News Update
January 20, 2014
Young Angus Breeder and
Cancer Survivor to Raise Funds
for Make-A-Wish Idaho
Last summer, 17-year-old Kyle Bratton, Caldwell, Idaho, decided to use his upcoming senior project to give back to an organization that helped he and his family through a difficult time as he faced a life-threatening diagnosis. When Kyle was 14, he received treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. During his hospital stay, he found out he’d been nominated to receive a wish through Make-A-Wish Idaho. The organization sent Kyle, his best friend and his parents, George and Chris Bratton, on a 10-day trip to Walt Disney World.
“I can never fully repay the debt of kindness shown to me during my experience, but I thought I could start with this,” says Kyle, about his decision to raise funds. “Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children who don’t have much hope. I hope to earn enough money to send at least three deserving families on a trip of their dreams.”
When Kyle decided to give back to Make-A-Wish Idaho, he felt it was important to give something himself, rather than just ask people for money.
He decided to donate a registered-Angus bull he raised to the cause. Kyle developed a bull syndicate, where individuals or groups can purchase donation shares of the bull, BAR Wish Granter 837, registration number #17463447. Each share sells for $50 and people can purchase one or multiple shares of the PVF All PayDay son, thus, becoming part of the “Wish Granter” Syndicate.
Wish Granter will be auctioned off at the Gem State Classic Sale on Feb. 8, in Twin Falls, Idaho, as part of the Idaho Angus Association’s annual consignment sale.
To purchase shares, please visit www.barwishgranters.com/home.html. For more information, please view the full release here.
NCBA Accepting Applications for Public Policy Internship
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) government affairs office in Washington, D.C., are accepting applications for the fall 2014 public policy internship. The deadline to submit an application is Feb. 17.
“NCBA and PLC’s internship is a great opportunity to see firsthand a grassroots effort at work in the nation’s most powerful city,” said Rachel Abeh, a Montana State University senior and fall 2013 intern. “I have a better understanding of the complexity and implications of the political issues facing our ranchers back here in the West, along with a greater appreciation for the lobbyists who work on behalf of our producers day in and day out.”
NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts said this is a great opportunity for students with an interest in the beef industry and public policy.
“From food safety and trade to environmental issues and taxes, this internship will give college students the opportunity to work alongside staff on many critical issues affecting U.S. cattlemen and women,” Butts said. “The internship is designed to work closely with the lobbying team on Capitol Hill; to assist with NCBA and PLC’s regulatory efforts; and to work closely with the communications team.”
The full-time internship will begin Sept. 8 and end Dec. 13. To apply, interested college juniors, seniors or graduate students should submit the application, college transcripts, two letters of recommendation and a résumé to internships@beef.org. More information about the NCBA public policy internship is available on www.BeefUSA.org.
NFU Cautiously Optimistic Following
Omnibus Spending Bill Passage
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson expressed cautious optimism after the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives’ passage of the $1.1 trillion spending bill that will keep the federal government running through September.
“It isn’t all too often that Congress passes bipartisan legislation. Let’s hope this spirit of cooperation continues through to the farm bill,” said Johnson. “We are pleased by the activity, even though the omnibus bill — and its accompanying report language — is far from perfect. While the bill includes much-needed funding increases for rural-development programs, it also makes detrimental cuts to the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC), and appropriations for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission fall short of the agency’s needs.”
The bill includes nonbinding report language that is critical of country-of-origin labeling (COOL).
“It is a sign of desperation when packers, processors and our foreign competitors go as far as including misleading rhetoric and scare tactics in the omnibus report language in order to try to deny consumers the right to know the origins of their food,” said Johnson. “We urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to stand firm in supporting COOL and to dismiss this nonbinding resolution.”
Winter’s Early Start May Increase Hay Demand
An early start to winter has caused many farms in the upper Midwest to reconsider whether they will have enough hay and other feeds to get their animals to spring. The summer of 2013 allowed many farms to replenish exhausted forage supplies that were caused by the drought the previous year. Still, last summer’s growing season was not perfect and many farms felt they had just enough feed to get through this winter as their harvest season ended.
Many farms after 2012’s drought had made plans to harvest more annual forage crops and/or to graze longer in the fall in an attempt to save hay. The dry late summer and early fall across much of the Midwest decreased the yield of these crops, but many farms still were cautiously optimistic about their winter feed supply. One last hurrah of 2013 — the colder-than-normal, snowy December, led to early and substantial hay feeding on many livestock farms, according to Michigan State University (MSU) Extension beef educators.
Farms that were hoping to graze stockpiled pasture forages and corn stubble fields into the new year had to bring the cows home early. Some farms that were hoping to harvest corn-stalk bales for feed were not able to because of the late maturing corn crop and the early December snows. The colder-than-normal temperatures in December also led to increased hay consumption. Studies show that ruminate animals will increase forage consumption from 5%-15% when air temperatures drop below 20° Fahrenheit.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Emergency Measures to Control Blowing Soil from Wind Erosion
Kansas is no stranger to howling winds, but blowing soil has caused serious problems in northwest Kansas this winter, creating concern for the remainder of the winter and spring, said DeAnn Presley, Kansas State University (K-State) Research and Extension soil management specialist.
The blowing soil problem this year stems largely from high winds coupled with a lack of residue cover, she said. November through April is the peak time for soil erosion by wind.
Long term, keeping more crop residue on the soil surface or having living vegetation year-round through the use of cover crops will keep soil in place during conditions such as those experienced recently, Presley said. For now, however, there are some emergency measures producers and landowners can take to try to reduce wind erosion and blowing soil problems this winter and spring.
If wind erosion has already started, it can be reduced by mulching with manure or other anchored plant materials such as straw or hay. To be effective, at least 1.5 to 2 tons per acre of straw or grass, or 3 to 4 tons per acre of corn or sorghum stover are needed to control areas of erosion, and the straw or hay must be anchored. Residue can be spread by hand, spreader or other mechanical equipment.
A stubble puncher or disk set straight may be used to anchor residue and prevent it from being blown away. Wet manure application should be 15 to 20 tons per acre and not incorporated into the soil. Care should be taken to not add wheel paths parallel to the wind direction as the mulch is applied. Traffic areas and wheel paths can contribute to wind erosion.
For more information, please view the full release here.
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