News Update
July 17, 2012
NJAS Continues in Louisville
The prepared speeches have been given, scrapbooks and posters have been judged, and interviews have been conducted for the Career Development Contest at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Louisville, Ky. National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members are currently evaluating four classes of beef cattle during the Livestock Judging Contest or preparing their skits for the Auxiliary-sponsored All-American Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) Cook-Off to be hosted this afternoon.
Follow the activities via our social media vehicles. Visit www.facebook.com/AngusJournal for postings by Angus Productions Inc. (API) editors Kasey Miller and Shauna Hermel, and to access other Angus Facebook pages fixed to the top of our "Likes." Follow us on twitter at @AJeditor. For the full NJAS schedule, visit www.njas.info.
Orr Beef Research Center Field Day Scheduled for Aug. 15
The annual Orr Beef Research Center Field Day will begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, followed by a dinner at 6 p.m., and will conclude with a pasture walk. The meeting will be at the John Wood Ag Center located on State Highway 104.
Speakers from the University of Illinois will lead discussions that will address research, current topics, and situations producers are facing on-farm. A meal will be served at no charge to those who take part in the discussions and tour.
The program includes Dan Shike, an assistant professor of animal science and cow-calf researcher at the University of Illinois, who will talk about the impact of nutrition on cow reproduction and longevity. Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Extension beef specialist, will discuss drought management strategies, including drought corn as a feed, early weaning, alternative feeds, and culling cows.
There will also be a short session to inform attendees of the newest research at the University of Illinois in fetal programming, cow efficiency, beef cattle fertility, cornstalk grazing, and co-product feeding.
A tour of the Orr Center will be given immediately following the dinner. Producers will have the opportunity to view facilities, cattle and pastures.
In a challenging year for beef production, producers are encouraged to come to the field day to take part in conversations about improving production methods, maintaining profitability, and strengthening the sustainability of their operation. Speakers will be glad to address any questions from participants during the evening.
More information on the field day is available by clicking here, or by contacting Travis Meteer or Nathan Post at 217-236-4961.
Foreign-born Labor in Agriculture Focus of Symposium
The future of foreign-born labor in U.S. agriculture was the subject of a two-day national symposium last week in Chicago.
A collaboration of AGree and Farm Foundation NFP, the symposium was organized to increase understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with foreign-born labor in U.S. agriculture; identify options for policies and programs to address these issues; and provide a forum for continuing conversations among key stakeholders.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Farmers Encouraged to Update Iowa Hay-Straw Directory
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey encouraged Iowa hay and straw producers to register or update their listing on the Iowa Hay and Straw Directory. The directory lists Iowa producers with hay and straw for sale, as well as organizations and businesses associated with promoting and marketing quality hay and straw.
"This directory has proven to be a valuable asset to Iowa farmers who both buy and sell hay and straw, so I hope those that can use it take full advantage of this resource," Northey said. "With the ongoing dry weather and drought conditions this directory may serve as a critical link for both buyers and sellers."
The listing is available to interested buyers throughout the nation; however, only sellers from within Iowa can be included on the list.
For more information and the full release, click here.
AgriLife Extension Sets Regional Alfalfa Workshop in Dimmitt
South Plains alfalfa producers can update their production skills at a regional alfalfa production workshop set for 8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. July 25 at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service office for Castro County, 205 North Broadway, Dimmitt.
Calvin Trostle, AgriLife Extension agronomist at Lubbock, is the main speaker.
Trostle will discuss the suitability of Roundup Ready® alfalfa to the area and irrigation management topics.
"With the advent of glyphosate-resistant pigweed species in the South Plains, alfalfa growers are not immune to developing resistant pigweed," Trostle said. "So sole reliance on glyphosate for weed control is inadvisable for alfalfa producers just as it would be for a cotton grower.
"Another issue looming on the horizon is limited irrigation water in the future," he said. "Most of the South Plains is in the initial phases of pumping limitations, which will decline to fixed levels in 2017. This will likely shrink the size of some alfalfa fields.
