News Update
May 18, 2012
Crop Growers Still Have Time to Switch to Corn if Alfalfa
Stands Don't Meet Production Criteria
Crop growers wondering if they should keep their alfalfa or rotate to a different crop still have time to switch to corn if they find their alfalfa stands don't meet production criteria, an Ohio State University (OSU) Extension educator said.
Thanks to warmer, drier conditions this year, the 2012 growing season is providing a prime opportunity for growers to evaluate marginal alfalfa stands following the first harvest, said Rory Lewandowski, an agricultural and natural resources educator for OSU Extension.
In fact, growers still have time to plant corn for silage if they determine after the first cutting that their alfalfa stands are questionable, he said.
"Last year, we had so much rain that everything was behind and even if growers wanted to rotate out, they couldn't do that because the fields were just too wet," Lewandowski said. "This is one of those years that the weather has cooperated enough to open up the opportunity to do this.
"Growers should look and see if the stand is productive enough to meet their production goals. But if not, with the weather we've had, they can rotate out and get some more production out of that land."
Alfalfa is typically rotated into corn, Lewandowski said.
"But occasionally the question comes up regarding whether it is possible to plant alfalfa back into these old alfalfa stands to either thicken up the old stand or to start over with a new seeding," he said.
For the full release, visit http://extension.osu.edu/news-releases.
Tune in to the Alltech Symposium on Rural TV
and the Alltech Ag Network
With just a few days until the Alltech 28th Annual International Symposium kicks off in Lexington, Ky., May 20, excitement is growing among delegates worldwide who will be attending the event. They will have the opportunity to listen to world-renowned speakers and hear major announcements about what's in store for the future of animal nutrition. While an anticipated 3,000 delegates will attend the symposium this year, thanks to coverage by Rural TV and the Alltech Ag Network, many more will have an opportunity to experience the event from the comfort of their own homes, offices, or even mobile devices.
Rural TV will be on hand throughout symposium, providing regular coverage, interviews and highlights along with portions of the Monday, May 21, Opening Plenary Session and the Tuesday afternoon Smart Debate.
Viewers can tune in to watch Rural TV on Dish Network channel 232, which will feature numerous Alltech Symposium reports in the daily broadcasts throughout the week for both Market Day Report (9 a.m.-2 p.m., EDT) and the Rural Evening News (7:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., EDT). In addition, extensive coverage of various sessions in their entirety will be aired in prime time following the Rural Evening News on both Rural TV and RFD-TV for several weeks following the Alltech Symposium.
The Alltech Ag Network will be streaming major sessions and press conferences live, which means that viewers can tune in on their computers or mobile devices. By going to www.alltech.com/symposium, viewers can watch the Ag Network's live coverage of the following:
Monday, May 21
9-11:30 a.m. EST: Opening Plenary Session and Medal of Excellence Presentation
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. EST: Press Conference
2-2:30 p.m. EST: Symposium Live with Damien O'Reilly
Tuesday, May 22
10-10:30 am EST: Symposium Live with Damien O'Reilly
12-1 p.m. EST: Press conference
1:30-4 p.m. EST: The Smart Debate
Wednesday, May 23
10-10:30 a.m. EST: Symposium Live with Damien O'Reilly
For those who can't turn in to watch the broadcasts live, they will be rebroadcast in primetime on Rural TV each evening between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. EDT, and archived for later viewing online on the Alltech Ag Network. The Alltech Ag Network is a partnership between Alltech and iHigh.com.
Korean Official Backs U.S. Beef
South Korea's minister for food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries has reaffirmed that U.S. beef poses no threat to public health.
"There is no problem with the safety of U.S. beef, but the quarantine strengthening policy will continue," Kyu-Yong Suh said at a press briefing.
Suh made the remarks after being briefed on the report from a South Korean inspection team, which returned home earlier in the day from its 12-day trip to the U.S.
The nine-member team visited rendering plants, feed mills and cattle ranches to see how cattle are raised and processed in the U.S. At a rendering plant, the team witnessed how workers separate the specified risk materials such as the backbone.
"After examining documents and earmark of the cow regarding the recent BSE case in the U.S., it was confirmed that the cow was 127 months old. It was also atypical BSE found in old cows, and that the affected cow was disposed of and was not used to eat," Suh said.
