News Update
May 13, 2014
I Am Angus Airs Thursday, May 15
America’s farms and ranches are filled with generations of stories — historic tales and dreams for the future. I Am Angus®, the popular documentary series produced by the American Angus Association, introduces the individuals and families dedicated to raising cattle and caring for the land.
The next I Am Angus episode airs at 10 p.m. Eastern (9 p.m. Central) Thursday, May 15 on RFD-TV, and travels from Michigan to Montana, and many places in between.
“The people involved in the beef business are second to none,” says Eric Grant, program producer and Angus Productions Inc. (API) general manager. “Our team is fortunate to meet these dedicated cattlemen and women and share their experiences with you.”
Now in its fourth season, I Am Angus is an hour-long documentary series that explores each corner of beef production and focuses on the heart of the Angus cattle business — its people, their heritage and why they are involved in agriculture.
Produced entirely by the Association, the May 15 program is sponsored by www.angusauctions.com, the trusted online source for Angus cattle sales. Angusauctions.com is a marketing partnership between API and DV Auction.
I Am Angus broadcasts on RFD-TV. The channel is distributed by more than 625 cable operators, and can be found on DirecTV channel 345 and Dish Network channel 231. Check local listings for more information.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Ranchers Relief Fund Announces Final Distribution
Thanks to generous contributions from around the country and the globe, the Rancher Relief Fund (RRF) is set to disburse the last of $5.4 million donated to assist livestock producers in the wake of winter-storm Atlas.
Bob Fortune, president of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) observed, “The outpouring of support for those impacted by the devastating storm has far exceeded our expectations, and we’re excited to be able to distribute meaningful contributions to more than 600 ranch families who suffered losses. Thanks to the generous donations from so many individuals and companies, we have been able make a real difference for many of our family ranches.”
All disbursements are based on criteria established by a steering committee composed of representatives of the founding livestock organizations — the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association (SDCA), the SDSGA and the South Dakota Sheepgrowers Association. In cooperation with the Black Hills Area Community Foundation and representative members of the South Dakota Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (SDVOAD), the remaining donations will be disbursed in the coming weeks.
Cory Eich, president of the SDCA, noted, “With nearly 43,000 head of livestock reported lost by RRF applicants, we know Atlas took its toll on western South Dakota and neighboring states. However, we are pleased to be able to provide timely assistance and, in conjunction with livestock disaster programs available through the Farm Bill, we are hopeful this effort will make a difference in supporting these family businesses and the rural economy. We can’t thank the RRF donors enough.”
The RRF Steering Committee has established a goal of closing the fund by June 1, 2014. Until then, tax deductible donations are still being accepted for the RRF and can be made online by going to the Black Hills Area Community Foundation’s website at www.giveblackhills.org. For answers to frequently asked questions or for more information on the RRF, please visit www.ranchersrelief.org.
Begin Scouting for Spring Pests at Planting Time
A migrating moth that can cause significant stand loss in corn is just one of the pests growers should be on the lookout for as they gear up for spring planting, an entomologist with Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences said.
Black cutworms have been reported in the neighboring states of Indiana and Pennsylvania in significant numbers in traps set up by entomologists to determine the number of moths migrating up from the south, said Andy Michel, an Ohio State University Extension (OSU) pest expert.
That means Ohio growers should be prepared to begin scouting their fields for this insect, he said.
The pest, while not a widespread problem throughout Ohio, tends to prefer to infest fields with significant ground cover and weed presence, said Michel, who also has an appointment with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC).
“It’s hard to predict where an infestation may occur [because] black cutworm is a migratory moth and wherever they land, they land,” he said. “With black cutworm, growers can find significant injury especially after planting, right when the corn is starting to emerge.
“If you do have an infestation, you could have some significant stand loss, with areas that may need replanting or rescue treatments.”
The concern for this pest is that the migrating moth lays eggs in cornfields, which can cause severe cutting of the plant, Michel said. The resulting stand loss in corn is generally associated with below- or at-ground-level feeding injury, which occurs below the growing point, he said.
Growers who find black cutworm infestations may find that while preventative treatment — including insecticidal seed treatment — is not as effective, rescue treatments are, Michel said.
“But the best management tool for growers is to scout for cutting after corn emergence,” he said.
More information on black cutworm can be found in an OSU Extension fact sheet at www.ohioline.osu.edu/ent-fact/pdf/0035.pdf.
Another pest growers can look out for is the seedcorn maggot, which can impact both corn and soybeans, Michel said. This pest also tends to be found in fields with heavy organic matter or recently tilled-under alfalfa, hay or wheat fields.
Growers who find seedcorn maggots can control the pests with insecticidal seed treatments or commercially applied insecticide seed treatments, he said.
Lastly, growers who find seedcorn maggots in their fields can delay planting by three to four weeks in a field that has green cover tilled under, Michel said. That should be plenty of time for seedcorn maggots to have finished their larval stage, which would limit damage, he said.
Deputy Secretary Harden Announces Event
in Support of Small Businesses in Rural Areas
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Krysta Harden announced that USDA’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) will host an event in Arkansas next month to give small business owners the opportunity to partner with federal agencies. The meeting, in Pine Bluff, supports Obama administration efforts to put Americans back to work and create an economy built to last.
Conference attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a full day of workshops and panel discussions led by program and small-business procurement officials from USDA and other federal agencies. Topics include acquisition needs and opportunities, procurement methods and business development resources. In continuing efforts to increase small business contracting participation by enhancing the competitive posture of small businesses and small farmer-owned cooperatives, there will also be a workshop dedicated to contracting opportunities in rural America.
The event will take place Wednesday, June 25, from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Building #30, S.J. Parker 1890 Extension Complex Auditorium, 2300 L. A. Prexy Drive, Pine Bluff, AR 71601.
There is no conference fee. Preregistration is preferred with onsite registration available. Registration will open from now until June 18. For additional information, visit www.usda.gov/osdbu.
This is National Small Business week. To find out more visit the U.S. Small Business Administration website here.
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