News Update

July 18, 2014

NJAS Special to Air on RFD-TV

A special airing of The Angus Report will feature highlights from this year’s National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Indianapolis, Ind., at 7:30 a.m. CST Monday, July 21, on RFD-TV. More than 700 participants exhibited 1,000-plus head of Angus cattle during the weeklong event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Members of the Angus Media team were on-hand to document everything from showring champions to the competitive educational contests.

“The National Junior Angus Show brings together Angus youth from across the country to compete in skills-based and showing competitions,” says Crystal Albers, The Angus Report co-host and producer. “We hope you’ll tune in as we showcase the individuals and families involved in making this year’s event one of the best yet.”

The Angus Report delivers weekly American Angus Association and industry news on RFD-TV, every Monday at 7:30 a.m. CST. The program offers busy cattlemen and women the opportunity to quickly catch up on important industry news. The special broadcast gives an inside look at the variety of NJAS contests, showring competitions, and the role junior Angus members have in the future of the breed.

Visit www.angus.org or check local listings for more information about the show. RFD-TV is available on Dish Network channel 231, DirecTV channel 345 and through independent cable providers.

For more news and information from the 2014 NJAS, visit www.angus.org to find contest results, awards, scholarships and show photos. Backdrop and candid photos will be available for purchase online. Coverage is also available on the NJAA Facebook page, as well.

— Adapted from a release by the American Angus Association.

Research Projects to Improve Plant Feedstocks

for Bioenergy Production

The USDA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced July 17 the selection of 10 projects that are being awarded funding aimed at accelerating genetic breeding programs to improve plant feedstocks for the production of biofuels, biopower and biobased products. The investment is part of the Obama Administration’s broader effort to diversify the nation’s energy portfolio and accelerate development of new clean energy technologies designed to decrease dependence on foreign oil, providing a more secure future for America’s energy needs and enhancing rural economies.

“Innovative research is a critical link to stimulating rural economies and creating jobs across America,” said Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These awards are part of the Obama Administration’s ‘all of the above’ energy policy. These projects will not only support our efforts to provide a sustainable and domestic energy source for the nation, but also improve the lives of rural residents.”

“Biofuels and bio-based products offer the potential of homegrown American resources that can reduce our dependence on imported oil and also cut carbon emissions,” said Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz. “This advanced research is helping us to lay the groundwork for biomass as an important part of the low-carbon future.”

The $12.6 million in research grants are awarded under a joint DOE-USDA program that began in 2006 and is focused on fundamental investigations of biomass genomics with the aim of harnessing nonfood plant biomass for the production of fuels such as ethanol or renewable chemical feedstocks. Dedicated feedstock crops tend to require less intensive production practices and can grow on poorer-quality land than food crops, making this a critical element in a strategy of sustainable biofuels production that avoids competition with crops grown for food.

The projects are located in California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Texas and Virginia. DOE’s Office of Science will provide $10.6 million in funding for eight projects, while USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will award $2 million to fund two projects. Initial funding will support research projects for up to three years.

For more information, please view the full release here.

— Adapted from a release by the USDA Office of Communications.

Deep South Stocker Conference

The sixth annual Deep South Stocker Conference will be Aug. 7-8 in Meridian, Miss. This event is a joint effort involving the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. It rotates among Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, and this is Mississippi State University’s year to serve as host.

The conference will be a two-day event with tours on Thursday, Aug. 7, and educational seminars on Friday, Aug. 8. The cost of this year’s conference is $75 per person, and this covers all educational seminars, meals, tours, proceedings and the trade show.

Please visit this link for additional information about the conference, lodging options, sponsors and the schedule. You may also wish to contact Lawton Stewart for more details, 150 Edgar Rhodes Center — ADS, The University of Georgia, 425 River Rd., Athens, GA 30602; 706-542-1852.

— Adapted from a release by Patsie Cannon, University of Georgia Extension.

K-State Beef Conference Aug. 11-14

Many cattle producers are experiencing record returns on their calves this year, but even times of high profitability demand a search for more opportunities to enhance a beef operation. These opportunities will be discussed at the upcoming Kansas State University (K-State) Beef Conference, hosted Aug. 11-14 in various locations across Kansas.

“We shouldn’t rest while we’re profitable,” said Bob Weaber, cow-calf specialist for K-State Research and Extension and one of the conference presenters. “Certainly, we see a number of opportunities on the horizon for cow-calf producers to expand their profitability, not just in 2014 when we’re expected to have profits but moving forward as times ahead may become leaner.”

