*CO HS 1A 6-Man Football* Briggsdale @ Prairie RESULTS…WATCH IT AGAIN on iHigh.com!

RESULTS – Prairie over Briggsdale 39-6

CLICK HERE for STATS

09-16-11 US Senator Bennet (D-CO) Introduces Bipartisan Agriculture Research Bill to Spur Innovation, Strengthen Agriculture in Colorado, Across America

Denver, CO – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, joined Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Senator John Thune (R-SD) and six others to introduce a bipartisan bill that will spur new agricultural research, leveraging private dollars to create charitable partnerships between universities and private entities to strengthen and improve American agriculture.

The bill, the Charitable Agricultural Research Act, amends the tax code to allow for the creation of a new type of charitable, tax-exempt organization, agricultural research organizations, similar to medical research organizations which have been in existence since the 1950s. This bill comes on the heels of Bennet’s discussions with farmers, ranchers and rural communities in August, including one at the Arkansas Valley Research Center, which has conducted agricultural research for more 120 years.

“Colorado’s agricultural producers work day in and day out to provide our country with a reliable, safe supply of food, fiber and fuel,” said Bennet. “Colorado is already leading the way in agricultural research and innovation, whether to protect our natural resources or increase productivity, and now our agricultural research community will have additional support to help strengthen this important aspect of Colorado’s economy.”

09-16-11 CO Governor’s Energy Office Selected for DOE Funding Award

GEO to extend Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) program to private market

Denver, Colorado.  The Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) has received notification of a funding award from the Department of Energy to help leverage state, private and utility capital in an effort to identify and address policy, regulatory, and market barriers to implementing energy efficiency projects in the large private commercial market.

The GEO will use this funding to help buy-down the cost of investment grade energy audits and extend the services of its Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) program which currently serves public sector agencies exclusively to the private sector on a pilot basis. During the pilot, the GEO will work closely with each participant to identify barriers specific to its sector. At this point, the barriers will be documented, evaluated, and addressed using policy mechanisms at the state level. Ultimately, this effort will result in significantly increased market penetration of energy efficiency retrofits in currently underserved private market sectors and help shape a more market friendly regulatory environment.

09-16-11 USDA Forest Service Waives Fees on National Public Lands Day Sept 24th Nationwide

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2011 – The Forest Service is waiving fees at hundreds of recreation sites across the country on Saturday, Sept. 24 in recognition of Public Lands Day.

The Forest Service has more than 60 project sites for initiatives across the country participating in this hands-on, national volunteer effort to improve America’s lands.  Local Forest Service activities may range from building and maintaining trails, cleaning waterways, pulling invasive weeds to sprucing up campgrounds.

“Public Lands Day provides a great opportunity for people from all walks of life to get out and enjoy our beautiful forests and grasslands,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.  “In many parts of the country, late September is the perfect time to view amazing fall colors as you get out and enjoy the woods.”

This year’s theme supports President Obama’s Great Outdoors (AGO) initiative as well as First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Outside program.  AGO helps to raise awareness about the challenges natural resources face today and the benefits public lands offer  Americans.  Let’s Move Outside promotes regular outdoor activity to help kids maintain a healthy weight, boost immunity and lower stress.

09-16-11 *CSU NEWS* Afghanistan, Pakistan agricultural ministries to meet with Colorado State University faculty on six-day tour starting Saturday

FORT COLLINS - A group of 10 officials from agriculture ministries in Afghanistan and Pakistan will meet with Colorado State University faculty members beginning Saturday to learn about irrigation and water-conservation practices that could help spark economic development in the war-torn region.

The six-day study tour is organized in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is part of a research effort called the Trilateral Watershed Rehabilitation and Irrigation Program. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service recently awarded $500,000 to Ajay Jha, a researcher in CSU’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, to help lead the program.

“Our goal is to help promote sustainable agriculture in partner countries by exchanging information about irrigation technologies, and soil and water conservation practices, that can help improve agricultural production systems,” Jha said. “Helping people in these countries to manage water in agricultural settings is critical to food production and to the much larger goals of peace and prosperity.”

09-16-11 Power Take-off Safety Is Important for Parents and Children

Progressive Agriculture Foundation shares the dangers PTOs present and the tips to reduce PTO-related injury and death among children.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 16, 2011 — Power take-off devices (PTOs), though incredibly useful on farms and ranches, can be extremely dangerous to people, rotating at 540 to 1,000 revolutions per minute (RPM), or nine to 16 revolutions per second. These energy-transferring machines that generally work to move energy from a tractor to a smaller device such as a grain auger, hay baler or pump can present extremely hazardous situations to humans, especially children.

One of the most common injuries that occurs with PTOs is PTO entanglement. Due to the rapid rotation, people often get caught by the fast-moving PTO shaft and injured before they have time to react to the situation.

