Burt Co Cattlemen Fall Outlook Meeting

September 21st, 2011 06:00 PM

Fall Outlook Meeting

Place: Oakland Golf Club
Social: 6:00 p.m.
Dinner: 6:45 p.m. (Steak)
Speaker: Wade Johannes (CVA)
Cost: $10.00

Sponsor for social hour: Helena Chemical of Oakland.
Sponsor for dinner: Larson Trucking, Red Barn Vet Clinic and Oakland Mutual Insurance
This meeting is open to feeders and their guests. Bring a friend and treat them to a good steak dinner.



Gov. Dave Heineman Kicks Off 2nd Reverse Trade Mission
Governor Announces Biotech Plant Expansion in Blair

Today, Gov. Dave Heineman kicked off Nebraska’s second Reverse Trade Mission. The Reverse Trade Mission will offer trade representatives and international business leaders the opportunity to see firsthand the benefits of doing business in Nebraska. The theme for the event is “Bringing the World to Nebraska.”

The Reverse Trade Mission is aimed at encouraging international companies to explore opportunities for investment in Nebraska. Representatives from 15 countries including Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam will be among those participating.

As part of trade mission efforts, Gov. Heineman was joined by representatives of Evonik Industries, an international specialty chemical company, in announcing its more than $80 million business expansion in Blair. The $80 million investment will expand operations at Blair’s Cargill campus and create ten new positions. The company is headquartered in Germany.

“We begin our second Reverse Trade Mission with a focus of bringing international companies like Evonik Industries to Nebraska,” said Gov. Heineman. “Nebraska has remained in better economic shape than most states because of our focus on jobs and trade. This is proof that Nebraska’s outstanding business climate is internationally recognized. This announcement emphasizes Nebraska’s reputation as an outstanding place for biotechnology, research and development, and new technologies that have yet to be discovered.”

Tom Bates, North American President of Evonik Industries said, “Evonik is pleased to expand in business-friendly Nebraska, a state that invests in the infrastructure to allow for increased productivity and boasts a skilled technology-driven workforce. Governor Heineman and his team have worked unceasingly to promote Nebraska’s attributes including an excellent quality of life, a low cost of living and its well-known reputation for biotechnology.”

Evonik Industries’ Blair site converts a corn byproduct into an amino acid that is added to animal and livestock feed. This formulation of amino acids and animal feed delivers nutrients that poultry and pigs need. Evonik Industries is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization.



Grain donation program nets $66,588 for Red Cross earthquake, tsunami relief in Japan
Nebraska Corn Growers, partners present check at the Nebraska State Fair.

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association presented a $66,588.07 ceremonial check to the American Red Cross at the Nebraska State Fair on Sept. 4. The check represented money raised through the Corn Growers grain donation program that supported Red Cross relief efforts in Japan and the Pacific following the earthquake and tsunami there in March.

Nearly 9,000 bushels of grain – mostly corn – was donated and sold through the program, with money being sent to the Red Cross every couple of weeks. Some cash-only donations were also received.

“Nebraska farmers came together in a big way to support Red Cross relief efforts in Japan. For many years Japan has been one of our top global corn customers, but it’s also an important market for many other Nebraska ag products, including beef and pork. Supporting people there through the Red Cross was a great way help our neighbors in the global market, and we appreciate all who contributed,” said Joel Grams, a farmer from Minden who is vice president of the Nebraska Corn Growers.

The grain donation program began April 1 and ran through July 30. It was launched by the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Aurora Cooperative and the American Red Cross, with farmer-owned KTIC - KRVN - KNEB Rural Radio Network also supporting the initiative. Cooperative Producers Inc. (CPI) also joined in the effort by accepting grain at all of its locations.

“Response to the grain donation program was simply tremendous and we appreciate everyone who contributed. Money raised through the program was passed directly to Red Cross efforts in Japan and the Pacific where it helped make a difference for so many,” said Susan Epps, executive director of the Cornhusker Community Chapter of the American Red Cross, who was on hand to accept the check.



Renewable Fuels Month Proclamation at Husker Harvest Days
NASCAR Nationwide driver Kenny Wallace will also be on hand.

