-committee meetings focusing on specific Farm Bill programs have been scheduled.

These meetings are open to all members of the State Technical Committee. Individuals interested in becoming a member of the STC may submit a request that explains their interest and outlines their credentials for becoming a member to the NRCS State Conservationist.



Bayer CropScience and Monsanto Enter Agreement to Deliver Breakthrough Seed Treatment Technology

Bayer CropScience LP and Monsanto Company have entered into an exclusive agreement on the use of Poncho®/VOTiVO™ seed treatment.

Offered exclusively with Acceleron® Seed Treatment Products for corn, Poncho/VOTiVO seed treatment from Bayer CropScience combines the number one corn seed-applied insecticide with a new living-barrier approach to nematode protection.

Bayer data shows that the 500 rate of Poncho delivers increased control of wireworm, black cutworm, white grub and other early season pests. And four years of field research shows that Poncho/VOTiVO delivers an average 6 to 8 bu/A yield increase on corn over the industry standard, the 250 rate of Poncho.

“We look forward to this opportunity to provide growers with advanced technology that combines Bayer CropScience innovation in seed treatment with Monsanto innovation in seed,” said Bill Buckner, president and chief executive officer of Bayer CropScience LP. “This combination will help ensure that corn growers can have the best protection against yield-robbing nematodes and early season insects.”

“Early season pests can have a major impact on a corn crop’s growth and development. That’s where Acceleron Seed Treatment Products come into play,” said Brad Griffith, Monsanto’s global seed treatment lead. “Farmers will have a choice that includes this innovative nematode control technology when they choose Genuity® traits optimized with Acceleron.”

New Poncho/VOTiVO provides a biological mode of action that introduces a revolutionary way to protect corn seedlings and roots against nematodes. It contains bacteria that live and grow with young corn roots, protecting against a broad range of nematodes that feed on corn.

Under the agreement, Monsanto will have exclusive rights to commercialize Poncho/VOTiVO with the 500 rate of Poncho under its industry-leading corn brand DEKALB®, the Channel®, brand and regional brands, as well as to license the product through its licensing business, which serves more than 180 corn seed companies throughout the United States and Canada. Additional details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Orders for Acceleron Seed Treatment Products, including Poncho/VOTiVO are being taken now for the 2011 growing season by your local seed dealer.



CLAAS launches the new LEXION.

CLAAS announces the launch of – The new LEXION. Further ahead. – The newest series of CLAAS combine harvesters to meet the rising demands of growers. Innovative, intelligent and inspired, the new LEXION is the next generation in harvesting excellence and can be seen for the first time in the North American market at the 2010 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.

Building upon the greatness of the LEXION 500 series, the new LEXION is designed and engineered with industry exclusive features, undoubtedly characteristic of CLAAS, remastered for optimum field performance and cited to be the clear choice for growers.

“Demands for greater cab comfort, increased power and a reinforcement of machine intelligence is what our growers continued to request,” stated Bob Armstrong, CLAAS North American Product Marketing Manager. “There’s no doubt that when you sit in the seat of the new LEXION, the driving force behind this remarkable machine design was taken directly from the desires of our growers and championed by our world-class engineers.”

The new LEXION 700 Series
CLAAS - Model - hp
10 - 770/770 TT - 523
9 - 760/760 TT - 462
8 - 750/750 TT - 425
7 - 740/740 TT - 350
6 - 730 - 311
7 - 670 Straw Walker - 350

ADDITIONAL NEW FEATURES & PRODUCT ENHANCEMENTS
APS HYBRID SYSTEM - Advanced harvesting technology combining two proven technologies: the Accelerated Pre-Separation (APS) threshing system and the ROTO PLUS separation system to form the most productive threshing and separation system available. Only CLAAS integrates both systems into one machine to achieve what other systems cannot. This powerful duo offers exclusive harvesting advantages:
    *       Independent threshing and separation speed adjustment
    *       More adaptation to changing crops and conditions
    *       Optimum throughput

New Deluxe Cab – when it comes to cab convenience, CLAAS has set the benchmark for all-around visibility and operator comfort. With even more space than the LEXION 500 series, the new LEXION offers unmatched freedom of movement, controls that move with the operators’ actions and increased visibility with the sleek open view design to better see your header and returns. With a soundproof atmosphere, adjustable steering column, controls within easy reach, optimum legroom, iPod playback control, USB port and Bluetooth technology, you’ve just moved into luxury.

TERRA TRAC Traction & World Record Speed – The new generation TERRA TRAC enables the LEXION to get from field to field faster than any other track combine – up to 25 mph (40 km/h) 750 TT only. TERRA TRAC facilitates longer harvesting days and significantly increases seasonal performance. Improved adaptation to ground contour lowers machine stress with the integrated intelligent track system – all components (drive wheel, idler wheel, and bogie wheels) are fully and independently suspended, reducing shocks to the operator and combine, increasing operator comfort and providing greater stability on curves.

Residue Management – As yields increase, the amount of residue to manage also increases. What comes out the back of the combine is just as important as what goes in the front. Rapid, complete residue decomposition will improve next year’s planting season and yields – and ensure fewer passes across the field are needed to till the soil.

PRO CHOP: The premium Small Grains chopper consists of up to 108 closely arranged dual-blade knives and a bank of up to 62 counter knives. The chaff from the sieve is combined with the chopped straw before it’s evenly distributed by the counter-direction discharge distribution rotors.

TURBO CHOP: The premium all crop chopper operates with up to 88 closely arranged dual-blade knives and a bank of up to 62 counter knives. From the sieve, chaff is collected and blown by the chaff spreader which is mounted directly behind the shoe before being distributed.

Next generation CEBIS – The CLAAS Electronic on-Board Information System is total machine monitoring and control, distinguished by its clear, intuitive menu structure. A quick look is all it takes: the new generation CEBIS display provides a thorough overview of the combine’s status. Separate road and harvest screens provide a clear, organized display of machine performance, whether on the road or in the field. All messages are delivered with an audible tone and visual icons and text. Added is the rotary HOTKEY for quick access to the monitoring functions you use most.

NEW HEADER TECHNOLOGY
MAXFLO 1200 & MAXFLO 1050 - A revolution in draper head technology, the MAXFLO is engineered with an innovative new intake system using an intake auger instead of the traditional center feed belt. This patented new flow design results in higher efficiency for greater machine performance. With a simple changeover, the MAXFLO can also be converted into a swather platform.

