Vegetative Treatment Systems Twilight Tour

Area livestock producers are invited to participate in a tour of two Vegetative Treatment Systems (VTS) that have been constructed in Cuming County. According to UNL Extension Educator, Larry Howard, the tour will be held on Wednesday, September 9 beginning at 5 p.m. The tour will feature recently finished demonstration projects on the Richard Baumert and Mel Meister farms. This will be an opportunity to see these systems in operation.

The twilight tour begins at the Richard Baumert farm (582 7th Rd, West Point) at 5 p.m. to see his unique multi-species system and then to the Mel Meister farm (1241 D Rd, West Point) at 6 p.m. to see the largest sprinkler VTS in the United States. The UNL Extension Small Animal Feeding Operation team of Chris Henry and Jason Gross will describe and demonstrate both systems.

In addition to seeing the systems in operation, there will also be the following presentations:
    *  NDEQ Perspective on alternative systems, by Derek Schreiter, NDEQ
    *  Is a VTS Eligible for Cost-share? By Jim Reedy, Nebraska NRCS
    *  K-Line Demonstration: by EJ Habrock, K-Line North America
    *  “Emerging Issue: Hormones in Feedlot runoff” by UNL Extension Beef Specialist, Terry Mader
    *  “Feeding and Storage Options for Ethanol Co-products” by UNL Extension Beef Feedlot Nutrition Specialist, Galen Erickson

A meal is to follow the evening program.

A Vegetative Treatment System (VTS) is a system that can be applied on small to medium sized, open lot, livestock feeding operations. It is a system comprised of a solids settling basin, an outlet structure and a vegetative treatment area (VTA). The VTA replaces the need for a conventional holding pond, that is typically used in feedlots.  VTA’s are commonly confused with vegetative buffer (or filter) strips. A buffer strip is a narrow strip of vegetation (usually 30-60 feet wide), between cropland and a stream or other surface water, while a VTS is an engineered system to completely control runoff.

A VTS consumes the water and utilize the nutrients in the liquid runoff. The operation of the sediment basin is the same as is required in traditional waste storage systems as a VTS takes the place of a holding pond and irrigation system. The solids from the sediment basin must periodically be removed and land applied.  A VTA uses the water holding capacity of the soil to “store” runoff water until the nutrients and water can be used by the vegetation. The application of the runoff to the VTA must be at a rate that is high enough to prevent deep percolation past the root zone, yet low enough that flow does not extend past the end of the treatment area during the design runoff event.

For more information or directions to the tour stops, please contact the UNL Extension Office in Cuming County. The tour is sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension; K-Line Irrigation of North America; and the Cuming County Feeders Association.



Pro Farmer - Midwest Crop Tour Findings: Day 1

South Dakota conditions are very similar to last year. The average corn yield estimate was 146.96 bu. per acre, DOWN 0.4% from last year's 147.62 bu. per acre. The biggest difference was in the number of ears per 60-foot plot. The bean crop, however, was every bit as good as scouts' expected it to be. At 981.68 pods per 3'X3' square, the 2009 pod count beat last year's tally of 860.82 and even beat the 3-year average count of 950.84. Most importantly, there's plenty of water for the bean crop in South Dakota to finish.  

"Bean pods didn't start to fill out until we got into Nebraska today, so the flat pods were consistent across South Dakota. Veteran scouts on the western leg of the Tour, however, have seen this before -- and with a lot less water. With water available to this year's crop, give the beans a few more days on the end of the growing season and the state has the potential for a very good bean crop," said Western Tour Director and Pro Farmer Editor Chip Flory.  The Northeast Nebraska crop is similar to last year and the southeast South Dakota crop -- moisture levels are good and disease and insect pressure is light, says western Crop Tour Consultant Terry Johnston. "Hail damage was more prevalent as we moved into northeast Nebraska, some areas were several miles wide and several miles long. The crop overall has good potential, but it's behind in development. We saw more corn in dough stage than we did in southeast South Dakota and bean pods were more filled out," he says.

In Ohio, the corn average yield is 159.73 bu. per acre, up 7.4% from the 2008 Tour result of 148.75 bu. per acre. Digging beyond the numbers, the Ohio corn crop is still ahead of where it stood a year ago in terms of maturity. Maybe not a lot, but it is still ahead.  "This is my sixth tour of duty on the Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour and it's probably the most impressive Ohio crop I've sampled to date," said Eastern Crop Tour Consultant Mark Bernard.

