Statement Regarding USDA’s New Framework for Animal Disease Traceability
The following is a statement from National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Steve Foglesong regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new framework for animal disease traceability in the United States:
“We appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s commitment to addressing producers’ concerns with animal ID. The plan appears to lay the foundation for a flexible approach to animal disease traceability, including greater state-involvement and choices in the use of technology.
“We encourage USDA to work closely with producers in the development of the framework moving forward. It’s important that the system is workable for producers, and accomplishes the goal of increased animal surveillance by enabling state and federal animal health officials to respond rapidly and effectively to animal health emergencies.”
NCBA has and continues to support a voluntary, market-driven animal identification system as an important tool for producers to improve herds, monitor disease, and better market their cattle.
Recommendations for Managing Stored Grain in February
Tom Dorn, UNL Extension Educator, Lancaster County
If your bin of corn is at or below 15% moisture, monitor for signs of heating twice a month.
If you have a grain temperature probe, take the grain temperature near the bin wall about every 20 feet around the outside of the bin and a couple of places near the middle of the bin. Let the probe stay in place for 7 to 10 minutes before taking each reading. If there is more than a 10 degree difference in temperature between any two spots in the bin, run the aeration fan long enough to push a temperature front through the entire grain mass.
If you don't have a temperature probe, test for signs of heating by turning on the aeration fan and leaning into the access hatch or climb into the bin.
* Does the air hitting your face feel warmer than expected?
* Do you detect a musty odor?
* Does condensation form on the inside surface of the bin roof on a cold day?
If you detect any of these symptoms, continue to run the fan long enough to push a temperature front through the bin. If the bin is equipped with a stirring system, run two or three rounds to break up hot spots and equalize the moisture throughout the grain mass. If the warning signs are present and the bin is not equipped with a stirring system, pull a load or two out of the bin and monitor the condition of the grain coming out of the auger. If you detect heating, run the aeration fans to cool and dry the grain if air properties allow. Level the grain surface if the remaining grain will be left in place.
If the corn is above 15% moisture and you plan to continue holding the grain on the farm, prepare to finish drying it to a safe moisture content.
The first objective is to warm grain that was cooled in late fall to preserve it during the cold months. Grain should be warmed in stages. Run a warming front through the bin when the outside air temperature is 10 to 12 degrees higher than the grain temperature. When the grain is above 40°F, use the Equilibrium Moisture Content table to judge when to run the aeration fan to dry the corn.
Hear a complete interview with Tom under the audio tab at the top of the page!
Nebraska Farmers Union Climate Change Legislation, Carbon Credit Program, & Wind Energy Development Informational Meetings Free To Public
Graham Christensen, Nebraska Farmers Union Public Affairs Director, will be the guest speaker at four local crop insurance meetings coming up on Monday and Tuesday, February 15 and 16.
The presentations will focus on current Climate Change Legislation that will have a major impact on production agriculture, the Farmers Union Carbon Credit Program, in which farmers and ranchers can participate in the Chicago Climate Exchange’s voluntary market for storing carbon by utilizing certain agricultural practices, and on Wind Energy Development in Nebraska.
The February 15 meetings will be at 10am at the Village Inn in Allen and 6pm at the Branding Iron in Lyons. The February 16 meetings will be at 10am at the Country Pub in Bancroft and 6pm at Panama Reds in Carroll. The event is free and anyone is welcome to attend. Please call the Nebraska Farmers Union State Office for questions at 402-476-8815.
A few educational opportunities to consider from Dave Varner, UNL Extension Educator in Dodge County
February 10 - Farmland Leasing Workshop, 9:00 a.m. to Noon, UNL Extension Office, Fremont (Pre-registration Required)
February 17, Nebraska No-Till Conference, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., UNL Extension Office, ARDC near Mead
February 19 - Lower Platte North NRD Nitrogen/Irrigation Certification, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., UNL Extension Office, Fremont
February 24 - Private Pesticide Applicator Training, 1:00 0 4:00 p.m., UNL Extension Office, Fremont
February 25 - Private Pesticide Applicator Training, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., UNL Extension Office, Fremont
February 26 - Private Pesticide Applicator Training, 1:00 0 4:00 p.m., Municipal Building, Dodge
March 5 - Chemigation Certification, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., UNL Extension Office, Fremont
March 19 - Chemigation Certification, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., UNL Extension Office, ARDC near Mead
Check the Farm Calendar for more details on these events and others!
