News Update
April 17, 2009

USDA Announces $12.7 Million in Economic Development Funding

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that 20 organizations in 15 states have been selected to receive $12.7 million in loans to spur economic development and create or save nearly 2,000 jobs.

“Investing in local businesses is one of the most effective ways to ensure that rural communities continue to be economically viable and attractive places to live and work,” Vilsack said.

The loans are being made through U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development’s Intermediary Relending Program. The funds are provided to community development or regional planning groups who then relend them to local businesses. Loans must be used to start new businesses, expand existing ones, or create or retain jobs.

For example, Maryland Capital Ent., Salisbury, Md., has been selected to receive $750,000 to provide loans to more than 20 businesses that are in various stages of counseling, mentoring and business plan development. Maryland Capital trains business owners on how to create budgets, become more cost effective and develop successful business plans. After the businesses complete this training, they will be able to qualify for startup or expansion loans from Maryland Capital. Local economic development officials estimate that each new job created as a result of the technical assistance and loan funding will affect five additional businesses and expand the local tax base.

For a full list of organizations visit http://www.usda.gov.

— Release provided by USDA News.

Accelerated Genetics 2009 Photo Contest

The 2009 Accelerated Genetics’ Photo Contest themes are ‘Favorite Cows’ and ‘Picturesque Pastures.’ Get started and try your photography skills on these themes. Winning entries in each category will receive a digital camera. Other placings will be awarded cash prizes. 

For the ‘Favorite Cows’ theme, pick out your favorite cow or calf and take a picture of them in their favorite setting. For the ‘Picturesque Pastures,’ theme, take photographs of cows or calves on beautiful pastures. Any of these photos can be taken throughout the various seasons of the year.

Multiple photos can be entered in the contest, but we want you to send in your best, so before you send them think about these things: Is the photo clear and crisp, not foggy or cloudy; and Do the animals look healthy and reasonably clean?

All photos entered should be color. Digital images are preferred and need to be sent as a high-resolution (300 dpi) JPEG image with photo size at 8 inches (in.) x 10 in. or larger. Digital images can be sent via e-mail or mailed on a CD.

The entry deadline is Sept. 1, 2009. For each photo entered, please include in the e-mail or on a sheet of paper your name, address, phone number and the photo’s title. Send your entries to Accelerated Genetics, Kari Stanek-Photo Contest, E10890 Penny Ln., Baraboo, WI 53913 or e-mail kstanek@accelgen.com. If you have any questions, call 1-800-451-9275 ext. 222.

— Release provided by Accelerated Genetics.

Beef Cattle Prices Going With the Flow of the Economy

Live cattle prices continue to move largely in tandem with the U.S. economy. University of Kentucky (UK) Livestock Marketing Specialist Kenny Burdine said Kentucky cattle producers quickly are approaching the historical peak in calf prices that usually occurs in late April or early May.

“Five weight steers are still averaging a little over $1 per pound, with yearling prices in the mid-to-upper $80s on a state average basis,” he said. “The overall health of the U.S. economy continues to affect beef demand and hence, live cattle prices. Fortunately, Kentucky feeder calf prices have rallied from levels seen during the first of the year.”

The annual prospective plantings report recently was released, and Burdine said it did have an effect on cattle prices. Specifically, planted corn acreage was estimated to decrease by just under 1 million acres.

“I think this was largely expected, although the increase in soybean acreage was likely less than expected,” he explained. “Producers are making planting decisions now, and that will set the basic supply side for the 2009 corn crop. From there, we will focus on planting progress, weather and demand to drive corn prices, which will have a major impact on feeder cattle this year.”

Burdine went on to discuss the 2007 Census of Agriculture numbers.

“According to the 2007 Census, the average beef cow herd in Kentucky is just a little over 30 cows with over 83% of herds having fewer than 49 cows,” he said. “Kentucky was estimated to still have more than 5 million acres of grazing land, which includes a significant amount of pastured cropland and woodland. Additionally, we know the Kentucky beef herd has gotten a bit smaller since the census was conducted. Many cattle producers were forced to liquidate cows again during 2008 due to drought and basic profitability challenges.”

— Release provided by UK College of Agriculture.

AgriLife Extension seeks to make good cattle operations better through SPA program

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service has set the dates for its 2009 Beef Cattle Standardized Performance Analysis workshops.

The dates, times and locations are:

• April 28, 8:30 a.m., Nolan County AgriLife Extension Office, 100 East 3rd St., Suite 305, Sweetwater.
  
• May 6, 8:30 a.m., Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Center, US Hwy. 70, Vernon.

“The Standardized Performance Analysis or ‘SPA’ program measures individual operations and compares them to a pool of similar operations,” said William Thompson, AgriLife Extension economist at San Angelo. “The idea is to help producers improve their operations with a hard dollars-and-cents approach and by learning from others’ experiences.”

“Participants will complete an in-depth financial and production analysis of their cow herd, specifically the calves weaned in 2008,” he said.

Thompson said the goal of the intensive, day-long workshop is to help ranchers complete the SPA analysis for their 2008 calf crop. Registered participants will be sent forms to organize data before the workshop. Confidentiality of the producer’s data will be maintained, he said.

After the analysis is completed, each participant will receive an individual consultation with a specialist certified in the program, and guidance on developing and using the information to measure cow herd performance and cash flow. They will also get a “herd report card” that compares their herd’s performance to others. Software and supporting materials will be provided.

Event organizers ask participants to register as early as possible, so they can gather and organize the records and data needed to complete the analysis.

Individual registration for first-time participants is $50 and $30 for those who have participated previously. The fee includes a noon meal.

For more information and to register contact Thompson at 325-653-4576, w-thompson@tamu.edu or Stan Bevers at 940-552-9941, ext. 231, s-bevers@tamu.edu.

— Release written by Steve Byrns, provided by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.