News Update
October 11, 2012
37th annual American AgriWomen Convention
Set for Nov. 7-10 in Denver
Women involved in agriculture from throughout the U.S. and Canada will head to Denver, Colo., Nov. 7-10 for the 37th Annual American AgriWomen (AAW) convention. Their purpose reflects the mission of the 40,000-member organization: Gather resources and knowledge to represent the agriculture industry in an educated, professional and passionate manner.
Colorado AgriWomen, a state affiliate, is hosting the event. The convention's theme is "Seeking your Fortune in Agriculture." To download the convention registration form, click here.
Texas Details New Traceability Rule
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has approved a cattle traceability rule requiring that all adult beef cattle in Texas have an approved form of permanent identification in place at change of ownership. The rule, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2013, comes in advance of the expected final rule from the USDA on animal traceability.
Although testing of adult cattle is no longer required with the rule change, all sexually intact cattle, or those 18 months and older that are changing ownership must still be officially identified with TAHC-approved permanent identification. The change primarily affects beef cattle, as dairy cattle in Texas have had an even more stringent identification requirement in place since 2008.
Before August 2011, official identification devices such as ear tags were applied automatically at the time a brucellosis test was performed. The inadvertent loss of the identification devices applied to cattle when brucellosis testing stopped has threatened TAHC's ability to effectively trace cattle as part of any ongoing disease investigation.
TAHC has said that the new traceability rule will help preserve its ability to identify and trace animal movements quickly and effectively, regardless of the disease.
The most commonly used devices include USDA metal tags, brucellosis calfhood vaccination tags, U.S. origin 840 series Radio Frequency Identification tags (RFID) and breed registration tattoos or firebrands. Producers are encouraged to contact their veterinarian or TAHC to determine which method of tagging will be best for their operation.
A complete list of acceptable identification devices/methods may be found here
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The federal system is not without controversy, though. In June a coalition of ranchers and farmers sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) urging the agency to conduct a thorough cost analysis. The coalition has claimed that, if implemented, the USDA's Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) program would cost the cattle industry $1.3 billion annually. The 16 organizations have argued that an estimated 50 million cattle cross state lines each year, not the 30 million estimated by the USDA.
Court Allows AFBF to Join Farmer Lawsuit Against EPA
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia has ruled that the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has a right to join in a lawsuit over the scope of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) authority to regulate poultry and livestock farms under the Clean Water Act. In July, AFBF asked for permission to join on the side of West Virginia poultry grower Lois Alt, who brought suit to challenge an EPA order demanding that she obtain a CWA discharge permit for stormwater runoff from her farmyard. The West Virginia Farm Bureau has also joined the lawsuit. EPA aggressively opposed the Farm Bureaus' participation.
"The court clearly recognizes the importance of this case for thousands of other livestock and poultry farmers threatened by EPA's unlawful restriction of the agricultural stormwater exemption," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "The court flatly rejected EPA's argument that other farmers facing similar EPA demands should be forced to file their own lawsuits. We are pleased that Farm Bureau will be allowed to challenge EPA's actions on behalf of all our farmer and rancher members," he added.
Alt sued EPA in June after the agency ordered her to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System discharge permit. EPA's order threatens Alt with $37,500 in fines for each time stormwater comes into contact with dust, feathers or dander on the ground outside of her poultry houses, or small amounts of manure that may be present in the farmyard as a result of normal poultry farming operations. EPA also seeks separate fines if Alt fails to apply for an NPDES permit.
According to AFBF's intervention papers, EPA's order to Alt represents the latest EPA attempt to regulate non-discharging farmers — this time by unlawfully narrowing the statutory exemption for "agricultural stormwater discharges." EPA has claimed here that the agricultural stormwater exemption does not apply to larger farms that qualify as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO), except for certain "land application areas" where crops are grown.
For the full release, click here.
Kimball, Banner Designated 'Livestock Friendly'
Gov. Dave Heineman announced the official designation of Kimball and Banner Counties as Nebraska's newest Livestock Friendly Counties. With the addition of Kimball and Banner, there are now 20 counties designated as Livestock Friendly through the state program, including: Adams, Box Butte, Cuming, Dawes, Deuel, Gage, Garden, Grant, Hitchcock, Jefferson, Keith, Lincoln, Morrill, Saline, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Wayne, and Webster Counties.
"In receiving this designation, Kimball and Banner Counties have shown they are committed to supporting the counties' livestock industry and related economic development," said Heineman. "Being part of the Livestock Friendly program is a way to recognize the tremendous impact the livestock industry has on Main Streets and the local economy. It provides jobs for those working with animals and a marketplace for grain and hay producers, while also adding value to those products. With this designation, Kimball and Banner Counties have demonstrated they are open to agribusiness and the benefits that come from responsible livestock production."
