Prepare Bins and Equipment for Harvest
Larry Howard, UNL Extension Educator, Cuming County

Grain harvested in Nebraska is essentially insect-free, but can become infested by storage insects from contaminated equipment such as combines and grain augers.  Here are some tips from the University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension, to clean and prepare bins and equipment before this year’s harvest:
-- Store sound, clean, dry grain. Screen out broken grains, trash and fines to increase the quality of the final storage product.
-- Clean all equipment. Stored grain insects can invade new grain from infested harvesting and handling equipment. Carefully remove all traces of old grain from combines, truck beds, grain carts, augers and other equipment used for harvesting, transporting and handling grain.
-- Clean grain bins thoroughly with a simple broom and a vacuum cleaner.    If you can tell what was stored or handled last season by looking at equipment, it’s not clean enough to prevent contamination of the new crop.
-- After empty bins have been thoroughly cleaned, a residual treatment such as silicon dioxide or butylcarbityl and pyrethrins may be applied to bin surfaces to protect incoming grain from insect infestation. Follow label instructions carefully. Fumigants such as chloropicrin, magnesium phosphide and methyl bromide may be used, but they are dangerous, restricted-use pesticides. Fumigation is best handled by commercial pesticide applicators who have been trained and certified.
-- Clear clutter and remove tall grass and weeds around grain bins to ensure the area is less attractive to insects and rodents. Clean up any spilled grain several weeks before harvest. Leave a 4-foot wide strip of bare gravel around the perimeter of storage bins.  

Besides clean up, it is important to maintain and repair bins, equipment and landscape around the bins. Proper system maintenance before harvest can prevent costly downtime.
-- Make sure that grain bins are rodent-proofed by plugging holes, sealing bins, caulking and making general repairs. If rats have tunneled under foundations, use baits or traps to catch and eliminate them.
-- Mice often nest in control boxes and they can strip insulation from wires for nest material. Their urine can also corrode 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.
-- Inspect wiring for fans and other electrical components in the bins for corrosion and cracked, frayed or broken insulation. Run wiring through waterproof, dust-tight conduit. Avoid kinking the conduit and make sure all connections are secure.
-- Check fans, heaters, transitions and ducts for corrosion and other damage. Remove any accumulated dust and dirt that may reduce operating efficiency.
-- Ensure travel lanes have enough rock or gravel to bear the weight of heavy trucks and grain carts.  

After cleaning and repairing bins and equipment, it is important to maintain the harvested grain to prevent insect infestations.
-- If buying old crop grain for storage with newly harvested grain, watch for insects in the incoming grain. If infested grain is purchased for livestock feed, store it away from the new crop and feed it as soon as possible.
-- Stored grain insects cannot live on extremely dry grain (grain moisture at less than 10 percent), while high grain moisture (more than 14 percent) favors insect reproduction. Insects are not very active below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, so manage the aeration system going to manipulate temperature and moisture.
-- Prevent condensation of moisture in the grain mass by slowly cooling the grain mass and gradually reducing the temperature gradient between the grain mass temperature and the outside (ambient) temperature.



State Fair Carcass Results

The Nebraska State Fair recently released the results for the livestock carcass contests according to UNL Extension Educator in Cuming County, Larry Howard.  In the Beef contest, Heath Schroeder of Howells placed 12th which was the Reserve Champion Crossbred Division III Steer in the live show.  He also received a purple ribbon.  

Cuming County 4-H exhibitor results were:

Beef
Purple: Heath Schroeder, Howells

Pork
Purple:  Blake Guenther, West Point
Blue:  Dalton Mohlfeld, Wisner; Nathan Groth, Beemer; Devon Dixon, Wisner; Tiffany Plagge, West Point
Red:  Blake Guenther, West Point; Logan Polenske, Wisner; Keeley Russman, Wisner; Jamie Plagge, West Point; Nathan Groth, Beemer
White:  Logan Polenske, Wisner; Kiley Guenther, West Point; Allison Guenther, West Point



Cuming County 4-H Members Participate at Ak-Sar-Ben

Cuming County 4-H members had another successful year at the 84th Annual Ak-Sar-Ben Youth Livestock exposition that was held September 17 & 18 at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln and September 22-25 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha.  According to Larry Howard, UNL Extension Educator in Cuming County, there were thirty-four (34) 4-H members from Cuming County that participated.

In the Rabbit Show, Adrianna Meiergerd of West Point showed the Best of Breed in the Fancy-Dutch division while Emily Merchen of West Point showed the Best of Breed and the Best Opposite in the Fancy Netherland Dwarf division.  Evan Meiergerd of West Point exhibited the Reserve Best of Breed in the Dutch division.

