Extension Update by Gary L. Zoubek - Extension Educator
Coming Events
Dec. 19, 2011 – Extension Board Exec. Mtg, 7:00 p.m., Extension Office, York.
Dec. 20, 2011, 1:00 p.m. – Quad County On-Farm Research Update, 4-H Building York.
Jan. 4, 2012 – Crop Production Clinic, Classic’s, Beatrice, info http://cpc.unl.edu
Jan. 5, 2012 – Crop Production Clinic, City Auditorium, info http://cpc.unl.edu
Jan. 9-11, 2012 – Nebraska Ag Classic, Holiday Inn, Kearney, http://www.neagclassic.org
Jan. 10, 2012 – Crop Production Clinic, Adams County Fairgrounds, Hastings, info http://cpc.unl.edu
Jan. 25, 2012, 1:30 p.m. – Private Pesticide Applicator Training – 4-H Building, York
Feb. 16, 2012, 1:30 p.m. – Private Pesticide Applicator Training – 4-H Building, York
Pine Wilt Nematode Resistant Trees
I’ve received a few calls about pine trees that are turning brown in a matter of weeks or months? Not in all cases, but in many situations it’s probably the results of pine wilt nematodes. If you have a suspect tree, you can cut a cross section of a limb 11/2 or 2†in diameter and bring it in, we can have it tested for this pest! Pine wilt is caused by a microscopic, worm-like organism called the pinewood nematode. These nematodes live in pines and are carried from tree to tree by insects called pine sawyer beetles. Once inside the tree, the nematode disrupts the flow of sap, causing the tree to turn brown and die.
The pine sawyer beetle is active from May through September, so if trees die while the beetle is active, they should be removed within a month of the tree’s death to prevent the beetles from re-emerging and spreading the disease to new trees, but if they are discovered now or during the winter, the deadline for safely removing and destroying them is the end of April.
About 95 percent of the pines killed are Scotch pines, but Austrian pines occasionally are killed from the disease as well, so what trees should I now plant? Our foresters suggest spruces, firs, red cedar, junipers as well as white and ponderosa pine face little threat from pine wilt.
Quad County On-Farm Research Update
Yesterday we worked on updating and summarizing the on-farm research that our area producers conducted this past year. We’re planning to share this past year information on Tuesday Dec. 20th at 1:00 p.m. in the 4-H Building here in York. We’ve conducted corn and soybean planting population studies, starter fertilizer studies, fungicide studies as well as comparing other products including sugar applications. All interested area producers are invited to attend! Charles Wortmann, Extension Soils Specialist will share some on-farm research results that they conducted at the Soybean Management Field Day plots. They were looking at growing 100 bushel soybeans – Factors Needed and the past years results. We’ll also have some reports on other products being tested as well as some cover crop research.
I hope you’ll mark your calendar and plan to attend. That’s next Tuesday, Dec. 20th at 1:00 p.m. Please invite a neighbor or two to also attend. If you have ideas for next seasons needed research, bring them along or email them to me at gzoubek1@unl.edu.
Sugar Update
Last week I mentioned that I was going to do a little checking into sugar. Before I share what I found, I to share Carl Sousek’s column that was in the Omaha World Hearld a short time ago! Carl is President of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association.
“I am a fourth-generation farmer here in Nebraska. A fifth generation currently is on the cusp of joining what many of us consider something of a calling rather than a trade. Farming is in my blood. It chose me as much as I chose it. That is why it’s particularly hard to stand by as coalitions attack, with inaccuracy after inaccuracy, a byproduct of one of the crops that I grow. And when they attack it, they are disparaging corn and our way of life here in Nebraska.
We’ve completed the season’s harvesting of corn, one of Nebraska’s most valuable commodities — a high-quality and safe product, a product that instills pride among millions of Midwesterners. But when it comes to high fructose corn syrup, also a high-quality and safe product made in our state, misinformation abounds.
