News Update
May 11, 2017
National Junior Show Heads to Iowa
As the school year begins to wind down and thoughts turn to summer vacation, it’s time to plan for the 2017 National Junior Angus Show in Des Moines, Iowa.
“Winning with the Angus Team” is the theme for this year’s event, July 9-15, and families from across the country will travel to the Midwest to participate in the competitive cattle show.
Iowa native Tim Mardesen, who serves on the National Junior Angus Board, shares what juniors can expect at this year’s Junior Nationals.
“The Iowa Junior Angus Board is very excited to see all the states come together. We have so much to offer for all of the national kids, as well adults and families who come.
“I want to make sure that every junior is having the time that they’re looking for, and I want them to have memories, especially of Des Moines, that will stick with them for a very long time [and] keep them invested in the Angus Association for years to come,” says Mardesen.
Watch more of Mardesen’s interview on The Angus Report online. You can also catch the show at 1:30 p.m. CDT Saturday and 7:30 a.m. CDT every Monday on RFD-TV.
Statement of NPPC on USDA
Establishing an Undersecretary for Trade
NPPC is very pleased that U.S. Agriculture Secretary Perdue is establishing within USDA an undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, a position that we and others in agriculture fought to get included in the 2014 Farm Bill.
Clearly, the Trump administration recognizes the importance of exports to U.S. agriculture, which has a trade surplus. The new undersecretary can help convey our message to the administration that it should work to preserve and expand foreign market access for U.S. agricultural products.
NPPC looks forward to working with the undersecretary to advance trade policies that will be beneficial for U.S. agriculture, including free-trade agreements that eliminate all tariff and non-tariff barriers to our products.
Georgia Bull Test Now Accepting Entries for 2017-2018
For those interested in consigning bulls to the 2017-2018 Calhoun and Tifton Bull Test Program, the rules and entry form is now available online.
The entry deadline for Calhoun is June 1, Tifton is Sept. 1.
Please contact Grace Nyhuis at 229-386-3683 if you have any questions about the rules or program.
Pest Populations Ramping up Around Texas
From backyards to planted acres, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologists said pest populations are on the rise around the state.
Sonja Swiger, AgriLife Extension veterinary entomologist, Stephenville, said many pests emerged earlier than usual this year due to the weather, but populations and how long they stay will depend on the weather to come.
If it remains mild with cool fronts and steady rains, some insect pests’ — like mosquitoes and horn flies — window of opportunity could widen. If hot, arid conditions persist, those species numbers would decline and survivors would be relegated to shady areas with some moisture, while other species, such as grasshoppers, would benefit from dry conditions.
“Insects are dependent on temperature,” she said. “Perfect temperatures and conditions help them build populations up.”
Swiger said horn flies have been bad in South Texas and house fly populations should be increasing soon. Ticks are another pest that could have a banner year due to conditions.
Fire ants have had back-to-back years of good conditions and their numbers, at least from visual reports, Swiger said, are up after the past drought either reduced their numbers or drove them deep into the ground for moisture.
Learn more in the full news release online.
Livestock Owners Learn Improved Grass Use
at MU Grazing School
Left on their own, cows make a mess of grass they should eat. When managed by the farmer, pasture carrying capacity goes up by 25%. More cattle are fed on fewer acres.
The why and how of management-intensive grazing will be taught at the University of Missouri (MU) Extension Center in Boone County May 17-18.
The first step in better grazing takes dividing big pastures into small paddocks. By grazing small areas, cows do less walking on their feed.
With rotational grazing, cattle are turned out onto fresh grass every few days. That boosts feed intake. Quality goes up also. Fresh grass is better than mature, stemmy grass.
The two-day conference covers topics from nutrition to economics. Fence building is included.
For a full agenda, go to http://extension.missouri.edu/howard, says Heather Conrow, MU Extension livestock specialist, Fayette. To enroll, call her at 660-248-2272.
The class will tour a farm to see a plan at work. Classes are taught by specialists from MU Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation District.
Business and agency people can attend, as well as farmers.
For more information, read the MU news release online.
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