C2 • Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 • 2015 SALUTE TO CORN BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE & FOREST CITY SUMMIT
Organization supports meat exports turkey commodity representatives to drive a common effort and a favorable business environment for The USMEF’s mission Iowa’s livestock and poulis to increase the value try producers. and profitability of the Iowa Corn partners U.S. beef, pork and lamb with Iowa pork and beef industries by enhancing demand for their products industries, and continues in export markets through to support USMEF as we build demand for corn fed a dynamic partnership meat and support their among stakeholders. Top export destinations industries. We partner together on joint programs for U.S. beef are Japan, that focus on gaining marMexico and Hong Kong. ket share for U.S. pork and Top export destinations beef which include Japan, for U.S. pork are Mexico, Mexico and China for pork Japan and China/Hong and Japan, Mexico and the Kong. Regularly, Iowa Middle East for beef. Corn meets with Iowa beef, poultry, pork and FROM THE IOWA CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION
Cattle are an important market for corn in the U.S. 2015 Salute to Corn
Beef, pork exports reach new heights FROM THE NATIONAL CORN GROWERS
Export value for both U.S. beef and pork reached new heights in 2014, posting double-digit gains over the previous year’s totals, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation. Supporting meat exports is an important part of the National Corn Growers Association’s commitment to building profitable demand for corn, noted NCGA President Chip Bowling, a Maryland corn farmer. Several of NCGA’s affiliated state checkoff programs support the work of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. “Providing quality corn-fed meat to consumers around the world, many of whom are looking for new and healthy sources of protein, helps support corn growers here at home – especially when you consider how livestock feed is our largest corn use,” Bowling said. “We value our ties to livestock
2015 Salute to Corn
Cattle graze in a pasture in Hancock County. and would like to work closely with them as partners in building demand for beef and pork products worldwide.” According to the federation, beef export value was $7.13 billion – an increase of 16 percent (and nearly $1 billion) over the previous record set in 2013. Export volume was just under 1.2 million metric tons – which was short of the 2011 record, but up 2 percent year-over-year. Pork export value totaled $6.67 billion, an increase of 10 percent year-overyear, breaking the 2012 record by 6 percent. Pork export volume increased 2 percent to 2.18 million metric tons. The volume record is 2.62 million
metric tons, set in 2012. Exports overcame significant challenges to reach these milestones, including market access restrictions in Russia and China, an appreciating U.S. dollar and, most recently, shipping difficulties related to a labor dispute in the West
Coast ports. “2014 was an outstanding year for red meat exports, but headwinds continued to mount late in the year,” U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Philip Seng, said in a news release. “The West Coast port congestion is extremely troubling, because the delays faced by exporters in December have become even more severe in 2015. If this dispute is not resolved soon, the meat industry will have to win back long-term customers who still want our product, but have no choice but to seek alternative suppliers.”
