The Angus Journal is a monthly magazine known for in-depth coverage of American Angus Association programs and services; the Angus business; herd management techniques; and advertising reflecting genetics herd philosophies.
Issue link: http://angusjournal.epubxp.com/i/435083
January 2015 n ANGUSJournal n 159 education efforts such as school gardens, feld trips to local farms and cooking classes. USDA Farm to School Conference and Event Grants support regional, state and national conferences, events and/or trainings that have a specifc emphasis on developing supply chain relationships by connecting local producers to school food buyers. Source: USDA Offce of Communications. Texas state beef checkoff program under way Collections under Texas' new state beef checkoff program began Oct. 1, 2014, after Texas beef producers voted to establish a state-level beef checkoff program, which was approved by a wide margin of 66% of voters. The Texas Department of Agriculture conducted the referendum upon petition by cattle industry organizations under the authorities designated by the Texas Legislature. The program is funded through a refundable $1-per-head assessment on cattle at each point of ownership transfer in Texas. The funds are managed in accordance with Texas law by the Beef Promotion Research Council of Texas (BPRCT). The BPRCT consists of 20 Texas cattle producers appointed by the Texas commissioner of agriculture. All state beef checkoff programs are overseen by the BPRCT. The BPRCT contracts with the Texas Beef Council to conduct demand-building programs in the areas of promotion, research and education. The fscal 2015 year began Oct. 1, 2014, for the BPRCT with a budget of $5.67 million. Source: Beef Promotion Research Council of Texas. House passes federal lands package Dec. 4, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 300-119. The NDAA included a lands package that was negotiated by the Senate and House Committees on Energy and Natural Resources during the past few weeks. The Public Lands Council (PLC) and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) applaud the House for including the positive provisions of the Grazing Improvement Act. The provisions passed codify the "grazing rider" and allow for the application of environmental analysis to allotments rather than the permits, which will extend in some cases to multiple-allotment analysis. The language also provides for both grazing- permit decisions and trailing and crossing decisions to be categorically excluded from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Of particular importance is the removal of detrimental language regarding grazing permit retirement that was included during markup in the Senate process. Source: NCBA. Livestock producers approve policy to guide KLA Members of the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) adopted policy addressing their business interests during the group's annual meeting, Dec. 3-5, 2014, in Wichita. Resolutions on the beef checkoff, Clean Water Act regulations, the threatened listing of the lesser prairie chicken and trichomoniasis were among those drawing members' attention. The process started in committee and council meetings and concluded with fnal approval by the general KLA membership. @ An existing resolution on the beef checkoff was amended to support changes in the 1985 Beef Promotion and Research Act that would authorize an increase in the assessment rate. It goes further to oppose creating a supplemental beef checkoff under the Commodity Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act of 1996. Compared to the 1985 act, the 1996 act gives more control over checkoff decisions to the federal government, allows for an increased share of funds to go toward administration and does not ensure a coordinated national/state partnership. @ KLA members retained a resolution opposing legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act, including the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) current proposal to redefne "waters of the United States." The resolution urges EPA and other agencies to recognize the abilities of states to best manage water resources. @ Policy was amended to support the inclusion of grazing lands in the 4(d) Rule for the lesser prairie chicken. The rule currently grants incidental take protection to routine ag practices on land cultivated within fve years preceding the listing of the lesser prairie chicken as threatened, but does not afford the same protection to grasslands used in livestock production. @ Another resolution amended by KLA members supports changes to state law or regulations requiring timely notifcation of the owners of neighboring herds by Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health offcials when a confrmed case of trichomoniasis is discovered. @ The membership voted to retain policy supporting regulatory and/or statutory changes to the current COOL program that would bring the United States into compliance with international trade obligations and avoid trade disruptions or retaliatory action. @ Another retained resolution encourages EPA to resist proposals that lower the air- quality standards for ozone levels and recognize air-quality problems caused by prescribed burning are a rare event for which cities should not be penalized for nonattainment of clean air guidelines. Learn more, including additional policy resolutions, by viewing the Dec. 9, 2014, Angus Journal Daily archived at www.api-virtuallibrary.com/eList-archive/ Angus-Elist/. Source: KLA. Margaret & Bob Duprey, Owners Tim Fitzgerald, Manager 142 Wilson Road West Grove, PA 19390 Office (610) 869-9455 Fax (610) 869-8279 Cell (484) 368-7456 E-mail: Fitzatckf@aol.com – JOIN IN – Chris Jeffcoat 717-476-1496 cjeffcoat@angus.org Karri Mildenberger (816) 383-5289 kmildenberger@angusjournal.com Bill and Dan Riggs 499 Riggs Rd. Friedens, PA 15541 Farm (814) 445-4440 Robert Hay (814) 445-2008 (night) www.errer.com Pennsylvania Breeders