News Update

October 12, 2015

Sixth Judicial Circuit Stays WOTUS Implementation

The Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered that the EPA and Army Corps’ “Waters of the United States” rule be stayed nationwide until the Court can determine jurisdiction over the many pending lawsuits. Philip Ellis, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) president, said this action will prevent implementation of the WOTUS rule.

“This is great news for cattlemen and women and all land users who have been at a loss as to how to interpret this rule,” said Ellis. “A stay by the Court has the same effect as an injunction, and this action prevents the EPA and Army Corps from implementing this disastrous rule across the country. In granting the stay, the majority of the Court sided with the states that the rule likely fails on both substantive and procedural grounds.”

For more information, please view the NCBA news release online.

— Adapted from a release by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Assistance for Carolina Farmers and Ranchers

The USDA reminds farmers and ranchers affected by the recent floods in North and South Carolina that USDA has programs to assist with their recovery efforts. State and county staff in USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) stand ready to help.

“The catastrophic flooding in the Carolinas has caused unimaginable hardship for many producers, including farmers who are waiting for fields to dry so they can assess the damage and harvest what is salvageable of their crops,” said FSA Administrator Val Dolcini.

Dolcini adds that farmers and ranchers should contact their FSA office to set an appointment during this busy season. He said it is important to learn what documents can help the local office expedite assistance, such as farm records, receipts and pictures of damages or losses.

For more information, please view the USDA release online.

— Adapted from a release by the USDA Office of Communications.

Northwest Missouri Beef Producers Seminar

Beef producers are encouraged to attend the 2015 Beef Producers Seminar Thursday, Nov. 12, at the St. Peter Catholic Church parish hall in Stanberry, Mo. Registration begins at 5 p.m. with the seminar to start at 6 p.m. Cost of admission to the event is $25 per person and includes a beef dinner.

Larry Corah with Certified Angus Beef LLC will discuss “Your Cattle’s Value Based on Performance and Genetic Merit,” followed by Darrell Busby with the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity in southwest Iowa, who will discuss the financial impacts that individual animal data and performance information can have on the value of your calves.

Following dinner, Joe Mayer, a commercial rancher from Guymon, Okla., will discuss “Practical Use of Performance and Genetic Information for Your Operation.”

Area agriculture businesses and organizations will have booths set up at the meeting for attendees to visit before, during and after the program.

For more information, view the complete news release.

— Adapted from a release by Jim Humphrey, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist.

ISDA Accepting Livestock Grant Applications

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is now accepting applications for the livestock promotion and market development grants to foster growth within the Hoosier livestock industry.

An ISDA Livestock Grant provides a 50% match for projects for livestock promotion funding or market development. Eligible projects include education programs, livestock shows/exhibitions, conventions and similar events, value-added feasibility studies, research projects, market development, and business development projects.

Applicants must be a nonprofit organiztion, commissions and associations with 501(c) status involved with the following livestock species: cattle, swine, sheep, equine, goats, poultry, camelids, ostriches, cervidae, bison, aquaculture and rabbits. Grant applications are due Dec. 1, 2015, and awards will be announced in February 2016.

To see if you qualify, click here and a member of our team will contact you.

— Adapted from a release by Prosperity Ag and Energy Resources.

NPPC Hires Director of State, National Relations

Cody McKinley has been hired by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) as director of state and national relations, the primary point of contact for state pork organizations with NPPC.

McKinley will assist and support program staff at the state and national level in conducting work on behalf of pork producers and the U.S. pork industry, facilitate state-oriented planning and programing in conjunction with the National Pork Board and staff NPPC’s organizational development activities with the NPPC Nominating Committee, as well as other committee support as assigned.

He currently is public-policy director for the Iowa Pork Producers Association, where he also served as producer outreach director. McKinley was as an international trade intern in NPPC’s Washington, D.C., office.

For more information, please view the NPPC release online.

— Adapted from a release by Dave Warner, National Pork Producers Council.

— Compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor, Angus Journal.

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