Little milk price improvement expected into the new year

Little milk price improvement expected into the new year Southwest Farm Press By David P. Anderson Much lower milk prices compared to 2014’s record highs made the past year drastically different than 2014. It looks like 2016 is going to be much closer to 2015 than 2014. Many of the same market conditions that forced milk prices lower remain in place in early 2016. Any significant relief is likely much later in the year. Many of the reasons for lower milk prices are trade related. Over the last decade or two, as U.S. domestic milk production and world economies grew, the U.S. dairy industry has become more dependent on exports and trade. The U.S. has exported the equivalent of 15 percent or more of our milk production in some months. Reduced demand for milk products from China and Russia has cut world demand, while increased production from major exporters like New Zealand, the EU, and the U.S. has left a glut of milk on the world market. High product prices in the U.S. relative to world market prices, have boosted our imports and reduced our exports. For all the bad trade news, there are some significant positive factors for the industry. One of the biggest positives has been the strength of domestic dairy product demand. Good demand for cheese, butter, and yogurt by U.S. consumers has kept milk prices from declining even more. Of course, declining fluid milk consumption continues to be a concern. Low milk prices restrained production growth during the last half of 2015. The number of dairy cows has been declining and milk production per cow growth has been very small, up less than one percent in 2015. Some relatively sharp declines in milk production in the Western U.S., primarily California, have helped restrain U.S. production. Class III and IV milk prices are likely to decline even more early in 2016, slipping into the $14 per cwt range, and could even go a little lower before rebounding. Dairy cow numbers should continue to decline throughout the year. Milk production per cow should be a little stronger in 2016, while feed costs remain low. Milk production should increase slightly, about 0.5 percent for the year. Reduced milk production in the EU and Oceania and export demand growth won’t likely materialize until the second half of the year. That will leave substantial milk price increases on hold until later in 2016.

PETA activist blasts FFA members; it’s time to set the record straight Feb 1, 2016 by Amanda Radke in BEEF Daily

Last week, while more than 7,000 cattle producers gathered in San Diego, Calif., for the 2016 Cattle Industry Convention, PETA activist Emily Rohr was busy penning an opinion piece about how lame and hypocritical FFA members are. Using the pillars that uphold the ideals of an FFA member, Rohr cited 11 reasons why FFA members’ ethics are lacking when it comes to animal care. The FFA pillars of leadership in agriculture I’m referring to include: Develop my potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. Make a positive difference in the lives of others. Dress neatly and appropriately for the occasion. Respect the rights of others and their property. Be courteous, honest, and fair with others. Communicate in an appropriate, purposeful, and positive manner. Demonstrate good sportsmanship by being modest in winning and generous in defeat. Make myself aware of FFA programs and activities and be an active participant. Conduct and value a supervised agricultural experience program. Strive to establish and enhance my skills through agricultural education in order to enter a successful career. Appreciate and promote diversity in our organization. Rohrs takes these 11 leadership items and twists them to match graphic and violent memes of animal agriculture. Rohr concludes her dramatic and misconstrued diatribe with, “Are you an FFA or 4-H member with a ‘beef’ with the organization? Quit! Go vegan, and join the peta2 Street Team to make a REAL positive difference in the lives of others.” READ: “FFA is BAE: How ‘the article’ got it all wrong” by Kelli Ann Garry While I’m sure Rohr’s page views are through the roof as those of us in animal agriculture clicked on her article to read the misinformation presented, I also imagine that many impressionable teens and folks outside of agriculture read this article and took the violent images at face value. Iowa farmer & former ABC Bachelor TV star Chris Soules advocates for FFA and his experiences with the youth agricultural organization. Photo Credit: Chris Soules Facebook This is an opportunity to share our story on social media. I encourage you to share the positive ways FFA has impacted your life, how growing up on a farm or ranch taught you to appreciate and understand the circle of life and death and how food gets to the dinner table and by-products enhance our lives, and that youth in agriculture are the future of food security around the world. Agricultural education and the FFA experience certainly opened up many doors for me and taught me important life lessons along the way. Through competing in livestock judging, job interview, public speaking, extemporaneous speaking and food science, I developed my skills as an agricultural communicator. Through my network of peers in FFA, I’ve met lifelong friends who encouraged me to explore things in college like competing on the meats judging team, where I met my husband. This network continues to be mutually beneficial years down the road, as we continue to communicate and share opportunities as they arise. FFA also fostered a spirit of fellowship, community service and giving back to others, which I’m extremely grateful for. And finally, FFA helped me gain more knowledge in the agricultural industry I’m passionate about, and gave me a true appreciation for the real pasture-to-plate story. So while my experience in FFA might not be thrilling enough to make headlines, recruit to my cause, or drum up donations (which is exactly what Ms. Rohr is aiming to do in this article), I’ll proudly stand by the National FFA Organization and the future leaders in agriculture who are developed through this program. The opinions of Amanda Radke are not necessarily those of beefmagazine.com or Penton Agriculture.

CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast

CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast January 2016* In the January 2016 episode of the CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast, Mike Crimmins and Ben McMahan** recap the transitional weather patterns of the last few months of 2015 as we moved from Fall into Winter, and discuss whether this transitional season matched general expectations, given what is expected in an El Niño year. They also discuss what a characteristic southwestern winter pattern looks like, and conclude the podcast with a conversation about how this El Niño event has stacked up so far this winter, and what they anticipate over the next few months. ________________________________________ *We had a small technical difficulty with the audio quality that delayed publication until today, but the conversation is still timely/relevant especially considering the general break in winter storm activity we've seen since early January (Jan 31 notwithstanding). **Zack Guido is away on a research project but will join us again in February.

Join us for the 5th Annual Economic Outlook Conference At NMSU

Join us for the 5th Annual Economic Outlook Conference Top national and state economists present their economic forecasts for 2016 Thursday, February 18, 2016 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Las Cruces Convention Center 680 East University Avenue Las Cruces, NM 88001 Reception: 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Refreshments will be served Speakers: Eugenio Alemán, Ph.D. Director & Senior Economist Wells Fargo & Company Jim Peach, Ph.D. Regents Professor of Economics and International Business at New Mexico State University Register by Friday, February 12 No entrance charge for the event To register online, visit http://business.nmsu.edu/cob-events or call Anthony Casaus at 575-646-5817 Directions: From El Paso (south of Las Cruces). Take I-10 West. Take I-25 North toward Las Cruces/Albuquerque. Take the University Avenue exit (Exit #1). Turn left onto University Avenue. Continue on University and turn left on East Union Avenue to enter the parking lot. From Albuquerque (north of Las Cruces). Take I-25 South. Take the University Avenue exit (Exit #1). Merge right onto University. Continue on University and turn left on East Union Avenue to enter the parking lot. From Alamogordo (east of Las Cruces). Take US-70 West. Take the I-25 South ramp toward El Paso. Take the University Avenue exit (Exit #1). Merge right onto University. Continue on University and turn left on East Union Avenue to enter the parking lot. From Deming (west of Las Cruces). Take I-10 East to Las Cruces. Take the Main St. exit (Exit #142, toward NMSU). Keep right at the fork in the ramp. Turn right onto NM-478 North, Main St. Then, turn right onto NM-101 East, University Avenue. Continue on University (in right lane) and turn right on East Union Avenue to enter the parking lot.

