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Headline Fungicide On Sunflowers
  July 6, 2008
 A recent article in Sunflower magazine suggests that applying Headline fungicide at early bloom stage can significantly improve yields. The article cites yield increases as high as 544 pounds per acre, with a three year average of 205 pounds per acre. Plant health is improved, according to the article, so that disease prevention is likely not the only reason for increased yield.
 
 According to Vince Ulstad, BASF Ag Products, Headline suppresses the amount of nighttime respiration going on within the green plant cells, and this increases the concentration of an enzyme called nitrate reductase, which is the enzyme responsible for helping the plant convert nitrate-nitrogen — the form the roots take up from the soil — into the amino form, which is the one laid down in amino acid and proteins. The result is a smoother transition in the plant’s nitrogen conversion process.
 
 Sunflower growers should read the entire article: click here.

KDA Wheat Embargo Lifted
 June 25, 2008
Almost immediately after the June 25, 2008, Salina Journal reported that the Kansas Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the EPA, was embargoing wheat in three elevators from approximately 20 fields, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky announced the bans will be lifted based on test results that show no detectible traces of fungicide residue on the grain.

The suspect wheat allegedly was harvested within a time frame prohibited by the Quilt fungicide pesticide label.

In the Journal article, Polansky, is quoted as saying, "We hope this is entirely precautionary to protect the integrity of Kansas wheat." Polansky added, "I really don't believe there is a need for alarm, but we believe there is a need to be cautious and verify that situation before it moves beyond where it is at this point." Polansky also that the fungicide in question is "very safe" and that it has a "low toxicity for humans."

It was noted that if wheat tests showed higher than the recommended levels of residue, the wheat would be used for animal feed and not human consumption.

Are Commodity Prices Really High?
 June 14, 2008
A recent BBC article showed a graph of food prices in real (inflation adjusted) dollars from 1970 to the present. The graph shows that despite many current  headlines, food prices are now less than half what they were in 1973, and about equal to their 1995 levels.  To see a popup of the graph, please click here. To read the entire BBC article, click here.

Nebraska Land Prices Rise Dramatically
 March 24, 2008
Bruce Johnson, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln economist, says that Nebraska land values rose 23% last year, and that agricultural land values have risen 88% in the last five years. The new values are a record high, even in real (inflation adjusted) terms. The last peak occurred in 1981. To read the entire article, complete with extensive tables which show values by region and land type, please click here.

Ug 99 Stem Rust Threatens US Wheat
  February 25, 2008
 In an effort to protect the US wheat crop from a a new, virulent wheat stem rust named Ug99, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is counting on the "southern strategy" to work. Ug99, a strain which has spread from Uganda, Africa, (Uganda, hence "Ug") to the Arabian Peninsula. First discovered in 1999, Ug99 is spread by wind-blown fungal spores. The ARS strategy is to plant highly resistant wheat varieties in the southern US to form a barrier against invasion. You can read more here.

First Bt Resistance Documented
 February 11, 2008
Bollworm in cotton has the honor of being the first insect to exhibit resistance to the Bt toxin commonly used in seed to prevent insect damage, according to a new research report by University of Arizona entomologists.

Bt-resistant populations of bollworm, Helicoverpa zea, were found in more than a dozen crop fields in Mississippi and Arkansas between 2003 and 2006.

"What we're seeing is evolution in action," said lead researcher Bruce Tabashnik, professor and head of the UA entomology department and an expert in insect resistance to insecticides. "This is the first documented case of field-evolved resistance to a Bt crop.”  You can read the complete article by clicking here.

Wind Energy and You
 January 13, 2008
The Kansas Farm Bureau reminds farmers to carefully examine any contract they might sign with a wind energy company, since most agreements are legally binding and have long-term consequences. Some questions to ask include these:

-How much land is required, and for how long?
-How much will I be paid, and when will the money be sent?
-What rights will I give up and what activities will I be able to continue?
-Does the energy company provide adequate liability protection?
-What are the tax consequences to my farm?
-Will the company develop the property, or are they simply tying it up?
-Can the energy company sell or assign their interest without your consent?
-Can the company terminate the contract without penalty?
-What happens to the wind energy structures is the contract is cancelled?

BASF: Headline Fungicide Pays
 December 31, 2007
According to BASF, the maker of Headline fungicide, the practice of treating corn and soybeans is quite profitable for farmers. A recent press release says, "On-farm trial results released by BASF confirm that the outstanding disease control with plant health benefits of Headline fungicide helped corn and soybean growers yield more. In the more than 1,150 on-farm trials conducted in locations across the country in 2007, the average yield increase of Headline treated corn ranged from 12 to 16 bushels per acre, while Headline treated soybeans increased by an average of 4 to 8 bushels per acre. That works out to an extra profit of $34 to $51 per acre for corn growers and $28 to $74 per acre for soybean growers, estimated at current commodity prices and average application costs." To read the entire press release, click here.

Iowa Land Values Skyrocket
 December 31, 2007
The average value of an acre of farmland in Iowa increased by just more than $700 during the past year, to an all-time high of $3,908 per acre, according to an annual survey conducted by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension. The land boom is being driven by the developing biofuel economy, according to Mike Duffy, ISU Extension farm economist who conducts the survey. Read the entire article here.


