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Specialty Reports |
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Michigan Milk Producers Association—Dairy Update Monday, June 23rd
Milk production in the 23 major states during May totaled 15.4 Billion pounds, up 3.4 percent from May 2007. April revised production at 14.8 Billion pounds, was up 2.6 percent from April 2007. Production per cow in the 23 major states averaged 1,816 pounds for May, 25 pounds above May 2007. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major states was 8.46 Million Head, 162,000 head more than May of 2007 and 12,000 head more than April 2008. Production per cow in Michigan in May was up 2.6 percent from May of 2007 at 659 Million pounds. Production per cow averaged 1900 pounds, 35 pounds less than last May. The number of cows on farms in Michigan reached 347,000 head, 12000 head more than May of 2007. And in detailed dairy news, Dairy producers are facing rising input production and transportation costs. DTN dairy analyst Rick Kament says the current challenges will have an impact on the industry well into the future. “One of the things these higher input costs, which are not strictly focused on increased feed costs, but also focused on the high cost of energy including gasoline and diesel. This is expected to weaken the overall production levels nationally, probably through the end of the year as more and more herds start culling lower producing animals, and start focusing more on marginal production rather than producing for maximum product or milk production. Kament expects dairy producers will be culling herds for at least the next 12 months. “We’ve had a continual increase in milk cows, or number of cows being milked, over the last two years. We expect now that the input costs continue to move higher, and it seems like milk prices may start to stabilize at that $20.00-$21.00 per 100 weight level. It seems that additional culling activity will be seen and we will likely see more herd reductions, also reductions of cows in the herds, even though the total herd might not be reduced.” Kament says culling will occur across the nation and all regions of the country will see an impact. “A lot of times the smaller dairies continue to have the least room to move because of the lack of activity, but I really see this tightening of the market is really going to affect all dairies in all regions to some effect.”
WEEKLY SOYBEAN CHECKOFF ACTIVITIES UPDATE -- brought to you by MICHIGAN SOYBEAN PROMOTION COMMITTEE MONDAY, June 23rd Today we continue our series on animal agriculture, the soybean industry’s number one customer. Nationally, animal agriculture consumes 98 percent of domestically used soybean meal, and here in Michigan in 2006, dairy cattle consumed 85,000 tons of soybean meal; the meal from 3.6 Million bushels of soybeans. That’s nearly a quarter of all the soybean meal fed here in the state. The Knowl Dairy Farm is located just outside Croswell, MI and the family farm milks 140 cows and raises 100-125 feeder steers a year. Michael Knowl says they work with a nutritionist on a monthly basis to tweak the ration for the best fit for their dairy cows. “We choose soybean meal because it works the best for us. In the past we’ve tried other protein products and we’ve had decent results, but our herd seems to respond best to the soybean meal product.” Knowl says soybean meal also seems to have a positive impact on milk production. “I would say the soybean meal we tend to be just a little bit higher when we’re feeding that, as opposed to any other protein product.” As for environmental concerns, Knowl says the family farm takes a proactive approach. “We don’t spread any manure when the ground is frozen and we stock pile any pen manure and we spread all that on the wheat stubble after wheat harvest. Our lagoons and manure pits, we try to pump them in the summer time as well. All of our own land, we soil test that on 2 ½ acre grids and apply the manure as the soil test recommends for us to do.” WEEKLY FARM BUREAU UPDATE -- brought to you by MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU TUESDAY, June 24th
There is a lot planned at Michigan Farm Bureau’s Ag Expo exhibit. MFB Information & Public Relations Division director Dennis Rudat. “The ag challenge will continue again this year, Farm Bureau will help coordinate that, but it will be run with the day to day activities by the manufacturers again this year, similar to last year. In addition, we’ll have some sprayer demos for producers to look at side by side comparisons of sprayers and be able to talk to the manufacturers and get some additional information unique to each sprayer, as well as an opportunity to watch them operate. We think that will be a big draw for a lot of producers who may be looking at the latest in technology and how that technology we talked about may be integrated into those sprayer applicators.” Producers can also learn more about the high-tech world of livestock handling and electronic animal identification at the exhibit. “We’re going to pick up some of the programs we’ve done in the past, most noteably the animal handling and the electronic ID. That has been a standing room only event for us for the last two years, and we’ll continue to do that again this year with an added focus on how to integrate that technology in the day to day management of the livestock farms, but also stress the importance of that technology beyond just management in terms of tracking and sourcing those animals.” The Farm Bureau tent will be found in the same location as last year, on the south side of the grounds located on USDA Drive. Ag Expo takes place July 15th through the 17th It will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 15 and 16, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 17. Admission to the grounds and parking at Farm Lane and Mt. Hope Road are free. For more information about Ag Expo, call 800-366-7055 or visit www.agexpo.msu.edu.
