wnycma news - Western New York Crop Management Association

WNYCMA NEWS
February 1, 2016
Main Office: 5242 Curtis Road, Warsaw NY 14569
Randolph Office: 91 Jamestown Street, Randolph NY 14772
January 28, 2013
2015 WNY CROP MANAGEMENT ANNUAL MEETING
February 23, 2016
Clarion Hotel
8250 Park Rd, Batavia NY
AGENDA
9:30 - 10:00
Registration
10:00 - 11:00
“What We’re Learning about High Yielding Corn and Soybeans”
Dr. Greg Roth, Penn State Department of Plant Science
11:00 - 12:00
“The Latest in Planter Hardware and Information Management”
Chris Creek, Northeast Region Manager Precision Planting
12:00 - 1:00
Lunch
1:00 - 1:30
Business Meeting
1:30 - 2:00
“Preparing for Roundup Resistant Weeds”
Nick Youngers, CCA, WNY Crop Management
2:00 – 2:30
“Don’t Let Slugs Slow You Down in Reduced Tillage”
Mike Stanyard, Cornell Cooperative Extension ,
Northwest New York Dairy Livestock Regional Team
2:30 - 3:00
“Answering All Your Burning Questions About CLD”
Josh Harvey, CCA, WNY Crop Management
*** 2.5 PESTICIDE CREDITS AVAILABLE***
Page 2
WNYCMA
Taking Soil Health to the Next Level
by David DeGolyer
Last summer, in partnership with Wyoming County Soil and Water Conservation District and NRCS, we hosted a soil
health meeting at Dueppengiesser Dairy. The field day was well attend with hands on research stations that highlighted cover
crop inter-seeding and a variety of cover crops, planter equipment, vertical tillage tools, a smoke machine demonstration by
soil conservationist Frank Gibbs, and soil pits in the field and within a nearby grassed waterway.
Our featured speaker was Ray Archuleta from NRCS. Ray’s primary focus was on soil ecology. He explained the
importance of conserving the carbon and providing life to the soil through no-till and cover crops. Ray pointed out that the
true test of well-managed soils is comparing the crop field to a bordering grassed waterway. Since the grassed waterway is
not tilled, it will gain biomass annually through mowing the sod. Nature, and the annual contribution of the above ground
biomass, will create a quality soil structure.
Rain simulators were also used to demonstrate the soil structure difference between no-till and tilled systems. The
rain infiltration rate was much greater in the long-term no-till soil than the tilled soils. The water ran off the tilled soils and the
soil erosion created a much more murky collection in the catch basin below the rain simulator.
To further demonstrate his philosophy, Ray recommended we visit Lucas Criswell, a farmer located in Central
Pennsylvania (approximately a 3 hour drive from our office). The farm has followed Ray’s recommendations on mastering
soil heath. Lucas farms 2,000 acres and has no-tilled all of the acres since 1980. A good share of his land is highly erodible
with some slopes greater than 10 percent. A cover crop is no-till planted on every field each year, even after corn grain that
may be harvested as late as November.
For the last three years, he has planted his crops into
a live cover crop. The planter has front-mounted crimper
rollers, manufactured as Dawn Biologic’s ZRX helical roller.
The rye cover crop is between waist and chest-high at
planting and the planter with attachment will roll down the
cover crop. After planting the crop, he applies Gramoxone
with a low rate residual herbicide to control the cover crop.
The soil is now armed with 3-4 inches of mulch for
protection. The seed zone is a 2-4 inch wide band with no
residue.
The test came last summer when Criswell’s farm
received 6.5 inches of rain in 1.5 hours. His crop fields did
not wash, even on the steep hillside slopes. The thick mulch
cover protected the soils from eroding!
Criswell’s average yield is approximately 170 bushels. Each year, he applies a light rate of hog manure. At planting,
50 pounds of N with sulfur is applied, but no P, K or micronutrients. Later in the season, nitrogen is sidedressed through drop
tubes. Only approximately 120 units of total N are applied. No insecticides are used either. According to a Penn State College
study, slugs would rather consume the cover crop than the corn, and, although the neonicotinoids in seed treatments will not
control the slugs, they can harm the beneficial insects like cinch beetle that will feed on the slugs.
