News Update
May 9, 2012
Optibrand Launches ClearView ID for Livestock
Retinal Images and Data Collection
Optibrand has announced the launch of ClearView ID, which is its next generation retinal imaging system for capturing livestock retinal images, other animal identification, and production data. The ClearView ID replaces the company's original OptiReader® device, which is recognized as the gold standard in secure livestock identification.
The ClearView ID is an all-new system consisting of two hardware components — the camera and a Windows-based tablet. The camera has enhanced optics and imaging software that captures high definition color images. The camera is coupled with a feature-rich, Windows-based tablet with touch-screen capabilities. Many enhanced features allow for easier operation and quicker capture of quality images with many editing options that can be done in the field. Both hardware components have been designed for ruggedness for increased reliability.
Summitview Solutions is the exclusive seller of the second-generation ID tool. For more information, call 866-356-0879 or email jenny.brown@summitviewsolutions.net.
Dry Weather Causing Some Early Season Concerns
Dry weather this spring has some producers worrying about young crops already in the ground or those soon to be.
While the entire state of Kentucky received some much needed rain in the past few days, additional rainfall is needed to help the ground recover from one of the driest Aprils on record. In April, state rainfall totals averaged a little more than 2 inches (in.), which is slightly lower than half of the normal rainfall amount for the month. Western Kentucky was the driest area, receiving slightly more than 1 in. of rain in April. Half of the state is considered abnormally dry or in moderate drought, said Tom Priddy, meteorologist in the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture.
The lack of rain has sped up row-crop planting. As of May 7, Kentucky corn growers had planted 92% of this year's crop and 76% had emerged, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Weekly Crop and Weather Report. This is well ahead of the five-year average planting rate of 56% and five-year average emergence rate of 35%.
Fortunately, young corn seedlings do not require a lot of water and even small rains will help the crop, said Chad Lee, UK grain crops specialist. While the topsoil may be dry, the young plants' root systems may be able to reach water that's available deeper in the soil. If they can't, the plants will begin to show drought symptoms. Lee said producers should scout their fields for plants showing signs of drought stress. If drought symptoms are found, producers should dig around plants that are showing these symptoms, and those that aren't, to see the root system and determine whether soil compaction is playing a role in keeping the plants from water.
Drought stress early in plant development (until growth stage V4 or V5) should result in minimal yield loss. Yield losses become more significant if drought conditions persist as plants reach the tasseling and ear development (V6) growth stage, Lee said.
As of May 7, producers had also planted 33% of their soybean crops according to the Weekly Crop and Weather Report. This is also ahead of the five-year average planting rate of 4%.
When planting soybeans into dry ground, producers should not plant the seedlings deeper into the soil to help them reach available moisture. UK specialists recommend soybean planting depths of 1 to 1.5 in. for maximum germination and no deeper than 2 in. in dry ground. Planting soybeans at depths greater than 2 in. can cause delayed emergence and increases the risk that the seedling will not reach the soil surface, Lee said. For those who haven't planted yet, it would be ideal to plant the seedlings at recommended depths after a rain.
For more information on soybean planting, view UK extension publication AGR 130: Soybean Planting in Kentucky. For more information on drought, especially as it relates to beef cattle management, see www.angusjournal.com/drought.
Subcommittee Focuses on Specialty Crop &
Nutrition Programs During D.C. Farm Bill Hearing
Tuesday, Rep. Jean Schmidt, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture, convened a hearing to continue receiving input on agricultural programs in preparation for writing the 2012 Farm Bill. This hearing focused on specialty crop and nutrition programs.
The first panel of witnesses included growers and representatives of the specialty crop community to discuss the programs under Title X of the 2008 Farm Bill. They include the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, Pest and Disease Prevention, the National Clean Plant Network and others. Specifically, they explained how programs are working to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops from research to marketing and promotion, as well as how they are working to address plant threats such as disease, pests and pathogens.
The second panel of witnesses discussed the various nutrition programs under the Subcommittee's jurisdiction. The nutrition title accounts for nearly 80% of the entire farm bill spending. The primary nutrition assistance program is the Supplemental Nutrition Assurance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. SNAP helps supplement the food budget of low-income households and is designed in such a way that it expands to help those households during economic downturns and contracts as the economy improves.
Participation in SNAP has risen by nearly 77% — from 26 million in 2007 to more than 46 million individuals currently. The U.S. spent $33 billion on SNAP in fiscal year 2007 and spending has more than doubled to nearly $76 billion in fiscal year 2011. Other nutrition programs within the Subcommittee's jurisdiction that the USDA administers are the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).
"With soaring deficits and an unfathomable national debt, we must be mindful of this grave fiscal situation. In order for us to reauthorize and craft responsible farm programs, it is our duty and responsibility to ensure that every dollar spent is a wise dollar spent. Investing wisely in specialty crops and ensuring that nutrition programs are being administered effectively is critical at this time," said Chairman Jean Schmidt (R-OH).
UNL Beef and Forage Management Webinars Continue
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) Extension's series of webinars on cattle and forage production in this region will continue with the next program set for Tuesday, May 15, and two more webinars scheduled for June.
Next Tuesday, May 15, Extension Educator Denny Bauer will speak about "Vitamins and Minerals for Beef Cows" from 11:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. MDT. To participate, go to the following website and enter as a guest: https://connect.unl.edu/extension/.
Audio will come through the computer. Participants can ask questions throughout the presentation by typing into the online interaction box. There will be 15 minutes at the end of the presentation for participant questions.
June dates and topics will include:
• June 5: Storage and use of wet distillers' grains on the ranch
• June 19: Treatment of crop residues with calcium oxide to replace corn in feedlot diets.
All presentations will be archived after the presentation and will be available at the UNL Beef website under Beef Webinars. The earlier webinar topics included:
• Don't forget the bull!
• Fertilization, weed control and use of legumes in management of cool-season pastures
• Problem weeds in native range and pasture
Any questions should be directed to Aaron Berger at 308-235-3122, email aberger2@unl.edu.
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