Here is the issue: A petition now before the Food and Drug Administration seeks approval to allow the alternate name “corn sugar” for “high fructose corn syrup” as an option on food ingredient labels. The FDA has yet to rule, and it is by no means a sure thing that the FDA will approve the request.
Why the request for a name change? The truth is that the term “corn sugar” more accurately describes what this ingredient actually is — a sugar made from corn. Ingredient names on food labels should be clear and reflect in no uncertain terms what the ingredient is. And you can’t get much clearer than “corn sugar.” This alternate name would enable consumers to better identify added sugars in the foods they purchase and clear up lingering consumer confusion.
This is not a partisan issue. Both of Nebraska’s U.S. senators, Ben Nelson and Mike Johanns, have argued that the name change is entirely appropriate, telling the FDA in a June 24 letter that ” ‘corn sugar’ is a better alternate name for high fructose corn syrup. Consumers better understand its fructose level, calories and sweetness when the term ‘corn sugar’ is substituted for high fructose corn syrup.”
Science also supports the change to “corn sugar.” Comparing high fructose corn syrup to table sugar, the two ingredients contain almost equal parts of the two simple sugars — fructose and glucose. The American Dietetic Association stated that table sugar and high fructose corn syrup are nutritionally equivalent.
Nebraskans have an economic stake in the pending FDA decision. Corn is an essential commodity for Nebraska. The production of corn sweeteners in the state adds $600 million worth of value to Nebraska corn; 52 million bushels of corn, worth approximately $313 million, are used to produce high fructose corn syrup made from corn grown by many of the farmers in our state. High fructose corn syrup provides high-paying jobs in Nebraska — the total corn- refining payroll in Nebraska is estimated at more than $54 million.
There is precedent for what the corn refining industry is asking of the FDA. The agency granted permission for prunes to be called “dried plums.” Prunes are indeed dried plums, but the word “prune” sowed much confusion because many consumers apparently don’t think of them that way.
But despite efforts to clear up considerable confusion — an effort that even a New York Times editorial endorsed, by the way — our foes are stepping up the disparagement of corn by attempting to block the alternate name.
For a Nebraska farmer, this is deeply frustrating and downright wrong. These foes would rather that consumers continue to be confused, and they would rather continue maligning corn.
Nebraskans must let their voices be heard in this debate by posting comments to the FDA docket in support of the “corn sugar” petition at www.ncga.com/corn-sugar.
Our state has more than 15,000 corn producers. That’s 15,000 people who grow high-quality corn that sustains millions of people around the globe. We know a little something about corn, and we are saying that “corn sugar” belongs on food ingredient labels.â€
So what did I find out from our nutrition people and the various websites I visited?
First of all there is a lot of information out there, some creditable and some maybe not! From what I found, I still don’t think there is very much difference between cane/beet sugar — which are 50% glucose and 50% fructose when digested. High fructose corn syrup is about 55% fructose and 45% glucose. And honey also consists essentially of different sugars, predominantly fructose and glucose as well as other substances such as organic acids, enzymes and solid particle derived from honey collection.
Much of the research tends to support the theory that high fructose corn syrup and sugar are pretty much alike in terms of effects on health. Too much sugar of any type runs the risk of making you fat! We are seeing a lot of HFCS because it more economical that the other forms of sugar.
So as I mentioned last week, we probably all need to limit our total intake of sugar, so go easy on the sugars which ever you use!
Christmas Gift Ideas For That Irrigator
Are you like me looking for some of those last minute Christmas gifts? How about some ideas for that producer in your life? If they’re an irrigator like many in this area are, how about some irrigation management tools like Watermark Sensors or ETgages? They’re a gift that I know every producer can use!  They will save water and energy with no or little effect on yields. Give me a call at 402-362-5508 or email me at gzoubek1@unl.edu if you’d like some information on these tools or where to can purchase them at Black Friday prices!  We’ve got manuals and how to information and would be glad to assist you your first year with installing, monitoring and learning to use the equipment. Information about these tools is available at http://water.unl.edu/web/cropswater/nawmdn.
