January 2002
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Corn and Soybean Wheat Government programs Ag Alternatives Hay and Grain Storage Resources
In a normal year, grain is aerated shortly after harvest in early fall and again in late fall as outdoor temperatures drop into the 30s and 40s. Because of the warm fall, much of Nebraska's grain went into storage well above 50oF, said Tom Dorn, NU extension educator in Lancaster County.
Keeping stored grain cool is important for several reasons, Dorn said. Maintaining a temperature below 70oF reduces insect reproduction. Insects become dormant below 50oF and many are killed below 32 oF. Mold growth also is reduced below 50oF and nearly stops completely below 40oF.
"There were only a few opportunities to cool grain further until mid- to late December," he said. "If one did not take advantage of the opportunity to reduce grain temperatures during that period, moisture migration due to convection currents could be setting the stage for disaster."
When grain temperature is significantly higher than air temperature, convection currents can occur in the bin, he said. In a convection current, air sinks in cooler grain near bin walls and rises through warmer grain in the bin's center.
"When a convection current occurs in a bin, the warm air carries moisture up through the center of the grain mass," the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources educator said. "When warm air reaches cold grain at the top, some of the moisture can condense and re-wet the grain, resulting in a wet spot in the top center of the bin. Crusted, moldy grain, sometimes with active insect activity, can result if the condition is not discovered and corrected by breaking up the crust and aerating to cool the grain mass."
To reduce convection currents, producers should run aeration fans whenever the average outdoor temperature is 20oF lower than the grain temperature at the center of the bin, Dorn said. When cooling grain, be sure that the cooling front is pushed all the way through the grain mass before stopping aeration.
"A cooling front pushed partly through the grain can result in moisture condensation in the zone where the two temperatures meet," he said. "This is especially important if grain temperature is being lowered more than 20oF in one step."
The goal is to cool the grain to a uniform temperature that is closer to the average air temperature, Dorn said. However, producers should not cool grain to below freezing. This can create problems if an aeration cycle is necessary in the spring when the air is warmer and more humid.
Depending on the aeration fan size and bin capacity, it could take a few days to two weeks to move a cooling front through a bin of corn. The cooling time can be estimated by dividing 15 by the airflow rate, measured in cubic feet of air per minute per bushel (cfm/bu).
"Be sure to check grain temperature at several locations in the bin to be sure the cooling front has moved all the way through the grain mass," Dorn said. "When the aeration fans aren't running, remember to close roof hatches to prevent rain and snow from getting into the bin. Cover the fan when it's not running to prevent problems caused by the chimney effect that can draw in moist air at the bottom of the bin and up through the grain."
For producers who are unsure whether their grain condition will hold up through the spring, Dorn suggested running the fan on a cold day and checking the exhaust air for odors or steam. A musty smell, a steam plume or condensation on the underside of the bin roof indicates that the grain is heating in some parts of the bin.
"Remember that whenever there are serious signs of grain heating, no matter what the season or weather, run the fan continuously," Dorn said. "Also, feed or sell such low quality grain as quickly as possible. Grain quality never improves during storage."
For more information, consult NU Cooperative Extension NebGuides G84-692, Aeration of Stored Grain, and G85-760, Natural Corn Air Drying, available at county extesnion offices or on the web at http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/farmbuildings.
Heather Corley
IANR Newswriter
USDA offers CRP contract extensions
Conservation Reserve Program contracts expiring this year may be extended for another year, according to a Jan. 11 USDA news release. Participants with contracts expiring on Sept. 30, 2002 have until May 31, 2002 to apply for the one-year extension. Some 30,000 contracts are affected.
“The expiration affects 1.8 million rural acres now protected by the CRP. This action will help ensure the continued safeguarding of this sensitive land as a new farm bill is developed,” said Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman.
The original contract with extension must not exceed 15 years. The extension will not change participants’ rental rates. All or a portion of the acreage under contract may be included in an extension, but no new acreage may be added. Obligations and responsibilities under the original contract continue to apply to contracts that are modified and extended.
The USDA is not planning to offer a general CRP signup in fiscal year 2002; however, producers may continue to enroll relatively small, highly-desirable acreage, such as filter strips and riparian buffers, in the continuous CRP at any time at their local FSA office.