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2015 SALUTE TO CORN• Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 • C3
Fields could have a mix of GMO, conventional corn this year down, and $280 to $300 for GMO bag seed...,” it’s tempting for farmers to There are two big switch to conventional reasons why agriculture corn for some fields, said experts and consultants A.J. Meyer, seed manager say fields may contain for Farmers Cooperative more conventional corn Association in Forest City. than genetically modi“For some farmers who fied corn this spring. The need to cut costs, this is two reasons: Saving where it would have to be money and the decrease at,” Meyer said. in the effectiveness of If farmers may already GMO corn. need to use more insectiPaul Kassel, a field cide and herbicide when agronomist with Iowa State University Extension planting GMO corn, making the switch to conin Spencer, said while he ventional corn this spring doesn’t expect a significant number of farmers to could make sense. Management is critiplant a large increase in cal if conventional corn conventional corn, there is planted, Meyer said. should be some increase. Farmers may want to make “The hybrids traits sure they have a corn and we have (now) aren’t as soybean rotation in their (effective),” Kassel said. GMO corn is genetically fields and they may need to maintain their fields bred to withstand certain during the growing season, weeds and insects such Meyer said. as corn borers. But in the But, there is still a risk past few years, the resistance to certain weeds and when GMO corn isn’t used, Meyer said. insects has decreased. GMO corn can still be “People are having to effective and it may be use conventional herbiwisest choice for farmers cides and insecticides,” with many corn acres who Kassel said. want to reduce mainteGMO corn seed is nance and labor throughpriced higher than conout the growing season, ventional corn seed. Meyer said. “With grain markets RAE YOST
2015 Salute to Corn
We Salute our Local Corn Producers Britt Seed Co., LLC Al Burgardt, Rick Burgardt & Michael Johnson
It’s a given that conventional corn will require insecticide and herbicide and application may be needed during the growing season. GMO corn
may not require that work, Meyer said. Kassel said GMO corn, particularly Roundup Ready corn, was very effective throughout the
1990s and into the 2000s. “It solved a lot of problems,” Kassel said. Roundup was effective in eliminating water hemp and root worm in
corn, Kassel said. That saved farmers money on insecticide and herbicide but also increased yields. See GMO, C4
C4 • Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 • 2015 SALUTE TO CORN BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE & FOREST CITY SUMMIT
Corn promotion board president says market demands are strong several months than in several prior years, Edgington said the ethanol The demand for U.S. corn continues, said Chris market’s demand for corn remains strong. Edgington, the president “...the of the Iowa Corn Promooxigenate tion Board. value of eth“This year we have anol is still an abundant supply and needed in the price is considerably fuels around lower than the last few the world,” years so we should be well Edgington positioned to export corn around the world,” EdgEdgington said. “The ethanol ington said. industry continues to sell Edgington is a farmer both ethanol and DDGS from Mitchell County. (dried distilled grains) Although fuel prices into both the domestic have been lower the past RAE YOST
2015 Salute to Corn
market and export.” Another strong market for Iowa corn in Iowa is the livestock industry, he said. “The livestock industry in Iowa is a vital part of the usage of corn and soybeans that Iowa farmers produce,” Edgington said. “The livestock industry has been a steady and growing market for our products.” The Iowa Corn Promotion Board is associated with the Iowa Corn Growers Association. That
helps to develop markets, to fund research. The board also provides education about corn. “Exports of corn is an area that the Iowa Corn Promotion Board is always working on,” Edgington said. “We live in a world market and so we must work to maintain and expand that market for Iowa corn.” While export demand for Iowa corn is good, “like most years, price and supply have an impact on the amount we export,” Edgington said.
ISU releases estimated crop production costs Iowa State University Extension and Outreach released its annual publication titled Estimated Costs of Crop Production in Iowa – 2015. The publication is intended to help farmers determine their own potential 2015 crop costs per acre and per bushel. The calculations take into consideration the various crop costs like tillage practices, machinery, inputs, labor and land for varying yield expectations. “In 2015, we expect a drop in the crop cost
estimates for both corn and soybean production in Iowa,” said Steve Johnson, farm management specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. Due to differences in soil potentials, crop rotations, quantity of inputs used and other factors, production costs will vary from farm to farm. As reported in the January 2015 issue of Ag Decision Maker newsletter, Johnson explained how they present the estimates, “The 2015 Iowa Crop Cost Estimates bar chart
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indicates the 2015 cost estimates for three different crop rotation options assuming conventional tillage practices and mediumyield expectations. Total costs are expected to decline from 2014 by 1 to 2 percent depending on the crop planted,” he said. These cost estimates are
representative of average costs for farms in Iowa. Very large or small farms may have lower or higher fixed costs per acre. To calculate annual production costs, farmers may enter individual assumptions in the blanks on the budget tables in the 13-page publication.
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2015 Salute to Corn
A farmer plants corn near Forest City last year.
GMO: Fields may require more labor this year From C3 But the effectiveness of GMO corn also stalled some of the research on insecticides and herbicides, Kassel said. Research has increased in the past few years but some needed improvements in herbicides and insecticides aren’t yet available, Kassel said. In general, all corn fields could require more labor this year including cultivation.
