Bachelor of Science Agricultural Communications Texas Tech University
Lynsey Meharg
Expected May 2015
contents rĂŠsumĂŠ layout & design journalism eBlast social media photography
Lynsey Meharg
recognition
Lynsey Meharg
Resume
Lynsey L. Meharg Current Address: 2305 46th St. Lubbock, TX 79412
lynseymeharg@gmail.com 918-843-2529
Permanent Address: 1001 Main St. Rocky, OK 73661
Education
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas Expected: May 2015 • Bachelor of Science in agricultural communications with a minor in environmental plant and soil sciences Connors State College, Warner, Okla. May 2013 • Associate of Science in agriculture with an emphasis in animal science
Experience
Angus Journal, St. Joseph, Mo. May 2013-Present Editorial Intern • Wrote feature stories about beef industry, edited for print and web, and managed the Angus Journal Daily eBlast • Compile Angus Journal Daily and manage Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA social media Agriculture Future of America Conference, Kansas City, Mo. November 2013 Sponsored Delegate •Learned career readiness skills from industry leading professionals The Daily Toreador, Lubbock, Texas September 2013-November 2013 News Reporter • Write news stories covering topics related to Texas Tech University students American Royal, Kansas City, Mo. October 2013-November 2013 Media Intern • Wrote press releases, contributed to the Royal Results blog and shot candid photographs State Fair of Texas, Dallas, Texas September 2013-October 2013 Livestock Public Relations Intern • Managed Facebook page and shot candid photographs during the week of the junior market show Connors State College, Warner, Okla. August 2012-May 2013 Office of College and Community Relations Intern • Designed lay outs and wrote news articles • Designed signs and announcements
Global Experience
National FFA International Leadership Seminar for State Officers • Traveled to Argentina to learn about agricultural economy • Toured agricultural operations such as row crop growers, livestock producers and a shipping terminal • Visited the U.S. embassy and spoke with the Ambassador about agricultural and political issues
Honors
October 2013 Ranch House Designs Scholar Program •Working with top agricultural communications professionals to critique projects Florida FFA Area One State Vice-President October 2012-Present • Served 15,000 FFA members by presenting leadership workshops and attending FFA events American FFA Degree Recipient October 2011
Activities
National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow Connors State College Student Government Association • SGA President Connors State College Ag Ambassador • Worked to promote the Division of Ag through recruiting and education Connors State College President's Honor Roll • Awarded for maintaining a 4.0 GPA for the semester Phi Kappa Theta • Awarded membership for maintaining an exemplary junior college GPA National FFA Beef Entrepreneurship Gold Award
Skills
Layout and Graphic Design • Photography • Journalism • Comfortable using Nikon D90 DSLR on manual settings Computer Program Knowledge • Adobe Creative Suite 6: InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator • Microsoft Office Suite 2013: Word, PowerPoint and Excel
September2013-Present April 2012- May 2013 December 2011-May 2012 August 2011-May 2013 August 2012-May 2013 October 2011
Lynsey Meharg
layout& Design
Oct. 19 • 2 p.m. • Offering Approximately 75 head Meal and refreshments will be served
Doug and Karen Schaefer Family 2901 County Rd 130 Garden City, TX Ian: 432-213-3623 Doug: 432-517-0352 Levi: 432-213-6002 www.schaeferlivestock.com
Lynsey Meharg
The following two pieces are both info graphics designed to be posted on the State Fair of Texas Livestock Exhibitors Facebook page. The goal was to design a graphic that would grab the user’s attention yet still give the information needed.
You are cordially invited ...
Sayre FFA Labor Auction 2013
Thursday, Oct. 24 • 6:00 p.m. Sayre School Cafeteria •
Lynsey Meharg
Journalism
Beef Leaders Institute R Young Angus producers get an inside look at beef industry partners. Story & photos by Lynsey Meharg, intern
eproductive technology companies, cow-calf operations, feedlots, packing plants, distributors, grocery stores and restaurants are all part of a huge network of companies, businesses and producers who work together to provide quality beef to consumers. Though many cattle producers know of the other sectors of the beef industry, few have taken the opportunity to further educate themselves on the intricate details that their livelihoods depend upon. Choosing to be proactive, 20 American Angus Association members involved in the Beef Leaders Institute (BLI), an educational program sponsored by the Angus Foundation, began a four-day, big-picture adventure June 17 to continue their education on the beef industry and its partners. Activities started at the headquarters of the American Angus Association in Saint Joseph, Mo. Participants filed into the Grant Room, aptly named after the man who brought Angus cattle to the United States, before being welcomed by Bryce Schumann,
Association CEO. Schumann told members that having been selected for BLI meant that an expectation had been set for each of them to take leadership roles in agriculture. Schumann gave a brief history of the Association, current information on the leadership of the organization and explained the entities that make up the American Angus Association. He emphasized the Association’s dedication to Angus youth saying, “juniors involved with Angus need to be advocates not only for our breed, but for agriculture and the beef industry.” “The nation’s cow herd is as small as it’s been in 50 years,” said Schumann. “It’s not a fight against other breed organizations, it’s a fight for our industry.”
@ Above: Located near Tabor, Iowa, Gregory Feed-
lot is a CAB-licensed feedyard that has been loyal to CAB since the very beginning of the brand. The family-owned operation includes nearly 3,400 acres of corn and soybeans while feeding 7,000 head of mostly retained-ownership cattle and 12,000 hogs each year.
After the welcome, BLI participants toured the Association headquarters, including the boardroom, library, public relations studio and Angus Journal offices. Participants were also briefed on Association entities, including the Angus Foundation, Angus Productions Inc. (API), Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) and Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI). BLI participants ended the evening with a presentation by Tom Brink, president and COO of J&F Oklahoma Holdings Inc. “This is an opportunity to see different facets of the business,” said Brink. “We need more communication through the segments of the industry.” “It’s all about value creation in the cattle CONTINUED ON PAGE 58
August 2013
n
ANGUSJournal
n
57
Beef Leaders Institute CONTINUED FROM PAGE 57 business. That’s the reason for the Angus breed’s success. You are creating more value for the industry than any other breed,” he stated, adding that cattle buyers take notice. Breed doesn’t matter if there is no value, he emphasized. “As a cattle feeder and representative of a large packer, I thank you for challenging other breeds to chase you,” he said. “If you want to find valuable cattle, find cattle that grow fast and grade efficiently,” Brink said. “If cattle bring a premium because of your bulls, people will be back to buy them.”
Adding value Making cattle more valuable is something Tri-Tower Farms of Shenandoah, Iowa, understands. Using Angus bulls to steadily improve their own herd, owners Roger and Cale Jones operate a small feedlot in addition to their cattle and row-cropping operations. Calving in the spring, Tri-Tower breeds all of the females by natural service because
@ Below: BLI participants, in addition to hearing
about the operations of each tour stop, share personal experiences and thoughts with each other during breaks.