Although the corn stalks are seeded to 30-40 lbs. of rye, Criswell’s other cover crop mixtures are more inclusive. The
following tables contain the mixes that Lucas no-till drills on his farm. He will not spend more than $30 per acre on his cover
crops. The rates are much lower that what NRCS will recommend. In this case, less is more. The rye and oats will likely have
more tillers with the lower rates of seed application.
continued on p.3
Page 3
WNYCMA
WNYCMA STAFF
After Summer Cereals
Species
Pounds/Acre
Sorghum
5
Sunflower
3
Radish
.5
Purple Top Turnip
.25
Vetch
5
Flax
Mung Beans
2
Sun Hemp
1
Winter Lentils
4
Guar
1.5
Japanese Millet
1
Phacelia
.25
Buckwheat
4
CROP CONSULTANTS
David DeGolyer, CCA, CCP
Dan Steward, CCA, CCP
Chad Stoeckl, CCA, CCP
David Shearing, CCA
Eric Nixon, CCA
Josh Harvey, CCA
Tom Frederes, CCA , CCP
Nick Youngers, CCA
Henry Kelsey, CCA
Nate Herendeen, CCA, CCP
JR. CROP CONSULTANTS
Jason Post, CCA
Mike Youngers, CCA
Dave Wiggers, CCA
Early Bean Harvest
(planted September 15- October 10)
Species
Pounds/acre
Rye
20
Forage Oats
10
Forage Peas
15
Winter Lentils
4
Radishes
.5
Purple Top Turnip
.25
Winter Peas
10
Winter Lentils
5
Vetch
3
Later Soybeans
(early October until end of bean harvest)
Species
Pounds/acre
Rye
20
Oats
10
Winter Peas
15
Winter Lentils
10
Vetch
3
CROP TECHS
Andy Marusarz, CCA
Bob Scott
Don Mitzel
Joseph Keller
Lorie Ames
Tim Welch
Chelsea Bouffard
Dr. Paul Salon and David Shearing
examine a multi-species mix at the
Lucas Criswell Farm, December 4
CALLING ALL SCOUTS
WNY Crop Management is looking for individuals who would be
interested in scouting for us this coming season, from mid May to mid
August. You would be out walking the fields and reporting your
findings.
Email your resume to [email protected] for consideration for this position.
FARMSTEAD DEPT.
Jim Booth, CCA, CCP
Rhonda Lindquist
Jim Seiler
Jared Norton, CCA
Lori Whittington
Lauren Sharp
Jason Meyers
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Deirdre DeGolyer
COMPUTER/ IT MANAGER
Avery DeGolyer
OFFICE SUPPORT
Heather Teachout
Jenn Elliott
Page 4
WNYCMA
Are Lower Fertilizer Prices in the Cards for 2016?
Reprinted with permission from a post on October 19, 2015 on Agricultural Economic Insights by David Widmar
A few weeks ago we looked at price expectations for corn and soybean in 2016. Based on the Purdue Crop Budgets, even lower corn
and soybean prices are forecasted for 2016; this is especially true for soybeans. With little chance of commodity prices improving in the
foreseeable future, production cost reductions will be critical in 2016. Fertilizer is the largest corn input expense (excluding land). This
week we take a look to see if lower fertilizer prices can be expected in 2016.
Retail Fertilizer Prices
The Illinois Department of Agricultural Market News releases a bi-weekly report of retail fertilizer prices across the state. Shown in
figure 1 are the average prices reported for October 2014, April – May 2014, and October 2015. Across the five fertilizer products,
current prices are lower from both a year ago and last spring. This will be helpful for crop budgets headed into spring.
Across the board, the price declines have been meaningful. Anhydrous ammonia is nearly $81 per ton lower than the spring prices
while phosphate (DAP) is $19 per ton lower and potash is $58 per ton cheaper.
Figure 1. Reported Illinois Fertilizer Prices, Oct. 2014; Spring 2015; Oct. 2015. Data
Source: USDA AMS, Illinois Production Cost Report: GX-GR210.
Figure 2. Change in Reported Illinois Fertilizer Prices from 2014 and
Spring 2015. Data Source: USDA AMS, Illinois Production Cost Report: GX
-GR210.
In figure 2, the magnitude of the price decreases are shown. Currently, anhydrous ammonia prices are nearly 9% lower than October
2014 and 11% from the spring. Urea, 28% (liquid nitrogen), and potash are more than 10% lower than prices in the spring. Phosphate,
specifically DAP, has come down the least at 3% to 4% lower.
