Swine & U

Winter has arrived and we A common practice on have seasonal disease concerns — both in the pig barn and with the caretakers. For the past year we have been immersed in learning all we can about Covid-19, but the usual winter worries on the pig farm always include swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus can be simply SWINE&UUniversityofMinnesota EXTENSION pig farms is to use nurse sows to adopt piglets who fall behind and might otherwise die. Transmission of influenza virus from nurse sows to adopted pigs has been reported experimentally. However, until now, studies in actual production farms have not been conducted. 2011 to 2017, Pardo collected samples at weaning on 83 swine farms in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. These monthly samples were part of a routine sows; growing pigs will experience severe respiratory distress for 7-10 days, then return to normal referred to as the flu, but over the next 7-10 days. surveillance program and yielded these The study included a total of 184 there’s nothing simple about In the Midwest, 90 per- results: Piglets who were raised by sows in three breeding herds in SWINE & U By Diane DeWitte cent of swine herds containing growing pigs have tested positive for SIV. While commercial vaccines exist for swine influenza, many herds prefer to use an autogenous vaccine created specifically for them. These custom-made vaccines are formulated by using herd-specific antiit in the herd. Prior to this 2020 season of Covid-19, the 2009 H1N1 (“swine flu”) pandemic was the worst human flu attack since 1918. Because its origins were a reassortment of human, bird and swine flu viruses, much research has occurred in the ensuing years to better understand flu sows vaccinated against influenza were less likely to have the disease. Gilts who entered the sow herd and were influenza-positive were associated with positive piglets at weaning. Further details of Dr. Pardo’s study can be found at https://z.umn.edu/ PardoInfluenzaStudy. A robust five-year study of 34 breedMinnesota and Iowa. All three herds were positive for the swine influenza virus. The researchers collected oral swabs and udder wipes from the sows before the adopted pigs were placed with them, and after weaning. Oral swabs were collected from six piglets in each litter three times during the nursing period and at weaning. in pigs and people. gens from the influenza-infected popu- to-wean farms by the team at the Overall, this study showed more sows Influenza in Pigs Swine influenza virus is present in most swine herds across the country, and it appears to be a disease many farms constantly live with. It’s a respiratory disease which affects all stages of production. Suckling piglets generally have immunity to the disease while with the sow. Coughing, pneumonia and fever are the most common symptoms. The high temperatures of SIV can cause abortions in pregnant lation. Recent studies on influenza The past seven years have found the University of Minnesota on the forefront in conducting valuable applied research to try to understand influenza in swine, its control, and how it can be eradicated. Dr. Fabian Chamba Pardo recently published findings of his study of the factors which affect influenza infection status of piglets at weaning time. From University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Population Department undertook the three-pronged challenge of estimating the prevalence and seasonality of SIV, investigating the correlation between the prevalence of SIV and weather, and studying the genetic diversity of the SIV on the farms over time. The team found that the prevalence of influenza in herds over five years ranged from 7 percent to 57 percent with a median presence of 28 percent. Herd-level influenza occurrences folwere found positive at weaning compared to the beginning of the study when using oral swabs. However, no difference was found between the nurse sows and control sows. When looking at udder wipe samples, a higher proportion tested positive in the nurse group compared to the control group at the onset of the study. This difference was not found at the time of weaning. The udder wipe samples also tested positive by virus isolation, showing that nurse sows could serve as a lowed a cyclical pattern with levels mechanical means of transmission in

University of Minnesota Extension increasing during the fall, peaking in December and May, and subsiding in addition to direct transmission from their own oro-nasal secretions. This Swine Resources for you the summer. Researchers were able to correlate the prevalence of herd-level study indicates that nurse sows can contribute to the transmission and per-

Website: extension.umn.edu/swine influenza with lower outdoor temperatures and low absolute humidity. The petuation of influenza infections in pigs prior to weaning, particularly dur-

Swine Extension blog & Newsletter: https://blog-swine.extension.umn.edu team’s research also showed that over time, there were genetically diverse ing the first week after adoption. (Report from umnswinenews.com, Jan.