@ Right: Tri-Tower farms, Shenan-
doah, Iowa, uses Angus bulls to steadily improve its own herd. Owners Roger and Cale Jones operate a small feedlot in addition to their cattle and row-cropping operations.
of time constraints. Originally, Tri-Tower selected bulls solely for carcass data, but it has recently begun selecting for bulls with more balanced data. Voicing concern that most bulls possess a high milk expected progeny difference (EPD), Cale stated that his biggest complaint with selecting new bulls is “the milk EPD is getting pretty high.” Still, Tri-Tower boasts one bull siring 100% Choice calves with an average of 74% Choice on all calves. “If we could AI (artificially inseminate), it would give us more options, but it just hasn’t worked for us,” Roger Jones said. Cattle are grazed on ground 40-50 miles away from the farm because of the recent explosion in land prices. According to Roger, land that could have been purchased for $1,000 an acre is now priced at $7,000 an acre in the immediate area surrounding the farm. Females are
grazed on pasture until close to calving, when they are moved to the farm to graze cornstalks during the fall and winter. The cattle are then returned to summer as pairs on pasture. As a feedlot operator with Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity (TCSCF), Tri-Tower Farm feeds mostly retained-ownership cattle and collects carcass data on the
@ Above: BLI participants and regional manager Matt Caldwell discuss the operations of Tri-Tower Farms with owner Cale Jones near the working facilities used for both the feedlot and cow-calf operations. 58
n
ANGUSJournal
n
August 2013
animals that come through the lot. TCSCF finances the feed cost so producers don’t have to pay monthly feed bills. Cattle are fed a total mixed ration (TMR) consisting of dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), corn, hay and cornstalks. After cattle are sold, TCSCF then cuts each producer a check for the net profit from the cattle. Feeding approximately 650 head per year, with 150 having been bred by Tri-Tower, the operation contracts cattle from all over the nation, but mostly from producers to the north and south of the farm. “The market is depressed in the south,” Roger said. “Producers see a chance to retain ownership and make more money, so they send good black cattle.” Adding that a lot of good cattle are undervalued because of location, Roger said the advantage for southern producers feeding cattle at Tri-Tower is the feedlot’s location. “Generally, our corn prices are lower,” he said. “That means we can feed them cheaper and provide carcass data
@ Association
CEO Bryce Schumann and activities intern Carrie Horsley join the conversation on the unique aspects of Tri-Tower Farms.
for people of agricultural and non-agricultural backgrounds. “I hope we give them at least some idea of what animal agriculture really is,” Roger said.
Custom concept
at the same time.” Cattle fed at Tri-Tower are approximately 76% black-hided. When it comes to implants, Tri-Tower and TCSCF suggest an intermediate implant. “We want growth, but we don’t want to hurt the carcass,” Roger stated. In addition to managing the feedlot, cattle herds and farming operation, TriTower hosts tours
@ Left: Manager David Trow-
bridge has helped to implement handling techniques and technology at Gregory Feedlots. Every employee in the facility is BQA-certified, and the facility is audited to retain its reputation as a custom feeder.
Located in nearby Tabor, Iowa, Gregory Feedlots Inc. is a Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB)-licensed feedyard that has been loyal to CAB since the very beginning of the brand. Owned by Jim Gregory and managed for 37 years by David Trowbridge, the family-owned operation farms nearly 3,400 acres of corn and soybeans while feeding 7,000 head of mostly retained-ownership cattle and 12,000 hogs each year. “Quality has always been a big push at Gregory Feedlot,” Trowbridge says. That quality was quickly apparent to BLI participants. Cattle at Gregory Feedlot are customfed according to how the owner would like to market them. Whether that market is age-sourced, all-natural or nearly any other program, Gregory can handle it. Feeding nearly 26 different rations twice a day, the feedlot has shown its dedication to its customers time and time again. The operation, though having grown in size, still feels like a family affair. “We’re not big enough to have a dedicated CONTINUED ON PAGE 60
@ One way Gregory Feedlots has implemented technology is through the use of computer programs to better track information on its cattle. “We love eID (electronic identification) tags,” Trowbridge said, adding that through the use of technology they now offer their customers improved data on nearly every animal fed at Gregory Feedlot. August 2013
n
ANGUSJournal
n
59
Beef Leaders Institute CONTINUED FROM PAGE 59 feed-truck driver,” said Trowbridge. “Everyone has to do a lot of different jobs. Everyone helps with everything.” Running a slick-bunk feeding strategy, Gregory strives to have cattle empty the bunk each day. Though weight gain is of vital importance, Gregory Feedlot never increases cattle more than 1 pound (lb.) per head per day. “When overfeeding, you’ll see a rise in consumption, but not in gain,” Trowbridge explained. Innovations such as flood-irrigating hayfields with wastewater from the feedlot offer monetary advantages to Gregory Feedlot. In addition, though hauling dry manure from the pens and having it custom-spread might be a huge upfront cost (approximately $200,000), the gain from not having to buy as much fertilizer is roughly $370,000. Gregory Feedlots is not afraid to capitalize on technology. “We love eID (electronic identification) tags,” Trowbridge told BLI participants, adding that through the use of technology they now offer their customers improved data on nearly every animal fed at the lot. “We try to educate our producers. I guarantee we’ve sold Angus bulls just by letting customers know where they can improve.” Though correct management is extremely important to a feedlot’s success, Trowbridge credited his employees for the success
@ Right: BLI participants were
able to see all aspects of a feedlot on the tour stop at Gregory Feedlot. “We run a hotel and restaurant,” Trowbridge said. “We’ve got to keep the rooms full and the feed going out.”
enjoyed at Gregory Feedlots. Every employee in the facility is Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)-certified, and the facility is audited a great deal to retain the reputation it has as a creditable custom feeder. “I have a great crew; two guys have been here for 20 years,” Trowbridge said. “My crew takes care of things, they get the credit.” “We run a hotel and restaurant,” Trowbridge says. “We’ve got to keep the rooms full and the feed going out.”
Genetic potential
Founded in 1980, Trans Ova has grown to encompass 170 full-time employees and offers numerous services to customers. The company currently serves the seedstock, showstock and the bucking stock businesses, but is hoping to expand into the commercial sector. “We make embryos and we make a lot of them,” said Mark Allan, director of marketing and genomics. In addition to offering a small amount of gender-sorted semen, Trans Ova offers embryo transfer (ET), in vitro fertilization (IVF), genetic engineering, cloning and a large recipient program as part of its reproductive toolbox. Offering all these services allows Trans Ova to be a one-stop shop for advanced reproductive technologies. On any given day, the company has 80-100 incubators flying around the world carrying eggs procured through the IVF facility, Allan explained. Trans Ova also owns the largest herd of beef cattle in Iowa, numbering around 10,000 head total, allowing customers to use company-owned recipients to carry eggs obtained through its ET and IVF programs. Recipients are held to strict standards, including age limits, testing for diseases and disposition. This program allows Trans Ova Genetics is a premier reproductive-technologies center focused on providing industry-leading tech@ nologies and expertise to cattle breeders. Offering a limited amount of gender-sorted semen, using the machine Trans Ova to perform around shown here, Trans Ova strives to be a full-service reproductive center for its customers. 16,000 transfers annually. 60
n
ANGUSJournal
n
August 2013
Breeding and feeding great cattle is a hefty job in itself; however, when producers want to multiply valuable bloodlines quickly, they know who to call. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Trans Ova Genetics is a premier reproductive center focused on providing industry-leading technologies and expertise to cattle breeders. Offering everything from gender-sorted semen to cloning, Trans Ova is at the forefront of reproductive science.