“I’m guessing we will see more (cultivation),” Kassel said. “I heard rumors that John Deere and Case were coming out with a new style cultivator.” He hasn’t yet seen those new cultivators. While cultivation could return, “I don’t see it coming back in any big way, even to the level it was 15 years ago when everybody cultivated,” Kassel said.
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Facts on corn FROM IOWA CORN GROWERS
WHEN IS CORN PLANTED? Corn is planted when the soil is warm enough to germinate the seeds but not so early that the young plants are likely to be damaged by frost. In Iowa, this can be in early April for the state’s southern counties, but it can be several weeks later for the state’s northernmost counties.
good deal because different corn hybrids take different lengths of time to mature. Even when plants are physically mature, farmers might wait to harvest them until corn kernels have dried further so that the corn can be stored for longer periods of time. HOW BIG IS A BUSHEL? A bushel began as a measure of volume, but the accepted standard for a bushel of corn is now measured in weight: 56 pounds. That’s for shelled corn (after the husks and cobs are removed). It is about the size of a large
2015 SALUTE TO CORN• Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 • C5
bag of dog food. WHEN CORN IS HARVESTED, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE COB AND THE HUSKS? Modern combines strip the husks off each ear and remove the kernels from the ears as part of the harvesting process. The combine spreads the husks and cobs back onto the field as it moves but keeps the grain in a holding tank until it can be unloaded into a truck. In the field, the cobs and husks are still valuable because they help maintain good soil fertility and structure, just as compost and mulch do in home gardens.
WHERE DOES CORN GROW? Corn grows on every continent except Antarctica. Most corn is grown in middle latitudes (between 30 and 45 degrees), about equal to the area north of New Orleans and south of Montana in the Northern Hemisphere. HOW BIG IS AN ACRE? Officially, one acre is 4,840 square yards or 43,560 square feet. To imagine how big that is, think of a standard football field, which is almost the same size. HOW MUCH CORN IS GROWN ON ONE ACRE? In 2014, Iowa corn growers grew an average of 178 bushels per acre. Nationally, the average is 171 bushels per acre. (Source: USDA January, 2015) HARVESTING CORN When is corn harvested? In Iowa, some farmers might begin harvesting corn by mid-September, but most of the harvest is likely to take place in October. In a cool year, when the corn matures more slowly, much of Iowa’s crop isn’t harvested until November. Harvest times can vary a
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C6 • Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 • 2015 SALUTE TO CORN BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE & FOREST CITY SUMMIT
Recipes with corn
of bread crumbs. 3. Spoon into a 1-qt. baking dish; sprinkle with remaining crumbs. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. Yield: 6-8 servings.
CORN SALSA 1 package frozen corn (2½ cups) 1 tomato, cored, seeded, Enjoy these casseroles that use our favorite ingre- and cut into ¼-inch pieces 1 shallot, finely dient: Corn. minced (optional) CORN CASSEROLE 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped 1 pound bacon, diced 1 clove garlic, minced 2 cups soft bread crumbs 1 jalapeno pepper, 1/2 cup chopped seeded and finely minced green pepper 1/4 cup fresh cilan1/4 cup finely tro, chopped chopped onion 1/4 teaspoon bak2 cans (14-3/4 ounces) ing soda cream-style corn 2 tablespoons lime juice Directions 1 tablespoon veg1. In a skillet, fry etable oil the bacon until lightly 1/2 teaspoon honey browned. Remove and set Salt and pepper aside. Pour 1/8 to¼ cups of Directions bacon drippings over bread 1. Bring 2 cups water to crumbs; set aside. 2. Reserve 2 tablespoons a boil in a small saucepan drippings; saute green pep- over high heat. Stir in corn, baking soda, and¼ per and onion in reserved drippings until tender. Stir teaspoon salt; remove pan in the corn, bacon and half from heat and let stand
for 10 minutes. Drain corn and let cool slightly, about 10 minutes. 2. Whisk lime juice, oil, honey, and about 1/8 teaspoon salt together in bowl. Add corn, tomato, shallot, onion, garlic, jalapeno, and cilantro to lime juice mixture and toss to combine. Let stand 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. SPICY CORN ON THE COB 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce 8 ears fresh or frozen corn-on-the-cob, cooked 1. Blend mayonnaise, garlic salt and hot pepper sauce in medium bowl. To serve, brush hot corn with mayonnaise mixture. CORN SAUSAGE CHOWDER 1 pound pork sausage 1 cup coarsely chopped onion 4 cups cubed peeled potatoes 2 cups water 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon
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1. In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, cook sausage and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the potatoes, water, salt, marjoram and pepper. 2. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for
15 minutes or until potatoes are just tender. Add the corn, cream-style corn and milk; heat through. Note: Some recipes call for smoked sausage and bacon instead of ground pork sausage; either works well.
