News Update
March 30, 2015
Top Beef Cattle Headlines
via ‘The Angus Report’
While cattlemen welcome spring, thoughts turn toward preparing bulls for breeding season. In this week’s The Angus Report, we share tips for managing bulls before breeding, an American Angus Association midyear fiscal report, McDonald's plans to source chicken raised without antibiotics, commodity prices and interest rates, and much more.
Watch the show online at ANGUS.org or you can tune to RFD-TV each Wednesday at 5 p.m. CDT, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CDT or Monday at 7:30 a.m. CDT to catch the weekly news program.
Online Registration Open for BIF Symposium
Online registration is now available for the 2015 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium and Convention. The annual event is scheduled for June 9-12 in Biloxi, Miss. Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Extension Service will host the event at the Beau Rivage Casino and Hotel in Biloxi. Rebuilding the cow herd and female selection will be core themes of this year’s event.
A schedule, along with hotel and travel information, is available at www.bifconference.com, the Angus Journal’s online coverage site for the event.
Agriculture Future of America
Announces Leadership Appointments
The Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce two current staff members have been appointed to new executive management roles for the organization. Effective March 30, Nancy Barcus will serve in a new position of chief operating officer (COO), and Mark Stewart is the organization’s president.
Nancy Barcus has served the organization as vice president of leader and organizational services. After graduating in 2003 from the University of Missouri, Barcus first joined AFA as a program coordinator. In 2007, she left AFA for two years to join the ABG Inc. team in Washington, D.C. Nancy returned to AFA in the fall of 2009 to assume a new leadership role as director of leader development. As COO, Barcus will manage the organization’s internal operations, including business and program oversight, while leading the development and evaluation of current and new program initiatives.
Mark Stewart joined AFA in 2011 as director of development. In June 2012, he was named vice president of development and communications. Stewart holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Northwest Missouri State University and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri. Prior to joining AFA, Stewart held a variety of development positions in higher education, nonprofit and consulting. As the newly-appointed president, Mark will be responsible for leading the organization’s external relationships and strategic planning processes for short- and long-term growth.
Russ Weathers will continue his role as the organization’s CEO and for the next year will provide transitional support to Stewart and Barcus as they assume greater organizational leadership responsibilities.
For more information, please view the full release here.
University Animal Health Leader
Selected to Lead NBAF Engagement
A Kansas State University (K-State) animal health leader has been chosen to engage local, regional and national stakeholders in the development of strategic partnerships for the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, or NBAF.
The Department of Homeland Security has selected Marty Vanier, the university’s director of operations at the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, to be the senior program manager for strategic partnership development. Vanier will start her new responsibilities with the DHS Science and Technology Directorate in April.
Construction on the $1.25 billion animal disease research laboratory will begin in May and is expected to be completed in 2020. The lab is on the northeast edge of K-State’s Manhattan campus.
As part of her new responsibilities with DHS, Vanier will engage internal and external stakeholders, including government entities, the livestock community, animal health industry and educational institutions.
“NBAF brings an opportunity for expanded education and training of scientists and veterinarians who are engaged in protecting livestock and the security of our food supply and also are engaged with partners in human health and assisting them in controlling zoonotic diseases,” Vanier said.
Through her work as director of the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, Vanier led the center’s mission to develop programs and capabilities that address threats to the national and world agricultural economy.
NBAF will be the nation’s foremost animal disease research facility. The biosafety level-3 and -4 laboratory will research emerging, high-consequence livestock diseases that threaten animal and human health.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Predator Management, Trapping Focus
of April 24 Multi-County Program
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present a Predator Management Workshop and Trapping Demonstration from 9 a.m-3 p.m. April 24 at the Edwards County Park Building.
The program is made available by the AgriLife Extension offices of Edwards, Kinney, Sutton and Real Counties.
To get to the Edwards County Park Building, take State Highway 377 N. from Rocksprings toward Junction. The facility is a pale yellow brick building on the left side of the road just before the 4-H Barn.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. with the program to start at 9:30 a.m.
“This program is for anyone who could benefit from being aware of the predator situation in Edwards County,” said James Crockett, AgriLife Extension agent in Edwards County.
He said the program offers one Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education unit in integrated pest management and two in the general category.
Registration is $10, including lunch and refreshments, by April 13, and $15 afterward.
Crockett said the primary sources of income for Edwards County hinge on livestock production and hunting.
“Increasing the awareness of predators and feral hogs in the area is vital,” he said. “Everyone who attends the workshop will gain an increased knowledge of predators through better habitat management and receive updates on feral hog research that is being conducted at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area. They will also get updates from the Edwards County Predator Management Association on efforts they have taken and where they hope to go.”
He said trapping demonstrations will cover setting up various trap types. There will also be a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
Program topics will include predators and proper habitat management, updates on feral hog research, predators in Edwards County and predator trapping. Speakers will be from AgriLife Extension, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Kerr Wildlife Management Area and Edwards County Predator Management Association.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
NMSU’s New Mexico Indian Livestock Days
Early Registration Deadline May 1
Cows are calving and the baby lambs are on their way. It must be time for New Mexico Indian Livestock Days.
New Mexico State University (NMSU) Cooperative Extension Service is hosting the annual event May 12 to May 14 at Route 66 Casino and Hotel, west of Albuquerque on Interstate 40.
“Through the years, our Native American livestock producers have gained information at the Indian Livestock Days that has helped them to improve their herd and quality of meat produced and to stay informed on vital issues,” said Kathy Landers, McKinley County Extension agricultural agent and chairperson for one of the larger conferences hosted by NMSU Extension.
This year’s program will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 12. The various aspects of developing a ranch plan will be discussed during the afternoon session.
Wednesday, May 13, will have a full day of sessions, including outdoor sessions in the afternoon. Topics will range from an update on wildlife issues, recordkeeping and the latest information regarding raising sheep and goats to an update on the Farm Bill and programs provided by the USDA Farm Service Agency.
In the afternoon, sessions will take place both inside and outside. Outdoor participants will learn about livestock handling equipment and proper hauling of animals, as well as vaccine and castration procedures. A session will also address the use of solar technology on the ranch.
Indoors, session topics will include horse care, value-added marketing and selling meat to schools, and food safety.
The conference will conclude at noon on Thursday, May 14. The morning will include updates from cattle growers’ organizations, the state veterinarian and New Mexico Livestock Board, as well as a speaker panel for open questions.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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