News Update
January 9, 2013
Better by Knowing
Information leads to improvement. Take the Iowa Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity (TCSCF) and its cooperators as a case in point.
For 30 years the program has helped facilitate dataflow for producers of every size, and a recent analysis shows cattle are getting better. That’s because many of the 1,000 cow herd operators in 23 states and Canada who fed 230,000 calves with TCSCF over the years used the feedlot and carcass data in selection and management decisions.
“With this information, they produce healthier, more docile cattle that gain better, grade better and are more profitable,” says futurity manager Darrell Busby.
The share of Angus-sired cattle in the database was strong in 2002 at 84.4%, but that moved up to 89.1% last year. More recently, the black-hided cattle grading Choice increased from 70.8% in 2007 to 78.7% in 2011 as Prime grades moved up and Select grades dropped off considerably.
Busby says management changes on the ranch and minor adjustments in futurity feeding strategies may have helped that along. However, the biggest impact comes from improved genetics, he says.
“That shows up in our sire summary. Some of the top AI (artificial insemination) sires in the country are in the top of our sire summary. People are moving to better genetics,” Busby says. “And it doesn’t matter what zip code the calves come from. The genetics work anywhere from North Dakota to southern Georgia.”
Gary Fike, beef cattle specialist with Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB), and a member of the TCSCF board, notes feedyard delivery weights through the last 10 years increased from 629 pounds (lb.) to 655 lb. as final carcass weights moved up in step.
For more information and the full release, click here.
2013 Cornbelt Cow-calf Conference Offers Options, Opportunities
A full day of information awaits the attendees of the 2013 Cornbelt Cow-calf Conference at Bridge View Center in Ottumwa, Iowa, Jan. 19. From the welcome at 9:30 a.m. through the final breakout session ending about 4 p.m., people will find knowledge and value in every aspect of the day, and that’s the goal, according to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef program specialist Byron Leu.
This year’s program focuses on topics designed to help producers recognize options and opportunities in a variety of areas based on past weather-related conditions. From feed and water options to cover crop possibilities, experts from universities and private industry in the Midwest will lead these sessions and offer producers valuable information to put into practice on their farms.
“Past NCBA president Steve Foglesong will talk about one man’s perspective on learning from past experiences, Rick Rasby from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln will present information on confinement feeding of beef cattle, and Glynn Tonsor from Kansas State University and Lee Schulz from Iowa State will provide a look into the future of the cattle industry,” Leu said. “Other speakers include Andrew Hansen from John Deere Ottumwa Works, Wyaconda, Mo., producer Kenneth Suter and Iowa Beef Center director Dan Loy from Iowa State.”
Registration begins at 8 a.m. The official welcome is at 9:30 a.m. followed by two general session speakers, and lunch and exhibit viewing. The afternoon begins with a salute to Al Seim and a general-session speaker in the auditorium, followed by two break-out sessions with five choices. Admission is $15, which includes lunch and a copy of the conference proceedings. No preregistration is necessary. Review and download the conference brochure by clicking here.
Jon Scholl Named American Farmland Trust President
Illinois Farmer, Former Farm Bureau and Senior EPA Official
The Board of Directors of American Farmland Trust has named Jon Scholl the president to succeed Ralph Grossi, who will be stepping down as president after 23 years.
Scholl, an Illinois farmer, has most recently served as the counselor to the administrator for agricultural policy at U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) where he led the development of the first EPA National Agriculture Strategy, agricultural advisory committee, and agency-wide cross-media agriculture team. In addition, he helped direct Agency regulations on animal feeding operations, spill prevention, clean air rules and emission reporting requirements; and provided input and counsel to the USDA farm bill team on the conservation provisions of the administration’s 2007 farm bill proposal.
Prior to that position, Scholl served for 25 years with the Illinois Farm Bureau as executive assistant to the president, and in a variety of other positions including director of public policy, director of national legislation, and director of natural resources. In these roles, Scholl gained extensive public policy and legislative experience at all levels of government.
For more information and the full release, click here.
United Producers Scholarship Program
United Producers Inc. (UPI) is excited to support the future generation of agriculture through its scholarship program.
UPI is offering two $1,000 scholarships in each of its 16 districts to deserving high school and post high school students pursuing agriculture degrees.
“The future of agriculture depends on those who are currently considering and pursuing a career in this critical industry,” said Dennis Bolling, president and CEO, UPI. “We want to do all we can to encourage students who have an interest in agribusiness, farming, veterinary medicine or other agriculture-based industries to pursue their careers, and this is our way of helping them do so.”
Applicants must be a Preferred Member of UPI or a child or grandchild of a Preferred Member, and a 2013 graduating high school senior, or a student currently attending a college or technical school studying an agriculture-related field. Completed applications and essays must be postmarked by April 1, 2013.
Click here for more information and to download an application form.
Adapting Agriculture to Extreme Weather
From the record drought that covered much of the nation last year to Superstorm Sandy that caused an estimated $50 billion or more in damage in the Northeast and Midwest, extreme weather events plagued growers nationwide throughout 2012 and experts anticipate more in the future. As a result, growers have to find ways to adapt agriculture to such conditions, an Ohio State University (OSU) Extension expert said.
Examples of how to do so will be discussed by OSU Extension and Ohio State University experts in agriculture, climatology and environmental economics during a workshop hosted by the Soil and Water Conservation Society Feb. 6. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
The event is designed to help growers devise ways to adapt agriculture to extreme weather conditions to try to minimize the financial impact from such events, said Jim Hoorman, an OSU Extension educator and an assistant professor studying cover crops and water quality issues.
The issue of how growers can cope with extreme weather in agriculture is particularly significant considering the record extreme weather events that occurred in 2012, he said.
For more information and the full release, click here.
K-State Risk-Assessed Marketing Workshops For Ag Producers Set for February
Changes in farm legislation, coupled with volatile crop prices have many agricultural producers considering different methods for managing yield and price risk. Kansas State University (K-State) will host three Risk-Assessed Marketing Workshops during February to address those different methods. Two of the workshops include basic information and one is more advanced.
The workshops, presented by K-State Research and Extension agricultural economists Art Barnaby and Dan O’Brien, will introduce producers to an integrated marketing and production management approach that combines government programs, crop insurance and alternative marketing techniques.
Among the topics to be addressed are details of crop insurance programs, agricultural futures, put and call options, forward contracts, marketing loans and basis contracts.
RAM workshop dates, locations and K-State Research and Extension contact information for each site include:
- Feb. 6 — Hays: RAM I (basic); Stacy Campbell, 785-628-9430 or scampbel@ksu.edu.
- Feb. 7 — Hays: RAM II (advanced); Stacy Campbell, 785-628-9430 or scampbel@ksu.edu.
- Feb. 19 — Hillsboro: RAM I (basic); Rickey Roberts, 785-382-2325 or rroberts@ksu.edu.
More information, including links to brochures for each site, is available at RAM workshops, or by contacting Rich Llewelyn at 785-532-1504 or rvl@ksu.edu.
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