Drought Resistant Corn
 December 20, 2007
Seed companies are working diligently to develop corn seed that will provide high yields with less water, something that will provide major benefits to our area. Wayne Fithian, Syngenta, says, “Water optimization technology could revolutionize corn production in the western and central Corn Belt where moisture is usually the limiting factor to yields and irrigation is a major expense."

Fithian goes on to say, “Multiple factors interact to influence how well a corn plant is able to produce yield when available soil moisture is below optimum,including pollination success, ability to maintain photosynthesis and root system strength. The impact that drought has on a corn crop is very complex, but the real yield killer is poor kernel set on the ears. Our goal is a crop that sets full ears under normal conditions, but also does an excellent job of setting kernels under drought conditions. These hybrids could also allow farmers to reduce the amount of water applied through irrigation.” 

Bt Corn May Damage Aquatic Life
 October 20, 2007
The National Science Foundation has published a new study which has evidence that genetically modified corn, commonly known as Bt corn, creates toxins which may travel long distances to harm stream insects that serve as food for fish.

The study was published in the October 8 edition of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and web link is available here.

The EPA's earlier studies had not predicted this sort of downstream damage. However, collected field data indicates that Bt corn pollen is being eaten by caddisflies, which are close genetic relatives of the targeted Bt pests, and increased caddisfly mortatlity from Bt toxins has been observed in laboratory studies. Todd V. Royer, a member of the research team from Indiana University, says that caddisflies "provide a food resource for higher organisms like fish and amphibians." There is also concern that stream flows containing the toxins might impact lakes further downsteam.

The study notes that the extent of the impact of Bt corn on aquatic systems is unknown. Previous studies of Bt corn have shown that corn-grown toxins may harm beneficial insects living in the soil.

Wheat Stubble Treatments Are Occurring
 August 16, 2007
Many local farmers are treating their wheat stubble for weeds. Recent rains coupled with high temperatures have created conditions conducive to rapid weed growth. Since farmers can now contract their 2008 wheat crop at more than $5 per bushel, any loss of future yield due to weeds is likely an expensive proposition.

2007 Farm Bill Passes House
 August 12, 2007
The House of Representatives recently passed the 2007 Farm Bill. The five year bill funds commodity payments to farmers, food stamps, and rural development and conservation programs.

More than 67 percent of the funding in the Farm Bill will go to food stamps. Representative Jerry Moran, Republican, KS, says that in the 2002 Farm Bill, 27 percent of the funds went to providing a safety net for America's farmers. In the current bill, this percentage was more than halved.

Moran adds that partial counter cyclical payments were abolished in the 2010 crop year, advanced direct payments were abolished in the 2011 crop year, and crop insurance was cut by $3 billion dollars.

Dicamba Resistant Crops
  June 18, 2007
Broadleaf crops resistant to dicamba herbicide may be available commercially in a few years. Monsanto has purchased the rights to such technology from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and is actively seeking EPA approval for the process. To see a photo of soybeans plants which have been treated with dicamba, click here.

Bush to Veto Farm Aid
 May 14, 2007
A bill which contains $3.5 billion in weather-related disaster aid for farmers and ranchers has passed the House by a 302-120 vote margin, according to a May 12, 2007, Salina Journal article.

Farm state legislators describe the aid as badly needed, but President Bush has threatened a veto, calling the aid "unnecessary and unwarranted." Bush added that the 2002 Farm Bill, when coupled with crop insurance, "already provides a generous safety net" designed to eliminate the need for ad hoc disaster assistance.

The Senate has promised to couple the farm aid bill with the controversial Iraq war funding, a strategy designed to prevent a veto by the President. Since Bush recently vetoed a $100 billion war funding bill, it is unclear if either bill will survive a presidential veto.

Tornadoes Wreak Havoc
 April 7, 2007
On March 28, 2007, at least ten tornadoes moved through the tri-State area, causing extensive damage to several homes. The strongest tornado, rated as an EF2, narrowly missed Bird City, Kansas. This storm had a 26 mile ground path and was estimated at 1/4 mile wide. It is possible that wind speeds reached 170 mph in this tornado. Power poles were ripped out, wildlife and domestic animals killed, and center pivots were twisted and destroyed.

A tornado near Benkelman, NE, spawned golf ball sized hail and did extensive damage to the local golf course. Another tornado damaged homes in Holly, Colorado, and at least three citizens of St. Francis, KS, found mail that originated in Holly and was apparently moved by upper level winds 120 miles to the northeast.

According to the Bird City Times newspaper, the farmsteads and homes that were damaged or destroyed near Bird City included these:

  ▪ Lynn and Candy Glasco had a brick home destroyed, trees ripped out, with much associated damage.
  ▪ John and Maria Kamla, who live seven miles south of Bird City, had their house destroyed and out buildings damaged.
  ▪ Ed and Phyllis Carson, just east of town, had their house damaged and lost a barn and shop building.
  ▪ Nick and Heidi Ketzner, three miles northeast of town, had their house, barn, and many trees destroyed.
  ▪ Bud Mears lost two barns lost and his house was damaged.

Links: Popup map showing storm tracks and a National Weather Service website article about the storms.

Tansy Mustard in Area Wheat
 March 16, 2007
Wheat fields in NW Kansas and Eastern Colorado are showing infestations of tansy mustard and other winter annuals. These weeds are best controlled early. For more information on control, click here.