For Ohio soybeans, Tour results calculated 1,268.35 pods in a 3ft.x3ft. square, which was up 14.9% from what we measured on the Tour in 2008 (1,103.61). A nice bump up and a lot more growth to bean plants than was seen last year. Overall, there is a very healthy bean plant out there in Ohio -- there weren't the patches in fields where any number of soybean diseases could have made their home. That could be due to the main common thread that covers both corn and soybeans: Dry.  "The bottom on Ohio -- there is more potential out there in the corn and soybean fields of the Buckeye state. But another poor finish to the crop will take what we measure in terms of potential and toss it aside once again. So Mother Nature needs to smile a bit on these Ohio fields to bring this crop home and hang onto the improved results we found out there," said Eastern Tour Director Roger Bernard.



Livestock Groups Petition White House on Antibiotic Use

Twenty major livestock organizations, including the National Milk Producers Federation and three major veterinary associations, have sent a letter to the White House requesting expert risk assessment before disallowing sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics in food-producing animals.

“The White House must be aware removing antibiotics from on-farm use may jeopardize or seriously complicate President Obama’s food safety positions,” they write.

It points to Europe as an example: “Action to ban some uses of certain antimicrobial products and restrict the use of others failed…. Several European countries are documenting a significant increase in animal diseases—many not seen in Europe in 20 years—and an increase in the use of antibiotics by veterinarians to treat those diseases.”



Farm Bureau: Health Insurance Cost Could Double for Farmers

The Obama Administration's proposal to mandate certain kinds of health care coverage could increase the cost of health insurance for farmers and ranchers and other self-employed individuals in Nebraska and the nation by more than 100 percent, Nebraska Farm Bureau warned Monday (Aug. 17).

A large majority of food producers are self-employed and many buy their own health insurance without the benefit of being part of a group, Farm Bureau President Keith Olsen said. A 2007 survey conducted for the U.S. Department of Agriculture1 found that 46 percent of Nebraska's farmers and ranchers purchased their health insurance on an individual basis directly from an insurer. "If a farm or ranch family can obtain health insurance through a spouse's off-farm job, that's usually the route they go," Olsen said. "But that approach isn't available to everyone.

"The primary issue we continue to worry about is the affordability of health insurance," he said. Responses from Farm Bureau members surveyed online last week showed a monthly health insurance premium ranging from $500 to $1,000-plus a month for a high-deductible, family policy. Most of those surveyed had deductibles of about $5,000.

The proposals now moving through Congress include the concepts of "Guarantee Issue" and "Community Ratings," Olsen said. Guarantee Issue requires insurers to provide health insurance coverage to anyone at any time, or forces them to renew policies they would prefer to drop. Community Rating limits premium differences across policies and requires insurers to charge uniform premiums regardless of age, health conditions, etc.

"Requiring compulsory health insurance in the form of an individual coverage mandate or forcing insurers to cover everyone will mean higher insurance premiums," Olsen said.

Currently only New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts have both Community Rating and Guaranteed Issue laws on the books; these states have the most expensive individual insurance markets in the country, he said.

A 2008 study conducted by researchers from MIT, the Brookings Institution and Brigham Young University 2 found that implementation of Community Rating and Guarantee Issue resulted in premium increases of 108 to 227 percent for high-deductible family policies.

"While the New Jersey insurance market is quite different from ours, we can reasonably expect to see significant premium increases for Nebraskans who purchase health insurance directly from insurers," Olsen said. "If New Jersey's experience applies here, premiums for high-deductible policies could range from $1,040 to $2,080 a month, rather than the current, already-high $500 to $1,000."

Such increases would make private health insurance unaffordable for many farmers and ranchers, he said. "They can't pass cost increases on to their customers the way other businesses can.

"We share the Administration's goal of reining in health care costs, but we would rather see health care reform that improves and builds on the current health care delivery system," he said.



July Milk Production up 0.1 Percent
                        
Milk production in the 23 major States during July totaled 14.9 billion pounds, up 0.1 percent from July 2008.  June revised production at 14.8 billion pounds, was up 0.1 percent from June 2008.  The June revision
represented an increase of 34 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.

Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,769 pounds for July, 25 pounds above July 2008.    

The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.40 million head, 115,000 head less than July 2008, and 34,000 head less than June 2009.

