The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given Nebraska permission to blend aflatoxin-tainted corn from the 2012 harvest with other corn for animal feed.

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture had joined Iowa and other major corn-producing states in seeking exceptions to federal rules regarding aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are a group of chemicals produced by certain mold fungi on corn. They can occur more frequently during hot, dry summers.

Almost 70 percent of nearly 2,000 samples from the early stages of the Nebraska corn harvest tested positive for aflatoxins.

The agriculture departments say the blended corn is safe for animals. Corn with more than 20 parts per billion can’t be used for human consumption or as feed for dairy animals.

More than 30 Pioneer® brand soybean varieties have made it through the final year of research testing and will be commercially available to producers for 2013 planting. DuPont Pioneer Senior Soybean Marketing Manager Don Schafer says the company’s goal is to provide a full complement of soybeans that yield consistently for farmers year after year. He says the Pioneer research, sales and agronomy teams dig hard to analyze the local disease and agronomic challenges throughout soybean-growing areas and develop products and traits to address those challenges within each region. During the final year of testing – soybean varieties are placed in IMPACT™ trials on growers’ farms to ensure product performance is up to the high standards set by Pioneer. A significant amount of data is gathered during this Intensively Managed Product Advancement Characterization and Training from many locations. Schafer says the 2013 class of Pioneer soybean varieties is a solid group of products with performance packages of agronomic and defensive traits that provide choices to match the right product with the right acre.

The National Corn Growers Association has reviewed the paper published by a group of researchers that questions the safety of Roundup Ready corn and glyphosate. NCGA has concluded that the research is questionable and does not offer credible evidence that biotechnology in agriculture negatively impacts animal health. According to NCGA President Garry Niemeyer – there has actually been a strong backlash against the validity of the study in the scientific community. Even vocal biotechnology critics have spoken out against the research and its findings. Some are questioning how it was ever published. He says NCGA is joining these respected academics in questioning the methods used and conclusions drawn. Niemeyer says the group is hopeful the public will see the study is an agenda-driven attack on agriculture and not a scientifically-valid study.

The Long-Term Toxicity of a Roundup Herbicide and a Roundup-Tolerant Genetically Modified Maize was published in Food and Chemical Toxicology. The paper claims that in a two-year feeding study – rats fed Roundup-ready corn and .1 parts per billion glyphosate had unusual tumor development and early death. But NCGA and the scientific community note the breed of rodent used is prone to developing tumors at roughly two years of age. Therefore – the rodents selected were likely to develop tumors by the completion of the trial regardless of diet.

In addition to other trial design flaws – NCGA finds issue with the conclusions drawn from the study as they are not statistically supported. According to NCGA – the statistical relevance of the study itself is questionable. The researchers used very small, unequal sample sizes for the treated and control groups. Because the researchers have declined to make the control group data available – attempts to review the data and draw accurate statistical conclusions have been fruitless.

NCGA says it’s imperative that public awareness of the study’s discretization in the scientific community grows rapidly – as proponents of the California ballot initiative that would require a variety of increased food labeling are using the flawed study as evidence of the ill-effects of biotechnology.

Growing conditions can change from year to year – but U.S. grades and safety standards for grain remain stable. Domestic and export buyers are sure to receive safe cargoes of corn based on buyer-seller contract terms and minimum requirements of U.S. grain grades and standards thanks to the U.S. grain marketing system. The U.S. Grains Council closely monitors aflatoxin levels in the United States so it can appropriately address the concerns of its global customers. The National Corn Growers Association – a founding member of the U.S. Grains Council – says the Council’s annual U.S. Corn Harvest Quality Report will be a key tool in releasing this information. The report is set to be released at the end of November.

NCGA President Garry Niemeyer notes farmers are dedicated to providing domestic and international customers with safe, quality corn. He says NCGA commends the Council’s efforts to help overseas customers understand the procedures in place to ensure the safety and quality of the product they will receive.

The drought and high temperatures across the Midwest this year have raised concerns about the possibility of higher levels of aflatoxin. Aflatoxin occurs naturally in crops – but generally at very low levels that do not pose a threat to animal health. The U.S. grain marketing system monitors corn continuously to ensure corn with elevated levels of aflatoxin – which could cause sickness or death in animals – are not transported. NCGA notes the safety standards for U.S. corn are the same for both domestic and export shipments. All corn export shipments from the U.S. are tested for aflatoxin. Any graded grain can contain only 20 parts per bushel of aflatoxin or less for it to be exported. Human foods and feed intended for dairy cattle must contain less than 20 parts per bushel.

So far this harvest season – Kansas State University’s Jay O’Neil says aflatoxin does not appear to be a significant problem. While some aflatoxin levels have been observed in several U.S. Corn Belt states – almost all are below the 20 parts per bushel limit. For example – NCGA reports one private grain inspection service in Nebraska said most of the tests it has completed were zero or only one parts per bushel. O’Neil says more will be known once more of the crop is harvested.