Producers enrolled in CRP receive rental payments and other financial incentives to remove lands from agricultural production for a period of 10 to 15 years. CRP participants plant native grasses, trees, and other vegetation to improve water quality, soil, and wildlife habitat. About 34 million acres are currently enrolled in CRP.
For more information on the CRP program, contact your local FSA office or visit the FSA web site.
USDA News Release
EPA proposes spray drift changes
From the Jan. 7 Crop
Observation and Recommendation Network (CORN) newsletter from The Ohio State
University:
The EPA has issued a Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice proposing several new requirements for pesticide label language regarding pesticide drift. It would apply to any product applied outdoors as a spray or dust, except for fumigants and mosquito adulticide products labeled solely for use in public health programs. The proposed rules are available on the EPA site. Comments on the proposal are due by Jan. 19.
Crafting a fertility plan that fits your operation
A video discussion with Extension specialists
The Jan. 10 broadcast of Market Journal includes discussions on tailoring a fertility plan to best meet the needs of your operation and why recommendations from various soil testing laboratories differ. Speakers include Doug Jose, Market Journal host and NU Extension agricultural economist; Ray Ward, Ward Laboratories, Kearney, Nebraska; Charles Shapiro, NU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist; and Achim Dobermann, NU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist. The show also includes video stories on the 2001 corn, soybean and wheat markets, grain merchandising, and a new kind of triticale specially bred for Nebraska to be more winter-hardy and disease resistant. The hour-long show can be viewed in its entirety or segments of it can be selected from a menu at http://marketjournal.unl.edu/archive/020110.shtml. On the Jan. 24 broadcast, UNL Extension specialists will discuss the abundant forage situation this winter and how best to use it. The show can be viewed live on-line at 8 p.m. Jan. 24 at Market Journal.
NU Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources scientists test several hundred
varieties and hybrids each year at about 30 sites across the state, said Lenis
Nelson, crop variety and seed production specialist. Results provide an unbiased
comparison of how entries from various seed companies perform at different
locations and under different conditions.
These tests provide one more piece of the puzzle when deciding what to plant
next year, said Nelson.
"We would like to help producers choose those varieties and hybrids that will
complement each other and improve profitability," Nelson said.
NU Cooperative Extension publishes the results annually. Corn Hybrid Tests,
EC-105, and Soybean Variety Tests, EC-104, are available from local NU
Cooperative Extension offices and on the Web at varietytest.unl.edu.
Sorghum, winter
wheat and sunflower results also are available on the Web.
Corn and soybean results provide information about yield, moisture, bushel
weight and diseases. Soybean results also include height, maturity date, oil and
protein content and lodging data.
The NU information helps producers become better prepared to consult crop
literature or visit with seed company representatives about a variety's strengths
and weaknesses.
Most producers choose several varieties of each crop to help spread the risk of a
particular hybrid's susceptibility to seed or pesticide problems, planting or climatic
conditions and harvest moisture, Nelson said. Planting different varieties also
spreads the maturity date and broadens disease and insect resistance.
Although each farmer's risk tolerance differs, Nelson suggested planting new
varieties conservatively on about 10% or less of total acres.
"The real danger is making choices on one year's data," he said.
The tests also provide information on whether it will be beneficial and cost
effective to plant genetically modified varieties or hybrids, such as Bt corn or
Roundup Ready soybeans, into a crop rotation, Nelson said. Planting these
varieties will change the management practices and requirements of the farm,
such as tillage, chemical application and times these practices need to be
completed. It also will create a new pool of potential hybrids and varieties.
Sandi S. Alswager
The dry conditions, compounded by a recent cold snap, are taking a
toll on the wheat crop.
Because of unusually warm weather, wheat planted last fall grew
longer into the winter than usual before entering dormancy, said
Kansas State University agronomist Jim Shroyer. That extended
growth sapped moisture from the soil – moisture that hasn't been
replaced through snow or rainfall around much of the state.
The result of the dryness has been poor crown root development and
crop growth in some areas. And the recent cold snap may have set up
some wheat for winterkill.