To celebrate the success of renewable fuels like ethanol and soy biodiesel – and all the positives that renewable fuels contribute to Nebraska and the country as a whole – Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman will declare September Renewable Fuels Month at Husker Harvest Days next week.

Who:     Gov. Dave Heineman, Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Soybean Board, NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace
What:    Renewable Fuels Proclamation
When:   Wednesday, September 14, 10:00 a.m.
Where:  In front of the Commodities Building on Husker Harvest Days Main Street
Why:     To celebrate all the benefits renewable fuels bring to Nebraska

Governor Heineman will make a few remarks, as will farmer-directors of Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Soybean Board. NASCAR Nationwide driver Kenny Wallace will also speak.

Wallace will be available after the proclamation for pictures and autographs with Husker Harvest Days attendees until noon.

“We appreciate Governor Heineman taking time to highlight the benefits of renewable fuels and declare September Renewable Fuels Month at Husker Harvest Days,” said Alan Tiemann, chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board and a farmer from Seward. “Corn ethanol and soy biodiesel are clean burning renewable fuels that provide important benefits to rural communities across Nebraska, the entire state and to the country as a whole. We are excited to highlight their successes and continued opportunities.”



UNMC to offer free health screenings at Husker Harvest Days Sept. 13-15

Health care professionals from the University of Nebraska Medical Center will provide free lung disease screenings at Husker Harvest Days, Sept. 13-15 in Grand Island in the hospitality tent. Lung function tests and free testing for a hereditary cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), called alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency, will be available.

The alpha 1 screening is for those with a family history of COPD, abnormal pulmonary function tests and/or a prior diagnosis of COPD. The test normally costs about $100. If the deficiency is caught early, patients can take lifesaving medications.

Susanna Von Essen, M.D., professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine in the UNMC College of Medicine, said alpha 1 deficiency is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. COPD can cause coughing that produces large amounts of mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and other symptoms.

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD, but long-term exposure to other lung irritants, such as grain dust, working in animal confinement facilities or welding fumes also may contribute to COPD.

This year, Allison Krutsinger, from the Tri Valley Health System in Cambridge, will also be at the UNMC booth conducting screenings and talking about the importance of getting the alpha 1 deficiency screening. She lost her father to the disease 15 years ago. A simple blood test could have saved his life.

Those who stop by the tent also will receive free respirator masks that can minimize exposure to potentially hazardous materials. Physicians, respiratory therapists and nurse practitioners also will use spirometers to test lung function. Results will be shared immediately and farmers will be referred to their physicians for follow-up.

Husker Harvest Days, located six miles west of Grand Island on Husker Highway, is considered to be one of the top farm shows in the country.



UNL Water Law Conference and Great Plains Climate and Ecosystems Symposium

October events sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Water Center will focus on Nebraska water law and Great Plains climate, water and ecosystems.

The water center's annual Water Law Conference is Wednesday, Oct. 12, at Lincoln's downtown Holiday Inn. It is followed on Thursday, Oct. 13, by a one-day symposium on "Climate, Water and Ecosystems -- Shaping the Great Plains."

Attendees can register for either or both events, said event organizer and UNL Water Center assistant director Lorrie Benson. A discounted registration fee is available for attending both events.

"We want to hit as broad an audience and interest base as possible over two days that focus on current regional water issues and water law," Benson said.

The Oct. 12 water law conference, cosponsored by the College of Law, will focus on current Nebraska water law. It is designed to benefit practicing attorneys, but is open to anyone and can benefit water professionals and managers in many other professional venues.

The conference is approved for 7.75 CLE hours in Nebraska, including one hour of ethics. CLE credits are pending in Iowa and Colorado.

The conference kicks off with an optional 7:30 a.m. pre-session on "Water Law 101" by Leroy Sievers of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.

Regular morning sessions begin at 8:30 and include "The Realities of Climate Change Law and Practice" by Adell Amos, University of Oregon School of Law; "New Guidance from EPA and the Corps Sets the Stage for Expanded CWA Jurisdiction" by Tom Wilmoth, Blankenau Wilmoth LLP; and "Impact of Niobrara River Litigation on Nebraska Water Law" by Stephen Mossman, Mattson, Ricketts, Davies, Stewart and Calkins Law Firm; and "What's New Quick Review," Anthony Schutz, NU College of Law.