U.S. Judge Stops Sale of RR Alfalfa
March 14, 2007
A preliminary injunction by a U.S. District Court in California has stopped Monsanto from selling RoundUp Ready™ alfalfa seed. However, growers who purchased their seed by March 12 may plant that seed until March 30, 2007.

Federal Eminent Domain Protection Bills Introduced
 February 28, 2007
 According to USAgNet, a bipartisan team in the House reintroduced a bill to withhold federal funds to municipalities that seize private property for economic development reasons.
 
 Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) hope that H.R. 926 will be a disincentive for local governments to use eminent domain for economic revitalization. Goodlatte says that the bill is necessary to protect homes, farms and businesses from "abusive land grabs." The 2005 Supreme Court decision in Kelo vs. New London has received criticism from a broad coalition of property rights advocates and civil rights activists.
 
 The new house bill would allow a property owner to sue the local government in federal court to prevent land seizure. A similar Senate bill, S. 48, will require political entities which apply for federal funds to certify that the money will not be used for eminent domain actions for economic development reasons. (previous articles on this issue)

Headline Fungicide Increases Corn Profits
February 14, 2007
BASF corporation has released exciting corn yield data from the 2005 and 2006 growing seasons which show dramatic yield increases in irrigated corn from the application of Headline fungicide at tassel.  The yield increases occur even when disease is not present, and in varieties considered disease resistant. 

To read more, click here.

Prion Free Cattle
January 4, 2007
A Sioux Falls, SD, biotechnology firm, Hematech, announced on December 31, 2006, that in partnership with the Japanese beer maker, Kirin Brewery Company, they have produced genetically engineered cattle incapable of producing the prions (brain proteins) which host BSE or "mad cow disease." So far, the resultant bovines appear to be immune to the disease, as expected.

The immediate impact of this research is unclear. One source said that cattle used to genetically create pharmaceuticals, for example, would greatly benefit from this development. However, since the disease is extremely rare and since there are vast numbers of cattle in the world, applying this technology broadly will likely be problematic. The FDA's stance on this development is also unclear.

Glyphosate Resistant Amaranth in Cotton
December 27, 2006
"It is potentially the worst threat since the boll weevil," said Alan York, weed scientist at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, referring to the voracious beetle that devastated Southern cotton crops in the early 1900s and forced farmers to switch to alternatives such as peanuts.

The resistant weed that is causing concern is Palmer amaranth, a type of pig weed that grows 6 to 10 feet tall. Amaranth that resists the most common herbicide used in cotton, glyphosate, has been confirmed in North Carolina and Georgia, and is suspected in Tennessee, South Carolina and Arkansas.

In Georgia, where the weed has been confirmed in 48 fields, amaranth took over some fields and the cotton had to be cut down rather than harvested, University of Georgia weed scientist Stanley Culpepper said.

Monsanto said its Roundup Ready cotton was planted on roughly 10 million acres in the United States in 2006. "This is something we do look at very seriously," said Monsanto representative Michelle Starke. Monsanto has suggested using Roundup in combination with other herbicides known to kill the resistant weed.

Andy Jordan, the Cotton Council's vice president for technical services, said, "If we don't respond, it could be very serious."  (This article was condensed from a 12-26-2006 AP story.)

Angry Nebraska Farmers
December 21, 2006
"Farmers angry with water deal" is the page one headline in the December 16, 2006, Salina Journal newspaper.

The article describes a heated debate at a McCook, Nebraska, meeting with nearly 100 farmers and natural resource officials attending. The proposal, which would reduce ground water pumping by 15% across the Republican River basin, is scheduled to take effect in 2008.

For irrigators within 2 miles of the river and its tributaries, the reductions would be much more draconian: 50%.

Because of previous violations of a three-state water compact resulting in over pumping of 200,000 acre feet of water over the last three years, Nebraska must either curtail pumping or pay monetary damages to Kansas. Kansas sued in 1998, and an agreement was reached over the violations of the 1943 water compact.

The Nebraska state legislature is reportedly unwilling to pay the monetary damages, and farmers favor augmenting the Republican stream flow with water from other sources.

EPA Regulates Dust
October 11, 2006
The EPA recently tightened Federal standards on fine and coarse particulate matter in the US. These regulations concern particulate matter of many types, including that expelled from tailpipes, factory smokestacks, and farm equipment. It also includes substances such as dust produced from tilling of soil, planting and harvesting crops, cattle moving in feedlots, and mixing of livestock feeds.

The ruling was controversial, with the AMA, the American Lung Association, and other groups asking for even tighter regulations than the EPA passed, while industry groups claimed the cost of compliance will be immense and that the health benefits the EPA predicts are not scientifically valid.

The fine Congressman from Kansas, Rep. Jerry Moran (R), has invited EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to Kansas to see "firsthand the implication of the EPA's recent ruling." Moran is a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee.

Moran adds, "The EPA's final ruling on coarse particulate matter could have a devastating impact on agriculture in the United States. This (ruling) lacks common sense. The EPA has not based its decision on any conclusive scientific evidence documenting the potential health effects of coarse particulate matter. Beyond that, even if all available management practices are implemented by those in the agriculture industry, it will still be nearly impossible to comply with these regulations." You can read more of Moran's comments on his website.

The EPA's original proposal in December, 2005, included an exemption for sources of dust created from agricultural and mining practices. However, this exemption was removed in the September, 2006, final ruling. You can read more about the actual regulations at the EPA's website.