“The demonstrations we often do during Safety Days show what happens to a straw-filled dummy when it comes into contact with a rotating PTO shaft. This is a great opportunity for kids to really see firsthand just what these machines are capable of. If even one life is saved from these dangerous devices, our work is well worth it,” says Bernard Geschke, program specialist with the Progressive Agriculture Foundation^® (PAF), an organization that helps rural communities provide safety and health education to children ages 8 to 13.

As a parent, there are several things you can teach your child to reduce the likelihood of a PTO-related injury or death. Educate your children on the importance of doing the following: 

09-16-11 Back to School – Healthful Snacks for Kids! From the Colorado Wheat Administrative Committee and Wheat Foods Council

September 16, 2011, Fort Collins, Colo. - As August has ended and September has begun, why not change up the summer recipes for some fall recipes rich in whole grains? These recipes have to be conducive to all the soccer, football, ballet, or baseball practices and we must not forget the bouncing around in the backpack all day!  To help combat all of these added energy needs we are providing you with a recipe for “Get Going Granola Bars” that will be perfect for your going back to school schedule and budget.  These granola bars will be easy to pack for the kids to take when they rush out of the house in the morning and will give them that extra kick of healthy energy they need to have an amazing practice after school.  Sara Olsen of the Colorado Wheat Administrative Committee reminds you that adding a carbohydrate snack, like these bars, gives a boost of energy to help the body run, think, move and jump! Try these granola bars to help keep your children going and keep in mind that you can change the fruit and spices in the recipe to suit anything your little ones desire!

Get Going Granola Bars

Ingredients:

09-16-11 Fall Harvest Is Time to Remind Children of the Dangers Posed by Grain on the Farm

National Farm Safety and Health Week is good time for parents to educate children on the dangers of grain.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 16, 2011 — The 2011 harvest will soon be under way, and with National Farm Safety and Health Week occurring Sept. 18–24, now is a good time to remind children how dangerous grain can be during harvest and throughout the year as it is transported and stored on the farm. Grain safety is often a high-priority topic during Progressive Agriculture Safety Days^®, which teaches children 8 to 13 years of age things they need to know to remain safe and healthy on a farm or ranch.

Though grain may not seem to be an obvious risk on a farm or ranch, the dangers of grain during harvest, transport and storage may be deadly. Adults and children alike die every year from grain incidents that are highly preventable. 2010 was a record year for grain-related deaths. Fifty-one grain accidents occurred and 25 people died — five being children under the age of 16. The most common occurrences include suffocation when grain bridges collapse, or being trapped by flowing grain or by an avalanche of a vertical grain wall.

Grain safety is a high-priority topic.

09-16-11 Vilsack Announces Funding for More Than 500 Projects to Boost Renewable Energy Production, Reduce Energy Costs for Producers and Rural Small Businesses…$253K for CO

CO DEER HILL, INC MANCOS $27,950 0 SOLAR
CO HIGH COUNTRY ORCHARDS, LLC PALISADE $49,294 0 SOLAR
CO JACK C. GILLELAND, LLC DBA GILLELAND FAR LA JARA  $150,865 0 SOLAR
CO MANWEILER HARDWARE, INC. WINDSOR  $25,779 0 SOLAR
Total CO $253,888

Rural Small Businesses and Producers Receive Support to Assist In Job Creation

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2011 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced loans and grants for more than 500 agricultural producers and rural small businesses across the country to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in their operations.

“This funding is an important part of the Obama Administration’s plan to help the nation’s farmers, agricultural producers and rural small businesses conserve natural resources, create more green jobs and lead us on the path to becoming an energy independent nation,” Vilsack said. “These projects are in addition to the more than 900 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects recently announced during the President’s Rural Economic Forum.”

09-16-11 USFRA: Let’s All Come to the Table…

09-16-11 *USDA TV News* US AG SECRETARY VILSACK TELLS FARMERS TO GET NOTICED

09-16-11 NAWG Weekly Wheat Digest

Obama and Boehner Look to Expand Super Committee’s Task
President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) both added this week to the super committee’s already-considerable to-do list, while the director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said the panel must decide on any substantial changes by early November to meet its deadlines.
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Bipartisan Bill Would Establish Charitable Ag Research Groups
Bipartisan bills introduced in the House and Senate on Thursday would establish the legal structure for tax-exempt organizations focusing on agricultural research.
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USFRA’s “The Food Dialogues” Town Hall Set for Thursday
The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) will hold its first public outreach event – The Food Dialogues – on Sept. 22 online and in four locations around the country.
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USGC Global Update for September 15, 2011‏

Council’s Take on USDA’s September WASDE – Page 1
Council Marks Progress on Tunis Grain Lab - Page 1
USGC Consultant Boosts Mycotoxin Understanding in Taiwan – Page 2
Nebraskans-Taiwanese Sign Letter of Intent for PLA Purchases  – Page 2
USDA’s Weekly Export Sales Highlights for September 2-8, 2011 - Page 3
Regional DDGS and Corn Gluten Buyers Conferences in Panama City and Geneva – Page 4
Council Activity Calendar – Page 4-5