11-14-11 USDA Designates 4 Counties in Nebraska as Primary Natural Disaster Areas, with Assistance Also to Colorado and Kansas

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2011 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated four counties in Nebraska as natural disaster areas due to losses caused severe storms with excessive rain, flash flooding, hail and high winds that occurred May 23-Aug. 11, 2011.

Those counties are:

Arthur                         Hayes                          Hitchcock                    Perkins

“Nebraska producers can continue to count on USDA to provide emergency assistance during difficult times,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “America’s farmers and rural communities are vitally important to our nation’s economy, producing the food, feed, fiber and fuel that continue to help us grow. President Obama and I are committed to using the resources at our disposal to reduce the impact of these disasters on Nebraska producers and help to get those affected back on their feet.”

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Nebraska also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous.

Chase                 Deuel               Dundy             Frontier           Garden                        Grant

Hooker               Keith               Lincoln            McPherson      Red Willow

Farmers and ranchers in the following counties in Colorado and Kansas also qualify for natural disaster assistance because their counties are contiguous:

Colorado                  

Phillips                        Sedgwick

Kansas                      

Rawlins

11-14-11 *US Forest Service News* Forest Service Chief Tidwell announces future advisory committee for Planning Rule

Call for nominations set for later this year

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2011 – The U.S. Forest Service announced today that it will form an advisory committee that will provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on the implementation of the new Planning Rule set for finalization this winter.

The Federal Advisory Committee – which could be formed early next year – will advise the Secretary on how the new rule is implemented. The U.S. Forest Service manages 155 national forests and 20 grasslands that will be affected by the new rule, which, if finalized later this year, will replace a 1982 version.

“This new committee will keep the collaborative momentum going on what has been a remarkably open and transparent process for the country’s first planning rule in 30 years,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “Stakeholder input has been instrumental in allowing us develop a strong draft rule up to this point – we need to continue to tap into our strong partnerships to carry this rule forward.”

11-14-11 Weld County 4-H Mardi Gras…Nov 19th @ Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley!

Snow has come a bit early to the northern plains, making us all look for a way to enjoy our families inside before we start the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  On Saturday, November 19^th you can plan a day of affordable family fun at the Weld County 4-H Mardi Gras Carnival, held at Island Grove’s Exhibition Building from 3 to 9 pm.  This family orientated event is a great place to bring the whole family, from your pre-schooler to your high-schooler.  There is something for everyone in a safe environment where you can play games with the kids then sit down, enjoy a treat and visit with old friends while the kids have the run of the carnival.

Celebrating it’s 49^th year the carnival is open to the public and full of good old fashioned carnival games including Skeet Ball,  Putt-Putt Golf, Cake Walk, Peddle Car Races, Bingo and  of course the ever popular opportunity to put someone into “jail” for the evening.  Each game offers “Mardi Gras Bucks” that the winners can combine together to purchase prizes at the prize booth—the more you win, the bigger the prize you can take home!  A Food Booth is available to purchase lunch and dinner items with lots of goodies including Krautburgers, chili and desserts.

Mardi Gras will be held from 3:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 19th, at the Exhibition Building, Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley.  Admission is FREE and Parking is FREE.  Game tickets cost just $0.25 each.  Come out and enjoy a great Weld County 4-H tradition, the 49^th annual Mardi Gras Carnival.

11-14-11 *DoW-CO News* PWC SETS TURKEY REGS; HONORS BONNY MANAGER

BURLINGTON, Colo. - The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission finalized 2012 regulations for turkey hunting, approved several fishing regulations for the coming year and rejected a citizen petition requesting the use of electronic calls in mountain lion hunting during their monthly meeting in Burlington.

Commissioners also approved changes to the state’s river outfitter regulations to permit a wider range of acceptable personal flotation devices by commercial passengers on regulated river trips during the two-day meeting and workshop, which was held at the Burlington Community Center on 340 South 14th Street in Burlington.

In addition, Commissioners honored Bonny Lake State Park Manager Bob Shade, who has been responsible for operations at the eastern plains recreational oasis for most of the past 25 years. During the past two years, Shade has served as Park Manager at Bonny Lake State Park and John Martin Reservoir State Park, 150 miles away on the Arkansas River. With Bonny Lake State Park closed due to the draining of the reservoir to satisfy Colorado’s obligation under the Republican River Compact, Shade has been reassigned to John Martin State Park. Commissioners presented Shade with an award for excellence in public service.

11-14-11 CO Governor Hickenlooper statement about Anadarko’s expected growth

DENVER ­— Monday, Nov. 14, 2011 — Gov. John Hickenlooper released this statement today after Anadarko Petroleum Corp. announced it plans to add more than 1,200 drilling locations in the Wattenberg field in northeastern Colorado:

“Anadarko’s announcement today shows once again that Colorado is a leader in the energy sector of our country’s economy. We are thrilled to see the company plan a significant investment in Colorado. This expected growth will create jobs and make more revenues available to local communities. We look forward to supporting Anadarko, its workforce of 1,000 people already here and the thousands of contractors it hires throughout the state.

