News Update
September 6, 2016
Louisiana Floods
Cattlemen and women in some parts of Lousiana are wading through the damage of what’s being called the worst natural disaster to hit the United States since Hurricane Sandy.
Significant rainfall overwhelmed southern portions of the state, where catastrophic flooding left at least 13 people dead and thousands without homes. Of course, cattlemen in the area weren’t spared from the damage. Louisiana Angus breeder Lee Robbins, who resides just north of the flooding, says effects on producers are far from over.
“We deal with rain and floods; this was just beyond what we’ve seen in that area. The rains came in similar to a hurricane, but it was a lot more rain than a hurricane normally brings,” Robbins said. “Neighborhoods were flooded, pastures were flooded, the rivers flowing through that area, the banks were just overwhelmed.”
While the waters are starting to recede, Robbins says a lot of the grass is covered in silt, and it will take some time before those fields recover. Anyone wishing to donate hay or financial contributions can contact the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry or the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.
Watch more of Robbin’s interview in this week’s The Angus Report online.
CAB Honored with Don L. Good Impact Award
Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB), the world’s largest and most successful branded beef program, has been selected to receive the 2016 Don L. Good Impact Award. With nearly four decades of leadership in the beef business, the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand in fiscal 2015 reported record sales for the ninth consecutive year, marketing 896 million pounds of product.
The award, presented by the Livestock and Meat Industry Council Inc. (LMIC), is named in honor of Good, who is a former head of the Kansas State University (K-State) Department of Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI), and recognizes positive impact on the livestock and meat industry or agriculture.
The ASI department is excited to “welcome home” alumni and friends. We invite all Kansas Angus breeders to bring the entire family for an evening of fun activities, including a Junior Wildcat Barnyard area designed for the youngest members of the ASI family.
For more information, view the K-State news release online.
STgenetics names VP for International Markets
Dairy industry veteran Prakash Kalarickal has joined livestock reproductive services innovator STgenetics as vice president of business development for Asia, Oceania, the Middle East and Africa.
He will be responsible for sales, marketing and business development activities, including identifying new opportunities, creating new business models, forming strategic partnerships and integrating STgenetics’ activities, products and services within his regions of responsibility to ensure customers receive fast and efficient service.
Kalarickal has more than 30 years of technical, commercial, managerial and leadership experience in various dairy farming related industries. He comes to STgenetics from IDEXX Laboratories, the world’s largest veterinary diagnostics company, where he was global senior commercial manager for the company’s pregnancy test portfolio.
For more information, view the news release online.
AgriLife Extension Hosts Toxic Range Plant Workshop
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct the Toxic Range Plant Workshop on Sept. 22 in Sonora.
The workshop will start with registration at 8:30 a.m. followed by the program at 9 a.m. in the Sutton County Civic Center located on North Crockett Ave. The multi-county educational event is a collaborative effort among the AgriLife Extension offices in Sutton, Schleicher, Edwards and Crockett counties.
“Some years bring about more livestock losses from ingesting toxic plants than others,” said Pascual Hernandez, AgriLife Extension agent in Sutton County. “Weather patterns, grazing systems and vitamin or mineral deficiencies can all lead to toxic plant consumption.
Topics will include Identification of Toxic Plants in Our Area, Integrated Pest Management Strategies and Understanding The Clinical Signs of Poisoning in Livestock.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
Managing the Beef Herd Program Sept. 23
Managing the Beef Herd, a comprehensive program to assist cattle producers with making sound management decisions, is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 23 at Camp Cooley Ranch, 4297 Camp Cooley Ranch Road in Franklin.
“We have assembled an elite group of experts who will discuss the cattle market outlook over the next year and beyond,” said Edward Schneider, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Robertson County. “We will be discussing a number of topics, including how import and export markets affect prices, how to save money on winter feeding, as well as pesticide laws and regulations that might affect our operations.”
Speakers will be David Anderson, AgriLife Extension livestock economist, College Station; Jason Banta, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, Overton; Don Renchie, AgriLife Extension program leader for agricultural and environmental safety, College Station; and Jason Johnson, AgriLife Extension economist, Stephenville.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
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