News Update
January 27, 2014
Agricultural Interest Groups
Unite on RFS Debate
Agricultural interest groups voiced united criticisms last week of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2014 Renewable Fuel Standards recent requirement change, which would scale back the total amount of biofuels that must be blended into the nation’s gasoline supply.
The proposal lowers the mandate to 15.2 billion gallons (gal.) of renewable fuels. Of the 15.2 billion gal., 13.01 billion gal. would come from conventional ethanol and 2.2 billion gal. from advanced biofuels. EPA is proposing that 1.28 billion gal. of the advanced biofuel target be biodiesel.
“This decision strikes a blow to conventional ethanol production and dampens the prospects for the further development of advanced biofuels,” said American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Executive Director of Public Policy Dale Moore. “EPA’s proposal will severely move away from achieving the goals that were set by Congress to create a more robust renewable fuels industry, as well as a pathway to achieving energy independence from unstable regions of the world.”
The National Farmers Union (NFU) seconded this thought and applauded Congress for supporting the RFS as it stands.
“NFU is grateful for the leadership shown by the members of Congress who sent this letter to EPA. The RFS is a principle driver of the cellulosic and advanced biofuels industry,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “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.”
USDA Announces Investments in Businesses
and Rural Economic Development
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Jan. 23 that USDA is investing in rural businesses to help create jobs and spur economic development.
“These investments will help businesses expand, help rural communities grow their economies and help support the community-based development goals of the Obama administration,” Vilsack said. “USDA is providing loans and grants to our local partners who can leverage this money with funds from other sources for projects that will have broad economic impacts.”
The funding is being provided through USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program. Under this program, USDA provides zero-interest loans to utilities that lend funds to local businesses for projects to create and retain employment in rural areas. These revolving loan funds broaden the program’s reach and create a multiplier effect for its impact.
USDA’s business programs have a history of proven results. In March 2012, Tennessee’s Gibson Electric Membership Corp. used a $1 million REDLG loan to help Advantage Manufacturing Corp. buy equipment to expand. The loan helped former employees buy the production assets of a company that offshored work. The new company specialized in medical support products and has saved 19 jobs and created 10 additional jobs since then in rural West Tennessee.
In total, Vilsack announced $17.6 million in loans and grants for projects in 15 states and the Northern Mariana Islands.
For more information, please view the full release here.
K-State Chemical Weed Control Guide Available
Since 1967, Chemical Weed Control for Field Crops, Pastures, Rangeland, and Noncropland has served as one of Kansas State University (K-State) Research and Extension’s most popular publications. The 2014 edition is available online, and printed copies can be found at local extension offices throughout Kansas.
Dallas Peterson, professor and weed-management specialist for K-State Research and Extension, is a co-author for the publication. He said much has changed in the magnitude of the weed-control guide, but the purpose remains the same.
“(In 1967) it consisted of 12 pages, with large print and a lot of white space,” Peterson said. “The current guide is about 135 pages with very condensed print and contains much more herbicide information. It has always been intended to be a resource to help farmers and crop advisors with selecting herbicides and using them appropriately.”
The 1967 edition listed 16 herbicide active ingredients, Peterson said, while the latest edition includes 93 active ingredients. In addition to those 93, the guide also includes generic products and pre-mix combinations. This is why herbicide selection today can be overwhelming.
“Probably the first place you would go to for reference would be the efficacy tables,” Peterson said. “They have the various herbicide treatments and combinations listed by application timing, whether that is a preplant, preemergence or postemergence herbicide. Then it provides ratings for the kind of weed control we would anticipate on the common weed species in those crops.”
For more information, please view the full release here.
Online Youth Animal Care Training Modules
Although the cold temperatures are keeping youth inside, it is the perfect time to encourage young people to learn more about their large animal project. A variety of curriculum exists, in print and online, to teach youth about the project they are raising, and management strategies for maintaining human and animal health. According to Michigan State University Extension, quality-assurance programs promote the industry’s efforts to produce a safe and wholesome food product, with particular attention to the care and well-being of animals raised for human consumption. Additionally, these programs include best production practices and animal-management strategies, which are useful whether or not the animal is entering the food system.
Two youth quality assurance programs are available online: Youth Animal Care Training and Youth Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Plus. These programs are geared toward youth raising and exhibiting beef, dairy, horse and swine projects.
The Youth Animal Care Training was created in 2012 by the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University. These free online educational training modules are for high school aged youth and younger. Through participation in the training, youth can improve their knowledge of animal handling, animal welfare, antimicrobial residue avoidance and food safety.
Youth register online and are immediately able to work through the multimedia training modules at their own pace. Each module ranges from five to 20 minutes in length. Once all the modules within a package are completed and quizzes are passed with 80% accuracy or higher, a printable certificate is available. There is no time limit or deadline to complete the modules and quizzes. If youth wish to keep their certificate for quality assurance up-to-date, they can re-certify every three years.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Multi-county New Landowner Series to Address
All Phases of Agricultural Production
The multi-county 2014 New Landowner Series, presented by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, will be hosted in four South Central Texas counties from March through September.
A total of six sessions will be in Blanco, Gillespie, Kendall and Kerr counties.
“These sessions are designed for the novice who just acquired property or is looking into purchasing land in the Hill Country,” said Brad Roeder, AgriLife Extension agent for Gillespie County, one of the series coordinators. “At these sessions, attendees can meet and speak with some of the top experts in their respective fields, as well as get hands-on experience in learning how to get the most out of their property.”
Roeder said topics addressed in the series will include learning how to make wildlife, livestock and the environment work; live oak wilt and decline; how to drought-proof pastures; taxes, permits and property regulations: growing your own food; facts about the best hay, forages and grains for the area; and herbicides/pesticides for home and commercial use.
“We will also make site visits to operations in all phases of agriculture and have hands-on activities,” he said. “Participants will be provided a new landowner notebook full of timely information and handouts.”
The cost is $30 per session or $100 per person, $150 per couple, for the entire series, payable in advance or at the door. Make checks out to Gillespie Ag & Natural Resource Committee and drop off or mail to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 95 Frederick Road, Fredericksburg, TX 78624.
Advance notice for each session is requested so adequate quantities of take-home materials can be prepared.
For more information, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Gillespie County at 830-997-3452.
Dates, topics and locations include:
- March 21: Fredericksburg; Introduction, neighbor relations, tax valuations, well and septic permits, grazing and hunting leases.
- April 4: Kerrville; Live oak wilt, home-use pesticides, turf, tree and landscape maintenance, rainwater harvesting.
- May 9: Stonewall/LBJ Ranch; Forage production, livestock production and handling, crop production.
- June 13: Stonewall; Commercial horticulture, vineyards, orchards, produce (hands-on pruning).
- July 11: Boerne; Back to basics, home gardening, chickens, natural vs. organic.
- Sept. 12; Kendalia; Wildlife and range management, brush work and sculpting.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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