Saunders County Soybean Growers annual winter meeting
The Saunders County Soybean Growers Organization will have their annual winter meeting on Tuesday, February 16th, at the Vet's Memorial Club in Wahoo. Social begins at 6:30pm with dinner around 7pm. After dinner, those who recently went to Guatemala (including Bill Kremlacek of Wahoo, UNL Extension Educator Keith Glewen, Mark Caspers of Auburn, and Dennis Fujan of Prague) will report on their trip to see a Soy Cow in use. About 18 months ago, the group decided to raise 10-thousand dollars to purchase a Soy Cow and place it in Guatemala as part of a humanitarian effort. The group partnered with WISHH - The World Initiative for Soy in Human Health, raised over three-quarters of the money, then went to Guatemala and saw the soy-cow in use. The Soy Cow takes whole soybeans and, through a grinding and cooking process, produces a drink high in protein. Learn more about the effort in Wahoo the evening of Feb. 16th!
Tools for Improving Manure Management Workshop Offered March 4
A March 4 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning team workshop on "Tools for Improving Manure Management" will be at the Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
The workshop will help those that assist livestock producers put to use several manure management planning software, said Leslie Johnson, UNL CNMP coordinator. The one-day class targets those who work closely with livestock operations, and their nutrient management plans.
The computer tools include the Feedlot Nutrient Management Program, the Nebraska Odor Footprint tool and the Purdue Manure Management Planner. It also will include research updates and an update on recent regulation changes. An application for Certified Crop Adviser credits has been submitted.
For additional information, contact Johnson at (402) 584-3818, e-mail ljohnson13@unl.edu. Space is limited to 35 participants. Pre-registration is required and can be done by calling Johnson. The registration fee is $75 per participant. The use of a computer with Microsoft Excel is necessary; please bring your laptop as there will only be a few extra computers. Participants will receive a CD with the software tools upon arrival.
These workshops are sponsored by the UNL Extension CNMP team which is dedicated to helping livestock and crop producers better use the state's manure resources for agronomic and environmental benefits.
For additional information and other resources for managing manure nutrients, visit the Web at http://water.unl.edu/manure.
UNL's Ag Research Division Boasts 36 Percent Rate of Return over 42-year
Period
While investing money in the stock market can be risky in today's economy, investing in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Agricultural Research Division is a pretty sure thing, offering an internal rate of return of 36 percent in the period of study.
The UNL study found that for every $1 invested in ARD, the major research arm of the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Nebraska's Agricultural Experiment Station, investors received the equivalent net annual benefits of 36 cents every year for 31 years, amounting to $17.
This is more than twice the national average return of $8.
Nebraska's ARD returns rank second nationally with only the University of Missouri's Agricultural Experiment Station ranking just slightly higher with a 37 percent rate of return. The study was conducted in all 48 continental U.S. states. On average, the rate of return in other states was 29 percent.
Nebraska agriculture depends heavily on the scientific advancements ARD provides, said Susan Fritz, interim dean and director of the ARD and associate vice chancellor of IANR.
"Nebraska has a bio-based economy, with approximately one in three Nebraska jobs depending in some way upon agriculture," Fritz said. "ARD scientists make important contributions to the state's agriculture,
food industries, environment, the well-being of families and communities. ARD scientists also provide new knowledge and seek answers to Nebraskans' problems and concerns."