Trans Ova is also making strides in the medical field through the creation of the Tc (transchromosomal) Bovine™. Sanford Applied Biosciences (SAB) partnered with Trans Ova to produce fully human antibodies in genetically engineered cattle. Essentially, the cow’s antibodies are turned off and human antibodies are inserted. The animals are used to study human diseases, as well as to test human vaccines. SAB animals are housed at Trans Ova’s Genetic Advancement facility. This technology has already proven itself in a different subject, the Cystic Fibrosis pig, created by the University of Iowa.
The genetically modified pig produced more scientific breakthroughs in two years than conventional research had allowed in 25 years, said Allan. This research lays the groundwork for possible genetically modified livestock in the future — for example, modifying a horned breed to be polled — which would be incredibly valuable to some producers. With the population of the world expected to rise by 3.5 million in the next 30 years, how we will continue to feed the world has become a hot issue. “The question is how far can we back up the generation gap?” Allan asked. Trans
@ Above: “We make embryos and we make a lot of them,” said Mark Allan, director of marketing and genomics. In order to house all those animals, donors and progeny are housed in a series of runs and specially designed barns located at Trans Ova.
Ova is leading the way to answering that question.
Product processing A plaque certifying the Tyson plant located in Dakota City, Iowa, as having harvested 2 million head for the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand hangs in the front hallway to greet visitors and employees alike. Processing roughly 4,800 head per day, the facility, which employs 4,400 people, is a finely tuned machine and provided a valuable opportunity for BLI participants to see a side of the beef industry that most never see. The plant processes only U.S. beef, explained Jason Poole, complex manager. With 1,100 people working per shift, it is constantly in motion, shipping anywhere from 55,000 to 60,000 boxes of beef each day. The technology needed to accomplish that feat is extensive. Boxes are carried CONTINUED ON PAGE 62
@ Left: Trans Ova implements advanced tech-
nology to help producers close the generation gap by using ET on young females as a way to increase the elite genetics in a producer’s herd. The facilities at Trans Ova are designed so that the best care possible is given to each animal. August 2013
n
ANGUSJournal
n
61
Beef Leaders Institute CONTINUED FROM PAGE 61
artistic displays. Organic products are separated from natural products by wooden barriers so the integrity of the organics is not jeopardized. Whole Foods Market has implemented animal welfare standards for each animal product offered through the store. Watts said Whole Foods believes “the humane treatment of animals should be guided by an attitude of care, responsibility and respect” and the company, “works closely with farmers and ranchers to focus on raising animals for high-quality, greattasting meat.” Whole Foods markets its beef through a system of tiers requiring different levels of management. The first tier requires only that animals live their lives with space to move around and stretch their legs. Tier five plus requires that animals live their entire life and be slaughtered on one farm. To confirm that producers are practicing approved production methods, Whole Foods audits every farmer and rancher who produces products for their stores. Watts explained that this close-knit relationship with their producers allows their customers to be more informed about what they are buying and who produced it. Whole Foods Market is certainly a different perspective on the industry, but
PHOTO COURTESY OF TYSON FOODS
around the facility on a network of conveyor cattle a week were harvested. According belts, robots perform preprogrammed to the USDA nearly 40 years later, 650,000 tasks of moving boxes around the cooler, cattle are harvested per week in the United and unmanned cranes stack the boxes high States, meaning fewer cattle are producing above the cooler floor. Meanwhile, across the more beef than ever before. facility, new team members are being taught the ins and outs of the facility and food Niche marketing safety through interactive courses offered in Founded 33 years ago in Austin, Texas, 26 different languages. Whole Foods Market provides consumers With the plant receiving cattle 24 hours a fresh, natural and organic foods at a day, at any given time there are 1,200-1,400 reasonable price. Offering a different live animals onsite, Poole said. Cattle are perspective of the retail industry, Whole unloaded and allowed to rest in pens for an Foods has been a feature of the BLI tour for hour or more before they are brought into several years. the plant. Upon entering the plant, cattle The BLI group visited the Whole Foods are harvested and enter the first phase of Market in Omaha, Neb., where customer the breakdown process. Once the hide is outreach specialist Maria Watts explained removed, it is sent to the tannery and the how the company strives to make every carcass is graded before being railed to the store unique and offers as many seasonal cooler, where it must chill to 45° F within 24 and local products as possible. Great care is hours. When the carcass leaves the cooler, taken with each product offered so that each it begins the final breakdown process. The customer receives the highest-quality item carcass is broken down as it progresses possible. Every evening, products that need through the room until it is boxed for to be misted or are very delicate are removed shipment a mere 28 minutes later. from their carefully planned displays and Employees offer differing levels of placed into coolers. Each morning, produce experience and expertise. From the whiteis removed from coolers and crafted into helmet-wearing intermediate workers all the way up to the black helmets of the most experienced workers, an array of colors can be seen working on the processing floor. Most workers stay on the same job each day with workstations that are adjusted to better suit each worker. More-experienced employees working in higher-stress jobs are afforded more breaks so that every worker enjoys a suitable work environment. A fully certified physical therapist is on site every day to tend to workers. With so much care given to employees, it is no surprise that Tyson uses preventive maintenance on equipment to ensure that the flow of the @ Above: Processing roughly 4,800 head per day, the Tyson–Dakota City facility, which employs 4,400 plant is not interrupted. people, is a finely tuned machine and was a valuable chance for the members of BLI to see a side of the In 1975, 850,000 beef industry that most never see. 62
n
ANGUSJournal
n
August 2013
it allows yet another avenue for willing producers to market their product to consumers who might otherwise not eat beef.
Distribution Serving a five-state area locally and an additional 13 states nationally, Sysco Lincoln Inc. offered the unique opportunity for producers to see how their product moves from the packer to the distributor to the consumer. Though the task of distributing products to hungry consumers may seem simple, the planning and technology required to keep the operation running is only apparent after stepping from the reception area into the warehouse. The change in environment and energy is
@Right:
After touring the Tyson-Dakota City packing plant, BLI participants enjoyed a meal at CAB-licensed restaurant Brewburger’s, which offered specialty hamburgers at its location in Omaha, Neb.
