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Headline Fungicide On Sunflowers
 July 6, 2008
A recent article in Sunflower magazine suggests that applying Headline fungicide at early bloom stage can significantly improve yields. The article cites yield increases as high as 544 pounds per acre, with a three year average of 205 pounds per acre. Plant health is improved, according to the article, so that disease prevention is likely not the only reason for increased yield.

According to Vince Ulstad, BASF Ag Products, Headline suppresses the amount of nighttime respiration going on within the green plant cells, and this increases the concentration of an enzyme called nitrate reductase, which is the enzyme responsible for helping the plant convert nitrate-nitrogen — the form the roots take up from the soil — into the amino form, which is the one laid down in amino acid and proteins. The result is a smoother transition in the plant’s nitrogen conversion process.

Sunflower growers should read the entire article: click here.

KDA Wheat Embargo Lifted
 June 25, 2008
Almost immediately after the June 25, 2008, Salina Journal reported that the Kansas Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the EPA, was embargoing wheat in three elevators from approximately 20 fields, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky announced the bans will be lifted based on test results that show no detectible traces of fungicide residue on the grain.

The suspect wheat allegedly was harvested within a time frame prohibited by the Quilt fungicide pesticide label.

In the Journal article, Polansky, is quoted as saying, "We hope this is entirely precautionary to protect the integrity of Kansas wheat." Polansky added, "I really don't believe there is a need for alarm, but we believe there is a need to be cautious and verify that situation before it moves beyond where it is at this point." Polansky also that the fungicide in question is "very safe" and that it has a "low toxicity for humans."

It was noted that if wheat tests showed higher than the recommended levels of residue, the wheat would be used for animal feed and not human consumption.

Are Commodity Prices Really High?
 June 14, 2008
A recent BBC article showed a graph of food prices in real (inflation adjusted) dollars from 1970 to the present. The graph shows that despite many current  headlines, food prices are now less than half what they were in 1973, and about equal to their 1995 levels.  To see a popup of the graph, please click here. To read the entire BBC article, click here.

Nebraska Land Prices Rise Dramatically
 March 24, 2008
Bruce Johnson, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln economist, says that Nebraska land values rose 23% last year, and that agricultural land values have risen 88% in the last five years. The new values are a record high, even in real (inflation adjusted) terms. The last peak occurred in 1981. To read the entire article, complete with extensive tables which show values by region and land type, please click here.

Ug 99 Stem Rust Threatens US Wheat
 February 25, 2008
In an effort to protect the US wheat crop from a a new, virulent wheat stem rust named Ug99, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is counting on the "southern strategy" to work. Ug99, a strain which has spread from Uganda, Africa, (Uganda, hence "Ug") to the Arabian Peninsula. First discovered in 1999, Ug99 is spread by wind-blown fungal spores. The ARS strategy is to plant highly resistant wheat varieties in the southern US to form a barrier against invasion. You can read more here.

First Bt Resistance Documented
 February 11, 2008
Bollworm in cotton has the honor of being the first insect to exhibit resistance to the Bt toxin commonly used in seed to prevent insect damage, according to a new research report by University of Arizona entomologists.

Bt-resistant populations of bollworm, Helicoverpa zea, were found in more than a dozen crop fields in Mississippi and Arkansas between 2003 and 2006.

"What we're seeing is evolution in action," said lead researcher Bruce Tabashnik, professor and head of the UA entomology department and an expert in insect resistance to insecticides. "This is the first documented case of field-evolved resistance to a Bt crop.”  You can read the complete article by clicking here.

Wind Energy and You
 January 13, 2008
The Kansas Farm Bureau reminds farmers to carefully examine any contract they might sign with a wind energy company, since most agreements are legally binding and have long-term consequences. Some questions to ask include these:

-How much land is required, and for how long?
-How much will I be paid, and when will the money be sent?
-What rights will I give up and what activities will I be able to continue?
-Does the energy company provide adequate liability protection?
-What are the tax consequences to my farm?
-Will the company develop the property, or are they simply tying it up?
-Can the energy company sell or assign their interest without your consent?
-Can the company terminate the contract without penalty?
-What happens to the wind energy structures is the contract is cancelled?

