News Update
August 6, 2014
Missouri Cattlemen's Association Praises Passage of Amendment 1
According to Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) President Jim McCann, Missourians sided with family farmers and ranchers by voting in favor of Amendment 1. McCann said the passage of this amendment, known as the Farming Rights Amendment, is a huge step forward for family farms and ranches all across the state of Missouri.
“This amendment will allow not only today’s farmers and ranchers the ‘green light’ to farm, but tomorrow’s generation as well,” said McCann. “Amendment 1 will help protect Missouri Agriculture, which generates more than $12 billion and thousands of jobs within our state.”
McCann said out-of-state extremist organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) were vehemently opposed to the Amendment. He said these organizations attempted to confuse Missourians stating the Farming Rights Amendment would only benefit out-of-state entities and large corporations.
“The Farming Rights Amendment was created with family farms and ranches in mind,” said McCann. “It is good to know the people of our state did not buy into the lies being spread by HSUS. We must stand against these groups and show them they will not prevail.”
McCann said MCA is thankful for the support of Missouri voters and their confidence in family farmers and ranchers.
EPA Shenanigans Panned in #DitchTheRule Animated Video
A new animated video produced by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is part of the organization’s popular ‘Ditch the Rule’ campaign. The two-and-a-half minute animation explores how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (the Corps) proposed “Waters of the U.S.” rule is regulatory overreach and unnecessary.
“This video offers a fresh take on a serious subject of concern to farmers, ranchers and other landowners,” said Mace Thornton, AFBF’s executive director of communications. “It is time to get animated, share the video and join the movement to Ditch The Rule,” he urged.
If adopted, the new rule would enable the agencies to micromanage farming and impose unworkable regulations on farmers and other landowners. It would grant federal agencies — EPA and the Corps — rather than state and local governing bodies, primary oversight of land use, exposing farmers to penalties for common farming practices of up to $37,000 per day.
Farm Bureau, together with dozens of other agricultural and land-use groups and hundreds of members of Congress, is fighting EPA’s attempt to redefine the Clean Water Act through the overreaching waters rule.
Follow the social media hashtag #DitchTheRule and visit the Ditch the Rule website at ditchtherule.fb.org to learn more.
NMSU’s Clovis Ag Center Field Day cancelled
Due to a major hail storm that destroyed crops and damaged irrigation systems, green house equipment and buildings at the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Agricultural Science Center at Clovis, its annual Field Day has been cancelled. The day of the event was planned for Aug. 8, following, as is customary, the Field Day at NMSU’s Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari. “Crops were completely destroyed,” said Abdel Mesbah, superintendent. “With one sprinkler working, we tried to replant some of the trials but everything looks behind, so we decided not to have a field day this year.”
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Making More than Cow Revenue: Sept. 10 Workshop Explains How to Add Enterprises to Ranch
Ranches are home to more than families and cattle. A variety of wildlife also call these grasslands home.
Ranch owners can learn ways to share their wildlife with others at a workshop scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 10, at the Calamus Outfitters on the Switzer Ranch near Taylor, Neb. Registration starts at 9 a.m. CDT and will conclude at 4 p.m. CDT.
The workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about ranch enterprises that rely on more than cows, such as hunting and birding. Topics will include birding, habitat and grazing, and outdoor sessions.
Preregistration is due by Sept. 3 to the Central Sandhills Area Extension Office. Call 308-645-2267 or 1-800-657-2113. Registration is limited to the first 60. This program is organized by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) Extension and is free of charge, thanks to support from the World Wildlife Fund.
Grassland bird habitat is affected by grass height, cover density of the vegetation, and plant type. Walt Schacht, UNL professor of rangeland sciences, is collaborating with Larkin Powell, UNL professor of wildlife, and graduate students to study the effects of livestock grazing on habitat and behavior of greater prairie chickens.
Nebraska has one of the largest populations of greater prairie chickens in the country. Identifying habitat requirements for leks (booming grounds), nesting and brood rearing are important for increasing prairie chicken populations. Schacht will draw on research at the UNL Barta Brothers Ranch and surrounding area on grazing and habitat of prairie chicken and other upland birds to discuss how grazing and birds can work together.
“This research tells us that the patchiness in density and composition of vegetation that results from livestock grazing can provide lek, nesting and brood-rearing habitat needed by [the] prairie chicken,” Schacht said.
Bruce and Sue Switzer have experience establishing multiple enterprises on their ranch. The Switzers’ cattle ranch was sufficient for them, but they wanted to bring their children back to the ranch. Additional enterprises brought son and daughter Adam’s and Sarah’s families back home.
Lodging, tanking and tubing, Jeep tours, hunting and birding are part of everyday life on the Switzer Ranch. The Switzers will give their insight on starting these enterprises and give a Jeep/bus tour of their birding setup.
Joe Bob Atkins with Arnold Insurance Agency will talk about insurance considerations, as most current farm and ranch policies may not be sufficient.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Free Seminar for Livestock Producers
FCS Financial will host a free seminar for livestock producers interested in expanding their herds. The seminar is August 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Darr Agricultural Center, 2401 S. Kansas Expressway in Springfield, Mo. Scott Brown, assistant research professor with the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources will present “When is the Right Time to Expand Your Herd.” Following, Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Richard Fordyce will provide a State of Missouri Agriculture address.
Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Space is limited and advance reservations are required by August 18. To reserve your spot, register online at myfcsfinancial.com or call your FCS Financial office at 1-800-444-3276.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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