News Update
December 2, 2013
Make Plans for Range Beef Cow Symposium XXIII Dec. 3-5
The Range Beef Cow Symposium (RBCS) is being hosted in 2013 by South Dakota State University at the Rushmore Convention Center in Rapid City, S.D., Dec. 3-5.
The RBCS is a biennial educational event designed as “in-service training for cow-calf ranchers.” The event will feature well-known speakers who will provide updates on production topics in the areas of beef industry issues, genetics, reproduction, range and forage management, cattle health, beef nutrition, and more.
The Angus Journal editorial team coordinates an online event coverage website for the RBCS with a live webcast from LiveAuctions.tv during the conference if you cannot attend in person. Visit www.rangebeefcow.com before the conference for the schedule and travel information. During and after the conference, visit the site’s Newsroom for summaries, PowerPoint presentations, proceedings papers, audio and additional references provided by speakers.
The Range Beef Cow Symposium began in 1969 as a joint effort of the Extension services from South Dakota State University, Colorado State University, the University of Wyoming and the University of Nebraska. The symposium regularly attracts more than 900 ranchers and industry-affiliates. It includes a two-and-one-half day educational program, bull-pen sessions with the speakers each evening and a trade show with displays from the beef industry.
This year’s program will include such topics as policy and trade issues, pregnant cow nutrition, limit-feeding high-energy diets, post artificial insemination (AI) nutrition, managing cow costs, using technology to improve efficiency, understanding how to use DNA tools, optimal range management, and many other topics.
Additionally, Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan will share her experiences advocating for agriculture as Miss America, and beef “spokesrunner” Dane Rauschenberg will motivate the audience to “Ignore the Impossible.”
Many companies within the beef industry attend this symposium and set up vendor booths. Their participation keeps the cost minimal for producers and provides producers with an opportunity to discuss products, equipment, nutrition, genetics and services available for their cattle business.
In addition, the bull-pen sessions are said to be the most valuable part of the symposium. This is a time for attendees to have in-depth discussions with the speakers and an opportunity to ask questions. The majority of the symposium speakers on Tuesday and Wednesday will be present in the evening following their presentations.
Walk-ins are welcome, with registration available at the door. For additional information, contact Ken Olson, SDSU Extension beef specialist, 605-394-2236 or julie.walker@sdstate.edu.
LEA to Conduct ‘Livestock Exporting 3.0’ Seminar
The Livestock Exporters Association (LEA) will host the third annual “Livestock Exporting 3.0” seminar Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the Hilton Kansas City Airport in Kansas City, Mo., in conjunction with the United States Livestock Genetics Export (USLGE) annual meeting. The seminar is aimed toward experienced exporters, LEA members and industry affiliates interested in marketing livestock abroad.
“When it comes to exporting livestock, details are key,” says LEA President Tony Clayton. “During our 2014 seminar, we will discuss the most recent changes to the export process and what that means for you as you plan to market internationally.”
The day-long, in-depth discussion of the export process will give participants a closer look inside the procedures associated with shipping livestock overseas, and educate exporters on the sweeping changes taking place with the export approval process at the USDA, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS).
Changes coming from the USDA APHIS VS — the federal agency responsible for approving all health papers for live animals, semen and embryos to be exported — will be the main focus of this year’s “Livestock Exporting 3.0,” including the move from having an area veterinarian in-charge in each state to six directors in the newly formed administration for National Import Export Services (NIES).
NIES directors will be on-hand to discuss the latest rules and regulations that apply to the various sectors, including live animal exports, air and seaports, and service centers. Additional topics will be export policy and administration, animal health certification, permits, risk assessments, and many more issues related to overseas transport.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Delayed Crop Harvest Increases Highway Dangers
December is usually a time when farms can put their harvest equipment away for the winter. Not so this year, especially in Central and Northern Michigan as corn and soybean harvest continues and may linger even into the New Year.
A wet spring delayed the planting of most crops. A cool mid-summer, followed by a dry late summer put a number of corn and soybean acres behind normal in maturity. According to Michigan State University Extension field crop educators, the remaining soybeans are not harvesting well because the pods are too wet and corn in the field still carries too much moisture to be economically dried. Compound this with wet soils that are too muddy to enter with equipment and it is understandable that this grain crop will continue to be harvested gradually as conditions allow, well into early winter.
This delayed harvest is increasing the dangers of farm equipment traveling on public roadways and colliding with domestic vehicles. Motorists on the roadways are not expecting to come upon slow moving farm vehicles this time of year. They assume the harvest season is over. More critically, the decreasing daylight hours of December increases the risk of tractors and combines on the roadways in the dark during rush hour. Motorists often do not properly gauge the slower speed of a tractor or other farm implement in the daytime hours and approach them too rapidly. Add in the early evening darkness and slippery roads covered with ice or snow, and it is a recipe for disaster.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Online Course is Starting Place for Learning About ATV Safety
Before actually driving an ATV, youth who are interested in learning more about the safety aspects of handing these machines can do so through an online safety course.
Sponsored through the ATV Safety Institute (ASI), in cooperation with ATV Ride Safe Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program, the ATV Safety e-Course adventure is a great way to introduce the ATV experience to both novice and experienced riders.
Mike Klumpp, Oklahoma 4-H ATV safety coordinator, said more than 600 youth have taken the online course and he’s hoping to reach 1,000 participants by the end of 2013.
“We’ve been teaching hands-on ATV safety through the 4-H program in Oklahoma for a number of years, but the e-Course is relatively new,” Klumpp said. “It’s a great, safe way for beginning riders to start learning about all the safety aspects of riding an ATV. Oklahoma averages more than 15 ATV-related deaths each year and has one of the nation’s highest rates of injury for youth age 16 and younger. This online learning opportunity is one of the first steps youth can take to learn about safe riding.”
The e-Course is free and can be found at www.atvsafety.org. It offers three age-specific e-learning courses to address basic ATV safety principles.
Klumpp said it takes about two hours to complete the course, and participants can stop at any point and come back later to finish up right where they left off.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Predator Management and M-44 Training Offered
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Wharton County office will offer a predator management and pesticide applicator training and test from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Hlavinka Equipment Co. store in El Campo, 3230 West Business 59 South.
People interested in attending should reserve by Dec. 2 by calling 979-532-3310. The fee is $20 per person and includes lunch.
“Predators such as coyotes, foxes and feral dogs cause damage to livestock and crops, which results in economic loss to Texas farmers and ranchers,” said Corrie Bowen, AgriLife Extension agent in Wharton County. “Predators also sometimes adversely affect wildlife populations. These animals can spread diseases such as rabies, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to domestic animals and humans.”
Bowen said the predator management training program works to assist the livestock industry and to ensure the methods used to manage livestock predation do not present hazards to humans, non-target animals and the environment.
“This program will cover training on available management techniques and monitoring to allow certification of M-44 sodium cyanide applicators,” she said.
Before being permitted to use this pesticide, Bowen noted, applicators must have a pesticide applicator’s license with the Texas Department of Agriculture, attend a training class to learn proper use of the selected method and score 70 or above on the examination.
Noncommercial applicators must also obtain the Predatory Animal Control subcategory, or the Regulatory Pest Control or Demonstration and Research categories, she said, and commercial applicators must also obtain the Predatory Animal Control subcategory.
The program also includes other control methods and tips on identifying which predator is affecting livestock.
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