News Update
September 1, 2017
Holiday Closing
The offices of the American Angus Association and Angus Productions Inc. in Saint Joseph, Mo., will be closed Sept. 4, 2017, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Normal operations will resume Sept. 5.
Focus on Progress at the International
Genomics Symposium at the 2017 Angus Convention
The 2017 Angus Convention will feature an exciting general welcome session and the International Genomics Symposium, sponsored by Neogen GeneSeek Operations, to lead off this year’s event, including the unveiling of the next-generation genomic profile test Angus GS®, powered by Neogen.
“This year’s International Genomics Symposium focuses on progress,” says Clint Mefford, director of communications at the American Angus Association. “From the future of technology impacting the Angus business and innovative genetic tools, 2017 Angus Convention attendees will get to see firsthand how our industry is moving forward.”
The general welcome session features futurist Lowell Catlett. Catlett retired in July 2015 as regents professor in agricultural economics and agricultural business and extension and the dean and chief administrative officer of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at New Mexico State University. His knowledge of technologies and their implications on the way we live will be the theme of his upbeat presentation. Catlett’s vast knowledge astounds corporate and association audiences both nationally and internationally. The presentation promises to be thought-provoking and highly entertaining.
Continue reading this Angus news release online.
USDA Providing Nutrition Help to States
Hit by Hurricane, Flooding
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is actively working with officials in Texas and Louisiana to ensure that people affected by Hurricane Harvey have access to food now and after emergency operations are completed.
“In this time of crisis, with many grocery stores closed and other sources of food unavailable, USDA is committed to ensuring that our fellow Americans get the vital nutrition they need and is streamlining procedures to make that happen,” said Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “President Trump made it clear to his cabinet that helping people is the first priority and that process and paperwork can wait until later. USDA is already doing the work to help people in need today.”
FNS is working with officials in the affected region to help feed displaced and affected residents. The agency has granted several waivers in Texas allowing schools in the National School Lunch Program to provide free meals. It has also provided more flexibility to schools in what they can feed kids, given the challenges of preparing specific foods during this period.
For more information, view the full USDA news release online.
Texas Farm Bureau Establishes Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund
The Texas Farm Bureau has established a relief fund to address the ag losses inflicted by Hurricane Harvey. The category four storm struck Texas with a vengeance, flooding Texas farm communities, small towns and major cities. Those farm and ranch families are now left facing overwhelming odds following high winds and unprecedented rainfall.
“It’s an historic storm and a disaster for many farmers and ranchers. The torrential rainfall wreaked havoc on Texas agriculture at the worst possible time — harvest season,” Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening said. “Hurricane Harvey struck an area of the state known for cattle, cotton and rice, and other row crops.”
There’s much work ahead in rebuilding, but that’s what farmers and ranchers intend to do.
Texas Farm Bureau’s Agriculture Research and Education Foundation has established the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to aid in the recovery efforts following the devastating storm.
Tax-deductible donations can be made to the foundation to assist farmers and ranchers. Donations to this fund will be dispersed via an application process directly to the farmers and ranchers affected by the hurricane.
Read the full Texas Farm Bureau news release online.
USDA Grants MU $460,000 to Develop Immunizations
for Tick-Borne Disease
Anaplasmosis is an infectious blood disease in cattle caused by certain bacteria transmitted by ticks worldwide. The USDA recently awarded $460,000 to Bill Stich, professor of parasitology in the University of Missouri (MU) College of Veterinary Medicine, to study a new approach to interfering with this pathogen in the tick vector. Building on existing research, he and his team are working to develop immunizations with extracts from tick tissues to fight the disease.
It has been estimated that more than 80% of beef cattle are affected by ticks. Anaplasmosis, which is passed by ticks through their bite and saliva, infects the red blood cells and causes severe anemia, fever and weight loss; it is known to be fatal. Currently, prevention and control of this disease involves chemical pesticides and antibiotics to control ticks and infections, respectively; however, ticks are developing resistance to these methods.
“Ticks are important pests, but their main importance is in the transmission of germs that can cause life-threatening diseases,” Stich said.
Learn more in the news release online.
Mini Agriculture Conference set Sept. 11 in Hemphill County
A Mini Ag Conference, hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, is set for Sept. 11 at the Hemphill County Exhibition Center, 10865 Exhibition Center Road in Canadian.
The program is designed to provide beef producers with important information, said Andy Holloway, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Hemphill County.
Registration is $25 per person and includes lunch. Those planning to attend should RSVP to the AgriLife Extension Hemphill County office at 806-323-9114 or andy.holloway@ag.tamu.edu by Sept. 8.
The program will begin with registration at 8 a.m. followed by a morning program featuring Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in Amarillo, who will discuss herd nutrition for fall and winter, trichomoniasis in herd bulls and critical issues facing ranchers.
Filling out the rest of the morning program will be Tim Steffens, AgriLife Extension range specialist in Canyon, discussing grass grazing and animal management.
The noon program will include a wildfire video titled “The Ties That Bind.”
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
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