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  • What is the Current Nutrient Value of Broiler Litter?

    What is the Current Nutrient Value of Broiler Litter?

    According to USDA-NASS, the southern region accounts for over 75% of the broiler production in the United States.  This provides an excellent opportunity for row crop producers to utilize broiler litter as an alternative to commercial fertilizer.  With commercial fertilizers reaching record prices and broiler litter abundantly available, understanding the economic value of broiler litter going into the 2022 growing season is critical for making nutrient management decisions.  The value of broiler litter will vary greatly depending on management practices (when applied, how it is applied, and to what crop), nutrient content of the litter, soil test data, and commercial fertilizer prices. 

    Spring application right before a light rain or incorporating after application maximizes plant-available nutrients resulting in the maximum economic value of broiler litter.  However, buyers who do not measure litter for nutrient content before an application can face economic and environmental risks.  Unlike commercial fertilizer, broiler litter will vary in nutrient content depending on the timing and length between cleanout, type of cleanout (de-crusting or full), in-house litter management, bedding material, and feed mix differences between broiler companies.  Over 700 broiler litter samples submitted for analysis were evaluated to look at the range of nutrient content.  Like soil samples, broiler litter samples are sent to labs for nutrient analysis and, in this case, the University of Kentucky Regulatory Services for analysis.  Table 1 provides the statistics for the broiler litter samples that were assessed.   The average nutrient content of broiler litter was 50 lbs of nitrogen (N), 56 lbs of phosphorous (P2O5), and 47 lbs of potassium (K2O) per ton of broiler litter.  For spring application of broiler litter, 50% N, 80% P2O5, and 100% K2O of the nutrients are plant available.  Therefore, the nutrients available to the crop from an average ton of broiler litter would be 20 lbs of N, 45 lbs of P2O5, and 47 lbs of K2O.  

    With current fertilizer prices of $899/ton for Urea ($0.98/lb N), $834/ton for DAP ($0.52/lb P2O5), and $800/ton for potash ($0.67/lb K2O), the average expected value of broiler litter is $80/ton.  Therefore, if you can buy broiler litter and have it delivered and spread for less than $80/ton this Spring, broiler litter is a better economic option than commercial fertilizer.  Last year, with lower fertilizer prices, the nutrient value of an average ton of broiler litter was $48/ton.  But remember, broiler litter nutrient content will vary (see max and min values in Table 1).  Figure 1 applies current fertilizer prices to each broiler litter sample submitted for analysis to illustrate the range and frequency in the value of a ton of broiler litter.  Given the wide range in value, make sure you measure broiler litter for nutrient content to understand what you are receiving and avoid the risk of overpaying for broiler litter. 

    Table 1. Sample statistics for the nutrient content of broiler litter samples (n=740)

     N (lbs/ton of litter)P2O5 (lbs/ton of litter)K2O (lbs/ton litter)
    Average505647
    Minimum 742
    Maximum186124109

    Figure 1. Variation in value of broiler litter samples given current commercial fertilizer prices and 50% N, 80%P2O5, and 100% K2O plant available nutrients (n=740)

    Recommended citation format: Shockley, Jordan. “What is the Current Nutrient Value of Broiler Litter?” Southern Ag Today 2(8.3). February 16, 2022. Permalink

  • Cattle Grazing on Small Grain Pastures – Challenges During this Drought Period

    Cattle Grazing on Small Grain Pastures – Challenges During this Drought Period

    The USDA-NASS Cattle report from January 2022 showed a 1% reduction of cattle grazing on small grain pastures in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas (1.71 million head in 2022 vs. 1.73 million head in 2021).  However, small grain pasture conditions are much worse than last year.  

    Producers face challenges putting weight on stocker cattle given the overall poor condition of small grains pastures in these areas during this winter. Even though Southern Plains drought conditions improved last week, most areas are still under drought. The Southern Plains will need more moisture for 1.71 million head grazing on small grain pastures.  Although it’s likely that some of these cattle have already gone to feedlots since the inventory survey was completed.

    Small grain pasture conditions have decreased considerably this year. In Kansas, winter wheat categorized in very poor, poor, and fair condition is 13 percentage points higher than last year.  Oklahoma and Texas wheat conditions are 45 and 25 points higher, respectively, for similar categories. These areas represent 91 and 84 percent of total winter wheat planted in Texas and Oklahoma.  

    Grazing small grain pastures in poor condition will reduce average daily gain and might affect spring productivity. Poor grazing conditions will also increase supplemental feeding costs and mitigate future stockers’ margins.

    In some areas, stockers are grazing deferred summer grasses. These cattle will probably have a lower daily gain unless supplemented. However, it will increase costs and potentially reduce spring forage supply for their cow-calf operation.  As the drought continues, it’s likely that a significant number of cattle will be sold at lighter weights and earlier in the market. 

