12-22-11 *CSU – Golden Plains Ext News* Gardening: Begin with the end in mind

By Linda Langelo, Horticulture Program Associate

The title of this article may sound familiar to most of you who have read Stephen Covey’s book titled Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Now what does this have to do with gardening? Habit number Two which is “begin with the end in mind” means who do you want to be and what do you want to do? This habit focuses in on your goals. So in applying this to gardening, it focuses in on what kind of gardener do you want to be and what kind of gardens do you want to create? Success with anything in life comes about with preparation.

If you want to have 100 pounds of produce from your garden in the coming year, we have to be proactive. Proactive is habit one. Life happens because you create moment by moment. Life is built on choices that you make. A garden is carefully designed by you and so is your life through each and every choice. If you do not think through the steps clearly while designing and implementing a successful garden, it will appear by the types of choices you make.

12-22-11 Inside the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Division with Tom Lipetzky…

(The BARN - Briggsdale, CO) Joining me by telephone to discuss the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Division is Tim Larsen, Senior International Trade Specialist.

Topics discussed include:

• RECAP Colorado’s Ag Exports for 2011
• PREVIEW Colorado’s Ag Exports for 2012

To listen to the interview, click the mp3 audio link…122211_CDA_MarketDiv-TimLarsen_24m33s

For more information about the Colroado Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Division - CLICK HERE

First 3 quarters of Colorado Agricultural exports

Jan to Sept 2010 versus 2011 export trends

Colorado’s 2010 agricultural exports grew over 21 percent over 2009 exports to $1.7 billion with shipments to 105 countries.  Colorado’s 2011 agricultural exports are on track to increase an additional 23 percent, increasing exports by an additional $386 million over 2010 levels, to over $2 billion. LOOK BELOW FOR MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION…

12-22-11 McNulty Names Becker Chair of House Appropriations Committee

DENVER—This morning, Speaker of the House Frank McNulty announced that state Rep. Jon Becker will chair the House Appropriations Committee.

“As a freshman member of the Joint Budget Committee, Jon has a keen understanding of our state’s fiscal needs and has done his part to put the brakes on out-of-control spending,” McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, said.  “With Rep. Gerou now chairing the Joint Budget Committee, and Jon at the helm in House Appropriations, we have the perfect team to move our state forward.”

Becker, R-Fort Morgan, added that he is looking forward to his new position:

“House Appropriations is one of the most important committees in the General Assembly.  It’s here that we keep a close eye on spending, and prioritize and decide which bills with fiscal notes move forward.  I look forward to working with my fellow committee members to build a better Colorado.”

The House Appropriations Committee will begin meeting in January.

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12-22-11 Inside the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Pet Animal Care Facilities Act Program with Dr Kate Anderson…

(The BARN - Briggsdale, CO) Joining me by telephone to discuss the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Pet Animal Care Facilities Act Program with Dr Kate Anderson.

Topics discussed include:

• PACFA’s History & Importance
• PACFA’s Mission & Objectives
• Animal Neglect Cases in Colorado UPDATE
• Pet/Animal Care Importance during the Winter

To listen to the interview, click the mp3 audio link…122211_CDA_PACFA_DrKateAnderson_16m24s

For more information about the Colroado Department of Agriculture’s Pet Animal Care Facilities Program - CLICK HERE

12-21-11 *NWS ALERT* Winter Weather Advisory for NE CO…EXPIRED

Issued at: 11:04 AM MST 12/22/11, expires at: 12:15 PM MST 12/22/11

Winter weather advisory has expired. 
The winter weather advisory is no longer in effect.
He snow will continue to decrease across the area through the afternoon, with additional accumulations less than 2 inches.
Roads will remain snow packed.

SOURCE: National Weather Service

12-22-11 *Co Corn News* Colorado Corn Farmers Recognized in National Contest

December 22nd, 2011 - For the second year in a row, a Colorado corn farm has taken a top honor in the National Corn Growers Association Corn Yield Contest.

Ute Mountain Farm & Ranch Enterprise of Towaoc, Colorado, took third place in the No-Till/Strip Till Irrigated Class, the same honor they won last year. This year, their yield was315.1727 compared to 335.9325 bushels per acre last year.