In a report released Dec. 31, the Kansas Agricultural Statistics
Service rated Kansas winter wheat 7% very poor, 16%
poor, 35% fair, 35% good, and 7% excellent.
"The cold snap around Christmas put much of the crop into dormancy,
but it was kind of a double-edged sword," said Shroyer, who is a
crop production specialist with K-State Research and Extension. The
quick drop in soil temperatures may have resulted in some
winterkill.
Research and past experience shows that wheat can be killed or
damaged when soil temperatures drop to 10 degrees F or below,
Shroyer said.
Soil temperatures to a depth of 2 inches fell to 10 degrees or less
at weather reporting stations near Hays and Manhattan, during the
first week of January, said Mary Knapp, climatologist for the State
of Kansas. Numerous stations reported temperatures in the teens.
Dry soil cools down and heats up faster than wet soil, Shroyer
said.
"Are we going to have widespread winter kill? I don't think so. Do
I think there will be some? Yes," he added.
Shroyer said a good dose of moisture would help the wheat crop and
would keep dry topsoil from blowing away, but it may not keep all
problems at bay.
"To say a rain will cure all of our ills is not completely a valid
assumption," he said. Rain or snow would help wheat root systems
and would be welcome across the state.
However, last fall's longer-than-usual growing season also left the
crop vulnerable for a longer period of time to bird cherry oat
aphids, which can carry the barley yellow dwarf virus into wheat
plants.
"I expect to see more barley yellow dwarf this spring than we
usually do," Shroyer said. Wheat streak mosaic may also be more
prevalent than usual, he added.
If at first you don't succeed. ...
Last month, the U.S. Senate reached an impasse on a new farm bill.
That means congressional agricultural leaders will try again in 2002.
Ultimately, they'll finish the job. The big question is when. If new
legislation can be finalized within the next couple of months, it likely
would apply to this year's crops. If deliberations drag on until the end of
the year, the new law won't become operational until 2003.
The first attempt at passing a bill apparently will come shortly after
the Senate convenes for the year on Jan. 23. A new approach may be needed,
however, because the current proposal (S. 1731) already has failed to move
forward on three separate occasions.
As I see it, three forces will be in play over the next few weeks.
First, the House approved its bill (H.R. 2646) last October. Since
then, House agricultural leaders have been waiting -- sometimes not too
patiently -- for the Senate to act. Since being passed, the House bill has
picked up support from the executive branch. President Bush has said he
wants the next farm bill to be "generous" to farmers. He also has pledged
that last year's budget resolution for agricultural supports should be
retained. This puts the House bill on stronger footing than it had at the
time of passage.
Second, although the details vary, I do not see the House and Senate
bills as being that different. Both continue the support systems of recent
years, including marketing loans and upfront direct payments. In addition,
both bills would reinstate counter-cyclical payments along the lines of the
old target price system, which was in place from 1973 through 1995. Neither
calls for land idling nor major restrictions on crops to be planted.
Equally important, the cost to government would be about the same in each
bill at $15 billion to $16 billion annually.
While the items above appear to provide the basis for convergence on a
new law, another development may make final passage more difficult. In
mid-November, the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, D.C.-based
think tank, released a list of payment recipients for the 1996-2000 period.
The Internet address is www.ewg.org. Not surprisingly, some of the payment
totals reached six or seven figures.
What's misleading about the Environmental Working Group's list is that
government payments do not necessarily match a farmer's financial status.
As just one example, a tenant who cash rents may receive very large
government payments while netting relatively little. At the same time, a
landlord may receive no government payments but do quite well with cash
rent. Government payments are not the same thing as net farm income! It
will be important for Congress to keep this reality in mind if payment
limits become a big issue.
Roy Frederick
This year's workshops, formally known as the Corn/Soybean Expos, are more indepth and
involve participants in making decisions, said Robert Klein, Institute of Agriculture and Natural
Resources cropping systems specialist at NU's West Central Research and Extension Center here.
"The lectures present information and participants work in groups to come up with the best
answer," he said. "Real experience and interaction are better learning methods than just
listening."
The first workshop emphasizes production innovations. Topics include reducing risk and
improving yields from better variety and hybrid selection; weed management; reports from the
Nebraska Corn and Soybean Boards and Growers Associations; how to improve yields; and
economics of applying pesticides yourself.