Minnesota’s Swine & U Podcasts: https://z.umn.edu/UMNSwineExtensionPodcast influenza viruses co-circulating within the herd. (Frontiers in Veterinary 26.) Protect people and pigsScience, October 2017). Although influenza is not a federally

UM Extension Swine YouTube channel: 2020 influenza research reportable or regulated swine disease, https://z.umn.edu/UMNSwineYouTube A study by the University of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Minnesota Veterinary College’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection

UM Extension Swine Facebook page: facebook.com/UMNSwine Torremorell group was recently pub- Service in conjunction with the

UM College of Veterinary Medicine Swine blog: www.umnswinenews.com lished in the Preventive Veterinary Medicine Journal. In this publication, American Association of Swine Veterinarians and National Pork Board Dr. Jorge Garrido-Mantilla et al. evalu- have collaborated on the establishment Contact the University of Minnesota Extension ated if piglets put together with a of a national swine influenza virus surSwine Educators: nurse sow were more likely to be influ- veillance program. Veterinarians can Sarah Schieck-Boelke at schi0466@umn.edu enza A (SIA) positive; and conversely, if a nurse sow could become infected submit nasal fluid, oral swabs or lung tissue to a local lab to be evaluated. In Diane DeWitte at stouf002@umn.edu when adopting a litter of positive pig lets. See SWINE & U, pg. 11 Minnesota, the University of Minnesota

PROCESSING, from pg. 8 Proper handling of the pig

The condition in which a pig is handled prior to butchering not only impacts their well-being, but research has also shown can cause adverse effects on the quality of the pork from that pig. A stressed and agitated pig will also be much more difficult to handle.

When handling a pig it is recommended to have sorting panels or something solid like plywood to help guide the pig in the direction you want them to go. The sorting board can be used to restrain a pig’s movement. For example, if the sorting board will be used to restrain the pig along a gate or side of a pen for stunning. When doing this, it is important to have sturdy gating. The pig should have good footing to

Flu viruses can pass from pigs to people

SWINE & U, from pg. 10

Veterinary Diagnostic Lab on the St. Paul campus is the surveillance site. Information gathered there can help determine the presence of or changes in influenza virus on pig farms.

Because flu viruses can be transmitted between pigs and people, guidelines are in place for pig handlers and farm team members. As always, biosecurity is important to prevent the spread of influenza from pigs to people and from workers to pigs. Wearing personal protective equipment like gloves and masks that cover nose and mouth can reduce the transfer of flu virus. Workers should not eat, drink or put anything in their mouth in pig areas. Also important is hand-washing often with soap and running water before and after working with pigs. If soap and water is not available, an alcohol-based hand rub is recommended. Pig barn employees with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever ends.

The National Pork Board and the U.S. Center for Disease Control recommend that people who work with pigs get a seasonal flu vaccination. Vaccinations are the most valuable tool for preventing flu transmission. Annual vaccination will prevent the spread of the flu between people and from people to pigs.

Flu season is here. Make sure that you, your family, and your pigs are protected against the disease.

Diane DeWitte is an Extension Educator specializing in swine for the University of Minnesota Extension. Her e-mail address is stouf002@umn.edu v

Swine study prevents misinformation

SWINE STUDY, from pg. 9

ity, biosecurity, and morbidity and mortality prevention. It will determine the producer-reported prevalence of select pathogens in weaned market pigs; as well as describe antimicrobial stewardship and use patterns. The study will also evaluate the presence of select economically important pathogens and characterize isolated organisms from biological specimens.

Small Enterprise Study — In contrast, this study will collect data from swine operations with fewer than 1,000 pigs. The NAHMS team hopes to learn more about the swine health and management practices used on these farms and the alternative marketing strategies they implement.

Small enterprise swine production is a growing sector of the U.S. swine industry because it’s a primary supplier of many niche-market products. This industry segment is very diverse, and the study hopes to learn more about small-farm health and production practices, animal movement and mortality on small pig farms; while contrasting the differences between small and large pig operations.

For the small swine enterprise study, 5,000 swine operations from 38 states will be asked to participate. Interestingly, these 38 states account for 95 percent of the U.S. pig farms with fewer than 1,000 pigs. North Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nevada, Alaska, Hawaii, and six small urban states in the northeastern United States are the states who do not have a large population of small enterprise swine farms.

