News Update
April 5, 2017
USDA Authorizes Emergency Grazing
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), acting in response to a directive from President Donald J. Trump, authorized emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands located in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas — the three states which were most heavily impacted by ongoing wildfires, which began on March 6.
USDA Acting Deputy Secretary Michael L. Young issued a memorandum authorizing the emergency grazing of cattle by ranchers, who are facing the ruination of their herds due to lack of sufficient grazing land. The authorization is pursuant to appropriate restrictions and conservation measures, which can be found in the Acting Deputy Secretary’s memorandum.
The USDA action is required to direct the Farm Service Agency to permit the grazing on lands covered by the CRP, which exists to conserve and improve wildlife resources. Ranchers and farmers are only now able to begin to estimate losses, since the fires are still burning in some places and access to the lands to survey the damage has been limited.
For more information, access the USDA news release online.
Call for Comprehensive Tax Reform
America’s farmers and ranchers need a flexible tax code that gives them freedom to both grow and adapt quickly to changes beyond their control, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) told Congress April 5.
Pat Wolff, senior director of congressional relations for AFBF, addressed agriculture’s need for sweeping tax reform in a hearing before the House Agriculture Committee.
“Running a farm or ranch business is challenging under the best of circumstances,” Wolff said. “Farmers and ranchers need a tax code that recognizes the unique financial challenges that impact them.”
Wolff urged Congress to create and retain tax policies that support high-risk, capital-intensive businesses like farms and ranches. Farm Bureau supports many of the provisions in the House’s proposed blueprint for tax reform, including reduced income tax rates, reduced capital gains taxes, immediate business expensing and estate tax repeal.
Learn more in the full Farm Bureau news release online.
Avian Influenza near Mississippi Flyway
With several cases of avian influenza confirmed in four states near the Mississippi flyway, Kansas State University’s (K-State’s) Scott Beyer is urging Kansas poultry producers to be vigilant and take precautions.
Avian influenza has been confirmed in poultry flocks in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Georgia, plus on a turkey farm in Wisconsin.
Beyer, a poultry specialist with K-State Research and Extension, said he’s been fielding calls from Kansas producers regarding what to watch for and steps they can take to keep their flocks safe. No avian flu outbreaks have been reported in Kansas so far this year. The outbreaks in the states affected have resulted in the depopulation of more than 200,000 birds in efforts to keep the virus from spreading.
Avian influenza outbreaks have occurred in both commercial and backyard poultry flocks, he said, mostly near the Mississippi flyway as wild migratory waterfowl return to summer loafing areas in the north.
Read the full K-State news release online.
American Angus Association Member Notice
Preparations for the 2017 Annual Convention of Delegates have begun. The American Angus Association will mail delegate nomination forms only to active regular and life members who qualify as eligible voting members prior to the deadline of 4:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) on April 7, 2017.
To be active and eligible, you must be at least 18 years of age, as well as a life or regular member, when the nomination period begins (April 10, 2017). Dues must be current and paid in full. In addition, you must have registered at least one animal or have conducted a minimum $250 worth of business with the American Angus Association or Angus Genetics Inc. within the 12 months preceding the nomination period (April 10, 2016-April 7, 2017). Please make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements by the close of business (4:30 p.m. CDT) April 7. Members can determine their eligibility status through AAA Login at My Account > Your American Angus Association Information.
Multi-County Reproduction Management Workshop
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices in Atascosa, Bexar, Frio, Medina and Wilson counties will present back-to-back beef cattle reproduction workshops for producers on May 16-17 at the Tom Brothers Ranch, 770 County Road 412 in Campbellton.
Producers can choose either day to attend. The program will be offered from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days.
“This is a rare opportunity for producers to learn about various aspects of cattle reproduction,” said Sam Womble, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, Bexar County. “One of the things that makes this program unique is attendees are required to bring three to five of their cows for demonstration purposes. Producers should bring gentle cows that have been exposed to a bull over 90 days and possibly one open cow.”
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
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