News Update
April 13, 2011

'Sure Champ Angus Hour' Airs this Month

Before summer show season kicks off, cattle enthusiasts will have an opportunity to unlock the secrets of winning in the showring. The American Angus Association in partnership with BioZyme Inc. — makers of Sure Champ — will air The Sure Champ Angus Hour this month on RFD-TV.

The live program will feature three panelists discussing nutrition, daily care and showring preparation for heifer and steer show projects. Panelists include:

• Paige Wallace, junior Angus member, Mount Vernon, Mo.;
• Jon Davis, show and sale cattle manager, Champion Hill Angus, Bidwell, Ohio; and
• Radale Tiner, area sales manager, VitaFerm® Sure Champ.

The live show will allow viewers to call in with their questions pertaining to nutrition, pre-show preparation, and presenting your animal in the showring.

Viewers can also e-mail their questions prior to the show to cyoung@angus.org or submit them to Sure Champ's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/surechamp.

Tune in at 7 p.m. CDT, April 25 to RFD-TV, available on DirecTV channel 345, Dish Network channel 231 and more than 625 cable operators. For more information and to view segments following the show, visit www.angus.org.

— Release by American Angus Association; visit www.angus.org for full release.

West Texas is Burning

Fueled by record levels of drought-parched grasses and brush, driven by winds 30-35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph and encouraged by low humidity, wildfires burned hundreds of thousands of acres of West Texas, according to reports by Texas Forest Service and Texas AgriLife Extension Service personnel.

From April 4-7, the Forest Service responded to 83 fires on 309,526 acres of that region.

By April 11, some of the bigger fires were largely contained. Fire stretching across more than 100,000 acres of Stonewall, Knox and King Counties was 80% contained, according to Forest Service sources. A fire that burned more than 35,000 acres in Garza and Grosby counties was 90% contained. Many other smaller fires, from a few acres to a few thousand, were also squelched or under control.

However, as of April 11, fires in Presidio in Brewster counties were rated zero-percent contained.
From all indications, the fire in Presidio County started on April 9, a Saturday afternoon, about 1 p.m., by someone burning trash about a 1½ mile west of Marfa, said Jesse Schneider, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Presidio County.

"We had steady winds of over 30 mph, gusting over 50 mph, and it raced across the flats toward Fort Davis, across several ranches, narrowly escaping the Marfa airport, jumped the highway, went into some suburbs of Fort Davis, burned some houses, then went to the south side of Fort Davis and burned some more houses there," Schneider said.

The fire split at Fort Davis, one arm traveling up into the Davis Mountains, one taking a lower route.

"Both arms of the fire continued to burn houses," she said.

The Forest Service, the Texas Department of Transportation, local volunteer fire departments and city fire departments, all joined forces to fight the fire on all fronts, Schneider reported.

As of April 11, 185 counties had burn bans in place.

More information on the current Texas drought and wildfire alerts can be found on the AgriLife Extension Agricultural Drought Task Force webpage at http://agrilife.tamu.edu/drought/.

Release by Texas A&M AgriLife Communications

Fertilizer Industry Launches Initiative to Promote Nutrient Stewardship

There's a new online resource aimed at helping farmers boost yields, manage input costs and maintain soil health. The website, www.nutrientstewardship.com, is a collaborative effort of the fertilizer industry aimed at increasing awareness of 4R nutrient stewardship, a site-specific, scientific framework that addresses farmers' use of the right fertilizer source at the right rate, the right time and the right place.

Nutrient stewardship is a top priority for the entire fertilizer industry," said TFI President Ford B. West. "The new website, www.nutrientstewardship.com, streamlines our industry's efforts to promote awareness and adoption of science-based fertilizer best management practices, while also creating a brand for the 4Rs that will allow the agriculture community to speak with one voice regarding its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability."

The 4R nutrient stewardship concept and website are a cooperative effort of The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), the Canadian Fertilizer Institute (CFI) and the International Fertilizer Industry Association. The new site is designed to serve as an online clearinghouse for information on 4R-related tools and resources and will serve as the cornerstone for a multifaceted nutrient stewardship initiative.

K-State Beef Cattle and Forage Crops Field Day Planned for Southeast Kansas

K-State Research and Extension's Southeast Agricultural Research Center will host its Beef Cattle and Forage Crops Field Day at the Mound Valley Unit on Thursday, May 5.

The day begins with registration from 8:30 to 9 a.m., plus coffee and donuts, compliments of Parsons Livestock Market. The program includes:

• Nitrogen Management for Crabgrass Production – Joe Moyer, K-State forage agronomist;
• Utilization of Poultry Litter to Fertilize Pastures – Doug Shoup, K-State crops and soils specialist;
• Forage Systems for Grazing Stocker Cattle – Lyle Lomas, K-State animal scientist and head of the Southeast Agricultural Research Center;
• Kansas Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan – Tom Gross, chief of air monitoring and planning section, Kansas Department of Health and Environment; and
• Plants Toxic to Cattle – Larry Hollis, K-State extension veterinarian.

In addition, numerous companies will have displays at the field day and will sponsor a complimentary lunch.

The field day will be held rain or shine. More information is available by contacting the K-State Southeast Agricultural Research Center at 620-421-4826.

— Release by K-State Research & Extension

NCBA Weighs in on Proposed School Nutrition Standards

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) April 13 submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) regarding its proposed rule entitled "Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs." NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts said NCBA supports efforts to improve the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and urges USDA to consider naturally nutrient-rich lean beef as a solution to meet nutrient needs for school children.

"Cattle producers strongly support a healthy diet for growing children that includes whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and lean meats such as beef," said Scott George, NCBA vice president and Wyoming cattle producer. "As USDA updates the nutrition standards for the school lunch and breakfast programs, lean beef should be emphasized as it contributes significantly to intakes of protein and many other key nutrients without providing significantly to intakes of total fat, saturated fatty acids or sodium."

NCBA raised concern with a recommendation to discourage processed foods. Butts said while there is a need to reduce sodium content in the diet, sodium plays a functional role in texture development and in controlling microbial growth and food preservation.

"While we recognize and support the need to reduce sodium content in children's diets, it is important to recognize that beef currently contributes 1% or less to total sodium intake in children and adolescents," Butts said. "Furthermore, emerging innovation is resulting in processed meats that are lower in fat and sodium. Processed meats provide high-quality protein and nutrients to a healthy diet for growing children."

George said cattlemen are committed to providing wholesome, nutritious food for consumers.

"The NSLP and SBP play an important role in helping children develop a healthy lifestyle, which includes a well-balanced diet coupled with physical activity," he said. "Lean beef is a naturally nutrient rich food option for schools and we appreciate USDA's continued recognition of the important role it play in the diets of Americans and especially school children."

— Release by NCBA.

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