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Forage options for horses discussed in new guide

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AMES, Iowa — Equine owners have numerous choices when it comes to which forages to feed their horses. In order to help make the decision easier, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has released a new publication called “Forages for Horses in Iowa.”

A dozen different species of legumes and grasses are covered, along with information on how to seed each species and maximize the yield potential.

“A mature horse that is not working hard will eat 1.5 to 2 pounds of air-dry feed per 100 pounds of body weight,” said Peggy Auwerda, associate professor in animal science and extension equine specialist. “That would be 15 to 20 pounds of hay daily for a 1,000-pound horse. In Iowa, horses will require about 2 tons of hay per head per year, plus summer pasture.”

Pasture is an ideal forage for horses in the spring, summer and fall, but during winter months, a high-quality hay is essential.

The publication explains how to identify each plant, its flower and seed, and its best uses. The publication also gives advice on how to seed new forages, and how to manage established grasses and legumes so they grow at their fullest potential.

“This information will help Iowa horse owners with decision making for the management of land used for pasture or hay production,” said Auwerda. “The descriptions of legumes and cool season grasses provide background information to help equine owners understand the types of forages used in horse pastures.”

Although horses can eat almost any forage, they should not have access to sorghum and sudangrass, which can cause poisoning. They can eat clovers, but clover causes horses to slobber and may not be ideal for show animals.

The nutritional needs of the horse will depend on its age and what it is being used for. Information for gestating and lactating mares is covered in depth in a second ISU Extension and Outreach publication, called Nutrition for the Gestating and Lactating Mare.

For more information, Auwerda can be reached at peggy@iastate.edu or 515-294-5260.

— Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Tips for battling early corn seedling diseases

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WESTFIELD, Ind. — Getting the corn crop off to a solid start includes managing early corn seedling diseases like Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium and Penicillium, says Justin Schneider, LG Seeds agronomist in Michigan. He offers tips for limiting the number of bad days to maximize yield potential.

#1: Scout fields early

The critical time to scout corn fields for seedling diseases is 10 days to two weeks after planting, says Schneider, adding, “If you need help with that, contact your local agronomist. We’re happy to run out there and do stand counts and identify early disease threats.”

“If you don’t spot a problem until you are side-dressing with nitrogen or spraying a herbicide, you’re too late,” he says.

Pythium thrives in cool, wet soil and can been fueled by reduced or no-till situations and increased use of cover crops. It causes more damage than Fusarium and Rhizoctoniacombined. Schneider says in Michigan, poorly drained soil creates an optimal environment for early-seedling diseases like Pythium.

Schneider also encounters Rhizoctonia, particularly with warmer soils and in irrigated fields, as well as Fusarium, which can be triggered by stressors like herbicide damage or improper seedbed preparation.

Penicillium is more prevalent in areas like southern Illinois or Tennessee where temperatures are warmer in the spring.

These diseases hinder root development, which can impact nutrient and water uptake, reduce plant growth and, in severe cases, kill seedlings, says Schneider.

#2: Practice patience at planting

Farmers have increasingly been “pushing the envelope” when it comes to planting, with Schneider cautioning, “We need to be as close as we can to that 50-degree soil temperature mark at planting, especially if a field has a history of early seedling diseases.”

He also emphasizes the importance of patience when it comes to seedbed prep and ensuring good seed-to-soil contact. “The longer that seed sits in the ground, the more susceptible it’s going to be to a disease threat,” Schneider warns.

#3: Try a new mode of action to combat Pythium

A good fungicide seed treatment can provide an added layer of protection, and Schneider is excited that LG Seeds has added Vayantis® fungicide seed treatment to the arsenal. “It’s rare to have a new active ingredient come on the marketplace, so having that in our Pythium-fighting toolbox is going to be huge,” he says.

The powerful compound offers highly effective and overlapping modes of action for fighting Pythium. “I’m going to have fewer replant calls because of it,” he predicts, adding that LG Seeds agronomists are available to help farmers determine which tools get the most out of their crop.

— LG Seeds

IL corn farmers approve increased checkoff rate

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Illinois corn farmers voted in favor of increasing the corn checkoff rate established in the Illinois Corn Marketing Act in a vote held March 29, 2022, according to Illinois Department of Agriculture.