VARIO 1200 & VARIO 1050 - Using the VARIO head's exclusive fore/aft cutter-bar adjustment, the operator is able to maintain a more consistent crop flow to the APS threshing system by adjusting the depth of the cutterbar (on-the-go) to match the needs of the crop. This ensures a smooth crop flow for a more consistent performance. The VARIO 1200 &1050 feature a larger 26-inch (660 mm) diameter intake auger to enhance crop flow and provide greater anti-wrapping protection, especially in tall crops like canola.

MAXFLEX 1200 & MAXFLEX 1050 - Equipped with a flexible cutting knife that automatically adjusts to the changing ground contours (requires HP feederhouse option). The cutting bar provides up to 7 inches (180 mm) of flex range. The split reel, split auger and dual knife design work together with the HP feederhouse adjustments to maximize header performance in all field conditions. MAXFLEX headers are also capable of harvesting small grain crops because the MAXFLEX technology has the ability to be locked into a rigid position.

Chopping & Non-chopping corn heads (12-row 22”/18-row 20”) - CLAAS corn heads are available in a range of sizes, from six rows to the industry’s first 16 row, and now to the all-new 18-row option. The broad range of row spacing available: 20-, 22-, 30-, 36- and 38-inch, allows you to match your header to your specific needs.  Chopping corn heads give you a jump-start on a successful harvest next year with the first step in residue management. In addition to 8- and 12-row, 30-inch row spacing available from CLAAS is the new 18-row 20” and 12 row 22” models. On chopping models, each row unit is fitted with three rotating blades that are driven directly from the row unit gearbox, allowing for stalks to be chopped while gently picking the ear.

Silage cutting, wheat seading get under way in NE  

Agricultural  Summary:  For  the  week  ending  August 29, 2010, rain fell early in the week across the eastern half of  the  State  while  western  counties  remained  hot  and  dry, according  to  USDA’s  National  Agricultural  Statistics  Service.  Silage cutting was underway  as crop maturities continued ahead of  last year.   Wheat seeding began  in a  few Panhandle areas but was  slow  to advance due  to grasshopper concerns.   Proso millet was turning color and being swathed in the west.       
 
Weather Summary:   For  the  fifth week  in  a  row,  temperatures averaged  above  normal with  highs  reaching  100  in  the west  to lows  in  the  mid  40’s.    The  heaviest  amounts  of  rain  fell  in portions  of  South  Central  and  Southeastern  Districts.  The southeastern  third  of  the  state  averaged  over  one  inch  of precipitation for the week while the western half of the State was dry.    Topsoil Moisture: 2% surplus, 63% adequate, 33% short, 2% very short.  Subsoil moisture: 1% surplus, 80% adequate, 18% short, 1% very short.  Rainfall totals last week in the northeast distrct averaged .65, brining the season total to 24.54, 46% above average.  Rainfall in the east-central distrct averaged 1.39 inches, bringing the season total to 23.88, 36% above normal.  Rainfall in the SE 1.42, season total 19.88, 9% above normal.  GDD since April 15 (depart from normal):  Concord 2387 (-252), West Point 2573 (-136), and Mead 2666 (-111).  

Field Crops Report: Corn condition rated 1 percent very poor, 4  poor,  14  fair,  57  good,  and  24  excellent,  above  year  ago.  Irrigated  fields  were  84  percent  good  or  excellent  and  dryland fields rated 77. Corn in the dough stage was 95 percent, ahead of 87  last  year  and  93  average.  Corn  reaching  the  dent  stage was  70 percent, well ahead of 50 percent last year and 64 average with the first fields of corn were considered mature.
   
Soybean  conditions  rated  1  percent  very  poor,  4  poor,  19  fair,  55  good,  and  21  excellent,  near  last  year.    Soybean  acreage turning color was 6 percent, behind 11  last year and 12 average with the first fields dropping leaves.
 
Sorghum  conditions  rated  2  percent  poor,  20  fair,  61  good,  and  17  excellent,  above  last  year.   Sorghum  turning  color  was  39 percent, ahead of last year’s 15 but near 38 average.
 
Winter  wheat  seeding  was  underway  but  slow  at  1  percent complete,  behind  of  2  last  year  and  average.    The  potential  for grasshopper  damage  was  limiting  seeding  advancement  in  the
west.

Alfalfa  rated 1 percent  very  poor,  3  poor, 16  fair, 63  good,  and  17 excellent.  The third cutting of alfalfa was nearing completion at 90 percent, ahead of 78  last year and 85 average.  The  fourth cutting  of  alfalfa  progressed  to  11  percent,  ahead  of  8  last  year and 7 average.  

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:  Pasture and range conditions  rated  1  percent  very  poor,  2  poor,  13  fair,  71 good, and 13 excellent, well above year ago.  


Get the latest state by state statistics here... http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProg/CropProg-08-30-2010.txt

 
Nebraska Weather & Crops County Comments
Survey Date: 08/29/2010

BOONE
Silage harvest has started.

CASS
Harvest should be way ahead of last year. Lots of corn is blacklined, with a few reports of 35% moisture. Corn is drying well and maturing, unlike last year at this time. Soybeans are ahead of normal with recent rains advancing maturity.

CEDAR
Warm days with cool nights have moved the crops along this week. Cows and calves look great in the pastures with plenty of grass.

DIXON
Crops are looking mostly good to excellent. Some corn being chopped for silage this week. Some producers are taking a second cutting of grass hay. Temperature have been mild and dropping off at night. Great summer weather.

DODGE
Corn is maturing fast and soybeans that were planted after the flood are also maturing better than expected. Seed corn dealers are getting ready to harvest seed corn in the next week or so and regular corn growers are getting their combines ready also.

DOUGLAS
We had a nice rain. Beans are looking ok.

KNOX
Hot, windy conditions have really pushed crops along. Soybean yields will probably be trimmed as a result. The corn is quickly maturing. Crops should be much drier this year.

MERRICK
Field checks have found many of the corn ears have not filled to the ends. Also ears are smaller than last year.

NEMAHA
Dry weather in August probably hurt corn yields somewhat and also soybean yields to some extent. Rains the last couple of weeks helped.