In the Beef Division, Tyler Bennett of Beemer was the Champion Showman and placed 3rd in the live show and 7th overall in the Catch-A-Calf division.

The Cuming County Swine 4-H exhibition placed first and was named the Grand Champion Swine Herdsmanship county at this years Ak-Sar-Ben.



GDDs Behind, Expected to Catch up Some in Late September
Allen Dutcher, UNL Extension State Climatologist

September temperatures across the state have averaged 2-4 degrees below normal east of the Panhandle, with isolated pockets of 4-6 degrees below normal reported in central and eastern Nebraska.

Growing degree day (GDD) units for September are running 100-125 units behind normal through Sept. 20, but forecasts for the final 10 days of the month indicate that average temperatures will be 3-5 degrees above normal and cut these deficits by 30-50 units.

The primary factor influencing these colder than normal temperatures is a strong upper air trough that developed over the eastern U.S. Sept. 13-19. Frost and hard freeze conditions hit the eastern Dakotas, Minnesota, northern Iowa, northeast Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Major damage to the soybean crop in Minnesota and north central Iowa has been reported, with initial loss estimates ranging from 25-110 million bushels.

Weather models are in strong agreement that an upper air ridge will dominate the central U.S. during the next 14 days and bring dry weather to the region. This should allow crops not recently impacted by freezing temperatures to reach full maturity. If this occurs, I would expect to see harvest activity across southern Nebraska to increase in intensity as the month draws to a close.

With La Nina conditions developing in the Equatorial Pacific region, current models are hinting at a repeat performance of the harvest weather experienced last fall. In other words, above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation are likely across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. If the upper ridge remains into early October, below normal precipitation is likely for Nebraska, while areas across the eastern Corn Belt and Great Lakes could see above normal moisture.

90 Day Forecast: Above Normal Temperatures Likely
The official forecast for the October-December period from the Climate Prediction Center indicates below normal precipitation is likely across the southern Plains into the southwestern corner of Nebraska. A broad area of above normal temperatures is likely for the southern U.S., including the southern and central Plains, as well as areas of the central and eastern Corn Belt.

Normally in Nebraska 50% of the moisture for this three-month period occurs in October. If October comes in at less than 50% of normal moisture, November and December will need to average nearly double normal precipitation just to bring the three-month total back to normal. October is also a key month for building soil moisture profiles for next years’ growing season. Any moisture shortfalls will need to be made up in later months to reduce the likelihood that the severe drought conditions of the southern Plains don’t expand northward into Nebraska.

January-March Forecast
Long range forecasts for the January – March period indicate equal chances of above or below normal precipitation and temperatures for Nebraska, with below normal temperatures across the northern Plains dipping south to the northern Nebraska border region. To our south, above normal temperatures are projected for drought stressed Texas and Oklahoma. Precipitation is expected to be above normal across the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, which includes much of the upper North Platte basin.

If the Corn Belt does receive above normal moisture, spring planting delays could develop. This is not uncommon during a La Nina spring and will really depend on the length and strength of this event. History indicates that the second year of a La Nina is weaker than the first year and generally dissipates by late spring, but this is not guaranteed.

I expect that current drought areas from Iowa through Ohio will disappear by next April, while drought conditions may improve slightly across the southern Plains. However, it is likely that an extensive area of drought conditions will exist from Arizona east through Georgia by next April. If spring rains fail to materialize for Texas and Oklahoma, then rapid expansion into some portions of the primary Corn Belt would likely occur during the first half of next summer.



Cover Crops Field Day Sept. 28 at UNL's ARDC
Paul Jasa, UNL Extension Engineer

Cover crops will be the focus of a field day Wednesday, September 28 at UNL's Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead. This free event will be from 1 to 5 p.m. with plenty of time for questions and answers and discussion.

The field day will showcase 33 cover crop plots and provide information on cover crop options that will help build and feed the soil system. Featured cover crops include grasses, legumes, forages, brassicas, cocktail mixes, and others. While these plots were drilled into wheat residue, cover cropping options after corn and soybean harvest also will be discussed.

Speakers will include UNL Extension and NRCS no-till specialists working with cover crops and several cover crop seed vendors who will share their experiences. Topics will include:
    Benefits of Cover Crops and Selecting Cover Crops
    Cover Crop Cocktails and Nitrogen
    Aerial Seeding Experiences
    Cover Crop Experiences and Recommendations
    Spring Seeded Cover Crops and Weed Control

Special thanks to Arrow Seed, Green Cover Seed, and Prairie States Seed for providing the seed for the plots. Door prizes will include cover crop seed so winners can try cover crops on their farms.  Visit http://ardc.unl.edu/direct.shtml for a map and directions to the ARDC.



Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report Preview
Ron Plain, Universtiy of Missouri Livestock Economist

On September 28, USDA will release the results of their latest survey of the U.S. swine inventory. Hog producers enjoyed record hog prices this summer and I [Dr. Ron Plain, University of Missouri] fear it is causing some herd expansion. My estimates are that the breeding herd is 0.3% larger than a year ago; the market hog inventory is 1.3% larger; and the total herd is 1.2% larger than in September 2010. My estimates of the September 1 market hog inventory by weight groups are: 180 pounds and heavier 103.0%, 120-179 pounds 101.5%, 50-119 pounds 101.0%, and under 50 pounds 100.6% of a year earlier.

Slaughter of barrows and gilts during June-August was down 0.16% with a year earlier. USDA's June report implied summer slaughter would be up 1.6%. So, there is need for USDA to revise downward their June market hog inventory and their estimate of sows farrowed and pig crop during December-February.

In their last inventory report, USDA predicted that June-August farrowings would be down 2.6% and September-November farrowings would be 1.1% lower than a year earlier. I think summer farrowings actually were down only 1.5%. I'm forecasting fall farrowings to be down 1.0% and December-February farrowings down 0.5% compared to last winter. June-August sow slaughter was up 4.7%. Imports of Canadian sows for slaughter during this period were down 6.7%. Thus, net slaughter of U.S. sows was up 6.9% out of a sow herd that was 0.3% larger compared to 12 months earlier. This implies a reduction in the sow herd, assuming gilt retention held steady. Our data implies gilt retention was up this summer.

I believe pigs per litter were up 2.0% this summer. My estimate is the June-August pig crop was 100.5% of a year earlier. Feeder pig imports during June-August were 3.5% above last summer's level, so the light weight inventory should be up a tiny bit more than the pig crop.

My estimate of hogs in the 50-179 weight groups implies that daily hog slaughter during the fourth quarter will be roughly 1% to 1.5% above year-ago levels, if the inflow of slaughter hogs from Canada is close to year-earlier levels. I expect daily hog slaughter during the first quarter of 2012 to be 1.0% higher than the number slaughtered in January-March 2011. I expect live hog prices to average close to $62/cwt ($82/cwt carcass) in the fourth quarter of 2011 and $64/cwt ($84/cwt carcass) in the first quarter of 2012. The futures market is more optimistic.



American Soybean Scholarship Applications Now Online

Applications for the American Soybean Association's 2012-13 SOY Scholarship is now available online. Any current high school senior who plans to pursue a degree in agriculture at any accredited college or university, can apply for this $5,000 scholarship.  Program coordinators say there are no specific academic and membership requirements to apply.  The winner will be chosen at the December 2011 ASA Board meeting, and the official announcement will be made during Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tennessee in early March 2012.  The scholarship is made possible through a grant from BASF Corporation.  View a complete list of requirements at www.soygrowers.com/soy/scholarship.htm.



USDA: Food Inflation Expected to be Unchanged

The U.S. government boosted its 2011 price forecast for beef and eggs, but left its overall food-inflation forecast unchanged through next year. Beef prices will be up 8% to 9% in 2011, up from a previous forecast of 7% to 8%, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a monthly report Friday.

Beef prices have soared to record highs this year thanks in part to strong export demand. Meanwhile, supplies are expected to tighten as ranchers liquidate their herds due to a severe drought in the southern Plains that has caused pastureland to wither.

The USDA also increased its overall meat price projection for 2011, to 6.5% to 7.5%. It increased projected hikes in egg prices to 5% to 6%, noting that the inventory of hens decreased during five of the first seven months this year.

Overall food inflation was left unchanged, however, at 3% to 4% this year and 2.5% to 3.5% in 2012.

Commodity prices, which have driven the price hikes for consumers this year, have fallen sharply during the past month amid worries about the global economy. Prices for many commodities, ranging from corn to cattle, remain historically high, however.



USMEF Releases Livestock ID/Traceability Economic Assessment

A study assessing the impact of traceability and animal identification programs on the international market for red meat has been released by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Conducted by researchers at Kansas State University, Colorado State University and Montana State University, the study assesses the potential impact on U.S. producers and processors of evolving thinking about animal ID and traceability in leading export markets and traceability systems that have already been put in place by other major beef and pork exporting countries.

The study – “Economic Assessment of Evolving Red Meat Export Market Access Requirements for Traceability of Livestock and Meat” – points out that the United States and India are the only two major beef exporters that do not already have mandatory traceability systems. Argentina, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Uruguay all have animal identification/traceability programs in place.

