News Update
April 12, 2013
Register Now to Receive
Discount for 2013 BIF Symposium
Monday, April 15, is the deadline to receive the early discount to register for the 2013 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) research symposium and annual meeting. Oklahoma State University (OSU), in collaboration with BIF, will host the 45th annual event June 12-15 at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Oklahoma City.
Early registration is $250. After April 15, registrations will still be accepted at a higher price. A complete schedule and links to online registration are available at www.BIFconference.com, the Angus Journal’s online coverage site for the event.
“We are anticipating a large turnout and hope that all of you will be there to promote the rich history and spirit of Oklahoma beef production,” says Megan Rolf, assistant professor of animal science at OSU and one of the symposium organizers.
Hotel rooms at the headquarters can be reserved in the BIF block at a reduced rate by contacting the hotel directly at 405-228-8000 or clicking here. Additional rooms at the same rate are available at the Courtyard Marriott by calling 405-232-2290; asking for the BIF room rate.
United States Gives Nod to Japan’s Entry
Into Trans-Pacific Partnership
The United States has approved the addition of Japan as a negotiating partner in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), according to American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Bob Stallman, casting his support for the move.
“As a major U.S. trading partner, Japan would bolster the reach of the TPP for U.S. agriculture,” Stallman said in an official statement issued by AFBF. “As the fourth-largest U.S. agricultural export market, with nearly $14 billion in purchases in 2012, trade with Japan is important to America’s farmers and ranchers. Both the United States and Japan will benefit from Japan being a TPP partner, and by sharing in improved sanitary and phytosanitary standards for agricultural trade and expanded market access with TPP nations.
“The recent decision by Japan to increase access for U.S. beef shows that Japan can act to improve market access for U.S. agricultural products based on sound science,” he continued. “A comprehensive TPP agreement that includes Japan will strengthen trade relationships, address remaining barriers and improve the competitiveness of the Asia/Pacific market.”
All 11 negotiating partners in the TPP must approve Japan as an addition, according to news.com.au. Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Vietnam and now the United States have approved Japan’s participation; Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Peru have yet to render their approval. See story.
Reuter’s credited New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser as saying members of the TPP could formally make a decision about Japan’s participation when they meet in Indonesia April 20-21 for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum. If Japan were accepted, the pact would account for almost 40% of the world’s economic output. See story.
Cool Soils Delay Early Corn Planting
Missouri farmers itching to plant corn find that soil temperatures are well below the 13-year average, according to University of Missouri (MU) Extension specialists.
Soil temperature, not air temperature, controls seed germination, said Brent Myers, new MU Extension cereal crops specialist. Soil temperature nearing 50° F at 2 inches is a good target to begin planting for corn. It takes about seven days for corn to germinate and emerge. Early emergence could result in exposure to late frost. Late emergence leaves the seed in the soil longer and increases risk of disease.
At the end of March, soil temperatures in mid-Missouri inched up toward the 13-year average, according to Horizon Point, a custom weather-analysis service from the MU Commercial Agriculture Program. Air temperatures reached 67° on the last day of the month, pushing soil temperatures above the 50° mark for the first time in 2013. Temperatures were average to 5° below average, with nightly temperatures ranging from 30°-42°.
An April 8 USDA crop report showed that Missouri farmers had tilled only 25% of the ground, compared to 61% at this time last year. The five-year average is 24%. The most recent report has 4% of the corn planting completed, four days behind normal.
There is still plenty of time for planting, said MU Extension agronomy specialist Bill Wiebold. Thanks to technology, all of Missouri’s corn crop can be planted in one week when conditions are right, he said.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Special Offer to Angus Breeders and Junior Supporters:
The 2013 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) will be in Kansas City, Mo., July 5-11. CJ Brown has donated to the host state a painting to be auctioned off with 100% of the proceeds going to the 2013 NJAS.
The winning bidder of the original will have the opportunity to have their own farm scene used in the background. The preliminary piece shown here has a generic background only for ease of understanding the concept. With the 2013 NJAS theme “Aberdeen in 2013,” CJ has incorporated the Angus and Aberdeen plaid colors into the quilt, and she will be incorporating other unique “hidden” pieces in the quilt.
In order to maximize the funds generated from this artwork, the 2013 NJAS Executive Committee is putting together a group of junior Angus supporters that will be called the 2013 Aberdeens. This syndicate will purchase the original print and then donate the piece back to be sold again, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the 2013 NJAS.
The committee invites you to join the 2013 Aberdeens with a pledge of $100. In return:
- You automatically will be listed as a Class Sponsor during the show (a $100 value).
- You will have the opportunity to purchase a copy of the print at a 50% discount.
- The artist will incorporate your name into the border of the quilt on the final artwork.
- A page in the 2013 NJAS program will list every member of the 2013 Aberdeens.
The print will sell this Sunday, April 14, during the Wallace Cattle Co. Production Sale. To be part of this group and to take advantage of this opportunity to be listed as a class sponsor please contact me no later than Saturday evening at 918-510-3464 or rlong@rancelong.com.
