News Update
August 16, 2012
Three Honored for Long-time Dedication and Commitment
Beuerlein, Gahn and Moser to be Inducted into Farm Science Review Hall of Fame
The Farm Science Review Hall of Fame will welcome its 23rd class of inductees at the Vice President's Luncheon Sept. 18. Jim Beuerlein, Michael Gahn and Bobby Moser have been selected for induction because of their contributions to the success of the Farm Science Review. The 50th Farm Science Review is Sept. 18-20 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio.
"These leaders in the agricultural industry have been steadfast in their support of the Farm Science Review as a venue for sharing the latest technology," said Chuck Gamble, manager of the Farm Science Review. "It's because of people like this that the Review and the farmers we serve have sustained 50 years of success."
For the full release, click here.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Will be Thursday for MFA Youth Livestock Arena
The Missouri State Fair Foundation will host a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for the future MFA Youth Livestock Arena. Fair Director Mark Wolfe said that the Foundation has secured the funding for the project and that construction will begin in the near future.
"The new covered arena will serve the needs of a variety of livestock competitions," said Wolfe. "It will be used during future Missouri State Fairs, as well as off-season events."
The plans call for a 17,600 square foot arena, located north of the Coliseum. The addition will convert the existing, uncovered warm-up ring into a more versatile livestock facility. Much of the funding for the project came from MFA Incorporated Foundation, MFA Oil Foundation and the joint MFA Foundation, to which the companies contribute. The arena project also is being made possible by state tax credits awarded by the Missouri Development Finance Board.
The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 1:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, just north of the Coliseum. All contributors and the public are encouraged to attend.
The 2012 Missouri State Fair is currently underway in Sedalia and will run through Sunday, Aug. 19. For more information, visit www.mostatefair.com, or call 1-800-422-3247. The fair is also on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.
Jasper County Winter Pasture Program Set Aug. 24
Planting winter pastures this fall could reduce and likely eliminate the need for cattle producers to buy expensive protein and energy supplements this winter, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert.
"The severe drought in the Corn Belt has caused prices of supplements to increase significantly over the last few months," said Jason Banta, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, Overton.
To help producers do the best possible job of developing and utilizing winter pastures and reducing supplemental feed costs, Banta and his colleague, Vanessa Corriher, AgriLife Extension forage specialist, Overton, will be conducting a short course, "Jasper County: Winter Pasture Program," 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Call Junction Baptist Church in Kirbyville.
In contrast to the Corn Belt, most of southeast Texas has received timely rains this year and is currently classified as drought-free, Banta noted. Local producers have been able to make enough hay to meet their needs and even produce a little extra.
"However, in many situations the hay is lacking in quality, requiring producers to feed energy and protein supplements," he said. "Producers can utilize winter pastures to provide this supplemental nutrition instead of purchasing expensive concentrate supplements."
Registration for the program is $60, includes lunch and program materials, and will be limited to the first 50 people to register. The program will offer two continuing education units to Texas Department of Agriculture private pesticide applicator license holders — one in the integrated pest management category and one in general. Register online by going to https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu and entering the keyword "pasture."
For the full relase, click here.
Low-Interest Emergency Loans Available to Producers
As part of continuing steps by the Obama Administration to get assistance to producers impacted by the drought, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Wednesday, Aug. 15, designated 172 additional counties in 15 states as primary natural disaster areas due to drought and heat, making all qualified farm operators in the areas eligible for low-interest emergency loans. To date, USDA has designated 1,792 counties as disaster areas — 1,670 due to drought.
Earlier this week, President Obama and Secretary Vilsack traveled to Iowa to announce USDA's intent to purchase up to $170 million of pork, lamb, chicken, and catfish for federal food nutrition assistance programs, including food banks, which will help relieve pressure on American livestock producers and bring the nation's meat supply in line with demand.