New Dairy Announced
August 23, 2006
TThe Century II Fund in Bird City, Kansas, is bringing a dairy to northwest Kansas. At a well-attended meeting on August 23, 2006, Tom and Judy McCarty, the owners of the new dairy, introduced their 4 sons, all of whom are full-time dairy men. One of them, Mike McCarty, will manage the new 1,800 cow dairy, which will be located 3.5 miles east of Bird City.

McCarty said they hope to move dirt in December, start construction in February, and be in production by July, 2007. He said their plans include expansion to 3,000 animals, and that they will employ 18 people initially. John Smith, a KSU extension dairy specialist, estimated the initial investment will be in the range of $3,500 per head, or $6-$10 million dollars.

The new dairy will consume large quantities of corn, silage, and alfalfa, which they hope to obtain locally with long term contracts. They will have approximately 70 bull calves available for sale every month. They expect to produce 115,000 pounds of milk every day of the year. The milk will be trucked to Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska, and Kansas City. McCarty noted that they never stop: "We'll be milking at 2:00 AM on Christmas morning", he said.

McCarty, in response to a question, said the manure will be handled through a 3 stage system, with lagoons and effluent pumped through a center pivot.

The family recently built a similar dairy in Rexford, Kansas, and several Rexford and Selden community members attended the meeting to praise the positive effect the dairy has had on their community. The Rexford mayor, Bill Dible, said the dairy was a "godsend" and that it had been "the salvation of our town." They cited the fact that enrollment in the schools had increased by 19 children, and that an over-abundance of empty houses had been virtually eliminated by employees of the dairy. They also cited stores that reopened after the influx of dairy employees into the community.

EPA Proposes Furadan™ Ban
August 3, 2006
Today the EPA proposed a ban-- with a four year phase out--of carbofuran, the active ingredient in the insecticide Furadan™.

Philadelphia-based FMC company manufactures Furadan™. EPA claims "millions of bird deaths" and some farmer worker illnesses as dangers of the insecticide.  FMC has vowed to defend Furadan™ in the 60 day public comment period, alleging that the EPA has overstated risks and understated the benefits of carbofuran. The American Bird Conservancy supports the ban.

Farmers in this area use Furadan™ on corn and alfalfa.  We'll keep you posted on developments as they occur.

Heavy Rains Arrive
July 10, 2006
Beginning on July 4th, much of Northwest Kansas has gotten heavy rains. Several rain events exceeded 3 inches, and over 5 inches was reported at Bird City on July 9, 2006. The combination of low welocity winds aloft and high humidity allowed large thunderstorms to build and move slowly, so the rains were spotty but often substantial.  Eastern Colorado and the western edge of Cheyenne county, Kansas, got somewhat less moisture.

In many places dryland corn is now thriving. Sadly, the rains came too late for most of the dryland wheat, which was especially difficult since the harvest-time price was good, near $4.75/bushel.

Wheat Disease
May 9, 2006
Treating your wheat for disease can return significant returns, according to Jim Swart, Texas A&M.  He says, “If a fungicide is properly timed and the disease is a present threat, a $2.50 return on every dollar spent is likely.” To read the entire article, click here.

Drought Update
May 2, 2006
On April 23rd, the National Weather Service in Goodland, Kansas, issued a drought information statement for the tri-state area. They said that moderate drought conditions continue across the entire area.

They reported that for Yuma county, Colorado, the 1 month precipitation was 60% of normal, the 3 month was 40% of average, and the 12 month was 110%. For Cheyenne county, Kansas, the 1, 3, and 12 month averages were 110%, 90%, and 100% respectively. Cheyenne county in Colorado fared much worse, with 10%, 50%, and 125% for the 1, 3, and 12 month periods. As shown in the graphic, areas to the south of us are in even worse condition.

When analyzing top soil moisture, they said that northwest Kansas was 75% adequate, with the 25% "short" or "very short." Eastern Colorado ranked only slight better.

 But for sub-soil moisture, they ranked NW Kansas as 16% adequate, and 84% "short" or "very short." Eastern Colorado ranked better for sub-soil moisture, at 41% adequate.

They  also noted that Bonny Dam is now 31% full, and  Enders Lake, near Imperial, Nebraska, is 28% full.

Pea Aphids in Alfalfa
April 13, 2006
We have treated several alfalfa fields for pea aphids. High infestations will cause the hay to yellow and wilt. KSU says that ten inch tall alfalfa should be treated if it has 50 aphids per stem. Sout by placing a paper or cloth on the ground and beating or shaking the plants.

Moisture Arrives!
March 21, 2006
Badly needed moisture, in the form of a major snowstorm, dumped between 8" and 12" of snow on the tri-state area on the first day of spring.  Highways and airports were temporarily closed, but the moisture was measured at between 3/4" and 1", and is expected to be beneficial both to wheat and the spring crops. 

Roundup Ready Alfalfa
March 2, 2006
Dealer Update newsletter reported that Monsanto has announced the launch of new Roundup Ready Aafalfa. Monsanto Marketing Manager Chris Peterson said, “With Roundup Ready Alfalfa system, growers will become familiar with a system that will allow them to produce cleaner, more yield, higher-quality alfalfa,  . . ."  No details as to when the product would be available were given.

