Broadcaster Press 9 March 15, 2016 www.broadcasteronline.com National Ag Week Thank a Farmer Today! March 13 ~ 19, 2016 Financing Beginning Farmers SDSU Entomologist Discovers New PIERRE – Bond purchasers can finance a beginning farmer.” Insect Species On Prairie Cordgrass potentially save thousands of dollars Typically the Beginning Farmer in federal taxes by investing in a beginning farmer. Through the Beginning Farmer Bond program, the South Dakota Value Added Finance Authority (VAFA) issues tax-exempt bonds for qualifying beginning farmers to purchase agricultural land at lower interest rates. The limit on a beginning farmer bond is $520,000. “To be eligible for the program, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, a resident of South Dakota, have a net worth under $400,000 and own less acres than 30% of the county median,” says Terri LaBrie, South Dakota Department of Agriculture finance administrator. “The bond program is a great way for a beginning farmer to buy land. It’s also advantageous for a retiring farmer willing to enter into a contract for deed with that beginning farmer or an individual investor looking to help Bond program works through a local lender. However, if a retiring farmer is interested in passing on his or her land to a beginner farmer, the interest from that contract sale is federally tax exempt-- providing administers the Beginning Farmer Bond program through the Value Added Finance Authority board. The board meets monthly and reviews the applications for the program and issues the bonds for approved projects. Board members include: Bob Hull, Sisseton; Mark Gross, Sioux Falls; Jim Schmidt, Lennox; Chuck Jepson, Ft. Pierre; Jim Doolittle, Belle Fourche; Marcia Hendrickson, Chancellor; and Nathan Jensen, Beresford. For information on the financial programs offered through SDDA, please contact one of the board members or Terri LaBrie, finance administrator, at 605.280.4745 or terri.labrie@state.sd.us. SOUTH DAKOTA 2015 CROP PRODUCTION SUMMARY SIOUX FALLS, SD - Corn for grain production is estimated at 800 million bushels, up 2 percent from 2014 according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The average yield is estimated at 159 bushels per harvested acre, up 11 bushels from last year, and is a new record high surpassing the previous high of 151 bushels per acre in 2009. Area harvested for grain, at 5.03 million acres, is down from last year’s 5.32 million acres. Soybean production is estimated at a record high 236 million bushels, up 2 percent from last year’s previous high. The average yield is estimated at 46.0 bushels per harvested acre, a new record high, and exceeds the previous high by 1.0 bushels established just last year. Acres harvested are estimated at 5.12 million, again a record high surpassing last year’s 5.11 million acres harvested. Alfalfa hay production, at 4.18 million tons, is down 4 percent from 2014. Yield is estimated at 2.20 tons per acre, down 0.10 tons per acre from a year ago. Acres harvested are estimated at 1.90 million, unchanged from last year. All other hay production totaled 2.40 million tons, up 5 percent from last year. Yield is estimated at 1.60 tons per acre, down 0.10 tons per acre from last year. Harvested acres are estimated at 1.50 million, up from 1.35 million acres last year. New seedings of alfalfa in 2015 totaled 120,000 acres, down from 150,000 acres a year ago. Total forage 3x ...the Value For Your Classified! 605-624-4429 production from alfalfa and other hay was 6.84 million tons in 2015, down less than 1 percent from a year earlier. Sorghum for grain production is estimated at 18.3 million bushels, up 93 percent from last year. Yield is estimated at 83 bushels per acre, up 20 bushels from last year, and establishes a new record surpassing the previous high yield of 80 bushels per acre in 2013. Acres harvested are estimated at 220,000, up from 150,000 acres harvested a year ago. Oil sunflower production is estimated at 1.05 billion pounds, up 57 percent from last year. Yield is estimated at a record high 1,840 pounds per acre, up 170 pounds from the previous year, surpassing the previous high of 1,800 pounds per acre in 2009. Acres harvested are estimated at 570,000, up from 400,000 acres last year. Non-oil sunflower production is estimated at 181 million pounds, down 13 percent from a last year’s record production. Yield is estimated at a record high 1,970 pounds per acre, up 260 pounds from last year, and eclipses the previous record yield of 1,800 pounds per acre in 2009. Acres harvested are estimated at 92,000, down from last year’s record high 122,000 acres harvested. Proso millet grain production is estimated