Llp 07 17 by The Eagle Advertising Department

July July2017 2017——Issue IssueIIII

Making friends To apply or not to apply? Rules require getting to know your veterinarian XXXXXXXXXXXXXX PAGE 12 PAGE 12

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BRYAN, TX 77802 PERMIT # 23

AJAMES BLESSING THOMPSON OR A CURSE?

JAMES THOMPSON PLANNING AHEAD

PAGE 3 5

PAGE 18 3

JAMES THOMPSON WHERE’S THE BEEF FROM?

JAMES TO BEE THOMPSON OR NOT TO BEE

Straight from Mesquite treesthe canhorse's prove mouth. dangerous to cattle.

Straight from Ranchers sue to thereinstate horse's mouth. country-of-origin labels.

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3 17 July 2017 —PAGE Issue II

Straight from Helping the next the generation horse's mouth. of producers.

Straight Bees flock from to new the horse's AgriLifemouth. sweetclover. PAGE 23 3

*$0 Down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 60-months on purchases of select new Kubota L3301 / L3901 / L4701/ MX5200 equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply. Example: 60 monthly payments of $16.67 per $1,000 financed. Offer expires 9/30/17. See us or go to www.KubotaUSA.com for more information. $0 Down, 3.49% A.P.R. financing for up to 60-months on purchases of select new Kubota Z100, Z400, Z700, ZD, ZG Series equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply. Example: 60 monthly payments of $18.19 per $1,000 financed. Offer expires 9/30/17. See us or go to www. KubotaUSA.com for more information. Customer instant rebates of $500 are available on qualifying cash or standard rate finance purchases of new Kubota L2501 / L3301 / L3901 / L4701 equipment from participating dealers’ stock inventory. Rebate is not available with 0% A. P.R. or other promotional financing . Some exceptions apply. Offer expires 9/30/17. See us or go to www.KubotaUSA.com for more information. ***Customer instant rebates of $500 are available on purchases of new Kubota L2501 / L3301 / L3901/ L4701 equipment with two new qualifying implements from participating dealers’ stock. 1st implement $200, 2nd implement $300. Some exceptions apply. Offer expires 9/30/17. See us or go to www. KubotaUSA.com for more information. **** Customer instant rebates of $750 are available on qualifying cash or standard rate finance purchases of new Kubota MX5200 equipment from participating dealers’ stock inventory. Rebate is not available with 0% A.P.R. or other promotional financing. Some exceptions apply. Offer expires 9/30/17. See us or go to www.KubotaUSA.com for more information.

July 2017 — Issue II

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News From the General Manager

his is the first month I have not had to pay daycare for my son. Since my wife is a teacher, she decided to pull him out the rest of the summer before he starts kindergarten. With all our new-found wealth, we decided it was time to replace our couch. The couch had been ravaged by toddlers and a dog, and I’m sure I added to the wear and tear myself. We put it on the curb, and it was still there when the trash came to pick it up the next day. This is rare, especially in a college town. In this town, if any furniture makes it on the curb until trash day, then you were long overdue on getting new furniture. We picked out a nice set and were content, knowing that we could afford it. Heck, as much as daycare costs, we could buy a new couch every quarter and still come out ahead.

But, something in the Universe decided that things weren’t right. The day after I signed for the furniture, I came home to a flooded laundry room. I cleaned it up and then tried my hand at fixing the washing machine. After I flooded the laundry room two more times, I called JESSE WRIGHT it quits and decided to buy a new washer. My wife decided I should buy a new dryer, too — she never did appreciate the vise grips I fashioned as a knob after the original knob broke. So, we got rid of one payment, and picked up two new ones. But, at least we’ll have clean clothes and a place to sit. Now, if you are sitting on your couch and you’ve read this far, you probably

want to know what this issue is all about. We take a look at the importance of a client-patient relationship with a beef cattle veterenarian. Recent legelation has made it necessary to procure such working relationships in order to acquire certain types of feed that contain antibiotics. We’ll look at the specific requirements and reasons why you should establish such a relationship. We have news and information from around the ag industry, as well as our regular features. If you are coming to College Station for the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, be sure to come by our new booth! Our old trade show booth display was high-tech in the late ’70s, but in the 21st centruy it mostly was held together with duct tape and wishes. I’m pretty proud of our new display, so be sure to

“ooooh and ahhhh” over it if you swing by. ’Til next time,

z For more information about content or advertising, contact Jesse Wright at jesse.wright@ theeagle.com.

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July 2017 — Issue II

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News A&M Beef Cattle Short Course to feature 24 sessions determination workshop and live cattle-handling and chute-side demonstrations also are planned. “Th e live cattle-handling demonstration will give participants the chance to see proper low-stress cattle penning techniques, working facility design and proper cattle trailer-loading techniques,” Cleere said. The short course is the premier beef educational event in Texas, attracting more than 1,400 attendees annually, Cleere said. It features 24 sessions covering basic practices, new technologies and other important industry topics. These sessions provide participants with an opportunity to choose workshops based on their level of production experience and the needs of their ranch. “Concurrent workshops will