Farm Land Values
February 20, 2006
The AgProfessional Weekly news letter gives this report on local land values for Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas:

FNC Real Estate Sales Associates Sandi Groshong and Gary Joseph from Cambridge, Neb., report: "Large tracts of high quality non-irrigated cropland are selling up to a high of $800/acre with irrigated tracts selling from $1,250 to $1,750/acre depending on the irrigation type and the water availability. Medium to lower quality farms are selling from $500 to $675/acre. Range land with good fences and water is selling up to $400/acre for top quality down to $275 the lower the quality and fencing. We expect high quality land values to remain level to strong with medium quality land to be weaker or even softening. Low quality farms are getting more difficult to sell unless they are next to a strong buying area."

Blue Angel Photos
February 7, 2006
If you would like to see a collection of photos of the Navy's aerial demonstration team, the Blue Angels, click here.

Farmers With Internet?
January 29, 2006
Slightly more than half the US farms have internet, according to the February, 2006, issue of Successful Farming magazine. In 2003, the number was 48%, and it is now 51%, a slight increase.

Of the farms which have internet, 69% have dial-up, instead of the faster broadband service.

Farm Subsidies Compared
January 25, 2006
In a recent Washington Post online article, Robert J. Samuelson argues for the elimination of farm tariffs and subsidies. He says this:
"Few economic laws are so clear. Cheap and efficiently produced food relieves poverty. As farming becomes more productive, people eat better; workers move into better-paying industrial and service jobs."

He notes that in 1820, 70 percent of the US labor force was in farming, and that it is now 1.7 percent. Interestingly, in Japan, the current percentage is much higher: 4.6 percent.

Samuelson blames the lack of global agreement on reducing tariffs and subsidies on European Union, noting that the Bush administration is pushing for lower limits in both categories.

Aside from sugar, the US has few high tariffs, while poor countries rely on tariffs to a much greater extent: "China, 65 percent on wheat and rice; India, 50 percent on wheat and 30 percent on soybeans; the Philippines, 50 percent on rice; and Indonesia, 23.7 percent on rice."

As to direct payments to farmers, Samuelson says that in 2004, US subsidies to farmers were 20 percent of farm revenue. This is much lower than Japan and Korea, at 60 percent, and lower than the European Union at 34 percent.

The article begins by quoting David Orden, an ag economist, with this: "No country gets rich by keeping its people in agriculture."

Iowa Farmers Buy Land in Brazil
January 6, 2006
Iowa leads the US in production of soybeans, hogs, and corn, and Brazil is in second place behind Iowa in global soybean production. According to NPR, some Iowa farmers are now buying large plots of farm ground in Brazil, and are moving to Brazil to farm their ground. A $26 million company in Iowa exists to help more Iowa farmers make the move.

Brazil poses challenges, the Iowa transplants admit: a new language, culture, financial system and even new pests in the crops. But compared to the $4,500 per acre land in Iowa, Brazil's prime farm ground sells for $220 to $600 per acre. And there is a lot of it: huge tracts of land are available. Some Brazilian farms are as big as 347,000 acres. In addition, labor is cheap. Good workers, who love working for Americans, are paid $550 per month, plus room and board.

In addition to soybeans, Brazil's climate is excellent for cotton production, a trend which reportedly worries US cotton growers, since higher yields are regularly obtained in Brazil. The report told of a region which had 70 inches of rain in six months, then was dry for the next half year.

Some Iowa farmers argue that moving to Brazil is a form a globalization, and compare it to their great, great grandparents moving from Europe to the US to farm.

Brazilian law requires that foreigners have a local partner, and that 20% of the land be kept in a natural state. They welcome foreign investment with open arms, according to the Iowa transplants.

EPA Allows Human Testing of Pesticides
December 27, 2005
The EPA has issued new guidelines concerning testing of humans with pesticides. 

The rulings are controversial, because they specifically discuss tests of children and pregnant women. The EPA argues that any US-based tests would not include intentional dosing of humans, but would only allow observation of those groups when exposed to pesticide residues in normal life.

Critics counter that the EPA allows such testing in foreign countries, noting that the EPA itself admits that it might consider foreign studies which are "scientifically sound but ethically deficient" if the "research is found to be crucial to fulfilling its mission to protect public health." This would include studies which involve intentional dosing of pregnant women and children.

The EPA, of course, has no jurisdiction outside of US borders, and could not control or prohibit such studies.
 
Water Meters Required On Irrigation Wells
December 16, 2005
Northwest Kansas irrigators will be required to equip their irrigation wells with meters to monitor water flow, announced Ray Luhman of the Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management
District No. 4 (GMD4).

At a meeting today in St. Francis, Kansas, Luhman explained that the program has a four year phase-in: wells in the northwest quarter of a section will be required to have an approved meter in place before pumping begins in 2006, and no later than December 31, 2006, even if the well is not used. Wells in the northeast quarter have until 2007, the southeast quarter in 2008, and the southwest quarter in 2009.

The meters and installation must be approved by the KDA's Division of Water Resources. Most older meters now installed will be "grandfathered in" until they are replaced. More information is available at  http://www.gmd4.org/meters.html or by emailing Ray Luhman at rluhman@gmd4.org. 

Cheating Farmers Go To Prison
November 17, 2005
Farmers who cheat on government programs are going to prison. A special report on NPR says that while most farmers are honest, the small minority who cheat face serious punishment in a recent government crackdown.

