News Update
April 25, 2014
Nelson Joins Angus Editorial Team
The Angus Journal, Saint Joseph, Mo., welcomes Paige Nelson, Rigby, Idaho, as its 2014 summer editorial intern. Paige’s responsibilities will include contributing to the Angus Journal, the Angus Beef Bulletin, the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA and the Angus Journal Daily electronic newsletter. She will also work on the 2014 National Junior Angus Association/Angus Journal Photo Contest and attend multiple industry events.
“I know this will be a great opportunity for me to sharpen my skills as an agricultural journalist, as I will be learning from some of the best in the business,” says Nelson. “You don’t get more prestigious in the beef world than Angus.”
Nelson graduated from Brigham Young University–Idaho (BYU–I) in December of 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a minor in journalism. As a student, Nelson co-organized and directed the first BYU-I AG Days, which set a school activities’ attendance record. Nelson also served as the BYU-I Cattlemen’s Society activities chairwoman and planned the 2014 BYU-I Beef Day. She worked as an intern for the Idaho Cattle Association 2013 Annual Convention and Trade Show.
Since graduation, Nelson has pursued a freelance writing career and has been published by the Angus Journal, Post Register’s Intermountain Farm and Ranch Magazine and Progressive Cattleman.
Nelson was raised on a large commercial Angus cow-calf ranch and recognizes the great responsibility that is hers to promote agriculture as a vital and sustainable industry. She also understands the value of scientifically sound and comprehensive articles.
“When I am thinking of topics to write about, I ask myself ‘Will my father find this useful; am I explaining it well enough for it to become applicable?’ ” she said.
“Paige has barely started and is already making a significant contribution to the Angus Journal, with her first full-length feature in the May issue. She’s enthusiastic about the cattle business and serious about supplying content to fill our members’ information needs,” said Shauna Hermel, editor of the Angus Journal. “Being from Idaho, she adds a Western range perspective to our editorial team.”
Nelson began her internship April 23 and will work at the Angus Journal headquarters in Saint Joseph, Mo., through July 11.
From Ag Sector Knowledge to Career Path Development,
the Women in Agribusiness Summit Offers
All-Encompassing Educational Experience
The 3rd annual Women in Agribusiness Summit will offer attendees a comprehensive view into the business topics making headlines in the ag sector, as well as substantive sessions to help steer personal growth and career-path development and impart functional area knowledge.
The Summit, which will be hosted this year Oct. 6-8 in New Orleans, La., at the Hyatt Regency, has grown exponentially since its debut. Last year, the event hosted more than 400 attendees from across the ag value chain, with 33% of the women in attendance at a senior vice president executive level or higher.
“The balance of skill development and industry knowledge sets the Women in Agribusiness Summit apart from others,” said Joy O’Shaughnessy, event director at HighQuest Partners, the events, media and consulting firm that hosts the conference. O’Shaughnessy said the agenda for the event is built on the premise that the best way for women to advance in the sector is to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to make them the most suitable candidate for the job.
For this reason, the Summit content is crafted around three categories of offerings: relevant industry trends, functional area topics and personal skill development.
Plenary sessions will include industry topics such as commodity market outlook, the impact of climate and weather on agriculture production, and the impact of consumer food trends on the agribusiness value chain. Breakout discussions focus on functional areas, such as risk management, transportation, and marketing and human resources, while skill development sessions feature interactive workshops on negotiation, personal branding and preparing for your next position.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Muddy Pens Cause Decrease in Cattle Gains
Livestock producers may not be able to eliminate all the stress placed on herds by Mother Nature, but if they want to maximize animal performance they should make management decisions to minimize animal exposure to mud and provide protection from adverse weather conditions.
Chris Reinhardt, extension feedlot specialist for Kansas State University (K-State), understands that part of raising cattle is dealing with the weather and encourages livestock producers to take precautions that reduce stress from muddy pen conditions.
“Rain, snow, ice and extreme temperatures are a part of life in Kansas,” Reinhardt said. “However, each of these factors can steal a measure of the animal’s performance as that animal moves outside of its comfort zone, called the thermal neutral zone.”
Thermal neutral zone for healthy cattle is 23° to 77° F. When the temperature outside falls below or rises above the animal’s comfort zone, the body needs to produce more energy to stay cool or keep warm.
Feedlots and winter-feeding sites can quickly become muddy after receiving moisture. If cattle are too tightly confined and feeding grounds are not sufficiently spread out, even calving pastures can become riskily muddy.
Reinhardt explained that producers should be concerned with the effects of mud in their pens because of four main reasons. The first, slogging through a muddy pen increases the amount of energy cattle expend, thus reducing the amount of energy left for gain. Mud on the hide also reduces the insulation effects of the hair coat, increasing cold stress and reducing energy left for gain.
In addition, muddy lots in a feedyard make lying down to rest uncomfortable, resulting in more time spent standing, increasing energy expenditure and reducing energy left for gain.
Muddy hides also decrease dressing percentage at the packing plant, causing an increase in processing costs.
For more information please view the full release here.
Well-Owner Training Set for May 12 in Wichita Falls
The Texas Well Owner Network in partnership with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Wichita County is offering a workshop from 6-8:30 p.m. May 12 at the Red River Authority of Texas, 3000 Hammon Road in Wichita Falls.
The training, which is to educate residents about the Seymour aquifer, will discuss well construction and protection and explain limitations of using poor-quality well water. It is free and open to the public, said Drew Gholson, AgriLife Extension program specialist and network coordinator in College Station.
“This educational session on well water is being presented to help address the many calls and questions we are receiving in the AgriLife Extension office about irrigation water needs due to this extended drought,” said David Graf, AgriLife Extension agent for Wichita County. “Individuals, municipalities and anyone interested in the Seymour aquifer water source should attend.”
Gholson said the program will help well owners become familiar with Texas groundwater resources and well maintenance, construction and water quality issues. Topics will include defining parameters for water use for plants and livestock, evaluating well water quality and determining what steps can be taken to achieve acceptable water quality. If time permits, there also will be a discussion of rainwater harvesting.
“Well water availability and well water quality are two key areas that will be covered in this very important workshop to help us deal with extended drought,” Graf said. “Some samples have shown there is water in the county that is questionable for plants. This workshop will provide some answers on how to deal with borderline quality water.”
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Southeastern Ohio Hay Day is June 19
Growers and producers can learn the latest tips and techniques in forage harvesting and forage handling machinery; as well as how to save money during a field day offered by educators from the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
Participants can learn new raking, baling, mowing and tedding techniques during the field day, said Breanna Pye, an OSU Extension educator.
The field day will be. June 19 from 4-8:30 p.m. at the Eastern Agricultural Research Station, 16870 Township Road 126 in Caldwell. The station is part of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC).
In addition to the workshop, equipment dealers will demonstrate the latest in forage harvesting and forage handling machinery at the event, Pye said.
“We will have displays and demonstrations from dealers, who will be showing new equipment and showcasing different techniques,” she said. “The field day is an opportunity for growers and producers to get a different perspective on how to be more efficient and productive and how to get the best use out of your equipment.
“They’ll also get to see firsthand how some of the new equipment works, which can help those who may be using outdated equipment or practices learn a new or alternative way to save money.”
The event is free and open to the public. There will be a light meal provided. Registration and access to field equipment displays begins at 4 p.m., with demonstrations starting at 5 p.m. For more information, contact Pye at 740-732-5681 or email pye.13@osu.edu.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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