News Update
September 29, 2011
Accelerated Genetics Seeking Summer Intern Candidates
Accelerated Genetics is offering four types of summer internships to college students for summer 2012. These internships provide a variety of opportunities, from working hands-on within the artificial insemination (AI) industry to networking and gaining valuable experiences that will help students prepare for a future career. The four internship types include marketing communications, genetic services, sales and service, and veterinary.
The marketing communications, genetic services, and sales and service internships are based at the Accelerated Genetics administrative headquarters in Baraboo, Wis. Applications are due Nov. 15, 2011, to the contacts listed below at Accelerated Genetics, E10890 Penny Lane, Baraboo, WI 53913; 1-800-451-9275.
Marketing communications: Interns will be responsible for a variety of projects within public relations, written communications, print advertising, audio visual and web, as well as receive experience with Accelerated Genetics programs and services. Again this year there will be two positions, one intern will be more dairy-focused and one will be more beef-focused.
To apply, send cover letter and résumé to Kari Stanek at the address above, phone extension 5422, or kstanek@accelgen.com.
Genetic services: Interns will assist with photography efforts of the Accelerated Genetics’ dairy sires and progeny, as well as hosting tours for international and domestic tour groups. They will receive experience with all Accelerated Genetics programs and services. The interns will assist with locating and selecting progeny for picturing and tour groups; working with the photographic crew in the preparation of these daughters; and coordinate travel itinerary.
To apply, send cover letter and résumé to Glen Jensen at the address above, phone extension 5444, or gjensen@accelgen.com.
Sales and service: Individuals will develop skills in AI, learn about reproductive services such as estrous synchronization programs, and receive experience in sales division positions and Accelerated Genetics’ programs. Interns will provide relief service for assigned AI technicians, conduct market penetration studies and assist with retail sales routes. Other responsibilities will include assisting with sire and progeny photography.
To apply, send résumé and cover letter to Sue Lindloff at the address above, phone extension 5454 or slindloff@accelgen.com.
Veterinarian intern: This internship is based at the Accelerated Genetics production facilities in Westby, Wis. This intern will be responsible for projects within the areas of animal health and husbandry, as well as receive a broad range of knowledge on all Accelerated Genetics programs and services. The intern will be responsible for tasks including working with the herd veterinarian on special projects, animal health procedures, helping with blood testing, assisting with collections, helping with the processing of semen, and aiding in the filling out of paperwork and recordkeeping.
To apply, send résumé and cover letter to David Brown, Accelerated Genetics, 828 South Main Street, Westby, WI 54667. The application deadline is March 1, 2012. For more information, contact Brown at 1-800-451-9275 ext. 7510 or dbrown@accelgen.com.
American Farmland Trust on the Aggregate Risk and
Revenue Management Legislation
Senators Brown (D-OH), Thune (R-SD), Durbin (D-IL), and Lugar (R-IN) proposed the Aggregate Risk and Revenue Management (ARRM) legislation, S. 1626, that would seek to reform the commodity support programs that are part of the farm safety net.
American Farmland Trust’s (AFT) vision of a modern safety net acknowledges a role for the federal government in helping farmers manage risk, but supports a system based largely on market forces. In addition, any properly constructed program includes accountability measures to receive assistance and minimizes economic distortion without encouraging production in areas that cannot be farmed in an environmentally sustainable manner.
We believe that agricultural risk management should be a partnership between private crop insurance that lets producers manage annual farm level risks, along with a revenue-based program that serves to manage multiyear risks that broadly affect markets, risks for which no producer can plan.
Upon our initial examination of the bill, it appears to meet our criteria for a modern safety net.
After further analysis, we hope that it meets these criteria and builds on steps taken in the 2008 Farm Bill to create a more effective revenue-based safety that helps farmers when they need assistance, better serves taxpayers, and appropriately protects the environment. Achieving that, we expect to enthusiastically support its passage.
MU Wurdack Farm Field Day is Oct. 7
This year’s Wurdack Farm field day, Oct. 7, will include a demonstration of a portable sawmill as well as talks on forage, beef production, timber management and agroforestry.
