News Update
April 23, 2013
Angus Juniors ‘Raise the Bar’
at Kansas State University
When it comes to leadership development, it’s more than just showing up. It’s about gaining industry knowledge, strengthening communication skills and learning the value of teamwork. That is exactly what Angus youth learned while attending the 2013 Raising the Bar conference at Kansas State University (K-State) in Manhattan, Kan.
National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members met April 11-14 to participate in the premier leadership-training event.
“The Raising the Bar conferences give our junior members the opportunity to expand their horizons and truly ‘raise the bar’ on what they can accomplish,” says Robin Ruff, American Angus Association director of junior activities.
Throughout the weekend, 45 Angus junior leaders, officers and advisors from 11 state junior Angus associations participated in activities geared toward building stronger leaders, and developing friendships.
They toured K-State and area Angus operations, heard from motivational speakers, participated in industry-related workshops — and made time for fun activities, including bowling at the University campus.
“One of the best things a junior can gain from this experience is new friendships,” Ruff says. “Together, they can learn, grow and prepare for a promising future in the Angus industry.”
At the K-State campus, participants toured the Kansas Artificial Breeding Service Unit, and visited with Sharon Tucker about semen collection; explored Call Hall, the University’s dairy processing plant, which includes the infamous ice cream parlor; and learned about the meat-science facility that gives meat processors, students and entrepreneurs an opportunity to use various aspects of a state-of-the art meat science research and teaching complex.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Culinary Students Learn About Beef Industry
The beef checkoff, through the Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative in conjunction with Hedgeapple Farms of Buckeystown, Md., organized an educational beef tour Saturday, April 20. Two classes of culinary students from the Howard Community College (HCC) of Columbia, Md., attended the one-day event, gaining a firsthand look at the beef industry.
Scott Barao, executive director of the Maryland Beef Council and the Maryland Cattlemen’s Association led the group on the farm tour. “I was very thankful for the opportunity to help expose these future food-service professionals to the full scope of our great beef industry in an honest and transparent manner,” says Barao. “We have a wonderful industry with a captivating production story to tell and there is no doubt that these students finished the day with a new appreciation of what it takes to produce safe, wholesome and highly nutritious beef.”
For more information and the full release, click here.
Utah Rancher Calls for National Monuments Transparency and Accountability
A Utah rancher testified before Congress on behalf of the Public Lands Council (PLC), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Utah Cattlemen’s Association (UCA) in support of legislation to bring transparency and local input to the national monuments designation process. Dave Eliason, PLC secretary/treasurer, immediate past president of UCA and active NCBA member, told the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation that misuse of the Antiquities Act of 1906 by the executive branch is destabilizing the public-lands grazing industry and harming local communities.
Eliason, a fourth-generation rancher with public-land grazing permits, runs a cattle operation with his wife and five children. He said the Antiquities Act, intended to allow presidents to protect small areas on federal lands such as archaeological sites, has instead been used to designate sweeping expanses of land as national monuments, with the effect of putting heavy restrictions on productive multiple uses such as grazing. He called for support of the Ensuring Public Involvement in the Creation of National Monuments Act (H.R. 1459), introduced by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and the Utah Land Sovereignty Act (H.R. 758), introduced by Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah). Bishop’s H.R. 1459, he said, would ensure that the public knew the facts about the impacts of a proposed national monument, allow for public comment and provide local governments an avenue for government-to-government cooperation and coordination in the process.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Nebraska Ranch Practicum
The Nebraska Ranch Practicum is a three-season, hands-on educational program designed to give participants the skills and education needed in today’s complex ranching industry.
Camaraderie and exchange of ideas among participants, instructors and facilitators are among the most valued aspects of this University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) Extension program. High-quality educational material includes software, notebooks with laminated field guides and a collection of University publications. You’ll also benefit from cutting-edge research in range livestock production and marketing at the UNL Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, a nationally-recognized research and education facility.
Participants will develop the ability to efficiently use decision support tools to critically evaluate numerous management and marketing alternatives dealing with:
- grazing strategies and systems
- methods of managing market risk
- calving and weaning dates
- winter livestock nutrition
- cull cow management
- feed rations and seasonal mineral supplements
You will gain plant identification skills and learn to determine range condition and to monitor wildlife habitat. You will learn to formulate grazing strategies based on natural resource-management and livestock-production objectives and to determine which grazing system will accomplish your objectives.
By understanding the importance of the season of grazing, end-of-year residual herbage and plant-year precipitation, you will optimize grazing management using grazing-response indices, a simple decision-support system designed to enhance water-use efficiency and rangeland drought tolerance. Precipitation and grazing records help to evaluate the effects of grazing management on livestock performance and vegetation response.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Annie’s Project: Building Skills on the Ranch and in the Home
Annie’s Project, a series of six classes hosted by UNL Extension and Farm Credit Services of America, will begin in May at Thedford, Neb.
Annie’s Project is designed to empower farm and ranch women to manage information systems used in critical decision-making processes and to build local networks throughout the state. The target audience is farm and ranch women with a passion for business and involvement.
Annie’s Project is comprised of six classes hosted over three weeks. Classes will take place in the evenings from 6-9 p.m. CDT at Brahmer’s Steakhouse in Thedford, Neb., May 22, 23, 29, 30, and June 5-6. The focus will be on beef enterprises, but some crop information will be covered.
Class size is limited. Participants should contact Bethany Johnston at the Central Sandhills Extension Office prior to May 1 to enroll. Registration is $50 per person; after May 1 it is $60 per person. Call 308-645-2267 or 1-800-657-2113, or email bjohnston3@unl.edu. Discounts will be given to groups of two or more ($40 per person). For more information and the full release, click here.
ABS Global Introduces Dairy Infocus — Beef on Dairy Initative
Dairy producers now have an all-inclusive tool to earn more money for dairy beef calves, segment females into genetic performance groups and improve quality of heifer replacements. ABS Dairy InFocus™ has been introduced as part of the ABS Genetic Management System® (GMS®). This program is aimed to provide producers the opportunity to create premium beef while maximizing dairy profit.
“The days of raising every heifer calf as a replacement are no longer valid, as it costs more to raise heifers than buy replacements,” states Tim Timmons, ABS Dairy InFocus manager. “By utilizing the ABS Dairy InFocus program, producers have access to the best beef genetics in the industry and the tools needed to maximize their profits through supply chain marketing.”
ABS Dairy InFocus involves the strategic use of proven beef sires on dairy cows within a comprehensive breeding plan. InFocus enables dairies to increase cash flow and improve future herd genetics. Lower performing cows are bred to beef and calves are sold at a premium, while top performing cows are used for heifer replacements. This program allows producers an opportunity to get a premium in nine months based on their genetic decision today.
“The ABS Dairy InFocus program really fits our Holstein and Jersey breeders. As a heifer ranch, we aim to develop the best dairy replacements for our customers. By using the ABS Dairy InFocus program on the lower performing cows, our dairy customers are paid a premium for beef calves and they get back higher quality replacement heifers,” notes Justin and Jerod Ball of Deer Creek Feeding LLC, Dalhart, TX.
To learn more about the ABS Dairy InFocus program or get enrolled, contact customer service today at 1-800-227-7883.
Editor’s Note: The articles used within this site represent a mixture of copyrights. If you would like to reprint or repost an article, you must first request permission of Angus Productions Inc. (API) by contacting the editor at 816-383-5200; 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506. API claims copyright to this web site as presented. We welcome educational venues and cattlemen to link to this site as a service to their audience.