feature information on introductory cattle production, forage management practices, range management, nutrition and reproduction, record keeping, genetics, purebred cattle and much more,” he said. “The goal of the short course each year is to provide sessions on basic beef cattle production practices as well as the most cutting-edge information needed by beef cattle producers. “We think we have information for everyone to take home and apply to their operations.” Participants can earn at least seven Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide continuing education units if they already are licensed, Cleere added. An industry trade show will be held during the event, featuring more than 130 agricultural busi-

nesses and service exhibits. “And the famous Texas Aggie Prime Rib Dinner is always a highlight of the short course,” Cleere said. Registration is $180 per person before July 31 or $220 afterwards. It includes educational materials, a copy of the 600-page Beef Cattle Short Course proceedings, trade show admittance, admission to the prime rib dinner, lunches, breakfasts and daily refreshments. Registration information and a tentative schedule were mailed to previous participants in May, but also can be found on the short course website at beefcattleshortcourse.com. Producers can register at the website or by contacting Cleere’s office at 979-845-6931.

Improve your herd’s productivity

DA L N I T M A R H OW S DS FEE

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin

A fence building demonstration will be held Aug. 9 as part of the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course. By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Live cattle working, fence building, tractor equipment and Brush Busters demonstrations are among several activities planned for the 63rd Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course scheduled Aug. 7-9 at Texas A&M University in College Station. All demonstrations will be Aug. 9 at various locations. They will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at noon. “The demonstrations offered

at the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course provide participants with live demonstration opportunities in a variety of beef cattle activities,” said conference coordinator Jason Cleere, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist in College Station. The Brush Busters demonstration will cover how to manage prickly pear, mesquite, greenbrier, Chinese tallow trees, huisache and other species. A beef cattle business management workshop, beef carcass value

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July 2017 — Issue II

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News

Mesquite trees: Are they a blessing or curse? appear to be resistant to intoxication. If you see signs such as these in your cattle, contact your veterinarian for an examination. In the early stages, often this condition appears very similar to other neurologic diseases of cattle, most notably rabies. Therefore, you should use caution when approaching affected animals and attempting to restrain them for examina-

Vet’s Voice By Kevin WashBurn Teas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital

In Texas, you might find varying opinions on the mesquite tree — from love to hate. To love the mesquite tree is to appreciate the provision of shade and shelter for livestock, wood for beautiful furniture, cooking or heat, and nitrogen to enrich the soil. To hate mesquite is to recognize the sharp thorns that can injure livestock, the ability to obtain water from the soil with its deep roots thus depriving more nutritious native grasses, and its parasitic nature of taking over grazing lands. Whether you are a lover or a hater, this article might just give you another reason to hate it. Mesquite trees occupy roughly one third of the land space in Texas and in all regions except for the East Texas Piney Woods. Of all the mesquite that grows in the United States, 76 percent of it grows in Texas. Therefore, with such an abundant amount of mesquite in this state despite efforts to eradicate it in many regions, it unfortunately is here to stay. So livestock producers of this state have learned to “live with it” and take the good with the bad. The most common variety of mesquite found in Texas is Prosopis glandulosa, or honey mesquite. The beans form a pod and ripen in late summer. At that time, the beans are sur-

tion. Latex exam gloves are advised strongly if you have to handle them until a diagnosis is reached. Interestingly, treatment of this intoxication in cattle and goats simply starts with removal from the region if possible and/or the provision of other high quality forage and supplements. In other words, if they

See VET, Page 16

Courtesy of nps.gov A honey mesquite tree with seed pods that attract cattle, but can be dangerous to their well-being. rounded with a sweet coating that can contain as much as 30 percent sugar. In fact, honey made from the flower pollen was prized during the days of early settlers to Texas. These attributes contribute to consumption by livestock of all species. Summer is here and the hotter, drier months are on the way. As we near those seasons, undoubtedly some regions of Texas will experience droughtlike conditions and plentiful nutritious forage may become scarce. Periods of less abundant forage, whether the end of a dry summer or the following winter, are when mesquite trees actually may become a curse. As mentioned, the sweet nature of the ripened bean pods provides a source of food for livestock and this is especially tempting when other sources are unavailable. Herein lies the problem, as almost anything in life to excess is harmful! After several weeks of foraging on primarily mesquite beans, cattle can become intoxicated. Signs of intoxication include a large distended abdomen, weight loss, difficulty

The Land & Livestock Post

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chewing, an inability to close the mouth, salivation, twitching of the muscles on the face and protrusion of the tongue. The toxic principle in these beans remains unknown, however it is thought that the very high sugar content of the pods and beans leads to decreased digestion of cellulose so the fibrous pods remain in the rumen. The accumulation of these indigestible pods in the rumen leads to impaction. Therefore, cattle look full, yet are emaciated. As for the problems with the mouth and nervousness, it is proposed that an alkaloid compound found in the pods and beans affects the nervous system. The most bizarre characteristic is that this compound, for some reason yet to be determined, has specific effects on the nerves that control jaw movement. In fact, affected cattle seem to have a lower jaw that is paralyzed. This leads to saliva constantly drooling from the mouth, an inability to chew despite trying and protrusion of the tongue. Goats are affected as well, however sheep

July 2017 — Issue II

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July 2017 — Issue II

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News

What every young family farmer needs to know everything from cotton and corn to peanuts and cattle.

By Austin Miles The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

My grandparents both had jobs off the farm, as did my parents, as do I.

