10-07-11 WEB SOIL SURVEY TO BE FEATURED AT 2011 SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL FARM AND RANCH SHOW

Farmers and ranchers attending the 2011 San Antonio International Farm and Ranch Show on Nov. 10-12 at the Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall, 3201 East Houston Street, will have the opportunity to learn how to use the Web Soil Survey (WSS) at the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) booth. NRCS specialists will also be on hand to visit with landowners about the free conservation technical and financial assistance programs to help them meet their short and long-term land management goals.

Attendees can receive a personal hands-on demonstration of Web Soil Survey. Most all of the counties in Texas have a soil survey.  A soil survey is an inventory of the different soil types and their location in the county. The soil survey provides aerial maps with soil boundaries, soil descriptions, and tables of soil properties and shows how the soil can be used. The soil survey data is available free of charge online on the Web Soil Survey athttp://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/ and the Soil Data Mart at http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/.

WSS can assist landowners in making decisions relative to farming and ranching operations, for example, differences in ecological sites and the plants capable of growing on that site, erosive soils, which soil sites will provide the greatest benefit from aerial spraying or other brush management practices.

10-07-11 36th American Agri-Women Convention set for Nov. 10-13 in Wichita, KS

Learn, share, energize at “Sharing America’s Harvest”

Oct. 7, 2011, WICHITA, Kan., (AgPR) – Women involved in agriculture from throughout the U.S. and Canada will head to Wichita, KS, Nov. 10-13 for the 36th annual American Agri-Women (AAW) convention. Their purpose reflects the mission of the 40,000-member organization: Gather resources and knowledge to represent the agriculture industry in an educated, professional and passionate manner.

Kansas Agri-Women, a state affiliate, is hosting the event. The convention’s theme is “Sharing America’s Harvest.” Download the convention registration form here.

Speakers and programs will cover the latest issues in agriculture, including sustainability, marketing, advocacy and more. Keynote speakers include:

·         Kyle Bauer, general manager of KFRM, a leading ag radio station

·         Dr. Jay Lehr, author, The Heartland Institute science director, and environmental and groundwater expert

·         Ted Schroeder, Kansas State University ag economics professor and commodity marketing expert

·         Judge Tommy B. Webb, Kansas District Magistrate Judge, and leadership and motivational speaker

Break-out sessions will cover such key topics as animal welfare, estate planning and property rights. The sessions will also provide training on social media, leadership, and more to give attendees tools for their own farms, ranches and agribusinesses, and for their work representing agriculture. View the full agenda here.

Additional details:

10-07-11 US Senator Bennet (D-CO) Announces Bipartisan Proposal to Extend PILT, SRS

 Washington, DC – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today unveiled a bipartisan plan that will extend the life of two initiatives that direct resources to Colorado counties to support local schools, county maintenance programs, forest management and other critical programs.

The proposal would fully fund the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program for an additional five years.  PILT compensates counties for federal land that cannot be a source of property taxes. Colorado counties shared more than $27 million in PILT payments in the 2011 fiscal year.

The plan would also extend for five years the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, a program that supports counties that rely economically on national forest lands.

“In these challenging economic times, local governments have had to make cuts to crucial programs to make ends meet,” Bennet said. “The PILT Program and Secure Rural Schools and the Community Self-Determination Act have been lifelines for financially strapped counties and local businesses. This bipartisan agreement will ensure that we continue to make smart investments in our communities.”

10-07-11 CO Gov Hickenlooper appoints Gerald Keefe as 15th Judicial District County Judge

DENVER ­— Friday, Oct. 7, 2011 — Gov. John Hickenlooper announced today the appointment of Gerald Keefe to serve as a county court judge in the 15^th Judicial District (Cheyenne, Kiowa, Prowers and Baca counties).

Keefe is an educator who has worked as superintendent of schools for the Kit Carson R-1 School District since 1994. He also serves as a member of the Colorado Association of School Executives and was the Chair of the Colorado Rural Schools Caucus from 2004-2010.

Keefe earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado. He has lived inCheyenne Wells for 54 years.

Keefe’s appointment is effective Nov. 1.

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