Why participate?

Producers who are selected to participate in the 2021 NAHMS Swine Study can benefit the swine industry in a number of ways. The data supplied will provide transparent, credible information on industry practices which will help counter misinformation. In an effort to understand disease preparedness strengths and vulnerabilities, the data will help policymakers and industry stakeholders make sciencebased decisions. The information gathered can be used by researchers and private enterprise to focus on swine health issues — both large and small; and identify educational needs related to health and production on small and large swine farms.

The NAHMS swine team is gearing up to meet and visit with swine producers across the United States beginning in the summer of 2021. Producer participation is a great way to provide credible data to researchers, and later in the study, to get some biologics testing of the herd. Data collected in this 2021 study will provide an unquestionable benchmark for swine production and health in the United States, and assist the industry in planning for the future.

Diane DeWitte is an Extension Educator specializing in swine for the University of Minnesota Extension. Her e-mail address is stouf002@umn.edu v minimize chance of the pig slipping. If a firearm is used to stun the pig, be sure to think about human safety in terms of the surrounding area. Pay attention to the flooring the pig is on to minimize the chance of the bullet ricocheting off objects if the pig is missed or the bullet goes through the pig.

Tthe video, “How to butcher a pig for home use,” created by the University of Minnesota Extension Swine Team explains the points mentioned and more. It also shows the butchering process post bleed out through cutting the carcass into primal cuts. Be sure to check it out if you plan to butcher a pig (https://z.umn.edu/HowToButcherPigVideo).

Sarah Schieck Boelke is a University of Minnesota Extension Educator. She can be reached at (320) 2350726 ext. 2004, or via email at schi0466@umn.edu. v

Register for small grain workshops

The University of Minnesota Extension is holding a series of virtual small grain workshops in February to address successful small grain management.

“Whether you’re a farmer or crop consultant already producing small grains, or looking for another crop to add to the rotation, these workshops are for you,” says Jared Goplen, Extension Educator in Crops. “Workshops will be informal conversations around production agronomics, variety selection, and economics.”

The workshops will take place on Feb. 15, 1-3 p.m., southeastern Minnesota focus; Feb. 17, 4-6 p.m., southwestern Minnesota focus; and Feb. 19, 9-11 a.m., central Minnesota focus.

Panelists will include Jochum Wiersma, University of Minnesota Extension small grain specialist; Jared Goplen, University of Minnesota Extension crops educator; and Daniel Kaiser, University of Minnesota Extension soil fertility specialist.

The workshops will be held over Zoom via computer, tablet, phone, or other mobile device.

Registration is free, and will be required to access the virtual zoom link. Register by visiting https://z. umn.edu/southern-small-grain.

For more information, contact Jared Goplen at (320) 589-1711, ext. 2128; or gople007@umn.edu.

This article was submitted by University of Minnesota Extension. v

For more news briefs, visit the “Nuts and Bolts” section at www.TheLandOnline.

By DICK HAGEN corn monument adjoining U.S. Hwy. 212 — complete The Land Staff Writer Emeritus with a colorful history on the corn dominance of