"I plan to speak on irrigation management strategies, especially the fitting of irrigation capacity to land area. Alfalfa planted this fall will see decreasing limits of allowable irrigation water before the end of the stands' useful life, so planning now for limited water in the future is a very important consideration."
Other workshop topics include fall planting, variety selection and insect control. The program will conclude with a visit to a local alfalfa field.
Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be available for those with a valid pesticide applicator's license.
Individual registration is $10. An alfalfa crop production handbook will be available for an additional $20.
For further information contact the AgriLife Extension office in Castro County office at 806-647-4115, or Trostle at 806-746-6101, or ctrostle@ag.tamu.edu.
AFBF: FDA's Livestock Antibiotic Proposals Based on Theory
Citing a lack of data to support limiting antibiotic use in livestock, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has told the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it is concerned with proposals that would restrict antibiotic use based on unproven theory.
AFBF submitted comments to FDA on two proposals made by the agency earlier this year. According to FDA, the agency is taking action to help preserve the effectiveness of medically important antimicrobials for treating disease in humans, but FDA has not demonstrated whether the actions will have any effect on antibiotic resistance, AFBF said.
"AFBF agrees that human antibiotic resistance is a serious and growing healthcare problem. Developing strategies for reducing antimicrobial resistance is critically important for protecting both public and animal health," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "However, we are extremely concerned with FDA actions, which seem to indicate the agency is basing complex animal health policies on theory, rather than sound scientific studies."
According to AFBF, FDA intends to curb antibiotic use in livestock without fully understanding the impact on public health. There have been no peer-reviewed scientific studies to support the theory that judicious use of antibiotics in livestock increases antibiotic resistance in humans. In addition, there is no data to indicate that limiting antibiotic use in livestock decreases human health problems with antibiotic resistance.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Poor Pasture Growth Forces Illinois Farmers to Feed Hay
The hot, dry weather continued to prevail over much of Illinois again this past week with a few areas experiencing spotty showers. Statewide temperatures averaged 78.2°, 1.8° above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.53 inches (in.) across the state, 0.31 in. below normal. Topsoil moisture continued to worsen and was rated at 73% very short, 25% short and only 2% adequate. Subsoil moisture also continued to be a concern, rated 70% very short, 26% short and only 4% adequate.
For more information and the full release, click here.
USDA Officials Stand with Farmers and Ranchers Affected by Extreme Weather and Natural Disasters
As serious drought conditions continue to creep across nearly two-thirds of the lower 48 states, USDA officials are fanning out to rural communities across the country to show support to farmers and ranchers affected by a string of extreme weather in 2012. Today, July 17, Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse begins a tour of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana — three states affected by severe frost and freezes in the spring, with Indiana now experiencing increasing levels of drought. In the weeks ahead, additional USDA subcabinet leaders will travel to Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and others to augment ongoing assistance from state-level USDA staff. USDA officials will also provide guidance on the department's existing disaster resources and remind producers to keep thorough records of losses as the department's authority to operate the five disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill expired on Sept. 30, 2011, and Congress has not yet acted to restore these vital forms of assistance.
"Our hearts go out to all of those affected by this year's disasters, from frost and freezes to fires and drought," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Without a robust package of disaster assistance programs available to struggling farmers and ranchers, it is important that USDA officials visit rural communities and talk with producers not only about their current options but also about the need for proper planning through these difficult times. And we remind Congress that as agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation's economy, it is crucial that producers have a safety net in times of need, and that USDA has the tools to act quickly and deliver assistance when producers need it most."
USDA agencies have been working for weeks with state and local officials, as well as individuals, businesses, farmers and ranchers, as they begin the process of helping to get people back on their feet. USDA offers a variety of resources for states and individuals affected by the recent disasters. Individuals can also apply for other types of federal disaster, click here.
For more information and the full release, click here.
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