    Source: USDA-NASS

    Recommended citation format: Abello, Francisco Pancho. “Cattle Grazing on Small Grain Pastures – Challenges During this Drought Period“. Southern Ag Today 2(8.2). February 15, 2022. Permalink

  • Rice Production Down in 2021 Despite Strong Yields

    Rice Production Down in 2021 Despite Strong Yields

    Rice saw a record overall yield with the 2021 crop, but rice production was down almost 16% from the previous year. The overall rice yield was 7,709 lbs./acre, which beats the previous record high of 7,694 lbs./acre in 2013. This new record high was driven by a record medium-grain rice yield of 8,623 lbs./acre, which was 2.8% higher than the previous record. The 2021 long-grain rice crop saw the second-highest yield on record at 7,471 lbs./acre, just below the record of 7,517 obtained in 2018. Despite these high yields, 2021 production was lower than the previous year at 191.8 million hundredweight for all rice and 144.6 million hundredweight for long-grain rice. Lower production was driven by a reduction in planted acreage by nearly 17% in 2021 as compared to 2020. Mississippi saw the largest reduction of any state in planted acreage, down 36% from the previous year. 

     With lower production, U.S. long-grain rice ending stocks for the 2021 marketing year is currently estimated by the USDA at 21.4 million hundredweight resulting in a stocks-to-use ratio of 12.1%, which is down from 29.7% in 2020. Domestic U.S. consumption of long-grain rice, while lower than last year, remains strong, but exports remain flat compared to previous years. The current 2021 market year average price projection for long-grain rice is $13.20/cwt, which is the highest price since 2013. 

    U.S. long-grain rice acreage has fluctuated from around 2.5 million to 3 million acres year to year consistently since 2013. Given this pattern and current high prices, rice acreage is expected to rebound back to around 3 million acres in 2022. One potential factor that can limit an acreage increase is current high input costs and supply uncertainty. Soybeans are the common rotational crop planted with rice and currently, soybean prices are strong and can be planted at a lower cost of production per acre. Current high long-grain rice prices though will likely convince most producers to stay with their normal crop rotation.         

    Source: USDA NASS, FEB 2022

    Recommended citation format: Maples, William E. “Rice Production Down in 2021 Despite Strong Yields“. Southern Ag Today 2(8.1). February 14, 2022. Permalink

  • The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Could Offer New Information to SDFRs in Rural America

    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Could Offer New Information to SDFRs in Rural America

    goal of ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law plans to invest $65 billion to help with this effort, with funding falling into seven major program areas. These areas include: (1) the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program ($42.45 billion), (2) the Affordable Connectivity Program ($14.2 billion); (3) Digital Equity Planning, Capacity and Competitive Grants ($2.75 billion); (4) the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program ($2 billion), (5) Rural Broadband Programs at the Department of Agriculture ($2 billion); (6) the Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program ($1 billion); and (7) Private Activity Bonds ($600 million).

    Access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet is a need expressed by socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers (SDFR) in a research study conducted by Tougaloo College under the guidance of the SDFR Policy Research Center (Policy Center) at Alcorn State University.  The research study sought to identify factors that hindered SDFR’s access to technology and the use of technology in the poverty-stricken counties located in Mississippi. After surveying respondents in 46 of the 82 counties in Mississippi, the study found that the internet was the most frequently referenced source for information about new technology.

    According to USDA’s report, “Farm Computer Usage and Ownership”, 25% of farms in the United States have no access to the internet. As agricultural technology continues to change, become smarter and, integrate within agriculture tools that farmers utilize daily, they will likely require use of the internet and data to expand their knowledge of tools that may create greater farm productivity.  With the expansion of broadband access to communities like those of the farmers surveyed, farmers will be able to learn more about agricultural technology.

    Recommended citation format: Love, April S. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Could Offer New Information to SDFRs in Rural America“. Southern Ag Today 2(7.5). February 11, 2022. Permalink

  • U.S. Exports to China: Better than Last Year’s, But Still Below Phase I Agreement Levels for 2021

    U.S. Exports to China: Better than Last Year’s, But Still Below Phase I Agreement Levels for 2021

    US exports to China in 2021 reached almost $33 billion, a 24.6 percent increase from last year.  As a matter of fact, China has been the largest market for US commodities in the last couple of years surpassing Canada and Mexico.  Moreover, in 2021 China was the number one destination for soybeans, corn, sorghum, cotton, and nuts, accounting for 69 percent of all US commodities exported to China. Although year over year US exports to China have been higher, they still fell short of the agreed amount for 2021 under the Phase 1 agreement.  The chart above shows the monthly cumulative amount of US exports to China for 2012, 2020, 2021, and Phase I 2020 and 2021.  US exports to China in 2012 were the largest amount exported ever before the Phase 1 agreement, around $26 billion, while Phase 1 2020 and 2021 amounts were agreed at $32 and $39 billion, respectively.  The red line represents 2020 exports and the yellow line 2021 exports and both years US exports fell short of reaching 83 and 85 percent of the agreed amount under the Phase 1 agreement (blue and black lines). Although 2020 and 2021 exports fell below the agreed amount, both years marked the largest amount of US exports to China.  Hopefully, this trend continues for 2022 and beyond.

    Monthly Cumulative Amount of US Exports to China for 2012, 2020, 2021, and Phase I 2020 and 2021.  

    Source: GATS, FAS/USDA

    Recommended citation format: Ribera, Luis. “U.S. Exports to China: Better than Last Year’s, But Still Below Phase I Agreement Levels for 2021“. Southern Ag Today 2(7.4). February 10, 2022. Permalink