News Update
June 12, 2013
Prevent Heat Stress
With hot, humid weather conditions predicted, producers should be on guard for symptoms of heat stress in their cattle.
Tips on how to recognize heat stress and try to prevent it are available from these Angus Journal articles: Vet Call: “Prepare for Heat,” “Helping Cattle Keep Their Cool,” “Cool Those Cattle,” and “Heat & Fescue: A Bad Combination for Heifers.”
Additional articles can be found using “heat stress” as a key word in a back issue search from www.angusjournal.com.
2013 BIF Symposium Begins Tonight
The National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) Symposium will kick off events this evening for the 2013 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Annual Research Symposium and Annual Meeting at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. Oklahoma State University (OSU), in collaboration with BIF, will host the 45th annual event June 12-15, 2013.
Themed “Where Profit and Progress Intersect,” this year's program will bring together industry professionals, producers and researchers to discuss current issues facing the beef industry. Among those issues, speakers will tackle the crossbreeding vs. straight-breeding debate, as well as using genetic tools to address environmental challenges and cow herd efficiency.
If you can't make it to Oklahoma City, you can watch the conference live at www.BIFconference.com. The Angus Journal - in cooperation with BIF and with the sponsorship of LiveAuctions.tv - will provide complete coverage of the event, including live streaming video. Those wanting to watch the live stream will need to register with LiveAuctions.tv if they aren't already, so log in a little ahead of time.
Visit the site's Newsroom for summaries of the presentations along with the accompanying proceedings papers, PowerPoints and more. Visit the Awards page for announcement of the Seedstock and Commercial Producer of the Year winners; Roy Wallace Memorial Scholarship winners; Frank Baker essay contest winners; and winners of BIF's Ambassador, Pioneer and Continuing Service awards.
Registration is available at the door. For more information, visit www.BIFconference.com.
The National Junior Angus Show to Feature
'Saturday Night Live with Justin Lookadoo'
Angus juniors should prepare for some fun and laughs, along with a great message by speaker and best-selling author Justin Lookadoo. Lookadoo, a favorite speaker of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA), will be a highlight at the 2013 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) on Saturday, July 6, in Kansas City, Mo. Lookadoo will speak following the ice cream social from 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in Hale Arena.
The event, titled “Saturday Night Live with Justin Lookadoo,” will be financially supported by the Arkansas Activities Endowment Fund established within the Angus Foundation.
“It's only because of generous supporters to the Angus Foundation like the Arkansas Junior Angus Association, that make these very special added features to the NJAS possible,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “NJAS attendees and the Angus Foundation will always owe a debt of gratitude to our Angus friends in Arkansas for their foresight in endowing this fund, which will bring benefits to the NJAS for many years to come.”
Lookadoo is known as an original. Some fun facts about Lookadoo are that he is 6 feet 7 inches tall and spent the early part of his career as a juvenile probation officer and drug prevention specialist. Since 1989, he has traveled across the United States and internationally and has given more than 3,000 programs on subjects such as motivation, character and leadership building, and finding purpose for youth and parents wanting to have insight on better communication skills with their children.
“Angus juniors always have a great time listening to Justin, and he provides a great message,” Robin Ruff, director of junior activities, says. “I would encourage all participants at this year's NJAS in Kansas City to take part in 'Saturday Night Live with Justin Lookadoo.'”
USDA Announces Additional Emergency
Watershed Protection Funding
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced June 10 that USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will send an additional $66.8 million in Emergency Watershed Protection Program funds to help disaster recovery efforts in 15 states.
“This funding will help communities implement much needed recovery projects to address watershed damage caused by floods, drought, hurricanes and other natural disasters that occurred in 2012 and 2013,” Vilsack said. “President Obama and USDA are committed to helping repair and rebuild rural communities so hardworking farmers and ranchers can ensure American agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation's economy.”
NRCS's Emergency Watershed Program has successfully helped many communities recover from previous natural disasters across the country by providing on-site technical and financial assistance. This money will help implement all requested recovery projects that were in presidentially declared disaster areas. Examples of conditions qualifying for assistance include debris-clogged stream channels, undermined and unstable stream banks, jeopardized water control structures and public infrastructures, and wind-borne debris removal.
The largest portion of the funds announced today will go to Colorado, which will receive more than $19 million for recovery from one of the worst fire seasons in the state's history. In 2012, more than 200,000 acres burned, taking more than 600 homes and other structures with them.
Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, New Mexico and Ohio will receive the rest of the funds.
In addition to this recovery funding, NRCS is responding to the recent Oklahoma tornados and has already allocated about $500,000 in emergency funding to begin work on sites that pose significant hazards.
