Cattle Death Caused By Anthrax in SD

Cattle Death Caused By Anthrax in SD

BEEF Magazine

First case of anthrax in 2009 kills area cattle

Anthrax has been confirmed as the cause of death of five calves in north central South Dakota’s Corson and Dewey counties, reports the Associated Press for the Grand Forks Herald.

They’re the first such cases in the state this year.

Anthrax usually appears in very wet or very dry conditions, when dormant bacteria spores in the soil are disturbed. Animals that consume the spores are exposed to the disease.

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Baxter Black, DVM: MRS. OBAMA’S GARDEN

Baxter Black, DVM:  MRS. OBAMA’S GARDEN

Mrs. First Lady Obama’s organic gardening is good for all of us involved in agriculture. So few citizens have the time or interest or space to grow anything they eat, that they have no way to relate to the land and what it takes to make it fruitful. Even fewer know how to can or preserve their home-grown produce for the winter’s larder.

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National Animal Identification System not supported by Congress

National Animal Identification System not supported by Congress

High Plains Journal

Congress is on the verge of putting on hold a national system to track livestock, telling the Obama administration it will not fund the effort until the U.S. Department of Agriculture does a better job implementing it.

The House passed a spending bill July 16, that cuts off funding for the National Animal Identification System, even as USDA officials take suggestions from farmers and others who will be affected by the program, which is aimed at halting the spread of diseases that can contaminate food.

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Futile forecasts and perplexed producers

Futile forecasts and perplexed producers

Dillon M. Feuz

Tri State Livestock News

I attended the annual conference of the American Agricultural Economics Association this past week. One aspect of that conference every year is that those agricultural economists who follow commodity prices make forecasts for prices for the next year and then there are presentations made on the outlook for grain and livestock prices. Each year, the past year’s forecasts are reviewed and the economists who made the “best” forecasts are recognized.

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Seven Steps To Profit

Seven Steps To Profit

Boyd Kidwell

DTN Progressive Farmer

At age 24, Brett Stratton took over his grandfather’s beef herd and began making improvements. (Progressive Farmer photo by Boyd Kidwell)

Brett Stratton’s early memories include walking the pastures of Evergreen Farms with his grandfather W. R. "Pop" Paulette. Ten years ago when Pop turned 75, Brett — then 24 — took over the beef herd.

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How Do You Dispose Of 10,000 Dead Cattle?

How Do You Dispose Of 10,000 Dead Cattle?

cattlenetwork.com

How do you dispose of thousands of dead cattle legally, quickly, economically and safely?

This was the question for Texas government officials and Texas AgriLife Extension Service personnel after Hurricane Ike in 2008. "We believe about 4,800 adult cattle were lost and 5,600 calves were lost in the surge zone after Hurricane Ike," said Dee Ellis, assistant state veterinarian, Texas Animal Health Commission.

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NBAF: Safe, Secure and Vital to Nation’s Interests?

NBAF: Safe, Secure and Vital to Nation’s Interests?

Thebeefsite.com

"We are excited about the opportunity to bring NBAF to Kansas and remain confident that NBAF will be built as scheduled in Manhattan, just as the Department of Homeland Security originally decided," said K-State President Kirk Schulz. "We are working with our colleagues at the Kansas Bioscience Authority, with our federal delegation, and the governor’s office to continue to advocate that Kansas is the right place to put NBAF."

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If They Buy Cars, They Will Buy Beef

If They Buy Cars, They Will Buy Beef

Chris Hurt

AXcess News

Consumers are beginning to feel a little better about their household budgets. If they will buy more cars, then surely they will also be willing to buy more beef. Granted, the "cash for clunkers" program added large incentives to buy new cars, but the willingness of consumers to pay for big ticket purchases probably means the bite of recession is beginning to ease.

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Budget cuts may mean last Michigan State Fair

Budget cuts may mean last Michigan State Fair

Corey Williams

Michigan Live

Beef cattle, dairy cows, hogs and amusement rides will return this month to the state fairgrounds in Detroit possibly for the last time due to Michigan’s depressed economy.

Fairground Authority board member E.J. Brown says what happens after the annual event shuts down Sept. 7 depends on whether state legislators or outside groups can find money to fund it.

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Workshop aims to help livestock owners

Workshop aims to help livestock owners

Richmond Paladium Item

CENTERVILLE, Ind. – Grazing 102 will convene Aug. 21-22 at the 5B Farms on Mattie Harris Road and the Centerville Christian Church Family Center.

The workshop aims to help livestock owners learn more about managing intensive grazing programs.

Presenters include: Keith Johnson, Purdue University forage specialist; Jeff Lehmkuhler, a University of Kentucky extension beef cattle specialist; Susannah Hinds and Robert Zupancic, Natural Resources Conservation Service grazing specialists; Dr. Greg Kurtz, from Kurtz Veterinary Clinic; Steve Hawkins, Purdue Ag Centers; Ed Heckman, retired Wayne County extension educator; and farm host Bob Bode.

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Herd mentality

Herd mentality

Toby Sells

Memphis Business Journal

Mike Lenagar knows the art of beef marbling.

Diners at Interim, Los Tortugas and Chez Philippe may not, but they know the end result. And that is what keeps them coming back and making Lenagar’s Neola Farms Black Angus Beef LLC one of the hottest producers for the Memphis restaurant scene.

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Youngbloods Find Calling

Youngbloods Find Calling

Ben Boulden

Times Record

“It was the traditional, conventional way of raising animals,” said Andy Youngblood. “Our parents both had a few cow-calf pairs and broiler houses. That’s what we knew. We wanted more for the farm. It wasn’t growing or making any money. It was basically supporting itself; then a friend of mine introduced me (to the idea of grass-fed).”

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Compensation a fair deal

Compensation a fair deal

Journalstar.com

We greet with hope, gratitude and satisfaction the passing of a budget amendment co-sponsored by Nebraska’s U.S. senators that directs $3 million to the Department of Agriculture to "depopulate," a polite word for euthanize, tuberculosis-infected cattle herds.

Some of that money is intended to pay Rock County rancher Ben Fischer as compensation if his 800-cow herd is slaughtered as a precaution to protect the rest of the state’s animals.

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Now Is The Time To Add Value To Your Calves

Now Is The Time To Add Value To Your Calves

cattlenetwork.com

October and November calf-weaning days may seem to be quite a long time in the future.  However, now is the time to contact the value-added calf program that best fits your calves.  The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service at Oklahoma State University in cooperation with the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association recognized the increased interest and participation in value-enhancement marketing strategies for cow-calf producers. However, many producers are unaware and unfamiliar with value-added programs available to them.

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K-State to train animal-health managers

K-State to train animal-health managers

Drovers

K-State will offer a new 16-credit-hour online graduate certificate in the management of animal health-related organizations beginning this fall.

The program highlights K-State’s strengths in agriculture, business, continuing education and distance learning, meeting the special needs of industries in the growing Animal Health Corridor between Manhattan, Kan., and Columbia, Mo.

There are more than 50 related firms in the Animal Health Corridor, and more are expected with the addition of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan.

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