20 Occurrences of “Hurricane Force” Hit Iowa in July
The derecho and severe wind that moved across much of Iowa on July 11 made the news across much of the Midwest through late summer. There was no denying the extent of storm damage this fall as many farmers made painstaking slow progress across their fields, using reels to limit harvest losses from downed corn. That’s not surprising.
What is surprising, however, is to learn that there were actually 20 wind events of 75 knots (86.4 mph) or above across Iowa in the month of July. Here’s how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describes such forceful winds:
High winds were only part of the story. Farmers across Latham Country were also plagued by flooding, extremely hot last-summer temperatures, a lack of rainfall and an early frost. When you consider all of the growing challenges, it’s no wonder many people are saying their 2011 crop was better than expected.
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Select a territory in the map below to view a region’s most recent crop report, provided by Latham’s regional sales managers.
Child Labor? Oh Please. Let’s Just Call it What it Really is!
Recently the U.S. Department of Labor proposed revisions that would prohibit children younger than 16 from operating power-driven equipment and those under the age of 18 from working livestock. Proponents say the proposed rules are to protect children, according to a Globe Gazette article, as well as to make agriculture and non-agriculture “child labor” provisions similar.
Child Labor brings to mind images of enslaved children working in sweatshops in Third World countries. It doesn’t conjure images – like the ones pictured here – of children who grow up with an appreciation of caring for animals and knowing how to produce the world’s safest food supply.
As a former 4-H and FFA member, I understand firsthand how every day is “bring your child to work day” on the farm. More information is caught rather than taught as young children walk in their parents’, grandparents’, aunts’ and uncles’ shadows as they learn from doing.
Laura Cunningham, marketing coordinator for Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, grew up raising cattle on her family’s North Central Iowa farm. Following in her brother Eric’s footsteps, Laura raised beef for her FFA Supervised Agricultural Experience project, which contributed to her passion for livestock production. Today she and her husband have their own cow-calf operation.
I started bottle feeding lambs as soon as I was big enough to help and learned the importance of putting others’ well being ahead of your own. After all, we couldn’t eat until our chores were done! I literally counted down the days until I could show my first lamb at the county fair, and in short fashion, I learned the importance of genetics and good breeding. For the next 10 years, my family and I worked to improve the quality of our herd.
My parents and I traipsed through snowdrifts in the dark to check on ewes about to lamb. They allowed me to help with vaccinations, too. It was my job to fill the syringe, and when I got older, I was able to give the injections. I also became quite handy with the bander, although I never quite mastered the hoof trimmer!
Our flock allowed my parents and I ro spend lots of time together, plus I made so many great friends through our shared 4-H and FFA experiences. Many of my 4-H and FFA friends and acquaintances remain business contacts and industry associates today.
As a result of these experiences, I learned to accept responsibility at an early age and gained a sense of accomplishment at the end of a job well done. Farm chores helped build my character and helped me develop a strong work ethic. I also earned FFA proficiency awards, as well as state 4-H awards for agricultural careers and sheep production. Is it any wonder that I would want the same for my children?
My kids began caring for bottle lambs at their grandparents’ farm when they were 5 years old. The proposed rule changes, however, would prohibit kids under 16 or 18 years old from doing farm work for anyone other than their parents. That means kids like mine, who don’t live on a farm, would be robbed of valuable work experiences.
My children started fourth grade this fall and are now eligible to become full-fledged 4-H members. We’ve purchased an acreage where they can keep their 4-H livestock projects, as well as raise pumpkins. My hope is that they’ll learn the value of a dollar and be less inclined to buy a myriad of video games when they think about how many pumpkins or how many lambs they have to sell in order to purchase just one gaming system or video game.
Our hopes could be dashed, however, if the proposed changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act are enacted. In the name of safety, my budding entrepreneurs and aspiring 4-H members won’t have the same opportunities as I had to achieve that same sense of accomplishment. The U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed changes would prohibit children younger than 18 from working with animals. They’d also be prohibited from working for a L.L.C. or any top of legal family farming entity.