POCKET GOPHER CONTROL

Press Release Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service 1304 West Stevens Carlsbad, NM 88220 For More Information, Contact: Woods Houghton, Eddy County Agriculture Agent Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service Phone: 575-887-6595 Fax: 575-887-3795 whoughto@nmsu.edu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE POCKET GOPHER CONTROL Do you have mysterious mounds showing up in your yard? Well I do and I have had numerous calls this past week. The first question I ask is, ”are the holes in the mound plugged or open?” If the holes are plugged you most likely have pocket gophers. There are four different species in New Mexico. Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents, which live almost entirely underground. They are well adapted to their underground existence, with stout forelegs and strong curved claws for digging. They have prominent, yellow teeth and large fur lined external cheek pouches in which food is carried. They are basically lawn and yard landscaping terrorists. If the hole is open, you could have prairie dogs or ground squirrels and control methods are a little different. I have never found a mole in Eddy County. A single gopher may have a burrow system 800 feet or longer and can cover an acre of land. The tunnels are 2 to 5 inches in diameter and 4 to 15 inches below surface. The gopher pushes soil from the burrow to the surface with it forefeet and chest, this forms a characteristic horseshoe shaped mound 8 to 24 inches in diameter and 6 inches high or so. The mounds are at short lateral tunnel which branches off the main runway and the surface opening is plugged by pushing dirt into it, resulting in a depression on one side of the mound. For gophers this is real important, the plug keeps out predators such as snakes. The gopher’s diet mainly consists of fleshy roots of various plants, including trees, but prefer potatoes, peanuts. They are known to pull green tops and seeds down into their burrows, just like in the cartoons. In some places and some conditions gophers are beneficial to the soil. One gopher can in one year move 2 1/2 tons of soil. This process however can be damaging to cultivated farming and landscapes. Controlling pocket gophers should be conducted in the spring or the fall when gophers are most active near the surface. In the summer they are deeper due to the heat. There are two methods of control, Mechanical, or Chemical. The most common type of mechanical control is trapping. There are a number of different traps but the two most common are the Macabee, and DK-1 trap. I prefer the DK-1 trap. Both types are available at local feed stores and come with instructions. Success depends upon proper placement! Here are some suggestions: 1. Locate the newest mound or series of mounds. 2. Locate the main runway by probing the soil with a bluntly pointed probe, (Philips screw driver), 6-8 inches from the mound, on the side of the horseshoe depression. When the probe hits the runway the release of ground friction will be felt. Simply it goes in fast. Women walking in high heels will find them too. 3. Dig down with a trowel or shovel to locate the runway and place the traps. With a DK-1 trap leave the hole open and place the trap in the lateral or you can place the same as a Macabee. With the Macabee two traps must be placed one facing each direction. I used to tell people they need to cover the hole but recent research presented by Dr. Smallidge NMSU wild life specialist indicates this is not necessary. Traps should be checked often but at least every day. I have used this same technique with the DK-1 as well. Chemical control includes baits and fumigants. If baiting with poison grain locate the main burrow the same as under mechanical control. Pre-bait with un-poisoned grain for two-days or so then put in the poison grain. Care need to be applied to make sure bait does not affect non-target animals such as pets, and other wildlife. Also I would avoid use of baits if Children are around. Fumigants include carbon monoxide gas cartridges if labeled for gophers. Many manufactures have dropped their gopher label because they are not real effective. Other fumigants include Aluminum phosphide, which require a pesticide license and a fumigation plan. Do not use fumigant near inhabited buildings! Recently there have been propane or acetylene gas exploders, which are considered a fumigant, lots of fun, not real effective however. Ultra sonic device are not legal for sale in New Mexico due to the lack of third party scientific evidence that they work. It is not illegal to use them in New Mexico, but it is illegal for them to be sold, or shipped into New Mexico. These products are considered pesticide under the New Mexico pest control act and as such are regulated by New Mexico Department of Agriculture. If the manufactures could produce scientific data for effectiveness they would be allowed. I did have one farmer comment that his wife bought a gopher/mole chaser to protect her garden; the next day there was a mound right next to it. She sent it back. I prefer DK-1 traps for gofer control it is safer and effective. I also like knowing for sure that I have this little underground terrorist. For more information Contact your Local County Extension office a publication is also available on the web at http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_l/L-109.pdf . This and all programs are available to everyone regardless of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating “to put knowledge to work”.

