Robert Pore's Aglines briefs

Producers reminded to be aware of fungicide labeling

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is reminding producers to be mindful when applying fungicides to crops.

The reminder comes after the Kansas Department of Agriculture  recently released some wheat from an embargo after tests confirmed that fungicide residues set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Food and Drug Administration were within tolerance.

At question were late applications of fungicides, many of which require a 45-day waiting period between application and harvest.

"We are continuing to gather information relative to the use of the fungicide in Nebraska," said Reich Reiman, NDA bureau of plant industry administrator. "As with any chemical used in the state, we want to make sure that Nebraska applicators and producers are following all of the label directions. If you are not following the label instructions, you are in violation of the law."

Several other fungicides require pre-harvest application intervals. A listing of those fungicides can be found on the NDA's Web site at www.agr.ne.gov, under "Plant Industry."

Applicators or producers who have questions about the fungicide or labeling can contact the NDA Bureau of Plant Industry by calling (877) 800-4080.



Signups under way for government payments

Signups for the 2008 Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program (DCP) are now being taken, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Contracts are available at USDA Service Centers and signup will continue until Sept. 30. USDA's DCP readiness follows the June 12 availability of marketing assistance loan and loan deficiency payment (LDP) provisions, within three weeks of commodity title enactment.

Producers can fill out their 2008 DCP contract at any USDA Service Center. Producers can also sign up online. They can choose payment options, assign crop shares and sign and submit their contracts from any computer with Internet access. They can also view and print submitted contract options.

USDA computes DCP payments using base acres and payment yields established for each farm. Eligible producers receive direct payments at rates established by statute regardless of market prices. For 2008, eligible producers may request to receive an advance payment of 22 percent of the direct payment for each commodity associated with the farm.

USDA will issue advance direct payments as soon as practical after enrollment. Final direct payments will be issued after Oct. 1.

Counter-cyclical payments vary depending on market prices. They are issued only when the effective price for a commodity is below its target price (which takes into account the direct payment rate, market price and loan rate).

Since 2002, USDA has issued approximately $40 billion in DCP payments to America's agricultural producers. Participants must submit the completed DCP contract by Sept. 30. Applications filed after that date will not be approved.



Grain sorghum board seeks to fill vacancies

Two vacancies will be filled this summer on the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Development, Utilization and Marketing Board.

The openings exist for Districts 1 and 6. District 6 includes the counties of Adams, Chase, Dundy, Franklin, Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Kearney, Phelps, Red Willow and Webster.

A sorghum producer will be appointed by the board to fill each vacancy at their next public meeting to be held in July 31 in Lincoln.

Qualified grain sorghum producers wishing to be considered for nomination may submit a letter of interest and resume to the board.

Applicants must be citizens of Nebraska, 21 years old, have been engaged in growing sorghum in Nebraska for at least five years, and derive a substantial portion of their income from growing grain sorghum.

Statements of interest may be submitted electronically at sorghum.board@nebraska.gov or by writing to the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board, P.O. Box 94982, Lincoln, NE  68509.

Interested candidates will be provided an opportunity to meet with the board prior to the appointment. The board reserves the right to make nominations from the floor to fill the vacancies.

For more information, contact the office of the Sorghum Board at (402) 471-4276.



Nebraska soybean board ballots due July 31

Election ballots for Districts 5 and 7 of the Nebraska Soybean Board will be mailed on July 15 to soybean producers in those districts.

Producers eligible to vote in the election must be at least 21 years of age, produce soybeans and be a resident of the district.

Qualified producers who do not receive a ballot by July 21 can call the Nebraska Soybean Board at (800) 852-2326 for a ballot, or pick one up at their CFSA or Extension offices.

The ballot envelope must be printed and signed on the track on the back and postmarked by July 31 to be valid. The ballots will be collected by the Saunders County Extension agency and tabulated.

District 7 includes Adams, Buffalo, Clay, Franklin, Hall, Kearney, Nuckolls and Webster counties. Candidates for that sear are Bill Miller and Dan Grams, both from Upland in Franklin County

 The elected directors will serve three-year term for these seats beginning Oct. 1 and ending Sept. 30, 2011. Results will be announced in August.

The at-large position on the Nebraska Soybean Board is also open to all soybean producers in Nebraska, and will be elected at the November meeting by the NSB Directors.  Two Candidates have filed for this position -- Duane Lee of Albion and Robert Johnston of Clearwater.

Nebraska Soybean Board directors receive no salary but are reimbursed for expenses incurred while carrying out board business.

Nebraska Soybean Board members are responsible for administering the state's share of the one-half of 1 percent national checkoff on soybeans produced in Nebraska. The funds are invested in research, marketing and promotion projects.



Nebraska Beef Council to hear authorization requests

The Nebraska Beef Council Board of Directors will hold its next board meeting Monday and Tuesday at the Nebraska Beef Council office at 1319 Central Ave. in Kearney.

Both meeting days begin at 8 a.m. The NBC Board of Directors will listen to presentations from outside contractors for Fiscal Year 2008-2009.

Presentations will be made Monday and funding decisions, as well as other business, will be conducted on Tuesday.

The meeting is open to the public.