Natural disasters cause economic consequences for ranchers and producers across the country – and USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Juan Garcia urges livestock producers to keep thorough records of their livestock and feed losses – including additional expenses – such as feed purchases because of lost supplies. Some pertinent information producers should keep track of also includes documentation of the number and type of livestock that have died along with photographs or video records of ownership and losses if possible, dates of death supported by birth recordings or purchase receipts and transportation costs to get livestock to safer ground or new pastures. Producers also are reminded that production losses due to disasters after September 30th of 2011 aren’t eligible for disaster program coverage.

riculture Secretary Tom Vilsack designated 128 additional counties in nine-states as natural disaster areas due to drought on Wednesday – along with announcing a two-month extension for emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program acres. Vilsack says it’s important for U.S. farmers and ranchers to have the tools they need to be successful in the long term – and this extension will allow farmers and ranchers approved for emergency grazing to extend grazing through November 30th without additional CRP rental payment reductions. Currently – the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates 63-percent of the nation’s hay acreage and 72-percent of the cattle acreage is experiencing drought.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson and American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman will serve as the masters of ceremony for the Farm Bill Now rally coming up September 12th in Washington, D.C. The event is hosted by NFU, AFBF – the two largest general farm groups in the U.S. – and a number of other agricultural organizations. With only eight days remaining on the legislative calendar before the current farm bill expires – Johnson says the rally aims to send a strong, unified message to Congress that they must act now on the 2012 Farm Bill to ensure the well-being and livelihood of all Americans who benefit from the legislation. Stallman says Farm Bureau appreciates the work done by Congress to date and looks forward to working with the House to get a farm bill passed and into conference as soon as possible. In light of the drought – he says it’s imperative for America’s farmers that a farm bill is passed this year.

The Farm Bill Now rally is an effort to raise public awareness of the need for Congress to pass a new, comprehensive, five-year farm bill before current farm programs expire. Leaders from major farm and commodity groups, rural development, livestock, conservation and energy organizations will address the crowd. NFU, AFBF and the sponsoring organizations are calling on their members, media and all ag supporters to join the event.

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved registration of Syngenta’s Lexar EZ and Lumax EZ herbicides. Syngenta Technical Asset Lead says these two herbicides demonstrate the same performance, residual control, application flexibility and crop safety as market-leading Lexar and Lumax herbicides with the added benefit of improved handling. Both contain three active ingredients to provide multiple modes of action for more effective residual control on tough grasses and small-seeded broadleaf weeds – along with weeds resistant to glyphosate, ALS-inhibiting, PPO and triazine herbicdes. Vail says Syngenta is committed to providing enhanced technology solutions to meet the needs of growers. Lexar EZ and Lumax EZ are registered to use in field corn, seed corn, sweet corn, yellow popcorn and grain sorghum.

During the coming planting season – farmers in four Midwestern states will participate in Monsanto’s Ground Breakers testing program for FieldScripts. FieldScripts is Monsanto’s first product from the Integrated Farming Systems platform and is designed to give farmers a new approach to boosting on-farm productivity while supporting more sustainable ag systems for the growing world. Monsanto’s IFS Commercial Lead John Raines says FieldScripts has been tested during the past two years – and Monsanto has seen consistent yield increases when farmers use the product. During the 2013 Ground Breakers trials – twice as many farmers will test the product. Monsanto anticipates launching the product in 2014 in the DEKALB corn brand in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Minnesota.

Due to extreme drought – farmers are preparing to harvest corn and soybean crops in poorer conditions than expected – and Ag Economist Corinne Alexander says farmers have to decide whether to store their grain or sell it directly from the field – hoping for higher prices. In most cases – shesays farmers should take their grain straight to the elevator. The market is giving a strong signal to farmers to deliver early and at harvest – according to Alexander – because storage will not be profitable for corn or soybeans. USDA estimates along with declining crop conditions have increased prices for both crops – but prices are likely to come down during the first quarter of 2013 when South American farmers harvest their crops.

Alexander says there are only two reasons farmers should store grain in a short crop year – if they are livestock producers supplying their own feed or if they have contracts with food or ethanol processors specifying a later delivery date. This fall – unless farmers work fast to get grain dried down to appropriate levels – Grain Quality Specialist Richard Stroshine says their crop could spoil in the bin.

Agricultural Summary

Western districts enjoyed some precipitation, but the rest of the state remained dry. There were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork allowing harvest of nearly half a million corn acres. Topsoil moisture improved to 85 percent very short, 11 percent short, and 4 percent adequate but remaining significantly below the 5-year average of 15 percent very short, 27 percent short, 53 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was 88 percent very short, 11 percent short, and 1 percent adequate.

Field Crops Report

Corn dented was 93 percent, 8 days ahead of last year, and 3 weeks ahead of normal (5-year average). Corn mature was 67 percent, 15 days ahead of 2011 and 23 days ahead of normal. Corn harvested now at 32 percent, was 22 days ahead of last year, and 27 days ahead of normal. Corn moisture at harvest was 16.8 percent ranging from 18.9 percent in the north-central to 13.2 percent in the west-central district. Corn condition declined to 58 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 3 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Soybeans setting pods and beyond were 85 percent, 3 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal. Soybeans turning color and beyond were 13 percent, 9 days ahead of last year, and 8 days ahead of normal. Soybeans dropping leaves and beyond were 3 percent, 9 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal. Soybean condition declined to 46 percent very poor, 32 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 6 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Cotton opening bolls was 32 percent, 8 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal. Cotton condition was 10 percent very poor, 30 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 18 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Rice headed was 95 percent, 16 days ahead of last year, and 12 days ahead of normal. Rice harvested was 6 percent, 12 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal. Rice condition was 5 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 20 percent excellent. Sorghum headed and beyond was 92 percent, 2 days ahead of last year, and 5 days ahead of normal. Sorghum turning color and beyond was 51 percent, 8 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal. Sorghum mature was 12 percent, 5 days ahead of last year, and 4 days ahead of normal. Sorghum harvest began, a week ahead of last year but on track with normal. Sorghum condition was 26 percent very poor, 37 percent poor, 27 percent fair, and 10 percent good. Alfalfa hay 3rd cutting was 66 percent, 2 weeks behind last year, and 1 week behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition declined from last week to 89 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, and 1 percent fair. Supply of hay and other roughages declined to 63 percent very short, 27 percent short, and 10 percent adequate. Some producers continued to wean calves early and sell them for slaughter. Stock water supplies dropped to 70 percent very short, 24 percent short, and 6 percent adequate. Prolonged precipitation was needed to salvage pasture and replenish stock water supplies.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 4 degrees below to 3 degrees above average. Precipitation averaged 0.56 of an inch statewide. The northwest district averaged 1.94 inches with Holt County receiving 5.69 inches.