Public Meetings on Updating the Coordinated Framework for Regulation of Biotechnology

Save the Date—March 9 & 30, 2016: Public Meetings on Updating the Coordinated Framework for Regulation of Biotechnology On October 30, 2015, under the auspices of the National Science and Technology Council, the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy held a public meeting to discuss the memorandum entitled, "Modernizing the Regulatory System for Biotechnology Products," issued by the Executive Office of the President in July 2015. This meeting was the first of three public engagement sessions on this topic. Today we are announcing the dates and locations for the second and third public engagement sessions. The second public meeting will be held on March 9, 2016, at EPA’s Region 6 office at 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas. The third public meeting will be held on March 30, 2016, at the University of California, Davis Conference Center, Davis, California. Additional details on meeting times, agendas, and how to participate will be announced in a Federal Register notice, and also made available on relevant agency websites prior to the public meetings.

U.S. Forest Service Releases Findings on the Effects of Drought for Forests and Rangelands

U.S. Forest Service Releases Findings on the Effects of Drought for Forests and Rangelands New Resource to Aid Land Managers in Adapting to Climate Change WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2016 — The U.S. Forest Service today released a new report, Effects of Drought on Forests and Rangelands in the United States: A Comprehensive Science Synthesis, that provides a national assessment of peer-reviewed scientific research on the impacts of drought on U.S. forests and rangelands. This report will help the Forest Service better manage forests and grasslands impacted by climate change. "Our forests and rangelands are national treasures, and because they are threatened, we are threatened," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "This report confirms what we are seeing, that every region of the country is impacted by the direct and indirect effects of drought conditions and volatile weather patterns. Sixty million Americans rely on drinking water that originates on our 193 million acres of national forest and grasslands. They support 200,000 jobs and contribute over $13 billion to local economies every year." The report establishes a comprehensive baseline of available data that land managers can use to test how well their efforts to improve drought resilience and adaptation practices are working nationwide. Major findings from the report include: • Drought projections suggest that some regions of the U.S. will become drier and that most will have more extreme variations in precipitation. • Even if current drought patterns remained unchanged, warmer temperatures will amplify drought effects. • Drought and warmer temperatures may increase risks of large-scale insect outbreaks and larger wildfires, especially in the western U.S. • Drought and warmer temperature may accelerate tree and shrub death, changing habitats and ecosystems in favor of drought-tolerant species. • Forest-based products and values – such as timber, water, habitat and recreation opportunities – may be negatively impacted. • Forest and rangeland managers can mitigate some of these impacts and build resiliency in forests through appropriate management actions. "Since 2000, fire seasons have grown longer and the frequency, size and severity of wildland fires have increased," said Vilsack. "Among the many benefits of having this solid baseline data is the improved ability to identify where restoration work can help forests adapt and prosper while minimizing the threat and impact of future wildfires." The assessment, a broad review of existing drought research, provides input to the reauthorized National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), established by Congress in 2006, and the National Climate Assessment (NCA), produced every four years to project major trends and evaluate the effects of global climate change on forests, agriculture, rangelands, land and water resources, human health and welfare, and biological diversity. Together these serve as key, science-based, resources for anyone working to maintain or improve public and private lands in the face of a changing environment. Edited by Forest Service scientists in partnership with Duke University, the document provides a valuable new tool to inform discussion, planning and implementation of adaptation strategies for land managers and policy makers. The collaborative effort, authored by 77 scientists from the Forest Service, other Federal agencies, research institutions and universities across the United States, examines ways to understand and mitigate the effects of drought on forests and rangeland including the 193 million acres of National Forest System lands. The implications of the findings of this report are likely to have far-reaching effects on the environment for the foreseeable future. As climate change drives temperatures increases and precipitation patterns change, drought–and associated disturbances such as insect outbreaks and wildfires-will only get worse across many areas of the United States. The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, an agency of the Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands managed by the Forest Service contribute more than $13 billion to the national economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation's clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency also has a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 818 million forested and woodland acres within the U.S., including 100 million acres of urban forests where most Americans live. #