The referendum, which passed in an 88%-12% vote of all farmers subject to the act, will result in the current 5/8 cent corn checkoff rate increasing to 7/8 of a cent-per-bushel.  The program will retain the right to refund and the new rate will take effect October 1, 2022.

“We understand that it is important that we continue to invest these checkoff dollars with integrity to achieve the goals and meet the needs of corn farmers in Illinois,” said Mark Wilson, ICMB Chairman.

View the official notice from the Illinois Department of Agriculture here.

ICMB is governed by a volunteer board of corn farmers elected by their peers. These farmers invest the checkoff funds.  The increase in funds will be used to:

  1. Educate the public and government officials on the need for improved waterways infrastructure to compete in a global marketplace.
    • We have successfully secured funding for modernization of Lock #25 on the Mississippi River.  There are six additional locks on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers that must be modernized to achieve long term competitive benefits for Illinois farmers.
  2. Position corn farmers to increase relevance among non-farmers and prevent regulations on agriculture by engaging with the public and officials.
  3. Grow the domestic fuel ethanol market and combat the influence of electric vehicles, and research alternative markets for ethanol, like sustainable aviation fuel, and other new uses, such as corn-based plastics.
  4. Build diverse export opportunities in established and emerging markets for corn, ethanol, DDGS, red meat, and poultry.

“These focus areas were determined after much thought and analysis,” adds Wilson. “We surveyed corn farmers and considered the input provided by the members of the IL Corn Growers Association. We feel a sense of obligation and duty to be sure that corn checkoff dollars are wisely invested to enhance the profitability of corn farmers in Illinois.”

The Illinois Corn Marketing Act was established by growers in 1982 as a means to fund corn market development, research, promotion and education efforts. The last rate increase went into effect on October 1, 2012.

Established in 1982, the Illinois Corn Marketing Board serves and is accountable to the interests of all Illinois farmers. ICMB is governed by 15 farmers from across Illinois elected by their peers. The mission of this farmer board is to strategically invest corn checkoff dollars to grow demand, create new markets, and foster understanding of corn farmers and the corn industry. For further information regarding their work and involvement, visit their website www.ilcorn.org.

— Illinois Corn

Market report: milk supplies down, potential record prices

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ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. milk production lagging behind year-ago levels, combined with robust demand for dairy domestically and overseas, are driving milk prices toward record highs, even as inventories remain relatively balanced. Higher feed costs continue to eat into farmer margins.

U.S milk production was 1.7 percent lower than a year earlier in January, but this moderated to just under one percent lower in February. Cheese production and seasonably increasing ice cream and frozen dairy products are claiming a growing portion of available milk at the expense of butter and dry skim milk, the traditional supply balancing products.

Domestic commercial use during the first months of the year was robust for butter, all major types of cheese, and total milk equivalent, both fat and skim solids. Meanwhile, U.S. dairy exports rebounded in February to 16.6 percent of U.S. milk solids production, following two months at 14 percent or below. Wholesale dairy product prices continue to increase, but some retail prices are increasing much faster, particularly for fluid milk and, just recently, butter.

U.S. average milk prices are expected to reach roughly $27/cwt during the second half of 2022, according to current futures. However, feed costs will likely reach the same high levels they did during the drought period of 2012-2013. That will restrain DMC margins, but still at rates above the maximum coverage level of $9.50/cwt.

Read the full report here.

— National Milk Producers Federation

What are some current advancements in hop breeding?

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WASHINGTON — Common hop – you might call it hops – is a main ingredient in beer responsible for its rich flavor profile. Craft brewers and larger manufacturers alike are always looking for that new flavor. The April 22nd 2022 Sustainable, Secure Food Blog explains the breeding efforts that go into those new flavors – and there is additional work being done to make varieties of hop that are disease resistant, as well as drought and heat tolerant.

According to blogger John Henning, while hop is important in the beer industry, not a lot of research has focused on creating a genetic profile of the crop. Over the past decade, several breeders, including Hennig, have focused on creating genetic maps that outline “markers” to help guide us in our breeding.

