News Update
Dec. 5, 2008

DHS Selects Manhattan, Kan., for Nation’s Premier Research Facility

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) today, recommending Manhattan, Kan., as the preferred site for the state-of-the-art, high-security laboratory facility to study foreign animal and zoonotic (transferable from animal to human) diseases that can affect livestock.

While a formal Record of Decision will officially designate a site in January, officials are expected to follow the Manhattan recommendation. The facility design is set to begin in 2009, with plans for construction to begin in 2010. It is expected that the NBAF would be operational by 2015.

The NBAF will replace the current facilities at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) off the New York coastline, which is currently the only facility in the U.S. that studies the live virus that causes foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease. The current facility is too small to meet new research needs, has an outdated physical structure and is not appropriate for zoonotic disease research that must be conducted at Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4), according to DHS. (Read the Angus Journal articles “Plum Island” or “Tug of War Over Animal Disease Research” to learn more about Plum Island and the NBAF).

U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) was among those celebrating the decision. Roberts has been a staunch supporter of locating NBAF in Kansas, beginning in 2005 to help usher the state into the running for NBAF consideration.

“Manhattan, Kansas State University (K-State) and the State of Kansas have proven that we are the nation’s leaders in plant and animal research and industry, and I am proud of the role Kansas will continue to play in agriculture security and innovation. This NBAF will protect and build the state’s agriculture economy for decades to come and further expand our national leadership in the biosciences,” Roberts said.

Both Roberts and Jon Wefald, K-State president, have said the nearly half-billion-dollar facility could pump as much as $3.5 billion into the state’s economy and promote the Midwest’s science and technology corridor from Manhattan to Kansas City to Columbia, Mo. As a result of the NBAF site selection, Wefald says he expects Manhattan’s population to double in the next 15 years.

The DHS executive summary of the NBAF Final Environmental Impact Statement stated, “Based on the numerous strengths that were evident when evaluating against the evaluation criteria, the steering committee found that the Manhattan Campus Site best met the purpose and need to site, construct and operate the NBAF ... Finally taking into consideration the ‘in-kind’ contributions offered by the consortia, the Manhattan Campus Site was among the least expensive to construct and had among the lowest planned operation costs of all the Site Alternatives.”

Further details on the proposed NBAF and the site-selection process are available at www.dhs.gov/nbaf.

Symposium Features Ways to Improve Reproductive Efficiency in Beef Cattle

Nearly 200 producers, veterinarians, researchers, artificial insemination (AI) technicians and Extension specialists met in Fort Collins, Colo., Dec. 2-3 to discuss ways to control and improve reproductive success in beef cattle. Presentations at the “Robert E. Taylor Memorial Symposium: Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle” ranged from improving pregnancy rates in natural-service programs to opportunities for using DNA technology to improve reproductive efficiency.

Tuesday morning workshops were designed to improve understanding of the physiological processes of the estrous cycle, currently available procedures to synchronize estrus and ovulation, and the proper application of these systems. Tuesday afternoon’s presenters explored the role of management and nutrition on reproductive rates.

Highlighting Tuesday’s sessions was a keynote address by Ivan Rush, professor emeritus with the University of Nebraska, discussing why commercial cattlemen have been slow to adopt AI as a management tool and a producer panel describing the benefits and limitations of AI in three real-world settings.

Presenters Wednesday addressed male fertility, procedural and health-related factors affecting reproductive rates, as well as the value of using improved genetics and a futuristic look at potential advancements in assessing reproductive traits in beef cattle.

Visit the symposium newsroom at www.AppliedReproStrategies.com for summaries of the presentations, along with accompanying PowerPoint and audio files.

The symposium is co-sponsored by Colorado State University and the Beef Reproduction Task Force, which is comprised of Extension animal scientists from Kansas State University, the University of Nebraska, South Dakota State University, Iowa State University, the University of Idaho, the University of Illinois, the University of Florida and the University of Missouri with support from several industry sponsors.

Online coverage of the symposium is provided by Angus Productions Inc. (API).

— release provided by API.

KLA: Ag Must Engage in Climate Debate

The scientific and political implications of global warming were discussed during yesterday’s Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Beef Industry University, sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas. A full house of 450 KLA members and guests heard Hudson Institute Center for Global Food Issues Dennis Avery reveal the “truth of temperature change.” Clark Group partner Sara Hessenflow Harper explained the political realities of climate change, including what agriculture has to gain or lose from being part of the negotiations on any new climate legislation.

Avery said ice cores indicate Earth is on a 1,500-year climate cycle, with warming and cooling lasting centuries at a time. He said many of the man-made greenhouse gas theorists can’t explain warming that occurred from 1860 to 1940, prior to the industrial era and widespread fossil fuel use.

“There is no evidence of a significant man-made warming of the climate,” he told the audience.

Avery advised KLA members to keep asking policy-makers and environmentalists, “Where’s the warming?”

Harper reviewed some of the legislation proposed by Congress to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Some would reward agriculture for management practices that capture and store carbon in the soil. For ranchers, many techniques intended to increase forage production also tend to “sequester” atmospheric carbon. Another way animal agriculture could generate income and reduce greenhouse emissions is to capture methane from manure. Harper said markets for the “carbon credits” resulting from these practices could exist if ag is engaged in the debate.

“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu” she said.

JBS Acquisition

If JBS S.A. is to conduct any other beef-related acquisitions in the near term, the Brazil-based beef company will likely look for possibilities in South America as opposed to those in the United States, Meatingplace.com reports.

According to Meatingplace.com, JBS Chief Executive Officer Joesley Batista told investors Thursday the company was done looking for other expansion opportunities in the U.S. Instead, Batista said opportunities will likely exist in South America in 2009 rather than the U.S. or Australia.

JBS most recently acquired Smithfield Beef Group, along with its Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding, and is fighting the Department of Justice lawsuit aimed at blocking the company’s acquisition of National Beef Packing Co.

— Information provided by Meatingplace.com.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.