USDA Expands Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program for Meat Processors to 9 States with Addition of South Dakota

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the State of South Dakota have finalized a Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) agreement, which provides an opportunity for selected state-inspected meat and poultry processors to ship their products across state lines. Under the CIS agreement, the State of South Dakota may inspect meat in selected establishments for shipment throughout the United States. The CIS program was…

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No 17-year cicadas for Oklahoma this summer

By Gail Ellis  STILLWATER, Okla. – Like a total eclipse of the sun or rare blood moon, the mass emergence of periodical cicadas is a natural phenomenon that piques interest worldwide. While the 17-year cicada is crawling aboveground now on the East Coast and in the upper Midwest, state Extension specialists say Oklahoma is in the clear.  Eric Rebek, Oklahoma State University entomology professor and Extension specialist, said the Brood X species of periodical cicada making headlines this summer is…

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Oklahoma welcomes backyard beekeeping trend

By Gail Ellis  STILLWATER, Okla. – Backyard adventures and DIY projects are all the rage right now, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic prompted people to rediscover some of the joys of being at home and pass the time with new hobbies. First, it was gardening, then chickens, and now the latest backyard buzz is bees.  Courtney Bir, Oklahoma State University Extension farm management specialist, has studied how small-scale agricultural projects appeal to residents with extra space and time on…

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Cattle Chat: Caring for first-calf heifers and calves

K-State beef cattle experts discuss the dietary needs of first calf heifers and the importance of water to nursing calves MANHATTAN, Kan. — Each season of the year brings management considerations for the beef producer. For summer, two groups in the herd – first calf heifers and young calves – need special attention, according to experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute. “First calf heifers need a lot of extra care because…

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Upcycling can turn unused items into great gardening containers

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – By upcycling unused items around the home, gardeners can prove the cliché that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure while keeping those materials out of landfills and creating whimsical, decorative features. It’s a sure bet that nearly any gardener can find some really interesting things that can be repurposed into unique garden planters, said Keith Reed, Oklahoma State University Extension horticulture educator in Payne County. However, such a project…

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Take Your Time with Power Takeoffs

Be safe and sound: Shut down and walk around. by Linda Geist, University of Missouri Extension Survivors do not soon forget power takeoff accidents. Retired Monroe County farmer Artie Whelan recalls one of his first days back on the farm after his discharge from the U.S. Army 64 years ago. The half-ton truck he was driving got stuck, so he hitched it to a Ford 8N tractor to pull it out. He jumped…

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The 20 and 19 Millionth Angus Registrations are Assigned

Milestone Angus Registration numbers are assigned by breeders to standout animals. The very first Angus animal was registered in 1883, and since then the American Angus Association®  has registered more than 20 million Angus cattle over the years. Among the vast database of registrations that have built up, there have been a handful of milestone registration numbers that have been purchased and assigned by breeders to stock that show both phenotypic and genotypic…

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Cattle Chat: Managing heat stress in cattle

Knowing the signs and mitigation strategies will aid in cattle performance over the summer MANHATTAN, Kan. — On a hot summer day, people often dress in light clothing, drink more water than normal and seek shade to minimize the impacts on the body from heat and humidity. Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute experts said cattle need many of those same strategies for maximum performance over the summer. Talking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast,…

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