News Update
October 5, 2016
Montana Angus Ranch:
Data-driven Quality from the Start
It’s hard to pinpoint when the transformation began, but on the Christensen family’s western ranch, it’s evident that it happened: a commitment to excellence.
The views of the Rocky Mountains look much the same as they did when Grandpa Karl homesteaded near Hot Springs, Mont., a century ago, but third-generation rancher Shawn Christensen and wife Jen now raise their two daughters there.
Ranch talk might center around the same challenges then and now, from lack of moisture to grasshoppers, but a quick glance at stacks of artificial insemination (AI) records and carcass data provide a clear distinction. The diversified crop and livestock farm that once housed milk cows and chickens is not the same as the commercial-Angus ranch the family operates today.
Shawn’s dad brought in Angus bulls and then switched to the breed completely in the 1970s, a decade later Shawn participated in the 4-H carcass contest and later learned to AI.
There might not be one central event, but there’s evidence of the fruits of that commitment.
Continue reading in the Angus Media news article online.
USDA Issues Safety-Net Payments
The USDA announced that beginning Oct. 4, many of the 1.7 million farms that enrolled in either the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs will receive safety-net payments due to market downturns during the 2015 crop year.
“This fall, USDA will be making more than $7 billion in payments under the ARC-County and PLC programs to assist participating producers, which will account for over 10% of USDA’s projected 2016 net farm income. These payments will help provide reassurance to America’s farm families, who are standing strong against low commodity prices compounded by unfavorable growing conditions in many parts of the country,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
“At USDA, we are standing strong behind them, tapping into every resource that we have to help. So far in 2016, this has included creating a one-time cost share program for cotton ginning, purchasing about $800 million in excess commodities to be redirected to food banks and those in need, making $11 million in payments to America’s dairy farmers through the Dairy Margin Protection Program, and reprogramming Farm Service Agency funds to expand credit options for farmers and ranchers in need of extra capital.”
For more information, view the USDA news release online.
Merck Animal Health Receives
USDA License for Bovilis® Coronavirus
Merck Animal Health announced Oct. 4 the launch of Bovilis Coronavirus, the first USDA-approved modified-live intranasal vaccine to aid in the reduction of enteric disease caused by Bovine Coronavirus (BCV). Most severe during winter months, BCV is often prevalent in cow-calf beef herds and dairy calves, and is frequently diagnosed as the leading pathogen in neonatal calves. This intranasal vaccine is approved for use in calves as young as 3 days of age.
BCV is commonly transferred by animals during periods of stress, including shipping, parturition, cold weather, commingling or delivery to a backgrounding facility or feedyard. Scours and winter dysentery are often the two signs that will signal the presence of BCV.
A 2012 study at the University of Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratory tested 147 herds and found nearly half (49.4%) of the herds to be positive for BCV. In related research at Oklahoma State University, 37% of BCV cases are found in calves zero to 30-days old.
For more information, view the Merck news release online.
RealAgriculture to Launch Radio Show
Rural Radio Channel 147 on SiriusXM radio is excited to announce the launch of a new radio series, “RealAg Radio,” featuring the latest headlines from around the world of Canadian agriculture.
“RealAg Radio” will include discussions on current events, markets, agronomy, machinery, farm management and cover real time issues impacting broadacre farmers, beef and dairy producers, and Canadian agriculture as a whole. Produced by www.RealAgriculture.com and hosted by ag experts Shaun Haney and Kelvin Heppner, the series debuts as Canada’s only daily, one-hour agricultural radio show broadcast across the country.
“RealAg Radio” premieres on Rural Radio Channel 147 on SiriusXM radio Oct. 24, and will air weekdays at 4 p.m. EST.
For more information, view the news release online.
Chronic Wasting Disease Meetings Scheduled
As part of the state of Texas’ increased chronic wasting disease or CWD, surveillance efforts, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Animal Health Commission have partnered to conduct postmortem sample collector training sessions in Van Horn on Oct. 5 and Amarillo on Oct. 13.
The meetings are free, but space is limited to the first 50 participants at each session. The Amarillo meeting is set from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at 6500 W. Amarillo Blvd. Lunch and snacks will be provided.
John Tomecek, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist at San Angelo, said the sessions will be a classroom format with hands-on training for sample collection.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
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