POSTAL CUSTOMER
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit #36 OMAHA, NE
May 2, 2013 Issue 263-17-9
2012
a k s a r b e N r o f r a e Y
d o o G A Livestock Industry
Check out our Agstuff Classifieds Pages 22-27
FFA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-11 Weather Al Dutcher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Country Living House Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The Lighter Side Lee Pitts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Markets Grains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Livestock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Government Report Government Report . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Ag Management LEAD Applications Now Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Livestock News Heartland Cattle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Robert Pore, The Grand Island Independent Despite drought and high feed costs, 2012 was a good year for Nebraska's livestock industry. Cash receipts from marketings of cattle and calves and hogs and pigs in Nebraska last year totaled $11.26 billion, which is up from $9.5 billion in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Meat Animals Production, Disposition and Income 2012 Summary released last week. Cash receipts from marketings of cattle and calves in Nebraska last year totaled $10.38 billion, which was up from $8.63 billion in 2011. Nebraska was second in the nation in cash receipts from marketings of cattle and calves, behind Texas with total cash receipts of $10.5 billion. Cash receipts from marketings of hogs and pigs in Nebraska last year was $891 million, compared to $920 million in 2011.
Drought last year hurt grass production and forced producers to supplement feed to their cattle. Drought also cut back on hay production. According to the USDA, hay production was down 28 percent in 2012. The cost of hay averaged $196 per ton in Nebraska last year. Hay prices are still high because of scarcity as the USDA reported that preliminary hay prices averaged $227 per ton in April. A cool spring this year has slowed grass growth, forcing producers to draw on short forage supplies. The USDA said hay and forage supplies were rated 23 percent very short, 46 percent short, 31 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. As of Monday, April 29, the condition of Nebraska cattle and calves was rated 0 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 66 percent good and 7 percent excellent. Spring calving was 91 percent complete. Calf losses this spring have been 7 percent below
average, 88 percent average and 5 percent above average. Also, last year, some cow/calf producers were forced to cull their herds because of the lack of grass growth and high feed costs. According to the USDA, average steer and heifer prices in April 2012 were $128 per hundredweight. Preliminary prices this April are also $128 per hundredweight. Nebraska was the nation's top commercial red meat producer in 2012, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Total red meat production in Nebraska in 2012 was 7.29 billion pounds, up from 7.16 billion pounds in 2011. Cattle slaughter led the way in Nebraska as the state was first in cattle slaughter in the nation. Nebraska ranked in the top 10 in hog slaughter. In March, Nebraska led the nation in commercial red meat production with 571.9 million
Production News Irrigation Season Remains a Mystery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Schedule of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Central Platte NRD Board Concerned About LB522 Robert Pore, The Grand Island Independent The Central Platte Natural Resources District's board of directors expressed concern about LB522 at its monthly meeting in Grand Island. The Central Platte NRD board is concerned about the precedent the bill would set for compensating water
Continued on page 15 For daily agriculture news, updates and local happenings, visit the Heartland Express website at www.myfarmandranch.com
Continued on page 20
MARKET GLANCE Livestock and Products, Weekly Average
Crops, Daily Spot Prices Year Ago 4 Wks Ago 4/12/13
Nebraska Slaughter Steer 35-65% Choice, Live Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$122.64 126.86 Nebraska Feeder Steers, Med. & Large Frame, 550-600# . . . . . . . . . . . .182.97 165.91 Med & Large Frame, 750-800 # . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153.83 138.41 Choice Boxed Beef, 600-750# Carcass . . . . . . . . . .177.79 196.75 Western Corn Belt Base Hog Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79.27 73.45 Feeder Pigs, National Direct, 50#, FOB . . . . . . . . . . . .* * Pork Carcass Cutout, 185#, 51-52% Lean . . . . . . . .78.22 78.45 Slaughter Lambs, Ch. & Pr.,Heavy, SD Dir. . . . . . . . .148.63 97.50 Nat. Carcass Lamb Cutout, FOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .371.29 286.30
127.63 160.74 139.84 190.60 81.52 * 81.91 * 288.12
Wheat, No. 1, H.W. Imperial, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.48 Corn, No. 2, Yellow, Omaha, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.20 Soybeans, No. 1 Yellow Omaha, bu . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13.83 Grain Sorg. No. 2 Yellow, Dorchester, cwt . . . . . . . . .10.45 Oats, No. 2, Heavy Minneapolis, MN, bu. . . . . . . . . . .3.43
7.01 7.45 14.45 12.36 4.31
7.06 * 14.38 11.32 4.13
Hay (per ton) Alfalfa, Lrg. Sq. Bales Good to Prem., NE Neb. . . . .225.00 Alfalfa, Lrg. Rounds, Good, Platte Valley, . . . . . . . .145.00 Grass Hay, Lrg. Rounds, Premium, Neb., . . . . . . . . .97.50 Dried Distillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229.25 Wet Distillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76.75 * No market.
* 245.00 227.50 227.50 212.50 217.50 264.00 247.50 102.50 89.00