09-20-11 *NCGA News of the Day* Drought, Water Pumping Restrictions Put the Heat on Texas Corn Production

This piece is an installment in a series launched this spring featuring interviews with executives from organizations representing corn growers at the state level on the specific issues affecting their growers.

Today, Off the Cob speaks with Texas Corn Producers Board Executive Director David Gibson about the devastating drought that has severely impacted corn growers across his state this growing season. As water pumping restrictions on the high plains continue to decrease farmers’ ability to irrigate, Gibson looks at how a lack of water will impact corn production and necessitate the import of feed grains from out-of-state in order to supply the thriving livestock industry.

Even in a summer plagued by record heat waves, hurricanes and flooding, the severe drought conditions in Texas have grabbed media headlines repeatedly. Now, agricultural economists forecast that agriculture as a whole in the state will lose a record $5.2 billion in 2011.

09-20-11 CCA Hay & Pasture Guide…

09-20-11 The Ag Minute: One Year Later, Lawmakers Still Wait for Cost-Benefit Analysis of GIPSA Rule

WASHINGTON – This week during The Ag Minute, Chairman Frank Lucas discusses the importance of transparent economic analysis in federal rulemaking.  A year has gone by since a group of lawmakers sent aletter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack requesting a public report on the costs and benefits of the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule.  Last week, Cass Sunstein, the administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget, agreed that public analysis is important.  During a hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Sunstein said that “it is fundamentally important for economic analyses to be available for public review.”  The administration has yet to complete and release such an analysis, however.

Click here to listen to The Ag Minute. The transcript is below.

09-20-11 NCBA Accepting Public Policy Intern Applications

WASHINGTON (Sept. 20, 2011) – National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts said NCBA is seeking applications for its public policy and communications internship.

“It is important for college students preparing to enter the workforce to have real-world job experience. NCBA’s public policy and communications internship provides them with that experience and allows them to be a part of our government affairs team that works day in and day out to ensure ranchers are able to continue raising cattle and producing high-quality, healthy beef,” Butts said. “We encourage college juniors, seniors or graduate students who have an interest in public policy and the beef industry to consider applying for the internship.”

09-20-11 NCBA Redbooks Available for Purchase

DENVER (Sept. 20, 2011) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has developed Integrated Resource Management (IRM) Redbooks for more than 20 years in order to help cattlemen and women keep better production records and enhance the profitability of their operations.

The 2012 Redbooks are available for purchase online at the NCBA store (www.beefusa.org/store). Book can also be purchased by calling NCBA Manager of Educational Materials Grace Webb at gwebb@beef.org or by calling 1-800-525-3085. Webb said the IRM Redbooks consist of more than 100 pages to record calving activity, herd health, pasture use, sales and much more.

09-20-11 Taiwan Feed Millers, U.S. Grains Council Sign Joint Letter Outlining Purchase Plans

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 20, 2011 – Leaders from Taiwan’s Feed Industry Association (TFIA) have signed a formal letter of intent today announcing plans to purchase from 7.7 million metric tons to as much as 10.5 million tons (303-413 million bushels) of U.S. corn and a half to three-quarters of a million tons of corn co-products such as distillers dried grains and corn gluten in 2012 and 2013.

“For U.S. farmers, Taiwan is a long-established and deeply valued customer and partner,” said U.S. Grains Council Past Chairman Terry Vinduska, who signed the letter on behalf of the Council at a formal ceremony in the U.S. Capitol.

“Taiwan is the sixth-largest export market for U.S. agriculture, and our fifth-largest corn market,” he noted. “This letter of intent is the latest in Taiwan’s unique tradition of goodwill missions to announce its plans. It represents a promise of more than 300 million, maybe as much as 400 million bushels of corn exports.”

09-20-11 USW, State Wheat Commissions Host Japanese Milling Managers

ARLINGTON, Virginia — A team of mid-level managers from four flour milling companies in Japan are visiting the United States through Sept. 24 on an educational tour sponsored by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW). In Fargo, ND, and Portland, OR, the millers will learn more about wheat breeding innovations, the latest crop quality data and how the U.S. wheat export system benefits buyers. Japan has imported, on average, more U.S. wheat than any other country for many years and is the largest importer of U.S. hard red spring (HRS) and soft white (SW) wheat. The North Dakota Wheat Commission, Northern Crops Institute, Oregon Wheat Commission, Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, Wheat Marketing Center, private exporters, elevator operators and wheat farmers will meet with the team during their visit. 

“These future leaders of Japan’s milling industry are keenly aware of how important it is to understand where their wheat comes from and how the U.S. wheat industry works to ensure the highest possible quality and safety,” said Japan Country Director Wataru “Charlie” Utsunomiya, who is traveling with the team. “We know that these customers are reassured by making a personal connection with U.S. wheat farmers and others in the industry.” 