New OQBN Program Rolls Out
A new Oklahoma Quality Beef Network (OQBN) program is aimed at helping producers with cattle from sources outside their ranches to certify the quality of their herds.
OQBN PRECON is the result of feedback from both buyers and sellers across the state, said Gant Mourer, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension beef value enhancement specialist.
“Feedlot operators and cattle buyers were looking for more verified cattle, while producers wanted to be able to market their cattle to feedlots as higher-quality cattle,” Mourer said. “OQBN PRECON addresses the needs of both feedlot operators and producers.”
Eligible OQBN PRECON cattle must be owned by a producer a minimum of 60 days and have the required vaccinations. Other requirements for enrollment in the initiative may be found at www.oqbn.okstate.edu.
OQBN PRECON is free to producers with the exception of purchasing an ear tag for each certified calf.
The new initiative is similar, but separate from OQBN Vac-45, which is restricted to verified ranch-raised cattle.
According to Jan. 1 estimates from the USDA, there are about 4.2 million head of cattle in Oklahoma, and Mourer believes about half that total would qualify for either OQBN PRECON or OQBN Vac-45.
“The types of management practices encouraged though OQBN PRECON are really the start of proper welfare for calves as they move through the industry, so operators are the initial line of defense in animal welfare,” Mourer said.
American Agri-Women Presents “Champion of Agriculture” Award to Senator John Thune
John Thune of South Dakota was honored with the 2013 American Agri-Women Champion of Agriculture Award during the organization's annual legislative Fly-In trip to Washington, D.C. Senator Thune is a strong advocate for issues that are vital to American food security and for sustaining our farming communities. He has led actions for a sensible school lunch program, protection of property rights, a transparent spending policy, and the repeal of the Death Tax. Senator Thune has been a watchdog for the welfare of rural communities through active support and sponsorship of important bills to agriculture during his terms of office. Thune, who is the senior most Republican on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, serves as Ranking Member. He also served in Republican leadership as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee from 2009-2011 and now serves as the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the No. 3 position in Senate Republican leadership.
“Senator Thune has provided leadership and direction for agriculture in Washington, D.C.,” says AAW President Karen Yost. “Because there are so few in Washington who have a firsthand knowledge of the industry that they regulate, it is imperative that those who know and understand the rural community be active evangelists for our lifestyle. Senator Thune has made a courageous effort to lead positive conversations for families in agriculture.”
Sharing the 2013 Champions of Agriculture honor with Senator Thune was Senator Susan Collins of Maine. The award recognizes members of Congress who are courageous in their efforts to support agriculture.
USDA Promotes Efforts to Ensure Children Have Access to Healthy Food During Summer
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack kicked off National Summer Food Service Program Week June 10 by reiterating USDA's commitment to ensuring that no child goes hungry when school is out and highlighting progress towards USDA's goal of serving 5 million more meals to eligible kids across the country.
“When school is out during the summer months, many families struggle to feed their children even one nutritious meal a day,” said Vilsack. “Government cannot address this challenge alone, which is why, this week, we join our valued partners to raise awareness about the nutrition gap low-income children face when schools close for the summer. Working together, we can make sure children have access to nutritious food year-round.”
National Summer Food Service Program week is a national push to promote USDA's Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and other initiatives across the country to feed more low-income children when school is out. These federally funded programs are designed to alleviate hunger during the summer months and operate through partnerships between USDA, state agencies and local organizations.
“USDA's summer feeding initiative supports programs that keep children active and engaged when school is out, reducing learning loss that often occurs during the summer months,” said Vilsack. “We must do all we can to ensure that children get nutritious food year-round, so that they are ready to learn during the school year and have a greater chance to succeed.”
NCBA, PLC Call for Full Delisting of Wolves Nationwide
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) expressed support for the June 10 proposal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to remove the gray wolf from the list of threatened and endangered species. The livestock associations added, however, that Mexican wolves in the Southwest should also be delisted. In their announcement, FWS stated the Mexican wolf will remain on the list of endangered species.
The wolf, placed on the list of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) over three decades ago, has far surpassed FWS recovery goals across the country, according to NCBA President and Wyoming rancher Scott George. He added that, unlike most other species listed under the ESA, wolves pose a serious threat to wildlife, humans and private property, especially livestock.
PLC President Brice Lee, a rancher from Colorado, stated that the FWS does not have the resources to continue managing the wolf as endangered, let alone compensate ranchers for their losses. Studies have shown, he said, that for every confirmed kill of livestock there are seven to eight that go unconfirmed.
“We appreciate FWS' recognition that the gray wolf is recovered,” George stated. “But it's also time to end the unwarranted listing of the Mexican wolf. Wolf depredation threatens ranchers' livelihoods and rural communities, as well as the economies relying on a profitable agricultural industry.”
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