In addition to the traceability systems of exporting nations, the report, which was commissioned by USMEF on a contract awarded based on a request for proposal, provides an analysis of the domestic cattle traceability systems employed by selected major importers of U.S. beef. Of special note, Japan and Korea, among the highest value markets for U.S. red meat exports, have adopted mandatory traceability programs which could eventually lead to similar requirements being applied to imports.

Finally, the report compares the sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions imposed on the major beef exporters by the top importing countries. For some exporting nations, such as Australia and New Zealand, there are no restrictions imposed by trading partners. Brazil and Argentina face FMD (foot and mouth disease)-related restrictions and traceability systems are critical for exports from these South American countries which are not entirely free of FMD.

The United States faces BSE-related product and age restrictions from a number of major importing countries (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Russia and Mexico) as well as restrictions from the European Union based on hormone use. In addition, China’s beef market remains closed to imports from the United States due to BSE-related restrictions.

The report notes that competing beef exporting nations are using their industries’ mandatory traceability systems as marketing tools to enhance their sales and as a point of differentiation with the U.S. industry.

While market access and producer profitability have been important factors in exporting countries’ decisions to establish traceability systems, the report concludes that animal health management and food safety are the primary drivers behind most countries’ decisions to build animal ID and traceability into the regulatory frameworks for their livestock industries. Improved supply chain coordination and enhanced producer management opportunities are secondary motivators.

“The most widely recognized international animal health, food safety, and trade organizations have endorsed animal ID programs as essential components of food animal production and meat product trade. In response, major beef exporters and importers have developed mandatory animal ID and traceability systems,” the report states. “As more countries adopt animal and meat tracking systems, those early adopters of livestock and meat traceability systems have the opportunity to gain significant market advantages through increased consumer confidence.

“Countries with well-developed mandatory animal identification and traceability programs enjoy comparative advantages in red meat exports relative to countries without such systems,” the researchers add. “They are better positioned to respond quickly to crisis situations and mitigate potential damages.”

The value of the research report was emphasized by Leann Saunders, president of IMI Global, a member of USMEF’s executive committee and chairperson of the USMEF working group on traceability.

“When you first consider the value of the export market to U.S. cattle and hog producers, with export value this July equating to $236.88 per head of fed cattle harvested and $59.35 per head for hogs – there is no denying the importance of exports for U.S. producers,” said Saunders. “As we have seen in the beef industry engaged in voluntary USDA PVP and QSA verification programs for countries like Japan and the EU – countries that have export verification requirements specific to animal identification and traceability – it can work effectively. Since we are currently exporting about 16 percent of total U.S. beef and variety meat production and 29 percent of pork, traceability is a form of insurance that would insulate American producers in the event that importing countries change their import requirements or in the event of an animal disease outbreak.”



NCGA Applauds Brown-Thune-Durbin-Lugar Proposal to Strengthen Farm Safety Net

The National Corn Growers Association today applauded the bipartisan work of Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Thune (R-SD), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Dick Lugar (R-IN) to introduce legislation that will create the Aggregate Risk and Revenue Management (ARRM) Program.   The bill is designed to simplify, consolidate and streamline existing commodity programs that were authorized as part of the 2008 farm bill.

“We greatly appreciate the senators’ work to introduce legislation that will provide a more effective and responsive safety net for America’s farmers,” NCGA President Bart Schott said. “This legislation addresses several concerns raised by farmers regarding the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program, including overly complicated procedures and delayed payments when losses are experienced.  We also understand everyone must do their part to help our nation with its difficult financial situation, and we are pleased to see a bill introduced that takes responsible steps to help meet this challenge.”

The proposed legislation will eliminate the direct and counter-cyclical payment programs.  Unlike the ACRE Program, ARRM will be an annual election program with calculations to be based on planted acres.  Program guarantees will also be based on a five-year Olympic average revenue from a Crop Reporting District instead of on a state-by-state basis.  According to the Congressional Budget Office, ARRM also would result in substantial budget savings.

“While crop insurance is still the number one risk management tool for farmers, an effective, efficient revenue-based risk management tool that addresses gaps not covered by crop insurance is vitally important,” Schott said.  “We feel the proposed legislation adopts the right kind of market-oriented approach in providing assistance when most needed by producers.   We look forward to working with the senators as they continue their work with the Senate Agriculture Committee on a farm safety net for today’s risk management needs.”



