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POSTAL CUSTOMER

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit #36 OMAHA, NE

April 26, 2012 Issue 253-16-9

Free Farm Insurance Could Save Taxpayers up to $18.5 Billion

Special Features Heartland Showpig Shootout. . . . . . . . 7-9 Kearney Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 FFA Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-25

Weather Al Dutcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Country Living House Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Quilt Pattern. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

The Lighter Side Lee Pitts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Markets Grains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Livestock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Government Report Government Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Ag Management Rainwater Basin Receives Federal Funding for NRCS Conservaton Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Livestock News WASHINGTON - A new report released last week shows that an Environmental Working Group proposal to reform the costly federal crop insurance program through the 2012 Farm Bill could save taxpayers up to $18.5 billion over 10 years and provide more farmers with a reliable safety net. EWG commissioned Dr. Bruce Babcock, an economics professor at Iowa State University, to analyze the impact of offering farmers a free insurance policy

that would cover 70 percent of average crop yield at 100 percent of the market price for the lost crop. If farmers were charged a small fee to cover administrative costs, taxpayers would save $10.4 billion over 10 years and cover every acre planted with corn, cotton, rice, soybeans and wheat in 2011. Savings would grow to $18.5 billion over 10 years if only the acres insured in 2011 were covered by the new safety net.

"The reality that giving away free insurance would actually save money underscores how inefficient the current system is," Babcock wrote. Under the current system, farmers only pay a small portion of the policy premiums, and the private insurers that sell the policies pay less than half of the damage claims from crop revenue losses. Taxpayers pick up the rest,

Heartland Cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Production News Timing Critical to Treating Stripe Rust in Wheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Schedule of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-31

Continued on page 14

Smith, Livestock Groups Concerned About Animal Production Mandates By Robert Pore, The Grand Island Independent Legislation that would mandate on-farm practices involving livestock production in the House of Representatives was criticized at a recent briefing held by Rep. Adrian Smith, RNeb., and Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., this week in Washington, D.C. Both Smith and Courtney are members of the Modern Agriculture Caucus. During the briefing, which included a number of Nebraska livestock producers, testimony was heard about the concerns farmers and ranchers have with legislation introduced in the House For daily agriculture news, updates and local happenings, visit the Heartland Express website at www.myfarmandranch.com

that would mandate strict on-farm production practices. Smith said science must be the driving force behind public policy decisions. He said farmers and ranchers are dedicated to caring for the health and well-being of their animals. Smith's Third Congressional District is the nation's largest cow/calf producing congressional districts in the country. Smith said ensuring public policy is driven by sound science is critical to the continued success of agriculture, and in turn, the long term safety and security of our nation's food supply. "The landscape of American agriculture

continues to evolve, but the concern and care farmers and ranchers show their livestock remains unchanged," he said. Smith said improved housing, updated handling practices and modernized health and nutrition products are the result of generations of investment and research into raising high quality animals. "Every day, our producers demonstrate their dedication to providing the highest quality, safest and most affordable products in the world," he said. Continued on page 9

MARKET GLANCE Livestock and Products, Weekly Average

Crops, Daily Spot Prices Year Ago 4 Wks Ago 4/13/12

Nebraska Slaughter Steer 35-65% Choice, Live Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$119.09 126.30 Nebraska Feeder Steers, Med. & Large Frame, 550-600# . . . . . . . . . . . .151.50 193.36 Med & Large Frame, 750-800 # . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136.30 157.54 Choice Boxed Beef, 600-750# Carcass . . . . . . . . . .188.89 191.24 Western Corn Belt Base Hog Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91.57 85.52 Feeder Pigs, National Direct, 50#, FOB . . . . . . . . . . . .* * Pork Carcass Cutout, 185#, 51-52% Lean . . . . . . . .95.90 83.53 Slaughter Lambs, Ch. & Pr.,Heavy, SD Dir. . . . . . . . .182.50 150.00 Nat. Carcass Lamb Cutout, FOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .396.22 376.90

122.64 182.97 153.83 177.79 79.27 * 78.22 148.63 371.29

Wheat, No. 1, H.W. Imperial, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.26 Corn, No. 2, Yellow, Omaha, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.25 Soybeans, No. 1 Yellow Omaha, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13.24 Grain Sorg. No. 2 Yellow, Dorchester, cwt . . . . . . . . .11.91 Oats, No. 2, Heavy Minneapolis, MN, bu. . . . . . . . . . .3.83

6.28 6.66 13.31 11.48 3.62

5.48 6.20 13.83 10.45 3.43

Hay (per ton) Alfalfa, Lrg. Sq. Bales Good to Prem., NE Neb. . . . . .140.00 Alfalfa, Lrg. Rounds, Good, Platte Valley, . . . . . . . . .72.50 Grass Hay, Lrg. Rounds, Premium, Neb., . . . . . . . . . . .* Dried Distillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215.50 Wet Distillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79.00 * No market.

225.00 225.00 145.00 145.00 97.50 97.50 220.00 229.25 76.50 76.75


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