News Update

News Update
March 24, 2008

Current Major Flooding in U.S. a Sign of Things to Come

Significant rainfall last week sent thousands of Midwesterners fleeing their flooded homes, and although some of the rains have ceased, National Weather Service (NWS) personnel are warning residents that problems will continue as rivers continue to crest, according to ABC News. Arkansas, parts of Missouri, Ohio and southern Illinois have all been affected by flood damage, which has contributed to at least 17 deaths.

The flooding in America’s heartland offers a preview of the spring seasonal outlook, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) NWS.

According to NWS, several factors will contribute to above-average flood conditions, including record rainfall in some states and snow packs, which are melting and causing rivers and streams to crest over their banks. Last week, more than 250 communities in a dozen states were experiencing flood conditions.

The science supporting NOAA’s short-term forecasts allows for a high level of certainty. Forecasters highlighted potential for the current major flood event a week in advance and began working with emergency managers to prepare local communities for the impending danger.

“We expect rains and melting snow to bring more flooding this spring,” said Vickie Nadolski, deputy director of NWS. “Americans should be on high alert to flood conditions in your communities. Arm yourselves with information about how to stay safe during a flood and do not attempt to drive on flooded roadways — remember to always turn around, don’t drown.”

Nadolski called on local emergency management officials to continue preparations for a wet spring and focus on public education to ensure heightened awareness of the potential for dangerous local conditions.

Above-normal flood potential is evident in much of the Mississippi River basin, the Ohio River basin, the lower Missouri River basin, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, most of New York, all of New England, and portions of the West, including Colorado and Idaho.

Heavy winter snow combined with recent rain indicates parts of Wisconsin and Illinois should see minor to moderate flooding, with as much as a 20% to 30% chance of major flooding on some rivers in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

Current snow depth in some areas of upstate New York and New England is more than a foot greater than usual for this time of the year, which increases flood potential in the Connecticut River Valley.

Locations in the mountains of Colorado and Idaho have 150% to 200% of average water contained in snow pack leading to a higher-than-normal flood potential.

Snowfall has been normal or above normal across most of the West this winter; however, pre-existing dryness in many areas will prevent most flooding in this region. Runoff from snow pack is expected to significantly improve stream flows compared to last year for the West.

Meanwhile, the spring drought outlook indicates continued general improvement in the Southeast, although some reservoirs are unlikely to recover before summer, NOAA reports. Winter precipitation chipped away at both the western and southeastern drought. On the U.S. Drought Monitor, extreme drought coverage dropped from nearly 50% in mid-December to less than 20% in the Southeast for March.

Overall, the Southeast had near-average rainfall during the winter, with some areas wetter than average. Nevertheless, lingering water supply concerns and water restrictions continue in parts of the region.

Drought is expected to continue in parts of the southern Plains despite some recent heavy rain. Parts of Texas received less than 25% of normal rainfall in the winter, leading 165 counties to enact burn bans by mid-March. Seasonal forecasts for warmth and dryness suggest drought will expand northward and westward this spring.

During the spring season, weather can change quickly — from drought to flooding to severe weather, including outbreaks of tornadoes. People can stay abreast of day-to-day weather fluctuations, as well as lifesaving advisories, watches and warnings, by purchasing an NOAA Weather Radio All-Hazards receiver and visiting www.weather.gov.

— Information provided by ABC News and NOAA.

2008 National Junior Angus Show Set for July 13-19

Angus enthusiasts across the nation won’t want to miss the 2008 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), July 13-19 in Des Moines, Iowa. The Iowa Angus and Iowa Junior Angus associations will host “Christmas in July” at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The weeklong event features the largest single-breed beef cattle show in the world, with more than 1,000 head of cattle exhibited by youth ages 9-21 years old — all members of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA).

Youth will compete for top prizes in several divisions within the cattle show including bred-and-owned heifers, bulls and cow-calf pairs, and owned heifers, cow-calf pairs and steers. Youth also have the opportunity to enter steers in a carcass contest.

Judges for the cattle show include Chris Sankey, Council Grove, Kan., who will evaluate the owned heifers. Mark Duffell, Aldie, Va., will judge the bred-and-owned heifers, bulls and cow-calf pairs, and Blake Bloomberg, College Station, Texas, will evaluate the steers.

