News Update

News Update
October 30, 2007

K-State Workshop Series to Help Farm Families with Difficulties of Transition

Passing the farm on to the next generation often proves to be a difficult task for farm families. Kansas State University (K-State) Research and Extension, the K-State Department of Agricultural Economics and the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas are teaming up to present a workshop series aimed at making the transition easier.

Organizers of the “Keeping the Family Farming” workshops are designed to help farm families take a proactive approach to solving problems that often arise in the transitional process.

“For many years, we’ve received referrals from the Kansas Ag Mediation Service,” says Duane Hund, coordinator of the K-State Farm Analyst Program. “Many of those revolved around transitional issues gone wrong.”

The point of the workshops is to help resolve financial and family issues that tend to pop up when families try to figure out how to best pass the farm to the next generation. Conflicts can arise during the planning process, Hund says, because farm transition often involves change, which some family members are more open to than others.

“Keeping the Family Farming” will help families avoid conflict by providing them with an opportunity to communicate openly with each other, Hund says.

“Many conflicts come from people assuming things,” he says. “We’ll probe for those assumptions and bring them into the open and discuss them.”

Topics discussed during the conference will include a financial analysis of the operation, developing a fair plan for passing the farm on, planning for retirement, evaluating the goals of each family member, evaluating the financial feasibility of adding another generation to the operation and estate planning.

Hund said he and other organizers believe the workshop setting will be an excellent venue for people to work on and discuss each issue. The two-workshop series will be offered at two locations. Workshops will be Dec. 7-8 and Jan. 25-26 in Junction City. The series will also be offered in Hays Dec. 14-15 and Feb. 1-2. Those interested in attending either workshop must register by Nov. 14. Registration is $200 per family of four and is limited to 30 families at each location.

In addition to the workshops, for an additional fee, K-State’s Farm Analyst Program will send an analyst to work with families on economic analysis and to visit privately about any issues they feel need additional discussion outside of the workshop setting.

“There’s no cookie-cutter approach that says, ‘Here’s what we do,’ ” Hund says. “It’s all based on communication between family members.”

More information is available by contacting Rodney Jones in the K- State Department of Agricultural Economics at 785-532-1957 or visit www.agmanager.info/Transitions/2007.

— Release from K-State Research and Extension.

Feral Hog Workshop

Texas Cooperative Extension offices in Coke and Sterling counties have teamed up to present a “Feral Hog Appreciation Day,” beginning at 8 a.m. Nov. 12 in the Robert Lee Recreational Hall. The hall is located at the County Park in Robert Lee at the corner of Austin and 15th streets.

A number of Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered: three general, two integrated pest management and one and a half laws and regulations.

“Feral hogs are a growing menace across much of our area, and until recently, we haven’t had much of a problem here,” says Tommy Antilley, Extension agent for Coke County. “That’s all changing now, as evidenced by the increasing number of hog calls we are getting these days.

“These appreciation days have been held around the state to bring landowners and managers up to date on what is happening in their particular area. Now it’s our turn, because we have feral hogs here now. Unfortunately, once you have them, they are all but impossible to get rid of. Our aim is to teach producers what tools are available to help them cope with this new factor on our ranges.”

Morning topics are: “What’s Your Feral Hog IQ,” “Appreciating Feral Hogs,” “Feral Hogs in Texas, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” “Status and Distribution of Feral Hogs in Texas,” “Feral Hog Biology,” “Animal Health Regulations, Transfer of Feral Hogs, Diseases,” “Interactions with Native Wildlife,” and “Research Updates.”

Following a catered lunch, the afternoon session will include: “Controlling Feral Hogs,” “Hunting Opportunities of Feral Hogs-Feral Hog Damage to Landowners,” and “Laws and Regulations Governing Feral Hogs.”

Individual preregistration to cover the meal and printed materials is $20 if paid by Nov. 5 and $30 thereafter.

For more information, call the Extension office in Coke County at 325-453-2461, or in Sterling County at 325-378-3181.

— Release from AGNMORE (Agriculture and More) News.

More bovine TB detected in Minnesota

A heifer from a farm in northern Minnesota has tested positive for bovine tuberculosis (TB) MeatingPlace.com reported this afternoon.

Minnesota has now found the disease in eight beef herds in Roseau and Beltrami counties, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (MBAH).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is coordinating indemnification and depopulation procedures. State and federal officials are monitoring the movement of animals into and out of the Beltrami herd, from which the infected heifer originated.

The herd was quarantined last year after an investigation showed the owner had purchased animals from a TB-infected farm. An initial test revealed that all animals in the herd tested negative.

During a follow-up test conducted last fall, two animals tested suspect for the disease. Tissue samples submitted to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, showed that TB was confirmed in a 12-month-old beef heifer last week. The second animal was negative, according to MBAH.

Minnesota is conducting TB testing in cattle herds statewide, according to Meatingplace. Such surveillance began before the discovery of the infected herd and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.