“Inside the BARN” – Weekly Radio Show

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“Inside the BARN” for May 25th…

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Memorial Day 2013…Thanks…

To all who serve, have served or to those and their families that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our our freedom…THANKS!

The Denver Cash Grain Bids for May 24th…

GL_GR110    *Next Release Date*
Greeley, CO    Fri May 24, 2013    USDA-CO Dept of Ag Market News

Daily Grain Bids for Denver and Surrounding Areas

*Next Release Date will be Tue May 28, 2013*

Spot bids to producers for grain delivered to terminal and country
elevators.  Bids dollar/bu. except for Barley which is dollar/cwt.
Bids are as of 3:00 PM MST.
Bids        Change (cents)
US 1 Hard Red Winter Wheat      7.21-7.50    9 to 10 lower
Up to 12 percent protein

US 2 Yellow Corn                6.87-7.17    5 lower

US 2 Barley                          13.00    steady

Source:  USDA-CO Dept of Ag Market News Service, Greeley, CO

The BARN’s Closing Ag Market Report…

NEW CME TRADING HOURS WENT INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 8th, 2013… 

this report is now available by 1pm each weekday!

CLICK HERE

05-24-13 *NRCS-CO / YCCD News*Rancher and Range Land Owners Field Day near Wray, CO June 11th…

Livestock owners, managers and land owners are invited to attend an informative Ranchers Field Day on Tuesday, June 11.  We will meet for the field day at Dwight and Nancy Rockwell’s headquarters just west of Wray, Colorado.  Registration, coffee and rolls will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the ranch headquarters.  The field day will begin at 9 a.m. and end by 3 p.m.

Plants tell us a lot about how much the drought has affected them, but only if we know how to read them.  Once we know what to look for and what we should ignore, we can make decisions that are more informed.

Attendees will learn how the drought of 2012 has affected the plants found on both sandy and hard ground sites.  The group will learn how to look at the plants to judge the health of our own rangeland.  Most significantly, we will hear what decisions need to be made and what actions should be taken to protect our ground.

05-24-13 Bent County’s Fort Lyon to provide new tool in statewide effort to help Veterans and end homelessness…

CLICK HERE to learn more…

DENVER — Friday, May 24, 2013 —  The State of Colorado announced today the historical veterans’ facility in Bent County will begin serving veterans and chronically homeless individuals from across the state in late August.

The 550-acre facility, which served as a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, sanatorium and prison before it closed in 2012, will offer participants supportive housing, health services, substance abuse treatment, counseling and job training to enable them to transition successfully into independent living in the community of their choice.

“Those referred to Fort Lyon will have access to the supports they need to maintain housing and a healthy lifestyle as they make the transition off the streets and back into their communities,” said Pat Coyle, Director of the Colorado Division of Housing.

Gov. John Hickenlooper today signed SB 13-210 at the facility in Las Animas. The bipartisan legislation determines correctional officer compensation practices and designates the Fort Lyon property as a supportive residential community for the homeless.

Fort Lyon will begin housing 80 clients by late fall; this will increase to 200 by July 2014, and could maintain a maximum capacity of 300 by July 2015.

The repurposing is part of Pathways Home Colorado’s ongoing effort to replicate best practice models, support regional priorities and become more strategic in preventing and ending homelessness.

05-24-13 US Senator Bennet Stresses Importance of Farm Bill and Conservation Programs…

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet spoke on the Senate floor yesterday to highlight the importance of passing a full five-year Farm Bill that provides certainty for Colorado producers and rural communities. Bennet underscored the revamped conservation title that makes critical reforms for farming and ranching families trying to protect the agricultural heritage of their land.

In his remarks, Bennet said, “This revamped conservation title is huge for rural America and for my State. It is critical for farming and ranching families looking to keep their land in agriculture generation to generation. It is incredibly important for our hunters and sportsmen. It is important for anybody–which is most of us–who cares about the long-term health of our soil, our air, and our water. These conservation measures help us improve the efficiency of production agriculture and improve the quality of the environment in farm country. We recognize that keeping these landscapes in their historical, undeveloped state is an economic driver for our entire State and for our entire region–for tourism and for wildlife habitat.”

