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Angus Journal

News Update

November 8, 2012

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman
On Election and Lame Duck Session

"The American Farm Bureau Federation congratulates President Barack Obama on his re-election, as well as those candidates elected to serve during the 113th session of Congress. A number of important issues lie ahead of us, both for our nation, and for American agriculture. It is vital that, under the president's leadership, all our elected officials come together in a bipartisan fashion to resolve the challenges we face.

"Farmers and ranchers, like all Americans, have a list of issues that they are relying on the administration and Congress to address. But we cannot wait until 2013 for the action to start. Serious work on the farm bill, the fiscal cliff and critical tax policy fixes all must start during the lame duck session of the 112th Congress.

"Farm Bureau also looks forward to working in a cooperative and positive manner with the Obama administration and the new Congress on issues such as turning around our economy, ensuring agriculture an adequate labor supply, pursuing a trade agenda focused on reducing barriers and expanding exports and the continued fiscal challenges we face as a nation. There are many points of view on these issues, but we also know that our elected leaders have one thing in common: each ran on a platform to make America better and improve this country for all Americans.

"We will do our part to help identify opportunities for cooperation, not only to improve the lives of Farm Bureau members and their rural communities, but for all Americans proudly served by our farm and ranch families."

— Adapted from a release by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Cow Clinic Addresses Feral Hog Control, Bumper Crop of Weeds in Texas Pastures

This year's edition of the South Central Texas Cow-Calf Clinic in Brenham, Texas, featured a lot of optimism and interest in the outlook for beef cattle production in the months ahead — a stark contrast to 2011 when ranchers in Washington County and surrounding areas were devastated by drought conditions.

"When it rains, we all look smart," said Jason Cleere, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist from College Station, who moderated the event. "There's quite a bit of difference between last year and this year."

What's different is a bumper crop of weeds across parts of Texas, and the trick to fend them off is to get to them early, said Paul Baumann, AgriLife Extension state weed specialist, College Station.

"From here to Dallas, there are a number of fields you can't see a sprig of Bermuda because of all of the dove weed," Baumann said.

When these weeds are at this growth stage, Baumann said they form an umbrella and not only "are they sucking up water, they are also intercepting sunlight which is critical for Bermuda grass growth."

Baumann said to keep in mind "for every pound of weeds you control, you gain at least a pound of forage in return."

— Adapted from a release by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

Beef Cow Winter Feed Planning

Drought conditions in 2012 have many producers scrambling to source winter feed this fall. Here are five key steps to accomplish in November as recommended by Michigan State University Extension:

• Inventory your cow herd and all replacement stock you intend to overwinter;
• Inventory all your feed resources on a dry matter basis;
• Run projections using ration balancing software to establish dry-matter requirements and match your feed resources to cow nutritional requirements based on average cow weights;
• Evaluate cow body condition scores (BCS) and factor changes into your feeding system plan; and
• Process cows for annual parasite control, vaccination, pregnancy check, etc.

— Adapted from a release by the Michigan State University Extension.

OSU Extension, USDA to Discuss Forages and Pasture Management

Farmers and producers interested in learning more about how to improve forage and pasture management after a drought can participate in a discussion of the issue by experts from Ohio State University Extension and the USDA Nov. 15.

The drought of 2012 has been one of the worst on record in Ohio, leaving many livestock producers hard hit in their pastures and forages, said Dave Dugan, an OSU Extension educator. Dugan will discuss how producers can manage weeds coming out of a pasture in drought during the joint meeting.

The presentation, "Make Your Land Work for You — Tell Us What You Need and We'll Tell You How," is from 6 to 8 p.m. at 12681 U.S. Highway 62, in Sardinia. The event is free and open to the public.

"The drought has had a significant impact on livestock farmers due to losing pasture, including to overgrazing," he said. "An overgrazed pasture leaves a diminished amount of desirable forage species and opens the opportunity for weeds to get started in many cases, more so than in a normal year."

Dugan will discuss methods to control weeds including herbicides and mechanical methods, as well as how to maintain pastures so weeds don't go to seed to repopulate or multiply.

"We hope we don't have another drought so we have time to get new species in our pastures," he said. "Texas and Oklahoma are states that have seen drought back to back, and I hope that we don't.

"It's just a gamble when you have to depend on the weather."

— Adapted from a release by the Ohio State University Extension.

OQBN Certified Calf Sales Coming to Sites Across State

Buyers in the market for high quality, ranch-raised calves should mark their calendars for a series of six Oklahoma Quality Beef Network (OQBN) certified sales at five sites across the state.

The idea behind OQBN, a joint project between OSU Extension and Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (OCA), is pretty simple: to increase the value of cattle within the state of Oklahoma. Established in 2001, the initiative accomplishes its mission through education on the best value-added management practices and the OQBN VAC-45 program, a recommended brand-neutral vaccine protocol that allows ranchers to pick their preferred products.

Gant Mourer, beef value enhancement specialist for OQBN and Oklahoma State University (OSU) Cooperative Extension beef specialist, expects to move 4,500 head or more through the sales by the end of the year.

"Buyers come to these sales because these are healthy calves. Morbidity and mortality are decreased due to preconditioning, so that adds value," Mourer said.

More specifically, the OQBN-certified cattle featured exclusively during the sales require fewer antibiotics, experience less sickness, go on feed much quicker and are water- and bunk-broke.

For more information and the full release, click here.

— Adapted from a release by Oklahoma State University Extension.

NCGA Congratulates President Obama on Re-election

National Corn Growers Association President Pam Johnson released the following statement in response to President Barack Obama's successful re-election.

"The National Corn Growers Association congratulates President Obama on his successful re-election for president of the United States. Our organization has worked closely with the president and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack over the past four years on issues important to our members. We greatly value our relationship with the administration and look forward to continuing that trend."

— Adapted from a release by the National Corn Growers Association.

— Compiled by Kelli Fulkerson, intern, Angus Productions Inc.

 
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