The goal of the conference is for extension professionals to have a conversation with profit-minded cattle producers about different timely and economically impactful production and management topics. This year’s focus is “busting myths that affect your bottom line.”

“We were motivated to the topic by a series of conversations we had at our K-State Winter Ranch Management meetings,” Weaber said. “We kept tally of common questions and myths producers had. We thought it might be useful to provide scientific information that refutes a number of those myths that affect producers’ profitability.”

Joining Weaber at the conference meetings will be K-State Research and Extension specialists Dale Blasi, Jaymelynn Farney, Sandy Johnson, Charlie Lee, Chris Reinhardt, Justin Waggoner and veterinarians from the Kansas Department of Agriculture — Division of Animal Health. A list of the myths the presenters plan to “bust” include:

1. My operation is too small for a planned breeding program.
2. Trichomoniasis is a regulatory problem.
3. Antibiotic restrictions won’t affect me.
4. Recordkeeping has to be complicated.
5. I don’t need to body-condition-score my cows.
6. Producers need 1,400-pound (lb.) cows to make 1,400-lb. fed steers.
7. I can change a trait without affecting others.
8. Heterosis isn’t important in today’s beef business.
9. All information in a bull sale catalog is important, and a bull’s actual birth weight is a good selection tool.
10. Any heifer is a replacement.
11. Ionophores (Rumensin^® or Bovatec^®) are too expensive to be practical in my operation.
12. The only beef consumer worth focusing on is the one that goes to a white-tablecloth restaurant.
13. I don’t need to pay attention to wildlife and endangered species on my property.

The conference will take on a different approach this year compared to past years, Weaber said. Historically, it was a one-day program delivered online, but this year it will be presented in a face-to-face meeting format covering those common myths in cow-calf production followed by a “town hall” style question-and-answer session.

Hosting locations by date include:

Aug. 11: Tony’s Function Junction, Erie, 5-9 p.m.
Aug. 12: El Dorado Livestock Auction, El Dorado, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Aug. 12: 4-H Center at the Pratt County Fairgrounds, Pratt, 5-9 p.m.
Aug. 13: Meridian Center, Newton, 5-9 p.m.
Aug. 14: The Buffalo Bill Cultural Center, Oakley, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Aug. 14: K-State Salina, Salina, 5-9 p.m.

Weaber said the K-State Beef Conference is a popular program primarily focused on information for cow-calf producers, but stocker producers are encouraged to attend, as well.

Registration fees and payment forms vary by site, and registrations should be completed with the hosting county or district office by Aug. 4. A meal is included in the registration fee.

For more information see www.ksubeef.org and look for K-State Beef Conference under “Upcoming Beef Events.”

For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.

— Adapted from a release by Katie Allen, K-State Research and Extension.

Eastern Kansas Grazing School to be in Blaine

The annual Eastern Kansas Grazing School will be Sept. 10-11 at the St. Columbkille Church Hall, 13305 Highway 16, in Blaine, Kan., and at area farms. The two-day school is sponsored by K-State Research and Extension and the Natural Resource and Conservation Service (NRCS).

Speakers from K-State Research & Extension, NRCS and University of Missouri Extension will present on several timely topics related to rotational grazing and the implementation of Management Intensive Grazing (MiG). Topics to be covered include: Grazing Arithmetic, Soil and Plant Basics, Pasture Watering Resources, Fencing for Rotational Grazing, Grazing Animal Behavior, Matching Animal Needs to Pasture Production, and How to Extend the Grazing Season.

Several of the discussions will involve hands-on, in-pasture learning opportunities, including determining forage availability and allocating pastures. The fencing and watering discussions will include time for attendees to view and evaluate different types of equipment to determine if they could be used in their operations. There will also be a tour of Shannon Creek Cattle Co., a diversified livestock operation outside of Olsburg, Kan., that practices MiG in all aspects of their operation.

Adult learners are the target audience for the Grazing School. Registration is $50 for the first person from a farm or ranch and includes proceedings, snacks and meals. Additional persons from the same operation are an additional $25 each, which includes snacks and meals. Registration will be limited to 35 farms on a first-come basis. Send registration information by Aug. 29 to Pottawatomie County Extension, P.O. Box 127, Westmoreland, KS 66549-0127. Online registration is available at www.pottawatomie.ksu.edu. Questions may be directed to Austin Sexten, Pottawatomie County Extension agent, ajsexten@ksu.edu or 785-457-3319.

For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.

— Adapted from a release by Austin Sexton, K-State Research & Extension.

— Compiled by Paige Nelson, intern, Angus Journal.

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