News Update
May 23, 2012
Will Mayfield Joins the American Angus Association
The American Angus Association welcomes Will Mayfield of Pulaski, Tenn., as the new regional manager for Delaware, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. His duties begin in late May of this year.
"The Angus Association has always been a huge part of my life," Mayfield says. "It is an honor to serve the members and show others what the Angus industry can offer."
Mayfield will represent Angus at various cattle events and sales throughout the region. Ask him questions about Association programs and services, or for help locating Angus seedstock. He can also advise producers on marketing opportunities available through the Association.
"Will is a great fit to our team, and we look forward to seeing what he brings to our Angus producers and the future of the business breed," says Bryce Schumann, the Association's CEO. "We hope farmers and ranchers in the Eastern region call on Will for advice with their operations."
A native of Tennessee, Mayfield is a graduate of the University of Tennessee (UT) with bachelor's and master's degrees in animal science. Mayfield grew up near Pulaski on Mayfield Angus Farm where he assisted with the herd's beef nutrition, genetic evaluation and artificial insemination.
His past experience includes work as an undergraduate assistant and graduate research assistant for UT; intern for Genex CRI of Baton Rouge, La.; and involvement in his family's registered Angus herd and grain farming operation. Mayfield was also a member of the UT livestock judging team in 2008 and served as the assistant coach in 2010 and 2011. He is a past member of the National Junior Angus Association and Tennessee Junior Angus Association.
Pharo, Grandin and Provenza Among Speakers Coming to 5NCGL in Tampa in December
The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) is busy planning the 5th National Conference on Grazing Lands (5NCGL), which will take place in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 9-12, 2012.
Speakers confirmed for the event include animal scientist Temple Grandin, Colorado rancher Kit Pharo, and animal behavior specialist Fred Provenza.
What truly sets the National Conference on Grazing Lands format apart from all other conferences is that approximately half of all featured presenters are real producers recounting their own success stories — and lessons learned — so that others may benefit.
The conference objective is "to heighten awareness of the economic and environmental benefits of grazing lands." The 5NCGL will draw producers, academics, conservationists and virtually anyone interested in effective natural resource management. Abstracts are now being accepted and more information can be found at www.glci.org/5NCGL.html or contact Monti Golla, GLCI initiative administrator, at 979-777-9779 or grazinglands@verizon.net.
You can now keep up with GLCI and pending information about the 5NCGL via Facebook. Check it out at www.facebook.com/grazinglands.
Every Day is Earth Day in South Dakota: Commentary
by Gov. Dennis Daugaard
As South Dakotans, we have a personal connection with the land.
We enjoy hiking, camping, boating, fishing, hunting and working the land. Many of us grew up on the farm and many more have fond memories of harvesting corn with grandpa or helping grandma plant peas in the garden. We appreciate the beauty of our forested Black Hills, the wide-open spaces of our great plains, and the quiet calm of our lakes and rivers.
The bond to land is reflected in our state seal, a vivid testament to our state's natural beauty and a clear symbol of the importance we place on our land and environment. A flowing river, majestic hills, productive agricultural lands, and the many benefits of these abundant natural resources form the collective symbol of our great state.
For much of the world, April 22, Earth Day, is one day each year to increase awareness and appreciation of our natural environment. But for those South Dakotans who owe their livelihoods to the bounty of the land, every day is Earth Day.
To help recognize those on the front lines of our state's conservation efforts, the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association, South Dakota Grassland Coalition and the Wisconsin-based Sand County Foundation have launched the Leopold Conservation Award. The award, named for renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, recognizes farm and ranch families who demonstrate outstanding conservation leadership on their land and in their communities.
There are hundreds of families in South Dakota who make conservation a priority, but this year's Leopold Award winners are Jim and Karen Kopriva of Clark County. The Koprivas have made conservation a family tradition, and their grassland, water and wildlife habitat management techniques are a clear demonstration that responsible environmental management and successful agricultural operations can readily co-exist.
For more information on the Kopriva family's operation or the many other conservation practices that farmers and ranchers currently employ, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.
Congratulations to Jim and Karen Kopriva and all the other families across South Dakota who are working hard to ensure that our lands remain productive for future generations of South Dakotans.
HACCP Plan Improvement Workshop
to be hosted May 24-25 at Texas A&M
Companies interested in having their Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HAACP) plans evaluated and improved by experts in the field should plan to attend a "Beyond Basics" workshop May 24-25 on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, according to organizers.
The Texas A&M Department of Animal Science is hosting the workshop beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Kleberg Animal and Food Sciences Center in Room 023. Those attending can expect to build confidence in their ability to support and defend their food safety programs, according to organizers.
The course will be taught by Jeff Savell, regents professor of meat science and Texas AgriLife Research meat scientist, and Kerri Harris, associate professor of meat science and hazard analysis coordinator.
"Do you have decision-making documentation for your HACCP plan?" Harris said. "Can you justify and defend your critical control points or critical limits? Do you have all of your scientific supporting documentation on file? Can you support the frequency of your monitoring and verification activities? Is the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) asking for information that you don't have? Are you ready for an FSIS review team visit? If you answered 'no' to any of these questions, then you need to attend this workshop and we'll help you find the answers."
Participants are asked to bring their company's raw and/or cooked-product control point plan/plans to the workshop for optimal one-on-one.
"This course allows us to focus on the establishment's actual food safety programs and to provide one-on-one interaction to ensure their programs are properly designed and comply with regulatory requirements," Harris said.
Registration is $500 and can be made online at http://bit.ly/JKviE7. For additional information, please contact Tiffany Mooney at 979-862-3643.
MSU Extension Launches New Website,
Featuring Daily Updates
Michigan State University (MSU) Extension has launched a new website featuring daily updates written by Extension educators on some of the most important issues to readers.
The website features timely educational articles from MSU Extension staff from around the state whose expertise ranges from production agriculture to family finances, nutrition issues and just about everything in between.
Additionally, the site features MSU Extension events throughout the state, as well as contact information for each county's MSU Extension presence.
The site's content is divided into eight content areas: 4-H Youth, Agriculture, Business, Community, Family, Food & Health, Lawn & Garden and Natural Resources. Each content area features specific subcategories — 81 in all — packed with articles from MSU Extension educators and specialists. The MSU Extension Find an Expert tool is also available via the site, connecting users to the right Extension expert by listing staff by the counties they cover and their areas of expertise.
Visit the website at www.msue.msu.edu.
Ag Educational Major Scholarship
The Illinois Agri-Women offers a $1,500 scholarship to current college students majoring in ag education who intend to be agriculture instructors. To be eligible for the scholarship you must be: (1) an ag education major; (2) completing your undergraduate degree in the fall of 2012 or spring 2013; (3) intend to be ag instructor; and (4) enrolled in an Illinois college or university. Application is due May 30.
Editor’s Note: The articles used within this site represent a mixture of copyrights. If you would like to reprint or repost an article, you must first request permission of Angus Productions Inc. (API) by contacting the editor at 816-383-5200; 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506. API claims copyright to this web site as presented. We welcome educational venues and cattlemen to link to this site as a service to their audience.