Agricultural Summary

Cool dry weather covered the state, allowing 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork.  Topsoil moisture supply was 34 percent very short, 35 percent short, and 31 percent adequate.  The central district was 64 percent very short followed by the northwest district at 61 percent very short.  Subsoil moisture supply was 67 percent very short, 23 percent short, and 10 percent adequate.  Ground worked falltillage was 18 percent, 9 days ahead of last year, and 17 days ahead of normal.

Field Crops Report

Corn harvest increased 14 points from last week to 80 percent, 18 days ahead of last year, and 41 days ahead of normal (5-year average).  Corn moisture at harvest was 15.2 percent.  Soybeans turning color and beyond were 74 percent, 3 days ahead of last year, and 5 days ahead of normal.  Soybeans dropping leaves and beyond were 41 percent, 3 days ahead of last year and normal.  Soybeans mature, at 15 percent, were 4 and 3 days ahead of last year and normal.  Soybeans harvested were 4 percent, 4 days ahead of last year, and 3 days ahead of normal with condition rated 36 percent very poor, 32 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 9 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Harvest was reported in all districts.  Cotton opening bolls, at 88 percent, was 10 days ahead of last year, and 12 days ahead of normal.  Cotton harvested was 16 percent, 10 days ahead of last year, and 3 days ahead of normal.  Cotton condition was 10 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 25 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Rice harvested was 71 percent, 17 days ahead of last year, and 2 weeks ahead of normal.  Sorghum turning color and beyond was 91 percent, 4 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum mature was 55 percent, 6 days ahead of last year, and 5 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum harvested was 16 percent, 5 days ahead of last year, and 3 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum condition was 22 percent very poor, 36 percent poor, 31 percent fair, and 11 percent good.  Winter wheat planted was 6 percent, 1 week ahead of last year and normal.  Wheat emergence was just beginning.  Alfalfa hay 3^rd cutting was 83 percent, 1 month behind last year, and 23 days behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition improved from last week to 56 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, and 18 percent fair, and 2 percent good.  Supply of hay and other roughages was 59 percent very short, 29 percent short, and 12 percent adequate.  Stock water supplies were 55 percent very short, 30 percent short, and 15 percent adequate.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 4 to 7 degrees below average.  Precipitation averaged 0.19 of an inch statewide.  Douglas County received 1.75 inches last week.

In an effort to help swine managers deal with the challenges of managing human resources – the National Pork Board is offering six free webinars this fall. These webinars will help managers discover new methods, tips and tools for working efficiently and effectively with the most important resource on their operations – people. Pork Checkoff Producer and State Services Committee Chair Mary Langhorst says this investment of time to improve employee management displays the Checkoff’s commitment to hiring, retaining and educating the pork industry’s workforce. She says the webinars offer a great way to gain knowledge without the inconvenience of leaving the farm site.

On Wednesday, October 24th – the subject is interviewing and hiring – selecting the best person for your team. The session will focus on the best way to conduct an interview, examine strategies for choosing the right person for the job and identify steps managers can utilize to help minimize legal issues during the hiring process. Training – techniques to get team members up to speed quickly – is the subject of the second webinar on Wednesday, October 31st. This session will provide managers with ideas, methods and tools to teach them how to have efficient, effective and impactful on-the-job training with employees.

The session on Wednesday, November 7th – coaching and feedback – will outline and easy and positive way to guide and develop the performance of employees. Conflict resolution is the topic on Wednesday, November 14th. The webinar will identify the manager’s role in dealing with personal and team conflict, look at natural reactions to conflict that can hinder or benefit interactions and outline steps to resolve conflict. Discipline and termination is the subject of the webinar scheduled for Wednesday, November 28th and appraising performance is the topic for the final webinar on Wednesday, December 5th.

Each webinar will be held from three o’clock to four o’clock Central time. Advance registration is required for each individual webinar. More information is available at pork dot org (www.pork.org).

American Soybean Association President Steve Wellman is voicing his group’s frustrations that the U.S. House failed to take up a comprehensive, five-year farm bill before departing for the election recess. According to Wellman – ASA cannot overstate the disappointment in the House for ignoring the voices of American farmers. By failing to act on a new five-year farm bill – he says Congress has let farmers down. Wellman says it’s a sad statement on the perceived lack of importance of rural America in Washington when a bipartisan bill that provides certainty for farmers, livestock disaster assistance, nutrition programs, crop insurance improvements, conservation of natural resources and reduces the Nation’s budget deficit is shelved in favor of scoring political points in an election year.

As Members of Congress return to their districts to court votes – Wellman says ASA is encouraging all soybean farmers to voice their concerns. Then – when Congress returns after the election – Wellman says the excuses and the foot-dragging must stop. He says the House must dedicate itself to passing a new comprehensive five-year farm bill that provides farmers with the stability, security and certainty they need while doing agriculture’s part to contribute to deficit reduction. Anything less – according to Wellman – will be another failure by Washington on the part of American farmers.