OLIVIA, Minn. — During the late 1960s and Renville County. 1970s, Olivia, Minn. was buzzing. Two new seed Olivia’s ambitions as the Seed Corn Capital of corn companies were news-makers across the corn Minnesota prevailed, mostly because of Olivia native belt because of their rapid growth. RBA Hybrids was and University of Minnesota agronomy graduate Ed under the tutelage of Bob Rauenhorst; and Keltgen Baumgartner. Raised on a farm on the south edge of Seed Company had Keith Keltgen at the helm. town, Ed and his dad, Joe, had worked seed production 0SLT02529_GARB_AG268_1119_snap_280.indd In those days, a few big names dominated the seed industry. New seed brands faced intense competition. By 1976-77, RBA was being acknowledged as the third or fourth-largest seed company in the 10-state northern corn belt. Keltgen Seed Company, marketing primarily Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana and northern Iowa, soon picked up the title of ‘the fastest growing’ new seed company. However, fate intervened. A deadly airplane crash in 1978 killed five of the RBA leadership team. The cancerous death of Keith Keltgen in 1999 pretty much stifled the continuous growth of his company. It was eventually purchased by Dow AgriSeeds. Nonetheless, the bustling growth of these two Olivia-based and family-owned seed firms was being noticed at all levels — including state government. In 1993, the Minnesota State Legislature designated Olivia as “The Seed Corn Capital of Minnesota.” That prompted the construction of a 100-foot tall ear fields for the Olivia-based seed firms. His early work after college brought him back home to Olivia and Keltgen Seed Company. Keltgen was conducting winter research at a Puerto Rican seed nursery facility. This led to Ed’s 20-year Puerto Rico career directing research projects for Dow AgriSeeds. This Puerto Rico tenure involved upwards of 300 seasonal employees and 19 different crops utilizing nearly 300 acres. It also fueled his ambition to return to Olivia and launch his own seed firm. Interviewed during his first year ‘back home,’ Ed proudly exclaimed, “It’s fun to be back in Olivia, the Corn Capital. Yes, my early intrigue in corn genetics stems directly from high school summers with the research crew of Trojan Seed Company.” Baumgartner launched his new seed firm, 3MG (3rd Millenium Genetics) in 2005. The company’s singular mission was the introduction of new nonGMO corn hybrids. This certainly bucked the ambitions of most seed companies which spent millions introducing nothing but new GMO hybrids.

Why the emphasis on non-GMO breeding? “Because of the constantly growing market here in America and Europe which is still non-GMO,” Baumgartner replied. “Plus there’s getting to be a growing international call for our products.”

And that includes Kazakhstan — a huge landlocked country bordering on both Russia and China, where Ed and his wife currently reside. Thanks to Internet access, I had a chance to visit with Baumgartner on Jan. 7.

The Land: 2019 was a not-so-good year for Midwest farmers. By contrast, 2020 in most parts was super (especially in Renville County). Can 2021 be a repeat?

Baumgartner: I think it can be with Mother Nature cooperating. Last fall’s harvest season was a pleasant surprise after a few years of often fighting mud. Yes, timely rains will again be required for 2021. Renville County is blessed with good soils, abundant tile drainage, and farmers who can quickly handle the adverse conditions should that prevail.

The Land: You got some of your seed into Kazakhstan fields last year. How do you handle seed shipments and pricing into foreign countries?

Baumgartner: 3MG is now focused on contract research work only. We changed the seed part of 3MG to BASS Genetics and BASS Hybrids (Baumgartner Agricultural Science and Services). BASS Hybrids sells seed across the corn belt and BASS Genetics licenses and sells our hybrids around the globe. That partly explains my current presence in Kazakhstan. Until last season, corn growers here haven’t had the opportunity to grow our seeds. It requires 60 days transit time from our Danube, Minn. warehouse to clear customs to Kazakhstan. Our seed is priced the same here as in the USA. However, overseas customers pay the freight and related expenses such as VAT. Daughter Rachel at our Danube warehouse handles the complex logistics and paperwork. And yes, we’ll have more acres of BASS Hybrids planted here this 2021 season.

The Land: Over the years you’ve collected germplasm of different strains of corn around the world. Are you still finding new germplasm sources with improved results in insect, heat and drought tolerance?

Baumgartner: This continues to be the most exciting part of product development. Genes to improve drought, heat and insect tolerance are present in the corn gene pool. There is no need to add foreign genes to find these traits. Yes, it takes time and a different breeding methodology, but you can coax these genes into expressing themselves and then corral them into our germplasm base. Once in our germplasm, we develop hybrids for farmers around the globe.

The Land: Will non-GMO strategies continue to be the wellspring of your company?

Baumgartner: BASS Hybrids will NOT permit a GMO to enter its warehouse! Our primary intent since day one was to be a leading source of nonGMO hybrids. The non-GMO market is a viable and growing market for us. We see more and more farmers switching 100 percent to non-GMO. And it’s not just a seed price issue. It lessens their herbicidemanagement headaches also.

The Land: With most farmers pleased — perhaps surprised — with crop profits last year, might there be a battle between corn and soybean acres in 2021?

