News Update
June 16, 2010

Resflor Gold® Now Approved to Treat BRD Associated with M. Bovis

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health announces that Resflor Gold® has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) associated with four major bovine respiratory pathogens, including Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni and, now, Mycoplasma bovis. M. bovis is an often-overlooked pathogen causing BRD, mastitis and arthritis in cattle.

“Mycoplasma is a unique pathogen capable of causing severe tissue damage,” said D. Scott McVey, professor of clinical microbiology at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and director of the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center. “Infections caused by Mycoplasma may be insidious and progress slowly. By the time an animal demonstrates clinical respiratory signs, there may be significant damage in tissue. That is why it is critical to treat these infections properly.”

Resflor Gold is the only medication on the U.S. market that combines the antibiotic florfenicol (active ingredient in Resflor Gold) and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) flunixin meglumine (active ingredient in Banamine®) into one convenient dose for treatment of BRD. The combination drug allows for the treatment of adverse effects of BRD while helping to eliminate the cause of the disease.

“Infections caused by Mycoplasma are common, especially in young calves,” said McVey. “Controlling tissue damage as well as providing bactericidal activity are both important components to treating BRD.”

Resflor Gold is available by prescription only. For more information, visit http://www.resflorgold.com.

— Release provided by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health.

‘A Walk on the Wild Side’ Is Theme for K-State 2010 Risk and Profit Conference

Agriculture markets are sometimes described as a wild ride, and the theme for Kansas State University’s 2010 Risk and Profit Conference and Trade Show this year reflects that. “A Walk on the Wild Side: Mercurial Markets, Policy Perplexity, and Management Migraines” is set for Aug. 19-20 at the K-State Alumni Center in Manhattan.

Keynote speakers include Sara Wyant, president of Agri-Pulse Communications Inc., and Jay Armstrong, a fourth-generation farmer in Atchison, Kan.

Wyant, a veteran farm policy reporter, produces the Agri-Pulse newsletter and website that update farmers, ranchers and other agribusiness professionals on the latest issues in farm policy, commodities, conservation, trade, food safety, rural development, the environment, and regulations.

In addition to being a farmer, Armstrong is the president of Armstrong Global, an importing and equipment-leasing company near Muscotah, Kan. He currently serves on the Kansas Wheat Commission, U.S. Wheat Associates Board of Directors and the Farm Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He has served on the Kansas State Board of Agriculture and the board of the Kansas State Fair.

K-State agricultural economists Glynn Tonsor and Dan O’Brien also will provide the livestock and grain outlooks (respectively) during the conference.

Participants will be able to choose from 24 breakout sessions on topics ranging from “Projecting the Supply and Use of Distillers’ Grains” to “Inflation, Interest Rates, Deficits and You.” Other session titles include: “Cellulosic Biofuels,” “The Efficiency of No-Till,” “Understanding Credit Quality,” “Analyzing Calf Market Price Incentives at Video Auctions,” “Machinery Costs and the Efficiency of Field Size and Shape,” “Impacts of Animal Welfare Changes,” “Marketing Grain with Storage Hedges,” “Enhancing Competitiveness,” “Bubble Troubles: Asset Bubbles and Wealth,” and “ACRE — The Future of Farm Programs?”

A complete list of presentations, plus registration information is available on the Web: http://www.agmanager.info/events/risk_profit/2010. The early registration fee of $210 per person is due by Aug. 13. The fee for additional attendees from the same business is $190. The fee, if paid after Aug. 13 is $230.

The fee includes all sessions, four meals (two lunches, one dinner and one breakfast), the conference proceedings on CD, and conference parking. More information is available by contacting Rich Llewelyn at 785-532-1504 or rvl@ksu.edu.

— Release provided by K-State Research and Extension.

AgChat Foundation Announces Farmer-Oriented Social Media Training

Farmers from even the most remote small towns are engaging lifelong city dwellers in stories of their farm through social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. These conversations are central to building understanding of agriculture by the 98% of Americans not living on the farm. Improving individual effectiveness is the goal of the AgChat Foundation’s first training session to help farmers be more effective in telling their personal story. The conference will be Aug. 30-31 in Chicago.

“Social media provides an opportunity to connect directly to consumers as well as others in agriculture,” says Jeff Fowle, AgChat Foundation president. “I’m like most farmers and ranchers. We build extensive knowledge in the care of our crops and livestock, from decades of experience on the farm, training sessions, workshops and our education. Many farmers and ranchers have not had the opportunity to study communications, let alone social media. This training session will bring together experts in some of those arenas to help food providers better advocate by telling their story.”

The conference is being planned by volunteers who serve on the AgChat Foundation’s board of directors, advisory board and committee members. The team includes farmers, professional communicators and trainers.

“Thousands of farmers and ranchers have participated in basic training for social media, and have started using these channels to get their stories out. And quite a few have taken it to the next level actively engaging consumers in blogs, etc. We want to provide them a chance to advance their advocacy,” says Michele Payn-Knoper, who chairs the committee planning the event. “This session is designed to take a small group through more advanced agvocacy training and provide more individualized growth.”
The planned agenda includes:

• Bridging Basic Communications with Social Media 
• Community Building for Twitter and Facebook
• Extending your community beyond ag
• Creating effective content for YouTube and blogs

“The hands-on sessions will provide attendees an opportunity to begin immediately employing new skills. And given the enthusiasm some farmers have, I’d anticipate the learning continue through break times and as we return to our farms,” says Mike Haley, the foundation’s vice president.

Mid-level social media users are targeted to participate. To apply, go to the foundation’s website http://agchat.org.

— Release provided by AgChat.

— Compiled by Shauna Rose Hermel, Editor, Angus Productions Inc.