News Update
February 25, 2014
New YSA Class Gathers
in Topeka for First Session
Twenty young cattlemen and women from across Kansas met in Topeka Feb. 18-19 for the first installment of the 2014 Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Young Stockmen’s Academy (YSA). Merck Animal Health is again serving as the exclusive sponsor of the program. A series of four seminars will take place throughout the year in various locations in Kansas.
During the two-day session, attendees participated in advocacy training, learned more about the legislative process and heard from KLA staff about the array of services the association provides. As part of an interactive training session led by KLA staff, White City rancher and beef advocate Debbie Lyons-Blythe and WIBW-Topeka farm broadcasters Kelly Lenz and Greg Akagi, the group was given an overview of the various media outlets available to help tell the beef production story. Lyons-Blythe shared how she has implemented advocacy into her daily routine through the use of her blog, Life on a Kansas Cattle Ranch, Facebook and Twitter. The class participated in a hands-on social media activity and mock radio talk show.
In addition, YSA members attended a Senate Agriculture Committee meeting at the Capitol and had lunch with their legislators prior to participating in a financial planning seminar conducted by Kennedy and Coe LLC.
The 2014 class includes Bryan Armendariz, Chapman; Sarah Bryant, Winfield; Cody Campfield, Saint John; Issac Carr, Junction City; Neil Cates, Beloit; Kyla Clawson, Satanta; Rachel Collinge, Eureka; Jaymelynn Farney, Parsons; Andrew Froetschner, Larned; Ryan Gasche, Cassoday; Robby Haynes, Dwight; Lindsey Huseman, Ellsworth; Brandy Jones, Wamego; Spencer Jones, Wamego; Ty Josefiak, Rozel; Marisa Kleysteuber, Garden City; Evan Lesser, Palco, Laura Mushrush, Strong City; Jake Pannbacker, Washington; and Chase Thompson, Scott City.
Murray Wise Associates Foundation
Announces Scholarship Deadline for Ag Students
The Murray Wise Associates Foundation in 2014 will once again award several scholarships to deserving agriculture students. Deadline for applications is March 31.
All initial applications will be taken online through a secure process that includes both a questionnaire and an ability to upload transcripts, letters of reference and other documents in support of an application.
“Every year, we have students graduate and go on to careers in agriculture, and that provides us the opportunity to identify other deserving students who are pursuing agriculture and related degrees,” said Murray Wise, chairman and CEO of Murray Wise Associates. “These scholarships are based strictly on merit and are not tied to any specific university or region.”
Eligible applicants include college students already enrolled, as well as high school seniors accepted for enrollment at an accredited college, university or community college in a course of study related to agriculture. Awards are for a minimum of $1,000 and may be renewed yearly for up to four years, provided certain conditions are met.
Recipients are selected based on academic credentials, including class rank, grade point average and test scores. “Because we are seeking to identify and help future leaders, we also look for those who have demonstrated leadership qualities, especially in agriculture and community-based extracurricular activities,” said Wise.
Individuals may begin the application process at app.murraywiseassociates.com.
Agriculture Secretary Announces $3 Million
for a New Program to Improve Pollinator Health
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide close to $3 million in technical and financial assistance for interested farmers and ranchers to help improve the health of bees, which play an important role in crop production. The funding is a focused investment to improve pollinator health and will be targeted in five midwestern states, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
“Honeybee pollination supports an estimated $15 billion worth of agricultural production, including more than 130 fruits and vegetables that are the foundation of a nutritious diet. The future security of America’s food supply depends on healthy honeybees,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Expanded support for research, combined with USDA’s other efforts to improve honeybee health, should help America’s beekeepers combat the current, unprecedented loss of honeybee hives each year.”
Funding will be provided through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to promote conservation practices that will provide honeybees with nutritious pollen and nectar while providing benefits to the environment. Recent studies have shown that beekeepers are losing approximately 30% of their honeybee colonies each year, up from historical norms of 10 to 15% overwintering losses experienced prior to 2006.
This assistance will provide guidance and support to farmers and ranchers to implement conservation practices that will provide safe and diverse food sources for honeybees. For example, appropriate cover crops or rangeland and pasture management may provide a benefit to producers by reducing erosion, increasing the health of their soil, inhibiting invasive species, providing quality forage and habitat for honeybees and other pollinators, as well as habitat for other wildlife.
Applications are due March 21.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Farm Transition Workshops to Take Place in Oklahoma
A series of one-day workshops will take place throughout Oklahoma this spring for family farmers and ranchers interested in learning about the components of a successful farm transition.
Managing Farm Transitions: Connecting Landowners, Farmers, and Families will involve four single-day workshops in Oklahoma scheduled for March 24 in Chickasha, March 31 in Claremore, April 7 in Woodward, and April 14 in Ardmore. Sessions will cover business and personal goal setting, financial analysis, human resources, family communications, estate planning, estate taxes and retirement planning.
“Research tells us that fewer than one-third of family businesses survive the transfer from one generation to the next,” said Shannon Ferrell, associate professor of agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University. “These workshops will help farmers and ranchers keep their families farming together.”
The workshop series is hosted by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service with funding from the USDA Risk Management Agency through the Southern Risk Management Education Center. The workshops are also sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of Oklahoma and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. The cost for attendees is $25 for a family of four and includes a lunch, refreshments and two farm transitions workbooks. Additional registrations are $10 per person. To register, contact Kareta Casey at 405-744-9836 or via email to kareta.casey@okstate.edu.
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