Please learn more about how your family or the structure of your family’s farming operation could be impacted by the proposed changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Then take the time to make your voice heard. To submit written comments, reference RIN 1235-AA06 in your letter and mail it to:
The Wage and Hour Division
U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-3502
200 Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210
Ty Walter, a 19-year-old cattle producer, received the National FFA Proficiency Award in Beef Production-Entrepreneurship during the 2011 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. He built a herd of 70 cattle from one heifer that he was given for his first birthday. Yes, he’s been working with livestock practically since he could walk and believes, in doing so, he’s learned many valuable lessons.
Likewise, other farm families believe caring for livestock helps children develop a strong work ethic that they carry into their adult lives. It’s no wonder that “farm kids” are sought after in the workforce.
“We want our children to be able to experience caring for our animals in the future,” says Nancy Grossi, The Wife of a Dairyman. “We believe, and my husband experienced growing up on our dairy farm, that learning to feed and care for our dairy cows gives kids a head start on work ethic. If a pre-teen or teenager learns work ethic at a young age, he or she will be more likely to continue to have good work ethic as an adult. Helping to care for animals and working on our farm will help our kids build character and responsibility.”
Both of the Grossi kids are involved in the 4-H organization. When they reach the age of nine, they will be able to show large animals in the county fairs – and they’re already looking forward to it. Part of showing animals through both the 4-H and FFA organizations is learning how to properly care for your animals, yourself.
“If the proposed labor law goes into effect, it would impact thousands of kids,” adds The Wife of a Dairyman. “They will not be allowed to care for their own animals and this would be a tragedy, not only to the kids but also to the future of our country. Learning these skills, at a young age, is necessary to instill the foundation of agricultural knowledge to be able to feed our nation in the future.”
How has growing up on a farm – or the 4-H and FFA organizations – helped provide you with valuable life-long lessons? Please take the time to share your experiences and your concerns with the U.S. Department of Labor. Click here to submit your comments online.
To submit written comments, reference RIN 1235-AA06 in your letter and mail it to:
The Wage and Hour Division
U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-3502
200 Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210
Comment by Dec. 1 on Impacts of “Child Labor” (Part I)
Today and tomorrow I’ll be in Kansas City, meeting with farm broadcasters at their annual convention. I plan to visit with them about the unintended consequences some proposed rule changes could have on the agricultural community in general and on the seed industry in particular.
One topic of discussion will be probable impacts of tightened rules regarding Child Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor in September proposed changes that could prohibit children from working on a farm or ranch that is not directly owned by their parents. Under the proposed rules, farm workers under the age of 16 would be prohibited from working in cultivation and harvesting crops. They also would be prohibited from working at country grain elevators, feedlots and other agribusinesses.
Ironically, the same “family farmers” that regulators are trying to exempt from the proposed rule changes will likely be impacted the most. Ownership arrangements of farming operations have changed over time as farms and ranches pass from one generation to the next. It’s common for siblings to jointly own and operate farms. It’s also common for extended families and neighbors to form legal partnerships. The proposed new child labor rules, however, could fundamentally alter these dynamics.
Regulators must closely examine how production agriculture operates today. They need to gain a better understanding of how business is conducted in rural America before these changes are implemented. But, they can’t do it without your help!
More than ever, the agricultural community needs to unite and be heard. Submit your comments before December 1, 2011 to the Department of Labor. To submit written comments, reference RIN 1235-AA06 in your letter and mail it to:
The Wage and Hour Division
U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-3502
200 Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210
Click below for additional background information and how proposed rule changes will impact agriculture.
Farmers generally put away their harvesting equipment and complete fall tillage, and then turn their attention to planning for the next growing season. Late fall is typically when most farmers plan what they’ll plant and where. However, extra consideration needs to be given to farmland was flooded in 2011 before the spring 2012 planting season begins.
Iowa State University’s Mahdi Al-Kaisi, in the November 7th issue of Integrated Crop Management News, offers management considerations for farmers whose soils were affected by the Floods of 2011.
