2012 Morris Sun Tribune Farm Progress Edition

Farm Progress 2012 A Special Supplement to the March 10, 2012 Morris Sun Tribune

Page 2C - Saturday, March 10, 2012

MORRIS SUN TRIBUNE - FARM

Morris, Minnesota 56267

Could camelina claim row-crop acres?

Spring camelina

By C a r o l S t e n d e r Agrinews MORRIS, Minn.

— Given current prices, farmers may be reluctant to give up corn and soybean acres for alternative energy crops, but results from a two-year study of sequential double- and relay-cropping of winter camelina and soybeans may cause them to reconsider.

The switch could be a

win-win for farmers and biofuel oil production.

Russ Gesch, a research plant physiologist at the Morris-based USDA-ARS Soils Lab, led the project.

He discussed his findings highlighting the cropping methods and camelina's properties in Morris.

Canola is known for its high oil content. It has a winter variety, but it isn't as hardy as camelina, he said. Winter camelina is more susceptible to water-

logging than freezing stress. During the two-year study, winter camelina had a 60 percent survival rate the first year and 100 percent survival the second.

Winter camelina was planted in no-till wheat stubble in September 2009 and 2010, he said. In the sequential double cropping plots, soybeans were planted after the camelina harvest in the spring. In relay crop plots, the soybeans were interseeded in

camelina in spring.

Winter camelina had a 40 to 42 percent oil content and soybeans garnered 19 to 21 percent, he said.

Soybean yields in the two systems were down slightly when compared to the mono-crop plots. The relay plantings had 80 to 85 percent of the yield harvested in the mono plot.

Sequential double cropping plots had 70 percent of the single soybean plot yield.

Soybean protein, especially in the relay crop plots, was higher in the cropping systems compared to the mono-crop, he said.

In the first year of research, Gesch planted 24inch rows. He increased it to 30 inch rows in 2011.

"The trick is to get the row spacing right," he said.

Higher water usage occurred in the two-cropping system compared to a mono system, but it wasn't significant enough to result in any shortage during the growing season, he said.

Roundup was used in the sequential double-cropping system to hasten drying, he said.

The positive results from the research are an

example of how, in regions with shorter growing seasons, oil crops can be grown for renewable fuel production without taking away soybean and corn acres.

"It eliminates that foodversus-fuel debate," he said.

Winter camelina is not a common crop in Minnesota or Iowa, but it is grown for biofuel production in Idaho, Montana and North Dakota. Some of the risk involved in growing the crop will be reduced for farmers in North Dakota, Idaho and Montana thanks to a pilot crop insurance program for camelina.

"One thing is to have a processor nearby to use it," Gesch said. "All the pieces of the puzzle have to be put together... We also have to make it attractive to growers and double cropping is a way to do it. These cropping systems and a good rotation makes it viable to grow the crop."

Camelina, also known as "false flax" for its similar appearance, produces a healthy oil that is high in Omega 3 fatty acids.

Although it has a short shelf life, its use in biofuels has given the crop noto-

riety.

It's mixed in the renewable fuel blends used in military aircraft and passenger planes.

The crop disrupts pest and pathogen cycles and is meant to be a part of a cropping system, Gesch said. A good rotation for relay- or double-cropping with winter camelina and soybeans would be to plant corn the next year followed by wheat. Then, in the fall, planting again with camelina. There could be greater weed pressure if winter camelina and soybeans went back-to-back.

Researchers are also looking at other crops that may do well in the cropping systems.

Forage crops, including sorghum, are some possible options, he said.

"One of the things we need to look at is the rotational effects," he said. "We need to experiment with that, too."

The next step is to use sequential double cropping and relay cropping of camelina and soybeans in field conditions, Gesch said. Farmers have already contacted him to participate.

Non-chemical weed control F r a n k Fo r c e l l a U S DA-Ag ricultura l Research Service, Morris, Minn.

Researchers with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Morris, Minn. are investigating options for nonchemical weed controls that can be used in both

organic and conventional crop systems.

The first approach, which will be the most useful to organic growers, uses an abrasive grit applicator to control weeds that grow in rows alongside the crop plants.

Morris researchers and a South Dakota State University graduate student in agri-

cultural engineering are building a prototype of the applicator, which will be available for on-farm trials in the spring. The fourrow implement uses compressed air to propel corn cob grit or any other type of grit through pairs of nozzles aimed at either side of a row of corn or soybean. The grit abrades

small weed seedlings within the crop row and leaves the crop plants essentially unscathed. Two timely applications of grit—for instance at the 1- and 5-leaf stages of corn—provide weed control within the crop row that lasts throughout the growing season.

For between-row weed

control in either organic or conventional production systems, growers can use a cultivator or a winter cover crop, such as winter rye. Growth of the winter cover crop can be terminated in late spring with a roller-crimper, when the rye is heading. The resulting rye mulch controls nearly 99 percent of weeds

between rows. Its only drawbacks are that summer-growing row crops like soybean must be planted after the optimum planting date, which reduces yield potentials.

Morris, Minnesota 56267

MORRIS SUN TRIBUNE - FARM

Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Page 3C

Native American Maize – source of sustenance and way to restore indigenous food systems Abdullah Ja r a d at , USDA-Agricultura l Research Service, Morris, Minn.

Maize, the Native American word for “corn,” literally means "that which sustains life." After wheat and rice, maize is the most important cereal grain in the world, providing nutrients for humans and animals.

Long ago Native Americans recognized that maize was an important component of their food supply. Coming full circle, restoring maize—specifically Indian corn—in the local food system may be a solution for healthy diets, ecosystems and local economies.

Last March, The White Earth Land Recovery Project hosted a large gathering of indigenous farmers for the 9th Annual Great Lakes Indigenous Farming Conference. At this meeting, attendees shared information, stories and seed about their traditional crops, especially the native maize varieties developed by farmers and commonly called “Indian corn.”

An immense diversity of native maize varieties— also called “landraces”— resulted from thousands of

years of cultivation, natural selection, and human breeding.

Participants from different tribes across North America indicated that most of these maize landraces have been lost, along with the indigenous knowledge needed to grow, improve and store seed for future generations.

Meeting participants strongly emphasized the nutritional value, varied uses, and specific adaptations of the diverse maize landraces their tribes used to grow, some of which are still cultivated today.

These landraces contain invaluable genetic resources adapted for certain environments and local management practices.

Speakers and attendees also highlighted the issues of food insecurity and the need to restore indigenous food and agro-ecosystems.

They shared a resolve to maintain the diversity of existing landraces and to undertake a challenge to find and conserve more “hidden” maize diversity throughout North America.

This resolve reflects an underlying belief by Native Americans that many of their dietary problems could be resolved

by reintroducing traditional food systems, a process that would also help restore biologicallyresilient ecosystems and develop sustainable economies. As part of this effort, participants in The White Earth Land Recovery Project are working with a number of tribal members and local farmers to grow a few native maize landraces adapted to northern Minnesota.

Scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Morris, Minn., are lending a hand.

Project officials provided the Morris researchers with seed from nine maize landraces that will be part of a future study that evaluates the nutritional quality of the maize. The study will also investigate links between nutritional differences between landraces— including the content of minerals, protein, oil, and carbohydrates—seed color, and other physical seed characteristics.

The ARS scientists carried out a preliminary evaluation of the donated seed samples during the spring of 2011, including seed shape and color. They found that the seed shape varied less than seed color and pattern, which ranged

tinuous supplies of the protein-rich pollen and energy-rich nectar that bees need to thrive.

The scientists established demonstration experiments in 2011 with a wide variety of flowering crops and their observations of honey bee foraging and beehive activity convinced the researchers that their hypothesis was valid. As a result, the Morris researchers are

pursuing grant funding in conjunction with ARS researchers in Brookings, South Dakota, to conduct further investigations into the connections between oilseed crops in Minnesota, bee nutrition, bee health, and bee survival rates in California.

from white to dark purple.

Seed color can indicate the presence and level of certain vitamins and amino acids, so these observations were an important component of identifying the nutritional content of different landraces.

Then the scientists planted the seed samples at the Swan Lake Research Farm near Morris to study plant growth and development during the growing season (Figure 1). The harvested maize is now being evaluated for other plant, ear, cob, and seed characteristics. Once this information has been gathered, it will be used to identify possible links between crop yield and nutritional quality. The researchers will also identify characteristics that can be used to separate the maize into different landraces, and determine the characteristics that are unique to specific landraces.

Results of the initial study carried out on native maize seed suggested that the nine native maize landraces differed from other open-pollinated varieties.

The native maize landraces have smaller seeds and different color patterns.

They also have higher levels of phosphorus, zinc, and potassium,

Figure 1. Agricultural Research Service researchers are evaluating Native American maize landraces grown in isolation at the Swan Lake Research Farm near Morris, Minn. Long ago Native Americans recognized maize as an important component for sustaining life. Coming full circle, restoring maize, specifically Indian corn, in the local food system may be a solution for healthy diets, ecosystems and local economies. and lower levels of magnesium. But even though these landraces have been cultivated for generations without additional fertilizer or water, the protein content was relatively high and ranged from 9.5 percent in the landrace Hochunk to 13.5 percent in Seneca Blue Bear landrace.

The ARS researchers expect the ongoing field

study will provide additional seed and plant information that can be used in more detailed landrace evaluations. In the meantime, they are pleased to be partnering with The White Earth Land Recovery Project in the quest to save traditional genetic maize characteristics and increase traditional crop yields.

Bees F r a n k Fo r c e l l a U S DA-Ag ricultura l Research Service, Morris, MN Scientists at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Morris, Minn. have worked on numerous oilseed crops over the years. When the researchers began observing a reduction in oilseed yields at some of their study sites, they suspected part of the problem was a lack of insect pollinators.

In addition, beekeepers in Minnesota and neighboring states are the primary suppliers of honey bees that pollinate commercial crops in California and elsewhere from November to April.

However, many of the honey bees were dying during the winter pollination season, in part because the forage plants they frequented at other times of the year in Minnesota did not provide adequate nourishment.

ARS researchers hypothesized that a broad suite of bee-friendly oilseed crops that begin flowering in late April (for example, winter camelina) and finish flowering in late October (for example, calendula) might provide con-

Bee pollination

Page 4C - Saturday, March 10, 2012

MORRIS SUN TRIBUNE - FARM

Morris, Minnesota 56267

Compost barns: Alternative housing for dairy cows with value-added production B r a d H e i n s, WCROC Newsletter, Sept. 28, 2011 Compost dairy barns can be an alternative housing system for dairy cows in the Upper Midwest.

Most of the compost barns in Minnesota consist of a bedded pack area for cows to lie that is separated from a feed alley by a 4 foot high concrete wall. The barns can have drive-by feeding, drive-through feeding with pens on both sides, or feed bunks outside. Bedding material is added when bedding in the pack is sticking to the cows. Bedding can accumulate in the pack up to four feet deep, and compost packs are usually tilled twice daily to incorporate the manure to provide a dry surface when cows return from milking.

Various types of equipment can be used for tilling, and the tilling depth is about one foot. The compost pack heats while material is in the barn, but it does not compost completely.