BASF: Headline Fungicide Pays
 December 31, 2007
According to BASF, the maker of Headline fungicide, the practice of treating corn and soybeans is quite profitable for farmers. A recent press release says, "On-farm trial results released by BASF confirm that the outstanding disease control with plant health benefits of Headline fungicide helped corn and soybean growers yield more. In the more than 1,150 on-farm trials conducted in locations across the country in 2007, the average yield increase of Headline treated corn ranged from 12 to 16 bushels per acre, while Headline treated soybeans increased by an average of 4 to 8 bushels per acre. That works out to an extra profit of $34 to $51 per acre for corn growers and $28 to $74 per acre for soybean growers, estimated at current commodity prices and average application costs." To read the entire press release, click here.

Iowa Land Values Skyrocket
 December 31, 2007
The average value of an acre of farmland in Iowa increased by just more than $700 during the past year, to an all-time high of $3,908 per acre, according to an annual survey conducted by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension. The land boom is being driven by the developing biofuel economy, according to Mike Duffy, ISU Extension farm economist who conducts the survey. Read the entire article here.

Drought Resistant Corn
 December 20, 2007
Seed companies are working diligently to develop corn seed that will provide high yields with less water, something that will provide major benefits to our area. Wayne Fithian, Syngenta, says, “Water optimization technology could revolutionize corn production in the western and central Corn Belt where moisture is usually the limiting factor to yields and irrigation is a major expense."  To read more, click here.

Bt Corn May Damage Aquatic Life
 October 20, 2007
The National Science Foundation has published a new study which has evidence that genetically modified corn, commonly known as Bt corn, creates toxins which may travel long distances to harm stream insects that serve as food for fish.

The study was published in the October 8 edition of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and web link is available here.

The EPA's earlier studies had not predicted this sort of downstream damage. However, collected field data indicates that Bt corn pollen is being eaten by caddisflies, which are close genetic relatives of the targeted Bt pests, and increased caddisfly mortatlity from Bt toxins has been observed in laboratory studies. Todd V. Royer, a member of the research team from Indiana University, says that caddisflies "provide a food resource for higher organisms like fish and amphibians." There is also concern that stream flows containing the toxins might impact lakes further downsteam.

The study notes that the extent of the impact of Bt corn on aquatic systems is unknown. Previous studies of Bt corn have shown that corn-grown toxins may harm beneficial insects living in the soil.

Wheat Stubble Treatments Are Occurring
 August 16, 2007
Many local farmers are treating their wheat stubble for weeds. Recent rains coupled with high temperatures have created conditions conducive to rapid weed growth. Since farmers can now contract their 2008 wheat crop at more than $5 per bushel, any loss of future yield due to weeds is likely an expensive proposition.

2007 Farm Bill Passes House
 August 12, 2007
The House of Representatives recently passed the 2007 Farm Bill. The five year bill funds commodity payments to farmers, food stamps, and rural development and conservation programs.

More than 67 percent of the funding in the Farm Bill will go to food stamps. Representative Jerry Moran, Republican, KS, says that in the 2002 Farm Bill, 27 percent of the funds went to providing a safety net for America's farmers. In the current bill, this percentage was more than halved.

Moran adds that partial counter cyclical payments were abolished in the 2010 crop year, advanced direct payments were abolished in the 2011 crop year, and crop insurance was cut by $3 billion dollars.

Dicamba Resistant Crops
 June 18, 2007
Broadleaf crops resistant to dicamba herbicide may be available commercially in a few years. Monsanto has purchased the rights to such technology from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and is actively seeking EPA approval for the process. To see a photo of soybeans plants which have been treated with dicamba, click here.

Bush to Veto Farm Aid
 May 14, 2007
A bill which contains $3.5 billion in weather-related disaster aid for farmers and ranchers has passed the House by a 302-120 vote margin, according to a May 12, 2007, Salina Journal article.

Farm state legislators describe the aid as badly needed, but President Bush has threatened a veto, calling the aid "unnecessary and unwarranted." Bush added that the 2002 Farm Bill, when coupled with crop insurance, "already provides a generous safety net" designed to eliminate the need for ad hoc disaster assistance.