USDA's Risk Management Agency is using sophisticated tools, like LandSat satellite imagery, to monitor farm ground and insurance claims by farmers.

Robert and Vicki Warren each received some six years in federal prison. According to Gretchen Shappert, U.S. attorney for the western district of North Carolina, "the Warren Farms investigation is literally the mother of all crop fraud investigations. It was a result of a perfect storm of individuals who were involved in fraud."

Robert and Viki Warren are among eight people who pleaded guilty to swindling the government and insurance companies out of more than $9 million in bogus insurance claims from 1997 to 2003. The Warrens were among the largest tomato growers east of the Mississippi; at one point they owned 26 farms in three states.

An employee of the Warrens, Bobby Chambers, explained how he bought a bag of cocktail ice and a disposable camera, and, on his boss's order, created a foul-weather tableau. "The way we did it, we was down taking pictures, out this row, and then we just stood behind it and throwed the ice over the top. To me, it looked like a hailstorm," says Chambers.

To complete the scene of devastation, they then picked up wooden tomato stakes and attacked the unsuspecting vegetables. "They had one Mexican who did all the beating, he beat every 16,000 of them. He'd just go through there and knock the leaves off of them," says Chambers, as he illustrates the activity with a long stick. "It made it look like where the hail had beat it up."

Sean Devereaux, the attorney for Robert Warren, says that while his client admitted guilt, it's the whole system that's corrupt. "It's fine for the government to issue sentencing memoranda and make Robert Warren appear to be the Saddam Hussein of crop insurance, but he's not," Devereaux says.

"He basically was approached by people selling insurance and told, 'This is an easy thing to do. Don't worry, this is the government's money, it's not the insurance company's money.' "

The federal indictment, in fact, states that the Virginia-based insurance agent coached the Warrens, in detail, about how to perpetrate the fraud. What's more, the adjustor testified that his supervisor at the insurance company -- Fireman's Fund Agri-Business, one of the largest in the country -- instructed him to lie on crop-damage forms for the Warrens.

The overwhelming majority of the 788,000 American farmers who buy crop insurance are honest. USDA officials estimate about 5 percent of indemnities paid out each year go to phony claims, about the same proportion found in other types of insurance.

House Passes Eminent Domain Bill
November 10, 2005
On November 3, the US House of Representatives passed the Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2005.

The new bill is aimed at the controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London which allows governments to use eminent domain to condemn property for economic development purposes.

According to www.vafb.com, the bill was sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner Jr., The legislation passed in the House by a vote of 376-38. Goodlatte, the House Ag Committee chair, said, “This appalling decision (Kelo v. City) strikes a serious blow to the core values of our nation and has far-reaching implications. In defining public use so expansively, the court essentially erased any protection of private property as understood by the founders of our nation.”

 The Private Property Rights Protection Act will prevent governments from taking property from one private party and giving it to another private party for economic development purposes. In addition, the act prohibits the federal government from using eminent domain for economic development purposes.

New Ethanol Production Technology
 October 27, 2005
The website www.ethanol.org announced that a "remarkable new ethanol production technology is being unveiled today at the Mead Cattle Company near Mead, Nebraska."  The E3 BioFuels Complex is a new closed-loop system that combines ethanol production, livestock production, and waste management.

Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President for the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), said "Major advancements have been made in ethanol production technology over the past two decades, but this new closed-loop system is truly a revolution for the future of ethanol production in the U.S.. . .”

The system incorporates a dairy or feedlot, an ethanol production process, and an anaerobic digester into a self-sustaining, closed-loop system. The manure from the livestock is handled by an on-site waste management facility and turned into biogas. This biogas powers the ethanol production process, eliminating fossil fuel costs. Wet distillers grain – a co-product of the ethanol production process – is fed to the livestock, completing the loop.

The Mead Cattle Company feedlot's 30,000 head of cattle will produce approximately 24 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol annually. The ethanol plant will process more than 8 million bushels of corn annually and produce 100,000 tons of wet distillers grain.

Customer Appreciation Lunch Announced
October 19, 2005
Grace Flying Service invited all of its ag customers to a customer appreciation steak sandwich lunch on Friday, October 28, at 11:30 CT at the St. Francis Fairgrounds.  UAP, Goodland, is helping with the lunch. A brief explanation of this website and a talk by Chris Soehner, UAP, about seed sales will proceed the lunch.  

FDA Proposes New Mad Cow Disease Rules
October 3, 2005
The Food and Drug Administration has proposed new rules to prevent the spread of mad cow disease, according to the New York Times. FDA proposes banning brains and spinal cords from older cows in all animal feed.

The new proposal still allows chickens, pigs and other noncattle animals to be fed material that some scientists consider potentially infectious, including the brains and spinal cords of young animals, and the eyes, tonsils, intestines and nerves of older ones.

Critics promptly denounced the new proposal as inadequate.

Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Pigweed Found
September 24, 2005
Roundup™ resistant pigweeds (Palmer amaranth) have been confirmed in central Georgia, according to Dealer and Applicator magazine.

Glyphosate is commonly used in our region for weed control, including control of this pigweed species. This announcement is the second of its type this year: In April, we reported on the existence of glyphosate-resistant common ragweed in Missouri, the first summer annual to be proven resistant to glyphosate.  To read that story, click here.

