News Update
Aug. 19, 2008

Angus Foundation extends room block

Angus Foundation supporters and friends still wishing to attend That Old West Magic – A Saturday Night at Prosperity Junction, the Angus Foundation’s Gala and Auction on Aug. 30 can still make their hotel reservations at the fabulous Skirvin Hilton hotel in downtown Oklahoma City, Okla. Call 405-272-3040, to take advantage of the special Angus Foundation room block rate.

That Old West Magic will also feature one-of-a-kind auction items. To preview a selection of these special items, log on to www.angusfoundation.org.

MU Breimyer Seminar unpacks Farm Bill, Sept. 3

Farmers must make a choice on government program participation before the next crop year. The 2008 Farm Bill gives a new option, based on farm revenue. Or farmers can stick with the old Farm Bill program based on commodity prices.

The new Farm Bill options and much more in the new legislation will be explained at a Breimyer Seminar, Sept. 3, at the University of Missouri–Columbia.

“The new Farm Bill offers a major departure from traditional policy,” said Brent Carpenter, program coordinator with MU Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI).

Just before the seminar, MU FAPRI will run a new analysis of Farm Bill effect, based on a midyear baseline to be completed by the end of August, Carpenter said.

“Farmers have a choice to make, and that choice to participate in the program is irrevocable,” Carpenter said. “Interpreting the complex legislation is tedious.”

The purpose of the seminar, called “Unpacking the 2008 Farm Bill,” is to explain the most important provisions and provide expert analysis, Carpenter said.

This is the first time in the history of the Breimyer Seminar that two policy seminars have been held in one year. The program honors Harold Breimyer, a longtime MU professor of agricultural economics who specialized in farm policy. Prior to joining MU, he had a career at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C.

The new Farm Bill took a long time in the writing, Carpenter said. “It took eight temporary extensions of the expiring law and two overridden vetoes to pass the Food Conservation and Energy Act in June 2008.”

The bill has five new titles with special provisions for horticulture and organic agriculture, commodity futures, livestock, taxes and a new permanent disaster assistance program.

The farm bill provides crop producers a price-based safety net or a switch to a new revenue-based farm program.

Pat Westhoff, co-director of FAPRI, has made a major computer analysis of the new ACRE (Average Crop Revenue Election) program as well as the overall Farm Bill. He will discuss both.

Chad Hart, Iowa State University (ISU), will talk about “Disaster Programs and Crop Insurance.”

Carpenter will explain “Conservation Provisions.” Joe Outlaw, of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University (TAMU), will discuss “Payment Limits and Southern Crop Provisions.”

Scott Brown, MU FAPRI livestock economist, will cover “Livestock and Dairy Provisions.”

At noon, James Wiesemeyer of the Washington bureau of Informa Economics will tell how the 2008 Farm Bill was written. Wiesemeyer writes “Washington Insights,” a blog on AgWeb.com in which he follows political deals being made.

Missouri commodity organization leaders will end the day with a panel discussion and question session.

Advance registration is required. The $25 fee includes lunch and an on-campus parking permit. To register, contact Joyce White at whitej@missouri.edu or 573-882-6533 by Aug. 27.

MU FAPRI is a policy think-tank that provides independent analysis of pending legislation for the U.S. Congress. It is funded in part by the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station.

An earlier Breimyer Seminar this year discussed “Manure Entrepreneurs” on recycling animal wastes.

For more information, see http://fapri.missouri.edu/.

Southwest Stocker Cattle Conference Sept. 30

Stocker cattle operators are facing a unique year, but help is available in determining answers to the coming nontraditional management scenarios by attending the 6th annual Southwest Stocker Cattle Conference Sept. 30.

The conference will take place at the Great Plains Technology Center, located at 4500 SW Lee Blvd. in Lawton, Okla. Conference sign-in will begin at 8:45 a.m. with sessions starting at 9:15 a.m. and finishing at approximately 2 p.m.

“Participants will pick up the latest science-based information and practical tips vital to making sound management decisions, always important given the tight profit margins under which most producers operate, and perhaps more important than ever this year,” said Bob LeValley, Oklahoma State University (OSU) Cooperative Extension Service area livestock specialist.

