News Update
Feb. 12, 2010

Angus Genetics Inc. Now Accepting Samples for High-Accuracy Genomic Profile

 Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) is now processing samples for the new high-accuracy Igenity profile for Angus. This profile, derived from a High Density Whole Genome Scan with 50,000 markers, provides cattle producers access to genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs), with an even higher level of accuracy for making genetic selection decisions.

The new high-accuracy GE-EPDs incorporate the Association pedigree, carcass and ultrasound performance data with genomic profile results to produce EPDs for carcass merit. These GE-EPDs can be used by both Angus seedstock and commercial producers to make the most informed selection decisions. Read more.

USDA Addresses Veterinary Shortages with Education Loan Repayment Program

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Feb. 12 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has taken the first step toward implementing a plan to address veterinary shortages throughout rural America by repaying the student loans of qualified veterinarians in return for their services in areas suffering from a lack of veterinarians.

“USDA can help ensure there is a first line of defense against animal diseases across the United States by placing qualified veterinarians in areas where there is a critical need,” Vilsack said. “This program will help reduce veterinary shortages, especially in the area of food animal medicine, which will reduce stress on producers and improve the health of the livestock industry.”

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) administers the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), which was established in the National Veterinary Medical Services Act of 2003. NIFA issued an interim rule for the program on July 9, 2009. Implementation of the program began on Jan. 22, 2010, when NIFA released a Federal Register notice asking for comments and nominations for shortage situations from the chief animal health official from each state and insular area and appropriate federal animal health officials. Guidance on what constitutes a shortage situation and nomination forms can be found on the NIFA web site. Nomination forms are due March 8, and can be returned via email to vmlrp@nifa.usda.gov.

NIFA will convene a panel of federal and state animal health experts to recommend submitted nomination packages for official designation as a veterinary shortage situation. The public will be able to review designated veterinary shortage situations in list and/or map form, along with information describing the nature of the shortage situation.

NIFA expects to begin accepting applications from veterinarians wishing to participate in the program on April 30, 2010. In return for a commitment of three years of veterinary services in a designated veterinary shortage area, NIFA may repay up to $25,000 of student loan debt per year. Loan repayment benefits are limited to payments of the principal and interest on government and commercial loans received for attendance at an accredited college of veterinary medicine resulting in a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or the equivalent. NIFA projects applications will be due June 30, and that offers will be made by September 30.

Veterinarians are critical to the national food safety and food security infrastructures, and to the health and well-being of both animals and humans; however, major studies indicate significant and growing shortages of food supply veterinarians and veterinarians serving in certain other high priority specialty areas. A leading cause for this shortage is the heavy cost of four years of professional veterinary medical training, which can average between $130,000 and $140,000. Congress established the VMLRP as a way to remedy this growing need.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and Extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people’s daily lives and the nation’s future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

— Release by USDA.

Three-day Grazing School to Address Increased Challenges in Beef Production

Too little rain, too much rain, high fertilizer prices and a volatile cattle market — both inexperienced and veteran beef producers will learn strategies to deal with all these scenarios at the Pasture and Livestock Management Workshop set for March 30-April 1, said a Texas AgriLife Research scientist.

The grazing school is now accepting enrollment for the workshop, which will take place at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton. Center facilities include classrooms and hundreds of acres of research pastures with ongoing cow-calf and stocker studies.

The 2010 course will be the 10th year the grazing school courses have been held at Overton. In the past, attendance has not been limited to Texas, also drawing students from Alaska, California, Arizona and foreign countries.

For the first time the program will include a wildlife segment. Billy Higginbotham will talk about a variety of wildlife issues: pond management, white-tailed deer and feral hogs.

The instructors are scientists and educators with AgriLife Research, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas A&M University (TAMU). Seven of the instructors are full professors and four are Texas A&M Regents Fellows. Most come from agricultural backgrounds and several have weekend cow-calf operations.

Disciplines represented by the instructors include forage management, forage fertility, animal nutrition, small-grain and ryegrass management, soil fertility and chemistry, animal breeding and genetics, fisheries and wildlife, agricultural economics and entrepreneurship, and agricultural engineering.

