News Update

January 19, 2016

Winter Cow Management

According to Shannon Williams, Lemhi County Extension Agent in Salmon, Idaho, the most important thing in winter cow management is to make sure you are meeting your cows’ nutritional requirements according to where they are in their gestational stage.

Dick Fredrickson, veterinarian and nutritionist for Simplot, Grandview, Idaho, says, “Assuming cows have adequate energy from forage, the next important thing is mineral supplementation — which is critical for digestion of forage.”

Salt should always be provided, since this is the mineral most lacking in forages. In many geographic locations, forage may also be lacking in copper, selenium or zinc. Know the mineral content of your forages, and provide supplements via a salt-mineral mix, bolus or injectable product if levels are low. Trace mineral status of the cow affects all aspects of reproduction and production, as well as the future well-being of her calf.

— Adapted from an article by Heather Smith Thomas, Angus Media.

Kansas Angus Association Annual Meeting and Futurity Jr. Show

The Kansas Angus Association (KAA) annual meeting, banquet and junior show will be hosted Jan. 23-24 in Hutchinson. The meetings and educational presentations are on Saturday, Jan. 23, in the Prairie Pavilion on the Kansas State Fairgrounds (KSF) in Hutchinson beginning at 11 a.m. The annual banquet will include a social hour, the Kansas Angus Auxiliary scholarship auction, honorary member induction, KAA Directory page auction and Miss Kansas Angus crowning is at the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center.

Adult tickets are $25 each and will include a generous buffet featuring Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand Prime Rib, children 12 and under may choose a burger and fries meal for $6 each. The judging contest and junior show will be on Sunday, Jan. 24, at 9 a.m. The junior show includes classes for registered-Angus owned heifers, bred and owned heifers and bulls, steers and cow-calf pairs, as well as commercial, pure-bred, and steers and predominantly black Angus-based cross bred steers. Mark Johnson, Stillwater, Okla., will judge the show.

For more information, please view the full Kansas Angus news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Anne Lampe, Kansas Angus Association.

Weather Forecasts for America’s Farmers and Ranchers

The RFD-TV/The Weather Channel Farm & Ranch Forecast is a new tool to assist those involved with production agriculture as they make the decisions so vital for the success of their operation. The daily feature will begin by delivering North America’s most accurate seven-day forecast. It combines RFD-TV’s vast knowledge of the variety and needs of worldwide agriculture with The Weather Channel’s unmatched technology and production abilities.

The segment will air on RFD-TV’s award-winning Market Day Report, as well as on the nightly broadcasts of Rural Evening News on both coasts, and throughout prime time programming. The updates will also be aired on Rural Radio (SiriusXM channel 147), and be available through digital means including the Country Club on www.rfdtv.com and on mobile devices through RFD-TV’s new app.

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

— Adapted from a release by RFD-TV and The Weather Channel.

Agriculture Secretary to Lead Trade Mission to Chile and Peru

The USDA announced Jan. 19 that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will lead a trade mission March 14-18 to expand export opportunities for U.S. agriculture in Chile and Peru.

“Thanks to existing free trade agreements, the United States enjoys strong trading relationships with both Chile and Peru,” said Vilsack. “In addition, both nations are part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which if implemented will boost the Chilean and Peruvian economies and tighten integration with the U.S. economy, helping further expand demand for U.S. agricultural products.”

The United States entered into a trade agreement with Peru in 2009 that slashed agricultural tariffs and improved market access for many U.S. products. As a result, U.S. farm and food exports to Peru have nearly tripled, reaching a record $1.25 billion in fiscal year 2015. In the Chilean market, all U.S. products enjoy duty-free access as of 2015, thanks to the free trade agreement enacted in 2004. Since 2004, U.S. exports to Chile have grown more than 500%, totaling $803 million in fiscal year 2015.

For more information, please view the full USDA news release online.

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

Matthew Douglas Joins Zinpro Corp.

Zinpro Corp. announces the addition of Matthew Douglas as key account manager, Americas. In this new position, he will be responsible for growing and managing Zinpro product sales to key accounts in North, Central and South America. He will also be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships, generating new product ideas, identifying collaboration opportunities and coordinating communication and personnel to provide business and nutritional solutions to key accounts in the region.

For more than 10 years prior to joining Zinpro, Douglas worked in various roles in the animal nutrition division for a large global food and agriculture company. His previous positions included regional business manager, supply-chain planning manager and, most recently, commercial director.

— Adapted from a release by Ronda Pick, Zinpro Corp.

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

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