USDA, FDA, EPA Launch Website for Biotechnology Regulation

(Washington, D.C., January 9, 2020) – Today, in recognition of January 2020 as National Biotechnology Month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a Unified Website for Biotechnology Regulation. The Website streamlines information about the three regulatory agencies charged with overseeing agriculture biotechnology products and is part President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order on Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology…

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Federal Spending Bill Repeals HIT, Extends Key Tax Provisions

Legislation to fund the U.S. government in 2020 included several tax provisions important to farmers and ranchers. At the top of the list is permanent repeal of the Health Insurance Tax, which was enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act. The Health Insurance Tax has increased health insurance costs for farmers, ranchers and other small businesses by imposing a levy on the net premiums of health insurance companies, which is then passed…

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NCBA and Masters of Beef Advocacy Announce 2019 Advocate of the Year

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, has selected Brandi Buzzard Frobose, blogger, Kansas rancher and influencer, as the 2019 Advocate of the Year. This honor is given annually to an outstanding Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program graduate to recognize his or her success in reaching and educating consumers who want to learn more about beef and raising cattle. MBA is a Checkoff-funded program designed to equip…

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Breaking the Ice

Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County, OSU Extension Happy Holidays readers! With holiday gatherings a plenty right now, I thought maybe you would appreciate a suggestion for a conversation starter. Why not break the ice about breaking the ice? Owners of livestock and pets will probably sympathize with you over a cup of hot cider by the tree. With the cold finally settling in, keeping free flowing water available can…

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Research on irrigation, soil health highlights Jan. 14 workshop

K-State faculty will discuss work at the Flickner Innovation Farm near Inman INMAN, Kan. ­– Kansas State University will be presenting current findings on irrigation and soil health based on research conducted at the Flickner Innovation Farm, near Inman. The farm is hosting the free workshop at the Inman Community Center, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on January 14. Lunch will be provided. More information, including registration, is available online from the…

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K-State Presents Youth Animal Science Learning Opportunity

High school students can apply now for the Kansas State University Animal Sciences Leadership Academy’s 2020 class. MANHATTAN, Kan. – Students from across the country with an interest in the livestock industry and related careers can apply now for the Kansas State University Animal Sciences Leadership Academy (KASLA). The academy, which is celebrating its twelfth year, is an intensive four-day educational experience designed to enhance the leadership skills and animal science knowledge of…

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Burning Your Bottom Line: How Hot Hay Changes Forage Quality

Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator Testing forage quality of your hay, whether it’s your own or purchased, is a critical first step to optimizing hay use. Photo credit Troy Walz. Hay put up too wet can lead to a number of issues, most notably mold and heat.  Moisture keeps otherwise dormant microbes and fungi active, decreasing forage quality and creating heat.  Too much heat can actually create a risk of combustion.  However, even…

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2020 Cover Your Acres Conference highlights plants, people

Agronomic and economic issues to be addressed at 17th annual conference COLBY, Kan. –Producers, consultants, and experts will gather for the 17th annual Cover Your Acres Winter Conference on January 14-15, at the Gateway Civic Center in Oberlin, Kansas. The conference is a joint venture between K-State Research and Extension and conference sponsors. “Economics is big on everyone's mind right now,” says Lucas Haag, an agronomist with K-State Research and Extension’s Northwest Area…

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Differences Between High-, Medium-, and Low-Profit Cow-Calf Producers: An Analysis of 2014-2018 Kansas Farm Management Association Cow-Calf Enterprise – A Review

Good production with cost control differentiated the most profitable producers from those that were the least profitable. Photo credit Troy Walz. Listen to a discussion of the content in this article on this episode of the BeefWatch podcast. You can subscribe to new episodes in iTunes or paste http://feeds.feedburner.com/unlbeefwatch into your podcast app. This study by Whitney Bowman, Dustin L. Pendell Ph.D. and Kevin L. Herbel can be found at the Kansas State…

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Use the Numbers (correctly) this Bull Sale Season

Matt Spangler, UNL Associate Professor and Beef Genetics Extension Specialist This bull sale season do not make the process more complex than it really needs to be. Photo credit Troy Walz. This bull sale season, profit-minded cattle producers will utilize expected progeny differences (EPD) and economic selection indices when selecting their next group of bulls. These tools are far more accurate at predicting the average difference in offspring than visual appraisal or actual…

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