News Update
Nov. 4, 2010

Temple Grandin to Speak at K-State Nov. 9

Temple Grandin, a world-renowned animal behaviorist and high-functioning autistic, will speak at Kansas State University (K-State) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union.

The lecture, which will cover Grandin’s personal and professional life, is free and open to the public. It also will be streamed live on the website at http://ome.ksu.edu/webcast/bci/blog/index.html.

An HBO movie about Grandin recently won seven Emmy awards. Grandin didn’t talk until she was 3 1/2 years old. She was diagnosed with autism in 1950, and her parents were told she should be institutionalized. Instead, Grandin developed her ability to think in pictures and see situations through the perspective of animals into a successful career as a livestock-handling equipment designer. She has now designed the facilities in which half the cattle are handled in the United States.

Her first book, “Emergence: Labeled Autistic,” stunned the world. Until its publication, most professionals and parents assumed that an autism diagnosis was virtually a death sentence for achievement or productivity in life.

Grandin’s lecture is sponsored by Food for Thought, a grassroots group of K-State students who seek to bridge the gap between agriculture and consumers. The group includes undergraduate, graduate and veterinary students, as well as young alumni, and works under the guidance of faculty adviser Dan Thomson, the director of K-State’s Beef Cattle Institute. More information about Food For Thought is available at the group’s blog, http://bloggingfoodforthought.blogspot.com, on Facebook or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/fftgroup.

— Release by K-State.

Missouri Livestock Symposium to Feature Beef Cattle Feeding, Reproduction, Health

The 2010 Missouri Livestock Symposium, Dec. 3-4 in Kirksville, will feature internationally recognized speakers on several topics of interest to beef producers. Bill White, director of the USDA Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, will talk about the role the lab plays in keeping our livestock industry healthy. Beef cattle producer Steve Radakovich of the Radakovich Cattle Co. in Earlham, Iowa, will speak on his operation and chasing the profit gene. An expert panel of beef cattle specialists from the University of Missouri (MU) will provide the latest information important to beef cattle producers related to feeding, reproduction and genetics. Bruce Shanks, Lincoln University, will tell you about the top 10 ways producers can cut costs while adding value.

According to Garry Mathes, chair of the 2010 Missouri Livestock Symposium, the beef section of this year’s symposium will provide information that every beef cattle producer will want to hear. “I guarantee that you will learn something to benefit your operation if you attend this year’s symposium.”

Bruce Lane, MU Extension livestock specialist and vice chair of the symposium committee, says the Missouri Livestock Symposium is especially proud of the beef section lineup. The information producers will be exposed to will be timely and applicable to their operations. This will be an opportunity to hear from some of the leaders in the beef industry, regardless of the size of your operation. “From learning the latest information about how beef breeds stack up in 2010 to timed artificial insemination, from the latest on feed efficiency to how we protect the industry from foreign animal diseases, the Missouri Livestock Symposium committee has coupled industry experts with present-day topics sure to be of interest.”

There will also be programs on forages, stock dogs, equine, sheep, meat goats and various other interesting topics. There will be a free evening meal on Friday, Dec. 3, and a free governor’s-style luncheon on Saturday. Becky Blackaby (www.beckyblackaby.com) will close the program Saturday evening with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the concert can be purchased by calling 660-665-9866.

The Missouri Livestock Symposium is free and no preregistration is required. The symposium will take place at Kirksville Middle School, 1515 S. Cottage Grove. The symposium runs 4-9 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. A list of trade show vendors and other information can be found on the symposium website at www.missourilivestock.com or by calling 660-665-9866 or 660-341-6625.

For more information or speaker photos, please contact Bruce Lane at 660-665-9866 or lanen@missouri.edu.

— Release by MU Extension.

Ag Commissioner Todd Staples To Speak At TSCRA Ranch Gathering In Bryan

Texas Ag Commissioner Todd Staples will speak to beef producers at the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) ranch gathering, Thursday, Nov. 18, at Still Creek Ranch in Bryan. The gathering will begin at 5:30 p.m. with registration followed by a free beef dinner and presentations.

“TSCRA ranch gatherings are a great place for folks to get together and discuss what is going on in the cattle business and how they can help. We are especially excited to have Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples speak to the crowd,” said Dave Scott, rancher and TSCRA president.

Please RSVP to Brooke Messer at 1-800-242-7820, ext. 192, or rsvp@tscra.org.

The Still Creek Ranch is located at 6055 Hearne Road, Bryan, Texas 77808.

The event is open to the public. All members of the press are invited to attend.

The ranch gathering is sponsored by Agricultural Workers Mutual Auto Insurance, Cactus Feeders, Coufal-Prater, First Victoria Bank, Holcombe Green Group, Jim McAdams and Sexing Technologies.

— Release by TSCRA.

NCBA: Rural America Votes Against Big Government

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Steve Foglesong said many proponents of government overreach into the U.S. cattle industry were voted out of office. Foglesong, referring to an NCBA campaign launched last week, said four members of Congress called out for not supporting cattlemen and women from a government takeover will not be returning to the 112th Congress.

“This pervasive invasion of government into private business must stop. We stepped up to support our farmers and ranchers who stimulate the U.S. economy and create jobs without excessive, burdensome regulations and overreach,” said Foglesong. “The Obama Administration’s proposed rule on livestock and poultry marketing is an open invitation to trial lawyers and big government.”

Specifically, NCBA released advertisements and editorials in regional papers across cattle country to inform voters that Reps. Betsy Markey (D-Colo.); Debbie Halvorson (D-Ill.); Steve Kagen (D-Wis.); and John Boccieri (D-Ohio) did not sign a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to encourage a comprehensive economic analysis of a rule on livestock and poultry marketing that could put small- to medium-sized producers out of business. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) was also targeted for signing a letter that actually supports the rule. Except for Sen. Bennet, whose reelection bid will likely end in a recount, all candidates targeted in the campaign were defeated. The USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GISPA) proposed the rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act on June 21, 2010. The comment period ends Nov. 22.

“Rural America spoke up and gave the boot to candidates putting big government before innovative cattlemen who manage to feed a growing population, stimulate the economy and create jobs without government handouts,” said Foglesong. “I hope the election results serve as a clue to the Obama Administration that it needs to pull this proposed rule. We do not need big government telling us how to market our cattle.”

— Release by NCBA.

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