at 1.89 million bushels, down 12 percent from a year ago. Yield is estimated at 31 bushels per acre, unchanged from a year earlier. Harvested acres are estimated at 61,000, down from 69,000 acres harvested in 2014. Dry edible bean production is estimated at 205,000 hundredweight, down 16 percent from 2014. Yield is estimated at 1,770 pounds per acre, down 110 pounds from last year. Acres harvested are estimated at 11,600, down from 12,900 acres harvested a year ago. Flaxseed production is estimated at 288,000 bushels, up 220 percent from 2014. Yield per harvested acre is estimated at 16 bushels, down 2 bushels from last year. Acres harvested are estimated at 18,000, up from 5,000 acres a year ago. Access this complete report at: http://usda.mannlib. cornell.edu/usda/ BROOKINGS - A newly discovered insect species in prairie cordgrass may explain why increasing seed production has been so difficult, according to South Dakota State University entomologist Paul J. Johnson, a professor in the plant science department. He and graduate student J. Manuel Perilla López found a new species of gall midge in prairie cordgrass at four locations in eastern South Dakota, including the Oak Lake Field Station. The research was supported primarily by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the North Central Regional Sun Grant Center which seeks to develop native grasses as a source of biobased transportation fuels. The prairie cordgrass gall midge has a different relationship with its host plant than other species of gall midge, which form a pocket called a gall within plant tissues, Johnson explained. “This species feeds on the seeds but doesn’t modify the plant itself. That’s a new discovery in itself.” The adult gall midge, which is about half the size of a fruit fly, lays its eggs in the plant when it begins to flower in mid to late July, according to Johnson. The larvae Graduate student J. Manuel Perilla Lopez examines prairie cordgrass at the Felt farm north of the SDSU campus. He documented a new species of gall midge that feeds on the seeds of this native grass. He completed his master’s degree in December 2015. feed on the developing seed within the plant. “Depending on when the eggs hatch, the larvae will even feed on the unfertilized ovule.” However, when the adult lays its eggs too late, the larvae don’t develop to adult stage because the developing seed has become too hard, Johnson explained. “They don’t have mandibles, so must suck the juice of the plant.” Sun Grant director Vance Owens said this research is important because “seed production has always been a significant issue with prairie cordgrass.” Commercial companies have had problems with prairie cordgrass, in particular, Johnson noted. “Though the demand is high, it’s costly to grow and produces very few seeds. Now, we have an idea of what’s causing that loss.” Johnson and López also discovered a possible solution to the problem—a parasitic wasp that feeds on the gall midge larvae but n PRAIRIE CORDGRASS, Page 12 Key Facts: SD South Dakota is home to over 31,000 farm and ranch families who work daily to ensure a safe and affordable product for consumers across the world. 98% of the farms in South Dakota are family owned and operated, with the average size of a farm being 1,395 acres. Agriculture is South Dakota's number one industry with more than a $21 billion economic impact each year. Agriculture employs over 115,000 South Dakotans and contributes more than $645 million to the state's tax revenues. In 1940 the average farmer fed 19 people. However, thanks to today's agriculture, the average farmer is able to produce more on fewer acres of land and is able to feed 155 people. The continued advancement in technology is important in order to feed a growing population of more than 9 billion people by 2050. While a lot has changed in agriculture over the years, one thing remains the same and that is the farm families dedicated to providing quality care to the land, animals and environment as well as a safe and affordable product for families all over the world to enjoy. SPRING IS HERE! -Licensed -Bonded -Insured Wakonda, SD • 605-267-2768 • Cell: 605-661-1063 LONG REACH EXCAVATOR WITH 65’ OF REACH Give us a call for a quote … Laser Guided Ditching Stock Dam Cleanout Lagoon Cleanout • Bank Stabilization Rip Rap Placement • Demolition Bill Andersen to handle all your Bulk Fuel and Oil Operations and delivery to your farm, field, or home! ? Home Heating Fuel ? #1 & #2 Clear and Dyed Fuels ? No Lead or E10 Gasolines Please Call 605-326-6801 or 563-2345 To receive our updated prices electronically: Please email LockwoodOil@hotmail.com or text 605-430-1890