@ Below:
Founded in 1980, Trans Ova has grown to encompass 170 full-time employees, though it still retains its family atmosphere through tours and the Trans Ova intern program.
colossal, and only then could the participants of BLI fully appreciate the scope of how Sysco really operates. Leaving the bright, businesslike atmosphere of reception and stepping through to the dimly lit warehouse is the first indication that Sysco Lincoln is a fast-paced business that requires employees to work quickly and accurately. As participants filed into the warehouse filled with ceiling-high shelves, meat buyer Kurt Brockhaus explained that the Lincoln inventory is valued at roughly $16 million; however, the supply would last a mere 15-16 days if all orders were stopped. The facility consists of multiple coolers, belowzero-degree freezers, loading docks, storage areas, test kitchens and offices. With 100
salesmen responsible for the area covered by Sysco Lincoln, 15,000 different products are sold to restaurants, schools, hospitals and anyone else who needs a full-service distributor. Moving through the warehouse, Brockhaus joked that the best way to explain one vital piece of warehouse equipment is through the children’s movie Monsters Inc. He explained that just like the monsters in the movie who selected doors in a warehouse, the mini loader, an automated robot that moves up and down the aisles on tracks, automatically selects items that will soon be needed for orders and places them on lower shelves. Once the items are in place, orders are assembled by employees armed with Star Wars-like scanners strapped to their forearms to scan codes on the boxes and print labels needed for the order. The technology eases the jobs of everyone in the warehouse by eliminating simple tasks that would otherwise take up muchneeded time. Moving from the warehouse to the loading docks, Brockhaus explained that an important component of how Sysco deals with food safety is through its cooled loading docks. Produce and meats move from coolers directly to cooled trucks without breaking the cold chain so the products don’t CONTINUED ON PAGE 64
@ Whole Foods Market provides con-
sumers fresh, natural and organic foods at a reasonable price. Whole Foods’ beef is marketed through a system of tiers that requires different levels of management from producers.
August 2013
n
ANGUSJournal
n
63
Beef Leaders Institute CONTINUED FROM PAGE 63 experience a change in temperature until they are delivered to the buyer. From the docks the group moved to the meat coolers where Brockhaus answered questions about what his consumers are demanding. “For years, we’ve been saying we need more ribeyes,” he stated, explaining that instead of producing more ribeyes, producers started breeding cattle with larger ribeyes. “Now they’re too big!” Brockhaus explained that many of his restaurants prefer a ¾-inch-thick 10- to 16inch ribeye. He also said that unlike some boxed beef, where cuts can vary by as much as 8½ lb. per box, CAB varies by just 1½ lb. within a box, offering his buyers a more uniform product. Brockhaus added that when Sysco began carrying CAB products,
customers quit ordering Prime products and that most buyers upgraded by at least one quality grade. Leaving the coolers to move back to the warmer offices, Brockhaus introduced the in-house menu-making service Sysco
provides for customers before moving on to the test kitchens where corporate chefs Lane Rosenberry and Brian Everman explained how Sysco brings customers into the kitchens to demonstrate how to prepare various products. “We have to be masters of everything,” Chef Lane stated, explaining that they work with establishments ranging from fine-dining restaurants to hospitals to elementary schools.
@ Above: The first tier of animal welfare at Whole Foods Market re-
quires only that animals live their lives with space to move around and stretch their legs; however, tier five plus requires that animals live their entire life and be slaughtered on one farm.
@ Above: Whole Foods Market charges a premium for locally sourced beef guaranteed to be produced using humane methods.
@ Right: Whole Foods Market offers another avenue for willing producers to market their product. Staying educated on the retail industry is just one way the cattle industry is evolving with the consumer. 64
n
ANGUSJournal
n
August 2013
Both chefs have participated in CABcertification courses in Wooster, Ohio. “It’s been cool putting faces with farmers,” Chef Lane added. “People don’t understand the care that goes into producing beef by you guys.”
Genomics Utilizing technology to better manage livestock has come a long way in a short
@ Below & right: The mini loader, an automated
robot that moves up and down the aisles on tracks, automatically selects items that will soon be needed for orders and places them on lower shelves. Once the items are in place, orders are then assembled.
period of time. Producers can now use a plethora of different tools to better track data, including submitting information to breed organizations for parentage, defect testing and genomic-enhanced EPDs (GE EPDs). With the push for adding value to livestock via additional information, the American Angus Association has built a relationship with GeneSeek Laboratories located in Lincoln, Neb. Founded in 1998 by a joint venture between a private-sector laboratory and a University of Nebraska professor, GeneSeek has quickly come to the forefront in genetic testing.
“One thing we’re always trying to do is use the latest technology,” said Tim Mitchell, operations manager at GeneSeek. This year, GeneSeek is on track to test 1 million samples, including nearly any species, though cattle, swine and canines make up the majority of their samples. GeneSeek has a collection of millions of blood and hair samples on site at the lab in Lincoln and goes to great pains so that each sample is correctly recorded. Each sample, upon entering the lab, is entered into the computer and barcoded so that it can be tracked from that point on within the lab. From there a sample’s route depends on which tests need to be run. With multiple labs running a number of different tests, GeneSeek is capable of running everything from basic to in-depth tests. The most important factor affecting testing is the quality of the sample received by the lab. “It all goes back to the quality of the sample,” Mitchell said. Finding the perfect test for both producers and the lab seems to be the No. 1 problem faced by both sides. “We haven’t found the perfect method for the ranch that still gives us the data we need in the lab.” Mitchell did offer advice to producers looking for a way to provide more effective samples. Filling the entire circle with blood and making sure the blood soaks through to the back of the blood card, providing a dozen or more hairs and allowing samples adequate time to dry properly at an ambient temperature are all ways to ensure that your sample lasts longer in the lab, said Mitchell. CONTINUED ON PAGE 66
August 2013
n
ANGUSJournal
n
65
Beef Leaders Institute CONTINUED FROM PAGE 65 With 60 employees on staff and another 20 to be added by fall, GeneSeek continues to grow. Adding that the company is getting closer to sequencing the whole cattle genome, Mitchell admitted cost-effectiveness is a concern to producers. “With newer technology, it’s getting faster and cheaper,” he said.
Retail ready The final stop for the BLI tour was the Cargill–Nebraska City plant, where BLI participants were welcomed by Bill Ackerman, food safety, quality and regulatory manager. Originally built in 1995, it was expanded to encompass 200,000 square feet in 2000. What makes that expansion unique is that
unlike most other plants that become like mazes from additions to original buildings, the layout in Nebraska City is streamlined. However, the building isn’t the only efficient part of the plant, which produces sliced meats; ready-to-cook products; and marinated, whole-muscle deli meats with 50% of its production being beef products. Naming a top 25 list of customers, Cargill serves retailers such as Walmart, Sam’s Club and Costco, as well as restaurants like Cracker Barrel, Panera Bread and Applebee’s, plus fastfood chains Burger King, Jack in the Box and Arby’s. With the need to produce an array of products efficiently while maintaining quality, Cargill employs 620-630 team members on nine slicing lines. The plant produces between 150,000 and 200,000 lb. of CAB products each week, according to Ackerman. The plant strives to produce high-quality products, including a marinated tri-tip marketed to the west coast that is produced exclusively at the Nebraska City plant.
