News Update
December 14, 2012
Kansas Angus Association to Host Carcass Data Project
The Kansas Angus Association (KAA) Carcass Data Project is right around the corner, and producers are encouraged to submit data to be entered to win cash prizes and Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) merchandise.
“This is a great way for producers who do not have the numbers to make a whole pen at a commercial feedyard to receive information, and know where they are doing well or can improve in their programs,” says Kansas Angus Secretary and Manager Anne Lampe. “We invite Angus cattlemen to ask their bull customers to enter, so the beef industry can improve as a whole.”
For the third year, the McPherson County Feeders, Marquette, Kan., will host the December competition. Entries are due Dec. 16 with a $5 entry fee payable to the KAA.
To participate, producers must enter a minimum of five spring-born steers weaned at least 45 days prior to delivery, Dec. 27-29. Producers are responsible for their animal’s transportation to Marquette.
The qualified lot of steers must have a minimum average weight of 550 pounds, be sired from a registered-Angus bull and have a known sire or sire group, have completed an approved vaccination program, and have proper individual identification tags.
Entries are judged on a lot’s top three steers with the highest Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand acceptance rates and quality grades. The KAA and CAB will offer up to $1,000 in cash awards and CAB merchandise to the owners of the top three entries. Each contest participant will also receive CAB logo merchandise.
For more information or to receive an entry form, visit www.kansasangus.org or contact Lampe at 620-874-4273 or kansasangus@wbsnet.org.
CSU Ag Economists Surveying Farmers
and Ranchers to Determine Drought Impact
Ag economists at Colorado State University (CSU) are surveying farmers and ranchers to better understand the impact of the 2012 drought on Colorado agriculture — and to design effective management tools for dry times ahead.
“The question we ultimately want to address is, ‘How do we improve the resiliency of agriculture and rural communities in Colorado?’ because we expect more drought,” said James Pritchett, associate professor in the CSU Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, who is leading the survey project. “It’s time to make these systems more resilient, so they can adapt to changes ahead.”
Colorado producers may complete the online questionnaire by visiting http://tinyurl.com/CSU-drought.
Pritchett urges farmers and ranchers to complete the questionnaire by Jan. 1 so economists may begin compiling data shortly after the first of the year.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Applications Open Jan. 1 for
Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership Program
“As a graduate of the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL) program and current assistant director, I have personally benefitted from the program’s unique leadership curriculum and network of industry and community contacts,” said Al Davis, who recently became vice president of KARL Inc. “I truly believe in the program and its impact: increasing the capacity and number of qualified agricultural and rural community leaders. KARL alumni play important roles at the community, state and national levels.”
Prior to taking on the KARL vice president position, Davis served as education director for the American Royal and knows the importance of a network of spokespersons and trained leaders in an urbanizing population.
“A typical class has an average age of 32 with a historic age range of 25-55 years of age,” said Jack Lindquist, KARL Inc. president and program director.
“Ever since our first 30 adult leaders were accepted into Class I in 1991, we contend that the group is learning as much from their classmates as they do from the curriculum. It is a powerful dynamic when you bring positive-minded, action-oriented, servant leaders together and watch them debate issues and create solutions for our rural communities and their supporting industries.”
Applications will be available online through the KARL program website beginning Jan. 1. Interested candidates and nominees will need to download application forms. Current leaders may nominate candidates and advise their nominee to go online to save the form-filler documents and complete them. Forms must be submitted no later than the deadline of April 15.
For more information and a registration form, click here.
AFBF Selects New YF&R Committee Members
A group of top-notch young agricultural leaders were named this week to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Committee. The AFBF Board of Directors selected some of the organization’s most active and dedicated young members to be part of the 2013-2015 YF&R Committee. Their terms will officially begin on March 1, 2013.
The new YF&R Committee members include Todd and April Mackie from California; Jake and Jennifer Carter from Georgia; Greg and Contessa Harris from Kentucky; Jeff and Alyssa VanderWerff from Michigan; Alexandra Wright from New York; Travis and Renae Gebhart from South Dakota; Chet and Dancey Creel from Texas; and Dustin and Harmony Cox from Utah.
“Farm Bureau’s YF&R Committee members play a vital role in helping lead our organization through innovative and forward-thinking planning and ideas,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman.
The YF&R program includes men and women between the ages of 18 and 35. The program’s goals are to help younger Farm Bureau members learn more about agriculture, network with other farmers and become future leaders in agriculture and Farm Bureau.
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