News Update
June 7, 2011

Producers to Learn Options for Mortality Management at Ag Expo

Death is a part of life on all farms, and dealing with death is an important part of farm management for livestock producers. During the 2011 Michigan Ag Expo, producers and others who work with animals will have the chance to learn about the tools and techniques available to make the right management decisions for their farms as well as how to carry them out appropriately.

Throughout the duration of the Michigan Ag Expo, which takes place July 19 to 21, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about mortality management policies and practices through a series of presentations, tours and demonstrations. According to Dale Rozeboom, professor in the Department of Animal Science and Michigan State University (MSU) Extension specialist, all sessions will be based on the Michigan Bodies of Dead Animals Act (BODA), which governs mortality management in the state.

“We’re going to have presentations about all methods of mortality management, including updates about the traditional burial, incineration, rendering and composting methods,” Rozeboom said. “Additionally, we’ll cover the new anaerobic digestion rules slated for approval and addition to BODA this year. These rules will provide farmers and animal businesses with a new way to recycle nutrients and capture energy.”

Open pile composting will be demonstrated on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 11 a.m. to noon with sheep, bovine and equine mortalities, respectively. Included with each demonstration will be a tour of the MSU composting site. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at the Michigan Ag Expo grounds at least 30 minutes prior to the session and meet at the mortality management tent just inside the east gate in order to board transportation.

“We want to give people the chance to see the composting process in action,” Rozeboom said, “and to give farmers the chance to see what all it entails.”

All three 11 a.m. composting sessions qualify for Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) Phase I credits. Producers interested in obtaining those must pick up a registration form following the presentation and submit it to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) to receive credits.

During the afternoon sessions, from 2 p.m.-3 p.m. daily, attendees can learn about other composting methods, in addition to new opportunities within BODA guidelines for mortality management. On Tuesday, a demonstration of carcass reduction in a vertical mixer will show producers how the composting process can be sped up, as well as how to prepare carcasses for possible anaerobic digestion. On Wednesday afternoon, Kevin Kirk from MDARD will join MSU researchers to discuss the new anaerobic digestion rules for Michigan and best management practices for an anaerobic digestion system. Finally, several in-vessel composting systems will be demonstrated on Thursday.

“For those who are considering an option other than burial or rendering for their mortality management, we will introduce them to the options that are available. For those who are already composting but want to improve, they’ll see the techniques and management practices to help them do that,” Rozeboom said. “This will be for both those that want to try something new as well as those that already have practices in place and just want to make improvements.”

MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources sponsors Ag Expo. It runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., July 19 and 20, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m., July 21. Admission to the grounds and parking at Farm Lane and Mt. Hope Road are free.

To learn more about the educational sessions being offered at Ag Expo this year, visit the Ag Expo website at www.agexpo.msu.edu.

For more information about mortality management, contact Rozeboom at rozeboom@msu.edu or 517-355-8398. For more information about the Michigan Ag Expo, contact Megghan Honke at honkemeg@msu.edu or 517-353-3175, ext. 229.

— Release by MSU Extension.

Claim Your Date with the Cattle Raisers Museum

The Cattle Raisers Museum of Fort Worth, Texas, is on a mission to provide a highly functional and affordable 14-month calendar to its members and supporters in 2012. 

“The calendar will not only list the dates for exhibits and displays here at the museum, but will also list dates and locations for other important events in the industry,” said Museum Executive Director Pat Riley. “We invite any interested organization in the livestock industry, and particularly the cattle industry, to join us in filling the calendar with these important reminders.”

Riley notes that the calendar will also provide a unique advertising opportunity for organizations and producers.

“Because this calendar will be provided to members of the Cattle Raisers Foundation and at a deeply discounted rate to members of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, advertisers have a unique opportunity to stay in front of a dedicated audience all year round, as well as stake their claim on a specific month or date,” she said.

Advertisers will be able to purchase the front cover, inside back and inside front covers, as well as the back cover, along with full-page ads, one for each month, a 1/6 page horizontal ad and a block ad for a specific date that is perfect for a logo. Block ads can be combined over more than one day.

Having a listing in the calendar is also available at a very low rate and is on a first-come, first-serve basis, with only one event listed per time period. To find out if a specific date is available or for more information about advertising, contact Julie Bryant at jbryant@golatigo.com or Kim Smith at 817-509-8964 or cattleraisers@gmail.com.

