09-13-11 *NCGA News* Apply Now! Scholarships for College Ag Students Available

The National Corn Growers Association and BASF Corporation will again award five $1,000 scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field during the 2012-13 school year.

“NCGA understands that, to remain successful as an industry, it must focus on agricultural education and fighting the rural ‘brain drain’,” said Brandon Hunnicutt, NCGA’s Grower Services Action Team Chair. “This program is an important component of NCGA’s commitment to fostering youth in agriculture and to the future of our rural communities. It is an investment in the future of our industry.”

Applicants for the NCGA Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program must be entering at least their second undergraduate year or any year of graduate study, and they, or a parent or legal guardian, must be an NCGA member.

Scholarship applications must be postmarked on or before Dec. 9. Scholarship recipients will be selected in early 2012. Recipients and a parent or guardian will enjoy travel and lodging to attend a portion of the 2012 Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn., to be recognized at the NCGA Awards Banquet and have the opportunity to learn more about modern agriculture.

This marks the fifth year for the program partnership between BASF and NCGA.

Click here for the complete rules and application packet.

09-13-11 Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust 2010 Annual Report

CCALT has just released the 2010 Annual Report. 2010 was a very successful year and we would like to thank all of our funders, donors and supporters for helping us to achieve our organizational and financial goals!

Click here for a link to the 2010 Annual Report

09-13-11 State Federation of Beef Councils OP ED: In Our Beef Checkoff, Results Matter Most

OpEd By David Dick, Beef Producer, Sedalia, Missouri Chairman, Federation of State Beef Councils

As I’ve visited with cattlemen and women throughout the country about the Beef Checkoff Program, one message rings loudest: Results matter most. Those who pay the $1-per-head beef checkoff want a successful and effective program that builds beef demand – but one that efficiently utilizes funds without waste.

That view was reinforced at the 2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Kissimmee, Fla., in August. With decreasing cattle numbers and, consequently, reduced checkoff income, cattlemen and women at the meeting expressed their insistence on focusing on programs that get the most bang for the buck. This is especially true when today’s dollar has one quarter the buying power it did when the checkoff started 25 years ago.

Producer directors on the Federation of State Beef Councils recognize the financial situation we’re in. That’s why we see it as critical to continue a strong state and national partnership that builds on the strong foundation we built down through the years. That foundation goes back as far as the National Live Stock and Meat Board, which was established in 1922 and which created the Beef Industry Council (BIC) in 1963. The foundation also has 45 separate and interesting stories in the Qualified State Beef Councils that make up the Federation, and are the backbone of the national mandatory checkoff program.

Its History Protected

The checkoff program today is what producers have said they wanted since the Beef Industry Council was around in the 1960s, and what producers began developing in the late 1970s. That’s when mandatory checkoffs were first proposed.

09-13-11 Access Control Plan for US 34 Business Route…Project Kickoff Meeting Set for October 5th

    Fort Collins, Colorado—The North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) is pleased to announce the project initiation of the US 34 Business Route Access Control Plan (ACP). The plan will cover the stretch of US 34 Business between State Highway 257 and 35th Avenue in Greeley.   (The Business Route is also known as 10th Street.)  The NFRMPO will partner with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the City of Greeley, and Weld County to prepare this plan.

    The goals are to enhance safety on US 34 Business for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, to keep traffic flowing freely as volumes increase, to accommodate transit stops and circulation, and to provide the appropriate level of access to the properties adjacent to the highway.

   

09-13-11 CDA Encourages Public to Comment on Animal Disease Traceability System…Branding will continue in Colorado

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – There is still time for the public to comment on a proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).  The rule is a vital step in protecting animal health, the food system and consumers.

“The Colorado Department of Agriculture endorses the proposed rule; we believe it will work in unison with programs we already have in place to protect Colorado’s food system and livestock in the event of a disease outbreak,” said Colorado State Veterinarian, Dr. Keith Roehr.

“There has been some confusion over the role of livestock branding in relation to the proposed system; CDA’s Brands division plays a fundamental role in verifying livestock ownership in Colorado and all brand states and this will not change under the proposed rule,” said Brand Commissioner, Rick Wahlert.  “While a brand is not defined as official identification in the proposed rule, there are provisions that enable states to use a brand to move cattle interstate.”

USDA supports the use of brands to identify cattle moving interstate. Further, USDA recognizes

the value of brands and their prevalence in the western United States. The approach in the proposed regulation will provide flexibility for States and Tribes to use brands for complying

with the proposed requirements for interstate movement.

