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NDSU Extension Livestock Water Quality Program Nationally Recognized

The North Dakota State University Extension Livestock Water Quality Program received the national Search for Excellence award in the Livestock Production category from the National Association of County Agriculture Agents (NACAA). The program was recognized at a ceremony held July 19 at the NACAA Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Search for Excellence in Livestock Production award recognizes an outstanding extension educational program in livestock production.

“The Livestock Water Quality Program was developed to raise awareness of the impacts of water quality on livestock health and performance, increase the number of producers screening and testing livestock water sources, resulting in reduced livestock losses due to toxic water condition and the development of alternative livestock water sources,” says Miranda Meehan, NDSU Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist and a leader of the program.

The program team created an on-farm monitoring program involving 38 Extension agents who sampled water sources in 39 counties for total dissolved solids and sulfates. Extension agents screened 1,841 livestock water samples from 1,481 locations in 2020 and 2021.

TDS screenings identified 136 sources that may contribute to poor livestock performance,146 sources with the potential to negatively impact livestock health, and 20 with deadly TDS levels. Sulfate screenings (2021 only) identified 329 sources that may be toxic to livestock.

The results of screening resulted in management changes at 24% of the locations with water quality concerns in 2020 and 65% of the locations in 2021. Management changes included the additional monitoring of water sources, livestock being excluded or moved, water hauling and ranchers evaluating alternative water options.

“The screenings saved approximately 40,000 head of livestock and had the potential to increase health and performance of an additional 34,000 head,” says Meehan.

Follow-up surveys indicated 50% of participants intended to monitor water quality and/or install water developments and 28 participants had installed a livestock water development.

NDSU Extension used the data collected through this program to demonstrate drought impacts to livestock water availability and quality in 2021 to state and federal agencies, resulting in approximately $7 million allocated to livestock water improvement projects.

Source : ndsu.edu

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Agricultural Market Update: Grain Prices, Crop Conditions, and Weather Impacts

Welcome back to our channel where we provide comprehensive updates on the latest trends and changes in the agricultural sector. This week, we're looking at significant movements in grain prices, crop conditions, and the effects of weather patterns. Let's dive into the details:

Grain Price Decline Grain prices have fallen to their lowest levels since 2020, with December corn down 4.3% and November soybeans losing 3.1%. This decline is partly due to the beneficial moisture brought by Hurricane Beryl to the Midwest, which has improved crop conditions significantly. The USDA reported that corn and soybean crops are in their best condition in four years, contributing to the downward pressure on prices.

Record Short Positions and Market Sentiment Fund traders have increased their net short positions in the corn market to a record level, with a net short of 347,000 contracts of corn. This reflects a bearish sentiment in the market, further influencing grain price dynamics. Similar selling trends were observed in soybeans and SRW wheat, indicating broad market caution.

Weather Impact and Forecast Hurricane Beryl has brought significant rainfall across Arkansas, Missouri, western Tennessee, western Kentucky, and southern Illinois, with more expected over Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana in the coming days. Despite this, the market is currently more focused on the moisture benefits rather than potential heat risks forecasted in the 6-10 and 8-14 day periods.

US Crop Conditions Corn and soybean conditions have shown slight improvements last week, with corn rated 68% good to excellent and soybeans at 68%. These are among the best ratings for this time of year since 2020, suggesting robust crop health that could continue to influence grain prices.

Winter Wheat Harvest and Spring Wheat Conditions The US winter wheat harvest is progressing well, ahead of schedule with significant portions already harvested in Kansas and Texas. Spring wheat conditions are also favorable, with 75% rated good to excellent, although there have been some declines in states like Idaho, South Dakota, and Washington. Brazil's Corn Harvest and US Exports Brazil's second corn crop harvest is advancing rapidly due to favorable hot and dry conditions, with 63% of the crop already harvested. Meanwhile, US corn shipments saw a substantial increase last week, indicating strong export demand, which contrasts with the recent drop in domestic grain prices.

Ongoing Developments Lastly, the USDA reported a flash sale of corn, with significant quantities sold to unknown destinations, scheduled for delivery over the next two marketing years. This could signal ongoing international demand for US corn despite lower prices.

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