“We also continue to work proactively to maintain the highest safety and environmental standards for oil and gas companies in Colorado, while also cutting permit times and making it easier and more predictable to develop natural gas and oil here. Anadarko’s future expansion in Colorado, on top of our effort last week to launch a multi-state initiative aimed at developing natural gas-fueled vehicles, is further evidence that Colorado is at the center of energy development in this country.”

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11-14-11 Vilsack Announces Funding to Expand and Improve Broadband Services in Rural Areas

Colorado - Eastern Slope Rural Telephone Association, Inc.–$18,725,000 will be used to upgrade the existing fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) network, capable of providing modern broadband services to subscribers in 10 exchanges.

ST. LOUIS, MO, Nov. 14, 2011—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding for 28 telephone utilities to build, expand and improve broadband in their rural service territories across 18 states. The announcement was made on the Secretary’s behalf by USDA Rural Utilities Service Deputy Administrator Jessica Zufolo during an address at the annual meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners in St. Louis, MO.

“Today’s funding will provide residents of these rural communities with high speed internet connections to improve healthcare and educational opportunities and connect to global markets,” Vilsack said. “In addition to providing much needed services to rural businesses and residents, these investments will increase jobs, not just in the near term, but through expanded opportunities in rural areas.”

For example, in Minnesota, Rural Development Broadband Loan Program funds will be used to extend Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative’s existing Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) network to serve rural communities in North Central Minnesota. This project will offer advanced telecommunications services to over 45,710 households and businesses. Paul Bunyan has been operating since 1952 and has been a telecommunications borrower with the Rural Utilities Service since 1953.

In North Dakota, Rural Development funds will be used to expand Polar Communications Mutual Aid Corporation’s Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband system throughout eighteen exchanges. The upgraded system will help meet current and future requirements for delivery of voice, video and high speed data to subscribers. Upon completion of this RUS-funded project, all of Polar’s subscribers will be served with broadband via various technologies.

In Indiana, Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative Inc., (PSC) provides telecommunications services to 5,711 subscribers over approximately 1,148 square miles. This loan will enable PSC to start the process of designing and building FTTP broadband services across its service area. This investment in broadband technology creates the potential for increased business growth, while providing improved telecommunications, entertainment services, educational services, healthcare, and public safety to rural communities in Indiana.

The following list of awardees will receive $478.6 million in funding, contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the agreement with USDA:

11-14-11 Cache La Poudre District FFA Leadership Conference Briggsdale High School…WATCH THE ARCHIVES ON IHIGH.COM!

CLICK HERE to watch the LIVE VIDEO WEBCAST TODAY starting @ 9am +-

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) Nine FFA Chapters from the Cache La Poudre District will be converging upon the town of Briggsdale for their Annual Leadership Workshop.  The keynote speakers include Big Country 97.9 FM Radio Morning Show Hosts Scott & Sadie…Scott James is a former Colorado State Vice-President and a former member of the Valley FFA Chapter. Also taking place at the conference is the District Parli-Pro contest. There are several field trips and workshops planned including a communications workshop featuring the BARN and Brandon Tosti, Western Regional Sales Manager with iHigh.com. Speaking of which as part of the communications workshop, the BARN/BarnMedia will be providing a LIVE Video Webcast of the Opening Session & the Awards Presentation to demonstrate how i-High.com works and give an insight to video webcasting to Cache La Poudre District FFA Chapter Reporters & Historians.

67th CACD Annual Meeting November 14-17, 2011 in Loveland, Colorado

The 2011 CACD Annual Meeting will feature training and motivational presentations by national spokesmen, Ray Ledgerwood. Ray is a native of Eastern Washington State and has B.S. Degree in Agricultural Mechanization and minor in Business Administration. He has worked with conservation districts and their associations since 1979 and is working with the National Association of Conservation Districts as the Pacific Region Representative, the Director of Capacity Building Services and the Director of Leadership Services.  Annual Meeting Agenda 

CLICK HERE for more details

11-14-11 *USDA/NASS Reports* Wheat Outlook…

U.S. Wheat Supplies Slightly Lower This Month

U.S. wheat supplies for 2011/12 are lowered 9 million bushels based on updated production  estimates for the states resurveyed following the September 30 Small Grains report.  Adjustments to production in these states, where significant acreage remained unharvested in  early September, lowers production estimates for hard red spring (HRS) wheat and durum. An  increase in white wheat production is partly offsetting. Projected use for 2011/12 is unchanged  for all wheat; however, domestic food use is projected higher for hard red winter (HRW) wheat  and lower for HRS wheat. Projected exports are raised for HRS and lowered for HRW. All  wheat ending stocks are lowered 9 million bushels in line with the production change. The  season-average farm price is projected lower at $7.05 to $7.75 per bushel compared with $7.10  to $7.90 last month, reflecting the latest reported prices. Increased production reported for Kazakhstan and EU-27 raise this month’s forecasts for  2011/12 world wheat supply, use, and ending stocks. Wheat exports are projected higher for  Russia and EU-27.

SOURCE: USDA/NASS