The 2012 Census of Agriculture compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service revealed some shocking (and maybe not so shocking) truths: Farmers and ranchers are getting older, fewer in numbers, and there aren’t as many “new” producers entering the industry.

While I’d like to think the farm always has been profitable, I know that is not the case; without outside income, our operation would not have survived. I’d like to reflect on my experiences as a young producer and

While these facts may sound gloomy and disheartening, let’s look closer at some of the information and, more importantly, how young producers such as myself can contribute to their family’s operations. When looking at the farm facts below, one wonders what does this mean for you and your family operation?

Rural Land Loans Country Home Loans Farm & Ranch Loans

As a young producer, I have pondered these questions myself. Our family operation in Whitesboro is the stereotypical small family farm as defined by

What young farmers should know

Be willing to assume risk Risk can come in a variety of forms: financial, occupational or reputational. Any time you put

See YOUNG, Page 8

CAPITAL

FARM CREDIT

Livestock Loans Equipment Loans Operating Capital

How does a young producer get involved? What can or should you do to improve upon the legacy of the family farm or ranch?

share some observations that hopefully could aid and encourage other upstart farmers, ranchers and land managers.

Leasing

Bryan Credit Office 3000 Briarcrest Dr., Ste. 101 979.775.0404 | 877.775.0404 CapitalFarmCredit.com

TEXAS’ LARGEST RURAL LENDER Photo courtesy of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Farmers and ranchers are getting older, fewer in numbers, and there aren’t as many “new” producers entering the industry.Young producers such as Austin Miles, left, can help contribute to the industry by getting involved with their family’s operations. Miles’ father, center, and granadfather continue to work the land by his side. the agriculture census. My greatgreat-grandfather homesteaded

there more than 100 years ago. Since then, my family has raised

SALE EACH SATURDAY

Scott Milligan - Manager 39606 FM 1736 West • Hempstead, TX 77445 806.683.6435 • scottm@rioranchtx.com

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July 2017 — Issue II

News

Photo courtesy of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Young farmers and ranchers are blessed with tools, technologies, techniques and information our predecessors only could dream about.

Young, from Page 7 skin in the game, you’re going to become more invested in the success and well-being of the operation. Be motivated and push the needle to accomplish your goal(s).

Speak up, but know when to shut up

Proposing new ideas can be seen as challenging the status quo but, in reality, without the injection of new ideas, an operation can become stagnant and possibly miss out on an opportunity to become more efficient and/ or productive. It can be something as small as how and what we feed cattle to exploring new marketing opportunities for our crop, such as direct marketing to consumers. You can learn a lot from listening, however. Seek out those who have been in the business, who have had success and failure, and learn from their experiences. That kind of education is free and real-world tested.

Ask questions

This goes hand-in-hand with my previous point. Sometimes being the silent observer is fine, but do not be timid about asking why things are done the way they are. Try to gain some perspective and history before you offer input or thought into why or how an operation could be doing something differently.

Get your hands dirty

I’m very proud of the degrees on the wall of my office, but I’m equally proud of the experiences and lessons learned from others I have encountered and worked with in the field. I am convinced that formal education empowers a person to continue to learn after they graduate and enter the professional world. Who better to learn from than those already actively engaged and doing the work?

“Agvocating” is more than just a hashtag

Social media is a great way to connect with people who we would otherwise never meet yet alone interact with. It is an easy way to stay abreast of current events and industry news, and to share information and ideas. It is important to promote our industry and heritage with photos, infographics, etc., but simply taking pretty pictures isn’t enough. Be mindful of the opportunities you may have to promote agriculture and be confident enough to do so, whatever the venue or whoever the audience may be.

Small things can yield major rewards

Change can be as drastic or subtle as you make it. As a small operator, my goal for our farm is to be as efficient as possible

See FAMILY, Page 9

Electronic Newsletter

Ag news you can use, now at the click of a mouse!

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News Family, from Page 8 with our finances, natural resources and livestock. This past winter, my dad and I decided to change how we feed hay. Historically, we’d put hay rings around a round bale, knowing we were wasting a significant portion of the bale (and money). My exposure to current research and different management techniques proved that we could do better with little to no additional effort required. Once we began rolling the bales out instead of simply setting them down with a hay ring, we noticed a greater portion of the hay was consumed and less was wasted. This decreased how many bales we needed to purchase to feed through the winter. That money we saved from not buying hay could be reinvested in our pastures through fertilizer this spring. Small improvements stack up quick and can quickly change the landscape and character of an operation.

Lead change and become involved

American agriculture has overcome many challenges and obstacles in the past, but I feel our greatest contest is yet to come. With increasing regulation, more competitive global markets, and a general population who continues to grow removed from and distrust modern agriculture, we as an industry must ensure our livelihood and rural heritage endure. It is easy to sit back and say, “Well, I can’t do anything about it. I’m a little guy.” National and state organizations are the collective voice of our industry. It is imperative to not only become a member but also be actively engaged in that organization, and promote its creed and mission.

More importantly, be the helping hand when you are called upon by others.