@Left: Serving a five-
state area locally and an additional 13 states nationally, Sysco Lincoln Inc. offered the unique opportunity for producers to see how their product moves from the packer to the distributor to the consumer.
@Above:
Unlike some boxed beef, where cuts can vary by as much as 8½ lb. per box, CAB varies by just 1½ lb. within a box, offering Sysco’s buyers a more uniform product. Brockhaus added that when Sysco began carrying CAB products, customers quit ordering Prime products.
@ Corporate chefs Lane and Brian explain how Sysco brings customers into the kitchens so that they can give them ideas of how to prepare the products the customers have purchased. 66
n
ANGUSJournal
n
August 2013
Though the plant is producing in five days what took six days to produce in the past, Cargill hopes to get the most out of its equipment rather than expanding. Ackerman admits that the season affects production, and that during the winter months, the plant may only have enough meat to run four days a week. Additionally, the late spring caused a decrease in foods that would normally have been popular during warmer weather. However, being able to adapt is something with which everyone involved with the beef industry is familiar. The Cargill stop wrapped up the BLI
program designed to give young leaders in the Angus business a broader knowledge of the industry in which they participate. Through the American Angus Association, members are afforded unique opportunities to become more involved leaders and advocates for agriculture and the beef industry. Though the rising age of the American farmer is a cause for concern, with advancements in technology and the passion that young Angus members possess, American agriculture will continue to thrive just as it has in the past.
@ With 60 employees on staff and another 20 to be added by fall, GeneSeek continues to grow.
@ Above: This year, GeneSeek is on track to test 1 million samples, including
nearly any species, though cattle, swine and canines make up the majority of their samples. Each sample, upon entering the lab, is entered into the computer and barcoded so that it can be tracked from that point on within the lab.
@ Right: Once entered into the system, the sample’s route depends on which
tests need to be run. Here, Heather Bradford, AGI intern, spends a moment explaining the more technical aspects of a 50K chip.
@ Twenty Association members involved in BLI, an educational program sponsored by the Angus Foundation, ended their four-day tour with a stop at the Cargill-Nebraska City plant. See “Angus Producers Attend 2013 BLI” on page 54 for names of participants.
August 2013
n
ANGUSJournal
n
67
suc·cess \sək-ˈses\ n 1: the acc
The Definition of Success
When Bert Hutson found Angus, he began creating a legacy. Story & photos by Lynsey Meharg, intern
206
n
ANGUSJournal
n
October 2013
@ Bert
Hutson found himself involved in the business breed through the purchase of an unexpected number of Angus cattle.
complishment of an aim or purpose What is success? Stop for a moment and think.
The interesting thing about defining success is that each individual may see it differently. For one particular Oklahoma producer, success is defined as a combination of traits highlighted by a passion for agriculture and the Angus breed. “Bert Hutson is a true American success story,” says regional manager Matt Caldwell. “From very little, he has built successful businesses through hard work, determination and western-Oklahoma values.” Located near Elk City, Okla., Hutson Angus Farms, founded in1975, is a commercial- and registered-Angus operation that hasn’t always been partial to black cattle. When Bert Hutson began raising cattle, his breed of choice was Limousin. Involved in the breed for 15 years, the farm produced seedstock bulls, though they never hosted a sale. With his wife, Sue, Hutson raised his children, Johnny and Angie, with a passion for agriculture much like his own. Hutson recalls the miles he and his family traveled exhibiting Limousin cattle; however, it didn’t take long for him to see the writing on the wall. “Everything was leaning toward black cattle,” Hutson says. “Angus cattle.” Needing some time out of town, Hutson attended an Angus sale and purchased his first Angus cattle. Soon after, he would find himself at another Angus sale, but this time he would come home with more than he bargained for. “I got down there, and there were so many good cattle. I couldn’t
@ Hutson
Angus Farms adds bulls from proven programs and uses an AI program focused on balanced genetic traits.
pick out any, so I just set myself a price limit so that I wouldn’t pay over $1,800 to $2,000 for a cow,” Hutson says with a laugh. “We went down there to buy 15, and we came back with two and a half semi loads.” The cattle purchased that day at the Birch Angus Sale in Millcreek, Okla., became the foundation of the Hutson Angus herd, now comprising 700 registered animals and 100 purebred, unregistered females. “We had the true Aberdeen Angus from Mr. Birch,” Hutson says. “That’s where this whole thing originated. We just kept growing.”
Feed efficiency That growth continued for a number of years until another encounter changed the course of the operation. Hutson’s nutritionist, Don Sutherland, convinced Hutson to feed a few bulls with another of his customers, Profit Maker Bulls. After taking six or eight bulls to the Paxton, Neb., test center, Hutson began to re-evaluate his program and turned his focus to breeding stouter, more efficient bulls.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 208
October 2013
n
ANGUSJournal
n
207
suc·cess \sək-ˈses\ n 1: the acc The Definition of Success CONTINUED FROM PAGE 207
“Don influenced me to feed a few bulls up there, and that’s the way we started 15 years ago,” Hutson says. “We thought we had good cattle then. It has improved greatly since. That’s the reason we’re where we are today.” Hutson explains that the operation needed to produce higherperforming cattle, but in order to do that, he had to make extremely careful breeding and culling decisions. “You couldn’t just go with the flow of what everyone was doing,” Hutson says. “We just stayed with our performance traits, and it’s built to this right here.” What that strategy has built would make most cattlemen proud. Hutson Angus Farms is now the largest provider of Angus bulls to Profit Maker Bulls, each year sending 50-100 fall bulls and 100-150 spring bulls shortly after weaning to be fed. “There’s a difference between performance testing and what we actually do,” Joe Sanders, herdsman for Hutson Angus Farms, says. “There’s a lot of bulls across the country that are performance-tested. What we actually do is efficiency testing.” Once at Profit Maker Bulls, the cattle go through a process called the Grow Safe Individual Feed Consumption Measurement System,
which Profit Maker began using in 2008 to test the individual feed efficiency of the bulls. “Feed efficiency is a difficult trait to measure, but the impact on the larger beef industry is huge,” Caldwell says. “By turning in feed intake and gain measurements through AHIR® (Angus Herd Improvement Records), the resulting effect of higher-accuracy RADG EPD (residual average daily gain expected progeny difference) is huge. A 0.1 change in RADG can be worth $20 per head in the feedlot.” Fed a high-roughage ration, the bulls are conditioned so that when they are turned out, they will adapt better than if they were fed a mostly grain ration. Understanding that most cattle on pasture are fed a high-roughage diet with a supplement, Profit Maker produces cattle that are more feed efficient on a high-roughage diet, so they will thrive on a reduced amount of feed. “Since 2008, both bulls and heifers have been tested in the Profit Maker Bulls Grow Safe test facility. Replacements have been retained based on a combination of growth and feed efficiency,” says Dave Bittner, general manager for Profit Maker Bulls. “The Hutson Angus cow herd is now positioned to be a supplier of both economically superior bulls to the commercial cattle industry and economically superior females to the seedstock industry.” The Grow Safe System uses electronic identification (eID) tags to record what animal is at the bunk and how much that animal consumes. When all the data are collected at the end of the test, the quantity of feed that each animal should have eaten for its weight is compared to the quantity actually eaten. An animal that ate less than expected is considered efficient; whereas, an animal that ate more than expected is considered inefficient.
