News Update
Dec. 30, 2008

Juniors to Raise Funds for 2009 NJAS

Georgia junior and adult Angus breeders are working to raise funds to host the 2009 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) July 19-25, 2009, in Perry, Ga.

The group launched one of its biggest fundraising efforts at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in November — the NJAS Embryo Lottery Program.

Angus breeders across the country have an opportunity to participate in this fundraising effort and the chance to win elite Angus genetics. Forty-five Angus programs from across the country have donated three embryos, each of the same mating from their farm’s leading donors.

You have the opportunity to purchase a chance to win one of these great Angus embryo packages for only $100 per chance. Only 1,000 chances will be sold in all. To view the complete embryo lottery brochure, including details about the 45 embryo packages and a list of sponsors, visit www.njas.info and click on the “Embryo Lottery” tab.

To purchase tickets, simply e-mail info@georgiaangus.org and list how many chances you would like to purchase for $100 each and provide your name, farm and mailing address. An invoice and your ticket will be mailed to you. The drawing for this lottery will be in conjunction with the 2009 NJAS. You do not have to be present to win. For more information contact any of the Embryo Lottery committee located on the back of the brochure or Christy Page at info@georgiaangus.org or 706-387-0656.

Embryo Lottery tickets will also be available at state Angus events and major shows across the country in coming months.

— Provided by the Georgia Angus Association.

Mexico Begins Lifting Meat Ban on Some U.S. Plants

Mexico has lifted bans on imports from 21 of the 30 U.S. processing facilities it had suspended last week citing sanitary concerns, concerns about the general condition of meat products, and possible pathogen findings.

According to Reuters, Mexican officials lifted the ban after U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) officers informed them corrective measures had been taken at 21 of the plants. A Mexican government official told Reuters the country was still awaiting word on the remaining nine facilities.

Both Mexican representatives and the USDA denied media suggestions that the ban was motivated by Mexico’s opposition to U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) laws.
Reuters reported that markets rebounded as suspensions were lifted.

Warm Winter Weather in January, says MU Climatologist

Look for a welcome warming of winter weather, says Pat Guinan, climatologist with University of Missouri (MU) Extension.

“The January outlook calls for above-normal temperatures for much of the United States east of the Rockies, including all of Missouri,” said Guinan, with the MU Commercial Agriculture Program.
The new report from the National Climate Prediction Center is more uncertain on the amount of precipitation for the month. “Basically, the model calls for a toss-up for above-or below-normal precipitation,” Guinan said. Expect above-normal precipitation from Southeast Missouri up the Ohio River Valley. However, states southeast of that region, deep into Florida, will see a lack of rainfall.

During the past 15 years, Missouri winters have been warm and wet, Guinan said. Ten of the past 15 winters have been warmer than normal, with three ranking in the top five warmest winters since 1895. Eleven of those 15 winters have been wetter than normal. However, Missouri snowfall has been below normal. With warmer temperatures, there were fewer chances for frozen precipitation.

Guinan said last winter was an exception, with both above-normal snowfall and colder temperatures. Portions of Northwest Missouri received more than 50 inches (in.) of snow last winter, making it the snowiest winter in 30 years. December weather this year has been quite unlike the forecast for January. A large area of low pressure east of the Rockies drew cold winds and frigid temperatures from the Arctic. In north Missouri, severe wind chill factors accompanied ice and snow, making unsafe conditions for livestock. Ice-covered pastures cut short the winter-grazing season and caused difficulties for farmers feeding hay to their livestock.

The corn harvest, delayed by high moisture content from late plantings last spring, stopped with the icy conditions in some areas. The highest likelihood of above-normal temperatures in the United States will be a small area in Arizona and a large area over the Great Lakes from Wisconsin through Ohio. The southern part of that region will also have a chance for above-normal precipitation as well.

With 2008 going into the records as one of the wettest for the state, water resources are above-normal, with livestock ponds full, Guinan said. Groundwater is in good shape for the start of next year. “Soil moisture levels range from sufficient to above-normal for the next growing season,” he said.

— Release provided by MU Extension.

Money Available to Improve Water Quality in NE Kansas

Water quality meetings planned for Jan. 20-21, 2009, will highlight funding and other assistance available to landowners and producers in three sub-basins of the Upper Wakarusa Watershed in Kansas, a Kansas State University (K-State) specialist said.

About $75,000 has been allocated to share the costs of qualifying water quality improvement projects from January through March 2009, said Sherry Davis, Healthy Ecosystems-Healthy Communities Project coordinator. Previous projects funded by the Upper Wakarusa Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) group have provided an average of $7,600 to qualifying participants. The goal in offering a cost-sharing program to fund water quality projects is to encourage and assist agricultural producers and other landowners interested in adopting best management practices (BMP) to protect their own water sources by reducing sediment, bacteria, and nutrient loading in local streams and in the upper reaches of the Wakarusa River, Davis said. Why the Wakarusa Watershed? Clinton Lake, which is at the end of the watershed (where all the water goes), supplies drinking water to nine rural water districts and the city of Lawrence, Davis said. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has established the watershed as the No. 2 water-quality priority in the state, she said.

The goal for the informational meetings (Jan. 20-21 at the Berryton United Methodist Church, 7010 S.E. Berryton Rd., Berryton, KS) is to provide an opportunity for interested landowners with a minimum of 40 acres to speak with program representatives and explore BMP project ideas to improve local water quality.

Both the Jan. 20 meeting, from 6-8 p.m., and the Jan. 21 meeting, from 11a.m.-1:30 p.m., will include a forum for landowners to share concerns and ideas with the water quality team. There is no charge to attend the informational sessions, but reservations are required to reserve a complimentary meal. For reservations or more information, e-mail Sherry Davis at sbd@ksu.edu or call 785-313-5283. The deadline for meal reservations is Jan. 16, 2009.

— Release provided by K-State Research & Extension.

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