Working with family is where memories are made and life lessons learned

Some of my fondest memories growing up involve riding on the tractor and in the wagons during peanut harvest. I’ll never forget the smell and sounds of harvest as a young boy (and the stomachache from eating too many fresh peanuts). My working relationship with my grandfather and dad has changed since then from shotgun rider to partner, and for that I truly am blessed and grateful. Now that I have a family of my own, I take every opportunity I have to take my daughters with me to check cattle, get on the tractor, fix fence, etc. The time spent together is irreplaceable; I know that because my mentors and role models took the time to take me along on similar chores. Take time to give back to younger generations; they will be the caretakers of the future we are all working to make a reality. The future of agriculture in our great country is bright and full of opportunity for those willing to grasp it. As young farmers and ranchers, we are blessed with tools, technologies, techniques and information our predecessors only could dream about. Though we face challenges that previous generations did not, we are still in contest with some all too familiar ones. I am encouraged by the fact that so many still commit themselves to feeding and clothing their fellow man. It is a noble effort that is forgotten by so many.

Be able to admit when you need help

Know your limits and when you need assistance. It is OK to admit you do not know something or your abilities aren’t as advanced as those around you.

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July 2017 — Issue II

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News LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORT Brazos Valley Livestock

Results of the Brazos Vall ey L i v e s t o c k C o m m i s s i o n ’s June 20 sale. Head: 828 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $164-$195; 300-400 lbs., $154-$187; 400-500 lbs., $138-$153; 500-600 lbs., $130$148; 600-700 lbs.,$122-$139; 700800 lbs., $130-$137 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $140-$160; 300-400 lbs., $130-$148; 400-500 lbs., $128-$146; 500-600 lbs., $122$142; 600-700 lbs.,$114-$126; 700800 lbs., $113-$120 Slaughter bulls: $80-$88 Slaughter cows: $50-$75 Bred cows: $850-$1,200 Cow/calf pairs: $950-$1,500

Buffalo

ResultsoftheBuffaloLivestockCom-

mission’s June 24 sale. Head: 1, 110 Steers: 150-200lbs., $145-$245; 200-300 lbs., $135-$197; 300-400 lbs., $130-$182; 400-500 lbs., $120-175; 500-600 lbs., $125$157; 600-700 lbs., $125-$152; 700-800 lbs., $110-$140 Heifers: 150-200lbs.,$130-$180; 200-300 lbs., $130-$217; 300-400 lbs., $130-$170; 400-500 lbs., $120-$157; 500-600 lbs., $115$155; 600-700 lbs., $105-$148; 700-800 lbs., $100-$130 Slaughter bulls: $70-$93 Slaughter cows: $45-$78 Bred cows: $950-$1, 500 Cow/calf pairs: $850-$1,200

Caldwell

Results of the Caldwell Livestock Commission’s June 28 sale. Head: 459 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $170-$175;

Studies show harm to bees By Mira aBed The Associated Press

Humans are big fans of bees. We rely on them to pollinate crops such as almonds, watermelons and apples. But bees probably aren’t big fans of humans — at least, not of our agricultural practices. In particular, they ought to be offended by our fondness for a widely used class of pesticides called neonicotinoids (neonics, for short). Studies in the lab have shown that some doses of neonics outright are lethal to many bees and that even sublethal doses can shorten a colony’s lifespan and harm its overall health. Results have been similar in small-scale field studies. Still, exactly how these pesticides, which are applied to seeds before planting, would affect bees in the real world remains something of a mystery. Scientists have been locked in a fierce debate over how much — and for how long — bees encounter these

pesticides in their daily lives. After all, the conditions in a field are far more complex than those in a lab. Now, two studies published side by side in the journal Science attempt to answer this contentious question. One of the studies was conducted in Canada. It combined large-scale field work and laboratory experiments better to understand real-world neonic exposure levels and their effects on honeybees. The other was conducted in large fields in Hungary, Germany and the U.K. Its goal was to understand how the effects of neonics vary between countries and how exposure during the flowering season affects the long-term health of a bee colony. Norman Carreck, who researches bees at the University of Sussex and did not work on the new studies, said the EU’s 2014 moratorium on neonics has led to pest problems in England. The moratorium forced farmers to use alternative pesticides.

300-400 lbs., $170-$182; 400-500 lbs., $150-$175; 500-600 lbs., $145$153; 600-700 lbs.,$135-$144; 700800 lbs., $130-$135 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $160-$175; 300-400 lbs., $145-$150; 400-500 lbs., $140-$157; 500-600 lbs., $140$170; 600-700 lbs.,$135-$143; 700800 lb., $130-$157 Slaughter bulls: $80-$93 Slaughter cows: $55-$77 Bred cows: $750-$1,450 Cow/calf pairs: n/a

Groesbeck

Results of the Groesbeck Auction and Livestock Company’s June 29 sale. Head: 330 Steers: 300-400 lbs., $170$187; 400-500 lbs., $162-$177; 500-600 lbs., $145-$155; 600-700 lbs., $140-$155 Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $148-$168;

400-500 lbs., $142-$157; 500-600 lbs., $140-$155; 600-700 lbs., $128$148 Slaughter bulls: $85-$102 Slaughter cows: $58-$76 Bred cows: $800-$1,600 Cow/calf pairs: $1,100-$1,800