Official Transcript:

05-24-13 US Congressman Gardner: Fed up with local FAA office, requests audit…

WASHINGTON D.C. – After years of lost paperwork and now weeks of repeated attempts to contact the Federal Aviation Administration about negligence at the agency’s local office in Colorado, Congressman Cory Gardner (CO-04) is still waiting for a reply to his constituents, and he’s fed up with the lack of response. His office has been working on several cases where delays have been long and the FAA is unresponsive.

“This type of laziness and disregard from a government agency is unacceptable,” Gardner said. “My office has been trying to reach officials at FAA’s regional office and representatives in Washington D.C. to address a pressing economic matter that affects the state of Colorado. Every day they ignore us businesses are losing money and the state is losing revenue.”

Gardner is requesting that the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation conduct a full audit of the FAA’s regional office  to find out why it has been negligent in processing permit applications (including losing them) for commercial and agricultural usage. In a letter to the Inspector General, Gardner cites a recent example of FAA ineptitude that needs to be addressed:

05-24-13 *USDA Op-Ed* Taking Time to Remember the Fallen…USDA Ag Sec Tom Vilsack…

This Memorial Day weekend, I hope all Americans will take a moment to honor the service of those who have lost their lives defending our nation. America is a beacon of freedom and democracy today, in no small part because of those who throughout history stood in defense of our values and principles.

 

We must also remain united in our commitment to today’s active and reserve service members, our veterans, and their families.

 

At USDA, we understand the special contributions of rural America to our armed services. More than six million veterans live in rural America – and a disproportionate number of today’s service members hail from small towns and rural communities.

 

USDA’s staff across America includes more than 10,000 veterans and our team works hard every day to strengthen services in rural areas that help veterans and their families. This includes everything from health clinics and telemedicine services, to distance learning opportunities and training for those who want to start a farm or ranch.

 

We work closely with other federal agencies, as well as through a partnership with the American Legion, to help get rural veterans the assistance they need to find a job. And I’m proud that today, more than 40 percent of our new hires at USDA are veterans.

 

05-24-13 *NASS-CO NEWS* USDA TO GATHER DATA ON 2013 CROP ACREAGE AND STOCKS…

CLICK HERE to visit the USDA/NASS Website

Bill Meyer, USDA-NASS CO Field Office Director

LAKEWOOD, CO– Due to extreme drought conditions across Colorado, how many acres of wheat are expected to be harvested this year? How many acres of corn will farmers plant this growing season? What percentage of those acres were planted to biotech varieties?

These are a few of the critical questions the Colorado Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will soon ask of Colorado producers as part of the June Agricultural Surveys.

Through two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey, NASS will gather data on what crops have been planted and what commodities are in storage. This information will provide a comprehensive picture of how things are shaping up in 2013 for the U.S. agriculture industry.

“The agriculture survey is done online, by mail, phone, or fax, but for the area survey, we visit randomly selected tracts of land and interview the operators of any farm or ranch on that land. We collect information on crop acreage – including biotech crops—as well as grain stocks, livestock inventory, cash rents, land values, and value of sales,” said Bill Meyer, director of the NASS Colorado Field Office.

05-24-13 ACE shows Congress ethanol is improving while oil gets worse…

Sioux Falls, SD (May 24, 2013)– In response to the release of the third white paper from the House Energy and Commerce Committee on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) entitled “Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Environmental Impacts,” the Executive Vice President of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Brian Jennings submitted comments today about the benefits of the RFS for clean air, innovation, and sustainability.

Jennings full comments can be read here. Brief excerpts are highlighted below.

With respect to the environment: “…petroleum represents the most harmful source of transportation fuel while renewable fuels such as ethanol represent the safest.  Recent crude oil spills have killed fish, animals, and plant life.  Ethanol, on the other hand, is derived from plant life and ethanol coproducts are fed to fish and livestock.  At the same time ethanol’s lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and production efficiencies are dramatically improving, extracting and processing crude oil into gasoline is becoming more expensive, inefficient, and destructive to the environment.”