At the farm level, these price reductions are meaningful. For example, if a producer were to apply 175 pounds of nitrogen with
anhydrous ammonia, 70 pounds of phosphorous with DAP, and 70 pounds of potassium with potash, current prices would be $13.37
per acre less than past spring, or nearly 9% lower. The largest driver of this savings comes from the decline in anhydrous ammonia
prices.
Big Picture
While fertilizer prices have come down since last year, it’s important to consider current prices in a longer time horizon. In figure 3,
the Illinois price data are shown back to 2010, the earliest data are available. Current prices are lower, but prices are still within the
general price range observed over the past five years. This is to say that prices are not lower than the general ranges of prices
experienced over the past 5 years.
From an even longer-run look at fertilizer prices, the real (or inflation adjusted) prices from 1960 to 2014 are shown for select fertilizer
products in figure 4. These data are national-level data. It is worth noting fertilizer prices have been above their long-run trend prices
since 2008 (shown by the respectively colored, dotted line). Prior to the recent above-trend prices, a long period of real prices fairly
stable and below the long-run average occurred for several years.
continued on p.5
WNYCMA
Page 5
continued from p.4
Figure 3. Illinois Fertilizer Prices for Anhydrous Ammonia, DAP, and Potash, 20102015. Data Source: USDA AMS, Illinois Production Cost Report: GX-GR210.
Figure 4. Real Prices of Selected Fertilizer Products from 1960 to 2014, 2009
dollars. Data Source: Agricultural Prices, National Agricultural Statistics Service,
USDA.
Wrapping it Up
Looking into 2016, the possibility for lower fertilizer prices seems to be in the cards. However, several things can happen between now
and spring 2016. The biggest wildcard is corn acres planted (or anticipated planted) in 2016. Conditions in 2015 strongly favored
soybean acres. Looking at current crop budget estimates, soybean do not have that same advantage in 2016. This could result in more
acres of corn in 2016. If significant acreages of corn occur in 2016, this could limit the downward pressure on fertilizer prices.
Another consideration for 2016 is lower application rates of fertilizer. Producers may also opt to lower their application rates to reduce
their total fertilizer expense.
In conclusion, fertilizer prices have headed lower in recent weeks setting the stage for possibly lower prices in 2016. Producers should
keep a careful eye on their local fertilizer prices and their costs of production as attention begins to focus on 2016.
New CAFO Permits To Be Released
by Jim Booth
After several years of meetings with stakeholders and department review, the DEC is nearing the release of two
new CAFO permits. If everything goes as planned, the permits will be issued effective July 1, 2016. Drafts are out
for public comment until February 7, 2016. After reviewing and responding to any comments that are received, the
DEC plans to have the permits ready for release by July.
There are currently two CAFO permits and both of these are scheduled to be revised and released this year.


General Permit GP-0-16-001 will be issued under the New York State Environmental Conservation Law (ECL)
and will replace GP-0-14-001, which expires on June 30, 2016. This permit is for facilities that do not discharge
manure or process wastewater from the production area to surface waters of the State.
General Permit GP-0-16-002 will be issued under the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and will replace GP-0402, which has been administratively extended since June 30, 2009. This permit is for facilities that discharge
from their production areas to surface waters of the state (in cases where the discharge meets the
characteristics outlined in the permit).
Currently, most medium CAFOs are covered under the ECL permit and most large CAFOs are covered under the
CWA. After the permits are finalized and ready for release, Western New York Crop Management, Farm Bureau
and other organizations will be issuing information so you can decide which permit best fits your operation. You
will have six months after release to obtain coverage under one of the permits. Your CAFO planner will assist you
with the necessary paper work.
continued on p. 6
Page 6
WNYCMA
continued from p.5
There are several changes in the draft permits that are noteworthy. These include:
 Winter Spreading Restrictions: The permits provide for a ban on spreading when soils are saturated (frozen
or fluid) or at a rate that exceeds the saturation capacity of the field at the time of application.
 Contractor Certification: The owner of the CAFO shall have each custom applicator sign a certification
statement that applications were done correctly.