SALINE
Received a nice rain last week, which will be a big benefit for the soybeans. Some producers are starting to pick corn this week. Overall, it should be a really good year.

THURSTON
Soybeans are mostly still blooming and look headed for another record yield. There are still no soybean aphids or fungus reported. Corn is far ahead of last year in maturity. Most corn shows a maturity line of at least 50 percent complete. Corn yields may be hurt in some areas because of excess moisture. Overall, corn yields will be excellent.



WEATHER PROMOTES PROGRESSION IN IOWA  
 
Agricultural Summary:  Western  Iowa received light rain showers last week, while a majority of the state was dry.  For much of Iowa it has been the longest span without rain all growing season.  Along with mostly dry conditions, temperatures were mild early in the week with highs in the upper seventies and evenings dipping into the fifties.  By week’s end, Iowa witnessed higher temperatures, as thermometers climbed into the upper eighties.  Overall, the week promoted rapid crop development and gave livestock a nice break from high heat and humidity.

Corn and soybeans throughout the state progressed rapidly last week.  Corn is beginning to turn color in many areas, ears have dropped in some fields, and harvest for grain could start within a few weeks.  Maturity variability within fields and instances of ears not filling out have been reported.  Soybeans are also beginning to lose their bright green color, most of the acres due to maturity, however sudden death syndrome is claiming acres as well.  Presence of white mold has also been reported.  Hay production was in full swing last week, as producers experienced an extended period of drier weather.  Cattle farmers are also taking advantage of the dry weather and harvesting silage.  
 
There were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork last week, highest reported this year.  All but West Central Iowa, at 5.7 days suitable, reported 6.0 days or more with Central and Northeast Iowa reporting the highest number of days, at 6.6 days suitable. Topsoil moisture rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 78 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus across the state.  Subsoil moisture rated 0 percent very short, 5 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus.  
 
Field Crops Report:  Ninety-four percent of the corn acres have entered dough stage, 77 percent of the crop has started to dent, and 8 percent has reached maturity; all three are ahead of last year and the five-year average.  Corn condition improved slightly to 4 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 25 percent excellent.   Pods have set on virtually all the soybean acres, 14 percent of the soybean acres have turned color, ahead of last year’s 4 percent and the five-year average of 13 percent, and leaves have begun to drop. Soybean condition rated 3 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 24 percent excellent.  Alfalfa second cutting increased slightly last week, while the third cutting increased 11 percentage points to 69 percent complete, ahead of the 53 percent completed last year and the five-year average of 65 percent.  All hay condition rated 4 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 15 percent excellent.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report:   Pasture and range condition rated 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 15 percent excellent.  Pastures continued to dry out but have enough moisture to provide growth for grazing; however weed pressure is becoming a concern for some.    


IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY
Provided by Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist
Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
 
Iowa enjoyed its second consecutive week of below normal rainfall.  Nearly all of the week’s precipitation fell from Monday (23rd) night into Tuesday (24th) morning and was confined to the northwest one-half of the state.  Weekly rain totals varied from none over all of the southeast one-half of the state up to 2.83 inches near Castana in Monona County.   The statewide average precipitation was 0.30 inches while normal for the week is 0.92 inches.  Meanwhile, the past reporting week began with temperatures above normal on Monday but was followed by very pleasant temperatures and much lower humidity from Tuesday through Thursday.  Warmer and more humid weather gradually increased over the weekend.  Temperature extremes ranged from afternoon highs of 92 degrees at Osceola on Monday (23rd) and again at numerous Locations across the state on Sunday (29th) while Cresco, Elkader, Mason City and Postville saw lows dip to 44 degrees on Thursday (26th) morning.  Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 1.5 degrees above normal.

Ensure Quality Grain Storage by Starting with Clean Equipment, Bins
Tom Dorn, Extension Educator, Lancaster County

Despite the spring rains which delayed planting, it appears corn and soybeans are on track for a normal harvest date this year. Grain producers should be preparing bins and equipment now to avoid problems at harvest.  Grain harvested in Nebraska is essentially free of insects, but can become infested by storage insects, which originate in or around the bin or in contaminated equipment.

Clean Bins and Equipment
The first goal should be to store sound, clean, dry grain. Storage insects often get started in the grain dust and broken kernels and fines which tend to concentrate right under the loading auger in the center of the bin. Fines also restrict airflow through the grain mass and make it harder to uniformly dry the grain and regulate temperature with aeration.
    * If possible, screen out broken kernels, trash and fines to increase the quality of the final storage product. If screening is not possible, consider overfilling round bins and then removing a load or two of grain with the center unloading auger to pull some of the fines out of the center of the bin. This also has the advantage of leaving the grain surface nearly level.
    * Since stored grain insects can invade new grain from infested harvesting and handling equipment (combines, augers, etc.), it's essential that this equipment and any bins be well cleaned before harvest. Carefully remove all traces of old grain from combines, truck beds, grain carts, augers, and any other equipment used for harvesting, transporting, and handling grain. Even small amounts of moldy or insect infested grain left in equipment can contaminate a bin of new grain.
    * Clean grain bins thoroughly, disposing of spilled, cracked, and broken grain and grain flour, along with the insects feeding on such material. A simple broom and a shop vacuum are essential pieces of equipment in cleaning grain bins.
    * Never put new grain on top of old grain because of the risk of infesting the new grain with storage insects and mold organisms. If infested grain is purchased for livestock feed, store it away from the new crop and feed it as soon as possible.

Maintain Bin Foundation, Lanes
Grain bins require a solid foundation to bear the weight. A 9,000 bushel bin is supporting over half a million pounds of grain besides the weight of the bin itself and the concrete pad. Be sure to remove old equipment, junk, clutter, and tall weeds to reduce attractiveness to mice and rats which like to burrow under the bin foundation. Control rodents with bait or traps as necessary. Regrade the site if necessary, so water readily drains away from bin foundations.  You can't always wait for the soil to dry before loading or unloading grain from bin sites. Make certain that travel lanes have enough rock or gravel to bear the weight of heavy trucks and grain carts when the soil is wet.

Dry and Cool Stored Grain
If you begin harvest early with the intention of mechanically drying wet grain, it is important to have a highly reliable aeration system in place. A bin of 19% moisture corn with a starting temperature of 75°F can lose a full market grade in about five days if the aeration system shuts down, allowing the grain heats up to heat and deteriorate.