Suh also added that no country that imports beef from the U.S. halted imports or imposed quarantines.
The inspection team visited several U.S. institutions including USDA, the USDA federal laboratory in Iowa and a California rendering plant, as well as slaughterhouses and processing plants.
Controversies linger, however, because the team failed to visit the affected California dairy farm. The team instead had a written question-and-answer session with the owner of the farm at the state's USDA service center.
The South Korean government, however, decided to maintain the current enhanced level of quarantine checks on U.S. beef to assuage consumer concerns. It will also carry out further inspections of 20 facilities in the U.S. that are responsible for slaughtering and processing beef sent to South Korea.
Meanwhile, a Taiwanese delegation asked the U.S. to provide a diagnostic report on the BSE case when the group visited the National Veterinary Services Laboratories May 10.
The delegation was received by Elizabeth Lautner, director of the labs in Ames, Iowa, which confirmed the case April 24, the Taipei Times reported. Lautner and nine other experts at the laboratories briefed the delegation on the process of diagnosing BSE, and the method and techniques used to identify different types of the disease.
The information on the BSE case and other related data will be brought back to Taiwan for future reference, to help the Council of Agriculture's National Animal Health Institute develop techniques to identify different types of BSE.
The delegation visited slaughterhouses in Nebraska and Colorado May 13-14, accompanied by USDA officials.
Support Domino's Pizza Stand Against HSUS
In April, Domino's Pizza shareholders rejected a resolution proposed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to require its pork suppliers to stop housing sows in gestation stalls. In fact, 80% of shareholders voted against the resolution. A Domino's spokesperson says the company relies on animal experts to determine the best way to raise an animal that's used for food.
The farming community is rallying together this weekend to thank Domino's Pizza shareholders for choosing to consider the welfare of farm animals over the cries of an extremist group. Farmers are encouraging everyone to order Domino's Pizza this weekend, May 18-20, as a way to thank Domino's Pizza for standing with America's farmers.
The blog "The Truth About Agriculture" started a Facebook group, Farmers Paying it Forward with Pizza, where you can show your support.
Missouri hog farmer and agvocate Chris Chinn, put forth the idea last week in a blog post she wrote for Just Farmers.
Chinn says, "Domino's decision speaks volumes to me as a farmer. It shows they trust the experts I trust. It shows they trust me. I appreciate that.
"We ordered Domino's Pizza at the office to support the chain that said 'no' to HSUS. Good decision, great pizza!"
Chinn went on to say, "Members of my family, especially my kids, love pizza just about as much as they love farming. I think the next time we decide to have pizza, I'm going to show a little love back. I am going to buy a Domino's pizza. For me, this means driving 45 minutes out of my way but I think it's worth it to support a company that supports me. And it gives a vote of support to a company that leaves important decisions like animal care up to the experts!"
Folks are encouraged to go to this site and print out this form to give to Domino's employees: http://kellymrivard.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/agpizzaparty.pdf
BPI awaits school lunch orders
A big test awaits Beef Products Inc. this week as it struggles to recover from the uproar over its lean beef trimmings.
By Monday, U.S. schools must finalize their ground beef purchases with the USDA, which supplies bulk commodities to districts enrolled in the National School Lunch Program.
Two months ago, in the midst of the raging "pink slime" controversy, the USDA said it would allow local schools to opt-out of accepting beef containing BPI's signature product, officially known as Lean, Finely Textured Beef (LFTB).
At the time, the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service also pushed back until Monday the deadline for schools to order beef for the 2012-2013 year, agency spokesman Aaron Lavalle said. Schools that had already placed orders were allowed to change them, Lavalle said.
The preference for each product won't be known until after all the orders are in, according to the USDA. This year, the federal agency purchased 111.5 million pounds of ground beef this school year. Of that, 7 million of LFTB came from BPI.
Every school district in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota plans to continue to serve the home state product, according to state officials. But many districts in other parts of the country, including some of the largest urban areas, are dumping it.
For the full story, visit http://siouxcityjournal.com/business/local/bpi-awaits-school-lunch-orders/article_bccf3981-394a-541b-9e0a-552e96cacf2a.html.
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