News Update
May 29, 2018
Struggling to Hear?
Many people slowly lose their hearing as they get older. Not being able to hear well can make it hard to communicate. That can affect your relationships, emotional well-being and work performance.
For those who need them, hearing aids can help. These electronic devices are worn in or behind the ears. They make sounds louder. Close to 29 million adults could benefit from hearing aids, yet only one in four has ever used one.
An exam of your ears, nose and throat might detect a physical reason why you’re not hearing as well. You may want to start by talking with your primary care provider or an ear, nose and throat doctor, also known as an ENT or otolaryngologist.
A doctor can look for earwax, infection, injury or another reason for hearing loss. A hearing test can show the type and amount of hearing loss. For a hearing test, your doctor may refer you to an audiologist.
If earwax or an ear infection is the cause, the hearing loss may be temporary. Other causes, such as nerve damage, may lead to more permanent hearing loss.
Read the full Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
NCBA Applauds Legislation Addressing Hours of Service Changes for Livestock Haulers
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) May 23 applauded the introduction of the Transporting Livestock Across America Safely (TLAAS) Act, saying it would reform federal hours of service (HOS) rules in a way that ensures animal welfare, highway safety and the well-being of livestock haulers. The bill was introduced May 23 by U.S. Senators Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Jerry Moran of Kansas, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Jon Tester of Montana, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Marco Rubio of Florida, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Pat Roberts of Kansas, and Rand Paul of Kentucky.
“The current hours of service rules for livestock haulers present big challenges for our industry and can often jeopardize the health and well-being of livestock,” said NCBA President and fifth-generation California rancher Kevin Kester. “Hauling livestock is inherently different than hauling products like paper towels or bottles of water. Live cattle can’t simply be left unattended in a trailer — especially in very hot or cold weather — for extended periods of time, and this bill takes that into account.”
For more information, read the full NCBA news release online.
Tackling Mosquito, Tick Problems in Texas
With ticks posing an ongoing threat to Texas’ cattle industry and mosquitoes causing challenging human health diseases such as Zika virus, a consortium of public health experts met at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Weslaco to hear the latest research and offer potential solutions.
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston are leading a collaboration to solve threats from the pests as members of the Western Gulf Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases.
The consortium has received $10 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during five years to carry out applied research and implement communities of practice across Texas to better respond to mosquito and tick-borne diseases, according to organizers.
“The Center of Excellence shows the true value of partnerships in confronting significant public health issues such as Zika and West Nile virus,” said Craig Nessler, AgriLife Research director in College Station. “The center combines the strengths of cutting-edge research with public health surveillance and control, along with Extension education programs on how to lower mosquito numbers.”
Learn more in the AgriLife news release online.
Farm Bill to Receive Second Vote; Movement Expected on Immigration
The U.S House of Representatives is expected to reconsider the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2), better known as the Farm Bill, on June 22 after a vote on an immigration bill proposed by House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, earlier that week. That measure includes the Agricultural Guestworker Act (AG Act), which would create a new visa program — H-2C — that allows non-seasonal agricultural workers to remain in the United States for up to three years. National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) supports the legislation, which would help address an agricultural labor shortage.
The House Farm Bill, which narrowly failed to pass last week, includes several provisions important to U.S. pork and beef producers, including funding for a vaccine bank to deal with a U.S. outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The bill calls for first-year mandatory funding of $150 million for the FMD vaccine bank, $70 million in block grants to the states for disease prevention and $30 million for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), which provides disease diagnostic support.
Read this Capital Update from the National Pork Producers Council online.
Texoma Cattlemen’s Conference Highlights Ranch Efficiency
The Noble Research Institute will host its seventh annual Texoma Cattlemen’s Conference, the premier beef conference in the Southern Great Plains, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday, June 15 at the Ardmore Convention Center.
This year’s conference theme is “The Road to Ranching Efficiency.” Several new features have been added, including a new farm tour the day before the conference.
“Greater efficiency is always the objective for ranch operations, although it is seldom a stationary target,” said Hugh Aljoe, producer relations manager. “Ranching efficiency takes on multiple facets within an operation such as production, marketing, expenses and weather. It is critical for producers to maintain awareness of the emerging technologies and management practices that have greatest potential to enhance efficiencies in their operations.”
Conference speakers include:
- Donnell Brown, R.A. Brown Ranch: “Providing Viability and Sustainability to the Land, Livestock and Family”
- G. Cliff Lamb, Texas A&M University animal science department head: “Improving Herd Efficiency Through Management”
- Jim Robb, Livestock Marketing and Information Center senior analyst: “Cattle Market Outlook”
- Noble Research Institute researchers: “Agriculture Research Project Updates” and more.
For more information please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
Editor’s Note: The articles used within this site represent a mixture of copyrights. If you would like to reprint or repost an article, you must first request permission of Angus Productions Inc. (API) by contacting the editor at 816-383-5200; 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506. API claims copyright to this web site as presented. We welcome educational venues and cattlemen to link to this site as a service to their audience.