Corteva: Biologics Have A Role To Play In 2024
You never know what mother nature is going to bring. 2023 was a bizarre year when it came to the dry weather conditions and the surprising crop yields. But there are some takeaways from this year that should help you decide what type of crop protection products you should think about for the 2024 growing season.
Ron Geis, market development specialist with Corteva, tells us how this past growing season can help tell the story for next year.
“Weed control was a little bit sketchy sometimes,” he said of the 2023 season. “If we didn’t get the rains to get the residuals to go into the weeds as the weeds were taking in their first water, then the residuals didn’t’ work so well. Some of those weeds, when they got to the foliar time to spray, if the humidites were low, those weeds were really defensive.”
Surprises went beyond weed control. In mid-August, Geis found that Midwestern growers experienced white mold despite the dry conditions.
“That’s a little bit concerning as I think through and plan for 2024,” he says.
Geis offers up three Corteva products that might work to your farm’s advantage depending on what scenario you’re planning for.
Make Plans For Porkapalooza & Corn-Soy Expo
The Wisconsin Pork Association invites pork producers and industry partners to the 2024 Corn-Soy Expo on Feb. 1-2 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells.
WPA’s annual meeting is Feb. 1 at 10:30 a.m. in the Africa 10 room at the Kalahari Convention Center. The annual meeting allows WPA members the opportunity to provide input on policies and the future direction of the organization. During the meeting are elections for the WPA board of directors and 2025 Pork Act delegates. In addition, WPA will recognize scholarship and distinguished service award recipients.
Following the annual meeting, WPA is excited to offer three valuable breakout sessions for producers and industry members to attend. Specifically, these sessions will focus on capitalizing on the pork-corn-soy relationship, foreign animal disease updates, and Prop 12 implications.
On Thursday evening, WPA will host their iconic “Porkapalooza” event starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Africa Foyer. This event features fun for all with unique pork hors d oeuvres, live music by Wisconsin’s very own Pat Watters Band, and live auctions that raise funds to support youth programs and industry issues. Special auction items include a Great River Ranch Weekend Getaway, Destination Kohler Weekend Package, authentic sports collectibles and memorabilia, a barn quilt, pies, and more.
Friday is another full day of presentations focusing on risk management, the Farm Bill, new swine industry research, and an exciting presentation from the Shark Farmer.
The early registration deadline is Dec. 31. To register for only the annual meeting and Porkapalooza, email wppa@wppa.org or call 608-723-7551.
Register for the entire Corn-Soy Expo event: https://cornsoyexpo.org/
Any person or business interested in becoming a sponsor should contact the WPA office at 608-723-7551 or email wppa@wppa.org.
Maximizing Water Quality in Soil Health Systems
Soil health practices like no-till and cover crops can play a large role on your water quality. But when exactly does nitrogen and phosphorus tend to leave a field? And when or what should you be doing when it becomes a problem?
“The months of January through March, occasionally even into April, witness significant surface runoff,” explains Amber Radatz, Extension Ag Water Quality Program Manager. “This is primarily caused by snow melts or rain on frozen ground, restricting soil infiltration. Additionally, late spring runoff, observed in April or May, is caused by intense storms or saturated soil from consecutive rainfalls.”
While nitrogen commonly leaches through the soil profile rather than running off directly, the leaching mostly occurs during off-seasons. This can span from fall to the subsequent spring when no crops are growing.
Understanding and measuring this leaching process remains a complex task. However the use of pan lysimeters buried within fields at specific depths aid in sampling water leaching through the soil profile. These steel boxes allow for water collection, offering insights into the nitrogen content and movement.
Efforts to enhance water quality often involve cost-effective measures. Simple adjustments like aligning nutrient applications closer to the crop’s needs, managing erosion, and encouraging cover crops’ establishment significantly impact nitrogen retention.
Looking ahead, Radatz says, “We aim to address phosphorus movement off the soil surface by implementing practices that hide phosphorus deeper in the soil. Our ongoing research continues to focus on soil health systems’ performance, particularly regarding cover crops’ impact on nutrient cycling and soil erosion.”
Compeer Hosts Crop Insurance Webinar
Compeer Financial, a leading provider of financial services for agriculture, is excited to announce the upcoming 2024 Crop Insurance Update Webinar.
The webinar on Jan. 16 from 10-11 a.m. will give insight into fundamental financial principles and address common questions about planning for the upcoming year. The webinar is designed to equip participants with the skills and information needed for informed decision-making.
Topics
- Crop Insurance Updates: Compeer Financial experts Dan Bauer and Mike Boen, state insurance product officers, will provide a detailed overview of the latest developments in crop insurance, ensuring participants stay well-informed about changes that may impact their operations.
- Proactive Planning for 2024: As the agricultural landscape continues to evolve, Cole Patrick, director of insurance strategies at Compeer, will share insights on proactive planning strategies to help farmers navigate challenges and capitalize on growth opportunities in the upcoming year.