READ the NAFB’s National Ag News as heard inside the BARN for May 24th…

CLICK HERE to listen to TODAY’s BARN Morning Ag News with Brian Allmer…

Sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation

“Senate Votes on Crop Insurance Amendments”

The Senate will not hold additional votes on amendments to the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 until they return from the Memorial Day recess. That means the next vote is scheduled for Monday, June 3rd. On Thursday – Senators voted on three crop insurance amendments. An amendment to end crop insurance subsidies for tobacco was rejected 44 to 52. Ninety-four Senators voted to approve an amendment to authorize the use of the insurance fund to reduce fraud and maintain crop insurance program integrity. That amendment was sponsored by North Carolina’s Kay Hagan. Senators also agreed to an amendment from Dick Durbin of Illinois and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma to limit premium subsidies for those with an average adjusted gross income above 750-thousand dollars. The vote was 59 to 33.

Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow urged Senators to vote against the Durbin-Coburn amendment. She said it would raise premium costs by 40-percent for the affected farmers and would reduce the amount of acreage that must comply with federal conservation standards. According to an analysis of the amendment from former USDA Chief Economist Keith Collins – released by the American Crop Insurers Association Thursday – the affected farmers would be looking at a 37-percent increase in the cost of their premiums if they are buying 70-percent coverage because the amendment would reduce the government’s premium support by 15 points. A farmer purchasing 50-percent coverage – according to the analysis – will see a 45-percent increase. The vote for the Durbin-Coburn amendment wasn’t just a defeat for the crop insurance industry – but also for the coalition of farm and conservation groups that reached the agreement to link crop insurance to conservation compliance with no income restrictions on subsidies. Other groups – like the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition – supported the amendment.

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“NCGA Disappointed with Approval of Durbin-Coburn Amendment”

The National Corn Growers Association was pleased to see the progress made on the farm bill Thursday and the priority placed on the vital legislation’s passage. But NCGA President Pam Johnson says the group was disappointed with the passage of the Durbin-Coburn amendment to reduce premium support for crop insurance participants through an Adjusted Gross Income means test. As the Senate moves forward – Johnson says NCGA is opposed to proposed amendments that would cut crop insurance programs and damage the farm safety net that supports the nation’s family farmers when facing adversity. Johnson also urges the Senate to continue moving the bill along in a swift and thoughtful manner upon return from the Memorial Day recess.

05-24-13 Colorado Launches Statewide Innovation Challenge…

May 23, 2013 – Denver – Colo. Governor John Hickenlooper announced today the launch of the Glorious Failure: In Search of Success Innovation Challenge, a statewide business competition that encourages creativity and responsible risk-taking.

The Glorious Failure: In Search of Success Innovation Challenge, sponsored by the Governor and managed by the Colorado Innovation Network (COIN), seeks to foster economic growth through innovation in seven “advanced industries.” Colorado entrepreneurs operating with less than $1 million in annual revenue are invited to compete for a chance to win approximately $100,000 in cash and in-kind donations to accelerate their business venture.

The seven targeted industries include: Information and Technology, Aerospace, Energy and Natural Resources, Infrastructure Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing, Bioscience, and Electronics.

“Research and development-focused companies in advanced industries are an important economic market for Colorado,” Governor Hickenlooper said. “This workforce currently drives 30 percent of the state’s economy. We want to encourage and grow these important industries, which provide quality, high-paying jobs for the people of this great state.”

05-24-13 *CSU Ext News* Growing Certified Wheat Seed…

     

Making Decisions:  The first step is deciding which variety to grow.  Essentially all new wheat varieties in Colorado are protected by PVP (the Plant Variety Protection Act), and are handled by a genetics provider.  There are many providers licensing varieties in Colorado, including the Colorado Wheat Research Foundation (CWRF), Syngenta/AgriPro, Monsanto/Westbred, Limagrain Cereal Seeds, NuPride, Kansas wheat Alliance, and Watley Seed.  In order to grow one of their varieties, you need to contact them, discuss licensee arrangements, and learn about how royalties will be collected.  The royalty is an additional fee charged on the sale of certified seed which supports continued wheat breeding efforts.  Normally the seed grower will need to mark up the cost of seed to cover the associated royalties, so this needs to be considered.