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dried marjoram 1/8 teaspoon pepper 1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained 1 can (14-3/4 ounces) cream-style corn 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk Directions
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2015 SALUTE TO CORN• Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 • C7
Corn for the birds, squirrels as much corn as needed, he said. United Seed does not have to store Squirrels love it and so corn because the elevado birds. tor can store and supply Corn isn’t only for ethanol markets, livestock needed corn. The steady supply markets and shipped that’s easily accessed around the country and globe for other uses. Some through the elevator and cooperative members of it ends up in backmeans “We can be comyards in the U.S., Iowa petitive,” Simmonds said and locally. United Seed, a division of product prices. Finding whole ears of of Glacial Prairie Coopcorn is more difficult. erative in Murdock, Min“We have to search high nesota, makes tons of wild the old days,” Simmonds bird seed every year. A lot and low for that,” Simsaid. Cribs resemble cirof it includes cracked corn, monds said. cular cages several feet Ear corn is sold in said division manager high or mostly enclosed packages to be used as Randy Simmonds. buildings with narrow squirrel and other small Some of that bird seed slits between boards that is on the shelf at Bomgaars animal feed. allow air to flow into “Currently we are in Forest City and other the building. getting ours out of stores in Iowa. United Suppliers of ear corn husks are pulled from it. rural Nebraska,” SimSeed also supplies ear In comparison, a combine are difficult to find monds said. corn to Bomgaars and because “most people will pull the ear from the The corn is harvested other retailers. stalk, remove the husk and don’t want to mess with “We use a minimum of by a corn picker. The it. It’s so much more kernels from the cob. 1,000 bushels a day,” Sim- picker pulls the corn off labor intensive than “(The supplier) stores the stalk as a full ear. The monds said of corn used (conventional corn,” the corn in cribs. Just like ear remains whole as the for bird seed. “That’s a semi load of corn.” “Cracked corn goes into our wild bird seed mixes,” Make the Right Choice for Your Farming Operation! Simmonds said. If it’s time to upgrade your equipment or facilities, visit with our experienced lenders. Differing amounts of We’ll help you make the right choice for your operation. cracked corn is mixed We’ve got great rates, flexible terms and fast service. with sunflowers and other ingredients used in bird Our staff knows your time is important and we’ll do our best to get you what you need to make your operation successful. seed packages. The corn is raised in the fields surrounding the west central Minnesota cooperative. “We use a lot of corn,” Simmonds said. “We raise a lot of corn here, so it’s Rob Willms Dave Fox Brent Winter easy to get.” The cooperative has several advantages over other producers of bird seed. Cooperative member farmers sell their grain to the Glacial Plains Cooperative which in turn supplies the needed corn to United Seed, SimBricelyn 507-653-4100 monds said. www.ftsbbank.com United Seed only buys RAE YOST
2015 Salute to Corn
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Simmonds said. Ear corn is fragile. “You have to handle it carefully because the kernels will fall off,” Simmonds said. An ear of corn will get handled several times from the field in Nebraska until it arrives in a store. “We find a shipper who knows how to take care of it for us,” Simmonds said. United Seed has worked with its current shipper for about seven years. The ear corn is sold in packages which contain several ears of corn. “We package all of ours by hand,” Simmonds said. United Seed hires clients through a local Developmental Achievement Center, an organization that
provides work and social skills training and opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. United Seed sells bird seed and ear corn throughout the U.S. The market and sales have grown since it started in 1997, Simmonds said. “A lot of times what may be sold is not in our bag,” Simmonds said. The retailer may brand the bag with its name or another company will work with United Seed as its supplier. “There are other companies out there 3 to 4, 5 to 6 times our size,” Simmonds said. “I wouldn’t say we are a big player but I’d say we are a goodsized player.”