 Derrell Peel, OSU Cooperative Extension livestock marketing specialist, will lead the opening session. Peel will discuss the current market situation and outlook, focusing on wheat pasture cattle and detailing how supply, demand, export markets and weather are affecting the potential profitability of wheat-stocker operations.

Dave Lalman, OSU Cooperative Extension beef cattle specialist, will then help participants examine how they might best manage stocker enterprises on wheat given high wheat prices, high fertilizer inputs and high value of gain for cattle.

A special focus of this year’s conference will be the Oklahoma Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program, after which producers will have an opportunity to become BQA certified.

“The producer, packer and consumer all benefit when better quality cattle leave the farm and reach the marketplace,” LeValley said. “Over time, implementation of a BQA program is expected to improve producer profits by emphasizing good recordkeeping practices and protecting herd health through the prevention, containment and control of disease.”

LeValley added that the BQA program’s emphasis on safety and wholesomeness also enhances public perception of beef and cattle producers, important because the beef industry is constantly under scrutiny from consumers and special interest groups.

BQA topics will be led by LeValley; Heather Buckmaster, Oklahoma Beef Council executive director; Glenn Selk, OSU Cooperative Extension animal reproduction specialist; Gene Parker, OSU Cooperative Extension veterinarian and food animal quality and health specialist; and OSU Cooperative Extension agricultural educators Max Gallaway of Stephens County, Aaron Henson of Tillman County and Marty New of Comanche County.

A trade show will take place in conjunction with the conference.

There is no cost to attend. However, participants are asked to preregister by contacting their local OSU Cooperative Extension county office, the Southwest Area OSU Cooperative Extension Office in Duncan at 580-255-0546 or by e-mailing LeValley at bob.levalley@okstate.edu.

K-State’s Beef Stocker Field Day To Address Changes in Industry

Thursday, Oct. 2 has been set for Kansas State University (K-State) Beef Stocker Field Day 2008. The event, designed to give producers the latest practical information to help them adapt to recent significant changes in the beef industry, starts with registration at 9:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 10:15 a.m. at K-State’s Beef Stocker Unit. The unit is just west of Manhattan on west Marlatt Ave.

Wes Ishmael, of BEEF magazine, will give a presentation on “Key Findings From the National Stocker Survey” and Denny Hausmann of Alpharma Animal Health will speak on “Current Concepts in Medicated Feed Additives.”

K-State researchers and Extension specialists will give presentations on numerous topics, including:

• New Realities of Conducting Business in the Stocker Segment;
• What is the Importance of Temperature When Diagnosing Sickness;
• Making Rational Choices for Stocker Therapy;
• Use of Byproducts for Exploiting Efficient Performance;
• What are the Implications of Heavier Cattle Being Fed for Shorter Days;
• A Visual Tour of the Progression of Pneumonia;
• Proper Injection Considerations for the Assurance of Quality Beef; and
• How Much Do Cutting Bulls Really Cost?

The early registration fee is $25 if paid by Sept. 15, and includes a barbecue brisket lunch and numerous presentations. A Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry, including Dutch Oven Cowboy Cuisine and Pitchfork Fondue, compliments of Moly Manufacturing, will close out the day. Information will be available regarding ultrasound applications for earlier detection of quality cattle; the latest innovation in data collection and scale head technology; and cattle handling facilities.

More information and registration forms are available by contacting Lois Schreiner in the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry at 785-532-1267 or lschrein@ksu.edu. Registration is also available online at http://www.ksubeef.org.

K-State’s Wildcat Steer Futurity set to debut in October

The first-ever Kansas State University (K-State) Wildcat Steer Futurity has been announced and nominations are due Oct. 17.

The K-State Wildcat Steer Futurity is an educational feeding program that allows beef cattle producers to learn about the cattle feeding industry and provides producers with an information feedback system regarding the performance and carcass composition of their cattle.

For more information about the program or to receive a nomination form, contact Justin Waggoner at 620-275-9164 or jwaggon@ksu.edu; Karl Harborth at 620-431-1530 or harborth@ksu.edu; or Larry Hollis, K-State Extension beef veterinarian, at 785-532-1246 or lhollis@ksu.edu.

— compiled by Tosha Powell, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.