Heineman presented the Livestock Friendly certificates to Kimball County Commissioners Larry Brower, Larry Engstrom and David Bashaw, and to Banner County Commissioners Bob Gifford, Bob Post and John-Robert Faden. These counties will receive road signs bearing the program logo to display along highways. The program is coordinated by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach said the official designation makes a positive statement about Kimball and Banner Counties. "It was clear from the submitted materials that Kimball and Banner county officials have given some purposeful thought to supporting the livestock industry," said Ibach.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Quality Beef Program Can Return More Dollars, Producers Learn at MU Wurdack Farm Field Day
Quality beef brings rewards far above the market average, cow herd owners learned at the University of Missouri (MU) Wurdack Farm field day in Crawford County, northeast of Salem, Mo., Oct. 5.
"The current Prime quality-grade premium is $28 per hundredweight," said Mike Kasten, speaking on "Quality Beef by the Numbers." On an 800-pound carcass, that adds $224 above market price paid by packing plants.
"That means dollars in your pocket. And they are available now," Kasten added.
Kasten, a beef producer from Bollinger County, became director of the MU Quality Beef (QB) program two months ago. He urges cow herd owners to produce quality.
"Cattle have to work for you, first and foremost, in your forage system," Kasten said. "If you produce quality beef, you can be rewarded for it."
QB grew out of the MU Show-Me-Select (SMS) Replacement Heifer Program. That program taught producers to both manage and add superior genetics to heifers. That added dollar value.
We've been in the program long enough to produce Tier Two heifers, said Kasten, who was first SMS president. Tier Two heifers are sired by highly proven bulls and then bred to SMS-qualified bulls.
"Last year, Tier Two heifers bred AI brought $357 more per head than average Show-Me-Select heifers," Kasten said.
"Buyers recognize that heifer quality pays," he added. The QB program aims to do the same with high-quality steers.
Since the start of SMS 15 years ago, more than 101,000 heifers have gone through the program. "That doesn't count heifers from producers who took those same management practices for use in their herds," Kasten said. "The heifer program has made a huge impact on the quality of beef we produce in Missouri."
JBS, ICE Announce Agreement
JBS USA has joined the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program, Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE). The IMAGE program emphasizes self-policing among companies regarding their hiring practices and verifying employees' eligibility to work in the U.S.
Being accepted as a member of the IMAGE program "signifies the exceptional progress the company has made toward combatting the efforts of undocumented workers to obtain employment through fraudulent means, while ensuring legal and stable employment opportunities for thousands of American employees," JBS said in a news release about the announcement.
According to the ICE website, following the prescribed steps of IMAGE could lessen the likelihood of a company being found in violation of employment laws, and may be considered a mitigating factor in the determination of civil penalty amounts, should they be levied.
Don Jackson, president and CEO, JBS USA Holdings, and John Morton, director, U.S. ICE, jointly signed the IMAGE agreement Tuesday, Oct. 9, at ICE headquarters in Washington, D.C.
"Today is an exciting day for JBS and serves as recognition of the considerable time, effort and financial resources we have invested in creating a top-flight workforce compliance culture," Jackson said. "It is my expectation that we will continue to raise the bar for compliance in our industry and beyond, and remain worthy of the status that IMAGE partnership confers."
Still Time to Eliminate Weeds in Hay and Pasture Fields
Farmers looking to grow highly productive pastures and hay fields still have time to fight weeds in their fields to prevent reduced forage quality and quantity, an Ohio State University Extension expert said.
Fall can be a good time to eliminate hard-to-control perennial weeds because many of the plants are feeding their root systems, which allows applied herbicide to reach the root system to effectively kill the weeds, said Mark Landefeld, an OSU Extension educator in Monroe County.
"Farmers should monitor their fields regularly to identify weeds in their hay and pasture fields and deal with them in a timely manner," he said. "Not only can weeds decrease forage quality, but some can be invasive and reduce the tonnage of the forage that you are trying to harvest.
"Getting rid of weeds while they are small and few in number can save time, money and effort."
The savings are significant, considering that more than 95% of weeds can be controlled through good management practices, Landefeld said.
Some of the weeds to control now include chickweed, henbit, purple deadnettle, and Canada thistle.
The drought conditions impacting many farmers this year have also resulted in more weeds in some cases, he said.
"Often during a drought year, sunlight reaches soil surfaces that have been newly exposed due to grass that has gone dormant or because livestock have eaten it down close to the ground," Landefeld said. "This allows more weeds to germinate."
Chickweed, henbit and purple deadnettle infestations can cause alfalfa stands to lose up to 30% of the stand, he said. If these weeds persist and then die, that could foster additional summer annual weeds such as foxtails, lamb's quarter and pigweed to take over, Landefeld said.
While herbicides often can be used to combat hay and pasture field weeds, farmers should make sure to evaluate the existing stand in case reseeding is a better option, he said.
More information can be found in a 15-minute presentation Landefeld developed, click here.
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