News Update

News Update
March 27, 2008

Junior Angus Leadership Conference Set in Big Sky Country

Developing personal leadership skills is one of the most valuable benefits of being a member of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA). One event that allows members to develop their leadership skills while building friendships to last a lifetime is the annual NJAA Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) Conference. This year’s LEAD is set for Aug. 1-4 in Billings, Mont.

All juniors 14 to 21 years old are encouraged to attend this year’s conference, themed “Take it to the Top.” Juniors will have the opportunity to make new Angus friends, learn about current beef industry issues and tour agricultural and historical sites in “Big Sky Country.” In addition, the NJAA Board will present interactive workshops that explore the beef industry as well as personal development topics. Tour stops will include prominent auction yards, bull studs, ranches and a rafting trip.

Conference space is limited to 200 participants, so reserve your spot soon. Early registration for juniors, advisors and parents is $175 and due June 15. After this deadline, the rate increases to $200, if space is still available. Registration and release forms are available in the green NJAA information packets that were mailed to all junior members earlier this year and on the NJAA web site.

For more information about LEAD, visit www.njaa.info or contact the Junior Activities Department at 816-383-5100. LEAD is just one of many programs provided to nearly 11,000 youth members of the American Angus Association® across the United States. LEAD is funded in part through the Angus Foundation, which supports education, youth and research.

— Release provided by the American Angus Association.

Feeding dried distillers’ grains does not increase E. coli in cattle

A new study conducted at Kansas State University (K-State) concluded that the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 or salmonella is no different in cattle fed steam-flaked corn and in cattle fed the same with 25% dried distillers’ grains supplementation.

The study, funded by the Kansas Beef Council and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), contradicted previous research suggesting that feeding cattle dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), a byproduct of ethanol production, increased the shedding of E. coli in fecal matter.

“Unlike our previous studies, we found no evidence to indicate that dietary inclusion of distillers’ grains or corn processing methods have a significant effect on the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 or salmonella in cattle feces,” K-State researchers wrote in the report.

Researchers at the University of Nebraska have found that cattle fed 40% to 50% distillers’ grains showed increased rates of E. coli, although cattle fed a diet of 10% to 30% of the product actually had lower E. coli levels than those on an all-corn diet.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also is currently studying the possible link between feeding cattle dried distillers’ grains and the prevalence of E. coli, with results expected later this year. (See “USDA probes possible link between E. coli, distillers’ grains” on Meatingplace.com, Jan. 29, 2008.)

USDA announces $267 million rural broadband loan

USDA Rural Development Undersecretary Thomas C. Dorr announced March 25 that Open Range Communications, headquartered in Denver, Colo., has been approved to receive a $267 million loan from USDA Rural Development to provide broadband service to 518 rural communities in 17 states.

This partnership will address the significant need to deploy wireless, portable broadband connectivity to improve service in considerable portions of rural America. The commitment by USDA and Open Range represents one of the largest public-private investments for broadband service by the federal government.

This unique set of services will provide cutting-edge Wi-Max technology that transmits wireless data in areas not serviced by cable or DSL technologies. Open Range plans to offer affordable, wireless high-speed broadband service to underserved and unserved areas.

The loan presents dual benefits to the residents of the communities to be served. Those without service will have access to broadband and other technologies for the first time. Residents in areas served by an existing provider will benefit from mobile and portable broadband, lower prices, enhanced service options and improved quality as a result of marketplace competition.

“Portable, high-speed connectivity provides new options to help create business expansion in rural communities,” Dorr noted. “Communities that lack broadband are often bypassed for new economic development investments. Broadband is as important today as providing rural telephone service was 75 years ago, and we’re proud of our role in fostering public-private partnerships to bring broadband services to rural America.”

In addition to broadband, Open Range will offer satellite services to provide rural residents with portable connectivity virtually nationwide. Improved service with portability features will improve communications and responses for emergency first responders such as law enforcement and rescue providers, as well as health care providers.

The project is intended to cover more than 6 million people and serve more than 447,000 households within five years. In addition, it will create jobs and business opportunities in the project’s 17-state area. Open Range is leveraging the $267 million government loan with an investment of more than $100 million from the private sector. The loan is contingent upon Open Range meeting the conditions of the loan agreement.

The loan was approved under the Rural Development Broadband Loan and Loan Guarantee Program, which, since its inception, has awarded $1.6 billion in loans for projects to provide rural broadband services. The Rural Development Broadband program has financed a variety of technologies, including wireless, fiber, hybrid fiber/coax, DSL and broadband over power lines. The Open Range project is the program’s first investment to support Wi-Max technology.

USDA Rural Development’s investments in broadband are helping rural communities develop sustainable economic opportunities to improve the quality of life in communities across the nation. The loan to Open Range is expected to foster business development and create new jobs in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has invested nearly $91 billion since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More than 1.7 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA’s web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov.

— Adapted from a release provided by USDA.

— compiled by Tosha Powell, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.