News Update
June 24, 2009

Five Labs Now Licensed to Conduct NH Testing

Five labs are now currently authorized for neuropathic hydrocephalus (NH) testing by the American Angus Association,® including: MMI Genomics, AgriGenomics, Pfizer Animal Genetics, Igenity and GeneSeek.

Visit www.angus.org/Pub/NH/NHLabs.aspx for a complete listing, links to individual labs and the latest information.

Consult the respective web sites for information on preferred sample types, sample submission forms, pricing information and complete instructions on how and where to submit samples for testing.

Committees Reach Agreement on Climate Change Bill, GHG Regulations

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) issued a statement late Tuesday reporting that an agreement with House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) had been reached regarding the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, commonly known as the “climate change” bill or “cap and trade” legislation.

“We have reached an agreement that works for agriculture and contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the United States. The climate change bill will include a strong agriculture offset program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will allow farmers, ranchers and forestland owners to participate fully in a market-based carbon offset program. This agreement also addresses concerns about international indirect land use provisions that unfairly restricted U.S. biofuels producers and exempts agriculture and forestry from the definition of a capped sector.”

According to some industry organizations, this is good news for ranchers. The agreement would move oversight of an agriculture offset program from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the USDA, and it appears to include language specifically excluding agriculture from regulation under the bill, according to initial reports from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). The extent of the exemption remains uncertain, however, as final bill language was not available at press time.

Ranking Minority Member Frank Lucas reacted to the news with less optimism, citing further concern for the agricultural community.

“My initial reaction to this deal is it doesn’t fix the real problems with this bill. No deal can address the devastation this legislation is going to wreak on America’s farms,” Lucas said in a statement released today. “This agreement does nothing to address the higher input costs that our farmers and ranchers will invariably have to pay. This agreement does nothing to address the higher energy costs, lost jobs, and higher food prices this bill will cause. We are still looking at the most dramatic tax increase of all time, and the agriculture community will be hit the hardest. I still have a lot of questions, and I think our farmers and ranchers in the countryside will as well. What I am hearing and reading are generalities without any real teeth to protect farmers, ranchers, and rural Americans from a bad bill that will destroy their livelihoods.”

Meanwhile, the American Farmland Trust (AFT) expressed their approval for the agreement, saying the deal appears to address many of the outstanding issues concerning farmers and ranchers and their role in GHG regulation.

Beef Industry Supports MSU Beef Education and Endowment Fund

Michigan State University (MSU) has recognized Jim and Melissa Reichenbach of Sterling Hunter Farms, Bath, Mich., for their donation to the MSU Beef Education and Endowment Fund.

According to MSU, the Reichenbachs donated SH Ever Intense 8141, a purebred Angus heifer, which was sold at auction during the 2009 Michigan Beef Expo at the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education in April. The heifer was purchased by a syndicate made up of beef breeders and program supporters from across the country for $8,210, according to MSU. The money generated from the sale was deposited directly into the endowment fund, which supports MSU beef teaching, research and Extension programming.

“Our herdsman, Troy Wilson, graduated from the MSU program and worked at the purebred beef farm as a student, and he encouraged us to consider supporting the endowment,” Jim Reichenbach said. “Having strong educational programs such as the one at MSU benefits the entire industry. It only makes sense for the industry to invest in young people and their education to help build a strong future.”

The Angus heifer was delivered to the MSU Purebred Beef Cow-Calf Center several weeks before the sale, where she was cared for by Cody Sankey, manager of the center, and the center’s undergraduate student employees. Students were charged with halter-breaking and preparing the heifer for the sale.

“The students are a very important and integral part of the operations of the Purebred Beef Cattle Center, and their effort and commitment are greatly appreciated,” he said. “We are blessed at MSU to have many outstanding students employed at the unit. It is very gratifying to have them step forward and want to be a part of supporting the future of the unit and the beef program here at MSU.”

The 11 undergraduate student employees joined forces and pooled their money to become an official syndicate member. The student effort was spearheaded by Jason Scramlin, who graduated this spring with a degree in animal science.

“Working at the MSU beef farm is like being part of a family; we all work hard toward achieving a common goal,” he said. “Cody is an excellent farm manager, and we wanted to give back to the program in appreciation for all that he does for us students.”

Scramlin, who pursued his undergraduate degree after spending eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, said it’s important not to forget the most important aspect of college — the students.

MSU Purebred Beef Cattle Center student employees who participated in the syndicate were: Matt Asmus, Cassopolis, animal science major; Charlie Cramer, Stanwood, crop and soil science sophomore; Scott Hartsell, Cassopolis, agribusiness management junior; Jed Kruger, Ionia, animal science major; Justin Mezo, Galesburg, animal science junior; Michelle Roth, Grand Ledge, animal science junior; Lance Schoenbine, Auburn animal science junior; Scramlin, Holly; Lynnae Slavik, Ashley, animal science senior; Nicole Starr, Manawa, Wis., animal science junior; and Julie Thelen, Saline, agribusiness management graduate enrolled in the teacher certification program.

The syndicate’s contributions are far from finished. Once the winning bid was struck off, the syndicate donated the heifer back to the MSU Purebred Beef Cow-Calf Center under the condition that all future net proceeds from the sale of 8141’s progeny be directed back into the endowment fund.

The MSU Beef Education Endowment Fund was established in 2006 by the Michigan Cattlemen’s Association to support MSU beef cattle educational programming and beef research and teaching facilities, including the Purebred Beef Cow-Calf Teaching and Research Center and the Beef Cattle Teaching and Research Center. Investment income generated through the fund is applied toward sustaining these programs and facilities.

— Release provided by MSU.

HSUS President Agrees to AgriTalk Interview Set for June 30

Mike Adams of AgriTalk radio is scheduled to interview the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) President Wayne Pacelle Tuesday, June 30.

Although the interview was originally slated for today, Pacelle was forced to reschedule his interview with AgriTalk for next Tuesday, June 30, from 10:06 a.m. to 11 a.m. Central Time.

— Information provided by Drovers Alert.

Texas Program Addresses Predator Problems

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service office in Fisher County will conduct a predator awareness program from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., July 21 in the community center in Roby, Texas.

Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units (one general and two integrated pest management) will be offered.

Dale Rollins, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist at San Angelo and Rick Gilliland, Texas Wildlife Services district supervisor at Canyon, will be the day’s speakers. Their topics will include: interpreting evidence of predation, predator biology, predators and wildlife management, predator control tools and techniques, predators as carriers of zoonotic diseases (diseases transmittable from animals to humans), ethics in predator management and preventing illicit use of pesticides in predator management.

Pre-registration is $10 by July 14 and $15 thereafter. The fee includes lunch. For more information or to preregister, contact Riley Barnett, AgriLife Extension agent in Fisher County at 325-776-3259 or rjbarnett@ag.tamu.edu.

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