The availability of bedding material for compost barns is a concern for dairy producers who use this type of housing system. The material most commonly used in these barns is dry sawdust, which is currently very expensive. Therefore, a study was conducted at the West Central Research & Outreach Center in Morris, from November 2006 to March 2007 to evaluate alternative bedding

sources for compost barns.

The materials used in the study included pine sawdust, corn cobs, pine woodchips, and soybean straw, as well as mixtures of some of these materials.

The mixtures were woodchips and sawdust, woodchips and soybean straw, and soybean straw and sawdust. Bedded packs were used with each one of the bedding materials, and 16 cows were placed on each pack.

Results showed the moisture content was 59.7 percent for sawdust and 44.5 percent for corn cobs, which was the lowest.

Other bedding materials ranged from 58 to 61 percent moisture. Cows were cleaner with sawdust and a mixture of woodchips and sawdust than any of the other bedding materials.

Cost per cow per day was highest with corn cobs at $1.90/day and lowest for sawdust at $0.35/day. The other bedding materials ranged from $0.45/day for woodchips to $1.45/day for soybean straw.

Recently, a paper was published from the same WCROC study to evaluate the potential of compost from these barns to serve as a value-added product for dairy operations. The researchers evaluated the composting potential of the various bedding materials that were previously discussed.

Each material was placed in windrows (6 feet high, 30 feet long and 7.5 feet wide) from April 2007 to September 2007 and

managed as needed to promote composting. Carbon to nitrogen ratio, pH, total carbon, and total nitrogen, were measured once monthly, and temperature was measured twice weekly. Total phosphorus and total potassium were measured at the beginning and end of the composting period.

Windrow temperatures were more than 131 degrees for 10 to 96 days.

Corn cobs and a mixture of woodchips and soybean straw were the only materials that decreased in moisture content across the study.

All bedding materials were similar comparing day zero and day 138 of composting for nitrate, total nitrogen, and inorganic nitrogen concentrations.

Soybean straw, mixtures of soybean straw, and wood chip mixtures all decreased in total carbon during the composting period.

The results from these two studies showed that any of the bedding materials would work for compost barns if proper bedding management is applied and materials can be composted. All bedding sources composted during the study and would work as a soil amendment or mulch if proper composting takes place.

The authors concluded by stating that the ideal bedding material for compost barns should be dry, processed, and have good water absorption and holding capacity.

Morris, Minnesota 56267

MORRIS SUN TRIBUNE - FARM

Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Page 5C

Agriculture committees working on policies to be considered in reauthorization process

By C o n g r e s s m a n C o l l i n Pe t e r s o n The U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Committees reauthorize most of the mandatory and discretionary spending programs in our jurisdiction every five years through omnibus legislation commonly known as the Farm Bill. The current Farm Bill expires in 2012, and the Agriculture Committees have been working diligently on the many important policies we consider in this reauthorization process.

America’s farmers and ranchers face a daunting challenge producing the food, fiber and fuel for a rapidly growing global population. Farming and ranching are extremely

high-risk undertakings – as clearly demonstrated by the devastating weather events across the nation this year. America’s producers need tools to manage their risk in case of natural disasters and increasingly volatile prices; the Farm Bill provides those tools.

But the Farm Bill has a much broader focus than only production agriculture. Conservation efforts ensure the long-term productivity of our soil, keep our waterways clean, and support the restoration of wildlife habitats across the country. Nutrition programs provide food for hungry children and are more important than ever for families who are struggling in these difficult economic times.

Commodity program spending represents less than one quarter of one percent of the Federal Budget, and actual Commodity Title spending has been almost $25 billion below Congressional Budget Office projections at the time the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills were passed. Crop insurance underwent $6 billion in reductions through the most recent renegotiation of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement, $6 billion in cuts in the last Farm Bill and $2 billion in the 2002 Farm Bill. This totals $14 billion since the passage of the Agriculture Risk Protection Act in 2000. Conservation has been cut by over $3 billion during the last five years.

The Supplemental

Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was cut by nearly $12 billion in the last Congress to offset other spending. In addition, there are also 37 programs, totaling nearly $10 billion, which expire and have no baseline into future years.

While we expect the Senate to move first this time, in the House, we're ready to move forward in our committee and hopefully we'll be able to get something done in the next couple of months.

However, getting things done in what has become a very partisan environment will be difficult. We’ve been down this road before and I worry we have forgotten the lessons of the past.

In 1995 and 1996, we had high commodity prices

and a new Republican majority who didn’t like farm programs and wanted to cut the deficit. We passed a farm bill, Freedom to Farm, which saved a little money right away but we ended up spending a lot more when prices collapsed. The environment looks similar now. These prices are not going to last forever and if we don’t have a safety net in place we could screw up the one part of the economy that’s actually working.

This time around, we're going to work hard to get a farm bill done, and I think that House leadership wants to get it done. I'm committed to working on a bipartisan basis to work out differences and move forward with a farm bill

Rep. Collin Peterson that provides a safety net to producers and takes care of the nutrition and conservation programs that are so important to so many.

Energy savings in swine buildings realized L e e Jo h n s t o n , West Central Research and Outreach Center, Univ. of Minnesota, Morris; M i ch a e l B r u m m, Brumm Swine Consultancy, North Mankato; S t eve M o e l l e r, Dept. of Animal Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus; S t e p h e n Po h l, Dept. of Agricultural Engineering, South Dakota State Univ., Brookings; M a rc i a S h a n n o n, Dept. of Animal Science, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia; and R o b e r t T h a l e r, Dept. of Animal and Range Science, South Dakota State Univ., Brookings The recent high costs for fossil fuels have caught the attention of American agriculture, and pork producers are no exception.

Their most direct reminder of high fossil fuel prices comes when they pay the bill for heating their production facilities.

Producers have direct control of how they heat their barns and can resolve to reduce consumption of fossil fuels. By reducing consumption of fossil fuels, pork producers can reduce costs and decrease emissions of greenhouse gases making their production system more environmentally friendly.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, researchers at the University of Nebraska studied the effects of Reduced Nocturnal Temperature (RNT) on pig performance and fossil fuel consumption in swine nurseries.

They documented important savings in heating fuel but widespread adoption of this practice was limited by the lack of automated temperature controllers in swine nurseries.

Recently, our research group has re-evaluated RNT management practices with modern pigs and production facilities. In the 15 to 25 years since the Nebraska group first studied RNT, many aspects of pork production have changed. Most importantly, the modern swine industry produces a very different pig than was common

in the 1980s. There have also been important changes in building design, environmental controllers, flooring materials, health status of pigs and nutrition programs.

The objectives of the study included: 1. To determine the effects of a RNT regimen on consumption of fossil fuels under modern production conditions; and 2. To document effects on performance and health of modern pigs subjected to a RNT regimen.

The study used swine barns in four states (University of Minnesota, University of Missouri, The Ohio State University, South Dakota State University). Each location completed at least two trials of this experiment during winter and early spring. One of two temperature treatments was imposed in two identical nursery rooms at each location. In the control rooms (CON), temperature controllers were set at 86 °F for the first week and reduced by 3.5°F per week throughout the remainder of the trial. Day- and night-time temperature settings were the same in CON rooms. In the RNT rooms, temperature controllers were at 86°F for the first four days after arrival of pigs. Beginning on day five, daytime temperatures were set to equal the CON room but ventilation controllers were set to reduce nighttime temperature by 15°F from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Daytime temperature in the RNT room was also reduced 3.5°F per week

during the remainder of the study. Each room was independently monitored for consumption of heating fuel (propane or natural gas) and electricity.

Weight gain and feed consumption of pigs were recorded on a room basis as was use of fossil fuels.

Neither final pig weight, average daily pig weight gain, average daily feed intake of pigs nor efficiency of gain were different for pigs housed in CON or RNT rooms (Table 1).

Likewise, pig mortality (1.5 vs. 1.2 percent) was not different for pigs in CON and RNT rooms, respectively.

We observed a consistent reduction in use of heating fuel and electricity in RNT rooms for all four locations.

Consumption of heating fuel and electricity were significantly lower in the RNT rooms compared with CON rooms. On average, we documented a 29 percent reduction in heating fuel use and a 19 percent reduction in electrical

use. Savings in heating fuel were documented at each location. These energy savings are valued at $1.71 (propane cost = $1.60/gallon) and $0.02 (electricity cost = $0.10/ KWH) per pig leaving the nursery.

The savings of heating fuel are greater than in our previous study. In that study, we found a reduction in heating fuel of 17 percent when the RNT regimen was implemented one week after pigs arrived in the nursery and targeted a 10°F nighttime temperature reduction. Pig performance in this previous study also was not affected by the RNT regimen.

From our two studies conducted in multiple states, it appears that a RNT regimen is effective in reducing energy costs in the nursery without compromising pig growth performance or health.

Although we did not directly measure generation of greenhouse gases such as

carbon dioxide and methane, we expect the reduced consumption of fossil fuels will reduce production of greenhouse gases. If RNT does reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this management practice will benefit both the pork producer in reduced costs of production and society

with a smaller environmental footprint of pork production.

Acknowledgement: The financial support of the Minnesota Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff is gratefully acknowledged.

E n e rg y S av i n g s i n S w i n e B u i l d i n g s Re a l i z e d ( t ab l e 1) Table 1. Effect of reduced nocturnal temperature (RNT) on nursery pig performance and energy use Trait CON RNT Final pig wt., lb 48.0 47.4 Avg. daily gain, lb 0.99 0.98 Avg. daily feed intake, lb 1.35 1.33 Gain/feed 0.75 0.75 Heating fuel used: Btu/pig 343,942 245,848 Electricity used: KWH/pig 0.86 0.70

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MORRIS SUN TRIBUNE - FARM

Page 6C - Saturday, March 10, 2012

Morris, Minnesota 56267

Weed management is a combination of management tools Integrated Weed Management (IWM) is the combination of multiple management tools to reduce a pest population to an acceptable level while preserving the quality of existing habitat, water and other natural resources.

Combinations of biological, mechanical and chemical management practices are utilized in IPM programs to efficiently suppress a pest population at the most effective/desirable points during the pest’s lifecycle or growing season.

For example, an Integrated Weed Management program for Canada thistle may consist of multiple management scenarios throughout the growing season to achieve the most efficient suppression of this invasive weed in contrast to using any one given management practice by itself. Below are listed steps throughout the growing season that may be followed in a oneyear Canada thistle IWM management strategy.

1. Fall (Late September, October): Spot spray or broadcast thistle plants/rosettes, overseed area with competitive native grasses and forbs.

2. Early Spring (April early May): Spot spray (or selectively broadcast) thistle rosettes with a selected herbicide; use a controlled burn to destroy remnant vegetation and seeds on the soil surface.

3. Late Spring (May early June): Spot spray any emerging thistle plants.

4. Summer (Late June,

July, early August): Mow thistle patches prior to seed development; release Canada thistle biological control agents.

5. Fall (Late September, October): Spot spray remaining thistle plants and/or rosettes.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture Noxious & Invasive Weed Unit promotes the use of IWM strategies to solve noxious and invasive weed problems within the state.

B i o l o g i c a l C o n t ro l Biological control, as it applies to weed management, is the use of plantfeeding insects, pathogens or diseases that are hostspecific to a noxious or invasive weed species, with the intention of suppressing the weed's population to an acceptable level.