“Farmland in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska affected by flooding early this year and not planted to any crop has potential economic and soil environmental consequences if the soils are left unattended,” writes Dr. Al-Kaisi. “Long-term damage to soil in areas of significant flooding need to be considered when planning for next season’s crop.”
Al-Kaisi says these aspects should particularly be managed for previously flooded soil:
Grassroots Advocacy at Its Best, from the Cab of a Combine
(Photo courtesy of Mike Haley, haley-farms.com/blog)
Farmers have a history of organizing movements, and this fall they rallied behind a social media movement known as #occupycombine on Twitter.com.
“This movement is built on the ideals of ethics, family, hard work and transparency in how food is raised,” wrote Ohio farmer Mike Haley on his blog, Haley Farms. “This is a peaceful movement. There are no demands, only prayers for good weather to help get the crops harvested in a quick and safe manner.”
The #occupycombine string was started by North Dakota farmer Mark Rohrich, according to Harvest Public Media. Susan Crowell, editor at Ohio’s weekly Farm and Dairy, soon began using the #occupycombine hashtag on her Twitter feed. Then she blogged on The Social Silo that #occupycombine was really about the rise in social media that connects folks in farm country.
“The OccupyCombine movement has nothing to do with our national economic discontent, but everything to do with the growing social media camaraderie and community that is building connections within agriculture online — a community that is also extending its voice to the nonfarm community in powerful ways,” wrote Crowell.
What’s not to love about a movement that has everything to do with connecting with “similar” people online – people who share a passion for helping provide a safe and abundant food supply for the growing world population? Of course, I joined in the fun! Below is a sample of tweets from @LathamSeeds on Twitter.com:
20 Oct:Operation #OccupyCombine underway in NE #Iowa2day! En route to Fayette County, one of the prettiest (& most productive) places statewide.
25 Oct:Rode a few rounds & could see line where fungicide was applied. Yields increased 20-40 bushels. Whole field average 200 bu/A. #occupycombine
25 Oct:On prowl 4 a combine in Wright County, IA! With so much barren ground, it should be easy 2 spot. #Harvest11 nears completion. #OccupyCombine (If only I would’ve remembered the hash tag!)
For a virtual snapshot of my combine rides this fall across Latham Country, Click Here.
Guest blog by Kurt Metzger, West Area Seed Solutions Specialist, MaxYield Cooperative
Unusually dry weather this fall has corn growers asking questions about whether or not they should wait to apply Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3).
Applying NH3 in dry soils is actually the best situation if a producer can get it to seal. The NH3 bar must be deep enough to get adequate soil separation between the point of ammonia injection and the depth where corn seed will be planted next spring, as stated by John Sawyer, Department of Agronomy, in his recent Integrated Crop Management News article entitled, “Anhydrous Ammonia Application and Dry Soils.”
At MaxYield Cooperative, we began applying NH3 nearly two weeks ago. It was exceptionally dry then, so we made sure the NH3 bar was in the ground 6 to 7” (4-6” is typical). We’re recommending that producers apply nitrogen deeper to help prevent damaging seed next spring. This same point is made in Sawyer’s newsletter article. He writes, “Shallower injection, greater movement upward from the injection point, wider knife spacing, or higher rates can lead to ammonia being in the seeding area at rates high enough to cause damage” next spring.
Fortunately, the newer NH3 bars have much better disk closers and will be more aggressive to move the soil in order to seal the in the soil.
Another point is with the dryer soils, the zone that the ammonia in the soil becomes a larger radius to attach to the clay. This means it takes more moisture next spring in order for leaching to occur. Remember the nitrogen moves with the soil water profile and only will move with the excess moisture. Use of N-Serve is still very much recommended.
With that said, however, overnight rainfall will help mellow the soil and provide for better sealing upon NH3 application. Soils are so dry that it will take many more inches of rain before it’s too much moisture is a concern. The best analogy is that our glass is only ¼ full now, so we have a lot of room before rain fills our glass and runs it over next spring.
