| 1 IFBF asks Congress for livestock, grain farmer assistance in wake of floods Iowa Farm Bureau leaders are calling on members of Congress to move up the Conservation Reserve Program hay-cutting allowance to assist Midwest livestock producers in the wake of the devastating flood. The CRP lands were recently opened up for hay cutting, but access to the land was held until August because of concern over wild bird nesting. “Unfortunately, many of those nests were washed away with high water two weeks ago,” says Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Craig Lang. “Our livestock farmers can’t hold out until August to feed their animals.” Lang says Farm Bureau sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer to immediately release CRP acres for haying and grazing. The Floods of 2008 is expected to have many long and short-term effects. At this point, Iowa’s threatened grain crops have already impacted the price of corn and soybeans, which livestock farmers feed to their animals. (Read more.) Return to headlines
2 Sandhills chant helps Nebraskan become World Champion Many years of traveling the Sandhills of north central Nebraska selling windmills to his mom in the truck has paid off for Burwell’s Matt Lowery. Or maybe it was the Sandhills chant that lifted him to the top. The chant, which Lowery describes as, “a rhythmic, easy to understand chant with a deep, powerful voice.” On June 28, he was one of 33 semi-finalists in the 45th annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship at Sioux Falls Regional Livestock. This was his ninth time entering the competition and his perseverance helped him finally earn the title. He had won the reserve title twice and had been runner-up champion once. “Growing up in the Sandhills I love the cattle business and as a young boy I played auctioneer a lot,” he said. “Words really can’t describe what this means. It’s like a dream of mine.” (Read more.)
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3 USDA releases crop acreage report Iowa: 2008 acreages decrease for some crops Corn planted and to be planted decreased 4 percent this year for a total of 13.7 million acres. Corn harvested for grain is forecast at 12.8 million acres. Soybeans planted and to be planted is estimated at 9.40 million acres in 2008, up 850,000 from last year. Area for harvest, at 8.95 million acres, is up 430,000 from last year. The acreage estimates in this report are based on data collected from May 30 through June 16, with re-interviews of selected farmers June 23 to 25. NASS will conduct a more extensive acreage update survey during July. Findings from that study will be incorporated in the August Crop Production report. Additionally, producers reported on the percent of seed planted to genetically modified (GM) varieties. Corn planted to GM varieties are estimated in Iowa at 16 percent insect resistant (Bt) only and 15 percent herbicide resistant only. Stacked gene varieties account for 53 percent of corn acres for a total planted to GM varieties in Iowa of 84 percent of the total crop. Ninety-five percent of Iowa’s soybean acreage is planted to herbicide resistant varieties. The U.S. level is estimated at 92 percent. (Read more.) Return to headlines
4 Corn replanting carries major risks, says ISU agronomist With corn prices at record highs, many farmers are considering replanting flood-damaged fields, although years of data advise caution with such a decision. Recent yield simulations run by the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University show that while the economics may work out in a perfect situation, replanting carries with it some major risks. “Corn planted this late has an early frost damage risk of around 40 percent in the southern part of the state and as high as 66 percent in the northern areas,” says Roger Elmore, ISU professor of agronomy and ISU Extension corn agronomist. “An early frost could mean the difference between 130 bushels an acre and 24.” Simulations of yield potential for corn acres planted by July 1 show early season hybrids will be the only reasonable option for anyone who finds it economical, and worth the frost risk, to replant. But planting the early season hybrids creates an additional risk since these varieties are less suited to Iowa’s environmental stresses and disease. (Read more.) Return to headlines
5 Cattlemen open flooding relief effort The National Cattlemen’s Foundation, in cooperation with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, has launched a disaster relief effort to assist farm and ranch families impacted by catastrophic flooding in the Mississippi River corridor and surrounding areas. Thousands of family farm and ranch operations in Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin have been devastated by flooding caused by persistently heavy rains and subsequent levee failures on the Mississippi River and other major waterways. Many families have been completely displaced from their homes, or remain without power, potable water, and other utilities. Crop losses are enormous, including hay and forage normally used for livestock feed, as well as crops targeted for fall harvest. Downed fences and other property damage have also resulted in stranded and lost livestock, with thousands of farmers and ranchers struggling to make repairs and keep their operations functioning as well as possible. NCBA is joining forces with state cattlemen’s associations across the nation to provide assistance through the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. Every dollar contributed will directly assist families struggling to keep their farms and ranches operating under these difficult conditions. In conjunction with the foundation, state cattlemen’s associations from states in the affected region will manage distribution of all funds donated. (Read more.) Return to headlines
6 U.S. pork exports jump 200 percent in 10 years Ten years ago, the United States exported 1.116 billion pounds of pork, making our nation the source of about 1 pound of every 6 pounds of pork traded globally. How times have changed. In the first four months of 2008 alone, the U.S. pork industry already has exported 1.389 billion pounds of pork products to trading partners around the globe. What that means is that for every 3.3 pounds of pork traded in the world, 1 pound came from the United States. The consistent taste and quality of U.S. pork products and decades of campaigns and promotions to bring the message of the high quality and reliable attributes of U.S. pork to the attention of the world have made the United States the dominant player in the global pork industry. (Read more.) Return to headlines
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