Using numerous field and greenhouse trials, Dr. Stanley Culpepper, a University of Georgia weed scientist, and Monsanto have confirmed heritability studies which show that the resistance to glyphosate is passed on to the next generation of Palmer amaranth.
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"This Palmer amaranth population has tolerated extremely high rates of glyphosate applied in the field under excellent growing conditions," says Culpepper.

The resistant population infests 500 acres of Roundup Ready cotton in central Georgia.  Dr. Culpepper and Monsanto are surveying the surrounding area this season to determine if this biotype has spread beyond the study area.  We will keep you posted if more information becomes available.

Monsanto recommends avoidance of reduced rates of glyphosate and the use of alternative herbicides in Palmer amaranth infested crops.

Spartan 4F Production Increased
September 15, 2005
FMC reports that supplies of Spartan 4F™ --a popular sunflower herbicide--will be sufficient to meet demand for the 2006 crop season.

Eminent Domain Revisited
September 6, 2005
The controversial Supreme Court ruling that gives local governments greater eminent domain power  is being revisited, according to Dealer and Applicator magazine.  They report that House Ag Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte chaired the first hearing on the potential effects of the U.S. Supreme Court's June 23rd decision in Kelo v. City of New London. A week after the Court's ruling the House, by a margin of 10 to one, passed a motion disagreeing with the Court.

For an update on this issue, click here.

Seed Weevil in Flowers
August 2, 2005
Confectionary sunflowers are now being treated for seed weevils.  One weevil per plant is considered  economic, since severe dockage occurs if seeds are damaged.  In oilseed flowers, ten weevils per head are required to be economic.  

Rootworm Beetles In Corn
July 27, 2005
Corn rootworm beetles are being treated in many fields. The beetles reduce yields by clipping emerging silks, thereby adversely affecting pollination. In addition, females lay eggs which result in larvae in next year's corn crop damaging roots.

Controlling the adult beetles with methyl parathion or light rates of Penncap-M™ is feasible, but using 1.5-2.0 pints of Penncap gives the farmer the option of a second application to control females completely, thereby making granular insecticide treatments at next year's corn planting unnecessary. Properly done, the Penncap program is an inexpensive and effective way to control both adult and larval stages of corn rootworm.  Careful timing of the applications is the key to success.  

Western bean cutworm  (WBC) treatments are often "piggybacked" onto the beetle applications, because the timing is the same.  This means that the cost of treating Western bean cutworm is limited to that of the WBC insecticide, with no additional application cost. This is another advantages of the Penncap program.

European Farm Subsidies
July 13, 2005
A recent National Public Radio broadcast compared European farm subsidies to the US system.  In one example, an Austrian farmer-rancher was being paid $250 per acre to keep undergrowth beneath trees cleared by mowing and running cattle!  This service was called "landscape protection."

European subsidies are generally much higher than those in the US. Last year, the US total was $24 billion, NPR reported.

The European farmers are paid not to produce food, but rather to protect wildlife habitat and improve the scenery value of the landscape.  At least one European farmer resented this role, saying that food production was a more "noble pursuit", but the NPR story argued that these types of "landscape" subsidies are more palatable both to the general public and to the international Free Trade Commission. 


Soybean Rust and Hurricane Dennis
July 14, 2005
A US Department of Agriculture website predicts that hurricanes might spread soybean rust from the southeast US to crops further north. 

They say, "As new tropical storms, like Dennis, push through from the south to the north, there is more possibilities of spore dispersal from known infected sites in Florida and Alabama to the north. Additional moisture from the tropical storms will provide conditions conducive for soybean rust development." www.usda.gov/soybeanrust/

Corn, Milo, Feed Weeds
July 12, 2005
We are treating corn, milo, and feed fields for weeds.  In the case of corn, the RoundUp Ready™ option is a good one, because both grasses and broadleaf weeds can be treated economically.  Sometimes two applications of glyphosate (generic RoundUp™) are required,  but two applications are often price competitive with one application of more expensive products, and the net result is both excellent weed control and a high level of crop safety.

For milo and feed, early treatment is crucial, because the low rates of herbicide necessary to protect the crops do not have the ability to control large weeds.  Scout feed and milo when it is 2 inches tall. If treatment then occurs at 3-4" crop height, it is perfect timing.  Waiting reduces weed control and increases the chances of crop damage.

If you have palmer amaranth in corn, a difficult to control plant which is in the pigweed family, products such as Callisto™ can be used, but a single application can cost as much as two glyphosate applications. We have seen palmer amaranth mostly commonly in fields where manure has been spread as fertilizer.


Stem Weevils in Sunflowers
July 11, 2005
We have treated sunflowers for Longhorn Beetles and Stem Weevils in the last few days.



These insects belong to the family Cerambycidae or long horned beetles, which is descriptive of the long antennae found on the adult beetles.  The damage caused is from the insect boring into the plant, then girdling it near soil level, resulting in eventual lodging and yield loss from stalk damage.

The bluish gray adult stem borer is about 5/8 inches long with long banded antennae. (see above photo)

Russian Wheat Aphids
May 8, 2005
Russian Wheat Aphids (RWA) are being treated in large numbers south of us, and they are appearing in many local fields.  Most local fields are below economic levels at this time, but a few are at economic levels.