The framework of the proposed rule:

09-13-11 COLORADO LAUNCHES PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) announced today the deployment of a new public safety communications training program designed specifically for law enforcement and other first responders – like fire, medical, general government, transportation, utilities, public health, and school officials. During incidents such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and high-speed police chases, multiple agencies engaged in the response require real-time coordination and communications interoperability. The Colorado Interoperability Training Program provides one-of-a-kind instruction on how to communicate effectively across these public safety agencies and how to operate complex portable and console radio equipment.

“Colorado is at the leading edge with training for communications interoperability,” explained Chris Essid, Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) Director. “Colorado has developed a wealth of resources to improve interoperable communications statewide and to benefit first responders and emergency managers. Training is a critical part of improving interoperable communications nationwide and this training program is a first of its kind.”

09-13-11 *NCBA News* Six Strains of Non-O157 STECs Declared as Adulterants by USDA

—BIFSCo Membership Pledges to Bring Industry Together to Address Implementation of New non-O157 STEC Policy

DENVER (Sept. 13, 2011) – Bo Reagan, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association senior vice president of Research, Education and Innovation and chairman of the Beef Industry Food Safety Council (BIFSCo) membership organization issued the following statement regarding the U.S.  Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement today, Sept. 13, 2011, to declare six strains of non-O157 shiga toxin-producing E. coli(non-O157 STECs) an adulterant and to require testing for the six strains beginning March 5, 2012.

“The members of BIFSCo have long had a commitment to provide the foundation for producing a safe and wholesome food supply. This is consistent with our industry’s history and our long-term efforts to continually improve. The industry has come together to gain knowledge and close gaps in science because to our industry, safety is not a competitive issue.

09-13-11 *Pioneer News* Addressing Corn Nematode Problems Can Increase Corn Yields…

 

Pioneer Hi-Bred experts give insights into growing nematode problems

DES MOINES, Iowa,, Sept. 13, 2011 – Corn nematodes can be overlooked as a cause of yield-loss in corn, say experts at Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business.
Growers are seeing corn nematodes as an increasing problem in their fields. One reason is simply greater awareness of corn nematodes. This has been driven by improvements in testing methods which has increased the ability to detect infestations, thus recording higher numbers of incidents. Changes in production practices are also contributing factors.
“Common practices among growers may cause increases in corn nematodes,” says Mark Jeschke, Pioneer agronomy research manager. These include reduced tillage and planting corn following corn, which are known to favor some nematode species. “In addition, many older corn rootworm insecticides also provided some level of nematode control, whereas newer insecticides and Bt traits do not,” Jeschke says.

09-13-11 *CSP News* Summer’s ‘100 Days of Heat’ Ends, Fall DUI Crackdown Begins

CDOT, CSP & MADD Encourage Getting Sober Designated Drivers

Denver – The summer DUI crackdown known as “100 Days of Heat” has ended, but a new one has replaced it aimed at those who drink and drive after fall festivals and celebrations.  The Fall DUI Crackdown started Friday, Sept. 9^th and will continue through Monday, Oct. 24^th.

“Even though it’s not yet officially fall, the signs of the season have already started including football tailgating parties, homecoming events and Oktoberfest celebrations. We want people to have fun at these traditional fall events, but if you plan on drinking alcohol, please designate a sober driver or face the consequences of a DUI arrest,” said Colonel James Wolfinbarger, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol.

In an effort to reduce the number of DUI arrests and fatalities this fall, troopers from the Colorado State Patrol, and volunteers from the Colorado Department of Transportation and Mothers Against Drunk Driving Colorado will be outside Sports Authority Field at Mile High to sign up designated drivers at tonight’s Denver Broncos game and at other homes games this season.

09-13-11 *National FFA News* FFA membership skyrockets to all-time high; more than 17,000 new students join organization

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011/National FFA Organization) – In the past year, more than 17,000 new students have joined FFA, setting a new all-time high in the organization’s membership since founded in 1928.

During the 2010-11 school year, FFA membership grew to a record 540,379 students, up 17,070 students from 523,309 members in the 2009-10 school year. The number of FFA chapters in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also grew with the creation of 106 new, chartered FFA chapters.

Texas tops the list of states with the largest FFA membership with 81,694 students, followed by California with 70, 555, Georgia with 31,616, Missouri with 25,096 and Oklahoma with 23,562. The 10 largest FFA chapters are all in California.

Texas also tops all states for largest FFA membership growth during the 2010-11 school year, followed by California, North Carolina, Georgia and Utah. FFA chapters can now be found in 18 of the 20 largest U.S. cities, including New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia.