Specialty Reports

WEEKLY DAIRY UPDATE -- brought to you by

MICHIGAN MILK PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION

MONDAY, MAY 5

     The Milk-feed ratio for April is 1.90, down 17 points from March’s revised ratio and down 61 points from April 2007, according to USDA’s “Ag Prices” report.  The Milk-feed ratio has now dropped more than 100 points since last summer, when it was 3.17 for three straight months (July-September). The All-Milk Price for April is estimated at $18.00, down 10-cents from March. Feed costs are all higher: the April corn price, at $5.13 per bushel, is up 43-cents from March; soybeans averaged $11.80, up 30-cents; and alfalfa hay averaged 157/ton, up $14.

 

     Dairy producers who suffered production losses in between 2005 and 2007 have until Monday, May 5 to apply for benefits under the Dairy Disaster Assistance Program III.

This dairy program will provide $16 million in benefits to producers for dairy production losses caused by natural disasters that occurred between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007. To be eligible, a producer's operation must be in a county designated a major disaster or emergency area by the president or declared a natural disaster area by the secretary of agriculture between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007.  Eligible producers can sign-up at their local USDA Farm Service Agency service center.

 

     Pfizer Animal Health wants to ensure dairy producers maintain a healthy herd. According to Senior Veterinarian Dr. Doug Braun, producers can work closely with their herd veterinarian to maximize the health of the animals with a dairy wellness plan, “optimizing nutrition, housing and management, young stock care and includes things like bio-security risks and management.  Movement of animals onto the farm from other facilities; are there isolation areas? And of course it includes working very closely with a herd veterinarian and building herd vaccination protocols and strategies to minimize risk for the animals and optimize health.”

     Vaccination is an important piece of the dairy wellness puzzle. But Braun notes it can be daunting as more than 100 viral vaccines are available on the market. Fortunately, he says producers and veterinarians aren’t on their own. He says USDA notes the level of protection claims on vaccination labels. Those claims include prevention of infection, prevention of disease, aids in prevention and aids in disease control, “these claims come from data that has to be submitted to the USDA by the company that is applying for and asking for a labeled claim.  That data then really helps producers and veterinarians understand what they could and should expect when they choose a particular vaccine.  A prevention of infection, which is the highest claim, suggests if an animal is vaccinated and immunized appropriately then when that animal is exposed to that infectious organism there simply will not be any infection.  There will be no loss in production, no loss in performance and no health issues.”

     Braun says, when selecting a vaccine, farmers should look for data regarding duration of immunity, “if there’s some data that clearly states the known duration of immunity, then the product label will very clearly state it.  And it will say something like duration of immunity has been demonstrated for 12 months.  With that statement a producer and veterinarian can be very confident knowing they can come back with their 12 month annual revaccinates and they have excellent protection over that entire period of time.”

 

WEEKLY SOYBEAN CHECKOFF ACTIVITIES UPDATE -- brought to you by

MICHIGAN SOYBEAN PROMOTION COMMITTEE

MONDAY, MAY 5

     Farmers can access the latest crop and pest management information anytime, anywhere by calling a new toll-free soybean hotline.  Manager of Field Operations for the MSPC, Keith Reinholt explains, “this will allow growers to use their cell and when they have a challenge they are facing at maybe spring planting time or maybe soybean aphid time oar whatever it might be; they can dial this number and get a report from campus-based specialists.”

     A service of the soybean checkoff sponsored Soybean 2010 program, the hotline will feature recorded messages from Michigan State University Extension specialists about insects, diseases, weeds, agronomic information, soybean cyst nematodes and the Michigan Automated Weather Network.  Reinholt says call 888-201-9301, for up-to-date information for improving soybean yields and farm profitability. Topics, he says, will be added and updated under the main subject areas as needed from May through August, “our first recording, we have just done and this is based on early season weed control and early season planting diseases.  There will be some later in the season on cyst nematode sampling.  Giving an example would be soybean aphids; once they come, if they come, that might be updated every two to three days.  Then as we get further into the season, it might not be updated as much because we will be beyond the threshold levels.”

     Again, the new toll-free soybean hotline is 888-201-9301.  For more information about improving Michigan’s soybean crop, visit the Soybean 2010 Web page.  You can also learn more by contacting the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee office in Frankenmuth at 989-652-3294.

 

WEEKLY FARM BUREAU UPDATE -- brought to you by

MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU

TUESDAY, MAY 6

     The state’s largest general farm organization is advising farmers to evaluate proposed wind leases on their farms with the help of a new worksheet.   Matt Kapp, MFB land stewardship specialist, says, “the document and owner worksheet for evaluating wind leases was written by Dr. Steve Harsh, Dr. Lynn Hamilton and Dr. David Schwihardt; all of Michigan State University.  Michigan Farm Bureau’s staff also provided input and comment on the worksheet.  We think it is a very good tool for farmers and landowners to use before signing an agreement and before meeting with representatives from the energy companies.”

     In addition to utilizing the worksheet, Kapp insists farmers consult an attorney prior to signing any lease agreement, “that’s our first recommendation.  The worksheet is not a substitute for seeking legal advice.  Its role is to guide some discussion and some questions when meeting with the legal counsel and energy representatives.  But we can’t stress our main recommendation of meeting with legal counsel.”

     Kapp says a copy of the wind lease worksheet is available on the MFB Web site at www.michfb.com/ecology.  For more information about wind lease agreements and the worksheet, contact your county Farm Bureau office or the Michigan Farm Bureau Center in Lansing. 

 

EQUINE ENTHUSIAST

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7

     As mentioned in several previous reports, an equine park demand and feasibility study is underway in Michigan.  Public Sector Consultants in Lansing, has been commissioned to complete the study’s research to determine if a facility is needed and if so, what should the facility include. Jeff Williams, Senior Vice President for Public Sector Consultants and Project Director for the study says, “we’ve completed a first round of research site visits and phone interviews with a number of both show owners and facility owners around the nation.”

     Williams says three major findings surfaced from the various interviews, “the first is the size of the facility is critically important.  National and international shows need sometimes 2,000 to 3,000 permanent stalls and the ability to expand quickly to attract the biggest shows.  Secondly, the accessibility of the facility is a significant factor in the sighting of these national shows.  What that means is a decent size airport, an inter-state highway and easy access in and out of the facility is critical.  Finally, from the operators of other facilities, we’ve heard that the ability to host multiple types of events is important.  Even though equine spending and the interest in equine is doing very well in the United States, generally these facilities need to pay the bills 365 days a year.  They really can’t support themselves on only eight or ten days of operation.  So the most successful sites host other breeds of animals; host large and small equine shows and indeed host shows not really related to breeding of equine and other animals but into general agriculture and even some general trade shows.”

     More on the feasibility study during next week’s update.  For more information please contact Val Vail-Shirey at 517-372-1500. The horse park feasibility study is made possible by a $60,000 USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant.

 

WEEKLY BAYER CROPSCIENCE FIELD UPDATE – brought to you by

BAYER CROP SCIENCE

THURSDAY, MAY 8

     Joining MFRN’s Janelle Brose for this week’s crop update is Bayer CropScience’s  Dennis Clark, sales rep for southern and central Michigan.

     Bayer has received registration for the use of Folicur fungicide in wheat, Clark explains what this product will protect against, “we actually just got that label last Friday.  What Folicur is going to help growers with is late rust infestation on wheat and it will also help control headscab.”

   Clark says Folicur can be tank mixed with Proline and explains how this will benefit growers, “it will help growers control rust a little better than just Proline alone.  The downside is that growers would only suppress headscab with Folicur.  With five-ounces of Proline growers could actually control headscab if the timing is correct.  What the combination would actually do is by going three-ounces of Proline instead of five; with three-ounces of Folicur and then a pint per 100 gallons of nonionic surfactant; growers will still get good control of headscab, the other leaf diseases plus more activity on rust.”

     Application timing is crucial when it comes to applying different fungicides.  Clark explains what the proper time is to apply Folicur/Proline combination, “if growers are looking to get the best activity on headscab and the best chance for control, it would Feak Stage 10.51.  This is where most of the heads have emerged and we’re just starting to see the first flowers.”

     Clark says there are products Folicur can be mixed with to help protect against insect activity, “growers can take Proline/Folicur combination.  This would be a good time to scout the fields.  And if there’s a concern for army worm, two-ounces of Baythroid could be added and control army worm along with a lot of the head diseases like bloom blotch, powdery mildew; along with the headscab.”

     Clark explains how the new label for Folicur will help tremendously with supplies for Michigan growers, “because five-ounces of Proline; and the Proline supply is extremely tight to the point of where it may not be available to all growers; three-ounces of Proline in a tank mix will give us more acres that can be covered effectively with the Proline/Folicur tank mix.”

     Bayer offers what is known as a “pair-up program”.  Clark explains what this program is and how growers can benefit from it, “this is a program that involves Proline.  In Michigan there is a minimum of 2.5 gallons Proline; with that growers would get $75 a gallon back if it’s matched or paired-up with an equal volume of either Stratego; which they could be applying any time from here on in for early wheat diseases; or the Folicur.”

     For information on Bayer products, or the “Pair-Up Program”, contact your local representative or visit www.bayercropscienceus.com.

 

WEEKLY CORN UPDATE -- brought to you by the

CORN MARKETING PROGRAM OF MICHIGAN

FRIDAY, MAY 9

     Ken Wadsworth, a corn grower from Sandusky traveled to India to talk about world corn production, supply and demand as part of a delegation representing the U.S. Grains Council.

     Wadsworth says the delegation stopped in four major cities in India.  The delegation met with starch manufacturers and poultry and feed industry representatives in India who were seeking information about issues concerning the U.S. and world corn industries, “their big concern was the higher cost, the price of grain going up.  They blame that on the U.S. ethanol program which we had to address.  And I think we did a fairly good job of doing that.  There are a lot of factors that figure into the cost of grain.  Number one would be the U.S. dollar is weaker which actually reflects in the price of grain.  It gives us more customers, makes their cash worth more.  I don’t know if the cost affects them as much as it does here, but that was one of their big concerns.  That the U.S. Oils-Fuels Program was using up food.”

     Wadsworth says the trip was very educational and proved to be a great stepping stone in providing accurate information regarding corn and ethanol.  For additional information about the US Grains Council’s international study tour to India, contact the MCGA at 1-888-323-6601 or visit www.micorn.org.