News Update
October 30, 2012
Invitation to Celebrate 60th Auxiliary Anniversary in Louisville
Reserve breakfast tickets today.
The current leadership and membership of the American Angus Auxiliary applauds the foresight and planning by the 430 charter members of the Auxiliary that formed our mission and laid the foundation for the current programs and course of the Auxiliary. That mission has been carried on uninterrupted by all of the past presidents and leaders that followed, and you are invited Nov. 10-12 in Louisville, Ky., as the Auxiliary culminates its year-long celebration of 60 years as an organization and celebrate this milestone.
Auxiliary events will begin on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m. with the executive board meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The annual meeting will follow at 3 p.m. and is open to all members of the Auxiliary.
Breakfast
The popular and entertaining annual Auxiliary breakfast will be Sunday, Nov. 11, 8 a.m. at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center (KFEC). A hearty breakfast buffet, entertainment and the induction of the 2012 Angus Auxiliary Distinguished Woman will highlight the event. The Kansas Angus Auxiliary will serve as hosts and provide decorations and favors. State auxiliaries are asked to bring door prizes. Advance reservations are recommended as space is limited; to make reservations and to purchase tickets contact Michelle Rieff, Auxiliary Hospitality and Program chairwoman, MichelleRieff@aol.com; 479-936-1685. Tickets are $25 each.
In the afternoon, back at the Crowne Plaza, join us for a "come and go" anniversary cupcake and punch reception from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; followed by the introduction of the five talented young women vying for the title of Miss American Angus. Listen to their speeches and impromptu questions in the final phase of the Miss American Angus contest. The 2013 Miss American Angus will be crowned in the arena just prior to the selection of the grand champion Angus bull Monday, Nov. 12, at the KFEC.
Holiday Shopping
A visit to the Holiday Room at the Crowne Plaza featuring unique Angus-themed merchandise offered by the Auxiliary's Angus Gift Barn and the Angus Foundation is a must for all. The Auxiliary will offer both new and returning merchandise with something for everyone your shopping list. Whether you are in need of a little gift for someone left back home while you are in Louisville, getting a head start on holiday shopping, or looking for Angus décor for your home, you are sure to find an item to delight all. Stop in and choose from a wide variety of items including wine glasses, openers and stoppers; ice buckets; coffee mugs; framing prints; T-shirts; tote bags; jewelry; toddler sippy cups and more. While shopping, say hello to our new Angus Gift Barn manager, Christie Perdue. Angus Gift Barn merchandise may also be ordered online at www.angusauxiliary.com or by contacting Christy at 919-602-4907.
For more information on Auxiliary activities in Louisville, contact president Anne Lampe, 620-872-4273, alampe@wbsnet.org.
UNL Extension Offers Mid-Plains BEEF Session on Winter Drought Management Tips for Cow Herds
University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) Extension's Mid-Plains BEEF Educational Series will conduct a special session on winter drought management tips for cow herds Nov. 29 at UNL's Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead.
The session will draw on the expertise of Rick Rasby, UNL Extension beef specialist; Richard Randle, UNL extension beef veterinarian; and Lindsay Chichester, Jessica Jones, Sara Ellicott, Monte Stauffer and Steve Tonn, extension educators, to share their beef cattle expertise with participants. The program is designed for producers, veterinarians or others involved in the beef industry. This special session will deal with tips on managing the cow herd during the winter to reduce the effects of the drought. Participants will learn more about tips to manage and feed drought-affected forages, stretching short forage supplies, using alternative feedstuffs, hay feeding methods and reducing feeding losses, nitrate poisoning symptoms and managing respiratory problems with drylotting cows and calves. Time will also be allotted to visit with the speakers on an individual or small group basis. The session will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.
Registration of $60 is requested by Nov. 21 and includes educational materials, noon meals and breaks.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Supplement Cuts Cows' Winter-Feed Cost 10%
With high costs of feed for wintering cows, herd owners should consider adding monensin to grain supplements for winter forages. The additive, trade name Rumensin®, controls coccidiosis, a disease caused by intestinal parasites.
The additive improves beef-cow feed efficiency 10% to 15%, says Justin Sexten, University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist.
