News Update

November 11, 2016

Women Leading the Way

For many years, agriculture has been a field dominated by men. These days, 30% of farmers across the United States are women, and in the Angus business these women are taking the responsibility and leadership seriously.

“It’s evolved that more and more women are coming back to the farm in a management position,” explains Jeanne Bernick, K•Coe Isom consultant. “It used to take a lot of muscle to run a farm, and now it’s more about brains.”

Bernick, who organized Executive Women in Ag conferences while she was with Top Producer magazine, says that with the average age of farmers being 58 and succession becoming evident, more farmers are looking to their daughters, as well as to their sons, to step into leadership and management positions.

“The daughter may have gone to business school and now that is just as valuable as a kid who stayed home to work in the fields or with the livestock. Technology has really evened the playing field because there’s so much need for financial and business skills on the farm,” Bernick says.

Continue reading the Angus Journal feature article online.

— Adapted from a release by Bridget Beran, Angus Media.

Election Results: AFBF Statement by Zippy Duvall, President

“The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) congratulates President-elect Trump on his election, as well as those candidates elected to serve during the 115th Congress. The important issues facing American agriculture are not red or blue, but they are critical to the prosperity of rural America and our ability to protect our nation’s food supply. We urge our elected representatives to reach across the aisle and come together to resolve the challenges we face.

“Farmers and ranchers understand that their businesses and their families have too much at stake to take a back seat on Election Day, and rural America clearly made a difference in this election. Now it’s time for our newly elected leaders to turn up for rural America and keep their campaign promises by addressing the issues that matter to the people who sent them to Washington.

“Farm Bureau looks forward to working with the new administration and Congress on issues such as the farm bill, tax reform and a trade agenda focused on reducing barriers and expanding exports.”

For more information, view the AFBF news release online.

— Adapted from a release by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

K-State ASI Department Launches KSUAntibiotics.org

Antibiotics are critical tools for treatment and control of diseases in livestock. Antibiotic resistance threatens the use of antibiotics in livestock for two important reasons. If resistance develops, the antibiotic may not be effective in treating the disease. Increased antibiotic resistance could lead to policies limiting access to antibiotics for use in livestock.

“KSUantibiotics.org was created as a launching point to find information about antibiotics,” explains Mike Tokach, Kansas State University (K-State) Department of Animal Sciences and Industry distinguished professor and swine extension specialist. “The new site includes a section on antibiotic resistance, featuring new K-State fact sheets about how antibiotic resistance occurs and why livestock

For more information, view the K-State news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Angie Stump Denton, K-State Animal Sciences and Industry Department.

Michelin Wins 2016 Agricultural Innovation Award

Michelin innovation in the agricultural industry shines this week in Alta., Canada, as the company showcases its award-winning Michelin® Cargoxbib® High Flotation tire at the Agri-Trade Equipment Expo in Red Deer Nov. 9-12. The soil-protecting tire was selected as one of the three top industry advancements during the event’s 2016 Ag Innovations Awards.

The new tire is the company’s first Michelin Ultraflex Technology tire engineered for trailers and towed machinery. Developed in collaboration with end users and original equipment manufacturers, the tire’s tread pattern is designed to provide improved self-cleaning features, greater endurance, better on-road handling and higher-speed transport. The new tire also works with very low pressure to help protect the soil by using a large footprint to distribute the load, which helps minimizes rutting.

For more information, view the Michelin news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Michelin North America.

Mitigating Risk along the Ag Supply Chain

Nobel Prize laureate William Faulkner, an American writer, said, “…the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.” Taking risk is often the path to success, but how can agribusinesses reduce risk yet still reap great rewards? Hear several proven risk management techniques at this month’s Oilseed & Grain Trade Summit, Nov. 15-16 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.

Opening the discussion on risk management is a pre-event half-day short course “Price Risk Management” on Monday, Nov. 14, continuing with a two-hour session on Tuesday morning. Presented by Richard Jelinik and Doug Prohaska of INTL FCStone, the course is designed to provide an overview of the necessary knowledge to protect and/or enhance an agricultural firm’s bottom line.

Advanced level strategies and a practical discussion on corporate policy requirements regarding price risk management tools will be covered, as well.

For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.

— Adapted from a release by conference organizers.

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

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