 Manure Applicator Training: Once per permit term, at least one employee with manure application
responsibility from medium CAFOs and two from large CAFOs must receive training. This may include manure
setbacks, high-risk conditions, record keeping procedures and karst features. Training may be obtained from
your certified planner or a DEC endorsed manure applicator training. In addition, your certified planner will
conduct an annual review of the nutrient management plan with the manure applicator staff.
These are just a few of the proposed changes. Copies of the proposed draft permits are available online at http://
www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6285.html. It is important to note that these are draft permits and as such are
subject to change.
2016 Board Member Candidates
Aaron Brooks - Aaron resides in Rushford, Allegany County where he and his wife, Catherine, own and operate
Hillcrest Homestead LLC, a 1,500 acre (1,100 owned, 400 rented), 475 cow, 380 heifer dairy farm. They grow corn,
alfalfa, clover, wheat and hay which provide the forage and most of the energy needs for the dairy. They also provide
custom harvesting for several small neighboring dairies. Aaron is part owner of Boulder Enterprises LLC, an
excavating company that provides a wide variety of services, including construction of manure storage and transfer
systems. His personal time is filled with the activities that come along with five active children, involvement at
Rushford Baptist Church and being an assistant varsity boys’ basketball coach at Houghton Academy.
Scott Degenfelder – Scott owns/oper ates a dair y and gr ain far m in Collins, Er ie County. He has been a member
of WNYCMA since 2007.
Phil Hall - Phil par tner s with his father -in-law and brother-in-law on Schum-Acres Dairy OPS, LLC in Naples,
Ontario County. They milk nearly 1,500 holstein cows and produce forage and corn grain for their herd on nearly
4,000 acres. Phil works mainly on the crop production and CAFO regulation side of the business. He and his wife
have three young children. Phil is also a US Navy veteran and served as a nuclear submarine officer.
Kris Ivett - Kr is is a 4th gener ation dair y far mer fr om South Dayton, Chautauqua County. The far m milks a
pure bred registered Holstein herd that is fed with homegrown alfalfa, grass, corn silage, high moisture corn and dry
corn. The farm is a long time member of WNYCMA and will continue to be a member. Kris hopes to become a more
active member of WNYCMA and to interact with the board in order to help the association continue in its success.
Robert Spinler- Rober t is the pr imar y owner /oper ator of Tr iple R Far m, LLC located in Randolph,
Cattaraugus County. Robert manages the dairy farm which grows its own forages along with corn for grain. Robert
also runs a custom forage harvesting operation that services a number of member farms. The farm has been a member
of WNYMCA since 2007.
Donald Telaak- Don is one of the owner/operators of Telaak Farms, LLC located in Mansfield, Cattaraugus County.
Don is the primary field crop manager on the 400-cow dairy farm that grows it own forages, plus corn and wheat for
grain. Don was on the original advisory committee of the Extension pilot program from which the WNYCMA was
formed, and the farm has been a member since its inception.
2015 WNYCMA Annual Meeting of the Membership
Absentee Voting Ballot
If you do not plan to attend the WNYCMA Annual Meeting, please
put a check mark next to the THREE director nominees below
that you wish to vote for. Please return this voting ballot to
Donn Branton, 8618 Buckley Rd., Leroy, NY 14482 by February
19, 2016 so your vote will count.
WE NEED YOUR VOTE!
*Aaron Brooks (Rushford, NY)
__________
*Scott
__________
Degenfelder (Collins, NY)
*Phil Hall (Naples, NY)
__________
*Kris Ivett (South Dayton, NY)
__________
*Robert Spinler (Randolph, NY)
__________
*Donald Telaak (Mansfield, NY)
__________
Did You Know?
WNY Crop Management created a Map App, Webmaps and even a database for
members to utilize. These tools are available for growers to view and edit some of the
farm information. You can enter manure applications, planting records and even some of
the required CAFO records. There will be a “Technology Table” set up at our annual
meeting for more information about our products. We can install the App or bookmark
the Webmaps page on your Android mobile phone, iPhone, tablet or iPad while you are
at the meeting.
Registration for Annual Meeting: Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Please call (585) 786-5831, fax (585) 786-5289 or e-mail reservation to [email protected]
by FEBRUARY 12, 2016.
Name: _______________________________________________
Number of persons attending:
______________
WNY Crop Management
5242 Curtis Rd.
Warsaw, NY 14569
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«FirstName» «LastName»
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