The Senate has promised to couple the farm aid bill with the controversial Iraq war funding, a strategy designed to prevent a veto by the President. Since Bush recently vetoed a $100 billion war funding bill, it is unclear if either bill will survive a presidential veto.

Tornadoes Wreak Havoc
 April 7, 2007
On March 28, 2007, at least ten tornadoes moved through the tri-State area, causing extensive damage to several homes. The strongest tornado, rated as an EF2, narrowly missed Bird City, Kansas. This storm had a 26 mile ground path and was estimated at 1/4 mile wide. It is possible that wind speeds reached 170 mph in this tornado. Power poles were ripped out, wildlife and domestic animals killed, and center pivots were twisted and destroyed.  To read more, click here.

Tansy Mustard in Area Wheat
March 16, 2007
Wheat fields in NW Kansas and Eastern Colorado are showing infestations of tansy mustard and other winter annuals. These weeds are best controlled early. For more information on control, click here.


U.S. Judge Stops Sale of RR Alfalfa
March 14, 2007
A preliminary injunction by a U.S. District Court in California has stopped Monsanto from selling RoundUp Ready™ alfalfa seed. However, growers who purchased their seed by March 12 may plant that seed until March 30, 2007.

Federal Eminent Domain Protection Bills Introduced
February 28, 2007
According to USAgNet, a bipartisan team in the House reintroduced a bill to withhold federal funds to municipalities that seize private property for economic development reasons.

Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) hope that H.R. 926 will be a disincentive for local governments to use eminent domain for economic revitalization. Goodlatte says that the bill is necessary to protect homes, farms and businesses from "abusive land grabs." The 2005 Supreme Court decision in Kelo vs. New London has received criticism from a broad coalition of property rights advocates and civil rights activists.

The new house bill would allow a property owner to sue the local government in federal court to prevent land seizure. A similar Senate bill, S. 48, will require political entities which apply for federal funds to certify that the money will not be used for eminent domain actions for economic development reasons. (previous articles on this issue)

Headline Fungicide Increases Corn Profits
February 14, 2007
BASF corporation has released exciting corn yield data from the 2005 and 2006 growing seasons which show dramatic yield increases in irrigated corn from the application of Headline fungicide at tassel.  The yield increases occur even when disease is not present, and in varieties considered disease resistant. 

To read more, click here.

Prion Free Cattle
 January 4, 2007
 A Sioux Falls, SD, biotechnology firm, Hematech, announced on December 31, 2006, that in partnership with the Japanese beer maker, Kirin Brewery Company, they have produced genetically engineered cattle incapable of producing the prions (brain proteins) which host BSE or "mad cow disease." So far, the resultant bovines appear to be immune to the disease, as expected.
 
 The immediate impact of this research is unclear. One source said that cattle used to genetically create pharmaceuticals, for example, would greatly benefit from this development. However, since the disease is extremely rare and since there are vast numbers of cattle in the world, applying this technology broadly will likely be problematic. The FDA's stance on this development is also unclear.

Glyphosate Resistant Amaranth in Cotton
 December 27, 2006
 "It is potentially the worst threat since the boll weevil," said Alan York, weed scientist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, referring to the voracious beetle that devastated Southern cotton crops in the early 1900s and forced farmers to switch to alternatives such as peanuts.
 
 The resistant weed that is causing concern is Palmer amaranth, a type of pig weed that grows 6 to 10 feet tall. Amaranth that resists the most common herbicide used in cotton, glyphosate, has been confirmed in North Carolina and Georgia, and is suspected in Tennessee, South Carolina and Arkansas. For the complete story, please click here.

Angry Nebraska Farmers
December 21, 2006
"Farmers angry with water deal" is the page one headline in the December 16, 2006, Salina Journal newspaper.

The article describes a heated debate at a McCook, Nebraska, meeting with nearly 100 farmers and natural resource officials attending. The proposal, which would reduce ground water pumping by 15% across the Republican River basin, is scheduled to take effect in 2008.

For irrigators within 2 miles of the river and its tributaries, the reductions would be much more draconian: 50%. For the complete story, please click here.