Click here for the state by state numbers... http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/MilkProd/MilkProd-08-18-2009.txt



Angus Bull Shatters State Fair Super Bull Record

"Big Black," an Angus bull owned by Stalcup Farms Charolais of Prescott and the late Joe Holub of What Cheer, topped the scales at 3404 pounds winning the 2009 Super Bull contest and setting a new Iowa State Fair record. The contest was held last week at the 2009 Iowa State Fair.  (see picture below)

Holub had exhibited the Super Bull five times in the past and had placed second and third numerous times. The previous Super Bull record had been set in 2004 when "Buster," a Red Angus, weighed 3378 pounds.

Stalcup Farms Charolais also took the second place finish with a Charolais bull named "Challenger" weighing 2858 pounds. Brewer Farms of Dallas Center took third with their 2162 pound Limousin bull, "Nautalis."

"Big Black" as well as the Big Boar and Big Ram can be found at the Iowa State Fair in the cattle, swine and sheep barns respectively through August 23.



More Than $2.5 Million for Energy Efficiency Improvements Received by Rural Nebraskans
 
Seventy-four Nebraska recipients have been selected to receive $2,556,363 in loans and grants as announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week.  The funds will make energy efficiency improvements.    “We are enthusiastic about the energy dollars Nebraska is receiving,” said Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul, USDA Rural Development.  “Conservation of energy keeps more dollars at home and available for reinvestment into rural farming operations and businesses; helping them to remain sustainable.  The more dollars that are kept in the community, the more that will be spent local, thus helping Nebraska’s economy.”  Additional information on the Rural Energy for America Program may be found at www.rurdev.usda.gov/ne/Energy_energy_home.htm

Below are examples of the selected Nebraska recipients by county. Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the agreement.

Antelope:
Robert Wood-Orchard-$3,683 grant-Convert diesel engine to electric motor.
Warren Peterson-Plainview-$11,646 loan and matching grant-Convert two diesel engines to electric motors.
Dean Smith-Brunswick-$19,368 loan and matching grant-Convert diesel engine to electric motor, sprinkler package and upgrade grain dryer.

Boone:
CK Farms, Inc.-Albion-$5,263 grant-Convert diesel engine to electric motor.
Orrin Strand-Albion-$2,111 grant-Rebowl irrigation well.
Dave Weidner-Albion-$4,065 grant-Rebowl irrigation well.

Burt:
Webster Bros, LLC.-Decatur-$37,000 loan and matching grant-Grain dryer upgrades.

Colfax:
Hill Crest Farms, Inc.-Schuyler-$49,996 loan and matching grant-Grain dryer upgrades.

Dakota:
Jenkins Farms, Inc.-Homer-$122,805 loan and matching grant-Grain dryer upgrades.

Dodge:
Weitzenkamp Farms, Inc.-Hooper-$3,222 grant-Convert diesel engine to electric motor.

Knox:
Scott P. Adams-Orchard-$3,311 grant-Convert diesel engine to electric motor.
Clifford Fuchtman-Creighton-$2,697 grant-Convert diesel engine to electric motor.
Riceland Farms, Inc.-Brunswick-$13,644 loan and matching grant-Convert three diesel engines to electric motors.

Madison:
Leonard Olmer-Norfolk-$9,603 grant- Convert diesel irrigation engine to electric motor.
Jeff Eisenmenger-Norfolk-$7,474 loan and matching grant-Convert diesel irrigation engine to electric motor.
Hales & Associates-Norfolk-$5,000 loan and $3,879 grant-Replace roof, windows and door.
Chad Taake-Norfolk-$5,220 loan and matching grant-Convert from propane irrigation engine to electric motor.
Norman J. Funk-Norfolk-$5,475 grant-Farm shop building insulation package.
Steven T. Brockhaus-Humphrey-$47,189 loan and matching grant-Convert pivot to a low pressure system, upgrade inefficient irrigation motor and conduct pump work.
Daniel T. Scheer-Madison-$44,708 loan and matching grant-Convert diesel irrigation engine to electric motor, make grain dryer and shop building upgrades.

Nemaha:
Ryan Tyler Gravalt-Johnson-$24,504 grant- Convert propane engine to electric motors and convert gravity irrigation to low pressure center pivot system.

Platte:
Kenneth Stone-Lindsay-$6,313 grant-Convert diesel irrigation engine to electric motor.

Thurston:
Harvey Bray, Inc.-Rosalie-$27,020 loan and matching grant-Grain dryer upgrades.

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/ .