To find the RWA, look for symptomatic tillers: they have white or purplish longitudinal stripes.  The RWA will normally be found on these symptomatic plants, but they are in the tightly rolled tillers, so you must unroll them to find the insects.  The tightly rolled tillers provide protection for the RWA from predators and the elements.

At this wheat stage, 10 to 20% infested tillers represent an economic level.

RWA are light green with cigar shaped bodies.  Here's a photo from the KSU website: note the leaf striping caused by the insects.




Honor Student Program
May 5, 2005  
Grace Flying Service is recognizing top scholastic students in local high schools. To learn more, click here.
 
Alfalfa Weevils
May 4, 2005:
Alfalfa weevils are now appearing in local hay crops. The young larvae feed on the terminal and upper leaves of the plant early in the spring, reaching a quarter-inch in length in about three weeks. KSU says that "Most damage occurs prior to the first cutting, but damage by both larvae and adults can suppress yields by delaying re-growth after the first cutting."



 
Scouting is best done by carefully picking stems, and then beating them inside a container or on a pickup tailgate.  Count the weevils, and use the treatment level recommendations listed below.  If you harvest early to avoid treatment, you may have to treat the stubble to aid regrowth.  The weevils seldom "disappear" on their own: if you have them, treat early to reduce crop loss.  In some years, a second treatment is required.

Higher rates give longer residual control, and pre-harvest intervals can be from 3 to 28 days,  depending upon the product.  

Labeled products include carbofuran (Furadan™), Warrior™, Mustang Max™ and Lorsban™,

Scout early: by the time you  see the distinctive whitish cast from the road, a product of extensive tip feeding, you've lost significant yield.

Treatment levels: If alfalfa is 4-7 inches tall, treat immediately when feeding becomes evident on the top inch of growth. 1-2 weevils per stem.  You may need a second treatment prior to first cutting.

If hay is 8-15 inches tall, and the stems have 3-5 larvae, treat immediately with the maximum rate for your prehavest interval.. 

If the alfalfa is within ten days of cutting, early cutting can save an application, but this is a gamble.  If wet weather delays cutting, additional yield will be lost. Further, you will likely have to treat the stubble to speed regrowth. 

If you treat,  please tell us your expected harvest date so that we can use the correct rate.  



After harvest, monitor regrowth carefully. 4-8 larvae per square foot can cause damage. Hot weather will kill the larvae, but adults will live even in the heat. 



Adults (shown above) can slow regrowth, but are less likely to be a problem than the larvae.  The 3/16-inch long adult is light brown with a dark mid-dorsal line extending down the middle of the back, and has a distinctive weevil snout.  (see above photo)

Freeze Damage in Wheat
April 28, 2005: 
Spring freeze injury to wheat is a concern whenever low temperatures threaten.  The issue is too complex for us to fully cover, but Kansas State University has an excellent articled, entitled Spring Freeze Injury.  The article can be read by clicking here.  (Acrobat required, PDF, 340 kb)

It is an excellent discussion, complete with color photos and strategies for diagnosing freeze damage and what to do if damage has occurred. (Acrobat required, PDF, 340 kb)

Glyphosate Resistance Reported
April 27, 2005 
Glyphosate-resistant common ragweed has been confirmed in Missouri by the University of Missouri. Even when treated with 10 times the labeled rate, resistance occurred. This is the first summer annual to be proven resistant to glyphosate.

Prevention strategies include always using the full labeled rates of glyphosate, and employing other herbicides in a rotation when possible.

This information was provided to us by Syngenta™, a company which markets products  that compete with glyphosate. 

To return to the story about glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth, click here.

Mustard in Wheat
April 10, 2005:
We are currently treating wheat for tansy mustard and other winter annuals, including wild lettuce.  Treatment options include Rave™, Ally™ (metsulfuron), often with tank mixes of 2,4-D and Banvel™ (dicamba).  It is desirable to include dicamba in the mix, because resistant kochia can be a problem when it is not present.  However, once wheat reaches the joint stage, dicamba may no longer be used.  We can treat with Ally up to the soft dough stage.

Mustard is an aggressive competitor: one plant per square foot can reduce wheat yields by 10-15%, so if you have a 40 bushel/acre crop valued at $3/bushel, one plant per square foot could cost you $12-$18 per acre.  Treatment costs about $9/acre, depending upon the product that you use.



With Ally and Rave, there are recropping intervals to consider, but these can be avoided by using Harmony™ if you plan on rotating back to corn or sunflowers.



Many wheat fields have some thin spots, and with adequate precipitation, these can sprout summer annual weeds.  Fields treated with Ally or Rave for mustard should not have this problem, as the herbicide's residual effect will  likely protect the crop through harvest.  In addition,  these fields typically have less weeds in the stubble after harvest.

If you want top dress, we can tank mix in High NRG-N™ into the application, but this is best done before wheat jointing for maximum yield boost.   

eFlightLines announced
March 23, 2005
Our farming customers receive the paper version of our newsletter, FlightLines.   We now offer an electronic version, dubbed eFlightLines. 

We recommend that you sign up for eFlightLines, because it has several advantages over the paper version::

     » It arrives more quickly,
     » It includes color pictures, and 
     » It has "clickable" web links. 

We will still mail you the paper newsletter unless you ask us not to do so. However, there may be special instances when we only send an electronic version. 

For example, if soybean rust was discovered in our area a day after we'd mailed the paper FlightLines, we might simply send eFlightLines to alert those farmers who grow soybeans.