Afternoon sessions, beginning at 1 p.m., include "Water-Use Transfers -- Current Procedures and Possible Measures for Improvement" by consulting engineer Michael Jess, Ann Bleed of Ann Bleed and Associates and David Bargen of Remboldt Ludtke LLP; "Stormwater Management -- Shifting Paradigms," John Heil, Baird Holm LLP, and David Shelton, UNL; and "General and Specific Conflicts of Interest in Water Law: An Overview" by Richard Dooling, College of Law.

The conference's focus is an overview of current topics in Nebraska water law, Benson said.

At the same location the following day, focus shifts to Great Plains climate, water and ecosystems in a symposium showcasing impacts at the intersection of climate change or variability, water and all other disciplines, including infrastructure, design, hydropower, agriculture, ecosystem services, drinking water and many others. Geographic focus will be the Great Plains, including research or programming transferrable to the Great Plains.

The symposium opens at 8 a.m. with "Regional Implications of Global Climate Change for the Great Plains" by UNL climatologist Robert Oglesby and continues with "Global Change and 21st Century Water Resources Challenges" by keynote speaker Matthew Larsen, associate director for climate and land use change, U.S. Geological Survey.

That will be followed by sessions on "Impacts and Adaptations" the remainder of the morning that feature a variety of speakers and discussion sessions on topics to include hydropower, agriculture, wildlife, ecosystem services and others.

Time will be available at lunch to view more than two dozen posters, after which the afternoon will be dedicated to three breakout sessions.

Session one is dedicated to "Managing Watersheds" and will focus on water budgets or balances, a currently hot topic in Nebraska. Sessions two and three will focus on "Research and Innovative Programming Highlights."

Breakout sessions two and three are divided into 15-minute blocks, allowing for 11 presentations per session. Symposium registrants are free to mingle among the three sessions as they choose.

Breakout session speakers are from UNL, Iowa State University, USGS, area law and professional firms and other entities. Detailed information on the three sessions is online at watercenter.unl.edu.

The one-day event is being co-hosted by the USGS Nebraska Water Science Center.

The UNL Water Center is affiliated with the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute and is part of UNL's School of Natural Resources.

Additional details and registration information for both events are online at watercenter.unl.edu or call Benson at 402-472-7372. Registration is $120 for either day's event, or $200 for both days.



U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance(SM) to Host the Food Dialogues on September 22, 2011
Event will feature Good Morning America's Claire Shipman and Chef John Besh; Farmer/Rancher and Consumer Survey Results to Guide Conversation  

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) announced it will host The Food Dialogues, a town hall-style discussion to address Americans' questions about how their food is grown and raised and the long-term impact of the food they are eating – on their own health and the health of the planet. These topics, as well as findings from recent surveys of farmers, ranchers and consumers conducted by USFRA, will all be discussed during this interactive event taking place at four locations across the U.S. and online on September 22.

"Americans want to know where their food comes from, how it was raised and if it is good for their health long-term," said Bob Stallman, chairman of USFRA and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. "We realize farmers and ranchers haven't always done the best job answering Americans' questions about how food is grown and raised, and hope The Food Dialogues event will be the start of an ongoing dialogue that addresses these questions and more. We hope everyone who cares about the future of food and how we provide healthy choices for people everywhere will join the discussion, including farmers of all sizes – small and large, conventional and organic, consumers and food decision-makers."

The Food Dialogues will include four panel discussions, featuring leaders in food, food service, media and policy, farmers of all types and business leaders, who will share different viewpoints about the current and future states of food, and how food is grown and raised. These discussions will take place at four U.S. locations including Washington, D.C., New York, the Midwest and California, as well as online via Facebook and USFRA's new website, www.fooddialogues.com.

To date, USFRA has secured several high-profile participants including Claire Shipman, television journalist and senior national correspondent at ABC's "Good Morning America," who will moderate the event from Washington, D.C. and Chef John Besh, who will moderate from New York. Additional participants include Max Armstrong of Farm Progress Companies and Jane Wells of CNBC.