WEEKLY BAYER CROPSCIENCE FIELD UPDATE – brought to you by BAYER CROP SCIENCE THURSDAY, June 26th
Joining Janelle this week is Dennis Clark, the sales rep for southern and central Michigan. Can you tell us, what are you seeing and hearing about in fields near you? “Well, we’re finishing up post sprays in corn and soybeans and we’re still getting some Lawtis, Liberty and Option out there. We are seeing scattered army worm, nothing real grassy, but some of the wheat fields still need to be checked. I would also look at some of the bordering corn fields.” What do growers need to be on the lookout for down the road? “Well the next we’re going to look at is emphasizing soybeans, both from a stress shield, and anything we can do to minimize stress can lead to higher yield potential.” Bayer has a new product that can help minimize stress called Leverage, tell us about this product. “Leverage is a combination of two different modes of action. It contains both the active ingredient of our contact insecticide Baythroid, and our systemic insecticide Admire. This gives us better coverage, in that the Admire portion, being systemic, can actually be sprayed on the top surface of the leaf, and it’s called translameter movement, would move through the leaf to get to the underside. That’s kind of where aphids like to hang out, so we’re going to have better coverage on the whole plant, being systemic, and contact with two different modes of action.” Dennis, fill us in on spray timing for Leverage. “The best time to spray is always when insects are close or reach threshold levels, and this would be true for Japanese Beetles, bean leaf beetle, or aphids. If we’re looking at stress shield, and we do see some yield advantages with the Leverage application in the absence of insect pressure. This would generally be in the R1 through R4 stage or when soybeans just start to bloom or early bloom, which generally in our neck of the woods would be mid July through mid August.” Now, while growers are controlling pests, they should also be thinking about diseases in soybeans. That’s a pretty optimal time to control both, isn’t it? “Exactly, we can actually tank mix Leverage with our fungicide Stratego and help with plant disease, help with stress shield, and also help with insect pressure at the same time. One thing we do see in a wet year, or a normal to wet year, it may be more of a yield impact from disease pressure. We also find that both these products do help under dry conditions. They help the plants stay more vigorous, and tolerate droughts more readily.” Dennis, any final thoughts before we close today? “I would say just keep scouting. Don’t ignore the wheat, we’re not out of the woods yet. Keep an eye on corn fields, particularly corn fields bordering wheat fields, because of the potential for army worm. We also did the cleaning up of fields with Option, Bucktrol, Liberty, and Lawtis, as far as weed control goes.”
WEEKLY CORN UPDATE -- brought to you by the CORN MARKETING PROGRAM OF MICHIGAN FRIDAY, June 27th
It is time for the weekly corn update, brought to you by the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan. The Michigan Corn Growers Association and the Corn checkoff invite the state’s farmers to visit their booth during the 2008 Michigan Ag Expo, taking place on the campus Michigan State University July 15 – 17th. Communication & Programs Coordinator for the state’s corn checkoff Lisa Scramlin. “Featured at the Michigan corn booth, there will be information on research funded by the states corn growers, Michigan Corn Grower Association Member benefits, ethanol industry and plant information, E85 pump and vehicle information, corn legislation, consumer food prices, corn availability, and the misconceptions related to corn and ethanol. Don’t forget to bring the kids to meet Captain Cornelious, the corn powered super hero.” Expo coordinator, Kirk Heinze says the show offers something for everyone with the theme of Explore, Learn and Drive. “As part of the exploring and learning, which is part of Michigan State University’s mission, we have some excellent educational speakers who are going to be talking about issues ranging from biofuels, to transferring your farm estate to other members of your family, to lawn care, you can even get your drinking water tested at ag expo this year. There is a real emphasis on learning, education, and giving people some information they can use to improve the quality of their lives.” The 2008 Michigan Ag Expo takes place on the campus Michigan State University July 15 – 17th. The show is open on Tuesday the 15th from 9am to 5pm, Wednesday the 16th from 9am to 5pm, and Thursday the 17th from 9am to 3pm. For more information about the state’s largest outdoor farm show, go online to agexpo.msu.edu. You can also learn more by contacting the Michigan Corn office at 1-888-323-6601 or visit www.micorn.org |