News Update

February 21, 2017

Pour a Second Cup

Along America’s Angus Trails is probably just like most ranch kitchens, barns and offices — using some very utilitarian, bare-bones way to make a cup of Joe. That is, unless it’s easier to just pick up a hot one at the gas station.

There are way too many important things to think about in the daily battle of life to worry much about it. But big city coffee lovers — the ones who tuck their pinky under the cup handle, for instance — have squabbled for centuries over the best way to extract juice from roasted beans. Drip? Perk? Steam? Pour-over press?

In fact, the Italian coffee magnate Renato Bialetti was so partial to the brew from his company's Moka espresso maker that, upon his death a year ago, his family placed his ashes inside one.

Now the scientists and academicians at the world’s most prestigious research universities have gotten into the act.

Continue reading in the Angus Media article online.

— Adapted from a release by Dan Green, Angus Talk.

Angus Youth to Represent Canada in Scotland

Twelve Canadian Angus youth are headed to Edinburgh, Scotland this June for the World Angus Forum (WAF) thanks to the Canadian Angus Foundation. The winners were announced at the twelfth annual Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders (GOAL) Conference which has just wrapped up in Edmonton, Alta.

Meghan McGillivray of Kamloops, B.C.; Cole Dodgson of Sangudo, Alta.; Macy Liebreich of Radville, Sask.; and Kelly Somerville of Mountain, Ont., make up Team Canada: Aspire.

Team Canada: Believe consists of Robert C. McHaffie, Junior Ambassador Michaela Chalmers of Oro-Medonte, Ont.; Travis Hunter of Didsbury, Alta.; Wade Olynyk of Goodeve, Sask.; and Kelsey Ribey of Paisley, Ont.

Katie Wright of Melfort, Sask.; Maguire Blair of Drake, Sask.; Bailey Dietrich of Forestburg, Atla.; and Raina Syrnyk of Ethelbert, Man., are Team Canada: Courage.

The 2017 WAF youth program will include a trip to the Royal Highland Show, stock judging, attendance at the Forum Conference, agri-skills competitions and activities, farm visits, tours with the WAF delegates, a visit to Scotbeef and the competition finale. This will be the second World Angus Forum to have a youth competition.

For more information, view the CAA website.

— Adapted from a release by the Canadian Angus Association.

Using CIDRs to Improve Preganancy Rates

There have been many attempts to improve pregnancy rates by administering progesterone (PG) from injections to vaginal suppositories. Unfortunately, results have been well below expectations but have improved with the advent of controlled intravaginal releasing devices (CIDR®s) for synchronizing estrus improving CLs (corpora lutea) resulting in larger follicles producing higher quality eggs.

CIDRs contain 1.9g of P4. They release 610mg of P4 averaging 87mg per day into the blood stream of the cow. High producing dairy cows metabolize high rates of P4 due to the large blood liver flow. Therefore, one CIDR increases P4 by only 0.78ng per ml in a lactating cow after 7 days of application, compared to 4 to 5.8ng per ml in an untreated cow.

From these findings one CIDR is insufficient to improve P4 levels needed to sustain a CL resulting in larger follicles and improved quality of eggs.

For more information, view the ET School website.

— Adapted from a release by Peter Elsden, ET School.

360˚ Look at Farming During
South Beach Wine & Food Festival

At the upcoming South Beach Food & Wine Festival, a national event showcasing the talents of some of the world’s most renowned chefs and culinary personalities, U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) will share a one-of-a kind experience with event goers.

Through USFRA’s new 360-degree video, which utilizes a virtual reality (VR)-style headset, booth visitors will have a chance to experience life inside an Illinois pig farm — from the beaches of south Florida. This effort is a part of USFRA’s “SMART Farm” initiative aimed at bridging the gap between acceptance of everyday innovation in consumer’s lives with science and technology on today’s farms.

At its booth in the North Grand Tasting tent, USFRA will be giving away VR viewers to those who watch the 360˚ video, which highlights several of the many ways farmers are using technology to grow and raise food sustainably. Farmers will also be on hand to talk about modern food production on today’s SMART Farm.

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

— Adapted from a release by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.

Workshop for Farmers’ Market Vendors

A local foods workshop to help farmers’ market vendors increase sales is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, in Kirksville at the University of Missouri (MU) Extension Center in Adair County.

The session gives farmers’ market vendors an opportunity to learn how to market their produce and increase sales. MU Extension specialists will give information on how to display produce to attract customers. They also will discuss the importance of signs, pamphlets and other marketing tools.

Vendors will learn food safety regulations for preparing and giving away samples at farmers’ markets. This covers food storage and handling procedures. Farmers’ market vendors must follow Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services regulations and county health codes.

For more information, view the MU news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Linda Geist, University of Missouri Extension.

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