News Update
April 16, 2015
Weather and Nutrition
Effects on Birth Weight
Although calving ease expected progeny differences (EPDs) are used to predict and minimize dystocia problems, other factors like weather and cow nutrition have influence on calving difficulty.
Ken Olson, South Dakota State University Extension beef specialist, says underfeeding the gestating cow decreases birthweight, but sets the stage for a weak cow, a weak calf, low-quality colostrum, reduced immunity in the calf and a cow that is slow to rebreed.
On the opposite end, an overly-fat cow carries excess fat in the birth canal, making it smaller, creating more dystocia problems and leading to larger birthweight calves.
Read the full article at the >Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA.
House Committee Calls for Repeal of WOTUS
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) applaud the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for sending a clear message to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) that the proposed Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule is an expansion of federal jurisdiction that strips rights from private property owners.
Passing the full Committee April 15 by a vote of 36 to 22, H.R. 1732 Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015 requires the EPA and Army Corps to withdraw the WOTUS proposal within 30 days. NCBA President Philip Ellis said cattlemen and women appreciate the Committee’s efforts for moving legislation forward that addresses the problematic proposed rule.
“The subjective and ambiguous language of the proposed rule would significantly broaden the federal government’s power to regulate waters and adjacent lands that convey water,” said Ellis. “We also appreciate the legislation requiring the federal government to work with state and local governments, further protecting states’ rights.”
The bill also charges the agencies with developing a new proposed rule that must take into consideration all of the comments received and reach consensus with the state and local governments on defining “Waters of the United States.”
“The Administration’s proposed rule is nothing more than regulatory land grab vastly expanding federal authority,” said Brenda Richards, PLC president and rancher from Idaho. “Instead of proactively reaching out to stakeholders before proposing the rule, the Administration pushed forward a rule that didn’t take into account the concerns of agriculture.”
NCBA and PLC urge Congress to act on this important piece of legislation without delay.
Answering Tough Ag Questions
Through social media, America’s farmers and ranchers explain why they do certain things when raising animals for food. This communication is not just one way. Facebook posts from the farm, tweets from the tractor seat and blogs from the “back 40” allow members of the non-farming public to ask questions on everything from how today’s food is grown to how it is processed and eventually brought to market.
Although a growing number of farmers use social media to interact with consumers, trepidation about answering tough ag-related questions causes some to shy away from using this valuable communications tool. But it doesn’t have to be that way, according to a couple of social media experts who teamed up recently to share time-tested tips with Farm Bureau members.
“Be authentic in telling your story,” says Lyndsey Murphy, digital media specialist at the American Farm Bureau. “Speak for you and your farm, not the whole of agriculture,” she advises. If you’re not sure how to answer a question, it’s perfectly ok to say you don’t know but will find the answer.
Murphy finds that using social media to build relationships yields great rewards because everyone is on the same playing field with similar opportunities for interaction. But it does take time. “People’s viewpoints are unlikely to be changed after interacting with you just once,” she cautions.
To read more social media tips, please view the full release.
Beef Conference, Tour set for April 28-29 in Canadian, Texas
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Hemphill County will host the 2015 Beef Conference and Ag Tour April 28-29, which organizers hope will become an annual event.
Speakers on April 28 include Tim Steffens, AgriLife Extension range specialist in Canyon; Minnie Lou Bradley, Bradley 3 Ranch in Memphis; and J.D. Russell, manager of the Spring Creek Matador Ranch, Eureka, Kan.
The tour on April 29 will include the following stops and presentations: Canadian Feedyard and a presentation by Luke Thrasher, “Current State of the Cattle Feeding Industry and What the Future Holds”; The Cattle Exchange with a taste test panel and presentation by Milton Cooke, “The Wave of the Future in the Restaurant Industry Regarding Prime Beef”; and Indian Mound Hereford Ranch, owner Lee Haygood, speaking on “EPDs and their Impact on Today’s Beef Industry and What’s Next.”
The fee is $100 and includes three meals. RSVP is requested by April 24 to the AgriLife Extension office for Hemphill County at 806-323-9114 or on the website at >http://hemphill.agrilife.org/agnatural-resources/. Those needing hotel arrangements should also contact the office.
Two general Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered.
A conclusion dinner will be at Indian Mound Hereford Ranch, sponsored by Panhandle Plains Federal Land Bank. Other meal sponsors include Capital Farm Credit and Cookya Inc.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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