Enrollment for the three-day course is $350 and includes all meals, coffee breaks, refreshments, a workshop handbook and individual access to all the instructors. Students will earn three continuing education units in the general category toward their Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator’s licenses.

“Because the course includes quite a bit of one-on-one interaction with the instructors, we limit enrollment to 50 people per session,” said Monte Rouquette, AgriLife Research scientist and one of the course instructors.

Instruction will be divided among the classroom, the field and hands-on activities, Rouquette said. In-field demonstrations will cover all aspects of running a beef operation, from establishing and maintaining high-quality forages to calibrating sprayers, taking soil samples, castrating and vaccinating cattle, and dehorning calves.

Also included will be training on writing a business plan for a ranch, keeping proper records, choosing the appropriate forage species for different soils, understanding soil fertility, establishing forage systems that minimize winter feeding costs, setting correct stocking rates, choosing the right cattle breeds, promoting good animal health, marketing cattle and the use of remote sensing cameras in wildlife management, according to Rouquette.

The course was originally intended for those just beginning a beef cattle operation, but the comprehensive nature of the course attracted those with more experience in the business, he said.

“Usually, about 25% of the enrollment consists of people who are absolutely new to ranching and pasture management, 50% who have some knowledge and 25% who have extensive experience,” Rouquette said.

A full agenda can be found at http://overton.tamu.edu/grazingschool.htm.

To register or for more information, contact Jennifer Lloyd at 903-834-6191 or jllloyd@ag.tamu.edu.

Lloyd will have information on class openings, local accommodations and driving directions to the center, Rouquette said.

— Release by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

Workshops Planned to Help Communities Prepare for Agriculture-Affected Disasters

Kansas State University (K-State) Research and Extension is teaming up with the Extension Disaster Education Network to host two Strengthening Community Agrosecurity Planning (S-CAP) workshops in Wichita, March 22-23 and Liberal, March 25-26 for individuals in Sedgwick, Seward and nearby counties.

“Kansas has its share of disasters — tornadoes, ice storms, floods — you name it, we probably have it at one time or another,” said Mike Hanson, Seward County Extension director. “Knowing that in any given year, disasters can strike, reinforces the need for improved emergency planning, and unfortunately, agriculture is often one of the most overlooked components of a local emergency operations plan.”

The EDEN S-CAP workshop is geared for community stakeholders who can assist in the enhancement of the local agricultural emergency operations plan. Individuals such as local emergency planning personnel, Extension educators, public health personnel, first responders, elected officials, veterinarians, agricultural producers, and volunteer organization representatives in Sedgwick, Seward and nearby counties are all encouraged to participate.

The March 22-23 S-CAP Workshop will be at the K-State Research and Extension Sedgwick County office at 7001 W. 21st in Wichita. The March 25-26 workshop will be at the Liberal Chamber of Commerce building, 4 Rock Island Road in Liberal.

According to Ricky L. Shellenbarger, emergency management planner for Sedgwick County Emergency Management, “Grain cooperatives, semi-tankers, railroad tank cars, and manufacturing plants are just some examples of the many potential rural and urban areas that could be a health and safety threat to anyone who lives, works, or drives in Sedgwick County. This program will aid individuals in developing or improving their emergency plans, as well as awareness and preparedness to minimize or eliminate the possibility of an emergency or disaster in their area.”

Workshop participants will work together in teams to develop the portion of their plan that deals with agriculture, natural resources, pets, and related issues. They will also work on standard operating guidelines and resource lists required for response to an agricultural emergency.

Farmers, ranchers, emergency planners, first responders, elected officials, veterinarians and other interested individuals should contact either Gary Cramer in the K-State Research and Extension Sedgwick County office at 316-660-0100 or gcramer@ksu.edu or Mike Hanson in the Seward County Extension office at 620-624-5604 or mhanson2@ksu.edu to reserve a space at one of the workshops.

There is no fee to participate in the workshops, but for planning purposes, organizers request that attendees register. Early registration for the Sedgwick County workshop is March 17 and for the Seward County workshop, March 18.

General information about the EDEN S-CAP project can be found online at www.eden.lsu.edu/s-cap. More information about emergency preparedness and disaster recovery resources available through K-State Research and Extension is available at www.kseden.ksu.edu.

— Release by K-State Research and Extension.

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