Check for Rodent and Weather Damage
Mice often nest in control boxes where they are protected from predators. They can strip insulation from wires for nest material and their urine can corrode relays and other electrical components. If rodent damage is found, clean and repair or replace damaged wiring, relays, and other electrical equipment. Then seal over knock-outs and other openings that may permit rodent entry.  Fans, heaters, and ducts should be checked for corrosion and other damage. Remove any accumulated dust and dirt that may reduce operating efficiency and be sure all connections are tight to prevent air leaks that can reduce operating efficiency.

Control Conditions that Benefit Grain Storage Insects
Stored grain insects cannot live on extremely dry grain (less than 10% moisture), but it is impractical to dry grain below the levels necessary to arrest mold growth (15% in winter or 14% if held into summer). Once grain is dried to safe moisture levels, insect activity in fall-harvested, stored grains can be managed by cooling the grain mass in10°F increments whenever ambient air temperatures allow.

Cooling grain is particularly important in reducing insect reproduction since insects are cold blooded and not active much below 50°F. The eventual goal is to cool grain to about 30°F for winter storage which stops both insect and mold activity. If the grain will be held into the warmer spring and summer months, it should be incrementally warmed to 40°F by March, 50°F by May, and 60°F by June. Failure to maintain uniform temperatures throughout the bin can result in moisture condensation in the top middle of the bin. Check the grain often and run the aeration fans as necessary to maintain uniform grain temperature throughout the bin.
Apply Insecticides

If you think there is any chance you might hold grain in the bin into May or later, it would be prudent to apply residual insecticides to the empty bin after thoroughly cleaning it. The list of insecticides registered with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture for use in grain bins is available on the UNL Grain Storage Management web page http://lancaster.unl.edu/ag/Crops/storage.shtml#Pest. This list is automatically updated by the NDA. The UNL Department of Entomology also offers information on this topic.

If the bin has a raised drying floor and was known to be infested with grain storage insects last season, consider hiring a professional pest control operator to fumigate the empty bin prior to filling with new grain.



Cropping Options for Spring Forage
Bruce Anderson, Extension Forage Specialist

Wheat, rye, or triticale all offer benefits as spring forage. When selecting the best small grain forge option for your operation, consider the characteristics of each.

Cereal rye is your best choice for the earliest pasture possible. It also may be the best match for double cropping. Some varieties provide quite a bit of fall growth, too, if planted early. Rye also may be the most reliable when planted under stressful conditions. But it has some drawbacks. It turns stemmy and matures much earlier than wheat or triticale, losing feed value and palatability earlier in the spring. Plus, wheat grain producers won’t want it contaminating fields next year.

Triticale holds its feed value well into late spring, making it well suited for hay and silage, or for stretching grazing well into June if you don’t mind starting two or three weeks later; however, triticale tends to be a bit more susceptible to winter injury.

Winter wheat has been the small grain of choice for winter and spring grazing in the southern plains where higher winter temperatures allow growth to continue, although slowly. In areas like Nebraska where wheat goes dormant, its carrying capacity is not as high as triticale or rye, but it is top quality before stems develop. It's also the clear choice if you want the double use as early pasture and for grain.

In a nutshell, consider rye for early pasture, triticale for hay, silage, and later grazing, and wheat for grazing plus grain. Each of these small grains has its advantages and disadvantages so consider your goals and operation when selecting.



NO-TILL ON THE PLAINS WHIRLWIND EXPO SEPTEMBER 8TH IN AUBURN, NE

No-till on the Plains, Inc. will host a summer event which will provide producers with ways to increase profitability and gain a better understanding of the importance of soil health.   By utilizing continuous no-till, over five inches of water can be saved per acre, reducing irrigation needs and greatly improving dryland yields. Fuel and labor requirements can be cut by 50% or more. Soil erosion by wind and water can be reduced by an average of 4 to 14 tons/acre, greatly reducing blowing dirt and surface water pollution.  
 
The Whirlwind No-till Expo is set for Tuesday, September 8 in Auburn, NE and will kick off promptly at 8:30 a.m. at the Arbor Manor Steakhouse at 1617 Central Avenue. The Expo includes a catered lunch.  A $30 registration fee is required by Sept. 1 for attendance.  
 
Funded through a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and PrairieLand RC&D, No-till on the Plains is pleased to offer this high-quality educational event to all interested Nebraska producers.
 
Power-packed hands-on learning will take place featuring expert speakers.  Featured speakers include Soil Health Consultant Dr. Jill Clapperton, one of the world’s authorities on the microbial interaction taking place in the soil; Francis Yeatman, Dr. Clapperton’s associate from South Africa who has extensive experience with intensive farming systems; Dr. Ray Ward, president of Ward Laboratories and highly knowledgeable no-till expert from Kearney, NE; and UNL Extension Engineer Paul Jasa who is a great source of information in the Midwest on no-till planting equipment and system management.

These prestigious speakers all work closely with No-till on the Plains, have spoken at previous meetings, and are well-respected by those in the no-till community.  
 
After a morning of demonstrations and speaker presentations, producers will have the opportunity to travel to the Ray Woerlen farm located eight miles west of Auburn on Highway 136  to observe a soil pit with excellent demonstrations and discussion. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for this afternoon portion in the field.  
 
No-till on the Plains has hosted well over one dozen Whirlwind Expo’s since 2001 across Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma, impacting thousands of producers in those states. Executive Director Brian Lindley shares, “Regardless of your experience level with continuous no-till, this event will meet -- and hopefully exceed -- your needs through the motivation, vision and experience of our excellent speakers. Come ready to learn!”  
 
No-till on the Plains is a regional organization that reaches over 3,000 farmers yearly. The farmer-run group promotes practical and scientific application of continuous no-till farming. For more information on the Whirlwind No-till Expo or to pre-register by Sept. 1, contact No-till on the Plains, Inc. at 888-330-5142 or register online at www.notill.org.



Lowest Food Cost Price Increase Since 1992

According to the USDA-ERS, the Consumer Price Index for all food is projected to increase 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent in 2010 -- the lowest annual food inflation rate since 1992.  Grocery store prices are also forecast to increase 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent, while food-away-from-home (restaurant) prices are forecast to increase 1 to 2 percent.