     Planting:  Next, find a source of Foundation or Registered seed.  You must be authorized by the genetics provider to receive and plant this seed.  Let the Colorado Seed Growers Association (CSGA) office know you plan to produce Cert

ified seed.  Review the land requirements in the CSGA Standards book.  Generally, a field producing Certified seed needs to be out of wheat for one year, and a field producing Registered seed needs to be out of wheat for two years.  Select a clean piece of land, preferably free of any noxious weeds.  Thoroughly clean out the drill before planting.

Prepare Fields:  In the spring, fill out an Application for Field Inspection, which also serves as a Membership application.  The appropriate fees are due with the application.  Treat the fields with herbicides if necessary to control weed infestations.  Rogue fields of unwanted plants prior to arranging field inspection.  Remember, there are tolerances for off-type wheat plants and for the amount of jointed goatgrass which can be present.  There is zero tolerance for weeds like bindweed and feral rye.  If an area of the field is not going to be saved for seed, clearly mark off the area not to be inspected.

05-24-13 *CSU Ext News* Dealing with Herbicide-Weed Resistance…

     While herbicide resistant weeds may or may not be prevalent in your area yet, the best long-term approach to delay resistance is to adopt proactive strategies.  Farmers are faced with the challenge of dealing with and learning to manage gyphosate herbicide-resistant weeds in fields, just as they have done with other chemistries, such as atrazine.

Where Do Herbicide-resistant Weeds Come From?

Natural weed populations contain individual plants (biotypes) that are more tolerant to some herbicides.  Repeated use of any herbicide by itself will expose weed populations to selection pressure, which may result in the survival of individual plants with greater tolerance or resistance to the repeatedly used herbicide.  If these plants are not controlled by a different herbicide or cultural practice, the herbicide-resistant biotype weed can reproduce and spread.

Impact of Glyphosate Herbicide-resistant Weeds

If not properly managed, a small isolated glyphosate-resistant weed patch can soon spread across an entire field and potentially into neighboring fields.  Depending on the crop, a limited number of postemergence herbicide options may be available to control, glyphosate-resistant weeds in a crop.                                                                         Any field can develop glyphosate-resistant weeds, and glyphosate resistance is not restricted to certain regions.  Farmers are faced with the challenge of dealing with and learning to manage herbicide-resistant weeds in their fields, just as they have done with other chemistries, such as atrazine, in the past.  By implementing effective management strategies, producers may be better prepared if and when glyphosate-resistant weed species are found in their region.  Practicing good weed control will not only benefit your fields, but will also minimize the risk of spreading weeds to neighboring fields.

Proactive Weed Management Strategies

HPLE-CBC-SSTF Update…

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) Join Tim Stutzman inside the BARN each week, usually on Mondays with a look back at last week’s sales & a look ahead at the upcoming sales & events @ High Plains 

HPLE AUCTION SCHEDULE

SUMMER SALE SCHEDULE UNDERWAY – ALL CLASSES OF CATTLE SELL ON THURSDAYS 

Friday, May 30th

AUDIO NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL TUES, May 28th @ NOON

 @ 9am – Regular WEIGH COWS/BULLS followed by STOCKER/FEEDERS

Saturday, June 1st High Plains Select Horse Catalog Sale Preview @ 10am Sale @ 1pm

Saturday, June 15th @ 10am – MONTHLY HAY AUCTION

HPLE/CBC/FARMCO ARCHIVE

PRIOR REPORT - 052013_hple-cbc-sstf_7m3s.mp3

 

05-23-13 LOCAL EGG PRODUCERS ENCOURAGE COLORADANS TO SPRING INTO NATIONAL EGG MONTH WITH VITAMIN D…

DENVER – May 23, 2013 – May is National Egg Month, and there is a lot to celebrate about this incredible source of nutrition. Colorado Egg Producers (CEP) Association encourages Coloradans to take advantage of all of the benefits eggs have to offer from the pocketbook to the waistline.

As the weather gets warmer and outside activities pick up, Americans can increase their intake of the sunshine vitamin even more by eating all-natural foods, like eggs, which are one of the few foods that naturally contain vitamin D. In fact, the USDA recently reviewed egg nutrient data and results showed that one large egg contains 41 IU of vitamin D, 64 percent higher than before.

