News Update

April 20, 2017

Increasing Quality in One Generation

Increased attention to carcass quality and end-product merit leads to greater rewards for today’s cattle producers. With a growing world population that’s hungry for high-quality U.S. beef, cattle breeders can take steps today to ensure an improved product leaves their ranch in the years ahead.

South Dakota cattleman Troy Hadrick explains how his herd boosted carcass quality using artificial insemination (AI) and genomic technology.

“We went from zero Primes up to 13% Primes. We doubled our CAB acceptance rate and had nearly 100% go Choice. And that gave us this taste of ‘Wow, look what we can do in one generation.’”

“Then you go to year three, and we went up to almost 20% Primes, we had 80% CAB acceptance rates.”

Hadrick says he truly thought it would take 10-12 years to improve his herd to that degree. He attributes the rapid success to an AI program and GeneMax™ data testing.

Tune into this week’s episode of The Angus Report online. You can also catch the show at 1:30 p.m. CDT Saturday and 7:30 a.m. CDT each Monday morning on RFD-TV.

— Adapted from The Angus Report.

Angus Juniors ‘Raise the Bar’ in Ames, Iowa

Angus juniors have the opportunity to travel the country with the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) and learn from knowledgeable experts in the beef cattle business. Most recently, NJAA members met April 6-9 in Des Moines, Iowa, to participate in a Raising the Bar conference.

“Raising the Bar conferences give NJAA members a chance to become more involved in the Angus breed, build on leadership skills, and learn more about agriculture, while meeting other junior members from across the country,” says Caitlyn Brandt, American Angus Association events and education department.

The conference hosted 29 Angus junior leaders from 12 state junior Angus associations and New Zealand. Participants toured the Iowa State University (ISU) campus, heard from industry experts, took part in leadership-training workshops and spent an evening playing laser tag.

The group also made stops at Hawkeye Breeders, Blood Dairy and two Angus operations, Nichols Farms and Glenn Rowe’s.

Continue reading the Angus news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Jena McRell, Angus Media.

National Black Farmers Association Scholarships

The National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) Scholarship Program application deadline for the 2017-2018 academic year is April 28, 2017.

In its third year, the NBFA Scholarship Program will award scholarships of up to $5,000 to African-American farmers/students or dependents of African-American farmers who plan to enroll or are enrolled in agriculture-related study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school.

Funded by the FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of North American automaker FCA US LLC, the NBFA Scholarship Program will award up to $100,000 in scholarships this year. NBFA scholarships are awarded based upon several criteria, including academic performance, demonstrated leadership, participation in agricultural and community activities, and career goals and objectives.

For more information, view the NBFA news release online.

— Adapted from a release by the National Black Farmers Association.

Nominations Sought for the Kurt Bucholz Award

The Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust is seeking nominations for the 2017 Kurt Bucholz Award.

The award was created in 2008 in memory of veterinarian Kurt Bucholz, a legislator and rancher from Saratoga, Wyo. Recipients exemplify the core beliefs held by Bucholz during his lifetime of dedicated public service and commitment to conservation.

The award is presented by the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust at its Annual Roundup Fundraiser and Barbecue, which will be hosted in Elk Mountain, Wyo., on August 26, 2017. Past recipients are: Dennis Sun, 2008; John Lunt, 2009; Joe Glode, 2010; Jim Chant, 2011, Bob Budd, 2012, Mike Healy, 2013, Bobbie Frank, 2014; Alan Barnett, 2015; and Patrick O’Toole, 2016.

Learn more in the full news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Maggie Rux, Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust.

Drought Workshop Set for April 26

If you’re a farmer, dairy owner or rancher in eastern New Mexico or West Texas, you may want to attend the “Managing Risk and Thinking Ahead” workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, in Clovis, N.M. The workshop is at the Curry County Events Center Indoor Pavilion, located on the Curry County Fairgrounds at 900 E. Brady Ave.

Experts from the New Mexico State University (NMSU) College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences will speak at the workshop. State climatologist Dave DuBois, assistant professor in the NMSU Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, will speak about recent weather events and impacts. From the NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Clovis, agronomist Rajan Ghimire, agricultural research scientist Sultan Begna and superintendent and weed specialist Abdel Mesbah will discuss alternative cropping and crop management with limited water.