EPA Regulates Dust
 October 11, 2006
 The EPA recently tightened Federal standards on fine and coarse particulate matter in the US. These regulations concern particulate matter of many types, including that expelled from tailpipes, factory smokestacks, and farm equipment. It also includes substances such as dust produced from tilling of soil, planting and harvesting crops, cattle moving in feedlots, and mixing of livestock feeds.
 
 The ruling was controversial, with the AMA, the American Lung Association, and other groups asking for even tighter regulations than the EPA passed, while industry groups claimed the cost of compliance will be immense and that the health benefits the EPA predicts are not scientifically valid.
 
 The fine Congressman from Kansas, Rep. Jerry Moran (R), has invited EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to Kansas to see "firsthand the implication of the EPA's recent ruling." Moran is a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee.

To read more about EPA's dust regulations, please click here.
 
New Dairy Announced
 August 33, 2006
The Century II Fund in Bird City, Kansas, is bringing a dairy to northwest Kansas. At a well-attended meeting on August 23, 2006, Tom and Judy McCarty, the owners of the new dairy, introduced their 4 sons, all of whom are full-time dairy men. One of them, Mike McCarty will manage the new 1,800 cow dairy, which will be located 3.5 miles east of Bird City. (article continues here)

EPA Proposes Furadan™ Ban
 August 3, 2006
Today the EPA proposed a ban-- with a four year phase out--of carbofuran, the active ingredient in the insecticide Furadan™.
 
Philadelphia-based FMC company manufactures Furadan™. EPA claims "millions of bird deaths" and some farmer worker illnesses as dangers of the insecticide.  FMC has vowed to defend Furadan™ during the 60 day public comment period, alleging that the EPA has overstated risks and understated the benefits of carbofuran. The American Bird Conservancy supports the ban.
 
Farmers in this area use Furadan™ on corn and alfalfa.  We'll keep you posted on developments as they occur.
 
Heavy Rains Arrive
 July 10, 2006
 Beginning on July 4th, much of Northwest Kansas has gotten heavy rains. Several rain events exceeded 3 inches, and over 5 inches was reported at Bird City on July 9, 2006. The combination of low welocity winds aloft and high humidity allowed large thunderstorms to build and move slowly, so the rains were spotty but often substantial.  Eastern Colorado and the western edge of Cheyenne county, Kansas, got somewhat less moisture.
 
 In many places dryland corn is now thriving. Sadly, the rains came too late for most of the dryland wheat, which was especially difficult since the harvest-time price was good, near $4.75/bushel.

Wheat Disease
 May 9, 2006
 Treating your wheat for disease can return significant returns, according to Jim Swart, Texas A&M.  He says, “If a fungicide is properly timed and the disease is a present threat, a $2.50 return on every dollar spent is likely.” To read the entire article, click here.

Drought Update
 May 2, 2006
On April 23rd, the National Weather Service in Goodland, Kansas, issued a drought information statement for the tri-state area. They said that moderate drought conditions continue across the entire area.
 
They reported that for Yuma county, Colorado, the 1 month precipitation was 60% of normal, the 3 month was 40% of average, and the 12 month was 110%. For Cheyenne county, Kansas, the 1, 3, and 12 month averages were 110%, 90%, and 100%. . .(click here to continue)

Pea Aphids in Alfalfa
April 13, 2006
We have treated several alfalfa fields for pea aphids. High infestations will cause the hay to yellow and wilt. KSU says that ten inch tall alfalfa should be treated if it has 50 aphids per stem. Scout by laying paper or cloth on the ground and shaking the plants.

Moisture Arrives!
March 21, 2006
Badly needed moisture, in the form of a major snowstorm, dumped between 8" and 12" of snow on the tri-state area on the first day of spring.  Highways and airports were temporarily closed. The total moisture was between 3/4" and 1".

Roundup Ready Alfalfa
March 2, 2006
Dealer Update newsletter reported that Monsanto has announced the launch of new Roundup Ready Alfalfa. Monsanto Marketing Manager Chris Peterson said, “With Roundup Ready Alfalfa system, growers will become familiar with a system that will allow them to produce cleaner, more yield, higher-quality alfalfa,  . . ."  No details as to when the product would be available were given.

