News Update
May 4, 2015
Angus RM Hired for Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas
Located in 12 geographical locations across the country, American Angus Association regional managers are the feet on the ground for the organization’s nearly 25,000 members.
Adam Conover, a central Iowa native, will join the Association’s regional manager team May 26 to serve the states of Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas. Conover has been involved with livestock all his life, and was raised on a fourth-generation farm specializing in beef cattle, hogs and sheep.
A former National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) member, he has traveled to livestock shows across the United States and Canada, showcasing the family’s Angus genetics. Over his career, he is also proud to have judged state and regional livestock shows from coast to coast.
“Any place in the country or world is a good place to be in the Angus business,” Conover says. “As far as the Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas territory, that’s a region of the country where my roots run the deepest. Right there in the heartland, there’s a bunch of really grassroots people who will be great to connect with and get to know.”
Learn more about Conover by reading the full news release online.
Ag Committee Chairman Rejects Generic Label Option
On May 1, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) rejected the latest recommendation to establish a generic mandatory label option, an option typically referred to as a “Product of North America” label, should the U.S. lose its World Trade Organization (WTO) appeal regarding country-of-origin labeling (COOL) in the coming weeks.
Under a generic North American label mandate, if an animal is born, raised and slaughtered in Mexico, Canada or the United States, or any combination thereof, the meat derived from that animal would be labeled as being a product of North America. This idea has been floated and rejected by proponents and opponents of mandatory COOL. Ironically, this is the one aspect of the debate over COOL on which both sides agree.
Furthermore, since any action taken by the U.S. to come into compliance would have to be agreed to by Canada and Mexico, previous statements by the Canadian government rejecting a generic North American label mandate should have been factored into USDA’s legislative recommendations. The WTO is expected to issue its ruling on the latest U.S. — COOL dispute no later than May 18.
Read the full news release and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Micheal Conoway’s statement about the mandatory COOL law.
Start Running Fans in Grain Bins
Raise the temperature and run fans in grain bins now to avoid condensation and mold.
Keep your stored grain in condition by increasing the temperature inside the bin to the outside monthly average temperature in May, says University of Missouri Extension entomologist Wayne Bailey.
Grain usually is stored at 60 degrees or cooler during winter. When outside temperatures rise in the spring, condensation can form on walls inside the bin. Moisture from condensation causes mold and attracts insects.
Monitor stored grains for pests. Increase visual checks to twice a month from May to October from the roof access door. Grain stored over the winter is usually checked only monthly from November to April. Clumped grain and a sour smell indicate moisture and out-of-condition grain. Webbing on the grain’s surface signals the presence of insect larvae, adult beetles or moths.
For more tips, view the complete news release online.
2015 Canadian Angus National Convention: Deadline Extended
The Canadian Angus Association (CAA) National Convention, hosted June 4-6 in Calgary, is an opportunity to get involved with the organization and see what is happening with the Angus breed in Canada. Meet Angus breeders from across Canada and visit the CAA National Headquarters, Angus Central. The weekend event will provide plenty of networking opportunities, informative sessions and fun. Due to spring work happening all across the country we have extended the deadline for late registration. The increase in full registration fee will now come into effect on May 15.
For convention details, visit www.cdnangus.ca.
AgriLife Extension Debuts Living with Texas Fire Educational Videos
Texas prescribed fire aficionados now have a series of free educational YouTube videos tailored specifically for the Lone Star State, the project’s leader said.
Morgan Russell, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service range specialist at San Angelo, Texas, coordinated the project and garnered funding from the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources to produce the series of 20 short how-to educational clips on everything from planning a burn to transporting a drip torch.
The videos, which mostly run three to five minutes, delve into the operational and logistical aspects of fire management through the eyes of professional fire ecologists and area producers, Russell said. Topics include drip torch handling and maintenance, sprayer know-how, burn plans, fire glossary terms, landowner perceptions, fire tools, weather factors and fire-related contacts.
Learn more about the Texas Fire video series in the full news release online.
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