News Update

April 19, 2016

Wildfire Recovery

Devastating wildfires in Kansas and Oklahoma covered an estimated 400,000 acres during the final days of March. The fire sparked in northern Oklahoma, and forceful winds quickly pushed the flames nearly 625 square miles into Kansas.

It’s been recognized as the largest wildfire in Kansas history and has left a painful mark on farms, ranches and many rural communities. Barber County, Kan., was the center point for emergency management throughout the weeklong fire.

“Wildfires in Kansas are not rare, but they’re uncommon, particularly this widespread,” said Barber County Attorney Gaten Wood. “At one point this fire was 35-40 miles wide, active burning. This is No. 7 as far as size of wildfire in the nation, and it is the No. 1-sized fire on private lands.”

Wood continued to say there’s not a firm number on total losses yet. It will take time for everyone to account for all the pasture, fence, cattle, stored hay, etc., that was lost in the fire.

See more of Wood’s interview, and learn more about the wildfire’s impact by tuning into this week’s episode of The Angus Report.

You can also watch the show at 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday or 7:30 a.m. CST each Monday on RFD-TV.

— Adapted from The Angus Report.

Raising the Bar with the NJAA

Nearly 60 members of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) recently traveled the country to take part in leadership development and learn more about the beef cattle business. At Raising the Bar conferences, Angus youth are challenged to step outside their comfort zones, meet new people and learn what life is like in other parts of Angus country.

NJAA members met March 3-6 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., and April 7-10 at South Dakota State University in Sioux Falls, S.D.

“Raising the Bar conferences are a fantastic way for our juniors to get involved with the National Junior Angus Association, experience different parts of the country and learn from some of the industry’s best,” says Jaclyn Clark, American Angus Association director of events and education. “We’re grateful to all those who volunteered their time and support to make these programs possible.”

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

— Adapted from a release by Jena McRell, Angus Media.

Reduce Risk with a Sound Grazing Lease

What changes will the advancing average age of cattle producers bring to cow country?

Agricultural census data suggest the median age of U.S. farmers and ranchers is rapidly nearing 60 years of age. People taking a glass-is-half-full point of view believe that could present opportunities for younger operators and aspiring producers. As the older folk exit the business, many of their farms and ranches are likely to sell or become available to lease.

Leasing grazing land has long been a way for beginning ranchers to get started and for existing operations to expand. Considering today’s real estate prices, Stephen Diebel believes leasing grassland can help mitigate risk. Operating cow-calf, stocker and club-calf enterprises, Diebel manages some 14,000 acres of coastal prairie near Victoria, Texas, and about half of that acreage is leased. He admits that finding and holding on to land leases can be challenging.

To continue reading, please view the Angus Media news article online.

— Adapted from an article by Troy Smith, Angus Journal.

Nominations for Beef Quality Assurance Awards

Award applications for the 11th annual checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Award now are being accepted. The 2017 National BQA Awards recognize five winners in the areas of beef, dairy, marketing and education:

• The BQA Cow-Calf, BQA Feedyard and BQA Dairy awards recognize producers that best demonstrate the implementation of BQA principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their respective operations.
• The BQA Educator Award is open to individuals or companies that provide high-quality and innovative training to individuals that care and handle cattle throughout the industry chain.
• The BQA Marketer Award is open to livestock markets, cattle buyers and supply-chain programs that promote BQA to their customers and offer them opportunities to get certified.

The National BQA Awards are selected by a committee of BQA-certified representatives from universities, state beef councils, sponsors and affiliated groups. Nominations are submitted by organizations, groups or individuals on behalf of a U.S. beef producer, dairy beef producer, marketer or educator.

For more information, please view the Beef Checkoff news release online.

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

CattleWomen Honor Vicky Hartzler

American National CattleWomen (ANCW) recognized Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler with an honorary lifetime membership for her dedication and commitment to agriculture. Congresswoman Hartzler has represented Missouri’s 4th congressional district since 2011. Ann Nogan, ANCW president, said Hartzler’s dedication to representing the hard-working men and women of rural America is commendable.

Hartzler is a life-long farmer, small business owner and public servant. She and her husband, Lowell, own a company with three farm equipment stores in the 4th District. It was her small business acumen that led Governor Matt Blunt, in 2005 to appoint her Chair of the Missouri Women’s Council.

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

— Adapted from a release by the American National CattleWomen, Inc.

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

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