Presenters for the first workshop are Klein, NU Crops Specialist Roger Elmore; NU Crop
Variety and Seed Production Specialist Lenis Nelson; NU Weed Specialists Stevan Knezevic,
Alex Martin and Fred Roeth; and Dale Flowerday, consulting agronomist for Dalmar Consulting
of Lincoln.
The second workshop features marketing and risk management techniques. Topics include
assessing cash flow and risk management needs; the role of crop insurance; pre-harvest decisions
and forward pricing strategies; post-harvest marketing decisions; and basis patterns and using
options to complement other strategies. Producers also will participate in a grain market
simulation game using actual yields, prices and a case farm.
Presenters are NU Farm Management Specialists Doug Jose and Roger Selley and Roy Smith,
a Plattsmouth farmer, private educator and writer.
Registration is at 9 a.m. Dates, locations and extension educator contacts for the clinics are:
The following Certified Crop Advisors credits are available: 1.5 in crop management, 2.0 in
pest management, 1.0 in nutrient management for the production workshops and 4.5 in crop
management for the marketing workshops.
Registration is at the door and is $15. It includes noon meal, refreshments and materials. For
more information or to receive a registration form, contact Klein at (308)532-3611, extension
144 or the Cooperative Extension office where a workshop is being held.
The 2002 Corn/Soybean Production and Marketing Workshops are sponsored by Cooperative
Extension in NU's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Farm Credit Services of
America in cooperation with the Nebraska Corn and Soybean Boards and Growers Associations.
Sandi S. Alswager
The only effective method to sample long hay is by using a core sampler. If you don't
have one, you can buy one from many ag supply catalogues and forage testing labs. Some local
Cooperative Extension offices also may have hay probes available for loan.
Once you have a hay probe, use it to collect one core each from 15 to 20 bales that came
from the same field and cutting. Collect your sample from the center of the twine end of the
bales. Then combine all the samples from this group into one larger sample to send to the lab.
If there is decayed or moldy material that you will discard or your animals will not eat, do
not include it in your sample. That way you will have a sample that is similar to the actual diet of
your livestock. However, if you plan to sell the hay you must include this less desirable
material in your sample to accurately represent all the hay to be sold.
If you follow these sampling techniques, you will get accurate nutrient analyses of your
hay and be able to use it more effectively.
Bruce Anderson
Whatever the reason, you need to understand timothy's growth characteristics and
limitations. Most importantly, timothy is shallow-rooted and very
sensitive to drought. So only try to grow timothy in soils that receive or
retain moisture all summer long. Even though it is very winterhardy,
timothy is likely to persist only in subirrigated meadows, bottomlands, or
under irrigation.
Timothy is quite easy to establish if you plant it shallow into moist
soil. The seed is inexpensive and tiny -- it only takes a few pounds of seed per
acre to get a full stand.
Because timothy is a bunchgrass, it mixes well with other grasses and
legumes. I like to include a pound or two in pasture mixes since it
establishes easily and you get a lot of seeds for your money. As pasture,
though, timothy won't survive unless grazed rotationally.
Timothy may be just the right choice for your seeding mixture if you have moist soil, can graze it in rotation or cut hay.
Bruce Anderson
The practice of raising poultry in pastures has been tested and proven
successful in the eastern United States for several decades and has been in
practice in central Nebraska since 1995, said Paul Swanson, NU extension
educator and workshop presenter. While the practice may not be for everyone, it can raise significant net income without government programs,
Swanson said. It also can be part of a larger, integrated system of
enterprises.
Raising pastured poultry is different from commodity marketing because
the number of birds a producer raises depends on the number they can
market, he said. The producer is responsible for direct sales and building
relationships with customers. The grower also may be involved with processing to ensure a quality, safe product.
Pastured poultry is relatively inexpensive to establish, and a farm
family can produce 5,000 to 10,000 birds per year if the customer base
justifies it. Returns can be $1.50 to $3 per bird.
Pre-registration for the workshop is due Jan. 21. Cost is $10, which includes lunch and
instructional materials.