Jordan

Results of the Jordan Cattle Auction’s June 29 sale. Head: 1832 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $170-$190; 300-400 lbs., $170-$210; 400-500 lbs., $160-$188; 500-600 lbs., $145$156; 600-700 lbs.,$135-$159; 700800 lbs., $128-$140 Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $140-$165; 300-400 lbs., $140-$167; 400-500 lbs., $135-$160; 500-600 lbs., $130$141; 600-700 lbs.,$125-$141; 700800 lbs., $120-$134 Slaughter bulls: $80-$95.50

Slaughter cows: $59-$80 Bred cows: $900-$1,275 Cow/calf pairs: $925-$1,425

Navasota

Results of the Navasota Livestock Commission’s June 24 sale. Head: 1,427 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $115-$215; 300-400 lbs.,$115-$167.5; 400-500 lbs.,$115-$154; 500-600 lbs.,$110$147; 600-700 lbs., $110-$143 Heifers: 200-300 lbs.,$115-$200; 300-400 lbs., $115-$175; 400-500 lbs.,$115-$160; 500-600 lbs.,$110$152.5; 600-700 lbs., $105-$140 Slaughter bulls: $70-$91 Slaughter cows: $45-$77 Bred cows: $700-$1,300 Cow/calf pairs: $900-$1,350 — Special to The Post

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July 2017 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post

News 4-H Veterinary Camp teaches clinical skills, hands-on activities By Blair Fannin Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Youth from across Texas recently participated in 4-H Veterinary Camp, building on skills and knowledge needed to achieve mastery in the certification program. The event coincided with Texas 4-H Roundup week. Upon completion of the week-long instruction, students received Beef Quality Assurance certification from the Texas Beef Council and obtained 33 of the 78 clinical skills needed for the Texas Veterinary Medical Association Certified Veterinary Assistant Level 1 certification, according to organizers. The camp featured experts from the Texas A&M University department of animal science,

Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. “This was our third annual camp for Texas 4-H members,” said Joe Mask, AgriLife Extension specialist for youth veterinary science. “It’s part of the veterinary science certificate program. We cover program areas in equine, beef cattle, cattle handling and restraint. We also talked about nutrition, fever ticks and Beef Quality Assurance practices.” Camp attendees viewed beef cattle research projects at the Texas A&M field laboratory near College Station and toured the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science on campus.

“We try to hold attendance down to a minimum so it’s more hands on,” he said. “We also spend a lot of time around the cattle chute, microscopes, giving them as much opportunity to experience the activities animal health practitioners experience on a day-to-day basis. “All 4-H members who sign up through Texas 4-H come to this camp,” Mask said. “The students have to get 78 clinical skills, so at this camp they can get 33 of those. They take heart rates, respiratory temperature, restraint.” Mask said the youth had a great week of learning opportunities, “specifically all types of clinical skills that they can use in a career path whether it be as a veterinarian or research scientist.

“Early in the week, the camp participants worked with horses, learning all aspects of handling and health, Mask said. They learned to apply bandages, catch and tie a horse, how to lead safely and to handle and examine feet.” Other practices discussed and demonstrated included haltering

cattle, proper injection placement and evaluating cattle with potential illness. Camp participants also learned cattle behavior in a chute, as well as how to use a stethoscope to listen to the cow’s heart rate. For more information about the program, go to aevm.tamu.edu.

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July 2017 — Issue II

News

Getting to know you ... Develop a relationship with a veterinarian

By RoBeRt FeaRs Special to The Post

f you don’t have a client patient relationship with a beef cattle veterinarian, now is the time seriously to consider establishing one. Certain antibiotics no longer can be applied in feed unless a written Veterinary Feed Directive order has been issued by a licensed veterinarian. A vet cannot write a directive order unless he or she has a Veterinary Client Patient Relationship with the person using the medicated feed. This revised Veterinary Feed Directive rule went into effect on Oct. 1, 2015, and includes antimicrobials considered medically important for human applications. In addition to mixed feed, the Veterinary Client Patient Relationship applies to medicated milk replacers and mineral blocks. The ruling affects minor species such as sheep, goats and deer as well as cattle; however, a veterinarian can currently reduce the antibiotic dose for the smaller animals. The current Veterinary Client Patient Relationship does not affect producers who don’t use a feed containing one of the antibiotics currently on the Veterinary Feed Directive requirement list. As the list is extended, however, and it will be this year, a Veterinary Client Patient Relationship will become very important. “A vast majority of injectable antibiotics require a prescription from a licensed veterinarian,” said Dr. Kynan Sturgess, a Hereford veterinarian. “There are a few products still available over the counter, including penicillin, oxytetracycline and sulfadimethoxine. It is likely Food and Drug Administration will force withdrawal of these over-thecounter labels within the next two years.

Photos by Robert Fears

Above, most feedyards maintain a veterinarian-client-patient-relationship. On the cover, when a veterinarian-client-patient-relationship is established, the veterinarian routinely can observe the condition of the cow herd. At this point, all antibiotics will only be available with a prescription. Currently all antibiotics used in livestock drinking water require a prescription.”