USFRA will announce the full list of panelists prior to The Food Dialogues event. The panel discussion will initiate in Washington, D.C. at 11:30 a.m. EDT and will conclude with the final panel taking place in California. The entire event will stream live online from 11:30 a.m. EDT through 5:00 p.m. EDT, providing opportunities for farmers, ranchers and the general public to register to watch and participate in the discussion online.

"This event will allow anyone with an Internet connection the ability to join a conversation about food and where it comes from," said Stallman. "Consumers rightfully want to know that farmers and ranchers are treating animals well, maintaining food quality and safety and doing our jobs in ways that don't harm the environment. This is an opportunity to ask questions, challenge current thinking and truly engage in a real-time, two-way conversation taking place on www.fooddialogues.com and USFRA's Facebook page about food with farmers, ranchers and other major thought leaders in the food and agriculture industry."

New Survey Data to Drive Conversation
The town hall-style discussion will also feature findings from recent surveys of farmers, ranchers and consumers, conducted by USFRA in July and August 2011. USFRA will first announce findings of the farmer/rancher survey which aimed to identify topics the agricultural community wished Americans had more information about when it comes to how food is grown and raised. Top-line findings of the farmer/rancher survey conducted in July 2011 reveal that farmers and ranchers believe the average consumer has very little knowledge on several topics related to food production, including the effect of pesticides, fertilizers and antibiotics on food; where their food comes from in general; and proper care of livestock and poultry. These and other concerns highlighted in a new national consumer survey conducted in August 2011 will be at the forefront of discussion topics.  

For more information about USFRA and The Food Dialogues, visit www.fooddialogues.com. Farmers and ranchers interested in participating in The Food Dialogues online can register on USFRA's Facebook page.



Anhydrous Hits $800 Mark Again

Fertilizer prices show little movement again for the third straight week, according to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN, but anhydrous is inching back to record territory.

Five of the eight major fertilizers were just slightly higher compared to a month earlier. DAP had an average price of $703/ton, MAP $721/ton, potash $637/ton, urea $590/ton and anhydrous $805/ton.

While anhydrous increased slightly this past week, it was enough to push the average price of the nitrogen fertilizer past the $800/ton milestone. While anhydrous hit that mark briefly in July, the last time it topped $800/ton was the second week of December 2008 when it was $801/ton. DTN's retail fertilizer database dates to November 2008.

The remaining three fertilizers, 10-34-0, UAN28 and UAN32, were just slightly lower than a month earlier. 10-34-0 had an average price of $798/ton while UAN28 was $404/ton and UAN32 was $443/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.64/lb.N, anhydrous $0.49/lb.N, UAN28 $0.72/lb.N and UAN32 $0.69/lb.N.

All eight major fertilizers are now showing double-digit increases in price compared to one year earlier. Leading the way higher is 10-34-0. The starter fertilizer has skyrocketed in recent months and is now 93% higher compared to the fourth week of August 2010.  Urea has now climbed 52% while UAN28 is up 50% and UAN32 has increased 46%. Anhydrous has jumped 36%, potash 35%, MAP 33% higher and DAP 31% compared to one year earlier.



Cropcast: US Corn Down 4.3% From 2010

Cropcast Ag Services, a well-known agricultural weather firm, projected U.S. farmers will harvest 4.3% less corn than last year due to poor weather.

The Maryland-based firm, a division of EarthSat Weather Services, pegged the corn harvest at 11.913 billion bushels, down from 12.447 billion last year. It estimated the average yield at 145.2 bushels an acre, down from 152.8 bushels an acre last year.

The forecasts are well below the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest projections for this year's crop and estimates from other private forecasters. The government, in a monthly report Aug. 11, pegged the crop at 12.914 billion bushels, with an average yield of 153 bushels an acre.

By comparison, brokerage firm Allendale on Tuesday pegged the corn harvest at 12.466 billion bushels, with an average yield of 147.7 bushels an acre. INTL FCStone last week projected farmers will harvest 12.35 billion bushels of corn, with an average yield of 146.3 bushels an acre.