Currently, we have only determined the markers for a few hop traits for use in our programs. Some important markers we know for hops are:

  • Sex – this is important because only female lines are cultivated
  • Disease resistance – we know the markers for Hop Powdery Mildew, Hop Downy Mildew
  • Plant height – this is important because dwarf hops can be grown on a short trellis as a hedge—significantly reducing labor inputs
  • Alpha acid levels – these contribute to the bittering potential that a hop will contribute to brewing
  • Prevalent essential oils – these are more compounds that contribute to the flavor of beer

Recent developments in genomic tracing have lowered the cost of the process. More of these traits – and others soon to be identified – will be implemented into routine breeding. This is true for both the public breeding programs as well as private endeavors.

Early efforts at hop genome assembly were only recently published (2015) and the first true draft genome published last year (2020). As a result, efforts at marker development for hops are still in their infancy stage in hops. And this is for only of few of the simpler traits—those controlled by one or just a few genes. Some traits are controlled by three or more genes, which dramatically increases the complexity of gene expression and makes selection for traits much more difficult.

This blog is based on Dr. Henning’s paper about the development of “074” published in the Journal of Plant Registrations.

To read the entire blog, visit: https://sustainable-secure-food-blog.com/2022/04/22/what-are-some-current-advancements-in-hop-breeding

–American Society of Agronomy
Crop Science Society of America

4Rs Nutrient Stewardship Field Day set for July 19

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LINCOLN, Neb. — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is excited to offer the second annual 4Rs Nutrient Stewardship Field Day on July 19, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, Ithaca.

The 4Rs is a nutrient management and water stewardship approach which emphasizes fertilizer use with the right source, right rate, right time and right placement of fertilizers. This science-based approach focuses on the best nutrient management practices and sustainable crop production with increasing crop yield and farmer’s profit while protecting the environment. Key advantages of following 4Rs Nutrient Management Stewardship include:

  • An efficient and effective soil fertility program for optimizing the crop nutrient requirements.
  • Reducing the cost of fertilizer input while ensuring crop nutrient needs.
  • Increasing synchrony of soil nutrients availability and crop growth and development.
  • Reducing the potential for nutrient loss to surface water, groundwater and air.
  • Enabling efficient use of water with the combined interaction of nutrients availability, crop growth and water use.
  • Improving soil organic matter and soil health benefits with more crop biomass production.
  • Increasing nutrient use efficiency by minimizing nutrient losses.

Speakers from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln will be presenting topics related to 4Rs strategies to improve crop yield and profits while protecting the environment.

The event counts as 4.5 CEUs on Nutrient Management.

The field day is free, but registration is required for participation and will close July 15. More information is at https://agronomy.unl.edu/4rs-nutrient-stewardship-field-day.

Coordinating the event is Javed Iqbal, Extension specialist and assistant professor of agronomy, and can be reached at jiqbal2@unl.edu or 402-472-1432.

— University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Benefit of killing annual weeds in winter wheat depends on weed, yield loss

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Killing common annual weeds in winter wheat may or may not be a good financial decision, especially when input costs are high, says University of Missouri Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley.

Winter wheat is one of the most competitive crops planted, Bradley says.

Bradley offers these guidelines based on research from MU and other reputable sources.

Common chickweed

Yields drop when weed densities are at least 30 plants per square meter and higher. MU research found that wheat yields dropped 28% with common chickweed densities of 169 plants per square meter.

Cheat/downy brome

“Herbicide applications are almost always warranted in fields with cheat and downy brome infestations,” Bradley says. “This is especially true when these grasses emerge at or within the first few weeks after wheat planting.”

In 1997, Oklahoma researchers Koscelny and Peeper observed a 49% reduction in yields when cheat infestations were 86 plants per square meter. Blackshaw (1993) reported wheat yield reductions greater than 60% in fields with 200 downy brome plants per square meter.

Italian ryegrass

Herbicide application is usually warranted for Italian ryegrass, a very competitive weed. Ryegrass tends to develop resistance to herbicides and robs wheat of nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium. Many studies show that Italian ryegrass in wheat lowers yields.