Marketing
Above: “We want to produce @ good, feed-efficient productive
bulls so the commercial cowman can sell more beef off his cows,” Hutson says. “That’s what we’ll stick with. It’s all we have to offer.” Right: In the more remote @ pastures, Hutson Angus Farms uses solar panels to fill large tanks, providing water even on cloudy days.
208
n
ANGUSJournal
n
October 2013
After the bulls are tested at Profit Maker, they are either sold private treaty or marketed through the Profit Maker Bulls leasing program. The program offers “Buy or Lease —You Decide,” allowing producers such as Hutson Farms to offer 1- and 2-year-old bulls on leases, which can be then be tripled if a buyer chooses to buy a young bull outright. Three-year-olds are sold in their entirety. “A lot of our bulls will go to customers that will turn them out, and they’ll tell us they look better there than they did here,” Sanders says. Last January, Hutson Angus hosted its first sale at the farm. The bulls, whose previously filmed videos were shown in the barn during the sale, were on display behind the sale facility for buyers to walk through and evaluate. Hutson cited the
complishment of an aim or purpose reduced chance of injury to the cattle and the need for fewer people to work the sale as reasons for using the video-sale method. “The bull deal is way better than it used to be!” Hutson says. Not only has the Profit Maker program added value to Hutson bulls, but that information can be brought back to the farm and used for decision-making. “When they added Grow Safe is when the benefits really began to show,” Hutson says. “We began to keep all the easier-keeping cattle.” Always having culled for strict quality standards, he says temperamental, open and late-breeding cattle were immediately culled from the herd, as well as females that produced unusually small calves that seemed to take a while to catch up to their peers. “That’s the reason we’ve owned so many cattle,” Hutson says. “It takes a while and a number of cattle to build a herd.” Now that the herd is built, the key is marketing. Adding value to the bulls by efficiency testing helps tremendously. However, Hutson Angus also has marketing plans for its females and feeder calves. Keeping several replacement heifers and commercial heifers each year allows Hutson Angus to offer individual females or groups of heifers based on a customer’s needs, he explains. Most of these commercial females are sold as bred heifers, having either been artificially inseminated (AIed) or exposed to a low-birth-weight and high-calving-ease bull. Those calves not kept for bull prospects and heifer replacements are preconditioned and taken to Premium Natural Beef near Lone Wolf, Okla., where the calves are marketed to Whole Foods Market, having been humanely produced and without implants. Those calves that don’t meet the criteria for Premium Natural Beef are removed from the program and transferred to Wheeler Feedyard Inc. near Wheeler, Texas. “All we have to worry about now is how we’re going to feed them. This drought has created a monster!” Hutson exclaims. As for the future, Hutson says that there is no plan to increase cow numbers once the drought is past. “Even though we’re down in numbers, our quality has gone up,” he says. “By culling down to our top end, we can sell the same number of bulls with less cattle.” Hutson says that the plan for the operation is to stick with dependable, proven cattle so that producers know exactly what they’re getting every time, allowing Hutson Angus to build on its following of repeat customers. “We want to produce good, feed-efficient, productive bulls so that the commercial cowman can sell more beef off his cows,” Hutson says. “That’s what we’ll stick with. It’s all we have to offer.” Editor’s Note: Lynsey Meharg was the 2013 editorial summer intern for the Angus Journal.
Innovative ideas
Hutson Angus Farms is more than just cattle. Managed by Johnny Hutson, Bert’s son, farming is a large part of the operation. Wheat, triticale and hay are their main focus; however, Bert Hutson is always on the watch for the next big thing. “Bert has his hand in a lot of things,” Joe Sanders, herdsman for Hutson Angus Farms, says. When The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and Oklahoma State University partnered on a hybrid Bermuda grass, Hutson was on the ground floor. In addition to cattle, Hutson Angus “I’m always Farms grows forages, including a watching to see drought-resistant variety of Bermuda grass that Hutson when they put a says even picky calves new release out,” will eat. Hutson says. “When they released this Bermuda grass, I signed up and got the first release.” Planted in March 1999, the Midland-99 Bermuda grass is a drought-hardy grass that Hutson says his cattle will eat when they won’t eat anything else. Continually expanding from the original nursery plot, Hutson and his family have sprigged multiple fields across the farm so that now 400 acres or more are planted in Midland-99. With the grass working so well for his own farm, it’s no wonder Hutson is contacted about sprigging other cattlemen’s fields from time to time as the weather permits. Local farmers and ranchers have purchased sprigs from this Midland-99 plot for decades. With all of the feedstuffs produced on the 3,000 acres of farm ground going back into his own cow herd, Hutson says they’ve had to buy a lot of cornstalks throughout the drought to supplement, as well. Hutson outsources the labor, saying it’s cheaper to have their hayman grind and chop the feedstuffs than it would be to do it themselves. With all the success the operation has had farming, Hutson only has one complaint about the forage operation. “I’d like to grow enough we could sell!” Hutson laughs.
