News Update
Sept. 16, 2009

Weaning Management Meeting Available Online

The Iowa Beef Center is adding online meetings to the way it offers information. In addition to holding local meetings and statewide conferences, a new format — the online meeting — is being debuted this fall.

The first online meeting, “Fall Cow Herd Decisions: Herd and Calf Weaning, Marketing and Management,” is now available at www.iowabeefcenter.org/content/weaningconference.html. The course offers sessions that cover nutrition, health, marketing, cow culling and weaning strategies. The course material is offered by livestock experts in a variety of ways — podcasts, voice-over PowerPoint presentations, fact sheets, newsletters and spreadsheets.

“The online meeting is a great way to receive information on your own time,” said John Lawrence, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension livestock economist. “You have access to a meeting agenda that is the same as an in-person meeting, only this agenda links you directly to the research and advice you seek. Instead of waiting for a meeting to listen to a speaker, you’ll receive the same information when it is convenient for you.”

Lawrence says one session, “Making Marketing Decisions This Fall,” includes a podcast on fall marketing outlook; a voice-over PowerPoint presentation titled “Factors Impacting Feeder Cattle Prices at Iowa Auctions” and a useful spreadsheet on feeder cattle marketing assessment.

“The online presentations and handouts are prepared by Iowa Beef Center’s beef cattle experts; participants will get the same information that they would receive at an in-person meeting or conference,” Lawrence said. “This first course includes the latest information on weaning management topics ranging from vaccinations to stress management. Related topics, such as cow culling, are covered to help producers make management decisions that coincide with weaning decisions.”

Course participants can view the material all at one time, or make repeat visits to the site as time and interests allow. There is no charge for participating in the online course offerings available from the Iowa Beef Center web site, www.iowabeefcenter.org.

— Release provided by ISU Extension.

NDSU Offers Food Safety Training

North Dakota State University (NDSU) Department of Animal Sciences is holding a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) training program for meat and food processors Oct. 22-23.

The training will take place at the NDSU Beef Systems Center of Excellence, 1901 Great Northern Drive, Fargo. It will start at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 22 and end at about 5 p.m. the following day.

The first day’s training will include an overview of the HACCP system; identifying chemical, physical and biological hazards; establishing critical limits; monitoring critical control points; and taking corrective actions.

Day two’s training will include verification and validation, recordkeeping, implementing and managing a HACCP plan, and an evaluation of the course.

The registration fee is $200, which covers course materials, noon meals and breaks. The registration deadline is Oct. 16. Registration will be limited to 25 people because of the intensive, hands-on nature of the course.

Participants are responsible for making lodging arrangements.

For more information on the training or to register, contact Rob Maddock, an associate professor in NDSU’s Animal Sciences Department, at 701-231-8975 or by e-mail at robert.maddock@ndsu.edu.

— Release provided by NDSU.

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Awards $4.8 Million for Community Food Projects

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that $4.8 million will be awarded to local organizations in 14 states to build community food systems and fight hunger and food insecurity. This announcement comes as part of USDA’s ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food,’ initiative, a department-wide collaboration that will connect people more closely with the farmers who supply their food and increase the production, marketing and consumption of fresh, nutritious food that is grown locally in a sustainable manner.

“Building local sustainable food systems to be proactive in fighting hunger and obesity is a priority for the Obama Administration, and USDA’s ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative will help meet that goal,” Merrigan said. “These grants put funds in low-income communities that struggle with access to healthy food and they are an important step toward achieving our goal of having healthy, nutritious food available to everyone, especially children.”

The projects announced today will fund food policy council training, urban agriculture, new farmers on preservation farmland, promotion of native food sovereignty, youth, urban and rural food production projects and community food assessments.

The funding is being provided through USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) through the Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program. Community Food Projects have been funded in 290 communities in 48 states during its 13-year history.

The primary goals of the Community Food Projects program are to (1) meet the food needs of low-income individuals; (2) increase the food self-reliance of low-income communities; (3) promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm and nutrition issues; and (4) meet specific state, local or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs relating to infrastructure improvement and development, planning for long-term solutions and the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

— Release provided by USDA.

First Annual Legislative Beef Show a “Great Success”

When more than a dozen youth 4-H beef exhibitors passed their halters and show sticks to a group of state legislators for the first annual Legislative Beef Show at the 2009 South Dakota State Fair, the result was a fun and educational event for everyone involved.

The Legislative Beef Show, sponsored by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) and the SDSU Cooperative Extension Service, featured 15 state legislators paired with a youth 4-H beef exhibitor from their home district. Participants competed in a friendly cattle showmanship competition against fellow state legislators. Their youth coaches “fit” the animals, prepared them for the competition and offered the legislators a “crash course” in beef cattle showmanship.

Sen. Jean Hunhoff emerged as the Grand Champion Showman, narrowly edging Rep. Hoffman, who received second place, and Rep. Dennis Feickert, who finished third. For her efforts, Hunhoff received a gold belt buckle, sponsored by First Dakota Bank.

Hunhoff’s name will also be engraved on a traveling Legislative Beef Show trophy, sponsored by SDDA, SDSU Extension, the South Dakota State Fair, the South Dakota Cattleman’s Association, and First Dakota Bank. A trophy presentation ceremony will take place during the 2010 legislative session.

“Our legislators were able to see youth leadership and commitment on display,” said Peter Nielson, state 4-H director. “The event was a great success and everyone is looking forward to next year’s show.”

— Release provided by the SDDA.

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