Although global economies have recovered somewhat from the 2008-09 recession, world economic activity remains below pre-recession levels, resulting in overall food price inflation in 2010 remaining below historical averages.

The all-food CPI increased 1.8 percent between 2008 and 2009. Food-at-home prices increased by 0.5 percent -- the lowest annual increase since 1967 -- with dairy prices declining 6.4 percent and fresh produce prices dropping 4.6 percent, while food-away-from-home prices rose 3.5 percent in 2009.



CWT Assists Two Export Sales of Butter

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted two requests from members for assistance in selling butter to customers in Europe and North Africa.  The products will be delivered in September and October 2010.  Land O’Lakes will receive assistance in exporting 36 metric tons (79,000 pounds) of butter and CDI/Challenge will be assisted in exporting 96 metric tons (212,000 pounds) of butter.

Since CWT reactivated the Export Assistance program in March 18, 2010, it has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 19,019 metric tons (41.9 million pounds) to 23 countries on four continents.  In addition, sales of butter and anhydrous milkfat totaling 13,575 metric tons (29.9 million pounds) have been made to nine countries on three continents.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance Program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term and in the long-term by helping member cooperatives to gain and maintain market share thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products.

CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidders, only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.




Dairy Today News Detail

While milk might have a higher greenhouse gas score than other beverages such as orange juice or soy drink, it brings with it a much denser package of nutrients. And when that fact is considered, milk provides the most nutrition with the least environmental impact.

Swedish researchers, who published findings in the August 23, 2010 issue of Food and Nutrition Research, say milk has a Nutrient Density to Climate Impact (NDCI) index of 0.54. In contrast, orange juice has an NDCI of 0.28 and soy drink, 0.25. Soft drinks, beer and mineral water, because of their low nutrient density, all have an NDCI of 0.
 
“Future discussion on how changes in food consumption patterns might help avert climate change need to take both GHG emission and nutrient density of foods and beverages into account,” say the study’s authors.



Research Progress, Partnership Announced Here and Abroad

Three major announcements were made this week in the world of wheat research, demonstrating the increasing speed with which innovations and partnerships are occurring that should quicken the release of new and improved varieties for growers.  

A team of researchers in the United Kingdom, funded by the UK government’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), announced Friday that they have publicly released sequence coverage of the wheat genome.  All genetic material in the world is made up of proteins known by the first letters of their names, A, C, G and T. With the information announced this week, scientists now know the order of the vast majority of the letters in the wheat genome, though they have yet to translate the code to know what the letter sequences mean.

The genome data released are in a “raw” format, meaning a complete copy of the genome requires significant work on annotation and the assembly of the data into chromosomes.  This draft release is a step toward a version of the genome that will help breeders around the world gain deeper understanding of the crop and the genetic differences between varieties.  The wheat genome is five times larger than the human genome, a product of its evolution over thousands of years from wild varieties to domesticated ones worked on extensively by wheat breeders around the globe.

The UK project has been developed as a collaborative effort of the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC) that was launched by U.S. growers in 2005 to obtain a high quality reference genome sequence for bread wheat.  “This is a first step toward developing a significant pool of publicly available single nucleotide polymorphism resources that breeders can use to understand the genetic underpinnings of different wheat varieties,” said Kellye Eversole, executive director of the IWGSC. “In turn, this will help breeders develop better wheat varieties.”

Another major announcement came earlier in the week when Australian research organization InterGrain announced Monsanto would acquire a 19.9 percent minority interest in its operations, allowing the two to exchange wheat germplasm and technology tools.  The alliance will focus on work in areas like yield performance, disease resistance, drought tolerance and end-use quality. Over time, InterGrain said the collaboration will allow it access to biotechnology-derived traits Monsanto produces for wheat, which are expected in a seven- to ten-year timeframe.  The announcement indicated that work in Australia may also provide new technologies for U.S. growers and wheat growers around the world.

Also this week, Heartland Plant Innovations (HPI) in Manhattan, Kan., announced the launching of a wheat doubled haploid laboratory through the company’s advanced plant breeding business.   Doubled haploid technology allows plant breeders to cut the time required to develop a new wheat variety almost in half. When coupled with the use of additional modern breeding technologies such as molecular markers, a high-resolution physical map and a sequenced genome, the time required for identifying and cloning important genes could be cut dramatically.

Heartland Plant Innovations is a joint venture between the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Wheat Commission, several private companies, Kansas State University, the University of Kansas and the Kansas Bioscience Authority.  Forrest Chumley, president and chief executive officer of HPI, said the new lab would give “a major boost to U.S. wheat breeding programs."

Curt Tomasevicz at the Nebraska State Fair

Curt Tomasevicz, Olympic gold medalist and spokesman for Nebraska corn farmers, will be at the Nebraska State Fair September 1 (Wednesday).  Tomasevicz is partnering with the Nebraska Corn Board to promote the positive and important advancements made by Nebraska corn farmers and agriculture and will touch on these points and his Olympic experience during interviews.

Tomasevicz’s set schedule is as follows:
- 10:00 a.m.    At the Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Corn Growers booth in the Exhibition Building (available for autographs and photos with Fair attendees)       
- 12:25 p.m.    At the Beef Pit (Exhibition Building)       
- 1:00 p.m.    Brief presentation at the Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Corn Growers booth in the Exhibition Building (available for autographs and photos with Fair attendees)      - 4:15 p.m.    In the Kids Zone (available for autographs and photos with Fair attendees)      - 7:00 p.m.    At the Feeder Show in the Ag Arena (handing out awards, etc.)    

Curt grew up in Shelby, Nebraska. He attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and received his Bachelor and Master’s of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering with minor in Astronomy. He played running back and linebacker for the Huskers from 2000-2003 and was Academic All-Big XII in 2003.

Along with training for the upcoming bobsledding season and attending numerous speaking engagements, he will be the spokesman for the Nebraska Corn Board, representing Nebraska’s corn industry and 26,000 corn farmers. Tomasevicz embodies the same work ethic, strength, commitment, values and accomplishment as Nebraska corn farmers and that is why the Nebraska Corn Board is proud to introduce him as its spokesperson.



