News Update
October 6, 2011
USDA Approves Minnesota’s TB-Free Status
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved Minnesota’s application for statewide bovine tuberculosis (TB)-free status, effective Oct. 4, 2011. The approval comes six years after the discovery of an infected beef herd in July 2005.
In recent years, status downgrades have been the cause of increased testing and movement requirements for Minnesota cattle, both in-state and out. With USDA approval, the status upgrade will bring relief to most Minnesota cattle producers.
“The farmers in Minnesota have worked tirelessly alongside the Board of Animal Health and the USDA to eliminate this disease quickly,” said Minnesota state veterinarian and Board of Animal Health Executive Director Bill Hartmann. “We have raised the bar in disease eradication by working together, working quickly and working effectively. Minnesota is a model of how it should be done.”
Though Board of Animal Health requirements will be reduced for most, livestock farmers should call the state of destination prior to interstate movement of animals. Other states may require additional testing, permits or official identification of livestock.
“With this victory comes the responsibility of the Board to ensure our state remains free of the disease. To provide extra assurance that TB is eliminated, surveillance will continue in cattle herds in the Management Zone,” Hartmann said.
Producers in the former Modified Accredited Advanced (MAA) Zone will no longer be required to obtain permits or test individual animals prior to moving cattle. An additional whole-herd test will be required of former MAA Zone herds. Producers in the smaller Management Zone will continue slightly modified testing and movement requirements.
The Department of Natural Resources will also continue management of deer populations and surveillance of hunter harvested wild deer in the bovine TB area until testing indicates that the disease has been eliminated in deer. 2010 was the first calendar year since 2005 with no confirmed bovine TB positive wild deer detected.
For additional information on Minnesota’s bovine TB response, please call the hotline at 1-877- MN TB FREE (668-2373) or visit www.mntbfree.com.
The Future Role of Government in Agricultural Risk Management
As Congress begins the process of writing the next federal farm legislation in an environment of budget constraints, tools to provide risk management options for agriculture are increasingly gaining attention.
The future role of the federal government in agricultural risk management will be the subject of the Farm Foundation® Forum Tuesday, Oct. 11.
The Forum will open with presentations by Carl Zulauf, professor emeritus at Ohio State University, and farmers Ann Jorgensen of Iowa, Clair Hauge of North Dakota, and Jimmy Dodson of Texas.
After their brief presentations, the floor will be opened for discussion.
There is no charge to participate in the Oct. 11 Forum, but registration is requested by noon Friday, Oct. 7. Click here to send your email registration.
The Forum will be 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C. Coffee will be available at 8:30 a.m.
People with an interest in agricultural, food and rural policy, including members of Congress, congressional staff, executive branch officials, industry representatives, NGO representatives, academics and members of the media are encouraged to participate.
Farm Foundation NFP organizes these public forums to engage all stakeholders in informed dialogue on food, agricultural and rural policies. Participants examine current policies, explore and analyze alternative policy proposals, and give voice to new proposals.
Ag & Conservation Leaders Provide Guidance to
Budget and Policymakers
“The most important resources for a functioning society are soil quality and the production capacity inherent in the land,” says Julia Freedgood, managing director of farmland protection and agricultural viability initiatives at American Farmland Trust (AFT). “We need new ideas and solutions to meet the economic and environmental challenges that will shape the future of America’s agricultural landscape and rural regions in the 21st century. First and foremost is the need to provide healthy food to as many as 9 billion people on a shrinking resource base of U.S. farm and ranch land, which is threatened by competition for land and water resources.”
Held in the shadow of the first possible government shutdown this year, the National Agricultural Landscapes Forum brought together thought-leaders from around the country to foster a dialogue about the major trends and issues shaping the future of agriculture, conservation and rural regions, and to put forth policy and program options to increase government effectiveness and facilitate cross-jurisdiction collaboration. The forum was hosted by AFT, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Foundation NFP.
In her opening keynote, USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan challenged forum participants to address some key questions: “What approaches are needed to protect the land? How can we balance the regulatory requirements? How can we make sure our tools will be effective with challenges such as climate and water and future challenges that we don’t know about yet? And, how do we approach the need for 100,000 new farmers each year?”
