News Update
September 8, 2014
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
President Addresses House
Committee on ESA Overreach
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) warned Sept. 8 against adding a common bat species to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) list. Such a listing, Jim Brubaker, chair of PFB’s Natural and Environmental Resources Committee, told the House Committee on Natural Resources, could seriously disrupt farm and business operations without addressing the syndrome widely labeled as the chief threat to the Northern Long Eared (NLE) Bat. “With a range of 38 states and the District of Columbia and the fact that this species of bat is 15-20 times more common than other non-listed bats in some areas, the potential scope of this listing and the impact on agriculture could be unprecedented,” Brubaker said.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife proposed protecting the NLE bat in response to a fungal infection that experts say has killed approximately 6 million bats in the United States during the past few years. Brubaker told the committee the listing would create an undue financial burden, while not addressing the root problem: white-nose syndrome.
As NLE bats make their homes in trees, barns, cabins, bridges and sheds across the state, he said, listing would adversely affect a broad range of industries and activities, including natural gas and wind energy development; application of pesticides, insecticides and herbicides; highway construction; and timber harvesting. In addition to the cost of delays and lost business, a violation of the ESA carries civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation and criminal penalties of up to $50,000 and one year imprisonment per violation.
Brubaker told the committee that agriculture would step up and do its part, whether by helping local communities or responsibly managing the environment or wildlife. “We want practical solutions that work for agriculture — and the environment,” Brubaker said. “Let’s make sure we’re solving problems, not creating new ones.”
— Adapted from a release by the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Rye Seed Shortage May Call for
Revised Winter Pasture Strategy
A shortage of small-grain rye seed may require many East and Central Texas producers to rethink their winter pasture plan, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agronomist.
“The shortage is primarily of varieties we are more familiar with here in East Texas, such as Elbon and Maton,” said Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist at Overton.
Much of the seed production for those varieties comes out of Oklahoma, Corriher-Olson said. Because of the drought, as well as late freezes this year, a lot of seed production was lost.
“Producers need to be aware of this when they go to their retailer,” she said. “Those varieties may not be available, may be in shorter supply or may be more expensive.”
There may also be unfamiliar varieties of rye grain seed available, but Corriher-Olson warned that producers should be careful of their choices, as the seed may have been grown in more northern states and not be very productive under East and Central Texas conditions.
A good place to begin is the website for the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, she said. Go to at http://overton.tamu.edu and click on “Pastures, Forages & Soils” and then select “Ryegrass & Small Grains.”
Producers wanting advice on a particular variety may also contact her at 903-834-6191 or VACorriher@ag.tamu.edu, Corriher-Olson said.
For more information, please view the full release here.
CSU Veterinary Program Addresses Student Career Options and Financial Challenges
Colorado State University’s (CSU) highly ranked veterinary school is tackling two of the top challenges its students face: finding employment in a changing job market and managing finances.
The CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences recently hired Pamela O’Grady, senior associate director of CSU career counseling services, to serve as the new career development services manager within the veterinary program. The college also is searching for a new financial education specialist to provide financial advising and education to students and alumni.
“It’s more difficult to get jobs in some areas of the field and some geographic areas than it used to be,” said Christine Hardy, senior director of veterinary student services. “The market has shifted, and we need to do a better job helping students reach their career goals and identify new areas for jobs in nontraditional, non-practice areas, such as research, public health and international food safety work.”
“Many think private practice is their only option, to have their own practice,” O’Grady said, “but there are a lot of other options that we want to start promoting and making students aware of. They need to get to know their strengths and passions, so they can find their niche.”
For more information, please view the full release here.
SD Stockgrowers to Host 123rd Annual Convention
South Dakota (SD) Stockgrowers Association and SD Cattlewomen are set to host the 123rd Annual Convention and Trade Show Sept. 26-27 at the Best Western Ramkota Convention Center in Rapid City, S.D. The two-day convention will feature a strong lineup of speakers and panelists, along with policy discussions and the annual business meetings for both associations.
Headlining this year’s Stockgrowers convention will be Jude Capper, the Bovidiva, sponsored by Merck Animal Health, with her entertaining presentation entitled, “Beef Has Always Been ‘Green’ — So How Do We Convince the Critics?” Capper will speak during the Friday, Sept. 26, banquet. The SD Cattlewomen’s convention will kickoff with Katie Pinke, a blogger and passionate ag advocate from North Dakota, as their keynote speaker on Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
Friday’s program will feature Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF USA as the luncheon keynote, as well as speakers on animal health and ID issues, updates from SD Game, Fish and Parks, as well as the SD Brand Board. The afternoon speakers will focus on the lessons learned regarding reporting and recordkeeping in the face of natural disasters, a discussion on private property rights and the SD Cattlwomen will learn about Ag in the Classroom.
Saturday will begin with an inspirational breakfast and speakers regarding Beef Checkoff structures, an update from the SD Animal Industry Board, legislative updates and trade committee meetings. S.D. Secretary of Ag Lucas Lentsch will keynote the luncheon followed by a South Dakota State University ice cream social and candidate forum featuring statewide candidates facing election this fall.
The Convention will wrap up on Saturday evening with an awards banquet, the Guy E. Ham Beef Industry scholarship presentation and a live auction fundraiser to benefit the work of the Stockgrowers throughout the year. Kenny Putnam and the Lonely Rangers will provide entertainment and dancing to close out the 2014 convention.
For a full agenda and details of the convention, please call the SD Stockgrowers Office at 605-342-0429. Hotel Reservations can be made by calling the Ramkota at 605-343-8550 and asking for the SD Stockgrowers rate. Registration will be available at the convention.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
NFU President Provides Op-ed on COOL Reform
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson argued in a recent Politico op-ed that the opponents of country-of-origin labeling (COOL) are now trying have the law gutted in the name of “reform.”
“Since its passage, COOL has been under full frontal assault, both domestically and abroad, in an attempt to have the law thrown out in the U.S. courts or by the World Trade Organization. With the efficacy of those lines of attack in question, COOL opponents are now trotting a Trojan horse around Capitol Hill, and naming it COOL ‘reform,’” notes Johnson, who called it more of an evisceration.
Johnson said consumers love COOL because they are concerned about where their food comes from. According to a May 2013 public opinion poll, more than 90% of consumers support COOL. Many farmers and ranchers who raise the nation’s livestock and fresh vegetables are in favor of COOL, as well, because they’re rightfully proud of what they produce.
For more information, please view the full release here.
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