The deadline to submit advertising will be August 1.

— Release by Cattle Raisers Museum.

NCBA Supports Bipartisan Legislation to Allow States to Opt Out of Corn Ethanol Mandate

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) threw its weight behind the Fuel Feedstock Reduction Act, which amends the Clean Air Act to allow states to opt out of the corn ethanol portion of the renewable fuel standard (RFS) and to broaden eligibility of the cellulosic biofuels carve out by redefining “cellulosic biofuels” as “next generation biofuels” to allow non-ethanol sources of renewable fuel. NCBA President Bill Donald said this legislation is a big step toward leveling the playing field for a bushel of corn.

“NCBA member-passed policy supports our nation’s commitment to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and that includes ethanol. But we don’t support propping up a 30-year-old industry that should be able to stand on its own two feet with mandates and subsidies,” Donald said. “Allowing states to opt out of the RFS and expanding eligibility for the cellulosic ethanol carve out applies some much needed common sense to renewable energy policy. It’s time to take the training wheels off of the corn-based ethanol industry and we urge all members of Congress to support this bill.”

The Fuel Feedstock Reduction Act, S. 1085 and H.R. 2009, was introduced in the Senate by James Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and in the House by Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.), Dan Boren (D-Okla.), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Jim Moran (D-Va.). According to the legislation, if a state legislature votes to opt out of the corn-ethanol portion of the RFS and the state’s governor signs the bill into law, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would reduce the national corn-based ethanol mandate by the national gasoline consumption percentage that is attributable to that state.

In addition to allowing states to opt out of the corn-based ethanol portion of the RFS, S. 1085 and H.R. 2009 would redefine cellulosic biofuel as next generation biofuel. Donald said the new “feedstock neutral” definition will allow the development of non-ethanol advanced biofuels.

“Cattlemen play by the rules of the marketplace and we believe it’s time for our friends in the corn-based ethanol industry to do the same,” Donald said. “With the high prices and tight supplies for corn that we’re seeing today, all we’re asking is to level the playing field for all end users of corn. Congress should pass this legislation and shift our nation’s renewable energy policy to one that is market-based.”

— Release by NCBA.

GHI Calls for Streamlined and Strengthened Development Assistance Programs

The Global Harvest Initiative (GHI) published May 31 its latest issue brief outlining recommendations to optimize and leverage development assistance programs in order to address global hunger and food security by sustainably increasing the rate of global agricultural productivity.

The issue brief, “Strengthening and Streamlining Development Assistance Programs,” acknowledges the benefits of the more than $58 billion in foreign assistance delivered by the U.S. Government each year, but outlines the importance of increased collaboration and efficiency among these programs and the organizations that manage them to maximize benefits and help alleviate the growing challenges of hunger and food security.

The importance of effective development assistance programs in addressing food security was recently emphasized by leading members of the U.S. Congress, the NGO community and the private sector at the May 24 Symposium on Global Agricultural and Food Security hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and a May 26 hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, both held in Washington, D.C.

“There are approximately one billion people currently suffering from chronic hunger and malnutrition worldwide, and even small disruptions in global food supply worsen this unfortunate situation,” said Margaret Zeigler, deputy director of the Congressional Hunger Center, a GHI consultative partner. “Development assistance programs like USAID’s Feed the Future and the compacts of the Millennium Challenge Corporation are critical to improving the state of hunger and food security on a global scale. With one-sixth of the world’s population in dire need, the time to act is now.”

In the issue brief, the GHI urges that more emphasis be placed on approaches like the Millennium Challenge Corporation, as it has been an effective means of addressing global hunger and other development initiatives by refusing to operate in areas where corruption is evident and focusing on basic infrastructure to foster private sector-led economic growth.

“In a world with limited resources for development assistance, it is crucial to leverage and streamline these resources to increase the rate of agricultural productivity and meet the needs of a growing population,” said William Lesher, executive director of GHI. “By working to make development assistance programs more efficient and effective, we can accelerate progress toward alleviating global hunger and strengthening food security worldwide.”

The issue brief released today and more information about GHI can be found at: www.globalharvestinitiative.org.

— Release by GHI.

— Compiled by Linda Robbins, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.