Details
Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Time: 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
Register here: https://pages.compeer.com/2024-Crop-Insurance-Spring-Update.html
Lift In Cheese Prices May Be Short-Lived
Barrel cheese has lifted nearly 8 cents since Christmas, and the 40-lb blocks follow. Butter has jumped more than 8 cents this week. But Ever.Ag broker and agent Kathleen Wolfley says it’s likely short-lived as dairy demand skates on very thin ice.
“We’re walking a pretty delicate line between supply and demand… demand dynamics are also fairly weak,” she says. “We have seen a little bit of an upswing in the past few days in both cheese and butter. I think that could be driving in part by post-Christmas backfilling. My suspicion is that while a little bit higher, the support may not be game changing in the market.”
Wolfley is unsure how long the price support can last. She says there are a lot of questions around domestic demand for dairy as consumers recover from an expensive holiday.
“I’m still fairly concerned that U.S. consumers can’t continue to spend as much as they have been,” she says. “We get through post holiday credit card bills, people realize ‘hey, I need to tighten my belt’ after fairly speedy and large spending in 2023.”
Keep in mind, Wolfley says, it’s not just U.S. dairy demand that is down. She says key importers, such as China, are not seeing economic growth.
“Dairy demand growth specifically has been relatively lack luster over the course of the last 12 months or so,” she says. “When we think about 2024, we’re going to be keeping a really close eye on places like China, Southeast Asia… do those folks start to come out of the woodwork and buy a little bit more? Does their economy start to support a little bit more dairy growth?”
Today, Wolfley says U.S. cheese is competitive on the spot market. She uses mozzarella cheese as an example. She says U.S. mozzarella is roughly 35 cents cheaper on the world market than EU mozzarella. However, she warns it’s not a long-term trend.
“The big question is: can we be competitive on a longer-term basis with futures — second quarter and beyond — above that $1.75 mark?”
Wolfley says there’s a tremendous amount of risk on the table as we go into early 2024. She encourages folks to take a hard look at risk management opportunities, such as the Dairy Margin Coverage program or dairy revenue protection insurance.
Applications Open For Specialty Crop Grants
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is accepting applications for 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grants through 5 p.m. on Feb. 27.
Eligible projects include those that focus on enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crop industries through research, education, or market development. DATCP encourages non-profit organizations, producer groups, government agencies, universities, and other agricultural organizations to apply. Applications may involve collaborations or partnerships between entities.
Since 2007, this grant has provided funding for more than 330 projects, totaling more than $17.9 million in funding. Specialty crops, as defined by the USDA, include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery crops, herbs, and more. Find a full list of eligible crops: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/scbgp
DATCP will use a competitive review process to select the most qualified projects. Selected projects will be included in Wisconsin’s state plan, which is submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for approval and funding.
Projects can receive grant funds for up to three years in duration. Typical projects receive between $10,000 and $100,000. Eligible project expenses include compensation for personnel, consultant services, materials, and supplies. In anticipation of receiving funding, selected project contracts and related work will begin in December 2024.
Find grant information and application materials: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/SpecialtyCropBlockGrants.aspx
Need more info? Contact DATCP at datcpdadgrants@wisconsin.gov
UWRF Excels in Animal Welfare Competition
University of Wisconsin-River Falls students competed in the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Animal Welfare Assessment Contest. They contest included peers from across North America and Europe and they learned from experts and students about animal welfare.
A five-student team made up of animal science majors placed third in the senior undergraduate division. Those on the team included Emma Hamilton, Brooke Casey, Alli Matzek, Beth McIlquham and Lilly Streich. Matzek also placed fourth in the individual part of the competition. Student Shawna Sigl participated in the event’s graduate level.
232 undergraduate, graduate, and veterinary students from 24 universities participated in the judging contest as they learned about animal welfare.
As part of this year’s contest, students were provided with information depicting living conditions for farmed bison, tortoises in a zoo, cage-free laying hens, and lab rats. Students studied those scenarios and worked to explain shortcomings of each situation and how to improve conditions for animals.
Kurt Vogel, professor of animal welfare and behavior who oversees the university’s Humane Handling Institute, began work in 2019 to bring the contest to UW-River Falls. Hosting the event was delayed a couple of years because of the Coronavirus pandemic, but this year’s high turnout was evidence that interest it in has returned, he said.
“Hosting this contest means a lot to us,” Vogel said. “We have been doing a lot to build up our animal welfare program, and this was an opportunity to show that we have a high-quality program here.”
As part of the event, attendees toured the Minnesota Zoo and the Jon-De Farm in rural Baldwin.
Philippines Extends Lower Pork Tariffs
The U.S. pork industry received good news from a major trading partner. The Philippines will extend reduced tariff rates on imported pork for another year.
The rate cuts were first implemented in 2021 in an effort to stabilize pork supplies, as the Philippines struggled with African swine fever. The reductions were set to expire Dec. 31, but will now remain in place through the end of 2024.
U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom explains that duty rates are now 15 percent for in-quota imports, down from the normal rate of 30 percent. Duty rates are now 25 percent for out-of-quota imports, which is down from the normal 40 percent.
