News Update
August 3, 2015
Investing in Angus Youth Education
Education continues to be at the forefront of the Angus Foundation’s mission, and through the years the organization has continued to expand its support given to Angus youth toward their dreams of higher education. This year at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Tulsa, Okla., more than 100 scholarships were presented to undergraduate and graduate students, totaling more than $215,000 invested in the agriculture industry’s future.
“The Angus Foundation is committed to providing more dollars to Angus youth and their education,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “Without the generous donations of Angus supporters who establish endowments and provide unrestricted funds through the Angus Foundation, our scholarship program wouldn’t be as successful as it is today.”
The 2015 scholarships recipients were recognized in the NJAS showring July 16-17, where a near-record number of Angus cattle and NJAA members competed in the national event.
For more information, please view the full Angus news release.
Website for Farmers Affected by Wet Weather
Too much rain this spring and summer has given Missouri farmers unprecedented challenges, say University of Missouri (MU) Extension agriculture specialists.
In many parts of the state, wet fields have delayed or prevented corn and soybean planting. Farmers are looking at the prospect of reduced yields, stunted growth, and pest, weed and disease problems. Fruit and vegetable producers, gardeners and homeowners face similar concerns.
An MU Extension task force has developed a website with information for farmers, ranchers, fruit and vegetable growers, gardeners, landowners and others affected by the wet weather. Topics include row crops, forages, cover crops, livestock impacts, horticulture, crop insurance, nutrient management, trees and turfgrass, and monitoring and control of pests, diseases and weeds.
The website will be updated as new information becomes available.
USDA and New Mexico Officials Launch
National Farmers’ Market Week
On Aug. 1, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the start of the 16th annual Farmers’ Market Week, which began Sunday, Aug. 2, through Aug. 8. Vilsack made the announcement as Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator Anne Alonzo and local officials launched the annual observance of National Farmers’ Market Week at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market.
“Farmers’ Markets benefit communities by offering healthy, wholesome food while local farmers and ranchers benefit from new ways to present their products to customers,” said Vilsack. “People are changing how they think about farmers’ markets as they become community gathering points, and we have seen a 64% increase in customer traffic in markets open for at least two years.”
The Santa Fe Market operates three times a week and draws as many as 5,000 visitors a day during its peak season.
For more information, please view the full USDA release online.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Cases Reported in Texas
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) recently received confirmation from the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) of Texas horses testing positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The infected horses are located in Newton, Orange, Liberty, Jasper and Jefferson counties. To date, there are a total of five positive EEE cases in Texas.
TAHC officials remind equine owners to consult with their private veterinary practitioner regarding vaccinating their horses against mosquito-borne illnesses such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE), Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE), and West Nile Virus.
Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) is a mosquito-borne viral disease of all equine species. Infected horses may suddenly die or show progressive central nervous system disorders. Symptoms may include unsteadiness, erratic behavior and a marked loss of coordination. The death rate for animals infected with EEE is 75%-100%.
Western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) is a viral disease that mainly affects horses; mosquitoes primarily transmit this disease. Similar to EEE, WEE is characterized by central nervous system dysfunction. About 20% to 50% of horses infected with WEE die.
For more information, please view the full news release.
East Texas Forage Conference set Aug. 28
The East Texas regional forage conference will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Yamboree Fairgrounds in Gilmer.
Programming will focus on helping producers increase yields and lower costs, with presentations to address the latest in production techniques and newest herbicides, said Randy Reeves, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Harrison County.
Registration for the conference is $10 per person, with a lunch sponsored by Legacy Ag Credit, Longview. Program topics will include irrigation of forage crops, winter forage utilization, pasture herbicides, winter forage options and low-input considerations for producers.
The presentations will be followed at 3 p.m. by a question-and-answer session. The conference is also approved to award 1.5 credits toward the Beef Quality Assurance program.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Editor’s Note: The articles used within this site represent a mixture of copyrights. If you would like to reprint or repost an article, you must first request permission of Angus Productions Inc. (API) by contacting the editor at 816-383-5200; 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506. API claims copyright to this web site as presented. We welcome educational venues and cattlemen to link to this site as a service to their audience.