*Weld County FSA News* Debbie Peonio’s Retirement Announcement‏…Aug 24th

08-23-11 *NCGA News of the Day* Biotech Acres Continue to Grow Globally…

As demand for corn and other crops continues to grow, farmers are meeting the challenge through the use of biotech crop varieties. Producing higher yields and alleviating stressors, the scientifically designed crops are growing in popularity the world over as farmers see firsthand their many advantages.

“Biotechnology has helped me produce more corn more consistently,” said South Dakota farmer Chad Blindauer, chair of the National Corn Growers Association’s Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team. “It has helped me become a better farmer, a more efficient farmer, and I believe that is why we’ve seen biotech crops adopted at such a rapid rate not only here in the United States, but in a couple dozen countries around the world.”

In 2010, just 15 years after the first biotech crops were commercialized, farmers in 29 countries planted and produced biotech crops on 366 million acres, according to a report published earlier this year by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications.

08-23-11 PREPARE FINANCIALLY FOR NATURAL DISASTER

Tips for Financially Weathering the Unexpected Storms

DENVER—Amid the aftershocks of today’s earthquakes in Virginia and Colorado and with Hurricane Irene expected to hit the southeastern U.S. in the coming days, many Americans are focusing on preparing for the uncertainty that comes with a natural disaster. “Disasters, whether natural or man-made, can strike quickly and with little warning,” says Ted Beck, president and CEO of the Denver-based National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®). “Your safety and the safety of your family is the top priority. But it’s also important to protect your home, your assets and your financial security.”

NEFE offers the following tips to ensure that you and your family are financially prepared for a disaster.

Protect Your Health and Life

08-23-11 *NCBA’s Beltway Beef* Public Lands Issue…

CLICK HERE to listen to today's Beltway Beef courtesy of the NCBA...

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Beltway Beef Commentary is ready. With Congress not in session and President Obama away on a cozy vacation, we took some time to talk to someone who really matters – a cattleman. We caught up with Charles Lyons, a public lands rancher from a little place called Mountain Home, Idaho. According to Lyons, an active member of NCBA and the Public Lands Council (PLC), the majority of his focus when it comes to decisions made in Washington, D.C., is on public lands issues. That makes sense considering 65 percent of the cattle pasture in Idaho is owned by the federal government. Whether it’s burdensome, scientifically unfounded regulations imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency or environmental extremists hijacking the Endangered Species Act in a shameful attempt to remove cattle grazing from public lands, Lyons points to a whole host of issues that he relies on NCBA and PLC to monitor and act on when necessary.

08-23-11 CO Governor Hickenlooper announces Social Innovation Fund Grant to Mile High United Way for Childhood Literacy

DENVER ­— Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011 — Gov. John Hickenlooper and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia announced today that Mile High United Way has received a two-year $3.6 million grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service under its Social Innovation Fund. The announcement is a significant development in the state’s collaboration with Mile High United Way, Serve Colorado (formerly the Governor’s Commission on Community Service) and the Colorado Department of Education to improve early childhood literacy rates in rural and urban communities across the state of Colorado.

“Colorado’s prosperity and quality of its future workforce are dependent upon every child receiving a top-notch education,” Hickenlooper said. “The Social Innovation Fund will support the state’s early childhood literacy initiative and augment the many literacy programs and efforts happening in Colorado’s schools. This grant will also support recruitment and training of community volunteer mentors and tutors to help ensure all children are reading at grade level or beyond by the end of third grade.”

Earlier this year, the Hickenlooper Administration identified early childhood literacy as one of three education priorities for the state. Working closely with Mile High United Way and a broad coalition of early childhood experts, the literacy initiative will begin at a grassroots level with community outreach and conversations across the state. The partnering organizations will help build an infrastructure to mobilize volunteers, donors, businesses and other community groups to support existing early learning and elementary school literacy programs. The community conversations and more robust civic engagement efforts will inform possible future policy action.

“Children who can’t read face significant barriers in school and life,” Garcia said. “This grant empowers communities to improve school readiness, promote reading opportunities outside of the classroom, and utilize evidence-based programs to improve early literacy proficiency rates. We look forward to working in close partnership with principals, teachers and community leaders to integrate these resources in a way that supports students and classrooms across the state.”

08-23-11 *NRCS-CO Monthly* Archaeologist Bill Volf details the Cultural Resources Management Program…

CLICK HERE for more NRCS-CO Monthly Archived Audio Reports...

NRCS-CO Archaelogist William "Bill" Volf of Cortez, CO

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) August 23rd, 2011 –  William (Bill) Volf, Archeaologist with NRCS-CO is my guest this month discussing the Cultural Resources Management Program.

• What are cultural resources? And what is Cultural Resources Management?
• What is the goal of the NRCS Cultural Resources Management program?
• How does Cultural Resources Management affect Colorado landowners?
• What are the benefits of Cultural Resources Management?
• Is there anything else you would like to mention about Cultural Resources/Cultural Resources Management?

082311_NRCS-CoMonthly_CRM-BillVolf_11m5s

08-23-11 *CO Corn Monthly* CEO Mark Sponsler on Issues Facing Colorado’s Corn Farmers…

CLICK HERE to visit the BARN's CO Corn Monthly Webpage for ARCHIVED EDITIONS

mark Sponsler, CEO Colorado Corn

August 23rd – Mark Sponsler, CEO of Colorado Corn is my guest again this month discussing several issues effecting Colorado’s Corn Producers including:

• NCGA’s Agri Council Meetings in Tucson, AZ last week
• CME Raising the Daily Limit on Corn this week to 40 cents/bushel vs 30 cents/bushel
• CO Corn Board Meetings This Week…special guest NCGA President Bart Schott & Agenda
• CO Corn/Salvation Army Grain Donation Project Update
• Upcoming Colorado Ag Classic Dec 7-8 @ Embasssy Suites in Loveland, CO
• 139th CO State Fair & CO Corn’s Booth in the Ag Pavillion Aug 25th – Sept 5th
• & MUCH MORE

Listen to the interview with Mark Sponsler, CEO of Colorado Corn…

082311_CoCornMonthly_MarkSponsler_16m55s 

08-23-11 *CO 4H News* State 4H Fashion Revue Winners Named @ CO State Fair in Pueblo Aug 20th

CLICK HERE to view a schedule for the 2011 Morgan County Fair

Maggie Christensen of Brush (right) was named Reserve Grand Champion in the Clothing Construction Division of the 2011 State 4-H Fashion Revue. Grand Champion went to Eric Gauck of El Paso County pictured on the left.

Maggie Christensen of Brush was named Reserve Grand Champion of Clothing Construction at the State 4-H Fashion Revue held in Pueblo August 20.

Maggie modeled a gray and white pinstripe romper constructed from a vintage pattern which she adapted to include current fashion trends.  She selected the fabric for her outfit while on the 4-H Exchange trip to New York in July.  Maggie selected black accessories for the finished look.

Maggie was named Construction Grand Champion at the Morgan County Fashion Revue held the end of July in conjunction with the Morgan County Fair.   She is the daughter of Brian and Deanna Christensen of Fort Morgan.

Also participating from Morgan County in the State Fashion Revue was Megan McMinn, daughter of Cary and Shari McMinn of Fort Morgan.  Megan modeled in the artistic clothing division.  Her original creation floor-length gown was decorated with hand-sewn beaded appliqués and tulle.