Relationship requirements

Dr. Helen Philips of Phillips Veterinary Hospital in Brenham in a presentation

Requirements of a Veterinary Client Patient Relationship were outlined by

July 2017 — Issue II

See RELATIONS, Page 13

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News Relations, from Page 12 during the 62nd Annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course. She said, “A Veterinary Client Patient Relationship requires that the veterinarian assume responsibility for medical judgements regarding health of the animals, and the owner or caretaker of the livestock agrees to follow the veterinarian’s instructions.” “Under the Veterinary Client Patient Relationship, a veterinarian is required to possess sufficient knowledge of the client’s cattle to initiate a general or preliminary diagnosis of the animal’s medical condition,” Phillips said. “Sufficient knowledge exists if the veterinarian has recently seen or is personally acquainted with how the livestock are managed. Knowledge of the client’s management practices must result from either examining the animals or making medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the livestock are kept. A Veterinary Client Patient Relationship may not be established solely by

telephone or electronic means.” I normally visit my feedyard accounts once a month as long as everything is running smoothly,” Strugess said. “Depending upon the situation, cow-calf operations usually require a lot less visits. Under a Veterinary Client Patient Relationship, I can write herd health protocols and treatment regimens, help ranch managers successfully implement the protocols, train and retrain ranch personnel, periodically observe the cattle for detection of any health problems and diagnose any problems that occur. “There are occasional circumstances where I may write a prescription based on a telephone conversation without immediately making a visit to the ranch as long as I have a good relationship with the client. If there is no Veterinary Client Patient Relationship in place, I can’t do this.” Phillips said, “The third requirement of a Veterinary Client Patient Relationship is that the veterinarian is readily

See PATIENTS, Page 15

Educating and training ranch personnel is a role that veterinarians can play.

Photo by Robert Fears

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July 2017 — Issue II

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Patients, from Page 13 available to provide follow-up medical care in the event of an adverse reaction, or failure of the therapy regimen. “

Additional reasons

“There are a number of reasons for developing a working relationship with a beef cattle veterinarian,” said Joe Paschal of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Corpus Christi. Paschal shared the Beef Cattle Short Course presentation with Phillips, who is his daughter. “Asking the vet to come out at 2 a.m. on a cold wet morning to pull a calf is easier and likely to be more successful if you have a good relationship with him or her,” Paschal emphasized. “Most ranch managers use veterinarians to provide diagnostic

Photo by Robert Fears

Cow-calf producers seriously should consider establishing a veterinarian-clientpatient-relationship. and treatment services such as a pregnancy test, calving assistance or to remedy various diseases, injuries or sickness. A few ranchers use veterinarians for cosmetic services such as dehorning, branding or castration since the vet often has better handling equipment than the ranch. Veterinarians have extensive training and, often vast experience which qualifies them for more than just diagnosis and treatment.” “Veterinarians can be an extra pair of hands and eyes on a cattle operation,” added Phillips. “They can and will visit with you about diseases and internal and external parasites

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July 2017 — Issue II

News Client, from Page 15 that are problems in your area. Veterinarians can help develop a working herd health management plan to deal with minor issues such as wire cuts, foot rot, snake bite and pinkeye. This written plan and associated training makes it possible for ranch employees effectively to remedy these types of occurrences without having to haul the animal to town or to ask the vet to come to the ranch. “Knowledge of the cow’s reproductive anatomy and an unbiased eye for body condition scoring equips veterinarians to provide advice about breeding and calving issues. They are also qualified to give nutritional advice ranging from protein and energy supplementation to mineral and vitamin requirements. “Veterinarians can provide expert advice on how to prevent problems as well as how to treat them,” Paschal said. “Many beef cattle producers use veterinarians for all their herd health work either at their clinic or at the ranch. “The veterinarian becomes familiar with the cattle and the operation which better positions them to provide professional services and advice to the producer. Avoiding problems is less costly than treating them.” Money saved by keeping cat-

Vet, from Page 5 are offered a better alternative than the mesquite pods, cattle can make a full recovery without further treatment over the course of a few weeks. Although they respond favorably when detected early and are able to eat effectively again, they may have visible remaining deficits. These include a “shrinkage” of the muscles surrounding the mouth and a mild incoordination in their gait.

Since withdrawal times often are not well-understood and are an important part of animal health and pasture pesticide label compliance, it is worthwhile to expand on the subject in this article. As applied to animal health products, withdrawal period refers to the minimum amount of time from the last treatment of a drug to when meat or other animal products can be used for human consumption. A guide to understanding animal drug withdrawal times was written by Dr. Mike Apley of Kansas State University in Manhattan. “FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine sets slaughter withdrawal times for approved animal drugs,” Apley sad. “The first step in determining a drug’s withdrawal time is to determine its NOEL (no observable effect level), which is the dose of the drug that results in

no toxic effects in test animals. A safety factor is then applied, that may decrease the NOEL by as much as a thousand-fold. The NOEL is then multiplied by the average body weight of a human, resulting in the total average daily intake. Average daily intake is the total dose of the drug that an average human could ingest on a daily basis for his or her entire life with no adverse effects.” The average daily intake is used to determine the safe concentration of a drug in each of the edible tissues of an animal for human consumption. The formula considers that people will eat only one of the following edible tissues in the stated quantities as their main meal for the day — muscle (300 grams), liver (100 grams), kidney (50 grams) or fat (50 grams). For instance, if the average daily intake is 60 micrograms per day, then safe concentration for muscle would be 0.2 micrograms of drug per gram of tissue (60 ÷ 300). Safe concentration becomes the maximum residue level of a drug allowed in meat that can be legally used as human food. “The final step is conducting studies where animals receive the drug and are then sacrificed at different time points to determine when residue drops below the maximum residue level in the target tissue,” Apley said. “Target edible organs that

