News Update
January10, 2018
Angus Advisor Midwest Region
Winter is upon us, and cold stress should be on producers’ minds. Winter-calving beef operations must think about cold stress for both the cow and calf. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to see a calf birthed with a heavy winter coat, so they are the most at-risk group on the ranch. The thermoneutral zone is a range of environmental temperatures where cattle (all warm-blooded animals) do not have to expend extra energy to maintain body temperature.
Additionally, the 50-gallon fermentation vat (rumen) strapped to a cow’s midsection produces substantial heat to help keep cows warm. Keeping forage in front of cows will go a long way toward keeping cows warm.
The newborn calf is a different story, though. They come into the world wet, with a summer coat, and lack a developed rumen that will generate significant quantities of heat. The best deal for these calves would be to calve in a warmer part of the year, but production decisions may dictate otherwise. Wet hair coats lose the ability to insulate and, coupled with wind, can induce hypothermia rapidly in poor conditions.
Continue reading this Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
Sonny Perdue Highlights Priorities,
Accomplishments in New Administration and USDA
The Agriculture Department is being reoriented with a new focus on farmers, its customers, and has already built a record of success, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said Jan 8. He made his comments at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF’s) 2018 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show in Nashville.
In his opening remarks, Perdue spoke about the importance of trade to U.S. agriculture and the priority of successful NAFTA negotiations.
“To get a deal, we need all sides to seriously roll up their sleeves and get to work,” Perdue said. “We have put a number of proposals on the table to modernize NAFTA, and critically for agriculture, to address key sectors left out of the original agreement — dairy and poultry tariffs in Canada. Now, we want to see our negotiating partners step up and engage so we can get the deal done.”
In Perdue’s first eight months as secretary, USDA has already reopened the Chinese market to American beef, signed a protocol to allow exports of U.S. rice to China for the first time ever and eased European Union regulations on citrus exports.
Read the full Farm Bureau news release online.
MU Receives USDA Grant for National Center
for Bovine Reproduction and Genomics
The Division of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri (MU) College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) boasts many strengths, including its vast research and work with beef cattle reproduction and genetics. The faculty, who have responsibilities in research, teaching, extension and economic development, are experts in taking their findings and sharing them with farmers, ranchers and the Missouri community as a whole.
With the help of a $300,000 grant from the USDA, the division will be able to expand on those leadership opportunities.
The grant, through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), will be used to develop The National Center for Applied Reproduction and Genomics (NCARG) in Beef Cattle. The goal of NCARG will be to promote the economic impact of the technologies Mizzou animal sciences faculty have developed and are using every day. The focus is on giving farmers and ranchers the answer to the question — “What is the return on investment if I invest in reproductive or genomic technologies?”
For more information, read the news release online.
EPA Extends Deadline for Poultry and Livestock Facilities
MU Extension agricultural engineering specialist Teng Lim advises poultry and livestock producers to be aware of an approaching deadline that could affect their operations.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extended its deadline to Jan. 22 for producers to notify public agencies if their poultry and livestock facilities emit (air release) more than 100 pounds of ammonia or hydrogen sulfide daily, says Lim. A court of appeals stayed the previous November deadline.
Lim says the facility owner or operator can notify the National Response Center (NRC) using a new email address: farms@uscg.mil. After receiving a notification email, NRC will send an automatic response email with a single identification number (CR-ERNS) for the submitter’s farm(s). The next step is to submit an initial written notification to the EPA regional office with the identification number.
EPA is enforcing an existing reporting rule on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. The deadline results from an appeals court ruling that requires EPA to enforce the existing reporting rule. The decision does not affect a related rule, the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, which is triggered by similar emissions values.
Read the MU news release online.
Alltech Opens Applications for
First North American Career Development Program
For recent university graduates and soon-to-be graduates who are eager to begin a career that makes a positive difference in the world of agriculture, Alltech’s new program could be a perfect fit.
Following the success of the company’s Corporate Career Development Program and specialized programs in quality, European beef, dairy and now ruminants, Alltech is introducing a region-specific model to North America focusing on beef, dairy and poultry. Applications are now open.
The Alltech North American Career Development Program (CDP) is a one-year, salaried, entry-level program, providing up to 12 recent university graduates the opportunity to train alongside experienced professionals in Alltech’s dairy, beef and poultry businesses. After an induction period at Alltech’s international headquarters in Nicholasville, Ky., trainees will be assigned to specific locations in the United States or Canada to prepare for sales positions. They will receive mentorship from senior managers who are experts in their respective fields. The CDP aims to equip and empower trainees with critical skills designed for a successful career at Alltech.
Learn more in the release online.
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