Cropcast cut its output forecast because it expects many acres planted with corn will not be harvested due to flooding around the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and a severe drought in Texas, said Don Keeney, senior agricultural meteorologist for Cropcast. The firm projected farmers will harvest 82.06 million acres of corn, while the USDA last estimated 84.4 million acres will be harvested.

The firm did a satellite analysis earlier this year and "took a lot of acreage out of a lot of states due to flooding," Keeney said. The number of bushels produced per acre was hurt by hot, dry weather this summer.

"Our acreage is lower than most," Keeney said.

Cropcast pegged the U.S. soybean harvest at 2.924 billion bushels, with an average yield of 40.3 bushels an acre. That is down from last year's harvest of 3.329 billion bushels, with an average yield of 43.5 bushels an acre. The USDA last month pegged this year's soybean harvest at 3.056 billion bushels, with an average yield of 41.4 bushels an acre.

The USDA is slated to update its harvest estimates Monday.




NCGA, ASA Host Dialogue on Grain and Oilseed Value Chain Collaboration, Communication

Today, the National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association brought together key industry stakeholders to start a discussion about how to best begin construction of a framework for addressing biotech events and impacts on end use markets.  Acknowledging that all parts of the value chain share a common goal of an uninterrupted flow of corn, soybeans and technology, attendees shared ideas and insights on finding a solution to disruptions that could potentially impact growers.

NCGA CEO Rick Tolman opened the meeting welcoming farmers, members of the grain trade, association staff, biotechnology firm leadership and others from the grain and oilseed trade with a reminder of both the importance and scope of this discussion.  In his remarks, Tolman reinforced that NCGA and ASA chose to host this meeting to provide the entire industry with an open space in which to find ways to improve communication.

Following Tolman's remarks, NCGA President Bart Schott addressed the conference on the organizations' goals for the dialogue.  In doing so, he noted that each party plays a role in on-farm profitability and, as such, a valuable one for growers across the country.  He stressed the importance of recognizing one another's strengths and working collaboratively to build a bright future.

"As we grow to understand the variety of situations each party brings to the table, we can ultimately construct a framework that will allow us to address events which could disrupt markets and better position ourselves to capture opportunities," said Schott.

Following Schott, ASA President Alan Kemper then provided remarks from his organization highlighting many past instances in which communication and cooperation on biotechnology issues allowed the soybean industry to find creative solutions and, ultimately, avoid market disruptions.

Next, both organizations presented their current policies concerning the adoption of new biotechnology traits, with NCGA Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team Chair Chad Blindauer representing NCGA and ASA CEO Steve Censky speaking on behalf of his organization.

The conference provided insight into the specific concerns and circumstances of stakeholders from various sectors of the industry featuring speakers from trade associations focused on corn and soybean exports, biotechnology trait providers, grain and oilseed traders and other key sectors.

As a segue to final discussions, representatives from the Crop Life International presented the findings of a recent study looking at food chain perspectives on plant biotechnology product stewardship.  Through the use of survey-based data, the study looked at how members of these groups represented at the conference and others could develop effective, ongoing communications channels.

Finally, the group discussed potential actions that would aid the industry in obtaining timely regulatory clearances for biotech traits and thus avoid trade disruptions..  Attendees shared ideas and began a dialogue on how to best work together on these pressing issues with the group agreeing continue their discussion following analysis of conference proceedings and determination of the most appropriate next step.



Senate to Consider Agriculture Appropriations Bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee is set to mark up the FY2012 agriculture spending bill this week. Along with this bill, the Committee will mark up the energy-water and homeland security spending bills.  The agriculture spending legislation was taken directly to the full committee without consideration by the subcommittee, which has happened in previous years.  The House has already passed its version of an FY2012 agriculture spending bill. The Senate version is expected to be quite different.  Congress has until September 30th, the end of FY2011, to pass 12 total appropriations bills, including agriculture.  Appropriations staff suggest that a continuing resolution is likely, given the congressional schedule and the likelihood that not all 12 appropriations bills will be passed before September 30th.