U.S. wheat farmers have maintained this close connection since 1949, when the Oregon Wheat Growers League (OWGL) organized a trade delegation to Japan. Following that trip, a variety of marketing and educational activities were started in Japan to promote U.S. wheat, including a school lunch program and a “Kitchen on Wheels” that travelled through rural Japan from 1956 to 1960. 

09-07-11 *RMFU News* Farm Groups Arrange Public Meeting at May Farms Sept 22nd to Review EPA Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Program

Elbert/Lincoln and East Adams/Arapahoe County Farmers Unions, FUSA Insurance agents John Hickey (Limon) and Dan Weller (Strasburg), the Colorado Corn Growers and the Colorado Wheat Growers are hosting a public information meeting to let farmers and ranchers know their obligations under the Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) program.

The meeting will be September 22, 2011, at May Farms in Byers, Colorado, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at six. The meeting is open to the public and presented as a public service. Names of attendees will not be collected. RSVP for dinner to 303.622.4717 or 719.775.2859.

Guest speakers Jim Martin, Jim Peterson and Jennifer Schuller, from the Region Eight EPA office, will review the steps farmers and ranchers need to take to comply with the updated program.

09-20-11 USDA Forest Service launches expanded Fall Colors 2011 website

Hotline provides information for peak viewing and trip planning

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2011 — Fall Colors 2011 is underway with the U.S. Forest Service leading the charge to urge people to get outdoors, spend time in rural communities, and enjoy one of nature’s most spectacular seasons.

“Fall is a special time when nature’s work transforms our landscapes into a natural patchwork of vibrant hues,” said Tom Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. “Because the Forest Service is the national source for tree expertise, we are ready to help Americans plan their trips and appreciate the incredible show.”

For many rural communities, leaf peeping is a major source of revenue. Hotels, restaurants and local shops rely on the influx of dollars generated by the fall visitors.

From coast to coast, state and local economies are boosted because of the fall season.  For example, the New England area receives an estimated $8 billion annually to local revenues. Throughout the Midwest, millions of visitors hit the road to enjoy the sights. In the West, the mountains provide destinations filled with tourists seeking a glimpse of shimmering gold aspens. Weather conditions in all areas impact peak viewing dates, so information provided on the Forest Service website will help visitors best plan their trips.

The agency’s revamped Fall Colors 2011 website includes clickable maps that link to forest-by-forest fall color information and to state tourism and fall color websites. Fall Colors 2011 also offers a variety of family activities such as coloring pages for kids, instructions on how to make a leaf book and links to a tree database. Photographs from visitors nationwide will be added to the site throughout the season.

Following tradition, the Forest Service also turned on its Fall Colors Hotline – 1-800-354-4595. The hotline provides audio updates on the best places, dates and routes to take for peak viewing of fall colors on national forests.

The mission of the U.S. Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Recreational activities on our lands contribute $14.5 billion annually to the U.S. economy. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.

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09-20-11 Fuzion Technologies, LLC of Colorado nominated and shortlisted for 3 major global awards

Fort Collins, Colo. (AgPR), Sept. 20, 2011 — Colorado based crop protection company, Fuzion Technologies, LLC, www.fuzionag.com, was nominated for and has made the shortlist of nominees in three categories at the Global Agrow Awards to be held in London, England on November 1, 2011. The Agrow Awards ceremony is the premier showcase for excellence in global Crop Protection and Production Industry.

Fuzion Technologies has been shortlisted in the following categories:

09-20-11 Senate Moves One Step Closer to Finalizing Trade Agreements — NCBA Urges Reid to Act Swiftly to Advance FTAs

WASHINGTON (Sept. 20, 2011) – Yesterday evening, Sept. 19, 2011, the U.S. Senate voted 84 to 8 to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed with the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) legislation. According to National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Manager of Legislative Affairs Kent Bacus, the Senate took the first step necessary toward passing pending Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

“This procedural vote was a critical step toward ending the multi-year delay on passing pending trade pacts that would stimulate the economy and create jobs,” said Bacus. “This legislation is one of the many requirements President Obama has demanded before he will send the agreements to Congress.”

Bacus said the Senate is likely to consider many amendments to the GSP legislation. Bacus expects the legislation to eventually pass and then go before the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote. He said the president likely will delay sending the trade agreements to Congress until the House passes the GSP bill. As far as predicting a timeline for the FTAs, Bacus said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) “holds the cards.”

09-20-11 Colorado Farm Bureau Statement Grant Family Farms Vandalism…$500 Reward Offered for Information

The Grant Family Farm’s mobile chicken coops were recently vandalized. Donated school buses turned chicken condos previously adorned with children’s paintings have been defaced with images of swastikas and anti-gay slurs. Grant Family Farm is one of Colorado’s first organic farms. They play a large role in the community and provide thousands of pounds of food to those in need.

