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News Update

January 25, 2013

Beef Leaders Institute Deadline is March 1

American Angus Association members interested in becoming more effective leaders in the agriculture industry are encouraged to apply for the sixth annual Beef Leaders Institute (BLI). Hosted June 17 to 20, the program brings 20 Angus producers together in Saint Joseph, Mo., for a series of informative sessions.

For more information on BLI or to download an application, click here. Applications for the 2013 program are due March 1.


NWSS History: Dan Green — History of Livestock Photography

If you couldn’t make it to the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) this year, there is no need to worry. The American Angus Association TV segment I Am Angus shares some of the best highlights from this year’s show.

Click here to watch this segment on livestock photography.


Missouri Cattlewoman Stands Firm for Youth

Darla Eggers, a member of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (MCA), Jan. 23, 2013, stood in front of the Missouri Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources committee encouraging the passage of Senate Bill 16. Eggers, a cattlewoman and employee of Sydenstricker Genetics, Mexico Mo., said when the Department of Labor proposed a regulation last year that would essentially ban youth from working on farms and ranches, it inspired states across the country to review its labor requirements. This process revealed that Missouri needed to do some fine-tuning to its labor requirements.

“This bill is simple,” said Eggers. “It exempts farm work performed by youth under the age of 16 from certain labor requirements. However, the legislation is clear that this exemption only applies to children who are working with the knowledge and consent of their parents or legal guardians. This bill is a no-brainer. The only way to sustain the future of Missouri’s agricultural sector is to empower the next generation of passionate stewards of the land.”
Senate Bill 16, introduced by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, exempts farm work performed by children under the age of 16 from certain child labor requirements such as operating and maintaining power-driven machinery, climbing ladders and operating vehicles. This exemption only applies to children working on their own family farms and, with with the knowledge and consent of their parents, the family farms of others.

“I urge you in every action you take that you never lose sight of the future of agriculture and the future begins with our youth,” said Eggers. “This bill is a positive step in allowing young people to learn the importance of hard work and caring for the land. These young people will be the leaders in their schools and will be the shining stars of their local communities.


Meat Prices Expected to Rise Due to High Feed Costs,
Lower Herd Numbers

Cattle prices are expected to set new records in 2013 while hog prices are expected to have their second highest year ever. High feed costs have led to lower numbers of animals, which University of Missouri (MU) Extension agricultural economist Ron Plain says is why meat prices will be going up.

“The U.S. meat supply per capita has been steadily declining,” Plain said during the 2013 MU Extension Winter AgMarketing Outlook Conference. “It’s expected that 2013 will be the seventh consecutive year with less meat per person, down 22 pounds from 2006 and the lowest per capita supply since 1991.”

Slaughter-steer, yearling and slaughter-cow prices all reached record highs in 2012. It was the third straight year for steers to set record prices and the second consecutive year for both yearlings and slaughter cows.

“The expectation is that all three will set new price records again in 2013,” Plain said. “We are not yet to the peak in cattle prices.”

Hogs have also been hit by the high cost of feed. Plain says there is a high correlation between the price of corn and the break-even cost for hog production. Even so, surveys show some producers are looking to expand.

For more information and the full release, click here.


Taking Care of Young Calves in Cold Weather

Calves expend energy to keep warm. The thermoneutral zone is defined as the temperature at which the animal’s heat loss equals the heat production. The animal does not have to expend extra energy to control its temperature when in the thermoneutral zone. The thermoneutral zone for a new born calf is 50°-78° F. This is affected by many variables including wind, moisture, hair coat and bedding. By one month of age, the calf is able to tolerate more cold and the thermoneutral zone expands to 32°-78° F.

Normal milk replacer or milk feeding will not be sufficient to meet the extra energy requirements of young calves to keep warm in extreme temperatures. Researchers at Cornell University have shown that the pounds of milk replacer needed to meet maintenance requirements of a 100-pound (lb.) calf increases 44% when temperatures are 15° F, compared to 50° F. If the temperature drops to 5° F, then the requirement for maintenance increases 55%.

Energy intake can be increased by adding an additional feeding of milk or milk replacer. If an additional feeding cannot be done, then increasing the milk feeding size, increasing fat content of the milk or the amount of powder mixed in the same amount of water can help the calf fight the cold. Older calves are able to consume more starter to battle the cold.
Extra bedding will help the calf keep warm and dry. When laying down, the calf’s legs should be buried in the straw. Deep bedding will trap warm air in addition to keeping the calf dry. A calf blanket can also be used with deep bedding to give the newborn calf extra protection.

For more information and the full release, click here.


Feb. 5 Workshop Focuses on Farm Estate
and Transition Planning

Planning for the Future, a farm estate and transition planning workshop, will be hosted at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) Agricultural Research and Development Center located near Mead Feb. 5. Registration begins at 9 a.m. followed by the workshop from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

The workshop offers reliable, useful discussion of business, family and tax issues involved in passing on the family farm or ranch, and the legal tools that are used to address those issues.
Topics include: determining goals, family dynamics and expectations in a business setting, financial viability, the transfer process, estate and gift tax, inheritance tax, efficient methods of transfer, probate, wills, trusts, titling, basis, long-term care, Medicaid, powers of attorney and use of entities.

Dave Goeller, director, UNL North Central Risk Management Center and Beginning Farmer Program coordinator, and Joe Hawbaker, agricultural law attorney, will present the program. They will discuss preparing to make a plan, reviewing existing plans, being a good consumer of legal and estate planning services and what others have done and how their plans have worked.

There is no fee for this workshop, courtesy of the Nebraska Network for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, the Farm and Ranch Project of Legal Aid of Nebraska, the Risk Management Agency of the USDA, Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s Farm Mediation, UNL Extension and Saunders County Independent Bankers Association.

Lunch will be provided compliments of the Saunders County Independent Bankers Association.

To register or for questions call the Rural Response Hotline at 800-464-0258 or contact Keith Glewen, UNL Extension educator at 402-624-8030.

Fight Against Flu Bug with Healthy Diet

I’m trying to do all I can to avoid getting the flu this season. Is there anything in particular I should include in my diet that could help?

When it comes to avoiding the flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the best actions you can take are to get vaccinated with the flu shot; take everyday precautions against the spread of germs, such as avoiding contact with sick people and washing your hands thoroughly and often; and, if you get the flu, see your doctor quickly (within two days of becoming ill) and ask about taking antiviral drugs to treat the illness.

A healthy, balanced diet won’t prevent you from being exposed to the flu virus, but it can help boost your immune system to help you fight off the flu virus and other illnesses. Recently, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics issued a reminder about which nutrients are most often recognized as helping build immunity.

Click here to see other recommendations.

 

 
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