Baumgartner: From an agronomic standpoint, I would rather farmers keep their crop rotations intact. I understand their ambition for that ‘home run’ too! The beauty of developing our own products is that we actually develop hybrids for corn-on-corn situations since many of our customers are livestock farmers with a need for corn-on-corn acres.

The Land: So what’s ahead for 3MG? Is the 300-bushel yield a reality? Lots of 200-plus bushel yields last fall. How many new hybrids into the 2021 market? And you now have 76 and 78-day hybrids. Is this a ‘safety bailout’ when Mother Nature delays planting?

Baumgartner: In 37 years of sitting in the plot combine, I have only seen 300 bushels across the screen one time. Yes, under the right circumstances 300-bushel yields do happen. Last season several of our ‘grow out’ plots hit close.

We are constantly adding hybrids to meet specific customer needs. That’s why we call BASS Hybrids personalized seed. Consistency of production on a year-to-year basis is what corn producers most appreciate; but everyone likes the ‘home run’ too!

Our commercial lineup for 2021 totals 32 hybrids — our biggest lineup ever. And we’re excited about these early hybrids too. Our maturity range is from

See BAUMGARTNER, pg. 14

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This column was written for the mar- time butter production ever topped 2 bil- percent. It did not trade in the last event. Butter keting week ending Feb. 5. lion pounds in a year. was next, up 6.2 percent, following a 4.6 percent The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the January federal order Class III benchmark milk price at $16.04 per hundredweight. This is up 32 cents from December, but $1.01 below January 2020. Yogurt production totaled 355.5 million pounds, up 1.9 percent from a year ago, with the year-to-date total at 4.5 billion pounds, up 2.4 percent. Dry whey totaled 81.7 million pounds, up 12.3 million or 17.7 percent from rise last time. But anhydrous milkfat was only up 1.3 percent after leading the gains on Jan. 19 with a 17.2 percent jump. Lactose was up 3.8 percent, followed by GDT cheddar, up 2.3 percent after slipping 0.3 percent last time. Whole milk powder was also up 2.3 percent following a 2.2 percent uptick; but skim milk powder was down 1.5 percent (the

Late morning futures on Feb. 5 por- MIELKE MARKET November and 1.9 million or 2.3 percent only loss on the day) after jumping 7 percent last tended a February Class III at $15.62; WEEKLY above a year ago, with year-to-date at time. 956.2 million pounds, down 2.2 percent. Dry whey stocks fell to 65.7 million pounds, down 2.2 percent from November and 8 percent below those a year ago. March, $16.60; April, $17.10; May, $17.46; June, $17.59; July, $17.69; August, $17.75; September, $17.75; October, $17.63; November, $17.54; and December, $17.29. By Lee Mielke MARKETING StoneX Group equated the GDT 80 percent butterfat butter price to $2.2249 per pound U.S., up 13 cents from the last event, which saw a 9.2 cent rise. CME butter closed Feb. 5 at a huge bargain $1.2675. GDT cheddar cheese equated to $1.8950

The January Class IV price is $13.75, up 39 cents Nonfat dry milk output jumped to a December per pound, up 4.3 cents, and compares to Feb. 5’s from December but $2.90 below a year ago. high 204.5 million pounds, up 45.3 million pounds CME block cheddar at $1.64. GDT skim milk powYou’ll recall December milk output totaled 18.94 billion pounds, up 3.1 percent from December 2019. The latest Dairy Products report shows where that milk went. or 28.5 percent from November and 39.6 million or 24.1 percent above a year ago. Powder production for the year hit 1.94 billion pounds, up 5 percent from 2019. Stocks, at 283.3 million pounds, were up 34.3 million pounds or 13.8 percent from November, der averaged $1.4506 per pound, down from $1.4709; but whole milk powder averaged $1.5685, up from $1.5333. CME Grade A nonfat dry milk closed Feb. 5 at $1.12 per pound.