Distillers Grains Exports Exploded Last Year
During 2009's volatile year for ethanol plants, distillers grains acted as safety valve when ethanol producers spent nearly the first six months of the year battling red ink. Distillers grains -- which typically account for as much as a quarter of the revenue at ethanol plants -- especially aided ethanol makers as exports exploded, especially in China where exports grew from 8,000 tons in 2008 to more than 400,000 tons in 2009. China is a large importer of U.S.-produced distillers grain, especially for its growing cattle population. This year, however, distillers exports may face a hurdle because of a new Chinese law requiring that, by May, imported process grains must be registered with the country's minister of agriculture.
Tyson Profit Tops Expectations
U.S. meat producer Tyson Foods Inc. reported a higher-than-expected first-quarter profit and predicted even better profit margins for its chicken business. Tyson's beef and pork profits improved from a year ago, helped by cost-cutting efforts and stronger exports. The Arkansas-based company reported first-quarter earnings of $160 million, or 42 cents per share, compared with a year-earlier loss of $102 million, or 27 cents per share.
Syngenta Full-Year Profit Down 1%
Agrochemicals company Syngenta AG on Friday reported a 1 percent drop in full-year net profit because of higher raw material costs, less demand for pesticides and a strong dollar. Net profit for 2009 was $1.37 billion compared with $1.39 billion the previous year, Syngenta said. Seeds increased 5 percent to $2.6 billion. Sales of seeds for corn and soybeans went up particularly in the United States. Crop protection, which generates about 75 percent of Syngenta's revenue, decreased 8 percent to $8.5 billion.
Nebraska Ethanol Plant to Open
The new owners of the ethanol plant in Cambridge, Neb., re-opened the plant Feb. 2, though production is not expected to begin for another month. Eric Meeuwsen said his family will operate the plant as Nebraska Corn Processing LLC. Most of the 19 employees of the 40-million-gallon plant worked at the plant with the former owners. The new owners plan to push production to 44 million gallons of ethanol per year, as well as producing 420,000 tons of wet distillers grain. The plan had previously operated for nine months, but had sat idle for about one year.
USDA: Winter Storms, Upcoming Super Bowl Affect Fluid Milk Market
Recent large winter storms blanketed central, northeastern and southern parts of the country, often leading to increases in retail fluid demand as consumers buy staples like milk, USDA said in its “Dairy Market News” this week. Delays were common for milk deliveries to and from plants. School closings in selected areas, however, reduced institutional fluid needs, USDA added. Fluid deliveries to and from plants were impacted and/or delayed with scattered instances of dumping where trucks could not reach producers. Production of products such as dips and sour cream for the Super Bowl parties remained strong early in the week. Cream interest by ice cream remains sluggish, causing heavy volumes to continue to be churned. Current milk production is increasing at least seasonally through most of the country, USDA reported.
Iowa takes another step towards mandating B5
The Iowa legislature moved a step closer to requiring 5% biodiesel in all diesel sold in the state Thursday when a House Ways and Means subcommittee approved the bill in a 2 to 1 vote.
The Iowa Senate approved it last year and the bill has support in the House.
Thursday's 2 to 1 vote "happened to be along party lines. We know that the bill has bipartisan support," Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board told Agriculture.com Thursday. The two supporters in the subcommittee were Democrats and a Republican voted against it. The Iowa House currently has a Democratic majority.
Olson said that the legislation is important because it will fit in with a new rule released by the EPA Wednesday that will mandate the use of 1.15 biillion gallons of biodiesel nationally this year, under the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Olson said the biodiesel industry was very pleased that the EPA's analysis of biodiesel's greenhouse gas emissions showed that the fuel is more than 50% greener than diesel fuel. That means biodiesel can be counted as an advanced biofuel and it will be part of the mix of fuels as the nation ramps up to using 36 billion gallons of conventional and new biofuels by 2022.
"To meet the federal requirements, biodiesel will be blended where it is most cost-effective to the oil companies," Olson said. "But it will also be blended in states that have strong policies in place to create demand for biodiesel. Iowa must reclaim its leadership position in renewable energy."
The bill will now move forward to the full House Ways and Means Committee.