Biological control does not intend to eradicate the target weed species, but instead is used to bring the plant into balance with the rest of the landscape. It is important to note that successful biological control agents are specific to the plant they are intended to control. In other words, the biological control agent feeds and develops only on the intended weed species.

Therefore, the risk to other plants and organisms in the ecosystem is minimal.

Biological control is intended to be a cost-effective and long-term solution to weed management. It may take several years for biological control agents to establish, but once their populations begin to build

up to appropriate levels, they provide long-term suppression and reduce management costs significantly. Leafy spurge, purple loosestrife, and spotted knapweed are all examples of noxious and invasive weed species where biological control is successfully being used in Minnesota.

C h e m i c a l C o n t ro l Chemical control in weed management is the use of synthetic or naturally occurring compounds that are applied to noxious and invasive weed species with the intent of killing those plants.

Chemicals (herbicides) range in selectivity to certain types of plants and their persistence within the environment.

Herbicides are typically applied in dry (granular) or liquid forms. Some types of herbicides are applied before weeds germinate (pre-emergent) and others are applied after germination (post emergent). Extreme caution must always be followed when handling or attempting to work with any herbicide. By law, all herbicides must be labeled according to their use and users must adhere strictly to label instructions and warnings.

Chemical controls are usually short-term solutions to weed problems. In some cases, herbicides have to be reapplied annually and certain weed species can begin to develop resistance or tolerance to specific chemicals.

Furthermore, large-scale applications can be expensive and detrimental to the

environment.

However, when herbicides are used on a selective basis or as part of an IWM program, they are a very useful tool for managing weed problems.

M e ch a n i c a l C o n t r o l Mechanical control of weeds consists of using machines or other humanmade tools to suppress weeds. Mowers, cultivators, saws, rakes, etc., are all examples of tools commonly used in mechanical weed management. The use of hand tools to physically pull or destroy weeds can be a very successful approach to managing small infestations of weeds. However, hand tools alone are impractical on large-scale weed problems. Mechanical controls like cultivating and mowing are generally used on larger populations of weeds to inhibit growth or reduce seeding. When used alone and on a large scale, mowers and cultivators can be disruptive to the greater landscape and may cause more problems than they solve. When used as part of an IWM program, targeted mechanical controls can play an important role in overall weed suppression.

els to promote healthy establishment of native wetland species, and multispecies grazing using combinations of livestock like sheep and goats that have developed a palette for noxious weeds. In each case, weeds are managed via fire, flooding or grazing, resulting in increased native or desirable vegetative re-growth which increases competition for noxious or invasive plants, thus leading to healthier habitats.

T a ke - h o m e M e s s a g e Each type of weed control has its advantages and disadvantages. The goal of any noxious and invasive IWM program should be to combine the advantages of each control method to successfully suppress populations of undesirable plant species. In most cases, successful IWM projects save money, reduce non-target impacts,

protect natural resources, and provide more longterm sustained control than using any one management technique by itself. (taken from MDA website) Matt Solemsaas, Administrator for Stevens Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), is the appointed County Weed Inspector.

Landowners are reminded that if they know of or have a weed problem to report, they need to first get in touch with their respective township board.

The SWCD will be doing passive monitoring of ag lands as well as land enrolled in Federal farm programs such as CRP. If further assistance is needed, or if you have any questions, please contact the SWCD office at (320)5894886.

Other C o n t ro l Methods There are other ways to manage weeds by altering landscapes through human intervention.

Three good examples of this would be using fire through prescribed burns to promote healthy regrowth of prairies, manipulation of water lev-

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Morris, Minnesota 56267

MORRIS SUN TRIBUNE - FARM

Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Page 7C

Survival and profitability from the California crossbreeding trials B r a d H e i n s, Assistant Professor, Organic Dairy Management, University of Minnesota, West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris; and L e s H a n s e n, Professor, Dairy Cattle Genetics, University of Minnesota, Department of Animal Science Decreased survival and increased death loss of Holstein cows has resulted in a renewed interest in crossbreeding of dairy cattle. The final results from California crossbreeding trials are showing promise that crossbred dairy cows have a higher rate of survival and higher profit compared to Holstein cows during their lifetimes.

Previous published reports from the California crossbreeding study focused on the first few lactations of cows; however, the final analysis compared cows for fertility, SCC, production, survival and profitability throughout their lifetimes.

In a research study in six California dairies, cows calved for the first time from June 2002 to January 2005 and were followed throughout their lifetimes. However, for the analysis of survival to subsequent calving, lifetime production and profitability, the data were restricted to three of the six herds because they had at least 20 cows in each of the breed groups to provide a meaningful comparison of cows for lifetime performance within herds. Profit was defined to include revenues and expenses for milk, fat, protein, and other solids production; somatic cell count; reproduction; feed intake; calf value; salvage value; dead cow disposal; fixed cost; and interest cost.

The three crossbred groups were all consistently superior to the Holsteins for fertility across the first five lactations (see accompanying table). Advantages for fertility of the crossbreds compared to Holsteins may have been partially due to the reduced calving difficulty and stillbirths observed for the crossbreds. Although SCC across the five lactations was similar for Normande x Holstein crossbreds and Holsteins, the Montbeliarde x Holstein and Scandinavian Red x Holstein crossbreds were lower for SCC than the Holsteins. All three types of crossbred cows had reduced 305-day fat plus protein production compared to their Holstein herdmates across lactations, but the magnitude of the difference from Holstein cows was small for the Montbeliarde x Holstein and Scandinavian Red x Holstein cows. Notably, the results for production are reported on a 305-day projected basis, which does not necessarily reflect milk produced within a fixed interval of time, because cows that died or left the herd are projected to 305 days.

The table also has survival rates for crossbred cows versus Holsteins, and all crossbred groups had higher percentages of cows that calved a second, third, and fourth time than Holsteins. The main difference in survival of crossbreds compared to Holsteins was prior to second calving. Twenty-five percent of Holsteins did not calve a second time, whereas only 11 percent to 15 percent of crossbreds did not calve a second time.

The difference of crossbreds and Holsteins was statistically significant in all cases.

Results published in the February 2012 issue of the Journal of Dairy Science.

For profitability, Normande x Holstein cows had 26 percent greater lifetime profit per cow, but 6.7 percent less profit per day, than Holstein cows. On the other hand, Montbeliarde x Holstein and Scandinavian Red x Holstein cows had 50 to 44 percent, respectively, more lifetime profit per cow and 5.3 to 3.6 percent, respectively, more profit per day than Holstein cows.

The advantages for profit per day of the Montbeliarde x Holstein and Scandinavian Red x Holstein crossbreds over Holsteins may seem modest. However, the daily profit margin must be multiplied by 365 days to estimate annual difference in profit, and the estimates of profit per day ignore potential differences in breed groups for health costs.

The additional profit per day on an annual basis was $80 for Montbeliarde x Holstein and $55 for Scandinavian Red x Holstein cows compared to Holstein cows; which, for a 250-cow herd, would result in an additional annual profit of $20,000 for Montbeliarde x Holstein cows and $13,750 for Scandinavian Red x Holstein cows compared to Holstein cows.

Crossbreeding of dairy cattle is being explored mostly for its potential to improve the calving ease, fertility, health and survival of cows. Advantages for these functional traits will compensate substantially for any potential loss of production of crossbreds compared to Holsteins. Increasingly, dairy producers, consultants, extension educators and industry leaders should measure dairy cow performance in a more comprehensive way instead of by milk production alone. Unfortunately, health costs are often overlooked by dairy producers when assessing the profitability of alternative breeds of dairy cattle. Data on health costs will be important for dairy producers to compare crossbred and pure Holstein cows.

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Morris, Minnesota 56267

Good year for agriculture decreases number of mediated farm debts The effect of a good year for Minnesota agriculture is evident in the University of Minnesota Extension Farmer-Lender Mediation Program's annual report.

The number of lenders sending notices requesting mediation of troubled Minnesota farm debts dropped by 24 percent during the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2010.

This is the first time in four years the activity in the program decreased, according to Dick Senese, Extension senior associate dean.

“In recent years, farmer-lender mediation has given farm operations the chance to stay in business until better times,” Senese said. “These are better times for agricul-

ture, but there are still situations where farmers and their lenders rely on this program to help them work together to renegotiate, restructure or resolve their debts.

The report showed there were 494 cases in which farm enterprises used mediation to reach agreement with lenders about debts. In 1,718 additional cases, the right to use mediation to resolve debt was waived by the farmers involved.

The amount of debt addressed in mediation dropped by almost 65 percent from $624 million in fiscal year 2010 to $221 million in fiscal 2011.

Farming is a cyclical business and most farm enterprises had a good

year in 2012, according to Brian Buhr, Extension economist and head of the university's applied economics department. That increase in farm profitability made it easier for farmers to pay their bills on time and avoid troublesome situations with lenders. Most remarkably, livestock profitability has returned as moderating crop prices and rising livestock prices have increased margins, he added.

Minnesota law requires that creditors with a secured debt of more than $5,000 against an agricultural property offer farmer-lender mediation before proceeding with foreclosure, repossession, cancellation of contract or

collection of a judgment.

Farmers who are offered mediation can take advantage of a 90-day period to work with lenders to renegotiate, restructure or resolve their debts. A team of mediators, financial analysts and other University of Minnesota Extension professionals manage the program as neutral parties.

Mediation is an informal and confidential process that generally requires less cost and time than adversarial court litigation. To be eligible for farmer-lender mediation, a debtor must own or lease more than 60 acres and earn more than $20,000 in gross agricultural products the preceding year.

Extension's Farmer-

Lender Mediation Program, part of USDA's Certified State Agricultural Mediation Program, tracks the number of notices offering mediation—not the total number of farms involved in mediation. The number of notices received is far more than the number of farms involved in mediation. Most Minnesota farm businesses involve multiple family members, and each family member or entity whose name appears on a debt obligation may receive a notice offering mediation.

For more information on Extension's FarmerLender Mediation Program or to access the annual report, visit www.extension.umn.edu/c

ommunity/mediation University of Minnesota Extension is a 100-year-old partnership between the university and federal, state and county governments to provide scientific knowledge and expertise to the public.

Through Extension, the University of Minnesota "extends" its resources to address critical public issues in priority areas, including food and agriculture, communities, environment, youth and families.

For more information, visit www.extension. umn.edu

U.S. Farm exports reached record high in 2011

By We s N e l s o n USDA Farm Service Agency Recent data released by the United States Department of Agriculture indicate that U.S. farm exports reached a record high of $136.3 billion in calendar year 2011.

The record-breaking year reflects an increase in both the value and volume of U.S. agricultural exports, as international sales rose $20.5 billion over the previous record set in calendar year 2010.

Exports of almost all major U.S. commodities increased in calendar year 2011. However, grains were the biggest contributor to the overall record, reaching an all-time high of $37.7 billion, a $9.2 billion increase over 2010.

Cotton exports had the largest year-to-year increase, up 44 percent from 2010, reaching a record value of $8.5 billion.

Exports of U.S. livestock and livestock products were also exceptional in 2011.

According to USDA, exports of U.S. beef and beef products reached an

all-time high of $5.4 billion, surpassing the previous record by more than $1.6 billion.

The volume of beef shipments also surpassed the 2003 levels, the last year before the detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the state of Washington disrupted U.S. beef trade. The return to pre-2003 levels marks an important milestone in USDA’s efforts to reopen and expand international markets for U.S. beef.