When to Take the Last Cutting of Alfalfa
Steve Tonn, UNL Extension Educator, Washington County

We have been blessed with nice rains in August and that might start farmers thinking about taking one more cutting of alfalfa in September.  But when to take that last cutting can affect the alfalfa’s winter survival and next spring’s vigor.  Alfalfa needs about six weeks of uninterrupted growth in the fall to become fully winterized.  This winterizing generally begins about three weeks before the average date of first frost.  For Washington County the average date of the first frost is October 10.    So if we back up 3 weeks from October 10, then winterizing begins about September 19 for alfalfa in Washington County.  We would want to time our last cutting before September 19 or after the winterizing period is over with little worry about affecting stand life.  Harvesting during the wintering period can be risky for the health and longevity of your alfalfa stand.

How risky is it to harvest alfalfa during winterizing?  Well, that depends on how much total stress your alfalfa experienced this year.  The most important factor is the number of cuts you took this year.  Fields cut four or five times are more susceptible to winter injury than fields cut three times or less.  Also, young stands of winterhardy, disease resistant varieties on fertile soils are less stressed can be harvested during winterizing with less risk than older stands of disease susceptible varieties that only moderately winter hardy.

This year it has been difficult to harvest alfalfa hay without it getting rained on before being baled or cut in a timely manner.  How much has the spring and summer weather affected the value of your hay?
Nutrient concentration varies considerably in hay.  Leafiness of the hay, maturity of the plant when your hay was cut, and even how you handled the hay during raking and baling affects its feed value.  This year, weather conditions have made things even more complicated.  

So this year, maybe more than ever, forage testing is important.  It is the only way that you can find out for sure ahead of time what the feed value is of your hay.  So gather samples now for testing, before feeding your animals and before it’s too late.  Contact your local County Extension Office for a list of feed testing laboratory.   



USDA and Department Of Justice Hold Workshop Focused on Competition Issues in the Livestock Industry
Fort Collins, Colo. Workshop is the Fourth of Five on Competition Issues in Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Justice today held the fourth of five joint public workshops to explore the appropriate role for antitrust and regulatory enforcement in American agriculture. The workshop, led by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, examined competition in the livestock industry and featured panel discussions on trends in the livestock industry, market consolidation and market transparency. The workshop also included opportunities for public comments.

Today's meeting was the fourth in a series of workshops intended to promote dialogue among interested parties and foster learning with a diverse group of stakeholders regarding competition and regulatory issues in the agricultural marketplace. These workshops are the first-ever to be held by the Department of Justice and the USDA to discuss competition and regulatory issues in the agriculture industry. Additional information about the workshops can be found at www.justice.gov/atr/public/workshops/ag2010/index.htm#overview.

"Given the consolidation that has taken place in the livestock industry over the past decades, it is critical to ensure a fair market still exists to give all players an honest chance at success," said Vilsack. "A fair and competitive marketplace is important not only for producers, but also for consumers, and today's open and transparent dialogue with ranchers, farmers, academics and other industry stakeholders will provide us with a understanding of the complex issues in this important industry."

"Ultimately, today's conversation is about much more than simply last year's trends or this year's challenges. It's about livelihoods, families, this region's economy and our centuries-old American way of life," said Holder. "We've made these workshops a cabinet-level priority so that we can most effectively and efficiently determine how to ensure a fairer, more competitive marketplace for producers and consumers alike."  

Secretary Vilsack and Attorney General Holder began the workshop with opening remarks before leading a roundtable discussion, in which Christine Varney, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division, participated with other federal and state officials, on competition issues in agriculture and the livestock industry. After the roundtable discussion, a panel of producers and feeders from throughout the country shared their first-hand experiences and perspectives on the industry. USDA and Justice Department officials then listened to public testimony from audience members.

In the afternoon, another panel will discuss trends in the livestock industry, including issues associated with contracting, price transparency and the effects of concentration. The final panel of various market participants will discuss market structure issues in the livestock industry. There will be an opportunity for more public testimony after the final panel.

The workshop was held in Fort Collins, Colo., at the Lory Student Center on the Colorado State University campus and was attended by several key federal and state leaders, including Governor Bill Ritter, U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John Stulp and Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock.



Livestock Producers Fear GIPSA Rule’s Vagueness and Unintended Consequences

Beef and pork producers rallied against USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s (GIPSA) proposed federal rule on the buying and selling of livestock at a public meeting held in Fort Collins, Colo., Aug. 27. The meeting on competition in the livestock industry was hosted by USDA and Department of Justice.

Producers voiced concerns to USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack about the unintended consequences of the proposed rule. Robbie LeValley, president of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association; a cattle producer; and a co-owner of Homestead Meats, a family owned company marketing beef locally, is worried that the proposed rule could have a negative impact on her family business.

“Our innovation and our willingness to do direct marketing has basically now labeled us a packer and under the proposed rule, as I read it, now limits our marketing options – meaning not being able to sell to other packers,” she said. “While some say that is not the intent of the rule, the vagueness of the language makes it very possible.”

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) held a media briefing on Aug. 26 regarding the proposed rule. Pork and beef producers representing more than 20 states attended the meeting to voice their opposition to the GIPSA rule, expressing the negative effect it could have on their operations.

"As written, the GIPSA rule would limit my ability to sell hogs," said NPPC President Sam Carney, a producer from Adair, Iowa. "It's a solution in search of a problem. The markets work, and we don't need the government trying to 'fix' it. The GIPSA rule is overly broad and very vague. It would inject uncertainty into the market, stifle innovation and lead to less not more competition in the livestock industry."



Sept. 10 Southeast Nebraska Diversified Ag Tour Makes Four Farm Visits

A University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Diversified Ag Tour Sept. 10 will give agricultural producers and educators a unique hands-on experience to learn more about diversified ag ventures.  The fifth annual tour will help participants learn about Community Supported Agriculture, organic crop and livestock production, free range poultry and eggs, honey, flowers, cheese making, vegetable and herb production, as well as farmer's markets and direct marketing, said Gary Lesoing, UNL Extension educator in Nemaha County.

Vans will be provided for carpooling to the tour stops. Participants can meet at 6 a.m. in Hickman on the north side of Subway, at 6:45 a.m. in Falls City on the north side of the courthouse, at 7 a.m. in Nebraska City at the Kimmel Education and Research Center, at 7:30 a.m. in Auburn on the north side of the courthouse or at 8 a.m. in Tecumseh on the north side of the courthouse.