"USDA is committed to using existing authorities wherever possible to help the farmers, ranchers, small businesses and communities being impacted by the drought," said Vilsack. "In the past month, we have streamlined the disaster designation process, reduced interest rates on emergency loans, and provided flexibility within our conservation programs to support struggling producers. In the weeks ahead, the President and I will continue to take swift action to help America's farmers and ranchers through this difficult time."
For the full release, click here.
Pasture Walk to Feature Horse, Livestock Grazing
Owners of small farms and acreages with grazing animals are invited to attend a specially organized pasture walk tour in central Iowa Aug. 25. The Grazing Horses and Livestock on Small Acreages event features three stops with individual topics and demonstration options. The event is free with no preregistration required.
"Those who attend will view pastures designed for grazing beef, sheep and horses, and hear from the farm owners about water, fencing and pasture management systems in place," said Joe Sellers, beef specialist with Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach. "ISU Extension staff also will be available to discuss management options and answer questions."
On-site registration opens at 1:30 on the Tom Cory north farm, 1750 NE 134th Ave., Alleman. The 2 p.m. tour includes viewing beef and sheep fencing, and water and pasture systems. The tour is followed by travel to the Cory home site at 10941 NE 56th St., Elkhart, where there will be refreshments, discussion and a tour on marketing and management of family-raised meats and produce. The group then goes to the Beth Smith farm at 5780 NE 134th Ave., Elkhart, to see and discuss rotational horse pastures, fencing, boarding, training and showing.
The tour portion concludes about 4:30 p.m. with an optional activity for Master Equine Managers at Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Altoona.
Program sponsors are Iowa Beef Center, ISU Extension and Outreach, the Master Equine Manager program and the Small Farm Sustainability program. For more information on this program, contact Sellers by phone at 641-774-2016 or by e-mail, sellers@iastate.edu.
Maps and directions to all locations are available on the program website, click here.
New ISU Extension Beef Program Specialist Excited
to Work With Industry
Although the current concern for area cattle producers is the drought, the new Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach beef program specialist in southwest Iowa said his background and experience will help him build a program that's beneficial to all facets of the industry.
"I'll strive to develop and deliver extension and outreach programs to educate members of the beef industry with the latest research-based information whatever the focus," Chris Clark said. "The goal is to improve food quality and safety, producer profitability, animal quality, animal productivity and animal welfare."
He recognizes that producer concerns, weather patterns, market issues and disease outbreaks will tend to dictate his attention to some extent, but said he wants to take a big-picture view and look at management, animal health, minimizing animal stress and maximizing animal production.
"I learned a tremendous amount in veterinary school at Iowa State and after receiving my DVM, I was able to build on that education while practicing for several years. I also have college teaching experience and that has allowed me to become more comfortable with public speaking and instructing," Clark said. "I feel this job is a great opportunity to combine my love of beef cattle with my teaching ability."
As a native Iowan, Clark credits his upbringing with helping guide his professional path, starting with livestock production at an early age.
"We lived on a farm near Albia until I was in my mid-teens and though my father got out of farming then, we lived on a small acreage and I continued to show livestock in 4-H," he said. "I really liked showing beef cattle. I didn't have anything fancy, but I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. I dreamed of developing my own herd and raising show cattle and seedstock. Hopefully, someday I can make that happen."
Clark said livestock, 4-H and ISU are "in his blood."
For more information and the full release, click here.
Wisconsin Veterinary Convention Offers Large Animal Seminars, Mobile Lab
The 2012 Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association Convention will be Oct. 11-14 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. This year, the conference will feature three full days of large animal seminars presented by nationally known experts, including 26 workshops and 31.2 hours of continuing education credits being offered.
One of the speakers at the forum will be Sebastien Buczinski, who will show off the large animal non-reproductive ultrasound-use wetlab at Larson Acres. The lab is open to veterinarians only and attendees will receive three continuing education credits.
The lab is designed to increase the veterinarian's familiarity with different techniques to screen the different organs of interest in cows and calves. These organs will include the umbilicus, the teat and udder, the lungs, the reticulum, the abomasum, the liver and the kidneys.
For more information or to register for the wetlab and convention, call 608-257-3665.
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