Dairy and pork exports also set records of $4.8 billion and $6 billion respectively in 2011.

In a previously released report, USDA announced that China became the biggest market for U.S. agricultural goods, purchasing $20 billion in U.S. agricultural exports during the 2011 fiscal year.

The improved demand and market for U.S. agricultural commodities and products has helped support more than just the agricultural economy.

According to USDA, every $1 billion in agricultural exports supports 8,400 American jobs. That would

imply that U.S. farm exports helped support more than 1 million U.S. jobs in 2011.

U S DA p r e p a r i n g f o r 2012 Census of A g r i c u l t u re A complete counting of U.S. farms and the people who operate them is conducted every five years by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. In preparation for the 2012 Census of Agriculture, initial surveys have been mailed to help identify all active farms in the United States.

The National Agricultural Classification Survey asks landowners some basic farm information. This is an important early step in determining who should receive a 2012 Census of Agriculture report form, which will be mailed later this year.

The Census of Agriculture is the leading source of facts and information about American agriculture. It is also the only source of agricultural statistics that is comparable for each county in the nation. The information gathered is used by farm organizations, businesses,

government decision-makers, commodity market analysts, news media, researchers and the general public.

As required by law, all information provided by individuals for the Census of Agriculture is kept in strict confidence.

U S DA to p r ov i d e m o b i l e a c c e s s t o i n fo r m at i o n Officials recently announced that USDA’s Farm Service Agency will be providing a package of technology enhancements that will include Internet access for handheld and smartphone users. The technological improvements will allow users to have easy access to farm program data and information, including news releases and AskFSA, the agency’s online self-help knowledge base.

The enhancements are part of USDA’s overall plan to modernize and accelerate information delivery during a challenging budget climate, while improving customer service through the use of innovative technologies and business solutions.

Like all websites, information is available

through any device that connects to the Internet.

The mobile site organizes the information in a way that makes for easy reading on a small, handheld screen.

In addition to the mobile website, the Farm Service Agency is offering farmers a more efficient and timely option for receiving critical program information on items related to program eligibility and sign-up deadlines. The information can be accessed through an electronic news service hosted

by GovDelivery.

By enrolling for the free online communications through GovDelivery, farmers and farmland owners can receive news via email, directly to their home, farm office or their mobile devices.

A 2011 study conducted by the Pew Research Center indicated that mobile Internet access is growing rapidly. From May 2010 to July 2011, the number of adults with mobile applications increased from 43 percent to 50 percent.

In addition, USDA’s Economic Research Service found that 57 per-

cent of all rural households use broadband Internet at home, but some 6 percent — or over 1 million rural households — access the Internet at home solely through wireless broadband services.

M i n n e s o t a wo o l p r o d u c t i o n u p 5 p e rc e n t According to USDA, Minnesota wool production totaled 870,000 pounds in 2011, up 5 percent from 2010. There were 140,000 sheep and lambs shorn in 2011, up 8 percent from a year ago. The average fleece weight was 6.2 pounds, down slightly from the 2010 average of 6.4 pounds.

The value of the state’s 2011 wool production was $539,000, up 51 percent from the previous year’s value of $357,000. The average price per pound for 2011 was 62 cents, up 19 cents from the 2010 average price.

In terms of 2011 wool production, Minnesota ranked 11th in the nation.

Wes Nelson is executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Kandiyohi County.

Morris, Minnesota 56267

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Agriculture is a bright spot in the American economy

By To m Vi l s a ck Secretary of Agriculture This is an exciting time for farmers and ranchers of all types and sizes as agriculture is a bright spot in the American economy.

In 2011, agricultural exports hit a record high and producers saw their best incomes in nearly 40 years. At the same time— with the help of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)— we've seen important growth in markets for local and regional food, a multibillion dollar industry that complements traditional agricultural production.

Two and a half years ago, I launched USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) initiative to help support this important trend in agriculture.

It's the public face of our

commitment to help agricultural operations of all sizes take advantage of new opportunities, meet the growing demand for local and regional food and succeed in America's diverse marketplace.

Since then, farmers across the country have built nearly 4,500 hoop houses with support from USDA. These structures function as a sort of green house, helping growers extend their growing seasons to sell produce during the colder months.

We've also supported the growth of farmers markets. Today there are more than 7,100 around the country where farmers and ranchers are selling locally to improve their incomes—that is a more than 50 percent increase over the past three years.

To help producers serve

larger institutional customers like schools and hospitals, USDA has helped fund new regional infrastructure like cold storage warehouses, commercial kitchens and local slaughter facilities.

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food is also having an impact on the future of farming and agriculture. Our support for local and regional food is helping recruit and retain a new generation of farmers and ranchers.

Many young and beginning farmers start out in local markets. Some stay there, and some scale up.

Now we are unveiling the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass, an interactive web-based document and map that highlights USDA support for local and regional food projects. It looks at case

studies of farmers, ranchers, business and communities using this new segment of agriculture to create jobs and economic growth.

Local and regional food systems are about opportunity. The opportunity for our country's farmers, ranchers and growers to meet growing customer demand and to expand access to healthy foods.

Opportunities for entrepreneurs to start small businesses such as food processors, distributors, food hubs and markets.

The KYF Compass shares the stories—with narrative, an interactive map, photos and video—of Americans that are innovating and taking advantage of these opportunities to create jobs and chart a stronger future for American agriculture. It is

a tool to help navigate USDA resources that support local and regional food systems. And it is a jumping off point so you can join the national conversation about where our food comes from.

In the years to come we'll continue to see these new local and regional markets expand, along with agricultural businesses that serve them.

This segment of American agriculture will play an important role in revitalizing rural communities: spurring job growth, keeping more wealth in rural communities and more farmers on their land.

The KYF Compass reminds us that today's agriculture industry is more diverse and more vibrant than ever. USDA is committed to keeping pace with the needs and

Tom Vilsack

progress of American agriculture by supporting new markets and movements that will keep farmers profitable and help create middle class jobs across the country.

Farm workers face dangers Many occupations are hazardous, few more so than agricultural labor.

Farmers recognize that they must be diligent in

their efforts to prevent nonfatal and fatal injuries.

According to the most recent statistics, farmers face a fatality rate of 25.1

for every 100,000 workers.

In 2008, 456 farmers and farm workers lost their lives to work-related injuries. What's particularly risky about agricultural work is that it tends to be a family profession.

That puts all members of the family at risk for injury. On average, 113 youth under the age of 20 die annually from farmrelated injuries.

Tractor rollover injuries, inhalation of chemical pesticides and lacerations from farm equipment top the list of prime agriculture-related occupational injuries.

With scores of different mechanical equipment and chemicals, not to mention lengthy exposure to

the elements on a normal working day, the risk of injury is considerable.

There are key ways to prevent injuries on the farm. Here are a few considerations.

• Proper training of new employees on the use required equipment is essential. If certification is needed, be sure employees have been trained and practice on equipment prior to independent use.

Safety gear should be used at all times, when required. Workers should be careful to keep hair tied back to prevent entanglement in equipment.

• Care should be used when working in the elements. Workers should be properly dressed for the

temperature and conditions. Beverage breaks should be taken so that dehydration is not a risk.

• Knowledge of chemical pesticides and fertilizers should be fully understood. Safety equipment, such as ventilators, eye guards and gloves, should be used when handling caustic chemicals.

• Machinery should be maintained according to OSHA and other federal guidelines. Equipment in good working order is less likely to cause injury.

• Caution should always be used around livestock.

• Operating equipment when impaired is a hazard in any profession. Alcohol and drug use do not mix in a farm setting. Individuals

who seem intoxicated should not be allowed to work.

• Children and adolescents should be carefully monitored around the farm. Because of their developing bodies, youngsters should not be allowed to do any activity that is overly strenuous and might tax growing bodies, such as heavy lifting.

• There should be training in general first aid and CPR so that help can be given to an injured worker before a response team is able to make it to the location.

Tractor rollovers are a common cause of injury on farms.

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Page 10C - Saturday, March 10, 2012

MORRIS SUN TRIBUNE - FARM

Morris, Minnesota 56267

Five ways crop growers can plan for spring drought A drought threat posed across southern and western Minnesota is the most serious in over a decade, according to University of Minnesota Extension climatologist Mark Seeley.

Climate outlooks currently favor more rain than normal this spring across much of the state, but it might not be enough, Seeley said: “Many areas are so deficient in stored soil moisture they will need 150 to 200 percent of normal rainfall during March and April to make up the difference.�

Here are some measures farmers should consider for a planting-season drought: 1) Consider crop insurance. Producers who take out a loan for inputs are usually required to buy crop insurance.

Kent Olson, Extension economist, says others will want to strongly consider it this year. March 15 is the standard deadline for finalizing a plan with your agent for crop insurance.

2) If soils remain dry, planting season could arrive early. Jeff Coulter, Extension corn agronomist, recommends that growers avoid planting corn before April 18 to reduce the risk of frost damage to young corn plants.

3) Conserve moisture in the seed zone. Uniform emergence is important for corn. This requires good seed-to-soil contact and adequate moisture in the seed zone, according to Coulter. If dry conditions

persist at planting, he advises growers to prepare seed beds close to planting and avoid unnecessary tillage passes.

4) Consider pre-emergence herbicides to reduce weed competition with corn and soybean, since yield loss due to early-season weed competition is greatest in dry years.

According to Jeff Gunsolus, Extension weed scientist, most pre-emergence herbicides are activated with just one-half inch of rainfall. This is similar to the amount needed to stimulate earlyseason weed flushes. Even if dry weather follows a pre-emergence herbicide, it can still be activated by later rainfall.

5) Target post-emergence herbicide applications to small weeds that are no taller than two inches, Gunsolus says. Larger weeds are more difficult to control if they are drought stressed and they also compete more with corn and soybean for water and nutrients.

Find more information on drought preparation at www.extension.umn.edu/d rought

Sources: Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota Extension climatologist; Jeff Coulter, University of Minnesota Extension agronomist; Kent Olson, University of Minnesota Extension economist; Jeff Gunsolus, University of Minnesota Extension weed scientist.

Morris, Minnesota 56267

MORRIS SUN TRIBUNE - FARM

Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Page 11C

Group feeding calves for low-input dairy systems B r a d H e i n s, Assistant Professor, Organic Dairy Management, University of Minnesota, West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris Late weaned calves grow faster than early weaned calves; however, the optimum time for weaning of organic dairy calves may be between 30 and 90 days.

Successful group feeding of organic dairy calves is enhanced with aggressive suckling during infancy and early consumption of high quality organic calf starter.

The number of organic dairies has been steadily growing during the past decade in the United States and the Midwest. However, current research and extension programs do not adequately support the needs of the increasing number of organic dairies, and scientific research on methods used to raise organic dairy calves is lacking.

The main objective of an organic dairy herd is to sustainably produce milk and meat, while maintaining excellent animal health and welfare. Dairy replacement feeding and management systems have undergone major evolution in the last 25-30 years.

As herd sizes increased, individual hutches were introduced to protect calves from contaminated and overcrowded environments. Recently, higher levels of milk feeding are recommended to promote early growth, and now some farmers are adopting extended suckling until calves are weaned. Group calf rearing offers opportunities to reduce labor and to aid in socializing calves, but performance of group managed calves in enlarged hutches is not well documented.