Corn farmers in Holyoke, Springfield, Arapahoe, Stratton, Rocky Ford , Walsh and Pueblo took top honors in the corn yield contest in Colorado. The annual contest is conducted by the National Corn Growers Association and allows corn farmers to compete with their colleagues at both the national and state level. Awards are presented for the highest bushel per acre in a variety of production classes.

The National Corn Yield Contest is in its 47th year and remains NCGA’s most popular program for members. With 8,425 entries, the 2011 NCGA National Corn Yield Contest set a new participation record again this year. This is a 18 percent increase over 2010 (7,125) and an incredible 70 percent increase over 2007 (4,932).

“It’s great to see Colorado represented in this contest at the national level,” said Colorado Corn Executive Director Mark Sponsler. “Our producers have always done a great job of doing more with less and this recognition is evidence on continued progress.”

At the national level, the 18 winners in six production categories had verified yields averaging more than 313.107 bushels per acre, compared to the projected national average of 146.7 bushels per acre in 2011.

While there is no overall contest winner, yields from first, second and third place farmers overall production categories ranged from 277.5 to 429.0 bushels per acre.

The national and state contest winners will be honored at the 2012 Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn. March 1-3. Contest winners will also be featured in a special edition of Farm Journal magazine.

Colorado winners for 2011:

12-22-11 Inside the Colorado Department of Agriculture…Agricultural Chemicals & Groundwater Protection Program with Rob Rob Wawrzynski

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) Joining me by telephone to discuss the CDA’s Agricultural Chemicals & Groundwater Protection Program is it’s manager Rob Wawrzynski. Topics discussed include:

• ACGPP History
• Importance of pesticide disposal
• Legal Reasons as to why it’s important
• Costs/Fees

To listen to the interview, click the mp3 audio link…122211_CDA_ACGWPP_RobWawrzynski_11m12s

To contact Rob Wawrzynski at 303-239-5704 orrob.wawrzynski@ag.state.co.us

For more information about the Colroado Department of Agriculture’s Ag Chemicals & Groundwater Protection Program – CLICK HERE

The mission of the Agricultural Chemicals & Groundwater Protection Program:

“To protect groundwater and the environment from impairment or degradation due to the improper use of agricultural chemicals while allowing for their proper and correct use.” – Rob Wawrzynski, program manager

12-22-11 Inside the Colorado Department of Agriculture…State Veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) Joining me by telephone is Colorado State Veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr discussing several topics including:

• Animal Health Update
• Animal Neglect Charges in Conejos & Park Counties
• 2012 National Western Stock Show comes to Denver & the State Jan 7-22nd

Click the mp3 audio link to listen to the entire interview…122211_CDA_StateVetDrKeithRoehr_18m58s

To learn more about the Colorado Department of Agriculture or the latest news/information for the Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office – CLICK HERE

READ the NAFB’s National Ag News as heard inside the BARN for December 22nd

CLICK HERE to listen to TODAY's BARN Morning Ag News with Brian Allmer...

Sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation

“USDA Reports on Land Use”

USDA has released an in-depth analysis of U.S. land use patterns that shows total cropland decreased by 34-million acres from 2002 to 2007, the lowest level since USDA began collecting this data 1945. The USDA report also shows significant increases in forestland, grassland and rangeland during the five-year period. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, the new report is one more addition to the mounting body of evidence that proves increased ethanol production has not resulted in expansion of total U.S. cropland or a decline in grassland and forest.

According to the report’s authors, – Urban land acreage quadrupled from 1945 to 2007, increasing at about twice the rate of population growth over this period. Land in urban areas was estimated at 61-million acres in 2007, up almost 2 percent since 2002 and 17 percent since 1990, In comparison the estimated acreage of grassland pasture and range increased by 27 million acres, almost 5 percent, between 2002 and 2007, while forest-use land increased 20 million acres, or 3 percent, from 2002 to 2007.

RFA President Bob Dinneen points out – it is ironic that the land use debate has fixated on biofuels, when the actual culprit of land conversion has clearly been urban and suburban sprawl. He says – subdivisions full of mini-mansions, big box stores, shopping malls, and parking lots are encroaching on productive farmland across the country.

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“Tax Packages Waiting for Next Year”

Congress has gone home without acting on a tax extenders package or the biodiesel tax credit before both expire on December 31. The American Soybean Association says this is a disappointing end to an otherwise very positive year for the biodiesel industry. The industry set a record for production in 2011, with more than 800-million gallons produced through October. It is possible that the year-end volumes could approach 1-billion gallons.