News Update
May 15, 2018
Today, May 15, is the Ownership Deadline and Early-bird Deadline
for the NJAS
May 15 is the ownership and early-bird deadline for the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) and contests. No registrations or transfers will be accepted after the postmarked date of May 15. Get those entries done before the end of day today to take advantage of the early registration discount. Enter here: http://fal.cn/yE8u.
Both Data, Visual Aspects of Cattle Count
When Making Purchases
When buying female replacement cattle or breeding bulls, it’s important to use data and visual observations to make the best selections, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.
Jason Cleere, beef cattle specialist from College Station, gave a series of demonstrations on conformation at the recent Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Convention in Fort Worth advising the best methods for buying replacements.
“If I look at what the cow looks like visually first and not look at the data, things like expected progeny differences, or EPDs, birth weight, other evaluations, I may not be making the best choice,” Cleere said. “When it comes to selecting female cattle, I look at the feet and the legs first. You’ve got to start at the ground first.”
Cleere said he wants to choose female cattle that have sound feet and good bone structure.
“Over time, if you have a cow that does not meet good physical criteria, those joints in the hips and shoulders will start to align, and she will lose cushion and mobility,” Cleere said. “That’s going to lead to problems down the road.”
Continue reading this Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
Pasture and Range Conditions
Last week USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the first week of pasture and range conditions for the United States. This weekly update provides a barometer for cattle forage conditions across the country. Ratings are given by state to show what percent of pastures are in very poor, poor, fair, good or excellent grazing conditions. Pastures in very poor and poor conditions require additional feedstuffs to carry the normal stocking load for that area of the country.
The 2018 season opened the first two weeks of the season with the lowest ratings seen for those same weeks since 2014. Approximately 20% of the U.S. pastures are in poor to very poor conditions. This is more than 10% higher than last year at this time.
One of the worst regions is the Western region, covering Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington, which has more than 30% of pastures in poor to very poor conditions. The interesting dichotomy of the Pacific Northwest where very little drought has happened this year and the scorched southwest, paints a unique picture.
Read the full report online at www.dailylivestockreport.com.
Farmers Union Urges USDA to Proactively
Address Farm Suicide Crisis
Many farmers and ranchers are coping with alarming levels of stress, and the USDA should serve a critical role in providing support to farmers in crisis, according to the nation’s second largest general farm organization.
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson wrote to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, urging the secretary to proactively address the farmer suicide crisis. Farmers and ranchers commit suicide at a rate five times that of the general population.
“Farming is a high-stress occupation,” said Johnson. “Due to the prolonged downturn in the farm economy, many farmers are facing even greater stress. USDA’s national reach uniquely positions the Department to assist farmers and ranchers during times of crisis. We urge you to leverage your vision for collaboration across USDA and the entire federal government to develop a response to the farm suicide crisis.”
Johnson noted that financial risk, volatile markets, unpredictable weather, social isolation and heavy workloads can all place significant strain on farmers’ and ranchers’ mental and emotional well-being. A 2016 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that farmers had a much higher rate of suicide than any other occupation.
For more information, read the NFU news release online.
Agricultural Listening Session, Drought Strategies
Workshop Slated for May 31 in Belen
Belen, N.M., will be the next stop for the agricultural listening sessions hosted by New Mexico’s top agricultural leaders.
New Mexico State University’s (NMSU) College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Dean Rolando Flores and New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte will host the session from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 31, at the Belen Business Center, 719 S. Main Street in Belen.
The listening session will follow a daylong workshop on drought strategies for livestock and a free dinner.
“As representatives of NMSU, we address the agricultural needs through research, teaching and Extension,” Flores said. “The best way to know about the agricultural issues is to listen to the stakeholders in the state.”
“We look forward to meeting with New Mexico residents in the Middle Rio Grande region and listening to their concerns,” Witte said. “The listening sessions provide New Mexicans with the opportunity to engage in face-to-face conversation with us, while allowing us to answer questions they may have regarding agriculture in our state.”
This year’s first listening session was hosted in Roswell on March 28.
For more information please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
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