Ethanol Ameliorates Midwest Gas Prices by $1.37 per Gallon, Stops Big Oil From Skewering Consumers At The Pump

“A September 19th Progressive Farmer-DTN article citing three land-grant university officials or studies (University of Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research, South Dakota State University and Iowa State University) confirms the economic benefits of ethanol to U.S. consumers, taxpayers and cattle feeders,” said Gale Lush, Chairman of the American Corn Growers Foundation (ACGF).

Ethanol Benefits Consumers/Taxpayers by Ameliorating Gasoline Prices, Saving $112 Billion Annually
Lush noted that Ken Cassman, the director of the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research at the University of Nebraska was quoted saying, “Regardless of our ability to increase production enough to cover projected demand, ethanol has been a huge financial benefit to U.S. consumers.” The article and Cassman cited a recent study by economists at Iowa State University that estimates the use of corn ethanol in gasoline has reduced the fuel’s price by as much as 80 cents per gallon (average nationally) in years like 2009 and 2010. Given gasoline usage in this country, “that’s $112 billion of annual savings to the consumer,” Cassman explains. “Total subsidies on ethanol, including subsidies on corn, are not more than $12 billion per year. That’s a 10-to-1 return to consumers. That’s huge,” Cassman added.

Higher Ethanol Yields Reported by USDA and South Dakota State University Study Shows Ethanol DDGs Beneficial to Cattle Feeders, Making the FOOD VS. FUEL Fight a Non Sequitur/Red Herring
Lush added that the Progressive Farmer-DTN article points out some extremely important economic information that goes largely unreported in the mainstream media and press. The article states, “Also significant is the increase in the efficiency with which corn is processed into ethanol. The latest USDA study (released last fall) found that for every BTU (British Thermal Unit) used in the process, 2.3 BTUs are produced. That is up considerably from 1.76 BTUs in the previous study done in 2004. Additionally, the amount of corn “diverted” to ethanol from food production is essentially one-third less. That’s because an ethanol production by-product, dry distillers grains (DDGs), is a valuable high-protein cattle feed. As a result, about 23 percent of the U.S. corn production and 9 percent of total world grain production is actually being used to make fuel.”

South Dakota State University plant scientist Gregg Carlson reported that “In this country, top livestock producers are mixing DDGs with previously unused or under-used crop residue. As a result, the animals are getting the same, or even more crude protein and total digestible nutrients, than there was in the corn alone. In other words there is no loss of feed, and the feed vs. fuel argument becomes irrelevant.”

“With all the consumer/taxpayer, economic, feed, energy security and job creating benefits now confirmed from corn ethanol production Congress should extend the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC),” said Lush. “Congress should be using the 400,000 jobs supported by the ethanol industry, along with the great return to taxpayers, as a case study in efficient government subsidies. Congress should immediately extend VEETC, not look for ways to kill it and other key incentives like the Renewable Fuels Standards (RFS).”



Tractor Repair, Restoration Business Earns Entrepreneur Award

Gary Hoefling turned his passion for tractor mechanics into a thriving business and earned the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation's (IFBF) Renew Rural Iowa Entrepreneur of the Month award. As owner of The Motor Works and G.H. Repair in Spencer, Hoefling specializes in repairing and rebuilding John Deere tractors. He not only refurbishes the outside of the 30 and 40 series John Deere tractors, but produces parts (carburetors, in particular) and produces and sells them in the United States and around the world to customers in France, Germany and South Africa.

His attraction to tractors started at a young age on the family's farm. "I wanted to be the mechanic on the farm," explains Hoefling. In the last decade, he and his staff of five full-time and three part-time employees have repaired 10,000 tractor carburetors.

The Motor Works and G.H. Repair were started in 1993. The Motor Works was started as part of a northwest Iowa John Deere dealership, specializing in complete drop-in replacement and repowering for engines. In 2002, The Motor Works was acquired by G.H. Repair and moved to Spencer.

Today, Hoefling isn't simply fixing the green machines, but helping them be more "green," or environmentally friendly. He's making the machines use gasoline more efficiently by making them compatible with ethanol. His business strives to be greener, as well, using rain gardens, geothermal heating and cooling, permeable pavement and natural grasses and prairie areas.

The Clay County Farm Bureau nominated Hoefling's business for the award. County president Barry Anderson praises Hoefling for his contribution to the community's economy. "This business is huge for our rural area, as well as cities surrounding us," says Anderson.

Renew Rural Iowa (RRI) is an IFBF initiative supporting new and existing businesses through education, mentoring and financial resources. Registration is open for the Nov. 2 "Business Success" seminar, featuring Curt Nelson, president of the Entrepreneurial Development Center. The seminar will be held at the Iowa Farm Bureau in West Des Moines. To register, go to www.renewruraliowa.com.