The group of more than 250 leaders in agriculture and conservation emphasized the following themes to guide policy, improve environmental performance, share the costs and ensure a future for farmers and ranchers on the land:
- Improve jurisdictional flexibility and share responsibility so that local and state directors can make resource decisions based on local conditions.
- Improve program efficiency and interagency cooperation to improve conservation outcomes.
- Target regulations and reduce uncertainty: Better direct resources to deal with persistent environmental challenges, and harmonize regulations to avoid redundant requirements that do not enhance environmental protection.
- Leverage program assistance to maximize program effectiveness: Balance regulatory approaches with investments in solutions and leverage state, local and private funds to achieve resource conservation goals.
- Expand market-based solutions: Support the development of ecosystem market regulatory and quality standards and ensure policy drivers and performance-based outcomes encourage participation.
- Support people on the land: Improve policies that support the next generation of farmers and ranchers and address the unique historical and jurisdictional issues for black family farmers, farmers on tribal lands and other underserved populations to ensure equitable treatment in conservation programs and access to agricultural infrastructure and markets.<
- Ensure food security: Bring greater attention to decisions affecting land and water use that are critical to the future ability of production agriculture to produce enough food. Policy innovations are needed to help communities and regions plan for a future for agriculture.
- Accelerate innovation with research and technology: Increase funding for research and technology adoption to improve natural resources management. Participants noted the need for geospatial technology and improved measurement capacity and tools for farmers.
“Farmers and ranchers manage nearly half the land in this country,” says Freedgood. “It is critical to provide them with a complete toolbox so they can meet the special challenges of increasing production, producing feed, fiber and biofuels, while providing the ecosystem benefits that are vital to all of us.”
“We came away from the forum having looked at the many different challenges facing U.S. agriculture in tight budget times, but not without a sense of hope,” adds Freedgood. “I was inspired by the creativity and willingness of forum participants to transcend partisan boundaries to think about lasting and affordable solutions. More than ever we need to protect and conserve conservation funding, but it’s no longer enough simply to defend what we’ve got. In the future we must be more proactive: improving soils, increasing water reserves, even reclaiming land for agriculture.”
Proceedings, presentations and video recordings from the National Agriculture Landscapes Forum are available at American Farmland Trust’s website.
Michelin Offering Rebates on Ag Tire Purchases Through November
In addition to reduced soil compaction, improved durability and better traction, this fall Michelin North America Agricultural Tires is giving U.S. and Canadian farmers another great reason to utilize Michelin agricultural tires on their farm — cash back.
Through its new Ag Advantage program, Michelin is offering rebates on replacement ag tires purchased by Nov. 30. U.S. customers will receive $50 back for each tire, and Canadian customers will get $75. The program requires a two-tire minimum purchase and has a 12-tire maximum per invoice.
“Tires are an important investment in your business,” says Michael Vandel, marketing segment manager for Michelin. “When you select the right tires to handle the load on your machine and keep them properly inflated, you can see a payoff in improved traction, fuel economy and reduced soil compaction. All of that adds up to a better bottom line. We hope the Ag Advantage program will help farmers this fall as they select the tires that will help drive their business for the next few seasons.”
Farmers can get additional details at their local Michelin ag tire dealer or download an Ag Advantage coupon at www.michelinag.com.
25th Annual All-Breeds Cattle Tour to be Oct. 12 in
Northwest North Dakota
The northwest portion of the state will be the highlight of this year’s North Dakota All-Breeds Cattle Tour. The 2011 event marks the 25th anniversary of the tour, sponsored by the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA).
The tour starts in Minot, N.D., with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. (CT) at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, located at 300 37th Ave. SW. The bus will leave from the hotel at 8 a.m.
“For 25 years, the NDSA has been proud to showcase the state’s outstanding beef cattle operations,” said NDSA Special Projects Director Emily Dalzell. “This year’s tour will feature a variety of breeds and operation types.”
