News Update
August 8, 2013
Bring the Heat: Waterways Investment Vital for Agriculture and Economy
With more than 60% of exported U.S. corn shipped via inland waterways and 95% of agricultural exports and imports moving through U.S. harbors, funding for flood protection, port improvements and upgrades to the nation’s aging locks and dams infrastructure are as critical as they’ve ever been to farmers and ranchers and the economy as a whole, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).
Senate passage of the Water Resources Development Act this spring brought the country one step closer to these important water transport upgrades, but there’s been little movement in the House, and that’s not sitting well with farmers and ranchers. Through Farm Bureau’s Bring the Heat campaign, producers are personally delivering a message to their lawmakers: Passage of WRDA is a must to ensure the reliability of the most affordable, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable mode of transporting agricultural products.
“Waterways investment is vital to improve commerce and transportation of agricultural products from the fields to tables at home and around the world,” said Andrew Walmsley, AFBF transportation specialist. “More than 2 billion tons of domestic and import/export cargo move through our ports and along our waterways. Until improvements are made, $20.7 billion in agricultural exports are at risk.”
Although there’s been no formal progress in the House, there are a number of lawmakers who are anxious to get a bill moving. In addition, groundwork has been laid in the form of legislation that would fit well in a WRDA package.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Thompson Farm Field Day Features
New MU Bee Breeding, Feeding Research
Cow herd owners can learn to boost beef production at Thompson Farm Field Day, Sept. 17. Included are tips on breeding and feeding, as well as research on cow and heifer reproduction conducted at the University of Missouri farm in northwest Grundy County. Researchers will tell results of more cow pregnancies from fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI).
Jordan Thomas, MU graduate student, will share results of a new AI protocol. The plan, not yet released, increases pregnancy rates on the first day of breeding season.
“High AI pregnancy rates result in more calves born early in the calving season,” Thomas says. “That in turn results in an older average age of calves at weaning and, therefore, heavier weights.”
Earlier studies at Thompson Farm show AI-sired calves have better genetics from use of proven, high-accuracy bulls. That improves replacement heifers and feedlot performance of steers. Also, cows that calve early perform better in the next breeding season. This proves especially helpful for heifers.
“Successful reproduction management one year sets cows up for success next year,” Thomas says. He gained national attention for his research at the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) in Oklahoma City in June. Neil Martin, recent graduate, will summarize AI research from Thompson Farm and private ranches. Mike Kasten, Millersville, Mo., was an early adopter of FTAI. He gained value from Show-Me-Select replacement heifers. He’ll talk on “Quality Beef by the Numbers.”
Afternoon tours will show pregnancy checks by ultrasound. Scott Poock, MU Extension veterinarian, will show new equipment.
On a second tour, Ray Wright, from MU Bradford Farm, Columbia, will explore grazing strategies and soil health.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library’s calendar of upcoming events here.
Soil Health, Water Quality and Bioenergy
Among Topics of Aug. 27-28 Workshop
Growers and anyone interested in learning more about soil, water quality and bioenergy, in addition to the latest research on blueberries, hops and aquaculture, can learn more at a workshop Aug. 27-28 at the Ohio State University (OSU) South Centers in Piketon.
Some of the workshops and field demonstrations will be led by scientists with the OSU College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The event is part of a joint meeting of the Association of Ohio Pedologists and the Soil and Water Conservation Society, which will hold their summer meeting and workshops at OSU South Centers.
Rafiq Islam, who holds joint appointments with OSU Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), will discuss his research on water quality and public health during a field presentation and demonstration at the workshop Aug. 27.
Islam’s work looks at organic production systems and the impact of long-term tillage and cover crops’ effect on soil health and ecosystem services.
“Planting a cover crop cocktail such as Sudan-sorghum, oilseed radish, cereal rye, pearl millet, cowpea, soybeans or Austrian winter pea has been proven to supply the required amount of nitrogen to crops, lower inputs, increase crop yields and improve soil health,” Islam said. “Improving soil health is necessary to get higher crop yields, to minimize the usage of fertilizer and herbicides, and to better manage the soil without plowing the ground.”
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
MCA and MSU Bull Evaluation Program Celebrates 26 Years
The Michigan Cattlemen’s Association (MCA)/Michigan State University (MSU) Bull Evaluation Program began with a group of cow-calf producers getting in a pickup and traveling to find a host site to house a bull evaluation program. The adventure started in Michigan more than 26 years ago. Once a site was located, the joint venture between the MCA, MSU and host farm began. The collaboration offered MCA the organizational authority, MSU the data-gathering role, and the host farm an opportunity to expand into a new beef enterprise.
Program goals include promoting performance-evaluated beef cattle and serving as an educational tool to acquaint producers with its overall value while aiding beef producers in obtaining superior bulls that have been evaluated for growth, breeding and structural soundness, and carcass merit.
The MCA/MSU Bull Evaluation Program moved to the Plank family farm near Crystal, Mich., in 2003. The facility has capacity for 108 bulls on test from October to February. The quality, depth and data provided on bulls continues to improve each year as consignors advance their genetics, allowing for a new, high-quality slate of yearling bulls offered for sale annually in mid-March.
The 2013-2014 bull evaluation program is now accepting entries due by Sept. 3, 2013. Consignors will need to review bull entrance requirements and delivery requirements prior to filling out the nomination form. Beef producers interested in nominating qualifying bulls can review the bull evaluation policy, rules and nominations form.
Space is limited, but the program provides the opportunity for first-time consignors to gain entry into the program.
For more information, please view the full release here.
New Burn-Detection-Modeling System in Development
to Help Identify Potential Wildfire Threats in Texas
A burn-risk-detection modeling system in development by a consortium of Texas A&M University System researchers will help predict potential wildfire threats throughout the Lone Star State, according to its developers.
The modeling system will be used by the Texas A&M Forest Service. Researchers with the Center for Natural Resource Information Technology, part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, are developing the modeling program. One of those researchers, Richard Conner, also an AgriLife Research economist and professor in the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M, said the system is a modification of several modeling projects developed a decade ago.
“This current modeling system measures the amount of forage fuel load in a county and is used to predict potential fire danger,” he said.
The modeling system will provide real-time information on fuel loads using vegetation and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather information for regions susceptible to wildfire.
“In the wildfire predictive services arena, one of the hardest things to get a handle on is herbaceous fuel load across the state,” said Tom Spencer, head of fire predictive services, Texas A&M Forest Service. “It’s challenging to determine the condition and amount of it. There’s no good way to do that through remote sensing. It’s always been the case where someone has to physically go out and look, then make a judgment call.”
For more information, please view the full release here.
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