“Our field days are known for providing information that can be taken home and put to work on your farm. This year won’t be any different,” said John Poehlmann, superintendent of the 1,200-acre University of Missouri (MU) research center in Crawford County. The center is part of a network of 20 research centers around the state at which the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources conducts research benefiting Missouri farmers and agricultural professionals.
The field day begins at 8 a.m. with coffee and breakfast snacks. Tours of research and demonstration projects on the farm begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at noon. Attendees can enjoy a steak sandwich lunch at the spring after the tours.
Craig Payne, MU Extension veterinarian, will provide an update on trichomoniasis, including new state regulations for testing and transporting bulls. Trichomoniasis, commonly referred to as “trich,” is a reproductive disease in cattle that can have a devastating financial impact in beef operations because of reduced calf crops and expenses associated with cleaning up an infected herd.
MU Extension beef nutritionist Justin Sexten will discuss forage management using the “grazing wedge.”
“Wurdack, as well as a number of other research centers in the state, has been involved with a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant project that is designed to explore the use of routine pasture forage measurements for improving forage utilization and quality,” Sexten said.
Ted Cunningham, MU Extension livestock specialist, will present results from a summer study at Wurdack that evaluated four different systems for grazing late-weaned, fall-born calves. Calves in this study were grazed and evaluated in four systems, including Bermuda grass, hybrid sorghum Sudan grass, cool-season grass with feed and cool-season grass without feed, Cunningham said. “The goal of the study is to help producers identify systems that can be applied to southern Missouri that provide optimum performance and cost of gain for weaned fall-born calves.”
On the timber/agroforestry tour, MU agroforestry research specialist Dusty Walter will discuss a multiyear silvopasture study of thinning timber stands, including recent findings on how light penetration in the stands influences both timber and forage growth. Walter will also explain the impact of controlled grazing on the growth and development of managed forests.
Hank Stelzer, MU Extension forester, will use a portable sawmill to demonstrate the effect log quality has on lumber yield and quality.
John Dwyer, MU forestry professor, will discuss the shortleaf pine restoration and silvopasture projects at Wurdack. “The restoration of shortleaf pine offers a unique opportunity to diversify our forest and can be successfully integrated with silvopasture to add value to the farm,” Dwyer said.
For more information, contact Ted Cunningham at cunninghamtc@missouri.edu or 573-729-3196, or go to http://aes.missouri.edu/wurdack/.
USDA Farm Service Agency Decreases Complaint to
Lowest Level in History, Loans Increase
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Bruce Nelson announced that FSA has significantly reduced the number of civil rights complaints in fiscal year (FY) 2010 to the lowest level in the agency’s history, while increasing the number of loans and dollar amount obligated to programs dedicated to minority and women farmers for FY 2011.
“The loan numbers reflect the significant progress we have made in the effort to equally serve all eligible applicants for FSA program support,” said Nelson.
During the last fiscal year, FSA’s loan division conducted business with 70,000 borrowers and provided support to 1.9 million producers through its farm programs. Out of the nearly 2 million producers the agency has served, 37 complaints were received — the lowest number filed since the agency began. During the same year, more than 5,650 loans and $509 million in support were obligated to minority and women farmers under FSA’s loan programs.
Funding obligated for minority and women farmers has increased in fiscal year 2011 by 9% over the same period last year, to $554 million as of Sept. 27, 2011. The largest increase has come in guaranteed farm ownership loans. These loans, which help producers obtain commercial credit to establish or maintain a family farm or ranch, have increased 40% to $161.8 million for minority and women farmers.
In addition to improvements in lending practices to minority and women producers, FSA has seen an overall improvement in its loan portfolio. Losses in the direct loan program fell to 1.2%, its second lowest level since 1986, while direct loan delinquency has been at historic lows not seen for the past two decades, resting at 5.9%. Delinquency rates for fiscal year 2010 under the guaranteed loan program were at 1.69%, the second lowest since 1995. Foreclosure rates remain low with just 64 completed in fiscal year 2010. That represents less than one-tenth of 1% of the agency’s direct loan caseload.
The FY2010 Report of Civil Rights Complaints, Resolutions, and Actions, as required by the 2008 Farm Bill, is available here.
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