Liebl and Worsham (2017) showed that wheat grain yields dropped an average of 4.2% for every 10 Italian ryegrass plants per square meter.

Henbit/purple deadnettle

Purple deadnettle is one of the most easily recognizable weeds. It’s often visible from roads as it covers spring fields with color.

Most of these annual weeds are flowering or past flowering and starting to die back on their own.

Henbit does not compete as much with wheat as some other winter annuals. However, it can cause yield reductions in high densities.

Bradley puts purple deadnettle in the same category.

“Research we conducted in several locations in Missouri years ago showed that season-long competition from henbit at densities of 18 plants per square meter did not cause any wheat yield loss at all,” says Bradley. “However, densities of 82 plants per square meter reduced yields by 13%. The stage of growth that these species are in at the time you wish to treat is critically important.”

Herbicide applications might prevent seed production, but these weeds are not going to be competitive enough to make it an economically justifiable treatment, Bradley says.

— MU Extension

Carbon markets, feed and nutrient research, dairy market on tap

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JUNEAU, Wis. — This week’s episodes of The Dairy Signal from Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW) will provide timely insights for dairy producers on opportunities with carbon markets, the latest in nutrient and feed-efficiency research, and a market update. The Tues., April 26, episode will focus on the business decisions involved in carbon marketplace contracts. The monthly Rising Stars Graduate Research Showcase on Wednesday will feature ongoing research on choline and feed efficiency. A bi-weekly market and industry news report will air on Thurs., April 28.

Tuesday, April 26
Carbon markets present a number of opportunities for today’s farmers but they also come with potential risks. A recent PDPW Business Conference presentation, the topic is being made available to present to a broader audience the options available to meet a farm’s business goals. Those tuning in live are encouraged to engage with the presenter and ask questions about the logistics, dynamics and carbon-marketplace contract terms. Episode presenter will be:

  • Patrick Wood, Founder and General Manager, Ag Methane Advisors, LLC

Wednesday, April 27
Sponsored by Balchem, this month’s Rising Stars Graduate Research Showcase features students from the University of Florida. They will share research on the impact of choline on hepatic metabolism and performance in dairy cows as well as studies on how a cow’s ability to utilize nutrients can impact her production, health and reproduction. Episode presenters will be:

  • Usman Arshad, PhD student, University of Florida
  • Mariana Nehme Marinho, PhD student, University of Florida
  • Dr. JosĂ© Eduardo Santos, Research Foundation Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida

Thursday, April 28
Staying on top of the latest news on global grain markets, dairy industry trends and other economic factors that impact dairy farming can overwhelming. Tune in to hear the latest news and market trends in this bi-weekly market update. Episode presenter will be:

  • Dan Basse, President of AgResource Company

The Dairy Signal™ is a weekly series of free educational episodes offering insights and resources for fellow dairy farmers and other food system professionals throughout the value chain. Developed by dairy farmers and members of the Professional Dairy Producers® (PDPW) Board of Directors, the episodes air live from 12:00-1:00 PM CT each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Live sessions offer attendees the opportunity to engage in open Q&A with the speakers; recorded sessions are available later in the day. All Dairy Signal episodes are accessible through www.pdpw.org.

For more information, contact PDPW at 800-947-7379 or by emailing mail@pdpw.org. Join the conversation digitally by following @dairyPDPW and using #TheDairySignal on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Professional Dairy Producers (PDPW) is the nation’s largest dairy producer-led organization of its kind, focusing on producer professionalism, stakeholder engagement and unified outreach to share ideas, solutions, resources, and experiences that help dairy producers succeed.

— Professional Dairy Producers

Dairyland Laboratories Inc. purchases services from DHIA Laboratories

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ARCADIA, Wis. — Dairyland Laboratories announces that it has purchased feed and forage testing services from DHIA Laboratories in Sauk Centre, Minn. DHIA Laboratories will continue to provide milk and testing independent of Dairyland Laboratories.

Kyle Taysom, CEO with Dairyland Laboratories, says, “This acquisition re-emphasizes our commitment to servicing this key dairy market through a sustainable business model that emphasizes local service with the expertise and technical support of an international network.”

