News Update
August 14, 2014
Radale Tiner Elected President
of Texas Purebred Cattle Alliance
Radale Tiner, American Angus Association regional manager for Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana, was recently elected president of the Texas Purebred Cattle Alliance (TPCA). The statewide organization was formed to establish an alliance of all purebred breeders and associations to promote and protect the seedstock cattle industry in Texas. The group is also concerned with improving production techniques and conditions involved with raising purebred cattle.
“I feel extremely honored to be part of an organization that is focused on working for the beef producers of Texas,” Tiner says. “I’m looking forward to the year ahead, serving with my fellow breed association colleagues.”
The TPCA promotes educational programs and activities to protect the beef industry and the high-quality product farmers and ranchers supply. The group works closely with the Texas Animal Health Commission, the Texas Department of Agriculture, the USDA and their representatives on animal health issues and marketing seedstock cattle. The TPCA also cooperates with the Texas Beef Council, U.S. Beef Breeds Council and the American Dairy Council in efforts to improve the purebred cattle industry.
The organization promotes marketing ideas, international and domestic trade, encourages better communication among the purebred cattle breeders and their associations. The TPCA provides greater unity within the purebred cattle industry to affect a more reasonable and effective way for purebred cattle breeders to deal with legislation applicable to the cattle industry.
Members of the 2014-2015 TPCA officer team are: President Radale Tiner, American Angus Association; First Vice President Jason Bates, International Brangus Breeders Association; Second Vice President John Ford, Santa Gertrudis Breeders International; and Secretary/Treasurer Collin Osbourn, Beefmaster Breeders United.
Water Bond Gives California a Chance
to Reverse a ‘Pattern of Neglect’
The passage of a rewritten water bond by the state legislature brings California a step closer to improving its water future, according to the president of the California Farm Bureau Federation (CFBF). Although the Aug. 13 vote marked the end of more than five years of often difficult negotiations, CFBF President Paul Wenger said, it also marks the beginning of a campaign to encourage Californians to invest in the state’s water system.
“The severe water shortages we’re currently experiencing result from 30 years of neglecting our water-storage system. That neglect is magnified by the drought, and it’s time to reverse that pattern of neglect. Placing this water bond on the November ballot gives Californians a chance to provide more water for our cities, for food production and for the environment,” Wenger said.
The revised $7.5 billion bond measure includes $2.7 billion for water-storage projects and that money will be continuously appropriated, meaning future legislatures will not be able to redirect it to other uses.
“There’s been a lot of discussion the past few days about the amount of money in the bond that will be devoted to more storage,” Wenger said. “That discussion has been important and helped convince the governor to support more investment in storage than he had originally. The bottom line is that this bond represents the state’s largest investment in water storage in more than 30 years, and it couldn’t come at a more critical time.
“As the drought has shown us all too well, we have lived too long with an outdated water-storage system,” he said. “We need to update that system to match changing weather patterns, in which more precipitation will fall as rain rather than as snow. Additional surface storage can capture those strong storm surges when they come, prevent flooding and bank that water for later dry times.”
Wenger noted that putting this rewritten bond measure on the ballot is only part of the solution.
“That’s why it’s important that the governor and the legislature were able to agree on this package,” he said. “We needed to have a bond with the best possible chance of passage. We look forward to the governor’s participation in the campaign for new water storage.”
IDEAg Dakotafest 2014
The 2014 IDEAg Dakotafest has something to offer farmers and agriculture enthusiasts alike. From educational forums to equipment demonstrations and sales, the ever-expanding event continues to connect industry leaders with primary manufacturers and producers. The annual outdoor farm show will take place Aug. 19-21 at the Schlaffman Farm in Mitchell, S.D.
“Dakotafest is the leading agricultural event in the Northern Plains and has only continued to grow over the years,” said Raymond Bianchi, senior director, expositions and events, for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and IDEAg Group. “This year’s presentations and forums will be more engaging than ever, with candidates coming face-to-face to discuss rural issues, live demos of cutting-edge equipment and more. There’s something for every farmer or rancher, whether you’re a vendor or an attendee.”
Drawing from 16 different states, Dakotafest will feature the products and services of more than 500 companies. Additionally, the host city, Mitchell, was named South Dakota’s 2011 Community of the Year, offering cultural attractions, affordable accommodations and plenty of outdoor activities.
Other upcoming IDEAg shows include the Amarillo Farm & Ranch Show (Dec. 2-4) in Amarillo, Texas; and the Northern Illinois Farm Show (Jan. 7-8) in DeKalb, Ill. Learn more at www.ideaggroup.com.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
AgriLife Extension Sets Two Meetings:
Crops on Aug. 21, Cattle on Aug. 28
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Swisher County Ag Committee will conduct two producer programs in late August.
A Swisher County Sorghum and Corn Tour is set for Aug. 21, and a Stocker Cattle Workshop will be Aug. 28. Both have a $10 registration fee.
The Swisher County Sorghum and Corn Tour will meet at 10 a.m. at the Swisher County Co-op Gin, located 1 mile east of Kress on Farm-to-Market Road 145. From there, participants will travel to the Mike Goss Farm, south of the Flint Elevator, to view a Pioneer sorghum variety trial under drip irrigation.
The second stop on the tour will be at the Jeremy Reed Farm, 3.5 miles west of Kress on Farm-to-Market Road 145. The program will include information on a dryland sorghum variety trial being conducted by Pioneer, followed by lunch.
The noon program will include updates from the Texas Sorghum Producers and Texas Corn Producers staff. Blayne Reed, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management agent for Hale/Swisher counties, will also detail insect scouting techniques and a Huskie herbicide trial update.
From the Reed Farm, the tour will travel 6 miles north on County Road 9/Farm-to-Market Road 3141 to Dunn Farms. Fields in this stop will include drip and center pivot irrigated corn, featuring Pioneer and Channel varieties.
Three Texas Department of Agriculture private pesticide application continuing education units will be given. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP for this program by Aug. 18 to 806-995-3726.
The Stocker Cattle Workshop will begin at 6 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Happy Community Center in Happy, with registration and a meal sponsored by Great Plains Ag Insurance.
Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in Amarillo, will present educational information regarding the nutritional management of incoming stocker calves and management strategies that affect the value of gain.
Zach Smith of Dimmitt Vet Clinic will present information on the vaccines and treatment protocols on incoming cattle. A cattle market outlook presentation also will be given by Jason Slane, market and membership manager for Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Amarillo.
Wrapping up the program will be Rachel Meyers, Great Plains Ag Insurance in Amarillo, providing a grazing insurance product update, and Wes Stribling, ADM in Amarillo, discussing feed products.
Those planning to attend this meeting are asked to RSVP by Aug. 25.
For more information on either program, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Swisher County at 806-995-3726.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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