News Update
January 8, 2014
Remembering R. Crosby Kemper Jr.
R. Crosby Kemper Jr. passionately believed the best young leaders come from rural backgrounds and he wanted to give them tools to succeed. Until he passed away at the age of 86 last Thursday, he was a committed contributor to agriculture’s youth.
The Kansas City native believed the city, with its strong agriculture base, should be the location of a premier leader development organization to identify, encourage and support outstanding collegiate leaders who were pursuing careers in agriculture. Because of Kemper’s commitment and that of other area business leaders, including his son Alexander (Sandy) Kemper, Agriculture Future of America (AFA) was born in 1996.
In the past 17 years, AFA has honored Kemper’s commitment to agriculture’s young leaders, awarding more than $8 million in academic and leader development scholarships and impacting more than 9,000 college leaders and young professionals. AFA’s student delegation has represented more than 200 colleges and universities from 43 states. Under the leadership of the board of directors, which is chaired by Sandy Kemper, student participation in AFA’s leader development programs has increased by 70% in the last five years.
“Mr. Kemper believed one’s legacy should be measured by the difference they make in the lives of others,” said Russell Weathers, president and CEO of AFA. “He shared that belief often as he visited with young men and women involved in AFA. Mr. Kemper founded AFA 17 years ago and I believe it is his personal legacy, which will unfold through the achievements of thousands of men and women he touched. Personally, I found him to be one of the more interesting persons I have had the privilege of knowing and to have had the opportunity to work with him has been a special honor.”
Kemper’s commitment to AFA and its students was personal. He served as a lifetime member of the AFA Board of Directors. Kemper’s leadership and legacy live on in the alumni of the AFA program, who seek to make a difference for agriculture and for rural America.
NFU Disappointed in EPA’s Proposed 2014 RFS Targets
National Farmers Union (NFU) submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Jan. 7 expressing deep concern with EPA’s proposed 2014 volumes for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). EPA’s proposal reduces overall volumes by 16%. This is the first time in the program’s history that EPA has reduced overall targets.
“EPA’s proposal is a big step backward in the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, ending our reliance on foreign oil, and giving consumers a choice at the pump,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “The RFS is a principle driver of the cellulosic and advanced biofuels industry. This proposal would strand billions of dollars of investment in the next generation of biofuels and send those investment dollars overseas.”
“The ethanol industry supports nearly 400,000 jobs nationwide. If the current proposal is finalized, it will reduce farm income and damage rural economies,” Johnson continued. “EPA wrongly justified its action based on the so-called ‘blend wall.’ This is a creation of the oil industry in order to protect its market share. EPA needs to stand up to Big Oil and support an American-produced, environmentally responsible alternative.”
Under section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to set the renewable fuel targets for the following year.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Missouri Cattlemen Establish 2014 Policy Priorities
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (MCA), which is a grassroots organization focused on preserving and growing the beef industry within the state, established policy priorities for 2014. The policies were established last week when roughly 600 cattlemen and cattlewomen gathered at the Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Mo., for the association’s annual convention and trade show. This is the 46th annual event. The organization’s top policy priority does not need any action from the legislature, but will demand widespread education throughout the state.
“The Farming Rights Amendment passed out of the legislature last year and its fate will ultimately depend on the voters of Missouri. The amendment will forever guarantee the right of Missourians to farm and ranch in this state,” said MCA Past President Chuck Massengill. “This is a proactive step to protect Missouri’s farm and ranch families from out-of-state animal rights extremists. It also ensures consumer choice by protecting our food chain.”
The association will pursue increasing the hauling limits in Missouri from 80,000 pounds (lb.) to 85,500 lb. throughout the entire state. The increase would bring Missouri in line with several bordering states. MCA contends that increasing the hauling limits will save dollars and will increase the safety of both livestock and truck drivers.
MCA members are also eyeing issues that involve property rights. One issue is working with county commissioners to take a closer look at the fencing laws in the state. Missouri currently has two fence laws; the general fence law and the local option fence law. MCA Executive Vice President Mike Deering said the local option fence law increases livestock owners’ rights. Nearly 20 counties opted out of the general fence law and have adopted the local option. Deering said MCA plans to work with individual counties to encourage adopting the local fence law.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Feral Hog Management Workshop Set for Feb. 4 in Luling
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, in cooperation with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, will conduct a Feral Hog Management Workshop from 8 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Luling Foundation, 523 S. Mulberry St., in Luling.
“Despite greatly increased public awareness and more effective control methods, Texas feral hog populations continue to grow,” said Jared Timmons, AgriLife Extension wildlife associate at San Marcos.
“More feral hogs mean a magnification of some already serious problems such as the polluting of creeks and rivers from the animals congregating around water sources to drink and wallow.” Timmons said. “The result is fecal matter going directly into streams, thus adding often dangerous levels of bacteria and nutrients to the water.”
“Our goal for this program is to keep landowners in tune with the latest information available in regards to the feral hog situation in our region and to offer them ways to cope with it.”
Workshop topics will include: basic biology of feral swine and their damage to watersheds, feral hogs in the Plum Creek watershed, population dynamics, laws and regulations for hunting feral hogs, agricultural regulations, safety and disease concerns, transportation regulations, control and trap demonstration.
Individual preregistration is $15 by Feb.1 and $25 thereafter. For more information and to preregister, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Caldwell County at 512-398-3122 or caldwell@ag.tamu.edu.
Five Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units — two general, two integrated pest management and one laws and regulations — will be offered pending the department’s approval.
Information on controlling feral hogs is available at http://plumcreek.tamu.edu/feral-hogs or http://feralhogs.tamu.edu.
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