“Vitamin D is a nutrient that should not be overlooked,” says Neva Cochran, MS, RD, LD. “In addition to working with calcium to help form and maintain strong, healthy bones, vitamin D works with calcium to prevent the development of osteoporosis in older adults. At 15 cents apiece, eggs are an easy, all-natural and inexpensive way to boost your vitamin D intake. Other good sources of vitamin D include fortified milk and fish, such as salmon and tilapia.”

Furthermore, eggs are an easy and versatile way to get that high-quality protein. One large egg also has varying amounts of 13 essential vitamins and minerals all for 70 calories! Regardless of how you prefer your eggs — hard-boiled, scrambled, poached or others —this month is the perfect time to brush up on your egg cooking skills. Visit the Incredible Egg’s Cooking School <http://www.incredibleegg.org/recipes-and-more/cooking-school>  for step-by-step directions and pictures.

05-23-13 USDA Finalizes COOL Rule…

USCA (May 23, 2013) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued its final rule to modify the U.S. country of origin labeling (COOL) program and the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) is applauding the agency’s action.  The final rule amends certain labeling provisions to bring COOL into compliance with a World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body ruling that found certain COOL requirements were inconsistent with the WTO agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade but affirmed the right of the United States to label products.

USCA President, Jon Wooster, San Lucas, CA stated, “We are very, very pleased that USDA has finalized its rule as published earlier this year.  These changes will not only strengthen the overall program, but will also bring the U.S. into compliance with our international trade obligations. Consumers will have even more information on labels with which they can make informed purchasing decisions.  We applaud Secretary Vilsack for finalizing this rule and we extend our gratitude to him for playing an instrumental role in the vigorous defense of COOL.”

Established in March 2007, USCA is committed to concentrating its efforts in Washington, DC to enhance and expand the cattle industry’s voice on Capitol Hill. USCA has a full-time presence in Washington, giving cattle producers across the country a strong influence on policy development. For more information go to www.uscattlemen.org. 

05-23-13 Interior Department to Hire Nearly 17,000 Young People to Work on Public Lands…

Secretary Jewell Announces $4.2 Million in Competitive Grants to Employ more than 600 Young Americans at 22 Projects

COLORADO: Snook’s Bottom Riparian Restoration Project AND San Luis Valley Engaging Youth in Conservation

PORTLAND, Ore. – In response to President Obama’s challenge to expand employment opportunities for youth, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today announced $4.2 million in grants to support conservation employment and mentoring opportunities for more than 600 young people ages 15-25 on public lands across the country.

The grants, which support the Obama Administration’s efforts to develop a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC), include $1.27 million from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), which helped leverage $2.65 million from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and $275,000 from Wells Fargo.

“This initiative is a model of how public-private partnerships can both conserve our land and provide opportunities for our young people to obtain jobs skills and broaden their horizons by connecting with the great outdoors,” said Secretary Jewell. “Through the 21CSC, we hope to expand these partnerships that foster economic opportunities and create a connection with nature for young people that lasts a lifetime.”

The 21st Century Conservation Service Corps is a national collaborative effort to put America’s youth and returning veterans to work protecting, restoring and enhancing America’s great outdoors. This year, the Department plans to provide conservation employment opportunities to nearly 17,000 youth in national parks, wildlife refuges, and on other public lands.

05-23-13 NGWA seeks input on new best suggested practices document (BSP)…

National Grondwater Association )NGWA) is seeking comment on a draft of a new best suggested practices document (BSP), Aquifer Storage and Recovery, which is now open for public review.

This best suggested practices document is a majority of the way through development. Part of the development process includes a 60-day public review period for newly developed BSPs prior to NGWA Board action. If you are interested in reviewing the document and providing feedback for the task group to consider, visit NGWA’s industry BSPs Web page. Thank you for your interest in advancing groundwater knowledge.

NGWA currently offers 15 BSPs designed to aid groundwater professionals. The documents are not standards, but practices that have been demonstrated to show superior results. They are prepared by a consensus of groundwater professionals and are free to NGWA members. Click here to view all the BSPs.​