@
October 2013
n
ANGUSJournal
n
209
Not Your Ordinary Show Heifer An Illinois family goes to great lengths to save a bred-and-owned female. by Lynsey Meharg, intern
or many junior Angus members, showing cattle is a family tradition they have gladly carried on through many years of hard work, dedication and perseverance. Though perseverance may be found through many avenues, for one Illinois junior the word takes on a special meaning. “I just wanted to show so bad!” says Brooke Haas, a National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) member from Downs, Ill. Like many junior Angus members who grew up in families familiar with the breed, Brooke longed to show Angus cattle just as her father, uncle, aunt and older siblings had done before her. That longing became particularly strong when she was diagnosed with scoliosis. After having the severe case corrected with surgery, Brooke was no longer able to play sports and made the decision with her family to become involved with the NJAA at the age of 12. This year, the project came full circle when Brooke exhibited the champion bred-and-owned (B&O) female at the Illinois Junior Angus Preview. The feat would never have bounded toward the barn. As the family happened without a lot of perseverance watched, the heifer running in front of from the whole family. her kicked Brooke’s B&O heifer The champion female, squarely in the jaw. “We’ve always HA PVF Missie 2129, the “She was just in the wrong place daughter of Brooke’s first at the wrong time,” Bryan Haas, treated our show heifer, is very special Brooke’s father, states. “We saw it show heifers to the Haas family, but the happen, but we had no idea where fondness has nothing to she was hurt.” like divas, but do with her ability to win. After the impact, the heifer this heifer The relationship between stopped and began shaking her showman and show heifer head, revealing to the Haases goes above and that the blow did more than just goes deeper than that. bruise. After rushing her to the beyond that.” The accident local vet, the family learned that — Teresa Haas Like any other the only hope to save her was to afternoon, when Brooke pursue treatment at the University arrived at the barn last October, the two of Illinois. Upon arriving at the university, heifers she planned to show that year the heifer was given painkillers for 48 hours 78
n
ANGUSJournal
n
September 2013
PHOTO BY CHLOE GEYE COURTESY OF SURECHAMP
F
before veterinarians Edgar Garrett and Matthew Stewart were able to wire the female’s broken jaw together. “They had never experienced a cow with a broken jaw,” Bryan explains, but they were confident after performing the operation that the heifer would make a full recovery, which proved to be a relief for the family. Because the heifer’s jaw was broken with a clean break, the jaw could be repaired. Had the jawbone shattered, nothing could have been done for her. “It would have been heartbreaking,” Brooke says of the possibility of losing the special female. “She’s a sweetheart for what she’s been through.” “By the grace of God she’s still here,” was a popular statement amongst the family immediately after the event, and the nickname stuck. Gracie’s recovery became a family effort that the Haases would pride themselves upon.
Road to recovery
Months of recovery followed, and the Haases went to extraordinary lengths to ensure Gracie’s full recovery. For the next two months, the Haases guided Gracie from her stall into a chute without the aid of a halter. The routine was the same each time: Hold Gracie’s tongue, pull her damaged lip out and flush the wound free of feedstuffs and other harmful materials. “It took three of us, twice a day, to put her in the chute and treat her,” says Teresa, Brooke’s mother. Astonishingly, the heifer never lost her appetite. In the beginning, the family fed Gracie a goat and llama pellet that was soaked so that it would not have to be chewed, but by the end of one week, the heifer was once again eating her normal ration — though it too was soaked to allow for easier feeding. Drylotted for 40 days, Gracie was restricted from eating grass for
PHOTO BY LYNSEY MEHARG
@ Brooke Haas (right), along with parents Bryan and Teresa, went to extraordinary measures to ensure the recovery of her bred-and-owned female, Gracie.
fear that chewing would hinder the healing of the jaw. Instead, they offered her a finely ground hay. Almost completely healed after the first three months, Gracie appears to be a normal female with two tiny exceptions. Four weeks into recovery, the Haases noticed something wasn’t quite right. Part of Gracie’s jawbone wasn’t mending. After making the decision to remove that part of the right jawbone, including her teeth, Gracie’s real recovery began, but it left her with some unique features. “Her tongue can hang out 4 to 5 inches in the showring,” Brooke says, adding that she’s never had a judge ask her what happened to Gracie. The other exception is that Gracie takes an hour to eat her feed. Using her tongue to scoop the feed toward her mouth, Brooke says Gracie looks a bit like a giraffe when she eats her show feed.
Successful journey While these attributes make Gracie unique, they have not hindered her show career. Eight months after the injury, Brooke exhibited Gracie at the Illinois Junior Angus Preview, where she was named grand champion B&O heifer. A traveling memorial award given to the champion B&O female, the Linda Dameron Memorial award, was presented to Brooke. It was an emotional victory. Not only was Brooke’s name added to a list of Dameron
Award winners that included her uncle in 1984, but she won her very first champion title with the heifer she fought so hard to save. Following the preview, Brooke exhibited Gracie at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Kansas City, Mo. “We’re so proud of her, and to be able to display her here was special,” Teresa says. “We’ve been blessed.” Bred to calve in March, Gracie is headed back to the Haases’ home to begin life as a treasured female. As for the heifer that caused Gracie’s injury? Brooke showed her before retiring her back to the farm. Though the
females are allowed to be barn mates, each one resides in her own stall and run so no other mishaps occur. “She doesn’t have to share a run anymore!” Brooke says, adding that when the females are both safely bred they may be allowed to share space. Though Brooke and her family did what they had to do in order to save Gracie, they never expected any accolades. Expected or not, people are noticing the devotion between this family and the heifer to which they have devoted so much time and effort to rehabilitate. “When I think of a hard-working, dedicated junior committed to her show cattle, I think of Brooke. What the Haas family has endured with their bred-andowned heifer this year is truly a remarkable story,” says Jerry Cassady, regional manager for region nine, which covers Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. “Brooke has demonstrated determination, passion and an intensity not often found in today’s youth and, without knowing it, has been a very positive role model for other junior members in our area.” The story of Gracie is one that the Haases will surely treasure for a lifetime. Brooke describes the experience as one that was very humbling. Her own struggles and that of her heifer go hand in hand. Understandably, exhibiting Gracie at NJAS had a special meaning to Brooke. “She’s not your ordinary show heifer. She’s not just another cow,” Brooke says proudly. “She kept going. For what she’s been though and overcame, it feels pretty good.”
@ University of Illinois veterinarians told the Haas family that the kick from the other heifer had broken Gracie’s jaw. Gracie now appears to be a normal female with just a few exceptions.
September 2013
n
ANGUSJournal
n
79
Lynsey Meharg
eblast
Brief news articles on important Angus industry happenings.
News Update Dec. 2, 2013 Make Plans for Range Beef Cow Symposium XXIII Dec. 3-5 The Range Beef Cow Symposium (RBCS) is being hosted in 2013 by South Dakota State University at the Rushmore Convention Center in Rapid City, S.D., Dec. 3-5. The RBCS is a biennial educational event designed as “in-service training for cow-calf ranchers.” The event will feature well-known speakers who will provide updates on production topics in the areas of beef industry issues, genetics, reproduction, range and forage management, cattle health, beef nutrition, and more. The Angus Journal editorial team coordinates an online event coverage website for the RBCS with a live webcast from LiveAuctions.tv during the conference if you cannot attend in person. Visit rangebeefcow.com before the conference for the schedule and travel information. During and after the conference, visit the site’s Newsroom for summaries, PowerPoint presentations, proceedings papers, audio and additional references provided by speakers. The Range Beef Cow Symposium began in 1969 as a joint effort of the Extension services from South Dakota State University, Colorado State University, the University of Wyoming and the University of Nebraska. The symposium regularly attracts more than 900 ranchers and industry-affiliates. It includes a two-and-one-half day educational program, bull-pen sessions with the speakers each evening and a trade show with displays from the beef industry. This year’s program will include such topics as policy and trade issues, pregnant cow nutrition, limit-feeding high-energy diets, post artificial insemination (AI) nutrition, managing cow costs, using technology to improve efficiency, understanding how to use DNA tools, optimal range management, and many other topics. Additionally, Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan will share her experiences advocating for agriculture as Miss America, and beef “spokesrunner” Dane Rauschenberg will motivate
the audience to “Ignore the Impossible.” Many companies within the beef industry attend this symposium and set up vendor booths. Their participation keeps the cost minimal for producers and provides producers with an opportunity to discuss products, equipment, nutrition, genetics and services available for their cattle business. In addition, the bull-pen sessions are said to be the most valuable part of the symposium. This is a time for attendees to have in-depth discussions with the speakers and an opportunity to ask questions. The majority of the symposium speakers on Tuesday and Wednesday will be present in the evening following their presentations. Walk-ins are welcome, with registration available at the door. For additional information, contact Ken Olson, SDSU Extension beef specialist, 605-394-2236 or kenneth.olson@sdstate.edu; or Julie Walker, SDSU Extension beef specialist, 605-6885458 or julie.walker@sdstate.edu. — Release by Angus Journal.