Farm Land Values
February 20, 2006
The AgProfessional Weekly newsletter gives this report on local land values for Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas:

FNC Real Estate Sales Associates Sandi Groshong and Gary Joseph from Cambridge, Neb., report: "Large tracts of high quality non-irrigated cropland are selling up to a high of $800/acre with irrigated tracts selling from $1,250 to $1,750/acre. . .  (click here to continue)

Blue Angel Photos
February 7, 2006
If you would like to see a collection of photos of the Navy's aerial demonstration team, the Blue Angels, click here.

Farmers With Internet?
 January 29, 2006
 Slightly more than  half the US farms have internet, according to the February, 2006, issue of Successful Farming magazine. In 2003, the number was 48%, and it is now 51%, a slight increase.
 
 Of the farms which have internet, 69% have dial-up, instead of the faster broadband service.

Farm Subsidies Compared
January 25, 2006
In a recent Washington Post online article, Robert J. Samuelson argues for the elimination of farm tariffs and subsidies. He says this: "Few economic laws are so clear. Cheap and efficiently produced food relieves poverty. As farming becomes more productive, people eat better; workers move into better-paying industrial and service jobs."  (click here to continue)

Iowa Farmers Buy Land in Brazil
January 6, 2006
Iowa leads the US in production of soybeans, hogs, and corn, and Brazil is in second place behind Iowa in global soybean production.  According to NPR, some Iowa farmers are now buying large plots of farm ground in Brazil, and are moving to Brazil to farm their ground. (click here to continue)

EPA Allows Human Testing of Pesticides
December 27, 2005
The EPA has issued new guidelines concerning testing of humans with pesticides. 
 
The rulings are controversial, because they specifically discuss tests of children and pregnant women. (click here to continue)

Water Meters Required On Irrigation Wells
December 16, 2005
Northwest Kansas irrigators will be required to equip their irrigation wells with meters to monitor water flow, announced Ray Luhman of the Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management
District No. 4 (GMD4).  (click here to continue)

Cheating Farmers Go To Prison
November 17, 2005
Farmers who cheat on government programs are going to prison. A special report on NPR says that while most farmers are honest, the small minority who cheat face serious punishment in a recent government crackdown.

USDA's Risk Management Agency is using sophisticated tools, like LandSat satellite imagery, to monitor farm ground and insurance claims by farmers.  (click here to continue)

House Passes Eminent Domain Bill
November 10, 2005
On November 3, the US House of Representatives passed the Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2005.

The new bill is aimed at the controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London which allows governments to use eminent domain to condemn property for economic development purposes.  (click here to continue)

New Ethanol Production Technology
 October 27, 2005
The website www.ethanol.org annouced that a "remarkable new ethanol production technology is being unveiled today at the Mead Cattle Company near Mead, Nebraska." The E3 BioFuels Complex is a new closed-loop system that combines ethanol production, livestock production, and waste management. (click here to continue)

Customer Appreciation Lunch Announced
 October 19, 2005
Grace Flying Service invited all of our ag customers to a customer appreciation steak sandwich lunch on Friday, October 28, at 11:30 CT at the St. Francis Fairgrounds. (click here to continue)

Finally, A Big Rain
October 11, 2005
The tri-state area received a badly needed rain over the last 48 hours.  Goodland, Burlington, and St. Francis got between 2.5 and 3 inches of slow rain.  Despite this, the National Weather Service in Goodland  reports the total rainfall for the year at 15.25", below the average of 17.82"   

FDA Proposes New Mad Cow Disease Rules
October 3, 2005
The Food and Drug Administration has proposed new rules to prevent the spread of mad cow disease, according to the New York Times. FDA proposes banning brains and spinal cords from older cows in all animal feed. (click here to continue)

Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Pigweed Found
September 24, 2005
Roundup™ resistant pigweeds (Palmer amaranth) have been confirmed in central Georgia, according to Dealer and Applicator magazine.

Glyphosate is commonly used in our region for weed control, including control of this pigweed species. This announcement is the second of its type this year: In April, we reported on the existence of glyphosate-resistant common ragweed in Missouri, the first summer annual to be proven resistant to glyphosate. (click here to continue)

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