Industry News
Sept. 15, 2008

Texas AgriLife Extension offers online post-flood information

Flooding resulting from Hurricane Ike is expected to affect many Texas counties.

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service offers a variety of online information in Spanish and English on recovering from floods, most of which can be downloaded free.

Some materials include: “Controlling Mold Growth after the Storm,” “Caring for Important Papers after a Flood,” “Decontaminating Flooded Wells” and “Mosquito Problems After a Storm.”

For information on these and other materials, go to http://agrilifebookstore.org.

Additional information on flood and other disaster recovery is available at the Texas Extension Disaster Education Network web site, http://texashelp.tamu.edu/004-natural/floods.php and through county AgriLife Extension offices.

AgriLife Extension also has a series of public service announcements in English and Spanish available for media use to help listeners learn how to clean up and stay well after the storm.

English-language PSAs and scripts can be found at http://agnews.tamu.edu/issues/hurricane. Click on English or Spanish to make the preferred language selection.

These PSAs are free for broadcasters and also may be used by print or broadcast media and on emergency assistance web sites.

— Release provided by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

New Mexico’s cattle TB status downgraded

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is reclassifying New Mexico as modified accredited advanced for bovine tuberculosis (TB).

Although this action is consistent with the reclassification of other accredited-free states with two or more TB-affected herds during a 48-month period, intact heifers still can be shipped interstate if moved directly to a feedlot or in feeder channels. Also, the movement of spayed heifers and steers, cattle from a TB-accredited free herd and cattle or bison less than 6 months of age, can continue.

APHIS is working closely with New Mexico animal health officials to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to further examine the state’s TB status. APHIS will evaluate thoroughly and consider all scientific information collected during the assessment. This information will be used when deciding any future actions that should be taken in New Mexico, which could result in less restrictive measures.

New Mexico officials took immediate action to stop the spread of the disease and have worked cooperatively with APHIS to maintain normal movement of cattle while taking appropriate steps to stop the spread of TB. APHIS will continue to work closely with the state to further test for TB and revise the restrictions as necessary.

APHIS had divided the state of New Mexico into two zones for the purpose of TB status classification, with an accredited-free zone and a modified accredited advanced zone. In April 2007, New Mexico officials confirmed an affected dairy herd in the accredited-free zone during an epidemiological investigation of a TB-positive cow found through harvest surveillance. Recently, a second affected herd was identified in the same zone. The finding of the second affected herd within a 48-month period means that the zone no longer meets the requirements for accredited-free status.

Bovine TB is a contagious and infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis. It affects cattle, bison, deer, elk, goats and other warm-blooded species and can be fatal. The disease can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals or consumption of raw milk. It is not transmitted through consumption of pasteurized milk. If a producer suspects TB in their herd, they should isolate the animal immediately and contact their veterinarian for a proper diagnosis.

Notice of this interim rule is published in the Sept. 11 Federal Register and becomes effective upon publication.

Consideration will be given to comments received on or before Nov. 10. Send two copies of postal or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. APHIS-2008-0068, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Rd., Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Comments can be submitted on the Federal eRulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2008-0068.

Comments received are posted on the www.regulations.gov web site and also can be viewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th St. and Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To facilitate entry into the comment reading room, please call 202-690-2817.

— Release provided by Texas Animal Health Commission.

Profitable Landownership Topic of St. Louis Workshop

Non-operator landowners, and those considering purchasing farmland, are invited to attend a workshop Sept. 25 in Saint Louis, Mo., to learn about the financial aspects of land ownership. Workshop topics will include key indicators for commodity price direction; the profit potential of alternative lease types; the formula to managing a cash rent lease; the impact of the new Farm Bill; and profit opportunities for the future.

Farmers National Co. is hosting the 2008 Landowner Workshop, titled “The Keys to Profitable Land Ownership.”

“Now more than ever, it’s important for landowners to stay abreast of what’s happening in the market,” said Jim Farrell, president of Farmers National Co. “For example, we are seeing significant disparities in cash rent rates between similar farms, which is a sign that some landowners are not aware of the true value of their land.”

As a way to get the next generation involved, current clients of Farmers National Co. and their children can attend the workshop at no cost. The Landowner Workshop will be offered Sept. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. at the Sheraton Westport Chalet, 191 Westport Plaza, Saint Louis, Mo.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

More than 1,400 landowners attended Farmers National Co. workshops last year. Seating is limited and preregistration is suggested. For more information or to register, call 1-800-346-2650 or visit www.farmersnational.com/Landowner_Workshops. The cost for registration is $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

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