News Update
December 20, 2013
I Am Angus Broadcasts Monday, Dec. 30
In the stillness of the holiday season, after all the presents are unwrapped and tables cleared, there is an opportunity to pause and reflect. Forget the hustle and bustle of the season and simply focus on beauty only nature can provide — the sharp crunch of frozen snow, a thick curtain of falling flakes, and black Angus cattle making their way through the pasture.
Take a journey through these scenes as the American Angus Association presents I Am Angus at 8 p.m. EST (7 p.m. CST) Monday, Dec. 30, on RFD-TV.
“We celebrate Christmas on I Am Angus by focusing on the simple treasures of the ranch: the cowboys, the families, frozen lands, and of course, the cattle,” says Eric Grant, Association public relations and communications director.
Included in the show is the inspiring story of Hugh and Eleanor Ingalls from Faith, S.D. Their farm, Centennial Angus, was struck by the devastating fall blizzard, and they share how they are dealing with the losses. The upcoming I Am Angus episode also features a number of other ranchers who endure winter weather to care for the animals.
The hour-long program is the third episode in the Association’s popular documentary series, which introduces the individuals, families and history involved on farms and ranches across the country.
For more information, please view the full release here.
National Grange Seeks Volunteers to Preserve History
The National Grange is beginning a large project focused on preserving the organization’s 146-year history and is seeking volunteers to assist.
“We are scanning, photographing and otherwise capturing many of the vast collection of our records in an effort to make sure this history isn’t lost,” National Grange Communications Director Amanda Leigh Brozana said. “It’s a huge undertaking and will take much more than just our staff to complete even a portion of this project before our 150th Anniversary in 2017.”
Some of the many documents being captured include the Journal of Proceedings dating back to 1873, minutes from the Assembly of Demeter dating back to 1893, Juvenile Grange Quarterly reports records and charter books.
Brozana said the project will require hundreds of volunteer hours from dedicated Grange members and history buffs others interested in the organization, but, she said, “practically anyone with a computer and Internet connection can help.”
Volunteers will be provided PDFs, JPGs or text documents of historical records, as well as Excel spreadsheets for some. Those preserving things such as Sixth and Seventh Degree records will be asked to look at the original files and put the information into the specified fields of the spreadsheet. Others who are assisting in the digitization of the Journal of Proceedings and other books will be given text documents and provided the original book to make sure all materials transcribed by a computer program are accurate.
Anyone interested in assisting can contact the Communications Director Amanda Leigh Brozana by email at abrozana@nationalgrange.org.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Food and Drug Administration Announces
Changes To Be Made to FSMA Rules
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Dec. 19 that it will be making significant changes to two of its proposed rules to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act. See the official statement from Michael Taylor, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine, here.
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and its member organizations mounted a major campaign to help farmers and consumers submit public comment to FDA on its proposed Produce Rule and Preventive Controls Rule. NSAC’s Policy Director Ferd Hoefner offers these comments on the announcement:
“We are encouraged that the Food and Drug Administration is starting in on a new approach. Thousands of sustainable and organic farmers and local food-system entrepreneurs responded with deep concerns to the original proposed rules FDA issued to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). We commend FDA for listening carefully to those concerns and coming to the proper conclusion that significant changes are needed.
“We are cautiously optimistic that the approach they announced today — major changes on targeted issues that will be open for a second round of public comment — will be adequate for the task at hand, namely to lead toward a substantially reworked, clearer and more practical proposal. The modernization of food-safety rules is a major undertaking and it is more important to get it right than to meet any arbitrary deadlines for completion of the task.”
For more information, please view the full release here.
Central Texas Cow-Calf Clinic Scheduled Jan. 3 in Milano
A beef cattle market outlook for 2014 will be one of the featured presentations at the Central Texas Cow-Calf Clinic scheduled Jan. 3 at the Milano Livestock Exchange.
Cost is $20 and includes snacks and a barbecue lunch. Onsite registration begins at 8 a.m., with the program beginning at 9 a.m. The clinic will conclude at 3 p.m.
“This annual five-hour educational clinic has focused on helping beef producers solve the issues and challenges that we face as cattle producers,” said Jon Gersbach, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Milam County. “This year’s program will contain six presentations that should benefit all producers in the area.”
Gersbach said David Anderson, AgriLife Extension livestock economist, College Station, will provide a cattle market outlook.
“Dr. Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension state forage specialist in College Station, will present forage production and protection and ways that we can assess and properly manage our pastures,” Gersbach said. “In addition, we will have a presentation from Texas Department of Agriculture on pesticide application laws and regulations.”
A fencing demonstration by San Antonio Steel representative Gary Craig will feature discussions on the differences in post and wire, as well as some tips on proper fence construction, Gersbach said.
“The day will close out with Tiffany Dowell, AgriLife Extension law specialist in College Station, who will discuss pasture leasing and how to construct a lease. This topic will be helpful whether you are a producer or a landowner looking to lease land.”
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Drought Workshop Planned Jan. 9 in Garden City
More than 15 experts in the fields of irrigation, range management, climatology and drought planning are scheduled to speak at a one-day workshop Jan. 9 in Garden City, Kan., on managing drought on the farm and ranch.
Producers can register now for the free workshop, which will take place at the 4-H building on the Finney County Fairgrounds. Registration and coffee begin at 8 a.m.
The workshop will feature morning sessions on climate forecasts and aquifer management. Separate afternoon tracks will target the specific needs of ranchers and irrigated-crop producers.
Speakers will include range, climate, water and irrigation specialists from New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado — areas that have experienced recent droughts. The workshop will also feature farmers and ranchers from across the Great Plains, who will share their experiences and ideas for managing through long-term and extreme drought. Additional speakers will be announced at www.drought.unl/ranchplan.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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