The first stop will be from 8:30-9:45 a.m. at Sunny Slope Farm near Filley. Merlin and Rita Friesen operate a CSA in which people can buy shares. Their vegetables and strawberries are organic. They also produce honey, free range eggs and have pastured broilers and turkeys. They are developing an orchard, berry fruits and grass-finished beef.

The second morning stop will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the West Blue Farm near Milford. Lunch also will be at this location. Dave and Deb Welsch, along with their children, Ben and Rebecca, are the owners and operators of this facility that has had organic crops since 1993. They also have been direct marketing farm fresh meat since 1990. All beef has been raised on the farm since birth, and the chickens are brought in at one day of age.

Following lunch, participants will stop at Shadow Brook Farm near Denton, a small, certified-organic specialty vegetable and herb farm owned by the Loth family. They offer cut flowers, grass-based beef cows, compost and dairy goats which provide milk for Dutch Girl Creamery Artisan cheese production. They also provide CSA shares, sell products at five farmer's markets, as well as to local grocery stores and restaurants.

The last stop will be at Branched Oak Farm near Raymond. Doug and Krista Dittman, along with sons Nelson and Andreas, own and operate this 230-acre dairy farm. Their primary focus is certified-organic, grass-based dairy cows, which provide the milk used in creating farmstead cheeses.

In addition, Lesoing will provide information on the Farm Beginnings Program and report on the efforts of UNL Extension and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education involving the Local Food Systems, Diversified Agriculture and the Rural Advantage/Healthy Farms Conference.

Registration for the tour is $20 by Sept. 3. It includes lunch and transportation. For more information or a registration form, contact UNL Extension in Johnson County at (402) 335-3669, Nemaha County at (402) 274-4755, Richardson County at (402) 245-4324 or the Kimmel Education and Research Center at (402) 873-3166.



ISA, ISU partner to battle SDS

Sudden death syndrome (SDS) is ravaging many Iowa soybean fields. David Wright, Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA’s) director of contract research, says the disease has become an important yield-limiting factor in soybean production. “This year’s yield losses to SDS are expected to exceed 20 percent in some fields,” Wright says.

“In north central Iowa we are seeing widespread SDS for the first time,” says Dean Coleman, soybean farmer from Humboldt. “We have spots varying from small areas to more than two-thirds of fields.”

John Heisdorffer of Keota has seen areas of SDS grow in his area. “Five years ago we saw a few small areas of SDS the size of a room or smaller. Those spots have become almost entire fields this year.”

The cause of the disease is a soil fungus that is widespread throughout Iowa and the Midwest.  It infects the soybean root early in plant development; later, the pathogen rapidly kills the plant during pod set and pod filling.

Infection of the soybean root is worsened by cool weather as well as soil compaction and poor drainage. Wright says the severity of SDS this year is the result of early planting combined with extreme weather events which led to excess soil moisture after planting.

Five years ago ISA’s farmer leaders identified the increasing threat posed by SDS and committed additional checkoff investment to expand Iowa State University (ISU) research of soilborne pathogens.

ISU’s SDS research team includes plant pathologists, agronomists and soybean plant breeders. Together they have generated much of the knowledge about SDS currently used throughout the industry.

ISU researchers offer several recommendations for SDS management:

    * Select tolerant varieties. Make note of varieties showing good tolerance to SDS in production fields and variety test plots.  Choose varieties with the best combination of high yield and tolerance to SDS.
    * Plant varieties strategically.  Plant varieties with the best tolerance to SDS in fields where the disease has historically been severe.  Also, plant fields with a history of SDS last, allowing excess water to drain and soil to warm.
    * Improve soil drainage. Install tile in slow-drying areas because excess water and soil compaction are key factors increasing severity of the disease.
    * Manage SCN. SDS is often more severe in areas also infested with soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Therefore, plant varieties with good resistance to SCN and test soils frequently to monitor nematode populations.

The ISA-ISU partnership includes several areas of ongoing SDS research.

For the past decade, ISU agronomist Silvia Cianzio has been engaged in an intensive program to improve SDS-resistance in soybeans adapted to Iowa. Her work includes the development of soybean breeding lines in maturity group II with significantly improved field tolerance to SDS.

“It’s not just about improving resistance to SDS,” Cianzio says. “Anything we release also has to be high yielding with good resistance to SCN and iron deficiency chlorosis or brown stem rot. We’ve had great success developing breeding lines the industry wants.”

To enable plant breeders to efficiently screen varieties for resistance to SDS, ISU developed a field screening method now commonly used in the industry. It helps seed companies provide farmers soybean varieties with the best combination of yield and SDS resistance.

In 2006 ISA worked with ISU to hire Leonor Leandro, a plant pathologist specializing in soilborne fungal pathogens.  Leandro was first to discover that soybean seedlings are most susceptible to infection the first few days after planting and that the disease is less severe when infection occurs on older plants. In warm soil, roots grow faster and are susceptible for a shorter period of time.

ISA’s Wright is an advocate of planting soybeans early but recommends that farmers evaluate the seedbed to ensure they’re not creating areas of soil compaction and excess soil water which will restrict root growth and extend the period roots are susceptible.

Soybean checkoff-funded research also led to the discovery that exposed corn residue, including dropped kernels, harbors the SDS fungus. Reducing kernel loss during harvest may help reduce the severity of SDS.

While there are currently no chemical seed treatments or foliar fungicides available for control of SDS, ISA and ISU continue their extensive research efforts toward understanding and controlling this pathogen.

