News Update

February 20, 2017

Big Ideas for Ag’s Future

If someone gave you $1 million to test new ideas on your farm or ranch, what would you develop with it? That’s the question Dwayne Beck and board members and staff of the Dakota Lakes Research Farm near Pierre, S.D., had the opportunity to ponder when the nonprofit received a $1 million unrestricted grant from the Howard G. Buffet Foundation in 2015.

Beck, a South Dakota State University (SDSU) professor who has served as manager at Dakota Lakes since it was established in 1990, explains that Buffett simply indicated: “Do something you couldn’t do without it (the grant money).”

That was all Beck, his colleagues and the research farm’s board members needed to hear. Already, the Dakota Lakes Research Farm has established itself as a pioneer in no-till and crop-rotation farming methods. What did they want to tackle next? They came up with three big ideas to enhance forage and soil health, and they have been testing them on the ground the past two growing seasons.

Read more in the Angus Journal feature online.

— Adapted from an article by Kindra Gordon for Angus Media.

Farm Bureau Hails Pruitt Confirmation

The following may be attributed to Zippy Duvall, president, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF):

“Scott Pruitt’s confirmation to lead the Environmental Protection Agency will bring a breath of fresh air to the post. America’s farmers and ranchers look forward to working with Administrator Pruitt as he leads the EPA with a welcome level of common sense in the important job of protecting the environment.

“For too long, farmers and ranchers have been victims of EPA’s harsh regulatory overreach. Farmers are conservationists to the core and we want to play a positive, cooperative role in protecting the environment we rely on to produce food for this nation.”

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

NCBA & PLC Summer Internships

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council’s (PLC) government affairs office in Washington, D.C., is accepting applications for a 2017 summer public policy intern, as well as a semester law clerk.

The deadline to submit an application for either position is March 1.

The internships give college students the opportunity to work alongside staff on a range of issues that impact U.S. cattlemen and women. The interns will work closely with the lobbying team on Capitol Hill and assist with NCBA and PLC’s regulatory efforts, providing college students a one-of-a-kind view into the policy making process.

The public policy internship will give students an opportunity to learn about career options and provide practical experience.

For more information, view the NCBA news release online.

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

Culver’s Launches Third Annual FFA Essay Contest

There are already 649,355 reasons to celebrate National FFA Week, but Culver’s is adding one more. On Feb. 20, Culver’s will kick off its third annual FFA Essay Contest to award three winners the funds to send their FFA chapters to the National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 25-28, 2017.

The essay contest asks FFA members to submit an essay in response to the following questions: As a future ag leader, what do you want people to know about the agricultural industry? How will you help to educate them on this subject? Culver’s will award prizes for the top three essays, providing winners with $7,500, $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. To submit their essays, FFA members should visit Culvers.com/essaycontest. The contest ends March 31, 2017, at 5 p.m. CST.

For more information, view the Culver’s news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Becca Volmer, Culver’s.

Grass-fed Beef Conference Scheduled
May 2-3 in College Station

Consumer interest and demand for grass-fed beef continues, and beef producers can learn more about this aspect of production from pasture to plate during a May 2-3 conference at Texas A&M University in College Station.

The conference will cover a broad range of important topics pertaining to grass-fed beef production and is open to both beef producers and consumers.

“From discussing cattle types best suited to grass-fed beef operations to sustainable production systems, there will be lots of information to take home and apply,” said Ron Gill, conference instructor and AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, College Station.

The conference will be at the Rosenthal Meat Science Building, 488 Olsen Blvd. on the Texas A&M campus.

Topics to be discussed will be: overview of the U.S. beef industry; natural, grass-fed and organic production systems; and growing forage — production fundamentals of high quality grass finished beef.

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

— Adapted from a release by Blair Fannin, Texas AgriLife Communications.

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