C8 • Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 • 2015 SALUTE TO CORN BRITT NEWS TRIBUNE & FOREST CITY SUMMIT
The Iowa Corn Checkoff grows from 1977 start FROM IOWA CORN
CORN CHECKOFF HIGHLIGHTS 1976: Iowa state legislature passes law to allow an Iowa checkoff referendum. 1977: Survey shows growers want the checkoff to develop new uses for corn, expand domestic markets and build export markets. 1978: First ethanol fuel promotion at cooperatives in Peterson, Cumberland, Osage, Clarence and Fort Dodge. 1979: First ICPB corn sweetener promotion test markets high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in Winterset, Osceola and Creston. 1980: Coca-Cola begins using HFCS as part of the sweetener in soft drinks. 1981: Corn exports reach a record 2.4 billion bushels. 1982: Iowa Corn Promotion Board funds analysis of the financial effect that grain embargoes have on Iowa producers. 1983: ICPB provides Iowa’s growers with information on managing grain quality. 1984: President Ronald Reagan visits Iowa, meets with ICPB leaders Karol King and Howard Mueller. 1985: “Cornhattan Project”
challenges Iowans to propose new ideas for corn use and research projects. 1986: ICPB supports Iowa Agricultural Research and Policy Institute. 1987: U.S. Grains Council’s export forecasting project funded by the ICPB. 1988: ICPB begins research into corn-based degradable plastics. 1989: Aflatoxin research funded by the ICPB. 1990: ICPB sponsors SovietU.S. farmer exchange. 1991: Iowa farmers vote to keep the corn checkoff rate at ¼ cents a bushel. 1992: Ethanol is designated as Iowa’s primary alternative fuel. 1993: Corn Export Milestone: United States exports its 50 billionth bushel of corn. 1994: U.S. fuel ethanol market uses over 500 million bushels of corn. 1995: Iowa farmers vote to increase the checkoff rate to ½ cents a bushel. 1996: Iowa’s first public E85 fueling station is established. 1997: ICPB funding supports first international valueenhanced grains conference and Value-Enhanced Corn Quality Report.
1998: ICPB joins Iowa Quality Beef Initiative to support the state’s beef industry. 1999: U.S. corn exports pass the 60-billion-bushel mark. 2000: ICPB begins ethanol education program through schools for Iowa driver education programs. 2001: Checkoff organizes first Iowa harvest tour for Latin American corn buyers. 2002: The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association is formed to organize the growing ethanol industry. 2003: Export market development efforts emphasize sales to Cuba, Mexico, and the rest of Latin America. 2004: The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers was created by farmers in 2004 with the mission of working with farmers to advocate and help implement on-farm best management practices that assist Iowa’s farm families in raising livestock responsibly and successfully. 2005: Use of Iowa corn for ethanol exceeds 400 million bushels. 2006: ICPB and ICGA announce plans to promote ethanol use nationwide through sponsorship of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 at the Iowa Speedway. 2007: ICPB publishes five patents for new uses research and earns another $1.8 million research grant. 2008: In response to
consumer outcry on the food and fuel issue, Iowa Corn launches a statewide educational campaign, called Iowa Corn-Fed. 2009: Corn states combine to create the Corn Farmers Coalition to highlight the farmer image in Washington, D.C.
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