The maintenance of health and growth of organic dairy calves is very important in their

first few months of life. As no organic milk replacers are available, whole milk from high somatic cell organic cows, as well as bulk tank milk, must be fed. The cost versus benefits of milk consumption and weaning age is very important and has not been researched with organic dairy calves.

Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the growth, health, and most importantly, the economic performance of organic dairy calves fed once per day and weaned at different ages.

Heifer calves (n=67) were assigned to feeding groups of 10 in super hutches by birth order, and were born at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, Minnesota from March to June 2011. Breed groups of calves were: Holsteins (n=11) selected for high production (HO), Holsteins (n=10) maintained at 1964 breed average level (H64), crossbreds (n=28) including combinations HO, Montbeliarde, and Swedish Red selected for high production (HMS), and crossbreds (n=18) including combinations of HO, Jersey, and Swedish Red selected for durability (HJS).

Calves were weaned at 30, 60 or 90 days of age, and groups were fed 1.5 percent of birth weight of 13 percent total solids organic milk once daily and weaned when the group consumption averaged 2.0 lb. of starter/calf/day.

Body weight was recorded at birth and at weaning.

Analysis was with PROC GLM of SAS, and independent variables were weaning group and breed.

Average daily gain (lb.) was 1.15, 1.49 and 1.65 for the 30, 60 and 90-d weaning groups, respectively. Total costs (grain and organic milk) to weaning were $108.81 for 30-d, $167.68 for 60-d, and $275.79 for 90-d groups; however, the cost

per pound of gain was higher for the 30-d group than the 60-d or 90-d groups. The average daily gain (lb.) for breed groups was: HO (1.59), H64 (1.34), HMS (1.49), and HJS (1.32).

A dva n t a g e s fo r g r o u p f eeding systems • Labor for feeding calves is reduced • Calves are socialized for group living • Group learning occurs —especially for early starter consumption • Growth is equal to individual housing.

Adequate growth of 0.75 to1.5 lb./day depending on milk feeding level • Easier to bed and clean super hutches than individual hutches Challenges of g roup f eeding system • Calves must be aggressive drinkers when they are grouped • Weak calves must be separated • Calf attendant must be a good observer • If age spread is large, the oldest calves will have delayed weaning or youngest will be weaned too soon • Contagious disease may affect more calves • More difficult to provide individual attention T i p s fo r g r o u p m a n a g ement systems • Separate newborns from fresh cows ASAP and hand feed colostrum • Train calf to drink from a firm nipple in an individual pen during colostrum feeding period • Do not add new calf to a group until it is a fast aggressive sucker. Most are ready by the third day.

Consider calves < 75 lb. to be at risk and require careful observation, especially during winter • Feed at least 1.1 percent of birth weight of high quality milk. Calves fed >2 percent may have loose manure initially • Restrict range of age and size within a group

when possible.

One week range works well, more than three weeks increase milk feeding cost for the group as weaning is based on the youngest calf in the group • A super hutch works well for 8 to 10 calves Leave the nipple feeder with the group so they suck the nipple instead of each other • Provide abundant water, bedding, and an outside exercise area • Wean when group average starter intake is 2.0 lb./day for three consecutive days • When moved after weaning maintain original group at least one week before co-mingling

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Morris, Minnesota 56267

Production management for Calendula

F r a n k Fo r c e l l a U S DA-Agricultura l Research Service, Morris, MN Researchers at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Morris, Minn. are exploring production management practices for calendula, a relative of the sunflower that could become a new alternative crop for Minnesota growers.

The oil from calendula seeds is a valuable substitute for tung oil in paints and varnishes. Tung oil and calendula oil are considered the best of the plant-based “drying oils,” and the demand for both is expected to increase sharply in the near future as paint manufacturers look for alternatives to petroleum-based paints and varnishes.

Calendula grows quite well in Minnesota’s cool climate, and even though production is projected to increase in the next decade, little is known about weed control in calendula. So ARS scientists began several studies to identify herbicides and treatments that would control common Minnesota weeds and leave calendula crops unharmed.

The scientists found two post-emergence herbicides that can be used in calendula: the active ingredients found in Betamix (desmedipham + phenmedipham) and Assert (imazamethabenz).

Although Betamix will damage calendula plants if it is applied after the 4-leaf stage, the plants can recover and produce plentiful seeds. Calendula complete-

Calendula field ly tolerates Assert. Study results also indicated that calendula can tolerate soilapplied active ingredients found in Dual (metolachlor), Prowl (pendimethalin) and Treflan (trifluralin).

The investigators also wanted to acquire best-management data on planting depth and seed sensitivity to springtime soil temperatures. With the assistance of a visiting graduate student from France, the researchers conducted extensive studies on these questions in 2010 and 2011.

Their results indicated that calendula should be planted one-third of an inch deep and that about 190 growing degree days (GDD) must elapse for 50 percent emergence to occur. On average, 190 GDD corresponds to seven days after planting in May. In addition, the ARS scientists observed that calendula seeds fail to germinate if the soil temperature at this planting depth reaches 104 degrees for even just a few hours. This means that early planting will be important for successful calendula establishment, because the probability of soils in southern and central Minnesota reaching that critical temperature rises sharply in late May and early June. These findings also indicate that calendula may be a more reliable crop in northern Minnesota than farther south, since soils in the northern part of the state almost never reach such high temperatures.

MORRIS SUN TRIBUNE - FARM

Morris, Minnesota 56267

Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Page 1D

Farm Progress 2012 University of Minnesota Extension Center for Family Development Environmental Scan – West Central MN In 2010, the Extension Center for Family Development of the University of Minnesota launched a project to learn more about the current and future issues affecting families in Minnesota.

This environmental scan project consisted of community-level interviews conducted in 11 different regions of the state; an online survey of three statewide networks of organizations whom work with families; a blog for families to provide feedback on things that matter

to them; and interviews with key leaders within and outside the University of Minnesota.

Two members of the Extension team interviewed 30 representatives from diverse organizations in the west central region about the issues they see facing the families they serve. In an effort to hear as many community viewpoints as possible, interviews were conducted with organizations whom represented different sectors (private, government, or nonprofit), locations and

types of families in the region.

Although this small group of community representatives cannot speak for the full diversity of the region, they provide important knowledge and insights into the lives of families in west central Minnesota. While many interviewees focused on issues specific to their organization, distinct themes emerged during the interviews that cut across the individual sectors, locations and focus areas of the different

organizations.

These themes help paint a picture of the regional climate and culture facing families at the time the interviews were conducted.

The following major issues affecting families in west central Minnesota were identified: • Families have been changing in terms of their structure, activities and values.

• Changes have been taking place in the community.

• In particular, families

have been affected by the economic issues facing the community and the national economic climate.

• Lack of jobs was another issue facing families in west central Minnesota.

• Aging, education and health care were also identified as issues in the region.

The environmental scan in west central Minnesota was conducted

by Connie Burns and Sara Croymans, Extension Educators with the University of Minnesota.

University of Minnesota Extension Center for Family Development. To view the full environmental scan report for the west central region visit www.extension.umn.edu/f a m i l y / e nv i r o n m e n t a l scan/.

For more information contact either Connie Burns (burns391@ umn.edu) or Sara Croymans (croym001@ umn.edu) or at 1-888-2414532).

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Morris, Minnesota 56267

Crop’s popularity expected to continue, says ND farmer, commodity group leader

By Jo n at h a n K nu t s o n Agweek Staff Writer FARGO — Bart Schott planted his first corn crop in 1977. Since then, the North Dakota farmer and corn industry leader has watched the crop’s popularity explode across the state. Enthusiasm for the crop in North Dakota and elsewhere on the Northern Plains is particularly strong this spring.

Don’t expect corn’s long, upward march to halt anytime soon, if ever, said Schott, chairman of the National Corn Growers Association.

“There’s no turning back,” said Schott, who predicted North Dakota farmers may plant 3 million acres of corn in 2013.

“The economic difference on my farm today is $180 an acre more on corn versus soybeans,” he said.

“It (planting corn) is not too difficult a decision.”

Schott was among the speakers Feb. 22 at the North Dakota Corn Growers Association’s annual Cornvention in Fargo, N.D. About 225 people attended.

Agweek also talked with Schott after his presentation at the event.

Schott told attendees that the national association has reached record membership of more than 37,000 farmers.

“We’re the only commodity group that is increasing in membership across the U.S.,” he said.

U.S. farmers are expected to plant about 94 million acres of corn this year, the most since World War II, with many of the additional acres coming in the Upper Midwest, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

T h re e m i l l i o n a c re s i n 2013?

Once, corn in North Dakota was confined to the state’s southeast corner, which received enough moisture and enjoyed a sufficiently long growing season for farmers to raise the crop.

But new, shorter-maturity corn varieties, coupled with attractive prices and wetter conditions since 1993, caused corn production to spread north and west across the state.

The 2.3 million acres planted to corn in 2011 in the state were twice as many as in 2000 and triple as many as in 1993.

Seed shortages for some preferred hybrids will

Management Agency in 2012, according to information from the state Corn Growers Association.

Farmers in Cavalier, Towner, Rolette and Bottineau counties, all in northern North Dakota, and in the west-central counties of Morton, Oliver and Mercer no longer will need to apply for coverage through the written agreement process, the state association said.

The Risk Management Bart Schott Agency concluded that corn producers in the counties “had work against corn acreage seven in the state this year, but proven corn to be an North Dakota farmers eas- accepted agronomic pracily could plant three mil- tice on their farms,” lion acres in 2013, Schott according to the state association. said.

“If you can insure it “If we get the seed, we’ll be at three million next (corn), you’re going to grow it, especially with the year,” he said.

The seed industry is early genetics that we have placing more emphasis on today,” Schott said.

E t h a n o l , f a m i ly fa r m breeding varieties By 2030, U.S. corn farmdesigned for conditions in ers will be harvesting 300 North Dakota, he said.

More favorable crop bushels of corn per acre, insurance also is con- according to projections by National Corn tributing to corn’s increas- the ing popularity, Schott said. Growers Association.

“We’re going to grow One example: Corn growers in seven North our ethanol industry as Dakota counties were well. Part of that is granted standard coverage because people want a homeby the U.S. Department of clean-burning, Agriculture’s Risk grown fuel,” Schott said.

He said he’s proud of the National Corn Growers Association’s with involvement NASCAR in ethanol promotion.

Schott served as the national association’s 2010 to 2011 president, transitioning to chairman on Sept. 30.

As president, “There was a lot of media (to deal with). One day, I did seven radio interviews. I was really tired at the end of that day,” he said.

As chairman, there are far fewer media requests with which to deal, although he still needs to travel frequently, he said.

Schott, a third-generation farmer, credited others with operating the 4,000-acre farm in southcentral North Dakota while he’s been away on association business.

“I have my wife, a really good hired man and all three sons involved,” Schott said. Two of the sons farm, while the third is taking over Schott’s seed business.

Schott said he didn’t spend any time planting corn in 2011, although he did help extensively during harvest.

P u bl i c p e r c e p t i o n s Schott, 61, will step

down as chairman and leave the association’s board of directors on Oct. 1.