Cheese output totaled 1.13 billion pounds, up 2.6 and a bin-bulging 35.9 million pounds or 14.5 pern percent from November and 0.5 percent above cent above a year ago. Cooperatives Working Together members accepted December 2019. Output for 2020 totaled 13.2 billion, up 0.4 percent from 2019. Wisconsin produced 279.3 million pounds of that December total, up 0.9 percent from November and 1.2 percent above a year ago. California output, at 208.5 million pounds, was up 3.8 percent from November but 4.1 percent below a year ago. Idaho, Skim milk powder production fell to 40.9 million pounds, down 11.5 million pounds or 21.8 percent from November and 24 million pounds or 36.9 percent below a year ago. Year-to-date, skim milk powder hit 603.5 million pounds, up 5.4 percent from 2019. 32 offers of export assistance this week to help capture sales of 1.155 million pounds of cheese, 216,053 pounds of butter, 870,826 pounds of anhydrous milkfat, 1.812 million pounds of whole milk powder, and 1.351 million pounds of cream cheese. The product will go to customers in Asia, Central and South America, the Middle East, and Oceania through with 85.5 million pounds, was up 2.7 percent from n June. November but 3.8 percent below a year ago. Global dairy prices remain firm. The Feb. 2 Global Dairy prices were mixed in the first week of Italian-type cheese totaled 484.7 million pounds, up 5.9 percent from November and 0.3 percent above a year ago. Year-to-date, Italian was at 5.6 billion pounds, down 1.2 percent. American-type cheese totaled 461.1 million pounds, up 2.9 percent from November and 1 percent above a year ago. Year-to-date, American hit Dairy Trade auction saw its weighted average rise for the sixth consecutive session, though the gain was smaller at 1.8 percent. That’s down from 4.8 percent on Jan. 19 and compares to a 3.9 percent rise on Jan. 5, and a 4.7 percent drop on Feb. 4, 2020. The gains were led by buttermilk powder, up 10.7 February, or mixed up, as traders weighed Feb. 2’s GDT and the December Dairy Products report. The cheddar blocks fell to $1.5350 per pound on Feb. 4 (the lowest since May 12) but jumped 10.5 cents the next day to close at $1.64. This is up 6.5 cents on the week, reversing three weeks of decline, but were See MIELKE, pg. 15 5.3 billion pounds, up 2.1 percent. Mozzarella output, at 373.1 million pounds, was down 2.8 percent from a year ago — indicative per- Average Kazakhstan farm is 12,500 acres haps of lagging pizza sales. Year-to-date, mozzarella, at 4.4 billion pounds, was down 1.7 percent from 2019. Cheddar, the cheese traded at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, climbed to 334.2 million pounds. This is up 14 million pounds or 4.4 percent from November and 3.8 million or 1.2 percent above a year ago. Cheddar for the year totaled 3.84 billion pounds, up 2.7 percent from 2019. BAUMGARTNER, from pg. 13 76-day to 114 days. My original thinking was developing inbred lines to license and sell to other seed companies. But thanks to business friends, my family members, and perhaps my own ambitions, we decided to get into this exciting world of retail marketing also. Yes, it’s a sometimes whacky world out there — especially this season. But we have great employees. We can handle the bumps and bruises of the seed business. Most rebuilds their huge swine industry. Kazakhstan has huge farms. The average size is about 12,500 acres. “We’ll have BASS hybrids on considerable acres this year,” Baumgartner claimed. “I can’t yet say how many, but on one 24,000 corn operation we will be the dominant seed brand. As their farmers and seedsmen learn more about our non-GMO hybrids and superior insect and drought tolerance, our growth over here will continue.” Churns produced a December record of 205.5 million pounds of butter. This is up 32.3 million pounds or 18.7 percent from November’s total, which was revised up 4.9 million pounds, and was a bearish 21.7 million pounds or 11.8 percent above a year ago. Butter output for the year totaled 2.1 billion pounds, up 6.6 percent from 2019, and the first importantly, we have the very best customers. According to Baumgartner, Kazakhstan farmers grow about 2 million acres of corn annually. Most of it fed to their domestic livestock, primarily cattle. Some corn was exported to China; but this has stopped after the pandemic hit the world. Baumgartner expects exports are likely to increase again as China rapidly Baumgartner is particularly pleased about two new 76-day and 78-day BASS hybrids which should conveniently work in the shorter growing season of Kazakhstan. For more information on BASS offerings, visit www.basshybrids.com or call (320) 522-3461. v