Farmer and Rancher Input is Critical for Climate Success

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall commented today on President Biden’s executive order calling on USDA to collect input from farmers and ranchers on climate-related federal programs. “The American Farm Bureau Federation appreciates that President Biden has committed to seek input from America’s farmers and ranchers as the administration works on new climate solutions. It’s crucial that as new strategies are implemented our leaders listen to the people who will be affected the…

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PLC Welcomes Opportunity To Show Biden Administration, Ranchers Are The Original Conservationists

WASHINGTON (Jan. 27, 2021) – The Public Lands Council (PLC) Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover, today released the following statement in response to the Biden Administration issuing executive orders that involve climate change and land conservation: “Public lands ranchers truly are the original conservationists and their carefully-managed grazing programs are designed to facilitate healthy cattle and sheep, while also supporting sustained landscape health. As the Biden Administration develops a plan to achieve their goal…

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Diversifying Crop Rotation Through Field Peas, Sorghum and Polycropping

BROOKINGS, S.D. - SDSU Extension will kick off the second month of its Crop Hour Series, with a week focused on field peas, sorghum and polycropping practices. During the virtual coffee hour February 2-5, participants will get to hear the latest research in this area and why including these alternative crops in rotations is beneficial. “We will share SDSU’s Field Pea Variety Trials as well as cover root and other common diseases of field…

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Understanding the Importance of Your Herd’s Energy Reserves

Adele Harty, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist This represents an update of an article originally written by Kalyn Waters, former SDSU Extension Cow-Calf Field Specialist. The energy reserves of a herd are a direct correlation to nutrient supply and balance. Feed prices account for greater than 60% of South Dakota producers’ annual operating expense, so it becomes critical for producers to understand how to evaluate and manage the energy reserves of a beef…

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Raising Freezer Beef: Meeting Customer Expectations

Amanda Blair Professor & SDSU Extension Meat Science Specialist A trend that has become more prominent in recent years is for ranchers to finish a few animals and sell beef direct to the consumer. Consumers have a desire to know where their beef comes from, value the story and are seeking ranchers to purchase beef from. At the same time, ranchers have been seeking opportunities to add value to their cattle and reduce…

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Cryptosporidiosis – Frequently Asked Questions

Dr. Michelle Arnold, UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory What is “cryptosporidiosis”? Cryptosporidiosis, also known as “crypto”, is a disease primarily seen in calves due to a protozoan parasite, Cryptosporidium parvum or C. parvum for short. In its “clinical” or visible form, calves have profuse, watery diarrhea that can lead to dehydration and death. It generally affects calves from newborns up to 6 weeks of age but older animals may be asymptomatic shedders. There are no effective treatments or…

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USDA Temporarily Suspends Debt Collections, Foreclosures and Other Activities on Farm Loans for Several Thousand Distressed Borrowers Due to Coronavirus

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2021 - Due to the national public health emergency caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the temporary suspension of past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). USDA will temporarily suspend non-judicial foreclosures, debt offsets or wage garnishments, and referring foreclosures to the Department of…

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Farm Bureau Establishes 2021 Policies

Farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 102nd Annual Convention today adopted policies to guide the organization’s work in 2021. Key topics ranged from farm diversity to farm labor and dairy policy to livestock marketing. For the first time in AFBF history, delegates met and voted virtually due to COVID-19. “Our Farm Bureau delegates showed that no challenge, not even a pandemic, will keep them from working to improve the…

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Cattlemen’s Day Program Transitions Online

Kansas State University’s Animal Sciences and Industry Department will host Cattlemen’s Day 2021 on Friday, March 5 using the Zoom platform. Mike Day, KSU ASI department head, will kick off the morning at 9:30 a.m.   “We’re excited to host the 108th KSU Cattlemen’s Day,” says Ken Odde, K-State professor and Cattlemen’s Day co-chairman. “Although COVID-19 restrictions have led us to transition this year’s event online, we are excited about the lineup of speakers and…

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Ranchers’ webinars turn to youth events

By Brian Brus STILLWATER, Okla. – The Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime series of free teleconferences launches its next round of topics 12:30 p.m. Feb. 11 with a roundtable discussion by Oklahoma Youth Expo staff about show ring success. “This cycle of talks will deal with a unique segment of the cattle industry,” said Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, beef cattle extension specialist and continuing education director at OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “We’ll be providing information to help…

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