News Update
May 21, 2015
Hay Harvest Time
Thanks to a wet April in some parts of the country, now is the prime time to harvest the forage that will fuel your cattle through those long winter months.
A University of Missouri (MU) forage specialist says the month of May is the ideal time to harvest the most nutritious grass. The Missouri report cites that 200 pounds (lb.) of dry matter has been produced per acre, thanks to heavy rainfall followed by warm temperatures. As was expected, the rapid growth slowed in late April and livestock producers are encouraged to act now to benefit from the high-nutrient grass currently on the ground.
Watch the full The Angus Report online for more helpful tips and the latest news from the beef industry. You can also tune to RFD-TV each Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CDT, Monday at 7:30 a.m. CDT and Wednesday at 5 p.m. CDT to watch the program.
Agricultural Producers Call for a
Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
As Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) nations meet this week in Guam to continue negotiations, agri-food producer and processor organizations from Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand remain united in their call for a modern trade agreement that includes meaningful and comprehensive market access opportunities for agriculture and agri-food.
Despite the fact that agriculture is traditionally regarded as a sensitive subject in trade talks, negotiators must uphold a high level of ambition in order to realize the TPP’s broader objectives of opening trade throughout one of the world’s key economic centers.
The TPP region represents 792 million consumers and 40% of world trade while also maintaining a coveted status as an integral part of global value chains. In fact, trade among TPP partners equaled more than $2 trillion in 2012. While this number is considerable, the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, the Australian National Farmers’ Federation, the American Farm Bureau and the Federated Farmers of New Zealand will continue to call for the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers that currently exist among the member countries in order to increase the value of this trade market through additional sales of agricultural products.
For more information on the TPP, view the full release online.
K-State Recognizes ‘Top Hand’ at 2015 Cattle Feeders College
Kansas State University (K-State) in cooperation with Merck Animal Health recognized Roy Browning of Deseret Cattle Feeders as the recipient of the Top Hand award at the 2015 K-State Cattle Feeders College May 14 in Scott City, Kan.
The Top Hand award was initiated in 2010 to recognize outstanding employees in the commercial feeding industry.
“The cattle feeding industry is full of honest, hard-working men and women that do their jobs and do them well. The Top Hand award provides cattle feeders with a unique opportunity to thank the men and women of their operations that go above and beyond their job descriptions every day,” said Justin Waggoner, K-State Research and Extension beef specialist, the coordinator of the awards and the Cattle Feeders College, “These individuals have shown an exceptional amount of dedication to their employers and the industry.”
Browning began working for the yard on the processing crew in 1978. Over the 37 years, he has seen the name change from Master Feeders, to Hitch Feeders II, and most recently to Deseret Cattle Feeders, in 2010.
For more information on Browning and the Top Hand award, please view the full K-State news release.
USDA to Expand Water Conservation
Investment across Drought-Stricken States
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced May 18 that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will invest approximately $21 million in additional Farm Bill dollars to help farmers and ranchers apply science-based solutions to mitigate the short- and long-term effects of drought.
These investments will focus financial and technical assistance in the most severely drought-stricken areas in eight states to help crop and livestock producers apply conservation practices that increase irrigation efficiency, improve soil health and productivity, and ensure reliable water sources for livestock operations.
This announcement expands on the substantial efforts already underway to help producers conserve water, improve soil health and build long-term agricultural resilience into their operations. Already this year, NRCS state offices have targeted significant portions of their fiscal year Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) allocations to address water conservation, soil health and resilience. In California, for example, more than $27 million of fiscal year 2015 EQIP funding is directed towards beneficial drought management practices.
NRCS will provide an additional $21 million in technical and financial assistance through EQIP to target areas that are experiencing either exceptional or extreme drought conditions as of the May 5, 2015, U.S. Drought Monitor, which includes parts of California, Kansas, Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Utah.
For more information, please view the full USDA release online.
AgriLife Extension Sets Final ‘Generation Next:
Our Turn to Ranch School’ Program
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct its final “Generation Next: Our Turn to Ranch School” program June 4-5 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, north of San Angelo on U.S. Highway 87.
The curriculum, which was taught at two other Texas sites in recent months, targets adult children and grandchildren of landowners who want to get involved in the family ranch, said Morgan Russell, AgriLife Extension range specialist at San Angelo.
Russell said most heirs depend on careers far removed from production agriculture, making it difficult for them to return to the ranch once their parents or grandparents retire.
Individual registration is $100, and college student registration is $75. The fee includes two days of classes presented by expert instructors, a resource notebook and a jump drive containing resource publications and materials. It also includes five meals and a certificate of completion. Registration will be limited to 50 participants.
Russell said the first day will deal with starting a new business. The agenda will include drafting effective wildlife and livestock leases, marketing agricultural products and protecting the ranch assets through insurance and tax knowledge. The second day will cover proven land management techniques, ecotourism and alternative ranching options.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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