News Update
June 1, 2010

Lights, Camera, Junior Show

More than 700 Angus youth will travel to Denver, Colo., next month to compete in what has become a time-honored annual tradition — the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS).

This year, national agriculture news program AgDay will be there to capture that tradition and bring juniors to the small screen during the industry’s largest single beef breed show.

“Few other venues offer so much enthusiasm and hope for the future of the Angus industry, and we want to share that with others. Coverage provided by AgDay and other media will allow us to do that,” says Eric Grant, American Angus Association director of public relations and communications. “Coverage of this nature gives juniors some well-deserved credit for their hard work and accomplishments.” Read more.

AMI Releases Video on What it Means to be Lean

The American Meat Institute (AMI) today, June 1, unveiled a new educational video outlining for consumers the nutritional requirements a cut of meat or poultry must meet to be labeled “lean.”

The video, featuring Betsy Booren, director of scientific affairs of the American Meat Institute Foundation, is the seventh installment of AMI’s new “Ask the Meat Scientist” series.

Booren explains in the video that the term “lean” means that meat or poultry contains less than 10 grams of total fat, 4.5 grams or less of saturated fat and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per serving.

She then highlights lean meat’s many nutritional and health benefits, including being a rich source for iron, magnesium, zinc, niacin, selenium, riboflavin and B vitamins that help our bodies turn food into energy.

As Booren notes in the video, though, the benefits of eating lean meat do not stop there.

“Not only does eating meat provide vitamins and minerals that are essential for overall good health, new studies show it can aid in weight loss by helping to control appetite and metabolize food more efficiently,” she says.

In closing the video, Booren outlines specific beef, poultry and pork items that consumers can add to their grocery lists when shopping for “lean” meat options. 

“If consumers are shopping for leaner meat and poultry items, today’s meatcase is abundant with options to fit particular dietary needs,” she concludes.  

To watch the short video, visit AMI’s YouTube channel, The Meat News Network, at www.YouTube.com/MeatNewsNetwork.

AMI will release the final video of its “Ask the Meat Scientist” series next Tuesday as part of its commitment to answer commonly asked questions about shopping, preparation, cooking and nutrition of various meat and poultry products. The final installment will offer advice to consumers on how to stretch their meat dollar at the supermarket.

For more information about meat and poultry nutrition, please visit www.meatpoultrynutrition.org/.

— Release by AMI.

KLA Opens New Office to Better Serve Western Kansas

The Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) will provide more timely and efficient service to rancher, feeder and dairy members in western Kansas from a new office in Scott City. The office opened June 1 and will house a variety of KLA staff primarily involved in providing service to western Kansas members.

The primary occupants will be employees of KLA Environmental Services (KLA ES). The 11 full-time employees in this division all previously were located in Salina. KLA ES has experienced growing demand from the cattle-feeding and dairy industries for services including waste management system design, nutrient management plans, water resources planning and assistance with permit applications for facilities. A portion of the existing KLA ES staff will move to the Scott City office. Over time, there will be other positions within KLA that also will be transferred to the new western Kansas office.

“KLA has been receiving more requests for hands-on help with regulatory issues such as nutrient management plans and transferring water rights,” KLA President Mark Smith, a rancher from Sharon Springs, said.

The KLA headquarters office in Topeka will continue to house most of the association staff. This facility was built 20 years ago and provides easy access to government bodies KLA works with on behalf of producer members every day, including the state Legislature and state agencies.

— Release by KLA.

Opportunities for Online Rainwater Harvesting Course Given

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service is offering three opportunities for small-acreage landholders to participate in an online course on rainwater collection for livestock and wildlife.

The four-lesson “Rainwater Harvesting for Livestock and Wildlife” course, which can be taken from anywhere there is reliable Internet access, is designed to be completed over a four-week period, according to Justin Mechell, the AgriLife Extension program specialist in College Station coordinating course offerings.

“Though we have made these four lessons to where they can be reasonably completed in the four-week time frame we have established, the course may be completed more quickly if desired,” he said. “If a participant is planning on using a dial-up Internet connection, that’s OK, but download times for course materials may be lengthy.”

Mechell said while he expects most participants will be from throughout Texas, there likely will be others taking the course from different states, too. The entire training for this self-directed course will be hosted online and the techniques discussed can be used on large and small scales, Mechell said.

“Through this course, participants will gain an understanding of rainwater system designs and sizes for collecting rainwater for use by livestock and wildlife,” he said.

Course opportunities will be offered within the time frames of June 7-July 2, July 26-Aug. 20 and Sept. 13-Oct. 8. The course lessons can be taken and completed at any time within the selected registration period.

The courses will be facilitated by Mechell and Billy Kniffen, an AgriLife Extension state water resource specialist from Menard County. Each of the four course lessons is comprised of a PowerPoint presentation with audio, assignments, discussion board and supporting videos and publications.

“The discussion board allows participants to ask questions directly to the course teachers,” Mechell said.

The first lesson, “Rainwater Harvesting Introduction,” will address the growing need for rainwater harvesting as a source for water. Rainwater harvesting basics will be discussed, including rainwater system components, set-up, use and maintenance. There also will be discussion on Texas law related to rainwater harvesting and financial incentives for installing a system.

The second lesson is “Rainwater Harvesting for Livestock” and focuses on livestock water needs along with rainwater system designs and the calculations to determine the size of the system needed to provide for them.

“Rainwater Harvesting for Wildlife” is the third lesson and covers how rainwater systems can be used to help attract wildlife. It includes discussion of proper wildlife management, rainwater harvesting methods for attracting desired species and correct sizing of a system for wildlife use. Examples, concerns and benefits of attracting wildlife also are discussed in this lesson.

The final lesson is the “Conclusion” portion and is a retrospective on how an entire rainwater harvesting system works, as well as a review on the design, application, set-up, maintenance and benefits of rainwater harvesting.

Each course lesson should take two to three hours to complete, Mechell said.

The cost for the online course is $50 and registration is through the Texas AgriLife Extension Conference Services website at http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu/.

The courses can be found by clicking the “Online Courses” tab on the Conference Services list on the site’s home page and then scrolling down.

For more information, contact Mechell at 979-845-1395 or visit http://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/.

— Release by Texas AgriLife Extension.

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