News Update
July 8, 2009

Genex Hosts Beef Tour for International Visitors

Genex Cooperative Inc. hosted a beef tour for 50 international sales representatives and beef producers from Brazil and Argentina. The 12-day, five-state tour gave the visitors the opportunity to better understand the United States beef industry.

Michael Sleeper, associate vice president of international marketing for the cooperative, commented on the overall purpose of the beef tour. “It gave them a whole new outlook on the beef cattle genetics available from Genex and using bulls from outside of their own countries,” Sleeper stated. “We really set a strong basis for a sales relationship with these countries.”

The beef tour began June 11 in Kansas City, Mo., and focused on many aspects of the beef industry. The tour included ranch and business visits as well as educational sessions regarding beef genetics and the services offered by Genex. Specific points of interest on the tour included numerous beef ranches, the American Angus Hall of Fame, the Dickinson Research Extension Center and two of the cooperative’s custom-collection facilities — Genex Dakota Sire Service and Genex Hawkeye West — to see bulls currently in stud. The tours allowed the visitors to view progeny of Genex bulls and learn more about the different ways ranches operate.

— Release provided by Genex Cooperative, Inc.

Forage production workshop hosted by NMSU Valencia County Extension office

Forage production is the leading agricultural crop in the Middle Rio Grande Valley, with 20,050 acres planted in 2007 in Valencia and Bernalillo counties. Production in the two counties generated 93,826 tons in 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2007 Ag Census, which ranked the area seventh overall in the state.

To help farmers stay abreast of the latest information regarding irrigation and crop management, pest management, weed identification and herbicide usage, the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Valencia County Extension office is hosting a free forage production workshop Friday, July 31, at the University of New Mexico (UNM)-Valencia Campus student community center, 280 La Entrada Road.

The workshop will include sessions on:

• NMSU’s weed-free forage program with Tracey Carrillo, director of NMSU seed certification program.
  
• Irrigated permanent pasture and alfalfa management with Leonard Lauriault, NMSU forage agronomist at the Tucumcari Agricultural Science Center.
  
• Forage crop production with Mark Marsalis, NMSU Extension agronomy specialist at Clovis Agricultural Science Center.
  
• Integrated pest management for irrigated pasture and forage crops with Tess Grasswitz, NMSU Extension integrated pest management specialist at Los Lunas Agricultural Science Center.
  
• Weed identification with Jim Wanstall, New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) state noxious weed coordinator.
  
• Herbicide usage: What herbicide controls each species with Greg Alpers, Dow Agro Sciences.
  
• USDA conservation programs for agriculture producers with Josh Sherman, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service in Los Lunas.
  
• Irrigation management with Craig Runyan, NMSU Water Task Force coordinator.

“The workshop will earn five continuing education units for the renewal of the NMDA private applicators license necessary for buying restricted-usage herbicides,” said Kyle Tator, Valencia County Extension agriculture agent.

The event, co-sponsored by NMSU College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension Service and the Rio Grande Basin Initiative, will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lunch will be provided by New Mexico Tractor Sales in Belen. For more information or to register, contact Kyle Tator at the Valencia County Extension office at ktator@nmsu.edu or 505-565-3002.

— Release provided by New Mexico State University News.

California Rangeland Trust, Panorama Meats Partner to Protect Threatened Rangelands

The California Rangeland Trust has partnered with Panorama Meats Inc. of Vina, Calif., in a joint effort to support the long-term conservation of California’s rangelands. Beginning this week, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of all Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Beef sold in California will be contributed to the California Rangeland Trust to assist ongoing work to place conservation easements on working cattle ranches.

“The partnership with Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Beef and the California Rangeland Trust is an exciting new endeavor to further the sustainability of rangeland conservation and agriculture in California,” said Nita Vail, CEO, California Rangeland Trust.

Mack Graves, CEO of Panorama Meats, said, “Panorama’s ranchers have a vested interest in preserving the rangelands where their cattle graze. This arrangement demonstrates the strength of their commitment to create sustainable grazing lands for future generations.”

The California Rangeland Trust uses conservation easements to protect rangelands from development and other threats. These conservation easements are voluntary, legally recorded agreements between the landowner and California Rangeland Trust, which permanently restrict the land to agricultural and open space uses. Today, California Rangeland Trust holds conservation easements on more than 186,000 acres of rangeland on thirty ranches, ensuring that these working landscapes will be forever protected.

Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Beef is produced by a group of family ranchers in northern California, southern Washington, southern Oregon and Wyoming who raise cattle on natural grasses, legumes and range forage. It is sold through Whole Foods stores in northern California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado and other independent retail grocers.

Ranchers who raise Panorama cattle employ pasture rotation and land management practices that promote animal health and protect delicate rangeland ecosystems. Their ranching and animal-handling practices are verified through regular third-party audits by Western Ranchers Beef Cooperative, an association that promotes sustainable ranching practices. More information is available at www.panoramameats.com.

— Release provided by Panorama Meats Inc.

Ag Secretary Vilsack Discusses Role of Rural America in Combating Climate Change

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today testified to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on the role that rural America can play in addressing climate change. Secretary Vilsack discussed the importance of engaging farmers and ranchers in crafting the solution to this critical issue. Below are excerpts from Secretary Vilsack’s prepared testimony:

“Climate change is one of the great challenges facing the United States and the world. The science is clear that the planet is already warming. While climate change will affect us all, there are particular vulnerabilities and challenges for farmers, ranchers, and those who make a living off the land.

“I believe it is crucial that we engage the participation of farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. This issue is too important for agriculture and forestry to sit on the sidelines. A viable carbon offsets market — one that rewards farmers, ranchers and forest landowners for stewardship activities — has the potential to play a very important role in helping America wean itself from foreign oil. It also represents a significant building block to revitalizing rural America. Landowners can also play an important role in providing low-carbon renewable energy.

“There are significant opportunities for rural landowners in a cap-and-trade program that recognizes the contribution that farms, ranches and forests can make in addressing climate change. Rural landowners can benefit from incentives in climate and energy legislation that reward production of renewable energy such as wind and bioenergy. A number of renewable energy technologies such as anaerobic digesters, geothermal, and wind power can reduce farmers’ reliance on fossil fuels. In cooperation with the Department of Energy, USDA will contribute to promoting these technologies and our outreach and Extension networks will need to help make them available to farmers, ranchers and land managers.

“These technologies and promotion of a clean energy economy will also stimulate the creation of new jobs. As farmers, ranchers and land managers look to install an anaerobic digester or build a wind farm, people will be needed to build the machines and install the systems. And, because many of these technologies will be utilized in rural areas, many of these jobs could be created in rural America. These farmers, ranchers and forest owners can also benefit from legislation that creates markets for greenhouse gas offset credits.

“To produce meaningful emissions reductions, an offsets program will likely require the participation of thousands of landowners. I believe USDA, working with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the Department of Energy, the Department of [the] Interior, and other relevant agencies can play a very important role in getting offsets to scale while ensuring the integrity of the offsets program. We look forward to partnering with our fellow agencies to work with the Senate in designing a credible offsets program.

“It is important that agriculture and forestry offsets have high standards of environmental integrity. Quantification and reporting systems need to be rigorous, verifiable and transparent — and review and auditing systems will need to be in place. Uncertainties must be accounted for and reduced. Greenhouse gas benefits accrued through carbon sequestration will need to be monitored over time to ensure that the benefits are maintained and that reversals are accounted for if they occur. If these principles are followed, the resulting offsets should be real, additional, verifiable and lasting.”

— Release provided by USDA News.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.