"That's like feeding hay for 90 cows to 100 cows," Sexten says. "It improves digestion of poor hay. Adding Rumensin to grain fed to cows on winter hay makes economic sense."
Recommended rate for beef cows is 200 milligrams per head per day, mixed into one pound of grain. Monensin must be fed every day, according to the label.
Monensin, an ionophore, reduces cases of coccidiosis in beef herds. The disease results from a common internal parasite. While coccidiosis may not show symptoms in cows, it can be deadly to weaned calves.
In addition to disease control, ionophores change the microbial mix in the cow's rumen, which digests forages. The microbial change also cuts methane production. Carbons in methane are digested rather than emitted as gas.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Farm Transitions Workshop in Sabetha
A farm transition workshop planned by the Meadowlark Extension District is set for Nov. 17 in Sabetha, Kan. Dave Goeller, assistant director of the North Central Risk Management Education Center at the University of Nebraska, will address passing down the farm and Shon Robben, attorney with Arthur-Green in Manhattan, Kan., will present estate planning information.
The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. and will adjourn around 4 p.m. Registration is $25 per person, or $80 for four. Contact Jody Holthaus to register: jholthau@ksu.edu or call 785-364-4125.
Financial Planning Workshop Nov. 8-9 in Bryan to Focus on 'What's Next?'
A workshop for financial planners and their clients scheduled Nov. 8-9 in Bryan, Texas, at the Best Western Atrea, 1920 Austin's Colony Parkway, will focus on "what's next" with regards to investments pending the outcome of the 2012 presidential election.
"The event is designed for financial planners who advise individual investors, small business operators, clients with agricultural interests, and estates and trusts," said Gene Nelson, workshop coordinator and senior professor in the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M University.
Thomas Saving, distinguished professor at Texas A&M University, will discuss what's next for the economy, Social Security and Medicare.
"With the election only three days earlier, his analysis will be very timely," Nelson said.
Some of the key issues to be discussed include how to structure the retirement portfolio for income and growth and how to consider future risk when developing financial plans. Bill Carter, a financial planner from Dallas, and James Richardson, regents professor at Texas A&M, will discuss these issues.
"With stock and bond markets performing erratically, investors are looking for alternatives," Nelson said.
Carter and Richardson will discuss the prospects in energy, oil and gas, and in real estate and real estate investment trusts, Nelson said.
Another presentation will address how men and women think differently when it comes to finances.
For more information and the full release, click here.
UK Exploring Possibilities for Alternative Energy Crop
Five years ago, University of Kentucky (UK) Cooperative Extension Service agents and forage specialists began working with northeastern Kentucky farmers on a project to produce switchgrass for biomass. Now, they are jointly exploring other possibilities for the native, warm-season grass.
"The advantage of switchgrass over other biomass crops is that it is a dual-purpose crop that can be used for grazing or hay, in addition to biomass," said Ray Smith, forage extension specialist in the UK College of Agriculture.
With funding from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, Smith, UK hay specialist Tom Keene and 20 farmers within a 60-mile radius of Maysville, Ky., spent four years determining the biomass potential of switchgrass. Since that research project has ended and Kentucky does not have any mandates that require renewable fuels to be used in energy production, producers are uncertain about the demand for the forage as a biomass crop.
For more information and the full release, click here.
FFA Names Prestigious American Star Award Recipients Saturday During National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis
Amid celebration of 3,247 FFA members earning their American FFA Degrees after demonstrating the highest level of commitment to FFA and making significant accomplishments in their supervised agricultural experiences, four FFA members were named best of the best.
The National FFA Organization announced the four winners of the prestigious American Star Awards Saturday morning at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium. The four FFA members learned of their new high honor during the eighth general session of the 85th National FFA Convention & Expo, each winning over three other national finalists in the four American Star Awards categories: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience.
American Star Farmer: Clayton Carley — Cissna Park FFA Chapter — Illinois.
American Star in Agribusiness: Bradley Weaver — Dawson County FFA Chapter — Georgia.
American Star in Agricultural Placement: Kurt Parsons — Porterville FFA Chapter –—California.
American Star in Agriscience: Taylor Runyan — Atoka FFA Chapter — Oklahoma.
For more information and the full release, click here.
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