But he’ll continue to serve as vice chairman of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.

The organization, which consists of more than 50 commodity groups, including the National Corn Growers Association, seeks to improve communications between the people who raise food and the people who buy it.

The alliance has a budget of about $11 million and can do a great deal to improve public perceptions of agriculture, Schott said.

One of Schott’s personal goals is to reduce criticism of so-called factory farms.

“What is a factory farm? For two years I’ve been trying to figure out that one. I still can’t come up with a definition,” Schott said.

“Ninety percent of the corn grown in the U.S. is grown on family farms,” he said.

Ag Week and the Morris Sun Tribune are both owned by Forum Communications Co.

Morris, Minnesota 56267

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Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Page 3D

Smaller, renewable energy projects setting roots across west central Minnesota

By To m C h e r ve ny West Central Tribune WILLMAR, Minn. - It’s hard to miss the development of renewable energy at the University of Minnesota campus in Morris.

There are now two, 1.6megawatt wind generators towering over the prairie and cranking out enough kilowatts to provide 60 percent of the electrical needs on campus. A heating system utilizing locally harvested biomass produces 25 percent of the thermal energy required on campus, with expectations of meeting 50 percent of needs next year.

What can be more difficult to see, but no less significant, is the growing number and variety of smaller renewable energy projects setting roots all around the region. In recent years 17 different “net metering” projects have been added by customers on the Kandiyohi Power Cooperative’s distribution grid, for example.

Using small wind generators or solar photovoltaic panels, customers are producing a portion of their own electricity and selling any excess back to the grid.

Renewable energy sys-

tems of all types — from small wind generators to methane digesters — are being installed on farms, homes and businesses throughout southwestern Minnesota. Participants from throughout western Minnesota gathered recently at the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center to identify the projects and to help chart the way for more.

The gathering was hosted by the West Central Clean Energy Resource Team.

The almost unnoticed proliferation of small projects may be more significant in some ways than the large, attention getting projects.

John Duevel, of Three Seasons and More in Willmar, has been involved in renewable energy since the 1970s. He knows how vulnerable the renewable energy industry can be to volatility in fossil fuel markets, and manipulation by oil cartels.

What’s changing now, said Duevel, is that many of the renewable energy projects are smaller and more responsive to changing markets. “We know what to do now, we can move in and out of renewable energy” he told the participants. “We’re doing

a lot of good, small things that are having an impact.”

There are plenty of big things happening too. Last year saw the Adams and Danielson Wind farms near Cosmos and Grove City put 24 large wind turbines to work. Early reports indicate that output from the 1.65-megawatt turbines is exceeding expectations.

The gathering at Prairie Woods attracted approximately 40 renewable energy supporters from 12 different counties. They discussed a variety of issues, from the potential for refuse-derived fuel to policy and outreach needs.

It was apparent that expectations for renewable energy in the region are growing as fast — and in some ways as quietly — as are the number of new systems showing up in the countryside. “We’re only scratching the surface,” said Clean Energy Resource Team coordinator and meeting host Jeff Vetsch as the list of projects took shape.

The West Central Tribune and Morris Sun Tribune are both owned by Forum Communications UMM’s wind turbines are an example of small-scale renewable energy in west central Co. Minnesota.

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Morris, Minnesota 56267

Agricultural career opportunities abound A career in agriculture can prove richly rewarding. While it's common to envision overalls and tractors when imagining careers in agriculture, the opportunities to work in the agriculture industry stretch beyond the farm and into the corporate world. The following are a few of the paths men and women with a passion for agriculture can pursue.

• Business: Agriculture is big business, and the industry has many opportunities for those who

want to pursue a career in business. Farmers and producers of agricultural products need someone to draft contracts for their agreements with the large corporations who distribute those products. In addition, purchasing agents and agricultural financiers are just two of the many career opportunities that enable men and women to work on the business side of agriculture.

• Social service: The agricultural industry also

has positions of social service. In addition to food inspector, who ensures agricultural products are safe for human consumption, social service positions within the agricultural industry include environmental consultant and conservation officer.

Men and women can also work to develop programs that encourage youngsters to pursue careers in the agricultural industry.

• Production: Of course, the agricultural industry has a host of careers for

those who want to get their hands dirty. Farms need to be plowed, seeds must be planted and fertilized and farms need to be wellmaintained to continue operating efficiently and effectively. Though technology has taken the place of many agricultural production positions, there are still many opportunities out there for those who want to work under the sun.

• Education: Those who want to share their love of agriculture with others

can put their skills to work in the c l a s s r o o m .

Agricultural instructors can train the next generation of agriculture professionals at the university or high school level, ensuring today's farms are left in good hands tomorrow.

Look beyond crude protein to measure Minnesota soybean quality

By S e t h N a eve University of Minnesota Extension Today, most soybeans are processed to separate the oil from the high-protein meal fraction. These two 'co-products' make the seed valuable to the end user and make the soybean a profitable crop for U.S.

producers.

The protein content of the soybean impacts the protein content of the soybean meal, and end users pay a premium for highprotein meal. Because these premiums get passed down through the value chain, higher-protein soybeans command a premium at the first point of

sale, the local elevator.

Normally, producers don't see this price differential because long-term variation in soybean quality is built into the local price as a part of the basis.

Occasionally, local protein levels can dip low enough that grain handlers begin docking for low-protein soybeans

delivered to local elevators.

This occurred in an area in south central Minnesota in the fall of 2011. There, many farmers accepted a 15-cent per bushel penalty for low-protein soybeans.

Soybeans grown in the northern and western ranges of the U.S. Corn Belt tend to have lower protein than soybeans grown elsewhere in the U.S. or in South America. This puts farmers in Minnesota and the Dakotas at risk of being penalized for low protein levels, but what can be done?

Farmers can have a direct impact on the quality of the grain that they sell in the fall by selecting the higher-protein lines from among the top-yielding varieties available.

Because it is not always easy to identify high-yield-

ing varieties with highprotein seed, it is critical for U.S. producers to educate end-users about other positive attributes of northern grown soybeans.

With the support of soybean checkoff organizations from Minnesota, South and North Dakota, University of Minnesota researchers have shown that the protein fraction from northern grown soybeans tends to be slightly enriched in the amino acids most important to swine and poultry.

While there may be less protein overall, it appears to be of a greater quality than once thought. In addition, there appears to be other minor constituents in the seed of northern grown soybeans that provide additional value to the end user. Researchers

are currently quantifying these additional factors.

Farm leaders from Minnesota and the Dakotas will travel with me—a soybean agronomist with University of Minnesota Extension—to the Philippines, Thailand and China in March to educate end-users about the positive attributes of northern grown soybeans.

If nutritionists can look beyond crude protein as a measure of quality, Minnesota farmers should soon see increased prices for their soybeans at market.

For more information, visit www.extension. umn.edu/soybean.

Seth Naeve is a soybean agronomist with University of Minnesota Extension.

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FSA reminds producers of NAP coverage deadlines for 2012 crop year The Farm Service Agency would like to remind producers about important crop disaster insurance coverage deadlines for the 2012 crop year.

Application deadline for 2012 Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for a variety of crops are coming up. The application deadline for all spring seeded crops and perennial forage pasture is March 15.

Sept. 30 is the closing date for perennial forage and

seed crops. Nov. 20 is the application deadline for perennial fruit and vegetable crops and Dec. 1 is the closing date for honey.

NAP was designed to provide financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops when low yields or prevented planting occurs as the result of natural disasters.

For the 2012 crop year it is imperative that producers purchase either NAP or a catastrophic (CAT) level of crop insurance for all

insurable and non-insurable crops.

This is not only for production coverage, but also for eligibility for the new permanent disaster programs created in the 2008 Farm Bill.

In order for producers to be eligible for assistance under the Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) Program and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) and the Tree Assistance Program

(TAP), producers must obtain a plan of insurance for each insurable and noninsurable commodity on the farm, excluding grazing. Producers who want to remain eligible for the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) must still obtain pasture coverage through NAP if not covered by crop insurance.

For more information, please contact the Stevens County Farm Service Agency office at 320-5894886.

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Waterhemp resistance emerges as significant weed problem in Minnesota

By D ave N i c o l a i University of Minnesota Extension

Waterhemp

Waterhemp, a summer annual weed species in the pigweed family, has been a significant issue for corn and soybean growers in the central and western Corn Belt states for more than a decade. The latest challenge in this fight is managing for waterhemp's growing resistance to various herbicides, including glyphosate.

Glyphosate-resistant waterhemp was first confirmed in southern Minnesota in 2007 and continues to increase, likely due to the continued planting of Roundup Ready crops and the exclusive use of glyphosate.

Waterhemp begins emerging near mid-May and continues through the

beginning of August.

Three factors make it especially difficult to keep under control: an ability to produce nearly one million seeds per plant, continual germination throughout the growing season, and an increased frequency of biotypes or new weeds that are genetically adaptable to a diverse array of herbicide chemistries.

The longevity of waterhemp seeds in the seed bank is short compared to most species, with only one to 12 percent survival after four years. For that reason, complete control (zero seed production) of all waterhemp plants over a three- to four-year period should allow producers to take control of this difficult weed problem.

To reduce the selection pressure for glyphosateresistant waterhemp,

Extension crop specialists recommend using preemergence residual herbicides, increasing crop rotation diversity in the cropping system, and focusing on the use of Roundup Ready crops in the rotation where the fewest alternative herbicides to glyphosate exist.

For more detailed information regarding crop rotation and herbicide effectiveness, see the Extension publication "Pre and Post Herbicide Diversification Options," (PDF) at www.extension.umn.edu/g o/1096. For more information on how to proactively manage for waterhemp in sugarbeet, soybean, corn and wheat, visit www.extension.umn.edu/g o/1097.

H ow to identify w aterhemp The stems of waterhemp plants have little to no hair compared to redroot pigweed, and the leaves are usually longer and narrower. Waterhemp seedlings have oval-shaped seed leaves and are hairless, appearing waxy or glossy-looking.

Waterhemp can range from fourinches to 12 feet high, but generally grows to about four or five feet in most field crop situations. In the mature stage, one way to differentiate waterhemp from the other pigweeds is to compare the seed heads.

Redroot and smooth pigweed have denser, more compact seed heads than waterhemp.

Dave Nicolai is a crops educator with University of Minnesota Extension.

Call the Morris Sun Tribune 320-589-2525 â&#x20AC;˘ Toll Free 888-589-2525

Morris, Minnesota 56267

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Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Page 7D

‘Controlled’ field drains being adapted in Red River Valley

By M i k ke l Pa t e s Agweek Staff Writer WAHPETON, N.D. — All right, so you’re installing tile drainage to improve yields on your farm.

Now you might want to think about adding tools for drainage water management, said Gary Sands, an associate professor and engineer from the University of MinnesotaSt. Paul, who spoke Feb. 22 in Wahpeton at one of the drainage design workshops organized by the extension services at North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota.

“This is kind of an addon practice to a traditional way of doing subsurface drainage, or tile drainage,” Sands said.

It is essentially a box, separating intake and outflow tiles. The box has a set of panels or boards in the middle, which can be inserted or removed to essentially raise the water table level — often to conserve moisture, or even to keep more nitrogen in the soil profile. Inserting the boards causes the water table to rise on the inflow side.