The tentative schedule is as follows:
- 8:45 a.m. — KnH Simmentals, Kent and Heather Neshem, Berthold, N.D. KnH Simmentals is a family-based Simmental operation, which strives to produce sound, functional cattle. The Neshems also raise wheat, durum, canola and peas.
- Exhibiting at KnH — SRF Simmental, Todd and Kelly Finke, Berthold, N.D. The Finkes raise registered Simmental and SimAngus cattle on the place their great-grandparents homesteaded in the 1900s. In 2005, they formed a marketing alliance with Kaelberer Ranch of New Salem, N.D., and KnH Simmentals and started an annual bull sale, “Edge of the West.”
- 10 a.m. — Rockeman Herefords, Mark and Annette Rockeman, Donnybrook, N.D. Rockeman Herefords is a third- and fourth-generation farm and ranch located southwest of Donnybrook, N.D. The family raises roughly 75 registered Hereford cattle, plus 125 commercial cattle. The Rockemans also raise small grains.
- Exhibiting at Rockeman — Crider Farm and Ranch, Michael and Donita Crider, Donnybrook, N.D. The Crider family raises Angus cattle, and calves out approximately 400 head every year. They focus on cattle with easy fleshing ability, milk production, solid maternal traits and carcass quality.
- 11:30 a.m. — Northern Plains Simmentals, J.R. and Miranda Aufforth, Bowbells, N.D. Northern Plains Simmentals was created when J.R. Aufforth bought his first purebred Simmental heifer in 1989. Northern Plains Simmentals has marketed females through the Northwest North Dakota Select Sale in Stanley, N.D., and the North Dakota Showcase Sale in Bismarck, N.D.
- Exhibiting at Northern Plains — Petersen Stock Farm, Vern, Kris and Kyle Petersen, Bowbells, N.D. Petersen Farms is a family operation north of Bowbells, N.D., consisting of 4,500 acres of farm ground and 125 registered Angus cows. They strive to produce stout-made, easy-fleshing cattle that can thrive in the northern environment.
- 1 p.m. — Barenthsen-Bullinger Red Angus, Mark and Kathy Barenthsen and Jeremy and Jessica Bullinger, Powers Lake, N.D. The Barenthsen and Bullinger families started as a commercial cow-calf operation more than 30 years ago. Today, the herd consists of 250 registered and 50 commercial cows.
- 3 p.m. —Feiring Angus Ranch, Doug and Ceylon Feiring, Powers Lake, N.D. Feiring Angus Ranch is located 3 miles east of White Earth. It is owned and operated by Doug and Ceylon Feiring and their family. They strive to produce cattle that will return the most profit with the least inputs and labor.
- Exhibiting at Feiring — Mill Iron C Ranch, Arlan and Nicole Anderson, Dickinson, N.D. The Andersons manage commercial Angus cattle. Their primary focus is calving ease, maternal traits and mild dispositions.
- 4 p.m. — Ash Coulee Angus, Scott and Joanne Davis, Tioga, N.D. Ash Coulee Ranch is a family-operated, registered Angus ranch owned by Scott and JoAnne Davis, located one-half mile south of White Earth.
- 5 p.m. — Group Stop, Mountrail County Fair Building, Stanley, N.D., featuring the ranches listed below:
- Bruner Angus Ranch, Blaine and Kim Bruner, Drake, N.D. Bruner Angus Ranch is a fourth-generation family farm. The Bruner family includes Blaine, Kim and their boys Travis (and wife Ashley), Trenton and Ty.
- 4E Simmental Ranch, Shane and Jen Erickson, Plaza, N.D. 4E Simmentals is a family-owned ranch located one-half mile east and one-half mile south of Plaza.
- Early Morning Red Angus, Carl and Bonnie Frisinger, Tioga, N.D. 45-year NDSA members are long-time Red Angus breeders, marketing yearling bulls in April each year.
Breakfast, refreshments, lunch and transportation are free. Supper tickets are $10. The tour will return to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Minot by approximately 8 p.m.
To reserve your place on the bus, please RSVP by either calling the NDSA office at
701-223-2522 or emailing edalzell@ndstockmen.org. Registration is also available on-site at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites or the individual stops.
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