Goats, on the other hand, don’t fare as well following intoxication and can have as high as a 100 percent mortality rate. Preventative strategies are straightforward in that cattle and other livestock should be offered high quality forage during times when it otherwise is scarce. Availability of this forage greatly reduces the necessity and temptation of ruminants to ingest mesquite. Not only does this practice aid in the prevention of mesquite toxicosis,

but it also greatly diminishes intoxication with other toxic plants that might otherwise be consumed. If you have gone your entire livestock producing career in a region populated thickly with mesquite and have never seen this condition before, you are most likely doing everything right in providing the proper forage for your animals during tough environmental conditions, and you may be a little lucky which never hurts.

tle healthy may pay the vet fees and put some cash in the bank. “Educating and training ranch managers and their employees is a role that a veterinarian can play,” Phillips said. “This could include the proper use of injectable vaccines and antibiotics, correct injection sites, syringe and needle size and withdrawal times on vaccines, de-wormers and external parasite control products.”

Withdrawal times

contain drug residues for the longest period are usually the kidney or liver. When the target tissue is below the tolerance, so are all the other tissues.” Target tissue is selected using data obtained from metabolism studies. In these studies, the drug is fed to the target animals and the method of metabolism is determined through various scientific techniques. “If an animal is selected for residue testing at the processers and an amount above the maximum residue level is found, the carcass will be condemned and the producer may get to explain the occurrence to an FDA investigator,” Apley said. “Violations may result in the producer being unable to sell animals until the problem is fixed.” “The Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act gives a veterinarian the ability to pre-

July 2017 — Issue II

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scribe or use an injectable drug in an off-label manner as long as the veterinarian prescribes a sufficiently longer withdrawal time to account for the changes,” Strugess said. “This applies to prescription or overthe-counter labels, but does not apply to feed or water based applications.” Paschal concluded the Beef Cattle Short Course presentation by saying, “Veterinarians are much more than the person of last resort for treating sick or injured animals. They can provide technical assistance in animal health, reproduction, nutrition, handling and animal welfare. A veterinarian can help develop a beef quality assurance plan and serve as an important member of the team. “If you don’t have a good relationship with your beef cattle veterinarian, you need to create one.”

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News Cattle ranchers sue to return country-of-origin labeling SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Ranchers late last month sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture, seeking to force meat again to be labeled if it’s produced in other countries. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Spokane, seeks to overturn a March 2016 decision by the Department of Agriculture to revoke regulations requiring imported meat products to be labeled with their country of origin. That change allowed imported meat to be sold as U.S. products, the lawsuit said. “Consumers understandably want to know where their food comes from,” said David Muraskin of Washington, D.C., an attorney for Public Justice, which filed the lawsuit. Between 2009 and 2016, the USDA required country-of-origin

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File

Steaks and other beef products are displayed for sale at a grocery store in McLean, Virginia. Ranchers are suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture, seeking a return of labels that clearly identify meat produced in other countries and imported to the United States. labeling on meat. that slaughtered meat from other The lawsuit said the change countries be clearly marked. violated the nation’s Meat InOn June 19, the Department of spection Act, which required Agriculture declined to comment

on a matter that is in litigation. The lawsuit was brought by the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America, the nation’s largest group of independent cattle producers, and the Cattle Producers of Washington. Bill Bullard of United Stockgrowers said the labeling is essential to allow Americans to support U.S. ranchers. “Empowering consumers to buy American beef with country of origin labels will strengthen America’s economy,” Bullard said. Multinational corporations use the lack of clear labels “to import more beef from more foreign countries, including countries with questionable food safety practices,” he said. The lawsuit asks the court to vacate USDA’s current regula-

tions, which allow corporations that import beef and pork and other products into the United States to label that meat “Product of USA.” Beth Terrell, another attorney for Public Justice, which is a nonprofit legal group, noted that President Donald Trump initially expressed support for country-of-origin labeling, but he has since backed off. More than 800 million pounds of foreign beef is imported into the United States each year, Public Justice said. Without country-of-origin labeling, “domestic ranchers and farmers tend to receive lower prices for their meat because multinational companies can import meat and misleadingly present it as homegrown,” Public Justice said in a news release.

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July 2017 — Issue II

News

Planning today for tomorrow’s next generation By Dan ChilDs The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

As the most populous generation in United States history (commonly referred to as the baby boomer generation) ages into retirement and its elder years, the need to plan for the transfer of its wealth to the next generation becomes more important. Figure 1 in this article show the relative size of the baby boomer generation to the total U.S. population beginning in 1960 and forecast through 2020. Boomers continue to have a disproportionate share of the total population as they age. Because of its relative size, the baby boomer generation will transfer more wealth than any generation preceding it. For many baby boomers, the daunting task of planning how they want their wealth distributed lies before them. Each U.S. citizen has an opportunity to influence how the various assets composing the wealth of his or her estate is distributed after dying. If an individual chooses not to take advantage of this opportunity, the state of domicile has a default plan for each resident. So if one thinks the task is too great, the state will complete the task for a resident. The resident may not like the outcome, but it is low cost and requires little or no effort. There are several legal instruments available to help a person make sure his or her wealth gets distributed the way desired. Each instrument must be created correctly in order to withstand legal scrutiny if questioned.

