News Update
March 17, 2014
American Agri-Women Launches ‘Call to Power’ Membership Campaign on National Ag Day
American Agri-Women (AAW) will kick off its membership campaign, “Call to Power,” on March 25, National Agriculture Day. The campaign’s theme urges women to join the nation’s largest coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women, which includes more than 50 state, commodity and agribusiness affiliates.
“Since 1974, women across the country have banded together to network with each other, educate consumers and policy makers about agriculture and participate in leadership development opportunities. Our combined power has made a difference and we invite others to join us,” says Sue McCrum, AAW president.
The campaign runs through May 31 and includes several benefits including the selection of three new members to receive free second-year memberships, and rewarding the affiliate that signs up the most new members with an award to go toward their own advocacy efforts.
Go here to learn more www.americanagriwomen.org/. Members of all segments of agriculture, agri-business and consumers interested in food production are encouraged to join their state or commodity affiliate, as well as the national association. Dues for the national association are just $30 and affiliates also have affordable memberships.
The “Call to Power” theme is based on a paper developed by Sr. Thomas More Bertels (1918-2000). Sr. Bertels was a long-time advocate for women in agriculture. Sr. Bertels wrote, “The most important task facing farm entrepreneurs today is capturing a significant degree of influence over the policy-making function as it relates to food, feed, fiber, forest products and flora.”
NMSU Extension Program Focuses on Feral Hogs, Cattle Health, Drought
Cattle producers face many challenges, from perennial concerns like the health of the cattle and the chances of drought to new worries about the spread of wild hogs. The New Mexico State University (NMSU) Cattleman’s Current Issues Program will give producers an opportunity to get the latest updates on these topics and more March 28.
“Timely information is vital to good decision-making when it comes to raising cattle,” said Tom Dominguez, program director and agricultural agent at NMSU’s Otero County Cooperative Extension Service. “This program is a chance to get the best experts together to give cattle producers the most up-to-date information possible so they can take steps to protect and improve their herds.”
The Cattleman’s Current Issues Program is set for 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, March 28, at the Otero County Fairgrounds in Alamogordo. There will be a small fee for lunch and materials at the door.
The program will start with a presentation at 9:30 a.m. by Ron Jones, USDA wildlife damage specialist, who will outline a feral hogs outlook and talk about diseases associated with the animals. Feral hogs have spread rapidly in many parts of New Mexico, and can cause significant economic losses to farmers and ranchers.
At 10:30 a.m., NMSU Extension Veterinarian John Wenzel will discuss trichomoniasis and other cattle health issues. Lunch will follow at noon.
Tom Bird, of the National Weather Service, will give a weather outlook and drought prediction at 1 p.m.
Participants will hear agency reports from the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management at 2 p.m.
To register, contact the Otero County Extension Office at 575-437-0231 or at tdomingu@nmsu.edu.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef Invites Public Comment on the Draft Principles & Criteria for Global Sustainable Beef
The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) has released its draft Principles and Criteria for Global Sustainable Beef document for public comment. The document identifies the key areas in the beef value chain that must be addressed to ensure beef production around the globe is environmentally sound, socially responsible and economically viable. The draft was developed by GRSB members, including producers and producer associations, the processing sector, retail companies, civil society organizations and regional roundtables.
“These principles and criteria establish a global framework for ensuring sustainable performance in beef production,” according to Ruaraidh Peter, GRSB executive director. “The definition covers all elements of the global beef value chain, including production, processing, distribution, sale and consumption. GRSB members believe sustainability is a journey of continuous improvement that requires the shared participation and responsibility among all actors — from producers to consumers. The GRSB definition provides a broad road map for this journey, allowing different regions to establish specific indicators, metrics or practices.”
The draft document, accessible at www.GRSBeef.org, is the product of more than a year’s work by members of the GRSB, as well as consultations with outside reviewers and beef sustainability subject matter experts around the globe. The public is invited to provide input and comments to the draft definition through May 16, after which the document will be updated to reflect the input received during the public comment period. Comments, along with any improvements to the draft definition, will be published for public review.
“GRSB defines sustainable beef as a socially responsible, environmentally sound and economically viable product that prioritizes our planet, people, the animals, and continuous progress,” said Cameron Bruett, president of the GRSB and head of corporate affairs at JBS USA. “Our membership has worked in a collaborative fashion to boldly confront the challenges in every segment of the beef value chain. The core principles for global sustainable beef production seek to balance a broad range of issues including natural resources, community and individual development, animal well-being, food, efficiency and innovation.”
For more information, the full article will be featured in the March Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA. To subscribe for free, please subscribe here.
Deciphering the Agriculture Act of 2014 — Farm Bill
It took a long time to draft the new Farm Bill and the local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office will not be ready for new enrollments for several months, but there are some things that farms can do right now. On the short term, farms will need to follow the guidelines and processes that have been in place during the past few years as the new programs will not be in place prior to this season’s planting and annual reporting deadlines.
If you are looking for information about the programs and changes in programs that are part of the new farm bill, you can find some helpful resources and quick links that have been posted to the Michigan State University Extension (MSU) — FIRM workgroup web page.
Under the Hot Topic and Current Events tabs on this page you will find several links to reports, presentations and YouTube videos that relate to the general farm bill information that is currently available. One resource is a fact sheet that is a summary of the 2014 Farm Bill Summary which USDA FSA has published and provides a good overview of the new programs. Farmers may want to use some of the extended winter days to gain some background as the spring planning rush is just around the corner.
For more information, please view the full release here.
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