News Update
February 11, 2014
Search for Missouri Century
Farms Continues
If your farm has been in your family since Dec. 31, 1914, you can apply to have it recognized as a Missouri Century Farm.
To qualify, farms must meet the following guidelines: The same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, including through marriage or adoption. The farm must be at least 40 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.
“It is important to honor and respect our history,” said Michael Ouart, vice provost and director, University of Missouri (MU) Extension. “These farms represent both Missouri’s cultural heritage and the good stewardship that our farmers strive for.”
In 2008, the Missouri Farm Bureau joined MU Extension and the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources as a program sponsor.
“Missouri Farm Bureau is a proud partner in the recognition of century farms,” said Blake Hurst, president. “We applaud the hard-working farm families that have kept us fed and clothed for generations. They represent an important part of our heritage and laid a foundation for the bounty Americans enjoy every day.”
Applicants certified as owners of a 2014 Missouri Century Farm will be recognized by the MU Extension center in the county where the farm is located. Applicants are presented with a sign and a certificate.
Since Missouri began the program in 1976, more than 8,000 century farms have been recognized.
For more information, please view the full release here.
USDA to Release New Long-term Agricultural Projections
The USDA will release new 10-year agricultural projections on Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. EST. USDA’s Agricultural Projections to 2023 will be posted to the Office of the Chief Economist’s (OCE) website at www.usda.gov/oce and will be available in MS Word and PDF formats.
USDA publishes the projections each year in February. The projections are developed by interagency committees in USDA, with the Economic Research Service (ERS) having the lead role in the preparation of the report. The new projections cover crop and livestock commodities, agricultural trade and aggregate indicators, such as farm income, through 2023. The projections do not represent a USDA forecast, but a conditional, long-run scenario based on specific assumptions about farm policy, weather, the economy and international developments. Normal weather is assumed throughout the projection period. The projections were prepared during October through December 2013, with the 2008 Farm Act assumed to be extended and remain in effect through the projection period. Therefore, the projections do not reflect the Agricultural Act of 2014.
Background on USDA’s long-term projections and past issues of the report are available on the ERS website at www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/agricultural-baseline-projections.aspx.
California Drought Briefing Set for Feb. 14 in Sacramento
Local, state and federal water officials will provide the latest on California’s statewide drought and emerging impacts at a half-day briefing set for Friday, Feb. 14, in Sacramento. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Crest Theater, 1013 K Street in downtown Sacramento. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
The briefing takes place as the state’s water managers mobilize to respond to the most severe drought conditions in modern times. Though a band of storms is currently bringing some precipitation to Northern California, state officials say it is not likely to provide significant relief. Key state reservoirs, now at record-shattering low levels, have little chance of recovering to normal levels this spring.
In the weeks since Gov. Jerry Brown declared a statewide drought emergency on Jan. 17, state and federal officials have launched a suite of unprecedented actions, including cutting State Water Project allocations to zero for the first time in the project’s history.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Texas Ranching Event Scheduled Feb. 17 in Decatur
The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) will host a ranch gathering Mon., Feb. 17, at the National Roper’s Supply Training Center in Decatur. Educational sessions begin at 2 p.m. and registration for the gathering begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by a complimentary beef dinner. The event is free and open to the public.
The National Roper’s Supply Training Center is located at 309 County Road 4228.
Veterinarian Arn Anderson will be the featured speaker. Anderson will update ranchers on how the area is preparing for animal emergencies.
Prior to the ranch gathering, TSCRA will host educational sessions on horse care and roping. Educational sessions begin at 2 p.m.
All members of the press are invited to attend. Please RSVP to 1-800-242-7820, ext. 192, or rsvp@tscra.org. The gathering is sponsored by National Roper’s Supply, Novartis Animal Health and Livestock Nutrition Center.
Attendees will receive a $20 gift certificate courtesy of National Roper’s Supply. Folks that sign up as a TSCRA member at the gathering will receive a free metal gate sign courtesy of Bayer Animal Health.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Great Lakes Forage & Grazing Conference
Coming March 6 to East Lansing
The 2014 Great Lakes Forage and Grazing Conference will be hosted during Agriculture and Natural Resources Week at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on the Michigan State University (MSU) campus on March 6. This event sponsored by the Michigan Forage Council with support from MSU Extension will feature the latest information and research on forage production, marketing and grazing.
The featured speaker at this year’s conference is Gabe Brown of Bismarck, N.D. Gabe is a farming pioneer utilizing multi-specie cover crop mixes in crop rotations to dramatically improve soil health and soil quality. He does this by integrating no-till cropping and grazing livestock to make for a holistic system requiring fewer herbicide and fertilizer inputs on his family’s 5,400-acre cash crop and livestock ranch. Gabe will speak twice during the day, first on “Holistically Regenerating our Lands,” and in the afternoon on “Blending No-till, Cover Crops and the Grazing Animal to Lower Production Cost and Improve the Environment.”
Christy Sprague, MSU weed specialist, will also talk about “Palmer Amaranth — A New Weed Threat for Michigan Alfalfa Fields.” Rounding out the morning will be a session by DuPont Pioneer addressing advancements in alfalfa and corn breeding.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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