Obama’s Budget Proposes to
Increase
Federal Lands Grazing Fee
According to the Public Lands Council (PLC) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), President Barack Obama’s proposed budget includes an increase in the public lands grazing fee assessment that would put many family ranches out of business. Dustin Van Liew, PLC executive director and NCBA director of federal lands, said increasing the grazing fee through an arbitrary tax is unwarranted and is further evidence that the president and his administration are out of touch with production agriculture and rural economies of the West.
“This proposal came as no surprise to us; it’s a repeat of last year’s arbitrary fee increase proposal, only this time includes not only Bureau of Land Management (BLM) permittees but also the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Judging by the president’s plan to levy a 74% tax on the grazing fee and make extreme cuts in BLM and USFS range funding, we think it’s safe to say this administration does not understand American agriculture. Federal lands ranchers are and always have been willing to pay a fair price to graze livestock on public lands. They willingly invest significant amounts of money to manage and improve the range,” Van Liew said. “The current grazing fee is fair. In fact, most public lands ranchers already pay market price for their federal forage, when considering factors such as added regulatory costs, increased predation, ownership and maintenance of water rights and improvements and the difficulties of managing livestock in rough, arid rangelands. Arbitrarily increasing the grazing fee via a tax will do nothing more than impose unnecessary costs on the ranchers working every day to produce safe and affordable food and fiber.”
Specifically, the president’s budget calls for the BLM and USFS to impose a $1 per animal unit month (AUM) increase above the grazing fee to cover administrative costs. Van Liew said that ranchers should not bear the burden of paying for “bureaucratic administrative costs” that are out of their control, including costs such as attorneys fees paid from agency budgets to radical enviro-litigators. He added that the president’s budget outline is just a proposal and that it is up to Congress to determine final budgetary allocations.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Livestock Producers Should
Watch for, Control Poison Hemlock
While poison hemlock isn’t likely to be as prominent a problem this year as it was in last year’s drought-stressed pastures, Purdue Extension specialists still encourage livestock producers to be on the lookout for the toxic plant.
Poison hemlock is often found along roadsides, edges of cultivated fields, stream banks and pasture fencerows. Its most defining characteristics are purple spots or blotches on the plant’s hairless, ridged stems. If eaten, all parts of the plant can be fatally toxic to cattle, horses, swine, sheep and goats.
“If there is adequate pasture growth, poison hemlock isn’t as big a deal because animals typically won’t eat it unless it’s all they have, but livestock producers still need to be on the lookout for it and think about how to control it,” said Ron Lemenager, Purdue Extension beef specialist. “They also need to be especially cautious when making hay.”
For more information, sign up to receive the April Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA at www.angusbeefbulletin.com.
Upper Gulf Coast Ranch Expo May 10 in Simonton
Producers throughout the Texas Gulf Coast region will get a firsthand look at Akaushi cattle and receive an overall update on the cattle market during the May 10 Upper Gulf Coast Ranch Expo in Simonton.
The event, to be hosted at the Twinwood Cattle Co., will feature bus tours with several Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialists from College Station discussing beef cattle production, forage management, weed control and pecan production.
“This is a regional event and we anticipate great interest in the topics that will be discussed throughout the day,” said Greg Kaase, AgriLife Extension program specialist-risk management, College Station. “With beef cattle producers looking to capitalize on continued strength in cattle prices, there will be a variety of management practices they can take home and apply in their own operations. Also, three continuing education units will be offered to all interested pesticide applicators.”
Registration and sponsored exhibits open at 7 a.m. At 8:20 a.m., Doug Steele, AgriLife Extension director from College Station, will provide opening comments.
For more information and the full release, click here.
K-State MAB Program Now Available
Tailored for Animal Health Professionals
Kansas State University’s (K-State’s) award-winning Master of Agribusiness (MAB) distance degree program is now offering an MAB tailored to individuals working in the animal health industry.
The Master of Agribusiness combines a master of business administration and a master’s in agricultural economics with a focus on professionals working in the animal health and agribusiness industries. The one-week “on-campus” portions of the program will be held at K-State–Olathe in August and October of each year.
“We are pleased to offer the Master of Agribusiness program at the K-State Olathe campus to those working in the animal health sector. The goal of the program is to take people who work in the industry and allow them to learn business and management skills from instructors who understand the animal health and vet medicine industry,” said Allen Featherstone, professor of agricultural economics and director of the MAB program. “Students in the program will learn from faculty with extensive experience in the animal health industry. They will benefit from the opportunity to research the industry more deeply, and will also benefit from the knowledge and experiences of their classmates who work in the global animal health industry including the companion animal segment, all while developing a network of contacts at the same time.”
The MAB program has been a leading provider of business and management skills for food and agriculture professionals since 1998 and is expanding to add a focus on the animal health industry. The program includes courses in finance, economics, risk management, management, marketing, strategy, policy and others with each course geared toward application to the animal health and agribusiness industries for maximum applicability. For more information and the full release, click here.
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