News Update
April 5, 2013
Scholarships Reward Future Beef Industry Leaders
The Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand awarded $21,000 to seven university students through its Colvin Scholarship Fund in recognition of their leadership and achievement at the community and beef industry levels. Developed in 1999 upon the retirement of Louis M. “Mick” Colvin, the Fund evokes the CAB co-founder and 21-year CEO’s role in making dreams a reality and inspiring others to be their best.
2013 Undergraduate Colvin Scholarship Award winners are:
$5,000 — Paige Wallace, Stotts City, Mo. – Oklahoma State University
$4,000 — Mollie Lastovica, Fredericksburg, Texas – Texas A&M University
$3,000 — Malorie Bankhead, Livermore, Calif. – California Polytechnic State University
$2,000 — Kassandra Pfeiffer, Orlando, Okla. – Oklahoma State University
$1,000 — Reagan Kays, Weir, Kan. – Kansas State University
2013 Graduate Colvin Scholarship Awards:
$5,000 — Bryan Bernhard, Stillwater, Okla. – Oklahoma State University
$1,000 — Discretionary award to Dustin Mohrhauser, Hartford, S.D. – South Dakota State University
The undergraduates had to demonstrate commitment through the pursuit of a meat science, food science, animal science, marketing, business, communications or related degree, and through activities and curriculum. They were also asked to name the biggest challenges facing the beef industry in the next 10 years and what can be done to meet them.
Tax Alternatives Available for Livestock Producers Forced into Weather-Related Herd Reductions
Extreme weather conditions experienced during recent years have caused property damage and early livestock liquidations for many Texas agricultural producers, resulting in tax implications, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension specialist in Amarillo.
These unplanned events often create more revenue than usual in a given year, generating income tax issues, said DeDe Jones, AgriLife Extension risk management specialist. For example, in a typical year any gain on property loss reimbursement or the sale of livestock is subject to taxes.
Several options, including Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 4684, IRS code 1033 and IRS code 451, are available to help farmers and ranchers deal with these weather-related issues in excess of normal business practices, Jones said. She encouraged producers to contact a tax accountant to determine the option that best fits their operation and business plan.
At the end of 2012, 90% of Texas counties had some form of drought designation and state reservoirs were only 66% full, she said. This situation fueled wildfires, ruined crops and pastures, and strained economic resources.
During the 2011-2012 season, approximately 41,823 fires scorched 4.15 million acres and 3,007 homes in Texas. Damages were particularly severe in the Panhandle region due to strong winds, unseasonably warm temperatures and low humidity, Jones said.
In addition, the price of hay increased by 200% during this time, causing feed costs to skyrocket, she said. These factors prompted Texas ranchers to severely cull their herds and sell off large numbers of cattle.
For more information and the full release, click here.
GAC Kicks Off New Season of Farm Kings Series, Celebrating Hard Work, Farming, Food, and Family
Farm Kings, the hit television series on Great American Country (GAC), returns with new episodes starting Thursday, April 11, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. The series follows the trials and triumphs of the King family of Freedom Farms in Pennsylvania, a down-to-earth, hardworking clan of nine brothers and one sister — all in their teens and 20s — and one dynamo mom. Together, they inspire viewers with their remarkable work ethic and deep family bond.
The King family’s goals are simple: to make farming cool again and to remind all of us of the importance of knowing where our food comes from, buying local and eating healthy. Each week the family lets GAC into their homes, their fields and their farmers’ markets, bakery and café for a look into the life of a farmer.
“Farm Kings celebrates and reflects GAC’s passion for family, home, food and American culture,” says GAC GM Sarah Trahern. “Our viewers connect in a big way to this hardworking farm family as they tackle obstacles but always love and support one another.”
When GAC left the family at the end of last season, the Kings were struggling to recover from the unexpected hardships and financial setbacks caused by a havoc-wreaking hailstorm that badly damaged crops and rendered them unsellable, making things a bit tighter over the winter.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Beef Cattle and Forage Crops Field Day Planned May 2 near Mound Valley
Pasture management following drought and bull selection tools are among the topics at Kansas State University’s (K-State’s) Beef Cattle and Forage Crops Field Day Thursday, May 2.
The field day will be at the K-State Southeast Agricultural Research Center’s Mound Valley unit, west of Mound Valley, Kan. The day begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. and the program starting at 9 a.m. Presentations and speakers include:
- Pasture Management Following a Drought — Doug Shoup, K-State Research and Extension crops and soils specialist<
- Establishment of Legumes in Tall Fescue Pastures — Joe Moyer, K-State Southeast Agricultural Research Center forage agronomist
- Grazing Tall Fescue Pastures Interseeded with Legumes — Lyle Lomas, animal scientist and head of KSU Southeast Agricultural Research Center
- Stretching the Winter Hay Supply — Jaymelynn Farney, extension beef specialist
- Bull Selection Tools and Strategies for Commercial Beef Production — Bob Weaber, extension cow-calf specialist
A complimentary lunch will follow the presentations and attendees will have the opportunity to visit with K-State Research and Extension specialists and numerous agribusiness company representatives, as well as view displays.
The field day will be presented rain or shine. More information is available by calling 620-421-4826.
Grants to Help Farms and Ranches Build Resilience to Drought
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of $5.3 million in Conservation Innovation Grants to develop approaches and technology that will help producers adapt to extreme climate changes that cause drought. These grants will fund projects benefiting several states that were significantly impacted by last year’s drought. The USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. Today’s announcement is one part of the department’s efforts to strengthen the rural economy
.
“USDA is working diligently to help American farmers and ranchers rebound from last year’s drought and prepare for future times of climatic extremes,” Vilsack said. “Conservation Innovation Grants are an excellent way to invest in new technology and approaches that will help our farmers, ranchers and rural communities be more resilient in the future.”
The grants will address drought-related issues, such as grazing management, warm-season forage systems, irrigation strategies and innovative cropping systems.
Recipients plan to evaluate innovative, field-based conservation technologies and approaches, leading to improvements like enhancing soil’s ability to hold water, evaluating irrigation water use and installing grazing systems that are more tolerant to drought.
For more information and the full release, click here.
NMSU’s Youth Ranch Management Camp Featured on RFD-TV Program
The annual youth ranch management camp, hosted by the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Cooperative Extension Service, will be featured on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) weekly television show “Cattlemen to Cattlemen” on the RFD-TV channel April 9, 10 and 13.
“The New Mexico youth ranch management program is a unique and challenging experience for ranch youth,” said Manny Encinias, NMSU beef cattle specialist and camp committee member. “It is an amazing demonstration of commitment and investment in the next generation of ranch managers by the beef industry’s partners.”
The overview of the five-day ranch management camp experience, hosted annually at the Valles Caldera National Preserve, will be televised on RFD-TV at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9; 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 10; and 7 a.m. Saturday, April 13.
The segment of the show featuring the camp may also be viewed at the www.cattlementocattlemen.org website.
The feature was produced by NMSU Media Productions Department videographers Tomilee Turner and Mike Ferrales.
For the first time, this year’s camp will be open to youth applicants from across the United States.
For more information and an online application for the New Mexico Youth Ranch Management Camp, click here.
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