An SDS publication and a new SDS fact sheet can be found in the Production Research section of ISA’s website, www.iasoybeans.com



Monitor Late-Season Corn Diseases To Preserve Grain Quality
Hybrid selection plus proper harvest management can reduce fungal issues

          Growers need to be alert to late-season corn diseases such as stalk rots, ear rots and foliar diseases such as Goss's wilt, says an expert at Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business. Detecting late-season corn diseases as soon as possible, assessing their potential impact and harvesting early in some situations can help preserve grain quality.
          "The warm, humid weather has primed the pump for fungal diseases in the later part of this growing season," says Scott Heuchelin, Pioneer research scientist, field pathology.
          "When the crop reaches physical maturity, it stops actively growing and uses its energy reserves to fill the ear," he says. "During this time, root and crown infections, established earlier in the year during saturated soil conditions, can take off and aggressively infect the plant's crown and stalk tissues."
          If growers see tops dieback during ear fill, nutrients to the top part of the plant are possibly being cut off by crown or stalk rots, says Heuchelin. If top dieback is evident, test the stalk integrity by pinching the base of the stalk or pushing the plant to the side to assess lodging potential. Fields with significant lodging potential should be harvested first to preserve yield potential.
          "If the ear leaf or husk leaves begin to bleach out, this could be a sign of ear rots," he says. "Fusarium, Diplodia and Gibberella are the main ear rots in the northern Corn Belt. Frequent precipitation events from tasseling through ear fill create ideal environments for Diplodia and Gibberella ear rots. Warmer temperatures during this wet period favor Diplodia and cooler temps favor Gibberella. Fusarium ear rots occur most frequently when corn experiences prolonged heat and drought-stress environments."
          Agronomists and researchers often see ear rots show up in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Ontario. This season, additional regions that experienced significant precipitation and humidity may fall victim, too. Pioneer offers hybrids with resistance ratings to these ear rots.
          "This year is setting the stage for Diplodia to be prominent in parts of the Corn Belt where fields received a lot of precipitation just before tassel emergence and through pollination," he says. "Pioneer offers several hybrids that have good resistance to Diplodia, and the company continues to improve resistance to corn stalk rots and ear rots across the product line. Pioneer is a leader in grain quality not just with high test weights but also preserving grain quality with resistance to ear rots like Diplodia, Gibberella and Fusarium."
          Growers who see ear rots in their fields may want to harvest early and dry corn to 15 percent moisture or below to prevent further molding during storage. In the future, select ear rot resistant hybrids, practice crop rotation and increase tillage to reduce incidence of these diseases.
          Goss's wilt, historically more localized in the Great Plains, has been moving eastward into the Midwest and may cause problems late in the season in fields that encountered severe weather.
          "It's recently been reported in eastern Nebraska, the Dakotas, Manitoba, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana," he says. "It typically occurs as the result of hail events and storms. When plants sustain injuries from hail or wind, the Goss's wilt bacterium can infect the leaves where they have been abraded. If growers have had hail damage, they should be on alert."
          Heuchelin says Goss's wilt can cause significant yield loss on some hybrids, but Pioneer® brand hybrids typically show good resistance to the disease. Goss's wilt tends to be more of a problem for cornfields that incurred plant damage, especially in corn-on-corn and minimum or no-till fields.
          "This is a bacterial disease," he says. "Fungicides will not help. Sometimes I hear about people recommending fungicides, but they are ill-informed. Instead, manage the debris, which is the source of the inoculum, and work in rotation and tillage along with resistant genetics."



Pakistan Likely to Scrap Wheat Exports

Pakistan is likely to scrap plans to export 2 million tonnes of wheat after devastating floods washed away stored grain, threatening to further tighten global supplies hit by a severe drought across the Black Sea region.

Pakistan has lost at least 725,000 tonnes of wheat in the country's worst flooding in 80 years, although traders said there are still enough stocks to meet demand until the next harvest, meaning imports are unlikely.

"Currently, there are no talks of exporting wheat," one Pakistan food and agriculture ministry official, who is familiar with the discussions, told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "The plan to export 2 million tonnes of surplus wheat is likely to be shelved."

A second official said that the government was closely monitoring the situation and confirmed the likely cancellation of the export plans. Given the devastation, the government wants to ensure there are no shortages, especially in the flood-affected areas.



USGC Escorts World’s Largest Dairy Operator, Helps Foster Sales

The U.S. Grains Council escorted the senior purchasing manager of the world’s largest dairy operation on a week-long travel throughout the United States, introducing him to Council members and exporters of U.S. corn. Daniel Button of Almarai, based in Saudi Arabia, came to the United States to meet suppliers and purchase U.S. corn. Button was accompanied by Alvaro Cordero, USGC manager of international operations.

“We traveled to the Grace Harbor in Washington where Button tendered two shuttle trains of U.S. No. 1 corn and three shuttle trains of U.S. No. 2 corn. He explained that while Saudi Arabian customers don’t have a strong preference for any specific origin, they appreciate the United States’ ability to provide a stable supply of corn. He said U.S. corn is more consistant, better for flaking and less expensive in the process,” said Cordero.

Saudi Arabia imports approximately 1.5 to 2 million metric tons (59-70 million bushels) per year, 39 percent of which is imported from the United States. Almarai, headquartered in Riyagh, is the largest integrated dairy foods company in the Middle East. Recently, the company bought a large poultry integrator and is planning to expand production up to 3 million birds per week. The company was established in Saudi Arabia in 1976 as a partnership. Company representatives soon recognized the potential to transform traditional methods of dairy farming to better serve the needs of the Saudi Arabian market.

“Saudi Arabian families have an average of 6 to 10 children and more than 40 percent of its populatuon is under 15 years of age,” said Cordero. “We are hopeful to continue suppling Saudi Arabia with their corn import needs and are working for increased market share in this rapidly expanding market.”


USDA Responds to Bloomberg Story on Obama Administration Priorities for Rural America
 
    U.S. Department of Agriculture Press Secretary Justin DeJong today released the following statement in response to the recent Bloomberg/Business Week story titled “Broadband Trumps Farmer Payments in Rural Aid”:
    “The Obama Administration cares deeply about our farmers and ranchers, and USDA continues to work hard and provide them with the critical support they need to provide this nation with the food, feed, fiber and fuel we rely on.  Since becoming Secretary of this department, Secretary Vilsack has advocated fiercely about the need to keep American agriculture strong through farm safety net programs, as well as through efforts to spur economic opportunity in rural America. In recent interviews with a Bloomberg reporter, at NO time did Secretary Vilsack call for $5 billion cuts to farm programs. In fact, he pointed out how USDA already saved $4 billion that was put toward deficit reduction by renegotiating our agreement with crop insurance companies. He also discussed using existing resources more effectively to spur growth and opportunity. As Secretary Vilsack testified before both Senate and House committees regarding the 2012 Farm Bill and he continues to discuss with people throughout the country, rural America continues to face inordinate challenges. As the transcript makes clear, he continues making the case that it is imperative that we keep the farm safety net strong so that the American people can continue to have access to safe, affordable and abundant food.”