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Breaking NewsState funding of livestock market reporting cutBy Jennifer M. Latzke According to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, as of July 1, there will no longer be state-funded market reports of feeder cattle, bred cows, slaughter cows and bulls in the state. Currently, KDA reports the livestock sales at Pratt Livestock Auction, Pratt, and Farmers and Ranchers Livestock, Salina. As of July 1, those markets will no longer have state-funded reporters. Glenda Shepler, KDA Statistics director, explained the discontinuation of the Pratt and Salina market reports is a budgetary issue. The Kansas Legislature required KDA to submit budget cut proposals for each department, and these cuts would save the department a little more than $10,000 per year. The overall budget from the State General Fund for the Kansas Department of Agriculture, as recently passed by the Legislature and approved by the governor, amounts to a little more than $10.45 million for fiscal year 2010. While there has been no public announcement of the budget cuts, as of press time, High Plains Journal confirmed this decision with KDA. The general fund allocation for KDA for FY 2010 was reduced by 15 percent from FY 2009, and an additional 3 percent in funding cuts will be necessary due to unfunded mandates from the Legislature. Potential cuts to agency programs were discussed throughout the 2009 legislative session, according to KDA, but they were not solidified until the week of June 15. A total of $88,841 will be cut from the state ag statistics program, according to KDA officials. The state of Kansas faces a $328 million budget shortfall as fiscal year 2009 closes June 30, and cuts to the 2010 budget are likely to change if state revenue continues to come in under projection, according to KDA. [Read More]
Top NewsReduction in hog breeding herd needed to increase pricesBy Jennifer Bremer The weak economy has also affected many sectors of the agriculture industry, with the pork industry being no exception. University of Missouri-Columbia agriculture economist Glenn Grimes said the major problem pork producers are faced with is cost--cost of feed and inputs as compared to market price. Grimes told pork producers during the World Pork Expo, held recently in Des Moines, that key driving forces for the pork markets include oil prices, biofuels policy and the economy. "High oil prices led to high gasoline prices, high ethanol prices, high corn prices and red ink for the livestock industry," said Grimes. "A weak economy is doing the same in reverse." He said it is important for pork producers to look at all of their inputs and make decisions. He advises and thinks there will be a decrease in the sow herd to help build up the price again. "Since 1930, the U.S. has reduced sow inventory by 42 percent and increased annual pork production by 245 percent," he added. "Efficiencies and production (pigs per litter) has increased dramatically--from 6 pigs per litter in 1930 to more than 9 pigs per litter in 2005." [Read More] Borlaug Institute to provide technical assistance to EcuadorPredator Awareness Day set for July 21 in RobyCattleman surprised with Tyson's $16K legal billDemocrats push for votes on climate billJBS Swift Beef Co. expands beef recallwww.allaboardharvest.com
Jada: Happy Fourth of July!
Jenna: Cutting near Deerfield, Kan.
Jada: A visit from some of the team at High Plains Journal
The answers to your wheat harvest questions ...
Jenna: Stop #3
NewsMoran accepting applications for internshipsKansas Congressman Jerry Moran June 24 announced he is accepting applications for congressional internships in his Washington, D.C., Hays, Hutchinson and Salina offices for the fall 2009 term. Applications for the fall are due by July 10. [Read More] Borlaug Institute to provide technical assistance to EcuadorTexas Texas AgriLife Extension Service has signed an agreement to provide technical assistance for cattle production and dairy product quality improvement to Ecuador, according to project coordinators. Activities will be carried out in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agriculture Service and Ecuador's Ministry of Agriculture. [Read More] Cattleman surprised with Tyson's $16K legal billPIERRE, S.D. (AP)--Cattle rancher and auctioneer Herman Schumacher was surprised to find a sign posted on the door of his Herreid home saying he owes nearly $16,000 in legal fees to Tyson Fresh Foods. The writ of execution from a federal judge was put on his door on June 11 because he owes legal expenses after losing a lawsuit he and two other cattlemen filed against Tyson and some other meatpackers that alleged the meatpackers violated federal... [Read More] Democrats push for votes on climate billWASHINGTON (AP)--Democrats scrambled for votes June 25 on a climate bill that would for the first time limit the pollution blamed for global warming as the White House stepped up pressure on reluctant lawmakers and former Vice President Al Gore tried to stave off any defections. President Barack Obama, in a planned White House Rose Garden appearance, was expected to argue that the legislation will create new "green' energy jobs and help wean the ... [Read More] Advertisement
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Funding the Future Sale--"are you part of it?" The Funding the Future Sale will be held in conjunction with the National Junior Shorthorn Show & Youth Conference in Springfield, Ill. The popularity of the Shorthorn breed amongst juniors across the country is evident as junior memberships and entries at the National Junior Shorthorn show continue to rise. With this promising growth comes a need for increased funding to provide our membership with educational opportunities, a stronger program...
Reaping more rewards from crop residues Wheat and barley producers in Washington State's Palouse region can refine crop residue management to build soil organic matter, curb soil erosion, retain soil moisture and maximize crop yields, thanks to support from the Agricultural Research Service. ARS soil scientist Ann Kennedy and Tami Stubbs of Washington State University worked with other WSU and ARS colleagues to conduct a two-year study of post-harvest crop residues to identify links between ...
NCBA: Cattlemen speak out on Clean Water Act land grab The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed S. 787, the Clean Water Restoration Act out of committee June 18 on a party-line vote, bringing the country one step closer to the largest federal land grab in our history. The bill was amended at the markup by Senators Baucus, Klobuchar, and Boxer. The amendment is a smoke screen that allegedly takes care of agricultural concerns by exempting prior-converted croplands from federal...
CSU Extension offering scholarships for radon mitigation course Colorado Colorado State University Extension is offering three scholarships for the Center for Environmental Research and Technology Institute Mitigation Course which includes measurement and mitigation courses (each a $595 value). The scholarships also include three memberships to American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST) (approximate value of $250).
No new information for farm bill is available at this time.
North Dakota sale barn study quantifies premiums Producers have always known their genetic and management choices affect the bottom line. Now a North Dakota State University study quantifies how much some of those decisions are worth. "We were in these sale barns at the key times of the year, from the start of the feeder calf sale to the end," says Greg Lardy, NDSU animal scientist.
Champions selected at 2009 Kansas Junior Angus Show Kansas Kansas junior Angus members led 103 entries at the 2009 Kansas Junior Angus Association Preview Show, June 5 and 6 in Hutchinson, Kan. Bruce Kiesewetter, Letts, Iowa, evaluated two bred-and-owned bulls, 65 owned females, 23 bred-and-owned females, four cow-calf pairs, and nine registered Angus steers before choosing winners. Laflins Mine That Bird was named grand champion bred-and-owned bull.
Champions selected at 2009 Kansas Junior Angus Show Kansas Kansas junior Angus members led 103 entries at the 2009 Kansas Junior Angus Association Preview Show, June 5 and 6 in Hutchinson, Kan. Bruce Kiesewetter, Letts, Iowa, evaluated two bred-and-owned bulls, 65 owned females, 23 bred-and-owned females, four cow-calf pairs, and nine registered Angus steers before choosing winners. Laflins Mine That Bird was named grand champion bred-and-owned bull.
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