For years, the word “refuge” could bring on an unwelcome headache to corn growers. Determining how many units of a refuge hybrid were needed and in which configuration to plant them was confusing. Now Latham’s Refuge in a Bag (RIB) is making the complex world of refuge simple.
The RIB concept involves mixing refuge seed with both the corn borer and rootworm insect protected corn seed, so growers have everything they need to be refuge compliant in just one bag. Growers are no longer required to weigh adjacent versus in-field configurations; they can simply open the bag and pour.
At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, growers will be able to purchase the first single-bag RIB solution for the 2012 season: Genuity® SmartStax® RIB Complete™ Corn, a blend of 95% traited seed and 5% refuge seed. When growers begin looking to plant RIB products, it’s important to remember that yield comes first. Growers shouldn’t have to plant a product that may have yield drag in order to receive all of the other great benefits that come with RIB. We’ve found 5% products provide the simplicity wanted without sacrificing yield. Be aware, however, not all RIB products are created equal.
Whether you’re making decisions on traits and genetics or weighing RIB products, the focus should remain on what will always be most important. Genetics make yield; traits protect yield.
At the end of the day, the product needs to be the right fit for a grower’s farm.
Chinese officials learn more about U.S. seed industry
In cooperation with the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds President John Latham recently hosted tours for a Chinese delegation consisting of 17 seed company managers and government officials plus their interpretator.
“The purpose was for Chinese leaders to see there is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to the U.S. seed industry. The U.S. model is a great example of how family-owned businesses and multinational companies all play an important role in the seed industry,” says Lisa Nichols, ASTA’s director of international programs. “China is currently in the process of revising its seed law. It’s our hope that the information gained from their U.S. visit will help change China’s policies, practices, and regulations to best support a modern seed industry.”
This U.S. visit is just one example of how the ASTA has been working over the past five years with China’s key seed industry and government stakeholders. Last summer Bernice Slutsky, ASTA’s vice president of science and international affairs, traveled to Beijing where she met with individuals and agencies involved in the seed industry.
“Our goal is to be an advocate for policies that will enable our members to successfully conduct business in major markets, including China,” said Slutsky. “Policies surrounding intellectual property rights, variety registration and technology transfer are of utmost importance. In the longer term, we would like to see China update its system from the 1978 International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) standards to comply with the UPOV revisions of 1991, which is a more robust system.”
Working together and forming agreements is about making sure companies are protected and about facilitating the movement of seed on a global level, added Slutsky. “It was an honor to host such a distinguished group of seedsmen from China,” says John Latham. “The U.S. and China are very dependent on each other in this world economy. We need to continue to find better ways to work together to feed a growing world population. This visit was a step in that process.”
The number of hybrid and soybean technologies has never been greater. With an increased number of choices, however, comes a growing challenge to identify which traits will provide maximum performance and yield given a grower’s specific field conditions.
Planting corn is very similar to planning your financial portfolio: you want to plan for balance, managing risk and securing performance against a number of unforeseen challenges, including insect and disease pressure and weather. Look for a balance in maturity levels, genetics, and traits.
As you finalize your 2012 seed selections, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Understanding Genetics Versus Traits – Genetics provide the performance advantage. It doesn’t matter how good a trait is if it’s not supported by solid genetics. “Genetics make yield but traits protect yield.” Also remember the role of genetics in corn-on-corn situations. In corn-on-corn situations, plant high vigor genetics that can tolerate the increased disease pressure.
Identifying Product Trends – Making seed selections based on one’s most recent experience could risk performance the following year due to the drastic changes in growing conditions because no two years will ever be the same. In 2010, we received excessive rainfall. During the 2011 growing season, we experienced three weeks of 100 plus degree heat.
Putting Field Data to Work – In the past, we relied almost solely on the knowledge of the seed advisor and the valuable experience of the grower to identify the correct seed for a particular field. Today we have Seed-2-Soil®. Seed advisors can work with data collected from precision ag instruments to provide recommendations that tell growers exactly what seed to place at what population, with more precise guidance on fertilizer and nutrient management.
Guest blog by Kurt Metzger,
