News Update
January 25, 2012
Protect the Harvest Live on RFD-TV to
Explore Conflict Between Animal Rights and Agriculture
Thursday, Jan. 26, Protect The Harvest will present Protect The Harvest Live on RFD-TV at 9 p.m. CST to explore the intense and growing conflict between animal rights and American agriculture. The show will feature farmers, public policy leaders and animal welfare experts from across America. Viewers will be able to participate in the show by calling in to the program at 1-877-731-6733.
During the last decade, animal rights groups like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have successfully sought to restrict hunting, animal research and modern animal agriculture techniques across the United States. Today, farmers, ranchers and hunters are standing together to fight back against these intrusions.
Protect The Harvest Live will explore the threat animal rights groups pose to American farmers and what can be done to combat this growing problem. Guests for Protect The Harvest Live will include president/CEO of the Animal Ag Alliance Kay Johnson Smith, along with Missouri farmer Chris Chinn, Representative Jason Smith (R-MO), Senator Mike Parson (R-MO) and Representative Erik Helland (R-IA).
Topics for Protect The Harvest Live will include the identity and agenda of America’s leading animal rights groups, the policies these groups are pursuing to attack America’s farmers, ranchers and hunters, and what farmers and agriculture advocates can do to protect American agriculture.
Protect The Harvest is a new pro-farmer advocacy group focused on standing in the gap between American families and the radical animal rights groups that threaten their access to safe, affordable food. For more information, please visit www.ProtectTheHarvest.com.
Ohio State Field Crop Programs Coming in February
Field crop farmers will have two opportunities this February to get up to speed on new research and technology from Ohio State University (OSU) experts as they make plans for the 2012 growing season.
Northern Ohio Crops Day, scheduled for Feb. 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Gibsonburg, Ohio, will include topics pertaining to all major row crops and forages. For those producers who want more in-depth information on Ohio’s No. 1 crop, there’s the Feb. 14 Soybean Workshop, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Custar.
Northern Ohio Crops Day presentations are:
- “Phosphorous and Lake Erie: What Has Changed Since 1995”
- “Pesticide Application: Making Sure You Hit the Target”
- “Problem Weeds in Row Crops and Forages”
- “Using All the Tools for Growing Corn”
- “Precision Agriculture”
Private and commercial pesticide recertification credits, as well as continuing education credits for certified crop advisors, will be available. Cost for private credits is $25; cost for commercial credits is $15 per hour.
There’s no cost for attending the Northern Ohio Crops Day, but a $10 donation will be accepted at the door to help cover expenses. Lunch will be provided, and each attendee will receive a copy of the 2012 Ohio and Indiana Weed Control Guide.
Location for the event is Ole Zim’s Wagon Shed, 1375 North State Route 590, Gibsonburg. For more information, contact the Sandusky County office of OSU Extension at 419-334-6340, or Mark Koenig at koenig.55@osu.edu.
Meanwhile, the Soybean Workshop will include presentations on OSU soybean population research, using cereal rye cover crops, cultural practices to improve yield, northwest Ohio soybean diseases, genetic disease resistance, thresholds and fungicide use and future soybean disease issues. There will also be a hands-on soybean disease identification session.
Registration for the Soybean Workshop is $50, includes lunch and materials, and is due by Feb. 7. To register, fill out the form available at http://go.osu.edu/HUZ and mail with a check payable to OSU Extension to Alan Sundermeier, OSU Extension, 639 Dunbridge Rd., Ste. 1, Bowling Green, OH 43402.
The event, sponsored by OSU Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), will be at OARDC’s Northwest Agricultural Research Station, 4240 Range Line Rd., Custar.
For more information about the Soybean Workshop, contact Sundermeier at 419-354-9050 or sundermeier.5@osu.edu.
Ag Conference for Women Scheduled for Feb. 10-11
Producing a variety of health-promoting foods is essential if growing populations are to thrive.
Food producers, farmers, ranchers and agribusiness professionals can, however, face challenges that others might consider unimaginable, and that’s why an upcoming conference — Women Managing the Farm — is important. The 2012 edition of this educational event is scheduled for Feb. 10-11 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Wichita, Kan.
Why an agriculture conference for women?
More women are choosing careers in agriculture; others who were not actively engaged in food production may have married an agricultural producer and, thus, into food production; inherited land; or become an absentee landlord unexpectedly, said Janet Barrows, an ag career professional and chairperson for the conference organizing committee.
Spouses, business and family partners also are welcome, said Barrows, who noted that the annual conference typically attracts several hundred participants.
Attendees will be able to choose from more than 25 concurrent sessions exploring topics such as sustainable agriculture; business planning; financial management; markets; animal welfare; crops; water; weather; energy contracts; government regulations; family partnerships, and tips for managing them successfully; operating a home-based business; support systems for young farmers and ranchers; health; sustaining rural communities; social media; and others.
The keynote speaker is Ed O’Malley, representing the Kansas Leadership Center.
O’Malley will focus on leadership in rural communities and offer tips for what Barrows describes as “bringing out the leader in everyone, and building leadership skills to enhance personal and professional opportunities and build community.”
Planned general sessions include:
- Dan Thomson, Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute — Update on Animal Welfare
- Dana Peterson, National Association of Wheat Growers — Farm Girl Turned CEO: Policy Perspective
- Cheryl Tevis, Successful Farming magazine — Striking a Balance
- Cheryl Unruh, author and columnist for the Emporia Gazette — Flyover People
Attendees will have opportunities to meet and network with others who share similar challenges and opportunities, said Barrows, who added that former attendees cite networking as an especially valuable part of the conference.
The conference is recommended for agricultural partners, independent producers, helpers, absentee landlords, industry professionals, business managers and others serving agricultural businesses or otherwise involved in agricultural communities.
The cost to attend is $145, if registration is received by Jan. 27 and $170 after that date.
The Hyatt Regency in Wichita, Kan., is making a limited number of rooms available at a reduced conference rate; reservations and more information are available online at www.womenmanagingthefarm.info or by calling 1-316-293-1234 or 1-888-421-1442.
Early Registration for AMSA Student Conference Ends Soon
Time is running out for students interested in saving $25 by registering early for the upcoming Student Leadership Conference “Sharpening Your Job Skills.” This year’s conference will be April 30 in Dallas, Texas, prior to the American Meat Institute (AMI) Exposition.
The theme for this year’s conference is “From graduation to the daily grind, everything you need to know.” The conference is designed to help answer challenging job questions, such as the differences between jobs within the industry, salary, interviews and first year expectations.
Featured speakers include:
- Donnie Smith, president and CEO, Tyson Foods Inc.
- Deidrea Mabry, American Meat Science Association
- Brad Morgan, Pfizer Animal Health
- Laura Fenton, Advance Pierre Foods
- Chad Anderson, Momentum Three Inc.
- Jackie Eager, Food Safety Net Services
Early registration is $100 per member and ends Jan. 27. After early registration ends, registration fees increase to $125 for members.
The 2012 Student Leadership Conference is co-sponsored by the American Meat Science Association (AMSA) Student Membership, AMSA Educational Foundation, and the American Meat Institute (AMI).
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