For more information or to register, contact the Saunders County
Cooperative Extension office at (402)624-8030 or e-mail Keith Glewen.
Cooperative Extension is part of NU's Institute of Agriculture and
Natural Resources.
Sandi S. AlswagerNU corn and soybean variety tests available
Choosing the right corn and soybean seed to plant next year requires some homework. University of Nebraska corn hybrid and soybean variety test results make that job easier.
IANR Newswriter
Dry, cold weather hard on wheat
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas wheat farmers know something a lot of
other Kansans probably don't – the state is suffering from
abnormally dry conditions and in some areas, moderate drought.Farm bill still on Congress' agenda in 2002
(This is one of a series of columns on agricultural and public policies.)
Extension Public Policy Specialist
Corn/soybean production and marketing workshops slated
UNL Corn/Soybean Production and Marketing Workshops will be offered at five locations in
January and February to help producers enhance their production and marketing management
skills.
IANR Newswriter
Sample hay correctly for more accurate results
Forage tests can tell you the nutrient concentration in your hay, but only if the sample you
collect accurately resembles your hay. Reaching into a bale and pulling out a hunk of hay will
not give you a good sample. Nor will gathering a single flake of hay.
Extension Forage Specialist
Using timothy in pastures
Timothy is a popular grass for hay and pasture in many areas. It has
been a favorite for hay among horse enthusiasts for many years, perhaps because it makes a fairly soft
hay. Timothy also matures and forms seedheads later in the year than other
cool-season grasses, providing for hay-making when it is less
likely to suffer rain damage.
Extension Forage Specialist
NU Pastured Poultry Workshop Jan. 23
A University of Nebraska workshop Jan. 23 will provide
guidance on developing and maintaining a pastured poultry operation. Direct Marketing Pastured Poultry, sponsored by NU Cooperative Extension, will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the NU Agricultural Research and
Development Center near Mead.
IANR Newswriter
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Achieving a win-win situation for both agricultural landowners and their renters often is the goal when negotiating rental agreements, but getting there can sometimes be difficult.
Bruce Johnson, NU agricultural economics professor, and Roger Selley, NU farm management specialist, discuss the rules and regulations of rental agreements with Doug Jose, NU agricultural economist, on a recent video segment of “Market Journal.”
Johnson provides a current update on the cash rental market for land and the factors that impact it, such as continuing competition for land among consumers and how the economy affects land rates.
“We’re going into 2002 with relatively stable prices, as far as rental rates go,” Johnson said.
Selley will share the thoughts and concerns of producers across the state on land rental agreements and discuss what is fair between the landlord and tenant.
“Both would like more, but the pie’s not big enough,” Selley said.
“Market Journal” is a production of NU Cooperative Extension and the Department of
Agricultural Economics. Previous broadcasts are archived at marketjournal.unl.edu
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A new soybean market has emerged -- thanks to University of Nebraska researchers finding new ways to make cooking oil healthier and diesel fuel cleaner. NU plant scientist Tom Clemente took a unique approach in modifying a soybean. Instead of adding a gene, he extracted one, creating a high oleic acid soybean. The transformed bean contains 80% to 90% oleic acid, versus 15% to 20% in conventional soybeans. The result is a tastier, longer shelf-life food-grade oil. Research like this is not new, but now the work of NU scientists is specifically targeted.
"In terms of breeding, we are going to be developing varieties that are pertinent for soybean growers in Nebraska - with this new trait," said Clemente.
Soybean breeder George Graef steps in after the soybean is modified. His job is to grow soybeans that produce higher yields and fend off diseases. In part, it's about developing a viable, home-grown energy alternative.
"It reduces our total dependence on petroleum products. Even at current use it would reduce our dependence by 2%, " said Graef.
NU plant breeders plan to test the soybean next year to see if the beans continue to produce the 90% oleic acid in different environments over time. Farmers who want to grow this soybean variety will need to keep the bean separate from conventional varieties.
"It would be an advantage for some of the smaller processors that can keep lots separate and aren't stuck to handling hundreds of thousands or millions of bushels of a commodity type soybean," said Graef. The market is definitely there for a less polluting fuel... and a heart healthy cooking oil.
Serena Hoffman
Student Assistant, Market Journal
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