News Update
January 18, 2012
American Angus Association Releases Updated EPDs
The American Angus Association’s spring 2012 Sire Evaluation Report and updated National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) expected progeny differences (EPDs) are now available online at www.angus.org. While NCE EPDs are now generated on a weekly basis, a biannual report is still printed.
Accessing the Sire Evaluation Report online is the fastest and easiest way to get the latest performance information on sires in the Angus breed. It allows you to specify ranges of EPDs and to sort bulls that qualify within those ranges. The evaluation also includes dollar value indexes ($Values), expressed in dollars per head, to assist commercial beef producers in selection decisions. Economic assumptions used to develop $Values are based on a three-year rolling average, which was also updated in the spring 2012 report.
The Spring 2012 Sire Evaluation Report lists data on 2,146 sires from a total of 216,873 sires in the Association database. The Young Sire Supplement also included in the report lists 2,654 bulls.
Printed copies will be available by request. Active members who returned their blue request cards to receive a printed copy of the fall 2011 report will receive the spring 2012 report automatically. All other producers who want a printed report may request it by contacting Brenda Weigart at 816-383-5144 or bweigart@angus.org.
For more information regarding expected progeny differences (EPDs), the NCE or performance evaluation, visit www.angus.org.
New RMA Rule Gives Flexibility in Cover Crop Termination
Farmers have been given more time to terminate their cover crops after the excessively wet spring of last year prevented many of them from doing that in time to meet a crop insurance deadline.
In order for grain farmers to insure their main crop, they previously had to terminate cover crops by May 15 and before the crop headed or budded. In December, the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) changed those rules so that producers now must terminate cover crops by June 5 and regardless of the growth stage.
“Last year, with a very wet spring, the May 15 deadline was really problematic,” said Eileen Kladivko, Purdue University professor of agronomy. “There was a lot of effort on the parts of land-grant universities, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and partners like the National Wildlife Federation to get that changed because of the conservation benefits of cover crops. The new rule gives us an extra three weeks, and it doesn’t matter the stage of the cover crop.
“This is a great improvement because now farmers can manage cover crops as is best agronomically.”
According to RMA, the changes affect corn, popcorn, sweet corn, hybrid seed corn, pumpkins, soybeans, grain sorghum and processing beans. The agency defines cover crops as crops planted within 12 months of planting an insurable crop. The cover crop must be recognized as a sound agronomic conservation practice for the area.
The change recognizes the importance of crop insurance in protecting a producer’s livelihood and conservation in protecting the soil, said Brian Frieden, director of the Springfield Regional Office of RMA.
Even with the changes and increased flexibility, Kladivko said farmers need to visit with crop insurance agents about the way cover crops may affect a specific crop insurance policy.
Producers also can get more information about cover crops on the RMA website at www.rma.usda.gov/ by clicking the “Information Browser” link. The site provides farmers with access to specific information by allowing them to enter crops and counties where farms are located and to look at special provisions.
Estate Plan Evaluation Workshops Scheduled
Talking about estate planning is often difficult and implementing an estate plan can be even harder. Farmers are unique in that there isn’t a distinct moment where they just walk out the door to retirement as someone in a regular wage-earning job might do. Rather, farm families often need to think about how to transition the farm business to the next generation during a lifetime, as well as have an estate plan in place.
There are options they can consider such as phasing out or transitioning to another generation; this workshop helps plan for that.
The “Evaluating Your Estate Plan” workshop, presented at various Iowa Extension offices throughout the state, will answer estate planning questions and help prepare participants for future farm transitions and estate planning.
Melissa O'Rourke, Iowa State University Extension farm and agribusiness management specialist and one of the speakers at the event, supports the event as applicable to everyone.
“The program applies to everyone — town and country, families, couples and individuals,” O’Rourke said in an Iowa State Extension and Outreach article.
O’Rourke is an attorney experienced in agricultural law and estate planning. Kelvin Leibold, Extension farm and agribusiness management specialist, will be the other featured speaker at the workshop. Leibold joined ISU Extension in 1987 and has vast experience in working with agricultural clients in farm and business planning.
The one-day workshop will discuss the language of estate planning, gift, estate and inheritance taxes, calculating retirement costs and many other areas vital to creating a good estate plan.
Those confused on how to build a plan for transferring farm assets or unsure what options are best for their farm operation and family are encouraged to attend this workshop.
“We’re really excited about this workshop because it doesn’t just stop at providing valuable information for anyone concerned about estate and transition plans,” O’Rourke said. “Everyone will participate in a hands-on analysis and discussion of case studies that will help folks apply the information to their own situations.”
ISU Extension and Outreach is offering the workshop at five locations in February:
- Feb. 7: Iowa Falls – Hardin County Extension Office. To register, call 641-648-4850
- Feb. 15: Le Mars – Plymouth County Extension Office. To register, call 712-546-7835
- Feb. 16: Fayette – Upper Iowa University Student Center Ballroom. To register, call 563-425-3331
- Feb. 22: Greenfield – Adair County Extension Office. To register, call 641-732-8412
- Feb. 23: Marion – Linn County Extension Office. To register, call 319-377-9839
Registration at each site starts at 9 a.m. with adjournment at 4 p.m. Advance registration is required as space is limited.
Cost of the Evaluating Your Estate Plan workshop is $50 per person and includes lunch.
To preregister, call the county extension office of the preferred site listed in the chart above. For more information, visit the Ag Decision Maker website.
Heifer Development Series
Focuses on Reproductive Technologies
With the cow herd at its lowest level since 1973, drought in the southern range states and optimism for increased export demand, the stage is set for heifer retention increases into the next few years. To aid in this process, the Iowa Beef Center (IBC), Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) are working together to host a series of heifer clinics during the next few weeks.
The series focuses on currently available technologies and management to increase productivity and longevity of heifers. Specific topics include health protocols, ration recommendations, heifer development budgets, AI practices and synchronization recommendations, and reducing calving difficulties. Ultrasound demonstration and Q&A also are part of each session.
Cost is $15 per person, which includes resource materials and a meal. Contact and registration information is included for each location. Preregister by date shown for the desired location to ensure adequate material and meal count.
- Jan. 25, Rockwell City – Expo Building at Calhoun County Fairgrounds, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register by Jan. 18 by calling 712-297-8611 (snow date Feb. 1).
- Jan. 26, Iowa Falls – Ellsworth College Equestrian Center, 6 p.m. Register by Jan. 18 by calling 641-923-2856.
- Feb. 6, Spencer – Clay County Regional Events Center at Clay County Fairgrounds, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register by Jan. 30 by calling 712-262-2264 (snow date Feb. 8).
- Feb. 7, Postville – Postville Vet Clinic, noon to 4 p.m. Register by Feb. 1 by calling 319-472-7939.
- Feb. 7, Richland – Keokuk County (formerly Richland) Veterinary Clinic, 6 p.m. Register by Feb. 1 by calling 641-472-4166.
- Feb. 7, Stuart – Stuart Vet Clinic, 6 p.m. Register by Feb. 1 by calling 641-203-1270.
- Feb. 9, Chariton – ISU McNay farm, 6 p.m. Register by Feb. 1 by calling 641-203-1270.
- Feb. 9, Maquoketa – Jackson County Extension office, noon to 4 p.m. Register by Feb. 1 by calling 319-472-7939.
- Feb. 9, Bloomfield – Bloomfield Livestock Auction, 6 p.m. Register by Feb. 1 by calling 641-472-4166.
A listing of all series session dates, times, locations and contact information also is available on the IBC website.
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