“It is sad to see this happen to one of our members who is trying to provide his community with healthy, wholesome food,” said Troy Bredenkamp, Executive Vice President of Colorado Farm Bureau, “We will not tolerate this criminal behavior or any type of vandalism against farmers and ranchers.”

Colorado Farm Bureau is offering a $500 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the vandals. If anyone has information about this incident, they are asked to contact the Larimer County Sherriff at (970) 416-1985.

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Colorado Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving and improving the agriculture industry, rural communities, and the Colorado economy, through member involvement in education, policy activities, programs and services.

09-20-11 NACD Calls on Congress to Support Forest Conservation in 2012 Farm Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Sept. 20, 2011—The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and other members of the Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition (FIFB) sent a letter to members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees offering recommendations for the 2012 Farm Bill. Signed by 70 groups representing conservationists, forest owners, hunters, anglers, forest-product manufacturers, and natural resource professionals, the letter urges Congress to pass a Farm Bill that enables forest conservation on private forests and surrounding rural landscapes, while supporting the creation and maintenance of forest-dependent rural jobs and strong rural economies in forest communities.

“Forests play a critical role in providing clean air, clean water and healthy habitat across the nation,” NACD President Gene Schmidt said. “It’s important that forest landowners are able to participate in Farm Bill conservation programs and receive the technical assistance necessary to implement on-the-ground conservation practices to ensure the sustainability of America’s forests and other natural resources.”

Specifically, the groups are calling for a Farm Bill which: (1) includes strong provisions for forests in conservation Programs, (2) strengthens forestry outreach, education, research, and inventory programs, (3) combats forest-related invasive species, and (4) improves forest market opportunities.

09-20-11 Help for the Cribbing Horse: Dr. Getty’s September Tip

CLICK HERE to listen to Dr Getty on this month's edition of the Getty Equine Nutrition Corner inside the BARN...

Your horse presses his top teeth against a solid object, arches his neck, and swallows air in a rocking motion. A grunting or gulping noise emerges. This is cribbing. Its true cause is unknown but genetics along with stressful circumstances appear to be the underlying problems. Cribbing is such a seriously addictive habit that many horses will actually prefer it to eating and will slowly waste away.

Early weaning can lead to this negative behavior later in adult horses and while there’s nothing you can do to change the past, you can take measures to reduce the physical discomfort and mental strains that contribute to cribbing. Cribbing collars are tormenting. They may discourage the behavior but they do not relieve the urge. Managing your horse’s conditions will help lessen the behavior. Here are some suggestions:

·         Provide freedom to graze and roam. This will have a remarkable effect on stopping this habit. If this is not feasible, give him as much outdoor space as possible.

·         Keep hay in front of your horse. This one simple change will calm your horse’s demeanor.

·         Do not isolate your horse. Isolation increases a horse’s stress. And be assured: Non-cribbers will not “catch” the cribbing habit by seeing another horse do it.

·         Consider ulcers. Stress, forage restriction, and stalling can lead to ulcers. Cribbing is often a result. Basic nutritional management to cure ulcers includes free-choice hay, water consumption, avoiding starchy feeds (such as oats and corn) and sweet feeds, and restoring microbial populations through probiotic use.

Dr. Juliet Getty has taught and consulted on equine nutrition for more than 20 years. Her website, www.gettyequinenutrition.com, offers a library of helpful articles, a forum on nutrition, and a calendar of appearances, teleconferences and interviews. Dr. Getty’s comprehensive reference book, Feed Your Horse Like A Horse: Optimizing your horse’s nutrition for a lifetime of vibrant health, is available in hardcover and CD-ROM (pdf file) through her website or at Amazon.com. Dr. Getty offers a free (and popular) monthly e-newsletter, “Forage for Thought”; sign up through the website.  Dr. Getty serves as a distinguished advisor to the Equine Sciences Academy, which produces the Whole Horse Symposium (www.thewholehorse.org) to be held October 15-16, 2011 at the National Equestrian Center in Lake St. Louis, MO; check the Symposium schedule for Dr. Getty’s appearances there.  She is also available for individual consultations. Contact Dr. Getty directly at gettyequinenutrition@gmail.com or in Colorado at (970) 884-7187.

09-20-11 Regional EPA Administrator Sets the Record Straight on Feedlot Claims on Callicrate Situation

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) Last year - the Environmental Protection Agency inspected a feedlot in St. Francis, Kansas that disclosed some violations of the feedlot operator permit. The inspector discussed the findings with operator Mike Callicrate and prepared a notice of violation indicating changes that needed to be made. This carried no monetary penalties but instead was an effort to make sure that the operator understood the changes needed to stay consistent with his permit. Shortly after that – Callicrate began attacking EPA online - claiming they said hay was a water pollutant. EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks says the EPA felt they needed to set the record straight…

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