The technique is about 40 years old. It was pioneered in North Carolina and used in coastal plains soils. It came to the Midwest about 15 years ago, but interest has grown in the past five years.

“We’re on the bubble right now,” Sands said.

“We’re at the point where many of the systems are being designed with this practice in mind. We don’t have a great deal of implementation of the practice.”

He knows a handful of

Gary Sands Minnesota farmers who are using the practice, but more adoption is taking place in Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and other states.

The practice is a natural for the Red River Valley, Sands said. “When your fields are relatively flat, you don’t need very many of these structures,” he said. “Sometimes only one if a field is quite flat.” The box structures range in price from $500 to $2,000 each, depending on the size. “The larger the tile, the larger the structure is going to be,” he says.

A farmer might wish to scale back from full drainage during the times of the year when he doesn’t need it. For example, the farmers need complete drainage in the spring and fall when they are in the fields and need good, trafficable soil. “But in the middle of the growing season, where we’re not out there with machinery, and we could use a little extra water, we could use these structures to reduce the amount of drainage,” Sands said. “Similarly, in the off-season, once we’re finished in the fall, before we go into the fields in the spring, we don’t need to

have a water table down at the depth of the tile. We can even have a shallower water table at those times of the year.”

Sands said he doesn’t think the practice will have a positive or negative impact on flooding, but notes there is an opportunity to capture water in the soil profile in the spring, should there be available pore space in the soil, and not let it leave the field.

H o t d rainag e topic Tom Scherer, an NDSU extension agricultural engineer who specializes in irrigation and drainage issues, is one of a team of experts who first organized tile drainage design workshops — a cooperative project between NDSU and the University of Minnesota. The workshops started in 1998 in Crookston, Minn., but more consistent interest has grown in the past decade, and spread into South Dakota in the past few years.

The workshops are two, two-day repeated events, each with a 50-person capacity. The leaders walk through five design processes with special topics on new technology and safety placed between. “We could have probably had 70 in each of these,” Scherer said, noting that some that couldn’t get into sessions in the Dakotas will be attending a Mankato, Minn., session.

About half of the attendees are looking at how to do tiling on their own, but contractors and vendors also attend.

In Wahpeton, they talked about sources for soil information. In the Red River Valley there is

LIDAR (light imaging detecting and ranging) topographical data available on computers.

No one knows exactly how much tiling activity is going on in the Red River Valley. In 1998, there was one tile plow at Brooks, Minn., Scherer said.

Ellingson Drainage came in 2000 for the first time.

Today, Ellingson has seven or eight plows, two other companies have three or four plows each. Other contractors are working in the area and numerous farmers have bought plows. “About the only way you could do it accurately is poll the guys who make the tile to see how many thousand feet they’ve sold,” he said.

Scherer said he’s heard of some cases where farmers who started installing their own tile did it improperly, possibly getting their information word-of-mouth. One of those basics, for example, is to start tiling at the outlet.

A bigger mistake, is failing to be safe.

D y i n g fo r d r a i n a g e ?

Jim Walker, from New Prague, Minn., is business and safety manager for Barnett Bros. Inc. in Kilkenny, Minn., midway between Fairibault and Mankato. He spoke about safety issues on behalf of the Minnesota Land Improvement Contractors Association.

What is the biggest mistake farmers make?

“They feel they’re invincible,” Walker said. “They haven’t taken any safety training. They’re starting to do this tiling on their own, so they feel they can purchase this tiling machine on their own.” He

said farmers are basically safe people but also entrepreneurial “risk-takers,” temperamentally.

Walker said a typical mistake is a lack of care at the start of a project. A tiling project starts with a main line installation, which is done with an excavator, not a tile plow.

“They generally aren’t familiar enough with soil types to bench (slope) the soil back sufficiently,” to ensure that it doesn’t cave in on whoever is going to be down in the trench,” Walker said.

Another mistake is that they think a shallow trench — say five feet deep — doesn’t create any danger, so there isn’t any need to bench it back, or slope it. “But the gentleman bends over to make a connection and now he is below the top of the soil, creating that vulnerability,” Walker said. Four years ago a man was killed in Le Sueur County.

Farmers tend not to make people wear brightly-colored safety vests, which help prevent machine operators from hitting them. Most don’t realize the damage cellcrushing soil can have on people who are even partially buried but rescued, and they need to be prepared to warn emergency workers who may not be familiar with that type of accident.

Another common danger is failing to put the spoil bank, or excavated material, far enough away from the edge of the trench, so that chunks can’t tumble in.

Just this past January, a 20-year-old South Dakota State University student home for a weekend on a

farm near Lakefield, Minn., was in a trench repairing a main line on a field drain next to a county highway. The victim and an uncle were at the bottom of the trench, the father was on top with a backhoe. The young man bent over to pick up a “T” to make a connection, and the trench caved in and killed him through suffocation and crushing, even though it was only five feet deep. In Walker’s demonstration, he notes that a cubic foot of soil weighs 3,000 pounds and has as much mass as some pickup trucks.

One perennial issue discussed in the hallways at the event was about whether tile drainage affects flooding in the Red River Valley.

More research might help, Scherer said. There has been lots of research from April to November, but there is less information about how flows in this area are affected by weather factors — a killing frost, precipitation, spring thaw timing. “We don’t have a very good idea of when they flow, what do they respond to, the timing, because it’s all dependent on when do we get snow, when does it thaw, when does the tile start flowing,” Scherer says.

With this year’s mild temperatures, some farmers in the Brookings, S.D., area were installing tile in early February, Scherer said, chuckling. “There’s no frost. How strange is that?”

Ag Week and the Morris Sun Tribune are both owned by Forum Communications Co.

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Agricultural long-term projections United States Department of Agriculture This report provides projections for the agricultural sector through 2021.

Projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices. The projections are based on specific assumptions about macroeconomic conditions, policy, weather, and international developments, with no domestic or external shocks to global agricultural markets.

Provisions of current law are assumed to remain in effect through the projection period. The projections are one representative scenario for the agricultural sector for the next decade. The projections in this report were prepared during October through December 2011, reflecting a composite of model results and judgment-based analyses.

Major assumptions underlying the projections and selected implications include: E c o n o m i c G row t h • U.S. and world economic growth reflect movements back to longrun steady gains in the aftermath of the global financial crisis and economic recession. However, the macroeconomic assumptions reflect a dichotomy between a slow transition back toward relatively weaker longrun sustainable growth in developed countries (particularly Japan and the EU) and stronger growth in developing countries. As a result, developing countries become a larger part of the world economy.

• Global economic growth is assumed at a 3.3percent average rate for 2011-2021. High growth rates in China, India, and other emerging markets among the developing countries underpin world macroeconomic gains.

• Among developed countries, Japan’s economic growth continues to face constraints from long-term structural rigidities, a political process that makes economic reform difficult, and a rapidly aging population. Growth in the EU will be limited by the ongoing Eurozone crisis.

• The U.S. economy is projected to grow at an average rate of about 2.5 percent over the next decade.

With slower growth in the United States than in the world economy, the U.S. share of global gross domestic product (GDP) falls from about 26 percent currently to 24 percent at the end of the projection period.

Employment gains are projected to be slow, with high rates of unemployment lasting for a number of years.

• In the longer run, the return to steady global economic growth supports longer term gains in world

food demand, global agricultural trade, and U.S. agricultural exports.

Economic growth in developing countries is especially important because food consumption and feed use are particularly responsive to income growth in those countries, with movement away from traditional staple foods and increased diversification of diets.

P o p u l at i o n • Stronger global economic growth over the next decade contributes to the continued slowing of population gains around the world as birth rates decline. Growth in global population is projected to average about 1.0 percent per year compared with an average annual rate of 1.2 percent in the last decade.

• Population growth rates in most developing countries remain above those in the rest of the world. As a consequence, the share of world population accounted for by

developing countries increases to 82 percent by 2021, up from 79 percent in 2000.

• Population gains in developing countries, along with increased urbanization and expansion of the middle class, are particularly important for the projected growth in global food demand.

Populations in developing countries, in contrast to those in more-developed countries, are dominated by younger population cohorts who consume larger quantities of food of increasingly diverse types.

T h e Va l u e o f t h e U. S. Dollar • The U.S. dollar is projected to depreciate through the projection period. The dollar depreciation is part of a global rebalancing of trade and financial markets in the aftermath of the global financial crisis and recession.

Although not assumed for these projections, a worsening of the

Eurozone sovereign debt crisis would weaken the euro further and slow the depreciation of the dollar.

• The weaker dollar will remain a facilitating factor in projected gains in U.S. agricultural exports.

Although trade competition will continue to be strong, the United States will remain competitive in global agricultural markets, with export gains contributing to longrun increases in cash receipts for U.S. farmers.

Oil Prices • Crude oil prices are assumed to increase over the next decade as global economic activity improves, rising somewhat faster than the general inflation rate in the latter part of the projections. By the end of the projection period, the nominal refiner acquisition cost for crude oil imports is projected to be over $120 per barrel.

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Agricultural Continued from page 8D • Increases in crude oil prices raise production costs in the agricultural sector.

U. S .

A g ricultura l P o l i cy • Provisions of current law, particularly the 2008 Farm Act, are assumed to remain in effect through the projection period.

• Acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is projected to decline to under 30 million acres over the next several years before rising back to close to its legislated maximum of 32 million acres throughout the remainder of the projections.

• With high prices for many crops, price-depend-

ent marketing loan and counter-cyclical program benefits have become less important in total government payments to the U.S. agricultural sector. The CRP and fixed direct payments are the largest payments to the sector throughout the projection period.

Overall, Government payments have a smaller role and the sector relies on the market for more of its income.

U. S. B i o f u e l s • The 45-cents-per-gallon tax credit that had been available to blenders of ethanol and the 54-centsper-gallon tariff on imported ethanol used as fuel expired at the end of 2011.

Similarly, the $1-per-gallon tax credit for blending

biodiesel expired at the end of 2011.

The projections assume that these provisions are not reinstated.

• High levels of domestic corn-based ethanol production continue over the next decade, with about 36 percent of total corn use projected to go to ethanol production.

However, gains are smaller than have occurred in recent years. The projected slower expansion reflects only moderate near-term growth in overall U.S. gasoline consumption followed by declines later in the decade, limited potential for further market penetration of ethanol into the E10 (10-percent ethanol blend) market, constraints in the E15 (15-percent ethanol blend) market, and the small size of the E85 (85-percent ethanol blend) market.

• The biomass-based

diesel use mandate under the Renewable Fuel Standard of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 has risen to one billion gallons for 2012 and is assumed to remain at that level for subsequent years. Some biodiesel production above this mandate is assumed to meet a portion of the advanced biofuel mandate of the Renewable Fuel Standard. Soybean oil, other first-use vegetable oils, animal fats, and recycled vegetable oil are used as feedstocks to produce biodiesel in the projections.

L ive s t o c k a n d M e a t Tr a d e • World meat demand and imports continue strong growth, especially in many middle- and lowincome countries.

Projected global growth for overall meat consumption averages more than two percent annually over the next decade, with per capita consumption increasing for each major

Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Page 9D type of meat (beef, pork, and poultry).

• The projections assume that policies will continue to be used in Russia to stimulate domestic pork and poultry production and to reduce imports.

I n t e r n a t i o n a l Po l i c y • Trade projections assume that countries comply with existing bilateral and multilateral agreements affecting agriculture and agricultural trade. The report incorporates effects of trade agreements and domestic policies in place in November 2011.

• Domestic agricultural and trade policies in individual foreign countries are assumed to continue to evolve along their current paths, based on the consensus judgment of USDA’s regional and commodity analysts. In particular, long-term economic and trade reforms in many developing countries are assumed to continue.

• The Canadian Wheat Board is assumed to continue to function as in the past.

I n t e r n at i o n a l Biofuels • Global demand for biofuel feedstocks is projected

to continue growing. The largest producers—the United States, Brazil, the EU, and Argentina—are projected to expand output, although at a slower pace than in recent years.

Increases in output are also expected from many smaller producers.

Continued expansion is largely due to biofuel policies, mainly use mandates and tax incentives.

• The EU remains the world’s largest importer of biofuels throughout the projection period.

To boost biodiesel production, the EU increases oilseed production and imports of oilseeds and vegetable oil feedstocks, mainly from Ukraine and Russia. EU wheat provides much of the feedstock for ethanol expansion in the EU in the early years, while growth in corn used as an ethanol feedstock is more rapid toward the end of the projections. The EU also increases imports of biofuels throughout the projection period, particularly biodiesel from Argentina and ethanol from Brazil.

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Farm bill debate begins in Congress

By A l F r a n ke n U.S. Senator, D-MN In December, when the first new Massey Ferguson tractor built in America in many years rolled off the Agco assembly line in Jackson, Minn., it was a sure sign that the farm economy is helping to lead the economic recovery in our state and across the country.

With farm prices strong and farm income up, agricultural prosperity is creating jobs, not only in farming, but also in related industries and small businesses that support our farmers.

When I visited Agco's newly-expanded plant in Jackson last summer, company officials were excited that demand from farmers helped them create almost 200 new jobs in that rural Minnesota community.

2 0 1 2 Fa r m B i l l D e b a t e B eginning As we move forward in 2012, Minnesota and the rest of the country have an economic stake in continuing to ensure a strong farm economy.

This year, Congress will soon take up a new Farm Bill to help give farmers the tools they need to stay prosperous.

The Farm Bill debate

will take place at the very time Congress and the President are looking to rein in spending in every part of the budget - including agriculture. I will press for legislation that meets the needs of Minnesota farmers by providing an adequate safety net to assist when disasters hit or farm prices drop.

As Congressional budget cutters look to cut direct farm payments, crop insurance will become even more important in helping farmers recover from devastating losses. In 2010, crop insurance poli-

cies covered 256 million acres, or about 75 percent of all acres planted. I will work with my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee to expand and strengthen this important program.

I nv e s t i n g in I n n ova t i o n a n d Jo b s As a member of the Senate Energy Committee, I believe that rural energy development can drive job creation in Minnesota.

That's why the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is a top priority for me.

The program provides grants and loan guarantees to farmers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, as well as grants to gas stations for blender pump installation. After consulting with Minnesota farm and energy groups, I will soon introduce legislation to improve access to REAP funding, so that Minnesota

job creators can take advantage of our state's vast renewable energy potential.

Our nation has made great progress in the development of ethanol and other biofuels, but we need to do more to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

The country's first commercial-scale cellulosic biorefinery will begin production in Iowa next year pumping out ethanol made from corncobs and stover.

We need to invest in that technology in Minnesota so we can continue to lead America's biofuel movement.

Drivers need to have a choice when they go to the pump, so I'm going to introduce legislation to invest in blender pumps - which blend ethanol with gasoline. Automakers say that any car that uses gasoline could potentially run on a blend that includes 30 percent ethanol, but we simply don't have enough

blender pumps because big oil companies - who control most gas stations don't want the competition.

But blender pumps are just one part of the equation. To foster continued innovation and growth, we need strong support for agriculture research and development. That's why I've fought to fund key agriculture research programs, including USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, which funds critical agriculture research at the University of Minnesota and across the country.

2012 will be an important year for Minnesota farmers, and recent history shows that they are leading the way in our economic recovery. I'm going to continue to work to ensure that Congress does its part to keep our farm economy strong.

Dairy producers reminded of MILC Program SAINT PAUL, MINN., March 6, 2012 - The Minnesota Farm Service Agency would like to remind dairy producers of some important program eligibility requirements for payment under the Milk Income Loss Contract program (MILC). FSA State Executive Director Linda Hennen says dairy prices may authorize potential MILC payments, but all dairy producers need to be aware of the program requirements should those conditions arise.

Dairy operators currently enrolled in MILC,

need to notify the local county office if there have been any changes to their dairy operation.

If a payment rate is announced, dairy producers enrolled in the MILC program will need to provide the local county office with documentation showing the eligible milk production and commercial milk marketing for the months with a MILC payment rate in effect.

When producers enroll in MILC, a payment start month is selected. This month remains the same through all program years, unless a change is request-

ed by the dairy. Dairy producers need to check with their FSA Office to determine when a change is allowed.

MILC program participants are also required to comply with FSA's Adjusted Gross Income requirements each fiscal year. This certification, on a CCC-931, must be completed prior to a payment being disbursed.

New dairies that have not previously participated in the MILC program will need to fill out the CCC-580, Milk Income Loss Contract.

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Saturday, March 10, 2012 - Page 11D

Understanding crop rotation Though it's easy for suburbanites or city dwellers to go months, if not years, without seeing a farm, the most recent agriculture census for which information is available notes that in 2007 there were 2.1 million farms in the United States.

Those farms spanned 922 million acres, shedding light on the fact that while many Americans might not see farms on a daily basis, that doesn't mean the country isn't still a great home to farmland.

While farming might once have been a part of most Americans' daily lives, today the principles of farming are much more foreign to the average American. One such principle is crop rotation, a valuable agricultural practice that can even pay dividends for suburban homeowners who enjoy gardening. The benefits of crop rotation aren't only applicable to large farms, as they can help keep personal gardens healthy as well.

W h at Is C ro p R o t at i o n ?

Crop rotation is a practice farmers employ to help their crops fight disease. By growing a variety of crops in a sequential system throughout their field, farmers are hoping to avoid the buildup of disease and pests that is common with mono-cropping, which is the practice of growing the same crop on the same land year after year after year. When rotating crops, each succeeding crop must belong to a family different from the previous crop.

W h y E m p l oy C r o p R o t at i o n ?

Crop rotation has many benefits, arguably the most important of which is keeping pests and disease at bay. Since many pest insects and disease-causing organisms are host specific, rotating crops helps ensure these insect pests and harmful organisms cannot make a permanent home or have access to a permanent source of food.

If crops aren't rotated,

then the insect pests and organisms have a constant source of food, enabling them to live longer and do more damage to crops as a result.

But crop rotation isn't only beneficial to crops.

Crop rotation can also promote healthy soil.

Different crops have different nutrient needs, so rotating crops with different nutrient needs helps avoid the depletion of any one element present in the soil. Soil structure is often better when crops are rotated as well. Some crops are deep-rooting while others are shallow rooting. By alternating between the two, planters can break up any subsoil that might have grown compacted.

Crop rotation also offers environmental and financial benefits by reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals to fight pests. By rotating crops, planters are making it much harder for pests to thrive, without having to spend money on costly and often environmentally harmful pesticides.

Crop rotation is a practice that both farmers and gardening enthusiasts can benefit from.

Page 12D- Saturday, March 10, 2012

MORRIS SUN TRIBUNE - FARM

Morris, Minnesota 56267

The agriculture industry plays a vital role in maintaining a strong economy by creating jobs and producing an abundance of affordable high-quality products, from the food on our tables to the clothes on our backs. Today’s sophisticated farms have made great strides in technology, productivity and innovation to improve quantity and quality while keeping consumers’ costs low. We salute the men and West Central Wiring women of our nation’s agriculture industry for their hard & Consulting work and dedication to keeping our country strong! has wiring solutions for your home & business.

Walter Biesterfeld, Owner

320-589-1281 1002 Columbia Ave., Morris

KANNEGIESSER TRUCK SALES 23774 380th Avenue Hancock

(320) 795-2827

These area businesses support our local farmers with pride!

HANCOCK CO-OP, INC. FERTILIZER & FEED

MORRIS AREA SCHOOLS

355 Atlantic Avenue, Hancock

201 So. Columbia Ave. Morris

(320) 392-5291

(320) 589-4840

KATHLEEN JOST, DVM MIKE HEIN, DVM JACLYN CARLSON VAN LITH, DVM

H&H 55706 280th Street, Alberta

(320) 589-1600

Veteriary Service 170 Hwy. 9 NW Benson, MN 56215 (320) 842-5960 Fax: (320) 842-5990

s! imate t s E Free ates! m i t s E www.wcwiring.com Free

320.815.4062

walter@wcwiring.com

210 South Hwy 9, Morris (320) 589-1010 www.valuford.com

Sewage System Specialties 24149 380th Ave., Hancock

(320) 795-2429

103 East 5th St., Starbuck

We design, install & inspect sewage systems

320.239.2136

MICHAELSON SERVICES Owner: Tim Michaelson * Trees * Snow Removal * Metal Recycling

966 6th St., Hancock

(320) 392-3143

STARBUCK, MN 320-239-2677 TOLL FREE: 888-643-4977

Complete line of sporting goods; guns, ammo, camouflage clothing, & camping gear.

AND

Bobcat of Morris 19700 470th Ave., Morris 710 Atlantic Ave., Morris 320-589-3822

320-589-1664 • 320-808-7093 1627 State Hwy 329, Morris, MN 56267

(320) 589-4439

AMOCO FOOD SHOP

300 Atlantic Ave. • Morris

(320) 589-2974 M-F 5 AM-10 PM Sat. & Sun. 6 AM-10 PM

Lakeland Ag., Inc. Mike Schneider • 585-7410 600 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 204, Morris

Auto Value of Morris

320-589-4455 402 Atlantic Ave. Morris

I N C

TONY & ANDREW MESSNER

320-392-5496

320.324.7461 313 Main Street, Alberta

Hill Electric Roger D. Hill 62384 220th St., Chokio

(320) 324-7313 Cell: (320) 808-5957

www.morris.umn.edu Gain n a sensee off security with h thee right insurancee forr yourr farm, crops,, auto,, orr home..

Juanita Staples • Lonnie Anderson

202 East 7th St., Morris

320-589-9060

West Central Environmental Consultants, Inc.

38499 County Rd. 2, Hancock, MN 56244 FAX: 320-392-6339

Environment Control Systems

601 Atlantic Avenue • Morris

(320) 589-2039

(320) 589-3933

14 Industrial Blvd. • Morris, MN 800.522.2560 • 320.589.1771 Dr. Eric Rambow • Dr. Meghan Rambow

www.morrisdentalclinic.com “For All Your Family’s Dental Needs”

170 So. Cty. Rd. 22, Morris

(320) 589-2161

(320) 589-3865

201 East 6th Street, Morris

607 Pacific Ave., Morris

14 Green River Road, Morris

www.ptrailer.com

(320) 589-2525 www.morrissuntribune.com

www.hancockrecord.com

P.O. Box 425, Hancock (320) 392-5527 Located at 607 Pacific Ave., Morris