Secretary Perdue Statement on Ninth Circuit Dicamba Decision

(Washington, D.C., June 4, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today issued the following statement on the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision to vacate Dicamba registrations: “Producers need all the tools in their toolbox to produce the world’s food, fuel, and fiber, and USDA re-affirms its support for EPA’s science-based process for assessing and managing ecological risks, balanced against the agricultural and societal benefits of crop protection tools.…

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K-State wheat breeder takes early look at upcoming releases

K-State wheat breeder Allan Fritz says two wheat lines expected to be released this year show promise for leaf resistance and good yields. (File photo) Fritz talks about lines expected out this year during virtual Wheat Field Day MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas farmers participating in the first-ever Virtual Wheat Field Day last week got an early report on two hard red winter wheat lines expected for release later this year by Kansas State…

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Virtual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course set for Aug. 3-5

Expert-led sessions, live animal demonstrations, trade show planned The annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course is going virtual this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. The annual Beef Cattle Short Course will be held virtually this year. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo) While it may be hard to ‘virtually’ eat the famous prime rib dinner associated with the event, the educational aspect will still be provided as it has been for the past 65…

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Dealing with Blister Beetles

Dave Boxler, Nebraska Extension Educator Horses are very susceptible to blister beetle poisoning. Photo credit Troy Walz. Blister beetles, from the family Meloidae, are sometimes referred to as oil beetles and found in all parts of the Unites States and Canada. Adult blister beetles vary in size and color but are recognized by the elongated, narrow, cylindrical, and soft bodies. In Nebraska, the three-striped, grey, and black blister beetles (Fig. 1) are the…

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Musk Thistle

Gary Stone, Nebraska Extension Educator Musk thistle flower. Photo credit Gary Stone. Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) is a concept to identify potentially invasive species prior to or just as the establishment of the invasive is taking place.  An Integrated Pest Management plan (IPM) can be developed to manage, contain and eradicate the invasive species before it can spread further.  This will avoid costly, long-term control efforts. Musk Thistle   a.k.a. –…

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Checking Water from Afar

Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator Being able to quickly identify if a problem is occurring with a water source gives producers the opportunity to respond rapidly to correct any issues. Photo cedit Troy Walz. For cattle producers who rely on wells in pastures and rangelands as a water source for their cattle, much time is spent checking water to make sure that windmills and submersible wells are delivering the water cattle need.  …

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Kansas Swine Classic moves online for 2020

Online entries are open and will be accepted through June 15 MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry will host the 2020 Dr. Bob Hines Kansas Swine Classic online, including a showmanship contest, prospect and market hog shows, a skillathon and photo contest. The deadline to register is June 15 and can be found online at bit.ly/SwineClassicEntry. The fee is $20 per entry, with a maximum of…

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USDA Launches 2020 Feds Feed Families Nationwide Food Drive

New website makes it easier than ever to participate, measure donations, and share success stories (Washington, June 1, 2020) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today kicked off the 11th annual government-wide Feds Feed Families (FFF) campaign, which encourages employees from all federal departments and agencies to give in-kind contributions -- food, services, and time -- to food banks and pantries. This year’s campaign highlights a summer of giving in June and…

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American Angus Association Launches Combined $Value Index

$C combines the two underlying breeding objectives that drive Angus’s maternal and terminal economic indices.   The American Angus Association® launched the new Combined Value ($C) on May 29, 2020. $C is an economic selection index that aims to characterize profitability differences across the entire chain by combining the two underlying breeding objectives that drive the American Angus Association’s maternal and terminal economic indices.  Expressed in dollars per head, $C includes all 15 traits involved in Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M) and Beef Value…

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Bring the Heat from Home for the Certified Angus Beef ® at Home Contest

The highly acclaimed contest held traditionally at the National Junior Angus Show will be replaced with a virtual format for 2020. For the past 36 years, National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members and their families have gathered at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) to test their culinary skills on the product that drives many of their livelihoods, Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®). Due to COVID-19, this year’s contest will look a little…

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