STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Duane A. Lienemann
UNL Extension Educator

     It is hard to believe that this is the last edition of “Straight From the Horse’s Mouth” for 2014. Most everyone has likely celebrated their family Christmas and are resting up from travel and/or eating all the good food that graces our tables during this time of year. This is a wonderful time of year, but also bittersweet. There are so many things to be thankful for including friends and family and I imagine that for many of us this past year has brought loss and perhaps introspection into how mortal we can be. From a personal standpoint I think of friends and family who left us this past year to be with God. Included was my dear sister, Bonnie, who left this earth far too early. But it was uplifting to see one of her daughters continue the cycle when she got married this past month and we could celebrate the start of a new life. 
      From a personal standpoint 2014 brought me a challenge with the dreaded words “You have cancer!” That certainly gets your attention and makes you reflect on life and your immortality. I am glad to say that I am a survivor and the good Lord allowed the doctors to find it early, and the prognosis to be cancer free again is excellent. I know that many others face similar bumps in the road, be it health, finances or any of the other challenges we face on a day to day basis. One just has to sit back and think about his/her blessings and remember that we made it through another year!
     As I reflect on this past year, I think of all the challenges that has faced agriculture, and I have written or spoken about many of those. I would imagine right now a lot of our farmer friends are thinking of a big challenge and something that they are very uncomfortable with – the decisions they have to make about the 2014 Farm Bill. I know I have over the past many years worked with farmers in trying to make sense out of what the government puts on the table for a safety net for our farmers and ranchers and you learn things like “Pick and Roll” or “Subsidies” and acronyms like: AAA, ASP, AGI, CREP, LDP, CRP, CSP, EQIP, FSA, NRCS, USDA, ACRE, WC, WHIP, WREP, CCC, CCP, DP, RMA, WRP, ACRE and SNAP to name just a few. Now we have a whole new crop of vernacular to contend with like: FAPRI, PRC, SCO, ARC-CO, ARC-IC, MYA, and DCP. We of course keep some of the old terms, just to keep some familiarity. When will it all end?
     There is no doubt that the 2014 Farm Bill is not only confusing, but very complex and farmers and ranchers will need to make a big decision, and that decision he has to stick with for the duration of this Farm Bill. Yes, one could lose sleep over that as it is a big gamble, as if farming wasn’t enough. It is really in my eyes a “crap shoot” as there are so many unknowns, uncertainties and I don’t really know anyone that has a crystal ball that can peer into the future for price considerations. There certainly have been some meetings to help the farmers in the process, but that can lead to even further confusion, so it is probably best that producers take a good look an properly using the tools that are available to help make these decisions.
      Farm Bill Training: The good news is that the Texas A&M Agricultural and Food Policy Center and Nebraska Extension are teaming up to present a comprehensive Farm Bill Decision Aid computer workshop.  The hands-on training for farm managers, bankers, insurance agents, farmers, and landlords will be held Wednesday, January 14 at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference (NIC) Center, 2021 Transformation Drive in Lincoln (old state-fairgrounds). The workshop is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with registration and refreshments starting at 8:15 a.m. at the new NIC auditorium.  
     The 2014 Farm Bill Commodity provisions are complex and nationally recognized ag economists Brad Lubben, UNL, and James Richardson, Texas A&M University, will lead the training. Richardson is the author of a new, cutting edge computer decision tool endorsed by USDA: the Texas A&M Computer Decision Aid. Attendees will learn how to use the program and interpret results and learn how managing risk is integrated into the model. Participants are encouraged to bring their own iPad, tablet, or laptop computer. There is a registration fee which includes the noon meal, refreshments, and meeting materials. Online pre-registration is open until Wednesday, January 7 at http://go.unl.edu/farmbill. 
     As a result of attending this hands-on meeting, workshop participants will have a much better understanding of the economic implications and complex decisions of updating yields, keeping the old base or reallocation of base, choosing ARC-I, ARC-CO, PLC or PLC plus SCO.  Nebraska farm examples will be used. In the afternoon Nebraska Extension teaching assistants will answer individual's questions. Farmers will need to bring not only a computing device, but also some information that will be needed to use the Decision Aid tool. That includes: the August 2014 Farm Service Agency (FSA) letter or FSA 156EZ or similar worksheet from FSA and a 10-year crop insurance production report history worksheet from your insurance agent. Further meeting details and agenda can be found at: http://bit.ly/1wh96bm
     Need a Ride? I will be attending the workshop. If anyone would like to pool a ride please feel free to give me a holler or contact me at dlienemann2@unl.edu  or call the Webster County Extension Office at 402-746-3417. You will have to register on your own, but maybe it would be fun to join forces as we kick off the 2015 agricultural year working on a critical component of the management phase of our farming operation for the next five years. I suggest that you don’t just listen to the Coffee Shop talk but to attend at least two Farm Bill meetings before you make up your mind!
     Now to everyone that reads this, I want to convey my heartfelt wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year! May the beginning of this New Year bring you manageable snows; timely rains; 100% calf crop; no calves to pull; high commodity prices; no equipment failures; no hail---and bin busting yields! But most importantly a safe and healthy 2015!! 

The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: http://www.webster.unl.edu/home