Estate tax

Some folks worry about the estate tax owed. On average, only one estate in 700 (or 0.1 percent of the population) will owe estate tax. Each estate is allowed an exemption of $5.49 million worth of assets before any tax is assessed. This amount is indexed for inflation each year. Completing a net

worth statement will provide an estimate of the dollar value of their estate. In the case of a husband and wife, the unused portion of the first spouse to pass is added to the surviving spouse’s exemption, which allows the total exemption for both estates to be $10.98 million. The transfer of the unused portion of the first spouse to pass is commonly referred to as portability and ensures the size of each spouse’s estate does not have to be equal or more than $5.49 million to be eligible for the combined maximum exemption of $10.98 million. If the net estate of an individual is larger than $5.49 million, the federal estate tax rate is graduated starting at 18 percent and peaks at 40 percent. The highest rate applies to estates that are $6.49 million (taxable amount above $1 million) and higher.

Inherited versus gift

If a person wants to start transferring a portion of his or her wealth before death, it is possible to make annual taxfree gifts. Each person can give up to $14,000 per year tax free to as many individuals as he or she chooses. The recipients do not have to meet any qualifications such as being blood relatives. Therefore, a husband and wife each could give $14,000 per year to all their children, grandchildren and friends. The gifts are not taxable to the recipients. However, there is a difference in the tax basis of an asset depending on whether it is inherited versus received as a gift. When an asset is inherited, it typically receives a “step-up” in basis to fair market value as of the date of death through the probate process. In the case of a revocable trust, the assets also would receive a “step-up” in basis as of the date of the grantor’s death. The step-up in tax basis is valuable to the heir because if

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July 2017 — Issue II

News spent a lifetime putting a place together or adding to what their parents accumulated normally want their passion for the land continued for generations to come. Therefore, restrictions are placed on what heirs can do with the property. This could place a burden on the heirs rather than receiving a blessing of the wealth the property represents. Some heirs neither have the passion nor the skills to successfully manage a farming busi-

ness. Giving heirs the freedom to choose how best to preserve or leverage the wealth is usually preferable. Passing along a business requires much more preparation and effort than passing along wealth.

Trusts vs. wills

Sometimes people get confused on whether to use one of the ma-

See TRUSTS, Page 21

Photo courtesy of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Planning how to pass on your wealth to the next generation is a daunting, yet necessary task.

Next, from Page 18 or when an heir decides to sell the asset, the amount of taxable gain (calculated as the difference between the tax basis and the net selling price) is typically much lower. If an asset is sold soon after it is inherited, it is likely there will be no taxable gain since the tax basis and the market value are the same. In the case of a gift, the recipient of the gift receives the same tax basis in the asset as the donor had. If or when the recipient decides to sell the asset, he or she may have a very low tax basis in the asset. This is usually the case when the donor owned the asset for a long period of time, triggering an income tax obligation on the taxable gain. Therefore, if a person is contemplating whether to bequeath an asset (transfer by inheritance) or outright give it to someone, he or she may want to consider the tax basis he or she has in an asset and the intent of the recipient before deciding which to do.

Estate transfer plan

Since few estates will pay any estate taxes, what impediment(s) keep folks from creating a transfer plan? The answer likely is different for everyone. One reason that often comes up is some hard decisions may have to be made pertaining to dividing the assets in an attempt to treat the heirs

equally. It should be mentioned that equal is not necessarily equitable. For example, an equal number of acres could differ considerably in value due to location and/or quality. To elude the task of splitting up the land, some will choose to leave it to the heirs in an undivided interest. This may be OK and even preferable in some instances, such as minerals. Bequeathing land in an undivided interest, however, can cause disagreements among heirs that do not get resolved in their lifetime. Not always but usually when mom and dad make the hard decisions, children may not like the result but they accept it because they respect their parents’ decision.

Wealth or business?

Another situation that can place heirs in an awkward position is when parents try to manage from the grave a business they bequeathed to their heirs. This especially can be true in the case where the business is a farm or ranch. The intent of most parents is to provide a blessing to their children through an inheritance. A question parents could ask themselves is, “Are we passing along wealth or a business?” They could be completely different objectives. For instance, some farms have been in the family for multiple generations. People who have

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News Trusts, from Page 20 ny types of trusts or to use a will. There are pros and cons to both. Trusts usually are more expensive to create but less expensive after death. When correctly designed, a new successor trustee takes over at death; there is no probate and, therefore, no documents to be recorded for public viewing. Death is almost a nonevent because there is no change in ownership of the assets. The trust owned them before, and the trust will continue to own them after death. A word of caution about trusts. The grantor (the person(s) creating the trust) must be sure to transfer the assets to the trust. Otherwise, the trust has no benefit. Wills usually are less expensive to create but generally more expensive after death due to the probate process. Documents generated throughout the probate process are public documents

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July 2017 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Issue II

available for anyone to view. Some people may have feelings about what information they want to be public. If so, a trust may be more attractive. Often, even when trusts instruments are used, a will still is necessary .