Starting Monday, April 25, 2022, samples will be tested at Dairyland’s Sauk Rapids, Minn., laboratory location. Customers with questions about test packages can call the lab at 320-240-1737.

A family-owned business since 1958, Dairyland Laboratories provides extensive analysis of feed, forage, water, molds and mycotoxins across the United States as well as internationally.

About Dairyland Laboratories
Founded in 1958, Dairyland Laboratories is a leading agriculture testing laboratory headquartered in Arcadia, Wisconsin with satellite laboratories in Stratford and De Pere, Wisconsin and St. Cloud, Minnesota, Battle Creek, MI and Jerome, ID. In addition, Dairyland analyses are provided by partner labs in more than 40 locations throughout the U.S. and abroad. The staff of more than 80 chemists and trained technicians use wet chemistry and near infrared (NIR) testing methods to deliver important information to agriculture producers, nutritionists and crop consultants, feed companies, researchers, crop geneticists and equipment manufacturers worldwide.

For more information, visit www.dairylandlabs.com.

— Dairyland Laboratories

Research shows significant environmental benefits of local food production

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AMES, Iowa — A new study examining a range of environmental impacts of vegetable production and distribution found local production offers significant benefits overall when compared to the large-scale methods that represent most of current vegetable sales to supermarkets.

An article on the research findings by scientists at Iowa State University was selected as Editor’s Choice for 2021 in the “Journal of Sustainability.”

Tiffanie Stone, graduate student in the environmental science program housed in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, co-authored the publication with Jan Thompson, Morrill Professor of natural resource ecology and management, Kurt Rosentrater, professor of agriculture and biosystems engineering, and Ajay Nair, professor of horticulture. Their research focused on small- and medium-scale vegetable production in Iowa compared to large-scale vegetable production in places like California.

Stone worked with horticulture specialists at the university to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions, energy requirements and water use of plants throughout production, transportation and consumption. She developed a Life Cycle Assessment, or LCA, for 18 types of vegetables using existing software developed by CleanMetrics 2.0. LCA helps researchers understand the environmental impacts of crop production and measure the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that occurred across every stage of crops’ life cycles.

She conducted the analysis on each type of vegetable in three different food system scenarios: large-scale, conventional production that accounts for most of our nation’s food supply, medium-scale production similar to direct-to-consumer operations in urban Iowa; and small-scale production intended to provide for an individual household.

“We wanted to understand how the vegetables we typically find in the grocery store differ from vegetables produced in the state and the ones grown in home gardens,” Stone said. “Since 50% of vegetables in the U.S. are produced in California, our large-scale scenario included transportation from that state, and production usually included more mechanization.”

Results from the LCAs show the large-scale production model had significantly greater global warming potential in all stages of food production and distribution than that of the medium- and small-scale production models. This conclusion was made by totaling the greenhouse gas emissions from cropping inputs, fuel, packaging and shipping. The vegetables assessed in large-scale food system conditions also demanded much more water than the ones evaluated under the small- and medium-scale food system growing conditions.

“In this study, typical Iowa vegetable production produced less than half the emissions and used 10% of the water than that of conventional food systems,” Stone said. “Since about 90% of table food is imported from outside of the state, we concluded that increasing local vegetable production and consumption should be a part of conversations about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water use.”

Thompson noted this study is a part of a larger project where researchers are using more models to assess a greater number of production factors.

“There are also potential social benefits to small-scale food production – such as more direct connections between producers and consumers – and economic opportunities for local producers who use practices that are less impactful to the environment,” Thompson said.

In terms of economic impacts, Stone said a report by the Economic Research Service and the USDA indicates that only 7.6% of food in the U.S. is currently sold through local food channels. Nonetheless, sales from farmers markets, regional food hubs, and farm-to-school programs grew by 180% to 488% between 2006 and 2014.

Based on the research, Thompson and Stone are confident in the environmental, social and economic potential of localizing and reducing the scale of food production.

“Producing more food locally is a way to develop a food system that is more resilient and has fewer impacts, in addition to providing fresher, more nutritious food,” Thompson said.

This study was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. The researchers also received funding from the McIntire-Stennis program.

–College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Iowa State University