LEA to Conduct ‘Livestock Exporting 3.0’ Seminar The Livestock Exporters Association (LEA) will host the third annual “Livestock Exporting 3.0” seminar Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the Hilton Kansas City Airport in Kansas City, Mo., in conjunction with the United States Livestock Genetics Export (USLGE) annual meeting. The seminar is aimed toward experienced exporters, LEA members and industry affiliates interested in marketing livestock abroad. “When it comes to exporting livestock, details are key,” says LEA President Tony Clayton. “During our 2014 seminar, we will discuss the most recent changes to the export process and what that means for you as you plan to market internationally.” The day-long, in-depth discussion of the export process will give participants a closer look inside the procedures associated with shipping livestock overseas, and educate exporters on the sweeping changes taking place with the export approval process at the USDA, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS). Changes coming from the USDA APHIS VS — the federal agency responsible for approving all health papers for live animals, semen and embryos to be exported — will be the main focus of this year’s “Livestock Exporting 3.0,” including the move from having an area veterinarian in-charge in each state to six directors in the newly formed administration for National Import Export Services (NIES). NIES directors will be on-hand to discuss the latest rules and regulations that apply to the various sectors, including live animal exports, air and seaports, and service centers.
Additional topics will be export policy and administration, animal health certification, permits, risk assessments, and many more issues related to overseas transport. For more information, please view the full release here. — Release by the Livestock Exporters Association.
Delayed Crop Harvest Increases Highway Dangers December is usually a time when farms can put their harvest equipment away for the winter. Not so this year, especially in Central and Northern Michigan as corn and soybean harvest continues and may linger even into the New Year. A wet spring delayed the planting of most crops. A cool mid-summer, followed by a dry late summer put a number of corn and soybean acres behind normal in maturity. According to Michigan State University Extension field crop educators, the remaining soybeans are not harvesting well because the pods are too wet and corn in the field still carries too much moisture to be economically dried. Compound this with wet soils that are too muddy to enter with equipment and it is understandable that this grain crop will continue to be harvested gradually as conditions allow, well into early winter. This delayed harvest is increasing the dangers of farm equipment traveling on public roadways and colliding with domestic vehicles. Motorists on the roadways are not expecting to come upon slow moving farm vehicles this time of year. They assume the harvest season is over. More critically, the decreasing daylight hours of December increases the risk of tractors and combines on the roadways in the dark during rush hour. Motorists often do not properly gauge the slower speed of a tractor or other farm implement in the daytime hours and approach them too rapidly. Add in the early evening darkness and slippery roads covered with ice or snow, and it is a recipe for disaster. For more information, please view the full release here. — Release by Jerry Lindquist for Michigan State University Extension.
Online Course is Starting Place for Learning About ATV Safety Before actually driving an ATV, youth who are interested in learning more about the safety aspects of handing these machines can do so through an online safety course. Sponsored through the ATV Safety Institute (ASI), in cooperation with ATV Ride Safe Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program, the ATV Safety e-Course adventure is a great way to introduce the ATV experience to both novice and experienced riders. Mike Klumpp, Oklahoma 4-H ATV safety coordinator, said more than 600 youth have
taken the online course and he’s hoping to reach 1,000 participants by the end of 2013. “We’ve been teaching hands-on ATV safety through the 4-H program in Oklahoma for a number of years, but the e-Course is relatively new,” Klumpp said. “It’s a great, safe way for beginning riders to start learning about all the safety aspects of riding an ATV. Oklahoma averages more than 15 ATV-related deaths each year and has one of the nation’s highest rates of injury for youth age 16 and younger. This online learning opportunity is one of the first steps youth can take to learn about safe riding.” The e-Course is free and can be found at www.atvsafety.org. It offers three age-specific elearning courses to address basic ATV safety principles. Klumpp said it takes about two hours to complete the course, and participants can stop at any point and come back later to finish up right where they left off. For more information, please view the full release here. — Release by Trisha Gedon for Oklahoma State University.
Predator Management and M-44 Training Offered The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Wharton County office will offer a predator management and pesticide applicator training and test from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Hlavinka Equipment Co. store in El Campo, 3230 West Business 59 South. People interested in attending should reserve by Dec. 2 by calling 979-532-3310. The fee is $20 per person and includes lunch. “Predators such as coyotes, foxes and feral dogs cause damage to livestock and crops, which results in economic loss to Texas farmers and ranchers,” said Corrie Bowen, AgriLife Extension agent in Wharton County. “Predators also sometimes adversely affect wildlife populations. These animals can spread diseases such as rabies, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to domestic animals and humans.” Bowen said the predator management training program works to assist the livestock industry and to ensure the methods used to manage livestock predation do not present hazards to humans, non-target animals and the environment. “This program will cover training on available management techniques and monitoring to allow certification of M-44 sodium cyanide applicators,” she said. Before being permitted to use this pesticide, Bowen noted, applicators must have a pesticide applicator’s license with the Texas Department of Agriculture, attend a training class to learn proper use of the selected method and score 70 or above on the
examination. Noncommercial applicators must also obtain the Predatory Animal Control subcategory, or the Regulatory Pest Control or Demonstration and Research categories, she said, and commercial applicators must also obtain the Predatory Animal Control subcategory. The program also includes other control methods and tips on identifying which predator is affecting livestock. — Release by Kathleen Phillips for Texas A&M AgriLife Communications. — Compiled by Lynsey Meharg, intern, Angus Journal.
forward to a friend Copyright © 2013 Angus Journal, All rights reserved. unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences
Lynsey Meharg
social media
Lynsey Meharg
As part of my internship with the Angus Journal, I am responsible for taking the information used in the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA and creating tweets to boost traffic to the EXTRA.
Lynsey Meharg
Photography
Lynsey Meharg
recognition