News Update
September 17, 2012
North Dakota Stockmen's Association hosts 83rd Annual Convention & Trade Show, 'Supporting the Dream'
Ranchers may work in different segments of the cattle industry, but they share many of the same dreams — building their operations, improving their businesses and passing them on to the next generation.
Through policies, advocacy and a long-standing commitment to North Dakota ranchers, the volunteer leaders, members and staff of the North Dakota Stockmen's Association (NDSA) have worked to support ranchers' dreams for 83 years.
"We are proud of the work North Dakota ranchers do every day to raise livestock, and we look forward to gathering for the NDSA's 83rd Annual Convention & Trade Show to address the issues that are critical to our ability to make our dreams a reality," said NDSA President Jason Schmidt of Medina, N.D.
Schmidt invites beef producers to attend the entire convention to take in the excellent lineup of speakers, network with fellow ranchers and develop policies that will help support the state's cattle industry and its ranchers moving forward.
The 83rd Annual NDSA Convention & Trade Show, "Supporting the Dream," is scheduled for Sept. 27-29 at the Best Western Doublewood Inn in Fargo, N.D.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Pasture Plant Identification Tour set for Oct. 1 in Brownwood
What plant is that? Find out by attending the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Pasture Plant Identification Tour set for 4 p.m. Oct. 1 on the Burns Ranch.
Burns Ranch is 13 miles north of Early on U.S. Highway 183 or five miles south of May on U.S. Highway 183.
Scott Anderson, AgriLife Extension agent in Brown County, said Ricky Linex, wildlife biologist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, in Weatherford will be the expert providing instruction on pasture plant identification.
"We'll also have ranch owner Paul Burns with us that day to discuss their management and pasture reseeding techniques," Anderson said. "We'll also tour parts of the Burns Ranch. So, if you want to really see what reseeded pastures can look like, make plans now to attend this program and tour. I think it will be well worth your time."
Two Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered to licensed pesticide applicators.
Individual registration is $10 payable on arrival.
For more information, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Brown County at 325-646-0386.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Tours Iowa Biodiesel Plant; Discusses How Biofuels Are Reducing Need for Foreign Oil
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discussed how the increased use of biofuels is helping to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil during a tour of AGP Biodiesel. During the tour, Vilsack highlighted action by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the volume of biodiesel products required to be included in diesel fuel markets.
"President Obama's all-of-the-above energy plan is working — today, we are importing less foreign oil than we have in nearly two decades and we are creating jobs by producing more of our energy here at home," said Vilsack. "A key part of the President's strategy is the development and promotion of biofuels and bio-based products, which are helping us fuel our cars and trucks and displacing petroleum used in the manufacturing of household products. Over the past three years, we have doubled generation from renewable energy and today's announcement by EPA will ensure that we are continuing to utilize biodiesel to help meet our energy needs, create jobs and strengthen the rural economy."
The EPA action sets the 2013 volume of biodiesel products required to be included in diesel fuel markets at 1.28 billion gallons (gal.) under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) which established the second phase of the Renewable Fuel Standards program. EISA specifies a one billion gal. minimum volume requirement for the biomass-based diesel category for 2012 and beyond. It also calls on EPA to increase the volume requirement after consideration of environmental, market and energy-related factors. Today's final action follows careful review of the many comments and additional information received since EPA proposed the volume last spring.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Ag Groups Press Need for Vietnam Access in TPP Agreement
Nearly 50 agricultural organizations are warning USDA and trade officials that the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade talks could fall short if 'meaningful market access' in Vietnam is not achieved.
In a letter sent late last week, the groups told Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk that Vietnam remains the key growth market that U.S. agricultural producers could access through a successful TPP.
The organizations stressed that their support is contingent on achievement of a comprehensive free trade deal with Vietnam.
"Of the current participants in the TPP negotiations, Vietnam holds far and away the greatest market potential for the vast majority of U.S. food and agricultural products," they wrote.
The U.S. already has free trade agreements with Chile, Peru, Australia and Singapore, and New Zealand, Malaysia and Brunei are not considered large growth markets.
Without a TPP agreement, U.S. agriculture would be at a competitive disadvantage to Australia and New Zealand, which have preferential access to Vietnam through an existing trade agreement.
For the full release, click here.
New State Law in Place for Passing Farm Equipment on Roads
This week is National Farm Safety and Health Week. Cheryl Skjolaas, the University of Wisconsin Extension agricultural safety specialist, says it is a good time to remind the public of a new law concerning farm equipment and other slow-moving vehicles on the road.
"A change in state law makes it all the more important for all drivers on rural highways to be cautious," Skjolaas says. "It is now legal to pass a vehicle in a no-passing zone if traveling less than half of the applicable speed limit. This means that if a vehicle is traveling behind a slow-moving vehicle — one that is traveling less than half the posted speed — it is now legal to pass the slow-moving vehicle in a no-passing zone provided that caution is taken when passing."
She reminds other drivers that its always been legal to drive farm machinery on public roads and it's often the only way farmers can get from field to field. Drivers must also remember that farm equipment is big, slow and not very maneuverable.
"It's important to be alert and remember that these farm vehicles don't behave like cars and trucks when it comes to speed, turning or braking," Skjolaas said.
The combination of slow traveling farm equipment and faster motor vehicles means the time before the two meet can be seconds. Any type of distracted driving, such as talking on cell phones, checking a text message, being tired and stopping without a crash is almost impossible.
Agency Details Packaging Rules for Ground Beef Testing
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published a notice that instructs its inspectors on the proper way to collect raw ground beef samples for E. coli testing.
Inspectors should collect the ground beef samples in their final packages, if possible, and in two-pound samples, FSIS said in the notice. This increases the sample size from one-pound samples previously.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Livestock Marketing Associations Named as TBA Beef Booster of the Year for 2012
The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., and the Livestock Marketing Association of Texas in Austin, Texas, were jointly recognized as the Texas Brahman Association (TBA) 2012 Beef Booster of the Year. Since 1962, the Texas Brahman Association has recognized a deserving person or entity for outstanding contributions to the beef industry and counts a distinguished list of industry leaders, doers and thinkers among its recipients.
TBA President Al Herring of Houston, said "recognition of the livestock marketing sector of our industry is only fitting as they performed yeoman work on behalf of all livestock producers of Texas and the Southwest at the onset of our nations' current devastating drought and they have continued that good work throughout other areas as the drought area has expanded.
"Our livestock markets who regularly provide marketing services six days each week, stepped to the plate last year and this year as they have worked tirelessly and diligently with expanded and innovative services to livestock producers who were/are forced to reduce or liquidate their cow herds. At no time in our recent history have so many still-useful cattle been relocated to so many areas at relatively high prices. Recognition of these extraordinary efforts and dedication to livestock producers is most appropriate"
J. D. Sartwelle Jr., a past TBA president, Brahman breeder, and chairman of the Selection Committee from Sealy, Texas, made the actual presentation of the award during the TBA's annual meeting at Tommy Stadler's Sunnyside Ranch near Floresville, Texas.
For the full release, click here.
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