In addition to the cattle show, numerous educational competitions take place during the week. Contests allow the youth to showcase their skills outside of the showring, and include prepared and extemporaneous public speaking, a quiz bowl, team sales, team fitting, livestock judging, photography, posters, writing and graphic design. Another feature of the week is the American Angus Auxiliary-sponsored All-American Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) Cook-Off.

This year marks the 42nd Annual National Junior Angus Showmanship contest. Limited to two youth from each state per year, a young person may compete only once in their junior career in this prestigious event. Showmanship judges include Donnie Robertson, Yukon, Okla.; Holly Gamble Meier, Clinton, Tenn.; and Jim Pipkin, Republic, Mo.

Besides the cattle shows and competitions, the NJAA conducts a mentoring program, and a showmanship clinic will be presented. As well, six members will be elected to the NJAA Board of Directors at the annual meeting during the week.

Exhibitors and contestants at the NJAS must be NJAA members and be nine years old, but not yet 21, by Jan. 1, 2008, to compete in the activities. The ownership and entry deadline for cattle is June 1. Late entries are not accepted. Juniors are encouraged to send their entries so delivery can be confirmed, or enter online.

For more information about the 2008 NJAS or junior Angus programs, log on to www.njas.info or contact the Junior Activities Department at 816-383-5100.

— Release provided by the American Angus Association.

Worker Gets Prison Time for Slaughterhouse Abuse

Rafael Sanchez Herrera, one of the men seen abusing downer cows in an undercover video at the now-infamous Westland/Hallmark processing facility, pleaded guilty March 21 to three misdemeanor counts of illegal movement of a non-ambulatory animal, according to The Associated Press (AP). Herrera was sentenced to six months in jail, after which he will be deported to his native Mexico.

Daniel Ugarte Navarro, former supervisor at the plant, pleaded not guilty last week to five felony counts and three misdemeanor counts of animal abuse. According to AP, he is scheduled to appear in court again on April 17 and could be offered his own plea agreement.

Ruminant Nutrition Conference Nears

The Texas Animal Nutrition Council has set the annual Mid-South Ruminant Nutrition Conference for April 7-8 at the Hilton Arlington Hotel, 2401 East Lamar Blvd., in Arlington.

The program will tee off with a noon golf tournament on April 7, which will be followed by registration at 4:30 p.m. and a hospitality hour at 6 p.m. Registration on April 8 begins at 7:30 a.m., and the conference will end after a 4:50 p.m. nutrition council meeting.

Conference fees are $25 for nutrition council members and $95 for non-members. The golf tournament costs $70 per person.

This year’s program will focus on improving nutritional efficiency as the industry switches to using alternative feed sources. Topics will include: Changes in the Concentration of Minerals in Blood of Peripartum Cows; Rethinking Dry Cow Nutrition; Improving Feed Efficiencies with Feed Additives; Forage Successes in Dairy Rations; Reaping the Most Nutrients: Working with Starch and Non-fiber Carbohydrate Digestibility; Strategies to Improve Reproduction During Heat Stress; and Limit-Feeding Dairy Heifers to Improve Feed Efficiency.

To register, make checks payable to the Texas Animal Nutrition Council and mail them to Ellen Jordan, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, 17360 Coit Rd., Dallas, TX 75252-6599. For more information, call 972-952-9201 or visit www.txanc.org/index.html. The event is sponsored by AgriLife Extension, the Texas Animal Nutrition Council and the Texas A&M University System.

NIAA Available on Podcast

Collaboration between the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) and BeefCast,® DairyCast,® PoultryCast® and SwineCast® will make available news and highlights from the organization’s annual meeting scheduled for April 1-3 in Indianapolis.

The podcasts will provide audio access to seminars and forums with industry experts from the NIAA conference addressing disease control, animal welfare, international trade, food safety and security, and animal identification (ID) and information systems as well as other important issues. Speaker’s presentations will be available for download as well.

The NIAA podcasts will be available online following the meeting at www.beefcast.com, www.dairycast.com, www.swinecast.com or www.poultrycast.com through the Conference Connection links. Information on how to access the online materials will also be available at each NIAA seminar.

For more information about the NIAA and the annual meeting, visit www.animalagriculture.org.