“While this is good news, still, even at these lower rates, it’s still a relatively high duty,” Halstrom says.
USMEF is hopeful that the Philippines will eventually offer longer-term tariff relief. Halstrom notes that making pork more consistently accessible and affordable can improve food security and bolster consumption, and this can actually benefit domestic pork producers.
“That’s the ultimate goal in many of these markets is to create a situation where per capita consumption increases over time, which then benefits not only imports, but the domestic pork industry as well in the Philippines,” Halstrom says.
He cites South Korea and Colombia as examples of markets in which lower tariffs have helped increase demand, benefiting both domestic and imported pork.
“Now, they’re much lower or duty free, and we’re seeing a situation there where industry is expanding, per capita consumption has grown over time, and that has benefited the domestic pork in both South Korea and Colombia,” Halstrom says. “At the same time, imports have been booming. So that’s the ideal situation – if you can grow the pie in whole, it benefits all parties.”
FFA Alumni & Supporters To Gather In Green Bay
The Wisconsin FFA Alumni & Supporters will host its 44th Annual Wisconsin FFA Alumni & Supporters State Convention Feb. 2-3 at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay.
The theme of the convention is “Creating Connections in 2024” and will focus on the four major roles of FFA Alumni membership: Advocate, Donor, Mentor and Volunteer.
“The Wisconsin FFA Alumni & Supporters Convention is an opportunity for members to share insights,
gather resources, cultivate friendships, and come together to support a great cause, and I am confident this convention will be a beacon of inspiration for all who attend,” says Cheryl Steinbach, Wisconsin FFA
Alumni & Supporters Executive Director. “The convention serves as a testament to the strength and unity
of the Wisconsin FFA community, and I greatly look forward to the experiences and connections that will
unfold during this extraordinary event.”
Online registration is now open and will remain open until Dec. 31: https://www.wisconsinaged.org/alumni-state-convention
Friday
Activities for the weekend include an optional tour on Friday of the Green Bay Southwest Ag Department
followed by a visit to Title Town for the classic Packers tour at Lambeau Field, followed by a self-guided
tour of Hinterland Brewery.
New this year — two crafting workshops will be available for those who do not wish to participate in the
tour. The sessions will feature succulent bowl making and a glass art project drop-in, as well as a wood flower arrangement workshop.
Friday night’s activities will feature a pasta buffet and live auction, followed by DJ entertainment.
Saturday
Saturday morning will kick off with breakfast and the opening session, followed by section meetings and
larger convention planning groups. Following lunch, the association will hold its annual meeting to elect a
new vice president and conduct various business.
Saturday afternoon is filled with workshop opportunities, with topics ranging from “Improving Your Financial Wellbeing” to “Evaluating Websites for Elements that Improve Effectiveness.” A full list of workshops is available at the Wisconsin FFA Alumni & Supporters website: https://www.wisconsinaged.org/alumni-state-convention
The evening will conclude with a reflections program led by the Wisconsin FFA State Officers. Following
reflections, the association will host it’s annual awards banquet program, retirement of state association
president, Bobbie Jo Montgomery, and the annual fundraising live auction. Proceeds of the auction will
support FFA members and programs throughout the state.
Wisconsin Student Earns Spot On Court
Pictured left to right: Meganne Chapman, Clancey Krahn, Emma Vos. Photo courtesy of the American Jersey Cattle Association.
Emma Vos, a junior at UW-Madison, earned second alternate on the National Jersey Queen Court.
Vos studies agricultural and applied economics and dairy science. She was the 2023 Fred Stout Experience recipient of the Jersey Marketing Service internship. She also received the Walter and Joyce Owens Family Scholarship in 2023 from the American Jersey Cattle Association. Vos hopes to promote Jersey milk as a more nutrient dense, digestible milk option for consumption. She is an advocate for getting whole milk back in schools.
Clancey Krahn of Oregon was crowned the 66th National Jersey Queen. She will represent Jersey breeders for the next year at events such as the Annual Meeting of the American Jersey Cattle Association and World Dairy Expo.
Krahn is a freshman at Linn-Benton Community College. She plans to transfer to Oklahoma State University next fall to pursue degrees in animal science and agriculture communications. Her platform as National Jersey Queen will revolve around the versatility and palatability of Jersey milk. She will help spread the message of the exceptional nutritional profile Jersey milk has compared to other milk.
Vos serves on the national court with first alternate Meganne Chapman of New York.
Chapman is a senior at the University of Akron. She studies civil engineering with the goal of pursuing a master’s degree in the field and becoming dual licensed in civil engineering and surveying. Her career choice would allow her to continue to raise Registered Jerseys on her family farm. Chapman’s platform focuses on the youth of the dairy industry. She hopes to increase the number of touchpoints Jersey youth have with producers and industry professionals. She hopes to inspire others to show the many ways to stay involved with a career in the dairy industry.
A total of six women from across the country competed for the crown.
The Charlene Nardone National Jersey Queen Fund provided scholarships of $500, $300 and $200 to the Queen and two alternates.
